Revolutionizing Cancer Treatment: Biopolymer-Based Aerogels as Smart Platforms for Targeted Drug Delivery

Cancer stands as a leading cause of global mortality, with chemotherapy being a pivotal treatment approach, either alone or in conjunction with other therapies. The primary goal of these therapies is to inhibit the growth of cancer cells specifically, while minimizing harm to healthy dividing cells. Conventional treatments, often causing patient discomfort due to side effects, have led researchers to explore innovative, targeted cancer cell therapies. Thus, biopolymer-based aerogels emerge as innovative platforms, showcasing unique properties that respond intelligently to diverse stimuli. This responsiveness enables precise control over the release of anticancer drugs, enhancing therapeutic outcomes. The significance of these aerogels lies in their ability to offer targeted drug delivery with increased efficacy, biocompatibility, and a high drug payload. In this comprehensive review, the author discuss the role of biopolymer-based aerogels as an emerging functionalized platforms in anticancer drug delivery. The review addresses the unique properties of biopolymer-based aerogels showing their smart behavior in responding to different stimuli including temperature, pH, magnetic and redox potential to control anticancer drug release. Finally, the review discusses the application of different biopolymer-based aerogel in delivering different anticancer drugs and also discusses the potential of these platforms in gene delivery applications.     

Corrosion Inhibition of Mild Steel in Hydrochloric Acid Environment Using Terephthaldehyde Based on Schiff Base: Gravimetric,Thermodynamic, and Computational Studies

Using traditional weight-loss tests, as well as different electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy), we investigated the corrosion-inhibition performance of 2,2′-(1,4-phenylenebis(methanylylidene)) bis(N-(3-methoxyphenyl) hydrazinecarbothioamide) (PMBMH) as an inhibitor for mild steel in a 1 M hydrochloric acid solution. The maximum protection efficacy of 0.0005 M of PMBMH was 95%. Due to the creation of a protective adsorption layer instead of the adsorbed H₂O molecules and acidic chloride ions, the existence of the investigated inhibitor reduced the corrosion rate and increased the inhibitory efficacy. The inhibition efficiency increased as the inhibitor concentration increased, but it decreased as the temperature increased. The PMBMH adsorption mode followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, with high adsorption-inhibition activity. Furthermore, the value of the ∆Gadso indicated that PMBMH contributed to the physical and chemical adsorption onto the mild-steel surface. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) helped in the calculation of the quantum chemical parameters for finding the correlation between the inhibition activity and the molecular structure. The experimental and theoretical findings in this investigation are in good agreement.     

Inhibition of Microtubule Affinity Regulating Kinase 4 by Metformin: Exploring the Neuroprotective Potential of Antidiabetic Drug through Spectroscopic and Computational Approaches

Microtubule affinity regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) regulates the mechanism of microtubules by its ability to phosphorylate the microtubule-associated proteins (MAP’s). MARK4 is known for its major role in tau phosphorylation via phosphorylating Ser²⁶² residue in the KXGS motif, which results in the detachment of tau from microtubule. In lieu of this vital role in tau pathology, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), MARK4 is a druggable target to treat AD and other neurodegenerative disorders (NDs). There is growing evidence that NDs and diabetes are connected with many pieces of literature demonstrating a high risk of developing AD in diabetic patients. Metformin (Mtf) has been a drug in use against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) for a long time; however, recent studies have established its therapeutic effect in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), namely AD, Parkinson’s disease (PD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment. In this study, we have explored the MARK4 inhibitory potential of Mtf, employing in silico and in vitro approaches. Molecular docking demonstrated that Mtf binds to MARK4 with a significant affinity of −6.9 kcal/mol forming interactions with binding pocket’s critical residues. Additionally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation provided an atomistic insight into the binding of Mtf with MARK4. ATPase assay of MARK4 in the presence of Mtf shows that it inhibits MARK4 with an IC₅₀ = 7.05 µM. The results of the fluorescence binding assay demonstrated significant binding of MARK4 with a binding constant of 0.6 × 10⁶ M⁻¹. The present study provides an additional axis towards the utilization of Mtf as MARK4 inhibitor targeting diabetes with NDs.     

X‐ray crystal of diprotonated tetra‐(2‐pyridyl)pyrazine (H2TPPZ), aqua Fe3+‐phen crystal and new lanthanide complexes of TPPZ and their biochemical studies

New complexes derived from M³⁺ salts with polyazine as monometallic such as [Fe (TPPZ)Cl₃].½H₂O (1) , [Cr (TPPZ)₂Cl₂]Cl.2EtOH (2) , [La (TPPZ)(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂]NO₃.H₂O (3) in addition to [Fe (Phen)₃]3Cl.7H₂O (4) were isolated. Three bimetallic, [H₂TPPZ][(AuCl₄)₂]. H₂O (5) , [Ce₂(TPPZ)EtOH (NO₃)₃]3NO₃ (6) and [Nd₂TPPZCl₂(H₂O)₄]4Cl.CHCl₃. 4H₂O (7) and mixed ligand complexes, [Fe (TPPZ)(Phen)₂]Cl₃ (8) , [Fe (TPPZ) (Phen)₂][TPPZCl₃] (9) , [La₂(TPPZ)(Phen)₂(EtOH)₂]6Cl.CHCl₃.EtOH.H₂O (10) and [Nd₂(TPPZ)(Phen)Cl₄]2Cl.3H₂O (11) were synthesized and characterized. Crystal data of (4) is tetragonal, I4₁/a, a = b 35.951 (3) Å, c = 11.9055 (8) Å, α = 80.201 (2)° β = 78.846 (2)°, γ = 89.687 (2)° V = 741.06 (5)ų, Z = 1 while triclinic, P1, a = 7.3913 (3) Å, b = 9.7344 (4) Å, c = 10.6577 (4) Å, α = β = γ = 90°, V = 741.06 (5)ų and Z = 170 for (5) . Analyses, spectral and cyclic voltammetry studies indicate the bonding and the redox properties. Anticancer studies promised to be effective in lanthanides and some complexes were screened against antibacterial or antifungal.     

