Size Of Spherical Particles Research Articles

Facile synthesis of Ag2ZrO3 nanocrystals with highly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of Ag2ZrO3 nanocrystals using coprecipitation and microwave-assisted hydrothermal methods. These nanocrystals were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and UV–Visible spectroscopy, and their photocatalytic performance for methylene blue degradation under visible-light irradiation has been tested. The X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy analyses indicate that the Ag2ZrO3 nanocrystals have good crystallinity and no secondary phases. The UV–Visible spectroscopy results showed a variation in the optical band gap values (2.71–2.97 eV) with increasing temperature, which indicates the possible presence of defects in the crystal lattice at a medium range. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images revealed that the nanocrystals have uneven spherical shapes and average particle size around 50–70 nm. The good photocatalytic efficiency can be attributed to defects in the silver zirconate structure capable of forming the active adsorption sites. Finally, we discuss a photocatalytic mechanism to understand the photocatalytic process in cationic dye (methylene blue) degradation in aqueous solution.

Development of CuO nanoparticles modified electrochemical sensor for detection of salbutamol

Abstract Metal oxide structures are being utilized in an increasing variety of applications. This study used cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry techniques to investigate the possible utilization of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) for the redox reactions of salbutamol (SAL). The electrochemical performance of the SAL analyte in a complex matrix environment in Ventolin was evaluated in order to assess the appropriateness of the proposed sensor in a real sample environment. CuO nanoparticles were produced via a straightforward, cost-effective and efficient sol–gel method, and characterization studies of synthesized CuO nanoparticles were performed by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray Diffraction (XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The synthesized CuO nanoparticles had a spherical shape and particle size was found to be 74 nm. The crystal size of the CuO particles was calculated to be 21.79 nm using the Debye–Scherrer equation. Under optimal conditions, differential pulse voltammetry demonstrated a linear response in the 50 nM to 100 μM range, with a salbutamol detection limit of 50 nM (S/N = 3). The SAL concentration (R 2 = 0.9971) was found to have a good correlation coefficient. The reproducibility of the biosensor was investigated and evaluated with a relative standard deviation of 3% (n = 8). The storage stability of CuO modified CPE for two weeks was evaluated based on the response of DP current measured at intervals every two days. According to the measurement results, the modified electrode exhibited good stability and reproducibility while maintaining 80% of its stability. It is also a rapid and dependable sensor candidate with a measurement time of approximately 20 s. The developed electrode has been utilized successfully to determine doping material with improved performance.

Depth from defocus technique: a simple calibration-free approach for dispersion size measurement

Particle size measurement is crucial in various applications, be it sizing droplets in inkjet printing or respiratory events, tracking particulate ejection in hypersonic impacts or detecting floating target markers in free-surface flows. Such systems are characterised by extracting quantitative information like size, position, velocity and number density of the dispersed particles, which is typically non-trivial. The existing methods like phase Doppler or digital holography offer precise estimates at the expense of complicated systems, demanding significant expertise. We present a novel volumetric measurement approach for estimating the size and position of dispersed spherical particles that utilises a unique ‘Depth from Defocus’ (DFD) technique with a single camera. The calibration-free sizing enables in situ examination of hard to measure systems, including naturally occurring phenomena like pathogenic aerosols, pollen dispersion or raindrops. The efficacy of the technique is demonstrated for diverse sparse dispersions, including dots, glass beads and spray droplets. The simple optical configuration and semi-autonomous calibration procedure make the method readily deployable and accessible, with a scope of applicability across vast research horizons.

Cytotoxic activity of bimetallic Ag@Se green synthesized nanoparticles using Jerusalem Thorn (Parkinsonia aculeata).

Introduction: The process of green synthesis of metal nanoparticles is considered to be eco-friendly and cost-effective. Methods: In this study, bimetallic Ag@Se-P and Ag@Se-S nanoparticles were synthesized successfully using Parkinsonia aculeata aerial parts and seed extracts. The phytochemical contents in P. aculeata aerial parts and seed aqueous extract serve as reducing and stabilizing capping agents without the need for any chemical stabilization additive in the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles. Result and Discussion: The obtained results from UV-vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the successful synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles with cluster irregular spherical morphology, crystalline nature, and average particle sizes of 17.65 and 24.36nm for Ag@Se-S and Ag@Se-P, respectively. The cytotoxicity assessment of greenly synthesized nanomaterials using seed and plant extracts showed cell inhibition >50μg/mL. Ag@Se-S and Ag@Se-P seed and plant extracts significantly reduced LPS-induced inflammation, which was assessed by NO and cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The mRNA and protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) were significantly overexpressed in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell lines. Ag@Se-S and Ag@Se-P downregulated the expression of PI3K and NFkB in LPS-induced cell models.

