Role Of Metal Nanoparticles Research Articles

The Role of Metal Nanoparticles in the Pathogenesis of Stone Formation.

The process of stone formation in the human body remains incompletely understood, which requires clinical and laboratory studies and the formulation of a new endogenous, nanotechnological concept of the mechanism of origin and formation of crystallization centers. Previously, the mechanism of sialolithiasis was considered a congenital disease associated with the pathology of the ducts in the structure of the glands themselves. To date, such morphological changes of congenital nature can be considered from the position of the intrauterine formation of endogenous bacterial infections complicated by the migration of antigenic structures initiating the formation of crystallization centers. The present work is devoted to the study of the morphology and composition of stones obtained as a result of surgical interventions for sialolithiasis. Presumably, nanoparticles of metals and other chemical compounds can be structural components of crystallization centers or incorporated into the conditions of chronic endogenous inflammation and the composition of antigenic structures, in complexes with protein and bacterial components. X-ray microtomography, X-ray fluorescence analysis, scanning transmission electron microscopy and microanalysis, mass spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy were used to study the pathogenesis of stone formation. Immunoglobulins (Igs) of classes A and G, as well as nanoparticles of metals Pb, Fe, Cr, and Mo, were found in the internal structure of the stones. The complex of antigenic structures was an ovoid calcified layered matrix of polyvid microbial biofilms, with the inclusion of metal nanoparticles and chemical elements, as well as immunoglobulins. The obtained results of clinical and laboratory studies allow us to broaden the view on the pathogenesis of stone formation and suggest that the occurrence of the calcification of antigenic structures may be associated with the formation of IgG4-associated disease.

Tiny but mighty: metal nanoparticles as effective antimicrobial agents for plant pathogen control.

Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained significant attention in recent years for their potential use as effective antimicrobial agents for controlling plant pathogens. This review article summarizes the recent advances in the role of MNPs in the control of plant pathogens, focusing on their mechanisms of action, applications, and limitations. MNPs can act as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent against various plant pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Different types of MNPs, such as silver, copper, zinc, iron, and gold, have been studied for their antimicrobial properties. The unique physicochemical properties of MNPs, such as their small size, large surface area, and high reactivity, allow them to interact with plant pathogens at the molecular level, leading to disruption of the cell membrane, inhibition of cellular respiration, and generation of reactive oxygen species. The use of MNPs in plant pathogen control has several advantages, including their low toxicity, selectivity, and biodegradability. However, their effectiveness can be influenced by several factors, including the type of MNP, concentration, and mode of application. This review highlights the current state of knowledge on the use of MNPs in plant pathogen control and discusses the future prospects and challenges in the field. Overall, the review provides insight into the potential of MNPs as a promising alternative to conventional chemical agents for controlling plant pathogens.

A REVIEW ON GREEN SYNTHESIS OF METALLIC NANOPARTICLES: ADVANCEMENTS AND APPLICATIONS IN SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY

It provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements and applications in the field of green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, with a particular focus on sustainable technology. Metallic nanoparticles possess unique properties that make them highly desirable for various applications, ranging from biomedical to environmental fields. Green synthesis methods, including plant-mediated, have emerged as environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional synthesis routes. These methods offer advantages such as reduced environmental impact and biocompatibility. The abstract delves into the wide-ranging applications of green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles. Biomedical applications and environmental applications are highlighted. Additionally, the role of metallic nanoparticles in optoelectronics, sensing technologies, and food safety is examined. Throughout the discussion, the importance of sustainability is underscored, emphasizing the need to address environmental concerns and promote eco-friendly technologies. Overall, this abstract provides valuable insights into the potential of sustainable technology in shaping the future of nanoparticle synthesis and applications.

Role of Metal Nanoparticles in the Fabrication of Porous Silicon: A Material for Solar Cell Applications

Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching method (MACE) has emerged as an effective tool to fabricate silicon nanostructures. This technique requires a catalytic mask that is commonly composed of a metal. In the present work, the role of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the etching mechanism of Porous Silicon (PS) is investigated by studying the effect of AgNP coverage on the surface porosity and the different properties of PS. XRD spectra consist of the two peaks corresponding to silicon and AgNPs respectively and the peak intensity of Ag decreased with an increase in etching time which indicates that as the etching time increases the dissolution of silver metal also increases. Thus, the pore depth depends on the dissolution of AgNP. The pore depth and porosity are calculated at different etching times by SEM analysis. It is observed that porosity is modifiable with the variation of AgNP coverage which in turn modifies the optical properties of PS. The porosity increased with the increase of etching time and the highest porosity obtained was 78% after 240 minutes. The refractive index of PS decreased with increasing porosity in the visible region. The variation of the refractive index results in the tuning of optical energy gap which is more essential in increasing the efficiency of solar cells.