Fixed point theorems for multivalued non-linear $F$-contractions on quasi metric spaces with an application

In this paper, we introduce $(\alpha,\beta)$-type $F-\tau$ contraction and utilize the same to prove some fixed point results for multivalued mappings in quasi metric spaces. Furthermore, we furnish with some examples to exhibit the utility of our results. As an application, we establish the existence of a solution for a non-linear integral equation.     

Isolation of Chromium(VI) from Aqueous Solution by Electromembrane Extraction

Electromembrane extraction (EME) is a powerful extraction and preconcentration technique for ionizable species. However, the ionic contents in the sample can influence the extraction efficiency and system stability due to electrolysis. In this work, the electromembrane extraction of chromium(VI) was developed using various levels of ionic samples. 2-Nitrophenyl octyl ether was the most suitable supported liquid membrane that delayed the electrolytic occurrence of air bubbles at the electrodes due to its high viscosity and high dielectric constant properties. The electromembrane extraction method was optimized using 5?mM NaCl (630?µS?cm^?1); the applied potential was 100?V and the extraction time was 15?min. The enrichment factor of 80 was obtained over a linear working range of 10.0–80.0?µg?L^?1. The method performance was tested using mineral water, drinking water, tap water, and surface water. The method recoveries based on matrix-matched calibration were 95–125% with standard deviations within 15%.     

AIM‐1: An Antibiotic‐Degrading Metallohydrolase That Displays Mechanistic Flexibility

Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a major threat to global health care. This is largely due to the fact that many pathogens have developed strategies to acquire resistance to antibiotics. Metallo‐β‐lactamases (MBL) have evolved to inactivate most of the commonly used β‐lactam antibiotics. AIM‐1 is one of only a few MBLs from the B3 subgroup that is encoded on a mobile genetic element in a major human pathogen. Here, its mechanism of action was characterised with a combination of spectroscopic and kinetic techniques and compared to that of other MBLs. Unlike other MBLs it appears that AIM‐1 has two avenues available for the turnover of the substrate nitrocefin, distinguished by the identity of the rate‐limiting step. This observation may be relevant with respect to inhibitor design for this group of enzymes as it demonstrates that at least some MBLs are very flexible in terms of interactions with substrates and possibly inhibitors.     

Blood compatible heteratom-doped carbon dots for bio-imaging of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Carbon dots have unique advantages in biological applications owing to their excellent optical prope rties.However,the biosafety evaluation of carbon dots has limitations owing to cytotoxicity in vitro,and the re is little pre-safety evaluation before in vivo and clinical applications.Whether the carbon dots are or not suitable for applications in vivo,evaluation analysis can be made based on hemolysis and changes in erythrocyte morphology.In this work,a green fluorescent N,S-doped carbon dots(N,S-CDs)were obtained by hydrothermal method,tobias acid,and m-phenylenediamine as precursors.N,S-CDs not only possessed excellent dispersibility,uniform particle size,high quantum yield(37.2%)and stable photoluminescence property but also retain their photostability and stro ng fluorescence intensity in the acid/alkaline solutions,different ionic strengths(NaCl)and under 365 nm UV illumination.Moreove r,the N,S-CDs displayed low cytotoxicity and high cellular uptake efficiency in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)and excellent blood compatibility to the erythrocyte.It is foreseeable that N,S-CDs could be further studied as a promising biological imaging agent in vivo.     

Direct and Reverse Carleson Conditions on Generalized Weighted Bergman-Orlicz Spaces

Let ■ be the open unit disk in the complex plane ■.For α-1,let dA_α(z)=(1+α)1-|z|~2αd A(z) be the weighted Lebesgue measure on ■.For a positive function ω∈L~1(■,dA_α),the generalized weighted Bergman-Orlicz space A_ω~ψ(■,dA_α)isthe space of all analytic functions such that ||f||_ω~ψ=∫_■ψ(|f(z)|)ω(z)dA_α(z)∞,where ψ is a strictly convex Orlicz function that satisfies other technical hypotheses.Let G be a measurable subset of ■,we say G satisfies the reverse Carleson condition for A_ω~ψ(■,dA_α) if there exists a positive constant C such that ∫_Gψ(|f(z)|)ω(z)dA_α(z)≥C∫_■ψ(|f(z)|)ω(z)dA_α(z),for all f∈A_ω~ψ(■,dA_α).Let μ be a positive Borel measure,we say μ satisfies the direct Carleson condition if there exists a positive constant M such that for all f∈A_ω~ψ(■,dA_α),∫_■ψ(|f(z)|)dμ(z)≤M∫_■ψ(|f(z)|)ω(z)dA_α(z).In this paper,we study the direct and reverse Carleson condition on the generalized weighted Bergman-Orlicz space A_ω~ψ(■,dA_α).We present conditions on the set G such that the reverse Carleson condition holds.Moreover,we give a sufficient conditionfor the finite positive Borel measureμto satisfy the direct carleson condition on the generalized weighted Bergman-Orlicz spaces.