Copper oxide and Zinc (Zn)-doped Copper oxide nanostructures (CuO-NSs) are successfully synthesized by using a hydrothermal technique. The as-obtained pure and Zn-doped CuO-NSs were tested to study the effect of doping in CuO on structural, optical, and antibacterial properties. The band gap of the nanostructures is calculated by using the Tauc plot. Our results have shown that the band gap of CuO reduces with the addition of Zinc. Optimization of processing conditions and concentration of precursors leads to the formation of pine needles and sea urchin-like nanostructures. The antibacterial properties of obtained Zn-doped CuO-NSs are observed against Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria via the agar well diffusion method. Zn doped s are found to have more effective bacterial resistance than pure CuO. The improved antibacterial activity is attributed to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Cobalt (Co) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) microcrystals (MCs) are prepared by using the hydrothermal method from the precursor’s mixture of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), cobalt-II chloride hexahydrate (CoCl₂·6H₂O), and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The smooth round cylindrical morphologies of the synthesized microcrystals of Co-doped ZnO show an increase in absorption with the cobalt doping. The antibacterial activity of the as-obtained Co-doped ZnO-MCs was tested against the bacterial strains of gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes) via the agar well diffusion method. The zones of inhibition (ZOI) for Co-doped ZnO-MCs against E. coli and K. pneumoniae were found to be 17 and 19 mm, and 15 and 16 mm against S. Aureus and S. pyogenes, respectively. The prepared Co-doped ZnO-MCs were thus established as a probable antibacterial agent against gram-negative bacterial strains.

In the current study, lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) fabricated with lipoid-90H and chitosan, sunitinib malate (SM), an anticancer drug was loaded using lecithin as a stabilizer by employing emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Four formulations (SLPN1–SLPN4) were developed by varying the concentration of chitosan polymer. Based on particle characterization, SLPN4 was optimized with size (439 ± 5.8 nm), PDI (0.269), ZP (+34 ± 5.3 mV), and EE (83.03 ± 4.9%). Further, the optimized formulation was characterized by FTIR, DSC, XRD, SEM, and in vitro release studies. In-vitro release of the drug from SPN4 was found to be 84.11 ± 2.54% as compared with pure drug SM 24.13 ± 2.67%; in 48 h, release kinetics followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with Fickian release mechanism. The SLPN4 exhibited a potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer, as evident by caspase 3, 9, and p53 activities. According to the findings, SM-loaded LPHNPs might be a promising therapy option for breast cancer.

Ni supported on bare and modified ZrO₂ samples were synthesized using the incipient wet impregnation method. The t-ZrO₂ phase was stabilized by incorporation of La₂O₃ into ZrO₂. Moreover, the influence of CeO₂-doping on the physico-chemical and catalytic properties under CO₂ reforming conditions was probed. The characterization data of the investigated catalysts were obtained by using XRD, CO₂/H₂-TPD, BET, TPR, TPO, TGA, XPS and TEM characterization techniques. In the pristine Ni/Zr catalyst, the t-ZrO₂ phase transformed into the monoclinic phase. However, upon support modification by La₂O₃, significant effects on the physicochemical properties were observed due to the monoclinic-to-tetragonal ZrO₂ phase transformation also affecting the catalytic activity. As a result, superior activity on the La₂O₃ modified Ni/Zr catalyst was achieved, while no relevant change in the surface properties and activity of the catalysts was detected after doping by CeO₂. The peculiar behavior of the Ni/La-ZrO₂ sample was related to higher dispersion of the active phase, with a more pronounced stabilization of the t-ZrO₂ phase.