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Digital Gender Gap, Gender Equality and National Institutional Freedom: A Dynamic Panel Analysis
While digital gender gap is a growing field of research in Information Systems (IS), there remains a dearth of research focusing on it. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the digital gender gap in mobile and internet usage and gender equality. Additionally, this study also examines the impact of national institutional freedoms on the aforementioned relationship. Utilizing the theoretical framework of intersecting inequalities and building upon existing literature on the gender digital divide, this study aims to explore the associations between disparities in mobile and internet usage, gender equality, and the extent of national institutional freedoms encompassing economic, political, and media domains. In pursuit of this objective, we undertake a dynamic panel data analysis using publicly accessible archival data at the country level. The results indicate that national institutions have a significant impact on the relationship between the digital gender gap in internet and mobile phone usage and gender equality. The discussion encompasses the significance of our findings for both study and practice. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023. -
Critical Digital Citizenship: a scale development and validation study
The rise of digital technologies, on one hand, has transformed the way learners interact with digital environments. On the other hand, we witness the digital divide and biases associated with it. This calls for a redefinition of digital citizenship. This prompted us to develop the Critical Digital Citizenship (CDC) Scale to assess school teachers competencies in using technology responsibly and critically interacting with online and internet environments. This scale focuses on key features such as Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, Critical Perspectives. An exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were carried out. The following goodness-of-fit index values were obtained: ?2 = 612.39, df = 266, P = 0.00, RMSEA = 0.059, GFI = 0.891, AGFI = 0.867, CFI = 0.922, RMR = 0.049; TLI = 0.912. The overall Cronbachs alpha reliability value of the test was 0.823. The composite reliability exceeds 0.7 for every factor and the AVE > 0.5. After analysing the data, it was found that the Critical Digital Citizenship Scale (CDCS) is a valid and reliable tool for assessing the CDC competency level of teachers. The CDC scale addresses the urgent need to equip individuals with the skills to discern credible information, recognize bias, and engage in responsible, informed digital participation. This will also serve as a valuable resource for school teachers, educators, policy makers, and administrators to understand and implement critical digital citizenship in schools, as well as for researchers seeking to foster critically perspective towards digital and internet integration in education. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
Melamine derived N-doped Carbon nanotubes: A durable catalyst support for Pt nanoparticles in proton exchange membrane fuel cell
A cost-effective thermal pyrolysis route was adopted to synthesize N-doped carbon nanotube (NCNT) in a single step with the aid of melamine (carbon and nitrogen source) and cobalt catalyzed growth for the formation of N-doped carbon nanotubes. The NCNT was acid treated (fNCNT) to remove the metallic Co from the CNT which was elucidated using X-ray diffraction. Even though these noble metal-free materials are explored as Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst, for it to be employed in actual fuel cell the cathode requires noble metals such as Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles to improve its sluggish kinetics. Thus, this study is mainly focused on employing fNCNT as catalyst support in PEMFC, wherein the electrocatalyst was synthesized using microwave-assisted polyol method to decorate Pt nanoparticles on fNCNT, demonstrating its excellent durability of 32% electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) loss when subjected to standard protocols, and full cell performance of hybrid ((Pt/fNCNT) + CB) 412 mW cm?2 (better than commercial Pt/C) when deployed as electrocatalyst for ORR in Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, thus our findings open new avenues to explore, design and develop N-doped carbon nanotubes as durable catalyst for fuel cells. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
The Relationship Between Developmental Crisis and Meaning in Life in Emerging Adulthood: An Analysis of Data from Eight Countries
Developmental crisis episodes are common during emerging adulthood. Evidence from existing research suggests that existential concerns about lifes meaning are prominent during crisis episodes in emerging adulthood, but little quantitative research exists on this topic. The current cross-cultural study investigated the relationships between components of developmental crisis (measured using the 3-factor Developmental Crisis Questionnaire), and meaning in life (measured using the Meaning in Life Questionnaire, which has two factors: search for and presence of meaning in life). The sample comprised 1967 emerging adults across eight countries (Brazil, Czechia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and the United Kingdom). Two components of developmental crisis being in transition/turning point and feeling disconnected/distressed were positively associated with a search for meaning in life. Feeling disconnected/distress and lacking clarity/control were negatively associated with a presence of meaning in life. The findings emphasize the need for organizations and services that focus on supporting young adults in crisis, and that these should provide help with the often-hidden existential sense that life may be lacking meaning, and the corresponding endeavour to search for meaning. The Author(s) 2026. -
