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Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 30036

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Dr. Nagaraj Basavegowda

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Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38451, Republic of Korea
Interests: multimetallic nanoparticles; antimicrobial agents; synergistic effects; environmental remediation; photocatalytic; organic transformation; energy storage; biosensors; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Kwang-Hyun Baek

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Guest Editor

Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38451, Republic of Korea
Interests: antimicrobial agents; synergistic effects; nanoparticles; essential oils; secondary metabolites; plant extracts; bacteria; fungi; viruses; multidrug resistance; microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few decades, many pathogenic bacteria have become resistant to existing antibiotics, which has become a threat to infectious disease control worldwide. As a result, there has been an extensive search for new, efficient, and alternative sources of antimicrobial agents to combat multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. Metal and metal oxide nanocomposites have received considerable attention as an alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents because of their diverse shape, size, high surface-to-volume ratio, chemical/physical stability, activity, and greater degree of selectivity. The design and synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanocomposites (e.g. mono, bi-, tri- and multi-metallic nanocomposites) as well as polymer-based nanocomposites and hydrogels with diversified nanostructures (e.g. nanoarrays, nanotubes, core-shell, nanosheets, and nanorods) has sparked considerable interest in terms of biomedical therapeutics, bioimaging, biosensors, drug delivery, and antimicrobial attributes. As opposed to focusing on individual components, combinations of two or three antimicrobial agents as synergy represent a potential area in need and worthy of further investigation due to several substances with the ability to improve solubility. This Special Issue aims to attract contributions on all aspects of the synthesis, characterization, and biomedical application of different metal and metal oxide nanomaterials, and nanocomposites. Original research articles and reviews that make substantial advances within this field are invited to this editorial project.

Dr. Nagaraj Basavegowda
Prof. Dr. Kwang-Hyun Baek
Guest Editors

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Keywords

nanotechnology, nanomedicine, nanomaterials, nanoparticles, nanocarriers, nanocomposites
monometallic NPs, bi-metallic NPs, tri-metallic NPs
polymer-based nanocomposites, nanoarrays, nanotubes, core-shell, nanosheets, nanorods
advanced design and synthesis, green synthesis, chemical synthesis, design and preparation of novel nanostructured materials
synergy, biomedical therapeutics, bio imaging, biosensor, drug delivery, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial agents

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 5056 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Ag/ZnO Reinforcements on the Anticancer and Biological Performances of CA@Ag/ZnO Nanocomposite Materials

by Nadiyah Alahmadi and Mahmoud A. Hussein

Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1290; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031290 - 29 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1474

Abstract

In this study, an unpretentious, non-toxic, and cost-effective dissolution casting method was utilized to synthesize a group of anticancer and biologically active hybrid nanocomposite materials containing biopolymer cellulose acetate. Pristine ZnO and Ag_{(0.01, 0.05, 0.1)}/ZnO hybrid nanofillers based on variable Ag NP loadings were prepared via green procedures in the presence of gum arabic (GA). The chemical structures and the morphological features of the designed nanocomposite materials were investigated by PXRD, TEM, SEM, FTIR, TGA, and XPS characterization techniques. The characterization techniques confirmed the formation of CA@Ag_{(0.01, 0.05, 0.1)}/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite materials with an average crystallite size of 15 nm. All investigated materials showed two degradation steps. The thermal stability of the fabricated samples was ranked in the following order: CA/ZnO < CA@Ag_(0.01)/ZnO < CA@Ag_(0.05)/ZnO = CA@Ag_(0.1)/ZnO. Hence, the higher Ag doping level slightly enhanced the thermal stability. The developed nanocomposites were tested against six pathogens and were used as the target material to reduce the number of cancer cells. The presence of Ag NPs had a positive impact on the biological and the anticancer activities of the CA-reinforced Ag/ZnO composite materials. The CA@Ag_(0.1)/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite membrane had the highest antimicrobial activity in comparison to the other fabricated materials. Furthermore, the developed CA@Ag_(0.1)/ZnO hybrid nanocomposite material effectively induced cell death in breast cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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25 pages, 11740 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Algal-Derived Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Unicellular ulvophyte sp. MBIC10591: Optimisation, Characterisation, and Biological Activities

by Reham Samir Hamida, Mohamed Abdelaal Ali, Mariam Abdulaziz Alkhateeb, Haifa Essa Alfassam, Maha Abdullah Momenah and Mashael Mohammed Bin-Meferij

