Reclamation of hexavalent chromium using catalytic activity of highly recyclable biogenic Pd(0) nanoparticles

Upcycling spent palladium-based catalysts into high value-added catalysts via electronic regulation of Escherichia coli to high-efficiently reduce hexavalent chromium

Upgrading and recycling Palladium (Pd) from spent catalysts may address Pd resource shortages and environmental problems. In this paper, Escherichia coli (E. coli) was used as an electron transfer intermediate to upcycle spent Pd-based catalysts into high-perform hexavalent chromium bio-catalysts. The results showed that Pd (0) nanoparticles (NPs) combined with the bacterial surface changed the electron transfer by enhancing the cell conductivity, thus promoting the removal rate of Pd(II). The recovery efficiency of Pd exceeded 98.6%. Notably, E. coli heightened the adsorption of H• and HCOO• via electron transfer of the Pd NPs electron-rich centre, resulting in a higher catalytic performance of the recycled spent catalysed the reduction of 20 ppm Cr(VI) under mild conditions within 18 min, in which maintained above 98% catalytic activity after recycling five times. This efficiency was found to be higher than that of the reported Pd-based catalysts. Hence, an electron transfer mechanism for E. coli recovery Pd-based catalyst under electron donor adjusting is proposed. These findings provide an important method for recovering Pd NPs from spent catalysts and are crucial to effectively reuse Pd resources.

EXSCLAIM!: Harnessing materials science literature for self-labeled microscopy datasets

This work introduces the EXSCLAIM! toolkit for the automatic extraction, separation, and caption-based natural language annotation of images from scientific literature. EXSCLAIM! is used to show how rule-based natural language processing and image recognition can be leveraged to construct an electron microscopy dataset containing thousands of keyword-annotated nanostructure images. Moreover, it is demonstrated how a combination of statistical topic modeling and semantic word similarity comparisons can be used to increase the number and variety of keyword annotations on top of the standard annotations from EXSCLAIM! With large-scale imaging datasets constructed from scientific literature, users are well positioned to train neural networks for classification and recognition tasks specific to microscopy-tasks often otherwise inhibited by a lack of sufficient annotated training data.

Nano-Biofertilizer Formulations for Agriculture: A Systematic Review on Recent Advances and Prospective Applications

In the twenty-first century, nanotechnology has emerged as a potentially game-changing innovation. Essential minerals are mostly unavailable in modern cropping systems without the application of synthetic fertilizers, which have a serious negative impact on the ecosystem. This review focuses on the coupling of nanoparticles with biofertilizers to function as nano-biofertilizers (NBFs), which may ensure world food security in the face of the rising population. The inoculation of plants with NBFs improves plant development and resistance to stress. Metallic nanoparticles as well as organic components comprising polysaccharide and chitosan may be encapsulated, utilizing microbe-based green synthesis to make NBFs, which circumvents the limitations of conventional chemical fertilizers. The application of NBFs is just getting started, and shows more promise than other approaches for changing conventional farming into high-tech "smart" farming. This study used bibliographic analysis using Web of Science to find relevant papers on "nano biofertilizers", "plants", and "agriculture". These subjects have received a lot of attention in the literature, as shown by the co-citation patterns of these publications. The novel use of nanotechnology in agriculture is explored in this research work, which makes use of the unique characteristics of nanoscale materials to address urgent concerns including nutrient delivery, crop protection, and sustainable farming methods. This study attempts to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge by discussing the formulation, fabrication, and characterization of NBFs, as well as elucidating the mechanisms by which NBFs interact with plants and how this benefits the ability of the plant to withstand biotic and abiotic stress brought about by climate change. This review also addresses recent developments and future directions in farming using NBF formulations in the field.

