Search Results (9,257)

Novel biogenic cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were prepared biologically using Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) Fruit Pulp Extract, assisted by a microwave heating method. The utilization of Adansonia digitata L. (Baobab) Fruit Pulp Extract assisted by microwave heating is considered an eco-friendly method that is environmentally sustainable and inexpensive in terms of energy consumption and large-scale production. Different techniques were used to characterize plant extract-mediated nanoparticles, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis. The XRD analysis revealed single-phase crystalline structures with a mean size of 31.5 nm. In SEM and TEM studies, the nanoparticles took different morphologies, such as regular and spherical shapes. The bio-synthesized nanoparticles showed high removal efficiency as adsorbent components in MO removal, for example, of organic dye. The influences of different factors on the adsorption process, such as MO concentration, solution pH, and doses used, were tested based on the amount of adsorbent used. The kinetic and isotherm study results revealed that pseudo-second-order kinetics models and the Freundlich sorption isotherm model fit the adsorption process of MO on nano adsorbents well. Additionally, the antimicrobial assessment of CoFe₂O₄ NPs was tested against five species of human pathogenic bacteria, as well as one fungal species. The results show that CoFe₂O₄ NPs exhibit higher inhibition activity against the examined microorganisms. Full article

Climate change has been identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “the single greatest health threat to humanity”. To investigate this subject, we conducted a narrative review of the literature about sustainability in the OR, with the aim of exploring the existing knowledge and identifying prevailing challenges in the field. A combined automated and manual database search of the literature was performed using Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Ovid, and the Cochrane Library, covering publications available up to and including 21 May 2025. The significance of environmental sustainability is recognized across all healthcare systems. To fulfil the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the healthcare sector must undergo a transformation towards more eco-friendly practices, which will also affect clinical decision-making. Net-zero is an internationally agreed goal for avoiding worsening global heating in the second half of the 21st century, as it aims to balance the quantities of greenhouse gases released into and removed from the atmosphere, achieving carbon neutrality. Nevertheless, the operating room (OR) is among the most significant contributors to environmental pollution, with the major carbon hotspots determined by the use of energy, procurement and disposal of consumables and the waste of water. In response to this challenge, leading medical societies, surgical teams, government bodies, and industry stakeholders endorse Green Surgery (GS) by taking steps to address healthcare sustainability and its impact on climate change. Therefore, a movement toward “greening” healthcare, or improving the environmental footprint of healthcare has been built. Full article

The discharge of azo-dye-containing wastewater from textile and related industries represents a major environmental challenge because of the persistence, toxicity, and poor bio-degradability of synthetic dyes. Congo red dye (CR), one of the most widely used azo dyes, poses serious ecological and public health risks when released into aquatic ecosystems. Although numerous biological adsorbents have been investigated for dye removal, the development of sustainable fungal-based nanocomposites with high adsorption efficiency, optimized operational conditions, and verified environmental safety remains limited. Therefore, the present work describes the development and evaluation of a novel Aspergillus terreus–silver oxide nanoparticle (Ag₂O NPs) myco-nanocomposite as a promising eco-friendly biosorbent for CR dye removal from aqueous solutions and real wastewater. Aspergillus terreus (GenBank accession PX920301) isolated from dye-contaminated wastewater, the adsorption efficiencies of dried mycelia, and the myco-nanocomposite were compared. Myco-nanocomposite was characterized using ultraviolet visible spectroscopic analysis (UV/Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A. terreus–Ag₂O NPs myco-nanocomposite exhibited the highest ad-sorption efficiency 92.73%, adsorption capacity (qe) 118.7 mg/g and lowest CR dye residual by 3.81 mg/L, while A. terreus non-autoclaved dried mycelia recorded 78.28% CR removal, adsorption capacity (qe) 100.2 mg/g and CR dye residual by 11.39 mg/L. Adsorption parameters were optimized using a four-factor Box–Behnken experimental design, producing a highly significant quadratic model (R² = 0.986). The highest optimized conditions were obtained at run 17 in which 100 mg L⁻¹ CR dye, pH 8, 0.05 g adsorbent dosage, and 48 h contact time, with removal efficiency of 96.88%, followed by run 14 using 50 mg L⁻¹ CR dye, pH 6, 0.05 g adsorbent dosage, and 48 h contact time, with removal efficiency of 95.79%. Phytotoxicity and microbial toxicity assays demonstrated that the treated wastewater was environmentally safer than untreated CR dye, exhibiting no inhibitory effects on representative bacteria, yeast, and filamentous fungi while improving wheat seedling growth. Furthermore, application of the myco-nanocomposite to real industrial wastewater achieved 94.92% decolorization. This study provides a sustainable myco-nanocomposite of A. terreus–Ag₂O NPs which represents a promising green technology for the remediation of dye-contaminated industrial effluents and supports the development of environmentally sustainable wastewater management strategies and applicability of reusing treated wastewater. Full article

