Biocompatibility enhancement of graphene oxide-silver nanocomposite by functionalisation with polyvinylpyrrolidone

Selectivity-Enhanced Electroreduction of CO2 to CO at Novel Ru-Linked-GO Nanohybrids: the Role of Nanoarchitecture

Recently, global-scale efforts have been conducted for the electroreduction of CO2 as a potentially beneficial pathway for the conversion of greenhouse gases to useful chemicals and renewable fuels. This study focuses on the development of selective and sustainable electrocatalysts for the reduction of aqueous CO2 to CO. A RuIIcomplex [Ru(tptz)(ACN)Cl2] (RCMP) (tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine, ACN = acetonitrile) was prepared as a molecular electrocatalyst for the CO2 reduction reaction in an aqueous solution. Density functional theory-calculated frontier molecular orbitals suggested that the tptz ligand plays a key role in dictating the electrocatalytic reactions. The RCMP electrocatalyst was grafted onto the graphene oxide (GO) surface both noncovalently (GO/RCMP) and covalently (GO-RCMP). The field emission scanning electron microscopy and elemental distribution analyses revealed the homogeneous distribution of the complex onto the GO sheet. The photoluminescence spectra confirmed accelerated charge-transfer in both nanohybrids. Compared to the bare complex, the GO-RCMP and GO/RCMP nanohybrids showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity, achieving >95% and 90% Faradaic efficiencies for CO production at more positive onset potentials, respectively. The GO-RCMP nanohybrid demonstrated outstanding electrocatalytic activity with a current of ∼84 μA. The study offers a perspective on outer- and inner-sphere electron-transfer mechanisms for electrochemical energy conversion systems.

Anticancer effect and laser photostability of ternary graphene oxide/chitosan/silver nanocomposites on various cancer cell lines

Aims: The development of nanocomposites (NCs) of antitumor activity provides a new paradigm for fighting cancer. Here, a novel NC of green synthetic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), graphene oxide (GO) and chitosan (Cs) NPs was developed. Materials & methods: The prepared GO/Cs/Ag NCs were analyzed using various techniques. Cytotoxicity of the NCs was evaluated against different cancer cell lines by Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Results: GO/Cs/Ag NCs are novel and highly stable. UV-Vis showed two peaks at 227 and 469 nm, indicating the decoration of AgNPs on the surface of GO/Cs NPs. All tested cell lines were affected by GO/Cs NPs and GO/Cs/Ag NCs. Conclusion: The results indicate that GO/Cs/Ag NCs were present on tested cell lines and are a promising candidate for cancer therapy.

Spatiotemporally Responsive Hydrogel Dressing with Self-Adaptive Antibacterial Activity and Cell Compatibility for Wound Sealing and Healing

Adhesive hydrogels containing quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) moieties have shown attractive advantages in treatment for acute wounds, attributed to their high performances in wound sealing and sterilization. However, the introduction of QAS commonly leads to high cytotoxicity and adhesive deterioration. Herein, aimed to solve these two issues, a self-adaptive dressing with delicate spatiotemporal responsiveness is developed by employing cellulose sulfate (CS) as dynamic layers to coat QAS-based hydrogel. In detail, due to the acid environment of wound in the early stages of healing, the CS coating will quickly detach to expose the active QAS groups for maximum disinfectant efficacy; meanwhile, as the wound gradually heals and recovers to a neutral pH, the CS will remain stable to keep QAS screened, realizing a high cell growth-promoting activity for epithelium regeneration. Additionally, attributed to the synergy of temporary hydrophobicity by CS and slow water absorption kinetics of the hydrogel, the resultant dressing possesses outstanding wound sealing and hemostasis performance. At last, this work anticipates this approach to intelligent wound dressings based on dynamic and responsive intermolecular interaction can also be applied to a wide range of self-adaptive biomedical materials employing different chemistries for applications in medical therapy and health monitoring.

