Nm In Size Research Articles

Fermented Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) Extract by Kombucha as Energy Booster Produced via Cross-Flow Microfiltration Membrane

Beetroot extract (permeate) fermented by kombucha culture separated through cross-flow microfiltration (CFMF) with pore size 0.15 μm at TMP 2 and 6 bar for 0, 5, 15, 25, and 35 minutes, with a flow rate of 7.5 L/m3.hour, at room temperature potentially serves as a natural energy booster. The research results based on soluble protein show that the optimization process at TMP 2 and 6 bar was achieved at 15 minutes with permeate flux of 32.52 and 28.05 L/m3.h, respectively, and soluble protein content of 0.72 and 0.38 mg/mL, total solids of 3.40% and 3.36%, total sugar of 45.91 and 47.47 mg/mL, and acetic acid of 0.93 and 0.97%. Under these conditions, the CFMF system increased the soluble protein in permeate by 123.53% or 1.23 times, indicating partial rejection, and 22.58% or complete rejection. The identification of amino acids in the optimum condition was dominated by three threonine monomers with molecular weights of 120.11, 120.37, and 120.90 Da (M+), and six tryptophan monomers with molecular weights of 205.11, 205.21, 205.44, 205.60, 205.88, and 205.94 Da (M+). The permeate under optimum conditions had average particle sizes of 2788.0 nm and 2922.0 nm, with particle index of 1.523 and 1.795. The particle distribution in permeate at TMP 2 and 6 bar was less than 10,000 nm in size

High-load nanoparticles with a chemotherapeutic SN-38/FdUMP drug cocktail.

[Gd(OH)]2+[(SN-38)0.5(FdUMP)0.5]2- inorganic-organic hybrid nanoparticles (IOH-NPs) with a chemotherapeutic cocktail of ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38, active form of irinotecan) and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-phosphate (FdUMP, active form of 5'-fluoruracil), 40 nm in size, are prepared in water. The IOH-NPs contain a total drug load of 63 wt% with 33 wt% of SN-38 and 30 wt% of FdUMP. Cell-based assays show efficient cellular uptake and promising anti-tumour activity on two pancreatic cancer cell lines of murine origin (KPC, Panc02). Beside the high-load drug cocktail, especially the option to use SN-38, which - although 100- to 1000-times more potent than irinotecan - is usually unsuitable for systemic administration due to poor solubility, low stability, and high toxicity upon non-selective delivery. The [Gd(OH)]2+[(SN-38)0.5(FdUMP)0.5]2- IOH-NPs are a new concept to deliver a drug cocktail with SN-38 and FdUMP directly to the tumour, shielded in a nanoparticle, to reduce side effects.

Exosomes: the next frontier in vaccine development and delivery.

Exosomes are small disk-shaped extracellular vesicles (EVs) that are naturally released into the environment by different types of cells. Exosomes range from 30-150 nm in size and contain complex RNA and proteins. They are widely found in body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and breast milk and participate in cell communication by functioning as cell messengers. Almost all cell types can transmit information and exchange substances through the production and release of exosomes to regulate proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, the immune response, inflammation, and other biological functions. Because exosomes exist widely in various body fluids, they are easy to obtain and detect and have the potential for use in disease diagnosis and prognosis detection. Exosomes can be genetically fused with targeted proteins, enhancing their biocompatibility and immunogenicity. Therefore, exosomes are the preferred vector tools for vaccines. In this review, we describe the characteristics of exosomes and discuss their unique and ambiguous functions in the immune microenvironment after infection. In this regard, we explored the ability of exosomes to carry immunogenic virus antigens and to establish adaptive immune responses. Exosomes can provide an interesting platform for antigen presentation and since vaccines are a powerful method for the prevention of infectious diseases, we further review the advantages and disadvantages of the use of exosomes in vaccine preparation. Overall, exosomes are emerging as a promising avenue for vaccine development.

Tuning the electronic structure of Pd by the surface configuration of Al2O3 for hydrogenation reactions.

