Synthesis of fibrinolytic active silver nanoparticle using wheat bran xylan as a reducing and stabilizing agent

Preparation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystal coated with silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial activity by enzyme method

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and serve as effective antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, agricultural waste corn straw was used as the raw material to obtain cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) through enzymatic hydrolysis. The hydrolysate was employed as reducing agents to synthesize CNC-AgNPs. The inhibition effect of CNC-AgNPs on pathogenic microorganisms was analyzed to explore the optimal preparation conditions and antimicrobial mechanisms. XRD, FTIR, and TEM analyses confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles, with a more uniform particle size of nanoparticles under alkaline conditions. XRD and TGA results showed that silver loading improved the thermal stability of CNC, particularly under pH 11 conditions. pH 4.8-CNC-AgNPs exhibited a sustained antibacterial effect for over 264 h against Escherichia coli and a 96-hour inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus, as well as significant inhibitory effects on the bacterial community in shoe insoles. CNC-AgNPs can be used as additives in composites or as coatings for the composites.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis, Characterization, and Biomedical Applications of Biosynthesized Bimetallic Silver-Gold Nanoparticles by Culture Supernatant of Aspergillus niger

Green synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles of noble metals is highly desirable in nanomedicine because of their potential use as anticoagulant, thrombolytic and anticancer agents. In this study, it was discovered that the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger proved effective in producing bimetallic Ag-Au nanoparticles. A. niger culture supernatant was able to produce Ag-AuNPs by reducing the solution of chloroauric acid/silver nitrate (1.0:1.0 mM) within 2 min at 100 °C and pH 8. Experimental Ag-AuNP detection was performed by visually observing the color change to reddish brown. The produced nanoparticles displayed maximal absorbance at 530 nm in UV-vis spectroscopy. According to transmission electron microscopy, most of the nanoparticles were spherical, with a mean diameter of 8-10 nm. The biosynthesis of Ag-AuNPs by A. niger was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray analytical techniques. Its zeta potential was discovered to be -34.01 mV. The biosynthesized Ag-AuNPs exhibited effective thrombolytic and antiplatelet aggregation actions by totally preventing and dissolving the blood clot which was verified by microscopic examination, amelioration of blood coagulation assays, and carrageenan-induced tail thrombosis model. The findings verified the effectiveness of biosynthesized Ag-AuNPs as a powerful antitumor agent against HepG2 and A549 cell lines with IC50 values of 15.57 and 27.07 μg/mL, respectively. Crystal violet assay validated the cytopathic effects of Ag-AuNPs on A549 and HepG2 cell lines. Therefore, the produced Ag-AuNPs from A. niger are a promising candidate in the management of thrombosis.

Hemicellulose-Based Sensors: When Sustainability Meets Complexity

Hemicelluloses (HCs) are promising sustainable biopolymers with a great natural abundance, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Yet, their potential sensing applications remain limited due to intrinsic challenges in their heterogeneous chemical composition, structure, and physicochemical properties. Herein, recent advances in the development of HC-based sensors for different chemical analytes and physical stimuli using different transduction mechanisms are reviewed and discussed. HCs can be utilized as carbonaceous precursors, reducing, capping, and stabilizing agents, binders, and active components for sensing applications. In addition, different strategies to develop and improve the sensing capacity of HC-based sensors are also highlighted.

Probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-LS): A sustainable approach and multifaceted biomedical application

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has emerged as an eco-friendly and sustainable approach with diverse biological applications. This study presents synthesis of AgNPs-LS using a probiotic strain Lactobacillus salivarius (L. salivarius) and explores their multifaceted biological activities, including antibacterial, antibiofilm, anti-quorum sensing, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, anticoagulant and thrombolytic properties. The biosynthesis of AgNPs-LS was successfully achieved using L. salivarius cell free supernatants, resulting in well-characterized nanoparticles as confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential analysis. The AgNPs-LS demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against different pathogenic bacteria (C. violaceum, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. coli and S. marcescens), emphasizing their potential in combating bacterial infections. Moreover, these AgNPs-LS were effective in inhibiting biofilm formation (>60 % at 1/2 MIC), a key mechanism of bacterial virulence, highlighting their utility in preventing biofilm-related infections. AgNPs-LS exhibited anti-quorum sensing activity, disrupting bacterial communication systems and potentially reducing virulence factor such as, violacein production in C. violaceum, pyocyanin production in P. aeruginosa and prodigiosin production in S. marcescens. Additionally, AgNPs-LS also exhibited notable antifungal activity towards a different pathogenic fungus (F. proliferatum, P. purpurogenum, A. niger and R. stolonifer). In terms of health applications, the AgNPs-LS displayed significant antioxidant activity, effectively scavenging DPPH• (IC50 = 42.65 μg/mL) and ABTS•+ (IC50 = 53.77 μg/mL) free radicals. Furthermore, AgNPs-LS showed cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (MCF-7) (IC50 = 52.29 μg/mL), positioning them as promising candidates for cancer therapy. Moreover, AgNPs-LS were also shown promising anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities under practical conditions. Therefore, the biogenic synthesis of AgNPs-LS using L. salivarius offers a sustainable and cost-effective route for producing AgNPs with an array of biological activities. These AgNPs-LS have the potential to address various challenges in healthcare, ranging from antimicrobial, anticancer applications to biofilm inhibition, antioxidant therapy, anticoagulant and thrombolytic agents.

