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Addressing the global demand for cost-effective and sustainable energy sources, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional silicon-based photovoltaics. However, the use of platinum which is a rare and expensive counter electrode (CE) hinders the widespread application of DSSCs, necessitating the use of cheap, abundant, and efficient materials. The review therefore focuses on carbon-based nanomaterials specifically carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene as CEs in DSSCs. The CE plays a vital role in regenerating the redox couple, and its charge transfer resistance (Rct) should ideally be 1 Ω cm² for optimal performance. Carbon nanotubes comprising single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs), and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are mainly prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The SWCNTs have achieved an efficiency of 7.79%, comparable to platinum electrodes, and this was due to the morphology, which influenced the redox mediator regeneration but also reduced the R_ct. In addition, graphene with high transparency (97.7%), large specific surface area (2630 m² g^- 1), excellent thermal conductivity (3000 W m^- 1 K^- 1), and good carrier mobility properties (10,000 cm² V^- 1 S^- 1) have also been applied. In this, the Graphene nanosheets demonstrated a 6.81% efficiency, comparable to platinum (7.59%) due to a high open circuit voltage (V_oc), which accounts for the reduction of iodide/triiodide redox couple. Lastly, the Graphene nanoplatelets demonstrated a 9.3% efficiency comparable to that of Platinum 7.53% due to low charge transfer resistance, high electrocatalytic activity, and good fill factor.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative that affects over 55 million people worldwide, a number expected to double by 2050 due to aging populations. This growing prevalence imposes immense societal and economic burdens on healthcare systems and caregivers. AD is challenging to treat with monotherapy, making combination therapy a more effective approach. This study focuses on delivering Rivastigmine tartrate (RIV), and Nilotinib hydrochloride monohydrate (NIL), to the brain to achieve synergistic effects against AD. The optimal ratio of the drug combination was determined using the combination index that was performed using the Neuro2a cells line. It was found to be 1:1, emphasizing the synergistic effect against the cell lines. So, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were loaded with RIV and NIL, both individually and in combination, developed and optimized in this study. The developed formulations were thoroughly characterized for globule size, polydispersity index (PDI), and entrapment efficiency (EE) for each drug and the combination. The globule size was > 200 nm, PDI > 0.3; EE < 85% in all the developed formulations. On performing an in vitro cell availability study it was found that developed NLCs showed a 1.3 to 1.4-fold increase in the viability of the cells. On conducting an in vivo study, the concentration in the brain following administration of different formulations was in the order of RIV-NIL-NLC > NIL-NLC > RIV-NLC > RIV-NIL SUS > NIL-SUS > RIV-SUS. There was a 3.5 to 5-fold increase in the concentration of RIV and NIL in the brain when administered as RIV-NIL-NLC. So, it can be concluded that the NLCs with combined drugs showed promising results, enhancing drug permeability through the intranasal route, therefore could be used for treating AD.

Staphylococcus aureus provokes several clinical infections, and its treatment remains challenging due to the rise of multidrug-resistant strains. In the current scenario it's a vital need for alternative strategies to control the spread of MDR S. aureus. Therefore, considerable effort has been put forth to develop green nanoparticles. Camellia sinensis is enriched with phytocompounds with potent antibacterial properties. Green synthesis strategy is more sustainable and non-toxic compared to traditional chemical processes. CsAgNps was synthesized by mixing 1 part of fresh extract of C. sinensis extract with 2 parts of 1mM silver and employing photocatalytic reduction for the period of 8 h until visible colour change was observed. Synthesized CsAgNps were characterized by employing various techniques to study the size, charge, topography and elemental composition. According to the findings of the in-silico analysis, phytocompounds of C. sinensis including Protopine, Ellagic acid, Catechin and Techtochrysin were recognized as potential lead compounds against various virulent targets in S. aureus. CsAgNps were tested for its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity in MDR and MTCC (1430). The study results showed that it controls growth and biofilm formation of strains at the concentration of 12.5 µg/mL. The potential lead compounds against various virulent targets in S. aureus were analyzed using in-silico technique. Future research in the development of healthcare products will focus on optimization of ecofriendly material with targeted and sustainable release and enhancing antimicrobial efficacy particularly on MDR pathogens. CsAgNps can be incorporated to develop nano-based health care products to control antibiotic resistant S. aureus infections.