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) poses a major threat to aquaculture industry, triggering severe economic losses and substantial damage to fish health. Effective antiviral therapeutic approaches are currently insufficient in aquaculture, highlighting an urgent demand for viable intervention strategies. This study assessed the antiviral and immunomodulatory potential of Houttuynia cordata against SVCV in common carp. Combined cellular and in vivo fish experiments demonstrated that Houttuynia cordata markedly suppresses SVCV replication, reduces viral titer, and enhances disease resistance of carp. The extract appears to suppress RARα-A, upregulate IFN-1/CXCL11, and recruit T lymphocytes via CXCL11, thereby enhancing innate and adaptive immunity against SVCV. Experimental results indicate that Houttuynia cordata alleviates hemorrhagic symptoms induced by SVCV infection. Dietary supplementation with this herb realizes dual functions of viral suppression and immune regulation for carp aquaculture. The findings provide a practical prevention and control strategy against SVCV infection and offer novel insights for research on green antiviral agents. Furthermore, this study verifies the potential value of Houttuynia cordata in improving biological safety and facilitating sustainable development of aquaculture, laying a solid foundation for the development of eco-friendly antiviral preparations. Full article

Brands increasingly rely on digital peer communication to promote environmentally friendly products. Whether electronic word-of-mouth (EWOM) actually shifts green purchase intention (GPI), though, is far from settled. Some studies have found no reliable word-of-mouth effect; others have examined green trust and anticipated guilt separately, leaving the joint operation of these parallel mediators poorly specified. This is especially true in Bali, Indonesia, where environmental pressures, heavy social media use, and Tri Hita Karana values coexist. Working under the stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, this study tests a dual-mediation model that routes EWOM to GPI through anticipated guilt and green trust among eco-conscious social media users. Survey responses from 393 participants were analysed with partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). EWOM related positively to GPI, directly and through both mediators. Anticipated guilt and green trust each partially mediated the effect, so the mediation was partial rather than full. The EWOM-to-guilt path was the stronger of the two. The EWOM-to-trust path was weaker, yet both mediators connected to GPI at similar strength. This study contributes a dual-pathway SOR specification by incorporating anticipated guilt into digital peer communication within a tourism-heavy cultural setting. Interpreted with caution, the pattern indicates that credible EWOM aimed at greener, more responsible consumption may operate through two mechanisms simultaneously, validating trust and prompting moral anticipation among digitally exposed, eco-conscious consumers. However, this interpretation still needs experimental and longitudinal testing before these relationships can be treated as causal. Full article

