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Research of Photocatalytic, Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties of Nanoparticles

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 11670

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Dr. Miruna Silvia Stan

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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: nanoparticles; photocatalysts; medical devices; oxidative stress; biomaterials
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Dear Colleagues,

Applications of nanoparticles are widespread in all aspects of modern life, but photocatalysis has received particular attention due to its capacity to convert solar energy at low cost and high efficiency. Furthermore, on surfaces coated with a thin layer of photocatalyst, inactivation of microorganisms and mineralization of organic matter was observed following advanced oxidation processes. According to the scientific literature, the diversity of nanomaterials is huge, and moreover, approaches to their synthesis are in continuous development, thanks to efforts made to design new nanomaterials with improved properties. However, technological progress should be accompanied by a constant need to check whether these properties are safe for the environment and human health.

The aim of this Special Issue is to summarize the progress and advances in the development of new photocatalytic, antimicrobial, and biocompatible nanoparticles and their applications. We would like to invite you to submit contributions presenting your recent research articles, reviews, and brief communications revealing new trends in the research on photocatalytic, antimicrobial, and biocompatible nanoparticles.

Dr. Miruna Silvia Stan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

nanoparticles
photocatalysts
biocompatibility
antimicrobial biomaterials

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 6512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles for Water Purification

by Angela Spoială, Cornelia-Ioana Ilie, Roxana-Doina Trușcă, Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea, Vasile-Adrian Surdu, Bogdan Ștefan Vasile, Anton Ficai, Denisa Ficai, Ecaterina Andronescu and Lia-Mara Dițu

Materials 2021, 14(16), 4747; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14164747 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 4665

Abstract

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized through a simple co-precipitation method starting from zinc acetate dihydrate and sodium hydroxide as reactants. The as-obtained ZnO nanoparticles were morphologically and structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photocatalytic activity, and by determining the antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The XRD pattern of the zinc oxide nanoparticles showed the wurtzite hexagonal structure, and its purity highlighted that the crystallinity correlated with the presence of a single product, zinc oxide. The ZnO nanoparticles have an average crystallite size of 19 ± 11 nm, which is in accordance with the microscopic data. ZnO nanoparticles were tested against methyl orange, used as a model pollutant, and it was found that they exhibit strong photocatalytic activity against this dye. The antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles was tested against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans). The strongest activity was found against Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Photocatalytic, Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties of Nanoparticles)

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14 pages, 3136 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Stenocereus queretaroensis Fruit Peel Extract: Study of Antimicrobial Activity

by Eduardo Padilla-Camberos, Ivan Moises Sanchez-Hernandez, Omar Ricardo Torres-Gonzalez, Patricia Ramirez-Rodriguez, Emmanuel Diaz, Holger Wille and Jose Miguel Flores-Fernandez

Materials 2021, 14(16), 4543; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14164543 - 12 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2420

Abstract

The synthesis and application of nanomaterials as antioxidants and cytotoxic agents has increased in recent years. Biological methods go beyond the chemical and physical synthesis that is expensive and not friendly to the environment. Foodborne pathogens and microorganisms causing candidiasis are responsible of 5–10% hospitalized patients. The nutritional properties of the fruit called pitaya, from the Stenocereus queretaroensis species, have been little explored. Therefore, in this study the phytochemical composition of S. queretaroensis peel was evaluated and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized biologically in an environmentally friendly way by S. queretaroensis peel aqueous extract that contains phytochemicals capable of reducing silver nitrate. The antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was tested by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) and time-kill kinetics. AgNPs were characterized visually, by UV-visible spectroscopy and TEM. FTIR spectroscopy identified metabolites responsible for the AgNPs formation. AgNPs showed potent antimicrobial activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, against fungi, and a methicillin-resistant strain of S. aureus. MIC and MBC values were as low as 0.078 and 0.156 μg/mL using AgNPs biosynthesized by S. queretaroensis fruit peel and the time kill assay started a log reduction in CFU/mL at 1 × MIC and 2 × MIC. S. queretaroensis-mediated AgNPs could be the basis for the formulation of biofilms for packaging products or as disinfectants for use on different surfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Photocatalytic, Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties of Nanoparticles)

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11 pages, 3525 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Size Control of Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Simultaneous Chemical Reduction and Laser Fragmentation in Origanum majorana Extract: Antibacterial Application

by Entesar Ali Ganash and Reem Mohammad Altuwirqi

Materials 2021, 14(9), 2326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14092326 - 30 Apr 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1489

Abstract

In this work, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized using a chemical reduction approach and a pulsed laser fragmentation in liquid (PLFL) technique, simultaneously. A laser wavelength of 532 nm was focused on the as produced Ag NPs, suspended in an Origanum majorana extract solution, with the aim of controlling their size. The effect of liquid medium concentration and irradiation time on the properties of the fabricated NPs was studied. While the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the existence of Ag NPs, the UV–Vis spectrophotometry showed a significant absorption peak at about 420 nm, which is attributed to the characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of the obtained Ag NPs. By increasing the irradiation time and the Origanum majora extract concentration, the SPR peak shifted toward a shorter wavelength. This shift indicates a reduction in the NPs’ size. The effect of PLFL on size reduction was clearly revealed from the transmission electron microscopy images. The PLFL technique, depending on experimental parameters, reduced the size of the obtained Ag NPs to less than 10 nm. The mean zeta potential of the fabricated Ag NPs was found to be greater than −30 mV, signifying their stability. The Ag NPs were also found to effectively inhibit bacterial activity. The PLFL technique has proved to be a powerful method for controlling the size of NPs when it is simultaneously associated with a chemical reduction process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Photocatalytic, Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties of Nanoparticles)

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21 pages, 9305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PlantCrystals—Nanosized Plant Material for Improved Bioefficacy of Medical Plants

by Abraham M. Abraham, Reem M. Alnemari, Claus Jacob and Cornelia M. Keck

Materials 2020, 13(19), 4368; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13194368 - 30 Sep 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2445

Abstract

PlantCrystals are obtained by milling plant material to sizes < 10 µm. Due to the disruption of the plant cells, active compounds are easily released, rendering the PlantCrystal technology an effective and low-cost process for the production of environmentally friendly plant extracts. The extracts can be used to produce phytomedicines, nutritional supplements or cosmetic products. Previous studies could already demonstrate the use of PlantCrystals to improve the antimicrobial or antifungal activity of different plants. This study investigated whether PlantCrystal technology is suitable to produce plant derived formulations with high antioxidant capacity. The study also aimed to identify the most suitable production methods for this. Methods: Various plant materials and parts of plants, i.e., seeds, leaves and flowers, and different methods were employed for the production. PlantCrystals were characterized regarding size, physical stability and antioxidant capacity (AOC). Results: PlantCrystals with particles < 1 µm were produced from the different plant materials. Both production methods, i.e., high-pressure homogenization, bead milling or the combination of both were suitable to obtain PlantCrystals. Nano milling of the plant material greatly affected their AOC and resulted in formulations with distinctly higher AOC when compared to classical extracts. Conclusions: Rendering plant material into small sized particles is highly effective to obtain plant extracts with high biological efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research of Photocatalytic, Antibacterial and Biocompatible Properties of Nanoparticles)

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