Molecules 2023, 28(1), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010279 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1898

Abstract

Algal-mediated synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) is an eco-friendly alternative for producing NPs with potent physicochemical and biological properties. Microalgae represent an ideal bio-nanofactory because they contain several biomolecules acting as passivation and stabilising agents during the biogenesis of NPs. Herein, a novel microalgae sp. was isolated, purified, and identified using light and electron microscopy and 18s rRNA sequencing. The chemical components of their watery extract were assessed using GC-MS. Their dried biomass was used to synthesise silver (Ag) NPs with different optimisation parameters. Ag-NPs were physiochemically characterised, and their anticancer and antibacterial effects were examined. The data showed that the isolated strain was 99% similar to the unicellular ulvophyte sp. MBIC10591; it was ellipsoidal to spherical and had a large cup-shaped spongiomorph chloroplast. The optimum parameters for synthesising Ag-NPs by unicellular ulvophyte sp. MBIC10591 (Uv@Ag-NPs) were as follows: mixture of 1 mM of AgNO₃ with an equal volume of algal extract, 100 °C for 1 h, and pH of 7 under illumination for 24 h. TEM, HRTEM, and SEM revealed that Uv@Ag-NPs are cubic to spherical, with an average nanosize of 12.1 ± 1.2 nm. EDx and mapping analysis showed that the sample had 79% of Ag, while FTIR revealed the existence of several functional groups on the NP surface derivatives from the algal extract. The Uv@Ag-NPs had a hydrodynamic diameter of 178.1 nm and a potential charge of −26.7 mV and showed marked antiproliferative activity against PC3, MDA-MB-231, T47D, and MCF-7, with IC₅₀ values of 27.4, 20.3, 23.8, and 40 µg/mL, respectively, and moderate toxicity against HFs (IC₅₀ of 13.3 µg/mL). Uv@Ag-NPs also showed marked biocidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Escherichia coli was the most sensitive bacteria to the NPs with an inhibition zone of 18.9 ± 0.03 mm. The current study reports, for the first time, the morphological appearance of the novel unicellular ulvophyte sp., MBIC10591, and its chemical composition and potential to synthesise Uv@Ag-NPs with smaller sizes and high stability to act as anti-tumour and microbial agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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18 pages, 5188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Mg-Doped CuO Nanoparticles

by Russul M. Adnan, Malak Mezher, Alaa M. Abdallah, Ramadan Awad and Mahmoud I. Khalil

Molecules 2023, 28(1), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010103 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2132

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of magnesium (Mg) doping on the characteristics and antibacterial properties of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs). The Mg-doped CuO NPs were fabricated by the co-precipitation method. NPs were characterized by X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Photoluminescence (PL). Broth microdilution, agar-well diffusion, and time-kill assays were employed to assess the antibacterial activity of the NPs. XRD revealed the monoclinic structure of CuO NPs and the successful incorporation of Mg dopant to the Cu_1−xMg_xO NPs. TEM revealed the spherical shape of the CuO NPs. Mg doping affected the morphology of NPs and decreased their agglomeration. EDX patterns confirmed the high purity of the undoped and Mg-doped CuO NPs. FTIR analysis revealed the shifts in the Cu–O bond induced by the Mg dopant. The position, width, and intensity of the PL bands were affected as a result of Mg doping, which is an indication of vacancies. Both undoped and doped CuO NPs exhibited significant antibacterial capacities. NPs inhibited the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These results highlight the potential use of Mg-doped CuO NPs as an antibacterial agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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16 pages, 4210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and Its Effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

by Syed Ghazanfar Ali, Mohammad Jalal, Hilal Ahmad, Khalid Umar, Akil Ahmad, Mohammed B. Alshammari and Haris Manzoor Khan

Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8685; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248685 - 08 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1651

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance has posed a serious health concern worldwide, which is mainly due to the excessive use of antibiotics. In this study, gold nanoparticles synthesized from the plant Tinospora cordifolia were used against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The active components involved in the reduction and stabilization of gold nanoparticles were revealed by gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry(GC-MS) of the stem extract of Tinospora cordifolia. Gold nanoparticles (TG-AuNPs) were effective against P. aeruginosa at different concentrations (50,100, and 150 µg/mL). TG-AuNPs effectively reduced the pyocyanin level by 63.1% in PAO1 and by 68.7% in clinical isolates at 150 µg/mL; similarly, swarming and swimming motilities decreased by 53.1% and 53.8% for PAO1 and 66.6% and 52.8% in clinical isolates, respectively. Biofilm production was also reduced, and at a maximum concentration of 150 µg/mL of TG-AuNPs a 59.09% reduction inPAO1 and 64.7% reduction in clinical isolates were observed. Lower concentrations of TG-AuNPs (100 and 50 µg/mL) also reduced the pyocyanin, biofilm, swarming, and swimming. Phenotypically, the downregulation of exopolysaccharide secretion from P. aeruginosa due to TG-AuNPs was observed on Congo red agar plates Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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17 pages, 4364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Paclitaxel-Encapsulated Bio-Functionalized Selenium Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Efficacy against Cervical Cancer

by Soumya Menon, Santhoshkumar Jayakodi, Kanti Kusum Yadav, Prathap Somu, Mona Isaq, Venkat Kumar Shanmugam, Amballa Chaitanyakumar and Nagaraj Basavegowda

Molecules 2022, 27(21), 7290; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217290 - 27 Oct 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1816

Abstract

The potentiality of nanomedicine in the cancer treatment being widely recognized in the recent years. In the present investigation, the synergistic effects of chitosan-modified selenium nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel (PTX-chit-SeNPs) were studied. These selenium nanoparticles were tested for drug release analysis at a pH of 7.4 and 5.5, and further characterized using FTIR, DLS, zeta potential, and TEM to confirm their morphology, and the encapsulation of the drug was carried out using UPLC analysis. Quantitative evaluation of anti-cancer properties was performed via MTT analysis, apoptosis, gene expression analysis, cell cycle arrest, and over-production of ROS. The unique combination of phytochemicals from the seed extract, chitosan, paclitaxel, and selenium nanoparticles can be effectively utilized to combat cancerous cells. The production of the nanosystem has been demonstrated to be cost-effective and have unique characteristics, and can be utilized for improving future diagnostic approaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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11 pages, 3942 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigations into the Antifungal, Photocatalytic, and Physicochemical Properties of Sol-Gel-Produced Tin Dioxide Nanoparticles

by Sirajul Haq, Nadia Shahzad, Muhammad Imran Shahzad, Khaled Elmnasri, Manel Ben Ali, Alaa Baazeem, Amor Hedfi and Rimsha Ehsan

Molecules 2022, 27(19), 6750; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27196750 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1306

Abstract

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were applied to evaluate the tin dioxide nanoparticles (SnO₂ NPs) amalgamated by the sol-gel process. XRD was used to examine the tetragonal-shaped crystallite with an average size of 26.95 (±1) nm, whereas the average particle size estimated from the TEM micrograph is 20.59 (±2) nm. A dose-dependent antifun3al activity was performed against two fungal species, and the activity was observed to be increased with an increase in the concentration of SnO₂ NPs. The photocatalytic activity of SnO₂ NPs in aqueous media was tested using Rhodamine 6G (Rh-6G) under solar light illumination. The Rh-6G was degraded at a rate of 0.96 × 10⁻² min for a total of 94.18 percent in 350 min. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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13 pages, 6205 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Spondias mombin Extract and Their Antimicrobial Activity against Biofilm-Producing Bacteria

by Sumitha Samuggam, Suresh V. Chinni, Prasanna Mutusamy, Subash C. B. Gopinath, Periasamy Anbu, Vijayan Venugopal, Lebaka Veeranjaneya Reddy and Balaji Enugutti

Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2681; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092681 - 03 May 2021

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4170

Abstract

Multidrug resistant bacteria create a challenging situation for society to treat infections. Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the reason for biofilm bacteria to cause chronic infection. Plant-based nanoparticles could be an alternative solution as potential drug candidates against these MDR bacteria, as many plants are well known for their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms. Spondias mombin is a traditional plant which has already been used for medicinal purposes as every part of this plant has been proven to have its own medicinal values. In this research, the S. mombin extract was used to synthesise AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized and further tested for their antibacterial, reactive oxygen species and cytotoxicity properties. The characterization results showed the synthesized AgNPs to be between 8 to 50 nm with -11.52 of zeta potential value. The existence of the silver element in the AgNPs was confirmed with the peaks obtained in the EDX spectrometry. Significant antibacterial activity was observed against selected biofilm-forming pathogenic bacteria. The cytotoxicity study with A. salina revealed the LC50 of synthesized AgNPs was at 0.81 mg/mL. Based on the ROS quantification, it was suggested that the ROS production, due to the interaction of AgNP with different bacterial cells, causes structural changes of the cell. This proves that the synthesized AgNPs could be an effective drug against multidrug resistant bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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11 pages, 25070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biogenic Synthesis of NiO Nanoparticles Using Areca catechu Leaf Extract and Their Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Effects

by Shwetha U R, Rajith Kumar C R, Kiran M S, Virupaxappa S. Betageri, Latha M S, Ravindra Veerapur, Ghada Lamraoui, Abdulaziz A. Al-Kheraif, Abdallah M. Elgorban, Asad Syed, Chandan Shivamallu and Shiva Prasad Kollur

Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2448; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092448 - 22 Apr 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3173

Abstract

Nanoworld is an attractive sphere with the potential to explore novel nanomaterials with valuable applications in medicinal science. Herein, we report an efficient and ecofriendly approach for the synthesis of Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) via a solution combustion method using Areca catechu leaf extract. As-prepared NiO NPs were characterized using various analytical tools such as powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). XRD analysis illustrates that synthesized NiO NPs are hexagonal structured crystallites with an average size of 5.46 nm and a hexagonal-shaped morphology with slight agglomeration. The morphology, size, and shape of the obtained material was further confirmed using SEM and TEM analysis. In addition, as-prepared NiO NPs have shown potential antidiabetic and anticancer properties. Our results suggest that the inhibition of α-amylase enzyme with IC 50 value 268.13 µg/mL may be one of the feasible ways through which the NiO NPs exert their hypoglycemic effect. Furthermore, cytotoxic activity performed using NiO NPs exhibited against human lung cancer cell line (A549) proved that the prepared NiO NPs have significant anticancer activity with 93.349 μg/mL at 50% inhibition concentration. The biological assay results revealed that NiO NPs exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human lung cancer cell line (A549) in a dose-dependent manner from 0–100 μg/mL, showing considerable cell viability. Further, the systematic approach deliberates the NiO NPs as a function of phenolic extracts of A. catechu with vast potential for many biological and biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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13 pages, 2682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effects of Traditional Polyherbs on Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury Cell Model by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and MAPK Signaling Pathway

by VinayKumar Dachuri, Phil Hyun Song, Young Woo Kim, Sae-Kwang Ku and Chang-Hyun Song

Molecules 2020, 25(23), 5641; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25235641 - 30 Nov 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1907