The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in the Prevention and Treatment of Parasitic Diseases in Poultry

The development of nanotechnology for the treatment of parasitic diseases is still in its infancy. However, it is expected that this new field can provide a solution to parasitic diseases and compensate for the lack of vaccines to prevent them. It can also provide new treatment options for parasitic diseases resistant to current treatments. Nanomaterials have been developed for antibacterial and anticancer therapies. However, it is important to determine their antiparasitic potential due to the wide variety of their physicochemical properties. When designing metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs) and specialized nanosystems like MeNPs encapsulated within a drug shell, it is essential to consider several key physicochemical properties. Shape, size, surface charge, and type of surfactant control are some of these physicochemical properties. In addition to interacting with parasite cells’ target molecules, shell molecules are also important. By developing antiparasitic drugs using nanotechnology and nanomaterials for diagnostics, new and effective methods of treatment and diagnostic tools for poultry diseases are expected to be available in the future to enhance poultry disease prevention and reduce morbidity and mortality rates.

Role of metallic nanoparticles in the optoelectronic performance enhancement of InP ultrathin film solar cell

III-V material-based ultrathin Solar Cells (SCs) garnered a great deal of interest due to their benefits such as efficient charge transport, recycling of photons, adaptability, and material usage but suffer from low optical absorption due to thicker active material. In order to increase the optical absorption in the ultra-thin SC, metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are employed that scatter the incident light in the absorber layer resulting in higher optical absorption with the reduced requirement of active material. The role of MNPs in the efficiency improvement of InP SCs has not yet been explored. Therefore, in this paper, we have investigated the impact of plasmonic MNPs of different materials such as gold (Au), silver (Ag) and aluminium (Al) placed on the top of ITO coated 280 nm ultra-thin InP SC with FDTD simulations, which employ the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to increase the optical absorption by tuning the dimensions of the MNPs. The thickness of InP thin-film and an anti-reflective coating of ITO are optimized to achieve maximum absorption. In addition, the diameter and period of Au, Ag, and Al MNPs are also optimized to achieve higher optical Jsc, and results show that Au nanoparticle with diameter of 50 nm and period of 100 nm shows higher Jsc when compared to Ag and Al nanoparticles of optimized diameter. The device analysis shows the Au nanoparticles placed on the top surface of ITO coated InP ultrathin SC with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 22.3% outperform the Ag NPs and Al NPs ITO coated InP ultrathin SC and ITO/InP ultrathin SC without MNPs.

Role of metal-nanoparticles in farming practices: an insight.

Nanotechnology introduces revolutionary approaches for agriculture in the form of nano-based pesticides, fertilizers, sensors, weed-controlling agents, enhanced seed germination materials,etc. Even though metal-nanoparticles (NPs) have shown their potential to improve crop yield, the mode of action at the cellular level and fate in the human body and the environment are not well understood yet. Several metal-nanoparticles have been studied extensively by researchers for their active role in enhancing the rate of seed germination and crop quality augmentation which may happen due to several mechanisms such as increased porosity in nano-primed seeds inducing up-regulation of the expression of aquaporin and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) genes involved in water uptake, improving the root dehydrogenase activity to enhance the water absorption capability, etc. However, researchers have also demonstrated and reported the possible toxicity of NPs in the environment due to their agricultural practices. But the fate of NPs and their environmental impact are still unclear and largely vary based on several factors such as the size of NPs, coating material, mode of discharge and locations, etc.This review thoroughly focuses on the mode of action of various NPs in seed germination and accumulation, translocation through cells, and potential environmental and health risks.

The Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Inhibition of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Enhances Phagosome Maturation into the Infected Macrophage.