Scutellaria baicalensis Polysaccharide-Mediated Green Synthesis of Smaller Silver Nanoparticles with Enhanced Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted widespread attention in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. However, the application of AgNPs synthesized by conventional methods is restricted by its high costs, toxicity, and poor stability. Herein, a water-soluble polysaccharide (Scutellaria baicalensis polysaccharide, SBP) rich in reducing sugars was used as both the reductant and stabilizer to greenly synthesize spherical AgNPs@SBP with smaller particle sizes (11.18 ± 2.50 nm) and higher negative zeta potential (-23.05 ± 2.76 mV), which was favorable to enhance its antimicrobial activity and improve pH and thermal stability. Besides, SBP facilitated the adhesion and penetration of AgNPs@SBP to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CREC), thus significantly enhancing its antibacterial activity (increased by 32-fold and 64-fold, respectively). Likewise, AgNPs@SBP at a low concentration (7.8 μg/mL) could effectively penetrate and inhibit nearly 90% of MRSA and CREC biofilm formation. Antimicrobial mechanism studies showed that AgNPs@SBP could lead to more severe cell membrane damage and genetic material leakage by upregulating reactive oxygen species and depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential, ultimately resulting in the apoptosis of bacteria. Overall, the wrapping of SBP significantly enhanced the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of AgNPs, which possessed great potential in the prevention and treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.

Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharide in nano-drug delivery systems: Current progress and future perspectives

Traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharides (TCMPs) have gained increasing attention in the field of nanomedicine due to their diverse biological activities and favorable characteristics as drug carriers, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, safety, and ease of modification. TCMPs-based nano-drug delivery systems (NDDSs) offer several advantages, such as evasion of reticuloendothelial system (RES) phagocytosis, protection against biomolecule degradation, enhanced drug bioavailability, and potent therapeutic effects. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the latest developments in TCMPs-based NDDSs and their applications in disease therapy is of great significance. This review provides an overview of the structural characteristics and biological activities of TCMPs relevant to carrier design, the strategies employed for constructing TCMPs-based NDDSs, and the versatile role of TCMPs in these systems. Additionally, current challenges and future prospects of TCMPs in NDDSs are discussed, aiming to provide valuable insights for future research and clinical translation.

An innovative outlook on utilization of agro waste in fabrication of functional nanoparticles for industrial and biological applications: A review

The burning of an agro waste residue causes air pollution, global warming and lethal effects. To overcome these obstacles, the transformation of agro waste into nanoparticles (NPs) reduces industrial expenses and amplifies environmental sustainability. The concept of green nanotechnology is considered as a versatile tool for the development of valuable products. Although a plethora of literature on the NPs is available, but, still scientists are exploring to design more novel particles possessing unique shape and properties. So, this review basically summarises about the synthesis, characterizations, advantages and outcomes of the various agro waste derived NPs.

Thrombolytic and anticoagulant efficiencies of purified fibrinolytic enzyme produced from Cochliobolus hawaiiensis under solid-state fermentation