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a disease caused by sudden renal dysfunction, which is an important risk factor for chronic renal failure. However, there is no effective treatment for renal impairment. Although some traditional polyherbs are commercially available for renal diseases, their effectiveness has not been reported. Therefore, we examined the nephroprotective effects of polyherbs and their relevant mechanisms in a cisplatin-induced cell injury model. Rat NRK-52E and human HK-2 subjected to cisplatin-induced AKI were treated with four polyherbs, Injinhotang (IJ), Ucha-Shinki-Hwan (US), Yukmijihwang-tang (YJ), and Urofen^TM (Uro) similar with Yondansagan-tang, for three days. All polyherbs showed strong free radical scavenging activities, and the treatments prevented cisplatin-induced cell death in both models, especially at 1.2 mg/mL. The protective effects involved antioxidant effects by reducing reactive oxygen species and increasing the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. The polyherbs also reduced the number of annexin V-positive apoptotic cells and the expression of cleaved caspase-3, along with inhibited expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase-related proteins. These findings provide evidence for promoting the development of herbal formulas as an alternative therapy for treating AKI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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Review

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21 pages, 1129 KiB

Open AccessReview

Multimetallic Nanoparticles as Alternative Antimicrobial Agents: Challenges and Perspectives

by Nagaraj Basavegowda and Kwang-Hyun Baek

Molecules 2021, 26(4), 912; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26040912 - 09 Feb 2021

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 4266

Abstract

Recently, infectious diseases caused by bacterial pathogens have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics. This has triggered initiatives to develop novel, alternative antimicrobial materials, which solve the issue of infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nanotechnology using nanoscale materials, especially multimetallic nanoparticles (NPs), has attracted interest because of the favorable physicochemical properties of these materials, including antibacterial properties and excellent biocompatibility. Multimetallic NPs, particularly those formed by more than two metals, exhibit rich electronic, optical, and magnetic properties. Multimetallic NP properties, including size and shape, zeta potential, and large surface area, facilitate their efficient interaction with bacterial cell membranes, thereby inducing disruption, reactive oxygen species production, protein dysfunction, DNA damage, and killing potentiated by the host’s immune system. In this review, we summarize research progress on the synergistic effect of multimetallic NPs as alternative antimicrobial agents for treating severe bacterial infections. We highlight recent promising innovations of multimetallic NPs that help overcome antimicrobial resistance. These include insights into their properties, mode of action, the development of synthetic methods, and combinatorial therapies using bi- and trimetallic NPs with other existing antimicrobial agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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27 pages, 1698 KiB

Open AccessReview

Superior Properties and Biomedical Applications of Microorganism-Derived Fluorescent Quantum Dots

by Mohamed Abdel-Salam, Basma Omran, Kathryn Whitehead and Kwang-Hyun Baek

Molecules 2020, 25(19), 4486; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25194486 - 30 Sep 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4791

Abstract

Quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent nanocrystals with superb photo-physical properties. Applications of QDs have been exponentially increased during the past decade. They can be employed in several disciplines, including biological, optical, biomedical, engineering, and energy applications. This review highlights the structural composition and distinctive features of QDs, such as resistance to photo-bleaching, wide range of excitations, and size-dependent light emission features. Physical and chemical preparation of QDs have prominent downsides, including high costs, regeneration of hazardous byproducts, and use of external noxious chemicals for capping and stabilization purposes. To eliminate the demerits of these methods, an emphasis on the latest progress of microbial synthesis of QDs by bacteria, yeast, and fungi is introduced. Some of the biomedical applications of QDs are overviewed as well, such as tumor and microRNA detection, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and microbial labeling. Challenges facing the microbial fabrication of QDs are discussed with the future prospects to fully maximize the yield of QDs by elucidating the key enzymes intermediating the nucleation and growth of QDs. Exploration of the distribution and mode of action of QDs is required to promote their biomedical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Characterization and Biomedical Applications)

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