Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

{"title":"Psidium guajava Leaf Phytochemical-Assisted One-Step Synthesis of Metformin/ZnO Nanoconjugate for Enhanced Solubility, Hydrophilicity, Biocompatibility, and Broad-Spectrum Therapeutic Potential","authors":"Divya Mathew, Benny Thomas, N. M. Sudheep, Sebastian Varghese, Veena Yesudas, Jewel Benny Thomas, E. K. Radhakrishnan","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03057-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03057-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Green synthesis of multifunctional nanoconjugates has emerged as a promising strategy to enhance the therapeutic performance, biocompatibility, and physicochemical stability of conventional drugs. In the present study, a sustainable one-pot phytochemical-assisted approach was developed for the synthesis of metformin-conjugated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Met@ZnO NPs) using <i>Psidium guajava</i> leaf extract as a natural reducing, capping, and stabilizing agent. The synthesis parameters were systematically optimized to obtain stable, highly dispersed nanoconjugates with improved colloidal characteristics and enhanced therapeutic potential. The optimized Met@ZnO NPs exhibited excellent colloidal stability with a positive zeta potential of + 34.9 mV and a moderate polydispersity index (~ 0.2), indicating successful surface functionalization and stable dispersion. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed the successful formation of the hybrid nanosystem. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed a bathochromic shift from 361 to 373 nm with a corresponding reduction in band-gap energy, indicating effective electronic interaction between metformin and ZnO. FTIR and EDX analyses demonstrated successful metformin conjugation through Zn–N coordination and hydrogen-bonding interactions, while XRD confirmed preservation of the hexagonal wurtzite ZnO crystalline structure after functionalization. TEM analysis showed predominantly spherical nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 10 to 30 nm, surrounded by a thin metformin-associated organic layer. Water contact angle studies revealed enhanced hydrophilicity following conjugation, whereas TGA demonstrated markedly improved thermal stability of the Met@ZnO nanoconjugates compared with pure metformin. The nanoconjugates also displayed improved saturation solubility in both phosphate-buffered saline and wound-simulating fluid, supporting enhanced aqueous dispersibility and bioavailability. Biological evaluation demonstrated significantly enhanced multifunctional therapeutic performance of Met@ZnO NPs compared with pristine ZnO NPs and free metformin. The nanoconjugates exhibited superior antidiabetic activity through potent α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, alongside enhanced antioxidant activity in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. Furthermore, substantial anti-inflammatory activity was observed in protein denaturation models, highlighting the synergistic contribution of ZnO, metformin, and guava phytochemicals. The enhanced bioactivity was attributed to increased surface area, improved hydrophilicity, effective surface functionalization, and synergistic nano-bio interfacial interactions. Overall, this study demonstrates that <i>P. guajava</i>-mediated Met@ZnO nanoconjugates represent a promising eco-friendly and multifunctional therapeutic platform with improved solubility, stability, biocompatibility, and broad-spectrum biomedical potential for applications in diabetes management, oxidati","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148323485","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":"Synergistic Photothermal Antibacterial Effects of Silver-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles: Experimental Insights and DFT Calculations","authors":"Zhou You,&nbsp;Ali Mohsin,&nbsp;Reesha Khan,&nbsp;Ali Hussain,&nbsp;Cao Wenbo,&nbsp;Sobia Niazi,&nbsp;Muhammad Sajjad,&nbsp;Faizan ul Haq,&nbsp;Ali Raza,&nbsp;Khubaib Ali,&nbsp;Muhammad Shoaib,&nbsp;Ibrahim Khan,&nbsp;Qi Shuo,&nbsp;Imran Mahmood Khan","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03055-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03055-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections presents a significant global health challenge, contributing to higher mortality rates and prolonged hospitalizations. A promising solution is the development of localized hyperthermia for bacterial inactivation. In this study, we investigate the fabrication of silver-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP@Ag NPs) that convert near-infrared (NIR) light into localized heat, offering an alternative to traditional antibiotic treatments. UCNP@Ag NPs were successfully synthesized and showed high photothermal conversion efficiency when irradiated with a 980 nm NIR laser. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, the nanoparticles increased the solution temperature to 58.9 °C within 6 min under 1.0 W/cm² NIR laser irradiation, which was sufficient to kill the bacteria. The inhibition rates for E. coli and S. aureus were 96.2% and 93.9%, respectively. The core-shell nanostructure exhibited superior antibacterial performance compared to silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and non-irradiated groups. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the adsorption energy of Ag clusters on the NaYF₄:Yb, Tm host was thermodynamically favorable (− 1.23 eV), ensuring stable integration. The calculated projected density of states (PDOS) and dielectric function analyses showed that Ag doping modifies the electronic structure near the Fermi level, enhancing NIR absorption and localized heating, which were critical for the nanoparticle’s effective antibacterial performance. The synergistic effect of UCNP@Ag NPs via combining Ag⁺-mediated antibacterial activity and photothermal hyperthermia which avoids latent bacterial activation and overcomes the limitations of single-modality antibiotic therapy. The synergy between the thermal and silver effects presents a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics, with potential applications in combating resistant bacterial strains.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div><div><p>Scheme. 1. The localized hyperthermia destruction of bacteria through NIR field, UCNPs@Ag along with DFT simulation</p></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148281872","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":"Sustainable Design of LrGO–Ag–Au–CuxO Hybrid Nanocomposites with Superior Catalytic and Photocatalytic Efficiency in Aqueous Pollutant Degradation","authors":"Bengü Getiren Sevinç,&nbsp;Salih Açıl,&nbsp;Furkan Soysal,&nbsp;Zafer Çıplak,&nbsp;Atila Yıldız,&nbsp;Nuray Yıldız","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03053-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03053-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Cetraria islandica</i> (L.) Ach. lichen extract was employed as a bioinorganic reducing and stabilizing agent for the single-step green synthesis of a quaternary LrGO-Ag-Au-CuₓO nanocomposite integrating lichen-reduced graphene oxide (LrGO), silver (Ag), gold (Au), and copper oxide (CuₓO). XRD Rietveld refinement confirmed the coexistence of four crystalline phases – Ag (56.9 wt%), Au (28.9 wt%), CuO (7.5 wt%), and Cu₂O (6.7 wt%) – Alongside the LrGO matrix, while XPS established the zero-valent states of Ag and Au and the formation of CuO/Cu₂O heterojunctions. TEM analysis revealed a narrow nanoparticle size distribution with an average of 6.03 ± 2.61 nm, and BET analysis yielded a specific surface area of 11 m² g⁻¹. The dual functionality of the nanocomposite was evaluated through two model reactions. In the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) using NaBH₄, the LrGO-Ag-Au-CuₓO (1:1:1) nanocomposite exhibited an apparent rate constant of 0.0078 ± 0.0003 s⁻¹ at a catalyst loading of 0.172 mg mL⁻¹, maintaining stable activity over 11 consecutive cycles. Under visible LED irradiation, the nanocomposite achieved a methylene blue (MB) degradation efficiency of 97.67 ± 1.15% within 180 min, with a rate constant of 0.0219 ± 0.00265 min⁻¹. Radical trapping experiments identified •OH and •O₂⁻ as the dominant reactive species. These results establish <i>Cetraria islandica</i> extract as an effective green synthesis medium for the fabrication of multifunctional quaternary nanocomposites with competitive dual catalytic and photocatalytic performance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10876-026-03053-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148281517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facile Hydrothermal Synthesis of Porous ZnO Nanoparticles for Trace-Level NO2 Detection","authors":"Nguyen Hong Hanh,&nbsp;Vu Huu Khanh,&nbsp;Lai Van Duy,&nbsp;Matteo Tonezzer,&nbsp;Nguyen Duc Hoa","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03051-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03051-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Porous ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile, low-temperature hydrothermal method assisted by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and ascorbic acid, followed by a controlled annealing process. The synergistic effects of CTAB-mediated soft templating and thermal activation enabled the formation of uniform ZnO nanoparticles with high porosity and abundant oxygen vacancies. Structural, optical, and surface analyses confirmed the wurtzite crystal phase with high crystallinity and defect-rich nature of the nanoparticles, and a relatively large specific surface area of 12.24 m²/g. The resulting ZnO-based chemiresistive sensor exhibited excellent NO₂ sensing performance at an optimal operating temperature of 200°C, achieving a response of 95.8 toward 5 ppm NO₂ and a detection limit below 4 ppb. This result indicates a highly enhanced sensing capability compared to previously reported pristine ZnO nanostructures under comparable conditions. Additionally, it demonstrated excellent repeatability, stability, and reversible response/recovery behavior. The enhanced sensing capability is attributed to the combined effects of the porous morphology, abundant surface oxygen vacancies, and efficient modulation of the surface depletion layer during gas adsorption and desorption. This work demonstrates a cost-effective and scalable strategy for engineering ZnO nanostructures with tailored porosity and defect states, providing valuable insights into the structure–property relationship for high-performance NO₂ gas sensors suitable for environmental monitoring.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261715","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":"Water Clusters: From Molecular-Proton Motion To Bond-Electron Dynamics","authors":"Chang Q. Sun","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02970-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02970-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Water’s anomalous properties, such as its density maximum and high surface tension, are emergent phenomena originating from its molecular-scale behavior. This review charts a journey through water clusters, from the simple monomer and dimer to complex three-dimensional aggregates, to illuminate how hydrogen bonding evolves from a pairwise interaction into a cooperative, multi-body network. We highlight how this progression reveals the critical role of molecular undercoordination, which drives a unique electronic restructuring at surfaces and interfaces. Frameworks such as Bond Order-Length-Strength (BOLS) and Hydrogen Bond Cooperativity (HBCP) provide a consistent picture that re-focuses the explanation from molecule-proton motion to bond-electron dynamics, suggesting a connection between cluster behavior and the distinctive properties of bulk water.