Excited-State Carrier Dynamics in Semiconducting Heterostructures from Self-Sorted NIR Active Dyes.

Heterostructures comprise two or more different semiconducting materials stacked either as co-assemblies or self-sorted based on their dynamics of aggregates. However, self-sorting in heterostructures is rather significant in improving the short exciton diffusion length and charge separation. Despite small organic molecules being known for their self-sorting nature, macrocyclic are hitherto unknown owing to unrestrained assemblies from extended π-conjugated systems.

Exploration of the cytotoxic and microtubule disruption potential of novel imidazo[1,5-]pyridine-based chalcones.

In continuation of our efforts to develop new anticancer compounds, a new series of imidazo[1,5-]pyridine-chalcone derivatives was designed, synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for its cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines, , breast (MDA-MB-231), colon (RKO), bone (Mg-63), prostate (PC-3), and liver (HepG2) cell lines, as well as a normal cell line (HEK). Among the synthesized compounds, two exhibited promising cytotoxicity against the MDA-MB-231 cell line with IC values of 4.23 ± 0.

Targeted Assay Engineering Enhances Bile Salt Hydrolase Activity in Heyndrickxia coagulans ATCC 7050 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 10012.

The recent emergence of bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme as a therapeutic target reflects its unbound potential in mitigating hypercholesterolemia, obesity, and gastrointestinal issues. However, to bolster its industrial application, optimization of BSH assay lays the cornerstone for enhancing sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. The current study delved into optimizing the BSH assay parameters utilizing response surface methodology (RSM) and one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method for two novel, natural BSH producers, Heyndrickxia coagulans ATCC 7050 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 10012.

Identification of mitoxantrone as a potent inhibitor of CDK7/Cyclin H via structure-based virtual screening and In-Vitro validation by ADP-Glo kinase assay.

Cyclin-dependent kinases, CDK7 and CDK9 play critical roles in cancer by regulating transcriptional processes essential for cell proliferation and survival. Their dysregulation leads to aberrant gene expression, promoting oncogenic pathways and contributing to tumor growth and progression. This study aimed to identify a new chemotype for CDK7/9 inhibitors using a structure-based virtual screening approach.

A Versatile Ionic Liquid Additive for Perovskite Solar Cells: Surface Modification, Hole Transport Layer Doping, and Green Solvent Processing.

Hole-transport layers (HTL) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an n-i-p structure are commonly doped by bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (TFSI) salts to enhance hole conduction. While lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) dopant is a widely used and effective dopant, it has significant limitations, including the need for additional solvents and additives, environmental sensitivity, unintended oxidation, and dopant migration, which can lead to lower stability of PSCs. A novel ionic liquid, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (MMPyTFSI), is explored as an alternative dopant for 2,2',7,7'-tetrakis(N,N-di-p-methoxyphenylamino)-9,9'-spirobifluorene (spiro-OMeTAD).

Influence of Keto-Enol Tautomerism in Regulating CO Photoreduction Activity in Porous Organic Porphyrinic Photopolymers.

Photoassisted CO reduction employing a metal-free system is both challenging and fascinating. In our study, we present a structural engineering strategy to tune the potential energy barrier, which, in turn, affects the photoreduction ability. A series of porphyrin-based porous organic polymers () were hydrothermally synthesized and the influence of keto-enol tautomerization on the CO photoreduction potential has been rigorously investigated.

Highly Fluorescent Bio-Synthesized Carbon Quantum Dots for Latent Fingerprint Detection.

This study introduces an innovative approach to high-resolution latent fingerprint detection using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) biosynthesized from spent coffee grounds, enhanced with nitrogen doping. Conventional fingerprinting methods frequently use hazardous chemicals and are costly, highlighting the need for eco-friendly, affordable alternatives that preserve detection quality. The biosynthesized nitrogen-doped CQDs exhibit strong photoluminescence and high stability, offering a sustainable, effective alternative for fingerprint imaging.

In Vitro Evaluation of Rosemary Essential Oil: GC-MS Profiling, Antibacterial Synergy, and Biofilm Inhibition.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become precarious, warranting investments in antimicrobial discovery. To investigate the antibacterial activity of rosemary essential oil (REO), alone and in combination with selected conventional antibiotics. REO was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (including minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination) and investigation of anti-pre-biofilm and antibiofilm activities.

