• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.76-81
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• 2018

Au@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by a simple method followed by heat-treatment for gas sensor applications. The advantage of the core-shell morphology was investigated by comparing the gas sensing performances of Au@ZnO core-shell NPs with pure ZnO NPs and different wt% of Au-loaded ZnO NPs. The crystal structures, shapes, sizes, and morphologies of all sensing materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, and HAADF-STEM. Au@ZnO core-shell NPs were nearly spherical in shape and Au NPs were encapsulated in the center with a 40-45 nm ZnO shell outside. The gas sensing operating temperature for Au@ZnO core-shell NPs was $300^{\circ}C$, whereas it was $350^{\circ}C$ for pure ZnO NPs and Au-loaded ZnO NPs. The maximum response of Au@ZnO core-shell NPs to 1000 ppm CO at $300^{\circ}C$ was 77.3, which was three-fold higher than that of 2 wt% Au-loaded ZnO NPs. Electronic and chemical effects were the primary reasons for the improved sensitivity of Au@ZnO core-shell NPs. It was confirmed that Au@ZnO core-shell NPs had better sensitivity and stability than Au-loaded ZnO NPs.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.431-435
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• 2014

Zinc peroxide nanoparticles ($ZnO_2$ NPs) were prepared by reacting zinc(II) isobutylcarbamate, as an organometallic precursor, with hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) at $60^{\circ}C$. Polyethylene glycol and polyvinylpyrrolidone were used as stabilizers, which suppressed aggregation of the $ZnO_2$ NPs. Conditions such as concentrations of $H_2O_2$ and the stabilizer were systemically controlled to determine their effect on the formation of nano-sized $ZnO_2$ NPs. The formation of stable $ZnO_2$ NPs was confirmed by UV-vis, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. The TEM images revealed that polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized $ZnO_2$ NPs (diameter, 10-30 nm) were well dispersed in the organic solvent. Quite pure ZnO NPs were obtained from the peroxide powder by simple heat treatment of $ZnO_2$. The transition temperature of $170^{\circ}C$ was determined by differential scanning calorimetry.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.77-92
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• 2022

Aquaculture development is based on the ideas of increasing production while reducing economic losses. Bacterial diseases are the leading source of fish cases. Citrobacter freundii has been linked to septicemia and mortality all over the world. In the current study, the cause of mortality in O. niloticus was C. freundii MW279218. External hemorrhages were seen on the affected fish, as well as paleness in the liver and kidney congestion. C. freundii MW279218 had a median lethal dosage of 1.5×10⁵ CFU/mL. Zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were tested for their biocidal effectiveness against C. freundii MW279218. The lethal effect of ZnO-NPs for C. freundii MW279218 was 100% when compared to zinc oxide compound, and the inhibition zone width was 2.31.1mm at the highest tested concentrations (70 mg/L) compared to the lowest (35 and 45 mg/L, respectively). Fish were fed three different diets for 28 days: diet 1 (no additives), diet 2 (100 mg of ZnO-NPs/kg of feed), and diet 3 (200 mg of ZnO-NPs/kg of feed). Organs were also collected for histopathology 96 hours after injection (P<0.05). In the groups given 200 mg of ZnO-NPs, there was 10% mortality and 80% RPS. The group fed 100 mg of ZnO-NPs/kg, on the other hand, had 20% mortality and 60% RPS, compared to 50% mortality in the control positive group. Histopathological examinations demonstrated significant alterations in the control positive group and mild lesions in the hepatopancreas of the groups administered 100 mg ZnO-NPs/kg of feed. The groups fed 200 mg of ZnO-NPs/kg diet, on the other hand, showed no histological alterations. ZnO-NPs were found to be effective in the up regulation of both IL-10 and complement 5 immune-related genes.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.2078-2084
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• 2020

