Topic Review
Development Progress of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have the potential to tackle major challenges associated with fossil fuel-sourced energy consumption. Nafion, a perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane that has high proton conductivity and good chemical stability, is a standard proton exchange membrane (PEM) used in PEMFCs. However, PEM degradation is one of the significant issues in the long-term operation of PEMFCs. Membrane degradation can lead to a decrease in the performance and the lifespan of PEMFCs. The membrane can degrade through chemical, mechanical, and thermal pathways.
  • 83
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Laccase
Enzymes play an important role in numerous natural processes and are increasingly being utilized as environmentally friendly substitutes and alternatives to many common catalysts. Both horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and laccase are most often utilized for the formation of enzyme aggregates due to their ability to rapidly oxidize phenols, generating phenoxy radicals which undergo radical coupling to form biphenyl or phenyl ether linkages. 
  • 228
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Ruthenium(II)
The two Ru(III) and Ru(II) complexes, namely, BOLD-100 and RAPTA-C, are presently being studied in a clinical trial and preclinical studies evaluation, respectively, as anticancer agents. Ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene (Ru-NHC) complexes show interesting properties in medicinal chemistry, exhibiting multiple biological activities, among them anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Among the newly synthesized complexes, RANHC-V and RANHC-VI are the most active against triple-negative human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231. These compounds were selective in vitro inhibitors of the human topoisomerase I activity and triggered cell death by apoptosis. Furthermore, the Ru-NHC complexes’ antimicrobial activity was studied against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, revealing that all the complexes possessed the best antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, at a concentration of 0,025 mg/mL. Finally, the antioxidant effect was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging assays, resulting in a higher ability for inhibiting the ABTS+, with respect to the well-known antioxidant Trolox. Thus, this work provides encouraging insights for further development of novel Ru-NHC complexes as potent chemotherapeutic agents endowed with multiple biological properties.
  • 70
  • 07 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Intermediate-Temperature Embrittlement of Metals and Alloys
The intermediate-temperature embrittlement range was examined for Fe, Al, Cu, and Ni alloys. It was found that this embrittlement occurs in many alloys, although the causes are very diverse. Embrittlement can be due to fine matrix precipitation, precipitate free zones, melting of compounds at the grain boundaries, segregation of elements to the boundaries, and, additionally for steel, the presence of the soft ferrite film surrounding the harder austenite matrix. Grain boundary sliding and segregation to the boundaries seem to dominate the failure mode at the base of the trough when intergranular failure takes place. When cracking is due to the presence of hydrogen or liquid films at the boundary, then the dissociation along the boundaries is so easy, it is often independent of the strain rate and is always intergranular. 
  • 70
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Pillar[n]arene-Based Supramolecular Polymers
The field of fluorescence sensing, leveraging various supramolecular self-assembled architectures constructed from macrocyclic pillar[n]arenes, has seen significant advancement in recent decades.
  • 48
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Marine-Derived Bisindoles for Potent Selective Cancer Drug Discovery
Indole is a multifunctional active pharmacophore and a heterocyclic compound widely present in natural and synthetic compounds with biological activity. Indole alkaloids from natural sources display diverse mechanisms and structures and exert anticancer potential through various antiproliferation mechanisms. Thus, indole alkaloids play a significant role in the discovery of new anticancer drugs. Scientists have subsequently isolated various new bisindole alkaloids from marine organisms, especially deep-water sponges. They are usually extracted with organic solvents (e.g., methanol, ethyl acetate). And the extracts were concentrated and partitioned between organic and aqueous phases. The organic phase is separated with chromatography separation technology, including silica gel column chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, etc. Most marine-derived bisindoles exist in solid form, which makes it convenient for us to determine their absolute configuration by single crystal. A number of marine-derived bisindoles exhibit strong and varied biological activities. Due to their unique biological activities and chemical structures, they have become a research focal point in pharmaceutical chemistry as lead compounds for new drug development. It is noteworthy that many drugs based on marine-derived bisindoles have been approved or are currently in clinical research, such as midostaurin, lestaurtinib, and enzastaurin. These drug molecules have shown potent selective anti-tumor effects.
  • 63
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Polymer Single-Crystal Functionalization Applications
Polymer physics has evolved significantly over the past century, transitioning from the early recognition of the chain structure of polymers to a mature field integrating principles from statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and condensed matter physics. As an important part of polymer physics, polymer single crystals are crucial for understanding molecular structures and behaviors, enhancing material properties, and enabling precise functionalization. They offer insights into polymer crystallization kinetics, serve as templates for nanofabrication, and have applications in electronics, sensors, and biomedical fields.
  • 73
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Fluorescence Imaging with Chemical Sensors in Marine Research
Fluorescence imaging in combination with optical chemical sensors has become a powerful analytical tool that enables the visualization and quantification of chemical species within a sample or on sample surfaces. By the use of fluorescent sensor parameters which exhibit no intrinsic color or fluorescence, e.g., oxygen, pH, CO2, and H2O2, various metal cations or temperature can be imaged. Imaging methods by the means of optical sensors are applied in diverse scientific areas such as medical research and diagnostics, aerodynamics, environmental analysis, or marine research.
  • 56
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Biomedical Applications of Bimetallic Coordination Polymers
Bimetallic coordination polymers (CPs) have two different metal ions as connecting nodes in their polymer structure. The synthesis methods of bimetallic CPs are mainly categorized into the one-pot method and post-synthesis modifications according to various needs. Compared with monometallic CPs, bimetallic CPs have synergistic effects and excellent properties, such as higher gas adsorption rate, more efficient catalytic properties, stronger luminescent properties, and more stable loading platforms, which have been widely applied in the fields of gas adsorption, catalysis, energy storage as well as conversion, and biosensing.
  • 62
  • 06 Mar 2024
Topic Review
Applications of Gas Chromatography for Tricyclic Antidepressants Analysis
Tricyclic antidepressant drugs (TCAs) are a main category of antidepressants, which are widely used for the treatment of psychological disorders due to their low cost and their high efficiency. Therefore, there is a great demand for method development for the determination of TCAs in biofluids, especially for therapeutic drug monitoring. Gas chromatography (GC) was the first chromatographic technique implemented for this purpose. With the development in the field of sample preparation, many novel GC applications have been developed. 
  • 64
  • 05 Mar 2024
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