ABSTRACT Binder‐free electrodes are critical for advancing supercapacitor performance. Here, we explore the development of multi‐wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) electrodes for supercapacitors by replacing conventional non‐conductive polymer binders, such as poly(vinylidene fluoride‐ co ‐hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF‐HFP), with a conductive polymer, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). PEDOT/MWCNT composite films were synthesized and characterized in an aqueous medium using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and an advanced ac ‐electrogravimetric technique to investigate their charge storage mechanisms and ionic transfer kinetics. Compared to MWCNTs/PVDF‐HFP and pure PEDOT films, the PEDOT/MWCNT composite demonstrates enhanced electrochemical performance, with improved ion concentration and reduced interfacial resistance. The EQCM analysis reveals distinct mass transfer behaviors, highlighting the role of anions, cations, and free water molecules at the interface of electrodes. Ac‐electrogravimetry investigation further identifies the kinetics of ion transfer and the relative concentration of each species, showing that the composite film facilitates efficient charge storage. This work provides a new insight into understanding the interfacial behavior of binder‐free PEDOT/MWCNT electrode.

ABSTRACT Cell culture is an indispensable technique in biological research. However, cultured cells are vulnerable to microbial contamination, leading to unreliable and unrepeatable research data. Penicillin‐streptomycin, a common preventive measure, can significantly affect gene expression and regulation in cells. This study aims to develop a photocatalytic antimicrobial and biocompatible film for cell culture dish surfaces. Zinc oxide nanocoatings, synthesized by atomic layer deposition (ALD) on the surface of indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, exhibit strong, robust adhesion. We introduced an antibiotic‐free cell culture system utilizing ALD‐engineered ZnO nanocoatings. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveal a smooth surface and simple composition of the ZnO film. The ZnO nanofilms exhibited potent antimicrobial activity, achieving a bacterial lethality rate of 98.3% under visible light ( λ = 336 nm) within 30 min. Remarkably, these coatings sustained biocompatibility over three successive cell passages, as evidenced by unaltered proliferation rates ( p > 0.05) and preserved cytoskeletal architecture in HeLa cells. Furthermore, ZnO nanocoatings retain their exceptional properties even after five successive generations of cell culture, leading to a 60% reduction in plastic waste compared to conventional Petri dishes. This study suggests that ZnO nanocoatings could be a promising solution to reduce contamination and antibiotic use on cell culture surfaces.

ABSTRACTPolymeric nanoparticles have been well researched as drug delivery systems for chemotherapeutic drugs, and here, the development of an actively targeted nano‐system for the delivery of docetaxel to prostate cancer is described. The system was composed of poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid, poly (ethylene glycol), and an antibody that effectively targets prostate‐specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a receptor highly expressed on the surface of the majority of prostate cancer cells. The ratio of polymers, amount of docetaxel, and amount of antibody were varied, while the yield of production, drug loading, and antibody conjugation efficiency were measured. The optimized system showed a yield of 63.2% ± 1.1%, a drug loading of 11.5% ± 0.66%, and antibody conjugation efficiency of 74.3% ± 4.6%. The in vitro release kinetic study showed a pH dependent 72.2% ± 5.5% maximum release of docetaxel, while the in vitro toxicity and uptake assays showed a high selectivity of the targeted system toward LnCap, a prostate cancer cell line that highly expresses PSMA. The targeted system also showed a 43% and 71% increase in toxicity compared to the non‐targeted system and free docetaxel, respectively. The optimized nano‐system's favorable pharmacological profile suggests its potential use as a chemotherapeutic agent in prostate cancer treatment.

ABSTRACT Flame‐retardant textiles (FRTs) developed from jute provide a sustainable substitute for ensuring fire safety in a variety of settings. The architectural design endeavors to achieve a balance between durability, efficacy, and environmental impact by incorporating advanced FR materials with jute fibers. It can assist the textile industry in reducing the dependency on synthetic materials. As research advances, more real‐world applications and improved performance should be possible through optimizing its structural design and composition. Jute‐based FRTs have the potential to improve fire safety while utilizing sustainable materials in a variety of industries. This review work will examine the architectural design of FRTs made of jute in detail, focusing on the elements that specifically affect the composition and performance. It will also discuss the potential applications in different industries, including protective clothing, transportation, industrial safety equipment, and home furnishings. Additionally, the study will conduct a critical analysis of the present challenges and auspicious future opportunities related to the advancement of FRTs based on jute in terms of market adoption, efficacy, and sustainability.

ABSTRACTThe structural, electronic, elastic, acoustic, thermodynamic, vibrational, and optical properties of rare‐earth palladium borides, YbBPd3 and LuBPd3 of cubic perovskite structures, have been systematically explored in this work. The optimized lattice parameters of YbBPd3 and LuBPd3 are 4.291 and 4.313 Å, respectively, and both compounds exhibit mechanical stability. The band structures and density of states (DOS) indicate that the compounds possess metallic character in which Pd‐4d and B‐2p states are the dominating character at the Fermi level. Elastic constant and moduli suggest that LuBPd3 is harder and stiffer than YbBPd3. Both compounds are ductile and elastically anisotropic, although LuBPd3 shows greater anisotropy. LuBPd3 has a higher acoustic velocity while YbBPd3 has a higher Grüneisen parameter, indicating greater thermal expansion and lower thermal conductivity. Phonon dispersion spectra confirmed that both structures are dynamically stable, and the acoustic and optical modes are mainly influenced by Yb and Lu atoms. Both compounds exhibit strong metallic behavior in their optical properties. LuBPd3 shows higher optical conductivity while YbBPd3 demonstrates greater reflectivity and absorption. High reflectivity in the infrared (IR) region makes them good candidates for IR shielding materials. This study will be helpful for further theoretical and experimental research.

