Inhibition Effect Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of Turbinaria ornata mediated Zn/ZnO green nanoparticles as potential antioxidant and anti-diabetic agent of enhanced activity

Turbinaria ornata marine macro-algae (TUN) have been applied as carriers for the metallic zinc/ZnO blended nanoparticles, which were synthesized by implementing the extracted phytochemicals of the algae. The resulting hybrid bio-composite (Zn@ZnO/TUN) was characterized as a potential product of promising antioxidant and antidiabetic characteristics in synergetic studies. The obtained composite demonstrate t6he existing or complex biological active groups related to zinc (Zn-O stretching and tetrahedral Zn coordination) and organic groups (amino, methyl, carboxylic, alkynes, P=O, C–C–O, C=N, and N–O) corresponding to the extracted phytochemicals of algae (polysaccharides, phospholipids, lipids, fucose, and phosphodiester). The assessment of Zn@ZnO/TUN hybrid as an anti-oxidant agent validated excellent effectiveness towards the commonly examined radicals (DPPH (88.2 ± 1.44%), nitric oxide (92.7 ± 1.71%), ABTS (90.5 ± 1.8%), and O2●− (30.6 ± 1.32%), considering the determined performance for the commercially used standard (ascorbic acid). Regarding the antidiabetic properties, the incorporation of Zn@ZnO/TUN inhibits the function and activities of the key oxidizing enzymes, either the commercial forms (α-amylase (88.7 ± 1.3%), α-glucosidase (98.4 ± 1.3%), and amyloglucosidase (97.3 ± 1.4%) or the crude intestinal active forms (α-amylase (66.2 ± 1.4%) and α-glucosidase (95.1 ± 1.5%). This inhibitory effectiveness of Zn@ZnO/TUN is significantly better than the measured performances using commercialized miglitol drugs and slightly better than acarbose. Considering the expense and adverse effects of conventional medications, the synthesized Zn@ZnO/TUN blend could be evaluated as a marketable antidiabetic and antioxidant medication. The findings also demonstrate the influence of the derived phytochemicals from Turbinaria ornata and the incorporation of its algae residuals as carriers for the metal nanoparticles on the biological function of the composite. The cytotoxicity investigation reflected safety effect of the composite on colorectal fibroblast cells (CCD-18Co) (96.3% cell viability) and inhibition effect on cancerous colorectal cells (HCT-116) (47.3% cell viability).

Tyrosinase Inhibition and Antimelanogenic Effects of Resorcinol-Containing Compounds.

Tyrosinases (TYRs) are copper-containing metalloenzymes present in a large diversity of species. In human, hTYR is responsible for pivotal steps in melanogenesis, catalysing the oxidation of l-tyrosine to l-DOPA and further to dopaquinone. While numerous TYR inhibitors have been reported, polyphenolic compounds tend to dominate the literature. However, many of these compounds, particularly monophenols and catechols, have been identified as alternative substrates rather than true inhibitors, given their structural similarity to natural substrates. Resorcinol-containing compounds have emerged as promising candidates to address this challenge, as the meta-dihydroxy moiety in resorcinol demonstrates resistance to TYR-mediated oxidation, while retaining the favourable interactions with copper ions provided by the hydroxy groups. Although their precise mechanism of action remains debated, resorcinol derivatives have yielded some of the most active compounds against isolated mushroom and human TYRs, as well as clinically used dermocosmetic agents like rucinol and thiamidol, which exhibited very promising effects in patients with facial melasma. This review outlines the development of resorcinol-containing TYR inhibitors, categorized by scaffold type, ranging from simple alkyl analogues to intricate synthetic derivatives. Mechanistic insights about the resorcinol-TYR interaction are also presented and debated.

Unraveling the interplay of common groundwater ions in arsenic removal by sulfide-modified nanoscale zerovalent iron.

