A newly synthesized zinc (II) oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NPs) has been used as a disinfectant Nano-spray for the emerging corona virus (SARS-CoV-2). The synthesized obtained nanomaterial of (ZnO) was fully chemically characterized by using different spectroscopic analysis (FT-IR, UV and XRD) and surface analysis techniques. ZnO-Nps surface morphology and chemical purity has been investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Additionally Zeta potential and Zeta size distribution were measured and evaluated to confirm its nano-range scale. The synthesized Zno-NPs have been tested using 10% DMSO and ddH2O for estimation of antiviral activity against (SARS-CoV-2) by using cytotoxicity assay (CC50) and inhibitory concentration (IC50). The results revealed that (Zno-NPs) has high anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity at cytotoxic concentrations in vitro with non-significant selectivity index (CC50/IC50 ≤ 1). The current study results demonstrated the (ZnO-NPs) has potent antiviral activity at low concentration (IC50 = 526 ng/mL) but with some cytotoxic effect to the cell host by (CC50 = 292.2 ng/mL). We recommend using of (ZnO-NPs) as potent disinfectant against (SARS-Cov-2), but there are slight side effects on the cellular host, so we recommend more prospective studies on complexation of other compounds with (ZnO-NPs) in different concentrations to reduce its cellular toxicity and elevate its antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 activities.

Current development of drug microcarriers is mainly based on spherical shapes, which are not biologically favorable geometries for complex interactions with biological systems. Scalable synthesis of drug carriers with nonspherical and anisotropic shapes featuring sustained drug‐releasing performances, biocompatibility, degradability, and sensing capabilities is challenging. These challenges are addressed in this work by employing Nature's optimized designs obtained from low‐cost diatomaceous earth mineral derived from single‐cell algae diatoms. Silica diatoms with unique shapes and 3D microcapsule morphology are converted into silicon diatom replicas with identical structure by a magnesiothermic reduction process. The results reveal that prepared silicon diatoms have a set of unique properties including favorable microcapsule structure with high surface area and micro/mesoporosity providing high drug loading, fast biodegradability, and intrinsic luminescence, which make them highly suitable for low‐cost production of advanced drug microcarriers. Their sustained drug release >30 days combined with self‐reporting function based on silicon luminescence properties using nonluminescent and luminescent drugs for intravitreal drug therapy is successfully demonstrated. These silicon diatoms offer promising potential toward scalable production of low‐cost and advanced microcarriers for broad medical therapies, including theranostics and microrobotic guided drug delivery devices.

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A smart and reversibly photoswitchable membrane based on an azobenzene photo-switch containing peptides attached inside the pores of nanoporous anodic alumina membranes (NAAMs) is presented. The transport of molecules of interest across the photoswitchable peptide (PSP) functionalized NAAMs can be effectively controlled and manipulated as a function of the photostationary state of the azobenzene group in a PSP.