Investigation of structural, magnetic, and electric properties of Ni-Cr-Bi nano ferrites an effect of rare earth cerium element by sol-gel auto combustion method

In the present study, the rare-earth Ce3+ ion substation influences Ni-Cr-Bi nanoferrites with the chemical formulation Ni0.5Cr0.2Bi0.3Cex3+Fe2-xO4 (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.06, and 0.09) synthesized via the citrate-induced sol–gel auto combustion method. X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and dielectric studies. The XRD test confirmed that the structure was a single-phase face-centered cubic (FCC) spinel with an Fd3m space group. The crystallite size obtained by the XRD pattern is in the range from 36.43 nm to 36.73 nm with Ce3+ content, which indicates the formation of nanocrystalline samples. The lattice constant was increased from 4.168 Å to 4.191 Å. The FESEM pictures show the materials' morphology as agglomerations of spherical-shaped particles with a grain size of 22.46 nm to 31.46 nm. The HRTEM picture showed a spherical particle size of 55.32 nm. The saturation magnetization (Ms) was observed for x = 0.09 composition as 69.87 (emu/gm). The coercivity and remanence varying increased from 84.57 Oe to 164.68 Oe and 6.09 emu/gm to 7.88 emu/gm. The frequency variation of the dielectric constant and loss tangent exhibit space charge polarization as a phenomenon governing the dielectric behavior of the ferrites reveals the observed ac-conductivity in the frequency range of 5 MHz to 25 GHz. In addition to the main role that grain boundaries play in the conduction process, the impedance analysis showed that the samples being studied also had electrical relaxations.

FORMULATION, ANALYSIS AND VALIDATION OF NANOSUSPENSIONS-LOADED VORICONAZOLE TO ENHANCE SOLUBILITY

Objective: This study aimed to enhance the solubility of voriconazole (VRZ) via loading to nanosuspensions using solvent/anti-solvent technique. The optimisation of independent variables (polymer concentrations) was carried out to achieve the desired particle size and maximise the percentage of entrapment efficiency (EE %) and drug loading (DL %) using design-expert®software. Methods: Design-Expert® software, version 13, was used to design and optimise nanosuspensions-loaded VRZ using 23 factorial designs. Concentrations of polyvinylpyrrolidone, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and poloxamers were selected as independent variables to achieve ideal particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficacy (EE %) and drug loading (DL %). Atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and saturated solubility were used to assess the lyophilized nanoparticles. The compatibility between the drug and the polymers was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results: The particle size, PDI, EE %, and DL % were in the range of 15.6–145.6 nm, 0.010-0.120, 55.9 %-91.9 %, and 6.68-36.76 %, respectively. The saturated solubility of nanosuspensions-loaded VRZ (NS-VRZ) relative to free VRZ was increased tenfold in DW and twelvefold in PBS (pH 7.4). DSC thermogram confirmed the incorporation of VRZ in the nanosuspensions. The AFM of NS-VRZ validated spherical tiny particle size with a smooth surface. There is no chemical interaction between VRZ and the polymers, according to an FTIR investigation. Conclusion: The solubility of VRZ was successfully enhanced by loading to nanosuspensions. The solvent/anti-solvent technique was proven to be cost-effective, easy to operate and suitable for the preparation of NS-VRZ using Design-Expert®software.

Microencapsulation of vitamin E by gelatin-high/low methoxy pectin complex coacervates: Effect of pH, pectin type, and protein/polysaccharide ratio

