Technology
Optimization of Lead-Free Cs2TiBr6 Green Perovskite Solar Cell for Future Renewable Energy Applications
A modern genre of solar technology is Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) which are growing rapidly because they work well. The composition of links within the hole transport materials electron transport materials and the footprint on PSCs is perovskite.
The traditional genre of lead halide perovskite can be swapped with a new perovskite compound called Cs2TiBr6. Cs2TiBr6 has better properties when it comes to light electricity and solar energy. When comparing the performance of various electron transport films (ETFs) for the effective operation of perovskite TiO2 is recognized as an ETF as it has higher thermal stability low-cost and appropriate energy level.
The most productive hole transport film (HTF) for these perovskite solar cells compared to other HTFs has been demonstrated as V2O5.
The various solar cell characteristics of the proposed device the “Au/V2O5/ Cs2TiBr6/TiO2/ TCO” perovskite solar cell are investigated in this examination by tuning the parameters such as temperature series resistance defect density etc.
Self-Assembled Nanoparticle-Forming Derivatives of Dextrin-Conjugated Polyethylenimine Containing Urethane Bonds for Enhanced Delivery of Interleukin-12 Plasmid
In the present investigation low molecular weight polyethylenimine (LMW PEI 1.8 kDa PEI) was conjugated to dextrin via urethane units and tested to transfer plasmid encoding interleukin-12 (IL-12) plasmid. Although high molecular weight PEI (HMW PEI 25 kDa PEI) has shown substantial transfection efficiency its wide application has been hampered due to considerable cytotoxicity. Therefore LMW PEI with low toxic effects was used as the core of our gene transfer construct.
LMW PEI was conjugated to dextrin via urethane units to improve its biophysical characteristics as well as cytotoxic effects. The conjugates were characterized in terms of buffering capacity plasmid DNA condensation ability particle size and zeta potential as well as protection against enzymatic degradation. In Vitro experiments were carried out to evaluate the ability of these LMW PEI conjugates to transfer plasmid encoding human interleukin-12 (hIL-12) to the cells. The MTT assay was performed to measure the cell-induced toxicity of the conjugates.
The results of our study demonstrated that the PEI derivatives with higher amounts of amine content (i.e. higher conjugation degrees) have considerable buffering capacity and plasmid condensation ability. These conjugates could condense plasmid DNA at Carrier to Plasmid ratios (C/P) ≥2 and form polyplexes at the size range of 120-165 nm while their zeta potential was around 5.5-8.5 mV. The results of transfection efficiency demonstrated that the level of IL-12 production increased by 2-3 folds compared with unmodified LMW PEI while the level of cytotoxicity was not higher than 20%.
The strategy used in this study shows a promising way to prepare gene carriers with high transfection efficiency and low toxicity.
Achievements and Difficulties with Batch and Optimization Investigations of Heavy Metal Adsorptive Removal Utilizing Enhanced Biomass-based Adsorption Materials
Surface enhancement improves the porousness and surface area (SSA) of biomass materials which boosts their adsorption capability. This work investigates recent advances in surface modification technologies of biomass-based materials for heavy metal adsorption including Pb As Cr Fe Cd Mn Cu Co Hg Ni Zn and their ions in waters/wastewaters. The chemical structure and surface properties of biomass were examined in connection with various surface modification approaches and their effects on the adsorption process. In addition adsorption performance we assessed using various operating conditions isotherms kinetics and computational and artificial intelligence methodologies. This study found that acid-activated Posidonia oceanica had the highest adsorption effectiveness of 631.13 mg/g to eliminate Pb2+ whereas H3PO4/furnace-modified oil palm biomass had the lowest (0.1576 mg/g) for removing Cd2+. Important insights into knowledge gaps for changing these materials for extremely effective adsorption performance were emphasized to improve the area.
