Recent technological advancements, rising energy crises, and environmental pollution have prompted the development and synthesis of innovative materials for efficient energy conversion and water purification in order to fulfil society's clean energy and water needs. A variety of pollutants have grown more persistent in aquatic environments. The inappropriate use of dyes and antibiotics, as well as their inadequate digestion in organisms, results in their discharge into aquatic habitats, which has harmed human health. Therefore, effective removal of textiles and pharmaceuticals, especially dyes and antibiotics, from wastewater and polluted water bodies is of significant interest to research communities across the world. Besides, the depletion of fossil fuels increases the demand for renewable energy sources. Since solar energy is the most abundant and endless energy source, it provides an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which are porous crystalline hybrid materials formed by the linkage of metal centers (clusters) and organic linkers (organic ligands), have been identified as a highly active research domain for more than a decade due to their wide range of applications as photocatalytic and photovoltaic. In the present research domain, the research community has been drawn to emerging MOFs by their distinctive properties, which include a large surface area, controllable morphologies, tunable porosities, layer-by-layer design, high-quality crystalline products, outstanding inorganic-organic nature, and incredible diversity in functionalities. In this review, the latest developments in the use of MOFs and their derivatives in a variety of solar cell technologies, such as dye-sensitized, perovskite, and organic solar cells, are methodically described. These MOF-based photovoltaic systems have shown remarkable potential for enhancing sunlight-to-electricity conversion efficiency and improving stability. In addition, the utilization of MOFs and their derivatives as photocatalysts is a highly effective approach for breaking down dye and antibiotic residues in water. Key improvements and modifications, such as stronger interfacial contact, enhanced light harvesting, and improved charge separation, have been emphasized to develop potent photocatalysts that significantly enhance the removal of dyes and antibiotics. The environmental factors influencing photocatalytic degradation activity, such as photocatalyst concentration, pollutant concentration, solution pH, light intensity, reaction temperature, Fenton reagent, and scavengers, were thoroughly discussed, assisting in the design of an ideal photoreactor with high photocatalytic efficiency and a cost-effective process. Furthermore, the remaining significant challenges in the aforementioned domains are addressed, and potential future research endeavours in the development of MOFs are also outlined.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are increasingly detected across aquatic, atmospheric, and food systems. However, their biological relevance remains obscured by a persistent mismatch between high-dose laboratory studies and low, chronic environmental exposures. Here, we resolve this gap by introducing a mechanistic-scaling framework that explains how NPs toxicity emerges across doses. We show that the core pathways elicited in laboratory studies, such as cellular uptake, lysosomal rupture, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammatory activation, remain qualitatively conserved at environmentally relevant concentrations but unfold with different frequencies and temporal dynamics. Environmental aging, eco-corona formation, and co-contaminant loading further amplify NPs reactivity, making even low particle abundances mechanistically potent under real-world conditions. Across cell, invertebrate, fish, and mammalian models, oxidative stress consistently serves as the integrative signature of NPs exposure, validating its central role in scalable toxicity. Further, this highlights how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming NPs research, enabling sensitive detection, characterization of aged particles, prediction of NPs-pollutant interactions, and early identification of mechanistic responses. Together, these insights call for a shift from concentration-based assessments toward probabilistic, mechanism-informed models that capture the cumulative effects of chronic exposure. This framework provides a pathway for predictive, environmentally realistic evaluation of NPs risks and defines priorities for next-generation monitoring and regulatory strategies.

Controlling the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through topographic patterns is an effective approach for stem cell studies. We, herein, reported a facile method to create a dopamine (DA) pattern on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). The topography of micropatterned DA was produced on PDMS after plasma treatment. The grid-topographic-patterned surface of PDMS-DA (PDMS-DA-P) was measured for adhesion force and Young's modulus by atomic force microscopy. The surface of PDMS-DA-P demonstrated less stiff and more elastic characteristics compared to either nonpatterned PDMS-DA or PDMS. The PDMS-DA-P evidently enhanced the differentiation of MSCs into various tissue cells, including nerve, vessel, bone, and fat. We further designed comprehensive experiments to investigate adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MSCs in response to PDMS-DA-P and showed that the DA-patterned surface had good biocompatibility and did not activate macrophages or platelets in vitro and had low foreign body reaction in vivo. Besides, it protected MSCs from apoptosis as well as excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Particularly, the patterned surface enhanced the differentiation capacity of MSCs toward neural and endothelial cells. The stromal cell-derived factor-1α/CXantiCR4 pathway may be involved in mediating the self-recruitment and promoting the differentiation of MSCs. These findings support the potential application of PDMS-DA-P in either cell treatment or tissue repair.

