Spherical-shaped Nanoparticles Research Articles

Eugenol-Loaded Lipid Nanoparticles-Derived Hydrogels Ameliorate Psoriasis-like Skin Lesions by Lowering Oxidative Stress and Modulating Inflammation.

Psoriasis is a chronic T-cell-mediated autoimmune skin disorder characterized by excessive epidermal thickening, overproliferation of keratinocyte, disruption of epidermal cell differentiation, and increased blood vessel growth in the dermal layer. Despite the common use of corticosteroids in psoriasis treatment, their limited efficacy and numerous side effects pose significant challenges. This research introduces a promising alternative approach by encapsulating eugenol (EU) in soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC) nanoparticles (EUNPs) which showed spherical shape nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic size of approximately 200 nm, polydispersity index 0.23, encapsulation efficiency of 85% having good colloidal stability indicated by ζ-potential of -27 mV. Later on, these EUNPs were formulated into a topical hydrogel system by using Carbopol 974P (EUNPGel), which exhibited superior drug loading, enhanced release kinetics for 48 h, long-term stability, and the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, EUNPs inhibited keratinocyte proliferation, induced apoptosis, and augmented the uptake of IL-6-mediated inflammation in human keratinocyte cells. Application of EUNPs-loaded gels (EUNPGel) to imiquimod-induced psoriatic lesions demonstrated effective dermal penetration, suppressed keratinocyte hyperplasia and restored epidermal growth. This led to a remarkable reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score from 3.75 to 0.5 within 5 days. This novel approach enhances ROS scavenging capacity, improves cellular uptake, facilitates skin penetration and retention, reduces the activity of hyperactive immune cells, and suggests potential applications for treating other immune-related disorders such as acne and atopic dermatitis.

A Dual Action Platinum(IV) Complex with Self-assembly Property Inhibits Prostate Cancer through Mitochondrial Stress Pathway.

Platinum(IV) prodrugs are highly promising anticancer agents because they can selectively target tumors and minimize the adverse effects associated with their PtII congeners. In this study, we synthesized dual action PtIV complexes by linking oxoplatin with lithocholic acid. The synthesized compounds, designated as PL-I, PL-II, and PL-III, can spontaneously self-assemble in water, resulting in the formation of spherical shape nanoparticles. Among the developed complexes, PL-III appeared to be the most potent compound against all the tested cancer cell lines, with 10 fold higher cytotoxicity compared to cisplatin in PC3 cells. The complex arrests the cell cycle in the S and G2 phases and induces DNA damage. Additional mechanistic investigations demonstrate that PL-III predominantly localizes within the mitochondria and cytoplasm. Consequently, PL-III disrupts mitochondrial membrane potential, increases ROS production, and perturbs mitochondrial bioenergetics in PC3 cells. The complex induces apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway by upregulating pro-apoptotic protein expression and downregulating anti-apoptotic protein expression from the BCl-2 protein family. These results demonstrate that higher cellular uptake and reduction of PL-III by biological reductants in PC3 cells resulted in a synergistic effect of lithocholic acid and cisplatin, which can be easily observed due to its unique cytotoxic mechanism. This further underscores the significance of dual-action PtIV complexes in enhancing the efficacy of cancer therapy.

Impact of rare earth Tb3+ substitution in cobalt ferrites: Tuning structural, dielectric, magnetic properties and photocatalytic activity

Nanocrystalline CoTbyFe2-yO4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.025) ferrites were prepared through the citrate-gel combustion method. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a single-phase spinel structure with crystalline sizes ranging between 19 and 48 nm. The experimental and theoretical lattice parameters correlated well and were found to be ranging between 8.510 and 8.367 Å. SEM images revealed a large aggregation of spherical-shaped nanoparticles with non-uniform shape and distribution. Magnetization measurements revealed the dependance of both Ms, Mr, and HC with increasing Tb3+ content. The evolution of MS and HC upon reducing the measuring temperature indicates the thermal instability of the blocked magnetic moments, which increased for the different compositions. The dielectric properties obtained for CoTbyFe2-yO4 as a function of frequency. The Tb-doped cobalt ferrite catalysts exhibit superior photocatalytic efficiency for crystal violet (CV) degradation as compared to cobalt ferrite nanoferrite catalysts.

