Statistical optimization of silver nanoparticle synthesis by green tea extract and its efficacy on colorimetric detection of mercury from industrial waste water

A smartphone sensing fluorescent detection of mercury ion based on silicon quantum dots in environment water

Mercury ion (Hg2+) pose a significant hazard to the natural environment. Conventional techniques like Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, among others, pose some disadvantages as they demand a lot of money, need trained employees, and cannot provide on-site detection in real-time. A smartphone sensing technique based on silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) was presented to detect Hg2+ in the environment without the usage of sophisticated equipment. Meanwhile, the technology was built by utilizing a smartphone to capture gray values of fluorescent images of the Si-QDs-Hg2+ system. Microwave-assisted Si-QDs with tiny particle size, high fluorescence, and good optical stability were created. The fluorescence of the Si-QDs was gradually quenched by raising the Hg2+ concentration from 0.5 μmol/L to 5.0 μmol/L for fluorescent detection with a detection limit of 28 nmol/L. The 94.8-97.1 % recovery demonstrated the viability of the Si-QDs approach for detecting Hg2+. Meanwhile, a smartphone sensing strategy was built by recording the gray value of the fluorescent images of the Si-QDs-Hg2+ systems using a smartphone, and the detection limit of the established approach was 3 nmol/L. The accuracy and reliability of the smartphone strategy were verified with the recovery rates of 80.3-92.5 % in tap water and 87.6-109 % in river water. Electron transfer quenching mechanism between Si-QDs and Hg2+ was evidenced by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescent decay curves, cyclic voltammetry, and Zeta potential. Finally, the suggested approach was used to detect Hg2+ in water samples from various environments.

"Sustainable synthesis of Camellia sinensis-mediated silver nanoparticles (CsAgNP) and their anticancer mechanisms in breast cancer cells"

The present investigation focuses on synthesizing eco-friendly and cost-effective silver nanoparticles (CsAgNP) utilizing Camellia sinensis ethanolic extract (CsE) as a reducing agent and investigating the potential enhancement in its anticancer efficacy as compared to CsE. The CsAgNP formation was confirmed through the color change from pale green to dark brown and further validated using UV-visible spectroscopy in the 400-450 nm range. The optimal CsAgNP synthesis parameters include 1:4 ratio of CsE: 1 mM AgNO3, 60 min of duration and 50 °C reaction temperature. The morphology and the size of nanoparticles were estimated using AFM, SEM and TEM where the results showed a smooth topography with a size <100 nm. The CsAgNP crystalline form was confirmed through SAED pictures and silver's presence confirmed through EDX analysis. FTIR study ascertained the capping agents and distortion in functional groups compared to CsE. The anticancer potency of CsAgNP and crude extract (CsE) was assessed against the T-47D breast cancer cells by MTT assay. CsAgNP displayed strong activity towards T-47D cells (IC50 8 μg/ml) compared to CsE and relatively low activity towards the normal HEK-293 cells. Further, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry data revealed that the CsAgNP promotes apoptosis and also induces G2-M phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, CsAgNP treatment decreases p53 and Bcl-2 protein expression, while increasing Bax, Cytochrome c and Caspase-3 levels, indicating mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic pathway activation. Thus, our research aims to investigate the potential of using Camellia sinensis to synthesize CsAgNP, a potent drug delivery system, to enhance anticancer effectiveness and advance cancer therapy in the future.

Recent advances review in tea waste: High-value applications, processing technology, and value-added products

Tea waste (TW) includes pruned tea tree branches, discarded summer and fall teas, buds and wastes from the tea making process, as well as residues remaining after tea preparation. Effective utilization and proper management of TW is essential to increase the economic value of the tea industry. Through effective utilization of tea waste, products such as activated carbon, biochar, composite membranes, and metal nanoparticle composites can be produced and successfully applied in the fields of fuel production, composting, preservation, and heavy metal adsorption. Comprehensive utilization of tea waste is an effective and sustainable strategy to improve the economic efficiency of the tea industry and can be applied in various fields such as energy production, energy storage and pharmaceuticals. This study reviews recent advances in the strategic utilization of TW, including its processing, conversion technologies and high value products obtained, provides insights into the potential applications of tea waste in the plant, animal and environmental sectors, summarizes the effective applications of tea waste for energy and environmental sustainability, and discusses the effectiveness, variability, advantages and disadvantages of different processing and thermochemical conversion technologies. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of producing new products from tea wastes and their derivatives are analyzed, and recommendations for future development of high-value products to improve the efficiency and economic value of tea by-products are presented.