Metformin (MET), one of the most widely prescribed antidiabetic drugs, is now frequently detected in aquatic environments, raising concerns about its ecological impact. Here, we report a robust Mn-MOF-74@CB composite prepared by anchoring Mn-MOF-74 onto chestnut shell-derived biochar to enhance structural stability and catalytic efficiency. In an electrochemically assisted peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation system, the Mn-MOF-74@CB catalyst achieved >80 % MET removal under optimized conditions with low energy input. The material showed excellent reusability and structural integrity, with manganese leaching remaining below U.S. EPA safety limits across successive cycles. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated that degradation proceeded predominantly through non-radical pathways involving singlet oxygen (O-1(2)), superoxide radical (O-2(center dot-)), and high-valent manganese-oxo species (Mn-V=O), rather than classical hydroxyl (HO center dot) or sulfate (SO4 center dot-) radicals. Ecotoxicity assays using Chlorella sorokiniana Kh12 confirmed reduced toxicity after treatment, while 3D excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy indicated extensive mineralization without accumulation of harmful intermediates. These results highlight the Mn-MOF-74@CB/PMS/EO system as an energy-efficient, stable, and environmentally benign platform for advanced removal of metformin from contaminated waters.

High-entropy perovskites (HEPs) have emerged as a transformative class of multicomponent oxides that extend beyond the limitations of conventional single-active-site perovskites for sustainable energy and environmental catalysis. Configurational entropy provides single-phase structures by incorporating five or more cations into the ABO3 lattice, creating a wide range of local coordination environments, tunable electronic structures, and synergistic catalytic sites. This review summarizes recent advances in entropy engineering strategies, including A-site, B-site, and dual-site disorder, alongside key thermodynamic descriptors governing phase stability and lattice distortion. We further discuss established and emerging synthesis routes, from sol-gel and solid-state reaction to field-assisted and ultrafast methods, highlighting their advantages for compositional homogeneity and scalable production. Density functional theory, special quasirandom structures, and thermodynamic modeling are studied to provide computational understanding of stabilization and catalytic descriptors. Particular emphasis is placed on energy and environmental applications, including water splitting, oxygen reduction, CO2 reduction, ammonia decomposition, fuel cells, solar cells, and pollutant degradation, where HEPs demonstrate enhanced activity, durability, and resistance to scaling-related limitations. Finally, key challenges in compositional complexity, mechanistic understanding, and sustainable synthesis are outlined, along with future opportunities in nonequimolar design, multianion engineering, and scalable fabrication for next-generation entropy-stabilized catalysts.

Plastic food packaging is an overlooked source of invisible contamination during microwaving. In this study, polyethylene (PE) residues released from microwaveable food packaging, including onigiri wrappers, porridge cartons, and milk cartons, were investigated under microwave conditions representative of routine consumer use. PE release increased markedly with heating duration. Nile Red fluorescence staining showed that microplastic size decreased from 3.88 ± 0.28 μm to 3.18 ± 0.23 μm during prolonged heating. Dynamic light scattering analysis revealed nanoplastic particles within 1-3 min of microwave heating, with sizes ranging from 40 to 240 nm. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy showed that polyethylene residues released from onigiri wrappers reached 1443.78 ± 5.28 μg/mL after 5 min of microwave exposure. Exposure to these residues decreased the viability of Clone 9 normal rat liver cells and increased oxidative stress. These findings suggest that neglected usage patterns may contribute to invisible plastic contamination, raising concerns about food safety.

Thiram and methyl parathion are highly toxic and persistent pesticides that threaten ecosystems and human health by contaminating water sources. Reliable detection methods are crucial for timely intervention and mitigating environmental risks. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with periodic pore structures has emerged as a promising substrate for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) due to its reproducible properties. Our approach utilizes a template-assisted, layer-by-layer self-assembly method, incorporating a positively charged surface modifier, poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) polymer (polyDADMAC), to embed silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) into the AAO substrate through electrostatic interactions, enhancing the SERS substrate's hotspots. The resulting substrate shows excellent uniformity, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of < 5.1 %, based on SERS spectra measurements at 20 points using 4-aminothiophenol as a probe. This substrate serves as a rapid detection platform for trace levels of thiram and methyl parathion in water, exhibiting linear detection in the concentration range of 10(-)4 to 10(-)10 M and detection limits of 0.3 +/- 0.1 nM and 0.4 +/- 0.1 nM, respectively. In river water tests, recovery rates for both pesticides ranged from 96-104 % (RSD < 5 %), demonstrating high sensitivity, ease of operation, and rapid detection capabilities.

