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Bamboo's susceptibility to mildew leads to contamination and economic losses, underscoring the need for effective prevention methods. This study investigated the impregnation of bamboo with ionic liquids, specifically optimizing the pressurized process of dodecylpyridinium chloride, while evaluating treatment effectiveness and leaching resistance. Techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV) were employed to analyze the distribution and bonding of dodecylpyridinium chloride within the bamboo. The optimized impregnation parameters were determined to be a concentration of 6.88 mg/mL, a duration of 98 min, and a pressure of 0.61 MPa. Treated bamboo exhibited excellent antibacterial properties and leaching resistance, achieving 100% efficacy against bamboo mildew. Furthermore, after 14 days of soaking, the retention of dodecylpyridinium chloride decreased by only 27.3%. This study highlights a sustainable method for mildew prevention, which is crucial for enhancing the durability and utility of bamboo products.

Mycobacterium kansasii (Mkan) is a nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) commonly found in aquatic environments and is responsible for chronic pulmonary infections resembling tuberculosis. Treatment requires multiple antibiotics for at least 12 months, highlighting the challenge in managing Mkan infections. In this study, 50 thiourea derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic and inhibitory effects on bacterial growth in culture and in infected macrophages using Mkan strains with varying virulence levels. In silico studies explored the structure–activity relationship (SAR) and the pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles of the most active thiourea derivatives. As a result, 15 derivatives showed promising inhibitory activity against the reference strain, Mkan 12478. Of these, derivatives 2, 47, and 49 also significantly inhibited clinical isolates 10953 and 8835 without displaying cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, these three derivatives could inhibit intracellular mycobacterial growth in RAW 264.7 macrophages infected with strains 12478 or 8835. SAR studies revealed molecular volume and polar surface (PSA) area as important features for these thiourea derivatives, directly correlating with their antimycobacterial profile. In silico studies indicated that these compounds are potentially suitable for oral administration and have less toxicological effects than rifampicin, providing a safer alternative for antimycobacterial treatment. In conclusion, our findings suggest that thiourea derivatives 2, 47, and 49 are promising antimycobacterial agents for treating infections caused by Mkan.

Potassium periodate (KIO₄) catalyzed novel, efficient and highly regioselective one-pot synthesis of substituted benzimidazoles has been carried out in good to excellent yields via condensation–cyclisation reactions involving a variety of aldehydes and o-phenylenediamines. As a catalyst, KIO₄ shows good compatibility with various substrates, easy removal, easy handling, operational simplicity, and work in mild reaction conditions. A comparative study, microwave (MW) versus conventional method, for synthesizing 2-substituted benzimidazoles via KIO₄ catalysis is also described. It was observed that the microwave irradiation approach improves the yield and minimizes time (from hour to min), and represents more advantageous eco-friendly quicker chemistry.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are emerging as versatile, nonviral vectors for gene delivery, offering significant potential in therapeutic applications. Their structure comprises positively charged metal hydroxide layers intercalated with anions, enabling efficient encapsulation of genetic materials like plasmids, small interfering RNA (siRNA), and messenger RNA (mRNA). The anionic exchange capacity of LDHs allows for the controlled release of nucleic acids, positioning them as promising tools for precision gene therapy. LDHs with tunable composition enable the optimization of particle size, charge density, and degradation rates to meet specific therapeutic requirements. At the cellular level, LDHs are taken up via endocytosis, followed by intracellular trafficking, and pH-triggered release of genetic material. This process protects nucleic acids from enzymatic degradation and ensures efficient delivery to the cytoplasm or nucleus. They have successfully encapsulated siRNA for effective gene silencing in vitro and in vivo, downregulating disease-associated genes in conditions like cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, and chronic viral infections. With their structural versatility, biocompatibility, and efficient nucleic acid delivery, LDHs are poised to revolutionize gene therapy and personalized medicine, providing a safer alternative to viral vectors. This review highlights LDHs as innovative carriers for gene delivery, emphasizing their structure, biocompatibility, and versatility in targeted therapy.

Cancer remains a complex disease to treat because of four important genetic changes that result in different phenotypes, necessitating different treatment modalities and usually ending in suboptimal results. Metallic silver (Ag) and copper (Cu) composites have been reported as anticancer agents for breast and other cancers. In this work, Ag₂O/CuO composites were studied as functional biocatalysts for glucose sensing and anticancer activity. The composites were prepared using a microwave hydrothermal route, and cytotoxicity was tested using the MTT assay against breast (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468), pancreatic (MiaPaCa-2), and colon (HCT-116) cancer cell lines. Intracellular ROS production and glucose sensing properties were also determined. These findings showed that the composite treatment strongly inhibited cell growth, with ROS-induced apoptosis being the main cause of cell death. Furthermore, the Ag₂O/CuO composite materials showed superior glucose-sensing ability, indicating the possibility of noninvasive and sensitive glucose detection. This work highlights the multifunctional feasibility of Ag₂O/CuO composites in biomedical technology, especially in cancer therapy and glucose sensing, which opens up the possibility of creating next-generation biocatalysts.

