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Infections originating from pathogenic microorganisms can significantly impede the natural wound-healing process. To address this obstacle, innovative bio-active nanomaterials have been developed to enhance antibacterial capabilities. This study focuses on the preparation of nanocomposites from thermally reduced graphene oxide and zinc oxide (TRGO/ZnO). The hydrothermal method was employed to synthesize these nanocomposites, and their physicochemical properties were comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis ( XRD ) , High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis, and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. Subsequently, the potential of TRGO/ZnO nanocomposites as bio-active materials against wound infection-causing bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Escherichia coli , was evaluated. Furthermore, the investigated samples show disrupted bacterial biofilm formation. A reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay was conducted to investigate the mechanism of nanocomposite inhibition against bacteria and for further in-vivo determination of antimicrobial activity. The MTT assay was performed to ensure the safety and biocompatibility of nanocomposite. The results suggest that TRGO/ZnO nanocomposites have the potential to serve as effective bio-active nanomaterials for combating pathogenic microorganisms present in wounds.

Background Citrus production and trading are seriously affected by fungal decays worldwide; the green mold infection by Penicillium digitatum could be the most disastrous. The substitutions of chemical and synthetic fungicides with effectual natural alternatives are global demands; plant extract from pomegranates peels (PPE), biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles with PPE (PPE/SeNPs) and chitosan nanoparticles (NCT) were suggested as efficacious fungicidal agents/nanocomposites to control P. digitatum strains. Method PPE from Punica granatum was extracted and employed directly for synthesizing SeNPs, whereas NCT was produced using ionic gelation method of chitosan extracted from white prawn ( Fenneropenaeus indicus ) shells. The physiochemical, biochemical and structural characterization of generated molecules were conducted using infra-red spectroscopy, particles’ size (Ps) and charge assessment and electron microscopes imaging. Antifungal potentialities were investigated in vitro and in infected fruits with P. digitatum by applying NCT nanocomposites-based edible coating. Results The synthesis of PPE-synthesized SeNPs and NCT was successfully achieved, the molecular bonding in synthesized agents/composites were proved with infrared spectroscopy to have both biochemical and physical interactions. The nanoparticles had 82.72, 9.41 and 85.17 nm mean diameters for NCT, PPE/SeNPs and NCT/PPE/SeNPs nanocomposites, respectively. The nanoparticles had homogenous spherical shapes and good distribution attributes. The entire agents/nanocomposites exhibited potent fungicidal potentialities toward P. digitatum isolates; NCT/PPE/SeNPs nanocomposite was the most forceful and significantly exceeded the fungicidal action of standard fungicide. The direct treatment of fungal mycelia with NCT/PPE/SeNPs nanocomposite led to remarkable lysis and deformations of P. digitatum hyphae within 12 h of treatment. The coating of infected orange with NCT-based edible coatings reduced the green mold infection signs by 91.7, 95.4 and 100%, for NCT, NCT/PPE and NCT/PPE/SeNPs based coating solutions, respectively. Conclusions NCT, PPE-synthesized SeNPs, and their innovative nanocomposites NCT/PPE/SeNPs are convincingly recommended for formulating effectual antifungal and edible coatings to eliminate postharvest fungal pathogen, both with protection from their invasion or with destructing their existing infections. Graphical Abstract

Bioactive nanocomposites were constructed, containing chitosan (Cht), extracted from shrimps’ wastes, and transformed into nanoparticles (NPs) using ionic-gelation. Selenium NPs (Se-NPs) were phytosynthesized using cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) bark extract (CIE), characterized and evaluated with Cht-NPs as antimicrobial composites against bacterial food-borne pathogens “Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes” and as potential edible coating (EC) basements. The CIE-phytosynthesized Se-NPs had well-distributed and spherical shapes with 23.2 nm mean diameter. The CIE, CIE/Se-NPs, and innovative CIE/Se/Cht-NP composites exhibited distinguished antibacterial actions toward the entire screened pathogens; CIE/Se/Cht-NP composite was significantly the most potent. The formulated ECs from CIE/Se/Cht-NP nanocomposites had matching antibacterial manner, which was strengthened with CIE/Se-NP percentage increments. Scanning micrographs indicated the attachment of CIE/Se-NPs to bacterial cells to cause their complete lysis and death after 10 h of exposure. CIE/Se/Cht-NP composites are proposed as effectual control agents toward food-borne pathogens using efficient biological carriers and eco-friendly phytosynthesis protocol.