Chitosan membrane drafting silver-immobilized graphene oxide nanocomposite for banana preservation: Fabrication, physicochemical properties, bioactivities, and application

In this study, silver-immobilized graphene oxide/chitosan (AGC/CTS) membranes were assembled by the solvent evaporation method, wherein Curcuma longa extract was used to synthesize silver-immobilized graphene oxide (AGC) nanocomposite. The characterization results showed that the AGC was successfully synthesized with AgNPs distributed quite evenly on GO sheets. The as-prepared AGC also exhibited high antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity towards normal cell lines compared to human epithelial carcinoma cell lines. Besides, the fabrication of AGC/CTS membranes was additionally assessed with different AGC ratios and thicknesses. The results revealed the membrane containing 3 wt% of AGC with great hygroscopicity and elasticity module of 27.03 ± 3.07 MPa. The samples also performed excellent bactericidal capability, along with good mechanical properties for banana preservation. Therewithal, the membrane-coated bananas were also elucidated to be ripened at slower paces and less damage, with no appearance of patches of mold on the banana peel surface, eventually prolonging the shelf life of bananas up to 10 days as compared to the non-coated ones. The aforesaid results confirm the potential application of the AGC/CTS membrane as a safe and alternative fruit preservation agent in the food industry.

A review on antimicrobial mechanism and applications of graphene-based materials

In recent years, graphene and its derivatives, owing to their phenomenal surface, and mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties, have emerged as advantageous materials, especially in terms of their potential for antimicrobial applications. Particularly important among graphene's derivatives is graphene oxide (GO) due to the ease with which its surface can be modified, as well as the oxidative and membrane stress that it exerts on microbes. This review encapsulates all aspects regarding the functionalization of graphene-based materials (GBMs) into composites that are highly potent against bacterial, viral, and fungal activities. Governing factors, such as lateral size (LS), number of graphene layers, solvent and GBMs' concentration, microbial shape and size, aggregation ability of GBMs, and especially the mechanisms of interaction between composites and microbes are discussed in detail. The current and potential applications of these antimicrobial materials, especially in dentistry, osseointegration, and food packaging, have been described. This knowledge can further drive research that aims to look for the most suitable components for antimicrobial composites. The need for antimicrobial materials has seldom been more felt than during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has also been highlighted here. Possible future research areas include the exploration of GBMs' ability against algae.

Bioelectrochemical platform with human monooxygenases: FMO1 and CYP3A4 tandem reactions with phorate

It is highly advantageous to devise an in vitro platform that can predict the complexity of an in vivo system. The first step of this process is the identification of a xenobiotic whose monooxygenation is carried out by two sequential enzymatic reactions. Pesticides are a good model for this type of tandem reactions since in specific cases they are initially metabolised by human flavin-containing monooxygenase 1 (hFMO1), followed by cytochrome P450 (CYP). To assess the feasibility of such an in vitro platform, hFMO1 is immobilised on glassy carbon electrodes modified with graphene oxide (GO) and cationic surfactant didecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB). UV-vis, contact angle and AFM measurements support the effective decoration of the GO sheets by DDAB which appear as 3 nm thick structures. hFMO1 activity on the bioelectrode versus three pesticides; fenthion, methiocarb and phorate, lead to the expected sulfoxide products with K_M values of 29.5 ± 5.1, 38.4 ± 7.5, 29.6 ± 4.1 µM, respectively. Moreover, phorate is subsequently tested in a tandem system with hFMO1 and CYP3A4 resulting in both phorate sulfoxide as well as phoratoxon sulfoxide. The data demonstrate the feasibility of using bioelectrochemical platforms to mimic the complex metabolic reactions of xenobiotics within the human body.

Graphene-Based Materials in Dental Applications: Antibacterial, Biocompatible, and Bone Regenerative Properties

Graphene-based materials have been shown to have advantageous properties in biomedical and dental applications due to their high mechanical, physiochemical, antibacterial, and stem cell differentiating properties. Although graphene-based materials have displayed appropriate biocompatible properties when used in implant materials for orthopedic applications, little research has been performed to specifically test the biocompatibility of graphene for dental applications. The oral environment, compared to the body, varies greatly and must be considered when evaluating biocompatibility requirements for dental applications. This review will discuss in vitro and in vivo studies that assess graphene's cytotoxicity, antibacterial properties, and cell differentiation ability to evaluate the overall biocompatibility of graphene-based materials for dental applications. Particle shape, size, and concentration were found to be major factors that affected overall biocompatibility of graphene.

