Synthesis of biopolymer blends nanocomposites embedded with mono-(Ag, Fe) and bi-(Ag-Fe) metallic nanoparticles using an eco-friendly approach for antimicrobial activities.

Plant-mediated solution casting is used to develop eco-friendly polymer blend nanocomposites from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) doped with Silver (Ag), Ferrous (Fe) monometallic and Silver-Ferrous (Ag-Fe) bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs). These nanocomposites were studied to understand their electromagnetic interface (EMI) shielding efficiency and antimicrobial activities, besides evaluating their physical and chemical properties. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) characterization techniques were used to examine the interactions between the polymers, the presence of silver and ferrous particles in the composites, the crystallinity shift, the surface morphology, the shape and size of the nanoparticles and the distribution of the nanoparticles in the composites. The FTIR spectra showed the interactions among the components of the composites. According to XRD spectra, the incorporation of nanoparticles into the PVA polymer significantly reduced the crystalline character of the polymer from 0.38 to 0.24 for the composition consisting of silver and iron nanoparticles in equal proportion. The results from SEM, EDX and XRD corroborate the presence of nanoparticle forms. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) tests reveal that the thermal stability of bimetallic composites is greater than that of monometallic composites. The tensile properties showed that the addition of nanoparticles to the PVA/PVP polymer matrix increased its mechanical strength from 59.3 MPa to 85.5 MPa. We examined its efficacy against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans as microorganisms. Good antibacterial and antifungal activity was observed. The bimetallic composites demonstrated greater activity than monometallic composites against these bacterial and fungal species. All bimetallic nanocomposites have shown enhanced, loss due to reflection, loss due to absorption, and the total EMI shielding efficiency at 8 GHz (X-band) and 16 GHz (Ku-band) frequency. All these results ratify, that these newly developed bio nanocomposites are most suitable in many applications, in EMI shielding, nanotechnology, and medical fields.

Seaweed bioactive compounds: Promising and safe inputs for the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles in the food industry.

Scientific research on developing and characterizing eco-friendly metal nanoparticles (NPs) is an active area experiencing currently a systematic and continuous growth. A variety of physical, chemical and more recently biological methods can be used for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Among them, reports supporting the potential use of algae in the NPs green synthesis, contribute with only a minor proportion, although seaweed was demonstrated to perform as a successful reducing and stabilizing agent. Thus, the first part of the present review depicts the up-to-date information on the use of algae extracts for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles, including a deep discussion of the certain advantages as well as some limitations of this synthesis route. In the second part, the available characterization techniques to unravel their inherent properties such as specific size, shape, composition, morphology and dispersibility are comprehensively described, to finally focus on the factors affecting their applications, bioactivity, potential toxic impact on living organisms and incorporation into food matrices or food packaging, as well as future prospects. The present article identifies the key knowledge gap in a systematic way highlighting the critical next steps in the green synthesis of metal NPs mediated by algae.

Polysaccharides as Green Fuels for the Synthesis of MgO: Characterization and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities.

The synthesis of structured MgO is reported using feedstock starch (route I), citrus pectin (route II), and Aloe vera (route III) leaf, which are suitable for use as green fuels due to their abundance, low cost, and non-toxicity. The oxides formed showed high porosity and were evaluated as antimicrobial agents. The samples were characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The crystalline periclase monophase of the MgO was identified for all samples. The SEM analyses show that the sample morphology depends on the organic fuel used during the synthesis. The antibacterial activity of the MgO-St (starch), MgO-CP (citrus pectin), and MgO-Av (Aloe vera) oxides was evaluated against pathogens Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538P) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739). Antifungal activity was also studied against Candida albicans (ATCC 64548). The studies were carried out using the qualitative agar disk diffusion method and quantitative minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. The MIC of each sample showed the same inhibitory concentration of 400 µg. mL-1 for the studied microorganisms. The formation of inhibition zones and the MIC values in the antimicrobial analysis indicate the effective antimicrobial activity of the samples against the test microorganisms.

Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of Fluorescent Azatetracyclic Derivatives: An Energy-Efficient Approach.