The environmental presence of ibuprofen (IBP), a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, poses significant risks due to its incomplete metabolism and high toxicity of derivatives. This study presents an innovative approach using cobalt-iron Prussian blue analogues (CoFePBA) immobilized on porous biochar (SBM) for the degradation of IBP via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. The synthesized CoFePBA@SBM catalyst exhibited superior physicochemical properties, including high specific surface area, robust structural stability, and abundant active sites, as characterized by SEM, TEM, XPS, and XRD analyses. The catalytic efficiency of CoFePBA@SBM in activating PMS was systematically evaluated under varying operational parameters, demonstrating remarkable IBP removal efficiency (up to 95.9 %) across a wide pH range. Mechanistic investigations revealed that both radical (SO4•-, HO•, O2•-) and non-radical (1O2) pathways contributed significantly to the degradation process, supported by quenching experiments, EPR analysis, and DFT calculations. The proposed degradation pathways were elucidated through LC-MS, highlighting adequate mineralization into CO2 and H2O with minimal byproduct toxicity. The CoFePBA@SBM catalyst exhibited excellent recyclability and stability over ten cycles, with minimal metal leaching, complying with WHO guidelines. These findings underscore the potential of CoFePBA@SBM as a sustainable solution for mitigating antibiotic contamination in aquatic environments.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become one of the most arduous challenges in contemporary cancer treatment. In nanomedicine, biomedical methodologies and nanomaterials are combined to develop novel and effective treatments for illnesses, infections, and cancer. The characteristics of nanotechnology are promising for addressing the urgent problems of modern cancer therapeutics, such as tumor recurrence, multidrug resistance, and the limited accessibility of drugs to tumor tissue. Plant-derived natural chemicals, termed phytochemicals, have bioactive characteristics, including anticarcinogenesis, promoted cell apoptosis, antioxidation, antiproliferation, and anti-inflammatory effects. Zingerone is a phenolic compound; it is one of the nonvolatile pungent constituents of ginger and has various pharmacological activities. Here, we fabricated phytochemical-derived zingerone nanoparticles (NPs) and explored their anti-cell viability and anti-tumorigenicity effects on human CRC LoVo and HCT116 cell lines. Moreover, zingerone NPs significantly inhibited cell viability and in vitro tumorigenicity. Next, flow cytometry analysis revealed that zingerone NPs markedly suppressed cell cycle progression in the G2/M phase compared to the G1/S phase and significantly promoted cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in these CRC cell lines. Western blot analysis also suggested that zingerone NPs mediate cell apoptosis by upregulating caspase 3/PARP signaling. Additionally, zingerone NPs significantly restricted CDC25C-mediated CDK1/Cyclin B1 signaling activation in the G2/M phase and Cyclin D/CDK2/Cyclin A signaling downregulation in the G1/S phase. Zingerone NP-mediated p21 upregulation also decreased CDK activity and interfered with cell cycle progression. Indeed, TCGA data analysis also suggested that CDC25C and CDK1 upregulation were correlated with advanced tumor stage in colorectal cancer patients. Taken together, these results indicated that zingerone NPs significantly disrupt cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis in human CRC cells. Our findings indicate that phytochemical-derived zingerone NPs may serve as a potential chemopreventive adjuvant agent and therapeutic strategy for human colorectal cancer.

The widespread contamination of plastics, especially nanoplastics (NPs), in our environment is alarming due to their harmful effects on humans and other organisms, particularly within our food sources. The pervasive presence of NPs can infiltrate the food chain, making it essential to develop safe and natural methods to reduce their impact. This study seeks to explore the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory potential of Panax notoginseng water extract (PNWE), against toxicity caused by polystyrene NPs (PSNPs) in macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) and shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Macrophage cells exposed to PSNPs showed a significant decrease in viability, which was linked to activation of the NF-kappa B signaling pathway. This activation increases levels of TNF alpha, IL-6, and the mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2, all known pro-inflammatory markers. Pre-treatment of macrophage cells with PNWE at 50 and 250 mu g/mL alleviated these effects by downregulating the NF-kappa B pathway and reducing inflammatory cytokine levels. Similarly, in vivo experiments demonstrated that shrimp exposed to PSNPs experienced stress, leading to physiological imbalance, decreased hemocyte counts, and reduced immune function. However, shrimp pre-treated with PNWE showed signs of recovery. Their physiological homeostasis and immune responses improved significantly, with higher levels of phagocytosis, respiratory burst (RB), phenoloxidase (PO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The study indicates that PNWE can effectively regulate inflammation and boost immune function in RAW 264.7 cells and shrimp, highlighting its potential as a natural remedy against NPs-related toxicity.