Cellulose nanofibrils reinforced chitosan-gelatin based hydrogel loaded with nanoemulsion of oregano essential oil for diabetic wound healing assisted by low level laser therapy

Diabetic foot ulcers are imperfections in the process of wound healing due to hyperglycemic conditions. Here, a nanoemulgel fabricated with oregano essential oil nanoemulsion, assisted by low-level laser therapy, was investigated for its efficacy in diabetic wound healing. A hydrogel- based healing patch, fabricated using biological polymers namely chitosan and gelatin and, polyvinyl pyrollidone. The hydrogel was reinforced with cellulose nanofibrils for enhanced stability and barrier properties. Nanoemulsion of oregano essential oil, with an average particle size of 293.7 ± 8.3 nm, was prepared via homogenization with chitosan as the coating agent. Nanoemulsion impregnated hydrogel, termed as the nanoemulgel, was assessed for its physio-mechanical properties and healing efficiency. The strong linkages in nanoemulgel demonstrated its large swelling capacity, high mechanical strength, and maximum thermal stability. The optimized conditions for low-level laser therapy using 808 nm were 1 W. cm^-2 and 5 min. The optimized drug concentration of 128 μg. mL^-1 exhibited viability of NIH/3 T3 fibroblasts as 75.5 ± 1.2 % after 24 h. Cell migration assay demonstrated that dual therapy facilitated wound healing, with a maximum closure rate of 100 % at 48 h. In vivo results revealed the rapid healing effects of the dual therapy in diabetic rat models with foot ulcers: a maximum healing rate of 97.5 %, minimum scar formation, increased granulation, enhanced reepithelialization, and a drastic decrease in inflammation and neutrophil infiltration within the treatment period compared to monotherapy and control. In summary, the combinatorial therapy of nanoemulgel and low-level laser therapy is a promising regimen for managing diabetic foot ulcers with a rapid healing effect.

Trends and prospects in graphene and its derivatives toxicity research: A bibliometric analysis

The purpose of this paper is to explore the current research status, hot topics, and future prospects in the field of graphene and its derivatives toxicity. In the article, the Web of Science Core Collection database was used as the data source, and the CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to conduct a visual analysis of the last 10 years of research on graphene and its derivatives toxicity. A total of 8573 articles were included, and we analyzed the literature characteristics of the research results in the field of graphene and its derivatives toxicity, as well as the distribution of authors and co-cited authors; the distribution of countries and institutions; the situation of co-cited references; and the distribution of journals and categories. The most prolific countries, institutions, journals, and authors are China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, RSC Advances, and Wang, Dayong, respectively. The co-cited author with the most citations was Akhavan, Omid. The five research hotspot keywords in the field of graphene and its derivatives toxicity were "nanomaterials," "exposure," "biocompatibility," "adsorption," and "detection." Frontier topics were "facile synthesis," "antibacterial activity," and "carbon dots." Our study provides perspectives for the study of graphene and its derivatives toxicity and yields valuable information and suggestions for the development of graphene and its derivatives toxicity research in the future.

Silver nanoparticles loaded graphene-poly-vinylpyrrolidone composites as an effective recyclable antimicrobial agent

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are often used as antibacterial agents. Here, graphene-silver nanoparticles (G-Ag) and graphene-silver nanoparticles poly-vinylpyrrolidone (G-AgPVPy) were prepared by chemical reduction and in-situ polymerization of vinylpyrrolidone (VPy). The prepared G-Ag and G-AgPVPy composites were characterized using various techniques. The size of the AgNPs on the graphene surface in the prepared G-Ag and G-AgPVPy composites was measured as ∼20 nm. The graphene sheets size in the G-Ag and G-AgPVPy composites were measured as 6.0-2.0 μm and 4.0-0.10 μm, respectively, which are much smaller than graphene sheets in graphite powder (GP) (10.0-3.0 μm). The physicochemical analysis confirmed the formation of G-Ag and G-AgPVPy composites and even the distribution of AgNPs and PVPy on the graphene sheets. The synthesized composites (G-AgPVPy, G-Ag) exhibited a broad-spectrum antibacterial potential against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were calculated as >40 μg/mL using G-Ag and GP, while G-AgPVPy showed as 10 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus. Among GP, G-Ag, and G-AgPVPy, G-AgPVPy disturbs the cell permeability, damages the cell walls, and causes cell death efficiently. Also, G-AgPVPy was delivered as a significant reusable antibacterial potential candidate. The MIC value (10 μg/mL) did not change up to six subsequent MIC analysis cycles.

