Tapioca-starch-based bionanocomposites with fructose and titanium dioxide for food packaging and fertilization applications.

Bionanocomposites offer a promising solution to the plastic waste crisis. Although tapioca starch shows potential as a bioplastic material, it is characterized by low mechanical properties, poor thermal stability, and high water absorption owing to its hydrophilic nature. To increase the flexibility of the material and reduce the transmission rate of oxygen and water vapor, additives such as fructose and titanium dioxide (TiO2) can be incorporated into the material. TiO2 nanoparticles are commonly utilized in agriculture to enhance nutrient release and promote plant growth. In this study, X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that TiO2 reduced crystal size while increasing the crystallinity of bionanocomposites. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed an absorption peak at 3397 cm-1, indicating hydrogen bonding between TiO2 and starch-OH groups, and a peak at 773 cm-1, indicating an increase in the intensity of Ti-O-Ti stretching vibrations with the incorporation of TiO2. Water absorption rate results confirmed that TiO2 addition enhanced bionanocomposite resistance to water vapor and moisture, evidenced by increased tensile strength from 0.11 to 0.49 MPa and Young's modulus from 2.48 to 5.26 MPa, as well as decreased elongation at break from 21.46 % to 2.36 % in bionanocomposites with TiO2. Furthermore, with TiO2 addition, the biodegradation rate of the bionanocomposites decreased, which is beneficial for enhancing plant nutrient content.

Characteristics of Mirabilis jalapa Nanoemulsion: Its Application on Mortality and Morphological Changes of Spodoptera frugiperda: Third Instar Larvae.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Previously the <i>Mirabilis jalapa</i> nanoemulsion formulations was characterized through PSA analysis, UV-VIS spectrophotometry, SEM to observe the morphology of the formed nanoemulsion and FTIR analysis. But, this study aims to characterize <i>M. jalapa</i> nanoemulsion formulations and its application on the mortality and morphology of 3rd instar <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> larva. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Several <i>M. jalapa</i> nanoemulsion formulations were applied to observe the mortality of 3rd instar <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) method. The best formulation was tested from the characterization results to determine the level of larval mortality. The data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's <i>post hoc</i> test. <b>Results:</b> The 3rd instar <i>S. frugiperda</i> larvae showed a 67%±12 mortality rate 48 hrs after the 5th treatment (T5) application compared to the control group and causing the bodies of insects experiencing mortality to turn black and dehydrated. The results showed that <i>M. jalapa</i> nanoemulsion had a significant effect (p-value 0.016<0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> The potential of using <i>M. jalapa</i> in the form of nanoemulsions as an effective alternative to control the pest <i>S. frugiperda</i>.

Design anticancer potential of Zn(II)isoleucinedithiocarbamate complex on MCF-7 cell lines: synthesis, characterization, molecular docking, molecular dynamic, ADMET, and in-vitro studies.

Cisplatin is a cancer medication widely used today, but it still poses some problems due to its toxic properties in the body. To overcome this issue, a new complex has been developed as a potential anticancer drug prospect by minimizing its toxic consequences. A novel Zn(II)IleDTC complex containing isoleucine dithiocarbamate ligands has been produced and analyzed using a range of analytical and spectroscopic methods. The Zn(II) IleDTC complex were characterized using various methods, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, determination of melting point, conductivity, and HOMO-LUMO analysis. Furthermore, computational NMR spectrum analysis was conducted in this study. Molecular docking studies was conducted to evaluate the potential of Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate as an HIF1 inhibitor. The results showed that the Zn complex exhibited a good docking score of -6.6 and formed hydrogen bonds with ARG 17, VAL264, and GLU15, alkyl bonds with TRP27 and LEU32, and Pi-Alkyl bonds with PRO41 and ARG44. This suggests that the Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate complex could be a promising candidate for cancer treatment with potential HIF1 inhibition properties. To assess the dynamic stability and efficacy of protein-ligand interactions over time, molecular dynamics simulations was conducted for both individual proteins and protein complexes. The cytotoxicity evaluation of Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate against MCF-7 cells obtained an IC50 value of 362.70 µg/mL indicating moderate cytotoxicity and morphological changes of cancer cells causing cancer cells to undergo apoptosis. The Zn(II) isoleucine dithiocarbamate complex may have promising potential as an anticancer compound due to its significant inhibitory effect on the breast cancer cell line (MCF7). According to the ADMET study, the complex exhibits drug-like characteristics with low toxicity, further supporting its potential as a viable drug candidate.