Biopolymer-based Nanocomposites Research Articles

Biopolymer-based nanocomposites for application in biomedicine: a review

Abstract Biopolymer-based nanocomposites have gained significant attention in biomedicine due to their unique properties and potential applications. These nanocomposites combine biopolymers, natural polymers derived from renewable sources, with nanoparticles or other nanoscale materials to create materials with enhanced properties and functionalities. Biopolymers that are used to make bio-nanocomposites are cellulose, alginate, chitosan, starch, polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), etc. These have different properties, and they can be used in several types of treatments. Scaffolds frequently employ polylactic acid-gelatin, nanocellulose, and chitosan. Studies have shown that some special types of hydrogel films have proven beneficial in anticancer treatment. Synthetic and naturally occurring substances such as PLA, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), guar gum, and chitosan are employed in the drug delivery system. Nanocomposites such as silver nanoparticles with chitosan, sulfated polysaccharides, and thyme-loaded carrot nanocellulose or starch biopolymer nanocomposites have been used to stop bacterial development. This review article provides a comprehensive insight into biopolymer-based nanocomposites and their uses. Also, it has been incorporated into fields such as biosensors, bioimaging, blood clotting, immunomodulation, antibacterial and antiviral drugs, and food packaging. Hence, the primary objective of this review is to provide an overall perspective on biopolymer nanocomposites in nanomedicine.

Recent advances on stimuli-responsive biopolymer-based nanocomposites for drug delivery

Drug delivery plays a crucial part in medical therapy, where stimuli-responsive nanocarriers exhibit high delivery efficacy through changing their physicochemical properties in response to in vivo or external stimuli. In particular, biopolymer-based nanocomposites have attracted great attention as drug carriers due to their good biocompatibility, biodegradation, easy modification, low immunogenicity, and so on. They can be designed to transform size, charge and/or stability to prolong the blood circulation, accumulate at the diseased site, penetrate in tissues, internalize to target cells, and finally deliver and control drug release on demand under endogenous stimuli (e.g., acidic pH, enzymes and GSH), exogenous stimuli (e.g., temperature, light, magnetic field, and ultrasound), and both endogenous and exogenous stimuli. Different from the reviews on stimuli-responsive nanocomposites based on single biopolymer or general ideas of biopolymer-based nanocomposites, this paper summarizes strategies and recent progress of stimuli-responsive nanocomposites based on biopolymers such as polysaccharides (chitosan, hyaluronic acid, alginate, cyclodextrin, starch and cellulose) and proteins (gelatin, silk fibroin and collagen), and details their fabrication and application in drug delivery. Furthermore, this review provides evidence and ideas for designing stimuli-responsive nanocomposites for drug delivery.

Next-Generation Water Treatment: Exploring the Potential of Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites in Adsorption and Membrane Filtration.

This review article focuses on the potential of biopolymer-based nanocomposites incorporating nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and nanoclays in adsorption and membrane filtration processes for water treatment. The aim is to explore the effectiveness of these innovative materials in addressing water scarcity and contamination issues. The review highlights the exceptional adsorption capacities and improved membrane performance offered by chitosan, GO, and CNTs, which make them effective in removing heavy metals, organic pollutants, and emerging contaminants from water. It also emphasizes the high surface area and ion exchange capacity of nanoclays, enabling the removal of heavy metals, organic contaminants, and dyes. Integrating magnetic (Fe2O4) adsorbents and membrane filtration technologies is highlighted to enhance adsorption and separation efficiency. The limitations and challenges associated are also discussed. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration with industry stakeholders in advancing biopolymer-based nanocomposites for sustainable and comprehensive water treatment solutions.

