http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/5494 2025-11-04T19:20:59Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11821 Urea-silica nanohybrids with potential applications for slow and precise release of nitrogen de Silva, M.; Siriwardena, D.P.; Sandaruwan, C.; Priyadarshana, G.; Karunaratne, V. The adoption of nanoparticles as carrier matrices in the production of hybrid functional materials is futuristic in agriculture applications. In this study, a greener, modified in-situ sol-gel route was employed to synthesize urea-silica nanohybrids with a high urea loading of 36% (w/w) and a loading efficiency of ~83%. Characterization studies indicated the successful incorporation of urea into silica nanoparticles and the formation of strong bonds between the nanoparticles and urea molecules without any substantial modification to the structure and morphology of silica nanoparticles. Aforesaid observations were further corroborated by the slow and sustained release behavior exhibited by nanohybrids in water for more than ten days. The developed urea-silica nanohybrids could be utilized as a potential candidate for slow-release nitrogen fertilizers. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11820 Urea -hydroxypatite nanohybrid as an efficient nutrient source in Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (tea) Raguraj, S.; Wijayathunga, W.M.S.; Gunarathne, G.P.; Amali, R.K.A.; Piyadarshana, G. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11817 Protective Effect of Coconut Oil Meal Phenolic Antioxidants against Macromolecular Damage: In Vitro and In Vivo Study Karunasiri, A. N.; Senanayake, C. M.; Hapugaswatta, H.; Jayathilaka, N.; Seneviratne, K. N. Coconut oil meal, a cheap by-product of coconut oil production, is a rich source of phenolic antioxidants. Many age-related diseases are caused by reactive oxygen species- (ROS-) induced damage to macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. In the present study, the protective effect of the phenolic extract of coconut oil meal (CMPE) against macromolecular oxidative damage was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models. Sunflower oil, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and plasmid DNA were used in the in vitro study, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl, and nicked DNA were evaluated as oxidation products. )e inhibitory effect of CMPE against H2O2-induced macromolecular damage was evaluated using cultured HEp-2 cells. )e results indicate that CMPE inhibits macromolecular damage both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, CMPE regulates redox status of HEp-2 cells under oxidative stress conditions by maintaining higher reduced glutathione levels. )ere was no significant difference in the expression of glutathione peroxidase in stressed and unstressed cells suggesting that CMPE regulates the cellular oxidative stress responses without affecting the expression of oxidative stress response genes. Oral feeding of Wistar rats with CMPE improves the serum and plasma antioxidant status without causing any toxic effects. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/11816 Emerging investigator series: Synthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Fabricated on Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for CO2 Sequestration at Elevated Temperatures Gunathilake, C. A.; Ranathunge, G. G. T. A.; Dassanayake, R.S.; Illesinghe, S. D.; Manchanda, A.S.; Kalpage, C. S.; Rajapakse, R. M. G.; Karunaratne, D. G. G. P. 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z