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This study showed that a polylactide (PLA)-based composite filled with nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) and a natural extract from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. could provide an alternative to commonly used fossil-based plasticsfor food packaging. The incorporation of HAp into the PLA matrix had a positive effect on improving selected properties of the composites; the beneficial effect could be enhanced by introducing a green modifier in the form of an extract. Prior to the fabrication of the composite, the filler was characterized in terms of morphology and composition, and the composite was then fully characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and the mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and optical properties were investigated. The proposed material exhibits antioxidant properties against DPPH radicals and antibacterial performance against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the nanocomposite has the highest antioxidant and antibacterial properties for 10 wt% HAp with an average diameter of rod-shaped structures below 100 nm. In addition, the introduction of turmeric extract had a positive effect on the tensile strength of the nanocomposites containing 1 and 5% HAp. As the resulting material adsorbs light in a specific wavelength range, it can be used in the medical sector, food-packaging, or coatings.

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the waste management sector had to face new challenges, e.g., changes in the size and composition of the waste stream, or the presence of potentially infectious waste. This article is based on a case study in Poland. The data analysis showed that the increase in municipal waste mass during the pandemic did not differ from statistics observed in previous years and ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 million tons per year. Lifestyle changes caused a decrease in the amount of waste generated outside households. Social migrations contributed to rapid changes in the mass of waste generated in selected agglomerations by up to 80 kg/capita. In the waste stream, significant amounts of specific groups of waste related to the pandemic (“corona waste”) as well as packaging and food waste were noted. Despite the pandemic, in 2020, Poland recorded an increase in selective waste collection by 6.7 percentage points (pp.) Data on municipal waste management showed an increase in the mass of waste sent for recycling by 0.7 million tons, while the mass of landfilled waste decreased by 0.3 million tons. The observed positive changes in waste management allow the implementation of sustainable development assumptions to a greater extent.

A large amount of graphene-related research is its use as a filler for polymer composites, including thin nanocomposite films. However, its use is limited by the need for large-scale methods to obtain high–quality filler, as well as its poor dispersion in the polymer matrix. This work presents polymer thin-film composites based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and graphene, whose surfaces were modified by curcuminoids. TGA, UV–vis, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, TEM, and SEM methods have confirmed the effectiveness of the graphene modification due to π–π interactions. The dispersion of graphene in the PVC solution was investigated by the turbidimetric method. SEM, AFM, and Raman spectroscopy methods evaluated the thin-film composite’s structure. The research showed significant improvements in terms of graphene’s dispersion (in solutions and PVC composites) following the application of curcuminoids. The best results were obtained for materials modified with compounds obtained from the extraction of the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Modification of the graphene’s surface with these compounds also increased the thermal and chemical stability of PVC/graphene nanocomposites.

The rapidly growing production and usage of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) dramatically raises the number of harmful wastes. Consequently, the LIBs waste management processes, taking into account reliability, efficiency, and sustainability criteria, became a hot issue in the context of environmental protection as well as the scarcity of metal resources. In this paper, we propose for the first time a functional material—a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) from the LIBs-based liquid waste containing heavy metal ions. At first, the spent battery waste powder was treated with acid-leaching, where the post-treatment acid-leaching solution (ALS) contained heavy metal ions including cobalt. Then, ALS was used during wet co-precipitation to obtain cobalt-doped superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and as an effect, the harmful liquid waste was purified from cobalt. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized with SEM, TEM, XPS, and magnetometry. Subsequently, superparamagnetic nanoparticles sized 15 nm average in diameter and magnetization saturation of about 91 emu g−1 doped with Co were used to prepare the MRF that increases the viscosity by about 300% in the presence of the 100 mT magnetic fields. We propose a facile and cost-effective way to utilize harmful ALS waste and use them in the preparation of superparamagnetic particles to be used in the magnetorheological fluid. This work describes for the first time the second life of the battery waste in the MRF and a facile way to remove the harmful ingredients from the solutions obtained after the acid leaching of LIBs as an effective end-of-life option for hydrometallurgical waste utilization.