This review focuses on the role of gallium (Ga) nanoparticles (NPs) to enhance phagosome maturation into the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophage and the role of magnetic iron NPs as nanocarriers of antituberculosis drugs. The literature shows that silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs with dimensions less than 10 nm can penetrate directly through the macrophage bilayer membrane. Ag NPs increase the permeability membrane by motiving the aggregation of proteins in the periplasmic space and forming nano-sized pores. ZnO NPs can interact with the membrane of M. tuberculosis, which leads to the formation of surface pores and the release of intracellular nucleotides. The colloidal Ag:ZnO mixture NPs with 1:1 ratio can eliminate M. tuberculosis and shows the lowest cytotoxicity effects on MCF-7 and THP-1 cell lines. Ag/ZnO nanocrystals are not able to kill M. tuberculosis alone ex-vivo. Hence, bimetallic gold (Au)/Ag NPs possessed high efficiency to inhibit M. tuberculosis in an ex-vivo THP-1 infection model. Co-delivery of mixed MeNPs into a polymeric carrier collaborated to selective uptake by macrophages through passive targeting, initial burst release of ions from the encapsulated metallic (Me) NPs, and eventually, reduction of MeNPs toxicity, and plays a pivotal role in increasing the antitubercular activity compared to use alone. In addition, Ga NPs can import drugs to the macrophage, inhibit M. tuberculosis growth, and reduce the inhibition of phagosome maturation. Magnetic encapsulated NPs exhibited good drug release properties and might be suitable as carriers of antituberculosis drugs.

Role of metallic nanoparticles in water remediation with special emphasis on sustainable synthesis: a review

Water is the main asset of human civilization, and drinking water supplies are a fundamental human necessity. Uncontrolled population growth, however, has disrupted the natural purification process, leading to a shortage of drinking water and rapid industrialization. Many of the world’s drinking water supplies are compromised by various toxins and pathogenic microbes. Therefore, there is a dire need to treat wastewater and make it fir to drink. A range of strategies have been embraced by industries globally to treat wastewater prior to its release to the bio-network, and a number of new notions and technologies are rapidly replacing the established methods. The use of biologically synthesized metal/metal oxide nanoparticles is one of the most highly developed and proficient ways to treat wastewater. Nanoparticles possess various properties such as catalysis, antimicrobial effectiveness, metal sensing and synthetic dyes quenching. Such properties of nanoparticles were used to treat wastewater and made it suitable for various domestic as well as industrial applications. This article compiles various research carried out in the area of green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles and their application in wastewater treatment.

Current Relevance of Nanotechnology to Medicine and Industry

Nanotechnology based approaches find unprecedented application in the field of medicine and facilitation of safe and sustainable environment. Nevertheless, the key challenge lies in identifying and addressing their consequences on human health and environmental viability as well as understanding the underlying processes based on nanoparticle specific interactions. The research, review and editorial observations published as constituents of second issue in the journal of the current year, verily explores these dimensions of nanotechnology. Specifically, these articles focus on silver nanoparticle rinse based tooth enamel remineralization-hardening; the role of metal nanoparticles in environmental friendly industrial reactions as well as the need to develop nanotechnological approaches to comprehensively fight the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Intracellular uptake of and sensing with SERS-active hybrid exosomes: insight into a role of metal nanoparticles.

Aim: Exosomes, known as novel biocompatible vesicles, have attracted much interest. Thismakes it urgent to observe exosomes at the visually cellular or subcellular levels. Methods: Herein, we constructed a new kind of exosome/metal nanohybrid and employed a surface-enhanced Raman scattering technique to study the intracellular behaviors of hybrid exosomes. Results: Experimental results revealed that hybrid exosomes were internalized mainly through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and thereafter transported to lysosomes. The metal nanoparticles in the hybrid were demonstrated to have little effect on exosomal characteristics while serving as surface-enhanced Raman scattering generators. Conclusion: This study is significant for removing the barrier in designing programmable exosome/metal nanohybrids, which will greatly improve the utility of exosomal nanohybrids for therapeutics, such as multifunctional drug-delivery systems.

Reduction of Nitrobenzene to Aniline by CO/H2O in the Presence of Palladium Nanoparticles

The transformation of aromatic nitrocompounds into amines by CO/H2O is catalyzed by palladium(II) complexes. Recently, we have proposed that the catalytic cycle includes Pd0 as the transient intermediate and herein, for the first time, we describe the application of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) stabilized by monodentate N-heterocyclic ligands as nanocatalysts facilitating the reduction of Ar–NO2 into Ar–NH2 by CO/H2O. Among the series—Pd(II) complexes, PdNPs and commercial Pdblack—the highest catalytic activity was observed for PdNPs (3.0 ± 0.5 nm) stabilized by 4-Me-pyridine in the presence of 2-Cl-pyridine. The results may be helpful for mechanistic considerations on the role of metallic nanoparticles as active species in other organic processes.

