A notable breakthrough in the treatment of colon cancer involves the utilisation of a cutting-edge drug delivery technology known as biosurfactant-derived nanomicelles. These nanomicelles, composed of natural biosurfactant molecules, possess the distinct capability to enclose pharmaceuticals or genetic material, such as DNA, siRNA, or mRNA, within spherical formations. With a size ranging from 10 to 100 nanometers, these nanomicelles exhibit precision targeting capabilities towards colon cancer cells, hence minimising the occurrence of side effects typically associated with treatment. Upon being specifically targeted, the nanomicelles liberate their cargo into cancer cells, resulting in enhanced therapy efficacy. This novel strategy utilises the specific attributes of the tumour microenvironment to administer precise and focused treatment. These nanomicelles improve the absorption by cells and reduce harm to healthy tissues by imitating important nutrients or utilising compounds that specifically target tumours. Furthermore, the incorporation of stimuli-responsive components allows for regulated medication release in reaction to the acidic environment seen in tumours. The review focuses on examining the use of biosurfactants and natural peptides in nanomicellar carriers as ways to fight against colon cancer. Folate-coated nanomicelles incorporating curcumin facilitate precise gene delivery, while the partnership of biosurfactants, such as surfactin from Bacillus subtilis and natural peptides, enables the transportation of particular cyclopeptides into the tumour network. Peptides, similar to bombesin, direct nanomicelles to specific places, while peptides based on curcumin control the release of medicinal substances. While preclinical investigations demonstrate promise, obstacles remain in formulation and regulatory issues. However, biosurfactant-based nanomicelles, particularly folate-coated carriers loaded with curcumin, show tremendous potential in overcoming biological barriers and delivering medicines efficiently to colon cancer cells.

This study presents the development of melatonin-coated lactoferrin-chitosan nanoparticles (ETP-CS-LF-MLT-NPs) using ionic gelation and carbodiimide coupling for colorectal cancer treatment. The nanoparticles were characterized by an average size of 208.7 ± 1.25 nm, a zeta potential of 30.77 ± 1.21 mV, and 82.45 % drug encapsulation efficiency. In vitro drug release studies showed sustained, pH-responsive release, with 98.68 ± 4.12 % released at pH 5.5 over 24 h. The nanoparticles exhibited significant cytotoxicity in HCT116 cells (IC50 = 15.32 μg/mL), inducing ROS generation, apoptosis, and G2/M cell cycle arrest, with notable downregulation of BCL2 gene expression. Enhanced cellular uptake due to lactoferrin targeting improved therapeutic efficacy. In In vivo studies, the nanoparticles demonstrated significant tumor reduction and selective colon accumulation in a DMH-induced colorectal cancer rat model, along with improved pharmacokinetics, showing extended plasma circulation and bioavailability compared to free etoposide. Biocompatibility assays, including hemolysis (<1 %), platelet aggregation, and HET-CAM tests, confirmed the safety profiling of the prepared nanoparticles. The nanoparticles also inhibited Proteus mirabilis (ZOI = 1.9 cm) and exhibited promising effects on the gut microbiome of treated animals. Altogether, ETP-CS-LF-MLT-NPs hold great potential for targeted colorectal cancer therapy, improving drug delivery, tumor targeting, bioavailability, and reducing systemic toxicity.

The study aimed to develop and evaluate chitosan-based nanoparticles coated with TPGS for the targeted delivery of imatinib mesylate to colon cancer cells. Particle size and zeta potential analysis were within the acceptable range for targeting colon cancer. CS-IMT-TPGS-NPs had a significant positive zeta potential of 30.4 mV, suggesting improved cellular intake. FE-SEM and TEM demonstrated that the nanoparticles appeared spherical, smooth, and did not aggregate, with a visible TPGS coating. XRD confirmed that crystalline imatinib transitioned to an amorphous state during nano formulation. In-vitro tests on HCT-116 cells demonstrated that CS-IMT-TPGS-NPs outperformed free IMT regarding cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, cellular uptake, and cell migration inhibition. Additionally, the nanoparticles were examined in vitro using mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA fragmentation, GAPDH relative gene expression, ROS estimation, and cell cycle analysis. The effect of therapy on expected colon-associated bacterial strains was also investigated. The biocompatibility of nanoparticles was assessed by hemolysis and platelet aggregation experiments. The anti-inflammatory impact was determined using the HET-CAM test. Non-Fickian diffusion at pH 5.5 resulted in sustained in-vitro drug release, with no initial burst. In-vivo investigations using albino Wistar rats suggest pharmacokinetic properties for produced nanoparticles, whereas histopathological examinations assess acute toxicity.

