High‐yield synthesis of multi‐walled carbon nanotube by hydrothermal method

The evolution of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) under hydrothermal condition was investigated, because the hydrothermal method (HTM) has been utilised for commercial production of advanced engineering materials. To synthesise MWCNTs by hydrothermal process using mixed aqueous solution diethylenetriamine, polyethyleneglycol (PEG) and NaOH were used as starting materials. We investigated the effect of hydrothermal temperature, time, and amount of formative compounds. Hydrothermal reaction temperature was in the range from 150 to 180°C. The aim of the present work is to presentation hydrothermal synthesis as a new processing method for fabrication of MWCNTs, without the addition of metal catalyst. The homogeneity of hydrothermal processes, cheapness, and availability of amorphous carbon materials, without the need of catalyst, are advantages favouring the scaling‐up of the new method. The treatment of higher volumes would only require autoclaves with increasing load‐bearing capacity. Synthesised MWCNTs were analysed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Raman spectroscopy. This result also presented a controllable way to synthesise MWCNTs with high purity. Indeed, present work will introduce new chapter in synthesising MWCNTs for scientific and engineering.     

The use of novel biodegradable,optically active and nanostructured poly(amide-ester-imide) as a polymer matrix for preparation of modified ZnO based bionanocomposites

A novel biodegradable and nanostructured poly(amide-ester-imide) (PAEI) based on two different amino acids, was synthesized via direct polycondensation of biodegradable N,N′-bis[2-(methyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate)]isophthaldiamide and N,N′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid. The resulting polymer was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, specific rotation, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. The synthesized polymer showed good thermal stability with nano and sphere structure. Then PAEI/ZnO bionanocomposites (BNCs) were fabricated via interaction of pure PAEI and ZnO nanoparticles. The surface of ZnO was modified with two different silane coupling agents. PAEI/ZnO BNCs were studied and characterized by FT-IR, XRD, UV/vis, FE-SEM and TEM. The TEM and FE-SEM results indicated that the nanoparticles were dispersed homogeneously in PAEI matrix on nanoscale. Furthermore the effect of ZnO nanoparticle on the thermal stability of the polymer was investigated with TGA and DSC technique.     

Role of Ribes khorassanicum in the biosynthesis of AgNPs and their antibacterial properties

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been biosynthesised through the extracts of Ribes khorassanicum fruits, which served as the reducing agents and capping agents. Biosynthesised AgNPs have been found to be ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra since they have displayed one surface plasmon resonance peak at 438 nm, attesting the formation of spherical NPs. These particles have been characterised by UV–vis, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The formation of AgNPs at 1.0 mM concentration of AgNO₃ has resulted in NPs that contained mean diameters in a range of 20–40 nm. The green‐synthesised AgNPs have demonstrated high antibacterial effect against pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Biosynthesising metal NPs through plant extracts can serve as the facile and eco‐friendly alternative for chemical and/or physical methods that are utilised for large‐scale nanometal fabrication in various medical and industrial applications.Inspec keywords: X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray chemical analysis, nanofabrication, surface plasmon resonance, nanoparticles, antibacterial activity, microorganisms, scanning electron microscopy, silver, nanomedicine, visible spectra, ultraviolet spectra, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectra, field emission scanning electron microscopy, biomedical materialsOther keywords: antibacterial properties, silver nanoparticles, reducing agents, capping agents, surface plasmon resonance peak, spherical NPs, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy analysis, plant extracts, ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, antibacterial effect, Ribes khorassanicum fruits, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, surface plasmon resonance, AgNO₃ , Ag     

Rheological properties of endodontic sealers: the effect of time, temperature, and composition

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of different parameters such as shear rate, temperature, and time on the viscosity of four endodontic sealers. Furthermore, the effect of variations in powder to liquid ratio of two powder/liquid sealers upon their viscosity was evaluated. The tested sealers were AH Plus, Endofill, AH 26, and Epiphany self-etch (SE) sealer. As all of the tested sealers contain particles of resinous composites; shear thinning and some time-dependency of viscosity are expected. Therefore, steady shear viscosity and thixotropy behavior were assessed. The samples were examined at 25 and 37?°C with the shear rate ranged from 0.0001 to 100?s^?1. All sealers almost exhibited shear thinning behavior. At both temperatures of 25 and 37?°C, the viscosities of sealers were at the same order and ranked from the highest to the lowest as follows: Epiphany SE, AH Plus, AH 26, and Endofill. The samples with higher powder to liquid ratio of 3:1 exhibited higher viscosity compared to 2:1 ratio in both tested temperatures. With the exception of Epiphany SE and AH 26 (at shear rate less than 1?s^?1), viscosity of all sealers decreased with increasing temperature from 25 to 37?°C. All sealers exhibited time-dependent viscosity characteristics at the two examined temperatures.     