Detecting dissolved mercury(ii) ions using chitosan-AgNP strips integrated with smartphones

A simple preparation of a paper strip test with a smartphone-based instrument for detecting dissolved mercury is still in development. This study aims to develop a smartphone-based colorimetric paper strip test using chitosan-stabilized silver nanoparticles for detecting dissolved mercury. The method demonstrated high sensitivity and selectivity for Hg2+ ions, with detection limits comparable to UV-vis spectrophotometry. Silver ions embedded in the chitosan matrix were reduced by either sodium NaBH4 or N2H4. Both chi-AgNP colloidal and chi-AgNP paper strips were tested for sensitivity of mercury(ii) solution detection with and without ion interference. The accuracy of colour change responding to the mercury concentration was recorded with several smartphones in a handmade cubical and a T-shape micro-studio. Only NaBH4 gives colloidal chi-AgNPs relatively dispersed, and the colloidal chi-AgNPs become aggregated when AgNP interacts with mercury(ii) ions. The colour change of chi-AgNP paper strips responding to the concentration of mercury(ii) and quantified using a smartphone is consistent when confirmed with UV-vis spectrophotometric determination with a comparable limit of detection (0.76 μM). The inferring ions do not significantly affect mercury(ii) analyses. Therefore, the paper strip integrated with the smartphone is effectively used for mercury(ii) detection in water as long as the mercury concentration is >1 μM. This finding might inspire advanced technology with a larger number of data references, and machine learning involvement to develop more compatible and simple mercury detection.

Role of silver nanoparticles and silver nanoclusters for the detection and removal of Hg(ii)

Silver metal, being a 3d transition metal in group 11 in the periodic table, is widely used in material science for its distinguished plasmonic properties. Nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoclusters (NCs) are widely used in sensing applications having a surface plasmon band and emissive properties, respectively. Mercury is one of the detrimental toxins and threats to various ecosystems. The distinction between nanoparticles and nanoclusters, the utility and toxicity of heavy metal mercury, fluorometric and colorimetric approaches to the recognition of mercury ions with NPs and NCs, the mechanism of detection, spot detection, and natural water sample analyses were illustrated in detail in this review article. Moreover, the sensing platform and analyte (Hg2+) fate were described for substantiating the mechanism. It was observed that NCs are mostly utilized for fluorometric approaches, while NPs are mostly employed for colorimetric approaches. Fluorometric detection is mainly quenching-based. However, sensing with enhancement was found in a few reports. Adulteration of other metals with silver particles often modifies the sensing platform.

Green Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Silver Nanoparticles Using Bioflocculant: A Review

Nanotechnology has emerged as an effective means of removing contaminants from water. Traditional techniques for producing nanoparticles, such as physical methods (condensation and evaporation) and chemical methods (oxidation and reduction), have demonstrated high efficiency. However, these methods come with certain drawbacks, including the significant energy requirement and the use of costly and hazardous chemicals that may cause nanoparticles to adhere to surfaces. To address these limitations, researchers are actively developing alternative procedures that are cost-effective, environmentally safe, and user-friendly. One promising approach involves biological synthesis, which utilizes plants or microorganisms as reducing and capping agents. This review discusses various methods of nanoparticle synthesis, with a focus on biological synthesis using naturally occurring bioflocculants from microorganisms. Bioflocculants offer several advantages, including harmlessness, biodegradability, and minimal secondary pollution. Furthermore, the review covers the characterization of synthesized nanoparticles, their antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity. Additionally, it explores the utilization of these NPs in water purification and dye removal processes.

Ecofriendly ratiometric colorimetric determination of mercury(II) ion in environmental water samples using gallic acid-capped gold nanoparticles

Today, the monitoring and determination of heavy metal pollutants in the environment is an essential requirement for the environmental and research communities. Mercury ion is one of the most hazardous heavy metals, and scientists are trying to develop new methods for its detection. In this study, a new colorimetric sensor based on aggregation gallic acid-capped gold nanoparticles (GA-AuNPs) for the determination of mercury ions in environmental water samples was presented. The green synthesized GA-AuNPs exhibited a sharp surface plasmon resonance peak at 515 nm. The addition of mercury ions changed the surface properties of GA-AuNPs, resulting in the formation of a new peak near 670 nm due to the aggregation of GA-AuNPs, and an obvious color change from red to purple occurred. Thus, mercury ions were detected based on the change in the absorbance ratio (A670/A515). The developed sensor can determine the mercury ions in the concentration range of 78.0 nM to 8.3 µM with a detection limit of 5.5 nM. Based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reports, the amount of Hg2+ ions in fresh water should be between 10.0 and 30.0 nM. The results indicate that the developed sensor can detect and determine trace amounts of Hg2+ ions in environmental water samples.