Two-dimensional (2D) materials have garnered momentous consideration owing to their inimitable structural and physiochemical properties, enabling diverse technological applications. Tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a prominent transition metal dichalcogenide, exhibits exceptional characteristics such as a tunable bandgap, large surface area, and strong biocompatibility, making it highly suitable for biosensing applications. This review explores various WS₂ synthesis techniques, including mechanical exfoliation, sonication, and chemical exfoliation, highlighting their impact on nanosheet quality and scalability. Furthermore, it examines WS₂'s role in biosensing, particularly in cancer biomarker detection, DNA/RNA sensing, enzyme activity monitoring, and pathogen identification. Despite its promising applications, challenges such as oxidation, long-term stability, and large-scale synthesis persist. Future advancements in hybrid nanostructures, functionalization techniques, and AI-assisted biosensing are expected to enhance WS₂'s reliability and expand its practical deployment. By addressing these challenges, WS₂-based technologies can drive significant innovations in diagnostics and environmental monitoring.

Agricultural production faces significant losses due to salinity, drought, pests, insects, and weeds, particularly in nutrient- and fertilizer-deficient soils. This review focuses on enhancing the productivity of crops grown in dry and saline environments. Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) and silicon compounds (SiO₂/SiO₃²⁻) have shown potential to improve crop yields while mitigating the effects of biotic and abiotic stresses. As an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, Si NPs stimulate germination, plant growth, biomass accumulation, and nutrient absorption due to their small size, large surface area, and ease of cellular penetration. These nanoparticles reduce salinity stress by modulating gene expression, leading to the activation of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and APX, which help combat reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment with low concentrations of nano-silica (100-300 mg/L) significantly enhances plants' tolerance to salinity. Si NPs, when combined with soluble polymeric materials and rhizobacteria, provide a sustainable impact due to their slow-release properties, offering prolonged protection against bacterial and viral infections under saline stress conditions.

The biological method, which is also called green synthesis, is a safe, cheap and environmentally friendly method. The present study was designed for the first time with the aim of synthesizing silver nanoparticles from pure and mixed extracts of Satureja bachtiarica Bung. and Satureja hortensis L. The extraction of plants was done by boiling water and the synthesis of silver nanoparticles was investigated by UV-VIS, XRD, FTIR and FESEM tests. Antibacterial effect of synthesized silver nanoparticles and extracts was evaluated by diffusion method in agar and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC). The examination of the UV test confirmed the spectrum of 393-422 nm related to surface plasmon resonance absorption. XRD test determined the silver particle size of S. bachtiarica + S. hortensis more than two species S. bachtiarica and S. hortensis and 14.4 nm. FTIR spectroscopy identified OH, CH, C =C, CH3, CH, C-O groups. The results of FESEM showed that the shape of the particles is mostly quasi-cubic or prism-like.. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) also showed an absorption peak of silver at 3 keV. The strongest inhibitory activities related to synthetic silver nanoparticles from S. bachtiarica extract against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (~ 10 mm) and silver nanoparticles synthesized from combined extract of S. bachtiarica + S. hortensis against Gram-negative bacteria Shigella dysenteriae (~ 9 mm), which matched the control antibiotics rifampin. Therefore, it seems that the pure extract of S. bachtiarica or the combination with the extract of S. hortensis is a natural potential for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles with significant antibacterial activity, which can be a possible substitute for antibiotics against some strains. However, much research needs to be done in the future to confirm this for clinical applications.