A Concise Review on Magnetic Nanoparticles: Their Properties, Types, Synthetic Methods, and Current Trending Applications
In recent years there has been significant research on developing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with multifunctional characteristics. This review focuses on the properties and various types of MNPs methods of their synthesis and biomedical clinical and other applications. These syntheses of MNPs were achieved by various methods like precipitation thermal pyrolysis vapor deposition and sonochemical. MNPs are nano-sized materials with diameters ranging from 1 to 100 nm. The MNPs have been used for various applications in biomedical cancer theranostic imaging drug delivery biosensing environment and agriculture. MNPs have been extensively researched for molecular diagnosis treatment and therapeutic outcome monitoring in a range of illnesses. They are perfect for biological applications including cancer therapy thrombolysis and molecular imaging because of their nanoscale size surface area and absence of side effects. In particular MNPs can be used to conjugate chemotherapeutic medicines (or) target ligands/proteins making them beneficial for drug delivery. However up until that time some ongoing issues and developments in MNPs include toxicity and biocompatibility targeting accuracy regulation and safety clinical translation hyperthermia therapy immunomodulatory effects multifunctionality and nanoparticle aggregation.
Nanoencapsulation of Zataria multiflora Essential Oil Containing Linalool Reduced Antibiofilm Resistance against Multidrug-resistant Clinical Strains
The rise in antimicrobial resistance caused by the production of biofilms by bacteria is a significant concern in the field of healthcare. Nanoemulsion technology presents itself as a viable alternative in the quest to circumvent antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria.
The aim of this research was to form a sustainable nanoemulsion from Z. multiflora and evaluate its antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against the clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus.
Bioactive compounds of the oil were identified using GC-MS. Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZMEO) nanoemulsion was formulated as a water-dispersible nanoemulsion with a diameter of 184.88 ± 1.18 nm. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the essential oil in both pure and nanoemulsion forms were assessed against pathogenic bacteria causing hospital-acquired infections using minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the microtiter method respectively.
The main constituents were found to be linalool (78.66%) carvacrol (14.25%) and α-pinene (4.53%). Neither ZMEO nor the emulsified ZMEO showed any antimicrobial activity. However ZMEO exhibited a low inhibition of biofilm formation by P. mirabilis S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The most promising finding was that when the emulsified ZMEO was present at a concentration of 750 µg/mL it significantly reduced biofilm formation by the aforementioned bacteria to 39.68% ± 2.62 56.54% ± 3.35 and 59.60% ± 2.88 respectively. This result suggests that ZMEO nanoemulsion has the potential to effectively disrupt persistent biofilms and enhance the penetration of antimicrobial agents into the biofilm matrix.
In conclusion the study provides evidence supporting the use of ZMEO nanoemulsion as a potential treatment option for combating biofilm-related infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Further research is warranted to explore the practical application of the proposed essential oil in clinical settings.
Evaluation of Stability and In vitro Anti-Cancer Activity of Dihydroquercetin Nanoemulsion
Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) also known as taxifolin is a flavonoid commonly found in many plants. Dihydroquercetin has been documented to have powerful antioxidant activity and many beneficial properties for human health especially its ability to inhibit certain types of cancer cells. However its low solubility and bioavailability are major obstacles to biomedical applications. Moreover DHQ is chemically unstable and quickly degrades when exposed to alkaline conditions.
In the present study a DHQ nanoemulsion formulation was prepared by Self Nano-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) technique to overcome the above disadvantages.
The obtained nanoemulsion system was evaluated for its micro-properties stability and in vitro cytotoxic activity against some cancer cells using tetrazolium dyes (MTS assay).
Measurement results showed that the DHQ nanoemulsion was successfully synthesized with typical mean droplet sizes from 9 to 11 nm and revealed excellent stability over time. Dihydroquercetin in nanoemulsion form is more stable than the non-encapsulated form as evidenced by the maintenance of droplet size in the nanometer range when dispersed in aqueous solution for up to 48 hours. This stability is particularly pronounced in both acidic and neutral environments. In vitro experiments on cytotoxic activities against A549 Hela and HepG2 cancer cell lines indicated that the prepared DHQ nanoemulsion effectively inhibited the growth of all these cell lines with IC50 values (µg/mL) of 8.0 20.4 and 29.5 respectively.