Pure Epigallocatechin-3-gallate-Assisted Green Synthesis of Highly Stable Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (NPs) are conventionally produced by using physical and chemical methods that are no longer in alignment with current society's demand for a low environmental impact. Accordingly, green synthesis approaches are considered a potential alternative due to the plant extracts that substitute some of the hazardous reagents. The general mechanism is based on the reducing power of natural products that allows the formation of NPs from a precursor solution. In this context, our study proposes a simple, innovative, and reproducible green approach for the synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2 NPs) that uses, for the first time, the major component of green tea (Camellia sinensis)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a non-toxic, dietary, accessible, and bioactive molecule. The influence of EGCG on the formation of TiO2 NPs was analyzed by comparing the physicochemical characteristics of green synthesized NPs with the chemically obtained ones. The synthesis of bare TiO2 NPs was performed by hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide in distilled water, and green TiO2 NPs were obtained in the same conditions, but in the presence of a 1 mM EGCG aqueous solution. The formation of TiO2 NPs was confirmed by UV-VIS and FTIR spectroscopy. SEM micrographs showed spherical particles with relatively low diameters. Our findings also revealed that green synthesized NPs were more stable in colloids than the chemically synthesized ones. However, the phytocompound negatively influenced the formation of a crystalline structure in the green synthesized TiO2 NPs. Furthermore, the synthesis of EGCG-TiO2 NPs could become a versatile choice for applications extending beyond photocatalysis, including promising prospects in the biomedical field.

Ecotoxicological insights: Effects of pesticides on ionic metabolism regulation in freshwater catfish, Mystus keletius

Fish maintain their body fluid ionic and osmotic homeostasis using sophisticated iono-/osmoregulation mechanisms through gills ionocytes. Pesticide-induced ionic imbalance in fish has been recognized as a valuable tool to determine its toxic effects. Acute exposure to synthetic and organo-chemical pesticides on the regulation of ionic (Na+, Ca2+, P) metabolism in freshwater catfish Mystus keletius was evaluated. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations (mg/l) of selected pesticide for a period of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Results indicated that chemical pesticides - Impala and Ekalux - evoked adverse toxic effects on selected tissues compared to organo-chemical pesticide tested. Statistical analysis of the summative data using two-way ANOVA was significant (p-value<0.001). Variations in the cellular parameters analysed were attributed to the physiological acclimatization of fish to the pesticide exposed. Based on the results it is concluded that organic pesticides may be preferred for rice field application considering safety aspects.

Statistical optimization, characterization, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of silver nanoparticle biosynthesized by saw palmetto seed phenolic extract

On the global market, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are in high demand for their various applications in biomedicine, material engineering, and consumer products. This study highlighted the biosynthesis of the Ag-NPs using saw palmetto seed phenolic extract (SPS-phenolic extract), which contained vital antioxidant-phenolic compounds. Herein, central composite statistical design, response surface methodology, and sixteen runs were conducted to optimize Ag-NPs biosynthesis conditions for maximizing the production of Ag-NPs and their phenolic content. The best-produced SPS-Ag-NPs showed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 460 nm and nano-spherical sizes ranging from 11.17 to 38.32 nm using the UV spectrum analysis and TEM images, respectively. The produced SPS-Ag-NPs displayed a high negative zeta-potential value (- 32.8 mV) demonstrating their high stability. The FTIR analysis demonstrated that SPS-phenolic compounds were involved in sliver bio-reduction and in stabilizing, capping, and preventing Ag-NP aggregation. The thermogravimetric investigation revealed that the produced SPS-Ag-NPs have remarkable thermal stability. The produced SPS-Ag-NP exceeded total antioxidant activity (13.8 µmol Trolox equivalent) more than the SPS-phenolic extract (12.0 µmol Trolox equivalent). The biosynthesized SPS-Ag-NPs exhibited noticeably better antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus compared to SPS-phenolic extract. Hence, the bio-synthesized SPS-Ag-NPs demonstrated great potential for use in biomedical and antimicrobial applications.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Optimizing Green Tea Leaf Extraction for Enhanced Physicochemical Properties

In this paper, we present the optimization of green tea leaf (Camellia sinensis L.) extraction, carried out using water and hydroalcoholic solvents, for the subsequent synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The value ranges for independent variables, including pH, time, and temperature, were selected based on single-factor experiments and used for extraction in the order presented by the Box-Behnken design. Three-dimensional response surface graphs were used to visually present the optimization results and determine the optimal extraction conditions: pH = 7, 30 min, 80 °C for water and pH = 5.5, 50 min, and 80 °C for water-ethanol. Our findings indicate that the water-ethanol mixture extracted more polyphenols. We compared the physicochemical properties of AgNPs obtained using both types of extractants via DLS and TEM analysis. We proposed a predicted mechanism for the reduction and stabilization of AgNPs based on the Fourier transform infrared data. The hydroethanolic extract leads to significant nanoparticle aggregation, which can be explained by the nucleation theory and agglomeration of nanoparticles in the presence of excess macromolecular organic substances (flocculation).

