Materials Advances最新文献

Correction for ‘Study of self-assembly of mixed-ligand metal–organic cages by high-resolution mass spectrometry’ by Jia Jia et al., Materials Adv., 2024, 5, 5394–5397, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4MA00406J.

In this work, the optical nonlinearity of PVD-grown Cr₂Te₃ thin films of 33- and 100-nm thickness with an immense thermal optical effect was investigated. By removing the thermally induced background signal, the n₂ value without accumulated heat could then be estimated to be of the order of magnitude of around 10⁻⁸ cm² W⁻¹. A decrease in the n₂ value with the pump power was observed, leading to increased absorption. In addition, the changing sign for the 100-nm-thick thin film as the pump power exceeded 450 mW was investigated, exhibiting good agreement with the observed additional increasing temperature resulting from the anomalous increasing absorption. This work paves the way to not only characterize the optical nonlinearity of samples with initiable thermal effects but also to evaluate materials with potential for real applications through the methodology provided.

Solid lipid nanoparticles are appealing to the scientific community owing to their expedient and versatile nature as systems for drug delivery and therefore are being used to treat a variety of illnesses. With parallel line of thought, herein, we have reported the synthesis and characterisation of dual drug stearic acid-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles and screened their efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer. The desired nanoparticles, namely 9-CH₂OH Nos-Tel-SLNs, were prepared using the solvent diffusion method. TEM and AFM images revealed that the nanoparticles have spherical form with a mean size of 36.6 nm. The nanostructures' zeta potential and hydrodynamic size were found to be −36.23 mV and ∼406.8 nm, respectively. From RP-HPLC, the noscapine and telmisartan loaded in the nanoparticles were found to be 1.86% and 1.97% respectively. Additionally, we have probed into the interaction of BSA with the synthesized nanocomposite using UV-visible, fluorescence and CD spectroscopic techniques along with computational techniques, namely molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulations and MM-PBSA/GBSA calculations. From the fluorescence quenching of BSA upon interaction with the SLNs, we deduced that a stable ground-state complex between 9-CH₂OH Nos-Tel-SLN and BSA was formed. Similarly, in silico evaluation indicated formation of a stable dual drug complex with BSA with telmisartan being more compatible for binding to the protein. To assess further, we also evaluated the anticancer property of 9-CH₂OH noscapine, telmisartan and 9-CH₂OH Nos-Tel-SLN against H1299 lung cancer cell line using MTT assay and the calculated IC₅₀ of 9-CH₂OH Nos-Tel-SLN was 186 μg mL⁻¹. Overall, based on the promising results in this research, such SLNs could be a promising drug delivery tool and can be crucial in the conversion of potential anticancer drugs to marketed anticancer drugs in the near future.

To address food waste and promote sustainable food packaging, pH-sensitive edible films were developed using Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage (OM) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) incorporated with varying concentrations of the encapsulated beetroot waste extract (EB) (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%). Based on the percentages of EB, the films were labelled as OM/CNF/EB (2%), OM/CNF/EB (1.5%), OM/CNF/EB (1%), OM/CNF/EB (0.5%), and OM/CNF (control). The films were prepared using the solvent casting method, and the impact of EB on the films’ mechanical properties, physical characteristics, and pH sensitivity was subsequently evaluated. The physicochemical properties of the film were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to confirm the successful integration of EB into the OM polymer matrix. Furthermore, the incorporation of EB at varying concentrations significantly enhanced the film properties, including moisture content (28.20–57.77%), water solubility (11.52–56.15%), swelling test (80.12–83.18%), antioxidant activity (14.33–21.53%) and water vapor permeability (0.39–0.89 g m⁻¹ s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹). The films exhibited pH-sensitive color changes, transitioning from red to yellow within a pH range of 1 to 13, making them suitable for intelligent packaging applications. Notably, the 2% EB film effectively monitored the freshness of hake medallions, with a distinct color change correlating with spoilage indicators by day 4. These findings underscore the potential of OM/EB films for enhancing postharvest preservation.

