This work presents the green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using an Ayurvedic decoction and their subsequent integration into a chitosan matrix to form a CuO–chitosan nanocomposite (CHCGF) containing 15 wt
A pH-responsive and tumor-targeted drug delivery system was developed by encapsulating curcumin (CUR) within a zeolitic imidazolate framework-90 (ZIF-90) and subsequently functionalizing it with hyaluronic acid (HA) to enhance biocompatibility and selective cellular targeting. The resulting HA-coated CUR@ZIF-90 nanocomposite was systematically characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Despite extensive studies on metal-organic framework (MOF)-based drug carriers, real-time and highly sensitive monitoring of drug release remains a major analytical challenge. To overcome this limitation, DPV was introduced as an electrochemical approach for in situ monitoring of drug release, offering superior sensitivity, good accuracy, and time-resolved detection compared to conventional ultraviolet-visible methods. Electrochemical measurements confirmed the reversible redox properties of CUR and revealed a diffusion-controlled release mechanism within the HA-functionalized ZIF-90 matrix. In vitro release studies demonstrated enhanced and sustained CUR release under mildly acidic conditions (pH 5.4), while maintaining high structural stability at physiological pH (7.4). Cytotoxicity evaluation by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay demonstrated selective anticancer activity toward MCF-7 breast cancer cells with minimal toxicity to normal fibroblasts. This study establishes DPV as a promising analytical tool for real-time tracking of drug release from MOF-based nanocarriers, providing a new strategy for designing efficient and intelligent drug delivery systems.
Pectic substances were extracted from the leaves of Holarrhena pubescens. Various factors affecting yield were studied. The liquid-to-solid ratio, pH, oxalate concentration, and treatment time were found to affect the yield. A multicomponent fluid matrix was produced using the pectic substances, sucrose, calcium chloride, histidine, and ascorbic acid. The optimum concentration of each component required to form the matrix with the highest average apparent viscosity was estimated. The multicomponent fluid matrix was then used to produce a pineapple jam with microcrystalline cellulose as a filler. FTIR-ATR spectroscopy was used to study the mechanism of gel and jam formation and was found to include the formation of hydrogen bonds between the components. Both the multicomponent fluid matrix and the microcrystalline cellulose affected the textural properties of the jam, making it possible to produce jams with a predetermined textural property. The low-sugar jam contained only 0.1% of sucrose in the finished product, making it useful for diabetic patients. The leafbased pectic substances, with a low concentration of galacturonic acid, can be used as an effective gelling agent after transforming into a composite multicomponent fluid matrix. Thus, the flow and textural properties of pectic substances may be modified by mixing with suitable ingredients to suit various applications in food and other industries. Future projects should aim to utilise pectin from other sources as well for the production of similar low-sugar food products for the welfare of the diabetic community.
The increasing depletion of fossil fuels and the escalation of global temperatures have intensified the need for sustainable energy sources such as solar power. Copper Zinc Sulphide (CuZnS) is a potential absorber for solar cells. This study reports the structure and composition of annealed CuZnS samples using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) analysis technique. CuZnS thin films prepared using low-cost chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique are annealed at 100 degrees C, 200 degrees C, and 300 degrees C. The samples are analysed using Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), measurements. XPS and EDX analyses confirmed an increase in zinc content with annealing, accompanied by a decrease in sulphur concentration and a reduced Cu/Zn ratio. Electrical measurements (Hall measurements) revealed an increase in conductivity from 2.311 & times; 10-6 ohm-1 cm-1 to 7.403 & times; 10-6 ohm-1 cm-1. Optical characterisation (UV-VIS) indicated a tunable bandgap ranging from 2.50 eV to 2.73 eV, suitable for photovoltaic applications. Structural analysis (XRD) demonstrated improved crystallinity and phase purity upon annealing. SEM images showed an increase in grain size from 149 nm to 178 nm, suggesting enhanced film quality. Overall, the results highlight that annealed CuZnS thin films exhibit improved optoelectronic and structural characteristics, making them promising candidates for cost-effective solar absorber layers in photovoltaic devices.
Rare-earth metal oxide nanomaterials have emerged as versatile multifunctional platforms owing to their unique electronic configurations, defect tolerance, and remarkable optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. Unlike conventional single-function nanomaterials, rare-earth oxides offer integrated structural and electronic tunability, where nanoscale parameters such as particle size, morphology, exposed crystal facets, and A- and B-site rare-earth doping systematically influence defect chemistry, lattice strain, and the local electronic environment. Controlled synthesis approaches encompassing chemical, electrochemical, biological, and other advanced methods play a decisive role in tailoring structure–property relationships and optimizing functional performance. These coordinated structural and electronic characteristics enable broad multifunctional applications across diverse technological sectors. In biomedicine, rare-earth oxides enable drug and gene delivery, cancer therapy, tissue engineering, antimicrobial activity, and high-contrast bioimaging due to their chemical stability, surface functionality, and tunable luminescence. In environmental remediation, they support efficient catalysis, selective adsorption, and sensitive gas sensing for pollution control and environmental monitoring. In energy technologies, their redox flexibility, oxygen vacancy dynamics, and coupled ionic–electronic transport properties enhance performance in supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, electrocatalysis, and electrochemical sensors. Furthermore, their structural robustness and radiation-resistant characteristics make them promising candidates for nano-shield systems designed for radiation protection and electromagnetic interference shielding under extreme conditions. Despite substantial progress, key challenges remain in achieving precise atomic-level structural control, scalable and sustainable synthesis, comprehensive mechanistic understanding of defect-mediated processes, and long-term operational stability, all of which are essential for translating rare-earth oxide nanomaterials into reliable, high-performance multifunctional technologies.
