Sulfate Nanoparticles Research Articles

In vivo evaluation of time-dependent antithrombotic effect of rivaroxaban-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/sodium lauryl sulfate or didodecyl dimethylammonium bromide nanoparticles in Wistar rats

Rivaroxaban (RVX), an oral direct factor Xa inhibitor, is being explored as an alternative to traditional anticoagulans. However, RVX still faces pharmacokinetic limitations and adverse effects, highlighting the need for more effective formulations. In this regard, pharmaceutical nanotechnology, particularly the use of polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs), offers a promising approach for optimizing RVX delivery. This study aimed to develop and physicochemically characterize RVX-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or didodecyl dimethylammonium bromide (DMAB) nanoparticles, and also evaluate their pharmacological and toxicological profiles as a potential therapeutic strategy. The PNPs exhibited sizes below 300 nm and spherical morphology, with both negative and positive surface charges, according to surfactant used. They demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency and suitable yields, as well as rapid initial liberation followed by sustained release in different pH environments. Importantly, in vivo evaluations revealed a time-dependent antithrombotic effect surpassing the free form of RVX when administered orally in SLS or DMAB PNP. No hemolytic or cytotoxic effects were observed at various concentrations of the PNPs. Interestingly, the PNPs did not induce hemorrhagic events or cause liver enzyme alterations in vivo. These findings suggest that RVX-loaded SLS or DMAB PNPs are promising innovative therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of thromboembolic diseases.

Calcium Sulfate Nanoparticles in Surface Sediments of Lingding Bay of the Pearl River Estuary, China: Implications for the Nonclassical Crystallization Pathway of Gypsum in the Natural Estuary Environment

The mechanism of the nonclassical crystallization pathway of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum) with calcium sulfate hemihydrate (bassanite) as a precursor has been considered in many studies. However, studies on the crystallization of gypsum in natural environments have rarely been reported, especially with regard to natural estuaries, which are one of the most important precipitation environments for calcium sulfate. Here, surface sediments (0–5 cm) of Lingding Bay of the Pearl River Estuary in China were sampled and analyzed. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that calcium sulfate in the surface sediments mainly existed in the form of gypsum. In high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis, calcium sulfate nanoparticles were observed in the surface sediments. These particles mainly included spherical calcium sulfate nanoparticles (diameter ranging from 10–50 nm) and bassanite nanorod clusters (sizes ranging from 30 nm × 150 nm to 100 nm × 650 nm), and their main elements included O, S and Ca, with small amounts of N, Si, Na and Mg. The bassanite nanorods self-assembled into aggregates primarily co-oriented along the c axis (i.e., [001] direction). In epitaxial growth into larger bassanite nanorods (100 nm × 650 nm), the crystal form of gypsum could be observed. Based on the observations and analyses, we proposed that the crystallization of gypsum in surface sediments of the natural estuary environment could occur through the nonclassical crystallization pathway. In this pathway, bassanite nanoparticles and nanorods appear as precursors (nanoscale precursors), grow via self-assembly, and are finally transformed into gypsum. This work provided evidence supporting and enhancing the understanding of the crystallization pathway of calcium sulfate phases in the natural estuary environment. Furthermore, the interactions between calcium sulfate nanoparticles and the natural estuary environment were examined.

Unraveling the effects of zinc sulfate nanoparticles and potassium fertilizers on quality of maize and associated health risks in Cd contaminated soils under different moisture regimes

