Efficient catalysts play a pivotal role in advancing eco-friendly water treatment strategies, particularly in the removal of diverse organic contaminants found in water-petroleum sources. This study addresses the multifaceted challenges posed by contaminants, encompassing a spectrum of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Zn alongside pollutants like oily water (OIW), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dyes, and pharmaceuticals, posing threats to both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Herein, we present the synthesis of biogenically derived Mn@NiO nanocomposite (NC) photocatalysts, a sustainable methodology employing an aqueous Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract, yielding particles with a size of 36.7 nm. The catalyst demonstrates exceptional efficacy in removing heavy metals, achieving rates exceeding 99-100% within 30 min, alongside notable removal efficiencies for OIW (98%), TSS (87%), and COD (98%). Furthermore, our photodegradation experiments showed remarkable efficiencies, with 94% degradation for Rose Bengal (RB) and 96% for methylene blue (MB) within 120 min. The degradation kinetics adhere to pseudo-first-order behavior, with rate constants of 0.0227 min-1 for RB and 0.0370 min-1 for MB. Additionally, the NC exhibits significant antibiotic degradation rates of 97% for cephalexin (CEX) and 96% for amoxicillin (AMOX). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the synergistic interplay between the Mn and NiO nanostructures, augmenting responsiveness to sunlight while mitigating electron-hole pair recombination. Notably, the catalyst demonstrates outstanding stability and reusability across multiple cycles, maintaining its stable nanostructure without compromise.

The aim of this study is to introduce a dental capping agent for the treatment of pulp inflammation (pulpitis). Nanohydroxyapatite with Elaeagnus angustifolia L. extract (nHAEA) loaded with metronidazole (nHAEA@MTZ) was synthesized and evaluated using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro model of pulpitis. nHAEA was synthesized through sol-gel method and analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Brunauer Emmett Teller. Inflammation in human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) induced by LPS. A scratch test assessed cell migration, RT PCR measured cytokines levels, and Alizarin red staining quantified odontogenesis. The nHAEA nanorods were 17-23 nm wide and 93-146 nm length, with an average pore diameter of 27/312 nm, and a surface area of 210.89 m2/g. MTZ loading content with controlled release, suggesting suitability for therapeutic applications. nHAEA@MTZ did not affect the odontogenic abilities of HDPSCs more than nHAEA. However, it was observed that nHAEA@MTZ demonstrated a more pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. HDPSCs treated with nanoparticles exhibited improved migration compared to other groups. These findings demonstrated that nHAEA@MTZ could be an effective material for pulp capping and may be more effective than nHAEA in reducing inflammation and activating HDPSCs to enhance pulp repair after pulp damage.

The aim of this work was to investigate the impact of nano selenium (N-Se) and compost on the growth, photosynthesis, enzymes activity, compatible solutes and metals accumulation in soybean grown under tannery effluent polluted soil. The plants were exposed to compost application (no compost and compost addition) and foliar application of N-Se (0, 25, 50, and 75 mg L-1). The results showed the addition of compost in soil and foliar applied N-Se alleviated the toxic effect of tannery effluent polluted soil. Furthermore, foliar application of N-Se with basal compost supply significantly improved antoxidant enzymes activity in soybean grown in tannery effluent polluted soil. Addition of compost increased the root dry weight (46.43%) and shoot dry weight (33.50 %), relative water contents by (13.74 %), soluble sugars (15.99 %), stomatal conductance (gs) (83.33 %), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) (23.34 %), transpiration rate (E) (12.10 %) and decreased the electrolyte leakage (27.96 %) and proline contents by (20.34 %). The foliage application of N-Se at the rate of 75 mg L-1 showed the most promising results in control and compost amended tannery effluent polluted soil. The determined health risk index (HRI) values were recorded less than 1 for both adults and children under the application of compost and N-Se. In summary, the combined use of N-Se at 75 mg L⁻1 and basal supply of compost is an effective strategy for enhancing soybean productivity while minimizing the potential risks of metal accumulation in soybean grains grown in tannery effluent polluted soil.

CONCLUSIONS: Selenium nanoparticles reduce cadmium absorption in tomato roots, mitigating heavy metal effects. SeNPs can efficiently help to enhance growth, yield, and biomolecule markers in cadmium-stressed tomato plants. In the present study, the effects of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were investigated on the tomato plants grown in cadmium-contaminated soil. Nanoparticles were synthesized using water extract of Nigella sativa and were characterized for their size and shape. Two application methods (foliar spray and soil drench) with nanoparticle concentrations of 0, 100, and 300 mg/L were used to observe their effects on cadmium-stressed plants. Growth, yield, biochemical, and stress parameters were studied. Results showed that SeNPs positively affected plant growth, mitigating the negative effects of cadmium stress. Shoot length (SL), root length (RL), number of branches (NB), number of leaves per plant (NL), and leaf area (LA) were significantly reduced by cadmium stress but enhanced by 45, 51, 506, 208, and 82%, respectively, by soil drench treatment of SeNPs. Similarly, SeNPs increased the fruit yield (> 100%) and fruit weight (> 100%), and decreased the days to fruit initiation in tomato plants. Pigments were also positively affected by the SeNPs, particularly in foliar treatment. Lycopene content was also enhanced by the addition of NPs (75%). Furthermore, the addition of SeNPs improved the ascorbic acid, protein, phenolic, flavonoid, and proline contents of the tomato plants under cadmium stress, whereas stress enzymes also showed enhanced activities under cadmium stress. It is concluded from the present study that the addition of selenium nanoparticles enhanced the growth and yield of Cd-stressed plants by reducing the absorption of cadmium and increasing the stress management of plants.

