Effect Of Nanoparticles Research Articles

Synergistic effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and Au nanolayer in enhancement of interfacial solar steam generation

For the first time, we investigated the synergistic effect of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and Au nanolayer in interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG) of well water. Herein, single- or double- layer photoabsorbers were prepared by coating poplar wood with different concentrations of Fe3O4 NPs and/or various thicknesses of Au nanolayer. The maximum evaporation efficiency for the single-layer photoabsorber composed of Fe3O4 was 80% under 3 sun (1 sun=1 kW m−2) illumination. The most efficient single-layer photoabsorber coated by Au nanolayer resulted in the evaporation efficiency of 83.2% under 3 sun. The double-layer photoabsorber of Fe3O4 over Au nanolayer (Fe3O4/Au) and Au layer over Fe3O4 (Au/Fe3O4) were prepared. The Fe3O4/Au reached the evaporation efficiency of 88.7% and the evaporation rate of 3.76 kg m−2 h−1 under 3 sun due to the synergistic effects of surface plasmon effect in Au NPs as well as black color and visible light absorbing ability of Fe3O4 NPs.

Nanoparticles: Taking a Unique Position in Medicine.

The human nature of curiosity, wonder, and ingenuity date back to the age of humankind. In parallel with our history of civilization, interest in scientific approaches to unravel mechanisms underlying natural phenomena has been developing. Recent years have witnessed unprecedented growth in research in the area of pharmaceuticals and medicine. The optimism that nanotechnology (NT) applied to medicine and drugs is taking serious steps to bring about significant advances in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease-a shift from fantasy to reality. The growing interest in the future medical applications of NT leads to the emergence of a new field for nanomaterials (NMs) and biomedicine. In recent years, NMs have emerged as essential game players in modern medicine, with clinical applications ranging from contrast agents in imaging to carriers for drug and gene delivery into tumors. Indeed, there are instances where nanoparticles (NPs) enable analyses and therapies that cannot be performed otherwise. However, NPs also bring unique environmental and societal challenges, particularly concerning toxicity. Thus, clinical applications of NPs should be revisited, and a deep understanding of the effects of NPs from the pathophysiologic basis of a disease may bring more sophisticated diagnostic opportunities and yield more effective therapies and preventive features. Correspondingly, this review highlights the significant contributions of NPs to modern medicine and drug delivery systems. This study also attempted to glimpse the future impact of NT in medicine and pharmaceuticals.

Grain Refinement Mechanisms of TiC0.5N0.5 Nanoparticles in Aluminum.

In this study, TiC0.5N0.5 nanoparticles (NPs) are shown to induce a remarkable grain refinement of aluminum at various cooling rates. The grain refinement mechanisms are systematically investigated by microstructure observation, edge-to-edge matching (E2EM) model prediction, and first-principles calculations. The experimental results suggest that as the cooling rates increase from 10 K/s to 70 K/s, a transition from intergranular to intragranular distribution of NPs occurs and the Al/TiC0.5N0.5 interface varies from incoherent to coherent. Based on the E2EM analysis combined with first-principles calculation, it is found that TiC0.5N0.5 can act as a potent nucleant for the heterogeneous nucleation of α-Al. By analyzing the NP effects on the nucleation and growth of α-Al, the grain growth restriction and nucleation promotion mechanisms are proposed to elucidate the refinement phenomena at low and high cooling conditions, respectively.

Antagonism toxicity of CuO nanoparticles and mild ocean acidification to marine algae

The toxicity of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) to marine microalgae (Emiliania huxleyi) under ocean acidification (OA) conditions (pHs 8.10, 7.90, 7.50) was investigated. CuO NPs (5.0 mg/L) caused significant toxicity (e.g., 48-h growth inhibition, 20%) under normal pH (8.10), and severe OA (pH 7.50) increased the toxicity of CuO NPs (e.g., 48-h growth inhibition, 68%). However, toxicity antagonism was observed with a growth inhibition (48 h) decreased to 37% after co-exposure to CuO NPs and mild OA (pH 7.90), which was attributed to the released Cu2+ ions from CuO NPs. Based on biological responses as obtained from RNA-sequencing, the dissolved Cu2+ ions (0.078 mg/L) under mild OA were found to increase algae division (by 17%) and photosynthesis (by 28%) through accelerating photosynthetic electron transport and promoting ATP synthesis. In addition, mild OA enhanced EPS secretion by 41% and further increased bioavailable Cu2+ ions, thus mitigating OA-induced toxicity. In addition, excess Cu2+ ions could be transformed into less toxic Cu2S and Cu2O based on X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), which could additionally regulate the antagonism effect of CuO NPs and mild OA. The information advances our knowledge in nanotoxicity to marine organisms under global climate change.

