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Understanding how the structure of molecules affects their permeability across cell membranes is crucial for many topics in biomedical research, including the development of drugs. In this work, we examine the transport rates of structurally similar triphenylmethane dyes, malachite green (MG) and brilliant green (BG), across the membranes of living Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells and biomimetic liposomes. Using the time-resolved second harmonic light scattering technique, we found that BG passively diffuses across the E. coli cytoplasmic membrane (CM) 3.8 times faster than MG. In addition, BG exhibits a diffusion rate 3.1 times higher than MG across the membranes of liposomes made from E. coli polar lipid extracts. Measurements on these two molecules, alongside previously studied crystal violet (CV), another triphenylmethane molecule, are compared against the set of propensity rules developed by Lipinski and co-workers for assessing the permeability of hydrophobic ion-like drug molecules through biomembranes. It indicates that BG's increased diffusion rate is due to its higher lipophilicity, with a distribution coefficient 25 times greater than MG. In contrast, CV, despite having similar lipophilicity to MG, shows negligible permeation through the E. coli CM on the observation scale, attributed to its more hydrogen bonding sites and larger polar surface area. Importantly, cell viability tests revealed that BG's antimicrobial efficacy is ∼2.4 times greater than that of MG, which aligns well with its enhanced diffusion into the E. coli cytosol. These findings offer valuable insights for drug design and development, especially for improving the permeability of poorly permeable drug molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Biowaste cinnamon stick was assessed as a sustainable sorbent. • MIL-125 and CMC were utilized for successfully enhancing CV adsorption. • Equilibrium studies were conducted 3 different temperatures. • q max of CMC/MIL-125@CS was calculated as 6750.58 mg/g. • CMC/MIL-125@CS reached equilibrium the fastest with minimum adsorbent dosage. In the current study, a biowaste cinnamon stick (CS) was used as an adsorbent and modified via in-situ techniques with titanium-based metal organic framework (MIL-125@CS) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC/MIL-125@CS). The prepared samples were characterized by various techniques, then utilized for toxic crystal violet (CV) dye removal. CV adsorption was examined for the effects of adsorbent dosage, solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, temperature and anion/cation/natural organic material (NOM). CV removal rate remarkably decreased at low pHs due to the degradation of CV and wavelength shift in the strongly acidic region. The kinetic and isotherm results showed that CMC/MIL-125@CS reached equilibrium much faster (30 min) and much higher adsorption capacity (6750.58 mg/g) than CS and MIL-125@CS. Furthermore, the samples were efficiently regenerated and reusable over five cycles, demonstrating significant adsorption rates. Functional material design approaches yielded superior CV adsorption performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the red Ixora coccinea flower, also known as jungle geranium, as an effective adsorbent for removing crystal violet (CV) from synthetic and industrial effluents. Characterization techniques such as FESEM, BET surface area, FTIR, and pHZPC reveal the particle structure and characteristics. The adsorption performance is evaluated using various physicochemical parameters, including temperature, concentration, pH, and contact time. The results indicate rapid adsorption, with 93.73% removal within 15 min and 97.63% at equilibrium after 30 min at neutral pH. The maximum adsorption capacity is 129.23 mg/g. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R2 = 0.999) confirms the chemisorption process, while the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.999) describes the adsorption pathway. Thermodynamic analysis indicates an exothermic and spontaneous process, with ∆H values between −59.43 and −46.51 kJ/mol and ∆G values from −8.63 to −5.67 kJ/mol. The spent adsorbent can be regenerated in up to 75.26% of cases using a 1:1 MeOH/H2O solution. Practical applications demonstrate effective CV removal in industrial wastewater (54.21%). This work highlights the potential of Ixora coccinea flower extract for both wastewater treatment and as a source of natural dye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although (Au or Ag)/TiO2 hybrid structures have been widely used for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection, nanostructured TiO2 still faces significant drawbacks of low response to visible light and the resulting poor Raman response. Template-annealing-assisted fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) petal-like Au/TiO2/Ni nanoarrays provides a way to realize ultrasensitive and reproducible SERS responses with super long-term stability for TiO2 in the visible-light region. Thermal annealing treatment of TiO2/Ni nanopillar arrays in an air atmosphere at high temperatures (particularly at 650 °C) brought about partial oxidation of Ni to NiO, transformation of amorphous TiO2 (a-TiO2) to non-stoichiometric TiO2−x, and a 3D petal-like morphology with a large specific surface area, which effectively increased visible-light absorption. Dense Au nanoparticles, ordered Ni nanoarrays, and the closely packed nanopetal-like morphology with numerous Raman active sites, as well as each component, including Au, Ni, TiO2−x, NiO, and a-TiO2, and their synergies, not only enabled the remarkable enhancement of surface plasmon resonance, but also strongly facilitated the photoinduced charge-transfer effect between the substrate and adsorbed molecules. 3D Au/TiO2/Ni nanopetal arrays exhibited an ultrasensitive and reproducible SERS response to rhodamine 6G (as low as 10−12 M) and crystal violet molecules (as low as 10−13 M) with super long-term stability (372 days) at 632.8-nm excitation. A lower concentration detection limit could be realized with precise regulation of the Au deposition thickness. This work presents a cost-effective and efficient alternative for optimizing the SERS performance of wide-bandgap oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green technology is gaining importance nowadays, it has become very important to synthesize various nanoparticles. This review mainly focuses on the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and shows their catalytic applications in the field of wastewater treatment. Plant-assisted synthesis of AgNPs has been documented by numerous studies. Plant-mediated synthesis has many advantages over conventional methods and is discussed comprehensively in this review. This critical review aims to help researchers to better understand and follow this rapid, cost-effective, and eco-friendly research area. Dye effluents in water bodies become a major environmental issue worldwide. This paper also offers a thorough understanding of the synthetic dyes such as Rhodamine B, Methylene Blue, Crystal violet, Methyl Orange, and Amido black 10B used in the textile industry, with a focus on the popular methods to degrade them from industrial wastewater, especially, chemical degradation, and photocatalytic dye degradation using silver nanoparticles and other Ag-systems. Additionally, the plausible mechanism involved in chemical and photocatalytic degradation was also provided. There are several review articles on all these topics, but such an in-depth study has not been investigated so far in the concerned research literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline CoTb y Fe 2-y O 4 (0 ≤ y ≤ 0.025) ferrites were prepared through the citrate-gel combustion method. X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of a single-phase spinel structure with crystalline sizes ranging between 19 and 48 nm. The experimental and theoretical lattice parameters correlated well and were found to be ranging between 8.510 and 8.367 Å. SEM images revealed a large aggregation of spherical-shaped nanoparticles with non-uniform shape and distribution. Magnetization measurements revealed the dependance of both M s , Mr, and H C with increasing Tb3+ content. The evolution of M S and H C upon reducing the measuring temperature indicates the thermal instability of the blocked magnetic moments, which increased for the different compositions. The dielectric properties obtained for CoTb y Fe 2-y O 4 as a function of frequency. The Tb-doped cobalt ferrite catalysts exhibit superior photocatalytic efficiency for crystal violet (CV) degradation as compared to cobalt ferrite nanoferrite catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current report, both response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) were employed to develop an innovative way for removing crystal violet (CV) from aqueous media using Haloxylon salicornicum (HS) as a cost‐effective, eco‐friendly adsorbent. HS was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The effects of operational parameters such as adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, and pH on HS were studied using a central composite design (CCD). A comparative analysis of the model findings and experimental measurements revealed high correlation coefficients (R2ANN = 0.994, R2RSM = 0.971), indicating both models accurately predicted HS. The predictive performance of the ANN and RSM models was evaluated using metrics such as mean absolute deviation (MAD), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), and the correlation coefficient (R2). The results indicate that the ANN model provides greater accuracy compared to the RSM model. The experimental data were analyzed using both linear and nonlinear forms of pseudo‐first and pseudo‐second order kinetic models (LPFO, NLPFO, LPSO, and NLPSO). Statistical error analysis was conducted to identify the best‐fitting kinetic or isotherm models for the adsorption data. The adsorption process of CV/HS was best described by NLPSO and LPSO. Additionally, the adsorption isotherms were analyzed using linear and nonlinear regression methods. The findings indicated that the linear Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms provided a more accurate fit compared to the nonlinear models, demonstrating greater effectiveness