A comparative analysis on the dynamics of solid-liquid interfacial layer and nanoparticle diameter of magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid flow containing spherical and cylindrical-shaped alumina nanoparticles over a stretching curved surface

In this work, a comparative analysis on magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid flow containing spherical and cylindrical-shaped alumina nanoparticles over a stretching curved surface is mainly focused. The effects of Brownian motion, Joule heating, thermophoresis, chemical reaction and activation energy are taken into consideration in this work. It is important to mention that this analysis considers a 4 % volume fraction of the alumina nanoparticles. A thermal convective and zero-mass flux conditions are imposed to scrutinize the heat transfer analysis. The leading equations are transformed into dimensionless form by using suitable similarity variables. A numerical solution is obtained using the shooting technique. The acquired outcomes depict that greater magnetic factor enhances the skin friction coefficient. The greater magnetic factor, thermal Biot number, Eckert number, and interfacial layer thickness augment the heat transfer rate, while a greater nanoparticle diameter diminishes the thermal transfer rate. A higher magnetic factor has an increasing impact on thermal distribution and a reducing impact on velocity distribution. A greater curvature factor enhances both the velocity and thermal distributions. The concentration distribution is enhanced by the higher interfacial layer thickness and activation energy factor, while it is reduced by a higher nanoparticle diameter, Brownian motion factor, and chemical reaction factor. From the comparative analysis, it is found that the velocity, thermal, and concentration distributions are higher for the cylindrical-shaped nanoparticles compared to spherical-shaped nanoparticles.

Comparative analysis of varied thermal conductivity and viscosity models in a hybrid nanofluid flow - a non-similar solution

ABSTRACT We aim to investigate the flow of an ethylene glycol-based hybrid nanofluid over a horizontal surface with a free stream velocity. To assess the viscosity and thermal conductivity of nanoparticles with various shapes, we employed the Brinkman, Timofeeva, and Yamada Ota unit cell models. The study explores heat transfer in the flow system considering the effects of viscous and ohmic dissipations, linear radiative heat flux, and heat generation under convective boundary conditions. A non-similar system is developed using appropriate non-similarity transformations up to the third-level truncation and numerically solved using the bvp4c algorithm. The novelty of the proposed model lies in obtaining the non-similar solution and incorporating the Brinkman, Timofeeva, and Yamada Ota unit cell models. The results indicated that the Brinkman viscosity model resulted in an increase in the wall heat transfer rate with a rise in particle volume fraction. It is also inferred that platelet-shaped nanoparticles exhibit a significantly higher heat transfer rate compared to spherical-shaped nanoparticles.

Antibacterial activity and structural properties of gelatin-based sol-gel synthesized Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles; promising material for biomedical applications

This study investigates the antibacterial activity and spectral characteristics of Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles synthesized via the gelatin-based sol-gel method, focusing on their potential biomedical applications. Zn₁₋ₓCuₓO nanoparticles (x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.03, and 0.05) were fabricated using this method. The incorporation of copper dopants into the ZnO matrix significantly influences both the crystalline structure and spectral properties of the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the presence of a wurtzite structure without any pyrochlore phase. The broadening of spectral features indicates modifications in lattice parameters and elastic constants. XRD results reveal that adding Cu to the ZnO lattice causes a decrease in crystallite size from 32 to 18 nm. Transmission electron microscopy shows spherical-shaped ZnO nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 30 to 40 nm. Moreover, Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibit considerable inhibition against bacterial growth. Adding Cu enhances the antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles, suggesting their potential in biomedical applications. Overall, these findings highlight the promising prospects of sol-gel synthesized Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles in the biomedical field.

Doping Induced Enhancement of Activity and Stability for Oxygen Evolution Reaction with Isomaterially Heterostructured MnO2