We report here an energy-efficient and straight synthesis of two new classes of derivatized fluorescent azatetracycles under ultrasound (US) irradiation. A first class of azatetracyclic compounds was synthesized by heterogeneous catalytic bromination of the α-keto substituent attached to the pyrrole moiety of the tetracyclic cycloadducts, while for the second, one class was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of the bromide with the azide group. Comparative with conventional thermal heating (TH) under US irradiation, both types of reactions occur with substantially higher yields, shortened reaction time (from days to hours), lesser energy consumed, easier workup of the reaction, and smaller amounts of solvent required (at least three to five-fold less compared to TH), which make these reactions to be considered as energy efficient. The derivatized azatetracycle are blue emitters with λmax of fluorescence around 430-445 nm. A certain influence of the azatetracycle substituents concerning absorption and fluorescent properties was observed. Compounds anchored with a bulky azide group have shown decreased fluorescence intensity compared with corresponding bromides.

Comprehensive Understanding of the Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Zeolites: Needs of 21st Century Sustainable Chemical Industries.

Zeolites have taken a leading position in petrochemical, fine, and bulk chemical industries due to their porous architecture, pore sizes, tunable acidity, and thermal stability. Various strategies of zeolites preparation, including template-free, solvent-free, and toxic mineral-free strategies are summarized. Moreover, the zeolite synthesis using naturally occurring minerals and sustainable natural templates is also discussed, which involves the synthesis of nanocrystalline zeolites of different framework structures using plant-based natural templates and biomass-derived renewable chemicals. Overall this personal account provides the fundamentals of various sustainable synthetic strategies reported in the literature for the synthesis of zeolites with suitable examples that will be useful for the students and will motivate experienced researchers to develop various novel sustainable methods for the synthesis of zeolites and other inorganic materials of industrial relevance.

Ecofriendly Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Terrabacter humi sp. nov. and Their Antibacterial Application against Antibiotic-Resistant Pathogens.

It is essential to develop and discover alternative eco-friendly antibacterial agents due to the emergence of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel bacterium named Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T, utilized for the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and the synthesized AgNPs were used to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. The novel strain was Gram stain positive, strictly aerobic, milky white colored, rod shaped and non-motile. The optimal growth temperature, pH and NaCl concentration were 30 °C, 6.5 and 0%, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain MAHUQ-38T belongs to the genus Terrabacter and is most closely related to several Terrabacter type strains (98.2%-98.8%). Terrabacter humi MAHUQ-38T had a genome of 5,156,829 bp long (19 contigs) with 4555 protein-coding genes, 48 tRNA and 5 rRNA genes. The culture supernatant of strain MAHUQ-38T was used for the eco-friendly and facile synthesis of AgNPs. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed the spherical shape of AgNPs with a size of 6 to 24 nm, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the functional groups responsible for the synthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs exhibited strong anti-bacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant pathogens, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimal inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations against E. coli and P. aeruginosa were 6.25/50 and 12.5/50 µg/mL, respectively. The AgNPs altered the cell morphology and damaged the cell membrane of pathogens. This study encourages the use of Terrabacter humi for the ecofriendly synthesis of AgNPs to control multi-drug-resistant microorganisms.

Eco-friendly synthesis, in vitro anti-proliferative evaluation, and 3D-QSAR analysis of a novel series of monocationic 2-aryl/heteroaryl-substituted 6-(2-imidazolinyl)benzothiazole mesylates.

Herein, we describe the synthesis of twenty-one novel water-soluble monocationic 2-aryl/heteroaryl-substituted 6-(2-imidazolinyl)benzothiazole mesylates 3a-3u and present the results of their anti-proliferative assays. Efficient syntheses were achieved by three complementary simple two-step synthetic protocols based on the condensation reaction of aryl/heteroaryl carbaldehydes or carboxylic acid. We developed an eco-friendly synthetic protocol using glycerol as green solvent, particularly appropriate for the condensation of thermally and acid-sensitive heterocycles such as furan, benzofuran, pyrrole, and indole. Screening of anti-proliferative activity was performed on four human tumour cell lines in vitro including pancreatic cancer (CFPAC-1), metastatic colon cancer (SW620), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), and cervical cancer (HeLa), as well as in normal human fibroblast cell lines. All tested compounds showed strong to moderate anti-proliferative activity on tested cell lines depending on the structure containing aryl/heteroaryl moiety coupled to 6-(2-imidazolinyl)benzothiazole moiety. The most potent cytostatic effects on all tested cell lines with [Formula: see text] values ranging from 0.1 to 3.70 [Formula: see text] were observed for benzothiazoles substituted with naphthalene-2-yl 3c, benzofuran-2-yl 3e, indole-3-yl 3j, indole-2-yl 3k, quinoline-2-yl 3s, and quinoline-3-yl 3t and derivatives substituted with phenyl 3a, naphthalene-1-yl 3b, benzothiazole-2-yl 3g, benzothiazole-6-yl 3h, N-methylindole-3-yl 3l, benzimidazole-2-yl 3n, benzimidazole-5(6)-yl 3o, and quinolone-4-yl 3u with [Formula: see text] values ranging from 1.1 to 29.1 [Formula: see text]. Based on obtained anti-proliferative activities, 3D-QSAR models for five cell lines were derived. Molecular volume, molecular surface, the sum of hydrophobic surface areas, molecular mass, and possibility of making dispersion forces were identified by QSAR analyses as molecular properties that are positively correlated with anti-proliferative activity, while compound's capability to accept H-bond was identified as a negatively correlated property. Comparison of molecular properties identified for different cell lines enabled assumptions about similarity of mode of action through which anti-proliferative activities against different cell lines are accomplished. Novel compounds that are predicted to have enhanced activities in comparison with herein presented ones were designed using 3D-QSAR analysis as guideline.

