Chronic wounds require bioactive dressings that protect the wound site while promoting a suitable healing environment, regulating oxidative stress, and enabling sustained delivery of therapeutic agents. Although electrospun polylactic acid (PLA) fibers are attractive for wound dressing applications because of their biodegradability and extracellular matrix-mimicking structure, their intrinsic hydrophobicity limits bioactivity and fluid management. In this study, rutin-loaded cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs)/PLA/Pluronic P123 composite nanofibers were developed via electrospinning to enhance hydrophilicity and achieve sustained antioxidant release. The incorporation of CNCs and P123 significantly improved the wettability of PLA fibers, transforming the originally hydrophobic fibrous surface into a hydrophilic platform. Rutin incorporation partially restored the tensile performance of the composite fibers by improving both tensile strength and elongation at break. The fibers exhibited biphasic rutin release, with an initial burst release up to 25% within 1 h, followed by sustained release up to 65% over 48 h. Release kinetics were predominantly governed by diffusion-controlled behavior according to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Furthermore, the fibers retained strong antioxidant activity, showing nearly 90% DPPH radical-scavenging activity, and demonstrated non-cytotoxicity toward human dermal fibroblasts. These findings suggest that the developed RUT-CNCs/PLA/P123 fibers are promising bioactive wound dressing materials with improved hydrophilicity, sustained release capability, antioxidant activity, and cytocompatibility.

The penetration of moisture and oxygen through the porous carbon electrodes of carbon-based perovskite solar cells (CPSCs) accelerates device degradation, thereby reducing their operational lifespan. To mitigate this issue, polymer encapsulation has emerged as an effective strategy to minimize moisture and oxygen penetration. However, commonly used epoxy-based encapsulants suffer from significant drawbacks, including inadequate toughness and the release of toxic gases during combustion. In this work, we developed an encapsulation process to incorporate eco-friendly and efficient encapsulants derived from cross-linked seminatural polymers into CPSCs. Optically transparent films of the encapsulants were fabricated by infiltrating precursor solutions containing hydroxy-terminated isoprene oligomers (HIO) and 1,6-diazidohexane (DAH) into the CPSC electrodes. The precursors underwent in situ cross-linking via thermal treatment, forming a durable HIO-DAH network both within and on the surface of the electrodes. By optimizing the mole ratios of the precursors, the resulting HIO-DAH film exhibited excellent thermal stability, a smooth surface, and exceptional water resistance. Consequently, CPSCs encapsulated with the HIO-DAH film demonstrated significantly enhanced stability under dark (70% relative humidity and 30 degrees C) and illuminated (70% relative humidity, 60 degrees C heating, and prolonged light exposure exceeding 900 h) conditions, compared to unencapsulated CPSCs and those encapsulated with commercial epoxy films. Moreover, the thermal degradation of the HIO-DAH film in an oxygen atmosphere at temperatures between 200 and 600 degrees C resulted in considerably lower emissions of toxic gases, including carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2), compared to the epoxy films.

Power plants burning sugar cane typically generate bottom sugar cane bagasse ash (BSBA) as a byproduct. Since BSBA is rich in silica (SiO2), it offers potential applications in dye adsorbent production. In this study, silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) were synthesized from BSBA via a sol-gel method, with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) added during synthesis to reverse the surface charge from -28.96 to +12.06 mV, thus enhancing the adsorption of anionic dyes. The material was evaluated for methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), congo red (CR), and reactive orange 16 (RO16) adsorption in single, binary, ternary, and quaternary dye systems. SiO2NPs@CTAB showed high selectivity for anionic dyes, achieving adsorption capacities of 135.81, 159.76, and 135.59 mg g-1 for MO, CR, and RO16, respectively. These findings confirm that SiO2NPs@CTAB is highly selective and efficient in removing anionic dyes, while BSBA is demonstrated to be a cost-effective and sustainable silica source, promoting environmental benefits through the use of industrial waste byproducts.