Green synthesis of iron oxide nanobiocomposite for the adsorptive removal of heavy metals from the drinking water

The current study aimed to synthesize and characterize the Duranta erecta leaves extract-based iron oxide nanoparticles (D-Fe3O4-NPs) and chitosan biopolymer-based nanocomposites (D-Fe3O4-NC). The synthesized D-Fe3O4-NC was applied for the adsorptive removal of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) from water. The nanostructure, porous, rough, crystalline structure, and different functional groups of chitosan and D-Fe3O4-NPs in D-Fe3O4-NC showed that the D-Fe3O4-NC is feasible for suitable adsorbents for quantitative removal of Cd, Cr, and Pb. Based on the batch experiments, the influences of pH, adsorption time, contents of Cd, Cr, and Pb in solution, and temperature were successfully optimized. The adsorption capacities of D-Fe3O4-NC for Cd, Cr, and Pb were observed at 74.4, 76.0, and 75.2 mg g−1, respectively. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Freundlich Model equation well, and the adsorption kinetics followed pseudo-second-order kinetics for the adsorption of these toxic metals. D-Fe3O4-NC showed an excellent recyclable efficiency up to multiple analyses (n = 20). The D-Fe3O4-NC was an excellent adsorbent for removing toxic metals from municipal and hand pump water samples (% removal >93%). Therefore, the proposed D-Fe3O4-NC is the most efficient and selective adsorbent for removing Cd, Cr, and Pb from drinking water up to recommended permissible limit.

Biopolymeric composite materials for environmental applications

Abstract The emerging phase of bioeconomy demands that human beings be concerned more with ecofriendly practices in every aspect of life. Thus, the demand for biopolymer/biopolymer-based composite materials has witnessed a surge in recent decades. Biopolymeric composites at macro, micro, and nano scales have various applications in environmental cleanup. Biopolymers from natural resources have established an important position owing to their easy availability, abundance, and biodegradability. This review reveals the advantages of biopolymer usage in the field of environmental remediation over conventional practices and also the advantages of biopolymer composites over general biopolymeric material. Further, it focuses on the recent rapid development of nanotechnology, which has led to significant advances in the design and synthesis of biopolymer-based nanocomposites, with higher specific surface areas that can be functionalized to strongly adsorb contaminants in comparison with conventional adsorbents. It also presents the biopolymer-based composite materials separated on the basis of scale commonly used for environmental applications such as the removal of dyes, oil–water separation, and air filtration. This review also summarizes the benefits and drawbacks on biopolymer composite usage along with future perspectives to give an idea on the areas for researchers to focus on in the future.

Nanosilk Template-Guided/Induced Construction of Brush-/Flower-like 3D Nanostructures.

Biomaterials with natural hierarchical structures typically exhibit extraordinary properties because of their multilevel structural designs. They offer many templates and models as well as inspiration for material design, particularly for fabricating structure-regulated, performance-enhanced, and function-enriched materials. Biopolymer-based nanocomposites with ingenious nanostructures constructed through ecofriendly and sustainable approaches are highly desirable to meet the multifunctional requirements of developing bioinspired materials. Herein, an all-silk fibroin-based nanocomposite with a brush-like nanostructure was constructed for the first time using a nanotemplate-guided assembly approach in which dissolved silk assembled directly on a silk nanowhisker (SNW) backbone to form peculiar nanobrushes based on the classical micelle model. Three-dimensional spider-like or centipede-like silk nanobrushes (SNBs) were fabricated by varying the SNW backbone length from 0.16 to 6 μm. The branches with average lengths of 32-290 nm were also adjustable. SNBs were further designed to regulate and induce biomineralization of hydroxyapatite (HAP) to form interesting flower-like nanostructures, in which the HAP nanosphere (diameters ∼16 nm) "core" was covered by SNBs with branches extending to form a "shell" (∼101 nm in length). Based on such protein nanotemplate-guided formation of nanoscale structures, practical hollow conduits with remarkable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, shape memory behavior, and bone engineering potential were fabricated. This study inspires the design of polymorphous biopolymer-based nanostructures with enhanced performance at multiple length scales where the weaknesses of individual building blocks are offset.