The escalating environmental challenges posed by different waste sources, including agricultural residues and industrial byproducts, necessitate innovative solutions for waste utilization. Converting waste into valuable resources offers a sustainable approach to mitigating pollution and conserving natural resources. Driven by the urgent need for eco-friendly packaging solutions, this review explores the potential of waste-generated fillers to enhance bioplastic performance. The integration of waste-derived fillers, including nanofillers, into bioplastic matrices significantly improves the mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties, promoting the principles of circular economy and industrial symbiosis. This approach also contributes significantly to reducing carbon footprints by minimizing waste and promoting the reuse of byproducts for sustainable bioplastic production. Addressing the growing concern over the potential toxicity of commercial fillers, specifically metal and metal oxide-based nanofillers, bio-based fillers have emerged as a promising alternative, offering a safer and more eco-friendly solution. An in-depth analysis of recent advancements in processing, production, utilization, challenges, and future prospects would serve as a valuable guide for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers. The key findings of this review emphasize the necessity of modifying or pre-treating waste fillers to optimize the properties of bioplastic composites. According to the literature, corn processing residues, coffee waste, eggshell waste, and sugarcane bagasse-based fillers are particularly notable among the most studied materials for green composites. Polylactic acid is the most commonly used biopolymer for experimentation with waste-derived fillers. This review underscores the transformative potential of waste valorization in enhancing bioplastic performance, stressing the need for continued research, innovation, and supportive policies to drive sustainable development in this field.

Recent advancements in the field of conductive hydrogels have made the hydrogels promising candidates for the development of human motion sensors, as well as for energy storage in soft and flexible electronic devices, owing to their excellent mechanical properties such as flexibility, bioavailability, and biocompatibility. However, limitations such as resilience, resistance to fatigue, toughness, flexibility, and stretchability have hampered their sensing capabilities and long-term operation. To address these limitations, we introduced an ionically and electronically conductive hydrogel composite, which is aimed at enhancing mechanical performance and responsiveness to human motion, ranging from finger bending to epidermal motion sensing. This hydrogel was synthesized by incorporating an unmodified electroactive material, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), stabilized by the biopolymer gum arabic (GA) within the hydrophobically associated hydrogels of lauryl methacrylate (LM) and polyacrylamide (p(Am)). The dispersion of both LM and CNTs was facilitated by the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The introduction of CNTs and varying the concentration of GA highly enhanced the mechanical property of the synthesized hydrogel, which in turn brilliantly improved its stretchability up to 1380%, with an antifatigue character and a toughness of 661.5 kJ m⁻³. The high tensile strain sensitivity of the hydrogel material, with a gauge factor (GF) of 9.45 at 1000% strain, demonstrated its remarkable sensitivity. The composite hydrogels exhibited impressive sensing capabilities, including differentiation in language, response to high and low pitches and stresses, drawing various shapes, writing different words, and detection of various human actions. The critical strain study of the present materials underscored their excellent rheological properties. The hydrogels with CNT addition and higher concentrations of GA demonstrated specific capacitance (Cs) values of 171.25 F g⁻¹ from CV at 20 mV s⁻¹, 113.7 F g⁻¹ from GCD at a current density of 0.3 A g⁻¹, and a resistance of 7.656 Ω measured via EIS at a frequency of 5 mV. These electrochemical properties highlight the potential use of hydrogels for energy storage in soft wearable electronic devices.

Humans are surrounded by harmful non-visible electromagnetic (EM) waves. Application and production of microwaves have become integral to technology, but it is essential to mitigate their adverse effects while maintaining accessibility to devices. In this study, engineered nitrogen-doping and etching were employed using urea, ball milling, KOH, and reflux treatments to develop optimized microwave-absorbing and shielding composites. Peanut shells were selected as a sustainable carbon source, and nitrogen-doping was enhanced by urea as a dopant, while nitrogen elimination was conducted using HCl and NaNO₂. Additionally, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) was utilized as a polymeric matrix, fabricated via in situ polymerization to create microwave-absorbing composites. The total shielding performance (SE_T = SE_A + SE_R), absorption shielding value (SE_A), and reflection shielding parameter (SER) were evaluated. The pyrolized, KOH-refluxed, and nitrogen-doped PMMA composite achieved a reflection loss (RL) of −81.34 dB at 25.61 GHz, with an efficient bandwidth (EBW) of 8.50 GHz (RL ≤ −20 dB) at a thickness of 0.55 mm. Nitrogen elimination led to a maximum RL of −92.38 dB at 23.32 GHz, covering the entire K-band (RL ≤ −20 dB) with a narrow thickness of 0.60 mm. Both samples camouflaged the K-band (RL ≤ −10 dB) at thicknesses between 0.40 and 0.85 mm. Our innovative nitrogen-doping and defect engineering resulted in exceptional microwave absorption and moderate shielding of EM waves, paving the way for practical applications in affordable and sustainable materials.

