In this work, numerous surfactants have been introduced to a hydrothermal process for producing CeO2 nanoparticles. CTAB (Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and SDS (Sodium dodecyl sulfate) were used as additives to improvement the photocatalytic efficiency of the resulting CeO2 particles. This analysis expected to gain insights into the physical and chemical properties of the samples. Under UV-visible light exposure, the photocatalytic ability of the pure CeO2 nanoparticles and surfactant-assisted CeO2 nanoparticles with various morphologies were assessed in their degradation of BPB and MB dye. It is noteworthy that rice-like nanostructures CeO2 nanoparticles showed enhanced photocatalytic elimination performance for the dye mixture of MB and BPB. Recycling tests and radical trapping analysis confirmed excellent stability and long-term durability of the ricelike CeO2 nanoparticles.Scavenger tests revealed that holes play the main radicals in the mixed dyes degradation. SDS-aided CeO2 NPs have promising prospects in the application of photocatalysts in the field of energy transformation and environmental applications.

BACKGROUND:Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) cause annual crop losses exceeding US$157 billion worldwide, and escalating resistance to conventional nematicides demands novel chemical scaffolds. Although indole derivatives exhibit broad-spectrum bioactivity, the nematicidal potential of multi-halogenated indoles remains underexplored. This study evaluates 50 halogen-substituted indoles for nematicidal activity using Caenorhabditis elegans as a proxy nematode model, with mechanistic investigation through phenotypic, in vitro, and in silico approaches. RESULTS:Fifty multi-halogenated indoles were screened for nematicidal activity. Particularly, 4,5-dichloroindole (45DCI), 4,6-dibromoindole (46DBI), and 4,6-dichloroindole (46DCI) displayed rapid and potent nematicidal effects in C. elegans, with an LC95 value of 6 μg mL-1. The best hit compound, 45DCI, reduced locomotion from 13 to 8 thrashes per min at 3 μg mL-1, egg-hatching rates to 31% at 6 μg mL-1, and larval progression by 85% at 4 μg mL-1. 45DCI markedly elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipofuscin accumulation, indicating accelerated aging. Molecular docking analysis predicted strong binding interactions with glutathione S-transferase-5 (GST-5), a key enzyme in oxidative stress response in C. elegans. The QSAR analysis indicated that the halogen substitution at the C4, C5, C6, and C7 positions of the indole ring increases nematicidal potency. CONCLUSION:Di-halogenated indoles, particularly C4/C6-substituted derivatives, exhibit potent multi-stage nematicidal activity in the free-living model nematode C. elegans, disrupting locomotion, development, and stress tolerance through ROS induction. While molecular docking indicates a potential mechanism via GST-5 inhibition, experimental validation is required to conclusively establish this mode of action. These findings provide preliminary evidence supporting further evaluation of di-halogenated indoles against PPN species. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

