Volume 45, Issue 2

The versatile nature of metal sulfide nanostructures has led to their meteoric rise in popularity. The compositions, morphologies, and sizes of these nanostructures may be tuned, giving them distinct features. Here we look at the many uses of metal sulfide nanostructures, with an emphasis on their possible benefits in the fields of biology, ecology, and energy storage. Because of their remarkable optical characteristics and high degree of biocompatibility, metal sulfide nanostructures have great potential in the biological fields of bioimaging, medication administration, and photothermal treatment. Additionally, because of their large surface area and adsorption capability, these nanostructures show outstanding performance in environmental remediation, which includes pollutant removal and wastewater treatment. Because of their great conductivity and electrochemical activity, metal sulfide nanostructures are also in great demand for energy storage applications such supercapacitors, hydrogen storage, and lithium-ion batteries. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent progress in synthesizing various metal sulfides with transition metal elements. Effective physiochemical and biological approaches are employed in their production to control the structures, dimensions, and compositions of these sulfides.

The constant increase in population and as a result increase in industrial activities in many areas, such as textiles, cosmetics, leather, polymers, and food processing leads to the contamination of water sources with different dyes. Thus, the removal of dyes from contaminated water sources to make water reusable is the utmost requirement of the time in order to get environmental sustainability. The reason of removal is that many dyes and pollutants present in dyeing wastewater from industries have detrimental impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. To lessen the negative effects of dye wastewater on the environment and living beings, it should be processed first to remove un-wanted components before being released in the water sources. However, due to some drawbacks of dye removal technologies, it is challenging to settle on a single solution that addresses the current dye effluent problem to make water clean. In the current work, we tried our best to elaborate different methods adopted for the treatment of dyes polluted wastewater with respect to their implementation along with drawbacks and advantages.

Kidney stone disease is a global concern, and its prevalence is increasing. The objective of this review is to provide a thorough analysis of the many analytical techniques used in the study of kidney stones and to investigate the significance of major and trace components in the development of kidney stone formation. The samples included organic (uric acid) and inorganic (calcium oxalate and carbonate apatite). To study kidney stone analysis methods like XRD, FTIR, SEM, and ICP-MS, a systematic literature review was conducted. The quantities and effects of main (calcium, oxalate, phosphate) and trace (magnesium, zinc, copper) elements in kidney stone development were also examined. The review shows that XRD and FTIR are best for evaluating kidney stone crystalline structure and content, whereas SEM gives rich morphological insights. Its trace element detection sensitivity makes ICP-MS unique. Calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate, the most common components, affect kidney stone development. Trace elements like magnesium prevent stone formation, whereas zinc and copper may encourage crystallisation. Results revealed significantly higher calcium levels in inorganic components compared to organic ones. Uric acid stones exhibited lower element content except for copper and selenium, likely originating from the liver. Carbonate apatite stones showed higher element concentrations, particularly magnesium, compared to calcium oxalate stones. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified three principal components, explaining 91.91 % of the variance. These components reflected specific co-precipitation processes of elements, with distinct distributions among different stone types. This variability in element content among stone types could serve as valuable guidance for patient dietary considerations.

Nanotechnology revealed its unlimited success in many real-life applications. That’s why the incorporation of nanomaterials became vital for solving a lot of current problems. Metal Organic-frameworks (MOFs) are nanomaterials with outstanding advantages such as crystallinity, high surface area, various structures, and adsorption capacity. Furthermore, metal-Organic Frameworks have emerged as versatile and promising materials for various environmental applications, including wastewater treatment. These materials are stable in water which acquire them convenient properties for wastewater treatment applications, for instance adsorption, catalysis, separation and so on. Moreover, MOFs are characterized by their high surface area, tunable pore size, and exceptional adsorption capacity, have shown remarkable potential for the removal of contaminants in wastewater treatment systems. In this review, the variable roles of MOFs in wastewater treatment applications have been discussed and highlighted as well. Herein, we are additionally reviewing the state-of-the-art research trends on the applications of metal-organic framework materials in the removal of pollutants in wastewater treatmen t systems.

The present review deeply delves the major methods for the synthesis of organotellurium compounds along with their biological significance. Elaboration of various precursors (ligands) including Schiff bases, naphthoquinones, amino acids, β -hydroxy alkylated compounds, β -phenyltelluro alcohols, β -aryltelluro amines, β -aryl-chalcogenium azides, chalcogenobiotin, benzenesulfonamide, carbonic anhydrase, and Sulpha compounds has been briefly described. Furthermore, the article investigates their possible biological uses, specifically as antioxidant and anticancer agents while comparing their effectiveness with their respective ligands and with the standard medications in terms IC 50 values. All types of details are haunted to make the information a priceless resource for researchers who wish to probe deeper into and examine the diverse roles that organotellurium complexes play in biological settings.