in accounting for the adsorption parameters. Thermodynamic investigations clearly demonstrate that the biosorption of CV is spontaneous and exothermic. This cost‐effective adsorbent is highly promising for treating textile wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aims to compare the antimicrobial activity of calcium hydroxide (CaOH) and zinc oxide (ZnO) when incorporated with other solutions such as 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 1% povidone-iodine (PVP-I), and sterilized distilled water (ddH 2 O) against Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods The materials were prepared by mixing CaOH and ZnO with other solutions (CHX, PVP-I, NaOCl, and ddH 2 O) separately. The antibacterial activity of CaOH and ZnO mixtures against E. faecalis was done by using disk diffusion assay (DDA). Twofold serial dilutions of the mixtures were used against E. faecalis to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. Biofilm inhibition of E. faecalis had been measured by using crystal violet assay. Statistical Analysis The quantitative data of this study had been analyzed by using two-way analysis of variance with software SPSS version 27. The result is considered as significant if the value of analysis is p- value less than 0.05. Results From the DDA results, the lowest zone of inhibition toward E. faecalis was CaOH-PVP-I (6.00 ± 0.00 mm), while the highest zone of inhibition toward E. faecalis was CaOH-CHX (22.73 ± 0.02 mm). Besides that, ZnO-PVP-I showed the lowest zone of inhibition (16.50 ± 0.06 mm), while ZnO-CHX showed the highest zone of inhibition (18.30 ± 0.08 mm) against E. faecalis. The MIC and MBC values of CaOH-CHX and ZnO-CHX were 0.78 and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively. In biofilm assay, CaOH-CHX and ZnO-CHX were reduced biofilm formation of E. Faecalis. Conclusion Both CaOH-CHX and ZnO-CHX showed the highest antimicrobial activities toward E. faecalis. CaOH and ZnO alone showed no antimicrobial activities against E. faecalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The mechanism of tannic acid (TA) intervention on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, USA 300) biofilm formation was explored using proteomics. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of TA against the MRSA standard strain USA 300 was determined by two-fold serial dilution of the microbroth. The effects of TA were studied using crystal violet staining. The morphology of TA-treated USA 300 cells was observed by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were screened using proteomic and biological information analyses, and their transcriptional levels were verified using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The MIC of TA was 0.625 mg/mL, whereas 1/2 MIC (0.3125 mg/mL) of TA significantly inhibited biofilm formation without affecting the bacterial growth (p < 0.01) and prevented the formation of a complete three-dimensional biofilm structure. Using 1/2 MIC of TA, 208 DEPs were identified, of which 127 were upregulated and 81 were downregulated. The transcriptional levels of the genes corresponding to five randomly selected DEPs (glnA, ribD, clpB, gap, and lukE) were consistent with the proteomics data (p < 0.05). Bioinformatic analysis showed that the changes in the MRSA strains after TA intervention primarily involved pyrimidine and purine metabolisms, arginine biosynthesis, and the citric acid cycle. Conclusion: TA exerts an antibacterial effect on MRSA and can be used as a potential candidate for the development of anti-biofilm drugs, thereby laying a foundation for the treatment of MRSA biofilm-induced infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technology has attracted more and more attention due to its high sensitivity, low water interference, and quick measurement. Constructing high-performance SERS substrates with high sensitivity, uniformity and reproducibility is of great importance to put the SERS technology into practical application. In this paper, we report a simple fabrication process to construct dense silver-coated PMMA nanoparticles-on-a-mirror SRES substrates. The electric field enhancement at the ultra-small metallic nanogap is further amplified by the silver mirror, which can achieve higher SERS intensity. The thickness of the PMMA layer was optimized so that the absorption peak can match the excitation wavelength, thus obtaining maximum SERS intensity. The optimized substrate possessed excellent SERS behavior for crystal violet (CV) molecules under 532 nm laser excitation, with a low detection limit of 10− 13 M. Moreover, SERS analysis was quantitatively achieved in the broad linear concentrations. The fabricated substrate demonstrated excellent uniformity and reproducibility with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 7.75% in peak intensities. The substrate also showed long-term stability, and it can be stored for 37 days with an acceptable SERS peak intensities. This proposed method will open up new possibilities to fabricate high-performance SERS sensors, which can be widely used for the practical application of chemical and biochemical sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to synthesise a novel adsorbent of poly(AMPS/HEMA)/TiO2/ZnO hydrogel nanocomposite by γ-irradiation polymerisation of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulphonic acid (AMPS) solution and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomer incorporated with TiO2/ZnO nanoparticles for potential use in the uptake of methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) dyes from wastewater. The effect of irradiation dose and AMPS/HEMA composition ratio on gel content (%) and swelling (%) were studied. From the results of the gel content (%) and swelling (%), the composition ratio AMPS/HEMA (80/20) and the dose of 15 kGy were selected for the preparation of the hydrogel nanocomposite. The properties of prepared materials were characterised by different analytical techniques. FTIR results proved the successful interaction of TiO2/ZnO nanoparticles within AMPS and HEMA chains. The SEM/EDS results proved the peaks corresponding to C, O, S, Zn, and Ti. XRD of nanocomposite indicated the peaks of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles. The factors affecting the uptake of MB and CV dyes were evaluated according to the impact of reaction time, pH, dye concentration, dosage, and temperature. The adsorption amount of MB and CV onto poly(AMPS/HEMA)/TiO2/ZnO hydrogel nanocomposite was fast time and effective for highly concentrated dye-bearing effluents. The uptake characteristics of the two dyes were similar. The ideal adsorption capacity of nanocomposite towards MB and CV dyes were 257.6 and 215.9 (mg/g) with a removal rate of 89.7% and 81.8%, respectively. The optimal conditions were pH 9 and 7, a reaction time of 70 min, dye concentration of 300 mg/L, and 0.3 g nanocomposite dosage. The adsorption process was chemisorption, endothermic and spontaneous. It is fitted with Langmuir isotherm and Pseudo-second-order models. Furthermore, the poly(AMPS/HEMA)/TiO2/ZnO nanocomposite supports the high capability for adsorption of binary MB/CV dyes mixture. The prepared hydrogel nanocomposite is a novel adsorbent for the uptake of dyes from wastewater with good recyclability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on removal of cationic crystal violet dye using Phyllanthus emblica fruit (PEF) powder (as an adsorbent) from wastewater. Operational parameters such as solution pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, dye concentration, as well as temperature were optimised. Results showed that maximum amount of dye, i.e. 84%, has been adsorbed at optimised condition employing particles of mesh sizes 510 µm, at 12 pH, adsorbent dose of 0.4 g, with contact time of 30 min, having dye concentration of 20 ppm at 20°C temperature. Characterisation of adsorbent was done by FTIR and SEM techniques which confirmed the involvement of carboxylic as well as hydroxyl functional groups in dye adsorption, and heterogeneous, highly porous surface (which were occupied after dye adsorption) of adsorbent which favours dye adsorption. Concentration and contact time data of study was applied to various isotherms and kinetic models respectively and investigation of the best fitted model of was carried out. It was found that Freundlich isotherm model (with $${{\rm{R}}^2}$$ R 2 = 0.986) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (with $${{\rm{R}}^2}$$ R 2 = 0.986) was best fitted to experimental data. Thermodynamic study revealed value of ΔG varied from −29.495 to-33.610 k $${\rm{Jmo}}{{\rm{l}}^{ - 1}}{\rm{ }}$$ Jmo l − 1 and ΔH was 6.175 k $${\rm{Jmo}}{{\rm{l}}^{ - 1}}$$ Jmo l − 1 confirming that the process was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Applicability of current procedure with tap water showed 74% results, and regeneration showed that nearly 79% of dye was desorbed, indicating the effectiveness of Phyllanthus emblica fruit (PEF) powder for adsorptive removal of crystal violet dye from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabricating of extremely effective, economical, ecologically safe, and reusable nanoparticle (NP) catalysts for the removal of water pollution is urgently needed. This study, spectroscopically optimizes the process parameters for the biogenic synthesis of AgNP catalysts using Cledrdendrum infortunatum leaf extract. The optimization of several synthesis parameters was systematically studied using UV–Vis spectroscopy to identify the ideal conditions for AgNPs formation. The AgNPs are spherical with a size of ~ 20 nm, pure and stable. Mechanistic insights into the biogenic synthesis process were explored. The photocatalytic performance of biogenic AgNPs was evaluated for the degradation of three common (crystal violet, thioflavin T, and methylene blue) dyes as models in ternary mixtures under the influence of sunlight. AgNPs show excellent photocatalytic efficiency in terms of degradation percentage (82.89–96.96% within 110 min), kinetics (0.0247–0.0331 min–1), half-life (20.96–28.11 min), and T80 (48.67–65.28 min) and also easily recovered and reused. Ecological safety assessment of the treated wastewater was assessed on the growths of rice, mustard, and lentil plants, and preliminary findings demonstrated that seedling growths for treated wastewater were nearly similar to the control sample