This study investigated the interactive effects of zinc sulfate nanoparticles (ZnSO4 NPs) and potassium fertilizers (SOP and MOP) on growth and quality of maize (Zea mays L.) under different moisture regimes in cadmium contaminated soils. It seeks to identify how these two different sources of nutrients interact to improve the quality of maize grains and fodder production to ensure food safety and food security under abiotic stresses. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse under two moisture regimes including M1 (non-limiting regime, 20–30 %) and M2 (water-limiting, 10–15 %) at Cd contamination of 20 mg kg−1. The results showed that ZnSO4 NPs combined with potassium fertilizers significantly increased the growth and proximate composition of maize in Cd contaminated soil. Moreover, applied amendments significantly alleviated the stress induced in maize by improving the growth. The greatest increase in maize growth and quality was observed when ZnSO4 NPs were applied in combination with SOP (K2SO4). The results also showed that the interactive effects of ZnSO4 NPs and potassium fertilizers significantly affected the Cd bioavailability in soil and concentration in plants. It was observed that MOP (KCl) enhanced the Cd bioavailability in soil due to presence of Cl anion. In addition, the application of ZnSO4 NPs combined with SOP fertilizer reduced the concentration of Cd in maize grain and shoot, and significantly reduced the probable health risks to humans and cattle. It suggested that this strategy could help to reduce Cd exposure through food consumption and therefore ensure food safety. Our findings suggest that ZnSO4 NPs and SOP can be used synergistically to improve maize crop production and development of agricultural practices in areas affected by Cd contamination. Moreover, by understanding the interactive effects of these two sources of nutrients, this research could help in the management of areas affected by heavy metals contamination. Environmental implicationThe application of zinc and potassium fertilizers can increase the biomass of maize, minimize abiotic stresses, and improve the nutritional value of the crop in Cd contaminated soils; this is particularly true when zinc sulfate nanoparticles and sulfate of potash (K2SO4) are used in conjunction. This form of fertilizer management can lead to a greater, more sustainable yield of maize under contaminated soils, which could have a major impact on global food supply. Remediation coupled with agro-production (RCA) not only improves the effectiveness of the process but will also encourage farmers to take part in soil remediation by easy management.

Fabrication of curcumin−loaded foxtail millet prolamin−based nanoparticle: Impact of curdlan sulfate on the particle properties

The sulfation of curdlan was achieved by modification of curdlan with sulfur trioxide–pyridine complex. Curcumin−loaded curdlan sulfate−sodium caseinate stabilized foxtail millet prolamin nanoparticles were fabricated using pH-driven method. Under the optimal conditions, two kinds of foxtail millet prolamin−based nanoparticles were fabricated using different preparation processes for the first time. The mean diameters and zeta-potentials of co−assembled foxtail millet prolamin−sodium caseinate−curdlan sulfate nanoparticles and curdlan sulfate coated co−assembled foxtail millet prolamin−sodium caseinate nanoparticles were 84.7 nm, 136.4 nm and − 45.7 mV, − 41.5, respectively. Molecular docking and infrared spectroscopy indicated that the curcumin was retained in the hydrophobic region of foxtail millet prolamin though four hydrogen bonds and ten hydrophobic interactions, and amino residues of proline, arginase, cysteine, glycine, and alanine served as the main binding sites for curcumin. The deposition and co−assembly of curdlan sulfate enhanced the curcumin encapsulation efficiency from 78.3% to 81.8% and 85.9%, respectively, and slightly reduced the release of curcumin under physiological and endosomal pH conditions. Consequently, the intake of curdlan sulfate−sodium caseinate stabilized composite nanoparticles encapsulated−curcumin by MCF-7 cells was lower than that of sodium caseinate stabilized nanoparticles entrapped−curcumin, and increased the IC50 value from 5.3 μg/mL to 10.5 and 9.0 μg/mL, respectively. This study showed that the biopolymeric nanoparticles have the potential to encapsulate hydrophobic bioactives, and the incorporation of curdlan sulfate exhibited a significant effect on the physicochemical properties, encapsulation, and release profile of foxtail millet prolamin particles.

