Phytosynthesis and characterization of tin-oxide nanoparticles (SnO2-NPs) from Croton macrostachyus leaf extract and its application under visible light photocatalytic activities.

Nanotechnology is rapidly becoming more and more important in today's technological world as the need for industry increases with human well-being. In this study, we synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles (NPs) using an environmentally friendly method or green method from Croton macrostachyus leaf extract, leading to the transformation of UV absorbance to visible absorbance by reducing the band gap energy. The products underwent UV, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, XPS, BET, and DLS for characterization. Characterization via UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the shift in absorbance towards the visible spectrum, indicating the potential for enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The energy band gap for as-synthesized nanoparticles was 3.03 eV, 2.71 eV, 2.61 eV, and 2.41 eV for the 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 sample ratios, respectively. The average crystal size of 32.18 nm and very fine flakes with tiny agglomerate structures of nanoparticles was obtained. The photocatalytic activity of the green-synthesized SnO2 nanoparticles was explored under visible light irradiation for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB), which were widespread fabric pollutants. It was finally confirmed that the prepared NPs were actively used for photocatalytic degradation. Our results suggest the promising application of these green-synthesized SnO2 NPs as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation with low energy consumption compared to other light-driven processes. The radical scavenging experiment proved that hydroxyl radicals (_OH) are the predominant species in the reaction kinetics of both pollutant dyes under visible light degradation.

Enhanced in vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumors by PEGylated Iron-Oxide-Gold Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Prolonged Blood Circulation Properties.

High-density poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coated iron-oxide-gold core-shell nanoparticles (AuIONs) were developed as T(2) -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for cancer imaging. The PEG-coated iron-oxide-gold core-shell nanoparticles (PEG-AuIONs) were approximately 25 nm in diameter with a narrow distribution. Biodistribution experiments in mice bearing a subcutaneous colon cancer model prepared with C26 murine colon adenocarcinoma cells showed high accumulation of the PEG-AuIONs within the tumor mass and low nonspecific accumulation in the liver and spleen, resulting in high specificity to solid tumors. T(2) -weighted MR images following intravenous injection of PEG-AuIONs showed selective negative enhancement of tumor tissue in an orthotopic pancreatic cancer model prepared with MiaPaCa-2 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. These results indicate that PEG-AuIONs are a promising MRI contrast agent for diagnosis of malignant tumors, including pancreatic cancer.

Retention of enzymatic activity of alpha-amylase in the reductive synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

In this paper, we report the generation of Au nanoparticles (NPs), using a pure enzyme for the reduction of AuCl4(-), with the retention of enzymatic activity in the complex. As a model system, alpha-amylase was used to readily synthesize and stabilize Au NPs in aqueous solution. Although several other enzymes were also pursued for the synthesis, it was interesting to observe that only alpha-amylase and EcoRI could produce Au NPs. Following NP synthesis, the activity of the enzyme was retained in the Au NP-alpha-amylase complex. The presence of Au NPs and alpha-amylase in the complex was established by UV-visible and FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) measurements. Our observations suggest that the presence of free and exposed S-H groups is essential in the reduction of AuCl4(-) to Au NPs. Structural analysis of the enzymes showed that both alpha-amylase and EcoRI enzymes have free and exposed S-H groups in their native form and thus are suitable for the generation of NPs, whereas the other ones used here do not have such groups. Fortuitously, the enzymatic functional group of alpha-amylase is positioned opposite to that of the free and exposed S-H group, which makes it ideal for the production of Au NPs; binding of the enzyme to Au NPs via Au-S bond and also retention of the biological activity of the enzyme.

Au nanoparticles and polyaniline coated resin beads for simultaneous catalytic oxidation of glucose and colorimetric detection of the product.

In this letter, we report the synthesis of Au nanoparticles (NPs) and polyaniline (PANI) on the same cation-exchange resin beads and demonstrate their use in catalyzing the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid by Au NPs and simultaneously in detecting the formation of the acid by the color change of PANI. The synthesis was carried out by exchanging the cations of the resins with HAuCl4 and anilinuium chloride and then reducing the metal ions by NaBH4 to produce Au NPs followed by polymerization of aniline using H2O2. The green emeraldine salt form of PANI thus obtained was treated with NaOH to be converted to blue emeraldine base before use. The deposition of Au NPs was confirmed by a change in color of the bead, visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic measurements. On the other hand, the presence of PANI was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. The formation of gluconic acid from glucose was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. We could detect the presence of glucose of a minimum 1.0 mM concentration in water, using the present method. Our experimental observations demonstrate the possibility of the incorporation of multifunctional components on the surfaces of resins for carrying out a chemical reaction as well as detection of the product.

