Potential Biomedical Applications Research Articles

Adenosine Triphosphate Inhibits Cold-Responsive Aggregation.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ubiquitous in all living organisms, is conventionally recognized as a fundamental energy currency essential for a myriad of cellular processes. While its traditional role in energy metabolism requires only micromolar concentrations, the cellular content of ATP has been found to be significantly higher at the millimolar level. Recent studies have attempted to correlate this higher concentration of ATP with its nonenergetic role in maintaining protein homeostasis, leaving the investigation of ATP's nontrivial activities in biology an open question. Here, by coupling computer simulations and experiments, we uncover new insights into ATP's role as a cryoprotectant against cold-salt stress, highlighting the necessity for higher cellular ATP concentrations. We present direct evidence at charged silica interfaces, demonstrating ATP's ability to restore native intersurface interactions disrupted by combined cold-salt stress, thereby inhibiting cold-responsive aggregation in high-salt conditions. ATP desorbs salt cations from negatively charged surfaces through predominant interactions between ATP and the salt cations. Although the mode of ATP's action remains unchanged with temperature, the extent of interaction scales with temperature, requiring less ATP activity at lower temperatures, justifying the reason for reduction in cellular ATP content due to the cold effect, reported in previous experimental studies. The trend observed in inorganic nanostructures is recurrent and robustly transferable to charged protein interfaces. A thorough comparison of ATP's cryoprotective activity with traditionally known biological cryoprotectants (glycine and betaine) reveals ATP's greater efficiency. In retrospect, our findings highlight ATP's additional biological role in cryopreservation, expanding its potential biomedical applications by offering effective protection of cells from cryoinjuries and avoiding the significant challenges associated with the toxicity of organic cryoprotectants.

Green Synthesis of Dracocephalum kotschyi-Coated Silver Nanoparticles: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Potentials.

BACKGROUND The environmentally friendly production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has gained significant attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical methods. This study focused on synthesizing AgNPs using extract of Dracocephalum kotschyi (D. kotschyi), a medicinal plant. MATERIAL AND METHODS The biosynthesis of AgNPs was monitored using UV-visible spectrophotometry. The role of phytoconstituents from D. kotschyi in stabilizing AgNPs was analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectroscopy was used to determine the size, charge, and polydispersity of the nanoparticles, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to assess their morphology. We evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of the synthesized AgNPs against various bacteria, their antioxidant properties via a 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and their cytotoxic activity against the HeLa cervical cancer cell line. RESULTS The formation of AgNPs was indicated by a color change and the emergence of a surface plasmon resonance peak at 418 nm. The nanoparticles demonstrated significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anticancer activities. Morphology, size, and shape analysis revealed nearly spherical particles with an average size of 43 nm. FTIR confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract, serving as reducing and capping agents. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the nanoparticles. Antimicrobial assessments showed effectiveness against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The DPPH scavenging assay demonstrated efficient antioxidant activity, and potent apoptotic anticancer effects were observed on cervical cancer cells. CONCLUSIONS The extract of D. kotschyi was effective as a reducing agent in the environmentally friendly synthesis of AgNPs, which exhibited noteworthy antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. These findings suggest potential biomedical applications for the synthesized AgNPs.

Eco-friendly synthesis of bioactive silver nanoparticles from black roasted gram (Cicer arietinum) for biomedical applications