Development of a bioreactor with an integrated non-dispersive infrared CO sensor for rapid and sensitive detection of Cr(VI) toxicity in water.

Whole-cell bioreactors equipped with external physico-chemical sensors have gained attention for real-time toxicity monitoring. However, deploying these systems in practice is challenging due to potential interference from unknown wastewater constituents with liquid-contacted sensors. In this study, a novel approach using a bioreactor integrated with a non-dispersive infrared CO₂ sensor for both toxicity detection and real-time monitoring of microbial growth phases was successfully demonstrated.

A-site composition tuning in methylammonium-based metal halide perovskite colloidal nanocrystals.

Utilizing the soft-lattice nature of metal halide perovskites, we employ post-synthetic cross-ion exchange to synthesize a series of narrow band-gap colloidal nanocrystals of methylammonium-based lead iodide solid solutions of composition FAMAPbI, as well as those of triple-cation composition CsFAMAPbI (TCPbI). The ability to finely tune the compositions not only helps in tailoring the optical properties in the near-infrared region, but also improves the stability of these colloidal nanocrystals towards moisture, which has been demonstrated as compared to their bulk counterparts. The thermal stability of these solid solutions is also comparable to that of the bulk, as evidenced by thermogravimetric studies.

Ferrocene Catalyzed Radical Cascade Cyclization of Aryl 1,6-Diynes: Access to Cyanoalkylsulfonyl Fluorenes.

A ferrocene-catalyzed cyanoalkylsulfonylative radical cascade cyclization of aryl 1,6-diynes using cycloketone oxime esters and DABCO.(SO₂)₂ (DABSO) is reported. The reaction proceeds with notable chemo- and regioselectivity, without requiring additional oxidants or reductants.

Study of the Influence of Structure-Chemical Properties of Electron Beam-Polymerized PEGDA/Gelatin Hybrid Hydrogels on the Uptake and Release Dynamics of Different Photosensitizer Molecules.

Hybrid hydrogels are promising for wound dressing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery due to their exceptional biocompatibility and mechanical stability. This study synthesized hybrid hydrogels for photodynamic therapy using electron beam-initiated polymerization with varying PEGDA/gelatin ratios and irradiation doses to evaluate their effectiveness as uptake and release systems for five photosensitizers. Toluidine blue, O (TBO); methylene blue (MB); eosin, Y; indocyanine, green; and sodium meso-tetraphenylporphine-4,4',4″,4‴-tetrasulfonate were studied for their uptake and release dynamics in relation to their structural properties and the hydrogels' composition.

Tuning the properties of soy protein isolate-based adhesive using various sustainable additives.

This work investigates the adhesive property of Soy Protein Isolate (SPI) polymer solution by studying mechanical properties of composites formed using waste wood granules and SPI solutions. To improve the adhesive strength of SPI solution, Carboxymethyl Cellulose Sodium (NaCMC) was mixed (in the weight ratios of 9:1 and 8:2) due to its strong gel formation capabilities. The adhesive performance of these composites was further investigated in the presence and absence of non-toxic additives, including sorbitol (SOR) and stearic acid (SA).

Hierarchical Self-Assembly of SnO Nanoparticles into Porous Microspheres: Exceptionally Selective Ammonia Sensing at Ambient.

Herein, porous SnO microspheres in a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical architecture were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route utilizing d-(+)-glucose and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which act as reducing and structure-directing agents, respectively. Controlled adjustment of the CTAB to glucose mole ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, and the calcination parameters all provided important clues toward optimizing the final morphologies of SnO with exceptional structural stability and reasonable monodispersity. Electron microscopy analysis revealed that microspheres formed were hierarchical self-assemblies of numerous primary SnO nanoparticles of ∼3-8 nm that coalesce together to form nearly monodispersed and ordered spherical structures of sizes in the range of 230-250 nm and are appreciably porous.

Influence of C/N ratio & double helical ribbon (DHR) impeller on microbial granulation in anaerobic co-digestion (AnCo-D) of industrial effluents.

The present study demonstrates the significance of the C/N ratio and double helical ribbon (DHR) impeller in the anaerobic co-digestion (AnCo-D) of sugar refining process (SRP) effluent and molasses-based distillery spent wash (DSW) for improved biogas production. Both SRP & DSW were mixed in different percentages to achieve an optimum C/N ratio. Further biomethane potential analysis of mixed feeds with different C/N ratios was performed.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Peripheral HTR2A Antagonists for Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a prevalent and prominent contributor to global cancer-related fatalities with challenges in drug resistance and metastasis. Recent research highlights the potential relationship between serotonin and cancer. 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 2A (HTR2A) mRNA expression in colorectal cancer cells was found to be notably elevated compared to that in normal colon cells.

