Polyurethane (PU) films widely used in flexible packaging rely on petroleum-derived polyols and toxic isocyanates, raising significant environmental and safety concerns. Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs), synthesized through the polyaddition of cyclic carbonates and amines, represent a promising alternative for developing safer and more sustainable polymer systems. In this study, fully bio-based thermoplastic NIPU films were prepared under solvent-free conditions using sebacic bis-cyclocarbonate (Seb CC), derived from castor oil, and lignin as a renewable aromatic component. Cyclocarbonated lignin (CC lignin) and native lignin were incorporated at varying Seb CC : lignin ratios (1 : 0.25–1 : 1) to evaluate the influence of lignin chemistry and loading on film structure and performance. The resulting films were characterized using FTIR, solid-state 13C CP/MAS NMR, thermal analysis (DSC and TGA), mechanical testing, permeability measurements (WVTR and OTR), scanning electron microscopy, and micro-computed tomography to investigate structure–property relationships. Lignin incorporation increased glass transition temperature, tensile modulus, and thermal stability, while significantly improving barrier performance. Native lignin formulations exhibited the lowest WVTR (0.33 g (100 in2·day)−1) and OTR (3.27–6.62 cc (100 in2·day)−1), approaching the performance of high-barrier biodegradable polymers. Micro-CT analysis revealed that barrier improvements were influenced not only by porosity but also by network rigidity and diffusion pathway tortuosity introduced by lignin's aromatic structure. These findings demonstrate that lignin-reinforced NIPU films provide a viable route toward fully bio-based, isocyanate-free materials with strong potential for sustainable packaging applications.
Rapid industrial expansion combined with continuous population growth has intensified global environmental concerns, particularly the increasing concentration of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that accelerate climate change. Addressing these challenges requires the implementation of sustainable and large-scale mitigation strategies, among which carbon capture technologies have emerged as a vital approach for reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions. Among the available capture techniques, absorption-based systems remain the most mature and widely adopted due to their high processing capacity, operational reliability, and adaptability across diverse industrial applications. This review critically examines recent advancements in CO2 capture technologies, with a primary emphasis on absorption-based processes. The review critically evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of absorption-based CO2 capture by comparing solvent selection strategies, regeneration energy requirements, and key economic indicators relevant to industrial implementation. In addition, the review compares absorption processes with other separation techniques, highlighting their advantages, limitations, and industrial relevance. Special attention is given to recent innovations in solvent development, including conventional aqueous amine solvents, phase-change solvents, and emerging deep eutectic solvents, which have demonstrated improved capture performance and enhanced process sustainability. Finally, the review identifies the major technical and economic challenges associated with absorption-based CO2 capture and proposes strategic directions to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and support large-scale industrial deployment.
This study reports the biogenic synthesis of Ag/ZrO2 nanocomposites (NCs) using Escherichia coli exopolysaccharide (EPS03) as a reducing and capping agent, with full physicochemical characterization and biomedical evaluation. XRD resolved monoclinic ZrO2 (JCPDS 37-1484) and FCC Ag (JCPDS 04-0783) as independent crystalline phases with no intermetallic formation. Characteristic reflections at 28.2° and 31.5° confirmed ZrO2, while Ag peaks appeared at 38.1°, 44.3°, 64.4°, and 77.4°, with Scherrer crystallite sizes of 15.5 nm and 29.0 nm, respectively. FTIR confirmed retained EPS biomolecular groups at the particle surface through hydroxyl stretching at 3444.81 cm−1, amide I/II bands at 1507–1636 