Polymeric micelles and cancer therapy: an ingenious multimodal tumor-targeted drug delivery system

Since the beginning of pharmaceutical research, drug delivery methods have been an integral part of it. Polymeric micelles (PMs) have emerged as multifunctional nanoparticles in the current technological era of nanocarriers, and they have shown promise in a range of scientific fields. They can alter the release profile of integrated pharmacological substances and concentrate them in the target zone due to their improved permeability and retention, making them more suitable for poorly soluble medicines. With their ability to deliver poorly soluble chemotherapeutic drugs, PMs have garnered considerable interest in cancer. As a result of their remarkable biocompatibility, improved permeability, and minimal toxicity to healthy cells, while also their capacity to solubilize a wide range of drugs in their micellar core, PMs are expected to be a successful treatment option for cancer therapy in the future. Their nano-size enables them to accumulate in the tumor microenvironment (TME) via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. In this review, our major aim is to focus primarily on the stellar applications of PMs in the field of cancer therapeutics along with its mechanism of action and its latest advancements in drug and gene delivery (DNA/siRNA) for cancer, using various therapeutic strategies such as crossing blood-brain barrier, gene therapy, photothermal therapy (PTT), and immunotherapy. Furthermore, PMs can be employed as "smart drug carriers," allowing them to target specific cancer sites using a variety of stimuli (endogenous and exogenous), which improve the specificity and efficacy of micelle-based targeted drug delivery. All the many types of stimulants, as well as how the complex of PM and various anticancer drugs react to it, and their pharmacodynamics are also reviewed here. In conclusion, commercializing engineered micelle nanoparticles (MNPs) for application in therapy and imaging can be considered as a potential approach to improve the therapeutic index of anticancer drugs. Furthermore, PM has stimulated intense interest in research and clinical practice, and in light of this, we have also highlighted a few PMs that have previously been approved for therapeutic use, while the majority are still being studied in clinical trials for various cancer therapies.

Metallic nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of toxic hexavalent chromium from aqueous medium: A state-of-the-art review

The ever increasing concentration of toxic and carcinogenic hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) in various environmental mediums including water-bodies due to anthropogenic activities with rapid civilization and industrialization have become the major issue throughout the globe during last few decades. Therefore, developing new strategies for the treatment of Cr(VI) contaminated wastewaters are in great demand and have become a topical issue in academia and industry. To date, various techniques have been used for the remediation of Cr(VI) contaminated wastewaters including solvent extraction, adsorption, catalytic reduction, membrane filtration, biological treatment, coagulation, ion exchange and photo-catalytic reduction. Among these methods, the transformation of highly toxic Cr(VI) to benign Cr(III) catalyzed by metallic nanoparticles (M-NPs) with reductant has gained increasing attention in the past few years, and is considered to be an effective approach due to the superior catalytic performance of M-NPs. Thus, it is a timely topic to review this emerging technique for Cr(VI) reduction. Herein, recent development in synthesis of M-NPs based non-supported, supported, mono-, bi- and ternary M-NPs catalysts, their characterization and performance for the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) are reviewed. The role of supporting host to stabilize the M-NPs and leading to enhance the reduction of Cr(VI) are discussed. The Cr(VI) reduction mechanism, kinetics, and factors affecting the kinetics are overviewed to collect the wealthy kinetics data. Finally, the challenges and perspective in Cr(VI) reduction catalyzed by M-NPs are proposed. We believe that this review will assist the researchers who are working to develop novel M-NPs catalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI).

Chromium biogeochemical behaviour in soil-plant systems and remediation strategies: A critical review

Chromium (Cr) is a toxic heavy metal that is heavily discharged into the soil environment due to its widespread use and mining. High Cr levels may pose toxic hazards to plants, animals and humans, and thus have attracted global attention. Recently, much progress has been made in elucidating the mechanisms of Cr uptake, transport and accumulation in soil-plant systems, aiming to reduce the toxicity and ecological risk of Cr in soil; however, these topics have not been critically reviewed and summarised to date. Accordingly, based on available data-especially from the last five years (2017-2021)-this review traces a plausible link among Cr sources, levels, chemical forms, and phytoavailability in soil; Cr accumulation and translocation in plants; and Cr phytotoxicity and detoxification in plants. Additionally, given the toxicity and hazard posed by Cr(VI) in soils and the application of reductant materials to reduce Cr(VI) to Cr(III) for the remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated soils, the reduction and immobilisation mechanisms by organic and inorganic reductants are summarised. Finally, some priority research challenges concerning the biogeochemical behaviour of Cr in soil-plant systems are highlighted, as well as the environmental impacts resulting from the application of reductive materials and potential research prospects.