The development of nanomedicine involves complex nanomaterial research involving magnetic nanomaterials and their use in magnetic hyperthermia. The selection of the optimal treatment strategies is time-consuming, expensive, unpredictable, and not consistently effective. Delivering personalized therapy that obtains maximal efficiency and minimal side effects is highly important. Thus, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based algorithms provide the opportunity to overcome these crucial issues. In this paper, we briefly overview the significance of the combination of AI-based methods, particularly the Machine Learning (ML) technique, with magnetic hyperthermia. We considered recent publications, reports, protocols, and review papers from Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection databases, considering the PRISMA-S review methodology on applying magnetic nanocarriers in magnetic hyperthermia. An algorithmic performance comparison in terms of their types and accuracy, data availability taking into account their amount, types, and quality was also carried out. Literature shows AI support of these studies from the physicochemical evaluation of nanocarriers, drug development and release, resistance prediction, dosing optimization, the combination of drug selection, pharmacokinetic profile characterization, and outcome prediction to the heat generation estimation. The papers reviewed here clearly illustrate that AI-based solutions can be considered as an effective supporting tool in drug delivery, including optimization and behavior of nanocarriers, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as the delivery process. Moreover, the direction of future research, including the prediction of optimal experiments and data curation initiatives has been indicated.

Global pollution of the environment is one of the most challenging environmental problems. Electronic-based population and anthropogenic activity are the main reasons for dramatically increasing the scale of waste generation, particularly battery waste. Improper battery waste disposal causes harmful environmental effects. Due to the release of heavy metals, battery waste affects ecosystems and health. We are faced with the challenge of effective battery waste management, especially recycling, to prevent the depletion of natural resources and maintain ecological balance. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is practically present in all areas of our lives. It enables the reduction of the costs associated with various types of research, increases automation, and accelerates productivity. This paper reviews the representative research progress of effective Artificial Intelligence-based battery waste management in the context of sustainable development, in particular, the analysis of current trends, algorithm accuracy, and data availability. Finally, the future lines of research and development directions of human-oriented Artificial Intelligence applications both in the battery production process and in battery waste management are discussed.

In this work, a method to increase the dispersion of graphene (GN) in the matrix of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by using a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa L. (CE) is proposed. Currently, despite the increasing number of reports on the improvement of GN dispersion in PVC blends, still there is a need to find environmentally friendly and economical dispersion stabilizers. We proposed a stabilizer that can be easily obtained from a plant offering thermal stability and high effectiveness. PVC/GN nanocomposites stabilized with the proposed extract were investigated by SEM, AFM (structure), TGA, and Congo red test (thermal properties). Additionally, static and dynamic mechanical properties and electrical resistivity were measured. The use of CE as a graphene dispersant improved its dispersion in the PVC matrix, influenced tensile properties, increased the storage modulus and glass transition temperature, and extended the thermal stability time of nanocomposites. In this work, a CE extract is proposed as an efficient eco-friendly additive for the production of nanocomposites with an improved homogeneity of a nanofiller in the matrix and promising characteristics.

In this work, we present magnetic nanoparticles based on iron oxide doped with zinc synthesized using the wet co-precipitation method for environmental application. The morphology of the samples was revealed by SEM and TEM, which showed particles of granular shape and size of about 15 nm. The specific surface areas of the materials using the BET method were within the range of 85.7 to 101.5 m2 g−1 depending on the zinc content in the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Magnetometry was performed to determine the magnetic properties of the particles, indicating superparamagnetism. Synthesized magnetic nanoparticles with different amounts of zinc dopant were used as an adsorbent to remove model pollutant Titan yellow (TY) from the aqueous solutions. Adsorption was determined by investigating the effects of sorbent amount, dye concentration, and contact time. The synthesized material removed Titan yellow quickly and efficiently within the physical adsorption. The adsorption isotherms were consistent with the models proposed by Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson. The monolayer adsorption capacities were 30 and 43 mg g−1 for Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@10%Zn, respectively, for the removal of TY. However, that of Congo red is 59 mg g−1 by Fe3O4@10%Zn. The proposed nanoparticles offer fast and cost-effective water purification, and they can be separated from solution using magnets.

In this work, we report on the fabrication of nanocomposites based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in combination with hydroxyapatite (HAp) as a platform for drug delivery and magnetic hyperthermia application. First, the influence of experimental conditions such as co-precipitant, bath temperature, and pH on the morphology and magnetic properties of SPIONs was investigated. Then, the superparamagnetic particles were coated with the hydroxyapatite layer for further loading of anticancer drugs, determining the optimal thickness of the HAp shell. The composite was fabricated by the wet chemical process and was characterized by optimizing the experimental conditions of the wiring synthesis to obtain the superparamagnetic spherical material with a high HAp loading as a platform for drug uptake. SEM and TEM studies confirmed the round shape of the magnetic core up to 15 nm in size with a well-defined HAp shell. After checking the material’s superparamagnetic properties, the temperature dependence on time and alternating magnetic field strength was tested and optimized in hyperthermia experiments.