Ocean acidification and microplastic pollution are two major stressors threatening coral health, yet their combined impacts and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the combined effects of ocean acidification and microplastics exposure to coral health. Briareum violacea was exposed to pH at 7.7, 7.5, and 7.3 combined with polyethylene microplastic (PE-MP; 50 mg/L) for 21 days. Polyp length and behavioral adaptability were monitored daily, while coral was collected on days 14 and 21 to assess Symbiodiniaceae density, antioxidant enzyme activity, and histopathological alterations. Results showed that combined exposure to different pH (7.7, 7.5, and 7.3) and PE-MP significantly impaired coral condition, reduced polyp length and Symbiodiniaceae density, along with intensified oxidative stress and tissue damage compared to single stressors. These findings underscore coral vulnerability under combined stressors, emphasizing the necessity for future research to address long-term ecological consequences and resilience mechanisms in coral reef ecosystems.

Civilization diseases including cancer are caused by more than 80 % of worldwide lethal. Phytochemicals-based methodologies for cancer chemoprevention, adjuvant chemotherapy, and anti-carcinogenic progression have caught the attention of modern medicines and become one of the explicit trends for cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies. In this study, we fabricated the phytochemical-derived zingerone nanoparticles (NPs) and examined their effects on anti-tumorigenicity and the related signaling mechanisms in two human urothelial carcinoma (UC) BFTC905 and BFTC909 cell lines. Our results demonstrated that zingerone NPs significantly elicited cytotoxicity and inhibited in vitro tumorigenesis in these human UC cells. Moreover, zingerone NPs impeded cell cycle progression and induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. TUNNEL assay further supported that zingerone NPs markedly triggered cell apoptosis. Molecular mechanisms analysis further demonstrated that zingerone NPs dramatically interfered with CDKs and Cyclins involved in cell cycle progression including inhibition of CDK6, CDK4 and Cyclin D1, CDK2 and Cyclin A2, and CDK1 and Cyclin B1, in the G1, S, and G2/M phases respectively. Interestingly, TCGA database analysis also indicated that upregulation of cell cycle transition factors such as CDK4 and Cyclin D1 in the G1 phase, CDK2 and Cyclin A2 in the S phase, and CDK1 and Cyclin B1 in the G2/M phase are highly correlated with advanced stages in bladder carcinoma patients. Altogether, our findings suggest that phytochemical-derived zingerone NPs can be a potent adjuvant agent to provide beneficial chemopreventive and anti-tumorigenesis strategies for human urothelial carcinoma.

The escalating energy crisis, dependence on non-renewable energy sources, and the need for efficient elimination of hazardous chemical compounds from water underscore the pressing demand for alternative renewable energy solutions and environmental protection techniques. Solar energy has developed as a feasible clean energy source, with electrochemical water splitting and photocatalytic water purification offering promising techniques for creating clean energy and tackling environmental challenges. This research presents an innovative hybrid catalyst, designated as ZIF-67-NC@CNS/MWCNT, which consists of N-doped Zeolite Imidazolate Framework-67 (ZIF-67) derived carbon and CoNi2S4 with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT), utilizing a Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) as a template. This distinctive structure demonstrates exceptional multifunctional electrochemical performance in many applications, including Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), Oxygen Evolution Reactions (OER), Hydrogen Evolution Reactions (HER), and photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline (TC). This composite, used as a counter electrode in DSSCs, attained a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 6.35 %, a shortcircuit current density (JSC) of 12.54 mA cm-2 and an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.8 V. The observed increases may be ascribed to reduced peak-to-peak separation, lowered charge transfer resistance, shorter electron lifetimes, and greater exchange current density. The ZIF-67-NC@CNS/MWCNT composite exhibited remarkable bifunctional electrocatalytic activity, with overpotentials of 144 mV and 178 mV at 10 mA cm-2 for the OER and HER, respectively. Interestingly, the hybrid composite achieved the highest degradation efficiency of 97.56 % against TC under white light irradiation. The synergistic effect of metal sulfides and carbon materials can provide additional electron transmission paths and contact areas, leading to effective I3-reduction, reduced overpotential, and enhanced degradation efficiency. Consequently, the ZIF-67-NC@CNS/MWCNT hybrid functions as a proficient multifunctional electrocatalyst for many energy and environmental applications.