Nanoplasmonic Sensor Based on Surface Plasmon-Coupled Emission: Review

The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique is a powerful method to detect chemical molecules. Fluorescent spectroscopy is a subject of great interest in the field of material science and biology. Recently, some optical sensors, based on plasmonic properties of nanomaterial, were introduced to enhance the investigation of the interaction of molecular while detecting the low concentration of molecular. The surface plasmon-coupled emission (SPCE) technique is a merit and accurate method to evaluate the interaction of nanomaterials and molecular. SPCE is based on fluorescence properties of interest molecule, and the surface plasmon enhances the fluorescence signal. According to SPR theory, the condition of excitation of fluorophore could be used in obtaining the SPCE signal. SPCE can be used to detect toxic chemicals and investigate the human molecular. In this review, the theory, experimental setup, condition of SPCE, and role of metal nanoparticles in SPCE were reviewed. In the end, the application of SPCE was presented for detection and monitoring the chemical material, heavy metal, and biologic molecules.

Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

The role of metallic nanoparticles in the enhancement of the spin Hall magnetoresistance in YIG/Pt thin films

Enhancements in the spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) close to one order of magnitude in bilayers of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and platinum with embedded metallic nanoparticles of Ag and Cu are reported. The enhancement in the electrical detection of the back reflected spin current in YIG/Pt-MP(tMP)-Pt relative to YIG/Pt is attributed to the increase in the effective spin Hall angle (θSHAeff) due to the presence of the metallic nanoparticles. The maximum value observed for the spin Hall magnetoresistance is related to critical thickness of the tMP close to the percolation threshold. The results are also supported by data obtained by means of the spin pumping effect where dc-voltage measurements confirm the enhancement of the spin to charge conversion process.

The effect of microporous vanadosilicate AM-6 thin films as photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue

In the current study, a new photocatalyst in thin film form exhibiting photocatalytic activity under visible light range was introduced. For that purpose, microporous vanadosilicate (AM-6, (Na,K)2VSi5O13) and silver nanoparticle (Ag0) incorporated vanadosilicate AM-6 thin films were investigated as photocatalysts for the photocatalytic decomposition of methylene blue (MB). To create different oxidation states of vanadium cation present in the ⋯VOVOV⋯ quantum wires within the framework of AM-6, two different molar compositions were used for thin film formation of vanadosilicate AM-6. The vanadosilicate AM-6 thin films demonstrated photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation. The microporous titanosilicate (ETS-10, (Na,K)2TiSi5O13) thin films, isomorph of vanadosilicate AM-6, were also used as photocatalysts for the degradation of MB for the comparison of photocatalytic effectiveness. When visible light irradiation is used for the photocatalytic decomposition of MB, the photocatalytic activity of AM-6 was significantly different with respect to ETS-10. The narrower band gap of AM-6 with respect to the band gap of ETS-10 and the presence of V5+ cations in the structure of AM-6 provided photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. It was found that, vanadosilicate AM-6 films with higher amount of V5+ ions possess better photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation for the degradation of MB, which can be attributed to the presence of V5+ cations within the framework of AM-6. The presence of both V4+ and V5+ cations was characterized by XPS and Raman spectroscopy in the vanadosilicate AM-6 thin films. To enhance the photocatalytic activity of AM-6 thin films, Na+ and K+ ions of the as-synthesized AM-6 thin films were ion-exchanged with Ag+ ions and then reduced to Ag0 nanoparticles (NP) by using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) solution. The results showed that Ag0 NP incorporated AM-6 thin films showed an increased photocatalytic activity due to various reasons such as the role of metal nanoparticles as electron traps, surface plasmon resonance effect, and band-gap narrowing.

A Wearable Electrochemical Sensor to Monitor Progression of Wound Healing

An enzymatic electrochemical biosensor comprising the enzyme, urate oxidase (uricase, UOx), has been investigated for detection of real-time changes in uric acid. Uric acid (UA) is a key biomarker for monitoring severity of wounds, a complex process initiated to restore tissue damage. With its presence in different bio-fluids, this work explores possibilities of continuous, non-invasive detection of systemic UA levels. Here, hydrolysis of UA was explored to detect the oxidation of its byproduct, H2O2. The role of metal nano-particles was investigated on detection, through cyclic voltammetry. Use of a redox electron shuttle, ferrocene carboxylic acid (FCA), was seen to enable electron transfer between the active site of the enzyme and the electrode. The constructed enzymatic uric acid biosensor provided a sensitivity of 0.14 µA µM-1 cm-2 and detection limit of 14µM within the physiologically relevant range. This biosensor has the potential of providing wound care through continual systemic UA monitoring.

