Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

{"title":"Monte Carlo Study of Magnetization Plateaus in a Mixed-Spin Trilayer Kagome Nanostructure","authors":"Z. Fadil,&nbsp;A. Jabar,&nbsp;M. Naziruddin Khan,&nbsp;Abdulrahman A. Alsayyari,&nbsp;Chaitany Jayprakash Raorane,&nbsp;Seong-Cheol Kim","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03116-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03116-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>By using Monte Carlo simulations, the magnetic properties of a trilayer Kagome nanostructure (TKN) are studied according to the mixed-spin (7/2, 1) Blume-Capel model. From the simulation data, it is observed that a quite complicated magnetization profile consisting of eight magnetization plateaus is observed due to quantization of the system’s magnetic states. The multi-step magnetization phenomenon results from the interplay between crystal-field and exchange interactions, giving rise to three critical fields and a saturation field that define different stable states of the system successively. The discussion of the effects of the model parameters on the behavior of the system shows that the crystal field parameter contributes to the stability of magnetization plateaus through improving their rigidity; in contrast, the exchange interaction parameters contribute to lowering their stability and decreasing their number. Additionally, an increase in temperature leads to a smooth magnetization profile since higher temperatures weaken the stability of the magnetization plateaus.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149230742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Engineered CeO2-Embedded Polyethersulfone Flexible Thin Films as Robust Self-Standing Electrodes for Solid-State Supercapacitors","authors":"Amira Gaber,&nbsp;Basant G. EL-Mahdy,&nbsp;Selva Bilge,&nbsp;Yusuf Osman Donar,&nbsp;Meltem Çelik,&nbsp;Saad G. Mohamed","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03118-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03118-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Recently, cerium oxide (CeO₂) has attracted interest as a viable electrode material due to its high structural stability under operating conditions. However, despite its many uses, research continues to focus on optimizing CeO₂ for promising-performance supercapacitor applications. To examine how surfactant type influences the structural characteristics and electrochemical performance of CeO₂ nanoparticles, this work demonstrates the synthesis of CeO₂ nanoparticles using two distinct surfactants, CTAB and SDS. CTAB-CeO₂ nanoparticles exhibit better textural qualities, more uniform morphology, and higher crystallinity. The CTAB-CeO₂ electrode exhibited an areal capacitance of 154.38 mF cm^− 2 (59.5 mC cm^− 2) at 0.5 mA cm^− 2, with good charge-storage performance. A free-standing, flexible supercapacitor electrode (FFSCE) is designed using a simple, scalable mixing-casting method with CeO₂, Carbon black, and polyethersulfone, eliminating the need for binders or current collectors. The FFSCE-CTAB-CeO₂ electrode has promising charge-storage behavior, as evidenced by its effective areal capacitance of 4.8 mF cm^− 2 at 0.02 mA cm^− 2. Moreover, a solid-state coin-cell supercapacitor exhibits stable electrochemical behavior and high mechanical flexibility. After studying the stability tests of the symmetric devices of CTAB-CeO₂ and solid-state CTAB-CeO₂, they maintained 94.5% and 92.5% of their original capacitance, respectively, after 4,000 and 15,000 cycles, with promising areal energy and areal power densities.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149230740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pyrazole-Nickel Complex-Derived Carbon-Coated NiCl2 for Efficient Dye Photodegradation","authors":"Rui Liu,&nbsp;Ye-Xia Li,&nbsp;Xiao-Yi Ren,&nbsp;Shuang-Xi Li,&nbsp;Wen-Long Duan,&nbsp;Jian Luan","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03124-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03124-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of cost‑effective, stable and highly active photocatalysts for wastewater remediation remains a pressing challenge. Herein, we report a novel carbon‑coated nickel chloride composite (<b>NiCl</b>_<b>2</b><b>@C</b>) synthesized through a facile molecular precursor route. A pyrazole‑nickel complex, Ni(3‑MPZ)₄Cl₂ (<b>Ni complex</b>), was first prepared via room‑temperature evaporation and then intimately mixed with urea, followed by one‑step carbonization at 400 °C under N₂ atmosphere. The low pyrolysis temperature preserves the NiCl₂ crystalline phase while the in‑situ formed graphitic carbon layer uniformly encapsulates the NiCl₂ nanoparticles, creating an intimate core–shell interface. Comprehensive characterizations reveal that the carbon coating significantly narrows the band gap to 2.50 eV, suppresses photogenerated charge recombination, and provides abundant surface adsorption sites. Under visible‑light irradiation, <b>NiCl</b>_<b>2</b><b>@C</b> exhibits outstanding photocatalytic degradation performance towards five representative organic dyes, achieving &gt; 95% removal for most dyes within 240 min. The degradation rate constants are up to 14‑fold higher than those of the pristine <b>Ni complex</b>. Radical trapping experiments confirm that photogenerated holes (h⁺) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) are the dominant active species. Moreover, <b>NiCl</b>_<b>2</b><b>@C</b> demonstrates excellent stability (98% activity retained after five cycles) and remarkable tolerance to various pH conditions, coexisting anions and real water matrices (tap water, lake water and soil extract). This work provides a new paradigm for designing carbon‑encapsulated metal halide photocatalysts via molecular precursor engineering, offering a simple, low‑cost and scalable route for efficient wastewater treatment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149230712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Targeted Delivery of Paclitaxel-Loaded Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles Via AS1411 Aptamer for Enhanced Uptake in Nucleolin-Expressing Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells","authors":"Mojtaba Tarin,&nbsp;Sareh Etemad,&nbsp;Mahsa Akbari Oryani,&nbsp;Amirhossein Ebadi,&nbsp;Zohreh Efati,&nbsp;Hossein Javid,&nbsp;Mehdi Karimi-Shahri","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03120-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03120-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Conventional chemotherapy is frequently hindered by severe off-target toxicity and limited tumor accumulation. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate paclitaxel-loaded polycaprolactone nanoparticles surface-functionalized with the AS1411 aptamer (PCL-PTX-Apt NPs) for targeted drug delivery specifically directed at nucleolin-overexpressing cancer cells. The 26-mer AS1411 aptamer was conjugated to PCL-PTX NPs via EDC/NHS coupling. The fabricated nanocarriers were comprehensively characterized to determine their physicochemical properties, conjugation efficiency, and encapsulation efficiency. In vitro paclitaxel release was assessed under both physiological (pH 7.4) and acidic tumor microenvironment (pH 5.5) conditions, followed by kinetic modeling. Biological behaviors, including cellular internalization (flow cytometry) and cytotoxicity (MTT assay), were evaluated in nucleolin-positive cancer cells (TRAMP-C1 and 4T1) and normal fibroblasts (L929). Nucleolin expression was validated via immunocytochemistry. Analytical techniques confirmed successful aptamer conjugation. The engineered PCL-PTX-Apt NPs exhibited favorable morphological characteristics, high drug encapsulation, and a sustained, pH-responsive release profile. Biological assessments revealed that the targeted nanoparticles significantly enhanced cellular uptake and induced superior cytotoxicity in TRAMP-C1 and 4T1 cancer cells compared to non-targeted NPs. Conversely, minimal toxicity was observed in normal L929 cells, confirming excellent selectivity. The AS1411-decorated PCL-PTX nanoplatform presents a highly effective, biocompatible, and target-specific strategy for paclitaxel delivery, offering substantial potential to maximize anti-tumor efficacy while mitigating adverse side effects.