The electronic interaction between a metal and a support modulates the electronic structures of supported metals and plays an important role in manipulating their catalytic performance. However, this interaction is mainly realized in heterogeneous catalysts composed of reducible oxides. Herein, we demonstrate the electronic interaction between γ-Al2O3 and η-Al2O3 with varying acid-base properties and supported Pd nanoparticles (NPs) of 2 nm in size. The strength and number of acid-base sites on the supports and catalysts were systemically characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and TPD. The supported Pd NPs exhibit electron-rich surface properties by receiving electrons from the electron-donating basic sites on γ-Al2O3, which are beneficial for catalyzing the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. In contrast, Pd NPs loaded on η-Al2O3 are electron-deficient because of the rich electron-withdrawing acid sites of η-Al2O3. As a result, Pd/η-Al2O3 exhibits higher catalytic activity in phenylacetylene hydrogenation than Pd/γ-Al2O3. Our results suggest a promising route for designing high-performance catalysts by adjusting the acid-base properties of Al2O3 supports to maneuver the electronic structures of metals.

Natural Coptidis Rhizoma Nanoparticles Improved the Oral Delivery of Docetaxel.

Docetaxel (DTX) is a valuable anti-tumor chemotherapy drug with limited oral bioavailability. This study aims to develop an effective oral delivery system for DTX using natural nanoparticles (Nnps) derived from Coptidis Rhizoma extract. DTX-loaded self-assembled nanoparticles (Nnps-DTX) were created using an optimized heat-induction strategy. Nnps-DTX's shape, size, Zeta potential, and in vitro stability were all carefully examined. Additionally, the study investigated the encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, crystal form, and intermolecular interactions of DTX in Nnps-DTX. Subsequently, the solubility, release, cellular uptake, metabolic stability, and preclinical pharmacokinetics of DTX in Nnps-DTX were systematically evaluated. Finally, the cytotoxicity of Nnps-DTX was assessed in three tumor cell lines. Nnps-DTX was spherical in shape, 138.6 ± 8.2 nm in size, with a Zeta potential of -20.8 ± 0.6 mV, a DTX encapsulation efficiency of 77.6 ± 8.5%, and a DTX loading capacity of 6.8 ± 1.9%. Hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were involved in the formation of Nnps-DTX. DTX within Nnps-DTX was in an amorphous form, resulting in enhanced solubility (23.3 times) and release compared to free DTX. Following oral treatment, the mice in the Nnps-DTX group had DTX peak concentrations 8.8, 23.4, 44.6, and 5.7 times higher in their portal vein, systemic circulation, liver, and lungs than the mice in the DTX group. Experiments performed in Caco-2 cells demonstrated a significant increase in DTX uptake by Nnps-DTX compared to free DTX, which was significantly inhibited by indomethacin, an inhibitor of caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, compared to DTX, DTX in Nnps-DTX demonstrated better metabolic stability in liver microsomes. Notably, Nnps-DTX significantly reduced the viability of MCF-7, HCT116, and HepG2 cells. The novel self-assembled nanoparticles considerably enhanced the cellular absorption, solubility, release, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetics of oral DTX and demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines.

INNOVATIVE SYNTHESIZE OF ZrO2 NANOMATERIAL USING BIODEGRADABLE DRAGON FRUIT PEEL EXTRACTS AND ITS PHOTOCATALYTIC ACTIVITY AGAINST METHYL ORANGE BY UV RADIATION

The motivation behind this study is to stress the worth of green amalgamation in the development of nanomaterials. Regarding this declaration, we said that we have examined the morphological, optical, underlying, and photocatalytic color debasement exercises of the incorporated ZrO2 nanoparticles as well as their biosynthesis by means of a response intervened by mythical serpent organic product bloom separate. UV-noticeable spectroscopy was utilized to identify a huge absorbance top at 360 nm. The utilization of SEM affirmed that the nanoparticles, which had a typical size of 17.5 nm, were circular in shape. The nanoparticles' zirconium (70.88%) and oxygen (29.12%) contents were checked utilizing energy-dispersive X-beam examination. The nanoparticles' X-beam powder diffraction (XRD) spectra demonstrated their crystallinity. While the information from HR-TEM shows particles that are 33.75 nm in size. When the photocatalytic movement of ZrO2 NPs was researched, Methyl Orange showed 54.2 % debasement following 120 minutes of UV openness and 68.50 % corruption following an hour and a half of UV openness, individually. This fresh-out of the plastic bio-ZrO2 nanoparticle was utilized to study the photocatalytic breakdown of methyl orange when presented with apparent light. The cationic color was separated by the engineered bio-ZrO2 shortly with 91.8 % corruption ability.

Functionalising silk hydrogels with hetero- and homotypic nanoparticles.

