Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity of Biogenic Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles Shradhey Gupta, Vineet Kumar, Nisha Yadav, Rakhi Dagar, Ravsaheb Kalyankar, Khushi Gupta Chemistryselect, 2025 This study reports the facile biogenic synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Tectona grandis (Teak) leaves and Curcuma longa (Curcumin) extracts as eco‐friendly capping and reducing agents. Pathogenic bacterium ( K. pneumoniae SGGDG) and fungus ( Exophiala sp. SGVMC), identified by rRNA gene sequencing, were used for subsequent antimicrobial evaluation. UV–vis spectroscopy monitored the synthesis, revealing significantly faster kinetics with Curcumin (∼0.0083 min⁻¹) compared to Teak extract (∼0.0038 min⁻¹). Advanced characterization (XRD, FESEM, TEM, and FOM) confirmed nanocrystalline ZnO NPs and average crystallite sizes of ∼17.43 nm (Curcumin‐capped) and ∼20.45 nm (Teak‐coated), validating successful biogenic encapsulation. Crucially, antimicrobial assays demonstrated a remarkable enhancement in efficacy for the biogenically capped ZnO NPs. Curcumin‐capped ZnO NPs exhibited superior antibacterial (1.095 cm inhibition) and antifungal (0.764 cm inhibition) activities against both pathogens, outperforming bare ZnO NPs and Teak‐coated counterparts. This enhanced activity is attributed to a synergistic effect, likely involving reactive oxygen species generation and membrane disruption. These findings highlight a promising eco‐friendly route for developing highly effective antimicrobial nanomaterials, particularly Curcumin‐capped ZnO NPs, for diverse biomedical and environmental applications.
Synthesis and Aggregation Studies of a Pyridothiazole-Based AIEE Probe and Its Application in Sensing Amyloid Fibrillation Nidhi Gour, Vivekshinh Kshtriya, Shradhey Gupta, Bharti Koshti, Ramesh Singh, Dhaval Patel, Khashti Ballabh Joshi ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2019 We report the aggregation and photophysical properties of a pyridothiazole-based, aggregation-induced, emission-enhancement (AIEE) luminogen 4-(5-methoxy-thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid (PTC1) and its application for the sensitive detection and monitoring of amyloid fibrillation. The aggregation properties of the AIEE probe were extensively studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), and it was noted that as aggregation increases the fluorescence of PTC1 also was increased. The fluorescence of PTC1 was quenched upon the addition of cupric (Cu2+) ions, while the fluorescence is regenerated in the presence of amyloid fibers. AFM studies reveal that the PTC1 molecules self-associate/aggregate to hairy micelle-like structures, which dissociate or disrupt in the presence of the Cu2+ ions and again reassemble in the presence of amyloid fibers. Hence, the quenching and regeneration of PTC1 fluorescence may be attributed to the disaggregation and aggregation-induced emission (AIE), respectively. Further, a comparative analysis of the performance of PTC1 was done with conventional Thioflavin T, which confirms it to be a more sensitive probe for the detection of the amyloid, both in the presence and absence of Cu2+ ions. The experimental results were also validated theoretically via molecular docking and simulation studies. Of note, a very simple, facile, and cost-effective methodology for the detection of the amyloid fibers is presented, wherein fluorescence quenching/enhancement can be visualized under the UV light without the use of sophisticated instrumentation techniques. The AIEE probe was designed using an unusual pyridothiazole scaffold unlike commonly used archetypal AIE scaffolds based on tetraphenylethene (TPE) and hexaphenylsilole (HPS). Hence, the work also has implications in designing future AIEE dyes based on the pyridothiazole scaffold reported.
Ornamentation of Triskelion Peptide Nanotori to Produce Gold Nanoparticle (AuNP)-Embedded Peptide Nanobangles Shradhey Gupta, Ramesh Singh, Vikas Kumar, Prashant Shukla, Khashti Ballabh Joshi Chemistry an Asian Journal, 2018 We report the formation of gold nanoparticle (AuNP)–biotinylated triskelion peptide hybrid nanostructures. These structures were created by using self‐organization and mimicking strategies to develop AuNP‐ornamented peptide nanobangles with predetermined properties on biocompatible surfaces. Such intelligent and fascinating nanomaterials can be used for several bio‐nanotechnological applications.
