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Cancer is a cataclysmic disease that affects not only the target organ, but also the whole body. Metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) have recently emerged as a better option for the treatment of this deadly disease. Accordingly, the present work describes a means to control the growth of cancer cells by using colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) processed via homemade solutions and the characterization of these materials. The AgNPs may become an instantaneous solution for the treatment of these deadly diseases and to minimize or remove these problems. The AgNPs exhibit excellent control of the growth rate of human liver (HepG2) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells, even at a very low concentrations. The cytotoxic effects of AgNPs on HepG2 and MCF-7 cancer cells were dose dependent (2–200 μg/mL), as evaluated using MTT and NRU assays. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased by 136% and 142% in HepG2 and MCF-7 cells treated with AgNPs, respectively. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data for both cell types (HepG2 and MCF-7) after exposure to AgNPs showed up- and downregulation of the expression of apoptotic (p53, Bax, caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (BCl2) genes; moreover, their roles were described. This work shows that NPs were successfully prepared and controlled the growth of both types of cancer cells.

The environmental problem is a big issue in the current scenario because the human beings are affected via natural or manmade sources. Over a range of industrial pollutents, the nitrophenol (referred to as 4-NP) known as harmful industrial chemical for the environment and listed as a carcinogenic compound for human health. To keep this view the present manuscript describes the formation of highly crystalline silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) and applied for the electrochemical sensing of 4-NP. The Si-NPs exhibit numerous applications in various directions such as catalyst, solar cells, LEDs, batteries etc. The Si-NPs were formed from the physical approach with using argon-silane mixture in a gas chamber with impregnation of microwave plasma. The processed material was examined through various techniques such as X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTIR). It reveals from the acquired analysis that the size of each NP is ~ 4 nm with good structural and chemical characteristics and applied as a film form against to check the sensing of 4-NP with three electrode system. The electrochemical studies were conducted through cyclic voltammetry (CV) in terms of their low to high concentration (7.8, 15.62, 31. 25, 62.25, 250, 500, 1000 μM in PBS), scan rate at variable potential was accessed from 5 to 100 mV with Si-NPs based electrode. The sustainability, reproducibility and efficacy of the formed sensor (Si-NPs/GCE) was examined in occurrence with 4-NP (62.25 μM) for seven consecutive cycles. Including to this, chronoamperometry (0 to 1500 s ) and electrochemical impedance spectra (7.8–1000 μM in PBS) were also analyzed. On the basis of acquired results and discussion a probable mechanism was also described.

The formation of bacterial biofilm is a major challenge in clinical applications. The main aim of this study is to describe the synthesis, characterization and biocidal potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) against bacterial strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These nanoparticles were synthesized via soft chemical solution process in a very short time and their structural properties have been investigated in detail by using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy measurements. In this work, the potential of synthesized ZnO-NPs (∼ 10-15 nm) has been assessed in-vitro inhibition of bacteria and the formation of their biofilms was observed using the tissue culture plate assays. The crystal violet staining on biofilm formation and its optical density revealed the effect on biofilm inhibition. The NPs at a concentration of 100 µg/mL significantly inhibited the growth of bacteria and biofilm formation. The biofilm inhibition by ZnO-NPs was also confirmed via bio-transmission electron microscopy (Bio-TEM). The Bio-TEM analysis of ZnO-NPs treated bacteria confirmed the deformation and damage of cells. The bacterial growth in presence of NPs concluded the bactericidal ability of NPs in a concentration dependent manner. It has been speculated that the antibacterial activity of NPs as a surface coating material, could be a feasible approach for controlling the pathogens. Additionally, the obtained bacterial solution data is also in agreement with the results from statistical analytical methods.

