RSC Advances最新文献

{"title":"Bacterial responses to Ephedra aphylla stem extract and green-synthesized Ag-TiO2 and Ag-SeO2 core/shell nanocomposites: unveiling antimicrobial and antioxidant properties†","authors":"Mahmood Razzaq Mashar Askar","doi":"10.1039/D5RA00936G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA00936G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study reports an efficient and green protocol for the green synthesis of Ag-TiO<small>₂</small> and Ag-SeO<small>₂</small> nanocomposites using the extracted stems of <em>Ephedra aphylla</em>. Results of spectroscopic and analytical analyses confirmed the successful synthesis, stability, and crystalline nature of the nanomaterials. The phytochemical profile and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the <em>E. aphylla</em> extract and the nanocomposites were also studied. <em>E. aphylla</em> extract and both the nanomaterials exhibited significant levels of active phytochemical compounds. These compounds contributed to their potent antioxidant activity, with <em>E. aphylla</em> extract and Ag-TiO<small>₂</small> NC demonstrating the highest antioxidant activity. Besides, Ag-SeO<small>₂</small> NC displayed remarkable antibacterial properties against different pathogenic bacteria with 31.0 ± 1.27 mm against <em>K. pneumonia</em>, 31.0 ± 1.72 mm against <em>S. aureus</em>, and 44.0 ± 1.09 mm against <em>B. subtilis</em>, and antifungal properties against <em>Candida glabrata</em> and <em>Aspergillus niger</em>. The enhanced antimicrobial activity of Ag-SeO<small>₂</small> NC can be attributed to the synergistic effects of silver and selenium nanoparticles, which can disrupt cell membranes, induce oxidative stress, and interfere with essential cellular processes. The minimum inhibitory concentration values of Ag-SeO<small>₂</small> NC against <em>S. aureus</em> and <em>K. pneumoniae</em> were found to be 0.2956 mg mL<small>⁻¹</small> and 4.73 mg mL<small>⁻¹</small>, respectively. The mechanism of action of Ag-SeO<small>₂</small> NC against both fungal strains was investigated using FTIR and HR-TEM analyses.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13152-13171"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra00936g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143871139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel synthesis and anti-pathogenic properties of ensifentrine and its intermediates against Pseudomonas aeruginosa†","authors":"Anusree Sajeevan, Deepthi Joseph Andrew, T. Nalinikanta Patra, Adline Princy Solomon and Rambabu Dandela","doi":"10.1039/D5RA01722J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA01722J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder marked by persistent lung inflammation and airway constriction. It presents a formidable global health challenge owing to its high morbidity and mortality rates. It is often aggravated by infections from pathogens such as <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>, a predominant pathogen that accelerates lung function deterioration and triggers frequent exacerbations. Ensifentrine (ENF) exhibits strong anti-inflammatory effects and is a selective dual inhibitor of the enzymes PDE3 and PDE4, which have been reported to be beneficial in treating COPD exacerbation. This study examined the anti-pathogenic activity of ENF against <em>P. aeruginosa</em> by adopting an innovative synthetic route. A series of intermediates were synthesized <em>via</em> the novel route, optimizing the yield and integrity of ENF. Further investigations to determine the activity of the compound against <em>P. aeruginosa</em> involved antibacterial and antibiofilm testing and identification of the potential mechanisms of action. Preliminary results demonstrate that ENF and its intermediate ENF<small>^A</small> exhibit 50–60% robust biofilm-inhibition and biofilm-eradication effects at remarkably low concentrations of 3.9 μM and 7.9 μM, respectively. Furthermore, ENF disrupts quorum sensing, leading to a 35% reduction in the production of pyoverdine and exopolysaccharide, which are two key virulence factors of <em>P. aeruginosa</em>. Importantly, ENF exhibits synergistic activity with ciprofloxacin, further enhancing its antimicrobial efficacy at a concentration of 0.25 μg mL<small>⁻¹</small>. This study focuses on the innovative synthesis of ENF and its promising anti-pathogenic properties, which may make it an effective adjunctive treatment for COPD caused by <em>P. aeruginosa</em>.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13053-13063"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra01722j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143861086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First-principles design of GaN–VHC (H = Cl, Br; C = Se, Te) van der Waals heterostructures for advanced optoelectronic applications†","authors":"Sheraz Ahmad, Shah Saleem Ullah, Haleem Ud Din, Irina Piyanzina and Cuong Q. Nguyen","doi":"10.1039/D4RA08190K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA08190K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In this study, we examine the structural, optoelectronic, and photocatalytic properties of GaN-based van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) that incorporate halogens (Cl, Br) and chalcogens (Se, Te). Using first-principles calculations based on density functional theory, we analyze six different stacking configurations of these heterostructures. Our results show that the GaN–VHC vdWHs (where H = Cl, Br and C = Se, Te) are both dynamically and energetically stable. For solar cell applications, the GaN–VHSe heterostructures exhibit a direct type-I band alignment, while the GaN–VHTe structures show an indirect type-I band alignment. All GaN–VHC heterostructures display strong optical peaks across the visible, infrared, and ultraviolet regions, highlighting their potential for optoelectronic applications. We investigated the photocatalytic potential of these heterostructures and found that GaN–VClSe performs water splitting at pH = 0. While model I and model II can facilitate water splitting, and mainly support reduction at pH = 0 and oxidation at pH = 7. However, their type-I band alignment inherently limits overall photocatalytic activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13076-13085"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d4ra08190k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865390","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating Li2Mg2(WO4)3: structure, morphology, and electrical properties with ultra-low dielectric loss for optimizing laser host materials","authors":"Mehdi Akermi, Ines Mbarek, Rym Hassani, Saber Nasri and Abderrazek Oueslati","doi":"10.1039/D4RA08888C","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA08888C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >With technological advancements driving the demand for innovative materials, triple tungstate compounds, like Li<small>₂</small>Mg<small>₂</small>(WO<small>₄</small>)<small>₃</small> (LMWO), offer exceptional properties for optoelectronic technologies. To investigate these potential outcomes, the LMWO compound was prepared <em>via</em> the solid-state reaction approach. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a single-phase material crystallizing in the orthorhombic structure, belonging to the <em>Pnma</em> space group. The crystallite size of the material was determined to be 58.32 nm, which played a significant role in enhancing its electrical performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed prismatic or rod-shaped particles with an average grain size of approximately 2.83 μm. Additionally, EDX confirmed the elemental composition, verifying the presence of Mg, W, and O, and ensuring the material's purity. Nyquist plots indicated non-Debye type relaxation, and further analysis of the relaxation frequency confirmed long-range motion of charge carriers. The temperature dependence of dielectric relaxation followed the Arrhenius law, yielding an activation energy of 0.84 eV. The frequency dependent behavior of <em>M</em>′′ and <em>Z</em>′′ at various temperatures indicated a shift from short-range to long-range mobility of charge carriers. The conductivity of the material increased with both temperature and frequency, demonstrating its semiconducting behavior. The temperature dependence of Jonscher's exponent suggests that conduction follows the non-overlapping small polaron tunneling (NSPT) model. This compound exhibited a high dielectric constant (<em>ε</em> ∼ 10<small>⁵</small>) and low dielectric loss at high frequencies, making it promising for applications in laser host materials and energy storage.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13064-13075"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d4ra08888c?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143861087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Single step site-selective reaction to construct a Ag2Au2 ← Ag4 supramolecular assembly from hybrid N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC): synthesis, structures and optoelectronic properties†","authors":"Pooja Das, Soumi Halder, Partha Pratim Ray, Narayan Ch. Jana, Priyanka Sahu, Anvarhusein A. Isab, Rambabu Dandela, Ramalingam Natarajan and Joydev Dinda","doi":"10.1039/D5RA00684H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA00684H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Two supramolecular complex assemblies, [Ag<small>₄</small>(<strong>1</strong>)<small>₂</small>][PF<small>₆</small>]<small>₄</small>·4MeCN <strong>2</strong> and Ag(<small>I</small>)–Au(<small>I</small>) mixed metal complex [Ag<small>₂</small>Au<small>₂</small>(<strong>1</strong>)<small>₂</small>][PF<small>₆</small>]<small>₄</small>·4MeCN <strong>3</strong>, have been prepared from 3-(pyridylmethyl)imidazo[1,5-<em>a</em>]pyridin-4-ylium hexafluorophosphate (<strong>1</strong> HPF<small>₆</small>), which is the precursor of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). These complexes were subsequently analyzed using various spectroscopic techniques to confirm their structural and chemical properties. Transmetallation of Au(<small>I</small>) onto the Ag<small>₄</small> macrocycle results in the formation of an Ag<small>₂</small>Au<small>₂</small> macrocyclic assembly. Au(<small>I</small>) selectively binds with the soft donor C<small>_carbene</small>, whereas Ag(<small>I</small>) binds with comparatively hard donor N<small>_py</small> (py = pyridine). The geometries of <strong>2</strong> and <strong>3</strong> were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Both molecules form a 2D network through M–M and several non-covalent interactions. Electrical conductivity measurements revealed that Ag(<small>I</small>) complex <strong>2</strong> is better conductor than Au(<small>I</small>) complex <strong>3</strong>. Optoelectronic studies revealed the utility of complexes <strong>2</strong> and <strong>3</strong> as photovoltaic devices. Furthermore, MS-junction potential measurements show that they are suitable for semiconductor devices, with complex <strong>2</strong> being more efficient than complex <strong>3</strong>. Finally, in this study, we aimed to explore the scope of (i) the development of heterobimetallic supramolecular organometallic complexes (SOC), (ii) the charge transport behaviour of SOCs, and (iii) the modification of intrinsically conductive SOCs-based electronics.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13086-13094"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra00684h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865365","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Coumarin–naphthalene conjugate for rapid optical detection of OCl− and Y3+ in a cascade manner: combined experimental and theoretical studies†","authors":"T. Shyam, N. Jahan and D. Das","doi":"10.1039/D5RA00689A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA00689A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The coumarin–naphthalene conjugate (<strong>A3</strong>), an ESIPT-active probe, selectively recognized OCl<small>⁻</small> in a ratiometric manner in DMSO–water media. The recognition was associated with sky-blue emission (under UV light) as well as yellow emission (under visible light). The OCl<small>⁻</small> assisted inhibition of the ESIPT process <em>via</em> H-bonding resulted in an intense emission at 484 nm (<em>λ</em><small>_ex</small> = 365 nm). It allowed for the detection of OCl<small>⁻</small> as low as 18.42 nM with a strong association constant, <em>K</em> = 1.08 × 10<small>⁵</small> M<small>⁻¹</small>, around physiological pH. Furthermore, the <strong>A3</strong>-OCl<small>⁻</small> adduct (<strong>Ad1</strong>) ratiometrically detected Y<small>³⁺</small> <em>via</em> bright orange emission at 556 nm (<em>λ</em><small>_ex</small> = 440 nm) under both UV and visible light. Detection up to 98.51 nM was achieved with a binding constant, <em>K</em> = 1.38 × 10<small>⁵</small> M<small>⁻¹</small>, at physiological pH. Density functional theory (DFT) and lifetime decay measurements substantiated the interactions. Real sample analysis were also achieved with the developed method.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13111-13118"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra00689a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Applicability of NMR spectroscopy to quantify microplastics across varying concentrations in polymer mixtures†","authors":"Julia Schmidt, Marte Haave and Wei Wang","doi":"10.1039/D5RA01174D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA01174D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy could potentially be used for environmental microplastic analyses, provided the challenges posed by mixed polymer samples with varying concentrations and overlapping signals are understood. This study investigates the feasibility of qNMR as a reliable and cost-efficient method for quantifying synthetic polymers in mixtures of low and varying concentrations, addressing key challenges and limitations. Polymer mixtures were analysed using deuterated chloroform (CDCl<small>₃</small>) and deuterated tetrahydrofuran (THF-d<small>₈</small>) as solvents, with polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene-cis (PB), polyisoprene-cis (PI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), and polylactic acid (PLA) as selected polymers. Mixtures contained either low and high concentrations of each polymer or equal concentrations of all six polymers. Polymer concentrations were measured using the internal standard method. The method showed low relative errors for low concentrations of PS in CDCl<small>₃</small> and PVC in THF-d<small>₈</small>, with values of −5% and 0%, respectively, while PB and PI in CDCl<small>₃</small> show relative errors of +5% and −3%, respectively. We observe significant linearity between nominal and measured concentrations with <em>R</em><small>²</small> values ranging from 0.9655 to 0.9981, except for PU, which had high relative errors and poor linearity (<em>R</em><small>²</small> = 0.9548). Moreover, simultaneous quantification of six polymers in THF-d<small>₈</small> proves effective at intermediate concentrations. However, overlapping proton signals are observed, causing high-concentration polymers to mask low-concentration ones. While this study demonstrates low limit of quantification (LOQ) and advances in simultaneous polymer quantification, further research is needed to improve qNMR accuracy for mixed polymer samples and environmentally relevant concentrations.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13041-13052"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra01174d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143861085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An experimental and numerical investigation of secondary char formation in hydrothermal carbonization: revealing morphological changes via hydrodynamics†","authors":"Omar M. Abdeldayem, Capucine Dupont, David Ferras and Maria Kennedy","doi":"10.1039/D4RA08995B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4RA08995B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) research has mainly focused on primary char production, with limited attention to secondary char, which is formed through polymerization and condensation of dissolved organic compounds in the liquid phase. This research aims to address this gap <em>via</em> an experimental investigation of the impact of stirring on the mass and carbon balance of HTC reaction products, surface functional groups, and surface morphology of secondary char, using fructose as a model compound. A 3D hydrodynamic simulation model was developed for a two-liter HTC stirred reactor. The experimental results indicated that stirring did not significantly influence the pH, mass, carbon balance, and surface functional groups of secondary char produced under the range of experimental conditions (180 °C, 10% biomass to water (B/W) ratio, and a residence time of 0–120 min) studied. Nonetheless, it was observed that a stirring rate of 200 rpm influenced the morphology and shape of the secondary char microspheres, leading to a significant increase in their size <em>i.e.</em>, from 1–2 μm in unstirred conditions compared with 70 μm at a stirring rate of 200 rpm. This increase in size was attributed to the aggregation of microspheres into irregular aggregates at stirring rates &gt; 65 rpm and residence times &gt; 1 h. The hydrodynamic model revealed that high turbulence of Re &gt; 10<small>⁴</small> and velocities &gt; 0.17 m s<small>⁻¹</small> correlated with regions of secondary char formation, emphasizing their role in particle aggregation. Particle aggregation is significant above a stirring rate of 65 rpm, which corresponds to the onset of turbulent flow in the reactor. Finally, a mechanism is proposed, based on reactor hydrodynamics under stirred conditions, that explains secondary char deposition on the reactor walls and stirrer.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 16","pages":" 12723-12738"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d4ra08995b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143861021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selective hydrogenation of HMF to DHMF with Ru–PNP complexes in ionic liquids†","authors":"Valeria Nori, Haliru Abdulrahman Sidi and Martin Nielsen","doi":"10.1039/D5RA01002K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA01002K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The catalytic hydrogenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF) represents a promising pathway for the valorisation of lignocellulosic-derived biomass feedstock. This study investigates the use of Ru–PNP complexes as (pre)catalysts to achieve efficient and highly selective hydrogenation of HMF in ionic liquids (ILs) as green reaction media under mild reaction conditions. Our results indicate that <small>^iPr</small>Ru-MACHO leads to excellent conversion and yield (up to 99%) of HMF to DHMF using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIM OAc). The analogous cationic Ru–PNP complex bearing acetonitrile as ancillary ligand and hexafluorophosphate (PF<small>₆</small><small>⁻</small>) as counterion also shows high catalytic activity (up to 99% conversion) in BMIM OAc under mild reaction conditions. Interestingly, the IL seems to prevent HMF polymerization to humins. Furthermore, the recyclability and reusability of the ionic liquid are systematically investigated.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 16","pages":" 12791-12796"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra01002k?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143861022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of LNA modifications on the activity of the 10–23 DNAzyme†","authors":"Marcelo Muñoz-González, Rodrigo Aguilar, Adrian A. Moreno and Marjorie Cepeda-Plaza","doi":"10.1039/D5RA00161G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5RA00161G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The 10–23 DNAzyme is a catalytic DNA molecule that efficiently cleaves RNA in the presence of divalent cations such as Mg<small>²⁺</small> or Ca<small>²⁺</small>. Following their discovery, the 10–23 DNAzymes demonstrated numerous advantages that quickly led them to be considered powerful molecular tools for the development of gene-silencing tools. In this study, we evaluate the efficiency of the 10–23 DNAzyme and an LNA-modified analog in cleaving human MALAT1, an RNA overexpressed in cancer cells. First, we perform <em>in vitro</em> assays using a 20 nt RNA fragment from the MALAT1 sequence, with 2 mM and 10 mM Mg<small>²⁺</small> and Ca<small>²⁺</small> as cofactors, to evaluate how LNA modifications influence catalytic activity. We found that the activity is increased in the LNA-modified DNAzyme compared to the unmodified version with both cofactors, in a concentration-dependent manner. Finally, the RNA-cleaving activity of the LNA-modified, catalytically active 10–23 DNAzyme was tested in MCF7 human breast cancer cells. We found that the DNAzyme persists for up to 72 h in cells and effectively silences MALAT1 RNA in a concentration-dependent manner as early as 12 h post-transfection.</p>","PeriodicalId":102,"journal":{"name":"RSC Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 13031-13040"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ra/d5ra00161g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143861083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}