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The efficient degradation of organic effluent is always desirable when using advanced photocatalysts with enhanced activity under visible light. Nickel-doped indium oxide (Ni-In2O3) is synthesized via a hydrothermal route as well as its composites with reduced graphene oxide (rGO). Facile synthesis and composite formation methods lead to a well-defined morphology of fabricated nanocomposite at low temperatures. The bandgap energy of indium oxide lies in the range of 3.00–4.30 eV. Its high light absorption capacity, high stability, and non-toxicity make it a choice as a photocatalyst that is active under visible light. The transition metal Ni-doping changes the indium oxide's chemical, optical, and physicochemical properties. The Ni-In2O3 and rGO composites improved the charge transport and reduced the charge recombination. The phase analysis of the developed photocatalysts was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the morphological and structural properties were observed using advanced microscopic techniques (SEM and TEM), while UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopic techniques were used to confirm the structure and optical and chemical properties. The electrochemical properties of the photocatalysts were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and the charge-transfer properties of the obtained photocatalysts and the mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation mechanism of methylene blue, a common dye used in the dyeing industry, were determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is the most common cause of mortality worldwide. There is dire need of modern strategies—such as surface modification of nanocarriers—to combat this global illness. Incorporation of active targeting ligands has arisen as a novel platform for specific tumor targeting. The aim of the current study was to formulate PEG-protamine complex (PPC) of doxorubicin (DOX) for treatment of breast cancer (BC). DOX coupling with PEG can enhance cell-penetrating ability: combating resistance in MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. Ionic gelation method was adopted to fabricate a pH sensitive nanocomplex. The optimized nanoformulation was characterized for its particle diameter, zeta potential, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, crystallinity, and molecular interaction. In vitro assay was executed to gauge the release potential of nanoformulation. The mean particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) of the optimized nanoparticles were observed to be 212 nm, 15.2 mV, and 0.264, respectively. Crystallinity studies and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed no molecular interaction and confirmed the amorphous nature of drug within nanoparticles. The in vitro release data indicate sustained drug release at pH 4.8, which is intracellular pH of breast cancer cells, as compared to the drug solution. PPC loaded with doxorubicin can be utilized as an alternative and effective approach for specific targeting of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study was to develop PEGylated protamine letrozole nanoparticles to combat human breast cancer by modifying the release pattern of letrozole. Breast cancer is amongst the most prevalent diseases in women due to overactivity of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). PEG-protamine letrozole nanoparticle formulation was designed and optimized to alter the release pattern of the drug. The size, morphology, and structure of PEG-protamine letrozole NP were characterized by FTIR, XRD, Zetasizer, and SEM analysis. The result showed the PEG-protamine letrozole nanoparticles were irregular in shape and have size ranging from 258 nm to 388 nm, polydispersity index 0.114 to 0.45, zeta potential of 11.2 mV, and entrapment efficiency 89.93%. XRD studies have confirmed that the crystal structure of letrozole has become amorphous. The drug release study maintained the prolonged release for 72 hours. Moreover, the PEG-protamine letrozole NPs displayed a strong anticancer action compared to MCF-7 cells with an IC50 70 μM for letrozole and 50 μM for PEG-protamine letrozole NPs. Overall, our results indicate that letrozole PEG-protamine NPs alter the release profile of letrozole, which could be an excellent approach for overcoming letrozole resistance in human breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the current study is extraction and isolation of bergenin from Bergenia ciliata and fabrication of pH-sensitive Eudragit® L100 (EL100) polymeric nanoparticles (NP) to tackle limitations of solubility. Bergenin-loaded EL100 nanoparticles (BN-NP) were fabricated via nanoprecipitation and an experimental design was conducted for optimization. A reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the quantitation of bergenin. The optimized nanoformulation was characterized by its particle size, morphology, loading capacity, entrapment efficiency, drug–excipient interaction and crystallinity. An in vitro assay was executed to gauge the release potential of pH-sensitive nanoformulation. The mean particle size, zeta potential and polydispersity index (PDI) of the optimized nanoparticles were observed to be 86.17 ± 2.1 nm, −32.33 ± 5.53 mV and 0.30 ± 0.03, respectively. The morphological analysis confirmed the spherical nature of the nanoparticles. Drug loading capacity and entrapment efficiency were calculated to be 16 ± 0.34% and 84 ± 1.3%, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies unfolded that no interaction was present between the drug and the excipients in the nanoformulation. Crystallography studies revealed that the crystalline nature of bergenin was changed to amorphous and the nanoformulation was stable for up to 3 months at 40 °C. The present study confirms that bergenin isolation can be scaled up from abundantly growing B. ciliata. Moreover, it could also be delivered by entrapment in stimuli-responsive polymer, preventing the loss of drug in healthy tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protozoa, helminths and ectoparasites are the major groups of parasites distributed worldwide. Currently, these parasites are treated with chemotherapeutic antiprotozoal drugs, anti-helminthic and anti-ectoparasitic agents, but, with the passage of time, resistance to these drugs has developed due to overuse. In this scenario, nanoparticles are proving to be a major breakthrough in the treatment and control of parasitic diseases. In the last decade, there has been enormous development in the field of nanomedicine for parasitic control. Gold and silver nanoparticles have shown promising results in the treatments of various types of parasitic infections. These nanoparticles are synthesized through the use of various conventional and molecular technologies and have shown great efficacy. They work in different ways, that include damaging the parasite membrane, DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) disruption, protein synthesis inhibition and free-radical formation. These agents are effective against intracellular parasites as well. Other nanoparticles, such as iron, nickel, zinc and platinum, have also shown good results in the treatment and control of parasitic infections. It is hoped that this research subject will become the future of modern drug development. This review summarizes the methods that are used to synthesize nanoparticles and their possible mechanisms of action against parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The internal steam reforming of methane (CH 4) on conventional solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) anode (nickel-yttria stabilized zirconia or Ni-YSZ) offers significant advantages compared to the external reforming process. However, the technology is currently facing some major issues such as coking and oxidation of anode during operation. Here we report a low-temperature sinterable catalyst, Ce 0·77 Ni 0·2 Mn 0·03 O 2-δ (CNMnO), applied on top of Ni-YSZ to perform the steam reforming reaction. A single cell with CNMnO/Ni-YSZ/YSZ/GDC/LSC configuration produces a peak power density of 492 mW cm−2 in wet hydrogen and 371 mW cm−2 in wet methane, at 600 °C. The cell also shows exceptional durability against Ni oxidation when tested in wet methane under 0.2 A cm−2 for 100 h. The improved performance and durability of the catalyst layer has been attributed to the nanosized precipitated Ni and Mn particles distributed on the surface of individual CNMnO particles. • Severe oxidation of pure Ni-YSZ anode occurs in 67% H 2 O/33% CH 4. • CNMnO reforming layer eliminates Ni oxidation during SOFC operation in methane. • CNMnO produces high power density and shows excellent