Cancers still globally endanger millions of people yearly; the incidences/mortalities of colorectal cancers are particularly increasing. The natural nanoparticles (NPs) and marine biopolymers were anticipated to provide effectual safe significances for managing cancers. The transformation of curcumin to nano-curcumin (NCur) was conducted with gum Arabic. The resulted NCur was utilized for the biosynthesis of selenium NPs (SeNPs), then bioactive nanocomposites (NC) from them with fucoidan (Fu) were fabricated and evaluated as candidates to suppress colorectal cancers (CaCo-2 and HT-29) cells. The NCur and NCur-synthesized SeNPs were effectually produced with mean diameters of 34.67 ± 4.32 and 5.17 ± 1.06 nm, respectively. The plain and NCs of Fu/NCur/SeNPs characterization, with infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy, emphasized their interaction and conjugations. The entire agents/NCs had potent cytotoxic effects against cancers’ lines; the NC of Fu/NCur/SeNPs was the most effectual with IC50 of 10.35 ± 0.83 and 19.44 ± 1.39 mg/L against CaCo-2 and HT-29 cells, respectively, which were significantly exceeded the action of standard cisplatin drug. The NCs led to vigorous DNA damages in CaCo-2 cancerous cells, as proved with comet assay. The ultrastructure imagining (scanning/transmission microscopy) of treated cells with Fu/NCur/SeNPs confirmed the capability of NCs to induce severe apoptosis and deformation signs in cancerous cells. The bio-based constituents of Fu/NCur/SeNPs and advocate their prospective applications for preventing/managing colorectal adenocarcinoma.

This study investigates the integration of graphene oxide (GO) into low nickel bio-grade stainless steel (LNBGSS) to enhance its corrosion resistance and assess its biocompatibility. Three concentrations of GO (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt%) were added to the steel matrix using the powder metallurgy method and annealed in a nitrogen environment. X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy analyses reveal that while the crystal structure of the steel remains largely unchanged, the morphology of the prepared samples exhibits minimal alteration post-GO integration. The average particle sizes ( D av ) of the studied samples were calculated. It was found that D av slightly changed with the content of GO. Based on the electrochemical analysis, the inhibition efficiency was determined in different ways and it increased markedly with increasing GO content in LNBGSS composites. Subsequently, biocompatibility assessment was conducted through in vivo studies on albino rats. Thirty-six rats were randomly allocated into six groups. The hematological parameters revealed a nonsignificant ( P  > 0.05) difference except for the rats treated with the low-nickel bio-grade stainless steel powder (LNBGSS) (S0), which had the lowest complete blood count in comparison with other groups. In spite, the hematological parameters of all groups were within the normal reference ranges. The biochemical indices also were not significantly ( P  > 0.05) different by assessment of liver enzymes and kidney functions for all examined groups. These findings suggested that the use of GO in modifying low nickel bio-grade stainless steel alloy is biologically safe and recommendable for enhancing this alloy’s properties.

