Biogenic synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Artemia urumiana extract and five different thermal accelerated techniques: fabrication and characterization

Artemia urumiana is bisexual population of the Lake Urmia of Iran. Its biomass was freeze dried and using its lyophilized powder, hydro-alcoholic extract was prepared and utilized in gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) synthesis. Six different Au NPs fabrication methods namely: microwave heating, hydrothermal, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, ultrasonication, common heating using conventional heating, and self-assembling were utilized for Au NPs synthesis using A. urumiana extract. Gas chromatography analysis indicated that the prepared extract were contained numerous fatty acid methyl esters such as Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester. Results indicated that the formed NPs using heater and stirrer, and UV irradiation had minimum particle size of 25 and 94 nm, respectively. However, as compared to the formed Au NPs using heater and stirrer technique, UV irradiation fabricated Au NPs with high zeta potential value of -32.5 mV and small polydispersity value of 0.310. Results also demonstrated that the synthesized Au NPs using heater and stirrers, and UV irradiation had highest antioxidant activities of 13.7 and 11.9%, and bactericidal effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aurous bacteria strains, as compared to other fabricated Au NPs using other methods. There were insignificant (p > 0.05) differences between these two attributes of the formed Au NPs.

Gum Acacia Functionalized Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles of Letrozole as Biocompatible Drug Delivery Carrier for Treatment of Breast Cancer

The most prevalent malignancy among postmenopausal women is breast cancer. It is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women. Letrozole (LTZ) is a clinically approved inhibitor for breast cancer in postmenopausal women. However, due to poor aqueous solubility, non-specific binding, unwanted toxicity, and poor blood circulation hampered its clinical applications. To maximize the pharmacological effects and minimize the side effects, inorganic nanoparticles are a good alternative. Due to excellent biocompatibility and minimum cytotoxicity, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) offer distinct benefits over other metal nanoparticles. Emerging as attractive components, AuNPs and Gum acacia (GA) have been extensively studied as biologically safe nanomaterials for the treatment of cancers. This study reports the synthesis and characterization of GA stabilized gold nanoparticles (GA-AuNPs) of LTZ for breast cancer treatment. The observed particle size of optimized LTZ @ GA-AuNPs was 81.81 ± 4.24 nm in size, 0.286 ± 0.143 of polydispersity index (PDI) and -14.6 ± -0.73 mV zeta potential. The biologically synthesized LTZ @ GA-AuNPs also demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7, with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 3.217 ± 0.247. We determined the hemolytic properties of the LTZ @ GA-AuNPs to evaluate the interaction between the nanoparticles and blood components. Results showed that there is no interaction between LTZ @ GA-AuNPs and blood. In conclusion, the findings indicate that LTZ @ GA-AuNPs has significant potential as a promising drug delivery carrier for treating breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

Astaxanthin–garlic oil nanoemulsions preparation using spontaneous microemulsification technique: optimization and their physico–chemical properties

Garlic oil in water nanoemulsion was resulted through subcritical water method (temperature of 120 °C and pressure of 1.5 bar, for 2 h), using aponin, as emulsifier. Based on the prepared garlic oil nanoemulsion, astaxanthin–garlic oil nanoemulsions were prepared using spontaneous microemulsification technique. Response surface methodology was employed to evaluate the effects of independent variables namely, amount of garlic oil nanoemulsion (1–9 mL) and amount of provided astaxanthin powder (1–9 g) on particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) of the resulted nanoemulsions. Results of optimization indicated that well dispersed and spherical nanodroplets were formed in the nanoemulsions with minimum particle size (76 nm) and polydispersity index (PDI, 0.358) and maximum zeta potential value (−8.01 mV), using garlic oil nanoemulsion amount of 8.27 mL and 4.15 g of astaxanthin powder. Strong antioxidant activity (>100%) of the prepared astaxanthin–garlic oil nanoemulsion, using obtained optimum amounts of the components, could be related to the highest antioxidant activity of the colloidal astaxanthin (>100%) as compared to that of the garlic oil nanoemulsion (16.4%). However, higher bactericidal activity of the resulted nanoemulsion against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, were related to the main sulfur bioactive components of the garlic oil in which their main functional groups were detected by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy.

Green synthesis of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using Citrus medica leaves extract: characterization and photo-catalytic activity

The study deals with the green and eco-friendly synthesis and characterization of cobalt oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Citrus medica plant. The crystalline nature and functional groups analysis of cobalt oxide Nps was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and diffused reflectance infra-red spectroscopy respectively. The band gap of the Nps was calculated using Tauc plot. Scanning microscope analysis was carried out to get an insight to the structural morphology of the catalyst. The catalyst was found to be very active for the degradation of methyl orange dye using a very small amount of catalyst (0.006 g) using ultra violet radiation source. Approximately, 90% of the dye (Initial Conc. 10 mg L−1) was degraded in 60 min at natural pH (6.5). The dye degradation increased with increase in pH of the solution, due to the enhanced production of OH radicals, at higher pH values. Different experimental parameters like catalyst amount, agitation speed, initial pH of the solution, initial concentration of dye and recycling of the catalyst were varied to test the performance of the catalyst.

