Photoelectrochemical sensor for nitrite determination based on the etching of BiOCl/Zn0.5Cd0.5S.

A rapid photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor was constructed for nitrite detection in food based on the one-step chemical etching strategy of BiOCl/Zn0.5Cd0.5S (BOC/ZCS) nanocomposites by nitrite. BOC/ZCS heterojunction was prepared by a simple coprecipitation method, and it was found that BOC/ZCS showed significant photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity. The results of this study confirmed that the decrease in the photocurrent of the sensor was linked to the etching of ZCS by nitrite under acidic conditions. Under optimized conditions, the BOC/ZCS-based PEC sensor showed good analytical properties for detecting nitrite, with linear ranges of 1-100 µM and 100-600 µM. The detection limit of the sensor was 0.41 µM (S/N = 3). Excellent repeatability, reproducibility, low background noise, and immunity to interference were demonstrated using the proposed system, and satisfactory results were achieved for the nitrite assay using real samples. These results demonstrate a new method for nitrite detection developed using the proposed PEC sensor.

Mangrove tree aerial root extract mediated green synthesis of Ag/Fe3O4/rGO nanocomposite and its application as a catalyst for one pot synthesis of 7-phenyl-6H,7H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]chromeno[4,3-d][1,3]thiazin-6-one derivatives.

In this study, we report the green preparation of magnetically separable Ag/Fe3O4/rGO nanocomposites using mangrove tree aerial root extract as a stabilising agent. The morphology, size, chemical composition, magnetic property and other characteristic parameters of synthesised Ag/Fe3O4/rGO nanocomposite were determined by analytical techniques like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The results proved that mangrove tree aerial root extract has the ability to reduce Ag+ ions, graphene oxide (GO) to Ag nanoparticle and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), respectively. The prepared Ag/Fe3O4/rGO nanocomposite was used successfully as a prompt catalyst for synthesis of 7-phenyl-6H,7H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]chromeno[4,3-d][1,3]thiazin-6-one derivatives by one-pot multi-component reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin (10 mmol), 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (10 mmol) and different arylaldehyde (10 mmol) in the presence of ethanol (10 ml) as an eco-benign solvent at reflux condition. By utilising this protocol, we have constructed 7-phenyl-6H,7H-benzo[4,5]imidazo[2,1-b]chromeno[4,3-d][1,3]thiazin-6-one derivatives in good to excellent yield of 80-90%. This synthesis involves the formation of C-C, C-N and C-S bonds. The synthesised organic heterocyclic compounds were examined for the green matrix properties such as atom economy (AE), E-factor and product mass intensity (PMI). This green protocol is of big interest due to employing simple, non-toxic heterogeneous, separable, reusable Ag/Fe3O4/rGO as an eco-safe heterogeneous catalyst and environmentally benign ethanol as a green solvent without the use of any harmful mineral acid and toxic transition metal catalyst.

A New Powerful Magnetic Dark Catalyst Based on rGO/Fe3O4/CdSe Nanocomposite for Ultrafast Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye.

In the present study, Rgo/Fe3O4/CdSe as a dark catalyst material was synthesized by a refluxing method. The synthesized magnetic nanocomposites were studied by various analyses such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman, Zeta and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Characterization of structural analysis showed that the nanocomposites were successfully synthesized. The absorption spectrum was used to determine the dark catalyst activity of rGO/Fe3O4/CdSe nanocomposite. Analysis of the absorption spectrum showed that the prepared nanocomposites degrade the MB organic dye completely (100%) after 2 min of stirring in the dark, also experimenting with different pH showed that the best performance for the degradation of MB occurs in neutral and alkaline media. The Raman spectrum analysis showed that the Fe3O4/CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were correctly incorporated on the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets. Zeta potential analysis showed that rGO/Fe3O4/CdSe has a large amount of negative charge on its surface and the surface charge increased by about 16 mV compared to the Fe3O4/CdSe compound. BET and BJH techniques were used to determine the effective surface area and pore size diameter, BET results to determine the effective surface area showed that by adding graphene to the compound, the specific surface area increased from 42.877 m2g-1 to 54.1896 m2g-1. The radical scavenger experiment showed that electrons play an essential role in the degradation process. VSM analysis showed that the prepared nanocomposites have excellent superparamagnetic behavior, this advantage enables the easy collection of nanocatalysts by magnets from wastewater after dye degradation.

