Effects of Different Parts of the Okra Plant () on the Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Evaluation of Synthesis Conditions, Nonlinear Optical and Antibacterial Properties.

In this work, stable and spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized in situ from silver salt (silver nitrate) using the aqueous extract of the okra plant () at room temperature and ambient pH conditions. The influences of different parts of the plant (such as the leaves, stems, and pods) on the chemical-reducing effectiveness of silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles were investigated. The aqueous extract of the leaves was found to be more effective in the chemical reduction of silver nanoparticles and in stabilizing them at the same time.

An Exploration of Nanoparticle-Based Diagnostic Approaches for Coronaviruses: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

The wildfire-like spread of COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus-2, has resulted in a pandemic that has put unprecedented stress on the world's healthcare systems and caused varying severities of socio-economic damage. As there are no specific treatments to combat the virus, current approaches to overcome the crisis have mainly revolved around vaccination efforts, preventing human-to-human transmission through enforcement of lockdowns and repurposing of drugs. To efficiently facilitate the measures implemented by governments, rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease is vital.

A comparative study of the spectral, fluorometric properties and photostability of natural curcumin, iron- and boron- complexed curcumin.

Curcumin is a yellow phenolic compound with a wide range of reported biological effects. However, two main obstacles hinder the use of curcumin therapeutically, namely its poor bioavailability and photostability. We have synthesized two curcumin complexes, the first a boron curcumin complex (B-Cur) and the second an iron (Fe-Cur) complex of curcumin.