Dynamical response in methanol–chloroform binary solvent mixture over fs–μs time regime Shradhey Gupta, Puspal Mukherjee, Bhaswati Sengupta, Pratik Sen Physics and Chemistry of Liquids, 2018 The present study elucidates the extended nature of the weak interaction between methanol and chloroform in its mixture using steady-state, ultrafast and single molecule spectroscopic methods. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy using a solvatochromic dye indicates a synergistic solvation in the methanol–chloroform binary solvent mixture, which causes the solvatochromic dye to sense increased polarity compared to the bulk counterparts. Such synergism was not observed in the emission study and is explained by the weak nature of the interaction between methanol and chloroform. Fluorescence anisotropy and single molecule fluorescence spectroscopy are employed to understand the nature of such weak interaction on femtosecond to microsecond time scale. Retardation of both the rotational and translational diffusion of the reporter molecule indicates that the observed weak interaction is extended over large dimension in the condensed phase.
Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Diproline Peptide into Dumbbells and Copper-Ion-Promoted Robust Discs Ramesh Singh, Shradhey Gupta, Vikas Kumar, Khashti Ballabh Joshi Chemnanomat, 2017 This study demonstrated that the dipeptide Pro‐Pro, a helix initiator rather than a helix breaker, self‐assembled into a well‐defined dumbbell‐shaped morphology in ethanol when deposited onto appropriate surfaces. The resulting structure was investigated by various microscopic techniques. Interestingly, the addition of copper ions triggered the dumbbell‐shaped structure to self‐assemble into robust three dimensional discs, which were further analyzed by using various microscopic and spectroscopic tools. These specific and unique self‐assemblies can be controlled by varying the physiological conditions, and therefore show potential applications in biotechnology and biomedical fields such as diagnostic agents and treatments of various ailments associated with copper metal.
Laser-induced fabrication of gold nanoparticles on shellac-driven peptide nanostructures Vikas Kumar, Shradhey Gupta, Narendra Kumar Mishra, Ramesh Singh, Santosh K S Yadav, Khashti Ballabh Joshi Materials Research Express, 2017 This study demonstrates the synthesis of a new class of peptide amphiphiles derived from aleuritic acid. The aleuritic acid was extracted and purified from the natural source shellac, which was later conjugated with tryptophan, leading to a new class of very short peptide amphiphiles. The self-assembling behavior of this compound was studied using spectroscopic and microscopic tools. This shellac-driven peptide was further used to cultivate gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the help of continuous wave (CW) laser light, where the AuNPs were encapsulated by peptide nanostructures. Laser irradiation caused nanoscopically confined heating in the AuNPs-peptide hybrid nanostructures. Such confined heating is mainly the result of scattering and simultaneous absorption of subwavelength power which is subjected to enhanced plasmonic resonances of the metal nanostructures. Hence, the generated heat power/photothermal effect of these AuNPs leads to disruption of the AuNP–peptide hybrids. Such light-induced prototype nano-structure hydrid devices have a wide range of thermal-plasmonic applications in the morphological modification of soft metal hybrid nanostructures for photothermal therapy and drug release.