Self-Control and Decision-Making Skills as Predictors of College Enrollment: Role of Parental Influences
Self-control and planful decision-making can play a critical role in promoting academic outcomes. Nonetheless, little is known about how parental influences impact these noncognitive skills in promoting college enrollment. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we examined adolescent self-control and decision-making skills (at wave 1) as predictors of college enrollment (at wave 3). Further, we assessed if the effect of parental influences (i.e., maternal academic involvement, maternal academic expectations, parental control/limit-setting, and parental education) on college enrollment was indirect and operated through the associations of parenting variables with adolescent self-control and planful decision making. Both self-control and decision-making skills significantly predicted college enrollment, controlling for age, gender, family income, and cognitive ability. Parental control/limit-setting and educational level had significant direct effects on college enrollment and were not significantly related to adolescent self-control or planful decision making skills. The effect of maternal academic involvement on college enrollment was indirect and operated through its associations with adolescent self-control and decision-making skills. The effect of maternal academic expectations on college enrollment was both direct and indirect, through its association with adolescent decision-making skills. Our findings suggest that individual and family-based interventions that target critical noncognitive skills, such as self-control and planful decision making, hold promise in promoting college enrollment. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Synthesis of white emitting Dy-doped Ga?O? phosphors via hydrothermal method
Gallium oxide (Ga?O?), a wide band gap material, serves as an effective host for phosphors, with emission colour tunable through doping with suitable rare- earth elements. The present study investigates the influence of dysprosium doping on Ga?O?s luminescence characteristics. Samples were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and subjected to calcination at various temperatures 600C, 750C, 900C, 1050C. These samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, UVvisible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photoluminescence spectra of the samples were analysed to identify the defect states. The CIE (Commission Internationale de lEclairage) coordinates were calculated and chromaticity diagram was plotted to determine the overall luminescence colour emission. To assess potential phosphorescence properties, decay plot was analysed and average lifetime was calculated. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Facile synthesis of Sb2Se3 anchored NiO nanocomposite as an efficient electrode for hybrid supercapacitors
In this study, we aimed to develop a novel electrode material for hybrid supercapacitors by synthesizing NiO@Sb2Se3 nanocomposites and evaluating their electrochemical performance. Antimony triselenide (Sb2Se3) nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile melt diffusion technique at 700C, while nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were prepared by a hydrothermal method. Both nanomaterials were composited through ball milling and characterized using SEM, PXRD, SAED, HRTEM, and XPS. Electrochemical studies demonstrated that the composite delivered a specific capacity of 140.26 Fg?1 at 10?mVs?1 and 128.97 Fg?1 at 1 Ag?1 in a three-electrode configuration. A hybrid supercapacitor device assembled with PVAKOH gel electrolyte exhibited a wide potential window (02V), achieving 60.58 Cg?1 at 1 Ag?1, with an energy density of 33.65 Whkg?1 at 2000 Wkg?1, power density, and 82.3% capacity retention over 2000 cycles. These results demonstrate the potential of NiO@Sb?Se? nanocomposites as promising electrode materials for next-generation energy storage devices. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Symmetric supercapacitor with hydrothermally synthesized ?-MoO3 nanobars coated on Ni foam substrate: A neutral electrolyte approach for energy storage applications
Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3), a potential supercapacitor electrode material is synthesized through hydrothermal method at low temperature. The significant charge-storage process of the MoO3 electrode is extensively analyzed in 0.5M sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) in a wide potential window. The basic functional properties of MoO3 are characterized through different characterization techniques. The electrochemical performance is examined through chargingdischarging method, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance spectroscopic studies of the active electrode with a mass loading of 1 mg cm?2 each. The three-electrode and device systems of the MoO3 electrode are also investigated. The specific capacitance obtained for the device is 295 F g?1 at 1 A g?1 in a potential window of 0 to 1V in 0.5M Na2SO4 electrolyte solution. The densities of energy and power are 40.27 W h kg?1 and 492 W kg?1. The device is further tested for cyclic stability over 1000 cycles and attained a stability of 75% and a Coulombic retention of 100%. This work demonstrates that the MoO3 electrode can be facilitated for the aqueous electrochemical energy storage devices. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026. -
