Spherical Shape Research Articles

Construction of the Glycolysis Metabolic Pathway Inside an Artificial Cell for the Synthesis of Amino Acid and Its Reversible Deformation.

The bottom-up construction of artificial cells is beneficial for understanding cell working mechanisms. The glycolysis metabolism mimicry inside artificial cells is challenging. Herein, the glycolytic pathway (Entner-Doudoroff pathway in archaea) is reconstituted inside artificial cells. The glycolytic pathway comprising glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), gluconate dehydratase (GAD), and 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate aldolase (KDGA) converts glucose molecules to pyruvate molecules. Inside artificial cells, pyruvate molecules are further converted into alanine with the help of alanine dehydrogenase (AlaDH) to build a metabolic pathway for synthesizing amino acid. On the other hand, the pyruvate molecules from glycolysis stimulate the living mitochondria to produce ATP inside artificial cells, which further trigger actin monomers to polymerize to form actin filaments. With the addition of methylcellulose inside the artificial cell, the actin filaments form adjacent to the inner lipid bilayer, deforming the artificial cell from a spherical shape to a spindle shape. The spindle-shaped artificial cell reverses to a spherical shape by depolymerizing the actin filament upon laser irradiation. The glycolytic pathway and its further extension to produce amino acids (or ATP) inside artificial cells pave the path to build functional artificial cells with more complicated metabolic pathways.

Effect of ultrafine grinding on the structure and physical properties of pregelatinized rice starch.

This study used a combination method of ultrafine grinding and pregelatinization to modify rice starch (RS) to delay its retrogradation and provide a rationale for prolonging rice product shelf life. The structure and physicochemical properties of the pregelatinized ultrafine grinding rice starch (PURS) were compared with those of RS, ultrafine grinding rice starch (URS), and pregelatinized rice starch (PRS). The microstructure, molecular weight, branched starch length distribution, short-range order, crystal structure, and physical properties of RS, URS, PRS, and PURS were analyzed, respectively. Results showed that RS, URS, PRS, and PURS granules exhibited similar spherical or polygonal shapes, and the content of amylose and short-branched starch in PURS increased compared with RS, URS, and PRS. Furthermore, the cross-polarization of PRS and PURS disappeared. Long-chain amylopectin and average molecular weight of PURS decreased significantly after ultrafine grinding. Our study suggested reduced breakdown value and setback value and improved gel stability, and PURS was beneficial for delaying retrogradation compared to RS, URS, and PRS. The ultrafine grinding method improved the water swelling capacity (WSC), solubility, pasting properties, and gelation properties of PRS. The hardness of PURS was reduced by ultrafine grinding. These suggest that the combination of ultrafine grinding and pregelatinization could improve the properties of RS. Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the structure of PURS significantly influenced the physicochemical properties. The present study was helpful in better understanding the importance of ultrafine grinding in improving the anti-retrogradation of PURS and provided new insights into extending the shelf life of rice products by ultrafine grinding and pregelatinization.

Polystyrene Nanoplastics-Induced Intestinal Barrier Disruption via Inflammation and Apoptosis in Zebrafish Larvae (Danio rerio)

Plastics are one of the most pervasive materials on Earth, to which humans are exposed daily. Polystyrene (PS) is a common plastic packaging material. However, the impact of PS on human health remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify intestinal damage induced by PS nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in zebrafish larvae which have a high homology with humans. Four days post fertilization (dpf), zebrafish larvae were exposed to 0-, 10-, and 50-ppm PS-NPs for 48 h. Initially, to ascertain if 100 nm PS-NPs could accumulate in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of zebrafish larvae, the larvae were exposed to red fluorescence-labeled PS-NPs, and at 6 dpf, the larvae were examined using a fluorescence microscope. Analysis of the fluorescence intensity revealed that the GI tract of larvae exposed to 50-ppm exhibited a significantly stronger fluorescence intensity than the other groups. Nonfluorescent PS-NPs were then used in further studies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the spherical shape of the PS-NPs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed chemical alterations in the PS-NPs before and after exposure to larvae. The polydispersity index (PDI) value derived using a Zetasizer indicated a stable dispersion of PS-NPs in egg water. Whole-mount apoptotic signal analysis via TUNEL assay showed increased apoptosis in zebrafish larval intestines exposed to 50-ppm PS-NPs. Damage to the intestinal tissue was assessed by Alcian blue (AB) and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. AB staining revealed increased mucin levels in the zebrafish larval intestines. Thin larval intestinal walls with a decrease in the density of intestinal epithelial cells were revealed by H&E staining. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) induced by PS-NPs were identified and analyzed. In conclusion, exposure to PS-NPs may damage the intestinal barrier of zebrafish larvae due to increased intestinal permeability, and the in vivo gene network may change in larvae exposed to PS-NPs.