A polyaniline-containing filter paper that acts as a sensor, acid, base, and endpoint indicator and also filters acids and bases.

In this paper we report a new idea for synthesizing polyaniline in an ordinary filter paper. The synthesis was carried out by a process in which aqueous acidic aniline solution and the oxidizing agent H(2)O(2) was added to the paper drop by drop and in sequence. Uniform polymerization could be obtained with the addition of reagents in either sequence. The polymer formation led to a green coloration of the paper. Formation of the emeraldine salt of polyaniline was confirmed by UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopic measurements were made for surface characterization of the polymer formed in the paper. The same paper was used as a sensor for ammonia in vapor and in solution, for acid and base as well as endpoint indication, and also to filter acids and bases. We found that, using the polymer-containing paper, ammonia concentrations in a solution as low as 14 ppm could be measured.

Spreading and recoil of a surfactant-containing water drop on glass-supported alcohol films.

In this paper we report the experimental observation of spreading and recoil of surfactant-containing water drops on various alcohol films supported on glass slides. The time evolution of spreading and recoil behavior was recorded by placing a web camera above the drop. We observed that the drop spread the fastest on CH3OH, followed by C2H5OH, and the slowest on i-PrOH. On the other hand, the recoil behavior was just the opposite. The drop recoiled the slowest on CH3OH and fastest on i-PrOH, while it recoiled in an intermediate time on C2H5OH. In addition, concentration of surfactant in the drop played a prominent role in the spreading and recoil time of the drop, with higher surfactant concentration making the drop spread and recoil faster. The time evolution of spreading velocity of the drop on different alcohol films at various surfactant concentrations occurred with a Gaussian distribution and the peak velocity was reached earliest on CH3OH followed by C2H5OH, while on i-PrOH it took the longest time. The recoil behavior was similar. The variation of velocity as a function of radius exhibited oscillatory behavior, indicating the existence of an interfacial phenomenon. We also report the observation that spreading of the drop occurred without observable fingering instability. Further, we observed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements that the drop had mixed with the alcohol films as it spread. Miscibility of the alcohol in the film with the drop, alcohol evaporation cooling-induced temperature gradient, and Marangoni effect probably play important roles in the spreading and recoil behavior of the drop.

Starch-mediated shape-selective synthesis of Au nanoparticles with tunable longitudinal plasmon resonance.

We report the synthesis ofAu nanoparticles, with tunable longitudinal plasmon band and shape selectivity, mediated by starch in the presence of ultrasonic waves. The synthesis was carried out by reduction of HAuCl4, at various concentrations, using H2O2 as the reducing agent. When the reactions were carried out in the absence of ultrasonic waves, there was no occurrence of the longitudinal resonance band, while the transverse plasmon resonance band shifted toward a higher wavelength. Transmission electron microscopic measurements revealed an increase in particle sizes with increasing higher initial HAuCl4 concentration. On the other hand, in the presence of ultrasonic waves, as the initial concentration of HAuCl4 was increased, while the transverse plasmon resonance band remained the same, the longitudinal plasmon resonance band increasingly shifted toward a higher wavelength. Transmission electron microscopic measurements revealed the change in shape from spherical to triangular to hexagonal particles with increasing initial HAuC14 concentration. We also report that the starch-stabilized nanoparticles could be precipitated from the solution by a starch digesting enzyme which also binds with the particles resulting in its precipitation.

Reversible encapsulation of nanometer-size polyaniline and polyaniline-Au-nanoparticle composite in starch.

In this paper we report a new method of solubilization of polyaniline and polyaniline-Au-nanoparticle composite by encapsulating nanometer-size particles in starch. The solubilization was carried out in the presence of ultrasonic waves. We also report that the encapsulation was completely reversible and the dissolved polyaniline as well as the composite could be recovered by replacement with molecular iodine. In addition, the polymer particles could also replace molecular iodine from starch-iodine complex. UV-Visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic measurements established the reversible nature of encapsulation. Transmission electron microscopic measurements showed that the sizes of the particles encapsulated in starch were on the order of 10-20 nm for both polyaniline and Au-nanoparticle-polyaniline composite particles. X-ray diffraction evidenced the presence ofAu-nanoparticles in the starch-polyaniline-Au-nanoparticle composite. Finally, we also mention here that the dissolved polyaniline could also be recovered as a precipitate by enzyme (diastage) hydrolysis of the polyaniline encapsulating starch.

Synthesis of Au nanoparticle-conductive polyaniline composite using H2O2 as oxidising as well as reducing agent.

We report a new method of synthesis of an Au nanoparticle-conductive polyaniline composite by using H2O2 both for reduction of HAuCl4 and polymerization of aniline in the same aqueous medium: the electrical conductivity of the composite has been measured to be two orders of magnitude higher than the polymer itself.