In this study, gelatin (GA), high-methoxyl pectin (HMP) or low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) were used to prepare complex coacervates, and effect of pectin type, pH, and gelatin-pectin ratio on formation and physiochemical properties of complex coacervates were deeply investigated. Furthermore, vitamin E (VE) was encapsulated using GA-HMP/LMP complex coacervates. The GA-HMP/LMP complex coacervates and GA-HMP/LMP-VE microcapsules were optimized and characterized. At the gelatin-pectin ratios of 2:1 and 3:1 and pH of 4.0, the GA-HMP and GA-LMP had the maximum yield of 54.67 ± 1.82% and 59.33 ± 1.49%, and turbidity of 1.33 ± 0.02 and 1.30 ± 0.04, respectively, and GA-HMP/LMP were close to zero potential at this point, indicating that the strength of electrostatic interaction was strongest. The GA-LMP and GA-HMP displayed spherical and irregular short-rod like appearance, respectively, and more aggregates and denser network were formed at gelatin-pectin ratio of 3:1, especially in GA-HMP3:1. The formation of GA-HMP/LMP complex coacervates was driven by electrostatic interaction, and GA-HMP3:1 had the optimum thermal stability. Except GA-HMP2:1-VE, the prepared and optimized VE mirocapsules by GA-LMP and GA-LMP complex coacervates showed spherical state and uniform particle size. The GA-HMP2:1-VE and GA-HMP3:1-VE possess the highest hygroscopicity and wettability of 109.08 ± 7.66 s and 26.67 ± 0.85 g/100g, respectively. The GA-HMP3:1-VE microcapsules had the highest encapsulation efficiency of 82.67 ± 1.77 %. Results of differential scanning calorimetry and release behavior in hot-water indicated that the microcapsules had excellent thermal stability. Furthermore, the GA-HMP and GA-LMP made VE stable in gastric stages and sustainable release in intestinal stages.

Fatty acid profiles of olive oil and moringa oil and their influence on nanoemulsion formation via D-phase emulsification using bakuchiol as a model active compound

Moringa oil (MO) and olive oil (OV) share similar chemical compositions, often considered interchangeable in various applications. However, their behavior in nanoemulsion formation, a widely-used process in the cosmetic industry, remains relatively unexplored. This study aimed to investigate their fatty acid compositions and how they respond to nanoemulsion formation using the D-phase emulsification method. MO comprises approximately 79% oleic acid, 7% palmitic acid, 6% stearic acid, and other minor components. In contrast, OV contains roughly 70% oleic acid, 14% palmitic acid, 10% linoleic acid, and other constituents. In the context of nanoemulsion formation, both oils exhibited similar trends in particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential when varying the formulation compositions. The type of oil significantly influenced particle size at low surfactant concentrations and PDI at higher oil concentrations, consistently affecting zeta potential. The optimal formulation, O1T15G5, yielded droplet sizes of approximately 222 nm (MO) and 50 nm (OV). Both MO and OV nanoemulsions responded similarly to the substitution of oil with bakuchiol (BK), with O0.7B0.3T15G5 achieving the smallest spherical particle size confirmed by TEM and DLS analysis. Encapsulation efficiency and antioxidant activity remained largely unaffected by types of oil. Stability tests at different temperatures showed some distinctions in physical stability but similarities in antioxidant activity stability. The types of oil did not significantly impact BK release or cytotoxicity levels. This research underscores the potential utility of MO as a viable alternative to OV in cosmetic applications, shedding light on their similarities and performance within nanoemulsion formulations.

Optimizing O3-type cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries: Insights from precursor-based structural control and particle sizing strategies

Utilization of secondary spherical structures derived from metal hydroxides as precursor materials is one of the most promising approaches in terms of energy density and industrial viability for sodium-ion batteries. However, the understanding of how the particle size and arrangement of these secondary spherical structures influence electrochemical performance remains limited. Herein, a series of O3-type layered oxide cathode materials with various sizes (6, 8, 10, and 12 μm) and internal structures (hollow and radial arrangements) were tailored based on precursor-based structural control and particle sizing strategies. The relation in precursor size/structure, cathode characteristics, crystal microstress, structural stability, and electrochemical performance was established through a combination of structure, morphology, and electrochemical characterization. Notably, the size of secondary spherical particles exerted influence on microstress, leading to consequential changes in the c-axis. Elevated microstress levels induced compression of the unit cell along the c-axis, hampering sodium ion migration and undermining the stability of secondary spherical particles during cyclic charge-discharge processes. The optimized NaNi1/3Fe1/3Mn1/3O2-10 material exhibits the least micro stress and significant layer distance, delivers a capacity of 110 mAh g−1, and maintains an impressive capacity retention rate of 91.8% after 100 cycles at 10 C. This work offers valuable insights in energy-density cathode materials in sodium ion batteries.

ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 magnetic nanocomposite with boosted photocatalytic and antibacterial activity against E. coli.