durability. • CNMnO is promising catalyst for internal steam reforming of methane in SOFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of dental caries has been largely consonant over time despite the enhancement in dental technologies. This study aims to produce novel GIC restorative material by incorporating TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by Bacillus subtilis for the treatment of dental caries. The TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by inoculating a fresh culture of Bacillus subtilis into a nutrient broth for 24 h, which was then characterized by XRD, DRS, FTIR, AFM, SEM, TEM and EDX. These TiO2 nanoparticles were incorporated in GIC restorative material at different concentrations (0–10% TiO2 -GIC) and were tested for their mechanical properties in a universal testing machine. The XRD analysis revealed synthesis of anatase and rutile-phased TiO2 nanoparticles with a particle size of 70.17 nm that was further confirmed by SEM and TEM analysis. The EDX spectrum indicated prominent peaks of titanium and oxygen with no impurities in the prepared material. Treatment with 5% TiO2 -GIC proved to be most effective for the treatment of dental caries with no observable cytotoxic effect. An increase in the compressive strength of TiO2 nanoparticle-reinforced GIC was observed as the concentration of the TiO2 nanoparticles was increased up to 5%; subsequently, the compressive strength was lowered. An increase in the flexural strength was observed in GIC containing 0%, 3% and 5% TiO2 nanoparticles sequentially. Based on the results, it can be concluded that Bacillus subtilis-derived TiO2 nanoparticles have excellent potential for developing next generation of restorative materials for dental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide range of applications of nanoparticles (NPs) in various industries have led to serious consequences in terms of teratogenic toxicity. The aim of current work was to evaluate the teratogenic effects of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles in albino mice.In this experimental study, after mating, inseminated 40 female mice were divided randomly into 4 pools (1 control and 3 experimental), ten each. Doses were administered intravenously (We followed the protocol by Yaqub et al. (2018), intravenous application is faster route as compared to oral dosage)to all the experimental groups on the 6th day of gestation (GD), dose concentrations were 200, 133.3 and 100 mg/kg body weights respectively.The doses were prepared in sequence (1/2, 1/3, 1/4 0f LD50) according to already published work. The effects of CuO-NPs show linear relationship with the above sequence. The control group was administered only with distilled water.The gravid females were sacrificed through cervical disruption at the 18th day of gestation, fetuses were removed and divided into four sets (pools) for morphometric, morphological and histological studies. Data were subjected to statistical analysis by using Tukey's test in light of ANOVA at p < 0.05 level of significance. Findings of the present study showed that CuO-NPs various concentrations affect developmental abnormalities i.e.runt embryos, resorbed uteri, exencephaly, hygroma, macroglossia, micromelia, open eye, omphalocoel, scoliosis, kyphosis and kinked tail. It is concluded that exposure to CuO-NPs may potentially lead to the developmental deformities in mice. Fig 1 Bird eye view of the whole experimental philosophy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium (V) buildup in soil has raised severe global concerns about food safety and environmental contamination. In recent years, development of nanotechnology has exhibited tremendous potential in enhancing crop quality and yield by reclamation of soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs). In this study, we investigated the potential of silicone oxide nanoparticles (SiONPs) to mitigate V stress in cucumber plants through the regulation of cellular oxidative repair processes. A greenhouse experiment finding demonstrated that SiONPs supplementation at 150 mg kg−1 considerably increased cucumber plant growth characteristics, such as fresh weight (21.62 %) and dry weight (23.67 %), compared to the V-treated plants. SiONPs supplementation improved photosynthesis and leaf gas exchange metrics, indicating increased photosynthetic efficiency. Furthermore, the supplementation of 150 mg kg−1 SiONPs resulted in heightened levels of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (17.13 %), catalase (45.94 %) ascorbate peroxidase (32.24 %), and peroxidase (61.25 %), which potentially serve a critical function in the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the mitigation of oxidative stress induced by V. The application of SiONPs altered the expressions of genes associated with stress and antioxidant defense as well as significantly inhibited the V deposition in plants. In conclusion, results demonstrated that SiONPs possess considerable promise as a sustainable, ecologically friendly, and non-toxic substitute for mitigating V toxicity in cucumber plants. [Display omitted] • Vanadium (V) stress inhibited the cucumber growth. • Silicon oxide nanoparticles (SiONPs) supplementation reduces V-accumulation and improve plant growth. • SiONPs improves root growth and photosynthesis efficiency under V stress. • SiONPs restricts V-aided oxidative stress and activates the plant defense system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviews the importance of gelatin, nanoparticles and their interactions in the formulation of biodegradable composite films. Gelatin is widely used in packaging because of its unique characteristics, i.e., film-forming ability and barrier properties. However, high moisture sensitivity and hydrophilic nature of gelatin restrict its application in food packaging. Therefore, gelatin is used in the formulation of composite films with better functional and barrier properties for food packing. The incorporation of nanoparticles (NPs) in gelatin film-forming solution improves the mechanical, thermal, barrier and optical characteristics of gelatin composite films. Furthermore, this review compiles the functional properties of gelatin extracted from different sources and functional characteristics of gelatin composite films incorporated with different NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study reports advanced, ecofriendly and biosynthesized silver NPs for diverse biomedical and environmental applications using Flammulina velutipes as biosource. In the study, a simple aqueous extract of F. velutipes was utilized to reduce the AgNO3 into stable elemental silver (Ag0) at a nanometric scale. The NPs had average size of 21.4 nm, spherical morphology, and were highly stable and pure. The characterized nanoparticles were exploited for a broad range of biomedical applications including bacteriocidal, fungicidal, leishmanicidal, in vitro antialzheimer's, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and biocompatibility studies. Our findings showed that F. velutipes mediated AgNPs exhibited high activity against MDR bacterial strains and spore forming fungal strains. All the tested urinary tract infection bacterial isolates, were resistant to non-coated antibiotics but by applying 1% of the synthesized AgNPs, the bactericidal potential of the tested antibiotics enhanced manifolds. The NPs also exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxic potential against Leishmania tropica with significant LC50 of 248 μg ml−1 for promastigote and 251 μg ml−1 for amastigote forms of the parasite. Furthermore, promising antialzheimer and antidiabetic activities were observed as significant inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butrylcholineterase (BChE) were noted. Moreover, remarkable biocompatible nature of the particles was found against human red blood cells. The biosynthesized AgNPs as photocatalyst, also resulted in 98.2% degradation of indigo carmine dye within 140 min. Owing to ecofriendly synthesis, biosafe nature and excellent physicochemical properties F. velutipes AgNPs can be exploited as novel candidates for multifaceted biomedical and environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Zr4+-Y3+ substituted hexaferrite nanoparticles were successfully synthesized using sol-gel citrate precursor method. • Structural, magnetic and electromagnetic attenuation properties were investigated in detail. • Optimum reflection loss of -32. 27 dB at 6.43 GHz was observed for the composition of Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Fe 11.61 Zr 0.35 Y 0.03 O 19. Novel compositions of Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 Fe 12-1.1x Zr x Y 0.1x O 19 (0.0≤x≤0.5) nanoparticles were synthesized using sol-gel citrate precursor method. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of magneto-plumbite hexagonal phase with average crystallite size of 55-70 nm. The fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy revealed the presence of metal cations vibrational modes in 460-600 cm−1 range. The Zr-Y contents influenced magnetic behavior and shielding properties with maximum total shielding effectiveness of -31 dB in K band, and -21 dB in X-band, observed for x=0.35. The microwave absorption studies revealed optimum reflection losses with maximum value of -32 dB at 6.4 GHz frequency for x=0.35. The obtained values validate the candidacy of Zr-Y substituted Ba-Sr hexaferrite nanoparticles for uninterrupted airborne surveillance, radar absorption and high frequency shielding applications. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This research aimed at developing an eco-efficient ECC with MK, SF and GNPs. • Embodied carbon and eco-strength efficiency optimal mix proportion was developed. • 10% SF and MK optimum for low carbon and mechanically strong ECC mixture. • 0.02% to 0.03% GNP concentration improved mechanical characteristics. Engineering cementitious composites are designed to offer high ductility, enhanced strength, and enhanced impact resistance as rehabilitation materials for various support structures and equipment. ECC is an inventive material for construction with tensile strain hardened properties and multiple fracture behaviors, which is highly encouraged in the construction industry. The objective of this study was to create an eco-efficient engineered cementitious composite (ECC) with binary systems of cement with metakaolin (MK) and silica fume (SF) and an optimized dosage of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). To optimize mixture proportion, an experimental design was developed using the response surface method. We analyzed the compressive strength, split tensile strength, flexural strength, dried density, embodied carbon, and eco-strength efficiency of the optimal mixture proportion to determine its mechanical properties and low-carbon footprint. Results analysis showed a total of 10% content of SF and MK is optimum for an eco-friendly (low carbon profile) and mechanically strong ECC mixture. If it exceeds 10%, the mechanical strength of the composite decreases. Furthermore, 0.02% to 0.03% GNP concentration improved mechanical characteristics even further. According to the results of the multi-objective optimization, the optimal values for the variables Mk, SF, and GNPs are 9.19%, 4.83%, and 0.03%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this article is to analyze the comparative study of five water base nanofluids. Nanofluids are comprised of titanium oxide or titania (TiO 2 ), aluminum oxide or alumina (AL 2 O 3 ), copper oxide (CuO), copper (Cu) and silver (Ag) and water (H 2 O). Unsteady flow between two sheets is analyzed. Upper sheet is squeezed towards lower one while lower stretching sheet exhibits porous character. Thermal radiation, applied magnetic field, viscous dissipation and Joule heating effects are accounted. Entropy generation is also evaluated. Second law of thermodynamics is implemented for the entropy generation. Partial differential equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations by transformation procedure. Ordinary differential equations system is numerically solved by NDSolve technique. Influences of flow parameters on velocity, temperature, entropy generation and Bejan number are examined in graphs. Numerical results for skin friction and Nusselt number are tabulated. The obtained results show that velocity decays for larger values of magnetic parameter and porosity while it is enhanced through squeezing parameter. Temperature is an increasing function of Eckert number, magnetic parameter, squeezing parameter and nanoparticles volume fraction. Entropy generation is increased with thermal radiation, Prandtl number, volume fraction and Eckert number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When nanoparticles encounter a biological fluid, proteins, lipids, and other biomolecules adsorb on the nanoscale surface consequently leading to the evolution of a protein shell or "corona." The corona formed is dynamic in nature and depends on the "synthetic identity" of the NPs, ultimately affecting their biological response. In this paper, an integrated microfluidic platform coupled with an electrical resistance measurement setup is developed to monitor and investigate the real‐time formation of a biomolecular corona of carbon nanoparticles. "Soft" and "hard" corona formation stages are effectively discriminated based on their nanoscale surface chemistries when combined with a time‐frequency tool known as wavelet transform and machine‐learning techniques. Additionally, the corona and its composition are studied using different techniques such as dynamic light scattering, nanoparticle tracking analysis, zeta potential, excitation–emission profiles, 1D sodium dodecyl polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequently, liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry analysis. The dynamic setup can eventually be used as a valuable tool for screening of any nanoparticles formulations with distinct surface chemistries for the purpose of reduced protein adsorption/weaker protein corona formation and consequently enhance the success of targeted drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the huge number of multi‐drug resistant (MDR) bacteria requires an alternative to the drugs. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are a strong candidate for this due to their bactericidal properties, which can be better concluded by understanding their morphology and chemistry. The study hypothesised that AgNPs synthesised using leaves of Syzygium cumini can be used to treat locally emerging MDRs forming biofilms on indwelling medical devices. Synthesised particles were characterised by methods like UV–visible spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Zetasizer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high‐performance liquid chromatography were used to predict phytochemicals present in the leaves. The shape of particles is revealed to be relatively spherical, with average size to be around 10–100 nm. Phenolic compounds are attributed to the formation of nanoparticles, stability analysis shows particles to be stable, and zeta potential determined the surface charge to be −20.1 mV. Biosynthesised particles are found to possess efficient antibacterial activity MDR bacteria developing biofilms in medical devices; hence, it is concluded that S. cumini based NPs can be used to develop a layer on implant‐related medical devices. Toxicity evaluation against A594 cancer cells portrays AgNPs to be potential tumour reduction agents in a concentration‐dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arabinoxylan (AX) is a natural biological macromolecule with several potential biomedical applications. In this research, AX, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2) based polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated by the freeze-drying method. The physicochemical characterizations of these polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds were performed for surface morphology, porosity, swelling, biodegradability, mechanical, and biological properties. The scaffolds exhibited good porosity and rough surface morphology, which were efficiently controlled by TiO 2 concentrations. MC3T3-E1 cells were employed to conduct the biocompatibility of these scaffolds. Scaffolds showed unique biocompatibility in vitro and was favorable for cell attachment and growth. PNS3 proved more biocompatible, showed interconnected porosity and substantial mechanical strength compared to PNS1, PNS2 and PNS4. Furthermore, it has also showed more affinity to cells and cell growth. The results illustrated that the bioactive nanocomposite scaffold has the potential to find applications in the tissue engineering field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic contamination with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) can cause toxicity in target organisms that are directly exposed to them. Oxidative stress and tissue alterations are potential endpoints of Ag-NPs toxicity. We determined whether garlic oil can ameliorate the effects of toxicity induced by amine-coated and spherical Ag-NPs in 100 ± 5 g freshwater rohu Labeo rohita. The stock fish were placed in tanks with continuous water supply. There were three treatments and a control group, each with three replicates comprising five fish each. The treatments were: garlic only, Ag-NPs only, and garlic plus Ag-NPs. The Ag-NPs (30 mg/L) was