Circular dichroism assessment of an imidazole antifungal drug with plant based silver nanoparticles: Quantitative and DFT analysis

Circular dichroism (CD) methods have been developed for the analysis of luliconazole (LUC) using plant based silver nanoparticles (P-AgNPs). Cleaner and natural approach have found significant attention in recent times owing to their exceptional physicochemical characteristics. Utilizing FTIR, SEM, and XRD, the produced nanoparticles were analyzed. The produced P-AgNPs were then used to assay LUC in formulation drugs. Four CD methods are developed as zero order and second order derivative methods. Methods I and II are based on a normal CD scan (zero order) that produced calibration range from 2 - 16 μgmL^-1 at 232 nm (positive band) and 299 nm (negative band), respectively. Methods III and IV are the second order derivative methods that are developed at 232 nm (negative band) and at 251 nm (positive band). Density functional theory study was done to comprehend the feasibility of the developed methods and to optimize the structure and energy gap that validated the experimental procedure. The LUC assay methods using the proposed CD approach are simple, sensitive and precise with a limit of detection for methods I, II, III and IV of 0.527, 0.428, 0.250 and 0.30 μgmL^-1 and limit of quantification of 1.75, 1.42, 0.833 and 1.0 μgmL^-1, respectively. For intra- and inter-day precision, the recovery data ranged from 99.48 to 101% and 99.37 to 101%, respectively. The methods were used in dosage forms that produced a relative standard deviation of less than 2% and the true bias (θ_L and θ_U) within ±2%, demonstrating the potential use of the developed methods.

Colorimetric sensor for Cr (VI) by oxidative etching of gold nanotetrapods at room temperature

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is highly carcinogenic and mutagenic, which is seriously harmful to human health. Hence, it is important to create a probe that can detect Cr(VI) effectively. In this work, gold nanotetrapods (Au NTPs) were applied in colorimetric detection for the first time. Based on the oxidative etching principle of Cr(VI) on Au NTPs, a sensitive and multicolor response detection method for Cr(VI) was established. The oxidative etching of Au NTPs by Cr(VI) resulted in the blue shift of plasmon resonance absorption peak of Au NTPs with the change of morphology. As the etching progress processed, Au NTPs solution exhibited obvious color changes from gray-green to blue-violet and then to pink. This multicolor response design is very convenient for naked-eye detection. The limit of detection (LOD) of Cr(VI) is 3 nM for the naked eyes and 0.5 nM for UV-vis spectrum, both of which are lower than the toxicity level of Cr(VI) (0.2 μM) set by United States Environmental Protection Agency. This sensing method exhibits good linearity between the wavelength shift and Cr(VI) concentration in the range of 0.5 nM to 8 nM. The detection results of Cr(VI) in actual environmental samples demonstrate that the Au NTPs colorimetric probe (Au-N-Probe) is expected to be applied to the detection of Cr(VI) in water environmental samples such as lake water and industrial wastewater.

Sustainable fabrication of hybrid silver-copper nanocomposites (Ag-CuO NCs) using Ocimum americanum L. as an effective regime against antibacterial, anticancer, photocatalytic dye degradation and microalgae toxicity