Cochliobolus hawaiiensis Alcorn Assiut University Mycological Centre 8606 was chosen from the screened 20 fungal species as the potent producer of fibrinolytic enzyme on skimmed-milk agar plates. The greatest enzyme yield was attained when the submerged fermentation (SmF) conditions were optimized, and it was around (39.7 U/mg protein). Moreover, upon optimization of fibrinolytic enzyme production under solid-state fermentation (SSF), the maximum productivity of fibrinolytic enzyme was greatly increased recorded a bout (405 U/mg protein) on sugarcane bagasse, incubation period of 5 days, moisture level of 100%, initial pH of salt basal medium 7.8, incubation temperature at 35°C, and supplementation of the salt basal medium with corn steep liquor (80％, v/v). The yield of fibrinolytic enzyme by C. hawaiiensis under SSF was higher than that of SmF with about 10.20-fold. The purification procedures of fibrinolytic enzyme by ammonium sulfate (70%), gel filtration, and ion-exchange columns chromatography caused a great increase in its specific activity to 2581.6 U/mg protein with an overall yield of 55.89%, 6.37 purification fold and molecular weight of 35 kDa. Maximal activity was recorded at pH 7 and 37°C. Significant pH stability was recorded at pH 6.6-7.2, and thermal stability was recorded at 33-41°C. The enzyme showed the highest affinity toward fibrin, with Vmax of 240 U/mL and an apparent Km value of 47.61 mmol. Mg2+ and Ca2+ moderately induced fibrinolytic activity, whereas Cu2+ and Zn2+ greatly suppressed the enzyme activity. The produced enzyme is categorized as serine protease and non-metalloprotease. The purified fibrinolytic enzyme showed efficient thrombolytic and antiplatelet aggregation activities by completely prevention and dissolution of the blood clot which confirmed by microscopic examination and amelioration of blood coagulation assays. These findings suggested that the produced fibrinolytic enzyme is a promising agent in management of blood coagulation disorders.

Metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles from plant, animal, and fisheries wastes: potential and valorization for application in agriculture

Global agriculture is facing tremendous challenges due to climate change. The most predominant amongst these challenges are abiotic and biotic stresses caused by increased incidences of temperature extremes, drought, unseasonal flooding, and pathogens. These threats, mostly due to anthropogenic activities, resulted in severe challenges to crop and livestock production leading to substantial economic losses. It is essential to develop environmentally viable and cost-effective green processes to alleviate these stresses in the crops, livestock, and fisheries. The application of nanomaterials in farming practice to minimize nutrient losses, pest management, and enhance stress resistance capacity is of supreme importance. This paper explores innovative methods for synthesizing metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles using plants, animals, and fisheries wastes and their valorization to mitigate abiotic and biotic stresses and input use efficiency in climate-smart and stress-resilient agriculture including crop plants, livestock, and fisheries.

Synthesis of N-myristoyltaurine stabilized gold and silver nanoparticles: Assessment of their catalytic activity, antimicrobial effectiveness and toxicity in zebrafish

In this paper, the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized using a biomimetic lipid, N-myristoyltaurine (N14T) was evaluated in common fields. The catalytic effectiveness of AgNPs and AuNPs was studied in the popular nanocatalyst reaction, nitroaromatic reduction, and dye degradation. Both NPs display catalytic activity in the nitroaromatic compound and organic dyes reduction reaction involving sodium borohydride and the rate constant is estimated as 10^-3 s^-1. Strikingly, the reaction initiation time (t₀) and completion time (t_c) differ significantly between AgNPs and AuNPs. Analyzing the reaction kinetic profile revealed that the reaction carried out with AuNPs showed a shorter t₀ and t_c, suggesting a better catalyst than AgNPs. In addition, the efficiency of the NPs was examined in Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). In difference to the catalytic study, AuNPs display poor antibacterial activity. Whereas AgNPs kill the tested bacteria at 250 μM via disturbing bacterial membrane integrity and produce excess reactive oxygen species. The toxicology study carried out with zebrafish animal model reveals that both AgNPs and AuNPs are non-toxic. The findings suggest that each nanomaterial possesses unique physicochemical properties irrespective of stabilization with the same molecules.

Progress of thrombus formation and research on the structure-activity relationship for antithrombotic drugs

Many populations suffer from thrombotic disorders such as stroke, myocardial infarction, unstable angina and thromboembolic disease. Thrombus is one of the major threatening factors to human health and the prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular diseases induced by thrombus is growing worldwide, even some persons got rare and severe blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine unexpectedly. In terms of mechanism of thrombosis, antithrombotic drugs have been divided into three categories including anticoagulants, platelet inhibitors and fibrinolytics. Nowadays, a large number of new compounds possessing antithrombotic activities are emerging in an effort to remove the inevitable drawbacks of previously approved drugs such as the high risk of bleeding, a slow onset of action and a narrow therapeutic window. In this review, we describe the causes and mechanisms of thrombus formation firstly, and then summarize these reported active compounds as potential antithrombotic candidates based on their respective mechanism, hoping to promote the development of more effective bioactive molecules for treating thrombotic disorders.