Compare the physicochemical and biological properties of engineered polymer-functionalized silver nanoparticles against Porphyromonas gingivalis

Background

Some polymer-functionalized AgNPs (P-AgNPs) have been developed to optimize the biological properties of AgNPs. However, there are no studies in the literature comparing the differences in physicochemical and biological properties of AgNPs caused by various polymer-functionalizations and providing evidence for the selection of polymers to optimize AgNPs.

Methods

Two AgNPs with similar nano-size and opposite surface charges were synthesized and functionalized by seven polymers. Their physicochemical properties were evaluated by UV-Visible absorption, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Their biological properties against Porphyromonas gingivalis and human gingival fibroblast were investigated by MIC determination, time-dependent antibacterial assay, antibiofilm activity and cell viability assay. Silver diamine fluoride, AgNO3 and metronidazole were used as positive controls.

Results

Comparative analysis found that there were no significant differences between P-AgNPs and AgNPs in nano-size and in surface charge. Raman spectroscopy analysis provided evidence about the attachment of polymers on AgNPs. For antibacterial property, among the negatively charged AgNPs, only polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-functionalized AgNPs-1 showed a significant lower MIC value than AgNPs-1 (0.79 vs. 4.72 μg/ml). Among the positively charged AgNPs, the MIC values of all P-AgNPs (0.34–4.37 μg/ml) were lower than that of AgNPs-2 (13.89 μg/ml), especially PVP- and Pluronic127-AgNPs-2 (1.75 and 0.34 μg/ml). For antibiofilm property, PVP-AgNPs-1 (7.86 μg/ml, P = 0.002) and all P-AgNPs-2 (3.42–31.14 μg/ml, P < 0.001) showed great antibiofilm effect against P. gingivalis biofilm at 5* to 10*MIC level. For cytotoxicity, all negatively charged AgNPs and PVP-AgNPs-2 showed no cytotoxicity at MIC level, but significant cytotoxicity was detected at 2.5* to 10*MIC levels.

Conclusion

Among the polymers studied, polymer functionalization does not significantly alter the physical properties of AgNPs, but modifies their surface chemical property. These modifications, especially the functionalization of PVP, contribute to optimize the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of AgNPs, while not causing cytotoxicity at the MIC level.

Ecofriendly synthesis and characterization of Ni2+ codoped silica magnesium zirconium copper nanoceramics for wastewater treatment applications

This article investigates the effect of Ni²⁺ content on structural (XRD, XPS), morphological (TEM), and magnetic behaviors of silica magnesium zirconium copper nanoceramics calcined at 800 °C. The sol–gel route is followed for the silica magnesium zirconium copper/(0.0–0.7) Ni²⁺ samples preparation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is employed to analyze the chemical states of elements for the samples. The three representative binding energy magnitudes for O, Ni, and Cu reside at 534, 857, and 979 eV, consecutively. The saturation magnetization constricts with the elevation of Ni²⁺ content, while the magnetic hysteresis loop resembles the superparamagnetic attitude. The optical spectra present the possibility of direct and indirect transitions in the prepared nanoceramics. Energy gap (value and type), refractive index, and real and imaginary dielectric constant were extracted. The energy gap approaches 3.75 eV and 3.71 eV for direct and indirect transitions correspondingly with (0.7) Ni²⁺. The antimicrobial and the toxicity performance of all inspected nanocomposites were conducted against pathogenic microbes. The attained results evidenced that SMZC-0.7Ni possesses energetic antimicrobial potential against all targeted microbes. The investigated SMZC-0.7Ni nanocomposite functioned to eradicate frequent waterborne pathogens in wastewater at an appropriate dose (100 mg/L), demonstrating that SMZC can be utilized as a competent disinfectant in the municipal wastewater decontamination process. Inherently, SMZC-0.7Ni can be employed as an excellent nano-weapon against multiple dangerous microorganisms.

