Josline Neetha D’Souza, G. K. Nagaraja, Ashwini Prabhu, Sabia Kouser, K. Meghana Navada
{"title":"Green Synthesis and Characterization of Sauropus androgynus-Mediated Ag and Ag/ZnO Nanoparticles: Enhanced Antiproliferative Activity Against MDA-MB468 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells","authors":"Josline Neetha D’Souza, G. K. Nagaraja, Ashwini Prabhu, Sabia Kouser, K. Meghana Navada","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02863-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02863-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Breast cancer is the most regular carcinoma death cause with nearly 6.9% death cases globally. Even the most advanced treatment approaches fails to reduce the mortality of breast cancer. The present work demonstrates biofabrication of silver (AgSA) and silver/zinc oxide (Ag/ZnOSA) nanoparticles and their cytotoxic potentiality on the human triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The nanoparticles synthesized using <i>Sauropus androgynus (L.)</i> extract were analyzed for their surface and morphological properties through BET, PXRD, FESEM, EDS, and FTIR techniques. The results obtained confirmed the presence of agglomerated and spherical shaped AgSA and Ag/ZnOSA nanoparticles with size in the range of 25.32 to 47.42 nm. The in-vitro anticancer study accomplished using MDA-MB468 TNBC cells shown the augmented antiproliferative potentiality of Ag/ZnOSA nanoparticles in comparison to pure AgSA nanoparticles (60.35 ± 0.94 to 86.21 ± 0.23). Besides, the AO-EB dual staining method revealed apoptosis of TNBC cells at early stages. Moreover, the biocompatibility of synthesized nanoparticles was found to be up to 94.28 ± 0.001%. Also the nanoparticles exerted antioxidant activity with a radical quenching percentage up to 87.92 ± 0.001. This study is the first to report the biosynthesis of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites via S. androgynus and their potent cytotoxicity against TNBC cells, highlighting their potential as promising candidates for future anticancer nanotherapeutics.</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":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145143282","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":"Enhancement of Photocatalytic Degradation of RhB Dye Using CuWO4/ZnO/N-g-C3N4 Nanocomposite Under Visible Light Irradiation","authors":"Rasha H. Albusalih, Hassan A. Alshamsi","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02862-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02862-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of photocatalytic materials for the degradation of hazardous pollutants in aqueous solutions is a research area of interest to researchers in the field of environmental remediation. This work investigates a simple hydrothermal method for preparing CuWO<sub>4</sub>, g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, ZnO, and CuWO<sub>4</sub><b>/</b>ZnO/N-g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> as photocatalysts for the degradation of Rhodamine dye (RhB) in aqueous solution. The fabricated nanostructure was characterized using several advanced techniques. XRD analysis showed the presence of signals related to CuWO<sub>4</sub>, g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and ZnO suggesting that CuWO<sub>4</sub> and ZnO were loaded onto g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> sheets. Additionally, optical results showed a significant narrowing of the band gap energy of the CuWO<sub>4</sub>/ZnO/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> (2.85 eV) compared to pure ZnO (3.2 eV). The results of the optimum photocatalytic activity of CuWO<sub>4</sub>/ZnO/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> showed a degradation efficiency of 95.16% (photocatalyst mass = 1.2 g/L, dye concentration = 5 ppm, irradiation period = 80 min, and pH 9). Reuse results showed that the CuWO<sub>4</sub>/ZnO/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanocomposite retained approximately 84.62% of its initial activity after five successive cycles.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145142880","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}
Eman Fayad, Dalal Nasser Binjawhar, Fahmy Gad Elsaid, A. Taha, Mahmoud F. Mubarak
