The exceptional characteristics of bio-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), including high surface-to-volume ratio and high-profit strength, are of tremendous interest. CuO NPs have cytotoxic, catalytic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. Fruit peel extract has been recommended as a valuable alternative method due to the advantages of economic prospects, environment-friendliness, improved biocompatibility, and high biological activities, such as antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as many physical and chemical methods have been applied to synthesize metal oxide NPs. In the presence of apple peel extract and microwave (MW) irradiation, CuO NPs are produced from the precursor CuCl₂. 2H₂O. With the help of TEM analysis, and BET surface area, the average sizes of the obtained NPs are found to be 25–40 nm. For use in antimicrobial applications, CuO NPs are appropriate. Disk diffusion tests were used to study the bactericidal impact in relation to the diameter of the inhibition zone, and an intriguing antibacterial activity was confirmed on both the Gram-positive bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacterial pathogen Escherichia coli. Moreover, CuO NPs did not have any toxic effect on seed germination. Thus, this study provides an environmentally friendly material and provides a variety of advantages for biomedical applications and environmental applications.

Recently, researchers have employed metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for loading pharmaceutically important substances. MOFs are a novel class of porous class of materials formed by the self-assembly of organic ligands and metal ions, creating a network structure. The current investigation effectively achieves the loading of adenosine (ADN) into a metal–organic framework based on cyclodextrin (CD) using a solvent diffusion method. The composite material, referred to as ADN:β-CD-K MOFs, is created by loading ADN into beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with the addition of K⁺ salts. This study delves into the detailed examination of the interaction between ADN and β-CD in the form of MOFs. The focus is primarily on investigating the hydrogen bonding interaction and energy parameters through the aid of semi-empirical quantum mechanical computations. The analysis of peaks that are associated with the ADN-loaded ICs (inclusion complexes) within the MOFs indicates that ADN becomes incorporated into a partially amorphous state. Observations from SEM images reveal well-defined crystalline structures within the MOFs. Interestingly, when ADN is absent from the MOFs, smaller and irregularly shaped crystals are formed. This could potentially be attributed to the MOF manufacturing process. Furthermore, this study explores the additional cross-linking of β-CD with K through the coupling of -OH on the β-CD-K MOFs. The findings corroborate the results obtained from FT-IR analysis, suggesting that β-CD plays a crucial role as a seed in the creation of β-CD-K MOFs. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the MOFs is assessed in vitro using MDA-MB-231 cells (human breast cancer cells).

Quercetin (QRC), a flavonoid found in foods and plants such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, and berries, possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These properties make it effective in combating cancer cells, reducing inflammation, protecting against heart disease, and regulating blood sugar levels. To enhance the potential of inclusion complexes (ICs) containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in cancer therapy, they were transformed into nano-inclusion complexes (NICs). In this research, NICs were synthesized using ethanol as a reducing agent in the nanoprecipitation process. By employing FT-IR analysis, it was observed that hydrogen bonds were formed between QRC and β-CD. Moreover, the IC molecules formed NICs through the aggregation facilitated by intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Proton NMR results further confirmed the occurrence of proton shielding and deshielding subsequent to the formation of NICs. The introduction of β-CDs led to the development of a distinctive feather-like structure within the NICs. The particle sizes were consistently measured around 200 nm, and both SAED and XRD patterns indicated the absence of crystalline NICs, providing supporting evidence. Through cytotoxicity and fluorescence-assisted cell-sorting analysis, the synthesized NICs showed no significant damage in the cell line of MCF-7. In comparison to QRC alone, the presence of high concentrations of NICs exhibited a lesser degree of toxicity in normal human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells. Moreover, the individual and combined administration of both low and high concentrations of NICs effectively suppressed the growth of cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). The solubility improvement resulting from the formation of QRC-NICs with β-CD enhanced the percentage of cell survival for MCF-7 cell types.

Global society has been highly pressured by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains for disinfection products, personal protective equipment, and medical resources worldwide. It is critically necessary to find effective treatments and medications for these viral infections. This review summarizes and emphasizes critical features of recent breakthroughs in vaccines, inhibitors, radiations, and innovative nonthermal atmospheric plasma (NTAP) technologies to inactivate COVID-19. NTAP has emerged as an effective, efficient, and safe method of viral inactivation. NTAP can be used to inactivate viruses in an environmentally friendly manner, as well as activate animal and plant viruses in a variety of matrices. Researchers and engineers desire to help the medical world deal with the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic by establishing techniques that make use of widely available NTAP technologies. NTAP technology is not dependent on viral strain, and it does not necessitate months or years of research to develop specific vaccines for each novel or arising viral disease. We believe the NTAP is a highly promising technique for combating COVID-19 and other viruses. Thus, NTAP technology could be a significant breakthrough in the near future in assisting humans in combating COVID-19 infections. We hope that this review provides a platform for readers to examine the progress made in the fight against COVID-19 through the use of vaccines, inhibitors, radiation, and NTAP.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that requires accurate diagnosis, continuous disease monitoring, and effective treatment. Conventional approaches are often limited by invasiveness, insufficient sensitivity, and limited capacity for real-time disease monitoring. Near-infrared (NIR)-based theranostic technologies have emerged as a promising strategy for IBD management owing to their deep tissue penetration, low autofluorescence, high spatial resolution, and ability to integrate diagnosis and therapy on a single platform. This review summarizes the recent advances in NIR technologies for IBD diagnosis and treatment. It first introduces the fundamentals of NIR-I and NIR-II optical windows, the optical properties of intestinal tissues, and the design principles of NIR-responsive nanoplatforms. Recent advances in NIR fluorescence imaging for disease detection and monitoring, including small-molecule dyes, activatable probes, and nanoparticle-based imaging agents, are highlighted. NIR-responsive therapeutic systems, including photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), triggered drug delivery, and nanozyme-integrated catalytic therapy, are also reviewed in this article. In addition, multimodal imaging methods and imaging-guided therapeutic approaches are discussed, along with evolving combination therapies, including antioxidant nanozymes, immunomodulation, and microbiota-guided strategies. Finally, we outline the major challenges and future directions associated with clinical translation. Overall, NIR-based theranostic technologies hold considerable potential for precise diagnosis, real-time monitoring, and personalized treatment of IBD.