Reinforced concrete based on ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is one of the most commonly used materials in modern buildings. Due to the global growth of the building industry, concrete components have been partially or completely replaced with waste materials that can be used as binders or aggregates. Besides the ecological aspects, modern architecture widely needs materials to make the concrete durable, resisting large loads and various detrimental forces in the environment. This opens the possibilities of managing waste materials and applying them in practice. This paper presents a concise review of the green solutions for ecofriendly materials in the building industry that deal with the practical application of materials commonly treated as waste. The main emphasis was placed on their influence on the properties of the building material, optimal composition of mixtures, and discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each of the “green” additives. It turned out that some solutions are far from being ecofriendly materials, as they leech and release numerous harmful chemicals into the environment during their presence in concrete. Finally, the paper suggests a research direction for the development of an ecofriendly structural material for a sustainable future.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are widely used for biomedical applications for their outstanding properties such as facile functionalization and doping with different metals, high surface-to-volume ratio, superparamagnetism, and biocompatibility. This study was designed to synthesize and investigate multifunctional nanoparticle conjugate to act as both a magnetic agent, anticancer immunological drug, and radiopharmaceutic for anticancer therapy. The carrier, 166Ho doped iron oxide, was coated with an Au layer, creating core-shell nanoparticles ([166Ho] Fe3O4@Au. These nanoparticles were subsequently modified with monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Tmab) to target HER2+ receptors. We describe the radiobioconjugate preparation involving doping of a radioactive agent and attachment of the organic linker and drug to the SPIONs’ surface. The size of the SPIONs coated with an Au shell measured by transmission electron microscopy was about 15 nm. The bioconjugation of trastuzumab onto SPIONs was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis, and the amount of two molecules per one nanoparticle was estimated with the use of radioiodinated [131I]Tmab. The synthesized bioconjugates showed that they are efficient heat mediators and also exhibit a cytotoxic effect toward SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells expressing HER2 receptors. Prepared radiobioconjugates reveal the high potential for in vivo application of the proposed multimodal hybrid system, combined with magnetic hyperthermia and immunotherapy against cancer tissues.

The challenges associated with the uncontrolled presence of antibiotics such as tetracycline in the environment have necessitated their removal through different techniques. Tetracycline is hard to degrade in living organisms and can even be converted to more toxic substances. In view of this, we synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles with good magnetization (70 emu g−1) and 15 nm particle size for the adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. Characterization carried out on the synthesized iron oxides revealed a bandgap of 1.83 eV and an isoelectric point at pH 6.8. The results also showed that the pH of the solution does not directly influence the adsorption of tetracycline. The adsorption isotherm was consistent with the model proposed by Langmuir, having 97 mg g−1 adsorption capacity. Combined with the superparamagnetic behavior, this capacity is advantageous for the magnetic extraction of tetracycline from wastewater. The mechanisms of adsorption were proposed to be hydrogen bonding and n-π interactions. Photocatalytic degradation studies showed that approximately 40% of tetracycline degraded within 60 min of irradiation time with UV/vis light. The kinetics of photodegradation of tetracycline followed the pseudo-first-order mechanism, proceeding through hydroxyl radicals generated under illumination. Moreover, the photogenerated hydrogen peroxide could lead to heterogeneous photo-Fenton processes on the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles, additionally generating hydroxyl and hydroperoxyl radicals and facilitating photodegradation of tetracycline.

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide, thus new solutions in anticancer therapies are highly sought after. In this work, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) conjugated with anticancer drugs are synthesized and investigated as potential magnetic drug nanocarriers for local drug delivery and mild magnetic hyperthermia. We have obtained a hybrid system loaded with holmium and anticancer drugs and thoroughly studied it with respect to the size, morphology, surface modifications and magnetic properties, and interactions with the model of biological membranes, cytotoxicity. We present that nanoparticles having a round shape and size 15 nm are successfully stabilized to avoid their agglomeration and modified with doxorubicin or epirubicin within a controlled way. The number of drugs loaded into the SPIONs was confirmed with thermogravimetry. The hybrid based on SPIONs was investigated in touch with model biological membranes within the Langmuir-Blodgett technique, and results show that modified SPION interacts effectively with them. Results obtained with magnetic hyperthermia and biological studies confirm the promising properties of the hybrid towards future cancer cell treatment.

