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One of the biggest global threats to contemporary medicine and society at large is antibiotic resistance, which is also one of the least understood by professionals and the general public. Emerging crystalline materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOF) find extensive uses in biomedical engineering. Because of their excellent stability, and high porosity, MOFs are useful platforms for designing a variety of disinfectant agents against some pathogenic microbes that causing serious diseases. In this work, the effective hydrothermal synthesis of MIL-101(Cr) as a MOF substance was the main focus of originality and scientific value. Then, using a reduction-precipitation method, Fe2O3 material integrated the produced MOF structure. To synthesize the TiO2/Fe3O4/MIL-101(Cr) composite, we used a simple hydrothermal in situ growth technique. The XRD and HR-TEM analyses of the newly synthesized MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2 composite essentially confirmed its crystallinity and formation with the precise shape and size. Data clearly demonstrated that Candida albicans was the most susceptible organism to all three kinds of synthesized samples, with documented MIC values for MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2 at 62.5 µg mL− 1. Results further revealed that MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2 had the same MIC values of 62.5 µg mL− 1 against Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis. Positively, the amount of bacterial protein removed is directly proportional after increasing the concentration of MOF, MOF-Fe2O3, and MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2 and counted to be 99.89, 200.89, and 410.10 µg mL− 1 following the treatment with MOF, MOF-Fe2O3, and MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2, respectively. The promising results demonstrates the antibacterial features of the MOF-Fe2O3, and MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2 and describes the appearance of holes in the S. aureus membrane, which help in making the proteins bleed out from the S. aureus cytoplasm. Eventually, after irradiation with gamma dose (100.0 kGy), the potential antimicrobial activity of the synthesized MOF-Fe2O3/TiO2 was increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continued pollution, waste, and unequal distribution of the limited amount of fresh water on earth are pushing the world into water scarcity crisis. Consequently, development of revolutionary, cost-effective, and efficient techniques for water purification is essential. Herein, molten flux method was used for the preparation of micro-sized Al-doped SrTiO3 photocatalyst loaded with RhCr2O3 and CoOOH cocatalysts via simple impregnation method for the photo-assisted degradation of Congo red dye under UV and visible irradiation compared with P25 standard photocatalyst. In addition, photoelectrochemical analysis was conducted to reveal the separation and transfer efficiency of the photogenerated e−/h+ pairs playing the key role in photocatalysis. SEM and TEM analyses revealed that both P25 and the pristine SrTiO3 have spherical shapes, while Al-doped SrTiO3 and the sample loaded with cocatalysts have cubic shapes with a relatively higher particle size reaching 145 nm. In addition, the lowest bandgap is due to Al+3 ion doping and excessive surface oxygen vacancies, as confirmed by both UV–Vis diffuse-reflectance and XPS analyses. The loading of the cocatalysts resulted in a change in the bandgap from n-type (pristine SrTiO3 and Al-SrTiO3) into p-type (cocatalyst loaded sample) as exhibited by Mott–Schottky plots. Besides, the cocatalyst-loaded sample exhibited good performance stability after 5 cycles of the photocatalytic removal of Congo red dye. OH· radical was the primary species responsible for CR degradation as confirmed by experiments with radical scavengers. The observed performance of the prepared samples under both UV and visible light could foster the ongoing efforts towards more efficient photocatalysts for water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the detailed structural characterization of Zn2+ ion-substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFO NPs; Co1−xZnxFe2O4; x = 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75), prepared using a facile sol–gel method. It correlates structural changes with magnetic and dielectric properties. The as-synthesized samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, BET surface area analyzer, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Mössbauer spectroscopy, and impedance analyzer. The pristine sample (CFO) comprised of NPs with 25 nm size, which decreased up to 11 nm upon the formation of Zn0.75Co0.25Fe2O4. The N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm of the prepared Zn0.5Co0.5Fe2O4 sample confirmed the presence of a mesoporous structure. SEM images revealed that all prepared samples exhibited porous surface with honeycomb-like structures. The cationic distribution was described by Mössbauer spectra. The increment of Zn ions in the prepared samples resulted in sharp reduction of saturation magnetization and remanence values. The normal dielectric dispersion behavior was recorded and can be ascribed to the Maxwell–Wagner type polarization. Besides, the dielectric parameters varied by increasing Zn content in CFO NPs. This may be ascribed to O2 vacancies and Fe3+ ions in A- and B-sites. Dielectric studies revealed that, content of Zn ions beyond x = 0.25 was sufficient to reduce both dielectric constant and loss at low frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancers are a major challenge to health worldwide. Spinel ferrites have attracted attention due to their broad theranostic applications. This study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer activities of ebselen (Eb) and cerium-nanoparticles (Ce-NPs) in the form of ZnCexFe2−XO4 on human breast and colon cancer cell lines. Bioassays of the cytotoxic concentrations of Eb and ZnCexFe2−XO4, oxidative stress and inflammatory milieu, autophagy, apoptosis, related signalling effectors, the distribution of cells through the cell-cycle phases, and the percentage of cells with apoptosis were evaluated in cancer cell lines. Additionally, the antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential have been investigated against different pathogenic microbes. The ZOI, and MIC results indicated that ZnCexFe2−XO4; X = 0.06 specimen reduced the activity of a wide range of bacteria and unicellular fungi at low concentration including P. aeruginosa (9.5 mm; 6.250 µg/mL), S. aureus (13.2 mm; 0.390 µg/mL), and Candida albicans (13.5 mm; 0.195 µg/mL). Reaction mechanism determination indicated that after ZnCexFe2−xO4; X = 0.06 treatment, morphological differences in S.aureus were apparent with complete lysis of bacterial cells, a concomitant decrease in the viable number, and the growth of biofilm was inhibited. The combination of Eb with ZFO or ZnCexFe2−XO4 with γ-radiation exposure showed marked anti-proliferative efficacy in both cell lines, through modulating the oxidant/antioxidant machinery imbalance, restoring the fine-tuning of redox status, and promoting an anti-inflammatory milieu to prevent cancer progression, which may be a valuable therapeutic approach to cancer therapy and as a promising antimicrobial agent to reduce the pathogenic potential of the invading microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amniotic membrane (Amnio-M) has various applications in regenerative medicine. It acts as a highly biocompatible natural scaffold and as a source of several types of stem cells and potent growth factors. It also serves as an effective nano-reservoir for drug delivery, thanks to its high entrapment properties. Over the past century, the use of the Amnio-M in the clinic has evolved from a simple sheet for topical applications for skin and corneal repair into more advanced forms, such as micronized dehydrated membrane, amniotic cytokine extract, and solubilized powder injections to regenerate muscles, cartilage, and tendons. This review highlights the development of the Amnio-M over the years and the implication of new and emerging nanotechnology to support expanding its use for tissue engineering and clinical applications., (© 2021. The Author(s).)