Zn-ion Batteries: Charge Storing Mechanism and Development Challenges

Improving the energy share of renewable energy technologies is the only solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The high-performing green battery energy storage technologies are critical for storing energy to address the intermittent nature of renewable energy resources. In recent years, aqueous batteries, particularly Zn-ion batteries (ZIBs), have achieved and shown great potential for stationary energy storage systems owing to their low cost and safer operation. However, the practical applications of the ZIBs have significantly been impeded due to the gap between the breakthroughs achieved in academic research and industrial developments. The present review discusses the ZIB's advantages, possibilities, and shortcomings for stationary energy storage systems. The Review begins with a brief introduction to the ZIBs and their charge storage mechanisms based on the structural properties of cathode materials. The scientific and technical challenges that obstruct the commercialization of the ZIBs are discussed in detail concerning their impact on accelerating the utilization of the ZIBs for real-life applications. The final section highlights the outlook on research in this flourishing field.

WS2-intercalated Ti3C2Tx MXene/TiO2-stacked hybrid structure as an excellent sonophotocatalyst for tetracycline degradation and nitrogen fixation

Designing a heterostructure nanoscale catalytic site to facilitate N2 adsorption and photogenerated electron transfer would maximize the potential for photocatalytic activity and N2 reduction reactions. Herein, we have explored the interfacial TiO2 nanograins between the Ti3C2TxMXene-WS2 heterostructure and addressed the beneficial active sites to expand the effective charge transfer rate and promote sonophotocatalytic N2 fixation. Benefiting from the interfacial contact and dual heterostructure interface maximizes the photogenerated carrier separation between WS2 and MXene/TiO2. The sonophotocatalytic activity of the MXene@TiO2/WS2 hybrid, which was assessed by examining the photoreduction of N2 with ultrasonic irradiation, was much higher than that of either sonocatalytic and photocatalytic activity because of the synergistic sonocatalytic effect under photoirradiation. The Schottky junction between the MXene and TiO2 on the hybrid MXene/TiO2-WS2 heterostructure resulted in the sonophotocatalytic performance through effective charge transfer, which is 1.47 and 1.24 times greater than MXene-WS2 for nitrogen fixation and pollutant degradation, respectively. Under the sonophotocatalytic process, the MXene/TiO2-WS2 heterostructure exhibits a decomposition efficiency of 98.9 % over tetracycline in 90 min, which is 5.46, 1.73, and 1.10 times greater than those of sonolysis, sonocatalysis, and photocatalysis, respectively. The production rate of NH3 on MXene/TiO2-WS2 reached 526 μmol g-1h-1, which is 3.17, 3.61, and 1.47 times higher than that of MXene, WS2, and MXene-WS2, respectively. The hybridized structure of MXene-WS2 with interfacial surface oxidized TiO2 nanograins minimizes the band potential and improves photocarrier use efficiency, contributing directly to the remarkable catalytic performance towards N2 photo fixation under visible irradiation under ultrasonic irradiation. This report provides the strategic outcome for the mass carrier transfer rate and reveals a high conversion efficiency in the hybridized heterostructure.

Synergistic effects of layered Ti3C2TX MXene/MIL-101(Cr) heterostructure as a sonocatalyst for efficient degradation of sulfadiazine and acetaminophen in water