A “Non-Native” phase (NNP) differs from the thermodynamically most stable bulk Native in its discrete translational symmetry. The relative difference in surface and bulk energy with respect to the native phase (NP)determines the stability of NNP. The isomaterial hetero-structured NP-NNP composite provides a pathway to assemble structures that have optimal properties of NNP and NP. The surface and sub-surface energies can also be modulated by doping as the dopants may segregate and stabilize grain boundaries. This study demonstrates that the isomaterial heterostructure of the NP, β-N MnO2, and Ramsdellite, r-NN1 MnO2, known as γ-N-NN1-MnO2 intergrowth, enhances the OER activity and stability.The hydrothermal route was used to synthesize isomaterial heterostructured γ/N-NN1-MnO2 with varying concentrations of dopants (10%, 15%, and 20% Ni and Co). X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the material, and after Rietveld refinement, phase quantification revealed that as the dopant concentration increased, the amount of the thermodynamically stable β-N MnO2 phase increased. Planes identified in XRD were also confirmed using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and the analysis of selective area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns. It appears that doping was successful based on the shifting of peaks in XRD and differences in unit cell volume and crystallite size calculated using the Debye-Scherrer equation before and after doping. With an increase in dopant concentration and thus improved OER activity, the average oxidation state as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy followed a downward trend, which is known to improve OER activity. The peaks shifted to lower frequency values as seen by Raman spectroscopy, which implies a weakening of Mn—O bond strength, indicating that dopants Ni and Co may have replaced part of the Mn atoms in the MnO2 intergrowth structure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed spherical-shaped nanoparticles with spike-like overgrowths, which were further confirmed by HRTEM. The uniform dispersion of dopants was demonstrated by SEM and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Elemental quantification of the samples was done using EDS and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Using HRTEM, the presence of grain boundaries was confirmed.The study of dopants segregating to the grain boundary is conducted through DFT simulations. In many instances, the dopants actively contribute to the OER activity, except for the case of Ni in the NN1 sub-phase of the γ-N-NN1-MnO2 intergrowth, which is apparent by the slightly lower activity of Ni-doped samples compared to Co. This is because Ni remains in the bulk while Co segregates to the surface. A three-electrode setup (Ag/AgCl as the reference electrode, Pt mesh as the counter electrode, and catalyst as the working electrode) was used in 1M KOH to conduct electrochemical experiments. To achieve 10 mA/cm2, the 15% Co-doped electrocatalyst used the least amount of overpotential, 320 mV. According to electrochemical measurements and analysis, the doped samples show low Tafel slope, high specific activity, roughness factor, and charge transfer resistance from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, all of which suggest improved overall activity for the oxygen evolution process (OER) for the doped over undoped samples. DFT simulations rationalize the enhancement of OER using the Bader charge analysis, the associated Gibbs free energy of the Sabatier principle plotted as the volcano plot.

Efficient nitrite determination by electrochemical approach in liquid phase with ultrasonically prepared gold-nanoparticle-conjugated conducting polymer nanocomposites.

An electrochemical nitrite sensor probe is introduced herein using a modified flat glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and SrTiO3 material doped with spherical-shaped gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) and polypyrrole carbon (PPyC) at a pH of 7.0 in a phosphate buffer solution. The nanocomposites (NCs) containing Au-NPs, PPyC, and SrTiO3 were synthesized by ultrasonication, and their properties were thoroughly characterized through structural, elemental, optical, and morphological analyses with various conventional spectroscopic methods, such as field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. The peak currents due to nitrite oxidation were characterized in detail and analyzed using conventional cyclic voltammetry (CV) as well as differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) under ambient conditions. The sensor response increased significantly from 0.15 to 1.5mM of nitrite ions, and the sensor was fabricated by coating a conducting agent (PEDOT:PSS) on the GCE to obtain the Au-NPs/PPyC/SrTiO3 NCs/PEDOT:PSS/GCE probe. The sensor's sensitivity was determined as 0.5μA/μM∙cm2 from the ratio of the slope of the linear detection range by considering the active surface area (0.0316cm2) of the flat GCE. In addition, the limit of detection was determined as 20.00 ± 1.00 µM, which was found to be satisfactory. The sensor's stability, pH optimization, and reliability were also evaluated in these analyses. Overall, the sensor results were found to be satisfactory. Real environmental samples were then analyzed to evaluate the sensor's reliability through DPV, and the results showed that the proposed novel electrochemical sensor holds great promise for mitigating water contamination in the real samples with the lab-made Au-NPs/PPyC/SrTiO3 NC. Thus, this study provides valuable insights for improving sensors for broad environmental monitoring applications using the electrochemical approach.