Laser ablation mediated ZnO nanoparticles inhibit growth and biofilm forming potential of urinary tract bacterium Proteus mirabilis

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were formed via the laser ablation technique of a zinc (Zn) target immersed in deionised water (DIW). The optical, structural, and morphological features of these ZnO NPs were investigated using UV/Vis spectrophotometry, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. XRD results of zinc oxide nanoparticles showed diffraction peaks at 32°, 34.5°, 36.5°, 57°, and 67° corresponding to the (100), (002), (101), (110) and (103). The average nanoparticle size was 21 nm. The TEM images of zinc oxide nanoparticles show that they are spherical in shape and have a size distribution of 20–70 nm. The antibacterial activity of the ZnO NPs was determined and compared with Ciprofloxacin against Proteus mirabilis isolates. The ZnO NPs have significant antibacterial activity against P. mirabilis isolates compared with the control (P ≤ 0.05), and the antibiofilm activity of ZnO NPs was sturdier than that of Ciprofloxacin (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, zinc oxide NPs were more effective than Ciprofloxacin in terms of preventing biofilm formation in the urinary catheter. This finding was confirmed by using atomic force microscopy to investigate the effect of ZnO NPs on bacterial biofilm formation in Foleys catheter (AFM). Therefore, ZnO NPs could be used as a preservative for Foleys catheter by preventing the formation of microbial biofilms. DPPH assay was used to investigate the radical scavenging potential of ZnO NPs.

The comparative effects of manganese nanoparticles and their counterparts (bulk and ionic) in Artemisia annua plants via seed priming and foliar application.

The world has experienced an unprecedented boom in nanotechnology. Nanoparticles (NPs) are likely to act as biostimulants in various plants due to having high surface/volume value. However, understanding the actual effect of NPs is essential to discriminate them from other counterparts in terms of being applicable, safe and cost-effective. This study aimed to assay the impact of manganese(III) oxide (Mn2O3)-NPs via seed-priming (SP) and a combination of SP and foliar application (SP+F) on Artemisia. annua performance at several times intervals and comparison with other available manganese (Mn) forms. Our findings indicate that SP with MnSO4 and Mn2O3-NPs stimulates the processes that occur prior to germination and thus reduces the time for radicle emergence. In both applications (i.e., SP and +F), none of the Mn treatments did show adverse phytotoxic on A. annua growth at morpho-physio and biochemical levels except for Mn2O3, which delayed germination and further plant growth, subsequently. Besides, from physio-biochemical data, it can be inferred that the general mechanism mode of action of Mn is mainly attributed to induce the photosynthetic processes, stimulate the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and up-regulation of proline and phenolic compounds. Therefore, our results showed that both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants could be influenced by the application of Mn treatments in a type-dependent manner. In general, this study revealed that Mn2O3-NPs at the tested condition could be used as biostimulants to improve germination, seedling development and further plant growth. However, they are not as effective as MnSO4 treatments. Nonetheless, these findings can be used to consider and develop Mn2O3-NPs priming in future studies to improve seed germination and seedling quality in plants.

Response mechanisms of anaerobic fermentative sludge to zinc oxide nanoparticles during medium-chain carboxylates production from waste activated sludge

