The Community of Biologists who sparked my love for Biology all over again!
I had the opportunity to select a preprint article to highlight as a community member of the preLights biological community and the entire process reminded me why I fell in love with science all over again.
Even though I am (sadly) not a biologist - by any means - Prelights is such a welcoming, open, helpful as well as collaborative community of biologists! Shout out to Reinier Prosée, PhD
It was so much fun and if you missed your calling as a biologist (like me) simply miss biology (also, me), or are simply curious to see what these biologists are up to, I highly recommend visiting the Biology Archives: https://www.biorxiv.org/ and choosing something that catches your fancy!
As for me, I chose "Green synthesized silver nanoparticles from Moringa: Potential for preventative treatment of SARS-CoV-2 contaminated water" by Adebayo Bello, PhD , Omorilewa Ebunoluwa , Rukayat .O. Ayorinde , Nneka Onyepeju, Joseph Shaibu, Ph.D. , Adeniyi R. Adewole, Abeebat Oyindamola Adewole, Olusegun Adedeji, Ololade O. Akinnusi, Olajumoke B. Oladapo, Temitope S. Popoola, Oluwamodupe M. Arotiba, Joseph B. Minari, Luqman A. Adams, Joy Okpuzor, Mujeeb O. Shittu. (I couldn't tag all the authors, apologies)
So the question I wanted to ask you is: Can we use cost-effective, eco-friendly silver nanoparticles with Moringa to revolutionize SARS-CoV-2 water decontamination in developing regions?
I mainly chose this since Sohanjana - Sohanjna ki Phali (prepared in our house traditionally, like so) is something I love eating. So my tastebuds got tingling which led me to choose this preprint version that I then selected, highlighted, and commented on.
I believe this preprint is particularly relevant to the communities of #PublicHealth #WASH #GlobalHealth #PandemicPreparedness #Epidemiologists.
For this preprint, I provided a summary, explained why I chose it and shared my thoughts on its significance too.
I want to mention my co-author Benjamin Dominik Maier - who contributed to this with some edits/suggestions, the sole reference (linked above), and the last question to the authors.
This week's newsletter is me simply regurgitating (sorry for that visual) my content from the preLights showcase because I know a lot of you don't want to have to click on an external website to read the original post, so I am sharing it for you, below:
Background
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has underscored the critical need for effective antiviral agents, particularly in the realm of water purification. Contaminated water sources can serve as reservoirs for various pathogens, including viruses like SARS-CoV-2, which pose significant public health risks (1).
Traditional methods for water disinfection such as chlorination have their limitations, including the potential formation of harmful by-products for humans. Therefore, the exploration of alternative disinfection strategies is imperative. Alternatively, green chemistry approaches are methods of chemical synthesis that aim to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. In this study, Moringa oleifera?leaf extracts are used to synthesize silver nanoparticles. Moringa trees are native to South Asian countries as well as some African countries.
This eco-friendly method minimizes toxic chemicals and waste, making the process more sustainable and safer for the environment.
The size and shape of silver nanoparticles are effective against microbes because of their small size and large surface area. These properties help them move easily through cell membranes and reach the target areas, boosting their antimicrobial power, while their positive surface charge helps them disrupt bacterial membranes more effectively. These are examples of how their physicochemical properties play a crucial role in determining the overall effectiveness and behaviour of the nanoparticles in different environments. In this context, the use of nanoparticles, especially those synthesized through green chemistry approaches, offers a promising avenue due to their unique physicochemical properties and potential for broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.?
This preprint explores the synthesis, characterization, and application of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPmo) derived from Moringa oleifera leaf extracts. The study primarily aims to investigate the antimicrobial and antiviral efficacy of these nanoparticles, with a specific focus on SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19.?
Key findings?
Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles?
The authors employed Moringa oleifera leaf extracts to synthesize biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPmo), leveraging the plant’s inherent reducing and stabilizing agents. The synthesis process involved mixing aqueous extracts of Moringa oleifera?leaves with a silver nitrate solution, followed by incubation at room temperature. The colour change from colourless to brown indicated the formation of AgNPmo.?
Characterization of AgNPmo?
Characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles was conducted using a suite of techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). These analyses confirmed the successful synthesis of AgNPmo, revealing their spherical morphology as well as their crystalline nature. The UV-Vis spectroscopy showed a characteristic absorption peak around 430 nm, indicative of the presence of silver nanoparticles. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of biomolecules from Moringa oleifera that capped and stabilized the nanoparticles. SEM images displayed uniform spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 20-30 nm, while XRD patterns confirmed their crystalline structure.?
Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activity?
The nanoparticles demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against clinical bacterial isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) and low cytotoxicity on Vero cells (kidney epithelial cell line derived from the African green monkey). In vitro studies showed that AgNPmo effectively reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral load, after 48 hours of incubation and at low concentrations.?
What I like about the preprint?
I appreciate the innovative approach of using green synthesis for producing silver nanoparticles, which is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The dual antimicrobial and antiviral properties of AgNPmo make it a promising candidate for addressing waterborne infections, especially in resource-limited settings. The study’s findings could have significant implications for public health, particularly in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through contaminated water.?
?Future directions??
Future research could focus on scaling up the production of AgNPmo and conducting in vivo studies to assess its efficacy and safety in animal models. It would also be valuable to explore the long-term stability and potential environmental impact of these nanoparticles which is beyond the scope of this current study.??
Some questions for the authors:??