Volume 45, Issue 4

The green and eco-friendly synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from renewable resources such as plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria has recently gained interest due to its use of sustainable feedstocks. This review presents an in-depth exploration of AuNP synthesis methods and their applications in cancer imaging and therapy. We examine the mechanisms behind various physical and chemical techniques used to synthesize AuNPs, with a special focus on the unique biomedical applications of green-synthesized AuNPs in diagnostic and therapeutic platforms, such as imaging and targeted therapy. Although promising, green synthesis of AuNPs faces challenges, including variability in particle size, limitations in morphology control, and scalability issues, which need to be addressed to fully harness their potential. This review also demonstrates that AuNPs can be loaded with anticancer agents to create targeted drug delivery vehicles for tumor treatment. As nanotechnology drives revolutionary advances in healthcare, AuNPs offer a promising toolkit for medical progress. However, a fundamental understanding of AuNPs and rigorous risk assessments in diagnostics, imaging, and therapeutic applications are essential to enable their safe and effective use in clinical settings.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have garnered significant attention in the photovoltaic community due to their exceptional performance, cost-effective manufacturing, and potential for diverse optoelectronic applications. Despite their promise, maintaining the operational stability of PSCs remains a critical challenge. In recent years, nanostructured materials, particularly two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and their 2D/3D heterojunction combinations, have emerged as innovative solutions to enhance PSCs’ stability and photovoltaic efficiency. This review examines recent advancements in PSCs utilizing these materials. It begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of perovskite-based photovoltaics and progresses to analyzing the role of 2D, 3D, and 2D/3D materials in optimizing PSC components. Key challenges in this field are also highlighted, alongside innovative strategies to overcome them, thus providing insights into the future direction of PSC technology.

The growing number of viral infections and viral strains from year to year requires the creation of new, more effective antiviral drugs. One of the cost-effective ways to increase drug efficiency is the development of delivery systems for already known and clinically used drugs in order to overcome the challenges currently limiting their efficiency. This review presents the current status of silicon-based particles in this area. Silicon-based materials consist mainly of silicon and its compounds and can contain other inorganic oxides, i.e. are inorganic in nature. Their inorganic nature provides a number of advantages over organic materials (e.g. polymers, lipids, micelles, etc.) which are widely proposed and already used for the indicated purpose. This review provides information about the structural features of the silicon-based materials, methods of their preparation. It contains studies showing why and how the particles themselves can serve as antiviral agents or, as carriers, can help overcome the disadvantages of active drugs and increase their antiviral efficacy. The review highlights the enormous potential of silicon-based inorganic particles (pristine or modified with various inorganic and organic species) in the fight against widespread viral infections.

Over the past few decades, biomaterials have been used extensively in medical science. These biomaterials have effectively replaced a variety of bodily tissues found in the human body, including teeth, ligaments, bones, tendons, and others. The primary barrier to the adoption of biomaterials is immune rejection, as bone replacement and lifetime implants currently require biocompatibility in addition to the mechanical and biological properties of the biomaterial. Numerous materials are presently being researched and commercially accessible to preserve and restore physiological functioning; they are widely used in medical science and biotherapy. Novel biomaterials were developed in response to emerging therapeutic needs, and recently discovered biomaterials made it possible to undertake novel clinical applications. When it was recognized that biomaterials must have an essential quality biocompatibility, the term “biomaterials” was coined to refer to materials specifically designed for biomedical applications. Presently, biological tissues and materials generated from biology are also included. The current review looks at the scientific literature published on the subject while exploring the application of biomaterials. Lastly, a brief overview of some recent uses for biomaterials is given, along with predictions about their potential future use.

This article provides an overview of the photoelectrochemistry of nano-catalysts, their advantages, mechanisms, and the interactions between nanostructures and reactivity. The applications of nanomaterials in various processes, such as dye degradation, toxicity elimination, HER, CO 2 RR, and OER were found paramount. The types of catalysis, including homogeneous, heterogeneous, enzymatic, photocatalysis, and photo electrocatalysis, elucidate their significance, and unique applications are also included. Advanced catalysts, from semiconductor nanomaterials to cocatalysts and surface modifications, are explored for their ability to harness light energy and drive efficient redox reactions. The emerging trends in electrocatalyst design, such as metal-free carbon catalysts, carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanodiamond, porous carbon, metal and carbon composite catalysts, and other metal and carbon composite catalysts are very important for future perspectives, therefore their consideration in this review has been focused. It also briefly discusses the advantages and disadvantages of nano-catalysts, including advanced catalysis, photogenerated charge carriers, redox reactions, and cocatalysts and surface modifications.