In this work, different mass loadings of MXene-coupled MIL-101(Cr) (MXe/MIL-101(Cr)) nanocomposites were generated through a hydrothermal process in order to investigate the potential of this nanocomposite as a novel sonocatalyst for the elimination of sulfadiazine (SD) and acetaminophen (AAP) in aqueous media. The sonocatalytic activity of different MXe/MIL-101(Cr) compositions and surface functionalities was investigated. In addition, the sonocatalytic activities at various pH values, temperatures, pollutant concentrations, catalyst dosages, initial H2O2 concentrations, and organic matter contents were investigated. The experiments on the sonocatalytic elimination of SD and AAP revealed that MXe/MIL-101(Cr) exhibited a catalytic efficiency of ∼ 98% in 80 min when the MXene loading was 30 wt% in the nanocomposite. Under optimized reaction conditions, the degradation efficiency of MXe/MIL-101(Cr) reached 91.5% for SD and 90.6% for AAP in 60 min; these values were 1.2 and 1.8 times greater than those of MXene and MIL-101(Cr), respectively. The high surface area of the MXe/MIL-101(Cr) nanocomposite increased from 4.68 m2/g to 294.21 m2/g, and the band gap of the tagged MIL-101(Cr) on the MXene surface was minimized. The superior sonocatalytic activity of MXe/MIL-101(Cr) was attributed to the effective contact interface, the effective separation rate of e- - h+ pairs through the type II heterostructure interface, and the favorable high free •OH radical production rates that promoted the degradation of SD and AAP. The solid heterointerface between MIL-101(Cr) and MXene was confirmed through Raman and FTIR analysis and was found to promote accessible •OH radical production under sonication, thus maximizing the catalytic activity of nanocomposites. The present results present an effective strategy for the design of a highly efficient, low-cost, reliable sonocatalyst that can eradicate pharmaceutical pollutants in our environment.

Recent advances and future perspectives in the therapeutics of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common cancers in males and the fifth leading reason of death. Age, ethnicity, family history, and genetic defects are major factors that determine the aggressiveness and lethality of PC. The African population is at the highest risk of developing high-grade PC. It can be challenging to distinguish between low-risk and high-risk patients due to the slow progression of PC. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a revolutionary discovery for the identification of PC. However, it has led to an increase in over diagnosis and over treatment of PC in the past few decades. Even if modifications are made to the standard PSA testing, the specificity has not been found to be significant. Our understanding of PC genetics and proteomics has improved due to advances in different fields. New serum, urine, and tissue biomarkers, such as PC antigen 3 (PCA3), have led to various new diagnostic tests, such as the prostate health index, 4K score, and PCA3. These tests significantly reduce the number of unnecessary and repeat biopsies performed. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and prostatectomy are standard treatment options. However, newer novel hormone therapy drugs with a better response have been identified. Androgen deprivation and hormonal therapy are evolving as new and better options for managing hormone-sensitive and castration-resistant PC. This review aimed to highlight and discuss epidemiology, various risk factors, and developments in PC diagnosis and treatment regimens.

The role of NF-κB in breast cancer initiation, growth, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy

Breast cancer (BC) is the second most fatal disease and is the prime cause of cancer allied female deaths. BC is caused by aberrant tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes regulated by transcription factors (TFs) like NF-κB. NF-κB is a pro-inflammatory TF that crucially alters the expressions of various genes associated with inflammation, cell progression, metastasis, and apoptosis and modulates a network of genes that underlie tumorigenesis. Herein, we focus on NF-κB signaling pathways, its regulators, and the rationale for targeting NF-κB. This review also includes TFs that maintain NF-κB crosstalk and their roles in promoting angiogenesis and metastasis. In addition, we discuss the importance of combination therapies, resistance to treatment, and potential novel therapeutic strategies including nanomedicine that targets NF-κB.

HOTAIR: a potential metastatic, drug-resistant and prognostic regulator of breast cancer

HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is an oncogenic non-coding RNA whose expression is strongly correlated with the tumor grade and prognosis of a variety of carcinomas including breast cancer (BC). HOTAIR regulates various target genes via sponging and epigenetic mechanisms and controls various oncogenic cellular and signaling mechanisms including metastasis and drug resistance. In BC cells, HOTAIR expression is regulated by a variety of transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we describe the regulatory mechanisms that govern HOTAIR expression during cancer development and explore how HOTAIR drives BC development, metastasis, and drug resistance. In the final section of this review, we focus on the role of HOTAIR in BC management, therapeutic treatment, and prognosis, highlighting its potential therapeutic applications.

