The newly synthesized quinoline–benzimidazole hybrids containing two types of triazole-methyl-phenoxy linkers were characterized via NMR and elemental analysis. Additional derivatization was achieved by introducing bromine at the C-2 position of the phenoxy core. These novel hybrids were tested for their effects on the growth of the non-tumor cell line MRC-5 (human fetal lung fibroblasts), leukemia and lymphoma cell lines: Hut78, THP-1 and HL-60, and carcinoma cell lines: HeLa and CaCo-2. The results obtained, presented as the concentration that achieves 50% inhibition of cell growth (IC₅₀ value), show that the compounds tested affect tumor cell growth differently depending on the cell line and the dose applied (IC₅₀ ranged from 0.2 to >100 µM). The quinoline–benzimidazole hybrids tested, including 7-chloro-4-(4-{[4-(5-methoxy-1H-1,3-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenoxy]methyl}-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)quinoline 9c, 2-(3-bromo-4-{[1-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]methoxy}phenyl)-N-propyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-carboximidamide trihydrochloride 10e, 2-{4-[(1-{2-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]ethyl}-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy]phenyl}-N-propyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-carboximidamide trihydrochloride 14e and 2-{3-bromo-4-[(1-{2-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]ethyl}-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methoxy]phenyl}-N-propyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-5-carboximidamide trihydrochloride 15e, arrested the cell cycle of lymphoma (HuT78) cells. The calculated ADMET properties showed that the synthesized compounds violated at most two of Lipinski’s rules, making them potential drug candidates, but mainly for parenteral use due to low gastrointestinal absorption. The quinoline–benzimidazole hybrid 14e, which was shown to be a potent and selective inhibitor of lymphoma cell line growth, obtained the highest binding energy (−140.44 kcal/mol), by docking to the TAO2 kinase domain (PDB: 2GCD).

Three new complexes of copper(II) and chromone-2-carboxylic acid, a ligand from the group of hydroxypyrones, were synthesised according to the principles of green chemistry. The complexes were characterised by FT–IR and NMR spectroscopy, thermal and electrochemical analysis, and their structures are proposed. The results show the formation of mononuclear (1) and dinuclear hydroxo-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes (2 and 3). The results of cyclic voltammetry show that the copper in all complexes is in the +2-oxidation state. The antiproliferative activity was determined by MTT assay on 2D cell models in vitro on seven cell lines. The activity spectrum of complexes 1–3 ranged from the highest to the lowest value in the tumour cell lines tested, in the following order: Hep G2 > NCI-H358 > HT-29 > KATO III > MDA-MB 231 > Caco-2. The most effective concentration was 10⁻⁵ mol dm⁻³, which suppressed the growth of Hep G2 cells as follows: 69.5% (1), 64.8% (2) and 64% (3). The calculated selectivity index clearly shows that Hep G2 is the most sensitive cell line to copper complexes (SI = 1.623 (1); 1.557 (2), 1.431 (3).

In this study, clay composites were subjected to electromagnetic transmission testing at frequencies in the region of non-ionizing radiation. Specimens were made with partial substitution of clay with different admixtures by mass. Admixtures used were Fly Ash, four different particle sizes and phases of Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂), Zinc Ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄), Maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃) and Antimony Tin Oxide (ATO). The additives were thoroughly (chemically, structurally, morphologically) characterized. The replacement percentage was 5 wt.%. Electromagnetic transmission assessment included S₂₁ transmission coefficient measurements for samples with different additives. The lowest transmission was reported for the clay specimens with ATO and Titanium Dioxide, especially at higher frequencies. A decrease in the transmission parameter with increasing specimen thickness was also confirmed.

A new copper(II) complex was synthesized using chromone-2-carboxylic acid as the main ligand, and coordinated pyridine molecules. The complex was successfully crystallized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. This revealed a mononuclear structure with a distorted square pyramidal geometry around the central Cu(II) ion. The coordination sphere comprises oxygen atoms from the chromone moiety and nitrogen atoms from pyridine, resulting in a five-coordinate complex. A comprehensive physicochemical characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, elemental (C, H, N), electrochemical (CV) and thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) to confirm the coordination environment and thermal stability of the compound. The complex exhibits distinct spectroscopic features indicative of ligand–metal charge transfer and d–d transitions typical of Cu(II) species. In addition, the synthesized complex was subjected to antimicrobial screening against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The compound showed promising antibacterial activity, particularly against Escherichia coli, indicating its potential as a bioactive coordination compound. These results contribute to the growing body of research on metal-based chromone derivatives and emphasize the importance of copper complexes for the development of new antibacterial agents with defined crystal structures.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized via fungal-mediated biosynthesis have gained attention as eco-friendly alternatives to chemically produced nanomaterials, with broad biomedical potential. Fungi represent particularly attractive systems because their secretomes contain diverse biomolecules, including enzymes, proteins, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites, capable of reducing silver ions and stabilizing the resulting nanoparticles. Despite extensive investigation, the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal-mediated AgNP formation remain poorly defined. This review critically examines the key biomolecular drivers involved in this process, with emphasis on nitrate reductases, oxidoreductases, extracellular proteins, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites as potential reducing and capping agents. Proposed mechanisms, including nitrate reductase-dependent, superoxide-mediated, and metabolite-driven pathways, are evaluated. The influence of process parameters such as silver nitrate concentration, incubation time, culture medium composition, pH, temperature, and fungal species on nanoparticle yield, size, and stability is also assessed. Analysis of the current literature highlights significant knowledge gaps, including limited application of proteomic and metabolomic approaches, a lack of causal mechanistic studies, and insufficient standardization of experimental protocols. Overall, evidence indicates that fungal AgNP biosynthesis is governed by complex interactions among multiple biomolecular classes rather than a single universal mechanism, underscoring priorities for improving reproducibility, scalability, and mechanistic understanding.

Heterocyclic structures are the basic building blocks of many naturally occurring organic compounds that are important for the development of essential biological processes in plants and animals, including carbohydrates and vitamins. They are also widely used as raw material sources to produce pharmaceuticals. In this study, three ligands from the groups of benzopyrones (chromone-2-carboxylic acid) and hydroxypyrones (maltol and coumalic acid), and a newly prepared complex of copper(II) nitrate with maltol as a ligand were investigated for their ability to inhibit cell proliferation. For research purposes, a series of solutions of the tested materials were prepared at different final concentrations (10–5 mol dm–3, 10–6 mol dm–3, and 10–7 mol dm–3), and then applied to a total of 7 selected cell lines, including one healthy cell line, while the others were tumour cell lines. The results of MTT cytotoxicity assay on the selected 2D cell models showed that none of the selected ligands exhibited antiproliferative activity at any concentration on any of the tested cell lines. The complex of copper(II) nitrate and maltol, in contrast to the tested ligands at the 10–5 mol dm–3 concentration, exhibited significant cytotoxicity as follows: KATO III > HT-29 > Hep G2 > NCI-H358 > MDA-MB-231 > Caco-2 > MRC-5. The healthy cell line (MRC-5) had a survival rate higher than 90.0 % at all tested concentrations, which led to the conclusion of the selectivity of the compound towards tumour cell lines.