The Structural Changes and Its Impact on Optical Dispersion of PVA/PVP Embedded with Zinc Sulphate Nanoparticles and Irradiated with Electron-Beam

PVA/PVP films doped with zinc sulphate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O) nanoparticles (NPs) are prepared using an in situ chemical method. Furthermore, as-prepared samples are irradiated with an electron beam at doses of 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 kGy. Elemental analyses using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) of the fresh films showed the existence of both zinc oxide and zinc sulphide as main and minor phases in sequence. Moreover, scanning electron microscope measurements (SEM) revealed that embedded Zn NPs have regular and evenly distributed pores inside PVA/PVP network. On the other hand, the structural variations due to e-beam irradiation are monitored by a high-resolution-transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), which displayed that encapsulated Zn NPs are well dispersed and capped inside PVA/PVP structural network. The measured optical absorption coefficient (α) of PVA/PVP/zinc sulphate nanocomposite films showed an increase against e-beam dose. Moreover, the calculated optical energy gap, Eg, exhibited a reduction from 3.31 to 2.82 eV against the increase in irradiation dose. Evaluated values of wavelength at zero material dispersion (WZMD) indicated that e-beam irradiation can tune the structure of the studied samples to be used as a data transmitter in optical fiber telecommunication in the IR spectral range of 1.6842–1.0351 μm.

Construction of Waste Chalk Powder into mpg-C3N4-CaSO4 as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Dye Degradation under UV–Vis Light and Sunlight

In this article, we present the synthesis of calcium sulfate nanoparticles (CaSO4 NPs) from waste chalk powder by the calcination method. These CaSO4 NPs were utilized for the construction of a mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride-calcium sulfate (mpg-C3N4-CaSO4) photocatalyst. Synthesized materials were confirmed by several characterization techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized samples was tested by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in the presence of both UV-vis light and sunlight. The efficiency of photocatalytic degradation of MB dye using the optimized mpg-C3N4-CaSO4-2 composite reached 91% within 90 min in the presence of UV-vis light with superb photostability and recyclability after five runs compared to individual mpg-C3N4 and CaSO4 NPs and reached 95% within 120 min under sunlight. Histotoxicological studies on fish liver and ovary indicated that the dye containing the solution damaged the structure of the liver and ovary tissues, whereas the photodegraded solution of MB was found to be less toxic and caused negligible alterations in their typical structure similar to the control group.

Boosting hair growth through follicular delivery of Melatonin through lecithin-enhanced Pickering emulsion stabilized by chitosan-dextran nanoparticles in testosterone induced androgenic alopecia rat model

The strategy in this work was loading Melatonin (MEL), the powerful antioxidant photosensitive molecule, in novel Pickering emulsions (PEs) stabilized by chitosan-dextran sulphate nanoparticles (CS-DS NPs) and enhanced by lecithin, for treatment of androgenic alopecia (AGA). Biodegradable CS-DS NPs dispersion was prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation and optimized for PEs stabilization. PEs were characterized for droplet size, zeta potential, morphology, photostability and antioxidant activity. Ex-vivo permeation study through rat full thickness skin was conducted with optimized formula. Differential tape stripping trailed by cyanoacrylate skin surface biopsy was executed, for quantifying MEL in skin compartments and hair follicles. In-vivo evaluation of MEL PE hair growth activity was performed on testosterone induced AGA rat model. Visual inspection followed by anagen to telogen phase ratio (A/T) and histopathological examinations were conducted and compared with marketed 5% minoxidil spray “Rogaine ®”. Data showed that PE improved MEL antioxidant activity and photostability. Ex-vivo results displayed MEL PE high follicular deposition. In-vivo study demonstrated that MEL PE treated testosterone induced AGA rat group, restored hair loss and produced maximum hair regeneration along with prolonged anagen phase amongst tested groups. The histopathological examination revealed that MEL PE prolonged anagen stage, increased follicular density and A/T ratio by 1.5-fold. The results suggested that lecithin-enhanced PE stabilized by CS-DS NPs was found to be an effective approach to enhance photostability, antioxidant activity and follicular delivery of MEL. Thus, MEL-loaded PE could be a promising competitor to commercially marketed Minoxidil for treatment of AGA.

Zinc biofortification through seed nutri-priming using alternative zinc sources and concentration levels in pea and sunflower microgreens.

