Hydrogen peroxide-assisted photocatalytic dye degradation over reduced graphene oxide integrated ZnCr2O4 nanoparticles.

Zinc chromite nanoparticles (NPs) and zinc chromite-reduced graphene oxide (ZnCr2O4-rGO) nanocomposite have been synthesized by the combined effects of reflux condensation and calcination processes. The structural properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-visible studies, etc. Structural morphology was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) that indicate the formation of particles in the nanometer regime. The presence of the elements Zn, Cr, O and C has been confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) images which show the purity of the synthesized products. The photocatalytic activities of both as-prepared samples under visible light irradiation were investigated in presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the results show that ZnCr2O4-rGO nanocomposite has a quite higher photo-activity response than virgin ZnCr2O4 NPs. The enhanced photo response indicates that, in ZnCr2O4, the photo-induced electrons favor to transfer to the rGO surface and the recombination of electron-hole pairs inhibited for which it results in the significantly increased photocatalytic activity for the ZnCr2O4-rGO photocatalyst and this phenomenon is also supported by the band gap value and photoluminescence results. Our outcomes demonstrate that ZnCr2O4-rGO nanocomposite is a more promising material to build up an efficient photocatalyst for waste water treatment.

Transformation of CuS/ZnS nanomaterials to an efficient visible light photocatalyst by 'photosensitizer' graphene and the potential antimicrobial activities of the nanocomposites.

We report the growth of CuS/ZnS (CZS) nanoparticles (NPs) on the graphene sheet by a facile green synthesis process. The CuS/ZnS-graphene (CZSG) nanocomposites exhibit enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity towards organic dye (methylene blue) degradation than that of CZS nanoparticles. To find the reason for the enhanced photo-activity, we propose a new photocatalytic mechanism where graphene in the CZSG nanocomposites acts as a 'photosensitizer' for CZS nanoparticles. This distinctive photocatalytic mechanism is noticeably different from all other previous research works on semiconductor-graphene hybrid photocatalysts where graphene behaves as an electron reservoir to capture the electrons from photo-excited semiconductor. This novel idea of the photocatalytic mechanism in semiconductor-graphene photocatalysts could draw a new track in thinking for designing of graphene-based photocatalysts for solving environmental pollution problems and they also show remarkable antimicrobial activities.

Nutritional analysis and molecular characterization of hybrid mushrooms developed through intergeneric protoplast fusion between Pleurotus sajor-caju and Calocybe indica with the purpose to achieve improved strains.

Two edible mushrooms Calocybe indica and Pleurotus sajor-caju were chosen as parent strains in this study to approach the concept of hybridization through the protoplast fusion technique. Protoplast fusion in presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was conducted between the parent strains and by further double selection screening method, six somatic hybrid lines were developed. Those fruit bodies of the hybrid lines showed phenotypic resemblance with Pleurotus sajor-caju when grown on paddy straw under favorable conditions. The hybridity of the newly developed somatic hybrid strains was established by barrage reaction, morphological traits, fruitbody parameter and, inter single sequence repeat (ISSR) profiling. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the analysis of phenotypic data of hybrid lines and parents. Five ISSR primers were used to generate 51 amplified DNA fragments ranged between 250 and 3000 bp in size in six hybrids and two parents with 90.19% polymorphism. Some of the hybrids contain some non-parental bands which indicate that recombination might happen in the hybrid genome hence confirming the hybridity of newly developed strains. The dendrogram was created using the Average Linkage (Between Groups) method based on ISSR profiling and genetic distance between parent-hybrids and hybrid-hybrid was analyzed by Jaccard's proximity matrix. A definite improvement in nutritional properties and biological activity was observed in the study. Due to ease in their cultivation, it can play a significant role in the rural economic development.

Madhuca longifolia plant mediated green synthesis of cupric oxide nanoparticles: A promising environmentally sustainable material for waste water treatment and efficient antibacterial agent.

