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The development of programmable microscale materials with cell-like functions, dynamics and collective behaviour is an important milestone in systems chemistry, soft matter bioengineering and synthetic protobiology. Here, polymer/nucleotide coacervate micro-droplets are reconfigured into membrane-bounded polyoxometalate coacervate vesicles (PCVs) in the presence of a bio-inspired Ru-based polyoxometalate catalyst to produce synzyme protocells (Ru 4 PCVs) with catalase-like activity. We exploit the synthetic protocells for the implementation of multi-compartmentalized cell-like models capable of collective synzyme-mediated buoyancy, parallel catalytic processing in individual horseradish peroxidase-containing Ru 4 PCVs, and chemical signalling in distributed or encapsulated multi-catalytic protocell communities. Our results highlight a new type of catalytic micro-compartment with multi-functional activity and provide a step towards the development of protocell reaction networks. The development of microscale materials with cell-like functions and collective behaviors is an important milestone in bottom-up synthetic biology. Here the authors employ a bio-inspired inorganic synzyme to construct a micro-compartment with multi-functional activity providing a step towards the development of protocell reaction networks.

This study focuses on the use of three isostructural N6O donor ligands, specifically known to form complexes with copper ions, to chelate Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. The corresponding Cu(II) complexes feature a dinuclear copper core mimicking the active site of natural superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes while also creating a coordination environment favorable for catalase (CAT) activity, being thus appealing as catalytic antioxidant systems. Given the critical role of copper dysregulation in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), these complexes may help mitigate the harmful effects of free Cu(II) ions: the goal is to transform copper’s reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating properties into beneficial ROS-scavenging action. This study investigates the speciation, chelating efficiency, and metal selectivity of these ligands, as well as the antioxidant activity of the resulting complexes under aqueous and physiologically relevant conditions. Additionally, the ligands, equipped with functional groups for attaching targeting moieties, are conjugated with a small peptide that may act as an anti-aggregating agent of β-amyloid peptides, aiming to develop a multifunctional therapeutic strategy against Alzheimer’s disease.

Halloysite nanotubes can be used for the preparation of solid catalysts. Owing to their natural availability at low-cost as well as to their large and easy-to-functionalize surface, they can be conveniently activated with mineral acids or derivatized with acidic groups. Nevertheless, the use of HNTs as catalysts in complex transformations is still limited. Herein, we report two strategies to utilize HNT-based materials as solid acidic catalysts for the Biginelli reaction. To this aim, two methods for increasing the number of acidic sites on the HNTs were explored: (i) the treatment with piranha solution (Pir-HNTs) and (ii) the functionalization with phenylboronic acid (in particular with benzene-1,4-diboronic acid: the sample is denoted as HNT-BOA). Interestingly, both strategies enhance the performance of the multicomponent reaction. Pir-HNTs and HNT-BOA show an increased reactivity (72% and 89% yield, respectively) in comparison with pristine HNTs (52%). Additionally, Pir-HNTs can be reused up to five times without significant performance loss. Moreover, the method also displays good reaction scope, as demonstrated by the preparation of 12 different 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones in up to 71% yield. Therefore, the described strategies are promising for enhancing the acidity of the HNTs as catalysts for the organic reaction.

Water is the renewable, bulk chemical that nature uses to enable carbohydrate production from carbon dioxide. The dream goal of energy research is to transpose this incredibly efficient process and make an artificial device whereby the catalytic splitting of water is finalized to give a continuous production of oxygen and hydrogen. Success in this task would guarantee the generation of hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel to satisfy our energy demands at no environmental cost. Here we show that very efficient and stable nanostructured, oxygen-evolving anodes are obtained by the assembly of an oxygen-evolving polyoxometalate cluster (a totally inorganic ruthenium catalyst) with a conducting bed of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Our bioinspired electrode addresses the one major challenge of artificial photosynthesis, namely efficient water oxidation, which brings us closer to being able to power the planet with carbon-free fuels. Catalytically oxidizing water to produce oxygen is so challenging that even the enzyme that performs the task in nature must be regenerated every 30 mins. Now, stable oxygen-evolving anodes have been made by tethering a polyoxometalate catalyst to a conducting bed of carbon nanotubes.

Oxidative stress, driven by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), is a key factor in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this context, copper dysregulation can also contribute to this imbalance, being responsible for enhanced ROS production, so that copper scavenging has been investigated as a possible therapeutic strategy. This study investigates the behavior of two isostructural ligands, featuring an N3O donor set, that effectively chelate Cu(II) in aqueous solution. Interestingly, their resulting mono- or dinuclear copper complexes feature a coordination environment suitable to foster antioxidant activity. By transforming copper’s oxidant potential into antioxidant action, these systems may reduce copper-induced oxidative damage. The work examines the pH-dependent metal-binding behavior of the ligands, the catalytic properties of the resulting complexes under physiological conditions, and their ability to inhibit β-amyloid peptide aggregation.

The covalent incorporation of inorganic building blocks into a polymer matrix to obtain stable and robust materials is a widely used concept in the field of organic-inorganic hybrid materials, and encompasses the use of different inorganic systems including (but not limited to) nanoparticles, mono- and polynuclear metal complexes and clusters, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), polyoxometalates (POM), layered inorganic systems, inorganic fibers, and whiskers. In this paper, we will review the use of two particular kinds of structurally well-defined inorganic building blocks, namely transition metals oxoclusters (TMO) and polyoxometalates (POM), to obtain hybrid materials with enhanced functional (e.g., optical, dielectric, magnetic, catalytic) properties.