Insights on sustainable approaches for production and applications of value added products

The increasing demand for the development of sustainable strategies to utilize and process agro-industrial residues paves new paths for exploring innovative approaches in this area. Biotechnology based microbial transformations provide efficient, low cost and sustainable approaches for the production of value added products. The use of organic rich residues opens new avenues for the production of enzymes, pigments, biofuels, bioactive compounds, biopolymers etc. with vast industrial and therapeutic applications. Innovative technologies like strain improvement, enzyme immobilization, genome editing, morphological engineering, ultrasound/supercritical fluid/pulse electric field extraction, etc. can be employed. These will be helpful in achieving significant improvement in qualitative and quantitative parameters of the finished products. The global trend for the valorisation of biowaste has boosted the commercialization of these products which has transformed the markets by providing new investment opportunities. The upstream processing of raw materials using microbes poses a limitation in terms of product development and recovery which can be overcome by modifying the bioreactor design, physiological parameters or employing alternate technologies which will be discussed in this review. The other problems related to the processes include product stability, industrial applicability and cost competitiveness which needs to be addressed. This review comprehensively discusses the recent progress, avenues and challenges in the approaches aimed at valorisation of agro-industrial wastes along with possible opportunities in the bioeconomy.

Influence of nanoparticles on the haemostatic balance: between thrombosis and haemorrhage

Maintenance of a delicate haemostatic balance or a balance between clotting and bleeding is critical to human health. Irrespective of administration route, nanoparticles can reach the bloodstream and might interrupt the haemostatic balance by interfering with one or more components of the coagulation, anticoagulation, and fibrinolytic systems, which potentially lead to thrombosis or haemorrhage. However, inadequate understanding of their effects on the haemostatic balance, along with the fact that most studies mainly focus on the functionality of nanoparticles while forgetting or leaving behind their risk to the body's haemostatic balance, is a major concern. Hence, our review aims to provide a comprehensive depiction of nanoparticle-haemostatic balance interactions, which has not yet been covered. The synergistic roles of cells and plasma factors participating in haemostatic balance are presented. Possible interactions and interference of each type of nanoparticle with the haemostatic balance are comprehensively discussed, particularly focusing on the underlying mechanisms. Interactions of nanoparticles with innate immunity potentially linked to haemostasis are mentioned. Various physicochemical characteristics that influence the nanoparticle-haemostatic balance are detailed. Challenges and future directions are also proposed. This insight would be valuable for the establishment of nanoparticles that can either avoid unintended interference with the haemostatic balance or purposely downregulate/upregulate its key components in a controlled manner.

Impact of Physico-Chemical Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystal/Silver Nanoparticle Hybrid Suspensions on Their Biocidal and Toxicological Effects

There is a demand for nanoparticles that are environmentally acceptable, but simultaneously efficient and low cost. We prepared silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) grafted on a native bio-based substrate (cellulose nanocrystals, CNCs) with high biocidal activity and no toxicological impact. AgNPs of 10 nm are nucleated on CNCs in aqueous suspension with content from 0.4 to 24.7 wt%. XANES experiments show that varying the NaBH4/AgNO3 molar ratio affects the AgNP oxidation state, while maintaining an fcc structure. AgNPs transition from 10 nm spherical NPs to 300 nm triangular-shaped AgNPrisms induced by H2O2 post-treatment. The 48 h biocidal activity of the hybrid tested on B. Subtilis is intensified with the increase of AgNP content irrespective of the Ag+/Ag0 ratio in AgNPs, while the AgNSphere-AgNPrism transition induces a significant reduction of biocidal activity. A very low minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.016 mg AgNP/mL is determined. A new long-term biocidal activity test (up to 168 h) proved efficiency favorable to the smaller AgNPs. Finally, it is shown that AgNPs have no impact on the phagocytic capacity of mammalian cells.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Biomass Valorisation: A Strategic Drive for Sustainable Bioeconomy