Eco-friendly approach to the synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli.

The aim of this study was to assess bactericidal properties of nanosilver obtained with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a reducing substance, against environmental strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). Silver nanoparticles were obtained by a simple and fast method of chemical reduction in mild synthesis condition using substrates not classified as dangerous and commonly found in plants. Bacterial susceptibility to nanosilver was determined using the disk-diffusion method. Gram-positive bacteria were less susceptible to bactericidal action of nanosilver and minimum inhibitory concentration was higher for these bacteria. However, susceptibility of individual isolates of different species to nanosilver was very diverse. The range of growth inhibition zones indicates that the resistance to different concentrations of nanosilver was a strain-characteristic, not species-related feature. The study of effective nanomaterials synthesis and applicability appears to be an extremely important element in the development of nanotechnology, especially in terms of the risks assessment. Obtained results have a real chance to be an important step toward creating a new generation of disinfectants without toxic effects on the environment and higher organisms.

Therapeutic effects of gold nanoparticles synthesized using Musa paradisiaca peel extract against multiple antibiotic resistant Enterococcus faecalis biofilms and human lung cancer cells (A549).

Botanical-mediated synthesis of nanomaterials is currently emerging as a cheap and eco-friendly nanotechnology, since it does not involve the use of toxic chemicals. In the present study, we focused on the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using the aqueous peel extract of Musa paradisiaca (MPPE-AuNPs) following a facile and cheap fabrication process. The green synthesized MPPE-AuNPs were bio-physically characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, TEM, Zeta potential analysis and EDX. MPPE-AuNPs were crystalline in nature, spherical to triangular in shape, with particle size ranging within 50 nm. The biofilm inhibition activity of MPPE-AuNPs was higher against multiple antibiotic resistant (MARS) Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis. Light and confocal laser scanning microscopic observations evidenced that the MPPE-AuNPs effectively inhibited the biofilm of E. faecalis when tested at 100 µg mL-1. Cytotoxicity studies demonstrated that MPPE-AuNPs were effective in inhibiting the viability of human A549 lung cancer cells at higher concentrations of 100 µg mL-1. The morphological changes in the MPPE-AuNPs treated A549 lung cancer cells were visualized under phase-contrast microscopy. Furthermore, the ecotoxicity of MPPE-AuNPs on the freshwater micro crustacean Ceriodaphnia cornuta were evaluated. Notably, no mortality was recorded in MPPE-AuNPs treated C. cornuta at 250 µg mL-1. This study concludes that MPPE-AuNPs are non-toxic, eco-friendly and act as a multipurpose potential biomaterial for biomedical applications.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of a New Class of Pyridinium-Based Ionic Liquids with Attractive Antimicrobial Activity.

The present study reports a green synthesis of a new family of ionic liquids (ILs) based on functionalized 4-dimethylaminopyridinium derivatives. The structures of 23 newly synthesized ILs (2-24) were confirmed by FT-IR, (1)H-, (13)C-, (11)B-, (19)F-, and (31)P-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity of all novel ILs was tested against a panel of bacteria and fungi. The results prove that all tested ILs are effective antibacterial and antifungal agents, especially 4-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-phenoxybutyl) pyridinium derivatives 5 and 19.

Green Synthesis of Hexagonal-like ZnO Nanoparticles Modified with Phytochemicals of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Thymus capitatus Extracts: Enhanced Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Antioxidant Activities.