Micronutrient deficiencies caused by malnutrition and hidden hunger are a growing concern worldwide, exacerbated by climate change, COVID-19, and conflicts. A potentially sustainable way to mitigate such challenges is the production of nutrient-dense crops through agronomic biofortification techniques. Among several potential target crops, microgreens are considered suitable for mineral biofortification because of their short growth cycle, high content of nutrients, and low level of anti-nutritional factors. A study was conducted to evaluate the potential of zinc (Zn) biofortification of pea and sunflower microgreens via seed nutri-priming, examining the effect of different Zn sources (Zn sulfate, Zn-EDTA, and Zn oxide nanoparticles) and concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 ppm) on microgreen yield components; mineral content; phytochemical constituents such as total chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and total phenolic compounds; antioxidant activity; and antinutrient factors like phytic acid. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized factorial block design with three replications. Seed soaked in a 200 ppm ZnSO4 solution resulted in higher Zn accumulation in both peas (126.1%) and sunflower microgreens (229.8%). However, an antagonistic effect on the accumulation of other micronutrients (Fe, Mn, and Cu) was seen only in pea microgreens. Even at high concentrations, seed soaking in Zn-EDTA did not effectively accumulate Zn in both microgreens' species. ZnO increased the chlorophyll, total phenols, and antioxidant activities compared to Zn-EDTA. Seed soaking in ZnSO4 and ZnO solutions at higher concentrations resulted in a lower phytic acid/Zn molar ratio, suggesting the higher bioaccessibility of the biofortified Zn in both pea and sunflower microgreens. These results suggest that seed nutrient priming is feasible for enriching pea and sunflower microgreens with Zn. The most effective Zn source was ZnSO4, followed by ZnO. The optimal concentration of Zn fertilizer solution should be selected based on fertilizer source, target species, and desired Zn-enrichment level.

Controlled release of silica-coated insulin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles as a promising oral administration system

BackgroundOral insulin administration has recently become one of the most exciting research subjects. Different approaches have been carried out to get an effective oral insulin delivery system using nanotechnology. The development of a delivery system that overcomes the difficulties of oral insulin administration, achieving high stability and minimal side effects, is still an urgent need. Therefore, this study is considered one of the efforts to design a new prospective drug delivery nano-composite (silica-coated chitosan-dextran sulfate nanoparticles).MethodsChitosan-dextran sulfate nanoparticles (CS-DS NPs) were prepared via a complex coacervation method and then coated with silica. Uncoated and silica-coated CS-DS NPs were physically characterized via different techniques. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been used to investigate the chemical elements, size, morphology, and surface properties of the prepared formulations. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to assess the thermal properties of formed nano-formulations. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy investigated the silica coat and chitosan interaction. The encapsulation efficiency was evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. The insulin release profile of nano-formulations was performed with and without silica coat at two different pHs (5.5,7), nearly simulating the environment of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).ResultsThe silica-coated CS-DS NPs revealed interesting physicochemical properties exemplified by suitable core particle size obtained by TEM images (145.31 ± 33.15 nm), hydrodynamic diameter (210 ± 21 nm), high stability indicated by their zeta potential value (-32 ± 3.2 mV), and adequate surface roughness assessed by AFM. The encapsulation efficiency of insulin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ICN) was (66.5%) higher than that of insulin-chitosan complex nanoparticles (ICCN). The silica-coated ICN demonstrated a controlled insulin release profile at pHs (5.5 and 7) compared with uncoated ICN.ConclusionThe silica-coated ICN can be an efficient candidate as a desired oral delivery system, overcoming the common obstacles of peptides and proteins delivery and achieving high stability and controlled release for further applications.