but retarded in dye-contaminated wastewater suggesting potential use of treated wastewater for sustainable agriculture without compromising ecological balance. So, this study explores biogenic AgNPs as cost-effective, safe, and sustainable photocatalytic agents for the remediation of hazardous mix dyes and real-life applications of treated water for agricultural purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is part of the valuation of biomaterials abundant in nature; lichens (Xanthoria parietina) are part of this family. The lichens were heat-treated at different temperatures (60.80, 100, and 120°C) and characterised by different techniques (FTIR, SEM, and BET). These biomaterials have been used as biosorbents for two cationic dyes which are methylene blue and gentian violet. After optimisation of the parameters, the biosorption of these dyes was carried out at an adsorbent dose of 1 g/L, pH = 6, and a contact time at the equilibrium of 1 h. The adsorption kinetics perfectly follows the pseudo-second-order model as well as that of intraparticle diffusion. The adsorption isotherms of these two cationic dyes were carried out at 25, 40 and 60°C. The isotherms are of type L, they are well described by the Redlich Peterson model (R2 > 0.99) and a low mean error (E% ≤ 10%). The physisorption of methylene blue is generally non-spontaneous (∆G° > 0), exothermic (∆H° < 0), and ordered (∆S° > 0). On the other hand, the physisorption of gentian violet is generally spontaneous (∆G° < 0), endothermic (∆H° > 0), and disordered (∆S° < 0). After adsorption of methylene blue or gentian violet by the heat-treated lichens, a decrease in the intensities of the infrared bands characteristic of our materials was observed. The attenuation of these bands could be attributed to the coverage of our materials by the cationic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were fabricated at room temperature using Grewia asiatica leaf extract. Photocatalytic activity (degradation of organic dye) and biological activities (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic) of AgNPs were also unveiled. The optical and physicochemical properties of silver nanoparticles were characterised using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis, and Dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The green synthesis was justified using UV-visible spectroscopy. XRD confirmed the crystalline structure of AgNPs. The reducing and capping nature of leaf extract was explained by FTIR. The relative capping of AgNPs was studied using FESEM. The hydrodynamic size and polydispersity index of the fabricated silver nanoparticles were analysed using DLS. The photocatalytic activity of AgNPs was observed over crystal violet dye under visible light resulting in efficient removal. AgNPs were also employed to biological activities indicating good antibacterial activity (against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria), efficient anti-inflammatory activity, and excellent anti-arthritic activity. This work explains the various applications of AgNPs: an efficient photocatalyst as well as a biomedical weapon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic green adsorbents have been gaining importance in wastewater treatment field due to their versatile properties. In this study, a novel magnetic green adsorbent Zinc Ferrite-Rice Husk Silica (ZFN-RHS) composite has been prepared by extracting silica from rice husk. ZFN-RHS is characterised using variety of techniques which includes FESEM, FT-IR, XRD, BET, pHzpc and EDS. Effect of various parameters like time, concentration, pH, adsorbent amount and temperature was assessed using the batch adsorption method to remove cationic dyes (Methylene Blue and Crystal Violet) from aqueous solution in single as well binary dye solutions. Results showed that Lagergren pseudo-second order kinetic model best fitted with the adsorption data indicating chemisorption. In adsorption isotherm study, Freundlich as well as Langmuir adsorption isotherms fitted better than other isotherms. Maximum adsorption capacities for removal of CV and MB dyes in this study have been found to be 138.8 and 84.8 mg/g respectively. From the positive values of ΔH°, it has been observed that the process of removal of MB and CV from aqueous solution using ZFN-RHS was endothermic in nature and the negative ΔG° values confirmed the spontaneous nature of the process. Regeneration studies were also conducted with significant outcomes in five cycles. The research study revealed that ZFN-RHS can be used as an adsorbent to remove other cationic dyes also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing health problem. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen of major concern because of its multidrug resistance and global threat, especially in health-care settings. The pathogenesis and drug resistance of P. aeruginosa depends on its ability to form biofilms, making infections chronic and untreatable as the biofilm protects against antibiotics and host immunity. A major barrier to developing new antimicrobials is the lack of in vivo biofilm models. Standard microbiological testing is usually performed in vitro using planktonic bacteria, without representation of biofilms, reducing translatability. Here we develop tools to study both infection and biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa in vivo to accelerate development of strategies targeting infection and pathogenic biofilms. Methods: Biofilms were quantified in vitro using Crystal Violet staining and fluorescence biofilm assays. For in vivo assays, C. elegans were infected with P. aeruginosa strains. Pathogenicity was quantified by measuring healthspan, survival and GFP fluorescence. Healthspan assays were performed using the WormGazerTM automated imaging technology. Results: Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and P. aeruginosa reporters combined with in vivo imaging we show that fluorescent P. aeruginosa reporters that form biofilms in vitro can be used to visualize tissue infection. Using automated tracking of C. elegans movement, we find that that the timing of this infection corresponds with a decline in health endpoints. In a mutant strain of P. aeruginosa lacking RhlR, a transcription factor that controls quorum sensing and biofilm formation, we find reduced capacity of P. aeruginosa to form biofilms, invade host tissues and negatively impact healthspan and survival. Discussion: Our findings suggest that RhlR could be a new antimicrobial target to reduce P. aeruginosa biofilms and virulence in vivo and C. elegans could be used to more effectively screen for new drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The persistence of Acinetobacter baumannii in the contaminated environment is sustained by tolerance to biocides and ability to growth as biofilm. The aim of the study was to analyze the susceptibility of A. baumannii biofilms to chlorhexidine (CHX) and benzalkonium (BZK) biocides and the ability of natural monomeric stilbenoid resveratrol (RV) to modulate the phenomenon. Methods: Biofilm formation and preformed biofilm were tested by Crystal violet and tetrazolium salt reduction assay, respectively. Analysis of efflux pump (EP) expression during biofilm growth was performed by Real-time RT-PCR assays. Results: CHX and BZK at ¼ and ½ MICs alone or in combination inhibited biofilm growth of A. baumannii ATCC 19606, 4190, and 3909 strains. RV at 32 mg/L and CHX and BZK at ¼ or ½ MICs showed a synergistic effect and completely inhibited biofilm formation in all A. baumannii strains. Similarly, RV at 32 mg/L and CHX and BZK at ½ MIC significantly inhibited air-liquid biofilm formation of A. baumannii ATCC 19606, 4190 and 3909 strains. The inactivation of AdeB and AdeJ RND EPs in A. baumannii ATCC19606 increased the susceptibility to CHX and BZK alone or in the presence of 32 mg/L RV. Concordantly, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazine (CCCP) increased the susceptibility to CHX, BZK and RV and dose-dependently inhibited biofilm formation in A. baumannii ATCC 19606, 4190 and 3909 strains. RV at 32 mg/L inhibited basal and CHX-induced EP genes expression, while increased EP gene expression in the presence of BZK during A. baumannii ATCC19606 biofilm growth. In addition, CHX and BZK alone or in combination dose-dependently reduced preformed biofilm of all A. baumannii strains. The combination of RV with CHX and BZK additively decreased minimal biofilm eradicating concentrations in A. baumannii strains. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that: (i) CHX and BZK alone or in the presence of RV inhibit biofilm growth and preformed biofilm in A. baumannii ; (ii) tolerance to CHX and BZK during biofilm growth is dependent on the activation of AdeB and AdeJ EPs; and (iii) the inhibitory effect of RV on biofilm growth is mediated by the inhibition of EP genes expression in A. baumannii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosensitizing compounds are eco-friendly promising organic dyes for managing insect pests without facing the risk of resistance. The photodynamic efficacy of four Photosensitizing compounds (rose Bengal, rhodamine B, methylene blue and methyl violet) was monitored against the third larval instar of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), after exposure to sunlight. The LC50 values of the four compounds; rose Bengal, rhodamine B, methylene blue and methyl violet recorded 0.029 × 10–5, 0.24 × 10–5, 14.69 × 10–5 and 15.59 × 10–5 M, respectively. Therefore, rose Bengal was the most effective compound followed by rhodamine B, Methylene blue and methyl violet. Compared to similar previously documented photosensitizer compounds, these four tested compounds recorded higher mortality percentage. The effect of those compounds on the larval biochemical components was assessed by measuring larval spectral and thermal reflectance. Larvae fed on photosensitizing compounds showed distinct spectral reflectance patterns. Treated larvae had same reflectance manner; which were higher than that of control samples. Along the whole spectrum, the highest reflectance was after 60 min of exposure to sunlight in case of rose Bengal, rhodamine B and methylene blue. Methyl violet reflected sunlight mostly at zero time then the reflectance decreased after 30 min then increased again after 60 min. There was a noticeable absorption of IR wavelengths at ~ 1900, 