In the present study, Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized from Salvia officinalis and Thymus vulgaris, known as phytotherapy plants. The obtained silver nanoparticles were characterized using SEM, XRD, FTIR, and UV/Vis spectra. The antioxidant capacities of Salvia officinalis-mediated AgNP (SO-AgNP) and Thymus vulgaris-mediated AgNP (TV-AgNP) were analyzed in vitro using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and iron chelating activity assays. DPPH activities were 83.74% and 57.17% for SO-AgNP and TV-AgNP at concentration 200 mg/L, respectively. Both green synthesized AgNPs exhibited good iron chelating activity. In addition, the DNA cleavage activities of SO-AgNPs and TV-AgNP were investigated with agarose gel electrophoresis technique. SO-AgNPs and TV-AgNP showed single-strand DNA cleavage activity. AgNPs showed that the SO-AgNP and TV-AgNp were effective against bacteria and fungi, and antimicrobic activities were assessed as minimal inhibition concentration (MIC). Remarkably, green synthesized AgNPs showed highly effective cell viability and biofilm inhibition effect. AgNPs also demonstrated slightly antimicrobial photodynamic activity after LED irradiation.

Anti-tumor drugs, due to their non-specific toxicity will cause long-term delayed toxicity to organisms and humans when discharged into the environment. In this study, reduced graphene oxide @ iron nanoparticles (rGO@Fe NPs) were successfully prepared using green tea extract as reductant and subsequently used for mitoxantrone (MTX) removal. SEM and Raman spectroscopy showed that 30-60 nm sized Fe NPs were loaded on rGO and green tea extract successfully reduced GO to rGO. The removal efficiency of MTX by the hybrid material was higher (98.5%) than either rGO (77.5%) or Fe NPs (53.1%) alone. In addition, the removal efficiency of MTX by the hybrid material was as high as 95% within 5 min, MTX adsorption followed both a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm, and it is a spontaneous adsorption. Recycling experiments showed that the removal efficiency of MTX decreased from 99.9 to 76.8% after six cycles, and could be as high as 99% in both municipal and medical wastewater. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were all used to characterize and analyze the hybrid material, and possible adsorption mechanisms which revealed that MTX adsorption probably involved a combination of π-π stacking interaction, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and pore-filling.

This paper reports the detailed composition and morphology of one-step green synthesized bimetallic Fe/Pd nanoparticles (NPs) using grape leaf aqueous extract and identification of active biomolecules involved in the synthesis employing various techniques. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that Fe/Pd NPs were polydispersed and quasi-spherical with a diameter ranging from 2 to 20nm. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) provided evidence for the composition of Fe and Pd and for their species existing on the surface of Fe/Pd NPs. In addition, biomolecules in the grape leaf aqueous extract were identified but their functions are still unclear. Biomolecules in the aqueous extract such as methoxy-phenyl-oxime, N-benzoyl-2-cyano-histamine, 2-ethyl-phenol, 1,2-benzenediol, β-hydroxyquebracamine, hydroquinone, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, 5-methyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde, 4-(3-hydroxybutyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen and some polyphenolic compounds were identified as reducing and capping agents, which were studied by Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), XPS and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Our finding suggests a new insight into cost-effective, simple, and environmentally benign production of bimetallic Fe/Pd NPs.

To reduce cost and enhance reactivity, bimetallic Fe/Pd nanoparticles (NPs) were firstly synthesized using grape leaf aqueous extract to remove Orange II. Green synthesized bimetallic Fe/Pd NPs (98.0%) demonstrated a far higher ability to remove Orange II in 12h compared to Fe NPs (16.0%). Meanwhile, all precursors, e.g., grape leaf extract, Fe(2+) and Pd(2+), had no obvious effect on removing Orange II since less than 2.0% was removed. Kinetics study revealed that the removal rate fitted well to the pseudo-first-order reduction and pseudo-second-order adsorption model, meaning that removing Orange II via Fe/Pd NPs involved both adsorption and catalytic reduction. The remarkable stability of Fe/Pd NPs showed the potential application for removing azo dyes. Furthermore, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the changes in Fe/Pd NPs before and after reaction with Orange II. High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrum (HPLC-MS) identified the degraded products in the removal of Orange II, and finally a removal mechanism was proposed. This one-step strategy using grape leaf aqueous extract to synthesize Fe/Pd NPs is simple, cost-effective and environmentally benign, making possible the large-scale production of Fe/Pd NPs for field remediation.