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.

Trivalent rare-earth (RE) ions (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺ and Sm³⁺) activated multicolor emitting SrY₂O₄ phosphors were synthesized by a sol–gel process. The structural and morphological studies were performed by the measurements of X-ray diffraction profiles and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. The pure phase of SrY₂O₄ appeared after annealing at 1300 °C and the doping of RE ions did not show any effect on the structural properties. From the SEM images, the closely packed particles were observed due to the roughness of each particle tip. The photoluminescence (PL) analysis of individual RE ions activated SrY₂O₄ phosphors exhibits excellent emission properties in their respective regions. The Eu³⁺ co-activated SrY₂O₄:Tb³⁺ phosphor creates different emissions by controlling the energy transfer from Tb³⁺ to Eu³⁺ ions. Based on the excitation wavelengths, multiple (green, orange and white) emissions were obtained by Sm³⁺ ions co-activated with SrY₂O₄:Tb³⁺ phosphors. The decay measurements were carried out for analyzing the energy transfer efficiency and the possible ways of energy transfer from donor to acceptor. The cathodoluminescence properties of these phosphors show similar behavior as PL properties except the energy transfer process. The obtained results indicated that the energy transfer process was quite opposite to the PL properties. The calculated CIE chromaticity coordinates of RE ions activated SrY₂O₄ phosphors confirmed the red, green, orange and white emissions.

Although much progress has been made in treating cancers, cancer death rates in and around the United States are still high. Current treatments are either ineffective against some cancers or detrimental to patients, which decreases their quality of life. The use of nanotechnology in cancer therapy can potentially increase patient survival, reduce side effects, and reduce mortality rates because nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to target only tumors and bypass healthy cells. NPs possess many features, including size, shape, charge, and composition, which allow them to carry chemotherapeutics to cancer cells. NPs can also be used in radiotherapy as radiosensitizers and in imaging as contrast agents. Many studies have performed in vitro and/or in vivo experiments on these particles in human and animal cell lines. This review discusses recent studies on different NPs and their potential use in cancer therapy.

Evolution of a simple, efficient and reproducible strategy for the rational design of hierarchically structured metal chalcogenide-based supercapacitors has attracted considerable research interest in recent years. Herein, a facile wet-chemistry approach is employed to design three-dimensional forest-like porous nickel sulfide nanotrees on nickel foam (NiS NTs/Ni foam) for use as a cathode material in hybrid supercapacitors. The growth time plays a crucial role in controlling the surface morphology, and the optimal growth conditions (3 h at 85 °C) led to the growth of forest-like NiS NTs/Ni foam with reliable adherence. The forest-like NiS NTs/Ni foam shows maximum areal and specific capacities of 752.71 μA h cm⁻² and 342.1 mA h g⁻¹ at a current density of 4 mA cm⁻², with an excellent cycling stability of 89.4%. This result is primarily due to the availability of more surface-active sites in the well-defined hierarchical architecture, which allow the rapid diffusion of electrolyte ions and minimize the electron transport limitation. Utilizing the hierarchical NiS NTs/Ni foam as a cathode and activated carbon-based anode, we further fabricated a hybrid supercapacitor, which demonstrates a wide potential window of 1.6 V with high areal energy and power densities of 0.472 mW h cm⁻² and 21.5 mW cm⁻², respectively. The fabricated hybrid supercapacitor is successfully utilized to drive various electronic gadgets for real-life applications. The electrochemical performance of a hierarchically structured NiS-based binder-free electrode with our facile approach paves a new pathway for the development of novel metal chalcogenides for high-performance hybrid supercapacitors.

Stable CaMoO₄ spherulites were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method using (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O as a Mo source and these spherulites were formed according to the theoretical predictions of the crystal splitting theory. Rietveld refinement and photoluminescence studies confirmed that the CaMoO₄ spherulites are defect-free. The CaMoO₄ spherulites showed greenish-blue emission and the single emitting component of CaMoO₄:Eu³⁺ spherulites led to a novel excitation induced efficient emission property like organic light emitting diodes. Cathodoluminescent properties of the CaMoO₄:Eu³⁺ exhibited individual emissions from MoO₄ ²⁻ clusters and Eu³⁺ ions. The white color emissions were clearly explained using Gaussian fitting curves. The corresponding CIE chromaticity coordinates provided their emission potentiality in the green, red and white regions for optical and biological applications.