Green chemistry is a pharmaceutical industry tool, which, when implemented correctly, can lead to a minimization in resource consumption and waste. An aqueous extract of Salix alba L. was employed for the efficient and rapid synthesis of silver/gold particle nanostructures via an inexpensive, nontoxic and eco-friendly procedure. The nanoparticles were physicochemically characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the best stability of up to one year in the solution obtained for silver nanoparticles without any chemical additives. A comparison of the antimicrobial effect of silver/gold nanoparticles and their formulations (hydrogels, ointments, aqueous solutions) showed that both metallic nanoparticles have antibacterial and antibiofilm effects, with silver-based hydrogels having particularly high antibiofilm efficiency. The highest antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacies were obtained against Pseudomonas aeruginosa when using silver nanoparticle hydrogels, with antibiofilm efficacies of over 75% registered. The hydrogels incorporating green nanoparticles displayed a 200% increased bacterial efficiency when compared to the controls and their components. All silver nanoparticle formulations were ecologically obtained by “green synthesis” and were shown to have an antimicrobial effect or potential as keratinocyte-acting pharmaceutical substances for ameliorating infectious psoriasis wounds.

Nanocomposite materials have seen increased adoption in a wide range of applications, with toxic gas detection, such as carbon monoxide (CO), being of particular interest for this review. Such sensors are usually characterized by the presence of CO absorption sites in their structures, with the Langmuir reaction model offering a good description of the reaction mechanism involved in capturing the gas. Among the reviewed sensors, those that combined polymers with carbonaceous materials showed improvements in their analytical parameters such as increased sensitivities, wider dynamic ranges, and faster response times. Moreover, it was observed that the CO reaction mechanism can differ when measured in mixtures with other gases as opposed to when it is detected in isolation, which leads to lower sensitivities to the target gas. To better understand such changes, we offer a complete description of carbon nanostructure-based chemosensors for the detection of CO from the sensing mechanism of each material to the water solution strategies for the composite nanomaterials and the choice of morphology for enhancing a layers’ conductivity. Then, a series of state-of-the-art resistive chemosensors that make use of nanocomposite materials is analyzed, with performance being assessed based on their detection range and sensitivity.

This study investigates the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities of Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion) and Artemisia annua (Sweet Wormwood) extracts, along with their role in the green synthesis of gold (AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Bioreduction was achieved using aqueous and ethanolic extracts (100 mg/mL), enabling solvent-dependent comparisons. Nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and zeta potential analysis. Each technique revealed complementary aspects of nanoparticle morphology, size, and stability, with UV–Vis indicating aggregation states and DLS confirming solvent-related size variation even at 3–5% ethanol. Gold nanoparticles synthesized from Dandelion showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, while silver nanoparticles from both plants were effective against Escherichia coli. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that silver nanoparticles obtained from ethanolic Dandelion extract containing 3% ethanol in aqueous solution (AgNPsE_ETOH3%-D) significantly reduced LoVo (p = 4.58 × 10⁻³) and MDA-MB-231 (p = 7.20 × 10⁻⁵) cell viability, with high selectivity indices (SI), suggesting low toxicity toward normal cells. Gold nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous Dandelion extract (AuNPsEaq-D) also showed favorable SI values (2.16 for LoVo and 8.41 for MDA-MB-231). Although some formulations demonstrated lower selectivity (SI < 1.5), the findings support the therapeutic potential of these biogenic nanoparticles. Further in vivo studies and pharmacokinetic evaluations are required to validate their clinical applicability.

Sensor systems for monitoring indoor air quality are vital for the precise quantification of the mechanisms which lead to the deterioration of human health, with a typical person spending an average of 20 h a day in an enclosed space. Thus, a series of layered chemoresistive sensors, obtained by the facile electrodeposition of carbon nanomaterial-enhanced PANI composites, have been tested for the selective detection of two core indoor pollutants: ammonia and nitrogen dioxide. The sensors were tested with respect to sensitivity and selectivity to the target gasses, with performance being assessed based on response linearity and repeatability at room temperature. Of the tested sensors, two have been identified as having an adequate performance on ammonia, with sensitivities of up to 96.99% and resolutions of up to 0.85 ppm being observed, while on nitrogen dioxide, despite the successful sensor having a lower sensitivity, 10.71%, it has shown high resolution, 1.25 ppm, and linearity over a large concentration domain. These high performances highlight the viability of multi-layers chemosensors based on the electrodeposition of nanomaterial-enhanced conductive polymers for the detection of pollutant gasses, with finetuning of the detection layer allowing the accurate monitoring of a wide range of gasses.

