Nanoscience & Nanotechnology-Asia - Volume 8, Issue 2, 2018

Introduction: Nanoemulsion is an important tool in the nano-technological arena designed for clinical and therapeutic application. Currently among different nanocarriers, nanoemulsions are extensively envisaged as carters efficient in targeting oleophillic pharmacologically active constituents at the site of action. Beauties of nanoemulsion include optical clarity, biocompatibility, non-immunogenic, biodegradable, drug encapsulation, sustained and controlled release, nanometric size, large surface area, ease of preparation and thermodynamic stability. The scientific society has acknowledged nanoemulsions as proficient nanocarriers capable of effectively addressing the low bioavailability and non compliance issues associated with the conventional dosage forms. Conclusion: This review attempts to shed new light on the current status of nanoemulsion in the therapeutics, and commercial field and optimization of efficiency on the basis of morphology, formulation, characteristics and characterization parameters.

Introduction: At the end of 2014, almost 36.9 million people were living with HIV which has put the HIV infection in the list of major public health issues. Although almost thirty drugs are available for the treatment of HIV infection, challenges associated with delivery of these drugs still remain a major concern. These challenges can be divided into three categories 1) poor drug concentration at potential viral reservoirs, 2) poor oral bioavailability and 3) poor efficacy of existing anti-HIV drugs. Three major types of lipidic nannocarriers including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and microemulsion/nanoemulsion showed potential of targeting anti-HIV drugs to macrophages, brain and lymphatic system which then resulted in improved efficacy of the drug. These nanoformulations have also been explored for the delivery of anti-HIV drugs via various non-invasive routes like nasal, buccal and transdermal to improve the bioavailability. Conclusion: This review therefore mainly focuses on the current HIV therapy and their limitations, use of lipid based nanocarriers including liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles and micremulsion/ nanoemulsion in the targeting and delivery of anti-HIV drugs Future perspective of development of these nanocarriers for delivery of anti-HIV drugs is also highlighted.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gyneocological malignancies among women. E6 and E7 oncoproteins of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) are the main reasons of cervical cancer, other factors include increased level of estrogen, smoking, unprotected sex, and multiparity etc. Nanotechnology appears to be a remarkable alternative to cervix cancer treatment provided that nanoparticles exhibit unique features like size and chemical properties. Nano-technological approaches have been shown to be advantageous over conventional techniques both for screening and treatment of cervical cancer due to their specificity towards the target. Over the past few years, quantum dots, gold nanoparticles/ nanowires, magnetic nanoparticles and the biodegradable nanoparticles have been developed which can be usedw as biomarkers for cancer detection. Nanoparticles have been proven both in vitro and in vivo for the reduction of cervical cancer either by induction of apoptosis or cell cycle arrest and by directly controlling the gene expression of HPV. Conclusion: The present review gives a brief account of nanostrategies for screening and treatment of cervical cancer.

Introduction: This study was aimed at determining the optimum condition for desorption of cadmium loaded carbon nanotubes (cCNTs) for re-adsorption of the same metal ion. Materials and Methods: Two independent parameters (contact time and HCl concentrations) were subjected to statistical optimization by face centered central composite design (FCCCD). Result: Maximum desorption cCNT was achieved under the optimized conditions of pH 1.40 and 130 min contact time. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the developed model was found to be 0.988, indicating the fitness of the experimental and predicted responses. Following the desorption experiments, the efficiency of re-adsorption of Cd2+ by the CNT was 61.08%. Conclusion: The reduced re-adsorption capacity of CNT could be linked to modification of its sorption sites based on acid desorption process.