Oral delivery of Sunitinib malate using carboxymethyl cellulose/poly(acrylic acid-itaconic acid)/Cloisite 30B nanocomposite hydrogel as a pH-responsive carrier.

This work aimed to fabricate a Cloisite 30B-incorporated carboxymethyl cellulose graft copolymer of acrylic acid and itaconic acid hydrogel (Hyd) via a free radical polymerization method for controlled release of Sunitinib malate anticancer drug. The synthesized samples were characterized by FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM-dot mapping analyses. The encapsulation efficiency of Hyd and Hyd/Cloisite 30B (6 wt%) was 81 and 93%, respectively, showing the effectiveness of Cloisite 30B in drug loading. An in vitro drug release study showed that drug release from all samples in a buffer solution with pH 7.4 was higher than in a buffer solution with pH 5.5. During 240 min, the cumulative drug release from Hyd/Cloisite 30B (94.97% at pH 7.4) is lower than Hyd (53.71% at pH 7.4). Also, drug-loaded Hyd/Cloisite 30B (6 wt%) demonstrated better antibacterial activity towards S. Aureus bacteria and E. Coli. High anticancer activity of Hyd/Cloisite 30B against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was shown by the MTT assay, with a MCF-7 cell viability of 23.82 ± 1.23% after 72-hour incubation. Our results suggest that Hyd/Cloisite 30B could be used as a pH-controlled carrier to deliver anticancer Sunitinib malate.

Prediction of the postharvest quality of Boletus wild mushrooms stored with mesoporous silica nanoparticles antibacterial film using Long Short-Term Memory model combined with the Northern Goshawk Optimization (NGO-LSTM).

This study aimed to address the challenge of extending the shelf life of Boletus wild mushrooms, which are prone to environmental and microbial contamination. An antibacterial film composed of polylactic acid (PLA) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with citral (CMP film) was developed for this purpose. Fifteen quality indices were assessed, and the data were integrated using AHP and TOPSIS to evaluate the film's efficacy. The CMP film effectively maintained the quality of mushroom over time. Additionally, a Nonlinear Global Optimization-Long Short-Term Memory (NGO-LSTM) model was employed to predict storage quality, using seven highly correlated quality indicators. The model achieved a high predictive accuracy, with the R2 exceeding 0.999. This study presents a novel packaging solution and a predictive model that together enhance the storage and quality control of Boletus wild mushrooms.

Exploring the potential of selenium nanoparticles and fabricated selenium nanoparticles @vitamin C nanocomposite in mitigating nicotine-induced testicular toxicity in rats.

Background: The tobacco epidemic signifies a major public health threat. Nicotine (NIC), a major active constituent in tobacco, impedes male fertility and semen quality. This work is implemented to explore the potential of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and the newly fabricated SeNPs @vitamin C (SeNPs@VITC) nanocomposite in mitigating testicular toxicity induced by NIC. Materials and methods: The six groups of 48 adult Wistar rats were designed as follows: the control group injected intraperitoneally with normal saline, the SeNPs group treated orally with 2 mg/kg of SeNPs, the SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite group treated orally with 2 mg/kg of SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite, the NIC group injected intraperitoneally with 1.25 mL/kg of NIC, the NIC+ SeNPs group received SeNPs plus NIC, and the NIC+ SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite group received SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite plus NIC. Treatments were administered over a 28-day period. Results: NIC treatment significantly caused poor sperm quality, decreased serum testosterone, increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations, reduced hemoglobin levels, leukocytosis, disrupted testicular oxidant/antioxidant balance, and disorganized testicular structure. The construction of the novel SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite, compared to NIC plus SeNPs alone, demonstrated a more potent ameliorative effect on NIC-induced reproductive toxicity in adult rats. The SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite significantly increased sperm count, reduced the percentage of sperm head abnormalities, lowered both serum FSH and LH concentrations, and improved the hemoglobin response. Conclusions: Both SeNPs and SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite alleviated the testicular toxicity induced by NIC, but the SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite exhibited superior efficacy. The SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite could be employed to advance enhanced therapeutic strategies for addressing male infertility.

