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Evaluation of physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial efficacy of monoclinic sulfur-nanocolloid

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Abstract

Stable nanocolloids of monoclinic sulfur (β-SNPs) were prepared through ‘water-in-oil microemulsion technique’ at room temperature after suitable modifications of the surface. The morphology (rod shaped; ~50 nm in diameter) and allotropic nature (monoclinic) of the SNPs were investigated with Transmission Electron Microscopy and X-ray Diffraction technique. The surface modification, colloidal stability, and surface topology of β-SNPs were evaluated with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, zeta potential analysis, and Atomic Force Microscopy. Thermal decomposition pattern of these nanosized particles was determined by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). β-SNPs-colloids expressed excellent antimicrobial activities against a series of fungal and bacterial isolates with prominent deformities at their surface. In contrast, insignificant cytotoxicity was achieved against the human derived hepatoma (HepG2) cell line upon treatment with β-SNPs. A simultaneous study was performed to determine the stock concentration of β-SNP-colloids using a novel high phase liquid chromatographic method. Cumulative results of this study hence, elucidate the stabilization of nanosized monoclinic sulfur at room temperature and their potential antimicrobial efficacy over micron-sized sulfur.

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Acknowledgments

Samrat Roy Choudhury is a recipient of Senior Research Fellowship [09/93 (0,143)/12 EMR-I] from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India (2012-2013). Authors would like to thank Mr. Kishore K. Nair (Senior Research Fellow in the division of Agricultural Chemicals at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India) for his extended technical support. The authors are also thankful to Dr. Sulagna Basu (Scientist C in the Division of Bacteriology at National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases) for contributing the bacterial strains and Mrs. Arpita Roy Choudhury for improving the image qualities and Ms. Moni Baskey and Mrs. Prativa Mazumder for helping in the analysis of FTIR spectra. The research was partially funded by NAIP-ICAR-World Bank (Comp-4/C3004/2008-09), ICAR-National Fund (NFBSFARA/GB-2019/2011-12), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Govt. of India (BT/PR8931/NNT/28/07/2007) and ISI plan project for 2008-2012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Sciences Division, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 B. T. Road, Kolkata, 700108, West Bengal, India

    Samrat Roy Choudhury & Arunava Goswami

  2. Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 7000032, West Bengal, India

    Amrita Mandal & Dipankar Chakravorty

  3. Divisions of Agricultural Chemicals, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Madhuban Gopal

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  1. Samrat Roy Choudhury
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  2. Amrita Mandal
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  3. Dipankar Chakravorty
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  4. Madhuban Gopal
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  5. Arunava Goswami
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Correspondence to Samrat Roy Choudhury.

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Roy Choudhury, S., Mandal, A., Chakravorty, D. et al. Evaluation of physicochemical properties, and antimicrobial efficacy of monoclinic sulfur-nanocolloid. J Nanopart Res 15, 1491 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1491-y

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