Green Synthesis Approaches for ZnO Nanoparticles: A Contemporary Perspective K Sharma, S Gupta Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation (ISBN: 978-1-0364-6458-5), 81 , 2026 2026
Differential cell viability in Nitzschia palea on exposure to different organic and inorganic environmental effluents A Ahirwar, S Gupta, M Kashyap, P Shukla, V Vinayak International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology , 2020 2020 Citations: 22
Synthesis and aggregation studies of Pyridothiazole based AIEE probe and its application in sensing amyloid fibrillation N Gour, V Kshtriya, S Gupta, B Koshti, R Singh, D Patel, KB Joshi ACS Applied Bio Materials 2 (10), 4442−4455 , 2019 2019 Citations: 44
Ornamentation of triskelion peptide nanotori to produce AuNPs embedded peptide Nanobangles S Gupta, R Singh, V Kumar, P Shukla, KB Joshi Chemistry - An Asian Journal 13 (21), 3285-3295 , 2018 2018 Citations: 15
A new fluorescence probe for rapid detection of amyloid N Gour, VS Kshtriya, B Koshti, S Gupta, D Patel 2018 Citations: 1
Study of electron transfer process in aqueous methanol system by using tryptophan based short peptide – amino acid pairs S Gupta, A Kumar, KB Joshi Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 356, 556-564 , 2018 2018 Citations: 2
Peptide mediated facile fabrication of silver nanoparticles over living diatom surface and its application S Gupta, M Kashyap, V Kumar, P Jain, V Vinayak, KB Joshi Journal of Molecular Liquids 249, 600-608 , 2018 2018 Citations: 45
Dynamical response in methanol–chloroform binary solvent mixture over fs–μs time regime S Gupta, P Mukherjee, B Sengupta, P Sen Physics and Chemistry of Liquids 56 (4), 496-507 , 2018 2018 Citations: 9
Laser-induced fabrication of gold nanoparticles on shellac-driven peptide nanostructures V Kumar, S Gupta, NK Mishra, R Singh, SKS Yadav, ... Materials Research Express 4, 035036 , 2017 2017 Citations: 16
Mixed Solvent Chemistry through Synergistic Solvation: Structure, Property and Function of t -Butanol—Dichloromethane Binary Solvent Mixtures S Gupta, KN Parida, P Mukherjee, P Sen Journal of Solution Chemistry 46 (2), 461-475 , 2017 2017 Citations: 17
Short peptide amphiphile cage facilitate engineering of gold nanoparticles under the laser field V Kumar, NK Mishra, S Gupta, KB Joshi ChemistrySelect 2 (1), 211-218 , 2017 2017 Citations: 20
Elucidation of intriguing property in tryptophan based short peptides amino acids pairs by fluorescence quenching S Gupta, KB Joshi 4th International Conference on Recent Developments in Science, Engineering … , 2017 2017
Hierarchical self assembly of diproline peptide into dumbbells and copper ions‐promoted robust disc R Singh, S Gupta, V Kumar, KB Joshi ChemNanoMat 3 (9), 620–624 , 2017 2017 Citations: 21
Solvent mediated photo-induced morphological transformation of AgNPs-peptide hybrids in water-EtOH binary solvent mixture S Gupta, V Kumar, KB Joshi Journal of Molecular Liquids 236, 266–277 , 2017 2017 Citations: 21
Elucidation of intriguing methanol-dichloromethane binary solvent mixture: synergistic effect, analytical modeling, NMR and photo-induced electron transfer studies S Gupta, A Chakraborty, P Sen Journal of Molecular Liquids 223, 274-282 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
Solvation chemistry through synergism: static and dynamic features of n-amyl alcohol–chloroform binary solvent mixture S Gupta RSC Advances 6, 99306-99313 , 2016 2016 Citations: 4
Ramping of pH across the Water-Pool of a Reverse Micelle P Mukherjee, S Gupta, SR Rather, R Yadav, VK Jain, J Raval, P Sen Langmuir 32 (7), 1693-1699 , 2016 2016 Citations: 27
Metabolic engineering of tio 2 nanoparticles in nitzschia palea to form diatom nanotubes: an ingredient for solar cells to produce electricity and biofuel S Gautam, M Kashyap, S Gupta, V Kumar, B Schoefs, R Gordon, ... RSC advances 6 (99), 97276-97284 , 2016 2016 Citations: 55
Biomimetic fabrication of biotinylated peptide nanostructures upon diatom scaffold; a plausible model for sustainable energy V Kumar, S Gupta, A Rathod, V Vinayak, KB Joshi RSC advances 6 (77), 73692-73698 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Origin of strong synergism in weakly perturbed binary solvent system: a case study of primary alcohols and chlorinated methanes S Gupta, SR Rather, M Kundu, P Sen The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 116 (4), 1345-1355 , 2011 2011 Citations: 66