Green synthesis leverages biological resources such as plant extracts to produce cost-effectively and environmentally friendly NPs. In our study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are biosynthesized using blank roasted grams (Cicer arietinum) as reducing agents. CA-AgNPs were characterized by a characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 224 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum. FTIR analysis revealed functional groups with O–H stretching at 3410 cm−1, C–H stretching at 2922 cm−1, and C=O stretching at 1635 cm−1. XRD patterns exhibited sharp peaks at 33.2°, 38.4°, 55.7°, and 66.6°, confirming high crystallinity. Morphological analysis through FESEM indicated spherical CA-AgNPs averaging 500 nm in size, with EDS revealing Ag at 97.51% by weight. Antimicrobial assays showed zones of inhibition of 14 mm against Candida albicans, 18 mm against Escherichia coli., and 12 mm against Propionibacterium acnes. The total phenolic content of CA-AgNPs was 26.17 ± 13.54 mg GAE/g, significantly higher than the 11.85 ± 9.57 mg GAE/g in CA extract. The ABTS assay confirmed the antioxidant potential with a lower IC50 value of 1.73 ± 0.41 µg/mL, indicating enhanced radical scavenging activity. Anti-melanogenesis was validated through tyrosinase, showing inhibition rates of 97.97% at the highest concentrations. The anti-inflammatory was evaluated by western blot, which showed decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2. This study demonstrates the green synthesis of CA-AgNPs and its potential biomedical applications. The results of this study demonstrate that biosynthesized CA-AgNPs have key biological applications.

Fe0-MAP Prepared Glycosurfaces for Selective Cell Capture: From Adherent to Suspended Cells.

The specific capture of live cells is crucial for various biomedical applications. Existing methods often are limited by complex production processes. This study introduces Fe0-mediated monomer-adaptation polymerization (Fe0-MAP), a convenient and rapid synthesis approach for selective cell capture using surface-engineered glycopolymer brushes. This method utilizes surface-initiated zerovalent iron-mediated reversible-deactivation radical polymerization (Fe0-SI-RDRP), offering advantages like simplicity, biocompatibility and oxygen-tolerance due to the use of iron sheet as catalysts. We successfully employed Fe0-MAP to selective capture both adherent (HeLa, L929) and suspended cells (Ramos, U937) in mammalian cell cultures. Combining excellent biocompatibility, specific and reusable cell capture capabilities, and applicability to suspended cells, Fe0-MAP establishes itself as a promising strategy for selective cell capture, holding significant potential for diverse biomedical applications.

High-performance magnetic artificial silk fibers produced by a scalable and eco-friendly production method

Flexible magnetic materials have great potential for biomedical and soft robotics applications, but they need to be mechanically robust. An extraordinary material from a mechanical point of view is spider silk. Recently, methods for producing artificial spider silk fibers in a scalable and all-aqueous-based process have been developed. If endowed with magnetic properties, such biomimetic artificial spider silk fibers would be excellent candidates for making magnetic actuators. In this study, we introduce magnetic artificial spider silk fibers, comprising magnetite nanoparticles coated with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid. The composite fibers can be produced in large quantities, employing an environmentally friendly wet-spinning process. The nanoparticles were found to be uniformly dispersed in the protein matrix even at high concentrations (up to 20% w/w magnetite), and the fibers were superparamagnetic at room temperature. This enabled external magnetic field control of fiber movement, rendering the material suitable for actuation applications. Notably, the fibers exhibited superior mechanical properties and actuation stresses compared to conventional fiber-based magnetic actuators. Moreover, the fibers developed herein could be used to create macroscopic systems with self-recovery shapes, underscoring their potential in soft robotics applications.

Thermo- and Photoresponsive Smart Nanomaterial Based on Poly(diethyl vinyl phosphonate)-Capped Gold Nanoparticles

A new nanodevice based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) capped with poly(diethylvinylphosphonate) (PDEVP) has been synthesized, showing interesting photophysical and thermoresponsive properties. The synthesis involves a properly designed Yttriocene catalyst coordinating the vinyl-lutidine (VL) initiator active in diethyl vinyl phosphonate polymerization. The unsaturated PDEVP chain ending was thioacetylated, deacetylated, and reacted with tetrachloroauric acid and sodium borohydride to form PDEVP-VL-capped AuNPs. The NMR, UV–Vis, and ESI-MS characterization of the metal nanoparticles confirmed the formation of the synthetic intermediates and the expected colloidal systems. AuNPs of subnanometric size were determined by WAXD and UV–Vis analysis. UV–Vis and fluorescence analysis confirmed the effective anchoring of the thiolated PDEVP to AuNPs. The formation of 50–200 nm globular structures was assessed by SEM and AFM microscopy in solid state and confirmed by DLS in aqueous dispersion. Hydrodynamic radius studies showed colloidal contraction with temperature, demonstrating thermoresponsive behavior. These properties suggest potential biomedical applications for the photoablation of malignant cells or controlled drug delivery induced by light or heat for the novel PDEVP-capped AuNP systems.

