Hybrid nanomaterial composed of chitosan, curcumin, ZnO and TiO for antibacterial therapies.

Metal nanoparticles have been tremendously utilised, such as; antibacterial and anticancer agents. Although metal nanoparticles exhibits antibacterial and anticancer activity, but the drawback of toxicity on normal cells limits their clinical applications. Therefore, improving the bioactivity of hybrid nanomaterial (HNM) and minimizing toxicity is of paramount importance for biomedical applications.

Recent advances in green synthesized nanoparticles for bactericidal and wound healing applications.

Nanotechnology has become an exciting area of research in diverse fields, such as: healthcare, food, agriculture, cosmetics, paints, lubricants, fuel additives and other fields. This review is a novel effort to update the practioneers about the most current developments in the widespread use of green synthesized nanoparticles in medicine. Biosynthesis is widely preferred among different modes of nanoparticle synthesis since they do not require toxic chemical usage and they are environment-friendly.

Numerical Investigation and Response Surface Optimization of the Effective Modulus and Electrical and Thermal Conductivities of the Borophene Nanoplatelet-Reinforced PEDOT:PSS Nanocomposite for Energy Storage Application.

Conductive organic nanocomposites have been widely employed to achieve a variety of purposes, particularly for energy storage applications, making it necessary to investigate transport properties such as electron and heat transport qualities based on geometric shapes and component materials. Due to the solid B-B bonds, unique atomic structure, and energy storage potential, borophene has received significant attention due to its reported ultrahigh mechanical modulus and metallic conduction. Herein, we investigated the effect and interaction of content materials (volume fraction) and geometric parameters such as the aspect ratio and orientation of borophene nanoplatelet (BNP) inclusions on the mechanical integrity and transport features (electrical and thermal conductivities) of a poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(4-styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) electrode.

Applications of MXene-Containing Polypyrrole Nanocomposites in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion.

The atomically thick two-dimensional (2D) materials are at the forefront of revolutionary technologies for energy storage devices. Due to their fascinating physical and chemical features, these materials have gotten a lot of attention. They are particularly appealing for a wide range of applications, including electrochemical storage systems, due to their simplicity of property tuning.

Strength Characteristics of Electrospun Coconut Fibre Reinforced Polylactic Acid: Experimental and Representative Volume Element (RVE) Prediction.

Environmental conservation and waste control have informed and encouraged the use of biodegradable polymeric materials over synthetic non-biodegradable materials. It has been recognized that nano-sized biodegradable materials possess relatively good properties as compared to conventional micron-sized materials. However, the strength characteristics of these materials are inferior to fossil-based non-biodegradable materials.

Density Functional Theory Interaction Study of a Polyethylene Glycol-Based Nanocomposite with Cephalexin Drug for the Elimination of Wound Infection.

In this paper, density functional theory (DFT) simulations are used to evaluate the possible use of a graphene oxide-based poly(ethylene glycol) (GO/PEG) nanocomposite as a drug delivery substrate for cephalexin (CEX), an antibiotic drug employed to treat wound infection. First, the stable configuration of the PEGylated system was generated with a binding energy of -25.67 kcal/mol at 1.

Fabrication and Model Characterization of the Electrical Conductivity of PVA/PPy/rGO Nanocomposite.

Owing to the numerous advantages of graphene-based polymer nanocomposite, this study is focused on the fabrication of the hybrid of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polypyrrole (PPy), and reduced graphene-oxide. The study primarily carried out the experimentation and the mathematical analysis of the electrical conductivity of PVA/PPy/rGO nanocomposite. The preparation method involves solvent/drying blending method.

The significance of biomacromolecule alginate for the 3D printing of hydrogels for biomedical applications.