{"title":"Innovative CuZnCr-BTC Framework for Enhanced Congo Red Dye Removal in Sustainable Wastewater Treatment","authors":"Eman Fayad, Dalal Nasser Binjawhar, Fahmy Gad Elsaid, A. Taha, Mahmoud F. Mubarak","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02840-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02840-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Dye-contaminated wastewater poses a significant threat to environmental and human health, necessitating the development of efficient and reusable adsorbent materials. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as promising candidates owing to their high surface area, tunable porosity, and chemical stability. In this study, a novel trimetallic copper–zinc–chromium MOF based on benzene-1, 3, 5-tricarboxylate (CuZnCr-BTC) was synthesized via a solvothermal method, and its adsorption performance was evaluated for the removal of Congo Red dye from aqueous media. The synthesized MOF displayed a cubic morphology with particle sizes ranging from 200 to 400 nm, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and complementary characterization techniques. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted under varying operational conditions. The CuZnCr-BTC MOF achieved a maximum dye removal efficiency of 93.3% at an adsorbent dose of 30 mg, dye concentration of 100 mg/L, pH 7, temperature of 35 °C, and contact time of 60 min. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.996), while equilibrium data were best fitted by the Langmuir isotherm model (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.998), suggesting monolayer adsorption with a maximum adsorption capacity of 280 mg/g. Additionally, the MOF maintained approximately 87% of its removal efficiency after six regeneration cycles, indicating excellent reusability. These results demonstrate that the trimetallic CuZnCr-BTC MOF is a robust, cost-effective, and reusable adsorbent for wastewater dye removal applications, with promising implications for large-scale environmental remediation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141909","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}
K. R. Pooja, G. Nagaraju, C. P. Prajwal Ujjani, Vachanashree J. Koti, K. B. Naveen, R. Harini, J. Manjanna, C. Mallikarjunaswamy
{"title":"Efficient Atrazine Degradation Via Green Synthesized Zirconia NPs: A Sustainable Approach to Water Purification","authors":"K. R. Pooja, G. Nagaraju, C. P. Prajwal Ujjani, Vachanashree J. Koti, K. B. Naveen, R. Harini, J. Manjanna, C. Mallikarjunaswamy","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02847-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02847-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>High-purity ZrO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles, prepared through a green and low-combustion synthesis method using coconut oil as a renewable fuel, have been developed. The eco-friendly synthesis technique is an affordable and scalable route that competes with traditional synthesis routes that require toxic precursors and high-temperature conditions. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the synthesised ZrO<sub>2</sub> NPs were characterised by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. XRD proved the existence of a monoclinic phase ZrO<sub>2</sub> with an average crystallite size of 21 nm. The direct band gap value has been determined to be 3.1 eV according to the UV-Vis DRS analysis that proves the photocatalytic potential of the material. SEM imaging revealed the surface morphology, further confirming the nanoscale features of the synthesised particles. The photocatalytic activity of ZrO<sub>2</sub> NPs was evaluated for the degradation of atrazine (ATZ), a persistent triazine herbicide, under UV light irradiation. Various experimental parameters, including catalyst dosage, atrazine concentration, pH, and the role of scavengers, were systematically investigated to understand their influence on degradation efficiency. Notably, ZrO<sub>2</sub> NPs degraded 91% of the atrazine in only 30 min using a catalyst load of 30 mg and an initial ATZ concentration of 5 ppm. The high degradation efficiency of the material makes it quite promising for use in environmental remediation applications. Beyond the photocatalysis application, the synthesized ZrO<sub>2</sub> NPs have demonstrated promising applicability in forensic science for latent fingerprint detection, hence showing their multi-functionality. The advantages of green synthesis, superior photocatalytic efficiency, and forensic applicability set this study apart from previous works, emphasising its novelty and potential for real-world applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141913","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}
Jessica A. O. Rodrigues, Adenilson O. dos Santos, Alan S. de Menezes, Eliana B. Souto, Francisco F. de Sousa
