Current Nanomaterials - Current Issue

The greatest threat of the 21st century is global warming. The building sector is a major contributor to energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. About 60% of the total energy consumed in the buildings is caused by HVAC systems. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology that an introduce innovative materials in the building sector which offers great potential for development of innovative building products to enhance performance and energy efficiency of the building. Nanomaterials are a promising candidate for building thermal insulation. This paper presents a theoretical overview of twenty case-based scenarios on the application of nanomaterials to reduce energy consumption in buildings. A comprehensive list of different nanomaterials is reviewed from the literature, as non-structural, insulation, and thermal energy storage materials to improve the insulation performance of the building. Extensive testing and simulation modelling have turned out to be the most popular in this area of research methods for experimental and theoretical studies. The combination of these methods can yield a reliable technique for studying nanomaterials. Finally, embedding nanomaterials into building walls, floors, and roofs can reduce energy consumption and enhance thermal performance of a building’s envelope.

Introduction: A facile approach for producing graphene nanosheets (GNs) has been established by reducing graphene oxide (GO) with ginger extract (GEx) at low temperature. The elimination of oxygen characteristics from GO has been validated by a Raman study. Method: FTIR analysis also supports the Raman signatures of the removal of oxygen species from the carbon core. Surface analysis confirms the remarkable deoxidation of GO and settles the production of GNs. After that, synthesized GNs were tested for their capability to photodegrade Methylene blue (MB) dye under visible and UV (both 125 W) light. Result: At low concentrations (0.5 mg), GNs are an effective photocatalyst for the degradation of MB, with a maximum degradation efficiency of 91.84% in 45 minutes when exposed to UV light irradiation. Conclusion: Results favor that the GEx provides a potential substitute for toxic or harmful reducing agents for the ecologically sustainable production of GNs on a mass scale and synthesized GNs act as an excellent photocatalyst against MB.

Introduction: An efficient and coherent drug delivery system is imperative in detouring a repetitive administration of high doses of the drug to achieve an effective therapeutic effect. This study, therefore, aims to synthesize the nanocomposite (CAPA) utilizing the layered double hydroxide as a drug carrier that can safeguard the medicine and improve its bioavailability while minimizing the adverse impact on the biological process. Method: The Calcium-aluminum Layered Double Hydroxide (CAL) was synthesized via the coprecipitation method followed by integrating palmitic acid (PA) drug into that host employing a similar approach. The successful intercalation was assessed utilizing X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization of the material was evaluated by using a thermogravimetric-derivative thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG) and accelerated surface area and porosity (ASAP) analyzer. Result: The increment of basal spacing of CAPA (15.21Å) synthesized in this study implies the retainment of PA in the interlayer space of CAL. The FTIR spectra of CAPA, with the elimination of the nitrate ion peak at 1359.87 cm^-1 and the appearance of carboxylate ion at 1643.17 cm^-1, hint at the existence of PA in the host layer. The surface area of CAPA exhibited a value of 19.8 m2g-1, bigger than that of hosts, while its pore size is within the micropores range. Conclusion: The TGA analysis revealed that the thermal stability of PA was improved following the intercalation process due to the decomposition of the PA core that occurs at 260°C. The antimicrobial activity proposes that the synthesized CAPA can retain the drug's activity against S. aureus, emphasizing the ability of CAL as a potential drug delivery vehicle for PA.

Background: Treatment of glioma with conventional approaches remains a far-reaching target to provide the desired outcome. This study aimed to develop and optimize Gemcitabine hydrochloride- loaded PLGA nanoparticles (GNPs) using the Box-Behnken design methodology. The independent variables chosen for this study included the quantity of Polymer (PLGA) (X1), Tween 80 (X2), and Sonication time (X3), whereas the dependent variables were Particle size (Y1) EE % (Y2) and PDI (Y3). The optimized biodegradable nanoparticles were investigated for their anticancer effectiveness in U87MG human glioblastoma cells in vitro. Method: The formulation process involved two steps. Initially, emulsification was carried out by combining the organic polymer solution with the aqueous surfactant solution. Subsequently, in the second step, the organic solvent was evaporated, resulting in the precipitation of the polymer and the formation of nanoparticles. The quantity of PLGA, Tween 80, and PVA (at a constant concentration) was adjusted based on the experimental trial approach. Subsequently, the PLGA-based nanoparticles underwent characterization, wherein their particle size, encapsulation efficiency, polydispersity index (PDI), and cumulative release were assessed. The optimal formulation composition was determined as 200 mg of PLGA, 4 ml of Tween 80, and 2 mg of PVA. Further, the optimized GNPs were evaluated for their anti-cancer effectiveness on U87 MG cells by MTT and apoptosis assay. Results: The results demonstrated that the optimized GNPs exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of 81.66 %, a particle size of 140.1 nm, and a PDI of 0.37. The morphology of the Opt-GNPs was observed to be spherical through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Conclusion: The Apoptosis study further confirmed the observations of MTT assay as the Opt- GNPs significantly enhanced the apoptosis in U-87 MG cells than the Standard marketed formulation.

