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The past decade has witnessed a phenomenal rise in nanotechnology research due to its broad range of applications in diverse fields including food safety, transportation, sustainable energy, environmental science, catalysis, and medicine. The distinctive properties of nanomaterials (nano-sized particles in the range of 1 to 100 nm) make them uniquely suitable for such wide range of functions. The nanoparticles when manufactured using green synthesis methods are especially desirable being devoid of harsh operating conditions (high temperature and pressure), hazardous chemicals, or addition of external stabilizing or capping agents. Numerous plants and microorganisms are being experimented upon for an eco–friendly, cost–effective, and biologically safe process optimization. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the green synthesis of metallic NPs using plants and microorganisms, factors affecting the synthesis, and characterization of synthesized NPs. The potential applications of metal NPs in various sectors have also been highlighted along with the major challenges involved with respect to toxicity and translational research.

In this perspective, the authors challenge the status quo of polymer innovation. The authors first explore how research in polymer design is conducted today, which is both time consuming and unable to capture the multi-scale complexities of polymers. The authors discuss strategies that could be employed in bringing together machine learning, data curation, high-throughput experimentation, and simulations, to build a system that can accurately predict polymer properties from their descriptors and enable inverse design that is capable of designing polymers based on desired properties.

Positive-sense RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and -2, DENV, and CHIKV, replicate in curved membrane compartments within host cells. Non-structural proteins (nsPs) critically regulate these nanoscale membrane structures, yet their curvature-dependent assembly remains elusive due to the challenges of imaging nanoscale interaction on curved surfaces. Using vertically aligned nanostructures to generate pre-defined membrane curvatures, we here investigate the impact of curvature on nsPs assembly. Taking CHIKV as a model, we reveal that nsP1 preferentially binds and stabilizes on positively curved membranes, with stronger accumulation at radii ≤150 nm. This is driven by hydrophobic residues in the membrane association (MA) loops of individual nsP1. Molecular dynamics simulations further confirm the improved binding stability of nsP1 on curved membranes, particularly when it forms a dodecamer ring. Together, nsP1 supports a strong saddle curvature association, with flexible MA loops sensing a range of positive curvatures in the x-z plane while the rigid dodecamer stabilizing fixed negative curvature in the x-y plane - crucial for constraining the membrane spherule neck during replication progression. Moreover, CHIKV replication enriches on patterned nanoring structures, underscoring the curvature-guided assembly of the viral replication complex. Our findings highlight membrane curvature as a key regulator of viral nsPs organization, opening new avenues for studying membrane remodeling in viral replication. Viruses exploit host cell machinery for replication, but their spatial cues remain elusive. Using nanochip-enabled membrane shaping, the authors discover saddle curvature association of viral proteins, revealing a new spatial regulation mechanism.

Inverse design is an outstanding challenge in disordered systems with multiple length scales such as polymers, particularly when designing polymers with desired phase behavior. Here we demonstrate high-accuracy tuning of poly(2-oxazoline) cloud point via machine learning. With a design space of four repeating units and a range of molecular masses, we achieve an accuracy of 4 °C root mean squared error (RMSE) in a temperature range of 24–90 °C, employing gradient boosting with decision trees. The RMSE is >3x better than linear and polynomial regression. We perform inverse design via particle-swarm optimization, predicting and synthesizing 17 polymers with constrained design at 4 target cloud points from 37 to 80 °C. Our approach challenges the status quo in polymer design with a machine learning algorithm, that is capable of fast and systematic discovery of new polymers.

Olfaction plays a pivotal role in a mosquito’s lifecycle, influencing vital functions such as finding food, mates, identifying hosts, and locating sites for laying eggs. However, a detailed catalog of the olfactory genes in mosquitoes has remained elusive—until now. In this study, we compiled the olfactory genes catalog for four key malaria vectors: two major Indian species, Anopheles stephensi and Anopheles culicifacies , along with two African species, Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles funestus . Using an extensive genome-wide approach, we uncovered crucial carrier proteins like odorant binding proteins ( OBPs ), chemosensory proteins ( CSPs ), and several receptors, including odorant receptors ( ORs ), ionotropic receptors ( IRs ), and gustatory receptors ( GusRs ). A particularly striking discovery was the significantly higher number of OBP , OR , and IR genes in African malaria vectors compared to their Indian counterparts, hinting at the gene gain and functional diversification in these species. The invasive A. stephensi —which has spread from Asia to Africa—showed closer genetic ties to A. minimus and A. gambiae than to A. culicifacies . Furthermore, when examining the expression of CSPs and SAPs in the larval stage of A. stephensi , we found that pyrethroid-resistant mosquito larvae exhibited elevated expression of SAP2 and SAP3 , providing new evidence of their potential role in insecticide resistance. This study not only sheds light on the genetic basis of mosquito olfaction but also offers crucial insights into how these genes are linked to different physiological functions, paving the way for improved malaria control strategies.