Self-Polymerized Tough and High-Entanglement Zwitterionic Functional Hydrogels.

Zwitterionic hydrogels exhibit great potential in biomedical applications due to their antifouling properties and biocompatibility. However, the single-network structure of pure zwitterionic hydrogels leads to a low toughness and strength, limiting their application in biomedical fields. In this work, a high entanglement sulfobetaine methacrylate-dopamine hydrogel (SBMA-DA-PE) with low cross-linker content and high monomer concentration is prepared by using a dopamine oxidative radical polymerization method. Compared to a regular zwitterionic hydrogel, the SBMA-DA-PE hydrogel exhibits a 5-fold increase in tensile fracture stress and a 10-fold increase in compressive fracture stress. The SBMA-DA-PE hydrogel possesses excellent mechanical properties (the maximum compressive stress ≥4.85MPa, the maximum compressive strain ≥90%). Besides, the non-covalent interactions between catechol or ortho-quinones within the SBMA-DA-PE hydrogel, combined with strong intermolecular electrostatic interactions, endow the SBMA-DA-PE hydrogel with great self-healing capabilities and fatigue resistance. The SBMA-DA-PE hydrogel demonstrates low swellability and possesses good antifouling properties. Furthermore, the good printability and conductivity of the tough SBMA-DA-PE hydrogel endows it with new possibilities for developing biological 3D scaffolds and electronic devices. Overall, this work provides new insights into the preparation of zwitterionic hydrogels with high mechanical strength and multi-functionality for biomedical applications.

A Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe With Assembly/Aggregation-Induced Retention Effect for Specific Diagnosis of Metastasis and Image-Guided Surgery in Breast Cancer

Image-guided surgery is crucial for achieving complete tumor resection, reducing postoperative recurrence, and improving patient survival. However, current clinical near-infrared fluorescent probes, such as indocyanine green (ICG), face two main limitations: 1) lack of active tumor targeting, and 2) short retention time in tumors, which restricts real-time imaging during surgery. To address these issues, we developed a near-infrared fluorescent probe capable of in situ nanofiber formation within tumor lesions. This probe actively targets the integrin αvβ3 receptors overexpressed on breast cancer cells and exhibits assembly/aggregation-induced retention effects at the tumor site, significantly extending the imaging time window. Additionally, we found that the probe’s fluorescence intensity can be enhanced under receptor induction. Due to its excellent tumor specificity and sensitivity, 1FCG-FFGRGD not only identifies primary breast cancer but also precisely locates smaller lymph node metastases and detects sub-millimeter peritoneal metastases. In summary, this near-infrared probe, leveraging assembly/aggregation-induced retention effects, holds substantial potential for various biomedical applications.

Graphene-Oxide Peptide-Containing Materials for Biomedical Applications.

This review explores the application of graphene-based materials (GBMs) in biomedicine, focusing on graphene oxide (GO) and its interactions with peptides and proteins. GO, a versatile nanomaterial with oxygen-containing functional groups, holds significant potential for biomedical applications but faces challenges related to toxicity and environmental impact. Peptides and proteins can be functionalized on GO surfaces through various methods, including non-covalent interactions such as π-π stacking, electrostatic forces, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces, as well as covalent bonding through reactions involving amide bond formation, esterification, thiol chemistry, and click chemistry. These approaches enhance GO's functionality in several key areas: biosensing for sensitive biomarker detection, theranostic imaging that integrates diagnostics and therapy for real-time treatment monitoring, and targeted cancer therapy where GO can deliver drugs directly to tumor sites while being tracked by imaging techniques like MRI and photoacoustic imaging. Additionally, GO-based scaffolds are advancing tissue engineering and aiding tissues' bone, muscle, and nerve tissue regeneration, while their antimicrobial properties are improving infection-resistant medical devices. Despite its potential, addressing challenges related to stability and scalability is essential to fully harness the benefits of GBMs in healthcare.