Bioactive tri-component nanofibers from cellulose acetate/lignin//N-vanillidene-phenylthiazole copper-(II) complex for potential diaper dermatitis control

Current research targets innovative medical textiles of nanofibrous nature and antibacterial activity to prevent diaper dermatitis. The work is based on electrospun nanofibers from cellulose acetate (CA) and lignin (Lig) polymers. A series of new copper complexes were synthesized and loaded to the CA/Lig solution mix then subjected to electrospinning, giving rise to the tricomponent bioactive mats CA/Lig/Cu-complex. The surface morphology of electrospun nanofiber mats was smooth and homogenous as the concentration of lignin increased in the mixture. The incorporation of lignin improved the electrospinnability of the cellulose acetate; however, it increased the fiber diameter. The water contact angle, absorption underload were significantly improved as lignin content increased. The incorporation of Cu-complex in electrospun CA and CA/Lig fiber mats occurred without any substantial change in the surface morphology, indicating well encapsulation of the complex. The electrospun mats were active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus faecalis. The cytotoxicity, protein leakage, and biological results, together with the above studies, would advocate copper complex loaded CA/Lig nanofibers as a potential candidate for hygienic applications.

Fabrication of Nanofibers Based on Hydroxypropyl Starch/Polyurethane Loaded with the Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Pathogenic Microbes in Wounds

Fabrication of electrospun nanofibers based on the blending of modified natural polymer, hydroxyl propyl starch (HPS) as one of the most renewable resources, with synthetic polymers, such as polyurethane (PU) is of great potential for biomedical applications. The as-prepared nanofibers were used as antimicrobial sheets via blending with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which were prepared in a safe way with low cost using the extract of Nerium oleander leaves, which acted as a reducing and stabilizing agent as well. The biosynthesized AgNPs were fully characterized by various techniques (UV-vis, TEM, DLS, zeta potential and XRD). The obtained results from UV-vis depicted that the AgNPs appeared at a wavelength equal to 404 nm affirming the preparation of AgNPs when compared with the wavelength of extract (there are no observable peaks). The average particle size of the fabricated AgNPs that mediated with HPS exhibited a very small size (less than 5 nm) with excellent stability (more than -30 mv). In addition, the fabricated nanofibers were also fully characterized and the obtained data proved that the diameter of nanofibers was enlarged with increasing the concentration of AgNPs. Additionally, the findings illustrated that the pore sizes of electrospun sheets were in the range of 75 to 350 nm. The obtained results proved that the presence of HPS displayed a vital role in decreasing the contact angle of PU nanofibers and thus, increased the hydrophilicity of the net nanofibers. It is worthy to mention that the prepared nanofibers incorporated with AgNPs exhibited incredible antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microbes that actually presented in human wounds. Moreover, P. aeruginosa was the most sensitive species to the fabricated nanofibers compared to other tested ones. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values of AgNPs-3@NFs against P. aeruginosa, and E. faecalis, were 250 and 500 mg/L within 15 min, respectively.

SnO2nanorods/graphene nanoplatelets nanocomposites: towards fast removal of malachite green and pathogen control

The world is facing alarming challenges of environmental pollution due to uncontrolled water contamination and multiple drug resistance of pathogens. However, these challenges can be addressed by using novel nanocomposites materials such as, SnO₂/graphene nanopaletelets (GNPs) nanocomposites remarkably. In this work, we have prepared SnO₂nanorods and SnO₂/GNPs nanocomposites (GS-I and GS-II) with size of 25 ± 6 nm in length and 4 ± 2 nm in diameter. The optical bandgap energies change from 3.14 eV to 2.80 eV in SnO₂and SnO₂/GNPs nanocomposite. We found that SnO₂/GNPs nanocomposite (GS-II) completely removes (99.11%) malachite green in 12 min, under UV light exposure, while under same conditions, SnO₂nanorods removes only 37% dye. Moreover, visible light exposure resulted in 99.01% removal of malachite green in 15 min by GSII as compared to 24.7% removal by SnO₂. In addition, GS-II nanocomposite inhibits 79.57% and 78.51% growth ofP. aeruginosaandS. aureusrespectively. A synchronized contribution of SnO₂and GNPs makes SnO₂/GNPs nanocomposites (GS-II) an innovative multifunctional material for simultaneous fast and complete removal of malachite green and inhibition of drug resistant pathogens.

Graphene-based materials: A new tool to fight against breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors among women population on a global scale, with a huge number of new cases and deaths each year. In recent years, there has been an increasing number of literatures on the discovery and development of novel anti-breast cancer drugs and materials, aiming to increase the survival rate of breast cancer patients. One of the newest tools used for the therapy of breast cancer is graphene-based materials, which have ultra-high surface area as well as unique physical, chemical and mechanical properties. It is reported that graphene-based materials could induce apoptosis in cancer cells while showing low toxicity due to their carbon structure. Therefore, they can be used as nano-drugs or biological carriers to introduce small molecules such as nucleic acids, drugs, or photosensitizers into the human body to achieve treatment goals. This article introduces the synthetic methods for graphene-based materials, as well as the current status and the future prospects of graphene-based materials' application in the treatment of breast cancer.

