Effects Of NPs Research Articles

Dual functionalization of polyamide reverse osmosis thin film composite membrane for improving chlorine resistance

Contemporary high-efficiency polyamide (PA) membranes are constructed using aliphatic or aromatic amines combined with acyl chlorides. Nevertheless, the aromatic rings attached to the N–H group within the amide linkages are vulnerable to degradation by chlorine. The surface of a PA reverse osmosis (RO) membrane was altered in this work through the dual functionalization of tannic acid (TA) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to improve separation performance, chlorine resistance, and anti-bacterial capabilities of membranes. This study provides an insight in the role and synergistic effects of TA and Ag NPs for enhancing the chlorine resistance of the modified TFC membranes. The outcome indicated that the RO-TA/Ag modified membrane exhibited the maximum rejection of 98.31%, slightly surpassing the pristine RO membrane, which had a rejection rate of 96.52%. The RO-TA/Ag modified membrane also shown improved chlorine tolerance against 500 ppm sodium hypochlorite solution (NaClO), as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement which revealed reduced chlorine content in contrast to pristine RO and RO-TA membrane. The RO-TA/Ag membrane exhibited the largest inhibitory zone for both Gram-positive, S. aureus and Gram-negative, E. coli bacteria. The synergistic effects of the dual functionalization of TA and Ag NPs which render the modified membrane with high anti-chlorine and anti-bacterial capabilities are discussed.

SiO2 nanoparticle attenuates phytotoxicity of graphene quantum dots in Zea mays (L.) plants

AbstractThe tremendous potential of graphene quantum dots (gqds) in biomedical applications has raised increasing concerns about their risks to ecosystem and human beings. silicon dioxide nanoparticles (sio2 nps) serve as promising nanofertilizers in enhancing plant tolerance against abiotic stresses, but the knowledge of their role in regulating crop responses to gqd stress is far from sufficient in depth and width. The present work offers insight into the effects of sio2 nps on the root uptake and phytotoxicity of gqds in maize (zea mays L.) seedlings. the addition of sio2 nps significantly decreased the accumulation of gqds in the roots and leaves by 33.3% and 58.8%, respectively. physiologically, the presence of sio2 nps led to substantial enhancement in photosynthesis and antioxidant enzyme activities relative to the plants under the gqds stress. responsive differentially expressed genes were mainly associated with crucial pathways regarding photosynthesis, the mapk signaling pathway in the maize plants, and glutathione metabolism. sio2 nps alleviated the gqds‐induced oxidative stress and helped to re‐establish redox homeostasis by up‐regulating the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzyme activities. these results showed that the root application of sio2 nps alleviated the gqd‐induced inhibition to the photosynthesis and growth of crop plants, which are of great significance for advancing the sustainable utilization of nanofertilizers in agriculture.

Antibacterial activity of high surface area zinc oxide nanoparticles for controlling black rot disease of Chinese kale

AbstractZinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are inorganic compounds listed as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) materials and have been used in plant production as well as for plant disease control. This study investigated the antibacterial efficacy of ZnO NPs with various surface areas against Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, assessed the effectiveness of ZnO NPs in controlling black rot disease in Chinese kale, and examined the influence of ZnO NPs application on soil bacterial communities. The results showed that ZnO NPs with high surface area effectively inhibited X. campestris pv. campestris by restraining growth and causing cell damage. Seed treatment and foliar spray application of high surface area ZnO NPs at 250 μg/mL significantly reduced the disease severity of black rot. Furthermore, in the greenhouse experiment, the soil bacterial communities in the treatment of plants applied with ZnO NPs did not differ from those in soil of nontreated plants. Therefore, ZnO NPs have the potential to serve as an alternative substance for plant disease management.