Differential response of nano zinc sulphate with other conventional sources of Zn in mitigating salinity stress in rice grown on saline-sodic soil

Salinization causes the degradation of the soil and threatening the global food security but the application of essential micronutrients like zinc (Zn), improve the plant growth by stabilizing the plant cell and root development. Keeping in view the above-mentioned scenario, an experiment was conducted to compare the efficiency of conventional Zn fertilizers like zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), zinc ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (Zn-EDTA) and advance nano Zn fertilizers such as zinc sulphate nanoparticles (ZnSO4NPs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) (applied at the rate of 5 and 10 mg/kg) in saline-sodic soil. Results revealed that the maximum plant height (67%), spike length (72%), root length (162%), number of tillers (71%), paddy weight (100%), shoot dry weight (158%), and root dry weight (119%) was found in ZnSO4NPs applied at the rate of 10 mg/kg (ZnSO4NPs-10) as compared to salt-affected control (SAC). Similarly, the plants physiological attributes like chlorophyll contents (91%), photosynthesis rate (113%), transpiration rate (106%), stomatal conductance (56%) and internal CO2 (11%) were increased by the application of ZnSO4NPs-10, as compared to SAC. The maximum Zn concentration in root (153%), shoot (205%) and paddy (167%) found in ZnSO4NPs-10, as compared to control. In the body of rice plants, other nutrients like phosphorus and potassium were also increased by the application of ZnSO4NPs-10 and soil chemical attributes such as sodium and sodium adsorption ratio were decreased. The current experiment concluded that the application of ZnSO4NPs at the rate of 10 mg/kg in salt-affected paddy soil increased the growth, physiology, up take of essential nutrients and yield of rice by balancing the cationic ratio under salt stress.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Cytotoxic Effects of Vernonia Amygdalina Mediated Copper Nanoparticles

Background: Vernonia amygdalina is generally known as sour leaf or bitter leaf which is one among the medically significant plants in African and Mediterranean regions. Hence, this study aids the biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using V.amygdalina for the first time and further it aims to investigate the cytotoxicity, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the V.amygdalina mediated copper nanoparticles. Methods: Cytotoxic effect of Copper sulphate nanoparticles reinforced with Vernonia amygdalina extract were assessed using Brine Shrimp Assay at 5 µL, 10 µL, 20 µL, 40µL and 80µL, anti-inflammatory activity using Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and antioxidant activity using DPPH Assay at 5 µL, 10 µL, 20 µL, 30 µL, 50 µL. Results: As the concentration increased, the cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles increased. It was found that the values for anti-inflammatory properties of nanoparticles was higher than the standard values at 30µL, 40µL, 50 µL concentrations. Percentage of inhibition was highest at 40 µL (85.7%) and 50 µL (92.6%). The values for antioxidant properties of nanoparticles were found to be higher than the standard values at 10 µL and 20 µL and almost equal in 30 µL concentrations. Conclusion: Vernonia amygdalina mediated copper nanoparticles have very less cytotoxic effects. It also has a potential to serve as a good anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.

Dynamics of Zinc Fractions in Soil as Affected by Zinc Fertilization in a Maize-maize Cropping Sequence in Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam, India

Zinc is considered as an important micronutrient for maize which is a promising emerging cash crop for the state of Assam, India. A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Jorhat, Assam Agricultural University during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to study the dynamics of zinc fractions in soil in a maize-maize cropping sequence as affected by zinc fertilization. The experiment was laid down in a randomized block design (RBD) with twelve treatments combinations of basal and foliar application of zinc through zinc sulphate and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The results revealed that zinc fertilization significantlyinfluenced the studied zinc fractions in soil during both the years under investigation. The distribution of different zinc fractions in soils at harvest was found in the following order: water soluble plus exchangeable-Zn < complexed-Zn < crystalline sesquioxide bound-Zn < amorphous sesquioxide bound-Zn < residual-Zn. Among the zinc treatment combinations, soil application of Zn @ 3.75 kg ha-1 in combination with foliar application of 500 ppm ZnO NPs exhibited the highest concentration of water soluble plus exchangeable-Zn content (1.10 ppm) in soil. The highest concentration of complexed-Zn (2.95 ppm), amorphous sesquioxide-bound-Zn (4.11 mg kg-1), crystalline sesquioxide-bound-Zn (3.76 ppm), residual-Zn (125.65 ppm) and total-Zn (137.33 ppm) were recorded in the treatment receiving soil application of Zn @ 7.5 kg ha-1. Among the zinc fractions studied, the concentration and percent contribution of water soluble plus exchangeable-Zn to total-Zn was the lowest while residual-Zn fraction contributed the highest to the total soil zinc pool. Furthermore, path coefficient analysis revealed that the water soluble plus exchangeable-Zn had the highest contribution towards the plant available DTPA extractable-Zn in soil. Moreover, all the fractions of zinc were found to be significantly and positively correlated with each other indicating existence of dynamic equilibrium of zinc in soil.