Targeting the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma using nano-phytomedicines

Despite advanced therapeutic strategies, the mortality and morbidity of pancreatic cancer (PC) have been increasing. This is due to the anomalous proliferation activity of stromal cells, like cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), in the tumor microenvironment (TME). These cells develop resistance in the tumor cells, blocking the drug from entering the target tumor site, ultimately resulting in tumor metastasis. Additionally, the current conventional adjuvant techniques, including chemo and radiotherapy, carry higher risk due to their excess toxicity against normal healthy cells. Phytochemicals including curcumin, irinotecan and paclitaxel are anti-oxidants, less toxic, and have anti-cancerous properties; however, the use of phytochemicals is limited due to their less solubility and bioavailability. Nanotechnology offers the resources to directly target the drug to the tumor site, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of the current treatment modalities. This review focuses on the importance of nanotechnology for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) therapy and on delivering the nano-formulated phytochemicals to the target site.

A Novel and Cost-Effective CsVO3 Quantum Dots for Optoelectronic and Display Applications

Quantum dots (QDs) have an unparalleled ability to mimic true colors due to their size-tunable optical and electronic properties, which make them the most promising nanoparticles in various fields. Currently, the majority of QDs available in the market are cadmium, indium, and lead-based materials but the toxicity and unstable nature of these QDs restricts their industrial and practical applications. To avoid using heavy metal ions, especially cadmium, the current research is focused on the fabrication of perovskite and vanadate QDs. Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a novel and cost-effective CsVO₃ QDs for the first time. The sizes of the CsVO₃ QDs produced were tuned from 2 to 10 nm by varying the reaction temperature from 140 to 190 °C. On increasing QD size, a continuous red shift was observed in absorption and emission spectra, signifying the presence of quantum confinement. In addition, along with CsVO₃ QDs, the CsVO₃ nanosheets self-assembled microflower-like particles were found as residue after the centrifugation; the X-ray diffraction indicated an orthorhombic structure. Under 365 nm excitation, these CsVO₃ microflower-like particles exhibited broad emission with CIE coordinates in the white emission region. The acquired results suggest that CsVO₃ QDs may represent a new class of cadmium-free materials for optoelectronic and biomedical applications.

Nanoparticles mediated tumor microenvironment modulation: current advances and applications

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in cancer development and emergence of drug resistance. TME modulation has recently garnered attention as a potential approach for reprogramming the TME and resensitizing resistant neoplastic niches to existing cancer therapies such as immunotherapy or chemotherapy. Nano-based solutions have important advantages over traditional platform and can be specifically targeted and delivered to desired sites. This review explores novel nano-based approaches aimed at targeting and reprogramming aberrant TME components such as macrophages, fibroblasts, tumor vasculature, hypoxia and ROS pathways. We also discuss how nanoplatforms can be combined with existing anti-tumor regimens such as radiotherapy, immunotherapy, phototherapy or chemotherapy to enhance clinical outcomes in solid tumors.

Fluorine Engineered Self-Supported Ultrathin 2D Nickel Hydroxide Nanosheets as Highly Robust and Stable Bifunctional Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution and Urea Oxidation Reactions

Developing highly efficient noble-metal-free electrocatalysts with a scalable and environmentally friendly synthesis approach remains a challenge in the field of electrocatalytic water splitting. To overcome this problem, self-supported fluorine-modified 2D ultrathin nickel hydroxide (F-Ni(OH)₂ ) nanosheets (NSs) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and urea oxidation reaction (UOR) are prepared with a scalable and ascendant one-step synthesis route. The enhanced redox activity, electrical conductivity and a great number of exposed active sites of the heterogeneous catalysts improve charge migration for the electrocatalytic reactions. The density of states of the d orbitals of the Ni atoms significantly increases near the Fermi level, thereby indicating that the Ni atoms near the F-dopants promote electrical conduction in the Ni(OH)₂ monolayer. The F-Ni(OH)₂ electrocatalyst exhibits notable OER and UOR activity with onset potentials of 1.43 and 1.16 V versus RHE, respectively required to reach 10 mA cm^-2 , which are comparable to those of commercial noble-metal-based electrocatalysts. With RuCo-OH nanospheres, the settled F-Ni(OH)₂ ||RuCo-OH cell requires merely 1.55 and 1.37 V to reach 10 mA cm^-2 with superb durability for 24 h in overall water and urea electrolysis, respectively. Overall, high-quality, and efficient noble-metal-free electrocatalysts for overall water and urea electrolysis can be prepared with a simple, scalable, and reproducible preparation method.

