Farah Hanani Zulkifli, Hamid Hazrulrizawati , Fathima Shahitha Jahir Hussain, Nur Fatini Ilyana Mohamat Johari,
Volume 21, Issue 2 (June 2024)
Abstract
Researchers are increasingly focusing on green synthesis methods for silver nanoparticles due to their cost-effectiveness and reduced environmental impact. In this study, we utilized an edible bird's nest (EBN), a valuable economic resource, as the primary material for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using only water as the solvent. Metabolite profiling of the EBN extract was conducted using LC-QTOF-MS in positive mode (ESI+), revealing the presence of lipids, glycosides, peptides, polysaccharides, and disaccharides. Upon the addition of silver nitrate to the aqueous EBN extract, noticeable color changes from transparent to brown indicated the successful formation of AgNPs. Subsequent characterization of these silver nanoparticles involved UV-Visible spectroscopy, which revealed an absorption peak at 421 nm. Further characterization was carried out using FESEM, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and EDX analysis. The involvement of phenolic agents, proteins, and amino acids in reducing the silver particles was confirmed. The synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a spherical shape, and a particle size ranging from 10 to 20 nm. The presence of elemental silver was confirmed by a strong, intense peak around 3 keV in the EDX spectrum. To assess their potential, the antibacterial properties of the silver nanoparticles against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated using the agar diffusion method.
Fatemeh Rafati, Narges Johari,
Volume 22, Issue 3 (September 2025)
Abstract
It must be recognized that the degree of this factor will influence how well wound-healing materials perform water absorption, protein interaction, and cellular adhesion. In the present study, we are concerned with studying the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and curcumin (Cur) on the hydrophilicity of silk fibroin (SF)/linen (LN) composite films. The SF and LN composite films were blended at an equal mass ratio of 1:1, and PEG and Cur were also added to induce changes in surface properties. Fourier-transform infrared analyses showed that intermolecular interactions and hydrogen bonding were formed among the components in the blends. There was a very obvious hydrophobicity reduction by the addition of Cur and PEG/Cur, as exemplified by the static water contact angle measurements: simply addition of Cur to SF lowered the contact angle from approximately 100° to 72°, whereas a co-addition of PEG and Cur produced the greatest reduction (64°), equalling 70%. The synergistic effect in the surface wettability enhancement occurs because both additives introduce polar moieties onto the surface and partially disrupt the SF crystalline structure. Water uptake and cell viability tests further verified the hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of PEG/Cur-modified SF/LN films. This promotes the use of PEG/Cur-modified SF/LN blends as hydrophilic, bioactive materials suited for advanced wound dressing and tissue engineering scaffolds.