In this study, a sustainable fabrication of hybrid silver-copper oxide nanocomposites (Ag-CuO NCs) was accomplished utilizing Ocimum americanum L. by one pot green chemistry method. The multifarious biological and environmental applications of the green fabricated Ag-CuO NCs were evaluated through their antibacterial, anticancer, dye degradation, and microalgae growth inhibition activities. The morphological features of the surface functionalized hybrid Ag-CuO NCs were confirmed by FE-SEM and HR-TEM techniques. The surface plasmon resonance λ_max peak appeared at 441.56 nm. The average hydrodynamic size distribution of synthesized nanocomposite was 69.80 nm. Zeta potential analysis of Ag-CuO NCs confirmed its remarkable stability at -21.5 mV. XRD and XPS techniques validated the crystalline structure and electron binding affinity of NCs, respectively. The Ag-CuO NCs demonstrated excellent inhibitory activity against Vibrio cholerae (19.93 ± 0.29 mm) at 100 μg/mL. Anticancer efficacy of Ag-CuO NCs was investigated against the A549 lung cancer cell line, and Ag-CuO NCs exhibited outstanding antiproliferative activity with a low IC₅₀ of 2.8 ± 0.05 μg/mL. Furthermore, staining and comet assays substantiated that the Ag-CuO NCs hindered the progression of the A549 cells and induced apoptosis as a result of cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase. Concerning the environmental applications, the Ag-CuO NCs displayed efficient photocatalytic activity against eosin yellow degradation up to 80.94% under sunlight irradiation. Microalgae can be used as an early bio-indicator/prediction of environmental contaminants and toxic substances. The treatment of the Ag-CuO NCs on the growth of marine microalgae Tetraselmis suecica demonstrated the dose and time-dependent growth reduction and variations in the chlorophyll content. Therefore, the efficient multifunctional properties of hybrid Ag-CuO NCs could be exploited as a regime against infective diseases and cancer. Further, the findings of our investigation witness the remarkable scope and potency of Ag-CuO NCs for environmental applications.

Bactericidal Activity of Silver Nanoparticles on Oral Biofilms Related to Patients with and without Periodontal Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Periodontal disease (PD) is a multifactorial oral disease regularly caused by bacterial biofilms. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have offered good antimicrobial activity; moreover, there is no available scientific information related to their antimicrobial effects in biofilms from patients with PD. This study reports the bactericidal activity of AgNP against oral biofilms related to PD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AgNP of two average particle sizes were prepared and characterized. Sixty biofilms were collected from patients with (30 subjects) and without PD (30 subjects). Minimal inhibitory concentrations of AgNP were calculated and the distribution of bacterial species was defined by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Well-dispersed sizes of AgNP were obtained (5.4 ± 1.3 and 17.5 ± 3.4 nm) with an adequate electrical stability (-38.2 ± 5.8 and -32.6 ± 5.4 mV, respectively). AgNP showed antimicrobial activities for all oral samples; however, the smaller AgNP had significantly the most increased bactericidal effects (71.7 ± 39.1 µg/mL). The most resistant bacteria were found in biofilms from PD subjects (p < 0.05). P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia were present in all PD biofilms (100%).

CONCLUSIONS

The AgNP showed efficient bactericidal properties as an alternative therapy for the control or progression of PD.

Floral waste synthesized silver nanoparticles as sensor for Cr (VI) ion detection

The presence of heavy metal ions, particularly Cr (VI) in water, is a serious environmental concern. There is a need to develop low-cost and efficient methods for sensing and removing Cr (IV) ions selectively. In this paper, floral waste (FW) extract is used for the synthesis of Ag NPs for sensing Cr (VI) ions in an aqueous solution. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were characterized using spectroscopic (UV-visible and FTIR), X-ray diffraction, TEM, and SEM techniques. UV-visible spectroscopic studies revealed that in the presence of Cr (VI) ions, there is an abrupt change in the λ_max value of Ag NPs in aqueous solution, indicating that the synthesized Ag-NP is an excellent sensor for the spectroscopical detection of Cr (VI) ions with a low detection limit of 0.5 ppm. The method is fast, economical, simple, and efficient.

Green Synthesis and Antimicrobial Study on Functionalized Chestnut-Shell-Extract Ag Nanoparticles

The chestnut shell is usually discarded as agricultural waste and the random deposition of it can cause environmental problems. In this study, monodisperse crystalline Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal approach, in which the chestnut shell extract served as both reducing agent and stabilizer. The synthesized Ag nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV) spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The TEM, XRD and XPS results revealed that the synthesized product was spherical Ag nanoparticles with a face-centered cubic crystal structure. The antimicrobial activity test indicated that the Ag nanoparticles modified by the chestnut shell extract had an obvious inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The measured MIC and MBC of functionalized chestnut-shell-extract AgNPs against E. coli, S. aureus and C. albicans is relatively low, which indicated that the present functionalized chestnut-shell-extract AgNPs are an efficient antimicrobial agent.

Green synthesized silver nanoparticles from eucalyptus leaves can enhance shelf life of banana without penetrating in pulp

Bananas are exposed to serious post-harvest problems resulting in agricultural and economic losses across the world. The severity of problem is linked with the process of rapid ripening and pathogens attack. Such problems have led to economic losses as well as a lower yield of nutritionally rich bananas. The global demand to increase the life span of bananas and their protection from pathogens-borne diseases urged the use of antimicrobial edible coatings of nanoparticles. The present experiment has explored the innovative development of green synthesized nanoparticles from Eucalyptus leaf extract (ELE) to increase the shelf life of bananas up to 32 days from the day of collection. Statistically significant results were recorded (P = 0.05) by applying five different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in ranges of 0.01-0.05%. Various morphological and physiological parameters such as color, decay, firmness, weight loss, pulp to peel ratio, pH, titrable acidity (TA), phenolic contents, protein estimation, ethylene production, starch content and total soluble sugars were measured in Cavendish banana (Basrai). Bananas treated with 0.01% AgNPs showed maximum control on its ripeness over morphological and physiological changes. The increase in shelf life was in order 0.01%>0.02%>0.03%>0.04%>0.05%> control. Further, AgNPs reduced the process of ripening by controlling ethylene production. The result has also proved the safety of banana consumption by simple removal of banana peel as penetration of AgNPs from the peel to the pulp was not detected. It is recommended to use 0.01% AgNPs to enhance the shelf life of banana without effecting its nutritive value.

Azadirachta indica leaf extract mediated silver nanoparticles impregnated nano composite film (AgNP/MCC/starch/whey protein) for food packaging applications

In order to be used in food packaging, the study aims to develop a composite film based on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The MCC was derived from sugar cane bagasse. Protein, starch, and poly-ethylene glycol 1500 (PEG-1500) are employed to improve the tensile strength, flexibility, and durability of the packaging film. The AgNPs was synthesized by a green route employing Azadirachtaindica leaf extract as reducing agent. The determined average crystallite size of AgNPs was seen at 20 nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies of the final film prepared have an elevated peak with a crystallinity of 37.5%. The scanning electron microscopic images (SEM) of the AgNPs and the prepared samples, reveal their surface morphology. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies (FT-IR) disclose the functional group changes during the film preparation. The antibacterial activity of the amalgamated AgNPs against five bacterial pathogens studied was found to be highly active against tested food pathogens, except for Proteus vulgari. When coated over a vegetable, the produced nanocomposite film displayed an increased shelf life for the vegetable by limiting the decay impact caused by food pathogens. According to the findings, the AgNPs-impregnated MCC/Starch/Whey protein has the potential to be employed as an antimicrobial packaging material.

Biodegradation of environmental pollutants using catalase-based biocatalytic systems

The synergistic combination of biocatalysts and nanomaterials provides a new interface of a robust biocatalytic system that can effectively remediate environmental pollutants. Enzymes, such as catalase-based constructs, impart the desired candidature for catalytic transformation processes and are potential alternatives to replace conventional remediation strategies that have become laborious and somewhat inefficient. Furthermore, the controlled or uncontrolled discharge of various emerging pollutants (EPs) into water bodies is equally proportional to the fast-growing population and extensive urbanization. EPs affect the entire living being and continuously deteriorate the environmental system, directly or indirectly. The occurrence of EPs (even released after partial treatments, but still in bioactive forms) disturbs ecological integrity. Due to the ineffectiveness of in-practice traditional remediation processes, new and robust treatment measures as effective and sustainable remediation have become a meaningful goal. In this context, special attention has been shifted to engineering an enzyme (catalase)-based biodegradation system with immense prospects in environmental cleanup. The unique synergistic combination of nanomaterials (having multifunctional attributes) with enzymes of interest makes them a state-of-the-art interface that can further ameliorate bio-catalysis and biodegradation performance. This review covers current research and scientific advancement in developing and deploying catalase-based biocatalytic systems to mitigate several EPs from the environment matrices. The biocatalytic features of catalase, along with the mechanistic insight into H₂O₂ neutralization, several nano-based materials loaded with catalase, including nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), polymeric-based composites, oxime-functionalized cryo-gel disks, electro-spun nanofibrous membranes, and other hybrid materials have also been discussed with suitable examples.

Enhanced photodegradation of methylene blue from aqueous solution using Al-doped ZnS nanoparticles

The post-transition semiconducting material of pure zinc sulfide (ZnS) and various concentrations of aluminum (Al) (2.5 wt%, 5.0% wt, 7.5 wt%, and 10% calcined at 200 °C) doped ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by sol-gel procedure. The crystal-like nature and phase structure of the product were examined by powder XRD analysis. This analysis shows that the pure ZnS nanoparticle does not form any secondary phase. The functional group of synthesized materials was analyzed by FTIR examination. The energy gap of the materials is calculated using electro-optic analysis and the Kubelka-Munk equation varies from 3.04 nm to 3.63 nm. The photoluminescence studies show the wide emissions (blue to green) for pure ZnS and Al-doped ZnS nanomaterials. The SEM images show the spherical structure and the agglomerated nanostructures. The presence of Zn, S, and Al are confirmed by EDAX spectra. From HR-TEM studies, pure ZnS and Al-doped ZnS nanoparticles exhibit uniform particle sizes. The rate of degradation was observed using MB dye. MB dye has maximum wavelength (λ_max) of 664 nm. The dye degradation efficiency was improved as the dye ratio increased. Photocatalytic activities studies show the intensity of photocatalytic activities decreased for the maximum time interval. Doping of Al in ZnS boosts the photocatalytic activity. Hence, Al-doped ZnS appears to be better decomposing MB dye when exposed to visible light.

