Phytotoxicity of Silver Nanoparticles with Different Surface Properties on Monocots and Dicots Model Plants

The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of three types of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different physicochemical properties and silver ions delivered in the form of silver nitrate (AgNO3) at the concentration of 50 mg L−1 on germination and initial growth of monocots (common wheat, sorghum) and dicots (garden cress, white mustard). The AgNPs were prepared using trisodium citrate (TCSB-AgNPs), tannic acid (TA-AgNPs), and cysteamine hydrochloride (CHSB-AgNPs). They exhibited comparable shape, size distribution, and an average size equal to 15 ± 3 nm which was confirmed with the use of transmission electron microscopy. The electrokinetic characteristics revealed that CHSB-AgNPs have positive, whereas TCSB-AgNPs and TA-AgNPs negative surface charge. First, toxicity of the silver compounds was assessed using the Phytotestkit test. Next, after transferring seedlings to pots, shoot length, leaf surface, shoot dry mass, electrolyte leakage measurement, and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency were determined. AgNPs and silver ions delivered in the form of AgNO3 reduced root and shoots length of common wheat, sorghum, and garden cress; leaves surface of garden cress and white mustard; and shoots dry mass of white mustard. The positively charged CHSB-AgNPs and silver ions delivered in the form of AgNO3 showed the greatest inhibition effect. Moreover, silver ions and positively charged CHSB-AgNPs were more toxic to PSII of model plants than negatively charged TCSB-AgNPs and TA-AgNPs. AgNPs impact differed in the case of monocots and dicots, but the size of the changes was not significant, so it concerned individual parameters. The results revealed the interaction strength, which was generally similar in all tested plants, i.e., increasing negative effect in sequence TCSB-AgNPs < TA-AgNPs < silver ions delivered in the form of AgNO3 < CHSB-AgNPs.

Magnetically induced self-assembly DNAzyme electrochemical biosensor based on gold-modified α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles for sensitive detection of Ni2+

A magnetically induced self-assembly DNAzyme electrochemical biosensor based on gold-modified α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles was successfully fabricated to detect Nickel(II) (Ni2+). The phase composition and magnetic properties of α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles controllably prepared by the citric acid (CA) sol-gel method were investigated in detail. The α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4 heterogeneous nanoparticles were modified by using trisodium citrate as reducing agent, and the magnetically induced self-assembly α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4-Au nanocomposites were obtained. The designed Ni2+-dependent DNAzyme consisted of the catalytic chain modified with the thiol group (S1-SH) and the substrate chain modified with methylene blue (S2-MB). The MGCE/α-Fe2O3/Fe3O4-Au/S1/BSA/S2 electrochemical sensing platform was constructed and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was applied for electrochemical detection. Under the optimum experimental parameters, the detection range of the biosensor was 100 pM-10 µM (R2= 0.9978) with the limit of detection (LOD) of 55 pM. The biosensor had high selectivity, acceptable stability, and reproducibility (RSD = 4.03%).

Synthesis and Characterization of about 20nm Gold Nanoparticles

The synthesis of spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by the chemical reduction process and the characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles is the main aim of this article. Reduction of Chloroauric acid by trisodium citrate salt was performed to get AuNPs of average diameter 20nm. Trisodium citrate is not only the reducing reagent but also the stabilizer of the synthesized AuNPs. Some important modern techniques like UV-VIS spectroscopy, diffraction light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and electron diffraction X-ray (EDX) were involved for the characterization of synthesized AuNPs. Chemical reduction and Size-controlled growth of spherical AuNPs were followed for this particular synthesis of AuNPs.

