This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of synthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) capped with glucose and polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP) on the hyperglycemia and prooxidants/antioxidants imbalance present in model streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. SeNPs were synthesized and characterized. Twenty-four albino male rats were grouped into four different groups. After the rats were induced to have type 2 diabetes by STZ, the SeNPs-treated groups received a dose of 0.5 mg/ml of SeNPs for seven days. Plasma glucose and insulin levels, pancreatic insulin expression, the levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione (GSH) were evaluated. TEM images revealed the formation of semispherical particles with average size between 40 and 50 nm. SeNPs administration successfully reduced the hyperglycemia, raised the levels of insulin in both the pancreas and the plasma and restored the damaged pancreatic tissue. SeNPs also showed enhancement of the elimination of the diabetes-induced oxidative stress injuries by decreasing the pancreatic LPO and NO levels. Furthermore, the activities of the antioxidant enzyme GPx and GSH levels of the diabetic rats were increased. In conclusion, SeNPs capped with PVP could be used in the future as an agent that could manage Diabetes mellitus.

This research discloses a single step, facile, cost-effective, and eco-friendly fabrication of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the aqueous extract of common reed (Phragmites australis) leaf. Various techniques were employed to characterize the resultant AuNPs such as UV-Vis spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) mapping, fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the bioformation of AuNPs. The results showed the formation of violet-colored, mainly spherical shaped AuNPs with about 18 nm diameter. The XRD results proved the crystalline structure of AuNPs. Furthermore, P. australis-AuNPs exhibited notable anticancer efficacy with an IC 50 equals 129 μg/mL, good quenching for DPPH free radical with a scavenging percentage equals 10.26% and a superior photocatalytic activity as they completely removed methylene blue in just 1 min. The current study also provides an open option for the environmental management of the unwanted biomass of common reed.

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic was loaded on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which were prepared by three different methods to enhance their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. AgNPs were prepared by using sodium borohydride (NaBH4), lactose and sodium citrate followed by one-year aging, in order to produce a uniform prism shape. Finally, the synthesized AgNPs were functionalized with CIP to form composite of AgNPs-CIP. Various analytical techniques were used to characterize the prepared nanocomposites such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectra, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). TEM images showed some differences in average particle size of AgNPs and their distribution according to the preparation methods. Disc diffusion method was used to investigate the antibacterial activity of AgNPs-CIP composites. Results showed a significant improvement in antibacterial activity against both classes of bacteria especially for the prism AgNPs-CIP. Owing to nanoprisms vertexes and edges which facilities the penetration of Ag ions into the cell wall. AgNPs-CIP composites exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria due to the differences in bacteria cell walls compositions between the two types. ARTICLE HISTORY

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In the current study, a simple, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective reduced graphene oxide–gold nanoparticle (rGO-AuNP) nanocomposite was successfully phytosynthesized using the aqueous leaf extract of a common weed found on the Nile banks, Persicaria salicifolia , for the first time. The phytosynthesis of rGO-AuNPs was first confirmed via the color transformation from brown to black as well as throughvarious techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Two UV–vis peaks at 275 and 530 nm were observed for the nanocomposite with a typical particle size of mostly spherical AuNPs of 15–20 nm. However, other shapes were occasionally detected including rods, triangles, and rhomboids. Existing phytoconstituents such as flavonoids and glycosides in the plant extract were suggested to be responsible for the phytosynthesis of rGO-AuNPs. The excellent catalytic efficacy of rGO-AuNPs against MB degradation was confirmed, and a high antibacterial efficiency against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia was also confirmed. Promising antioxidant performance of rGO-AuNPs was also proved. Furthermore, it was concluded that rGO-AuNPs acquired higher efficiency than AuNPs synthesized from the same plant extract in all of the studied applications.