Application of polymer-coated Macadamia integrifolia nutshell biomass impregnated with palladium for chromium(VI) remediation

Freely suspended and porous basket restrained granules of palladium nanoparticles supported on polymer-grafted Macadamia nutshell biomass (Pd@Polym-MNS) composite were used for the treatment chromium(VI)-containing water. In the presence of formic acid, the Pd@Polym-MNS demonstrated its activity in the adsorption-reduction-based conversion of noxious chromium(VI) to less toxic chromium(III) with a low activation energy of 13.4 kJ mol-1, ΔH0 (+ 10.8 kJ mol-1), ΔS0 (-270.0 J mol-1 K-1), and ΔG0 (+ 91.3 to + 98.0 kJ mol-1) indicated the exothermic, endergonic and non-spontaneous nature of the catalytic redox reaction. In addition to facilitating easy recovery, rinsing, and reuse, restraining the Pd@Polym-MNS in the basket reactor helped maintain the integrity of the catalysts by preventing violent collisions of suspended granules with the mixing apparatus and the walls of the reaction vessel. Whereas the pseudo-first-order rate constant was recorded as 0.157 min-1 upon initial use, values of the mean and relative standard deviation for the second, third and fourth consecutive uses were found to be 0.219 min-1 and 1.3%, respectively. According to a response surface methodological approach to batch experimentation, the initial concentration of chromium(VI) and catalyst dosage had the greatest impact on the redox reaction rate, accounting for 85.7% and 11.6% of the variability in the value of the pseudo-first-order rate constant, respectively. Mutually beneficial effects of the combinations of high formic acid and low chromium(VI) concentration, high temperature and catalyst dosage as well as high formic acid and catalyst dosage were recorded.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of SnO2-Cu Nanocomposites and Evaluation of Their Peroxidase Mimetic Activity

The enzyme mimetic activity of nanomaterials has been applied in colorimetric assays and point-of-care diagnostics. Several nanomaterials have been exploited for their peroxidase mimetic activity toward 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, an efficient nanomaterial for the rapid and strong oxidation of TMB remains a strategic challenge. Therefore, in this study, we developed copper-loaded tin oxide (SnO2-Cu) nanocomposites that rapidly oxidize TMB. These nanocomposites have strong absorption at 650 nm and can be used for highly sensitive colorimetric detection. An environmentally friendly (green), rapid, easy, and cost-effective method was developed for the synthesis of these nanocomposites, which were characterized using ultraviolet-visible, energy-dispersive X-ray, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. This is the first green synthesis of SnO2-Cu nanocomposites. Their enzyme mimetic activity, which was first studied here, was found to be strongly dependent on the temperature and pH value of the solution. The synthesized nanocomposites have the advantages of low cost, high stability, and ease of preparation for enzyme mimetic applications. Hence, SnO2-Cu nanocomposites are a promising alternative to peroxidase enzymes in colorimetric point-of-care diagnostics.

Synthesis of a Stable Benzoxazole Gel from an Imine Gel for Adsorption and Catalysis

Developing stable gel materials for adsorption and catalysis is one of the major themes of gel materials. However, it has been proven to be challenging to achieve them from small molecules. Herein, an imine gel is developed from tetra-aldehyde 4-{2,2-bis[(4-formylphenoxy)methyl]-3-(4-formylphenoxy)propoxy}benzaldehyde (A4) and 3,3'-dihydroxybenzidine (B2) based on dynamic covalent chemistry. The unstable A4B2-imine gel is further converted into a stable aromatic benzoxazole-linked A4B2-benzoxazole gel via oxidative cyclization, which has significantly improved chemical stability under acidic and basic conditions. Benefiting from the stability under acidic conditions, the A4B2-benzoxazole gel is used for Pd(II) adsorption and the adsorption capacity is 250 mg g^-1. After PdCl₂ immersion and reduction, palladium nanoparticles with a size distribution of 1.3-14.7 nm are encapsulated by the network structure of the stable porous benzoxazole gel matrix. The Pd@A4B2-benzoxazole gel exhibits high catalytic activity toward the reduction of toxic hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) (reaction rate constant = 0.0377 min^-1), while there is no significant decrease in the catalytic efficiency after five cycles.

