Nanoscale Advances最新文献

Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations have emerged as a versatile platform for the delivery of therapeutics. However, achieving long-term stability and effective delivery of water-soluble small molecule drugs remains a challenge. In this study, we demonstrate a cryopreservable LNP formulation incorporating a hydrophobically modified bis-prodrug of lamivudine. By systematically varying the surfactant composition by combining a PEGylated surfactant (Brij S20) with an unPEGylated, zwitterionic lipid (Lipoid S100), we identify formulations that maintain colloidal stability following freeze–drying and redispersion in the presence of 10% w/v sucrose. Particle size measurements before and after lyophilisation indicate that surfactant ratio significantly impacts redispersibility, with 50/50 Brij/lipoid compositions offering the best performance. A core composition comprising the prodrug and tricaprin at either 1 : 1 or 3 : 1 ratio was evaluated, with the 3 : 1 formulation achieving redispersed particle sizes below 150 nm and low polydispersity. Enzymatic studies using porcine liver esterase confirm slow, sustained conversion of the bis-prodrug to active lamivudine over up to 9 weeks. This work highlights the opportunity of a prodrug-based strategy to formulate water-soluble APIs into stable, freeze-dried LNPs, enabling controlled, enzyme-responsive release. These findings offer insight into how surfactant composition influences freeze–drying compatibility and provide a platform for the development of LNP systems for small molecule delivery.

We designed a multifunctional all-dielectric metasurface employing cuboid structures patterned with bow-tie-shaped nanoholes; it exhibits multiple Fano resonances induced by quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BICs) through structural asymmetry. Among them, several resonant modes demonstrated high quality factors in the range of 10³–10⁴, along with near-unity modulation depth and strong spectral contrast. The optical responses were analyzed utilizing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, with Fano profiles fitted to theoretical models and the BIC-governed modes validated via the inverse-square ratio law. Furthermore, multipolar decomposition and electromagnetic spatial field profiles revealed the origins of the resonance, while LC circuit modeling provided additional physical insight into the Fano profiles. The proposed metasurface also exhibited strong polarization dependence, indicating its potential for active optical switching. Finally, the refractive-index sensing performance, including the potential for detecting Vibrio cholerae in an appropriate environment, reached a sensitivity of 342 nm per RIU and a figure of merit of 217.14 RIU⁻¹. Advancing the control of high-Q quasi-BIC Fano resonances, this study highlights Fano resonators’ potential for refractive-index sensing and active switching.

Pristine and noble metal-decorated ZnO nanostructures were synthesized via a simple chemical reduction approach using hydrazine hydrate to deposit silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles. Comprehensive characterization using PXRD, FESEM, HRTEM, XPS, FTIR, Raman, BET, and UV-vis spectroscopy revealed high-surface-area nanostructures with enhanced optical properties. Photocatalytic evaluation demonstrated that Au- and Ag-decorated ZnO exhibited significantly improved degradation efficiencies compared to bare ZnO under visible-light irradiation, attributed to improved charge carrier separation and extended visible-light absorption via plasmonic resonance effects. Notably, the catalysts showed excellent reusability over multiple cycles. Most significantly, the as-synthesized nanocomposite exhibited remarkable capability for the simultaneous co-degradation of two structurally and chemically distinct pollutants: tetracycline (TC, pharmaceutical antibiotic) and methylene blue (MB, textile dye). Under identical visible-light conditions at pH 7, Au-ZnO achieved 95% degradation of TC (2.0 × 10^-3 M) and 80% degradation of MB (1.0 × 10^-5 M) within 120 min using only 20 mg catalyst. This simultaneous removal of pharmaceuticals and dyes in a single photocatalytic process demonstrates the potential of dual-pollutant degradation. The single-platform capability for degrading structurally diverse pollutants suggests that noble metal-modified ZnO warrants further investigation as a multifunctional photocatalyst for treating complex wastewater containing mixed organic contaminants.

Magnetically driven microparticles provide a versatile platform for probing and manipulating biological systems, yet the physical framework governing their actuation in complex environments remains only partially explored. Within the field of cellular magneto-mechanical stimulation, vortex microdiscs have emerged as particularly promising candidates for developing novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we introduce a simplified two-dimensional model describing the magneto-mechanical response of such particles embedded in viscoelastic media under varying magnetic fields. Using a Maxwell description of the medium combined with simplified elasticity assumptions, we derive analytical expressions and support them with numerical simulations of particle motion under both oscillating and rotating magnetic fields. Our results show that rotating fields typically induce oscillatory dynamics and that the transition to asynchronous motion occurs at a critical frequency determined by viscosity and stiffness. The amplitude and phase of this motion are governed by the competition between magnetic and viscoelastic contributions, with particle motion being strongly impaired when the latter dominates. Energy-based considerations further demonstrate that, within the frequency range explored of few tens of hertz, no heat is generated-distinguishing this approach from magnetic hyperthermia-while the elastic energy transferred to the surrounding medium is, in principle, sufficient to perturb major cellular processes. This work provides a simple framework to anticipate the first-order influence of rheological properties on magnetically driven microdisc dynamics, thereby enabling a better understanding of their impact on cells or extracellular materials and bridging the gap between experimental observations and theoretical modelling.

