Bismuth (III) oxide nanoparticles (Bi 2 O 3 NPs) have shown great potential for biomedical applications because of their tunable physicochemical properties. In this work, pure and Zn-doped (1 and 3 mol %) Bi 2 O 3 NPs were synthesized by a facile chemical route and their cytotoxicity was examined in cancer cells and normal cells. The X-ray diffraction results show that the tetragonal phase of β-Bi 2 O 3 remains unchanged after Zn-doping. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy images depicted that prepared particles were spherical with smooth surfaces and the homogeneous distribution of Zn in Bi 2 O 3 with highquality lattice fringes without distortion. Photoluminescence spectra revealed that intensity of Bi 2 O 3 NPs decreases with increasing level of Zn-doping. Biological data showed that Zn-doped Bi 2 O 3 NPs induce higher cytotoxicity to human lung (A549) and liver (HepG2) cancer cells as compared to pure Bi 2 O 3 NPs, and cytotoxic intensity increases with increasing concentration of Zn-doping. Mechanistic data indicated that Zn-doped Bi 2 O 3 NPs induce cytotoxicity in both types of cancer cells through the generation of reactive oxygen species and caspase-3 activation. On the other hand, biocompatibility of Zn-doped Bi 2 O 3 NPs in normal cells (primary rat hepatocytes) was greater than that of pure Bi 2 O 3 NPs and biocompatibility improves with increasing level of Zn-doping. Altogether, this is the first report highlighting the role of Zn-doping in the anticancer activity of Bi 2 O 3 NPs. This study warrants further research on the antitumor activity of Zn-doped Bi 2 O 3 NPs in suitable in vivo models.

The zinc oxide nanorods (ZnONRs) have been successfully prepared via sol-gel way. A series of Poly(ethylene oxide) and Carboxymethyl cellulose (PEO/CMC) blend samples lled with different concentration of ZnONRs were prepared using casting method. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image showed that the synthesized ZnONPs had a diameter in the range of 29.29 to 59.09 nm. These samples were characterized by different analytical techniques. On the basis of results obtained from XRD and FT-IR analysis, blends are miscible. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy exhibited the complexation between PEO/CMC blend and ZnONRs. The optical energy gap was calculated using the UV/vis. data. The maximum value of AC conductivity for the pure blend was 1.98×10 − 7 S.cm − 1 , and by raising the lling of ZnONRs increased to 3.26×10 − 6 S.cm − 1 at highest concentration. After the added of ZnONRs, an improvement for the dielectric constant (ε′) and dielectric loss ( ") of PEO/CMC are detected.These samples can be employment in the semiconductor industries and portable electrochemical batteries, electric vehicles and grid energy storage, due to the noticed enhancements in optical, and AC conductivity. PEO/CMC/ZnONRs lms were screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against S.aureus and E. coli bacteria have been tested. The excellent antimicrobial activity of these lms provides a novel and simple way for the synthesis nanocomposites as functional biomaterials and has the possibility for usage in food packaging applications.

Graphene-based nanocomposites have attracted enormous interest in nanomedicine and environmental remediation, owing to their unique characteristics. The increased production and widespread application of these nanocomposites might raise concern about their adverse health effects. In this study, for the first time, we examine the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress response of a relatively new nanocomposite of cerium oxide-reduced graphene oxide (CeO2-RGO) in human lung epithelial (A549) cells. CeO2-RGO nanocomposites and RGO were prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and characterized by relevant analytical techniques. Cytotoxicity data have shown that RGO significantly induces toxicity in A549 cells, evident by cell viability reduction, membrane damage, cell cycle arrest, and mitochondrial membrane potential loss. However, CeO2-RGO nanocomposites did not cause statistically significant toxicity as compared to a control. We further observed that RGO significantly induces reactive oxygen species generation and reduces glutathione levels. However, CeO2-RGO nanocomposites did not induce oxidative stress in A549 cells. Interestingly, we observed that CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) alone significantly increase glutathione (GSH) levels in A549 cells as compared to a control. The GSH replenishing potential of CeO2 nanoparticles could be one of the possible reasons for the biocompatible nature of CeO2-RGO nanocomposites. Our data warrant further and more advanced research to explore the biocompatibility/safety mechanisms of CeO2-RGO nanocomposites in different cell lines and animal models.

In this work, the carbon monoxide (CO) detection property of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)/poly( p -anisidine) (PEDOT:PSS/PPA) nanocomposite was systematically investigated at room temperature. The PEDOT:PSS/PPA nanocomposite was synthesized by the cost-effective “in situ chemical oxidation polymerization” technique. The electric, optical, spectroscopic, and structural properties of the as-prepared nanomaterials were analyzed with I – V , UV–vis, Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopies. Topological investigations of materials were conducted by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The gas-sensing performance of the PEDOT:PSS/PPA and PEDOT:PSS nanocomposites toward CO gas in the concentration range of 50–300 ppm at room temperature was explored, and their performances were compared. The PEDOT:PSS/PPA sensor shows a perfectly linear response to different concentrations (50–300 ppm) of CO gas ( R 2 = 0.9885), and the response time and recovery time of the CO gas sensor (100 ppm) can be about 58 and 61 s, respectively, showing high sensitivity to CO gas and rapid response recovery with outstanding stability. Thus, the PEDOT:PSS/PPA-based sensors, with their impressive sensing performance, may give assurance for future high-performance CO-sensing applications.

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