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In this study, electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/titanium dioxide nanocomposite membranes were fabricated and characterized. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed an increase in absorbance of vibrational peaks of poly(ε-caprolactone) as the titanium dioxide nanoparticle concentration was increased. From the X-ray diffraction spectra, it was observed that the incorporation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles does not affect the crystalline structure of the poly(ε-caprolactone); instead, the degree of crystallinity has been increased significantly. However, at higher concentrations of titanium dioxide nanoparticles, crystallinity was decreased to a lower value. Differential scanning calorimeter thermograms have also confirmed this tendency. Finally, efficacy of gentamicin-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/titanium dioxide nanocomposite membranes against a wound isolate of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureushas been evaluated. The results demonstrated that poly(ε-caprolactone)/titanium dioxide nanocomposite membranes can synergistically act with gentamicin to inhibit the growth of methicillin-resistantS. aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices have been utilized for the sensing of chemical and biological phenomena in microscale for the past few decades. In this study, SAW device was fabricated by electrospinning poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF−TrFE)) incorporated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles over the delay line area of the SAW device. The morphology, composition, and crystallinity of P(VDF−TrFE)/ZnO nanocomposites were investigated. After measurement of SAW frequency response, it was found that the insertion loss of the SAW devices incorporated with ZnO nanoparticles was much less than that of the neat polymer-deposited device. The fabricated device was expected to be used in acoustic biosensors to detect and quantify the cell proliferation in cell culture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study we have investigated the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on the fiber diameter, fiber morphology, antibacterial activity, and enhanced cell proliferation of the electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) non-woven membrane. The effect of the ZnO nanoparticle concentration on the fiber diameter and fiber morphology was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis was carried out to determine the nature of the interaction between the PCL and the ZnO nanoparticles. We also investigated the mechanical stability and antibacterial activity of the fabricated material. Interestingly, the membranes with ZnO nanoparticles showed enhanced mechanical stability, antibacterial properties, fibroblast proliferation, and improved metabolic activity of the cells. Further, this is the first report regarding the ability of a biomaterial containing ZnO nanoparticles to enhance cell proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying nanotechnology to deliver drug could result in several benefits such as prolong duration of action, enhancement in overall bioavailability, targeting to specific site, low initial loading dose require, systemic stability enhancement etc. Halloysite is one of those clay minerals showing maximum effectiveness when consider as a nano drug carriers for different kind applications. Here, we have used norfloxacin as the model drug for loading into halloysite nanotube (HNT) for its anti-bacterial activity. Norfloxacin was loaded into halloysites by vacuum operation and sonication. The nanotubes were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy, water absorption studies, cytotoxicity studies, antimicrobial studies and in vitro diffusion studies. SEM, FT-IR and XRD analysis data showed that the norfloxacin was successfully loaded into nanotubes. TEM analysis confirmed loading of norfloxacin in halloysites' lumen. The halloysite/chitosan nanocomposites were prepared by solvent casting and freeze-drying method. SEM analysis revealed compact and rugged surface of nanocomposites due to existing norfloxacin loaded halloysite. FTIR and XRD confirmed formation of nanocomposite. The nanocomposites showed good antimicrobial effect and good biocompatibility in cytotoxicity study. The in-vitro release studies revealed that halloysite/chitosan nanocomposites were able to sustain the drug release. Also, the nanocomposites were stable in various humidity conditions. Therefore, all the outcomes suggest that the prepared nanocomposites can provide enhanced therapeutic benefits and they can be very potential nano vehicle for sustaining drug delivery. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 /graphene nanocomposite for electromagnetic wave absorption was successfully synthesized from metal chlorides solutions and graphite powder by a simple and rapid microwave-assisted polyol method via anchoring the Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles on the layered graphene sheets. The Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+ ions in the solutions were attracted by graphene oxide obtained from graphite and converted to the precursors Fe(OH) 3 , Co(OH) 2 , Ni(OH) 2 , and Mn(OH) 2 under slightly alkaline conditions. After the transformations of the precursors to Co-Ni-Mn ferrites and conversion of graphene oxide to graphene under microwave irradiation at 170 °C in just 25 min, the Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 /graphene nanocomposite was prepared. The composition and structure of the nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductive coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy (RS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), etc. It was found that with the filling ratio of only 20 wt% and the thickness of 2.3 mm, the nanocomposite showed an ultra-wide effective absorption bandwidth (less than −10 dB) of 8.48 GHz (from 9.52 to 18.00 GHz) with the minimum reflection loss of − 24.29 dB. Compared to pure graphene sheets, Co 0.33 Ni 0.33 Mn 0.33 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles and the counterparts reported in literature, the nanocomposite exhibited much better electromagnetic wave absorption, mainly attributed to strong wave attenuation, as a result of synergistic effects of dielectric loss, conductive loss and magnetic loss, and to good impedance matching. In view of its thin thickness, light weight and outstanding electromagnetic wave absorption property, the nanocomposite could be used as a very promising electromagnetic wave absorber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]