The presence of small subpopulations of cells within tumor cells are known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). These cells have been the reason for metastasis, resistance with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and tumor relapse in several types of cancers. CSCs underwent to epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and resulted in the development of aggressive tumors. CSCs have potential to modulate numerous signaling pathways including Wnt, Hh, and Notch, therefore increasing the stem-like characteristics of cancer cells. The raised expression of drug efflux pump and suppression of apoptosis has shown increased resistance with anti-cancer drugs. Among many agents which were shown to modulate these, the plant-derived bioactive agents appear to modulate these key regulators and were shown to remove CSCs. This review aims to comprehensively scrutinize the preclinical and clinical studies demonstrating the effects of phytocompounds on CSCs isolated from various tumors. Based on the available convincing literature from preclinical studies, with some clinical data, it is apparent that selective targeting of CSCs with plants, plant preparations, and plant-derived bioactive compounds, termed phytochemicals, may be a promising strategy for the treatment of relapsed cancers.

The Transdermal Drug Delivery System (TDDS) offers several benefits, such as enhanced patient adherence, controlled release, reduced gastric irritation, and the bypassing of the first-pass metabolism. However, not all drugs can be delivered through this route in effective doses. Biodegradable microneedles (BMn) are designed to improve TDDS. This review outlines various types of BMn and their fabrication methods. BMn are produced in different forms, including hollow, solid, dissolve, and hydrogel-forming versions, which have garnered significant attention. These innovative BMn do not contain drugs themselves but instead absorb interstitial fluid to create continuous channels between the dermal microcirculation and a drug-containing patch. Several types of BMn have been tested and approved by regulatory bodies. The use of BMn technology is rapidly growing in point-of-care applications, attracting significant interest from both researchers and healthcare providers. BMn-based Point-of-care (POC) devices have high efficacy for finding various analytes of clinical interests and transdermal drug administration in a minimally invasive manner owing to BMn’ micro-size sharp tips and ease of use. Porous BMn technology may have a very rising future in the case of a vaccine delivery system.

The focal rise of P. vivax cases, while not uncommon, remains a significant challenge in India’s malaria elimination efforts. In 2015, a dramatic surge in P. vivax cases occurred in Primary Health Centre (PHC)- Punhana, Nuh district, Haryana, India. This focal rise was attributed to the development of an irrigation system near Hathangaon village leading to a higher malaria incidence, breeding habitats and vector densities. Using our previously validated minisatellite marker CH1T1M13779, we investigated the genetic diversity of 41 P. vivax infected samples and observed 10 alleles in two villages- Hathangaon and Raipuri, Nuh district, Haryana, India. Following are the key takeaways-a) The minisatellite marker CH1T1M13779 proved effective for genotyping; b) P. vivax preferential infection of children and adolescents making them a vulnerable age group. Despite limitations in sample size and geographic scope, this study underscores the value of using minisatellite markers for cost-effective, large-scale genotyping surveillance to help prevent future outbreaks.

The direct laser synthesis of periodically nanostructured 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (2D-TMD) films, from single source precursors, is presented here. Laser synthesis of MoS2 and WS2 tracks is achieved by localized thermal dissociation of Mo and W thiosalts, caused by the strong absorption of continuous wave (c.w.) visible laser radiation by the precursor film. Moreover, within a range of irradiation conditions we have observed occurrence of 1D and 2D spontaneous periodic modulation in the thickness of the laser-synthesized TMD films, which in some cases is so extreme that it results in the formation of isolated nanoribbons with a width of ~200 nm and a length of several micrometers. The formation of these nanostructures is attributed to the effect that is known as laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), which is caused by self-organized modulation of the incident laser intensity distribution due to optical feedback from surface roughness. We have fabricated two terminal photoconductive detectors based on nanostructured and continuous films and we show that the nanostructured TMD films exhibit enhanced photo-response, with photocurrent yield increased by three orders of magnitude as compared to their continuous counterparts.