Sulphidation of nZVI (S-nZVI) has shown to significantly improve the arsenic removal capacity of nZVI, concurrently modifying the sequestration mechanism. However, to better apply S-nZVI for groundwater arsenic remediation, the impact of groundwater coexisting ions on the efficacy of arsenic uptake by S-nZVI needs to be investigated. This present study evaluates the potential of S-nZVI to remove arsenic in the presence of typical groundwater coexisting ions such as Cl-, HA, HCO3-, PO43- and SO42- through batch adsorption experiments. Individually, PO43- and HA had a dominant inhibition effect, while SO42- promoted As(III) removal by S-nZVI. Conversely, for As(V) removal, HCO3- and SO42- impeded the removal process. X-ray spectroscopic investigation suggests that the coexisting ions can either compete with arsenic for the adsorption sites, influence the S-nZVI corrosion rates and/or generate distinct corrosion products, thereby interfering with arsenic removal by S-nZVI. To investigate the cumulative effects of these ions, a 25-1 Fractional Factorial Design of experiments was employed, wherein the concentration of all the ions were varied simultaneously in an optimized manner, and their impact on arsenic removal by S-nZVI was observed. Our results shows that when these ions are present concurrently, PO43-, SO42- and HA still exerted a dominant influence on As(III) removal, whereas HCO3- was the main ions affecting As(V) removal, although the combined influence of the ions was not merely a summation of their individual effects. Overall, the finding of our study might provide valuable insight for predicting the actual performance of S-nZVI in field-scale applications for the remediation of arsenic-contaminated groundwater.

Determining the critical time points for hydrate formation in the presence of kinetic hydrate inhibitors: A rheological and kinetic study

Kinetic hydrate inhibitors have the characteristics of delaying hydrate nucleation and reducing hydrate growth rate. The utilized of kinetic hydrate inhibitors for hydrate blockage risk management is a promising technology for hydrate prevention in oil and gas industry. In this study, the rheological and kinetic properties of gas–water systems contained pure water, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and newly-synthesized inhibitor during hydrate formation at different subcooling degrees were in situ characterized using a high-pressure rheometer. By analyzing the experimental results, the concept of ‘critical time’ have been proposed to divide the time-varying process of hydrate formation into multiple stages. The three critical times indicated distinct trends in viscosity and pressure changes, as well as varying risks of hydrate blockage in hydrate prevention. The results further compared the differences in determining critical time through pressure and viscosity. The critical time of hydrate nucleation determined by viscosity was earlier than pressure due to the hypothesis of lag in gas consumption. The critical time of rapid hydrate growth determined by viscosity was later than gas consumption, which may be due to that the sharp increase in viscosity requires the aggregation of hydrates. According to the inhibition effect evaluation results determined by three critical times, it was found that the newly-synthesized inhibitor was more effective than polyvinyl pyrrolidone in inhibiting nucleation, delaying rapid hydrate growth time and reaching high viscosity time. This study can provide a comprehensive evaluation method for assessing the performance of kinetic hydrate inhibitors from both kinetic and rheological perspectives.

Investigation of the energy gap and anti-corrosion activities of triethanolamine lauryl sulfate for carbon steel in 1.0 M HCl using DFT theory and electrochemical studies

Corrosion inhibition is a critical strategy in the industry to mitigate the detrimental effects of corrosion. Green inhibitors are a concern and are encouraged to apply in various ways. Triethanolamine lauryl sulfate (TLS) investigates as a green corrosion inhibition for carbon steel in 1 M HCl using weight loss and electrochemical measurements. A weight loss study revealed that 100 μM of TLS had the highest inhibition effectiveness of 95.7 %. Tafel estimations from the polarization profiles showed that 100 μM had an optimal inhibition effectiveness of about 96.3 %. The physical adsorption of TLS on the carbon steel surface, which followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, was ascribed to the inhibitive effect. The results declare that TLS functioned as an inhibitor of mixed types. For TLS, the adsorption Gibb's free energy is −19.6 kJ mol−1, indicating spontaneous and physisorption-based. The energy gap of TLS is evaluated theoretically using density functional theory (DFT), and a lower value indicates its great donation ability of electron’s to the carbon steel. The mechanism of adsorption of TLS onto the metal surfaces is illustrated in terms of experimental and theoretical calculations.