In the late twentieth century, the only cost-effective opportunity for waste removal cost at least several thousand dollars, but nowadays, a lot of improvement has occurred. The biomass and waste generation problems attracted concerned authorities to identify and provide environmentally friendly sustainable solutions that possess environmental and economic benefits. The present study emphasises the valorisation of biomass and waste produced by domestic and industrial sectors. Therefore, substantial research is ongoing to replace the traditional treatment methods that potentially acquire less detrimental effects. Synthetic biology can be a unique platform that invites all the relevant characters for designing and assembling an efficient program that could be useful to handle the increasing threat for human beings. In the future, these engineered methods will not only revolutionise our lives but practically lead us to get cheaper biofuels, producing bioenergy, pharmaceutics, and various biochemicals. The bioaugmentation approach concomitant with microbial fuel cells (MFC) is an example that is used to produce electricity from municipal waste, which is directly associated with the loading of waste. Beyond the traditional opportunities, herein, we have spotlighted the new advances in pertinent technology closely related to production and reduction approaches. Various integrated modern techniques and aspects related to the industrial sector are also discussed with suitable examples, including green energy and other industrially relevant products. However, many problems persist in present-day technology that requires essential efforts to handle thoroughly because significant valorisation of biomass and waste involves integrated methods for timely detection, classification, and separation. We reviewed and proposed the anticipated dispensation methods to overcome the growing stream of biomass and waste at a distinct and organisational scale.

Phytomediated Photo-Induced Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Matricaria chamomilla L. and Its Catalytic Activity against Rhodamine B

The bio-fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was carried out through the facile green route, using the aqueous extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. Herein, we have developed a cost-efficient, ecofriendly, and photo-induced method for the biomolecule-assisted synthesis of AgNPs using an aqueous extract of Matricaria chamomilla L. as a bio-reducing and capping/stabilizing agent. The biomolecule-capped AgNPs were confirmed from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at λmax = 450 nm using a UV-visible spectrometer. The stability of the AgNPs was confirmed by recording the UV-visible spectra for a more extended period, and no precipitation was observed in the sol. The morphology and structure of photo-induced biomolecule-capped AgNPs were characterized by different microscopic and spectroscopy techniques such as TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR analysis. The role of phytochemicals as reducing and stabilizing agents was confirmed by comparative FTIR analysis of the AgNPs and pure Matricaria chamomilla L. aqueous extract. The obtained result shows that the AgNPs are mostly spherical morphology with an average size of about 26 nm. Furthermore, the thermal stability of biomolecule-capped AgNPs was examined by TGA-DTG analysis that showed a weight loss of approximately 36.63% up to 800 °C. Moreover, the potential photocatalytic activity of photo-induced AgNPs against Rhodamine B (RB) was examined in the presence of UV light irradiation. The catalyst reusability, the effect of catalyst dosage and initial dye concentration, and the effect of the temperature and pH of the reaction medium were also assessed.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Rivina humilis leaf extract to tackle growth of Brucella species and other perilous pathogens

Novel approaches are obligatory to treat chronic intracellular bacterial infectious diseases like Brucellosis specifically, are very complicated to deal with. The aim of the study to take upon nanotechnology approach to exploit the efficacy of the synthesized nanoparticles, to overcome barriers for treatment of Brucella species and other pathogens. Present study used Rivina humilis extract as reductant of silver ions for synthesis of silver nanoparticles for the first time. Rh-AgNP's was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, DLS, FT-IR, SEM, EDS, TEM and XRD. Radical scavenging, antibrucellosis, bactericidal activity was evaluated. Clinical application was assessed by Rate of haemolysis, fibrinolytic and Hemagglutination activity. UV-visible spectrum of synthesized Rh-AgNP's showed maximum peak at 440 nm indicating the formation of nanoparticles. TEM showed that the average particle size of nanoparticles 51 nm with spherical shape, DLS depicted monodisperse state in water; EDS confirmed the presence of silver metal. Rh-AgNP's exhibited potential antibrucellosis activity against B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis effective inhibition at 800 μg/mL. The bio-compatibility of Rh-AgNP's was established by rate of haemolysis, hemagglutination and fibrinolytic activity. For the first time it has been proved that Rh-AgNP's have efficacy as antimicrobial agent with potential application in the biological domain.

Multifunctional titanium dioxide nanoparticles biofabricated via phytosynthetic route using extracts of Cola nitida: antimicrobial, dye degradation, antioxidant and anticoagulant activities