The escalating threat of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii is primarily driven by its robust biofilm-forming capacity and complex antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. This review comprehensively explores the pivotal role of the carboxyl functional group in modulating biofilm-associated virulence, quorum sensing (QS), and resistance pathways in A. baumannii. We emphasize the critical regulatory functions of the BfmRS two-component system and the AbaI/R QS system in biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, and immune evasion. A diverse range of carboxyl-functionalized compounds, including: fatty acids, terpenoids, benzoic acids, and cinnamic acids, are highlighted for their broad-spectrum antibiofilm, anti-resistance, and antimicrobial activities, achieved through mechanisms, such as: quorum quenching, efflux pump inhibition, membrane destabilization, and metal ion chelation. These compounds enhance antimicrobial efficacy and show promise as adjuvants that potentiate existing antibiotics while minimizing resistance development. Furthermore, the review discusses the carboxyl motif's role in targeting bacterial persisters, a major challenge in chronic infections, and the evolutionary constraints imposed by carboxyl-bearing compounds on resistance evolution. Despite challenges related to membrane permeability and metabolic liabilities, innovative drug design approaches and advanced delivery systems offer promising solutions. This review underscores the versatile potential of carboxyl scaffolds as multi-target therapeutic agents against MDR A. baumannii and other high-risk pathogens, advocating their integration into future antimicrobial and repurposing strategies.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is an inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in cancer, with its elevated level being indicative of metastasis. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major type of head and neck cancer and IL-6 has been identified as a critical factor that is overexpressed in its development, progression and metastasis. IL-6 is also associated with various pathological processes, such as chronic inflammation, cancer and severe COVID-19 infection. This study aims to develop an affordable, simple manufacturing process for a user-friendly, label-free electrochemical immunosensor to detect IL-6 in a real-time manner in artificial saliva. Carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNT-FET)-based sensor was fabricated and transfer and output curves were measured and the device sensor exhibited p-type semiconductor properties. Under optimized experimental parameters, the fabricated CNT-FET-based immunosensing platform can detect IL-6 antigen with a wide detection range from 1.0 to 300 pg/mL with a relatively low detection limit (LOD) of 1.15 pg/mL in 1.0 mM PBS. Additionally, the developed immunosensor showed outstanding specificity, sensitivity, good repeatability and high stability in 1.0 mM PBS. Furthermore, the fabricated immunosensor was successfully used in artificial saliva samples spiked with IL-6 and recovery percentages were in the range of 102 to 104.5%.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen that acquires antibiotic resistance and often forms biofilm, further reducing its susceptibility to antibiotics. This highlights the need for continuous intervention to combat this threat. In this study, we identified pentabromophenol as a potent antimicrobial agent against S. aureus and selected it for further evaluation. Pentabromophenol exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5 mu g/mL, superior to conventional antibiotics, ciprofloxacin (1 mu g/mL), and tetracycline (2 mu g/mL). Additionally, it dose-dependently suppressed biofilm formation and hemolytic activity. Pentabromophenol decreased metabolic activity and cell viability, while it increased N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPN) uptake, indicating enhanced cell membrane permeability. Notably, it demonstrated low propensity for drug resistance with a 4-fold change in MIC over 30 passages compared to over 1000-fold for ciprofloxacin. Importantly, its combination with vancomycin exhibited a marked synergistic effect, lowering the effective dose by 16-fold. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis further revealed the downregulation of genes associated with toxins (hla and psm-alpha), stress response (sarA and sigB), and the two-component regulators in S. aureus (arlR/S). Toxicity assessments revealed pentabromophenol to be non-toxic to HepG2 liver cells up to 20 mu g/mL (40 x MIC), Caenorhabditis elegans at concentrations up to 10 mu g/mL (20 x MIC), and an LD50 of 270-290 mg/Kg in Sprague-Dawley rats. Taken together, these findings, coupled with its favorable safety profile as determined by ADMET profiling, position pentabromophenol as a promising antimicrobial agent for combating biofilm-associated S. aureus infections. This further highlights that targeted multiple halogenation plays a crucial role in improving the bioactivity of phenols while minimizing their toxic effects.

Candidemia, caused by the opportunistic Candida spp., poses a severe global health threat, characterized by mortality rates reaching 75

Efficiently treating polluted water is crucial for combating waterborne diseases, preserving aquatic species, and ensuring a long-term clean water supply. In this study, we studied the elimination of both dye and drug pollutants using a Bi2S3:g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst. The sample structure, functional group, and morphology of the prepared samples were studied using XRD, HRTEM, XPS, FTIR, and UV-Vis. spectroscopy. Bi2S3:g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited higher photocatalytic activity compared to the bare samples. This higher photocatalytic performance may be due to the efficient separation of electron-hole pairs and the enhanced charge-carrier transport. The 2D/2D interface between Bi2S3 and g-C3N4 provides a large surface area and strong interfacial charge transfer. Moreover, this heterojunction efficiently controls charge recombination by extending the lifetime of the photogenerated carriers. Bi2S3:g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibits excellent photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants such as methylene blue and ciprofloxacin. Based on these results, highlight the strong potential of the Bi2S3:g-C3N4 nanocomposite for environmentally friendly wastewater treatment applications.

Biofilm-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections remain difficult to treat using conventional antibiotics. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of lauric acid- and BDSF-derived N-acyl sulfonamides as antibiofilm and antivirulence agents. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis identified 4-tert-butylphenyl sulfonyldodecenamide (59) as a lead compound with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 5 μg/mL and >60% inhibition of MSSA and MRSA biofilm formation at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration levels. Microscopy confirmed marked reductions in biofilm biomass and thickness. The lead compound synergized with gentamicin and tobramycin, suppressed hemolysis, slime production, metabolic activity, and cell-surface hydrophobicity, and induced intracellular reactive oxygen species. qRT-PCR revealed downregulation of key virulence regulators (agrA, RNAIII, saeR, and seb), indicating disruption of quorum-sensing circuitry. SAR modeling rationalized steric and electronic requirements for activity. Low toxicity in plant, nematode, and mammalian models highlights bioisosteric N-acyl sulfonamides as promising antivirulence scaffolds for combating S. aureus biofilm infections.