Visible Light-Triggered Catalytic Performance of Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated With Copper Oxide Nanocomposite for Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye and Kinetics Studies.

Herein, novel nanocomposites based on reduced graphene oxide decorated copper oxide nanoparticles (rGO/CuO) were prepared by the in situ co-precipitation method. The structural, morphological, and optical characterization of as-prepared nanocomposites was performed by powdered x-ray diffraction (p-XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), Raman, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, respectively. The as-prepared nanocomposites exhibited better photocatalytic activity of rhodamine B dye with maximum ~94% degradation in 120 min with a rate constant of 0.2353 min-1 under optimized conditions. Furthermore, the effects of solution pH and catalyst loading are studied on the degradation process. Therefore, this state-of-the-art strategy for the decoration of CuO nanoparticles onto the surface of rGO nanosheets could be an ideal platform for fabricating highly efficient photocatalysts.

Two-dimensional black phosphorus/platinum catalase-like nanozyme-based Fenton reaction-mediated dual-mode immunoassays for the detection of enrofloxacin.

Hydrogen peroxide-based Fenton reaction can effectively degrade many small-molecule fluorescent dyes, leading to notable alterations in fluorescence signals. Additionally, the two-dimensional black phosphorus/platinum nanocomposite (BP/Pt) demonstrates exceptional catalase (CAT) characteristics. Based on these, a colorimetric-fluorescence dual-mode signal output pattern based on BP/Pt-Fenton reaction-rhodamine B tandem reaction system is reported. The physical adsorption property of the BP/Pt nanozymes was utilized to couple with antibodies, thus constructing a novel dual-mode nanozyme-based immuno-sensing assay (NISA). By using the migratory antibiotic enrofloxacin (ENR) as the target, the NISA provided highly sensitive detection with the detection limits of 0.058 ng/mL for colorimetric-mode and 0.025 ng/mL for fluorescence-mode and achieved accurate quantitative detection in environmental water and crucian carp samples. This work provides an innovative design for monitoring antibiotics in the environment and broadens the idea for the application of nanozymes and Fenton systems in immunosensing assays.

Sulphonated-graphene oxide nanocomposite membranes with PVA-ZnO nanostructures and mechanized agitation-enhanced pt coating for soft robotics bending actuator.

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) actuators have garnered significant scientific attention in robotics and artificial muscles for their ability to operate at low voltage, high strain capacity, and lightweight construction. The lack of uniform bending in IPMC actuators undermines their control precision and restricts their range of potential applications. This study utilized the unique properties of nanoscale materials and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to develop a membrane for soft robotic bending actuation. Subsequently, a platinum coating was applied to the membrane to mitigate the limitations of IPMCs in soft robotics applications. Herein, mechanized agitation was employed during the solution-casting process to enhance platinum metal (Pt-metal) coating on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures within a PVA- sulphonated graphene oxide nanocomposite, achieving enhanced soft robotics bending actuation capabilities. The resultant membrane composed of sulphonated-graphene oxide and polyvinyl-zinc oxide coated with pt (PsGZ-Pt) was examined by exploring advanced analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). Furthermore, the ionic exchange capacity (IEC), proton conductivity (PC), water uptake and water loss characteristics were evaluated to be 2.1 meq. g-1, 1.95 × 10-3 Scm-1, 59.62% at 45 °C and water loss at 9 min immersion found 38%, respectively. Electromechanical studies of the PsGZ-Pt membrane (size 30 mm length, 10 mm width, 0.07 mm thickness) showed an actuation force of 0.3253 mN and a displacement of roughly 22.8 mm at ± 3 VDC. These findings highlighted the PsGZ-Pt membrane's potential as a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial IPMC actuators based on polymers. These results presented a straightforward, low-cost approach for synthesizing PsGZ-Pt utilizing conventional technologies. The PsGZ-Pt membrane shows promise for generating low-cost, high-performance actuation materials with a wide range of industrial applications.