Colorimetric and naked-eye detection of arsenic(iii) using a paper-based microfluidic device decorated with silver nanoparticles

Arsenic (As) as a metal ion has long-term toxicity and its presence in water poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. So, rapid and accurate recognition of traces of As is of particular importance in environmental and natural resources. In this study, a fast and sensitive colorimetric method was developed using silver nano prisms (Ag NPrs), cysteine-capped Ag NPrs, and methionine-capped Ag NPrs for accurate detection of arsenic-based on transforming the morphology of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The generated Ag atoms from the redox reaction of silver nitrate and As(iii) were deposited on the surface of Ag NPrs and their morphology changed to a circle. The morphological changes resulted in a change in the color of the nanoparticles from blue to purple, which was detectable by the naked eye. The rate of change was proportional to the concentration of arsenic. The changes were also confirmed using UV-Vis absorption spectra and showed a linear relationship between the change in adsorption peak and the concentration of arsenic in the range of 0.0005 to 1 ppm with a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.0005 ppm. The proposed probes were successfully used to determine the amount of As(iii) in human urine samples. In addition, modified microfluidic substrates were fabricated with Ag NPrs, Cys-capped Ag NPrs, and methionine-capped Ag NPrs nanoparticles that are capable of arsenic detection in the long-time and can be used in the development of on-site As(iii) detection kits. In addition, silver nanowires (AgNWs) were used as a probe to detect arsenic, but good results were not obtained in human urine specimens and paper microfluidic platforms. In this study, for the first time, AgNPs were developed for optical colorimetric detection of arsenic using paper-based microfluidics. Ag NPrs performed best in both optical and colorimetric techniques. Therefore, they can be a promising option for the development of sensitive, inexpensive, and portable tools in the environmental and biomedical diagnosis of As(iii).

Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer potential of silver nanoparticles synthesized using pigment-producing Micromonospora sp. SH121

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have gained interest as an alternative pharmaceutical agent because of antimicrobial resistance and drug toxicity. Considering the increasing request, eco-friendly, sustainable, and cost-effective synthesis of versatile AgNPs has become necessary. In this study, green-made AgNPs were successfully synthesized using Micromonospora sp. SH121 (Mm-AgNPs). Synthesis was verified by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak at 402 nm wavelength in the UV-Visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectrum. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis depicted that Mm-AgNPs were in the size range of 10-30 nm and spherical. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the existence of bioactive molecules on the surface of nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the face-centered cubic (fcc) structure of the Mm-AgNPs. Their polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential were 0. 284 and -35.3 mV, respectively. Mm-AgNPs (4-32 µg/mL) exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus hirae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Aspergillus flavus. Mm-AgNPs partially inhibited the biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, results showed that low concentrations of Mm-AgNPs (1 and 10 µg/mL) caused higher cytotoxicity and apoptosis in DU 145 cells than human fibroblast cells. Based on the results, Mm-AgNPs have an excellent potential for treating infectious diseases and prostate cancer.

Recent advances on botanical biosynthesis of nanoparticles for catalytic, water treatment and agricultural applications: A review

Green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts minimizes the usage of toxic chemicals or energy. Here, we concentrate on the green synthesis of nanoparticles using natural compounds from plant extracts and their applications in catalysis, water treatment and agriculture. Polyphenols, flavonoid, rutin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, coumarin, and gallic acid in the plant extracts engage in the reduction and stabilization of green nanoparticles. Ten types of nanoparticles involving Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, CuO, ZnO, MgO, TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and ZrO₂ with emphasis on their formation mechanism are illuminated. We find that green nanoparticles serve as excellent, and recyclable catalysts for reduction of nitrophenols and synthesis of organic compounds with high yields of 83-100% and at least 5 recycles. Many emerging pollutants such as synthetic dyes, antibiotics, heavy metal and oils are effectively mitigated (90-100%) using green nanoparticles. In agriculture, green nanoparticles efficiently immobilize toxic compounds in soil. They are also sufficient nanopesticides to kill harmful larvae, and nanoinsecticides against dangerous vectors of pathogens. As potential nanofertilizers and nanoagrochemicals, green nanoparticles will open a revolution in green agriculture for sustainable development.

