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     

Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Enterococcus Species from Some Nigerian Fermented Foods

The gram-positive Enterococci bacteria are generally used as a starter and probiotic cultures in foods. However, they have emerged as one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections worldwide, and this feature is aggravated by the development of antibiotic resistance. Accurate identification of Enterococci at the species level is an important task in food microbiology. In this study, 144 strains of Enterococcus species were isolated from traditional fermented vegetable condiment and West African soft cheese (wara) with the most predominant species being E. gallinarum (75%) followed by E. faecium (14.5%), E. faecalis (7.6%), and E. casselliflavus (2.8%). The strains isolated were characterized and identified using the polyphasic taxonomy approach. Phenotypically, 108 strains were characterized and identified to be E. gallinarum, 21 strains as E. faecium, 11 strains as E. faecalis, and 4 strains as E. casselliflavus. Thirty representative strains were also subjected to genomic characterization, and the result obtained with the phenotypic approach was confirmed. Therefore, the polyphasic taxonomy approach was successful in the accurate identification of the Enterococcus species isolated.     

Effect of non-ionic surfactant concentration and type on the formation and stability of W/O/W multiple emulsions: Microscopic and conductometric evaluations

W/O/W multiple emulsions with sodium salicylate as a model drug were prepared and evaluated for the effect of surfactant concentration and type on stability using microscopic and conductometric methods. Primary (W/O) emulsions were prepared with lipophilic surfactants (2-31% W/W relative to the oily phase). W/O/W emulsions were formed by mixing the primary emulsions with solutions containing 0.5 to 2% W/V hydrophilic surfactants. Optimum concentration of the lipophilic surfactant was 26% W/W. The optimum hydrophilic surfactant concentration was 1% W/V. Best stability was achieved with HLB 3.7 lipophilic and HLB 15.6 hydrophilic surfactants.     

Montmorillonite surface properties and sorption characteristics for heavy metal removal from aqueous solutions

Surface properties of montmorillonite (MMT) and its adsorption characteristics for heavy metals have been investigated with nickel and copper as sorbate from aqueous solutions. Employing the potentiometric and mass titration techniques in batch experimental methods, the point of zero charge (PZC) and point of zero net proton charge (PZNPC) of MMT edges at different ionic strengths present pH_PZC and pH_PZNPC to be 3.4 ± 0.2. A crossing point was observed for the proton adsorption vs. pH curves at different ionic strengths of KCl electrolyte and in investigating MMT remediation potentialities as sorbent for heavy metals polluted waters, the effects of heavy metal concentration, pH, MMT dosage, reaction time and temperature for Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ uptake were studied. The sorption of metal ions by MMT was pH dependent and the adsorption kinetics revealed sorption rate could be well fitted by the pseudo-second-order rate model. The data according to mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion models confirmed diffusion of solutes inside the clay particles as the rate-controlling step and more important for the adsorption rate than the external mass transfer. Adsorption isotherms showed that the uptake of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ could be described by the Langmuir model and from calculations on thermodynamic parameters, the positive ΔG° values at different temperatures suggest that the sorption of both metal ions were non-spontaneous. Change in enthalpy (ΔH°) for Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ were 28.9 and 13.27 kJ/mol K respectively, hence an endothermic diffusion process, as ion uptake increased with increase in temperature. Values of ΔS° indicate low randomness at the solid/solution interface during the uptake of both Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ by MMT. Montmorillonite has a considerable potential for the removal of heavy metal cationic species from aqueous solution and wastewater.     

A Study of the Complexation Between Danazol and Hydrophilic Cyclodextrin Derivatives

Complexation between danazol, a steroid used for endometriosis, and both hydroxypropyl- β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and sulfobutyl ether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE) was studied in solution and solid state. Complexation was evaluated in solution using solubility studies and proton magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectroscopy, and in the solid state using x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)), and dissolution studies. Solubility studies suggested the existence of a 1:1 complex between danazol and either HPCD or SBE. ¹H NMR showed that complexation occurs by inclusion of the isoxazole ring of danazol into the cyclodextrin cavity in both cases. Powder x-ray diffraction indicated that danazol existed in a crystalline noncomplexed form at low danazol-to-cyclodextrin ratios in the coprecipitates prepared by solvent evaporation method, while at higher ratios danazol existed in an amorphous complexed form. This ratio was 1:10 w/w for HPCD and 1:20 for SBE; the higher ratio in the case of SBE is attributed to early precipitation of danazol from the solvent used for preparation. FTIR studies showed that the complexation was accompanied by a shift of the O-H stretching of danatol hydroxyl group to a higher frequency, which is attributed to the disruption of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The dissolution rate of danazol from HPCD coprecipitates was higher than crystalline danazol in aqueous-isopropanolic medium, while SBE coprecipitates showed reduced dissolution rates due to the low solubility of SBE in isopropanol. However, SBE coprecipitates showed higher dissolution rates in water than in the isopropanolic medium.