ABSTRACT In this study, we analyze the optical, thermodynamic, and electronic properties of 2D MoGe 2 P 4 from the first principle calculation. 2D MoGe 2 P 4 demonstrates superior optical absorption in the NIR‐I biological window (750–1000 nm) with a peak near 808 nm and excellent thermal conductivity (63 W/m/K). Finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulations and heat simulations demonstrate that 2D MoGe 2 P 4 possesses efficient photothermal conversion under low laser power (0.5 W/cm 2 ), which is operated at 808 nm. Theoretical investigation shows rapid temperature elevation (Δ T = 24.8°C) of the 2D MoGe 2 P 4 within 2 min and photothermal stability over multiple laser cycles, achieving temperatures suitable for effective photothermal therapeutic applications. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an emerging tumor treatment technique that utilizes photothermal agents (PTAs) to convert near‐infrared (NIR) light into localized heat for tumor ablation. To enhance biocompatibility, we analyze the PEGylation of 2D MoGe 2 P 4 nanosheets through molecular dynamics simulation. PEGylation at human body temperature was stable, which signifies 2D MoGe 2 P 4 ’s prospect in therapeutic applications. This research highlights the potential of 2D MoGe 2 P 4 as an emerging material for PTA, establishing a foundation for experimental and clinical trials.

ABSTRACT Nanoparticle (NP)‐based drug delivery faces a major challenge due to rapid clearance by the immune system, primarily through opsonization and phagocytosis. To address this, we developed paclitaxel (PTX)‐loaded gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) coated with mouse serum albumin (MSA) (MSA@PTX‐loaded GNPs) for localized tumor therapy. Physicochemical characterization confirmed successful MSA coating, leading to an increase in hydrodynamic size (∼120 nm) and a shift in surface charge from −11.50 mV (blank GNPs) to 1.50 mV (MSA@PTX‐loaded GNPs). The MSA coating significantly reduced in vitro protein adsorption (∼4 µg/mL) compared to uncoated GNPs (∼19 µg/mL). Drug release studies demonstrated sustained and pH‐responsive PTX release, with 25% of PTX released within 6 h in an acidic tumor environment, while release remained lower (∼10%) under physiological conditions (pH 7.4). In vivo studies using tumor‐bearing mice demonstrated that subcutaneously administered MSA@PTX‐loaded GNPs significantly enhanced tumor suppression compared to uncoated PTX‐loaded GNPs, while also reducing systemic toxicity. Histopathological analysis revealed reduced immune cell infiltration in the MSA‐coated group. Additionally, in vivo analysis in tumor‐bearing mice treated with MSA@PTX‐loaded GNPs showed significant recovery compared to uncoated PTX‐loaded GNPs and untreated controls. This study presents a promising strategy for improving localized chemotherapy, enhancing therapeutic efficacy, and reducing off‐target effects.

ABSTRACT Molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ), a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) compound, is considered a promising material to manufacture solar cells. The main purpose of this research is numerical design and simulation of AZO/MoS 2 /CIGS novel heterojunction photovoltaic using SCAPS‐1D software, where MoS 2 is used in place of the conventional cadmium sulfide (CdS) buffer layer. The effect of thickness, doping density, and bandgap of the absorber and buffer layer; thickness and doping density of the window layer; bulk defect density of the absorber layer; and interfacial defect density of the absorber‐buffer interface are explored and optimized to achieve optimum solar cell output parameters. The role of operating temperature, series resistance, and shunt resistance on photovoltaic output parameters are also evaluated. The maximum efficiency obtained is 24.31% for the designed solar cell after optimization with an open‐circuit voltage of 0.98 V, a fill factor of 87.14%, and a short‐circuit current density of 28.37 mA/cm 2 . An ultra‐thin, strongly doped p ‐type nickel oxide (NiO) of 0.05 µm thick and 10 20 cm −3 doping density as a back surface field is also added between the absorber and back contact. The maximum efficiency, open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current density, and fill factor are determined to be 30.85%, 1.11 V, 31.69 mA/cm 2 , and 87.99%, respectively for the proposed AZO/MoS 2 /CIGS/NiO solar cell architecture.

ABSTRACTThis research investigates the drug delivery efficacy for 6‐fluoro‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐pyrazinecarboxamide (favipiravir) in PEGylated bionanocomposites using a predictive modeling approach. The study focuses on understanding the interaction mechanisms between favipiravir (FAV) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)/graphene oxide (GO) (GO/PEG) nanosheets across various environmental conditions. To evaluate drug delivery efficacy, the following key parameters were calculated: adsorption energies ranging from −202.61 to −3.46 kcal/mol indicating the strength of binding between the drug and nanocarrier; net charge transfer values between −0.222 and 0.373 electrons, reflecting the degree of charge migration; release times spanning a wide range from 3.4 × 10−14 to 2.38 × 10132 ms, which impacts the drug release kinetics; and thermodynamic parameters such as changes in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) between 183.34 and 16.95 kcal/mol, and changes in enthalpy (ΔH) between −203.64 and 0.55 kcal/mol, providing insights into the favorability and spontaneity of the drug‐nanocarrier interactions. The results show that incorporating PEG onto GO nanosheets enhances adsorption energies and binding affinities for FAV. Environmental factors and PEGylation influence the charge transfer and noncovalent interactions. PEGylation leads to faster FAV release kinetics. Favorable thermodynamics are observed, especially in aqueous environments. Electronic properties, quantum descriptors, and theoretical spectra provide further insights into molecular interactions.