supplied in water, whereas garlic oil (50 µl/kg) was given to the fish through a prepared feed. The treatment duration was 28 days. In the control and garlic oil treatment there were no observed alterations in fish. The Ag-NP treatment initiated inflammation and necrosis in hepatic parenchyma, which resulted in venous congestion. Garlic oil treatment reduced vascular congestion in hepatic tissues. Ag-NPs also induced cellular vacuolization and the build-up of a yellow pigment. Inflammatory gill filament cartilage and lamellae were observed, as were swelling and collapse of lamellae, accumulation of macrophages, and necrosis and fusion of secondary lamellae in gill sections of Ag-NP-treated fish. Garlic oil ameliorated these changes, although some alterations like fused secondary lamellae, separation between the epithelium and lamellae, and accumulation of macrophages were still recorded in gill sections of garlic-treated fish. Garlic oil increased the activity of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione) and caused a reduction in lipid peroxidation and/or MDA content. Furthermore, garlic oil treatment also improved measured hematologic parameters. This study confirms the role of garlic as a natural antioxidant for the amelioration of oxidative stress and histological and hemotologic changes in fish exposed to Ag-NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNP) are delivery systems for controlled drug delivery at tumor sites. The superior biocompatible properties of lipids and structural advantages of polymers can be obtained using this system for controlled drug delivery. In this study, cisplatin-loaded lipid-chitosan hybrid nanoparticles were formulated by the single step ionic gelation method based on ionic interaction of positively charged chitosan and negatively charged lipid. Formulations with various chitosan to lipid ratios were investigated to obtain the optimal particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and controlled release pattern. Transmission electron microscope and dynamic light scattering analysis demonstrated a size range of 181–245 nm and a zeta potential range of 20–30 mV. The stability of the formulation was demonstrated by thermal studies. Cytotoxicity and cellular interaction of cisplatin-loaded LPHNP were investigated using in vitro cell-based assays using the A2780 ovarian carcinoma cell line. The pharmacokinetics study in rabbits supported a controlled delivery of cisplatin with enhanced mean residence time and half-life. These studies suggest that cisplatin loaded LPHNP have promise as a platform for controlled delivery of cisplatin in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of alginate/chitosan complex coating on the delivery of resveratrol encapsulated in zein particles. Resveratrol-loaded zein (RZ) particles had a particle size of ∼72 nm, ζ-potential of +15.01 mV and encapsulation efficiency >70%. RZ particles were coated with alginate/chitosan (Alg/Chi) complex layer at various polysaccharide concentrations. RZ-Alg/Chi spherical particles had the smallest size of 160.9 nm and ζ-potential of +43.01 mV at the concentration of either polysaccharide being 0.02%. FTIR and XRD results confirmed a change in the physical state of resveratrol from crystalline to amorphous and formation of the alginate/chitosan complexes. The Alg/Chi coating did not affect encapsulation efficiency of resveratrol but did improve the photostability, sustained release and bioaccessibility of resveratrol. Released resveratrol decreased to 31% after gastric digestion, while the polyphenol bioaccessibility increased to 81%. Therefore, zein-alginate/chitosan particles could be the potential delivery system for polyphenols. • Size and ζ-potential of RZ particles with 0.02% Alg/Chi were 160.9 nm and +43.01 mV, respectively. • Resveratrol >70% was encapsulated in RZ and RZ-Alg/Chi particles. • Alg/Chi improved photostability, release and bioaccessibility of resveratrol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tungsten oxide (WO 3) is a potential material in catalysis, sensors, electrochromic devices, etc. In this research work, porous WO 3 thin films are prepared on FTO-glass employing spin coating of WO 3 nanoparticle's ink modified with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the concentration range of 0 to 25.0 wt%. This study explored the change in structure and morphology of WO 3 thin films with varying PVA concentration in ink composition and their effect on the ability to intercalate and de-intercalate Li+ ions as a function of applied bias. The wettability of ink on FTO-glass improved by raising its PVA content. All WO 3 thin films exhibited a monoclinic structure. Scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the porosity of WO 3 thin films gradually increased with increasing PVA concentration up to 25 wt% but the thin film became highly nonuniform at a very high concentration of additive. WO 3 thin film prepared with ink having 10 wt% of PVA had optimum porosity and uniformity, therefore, yielded better electrochemical performance compared with all other samples. The addition of an optimum amount of PVA to ink is found to be an effective approach to modulating ink's characteristics and inducing porosity in thin films which eventually improves their redox reaction characteristics. • The addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the nanoparticles ink is effective to incorporate porosity in WO 3 thin films. • The addition of PVA to ink improves its wetting characteristics on FTO-glass. • The WO 3 thin films with 10 wt% PVA exhibited optimal porosity and uniformity to allow easier extraction and insertion of Li+ ions upon applying bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorafenib is the only approved targeted agent against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It has several limitations predominantly poor aqueous solubility and hepatic first-pass effect that limits its oral delivery leading to low bioavailability, large inter-subject variability, narrow therapeutic window and side effects. Tosylate is used to improve its solubility, which is practically insoluble in water (60 µg/mL) so problems with sorafenib solubility persist. To improve the paharmacokinetic profile, minimize the side effects, and targeting drug to the tumor tissues, several polymeric nano-formulations are being evaluated. In this comprehensive review, various reported polymeric nano-delivery systems for sorafenib are comprehensively covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) have been strongly integrated into diverse technological applications due to its nano-size, good chemical stability, super hardness, thermal conductivity and biocompatibility. Agglomeration and non-uniform distribution of DNPs in different matrices are the two main concern problems which limits its wide spread applications. Herein, our present research work demonstrated a comparative study of ball milling and acid treatments of functionalization DNPs through surface modification with carboxylic acid and amid functional groups. The dispersion measurement showed that ball mill treated DNPs is uniform and homogeneously dispersed in dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) rather than as-received and acid treated DNPs. Furthermore, the use of various weight percentages of acid and ball mill functionalized DNPs in epoxy resin showed that 0.2 wt% is the optimum amount which revealed the highest ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, Young's modulus and energy to break values of the nanocomposites. The comparative analysis showed that ball mill treatment of functionalization significantly enhanced the mechanical performances of epoxy resin more effectively than acid treatment thus demonstrated the importance of ball milling technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present article addresses the comparative study for flow of five water based nanofluids. Flow in presence of Joule heating is generated by rotating disk with variable thickness. Nanofluids are suspension of Silver ( A g ), Copper ( C u ), Copper oxide ( C u O ), Aluminum oxide or Alumina ( A l 2 O 3 ), Titanium oxide or titania ( T i O 2 ) and water. Boundary layer approximation is applied to partial differential equations. Using Von Karman transformations the partial differential equations are converted to ordinary differential equations. Convergent series solutions are obtained. Graphical results are presented to examine the behaviors of axial, radial and tangential velocities, temperature, skin friction and Nusselt number. It is observed that radial, axial and tangential velocities decay for slip parameters. Axial velocity decays for larger nanoparticle volume fraction. Effect of nanofluids on velocities dominant than base material. Temperature rises for larger Eckert number and temperature of silver water nanofluid is more because of its higher thermal conductivity. Surface drag force reduces for higher slip parameters. Transfer of heat is more for larger disk thickness index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material science has always played a vital role in the evolution of provisions for humans. Exfoliation of stable 2D graphene layer has motivated intense research in nanomaterials in the past few years. 