Comparative Analysis of Nanosilver Particles Synthesized by Different Approaches and Their Antimicrobial Efficacy

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were extensively used in different fields worldwide. There is a continued increase in their productions to fulfill various uses. Biological and chemical AgNP syntheses were the most popular mechanisms in this field. Agrowastes are rich in proteins, phenolics, and flavonoids that could act as bioreductant agents in AgNP biological synthesis. The present study was aimed at synthesizing AgNPs via chemical and biological methods using trisodium citrate, pomegranate fruit peel, and coffee ground waste extracts. Moreover, silver nanoparticles were monitored by UV-vis spectroscopy and characterized using zeta potential, size distribution mean, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Four pathogenic bacterial strains (Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and MRSA) were used to assess the antimicrobial effect of the synthesized AgNPs (2, 4, and 8 mg/ml). Results report the successful formation of silver nanoparticles chemically (AgNPs_Chem) and biologically by using pomegranate peel extract (AgNPs_PPE) and coffee ground waste extract (AgNPs_CE) due to the change of color to dark brown that is confirmed by UV-vis sharp absorption spectra at specific wavelengths. Characterization using SEM and XRD revealed their crystalline shape with a mean size of AgNPs _ Chem = 62.75 , AgNPs _ CE = 273.7 nm , and AgNPs _ PPE = 591.9 nm . AgNPs_Chem show higher negativity of zeta potential (−46.7 mV) than AgNPs_CE (−12.6 mV), followed by AgNPs_PPE (−7.98 mV), which had the least stability. All the synthesized AgNPs show antimicrobial potential on all selected strains. However, 8 mg/ml shows the most effective concentration and has more efficiency on K. pneumoniae than others. Overall, the results highlight that the use of agrowastes could be an ecofriendly way to synthesize AgNPs biologically that have the same antimicrobial effect as the chemically synthesized AgNPs.

Antimicrobial activity of hemodialysis catheter lock solutions in relation to other compounds with antiseptic properties

Proper protection of vascular access after haemodialysis is one of the key measures for the prevention of catheter-related infections. Various substances with bactericidal and anticoagulant properties are used to fill catheters, but due to the unsatisfactory clinical effects and occurrence of adverse reactions, the search for new substances is still ongoing. In the present paper, we compared the in vitro antimicrobial activity of solutions used for tunnelled catheter locking (taurolidine, trisodium citrate) and solutions of substances that could potentially be used for this purpose (sodium bicarbonate, polyhexanide-betaine). The studies have been conducted on bacteria that most commonly cause catheter-related infections. The values of both minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum biofilm eradication concentration of the substances were determined. The ability of the tested substances to eradicate biofilm from the dialysis catheter surface was also evaluated. The results showed that polyhexanide-betaine inhibited the growth of all microbes comparably to taurolidine, even after ≥ 32-fold dilution. The activity of trisodium citrate and sodium bicarbonate was significantly lower. Polyhexanide exhibited the highest activity in the eradication of bacterial biofilm on polystyrene plates. The biofilm formed on a polyurethane dialysis catheter was resistant to complete eradication by the test substances. Polyhexanide-betaine and taurolidine showed the highest activity. Inhibition of bacterial growth regardless of species was observed not only at the highest concentration of these compounds but also after dilution 32–128x (taurolidine) and 32–1024x (polyhexanide-betaine). Therefore, it can be assumed that taurolidine application as a locking solution prevents catheter colonization and systemic infection development. Taurolidine displays high antimicrobial efficacy against Gram-positive cocci as well as Gram-negative bacilli. On the contrary, the lowest antibacterial effect displayed product contained sodium bicarbonate. The inhibitions of bacterial growth were not satisfactory to consider it as a substance for colonization prevention. Polyhexanidine-betaine possessed potent inhibitory and biofilm eradication properties comparing to all tested products. PHMB is applied as a wound irrigation solution worldwide. However, based on our results, we assume that the PHMB is a promising substance for catheter locking solutions thanks to its safety and high antimicrobial properties.