Background: The prevalence of cancer is around the world and is identified as a multifactorial ailment. One of the most common causes of cancer in the world is oxidative stress, and this can be overcome by taking herbal plant wheatgrass in any form. As colloidal carriers with particle sizes of 50-1,000nm, Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) combine the benefits of liposomes, emulsions, and other colloidal systems to deliver drugs at their targets. Objective: Aim and objective of the present work is to formulate wheatgrass extract loaded solid lipid nanoparticles using Central Composite design and to investigate the effect of formulation variables. Using hot homoginization method, the present work aimed to formulate wheatgrass loaded chitosan solid lipid nanoparticles using central composite design and to evaluate the extract potential to treat breast cancer on MCF-7 cell line. Methods: This study investigated the effect of three formulation variables on particle size, namely the sodium alginate concentration, the calcium carbonate concentration, and the homogination time. Extraction of wheatgrass was done in soxhlet extractor, using methanolic extract. The hot homogenization technique was used to prepare Triticum aestivum extract loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). Result: For CCD, all formulations were analyzed for particle size, which ranged from 362.5 to 933.8 nm, and for polydispersity index, which ranged from 0.137 to 5.799. Batch code SLN-6 was found to be finest suitable because of maximum loading capacity of 67.76 ±0.17 % (w/w), maximum entrapment efficiency of 65.81 ± 0.11% (w/w) and minimum particle size of 362.5nm by using sodium alginate as surface stabilizer at homogenization time ~ 5 min and having maximum percentage yield of 43.66%. Conclusion: During characterization studies and MCF-6 cell line studies, it was found that batch code SLN-6 was found to be finest suitable and wheatgrass has anti-oxidant potential, and potent against breast cancer.

Background: Among the various types of cancer, breast cancer is the most incident among women. Due to the resistance to antitumor treatments, alternative treatments have been sought, such as metallic nanoparticles. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the antitumor potential and cytotoxicity induction mechanisms of green synthesized AgCl-NPs and Ag/AgCl-NPs. Methods: The antitumor potential of nanoparticles was evaluated in breast cancer BT-474 and MDAMB- 436 cell lines treated with 0-40 μg/mL AgCl-NPs or 0-12.5 μg/mL Ag/AgCl-NPs through imagebased high content analysis method. Normal human retinal pigment epithelial 1 (RPE-1) cells were used for comparison. Results: The growth rate of the RPE-1 cells treated with nanoparticles was insignificantly affected, and no significant changes in cell viability were observed. In these cells, the nanoparticle treatments did not induce lysosomal damage, changes in ROS production, or reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential. The level of BT-474 and MDA-MB-436 cell proliferation was markedly decreased, and cell viability was reduced by 64.19 and 46.19% after treatment with AgCl-NPs and reduced by 98.36 and 82.29% after treatment with Ag/AgCl-NPs. The cells also showed a significant increase in ROS production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which culminated in an increase in the percentage of apoptotic cells. BT-474 cells also presented lysosomal damage when treated with the highest concentrations of both nanoparticle types and actin polymerization was observed after exposure to Ag/AgCl-NPs. Conclusions: Together, the results showed overall cytotoxic effects of both AgCl-NPs and Ag/AgCl- NPs towards breast cancer cells with negligible effects against healthy cells, which suggests their promising anticancer and biomedical applications.

Introduction: The attached oxygen functional group in graphene oxide (GO) with layers that are about 1.1 ± 0.2 nm thick, has hindered the performance of electrical characteristics. Diminution of the oxygen functional group, and increasing the carbon/oxygen (C/O) ratio can enhance electrical conductivity. Method: This study investigated the effect of graphene derivatives (C/O) ratios on the dielectric properties of low-density polyethylene (PE) made of metallocene, as well as polypropylene (PP) and mixtures of them. The oxygen functional groups were reduced by utilizing graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The effect of GO and rGO-based polyolefin produced by solution blending while lowering the oxygen functional group is explored. Result: The surface morphology and chemical structure were examined by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The electrical characteristics of the composite films, such as their loss factor (tan δ) and dielectric constant, permittivity and conductivity, and imaginary permittivity were examined. At room temperature, measurements were performed at frequencies ranging from 300 Hz to 8 MHz. '; the dielectric permittivity and imaginary permittivity (") of polymer/ reduced graphene oxidehowever, these values rapidly decreased with increasing frequency. Conclusion: The alternating current conductivity of the composites was likewise shown to increase with increasing frequency.