The green synthesis of ZnO NPs is becoming increasingly valued for its cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits. This study successfully synthesized hexagonal ZnO NPs using a combination of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and Thymus capitatus extracts. The use of both extracts significantly improved the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of the ZnO NPs. By optimizing synthesis conditions, including ZnCl2 and extract concentrations, hexagonal wurtzite ZnO NPs were produced at room temperature with only drying at 80 °C without high-temperature annealing. The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited a hexagonal morphology with an average particle size of 160 nm and a crystallite size of 30 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) confirmed the elemental composition of the ZnO NPs, showing a high carbon content (63.9 wt.%), reflecting the presence of phytochemicals from the extracts coated the ZnO NPs surface. The UV-Vis spectrum revealed an absorption peak at 370 nm and a bandgap energy of 2.8 eV due to lattice defects caused by organic impurities. The ZnO NPs demonstrated exceptional antioxidant activity, with a DPPH radical scavenging rate of 95.2%. They also exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with inhibition zones of 25 mm against Bacillus subtilis, 26 mm against Escherichia coli, 24 mm against Salmonella typhimurium, 22 mm against Klebsiella pneumoniae, 21 mm against Staphylococcus aureus, 20 mm against Staphylococcus hominis, and 18 mm against Bacillus subtilis at 200 ppm. Furthermore, significant antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans, with an inhibition zone of 35 mm at the same concentration. These findings underscore the effectiveness of using combined plant extracts for producing ZnO NPs with controlled morphology and enhanced biological properties, highlighting their potential for various biomedical applications.

Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles via Ganoderma Lucidum Extract: Structural and Functional Analysis in Polymer Composites.

Metallic nanoparticles are of growing interest due to their broad applications. This study presents the green synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (ZnNPs) using Ganoderma Lucidum mushroom extract, characterized by DLS, SEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy analyses. The synthesis parameters, including extract/salt ratio and mixing time, significantly influenced nanoparticle yield, size, and polydispersity, with longer mixing times leading to larger, more varied particles. Specifically, the sizes of ZnNPs synthesized at a 1:1 extract/ZnCl2 ratio after 3 h and 24 h were 90.0 nm and 243.3 nm, with PDI values of 48.69% and 51.91%, respectively. At a 1:2 ratio, the sizes were 242.3 nm at 3 h (PDI: 43.19%) and a mixture of 1.5 nm, 117.4 nm, and 647.9 nm at 24 h (PDI: 2.72%, 10.97%, and 12.43%). Polymer films incorporating PVA, chitosan, and ZnNPs were analyzed for their morphological, spectroscopic, and mechanical properties. Chitosan reduced tensile strength and elongation due to its brittleness, while ZnNPs further increased film brittleness and structural degradation. A comparison of the tensile strength of films A and C revealed that the addition of chitosan to the PVA film resulted in an approximately 10.71% decrease in tensile strength. Similarly, the analysis of films B1 and B2 showed that the tensile strength of the B2 film decreased by 10.53%. Swelling tests showed that ZnNPs initially enhanced swelling, but excessive amounts led to reduced capacity due to aggregation. This pioneering study demonstrates the potential of Ganoderma Lucidum extract in nanoparticle synthesis and provides foundational insights for future research, especially in wound dressing applications.

Eco-friendly synthesis of CuO/Bi2O3 nanocomposite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye.

Plant-mediated synthesized materials are receiving more attention than conventional ones due to their wide availability, ease of access, simple preparation methods, environmental benign, and possess superior physicochemical properties. In this work, plant extract-mediated CuO, Bi2O3, and CuO/Bi2O3 nanocomposite samples were successfully synthesized using bamboo leaves extract as a capping agent. These materials were utilized for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye, which served as a model organic dye pollutant. The physicochemical characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM-EDS, FTIR, and DRS-UV-vis spectrophotometry provide insight into the crystal structure, morphology, surface functional groups, and optical properties. These analyses confirm the effective formation of CuO, Bi2O3, and CuO/Bi2O3 materials. Surprisingly, upon calcination at 450 °C for 4 h, the color of the nanocomposite changed from pale green to gray greenish, providing evidence for the formation of the CuO in CuO/Bi2O3 nanocomposite. The photocatalytic optimization parameters such as pH (4), catalyst load (35 mg), irradiation time (180 min) and concentration of RhB (10 mg L-1) dye were investigated. By coupling CuO with Bi2O3 nanoparticles resulted in an improved photocatalytic property for the degradation of RhB dye under optimal conditions. As a result, CuO/Bi2O3 nanocomposite exhibited a significantly boosted photocatalytic degradation efficiency (95.6%) compared to pure CuO (40.2%) and Bi2O3 (80.5%) photocatalysts, with good reusability. For comparison purpose, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB dye using selected photocatalyst was evaluated under dark and sunlight systems. This eco-friendly approach holds great potential for synthesis new nanocomposite with modified properties, thereby enabling the practical application of high-efficiency photocatalysts. The plausible mechanism of the electrons and holes transfer was proposed.