Formulation and evaluation of magnesium sulphate nanoparticles for improved CNS penetrability.

Magnesium (Mg2+) is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body and is involved in maintaining varieties of cellular and neurological functions. Magnesium deficiency has been associated with numerous diseases, particularly neurological disorders, and its supplementation has proven beneficial. However, magnesium therapy in neurological diseases is limited because of the inability of magnesium to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The present study focuses on developing magnesium sulphate nanoparticles (MGSN) to improve blood-brain barrier permeability. MGSN was prepared by precipitation technique with probe sonication. The developed formulation was characterized by DLS, EDAX, FT-IR and quantitative and qualitative estimation of magnesium. According to the DLS report, the average size of the prepared MGSN is found to be 247nm. The haemocompatibility assay studies revealed that the prepared MGSN are biocompatible at different concentrations. The in vitro BBB permeability assay conducted by Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA) using rat brain tissue revealed that the prepared MGSN exhibited enhanced BBB permeability as compared to the marketed i.v. MgSO4 injection. The reversal effect of MGSN to digoxin-induced Na+/K+ ATPase enzyme inhibition using brain microslices confirmed that MGSN could attenuate the altered levels of Na+ and K+ and is useful in treating neurological diseases with altered expression of Na+/K+ ATPase activity.

Potential mobilization of cadmium and zinc in soils spiked with smithsonite and sphalerite under different water management regimes

Particulate cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) are ubiquitous in agricultural soils of Pb–Zn mining regions. Water management serves as an important agronomic measure altering the bioavailability of Zn and Cd in soils, but how this affects particulate Cd and Zn and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Microcosm soil incubation combined with spectroscopic and microscopic characterization was conducted. During a two-year-long incubation period we observed that the concentrations of soil CaCl2-extractable Zn and Cd increased 3–10 times in sphalerite-spiked soils and 1–2 times in smithsonite-spiked soils under periodic flooding conditions due to the long-term dissolution of sphalerite (SP) and smithsonite (SM). However, the increase in the concentration of CaCl2-extractable metals (Zn: from 0.607 mg kg−1 to 1.051 mg kg−1 and Cd: from 0.047 mg kg−1 to 0.119 mg kg−1) was found only in SP-treatment under continuous flooding conditions, indicating the mobilization of metals. Ultrafiltration analysis shows that the nanoparticulate fraction of Zn and Cd in soil pore water increased 5 and 7 times in SP-treatments under continuous flooding conditions, suggesting the increment of metal pools in soil pore water. HRTEM-EDX-SAED further reveals that these nanoparticles were mainly crystalline ZnS and Zn-bearing sulfate nanoparticles in the SP-treatment and amorphous ZnCO3 and ZnS nanoparticles in the SM-treatment. Therefore, the formation of the stable crystalline Zn-bearing nanoparticles in the SP-treatment may explain the elevation of the concentration of soil CaCl2-extractable Zn and Cd under continuous flooding. The potential mobility of particulate metals should therefore be expected in scenarios of continuous flooding such as paddy soils and wetland systems.

