https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/301 2026-05-04T13:26:28Z 2026-05-04T13:26:28Z Adedibu C. Tella Anthony O. Oyediran Adetola C. Oladipo Deborah Josiah Oluwasegun A. Osatuyi Tolulope M. Eluyera Victor U. Ugwuanyi Hadley S. Clayton Margaret D. Olawale Mehlana, Gift Oluwatobi S. Oluwafemi https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7019 2026-05-03T10:20:38Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Carbon dot–MOF composites for cancer biomarker detection: an emerging research frontier Authors: Adedibu C. Tella; Anthony O. Oyediran; Adetola C. Oladipo; Deborah Josiah; Oluwasegun A. Osatuyi; Tolulope M. Eluyera; Victor U. Ugwuanyi; Hadley S. Clayton; Margaret D. Olawale; Mehlana, Gift; Oluwatobi S. Oluwafemi Abstract: Cancer is a deadly disease that has become a major global concern. Early detection of cancer biomarkers is crucial to significantly reduce the impact and enable the prompt diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer. The integration of carbon dots (CDs) with metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has emerged as a promising approach for developing highly selective and sensitive sensors for cancer biomarker detection. CD@MOF composites exhibit remarkable properties due to the synergy between the exceptional optical characteristics of CDs and the unique surface features of MOFs. With the improved properties, such as high surface area, tunable porosity, excellent photoluminescence, and biocompatibility, that these composites possess, they serve as ideal candidates for cancer biomarker sensing. This review dissects the chemistry of CDs and MOFs, and explores recent advancements in CD@MOF-based strategies in the detection of several cancer biomarkers, highlighting their potential as ultrasensitive probes for clinical applications. It also delineates the challenges in the development and future directions in the application of CD@MOF composites as sensors for cancer biomarkers.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Adedibu C. Tella Anthony O. Oyediran Adetola C. Oladipo Deborah Josiah Oluwasegun A. Osatuyi Tolulope M. Eluyera Victor U. Ugwuanyi Hadley S. Clayton Margaret D. Olawale Mehlana, Gift Oluwatobi S. Oluwafemi Gumbo, Maureen Mehlana, Gift https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7018 2026-05-03T09:39:37Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Synthesis and characterization of lanthanide MOFs based on 2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylate linkers Authors: Gumbo, Maureen; Mehlana, Gift Abstract: Two new metal-organic frameworks based on 2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylate and lanthanide (Ln) metal ions were prepared under solvothermal conditions, using HCl as a modulator. JMS-8 and JMS-9 MOFs ([Ln(bpdc)3(dmf)(H2O)3·5dmf·1.5H2O]n) crystallised in a triclinic system with space group P1. The MOFs have rod SBUs that grow along the b-axis. The linkers connect the SBUs along the a-axis and c-axis giving a 3D network structure. The packing diagrams show large pores as viewed on the a-axis and smaller pores which can be viewed on the c-axis. The MOFs exhibit good thermal and chemical stability. Gas sorption studies revealed low surface areas and poor CO2 adsorption capacity.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Gumbo, Maureen Mehlana, Gift Anyomih, Winifred D. Darkwa, James Moshapo, Paseka T. Mehlana, Gift Banothile C.E. Makhubela https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7017 2026-04-29T14:28:56Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Recyclable Brønsted-Lewis acidic ionic liquids enable high-yield biomass valorization to platform chemicals in aqueous biphasic systems Authors: Anyomih, Winifred D.; Darkwa, James; Moshapo, Paseka T.; Mehlana, Gift; Banothile C.E. Makhubela Abstract: Multiple product formation in biorefineries maximizes biomass valorization, resource efficiency, process integration, and flexibility in adapting to fuels, chemicals, and materials demand. We report a Brønsted acidic (BAIL) and Brønsted-Lewis acidic ionic liquids (BLAILs) that promote tandem biphasic extraction-conversion-separation of levulinic acid (LA), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural (FFR) from (hemi)cellulose in corn cobs and giant cane biomass. Reacting 1-benzyl-1H-imidazole and 1,4-butane sultone, afforded 1-benzyl-3-(4-sulfonatobutyl)imidazolium (zwitterion 1). This was followed by protonation of zwitterion 1, leading to 1-benzyl-3-(4-sulfobutyl)-1H-imidazole-3-ium (BAIL 2), which was treated, separately, with FeCl3, ZnCl2, SnCl2, and NiCl2 to give BLAILs (3a-d) with larger anions (FeCl4−, ZnCl3−, SnCl3−, and NiCl3−). These IL catalysts mediated raw biomass conversion via extraction-hydrolysis-dehydration and separation of FFR, LA and HMF. Under optimized conditions, BAIL (2) achieved 91 % FFR yield, while the BLAIL, incorporating FeCl4−, yielded 95 % FFR. The sequence of the BLAILs’ catalytic activity, which corresponded to their Lewis acidities, was FeCl4− > SnCl3− > ZnCl3− > NiCl3. Post-reaction solid residues characterized using SEM, PXRD, and FT-IR, revealed significant structural changes in biomass, including increased crystallinity, attributed to type I microcrystalline cellulose. This work establishes an efficient, high-yielding, and selective method for converting and separating FFR, HMF, LA, and pure microcrystalline cellulose from biomass using recyclable, earth-abundant metal-based ILs.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Anyomih, Winifred D. Darkwa, James Moshapo, Paseka T. Mehlana, Gift Banothile C.E. Makhubela Moyo, Pamela S. Mehlana, Gift Matsinha Leah C. Makhubela Banothile C. E. https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6625 2025-07-14T10:11:59Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Copper-based metal-organic framework: synthesis, characterization and evaluation for the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol Authors: Moyo, Pamela S.; Mehlana, Gift; Matsinha Leah C.; Makhubela Banothile C. E. Abstract: A novel Cu-MOF was synthesized at room temperature from commercially available and inexpensive reagents. The pre-catalyst was characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The Cu-MOF was characterized as microporous material with BET surface area and pore volume of 7.47 m2/g and 0.27 cm3/g, respectively, and is stable in most solvents. The MOF was evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol (FA). Cu-MOF exhibited a high conversion of FF (76%) with selectivity towards FA (100%) at 140 °C, 50 bar for 24 h. The MOF was reused four consecutive times with a loss in catalytic performance. The decrease in catalytic activity could be attributed to the formation of inactive Cu(0) as revealed by HR-TEM and XPS studies. The HR-TEM of spent Cu-MOF showed a uniform particle size diameter of 3.5 nm. This work is significant in providing new strategies for the design and fabrication of highly selective MOF catalysts for the FF upgrading.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Moyo, Pamela S. Mehlana, Gift Matsinha Leah C. Makhubela Banothile C. E.