Magnetic alginate–carboxymethyl cellulose to immobilize copper nanoparticles as a green and sustainable catalyst for 4-nitrophenol reduction

In the present work, sustainable green catalysts with high activity, and excellent stability were prepared and thoroughly characterized by XRD, FT-IR, BET, VSM, SEM, EDX, HR-TEM, and TGA techniques. The combined sodium alginate (SA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) biopolymers were functionalized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles to immobilize copper nanoparticles to form Fe3O4@SA–CMC–CuNP nanocomposites in batch experiments. Furthermore, the Fe3O4@SA–CMC–CuNP nanocomposites were utilized as the heterogeneous catalyst for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4, and the progress of the catalytic reaction was monitored using UV–visible spectrophotometry. The Fe3O4@SA–CMC–CuNP nanocomposite exhibited much higher catalytic activity for the 4-nitrophenol reduction reaction than individual components Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@SA–CMC. The effect of parameters such as the amount of catalyst was evaluated and 30 mg of the catalyst amount with a 95.0% reduction of 4-nitrophenol for 1.5 min was obtained. The effect of reaction temperature was also investigated to find out the activation energy. The analyses of kinetics and thermodynamics were carried out to understand the catalytic behavior. Furthermore, the catalyst can be separated from the reaction system through the usage of a magnet and recycled up to five times without any loss of activity. Therefore, the development of sustainable green catalyst biopolymer-based nanocomposites is promising for new catalysts in the future for treating organic wastewater.

The strategic applications of natural polymer nanocomposites in food packaging and agriculture: Chances, challenges, and consumers' perception.

Natural polymer-based nanocomposites have received significant attention in both scientific and industrial research in recent years. They can help to eliminate the consequences of application of petroleum-derived polymeric materials and related environmental concerns. Such nanocomposites consist of natural biopolymers (e.g., chitosan, starch, cellulose, alginate and many more) derived from plants, microbes and animals that are abundantly available in nature, biodegradable and thus eco-friendly, and can be used for developing nanocomposites for agriculture and food industry applications. Biopolymer-based nanocomposites can act as slow-release nanocarriers for delivering agrochemicals (fertilizers/nutrients) or pesticides to crop plants to increase yields. Similarly, biopolymer-based nanofilms or hydrogels may be used as direct product coating to extend product shelf life or improve seed germination or protection from pathogens and pests. Biopolymers have huge potential in food-packaging. However, their packaging properties, such as mechanical strength or gas, water or microbial barriers can be remarkably improved when combined with nanofillers such as nanoparticles. This article provides an overview of the strategic applications of natural polymer nanocomposites in food and agriculture as nanocarriers of active compounds, polymer-based hydrogels, nanocoatings and nanofilms. However, the risk, challenges, chances, and consumers' perceptions of nanotechnology applications in agriculture and food production and packaging have been also discussed.

Climate-Conscious Food Preserving Technologies for Food Waste Prevention

Global food production is responsible for around 26% of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities. Notably, 6% of these emissions are caused by unconsumed food. Both traditional and current climate-conscious technologies for food preservatives that assure food waste reduction are discussed. This review investigates the potential of smart packaging biosensors and natural antimicrobial agents in fostering environmentally friendly, cutting-edge food systems. Specifically, it highlights the studies that explore the use of natural antimicrobial agents of calcined corals in active packaging systems for storing milk. The finding revealed that this method had a significant impact on maximizing the shelf life of fresh food. Furthermore, this review discusses the concept of smart packaging of food, focusing on biopolymer-based nanocomposites and biosensors, which have gained increasing attention in the food industry due to concerns about food safety and quality. The review also examines the efforts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to combat food waste through the initiatives such as UAE Food Bank, Winnow, and Ne’ma which is the national food loss and waste project. These technologies and practices have the potential to guarantee food safety, preserve quality, and reduce waste, but there are still issues with cost, biocompatibility, and consumer acceptance.

