Biocompatible CuInS2 Nanoparticles as Potential Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Agents

Role of substrate temperature on the performance of BaTiO3/Si photodetector prepared by pulsed laser deposition

In this study, the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) method was employed to fabricate nanostructured BaTiO3 films on glass and silicon substrates at varying temperatures. The structural analysis confirmed the formation of crystalline nanostructured BaTiO3 with mixed tetragonal and hexagonal phases, and the film deposited at 150 °C has the best crystallinity and largest particle size. The optical energy gap of the BaTiO3 nanostructure decreases from 3.94 to 3.84 eV, with increasing substrate temperature from 60 to 150 °C. Photoluminescence spectra of BaTiO3 films deposited at 25, 60, 100, and 150 °C exhibit emission peaks centered at 450, 512, 474, and 531 nm, respectively. Raman spectra of BaTiO3 films show E (LO), A (TO), E (LO) + TO, and B1 vibration modes. Hall measurements reveal that the mobility of the BaTiO3 film increases with temperature up to 100 °C and then decreases at 150 °C. The current-voltage characteristics of the BaTiO3/p-Si heterojunction, deposited over a temperature range of 25 to 150 °C, were investigated in the dark and under illumination. The heterojunctions exhibit rectifying properties, with the best rectification factor observed for the heterojunction prepared at 100 °C. The values of the ideality factor for the heterojunctions fabricated at 25, 60, 100, and 150 °C were 4.3, 3.8, 2.8, and 5, respectively. The study reveals an improvement in both the figures of merit and the photodetector performance with increased substrate temperature. The responsivity increases from 2.2 to 9.25 A/W as the deposition temperature rises from 25 to 100 °C. The detectivity (D*) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the photodetector prepared at the optimum substrate temperature of 100 °C, were found to be 4.62 × 1012 Jones and 114%, respectively, at 500 nm.

Apoptosis induction capability of silver nanoparticles capped with Acorus calamus L. and Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Ex DC. against lung carcinoma cells

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared using a one-step reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) with sodium borohydride (NaBH4) in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a capping agent. Plant extracts from D. sissoo (DS) and A. calamus L. (AC) leaves were incorporated during the synthesis process. The crystalline nature of the AgNPs was confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD), confirming the face-centered cubic structure, with a lattice constant of 4.08 Å and a crystallite size of 18 nm. Field Emission Gun Transmission Electron Microscopy (FEG-TEM) revealed spherical AgNPs (10-20 nm) with evident PVP adsorption, leading to size changes and agglomeration. UV-Vis spectra showed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at 417 nm for AgNPs and a redshift to 420 nm for PVP-coated AgNPs, indicating successful synthesis. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) identified functional groups and drug-loaded samples exhibited characteristic peaks, confirming effective drug loading. The anti-cancer potential of synthesized NPs was assessed by MTT assay in human adenocarcinoma lung cancer (A549) and lung normal cells (WI-38) cells. IC50 values for all three NPs (AgPVP NPs, DS@AgPVP NPs, and AC@AgPVP NPs) were 41.60 ± 2.35, 14.25 ± 1.85, and 21.75 ± 0.498 μg/ml on A549 cells, and 420.69 ± 2.87, 408.20 ± 3.41, and 391.80 ± 1.55 μg/ml respectively. Furthermore, the NPs generated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Differential staining techniques were used to investigate the apoptosis-inducing properties of the three synthesized NPs. The colony formation assay indicated that nanoparticle therapy prevented cancer cell invasion. Finally, Real-Time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis predicted the expression pattern of many apoptosis-related genes (Caspase 3, 9, and 8).

Synthesis, Spectral Characterization, Thermal Investigation, Computational Studies, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Biological Activities of a New Schiff Base Derived from 2-Chloro Benzaldehyde and 3,3'-Dimethyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diamine

The current research involves the synthesis of a new Schiff base through the reaction between 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and 3,3'-dimethyl-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diamine by using a natural acid catalyst and a synthesized compound physicochemically characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Thermal studies were conducted using thermogravimetric, differential thermal analysis, and differential thermogravimetric curves. These curves were obtained in an inert nitrogen environment from ambient temperature to 1263 K using heating rates of 10, 15, and 20 K·min-1. Using thermocurve data, model-free isoconversional techniques such as Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, and Friedman are used to determine kinetic parameters. These parameters include activation energy, phonon frequency factor, activation enthalpy, activation entropy, and Gibb's free energy change. All of the results have been thoroughly investigated. The molecule's anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties were also examined. To learn more about the potential of the Schiff base and how successfully it can suppress the amylase enzyme, a molecular docking experiment was also conducted. For in silico research, the Swiss Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity algorithms were used to calculate the theoretical pharmacokinetic properties, oral bioavailability, toxic effects, and biological activities of the synthesized molecule. Moreover, the cytotoxicity tests against a human lung cancer cell line (A549) using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay demonstrated that the synthesized Schiff base exhibited significant anticancer properties.