A novel ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 hybrid nanocomposite with increased photocatalytic and antibacterial activities was synthesized by solid-state mixing of NiFe2O4 with Cu-doped ZnO (ZnO-Cu) and subsequent thermal processing. Various characterization techniques, like X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy, vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, have been used to study and characterize the synthesized nanomaterial. The XRD results demonstrated a hexagonal wurtzite phase of the ZnO nanoparticles and a reduction in the average crystallite size with doping and composite formation. The average crystallite size was found to be 32.36 ± 0.25 nm for ZnO, 29.87 ± 0.28 nm for ZnO-Cu and 24.73 ± 0.21 nm for the ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite. FESEM analysis revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles possess a nearly spherical morphology and average particle sizes of about 89 ± 1.8, 78 ± 1.9 and 63 ± 1.6 nm for the ZnO, ZnO-Cu and ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 samples, respectively. ZnO and ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite exhibit specific surface area of 6.67 and 12.38 m2/g, respectively, as observed from BET analysis. FTIR analysis indicated the enhancement of carboxylate and hydroxyl groups with doping and nanocomposite formation. The retentivity (Mr ∼ 0.243 emu/g), coercivity (Hc∼ 98.1 Oe) and saturation magnetization (Ms∼ 3.048 emu/g) values of the ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite, obtained from VSM analysis, confirm its superparamagnetic characteristics. To comprehend the photocatalytic activity of the prepared nanocomposite, dye degradation was also investigated. Here, we have shown that the ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite is capable of achieving the highest photocatalytic activity of 94.2% compared to ZnO (56.2%) and ZnO-Cu (86.4%). The antibacterial activity on Escherichia coli (E. coli) was investigated and the observed zones of inhibition for ZnO, ZnO-Cu and the ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite were 20.1 ± 0.21, 20.9 ± 0.20 and 27.3 ± 0.24 mm, respectively. Assuming the antibacterial activity of control ampicillin as 100%, the ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite has shown the maximum antibacterial activity of 107.5 ± 0.94% as compared to the other samples. According to our observations, the ZnO-Cu/NiFe2O4 hybrid nanocomposite exhibits the highest level of inhibition among all the samples and has the potential to be used in various environmental, biological and industrial applications.

Formation of bijels stabilized by magnetic ellipsoidal particles in external magnetic fields.

Bicontinuous interfacially-jammed emulsion gels (bijels) are increasingly used as emulsion templates for the fabrication of functional porous materials including membranes, electrodes, and biomaterials. Control over the domain size and structure is highly desirable in these applications. For bijels stabilized by spherical particles, particle size and volume fraction are the main parameters that determine the emulsion structure. Here, we investigate the use of ellipsoidal magnetic particles and study the effect of external magnetic fields on the formation of bijels. Using hybrid Lattice Boltzmann-molecular dynamics simulations, we analyze the effect of the magnetic field on emulsion dynamics and the structural properties of the resulting bijel. We find that the formation of bijels remains robust in the presence of magnetic fields, and that the domain size and tortuosity become anisotropic when ellipsoidal particles are used. We show that the magnetic fields lead to orientational ordering of the particles which in turn leads to alignment of the interfaces. The orientational order facilitates enhanced packing of particles in the interface which leads to different jamming times in the directions parallel and perpendicular to the field. Our results highlight the potential of magnetic particles for fabrication and processing of emulsion systems with tunable properties.

A two-step strategy for production of spherical non-aggregated multi-component particles by suspension-fed spray flame

For applications in optics, energy storage, and semiconductors etc., spherical non-aggregated particles are desired for better flowability, molding capability and homogeneous densification. Spray flame synthesis has attracted widespread attention with its excellent ability for atomic-level mixing/doping and good potential for scale-up production. However, spray flame synthesis usually produces aggregates due to the known collision-coalescence growth. In this paper, we propose a two-step strategy of suspension-fed spray-flame synthesis. The first step involves the synthesis of aggregated nanoparticles, followed by a second step where these aggregates are reconstructed into spherical non-aggregated particles while retaining the advantage of atomic-level homogeneous mixing. It is found that for aggregated Y2O3 nanoparticles, the critical point for reconstructing into spherical particles occurs when the flame temperature exceeds the melting point. The spherical particle size increases with the solid concentration of the suspension by a power of about 0.28. Assuming that droplets do not undergo micro-explosions and instead follow a one droplet to one particle route results in an overestimation of particle size by a factor of 6 to 8. This discrepancy suggests that micro-explosions may play certain role in the new suspension-fed flame synthesis, and largely reduces the final particle size. Furthermore, the Al2O3-Y2O3 and MgO-Y2O3 particles are selected for the multicomponent suspension-fed synthesis, representing the miscible and immiscible systems, respectively. The results show that for the Al2O3-Y2O3 system, uniformly mixed spherical non-aggregated particles are obtained. For the MgO-Y2O3 system, both composite spherical particles with pinning structure and MgO nanoparticles are identified, indicating that for obtaining spherical multi-component non-aggregated particles, the flame temperature needs to be higher than not only the eutectic component's melting point but also any single component's melting point. Overall, suspension-fed spray flame synthesis opens up a new pathway for the low-cost industrial-scale production of spherical non-aggregated multi-component particles.