Natural biopolymers have been widely employed as biomaterial ink hydrogels for three-dimensional (3D) extrusion bioprinting in the preparation of the next generation of bioengineering materials for healthcare applications. Alginate is a linear anionic polysaccharide with favourable properties, such as: typical rheological (gelling, viscosifying, and stabilizing dispersions) characteristics, biodegradability and biocompatibility properties. However, in order to improve alginate applicability for practical biomaterial/bio ink for advanced medical applications, it is often modified and functionalized with several polymers and nanomaterials in order to obtain better printability of alginate-based biomaterial/bio ink hydrogels.

Progress in the drug encapsulation of poly(lactic--glycolic acid) and folate-decorated poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(lactic--glycolic acid) conjugates for selective cancer treatment.

Poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA) is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved polymer used in humans in the forms of resorbable sutures, drug carriers, and bone regeneration materials. Recently, PLGA-based conjugates have been extensively investigated for cancer, which is the second leading cause of death globally. This article presents an account of the literature on PLGA-based conjugates, focusing on their chemistries, biological activity, and functions as targeted drug carriers or sustained drug controllers for common cancers (, breast, prostate, and lung cancers).

Biocidal activity of Ba-doped CeO NPs against and bacterial strains.

Mishandling of antibiotics often leads to the development of multiple drug resistance (MDR) among microbes, resulting in the failure of infection treatments and putting human health at great risk. As a response, unique nanomaterials with superior bioactivity must be developed to combat bacterial infections. Herein, CeO-based nanomaterials (NMs) were synthesized by employing cerium(iii) nitrate and selective alkaline ions.

Crosslinking Trends in Multicomponent Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications.

Multicomponent-based hydrogels are well established candidates for biomedical applications. However, certain aspects of multicomponent systems, e.g.

Morphological, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Graphene Oxide Composite Nanofiber Membranes.

This study investigates the influence of graphene oxide (GO) on the properties of electrospun recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) composite nanofiber membranes. GO nanosheet layers, with good hydrophilic properties, were incorporated at various loadings (0-8 wt %) during electrospinning. The surface morphological analysis revealed that GO loadings of less than 0.

Biocidal chitosan-magnesium oxide nanoparticles via a green precipitation process.

In the present scenario, the development of eco-friendly multifunctional biocidal substances with low cost and high efficiency, has become the center of focus. This study is, focused on the synthesis of magnesium oxide (MgO) and chitosan-modified magnesium oxide (CMgO) nanoparticles (NPs), via a green precipitation process. In this process, leaves extract of Plumbago zeylanica L was, used as a nucleating agent.

Investigation and Modeling of the Electrical Conductivity of Graphene Nanoplatelets-Loaded Doped-Polypyrrole.

In this study, a hybrid of graphene nanoplatelets with a polypyrrole having 20 wt.% loading of carbon-black (HGPPy.CB20%), has been fabricated.

Computational Study of Graphene-Polypyrrole Composite Electrical Conductivity.

In this study, the electrical properties of graphene-polypyrrole (graphene-PPy) nanocomposites were thoroughly investigated. A numerical model, based on the Simmons and McCullough equations, in conjunction with the Monte Carlo simulation approach, was developed and used to analyze the effects of the thickness of the PPy, aspect ratio diameter of graphene nanorods, and graphene intrinsic conductivity on the transport of electrons in graphene-PPy-graphene regions. The tunneling resistance is a critical factor determining the transport of electrons in composite devices.

Biocidal (bacterial and cancer cells) activities of chitosan/CuO nanomaterial, synthesized via a green process.

Biopolymer-based nanomaterials have been developed as antimicrobial and anticancer agents due to their advanced physical, chemical and biomedical characteristics. Herein, chitosan-copper oxide nanomaterial was, successfully synthesized by a green method. In this process, copper salt was nucleated with Psidium guajava leaves extract in order to form the nanomaterial in the chitosan network.

A Review on Polymer Nanocomposites and Their Effective Applications in Membranes and Adsorbents for Water Treatment and Gas Separation.

