Biosynthesis and characterisation of nano‐silica as potential system for carrying streptomycin at nano‐scale drug delivery

A growing trend within nanomedicine has been the fabrication of self‐delivering supramolecular nanomedicines containing a high and fixed drug content ensuring eco‐friendly conditions. This study reports on green synthesis of silica nanoparticles (Si‐NPs) using Azadirachta indica leaves extract as an effective chelating agent. X‐ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transform‐infra‐red spectroscopic examination were studied. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the average size of particles formed via plant extract as reducing agent without any surfactant is in the range of 100–170 nm while addition of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide were more uniform with 200 nm in size. Streptomycin as model drug was successfully loaded to green synthesised Si‐NPs, sustain release of the drug from this conjugate unit were examined. Prolong release pattern of the adsorbed drug ensure that Si‐NPs have great potential in nano‐drug delivery keeping the environment preferably biocompatible, future cytotoxic studies in this connection is helpful in achieving safe mode for nano‐drug delivery.Inspec keywords: silicon compounds, nanofabrication, nanomedicine, drug delivery systems, nanoparticles, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopyOther keywords: nanosilica, streptomycin, nanoscale drug delivery, nanomedicine, silica nanoparticles, Azadirachta indica leaves extract, X‐ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, SiO₂      

Green synthesised zinc oxide nanostructures through Periploca aphylla extract shows tremendous antibacterial potential against multidrug resistant pathogens

To grapple with multidrug resistant bacterial infections, implementations of antibacterial nanomedicines have gained prime attention of the researchers across the globe. Nowadays, zinc oxide (ZnO) at nano‐scale has emerged as a promising antibacterial therapeutic agent. Keeping this in view, ZnO nanostructures (ZnO‐NS) have been synthesised through reduction by P. aphylla aqueous extract without the utilisation of any acid or base. Structural examinations via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction have revealed pure phase morphology with highly homogenised average particle size of 18 nm. SEM findings were further supplemented by transmission electron microscopy examinations. The characteristic Zn–O peak has been observed around 363 nm using ultra‐violet–visible spectroscopy. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy examination has also confirmed the formation of ZnO‐NS through detection of Zn–O bond vibration frequencies. To check the superior antibacterial activity of ZnO‐NS, the authors'' team has performed disc diffusion assay and colony forming unit testing against multidrug resistant E. coli, S. marcescens and E. cloacae. Furthermore, protein kinase inhibition assay and cytotoxicity examinations have revealed that green fabricated ZnO‐NS are non‐hazardous, economical, environmental friendly and possess tremendous potential to treat lethal infections caused by multidrug resistant pathogens.Inspec keywords: nanomedicine, zinc compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, nanoparticles, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, antibacterial activity, transmission electron microscopy, particle size, Fourier transform infrared spectra, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, enzymes, biochemistry, molecular biophysics, microorganisms, drugs, toxicology, bonds (chemical), semiconductor growth, nanofabrication, vibrational modesOther keywords: green synthesised zinc oxide nanostructures, Periploca aphylla extract, antibacterial potential, multidrug resistant pathogens, multidrug resistant bacterial infections, antibacterial nanomedicines, P. aphylla aqueous extract, structural examinations, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, pure phase morphology, homogenised average particle size, SEM, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, bond vibration frequency, antibacterial activity, disc diffusion assay, colony forming unit testing, S. marcescens, E. cloacae, E. coli, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, protein kinase inhibition assay, cytotoxicity, lethal infections, ZnO     

A novel Arabic OCR post-processing using rule-based and word context techniques

International Journal on Document Analysis and Recognition (IJDAR) - Optical character recognition (OCR) is the process of recognizing characters automatically from scanned documents for editing,...     

LPV Modeling and Tracking Control of Dissimilar Redundant Actuation System for Civil Aircraft

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - Dissimilar redundant actuation systems (DRAS) are in practice in advanced aircraft in order to increase reliability and to resolve the...     

A Question Mark on Iron Deficiency in 185 Million People of Pakistan: Its Outcomes and Prevention

Micronutrient deficiency especially the iron deficiency is the bane of our lives, affecting all strata of society. Unfortunately, the women during pregnancy, adolescence, and children are under this curse particularly in developing countries like Pakistan. It is one of the biggest reasons of complications during pregnancy and malnourished children under five years of age. Maternal death, still-births, and underweight births are most common consequences of iron deficiency and these outbreaks as iron-deficiency anemia in Pakistan. Disastrous nature of iron deficiency requires an urgent call to eradicate it. Hence, the solution should not be frail comparing with the huge economic loss and other incompatibilities. Flour fortification, supplementation, dietary diversification, and especially maternal education are possible solutions for combating this micronutrient deficiency.     

Numerical solution of doubly singular nonlinear systems using neural networks-based integrated intelligent computing

Neural Computing and Applications - In this paper, a bio-inspired computational intelligence technique is presented for solving nonlinear doubly singular system using artificial neural networks...     