Surprisingly, distance education is quite an old concept. Its origins date back to the first correspondence-based course, which took place via the postal service in Boston, USA, in the 18th century. Rapid technological developments, especially in video and audio streaming, have increased the availability of such courses and moved learning into the virtual world. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing an accelerated revolution in the learning process, as nearly all forms of education have been shifted online. Will this have a destructive effect on the human psyche? Is humanity sufficiently aware and ready for such a dramatic change? Will we return to physical in-classroom studies, or is remote distance education set to become the new norm? In particular, in medicine, computer science, fine arts, or architectural design, such a rapid change in the way students learn can be quite challenging. In this paper, we provide an overview of the history of distance learning, taking into account teachers’ and students’ points of view in both secondary and higher education.

Comparative photoelectrochemical studies of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles with either hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface properties are presented. Oleylamine organic shells provided CdS nanoparticles with hydrophobic behavior, affecting the photoelectrochemical properties of such nanostructured semiconductor. Hydrophilic CdS nanoparticles were drop-cast on the electrode, whereas the hydrophobic ones were transferred in a controlled manner with Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The substantial hindrance of photopotential and photocurrent was observed for L-B CdS films as compared to the hydrophilic, uncoated nanoparticles that were drop-cast directly on the electrode surface. The electron lifetime in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanocrystalline CdS was determined, revealing longer carrier lifetime for oleylamine coated CdS nanoparticles, ascribed to the trapping of charge at the interface of the organic shell/CdS nanoparticle and to the dominant influence of the resistance of the organic shell against the flux of charges. The “on” transients of the photocurrent responses, observed only for the oleylamine-coated nanoparticles, were resolved, yielding the potential-dependent rate constants of the redox processes occurring at the interface.

Lithium-ion batteries are currently one of the most important mobile energy storage units for portable electronics such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc. Their widespread application leads to the generation of large amounts of waste, so their recycling plays an important role in environmental policy. In this work, the process of leaching with sulfuric acid for the recovery of metals from spent Li-ion batteries in the presence of glutaric acid and hydrogen peroxide as reducing agents is presented. Experimental results indicate that glutaric-acid application improves the leaching performance compared to the use of just hydrogen peroxide under the same conditions. Obtained samples of leaching residues after mixed inorganic-organic leaching were characterized with Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction.

Fast communication is of high importance. Recently, increased data demand and crowded radio frequency spectrum have become crucial issues. Free-Space Optical Communication (FSOC) has diametrically changed the way people exchange information. As an alternative to wire communication systems, it allows efficient voice, video, and data transmission using a medium like air. Due to its large bandwidth, FSOC can be used in various applications and has therefore become an important part of our everyday life. The main advantages of FSOC are a high speed, cost savings, compact structures, low power, energy efficiency, a maximal transfer capacity, and applicability. The rapid development of the high-speed connection technology allows one to reduce the repair downtime and gives the ability to quickly establish a backup network in an emergency. Unfortunately, FSOC is susceptible to disruption due to atmospheric conditions or direct sunlight. Here, we briefly discuss Free-Space Optical Communication from mirrors and optical telegraphs to modern wireless systems and outline the future development directions of optical communication.

Industrialization and the growing consumption of medicines leads to global aquatic contamination. One of the antibiotics widely used against bacterial infections in both human and veterinary medicine is tetracycline. Despite its positive antibiotic action, tetracycline is resistant against degradation, and therefore it accumulates in the environment, including the aquatic environment, creating great health hazards, possibly stimulating antibiotic resistance of pathogenic organisms. In this research, aqueous suspensions of semiconductor nanoparticles CdS were used for photocatalytic activity studies in the presence of methylene blue as a model compound, and finally, in the presence of tetracycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic widely used against bacterial infections, as well as a live-stock food additive. The mechanism and kinetic rate constants of photocatalytic degradation processes of methylene blue and tetracycline were described in correlation with the energy diagram of CdS nanoparticles.

Iron oxide-based nanoparticles have been modified in their core with holmium(III) in an amount affecting only slightly their magnetic properties. Nanoparticles were conjugated covalently with biomolecule of trastuzumab (Herceptin®), the monoclonal antibody that recognizes cancer cells overexpressing HER2 receptors targeting such nanoparticles to the specified tumor tissues. Systematic studies of Ho3+-doped bioconjugates were carried out as a preliminary step for future replacement of ‘cold’ Ho with 166Ho radionuclide, emitting ‘soft’ beta(-) radiation for possible targeted radionuclide therapy. Physicochemical properties of the obtained bioconjugates were subsequently tested for use in magnetic hyperthermia, considered as an effective, low-invasiveness anticancer therapy. With such a system we expect to achieve both: active targeting and multimodal action by simultaneous internal and localized irradiation and magnetic hyperthermia of specific cancers.