Ascorbyl palmitate nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels for drug delivery in soft issues

Nanofiber-based hydrogel delivery systems have recently shown great potential in biomedical applications, specifically due to their high surface-to-volume ratio of ultra-fine nanofibers and their ability to carry low solubility drugs. Herein, we introduce a visible light-triggered in situ-gelling drug vehicle (GAP Gel) composed of ascorbyl palmitate (AP) nanofibers and gelatin methacryloyl polymer. AP nanofibers form self-assembled structures through intermolecular interactions with a hydrophobic drug-loading core. We demonstrate that the hydrophilic periphery of AP nanofibers allows them to interact with other hydrophilic molecules via hydrogen bonds. The presence of AP nanofibers significantly enhances the viscoelasticity of GAP Gel in a concentration-dependent manner. Further, GAP Gel shows in vitro biocompatibility and sustained drug delivery efficacy when loaded with a hydrophobic antibiotic. Likewise, GAP Gel shows excellent in vivo biocompatibility when implanted in immunocompetent mice in various forms. Lastly, GAP Gels maintain cell viability when cultured in a 3D-environment over 7 days, establishing it as a promising and versatile hydrogel platform for the delivery of biotherapeutics.

A Methyl-Engineered DNAzyme for Endogenous Alkyltransferase Monitoring and Self-Sufficient Gene Regulation.

The on-demand gene regulation is crucial for extensively exploring specific gene functions and developing personalized gene therapeutics, which shows great promise in precision medicines. Although some nucleic acid-based gene regulatory tools (antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs) are devised for achieving on-demand activation, the introduction of chemical modifications may cause undesired side effects, thereby impairing the gene regulatory efficacy. Herein, a methyl-engineered DNAzyme (MeDz) is developed for the visualization of endogenous alkyltransferase (AGT) and the simultaneous self-sufficiently on-demand gene regulation. The catalytic activity of DNAzyme can be efficiently blocked by O6-methylguanine (O6MeG) modification and specifically restored via the AGT-mediated DNA-repairing pathway. This simply designed MeDz is demonstrated to reveal AGT of varying expression levels in different cells, opening the possibility to explore the AGT-related biological processes. Moreover, the AGT-guided MeDz exhibits cell-selective regulation on the human early growth response-1 (EGR-1) gene, with efficient gene repression in breast cancer cells and low effectiveness in normal cells. The proposed MeDz offers an attractive strategy for on-demand gene regulation, displaying great potential in biomedical applications.

Biosynthesis and biological activities of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles using Tinospora cordifolia leaf extract.

The synthesis of magnesium hydroxide nanoparticles (Mg(OH)2 NPs) using plant extracts are known to be a practical, economical, and an environmentally friendly approach. In this work, Mg(OH)2 NPs were synthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Tinospora cordifolia, a medicinal plant commonly found in India. The synthesized Mg(OH)2 NPs were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption peak of the Mg(OH)2 NPs was detected at 289nm, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of various functional groups, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed the well-crystallized structure of the Mg(OH)2 NPs. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses depicted spherical morphology and an average particle size (PS) of 27.71nm. The energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence of C, O, and Mg elements, and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) survey spectrum confirmed the elements for the Su 1s peak at 280.2eV. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis displayed an average PS of 54.3nm, and the Zeta potential (ZP) was of 9.89mV. The fabricated Mg(OH)2 NPs displayed notable antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis, E. coli, and S. aureus. In addition, these NPs exhibited strong antioxidant properties (> 75%) based on DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) assays. Further, the same NPs exerted a potent anti-inflammatory activity (> 65%) based on COX-1 and COX-2 evaluations. The anti-Alzheimer' disease (AD) potential of Mg(OH)2 NPs was assessed through effective inhibition (> 70%) of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities. Molecular docking (MD) studies confirmed that caryophyllene has higher binding affinity with AChE (-5.3kcal/mol) and BuChE (-6.4kcal/mol) enzymes. This study emphasizes the green synthesis of Mg(OH)2 NPs using T. cordifolia as a plant source and highlights their potential for biomedical applications.