Background/Objectives: Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite significant advancements in treatment strategies and drug development, survival rates remain low and the adverse effects of conventional therapies severely impact patients’ quality of life. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of plant-derived extracts in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment, with a focus on minimizing side effects while enhancing efficacy. Methods: This research investigates the in vitro synergistic effect of silver bio-nanoparticles synthesized from Clematis vitalba, Melissa officinalis, and Taraxacum officinale extracts (Clematis vitalbae extractum—CVE, Melissae extractum—ME, Taraxaci extractum—TE) in combination with liver cancer drugs, sunitinib (SNTB) and imatinib (IMTB), on HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial) cell lines. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antitumor effects were evaluated through cell viability assays after 24 and 48 h of exposure, with additional cytotoxicity tests on HUVEC cells. Results: Results indicated that Melissa officinalis-derived silver nanoparticles (ME AgNPs) and Clematis vitalba extract with silver nanoparticles (CVE AgNPs) significantly reduced HepG2 cell viability. Their efficacy improved when combined with conventional therapies (SNTB + ME AgNPs 1:1 vs. SNTB: 20.01% vs. 25.73%, p = 0.002; IMTB + ME AgNPs 1:1 vs. IMTB: 17.80% vs. 18.08%, p = 0.036; SNTB + CVE AgNPs 1:1 vs. SNTB: 18.73% vs. 25.73%, p = 0.000; SNTB + CVE AgNPs 1:2 vs. SNTB: 26.62% vs. 41.00%, p = 0.018; IMTB + CVE AgNPs 1:1 vs. IMTB: 12.99% vs. 18.08%, p = 0.001). Taraxacum extract exhibited similar cytotoxicity to its nanoparticle formulation but did not exceed the efficacy of the extract alone at 24 h. Selectivity index assessments confirmed that AgNPs-based formulations significantly improve cytotoxicity and selectivity to HepG2 cells. Among the tested extracts, CVE demonstrated the strongest antitumor effect, enhancing the efficacy of synthetic drugs (CI < 1). SNTB + TE AgNPs (5% EtOH) also demonstrated consistent synergy at high doses, while SNTB + CVE AgNPs provided broad-range synergy, making it suitable for dose-escalation strategies. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of nanoparticle-based formulations in combination therapies with targeted kinase inhibitors such as sunitinib and imatinib. Future research should focus on in vivo validation and clinical trials to confirm these findings.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and despite significant advances in treatment plans and drug development, survival prospects are still low, and treatment side effects are life altering. This article examines plant-derived extracts and their therapeutic potential against various types of hepatocellular carcinoma as a means of inducing fewer side effects compared to existing treatments. The focus is on the in vitro synergistic effect of silver bio-nanoparticles obtained from Clematis vitalba, Melissa officinalis, and Taraxacum officinale extracts (Clematis vitalbae extractum—CVE, Melissae extractum—ME, Taraxaci extractum—TE), alongside important drugs employed in liver cancer treatments (sunitinib—SNTB and imatinib—IMTB), and their effect on HepG2 cell lines (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and normal HUVEC cell lines (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). The nanoparticles (AgNPs) were characterized in terms of their dimensions, maximum absorption, and stability in solutions using techniques such as UV-Vis, DLS, zeta potential, and SEM. Meanwhile, antitumor effect was determined based on the viability of the HepG2 cells after 24 and 48 hours of treatment with each extract, mixtures of extracts with nanoparticles, and combinations of the extracts with antitumor drugs. Tests were repeated on the HUVEC cell line to determine normal cell toxicity. M. officinalis-derived silver nanoparticles (ME AgNPs) and the Clematis vitalba extract with silver nanoparticles (CVE AgNPs) significantly reduced HepG2 cell viability, enhancing efficacy when combined with conventional therapies ( SNTB + ME AgNPs 1:1 vs SNTB: 20.01% vs 25.73% (p = 0.002), IMTB + ME AgNPs 1:1 vs IMTB: 17.80% vs 18.08% (p = 0.036); SNTB + CVE AgNPs 1:1 vs SNTB: 18.73% vs 25.73% (p = 0.000), SNTB + CVE AgNPs 1:2 vs SNTB: 26.62% vs 41.00% (p = 0.018), IMTB + CVE AgNPs 1:1 vs IMTB: 12.99% vs 18.08% (p = 0.001)) . In contrast, the Taraxacum extract showed comparable cytotoxicity to its silver nanoparticles but did not exceed the efficacy of the extract alone after 24 hours. Of the three extracts, CVE demonstrated the most potent antitumor effect, resulting in an increase in the anticancer efficacy of the synthetic drug with remarkable therapeutic benefits in the fight against cancer. The findings of this study highlight the promising potential of plant-derived silver bio-nanoparticles to enhance the efficacy of conventional liver cancer treatments, paving the way for future research into more effective and less toxic therapeutic options.