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a promising biotechnology for environmental remediation; however, the high cost of conventional chemical-grade calcium sources limits its large-scale scalability. This study evaluated the feasibility of utilizing an aqueous extract of natural attapulgite clay as a sustainable, low-cost calcium source for MICP-mediated arsenic (As) immobilization in both aqueous and soil systems. Among the tested minerals, Baiyin attapulgite (group B) exhibited the highest calcium content (62,808.94 mg kg⁻¹) and minimal toxic metal impurities, providing a favorable chemical matrix for biomineralization. At an optimal solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:10, Lysinibacillus fusiformis LF and Enterococcus LZU-1 successfully induced calcite precipitation driven by the attapulgite extract. In batch aqueous remediation experiments (20 days), the attapulgite extract significantly enhanced As removal efficiency compared to the controls; As removal rates peaked at 66.4% for strain LZU-1 (with LZ1 extract) and 65.8% for strain LF (with group B extract), drastically outperforming the standard CaCl₂ groups (31.2–37.3%) and blank controls (21.8–24.5%). Concurrently, soil incubation experiments (30 days) demonstrated that the combined application of attapulgite and MICP bacteria reduced the highly bioavailable exchangeable As fraction from 0.115 to approximately 0.03 mg kg⁻¹, while effectively driving its transformation into more stable carbonate-bound and organic-bound fractions without causing secondary soil salinization. Morphological and mechanistic analyses revealed that, compared to the well-defined euhedral crystals in the CaCl₂ control, the precipitates mediated by the clay extract exhibited distinctly irregular, defect-rich rhombohedral structures. This structural disruption was governed by the natural matrix effect of attapulgite, which simultaneously supplied dissolved Ca²⁺ and provided an abundance of fine clay fragments, calcite micro-grains, and associated amorphous Fe/Al/Mn-bearing phases. These constituents acted as physical scaffolding and heterogeneous nucleation sites that became embedded in the growing CaCO₃ lattice, driving the formation of highly reactive, defect-rich clay-calcite-arsenic composite precipitates that efficiently encapsulated arsenate. Mantel analysis further revealed that the remediation efficiency was significantly correlated with key environmental variables including Ni, V, Ca. These findings highlight the dual-system potential of natural attapulgite as an inexpensive, eco-friendly calcium alternative for sustainable MICP-based remediation of As-contaminated water and agricultural soils. Full article

This study investigates the hydrometallurgical recovery of valuable metals from copper shaft furnace dust (SFD), a complex industrial waste containing approximately 40 wt.% Zn, 16 wt.% Pb, and 1 wt.% Cu. In contrast to conventional inorganic leaching processes that rely on aggressive acids and bases, this research explores the use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as eco-friendly and selective lixiviants. Deep eutectic solvents based on choline chloride combined with citric acid and lactic acid were evaluated as leaching media for metal recovery from SFD. The effects of temperature, leaching time, stirring intensity, and the DES:SFD ratio on metal extraction were systematically investigated. Analytical characterization of the raw material, leaching residues, and pregnant leach solutions was performed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF), and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). The experimental results demonstrated efficient recovery of Zn, Pb, Cu, and Sn under mild leaching conditions. For the citric acid–choline chloride system, the highest extraction efficiency was obtained at 60 °C using a DES:SFD ratio of 30, whereas increasing the temperature to 70–80 °C did not significantly improve metal extraction. The lactic acid–choline chloride system exhibited different leaching behaviour, with the highest recoveries achieved after short leaching times. These findings indicate that DES-based systems represent a promising, sustainable alternative for the selective leaching of heavy metals such as Zn, Pb, Cu, and Sn, from metallurgical secondary raw materials, contributing to the development of greener circular economy practices. Full article

Silybum marianum (SM) is a rich source of flavonolignans with promising antioxidant and antidiabetic properties; however, its therapeutic application is limited by poor stability and bioavailability. This study combined experimental and computational approaches to develop and evaluate SM-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CS–SM nanoparticles). Microwave-assisted extraction followed by LC-MS/MS profiling identified eleven metabolites, including major flavonolignans characteristic of SM. Nanoparticles prepared by ionic gelation exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, including a particle size of 173–189 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.23, a zeta potential of +41.5 mV, an encapsulation efficiency of 98%, and a drug loading capacity of 50%, indicating the formation of a stable colloidal delivery system. CS–SM nanoparticles showed enhanced antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and α-amylase inhibitory activities compared with crude extracts. The formulation exhibited an α-amylase IC₅₀ value of approximately 0.40 mg/mL and maintained low hemolytic activity, suggesting favorable preliminary biocompatibility. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable interactions of neosilyhermin A, silibinin, and silyhermin with α-amylase and α-glucosidase active sites. Short-timescale molecular dynamics simulations revealed ligand-dependent behavior within the chitosan–TPP matrix, indicating different release tendencies among the investigated flavonolignans. Overall, the results support CS–SM nanoparticles as a promising platform for the delivery of bioactive phytochemicals with antioxidant and antidiabetic potential. Full article