A Wearable Electrochemical Sensor to Monitor Progression of Wound Healing

An enzymatic electrochemical biosensor comprising the enzyme, urate oxidase (uricase, UOx), has been investigated for detection of real-time changes in uric acid. Uric acid is a key biomarker for monitoring severity of wounds, a complex process initiated to restore tissue damage.1 Although, tracking wound healing continues to be a challenge in healthcare; it is equally demanding. In existing technology, the time taken from the appearance of a wound to the commencement of an effective wound management plan can be lengthy, as laboratory tests can take days to complete. With its presence in different bio-fluids2, this work explores the continuous monitoring of systemic uric acid in human sweat. Electrochemical techniques like cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry have been investigated for evaluating the success of the sensor on a wearable platform as a surrogate for wound healing. On this biosensor, hydrolysis of UA was monitored to detect the oxidation of its byproduct, H2O2. Results show that the use of a redox electron shuttle such as ferrocene carboxylic acid (FCA) or metal nano-particles enable electron transfer between the active site of the enzyme and the electrode. This work explores the possibilities of embedding the biosensor in wound dressing-gauze materials as substrates and investigates the effect and role of metal nano-particles on detection. It can measure very low volumes (0.5uL) of sweat showing that such low volumes are sufficient for systemic detection of uric acid at the wound vicinity. This non-invasive approach holds promise for tracking wound chronicity and can be beneficial towards shorter hospitalization time, costs and reduced outcomes of trauma, surgery, and amputations.3 The developed biosensor could facilitate treatment with an improved, comprehensive understanding of the recovery processes associated with healing.

Role of Metallic Nanoparticles in Vaccinology: Implications for Infectious Disease Vaccine Development.

Subunit vaccines are safer but less immunogenic than live-attenuated vaccines or whole cell inactivated vaccines. Adjuvants are used to enhance and modulate antigen (Ag) immunogenicity, aiming to induce a protective and long-lasting immune response. Several molecules and formulations have been studied for their adjuvanticity, but only seven have been approved to formulate human vaccines. Metallic nanoparticles (MeNPs), particularly those containing gold and iron oxides, are widely used in medicine for diagnosis and therapy and have been used as carriers for drugs and vaccines. However, little is known about the immune response elicited by MeNPs or about their importance in the development of new vaccines. There is evidence that these particles display adjuvant characteristics, promoting cell recruitment, antigen-presenting cell activation, cytokine production, and inducing a humoral immune response. This review focuses on the characteristics of MeNPs that could facilitate the induction of a cellular immune response, particularly T-helper 1 and T-helper 17, and their potential functions as adjuvants for subunit vaccines.

Role of Metal Nanoparticles in Photo/ Catalytic Activation of Carbon Dioxide

Investigations of the photo-induced phenomena enabling to improve and understand fundamental processes involved in CO2 reduction includes co-assembly of plasmonic and catalytic metal nanoparticles to the build-up of a semiconductor photocathode. Combination of the nanostructures of plasmonic metals, such as silver or gold with other metal electrocatalysts will substantially decrease the energy barriers of the CO2 reduction process through interaction of photo-excited surface plasmon states with adsorbed reaction intermediates. The significance to investigate reduction of CO2 at gold, silver and copper surfaces enhanced by the extra activation of the process provided by the illuminated, incorporated plasmonic metallic nanostructures is supported by the occurrence of the photo-emission process associated with the decay of photo-excited surface plasmons. Of particular interest will be a strong influence of the Ag/FTO electrode roughness upon the photo-emissive cathodic currents of electro-reduction of CO2 dissolved in aqueous solution. Actually, the two metals Ag and Au, the nanostructures of which exhibit strong excitation of surface plasmon resonance through interaction with near UV and visible photons are also catalytically active toward electro-reduction of CO2. Besides the photo-emission, another property of plasmonic NPs – heat generation resulting from the absorption of incident photons and their influence on the reduction of CO2 at composite cathodes will be the objectives of this presentation.