Enhancing nitroaromatics reduction through synergistic participation of Ni NPs and nickel ferrite/C nanocomposite: A path towards greener industrial viability

Ni/Fe-citrate gel was reduced in an H2/Ar, forming Ni NPs decorated NiFe2O4-C for eco-friendly nitroaromatics reduction. In-depth characterization of the catalyst highlighted the synergistic interaction between Ni NPs and NiFe2O4 (Ni/NiFe2O4-C), achieving ∼ 99 % conversion of nitroaromatics into amines at 70 °C and 0.5 MPa H2 in water. The cooperative effects of Ni NPs, NiFe2O4, and carbon were instrumental in enhancing the adsorption of hydrogen and nitroaromatics, and the kinetic study showed effectively reducing the activation barrier for the reduction. The HR-TEM, XPS, and H2-TPR provided valuable insights into the formation of Ni NPs and the NiFe2O4 framework, emphasizing their synergistic relationship. Raman spectroscopy and TGA analysis confirmed the formation of carbon. Remarkably, the highly active Ni/NiFe2O4-C catalyst recycled for five cycles without losing activity. p-Aminophenol on 7 g will receive significant attention, emphasizing the substantial promise of this sustainable transition metal-based catalyst for the eco-friendly hydrogenation of nitroaromatics.

The role of reduced graphene oxide on mitigation of lead phytotoxicity in Triticum aestivum L.plants at morphological and physiological levels

Rapid global industrialization and an increase in population have enhanced the risk of heavy metals accumulation in plant bodies to disrupt the morphological, biochemical, and physiological processes of plants. To cope with this situation, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) NPs were used first time to mitigate abiotic stresses caused in plant. In this study, rGO NPs were synthesized and reduced with Tecoma stans plant leave extract through modified Hummer's methods. The well prepared rGO NPs were characterized by ultra-violet visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, pot experiment was conducted with four different concentrations (15, 30, 60, 120 mg/L) of rGO NPs and three different concentrations (300, 500,700 mg/L) of lead (Pb) stress were applied. To observe the mitigative effects of rGO NPs, 30 mg/L of rGO NPs and 700 mg/L of Pb were used in combination. Changes in morphological and biochemical characteristics of wheat plants were observed for both Pb stress and rGO NPs treatments. Pb was found to inhibit the morphological and biochemical characteristics of plants. rGO NPs alone as well as in combination with Pb was found to increase the chlorophyll content of wheat plants. Under Pb stress conditions and rGO NPs treatments, antioxidant enzyme activities like ascorbate peroxidases (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were observed. Current findings revealed that greenly reduced graphene oxide NPs can effectively promote growth in wheat plants under Pb stress by elevating chlorophyll content of leaves, reducing the Pb uptake, and suppressing ROS produced due to Pb toxicity.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of selenium nanoparticles-antibiotic conjugates against anti-multidrug-resistant bacteria

The crucial demand to overcome the issue of multidrug resistance is required to refine the performance of antibiotics. Such a process can be achieved by fastening them to compatible nanoparticles to obtain effective pharmaceuticals at a low concentration. Thus, selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) are considered biocompatible agents that are applied to prevent infections resulting from bacterial resistance to multi-antibiotics. The current evaluated the effectiveness of Se NPs and their conjugates with antibiotics such as amikacin (AK), levofloxacin (LEV), and piperacillin (PIP) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). In addition, the study determined the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of Se NPs and their conjugates with LEV against urinary tract pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), P. aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The result of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) for eight isolates of P. aeruginosa revealed that the conjugation of Se NPs with AK, LEV, and PIP resulted in a reduction in the concentration of antibiotic-conjugated Se NPs. The concentration was found to be about 10–20 times lower than that of bare antibiotics. The MIC of the Se NPs with LEV (i.e., Se NPs:LEV) for S. aureus, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli was found to be 1.4:0.5, 0.7:0.25, 22:8, and 11:4 µg/mL, respectively. The results of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) demonstrated that Se NPs:LEV conjugate have inhibited 50 % of the mature biofilms of S. aureus, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli at a concentration of 27.5 ± 10.5, 18.8 ± 3.1, 40.6 ± 10.7, and 21.6 ± 3.3 µg/mL, respectively compared to the control. It has been suggested that the antibiotic-conjugated Se NPs have great potential for biomedical applications. The conjugation of Se NPs with AK, LEV, and PIP increases the antibacterial potency against resistant pathogens at a low concentration.

Unlocking the potential of SiO2 and CeO2 nanoparticles for arsenic mitigation in Vigna mungo L. Hepper (Blackgram).

