P.C. Nagajyothi

In vitro anticancer potential of BaCO3 nanoparticles synthesized via green route

Green synthesis of nanoparticles is a growing research area because of their potential applications in nanomedicine. Barium carbonate nanoparticles (BaCO3 NPs) were synthesized using an aqueous extract of Mangifera indica seed as a reducing agent. These particles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), Energy-dispersive-X-ray (EDX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. HR-TEM images are confirmed that green synthesized BaCO3 NPs have spherical, triangular and uneven shapes. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of Ba, C and O. The peaks at 2θ of 19.45, 23.90, 24.29, 27.72, 33.71, 34.08, 34.60, 41.98, 42.95, 44.18, 44.85, and 46.78 corresponding to (110), (111), (021), (002), (200), (112), (130), (221), (041), (202), (132) and (113) showed that BaCO3 NPs average size was ~18.3 nm. SAED pattern confirmed that BaCO3 NPs are crystalline nature. BaCO3 NPs significantly inhibited cervical carcinoma cells, as evidenced by cytotoxicity assay. Immunofluorescence and fluorescence assays showed that BaCO3 NPs increased the expression and activity of caspase-3, an autocatalytic enzyme that promotes apoptosis. According to the results, green synthesis route has great potential for easy, rapid, inexpensive, eco-friendly and efficient development of novel multifunctional nanoparticles for the treatment of cancer.

Anti-Proliferative Effect of Copper Oxide Nanorods Against Human Cervical Carcinoma Cells

Metal oxide nanoparticles have been widely investigated for its use in the pharmacological field. The present study was aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity of copper oxide nanorods in human cervical carcinoma cells. The effect of copper oxide nanorods on cell viability was determined by sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay. The fluorescence and confocal microscopy analyzes showed the cell rounding and nuclear fragmentation following exposure of copper oxide nanorods. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased and could initiate membrane lipid peroxidation, which in turn regulate cytokinetic movements of cells. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of p53 and caspase 3 was increased, which further confirms the occurrence of apoptosis at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, caspase-3 enzyme activity was increased, which also confirms the occurrence of apoptosis in tumor cells at the translational level. Taking all our experimental results together, it may suggest that the copper oxide nanorods could be a potential anti-tumor agent to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.

Tiny MoO3 nanocrystals self-assembled on folded molybdenum disulfide nanosheets via a hydrothermal method for supercapacitor

ABSTRACT Coupling of two active semiconductors can easily lead to a deterioration of their intrinsic properties. In this work, tiny MoO3 nanocrystals were deposited on 3D MoS2 frameworks via a hydrothermal reaction, with heterostructures forming by oxygen-bonding interactions at their interface. When tested as a supercapacitor electrode, the MoS2/MoO3 heterostructure exhibited a high specific capacitance of 287.7 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, and a remarkable cycling stability after 1000 cycles at 1 A g−1 in an aqueous solution compared to pristine MoS2. The results thus reveal the superior properties of the MoS2/MoO3 heterostructure for supercapacitor electrode. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT IMPACT STATEMENT We successfully synthesized tiny MoO3 nanocrystals deposited on 3D MoS2 frameworks via a self-assembly. The MoS2/MoO3 heterostructure exhibited a high specific capacitance and cycling stability compared to pristine MoS2.

Ultra-sonication-assisted silver nanoparticles using Panax ginseng root extract and their anti-cancer and antiviral activities

A simple, inexpensive ultra-sonication method was used to synthesize quasi spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with an aqueous extract from Panax ginseng roots. This method has the advantages of being completely eco-friendly and allows increased reaction rates, uniform dispersal of the nanoparticles in liquids, and effective breaking of aggregates. Biomolecules present in plant extracts are often used to reduce metal ions to nanoparticles in a single-step green synthesis route. The formation of the AgNPs was characterized using UV-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy- dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The formation of AgNPs (456 nm) was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy. HR-TEM analysis revealed that most of the AgNPs were quasi spherical with sizes ranging from approximately 5 to 15 nm. The crystalline nature of the AgNPs was confirmed by XRD, and the presence of elemental silver was confirmed by energy-dispersive X -ray analysis. The AgNPs showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells in vitro (3.88% at 0.005 M, 5.11% at 0.01 M, 7.52% at 0.015 M, 11.19% at 0.02 M, and 19.45% at 0.025 M) as revealed by sulforhodamine B assay. They were also shown to be virucidal against the influenza A virus (strain A/PR/8). Hence, the present facile, eco-friendly, and efficient method results in the synthesis of AgNPs that can act as an alternative biomaterial for future biomedical applications.