Influence of annealing on the physicochemical properties of 2L ferrihydrite synthesized by radiation-chemical method from iron (III) nitrate

In this study, ferrihydrite (Fhy) nanoparticles (NPles) synthesized by the radiation chemical method (RCM) from an iron nitrate alcohol solution were annealed in air at temperatures ranging from 100 to 1200 ºC. The effects of annealing temperature on the phase transformation and basic physicochemical properties of the annealed Fhy nanopowders (NPs) were investigated. Fhy NPles annealed at 400 ºC and above can be converted to hematite NPles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of the RCM-synthesized product corresponded to two-line (2 L) Fhy NPles, with no additional peaks, confirming their chemical purity. Up to 200 ºC, no significant phase transformation of Fhy NPles was observed; at 300 ºC, Fhy transformed into maghemite, which further transformed into hematite at 400 ºC. TEM/HRTEM analysis showed the formation of mesoporous agglomerates consisting of amorphous-crystalline NPles approximately 2 nm in size in the Fhy S95 sample annealed at 95 ºC. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images indicated the presence of two crystalline phases in sample S95: FeO and zero-valence Fe. The specific surface area (SSA) of mesoporous Fhy NPles varied non-monotonically between 100 and 500 ºC, peaking at 53.2 m2/g at 300 ºC. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed a minor nitrogen impurity, likely from the initial iron nitrate precursor, and a significant amount of adsorbed carbon on the developed porous surface of Fhy NPles. The phase composition of annealed Fhy samples correlated with their photoluminescent (PL) spectra. In samples S400 and S500 containing hematite, a small ferromagnetic contribution emerged, disrupting the linear magnetization-field dependence observed in samples S0-S200. Thus, the properties of 2 L Fhy nanoparticles produced by the radiation chemical method can be modified through thermal annealing while maintaining their potential biomedical applications as nanocontainers for drug delivery and contrast agents.

Magnetically Driven Quadruped Soft Robot with Multimodal Motion for Targeted Drug Delivery.

Untethered magnetic soft robots show great potential for biomedical and small-scale micromanipulation applications due to their high flexibility and ability to cause minimal damage. However, most current research on these robots focuses on marine and reptilian biomimicry, which limits their ability to move in unstructured environments. In this work, we design a quadruped soft robot with a magnetic top cover and a specific magnetization angle, drawing inspiration from the common locomotion patterns of quadrupeds in nature and integrating our unique actuation principle. It can crawl and tumble and, by adjusting the magnetic field parameters, it adapts its locomotion to environmental conditions, enabling it to cross obstacles and perform remote transportation and release of cargo.

Green Synthesis and Applications of Nanoparticles in Biomedical Chemistry

AbstractNumerous case studies have shown that nanoparticles (NPs) can help address raw material challenges in biomedical as well as healthcare‐related fields. The NPs derived from metal as well as metal oxide have exhibited remarkable therapeutic potential in clinical research. The strategies for nanomaterials interaction with cells can be employed to demonstrate their significance as well as enhance their optimistic potential in the health as well as medical domain. There have been numerous scientific initiatives to discuss antibiotic resistance as well as the antibacterial properties of metal‐based NPs. Regardless of such advancements; there is still a need to investigate their achievement to address current challenges in this field. Thus, this review looks into the contributions of various types of nanoparticles, as well as potential biological and biomedical applications. According to recent advancements as well as applications, metal oxide, and metal‐based NPs are predicted to play a significant part in the healthcare system. The opportunities, as well as challenges for NP commercial advancement, are linked to improving production with optimized scenarios.

