Over the years, many biological and synthetic agents have been explored and tested in attempts to halt the spread of cancer and/or cure it. Currently, several natural compounds have and are being considered in this regard. For example, paclitaxel is a potent anticancer drug that originates from the tree Taxus brevifolia. Paclitaxel has several derivatives, namely, docetaxel and cabazitaxel. These agents work by disrupting microtubule assembling dynamics and inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, ultimately triggering apoptosis. Such features have helped to establish paclitaxel as an authoritative therapeutic compound against neoplastic disorders. After the completion of compound (hemi) synthesis, this drug received approval for the treatment of solid tumors either alone or in combination with other agents. In this review, we explore the mechanisms of action of paclitaxel and its derivatives, the different formulations available, as well as the molecular pathways of cancer resistance, potential risks, and other therapeutic applications. In addition, the role of paclitaxel in hematological malignancies is explored, and potential limitations in the therapeutic use of paclitaxel at the clinical level are examined. Furthermore, paclitaxel is known to cause increased antigen presentation. The immunomodulatory potential of taxanes, alone or in combination with other pharmacologic agents, is explored. Despite terpene-alkaloids derivatives’ anti-mitotic potential, the impact of this class of drugs on other oncogenic pathways, such as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and the epigenetic modulation of the transcription profile of cancer cells, is also analyzed, shedding light on potential future chemotherapeutic approaches to cancer.

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Abstract. Thin films of Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) are deposited on microscope glass slides by two techniques, chemical bath deposition (CBD) and close spaced sublimation (CSS). Cadmium Sulfide thin films fabricated by both procedures are characterized by spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Optical analysis of CdS thin films shows changes in transmittance, refractive Index and energy band gap by using two different techniques. XRD and SEM results show CdS thin film samples with better crystalline structure for close spaced sublimation technique and grain size is also found different for these two methods. CdS thin films fabricated by any of these two methods are good window layers with small thickness and suitable for CdTe/CdS/ITO based solar cells.

Zinc oxide/carbon nanotube (ZnO/CNTs) nanocomposites are developed on gold (Au)-coated unpolished Si p-type (100) substrates with 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 nm thicknesses by vapor–liquid–solid method. One set of Au-coated Si substrates are annealed to develop Si–Au samples for better nucleation. XRD, FE-SEM, Raman, and photoluminescence spectroscopic characterizations are used to study structural, morphological, and optical properties on annealed and unannealed catalyst layers with various Au thickness samples. In XRD results, the ZnO/CNT nanocomposites are observed with higher crystallinity and purity of phase. FE-SEM images showed variety of nanostructures with variation in morphologies with respect to Au thickness in annealed and unannealed samples. Clear indication of high defect concentrations and high crystallinity is observed in Raman spectra. It is observed in PL spectra that preferred peak orientation with shift ∼4 nm in the unannealed Au layer and ∼9 nm in annealed Au layer samples exhibited formation of ZnO/CNT nanocomposites. Efficient sensing is observed in the 6-nm thickness Au layer in the unannealed sample. Annealed Au-coated Si samples at 8 and 10 nm thicknesses showed efficient UV sensing with quick response and recovery time.

The energy and environmental application of materials can be improved dramatically by efficiently consuming a large section of the solar spectrum. Scientists are exploring the wide band gap metal oxides and their nanocomposites as heterogeneous photocatalysts for effective performance in solar wavelengths. Increased surface area, efficient photon absorption, and reduced recombination rate can be achieved by structural engineering and developing efficient nanocomposites. A thorough review of recent innovations in ZnO nanostructures/nanocomposites exclusively for photocatalytic dye degradation has been conducted. The review provides insight into the effects of ZnO nanostructure and recent advancements in ZnO nanocomposites to improve the photocatalytic activity of organic pollutants under different radiations. The review concludes that structural and material engineering can boost the photocatalytic performance of ZnO structures.