2D materials have exceptional electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. Advancement of research regarding 2D sheets largely depends on the ability to synthesize nanosheets of various materials and size as well as to assemble/ incorporate these sheets into complex architecture, i.e. polymeric composites (Potts et al. in Polymer 52:5-25, 2011). Different synthesis routes of 2D nanosheets like liquid exfoliation, dry exfoliation and chemical vapour deposition will be discussed. (Nicolosi et al. in Science 340:1226419, 2013). We will also review the impact of 2D filler loading on electrical and mechanical properties of different polymer matrix (Mittal et al. in J Ind Eng Chem 21:11-25, 2015). Various applications of 2D polymeric nanocomposites in different fields such as electronic devices, textile industry, photovoltaic modules, thermoelectric devices, photo-detecting devices, field-effect transistors, energy storage, sensor and biomedical applications will be highlighted in this research article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and diamond nanoparticles (DNPs) reinforced carbon foam composites were prepared by the direct pyrolysis of MWCNTs, DNPs and mesophase coal tar pitch mixture. The effect of additive amounts on the microstructure and properties of carbon foams were studied. Significant impacts on the microstructure of carbon foams were observed after the incorporation of additive amounts. Whereas, the additive behavior of MWCNTs and DNPs were further investigated in terms of adsorption, mechanical and thermal properties. The results shows that the nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) metal ions adsorption tendency increases with the increase of MWCNTs and DNPs contents. The maximum adsorption percentage of 84.6 and 86.9% was observed for carbon foam containing 2 wt% MWCNT-DNPs loading for Ni and Cd ions respectively. Furthermore, the compressive strength and thermal conductivity of the carbon foams were enhanced with the increase of additives amounts. Maximum improvement of 19.22 MPa in the compressive strength and 37.46 W/m K at 800 °C of thermal conductivity was revealed by carbon foam composite containing 4 wt% MWCNT-DNPs additive amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Over the past decade, there have been many successful attempts at artificially reproducing the surface structures found on natural superhydrophobic surfaces. The researchers have been working to mimic the nature by inducing superhydrophobic properties into a variety of material surfaces so that they exhibit non-wetting and self-cleaning properties. The superhydrophobic surfaces exhibits the water contact angles greater than 150° and roll-off angle less than 10°. Many diverse applications have been found in the fields, such as space, textiles, marine, defense, automotive, biomedical applications and engineering, sensors, apparels, and so on. This review paper is about the theories, fundamentals and recent developments in the field of superhydrophobic surfaces and their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years nanotechnology has become increasingly important in almost every field. The new and improved physical, chemical and biological properties of material at nanoscale have far reaching implications in the fields of science and technology. Nanoparticles' effect on various plant species must be investigated to develop a comprehensive toxicity profile for nanoparticles. The current study strives to evaluate the effects of nine types of metal nanoparticles including monometallic and bimetallic alloy nanoparticles [Ag, Au, Cu, AgCu (1:3), AgCu (3:1), AuCu (1:3), AuCu (3:1), AgAu (1:3), AgAu (3:1)] on seed germination, root and shoot growth and biochemical profile of Silybum marianum plant. Seed germination was greatly affected and increased significantly upon treatment with nanoparticles' suspensions and was recorded highest for Ag nanoparticle suspension. Metal nanoparticles also had a significant effect on the biochemical profile of S. marianum. For the first week, the effect on DPPH, total phenolics content, total flavonoids content, total protein content, peroxidase activity and superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced, but declined as the time progressed. Among the nanoparticles being used, the effect of Ag nanoparticle was mostly enhancing. The results obtained are significant in mapping the effects of different monometallic and bimetallic nanoparticles on medicinal plant species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co and Ni substituted znic ferrite nanoparticles (Zn 1− x Co 0.5 x Ni 0.5 x Fe 2 O 4 ) (0.00≤ x ≥0.75) were synthesized by co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the single phase spinel structure. The lattice constant decreased with the increased Co and Ni contents. The bulk density was found less as compared to the X-ray density and this difference was explained in terms of porosity. The crystallite size was calculated by Scherrer's formula and found in the range 20–50 nm. Two prominent stretching bands were observed in FTIR spectra around 400–600 cm −1 . These two bands confirmed the spinel structure of the prepared nanoparticles. The saturation magnetization was found to increase upto x =0.60 from 1.31 emu/g to 81.2 emu/g then it decreased for x =0.75 to the value of 75.1 emu/g. The coercivity and retentivity were found in the range 35.36–226.125 Oe and 0.0135–19.8 emu/g, respectively. Dielectric parameters were decreased with the increased Ni–Co contents. About nine fold increase in the DC-electrical resistivity was obtained for the Zn 0.25 Co 0.375 Ni 0.375 Fe 2 O 4 (2.8979×10 10 Ω cm) as compared to the ZnFe 2 O 4 (0.2974×10 10 Ω cm) nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dy 3+ and Fe 3+ co-doped LaCoO 3 perovskite nanoparticles were prepared by chemical co-precipitation route. Structural elucidation was carried out by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The data of all these characterization techniques confirmed the orthorhombic phase with particles size in the range of 20–60 nm. The magnetic parameters, DC-resistivity and dielectric properties were measured for La 1− x Dy x Co 1− y Fe y O 3 nanoparticles. The purpose of all these application studies was to evaluate the prepared materials for practical applications. The substitution of Dy 3+ and Fe 3+ with La 3+ and Co 3+ respectively greatly influenced the magnetic, DC-resistivity and dielectric parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-precipitation method was used to synthesize the nanoparticles of cobalt substituted zinc–magnesium ferrites having formula “Mg 0.6−0.5 x Zn 0.4−0.5 x Co x Fe 2 O 4 ” where 0.00 ≤ x ≤ 0.25 . Fabricated samples were annealed at 750 °C for 6 h. The cubic spinel structure of Mg 0.6−0.5 x Zn 0.4−0.5 x Co x Fe 2 O 4 nanocrystals was confirmed by Fourier transformed infra-red (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Lattice parameter, crystalline size, cell volume, X-ray density, bulk density and porosity were also determined using XRD data. Lattice parameter exhibits overall decreasing trend (0.824–0.817 nm) with cobalt content; it is due to the substitution of cobalt (having smaller ionic radii) with magnesium and zinc ions. Cation distribution among A and B sites were studied by FTIR spectrum. Vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM) was used to investigate magnetic properties of as prepared nanoparticles. Coercivity exhibits the inverse relation to crystalline size. Lowest value of coercivity (47.722 Oe) was obtained for the sample having x =0.15. Dielectric constant, dielectric loss and dielectric tan loss were inversely related with the frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient sonophotocatalytic degradation of reactive blue 19 (RB 19) dye was successfully carried out using sulfur-doped TiO 2 (S-TiO 2 ) nanoparticles. The effect of various treatment processes that is sonolysis, photolysis, catalysis, sonocatalysis, photocatalysis, and sonophotocatalysis were investigated for RB 19 removal. S-TiO 2 were synthesized in 1, 3 and 5 wt.