AIMS:The rise of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, listed by the WHO as a top-priority pathogen, necessitates the urgent development of new antimicrobial agents. Here, we identified and evaluated halogenated catechol derivatives with potent antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against A. baumannii and other ESKAPE pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Fifteen halogenated catechol derivatives were screened for antimicrobial activity. The most active compounds, namely tetrachlorocatechol (TCC) and tetrabromocatechol (TBC), were evaluated for their impact on biofilm formation, membrane integrity, oxidative stress induction, iron chelation, gene expression, and activity against polymicrobial biofilms. These were assessed using a combination of biochemical assays, microscopy, in-silico docking, and qRT-PCR. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) were examined, and toxicity was evaluated through hemolysis, C. elegans survival, and HepG2 cell viability assays. KEY FINDINGS:We identified TCC and TBC with MIC values of 15 and 25 μg/mL, respectively, and repressed key biofilm genes, such as pgaA, csuC. They showed potential for multifaceted antimicrobial mechanisms, including membrane disruption, oxidative stress induction, and Fe3+ chelation. Both compounds downregulated the adeB efflux pump gene and bound effectively to the AdeB transporter protein. Also, they yielded significant synergistic effects with colistin and aminoglycosides. SAR analysis indicated that multi-halogenation with chlorine or bromine enhances antimicrobial potency. Moreover, they exhibited low toxicity in preliminary models and suppressed mono- and polymicrobial biofilms involving Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, and Klebsiella species. SIGNIFICANCE:Multi-halogenated catechols represent promising antimicrobial leads with potential multi-targeted mechanisms, and reduced resistance emergence to combat A. baumannii menace.

The increasing prevalence of water contaminants in aquatic environments has raised serious environmental and public health concerns, underscoring the urgent need for efficient water treatment technologies. In this study, a novel Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst comprising copper vanadate (Cu2V2O7) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was effectively synthesized via a simple calcination combined with a co-precipitation approach. Comprehensive physicochemical characterizations were conducted to assess the crystallinity, surface morphology, chemical composition, optical features, and charge transfer/separation behavior of the as-synthesized materials. The resulting Cu2V2O7/g-C3N4 (GCV) composite photocatalysts (PCs) confirmed outstanding photocatalytic performance for the degradation of COR dye, achieving 93.8 % removal under visible-light irradiation within 105 min, compared to significantly lower efficiencies of 38.7 % and 62.1 % for pristine CV and GCN catalysts, respectively. Similarly, the degradation of TCH over the GCV composite heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited outstanding performance, achieving 96.6 % removal efficiency, with a rate constant of 0.0308 min-1 , which is 5.5 (0.0056 min-1) and 3.54-fold (0.0087 min-1) advanced than those of pristine CV and GCN, respectively. Radical scavenging trials recognized superoxide radicals (center dot O2-) were the dominant reactive species, followed by hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH), thereby authorizing the primary degradation pathway. A plausible Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism was anticipated based on the band alignment and scavenging outcomes. The greater photocatalytic performance of the GCV composite is attributed to the strong interfacial synergy between Cu2V2O7 and g-C3N4, which promotes efficient charge separation, accelerates electron-hole migration, and prolongs carrier lifetimes via the intrinsic electric field fashioned at the heterojunction interface.

Acquiring knowledge of solid materials under extreme conditions (temperature and transient pressure) is crucial for understanding their stability and the role of their transitions in fundamental and engineering applications. In particular, dynamic shock waves shed light on advanced materials research. In the present work, bismuth oxy iodide was investigated under various applied shock wave pulses with a Mach number of 1.7. With the space group: P4/nmm (129), BiOI has a tetragonal crystal structure, which was unchanged and a minor shift in XRD, under shocks due to lattice expansion. Additionally, a slight variation in FWHM was observed, confirming the crystallinity improvement under shocked conditions. 3D hierarchical morphology resembling a blooming flower composed of 2D microflakes was observed for the control samples, and at 300 shocks, the flakes are fused with uneven shapes. Further, the UV-DRS absorption spectra decreased under shocks, and the band gap varied moderately from 1.76 eV to 1.74 eV across 0-300 shocks, indicating minor electronic structure modifications. There are no noticeable modifications in the XPS spectrum under shocked conditions. Furthermore, the photocatalytic efficiency was studied for both control and shocked samples; the efficiency increased from 23.43% to 54.94% from 0 to 300 shock pulses. According to the results, surface defects caused by shocks have a significant impact on chemical absorption, which is important for scientific and technological applications.

