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Nanoparticles have gained immense interest as drug-delivery agents. Since the last two decades, they have emerged as probable drugs themselves or may act in symbiotic relation with the drug-loaded. Therefore, this study’s focus is to investigate the efficacy of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antibacterial, antibiofilm, and wound healing agents in in vivo mice models. The AgNPs for this study were synthesized using Trachyspermum ammi seed extract. The characterization of biosynthesized AgNPs, i.e., Trachyspermum ammi silver nanoparticles (TA-AgNPs) was initially done by UV–visible spectroscopy. Further, optimizations of the biophysical characteristics of TA-AgNPs were done by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of TA-AgNPs was studied against both Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria. The inhibitory effect of AgNPs on biofilm formation was also observed in Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. These nanoparticles were then explored for potential in vivo wound healing activity in the Swiss Albino mice model. The results obtained not only showed these green metallic nanoparticles as a potent antibacterial agent that could inhibit biofilm formation but these particles were also able to treat deep wounds without any scar marks. Thus, the biosynthesized AgNPs may be harnessed as remarkable new antimicrobial moieties with wider biomedical applications.
This work characterizes microemulsions of Medicago marina essential oil and evaluates their antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticoagulant effects. Medicago marina L. aerial parts essential oil was hydro-distilled and analyzed by gas chromatography-FID and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the first time from the Tunisian chemotype. The microemulsion was prepared using an oil/water formulation with a biopolymer (Arabic gum) and surfactant (Tween 20). Antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated using the microbroth dilution method, while anticoagulant activity was tested in vitro using prothrombin time (PT) and aPTT tests. Eventually, the binding affinities and molecule’s interactions of the main chemicals with the operational locations of C (30) carotenoid dehydrosqualene synthase and cytidine deaminase were explored. The essential oil contained 71 compounds of which 87.6% were identified. Major compounds were β-ionone (17.67%), 1-methyleugenol (10.75%), eugenol (8.86%), β-damascenone (4.33%), and α-humulene (4.32%). A microemulsion with a diameter of 1.63 μ m, a polydispersity index of 0.17, a zeta potential of –40.8 mV and a pH of 6 was obtained and it showed the highest antibacterial potential against a multitude of microbes, with low MICs varying between 0.406 mg/mL and 3.25 mg/mL. Significant antibiofilm activity was observed with over 80% inhibition at 4 × MIC concentration. It showed better anticoagulant activity than heparin, with PT and aPTT values of 19.5 s and 57 s, respectively, at 10 mg/mL. Molecular docking showed that “(E)-β-ionone” had the highest binding scores. Notable pharmacokinetic and drug-like qualities were found in the obtained molecules after establishing ADME profiling. As a result, Medicago marina L. Essential oil microemulsion can be used in food processing as a preservative.
This study provides evidence for the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Vitex negundo leaf extract. The UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectrum of ZnO NPs and calcinated ZnO NPs (ZnO-C) showed peaks at 370nm and 374nm, respectively, confirming zinc ion reduction to zinc oxide. The ZnO NPs and calcinated counterparts were further characterized by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM and EDX. FTIR results revealed the presence of alcoholic and aromatic groups, like flavonoids, in the leaf extract. The XRD pattern showed a distinctive Wurtzite crystalline phase with a hexagonal shape. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis data revealed that ZnO’s surface area and pore size is 22.8m2/g and 12.9nm, whereas ZnO-C exhibited a surface area of 23.5m2/g and pore size of 13.1nm. The SEM data demonstrated numerous irregular and agglomerated flakes fusing to form a roughly spherical morphology with the size, in the range of 15–20nm and 11–16nm for ZnO and ZnO-C NPs, respectively. The results of the antimicrobial assay by disc diffusion method and MIC testing revealed that ZnO and ZnO-C NPs exhibited moderate to high antimicrobial activity against various microorganisms, indicating their application against bacterial infection. In addition, the ZnO NPs significantly disrupted the biofilm of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as confirmed by CV assay and fluorescent microscopy.
This research aims to develop a novel approach, employing cold plasma technology for preparing nanoparticles of silver oxide by Anethum graveolens (dill) leaf extract as a natural reducing agent. This investigation evaluated the properties of antibacterial and antibiofilm-prepared nanoparticles. Initially, dill leaf extract was prepared to stabilize and reduce the size of silver oxide nanoparticles. Improved synthesis and optimal conditions for nanoparticle formation were achieved through the application of cold plasma technology. The results obtained showed that the prepared silver oxide nanoparticles have strong antibacterial properties and that they have antibacterial activity against a different group of bacteria that cause diseases such as Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The results also showed the effectiveness of nanoparticles in preventing the formation of bacterial biofilms, as the highest rate of inhibition was for gram-positive bacteria S. aureus. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of plant extracts and cold plasma technology when combined in producing nanoparticles with improved properties, which may push toward the employment of these materials in developing innovative and sustainable solutions in various scientific and applied fields.