% of sulfur by sol–gel process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), UV–Visible diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The results confirm anatase phase of TiO 2 , porous agglomerate structure, and a red shift in the absorbance spectra of S-TiO 2 . The dye degradation was studied by using UV–Vis spectrophotometer at λ max = 594 nm. The reaction parameters such as pH, catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, ultrasonic power and effect of sulfur doping in different weight percent were studied to find out the optimum degradation conditions. Optimum conditions were found as: S-TiO 2 = 5 wt.%, catalyst (S-TiO 2 5 wt.%) = 50 mg, RB 19 solution concentration = 20 mg L −1 , pH = 3, ultrasound power = 100 and operating temperature = 25 °C. The response of 5 wt.% S-TiO 2 was found better than 1 and 3 wt.% S-TiO 2 and other forms TiO 2 . The sonophotocatalysis process was superior to other methods. During this process the ultrasound cavitation and photocatalysis water splitting takes place which leads to the generation of OH. As reveled by the GCMS results the reactive blue 19 (20 mgL −1 ) was degraded to 90% within 120 min. The S-TiO 2 sonophotocatalysis system was studied for the first time for dye degradation and was found practicable, efficient and cost effective for the degradation of complex and resistant dyes such as RB19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fig. 1. Effect of the volume fraction of NPs on the mechanical properties of NP-GrFs under uniaxial tension. (a) The stress-strain relation of NP-GrFs with varied volume fractions: v f = 0, 2%, 16%, 30% and 42%; (b) The modulus and strength of NP-GrFs as a function of v f as well as their respective fitting curves. [Display omitted] Nanoparticle-contained graphene foams (NP-GrFs) have been widely concerned and used in many practical applications in recent years. However, the mechanical property and its micro-mechanism of such a new composite material are still poorly understood. In this work, a coarse-grained NP-GrFs model is established to systematically study the mechanical response of NP-GrFs under uniaxial tension as well as the size and volume fraction effects of nanoparticles. It is found that both the initial modulus and tensile strength depend on the size and volume fraction of NPs, both of which can increase by almost an order of magnitude. Furthermore, when the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases, the strain hardening phenomenon occurs. Two main enhancing mechanisms are found. One is the increased adhesion between neighbor sheets by NPs and the other is the homogenized stress due to the extrusion of NPs. The present results should be useful not only for understanding the microstructure-determined mechanical properties of NP-GrFs but also for the design of advanced functional materials or devices based on GrFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles typically have dimensions of less than 100 nm. Scientists around the world have recently become interested in nanotechnology because of its potential applications in a wide range of fields, including catalysis, gas sensing, renewable energy, electronics, medicine, diagnostics, medication delivery, cosmetics, the construction industry, and the food industry. The sizes and forms of nanoparticles (NPs) are the primary determinants of their properties. Nanoparticles' unique characteristics may be explored for use in electronics (transistors, LEDs, reusable catalysts), energy (oil recovery), medicine (imaging, tumor detection, drug administration), and more. For the aforementioned applications, the synthesis of nanoparticles with an appropriate size, structure, monodispersity, and morphology is essential. New procedures have been developed in nanotechnology that are safe for the environment and can be used to reliably create nanoparticles and nanomaterials. This research aims to illustrate top-down and bottom-up strategies for nanomaterial production, and numerous characterization methodologies, nanoparticle features, and sector-specific applications of nanotechnology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are successfully employed in human food, drugs, cosmetics, advanced medicine, and dentistry because of their non-cytotoxic, non-allergic, and bio-compatible nature when used in direct close contact with the human body. These NPs are the most versatile oxides as a result of their acceptable chemical stability, lower cost, strong oxidation properties, high refractive index, and enhanced aesthetics. These NPs are fabricated by conventional (physical and chemical) methods and the latest biological methods (biological, green, and biological derivatives), with their advantages and disadvantages in this epoch. The significance of TiO2 NPs as a medical material includes drug delivery release, cancer therapy, orthopedic implants, biosensors, instruments, and devices, whereas their significance as a dental biomaterial involves dentifrices, oral antibacterial disinfectants, whitening agents, and adhesives. In addition, TiO2 NPs play an important role in orthodontics (wires and brackets), endodontics (sealers and obturating materials), maxillofacial surgeries (implants and bone plates), prosthodontics (veneers, crowns, bridges, and acrylic resin dentures), and restorative dentistry (GIC and composites). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel matrix was electrodeposited on a conducting substrate from nickel Watts's bath having priorly dispersed graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) to produce GNPs-Ni composite coatings. It was found, by atomic force microscopy, that addition of GNPs improved the hardness as well as the roughness of the coatings in proportion to the GNPs addition. While observing the torn surfaces under scanning electron microscope, pure nickel coatings showed a pure ductile behavior but as the volume of GNPs is increased, the torn surfaces showed nearly brittle behavior as for the 0.4 wt.% GNPs composites. The electrochemical and thermo-mechanical analysis showed 0.2 wt.% GNPs' addition as optimum concentration with highest corrosion resistance and strain recovery in comparison to other compositions. The corrosion rate of nickel matrix was best inhibited by 0.2 wt.% GNPs addition due to the uniform dispersion and dense structure overall. The thermomechanical analysis at 473 K temperature showed highest strain recovery rate for the 0.2 wt.% GNPs composites due to homogeneous dispersion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A plant mediated, green and cost effective route was utilized for synthesis of pure and Ni-doped Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Brassica rapa leaf extract. Optical, structural and morphological properties of prepared nanoparticles were affirmed through UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The synthesized ZnO-NPs represented hexagonal phase with crystallite size of 27.48 nm and were irregular in shape. The existence of functional groups was explored using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of the prepared nanoparticles was verified against a gram positive bacteria Micrococcus luteus and a gram negative bacteria Enterobacter aerogenes which confirmed that ZnO-NPs are efficient antibacterial agents. In addition, the prepared nanoparticles were applied on wheat and pearl millet seeds to investigate their effect on germination. It was observed that there was an appreciable enhancement in seed germination of seeds after treated with the synthesized ZnO-NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of Al3+ substituted NiAl x Fe 2-x O 4 (0.0 = x ≤ 0.5) nanoparticles was synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation route. The effect of Al3+ ions doping was investigated in terms of structural, degradation, magnetic and electrical properties of the nanoparticles (NPs). The XRD patterns confirmed the formation of the spinel cubic phase. FT-IR spectra revealedtwo consistent absorption bands indicating the intrinsic stretching vibrations of O2- Fe3+ around 591-615 cm−1 and 416-428 cm−1 bond lengths for tetrahedral and octahedral sites respectively. The magnetic properties decrease as the concentration of Al3+ increases. The decrease of magnetic parameters can be explained by the difference between magnetic moments of Al3+ and Fe3+ cations. Maxwell-Wagner model of space charge polarization was utilized to explain the dielectric properties with frequency. The increasing dielectric losses indicated the suitability of synthesized NPs for microwave absorption, telecommunication, electronics and other high frequency applications. The dependence of dielectric properties on grains and grain boundaries was further investigated via impedance spectroscopy and complex electric modulus. The study of photo-degradation