Enhanced light harvesting in DSSCs using carbon dots derived from Alstonia venenata
This study presents a novel co-sensitization strategy utilizing carbon dots derived from Alstonia venenata in combination with the N719 dye to enhance the light-harvesting efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The carbon dots were synthesized via a hydrothermal process using an aqueous extract of Alstonia venenata leaves, resulting in a material with broad absorption characteristics. These synthesized carbon dots were then drop-cast onto an N719-sensitized photoanode, leading to improved carrier generation and enhanced device performance. The selection of Alstonia venenata as a precursor is based on its rich phytochemical composition, which contains alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids and phenolic compounds that act as efficient carbon precursors and surface passivation agents. Upon carbonisation, these biomolecules yield functionally active carbon dots that can improve electron transport, minimise charge recombination and enhance dye anchoring at the TiO2 surface. Carbon dots have demonstrated significant potential as co-sensitizers, offering a highly effective approach to increasing DSSC efficiency. Their strong binding affinity further facilitates efficient photoinduced electron transfer to the photoanode, contributing to improved device functionality. In this research, TiO2 was employed as the photoanode, while N719 dye and carbon-dot-modified N719 served as sensitizers. Iodolyte HI-30 acted as the electrolyte, and Platisol T/sp functioned as the counter electrode. The unmodified DSSC exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 5.2%, which was enhanced to 6.0% with the incorporation of carbon dots as co-sensitizers. The significant efficiency improvement achieved through this co-sensitization strategy underscores the unique capabilities of carbon dots derived from Alstonia venenata, making this approach a promising advancement toward the development of cost-effective and high-performance DSSCs. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026. -
Spectroscopic Studies on Structurally Modified Anthraquinone Azo Hydrazone Tautomer: Theoretical and Experimental Approach
A series of unique four mono-azo substituted anthraquinone analogue were synthesized by using the anthraquinone components in the diazo-coupling technique. The FT-IR, 1H NMR, and HRMS, data were used to confirm the structure of the molecules, and spectroscopic techniques like UV-Vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were employed to estimate the photophysical properties of the molecules. The molecular optimized geometry and frontier molecular orbitals were estimated using density functional theory. Further, global chemical reactivity descriptors parameter was theoretically estimated using the value of the highest occupied molecular orbit and lowest unoccupied molecular orbits. The anti-tubercular action of the synthesised dyes were also examined. The results of this biological activity showed that N-isopropyl aniline combined with anthraquinone N-isopropyl aniline had superior anti-tubercular activity when compared to Rifampicin as the standard. As per molecular docking studies, the synthesized compound Q1 showed excellent binding energy (-10.0kcal/mol) among all compounds against the 3ZXR Protein. These results agreed with our in-vitro anti-TB activity results. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023. -
Fluorescent Carbonized Polymer Dots Derived from o-phenylenediamine and its Photonic Application
Optimizing the optoelectronic characteristics of low-dimensional carbon dots (CDs) through surface modifications and doping has proven instrumental in tailoring them for diverse applications. This study explores a facile and economical hydrothermal synthesis method for generating Carbonized Polymer Dots using o-phenylenediamine at different temperatures. The resulting materials exhibit structural and morphological variations linked to the synthesis temperature. A transition from carbon dots (CDs) embedded in reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-like sheet structures at low temperatures to the core-shell structure at the highest temperature is observed in HR-TEM, implying the formation of CPDs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) corroborates these findings, showing an augmented degree of graphitization in alignment with HR-TEM results. The photoluminescence spectra of CPDs synthesized at the lowest temperature exhibit multiple emission peaks, resulting in a yellowish-orange color. Utilizing these CPDs to fabricate light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produces a vivid bright-green emission with CIE coordinates (0.378, 0.522). Moreover, the CPDs demonstrate solvatochromism across diverse solvents of varying polarity, covering the entire visible spectrum. This intriguing solvatochromic effect positions the CPDs as promising materials for polarity probing applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Citrus Medica-derived Fluorescent Carbon Dots for the Imaging of Vigna Radiate Root Cells