Optimised synthesis of ZnO‐nano‐fertiliser through green chemistry: boosted growth dynamics of economically important L. esculentum

Mounting‐up economic losses to annual crops yield due to micronutrient deficiency, fertiliser inefficiency and increasing microbial invasions (e.g. Xanthomonas cempestri attack on tomatoes) are needed to be solved via nano‐biotechnology. So keeping this in view, the authors’ current study presents the new horizon in the field of nano‐fertiliser with highly nutritive and preservative effect of green fabricated zinc oxide‐nanostructures (ZnO‐NSs) during Lycopersicum esculentum (tomato) growth dynamics. ZnO‐NS prepared via green chemistry possesses highly homogenous crystalline structures well‐characterised through ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The ZnO‐NS average size was found as small as 18 nm having a crystallite size of 5 nm. L. esculentum were grown in different concentrations of ZnO‐NS to examine the different morphological parameters includes time of seed germination, germination percentage, the number of plant leaves, the height of the plant, average number of branches, days count for flowering and fruiting time period along with fruit quantity. Promising results clearly predict that bio‐fabricated ZnO‐NS at optimum concentration resulted as growth booster and dramatically triggered the plant yield.Inspec keywords: zinc compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, nanostructured materials, nanofabrication, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, crystallites, biomedical materials, nanomedicineOther keywords: ZnO‐nanofertiliser, green chemistry, boosted growth dynamics, L. esculentum, mounting‐up economic losses, micronutrient deficiency, fertiliser inefficiency, microbial invasions, Xanthomonas cempestri, nanobiotechnology, zinc oxide‐nanostructures, Lycopersicum esculentum, high‐homogenous crystalline structures, ultraviolet spectroscopy, visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, crystallite size, morphological parameters, seed germination, germination percentage, plant leaves, ZnO     

Removal of humic acid from water using adsorption coupled with electrochemical regeneration

A novel and economic waste water treatment technology comprised of adsorption coupled with electrochemical regeneration was introduced at the University of Manchester in 2006. An electrically conducting adsorbent material called Nyex? 1000 (Graphite intercalation based material) was developed for the said purpose. This adsorbent material delivered significantly lower adsorption capacity for the removal of a number of organic pollutants. With the aim to expand the scope of newly developed adsorbent material called Nyex? 2000, we studied the adsorption of humic acid followed by electrochemical regeneration. Nyex? 2000 is a highly electrically conducting material with an adsorption capacity almost twice that of Nyex? 1000 (intercalation based graphite compound) for humic acid. The adsorption of humic acid onto both Nyex? adsorbents was found to be fast enough keeping almost the same kinetics with approximately 50% of the adsorption capacity being achieved within the first twenty minutes. The parameters affecting the regeneration efficiency, including the treatment time, charge passed and current density, were investigated. The regeneration efficiency at around 100% for Nyex? 1000 & 2000 adsorbents saturated with humic acid was obtained using the charge passed of 8 and 22 Cg^?1 at a current density of 7mA cm^?2 during a treatment time of 30minutes, respectively.     

Improved phenol adsorption from aqueous solution using electrically conducting adsorbents

The electrically conducting and partially porous graphite based adsorbent (called NyexTM 2000) was tested for its adsorption capacity and electrochemical regeneration ability for the removal of phenol from aqueous solution. Nyex? 2000 was tested in comparison with Nyex? 1000, which is currently being used for a number of industrial waste water treatment applications. Nyex? 1000 exhibited small adsorption capacity of 0.1 mg g^?1 for phenol because of having small specific surface area of 1 m² g^?1. In contrast, Nyex? 2000 with specific surface area of 17 m² g^?1 delivered an adsorption capacity of 0.8 mg g^?1, which was eight-fold higher than that of Nyex? 1000. Nyex? 2000 was successfully electrochemically regenerated by passing a current of 0.5 A, charge passed of 31 C g^?1 for a treatment time of 45 minutes. These electrochemical parameters were comparable to Nyex? 1000 for which a current of 0.5 A, charge passed of 5 C g^?1 for a treatment time of 20 minutes were applied for complete oxidation of adsorbed phenol. The comparatively high charge density was found to be required for Nyex? 2000, which is justified with its higher adsorption capacity. The FTIR results validated the mineralization of adsorbed phenol into CO₂ and H₂O except the formation of few by-products, which were in traces when compared with the concentration of phenol removed from aqueous solution. The electrical energy as required for electrochemical oxidation of phenol adsorbed onto Nyex? 1000 & 2000 was found to be 214 and 196 J mg^?1, respectively. The comparatively low energy requirement for electrochemical oxidation using Nyex? 2000 is consistent with its higher bed electrical conductivity, which is twice that of Nyex? 1000.