In this study, the interaction effects of NaAsO2 (1 and 5μM), SiO2 NPs (10 and 100mg/L) and CeO2 NPs (10 and 100mg/L) were assessed in Vigna mungo (Blackgram). The treatment of NaAsO2, SiO2, CeO2-NPs and combinations of NPs & As were applied to blackgram plants under hydroponic conditions. After its application, the morpho-physiological, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical study were evaluated. At 10 and 100mg/L of SiO2 and CeO2-NPs, there was an increase in antioxidative enzymatic activity (p < 0.05) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, substantial ROS accumulation was observed at 1 and 5μM NaAsO2 and 100mg/L SiO2 NPs (p < 0.05). Additionally, at such concentrations, there is a substantial reduction in photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen fixation, chlorosis, and plant development when compared to controls (p < 0.05). The combination of SiO2 and CeO2 NPs (10 and 100mg/L) with NaAsO2 decreased superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide and improved SOD, CAT, APX, GR, and chlorophyll pigments (p < 0.05). Further FTIR results were evaluated for documenting elemental and phytochemical analysis.

Glycyrrhizin functionalized CuS Nanoprobes for NIR Light-based therapeutic mitigation of acne vulgaris.

Acne Vulgaris or Acne is a multifactorial bacterial infection caused by Propionibacterium acne, leading to inflammation and decreased quality of life, especially in adolescence. Currently, antibiotics and retinoids are preferred for treating acne. However, their continuous usage may lead to anti-microbial resistance and other side effects. Therefore, research on developing effective strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance and improve acne healing is ongoing. The current work reports the synthesis and evaluation of near-infrared light-absorbing copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles loaded with a biomolecule, Glycyrrhizin (Ga). The photothermal efficacy studies, and in-vitro and in-vivo experiments indicated that the Ga-CuS NPs generated localized hyperthermia in acne-causing bacteria, leading to their complete growth inhibition. The results indicated that the Ga-Cus NPs possess excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in the acne and inflammatory models. This could be from the synergistic effect of CuS NPs mediated mild Photothermal effect and inherent pharmacological properties of Ga. Further detailed studies of the formulations can pave the way for application in cosmetic clinics for the effective and minimally invasive management of Acne-like conditions.

Assessment of Protective Effects of DTPA, NAC, and Taurine on Possible Cytotoxicity Induced by Individual and Combined Zinc Oxide and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles in SH-SY5Y Cells.

The present study investigated the cytotoxic effects of ZnO, CuO, and mixed combinations of them on SH-SY5Y cells. For this purpose, the cells were exposed to various concentrations of these NPs alone for 24-96h and as a mixture for 24h. Variations in cell viability were noted. MTT results showed that ZnO and/or CuO NPs decreased cell survival by about 59% at 200 (ZnO, at 24h) and 800µg/ml (ZnO and/or CuO, at 72 and 96h). When the NR assay was used, slight decreases were noted with ZnO NPs at 72 and 96h. With CuO NPs alone and NPs in a mixture, only the highest concentrations caused 40 and 70% decreases in cell survival, respectively. Especially with NR assays, DTPA, NAC, or taurine provided marked protection. ROS levels were increased with the highest concentration of CuO NPs and with all concentrations of the mixture. The highest concentration of ZnO NPs and the lowest concentration of CuO NPs caused slight decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential levels. Additionally, increases were noted in caspase 3/7 levels with ZnO and CuO NPs alone or with a mixture of them. Intracellular calcium levels were decreased in this system. These findings demonstrated that ZnO and CuO NPs, either separately or in combination, had a modest cytotoxic effect on SH-SY5Y cells. Protection obtained with DTPA, NAC, or taurine against the cytotoxicity of these NPs and the ROS-inducing effect of CuO NPs and the NPs' mixture suggests that oxidative stress might be involved in the cytotoxicity mechanisms of these NPs.

Evaluation of the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO NPs) nanoparticles synthesized by green synthesis on Caenorhabditis elegans.