The conversion of waste activated sludge (WAS) into medium chain carboxylates (MCCs) has attracted much attention, while investigations of the impacts of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on this process are sparse. The present study showed that 8 mg/g-TSS of ZnO NPs have little effects on all key steps and the activity of anaerobes, and finally leading to unchanged MCCs production. Although 30 mg/g-TSS of ZnO NPs weakly inhibited the hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and chain elongation process, WAS solubilization was enhanced, thus, the improvement was enough to offset inhibition, also resulting in an insignificant impact on overall MCCs production. However, the improvement with ZnO NPs dosages above 100 mg/g-TSS was not sufficient to offset the biological inhibition, thus inducing negative impact on overall MCCs production. The decline of EPS induced by Zn2+ and generation of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) were the main factors responsible for the inhibitory effects of ZnO NPs on lower activity of anaerobes. For chain elongation process, the discriminative Clostridium IV (as MCCs-forming bacteria) with a strong adaptation to ZnO NPs (300 mg/g-TSS) was observed. The present study provided a deep understanding related to the effects of ZnO NPs on the production of MCCs production from WAS and identified a zinc resistance anaerobe, which would be significant for the evaluation of influence and alleviation of inhibition induced by ZnO NPs on the carbon cycle of organic wastes.

AuPd bimetallic functionalized monodisperse In2O3 porous spheres for ultrasensitive trimethylamine detection

The use of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance the performance of oxide semiconductor gas sensor is a promising approach. In this work, monodisperse In2O3 porous spheres were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, and bimetallic AuPd NPs were decorated on In2O3 nanospheres by in-situ redox reaction, then Au, Pd and AuPd-modified In2O3 were obtained. Characterization results of SEM and TEM showed that the as-synthesized materials had monodisperse porous sphere morphology with uniform diameter of within 300 nm. The gas sensing test results showed that AuPd-In2O3 sensor has excellent gas sensing performance, specifically, lower detection limit (300 ppb, 1.35), and an ultra-short response time (2 s), as well as a high response to 100 ppm trimethylamine (TMA) (Ra/Rg=367.0) which was 12, 127 and 334 times higher than that of Pd-In2O3 (Ra/Rg=30.3), Au-In2O3 (Ra/Rg=2.9) and pristine In2O3 (Ra/Rg=1.1). The gas sensor also has a good long-term stability, repeatability, and cross-selectivity. The mechanism of enhanced gas sensing performance was proposed combining with chemical sensitization of Au, electronic sensitization of Pd, and synergetic catalytic effect of AuPd bimetallic NPs. This work provides a promising material for the design and preparation of gas sensors for TMA detection.

Nanoparticles of N-Vinylpyrrolidone Amphiphilic Copolymers and Pheophorbide a as Promising Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy: Design, Properties and In Vitro Phototoxic Activity.

A series of nanoparticles (NPs) with a hydrodynamic radius from 20 to 100 nm in PBS was developed over the solubilization of hydrophobic dye methyl pheophorbide a (chlorin e6 derivative) by amphiphilic copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone with (di)methacrylates. Photophysical properties and biological activity of the NPs aqueous solution were studied. It was found that the dye encapsulated in the copolymers is in an aggregated state. However, its aggregation degree decreases sharply, and singlet oxygen quantum yield and the fluorescence signal increase upon the interaction of these NPs with model biological membranes-liposomes or components of a tissue homogenate. The phototoxic effect of NPs in HeLa cells exceeds by 1.5-2 times that of the reference dye chlorin e6 trisodium salt-one of the most effective photosensitizers used in clinical practice. It could be explained by the effective release of the hydrophobic photosensitizer from the NPs into biological structures. The demonstrated approach can be used not only for the encapsulation of hydrophobic photosensitizers for PDT but also for other drugs, and N-vinylpyrrolidone amphiphilic copolymers show promising potential as a modern platform for the design of targeted delivery vehicles.

Evaluation of bactericidal effects of silver hydrosol nanotherapeutics against Enterococcus faecium 1449 drug resistant biofilms.

Silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) are well documented for their broad-spectrum bactericidal effects. This study aimed to test the effect of bioactive Ag-hydrosol NPs on drug-resistant E. faecium 1449 strain and explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for automated detection of the bacteria. The formation of E. faecium 1449 biofilms in the absence and presence of Ag-hydrosol NPs at different concentrations ranging from 12.4 mg/L to 123 mg/L was evaluated using a 3-dimentional culture system. The biofilm reduction was evaluated using the confocal microscopy in addition to the Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM) visualization and spectrofluorimetric quantification using a Biotek Synergy Neo2 microplate reader. The cytotoxicity of the NPs was evaluated in human nasal epithelial cells using the MTT assay. The AI technique based on Fast Regional Convolutional Neural Network architecture was used for the automated detection of the bacteria. Treatment with Ag-hydrosol NPs at concentrations ranging from 12.4 mg/L to 123 mg/L resulted in 78.09% to 95.20% of biofilm reduction. No statistically significant difference in biofilm reduction was found among different batches of Ag-hydrosol NPs. Quantitative concentration-response relationship analysis indicated that Ag-hydrosol NPs exhibited a relative high anti-biofilm activity and low cytotoxicity with an average EC50 and TC50 values of 0.0333 and 6.55 mg/L, respectively, yielding an average therapeutic index value of 197. The AI-assisted TEM image analysis allowed automated detection of E. faecium 1449 with 97% ~ 99% accuracy. Conclusively, the bioactive Ag-hydrosol NP is a promising nanotherapeutic agent against drug-resistant pathogens. The AI-assisted TEM image analysis was developed with the potential to assess its treatment effect.