From the detailed results above it is evident that the solubility and bioavailability of DHQ can be improved by creating its nanostructure in the form of nanoemulsions. Furthermore the nano form of DHQ carried within stable nanoemulsions exhibited better performance in inhibiting cancer cells compared to free DHQ. Therefore further research is required to explore the development of cancer therapeutics utilizing nano DHQ emulsions.
Strategy for Targeting Medical Diagnosis of Cerebral Ischemia Regions by Linking Gsk-3β Antibody and RVG29 to Magnetosomes
In our previous studies we have identified Gsk-3β as a crucial target molecule in response to Danhong injection for cerebral ischemia intervention. Furthermore it can serve as a molecular imaging probe for medical diagnosis. Bacterial magnetic particles (BMPs) synthesized by magnetotactic bacteria are regarded as excellent natural nanocarriers.
In this study we utilized biological modification and chemical crosslinking techniques to produce a multifunctional BMP known as “RVG29-BMP-FA-Gsk-3β-Ab” which exhibits both magnetic properties and brain-targeting capabilities. Then a combination of analytical techniques was used to characterize the properties of the multifunctional BMPs. Finally we evaluated the cell targeting ability of the RVG29-BMP-FA-Gsk-3β-Ab.
The multifunctional BMPs were observed to possess uniform size and shape using TEM analysis with a particle size of 70.1±7.33 nm. Zeta potential analysis revealed that the nanoparticles exhibited a regular and non-aggregative distribution of particle sizes. Relative fluorescence intensity results demonstrated that the complex of 1 mg of RVG29-BMP-FA-Gsk-3β-Ab could bind to FITC-RVG29 polypeptide at a concentration of 2189.5 nM. Cell viability analysis indicated its high biocompatibility and minimal cytotoxicity. The RVG29-BMP-FA-Gsk-3β-Ab was observed to possess active targeting towards neuronal cells and fluorescence imaging capabilities in vitro as evidenced by fluorescence imaging assays. The complex of RVG29-BMP-FA-Gsk-3β-Ab exhibited favourable properties for early diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine in treating cerebral ischemia.
This study establishes a fundamental basis for the prospective implementation of multimodal imaging in traditional Chinese medicine for cerebral ischemia.
Development of Micro/Nano Pattern Arrays with Grating-Based Periodic Structures using the Direct Laser Lithography System
This research delves into utilizing the Direct Laser Lithography System to produce micro/nanopattern arrays with grating-based periodic structures. Initially refining the variation in periodic structures within these arrays becomes a pivotal pursuit. This demands a deep comprehension of how structural variation aligns with specific applications particularly in photonics and material science.
Advancements in hardware software or process optimization techniques hold potential for reaching this objective. Using an optical beam this system enables the engraving of moderate periodic and quasi-periodic structures enhancing pattern formation in a three-dimensional environment. Through cost-effective direct-beam interferometry systems utilizing 405 nm GaN and 290 to 780 nm AlInGaN semiconductor laser diodes patterns ranging from in period were created employing 300 nm gratings.
The system's cost-efficiency and ability to achieve high-resolution permit the creation of both regular and irregular grating designs. By employing an optical head assembly from a blu-ray disc recorder housing a semiconductor laser diode and an objective lens with an NA of 0.85 this system displays promising potential in progressing the fabrication of micro/nanopattern arrays.
Assessing their optical mechanical and electrical properties and exploring potential applications across varied fields like optoelectronics photovoltaics sensors and biomedical devices represent critical strides for further exploration and advancement.
The Cytotoxicity Effect of Chitosan-Encapsulated Ricin-Herceptin Immunotoxin Nanoparticles on Breast Cancer Cell Lines
The use of targeted therapy has been increasing for cancer treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate chitosan-based ricin-Herceptin (rh) immunotoxin on breast cancer cell lines.
The gene construct encoding immunotoxin was designed cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The expressed proteins were isolated by the nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid column and were analyzed by the Western-blotting. The cytotoxicity of immunotoxin was assayed on breast cell line MCF-7 and using MTT assay at 24 and 48 h treatment.
