Biologically-synthesised ZnO/CuO/Ag nanocomposite using propolis extract and coated on the gauze for wound healing applications.

Wound healing has long been recognised as a major clinical challenge for which stablishing more effective wound therapies is necessary. The generation of metallic nanocomposites using biological compounds is emerging as a new promising strategy for this purpose. In this study, four metallic nanoparticles (NPs) with propolis extract (Ext) and one without propolis including ZnO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/Ext, ZnO/CuO/Ext, ZnO/Ag/CuO/Ext and ZnO/W were prepared by microwave method and assessed for their wound healing activity on excision experimental model of wounds in rats. The developed nanocomposites have been characterised by physico-chemical methods such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyses. The wounded animals treated with the NPs/Ext in five groups for 18 days. Every 6 days, for measuring wound closure rate, three samples of each group were examined for histopathological analysis. The prepared tissue sections were investigated by haematoxylin and Eosin stainings for the formation of epidermis, dermis and muscular and Masson's trichrome staining for the formation of collagen fibres. These findings toughly support the probability of using this new ZnO/Ag/Ext materials dressing for a wound care performance with significant effect compared to other NPs.

Co-regulative effects of chitosan-fennel seed extract system on the hormonal and biochemical factors involved in the polycystic ovarian syndrome.

There is a renewed interest in the application of chitosan-based drug delivery systems over the last few years. In this study, the ionic gelation method was used to prepare chitosan-engaged tripolyphosphate ions, as the cross-linking molecule, (Chit-TPP) and concurrent loading of the biomolecules of the ethanolic extract of fennel, Foeniculum vulgare, seed (FEC@NBC). The samples were characterized by SEM, DLS, TGA, FTIR, XRD, GC-MS, and zeta potential, and their effects on the related hormonal and biochemical factors of the rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) were assessed. The estradiol valerate-induced PCOS in female rats was confirmed by vaginal smear test and subsequent histological screening. The PCOS-induced rats were treated by fennel seed extract (FSX), Chit-TPP, and FEC@NBC. The process of treatment was monitored by measuring the serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, insulin, glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and total triglyceride after 16 days of treatment and compared with healthy control and untreated PCOS-control groups. The FEC@NBC administration contributed to the remarkable hormonal, glucose, and lipid profile regulation in the rats with PCOS. The significance of FEC@NBC performance in dealing with PCOS complications compared to that of the only extract could be resulted from the effective targeted delivery and stability of phytomolecules when encapsulated in Chit-TPP.

Biogenic integrated ZnO/Ag nanocomposite: Surface analysis and in vivo practices for the management of type 1 diabetes complications.

In this research, a milk thistle seed extract (MTSE)-rich medium was used as a capping and reducing agent for the one-pot biosynthesis of ZnO/Ag (5 wt%) nanostructure. The sample was systematically characterized through various techniques and its strong biomolecule‒metal interface structure was supported by the results. The efficacy of the derived nanostructure (MTSE/ZnO/Ag) was evaluated in vivo on the basis of its therapeutic effects on the main complications of Type 1 diabetes (hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and insulin deficiency). For this purpose, the changes in the plasma values of fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, total triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin in alloxan-diabetic Wistar male rats were compared with those in healthy and untreated diabetic controls after a treatment period of 16 days. The antidiabetic results of MTSE/ZnO/Ag were compared with those obtained from pristine ZnO, MTSE, and insulin therapies. The health conditions of the rats with Type 1 diabetes were significantly enhanced after treatment with MTSE/ZnO/Ag (p < 0.05), which is owing to the enhanced interface structure and participatory functions of the united compartments of MTSE/ZnO/Ag.

Enriched zinc oxide nanoparticles by Nasturtium officinale leaf extract: Joint ultrasound-microwave-facilitated synthesis, characterization, and implementation for diabetes control and bacterial inhibition.

The leaf extract of a medicinally important plant, watercress (Nasturtium officinale), was obtained through an ultrasound-facilitated method and utilized for the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles via a joint ultrasound-microwave assisted procedure. The characteristics of the extract enriched nanoparticles (Ext/ZnO) were determined by SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, BET, FTIR, TGA, and UV-Vis DRS analyses and compared to that of ZnO prepared in the absence of the extract (ZnO). The presence of carbon and carbonaceous bonds, changes in the morphology, size, band gap energy, and weight-decay percentage were a number of differences between ZnO and Ext/ZnO that confirmed the link of extract over nanoparticles. Ext/ZnO, watercress leaf extract, ZnO, and insulin therapies were administrated to treat alloxan-diabetic Wister rats and their healing effectiveness results were compared to one another. The serum levels of the main diabetic indices such as insulin, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile (total triglyceride, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were estimated for healthy, diabetic, and the rats rehabilitated with the studied therapeutic agents. The watercress extract-enriched ZnO nanoparticles offered the best performance and suppressed the diabetic status of rats. Moreover, both ZnO samples satisfactory inhibited the activities of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria. Based on the results, the application of Nasturtium officinale leaf extract can strongly empower ZnO nanoparticles towards superior antidiabetic and enhanced antibacterial activities.

