Electrospun MgO/Nylon 6 Hybrid Nanofibers for Protective Clothing

Nano-Micro Letters - Magnesia (MgO) nanoparticles were produced from magnesite ore (MgCO3) using ball mill. The crystalline size, morphology and specific SSA were characterized by X-ray diffraction...     

Screening the UV‐blocking and antimicrobial properties of herbal nanoparticles prepared from Aloe vera leaves for textile applications

Nanomaterials play a vital role in textile industries due to their unique properties and applications. There is an increase in the use of nanoscale phyto products in textiles to control the bacterial infection in fabrics. Here, natural herbal nanoparticles of different sizes were prepared from shade‐dried Aloe vera plant leaves using ball milling technique without any additives. The amorphous herbal A. vera nanoparticles possess an average particle size of 40 ± 2 nm and UV‐absorption maximum at 269 nm. A. vera nanopowders–chitosan nanocomposites were prepared and coated on cotton fabrics using pad‐dry cure method. The evaluation of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (22.05 ± 0.06 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (27.17 ± 0.02 mm), UV‐protection properties (UV‐protection factor = 57.2 ± 0.1), and superhydrophobic nature (155 ± 3°) of the prepared herbal nanoparticles and their composites were analysed by disc diffusion, UV–visible spectral analysis, and contact angle analysis. Understanding the functional properties of herbal nanoparticles, coated particles on fabrics highlights their potential applications in protective clothing with better antimicrobial properties, hydrophobicity, and UV‐protection properties. This study of using A. vera herbal nanoparticles in textiles significantly enhances the fabric performance to develop protective textile fabrics in defence and biomedical fields.Inspec keywords: nanoparticles, particle size, nanofabrication, nanomedicine, antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, hydrophobicity, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, radiation protection, textile fibres, cotton fabrics, ball milling, X‐ray diffraction, light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence analysis, fluorescence, amorphous state, nanocomposites, filled polymers, protective coatings, curing, microorganisms, biodiffusion, contact angle, surface morphology, protective clothingOther keywords: UV‐blocking, antimicrobial properties, disc diffusion, UV‐visible spectral analysis, contact angle analysis, morphological characteristics, protective clothing, protective textile fabrics, biomedical fields, superhydrophobic nature, UV‐protection factor, UV‐protection properties, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, pad‐dry cure method, cotton fabrics, A. vera nanopowders‐chitosan nanocomposites, UV‐absorption maximum, average particle size, amorphous herbal A. vera nanoparticles, X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV‐visible spectrophotometry, X‐ray diffraction, ball milling, shade‐dried Aloe vera plant leaves, natural herbal nanoparticle size, bacterial infection, nanoscale phyto products, textile industries, nanomaterials, textile applications     

Influence of ZrO2, SiO2, Al2 O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles on maize seed germination under different growth conditions

The focus of this investigation is to evaluate the phytotoxicity of selected metal oxide nanoparticles and microparticles as a function of maize seed germination and root elongation under different growth conditions (Petri plate, cotton and soil). The results of seed germination and root elongation experiments reveal that all the growth conditions show almost similar results. Alumina (Al₂ O₃) and titania (TiO₂) nanoparticles significantly reduce the germination percentage, whereas silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles and microparticles enhance the same. The results of nanoparticles and microparticles of zirconia (ZrO₂) are found to be same as those of controls. Root elongation is enhanced by SiO₂ nanoparticles and microparticles treatment, whereas inhibition is observed with Al₂ O₃ and TiO₂ nanoparticles and microparticles. The X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry data of the treated and control seed samples show that seeds uptake SiO₂ particles to a greater extent followed by TiO₂, Al₂ O₃ and ZrO₂. In addition, the uptake of nanoparticles is found to be greater than that of microparticles. Thus, the tested metal oxides penetrated seeds at the nanoscale as compared with the microscale. This study clarifies phytotoxicity of nanoparticles treated in different growth substrates and highlights the impact of nanoparticles on environment and agricultural systems.Inspec keywords: zirconium compounds, silicon compounds, aluminium compounds, titanium compounds, nanoparticles, nanobiotechnology, botany, toxicologyOther keywords: metal oxide nanoparticles, maize seed germination, phytotoxicity, microparticles, root elongation, growth conditions, Petri plate, cotton, soil, X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry, environment systems, agricultural systems, ZrO₂ , SiO₂ , Al₂ O₃ , TiO₂      

Acalypha indica–mediated green synthesis of ZnO nanostructures under differential thermal treatment: Effect on textile coating,hydrophobicity, UV resistance,and antibacterial activity

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were green-synthesized from Acalypha indica leaf extract using zinc acetate as a precursor. The prepared ZnO nanoparticles were calcined at three different temperatures, namely 100, 300, and 600?°C. The structure/morphology of the green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles was ascertained through X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and surface area analysis techniques. It was observed from the physico-chemical and biological characterization studies that ZnO nanoparticles calcined at high temperature (600?°C) exhibit high surface area (230?m²?g^?1) and small particle size (20?nm) with good antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (22.89?±?0.06?mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (24.62?±?0.08?mm). In addition, cotton fabrics coated with these nanoparticles showed higher UV-protection (87.8?UPF), hydrophobicity (155°), and maximum zone of bacterial inhibition against E. coli and S. aureus (25.13?±?0.05 mm and 30.17?±?0.03?mm) than those coated with particles calcined at 100?°C and 300?°C. High temperature calcination has a vital role in the crystallization of the particles towards nanoscale with increased resistivity to UV exposure, washing treatments, and microbial infection in fabrics. Thus, the cost-effective ZnO nanoparticles obtained through green synthesis method proves their potential applications in the field of biomedical, textile, and cosmetic applications.     

Influence of ball milling on the particle size and antimicrobial properties of Tridax procumbens leaf nanoparticles

The herbal nanoparticles were prepared from shade dried Tridax procumbens plant leaves employing ball milling technique using different process parameters, like ball ratio/size and milling time. The obtained nanoparticles were comprehensively characterised using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and antimicrobial analysis techniques. The crystallinity of the nanoparticles was retained without altering even though the particle size changes due to milling periods. The antibacterial activities of the prepared herbal nanoparticles against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were explored to understand the influence of particle size on antimicrobial activities and their functional properties. The increase in ball ratio and milling time periods leads to a decrease in nanoparticle size from 114 to 45 nm which in turn increases the antimicrobial activities. The above study confirms that antimicrobial activity relies on nanoparticle size. The observed knowledge on influence of particle size on antimicrobial activities will help to optimise the production of potential herbal nanoparticles for different biomedical applications.Inspec keywords: nanoparticles, antibacterial activity, biomedical materials, nanomedicine, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, microorganisms, particle sizeOther keywords: antimicrobial properties, Tridax procumbens leaf nanoparticles, herbal nanoparticles, ball milling technique, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, antimicrobial analysis techniques, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, nanoparticle size