The present study proposes an innovative transdermal drug delivery system using ferrocene-incorporated fibers to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. Using electrospinning technology, the authors created ferrocene polymer fibers capable of highly efficient drug encapsulation and controlled release in response to reactive oxygen species commonly found in wound sites. The approach improves upon previous methods significantly by offering higher drug loading capacities and sustained release, directly targeting diseased cells. The results confirm the potential of ferrocene fibers for localized drug delivery, potentially reducing side effects and increasing patient convenience. The method could facilitate the application of bioactive compounds in medical textiles and targeted therapy.

A crucial determining factor in agricultural productivity is biotic stress. In addition, supply of quality food to the ever-increasing world's population has raised the food demand tremendously. Therefore, enhanced agricultural crop productivity is the only option to mitigate these concerns. It ultimately demanded the often and indiscriminate use of synthetic agrochemicals such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, etc. for the management of various biotic stresses including a variety of plant pathogens. However, the food chain and biosphere are severely impacted due to the use of such harmful agrochemicals and their byproducts. Hence, it is need of hour to search for novel, effective and ecofriendly approaches for the management of biotic stresses in crop plants. Particularly, in plant disease management, efforts are being made to take advantage of newly emerged science i.e. nanotechnology for the creation of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) such as metallic, oxide, sulphide, etc. through different routes and their application in plant disease management. Among these, green nanomaterials which are synthesized using environmentally friendly methods and materials reported to possess unique properties (such as high surface area, adjustable size and shape, and specific functionalities) making them ideal candidates for targeted disease control. Nanotechnology can stop crop losses by managing specific diseases from soil, plants, and hydroponic systems. This review mainly focuses on the application of biologically produced green NPs in the treatment of plant diseases caused due to bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The utilization of green synthesis of NPs in the creation of intelligent targeted pesticide and biomolecule control delivery systems, for disease management is considered environmentally friendly due to its pursuit of less hazardous, sustainable, and environmentally friendly methods.

Plant diseases cause colossal crop loss worldwide and are the major yield constraining component in agriculture. Nanotechnology, which has the possible to revolutionize numerous fields of science, innovation, drug, and agriculture. Nanotechnology can be utilized for combating the plant infectious diseases and nano-materials can be utilized as transporter of dynamic elements of pesticides, host defense etc. to the pathogens. The analysis of diseases, finding of pathogens may turn out to be substantially more precise and fast with the utilization of nanosensors. As worldwide demand for food production raises against an evolving atmosphere, nanotechnology could reasonably alleviate numerous challenges in disease managing by diminishing chemical inputs and advancing quick recognition of pathogens. The major goal of this review is to increase growth and productivity using supplements with nanoparticles. (i.e., metals, metal oxides, and carbon) to treat crop diseases and make agricultural practices more productive and sustainable. Prominently, this improved crop may not only be straight connected to the diminished occurrence of pathogenic microorganisms, yet in might possibly add nutritional benefits of the nanoparticles themselves, particularly for the micronutrients important for generating host resistance.

Optoelectronic synapses with fast response, low power consumption, and memory function hold great potential in the future of artificial intelligence technologies. Herein, a strategy of annealing in oxygen ambient at different temperatures is presented to improve the optoelectronic synaptic behaviors of acceptor-rich ZnO (A-ZnO) microtubes. The basic synaptic functions of as-grown and annealed A-ZnO microtubes including excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC), short-term memory (STM) to long-term memory (LTM) conversion, and paired-pulse facilitation (PPF), were successfully emulated. The results show that the annealing temperature of 600 °C yields high figures of merit compared to other annealed A-ZnO microtubes. The 4-fold and 20-fold enhancement dependent on the light pulse duration time and energy density have been achieved in the 600 °C annealed A-ZnO microtube, respectively. Furthermore, the device exhibited a PPF index of up to 238% and achieved four cycles of "learning-forgetting" process, proving its capability for optical information storage. The free exciton (FX) and donor-acceptor pair (DAP) concentrations significantly influenced the persistent photoconductivity (PPC) behavior of A-ZnO microtubes. Therefore, the LTM response can be controlled by the adjustment of numbers, powers, and interval time of the optical stimulation. This work outlines a strategy to improve the EPSC response through defect control, representing a step towards applications in the field of optoelectronic synaptic device.