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This study examined the protective effect of earthworm extract (EE) on acrylamide (ACR)-induced reproductive dysfunction. Forty male rats were allocated into four groups (n = 10). The G I (control) group received distilled water (D.W.). The G II group received ACR (5 mg kg−1 B.W. in D.W.) 5 days per week, orally, for 3 weeks. The G III group was administered EE (300 mg kg−1 B.W in D.W.) 5 days per week, orally, for 3 weeks. The G IV group was pretreated with EE for 3 weeks and then co-treated with EE and ACR for an additional 3 weeks. ACR decreased the number of sperm, sperm viability, and total motility. However, it increased testosterone levels with no effect on the FSH or LH levels. Moreover, ACR increased the concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Meanwhile, it decreased the glutathione (GSH) concentration in testicular tissues. Notably, the expression levels of p53 and Ki-67 were increased in the degenerated spermatogenic cells and in the hyperplastic Leydig cells of the testis of the ACR-treated group, respectively. Acrylamide induced alterations in the testicular tissue architecture. Interestingly, EE restored the sperm parameters and recovered the testicular histological structures and the biochemical alterations induced by ACR. In conclusion, earthworm extract ameliorated ACR-induced reproductive toxicity via restoring the testicular antioxidant balance and suppressing p53 and Ki-67 expressions in testicular tissues.

Plant parasitic nematodes cause severe damage, reducing plant production. The ability of four various biocontrol agents was surveyed for effectiveness in inhibiting J2 of Meloidogyne incognita in vitro. The study aims to explore the impact of different bio-agents (Bacillus cereus 54-1, Streptomyces erythrogriesus sub sp. 2, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Spirulina platensis) on the root-knot-nematode, M. incognita reproduction, and their influence on plant growth as well as physiological and biochemical parameters in Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants under greenhouse conditions. Effective inoculation of four bio-control agents on growth and physio-biochemical parameters of bean plants infected with root-knot-nematode was also investigated. After 48 hours of exposure to bioagents, mortality was caused by M. incognita J2s. Mortality ranged between 67.3 and 89%. Under experimental conditions, further validating the relative efficacy of different bioagents in control M. incognita on common bean in two successive seasons. All pageants were efficient in preventing nematode reproduction, but with varying efficacy. Oxamyl (Nematicide) was an extremely effective treatment for suppressing total nematode populations. Nevertheless, the second most effective treatment for reducing M. incognita in roots and soil was B. cereus. All treatments significantly enhanced growth as compared to the control. Treatments with four bioagents significantly reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde levels. While it significantly raised the activity of peroxidase, polyphenol-oxidase, and superoxide dismutase, in addition to raising the content of phenolics and flavonoids in the infected common bean. The tested bioagents were efficient in preventing nematode reproduction, but at various levels of efficacy. In addition, all treatments significantly enhanced common bean growth parameters and reduced the levels of both H2O2 and MDA. While it raised the activity of POD, PPO, SOD, and contents of phenolics and flavonoids in the infected common bean. These results highlight the value of bioagents as a promising biocontrol technique to manage root-knot-nematodes in common beans.

Talented di-phase ferrite/ferroelectric BaTi 0 . 7 Fe 0 . 3 O 3 @NiFe 2 O 4  (BFT@NFO) in oval nano-morphology was chemically synthesized using controlled sol–gel processes and calcined at 600 °C. The effects of shielding using NiFe 2 O 4  (NFO) nanoparticles on the microstructure, phase transition, thermal, and relative permittivity of BaTi 0 . 7 Fe 0 . 3 O 3 (BTF) nano-perovskite were systematically explored. X-ray diffraction patterns and Full-Prof software exhibited the forming of the BaTi 2 Fe 4 O 11 hexagonal phase. TEM and SEM images demonstrated that the coating of BaTi0. 7 Fe 0 . 3 O 3  has been successfully controlled with exquisite nano-oval NiFe 2 O 4  shapes. The NFO shielding can significantly promote the thermal stability and the relative permittivity of BFT@NFO pero-magnetic nanocomposites and lowers the Curie temperature. Thermogravimetric and optical analysis were used to test the thermal stability and estimate the effective optical parameters. Magnetic studies showed a decrease in saturation magnetization of NiFe 2 O 4  NPs compared to their bulk system, which is attributed to surface spin disorder. Herein, characterization and the sensitive electrochemical sensor were constructed for the evaluation of peroxide oxidation detection using the chemically adjusted nano-ovals barium titanate-iron@nickel ferrite nanocomposites. Finally, The BFT@NFO exhibited excellent electrochemical properties which can be ascribed to this compound possessing two electrochemical active components and/or the nano-ovals structure of the particles which can further improve the electrochemistry through the possible oxidation states and the synergistic effect. The result advocates that when the BTF is shielded with NFO nanoparticles the thermal, dielectric, and electrochemical properties of nano-oval BaTi 0.7 Fe 0.3 O 3 @NiFe 2 O 4  nanocomposites can be synchronously developed. Thus, the production of ultrasensitive electrochemical nano-systems for the determination of hydrogen peroxide is of extensive significance.