Introduction: Fast dissolving films have received great attention in pharmaceutical industry because of their unique properties and advantages. The drug loaded films undergo quick disintegration in the salivary fluids of the oral cavity and release the drug. The purpose of this study is to fabricate tuberculosis (TB) drugs such as Isoniazid and Rifampicin loaded polymer films. Materials and Methods: Three polymers such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), gelatin and chitosan were evaluated for their film forming property. Glycerin was used as plasticizer with different concentrations to find the effect of plasticizer on disintegration time of the polymer. The oral films were prepared by solvent casting method. FT-IR and UV-Vis analysis were employed to confirm the presence of drugs. Drug release studies were performed in simulated saliva solution. Result: The performance of the films was evaluated with respect to thickness, weight uniformity, in vitro disintegration time, moisture uptake, moisture loss and folding endurance. Poly (vinyl alcohol) showed better film forming property than other polymers. The antimicrobial activity of the films was analyzed by well diffusion method. Conclusion: The films prepared with 3% PVA with 5% plasticizer concentration showed minimum disintegration time (17 Seconds) which is highly suitable for oral drug delivery applications. This results in a new approach of TB drug delivery which reduces the complications in swallowing the tablets by elderly and pediatric people.

Introduction: The effluence of Bi3+ doping on the microstructure and property of the undoped and Bi3+-doped Cu2Se films deposited by chemical bath deposition were studied. Methods: The films showed average UV-visible transmittances of ~73.29-84.10 % that increased with increasing Bi3+ content. The optical bandgaps calculated from optical spectra increased with increasing Bi3+ content. Strong bandgap emission at ~629 nm was also observed. Moreover, the films had actual Se/Cu<2 and n-type conductive. Result: The sheet resistance of ~4.13-96.440-3 Ω·cm first decreased and then increased with the increase in Bi content. Conclusion: Various optical constants of the films were estimated with the UV-visible light spectra.

Background: The conventional gel formulations employed for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis, are commonly responsible for dandruff and considered to be less efficacious owing to their low viscosity, low retentivity and faster hydration properties when applied to hair and scalp. Objectives: The antidandruff gel formulations are considered to be highly efficacious over the conventional available formulations due to their retentivity for longer periods of time. Additionally, implication of nanocarriers in such systems is considered to be helpful for better assessment of the active therapeutics in the deeper regions of scalp for improving their efficacy. Method: The current research work, entails systematic development of lemon grass oilloaded chitosan nanoparticle gel for improved antidandruff action. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by modified ionic gelation method and optimized for the concentrations of lemon grass oil (X1), chitosan (X2) and tripolyphosphate (X3) as the factors using Box-Behnken design (BBD) with design expert software. Furthermore, the optimized nanoparticles were incorporated in the gel formulations containing carbopol 940 and polyethylene glycol 400. Further, the optimized formulations were tested for antifungal activity against malassezia globose. Results: The optimized developed nanoparticles revealed particle size of <100 nm, zeta potential of <20 mV, drug content of >90%, entrapment efficiency of >82% and spherical appearance with smooth surface characteristics. Furthermore, the evaluation of nanoparticle- loaded gel formulation showed excellent viscosity, extrudability, spredability and controlled release characteristics of the active therapeutic agent for longer period of time. In vitro antifungal activity of prepared nano formulation by agar-plate diffusion method against M. globosa showed significant anti-fungal action as compared to the standard ketoconazole. Conclusion: The present work reported effective development of lemon grass-loaded nanoparticle gel formulation as one of the strategies for better control of dandruff.

Introduction: A systematic theoretical investigation of exciton sizes, their nature and natural transition orbital analysis has been presented for a number of graphene nanoflakes of varying shapes, sizes and isomeric forms. Interestingly, a variation in exciton sizes has been correlated to the size of the structure. The electron delocalization upon absorption has been presented using the natural transition orbital analysis and it is found to be navigating towards the edges of the structure, as the size increases. Conclusion: The excitons were found to be Frenkel in nature.

Background: The Single-wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) represent one of the most active classes of nanostructures, and they have been widely used as active materials for important applications. In this study, the electronic, thermochemistry and vibrational properties of zigzag and armchair SWCNTs were investigated. Objective: Using these investigations, it is possible to obtain much more data to apply SWCNTs in medical science, industrial technologies and nanosensors applications. Methods: All the calculations are based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G level through the Gaussian 09W program package. Results: The optimized structures, diameter, contour plots for electronic states (HOMO and LUMO), energy gaps, thermochemistry functions and vibrational intensities were performed and discussed. Conclusion: This study clarified the properties of SWCNTs are dependent on the diameter of the tube, i.e. the chrial vector (n, m). An addition, these results could help to design more efficient functional SWCNTs, and these properties play a key role for many applications.