Magnesium oxide (MgO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have been successfully synthesized by solid-solid reaction method. The structural properties of ZnO and MgO NPs were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD results indicated a formation of pure MgO and ZnO NPs. The mean diameter values of the agglomerated particles were around to be 70 and 50 nm for MgO and ZnO NPs, respectively using SEM analysis. Further, a wide-range of nuclear radiation shielding investigation for gamma-ray and fast neutrons have been studied for Magnesium oxide (MgO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) samples. FLUKA and Microshield codes have been employed for the determination of mass attenuation coefficients (μ_m) and transmission factors (TF) of Magnesium oxide (MgO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO) samples. The calculated values for mass attenuation coefficients (μ_m) were utilized to determine other vital shielding properties against gamma-ray radiation. Moreover, the results showed that Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with the lowest diameter value as 50 nm had a satisfactory capacity in nuclear radiation shielding.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.3767-3771
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• 2012

In this study, we investigate the potential use of $TiO_2@SiO_2$ and $ZnO@SiO_2$ core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) as effective UV shielding agent. In the typical synthesis, $SiO_2$ was coated over different types of $TiO_2$ (anatase and rutile) and ZnO by sol-gel method. The synthesized $TiO_2@SiO_2$ and $ZnO@SiO_2$ NPs were characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, SEM and TEM. The UV-vis absorbance and transmittance spectra of core@shell NPs showed an efficient blocking effect in the UV region and more than 90% transmittance in the visible region. XRD and SAED studies confirmed the formation of amorphous $SiO_2$ coated over the $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs. The FESEM and TEM images shows that coating of $SiO_2$ over the surface of anatase, rutile $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs resulted in the increase in particle size by ~30 nm. In order to study the UV light shielding capability of the samples, photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye on $TiO_2@SiO_2$ and $ZnO@SiO_2$ NPs was performed. Photocatalytic activity for both types of $TiO_2$ NPs was partially suppressed. In comparison, the photocatalytic activity of ZnO almost vanished after the $SiO_2$ coating.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1264-1270
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• 2012

The ecotoxicological effects of nanomaterials on animal, plant, and soil microorganisms have been widely investigated; however, the nanotoxic effects of plant-soil interactive systems are still largely unknown. In the present study, the effects of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on the soil-plant interactive system were estimated. The growth of plant seedlings in the presence of different concentrations of ZnO NPs within microcosm soil (M) and natural soil (NS) was compared. Changes in dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and soil bacterial community diversity were estimated based on the microcosm with plants (M+P) and microcosm without plants (M-P) in different concentrations of ZnO NPs treatment. The shoot growth of M+P and NS+P was significantly inhibited by 24% and 31.5% relative to the control at a ZnO NPs concentration of 1,000 mg/kg. The DHA levels decreased following increased ZnO NPs concentration. Specifically, these levels were significantly reduced from 100 mg/kg in M-P and only 1,000 mg/kg in M+P. Different clustering groups of M+P and M-P were observed in the principal component analysis (PCA). Therefore, the M-P's soil bacterial population may have more toxic effects at a high dose of ZnO NPs than M+P's. The plant and activation of soil bacteria in the M+P may have a less toxic interactive effect on each of the soil bacterial populations and plant growth by the ZnO NPs attachment or absorption of plant roots surface. The soil-plant interactive system might help decrease the toxic effects of ZnO NPs on the rhizobacteria population.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.522-530
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• 2022

