In the present paper, the synthesis of metal-organic framework MIL-101 and its application in the photocatalytic degradation of Remazol Black B (RBB) dye have been demonstrated. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms at 77 K. It was found that MIL-101 synthesized under optimal conditions exhibited high crystallinity and specific surface area (3360 m²·g^-1). The obtained MIL-101 possessed high stability in water for 14 days and several solvents (benzene, ethanol, and water at boiling temperature). Its catalytic activities were evaluated by measuring the degradation of RBB in an aqueous solution under UV radiation. The findings show that MIL-101 was a heterogeneous photocatalyst in the degradation reaction of RBB. The mechanism of photocatalysis was considered to be achieved by the electron transfer from photoexcited organic ligands to metallic clusters in MIL-101. The kinetics of photocatalytic degradation reaction were analyzed by using the initial rate method and Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The MIL-101 photocatalyst exhibited excellent catalytic recyclability and stability and can be a potential catalyst for the treatment of organic pollutants in aqueous solutions.

Simultaneous integration of photon emission and biocompatibility into nanoparticles is an interesting strategy to develop applications of advanced optical materials. In this work, we present the synthesis of biocompatible optical nanocomposites from the combination of near-infrared luminescent lanthanide nanoparticles and water-soluble chitosan. NaYF₄:Yb,Er upconverting nanocrystal guests and water-soluble chitosan hosts are prepared and integrated together into biofunctional optical composites. The control of aqueous dissolution, gelation, assembly, and drying of NaYF₄:Yb,Er nanocolloids and chitosan liquids allowed us to design novel optical structures of spongelike aerogels and beadlike microspheres. Well-defined shape and near-infrared response lead upconverting nanocrystals to serve as photon converters to couple with plasmonic gold (Au) nanoparticles. Biocompatible chitosan-stabilized Au/NaYF₄:Yb,Er nanocomposites are prepared to show their potential use in biomedicine as we find them exhibiting a half-maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of 0.58 mg mL^–1 for chitosan-stabilized Au/NaYF₄:Yb,Er nanorods versus 0.24 mg mL^–1 for chitosan-stabilized NaYF₄:Yb,Er after 24 h. As a result of their low cytotoxicity and upconverting response, these novel materials hold promise to be interesting for biomedicine, analytical sensing, and other applications.

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using plant extract, the cost-effective solution, and the abundance and environmental issue have been gaining much attention to scientists. Ganoderma lucidum (GL) commonly known as Lingzhi in Chinese and Reishi in Japanese, with a proven anticancer benefit, is discovered in the buffer zone of Bach Ma National Park, Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue province. In this work, the AgNPs were synthesized in a simple and effective biochemical reduction process using GL which is one of the biological organisms, as a reducing and stable agent. The optimum conditions of various experimental parameters such as pH, reaction time, concentration, and temperature were investigated. Obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, SEM, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effects of AgNP/GL materials and GL aqueous extraction on the antiproliferative activities of HepG2 and MCF-7 cells were studied. The novel AgNP/GL-based multicomponent suspension is a key compound that could find a good application in the medical and pharmaceutical sciences.

This study describes the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using the extract of Ganoderma lucidum in the buffer zone of Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam, as a reducing and protecting agent using microwave-assisted synthesis. The as-synthesized AuNPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Compared to the conventional method, the proposed microwave-assisted method produced AuNPs having a small size of 22.07 ± 8.11 nm in a short synthesis time period. In excess NaBH₄, the as-prepared AuNPs demonstrated good catalytic activity for reducing 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. Furthermore, AuNPs demonstrated improved reusability after four cycles. The pseudo-first-order apparent rate constant was estimated to be 0.086 min^–1 at 303 K. Both the catalytic mechanism and reaction path of reduction were proposed. Moreover, activation energy and thermodynamic parameters, including activation enthalpy and entropy, were examined.