In this study, an electrochemical sensor for the detection of 4-Nitrophenol (referred to as 4-NP) was developed based on templated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets (Ag-rGO) and utilized as an electrocatalyst. It was found that the resulting composite exhibits enhanced catalytic activity towards the reduction of 4-NP. The cubic shaped AgNPs templated on rGO nanosheets has been successfully fabricated by a chemical reduction method using sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ), and it was well characterized through morphological and electrochemical techniques: Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy (UV -Vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and chronoamperometry. The obtained results revealed that the AgNPs scattered on rGO sheets are spherical in shape, and it’s estimated to be a dimension of ~ 60 nm in size. The prepared crystalline Ag-rGO nano sheets were further applied as an electrode material for the electrochemical examination with three electrode system to sense the hazardous material 4-NP in PBS. The electrochemical studies were conducted through CV under the condition of bare and coated electrode (Ag-rGO/GCE) with influence of concentration (4-NP from 2 to 150 mM), scan rate, reproducibility (RSD-2.87%) and stability test (4-NP-20 µM) were examined. The data reveal that the Ag-rGO/GCE exhibit highly reproducible and sustainable for the reduction of toxic 4-NP. The chronoamperometry study for current and time response was also studied at two different potentials (− 0.3 V & − 0.6 V), respectively.

The preparation and applications of transition metal oxide (TMOs) nano and micro structures continues inspiring to material science. This is due to TMOs are imperative and to discover in a various fields. Over a long range of nano & micro structure materials, especially, manganese oxide (Mn 3 O 4 ) structures have numerous technological  applications in various fields such as wastewater treatment, catalysis, sensors, supercapacitors, alkaline and rechargeable batteries etc. The solution process was adopted, which is the best way to follow the preparation of manganese oxide structures and the material was well characterized. The present work shows the formation of Mn 3 O 4 microrods (referred to as Mn 3 O 4 MRs) and applied against the pathogenic bacteria’s ( E.coli and S.aureus ) at different concentrations of MRs (50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 µg/mL) for to control the proliferation rate and accessed via UV–vis spectroscopy. The crystallite size and their morphology was examined via TEM and it reveals that the individual particle is very small in size (~ 7.5 nm) with spherical shaped morphology. The morphology after the interaction of MRs on bacteria’s were also examined through Bio-TEM, which revels that the particles interns to the bacterial cells and reacted. The statistical analytical methods was applied and determined the suitable concentration of Mn 3 O 4 MRs under the different statistical parameters such as accuracy, precision methods, LOD and LOQ (for E.coli 0.050 and 0.153) and (for S.aureus 0.135 and 0.409 μg mL −1 ) respectively, were accomplished for to know the calculative and mechanistic approach and their role of Mn 3 O 4 MRs against E.coli and S.aureus .

Chemically synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) involve the generation of toxic products, which narrowed its biological application. Hence, we have developed a one-pot, green method for CuONP production employing the leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus (CLE). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis confirmed the capping of CuONPs by CLE esters (CLE-CuONPs). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) showed phenolics, sugars, and proteins mediated nucleation and stability of CLE-CuONPs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed CLE-CuONPs between 11.4 to 14.5 nm. Staphylococcus aureus-1 (MRSA-1), Staphylococcus aureus-2 (MSSA-2) exposed to CLE-CuONPs (1500 µg/mL) showed 51.4%, 32.41% survival, while Escherichia coli-336 (E. coli-336) exposed to 1000 µg/mL CLE-CuONPs showed 45.27% survival. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of CLE-CuONPs treated E. coli-336, MSSA-2 and MRSA-1 showed morphological deformations. The biofilm production by E. coli-336 and MRSA-1 also declined to 33.0 ± 3.2% and 49.0 ± 3.1% at 2000 µg/mL of CLE-CuONPs. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) showed 22.80 ± 2.6%, 19.2 ± 4.2%, and 16.2 ± 3.6% accumulation of Cu2+ in E. coli-336, MSSA-2, and MRSA-1. Overall, the data exhibited excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacies of esters functionalized CLE-CuONPs, indicating its putative application as a novel nano-antibiotic against multi drug resistance (MDR) pathogenic clinical isolates.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using aqueous extract of Nepeta deflersiana plant. The prepared AgNPs (ND-AgNPs) were examined by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX). The results obtained from various characterizations revealed that average size of synthesized AgNPs was 33 nm and in face-centered-cubic structure. The anticancer potential of ND-AgNPs was investigated against human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The cytotoxic response was assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), neutral red uptake (NRU) assays, and morphological changes. Further, the influence of cytotoxic concentrations of ND-AgNPs on oxidative stress markers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), cell cycle arrest and apoptosis/necrosis was studied. The cytotoxic response observed was in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the results also showed a significant increase in ROS and lipid peroxidation (LPO), along with a decrease in MMP and glutathione (GSH) levels. The cell cycle analysis and apoptosis/necrosis assay data exhibited ND-AgNPs-induced SubG1 arrest and apoptotic/necrotic cell death. The biosynthesized AgNPs-induced cell death in HeLA cells suggested the anticancer potential of ND-AgNPs. Therefore, they may be used to treat the cervical cancer cells.