Banana Peel Extract-Derived ZnO Nanopowder: Transforming Solar Water Purification for Safer Agri-Food Production.

Pure water scarcity is the most significant emerging challenge of the modern society. Various organics such as pesticides (clomazone, quinmerac), pharmaceuticals (ciprofloxacin, 17α-ethynilestradiol), and mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol) can be found in the aquatic environment. The aim of this study was to fabricate ZnO nanomaterial on the basis of banana peel extract (ZnO/BPE) and investigate its efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of selected organics under various experimental conditions. Newly synthesized ZnO/BPE nanomaterials were fully characterized by the XRD, FTIR, SEM-EPS, XPS, and BET techniques, which confirmed the successful formation of ZnO nanomaterials. The photocatalytic experiments showed that the optimal catalyst loading of ZnO/BPE was 0.5 mg/cm3, while the initial pH did not influence the degradation efficiency. The reusability of the ZnO/BPE nanomaterial was also tested, and minimal activity loss was found after three photocatalytic cycles. The photocatalytic efficiency of pure banana peel extract (BPE) was also studied, and the obtained data showed high removal of ciprofloxacin and 17α-ethynilestradiol. Finally, the influence of water from Danube River was also examined based on the degradation efficiency of selected pollutants. These results showed an enhanced removal of ciprofloxacin in water from the Danube River, while in the case of other pollutants, the treatment was less effective.

Eco-Friendly Synthesis of 1H-benzo[d]imidazole Derivatives by ZnO NPs Characterization, DFT Studies, Antioxidant and Insilico Studies.

Benzimidazoles are classified as a category of heterocyclic compounds. Molecules having benzimidazole motifs show promising utility in organic and scientific studies. A series of mono-substituted benzimidazoles were synthesized by ZnO-NPs via cyclocondensation between substituted aromatic aldehydes and o-phenylene diamine. The synthesized compounds were characterized and compared with the traditional methods. The nano-catalyzed method displayed a higher yield, shorter time and recyclable catalyst. The DFT study and antioxidant activity were investigated for benzo[d]imidazole derivatives. Compound 2a exhibited the highest antioxidant activity among the tested compounds. We focused on the catalytic activity of ZnO in the synthesis of heterocyclic structures with the goal of stimulating further progress in this field. The superiorities of this procedure are high yield of product, low amounts of catalyst and short reaction time.

Eco-Friendly Approach for Graphene Oxide Synthesis by Modified Hummers Method.

The aim of this study is to produce graphene oxide using a modified Hummers method without using sodium nitrate. This modification eliminates the production of toxic gases. Two drying temperatures, 60 °C and 90 °C, were used. Material was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy. FTIR study shows various functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl and carbonyl. The XRD results show that the space between the layers of GO60 is slightly larger than that for GO90. SEM images show a homogeneous network of graphene oxide layers of ≈6 to ≈9 nm. The procedure described has an environmentally friendly approach.

An Eco-Friendly Synthetic Approach for Copper Nanoclusters and Their Potential in Lead Ions Sensing and Biological Applications.

A new preparation route for high-luminescent blue-emission pepsin copper nanoclusters (Pep-CuNCs) is introduced in this work. The synthesized nanoclusters are based on a pepsin molecule, which is a stomach enzyme that works to digest proteins that exist in undigested food. Here, we have developed an eco-friendly technique through microwave-assisted fast synthesis. The resulting copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) exhibit significant selectivity towards Pb(II) ions. The pepsin molecule was utilized as a stabilizer and reducing agent in the production procedure of Pep-CuNCs. The characteristics of the resulting Pep-CuNCs were studied in terms of size, surface modification, and composition using various sophisticated techniques. The CuNCs responded to Pb(II) ions through the fluorescence quenching mechanism of the CuNCs' fluorescence. Thus, great selectivity of Pep-CuNCs towards Pb(II) ions was observed, allowing sensitive determination of this metal ion at lab-scale and in the environment. The CuNCs have detection limits for Pb(II) in very tenuous concentration at a nanomalar scale (11.54 nM). The resulting Pep-CuNCs were utilized significantly to detect Pb(II) ions in environmental samples. Additionally, the activity of Pep-CuNCs on different human tumor cell lines was investigated. The data for the observed behavior indicate that the Pep-CuNCs displayed their activity against cancer cells in a dose dependent manner against most utilized cancer cell lines.