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261725","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":"Green Synthesis of Althaea Officinalis Extract-Based CuO Nanoparticles and their Biomedical Applications","authors":"Elif Kalpar Dogan,&nbsp;Dilek Bahar,&nbsp;Cemile Yilmaz,&nbsp;Sadık Küçükgünay,&nbsp;Fatma Öztürk Küp,&nbsp;F. İnci Özdemir","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03044-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03044-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p><i>Althaea officinalis (A. officinalis)</i> contains a rich bioactive composition with high therapeutic potential, primarily consisting of mucilage and phenolic compounds. The composition enables the ecofriendly green synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) suitable for various biomedical applications by offering high reduction capacity and strong stabilizing properties. We performed the green hydrothermal synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (AO@CuO NPs) by using <i>A. officinalis</i> extract. The formation of AO@CuO NPs was confirmed by a visible color change, and characteristic absorbance spectrum measured at 484 nm using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The surface morphologies and charges, chemical and crystal structures, and hydrodynamic diameters of AO@CuO NPs were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Zeta potential, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses. The spherical morphology and particle size (30.0 ± 10.0 nm) of AO@CuO NPs were confirmed by SEM analysis. The surface charge value of (-39.7 ± 3.9 mV) obtained by Zeta measurement. It is worth noting that the AO@CuO NPs possessed strong antimicrobial activity and demonstrated the highest inhibitory effect against <i>P. vulgaris</i> (18.67 ± 1.15 mm). It was determined that they exhibited moderate antioxidant activity using the DPPH method. Additionally, we detected significant antiproliferative (IC₅₀= 28.3, 10.7, and 253.9 µg.ml^− 1) and proapoptotic potentials of AO@CuO NPs on human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human colorectal (DLD-1) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cancer cells, respectively. Compared to cisplatin (CP), the apoptotic induction capacity in cancer cell lines was confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. Herein, we offer a reliable, sustainable and biocompatible nanotechnology-based biomedical platform approach against resistant infections and cancer. Schematic diagram, presenting the general outline of the research topics.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3><p>Schematic diagram, presenting the general outline of the research topics</p><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10876-026-03044-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transition Metal Sulfides: Promising Catalysts for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER)","authors":"Mohammad abushuhel,&nbsp;Munthar Kadhim Abosaoda,&nbsp;Rekha M M,&nbsp;Subhashree Ray,&nbsp;Kattela Chennakesavulu,&nbsp;Renu Sharma,&nbsp;Aditya Kashyap,&nbsp;Ashish Singh Chauhan","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03036-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03036-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is pivotal for sustainable hydrogen production, demanding efficient and economically viable electrocatalysts. Transition metal sulfides (TMSs) have recently gained significant attention as promising alternatives to traditional platinum-based catalysts due to their cost-effectiveness, abundance, and tunable catalytic properties. This review evaluates the performance of various TMS catalysts across acidic, alkaline, and neutral media, highlighting their distinct electrochemical behaviors and stability profiles. Analysis reveals that TMS composites exhibit superior HER activity and improved durability, especially those involving multi-metal compositions and engineered sulfur vacancies. Specifically, Co-based sulfide composites and heterostructures demonstrate remarkable stability and catalytic efficiency across different pH conditions. Despite considerable progress, challenges remain regarding catalyst stability under high-current-density conditions, scalability of synthesis methods, and detailed mechanistic understanding. This article outlines strategic approaches to address these issues, including atomic-scale design, advanced theoretical modeling, and optimizing porous structures for enhanced mass and charge transfer. Future research directions are proposed to bridge current knowledge gaps, facilitating the development of robust TMS-based catalysts capable of industrial-scale hydrogen production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261713","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":"Study of Magnetic Properties and Magnetocaloric Effect of the Triple-Layer Polyphenylene Dendrimers of Mixed Spin (1/2, 1, 3/2) Via Monte Carlo Simulations","authors":"M. Jerrari,&nbsp;R. Masrour,&nbsp;T. Sahdane","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03050-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03050-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this