TBK1 is paradoxical in tumor development: a focus on the pathway mediating IFN-I expression

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a member of the IKK family and plays a crucial role in the activation of non-canonical NF-κB signaling and type I interferon responses. The aberrant activation of TBK1 contributes to the proliferation and survival of various types of tumor cells, particularly in specific mutational or tumorous contexts. Inhibitors targeting TBK1 are under development and application in both in vivo and in vitro settings, yet their clinical efficacy remains limited. Numerous literatures have shown that TBK1 can exhibit both tumor promoting and tumor inhibiting effects. TBK1 acts as a pivotal node within the innate immune pathway, mediating anti-tumor immunity through the activation of innate immune responses. Facilitating interferon-I (IFN-I) production represents a critical mechanism through which TBK1 bridges these processes. IFN has been shown to exert both beneficial and detrimental effects on tumor progression. Hence, the paradoxical role of TBK1 in tumor development may necessitate acknowledgment in light of its downstream IFN-I signaling cascade. In this paper, we review the signaling pathways mediated by TBK1 in various tumor contexts and summarize the dual roles of TBK1 and the TBK1-IFN pathways in both promoting and inhibiting tumor progression. Additionally, we highlight the significance of the TBK1-IFN pathway in clinical therapy, particularly in the context of immune response. We anticipate further advancements in the development of TBK1 inhibitors as part of novel cancer treatment strategies.

Corrosion protective properties on 2024‐T3 of chitosan‐modified montmorillonite epoxy coatings based on Ce3+ loading

Abstract2024 aluminum alloy has high strength, processing performance, and good damage tolerance performance, but it is prone to intergranular corrosion and pitting. Therefore, the development of corrosion protective coatings is essential for the aluminum alloy. In this paper, cerium ion (Ce3+) was doped into chitosan‐modified montmorillonite (Ce‐CS‐MMT) by ion exchange method, and the corrosion protective performance of Ce‐CS‐MMT epoxy coating (Ce‐CS‐MMT/EP) was investigated. The electrochemical analysis of aluminum alloy in cerium‐containing solution showed the corrosion inhibition efficiency reached 95.52%. The result indicates the corrosion inhibition effect of cerium‐containing solution was better than pure NaCl solution and MMT solution. The corrosion study of the coating illustrates that the protection rate of Ce‐CS‐MMT/EP reached 95.82%, which was higher than that 91.83% of Ce‐MMT/EP. The result indicates the resistance of charge transfer was greater and the better shielding effect for electrolyte corrosion ions than MMT and Ce‐MMT epoxy coatings, and the corrosion protective performance was excellent.

Green control for inhibiting Rhizopus oryzae growth by stress factors in forage grass factory

The forage grass factory could break through the restrictions of land resources, region and climate to achieve efficient production throughout the year by accurate and intelligent management. However, due to its closed environment, mold outbreaks in the forage grass factory were severe, significantly affecting barley production. In this study, 9 contaminated barley tissues were collected and 45 strains were isolated in forage grass factory. After ITS sequencing, 45 strains were all identified as Rhizopus oryzae. Through stress factor assays, R. oryzae growth was seriously hindered by low concentration of sodium nitrate, high pH value and ozone water treatment. High pH and ozone water affected growth mainly by altering membrane integrity of R. oryzae. Sodium nitrate inhibited the growth of R. oryzae mainly by affecting the amount of sporulation. Low concentration of sodium nitrate and ozone water did not affect the growth of barley. High concentrations of sodium nitrate (100 mM) and pH values (8–8.5) inhibited barley growth. Among them, ozone water had the most obvious inhibition effect on R. oryzae. Large-scale ozone water treatment in the forage grass factory had also played a role in restoring barley production. Taken together, the green techonology to control mold disease and maintain the safety of forage through different physicochemical methods was selected, which was of considerable application value in animal husbandry.