Antiviral Properties against SARS-CoV-2 of Nanostructured ZnO Obtained by Green Combustion Synthesis and Coated in Waterborne Acrylic Coatings.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for developing disinfectant surfaces as well as reducing the spread of infections on contaminated surfaces and the contamination risk from the fomite route. The present work reports on the antiviral activity of coatings containing ZnO particles obtained by two simple synthesis routes using Aloe vera (ZnO-aloe) or cassava starch (ZnO-starch) as reaction fuel. After detailed characterization using XRD and NEXAFS, the obtained ZnO particles were dispersed in a proportion of 10% with two different waterborne acrylic coatings (binder and commercial white paint) and brushed on the surface of polycarbonates (PC). The cured ZnO/coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Wettability tests were performed. The virucidal activity of the ZnO particles dispersed in the waterborne acrylic coating was compared to a reference control sample (PC plates). According to RT-PCR results, the ZnO-aloe/coating displays the highest outcome for antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 using the acrylic binder, inactivating >99% of the virus after 24 h of contact relative to reference control.

Innovative construction of a novel lanthanide cerate nanostructured photocatalyst for efficient treatment of contaminated water under sunlight.

Herein, we have developed Ln2Ce2O7 (Ln = Er, Ho) ceramic nanostructures through a rapid and green sonochemical approach and scrutinized their photocatalytic efficiency toward degradation of toxic pollutants under sunlight. Salvia rosmarinus extract is utilized as a morphology-directing agent in the sono-synthesis of the nanostructured Ln2Ce2O7 (Ln = Er, Ho), for the first time. Comprehensive characterization utilizing different techniques demonstrated that introducing of rare-earth metals, erbium and holmium, affected the textural, morphological, and optical features of the nanostructured ceria. The energy gap for pure cerium dioxide nanostructure was estimated to be 3.09 eV, while the energy gap for Ho2Ce2O7 and Er2Ce2O7 nanostructure was estimated at 2.9 and 2.66 eV, respectively. The narrowing of the energy gap was observed as a result of the introduction of rare-earth metals, erbium and holmium, especially erbium, into the nanostructured ceria. Investigation of the photocatalytic decomposition of various contaminants revealed that the introduction of erbium has remarkably enhanced the photocatalytic activity of nanostructured ceria. High photocatalytic performance (98.9%) and rate constant (0.0727 min-1) was observed for the Er2Ce2O7 nanostructure in the removal of eriochrome Black T. Improving the optical features of ceria nanostructure as well as enhancing its specific area were reasons that could increase the photocatalytic efficiency. The photocatalytic decomposition reactions in the removal of toxic contaminants were well accorded with the Pseudo-first order reaction kinetics. Besides, the nanostructured Er2Ce2O7 maintained its efficiency after ten reaction cycles and did not denote any notable decline in efficiency. The use of this novel porous nanostructure can be a potentially efficient solution for water treatment.

Dummy molecularly imprinted membranes based on an eco-friendly synthesis approach for recognition and extraction of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in egg samples.

In this work, novel dummy molecularly imprinted membranes (MIMs) were fabricated using the nylon-66 (NY-66) membranes as the subtracts based on an eco-friendly "sandwich" technology with less consumption of organic reagents at mild conditions for recognition and extraction of enrofloxacin (ENR) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in egg samples. The prepared MIMs were characterized by SEM, ATR-FTIR and TGA, showing the successful construction of uniform and porous polymers on the surface of membranes. A series of adsorption affinity tests were investigated, indicating the prepared materials had specific recognition capacity and excellent stability as novel sorbents. Furthermore, Box-Benhnken design (BBD) and single factor investigations were applied to optimize pretreatment procedures, coupling with Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatograph (UHPLC) detection. The method showed a good correlation (r2>0.9999) within the linear range of 5.0~5000.0 µg kg-1, and limit of detection (LOD) of ENR and CIP were 0.3 and 0.7 µg kg-1, respectively. The mean recovery ranged from 84.5% to 97.0% within relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 10.2%. Finally, ENR and CIP were not detected in 3 batches of egg samples. The current study developed the dummy MIMs as sorbents combined with UHPLC analysis for extraction and detection of target analytes in food matrices.