cm−1, and metal oxide fingerprint absorptions at 675 and 517 cm−1 for Ag–O and Zr–O–Zr, respectively. XPS confirmed metallic Ag alongside a Zr4+ oxidation state at binding energies of 181.5 and 183.9 eV, with O 1s deconvolution resolving Zr–O and surface-adsorbed water contributions at 529.9 and 531.6 eV. HRTEM resolved lattice fringes with a 0.283 nm interplanar spacing, assigned to the (111) plane of monoclinic ZrO2. DLS recorded a Z-average hydrodynamic diameter of 75.6 nm (PDI = 0.201) and a zeta potential of −33.54 mV, confirming colloidal stability. MTT screening of WI-38 fibroblasts maintained viability above 95% up to 125 µg mL−1, with a cytotoxic IC50 of 292.66 ± 1 µg mL−1. DPPH and ABTS assays yielded IC50 values of 7.14 ± 0.13 and 6.68 ± 0.12 µg mL−1, respectively, approaching those of ascorbic acid. COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition IC50 values were 7.43 ± 0.2 and 10.5 ± 0.1 µg mL−1 relative to celecoxib, while BSA denaturation inhibition recorded an IC50 of 2.46 ± 0.112 µg mL−1, closely approaching diclofenac sodium at 1.72 ± 0.022 µg mL−1. Antimicrobial screening by agar well diffusion showed inhibition zones of 34, 26, and 18 mm against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and MRSA, respectively, each exceeding those of gentamicin (29, 24, and 14 mm). Against Candida albicans, a zone of 30 mm was recorded against fluconazole at 29 mm. Among Gram-negative strains, the NCs matched gentamicin against E. coli at 27 mm and showed a marginal advantage against Salmonella typhi at 21 mm vs. 20 mm. Broth microdilution yielded the lowest MIC of 7.8 µg mL−1 against both B. subtilis and C. albicans, with MBC/MIC and MFC/MIC ratios of 2 across most strains and a tightest bactericidal ratio of 1 against E. coli, keeping every strain within the ≤4 bactericidal/fungicidal cutoff. These results demonstrate that E. coli EPS03-mediated synthesis yields a physicochemically stable Ag/ZrO2 NC system with a well-defined multifunctional biomedical profile across oxidative, inflammatory, and microbial targets.
Using an LC-MS/MS-based molecular networking-guided approach, three previously undescribed chlorinated resorcylic acid lactone derivatives (5–7), two new cleistanthane-type diterpenoids (11–12) and a new dimeric derivative (13), together with seven known metabolites, were isolated from a cereal culture of Thyronectria pinicola (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). T. pinicola was isolated from a fruiting body of the devils'tooth mushroom, Hydnellum peckii (Basidiomycota, Thelephorales). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRMS, and their absolute configurations were established by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations or X-ray crystallography. All metabolites were evaluated for their bioactivities against three major human fungal pathogens, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The results indicated that compound 1 was the most active substance, with MIC values ranging from 1.5 to 50 µg mL−1 against all three species. In contrast, compounds 5 and 10 displayed only moderate activity against A. fumigatus and C. neoformans.
New N-(4-(chlorodifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide derivatives were designed, synthesised, and evaluated as potential anticancer agents. Among the synthesised derivatives, compound 9c showed the highest potency against BCR-ABL1-positive K562 leukemia cells, with an IC50 of 0.26 ± 0.029 µM, followed by 9a (0.50 ± 0.005 µM), 9k (0.64 ± 0.075 µM) and 9l (0.69 ± 0.11 µM). Importantly, compounds 9a, 9c and 9k showed selectivity for leukemia cells and low toxicity to normal fibroblasts (IC50 > 50 µM), with selectivity indices of 100–192. Docking analysis showed that the designed analogues preserved the key pharmacophoric interactions of Asciminib, with compound 9k showing the best docking score (−42.07 kcal mol−1), followed by 9a (−40.44 kcal mol−1), compared with Asciminib (−40.13 kcal mol−1). Taken together, these results suggest that the N-(4-(chlorodifluoromethoxy)phenyl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxamide scaffold is a useful template for designing selective BCR-ABL1-directed anticancer agents, with compound 9c as an encouraging lead for further optimisation and mechanistic studies.
