Fungal xylanases‐mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles for catalytic and biomedical applications

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has fuelled the use of biomaterials to synthesise a variety of metallic nanoparticles. The current study investigates the use of xylanases of Aspergillus niger L3 (NEA) and Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2 (TEA) to synthesise silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Characterisation of AgNPs was carried out using UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy, while their effectiveness as antimicrobial, antioxidant, catalytic, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic agents were determined. The colloidal AgNPs was brownish with surface plasmon resonance at 402.5 and 410 nm for NEA‐AgNPs and TEA‐AgNPs, respectively; while FTIR indicated that protein molecules were responsible for the capping and stabilisation of the nanoparticles. The spherical nanoparticles had size of 15.21–77.49 nm. The nanoparticles significantly inhibited the growth of tested bacteria (63.20–88.10%) and fungi (82.20–86.10%), and also scavenged DPPH (37.48–79.42%) and hydrogen peroxide (20.50–96.50%). In addition, the AgNPs degraded malachite green (78.97%) and methylene blue (25.30%). Furthermore, the AgNPs displayed excellent anticoagulant and thrombolytic activities using human blood. This study has demonstrated the potential of xylanases to synthesise AgNPs which is to the best of our knowledge the first record of such. The present study underscores the relevance of xylanases in nanobiotechnology.Inspec keywords: visible spectra, catalysis, ultraviolet spectra, silver, microorganisms, antibacterial activity, transmission electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, colloids, blood, Fourier transform infrared spectra, particle sizeOther keywords: Ag, fungal xylanases‐mediated synthesis, silver nanoparticles, catalytic applications, biomedical applications, green synthesis, metallic nanoparticles, Trichoderma longibrachiatum L2, transmission electron microscopy, antimicrobial agents, antioxidant agents, catalytic agents, thrombolytic agents, surface plasmon resonance, spherical nanoparticles, FTIR spectra, anticoagulant agents, colloidal nanoparticles, biomaterials, Aspergillus niger L3, UV‐vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, protein molecules, DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, malachite green, methylene blue, human blood, nanobiotechnology     

Synthesis and characterization of polylactic acid-lecithin-starch bioplastic film

Plastic-induced environmental issues could be solved using biomaterials, such as polylactic acid (PLA) film. PLA film is a costly solution suggesting the need to add less expensive starch. However, PLA and starch do not mix due to their diverging water behavior. In this study, we evaluated the impact of lecithin as a compatibilizer in varying ratio of PLA and starch film. The results show that inclusion of lecithin in PLA/starch composite leads to enhanced mechanical properties compared with the composite without lecithin. All films' thermal properties were stable but the thermograph of PLA/starch display two peaks whose distance is impacted by lecithin. In addition, morphology and functional group fingerprints revealed that the addition of lecithin improved the interfacial adhesion between the two polymers. Lecithin influenced the positioning and dispersion pattern of starch granules and distinct transmittance characteristics. The improved compatibility of PLA/starch makes the resulting films less susceptible to water penetration and dissolution. This work demonstrated the possibility of using lecithin as emulsifier between PLA and starch which could expand the application of PLA/starch film especially in packaging industries and bale net wrapping.     

Light and Electron Microscopy Studies of the Visible Diffusion Zone of Mild Steel Pack Cyanided in Processed Cassava Leaves

This study investigates the microstructure of the processed cassava leaves. Standard parts machined from low visible diffusion zone formed in low carbon steel pack cyanided using carbon steel were pack cyanided by high temperature in-situ diffusion of nascent carbon and nitrogen into austenite. Formation of a visible diffusion zone was confirmed after observation with a Reichert-Jung Polyval optical microscope coupled with Zeiss AxioCam ICc 1 camera. High magnification Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） imaging of the visible diffusion zone was done with a CamScan Series 2 scanning electron microscope. The zone was found variable in depth as measured from a representative position. The structure of all samples consists of ferrite and pearlite as determined by optical and SEM examination. Resulting products were thus both tough and hard suitable for service environments requiring high resistance to both wear and impact failure.     

Spectral and spatial dynamics of a multimode GaN-based blue laser diode

ABSTRACT

High-resolution spectral analysis of a multimode GaN-based blue laser diode was performed as a function of temperature and current both below and above the threshold levels. Maps of longitudinal modes evolution as a function of current and temperature were obtained from the highly resolved emission spectra of the laser diode. The evolution of emitted longitudinal modes with current and temperature exhibited redshifts at rates of 0.0059 nm/mA and 0.0149 nm/°C, respectively. Similarly, the laser gain profile was observed to shift towards longer wavelengths but with rates of 0.022 nm/mA and 0.0439 nm/°C. The longitudinal mode spacing of 0.0540 nm was experimentally evaluated and compared with its equivalent theoretically predicted value.     

Studies on enzyme activities of Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fries) Singer and Tricholoma lobayensis Heim at various fruitbody stages

Investigations were carried out on the cellulase, amylase, lipase, peroxidase, proteinase, catalase, poly-phenol oxidase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities in very young, young and mature fruitbody stages of Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fries) Singer and Tricholoma lobayensis Heim. With the exception of glucose-6-phosphatase, both mushrooms showed increases in enzyme activities from the very young to mature fruitbody stages. The highest glucose-6-phosphatase activity was detected in the young fruitbody stage of both mushrooms. Furthermore, the activities of the enzymes were higher in the pilei of both mushrooms except cellulase and β-amylase whose activities were higher in the stipes than in the pilei. By comparison, the activities of total amylase, proteinase, lipase and polyphenol oxidase were higher in T. lobayensis than P. tuber-regium which had higher cellulase activities.