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149230739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Vivo Evaluation of Antiviral Activity of Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using Punica granatum Peel Against Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Broiler Chickens","authors":"Ahmed Attya Embaby,&nbsp;Abeer S. Aloufi,&nbsp;Nasir A. Ibrahim,&nbsp;Nosiba S. Basher,&nbsp;Amr H. Hashem,&nbsp;Salem S. Salem,&nbsp;Walaa A. Elshalakany","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03106-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03106-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of environmentally sustainable antiviral agents has gained considerable attention as an alternative to conventional therapeutic approaches. In the present study, zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using pomegranate peel extract (PP-ZnONPs) were investigated for their physicochemical characteristics and antiviral activity against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in broiler chickens. Pomegranate peel extract served as a natural source of reducing and stabilizing compounds, enabling the utilization of an agricultural by-product for nanoparticle synthesis. Characterization analyses confirmed the successful formation of ZnO nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns indicated a crystalline hexagonal wurtzite structure, while UV–Vis spectroscopy exhibited characteristic absorption peaks at 287 and 360 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed Zn–O stretching vibrations and changes in polyphenolic functional groups, suggesting interactions between the nanoparticles and plant-derived biomolecules. SEM and TEM analyses showed predominantly spherical particles with sizes ranging from 20 to 150 nm, whereas DLS measurements recorded hydrodynamic diameters of 85–122 nm. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the presence of zinc and oxygen, together with carbon associated with the phytochemical coating. The nanoparticles exhibited a zeta potential of − 44.5 mV, indicating high colloidal stability, although slight aggregation was detected after prolonged storage. Biological assessment demonstrated that dietary supplementation with PP-ZnONPs improved growth performance and positively influenced hematological, biochemical, and organ-related parameters in both healthy and IBV-infected broilers. Infection with IBV resulted in reduced erythropoietic activity, hepatic and renal dysfunction, and organ degeneration, whereas PP-ZnONPs supplementation alleviated these adverse effects. The observed protective effects are likely associated with the antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of the nanoparticles. These findings demonstrate that pomegranate peel-mediated ZnO nanoparticles possess favorable physicochemical characteristics and promising antiviral activity, highlighting their potential application in veterinary medicine and related biomedical fields.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149230741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probing Captopril and metformin Interactions on Anatase and Rutile TiO2: Linking Molecular Reactivity with Surface Structure","authors":"Hassane Lgaz,&nbsp;Mouslim Messali,&nbsp;Murad M. A. Abualrejal,&nbsp;Han-seung Lee","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03121-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03121-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The adsorption of pharmaceutical pollutants onto titanium dioxide (TiO₂) remains a critical avenue for advancing water purification technologies. In this study, a comprehensive computational exploration of two widely prescribed drugs; captopril (CTP) and metformin (MTF); on anatase and rutile TiO₂ surfaces was reported. Electronic structure calculations revealed that CTP’s thiol and carboxyl groups exhibited pronounced reactivity, while MTF’s guanidine-like fragment constituted the main electron-donating center. Conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) analyses indicated both compounds possess multi-faceted hydrogen-bonding behaviors, with distinct sites acting as hydrogen-bond donors/acceptors in aqueous environment. Self-consistent charge density-functional tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) simulations confirmed that CTP attained stronger binding (–2.07 eV on anatase, − 2.90 eV on rutile) via multi-site oxygen coordination on the latter, whereas