Magnetically responsive antibacterial nanocrystalline jute cellulose nanocomposites with moderate catalytic activity

Dual roles of nanocrystalline cellulose extracted from jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) leaves in resisting antibiotics and protecting probiotics

Antibiotics can cure diseases caused by bacterial infections, but their widespread use can have some side effects, such as probiotic reduction. There is an urgent need for such agents that can not only alleviate the damage caused by antibiotics, but also maintain the balance of the gut microbiota. In this study, we first characterized the nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) extracted from plant jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) leaves. Next, we evaluated the protective effect of jute NCC and cellulose on human model gut bacteria (Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Escherichia coli) under antibiotic stress by measuring bacterial growth and colony forming units. We found that NCC is more effective than cellulose in adsorbing antibiotics and defending the gut bacteria E. coli. Interestingly, the low-dose jute NCC clearly maintained the balance of key gut bacteria like Snodgrassella alvi and Lactobacillus Firm-4 in bees treated with tetracycline and reduced the toxicity caused by antibiotics. It also showed a more significant protective effect on human gut bacteria, especially L. rhamnosus, than cellulose. This study first demonstrated that low-dose NCC performed satisfactorily as a specific probiotic to mitigate the adverse effects of antibiotics on gut bacteria.

Jute (Corchorus olitorius L.) Nanocrystalline Cellulose Inhibits Insect Virus via Gut Microbiota and Metabolism

Natural plant nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), exhibiting a number of exceptional performance characteristics, is widely used in food fields. However, little is known about the relationship between NCC and the antiviral effect in animals. Here, we tested the function of NCC in antiviral methods utilizing honey bees as the model organism employing Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), a typical RNA virus of honey bees. In both the lab and the field, we fed the IAPV-infected bees various doses of jute NCC (JNCC) under carefully controlled conditions. We found that JNCC can reduce IAPV proliferation and improve gut health. The metagenome profiling suggested that IAPV infection significantly decreased the abundance of gut core bacteria, while JNCC therapy considerably increased the abundance of the gut core bacteria Snodgrassella alvi and Lactobacillus Firm-4. Subsequent metabolome analysis further revealed that JNCC promoted the biosynthesis of fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids, accelerated the purine metabolism, and then increased the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and the genes involved in the Wnt and apoptosis signaling pathways against IAPV infection. Our results highlighted that JNCC could be considered as a prospective candidate agent against a viral infection.

An Overview of Stimuli-Responsive Intelligent Antibacterial Nanomaterials

Drug-resistant bacteria and infectious diseases associated with biofilms pose a significant global health threat. The integration and advancement of nanotechnology in antibacterial research offer a promising avenue to combat bacterial resistance. Nanomaterials possess numerous advantages, such as customizable designs, adjustable shapes and sizes, and the ability to synergistically utilize multiple active components, allowing for precise targeting based on specific microenvironmental variations. They serve as a promising alternative to antibiotics with diverse medical applications. Here, we discuss the formation of bacterial resistance and antibacterial strategies, and focuses on utilizing the distinctive physicochemical properties of nanomaterials to achieve inherent antibacterial effects by investigating the mechanisms of bacterial resistance. Additionally, we discuss the advancements in developing intelligent nanoscale antibacterial agents that exhibit responsiveness to both endogenous and exogenous responsive stimuli. These nanomaterials hold potential for enhanced antibacterial efficacy by utilizing stimuli such as pH, temperature, light, or ultrasound. Finally, we provide a comprehensive outlook on the existing challenges and future clinical prospects, offering valuable insights for the development of safer and more effective antibacterial nanomaterials.

Synthesis of Magnetic Iron Oxide-Incorporated Cellulose Composite Particles: An Investigation on Antioxidant Properties and Drug Delivery Applications

In recent years, polymer-supported magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIO-NPs) have gained a lot of attention in biomedical and healthcare applications due to their unique magnetic properties, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In this study, waste tissue papers (WTP) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were utilized to prepare magnetic iron oxide (MIO)-incorporated WTP/MIO and SCB/MIO nanocomposite particles (NCPs) based on in situ co-precipitation methods, and they were characterized using advanced spectroscopic techniques. In addition, their anti-oxidant and drug-delivery properties were investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses revealed that the shapes of the MIO-NPs, SCB/MIO-NCPs, and WTP/MIO-NCPs were agglomerated and irregularly spherical with a crystallite size of 12.38 nm, 10.85 nm, and 11.47 nm, respectively. Vibrational sample magnetometry (VSM) analysis showed that both the NPs and the NCPs were paramagnetic. The free radical scavenging assay ascertained that the WTP/MIO-NCPs, SCB/MIO-NCPs, and MIO-NPs exhibited almost negligible antioxidant activity in comparison to ascorbic acid. The swelling capacities of the SCB/MIO-NCPs and WTP/MIO-NCPs were 155.0% and 159.5%, respectively, which were much higher than the swelling efficiencies of cellulose-SCB (58.3%) and cellulose-WTP (61.6%). The order of metronidazole drug loading after 3 days was: cellulose-SCB < cellulose-WTP < MIO-NPs < SCB/MIO-NCPs < WTP/MIO-NCPs, whereas the sequence of the drug-releasing rate after 240 min was: WTP/MIO-NCPs < SCB/MIO-NCPs < MIO-NPs < cellulose-WTP < cellulose-SCB. Overall, the results of this study showed that the incorporation of MIO-NPs in the cellulose matrix increased the swelling capacity, drug-loading capacity, and drug-releasing time. Therefore, cellulose/MIO-NCPs obtained from waste materials such as SCB and WTP can be used as a potential vehicle for medical applications, especially in a metronidazole drug delivery system.