Highly selective visual detection of Fe3+ at ppm level MSH Faizi, S Gupta, VK Jain, P Sen Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 222, 15-20 , 2016 2016 Citations: 60
Metabolic engineering of tio 2 nanoparticles in nitzschia palea to form diatom nanotubes: an ingredient for solar cells to produce electricity and biofuel S Gautam, M Kashyap, S Gupta, V Kumar, B Schoefs, R Gordon, ... RSC advances 6 (99), 97276-97284 , 2016 2016 Citations: 55
Dynamics of solvent response in methanol–chloroform binary solvent mixture: a case of synergistic solvation S Gupta, SR Rather, P Sen The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 119 (7), 3135-3141 , 2015 2015 Citations: 53
Peptide mediated facile fabrication of silver nanoparticles over living diatom surface and its application S Gupta, M Kashyap, V Kumar, P Jain, V Vinayak, KB Joshi Journal of Molecular Liquids 249, 600-608 , 2018 2018 Citations: 45
Synthesis and aggregation studies of Pyridothiazole based AIEE probe and its application in sensing amyloid fibrillation N Gour, V Kshtriya, S Gupta, B Koshti, R Singh, D Patel, KB Joshi ACS Applied Bio Materials 2 (10), 4442−4455 , 2019 2019 Citations: 44
Elucidation of intriguing methanol-dichloromethane binary solvent mixture: synergistic effect, analytical modeling, NMR and photo-induced electron transfer studies S Gupta, A Chakraborty, P Sen Journal of Molecular Liquids 223, 274-282 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
Biomimetic fabrication of biotinylated peptide nanostructures upon diatom scaffold; a plausible model for sustainable energy V Kumar, S Gupta, A Rathod, V Vinayak, KB Joshi RSC advances 6 (77), 73692-73698 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
Ramping of pH across the Water-Pool of a Reverse Micelle P Mukherjee, S Gupta, SR Rather, R Yadav, VK Jain, J Raval, P Sen Langmuir 32 (7), 1693-1699 , 2016 2016 Citations: 27
Differential cell viability in Nitzschia palea on exposure to different organic and inorganic environmental effluents A Ahirwar, S Gupta, M Kashyap, P Shukla, V Vinayak International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology , 2020 2020 Citations: 22
Hierarchical self assembly of diproline peptide into dumbbells and copper ions‐promoted robust disc R Singh, S Gupta, V Kumar, KB Joshi ChemNanoMat 3 (9), 620–624 , 2017 2017 Citations: 21
Solvent mediated photo-induced morphological transformation of AgNPs-peptide hybrids in water-EtOH binary solvent mixture S Gupta, V Kumar, KB Joshi Journal of Molecular Liquids 236, 266–277 , 2017 2017 Citations: 21
Short peptide amphiphile cage facilitate engineering of gold nanoparticles under the laser field V Kumar, NK Mishra, S Gupta, KB Joshi ChemistrySelect 2 (1), 211-218 , 2017 2017 Citations: 20
Mixed Solvent Chemistry through Synergistic Solvation: Structure, Property and Function of t -Butanol—Dichloromethane Binary Solvent Mixtures S Gupta, KN Parida, P Mukherjee, P Sen Journal of Solution Chemistry 46 (2), 461-475 , 2017 2017 Citations: 17
Laser-induced fabrication of gold nanoparticles on shellac-driven peptide nanostructures V Kumar, S Gupta, NK Mishra, R Singh, SKS Yadav, ... Materials Research Express 4, 035036 , 2017 2017 Citations: 16
Ornamentation of triskelion peptide nanotori to produce AuNPs embedded peptide Nanobangles S Gupta, R Singh, V Kumar, P Shukla, KB Joshi Chemistry - An Asian Journal 13 (21), 3285-3295 , 2018 2018 Citations: 15
Dynamical response in methanol–chloroform binary solvent mixture over fs–μs time regime S Gupta, P Mukherjee, B Sengupta, P Sen Physics and Chemistry of Liquids 56 (4), 496-507 , 2018 2018 Citations: 9
Solvation chemistry through synergism: static and dynamic features of n-amyl alcohol–chloroform binary solvent mixture S Gupta RSC Advances 6, 99306-99313 , 2016 2016 Citations: 4
Femtosecond dynamics of photoinduced cis-trans isomerization of ethyl-3-(1H-indole-3-yl) acrylate B Sengupta, P Mukherjee, S Das, S Rafiq, S Gupta, DH Dethe, P Sen Chemical Physics Letters 638, 31-37 , 2015 2015 Citations: 3