Engineered nanoparticles for imaging and drug delivery in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide due to a lack of early detection methods and appropriate drug delivery strategies. Conventional imaging techniques cannot accurately distinguish benign from malignant tissue, leading to frequent misdiagnosis or diagnosis at late stages of the disease. Novel screening tools with improved accuracy and diagnostic precision are thus required to reduce the mortality burden of this malignancy. Additionally, current therapeutic strategies, including radio- and chemotherapies carry adverse side effects and are limited by the development of drug resistance. Recent advances in nanotechnology have rendered it an attractive approach for designing novel clinical solutions for CRC. Nanoparticle-based formulations could assist early tumor detection and help to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies including poor aqueous solubility, nonspecific biodistribution and limited bioavailability. In this review, we shed light on various types of nanoparticles used for diagnosis and drug delivery in CRC. In addition, we will explore how these nanoparticles can improve diagnostic accuracy and promote selective drug targeting to tumor sites with increased efficiency and reduced cytotoxicity against healthy colon tissue.

Two-Dimensional Materials for High-Energy Solid-State Asymmetric Pseudocapacitors with High Mass Loadings

A porous nanostructure and high mass loading are crucial for a pseudocapacitor to achieve a good electrochemical performance. Although pseudocapacitive materials, such as MnO₂ and MoS₂ , with record capacitances close to their theoretical values have been realized, the achieved capacitances are possible only when the electrode mass loading is less than 1 mg cm^-2 . Increasing the mass loading affects the capacitance as electron conduction and ion diffusion become sluggish. Achieving fast ion and electron transport at high mass loadings through all active sites remains a challenge for high-mass-loading electrodes. In this study, 2D MnO₂ nanosheets supported on carbon fibers (MnO₂ @CF) as well as MoS₂ @CF with high mass loadings (6.6 and 7.2 mg cm^-2 , respectively) were used in a high-energy pseudocapacitor. These hierarchical 2D nanosheets yielded outstanding areal capacitances of 1187 and 495 mF cm^-2 at high current densities with excellent cycling stabilities. A pliable pseudocapacitive solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor was designed using MnO₂ @CF and MoS₂ @CF as the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, with a high mass loading of 14.2 mg cm^-2 . The assembled solid-state asymmetric cell had an energy density of 2.305 mWh cm^-3 at a power density of 50 mW cm^-3 and a capacitance retention of 92.25 % over 11 000 cycles and a very small diffusion resistance (1.72 Ω s^-1/2 ). Thus, it is superior to most state-of-the-art reported pseudocapacitors. The rationally designed nanostructured electrodes with high mass loading are likely to open up new opportunities for the development of a supercapacitor device capable of supplying higher energy and power.

Electroactive Ultra-Thin rGO-Enriched FeMoO4 Nanotubes and MnO2 Nanorods as Electrodes for High-Performance All-Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitors

A flexible asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) with high electrochemical performance was constructed using reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-wrapped redox-active metal oxide-based negative and positive electrodes. Thin layered rGO functionality on the positive and the negative electrode surfaces has promoted the feasible surface-active sites and enhances the electrochemical response with a wide operating voltage window. Herein we report the controlled growth of rGO-wrapped tubular FeMoO4 nanofibers (NFs) via electrospinning followed by surface functionalization as a negative electrode. The tubular structure offers the ultrathin-layer decoration of rGO inside and outside of the tubular walls with uniform wrapping. The rGO-wrapped tubular FeMoO4 NF electrode exhibited a high specific capacitance of 135.2 F g-1 in Na2SO4 neutral electrolyte with an excellent rate capability and cycling stability (96.45% in 5000 cycles) at high current density. Meanwhile, the hydrothermally synthesized binder-free rGO/MnO2 nanorods on carbon cloth (rGO-MnO2@CC) were selected as cathode materials due to their high capacitance and high conductivity. Moreover, the ASC device was fabricated using rGO-wrapped FeMoO4 on carbon cloth (rGO-FeMoO4@CC) as the negative electrode and rGO-MnO2@CC as the positive electrode (rGO-FeMoO4@CC/rGO-MnO2@CC). The rationally designed ASC device delivered an excellent energy density of 38.8 W h kg-1 with a wide operating voltage window of 0.0-1.8 V. The hybrid ASC showed excellent cycling stability of 93.37% capacitance retention for 5000 cycles. Thus, the developed rGO-wrapped FeMoO4 nanotubes and MnO2 nanorods are promising hybrid electrode materials for the development of wide-potential ASCs with high energy and power density.

