Phytogenic Synthesis of Nanoparticles from the Extract of Achyranthes aspera-A Panacea for Dental Health Care

Achyranthes aspera belongs to Amaranthaceae family and is found in barren and arid regions in India. The plants are categorized as a weed in Ceylon, Asia, Africa and Australia but tribal communities in India have known its benefits for topical treatments of many ailments from Vedic civilizations. The leaf, stem and root aqueous extracts were used for monometallic zinc and bimetallic copper-zinc nanoparticle synthesis and testing antibacterial activity against the diseases causing drug resistant bacterial pathogens viz. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis using standard methods. Microbes confirmed that the plant contains bioactive compounds that exhibit measurable antimicrobial activity against standard pathogenic bacteria. The nanoparticle synthesis was confirmed by visual color change and UV spectroscopic evaluation of solution. The different plant parts showed different absorption peak at 328 nm,298 nm for roots and stem while 395 nm for leaves in case of zinc nanoparticles while bimetallic Copper-Zinc nanoparticles resulted in peaks at 402.0,400.8 and 402.0 nm for leaf, root and stem respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles of zinc and copper zinc from all three plant parts were further tested for their as cariogenic potential against cariogenic pathogen Streptococcus mutans which resulted in significant zones of inhibition. The plant has antimicrobial literature using organic solvent extracts where researchers reported negligible activity of different plant parts while nanoparticle synthesis resulted in potent zone of inhibition. The bimetallic Cu-Zn will enhance its potential to be used in mask and PPE kits for safety concerns.

Water Treatment from MB Using Zn-Ag MWCNT Synthesized by Double Arc Discharge

A new type of nano-adsorbent zinc-silver nanoparticles ornamented by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Zn-Ag MWCNT) was efficiently synthesized by double arc discharge using a newly designed rotating cylinder electrode. Zn-Ag MWCNT was characterized by different instrumental methods to get information about the sample shape, size, and crystallinity. Without irradiation, Zn-Ag MWCNT indicated significant potential for elimination against methylene blue (MB) which is dissolved in deionized water. When the adsorbent concentration was 0.1 g/L at normal 8 pH, the Zn-Ag MWCNTs were efficient in removing 97% of the MB from 40 mg/L that was dissolved in water for 10 min. The dye removal activity of (Zn-Ag) decorated MWCNTs was attributed to the influence of silver and zinc nanoparticles on the MWCNTs. Finally, this approach was both cost-effective and efficient.

Influence of Zinc and Manganese Nanoparticles on Selected Parameters of Turkey Spermatozoa Stored in a Liquid State at 4 °C

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of semen extender supplementation with 25 or 50 μM of zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) or manganese nanoparticles (MnNPs) on turkey spermatozoa preserved in a liquid state. Twenty turkey ejaculates were obtained from twenty healthy males. The collected semen was preserved at 4 °C for 48 h with or without NPs. Selected qualitative and quantitative parameters of sperm (motility, plasma membrane activity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the percentage of sperm demonstrating NO and SOD activity) were examined after 2, 24 and 48 h of storage. Sperm motility and MMP decreased in semen preserved with ZnNPs at each time point of the analysis. However, all spermatozoa remained viable throughout storage. In contrast, membrane integrity and mitochondria activity (p ≤ 0.05) increased, and the highest SOD activity (p ≤ 0.05) was observed in semen preserved with MnNPs. The addition of MnNPs to the semen extender could potentially improve the parameters of turkey semen during prolonged storage.

DEVELOPMENT OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL YARN FROM THE FUNCTIONALIZATION OF ORGANIC RAW COTTON FIBERS WITH ZINC NANOPARTICLES

The emergence of increasingly contagious diseases in these days, such as COVID-19, increased the need to develop more effective personal protection equipment’s (PPEs). Therefore, the goal is to create textile materials capable to act against bacteria, virus or fungi, with a long-lasting performance but, at the same time, that could be comfortable and safe for their users. In this sense, based on the advantages of nanotechnology, the aim of this work was to functionalize organic raw cotton fibers with zinc nanoparticles (NPs) and previously tretated with NaOH, for the further production of multifunctional yarns with antimicrobial activity. Thereby, the fibers functionalization was tested using 1% w/w and 2% w/w of zinc NPs aqueous dispersion, being subsequently evaluated their distribution, chemical nature and zinc concentration by SEM/EDS and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, respectively. Subsequently, using the functionalized fibers, a yarn was spinned and their structural, mechanical and moisture management properties determined. Also, to assess the influence of the produced yarn on the properties of a fibrous structure, a single jersey knit sample was further produced and evaluated regarding their mechanical, moisture management and antibacterial properties. Based on the methodology used it was possible to develop a yarn with a tenacity 24% higher and a knit sample 28% more breathable and with a water evaporating ratio 37% higher than the one without any treatment or functionalization, but mainly with a strong antibacterial activity against both gram-negative (Klebsiella Pneumoniae) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus Aureus) bacteria, presenting therefore potential to be used in the production of effective PPEs.

Antitumor activity of zinc nanoparticles synthesized with berberine on human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells through acting on Cox-2/NF-kB and p53 pathways

Background: Drawbacks and side effects of currently available therapies to colorectal cancer (CRC) devoted the researchers to search for new therapeutic strategies. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized with berberine (ZnNPs-BER) on Caco-2 cells compared to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and explore the possible underlying pathways. Methods: Caco-2 and Vero cells were treated with 5-FU, BER, or ZnNPs-BER for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Oxidative stress and apoptotic markers and cell cycle were determined. Additionally, Cox-2 and NF-kB levels were also measured. Results: The IC50 of 5-FU, BER, and ZnNPs-BER on Caco-2 cells were 34.65 µM, 19.86 µg/ml and 10.49 µg/ml, respectively by MTT assay. The IC50 value for 5-FU in Vero cells was 21.7 μg/ml, however, BER and BER-ZnNPs treatment showed non-toxic effects to the Vero cells. Further, ZnNPs-BER exerted significant induction of ROS besides exhaustion of the antioxidant capacity of tumor cells indicated by declined GSH and elevated NO and MDA contents. Marked increments in levels of Bax and caspase-3 were detected together with declines in Bcl-2 levels in Caco-2 cells submitted to BER-ZnNPs therapy. On the molecular basis, upregulation in mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, and tumor suppressor gene p53) with downregulation in the antiapoptotic gene (Bcl-2) were observed in ZnNPs-BER treated Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, ZnNPs-BER showed more pronounced effects on apoptosis increased cell percentage in the S and subG1 phases. In addition, green synthesis of ZnNPs with BER showed notable induction of Cox2 and NF-kB in Caco-2 cells. Conclusion: Therefore, the antitumor potential of ZnNPs-BER in colon cancer cells may be endorsed for induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic changes in tumor cells. Our study documents the new therapeutic potential of Zn nanoparticles conjugated with BER, as a new option for combined chemotherapy.

Biosynthesis of Zinc Nanocomplex Employing for Plant Growth Promotion and Bio-Control of Pythium ultimum

Green Biosynthesis method was used for the preparation of Zn(II) nano complex from the reaction of the schiff base ligand 2,2′-((1E,1′E)-(1,2-phenylenebis (azanylylidene)) bis(methanylylidene))bis(4-bromophenol) and Zn(II)sulphate. The nano complex was characterized by different physicochemical methods. Zinc nanoparticles (ZnNP-T) will be studied as an antifungal agent. In this study, we will investigate the ability of the myogenic Zinc nanoparticles for plant Growth Promotion and Bio-control of Pythium ultimum.