The pervasive issue of microplastics in aquatic environments presents a formidable challenge to traditional water treatment methodologies, including those utilizing KMnO4. This study pioneers advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) method aimed at improving the degradation of PE microplastics by employing a dual treatment strategy that combines KMnO4 oxidation with UV irradiation. Detailed analysis of the surface modifications and chemical functional groups of the treated PE microplastics revealed the establishment of Mn-O-Mn linkages on their surfaces. Weight reductions of 3.9%, 4.9%, and 7.5% were observed for the KMnO4/UVA, KMnO4/UVB, and KMnO4/UVC treatments over seven days, respectively. The emergence of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups played a crucial role in accelerating the degradation process. Notably, the combined application of UVC rays and KMnO4 resulted in the most effective degradation of PE microplastics observed in our study. The process significantly enhanced the formation of MnO2 particles from KMnO4 oxidation, with concentrations ranging from 0.036 to 0.070 mM for KMnO4/UVA, 0.066-0.097 mM for KMnO4/UVB, and 0.086-0.180 mM for KMnO4/UVC. Furthermore, the influence of varying pH levels, KMnO4 concentrations, and different water sources on the degradation efficacy was investigated. The pivotal role of free radicals and reactive manganese species in promoting the degradation of PE microplastics was identified. A comparative evaluation with treatments solely utilizing KMnO4 or UV light highlighted the enhanced effectiveness of the combined approach, demonstrating its potential as an efficient solution for reducing microplastic contamination in aquatic systems.

Nanowires possess inherent advantages in improving the reduction of boundary stacking defects and enhancing charge transfer or migration. Here, we synthesized all -inorganic perovskite nanowires CsPbBr 3 (PVSK NW) and obtained CsPb 1-x Sn x Br 3 (PVSK-Sn NW) and CsPb 1-x Ge x Br 3 (PVSK-Ge NW) nanowires through doping with different elements (Sn and Ge). Elemental doping endows the nanowires with unique narrow fluorescence spectra, high optical absorption coefficients, tunable optical bandgaps, and high carrier mobility. Introducing different perovskite nanowires into carbon -based composite materials (super p/Nafion) can overcome the challenges of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) detection sensitivity and matrix interference. H 2 O 2 in PBS (phosphate buffered saline) solution (pH 7.0) was detected by current analysis i-t curve mode. The results demonstrate that the addition of perovskite nanowires exhibits a high level of detection sensitivity for H 2 O 2 electrochemical reduction. Particularly, the linear concentration range detected by PVSK-Sn NW is 1-6000 mu M, with a detection limit of 0.12 mu M. Even in the presence of interfering molecules (ascorbic acid, uric acid, glucose), the detection of H 2 O 2 maintains high sensitivity and selectivity. This study overcomes the limitations of perovskite materials in water -based detection, enhancing their future commercial applications as sensing devices.

The surface defects and humidity sensitivity of perovskite have long been challenging issues in optoelectronic devices. Here, we introduced 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) as a dopant into CsPbBr 3 perovskite crystals, forming PTCDA-PVSK. By coordinating the carbonyl groups on PTCDA with the undercoordinated Pb 2 + ions on the perovskite surface, we successfully addressed surface defects and stability issues under high humidity (RH75%). We measured the surface adhesion of PTCDA-PVSK using the force-distance curve mapping mode of an atomic force microscope (AFM). The results showed a significant 64 % reduction in adhesion variation at grain boundaries of PTCDA-PVSK after long-term exposure to high humidity for four weeks. This indicates that the hydrophobic benzene ring structure of PTCDA acted as a barrier, reducing the sensitivity of perovskite grain boundaries to moisture. Through scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) analysis, we observed stable work function of PTCDA-PVSK under high humidity conditions, while the pure PVSK exhibited a 6.2 +/- 0.1 % decrease in work function after four weeks. This demonstrates that PTCDA-modified perovskite effectively prevented moisture-induced crystal degradation and enhanced electron transfer efficiency. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for enhancing material performance.