Formulation, Characterization and Biological Activity Screening of Sodium Alginate-Gum Arabic Nanoparticles Loaded with Curcumin

The approach of drug delivery systems emphasizes the use of nanoparticles as a vehicle, offering the optional property of delivering drugs as a single dose rather than in multiple doses. The current study aims to improve antioxidant and drug release properties of curcumin loaded gum Arabic-sodium alginate nanoparticles (Cur/ALG-GANPs). The Cur/ALG-GANPs were prepared using the ionotropic gelation technique and further subjected to physico-chemical characterization using attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size distribution, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of Cur/ALG-GANPs ranged between 10 ± 0.3 nm and 190 ± 0.1 nm and the zeta potential was –15 ± 0.2 mV. The antioxidant study of Cur/ALG-GANPs exhibited effective radical scavenging capacity for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) at concentrations that ranged between 30 and 500µg/mL. Cytotoxicity was performed using MTT assay to measure their potential in inhibiting the cell growth and the result demonstrated a significant anticancer activity of Cur/ALG-GANPs against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) than in colon cancer (HT29), lung cancer (A549) and breast cancer (MCF7) cells. Thus, this study indicates that Cur/ALG-GANPs have promising anticancer properties that might aid in future cancer therapy.

Nanobiotechnology approach in intracellular selenium nanoparticle synthesis using Saccharomyces cerevisiae-fabrication and characterization

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) were synthesized using Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Influences of different amounts of sodium selenite (5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0, and 25 µg) were evaluated on growth of yeast during incubation at 32 °C, during 4 days. UV-Vis spectroscopy results have shown that synthesized Se NPs had broad emission peak (λ_max) in the wavelength around 350 nm which demonstrated that formation of Se NPs occurred in intracellular manner. Physico-chemical characteristics of the synthesized Se NPs using dynamic light scattering particle-size analyzer indicated that the fabricated Se NPs had particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential ranging from 75 to 709 nm, 0.189 to 0989, and -7.06 to -10.3 mV, respectively. Obtained results revealed that intracellular Se NPs with minimum particle size (75 nm), maximum zeta potential (-10.3 mV), and antioxidant activity (48.5%) were synthesized using minimum amount of selenium salt (5 µg). However, most uniform Se NPs were formed using maximum amount of selenium salt (25 µg). Results also indicated that by increasing amount of sodium selenite in the culture media, from 5.0 to 25 µg, antioxidant activity of the formed Se NPs decreased from 48.5 to 20.8, respectively.

Preparation of Ginger Oil in Water Nanoemulsion Using Phase Inversion Composition Technique: Effects of Stirring and Water Addition Rates on their Physico-Chemical Properties and Stability

Ginger oil in water (O/W) nanoemulsions, were produced using phase inversion composition method and Tween 80, as emulsifier. Effects of processing parameters namely, stirring rate (100 to1000 rpm) and water addition rate (1–10 mL/min) were evaluated on the physico-chemical, morphological, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the prepared O/W nanoemulsions using response surface methodology (RSM). Results indicated that well dispersed and spherical ginger nanodroplets were formed in the nanoemulsions with minimum particle size (8.80 nm) and polydispersity index (PDI, 0.285) and maximum zeta potential value (−9.15 mV), using stirring rate and water addition rate of 736 rpm and 8.18 mL/min, respectively. Insignificant differences between predicted and experimental values of the response variables, indicated suitability of fitted models using RSM. Mean particle size of the prepared nanoemulsion using optimum conditions were changed from 8.81 ± 1 to 9.80 ± 1 nm, during 4 weeks of storage, which revealed high stability of the resulted ginger O/W nanoemulsion. High antioxidant activity (55.4%), bactericidal (against Streptococcus mutans) and fungicidal (against Aspergillus niger) activities of the prepared nanoemulsion could be related to the presence of gingerols and shogaols, a group of phenolic alkanones, in the ginger oil, which those were detected by gas chromatography method.

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Juglans regia Leaf Extract and Evaluation of Their Physico-Chemical and Antibacterial Properties

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized using Juglans regia (J. regia) leaf extract, as both reducing and stabilizing agents through microwave irradiation method. The effects of a 1% (w/v) amount of leaf extract (0.1⁻0.9 mL) and an amount of 1 mM AgNO₃ solution (15⁻25 mL) on the broad emission peak (λ_max) and concentration of the synthesized Ag NPs solution were investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). Fourier transform infrared analysis indicated the main functional groups existing in the J. regia leaf extract. Dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the synthesized Ag NPs. Fabricated Ag NPs with the mean particle size and polydispersity index and maximum concentration and zeta potential of 168 nm, 0.419, 135.16 ppm and -15.6 mV, respectively, were obtained using 0.1 mL of J. regia leaf extract and 15 mL of AgNO₃. The antibacterial activity of the fabricated Ag NPs was assessed against both Gram negative (Escherichia coli) and positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and was found to possess high bactericidal effects.