Liviu Mitu

Pure and glycine-doped strontium formate dihydrate [Sr(HCOO)₂·2H₂O] single crystals were grown by slow evaporation using glycine concentrations of 0.005 – 0.1 M. The influence of glycine incorporation on structural, vibrational, electronic, and antimicrobial properties was studied experimentally and using DFT (B3LYP/6-311G**). The HOMO – LUMO gap (7.111 eV) indicates stability, while the hyperpolarizability (6973.787 a.u.) suggests potential nonlinear optical behavior. FT-IR and FT-Raman analyses show characteristic modes with slight shifts due to glycine–lattice interactions. Doped crystals exhibit enhanced antimicrobial activity, with a maximum inhibition zone of 36 mm against Escherichia coli at 0.1 M concentration. Results indicate that glycine affects the electronic and biological properties of strontium formate dihydrate, suggesting potential optical and antimicrobial applications.

The extensive use of pharmaceuticals driven by urbanization and globalization has led to their excessive discharge into waterways, causing many environmental problems. These emerging contaminants pose numerous risks to human health, aquatic life, and the ecosystem. Removal of pharmaceuticals requires innovative materials and technologies to ensure water safety, as they are resistant to traditional wastewater remediation techniques. Photocatalysis is the most efficient, economical, and environment-friendly method for the removal of pharmaceuticals; however, it does require a suitable candidate to act as a photocatalyst. Bismuth-based magnetic composites have overcome the drawbacks of traditionally used nanomaterials, such as poor stability, agglomeration, and challenging separation. Magnetic composites are advantageous because they can be easily separated from aqueous media after the photodegradation of the pollutants. To maximize the functional potential of bismuth-based materials as a photocatalyst, these can be further functionalized with the formation of Z-scheme heterojunctions. The primary goal of this review is to provide a thorough analysis of the bismuth-based magnetic composites that have been newly studied for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceuticals from water. Potential obstacles and forthcoming research directions in the field of bismuth-based magnetic composites have also been discussed for further exploration of magnetic composites for wastewater treatment soon.

The main objective of this work is to introduce “image scanning densitometry” for the elimination of drawbacks of the spectrometric methods, which are conventionally used for analysis of metal ions in aqueous samples. This method is beneficial because a small amount of analyte was used for toxicological chemical analysis in medical diagnostics and environmental monitoring along with its portable nature for on-spot analysis by integrating AI technology with conventional methods. By using this method, colorimetric reactions are performed on TLC plates and results are quantified by digitizing the area of spots by using image scanning devices and specially developed software. The analyte concentration is proportional to the RGB (red, green, blue) color densities of the quantified spots. The raw color densities of the spots were transformed by using Kubelka–Munk transformation in results, which give information about the different dynamic ranges. Different metals, such as nickel (II), chromium (VI), and iron (II), were quantified by using their aqueous samples for monitoring toxic contaminants of water streams. The detection limits are 3.8, 3.94, and 6.78 ppm for Cr(VI), Ni(II), and Fe(II) correspondingly. Graphical Abstract

There is an increased trend of drug delivery via skin due to its convenience and affordability. To accomplish this task in a better way and more successfully, nanotechnology has opened the door to transport drugs for the treatment of acute diseases in unique ways. For partially solvable drugs especially, designing new drug transportation systems is always challenging. However, it has been fixed by utilizing nanomaterials as effective carriers for drugs. These carriers allow the controlled and continuous drug release at the specific spotted site and have been successfully manipulated for the creation of innovative drug-delivery systems. These innovative systems are applied to overcome the challenge of reduced water solubility that may improve the drug accessibility, sustained release, and high metabolic stability. The prime emphasis of this review is particularly on the universal routes of drug administration through the skin, limitations of conventional drug delivery systems (DDS), and types and properties of nanomaterials (NMs) used. Recent advancements in NMs such as carbon-based NMs, inorganic-/metal-based NMs, polymeric NMs, and hybrid NMs for drug delivery and their mode of action have been summarized. This review further discusses existing constraints and difficulties that impede the integration of nanomaterials from research to practice, as well as recommendations for more efficient use of nanomaterials in a number of diseases.

A novel green synthesis of cellulose/Ag nanocomposites (Cell/XTLL Ag NCs) with in situ generated silver nanoparticles using Xenostegia tridentata (L.) leaf extracts (XTLL). The synthesized nanocomposites have been appreciably characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XRD, UV-Vis spectrometer, AFM, DRS, XPS, TGA, and ICP-OES. The Ag nanoparticles found for the Cell/XTLL 60mM AgNO₃ have an average particle size of 33.78nm. Moreover, Cell/XTLL Ag NC film, prepared with 60mM AgNO₃, suggests greater antioxidant activity. The most potent cell/XTLL 60mM AgNO₃ against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Trichoderma viride, and Fusarium oxysporum has strong antimicrobial activity and the best antimicrobial properties due to the fact that because the concentration of AgNO₃ solution increased, the zone of inhibition additionally accelerated. The Cell/XTLL 60mM becomes examined in vitro for its ability of human tumor cell growth inhibitory impact on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 using MTT assay. The catalytic activity of Cell/XTLL 60mM AgNO₃ was assessed by the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and compared with bare cellulose. The Ag NPs are homogeneously unfolded out in Cell/XTLL 60mM AgNO₃ which leads to low electron-hole recombination and accelerated dye adsorption. In particular, 100mg of Cell/XTLL 60mM AgNO₃, as catalyst, showed excellent photocatalytic activity with the efficiency of 91 degradation of methylene blue (MB).