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Nanoclays (layered silicates) have been applied as effective reinforcements for range of natural and synthetic polymeric matrices. Recent research has turned toward design and exploration of green nanocomposites using green polymers and nanoclay nanofillers. This state-of-the-art comprehensive overview debates design and performance prospects of green nanoclay nanocomposites. In this regard, numerous green polymers like poly(lactic acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), natural rubber, cellulose, starch, etc. have been considered. The effectiveness of green nanoclay nanocomposites has been analyzed through microscopic, electrical, mechanical, thermal, adsorption, and biomedical properties and wide span of applications such as packaging, dye removal, and biomedical sectors. Packaging based on cellulose/montmorillonite had very low water vapor transmission rate of 43 g/m2.day, whereas poly(lactic acid)/cellulose/montmorillonite packaging performed better with high water vapor transmission rate of 512–1861 g/m2.day. Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Cloisite Na possess optimum water vapor transmission rate of 533 g/m2.day. Nanocellulose/nanoclay packagings have also been found ideal due to low water vapor permeability (6.3–13.3 g.μm/m2.day.kPa) and oxygen permeability (0.07 cm3μm/m2.day.kPa) values. In dye removal applications, poly(ethylene glycol)/montmorillonite revealed optimum dye adsorption capacities of 190–237 mg/g, where chitosan/montmorillonite had high dye adsorption capacity of 446.43 mg/g. Poly(lactic acid)/modified Cloisite 20 A systems also own high dye adsorption efficiency of 97%. Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) and poly(vinyl alcohol) systems with montmorillonite nanoclay have effective drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing applications. Furthermore, dielectric, mechanical, non-flammability, and self-extinguishing features of cellulose/montmorillonite nanocomposite systems have been reported. Future of these nanomaterials definitely relies on innovative design, facile fabrication strategies, and overcoming related challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoporous graphene own high surface area and unique structural and physical properties due to nano-sized pores in graphene nanosheet. Nanoporous graphene has been modified by the introduction of surface functional groups, doping, or nanoparticle modification and applied for nanocomposites. The overview basically highlights design, properties, and potential of functionalized nanoporous graphene derived nanocomposites in advanced membranes (desalination/gas/oil separation), thermal management, electrocatalysts, and micro-supercapacitors. According to literature, pore size of neat nanoporous graphene is 3–11 Å and hydroxyl functional nanoporous graphene also had nanopore size of <10 Å. Functionalized nanoporous graphene revealed 100% salt rejection, while hydroxyl functional nanoporous graphene had 89% salt rejection due to altered surface properties. Both neat and functionalized nanoporous graphene has high gas permeance of ∼103–105 GPU towards separation CO2, CH4, N2, etc. Few attempts on micro-supercapacitor like molybdenum disulfide nanoporous graphene resulted in volumetric capacitance of 55 F cm−3 and capacitance retention of 82%. Forthcoming research on functionalized nanoporous graphene may overcome design/performance challenges leading to superior features and large-scale utilizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gram-negative bacteria represent a formidable challenge due to their exhibition of elevated resistance to various antibiotics. This study delves into the crisis posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), focusing on the alarming rise of bacteria (Gram-negative), such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), notorious for their severe infections. By examining the binding interaction with antibiotics (ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, pentamidine, furamidine, and oligoamidine) and bacterial protein targets, the study utilized molecular docking and ligand-binding analysis. The result reveals different LibDock scores with the bacterial strain. Higher scores indicate stronger binding. Pentamidine exhibited the highest scores with all bacterial strains. CDOCKER energy due to interaction was computed to analyze the molecules binding with the bacteria, and pentamidine stood with higher CDOCKER value, indicating strong binding affinity. The work also assessed the antibiotics likeness using the rule of Lipinski's five (RO5), and several antibiotics conform to the criteria. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to estimate compound stabilities, revealing stable conformations. The results revealed a stable potential energy (PE) profile for 5V7A Chain B. The RMSD profiles exhibited deviations within certain time intervals, indicating potential conformational changes in the antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial dyes resist conventional oxidation and reduction processes. The current study aims to investigate the utilization of ultrasonically prepared CaMgO2@g-C3N4 nanocomposite for Congo red dye decolorization. The XRD analysis reveals the formation of a multiphase composite containing Ca and Mg oxides alongside g-C3N4. The coupling of MgO and CaO to g-C3N4 nanosheets is confirmed by TEM/EDX and XPS analysis. The nanocomposite manifests a high photocatalytic degradation of Congo red dye in an aqueous solution (99 mg/g) with an insignificant retention rate (∼ 5%) by virtue of its large surface area (73 m2/g), low band gap energy (2.85 eV) as well as the photogenerated holes, electrons, and hydroxyl radical involvement. The dye photodecolorization displays a rate constant of 0.07092 min−1 and a decolorization rate of 99%. Furthermore, the photodegradation kinetics fits well with the pseudo-first-order model, and mechanistic modeling suggests a Z-scheme mechanism. This research highlights the powerful catalytic effect of CaMgO2@g-C3N4 for synthetic dyes' decolorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of Methyl Orange, a hazardous organic compound typically found in industrial wastewater, presents a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the development of effective strategies for its removal to mitigate adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this work, we utilized 60-watt continuous-wave (CW) and high-power CO2 laser with 10.6 μm wavelength to synthesize Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) doped with 1% Cerium (Ce) as photocatalyst at standard laboratory conditions through Laser-Assisted Chemical Bath Synthesis (LACBS) technique. The synthesized nanostructures were thoroughly characterized using UV–vis spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Subsequently, their efficiency in degrading Methyl Orange (MO) dye was evaluated under UV and sunlight irradiation. The findings revealed that the 1% Ce-doped ZnO sample exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under both UV and sunlight irradiation, as well as active adsorption capabilities in the absence of light. Notably, the most effective photodegradation performance was achieved under solar radiation, with an impressive 95% of MO dye degradation observed after just 90 min of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]