In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has caused the products obtained with this technology to be used more daily. Information on the effects of these products, which provide great advantages in every respect, on human health and the environment is insufficient. It has been suggested that these nanoparticles may have toxic effects on living things, mostly in animal experiments and cell cultures. In this paper, the organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), which contains a genome and biochemical ways highly similar to humans, is used to understand and reveal the metabolism of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) toxicological effects. The toxicological effects of ZnO NPs on C. elegans organisms were investigated and the results were evaluated in terms of environment and human health. C. elegans was exposed to commercial ZnO NPs and green synthesized ZnO NPs from Olea europaea (olive tree, OLE). LC50 values were determined by probit analysis (green synthesized ZnO NP LC5024h = 84.97mg/L, LC5072h = 33.27mg/L, commercial ZnO NPs LC5024h = 5.75mg/L, LC5072h = 1.91mg/L). When the survival times of C. elegans were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method, it was seen that commercial ZnO NPs were more toxic than green synthesized ZnO NPs. In MTT tests, it was clearly seen that commercial ZnO NPs and green synthesized ZnO NPs entered the cell and caused different cytotoxicity. While there was a difference between control and 0.5, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50mg/L doses in commercial ZnO NP applications, there were significant differences between control and 25, 50mg/L concentrations in green synthesized ZnO NP applications.

Synthesis and application of Cu-CaTiO3-GO ternary composite: A new visible-light active multifunctional photocatalyst efficient towards antibiotic cefixime degradation and H2 evolution reaction

To combat the issues of energy scarcity and environmental pollution, a visible-light responsive, ternary photocatalyst (Cu-CaTiO3-GO) was fabricated, by photo-depositing Cu nanoparticles over a CaTiO3-GO binary composite. The physicochemical characteristics of Cu-CaTiO3-GO were investigated using XRD, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, EDS-mapping XPS, Raman, FT-IR, BET, EIS, UV–vis DRS, and PL techniques. In comparison with pristine CaTiO3, and binary composites (Cu-CaTiO3, CaTiO3-GO), the ternary hybrid exhibited superior photocatalytic activity for H2generation as well as antibiotic cefixime (CFX) degradation. Under LED light, the rate of H2 generation over Cu-CaTiO3-GO accumulated to 57.69 mmolh−1, while the photodegradation efficiency for CFX reached 94.1 % in 100 min with 53.4 % of TOC removal. The upgraded performance is credited to synergistic effects of Cu NPs (SPR effect), CaTiO3 (specialized cuboid-like morphology), and GO (high conductivity), co-existing in the trio-hybrid, which resulted in a greatly increased surface area, an expanded spectral response range, a stronger adsorption property, efficient charge migration and separation extent. Ternary catalyst performed well even in the 4 recycling tests (retaining 79.4 % CFX removal and 52.51 mmolh−1 H2 evolution efficiency). In Cu-CaTiO3-GO system, the electron transport channel (Cu → CaTiO3 → GO) with adequate band potentials effectively supports both photocatalytic oxidation and reduction. Photoelectrons are enriched and transferred by plasmonic Cu, and then captured by GO, an e- sink. This maximizes composite photo redox capability, rapidly generating active radicals (OH), and (O2-), degrading CFX to simpler molecules and reducing proton to H2. The effectiveness of Cu-CaTiO3-GO was even tested in the real water matrices. Besides, degradation intermediates of CFX were elucidated using LC-MS, and the decomposition pathway was suggested. Finally, the probable photocatalytic reaction mechanism was deduced for both the degradation and H2 generation processes. The current study proposes a non-noble transition metal-based perovskite-type photocatalytic material for both clean energy generation and wastewater treatment.

Co-applied magnesium nanoparticles and biochar modulate salinity stress via regulating yield, biochemical attribute, and fatty acid profile of Physalis alkekengi L.

While previous studies have addressed the desirable effects of biochar (BC) or magnesium nanoparticles (Mg NPs) on salinity stress individually, there is a research gap regarding their simultaneous application. Additionally, the specific mechanisms underlying the effects of BC and Mg NPs on salinity in Physalis alkekengi L. remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of BC and Mg NPs on P. alkekengi L. under salinity stress conditions. A pot experiment was conductedwith salinity at 100 and 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), as well as soil applied BC (4% v/v) and foliar applied Mg NPs (500 mg L-1) on physiological and biochemical properties of P. alkekengi L. The results represented that salinity, particularly 200 mM NaCl, significantly reduced plant yield (58%) and total chlorophyll (Chl, 36%), but increased superoxide dismutase (SOD, 82%) and catalase (CAT, 159%) activity relative to non-saline conditions. However, the co-application of BC and Mg NPs mitigated these negative effects and improved fruit yield, Chl, anthocyanin, and ascorbic acid. It also decreased the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Salinity also altered the fatty acid composition, increasing saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), while decreasing monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). The heat map analysis showed that fruit yield, anthocyanin, Chl, and CAT were sensitive to salinity. The findings can provide insights into the possibility of these amendments as sustainable strategies to mitigate salt stress and enhance plant productivity in affected areas.