A facile ultrasonic-aided biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. leaf extract and its antidiabetic, antibacterial, and oxidative activity evaluation.

The synthesis of nanoparticles often result in the generation of harmful chemical pollutants. As such, many researchers have focused on developing green processes, which include the biosynthesis. In this research, ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using the leaf extract of whortleberry (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L.) via a simple ultrasonic-assisted method. The morphology, crystal size and structure, surface, thermal, and optical properties of the bio-mediated ZnO sample (ZnOext) were analyzed and compared with that produced without incorporating the extract (ZnOchem). The ZnO samples were evaluated for their antidiabetic, antibacterial, as well as their sono- and photo-catalytic performances. Initially, the samples were intraperitoneal injected to alloxan-diabetic rats to examine their treatment efficiency in terms of effects on fasting blood glucose, insulin, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and total triglyceride levels. The ZnOext showed significantly higher efficiency for improving the health status of alloxan-diabetic rats in contrast with other tested treatments, vis. ZnOchem, insulin, and only leaf extract. In addition, both the ZnO samples were assessed against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and through sono- and photo-catalytic processes for removing rhodamine B, respectively. The results of this study indicated that not only the ZnOext sample was pollution free, it also exhibited higher potentials for treating diabetic rats, bacterial decontamination, and also oxidative removal of organic compounds under the influences of ultrasound and UV irradiations when compared with ZnOchem sample.

A comprehensive study on antidiabetic and antibacterial activities of ZnO nanoparticles biosynthesized using Silybum marianum L seed extract.

Green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) using the plants' extract and their potential application have driven a tremendous interest in recent years. This study reports a green microwave-assisted method for synthesis of ZnO NPs using Silybum marianum L. seed extract. Characteristics of the as-prepared sample was explored in terms of crystalline phase, morphology, composition, surface area, optical, and thermal properties. The particles of the biosynthesized sample (ZnO/extract) had smaller sizes than the chemically produced one (ZnO). The existence of biomolecules from Silybum marianum L seed extract linked to the ZnO/extract sample was approved by various analyses. The ZnO/extract sample was used for treating alloxan-induced diabetic rats and its efficiency was compared with ZnO, extract, and insulin treatments. For this purpose, the levels of blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, total triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein were measured before and after treating with the studied treatment agents and compared with each other. Moreover, the antibacterial activities of both ZnO samples were investigated against E. coli to assess their potential antibacterial application. From the results, ZnO/extract NPs represented an outstanding performance in overcoming the diabetic disorders and good antibacterial activity against the studied bacteria.

Enhanced anti-bacterial activities of ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/CuO nanocomposites synthesized using Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. fruit extract.

A green synthesis route was developed for preparation of the ZnO nanoparticles and ZnO/CuO nanocomposites by using Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. fruit extract, and their anti-bacterial activities against two pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive), were investigated. The fabricated nanomaterials were characterized by XRD, EDX, FESEM, TEM, TGA, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS and BET instruments. The results showed that the sizes of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles in the ZnO/CuO (10%) nanocomposite were 12 and 8 nm, respectively. In addition, specific surface areas of the ZnO (W), ZnO (ext) and ZnO/CuO samples were 29.3, 27.5 and 18.0 m2/g-1, respectively. The results obtained from EDX, TGA, FT-IR and UV-Vis DRS analyses displayed that some of the organic compounds from the fruit extract have bonded to the surface of the samples fabricated in the presence of the fruit extract. The results revealed that the anti-bacterial activity of the fabricated samples is as ZnO/CuO (10%) > ZnO/CuO (5%) > ZnO (ext) > ZnO (W). Viability percentages for E. coli and S. aureus bacteria were 12.1 ± 0.39 and 14.9 ± 0.65 in the presence of the ZnO/CuO (10%) nanocomposite, respectively. The SEM images clearly demonstrated the disruption of the bacterial membranes during the inactivation process.

Bio-extract-mediated ZnO nanoparticles: microwave-assisted synthesis, characterization and antidiabetic activity evaluation.

Herein, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized using microwave-assisted method in the presence of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L, fruits extract. The structure, size, morphology and optical properties of the samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS and TGA analysis. A decrease in crystallite size was observed for the biologically synthesized ZnO compared to the chemically synthesized sample. Furthermore, the existence of organic moieties over the biologically synthesized ZnO NPs was approved using characterizing methods. Then, the alloxan-induced diabetic rats were divided into not treated (diabetic control group), and the groups received: insulin, chemically synthesized ZnO, plant extract, biologically synthesized ZnO with a normal healthy control group. After treatment, fasting blood glucose (FBS), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and insulin were measured. Analysis showed a significant decrease in FBS and increase in HDL levels in all groups under treatment. However, the results for cholesterol reduction were only significant for the group treated by biologically synthesized ZnO. Despite the changes in the triglyceride and insulin levels, the results were not significant. For all the studied parameters, bio-mediated ZnO NPs were found the most effective in treating the alloxan-diabetic rats compared to the other studied treatment agents.