Climate and demographic changes necessitate new paradigms to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water, limiting health, economic, and social damage from poor water management. Nanomaterials present promising opportunities in this area. This work addresses two relevant issues for safe water access: potable water monitoring and disinfection by leveraging plasmonic nanoparticles' biorecognition and photothermal properties. Colloidal gold nanorods (AuNRs), known for their sensitivity to local refractive index changes and light-to-heat conversion ability, are used to create AuNR arrays with optimal morphological and optical characteristics. We demonstrate that these biofunctionalized AuNR arrays, mimicking a logic-OR gate, can detect multiple bacterial strains in water, specifically recognizing two bacterial strains often monitored to guarantee safe access to potable water: Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium (10³ CFU per mL). The two strains are recognized separately or simultaneously, highlighting the multiplexing capability of the AuNR array. Furthermore, the exceptional light-to-heat conversion of AuNR arrays in a ‘cascade-like’ configuration, validated by a custom theoretical model, is utilized for photothermal disinfection. In a customized thermo-optical setup, this system effectively reduces pathogen viability by five orders of magnitude within 30 minutes under NIR laser irradiation. The bioactivated AuNR arrays, with their selective pathogen recognition and robust disinfection capabilities, represent a powerful multifunctional technology for monitoring and purifying potable water.

Metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are considered suitable candidates for photocatalytic applications because of their large surface area, easy generation of electron–hole pairs for redox reactions and tunable optical properties. Additionally, the successful capping of NP surfaces by bioactive species of plant extracts can further improve their size, shape and bandgap. Inspired by the green synthesis approach, the first time synthesis of nickel oxide NPs (CMFE@NiO NPs) using an aqueous extract of C. macrocarpa fruit (natal plum) is reported herein for the photodegradation of crystal violet (CV) dye. The synthesized NPs were characterized by PXRD, UV-vis spectra, FTIR, HR-TEM, EDX, DLS, ZP and TGA. After characterization, CMFE@NiO NPs were evaluated for the degradation of CV dye under sunlight for 120 min. The effect of various reaction parameters, such as pH, temperature, catalyst dose and initial dye concentration, were studied, and reaction conditions were optimized by applying mathematical and statistical tools, i.e., RSM/BBD design. Maximum degradation (99%) of 10 ppm CV solution was observed at a catalyst dose of 50 mg, 358 K and pH 7 with a rate constant value of 3.81 × 10⁻² min⁻¹. The effect of radical scavengers was studied to determine major ROS involved and propose a reaction mechanism. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the NPs was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. CMFE@NiO NPs showed good inhibition of all bacterial strains with inhibition diameters of 15 ± 1.5 mm, 14 ± 1.2 mm, 22 ± 2.0 mm and 24 ± 2.2 mm for S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and P. multocida, respectively. CMFE@NiO NPs were found to be more noxious against Gram-negative bacterial strains. The antioxidant potential of CMFE@NiO NPs also showed good reduction potential to reduce DPPH˙ with an IC₅₀ value of 32.9 ± 2.4 μg mL⁻¹, which is better than that of the extract (IC₅₀ = 39.3 ± 2.1 μg mL⁻¹).

Refractive materials found in the natural world often exhibit unique structures that result in intriguing physical properties and offer a valuable resource for designing tailored bio-inspired materials. Here, we investigate from first principles the factors that govern the refractive index of metal–amino-acid crystals. We specifically focus on the influence of crystal structure, metal ion inclusion, and spin configuration in phenylalanine- and cysteine-based materials. We find that the inclusion of copper and zinc metal ions in the crystal lattice has an important structural role that directly influences the refractive properties. In addition, the metal ions may contribute significantly to the dielectric response and therefore to the refractive index even within a given structure. Furthermore, in the synthetically available case of phenylalanine–copper we verify the results experimentally. Our results demonstrate the role of the inclusion of metal atoms in biogenic assemblies, emphasizing the potential use of this concept in bio-inspired molecular crystals that offer a flexible platform for the design of novel materials with desired optical features.