Silica Gel-Supported Pd Nanocatalyst: Efficient Mizoroki-Heck Reactions and Sustainable Ozagrel Synthesis

We developed a cost-effective silica gel-supported palladium nanocatalyst in a three-step reactions process. Initially, silica gel (60-120 mesh) underwent amino group functionalization using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, leading to the formation of a Schiff base through a reaction with the 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxaldehyde ligand. Subsequently, palladium nanocatalyst was introduced to the silica matrix ligand in the presence of palladium salt and hydrazine hydrate, resulting in the formation of the silica gel-supported Schiff-base palladium nanocatalyst (Si@SBPdNPs 3). Successful functionalization of the silica matrix was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques. FT-IR spectra demonstrated the incorporation of organic moieties onto the silica surface, while SEM images revealed the modified spherical shape of the silica gel. TEM and XRD analyses confirmed the presence of palladium on the silica matrix. ICP and EDX measurements validated the anchoring of 0.55 mmol/g of palladium to the catalyst. Additionally, XPS analysis showed the complexation of Pd(0) with the organic ligand on the silica matrix, confirming the successful integration of palladium into the system. This nanocatalyst demonstrated outstanding performance in Mizoroki-Heck reactions, yielding high product outputs in the cross-coupling of various aryl halides and olefins under mild conditions. Additionally, the nanocatalyst was effectively utilized in synthesizing Ozagrel, a thromboxane A2 synthesis inhibitor used for treating noncardioembolic stroke patients. Remarkably, the catalyst demonstrated excellent reusability, maintaining high productivity across five consecutive cycles, underscoring its economic and sustainable potential for industrial applications.

Preparation of polyurethane shell microcapsules containing isocyanate core by Pickering emulsion method using modified silica nanoparticles and investigation of their self-healing performance

Encapsulating repair agents are increasingly popular for repairing coating damage, with capsules being a common method to address surface scratches by releasing healing liquid into the fissure. However, creating microcapsules that are durable against environmental factors remains a key concern. Current research focuses on advancements in encapsulating healing agents and their production methods, particularly emphasizing the integration of capsules into coatings for external self-healing purposes. Polyurethane capsules containing isophorone diisocyanate were synthesized using the Pickering emulsion method with modified silica as a Pickering emulsion stabilizer in three different percentages and then dispersed in urea formaldehyde at varying weight percentages. The self-healing properties of this coating were then studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Soxhlet extraction, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed on the samples to ensure the success of the encapsulation process. The morphology of the capsules was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), revealing that the synthesized capsules possess a spherical shape and are adequately spaced apart. These capsules were spherical at micron scales, with differences observed based on the quantity of stabilizing nanoparticles employed. Furthermore, the capsules demonstrated robust thermal stability, as evidenced by the increase in IPDI evaporation temperature from approximately 140 °C to 240 °C.Immersion test results in saltwater solutions showed that coatings containing pickering capsules exhibited better corrosion resistance, further validating the success of the research. The shell strength of the capsules prepared using the Pickering method was increased, enhancing the stability of the microcapsules during the mixing process with the resin and demonstrating self-healing properties. These findings have significant practical implications, as they demonstrate the potential to improve the durability and lifespan of coatings in various applications.

Local nonsimilar solution and heat analysis of mixed convective flow across whole spherical shape with nonisothermal surface temperature

This study investigates the behavior of a mixed convective boundary layer flowing around a rigid spherical shape with non-isothermal wall temperature. The fluid assumed in this examination exhibits both incompressibility and viscosity. The major purpose is to examine the impact of the non-uniform surface temperature on the flow patterns, including velocity outlines and temperature outlines. An examination is conducted on the modified conservation equations of the boundary layer flow utilizing the local non-similarity method. The MATLAB built-in code bvp4c is used to find computational solutions. The outcomes are then shown for both air and water, specifically at a temperature of 21°C. The influence of several factors, such as the mixed convective variable [Formula: see text] and the exponent [Formula: see text] in the wall temperature function [Formula: see text]), is shown in velocity and temperature profiles. In addition, the study computes the local frictional force factor and local wall heat transport factor and compares these values with results from earlier research. Significantly, the study expands upon data made around the lower stagnating point to include other sites within the sphere, thereby offering a thorough comprehension of the whole flowing field.

