This research investigates the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) using a biodegradable and natural reducing agent, arabinoxylan mucilage from Plantago major seeds. UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 550 nm, with an energy band gap of 3.45 eV, confirming Au NP formation. FTIR analysis revealed peaks corresponding to alcohol, carbonyl, and other functional groups, along with a distinct metal-oxygen bond signal, demonstrating the participation of the groups in NP stabilization. SEM revealed globular-shaped particles (78 nm), while EDX analysis confirmed the elemental composition. XRD patterns verified the crystalline NPs with a face-centered cubic structure. The Au NPs exhibited effective microbicidal potential against Escherichia coli (ZOI 25 +/- 0.66 mm), Bacillus cereus (ZOI 18 +/- 0.33 mm), and Enterobacter aerogenes (ZOI 11 +/- 0.98 mm). The significant minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MICs and MBCs) were investigated for bacterial strains, confirming the antimicrobial potential of Au NPs. Furthermore, the Au NPs demonstrated remarkable photocatalytic performance with degradation efficiencies of 89% for methylene blue (MB) and 81.19% for methyl orange (MO) under pseudo-first-order kinetics, highlighting their potential for wastewater treatment.
The green synthesis pathway is cost-effective, environmentally benign (using non-toxic materials), and frequently produces better results than traditional methods. In the current study, an extract from a by-product such as the peel of Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) fruits was used in an improved phyto-synthesis process to create TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). With the aid of stabilizing molecules found in the extract, titanium isopropoxide (TiTP) functions as a precursor of titanium to create TiO2 NPs. To characterize the appearance and structure of the synthesized nanoparticles, a range of analytical methods was utilized. The techniques employed encompassed X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), in addition to scanning electron microscopy paired with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM with EDX) and zeta potential analysis. Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria were effectively inhibited by the as-prepared TiO2. Nanoparticles prepared by this phyto-synthesis method may be thus suitable for a wide range of biological and medicinal applications.
This study explores the effects of nano alumina and surface treatment on the physical and mechanical performance of areca palm stem (APS) fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The composite samples were prepared using the conventional hand layup method, maintaining a constant APS fiber content of 20 wt%, while varying sodium hydroxide concentrations (0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%) and nano alumina filler loadings (0 wt%, 2.5 wt%, 5 wt%, and 7.5 wt%). This study demonstrates that incorporating alumina nanofillers and sodium hydroxide treatment of fibers can enhance the mechanical properties of APS fiber reinforced composites. The incorporation of alumina nanoparticles into treated composites enhanced elasticity, toughness, strength, ductility, and hardness as the nanofiller concentration increased up to 5 wt%. Compared to untreated composites, incorporating 6% sodium hydroxide treated areca fibers and 5 wt% nanofillers leads to a 53.60% improvement in tensile strength and a 43.05% improvement in flexural strength. The maximum impact energy (5.81 J) and hardness (59.5 HV) are achieved at 7.5 wt% nano alumina reinforced APS fiber composites treated with 6% sodium hydroxide. Morphological analysis conducted with a scanning electron microscope revealed various defects such as fiber interfacial behaviour issues, internal cracks, and voids.
The objective of this study was to develop fire-resistant paper by immersing commercial paper samples into various fire-retardant chemical solutions. In the experimental work, untreated commercial papers were treated with fire-retardant chemicals boric acid (BA), borax (BX), and aluminum hydroxide (AH) at different concentrations. The papers were impregnated for a fixed duration using the impregnation method, and following drying under controlled conditions, their weight, thickness, thermal stability (TGA), limiting oxygen index (LOI), and printability were evaluated in accordance with relevant standards. The results revealed that impregnation increased both paper weight and thickness, whereas the liquid-penetration behavior was strongly dependent on the flame-retardant type, concentration, and immersion frequency, with low-concentration BA and BX treatments and repeated AH treatments generally providing improved resistance to water penetration. However, the TGA analysis indicated an increase in residual mass. Furthermore, the LOI test demonstrated that papers treated with BA and BX could be classified as fire-resistant, and the printing tests confirmed an improvement in print quality.
Excessive hemorrhage poses a significant risk, necessitating the development of effective hemostatic agents. However, commercially available products often suffer from poor biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study presented a composite particle material combining water-soluble oxidized regenerated cellulose dialdehyde (ORCdial) and chitosan to enhance hemostatic efficacy and biocompatibility. It was hypothesized that ORCdial formed a gel upon blood contact, while chitosan interacted with the coagulation cascade, making them promising candidates for hemostasis. Particles were synthesized by blending ORCdial and chitosan, lyophilizing, neutralizing, and milling the mixture into particles. Crosslinking was confirmed by FTIR (C=N band at similar to 1640-1655 cm(-1)) and solid-state C-13 CP/MAS NMR (imine carbon at similar to 165-170 ppm). Their physicochemical properties and hemostatic performance were evaluated in vitro. In vitro studies demonstrated that ORCdial-chitosan composites significantly improved clotting efficiency and cell compatibility compared to the commercial hemostatic agent Celox (R), with performance varying based on ORCdial content. In conclusion, this study presented a novel, biocompatible, and effective hemostatic material with promising in vitro hemostatic performance, offering a potential candidate for further pre-clinical investigation in hemorrhage control.
