Potency of fibraurea tinctora lour. extract as anti-bacterial agents towards pathogenic bacteria

This research aimed to explore antibacterial activity of Fibraurea tinctora Lour. extracted by ethanol and hot water. The treatments of study consisted of six levels of F. tinctora plant extract (0 %, 0.625 %, 1.25 %, 2.50 %, 5.00 % and 10.0 %, respectively) either using ethanol or hot water, resulting in 12 experimental treatments according to 6 × 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Each of the treatment was replicated three times. Results of this research showed that either ethanol or hot water F. tinctora extract have potency to control farm pathogenic bacteria. In the lowest concentration (0.625 %) both extract significantly inhibited bacteria growth (Minimum Inhibition Concentration). The highest antibacterial activity was in group that had the highest concentration (10 %) of extract in both of the bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus were more susceptible to the F. tinctora extract than Escherichia coli. Result from spectrophotometry UV-vis assessments showed that the total composition of tannin, alkaloid, and saponin from ethanol extract of F. tinctoria is higher than its water based extract. Meanwhile, phenol composition of water-based extract from F. tinctoria is higher than from ethanol extract. Keywords: Antibacterial, bioactive compounds, herbal medicine, natural yellow roo

Nanoengineered hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the delivery of antimicrobial proteins into biofilms

The delivery of bactericidal proteins into biofilms is challenging. Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles with large cone-shaped pores were synthesized to deliver antimicrobial proteins into biofilms and showed enhanced antimicrobial activities. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Physicochemical characteristics of bionanocomposites, polycaprolactone/starch/cocoa pod husk microfibrillated cellulose

The development of biocomposites has increased due to their biodegradability,renewability, and high specific strength which are comparable with other polymer composites. Even though, the conventional composites are still in high demand due to their durability, however, it cannot decompose and the accumulation of these wastes for a long period is harmful to the living things and to the environment. Therefore, in this study the biodegradable polymers, polycaprolactone (PCL) and starch were selected in this study to synthesize bionanocomposite incorporated with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) was extracted from cocoa pod husk (CPH–MFC) and was mixed with PCL and starch, where its amount was varied between 3-10wt%. The prepared bionanocomposites were characterised in terms of its water uptake rate, and structural and thermal properties using Fourier transform infared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The morphology analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows that the CPH–MFC extracted was in nanoscale size. The percentage of water uptake of the prepared bionanocomposites increased with the amount of CPH–MFC. Meanwhile, the FTIR spectra of the prepared bionanocomposites showed almost similar characteristic peaks with the FTIR spectra of pure PCL. DSC analysis showed that the melting temperature increased as the amount of CPH–MFC increased. This study justifies that the incorporation of CPH–MFC with the PCL–starch matrix improved the water uptake rate and thermal properties but did not show significant changes to the structure of PCL

The role of tin and magnesium in assisting liquid phase sintering of aluminum (Al)

This study aims to investigate the effect of tin (Sn) and magnesium (Mg) on the sintering response of sintered Al. Although this topic has been extensively reported, details on the combined effect of Sn and Mg that function as sintering additives are still limited. The current study discusses the effect of the combined use of Sn and Mg to assist aluminium (Al) in liquid phase sintering via the powder metallurgy technique. The results demonstrated that the densities of sintered Al increased from 2.5397 to 2.575 g/cm3 as the Sn content increased from 1.5 to 2.5 wt. % respectively. Accordingly, the physical characteristics of sintered Al were transformed from black to silver, which confirmed the reduction in the oxygen content (oxide layer reduction) from 0.58 to 0.44 wt. % respectively. Additionally, the microstructure of the resultant sintered Al demonstrated that effective wetting by Sn addition was obtained at its maximum content of 2.5 wt. % with a greater micro pores reduction and better metallurgical bonding between Al particles. Therefore, the introduction of different Sn content, along with Mg element, was found to further improve the sintering response of the resultant sintered Al that consequently improved its densities and physical characteristics