Planar hole-transporter-free carbon-based perovskite solar cells (p-CPSCs) have recently attracted considerable interest due to their simplified architecture, energy-efficient fabrication, and use of cost-effective carbon electrodes. However, the absence of mesoporous scaffolds-such as mesoporous TiO2 and ZrO2-intensifies interfacial charge recombination, thereby limiting device performance compared to their mesoscopic counterparts. To address this challenge, we systematically engineer the interface between the compact TiO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite absorber in p-CPSCs by introducing bifunctional organic molecules-cinnamic acid (Cin), p-coumaric acid (Cou), and caffeic acid (Caf)-as molecular bridges. The chemical anchoring of these molecules to the TiO2 surface via their carboxyl (-COOH) groups appears to be associated with improved surface crystallinity. The presence of a single hydroxyl (-OH) group in Cou facilitates uniform perovskite film formation, while the dihydroxyl configuration of Caf promotes intermolecular aggregation, resulting in Caf molecular misalignment and inferior perovskite film quality. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Cin and Cou favor efficient electron transfer from the perovskite to TiO2, whereas aggregated Caf introduces localized trap states that impede charge injection. Consequently, devices incorporating the TiO2-Cou ETL exhibit the best performance, achieving an open-circuit voltage (V oc) exceeding 1.0 V and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.37%. Additionally, TiO2-Cou-based devices demonstrate enhanced stability, retaining over 80% of their initial PCE after 1200 h of storage under high-humidity conditions (similar to 70% RH at 30 degrees C). These improvements are attributed to a significant suppression of trap states both within the perovskite layer and at the TiO2-Cou/perovskite interface.

The demand for sustainability is driving research into new ways to make use of waste products. Porous adsorbents with magnetic properties are reusable and do not require a significant external energy source. They are well-suited to the task of decontaminating water on a large scale and, if benignly synthesized from waste products, they would meet the demand for sustainability. In this research, an in situ single-step synthesis is developed that generates a magnetic porous carbon composite from iron scrap and sugarcane bagasse, both of which are abundant waste products. This procedure combines the processes of carbonization, magnetization, and activation in one step. Iron scrap serves as both a magnetic precursor and a self-activating agent, so no additional chemical activators are required. The large surface area (505 m2/g) of the synthesized magnetic porous carbon composite adsorbent and its large capacity for tetracycline adsorption (687.6 mg/g) are suitable properties for the treatment of contaminated wastewater. The synthesis process is straightforward, and the use of waste materials to fabricate an adsorbent that retains its performance even after five cycles of adsorption and desorption ensures both cost-effectiveness and sustainability to support the concept of the circular economy.

The sugar industry produces significant quantities of waste biomass, while other industrial sectors generate iron scrap as waste. This study seeks to make use of these waste products using an in situ approach that integrates carbonization, activation, and magnetization to convert sugarcane waste and iron scrap into a magnetic carbon composite adsorbent. The porosity of the activated carbon was enhanced by the activating agent potassium hydroxide (KOH) and further improved by the addition of iron scrap, which also imparted magnetic properties to the composite. The developed porosity of the composite increased the overall adsorption capacity of the adsorbent. The synthesis conditions were varied to examine the effects on the properties of the adsorbent. The amount of KOH used in the synthesis influenced the performance of the material. The best-performing adsorbent demonstrated strong potential in the treatment of wastewater by exhibiting an adsorption capacity of 1736.93 mg/g for the antibiotic tetracycline. The magnetic properties of the composite adsorbent enable simple separation and recovery, making the adsorbent reusable and lowering operating costs. This study provides a clear framework for the synthesis of waste-derived magnetic carbon composite adsorbents that can offer financial and environmental advantages while remaining effective in industrial contexts.

The circular economy can help enhance the value of industrial waste and remediate the environment. This study considers the application of iron scrap from steel production as a free resource to produce magnetic adsorbent beads to remove methylene blue dye and lead (II) ions from wastewater. Composite beads were prepared by incorporating iron scrap and activated carbon into a calcium alginate gel using a simple 'mix and drop' synthesis. The optimized magnetic beads were stable and offered a large specific surface area. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent, calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model, was 476.19 mg g-1 for methylene blue and 163.93 mg g-1 for lead (II) ions. This study places emphasis upon the zero-waste principle and employs a scalable synthetic approach for the conversion of waste iron scrap into an adsorbent material capable of delivering significant environmental benefits.