The fluorescent properties of DNA/AgNCs are largely governed by the composition of AgNCs, the nucleobase sequence, and the secondary structure of the DNA template. Here, by systematic incorporation of xeno-nucleic acid modifications, we demonstrate the potential of altering the sugar chemistry of the template DNA backbone, as a novel factor in AgNC fluorescence modulation.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems have transformed genome editing through unprecedented precision, and next-generation variants (base and prime editors) further enhance specificity by enabling targeted nucleotide changes without introducing double-strand DNA breaks. These technologies have unlocked broad applications in therapeutic gene correction, functional genomics, infectious disease management, diagnostics, agricultural engineering, environmental biotechnology, and synthetic biology. However, the targeted delivery of these systems remains a major challenge due to the large and chemically distinct nature of their components, including Cas protein or its base/prime editor fusions, guide RNA, and in some cases, DNA repair templates—which complicate packaging, stability, and cellular uptake. Additional hurdles arise from tissue and cell-type specificity, differential intracellular environments, variable editing efficiencies, and the persistent risk of off-target genome modifications. This review outlines the key challenges in the delivery of CRISPR technologies as well provides a comprehensive overview of both current and emerging delivery strategies, including viral vectors (adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, and lentivirus), non-viral physical approaches (microinjection, electroporation, ultrasound, and hydrodynamic tail-vein injection), and nanoparticle-based modalities (lipid and polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, DNA nanostructures, and extracellular vesicles). We also discussed the diverse applications of CRISPR-Cas9 in gene therapy, immune cell engineering for cancer therapies, and agricultural innovation.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been widely used for trace analyte detection, largely depending on the design and fabrication of SERS substrates. Among the various types of substrates, hybrid materials that integrate plasmonic metals with functional semiconductors have attracted increasing attention due to their synergistic properties. This study presents the rational design and synthesis of Cu_xO/Au chimeric micro–nanoparticles as high performance substrates for SERS detection. The hybrids were fabricated via a galvanic replacement reaction, where Cu₂O particles acted as both sacrificial templates and reducing agents for the deposition of Au nanostructures from HAuCl₄ solutions. By systematically varying the HAuCl₄ concentration, the morphology, composition, and interfacial properties of the resulting materials were precisely tuned. The optimized substrate, denoted as Cu_xO/Au-10, demonstrated remarkable SERS performance, attributed to the synergistic effect of electromagnetic enhancement from Au nanoparticles and chemical enhancement arising from charge transfer at the metal–semiconductor interface. The SERS activity was rigorously evaluated using nicotine as a probe molecule, showing high detection sensitivity. Furthermore, the practical applicability of the substrate was successfully demonstrated in a dynamic puff-by-puff analysis of tobacco smoke from both conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HNB). SERS detection revealed significantly more complex and intense spectra for traditional cigarette smoke compared to the smoke from HNB cigarettes. This highlights the sensitivity and utility of Cu_xO/Au chimeric micro–nanoparticles for dynamic chemical analysis. This work not only offers a tunable synthesis strategy for high-performance SERS substrates but also paves the way for their application in complex environmental and analytical scenarios.

In this study, the mesoporous structure of SBA-15 was synthesized using a very simple procedure, and its surface was modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Next (3,4-bis(-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenyl)(phenyl)methanone (bis(HBAPPM)) was obtained by condensation of salicylaldehyde (SA) and 1,2-diaminobenzophenone (diABP) in methanol (MeOH), then bis(HBAPPM) was immobilized on the modified mesoporous structure of SBA-15. Then, a palladium Schiff-base complex was supported on the functionalized SBA-15, and the final product was denoted as SBA-15@bis(HBAPPM)-Pd catalyst. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by EDX, XRD, SEM, WDX, TGA, ICP, FT-IR, and BET techniques. The catalytic application of SBA-15@bis(HBAPPM)-Pd was investigated as a heterogeneous catalyst in Heck C-C coupling reactions using various aryl halides and olefins. The result was the achievement of the desired products in excellent yields. Also, the recyclability of the SBA-15@bis(HBAPPM)-Pd nanocatalyst was studied, which showed that this catalyst can be easily isolated from the reaction medium and reused several consecutive times, which will help us in promoting green chemistry. The recovered SBA-15@bis(HBAPPM)-Pd after being reused in the reaction was characterized by EDX, XRD, SEM, WDX, ICP, and FT-IR techniques.

Wound healing is a complex process in which an endogenous electrical field directs cellular migration and tissue restoration. Conventional dressings provide physical protection but cannot modulate endogenous bioelectrical signals. Conductive hydrogels address this limitation by combining the intrinsic properties of hydrogels with electrical conductivity. They not only transmit endogenous bioelectrical signals but also deliver external electrical stimulation to regulate key cellular processes such as migration, proliferation, and differentiation. The tunable properties of such materials and their adaptability to different wound environments significantly enhance their therapeutic potential. However, existing reviews focus on either specific wound types or broader biomedical applications and often lack a systematic connection between conductivity-related mechanisms and distinct wound contexts. Additionally, critical barriers to clinical translation remain understudied. This study focused on polymers suitable for conductive hydrogels, their functional mechanisms, and research advances in treating different types of wounds. Finally, it examined the key barriers to practical translation of conductive hydrogels and proposed future directions for their development as innovative wound dressings.