The Antibacterial and Antifungal Textile Properties Functionalized by Bimetallic Nanoparticles of Ag/Cu with Different Structures

We reported a preparation and characterization of five kinds of impregnation solutions, containing Ag/Cu in the form of bimetallic nanoparticles (alloy and core-shell) as well as ionic species. The cotton-polyester textiles were successfully impregnated during the washing and ironing process by as-prepared solutions to have antibacterial and antifungal properties against to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Moreover, we have reported the effect of type of the fabric used and number of washing/impregnation cycles (in a laboratory scale) on the bactericidal and fungicidal activity of obtained textiles. The results indicated that all tested samples after 5, 10, 15, and 20 washing/impregnated cycles exhibited an antimicrobial activity. The antifungal tests showed that only textile impregnated with solutions containing Ag+/Cu2+ and Ag NPs/Cu2+ exhibited a strong inhibition of fungi growth of the after 5 (99.99%) and 15 (100%) washing/impregnation cycles, respectively

Synthesis and Characterization of Monometallic (Ag, Cu) and Bimetallic Ag-Cu Particles for Antibacterial and Antifungal Applications

In this paper, the experimental studies are concerned with the effect of the synthesis parameters on the formation of monometallic Ag and Cu nanoparticles (NPs). We consider the synthesis strategies verification for the bimetallic core-shell and alloy particles preparation. It was successfully obtained by chemical reduction method. The obtained colloidal solution is characterized by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) data, UV-Vis spectra, particle size distribution, and zeta potential. This work presents a comprehensive overview of experimental studies of the most stable colloidal solutions to impregnate fabrics that will exhibit a bactericidal and fungicidal activity against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus

Mutational analysis in podocin-associated hereditary nephrotic syndrome in Polish patients: founder effect in the Kashubian population

Hereditary nephrotic syndrome is caused by mutations in a number of different genes, the most common being NPHS2. The aim of the study was to identify the spectrum of NPHS2 mutations in Polish patients with the disease. A total of 141 children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) were enrolled in the study. Mutational analysis included the entire coding sequence and intron boundaries of the NPHS2 gene. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and TaqMan genotyping assay were applied to detect selected NPHS2 sequence variants in 575 population-matched controls. Twenty patients (14 %) had homozygous or compound heterozygous NPHS2 mutations, the most frequent being c.1032delT found in 11 children and p.R138Q found in four patients. Carriers of the c.1032delT allele were exclusively found in the Pomeranian (Kashubian) region, suggesting a founder effect origin. The 14 % NPHS2 gene mutation detection rate is similar to that observed in other populations. The heterogeneity of mutations detected in the studied group confirms the requirement of genetic testing the entire NPHS2 coding sequence in Polish patients, with the exception of Kashubs, who should be initially screened for the c.1032delT deletion

Enhanced Visible Light Active WO3 Thin Films Toward Air Purification: Effect of the Synthesis Conditions

Taking our current environmental situation in the world into consideration, people should face growing problems of air and water pollution. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a highly promising tool to improve both air and water quality through decomposition/mineralization of contaminants directly into harmless CO2 and H2O under ambient conditions. In this contribution, we focused on the synthesis of self-assembly WO3 thin films via an electrochemical approach in the aqueous electrolyte containing fluoride ions toward air purification. The effect of preparation conditions such as applied potential (10–50 V), anodization time (15–120 min), concentration of H2SO4 (0.5–1.5 M) and NaF (0.1–1.0 wt.%) on the morphology, photocurrent response, and photocatalytic activity addressed to removal of air pollutant in the presence of as-prepared WO3 samples were thoroughly examined and presented. The results revealed the growth of nanoplatelets and their gradual transformation into flower-like structures. The oxide layers and platelet thickness of the WO3 samples were found to be proportionally related with the synthesis conditions. The photocatalytic ability toward air purification was evaluated by degradation of toluene from air mixture using low-powered LEDs as an irradiation source (λmax = 415 nm). The highest photoactivity was achieved in presence of the sample which possessed a well-ordered, regular shape and repeatable distribution of flower buds (100% of degradation). The results have confirmed that the oxide layer thickness of the anodic WO3 significantly affected the photocatalytic activity, which increased with the increasing thickness of WO3 (to 1.05 μm) and then had a downward trend. The photocurrent response evidenced that the well-organized sample had the highest ability in photocurrent generation under UV-Vis and Vis irradiation. Finally, a possible growth mechanism of WO3 NFs was also discussed