Enhanced mechanical performance of mSLA-printed biopolymer nanocomposites due to phase functionalization

Functionalized phases can effectively increase the mechanical properties of nanocomposites through interfacial bonding. This work demonstrates masked stereolithography (mSLA) of biopolymer-based nanocomposites and the improvement of their mechanical properties by the functionalization of both polymer matrix and nanoparticles with methacrylate groups. 3D printable nanocomposite inks were prepared from plant-derived acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA), and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA). Both AESO and nHA were further functionalized with additional methacrylate groups. We hypothesized that the additional functionalization of AESO and surface functionalization of nHA would improve the tensile strength and fracture toughness of these nanocomposites by increasing the degree of crosslinking and the strength of the interface between the matrix and nanoparticles. Curing efficiency, rheology, and print-fidelity of the nanocomposites were evaluated. Mechanical test specimens were prepared by mSLA-based 3D printing. Tensile mechanical properties, Poisson's ratio, and Mode-I fracture toughness were measured by following ASTM standards. Fracture surfaces of the tested specimens were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Thermomechanical behavior, especially glass transition temperature (Tg), was studied using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Functionalized AESO (mAESO) improved rheological, tensile, and fracture mechanical properties. For instance, by replacing AESO with mAESO, tensile strength, Young's modulus, fracture toughness (K1c), and Tg increased by 33%, 53%, 40%, and 38% respectively. In addition, the combination of both functionalized nHA and mAESO improved the fracture toughness of the 10% volume fraction nHA nanocomposites but made them less extensible presumably due to reduced chain mobility due to greater crosslinking.

Ecofriendly Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposite Films with Improved Photo-Oxidative Resistance.

The interest towards high performance biopolymer-based materials increases continuously and, to guarantee appropriately industrial applications, the photo-oxidative resistance and stability of these materials must be adequately addressed. In this study, innovative biopolymer-based nanocomposites, i.e., Polyamide 11 (PA11), containing ad-hoc modified Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH), were successfully formulated and characterized. Particularly, LDH were considered carriers for hindered amine light stabilizing molecules, so two different hindered amine moieties (HALS1 and HALS2) were anchored on LDH layered internal structures and/or outer surfaces. The presence of HALS1 and HALS2 in LDH were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Then, the novel LDH-HALS nanofillers (here named LDH-HALS1 and LDH-HALS2) were introduced into a PA11 matrix by melt mixing at 5 wt.%; the produced nanocomposites were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, rheological, and morphological analysis. All obtained results suggest that the LDH-HALS1/HALS2 nanofillers were very well dispersed into the PA11 matrix. Additionally, the photo-oxidative resistance of the PA11-based nanocomposite films was evaluated by subjecting thin films to UVB exposure and the degradation process was monitored by spectroscopic analysis over time. The photo-oxidative resistance of the PA11/LDH-HALS1/HALS2 was compared to that of PA11-based nanocomposites containing unmodified LDH and the commercial hindered amine UV-stabilizer (Cyasorb® UV-3853). It was established that by anchoring the hindered amine moieties to the LDH, the PA11 nanocomposites were successfully protected against UVB exposure. This was because the hindered amine light stabilizing molecules were available to act at the critical zone where the degradation phenomena occur, which is at the interface between the matrix and the inorganic particles.

Smart Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposite Materials Containing pH-Sensing Colorimetric Indicators for Food Freshness Monitoring.

Nanocomposite biopolymer materials containing colorimetric pH-responsive indicators were prepared from gelatin and chitosan nanofibers. Plant-based extracts from barberry and saffron, which both contained anthocyanins, were used as pH indicators. Incorporation of the anthocyanins into the biopolymer films increased their mechanical, water-barrier, and light-screening properties. Infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that a uniform biopolymer matrix was formed, with the anthocyanins distributed evenly throughout them. The anthocyanins in the composite films changed color in response to alterations in pH or ammonia gas levels, which was used to monitor changes in the freshness of packaged fish during storage. The anthocyanins also exhibited antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, which meant that they could also be used to slow down the degradation of the fish. Thus, natural anthocyanins could be used as both freshness indicators and preservatives in biopolymer-based nanocomposite packaging materials. These novel materials may therefore be useful alternatives to synthetic plastics for some food packaging applications, thereby improving the environmental friendliness and sustainability of the food supply.

Sodium Alginate-Gelatin Nanoformulations for Encapsulation of Bacillus velezensis and Their Use for Biological Control of Pistachio Gummosis.