In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on the Efficacy of Zinc-Oxide and Selenium Nanoparticle in Cryopreserved Goat (Capra hircus) Spermatozoa.

Different nanoparticles (NPs) are currently being investigated for their potential role as cryoprotectant during semen cryopreservation in several mammalian species. It may be possible to improve semen quality following cryopreservation by supplementation of NPs in the freezing extenders. The present study was carried out in semen collected from four (4) Assam Hill Goat bucks (10 ejaculates per buck) to investigate the effect of supplementing zinc oxide (ZnO) and selenium (Se) NPs in Tris-citric acid-fructose yolk (TCFY) extender on in vitro sperm quality and in vivo fertility rate after freeze-thawing. The size morphology and zeta potential of ZnO and Se NPs were evaluated prior to its incorporation in the freezing extender. Qualified semen samples (> 70% progressive motility) were divided into five (5) aliquots and then diluted in TCFY extender containing ZnO and Se NP supplementation at different concentrations (T0, control; T1, 0.1mg/mL ZnO NPs; T2, 0.5mg/mL ZnO NPs; T3, 0.5µg/mL Se NPs; and T4, 1µg/mL Se NPs). Diluted semen was packed in 0.25mL straws and then stored in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, post-thaw in vitro sperm attributes were evaluated. Finally, the effect of NPs on in vivo fertility rate was checked in heat-synched does (n = 70) by artificial insemination (AI) using straws that showed superior results during the in vitro study. Results showed that ZnO and Se NPs were poly-crystalline in nature with particle size below 100nm (nm). The evaluated post-thaw sperm in vitro attributes were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in T1 in comparison to T0. The antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly (p < 0.001) higher in T1. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) profile was significantly (p < 0.001) lower in T1. Sperm motility and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) had a highly significant (r = 0.580, p < 0.05) association in T1. No significant (p > 0.05) differences in pregnancy rates were recorded after AI in the different treatments. In conclusion, extender supplemented with 0.1mg/mL ZnO NPs improved post-thaw semen quality of goat spermatozoa consequently by increasing activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes thereby lowering LPO levels. However, improved in vitro outcomes might not correspond to improved field fertility outcomes.

The role of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles as a novel treatment approach in glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most prevalent and deadliest primary brain malignancy in adults, whose median survival rate does not exceed 15months after diagnosis. The conventional treatment of GBM, including maximal safe surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, usually cannot lead to notable improvements in the disease prognosis and the tumor always recurs. Many GBM characteristics make its treatment challenging. The most important ones are the impermeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), preventing chemotherapeutic drugs from reaching in adequate amounts to the tumor site, intratumoral heterogeneity, and roles of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). To overcome these barriers, the recently-developed drug-carrying approach using nanoparticles (NPs) may play a significant role. NPs are tiny particles, usually less than 100nm showing various diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications. In this regard, cell membrane (CM)-coated NPs demonstrated several promising effects in GBM in pre-clinical studies. They benefit from fewer adverse effects due to their specific targeting of tumor cells, biocompatibility because of their CM surfaces, prolonged half-life, easy penetrating of the BBB, and escaping from the immune reaction, making them an attractive option for GBM treatment. To date, CM-coated NPs have been applied to enhance the effectiveness of major therapeutic approaches in GBM treatment, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, and photo-based therapies. Despite the promising results in pre-clinical studies regarding the effectiveness of CM-coated NPs in GBM, significant barriers like high expenses, complex preparation processes, and unknown long-term effects still hinder its mass production for the clinic. In this regard, the current study aims to provide an overview of different characteristics of CM-coated NPs and comprehensively investigate their application as a novel treatment approach in GBM.