1400, 1200 and 950 nm in all treated samples. Thermal imaging indicated abnormal larval warmth after treatment. Differences in reflectance were monitored immediately after feeding, confirming the speed and mode of action of those compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, copper carbonate/cobalt carbonate/manganese carbonate and copper oxide/cobalt manganese oxide/manganese oxide new nanocomposites were fabricated via precipitation of Cu(II)/Co(II)/Mn(II) solution using sodium carbonate and ignition of precipitate at 600°C for 3 h, respectively. Several instruments, including UV–Vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), nitrogen gas sorption analyser, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), were used to characterise the fabricated nanocomposites. Energy dispersive X-ray investigation confirmed that the composite produced owing to precipitation by sodium carbonate comprises carbon, oxygen, manganese, cobalt, and copper where the weight percentages are equal to 27.15, 52.49, 5.59, 5.75, and 9.02%, respectively. In addition, the composite produced owing to ignition at 600°C for 3 h comprises oxygen, manganese, cobalt, and copper where the weight percentages are equal to 8.62, 31.50, 38.58, and 21.30%, respectively. Transmission electron microscope examination confirmed that the composites produced owing to precipitation by sodium carbonate and ignition at 600°C for 3 h comprise polyhedral and spherical shapes with an average diameter of 36.85 and 22.34 nm, respectively. The BET surface area, average pore size, and total pore volume of the composite produced owing to precipitation by sodium carbonate are 29.8662 m2/g, 2.1634 nm, and 0.0323 cc/g, respectively. In addition, the BET surface area, average pore size, and total pore volume of the composite produced owing to ignition at 600°C for 3 h are 33.3714 m2/g, 5.2308 nm, and 0.0873 cc/g, respectively. 0.06 g of the fabricated nanocomposites degrade 100% of 60 mL of 15 mg/L of crystal violet dye solution within 20 min in the presence of hydrogen peroxide under UV irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mica-supported tungsten oxide (M/WO3) and neat WO3 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesised through acid precipitation method and then used as photocatalysts for degradation of Methyl Violet (MV) dye in aqueous media. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the majority of WO3 NPs have cubical shape. The SEM micrographs also illustrated that the particles are mostly present in dispersed form, while some are in agglomerated form. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) presented that the size of the nanoparticles were below 100 nm. The formation of NPs were also confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR). The photodegradation study presented that WO3 and M/WO3 NPs degraded about 87% and 97% of MV dye within 75 min irradiation time under UV light. The recovered and re-recovered M/WO3 and WO3 NPs also significantly degraded MV dye. Both WO3 and M/WO3 NPs showed significant bio-activities against two pathogenic bacteria (Citrobacter and Providencia). Further, both types of NPs showed effective antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, monometallic (Ni) and bimetallic (Ni-Ag) nanoparticles were synthesised by a bio reduction approach using Cicer Arietinum leaf extract which is known to contain high amount of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that can serve as nano-bio sources for synthesis metallic NPs. Biosynthesised nanoparticles were characterised using various techniques viz UV-Vis, FE-SEM, EDX, and XRD. The average crystallite diameter was found to be 30 nm and 24 nm for NiNPs and Ni-AgNPs, respectively, with almost spherical shapes, regular morphology and homogenously formed. The synthesised NPs were successfully applied for adsorption of toluidine blue dye (TBO) in aqueous solution using batch experiments with different process parameters namely initial dye concentration, contact time, pH, adsorbent dosage, and temperature. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics were investigated in detailed; the results followed Freundlich model (R2 = 0.990, 0.976) and pseudo-second-order kinetic (R2 = 0.998, 0.999) for both mono and bimetallic NPs, respectively. Finally, adsorption process showed that bimetallic Ag-NiNPs (qe = 94 mg g−1) could be considered more efficient for removal of TBO dye than NiNPs (qe = 87 mg g−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBLs) Escherichia coli (E. coli) has become a global threat to public health. An alternative strategy to alleviate this is identifying potential natural compounds to restore antibiotic activity against ESBLs E. coli. This study aimed to find a possible compound to restore ESBLs E. coli sensitivity to ceftiofur. Methods: The synergistic effect of kaempferol and ceftiofur against ESBLs E. coli was investigated by checkerboard assays, time-kill, growth curves, and scanning electronic microscope. The impact of kaempferol with ceftiofur on the biofilm of ESBLs E. coli was evaluated by crystal violet staining and laser scanning confocal microscopy and this study also assessed the effect of kaempferol on the initial adhesion and aggregation of E. coli (SY20) by examining motility, adhesion, and surface characteristics. The RT-qPCR was used to determine the effect of kaempferol on the expression of genes related to the LuxS /AI-2 quorum sensing system in ESBLs E. coli , and the effect of kaempferol on AI-2 signaling molecules was determined by molecular docking and bioassay. The impact of kaempferol on the activity of blaCTX-M-27 protein was determined by RT-qPCR, molecular docking, and nitrofen experiments, the results were further verified by transcriptome analysis. The mouse infection model was established, and the inhibitory mechanism of kaempferol with ceftiofur on bacteria in vivo was further verified by HE staining and immunohistochemistry. Results and discussion: Kaempferol with ceftiofur exerts synergistic antibacterial and bactericidal effects on ESBLs E. coli by influencing β-lactamase activity, biofilm formation, and LuxS /AI-2 QS system. In vivo, kaempferol protected the small intestinal villi from the damage of ESBLs E. coli. Furthermore, kaempferol fully restores the activity of ceftiofur in animal infection models by relieving the TLR4/NF-κb pathway. In conclusion, the sensitivity of ESBLs E. coli to ceftiofur in vitro and in vivo could be enhanced by kaempferol, which showed that kaempferol may be a kind of antibiotic adjuvant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current research demonstrates the synergistic effects of gadolinium (Gd)/copper (Cu) codoping and nanotechnology on various physicochemical and photocatalytic features of neodymium iron oxide (NIO) perovskites. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies the synthesis of pure neodymium oxide (NIO-I) and its codoped counterpart (NIO-II) with a perovskite-type crystal structure via simple hydrothermal techniques. Through codoping and nanostructural synthesis, the surface characteristics, as well as the optical, electrical, and optoelectronic properties of the neodymium iron oxide perovskite, were enhanced, as confirmed by Brunner−Emmett−Teller (BET), UV/Vis, current−voltage (I−V), and photoluminescence (PL) studies. In terms of photocatalytic activity, the NIO-II perovskite outperforms its undoped NIO-I counterpart, eliminating 91.8 % of crystal violet (CV) dye in less than 50 min with a rate constant value (k) of 0.019 min−1. However, the undoped counterpart removed 63.8 % of the CV dye, with a comparatively lower rate constant of 0.013 min−1 under the same conditions. Under alkaline conditions, the NIO-II catalyst demonstrates superior efficiency in degrading CV dye; moreover, it maintains an efficiency of 96.8 %, even after undergoing five cycles of reuse. Through the use of rare earth and transition metal codoping, this study reveals a new way to fine-tune the structural and other pertinent properties of semiconductor perovskites, ensuring their practical use for the treatment of polluted water. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research demonstrates the ability of cubic Ia3d aluminosilica (CAS) adsorbent prepared using a simple and repeatable one-pot synthesis technique to remove the cationic dye, such as Gentian violet (GV) from aqueous solutions. The prepared CAS adsorbent nanoarchitectonics appeared with 573 m2 g−1 as a BET surface area. The adsorption behaviour of GV on CAS adsorbent was investigated using the thermodynamics, kinetics, and isotherm models. According to the results, the CAS adsorbent indicated a high ability to absorb GV from an aqueous solution, and their kinetic behaviour follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic. In addition, the equilibrium study revealed that the GV adsorption by the CAS adsorbent followed the Langmuir model. Additionally, the outcomes obtained revealed adsorption of GV onto CAS adsorbent was dominated by electrostatic attraction forces, hydrogen bonding, ion-exchange, and pore filling, The maximum adsorption efficiency of GV onto CAS adsorbent was instituted to be 1.36 mmol g−1 (i.e. 554.85 mg g−1). The enthalpy (ΔHo), entropy (ΔGo), and Gibbs free energy (ΔSo) parameters revealed that the extraction of GV dye using CAS adsorbent was endothermic and spontaneous. The synthesised CAS adsorbent shows significant recyclability and characteristics of re-generability up to five adsorption-desorption cycles. As a proof of concept, the performance of the prepared adsorbent was evaluated for laboratory-scale purification of wastewater samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) have been synthesised using low temperature combustion method and then modified with Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to form a magnetic composite. Prepared composite (CTAB-NiFe2O4) was used as an adsorbent for removing brilliant green dye from aqueous solution. Adsorbent was investigated by using various techniques like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectra, thermogravimetric analysis and pH of point zero charge. Different parameters such as effect of contact time, pH, adsorbent dose and initial dye concentration were studied for the adsorption of dye. The optimum values observed were 170 minutes equilibrium time at pH 6 and adsorbent dose 0.6 g. Various