Folate-conjugated nanovehicles: Strategies for cancer therapy

Cancer theranostics represents a strategy that aims at combining diagnosis with therapy through the simultaneous imaging and targeted delivery of therapeutics to cancer cells. Recently, the folate receptor alpha has emerged as an attractive theranostic target due to its overexpression in multiple solid tumors and its great functional versatility. In fact, it can be incorporated into folate-conjugated nano-systems for imaging and drug delivery. Hence, it can be used along the line of personalized clinical strategies as both an imaging tool and a delivery method ensuring the selective transport of treatments to tumor cells, thus highlighting its theranostic qualities. In this review, we will explore these theranostic characteristics in detail and assess their clinical potential. We will also discuss the technological advances that have allowed the design of sophisticated folate-based nanocarriers harboring various chemical properties and suited for the transport of various therapeutic agents.

Nanomaterials multifunctional behavior for enlightened cancer therapeutics

Cancer is an outrageous disease with uncontrolled differentiation, growth, and migration to the other parts of the body. It is the second-most common cause of death both in the U.S. and worldwide. Current conventional therapies, though much improved and with better prognosis, have several limitations. Chemotherapeutic agents, for instance, are cytotoxic to both tumor and healthy cells, and the non-specific distribution of drugs at tumor sites limits the dose administered. Nanotechnology, which evolved from the coalescence and union of varied scientific disciplines, is a novel science that has been the focus of much research. This technology is generating more effective cancer therapies to overcome biomedical and biophysical barriers against standard interventions in the body; its unique magnetic, electrical, and structural properties make it a promising tool. This article reviews endogenous- and exogenous-based stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems designed to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. The article also summarizes the study of nanomaterials, including polymeric, gold, silver, magnetic, and quantum dot nanoparticles. Though an array of drug delivery systems has so far been proposed, there remain many challenges and concerns that should be addressed in order to fill the gaps in the field. Prominence is given to drug delivery systems that employ external- and internal-based stimuli and that are emerging as promising tools for cancer therapeutics in clinical settings.

Horizons of nanotechnology applications in female specific cancers

Female-specific cancers are the most common cancers in women worldwide. Early detection methods remain unavailable for most of these cancers, signifying that most of them are diagnosed at later stages. Furthermore, current treatment options for most female-specific cancers are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although important milestones in molecularly targeted approaches have been achieved lately, current therapeutic strategies for female-specific cancers remain limited, ineffective and plagued by the emergence of chemoresistance, which aggravates prognosis. Recently, the application of nanotechnology to the medical field has allowed the development of novel nano-based approaches for the management and treatment of cancers, including female-specific cancers. These approaches promise to improve patient survival rates by reducing side effects, enabling selective delivery of drugs to tumor tissues and enhancing the uptake of therapeutic compounds, thus increasing anti-tumor activity. In this review, we focus on the application of nano-based technologies to the design of novel and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the context of female-specific cancers, highlighting their potential uses and limitations.

Folate-targeted immunotherapies: Passive and active strategies for cancer

The glycoprotein FRα is a membrane-attached transport protein that is shielded from the immune system in healthy cells. However, it is upregulated in various malignancies, involved in cancer development and is also immunogenic. Furthermore, FRα is a tumor-associated antigen endowed with unique properties, thus rendering it a suitable target for immunotherapeutic development in cancer. Various anti- FRα immunotherapeutic strategies are thus currently being developed and clinically assessed for the treatment of various solid tumors. These approaches include passive anti-FRα immunotherapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, or active immunotherapies, such as CART, folate haptens and vaccines. In this review, we will explore the advances in the field of FRα-based immune therapies and discuss both their successes and shortcomings in the clinical setting.