Synthesis and Characterization of Magnesium Doped Ferric Sulphate Nanoparticles (Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs) for Agriculture Applications

The present study aimed to synthesize the magnesium doped ferric sulphate nanoparticles (Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs) and investigate their seed germination efficacy. Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs were prepared by a simple and cost-effective method and subjected to characterization. The X-ray Diffraction (XRD) spectrum revealed the crystalline nature of Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs with an average crystallite size of 36.41 nm. The field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) image displayed the agglomeration of Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs with the shape of the grains appeared like starfish which has limbs grown from a common cluster. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrated the existence of C (10.5%), O (49.14%), Fe (26.67%), Mg (0.78%) and S (13.35%) elements in Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs. It also revealed the absence of impurities in the synthesized NPs. Through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs showed the characteristic peaks at 615.29cm-1, 1130.29cm-1, 1400.32 cm-1and 1633.71cm-1 which corresponded to Fe-O, C-N, O-H and N-H vibration respectively. Further, the seed germination study revealed that the Mg-Fe2SO3 NPs treatment caused a significant increase in seedling growth of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds compared to the untreated samples.

Chondroitin sulfate modified chitosan nanoparticles as an efficient and targeted gene delivery vehicle to chondrocytes

Conventional treatments for osteoarthritis (OA), including drug delivery and tissue engineering approaches, could not offer a high yield of cartilage repair due to the compact and exclusive structure of cartilage. Targeted and high-efficiency delivery of gene sequences is necessary to rebalance the lost homeostatic properties of the cartilage in OA. Herein, we synthesized chitosan (CH)-chondroitin sulfate (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) as a platform for delivering gene sequences. These new nanoparticles benefit from two natural polymers that minimize the toxicity, and the presence of CS can be in favor of targeted delivery. The CAG-GFP plasmid was used as a gene sequence model, and the nanoparticles could successfully encapsulate approximately all of them in their structure. Loaded nanoparticles were characterized in terms of morphology, size, zeta potential, the efficiency of encapsulation and, DNA release pattern. Cell viability and uptake of new nanoparticles were compared to the chitosan nanoparticles and Lipofectamine. After substituting TPP with CS, NPs exhibited a significant decrease in size. In addition, there was little difference in zeta potential between nanoparticles. Furthermore, a tremendous increase in plasmid uptake and cell viability was observed by CH-CS NPs compared to CH-TPP NPs and Lipofectamine. In the final stage, the knockdown level of MMP13 was evaluated with real-time RT-PCR for confirming the potential uptake of CH-CS NPs. The results revealed cellular uptake of siRNA loaded NPs and effective knockdown of MMP13 in chondrocytes. In conclusion, CH-CS nanoparticles can be considered as a candidate for gene therapy purposes in cartilage diseases.

Use of Eggshells as Bone Grafts around Commercially Pure Titanium Implant Screws Coated with Nano Calcium Sulfate.

Background Implant insertion in regions with poor bone quantity, such as the posterior maxilla, is potentially associated with an increased rate of implant failure. Calcium sulfate can be used as the coating material for commercially pure titanium (CpTi) and as the bone graft material around implants when bound to eggshell powder to enhance the bone quality and quantity of bone defect regions. This study performed a torque removal test to evaluate the effectiveness of eggshell powder as a bone substitute for filling bone defects around CpTi-coated implants coated with nanocrystalline calcium sulfate. Materials and Methods Eighty screw implant designs were used in the tibiae of 20 white New Zealand rabbits. A total of uncoated 20 screws constituted the control group, and the remaining 60 screws coated with nano calcium sulfate nanoparticles were used as the experimental groups as follows: 20 screws coated with nano calcium sulfate were used alone in the tibiae without gaps around them, 20 screws coated with nano calcium sulfate were used with the gaps made around them and filled with eggshell powder as the bone graft material, and 20 screws coated with nano calcium sulfate were used with the gaps made around them left unfilled. Results After 2 to 6 weeks of healing, a significant improvement in bone regeneration and an increase in torque removal values were observed when the bone defect around the CpTi implant coated with nano calcium sulfate was filled with eggshell powder as the bone substitute. Conclusions Nano calcium sulfate particles applied through the dip-coating method can successfully work as the coating material of CpTi implants. These particles work in synergy with eggshell powder to act as the bone graft around the implants.

