• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2391-2399
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• 2014

Novel dual responsive pectin hydrogels composed from poly(acrylamidoglycolic acid-co-vinylcaprolactam)/Pectin (PAV-PC) and also PAV-PC hydrogels are used as templates for the production of silver nanoparticles. 5-Fluorouracil is an anticancer drug and has been loaded in situ into PAV-PC hydrogels. Structure and morphology characterization of PAV-PC hydrogels were investigated by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction studies, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed a molecular level dispersion of the drug in PAV-PC hydrogels. In vitro release of 5-fluorouracil from the PAV-PC hydrogels has been carried out in GIT fluids as well as in various temperatures. 5-Fluorouracil released from PAV-PC hydrogels was 50% at pH 1.2, and 85% at pH 7.4 within 24 h. The release profile was characterized with PAV-PC hydrogels and initial burst effect was significantly reduced in two buffer media (1.2 and 7.4), followed by a continuous and controlled release phase, the drug release mechanism from polymer was due to Fickian diffusion. In situ fabrication of silver nanoparticles inside the hydrogel network via the reduction of sodium borohydrate by PAV-PC chains led to hydrogel nanocomposites. The diameter of the nanocomposites was about 50-100 nm, suitable for uptake within the gastrointestinal tract due to their nanosize range and mucoadhesive properties. These nanocomposite PAV-PC hydrogels showed strong antimicrobial activity towards Bacillus subtilis (G+ve) and Escherichia coli (G-ve).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.408-420
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• 2016

This study proposes an alternative approach for the use of chitosan silver-based dressing for the control of foot infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Sixty-five bacterial isolates were isolated from 40 diabetic patients. Staphylococcus aureus (37%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.5%) were the predominant isolates in the ulcer samples. Ten antibiotics were in vitro tested against diabetic foot clinical bacterial isolates. The most resistant S. aureus and P. aeruginosa isolates were then selected for further study. Three chitosan sources were tested individually for chelating silver nanoparticles. Squilla chitosan silver nanoparticles (Sq. Cs-Ag⁰) showed the maximum activity against the resistant bacteria when mixed with amikacin that showed the maximum synergetic index. This, in turn, resulted in the reduction of the amikacin MIC value by 95%. For evaluation of the effectiveness of the prepared dressing using Artemia salina as the toxicity biomarker, the LC₅₀ was found to be 549.5, 18,000, and 10,000 μg/ml for amikacin, Sq. Cs-Ag⁰, and dressing matrix, respectively. Loading the formula onto chitosan hydrogel dressing showed promising antibacterial activities, with responsive healing properties for the wounds in normal rats of those diabetic rats (polymicrobial infection). It is quite interesting to note that no emergence of any side effect on either kidney or liver biomedical functions was noticed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.522-533
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• 2014

Bionanotechnology has revolutionized nanomaterial synthesis by providing a green synthetic platform using biological systems. Among such biological systems, microalgae have tremendous potential to take up metal ions and produce nanoparticles by a detoxification process. The present study explores the intracellular and extracellular biogenic syntheses of silver nanoparticles (SNPs) using the unicellular green microalga Scenedesmus sp. Biosynthesized SNPs were characterized by AAS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, FTIR, DLS, and TGA studies and finally checked for antibacterial activity. Intracellular nanoparticle biosynthesis was initiated by a high rate of $Ag^+$ ion accumulation in the microalgal biomass and subsequent formation of spherical crystalline SNPs (average size, 15-20 nm) due to the biochemical reduction of $Ag^+$ ions. The synthesized nanoparticles were intracellular, as confirmed by the UV-Vis spectra of the outside medium. Furthermore, extracellular synthesis using boiled extract showed the formation of well scattered, highly stable, spherical SNPs with an average size of 5-10 nm. The size and morphology of the nanoparticles were confirmed by TEM. The crystalline nature of the SNPs was evident from the diffraction peaks of XRD and bright circular ring pattern of SAED. FTIR and UV-Vis spectra showed that biomolecules, proteins and peptides, are mainly responsible for the formation and stabilization of SNPs. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited high antimicrobial activity against pathogenic gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Use of such a microalgal system provides a simple, cost-effective alternative template for the biosynthesis of nanomaterials in a large-scale system that could be of great use in biomedical applications.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.250-255
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• 2006

The synthesis and characterization of silver colloidal nanoparticles by chemical reduction of silver ions in aqueous $AgNO_3$ using sodium borohydride $(NaBH_4)$ as the reducing agent are described. The experimental conditions for aggregation and paricle size of nanosilver particles in water is investigated in terms of concentration of $NaBH_4$, reaction temperature, dropping rate of $AgNO_3$ and concentration of laponite. Stable nanosilver sol is obtained at three molar ratio of $NaBH_4/AgNO_3$ in conditions of without laponite. The size of nanosilver particles is increased as the reaction temperature is increased. The large size of nanosilver sol is obseved as the dropping rate of $AgNO_3$ is increased due to the aggregation of initial high local concentration of nanosilver particles. Stable nanosilver sol at high temperature $(>\;100^{\circ}C)$ can be prepared when laponite is used as protective colloid.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.39-44
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• 2011

