Barium and titanium dithiocarbamates as precursors for colloidal nanocrystals of emerging optoelectronic materials

Addressing the gaps in homeostatic mechanisms of copper and copper dithiocarbamate complexes in cancer therapy: a shift from classical platinum-drug mechanisms

The platinum drug, cisplatin, is considered as among the most successful medications in cancer treatment. However, due to its inherent toxicity and resistance limitations, research into other metal-based non-platinum anticancer medications with diverse mechanisms of action remains an active field. In this regard, copper complexes feature among non-platinum compounds which have shown promising potential as effective anticancer drugs. Moreover, the interesting discovery that cancer cells can alter their copper homeostatic processes to develop resistance to platinum-based treatments leads to suggestions that some copper compounds can indeed re-sensitize cancer cells to these drugs. In this work, we review copper and copper complexes bearing dithiocarbamate ligands which have shown promising results as anticancer agents. Dithiocarbamate ligands act as effective ionophores to convey the complexes of interest into cells thereby influencing the metal homeostatic balance and inducing apoptosis through various mechanisms. We focus on copper homeostasis in mammalian cells and on our current understanding of copper dysregulation in cancer and recent therapeutic breakthroughs using copper coordination complexes as anticancer drugs. We also discuss the molecular foundation of the mechanisms underlying their anticancer action. The opportunities that exist in research for these compounds and their potential as anticancer agents, especially when coupled with ligands such as dithiocarbamates, are also reviewed.

Solution-phase synthesis of the chalcogenide perovskite barium zirconium sulfide as colloidal nanomaterials

Chalcogenide perovskites such as BaZrS₃ have promising optoelectronic properties. Methods to produce these materials at low temperatures, especially in the solution phase, are currently scarce. We describe a solution-phase synthesis of colloidal nanoparticles of BaZrS₃ using reactive metal amide precursors. The nanomaterials are crystallographically and spectroscopically characterized.

Low-Temperature, Solution-Based Synthesis of Luminescent Chalcogenide Perovskite BaZrS3 Nanoparticles

Chalcogenide perovskites constitute a promising earth-abundant, non-toxic, and robust semiconductor family with the potential to compete with hybrid perovskites as high-quality photovoltaic absorbers. However, a low-temperature, solution-based synthesis route has eluded researchers in this area. Here we report the colloidal synthesis of chalcogenide perovskite BaZrS₃ nanoparticles at 330 °C in organic solvent. The nanoparticles (10-20 nm) are found to be comprised of smaller (3-5 nm) crystalline domains. Promising optoelectronic properties for the nanoparticles are measured, with photoluminescence decay times as high as 4.7 ns.