Sensing of Acetaminophen Drug Using Zn-Doped Boron Nitride Nanocones: a DFT Inspection

Comparative catalytic reduction and degradation with biodegradable sodium alginate based nanocomposite: Zinc oxide/N-doped carbon nitride/sodium alginate

Sodium alginate (SA) is a biodegradable macromolecule which is used to synthesize nanocomposites and their further use as catalysis. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and nitrogen doped carbon nitride (ND-C3N4) nanoparticles are prepared using solvothermal and hydrothermal methods, respectively. ZnO/ND-C3N4/SA nanocomposites are successfully synthesized by employing in-situ polymerization. The presence of essential functional groups is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. Controlled spherical morphology for ZnO nanoparticles, with an average diameter of ∼52 nm, is shown by Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis, while rice-like grain structure with an average grain size ∼62 nm is exhibited by ND-C3N4 nanoparticles. The presence of required elements is confirmed by Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic (EDX) analysis. The crystalline nature of nanocomposites is verified by X-ray diffraction spectroscopic (XRD) analysis. The investigation of the catalytic efficiency for degradation and reduction of various organic dyes is carried out on nanoparticles and nanocomposites. Thorough examination and comparison of parameters, such as apparent rate constant (kapp), reduction time, percentage reduction, reduced concentration and half-life, are conducted for all substrates. The nanocomposites show greater efficiency than nanoparticles in both reactions: catalytic reduction and catalytic degradation.

Elucidating the adsorption of 2-Mercaptopyridine drug on the aluminum phosphide (Al12P12) nanocage: A DFT study

Adsorption amplitude of the aluminum phosphide (Al12P12) nanocage toward the 2-Mercaptopyridine (MCP) drug was herein monitored based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The adsorption process through MCP⋅⋅⋅Al12P12 complex in various configurations was elucidated by means of adsorption (Eads) energies. According to the energetic affirmations, the Al12P12 nanocage demonstrated potential versatility toward adsorbing the MCP drug within the investigated configurations and exhibited significant negative adsorption energies up to -27.71 kcal/mol. Upon the results of SAPT analysis, the electrostatic forces showed the highest contributions to the overall adsorption process with energetic values up to -74.36 kcal/mol. Concurrently, variations of molecular orbitals distribution along with alterations in the energy gap (Egap) and Fermi level (EFL) of the studied nanocage were denoted after adsorbing the MCP drug. The favorable impact of water solvent within the MCP⋅⋅⋅Al12P12 complexes was unveiled and confirmed by negative solvation energy (ΔEsolv) values up to -17.75 kcal/mol. According to thermodynamic parameters, the spontaneous and exothermic natures of the considered adsorption process were proclaimed by negative values of ΔG and ΔH parameters. Significant changes in the IR and Raman peaks, along with the appearance of new peaks, were noticed, confirming the occurrence of the targeted adsorption process. Furthermore, the adsorption features of the MCP drug on the Al12N12 nanocage were elucidated and compared to the Al12P12 analog. The obtained results demonstrated the higher preferability of Al12P12 nanocage than the Al12N12 candidate towards adsorbing the MCP drug without structural distortion.

Apoptotic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles from nettle leaf

Here, we reported the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Urtica dioica (nettle) leaf extract as green reducing and capping agents and investigate their anticancer and antibacterial, activity. The Nettle-mediated biosynthesized AgNPs was characterized by UV-Vis a spectrophotometer. Their size, shape and elemental analysis were determined with the using of SEM and TEM. The crystal structure was determined by XRD and the biomolecules responsible for the reduction of Ag⁺ were determined using FTIR analysis. Nettle-mediated biosynthesis AgNPs indicated strong antibacterial activity against pathogenic microorganisms. Again, the antioxidant activity of AgNPs is quite high when compared to ascorbic acid. Anticancer effect of AgNPs, IC₅₀ dose was determined by XTT analysis using MCF-7 cell line and the IC₅₀ value was found to be 0.243 ± 0.014 μg/mL (% w/v).

Laboratory Investigation of Reclaimed Asphalt Mixtures Containing Cyclogen and Vacuum Bottom Rejuvenators

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) to create recycled asphalt mixture is attracting great interest because of landfill space decrease and natural resources saving. Also, incorporating rejuvenators is an effective method to promote the utilization of RAP materials in hot mix asphalt (HMA) production. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cyclogen and vacuum bottom (VB) rejuvenators on the performance of RAP mixtures against moisture sensitivity, rutting resistance, and tensile strength. In this regard, mixtures were constructed with different RAP contents (0, 35, and 70% by asphalt mix weight) and virgin aggregates. Furthermore, three contents of Cyclogen (0, 5, and 10%) and VB (0, 15, and 30%) by the weight of RAP binder were used. The laboratory test results revealed that RAP materials enhanced the indirect tensile strength, rutting resistance, and moisture sensitivity of asphalt samples. Moreover, increasing RAP content improved the rutting resistance and permanent deformations of asphalt samples. The addition of RAP also enhanced the resilient modulus and tensile strength of asphalt samples; this increase was subject to RAP content applied. Furthermore, the effect of rejuvenators on the performance characteristics of RAP mixtures showed that adding VB and Cyclogen decreased tensile strength, resilient modulus, and strain creep and increased the moisture sensitivity of RAP mixtures.