Introduction: Green synthesis of nanoparticles has been gaining a lot of attraction owing to its property to synthesize stable nanoparticles by a simple and convenient method. Materials and Methods: The present study demonstrates the use of Dicoma tomentosa bark extract in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (DT-AgNPs). The formation of DT-AgNPs was indicated by change of color from light brown yellow to dark brown and was confirmed by UV-vis spectroscopy. Result: The surface plasmon resonance spectra were observed at 430-480nm of AgNPs. FTIR spectra suggested that the DT-AgNPs were obtained by the action of phenolic compounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids and aromatic amines in the plant extracts. Conclusion: Several parameters (reaction time, AgNO3 concentration, extract concentration and temperature) responsible for DT-AgNPs synthesis were optimized. Further, the antibacterial potential of synthesized DT-AgNPs tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa revealed remarkable zone of inhibition.

Background: Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD), a contagious, acute infectious disease of domestic and wild ruminants, can devastate livestock and create an economic calamity for their owners. The finding of antiviral compounds to combat FMD virus (FMDV) is thus of great importance. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted great interests as a potentially useful tool for controlling various microorganisms. Objective: In this study, the interaction and mode action of AgNPs with respect to FMDV were investigated. Cytotoxicity of AgNPs on the baby hamster kidney 21 (BHK-21) cell line was determined by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the anti-FMDV activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated by plaque assays at different times of infection. Results: AgNPs at non-toxic concentrations could inactivate the virus prior to entry into the cell or during penetration, but not after adsorption. Conclusion: The antiviral mechanism requires further research; however, these findings provide new insights into the potential anti-FMDV activity of AgNPs.

Small size 3±0.5nm alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticles have been prepared using control precipitation method in aqueous solution. Aluminum nitrate and ammonium carbonate were added to heated distilled water. Aluminum hydroxide was formed and calcined at 550 oC to produce boehmite (-Al2O3) nanoparticles. The novelty of this work is the surface modification of the formed -Al2O3 nanoparticles, characterized by their low cost, ease production, high melting point, corrosion resistance, high strength, chemical stability, low thermal conductivity and good electrical insulation properties by using oleic acid as a coupling agent to avoid the disadvantage of using nanomaterials as additives to lubricant oils due to their agglomeration to enhance the lubricant oil specifications. With three concentrations of surface modified Al2O3 nanoparticles, an improvement for physical properties of lubricant oil was observed. Lubricant with 0.05 wt% of surface modified Al2O3 nanoparticles has not applicable change in viscosity and has notable improvement in flash point, pour point, thermal stability and antiwear ability by rates 4.3%, 150%, 33% and 9.4%, respectively. Surface modification process for alumina provides a suitable dispersion of nanoparticles inside lubricant oil. In conclusion, alumina nanoadditives enhance the lubricant base-oil specification that introduces a leap for lubricant industry.

Carbon-cobalt nanostructures 1 and 2 were prepared by pyrolysis of the cisdichlorobis( 1,10-phenanthroline-N,N')-cobalt(II) complex 3 in the absence or presence of anthracene respectively. DFT calculation was used to estimate ligand dissociation energy of cobalt complex, the energy cost for the formation of cobalt particles which catalyze the formation of carbon nanostructures. FE-SEM analysis indicates that 1 and 2 contain 3D nanostructure hierarchical porous graphitic carbons HPCGs wrapping cobalt particles in spheres and rods, with mesopores and macropores ranging from 10-100 nm. TEM analysis indicated that nanostructures 1 and 2 consist of graphite layers as well as single wall and bamboo multiple wall carbon nanotubes. Crystalline cobalt catalyst nanoparticles were found wrapped in ordered graphene layers and also at the tips of the bamboo-shaped disordered multiwall carbon nanotubes. TEM also showed porous surfaces. Both nanostructures 1 and 2 were used as adsorbents to uptake malachite green dye (MG) from aqueous solution. Adsorption isotherms of MG by adsorbents 1 and 2 were fitted in terms of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and D-R models. The adsorption capacity of 2 (492 mg/g) was higher than that of 1 (200 mg/g). Thermodynamic adsorption studies indicated that the sorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. A pseudo-first order model has been adopted to describe the kinetics of the adsorption process as well as the activated thermodynamic parameters. Column kinetic adsorption of MG by 2 was best fitted by the Thomas model. The column capacity was found to be 64 mg. The adsorbent can be regenerated and proved efficient for three consecutive cycles.