Investigation of synergistic effect and mechanism of green tea extract and coffee extract on α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibition

SummaryTo address the adverse effects of current hypoglycaemic drugs and the limited effect of individual extracts, this research investigated the inhibitory effect of combined green tea extract (GTE) and coffee (CE) on α‐amylase (α‐AMY) and α‐glucosidase (α‐GLU) and their inhibitory mechanisms. The inhibitory effects of single extracts and the complexes on α‐AMY and α‐GLU activities were compared by the principle of equivalence line. The results showed that the complexes had a good synergistic inhibition effect on both α‐AMY and α‐GLU at GTE: CE = 4:1 (w/w). Fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that the complexes of GTE: CE = 4:1 (w/w) altered the secondary and tertiary structures of α‐AMY and α‐GLU more than the individual extracts, resulting in a synergistic inhibitory effect. The orthogonal experiments showed that tea polyphenols (TP) and coffee polyphenols (CP) were the main components responsible for the synergistic inhibitory effect of the two extracts.

Fisetin Promotes Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury by Inhibiting Microglia/Macrophage M1 Polarization and JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most serious health problems, with no effective therapy. Recent studies indicate that Fisetin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid, exhibits multiple functions, such as life-prolonging, antioxidant, antitumor, and neuroprotection. However, the restorative effects of Fisetin on SCI and the underlying mechanism are still unclear. In the present study, we found that Fisetin reduced LPS-induced apoptosis and oxidative damage in PC12 cells and reversed LPS-induced M1 polarization in BV2 cells. Additionally, Fisetin safely and effectively promoted the motor function recovery of SCI mice by attenuating neurological damage and promoting neurogenesis at the lesion. Moreover, Fisetin administration inhibited glial scar formation, modulated microglia/macrophage polarization, and reduced neuroinflammation. Network pharmacology, RNA-seq, and molecular biology revealed that Fisetin inhibited the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Notably, Colivelin TFA, an activator of JAK2/STAT3 signaling, attenuated Fis-mediated neuroinflammation inhibition and therapeutic effects on SCI mice. Collectively, Fisetin promotes functional recovery after SCI by inhibiting microglia/macrophage M1 polarization and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. Thus, Fisetin may be a promising therapeutic drug for the treatment of SCI.

Evaluation of the inhibitory effects of sitamaquine on Babesia infections

The treatment strategies for either human or animal babesiosis have been established and used for many years. With the rising indications of drug resistance and adverse side effects, finding effective and alternative therapies is urgently needed. Sitamaquine (SQ) is an 8-aminoquinoline that was first synthesized as a part of the collaborative anti-malarial program that led to primaquine. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effects of SQ on Babesia spp. in vitro and in vivo. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) on in vitro cultured Babesia gibsoni was 8.04 ± 1.34 μM. Babesia gibsoni parasites showed degenerative morphological changes following SQ treatment. The in vivo growth inhibitory effects of SQ were evaluated in BALB/c mice infected with B. microti and atovaquone (ATV)-resistant B. microti strain. Oral administration of SQ at a dose of 20 mg/kg significantly inhibited the growth of B. microti and ATV-resistant B. microti. Meanwhile, SQ also showed inhibitory effects on the growth of B. rodhaini, a lethal rodent Babesia species. All mice infected with B. rodhaini treated with SQ survived, whereas the mice in the control group succumbed to the disease. The results obtained in this study indicate that SQ has potent inhibition effects against Babesia spp., which support SQ as a prospective alternative candidate for babesiosis treatment.

Plastic particles and fluorescent brightener co-modify Chlorella pyrenoidosa photosynthesis and a machine learning approach predict algae growth