adsorption kinetic models such as pseudo first-order kinetic model, pseudo second-order kinetic model and Elovich model were used to determine the nature of adsorption. Pseudo second-order kinetic model fitted better with higher R2 value which indicated that the adsorption was chemical in nature. Langmuir isotherm was best fitted to experimental data for the adsorption of brilliant green dye with maximum adsorption capacity 'Qe' 250 mg/g. It revealed that the adsorption in this study takes place on homogenous surface and follows monolayer pattern. Therefore, for the removal of Brilliant green dye from wastewater using composite (CTAB-NiFe2O4) can be considered as an effective adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the scope of this study, the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution with SiNH2@FeNP nanocomposite, which was synthesised by green synthesis method using liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza Glabra) extract, was investigated by applying Box-Behnken experimental design method. With this newly synthesised material, solution pH value, adsorbent dosage and initial dye concentration parameters affecting the adsorption process in methylene blue removal from aqueous solutions were investigated. FTIR, SEM, BET and XRD techniques were applied to characterise the structure of the obtained SiNH2@FeNP nanocomposite. According to the data obtained from the experimental design results, in order to obtain approximately 87% methylene blue dye removal efficiency, pH, initial methylene blue concentration and adsorbent dosage values should be kept constant at 8.8, 35.8 and 3.38 g L−1, respectively. Meanwhile, to achieve an MB adsorption of 22 mg g−1, the initial adsorbent dose and pH should be kept at 0.5 g l−1 and 10, respectively. SiNH2@FeNP nanocomposite produced by the green synthesis method is an environmentally friendly and effective adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic-based pollutants are extensively released from various industries and they potentially harm the environment and human health. Photocatalysis is regarded as one of the most promising techniques for removal of organic contaminants from wastewater. Therefore, in this study, iron oxide-based nanocomposites were synthesized by an emerging green and sustainable method using Ethiopian endemic plant extract, Echinops kebericho M. as a capping and stabilizing agent. The phytoextract-assisted synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) α-Fe2O3 and nanocomposites (NCs) α-Fe2O3/MgO calcinated at a temperature of 400°C were characterized and used for their photocatalytic activities toward gentian violet (GV) dye degradation using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) at optimized catalyst dose, initial GV concentration, pH, and time conditions. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis result revealed that the mean crystal size of α-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3/MgO is 11.2 and 15.4 nm, respectively. Characterization results of scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) clearly showed the successful deposition of MgO on α-Fe2O3. The maximum degradation of GV, 96.2%, was observed by using α-Fe2O3/MgO after 60 min under visible light irradiation. Thus, synthesized NCs were shown to have better GV degradation efficiency in a shorter time as compared to the previously reported nanomaterials. The results revealed photocatalytic degradation using endemic plant extract-assisted synthesized NCs, α-Fe2O3/MgO, is considered a greener, simple, and more efficient method for the removal of organic dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating nanoparticles into denture materials shows promise for the prevention of denture-associated fungal infections. This study investigates the antifungal properties of acrylic modified with microwave-sintered ZnO-Ag nanoparticles. ZnO-Ag nanoparticles (1% and 2.5% wt.) were synthesized via microwave solvothermal synthesis (MSS). Nanoparticles were characterized for phase purity, specific surface area (SSA), density, morphology, and elemental composition. ZnO and ZnO-Ag nanoparticles were added to acrylic material (PMMA) at concentrations of 1% and 2.5% and polymerized. Pure PMMA (control) and obtained PMMA-nanocomposites were cut into homogeneous 10 × 10 mm samples. Antifungal activity of nanoparticles and PMMA-nanocomposites against C. albicans was tested using minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination, and biofilm formation was assessed using crystal violet staining followed by absorbance measurements. Laboratory tests confirmed phase purity and uniform, spherical particle distribution. MIC results show antifungal activity of 1% Ag nanoparticles and the PMMA-2.5% (ZnO-1% Ag) nanocomposite. PMMA-1% (ZnO-1% Ag) nanocomposite and 1% ZnO-Ag nanoparticles are efficient in preventing biofilm formation. However, ZnO nanoparticles showed antibiofilm activity, and the PMMA-ZnO nanocomposite does not protect against biofilm deposition. Incorporating hybrid ZnO-Ag nanoparticles into PMMA is a promising antibiofilm method, especially with ZnO-1% Ag nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic protective coatings encounter significant challenges in the face of mechanical damage, weathering degradation, and corrosion activities. Developing coatings that feature both autonomous damage reporting and enhanced durability is a promising yet challenging endeavor. In this study, inspired by the “damage coloration” of lurid bolete, a multifunctional smart coating integrating color/fluorescence damage reporting, weathering resistance, and active corrosion protection capabilities is developed by incorporating microcapsules encapsulated with crystal violet lactone (CVL) and cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles into polyurethane (PU) resins. CVL, a damage‐reporting indicator exhibiting both color and fluorescence emission, is encapsulated within PU/poly‐(urea formaldehyde) (PU/UF) microcapsules. CVL is released from the microcapsules upon damage, exhibiting localized fluorescence enhancement under UV irradiation and an intense blue coloration resulting from the chromogenic reaction with CeO2 nanoparticles. In addition to initiating the chromogenic reaction of CVL, the CeO2 nanoparticles confer outstanding weathering resistance and active corrosion protection to the coating matrix through their UV absorption and corrosion inhibition properties. The performance improvement of the composite coating in terms of weathering resistance and corrosion resistance is verified by in situ transmittance testing and real‐time atmospheric corrosion monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts play an important role in the effective removal of organic effluents and are considered the best material for this purpose. In the current study, zinc ferrite (ZF), strontium, and holmium co-doped zinc ferrite (SHZF) and composite with the CNTs (SHZF@CNTs) were prepared. Various characterization techniques were used to check their successful synthesis, catalytic activity, and electrochemical properties. The Debye Scherrer formula was used to calculate the crystallite size of the synthesized samples. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis was performed, and it showed that the prepared CNTs-based composite showed less resistance than bare and co-doped samples. Crystal violet (CV) and phenol were employed as model organic effluents. SHZF@CNTs showed 93.26 % and 57.64 % degradation of CV and phenol, respectively. SHZF@CNTs showed higher degradation efficiency than other as-fabricated samples due to the presence of carbon nanotubes. A radical trapping experiment was also performed to investigate which species are more active during the redox reaction for the photodegradation of organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Periodontitis is the most common oral inflammatory disease, contributing to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, a full investigation has not been performed on the expression level of amyloid‐β (Aβ) peptides in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and its effects on oral pathogens. This study aimed to analyze the expression level of Aβ peptides in GCF of patients with periodontitis and the effects of Aβ peptides against common oral pathogens. GCF samples were collected from patients with periodontitis (n = 15) and periodontally healthy people (n = 10). The antimicrobial effects of Aβ peptides were evaluated on four common oral pathogenic strains using an MTT assay, crystal violet staining, fluorescence microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The protein levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were upregulated in the GCF of periodontitis group compared with the healthy group. Both Aβ40 and Aβ42 exhibited antimicrobial effects on Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Lactobacillus acidophilus in both planktonic and biofilm conditions. Further, only Aβ40 showed an antimicrobial effect on the Fusobacterium nucleatum. The results of this study demonstrate that Aβ peptides in GCF may be a relevant indicator of periodontitis status. Besides, the antimicrobial peptides derived from Aβ peptides have great potential in periodontal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervicovaginal (CV) microbiota is critical for the well-being of host. We investigated the relationship between the ratio of Lactobacilli (LB) and cocci/coccobacilli (C/CB)-type microbial cells with biofilm formation of CV mixed cultures of women with no inflammation/infection or any epithelial abnormalities in Pap-stained smears Group 1 (G1) corresponds to the flora with LB-type cells alone, whereas G2 corresponds to the LB-dominated flora. G3 contains balanced LB and C/CB cells and G4 is dominated with C/CB. G5 corresponds to a flora with C/CB-type cells alone. Biofilm formation of CV mixed cultures was assessed by crystal violet binding assay and optical density (OD)≥0.8 were defined as biofilm producers. G1 and G3 exist in higher frequencies compared to the other smear groups. However, although the frequency of G5 dominated with C/CB-type cells were the lowest (4%); biofilm formation in that group was observed in the highest frequency (42.9%). The least biofilm formation frequency was observed in G3 smears with balanced flora (1%). Biofilm formation in healthy CV flora increases when there becomes an imbalance between LB and C/CB-type cells and an increase in C/CB-type cells. Our approach may enable early detection of vaginal dysbiosis in healthy flora prone to biofilm-associated CV infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nNOVELTY STATEMENTSynthetic dyes are a major source of environmental pollution. In this regard, biosorption is an important treatment method for the removal and detoxification of synthetic dyes from aqueous solutions. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate the potential of Robinia pseudoacacia L. biosorbent (RPF) in the removal of crystal violet (CV) dye from aqueous solutions. To this end, biosorption parameters, including zero charge point, pH, initial dye concentration, biosorbent dose, stirring speed, and temperature, were investigated. Variations in the treated and untreated biosorbent surfaces were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. The results showed that the RPF biosorbent removed 77% of CV under optimal conditions: pH of 6, initial dye concentration of 10 mg/L, biosorbent dose of 1 g, contact time of 30 min, stirring speed of 150 rpm, and temperature of 298 K. The Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm (R2= 0.976) and pseudo-second-order kinetic (R2 = 0.995) models were well fitted according to isotherm and kinetic studies. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the process was endothermic according to the ΔG values. Moreover, the phytotoxicity of treated CV solutions was significantly reduced. Thus, the RPF biosorbent was determined to be a low-cost, sustainable, and ecofriendly material for the removal and detoxification of synthetic dyes from aqueous solutions.Biosorption, an innovative approach for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions, utilizes a great variety of biological materials, mainly wastes, as biosorbents and is widely accepted owing to its unique advantages, including effective treatment capacity, eco-friendly nature, and higher sustainability. In this context, it is important to discover new biological raw materials and investigate their biosorption potential. In this study, the biosorption potential of Robinia pseudoacacia L. (Fabaceae) fruit biosorbent (RPF) was investigated for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methodology Results Conclusion To investigate the influence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hyperglycaemia on blood vessels and angiogenic markers in the dental pulp.Extracted non‐carious permanent molar teeth were collected from patients with well‐controlled T2D (n = 10) and non‐T2D (controls) (n = 10). The pulp was examined qualitatively using haematoxylin and eosin and Van Gieson stains. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) identified the primary receptor for VEGF, VEGFR2, and the endothelial cell marker CD34. Primary human dental pulp cell (hDPC) lines (n = 3) were established from tissue explants and cells were grown in media containing 5.5 mM D‐glucose (control), 12.5 mM (prediabetes) and 25 mM (T2D) D‐glucose under normoxic conditions for 24, 48 and 72 h. Assays for metabolic activity (PrestoBlue) and cell viability (Crystal Violet staining) assessed the hDPC response to hyperglycaemia. The expression of angiogenic genes VEGFA, KDR, FLT‐1, ANGPT1, ANGPT2, TIE1 and TEK were analysed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. ELISAs were used to quantify the level of expressed protein for VEGFA, ANG1, ANG2, TIE1, and TIE2 in the media. Data analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism and anova tests at p < .05.Blood vessels in T2D samples had thicker walls and stained strongly for elastin and collagen compared with non‐T2D samples. VEGFR2 protein was not seen in any T2D samples but consistently detected in healthy specimens. Culturing healthy cells in high glucose (25 mM) significantly reduced cell viability at 24 h compared to the control (p = .005) and 12.5 mM glucose (p = .001) but the metabolic activity was not greatly affected by glucose and time. VEGFA mRNA and VEGFA protein expression were detected in the hDPCs in the presence of hyperglycaemia over time; however, the primary receptor, VEGFR2/KDR, was not detected. Genes for the ANG1 and ANG2 and their receptors were expressed at all glucose concentrations but hyperglycaemia upregulated ANG2 mRNA. Proteins for all growth factors were detected in the media however proteins for TIE1 and TIE2 receptors were not.T2D and hyperglycaemia may impair the angiogenic response in the pulp similar to other body site. The scarcity of VEGFR2 and increased expression of ANG2 in response to hyperglycaemia suggests that VEGF and ANG‐Tie1/Tie2 signalling may be compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for wastewater treatment for a sustainable future has provoked the development of an ecologically acceptable photocatalytic approach. However, exploration of highly efficient green metal free catalyst for photocatalytic dye degradation under normal light is yet challenging. In this work, the prepared sericin derived carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are presented as green photocatalyst for the degradation of well‐known hazardous dyes namely crystal violet and Rhodamine‐B under normal light. Using several radical scavenging agents, the mechanism involved in photocatalytic activity of CQDs is demonstrated. This novel photocatalyst offers a well alternative for the degradation and mineralization of organic dyes with a good efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and also biofilm-associated infections is a great health concern due to the failure of available antibiotics. This has alerted scientists to developing alternative antibiotics. Melittin as an antimicrobial peptide has antibacterial synergistic activity in combining with conventional antibiotics against pathogenic bacteria. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the synergistic effect of melittin in combination with Ciprofloxacin, Rifampicin, and Chloramphenicol against MDR strains of P. aeruginosa. Materials and methods: Fifty strains of P. aeruginosa were isolated from clinical specimens. The antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was evaluated by the disk diffusion method. The MIC and MBC of melittin and melittin-antibiotics combination against isolated strains were examined by microdilution method. The probable synergism between melittin and antibiotics was assayed using the FIC protocol. Time-killing kinetics and anti-biofilm effects of melittin and melittin-antibiotics combination were evaluated using time-kill kinetics and crystal violet staining method, respectively. The toxicity of the melittin-antibiotics combination on the HEK293 cell line was also assessed by the MTT assay method. Results: Out of 50 isolates of P. aeruginosa , 15 strains are considered to be multidrug strains. Among MDR strains of P. aeruginosa , 42.85% were resistant to cefepime and ceftazidime and all urine-originate isolates were resistant to cotrimoxazole. A combination of MIC dose of ciprofloxacin and melittin decreased resistance against ciprofloxacin up to 33%. The ciprofloxacin-melittin combination showed a favorable synergism and anti-biofilm effect and was also 30.3% less toxic than melittin alone at 4 μg/ml against the HEK293 cell line. In contrast to ciprofloxacin, with the melittin-rifampicin and melittin-chloramphenicol combinations, an addition effect occurred, respectively, in 86.66 and 53.33% of MDR strains of P. aeruginosa. Conclusion: Combining melittin's antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties with traditional antibiotics may offer a novel strategy to address antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa. The simultaneous administration of melittin and ciprofloxacin in a single dose has shown a marked increase in antibacterial effectiveness while minimizing toxicity to the HEK293 cell line. It is advisable to conduct additional research to explore the combined antibacterial effects of melittin and ciprofloxacin in a wider range of clinical samples, animal models, and clinical trial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Pinus represents a potential source of valuable bioactive substances. In this study, the chemical composition and biological activity of essential oils extracted from Pinus mugo Turra needles (PMEO) were investigated. GC/MS analyses were used to assess the volatile elements found in the PMEO sample. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS techniques. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated against yeasts and bacteria (both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative) using the disc diffusion method, minimal inhibition concentration and vapour phase on fruit and vegetable models. Mass spectrometry and the crystal violet technique were used to measure the antibiofilm activity. The contact application method was used to assess the insecticidal activity of different concentration of PMEO against Harmonia axyridis. The GC/MS analysis identified β‐phellandrene (20.5%), α‐pinene (19.4%), δ‐3‐carene (16.7%), β‐pinene (11.1%) and β‐myrcene (9.4%) as main constituents. PMEO exhibited antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS radical species, with IC50 values of 1.92 and 1.14 mg/mL, respectively. PMEO showed an inhibitory effect against microbial strains ranging from 6.67 to 13.33 mm. By employing the microdilution method, PMEO showed antimicrobial activity with MIC50 values ranging from 2.52 to 7.41 mg/mL and MIC90 values ranging from 2.72 to 7.7 mg/mL. The in situ antimicrobial investigations revealed that PMEO exerts the highest activity against E. aerogenes and P. putida on apple and beetroot models. Furthermore, PMEO exhibited noteworthy potential against biofilm‐forming S. enterica growing on plastic and glass surfaces. Additionally, an evaluation of the PMEO insecticidal potential was performed using H. axyridis. Insecticidal properties against H. axyridis were observed at concentrations of 50% and 100%. PMEO displayed good antioxidant, antibacterial and insecticidal properties, significant antibiofilm features and excellent preservative properties for extending the shelf life of foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colistin resistance significantly constrains available treatment options and results in the emergence of pandrug-resistant (PDR) strains. Treating PDR infections is a major public health issue. A promising solution lies in using colistin-based combinations. Despite the availability of in vitro data evaluating these combinations, the in vivo studies remain limited. Results: Thirty colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (ColRKp) isolates were collected from hospitalized patients. Colistin resistance was detected using broth microdilution, and antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using the Kirby-Bauer method against 18 antibiotics. Extremely high resistance levels were detected, with 17% of the isolates being PDR. Virulence profiling, assessed using Anthony capsule staining, the string test, and the crystal violet assay, indicated the predominance of non-biofilm formers and non-hypermucoid strains. The isolates were screened for mcr genes using polymerase chain reaction. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis were performed to characterize the genomes of PDR isolates. No plasmid-borne mcr genes were detected, and WGS analysis revealed that PDR isolates belonged to the high-risk clones: ST14 (n = 1), ST147 (n = 2), and ST383 (n = 2). They carried genes encoding extended-spectrum β-lactamases and carbapenemases, blaCTX-M-15 and blaNDM-5, on conjugative IncHI1B/IncFIB plasmids, illustrating the convergence of virulence and resistance genes. The most common mechanism of colistin resistance involved alterations in mgrB. Furthermore, deleterious amino acid substitutions were also detected within PhoQ, PmrC, CrrB, ArnB, and ArnT. Seven colistin-containing combinations were compared using the checkerboard experiment. Synergy was observed when combining colistin with tigecycline, doxycycline, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, imipenem, or meropenem. The efficacy of colistin combined with either doxycycline or levofloxacin was assessed in vitro using a resistance modulation assay, and in vivo, using a murine infection model. In vitro, doxycycline and levofloxacin reversed colistin resistance in 80% and 73.3% of the population, respectively. In vivo, the colistin + doxycycline combination demonstrated superiority over colistin + levofloxacin, rescuing 80% of infected animals, and reducing bacterial bioburden in the liver and kidneys while preserving nearly intact lung histology. Conclusions: This study represents the first comparative in vitro and in vivo investigation of the efficacy of colistin + doxycycline and colistin + levofloxacin combinations in clinical PDR ColRKp isolates characterized at a genomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to analyze the biofilm removal and bactericidal effect of laser treatment alone and laser combined with ultrasonic scaling on orthodontic brackets. It also assessed whether the use of a laser can improve the efficiency of biofilm removal and bactericidal effect compared with traditional ultrasonic instrumentation. Background Data: Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) can lead to white spots and dental caries. Orthodontic brackets make teeth cleaning more difficult, and biofilms or bacteria on the surface of brackets worsen the oral environment, which may cause some oral diseases. Laser can be used for biofilm removal and killing bacteria on the surface of an object through thermal, photochemical, and pressure effects, which is widely used in the treatment of oral diseases. Methods: A total of 600 mandibular incisor brackets were collected for this study. Among these, 320 unused brackets were used for the S. mutans crystal violet assay (n = 160) and for S. mutans live/dead bacterial staining (n = 160). Another 280 brackets, obtained from patients who had undergone therapy for over two years, were used for the mature multispecies biofilms removal assay (n = 120) and multispecies bacterial live/dead bacterial staining (n = 160). Ultrasonic scaling, laser, and laser combined with ultrasonic scaling were applied to the labial surface of brackets covered by S. mutans biofilm or mature multispecies biofilms. Specifically, we used the following three methods: ultrasonic scaling for 10 sec without laser; 810-nm laser (Doctor Smile, Italy, LA5D0 001.1) with 0.3-mm spot size at total 21.2 kJ/cm2 for 10 sec; and 810-nm laser at total 10.6 kJ/cm2 for 5 sec, followed by ultrasonic scaling for 5 sec. The 810-nm diode laser removed biofilms with a power of 1.5 W and a power density of 2.12 kW/cm2. The S. mutans biofilm was examined using crystal violet assay, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for mature multispecies biofilms to evaluate the effect of the three methods on biofilm removal. Live/dead bacterial staining was used to examine the bactericidal effect on remaining biofilms by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results: For S. mutans biofilm, the optical density (OD) value and live/dead bacterial ratio in the laser and the laser combined with ultrasonic scaling groups were significantly lower than those in the ultrasonic scaling group (p < 0.05); moreover, the OD value and the live/dead bacterial ratio in laser treatment combined with ultrasonic scaling and laser treatment alone showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). For mature multispecies biofilms, the percentage of biofilm coverage after treatment was higher in the laser group than in the ultrasonic scaling group (p < 0.05) and lower in the laser combined with ultrasonic scaling group than in the ultrasonic scaling group (p < 0.05), and live/dead bacterial staining showed that laser treatment alone killed the most bacteria, followed by laser treatment combined with ultrasonic scaling, while ultrasonic scaling alone seldom killed bacteria. Conclusions: Laser treatment alone has a better bactericidal effect and can also remove more S. mutans biofilm than ultrasonic scaling alone, but it fails to remove more mature multispecies biofilms. Laser treatment combined with ultrasonic scaling can remove more S. mutans biofilm and mature multispecies biofilms than ultrasonic scaling alone and also has a better bactericidal effect than ultrasonic scaling alone on a bracket surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) cause serious complications among hospitalized patients due to biofilm-forming microorganisms which make treatment ineffective by forming antibiotic-resistant strains. As most CAUTI-causing bacterial pathogens have already developed multidrug resistance, there is an urgent need for alternative antibacterial agents to prevent biofilms on catheter surfaces. As a trial to find out such a potential agent of natural origin, the bark of Tamarix ericoides Rottl., a little-known plant from the Tamaricaceae family, was examined for its antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against one of the major, virulent, CAUTI-causing bacterial pathogens: Enterococcus faecalis. The methanolic T. ericoides bark extract was analyzed for its antibacterial activity using the well diffusion method and microdilution method. Killing kinetics were calculated using time–kill assay, and the ability of biofilm formation and its eradication upon treatment with the T. ericoides bark extract was studied by crystal violet assay. GC-MS analysis was performed to understand the phytochemical presence in the extract. A in vitro bladder model study was performed using extract-coated catheters against E. faecalis, and the effect was visualized using CLSM. The changes in the cell morphology of the bacterium after treatment with the T. ericoides bark extract were observed using SEM. The biocompatibility of the extract towards L929 cells was studied by MTT assay. The anti-E. faecalis activity of the extract-coated catheter tube was quantified by viable cell count method, which exposed 20% of growth after five days of contact with E. faecalis. The anti-adhesive property of the T. ericoides bark extract was studied using CLSM. The extract showed potential antibacterial activity, and the lowest inhibitory concentration needed to inhibit the growth of E. faecalis was found to be 2 mg/mL. The GC-MS analysis of the methanolic fractions of the T. ericoides bark extract revealed the presence of major phytochemicals, such as diethyl phthalate, pentadecanoic acid, methyl 6,11-octadecadienoate, cyclopropaneoctanoic acid, 2-[(2-pentylcyclopropyl) methyl]-, methyl ester, erythro-7,8-bromochlorodisparlure, etc., that could be responsible for the antibacterial activity against E. faecalis. The killing kinetics of the extract against E. faecalis was calculated and the extract showed promising antibiofilm activity on polystyrene surfaces. The T. ericoides bark extract effectively reduced the E. faecalis mature biofilms by 75%, 82%, and 83% after treatment with 1X MIC (2 mg/mL), 2X MIC (4 mg/mL), and 3X MIC (6 mg/mL) concentrations, respectively, which was further confirmed by SEM analysis. The anti-adhesive property of the T. ericoides bark extract studied using CLSM revealed a reduction in the biofilm thickness, and the FDA and PI combination revealed the death of 80% of the cells on the extract-coated catheter tube. In addition, SEM analysis showed extensive damage to the E. faecalis cells after the T. ericoides bark extract treatment, and it was not cytotoxic. Hence, after further studies, T. ericoides bark extract with potential antibacterial, antibiofilm, and anti-adhesive activities can be developed as an alternative agent for treating CAUTIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Alkanna tinctoria, also known as dyer's alkanet (Boraginaceae family), is a traditional plant that has been used to cure skin problems. A traditional hydrophobic extract and a methanolic extract of the root were prepared and the phytocomponents were determined by LCMS analysis. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of MRSA and MDR-Pseudomonas aeruginosa were determined. Crystal violet assay was used to assess the in vitro antibiofilm activity and a diabetic mice model was used to assess the in vivo antibiofilm activity on excision wounds. In vitro, cytotoxic effects were investigated using human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. LC-MS analysis of the methanolic extract and the conventional formulation identified several phytoconstituents, three of which were identical. Against both pathogens, the extract ointment and conventional hydrophobic extract demonstrated antibacterial and antibiofilm action. The methanolic extract was comparatively more cytotoxic than the hydrophobic formulation when tested on HaCaT cells. In diabetic mice, the traditional formulation increased wound healing, but the methanolic extract ointment had no noticeable effect on wound healing. The findings showed that A. tinctoria in its conventional form is an effective wound healing agent compared to the methanolic extract that had no effect. Alkanna tinctoria, commonly called dyer's alkanet (family-Boraginaceae), is used traditionally in Saudi Arabia to treat skin infections. A methanolic extract and a traditional formulation of the root used in folklore were prepared. LC-MS analysis was conducted to identify probable compounds present in the extract and the traditional hydrophobic formulation. The in vivo activity on excision wound was evaluated in diabetic mice while crystal violet assay was employed for in vitro evaluation. Human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells were used to study in vitro cytotoxic effects. Several probable phytoconstituents were revealed by LC-MS analysis in the methanolic extract and the traditional formulation, and three of the constituents were the same. The extract ointment and traditional hydrophobic extract exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against both tested pathogens. The methanolic extract was relatively more cytotoxic on HaCaT cells compared to the hydrophobic formulation. The methanolic extract ointment did not significantly affect the wound healing, whereas the traditional formulation accelerated wound healing in diabetic mice. The results revealed that A. tinctoria in its traditional formulation is an effective wound healing agent but the methanolic extract of the plant does not affect the healing of wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chitinous skeleton of the marine demosponge Ianthella basta exhibits a unique network-like 3D architecture, excellent capillary properties, and chemical inertness, making it highly suitable for interdisciplinary research, especially in biomedical applications. This study investigates the potential of renewable I. basta chitinous scaffolds for drug delivery and wound dressing. The scaffolds, characterized by a microtubular structure, were impregnated with selected commercially available antiseptics, including solutions with hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties. Evaluations against selected clinical strains of bacteria, as well as fungi, demonstrated significant zones of growth inhibition with antiseptics such as brilliant green, gentian violet, decamethoxine, and polyhexanide. Notably, the antibacterial properties of these antiseptic-treated chitin matrices persisted for over 72 h, effectively inhibiting microbial growth in fresh cultures. These findings highlight the considerable potential of I. basta chitin scaffolds as sustainable, innovative biomaterials for controlled drug release and wound dressing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The potent antioxidant lycopene has attracted a large amount of research attention given its potential health benefits. We aimed to assess the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of lycopene (Lyc), selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs), and lycopene selenium nanoparticles (Lyc-Se-NPs). Methods: FTIR, polydispersity index, and zeta potential evaluations provided a complete characterization of the synthesized Lyc-Se-NPs. The broth dilution method and a crystal violet microtiter plate assay were employed to assess the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity, respectively. The rat wound infection model was performed to study the anti-inflammatory effect. Findings: The Lyc-Se-NPs had a zeta potential range of −16.93 to −31.04 mV and a mean particle size of 126.6 ± 3.12 nm. All peaks' percentage transmittance decreased, according to the FTIR analysis of the Lyc-Se-NPs, with the exception of one peak at 2924.22 cm−1, which is suggestive of C-H stretching. The mean scavenging concentrations for Lyc-Se-NPs in the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging experiments were 3.85 ± 0.65 and 4.26 ± 0.7 µg/mL, respectively. For S. aureus, the Lyc-Se-NPs' MIC values varied from 64 to 1024 µg/mL. CLSM verified that S. aureus treated with sub-MICs of Lyc-Se-NPs showed a significant reduction in biofilm formation. Furthermore, the group treated with 50 mg of Lyc-Se-NPs showed the quickest rate of wound healing. They demonstrated a notable elevation of the HO−1 content in skin tissues, together with the greatest downregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and COX-2. Conclusions: The distinguishing features of Lyc-Se-NPs reveal that this unique compound is a promising antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, magnetic-zinc-aluminum-zirconium layered double hydroxide (Fe3O4/Zn-Al-Zr LDH) was synthesized by a simple and efficient co-precipitation method. This nanosorbent was employed as an innovative adsorbent for the removal of two anthraquinone dyes, namely Alizarin Red S (AR) and Alizarin Yellow (AY). The characteristic properties of Fe3O4/Zn-Al-Zr LDH were investigated by SEM, EDX, XRD, VSM and FTIR. The adsorption properties were studied by optimizing different variables such as contact time, initial dye concentration, pH, and adsorbent mass. Response surface methodology involving Box-Behnken design was also applied to offer an appropriate regression model for adsorption system and subsequently investigate the most influential variables. Furthermore, the experimental isotherm data and kinetic data revealed that the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo second-order model are acceptable, respectively. Maximum Langmuir adsorption capacities of Fe3O4/Zn-Al-Zr LDH were obtained 150.87 and 130.21 for AR and 166.85 and 145.35 mg/g for AY, in single and binary solutions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposites synthesized by alternative approaches like biosynthetic methods are safer than those prepared by traditional chemical techniques. Further, this approach is both economically and environmentally feasible. In this study, we report an eco-friendly methodology for preparing cerium dioxide/molybdenum disulfide (CeO2/MoS2) nanocomposites. Moringa oleifera peel was used as the reducing/stabilizing agent for synthesizing CeO2 nanoparticles. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized using FT-IR analysis, SEM and EDAX analysis, TEM and SAED pattern analysis, X-Ray Diffraction Pattern, Zeta Potential, UV-Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectra, X-Ray Photon Spectroscopy, and Photoluminescence spectra. Particle size and morphology were characterized by TEM and SEM. The photocatalytic pursuit of CeO2/MoS2 was explored by the degradation of methyl violet (MV) under visible light irradiation. Our methodology proved to be 96.25% effective in the degradation of MV. Further, we used this Response Surface Methodology for enhancing the process factors like volume of photocatalyst, time for degradation, and concentration of MV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of biofilm formation during table olive fermentation is crucial to turning this fermented vegetable into a probiotic food. Some phenolic compounds have been described as important quorum‐sensing molecules during biofilm development. The present in vitro study examined the effects of three phenolic compounds widely found in table olive fermentations (Oleuropein 0–3000 ppm, Hydroxytyrosol 0–3000 ppm, and Tyrosol 0–300 ppm) on the development of single biofilm by diverse microorganisms isolated from table olives (Lactiplantibacillus pentosus 13B4, Lp119, and LPG1; Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lp15 and LAB23; and yeasts Wickerhamomyces anomalus Y12, Candida boidinii Y13, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y18). Biofilm formation was quantified in vitro by crystal violet staining in microtiter plates after incubation at 30°C for 96 h. A clear tendency to decrease the biofilm production was observed for the L. plantarum strains when any of the three phenolic compounds were added to the medium, which was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) for certain concentrations and phenols. In the case of yeasts, no statistical influence on biofilm formation was noticed when the phenolic compounds were dosed to the culture medium. Finally, the effects of the phenolic compounds on the L. pentosus strains were dependent on the strain assayed. Thereby, addition of phenolic compounds on 13B4 or Lp119 strains did not have statistical influence on biofilm production. On the contrary, the probiotic LPG1 strain noticed a statistical increase in biofilm production when a low concentration of tyrosol (50 ppm) was added to the medium. Results obtained in this work could be useful to control the biofilm formation process on olive epidermis during table olive fermentation to include beneficial microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezocatalytic materials have attracted widespread attention in the fields of clean energy and water treatment because of their ability to convert mechanical energy directly into chemical energy. In this study, γ-AlON particles synthesised using carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) were used for the first time as a novel piezocatalytic material to degrade dye solutions under ultrasonic vibration. The γ-AlON particles exhibited good performance as a piezocatalytic material for the degradation of organic pollutants. After 120 min under ultrasonic vibration, 40 mg portions of γ-AlON particles in 50 mL dye solutions (10 mg/L) achieved 78.06%, 67.74%, 74.29% and 64.62% decomposition rates for rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) solutions, respectively; the fitted k values were 13.35 × 10−3, 10.79 × 10−3, 12.09 × 10−3 and 8.00 × 10−3 min−1, respectively. The piezocatalytic mechanism of γ-AlON particles in the selective degradation of MO was further analysed in free-radical scavenging activity experiments. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH), superoxide radicals (•O2−), holes (h+) and electrons (e−) were found to be the main active substances in the degradation process. Therefore, γ-AlON particles are an efficient and promising piezocatalytic material for the treatment of dye pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]