Агрохимические аспекты применения медьсодержащих наноструктур: влияние на рост и развитие растений, антибактериальный эффект (обзор)

Copper is an essential trace element for plant organisms, but in high concentrations it can be toxic to plants. Copper nanoparticles (NPs) are less toxic, and their use in plant treatment appears to be safer, more effective, and more economical than copper salts. The mini-review provides basic information about the mechanisms of action of copper-containing NPs on the plant organism and provides examples of research in this area. The main directions of influence of copper-containing NPs on plants are the processes of growth and development of the plant organism (organogenesis, mitosis, biomass accumulation), biochemical processes (the intensity of photosynthesis, antioxidant status and the intensity of lipid peroxidation processes), the effect on gene expression in the cell, the effect on plant resistance abiotic and biotic stress factors. The promise of using copper NPs as mineral fertilizers has been shown by stimulating seed germination, plant growth and development, and increasing plant resistance to stress factors under the influence of copper NPs. The protective effect of copper-containing NPs is often explained by their antioxidant activity. At the same time, there are a number of studies demonstrating the negative impact of copper-containing NPs on the growth and development of plants and the intensity of photosynthesis. The second part of the article is devoted to a description of the mechanisms of antimicrobial activity of copper-containing NPs. The antibacterial effect of copper-containing NPs is associated with the attachment of copper NPs to the surface of the bacterial cell with subsequent disruption of the membrane potential, which further leads to the development of oxidative stress and damage to vital biomolecules. Copper-containing NPs have a pronounced antibacterial effect against bacterial phytopathogens of cultivated plants Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Erwinia amylovora, as well as against a number of bacteria pathogenic to humans and animals. Thus, copper NPs are promising agents for agriculture, but their effect on plants requires careful selection of optimal concentrations and comprehensive studies to avoid toxic effects.

Synthesis and Antifungal Evaluation of Magnetic Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Against Fusarium Oxysporum

Hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) have received much interest over the past decades because they have the potential to overcome the limits of single-component particles. This study proposes a hybrid magnetic magnesium oxide (m-MgO) NPs to combat the plant pathogenic fungus,Fusarium oxysporum(F. oxysporum). The m-MgO NPs were synthesized via ultrasonic mediated sol-gel method. UV-visible spectrometry confirms the successful formation of m-MgO NPs. In addition, the magnetic activity of m-MgO NPs was illustrated through a preliminary magnetic activity study. A disc diffusion assay was carried out to determine the effectiveness of m-MgO NPs to inhibit the growth ofF. oxysporum. The results showed that the zone of inhibition was 7.58 ± 0.30 mm at 10 mg/mL, suggesting that the synthesized m-MgO NPs are an effective fungicide to inhibit the growth ofF. oxysporum.

PtPd NPs-functionalized metal-organic framework-derived α-Fe2O3 porous spindles for efficient low-temperature detection of triethylamine.

In recent years, metal-organic framework (MOF) derivatives have gradually become ideal materials for gas sensors due to their controllable composition, diverse structures and open metal sites. In this research, a simplified hydrothermal method was applied to successfully prepare MOF-derived α-Fe2O3 spindles, and an in situ reduction method was then utilized to deposit Pt, Pd and PtPd bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) on the α-Fe2O3 spindles. The effects of noble metals Pt, Pd and PtPd on the gas-sensing properties of Fe2O3 were systematically examined. The PtPd/α-Fe2O3 sensor has enhanced gas-sensing performance for triethylamine (TEA), especially at PtPd content of 1.5 wt% and mass ratio of Pt : Pd = 90 : 10, where the response of the sensor to 100 ppm TEA at a lower temperature of 150 °C is 442, which is 34 times higher than that of the original α-Fe2O3 (response of 13). Additionally, the sensor demonstrated improved response/recovery properties and very respectable selectivity, repeatability, long-term stability within 30 days and lower detection limit (500 ppb) at 150 °C. Combining the results of XPS and O2-TPD, the enhanced gas-sensing properties of PtPd bimetallic-modified α-Fe2O3 over monometallic (Pt or Pd) modified α-Fe2O3 were analyzed, which can be attributed to the chemical and electronic sensitization of noble metals and the synergistic effect of the PtPd bimetallic NPs, resulting in more surface defects and enhanced oxygen adsorption capacity of the sensing material. This work provided an effective gas-sensing material for the low-temperature detection and analysis of triethylamine gas.