This work outlines some interesting results regarding physical properties and the photoactivity of Co₃O₄ and ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by the sol-gel method. The chemical sol-gel method yields (Co₃O₄)_c and (ZnO)_c samples, whereas the green synthesis method using eggplant as extract produces (Co₃O₄)_gs and (ZnO)_gs samples. Structural studies using the XRD technique reveal the formation of the cubic and the hexagonal phases for Co₃O₄ and ZnO samples, respectively. No valuable changes occur in lattice parameters upon green synthesis. The FT-IR studies confirm the formation of oxide networks for both. It also reveals the creation of −OH groups that enhance the photodegradation efficiency. Optical data demonstrate the shift of the absorption edge to higher energy for (Co₃O₄)_gs. On the contrary, (ZnO)_c shows a decrease in the E_g value upon green synthesis. Regarding the detected photoluminescence peaks, (Co₃O₄)_c and (Co₃O₄)_gs show respectively blue and green emission colors, whereas both (ZnO)_c and (ZnO)_gs produce green emissions. Photoactivity of both (Co₃O₄)_c and (Co₃O₄)_gs catalysts towards the degradation of indigo carmine (IC) dye under UV irradiation was examined. The photodegradation reaches 70% and 54% after 180 min for (Co₃O₄)_gs and (Co₃O₄)_c, respectively. The photodegradation of congo red (CR) dye under UV irradiation was also examined. The photodegradation reaches 93% and 63% for (ZnO)_c and (ZnO)_gs catalysts after 180 min under UV irradiation. The photodegradation of IC dye and CR dye using (Co₃O₄)_gs and (ZnO)_c, respectively in the presence of scavengers was also measured. Recycling of the prepared photocatalysts for four successive runs has indicated the feasibility of reusing them for several times. The results are discussed regarding the photocatalytic reaction mechanism expected.

Highly functionalized isocyanides, particularly those with a stereogenic center, are more difficult to access compared to simple isocyanides, which are commercially available. Several research groups have reported the synthesis of novel isocyanides, which constitute necessary reagents for the synthesis of pharmacologically active drugs. Likewise, natural compounds with isocyano functionality are well-known in many kingdoms of living organisms. Of course, the origin of such a functional group, as well as the mechanisms that have evolved in biosynthetic pathways to allow isocyanide synthesis, are critical biochemical questions. Many natural isonitriles have been demonstrated to have significant antibacterial, fungicidal, or anticancer effects. Hence, synthetic techniques are of great interest. In this manuscript, we have reviewed the synthesis of both simple and functionalized isocyanides, with particular emphasis on naturally occurring isocyanides derived from terrestrial and marine sources, including isonitrile (R-N≡C-) natural products (NPs).

The dual-responsive colorimetric and fluorescent “turn-on” sensor, RhNPS, was synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, FT-IR, LC-MS/MS, and NMR (1-H and 13-C) spectroscopies. UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence titration experiments were conducted to investigate the probe's optical response to disturbances caused by various metal ions and anions (Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, Al³⁺, Hg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd⁺², Ag⁺, and F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, ClO⁻, S²⁻, CN⁻, CO₃²⁻, SO₃²⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₂⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, AcO⁻). Among the eighteen metal ions tested, only copper induced a detectable color change in the RhNPS probe in buffer solution, shifting it from colorless to purple. Furthermore, significant increases were observed in both absorption and fluorescence emission, with peaks centered at 558 and 590 nm, respectively. Besides that, RhNPS demonstrated considerable sensitivity and selectivity to ClO⁻ in the presence of thirteen anion species, exhibiting broad-band emission and absorption spectra at 549 and 581 nm, respectively. According to the Job's plot approach, it was possible to demonstrate that RhNPS and Cu²⁺ could form a 1:1 complex. Additionally, the detection limits for ClO⁻ and Cu²⁺ were also calculated to be 2.6 × 10⁻⁷ and 5.4 × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. Consequently, a robust binding interaction between Cu²⁺ and RhNPS was deduced from the reversible ring-opening mechanism of spirolactam. Spectroscopic analyses demonstrated the efficacy of the chromogenic and fluorogenic chemosensor RhNPS as a highly sensitive and selective probe for Cu²⁺ and ClO⁻ within aqueous environments.

Industries frequently discharge elevated levels of lead and cadmium into the environment, posing significant threats to ecological balance and public health. This study developed a novel polycaprolactone–chitosan–montmorillonite (PCL/CS/MMT) composite to adsorb Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. The composite was synthesized via twin-screw melt extrusion and subsequently characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), revealing a crystalline structure, cracked surface morphology, functionalized surface groups, and thermal stability. Under optimal batch conditions, the adsorbent achieved maximum adsorption capacities of 12.35 mg/g for Pb(II) and 16.92 mg/g for Cd(II). Adsorption behavior followed the Langmuir isotherm model, and kinetic data aligned with the pseudo second-order model, indicating a chemisorption-driven mechanism. The composite demonstrated effective regeneration, retaining over 55% adsorption efficiency after seven desorption cycles with 0.1 M $$ (pH 8). These findings position the PCL/CS/MMT composite as a promising, sustainable adsorbent for wastewater treatment, offering a viable solution to heavy metal pollution and advancing the development of eco-friendly materials for environmental remediation.

The decomposition of ammonia to produce hydrogen requires an efficient catalyst to lower the energy demand for this reaction. This study investigates the performance of NdCoO₃ in enhancing ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production. The NdCoO₃ perovskite is synthesized using the solution-combustion method with citric acid as fuel. The performance evaluation of the catalysts is conducted in a fixed-bed reactor. The catalysts are characterized by establishing the relationship between structure and activity. A fuel-to-metal ratio of 1.25:1 and a calcination temperature of 700 °C result in a catalyst with favorable physicochemical attributes. The catalyst 1.25:1NdCoO₃-700 is obtained, which achieves 96% ammonia conversion at 550 °C, with a hydrogen generation rate of 30.6 mmolgcat^−1.min⁻¹, making it the most active catalyst with an apparent activation energy (E_a) of 64.47 KJ mol⁻¹. The surface analysis reveals that variations in surface basicity and favorable porosity affected the activity of the 1.25:1NdCoO₃-T catalysts. The fuel-to-metal ratio and the calcination temperature are key factors influencing the activity of the NdCoO₃ catalyst.