Transition metal compounds (TMCs) provide the benefits of vast reserves, affordability, non-toxicity, and environmental friendliness, making them highly sought-after in recent times. Integrating transition metal salts into polymers may result in substantial enhancements in optical and electrical characteristics, making them appealing for many applications. Transition metal ions may display a range of electronic transitions, which enables the adjustment of absorption and emission spectra. This characteristic has significant value in applications such as light-emitting devices (LEDs) and sensors. The photoluminescence of polymers may be improved by the addition of transition metal salts, which results in light emission that is both more brilliant and more efficient. On the other hand, this is advantageous for screens and optoelectronic devices. The presence of transition metal salts in polymers may help to improve their optical stability, hence lowering the probability that the polymers will degrade or change color over time. When it comes to the performance of optical devices over the long run, this is quite essential. Elevating the electrical conductivity of polymers is possible via the use of transition metal salts. This is very helpful in the process of developing conductive polymers for use in applications such as electronic fabrics, organic solar cells, and flexible electronic devices. Transition metal salts can affect the electrical band structure of polymers, which enables the band gap of the material to be tuned. This is very necessary in order to maximize the amount of light that is absorbed by photovoltaic devices. Through having all these benefits, we conducted a review to find out the effects on polymeric materials.

Metal-based drugs are finding new medical applications, particularly in antibacterial therapies. Compounds such as Prontosil and ciprofloxacin, as well as its derivatives such as beta-lactam drugs, aminoglycosides, vancomycin, fosfomycin, as well as tetracyclines, play critical roles in the prevention of bacterial and fungal infections. The increasing prevalence of microbial resistance is prompting the use of metal complexes to tackle fungal and bacterial strains. Mercury-based complexes, which are known for their unusual characteristics and reactivity, have received a lot of interest in the field of medicine recently. Additionally, Schiff base complexes are widely used as antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer drugs, as well as in dye manufacturing. This article discusses current advances in the use of mercury compounds for combating fungus and bacteria, offering information on their efficacy and future applications.

Sensing technology is gaining attention and continuously advancing, making it a recommended element of individualized healthcare management. This is due to the powers exhibited by organometallic compounds, which are further enhanced by the field of bioengineering. Organometallic compounds have a wide range of biological activity and find uses in industrial and material science fields. Their unique ability to specifically target and overcome constraints faced by traditional counterparts makes them potential contenders for sensor technology. These compounds are highly sensitive to changes in their environment, allowing them to be utilized as sensors for detecting various chemicals or conditions. Additionally, the versatility of organometallic compounds enables their integration into different sensor platforms, making them suitable for environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, and industrial quality control. This article provides a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in the design and synthesis of organometallic compounds, with a specific emphasis on their potential use as sensors. It also discusses the changes made to the structure, the processes used for functionalization, the incorporation of microfluidics, and the resulting impact on the materials’ sensing capabilities. These biologically derived methods align with sustainability goals and enhance the affordability, applicability, and effectiveness of sensing.

The re-evaluation of animals, plants, and microorganisms for green synthesis has revolutionized the fabrication of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs). Green synthesis provides more biocompatibility compared to chemically synthesized MNPs, which make them ideal for diverse biological applications, especially in biomedicine. Various organisms have been extensively studied for green synthesis. Interestingly, angiosperms, algae, and animal-derived biomaterials like chitin and silk have shown a prominent role in synthesizing these nanoparticles. Moreover, bacteria, viruses, and fungi serve as sources of reducing agents, further expanding green synthesis possibilities. Despite progress, research on natural reducing agents remains relatively limited, with only a few exceptions such as tea and neem plants receiving attention. Green-synthesized nanoparticles have diverse applications in various fields. In biomedicine, they enable drug delivery, targeted therapies, and bio-imaging due to their enhanced biocompatibility. Some MNPs also exhibit potent antimicrobial properties, aiding in disease control and eco-friendly disinfection. Furthermore, green nanoparticles contribute to environmental remediation by purifying water and serve as sensitive biosensors for diagnostics and environmental monitoring. This review will provide the recent progress and advancements in the field of green synthesis (GS) of nanoparticles. It will also analyze the key characteristics and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of GS compared to chemical synthesis.

Attapulgite, with abundant reserves, low price, a special structure, excellent adsorption, thermal stability, and catalytic performance, is often used as a catalyst or catalyst support, offering broad development prospects. In order to understand and fully utilize attapulgite resources, this paper introduces the common preparation methods of attapulgite and explores the effects of different modification methods ( e.g. thermal modification, acid modification, etc.) on attapulgite performance. The article focuses on the current status of semiconductor-attapulgite composites in the fields of wastewater treatment, air pollution, and energy, and briefly describes examples of their applications in other fields. Finally, the development prospects of the composites in the field of environment and energy are summarized, and the challenges are discussed.