MOLECULAR STUDY OF CORE-SHELL RATIO EFFECT ON THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SIO2@AU-WATER NANOFLUID

Thermal conductivity (&amp;lambda;) and specific heat capacity (&lt;i&gt;c&lt;sub&gt;p&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt;) are essential thermophysical properties related to thermal storage systems. Molecular simulations of the shell-to-total-radius ratios (&amp;Phi;) of SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;@ Au nanoparticle (NP) are used to investigate their impact on the &lt;i&gt;c&lt;sub&gt;p&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt; and &amp;lambda; of water nanofluids (NFs) containing this NP. The roles of solid/liquid and solid/solid interfaces on &lt;i&gt;c&lt;sub&gt;p&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt; and &amp;lambda; are identified by using the calculations of the vibrational density of state (VDOS) of the SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;@Au nanoparticle, the core (SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; molecule), the shell (Au atom), and the thin layer of water molecules next to the particle surface. The effects of core-shell NPs on the characteristics of the base fluid are further understood by using the VDOS mismatch between the NP and the thin water layer and the radial distribution function of water molecules. The heat current contribution is discussed to view the &amp;lambda; increase mechanism of NF. It is found that &lt;i&gt;c&lt;sub&gt;p&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt; increases with increasing &amp;Phi;, while &amp;lambda; increases with decreasing &amp;Phi;. The convection component and the virial term consisting of the heat current are considerable contributions. New correlations are proposed for calculating the &lt;i&gt;c&lt;sub&gt;p&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt; and &amp;lambda; of NFs containing core-shell NPs, thus explaining the contributions of the components to &lt;i&gt;c&lt;sub&gt;p&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;/i&gt; and &amp;lambda; of NFs. The study of the effect of &amp;Phi; on the thermophysical characteristics of these NFs provides molecular insight into the roles of the solid/liquid and solid/solid interfaces. These results contribute to the understanding of the thermophysical properties of core-shell NFs and their uses in solar thermal applications.

Environmentally friendly loading of palladium nanoparticles on nanoporous PET track-etched membranes grafted by poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) via RAFT polymerization for the photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole.

Nanoporous track-etched membranes (TeMs) are highly versatile materials that have shown promise in various applications such as filtration, separation, adsorption, and catalysis due to their mechanical integrity and high surface area. The performance of TeMs as catalysts for removing toxic pollutants is greatly influenced by the pore diameter, density, and functionalization of the nanochannels. In this study, the synthesis of functionalized poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) TeMs with Pd nanoparticles (NPs) as catalysts for the photodegradation of the antibiotic metronidazole (MTZ) was methodically investigated and their catalytic activity under UV irradiation was compared. Before loading of the Pd NPs, the surface and nanopore walls of the PET TeMs were grafted by poly(1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP) via UV-initiated reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-mediated graft copolymerization. The use of RAFT polymerization allowed for precise control over the degree of grafting and graft lengths within the nanochannels of PVP grafted PET TeMs (PVP-g-PET). Pd NPs were then loaded onto PVP-g-PET using several environmentally friendly reducing agents such as ascorbic acid, sodium borohydride and a plant extract. In addition, a conventional thermal reduction technique was also applied for the reduction of the Pd NPs. The grafting process created a surface with high-sorption capacity for MTZ and also high stabilizing effect for Pd NPs due to the functional PVP chains on the PET substrate. The structure and composition of the composite membranes were elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, thermogravimetry, contact angle measurements and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopies. The effects of different types of reducing agents, pH, the amount of loaded catalyst and MTZ concentration on the MTZ catalytic degradation efficiency of the obtained composites were investigated. The efficiency of the catalyst prepared in the presence of ascorbic acid was superior to the others (89.86% removal at 30 mg L-1 of MTZ). Maximum removal of MTZ was observed at the natural pH (6.5) of the MTZ solution at a concentration of 30 mg per L MTZ. The removal efficiency was decreased by increasing the catalyst dosage and the initial MTZ concentration. The reaction rate constant was reduced from 0.0144 to 0.0096 min-1 by increasing the MTZ concentration from 20 to 50 mg L-1. The photocatalyst revealed remarkable photocatalytic activity even after 10 consecutive cycles.