Despite many reports detailing silk hydrogels, the development of composite silk hydrogels with homotypic and heterotypic silk nanoparticles and their impact on material mechanics and biology have remained largely unexplored. We hypothesise that the inclusion of nanoparticles into silk-based hydrogels enables the formation of homotropic and heterotropic material assemblies. The aim was to explore how well these systems allow tuning of mechanics and cell adhesion to ultimately control the cell-material interface. We utilised nonporous silica nanoparticles as a standard reference and compared them to nanoparticles derived from Bombyx mori silk and Antheraea mylitta (tasar) silk (approximately 100-150 nm in size). Initially, physically cross-linked B. mori silk hydrogels were prepared containing silica, B. mori silk nanoparticles, or tasar silk nanoparticles at concentrations of either 0.05% or 0.5% (w/v). The initial modulus (stiffness) of these nanoparticle-functionalised silk hydrogels was similar. Stress relaxation was substantially faster for nanoparticle-modified silk hydrogels than for unmodified control hydrogels. Increasing the concentrations of B. mori silk and silica nanoparticles slowed stress relaxation, while the opposite trend was observed for hydrogels modified with tasar nanoparticles. Cell attachment was similar for all hydrogels, but proliferation during the initial 24 h was significantly improved with the nanoparticle-modified hydrogels. Overall, this study demonstrates the manufacture and utilisation of homotropic and heterotropic silk hydrogels.

AuAg/rGO elektrode za reakciju oksidacije borhidrida

Gold and silver nanoparticles in different atomic ratios deposited on reduced graphene oxide (AuAg/rGO-1, AuAg/rGO-2, and AuAg/rGO-3) were tested for the borohydride oxidation reaction in an alkaline medium. The morphology, structure, and composition of AuAg/rGO electrodes were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy with integrated energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The TEM analysis showed that the most of gold and silver particles (more than 80%) are up to 9 nm in size, while slightly larger particles represent less than 5%. SEM-EDS showed a similar morphology, and the composition of three AuAg/rGO electrodes was determined. AuAg/rGO-1 and AuAg/rGO-2 electrodes showed similar, while AuAg/rGO-3 electrodes demonstrated slightly lower electrocatalytic activity for borohydride oxidation. The studied electrodes were observed to be active for the borohydride hydrolysis as well, which is expected based on literature data. AuAg/rGO certainly represent potential anode materials for application in direct borohydride fuel cells.

Performance Characteristics of Silica fume based concrete made with Graphene Oxide

Concrete is a strong and durable material with serviceability and long-lasting properties demand for concrete is increasing with the growth in the infrastructure globally, concrete is more robust in compression than tension, and lesser tensile strength can lead to reduced crack formation resistance. The utilization of concrete using nanoparticles is starting to show promise as a modern development to improve concrete’s properties, these materials range from 1-100 nm in size, can occupy a larger surface area, and play a significant role in the hydration process, the nanomaterials were available in various shapes, forms and dimensions, graphene oxide (GO) is an output from the oxidation process of the graphene material, graphene is one of the strongest material globally. The present study mainly focuses on the impact of GO on the M25 grade concrete’s strength and workability, made with Silica fume (SF) as the partial replacement for cement with the proportion of 5, 7.5, and 10% along with the addition of GO with 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% to the weight of cement, test results obtained were indicated that the 0.05% addition of GO shown optimum values.

Raman Gain in Transparent Nanostructured Glass-Ceramic

Stimulated Raman scattering in transparent glass-ceramics (TGCs) based on bulk nucleating phase Ba2NaNb5O15 were investigated with the aim to explore the influence of micro- and nanoscale structural transformations on Raman gain. TGCs are composed of nanocrystals that are 10–15 nm in size, uniformly distributed in the residual glass matrix. A significant Raman gain improvement for both BaNaNS glass and TGCs with respect to SiO2 glass is demonstrated, which can be clearly related to the nanostructuring process.

N-doped carbon quantum dots for the selective detection of OCl- ions, bioimaging, and the production of Fe3O4 nanoparticles utilized in the synthesis of substituted imidazole.

