In recent years, many efforts have been made to develop advanced metal oxide semiconductor nanomaterials with exotic magnetic properties for modern applications w.r.t traditional analogues. Dilute magnetic semiconductor oxides (DMSOs) are promising candidates for superior control over the charge and spin degrees of freedom. DMSOs are transparent, wide band gap materials with induced ferromagnetism in doping, with a minor percentage of magnetic 3d cation to create a long-range antiferromagnetic order. Although significant efforts have been carried out to achieve DMSO with ferromagnetic properties above room temperature, it is a great challenge that still exists. However, TiO₂, SnO₂, ZnO and In₂O₃ with wide band gaps of 3.2, 3.6, 3.2 and 2.92 eV, respectively, can host a broad range of dopants to generate various compositions. Interestingly, a reduction in the size of these binary oxides can induce ferromagnetism, even at room temperature, due to the grain boundary, presence of defects and oxygen vacancies. The present review provides a panorama of the structural analysis and magnetic properties of DMSOs based on binary metal oxides nanomaterials with various ferromagnetic or paramagnetic dopants, e.g., Co, V, Fe and Ni, which exhibit enhanced ferromagnetic behaviors at room temperature.

The current outbreak of a novel coronavirus, named as SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 occurred in 2019, is in dire need of finding potential therapeutic agents. Recently, ongoing viral epidemic due to coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) primarily affected mainland China that now threatened to spread to populations in most countries of the world. In spite of this, there is currently no antiviral drug/ vaccine available against coronavirus infection, COVID-19. In the present study, computer-aided drug design-based screening to find out promising inhibitors against the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) leads to infection, COVID-19. The lead therapeutic molecule was investigated through docking and molecular dynamics simulations. In this, binding affinity of noscapines(23B)-protease of SARS-CoV-2 complex was evaluated through MD simulations at different temperatures. Our research group has established that noscapine is a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of drug resistant cancers; however, noscapine was also being used as anti-malarial, anti-stroke and cough-suppressant. This study suggests for the first time that noscapine exerts its antiviral effects by inhibiting viral protein synthesis. Graphical Abstract Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Cancer mortality is increasing at an alarming rate across the globe. Albeit, many therapeutics are available commercially, they are not effective and have no cure up to today. Moreover, the knowledge gap in cancer therapy persists, representing a potential blind spot for the innovation of effective anticancer therapeutics. This review presents an update on current advancements in nanopeptide therapeutics. Herein, a detailed exploration of peptide-functionalized nanoparticles for the development of nanotherapeutics was carried out. Different approaches that include self-assembly nanostructures, solid phase peptide synthesis, ligand exchange, chemical reduction, and conjugation methods for assembling peptides for functionalizing nanodrugs are also highlighted. An outlook on biomedical applications is also reviewed. Additionally, a comprehensive discussion on targeted cancer cell therapy and mechanism of action are provided. The present review reflects the functional novelty of nanodrugs to improve stability, accessibility, bioavailability, and specificity toward cancerous cells. Finally, it summarizes the current challenges and future perspectives on the formulation of these nanodrugs.