Global release of plastics exerts various impacts on the ecological cycle, particularly on primary photosynthesis, while the impacts of plastic additives are unknown. As a carrier of fluorescent brightener, plastic particles co-modify Chlorella pyrenoidosa (C. pyrenoidosa) growth and its photosynthetic parameters. In general, adding to the oxidative damage induced by polystyrene, fluorescent brightener-doped polystyrene produces stronger visible light and the amount of negative charge is more likely to cause photodamage in C. pyrenoidosa leading to higher energy dissipation through conditioning than in the control group with a date of ETR (II) inhibition rate of 33 %, Fv/Fm inhibition rate of 8.3 % and Pm inhibition rate of 48.8 %. To elucidate the ecological effect of fluorescent brightener doping in plastic particles, a machine learning method is performed to establish a Gradient Boosting Machine model for predicting the impact of environmental factors on algal growth. Upon validation, the model achieved an average fitting degree of 88 %. Relative concentration of plastic particles and algae claimed the most significant factor by interpretability analysis of the machine learning. Additionally, both Gradient Boosting Machine prediction and experimental results indicate a matching result that plastic additives have an inhibitive effect on algal growth.

Identification of a novel caspase cleavage motif AEAD

Infections of many viruses induce caspase activation to regulate multiple cellular pathways, including programmed cell death, immune signaling and etc. Characterizations of caspase cleavage sites and substrates are important for understanding the regulation mechanisms of caspase activation. Here, we identified and analyzed a novel caspase cleavage motif AEAD, and confirmed its caspase dependent cleavage activity in natural substrate, such as nitric oxide-associated protein 1 (NOA1). Fusing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) with the mitochondrial marker protein Tom20 through the AEAD motif peptide localized EGFP to the mitochondria. Upon the activation of caspase triggered by Sendai virus (SeV) or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, EGFP diffusely localized to the cell due to the caspase-mediated cleavage, thus allowing visual detection of the virus-induced caspase activation. An AEAD peptide-derived inhibitor Z-AEAD-FMK were developed, which significantly inhibited the activities of caspases-1, -3, -6, -7, -8 and -9, exhibiting a broad caspase inhibition effect. The inhibitor further prevented caspases-mediated cleavage of downstream substrates, including BID, PARP1, LMNA, pro-IL-1β, pro-IL-18, GSDMD and GSDME, protecting cells from virus-induced apoptotic and pyroptotic cell death. Together, our findings provide a new perspective for the identification of novel caspase cleavage motifs and the development of new caspase inhibitors and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Investigation on special reactivity of sulfite as an electron acceptor for the attenuated Fenton reaction and the abatement mechanism

Sulfur(IV) as a ubiquitous substance in the atmosphere and water bodies can be deliberately involved in different redox reactions based on the known ability to donate electrons, but the inhibition effect on the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) especially the Fenton reaction, which played a vital role in aerosol aging and pollution treatment, still stayed fuzzy. In this work, it was first found that sulfite had an unexpected reactivity to accept electrons from Fe(II) monitored by the chemiluminescence (CL) method to reduce Fe(II) seriously. Dynamics calculation, UV–vis absorption, HPLC, and CL analysis indicated that sulfite anions can be transferred into SO2·- or dimer S2O42− through reacting with Fe(II). The direct consumption of Fe(II) in Fenton reaction only happened by sulfite among other inorganic anions during degrading different organic pollution, and the produced S2O42− showed an overpowering inhibitory ability on hydroxyl radical especially at pH 5.3, both resulting in a strong inhibition effect on the Fenton reaction. In contrast at pH 3.1, the fast depletion of sulfite by H2O2 and decomposition of S2O42− fell off the inhibition effect. Furthermore, abatement experiments showed that the effect of sulfite could be circumvented by using a non-iron-based oxidation system with other metal ions, additionally clarifying the reaction of Fe(II)-sulfite played the primary role in the inhibition. Significantly, this inhibition effect of sulfite on the Fenton reaction was demonstrated to take place both in the natural wastewater and degrading two acids from biomass burning in the atmosphere, identifying the attenuated Fenton reaction in the presence of sulfur(IV) in the environment

Experimental study on the effect of preinhibition pressure on the inhibition of coal spontaneous combustion