In this study we aimed to develop novel ZnO-NP/chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (ZnO-NP/CS/β-GP) antibacterial hydrogels for biomedical applications. According to the mass fraction ratio of ZnO-NPs to chitosan, mixtures of 1, 3, and 5% ZnO-NPs/CS/β-GP were prepared. Using the test-tube inversion method, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, the influence of ZnO-NPs on gelation time, chemical composition, and cross-sectional microstructures were evaluated. Adding ZnO-NPs significantly improved the hydrogel's antibacterial activity as determined by bacteriostatic zone and colony counting. The hydrogel's bacteriostatic mechanism was investigated using live/dead fluorescent staining and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, crystal violet staining and MTT assay demonstrated that ZnO-NPs/CS/β-GP exhibited good antibacterial activity in inhibiting the formation of biofilms and eradicating existing biofilms. CCK-8 and live/dead cell staining methods revealed that the cell viability of gingival fibroblasts (L929) cocultured with hydrogel in each group was above 90% after 24, 48, and 72 h. These results suggest that ZnO-NPs improve the temperature sensitivity and bacteriostatic performance of chitosan/β-glycerophosphate (CS/β-GP), which could be injected into the periodontal pocket in solution form and quickly transformed into hydrogel adhesion on the gingiva, allowing for a straightforward and convenient procedure. In conclusion, ZnO-NP/CS/β-GP thermosensitive hydrogels could be expected to be utilized as adjuvant drugs for clinical prevention and treatment of peri-implant inflammation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.418-425
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• 2017

ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are mainly used in semiconductors, solar cells, biosensors, and cosmetics (sunscreen). In this study, we investigated the behavior of ZnO NPs in aquatic and soil environments and their effects on plants (Artemisia annua L.) in hydroponic cultivation. It was confirmed that the ZnO NPs size increased and their dissolution decreased with increasing in pH. Leaching distance of ZnO NPs was less than 2.5 cm, indicating that ZnO NPs had a little potential to leach into deeper soil layers. When ZnO NPs were exposed to plant, the total weights of plants decreased. The effects on the length of root and shoot were not observed. In addition large amount of ZnO NPs were adsorbed on the surface of plant root and didn't translocate into shoot. These results suggest that ZnO NPs block the pores of the root cell wall and decrease the bioavailability of plant nutrients. Therefore it can be speculated that the particles increase in size and settle down in the water environment and may adversely affect the plant growth by firmly adhering to the root surface when the ZnO NPs are exposed to the environment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3301-3306
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• 2013

This paper aims to address the cellular toxicity of ultra-pure titanium dioxide ($TiO_2$) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) frequently employed in sunscreens as inorganic physical sun blockers to provide protection against adverse effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation including UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm). In consideration that the production and the use of inorganic NPs have aroused many concerns and controversies regarding their safety and toxicity and that microsized $TiO_2$ and ZnO have been increasingly replaced by $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs (< 100 nm), it is very important to directly investigate a main problem related to the intrinsic/inherent toxicity of these NPs and/or their incompatibility with biological objects. In the present study, we took advantage of the laser-assisted method called laser ablation for generation of $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs. NPs were prepared through a physical process of irradiating solid targets in liquid phase, enabling verification of the toxicity of ultra-pure NPs with nascent surfaces free from any contamination. Our results show that $TiO_2$ NPs are essentially non-poisonous and ZnO NPs are more toxic than $TiO_2$ NPs based on the cell viability assays.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2019

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been recognized as both useful tools and potentially toxic materials in various industrial and medicinal fields. Previously, we found that zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs that are neurotoxic to human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells are mediated by lipoxygenase (LOX), not cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Here, we examined whether human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are different from neuroblastoma cells, might exhibit COX-2- and/or LOX-dependent cytotoxicity of ZnO NPs. Additionally, changes in annexin V expression, caspase-3/7 activity, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) induced by ZnO NPs and ZnO were compared at 12 hr and 24 hr after exposure using flow cytometry. Cytotoxicity was measured based on lactate dehydrogenase activity and confirmed by trypan blue staining. Rescue studies were executed using zinc or iron chelators. ZnO NPs and ZnO showed similar dose-dependent and significant cytotoxic effects at concentrations ${\geq}15{\mu}g/mL$, in accordance with annexin V expression, caspase-3/7 activity, and MMP results. Human MSCs exhibited both COX-2 and LOX-mediated cytotoxicity after exposure to ZnO NPs, which was different from human neuroblastoma cells. Zinc and iron chelators significantly attenuated ZnO NPs-induced toxicity. Conclusively, these results suggest that ZnO NPs exhibit both COX-2- and LOX-mediated apoptosis by the participation of mitochondrial dysfunction in human MSC cultures.