One of the most interesting and poorly studied carriers of medicinal substances is the polymer clay composite material (PCCM). Bentonite clays are used in pharmacy for the manufacturing of various dosage forms, as well as in the adsorption of drugs to slow their release. Polymer–clay nanocomposites have demonstrated significantly improved properties compared to pure polymers. A review of recent scientific advances has shown promising results regarding the application of polymer–clay materials in medicine and bioengineering, particularly in the development of carrier sorbents with prolonged action for controlled drug release. As a result, interest in polymer–clay systems is steadily growing and gaining momentum. This paper focuses on the structure and properties of bentonite clays, including their sorption, ion exchange, binding, and rheological properties. The methods for preparing intercalated and exfoliated nanocomposites, such as radical intercalative polymerization in situ on clay surfaces, are reviewed. Furthermore, the improved efficacy and exposure times of PCCMs, combined with their enhanced bactericidal properties, are analyzed for the creation of universal and multifunctional preparations for medical use.

At present, when the whole world is intensively switching to organic farming, the refusal or minimization of the usage of chemical plant protection products and synthesized fertilizers is a very urgent issue for the agro-industrial complex (AIC). Accordingly, the solution to the problems of increasing yields and ensuring the fight against pathogenic components should be carried out in accordance with the principles of “green” chemistry. In this regard, the usage of heteroleptic complexes based on carboxylic and amino acids with biogenic metals is dictated not only by their availability, low cost, and ability to increase crop yields but also by fungicidal activity, lower toxicity, and easy biodegradability, which lists them among the “green” and cost-effective plant biostimulants. In the present work, for the first time, a heteroleptic complex based on succinic acid and glycine, with the formula [Cu(succ)(gly)], was developed for usage as a fungicidal biostimulant, which has the ability to significantly reduce the number of pathogens. We found that this compound has a layered structure and was able to increase soybean germination up to 100%.

The characterization and biomedical modification of bentonite clays from the Kalzhat deposit (Kzh), which is situated in Kazakhstan’s Zhetysu region, are the main objectives of this work. In order to improve the raw material’s structural qualities, the montmorillonite fraction was enriched, and coarse impurities were eliminated using the Salo method. The presence of meso- and micropores that guarantee high dispersity and specific surface area, as well as the prevalence of montmorillonite and kaolinite, was all confirmed by physicochemical analysis. Particle size measurements indicated finely dispersed structures with a propensity to aggregate, whereas thermal analysis demonstrated resilience under heating. After effective functionalization with silver nanoparticles, a porous hybrid system with improved surface reactivity was produced. These enhancements demonstrate the modified bentonite’s usefulness as a multifunctional carrier for the immobilization and controlled release of pharmaceuticals, with potential uses in drug delivery systems, antimicrobial coatings, and wound-healing materials. The material has potential use in sorption and environmental protection technologies in addition to its biomedical application. Overall, Kzh’s structural and functional performance is greatly improved by the combination of purification and functionalization with silver nanoparticles, highlighting its promise as a useful element in the development of next-generation polymer–composite systems.

The application of cellulose-based nanocomposite sorbents as environmentally friendly materials for water purification has emerged as an important and rapidly developing research area. In this context, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were successfully extracted from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) derived from sunflower seed husks (SFHs) and comprehensively characterized. The obtained nanocellulosic materials were subsequently utilized to fabricate nanocomposite hydrogels, designated as HG_CNF and HG_CNC. The results revealed distinct structural and physicochemical characteristics of CNFs and CNCs, which significantly affected the morphology, swelling behavior, and stability of the resulting hydrogels. Swelling experiments conducted under various environmental conditions demonstrated that HG_CNF exhibited higher water uptake and swelling capacity than HG_CNC. Both hydrogels showed maximum swelling under near-neutral conditions (pH ≈ 6.5) and exhibited pronounced sensitivity to changes in ionic strength and solvent polarity. Furthermore, adsorption studies confirmed the effective removal of Cu²⁺ ions by both hydrogels, with HG_CNC exhibiting a slightly higher adsorption capacity than HG_CNF; the degree of sorption was 51.5%. These findings demonstrate that nanocellulose-based hydrogels possess tunable physicochemical properties and considerable potential as sustainable sorbent materials for water treatment, while also offering promising applications in environmental remediation, controlled drug delivery, and biomedical engineering.

Synthetic materials used to enhance the productivity of agricultural crops have, in turn, begun to exert negative impacts on soil ecology. This has led to an increased interest in environmentally safe biomaterials. In this context, an antibacterial biofilm was developed based on oxidized starch and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as well as cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) derived from corn husk (CH). According to the obtained results, the film containing 3% CNFs exhibited the highest mechanical strength, reaching 3.87 MPa. To impart antibacterial properties to the resulting biofilm, different volumetric amounts of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) synthesized via a green method were incorporated. As a result, the biofilm containing 1 mL of CuNPs demonstrated the highest antibacterial activity. It was also found that, compared to the pristine film, the mechanical strength of the CuNPs-immobilized biofilm decreased by threefold, while its flexibility increased. The antibacterial biofilm was comparatively characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA techniques, and its physicochemical properties were determined. The biodegradation behavior of the biofilm in soil was also investigated, revealing that 57% of its total mass degraded within 80 days. In this context, it was determined that the degradation of the biofilm did not significantly affect soil pH or the levels of macro- and microelements. Based on its physicochemical properties, the obtained biofilm demonstrates high potential for application in the agro-industrial sector as a mulching film, as well as in the production of food packaging materials and bioplastics.

В растениеводстве большое значение имеет применение различных микроэлементов для обработки семян, которые оказывают стимулирующее действие рост и развитие растений. В данной статье приведены результаты влияния предпосевной обработки семян сои агроминералами на основе бентонита таган и биостимуляторов фунгицидного действия, который состоит из комплексов янтарной кислоты и этилендиамина янтарной кислоты с ионами серебра и меди в сочетании с пленкообразующим веществом крахмалом на хозяйственно полезные качества культуры. Выявлено различное влияние агроминералов на вегетационный период развития сои, урожайность, на массу 1000 семян, количество бобов на растениях, содержание белка и жира в семенах. Установлено, что предпосевная обработка отдельными комплексами SA-Сu SA-Ag, и Starch-SA-Cu приводит к сокращению вегетационного периода на 5-8 дней, агроминерал на основе Tgn-EDSA-Ag-Starch и Tgn-EDSA-Cu- Starch наоборот увеличивает длину вегетационного периода на 4-7 дней. Получена прибавка урожая на 3,1-3,5 ц/га (Нур+) и 3,0-4,1 ц/га (Прогресс) по сравнению с контролем. Так же отмечено влияние агроминералов на массу 1000 семян, количество бобов на растениях, содержание белка и жира в семенах.