MTF showed comparatively moderate adsorption (–1.03 eV on anatase, − 0.71 eV on rutile). Bond lengths relative to covalent radii suggested partially covalent metal–ligand interactions, underlining the role of specific functional groups in stabilizing pollutant–TiO₂ complexes. Charge density difference maps and projected density of states (PDOS) analyses jointly evidenced localized charge transfer at the strongly bound interfaces, while single-point PBE+D3 calculations on the SCC-DFTB-optimized geometries fully preserved the binding-strength ordering. Modeling of fully hydroxylated surfaces showed that the absolute binding energies decrease while the CTP &gt; MTF selectivity is retained, indicating that the central conclusions remain valid under realistic, water-equilibrated conditions. These findings offer foundational insights into tailoring TiO₂ interfaces for targeted pharmaceutical removal and highlight structural and electronic factors that govern adsorption efficacy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149230710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction: Enhanced Crystallinity Behavior of Egg White Mediated h-MoO3 Using Acid Precipitation Method for Improved Anti-Bacterial Properties against Multi Drug Resistant Bacteria","authors":"M. Dhanasekar,&nbsp;Mudaliar Mahesh Margoni,&nbsp;Govindan Rajivgandhi,&nbsp;Gnansekaran Chackaravarthi,&nbsp;Muthuchamy Maruthupandy,&nbsp;Nandhu Suresh,&nbsp;V. Krishna,&nbsp;Ali Akbari-Fakhrabadi,&nbsp;Natesan Manoharan,&nbsp;Franck Quero,&nbsp;N. Asokan,&nbsp;Sakthivel Sankaran,&nbsp;Naiyf S. Alharbi","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03054-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03054-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149132016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facile C=S Bond Cleavage of the Coordinated Thiosaccharinate Ligand at a Triosmium Center: Synthesis and Structure of Sulfido-Capped Triosmium Clusters Bearing a Bridging-Imine or a Capping-Amine Ligand","authors":"Israt Jahan,&nbsp;Md. Sohag Hasan,&nbsp;Md. Jadu Mia,&nbsp;Subas Rajbangshi,&nbsp;Vladimir N. Nesterov,&nbsp;Shariff E. Kabir,&nbsp;Shishir Ghosh","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03113-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03113-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The reaction of thiosaccharinate (tsac)-bridged triosmium cluster [Os₃(CO)₁₀(µ-H)(µ-N,S-tsac)] (<b>1</b>) with PPh₃ at an elevated temperature has been examined. Thus, cluster <b>1</b> reacts with PPh₃ at 110 °C to afford five new sulfido-capped triosmium clusters [Os₃(CO)₈(PPh₃)(µ₃-C,N-C₆H₄CHNSO₂)(µ₃-S)] (<b>4</b>), [Os₃(CO)₇(PPh₃)₂(µ₃-C,N-C₆H₄CHNSO₂)(µ₃-S)] (<b>5</b>), [Os₃(CO)₆(PPh₃)(µ-H)₂{µ-P(C₆H₄)Ph₂}(µ-C,N-C₆H₄CNSO₂)(µ₃-S)] (<b>6</b>), [Os₃(CO)₅(PPh₃)₂(µ-H)₂{µ-P(C₆H₄)Ph₂}(µ-C,N-C₆H₄CNSO₂)(µ₃-S)] (<b>7</b>), and [Os₃(CO)₅(PPh₃)₂(µ-H)₂{µ-P(C₆H₄)Ph₂}(µ-C,N-C₆H₄CNSO₂)(µ₃-S)] (<b>8</b>), via C=S bond cleavage of the coordinated tsac ligand with the sulfur being captured by the triosmium core. The previously reported triosmium [Os₃(CO)₉(PPh₃)(µ-H)(µ-N,S-tsac)] (<b>2</b>) was also isolated in this reaction. A series of control experiments is also conducted to examine the relationships among the products and to probe the reaction pathways leading to the formation of these clusters. The molecular structures of all the new clusters (<b>4</b>–<b>8</b>) have been unequivocally established by X-ray crystallography.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><p>Facile C=S bond cleavage of the coordinated thiosaccharinate ligand at a triosmium center: Synthesis and structure of sulfido-capped triosmium clusters bearing a bridging-imine or a capping-amine ligand</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149068011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exopolysaccharide-Mediated Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Bacillus licheniformis LHG166: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-inflammatory Properties","authors":"Ibrahim M. Ibrahim,&nbsp;Zahraa Falah Azeez,&nbsp;Anes A. Al-Sharqi,&nbsp;Ahmed Eid Alharbi,&nbsp;Issam Alshami,&nbsp;Ahmad A. Sherbini,&nbsp;Sultan A. Alfawaz,&nbsp;Hanadi A. Alahmadi,&nbsp;Faisal Miqad K. Albaqami,&nbsp;Nidal Mohammed Zabermawi,&nbsp;Gharieb