Polymeric membranes are useful tools for water filtration processes, with their performance strongly dependent on the presence of hydrophilic dopants. In this study, polyaniline (PANI)-capped aluminosilicate (halloysite) nanotubes (HNTs) are dispersed into polyether sulfone (PES), with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 wt%, to modify the properties of the PES membrane. Both undoped and HNT-doped PES membranes are investigated in terms of wettability (static and time-dependent contact angle), permeance, mechanical resistance, and morphology (using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). The higher water permeance observed for the PES membranes incorporating PANI-capped HNTs is, finally, assessed and discussed vis-à-vis the real distribution of HNTs. Indeed, the imaging and characterization in terms of composition, spatial arrangement, and counting of HNTs embedded within the polymeric matrix are demonstrated using non-destructive Micro Particle Induced X-ray Emission (µ-PIXE) and Scanning Transmission Ion Microscopy (STIM) techniques. This approach not only exhibits the unique ability to detect/highlight the distribution of HNTs incorporated throughout the whole thickness of polymer membranes and provide volumetric morphological information consistent with SEM imaging, but also overcomes the limits of the most common analytical techniques exploiting electron probes. These aspects are comprehensively discussed in terms of practical analysis advantages.

Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third cause of cardiovascular (CV) mortality. We evaluated a new risk index, named Age-Mean Arterial Pressure Index (AMAPI), to predict 30-day CV mortality in patients with acute PE. Data of 209 patients (44.0% male and 56.0% female, mean age 70.58 ± 14.14 years) with confirmed acute PE were retrospectively analysed. AMAPI was calculated as the ratio between age and mean arterial pressure (MAP), which was defined as [systolic blood pressure + (2 × diastolic blood pressure)]/3. To test AMAPI accuracy, a comparison with shock index (SI) and simplified pulmonary embolism severity index (sPESI) was performed. Patients were divided in two groups according their hemodynamic stability, or not, at admission. 30-day mortality rate, in all cases for CV events, was 10.5% ( n  = 22). Hemodynamically unstable patients had a higher AMAPI compare to those without hypotension at admission (1.28 ± 0.39 vs 0.78 ± 0.27, p  < 0.0001). Receiving operative curve analyses (ROC) found the optimal cut-off for AMAPI in hemodynamically stable and unstable patients ≥0.9 and ≥0.92, respectively. In both groups, patients with an AMAPI over the cut-off were significantly older, hypotensive (both systolic and diastolic blood pressure), with a higher SI and lower MAP. In hemodynamically stable patients, 30-day CV mortality risk prediction was improved adding AMAPI ≥0.9 to both SI and sPESI (net reclassification improvement—NRI—of 14.2%, p  = 0.0006 and 11.5%, p  = 0.0002, respectively). In hemodynamically unstable patients NRI was 19.2%, p  = 0.006. Mantel–Cox analysis revealed a statistical significant difference in the distribution of survival between hemodynamically stable patients with an AMAPI index ≥0.9 compared to those with an AMAPI <0.89 [log rank (Mantel–Cox) p  < 0.0001] and in hemodynamically unstable patients with an AMAPI ≥0.92 [log rank (Mantel–Cox) p  = 0.001]. AMAPI ≥0.90 and ≥0.92 predict 30-day CV mortality in hemodynamically stable and unstable patients with acute PE.

The world is facing the issue of managing a huge amount of plastic waste. To prevent uncontrolled and unproductive disposal, various valorization strategies have been developed. Recycling plastic waste into valuable composites for construction offers a promising pathway toward sustainable waste management. Given that the construction industry is a major consumer of energy and natural resources, it presents a key opportunity for integrating recycled materials. This review examines diverse strategies and applications for plastic waste recycling, with a particular focus on sustainable construction solutions, while also evaluating the advantages and limitations of this approach. Within this context, recycled plastic waste can be used as a filler to replace non-renewable natural resources. Studies have shown that incorporating plastic waste as a filler improves diverse properties of composites, including thermal and sound insulation. In particular, thermoset plastic waste exhibits desirable characteristics such as rigidity, heat and chemical resistance, strength and durability, making it suitable as a filler for non-structural applications. Alternatively, melting recycled plastic waste can produce binder materials that combine with other inorganic materials to form building and construction composites. Using melted thermoplastic waste as a binder enhances ductility, reduces water absorption, and improves overall durability. Additionally, the hot-pressing technique has been shown to be more effective in addressing poor bonding issues commonly encountered with conventional methods.

Conductive polymers, such as polyaniline (PANI), have interesting applications, ranging from flexible electronics, energy storage devices, sensors, antistatic or anticorrosion coatings, etc. However, the full exploitation of conductive polymers still poses a challenge due to their low processability. The use of compatible stabilizers to obtain dispersible and stable colloids is among the possible solutions to overcome such drawbacks. In this work, potato starch was used as a steric stabilizer for the preparation of colloidal polyaniline (emeraldine salt, ES)/starch composites by exploiting the oxidative polymerization of aniline in aqueous solutions with various starch-to-aniline ratios. The polyaniline/starch bio-composites were subjected to structural, spectroscopic, thermal, morphological, and electrochemical analyses. The samples were then tested for their dispersibility/solubility in a range of organic solvents. The results demonstrated the formation of PANI/starch biocomposites with a smaller average size than starch particles, showing improved aqueous dispersion and enhanced solubility in organic solvents. With respect to previously reported PANI-EB (emeraldine base)/starch composites, the novel colloids displayed a lower overall crystallinity, but the conductive nature of PANI-ES enhanced its electrochemical properties, resulting in richer redox chemistry, particularly evident in its oxidation behavior, as observed through cyclic voltammetry. Finally, as proof of the improved processability, the colloids were successfully integrated into a thin polyether sulfone (PES) membrane.