Synergistic antibacterial activity of surfactant free Ag-GO nanocomposites

Graphene oxide–silver (Ag–GO) nanocomposite has emerged as a vital antibacterial agent very recently. In this work, we report a facile one step route of Ag–GO nanocomposite formation excluding the aid of surfactants and reductants and was successfully applied to negative Escherichia Coli (E coli) to investigate antibacterial activity by varying doze concentration. The successful formation of Ag–GO nanocomposite via facile one step route was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman Spectroscopy. The absorption spectra (peak ~ 300 nm) for GO and the (peak ~ 420 nm) for silver nanoparticles were observed. XRD study confirmed the formation of Ag–GO nanocomposite while atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed crumbled GO sheets decorated with Ag nanoparticles. It was observed that the functional groups of GO facilitated the binding of Ag nanoparticles to GO network and enhanced the antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite.

The destruction of Escherichia coli adhered to pipe surfaces in a model drinking water distribution system via various antibiofilm agents

The aim of the study is to estimate the effectiveness of three antibiofilm agents against Escherichia coli biofilm that formed in six different types of pipelines. A laboratory-scale water system was built for this work to allow for the creation of biofilm in the pipelines studied. The level of the growth rate of E. coli biofilm cells was monitored over 90 days on those tested pipe materials. The results of bacterial cell densities displayed that the highest biofilm growth was observed in the biofilm formed on the iron (Fe) pipe. In contrast, the biofilm formation rate was significantly lower on copper (Cu) pipe compared to other materials. Three antibiofilm agents, including chlorine, silver ions (Ag⁺ ), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), were employed to eradicate the biofilm cells. E. coli counts indicated that AgNPs are more efficient in destructing any formed biofilm cells on all tested materials. At the same time, the chlorine was only useful in the case of biofilm developed on plastic and Cu. However, the antibiofilm efficiency of Ag⁺ performs similarly to chlorine against E. coli biofilm cells. Ultimately, AgNPs are considred the most powerful antibiofilm agent among the other agents toward the biofilm cells in their maturation stage, which offers an encouraging way for the long-term functioning of water systems. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The growth rate of E. coli biofilm cells was investigated on different materials. The count of biofilm cells developed on iron pipes was higher than other materials. The E. coli biofilm on iron pipe could resist chlorine and AgNPs to a large extent. The developed biofilm on copper pipe was more sensitive to chlorine, Ag⁺ . and AgNPs. The biofilm cells could be easily eradicated from plastic-based materials with all tested disinfectants.

Facile synthesis and potential application of Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe2O4 and Ni0.6Zn0.2Ce0.2Fe2O4 magnetic nanocubes as a new strategy in sewage treatment

Disinfection using chlorine has paramount importance in the treatment of either drinking water or sewage since it can kill and inhibit all waterborne pathogens, but it may result in carcinogenic substances when interacting with organic matter. An eco-friendly sol-gel process with citrate was used to prepare the nano-cubic activated nickel-zinc ferrite magnetic nanostructures (Ni_0.6Zn_0.4Fe₂O₄ and Ni_0.6Zn_0.2Ce_0.2Fe₂O₄). The activated nanomagnetic samples were characterized using XRD, HR-TEM, HR-SEM, FTIR, and VSM techniques. The structural and magnetic results showed that the nano-cubes magnetic-structures exhibited higher crystalline degrees and an increase in the total magnetization, enabling spinel nano-ferrite to possess potentials for excellent industry various applications. Likewise, the VSM results reveal that Ce₂O₃ had a significant influence on the magnetic behavior such as the coercivity (Hc; 69.226-133.15) saturation and magnetization (Ms; 24.562-52.174). The results revealed that all Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) had an outstanding inhibitory effect on microbes tested. The manufactured particles showed a remarkable ability to eliminate pathogenic bacteria in real sewage samples. The results obtained endorsed that the manufactured magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are powerful nano-weapons with an excellent anticipated output for the deactivation of pathogenic microbes during sewage treatment, with, nickel-zinc-cerium ferrite being more effective in inhibiting microbial growth than nickel-zinc-cerium ferrite.