Gut microbiome modulation: Ancillary effects of inorganic nanoparticles on gut microflora

The association of gut microflora and human health is being increasingly recognized, and the impact of gut microflora on the host is well characterized, including the body’s energy metabolism and immune system maintenance. Several human diseases, including metabolic, autoimmune, obesity, hypothyroidism, and intestinal disorders, are closely associated with gut dysbiosis. Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are extensively utilized in numerous fields due to their distinctive, attractive physicochemical properties. Estimation of the potential impacts of NPs, with a high number of microorganisms inside the human body (microbiota) and its genomes (microbiome), represents one of the most important aspects of nano-toxicology. This review article aims to provide information on the association of gut microflora alterations to diseases and describe the impacts of various inorganic NPs, including silver, zinc, selenium, titania, silicon, and copper, on gut microflora. Research on the effect of inorganic NPs on gut microflora of animal models and the poultry industry is reviewed. The response of pathogenic Enterobacter species to inorganic NPs has been expounded in detail. This review also highlights the need to focus on the ancillary effects of various inorganic NPs on gut microflora to expedite the suitable advancement of these particles for future use. Finally, the key opportunistic areas for the application of nanotechnology are underlined to manipulate the microbiome of gut dysbiosis, provide an overview, and address potential challenges and our perspective on this evolving field.

Investigating Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Piriformospora indica Roles in Mitigating the Harmful Effects of Drought Stress in Soybean: Antioxidant Enzymes and Oil Content

Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses that affects the quantity and quality of soybean production. This study was conducted to explore the role of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) application and Piriformospora indica inoculation in alleviating the adversities of drought stress on fatty acid composition and oil production in soybean. The results showed that seed oil synthesis was considerably reduced by drought stress, whereas the membrane lipid peroxidation was accelerated under drought stress condition. The applied NPs (especially 0.75g L-1 ) and P. indica enhanced the activities of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, PPO and APX) with simultaneous decrease in malondialdehyde. Under drought stress, an inverse relationship between protein and seed oil was observed, as by increasing protein content, seed oil decreased linearly. In addition, the main oil constituents, oleic and stearic acids increased, while linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids reached to the lowest level in severe drought stress (FC 20%). Interestingly, the beneficial effects of NPs and P. indica led to improvement in grain weight, fatty acid composition and oil content under drought stress. During drought stress, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids increased and stearic acid decreased considerably in P. indica and NPs treatments. However, combined NPs and P. indica was generally more effective in alleviation of drought stress deleterious effects than individual treatments.

Impact of ZnSO and ZnO Nanoparticles on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Lettuce

Micronutrient nanoparticles (NPs) are currently an option for chemical fertilization and biostimulation in crops. However, there is little information on the phytotoxic or biostimulatory effects of NPs at low concentrations of some elements, such as Zn. In this study, the effect of low concentrations of Zn oxide (ZnO) NPs on germination, growth variables, and nutritional attributes of lettuce (<i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) was evaluated in comparison to Zn sulfate. Romaine lettuce seeds were treated with ZnSO<sub arrange="stack">4</sub><sup arrange="stack">--</sup> × 7H₂O and ZnO NPs at Zn molar concentrations of 1 × 10⁻³, 5 × 10⁻³, 1 × 10⁻⁴, 5 × 10⁻⁴, 1 × 10⁻⁵, 5 × 10⁻⁵, 1 × 10⁻⁶, and 5 × 10⁻⁶. The seeds treated with ZnSO<sub arrange="stack">4</sub><sup arrange="stack">−</sup> at 5 × 10⁻⁶ registered the highest radicle length, 73% more than the control treatment. The seeds treated with ZnSO<sub arrange="stack">4</sub><sup arrange="stack">−</sup> at 5 × 10⁻³ registered the lowest values, with 50% less than the control treatment. ZnO NPs at 5 × 10⁻⁶ significantly increased content of chlorophyll A and B and total phenolics. These results indicate the possible existence of a mechanism related to the intrinsic nanoparticle properties, especially at low concentrations.