Improved camptothecin encapsulation and efficacy by environmentally sensitive block copolymer/chitosan/fucoidan nanoparticles for targeting lung cancer cells

In this study, thermo-sensitive poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNP) was polymerized with pH-sensitive poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) to prepare a PAA-b-PNP block copolymer. Above its cloud point, the block copolymer self-assembled into nanoparticles (NPs), encapsulating the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) in situ. Chitosan (CS) and fucoidan (Fu) further modified these NPs, forming Fu-CPT-NPs to enhance biocompatibility, drug encapsulation efficiency (EE), and loading content (LC), crucially facilitating P-selectin targeting of lung cancer cells through a pulmonary drug delivery system. The EE and LC reached 82 % and 3.5 %, respectively. According to transmission electron microscope observation, these Fu-CPT-NPs had uniform spherical shapes with an average diameter of ca. 250 nm. They could maintain their stability in a pH range of 5.0–6.8. In vitro experimental results revealed that the Fu-CPT-NPs exhibited good biocompatibility and had anticancer activity after encapsulating CPT. It could deliver CPT to cancer cells by targeting P-selectin, effectively increasing cell uptake and inducing cell apoptosis. Animal study results showed that the Fu-CPT-NPs inhibited lung tumor growth by increasing tumor cell apoptosis without causing significant tissue damage related to generating reactive oxygen species in lung cancer cells. This system can effectively improve drug-delivery efficiency and treatment effects and has great potential for treating lung cancer.

Mathematical Modeling of the Heat Transfer Process in Spherical Objects with Flat, Cylindrical and Spherical Defects

This paper proposes a method for determining the optimal parameters for the thermal testing of plant tissues of fruits and vegetables containing surface and subsurface defects in the form of areas of plant tissues with different thermophysical characteristics. Based on well-known mathematical models for objects of predominantly flat, cylindrical and spherical shapes containing flat, spherical and cylindrical regions of defects, numerical solutions of three-dimensional, non-stationary temperature fields were found, making it possible to measure the power and time of the thermal exposure of the sample surface to the radiation from infrared lamps using the finite element method. This made it possible to ensure the reliable detection of a temperature contrast of up to 4 °C between the defect and defect-free regions of the test object using modern thermal imaging cameras. In this case, subsurface defects can be detected at a depth of up to 3 mm from the surface. To determine the parameters of mathematical models of temperature fields, such as thermal conductivity and a coefficient of the thermal diffusivity of plant tissues, a new method of a pulsed heat flux from a flat heater is proposed; this differs in the method of processing experimental data and makes it possible to determine the required characteristics with high accuracy during the active stage of the experiment in a period not exceeding 1–3 min.

Morphology, aspect ratio, and surface elemental composition of primary aerosol particles at urban region of India.

The PM2.5 and PM10 particles were characterized in terms of morphology (size and shape) and surface elemental composition at two different (traffic and industrial) locations in urban region of India and further linked to different morphological defining parameters. The overall PM2.5 and PM10 showed significant daily variability indicating higher PM10 as compared to PM2.5. PM2.5/PM10 ratio was found to be 0.58 ± 0.10 indicating the abundance of PM2.5. Soot aggregates, aluminosilicates, and brochosomes particles were classified based on morphology, aspect ratio (AR), and surface elemental composition of single particles. The linear regression analysis indicates the significant correlation between area equivalent (Daeq) and feret diameter (Dfd) (R2 0.86-0.98). Higher aspect ratio (1.48 ± 0.87-1.43 ± 0.50) was noted at traffic site as compared to industrial site (1.33 ± 0.58-1.29 ± 0.30), while circularity showed the opposite trend. Fractal dimension (Df) of soot aggregates estimated by the soot parameters method (SPM) were found to be 1.70, 1.72, and 1.88, mainly attributed to vehicular emissions, biomass, and industrial emission/coal burning, respectively. This further inferred that freshly emitted soot particles exhibited lacey in nature with spherical shape (Df 1.70) at traffic site, while at industrial location, they were different with compact shapes (Df 1.88) due to particle aging processes. This study inferred the synoptic changes in mass, chemical characteristics, and morphology of aerosol particles which provide the new insights into individual atmospheric particle and their dynamic nature.