An Economical Non-Antibiotic Alternative to Antibiotic Therapy for Subclinical Mastitis in Cows

The economic importance of mastitis and antibiotic resistance is dictating to search non-antibiotic alternatives for the therapy. Trisodium citrate (TSC) being buffer system of the glandular tissue and, vitamin C (Vit. C), zinc and copper being important ingredients required for functioning of immune system fancy chances for a suitable alternative mastitis therapy. The current study was planned to evaluate therapeutic efficacy and cost effectiveness of these ingredients in subclinical mastitis. For this purpose, 40 sub-clinically mastitis cows were randomly divided into 2 equal groups. Group T1 was treated orally with TSC, Vit. C, ZnSo4 and CuSo4, while group T2 was treated with standard antibiotic therapy. Milk pH significantly (P<0.05) differed between the two treatments till day 7th post-initiation of treatment when T1 restored the pH values within normal range earlier than T2. A non-significant (P>0.05) difference was observed in milk pH, fat, lactose, proteins, TS, SNFs, somatic cell counts and restoration of milk yield between the two treatments indicting comparable efficacy. A statistically significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in serum Cu and Zn levels indicating that the supplementation of Cu and Zn led to higher serum values in animals of T1. The use of non-antibiotic oral formulations as mastitis therapy resulted in a net profit of Rs. 457/animal/day. The oral non-antibiotic antibacterial formulation is a therapeutically and economically suitable alternative to rational antibiotic-based therapy to treat subclinical mastitis in dairy cows.

NOVEL COMBINATION OF TRISODIUM CITRATE AND TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE IN REACTIVE DYEING OF COTTON: AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

"Reactive dyes are most widely used for dyeing cellulosic fabrics due to their excellent wet fastness properties, the brilliancy of shades and a wide gamut of colours. However, the exhaustion of reactive dye requires a large quantity of inorganic electrolyte, which results in excessive total dissolved solids (TDS) values of the resultant effluent. Such high TDS-containing effluents are challenging to treat and require advanced treatment techniques. The discharge of high-TDS containing effluent into water-bodies can increase the salinity of the aquatic system, which can affect the delicate biochemistry of the aquatic life. This necessitates the exploration of alternative chemicals for reducing the TDS of the effluents in reactive dyeing. The current study explores the alternate combination of trisodium citrate (TSC) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) as an eco-friendly replacement of inorganic salts and alkali in the dyeing of cotton by the exhaust process. The TSC-TSP combination resulted in an insignificant variation in exhaustion, fixation and fastness ratings compared to the conventional salt-soda combination. The colour values showed marginal variations in the individual cases of dyes. However, the use of the TSC-TSP combination showed a great promise in reducing the TDS of the effluent (by 66%), which is a major concern in effluent treatment. TSC being organic, some increase in COD/BOD values was obtained; however, the effluent remained in a category of easily treatable ones. "

Process Optimization of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis and Its Application in Mercury Detection

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have stable reactivity and excellent optical absorption properties. They can be applied in various industries, such as environmental protection, biochemical engineering, and analyte monitoring. However, synthesizing AgNPs and determining their appropriate dosage as a coloring substance are difficult tasks. In this study, to optimize the process of AgNP synthesis and obtain a simple detection method for trace mercury in the environment, we evaluate several factors—including the reagent addition sequence, reaction temperature, reaction time, the pH of the solution, and reagent concentration—considering the color intensity and purity of AgNPs as the reaction optimization criteria. The optimal process for AgNP synthesis is as follows: Mix 10 mM of silver nitrate with trisodium citrate in a hot water bath for 10 min; then, add 10 mM of sodium borohydride to produce the AgNPs and keep stirring for 2 h; finally, adjust the pH to 12 to obtain the most stable products. For AgNP-based mercury detection, the calibration curve of mercury over the concentration range of 0.1–2 ppb exhibits good linearity (R2 > 0.99). This study provides a stable and excellent AgNP synthesis technique that can improve various applications involving AgNP-mediated reactions and has the potential to be developed as an alternative to using expensive detection equipment and to be applied for the detection of mercury in food.