efficiency of NPs was performed using organic methylene blue dye. The results showed satisfactory degradation with maximum degradation efficiency of 84.45% for NPs with composition NiAl 0·5 Fe 1·5 O 4. • Al3+ substituted Ni ferrite NPs were successfully synthesized. • Octahedral and Tetrahedral site vibrations were confirmed via FT-IR spectroscopy. • AC conductivity and dissipation factor showed significant reduction. • NPs showed satisfactory degradation of methylene blue dye with 84%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• NiO nanoparticles were synthesized by onion extract (green synthesis) as well as by quercetin (chemical method. • The comparative study shows that quercetin solution works as reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of NiO NPs. • The synthesized compounds were characterized by using XRD, U/V/Vis spectroscopy, SEM and EDX. • NiO nanoparticles were used against bacterial strains. • Remarkable antibacterial activity of NiO nanoparticles. In this article the NiO nanoparticles were synthesized by onion extract (green synthesis) as well as by quercetin (chemical method) which were synthesized successfully. Quercetin is one of the major phytochemical of red onion which was studied separately (as chemical) and in onion extract for the synthesis of NiO NPs. The comparative study shows that quercetin solution works as reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of NiO NPs meanwhile extraction of onion works in the same way. The characterization techniques as like XRD, UV/Vis spectroscopy, SEM and EDX were used, which shows that the synthesis results of chemical method was better than green synthesis. Antibacterial activity was done through disc diffusion method to observe the sensitivity of bacterial (Staph. Aureus, E.coli) strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticles have been shown to inhibit major life cycle stages of ticks, indicative of the promising application of nanomaterials against hard ticks. The study thus probed into one of the alternative options to curtail Hyalomma by employing nanocomposites consisting of pyrethroids (cypermethrin and deltamethrin) coated nanoparticles of iron oxides and iron sulfides keeping alongside the evaluation of their toxicity through plant and mammalian cell lines. The nanoparticles used in this study were roughly spherical in morphology and exhibited various size dimensions upon characterization using SEM, EDX, and FTIR. The application of nanomaterials on female ovipositioning tick showed a decline up to 15% (females ovipositioned) in deltamethrin-coated FeO NPs, whereas this decline was up to 18% in Cyp-FeS NPs and up to 5% in Cyp-FeO NPs. Similarly, the larval hatching was also impacted, leading to a hatching percentage of 5% and only 1% by application of Cyp-FeS NPs and Cyp-FeO NPs, respectively. Similarly, the larval groups had LC90 of 4.1 and 4.73 mg/L for the Cyp-FeO NPs and Cyp-FeS NPs groups. The delta-FeO NPs and delta-FeS NPs demonstrated a promising effect against adult ticks, showing LC50= 3.5 mg/L, LC90= 6.7 mg/L and LC50= 3.8 mg/L, LC90= 7.9 mg/L, respectively. MTT assay revealed that the pyrethroids coupled with iron oxide nanoparticles showed the least cytotoxicity even at the highest concentration (10–1 µL) among other nanomaterials. The study thus concluded a safer spectrum of non-target effects of pyrethroids-coated nanomaterials in addition to their significant anti-tick activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different plants can be used to prepare nanoparticles. This is termed as green technology. It is one of the best ecofriendly and low-cost method for the preparation of nanoparticles which has no harmful effects. PbO nanoparticles were prepared by green method using leaf extract of Datura Sternum plants. The preparation of Lead oxide was confirmed by color change from colorless to yellowish brown. UV–Visible peak obtained at 250 nm and XRD study clarified the formation of PbO NPs. These PbO nanoparticles were then applied for the preparation of Nano Composite Polymer Membranes (nCPMs). PbO-PVC nCPMs were prepared based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) polymer and PbO filler with the help of solution casting method, using cyclohexanone as a solvent. Different percentage (5–35%) of filler was used. The physiochemical parameters studied were viscosity, water uptake (WU), perpendicular swelling (DT) in deionized water, density, porosity (ε), morphology, ion adsorption capacity (IAC) and electrical conductivity (σ). The values of all these parameters except viscosity and conductivity were increased on increasing filler percentage. Viscosity of the nCPMs solution was decreased from 171 to 46.21. The conductivity of nCPMs was first increased upto 25% filler and then decreased. The deformation in PVC structure was increased on enhancing PbO amount. The values of Density, porosity, water uptake, DT and IAC were found in range 1.15–5.02, 0.50–0.87, 72.01–141.30, 0.012–0.11, and 3.13 × 107–8.60 × 107 respectively. Unlabelled Image • PbO nanoparticles were prepared by green method and was confirmed by color change from colorless to yellowish brown. The UV-Visible and XRD study clarified the formation of PbO NPs. • PbO-PVC nCPMs (Lead oxide-polyvinyl chloride nanocomposite polymer membrane were prepared using solution casting method and were investigated for physiochemical parameters. • The values of water uptake, perpendicular swelling, density, porosity, ion adsorption capacity, were increased except viscosity and conductivity on increasing filler percentages in the composites. • The deformation in PVC structure was increased on enhancing PbO amount. The values of Density, porosity, water uptake, DT and IAC were found in range 1.15 -5.02, 0.50- 0.87, 72.01-141.30, 0.012-0.11, and 3.13 x 107-8.60 x 107 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia is a key concern during the treatment of tumors, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) has been associated with increased tumor resistance to therapeutic modalities. In this study, doxorubicin-loaded oxygen nanobubbles (Dox/ONBs) were synthesized, and the effectiveness of drug delivery to MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and HeLa cells was evaluated. Dox/ONBs were characterized using optical and fluorescence microscopy, and size measurements were performed through nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The working mechanism of Dox was evaluated using reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, and cellular penetration was assessed with confocal microscopy. Hypoxic conditions were established to assess the effect of Dox/ONBs under hypoxic conditions compared with normoxic conditions. Our results indicate that Dox/ONBs are effective for drug delivery, enhancing oxygen levels, and ROS generation in tumor-derived cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the effect of gas-phase fluorination concurrent with nano-Al 2 O 3 doping on space charge distribution, as well as trap level and density of epoxy resin, is investigated. Epoxy resins with different concentrations of Al 2 O 3 nano-fillers (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt%) are prepared and fluorinated by a gas mixture of F 2 /N 2 (20/80 v/v) for 30 min at 40 °C and 0.05 MPa. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the breakage of molecular-chain during the gas-phase fluorination process. The space charge behavior is observed by the pulsed electroacoustic (PEA) method before and after fluorination. PEA results indicate that 30-minute fluorination is useful against space charge injection into the bulk of epoxy resin/Al 2 O 3 nanocomposites. The trap density and trap energy level distribution are determined by isothermal surface potential decay (ISPD) measurement. The results indicate that fluorination introduces shallow traps on the surface, which can increase the conductivity of surface, and, thus, the trap depth is considerably reduced after fluorination. Moreover, it is found that incorporating 1 wt% nano-Al 2 O 3 particles into epoxy resin can level up the energy level of deep traps. However, further increasing the nano-Al 2 O 3 concentration, e.g., 3 and 5 wt%, promises the overlap of interaction zones between polymer matrix and nanoparticles, reducing the trap energy level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects the joints and can lead to significant disability. RA may affect other parts of the body, leading to various issues including damage to the joints, deformity, disability, and reduced mobility. The pathogenesis of RA involves a complex interplay between genetic, environmental and immunological factors. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis typically reduces inflammation, manages pain, stiffness and prevents joint damage. However, these medications have several side effects no single therapeutic remedy directly targets the disease. Researchers in the field are focused on developing new treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects as well as understanding the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Some areas of current research include the use of nanotechnology such as cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for the treatment of RA as well as the development of new biologic drugs that target specific molecules involved in inflammation. The use of cell membrane-coated nanoparticles for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has several potential benefits including targeted drug delivery, reduced inflammation, improved safety and biocompatibility, and reduced frequency of administration. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and limitations of this approach to develop effective cell membrane coated nanoparticle-based therapies for RA. In this review cell membrane-coated nanoparticles may become valuable for numerous biomedical problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is categorized as a grade IV astrocytoma by the World Health Organization (WHO), representing the most aggressive and prevalent form of glioma. It presents a significant clinical challenge, with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of various nanotherapy approaches for GBM and explores future directions in tumor management. Nanomedicine, which involves nanoparticles in the 1–100 nm range, shows promise in improving drug delivery and targeting tumor cells. (2) Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of databases including Google Scholar, NCBI PubMed, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to identify clinical trials on GBM and nanomedicine. The primary outcome measures were median overall survival, progression-free survival, and quality of life assessed through Karnofsky performance scores. The safety profile was assessed by adverse events. (3) Results: The analysis included 225 GBM patients, divided into primary and recurrent sub-populations. Primary GBM patients had a median overall survival of 6.75 months, while recurrent GBM patients had a median overall survival of 9.7 months. The mean PFS period was 2.3 months and 3.92 months in primary GBM and recurrent GBM patients, respectively. Nanotherapy showed an improvement in quality of life, with KPS scores increasing after treatment in recurrent GBM patients. Adverse events were observed in 14.2% of patients. Notably, Bevacizumab therapy exhibited better survival outcomes but with a higher incidence of adverse events. (4) Conclusions: Nanotherapy offers a modest increase in survival with fewer severe side effects. It shows promise in improving the quality of life, especially in recurrent GBM patients. However, it falls short in terms of overall survival compared to Bevacizumab. The heterogeneous nature of treatment protocols and reporting methods highlights the need for standardized multicenter trials to further evaluate the potential of nanomedicine in GBM management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The current investigation interprets the flow and the thermal characteristics of the ternary nanofluid composed of MoS 2, ZnO, and SiO 2 spherical nanoparticles and water. The resulting nanofluid is M o S 2 − ZnO − S i O 2 − ( H 2 O + E G ) where ( H 2 O + E G ) act as the base fluid which help in the flow and the nanoparticles contribute to enhancing the heat conductivity. The flow is assumed to occur across a thin needle whose surface is maintained at a higher temperature than the surroundings. The mathematical model is framed by incorporating radiation introduced by Rosseland in terms of partial differential equations (PDE). This system of equations governs the flow and thermal properties of fluid which are converted to a system of ordinary differential equations (ODE). The major outcomes of the study indicated that the increase in the amount of molybdenum disulfide enhanced the heat conducted by the nanofluid whereas it reduced the flow speed. The positive values of the heat source/sink parameter caused the heat conduction of the nanofluid to go high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate cost affordable and robust HER and OER catalysts with significant low overpotentials, we have successfully embedded FeCoSe2 spheres on smooth surfaces of graphitic carbon nitride that demonstrated high stability and electrocatalytic activity for H2 production. We systematically analyzed the composition and morphology of FexCo1−xSe2/g-C3N4 and attributed the remarkable electrochemical performance of the catalyst to its unique structure. Fe0.2Co0.8Se2/g-C3N4 showed a superior HER activity, with quite low overpotential value (83 mV at −20 mA cm−2 in 0.5 M H2SO4) and a current density of −3.24, −7.84, −14.80, −30.12 mA cm−2 at 0 V (vs RHE) in Dulbecco's Phosphate-Buffered Saline (DPBS), artificial sea water (ASW), 0.5 M H2SO4 and 1 M KOH, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, these are the highest reported current densities at this low potential value, showing intrinsic catalytic activity of the synthesized material. Also, the catalyst was found to deliver a high and stable current density of −1000 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of just 317 mV. Moreover, the synthesized catalyst delivered a constant current density of −30 mA cm−2 for 24 h without any noticeable change in potential at −0.2 V. These attributes confer our synthesized catalyst to be used for renewable fuel production and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the synthesis of iron molybdate [Fe2(MoO4)3] nanoparticles (NPs) using simple co-precipitation process. The catalyst synthesized was characterized by advanced instrumental techniques such as XRD, SEM, EDX, TGA and FTIR, which confirmed the successful synthesis of NPs. Organic compound Rhodamine B (Rh. B) dye was selected for photo-degradation due to its complex structure and carcinogenic nature. Results exhibited that at neutral pH, the synthesized catalyst is highly effective for the degradation of Rh. B. For 20 mg/L initial concentration with an initial pH of 6.7, the degradation efficiency of Rh. B reaches 98 % within 180 min. Furthermore, the solution pH (1 to 11) affects the catalytic activity. This indicates that at neutral and/or alkaline pH, the usage of iron molybdate overwhelms the efficiency of Fenton-like reaction. It has been observed that Fe2(MoO4)3 showed excellent stability as after recycling it for 9 times its performance remained effective. Based on these data, the synthesized catalyst could be conveniently employed for degradation of toxic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoextracts modulated synthesis of nano‐scaled spherical lanthanum oxide nanoparticles (La2O3 NPs) are reported using the aqueous extracts of Hyphaene thebaica as a bioreducing and chelating agent. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern revealed sharp peaks and single‐phase purity. The Debye–Scherrer approximation indicated an average crystallite size of 37 nm, whereas W‐H plot revealed a crystallite size of 59 nm, complemented by the high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM). The infrared spectroscopy revealed characteristic La‐O band at 426 and 648 cm−1. K‐M function revealed the bandgap of 5.6 eV, whereas broad intense emission peaks between 345 and 750 nm. The Raman spectra revealed peaks at 182, 325, 384, and 491 cm−1. Elemental composition was confirmed using energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum, and the spotty rings from selected area electron diffraction (SAED) indicated the crystalline nature of the HT‐La2O3 NPs. In addition, the HT‐La2O3 NPs were investigated for in vitro antioxidant, anticancer, antiangiogenic, and cytotoxic potentials. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was highest, that is, 49.54 ± 0.88% at 1000 μg/mL. MTT assay on MCF‐7 and 3T3 cell lines revealed a median lethal concentration of 114 and 43 μg/mL, respectively. The antiangiogenic effect examined by chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay indicated inhibition of 57.14 ± 0.96% at 1000‐μg/mL concentration with an IC50 of 551 μg/mL. IC50 for the brine shrimp lethality assay was 314.2 μg/mL. Our study indicates cytotoxicity of HT‐La2O3 NPs, and it further concluded that HT‐La2O3 NPs were more potent against 3T3 cells as compared with MCF‐7 cells. Further research on the biological synthesis and anticancer studies are recommended for the large‐scale applications of the La2O3 NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]