Synthesis of Cr(OH)3/ZrO2@Co-based metal-organic framework from waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) for hydrogen production via formic acid dehydrogenation at low temperature

Recycling waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into value-added ligand materials for synthesizing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) derived catalysts is an eco-friendly and economically viable process. The waste PET bottles were readily broken down into 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDC) ligands in a highly alkaline environment. Herein, we fabricated a Co@Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 catalyst via the carbonization of PET-derived UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks for the catalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid at low temperatures. The as-prepared Co@Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 catalyst provides a turnover frequency of 7685 h−1 for hydrogen generation (120 mL in 1.5 min) at ambient temperature. This is due to the uniform dispersion of the fine metal nanoparticle (NPs) (Co NPs, ∼3.75 nm) and the synergistic effect of the Co NPs and Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 supports. In addition, the characterization results indicate that porous Zr-MOFs may effectively enclose tiny particles, which is favorable for enhanced dehydrogenation performance. In addition, the Co@Cr(OH)3/ZrO2 catalysts demonstrated excellent stability against aggregation and were recyclable over seven cycles without any significant catalytic loss. Thus, this study provides a sustainable methodology for the development of MOF-derived, effective, and stable catalysts for formic acid dehydrogenation towards hydrogen production.

Enhanced bactericidal, antibiofilm and antioxidative response of Lawsonia inermis leaf extract synthesized ZnO NPs loaded with commercial antibiotic.

Globally, antibiotic resistance is a challenging issue in healthcare sector. The emergence of multiple drug-resistant bacteria has forced us to modify existing medicines and or formulate newer medicines that are effective and inexpensive. In this perspective, this study involves theformation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) by utilizing the Lawsonia inermis (Li) leaf extract. The prepared L. inermis leaf extract mediated ZnO NPs (Li-ZnO NPs) were bio-physically characterized. The antibacterial and radical scavenging effects of Li-ZnO NPs were evaluated. In addition, ZnO NPs were conjugated with standard antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) and its drug loading efficiency, drug release and antibacterial efficacy were tested and compared with non-drugloaded ZnO NPs. An absorbance peak at 340nm was noted for Li-ZnO NPs. After conjugation with the drug, two absorbance peaks- one at 242nm characteristic of ciprofloxacin and the other at 350nm characteristics of ZnO NPs were observed. The crystallite size was 18.7nm as determined by XRD. The antibacterial effect was higher on Gram-positive (S. aureus and S. pyogenes) than the Gram-negative pathogens (E. coli and K. pneumoniae). Inhibition of S. aureus and S. pyogenes biofilm at 100μgmL-1were, respectively, 97.5 and 92.6%. H2O2 free radicals was inhibited to 90% compared to the standard ascorbic acid at 100μgmL-1. After drug loading, the FTIR spectrum confirmed the existence of ciprofloxacin peaks at 965cm-1 and Zn-O bond at 492cm-1. The drug loading capacity of 15nm sized ZnO NPs was higher (58, 75, 90 and 95% at 1, 2.5, 5 and 10% drug concentrations, respectively) compared to 20nm. Similarly, the percentage of drug (ciprofloxacin) released from 15nm ZnO NPs were increased to 90% at 10% drug-loaded samples, respectively. Also, the antibiotic loaded ZnO NPs had significant antibacterial effects against tested bacteria compared to Li-ZnO NPs and ciprofloxacin alone. This revealed that the antibiotic loaded ZnO NPs offer a sustainable route to treat multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections.