Development and antioxidant evaluation of mango leaf (Mangifera indica L.) extract loaded silk fibroin nanoparticles

The main antioxidant polyphenol compounds in the mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaf extract are susceptible to environmental degradations. Thus, in biomedical applications, the mango leaf extract is commonly encapsulated in a carrier. However, most studies employed the synthetic carrier materials that could affect the human health, and the complicated formulation procedure that could hinder the scalability. Therefore, this work, for the first time, explored the use of silk fibroin (an FDA-approved biomaterial), in nanoparticles platform, to encapsulate and deliver the mango leaf extract, utilizing the simple coacervation preparation method. Initially, the mango leaf ethanolic extract was obtained through maceration, resulting in a total phenolic content of 76.39 ± 0.14 mg GAE/g DPW and a notably high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 6.872 ± 0.512 μg/mL). Subsequently, silk fibroin nanoparticles loaded with the extract were developed by the coacervation technique. Depending on the fibroin content, these nanoparticles exhibited an appropriate size range of 500–800 nm with narrow size distributions, a spherical shape with smooth surfaces, a dominant silk-II crystalline structure, a drug entrapment efficiency exceeding 70%, and retained the main biomarker mangiferin. Moreover, the phenolic-compounds release profiles from the particles followed the three-step process, the first burst-release step, the second sustained-release step, and the third degradation step. The particles were also non-toxic to the erythrocytes and the human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cell line. Lastly, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay demonstrated that the antioxidant activity of the mango leaf extract was preserved within the extract-loaded nanoparticles. The results suggested that the silk fibroin nanoparticles could be a potential platform to effectively encapsulate and deliver the mango leaf extract for biomedical purposes.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles With Cyclosorus dentatus and Nephrolepis biserrata and Their Antioxidant, Anti‐Inflammatory Studies

ABSTRACTThis study examined the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) with aqueous extracts of Cyclosorus dentatus and Nephrolepis biserrata fronds and the evaluation of their biological activities. Mixing of AgNO3 solution and the aqueous extracts resulted in color change, indicating the formation of SNPs. UV‐Vis spectroscopy analysis gave a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at approximately 420 nm, confirming the presence of the synthesized SNPs. Infrared analysis showed C‐O, N‐O, and C‐C vibrations or stretching and aliphatic vibrations of hydrocarbon chains of the synthesized SNPs. x‐Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the SNPs were face‐centered, cubic, and crystalline in nature, with crystallite sizes. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows the aggregation of the spherical shape nanoparticles. The SNPs significantly reduced phosphomolybdenum and captured H2O2 with respective IC50 values of 61.55 and 29.03 µg/mL for C. dentatus SNP (SNP‐Cd), and 92.61 and 9.07 µg/mL for N. biserrata SNP (SNP‐Nb), respectively. In terms of albumin‐denaturing activity, the SNPs gave an IC50 value of 21.20 µg/mL for SNP‐Cd and 7.18 µg/mL for SNP‐Nb. Thus, this work confirmed that SNP‐Cd and SNP‐Nb are potential therapeutic agents for treating oxidative stress, inflammatory problems, and related diseases.

Fabrication of TiO2 Nanoparticle Coating on Stainless Steel 316L and Its Assessment for Orthopaedic Applications

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle coating on stainless steel 316L (SS 316L) orthopaedic implants to enhance their biocompatibility, osseointegration, and durability. The TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized via the hydrothermal method and extensively characterized for composition, crystallinity, and morphology using techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), corroborated by elemental mapping. SEM and XRD analyses revealed the synthesized nanoparticles have a spherical shape and an average size of approximately 23 nanometres. The synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were uniformly coated on SS 316L substrates using the spin coating technique, as confirmed by SEM images. Cell viability of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles, as well as uncoated and TiO2 nanoparticle-coated SS 316L substrates, was evaluated using the MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay against the NIH-3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line. The results demonstrated that the TiO2 nanoparticle-coated SS 316L substrate showed a significant increase of 22.87% in cell viability as compared to the uncoated SS 316L substrate. A ball-on-disc tribometer was employed to assess wear and friction resistance at various speeds, viz., 150 rpm, 300 rpm, and 450 rpm, under 30N load conditions for five minutes. The results collectively indicate a substantial improvement in the performance of TiO2 nanoparticle-coated SS 316L substrates for orthopaedic applications.