To evaluate the growth rate of larval and pupal parameters of silkworm Bombyx mori fed with Silver Nanoparticles (AgNps) treated $MR_2$ mulberry leaves, the following works have been considered. The AgNp was synthesized by chemical reduction method, it was diluted by different concentrations such as 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% (without dilution). Fresh mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) were sprayed by each concentration and were fed to silkworms, from $3^{rd}$, $4^{th}$ and $5^{th}$ instar, five feedings/day. Group $T_1$ larvae received $MR_2$ mulberry leaves sprayed with distilled water and served as control, group $T_2$, $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ larvae received 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% AgNps sprayed mulberry leaves, respectively. Silkworm larvae fed on M. alba ($MR_2$) leaves sprayed with 25% concentration of AgNps (group $T_2$) was significantly increased the larvae and cocoon length, width and weight as compared to those fed on control (group $T_1$) $MR_2$ mulberry leaves and other groups ($T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$). Hence, 25% AgNps dose was fixed as an effective dose. It has been observed from the present study that 25% AgNps treated (group $T_2$) leaves fed by silkworms have enhanced the larval and pupal growth and quantity of silk production than control.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2023

This manuscript describes the one-step eco-friendly green fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through the in-situ bio-reduction of an aqueous solution of silver nitrate using Syzygium aromaticum leaf extract. UV-vis spectroscopy shows a characteristic SPR peak around 442 nm. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the AgNPs were capped with bioactive phyto-molecules. TEM images revealed oval and spherical particles with a mean diameter of ~12.6 nm. XRD analysis revealed crystalline and face-cantered cubic AgNPs. The phytosynthesized AgNPs showed broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity against two foodborne pathogenic bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. The AgNPs showed a prominent ability to inhibit biofilms formed by L. monocytogenes and S. aureus in laboratory conditions through a crystal violet assay. The results suggest that the AgNPs could be a novel nanotool to develop effective antimicrobial and anti-biofilm agents in food preservation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.906-910
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• 2012

Hollow gold-silver bimetallic nanoparticles (AuAg-HNPs) have been synthesized and their optical and structural properties were characterized. Initially Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were prepared using poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) as a reducing and a stabilizing agent simultaneously. AuAg-HNPs could then be synthesized via galvanic replacement reaction in a PEI aqueous solution by reacting sacrificial Ag template with a precursor compound of Au, i.e., $HAuCl_4$. Due to the presence of abundant amine functional groups in PEI, which could act as the dissolving ligand for AgCl, the precipitation problem of $Ag^+$ in the presence of Cl from $HAuCl_4$ salt was avoided. On this basis, the relatively high concentrations of $HAuCl_4$ and PEI-stabilized Ag nanoparticles could be used for the fabrication of AuAg-HNPs. Because of their increased surface areas and reduced densities, the AuAg-HNPs were expected and confirmed to outperform their solid counterparts in applications such as catalysis for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of $NaBH_4$.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2020

A reference electrode is important for controlling electrochemical reactions. Evaluating properties such as the reduction potential of the elements is necessary to optimize the electrochemical processes in pyroprocessing, especially in a multicomponent environment. In molten chloride systems, which are widely used in pyroprocessing, a reference electrode is made by enclosing the silver wire and molten salt solution containing silver chloride into the membranes. However, owing to the high temperature of the molten salt, the choice of the membrane for the reference electrode is limited. In this study, three types of electroceramic, mullite, Pyrex, and quartz, were compared as reference electrode membranes. They are widely used in molten salt electrochemical processes. The potential measurements between the two reference electrode systems showed that the mullite membrane has potential deviations of approximately 50 mV or less at temperatures higher than 650℃, Pyrex at temperatures lower than 500℃, and quartz at temperatures higher than 800℃. Cyclic voltammograms with different membranes showed a significant potential shift when different membranes were utilized. This research demonstrated the uncertainties of potential measurement by a single membrane and the potential shift that occurs because of the use of different membranes.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.212-220
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• 2015

We investigated nanotextured Si solar cells using the silver-assisted chemical etching process. The nanotexturing process is very sensitive to the concentration of chemical etching solution. The high concentration process results in a nanowire formation for the nanosurfaces and causes severe surface damage to the top region of the micropyramids. These nanowires show excellent light absorption in photoreflectance spectra and radiative light emission in photoluminescence spectra. However, the low concentration process forms a nano-roughened surface and provides high minority carrier lifetimes. The nano-roughened surfaces of the samples show the improved electrical cell properties of quantum efficiency, conversion efficiency, and cell fill factor due to the reduction in the formation of the over-doped dead layer.

• Nano
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1850145.1-1850145.8
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• 2018

In this study, a double-solvent radiation method is proposed to prepare silver nanoparticles in the pores of metal-organic framework MIL-101(Cr). The results reveal that well-dispersed silver nanoparticles with a diameter of about 2 nm were successfully fabricated in the cages of monodisperse octahedral MIL-101(Cr) with a particle size of about 400 nm. The structure of MIL-101(Cr) was not destroyed during the chemical treatment and irradiation. The resulting Ag/MIL-101 exhibits excellent catalytic performance for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. This method can be extended to prepare other single or bimetallic components inside porous materials.