Synergistic Stabilization of Zn Metal Anodes by 3D Carbon Frameworks with Multiple Ion Channels Loaded with Zincophilic BaTiO3 Nanoparticles

Aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) suffer from rampant Zn dendrites growth, corrosion and sluggish transport kinetics, all of which have a serious impact on their performance and practical applications. Therefore, porous carbon nanofibers (BTO@PCNFs) loaded with BaTiO3 nanoparticles (BTO NPs) are constructed as a multifunctional interlayer for stabilizing the Zn anodes. Owing to the synergistic effect of BTO NPs and 3D porous carbon framework, this interlayer can achieve uniform electric field distribution, accelerate Zn2+ migration, and promote ion flux homogenization, thus leading to uniform Zn deposition. Meanwhile, the BTO@PCNFs interlayer demonstrates excellent anti‐corrosion effect, which can effectively prevent the side reactions. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of interlayers, the BTO@PCNFs multifunctional interlayers achieve a comprehensive optimization of the Zn anodes. The BTO@PCNFs‐Zn electrode exhibits lower nucleation overpotential (33.5 mV) at 0.5 mA cm−2. The Zn//Zn symmetrical cell with BTO@PCNFs interlayer exhibits ultra‐low overpotential (14 mV) and ultra‐long cycle life (5250 h at 0.5 mA cm−2). Even at high current density (30 mA cm−2), the BTO@PCNFs‐Zn electrode can be stably cycled for more than 830 h, achieving an ultra‐high cumulative capacity of 12 450 mAh cm−2. The multifunctional interlayers can provide a reference for the design of high‐performance Zn anodes.

Therapeutic effect of ZnO NPs–polyhexanide-hydrogel on Staphylococcus aureus-induced skin wound infection in mice

Nanometer zinc oxide (ZnONPs) offers strong antibacterial, wound healing, hemostatic benefits, and UV protection. Additionally, poly(hexamethylene biguanide)hydrochloride (PHMB) is an environmentally friendly polymer with strong bactericidal properties. However, the synergistic effect of the combination of ZnONPs and PHMB has not been previously explored. The purpose of this study is to explore the synergies of ZnONPs and PHMB and the healing efficacy of ZnO NPs–PHMB-hydrogel on skin wounds in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, the mice were subjected to skin trauma to create a wound model and were subsequently infected with S. aureus, and then divided into various experimental groups. The repair effect was evaluated by assessing the healing rate, as well as measuring the levels of TNF-α, IL-2, EGF, and TGF-β1 contents in the tissue. On the 4th and 9th days post-modeling, the Z-P group exhibited notably higher healing rates compared to the control group. However, on the 15th day, both the Z-P and AC groups achieved healing rates exceeding 99%. ZnO NPs–PHMB-hydrogel promoted the formation of a fully restored epithelium, increased new hair follicles and sebaceous glands beneath the epidermis, and markedly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, which was markedly distinct from the control group. On the 7th day, the Z-P group exhibited significantly higher levels of EGF and TGF-β1, along with a considerable reduction in the TNF-α levels as compared with the control group. These results affirmed that ZnO NPs–PHMB-hydrogel effectively inhibits S. aureus infection and accelerates skin wound healing.

Evaluation of Cleaning Soiled Deposits and Crusts from Archaeological Glass Using Laser Treatment with Ag/Au Nanoparticles

The study aims to evaluate the effect of silver and gold nanoparticles during the laser cleaning process of glass artifacts. It is the first time that nanoparticles have been used to clean antique glass, as far as the authors are aware. In the context of this study, work was done on glass samples extracted from excavations that suffer from dense layers of corrosion products, soil deposits, brittle, easy to break, and cannot bear pressure. To characterize the investigated glass shards and assess the cleaning procedure, a variety of analytical techniques, including the transmission electron microscope (TEM), digital microscope, stereomicroscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and color change measurement, have been used. The XRD analysis revealed different minerals such as ferrosilite, hillebrandite, and jacobsite, in the black corrosion layer, and calcite, syngenite, and arcanite in the white crust layer. The results of the microscopic examination employed in the evaluation procedure demonstrated that using Ag NPs with laser perfectly removed the tough crust layers without scratching the surface. The cleaned surface became smooth, homogenous and more transparent. The elemental analysis results by (SEM-EDX) revealed a significant reduction in the proportion elements of the (Al, Fe, p, and Mg) in the corrosion layer and their loss in the cleaned areas. Measurement of color change indicated that laser-treated glass samples with the addition of Ag NPs gave higher (ΔE*), confirming the influential role of this method in cleaning archaeological glass. It was also observed that the effect of Ag NPs with Laser assistance decreases the required time for the cleaning process. Thus the heat generated by the laser-treated was reduced, so the laser-treated with Ag NPs is recommended for use in the archaeological glass cleaning process.