Understanding magnetic hyperthermia performance within the "Brezovich criterion": beyond the uniaxial anisotropy description.

Careful determination of the heating performance of magnetic nanoparticles under AC fields is critical for magnetic hyperthermia applications. However, most interpretations of experimental data are based on the uniaxial anisotropy approximation, which in the first instance can be correlated with the particle aspect ratio. This is to say, the intrinsic magnetocrystalline anisotropy is discarded, under the assumption that the shape contribution dominates. We show in this work that such a premise, generally valid for large field amplitudes, does not hold for describing hyperthermia experiments carried out under small field values. Specifically, given its relevance for in vivo applications, we focus our analysis on the so-called "Brezovich criterion", H·f = 4.85 × 108 A m-1 s-1. By means of a computational model, we show that the intrinsic magnetocrystalline anisotropy plays a critical role in defining the heat output, determining also the role of the shape and aspect ratio of the particles on the SLP. Our results indicate that even small deviations from spherical shape have an important impact on optimizing the heating performance. The influence of interparticle interactions on the dissipated heat is also evaluated. Our results call, therefore, for an improvement in the theoretical models used to interpret magnetic hyperthermia performance.

Green synthesis of Vitis vinifera extract-appended magnesium oxide NPs for biomedical applications

Abstract Biologically active magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were synthesised using green reduction with an extract derived from the Vitis vinifera plant. The investigation focused on examining the structure and carbon abundance resulting from the thermal degradation of adsorbed biomolecules. It was accomplished using powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and FT-IR analysis techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies conducted on MgO nanoparticles indicate the absence of any supplementary peaks, thereby indicating the purity of the material. The morphological characteristics, which have been examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and TEM methodologies, demonstrate the presence of particles with a spherical shape, exhibiting minimal agglomeration and a uniform distribution across the surfaces of MgO. The porous structure, porosity, and pore volume of the MgO particles were evaluated using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface analysis. The experimental findings reveal that the surface area of the MgO nanoparticles is 23.8742 m2/g, while the total pore volume is 0.12528 cm3/g. Additionally, the average pore diameter is determined to be 1.7 nm. These observations collectively suggest the presence of microporous structures within the MgO nanoparticles. This article discusses the biological studies to assess the antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities of the synthesised MgO nanoparticles.

Inner fission barriers of uranium isotopes in the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum

Abstract The inner fission barriers of the even-even uranium isotopes from the proton to the neutron drip line are studied with the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum. A periodic evolution for the ground state shapes is shown with the neutron number, i.e., spherical shapes at shell closures N=126, 184, 258, and prolate dominated shapes between them. In analogy to the shape evolution, the inner fission barriers also exhibit a periodic behavior: peaks at the shell closures and valleys in the mid-shells. The triaxial effect to the inner fission barrier is evaluated using the triaxial relativistic mean field calculations plus a simple BCS method for pairing. With the triaxial correction included, good consistency in the inner barrier heights is found with the available empirical data.
Besides, the evolution from the proton to the neutron drip line is in accord with the results by the multi-dimensionally constrained relativistic mean field theory. A flat valley in the fission barrier height is predicted around the neutron-rich nucleus 318U which may play a role of fission recycling in the astrophysical r-process nucleosynthesis.