Biocompatible Glycopolymer-PLA Amphiphilic Hybrid Block Copolymers with Unique Self-Assembly, Uptake, and Degradation Properties.

The self-assembly of Janus-type amphiphilic hybrid block copolymers composed of hydrophilic/hydrophobic layers has shown promise for drug encapsulation and delivery. Saccharides have previously been incorporated to improve the biocompatibility of self-assembled structures; however, glycopolymer block copolymers have been less explored, and their structure-property relationships are not well understood. In this study, novel glycopolymer-branched poly(lactic acid) (PLA) block copolymers were synthesized via thiol-ene coupling and their composition-dependent morphologies were elucidated. Stability as a function of pH, dye uptake capabilities, and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Systems with a hydrophilic weight ratio of 30% were found to produce bilayer nanoparticles, while systems with a hydrophilic weight ratio of 60% form micelles upon self-assembly in aqueous media. Regardless of composition and morphology, all systems exhibited uptake of both hydrophobic (curcumin, DL % from 4.25 to 11.55) and hydrophilic (methyl orange, DL % from 4.08 to 5.88) dye molecules with release profiles dependent on composition. Furthermore, all of the nanoparticles exhibited low cytotoxicity, confirming their potential for biomedical applications.

Enhancement of antimicrobial properties and cytocompatibility through silver and magnesium doping strategies on copper oxide nanocomposites

In the present study, silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), and the various molar ratios of Ag:Mg-doped copper oxide nanocomposites (CuO NCs) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The CuO NC samples calcined at 500 °C were further analyzed for their morphological, structural, functional, and optical properties. Adding single and dual doping increased the pristine CuO band gap from 1.28 to 1.50 eV. The Ag and Mg metal peaks were revealed in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, while an elevated Mg band was observed in all Mg-doped samples in the Raman results. All CuO NCs showed a monoclinic crystalline structure, flake, and rod-like morphologies. Microbes of Bacillus subtilis, Shigella dysenteriae, and Candida albicans were tested against different concentrations of CuO NCs. Better results for all tested microbes were observed with the 2 mg concentration. The high cytotoxicity effect was observed in the pristine and Cu:Ag (94:6) sample, and other CuO NCs, which demonstrated over 80 % viability in RAW 246.7 cells at a concentration of 0.5 µg/ml. Remarkably, over 94 % cell viability at 0.5 µg/ml was achieved with the Cu:Ag:Mg (94:3:3) NCs ratio, owing to the synergistic effect of the ion-releasing ability of Cu2+, Ag2+, and Mg2+ ions. It possesses a distinctive high aspect ratio shape, is ion-releasing, and has excellent cytocompatibility. The suitability of the Cu:Ag:Mg (94:3:3) NCs ratio for addressing microbial challenges in healthcare is suggested by their distinct characteristics, indicating the promising potential for future biomedical applications.

In-vivo toxicological study of cysteamine modified carbon dots derived from Ruellia simplex on fruit fly for potential bioimaging