Inhibitory effects of Colocasia antiquorum var. esculenta varnish on inflammation and alveolar bone loss in a rat ligature-induced periodontitis model.

We aimed to evaluate whether Colocasia antiquorum var. esculenta (CA) mixed with experimental varnish inhibits inflammation and alveolar bone loss in a rat ligature-induced periodontitis model. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were tested and cell viability of CA were also evaluated.

Exploration of triazole derivatives, SAR profiles, and clinical pipeline against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease and it is a global threat in particular affecting people from developing countries. It is thought that nearly one-third of the global population lives with this causative bacterium in its dominant form. The spread of HIV and the development of resistance to both multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) aggravates the spread of the disease and needs novel drugs which combat this disease effectively.

A Zero-gap Electrolyzer Enables Supporting Electrolyte-free Seawater Splitting for Energy-saving Hydrogen Production.

Membrane-assisted direct seawater splitting (DSS) technologies are actively studied as a promising route to produce green hydrogen (H2), whereas the indispensable use of supporting electrolytes that help to extract water and provide electrochemically-accelerated reaction media results in a severe energy penalty, consuming up to 12.5% of energy input when using a typical KOH electrolyte. We bypass this issue by designing a zero-gap electrolyzer configuration based on the integration of cation exchange membrane and bipolar membrane assemblies, which protects stable DSS operation against the precipitates and corrosion in the absence of additional supporting electrolytes.

Synthesis of pyrano[3,2-]chromene-2,5-diones from 4-hydroxycoumarins and aminocrotonates under solvent-free conditions.

A new one-pot approach was developed for the construction of pyrano[3,2-]chromene-2,5-diones by reacting 4-hydroxycoumarins with ethyl 3-oxo-3-phenylpropanoates in the presence of ammonium salts or aminocrotonates under solvent-free conditions. The title compounds were formed by intramolecular cyclization through new C-C and C-O bonds. Structure assignment of compound 3e was confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis.

Lentivirus-based production of human chimeric antigen receptor macrophages from peripheral blood.

Although chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown remarkable efficacy against leukemic cells, it still has critical limitations. CAR macrophage has been regarded as a potential alternative to CAR T cells. However, due to the difficulties in gene transduction into macrophages, the production of primary human CAR macrophages from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using lentivirus is highly challenging.

Ligand-Induced Activation of Single-Atom Palladium Heterogeneous Catalysts for Cross-Coupling Reactions.

Single-atom heterogeneous catalysts (SACs) are potential, recoverable alternatives to soluble organometallic complexes for cross-coupling reactions in fine-chemical synthesis. When developing SACs for these applications, it is often expected that the need for ligands, which are essential for organometallic catalysts, can be bypassed. Contrary to that, ligands remain almost always required for palladium atoms stabilized on commonly used functionalized carbon and carbon nitride supports, as the catalysts otherwise show limited activity.

A low switching loss GaN trench MOSFET design utilizing a triple-shield structure.

An innovative GaN trench MOSFET featuring an ultra-low gate-drain charge (Q) is proposed, with its operational mechanisms thoroughly investigated using TCAD simulations. This novel MOSFET design introduces a triple-shield structure (BPSG-MOS) comprising three critical components: (1) a grounded split gate (SG), (2) a P+ shield region (PSR), and (3) a semi-wrapped BP layer that extends the P-shield beneath the gate and along the sidewalls of the trench gate. Both the SG and PSR effectively reduce gate-drain coupling, transforming most of the gate-drain capacitance (C) into a series combination of gate-source capacitance (C) and drain-source capacitance (C).

Neurotoxic effects of citronellol induced by the conversion of kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine.

Citronellol is widely utilized in consumer products, including cosmetics, fragrances, and household items. However, despite being considered a relatively safe chemical, the health effects and toxicity mechanisms associated with exposure to high concentrations of citronellol, based on product content, remain inadequately understood. Here, we aimed to analyze the neurological effects of citronellol in zebrafish larvae using behavioral and histological analyses and elucidate the mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity in vivo.