This study investigates the use of pH-responsive nanogels for delivering Bosutinib (BOSU) in colon cancer treatment. Nanogels were formulated using three polymers: hyaluronic acid (HA), carboxymethyl dextran (CMD), and gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA). These nanogels achieved high drug entrapment efficiencies (80-90%) through polymer mixing with BOSU, followed by EDC/NHS cross-linking and sonication. The nanogels were stable, with negative zeta potentials (-20 to -30 mV) and particle sizes between 100 and 200 nm. Fourier-transform infrared analysis confirmed successful methacrylation in GelMA nanogels. Sustained BOSU release at pH 5.0 was observed, resembling tumor environments, compared to slower release at normal pH (7.4). Cytotoxicity tests showed 70-80% cell survival reduction in HCT116 colon cancer cells at higher doses, and GelMA-BOSU nanogels notably reduced cell migration. Antiangiogenic effects were confirmed in a chick chorioallantoic membrane model, highlighting the potential of these nanogels for targeted BOSU delivery in colon cancer therapy.

Amino acid-derived smart and functional polymers have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for diverse biomedical applications. In recent years, a wide range of such polymers with different compositions, macromolecular architectures, and chain-end functionalities are prepared. Such polymers exhibit responsiveness to different external stimuli like chemical, physical, or biochemical stimuli. These stimuli include temperature, pH, metal ions, light, glucose, redox, or a combination of these factors. Thus developed smart and functional amino acid-derived polymers are employed in different biomedical and biotechnological applications including but not limited to tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound healing, gene delivery, and biosensors. Herein, current state-of-the-art and future perspectives of such amino acid-derived smart and functional polymers are described, which may be useful for researchers working toward the development of new amino acid-derived polymeric materials for the construction of the next generation of smart materials.

Poly(alkyl vinyl ether)-based functional copolymers have wide applications in many high-tech areas. However, their synthesis is still challenging which limits their applications. This article describes the synthesis of an un-precedented redox-responsive polystyrene-block-poly(2-thioethyl vinyl ether) (PSt-b-PTEVE) diblock copolymers via sequential "water tolerant" cationic polymerization of St and CEVE, followed by post-polymerization transformation of the pendant-CH2CH2Cl functionalities of PCEVE segment to -CH2CH2SH functionalities. The initiating system enabled controlled cationic polymerization of styrene (St), yielding well-defined PSt (at least up to 22500 g/mol) with relatively low dispersity (D & LE; 1.36) and polystyrene-block-poly(2-chloroethyl vinyl ether) (PSt-b-PCEVE) diblock copolymers with acceptable dispersity values (D & LE; 1.38) thereof, demonstrating high chain-end fidelity. The controlled character of the cationic polymerization reaction was confirmed by linear kinetic plots, linear increase of Mns (with low Ds) and synthesis of PSts of changing Mns simply by varying initial [St]0/[Initiator]0 feed ratio. The synthesized PSt-b-PTEVE diblock copolymers exhibited redox responsivity and self-healing behaviour. The self-healing property of the PSt-b-PTEVE diblock copolymer was studied by optical microscopy. For this, first, a mechanical cut was introduced in the cross-linked PSt-b-PTEVE thin films and then images were taken at regular intervals to investigate the healing. These promising PSt-b-PTEVE diblock co-polymers might have potential applications in many emerging areas, including functional coating.