Fructose improves titanium dioxide nanoparticles induced alterations in developmental competence of mouse oocytes

AimsWe investigated the effects of intraperitoneal injections of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs, 100 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days on the developmental competence of murine oocytes. Furthermore, study the effects of TiO2 NPs on antioxidant and oxidative stress biomarkers, as well as their effects on expression of apoptotic and hypoxia inducing factor-1α (HIF1A) protein translation. Moreover, the possible ameliorating effects of intraperitoneal injections of fructose (2.75 mM/ml) was examined.Materials and methodsThirty sexually mature (8–12 weeks old; ~ 25 g body weight) female mice were used for the current study. The female mice were assigned randomly to three treatment groups: Group1 (G1) mice were injected intraperitoneal (ip) with deionized water for 5 consecutive days; Group 2 (G2) mice were injected ip with TiO2 NPs (100 mg/kg BW) for 5 consecutive days; Group 3 (G3) mice were injected ip with TiO2 NPs (100 mg/kg BW + fructose (2.75 mM) for 5 consecutive days.ResultsNano-titanium significantly decreased expression of GSH, GPx, and NO, expression of MDA and TAC increased. The rates of MI, MII, GVBD and degenerated oocytes were significantly less for nano-titanium treated mice, but the rate of activated oocytes was significantly greater than those in control oocytes. TiO2 NPs significantly increased expression of apoptotic genes (BAX, Caspase 3 and P53) and HIF1A. Intraperitoneal injection of fructose (2.75 mM/kg) significantly alleviated the detrimental effects of TiO2 NPs. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that fructose mitigated adverse effects of TiO2 NPs to alter the cell surface of murine oocytes.ConclusionResults of this study suggest that the i/p infusion of fructose for consecutive 5 days enhances development of murine oocytes and decreases toxic effects of TiO2 NPs through positive effects on oxidative and antioxidant biomarkers in cumulus-oocyte complexes and effects to inhibit TiO2-induced increases in expression of apoptotic and hypoxia inducing factors.

Combined exposure to hypoxia and nanoplastics leads to negative synergistic oxidative stress-mediated effects in the water flea Daphnia magna

In this study, we investigated the combined effects of hypoxia and NPs on the water flea Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater environments. To measure and understand the oxidative stress responses, we used acute toxicity tests, fluorescence microscopy, enzymatic assays, Western blot analyses, and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Our findings demonstrate that hypoxia and NPs exhibit a negative synergy that increases oxidative stress, as indicated by heightened levels of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzyme activity. These effects lead to more severe reproductive and growth impairments in D. magna compared to a single-stressor exposure. In this work, molecular investigations revealed complex pathway activations involving HIF-1α, NF-κB, and mitogen-activated protein kinase, illustrating the intricate molecular dynamics that can occur in combined stress conditions. The results underscore the amplified physiological impacts of combined environmental stressors and highlight the need for integrated strategies in the management of aquatic ecosystems.

Potential mitigation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles against 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis through inhibiting the canonical NF-κB pathway

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have been widely employed in various industry fields, which makes consumers concerned about their health impact. Our previous work displayed that TiO2 NPs participated in the mitigation of TNBS-induced colitis, but the mechanism is still unknown. This work aimed to explore the role of oxidative stress and NF-κB pathway in the effect of TiO2 NPs on TNBS-induced colitis. The results showed that TiO2 NPs administration reduced the DAI score of colitis mice after TNBS enema. TiO2 NPs did not alter oxidative stress status (GSH/GSSG), but repaired the gut dysbacteriosis and inhibited the canonical NF-κB pathway activation in TNBS-induced colitis mice, manifested as a decrease in pathogenic bacteria and an increase in beneficial bacteria, as well as down-regulation of toll-like receptors (TLRs), IKKα, IKKβ, p65 and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ) in mRNA level, and the increased transcription of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-12), along with the declined protein level of TNF-α in TiO2 NPs treated colitis mice. The present study suggested that oral TiO2 NPs administration inhibited the canonical NF-κB pathway activation by repairing gut dysbacteriosis, which made a predominant role in alleviating colitis. These findings provided a new perspective for exploring the safety of TiO2 NPs.