Plants are recognized for containing crucial phytochemicals that play a significant role in reducing and capping nanoparticles, contributing to advancements in nanoparticle synthesis. The use of plant extracts as stabilizing agents in nanoparticle synthesis has gained immense popularity in contemporary research. These stabilizing agents also help mitigate the potential toxic effects of chemicals used in the synthesis process. In this study, four distinct plants-Psidiumguajava, Colocasiaesculenta, Phyllanthusemblica, and Murrayakoenigiiwere selected as stabilizers for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using the microwave technique. Various characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to elucidate the morphology, band gap, and functional groups of the synthesized nanoparticles. XRD analysis revealed crystallite sizes of 14 nm for Psidiumguajava, 12 nm for Colocasiaesculenta, 17 nm for Phyllanthusemblica, and 13 nm for Murrayakoenigii. The corresponding band gaps were 3.28 eV, 3.33 eV, 3.35 eV, and 3.20 eV, respectively. SEM analysis showed that the nanoparticle shapes resembled flowers. Additionally, the assessment of antibacterial activity against pathogens, along with a comparative study, aids in evaluating the optimal utilization of nanoparticles in industries such as food packaging and cosmetics.

Increased oxidative stress in metabolic disorders has revealed promising alternatives for antioxidative therapeutics. Herein, we present synthesis and evaluations of Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) conjugated with Andrographolide (Ad-CNP). Characterization revealed a uniform particle size of 106 nm for bare CNP and 120 nm for Ad-CNP conjugates. UV-visible spectroscopy showed an absorbance peak at 230nm, indicating a high Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ oxidation state. X-ray diffraction confirmed a pure cubic fluorite structure with a polycrystalline nature with peaks at 111, 200, 220, and 311. In terms of reactive oxygen species scavenging, bare CNPs demonstrated Catalase mimetic activity of 41.5%, whereas the Ad-CNP conjugates showed 47% scavenging activity. The Superoxide Dismutase mimetic activity was significantly increased due to synergy up to 77% of Ad-CNP whereas bare CNPs showed 57% activity.  The CNPs exhibited notable antibacterial efficacy, diminishing microbial proliferation by 69% for bare CNPs and 82% for Ad-CNP. Biocompatibility testing with human skin keratinocytes validated the safety of the nanoparticles, and anti-inflammatory assays indicated decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. The synergistic combination of CNPs with Andrographolide demonstrated significant potential as a potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory agent, making it a prospective candidate for antioxidative therapeutic research aimed at diminishing oxidative stress.

The present paper examines the fluctuations in activation energy of amorphous-crystalline phase transition of Se_79-xTe₁₅In₆Pb_x (x = 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10) chalcogenide glasses using computational iso-conversional analysis for the data obtained under non-isothermal conditions using differential scanning calorimetric technique at four different heating rates; 5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min. This study examines how the activation energy of crystallization (E_c) varies with the degree of conversion (χ) and temperature (T) using an algorithm developed in Python named as HPU-B-MASS. The Python algorithm incorporates iso-conversional methods; Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), Tang & Chen and Starink methods to analyze the variation of  with both χ and T. It is found that E_c is not constant but varies with χ as well as T. The iso-conversional analysis of the investigated glasses indicates that the assumption of constant E_c is not appropriate. E_c obtained for the investigated alloys from different methods are different. This difference can be attributed to the fact that these methods are based on approximations involved in obtaining the final equation of different formalisms. Furthermore, our findings suggest an increased propensity for crystallization in glasses with Pb content as compared to the parent ternary alloy.

In this study, the compatibility of Quercetin (QC) nanocomposites with some selective food-grade pharmaceutical excipients was assessed using various thermal (DSC and TGA), non-thermal (P-XRD, FT-IR, and RAMAN spectroscopy, and FESEM) techniques. All the techniques were simultaneously used and correlated to detect the QC's compatibility with the selected excipients (CO, CCO, OA, T20, T60, and T80). DSC-TG studies showed that QC-CO and QC-T60 samples exhibited irregular degradation patterns, causing the drug's transformation from crystalline to amorphous. P-XRD results showed that the crystalline behavior of QC was retained in all the samples. However, the peak intensities were reduced and shifted in some samples. The D_avg. value for all samples, including pure QC, was 26.80-76.07 nm. FT-IR and RAMAN studies demonstrated that bonds including –C=O stretching, C-C stretching (ring A), and -OH bonds (in ring A, B, and C) in pure QC play a crucial role in its interaction with excipients. Furthermore, the excipients' effect on QC's morphology using FESEM showed smoothening, fragmentation, and agglomeration of the drug. In conclusion, the possible drug-excipient incompatibility can be potentially determined with the help of these analytical methods. The physicochemical studies from this work may provide immense knowledge for the researchers and manufacturers involved in quercetin-based pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical formulations.