Intelligent Hydrogel with Physiologically Dependent Capacities of Photothermal Conversion and Nanocatalytic Medicine to Integratively Inhibit Bacteria and Inflammation for On-Demand Treatment of Infected Wound.

Although chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) based on a variety of nanoparticles have been developed to achieve effective anti-bacterial therapy, the limited therapeutic efficiency of CDT alone, as well as the undifferentiated damage of PTT to both bacteria and surrounding healthy tissue are still challenges for their clinical application of infected wounds treatments. In addition, during the CDT and PTT-mediated antimicrobial processes, the endogenous macrophages would be easily converted to pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1 phenotype) under local ROS and hyperthermia to promote inflammation, resulting in unexpected suppression of tissue regeneration and possible wound deterioration. To address these problems, a biodegradable sodium alginate/hyaluronic acid hydrogel loaded with functional CeO2-Au nano-alloy (AO@ACP) is fabricated to not only achieve precise and efficient antibacterial activity through infection-environment dependent photothermal-chemodynamic therapy but also rapidly eliminate the excess reactive oxygens (ROS) in the M1 type macrophage at the infected area to induce their polarization to M2 type for significant inhibition of inflammation and remarkable enhancement of tissue regeneration, hopefully developing an effective strategy to treat infected wound.

Removal of phosphate from wastewater using zirconium/iron embedded chitosan/alginate hydrogel beads: An experimental and computational perspective.

Adsorptive removal of phosphate plays a crucial role in mitigating eutrophication. Herein, the Zr/Fe embedded chitosan/alginate hydrogel bead (Zr/Fe/CS/Alg) is reported as an effective phosphate adsorbent. This polymer nanocomposite is synthesized by the in-situ reduction of the metals on the polymer matrix. The synthesized adsorbent was characterized by the FTIR, SEM-EDX, TGA, BET, and XPS. The adsorbent showed a maximum phosphate adsorption capacity of 221.72 mg/g at pH 3. The experimental data fit well with the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating a heterogeneous multilayer surface formation and a chemisorption-dominated adsorption process. Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Monte Carlo (MC) calculations revealed high negative adsorption energy due to the chemisorption of phosphate on the adsorbent. Hence, the major interactions such as electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and inner-sphere complexation of phosphate adsorption and Zr/Fe/CS/Alg hydrogel beads were investigated from the experimental and computational analysis. The negative values of thermodynamic parameters indicated a spontaneous, exothermic, and less random adsorption process. The synthesized adsorbent exhibited excellent selectivity toward phosphate and maintained 73 % efficiency after six adsorption/desorption cycles. The Zr/Fe/CS/Alg hydrogel beads reduced the phosphate concentration in real wastewater samples from 19.02 mg/L to 0.985 mg/L, suggesting that these nanocomposite hydrogel beads could be a promising adsorbent for real-world applications.

Novel tempo oxidized polyvinyl alcohol/ cellulose nanocrystal-based nanocomposite membrane for malachite green dye removal.

In this study, in-situ modification by TEMPO oxidation was performed after nanocomposite synthesis to improve its properties toward dye molecule removal. The unoxidized and oxidized polymeric-based nanocomposite was denoted as PNC6 and PNC6O respectively. The nanocomposites were characterized using FESEM, FTIR, contact angle, XRD and BET analysis. Measurements of swelling ratio and chemical stability were also performed to provide insight into the durability of the nanocomposites. The effects of changing variables included contact duration, pH of aqueous solution, initial pollutant concentration, and temperature were observed. The kinetic study showed that the experimental data is best fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 = 0.988 and 0.997 respectively), whereas on observing isotherm data, in both unoxidized and oxidized nanocomposite it fits well with Langmuir isotherm (R2 = 0.951 and 0.993 respectively). In addition, the effects on Gibb's free energy, Enthalpy, and Entropy were measured in terms of thermodynamic characteristics, it was established that dye molecules adsorption mechanism is endothermic and spontaneous in behaviour. To check regeneration tendency of the nanocomposite seven consecutive adsorption desorption cycles were run and about 90% and 80%, regeneration ability could be seen in an unoxidized state (PNC6) and an oxidized state (PNC6O) respectively upto 5th cycle after that the tendency get reduced. This study suggests that this novel polymeric nanocomposite can be employed as an efficient and relatively inexpensive adsorbent for dye removal from aqueous solutions.

Kinetics and thermodynamics investigations of efficient and eco-friendly removal of alizarin red S from water via acid-activated Dalbergia sissoo leaf powder and its magnetic iron oxide nanocomposite.

The present work aimed to highlight an efficient, readily accessible, and cost-effective adsorbent derived from Dalbergia sissoo (DS) leaf powder for removing the environmentally hazardous dye "alizarin red S" (ARS) from hydrous medium. A variant of the adsorbent is activated via sulfuric acid and composited with magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (DSMNC). Both adsorbents are thoroughly characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, point of zero charge, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, which show that they have a porous structure rich in active sites. Different adsorption conditions are optimized with the maximum removal efficiency of 76.63% for DS and 97.89% for DSMNC. The study was highlighted via the application of various adsorption isotherms, including Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich, to adsorption data. Pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models were utilized to investigate the kinetics and mechanism of adsorption. The Freundlich model and pseudo-second-order kinetics exhibited the best fit, suggesting a combination of physical interactions, as confirmed by the D-R and Temkin models. The dominant adsorbate-adsorbent interactive interactions responsible for ARS removal were hydrogen bonding, dispersion forces, and noncovalent aromatic ring adsorbent pi-interactions. Thermodynamic parameters extracted from adsorption data indicated that the removal of the mutagenic dye "ARS" was exothermic and spontaneous on both DS and DSMNC, with DSMNC exhibiting higher removal efficiency.

Chitosan supported hetero-metallic bio-nanocomposites for paracetamol removal from homogeneous solutions and heterogeneous mixtures with focused antibacterial studies.

Biopolymers infused with bimetallic nanoparticles exhibit a wide range of functionalities necessary for efficiently eliminating diverse water contaminants. However, the protracted production process requires further exploration. As such, present study seeks to optimize microwave-assisted technique for the facile synthesis of cross-linked chitosan (CTS) supported bimetallic-oxide nanoparticles, specifically zinc oxide (ZnO) and iron-oxide (Fe3O4), denoted as CTS-TTP/Zn-Fe. The primary objective is to investigate the efficacy of these beads in the removal of Paracetamol (PCM) from single and complex water matrices while also assessing their antibacterial properties. Characterization includes chemical composition, surface structures, thermal stability, and magnetic properties. The experimental results demonstrated that CTS-TPP/Zn-Fe beads achieved a remarkable PCM removal efficiency of ~99 % (qm = 4.98 mg g-1), with a Zn:Fe mole ratio of 1:1. The experimental data showed good applicability with Freundlich isotherm and chemisorption-supported rate models (R2 > 0.9). To evaluate the long-term viability and practicality of these beads, three crucial field applicability tests were conducted. These encompassed competition studies with other pharmaceuticals, desorption investigations for repeated use, and efficiency evaluations in an ionic solution. Collectively, this research provides a comprehensive understanding, spanning from material design to practical applications, with potential relevance for large-scale wastewater treatment when coupled with appropriate flux control measures.

In-situ Preparation of Iron(II)-phthalocyanine@multi-walled-CNTs Nanocomposite for Quasi-solid-state Flexible Symmetric Supercapacitors with Long Cycling Life.

The construction of supercapacitor electrode materials with exceptional performance is the crucial to the commercialisation of flexible supercapacitors. Here, a novel in-situ precipitation technique was applied for constructing iron(II)-phthalocyanine (FePc) based nanocomposite as the electrode material in quasi-solid-state flexible supercapacitors. The highly redox-active FePc nanostructures were grown in the multi-walled-CNTs (MWCNTs) networks, which shows convenient electron/electrolyte ion transport pathways along with outstanding structural stability, leading to high energy storage and long cycling life. The electrode of FePc@MWCNTs delivered a higher specific capacity than that of individual MWCNTs and FePc. The quasi-solid-state symmetric flexible device that was constructed using FePc@MWCNTs electrode demonstrated impressive performance with a maximum energy density of 29.7 Wh kg-1 and a maximum power density of 4000 W kg-1. Moreover, the device demonstrated superior durability and flexibility, as evidenced by its exceptional cyclic stability (111.3%) even after 30000 cycles at 8 A g-1. These results reveal that the FePc@MWCNTs nanocomposite prepared by this simple in-situ precipitation method is promising as electrode material for next-generation flexible wearable power sources.

Development of a MOF-5/g-C3N4 nanocomposite: an effective type 2 heterojunction photocatalyst for rhodamine B dye degradation.

The field of environmental and water remediation faces a significant challenge in removing organic dyes from wastewater, particularly Rhodamine B (RhB), a stubborn dye used in various industries. Traditional treatment methods struggle with its resistance to decomposition, posing risks to water quality, human health, and aquatic life. This study demonstrates a novel approach to enhance photocatalytic efficiency for RhB degradation by constructing a MOF-5/g-C3N4 composite through a facile mechanical grinding method, which is unprecedented. The composite addresses the limitations of g-C3N4, such as rapid recombination of electron-hole pairs, low electron transfer rates, and small surface area, by forming a heterojunction with MOF-5. The composite exhibits enhanced photocatalytic efficiency for the degradation of RhB under sunlight, with a degradation of 91.5% achieved within 90 min. Optimization studies highlight the importance of pH and catalyst dosage in the degradation process. The reusability test shows consistent performance over five successive cycles, maintaining a degradation efficiency of over 90%. Total organic carbon (TOC) analyses confirm the mineralization of the dye solution to 82.05% after 90 min of irradiation, demonstrating the environmental benignity of the composite. Trapping experiments suggest the involvement of superoxide radicals, electrons, and holes in the photocatalytic mechanism. This study introduces a promising strategy for addressing challenges in dye degradation through innovative composite materials.

Novel nanocomposite and biochar insights to boost rice growth and alleviation of Cd toxicity.

Cadmium (Cd) is an unessential and pervasive contaminant in agricultural soil, eventually affecting the food and instigating health issues. The implication of nanocomposites in agriculture attained significant attention to drive food security. Nanocomposites possess exceptional characteristics to stun the challenges of chemical fertilizers that can enhance plant yield and better nutrient bioavailability. Similarly, biochar has the ability to immobilize Cd in soil by reducing mobility and bioavailability. Rice husk biochar is produced at high temperature pyrolysis under anoxic conditions and a stable carbon-rich material is formed. To strive against this issue, rice plants were subjected to Cd (15, 20 mg kg- 1) stress and treated with alone/combined Ca + Mg (25 mg L- 1) nanocomposite and rice husk biochar. In our study, growth and yield traits showed the nurturing influence of Ca + Mg nanocomposite and biochar to improve rice defence mechanism by reducing Cd stress. Growth parameters root length 28%, shoot length 34%, root fresh weight 19%, shoot fresh weight 16%, root dry weight 9%, shoot dry weight 8%, number of tillers 32%, number of grains 20%, and spike length 17% were improved with combined application of Ca + Mg and biochar, with Cd (20 mg kg- 1), rivalled to alone biochar. Combined Ca + Mg and biochar application increased the SPAD 23%, total chlorophyll 26%, a 19%, b 18%, and carotenoids 15%, with Cd (20 mg kg- 1), rivalled to alone biochar. MDA 15%, H2O2 13%, and EL 10% were significantly regulated in shoots with combined Ca + Mg and biochar application with Cd (20 mg kg- 1) compared to alone biochar. POD 22%, SOD 17%, APX 18%, and CAT 9% were increased in shoots with combined Ca + Mg and biochar application with Cd (20 mg kg- 1) compared to alone biochar. Cd uptake in roots 13%, shoots 14%, and grains 21% were minimized under Cd (20 mg kg- 1) with combined Ca + Mg and B. pumilus application, compared to alone biochar. Subsequently, combined Ca + Mg and biochar application is a sustainable solution to boost crop production under Cd stress.