Bio-imaging is a crucial tool for researchers in the fields of cell biology and developmental biomedical sector. Among the various available imaging techniques, fluorescence based imaging stands out due to its high sensitivity and specificity. However, traditional fluorescent materials used in biological imaging often suffer from issues such as photostability and biocompatibility. Moreover, plant tissues contain compounds that cause autofluorescence and light scattering, which can hinder fluorescence microscopy effectiveness. This study explores the development of fluorescent carbon dots (Cm-CDs) synthesized from Citrus medica fruit extract for the fluorescence imaging of Vigna radiata root cells. The successful synthesis of CDs with an average size of 6.7nm is confirmed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and raman spectroscopy indicated that the obtained CDs are amorphous in nature. The presence of various functional groups on the surface of CDs were identified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. The optical characteristics of Cm-CDs were studied by UV-Visible spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Cm-CDs demonstrated strong excitation-dependent fluorescence, good solubility, and effective penetration in to the Vigna radiata root cells with multicolor luminescence, and addressed autofluorescence issues. Additionally, a comparative analysis determined the optimal concentration for high-resolution, multi-color root cell imaging, with Cm-CD2 (2.5mg/ml) exhibiting the highest photoluminescence (PL) intensity. These findings highlight the potential of Cm-CDs in enhancing direct endocytosis and overcoming autofluorescence in plant cell imaging, offering promising advancements for cell biology research. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
CaSi2O5:Sm3+ Orange -Red Emitting Phosphors for Latent Fingerprint Detection Application
Orange-red emitting CaSi2O5:xSm3+ (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5mol% of Sm3+) phosphors were synthesized by a high-temperature solid-state reaction. In this study, the crystal structure, phase purity, functional group presence, and their bending and stretching vibrations, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, thermoluminescence (TL) spectra, and colour purity was systematically investigated. The phosphor exhibits a strong excitation with the charge transfer band (CTB) of O2? and Sm3+ at 263nm. Under 263nm excitation, the CaSi2O5:Sm3+ phosphor shows characteristic peaks at 595nm and 629nm, which are attributed to the characteristic 4G5/2?6H7/2 and 4G5/2?6H9/2 transitions of the Sm3+ ions, respectively. The doping concentration x = 2mol% is found to be the optimal doping concentration. The CIE coordinates of the optimal concentration phosphor CaSi2O5:2Sm3+ are found to be (0.589, 0.41) in the orange-red region with a colour purity percentage of 96.93%. Judd-Ofelt analysis was also carried out with the photoluminescence emission spectrum, in order to investigate the transition dynamics. Fingerprints were developed on non-porous glass and aluminium foil substrates. The experimental results display that the CaSi2O5:xSm3+ phosphors have a huge potential for practical applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
ESIPT Active Schiff Base Fluorescent Sensor for Selective and Sensitive Detection of Co(II) Ions: Experimental, DFT Optimization Studies and Real Sample Analysis
A novel fluorescent Schiff base chemosensor, N1,N6-bis((E)-3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)adipohydrazide (DBSA), has been developed for the detection of Cobalt (II) ions. DBSA exhibits distinct fluorescence enhancement upon interacting with Co(II) ions via photoinduced electron transfer (PET). The developed sensor demonstrates a remarkable sensitivity, with the detection limits of 9.9 nM for Co(II) ions, which aligns well with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory thresholds for drinking water contaminants. Structural characterization by LC-MS, FTIR coupled with Jobs plot and NMR titration studies confirm the formation of DBSA-Co complex with a binding constant of 4.61 106 M? 1. The chemo sensor exhibits a quantum yield of 0.082, highlighting its potential applicability in photochemical processes. Computation studies were used to further investigate the binding interactions with Co2+ ions. The practical utility of DBSA has been validated through successful analyses in varied aqueous matrices, including tap water, lake water and recycled water. Cytotoxicity assessment via MTT assays on SH-SY5Y cells confirms excellent biocompatibility of the probe. This work presents a significant advancement in the design of efficient molecular probes for environmental monitoring, offering a robust platform for the concurrent detection of transition-metal ions in aqueous systems. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026. -
Multifunctional SnO?-Chitosan-D-carvone Nanocomposite: A Promising Antimicrobial, Anticancer, and Antioxidant Agent for Biomedical Applications