Nitrogen-doped quantum dots (NCQD) were synthesized by solvothermal means using o-phenylenediamine and l-tartaric acid. The resultant NCQD produced a high quantum yield (40.3%) and a vivid green fluorescence. They were about 6 nm in size. The NCQD is useful in HeLa cell bioimaging investigations and is used for the fluorescence detection of OCl- ions. The quantum dots' Limit of Detection (LoD) was discovered to be 40 nM. Additionally, cytotoxicity testing was conducted, and we found out that HeLa cells safely endured up to 6.5 mg ml-1 of NCQD. Furthermore, NCQDs were employed to synthesize Fe3O4 nanoparticles, with the quantum dots acting as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The nanoparticles exhibited remarkable catalytic activity towards organic processes due to their size of 11 nm and surface area of 67.360 m2 g-1. Excellent yields of tri-substituted imidazole derivatives were produced using Fe3O4 nanoparticles as nanocatalysts in a solvent-free method.

Research on microstructure and mechanical properties of hot extruded Mg-Gd-Y-Sm-Zr alloy at room and high temperatures

In this study, the age hardening behavior of hot extruded Mg-8Gd-4Y-1Sm-0.5Zr (GWS841) alloy, mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of hot extruded GWS841 alloy during elevated temperature tensile processes were mainly investigated. The results show that the hot extrusion aged GWS841 alloy possess excellent mechanical properties at room and high temperature, which are 397 MPa, 386 MPa, 376 MPa, and 312 MPa at 25 °C, 200 °C, 250 °C, and 300 °C, respectively. After aging for 200 °C × 96 h, the hot extruded GWS841 alloy reaches its maximum hardness and room temperature tensile strength, and strengthening precipitation phase, being nano β′ phase, approximately 12 nm × 20 nm in size, precipitates simultaneously in three prismatic planes, (1‾21‾0)α、 (1‾1‾20)α and (21‾1‾0)α planes, which present precipitation strengthening behavior. During tensile testing at 200 °C, the strengthening precipitate remains β′ phase. During elevated tensile processes at 250 °C and 300 °C, strengthening precipitation phase undergoes significant transformation at grain boundary, β′ phase → β phase, and additionally, nano precipitation zone formed by rare earth atoms aggregation along grain boundary, which strengthen the grain boundary. During elevated tensile deformation at 300 °C, β′ phase completely disappeared and transformed into nano rare earth atom cluster region uniformly distributing inner grain.

Imaging specific proteins in living cells with small unnatural amino acid attached Raman reporters.

Fluorescence labeling via fluorescent proteins (FPs) or immunofluorescence has been routinely applied for microscopic imaging of specific proteins. However, due to these over-weight and oversized labels (e.g. GFP, 238 aa, 27 kDa, ∼4 nm in size), the potential physiological malfunctions of the target proteins are largely underestimated in living cells. Herein, for living cells, we report a small and minimally-invasive Raman reporter (about 2 aa and <1 kDa), which can be site-specifically introduced into proteins by genetic codon expansion. After a single unnatural amino acid (UAA) is precisely incorporated into the target protein, the strained alkyne can rapidly undergo copper-free Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions with the tetrazine-functionalized Raman reporter, which features a fine vibrational spectrum in contrast to fluorescence. In our experimental results, the UAA-based Raman tag was successfully incorporated into vimentin, histone 3.3 and huntingtin (Htt74Q) proteins in living HeLa cells and further utilized for stimulated Raman imaging. The site-specific bioorthogonal fusion of small Raman tags with intracellular proteins will pave the way for minimally-invasive protein labeling and multi-color imaging in living cells.

Antibacterial efficacy of low-dosage silver nanoparticle-sodium alginate-chitosan nanocomposite films against pure and clinical acne strains.

The silver nanoparticles-sodium alginate-chitosan (AgNPs-Alg-Chi) nanocomposite film is a compelling material with demonstrated antibacterial efficacy against various pure bacterial strains. However, its potential cytotoxicity at elevated Ag doses warrants investigation. There is a notable dearth of studies assessing its antibacterial effectiveness against clinically relevant bacterial strains, notably Cutibacterium acnes. This study aims to assess the antibacterial efficacy of the low-dose AgNPs-Alg-Chi nanocomposite films on both pure bacterial strains and strains isolated from clinical samples obtained from 65 acne patients. The films were synthesized using green methods, incorporating kumquat (Citrus japonica) extract as a silver ion-reducing agent. The material characterization methods include UV-Vis and FTIR spectroscopies, SEM-EDS, XPS, cell culture, and MTT assay. We successfully fabricated the AgNPs-Alg-Chi nanocomposite films with a low-loading dose of Ag NPs (≤11 μg mL-1, and 37.8 ± 11.5 nm in size). The AgNPs-Alg-Chi nanocomposite film demonstrated comparable antibacterial efficacy to the AgNPs-Chi solution, with MIC values ranging from 3.67 to 5.50 μg mL-1 (p > 0.05) across all strains. Importantly, the AgNPs-Alg-Chi films demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells), maintaining cell viability above 70%. The present AgNPs-Alg-Chi nanocomposite films synthesized by a green approach demonstrated potent antibacterial activity, making them promising for further development into suitable products for human use.