Novel Carbon Dots Derived from Moutan Cortex Significantly Improve the Solubility and Bioavailability of Mangiferin.

Mangiferin (MA), a bioactive C-glucosyl xanthone with a wide range of interesting therapeutic properties, has recently attracted considerable attention. However, its application in biomedicine is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Carbon dots (CDs), novel nanomaterials, have immense promise as carriers for improving the biopharmaceutical properties of active components because of their outstanding characteristics. In this study, a novel water-soluble carbon dot (MC-CDs) was prepared for the first time from an aqueous extract of Moutan Cortex Carbonisata, and characterized by various spectroscopies, zeta potential and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The toxicity effect was investigated using the CCK-8 assay in vitro. In addition, the potential of MC-CDs as carriers for improving the pharmacokinetic parameters was evaluated in vivo. The results indicated that MC-CDs with a uniform spherical particle size of 1-5 nm were successfully prepared, which significantly increased the solubility of MA in water. The MC-CDs exhibited low toxicity in HT-22 cells. Most importantly, the MC-CDs effectively affected the pharmacokinetic parameters of MA in normal rats. UPLC-MS analysis indicated that the area under the maximum blood concentration of MA from mangiferin-MC-CDs (MA-MC-CDs) was 1.6-fold higher than that from the MA suspension liquid (MA control) after oral administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Moutan Cortex-derived novel CDs exhibited superior performance in improving the solubility and bioavailability of MA. This study not only opens new possibilities for the future clinical application of MA but also provides evidence for the development of green biological carbon dots as a drug delivery system to improve the biopharmaceutical properties of insoluble drugs.

Continuous preparation of sustained release vildagliptin nanoparticles using tubular microreactor approach

This investigation used a tubular microreactor to produce Vildagliptin (VLG) loaded ethyl cellulose (EC) nanoparticles (NPs) for sustained delivery of a drug. A central composite design was used to quantify the influence of independent variables on the desired responses. The independent factors selected to achieve the desired entrapment efficiency and sustained drug release were EC concentration and sodium lauryl sulfate concentration. On the other hand, the dependent variables chosen for assessment were particle size (Y1) and encapsulation efficiency (Y2). The nanoparticles produced were analyzed, which included particle size measurement, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, encapsulation efficiency (EE) determination, and in vitro drug release study. The optimized samples TEM investigation verified the nanoparticles’ spherical shape and particle size distribution, ranging from 160 to 250 nm. The entrapment efficiency (EE) fell within the range of 63–87%. In the in-vitro drug release study, VLG-loaded EC nanoparticles exhibited sustained release over 12 h. Applying various kinetic equations to the in-vitro drug release data demonstrated that the drug release mechanism involved diffusion. This comprehensive study concluded that the VLG-EC-NPs achieved optimal particle size, EE, and desirable level of sustained drug release.

Formulation development and characterization of luliconazole loaded−mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MCM−48) as topical hydrogel for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis

The conventional formulation of luliconazole (LCZ) faces challenges such as poor solubility and limited skin retention upon application. Therefore, the focus of this research was to develop and characterize mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) that can effectively deliver luliconazole for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis fungal infection.The MSNs were optimized by central composite design and synthesized using the sol−gel method. Factors such as stirring time and surfactant ratio were varied to investigate their impact on particle size and Polydispersity index (PDI). Subsequently, the MSN surface was functionalized with both amine (positively charged) and phosphonate groups (negatively charged) using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and 3trihydroxysilyl propyl methylphosphonate (THMP).The efficacy of the optimized luliconazole−loaded MSNs was evaluated through various comparative studies, including in-vitro and in-vivo antifungal assessments, ex-vivo permeation and skin retention experiments, acute dermal irritation tests, and histopathological analysis. These evaluations were compared with the pure drug and a commercially available formulation.The optimized MSNs exhibited high porosity and spherical particle sizes ranging from 300 to 400 nm. They demonstrated excellent physical and chemical stability, indicating compatibility between the drug and the MSN structure. The successful loading of luliconazole into the nanopores of the MSNs was confirmed through Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) analysis.The luliconazole−loaded MSN (LCZ−MSN) gel exhibited a controlled release profile, sustaining drug release for up to 24 h. The solubility of the drug was 12 times higher compared to the free form, and the MSNs enhanced skin retention by six−fold compared to the pure drug. In an in-vivo cutaneous candidiasis rat model, the enhanced efficacy of the MSNs was evident, highlighting the potential of this innovative approach for controlled release and solubility enhancement of poorly soluble drugs, with no observed skin irritation.Overall, this research showcases the potential of mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a promising approach for controlled delivery and improved solubility of poorly soluble drugs like luliconazole, thereby addressing the challenges associated with conventional formulations and offering a novel strategy for treating cutaneous candidiasis fungal infection.

Woody biomass derived nano lignin-enabled membrane with high structural stability for efficient wastewater treatment

The application of renewable and functional group-enriched lignin has recently gained massive popularity in wastewater treatment applications. Herein, woody biomass-derived organosolv lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) with uniform colloidal spherical morphology and average particle size (⁓150 nm) were synthesized via a simple and facile anti-solvent nanoprecipitation technique and used for the fabrication of ultrafiltration nanocomposite membrane. Upon the addition of LNPs to polyether sulfone (PES) matrix, the LNPs-impregnated membrane exhibited a thinner surface layer that induced low resistance to water flow, high pore density (83.2 ± 0.9%) with uniformly distributed pores, wider and well-connected internal macrovoids with higher sub-layer porosity, and a higher negative surface charge (−29.8 mV). These structural features hence contributed to high stable permeation flux (92.3 L m−2 h−1) and higher removal efficiencies (> 95%) for treating cationic (methylene blue) and anionic (methylene orange) dyes over a wide range of environmentally relevant pH conditions. The electrostatic interactions between the charged membrane surface and dye species revealed the underlying mechanism for higher dye rejection through the PES-LNP membrane. Finally, the structural stability analysis confirmed the complete incorporation/immobilization of LNPs within the PES matrix, making it ready for real-world applications in wastewater treatment.

Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Photodegradation of Naphthol Blue Black Dye

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized using water extract of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) stem with zinc acetate dihydrate as a precursor of ZnO. Chemical compounds contained in the red dragon fruit stem extract, such as phenolics, terpenoids, and steroids, acted as reducing agents, stabilizers, and capping agents. The phase structure, crystallite size, functional groups, shape, and morphology of ZnO nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). The XRD pattern confirmed the crystallinity of synthesized zinc oxide was in the zincite (ZnO) phase with an average crystallite size of 79.09 nm. Spectroscopy FTIR analysis showed that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles had characteristics similar to the ZnO standard/commercial. SEM-EDX analysis revealed that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were spherical, evenly distributed, and homogeneous particle size. The photocatalytic activity of synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was evaluated on the photodegradation of naphthol blue black (NBB) dye. The results showed that the synthesized ZnO nanoparticles have high photocatalytic activity that can degrade NBB dye up to 98.82%. This high photocatalytic activity was obtained at operating parameter conditions with the initial pH of NBB at 2, the dosage of ZnO nanoparticles at 250 mg, and the initial dye concentration at 10 ppm.

Determining the Efficacy of Selenium Nanoparticles (Se-NPs) Conjugated with Zinc and Synthesized Using Aspergillus niger on some Immunological Parameters of Induced Immunosuppressed Rats