The uncontrolled increase in population and human activities has led to a significant rise in the demand for energy resources. The excessive use of limited fuel sources, unplanned deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions have necessitated the search for and development of alternative, sustainable energy resources that cause minimal or no harm to the environment. The introduction of green and eco-friendly technologies offers a potential solution to address the growing demand in fields such as petroleum and hydrogen production, with the ultimate goal of promoting environmental sustainability. This review article highlights recent innovations in the field of heterogeneous catalysis, focusing on the development of various catalytic materials and processes, as well as their future prospects for both industrial and academic advancements. A brief discussion is presented on the efficient performance of solid acid and base catalysts, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), electrocatalysts, and photocatalysts. The discussed catalytic systems have been explored for their potential applications, including biodiesel and hydrogen production as alternative energy sources, as well as CO 2 reduction and the degradation of toxic dyes and organic pollutants for environmental remediation. Overall, the significance of heterogeneous catalysts has been explored, emphasizing their critical role in driving industrial progress and economic growth.

Several synthetic approaches, such as solvothermal, microwave-assisted, electrochemical, and mechanochemical techniques, are used in the creation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The resulting MOFs can be tailored for particular purposes by utilizing the distinct benefits that each of these approaches offers in terms of managing their size, shape, and functional qualities. The most recent developments in MOF synthesis are examined in this study along with how they are being used in optoelectronic devices such as photodiodes, solar cells, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). MOFs are potential candidates for these applications because of their special qualities, which include their capacity to host light-emitting guest molecules, promote charge transport, and improve light absorption. MOFs effectively house luminescent centers in LEDs, improving brightness and color purity. MOFs improve charge separation and light collecting efficiency in solar cells. The customizable band gaps of MOFs, which may be designed to maximize their performance in photodetection, are advantageous to photodiodes. Advances in MOFs could revolutionize future optoelectronics. Finally, MOFs are based on the ongoing development of advanced synthetic methods that allow for the fabrication of LEDs, solar cells and photodetectors at higher levels of technological innovation and application. Additionally, MOFs in photodetectors, are thought to be active material and their special capacity to interact at various wavelengths may pave the way for more sensitive and adaptable application-specific sensors in a range of areas, including high-speed communication technologies and environmental monitoring.

Water is a basic unit for survival of living creature and over the past few years, increased industrialization and urbanization caused a huge contamination of natural water resources. Major water contaminants are pharmacological-wastes, especially antibiotics from hospitals and pharmaceutical industries which causes water pollution. Pharmacological contaminants elimination from ecosystem is very critical environmental challenge because they are persistent and cause potential health hazards. Owing to high surface area, tunable-porosity, and versatile functionality of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), and their composites have emerged as promising materials for water purification. Various antibiotics including amoxicillin, doxycycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin are successfully removed from wastewater using MOFs and composites, which purifies the water by adsorption-mechanism. This study reviews the advanced progressions in the application of MOF-based composites and MOFs for the adsorption of pharmaceutical pollutants. Additionally, plant-based MOFs have been explored for their eco-friendly and cost-effective potential in pharmaceutical pollutant removal. Despite these advancements, challenges such as the scalability of MOF synthesis, stability under operational conditions, and potential toxicity need to be addressed for their commercial application. Future research should focus on optimizing the synthesis processes, enhancing the recyclability of MOFs, and conducting long-term environmental-impact assessments to ensure sustainable and effective water treatment solutions.

Niobium, a versatile transition metal, plays a vital role in expanding electrochemical technologies due to its unique combination of physical and chemical properties, such as high stability, conductivity, and compatibility with varied materials. This review delves deeply into the applications of niobium in electrochemical sensing and energy storage systems, focusing on its transformational potential. It begins by explaining the fundamental features of niobium that make it an excellent material for these applications. The principles of electrochemical sensors are elaborated, with a focus on their significance in areas such as healthcare diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes. The review highlights the fabrication techniques for niobium-based sensors, detailing advancements in sensitivity and specificity achieved through niobium compounds. In the domain of energy storage, the review examines niobium’s integration into lithium-ion, sodium-ion, and lithium-sulfur batteries. It discusses how niobium compounds enhance battery performance, including improvements in energy density, cycling stability, and charge-discharge efficiency. Comparative analyses with conventional materials are presented to underscore the superior functionality of niobium-based systems. By synthesizing current research, the review identifies critical knowledge gaps and potential areas for future investigation, ultimately underscoring niobium’s pivotal role in driving innovation in electrochemical technologies.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained significant attention for their exceptional magnetic properties and nano-level impact, making them highly effective tools for detecting environmental pollutants. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in utilizing MNPs for identifying organic and inorganic contaminants in wastewater. Key aspects discussed include the intrinsic properties of MNPs, strategies for their modification, and production techniques. Emphasis is placed on their potential applications in water pollution detection, highlighting their ability to enhance contaminant concentration and separation efficiency compared to conventional methods. The findings suggest that MNP-based approaches not only improve detection sensitivity but also promote eco-friendly practices, contributing to sustainable environmental management.