work, we investigate in detail the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of a triple-layer polyphenylene dendrimer with mixed spins (1/2, 1, 3/2) using Monte Carlo simulations based on the Metropolis algorithm within the Ising model framework. Additionally, the ground-state phase diagrams are systematically established in several planes to identify the stable magnetic configurations at zero reduced temperature. Our analysis shows that the reduced critical temperature is influenced by the reduced exchange couplings Rqq and Rσσ. We have also discussed the influence of the reduced exchange couplings and the reduced temperature on the total magnetization of the system. Moreover, the magnetic hysteresis cycle is established. Further, we investigate the effects of the reduced external magnetic fields (h/Jss) on the specific heat (C_m), thermal magnetization (dM/dT), internal energy, magnetic entropy changes (-ΔS), adiabatic temperature changes (ΔT_a), and relative cooling power (RCP). The relative cooling power increases almost linearly with the reduced external magnetic field, indicating promising magnetocaloric performance. These results suggest potential applications in the design of nanotechnology devices and the development of refrigeration systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261724","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":"Thermal Stability of Cun (n=7-22) Clusters Studied by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations","authors":"Xiaodong Yang,&nbsp;Wenhao Xu,&nbsp;Zhaoxiang Chen,&nbsp;ZhengWei Zuo,&nbsp;Haisheng Li","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03039-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03039-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>With the extensive application of Cu clusters, the geometric structures of Cu clusters have attracted much attention. By using the CALYPSO approach followed by first-principles calculations at 0 K, we confirm that the ground states (GS) of Cu_n (<i>n=</i>7-22) are composed of pentagonal bipyramid Cu₇, but Cu₁₃ (GS) is not a regular icosahedron (<i>I</i>_<i>h</i>). Further study demonstrates that the GS usually have higher sd hybridization index (H_sd), shorter average bond length and stronger bonding than that of the <i>I</i>_<i>h</i> growth modes. Considering that experiments are carried out at finite temperature, it is exceedingly necessary to systematically study their thermal stability. By tracing the characteristic bond, ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that the relative thermal stability of the GS is usually higher than that of the <i>I</i>_<i>h</i> growth modes, except for relatively regular icosahedral structures of Cu₁₃, Cu₁₈ and Cu₁₉. Besides, the calculation results also show that different temperatures correspond to different stable structures. Our study shows that the thermal stability concept in theoretical calculations is also a key factor to explain the experimental observations on cluster science.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261714","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":"Role of Ionic Liquid and Phytochemical Capping on the Structure and Biological Applications of ZnO Nanoparticles","authors":"Gaurav Choudhary,&nbsp;Jyoti Dhariwal,&nbsp;Kamalakanta Behera,&nbsp;Harish Chandra,&nbsp;Vijeta Chaudhry,&nbsp;Manish Shandilya,&nbsp;Dipti Vaya","doi":"10.1007/s10876-026-03052-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-026-03052-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nanoparticles (NPs) have transformed modern biomedical science by enabling targeted drug delivery, enhancing antimicrobial, antioxidant, protein-interaction capabilities, improving diagnostic imaging. Among metal oxide nanomaterials, zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs are widely investigated due to their biocompatibility and functional versatility. This study presents a comparative analysis of ZnO NPs synthesized through two distinct green chemistry approaches, utilizing the ionic liquid (IL) 1-Decyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [DMIM][BF₄] and the aqueous leaf extract of <i>Nyctanthes arbor-tristis</i> (NAT) as capping and stabilizing agents. Comprehensive physicochemical characterizations revealed notable differences in morphology and stability. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) confirmed phase-pure wurtzite ZnO in both samples. Microscopic analysis revealed that IL-ZnO NPs were smaller and more uniformly dispersed, whereas NAT-ZnO NPs exhibited comparatively larger and irregular morphologies. Zeta potential measurements indicated moderate colloidal stability for IL-ZnO (+ 15 ± 0.3 mV) than NAT-ZnO NPs (+ 8 ± 0.5 mV). FTIR spectra validated Zn–O bonding and surface functionalization derived from the respective capping agents. Biological assays demonstrated that IL-ZnO showed comparatively stronger antibacterial and antifungal activity, while NAT-ZnO exhibited selective inhibition against <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (<i>E.faecalis</i>) and relatively higher antioxidant activity at elevated concentrations (conc.). Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy of bovine serum albumin (BSA) interactions indicated minimal conformational disruption, suggesting NPs-induced stabilization rather than denaturation.</p><p>These findings demonstrate that the choice of capping agent influences NPs morphology, stability and biological response, offering valuable insights for targeted applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"37 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148237221","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}