Developing an efficient, eco-friendly photocatalyst for wastewater pollutant removal remains a global challenge. This study introduces a novel nanocomposite (NCs) from eggshell waste, a significant biowaste produced in large quantities by the food industry. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) extracted from eggshells is transformed into a nanomaterial, aligning with circular economy model principles and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Eggshellderived HAp nanorods and Bi2Te3 were embedded with two-dimensional g-C3N4 nanosheets (GHB NCs) via hydrothermal synthesis. The dye adsorption process of GHB NCs showed significant efficacy of 87% for the anionic dye, but when interacting with a cationic dye (MB), the adsorption efficiency was only 5.89%. To address this, a visible-light-driven photocatalytic study was conducted on a mixed dye system. The composite achieved up to 80% degradation efficiency, demonstrating its potential for treating complex dye mixtures. It also efficiently degraded colorless phenol (89.47%) within 75 min under UV-visible light. Hydroxyl radicals play a more efficient role in degradation compared with superoxide and holes. The NCs retained catalytic efficiency over four cycles, confirming recyclability. Bi3+ and Ca2+ ions in the composite inhibited biofilm formation by C. albicans, S. aureus, and E. coli. This research contributes a novel perspective on constructing nanocomposites (NCs) that enhance the charge separation of photogenerated charge carriers, ultimately improving photocatalytic and antibiofilm activity. Incorporating circular economic principles promotes sustainable production, and recycling boosts environmental and economic viability.

Background: Developing high-performance stable photocatalysts is significantly disadvantaged by the quick recombination rate of photogenerated charges. Methods: A novel Bi2Mo3O12/g-C3N4/MoS2 nanocomposite (BGM NCs) was developed using a simple solvothermal technique to utilize the unique properties of oxygen vacancies and heterojunctions. Significant Findings: The optimized BGM NCs efficiently degraded 94.99% of methylene blue and 91.83% of bromophenol blue within 30 and 35 min, respectively. The reaction rate constants of BGM NCs were 9.12 & times;10-2 min-1 and 6.43 & times;10-2 min-1, which are about 4.14 & 4.28 and 2.01 & 2.19 times higher than those of pure g-C3N4 (2.20 and 1.50 & times;10-2 min-1) and Bi2Mo3O12/g-C3N4 nanocomposite (BG NCs-4.53 and 2.93 & times;10-2 min-1). The BGM NCs exhibited a high redox potential, improved interfacial charge transfer ability, and enhanced separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, possible photocatalytic degradation pathways were proposed based on LCMS analysis. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of defect engineering in heterojunction photocatalysts and provide valuable insight into the removal of organic pollutants from water.

Biofilm-associated Cutibacterium acnes infections-ranging from acne vulgaris to implant failures are notoriously tolerant to antibiotics, demanding new therapeutic strategies. This study evaluated triphenylphosphonium (TPP) derivatives as antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents. Twenty-two TPP derivatives were screened against C. acnes ATCC 6919. The most active, iodomethyltriphenylphosphonium iodide (IMTPPI), was characterized for mechanism, safety, and in silico pharmacokinetics. IMTPPI (MIC = 20 & micro;g/mL) achieved complete biofilm inhibition at >= 5 & micro;g/mL and significant inhibition at 2 & micro;g/mL, which is 10-100 times more potent than commercial anti-acne agents such as salicylic acid, azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide. It reduced the production of extracellular polymeric substances, increased hydrophilicity, suppressed porphyrin production, and induced 18-20-fold ROS at antibiofilm doses. No cytotoxicity was observed in HaCaT cells at <= 20 & micro;g/mL, with broad tolerance in plant and nematode models (approximately 10-fold safety margin). ADMET profiling predicted favorable skin penetration and reduced environmental toxicity versus parent TPP. IMTPPI is a potent, multi-target antibiofilm agent that selectively disrupts C. acnes virulence at sub-MIC levels while maintaining a wide safety margin and reduced ecological impact. These findings position iodinated TPP scaffolds as promising candidates for topical treatment of acne vulgaris and other biofilm-associated Gram-positive infections.