Increased problems associated with side effects and microbial resistance of chemical drugs have promoted the research focus of herbs and herbs-based medicines as renewed interest. The present study studied the antifungal potential of Hypericum scabrum (H. scabrum), Salvia multicaulis (S. multicaulis) plants and their derived sustainable NCs against dermayophyton species. These plants were used as free-toxic solvent media and phytogradiant reductants to fabricate nanoformulations as alternative antimycotic drugs. Analysis of antifungal activity showed a noticeable inhibition of the trychophyton mycelial growth when cultured on SDA mixed with different doses of the plant extract, particularly 50% H. scabrum that stopped mycelial growth of  T. mentagrophytes  and T. verrcuosum thoroughly after 10-day incubation by of 100 % MGI, followed by Ag@Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ with particle size around 20 to 60 nm,  that record ( 67.64 and 63,.33 % of MGI) by 50 µg ml⁻¹ application respectively. The lowest effect of  H. scabrum and Ag@Fe₃O₄@SiO₂ at high concentrations was against T. simii (44.44 % and 16 % MGI). The maximum antifungal activity of 50 % Salvia multicaulis and 50 µg ml⁻¹ CuO@SiO₂ NC with an average diameter of 60 nm was found against T. mentagrophytes and T. verrcuosum with (66.66 and 51.47 % MGI), respectively, while the minimum activity was found against T. quinckeanum and T. simii (33.33 and 13.33 % MGI), respectively. Thus, these plant extracts and NCs could be used to develop a new medication for dermatophytosis. 

Red-light emitting Cadmium Sulfide_0.8 Selenide_0.2 /Zinc Sulfide (CdS_0.8Se_0.2/ZnS) based quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized by hot injection method and utilized as the emissive layer in the quantum dot light emitting diode (QLED) with the device structure of Indium Tin Oxide/Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): Polystyrene Sulfonate /Polyvinylcarbazole(or Poly(N,N′-bis-4-butylphenyl-N,N′-bisphenyl)benzidin)/QD/ZincOxide/LithiumFluoride/ Aluminum [ITO/ PEDOT: PSS/PVK(or p-TPD)/QD/ZnO/LiF/Al]. QD inks were formulated and prepared in octane: decane; (1/1, v/v) solvent system and mixed with the nonionic surfactant, TritonX-100, to make the QD inks inkjet printable. In addition to the inkjet printing technique, spin coating was also employed to form the QD emissive layer for comparing device performance. Compared to the p-TPD-based QLED device, the PVK-based device fabricated via spin coating exhibited ~6-fold higher performance in terms of luminance and efficiency values. In the case of using the ink-jet printer, ~2-fold higher maximum luminance value and slightly lower external quantum efficiency at the lower current density region were obtained in the p-TPD-based device. Furthermore, compared to the PVK layer, the p-TPD layer provided higher device stability regardless of the coating method at the higher current density regions. We suggest that the coating method applied and the choice of hole transport layer (HTL) materials may control the device parameters.

The cell-free culture filtrate (CF) of Aspergillus flavus GGRK1 could mediate the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using silver nitrate. Extracellular extract of Aspergillus flavus GGRK1 was a significant reductant for the reduction of silver nanoparticles due to presence of metabolites or other bioactive compounds. After the reduction of Ag (I) ions to Ag by the fungal CF, a dark brown color was obtained which indicated the biosynthesis of AgNPs. The maximum AgNPs were synthesized at the CCD-optimized condition of AgNO₃ conc. of 4.189 mM, CFC 0.905 mL, and reaction time 8.17 h. The biosynthesized AgNPs had a zeta size of 119.4 nm diameter. The FTIR study revealed the significant efficacy of functional groups associated with the biosynthesized AgNPs. Additionally, the XRD study revealed a crystalline nature of biosynthesized AgNPs along very good correlation with FCC lattice. The biosynthesized nanoparticles showed significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. As a result, the maximum ZOI was obtained at 150 µl/ml against all the tested organisms such as B. subtilis MTCC 121, S. aureus MTCC 96, E coli MTCC 443 and P. aeruginosa MTCC 424 with 18 mm, 20 mm, 14 mm, and 18 mm, respectively.