Computational analysis of magnetohydrodynamic ternary-hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer inside a porous cavity with shape effects

The current study aims to analyze the magnetohydrodynamic natural convective fluid flow and heat transmission features of the ternary-hybrid nanofluid filled the partially heated porous square cavity under the impacts of heat absorption/generation and thermal radiation. The governing equations are solved using the Marker and Cell method. In the present study, three different types of nanoparticles, such as molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), and silver (Ag), are suspended in an inorganic (water) or non-polar organic (kerosene) solvent. Nine different shapes of nanoparticles are utilized in this study. The outcomes show that for the fixed pertinent parameter values of the existence and nonexistence of heat generation/absorption, the MoS2+SWCNT+Ag/water ternary-hybrid nanofluids synthesized by lamina-shaped nanoparticles, the average thermal transmission rate is increased by 40.8523%, 36.329%, and 38.7025%, respectively, than sphere-shaped nanoparticles. In addition, utilizing the MoS2+SWCNT+Ag/kerosene ternary-hybrid nanofluids synthesized by lamina-shaped nanoparticles, the average heat transmission rate is augmented by 38.0322%, 33.0464%, and 35.5868%, respectively, than sphere-shaped nanoparticles. The current study reveals that the fluid flow and heat transfer efficiency are significantly increased by improving the nanoparticle volume fraction and shape factors depending upon the existence of heat absorption/generation. The high average heat transfer efficiency is observed when lamina-shaped nanoparticles are dispersed into the water compared to kerosene in the presence of a heat source. This study can enhance heat transmission efficiency in various industrial and engineering fields, such as heat exchangers, solar collectors, and fuel cells.

Enhancing rooting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plant by loaded indole-3-butyric acid in alginate/chitosan nanocapsule.

Recently, nanocarriers have been utilized for encapsulating and sustained release of agrochemicals specifically auxins. Due to their potential applications such as increased bioavailability and improved crop yield and nutritional quality. Herein, the efficacy of alginate/chitosan nanocapsules as a nanocarrier for the hormone indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) loading and its effect on rooting tobacco plants has been carried out in the present study. The average particle size of IBA-alginate/chitosan nanocapsules was measured by Dynamic light scattering analysis at 321 nm. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed the spherical shape of nanoparticles with an average size of 97 nm. The average particle size of IBA-alginate/chitosan nanocapsules was measured by Dynamic light scattering analysis at 321 nm. The characteristic peaks of IBA on alginate/chitosan nanocapsules were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Also, high efficiency (35%) of IBA hormone loading was observed. The findings indicated that the concentration of 3 mgL-1 of IBA-alginate/chitosan nanocapsules has the highest efficiency in increasing the rooting in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants compared to other treatments. According to our results, we can introduce alginate/chitosan nanocapsules as an efficient nanocarrier in IBA hormone transfer applications and their use in agriculture.

Gum Arabic-assisted green synthesis of gold nanoparticles as fluorescence modulator for potential analytical applications

Aim: To demonstrate a simple, eco-friendly, and cost-effective green method to synthesize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the aqueous extract of gum Arabic (GA) as a reducing and stabilizing agent. Methods: Green synthesis of nanoparticles, characterization by absorption, infra-red and fluorescence spectroscopy. Results: The absorption spectrum (UV-Vis) showed an absorption peak ~522 nm corresponding to the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption peak of AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed spherical-shaped nanoparticles with an average size of 15 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that the nanoparticles are coated with organic compounds that are present in GA. The fluorescence quenching properties of the AuNPs were assessed by monitoring their effects on fluorescence intensity of coumarin 153 (C153) dye. The fluorescence of the dye decreased with an increase in concentration of the nanoparticles. Upon addition of the protein bovine serum albumin (BSA) to the mixture the fluorescence increased (recovery) again. Conclusions: The fluorescence quenching and recovery (turn-on/off system) is a valuable method for protein detection in solution. By observing the effect of BSA on the quenched fluorescence, this nanoparticle system shows promise in biomedicine, drug delivery and environmental monitoring.

Bioactivity of selenium nanoparticles biosynthesized by crude phycocyanin extract of Leptolyngbya sp. SSI24 cultivated on recycled filter cake wastes from sugar-industry