First study of phytosynthesis of TiO₂ NPs using the leaf (KL), pod (KP), seed (KS) and seed shell (KSS) extracts of kola nut tree (Cola nitida) is herein reported. The TiO₂ NPs were characterized and evaluated for their antimicrobial, dye degradation, antioxidant and anticoagulant activities. The nearly spherical-shaped particles had λmax of 272.5–275.0 nm with size range of 25.00–191.41 nm. FTIR analysis displayed prominent peaks at 3446.79, 1639.49 and 1382.96 cm⁻¹, indicating the involvement of phenolic compounds and proteins in the phytosynthesis of TiO₂ NPs. Both SAED and XRD showed bioformation of crystalline anatase TiO₂ NPs which inhibited multidrug-drug resistant bacteria and toxigenic fungi. The catalytic activities of the particles were profound, with degradation of malachite green by 83.48–86.28 % without exposure to UV-irradiation, scavenging of DPPH and H₂O₂by 51.19–60.08 %, and 78.45–99.23 % respectively. The particles as well prevented the coagulation of human blood. In addition to the antimicrobial and dye-degrading activities, we report for the first time the H₂O₂ scavenging and anticoagulant activities of TiO₂ NPs, showing that the particles can be useful for catalytic and biomedical applications.

Fungal xylanases-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles for catalytic and biomedical applications

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has fuelled the use of biomaterials to synthesise a variety of metallic nanoparticles. The current study investigates the use of xylanases of Aspergillus niger L3 (NEA) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2 (TEA) to synthesise silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Characterisation of AgNPs was carried out using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy, while their effectiveness as antimicrobial, antioxidant, catalytic, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic agents were determined. The colloidal AgNPs was brownish with surface plasmon resonance at 402.5 and 410 nm for NEA-AgNPs and TEA-AgNPs, respectively; while FTIR indicated that protein molecules were responsible for the capping and stabilisation of the nanoparticles. The spherical nanoparticles had size of 15.21-77.49 nm. The nanoparticles significantly inhibited the growth of tested bacteria (63.20-88.10%) and fungi (82.20-86.10%), and also scavenged DPPH (37.48-79.42%) and hydrogen peroxide (20.50-96.50%). In addition, the AgNPs degraded malachite green (78.97%) and methylene blue (25.30%). Furthermore, the AgNPs displayed excellent anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities using human blood. This study has demonstrated the potential of xylanases to synthesise AgNPs which is to the best of our knowledge the first record of such. The present study underscores the relevance of xylanases in nanobiotechnology.

Rapid microwave-assisted bio-synthesized silver/Dandelion catalyst with superior catalytic performance for dyes degradation

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized under microwave irradiation, a facile and efficient way, using dandelion extract as reducing and capping agents. The as-synthesized silver nanoparticles/Dandelion compounds (AgNPs/Dandelion) were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential and ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The catalytic degradation activity of AgNPs/Dandelion for Methyl orange (MO) and Rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of NaBH₄ were recorded by UV-vis spectroscopy. AgNPs/Dandelion exhibit excellent catalytic degradation activity for RhB and MO with rate constants of 0.1038 s^-1 and 0.0393 s^-1, respectively.

Ternary deep eutectic solvents for effective biomass deconstruction at high solids and low enzyme loadings

Ternary deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were developed to enable rapid and high-solid biomass pretreatment as well as concentrated sugar hydrolysate production. Six ternary DESs constituted choline chloride (ChCl) or guanidine hydrochloride (GH) as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), ethylene glycol (EG) or propylene glycol (PG) or glycerin (GLY) as a polyol-based hydrogen bond donor (HBD), and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) as an acidic HBD. GH-EG-PTSA was the most effective, evidenced by 79% xylan and 82% lignin removal in only 6 min at 120 °C and 10 wt% solid loading. Even at 35 wt% solid loading, both GH-EG-PTSA and ChCl-EG-PTSA still removed more than 60% xylan and lignin in 30 min. Using a 20% solid loading and a low enzyme loading of 5 mg protein/g solid, 128 g/L glucose and 20 g/L xylose was obtained, with a glucose yield of 78.4%. Overall, this study demonstrated novel and high-performance ternary DESs for effective lignocellulose deconstruction.

Potential Anticoagulant Activity of Trypsin Inhibitor Purified from an Isolated Marine Bacterium Oceanimonas Sp. BPMS22 and its Kinetics

Protease inhibitors control major biological protease activities to maintain physiological homeostasis. Marine bacteria isolated from oligotrophic conditions could be taxonomically distinct, metabolically unique, and offers a wide variety of biochemicals. In the present investigation, marine sediments were screened for the potential bacteria that can produce trypsin inhibitors. A moderate halotolerant novel marine bacterial strain of Oceanimonas sp. BPMS22 was isolated, identified, and characterized. The effect of various process parameters like salt concentration, temperature, and pH was studied on the growth of the bacteria and production of trypsin inhibitor. Further, the trypsin inhibitor was purified to near homogeneity using anion exchange, size exclusion, and affinity chromatography. The purified trypsin inhibitor was found to competitively inhibit trypsin activity with an inhibition coefficient, K_i, of 3.44 ± 0.13 μM and second-order association rate constant, k_ass, of 1.08 × 10³ M^-1 S^-1. The proteinaceous trypsin inhibitor had a molecular weight of approximately 30 kDa. The purified trypsin inhibitor showed anticoagulant activity on the human blood samples.