The zinc oxide (ZnO) is a highly influential material and exhibits versatile properties, which enables for various applications such as electronic, catalyst, solar cells, hydrogen fuels, and energy evolution. Although the materials exhibit versatile applications in various direction but limited studies are available to detect the sensing ability against environmental hazardous materials. The current work empathizes the application of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as a sensor material to analyze the phenol (PhOH), which is a harmful industrial compound. The ZnO-NPs were synthesized via solution process and characterized with using XRD, SEM, FESEM, TEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. The NPs were employed as an electron moderator to sense the PhOH via electrochemical sensing process. The ZnO-NPs were pasted as a film form on specified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to make their sensing efficiency with three electrode system. The ZnO-NPs/GCE-based electrode efficiency was evaluated with varied concentrations (7.8, 15.62, 31.25, 62.25, 250, 500, and 1000 μM/100 mL PBS) of PhOH in PBS, whereas the effect of potentials (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 mV) were also verified. The electrochemical impedance (EIS) was also measured and it reveals that the electron transfer rate at electrode interface. The electrode resistance charge transfer (Rct) values, which are dependent on the concentration of utilized material, is directly proportional to the PhOH concentration. These values shows that the NPs exhibit more active and catalytic properties. The electrode was also checked in terms of their stability conditions for seven consecutive cycles and also the reproducibility was investigated for first and after 30 days with same conditions.

The development of a transition-metal-based catalyst with concomitant high activity and stability due to its distinguishing characteristics, yielding an abundance of active sites, is considered to be the bottleneck for the dry reforming of methane (DRM). This work presents the catalytic activity and durability of SrNiO3 and CeNiO3 perovskites for syngas production via DRM. CeNiO3 exhibits a higher specific surface area, pore volume, number of reducible species, and nickel dispersion when compared to SrNiO3. The catalytic activity results demonstrate higher CH4 (54.3%) and CO2 (64.8%) conversions for CeNiO3, compared to 22% (CH4 conversion) and 34.7% (CO2 conversion) for SrNiO3. The decrease in catalytic activity after replacing cerium with strontium is attributed to a decrease in specific surface area and pore volume, and nickel active sites covered with strontium carbonate. The stability results reveal the deactivation of both the catalysts (SrNiO3 and CeNiO3) but SrNiO3 showed more deactivation than CeNiO3, as demonstrated by deactivation factors. The catalyst deactivation is mainly attributed to carbon deposition and these findings are verified by characterizing the spent catalysts.

Using different amount of potato peels, ZnO photocatalysts (ZO-PC) have been prepared by facile combustion process followed by the calcination at 500 °C for 10 min, and their obtained nanomaterials have been investigated through various techniques like powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) combined with EDX, transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV–Vis spectroscopy in DRS mode. Moreover, the spectrophotometry technique has been employed to investigate the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UV irradiation light ( λ  < 400 nm) by fabricated ZO-PCs. Among them, the lowest peel-containing sample was exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity as compared to others also optical bandgap energy ( E g ) was increased with increasing of peels from 3.39 to 3.49 eV.