Methylene blue (MB) dye–contaminated wastewater, particularly from the textile industries, contributes to environmental pollution, posing significant threats to human and aquatic life. Therefore, eco–friendly and low–cost adsorbents for efficient MB removal from contaminated wastewater are needed. This study presents the first comparative investigation of MB removal from water using silk cocoon and silk fibroin (SF) powders from the African wild silkworm Argema mimosae. The silk materials were ball milled at different times for up to 150 min and characterized using the XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDS, zeta potential analysis, and DLS. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the effects of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and temperature on MB adsorption. The experimental data best fitted the Langmuir and pseudo–second order models for both adsorbents, suggesting monolayer adsorption with a chemisorption rate–limiting step. The maximum adsorption capacities were 78.13 and 81.98 mg g⁻¹ for cocoon and SF powders, respectively. The cocoon and SF powders achieved removal percentages of 86.0% and 93.5%, respectively, within 90 min. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous. The findings demonstrate the good potential of A. mimosae silk biomaterials as promising, low–cost, eco–friendly, and sustainable adsorbents for the removal of dyes from contaminated water. Full article

This study investigated species-specific physiological and redox responses of two coral symbiotic dinoflagellates, Cladocopium sp. and Durusdinium sp., to green-synthesized nano-selenium (SeNP) gradients, with implications for eco-friendly marine antifouling. Growth, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and osmo-protectants were assessed to elucidate mechanisms. Both species exhibited a biphasic (hormetic) response, with stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at high levels. At 50–100 mg L⁻¹, Cladocopium sp. showed enhanced growth, pigments, antioxidant activity, and osmotic regulation, with reduced oxidative stress, indicating improved redox homeostasis. In contrast, ≥150 mg L⁻¹ disrupted redox balance and suppressed growth. Durusdinium sp. displayed slower growth but maintained stable pigments, consistent antioxidant activity, and low MDA, reflecting a tolerance-oriented strategy. Overall, SeNPs synergistically regulate antioxidant systems and osmotic homeostasis to balance the intracellular redox status of symbiotic dinoflagellates, indicating their potential as antioxidant agents to improve the growth performance of symbiotic dinoflagellates in coral nursery cultivation. Full article

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, resource exploitation, and energy use have caused global pollution and ecological degradation, hindering sustainable development. Functionally versatile microbes are eco-friendly resources for addressing environmental problems. Geobacter, a vital genus featuring outstanding extracellular electron transfer (EET), has drawn widespread research interest, with studies centered on EET mechanisms, microbial fuel cells, biogeochemical cycling and environmental bioremediation. Though valuable across energy, environmental and geoscience disciplines, a systematic bibliometric review of Geobacter research evolution is absent. This paper fills the gap via comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 2000–2026 Web of Science Core Collection papers covering Geobacter and the closely related genus Trichlorobacter, recently re-established as a standalone genus, focusing on bioremediation, dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction, microbial electrochemistry and biogeochemical cycles. This bibliometric profiling clarifies the evolving research frontiers in electroactive microbe-mediated environmental remediation and geochemical cycling, delivering refined scientific implications and actionable theoretical guidance for future ecological restoration and pollution remediation practices. Full article

The current study investigates the mechanical performance of the hollow cylindrical scaffolds with varying inner radii designed for bone tissue engineering. The biomimetic Voronoi-based structures with distinct inner diameters were manufactured using the stereolithography (SLA) technique and eco-friendly plant-based resin. The experimental results revealed that increasing the inner radius significantly reduces the mechanical properties of the biological scaffolds. Conversely, designs with a smaller inner diameter exhibited higher resistance to compressive stress and superior energy absorption. This work provides vital insights into constructing functional biodegradable supports which balance structural integrity with biological compatibility by optimising specific geometric parameters. These discoveries are intended to improve the efficiency of synthetic scaffolds utilised for medical regeneration and repair of fractures. Full article