Improvement of photocatalytic decomposition of methyl orange by modified MWCNTs,prediction of degradation rate using statistical models

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been successfully modified with TiO₂ nanoparticles via a two-step hydrolysis technique. Firstly, the pristine MWCNTs are functionalized in nitric acid (HNO₃) to creation of oxygen containing groups. Secondly, TiO₂ nanoparticles are synthesized on the surface of functionalized MWCNTs through hydrolysis method. The synthesized samples have been used as photocatalyst for decomposition of methyl orange (MO) as dye organic pollutant. The characterization of samples using X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) confirm the presence of TiO₂ nanoparticles with mixture of anatase and rutile phases. Regarding the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂ nanoparticles and modified MWCNTs with TiO₂ nanoparticles, it observed that the degradation rate of MO increases by increasing the irradiation time from 5 to 35 min. The variation of degradation rate upon pH of suspension reveals that the maximum and minimum degradation rate are in acidic (pH?=?3) and neutral condition (pH?=?7). Meanwhile, the results show that the presence of MWCNTs leads to the enhancement of degradation rate. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results confirm that both of main factors (irradiation time and pH) and their interaction have a significant influence on the degradation rate of MO. However, the effect of irradiation time is more than that of pH and their interaction. The graphical methods verify the quality and adequacy of the statistical models for prediction of the degradation rate.

     

In Situ Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles in Novel L-Phenylalanine Based Poly(Amide-Benzimidazole-imide) Matrix Through Metal Complexation Method Using N,N′-Dimethylformamide as a Reaction Medium and Reducing Agent

Silver nanoparticles were obtained in novel optically active poly(amide-benzimidazole-imide) (PABI) matrix through an in situ procedure. Chiral PABI was prepared by polycondensation of amino acid based diacid and benzimidazole containing diamine in the presence of molten tetrabutylammonium bromide. Synthesized PABI was characterized by several techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectra, ¹H-NMR, elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Then, PABI/Ag nanocomposite was fabricated based on metal complexation route for preparing silver nanoparticles in the PABI matrix and was characterized by various techniques. Microscopic images revealed good dispersion of Ag nanoparticles in the polymer matrix.     

Investigation of the antibacterial activity and efflux pump inhibitory effect of co-loaded piperine and gentamicin nanoliposomes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: Antibiotic resistance has stimulated the research for developing novel strategies that can prevent bacterial growth. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), regarded as one of the most serious antibiotic-resistant bacteria which has been conventionally recognized as a nosocomial pathogen.

Materials and methods: Nanoliposomal formulations of piperine and gentamicin were prepared by dehydration-rehydration (DRV) method and characterized for size, zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. Antibactericidal activities of liposomal and free forms were evaluated against MRSA ATCC 43300 by the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). The time-kill studies were carried out to evaluate the potency of antibacterial agents. The effect of piperine on bacterial efflux pumps was also investigated.

Results: MIC values of gentamicin and piperine were 32 and 100?µg/mL, respectively. Synergetic effects were observed by the combination of gentamicin and piperine and FICI was determined to be 0.5. Following incorporation of gentamicin into liposomal gentamicin and liposomal combination, the MIC values were reduced 16- and 32-fold, respectively. MBC values of gentamicin reduced 4 and 8 times following incorporation into gentamicin and combination liposomes, respectively. In comparison with vancomycin, liposomal combination was more effective in bacterial inhibition and killing. Liposomal combination was the most effective preparations in time-kill study. Our findings indicated that liposomal piperine was able to inhibit the efflux pump sufficiently.

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that liposomal combination is a powerful nano-antibacterial agent to eradicate MRSA infection. This dual-loaded formulation was an effective approach for eradication of MRSA.