BackgroundBeet filter cake (BFC) is a food-grade solid waste produced by the sugar industry, constituting a permanent source of pollution. Cyanobacteria are considered a sustainable resource for various bioactive compounds such as phycocyanin pigment with valuable applications. This study aimed to use beet filter cake extract (BFCE) as an alternative medium for the economic cultivation of cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. SSI24 PP723083, then biorefined the bioactive component such as phycocyanin pigment that could be used in the production of selenium nanoparticles.ResultsThe results of the batch experiment displayed that the highest protein content was in BG11medium (47.9%); however, the maximum carbohydrate and lipid content were in 25% BFCE (15.25 and 10.23%, respectively). In addition, 75% BFCE medium stimulated the phycocyanin content (25.29 mg/g) with an insignificant variation compared to BG11 (22.8 mg/g). Moreover, crude phycocyanin extract from Leptolyngbya sp SSI24 cultivated on BG11 and 75% BFCE successfully produced spherical-shaped selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) with mean sizes of 95 and 96 nm in both extracts, respectively. Moreover, XRD results demonstrated that the biosynthesized Se-NPs have a crystalline nature. In addition, the Zeta potential of the biosynthesized Se-NPs equals − 17 mV and − 15.03 mV in the control and 75% BFCE treatment, respectively, indicating their stability. The biosynthesized Se-NPs exhibited higher effectiveness against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the biosynthesized Se-NPs from BG11 had higher antioxidant activity with IC50 of 60 ± 0.7 compared to 75% BFCE medium. Further, Se-NPs biosynthesized from phycocyanin extracted from Leptolyngbya sp cultivated on 75% BFCE exhibited strong anticancer activity with IC50 of 17.31 ± 0.63 µg/ml against the human breast cancer cell line.ConclusionsThe BFCE-supplemented medium can be used for the cultivation of cyanobacterial strain for the phycocyanin accumulation that is used for the green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles that have biological applications.Graphical

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.

Nanoparticle shape factor impact on double diffusive convection of Cu-water nanofluid in trapezoidal porous enclosures: A numerical study

Enclosures that contain both fluid and porous regions are utilized in various industries and geophysical processes to enhance heat and mass transfer. These enclosures find applications in fields such as geothermal engineering, drying of porous solids, cooling of electronics, metal solidification, and many others. In line with the motivation behind these applications, the present study explores double diffusion in the naturally convective flow of water-based nano fluid saturated in the trapezoidal porous enclosure and containing Copper (Cu) nano particles. The impact of uniformly applied radiative heat flux and nano particle shape factor is also accounted. A numerical investigation was carried out using a finite difference methodology integrated into a computational MATLAB code for numerical simulation. The simulation aimed to study the effect of nanoparticle shape factor on the effectiveness of a porous medium, which is exposed to two distinct objectives: enhancing heat transfer and optimizing mass transfer within a fluid-saturated porous medium. This research conducts a meticulous parametric exploration, underscoring the pivotal roles played by Darcy number (Da), nanofluid shape factor (m), Rayleigh number (Ra), thermal radiation (Rd), buoyancy ratio (Nr), and Lewis number (Le) in shaping the dynamics of flow, heat, and concentration transfer. The analysis of Nusselt and Sherwood numbers reveals that changing the shape of nano-particles from spheres to bricks increases the heat flux and mass flux coefficients by approximately 0.33% and 1.37% respectively. The results show a significant increase in Nusselt and Sherwood numbers, with blade-shaped nanoparticles demonstrating approximately a 2.97% and 10.82% improvement, respectively, compared to sphere-shaped nanoparticles. The outcome of this analysis yields an exhaustive dataset encompassing Nusselt and Sherwood numbers can be written as mathematical functions based on the parameters we talked about earlier.

Computational assessment of flow and heat transfer characteristics through Cu + Al2O3 + TiO2 ternary hybrid nanomaterial host-water with shape effect

ABSTRACT Solar energy stands out as a vital source of thermal power derived from the sun. Its capacity finds applications across various technological domains, including photovoltaic panels, solar vehicles, solar lighting infrastructure, and solar water pumps. The contemporary landscape emphasizes the integration of solar energy in industries, notably exemplified by the prevalence of solar-powered charging stations. This article proposes a new perspective on heat transport analysis, incorporating the shape effect on the ternary hybrid nanofluid model along with considerations of thermal radiation, Cattaneo–Christov heat flux factor, heat source, and sink. For the evaluation, three differently shaped ternary hybrid nanoparticles are taken into account including platelet-shaped Cu , cylindrical-shaped A l 2 O 3 , and disc-shaped Ti O 2 . Through boundary layer approximations, the contributions of radiation, heat source, and sink variables are implemented into the regulating equations. The redesigned ordinary differential equations are numerically solved employing the NDSolve method after treating similarity variables. In the case of physical quantities, multiple linear regression is introduced to discover solutions for the flow elements. Augmentation in the momentum of dissimilarly shaped Cu , A l 2 O 3 and Ti O 2 nanoparticles enhance the velocity of ternary hybrid nanofluid flow more than that of spherical-shaped nanoparticles. The significant heat transfer is observed in mono, hybrid and ternary nanofluids with the existence of radiation and heat source phenomena. The multiple linear regression precisely forecasted the physical quantities with the error 10 − 3 . An application of a ternary hybrid nanofluid in a solar powered charging station can efficiently perform and successfully address an energy crisis by exhibiting an acceptable amount of power. This capability contributes to the reliable charging of electronic devices. Also, the machine learning technique can reliably and accurately perform the heat transfer analysis.

