https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/298 Sat, 16 May 2026 01:09:52 GMT 2026-05-16T01:09:52Z https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7019 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. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7019 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 https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7018 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. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7018 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Gumbo, Maureen Mehlana, Gift https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7017 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. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/7017 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z Anyomih, Winifred D. Darkwa, James Moshapo, Paseka T. Mehlana, Gift Banothile C.E. Makhubela https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6852 Title: Crystal engineering of robust metal-organic frameworks for applications in capture of carbon dioxide Authors: Gudyanga, Ishekudzwai Blessed Abstract: The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) is of global concern given its continued rise. Burning of fossil fuel has increased since the beginning of the industrial revolution, which then increased the atmospheric CO2 concentration to > 400 ppm from 280 ppm. CO2 has an effect of trapping the sun’s heat, and is believed to be one of the cardinal contributors of global warming. In order to make improvements to the CO2 problem, carbon capture techniques have been proposed. MOFs are porous structures constructed from the coordinative bonding between metal ions and organic linkers or bridging ligands. Thus, having an enormous choices of metal clusters and organic linkers, MOFs possess a wide range of surface area, pore volume and functionality, and this has contributed to the consideration of them being versatile materials for storage, separation, and catalysis, etc. Therefore, there is need to synthesise MOFs which capture CO2 and convert it into useful chemicals such as methanol and formic acid for industrial application. Linker 2,2’-bipyridine-5,5’ dicarboxylic acid and ceric metal salt Ce(NO3)3·6H2O were used in this study. Two MOFs were synthesised by solvothermal method. These were characterised by TGA, PXRD, FTIR, Potentiostat Galvanostat and Gas Sorption. The two MOFs MSU-3 and MSU-4 were thermally and chemically stable. The thermal and chemical stability observed in the MOFs emanated from the presence of the rod secondary building unit, which are linked by the pyridyl carboxylate linker to give three dimensional structures. CO2 adsorption studies of the MOFs revealed a low uptake of the gas in comparison to those MOFs reported literature. MSU-3a and MSU-4a was tested for electroactivity. Also, resistivity was tested using electrical impedance spectroscopy. It was found out that both MOFs had a lower interfacial electron transfer resistance. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6852 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Gudyanga, Ishekudzwai Blessed