Bacterial indoleacetic acid-induced synthesis of colloidal Ag2O nanocrystals and their biological activities

The biosynthesis and biological activity of colloidal Ag₂O nanocrystals have not been well studied, although they have potential applications in many fields. For the first time, we developed a reducing agent free, cost-effective technique for Ag₂O biosynthesis using Xanthomonas sp. P5. The optimal conditions for Ag₂O synthesis were 50 °C, pH 8, and 2.5 mM AgNO₃. Using these conditions the yield of Ag₂O obtained at 10 h was about five times higher than that obtained at 12 h under unoptimized conditions. Ag₂O was characterized by FESEM-EDS, TEM, dynamic light scattering, XRD, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. Indoleacetic acid produced by the strain P2 was involved in the synthesis of Ag₂O. Ag₂O exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum against several human pathogens. Furthermore, Ag₂O exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC₅₀ = 25.1 µg/ml) and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (IC₅₀ = 16.8 µg/ml) radical scavenging activities, and inhibited collagenase (IC₅₀ = 27.9 mg/ml). Cytotoxicity of Ag₂O was tested in fibroblast cells and found to be non-toxic, demonstrating biocompatibility.

Biological synthesis and characterisation of silver nanoparticles using Pseudomonas geniculata H10 for pharmaceutical activity

In the present study, silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were synthesised for the first time using Pseudomonas geniculata H10 as reducing and stabilising agents. The synthesis of SNPs was the maximum when the culture supernatant was treated with 2.5 mM AgNO3 at pH 7 and 40°C for 10 h. The SNPs were characterised by field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the presence of proteins, suggesting they may have been responsible for the reduction and acted as capping agents. The SNPs displayed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (IC50 = 28.301 μg/ml) and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate (IC50 = 27.076 μg/ml) radical scavenging activities. The SNPs exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum against several human pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial action of SNPs was due to cell deformation resulting in cytoplasmic leakage and subsequent lysis. The authors' results indicate P. geniculata H10 could be used to produce antimicrobial SNPs in a facile, non-toxic, cost-effective manner, and that these SNPs can be used as effective growth inhibitors in various microorganisms, making them applicable to various biomedical and environmental systems. As far as the authors are aware, this study is the first to describe the potential biomedical applications of SNPs synthesised using P. geniculata.

Limonia acidissima L. leaf mediated synthesis of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles and their antibacterial activities

Green chemistry is a novel method for the synthesis of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles. The present investigation focused on synthesis of biogenic silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles. They were assayed for their antibacterial activities against test bacterial species. The results revealed that the silver nanoparticles showed the maximum zone of inhibition 15.16, 15.5 and 13.33 mm at 400 μg/mL to S. aureus, S. typhi and P. aeruginosa respectively, when compared to the Erythromycin. While zinc oxide nanoparticles showed less activity in comparison to silver nanoparticles owing to the agglomeration of nanoparticles. It is evident from our investigation that silver nanoparticles could be used as an antimicrobial due to their intrinsic properties in biomedical application and food packing industries.

Promising biocidal activity of thymol loaded chitosan silver nanoparticles (T-C@AgNPs) as anti-infective agents against perilous pathogens

The advent of biodegradable polymer-encapsulated drug nanoparticles has made an exciting area of drug delivery research. The present study investigated novel and simple route for synthesis of thymol loaded chitosan silver nanoparticles (T-C@AgNPs) using chitosan and thymol as reducing, capping agent respectively to understand the therapeutic efficacy. The UV-vis spectroscopy, DLS, FT-IR, SEM, EDS, XRD used for characterization and radical scavenging activity, anti-microbial and biocompatibility was taken to ascertain an efficacy of novel T-C@AgNPs. The T-C@AgNPs intense peak at 490nm indicates the formation of nanoparticles and had average particle size of 28.94nm with spherical shape, monodisperse state in water, also exhibited excellent biocompatibility of cubic shaped pure silver element containing T-C@AgNPs. The antibacterial activity was studied for gram positive and gram negative food-borne pathogens and effective inhibition at 100μgmL^-1 to S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus (10.08, 10.00, 11.23mm) and S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa and S. flexneri (9.28, 9.33, 12.03mm) compared to antibiotic Streptomycin. This study revealed the efficacy against multiple food-borne pathogens and therapeutic efficacy of T-C@AgNPs offers a valuable contribution in the area of nanotechnology. This proved to be a first-class novel antimicrobial material for the first time in this study.