Isolation and Characterization of Spherical Cellulose Nanocrystals Extracted from the Higher Cellulose Yield of the Jenfokie Plant: Morphological, Structural, and Thermal Properties.

Scholars are looking for solutions to substitute hazardous substances in manufacturing nanocellulose from bio-sources to preserve the world's growing environmental consciousness. During the past decade, there has been a notable increase in the use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in modern science and nanotechnology advancements because of their abundance, biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, and superior mechanical properties. Spherical cellulose nanocrystals (J-CNCs) were successfully synthesized from Jenfokie micro-cellulose (J-MC) via sulfuric acid hydrolysis in this study. The yield (up to 58.6%) and specific surface area (up to 99.64 m2/g) of J-CNCs were measured. A field emission gun-scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) was used to assess the morphology of the J-MC and J-CNC samples. The spherical shape nanoparticles with a mean nano-size of 34 nm for J-CNCs were characterized using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to determine the crystallinity index and crystallinity size of J-CNCs, up to 98.4% and 6.13 nm, respectively. The chemical composition was determined using a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscope. Thermal characterization of thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), and differential thermal analysis (DTA) was conducted to identify the thermal stability and cellulose pyrolysis behavior of both J-MC and J-CNC samples. The thermal analysis of J-CNC indicated lower thermal stability than J-MC. It was noted that J-CNC showed higher levels of crystallinity and larger crystallite sizes than J-MC, indicating a successful digestion and an improvement of the main crystalline structure of cellulose. The X-ray diffraction spectra and TEM images were utilized to establish that the nanocrystals' size was suitable. The novelty of this work is the synthesis of spherical nanocellulose with better properties, chosen with a rich source of cellulose from an affordable new plant (studied for the first time) by stepwise water-retted extraction, continuing from our previous study.

Nanoparticle-based delivery of harmine: A comprehensive study on synthesis, characterization, anticancer activity, angiogenesis and toxicity Evaluation

The effective treatment of cancer presents numerous challenges, including drug resistance and the risk of detrimental effects on normal tissues. Harmine, a beta-carboline alkaloid, has demonstrated diverse biological properties. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize harmine encapsulated in polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (Ha-PLGA-NPs) to investigate their potential as agents against cancer and angiogenesis. The synthesized Ha-PLGA-NPs were thoroughly characterized, exhibiting a connected rod-shaped crystal which some retaining the spherical shape of nanoparticles with an average size of 302.96 nm. Furthermore, the nanoparticles demonstrated a dispersion index of 0.23 and a surface charge of −16.51 mV. In vitro cytotoxicity assays conducted on the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) revealed that Ha-PLGA-NPs possessed significant cytotoxic properties, with an observed IC50 value of 87.74 μg/mL. Notably, no substantial cytotoxicity was observed in human foreskin fibroblasts, indicating a favorable selectivity towards cancer cells. Evaluation of the anti-angiogenic activity of Ha-PLGA-NPs demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibition of angiogenesis. Mechanistic investigations indicated that the observed inhibition was mediated through the regulation of key genes involved in angiogenesis, including caspase 3, caspase 9, VEGF, and VEGF-R. In vivo studies involving dietary administration of Ha-PLGA-NPs in mice revealed improvements in weight gain, feed intake, liver enzyme levels, and redox potential. These findings underscore the potential of Ha-PLGA-NPs as a promising therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. The observed effects are attributed to their ability to induce programmed cell death and inhibit angiogenesis, thus offering a multifaceted approach to combat cancer.