Nanocomposite made up of inorganic and biocompatible polymer have gained significant attention for biomedical applications due to their enhanced multifunctional properties, offering solutions to serious issues like antimicrobial resistance and cancer treatment. Nanocomposite composed of SnO?, chitosan and D-carvone (SnO2-Cs-Dcar) was prepared to ascertain its efficacy in application for antimicrobial, anticancer activities, and antioxidant effects. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, UV-Vis, FTIR, PL, SEM, TEM, and XPS techniques, confirming successful integration. XRD results confirmed the tetragonal rutile phase of SnO2. The band gap energy was calculated as 4.32eV for SnO2 nanoparticles and 3.11eV for SnO2-Cs-Dcar nanocomposite as observed from UV-Visible spectra. PL emission results showed that SnO2-Cs-Dcar nanocomposite exhibited green emission at 507nm corresponds to number oxygen vacancy site. SEM and TEM results showed that the SnO2-Cs-Dcar nanocomposite entities appear more compact, and the single SnO2 particles are less differentiated, possibly because they have been covered by chitosan and D-carvone. Antimicrobial activity against the pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Shigella dysenteriae, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated that SnO2-Cs-Dcar exhibited enhanced bacteriostatic effect when compared to bare SnO2. MTT assay on MOLT-4 cancer cells revealed that SnO2-Cs-Dcar nanocomposite exhibited enhanced anticancer activity upon compared to SnO? nanoparticles. The IC50 values were calculated as 13.6 for SnO2 and 12.1 for SnO2-Cs-Dcar nanocomposite. SnO?-Cs-Dcar nanocomposites exhibits high antioxidant activity evidenced by improved free radical scavenging action in comparison with a bare SnO?. Experimental result indicates that the SnO?-Cs-Dcar nanocomposites can be used as biocidal agent for antimicrobial and anticancer therapies. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Green Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles Using Semecarpus anacardium Linn leaf Extract: Examination of Anticancer Activity and its Apoptosis Induction
Nanotechnology and biomedical sciences enable diverse molecular and cellular applications. Plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles, a green chemistry approach, offers a cost-effective, eco-friendly alternative to traditional methods. This study focuses on developing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA-NPs) using Semecarpus anacardium Linn (SAL) leaf extract (termed SAL@HA-NPs) as a capping agent and reducing agent. The presence of needle-shaped nanostructures was verified using SEM and TEM investigation. The presence of well-defined rings in the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns provided evidence for the polycrystalline nature of the SAL@HA-NPs). The XRD spectrum exhibited clear peaks that closely corresponded to the hexagonal patterns of HA, indicating a mean crystalline diameter of 54.25nm. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of biomolecules from Semecarpus anacardium Linn leaves on the surface of the nanoparticles. The suspension of SAL@HA-NPs displayed a polydispersity index of 0.445 and demonstrated excellent stability, as indicated by the zeta potential of -32.2 mV, as observed in the DLS tests. The SAL@HA-NPs exhibited a harmful effect on the HeLa cervical and HepG2 liver cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 52g/mL. Fluorescence microscopy revealed the deformation of the damaged cell membrane, fragmentation, and cell death following treatment with SAL@HA-NPs. The Annexin V-FITC and PI staining confirmed the mode of apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis. Thus, the SAL@HA-NPs acquired in this study could have a crucial impact on the biomedical domain of cancer treatment. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Development of Biocompatible Barium peroxide/Pluronic F127/L-ornithine Composite for Enriched Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential: An in vitro Study
Osteosarcoma (MG-63) is a type of bone cancer affects mostly adolescents and young adults. Disease-causing microorganisms like Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans pose serious illness in humans. There is a need to develop multifunctional composite to combat cancer and other most common disease caused by disease causing microorganisms. In this context, BaO2 and pluronic F127, L-Ornithine coated BaO2 (BaO2-PF127-LO) composite have been prepared and characterized by XRD, FTIR, UV-Vis, SEM, HRTEM, EDAX, and XPS analytical techniques. BaO2 and BaO2-PF127-LO were orthorhombic crystalline structure and the crystallite size was found as 32nm for BaO2 and 26nm for modified BaO2 PL studies revealed the green emission observed at 506nm for BaO2-PF127-LO composite which is absent in the case of bare BaO2. Antimicrobial activity of BaO2 and BaO2-PF127-LO was investigated. MTT assay was performed to determine the anticancer potential while the DPPH free radical scavenging assay was carried out to determine the antioxidant potential. The experiment study revealed that the BaO2-PF127-LO exhibited enhanced antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activity and low toxicity when compared to pristine BaO2. The experimental results revealed that the BaO2-PF127-LO composite holds promising potential for biomedical applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2024. -
Synthesis and Multifunctional Evaluation of BaO?-Sodium Alginate-Curcumin Nanocomposite: Improved Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Osteosarcoma Cell Inhibition