In vitro anticancer and antibacterial performance of biosynthesized Ag and Ce co-doped ZnO NPs

The great potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) for biomedical applications is attributed to their physicochemical properties. In this work, pure and Ag and Ce dual-doped ZnO NPs were synthesized through a facile and green route to examine their cytotoxicity in breast cancer and normal cells. The initial preparation of dual-doped nanoparticles was completed by the usage of taranjabin. The synthesis of Ag and Ce dual-doped ZnO NPs was started with preparing the Ce:Ag ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4. The cytotoxicity effects of synthesized nanoparticles against breast normal cells (MCF-10A) and breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were examined. The hexagonal structure of synthesized nanoparticles was observed through the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images exhibited the spherical shape and smooth surfaces of prepared particles along with the homogeneous distribution of Ag and Ce in ZnO with high-quality lattice fringes without any distortions. According to the cytotoxic results, the effects of Ag/Ce dual-doped ZnO NPs on breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cells were significantly more than of pure ZnO NPs, while dual-doped and pure nanoparticles remained indifferent towards breast normal (MCF-10A) cells. In addition, we investigated the antimicrobial activity against harmful bacteria.

Detection of HPV16 viral load in L2 gene as a related predictor of cervical cancer among women in Dhi-Qar province by qRT-PCR

BACKGROUND

The most common infection among young women that increases the risk of developing cervical cancer (CC) is human papillomavirus (HPV). In this study, we are going to assess whether HPV16 DNA concentration helps indicate cervical cancer progression ,As well as for age groups and their relationship to cervical cancer.

METHODS

Present study included 93 adult females suffering from cervical cancer during the period from 2017 to 2020. Molecular detection of HPV was done using amplification of the L2 gene (minor capsid protein).

RESULTS

Present results showed that 60 (65%) of the patients from 93 cervical cancer cases were infected by HPV16 while only 5 (8%) of healthy patients from the control group were positive for HPV16. So, the current study revealed high HPV16 load in cervical cancer ranged from 1.09 × 10² IU/ml to 5.07 × 10³ IU/ml with a mean ± SD of viral load was 1043.25 ± 8.50 IU/ml while in healthy individuals very low viral load ranging from 88 IU/ml to 101 IU/ml and mean ± SD of viral load was 91.25 ± 2.90 IU/ml was reported.

CONCLUSION

HPV16 viral load is significantly associated with cervical carcinoma among women in Dhi-Qar Province.

Synergistic effect of Si-doping and Fe2O3-encapsulation on drug delivery and sensor applications of γ-graphyne nanotube toward favipiravir as an antiviral for COVID-19: A DFT study

In this work, the behavior of favipiravir (FAV) adsorption on the pristine (2,2) graphyne-based γ-nanotube (GYNT) was theoretically studied. Also, the Si-doped form (Si-GYNT) and its composite with encapsulated Fe₂O₃ (Fe₂O₃@Si-GYNT) were investigated within density functional theory (DFT) calculations, using M05 functionals and B3LYP. It was found that FAV is weakly to moderately adsorb on the bare GYNT and Si-GYNT tube, releasing the energy of 2.2 to 19.8 kcal/mol. After FAV adsorption, the bare tube's electronic properties are changed. Localized impurity is induced at the valence and conduction levels by encapsulating a tiny Fe₂O₃ cluster. As such, the target composite becomes a magnetic material. The binding energy between the Fe₂O₃@Si-GYNT and the FAV molecule becomes substantially stronger (E_ad = -25.2 kcal/mol). We developed a drug release system in target parts of body, during protonation in the low pH of injured cells, detaching the FAV from the tube surface. The drug's reaction mechanism with Fe₂O₃@Si-GYNT shifts from covalence in the normal environment to hydrogen bonding in an acidic matrix. The optimized structure's natural bond orbital, quantum molecular descriptors, LUMO, HOMO and energy gap were also investigated. The recovery time can be reduced to less than 10 s by increasing the working temperature properly during the experimental test.

Plant-mediated synthesis of silver-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity against bacteria cause tooth decay

In this research, silver-doped zinc oxide (SdZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized in an environmental-friendly manner. The synthesized NPs were identified by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, the antimicrobial activity of synthesized ZnO and SdZnO NPs was performed. It was observed that by doping silver, the size of ZnO NPs was changed. By adding silver to ZnO NPs, the antimicrobial effect of ZnO NPs was improved. Antibacterial test against gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus mutants showed that SdZnO NPs with a low density of silver had higher antibacterial activity than ZnO NPs; Therefore, SdZnO NPs can be used as a new antibacterial agent in medical applications.