{"title":"Removal of Toxic Chromium Ions from Wastewater Using Nanomaterials and Environmental Impact – A Review","authors":"Jessica A. O. Rodrigues, Adenilson O. dos Santos, Alan S. de Menezes, Eliana B. Souto, Francisco F. de Sousa","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02837-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02837-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Due to the high risk to human health associated with chromium ions contamination in water, strategies for removing this toxic metal have been increasingly studied. To avoid environmental pollution and promote a circular economy, it is necessary to eliminate chromium from wastewater and recycle it. Among the strategies available, the incorporation of nanomaterials has emerged as a viable and cost-efficient method for the removal of toxic chromium ions. In recent years, many advancements have been made towards the use of several nanomaterials to decrease chromium concentration in contaminated water. The physical and chemical properties inherent to their nanosized range, together with the type of solutions, temperature, pH and contact time, make nanomaterials promising candidates for use in water purification. Combining traditional treatment technologies with nanomaterials opens the pathway for new and more effective treatment processes with greater benefits to population. In this review, we examine the various species of chromium, explore their toxicity levels, and discuss the techniques employed to effectively eliminate this element in particular, nanotechnology-based approaches.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10876-025-02837-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141919","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":"Application of Liposome-Based Drug Delivery Systems in Tumor Treatment","authors":"Wanlei Sun, Wenfeng He","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02836-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02836-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>At present, chemotherapy is still the main method to treat tumors in clinic, but it has its own defects, including severe side effects to normal tissues, the tendency to develop drug resistance and poor targeting, which lead to unsatisfactory treatment outcomes. To enhance the efficacy and targeting of anti-tumor drugs, various drug delivery systems based on nanotechnology have emerged in recent years, which can effectively deliver anti-tumor drugs to tumor tissues through retention and permeability effects. Despite their considerable advantages in tumor treatment, these delivery systems also have certain limitations, such as unclear metabolic pathways and challenges in industrial production. Among them, liposomes, as a type of nanocarriers composed of phospholipids and cholesterol, not only possess a bilayer vesicle structure similar to biological membranes that provides good encapsulation capacity for both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, but also exhibit excellent biocompatibility and can mimic cell membranes biological properties. Thus, liposomes based drug delivery system have been widely applied in the field of tumor diagnosis and treatment. Especially, a series of environment-responsive liposomal drug delivery system have been developed based on specific tumor microenvironments. These systems can not only regulate the tumor microenvironment to achieve the cascade effect in tumor treatment, but also explore various synergistic treatment strategies, improving tumor treatment efficacy while reducing toxicity to the body. Based on this, this paper reviews and summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of liposomes as drug delivery system in tumor diagnosis and treatment and provides proposals for enhancing the biosafety of liposomes and promoting their clinical translation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141920","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":"A Phosphorescent Silver-Copper Nanocluster with a Saddle-Like Stabilizing Surface","authors":"Fei Li, Chen Zhu, Luyao Lu, Mingshuai Yu, Xi Kang, Manzhou Zhu","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02843-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02843-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The development of new types of alloy nanoclusters with strong photoluminescence is essential for enabling downstream applications related to their photophysical properties. In this study, we reported the synthesis and structural characterization of a silver-copper alloy nanocluster, [Ag<sub><i>x</i></sub>Cu<sub>25−<i>x</i></sub>(SPhCl<sub>2</sub>)<sub>16</sub>(DPPE)<sub>4</sub>](BPh<sub>4</sub>), which displayed the phosphorescent behavior. Single-crystal X-ray crystallography revealed that the Ag<sub><i>x</i></sub>Cu<sub>25−<i>x</i></sub> nanocluster consists of an icosahedral Ag<sub>13</sub> kernel, stabilized by a saddle-like surface shell of Ag<sub><i>n</i></sub>Cu<sub>12−<i>n</i></sub>(SPhCl<sub>2</sub>)<sub>16</sub>(DPPE)<sub>4</sub>. The nanocluster was emissive in both solution and crystalline states, and its phosphorescent nature was determined. Overall, this work showcases a phosphorescent Ag-Cu alloy nanocluster, expanding the library of emissive clusters with strong photoluminescence.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141914","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}
Adil Aldhahrani, Dalal Nasser Binjawhar, Hanadi A. Katouah, Jawaher Albaqami, Fahmy Gad Elsaid, Eman Fayad, Ali H. Abu Almaaty, Manar A. El-Zend