Selenium loaded sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite film as wound dressing: structural, optical, mechanical, antimicrobial properties and biocompatibility

In the current research, synthesized Se-NPs were loaded into sodium alginate/polyvinyl alcohol SA/PVA blend, 1:2 (w:w), with different proportions to form nanocomposite films by using the solution casting method. The main goal is to enhance the physical and antibacterial properties of the polymer blend; therefore, it can be utilized for wound dressing applications. The physical aspects of the prepared films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), UV–Vis spectroscopic technique, and mechanical analysis to show the effect of increasing the concentration of Se-NPs from zero to 0.5 wt% on their properties. Regarding the XRD analysis, the calculated values of lattice strain (ε\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varepsilon$$\\end{document}) increased from 0.005 to 0.013. The FTIR absorption spectrum recorded an intensity reduction and position shift in the main characteristic peaks of SA/PVA. The morphology of Se-NPs revealed a spherical shape with a mean diameter of 131.76 nm, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The surface morphological images showed the appearance of a few cracks; besides, the average roughness increased from 1.59 to 2.08 nm. According to the UV–Vis spectroscopic analysis, the optical band gap reduces (from 5.425 to 5.216 eV) for the direct transition and from (5.07–4.78 eV) for the indirect transition, which is an indication of the interaction between Se-NPs and SA/PVA blend. Young’s modulus, tensile strength, and yield strength of the films increased with the addition of selenium nanoparticles. On the other hand, the amount of selenium release significantly increased with enhancing the concentration of Se-NPs in SA/PVA blend film from 0.1 to 0.5 wt%. Additionally, the inclusion of Se-NPs supplied the polymer blend with excellent antimicrobial activity, which would remove the possibility of microbial infection at the wound site. Moreover, the prepared SA/PVA/Se nanocomposite films have good biocompatibility with Human Skin Fibroblast (HSF). The results suggest the potential of this nanocomposite to be used in wound dressing applications.

Waste derived polysulphide coating on fly ash as fillers in plastic composite

Modifying fly ash (FA) for filler application can facilitate a cleaner, high volume and high value-application of FA. One of the major hurdles of utilizing unencapsulated FA as fillers is due to its hydrophilicity and tendency to leach out metals. The current study aims to develop a surface-modified FA (SuMo FA) as a suitable filler by coating it with a cross-linked polysulfide polymer from waste sulphur and oil derivatives. A Class F FA was coated with an in-house developed polysulfide polymer and was followed by a series of physicochemical analysis and 24-h batch leaching tests. This SuMo FA was compounded within PP and PE matrix and its thermo-mechanical properties were evaluated. The novel SuMo FA was ideal for filler application as it exhibited suitable spherical shape and size, hydrophobicity (contact angle ≅120°), and reduced leaching potential. Major contaminants (B, Cr, Pb, and Sr) in leachate of SuMo FA decreased by more than one order. Compounding the SuMo FA in polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) at 20 % (by weight) increased the onset temperature as compared to virgin polymers as well as filler-based polymers (with uncoated FA and CaCO3). Similarly, the SuMo FA filled polymers exhibited the best overall mechanical properties (under flexural and tensile loading) as well as notch impact strength. The Shore D hardness implies that SuMo FA filled polymers were almost identical to the conventionally used CaCO3 filled polymers. The leachate concentration of final PP composites with FA and SuMo FA fillers were lower than the regulatory limit for B, Ba, Cr and Sr. The developed filler material from the SuMo FA can potentially reduce dependence on relatively costly CaCO3 fillers in polymer production thus adhering to United Nation sustainable development goals (6 and 12).

Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye using Ba-doped MnO nanoparticles

MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs were prepared through the chemical reduction method and these NPs were used for the photodegradation of Methylene blue dye (MB) dye in an aqueous medium. The morphological study shows that the MnO NPs have granular shapes while Ba-doped MnO NPs have irregular spherical shapes. XRD results presented that the diameter of MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs was 30 and 36 nm, respectively. FTIR spectra show peaks in the range of 750–1385 cm−1, which present the metal oxide NPs. The photocatalytic degradation study demonstrated that the MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs degraded about 73 and 86% dye within 250 min, respectively. The effect of various parameters like pH, initial dye concentration, and catalyst dosage on the photodegradation of dye was also studied. The recovered MnO and Ba-doped MnO NPs also significantly degraded the Methylene Blue dye in aqueous media.