In current years, the development of efficient green methods for synthesis of metal oxide nanomaterials has attracted a great attention to the researchers since the plant-mediated synthesis is a cost-effective and a good alternative to chemical and physical methods. An efficient and eco-friendly route has been developed for the green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) by Madhuca longifolia plant extract which acts as a non-toxic reducing agent. X-ray diffraction studies reveal the good crystallinity of the synthesized NPs and FTIR spectra confirm the synthesis of these NPs. UV-visible absorption spectra showed that the NPs have been reached at different nano scale level depending on their synthesis procedures. TEM images indicate that as-synthesized CuO NPs are spherical in shape with their different size ranges and they show different band gap values which is confirmed by Tauc's formula. The NPs exhibit good photoluminescence property depending on their particle size and they also show excellent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in presence of visible light irradiation which will be a promising material for waste water treatment. The synthesized CuO NPs show good antibacterial activity against bacterial strains namely E. coli BL21 DE3 Gram-negative, S. aureus Gram-positive and B.subtilis Gram-positive and the results have been compared against Ampicillin and Tetracycline.

In Vitro Evaluation of pH Responsive Doxazosin Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Smart Approach in Drug Delivery.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a pH responsive drug delivery system (DDS) for controlled release of therapeutic cargo, Doxazosin Mesylate (DZM) which was loaded into carrier material mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) and subsequently coated with Eudragit S-100(ES-100) to release the drug at pH 7.4. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have synthesized cylindrical MSN under acidic condition using non-ionic surfactant (Pluronic(®) P 123) and Tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). After post synthesis treatment (PST) surfactant was removed by calcination. To obtain pH sensitive release calcined MSN was coated with ES-100 (MSN-DZMES100). The Brauner-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area, adsorption isotherm, t-plot, pore volume of MSN were done in surface area analyzer to characterize different MSN samples (as synthesized, calcined, and coated). RESULT AND DISCUSSION: Highest surafce area (427.114 m(2)/g) was observed in case of calcined sample when compared to as synthesized (3.1198m(2)/g) and coated MSN (8.8480m(2)/g). Adsorption pore width of final coated sample was 12.58 nm whereas as synthesized and calcined samples possessed pore width 36.82 nm and 7.32 nm respectively. All uncoated and coated MSN samples were further characterized with FESEM, TEM, FTIR. No significant interaction between drug and MSN was found from FTIR studies. The drug loading into coated mesoporous support was found to be 43.7%. In vitro studies were done at different pH using Franz-diffusion cell. Results showed significant release at pH 7.4 from MSNDZM- ES100. Cumulative drug release over a period of 10 hr was 81% at this systemic pH. CONCLUSION: ES-100 coated mesoporous silica nanoparticle is a smart carrier for pH responsive release of guest molecule.

Synthesis, structure, spectral characterization, electrochemistry and evaluation of antibacterial potentiality of a novel oxime-based palladium(II) compound.

The title monomeric Pd(II) compound, [Pd(L)(Cl)], was synthesized in moderate yield out of the reaction of equimolar proportion of Na2[PdCl4] and 3-[(5-bromo-2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazono]-butan-2-one oxime (LH) in tetrahydrofuran milieu. LH is a 1:1 Schiff-base condensate of 2,3-butanedionemonoxime monohydrazone and 5-bromosalicylaldehyde. [Pd(L)(Cl)] has been characterized by C, H and N microanalyses, (1)H and (13)C NMR, FAB-MS, FT-IR, Raman spectra, UV-Vis spectra and molar electrical conductivity measurements. [Pd(L)(Cl)] is diamagnetic. Structural elucidation reveals that the palladium center in [Pd(L)(Cl)] is nested in 'N2OCl' coordination environment. The geometry around Pd in [Pd(L)(Cl)] is distorted square-planar. The redox behavior of [Pd(L)(Cl)] in DMF shows a reduction couple, Pd(II)/Pd(I) at -0.836 V versus Ag/AgCl. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of [Pd(L)(Cl)] was screened against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogenic bacteria. This bioactivity was substantiated with SEM study. [Pd(L)(Cl)] exhibits satisfactory bactericidal as well as bacteriostatic activity.