Given the scarcity of natural gold sources and associated mining challenges, the recovery of gold from secondary sources, such as electronic equipment waste (e-waste), becomes imperative. E-waste is typically treated with aqua regia to obtain highly acidic gold-containing solutions, which are subsequently processed by various methods to recover gold. Gold recovery materials offer numerous benefits but often exhibit insufficient selectivity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. To address this problem, we herein used a nonmodified pristine Ti-Al-C MAX phase (Ti3AlC2) to realize the one-pot room-temperature recovery of gold from highly acidic solutions (pH < 1) in the form of easily collectable bulky ball-shaped Au0 aggregates. High gold selectivity (Kd = 2.03 × 106 mL/g) and extraction efficiency (∼99 %) were observed even in the presence of interfering metal ions (Pd2+, Pt4+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+), and the maximum gold extraction capacity (>6000 mg/g) surpassed that of previously reported gold recovery materials. The recovered gold was highly pure (>90 mass%) and contained minimal amounts of the original MAX phase, which obviated the need for intensive postpurification. The results of instrumental analyses suggested that gold recovery relied on electron transfer, similar to cementation, and primarily involved the reduction of solution-phase Au3+ to Au0 via electron transfer from the Ti and Al of Ti3AlC2. Thus, our work demonstrates the significant potential of pristine Ti3AlC2 for the energy-efficient recovery of gold from highly acidic solutions and paves the way for the efficient valorization of e-waste.

This study introduces a sustainable method of synthesizing a magnetic Fenton catalyst. The use of readily available iron scrap waste and para-rubber wood ash from heating and power plants is innovative and cost-effective. The catalyst is obtained from the precursor materials by pyrolysis. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were characterized to investigate the effects of different iron-to-ash ratios and pyrolysis temperatures. The Fenton process was investigated through the degradation of tetracycline (TC). A catalyst produced with an iron–ash ratio of 1:2 exhibited exceptional performances with a TC removal rate of up to 90 % within 15 min under optimized conditions. The Fenton catalyst also possessed desirable magnetic properties, enabling easy separation. The stable catalyst could be regenerated and was successfully recycled four times while retaining its efficiency. This research not only addresses environmental concerns but also highlights the potential value of two waste materials in the synthesis of advanced Fenton-like catalysts.

Utilizing well-established foam production technology facilitates the scalability of the methodology described in this study, allowing SSG materials to rapidly transition from the laboratory to commercial and real-world applications.

Solar steam generation (SSG) offers a sustainable approach to fresh water production. Herein, a novel dual-functional natural rubber/carbon black composite foam evaporator is presented for a cost-efficient SSG system that both produces fresh water and eliminates heavy metals present in the water. The composite foam is produced using the Dunlop process, and in its optimized form, it absorbed >96 % of sunlight. The foam evaporator exhibited a thermal conductivity of 0.052 W/m & sdot;K, a water evaporation rate of 1.40 kg/m(2)/h, converted 83.38 % of light to heat under 1 sun irradiation, and showed outstanding stability. The technology required to produce this composite foam is already available to make large-scale production feasible, while the natural raw materials are abundant. On the basis of its performance qualities, the rubber foam composite appears to be an excellent candidate for application as a viable solar absorber for SSG to produce fresh, clean water for commercial purposes.

A facile and eco-friendly mechanochemical treatment of cellulose-based materials, followed by carbonization and mild activation, was employed to obtain highly porous carbons. Potassium citrate (C6H5K3O7) was used as a mild chemical activator and an endotemplate. To prevent any potential alteration of the pore characteristics of the resulting carbons, a simple washing with DI water was performed. As a result, the chemically activated carbon with a large volume of ultramicropores (0.37 cm3/g) showed a high CO2 adsorption capacity of 4.2 mmol/g at 25 degrees C and a pressure of 1 bar. This paper presents a mechanochemical processing of cellulose-based materials, which can be utilized for advancing the preparation of carbon materials with high surface areas and enhanced porosity.

In this study, the facile and sustainable synthesis of highly microporous carbons is explored to reduce the extensive use of harsh activating agents and solvents. The role of potassium citrate (PC) as a greener activating agent in addition to the conventional ZnCl2 is investigated in the mechanochemical solvent-free preparation of highly microporous carbon materials from chestnut tannin (CT), a biomass-type carbon precursor. A small amount of potassium citrate as a chemical activator coupled with CO2 activation at 700 °C afforded carbons with higher specific surface area (1256 m2 g−1) and larger micropore volume (0.54 cm3 g−1) as compared to the carbons activated with both PC and ZnCl2. The high microporosity of the PC-activated carbon materials, significantly enlarged after CO2 activation from micropore volume of 0.16 to 0.54 cm3 g−1, makes them favorable for CO2 adsorption, as evidenced by high adsorption capacity of 3.55 mmol g−1 at ambient conditions (25 °C, 1 bar). This study shows that the solvent-free mechanochemical processing of tannin in the presence of PC is a promising method for obtaining highly microporous carbon materials.