Biopolymer-based nanocomposites are favorable materials for the encapsulation of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents. In this research, sodium alginate, a widely used natural polymer, was extracted and purified from Macrocystis pyrifera. Its composition was confirmed using 1H NMR and FTIR analyses, and its molecular weight and mannuronic acid/guluronic acid ratio were obtained. Sodium alginate–gelatin microcapsules enriched with carbon nanotubes and SiO2 nanoparticles were prepared to encapsulate Bacillus velezensis, and the biological effects of this formulation on the control of pistachio gummosis and growth parameters were investigated. Microscopy examination showed that the microcapsules had quite globular shapes. XRD confirmed the occurrence of an electrostatic interaction when sodium alginate was blended with gelatin. The survival rate of the encapsulated bacteria was about 107 CFU/mL and was maintained after one year of storage. The aim of this study was to achieve a unique formulation containing beneficial bacteria and nanoparticles for the synergistic control of Phytophthora drechsleri.

Structural, optical analysis, and Poole–Frenkel emission in NiO/CMC–PVP: Bio-nanocomposites for optoelectronic applications

The properties and related applications of biopolymer-based nanocomposites are dependent on the composition of the polymeric blend and the type and morphology of the nanofillers used. In this work, high purity NiO nanoparticles (NP) were prepared by a facile sol-gel route and introduced into carboxymethyl cellulose–polyvinyl pyrrolidone (CMC–PVP) blend. The crystallinity, surface morphology, and chemical composition of the resulting films were studied using FE-SEM, XRD, EDX and FTIR spectroscopy to evaluate the NiO NP's dispersion level inside the blend and their influence on the film structure and complexation with the functional groups in the blend. UV–Vis–NIR spectroscopy showed that the NiO NP reduce the transparency of the resulting films from 90 to 43.1% and interestingly modified their reflectivity. The optical bandgap was determined using two different approaches and found to decrease (from 5.1 to 4.5 eV) upon increasing the NP content. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics were found to be of a non-ohmic type. The DC conductivity (σdc) was significantly increased and the activation energy (Ea) decreased after loading 1.2 wt% NiO. The possible conduction mechanisms have been discussed. The results indicate that novel NiO/CMC–PVP nanocomposites can be prepared with improved conductivity, reduced band gap, and highly improved refractive index. Therefore, these materials are suitable for coatings and lenses as well as for engineering, electrochemical and optoelectronic applications.

Advances in Functional Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites for Active Food Packaging Applications.

Polymeric nanocomposites have received significant attention in both scientific and industrial research in recent years. The demand for new methods of food preservation to ensure high-quality, healthy foods with an extended shelf life has increased. Packaging, a crucial feature of the food industry, plays a vital role in satisfying this demand. Polymeric nanocomposites exhibit remarkably improved packaging properties, including barrier properties, oxygen impermeability, solvent resistance, moisture permeability, thermal stability, and antimicrobial characteristics. Bio-based polymers have drawn considerable interest to mitigate the influence and application of petroleum-derived polymeric materials and related environmental concerns. The integration of nanotechnology in food packaging systems has shown promise for enhancing the quality and shelf life of food. This article provides a general overview of bio-based polymeric nanocomposites comprising polymer matrices and inorganic nanoparticles, and describes their classification, fabrication, properties, and applications for active food packaging systems with future perspectives.

Operational Stability, Regenerability, and Thermodynamics Studies on Biogenic Silica/Magnetite/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite-Activated Candida rugosa Lipase.

