ABSTRACT
Allylamine-functionalized silicon quantum dots (ASQDs) of high photostability are synthesized by a robust inverse micelle method to use the material as a fluorescent probe for selective recognition of thiocyanate (a biomarker of a smoker and a nonsmoker). The synthesized ASQDs were characterized by absorption, emission, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface morphology is studied by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The synthesized material exhibits desirable fluorescence behavior with a high quantum yield. A selective and accurate (up to 10-10 M) method of sensing of thiocyanate anion is developed based on fluorescence amplification and quenching of ASQDs. The sensing mechanism is investigated and interpreted with a crystal clear mechanistic approach through the modified Stern-Volmer plot. The developed material and the method is applied to recognize the anion in the human blood sample for identification of the degree of smoking. The material deserves high potentiality in the field of bio-medical science.
ABSTRACT
Green synthesis of silver nanomaterial plays a pivotal role in the growing field of nanotechnology. Development of anti-parasitic drugs from plant metabolites has been in regular practice from the ancient period but most of them were discarded due to their inefficiency to control diseases effectively. At present, nanoparticles are used for developing anti-parasitic therapy for their unique properties such as smallest in size, bio-ability, bio-compatibility and penetration capacity into a cell. The present study aims at synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using funicles extract of Acacia auriculiformis and tests its efficacy as antifilarial. Experimental evidence show that AgNPs are effective at a very low concentration compared to crude plant extracts. Synthesis of these nanoparticles is a single-step, biogenic, cost effective and eco-friendly process. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM, SAED, FTIR, EDX, FESEM and Z-potential. The antifilarial efficacy of AgNPs was tested against different life cycle stages of bovine filarial parasite Setaria cervi by morphological study, motility assessment and viability assay. These nanoparticles are found to have antifilarial activity with LC50 of 5.61 µg/mL and LC90 of 15.54 µg/mL against microfilaria of S. cervi. The microscopic findings and the detailed molecular studies confirmed that green synthesized AgNPs were effective enough to induce apoptosis through up regulation of ROS (reactive oxygen species).
