Recent advances in the discovery, biosynthesis, and therapeutic potential of isocoumarins derived from fungi: a comprehensive update.

Microorganisms still remain the main hotspots in the global drug discovery avenue. In particular, fungi are highly prolific producers of vast structurally diverse specialized secondary metabolites, which have displayed a myriad of biomedical potentials. Intriguingly, isocoumarins is one distinctive class of fungal natural products polyketides, which demonstrated numerous remarkable biological and pharmacological activities.

Recent progress in semiconductor/graphene photocatalysts: synthesis, photocatalytic applications, and challenges.

The presence of an increasing number of organic pollutants in water now poses serious risks to both human health and ecological systems. Many of these pollutants are persistent and non-biodegradable. The contamination of fresh water by harmful substances has compelled researchers to develop innovative, efficient, and cost-effective water remediation techniques and materials.

Tb-atorvastatin doped in poly(ethylene glycol) optical biosensor for selective determination of progesterone and testosterone in serum samples.

An innovative, simple and cost effective Tb-atorvastatin photo probe was designed and used as a core for a spectrofluorometric approach to sensitively determine two vital biological compounds in serum samples. Tb-atorvastatin complex displays a characteristic electrical band with at 545 nm with significant luminescence intensity, which is quenched in the presence of progesterone and testosterone at two variant sets of pH; 6.2 and 7.

Effective screen-printed potentiometric devices modified with carbon nanotubes for the detection of chlorogenic acid: application to food quality monitoring.

All-solid state screen-printed electrodes were fabricated for chlorogenic acid (CGA) detection. The screen-printed platforms were modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to work as a lipophilic solid-contact transducer. The sensing-membrane was plasticized with a suitable solvent mediator and incorporating [Ni(bathophenanthroline)][CGA] complex as a sensory material.

Low-cost potentiometric paper-based analytical device based on newly synthesized macrocyclic pyrido-pentapeptide derivatives as novel ionophores for point-of-care copper(ii) determination.

A simple, cost-effective, portable and disposable paper-based analytical device is designed and fabricated for copper(ii) determination. All solid-state ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for copper and a Ag/AgCl reference electrode were constructed and optimized on the paper substrate. The copper electrodes were built using carbon nano-tube ink as a conductive substrate and an ion-to electron transducer.

Correction: Integrated all-solid-state sulfite sensors modified with two different ion-to-electron transducers: rapid assessment of sulfite in beverages.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA09903A.].

pH assists simultaneous determination of folic acid and vitamin D in biological fluids using a novel Tb-acyclovir optical biosensor.

An innovative, simple and cost effective Tb-acyclovir photo probe was designed and used as a core for a spectrofluorometric approach to sensitively determine two vital biological compounds in different matrices. The Tb-acyclovir complex displays a characteristic electrical band with at 545 nm with significant luminescence intensity, which is quenched in the presence of folic acid and vitamin D at pH 5.0 and 9.

A highly selective and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method for the assessment of 3-nitrotyrosine in serum using (Eu(TTA)Phen) photo probe.

A simple, accurate and fast method was developed for the assessment of 3-nitrotyrosine as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) using a (Eu(TTA)Phen) photo probe. 3-Nitrotyrosine can remarkably quench the luminescence intensity of the (Eu(TTA)Phen) complex in DMSO at pH = 9 and = 617 nm. The quenching of the luminescence intensity of (Eu(TTA)Phen) complex particularly the electrical emission band at = 617 nm is used for the assessment of 3-nitrotyrosine in different serum samples of patients with liver cirrhosis.

Metal-free functionalized carbonized cotton for efficient solar steam generation and wastewater treatment.

Water desalination solar steam generation is one of the most important technologies to address the increasingly pressing global water scarcity. Materials for solar photothermal energy conversion are highly sought after for their cost savings, environmental friendliness and broad utility in many applications including domestic water heating and solar-driven desalination. Herein, we report the successful development of metal-free, low weight and cost effective functionalized carbonized cotton (CC) fibers for efficient solar water desalination and wastewater treatment.

Novel magnetic nickel ferrite nanoparticles modified with poly(aniline--toluidine) for the removal of hazardous 2,4-dichlorophenol pollutant from aqueous solutions.

Chlorinated organic and phenolic compounds are still purely studied by many researchers because of their severe damage to the aquatic environment and their carcinogenic effect on many living organisms. Therefore, there is a great interest in removing these environmental pollutants from aqueous mediums by easy and inexpensive methods. Herein, novel nickel ferrite (NiFeO) nano composite modified with poly(aniline--toluidine) (PAOT) is prepared, characterized, and used for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) as an organic chlorinated environmental pollutant.

Paper-based potentiometric sensing devices modified with chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) for trace level determination of pholcodine (opiate derivative drug).

Robust, reliable and cost-effective paper-based analytical device for potentiometric pholcodine (opiate derivative drug) ion sensing has been prepared and characterized. A printed pholcodinium (PHL)/5-nitrobarbiturate (NB) ion-association complex as a sensory material-based all-solid-state ion-selective electrode (ISE) on a chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) solid-contact, and a printed all-solid-state Ag/AgCl reference electrode, has been combined on a hydrophobic paper substrate coated with fluorinated alkyl silane (CF(CF)CHCHSiCl, C ). The sensors revealed a potentiometric slope of 28.

Discovery of pyrano[2,3-]pyrimidine-2,4-dione derivatives as novel PARP-1 inhibitors: design, synthesis and antitumor activity.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases-1 (PARP-1) are involved in DNA repair damage and so PARP-1 inhibitors have been used as potentiators in combination with DNA damaging cytotoxic agents to compromise the cancer cell DNA repair mechanism, resulting in genomic dysfunction and cell death. In this study, we report the synthesis of a novel series of pyrano[2,3-]pyrimidine-2,4-dione analogues as potential inhibitors against PARP-1. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity towards PARP-1 and examined for their anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 and HCT116 human cancer cell lines.

Characterization of electrodeposited undoped and doped thin ZnO passive films on zinc metal in alkaline HCO /CO buffer solution.

Electrochemical characterization of anodically grown thin ZnO films on pure zinc metal was studied in pH 9.2 bicarbonate/carbonate buffer solution. The different undoped passive films were formed potentiostatically in pH 9.

Impact of pH and temperature on the electrochemical and semiconducting properties of zinc in alkaline buffer media.

The electrochemical and semiconductive properties of spontaneously formed passive films on pure Zn were investigated in alkaline carbonate/bicarbonate buffer solutions as functions of pH and temperature. The study was performed in 0.1 M (CO + HCO ) mixtures over the pH range 9.