The immunotoxins extrication rate size loading percentage and electric charge of nanoparticles were reported appropriately as 78% 151.5 nm 83.53% and +11.1 mV respectively. The encapsulated immunotoxins led to the death of 70% and 78% of MCF-7 cells at 24 and 48 h treatment respectively. The noncapsulated counterparts at equal doses killed 53% and 62% of cancer cells at the same time points.
The chitosan-immunotoxins impose potential cytotoxic effects on cancer cells.
Review on Heavy Metal Removal and Efficacy of Biosorbents
Industries release a significant amount of wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. It is a major cause of pollution and a potential health hazard when discharged into the environment without treatment. Standard adsorbents for removing heavy metals have certain limitations like incomplete metal removal high energy requirements and undesirable waste generation. Therefore the use of biosorbents is an effective alternative to conventional procedures. This critical review evaluates and summarizes the optimum results obtained from different papers covering different parameters such as biosorbent removal efficiency and their adsorption capacity adsorbent dosage and effect of pretreatment for removal of single and combination of heavy metals. The influence of pH contact time and sorbent dose on biosorption has been discussed. The Langmuir model and the Freundlich model are studied for various biosorbents and the respective results are obtained and summarised. The pseudo-first and second-order models have been evaluated to study the sorption kinetics. Through this review it can be concluded that biosorbents can be a promising alternative to treat industrial effluents mainly because of their high metal binding capacity low cost high efficiency in diluted effluents and environmentally friendly nature.
Is SiC a Predominant Technology for Future High Power Electronics?: A Critical Review
Due to the magnificent properties of Silicon Carbide (SiC) such as high saturation drift velocity large operating temperature higher cut-off and maximum frequency (fT and fmax) high thermal conductivity and large breakdown voltages (BV) it is desirable for high power electronics. With the latest advancements in semiconductor materials and processing technologies diverse high-power applications such as inverters power supplies power converters and smart electric vehicles are implemented using SiC-based power devices. Especially SiC MOSFETs are mostly used in high-power applications due to their capability to achieve lower switching loss higher switching speed and lower ON resistance than the Si-based (Insulated gate bipolar transistor) IGBTs. In this paper a critical study of SiC MOSFET architectures emerging dielectric techniques mobility enhancement methods and irradiation effects are discussed. Moreover the roadmap of Silicon Carbide power devices is also briefly summarized.
The Role of Polar Optical Modes in Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Quantum Structures
In this paper the interface polariton (IP) the confined (CF) modes in nanostructures made with wide bandgap semiconductors as well as their contributions to the carrier scattering mechanism have been investigated. An asymmetric quantum well (AQW) made with ZnSe/CdSe/ZnS has been studied. More specifically the dielectric continuum (DC) model has been employed to describe both the IP and the CF modes. Additionally the Fermi golden rule has been used to estimate the electron transition rate within the asymmetric structure. Our numerical results show that the scattering rate for an electron which is localized at the bottom of the first subband above the well and drops within the quantum well is characterized by regular peaks with an almost linear increase as the size of the QW increases. The emerge peaks are related to two different physical characteristics of the AQW system. These peaks are related to electron resonances and the threshold phonon emission (both CF and IP) called phonon resonances. The scattering rate of an electron which is localized at the bottom of the second subband above the well and makes transitions to all possible states within the quantum well gives only rise to phonon resonances. The research highlights the importance of the CF and IP modes on transition rates and their dependence on both the size of the quantum well and the asymmetry of the barrier materials.
PACS: 68.65.Fg 74.25.Kc 63.22.−m 63.22.+m
Activation of the Complement Lectin Pathway by Iron Oxide Nano-particles and Induction of Pro-inflammatory Immune Response by Macrophages
Nanoparticles are important agents for targeted drug delivery to tissues or organs or even solid tumour in certain instances. However their surface charge distribution makes them amenable to recognition by the host immune mechanisms especially the innate immune system which interferes with their intended targeting circulation life and eventual fate in the body. We aimed to study the immunological response of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe-NPs) and the role of the complement system in inducing an inflammatory cascade.