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory skin condition that affects up to 85% of adolescents and is primarily driven by Cutibacterium acnes (anaerobic bacteria, formerly Propionibacterium acnes). With the rise of antibiotic resistance, research on alternative antimicrobial agents that can address anaerobic bacteria resistance is becoming increasingly important, especially for patients who cannot use systemic antimicrobial therapy. In this study, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel incorporating ferrous lactate (FeLac) was developed as a non-antibiotic antimicrobial strategy targeting anaerobic pathogens to evaluate the bactericidal effects of FeLac on C. acnes. FeLac-loaded HA hydrogels exhibited excellent mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, superior storage stability, and robust antibacterial activity through sustained Fe2+ release, suggesting their potential as topical antimicrobial formulations. In a rat model of C. acnes-induced acneiform lesions, topical application of FeLac-loaded hydrogel significantly reduced inflammation and promoted lesion resolution through Fe2+ release, with efficacy comparable to conventional topical antibiotics. Mechanistically, FeLac (200 μM) treatment significantly increased intracellular iron levels, induced iron-dependent non-canonical ferroptosis, disrupted key pathways related to translation, biosynthesis, and cell wall integrity, and induced marked morphological alterations, achieving a bactericidal rate exceeding 99.9% after 3 h of treatment. These findings indicate that the FeLac-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel represents a promising non-antibiotic platform for treating acne and anaerobic bacterial infections via an iron-dependent ferroptosis-mediated pathway, demonstrating significant potential in dermatology and the cosmetics industry.

The emergence of multi-azole resistant Candida albicans strains poses a major therapeutic challenge, largely due to their biofilm formation and hyphal development. In this study, the antifungal and antivirulence properties of 18 dibenzofuran derivatives were evaluated against a multi-azole resistant C. albicans strain. Dibenzofuran-4‑boronic acid (DBFBA) and dibenzofuran-2-carboxaldehyde (DBFC) emerged as the most active compounds, with DBFBA exhibiting the MIC of 30 μg/mL. Both compounds inhibited 94-98% biofilm at 10 μg/mL, suppressed hyphal morphogenesis and impaired cell aggregation at sub-MICs (5 μg/mL). DBFBA and related boronic acid derivatives further demonstrated potent antifungal activities across clinically relevant Candida strains, such as C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. auris. Both compounds induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased cellular ergosterol levels, supporting a mechanism distinct from direct ergosterol inhibition. Serial passage experiment revealed low propensity for resistance development compared with fluconazole. Drug interaction studies revealed synergy with terbinafine for both compounds. DBFBA additionally downregulated the virulence-associated iron acquisition gene RBT5. Importantly, both compounds showed minimal toxicity in HepG2 cells, Caenorhabditis elegans and Raphanus sativus models. In silico ADME analysis further supported both compounds favorable drug-like profile. These findings position dibenzofuran derivatives, particularly DBFBA, as promising antifungal candidates against azole-resistant Candida species.

Alkaline water electrolysis is among the most technically efficient methods for producing clean energy, especially high-purity green hydrogen, using rationally designed electrocatalysts. The synergistic interaction between Co3O4 and NiO can enhance their bifunctional OER/HER catalytic activity by adjusting their electronic structures to facilitate rapid ion transport across their increased active sites. Herein, we report an acoustic shock-wave-treated Co3O4/NiO as an efficient bifunctional composite for overall water splitting. The use of acoustic shock-wave treatment as a rapid, non-chemical, post-synthetic defect engineering strategy to tune lattice strain and oxygen vacancy concentration in Co3O4/NiO. Typically, the shock wave-treated Co3O4/NiO (100 S) exhibits superior bifunctional OER/HER catalytic performance in terms of lowering onset potentials (eta 100) of 293 mV at 100 mA cm-2 for OER and 746 mV at-100 mA cm-2 for HER in 1 M KOH, when compared to Co3O4/NiO (0 S) catalyst as eta 100 = 399 mV (for OER) and eta 100 = 829 mV (for HER). Furthermore, Co3O4/NiO (100 S) catalyst showed excellent long-term stability for OER and HER in chronopotentiometry for up to 22 h in 1 M KOH, without losing its structural and compositional integrity, as analyzed by post-SEM. In a two-electrode system, a low cell voltage of 1.37 V was achieved to drive a 10 mA cm-2 current density towards overall alkaline water splitting. The shock-wave-treated synthesis of such materials offers a viable method for developing and investigating non-precious transition-metal-oxide-based bifunctional electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion applications.