Polystyrene membranes were found to be an effective-assisted material in the growth of undoped and doped indium–tin–oxide (ITO) with different concentrations from 3 to 7 wt% of CuO nanoparticles. Nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, HR-SEM/TEM, and dielectric measurements. Polystyrene-assisted ITO nanocomposites (ITO/PS) showed the high crystalline phase with lattice fringes, and well agreed on the cubic phase of ITO. As the concentration of CuO increases in ITO/PS nanocomposite, the conductivity decreases. Differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis showed a good thermal stability of the prepared nanocomposites. The increase of CuO wt% did not affect the major degeneration temperature and the thermal stability of undoped composite. The highest conductivity was obtained for ITO doped with 7 wt% of CuO. The formed Polystyrene-assisted ITO:Cu nanocomposites demonstrated a considerable antimicrobial activity against non-filamentous fungi ( Candida albicans ), Gram-positive bacteria ( Bacillus mycoides ), and Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli ) at all tested concentrations (3.0–7.0 wt% of CuO) with maximum activity at 7.0 wt% of CuO.

In this paper, we present a humidity sensing material based on nanostructured Zn (1.6 − x) Na 0.4 Cu x TiO 4 spinel to enhance optical and sensitivity performance. Nano-porous of Zn (1.6 − x) Na 0.4 Cu x TiO 4 spinel were synthesized using sol gel reactions and calcined at 700 °C. The nanostructures of Zn (1.6 − x) Na 0.4 Cu x TiO 4 spinel underwent thorough characterization through multiple techniques. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) coupled with Rietveld refinement using FullProf software, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman Spectroscopy, and optical analysis were employed to assess various aspects of the nanostructures. These techniques were utilized to determine the phase composition, particle size distribution, chemical bonding, and the tunable band gap of the nanostructures. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of Zn (1.6 − x) Na 0.4 Cu x TiO 4 samples revealed well-defined and prominent peaks, indicating a highly crystalline cubic spinel structure. The lattice parameter was decreased from 8.4401 to 8.4212 Å with increasing Cu content from 0 to 1.2 mol%. UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra were employed to investigate the optical characteristics of copper-doped Zn 1.6 Na 0.4 TiO 4 . The applicability of Cu@NaZT spinel nanostructures in humidity sensors was evaluated at ambient conditions. The fabricated sensor was investigated in a wide span of humidity (11–97%). The examined sensor demonstrates a low hysteresis, excellent repeatability, fast response and recovery. The response and recovery times were estimated to be 20 s and 6 s respectively. The highest sensitivity was achieved at 200 Hz. The proposed sensor can be coupled easily with electronic devices as the humidity–impedance relationship is linear.

This article investigates the effect of Ni 2+ 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) Ni 2+ 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 Ni 2+ 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) Ni 2+ . 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.

This research accomplished the growth of cadmium zinc tungsten phosphate (CZWP) thin films on both glass and p-Si substrates, employing the sol–gel spin coating method. The sol–gel technique offers a versatile and controlled approach for fabricating nanomaterials with tailored properties. The structural and morphological analyses, conducted through XRD and FE-SEM, provided comprehensive insights into the nature of the films. The optical properties, absorbance behavior, energy gap, refractive indices, dielectric, conductivity, and electronegativity, underwent meticulous examination through UV–Vis spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction analysis of the zinc cadmium tungsten phosphate diode reveals diffraction lines indicative of a nanostructure featuring a monoclinic-phase Zn 2 P 2 O 7 and Cd 3 P 6 O 28 . Furthermore, SEM analysis confirms a nanoporous morphology with a nanograpes-like structure in the successful crystalline structure of the cadmium zinc tungsten phosphate nanostructure. The optical absorption studies, covering a wavelength range from 190 to 1500 nm, unveiled both direct and indirect energy band gaps, measuring 4.14 and 3.77 eV, respectively. A rigorous analysis of the I-V-T characteristics for the CZNP/p-Si junction in dark mode led to the identification of key parameters, including the transport ideality factor, barrier height, and series resistance.

