Nanoparticles and nanomaterials have gained a huge amount of attention in the last decade due to their unique and remarkable properties. Metallic nanoparticles like zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) have been used very widely as plant nutrients and in wastewater treatment. Here, ZnONPs were synthesized by using onion peel and characterized by various sophisticated instruments like Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and field emission scanning electron microscopes (FESEM). FTIR confirmed ZnONPs synthesis due to the formation of the band in the region of 400–800 cm⁻¹, while FESEM confirmed the spherical shape of the particles whose size varies in the range of 20–80 nm. FTIR revealed several bands from 1000–1800 cm⁻¹ which indicates the capping by the organic molecules on the ZnONPs, which came from onion peel. It also has carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, due to the organic molecules present in the Allium cepa peel waste. The average hydrodynamic size of ZnONPs was 500 nm as confirmed by DLS. The synthesized ZnONPs were then used as a plant nutrient where their effect was evaluated on the growth of Vigna radiate (mung bean) and Triticum aestivum (wheat seeds). The results revealed that the germination and seedling of mung and wheat seeds with ZnONPs were grown better than the control seed. However, seeds of mung and wheat with ZnONPs at median concentration exposure showed an enhancement in percent germination, root, and shoot length in comparison to control. Thus, the effect of ZnONPs has been proved as a nano-based nutrient source for agricultural purposes.

Currently, chemotherapy is an important method for the treatment of various cancers. Nevertheless, it has many limitations, such as poor tumour selectivity and multi-drug resistance. It is necessary to improve this treatment method by incorporating a targeted drug delivery system aimed to reduce side effects and drug resistance. The present work aims to develop pH-sensitive nanocarriers containing magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMSNs) coated with pH-responsive polymers for tumour-targeted drug delivery via the folate receptor. 2-Diethyl amino ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA) was successfully grafted on MMSNs via surface initiated ARGET atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), with an average particle size of 180 nm. The end groups of poly (2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) brushes were converted to amines, followed by a covalent bond with folic acid (FA) as a targeting agent. FA conjugated to the nanoparticle surface was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). pH-Responsive behavior of PDEAEMA brushes was investigated by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The nanoparticles average diameters ranged from ca. 350 nm in basic media to ca. 650 in acidic solution. Multifunctional pH-sensitive magnetic mesoporous nanoparticles were loaded with an anti-cancer drug (Doxorubicin) to investigate their capacity and long-circulation time. In a cumulative release pattern, doxorubicin (DOX) release from nano-systems was ca. 20% when the particle exposed to acidic media, compared to ca. 5% in basic media. The nano-systems have excellent biocompatibility and are minimally toxic when exposed to MCF-7, and -MCF-7 ADR cells.

This paper introduces the synthesis of well-defined 2-(tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate-b-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate diblock copolymer, which has been grafted onto mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PTBAEMA-b-PEGMEMA-MSNs) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The ATRP initiators were first attached to the MSN surfaces, followed by the ATRP of 2-(tert-butylamino)ethyl methacrylate (PTBAEMA). CuBr2/bipy and ascorbic acid were employed as the catalyst and reducing agent, respectively, to grow a second polymer, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMEMA). The surface structures of these fabricated nanomaterials were then analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results of Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) show that ATRP could provide a high surface grafting density for polymers. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) was conducted to investigate the pH-responsive behavior of the diblock copolymer chains on the nanoparticle surface. In addition, multifunctional pH-sensitive PTBAEMA-b-PEGMEMA-MSNs were loaded with doxycycline (Doxy) to study their capacities and long-circulation time.

The construction of a new electrochemical sensing platform based on a copper metal–organic framework (Cu-MOF) heterostructure is described in this paper. Drop-casting Cu-MOF suspension onto the electrode surface primed the sensor for glutathione detection. The composition and morphology of the Cu-MOF heterostructure were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and UV-visible spectroscopy. The Cu-MOF heterostructure can identify glutathione (GSH) with an enhanced sensitivity of 0.0437 μA μM⁻¹ at the detection limit (LOD; 0.1 ± 0.005 μM) and a large dynamic range of 0.1–20 μM. Boosting the conductivity and surface area enhances electron transport and promotes redox processes. The constructed sensors were also adequately selective against interference from other contaminants in a similar potential window. Furthermore, the Cu-MOF heterostructure has outstanding selectivity, long-term stability, and repeatability, and the given sensors have demonstrated their capacity to detect GSH with high accuracy (recovery range = 98.2–100.8%) in pharmaceutical samples.

Advancement of biologically driven experimental procedure for the generation of metal nanoparticles is a major aspect in the domain of nanotechnology. Herein, we synthesized one pot silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Azadirachta indica (Neem plant) via green synthesis method. The alkaloids and flavonoids in the plant extract served as capping and reducing agent to develop silver nanoparticles. The characterization of synthesized AgNPs was performed using analytical techniques such as UV‐visible spectroscopy, FTIR, and SEM. The synthesized AgNPs were further impregnated onto a cotton cloth and the antimicrobial studies were performed. The AgNPs embedded in cotton fabric were found to show zone of inhibition against the fungi Candida albicans, gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli, and gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. This experimental study suggests that the AgNPs impregnated on cotton cloth could have great potential for application in smart nanobandages for wound dressing, medical textiles, sports clothing, etc.