Modern medicine must shift its paradigm from conventional treatment strategies to theranostics to meet individuals' needs. Carbon dots, as a class of fluorescent materials, provide biocompatible and multifunctional solutions for a wide range of applications including clinical sensing, imaging, and drug delivery. Various studies have focused on their synthesis, photophysical properties, and innoxious nature but their potential biomedical applications for the in-vivo toxicity are yet limited. In this work, previously synthesized C-Dots (CDs) were utilized to determine their effect on the development of Drosophila melanogaster. Simultaneously, the genotoxic potential of CDs was evaluated on specific larval cell types that play important roles in immunological defence as well as growth and development. The gut organ toxicity of both CDs was studied using DAPI and DCFH-DA dyes wherein RS-CDs didn't show significant toxicity to the concentration 500 μg/mL whereas RS-Cys-CDs showed nuclear fragmentation and modest ROS (reactive oxygen species) production. Subsequently, trypan-blue assay, larvae crawling assay, touch sensitivity, adult phenotype, and survivability assay were performed. The trypan-blue assay shows the non-toxic nature of both CDs even at the concentration of 500 μg/mL. The high concentrations of RS-Cys-CD (500 μg/mL) were further associated with the alteration in touch behaviour and decrease in pupa hatching. In-vivo and ex-vivo fluorescence assessment of both the CDs exhibit bright fluorescence in green and red channels upon excitation at 485 and 577 nm respectively. The prominent imaging results from RS-Cys-CDs highlight the positive impact of surface modification.

From cornfield to catalyst support: Eco-friendly synthesis of Cu/CuO nanoparticles, immobilization on the waste corn husk fibers, photocatalytic exploration and bioactivity evaluation

This study presents an innovative approach to eco-friendly synthesis and utilization of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) for photocatalytic applications, employing waste corn husk fibers as sustainable catalyst support. The synthesis of CuNPs was achieved through a green synthesis method utilizing myrtle extract. Subsequently, the remarkable photocatalytic activity of the CuNPs explored (76% removal efficiency of Crystal Violet), showcased their potential in environmental remediation applications. Furthermore, the immobilization of CuNPs onto waste corn husk fibers was investigated, aiming to develop a novel composite material with enhanced catalytic performance. A distinctive approach was introduced by immobilizing CuNPs onto fibers derived from corn husks, and waste biomass material, leading to a significant enhancement in photocatalytic efficiency, surpassing 95.1%. Furthermore, bioactivity evaluation studies revealed the significant antioxidant, antidiabetic, DNA fragmentation, cell viability, antibiofilm and antimicrobial properties of CuNPs. The antioxidant ability was determined at 100 mg/L as 87.12%. The most powerful antimicrobial activity of CuNP was found as a MIC value of 8 mg/L against E. faecalis. The cell viability inhibition of CuNP was 90.05% at 20 mg/L. CuNP exhibited biofilm inhibition activity at different concentrations. The antibiofilm ability was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus compared to Pseudomonas aureginosa. While the DNA cleavage activity of CuNP observed double-strand breaks at 50 and 100 mg, complete fragmentation occurred at 200 mg concentrations. The bioactivity of the synthesized CuNPs shed light on their potential biomedical applications. The synthesized CuNPs are characterized using various analytical techniques to elucidate their structural and morphological properties. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis provided insights into the chemical composition and surface properties of the synthesized materials. EDS analysis confirmed their successful integration into waste corn husk fibers. Overall, this interdisciplinary study highlights the potential of CuNPs immobilized on waste corn husk fibers for addressing environmental pollution, advancing sustainable technologies and paving the way for the development of efficient catalysts with diverse functionalities.

Influence of alkanolamine plasmas on poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibrous biomaterial constructs.

The development of fibrous polymer scaffolds is highly valuable for applications in tissue engineering. Furthermore, there is an extensive body of literature for chemical methods to produce scaffolds that release nitric oxide. However, these methods often use harsh chemistries and leave behind bulk waste. Alkanolamine low-temperature plasma (LTP) is unexplored and single-step processing to form nitric oxide (NO) releasing constructs is highly desirable. The major question addressed is whether it is possible to achieve single-step processing of spun polyester with alkanolamine plasma to achieve nitric oxide releasing capabilities. Herein we report the experiments, processes, and data that support the claim that it is indeed possible to produce such a bio-functional material for potential biomedical applications, especially in cardiovascular implants. Among the tested alkanolamines, monoethylamine (MEA) plasma treated biomaterial outperformed in comparison with diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) in terms of NO release and cellular response.