A facile method based on recyclable nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI)-mediated photoinduced reversible deactivation radical polymerization in ionic liquid (IL) leads to the synthesis of narrow disperse poly(tert-butyl methacrylate) (PTBMA), amphiphilic PTBMA-block-poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) diblock copolymer and double hydrophilic poly(methacrylic acid)-block-poly(poly(ethylene glycol)methacrylate) (PMAA-b-PPEGMA) diblock copolymers thereof. Stimuli response of the synthesized PMAA-b-PPEGMA diblock copolymer against variation in pH and temperature is assessed. Recyclability of the nZVI (catalyst) and IL (solvent) is established. Polymerization may be switched ON or OFF, simply by turning the UVA light irradiation ON or OFF, offering temporal control. The diblock copolymer self-aggregates into spherical nanoaggregates which are employed for encapsulation of coumarin 102 (C102, a typical hydrophobic dye), describing their potential application in drug delivery applications. The facile synthesis strategy may open up new avenues for the preparation of intelligent functional polymers for engineering and biomedical applications.

A facile method based on recyclable nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI)-mediated photoRDRP in ionic liquid led to synthesis of narrow disperse poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) and poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(4-vinylphenylboronic acid) (PDMAEMA-b-PVPBA) diblock copolymers thereof. Stimuli response of the PDMAEMA-b-PVPBA copolymer against changes in pH, temperature and sugar concentration is assessed. Recyclability of the nZVI (catalyst) and ionic liquid (solvent) is established. Polymerization can be shut down or turned on simply by turning off or on the UV-A irradiation. This temporal control of the polymerization might be useful for wide use of the developed protocol for spatiotemporal "ON/OFF" control. DFT calculations are performed to get the geometry of the involved species.

Multi-stimuli (pH/thermo/redox)-responsive amphiphilic poly(cysteine methacrylamide)-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-polybutadiene-block-poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-block-poly(cysteine methacrylamide) (PCysMAM-b-PDMAEMA-b-PB-b-PDMAEMA-b-PCysMAM) pentablock copolymer biohybrids, based on hydrophobic PB, ampholytic redox responsive PCysMAM and dual (pH and temperature) stimuli responsive PDMAEMA segments, are synthesized via a four-step synthesis protocol. The synthesis protocol involves: (1) in situ post polymerization modification of living polybutadiene-based carbanionic species to prepare hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB); (2) introduction of an initiating functionality (capable of acting as an ATRP initiator) to HTPB, yielding a telechelic ATRP macroinitiator (Br-PB-Br); (3) recyclable alloy-mediated successive RDRP of DMAEMA and CysMAM, yielding a series of PCysMAM-b-PDMAEMA-b-PB-b-PDMAEMA-b-PCysMAM (A-B-C-B-A) pentablock copolymers with various chain lengths; and (4) conversion of the PDMAEMA block to poly(quaternary ammonium) (PQA) via quaternization. The stimuli responsiveness of the copolymer is investigated against changes in pH, temperature and redox. The pentablock copolymer self-assembles into spherical nanospheres, can switch between its monocationic, zwitterionic and monoanionic charged states, exhibits antifouling behaviour and is capable of removing ionic contaminants from water. These pentablock copolymers may emerge as a promising material for emerging applications.

Novel nitrogen-rich mesoporous carbon nanospheres (NMCN) with high surface area and ordered pore geometry are prepared via a facile pathway for efficient CO 2 capture and contaminant removal applications.

A simple, inexpensive and recyclable photo-induced reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) of a phosphorus-containing monomer, dimethyl(methacryloyloxymethyl) phosphonate (MAPC1) in ionic liquid (without the need for any conventional photoinitiators or dye sensitizers) is developed for the first time to produce low dispersity (D = 1.24) phosphorus-containing polymer, PMAPC1 (at least up to 20200 g mol(-1)) and a series of well-defined multifunctional PMAPC1-b-poly(M) diblock copolymers (where "M" represents polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA), 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentylacrylate (OFPA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)) thereof. Kinetic monitoring of the photoRDRP of MAPC1 demonstrated good control of the polymerization. Temporal control, catalyst and ionic liquid recyclability of the polymerization was also demonstrated. The synthesized PMAPC1-b-PPEGMA diblock copolymers exhibited a dual (pH and temperature) stimuli-responsive behavior. Cloud point of PMAPC1-b-PPEGMA diblock copolymers can be tuned by changing the PEGMA mol% in the BCP. Amphiphilic PMAPC1-b-PHEMA diblock copolymer undergoes self-aggregation forming spherical nanoobjects. Phosphonate ester moieties of the synthesized diblock copolymers were selectively hydrolyzed to promising PMAPC1(OH)(2)-b-poly(M) diblock copolymers that could be used for many applications, including dual stimuli-responsive materials, materials with tunable hydrophobicity, and self-aggregation ability.