Inorganic nanoparticles for reduction of hexavalent chromium: Physicochemical aspects

Hexavalent Chromium [Cr(VI)] is a highly carcinogenic and toxic material. It is one of the major environmental contaminants in aquatic system. Its removal from aqueous medium is a subject of current research. Various technologies like adsorption, membrane filtration, solvent extraction, coagulation, biological treatment, ion exchange and chemical reduction for removal of Cr(VI) from waste water have been developed. But chemical reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) has attracted a lot of interest in the past few years because, the reduction product [Cr(III)] is one of the essential nutrients for organisms. Various nanoparticles based systems have been designed for conversion of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) which have not been critically reviewed in literature. This review present recent research progress of classification, designing and characterization of various inorganic nanoparticles reported as catalysts/reductants for rapid conversion of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) in aqueous medium. Kinetics and mechanism of nanoparticles enhanced/catalyzed reduction of Cr(VI) and factors affecting the reduction process have been discussed critically. Personal future insights have been also predicted for further development in this area.

Phytosynthesis of Palladium Nanoclusters: An Efficient Nanozyme for Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species

Hydrogen peroxide is a low-reactivity reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, it can easily penetrate cell membranes and produce highly reactive hydroxyl radical species through Fenton’s reaction. Its presence in abnormal amounts can lead to serious diseases in humans. Although the development of a simple, ultrasensitive, and selective method for H₂O₂ detection is crucial, this remains a strategic challenge. The peroxidase mimetic activity of palladium nanoclusters (PdNCs) has not previously been evaluated. In this study, we developed an ultrasensitive and selective colorimetric detection method for H₂O₂ using PdNCs. An unprecedented eco-friendly, cost-effective, and facile biological method was developed for the synthesis of PdNCs. This is the first report of the biosynthesis of PdNCs. The synthesized nanoclusters had a significantly narrow size distribution profile and high stability. The nanoclusters were demonstrated to possess a peroxidase mimetic activity that could oxidize peroxidase substrate 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Various interfering substances in serum (100 μM phenylalanine, cysteine, tryptophan, arginine, glucose, urea, Na⁺, Fe²⁺, PO₄³⁻, Mn⁺², Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Zn²⁺, NH₄⁺, and K⁺) were included to evaluate the selectivity of the assay, and oxidation of TMB occurred only in the presence of H₂O₂. Therefore, PdNCs show an efficient nanozyme for the peroxidase mimetic activity. The assay produced a sufficient signal at the ultralow concentration of 0.0625 µM H₂O₂. This colorimetric assay provides a real-time, rapid, and easy-to-use platform for the detection of H₂O₂ for clinical purposes.

Enzyme Mimetic Activity of ZnO-Pd Nanosheets Synthesized via a Green Route

Recent developments in the area of nanotechnology have focused on the development of nanomaterials with catalytic activities. The enzyme mimics, nanozymes, work efficiently in extreme pH and temperature conditions, and exhibit resistance to protease digestion, in contrast to enzymes. We developed an environment-friendly, cost-effective, and facile biological method for the synthesis of ZnO-Pd nanosheets. This is the first biosynthesis of ZnO-Pd nanosheets. The synthesized nanosheets were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray. The d-spacing (inter-atomic spacing) of the palladium nanoparticles in the ZnO sheets was found to be 0.22 nm, which corresponds to the (111) plane. The XRD pattern revealed that the 2θ values of 21.8°, 33.3°, 47.7°, and 56.2° corresponded with the crystal planes of (100), (002), (112), and (201), respectively. The nanosheets were validated to possess peroxidase mimetic activity, which oxidized the 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate in the presence of H2O2. After 20 min of incubation time, the colorless TMB substrate oxidized into a dark-blue-colored one and a strong peak was observed at 650 nm. The initial velocities of Pd-ZnO-catalyzed TMB oxidation by H2O2 were analyzed by Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk plots, resulting in 64 × 10-6 M, 8.72 × 10-9 Msec-1, and 8.72 × 10-4 sec-1 of KM, Vmax, and kcat, respectively.