{"title":"In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation of Biosynthesized Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Using Rose Hip: Characterization and their Potential in Modulating Tubulin and VEGFR-II for Breast Cancer Therapy","authors":"Adil Aldhahrani, Dalal Nasser Binjawhar, Hanadi A. Katouah, Jawaher Albaqami, Fahmy Gad Elsaid, Eman Fayad, Ali H. Abu Almaaty, Manar A. El-Zend","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02854-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02854-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women worldwide, and it is necessary to identify new and green therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we are planning a green nanomedicine approach by synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using <i>Rosa rugosa</i> and evaluating them for anti-breast cancer activity. Using a green phytochemical approach, the stability, functionalization, and nanoscale characteristics of these Green CuO NPs were investigated using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, TEM, and zeta potential measurement. The CuO NPs showed strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 6.98 ± 0.32 <i>µg</i>/mL and 21.33 ± 0.92 <i>µg</i>/mL, respectively, which is better than pure rosehip extract and doxorubicin. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CuO NPs caused G2/M cell cycle arrest, decreased tubulin levels to 62.4%, and enhanced cancer cell mortality (27.64 compared to 2.49% in controls), validating their microtubule-targeting efficacy. CuO NPs further exhibited strong anti-angiogenic activity via VEGFR-II downregulation. In vivo studies have also shown dose-dependent inhibition of the growth of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) cells, a standard murine breast cancer model, by 66.7% at 5 mg/kg, with a decrease in tumor volume. Notably, oxidative stress markers improved and hepatic and renal functions were in normal levels, pointing toward the therapeutic safety of CuO NPs. This study emphasizes the potential of Green CuO NPs as an easy and eco-friendly nanomedicine strategy for the targeted therapy of breast cancer.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141918","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":"Development and Optimization of Doxycycline Hyclate and Aloe-Emodin NLC’s Loaded Gel for Diabetic Wound Healing","authors":"Muzammil Husain, Yogeeta Agrawal","doi":"10.1007/s10876-025-02839-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10876-025-02839-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Chronic wounds in diabetic patients pose a significant healthcare challenge due to their slow healing rates and associated complications, which result in considerable morbidity, prolonged treatment durations, and elevated healthcare costs. This study aimed to optimize the doxycycline hyclate Aloe emodin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (DH-AE NLCs) approach and assess their therapeutic potential in diabetic wound healing. Different formulation variables were optimized to get the desired particle size, zeta potential, Polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficiency. The diabetic wound healing potential of the formulated system was performed by In-vitro anti-microbial assay and in-vivo studies in rats and validated by histopathological analysis. The optimized formulation has a particle size of 165.32 nm, Zeta potential − 28.2, PDI 0.236, and entrapment efficiency of 79.99 %. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry revealed that both APIs were amorphous in the DH-AE NLCs. In-vitro drug release studies showed a sustained release pattern over 24 h and followed the Higuchi model (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.98) release kinetics. The antimicrobial activity demonstrated significant inhibition against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In-vivo anti-diabetic studies revealed a significant decrease in blood sugar levels in diabetic rats treated with the DH-AE NLCs formulation, achieving a 65% reduction after 14 days compared to 20% in the pure drug group. Histopathological analysis of skin tissues validated these findings, showing improvement in histopathological changes in damaged skin cells after treatment with gel. From the above findings, it concluded that the optimized DH-AE NLCs formulation has promising physicochemical stability, sustained drug release, enhanced antimicrobial activity, and found therapeutically effective in diabetic wound healing even more than the marketed formulation. Treatment with this gel will enable a path for the clinical society to achieve a synergistic therapeutic application in the management of diabetic wound healing.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":618,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cluster Science","volume":"36 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145141972","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}