This study aims to develop an innovative drug delivery bio-system using bioglass (BIOGLASS) and biopolymers of Sodium Alginate (SA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in microsphere form as a carrier for Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid drug. In this work BIOGLASS/SA-PVP and Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid loaded BIOGLASS/SA-PVP microspheres (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%) were synthesized using the ion crosslinking method technique. The fabricated microspheres were analyzed using FT-IR, FESEM/EDX, and XRD confirming the in-vitro examination. XRD and FTIR data demonstrate the effective creation of the apatite layer and the appearance of new apatite peaks at both 605 cm −1 and 565 cm −1 , distinguishing the prolonged vibrations associated with the group. SEM images reveal that the prepared bio-beads have a spherical shape, with sizes falling in the micro-scale. The dielectric constant (εʹ), the dielectric loss (εʺ), and the AC conductivity (σ) were slow at the frequency range of 4 Hz to 8 MHz at room temperature. The antibacterial examinations of the fabricated microspheres were performed employing agar diffusion procedure against the clinical pathogens Gram + and Gram - bacteria. The SBF (simulated body fluid) experiments display the formation of a hydroxy appetite coating on the microsphere’s surfaces that approves their significant bioactivity. Furthermore, antimicrobial results of BIOGLASS/SA-PVP/Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid microspheres reveal a notable impact on the antimicrobial performance. The in-vitro tests established that fabricated bio-microspheres are a promising opportunity for bone tissue engineering (substitutes and regeneration), signifying their promise for bone application.

We used a green sol–gel synthesis method to fabricate a novel nanoporous copper aluminosilicate (CAS) material. Nanoporous CAS was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field emission transmission and scanning electron microscopies (FE-TEM/FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and optical analyses. The CAS was also evaluated for use as a promising disinfectant for the inactivation of waterborne pathogens. The antimicrobial action and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of this CAS disinfectant were determined against eight microorganisms ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella enterica , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Listeria monocytogenes , Staphylococcus aureus , Enterococcus faecalis , Candida albicans , and Aspergillus niger ). An antimicrobial susceptibility testing of CAS was measured. Results of disc diffusion method pointed out that the diameters of the zone using well diffusion were wider than disc diffusion methods, and the findings also showed that the MIC of the CAS disinfectant against E. coli , S. enterica , and P. aeruginosa was 100 mg/L within 20 min of contact time. Meanwhile, the MIC of the CAS disinfectant was 100 mg/L within 40 min of contact time for the other strains. The efficacy of antimicrobial action (100%) reached within 20 to 40 min against all tested microbes. Herein, the antimicrobial susceptibility testing of CAS disinfectant showed no toxicity for human and bacterial cells. It can be concluded that nanoporous CAS is a promising, economically, and worthy weapon for water disinfection.

This work reports the formation of polyacrylic acid (PAA)—zinc oxide (ZnO)—bromocresol purple (BCP), (PAA-ZnO@ (0.00–0.01) BCP wide-bandgap organic semiconductors deposited onto glass substrates via a sol–gel polymerization process. These semiconductor films were deposited on glass substrates using a spin coating and then dried at 60 °C. The PAA-ZnO film appeared to be of amorphous phase, and films loaded with BCP revealed semicrystalline behavior. The surface of the films exhibited adherence and extended grains. The hydrogen bonds formed between PAA-ZnO and the BCP dye within the PAA-ZnO@BCP films was performed using FTIR-spectroscopy. The prepared nanocomposites demonstrate an indirect band transition which is affected slightly by adding ZnO and BCP dye. Optical parameters such as the absorption coefficient, the refractive index, the dielectric constant, optical conductivity, optical depth, and optical electronegativity of the prepared nanocomposites were studied as functions of incident light energy (wavelength). The PAA carbonyl group n-π* transition and BCP aromatic ring π-π* transitions were detected at about 285 (for all samples) and 432 nm (for BCP loaded samples), respectively. The superior photoluminescence characteristics observed in the BCP/PAA-Zn films excited with a wavelength of 250 nm indicated the successful loading of the BCP dye during the self-aggregation of the PAA-Zn film.