Novel synthesis of trans-ferulic acid loaded tragacanth-chitosan nanoformulations and evaluation of their biological activities

Trans-ferulic acid, is one of the many biologically significant bioactive components of Datura. It has wide range of potential applications in the food industry, health, and cosmetics industries. Trans-ferulic acid possess myriad properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, antiangiogenic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. To exploit its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, first of all, trans-ferulic acid loaded tragacanth/chitosan nanoparticles (TFA loaded TGCA-NPs) were synthesized by ionic gelation method using tragacanth and chitosan as polymers. Tragacanth used to encapsulate the trans-ferulic acid is a polysaccharide gum, which is used all over the world in industries ranging from the food industry to healthcare systems due to its availability, affordability, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness. The synthesized nanoparticles were then characterized by using techniques like FTIR, UV–Vis Spectroscopy, SEM and TEM. The particle size of nanoparticles thus obtained ranged from 105 nm to 250 nm. SEM micrograph of nanoparticles showed tiny rod-like structures, which appear to be coated on the polymer. TEM images showed somewhat sphere-shaped nanoparticles with a projecting rod-like structure that might be due to the trans-ferulic acid encapsulation in tragacanth-chitosan polymer. Decent antimicrobial activity of synthesized nanoparticles was observed against pathogenic bacteria named Staphylococcus aureus. Hemocompatibility of trans-ferulic acid loaded tragacanth-chitosan nanoparticles was also examined. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging assay, in which synthesized nanoparticles showed 41.62 % radical scavenging activity. For in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity Human Red Blood Cell membrane stabilization method (HRBC method) was used, and the results showed higher protection by the synthesized nanoparticles in comparison to the pure trans-ferulic acid and blank nanoparticles.

Evaluation of structural parameters of monoclinic nanocrystalline CuO and study of sunlight-driven photocatalytic dye degradation, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential

Highly pure, crystalline and spherical-shaped Copper oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized via facile chemical coprecipitation. Various models including the Scherrer, Monshi-Scherrer, Williamson-Hall, Size-Strain Plot and Halder-Wagner method have been applied to study the crystal structure characteristics. The lattice parameters associated with the monoclinic crystal lattice of CuO NPs were estimated to be a = 4.69 Å, b = 3.41 Å, c = 5.14 Å and β = 99.87(degree), unit cell volume V = 81.35Å3 and cell density dx = 6.49 g/cm3. The photocatalytic dye degradation proficiency at 20 mg/l CuO concentration and 120 min sunlight exposure results the order of percentage dye degradation Malachite Green (88.4%) > Crystal Violet (70.8%) > Eosin Yellow (70.2%) > Methylene Blue (54.08%) dyes. The antimicrobial activity assessment was done against the broad-spectrum pathogenic microbes unveiled the exceptional microbial controlling capability of CuO NPs. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity test demonstrated the potential free radical scavenging activity of CuO NPs with an IC50 value of 47.733 µg/ml. Highlights Synthesis of pure and spherical shaped nanocrystalline CuO was done by using low cost and facile chemical coprecipitation method. XRD, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, UV-Vis, and Raman spectroscopic techniques were used for characterization purpose. The structural and crystallographic parameters of monoclinic crystal structure of CuO NPs were evaluated successfully. The photocatalytic performance of CuO NPs follow the percentage dye degradation order as MG (88.4%) > CV (70.8%) > EY (70.20%) > MB (54.08%) after 120 minutes of sunlight exposure. CuO NPs exhibit promising antifungal activity against COVID-19 associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA) causing pathogenic fung. CuO NPs show potential DPPH free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 47.733 µg/ml.

Synthesis, characterisation and in vitro anticancer activity of conjugated protease inhibitor-silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-PI) against human breast MCF-7 and prostate PC-3 cancer cell lines.

The conjugated silver nanoparticles using biomolecules have attracted great attention of researchers because physical dimensions and surface chemistry play important roles in toxicity and biocompatibility of AgNPs. Hence, in the current study, synthesis of bio-conjugated AgNPs with protein protease inhibitor (PI) isolated from Streptomyces spp. is reported. UV-visible spectra of PI and AgNPs showed stronger peaks at 280 and 405nm, confirming the synthesis of conjugated AgNPs-PI. TEM and SEM images of AgNPs-PI showed spherical-shaped nanoparticles with a slight increase in particle size and thin amorphous layer around the surface of silver nanomaterial. Circular dichroism, FT-IR and fluorescence spectral studies confirmed AgNPs-PI conjugation. Conjugated AgNPs-PI showed excellent anticancer potential than AgNPs and protease inhibitor separately on human breast MCF-7 and prostate PC-3 cell lines. The findings revealed that surface modification of AgNPs with protein protease inhibitor stabilised the nanomaterial and increased its anticancer activity.