A straightforward synthesis of multifunctional mesoporous polymer nanomaterials suitable for the removal of contaminants and CO2 capture is reported.

Poly(alkyl vinyl ether)-containing multifunctional block copolymers (BCPs) are challenging to synthesize and still limited in numbers despite their possible applications in high-tech areas. This article presents the synthesis of unprecedented amphiphilic poly(2-thioethyl vinyl ether)-block-poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PTEVE-b-PPEGMA) BCPs via sequential ionic liquid-mediated cationic polymerization of CEVE and recyclable alloy-mediated photoRDRP of PEGMA, followed by post-polymerization modification of the pendant-CH2CH2Cl functionality to -CH2CH2SH. Controlled nature of both the cationic polymerization and photoRDRP was demonstrated by the first-order kinetic and linear increase of molecular weight with increase of monomer conversion, keeping low dispersity values. The synthesized PTEVE-b-PPEGMA BCP exhibited a dual (redox and temperature) stimuli-response. The cloud point of PTEVE-b-PPEGMA BCP can be tuned by changing the PEGMA mol% in the BCP. Amphiphilic PTEVE-b-PPEGMA diblock copolymer undergoes self-aggregation forming spherical nano-objects. These promising PTEVE-b-PPEGMA diblock copolymers could be used for many applications, including dual stimuli-responsive materials, materials with tunable hydrophobicity, and contaminant removal.

IL-mediated ultrafast ambient temperature living cationic polymerization of styrene (St), yielding well-defined PSt and polystyrene-b-poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) diblock copolymers with acceptable dispersity values (Đ≤ 1.21) is reported.

Well-defined functional polyacrylates with dual stimuli response and tunable surface hydrophobicity were synthesized via the recyclable Ni–Co alloy catalyzed reversible deactivation radical polymerization technique at ambient temperature.

Hexagonal strontium ferrite (SrFe12O19) powder was synthesized using sonochemical method and characterized. SrFe12O19 was used to adsorb malachite green (MG), a cationic dye, at various physical parameters and investigated against antibacterial activity. The experimental data for the isotherm kinetics followed the Langmuir isotherm model. The synthesized SrFe12O19 powder demonstrates an excellent removal ability with a maximum adsorption capacity (q(max)) of 227.27 mg/g for MG. From the antibacterial activity, the material is active against both Gram-negative and -positive bacterial strains, Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus, respectively.

The current investigation reports the removal of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) from aqueous solution by using magnetic hydroxyapatite (M-HAP), a cost-effective adsorbent compared to the other commercial adsorbents. The MHAP nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), Environmental scanning electron (E-SEM), BET surface area analyser, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and UV-visible spectrophotometer. The adsorption studies were carried out under different parameters, such as initial dye concentration adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time. An increase in adsorbent dosage along with adecrease in initial dye concentration would cause an increase in the removal of EBT. The maximum adsorption occurred at pH 7.0. The optimum conditions of initial dye concentration 30 ppm and adsorbent dosage are 100 mg. The kinetic data were analyzed using pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order equation. Kinetically, the pseudo-second ordershows best fit (R-2 = 0.99), indicating the adsorption process follows chemisorption's. The Langmuir isotherm model were obtained best fit with high correlation coefficient (R-2 = 0.99), which implies that the adsorption of EBT dye onto M-HAP is monolayer with maximum adsorption capacity (q(max))is 43.47 (mg/g).The M-HAP nanocomposite was also further examined for its antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus) strain. These result exhibit the vast scope of M-HAP in water remediation for both dye removal and antibacterial activity. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.