The usage of peptides in the colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment promises to be a new anti-cancer therapy with improved treatment efficacy. Carnosine, a natural dipeptide molecule, has been demonstrated to be a potential anti-cancer drug. Nonetheless, it shows an exhibition of high-water solubility and is quickly degraded by carnosinase. Meanwhile, agar and magnetic iron oxide are the most used materials for drug delivery due to some of their advantages such as the low cost and the larger biocompatibility feature. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer ability of agar-encapsulated carnosine nanoparticles (AgCa-NPs) and agar-encapsulated carnosine nanoparticles-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (AgCaN-MNPs) in human CRC cells, HCT-116. We evaluated the effects of AgCa-NPs and AgCaN-MNPs with a variety of concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 40, or 50 mM) on HCT-116 cells after 72 h and 96 h by using MTT assay and observation cell morphology. We then analyzed the cell cycle progression and assessed the expression changes of genes related to apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and angiogenesis after treatment for 96 h. The results showed that AgCa-NPs and AgCaN-MNPs in vitro study decreased HCT-116 cells viability. This effect was attributed to arrest of cell cycle, induction of programmed cell death, and suppression of angiogenesis by AgCa-NPs and AgCaN-MNPs. These findings revealed the antitumor efficacy of AgCa-NPs or AgCaN-MNPs for CRC treatment.

Microplastics have emerged as a global environmental issue, inducing harmful effects on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Their small size allows them to easily disperse across different ecosystems and enter the marine food chain, increasingly threatening coral ecosystems. This study hypothesizes that exposure to polyethylene microplastics alters the structure of coral skeletons. To test this, Briareum violacea corals were cultured under controlled conditions and exposed to polyethylene microplastics at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 300 mg/L for seven days. Skeletal structures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, while inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to assess changes in skeletal solubility and measure total calcium ion concentrations in seawater. The results revealed a transformation of coral skeletons from aragonite calcium carbonate crystals to amorphous calcium carbonate, as observed through X-ray diffraction analysis, with polyethylene microplastics causing this transformation to begin at a concentration of 10 mg/L. Additionally, skeletal solubility increased by 7.4-fold, as inferred from calcium ion concentrations measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Here we demonstrate that polyethylene microplastic exposure directly drives the degradation of coral skeletons, emphasizing the urgency of mitigating plastic pollution to safeguard coral ecosystems.

Combining phytochemicals and nanotechnology to improve the unfavorable innate properties of phytochemicals and develop them into potent nanomedicines to enhance antitumor efficacy has become a novel strategy for cancer chemoprevention. Melanoma is the most aggressive, metastatic, and deadly disease of the primary cutaneous neoplasms. In this study, we fabricated phytoconstituent-derived zingerone nanoparticles (NPs) and validated their effects on cell adhesion and motility in melanoma B16F10 cells. Our data indicated that zingerone NPs significantly induced cytotoxicity and anti-colony formation and inhibited cell migration and invasion. Moreover, zingerone NPs dramatically interfered with the cytoskeletal reorganization and markedly delayed the period of cell adhesion. Our results also revealed that zingerone NPs-mediated downregulation of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) activity is associated with inhibiting cell adhesion and motility. We further evaluated the effects of zingerone NPs on Src/FAK /Paxillin signaling, our data showed that zingerone NPs significantly inhibited the protein activities of Src, FAK, and Paxillin, indicating that they play important roles in zingerone NP-mediated anti-motility and anti-invasion in melanoma cells. Accordingly, the phytoconstituent-zingerone NPs can strengthen the inhibition of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis in malignant melanoma. Altogether, these multi-pharmacological benefits of zingerone NPs will effectively achieve the purpose of melanoma prevention and invasion inhibition.

This study presents the synthesis of a novel composite catalyst, ZIF-67, doped on sodium bicarbonate-modified biochar derived from kumquat peels (ZIF-67@KSB3), for the enhanced activation of peracetic acid (PAA) in the degradation of acetaminophen (APAP) in aqueous solutions. The composite demonstrated a high degradation efficiency, achieving 94.3% elimination of APAP at an optimal condition of 200 mg L−1 catalyst dosage and 0.4 mM PAA concentration at pH 7. The degradation mechanism was elucidated, revealing that superoxide anion (O2•−) played a dominant role, while singlet oxygen (1O2) and alkoxyl radicals (R-O•) also contributed significantly. The degradation pathways of APAP were proposed based on LC-MS analyses and molecular electrostatic potential calculations, identifying three primary routes of transformation. Stability tests confirmed that the ZIF-67@KSB3 catalyst retained an 86% efficiency in APAP removal after five successive cycles, underscoring its durability and potential for application in pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.