Paper wasp nest-mediated biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial, catalytic, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic applications

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using nest extract of paper wasp (Polistes sp) was investigated in this work. The AgNPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and evaluated for antibacterial, antifungal, dye degradation, blood anticoagulation, and blood clot dissolution (thrombolytic) activities. The crystalline polydispersed AgNPs with size range of 12.5–95.55 nm absorbed maximally at 428 nm and showed anisotropic structures of sphere, triangle, hexagon, rod, and rhombus. The FTIR data showed prominent peaks at 3426 and 1641 cm⁻¹, which indicate the involvement of phenolics compounds and proteins in the synthesis of AgNPs. The prominence of Ag in the EDX spectra showed that indeed, AgNPs were formed. The AgNPs showed potent antibacterial activities (12–35 mm) against three multi-drug strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella granulomatis. While the growth of Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger was completely suppressed, the AgNPs produced growth inhibition of 75.61 % against Aspergillus fumigatus at 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, the AgNPs degraded malachite green to the tune of 93.1 %. The AgNPs also prevented coagulation of blood, while it completely dissolved preformed blood clots within 5 min showing the potent anticoagulation and thrombolytic activities. This study, which is the first of its kind to use nest extract of paper wasp for the synthesis of nanoparticles, has shown that the biosynthesized AgNPs could be deployed for biomedical and catalytic applications.

Biomedical and Catalytic Applications of Gold and Silver-Gold Alloy Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Cell-Free Extract of Bacillus Safensis LAU 13: Antifungal, Dye Degradation, Anti-Coagulant and Thrombolytic Activities

This study investigated the green biosynthesis of gold (Au) and silver-gold alloy (Ag-Au) nanoparticles using cell-free extract of Bacillus safensis LAU 13 strain (GenBank accession No: KJ461434). The biosynthesized AuNPs and Ag-AuNPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Evaluation of the antifungal activities, degradation of malachite green, anti-coagulation of blood, and thrombolysis of human blood clot by the biosynthesized nanoparticles were investigated. The AuNPs and Ag-AuNPs had maximum absorbance at 561 and 545 nm, respectively. The FTIR peaks at 3318, 2378, 2114, 1998, 1636, 1287, 446, 421 cm^-1 for AuNPs; and 3310, 2345, 2203, 2033, 1636, 1273, 502, 453, 424 cm^-1 for Ag-AuNPs indicated that proteins were the capping and stabilization molecules in the biosynthesized nanoparticles. The particles were fairly spherical in shape with size of 10-45 nm for AuNPs and 13-80 nm for Ag-AuNPs. Moreover, energy dispersive X-ray analysis of AuNPs revealed gold as the most prominent metal in the AuNPs solution, while silver and gold were the most prominent in the case of Ag-AuNPs. Selected area electron diffraction showed the biosynthesized nanoparticles as crystal structures with ring shape pattern. AuNPs and Ag-AuNPs displayed growth inhibitions of 66.67-90.78% against strains of Aspergillus fumigatus and A. niger at concentration of 200 μg/ml , and remarkable degradation (> 90%) of malachite green after 48 h. Furthermore, the nanoparticles prevented coagulation of blood, and also completely dissolved blood clots, indicating the biomedical potential of AuNPs and Ag-AuNPs in the management of blood coagulation disorders. This is the first report of the synthesis of AuNPs and Ag-AuNPs using a strain of B. safensis for biomedical and catalytic applications.

Exploitation of Food Industry Waste for High-Value Products

A growing global population leads to an increasing demand for food production and the processing industry associated with it and consequently the generation of large amounts of food waste. This problem is intensified due to slow progress in the development of effective waste management strategies and measures for the proper treatment and disposal of waste. Food waste is a reservoir of complex carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nutraceuticals and can form the raw materials for commercially important metabolites. The current legislation on food waste treatment prioritises the prevention of waste generation and least emphasises disposal. Recent valorisation studies for food supply chain waste opens avenues to the production of biofuels, enzymes, bioactive compounds, biodegradable plastics, and nanoparticles among many other molecules.