In this study, Cu₂O nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol–gel technique and subsequently functionalized with extracts from plants of the Rauvolfioideae subfamily and citrus fruits. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM, were employed to evaluate the structural and surface properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. The results demonstrated that both functionalized Cu₂O nanoparticles exhibit mesoporous structures, as confirmed by nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms and the pore size distribution analysis. The green extract functionalized nanoparticles displayed a more uniform pore size distribution compared to those functionalized with the orange extract. The study underscores the potential of these functionalized Cu₂O nanoparticles for applications in drug delivery, catalysis, and adsorption processes, highlighting the influence of the functionalization method on their textural properties and performance in antibacterial efficacy.

This study aimed to develop Ca²⁺ doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and investigate their antibacterial properties against microorganisms of dental interest. Zn-Ca NPs were synthesized by the sol-gel method with different concentrations of Ca²⁺ (1, 3, and 5 wt. %) and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The Kirby–Bauer method was used to measure antibacterial effects. NPs showed the wurzite phase of ZnO and bandgap energies (Eg) from 2.99 to 3.04 eV. SEM analysis showed an average particle size of 80 to 160 nm. The treatments that presented the best antibacterial activity were Zn-Ca 3% and Zn-Ca 5%. ZnO NPs represent an alternative to generate and improve materials with antibacterial capacity for dental applications.

This paper reports the results of the PLGA–TiO₂ nanocomposite regarding the green synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using a natural extract, its characterization, and encapsulation with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). UV–visible spectrometry was used for the identification of terpenes present in the extracts. The morphology of the nanoparticles was determined by scanning electron microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy was used for the determination of functional groups, while X-ray diffraction was used to determine the crystal structure. The analysis of the extended release of the encapsulated extract in the matrix of the nanomaterial resulted in a maximum visible UV absorbance at approximately 260 nm and confirmed the synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Moreover, terpenes enhance synthesis and stabilize titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The synthesized structures are spherical and amorphous, 44 nm in size, and encapsulated at 65 nm.

The effect of Co into the titanium oxide matrix as photocatalysts in the generation of hydrogen from water is herein reported. Ti–Co mixed oxides and pure titania were synthetized by sol-gel. The Co content was 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10 wt.%. The solids were characterized by Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), N₂ physisorption, X-ray difrraction (XRD), ultraviolet visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), spectroscopy Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectroscopy and High resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The results showed that the mixed oxides show larger specific surface areas (73–186 m²/g) compare to that of pure TiO₂ (64 m²/g). The XRD patterns of the Ti-Co samples resemble that of anatase and segregation of Co was not observed by this technique. The band gap energies of these solids vary from 3.05 to 2.85 eV which are smaller than that of pure TiO₂ (3.2 eV). The Ti-Co oxides showed an enhancement in the hydrogen production (∼3056 μmol/h) compare to that of TiO₂ (190 μmol/h) when using UV light. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of titania (110 μmol/h) for this reaction was also smaller than those observed for the Ti-Co mixed oxides (∼4056 μmol/h) under visible light.

In this study, Cu2O nanoparticles were synthesized using the sol-gel technique and subsequently functionalized with extracts from plants of the Rauvolfioideae subfamily and citrus fruits. Com-prehensive characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM, were employed to evaluate the structural and surface properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. The results demonstrated that both functionalized Cu2O nanoparticles exhibit mesoporous structures, as confirmed by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms and pore size distribution analysis. The Green Extract functionalized nanoparticles displayed a more uniform pore size distribution compared to those functionalized with the Orange Extract. The study un-derscores the potential of these functionalized Cu2O nanoparticles for applications in drug de-livery, catalysis, and adsorption processes, highlighting the influence of the functionalization method on their textural properties and performance in antibacterial efficacy.