Chitosan-mediated copper nanohybrid attenuates the virulence of a necrotrophic fungal pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina.

This study reported the synthesis and characterization of chitosan-copper nanoparticles (Ch-CuNPs) using a 1% copper sulfate solution in 0.2% w/v chitosan. The Ch-CuNPs, displaying a stable brick-red hue, showed an absorption peak at 572 nm, indicative of monodisperse nanoparticle formation and surface plasmon resonance. X-ray diffraction confirmed the face-centered cubic structure with peaks at 36.78°, 43.38°, 50.56°, and 74.26°, and an average particle size of 87-89 nm. FTIR analysis showed interactions between chitosan and copper, particularly around 3370 -3226 cm⁻¹, 1633 cm⁻¹, and 680 cm⁻¹. In vitro assays revealed that Ch-CuNPs inhibited Macrophomina phaseolina growth by 18-71% at 0.03-0.09% concentrations, achieving complete inhibition at 0.12-0.15%, with PCA analysis confirming that growth peaked at lower concentrations and sharply declined at higher levels. Ch-CuNPs also altered fungal morphology and enzyme activity, with notable degradation at higher concentrations. The Cu uptake by the fungus peaked at 29.9% with 0.03% Ch-CuNPs and decreased at higher concentrations. FTIR analysis showed shifts and disappearance of peaks in fungal biomass treated with Ch-CuNPs, indicating molecular interactions and potential structural changes. This study underscores the potential of Ch-CuNPs as an effective antifungal agent and elucidates their interaction mechanisms.

Hierarchical Ti3C2Tx MXene@Honeycomb nanocomposite with high energy efficiency for solar water desalination.

The utilization of solar-driven interfacial evaporation holds immense promise in enhancing energy efficiency and establishing sustainable methods for seawater desalination and water purification. While designing the materials to achieve high evaporation efficiency, the tuning of materials with porosity and surface chemistry is very crucial. Novel sustainable materials are of great importance for solar water desalination applications since clean water production is utmost important in the current era. There exists a lack of exploration in modifying the surface wettability states of solar evaporators to expedite the vapor generation rates. In this study, we showcase a hydrophilic Ti3C2Tx MXene-coated carbonized honeycomb (CHC) (Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC) nanocomposite-based hexagonal-shaped evaporator surface. This is the first-time report on the effective utilization of hierarchical CHC for the preparation of solar absorber comprising of Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite, particularly for the solar water desalination. The Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite evaporator achieves an impressive water evaporation rate of 1.6 kg m-2 h-1 with 90% efficiency under 1 sun illumination. The augmented thickness of the water layer in the hydrophilic surface of the Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite helps in facilitating the rapid escape of water molecules. The relatively elongated contact lines in the hydrophobic region simultaneously ensure substantial water evaporation, significantly enhancing the water desalination process. The Ti3C2Tx MXene@CHC nanocomposite exceeds stringent quality benchmarks, signaling its potential for solar water desalination.

Development of Chitosan-Coated Graphene Oxide and Iron Oxide Nanocomposites for Targeted Delivery of Camptothecin to Liver Cancer Cells.

Innovative drug delivery platforms for selective, regulated, and sustained release of anticancer drugs are crucial in cancer treatment. This study presents nanoparticles developed from chitosan (CS), graphene oxide (GO), and magnetite (Fe3O4), and their nanocomposites, to enhance the loading and release efficiency of camptothecin (CPT). Nanostructures were characterized using imaging microscopy, FT-IR, and X-ray diffraction, with an average crystallite size of 5.5 nm. Camptothecin binding proportions were 70% for CS, 81% for CS@Fe3O4, 58% for CS@GO, and 74% for CS@GO/Fe3O4. At pH 5.0, CPT release ratios were 87%, 80%, 88%, and 90%, respectively, and at pH 7.4, 84%, 72%, 89%, and 87%. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay against HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cancer cells. CPT-CS@GO/Fe3O4 exhibited the highest survival at 5 µM and 12.5 µM concentrations, indicating it as the most effective nanocarrier for camptothecin delivery. The study demonstrates CS@GO/Fe3O4's potential as a superior drug delivery system.