Globally, environmental challenges have been recognised as a matter of concern. Among these challenges are the reduced availability and quality of drinking water, and greenhouse gases that give rise to change in climate by entrapping heat, which result in respirational illness from smog and air pollution. Globally, the rate of demand for the use of freshwater has outgrown the rate of population increase; as the rapid growth in town and cities place a huge pressure on neighbouring water resources.

Biomolecule chitosan, curcumin and ZnO-based antibacterial nanomaterial, via a one-pot process.

As a result of the existence of drug-resistant bacteria and the attendant deficiency of innovative antibiotics, the therapeutic and the clinical sectors are, continually, in search of appropriate multifunctional nanomedicines. Herein, curcumin-chitosan-zinc oxide (CCZ) was successfully synthesized by a one-pot method. Transmission electron micrograph reveals that curcumin and chitosan were layered on a hexagonal ZnO and the particles are sized to ∼48 ±2nm.

Carboxymethyl cellulose-based materials for infection control and wound healing: A review.

The development of ideal wound dressing materials with excellent characteristics is currently a major demand in wound therapy. In recent years, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-based wound dressing materials have been of immense attraction due to their noble properties, such as: biocompatibility, biodegradability, tissue resembling, low cost and non-toxic. It is used extensively, in a variety of applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields.

Plastics in municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment plant effluents: challenges and opportunities for South Africa-a review.

Pervasive plastic wastes, pollution and detrimental environmental ethics are a serious threat in South Africa. Compared with global trends, most studies undertaken on plastic pollutions in water bodies across South Africa have generally been limited to marine and coastal waters. A literature review, for the last 40 years, demonstrated the scanty studies on the economic, social, health and cost implications of plastic entrainment into fresh water (sources of drinking water) and wastewater systems in South Africa.

Parametric Analysis of Electrical Conductivity of Polymer-Composites.

The problem associated with mixtures of fillers and polymers is that they result in mechanical degradation of the material (polymer) as the filler content increases. This problem will increase the weight of the material and manufacturing cost. For this reason, experimentation on the electrical conductivities of the polymer-composites (PCs) is not enough to research their electrical properties; models have to be adopted to solve the encountered challenges.

Recent developments in polymeric electrospun nanofibrous membranes for seawater desalination.

Seawater desalination is a promising strategy that offers an abundant and reliable source of clean fresh water. Nanotechnology, in terms of nanoparticles or electrospun nanofibrous membranes, for water-treatment or desalination applications, is a new concept that has rapidly grown in interest as a method for improving performance by enhancing the surface properties of membranes. Here, we report a critical review on recent developments in membrane-fabrication methods for seawater desalination technologies, focusing mainly on the electrospinning technique.

A potential utilization of end-of-life tyres as recycled carbon black in EPDM rubber.

End-of-life (EOL) tyres and their decomposition present severe environmental concern due to their resistance to moisture, oxygen, natural degradation, etc. Pyrolysis is considered to be the most effective and sustainable process for recycling, due to its eco-friendly process. The current work studied the effect of recycled carbon black (rCB), obtained from the pyrolysis of EOL tyres, on the properties of ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM).

A mini review on hydrogels classification and recent developments in miscellaneous applications.

Hydrogels are composed of three-dimensional smart and/or hungry networks, which do not dissolve in water but swell considerably in an aqueous medium, demonstrating an extraordinary ability to absorb water into the reticulated structure. Such inherent feature is a subject of considerable scientific research interest which leads to a dominating path in extending their potential in hi-tech applications. Over the past decades, significant progress has been made in the field of hydrogels.

Development of microbial resistant Carbopol nanocomposite hydrogels via a green process.

The present scientific research resulted in the development of novel microbial resistant inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels, which can be used as antibacterial agents. They are promising candidates for advanced antimicrobial applications in the field of biomedical science. Novel inorganic nanocomposite hydrogels were developed from Carbopol® 980 NF and acrylamide.