Cellulose/inorganic nanoparticles-based nano-biocomposite for abatement of water and wastewater pollutants

Nanostructured materials offer a significant role in wastewater treatment with diminished capital and operational expense, low dose, and pollutant selectivity. Specifically, the nanocomposites of cellulose with inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have drawn a prodigious interest because of the extraordinary cellulose properties, high specific surface area, and pollutant selectivity of NPs. Integrating inorganic NPs with cellulose biopolymers for wastewater treatment is a promising advantage for inorganic NPs, such as colloidal stability, agglomeration prevention, and easy isolation of magnetic material after use. This article presents a comprehensive overview of water treatment approaches following wastewater remediation by green and environmentally friendly cellulose/inorganic nanoparticles-based bio-nanocomposites. The functionalization of cellulose, functionalization mechanism, and engineered hybrid materials were thoroughly discussed. Moreover, we also highlighted the purification of wastewater through the composites of cellulose/inorganic nanoparticles via adsorption, photocatalytic and antibacterial approach.

Evaluation of the multifunctional activity of silver bionanocomposites in environmental remediation and inhibition of the growth of multidrug-resistant pathogens

Imperata cylindrica cellulose supported Ag bionanocomposites purified industrial water and controlled the contagious diseases with high potential activity.

A critical review on the techniques used for the synthesis and applications of crystalline cellulose derived from agricultural wastes and forest residues

In order to meet the growing energy crisis of the 21st century, the utilization of bio-based materials has become a field of high research endeavour. In view of that, the present review paper is focused on different techniques that are frequently explored for the synthesis of value-added crystalline derivatives of cellulose like MCC and NCC from agricultural wastes and forest residues. Moreover, a comparative analysis between thermochemical and biochemical methods is carried out for such valorization of biomass considering the mechanism involved with various reactions. Further, a critical analysis is performed on various individual techniques specifically used for the applications of MCC and NCC in different fields including environmental, polymer industry, pharmaceutical and other emerging sectors. This article will assist the readers not only to explore new biomass sources but also provides an in-depth insight on various green and cost-effective methods for sustainable production of crystalline cellulose.

Silver-Modified β-Cyclodextrin Polymer for Water Treatment: A Balanced Adsorption and Antibacterial Performance

Water pollution caused by organic pollutants and pathogenic microorganism is a critical issue. In this study, we reported a silver-modified β-cyclodextrin polymer (CD-CA/PDA-Ag) used for the removal of dyes and the suppression of microorganisms from water. In order to avoid silver nanoparticles agglomeration, the material was first coated with polydopamine (PDA) on β-cyclodextrin matrix, whose reducing catechol groups subsequently immobilized silver ions in situ to form uniformly dispersed silver nanoparticles. CD-CA/PDA-0.5Ag displayed a high adsorption capacity of methylene blue (535.93 mg/g), which is mainly attributed to electrostatic interactions, host-guest inclusions and π-π bond stacking effects. Furthermore, both diffusion inhibition zone tests and colony formation unit tests were investigated, which showed excellent antimicrobial capability on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. auerus). Overall, CD-CA/PDA-Ag proved to have an excellent adsorption capacity and antibacterial performance, which provides a great potential in water purification.

Cotton Textile/Iron Oxide Nanozyme Composites with Peroxidase-like Activity: Preparation, Characterization, and Application

At present, both native and immobilized nanoparticles are of great importance in many areas of science and technology. In this paper, we have studied magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their aggregates bound on woven cotton textiles employing two simple modification procedures. One modification was based on the treatment of textiles with perchloric-acid-stabilized magnetic fluid diluted with methanol followed by drying. The second procedure was based on the microwave-assisted conversion of ferrous sulfate at high pH followed by drying. The structure and functional properties of these modified textiles were analyzed in detail. Scanning electron microscopy of native and modified textiles clearly showed the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles on the surface of the modified cotton fibers. All of the modified textile materials exhibited light to dark brown color depending on the amount of the bound iron oxide particles. Magnetic measurements showed that the saturation magnetization values reflect the amount of magnetic nanoparticles present in the modified textiles. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering measurements were conducted for the detailed structural characterization at the nanoscale of both the native and magnetically modified textiles, and different structural organization of nanoparticles in the two kinds of textile samples were concluded. The textile-bound iron oxide particles exhibited peroxidase-like activity when the N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate salt was used as a substrate; this nanozyme activity enabled rapid decolorization of crystal violet in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The deposition of a sufficient amount of iron oxide particles on textiles enabled their simple magnetic separation from large volumes of solutions; if necessary, the magnetic response of the modified textiles can be simply increased by incorporation of a piece of magnetic iron wire. The simplicity of the immobilized nanozyme preparation and the low cost of all the precursors enable its widespread application, such as decolorization and degradation of selected organic dyes and other important pollutants. Other types of textile-bound nanozymes can be prepared and used as low-cost catalysts for a variety of applications.