A Targeted Multi-Crystalline Manganese Oxide as a Tumor-Selective Nano-Sized MRI Contrast Agent for Early and Accurate Diagnosis of Tumors.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool for the accurate diagnosis of malignant tumors in clinical settings. However, the lack of tumor-specific MRI contrast agents limits diagnostic accuracy. Herein, we developed αvintegrin receptor-targeting multi-crystalline manganese oxide (MCMO) as a novel MRI contrast agent for accurate diagnosis of tumors by coupling iRGD cyclopeptide PEGylation polymer onto the surface of MCMO (iRGD-pMCMO). The MCMO consisted of numerous small crystals and exhibited an oval structure of 200 nm in size. The iRGD-pMCMO actively recognizes tumor cells and effectively accumulates at the tumor site, consequently releasing abundant Mn2+ ions in a weakly acidic and high-GSH-expressing tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, Mn2+ ions interact with cellular GSH to form Mn-GSH chelates, enabling efficient T1-weighted MR contrast imaging. In vivo experiments indicated that iRGD-pMCMO significantly improved T1-weighted images, achieving an accurate diagnosis of subcutaneous and orthotopic tumors. The results verified that the T1 contrast effect of iRGD-pMCMO was closely associated with the expression of GSH in tumor cells. Altogether, the novel tumor-targeting, highly sensitive MRI contrast agent developed in this study can improve the accuracy of MRI for tumor diagnosis.

Biogenic silver nanoparticles' antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity on human hepatocarcinoma cells (Huh-7).

Exploring diverse synthetic pathways for nanomaterial synthesis has emerged as a promising direction. For example, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are synthesized using different approaches yielding nanomaterials with distinct morphological, physical and biological properties. Hence, the present study reports the biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles using the aqueous secretome of the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (AgNP@Fo) and orange peel extract (AgNP@OR). The physical and morphological properties of synthesized nanoparticles were similar, with AgNP@Fo measuring 56.43 ± 19.18 nm and AgNP@OR measuring 39.97 ± 19.72 nm in size. The zeta potentials for the nanoparticles were low, -26.8 ± 7.55 and -26.2 ± 2.87 mV for AgNP@Fo and AgNP@OR, respectively, demonstrating a similar negative charge. The spherical morphologies of both nanoparticles were evidenced by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). However, despite their similar physical and morphological properties, AgNPs demonstrated different bioactivities. We evaluated and compared the antimicrobial efficacy of these nanoparticles against a range of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The AgNP@Fo showed Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.84 to 1.68 μg mL-1 and were around ten times more potent compared to AgNP@OR. The anticancer activities of both nanoparticles were investigated using human hepatocarcinoma cells (Huh-7), where AgNP@Fo exhibited around 20 times higher cytotoxicity than AgNP@OR with an IC50 value of 0.545 μmol L-1. Anticancer effects were demonstrated by the MTT, confirmed by the calcein-AM assay and fluorescence imaging. This study establishes solid groundwork for future exploration of molecular interactions of nanoparticles synthesized through distinct biosynthetic routes, particularly within bacterial and cancerous cell environments.

The morphology of the powder contained in solid alloy used to crush underground resources

The widespread introduction of science into the production around the world, new technologies and devices are entering the industry, and this is the reason for the increase in the volume of mining of underground resources and obtaining new alloys. This article presents the scientific and practical research conducted on the properties of the powders that make up the details of the hard alloy-based device used in crushing and drilling underground resources. The morphology of ultra-disperse titanium carbide powders was studied to strengthen tungsten, carbon, and binder cobalt selected as raw materials. Ultradisperse titanium carbide powders produced at Shanghai Feiyan Industrial Development Co., Ltd. were selected. Studies conducted on the surface morphology of ultradisperse titanium carbide powders have shown that ultra-disperse titanium carbide powders have a very uniform and flat structure. Although the surface morphology at x50,000 magnification appears to contain particles approximately 100–150 nm in size, upon closer inspection of x100,000 and x150,000 images, they are monolithic. It can be seen that they are not particles.