Microfluidic E-tongue to diagnose bovine mastitis with milk samples using Machine learning with Decision Tree models

We report an electronic tongue based on impedance spectroscopy to detect Staphylococcus aureus and diagnose bovine mastitis in milk samples. This was achieved with optimized sensing units made with layer-by-layer films and by treating the capacitance data with machine learning algorithms employing decision trees models. These films were made with chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, sericin and gold nanoparticles /sericin, whose molecular-level interaction with S.aureus depended on the architecture according to PM-IRRAS measurements. The limit of detection in blank milk varied from 3.41 to 2.01 CFU/mL depending on the sensing unit. This sensitivity was complemented with the selectivity provided by combining the electrical responses of the four sensing units. Indeed, with machine learning it was possible to determine multidimensional calibration spaces (MCS) that could generate rules to explain how the milk samples could be discriminated. With a 7-dimension MCS, distinct S.aureus concentrations could be distinguished from possible interferents with a 100 % accuracy. In crude milk samples, 94 % accuracy was obtained with a 6-dimension MCS in multiclass classification for milk from different udders of a mastitis infected cow, including samples diluted 50-fold, in addition to milk from an infected cow treated with Bronopol and from a healthy cow. It is significant that in a ternary classification with these crude milk samples, a 2-dimension MCS could distinguish between milk from an infected cow, treated with Bronopol and from a healthy cow with 100 % accuracy. The combination of electronic tongues and machine learning – as in this proof-of-concept study - is promising for diagnosis of mastitis at a low cost.

Preparation and Performance Evaluation of X-ray-Shielding Barium Sulfate Film for Medical Diagnosis Using PET Recycling and Multi-Carrier Principles

The use of disposable containers and packaging materials has increased due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the generation of plastic waste is also increasing, and research on recycling such waste is being actively conducted. In this study, an X-ray-shielding film for medical diagnosis was manufactured by mixing a radiation-shielding material and a plastic waste-based polymer material and its effectiveness was evaluated. The film, which is intended as a fabric for a shielding garment, consists of barium sulfate (BaSO4) shielding nanoparticles embedded in a matrix of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a commonly available waste plastic material. A particle-dispersing technology, which can improve the ratio between the shielding and matrix materials while maintaining the tensile strength of the film, was studied. Therefore, to increase the content of the barium sulfate (BaSO4) nanoparticles used as the shielding material, this multi-carrier method—under which the particles are dispersed in units of time—was developed to improve the shielding performance. Compared with the effectiveness of lead (Pb) shielding film, the 3 mm barium sulfate film developed in this study satisfies the lead equivalent of 0.150 mmPb when stacked in two layers. Therefore, a shielding film was successfully manufactured by using plastic waste as a polymer resin and barium sulfate, an eco-friendly radiation-shielding material, instead of lead.

On the interaction of turbulence with nucleation and growth in reaction crystallisation

The objective of this work is to investigate the interaction of turbulence with the nonlinear processes of particle nucleation and growth that occur in reaction crystallisation, also known as precipitation. A validated methodology for coupling the population balance equation with direct numerical simulation of turbulent flows is employed for simulating an experiment conducted by Schwarzeret al.(Chem. Engng Sci., vol. 61, no. 1, 2006, pp. 167–181), where barium sulphate nanoparticles are formed by mixing and reaction of barium chloride and sulphate acid in a T-mixer, with the spatial resolution resolved down to the Kolmogorov scale. A unity Schmidt number is assumed, since at present it is not possible to resolve the Batchelor scale for realistic Schmidt numbers (order of 1000 or more). The probability density function, filtered averages and spatial distribution of time and length scales are all examined in order to shed light on the interplay of turbulence and precipitation. Separate Damköhler numbers are defined for nucleation and growth and both are found to be close to unity, indicating that the process is neither mixing nor kinetics controlled. The nucleation length scales are also evaluated and compared with the Kolmogorov scale to show the importance of resolving nucleation bursts. In addition, zones of different rate-determining mechanisms are identified. The ultimate aim of precipitation is to obtain control over the product particle size distribution, and the present study elucidates the synergistic or competing roles of mixing, nucleation and growth on the process outcome and discusses the implications for modelling.