Introduction: The preparation and exploration of catalytic activity of nanoparticles in organic transformations have become a genuine need of clean and sustainable chemistry if they are non-toxic, readily available, and recyclable. Experimental: Nanoparticles show the unusual or enhanced properties due to their nanosize and high surface to volume ratio. In this paper, Nanocrystalline CoFe2O4, a wellknown magnetic compound was prepared by glycine-nitrate combustion route. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed the formation of single-phasic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. Result: The crystallite size was found to be 46 nm. BET study showed the surface area 24.2 m2/g. The catalytic behavior of as-prepared nanoparticles was studied in the synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives. Various benzimidazole derivatives have been prepared in moderate to good yield in facile one-pot synthesis under mild conditions using magnetically retrievable CoFe2O4. Conclusion: The catalyst is found to be green, efficient and economically viable.

Introduction: Magnetite nanoparticles are very important nanomaterials due to their magnetic properties and compatibility with the human organism. In this research, the effects of the irradiation on the properties of the magnetite nanoparticles, synthesized by co-precipitation method were studied. Materials and Methods: The synthesized particles were characterized by using different instrumental and analytical methods. It was found that irradiation of the reaction solution affect the size of the synthesized nanoparticles. Depending on the radiation wave length, the size of the nanoparticles could be altered. Therefore, the irradiation could be employed in order to control the size of the synthesized magnetite nanoparticles. Result: The size of the particles decreased with increasing the irradiation wavelength. Furthermore, it is well known that the saturation magnetization of magnetite nanoparticles is less than that of bulk magnetite. Conclusion: We found that this reduction in the saturation magnetization is mainly due to the surface spin canting and is much less dependent on the purity of the nanoparticles.

Introduction: This study reports the uses of Pterospermum acerifolium leaf extract (PALE) as a novel reducing agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Materials and Methods: These PALE silver nanoparticles (PaAgNPs) characterized by UVVis spectrophotometer and HR-TEM were spherical in shape and their sizes range from 10- 20 nm. FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of polycyclic compounds similar to betulinic acid which acts as capping and stabilizing agent to PaAgNPs. XRD analysis showed crystalline nature of PaAgNPs. Stability of PaAgNPs was checked by Zeta potential. Antineoplastic effects of PaAgNPs on HepG2 cells were monitored by MTT assay, DAPI, and AO-EB staining. Mortality rate of up to 94.6 % was observed at 250 μg/ml with IC50 value 4.76 ± 1.1μg/ml after 48 h however negligible effect was detected on normal human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells. Result: Fluorescence in images revealed shrinkage, condensed nuclei, fragmentation and the formation of apoptotic bodies in PaAgNPs treated HepG2 cells. The phytofabricated PaAgNPs also showed antimicrobial activity using well diffusion assay against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli, S. flexneri, and C.albicans. Conclusion: The investigation unveils that phytofabricated PaAgNPs could be exploited as antineoplastic and antimicrobial agents.

Introduction: The chemical structure can be represented by a graph with the notion of vertices and edges specifying the atom and bonds, respectively. Materials and Methods: Topological indices are the numbers which are derived from a molecular graph. A topological index is a numeric quantity of a molecular graph that is mathematically derived. Results: In this paper, we computed a certain degree-based topological indices of threelayered single-walled titania nanosheets and nanotubes. Conclusion: The application of topological indices is vital in quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) studies.