A pressurised inhibition method is proposed based on the pre-inhibition process to study the inhibition law and mechanism of the pre-inhibition pressure on the coal spontaneous combustion, with a purpose of enhancing the inhibiting effect of chloride salt inhibitors. In this work, inhibited coal samples were prepared by immersing raw coal in high-temperature and high-pressure reactor at 1 MPa, 2 MPa, 3 MPa, 4 MPa, and 5 MPa, respectively, using MgCl2 solution with a mass concentration of 20%. The variation rules of the characteristic parameters, such as the indicator gas concentration, inhibition rate, surface microscopic morphology, and reactive groups, of various coal samples with the elevation of the pre-inhibition pressure were investigated using the programmed temperature-raising oxidation system, infrared spectroscopy, and SEM. It was found that the pre-inhibition pressure was in the range of 1-4 MPa, and with the increase of pre-inhibition pressure, the gas-producing concentration and the content of active groups of coal decreased, and the inhibition rate increased significantly. Increasing the pre-inhibition pressure can significantly improve the inhibition effect, and the optimum pre-inhibition pressure is 4 MPa. Continuing to increase the pre-inhibition pressure will destroy the pore structure of the coal and reduce the inhibition effect.

Novel Ni–Ru/CeO2 catalysts for low-temperature steam reforming of methane

Upgrading of biogas and biomethane into H2-rich streams by steam reforming is regarded as an effective strategy to reduce fossil fuel consumption contributing to the transition towards a green energy system. In this context, novel reactor configurations such as membrane reactors appear a promising route for process intensification, but they require novel catalysts more active at low temperatures, stable, and resistant to coke formation. In this work, we prepared and tested structured catalysts characterized by a low Ni content (7 wt%) and a very low Ru content (≤1 wt%) supported on ceria and deposed onto SiC monoliths. Catalysts were tested at low temperatures (<600 °C), i.e. at temperatures suitable for applications in Pd-based membrane reactors. Fresh and used catalysts were characterized by ICP-MS, N2 physisorption, XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, XPS and H2-TPR to identify the physicochemical properties affecting the catalytic activity. The catalysts showed good activity towards methane reforming, stable performance, and good resistance to coke formation. Ruthenium affects both the intrinsic catalytic activity and the resistance to the inhibiting effect of steam on the reaction rate. This is related to improved redox properties due to the intimacy between the active metals and their strong-metal-support-interaction with the ceria. Finally, our catalysts show self-activation under reaction conditions, which is an interesting property for applications.

Green synthesis of Fe[sbnd]Ni[sbnd]Sn trimetallic oxides from Moringa oleifera for photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Red 6B dye

The nanocomposite FeNiSn trimetallic oxides were synthesized using an aqueous Moringa Oleifera leaf extract. The prepared nanocomposite was analyzed using SEM, FTIR, XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, Zeta potential, and UV–vis analysis. A common Azo dye named Reactive Red 6B (RR-6B), widely applied in the dyeing industry and causing environmental pollution, was selected to examine the photodegradation of FeNiSn trimetallic oxides nanocomposite under sunlight irradiation, and it was shown that this dye could be successfully degraded by prepared nanocomposite. Effects of parameters such as inorganic salt concentration, H2O2 concentration, contact time, pH, and impact of different concentrations of catalyst and dye were examined to find out degradation conditions. This prepared nanocomposite was applied for the photodegradation of RR-6B dye, and 95 % degradation efficiency was obtained at pH 4, 10 mg of catalyst concentration, 10 ppm of dye concentration, and contact time of 2 h. Degradation kinetics were carried out using Langmuir-Hinshelwood and first-order reaction models. These results showed a facile technique for forming nanocomposite to efficiently degrade organic contaminants from wastewater, which directly impacts industrial wastewater treatment. The antibacterial activity was performed using the Time assay kill method for Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli bacteria. The results of antibacterial activity showed an inhibition effect on bacterial growth by trimetallic oxides NPs, suggesting their potential use in antimicrobial coatings and materials. These findings underscore the practical applications of our research, demonstrating its relevance and potential impact in real-world scenarios.