Inorganic biopolymer-based nanocomposites are useful for stabilizing lipases for enhanced catalytic performance and easy separation. Herein, we report the operational stability, regenerability, and thermodynamics studies of the ternary biogenic silica/magnetite/graphene oxide nanocomposite (SiO2/Fe3O4/GO) as a support for Candida rugosa lipase (CRL). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-electron scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption data on the support and biocatalyst corroborated their successful fabrication. XPS revealed the Fe3O4 adopted Fe2+ and Fe3+ oxidation states, while XRD data of GO yielded a peak at 2θ = 11.67°, with the SiO2/Fe3O4/GO revealing a high surface area (≈261 m2/g). The fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra affirmed the successful fabricated supports and catalyst. The half-life and thermodynamic parameters of the superparamagnetic immobilized CRL (CRL/SiO2/Fe3O4/GO) improved over the free CRL. The microwave-regenerated CRL/SiO2/Fe3O4/GO (≈82%) exhibited higher catalytic activity than ultrasonic-regenerated (≈71%) ones. Lower activation ( and higher deactivation energies ( were also noted for the CRL/SiO2/Fe3O4/GO (13.87 kJ/mol, 32.32 kJ/mol) than free CRL (15.26 kJ/mol, 27.60 kJ/mol). A peak at 4.28 min in the gas chromatograph-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) chromatogram of the purified ethyl valerate supported the unique six types of 14 hydrogen atoms of the ester (CAS: 539-82-2) in the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) data. The results collectively demonstrated the suitability of SiO2/Fe3O4/GO in stabilizing CRL for improved operational stability and thermodynamics and permitted biocatalyst regenerability.

A Review on Conventional and Advanced Methods for Nanotoxicology Evaluation of Engineered Nanomaterials.

Nanotechnology can be defined as the field of science and technology that studies material at nanoscale (1–100 nm). These nanomaterials, especially carbon nanostructure-based composites and biopolymer-based nanocomposites, exhibit excellent chemical, physical, mechanical, electrical, and many other properties beneficial for their application in many consumer products (e.g., industrial, food, pharmaceutical, and medical). The current literature reports that the increased exposure of humans to nanomaterials could toxicologically affect their environment. Hence, this paper aims to present a review on the possible nanotoxicology assays that can be used to evaluate the toxicity of engineered nanomaterials. The different ways humans are exposed to nanomaterials are discussed, and the recent toxicity evaluation approaches of these nanomaterials are critically assessed.

Trends and challenges of biopolymer-based nanocomposites in food packaging.

The ultimate goal of new food packaging technologies, in addition to maintaining the quality and safety of food for the consumer, is to consider environmental concerns and reduce its impacts. In this regard, one of the solutions is to use eco-friendly biopolymers instead of conventional petroleum-based polymers. However, the challenges of using biopolymers in the food packaging industry should be carefully evaluated, and techniques to eliminate or minimize their disadvantages should be investigated. Many studies have been conducted to improve the properties of biopolymer-based packaging materials to produce a favorable product for the food industry. This article reviews the structure of biopolymer-based materials and discusses the trends and challenges of using these materials in food packaging technologies with the focus on nanotechnology and based on recent studies.

Enhancing the Antifungal Activity of Griseofulvin by Incorporation a Green Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposite.

Fungal biofilms have caused several medical problems, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality as well as poor response to antifungal drugs. The current study was designed to evaluate the enhancement of antifungal and anti-biofilm activity of Griseofulvin-loaded green nanocomposite-based biopolymers (Ge-Nco) of glycogen and gelatin against different strains of pathogenic Candida species. The prepared Ge-Nco was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition, the morphology of the mature biofilm and the inhibition of biofilm was monitored and visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and (IC50) of Griseofulvin alone and the prepared Ge-Nco against three different strains of Candida sp. were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method. The effects of Griseofulvin alone and Ge-Nco on the tested Candida sp. biofilm formation were determined by the crystal-violet staining protocol. The biofilm inhibition potential of Ge-Nco against the tested Candida sp. was detected and depicted under CLSM (2.5 D view). The findings depicted that Ge-Nco was prepared in nanometer size (10–23 nm). The observed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Griseofulvin alone and Ge-Nco against three different Candida sp. were found to be in range 49.9–99.8 μg/mL and 6.24–12.48 μg/mL, respectively. These results provide evidence for implementing efficient antivirulence approaches against three different Candida sp. that would be less likely to foster the emergence of resistance.

Heavy metal removal from polluted water by <i>Nopal cactus</i> biopolymer-based magnetic nanocomposites

Heavy metal removal from polluted water by <i>Nopal cactus</i> biopolymer-based magnetic nanocomposites