Thiolated chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated nisin and selenium: antimicrobial/antibiofilm/anti-attachment/immunomodulatory multi-functional agent

BackgroundThe increase in the resistance of bacterial strains to antibiotics has led to research into the bactericidal potential of non-antibiotic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate in vitro antibacterial/ antibiofilm properties of nisin and selenium encapsulated in thiolated chitosan nanoparticles (N/Se@TCsNPs) against prevalent enteric pathogens including standard isolates of Vibrio (V.) cholerae O1 El Tor ATCC 14,035, Campylobacter (C.) jejuni ATCC 29,428, Salmonella (S.) enterica subsp. enterica ATCC 19,430, Shigella (S.) dysenteriae PTCC 1188, Escherichia (E.) coli O157:H7 ATCC 25,922, Listeria (L.) monocytogenes ATCC 19,115, and Staphylococcus (S.) aureus ATCC 29,733.MethodsThe synthesis and comprehensive analysis of N/Se@TCsNPs have been completed. Antibacterial and antibiofilm capabilities of N/Se@TCsNPs were evaluated through broth microdilution and crystal violet assays. Furthermore, the study included examining the cytotoxic effects on Caco-2 cells and exploring the immunomodulatory effects of N/Se@TCsNPs. This included assessing the levels of both pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and TNFα) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 and TGFβ) cytokines and determining the gene expression of TLR2 and TLR4.ResultsThe N/Se@TCsNPs showed an average diameter of 136.26 ± 43.17 nm and a zeta potential of 0.27 ± 0.07 mV. FTIR spectroscopy validated the structural features of N/Se@TCsNPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed their spherical shape and uniform distribution. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA)/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) tests demonstrated the thermal stability of N/Se@TCsNPs, showing minimal weight loss of 0.03%±0.06 up to 80 °C. The prepared N/Se@TCsNPs showed a thiol content of 512.66 ± 7.33 µmol/g (p < 0.05), an encapsulation efficiency (EE) of 69.83%±0.04 (p ≤ 0.001), and a drug release rate of 74.32%±3.45 at pH = 7.2 (p ≤ 0.004). The synthesized nanostructure demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against various isolates, with effective concentrations ranging from 1.5 ± 0.08 to 25 ± 4.04 mg/mL. The ability of N/Se@TCsNPs to reduce bacterial adhesion and internalization in Caco-2 cells underscored their antibiofilm properties (p ≤ 0.0001). Immunological studies indicated that treatment with N/Se@TCsNPs led to decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 (14.33 ± 2.33 pg/mL) and TNFα (25 ± 0.5 pg/mL) (p ≤ 0.0001), alongside increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 (46.00 ± 0.57 pg/mL) and TGFβ (42.58 ± 2.10 pg/mL) in infected Caco-2 cells (p ≤ 0.0001). Moreover, N/Se@TCsNPs significantly reduced the expression of TLR2 (0.22 ± 0.09) and TLR4 (0.16 ± 0.05) (p < 0.0001).ConclusionIn conclusion, N/Se@TCsNPs exhibited significant antibacterial/antibiofilm/anti-attachment/immunomodulatory effectiveness against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative enteric pathogens. However, additional ex-vivo and in-vivo investigations are needed to fully assess the performance of nanostructured N/Se@TCsNPs.

Unveiling the potential: Extracellular vesicles from plant cell suspension cultures as a promising source.

Extracellular vesicles are secreted by all eukaryotic cells and they have an important role in intercellular signaling. Plant extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are a novel area of research that has gained attention due to their potential implications in biomolecule transport and therapeutic applications. PEVs are lipid bilayer-enclosed structures that contain a diverse cargo of biomolecules such as proteins and lipids. Moreover, it is known that PEVs have a noticeable therapeutic potential for various conditions such as inflammation and oxidative stress. However, there are critical problems such as removing the endosomes and plant-derived biomolecules that decrease the standardization and therapeutic efficacy of PEVs. In our study, the aim was to characterize plant cell suspension-derived extracellular vesicles (PCSEVs) obtained from two different plant cell suspension cultures: Stevia rebaudiana and Vaccaria hispanica. These vesicles were isolated using ultrafiltration and characterized with nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The molecular composition of PCSEVs was profiled and the cellular uptake assay was performed. Our results demonstrated that PCSEVs have a spherical shape, less than 200 nm. In the fatty acid analysis, the primary components in PCSEVs were palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and cis-vaccenic acid. The protein content of Stevia rebaudiana-derived EVs (SDEVs) was largely associated with proteins involved in extracellular structures and functions. Conversely, Vaccaria hispanica-derived EVs (HDEVs) displayed a higher presence of cytosolic proteins. These findings contribute to the understanding of PCSEVs and open up potential avenues in extracellular vesicle research, pointing to promising prospects for future innovations in various fields.