The complement system is an important component of the innate immune system that can recognise molecular patterns on the pathogens (non-self) altered self (apoptotic and necrotic cells and aggregated proteins such as beta-amyloid peptides) and cancer cells. It is no surprise that clusters of charge on nanoparticles are recognised by complement subcomponents thus activating the three complement pathways: classical alternative and lectin.
This study aimed to examine the ability of Fe-NPs to activate the complement system and interact with macrophages in vitro.
Complement activation following exposure of Fe-NPs to macrophage-like cell line (THP-1) was analyzed by standard protocol. Real-time PCR was used for mRNA-level gene expression analysis whereas multiplex cytokine array was used for protein-level expression analysis of cytokines and chemokines.
Fe-NPs activated all three pathways to a certain extent; however the activation of the lectin pathway was the most pronounced suggesting that Fe-NPs bind mannan-binding lectin (MBL) a pattern recognition soluble receptor (humoral factor). MBL-mediated complement activation on the surface of Fe-NPs enhanced their uptake by THP-1 cells in addition to dampening inflammatory cytokines chemokines growth factors and soluble immune ligands.
Selective complement deposition (mostly via the MBL pathway in this study) can make pro-inflammatory nanoparticles biocompatible and render them anti-inflammatory properties.
Hydrothermally Synthesized Boletus Brucella-derived Carbon Quantum Dots as a Fluorescent Probe for the Detection of Vitamin B2
In the paper Boletus Brucella was used as carbon source material to prepare carbon dots (CDs) by one-step hydrothermal method. The CDs had high quantum yield and high photostability.
A range of characterization studies were conducted on CDs and the results showed that the average particle size of CDs was 5 nm emitting blue fluorescence. The optimal excitation wavelength was 337 nm and the emission wavelength was 440 nm.
Based on the static quenching the fluorescence of CDs could be effectively quenched by VB2. Therefore a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for detecting VB2 was constructed. The CDs were successfully used to detect tablets human blood and urine.
The recovery rate of VB2 was 97.55~99.45% and the relative standard deviation was 1.29~3.76 (n=3).
Investigation of Electromagnetic Wave Absorption Properties of Ni-Co and MWCNT Nanocomposites
Background: In recent years severe electromagnetic interference among electronic devices has been caused by the unprecedented growth of communication systems. Therefore microwave absorbing materials are required to relieve these problems by absorbing the unwanted microwave. In the design of microwave absorbers magnetic nanomaterials have to be used as fine particles dispersed in an insulating matrix. Besides the intrinsic properties of these materials the structure and morphology are also crucial to the microwave absorption performance of the composite. In this study Ni-Co- MWCNT composites were synthesized and the changes in electric permittivity magnetic permeability and reflectance loss of the samples were evaluated at frequencies of 2 to 18 GHz. Methods: Nickel-Cobalt-Multi Wall Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) composites were successfully synthesized by the co-precipitation chemical method. The structural morphological and magnetic properties of the samples were characterized and investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). Results: The results revealed that the Ni-Co-MWCNT composite has the highest electromagnetic wave absorption rate with a reflectance loss of -70.22 dB at a frequency of 10.12 GHz with a thickness of 1.8 mm. The adequate absorption bandwidth (RL <-10 dB) was 6.9 GHz at the high-frequency region exhibiting excellent microwave absorbing properties as a good microwave absorber patent. Conclusion: Based on this study it can be argued that the Ni-Co-MWCNT composite can be a good candidate for making light absorbers of radar waves at frequencies 2- 18 GHz.