This study successfully created a portable acetylcholinesterase sensor on a printed hybrid electrode capable of detecting chlorpyrifos in the field. While a screen-printed electrode was chosen herein to enable a single-use and portable platform for the in-field application, the hybrid material was incorporated to ensure ultrasensitive detection at lower electrode potentials. The hybrid ink of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) decorated on graphene (GP) sheets in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was synthesized through a simple completely-green one-pot process. The subsequent characterization was carried out via transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The synergy resulting from the greater surface area and enhanced transfer of electrons combined with high levels of electrocatalytic activity and superb conductivity offered by GP, AuNP, and PEDOT:PSS allows the sensor to exhibit ultrasensitive chlorpyrifos detection at the relatively low detection limit of 0.07 nM. The sensor demonstrated in this study also exhibits good reproducibility, desirable stability, and a successful application for the real sample with satisfactory recovery results of around 106 %, indicating its potential for use as a tool in the analysis of pesticides.

A spray-on wound dressing has many benefits, including easy and quick administration to broad and uneven wounds, better interface with the wound site, adhesion without additional dressing, and multiple applications in a portable package. By limiting direct contact with the wound site, such a design can prevent wound damage during treatment. This study revealed a simple, one-pot synthesis of spray-on wound dressing relying on polyvinylpyrrolidone solution incorporating silver nanoparticles as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent and wound-healing antioxidant Phyllanthus emblica extract. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized in situ using Phyllanthus emblica extract as a biogenic reducing agent. Polyvinylpyrrolidone was employed as a film-forming agent to create an adhesive hydrogel-based dressing matrix to provide moisture and establish a shielding barrier for the wound bed as well as to regulate the release of fruit extract. In vitro tests revealed that the produced dressing film had a controlled release of the fruit extract, high antioxidant activity, and a good antibacterial action against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and MRSA. Additionally, a biocompatibility study has shown that both human fibroblasts and keratinocytes are unaffected by the dressing film. Based on established findings, the current spray-on solution might be a potential option for antibacterial wound dressing.

Hypercholesterolemia is a common cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Although allicin and capsaicin possess hypolipidemic effects through several molecular mechanisms, their effects on LDLR and PCSK9 expression are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of allicin and capsaicin on LDLR and PCSK9 expression in HepG2 cells. The effects of allicin and capsaicin on cell viability were evaluated by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) levels and LDL uptake were determined by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), respectively. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses were performed to evaluate the expression of PCSK9, LDLR, SREBP-2, and HNF1α. ELISA was used to measure PCSK9 levels in culture media. Allicin and capsaicin increased the protein expression levels of LDLR via activation of the transcription factor SREBP2. However, allicin and capsaicin decreased the expression of PCSK9 protein and the secretion of PCSK9 in culture media via the suppression of HNF1α. Moreover, allicin and capsaicin increased LDL uptake into HepG2 cells. The efficacies of the hypolipidemic effects of allicin (200 µM) and capsaicin (200 µM) were comparable to that of atorvastatin (10 µM) in this study. In conclusion, allicin and capsaicin possessed hypolipidemic effects via the upregulation of LDLR and downregulation of PCSK9 expression, thereby enhancing LDL uptake into HepG2 cells. This indicates that allicin and capsaicin should be used as potent supplements to ameliorate hypercholesterolemia.

Two-dimensional (2D) perovskites have received significant attention as eminent solar cell absorbers mainly due to their structural tunability and high stability compared to their three-dimensional (3D) counterparts. These materials have been mostly prepared using a solution process; thus, their optoelectronic properties and intrinsic stability depend critically on the characteristics of the precursor solutions. Here, for the first time, a double-step homogeneous precursor mixing process is employed to enhance the quality and stability of 2D perovskite precursor solutions and the corresponding solar cells. To attain the precursor solutions via such a process, a solution comprising PbI2 and a bulky spacer such as propane-1,3-diammonium iodide (PDAI2) was first made followed by the addition of a methylammonium iodide (MAI) solution. This facile double-step process enabled the formation of particularly stable solvation complexes as a result of the significantly enhanced interactions between the solvent and precursors. Hence, the obtained precursor solutions had high uniformity and stability. Additionally, the prepared 2D (PDA)(MA)n-1PbnI3n+1 (n = 5, 10, and 15) films exhibited several remarkable properties, including an exceptionally smooth surface with enhanced crystallinity, highly stable crystal structures, and excellent moisture resistance, compared to the films prepared via the conventional precursor mixing process. Consequently, unsealed solar cells based on these 2D perovskite absorbers delivered power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of up to 6.35% at n = 15 with high stability in humid air (relative humidity exceeding 70%), whereas the devices fabricated via the conventional process demonstrated considerably lower PCEs and stability. These results revealed that this newly developed process opens up new avenues in the fabrication of highly stable and efficient 2D perovskite solar cells.

The cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines of eight known sesquiterpene and phenylbutenoids, namely, (-)-beta-sesquiphellandrene (1), (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)buta-1-ene (2), (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)buta1,3-diene (3), (E)-1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)buta-1-ene (4), (E)-1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene (5), (E)-4-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)buta-3-eneyl acetate (6), (+/-)-trans-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-44 (E)-3,4-dimethoxystyryl] cyclohex-1-ene (7), and (+/-)-cis-3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-44 (E)-3,4-dimethoxystyryl]cyclohex-1-ene (8) were evaluated. All compounds were isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (Plai) using classical column chromatography. Compounds 1, 7, and 8 exhibited good cytotoxic activity against acute lymphoblastic leukemia (MOLT-3) with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 16.39 +/- 1.22, 16.41 +/- 3.68, and 14.38 +/- 0.78 mu g/ml; promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) with IC50 values of 7.64 +/- 0.33, 15.25 +/- 0.88, and 13.02 +/- 0.91 mu g/ml; and hormone-independent breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) with IC50 values of 27.71 +/- 1.41, 28.99 +/- 2.30, and 27.94 +/- 2.24 mu g/ml, respectively. Compounds 3, 7, and 8 displayed good anticancer activity against cervical carcinoma (HeLa) with IC50 values of 18.68 +/- 0.62, 20.86 +/- 1.68, and 18.89 +/- 1.26 mu g/ml, respectively. The results showed that two diastereomers (7 and 8) have good activity against the broad range of tested cancer cell lines. From molecular docking analysis, the binding energy and interaction between the isolated compounds and topoisomerase II (Top2) was calculated and could be used to evaluate cytotoxic activity. Molecular docking showed that 7 and 8 interacted with Top2 (alpha and beta types) using two or three hydrogen bonding, whereas the other compounds that also displayed this interaction had at least one hydrogen bonding. Additionally, only 7 exhibited non-toxic effect against normal embryonic lung cell line (MRC-5); therefore, the biological activity of 7 can serve as a basis for the study of anti-cancer agents in the near future.

Sugarcane bagasse ash, which is waste from the combustion process of bagasse for electricity generation, was utilized as received as a catalyst support to prepare the magnetic sugarcane bagasse ash (MBGA) with different iron-to-ash ratios using a simple co-precipitation method, and the effects of NaOH and iron loadings on the physicochemical properties of the catalyst were investigated using various intensive characterization techniques. In addition, the catalyst was used with a low amount of H2O2 for the catalytic degradation of a high concentration of tetracycline (800 mg/L) via a Fenton system. The catalyst exhibited excellent degradation activity of 90.43% removal with good magnetic properties and high stabilities and retained good efficiency after four cycles with NaOH as the eluent. Moreover, the hydroxyl radical on the surface of catalyst played a major role in the degradation of TC, and carbon-silica surface of bagasse ash significantly improved the efficiencies. The results indicated that the MBGA catalyst shows the potential to be highly scalable for a practical application, with high performance in the heterogeneous Fenton system.

The novel and facile preparation of magnetically interconnected micro/ macroporous structure of monolithic porous carbon adsorbent (MPCA) were designed and presented herein. The synthesis was achieved via conventional freeze-drying and pyrolysis processes. In this study, sodium alginate and wasted black liquor were employed as starting precursors. Sodium alginate acts as a template of materials, whereas black liquor, the wasted product from the paper industry with plentiful of lignin content and alkaline solution, played an essential role in the reinforcement and activation of porosity for the resulting materials. Moreover, both the precursors were well dissolved in Fe3+ solution, providing a simple addition of a magnetic source in a one-pot synthesis. The interconnected micro/macroporous structures were generated through freeze-drying and, subsequently the pyrolysis process. The obtained cylindrical-shaped monolithic porous carbon adsorbent (MPCA-700) showed high mechanical stability, a high BET specific surface area (902 m2 /g). Such aforementioned features were considered suitable to make the synthesized monolith as an adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal ions. The maximum adsorption capacity of MPCA-700 towards Pb2+ ions was 76.34 mg/g at pH 5. The adsorption studies illustrated that adsorption kinetics and isotherm perfectly fitted with the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and Langmuir isotherm, respectively. This work presents a promising protocol to reduce the overall costs in the preparation of renewable adsorbents with good adsorption efficiency and regeneration.