The need for photodynamic therapy is increasing with the rise of skin cancer melanoma detection. However, low penetration depth of light in the UV range and higher scattering of skin tissues cause harsh clinical practices and reduced irradiance for the activation of chemicals such as photosensitizers to facilitate cell necrosis of malignant tumors. In this paper, a tunable microlens integrated on a microneedle array is designed for variable focusing to reduce melanomas at multiple sites with an improved intensity for reactive oxygen species production. A light distribution of 36% percent of the input intensity is achieved at the targeted distance of 4.35 mm for blue light. Red light attained a light distribution of 13% of the input intensity at a targeted distance of 6.5 mm. Designing such a light, delivery-based in-vivo biomedical device is of extreme importance for photodynamic therapy of skin cancer on and beyond the epidermal tissue layer.

Ketoconazole (KTZ) is a commonly prescribed antifungal drug used to treat several tropical and systemic fungus infections. The topical bioavailability of KTZ is limited due to extremely low water solubility and high molecular weight. The present investigation aimed to develop a ketoconazole nanocrystals formulation to improve the biomimetic attributes. The ketoconazole nanocrystals were prepared using a top-down media milling technique with a size of less than 800 nm and a narrow polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.434. The simplex lattice design was used to further investigate the effect of change in the proportion of different stabilizers on critical product attributes such as particle size and PDI. The result of the in vitro drug release and anti-fungal study proved the superiority of the optimized KTZ nanocrystal in inhibiting fungal infection and suspension of pure drug. The optimized nanocrystals entrapped within Carbopol-934P gel had higher permeability through cellulose membrane compared, to the marketed product (2 % ketoconazole % w/w Ketodoc Cream®) with sustained release for 24 h. Moreover, the release profile indicated diffusion-controlled release from gel following Korsmeyer-Peppas. The present investigation successfully demonstrated the application of simplex lattice design and desirability function in optimizing ketoconazole nanocrystals to improve its transdermal application.

The pandemic outbreaks such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, swine flu, Middle East respiratory syndrome, Ebola, zika virus outbreak, and coronavirus are influential events that were transmitted through various countries in a short period. Due to sudden outbreaks of this pandemic and unavailability of rapid diagnostic kits, strategic management, and treatment caused a high rate of mortality and mortality. Primarily diagnosis and detection of infections are performed through tedious pathological tests; however, the recent advancements in nanotechnology-based robust sensors are handy and rapid to detect such infections. Smart biosensors offer promising prospects such as portability, flexibility, multifunctional use, and efficient operation that provides fast and real-time response against tested components. The biosensors act as an interface between biological analytes and quantifiable electrical signals. Enabling this biosensor with nanotechnology has not only revolutionized the diagnosis of infection but also regular health checkups. The present review presents compressive updates on different types of sensors available to measure health conditions, with elaboration enabling sensor processing using nanotechnology. Moreover, the safety consideration and applicability of wearable sensors in day-to-day routine activity.

Colon cancer ranked second in terms of incidence in the world, yearly it shows an increase in the tendency of mortality. It is estimated that by the year 2035 total number of deaths will increase by 75 %. The treatment of cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, however, they are limited due to their targeted therapeutic potential and side effects. In the case of a conventional drug delivery system, it is desired that the drug delivery system should be able to protect the therapeutic from degradation and safety target to the desired site. Cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (NS) are a versatile platform for colon cancer treatment, surpassing the limitations of conventional drug delivery systems. Nanosponge offers several advantages such as improved drug solubility, enhanced stability, targeted delivery, and potential for combination therapy due to its highly cross-linked structure. The fabrication of NS includes the use of biopolymers for the controlled release of drugs from pores through diffusion. These pores can efficiently encapsulate a wide range of therapeutic agents, enabling regulated release, and addressing challenges associated with poor solubility and limited stability of drugs used in the management of colon cancer. Additionally, their functionalization enables targeted drug delivery to colon cancer cells, minimizing off-target effects. Though several benefits are associated with NS, further research is needed to address regulatory considerations and scale up NS for translation into clinical practice. Overall, cyclodextrin-based NS holds promise in revolutionizing colon cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes.