Interfacial and aggregation behavior of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) in dioxane (DO)-water(Wa) mixed solvent systems (DO volume/mol fraction, φDOV /xDO up to = 0.5/0.17) were investigated by surfacetension, conductivity, fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small angle X-ray/neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) studies. Critical micelle concentration increased exponentially with increasing φDOV /xDO, surface excess, Gibbs free energy of micellization (ΔG0m) and interfacial adsorption decreased linearly. Fraction of counter ion dissociation (α)increased with increasing φDOV /xDO unlike the zeta potential that decreased due to reduced dielectric permittivity and electrophoretic mobility. Reduced interfacial adsorption of HTAB was substantiated by Gordon parameter and critical packing parameter. Enthalpy changes of demicellization were endothermic, with a maximum atφDOV /xDO = 0.2/0.05 indicating stable micelle formation, beyond which, micellization were unfavourable. Micellization were governed both by the enthalpy and entropy changes. Decreasing Kraft point, micellar core melting temperature, enthalpy, and specific heat capacity for the HTAB micelles with increasing φDOV /xDO suggest the formation of large and soft micellar aggregates with lower aggregation numbers where DO molecules get co-solubilized in the micellar palisade layer. SAXS/SANS studies confirmed the formation of prolate ellipsoidal micelles. Mixed solvent systems up to φDOV /xDO = 0.3/0.08 were biocompatible (>70 % cell viability) with ~80 %cell viability at 1.0 mM aqueous HTAB. 0.5 mM HTAB in φDOV /xDO = 0.2/0.05 with minimum toxicity exhibited antibacterial activity towards Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Such formulation can be used as biocompatible disinfectant considering HTAB’s antimicrobial properties and DO’s effective cleansing ability.

The global increase in allergic reactions necessitate the development of effective and safe therapeutic approaches. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with methanolic extract of Acorus calamus (ACE) rhizome as neoteric and benign strategy for the treatment of allergy has been explored in terms of therapeutic efficacy and bioavailability. NLC formulations were prepared using stearic acid, tripalmitin, soylecithin (1:2:2; M/M/M) by cold homogenization followed by ultrasonic dispersion technique where polyvinyl alcohol-31000 (PVA), polyethylene glycol-2000 (PEG), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (T-60), Poloxamer-188 (P188), were separately used as stabilizers. Combined FTIR, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, UV–visible absorption spectroscopy were utilized to correlate the physicochemical properties, ACE payload, ACE release, and biological activity of ACE-NLC. P188 stabilized NLC was spherical with minimum aggregation with an average particle size of 152.6 ± 8.4 nm, zeta potential equal to −49.2 ± 2.00 mV, entrapment efficiency 92.33 ± 0.53 %, drug loading 7.39 ± 0.03 % where 59.28 ± 4.58 % ACE released after 72 h at pH 3. MTT assay indicated over 78 % cell viability at 1.5 mM NLC. In vivo anti-allergic activity of ACE-NLCs were assessed in BALB/c mice using black tiger shrimp extract as allergen. P188 stabilized ACE-NLC significantly (P < 0.001) reduced serum IL-4 (52 %), IL-5 (61 %), IL-13 (48 %), and IgE (60 %) levels, along with decreased eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia in duodenal mucosa, compared to bare ACE. Such a set of work, not reported earlier in the literature may be considered as a proof of concept that requires further clinical trials.

Presently, heavy metal pollution has become a major environmental problem globally, and the toxic heavy metals are taken up into the environment in one way by natural phenomena or by wide-ranging industrialization. The emitted pollutants with toxic heavy metals get mixed with soil and water, and alter their natural composition. Most importantly, toxic heavy metals have harmful effects on animal and human health. Methods such as ion exchange, dialysis, chemical precipitation, solvent extraction, and reverse osmosis are commonly applied to eliminate the lethal heavy metals from the polluted sites but these techniques are expensive, less efficient, and occasionally 208appear with adverse effects on the environment. To overcome these limitations, the process of bioremediation has appeared as a highly prospective alternative, which is eco-friendly and apparently harmless. Bioremediation is a natural process to make the environment pollutant-free through biodegradation, predominantly by microorganisms. Algae are ubiquitous, photosynthetic microorganisms found plentifully in nature and have been found with imperative applications in the bioremediation of toxic compounds. The advantages of algae-mediated bioremediation are their prodigious ability to accumulate, degrade, or detoxify xenobiotics and/or pollutants. Hence, the usage of algal biomass for remediation of heavy metal toxicity has become exceedingly significant for their abundant availability, cost-effective usage and also effectiveness as renewable biological resources. Herein, in this chapter, a wide-ranging analysis has been done on the algal intervention of bioremediation of heavy metals that may provide a major insight into the management of heavy metal poisoning in the environment and related health issues.

This study explores the selective flotation of carbonate minerals-dolomite, magnesite, and calcite using amino acid-based single- and double-headed collectors. The separation efficiency was evaluated using microflotation experiments, ζ potential measurements, UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and molecular modelling. The study aimed to understand how the molecular architecture of collectors influences their adsorption behaviour on mineral surfaces, leading to selective flotation.Flotation recoveries were measured at both natural and pH 10.5 conditions. The monocarboxylate collector (C12GlyNa) demonstrated high but non-selective recovery across all three minerals. In contrast, the double-headed collector, disodium N-dodecyl aminomalonate (C12MalNa2), exhibited strong selectivity, particularly for magnesite, due to optimal geometric matching between its head groups and the Mg-Mg atomic distances on the mineral surface. The amount of collector adsorbed was determined by UV–Vis analysis, while FTIR confirmed surface adsorption through characteristic alkyl stretching bands. ζ potential measurements supported these findings, showing that increased adsorption led to greater negative charge development on mineral surfaces. Molecular modelling further revealed that selective adsorption occurs when the collector's head group spacing aligns with metal-metal distances on the mineral surface, enabling effective electrostatic interactions.These results highlight the potential for designing tailored collectors based on molecular recognition principles, offering a pathway for more efficient and selective flotation of carbonate minerals.

Sintered silver (Ag) offers excellent thermal and mechanical properties for high-temperature electronic packaging but faces adoption barriers due to high cost and electrochemical migration. Sintered copper (Cu), a cheaper alternative, is limited by its oxidation susceptibility. To overcome these issues, recent research explores the combination of Ag- and Cu-based sintering to leverage the benefits of both metals. The technology can be further enhanced with functional additives, sometimes combined with intermetallic-based transient liquid phase sintering strategies. This review critically examines their synthesis methods, mechanical performance, and processing challenges, with a particular focus on key properties such as shear strength, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity. The benefits of Ag–Cu based sintered joints, especially their superior thermal performance and mechanical robustness, are highlighted. Additionally, combining Ag and Cu in sinter pastes enhances oxidation resistance through the thermal stability of Ag and improves structural reliability by leveraging mechanical strength and cost-effectiveness of Cu. Ultimately, this review provides insights into the potential of sintered Ag–Cu metal interconnect as high-performance and lead-free bonding materials.

Traditional medicines are the collection of basic theories, medical practices, indigenous experiences, folk beliefs, pre-historical knowledge, and fundamental approaches by using natural ingredients from plants, animals, minerals, etc., in the maintenance of health as well as in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of ailments by applying either in single or in combinations. Different beneficial experiences of traditional medicines have drawn the attention of medical practitioners and healthcare advisors, because of their easy availability, sustainability and intrinsic acceptability with fewer side effects. Having ethnopharmacological importance, this milieu of diverse medicinal products is the root of many developed dominant medical systems like Ayurveda and Unani in India. In traditional practices, there have been quite a substantial number of alternative treatment strategies that have significant roles in skin health. Various components of indigenous medicine have been used for the prevention of different dermatological concerns like eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes, acne, etc., and have promising roles on cutaneous circulation, moisturization and reduction of microbial loading due to anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activities including cell stimulating properties. This chapter will depict frequently used indigenous medicinal practices in Indian settings for nurturing skin health. 

Dicarboxylate metallosurfactants (AASM), synthesized by mixing N-dodecyl aminomalonate, -aspartate and -glutamate with CaCl2,MnCl2 and CdCl2, were characterized by XRD, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Layered structures, formed by metallosurfactants, were evidencedfrom differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analyses. Solvent-spread monolayer of AASM in combination withsoyphosphatidylcholine (SPC) and cholesterol (CHOL) were studied using Langmuir surface balance. With increasing mole fraction of AASMmean molecular area increased and passed through maxima at ~60 mol% of AASMs, indicating molecular packing reorganization. Systems with20 and 60 mol% AASM exhibited positive deviations from ideal behavior signifying repulsive interaction between the AASM and SPC, whilesynergistic interactions were established from the negative deviation at other combinations. Dynamic surface elasticity increased with increasingsurface pressure signifying formation of rigid monolayer. Transition of monolayer from gaseous to liquid expanded to liquid condensed state wasestablished by Brewster angle microscopic studies. Stability of the hybrid vesicles, formed by AASM+SPC+CHOL, was established bymonitoring their size, zeta potential and polydispersity index values over 100 days. Size and spherical morphology of hybrid vesicles wereconfirmed by transmission electron microscopic studies. Biocompatibility of the hybrid vesicles were established by cytotoxicity studies revealingtheir possible applications in drug delivery and imaging.