Facet-Dependent Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Using Pristine CeO2 Nanostructures

This work comprises the shape-and facet-dependent catalytic efficacies of different morphologies of CeO2, namely, hexagonal, rectangular, and square. The formation of different shapes of CeO2 is controlled using polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a surfactant. The surface reactivity of formation of differently exposed CeO2 facets is thoroughly investigated using UV-visible, photoluminescence, Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies. A correlation between the growth of a surface-reactive facet and the corresponding oxygen vacancies is also established. Considering the tremendous contamination, caused by the textile effluents, the present study articulates the facet-dependent photocatalytic activities of pristine CeO2 for complete degradation of methylene blue within 175 min. The observed degradation time deploying pristine CeO2 as a catalyst is the shortest to be reported in the literature to our best knowledge

Immunomodulatory Role of Ocimum gratissimum and Ascorbic Acid against Nicotine-Induced Murine Peritoneal Macrophages In Vitro

The aim of this present study was to evaluate the immune functions and immune responses in nicotine-induced (10 mM) macrophages and concurrently establish the immunomodulatory role of aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum (Ae-Og) and ascorbic acid. In this study, nitrite generations and some phenotype functions by macrophages were studied. Beside that, release of Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12) and Th2 cytokines (IL-10, TGF-β) was measured by ELISA, and the expression of these cytokines at mRNA level was analyzed by real-time PCR. Ae-Og, at a dose of 10 μg/mL, significantly reduced the nicotine-induced NO generation and iNOSII expression. Similar kinds of response were observed with supplementation of ascorbic acid (0.01 mM). The administration of Ae-Og and ascorbic acid increased the decreased adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and intracellular killing of bacteria in nicotine-treated macrophages. Ae-Og and ascorbic acid were found to protect the murine peritoneal macrophages through downregulation of Th1 cytokines in nicotine-treated macrophages with concurrent activation of Th2 responses. These findings strongly enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanism leading to nicotine-induced suppression of immune functions and provide additional rationale for application of anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches by O. gratissimum and ascorbic acid for different inflammatory disease prevention and treatment during nicotine toxicity

Development of Low-ppm CO Sensors Using Pristine CeO2Nanospheres with High Surface Area

Mesoporous CeO2nanospheres with appreciably highsurface area are prepared using reversed micelles by a water-in-oilmicroemulsion method. The structural morphology and semiconduct-ing properties of the nanoparticles are thoroughly investigated using X-ray diffraction,field effect scanning electron microscopy, transmissionelectron microscopy, and UV−visible spectroscopic techniques. Evenafter high-temperature calcination, the morphological retention of thematerial is apparent by electron microscopy. The deployment ofundoped CeO2nanospheres for the detection of low-ppm CO yieldssuperior performances in terms of sensitivity, response−recovery times,and selectivity compared to those of other sensors of the same genre.These CO sensors exhibit∼52% sensitivity with a response time ofonly 13 s. The sensor parameters are analyzed as a function of bothtemperature and gas concentration. In addition to that on the cost-effective and scalable synthesis of CeO2nanospheres, this article also reports on the fabrication of packaged CO sensors, whichcan be potentially utilized for industrial and environmental monitoring purposes

Amelioratory Effect of Nanoconjugated Vancomycin on Spleen during VRSA-Induced Oxidative Stress

Objective. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible antioxidant effects of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VRSA infection on select makers of oxidative damage and antioxidant status in spleen. Methods. A coagulase-positive VRSA strain was used for this study. VRSA infection was developed in Swiss mice by intraperitoneal injection of 5 × 106 CFU/mL bacterial solutions. VRSA-infected mice were treated with nanoconjugated vancomycin at its effective dose for 10 days. After decapitation, blood was used for determination of viable bacteria count and spleen was excised from control and experimental groups, homogenized and used for different biochemical estimations. Results. Nitrate level, myeloperoxidase activity, lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, oxidized glutathione, and DNA fragmentation level were increased significantly (P < 0.05) in spleen of VRSA-infected group as compared to control group, and reduced glutathione level, activity of SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, and GST were decreased significantly (P < 0.05); which were increased or decreased significantly (P < 0.05) near to normal in nanoconjugated vancomycin-treated group. Conclusion. These findings suggest the potential use and beneficial role of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VRSA-infection-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in spleen

Pro-Oxidant Therapeutic Activities of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells

Given that basal levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are higher in cancer cells, there is a growing school of thought that endorses pro-oxidants as potential chemotherapeutic agents. Intriguingly, cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles can manifest either anti- or pro-oxidant activity as a function of differential pH of various subcellular localizations. In an acidic pH environment, for example, in extracellular milieu of cancer cells, CeO2 would function as a pro-oxidant. Based on this concept, the present study is designed to investigate the pro-oxidant activities of CeO2 in human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HCT 116). For comparison, we have also studied the effect of ceria nanoparticles on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Dose-dependent viability of cancerous as well as normal cells has been assessed by treating them independently with CeO2 nanoparticles of different concentrations (5-100 mu g/mL) in the culture media. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of nanoceria for HCT 116 is found to be 50.48 mu g/mL while that for the HEK 293 cell line is 92.03 mu g/mL. To understand the intricate molecular mechanisms of CeO2-induced cellular apoptosis, a series of experiments have been conducted. The apoptosis-inducing ability of nanoceria has been investigated by Annexin V-FITC staining, caspase 3/9 analysis, cytochrome c release, intracellular ROS analysis, and mitochondrial membrane potential analysis using flow cytometry. Experimental data suggest that CeO2 treatment causes DNA fragmentation through enhanced generation of ROS, which ultimately leads to cellular apoptosis through the p53-dependent mitochondrial signaling pathway

Age associated oxidative damage in lymphocytes

Lymphocytes are an important immunological cell and have been played a significant role in acquired immune system; hence, may play in pivotal role in immunosenescence. Oxidative stress has been reported to increase in elderly subjects, possibly arising from an uncontrolled production of free radicals with aging and decreased antioxidant defenses. This study was aimed to evaluate the level of lipid-protein damage and antioxidant status in lymphocytes of healthy individuals to correlate between oxidative damage with the aging process. Twenty healthy individuals of each age group (11–20; 21–30; 31–40; 41–50; and 51–60 years) were selected randomly. Blood samples were drawn by medical practitioner and lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples. Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PC) level were evaluated to determine the lipid and protein damage in lymphocytes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione and glutathione dependent enzymes were estimated to evaluate the antioxidant status in the lymphocytes. Increased MDA and PC levels strongly support the increased oxidative damage in elderly subject than young subjects. The results indicated that, balance of oxidant and antioxidant systems in lymphocytes shifts in favor of accelerated oxidative damage during aging. Thus oxidative stress in lymphocytes may particular interest in aging and may play important role in immunosenescence

Single cell fertilizer (SCF): Evidence to prove that bio-molecules are potent nutrient for plant growth

Fertilizers of various kinds are used for the cultivation of crop plants for hyper production of plant based food materials. The study used bio-molecules made in a bacterial cell. The experimental results showed tremendous effect on plant growth. These cellular molecules were made by treating the bacterial cells with lysozyme and protenase K. The wet/weight was increased in multiple folds compared to that of control sets. The fold of increase was 4.79 for rice, 2.77 for wheat, 1.89 for gram and 1.89 for pea when bacterial cellular molecules were used as fertilizer

Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus in Lymphocytes Induces Oxidative Stress and DNA Fragmentation: Possible Ameliorative Role of Nanoconjugated Vancomycin

Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently isolated pathogen causing bloodstream infections, skin and soft tissue infections and pneumonia. Lymphocyte is an important immune cell. The aim of the present paper was to test the ameliorative role of nanoconjugated vancomycin against Vancomycin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (VSSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infection-induced oxidative stress in lymphocytes. VSSA and VRSA infections were developed in Swiss mice by intraperitoneal injection of 5 × 106 CFU/mL bacterial solutions. Nanoconjugated vancomycin was adminstrated to VSSA- and VRSA-infected mice at its effective dose for 10 days. Vancomycin was adminstrated to VSSA- and VRSA-infected mice at a similar dose, respectively, for 10 days. Vancomycin and nanoconjugated vancomycin were adminstrated to normal mice at their effective doses for 10 days. The result of this study reveals that in vivo VSSA and VRSA infection significantly increases the level of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, oxidized glutathione level, nitrite generation, nitrite release, and DNA damage and decreases the level of reduced glutathione, antioxidant enzyme status, and glutathione-dependent enzymes as compared to control group, which were increased or decreased significantly near to normal in nanoconjugated vancomycin-treated group. These findings suggest the potential use and beneficial role of nanoconjugated vancomycin against VSSA and VRSA infection-induced oxidative stress in lymphocytes

Butea monosperma bark extract mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Characterization and biomedical applications

AbstractThe work deals with an environmentally benign process for the synthesis of silver nanoparticle using Butea monosperma bark extract which is used both as a reducing as well as capping agent at room temperature. The reaction mixture turned brownish yellow after about 24h and an intense surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at around 424nm clearly indicates the formation of silver nanoparticles. Fourier transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed that the nanoparticles were capped with compounds present in the plant extract. Formation of crystalline fcc silver nanoparticles is analysed by XRD data and the SAED pattern obtained also confirms the crystalline behaviour of the Ag nanoparticles. The size and morphology of these nanoparticles were studied using High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) which showed that the nanoparticles had an average dimension of ∼35nm. A larger DLS data of ∼98nm shows the presence of the stabilizer on the nanoparticles surface. The bio-synthesized silver nanoparticles revealed potent antibacterial activity against human bacteria of both Gram types. In addition these biologically synthesized nanoparticles also proved to exhibit excellent cytotoxic effect on human myeloid leukemia cell line, KG-1A with IC50 value of 11.47μg/mL