Photocatalytic and biological activities of green synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles using Chlorella vulgaris

AIMS

To produce tin oxide (SnO₂ ) nanoparticles (NP) with microalga for use in azo dye polluted wastewater treatment and to optimize the conditions to synthesize as small NPs as possible.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The green microalga Chlorella vulgaris mediated NPs were synthesized after an optimization process utilizing the statistical response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized synthesis conditions were 200 W microwave power, 0.5 mM SnCl₂ concentration, and 200 °C calcination temperature. Methyl orange (MO) was studied for its photocatalytic degradation with UV. Antibacterial activity against four pathogenic bacteria was studied using the well diffusion method. Cytotoxicity was measured using the MMT assay with lung cancer cell line A549, and antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging. Following the optimization of their production, the produced crystalline SnO₂ NPs were on average 32.2 nm (by XRD) with a hydrodynamic size of 52.5 nm (by LDS). Photocatalytic degradation of MO under UV was nearly complete (94% removal) after 90 min and the particles could be reused for 5 cycles retaining 80% activity. The particles had antibacterial activity towards all five tested bacterial pathogens with the minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 22 to 36 μg/ml. The minimum bactericidal NP concentration varied between 83 and 136 μg/ml. Antioxidant activity was concentration dependent. A cytotoxicity was determined towards A549 cells with an LD50 of 188 μg/ml after 24 h of incubation, a concentration that is much higher than the active concentration for dye removal ranging from 22 to 36 μg/ml.

CONCLUSIONS

After optimization, SnO2 nanoparticles produced with C. vulgaris displayed high photocatalytic activity at concentrations below their antibacterial and cytotoxic activity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The SnO₂ nanoparticles produced with the help of microalgae are suitable for the removal of MO dye from wastewater. Further applications of this green technology can be expected.

Synergetic integration of catalase and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles with metal organic framework for colorimetric detection of phenol

Toxic phenol pollutants pose a great threat to the environment, it is urgent to develop an efficient and recyclable method to monitor phenol. Herein, we reported the synthesis of catalase-Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 (CAT-Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8) through a novel amino-acid-boosted one-pot embedding strategy that synergically integrated catalase and magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with ZIF-8. As expected, CAT-Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 exhibited enhanced catalytic activity compared with Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8, CAT@ZIF-8 and catalase. Depending on the satisfactory performance of CAT-Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8, a colorimetric detection platform for phenol based on CAT-Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8 was constructed. The corresponding detection limit was as low as 0.7 μM, and a wide linear range of 5-100 μM was obtained. Besides, CAT-Fe₃O₄@ZIF-8-based colorimetric detection platform has been verified to possess high stability and recyclability. The proposed method was proven to have potential practical applications in the field of water treatment, which would advance efficient, recyclable monitoring of water quality.

Hexavalent chromium removal from aqueous solutions using biogenic iron nanoparticles: Kinetics and equilibrium study

Green mediated biosynthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles utilising Rosa indica flower petal extracts (RIFP-FeONPs) was used in this investigation. The RIFP-FeONPs were evaluated by the UV-Visible Spectroscopy, FTIR, SEM, EDX, XRD, Zeta potentials, and DLS, and been engaged than for the elimination of Cr (VI) from the contaminated environments. At 269 nm, the RIFP-FeONPs surface plasmon vibration bands were observed, which attributed to the Fe³⁺. XRD patterns of RIFP-FeONPs depicted the intense diffraction peak of face-centered cubic (fcc) iron at a 2θ value of 45.33° from the (311) lattice plane indisputably revealed that the particles are constituted of pure iron. The fabricated nanomaterials are spherical and polydisperse with a diameter of 70-120 nm, and various agglomeration clusters are attributable to intermolecular interaction. Zeta potential measurement and particle size distribution of RIFP-FeONPs showed a mean average size of 115.5 ± 29 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.420. The study aims to analyse the appropriateness of RIFP-FeONPs for removing hexavalent chromium from the aqueous environment and the application of adsorption isotherm and statistical models in the experiment. The sorption of Cr (VI) on RIFP-FeONPs was observed to fit well with the isothermal models (R² = 0.98). The linear correlation between processing parameters and time demonstrated that the adsorption efficiency of Cr (VI) well correlated with the pseudo-first order kinetic model and isothermal adsorption with the Langmuir and Freundlich isothermal models, so that the RIFP-FeONPs could be a prospective nanosorbent for hexavalent chromium removal from industrial waste.