Boronic acids/esters have recently emerged in the field of medicinal and pharmaceutical research due to their exceptional oxophilicity, low toxicity, and unique structure. They are known as potent enzyme inhibitors, cancer therapy capture agents, and can mimic certain types of antibodies to fight infections. They have been designed and developed into drugs, and this approach has emerged in the last 20 years. Five boronic acid drugs have been approved by the FDA and Health Canada, two of which are used to treat cancer, specifically multiple myeloma. The purpose of this review is to investigate boronic acid/ester derivatives as potential pharmaceutical agents as well as the mechanism of action. It will concentrate on six types of cancer: multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and colon cancer. Some newly developed boron-containing compounds have already demonstrated highly promising activities, but further investigation is required before final conclusions can be drawn.

The solvatochromic, spectral, and geometrical properties of nifenazone (NIF), a pyrazole-nicotinamide drug, were experimentally and computationally investigated in several neat solvents and in hydro-organic binary systems such as water–acetonitrile and water–dioxane systems. The bathochromic spectral shift observed in NIF absorption spectra when reducing the polarity of the solvent was correlated with the orientation polarizability (Δf). Unlike aprotic solvents, a satisfactory correlation between λ_max and Δf was determined (linear correlation of regression coefficient, R, equal to 0.93) for polar protic solvents. In addition, the medium-dependent spectral properties were correlated with the Kamlet–Taft solvatochromic parameters (α, β, and π*) by applying a multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA). The results obtained from this analysis were then employed to establish MLRA relationships for NIF in order to estimate the spectral shift in different solvents, which in turn exhibited excellent correlation (R > 0.99) with the experimental values of ν_max. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT theory calculations coupled with the integral equation formalism-polarizable continuum model (IEF-PCM) were performed to investigate the solvent-dependent spectral and geometrical properties of NIF. The calculations showed good and poor agreements with the experimental results using the CAM-B3LYP and B3LYP functionals, respectively. Experimental and theoretical results confirmed that the chemical properties of NIF are strongly dependent on the polarity of the chosen medium and its hydrogen bonding capability. This in turn supports the hypothesis of the delocalization of the electron density within the pyrazole ring of NIF.

The growing demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage solutions has emphasized the value of aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) as a safer and less expensive alternative to lithium-ion batteries. Despite their potential, AZIBs confront considerable obstacles, particularly the production of zinc dendrites and side reactions such hydrogen evolution, which limit their cycling stability and practical applicability. In this review, we explore the prospective function of cyclodextrins (CDs), a type of supramolecular carbohydrate polymer, in addressing such challenges. CDs, with their unique capacity to form inclusion complexes, provide an innovative approach for controlling zinc deposition, limiting dendrite development, and minimizing parasitic interactions. We present a detailed assessment of recent improvements in the use of CDs to change electrolytes and the electrode/electrolyte interface, resulting in improved electrochemical performance of AZIBs. This review focuses on CDs' potential as multifunctional additives for improving zinc anode stability, extending battery life, and facilitating large-scale AZIB adoption.