The surface modification of polyolefin separators for lithium-ion batteries using polymer particles has been extensively investigated to enhance their electrolyte wettability, thermal resistance, and mechanical properties. However, the traditional polymer synthesis and/or polymer-based separator modifications have mostly been carried out using harmful and expensive organic solvents. In this study, a powder-type polyimide (PI) was synthesized using water as a solvent, and then PI-particle-containing coating slurries were prepared in an aqueous dispersion medium. The coating slurries were applied on a polyethylene (PE) separator to obtain PI-particle-coated PE (PI-PE) separators. Thermal and mechanical properties were evaluated for the PI-PE separators. Electrolyte uptake, porosity, air permeability, and ionic conductivity of the separators were also evaluated. The electrochemical properties of coin cells assembled with the PI-PE separator were evaluated by charge–discharge property. Coating of PI particles improves the thermal stability and electrolyte wettability of the PE separator, and LiCoO₂/PI-PE separator/Li half-cells showed battery performance similar to that of bare PE half-cells. This work offers insights into the simple, eco-friendly preparation of a separator with excellent thermal stability, electrolyte wettability and effective ionic conductivity. Full article

Biopolymers have emerged as effective stabilizing and capping agents in the green synthesis of metal nanoparticles due to their biocompatible, hydrophilic, and eco-friendly nature. Among these, bacterial polysaccharides, particularly exopolysaccharides (EPSs), offer distinct advantages over plant, algal, and fungal derived polymers, owing to their unique chemical structure rich in negatively charged functional groups that facilitate interactions with metal ions and enhance nanoparticles’ stability. Despite their properties, the practical application of AgNPs is often limited by aggregation, colloidal instability, and uncontrolled ion release. To address these challenges, in the present study, EPS-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using a green approach. The synthesized biogenic AgNPs were immobilized with natural zeolite, a porous inorganic material, to improve stability and regulate functionality. The resulting catalytic material was partially characterized using structurally using spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscope - energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, the synthesized green catalyst was evaluated for its photocatalytic degradation against synthetic dyes (methylene blue). In addition, its antibacterial potential was also assessed through determination of inhibitory concentration (IC₉₀) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC₉₉), highlighting its potential as a multifunctional biomaterial for environmental and biomedical applications. Full article

Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) mediates innate antiviral immunity. Although it comprises multiple subtypes, their functional divergence and application potential remain incompletely characterized. In this study, we identified 13 BoIFN-α subtypes (A1–A13) in the bovine genome through bioinformatic analysis. Prokaryotic expression and functional comparison revealed substantial differences in antiviral activity among these subtypes (up to 77.7-fold), with BoIFN-A8 being the most potent. Based on these findings, we designed a novel consensus interferon, BoIFN-Acons, by multiple sequence alignment and successfully synthesized it. When expressed in E. coli, BoIFN-Acons exhibited superior antiviral potency (2.36 × 10⁵ U/mg), which was 16.2-fold higher than that of the most active natural subtype. To establish a safe delivery system, we integrated the codon-optimized gene into a food-grade L. lactis expression platform and achieved efficient supernatant production. In vitro assays confirmed that the recombinant BoIFN-Acons effectively suppressed replication of Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and Bovine enterovirus (BEV) and significantly upregulated interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) such as Mx1 and OAS1. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that oral administration of the engineered L. lactis strain alleviated virus-induced clinical symptoms, reduced viral loads in major tissues, and induced upregulation of immune-related genes in the spleen, showing significant prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy. Collectively, this study systematically elucidated the functional diversity of BoIFN-α subtypes and developed a highly active consensus interferon delivered via an oral lactic acid bacteria system, providing a new strategy for the eco-friendly control of animal viral diseases. Full article