This research was aimed to isolation and identification of Aspergillus niger from different location of garden in Tikrit university, to used in Se-NPs synthesis alone and conjugated with Zn, then its characterizes by detected the spectroscopy, shape and size of the nanoparticles, also determine the efficacy each of Se-NPs or Zn alone or after conjugated when orally dosage to laboratory rats that’s induced immunosuppressed by sandimmune on IgA, IgG and IL-6. The results were found that ability to isolated and identified the Aspergillus niger from different sites in the gardens of the Tikrit University. The synthesis of Se-NPs were obtained by converting sodium selenite (Na2SeO4) used the Aspergillus niger extract, also they obtained the Se-NPs conjugated with Zn. The confirm of synthesis were inferred through the color was changed to oranges. The value of these particles alone or their genera appeared at a wavelength of 262 and 269 nm, respectively. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed spherical particle shapes and sizes at 52.90 nm which were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The orally dosage of Se-NPs for male laboratory rats alone or in combination induced immunusupressed affected the renormalization of IgA, IgG, and IL-6 t. Their normal levels of IgA at 205, 215 and 242 (mg/dL) and the IgG at 1019, 1046 and 1346 (mg/dL) while of IL-6 at 3.60, 4.13 and 6.63 (pmol/mL) respectively. These effect were refered the parameters to became equalized with their values in the group of control animals and returned to normal.

BBD Driven Fabrication of Hydroxyapatite Engineered Risedronate Loaded Thiolated Chitosan Nanoparticles and Their In Silico, In Vitro, and Ex Vivo Studies.

Risedronate sodium (RIS) exhibits limited bioavailability and undesirable gastrointestinal effects when administered orally, necessitating the development of an alternative formulation. In this study, mPEG-coated nanoparticles loaded with RIS-HA-TCS were created for osteoporosis treatment. Thiolated chitosan (TCS) was synthesized using chitosan and characterized using DSC and FTIR, with thiol immobilization assessed using Ellman's reagent. RIS-HA nanoparticles were fabricated and conjugated with synthesized TCS. Fifteen batches of RIS-HA-TCS nanoparticles were designed using the Box-Behnken design process. The nanoparticles were formulated through the ionic gelation procedure, employing tripolyphosphate (TPP) as a crosslinking agent. In silico activity comparison of RIS and RIS-HA-TCS for farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase enzyme demonstrated a higher binding affinity for RIS. The RIS-HA-TCS nanoparticles exhibited 85.4 ± 2.21% drug entrapment efficiency, a particle size of 252.1 ± 2.44 nm, and a polydispersity index of 0.2 ± 0.01. Further conjugation with mPEG resulted in a particle size of 264.9 ± 1.91 nm, a PDI of 0.120 ± 0.01, and an encapsulation efficiency of 91.1 ± 1.17%. TEM confirmed the spherical particle size of RIS-HA-TCS and RIS-HA-TCS-mPEG. In vitro release studies demonstrated significantly higher release for RIS-HS-TCS-mPEG (95.13 ± 4.64%) compared to RIS-HA-TCS (91.74 ± 5.13%), RIS suspension (56.12 ± 5.19%), and a marketed formulation (74.69 ± 3.98%). Ex vivo gut permeation studies revealed an apparent permeability of 0.5858 × 10-1 cm/min for RIS-HA-TCS-mPEG, surpassing RIS-HA-TCS (0.4011 × 10-4 cm/min), RIS suspension (0.2005 × 10-4 cm/min), and a marketed preparation (0.3401 × 10-4 cm/min).

Preparation of gradient refractive index films on glass surface and its anti-reflection properties

This study presents the creation of a gradient refractive index film on the surface of aluminosilicate glass using a two-step process involving chemical etching and subsequent multilayer sol-gel coating with hollow silica nanospheres. The primary objective was to achieve effective anti-reflection properties. Various analytical techniques such as FESEM, TEM, UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometry, ellipsometer, and FT-IR spectrometry were employed to investigate the impact of glass surface morphology and refractive index on optical characteristics. The results revealed the successful formation of a porous structure on the glass surface through chemical etching. Subsequently, this porous structure was uniformly filled and layered with hollow silica spheres of different sizes, resulting in a stepwise gradient refractive index coating. Notably, the pore size of the hollow spherical silica colloidal particles progressively increased from 0 nm to 23 nm, corresponding to distinct film thicknesses and refractive indices. This stepwise modulation contributed to the establishment of a gradient refractive index within the coating. By transitioning the refractive index of the film layer from that of glass to air, the film acted as a matching layer, thereby achieving broadband anti-reflection. The efficiency of this anti-reflection was demonstrated by an increase in transmittance from an initial value of 91.8–95.32% following the two-step etching process. With the subsequent SiO2 coating, the transmittance continued to improve, ultimately reaching a high value of 97.47%. This improvement in transmittance was attributed to the gradual enhancement of the film layer.