S. El-Sayyad,&nbsp;Marwa Yousry A. Mohamed,&nbsp;Zinab Alatawi,&nbsp;Ahmed Ghareeb","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03107-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03107-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This investigation demonstrates the successful biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using exopolysaccharide extracted from <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i> LHG166 as an environmentally sustainable reducing agent. Characterization confirmed ZnO formation through UV-Vis absorption at 368 nm and FT-IR Zn-O stretching vibrations at 606 –448 cm⁻¹, while TEM revealed spherical nanoparticles (10–50 nm) and XRD confirmed hexagonal wurtzite structure with 17.17 nm crystallite size. DLS analysis showed a hydrodynamic diameter of 11.5 nm and electrostatic stabilization (Z-potential: -30.47 mV). Biocompatibility assessment revealed considerable hemocompatibility, with hemolysis below 2.5% even at 1000 µg/mL. Antioxidant evaluation demonstrated radical-scavenging activity, with DPPH IC₅₀ of 30.33 µg/mL and ABTS IC₅₀ of 15.6 µg/mL. Anti-inflammatory assessment revealed COX enzyme inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 59.31 µg/mL for COX-1 and 75.58 µg/mL for COX-2. Antimicrobial evaluation demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 15.62 to 31.25 µg/mL and MBC ratios consistently 2:1. Antifungal activity revealed considerable efficacy, particularly against <i>P. glabrum</i>, with MIC/MFC ratios of 1:1 for <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>C. tropicalis</i>, establishing multifunctional therapeutic potential for biomedical applications that address antimicrobial resistance with integrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149068077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Doxycycline-Loaded Silver Nanoparticle–Embedded Chitosan Hydrogel for Enhanced Wound Healing: Formulation Optimization, Characterization, and In Vivo Evaluation","authors":"Ritesh A. Fule,&nbsp;Abhishek D. Nagdeve,&nbsp;Pankaj D. Nagpure,&nbsp;Aishwarya S. Rangurwar,&nbsp;Gamal Osman Elhassan,&nbsp;Saleh Alfuraih,&nbsp;Md Ali Mujtaba,&nbsp;Ameeduzzafar Zafar","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03114-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03114-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study focuses on the development of a doxycycline (DOC)-loaded silver nanoparticle (DOC-AgNPs) embedded chitosan hydrogel for enhanced wound healing. DOC-AgNPs were synthesized via chemical reduction using silver nitrate as the metal precursor, trisodium citrate (TSC) as the reducing/stabilizing agent, and DOC as the model drug. Optimization was performed using Box–Behnken Design (BBD) with silver nitrate concentration, TSC level, and stirring speed as independent variables. The optimized nanoparticles exhibited particle size of 186 nm, polydispersity index of 0.280, zeta potential of − 28.6 mV, and entrapment efficiency of 84%. The DOC-AgNPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, these DOC-AgNPs were incorporated into a chitosan-based hydrogel, which showed desirable organoleptic properties, pH (6.5), viscosity (22,800 cP), spreadability (15 g·cm/s), and swelling index. In vitro drug release in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) exhibited a biphasic release pattern characterized by an initial burst release followed by sustained drug release. Antibacterial activity, evaluated by agar well diffusion against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>, showed significantly larger inhibition zones (34 mm and 36 mm) for DOC-AgNP hydrogel compared to plain AgNPs (21 mm and 23 mm), indicating synergistic effects. In vivo wound healing studies demonstrated accelerated wound closure, complete re-epithelialization, and improved tissue regeneration with minimal inflammation. Histological analysis and hydroxyproline content further supported enhanced healing. These results suggest that the DOC-AgNP hydrogel offers a promising platform for localized, sustained drug delivery, combining antimicrobial and regenerative properties for advanced wound care.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149068076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}