A Critical Appraisal of Functionalized 2-Dimensional Carbon-Based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery Applications
The development of an efficient and innovative drug delivery system is essential to improve the pharmacological parameters of the medicinal compound or drug. The technique or manner used to improve the pharmacological parameters plays a crucial role in the delivery system. In the current scenario various drug delivery systems are available where nanotechnology has firmly established itself in the field of drug delivery. One of the most prevalent elements is carbon with its allotropic modifications such as graphene-based nanomaterials carbon nanotubes carbon dots and carbon fullerenes these nanomaterials offer notable physiochemical and biochemical properties for the delivery applications due to their smaller size surface area and ability to interact with the cells or tissues. The exceptional physicochemical properties of carbon-based 2D nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes make them attractive candidates for drug delivery systems. These nanomaterials offer a large surface area high drug loading capacity and tunable surface chemistry enabling efficient encapsulation controlled release and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. These properties of the nanomaterials can be exploited for drug delivery applications like assisting the target delivery of drugs and aiding combination molecular imaging. This review emphasizes on the recent patents on 2D carbon-based nanomaterial and their role in drug delivery systems. Carbon-based 2D nanomaterials present a wealth of opportunities for advanced drug delivery systems. Their exceptional properties and versatility offers great potential in improving therapeutic efficacy minimizing side effects and enabling personalized medicine and the recent patents on 2D nanomaterial.
Emerging Nanotechnology-based Therapeutics: A New Insight into Promising Drug Delivery System for Lung Cancer Therapy
Background: Lung cancer is a foremost global health issue due to its poor diagnosis. The advancement of novel drug delivery systems and medical devices will aid its therapy. Objective: In this review the authors thoroughly introduce the ideas and methods for improving nanomedicine- based approaches for lung cancer therapy. This article provides mechanistic insight into various novel drug delivery systems (DDSs) including nanoparticles solid lipid nanoparticles liposomes dendrimers niosomes and nanoemulsions for lung cancer therapy with recent research work. This review provides insights into various patents published for lung cancer therapy based on nanomedicine. This review also highlights the current status of approved and clinically tested nanoformulations for their treatment. Methodology: For finding scholarly related data for the literature search many search engines were employed including PubMed Science Direct Google Scihub Google Scholar Research Gate Web of Sciences and several others. Various keywords and phrases were used for the search such as "nanoparticles" "solid lipid nanoparticles" "liposomes" "dendrimers" "niosomes" "nanoemulsions" "lung cancer" "nanomedicine" "nanomaterial" "nanotechnology" "in vivo" and "in vitro". The most innovative and cutting-edge nanotechnology-based approaches that are employed in pre-clinical and clinical studies to address problems associated with lung cancer therapies are also mentioned in future prospects. A variety of problems encountered with current lung cancer therapy techniques that frequently led to inadequate therapeutic success are also discussed in the end. Conclusion: The development of nanoformulations at the pilot scale still faces some difficulties but their prospects for treating lung cancer appear to be promising in the future. Future developments and trends are anticipated as the evaluation comes to a close.
An Overview of Metallic Nanoparticles: Classification, Synthesis, Applications, and their Patents
Background: Nanotechnology has gained enormous attention in pharmaceutical research. Nanotechnology is used in the development of nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 1-100 nm with several extraordinary features. Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) are used in various areas such as molecular biology biosensors bio imaging biomedical devices diagnosis pharmaceuticals etc. for their specific applications. Methodology: For this study we have performed a systematic search and screening of the literature and identified the articles and patents focusing on various physical chemical and biological methods for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their pharmaceutical applications. Results: A total of 174 references have been included in this present review of which 23 references for recent patents were included. Then 29 papers were shortlisted to describe the advantages disadvantages and physical and chemical methods for their synthesis and 28 articles were selected to provide the data for biological methods for the formulation of metal NPs from bacteria algae fungi and plants with their extensive synthetic procedures. Moreover 27 articles outlined various clinical applications of metal NPs due to their antimicrobial and anticancer activities and their use in drug delivery. Conclusion: Several reviews are available on the synthesis of metal nanoparticles and their pharmaceutical applications. However this review provides updated research data along with the various methods employed for their development. It also summarizes their various advantages and clinical applications (anticancer antimicrobial drug delivery and many others) for various phytoconstituents. The overview of earlier patents by several scientists in the arena of metallic nanoparticle preparation and formulation is also presented. This review will be helpful in increasing the current knowledge and will also inspire to innovation of nanoparticles for the precise and targeted delivery of phytoconstituents for the treatment of several diseases.