Preparation and characterization of carboxymethylated Anemarrhena asphodeloides polysaccharide and its effect on the gelatinization of wheat starch

In this study, a carboxymethylated Anemarrhena asphodeloides polysaccharide (CM-AARP) with an molecular weight (Mw) of 7.8 × 104 Da was obtained. CM-AARP was composed of four monosaccharides including d-mannose, d-glucose, d-galactose, and l-arabinose. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra revealed that the skeleton of CM-AARP was identical to that of AARP. Compared with AARP, CM-AARP had a superior inhibition effect on the gelatinization of wheat starch (WS) under the same condition. The addition of CM-AARP and AARP at 12 % enhanced the gelatinization temperature (60.47 ± 1.30 °C) of WS to 73.88 ± 0.49 °C and 69.75 ± 0.52 °C, respectively. CM-AARP could maintain the crystal structure of WS during gelatinization, the relative crystallinity with the 12 % CM-AARP addition was determined as 29.18 % ± 1.49 %, exceeding that of pure WS at 21.96 % ± 0.66 %. Moreover, CM-AARP influenced the rheological behavior of the gelatinized WS by reducing the viscosity and improving the fluidity. The results suggested that CM-AARP played an essential role in starch gelatinization and was a potential stabilizer in the starch-based food industry.

Ferula latisecta gels for synthesis of zinc/silver binary nanoparticles: antibacterial effects against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and physicochemical characteristics

This study explores the potential antibacterial applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) enhanced with silver (Ag) using plant gel (ZnO-AgO NPs). The problem addressed is the increasing prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and the need for new, effective antimicrobial agents. ZnO NPs possess distinctive physicochemical properties that enable them to selectively target bacterial cells. Their small size and high surface area-to-volume ratio allow efficient cellular uptake and interaction with bacterial cells. In this study, the average size of the synthesized ZnO-Ag nanoparticles was 77.1 nm, with a significant standard deviation of 33.7 nm, indicating a wide size distribution. The nanoparticles demonstrated remarkable antibacterial efficacy against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, with inhibition zones of 14.33 mm for E. coli and 15.66 mm for B. subtilis at a concentration of 300 µg/ml. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined to be 100 µg/ml for E. coli and 75 µg/ml for S. saprophyticus. Additionally, ZnO-Ag NPs exhibited excellent biocompatibility, making them appropriate for various pharmacological uses. This study utilizes Ferula latisecta gels, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to nanoparticle synthesis. Incorporating of Ag into ZnO NPs significantly enhances their antimicrobial properties, with the combined results showing great inhibition effects on pathogenic microbes. The findings suggest that ZnO-Ag NPs could be a promising candidate for addressing the challenges posed by drug-resistant bacterial infections and enhancing antimicrobial treatments.

In Situ Visualization of Ion Transport Processes in Aqueous Batteries.

Aqueous rechargeable batteries are regarded as one of the most reliable solutions for electrochemical energy storage, and ion (e.g., H+ or OH-) transport is essential for their electrochemical performance. However, modeling and numerical simulations often fall short of depicting the actual ion transport characteristics due to deviations in model assumptions from reality. Experimental methods, including laser interferometry, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, are limited by the complexity of the system and the restricted detection of ions, making it difficult to detect specific ions such as H+ and OH-. Herein, in situ visualization of ion transport is achieved by innovatively introducing laser scanning confocal microscopy. Taking neutral Zn-air batteries as an example and using a pH-sensitive probe, real-time dynamic pH changes associated with ion transport processes are observed during battery operation. The results show that after immersion in the zinc sulfate electrolyte, the pH near the Zn electrode changes significantly and pulsation occurs, which demonstrates the intense self-corrosion hydrogen evolution reaction and the periodic change in the reaction intensity. In contrast, the change in the pH of the galvanized electrode plate is weak, proving its significant corrosion inhibition effect. For the air electrode, the heterogeneity of ion transport during the discharging and charging process is presented. With an increase of the current density, the ion transport characteristics gradually evolve from diffusion dominance to convection-diffusion codominance, revealing the importance of convection in the ion transport process inside batteries. This method opens up a new approach of studying ion transport inside batteries, guiding the design for performance enhancement.