Nanotechnology-based strategies provide a promising platform for developing multifunctional materials with enhanced antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties, offering effective solutions for combating infections, oxidative stress, and osteosarcoma cell proliferation. In the current study BaO2-sodium alginate-curcumin (BaO?-SA-Cur) was prepared by facile wet chemical route. The structural and morphological characteristics of the composite were ascertained using extensive characterization techniques. The crystallite size was found to be 52.2nm for BaO2 and 43.1nm for BaO2-SA-Cur nanocomposite as per XRD analysis. UV-visible spectroscopy results revealed that the band gap was found as 4.54eV for BaO2-SA-Cur nanocomposite and 4.38eV for BaO2 nanoparticles. PL studies revealed that the BaO2-SA-Cur nanocomposite exhibited intense emission peaks at 379nm, 421nm, 448nm, 477nm, and 508nm. DLS analysis revealed that the pure BaO2 exhibited the particle size around 118.70 5.4nm while the BaO?-SA-Cur nanocomposite around 139.50 7.8nm and more dispersion in the solution. The BaO?-SA-Cur nanocomposite exhibited enhanced antibacterial action against multi-resistant gram-negative bacterial species (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) than that of pure BaO? and comparable with streptomycin. Importantly, the nanocomposite revealed remarkable anticancer activity against the osteosarcoma MG-63 cells where Cur was synergistically inducing cell apoptosis. The IC50 value was calculated as 45.7 for undoped BaO2 and 35.6 for doped BaO2-SA-Cur composite. Biocompatibility studies on L929 fibroblast cells showed over 85% cell viability for BaO?-SA-Cur, confirming its low cytotoxicity and suitability for biomedical applications. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Modified Strontium Oxide Nanoparticles: a Multifunctional Nanoplatform for C6 Glioma Therapy and Antimicrobial Applications
Glioma, a very aggressive brain tumor, poses major therapeutic challenges. The present research investigates the synthesis, characterization, and bioevaluation of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-functionalized strontium oxide (SrO) nanoparticles (SrCMC) as anticancer and biocompatibility probes. SrO nanoparticles were synthesized using co-precipitation and functionalized with CMC for better dispersion and stability. Characterization by XRD, FTIR, UVVis, PL, SEM, TEM, and EDAX proved structural and optical enhancements. SrCMC showed enhanced photoluminescence with a blue shift and increased emission intensity, indicating modified surface defects. UVVis analysis revealed a slight band gap increase from 4.07eV to 4.12eV due to CMC capping. FTIR and EDAX confirmed successful functionalization, while XRD showed reduced crystallite size (32nm to 26nm) and maintained tetragonal structure. SEM and HRTEM revealed improved dispersion and decreased lattice spacing in SrCMC, reflecting surface stabilization by CMC. For in vitro tests on C6 glioma cells, the cytotoxicity was found to be time- and dose-dependent with IC?? values of 22.1, 17.6, and 14.8g/mL for SrO and 20.3, 15.8, and 12.6g/mL for SrCMC after 24, 48, and 72h respectively. In vivo biocompatibility was assessed using zebrafish embryos exposed to SrCMC nanoparticles at 0.5mg/mL and 1mg/mL across various time intervals. The agar well diffusion method was employed to assess the antimicrobial activity against the following pathogens including Gram-positive (S. pneumoniae, B. subtilis), Gram-negative (K. pneumoniae, S. dysenteriae), and fungal (C. albicans) strains. The results revealed SrCMC exhibited significant inhibitory effects against all tested organisms and comparable to streptomycin. This work shows SrCMCs potential for biomedical applications, subject to careful control of toxicity. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025. -
Sodium Alginate Coated Cerium(III) Fluoride Nanoparticles for Biocompatible Antimicrobial Applications: Structural and Functional Insights
Cerium(III) fluoride (CeF?) nanoparticles and sodium alignatefunctionalized CeF? nanocomposites (CeF?SA) were synthesized via a wet-chemical method. XRD confirmed phase-pure hexagonal CeF? with an average crystallite size of ~ 24nm. TEM showed uniformly distributed nanoparticles (812nm), and lattice fringe analysis revealed an interplanar spacing of ~ 0.315nm corresponding to the (111) plane, indicating preserved crystallinity after SA functionalization. UVvisible spectroscopy revealed a reduction in the optical band gap from 6.05eV (CeF?) to 4.96eV (CeF?SA), indicating modification of electronic properties. PL emission (351522nm) showed quenching, suggesting suppressed charge carrier recombination and increased defect density. CeF?SA exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (S. aureus, S. pneumoniae), Gram-negative (K. pneumoniae, E. coli), and the fungal pathogen C. albicans, with reduced MIC (650g/mL) and MBC (1050g/mL) against K. pneumoniae. SEM revealed pronounced bacterial membrane damage. In vitro MTT assays on L929 fibroblasts demonstrated > 80% cell viability at concentrations up to 60g/mL, indicating the nanoparticles are well-tolerated at sub-antimicrobial doses. Overall, CeF?SA represents a promising antimicrobial nanoplatform, with further studies needed to assess cytocompatibility at MIC-level concentrations. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2026.