Haloperidol (Hal) is one of the widely used antipsychotic drugs. When orally administered, it suffers from low bioavailability due to hepatic first pass metabolism. This study aimed at developing Hal-loaded penetration enhancer-containing spanlastics (PECSs) to increase transdermal permeation of Hal with sustained release. PECSs were successfully prepared using ethanol injection method showing reasonable values of percentage entrapment efficiency, particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. The statistical analysis of the ex vivo permeation parameters led to the choice of F1L - made of Span ® 60 and Tween ® 80 at the weight ratio of 4:1 along with 1% w/v Labrasol ® - as the selected formula (SF). SF was formulated into a hydrogel by using 2.5% w/v of HPMC K4M. The hydrogel exhibited good in vitro characteristics. Also, it retained its physical and chemical stability for one month in the refrigerator. The radiolabeling of SF showed a maximum yield by mixing of 100 µl of diluted formula with 50 µl saline having 200 MBq of 99m Tc and containing 13.6 mg of reducing agent (NaBH 4 ) and volume completed to 300 µl by saline at pH 10 for 10 min as reaction time. The biodistribution study showed that the transdermal 99m Tc-SF hydrogel exhibited a more sustained release pattern and longer circulation duration with pulsatile behavior in the blood and higher brain levels than the oral 99m Tc-SF dispersion. So, transdermal hydrogel of SF may be considered a promising sustained release formula for Hal maintenance therapy with reduced dose size and less frequent administration than oral formula.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been noted to decrease access to maternal health and family planning services globally. However, evidence from the Middle East and North Africa region is very scarce and limited. We qualitatively explored women’s experiences in accessing maternal health and family planning services during the COVID-19 lockdown months in the two Egyptian governorates of Port Said and Souhag. Methods Using a case study design, semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with a total of 40 women aged 18–35 years from Port Said and Souhag governorates in Egypt. Interviews explored women’s experiences in accessing maternal health and family planning services during COVID-19 lockdown months, their coping strategies, and impact of challenges and/or coping strategies on participants and their families. The collected data was analyzed manually using qualitative thematic analysis. Results Many participants were unable to access maternal health and family planning services during COVID-19 lockdown due to fear of contracting the virus, closure of health facilities, changing service hours, family planning method or drug stock-outs, and/or financial constraints. The above challenges in accessing services along with coping strategies that some women and their families used exposed women to additional health risks, including unintended pregnancies, and posed several social, emotional, and financial burdens to many. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures undermined women’s access to maternal and family planning services and interfered with their ability to achieve their reproductive goals. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations to ensure access to maternal and family planning services at times of crisis. Those recommendations include: (1) adapting reliable guidelines from humanitarian settings, (2) providing adequate guidance to healthcare providers and the public to tackle fears and misinformation, (3) making self-care products available such as oral contraceptive pills, vaginal rings and self- administered injectables, (4) involving other health professionals in the provision of maternal and family planning services through task-sharing/shifting, (5) expanding the use of telemedicine and/or digital health services especially to those living in remote areas and (6) raising policymakers’ awareness of the centrality of reproductive rights and the importance of protecting them at all times.

Helicobacter pylori can infect most people worldwide to cause hazardous consequences to health; the bacteria could not easily be controlled or disinfected. Toward exploring of innovative biocidal nanoformulations to control H. pylori , broccoli seeds ( Brassica oleracea var. italica ) mucilage (MBS) was employed for biosynthesizing selenium nanoparticles (MBS/SeNPs), which was intermingled with chitosan nanoparticles (NCT) to generate bioactive nanocomposites for suppressing H. pylori . The MBS could effectually generate and stabilize SeNPs with 13.61 nm mean diameter, where NCT had 338.52 nm mean diameter and positively charged (+ 39.62 mV). The cross-linkages between NCT-MBS-SeNPs were verified via infrared analysis and the nanocomposites from NCT:MBS/SeNPs at 1:2 (T1), 1:1 (T2) and 2:1 (T3) ratios had mean diameters of 204, 132 and 159 nm, respectively. The entire nanomaterials/composites exhibited potent anti- H. pylori activities using various assaying methods; the T2 nanocomposite was the utmost bactericidal agent with 0.08–0.10 mg/L minimal concentration and 25.9–27.3 mm inhibition zones. The scanning microscopy displayed the ability of nanocomposite to attach the bacterial cells, disrupt their membranes, and completely lyse them within 10 h. The NCT/MBS/SeNPs nanocomposites provided effectual innovative approach to control H. pylori .

The article demonstrates the feasibility of tuning the optical and electrical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by adding different wt% of TiO 2 nanoparticles (0.001–0.01 wt%). UV–visible, photoluminescence and LCR spectroscopies techniques were used. UV–visible measurements of PVA/TiO 2 membranes displayed a shift in the absorbance edge across the region of longer wavelength. This reflects a decrease in the bandgap energy, which indicates an increase in the electrical AC conductivity of the samples. Furthermore, the transmittance of a pure PVA membrane decreases from 85% for pure PVA to 3% for PVA/TiO 2 with 0.01 wt%. In addition, an amendment was observed in the optical parameters of nanocomposite membranes. The photoluminescence emission spectra exhibited a luminescence response of the PVA/TiO 2 samples and significant emission bands were generated with the increase in the TiO 2 nanoparticles. With increasing TiO 2 nanoparticles, an increase in the AC conductivity and an improvement in the dielectric parameters of the samples were observed. The electric modulus was calculated and used to evaluate the relaxation behaviour in the nanocomposite membranes.