How Do Ionic Liquids Affect the Surface Structure of Titania Photocatalyst? An Electron-Trap Distribution-Analysis Study

Titanium(IV) oxide, titania, photocatalyst particles were prepared from titanium alkoxide in the presence of several kinds of ionic liquids, and it was clarified that a group of samples exhibited photocatalytic activity for phenol degradation under the irradiation of light of wavelength >400 nm higher than those of the other group of samples. Although the conventional structural analytical results could not be related to the activity, electron-trap distribution measured by reversed double-beam photoacoustic spectroscopy suggested that a part of the ionic liquid induced the creation of a surface amorphous layer covered with hydrophobic organic residues to enhance the adsorption of phenol on the surface

Metal Titanate (ATiO3, A: Ni, Co, Mg, Zn) Nanorods for Toluene Photooxidation under LED Illumination

The increasing air pollution taking place in virtue of human activity has a novel impact in our health. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a promising way of degrading volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that makes the quest of new and improved photocatalysts of great importance. Herein, perovskite-related materials ATiO3 with A = Mg, Ni, Co, Zn were synthesized through an ethylene glycol-mediated root, with ethylene glycol being used as a solvent and ligand. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) were used in order to confirm the structure, the nanorod morphology, their absorption in UV-vis, and the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. The highest photoactivity was observed for ZnTiO3 in which 62% of toluene was decomposed after 60 min under LED illumination (54 mW/cm2)

Impact of Tetrazolium Ionic Liquid Thermal Decomposition in Solvothermal Reaction on the Remarkable Photocatalytic Properties of TiO₂ Particles

Ionic liquids (ILs) could serve as a structuring agent, a solvent, or a source of dopant during solvothermal synthesis of semiconductors particles. To understand the role of IL during formation of TiO2 particles, it is necessary to study the stability of this IL in solvothermal synthesis conditions, as well as studying the surface properties of formed TiO2 particles. In view of this, the effect of the 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride IL ([TPTZ][Cl]) thermal decomposition during the solvothermal reaction and IL content in the reaction system on photoactivity of TiO2 microparticles has been systematically investigated. The samples obtained by using [TPTZ][Cl] exhibited remarkable photocatalytic properties in phenol degradation reaction under visible light. HPLC analysis of the solvothermal reaction medium and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of TiO2 particles revealed that [TPTZ][Cl] was decomposed completely and was incorporated into the TiO2 lattice. Generally, increasing the reaction time (1, 4, 12, and 24 h) promoted the TiO2 microspheres formation, as well as raising the visible light-induced photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts. Longer reaction time was also accompanied by an increase in the efficiency of 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride decomposition. The properties of the photocatalysts were investigated by means of UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), BET surface area measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, and XPS

The Effect of AgInS2, SnS, CuS2, Bi2S3 Quantum Dots on the Surface Properties and Photocatalytic Activity of QDs-Sensitized TiO2 Composite

The effect of type (AgInS2, SnS, CuS2, Bi2S3) and amount (5, 10, 15 wt%) of quantum dots (QDs) on the surface properties and photocatalytic activity of QDs-sensitized TiO2 composite, was investigated. AgInS2, SnS, CuS2, Bi2S3 QDs were obtained by hot-injection, sonochemical, microwave, and hot-injection method, respectively. To characterize of as-prepared samples high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) emission spectroscopy were applied. The size of AgInS2, SnS, CuS2, Bi2S3 QDs were 12; 2–6; 2–3, and 1–2 nm, respectively. The QDs and QDs-sensitized TiO2 composites obtained have been tested in toluene degradation under LEDs light irradiation (λmax = 415 nm and λmax = 375 nm). For pristine QDs the efficiency of toluene degradation increased in the order of AgInS2 < Bi2S3 < CuS < SnS under 375 nm and AgInS2 < CuS < Bi2S3 < SnS under 415 nm. In the presence of TiO2/SnS QDs_15% composite, 91% of toluene was degraded after 1 h of irradiation, and this efficiency was about 12 higher than that for pristine QDs under 375 nm. Generally, building the TiO2/AgInS2 and TiO2/SnS exhibited higher photoactivity under 375 nm than the pristine TiO2 and QDs which suggests a synergistic effect between QDs and TiO2 matrix