Pristine, Ni- and Zn-Doped CuSe Nanoparticles: An Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxicity Study

The strategy of chemical coprecipitation is implemented to synthesize nanoparticles of pristine CuSe, 5 and 10% Ni-doped CuSe, and 5 and 10% Zn-doped CuSe. All of the nanoparticles are found to be near stoichiometric by the evaluation of X-ray energy using electron dispersion spectra, and the elemental mapping shows uniform distribution. By X-ray diffraction examination, all of the nanoparticles are identified as being single-phase and having a hexagonal lattice structure. Field emission microscopy with electrons in both scanning and transmission modes affirmed the spherical configuration of the nanoparticles. The crystalline nature of the nanoparticles is confirmed by the presence of spot patterns observed in the selected area electron diffraction patterns. The observed d value matches well with the d value of the CuSe hexagonal (102) plane. Findings from dynamic light scattering reveal the size distribution of nanoparticles. The nanoparticle's stability is investigated by ζ potential measurements. Pristine and Ni-doped CuSe nanoparticles exhibit ζ potential values in the preliminary stability band of ±10 to ±30 mV, while Zn-doped nanoparticles feature moderate stability levels of ±30 to ±40 mV. The potent antimicrobial effects of synthesized nanoparticles are studied against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Escherichia coli bacteria. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging test is used to investigate the nanoparticle's antioxidant activities. The results showed the highest activity for control (Vitamin C) with an IC₅₀ value of 43.6 μg/mL, while the lowest for Ni-doped CuSe nanoparticles with an IC₅₀ value of 106.2 μg/mL. Brine shrimps are utilized for in vivo cytotoxicity evaluation of the synthesized nanoparticles, which demonstrates that 10% Ni- and 10% Zn-doped CuSe nanoparticles are more damaging on brine shrimp instead on other nanoparticles with a 100% mortality rate. The lung cancer cell line of human (A549) is used to investigate in vitro cytotoxicity. The results indicate that pristine CuSe nanoparticles are more effective in the context of cytotoxicity against the A549 cell lines, possessing an IC₅₀ of 488 μg/mL. The particulars of the outcomes are explained in depth.

Copper indium sulfide quantum dots in photocatalysis

Since the advent of photocatalytic technology, scientists have been searching for semiconductor materials with high efficiency in solar energy utilization and conversion to chemical energy. Recently, the development of quantum dot (QD) photocatalysts has attracted much attention because of their unique characteristics: small size, quantum effects, strong surface activity, and wide photoresponse range. Among ternary chalcogenide semiconductors, CuInS₂ QDs are increasingly examined in the field of photocatalysis due to their high absorption coefficients, good matching of the absorption range with sunlight spectrum, long lifetimes of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and environmental sustainability. In this review paper, the structural and electronic properties, synthesis methods and various photocatalytic applications of CuInS₂ QDs are systematically expounded. The current research status on the photocatalytic properties of materials based on CuInS₂ QD is discussed combined with the existing modification approaches for the enhancement of their performances. Future challenges and new development opportunities of CuInS₂ QDs in the field of photocatalysis are then prospected.

Multi-drug resistant ESKAPE pathogens and the uses of plants as their antimicrobial agents

Infections by ESKAPE (Enterococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens cause major concern due to their multi-drug resistance (MDR). The ESKAPE pathogens are frequently linked to greater mortality, diseases, and economic burden in healthcare worldwide. Therefore, the use of plants as a natural source of antimicrobial agents provide a solution as they are easily available and safe to use. These natural drugs can also be enhanced by incorporating silver nanoparticles and combining them with existing antibiotics. By focussing the attention on the ESKAPE organisms, the MDR issue can be addressed much better.

Recent Advances in Copper-Based Organic Complexes and Nanoparticles for Tumor Theranostics

Treatment of drug-resistant forms of cancer requires consideration of their hallmark features, such as abnormal cell death mechanisms or mutations in drug-responding molecular pathways. Malignant cells differ from their normal counterparts in numerous aspects, including copper metabolism. Intracellular copper levels are elevated in various cancer types, and this phenomenon could be employed for the development of novel oncotherapeutic approaches. Copper maintains the cell oxidation levels, regulates the protein activity and metabolism, and is involved in inflammation. Various copper-based compounds, such as nanoparticles or metal-based organic complexes, show specific activity against cancer cells according to preclinical studies. Herein, we summarize the major principles of copper metabolism in cancer cells and its potential in cancer theranostics.