SYNTHESIS AND STUDY OF Ag-TiO2 NANOPARTICLES FOR APPLICATION IN SELF-CLEANING FABRICS

In this work, the Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by sol-gel method and characterized using the Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The Ag+/Ti4+ ratio significantly influences the phase transition of TiO2 from anatase to rutile in the nanocomposite: the anatase content decreases from 94.9% to 52.6% as this ratio increases from 1.0 to 4.0 %. The initial Ag+/Ti4+ ratio of 1.0 % was chosen for further research due the highest content of TiO2 in the anatase phase. The nanoparticles are fairly monodisperse and have a spherical shape with an average size of about 18-24 nm. Self-cleaning fabric polyester (PET) was modified successfully with Ag-TiO2 nanoparticles by an immersed method. The nanocomposite of Ag and anatase TiO2 was coated by binder in 100-200 nm in size which coating onto the surface of fabric demonstrated self-cleaning surface with different mechanisms: hydrophobic surface as “lotus leaf” effect, photocatalytic degradation Rhodamine B under solar irradiation. The PET fabric coated with the Ag-TiO2 composite demonstrates stronger antibacterial activity (inhibition zone of 1.3 cm) compared to the fabric coated with TiO2 alone (inhibition zone of 0.8 cm). The results showed that after 6 h of irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of the Ag-TiO2/PET fabric sample is significantly better than that of the TiO2/PET fabric sample. The ability to change from hydrophobic to hydrophilic is especially promising to the interest in self-cleaning surfaces, the textile industry, and environmental cleanup.

Bioinspired Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles for Enhanced Anti-Cancer Activity and Cell Viability Studies

Gold nanoparticles, or AuNPs, have garnered significant attention in biomedical research, especially in cancer therapy, due to their unique physicochemical properties. This work discusses the bioinspired production of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents. This research conducted the synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to analyze the synthesized nanoparticles. These approaches were used to characterize the nanoparticles’ dimensions, morphology, stability, and functional groups. At a wavelength of 532 nm, the nanoparticles, averaging 18 ± 3 nm in size, exhibited a pronounced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak, indicating the efficacy of the manufacturing method. Cell viability assessments performed using HeLa (a cervical cancer cell type), MCF-7 (a breast cancer cell model), and WI-38 (a healthy fibroblast cell model) demonstrated a concentration-dependent reduction in cancer cell viability, with little impact on healthy cells. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL of AuNPs, the viability of HeLa and MCF-7 cells decreased to 35.2% and 41.7%, respectively. The viability of WI-38 cells was maintained at 83.4%. The analysis of apoptosis revealed that the AuNPs induced apoptosis in cancer cells. The early and late apoptosis rates in HeLa cells were 35.4% and 45.8%, respectively, but in MCF-7 cells, they were 32.5% and 42.1%. The therapeutic efficacy of the nanoparticles was significantly enhanced by the bioactive compounds isolated from the plant. The eco-friendly synthesis method used in this study not only provides a sustainable means for nanoparticle production but also enhances the potential for their application in anti-cancer therapies. The therapeutic applications of these bioinspired AuNPs will be further explored via in vivo tests, which will be the emphasis of next research.

Protector-free, non-plasmonic silver quantum clusters by femtosecond pulse laser irradiation: in situ binding on nanocellulose filaments for improved catalytic activity and cycling performance.

This study introduces a new, facile method to synthesize silver clusters from aqueous silver ion solution by using high intensity femtosecond pulse laser irradiation. The particles obtained in the absence of reducing or capping agents are 1-17 nm in size and presented quantum properties, as characterized by fluorescence, but did not exhibit plasmon signals, which is not a common characteristic of conventional silver nanoparticles. In a further development, small silver quantum clusters (∼1 nm) were bound in situ to wet-spun filaments of cellulose nanofibrils by pulsed laser irradiation. The obtained hybrid filaments as well as free silver quantum clusters revealed a catalytic activity remarkably higher than that of free gold quantum clusters; moreover, the hybrid filaments were found to show improved stability and cycling performance for silver-based catalysis. The present results indicate the potential of femtosecond laser irradiation to generate clusters as well as hybrid systems with excellent performance and reactivity.