Nanoscale Advances最新文献

In this study the metal-reducing bacterium, Geobacter sulfurreducens, was used to efficiently recover palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), and rhodium (Rh) from solution via enzymatic bioreduction to form monometallic or bimetallic bio-PGM nanoparticles. Herein, we report the novel biosynthesis of bimetallic PdRh alloy nanoparticles (bio-PdRh), along with bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles (bio-PdPt). In monometallic solutions, G. sulfurreducens biosynthesised Pd(0), Pt(0), and Rh(0) nanoparticles supported at the cell surface, consistent with bioreduction by outer membrane c-type cytochromes. However, in bimetallic solutions, the cells preferentially bioreduced Pt(IV) over Pd(II), resulting in Pt-rich bio-PdPt nanoparticles and highly dispersed Pd(II) cell-surface clusters. In contrast, co-bioreduction of Pd(II) and Rh(III) led to the formation of PdRh alloy nanoparticles. We hypothesise that differences in the reduction potentials of the metal complexes were key to forming these different nanostructures. The reduction of 4-nitrophenol was used to assess bionanoparticle catalytic activity. Monometallic bio-Pt and bio-Rh displayed low activity for this reaction, whereas bio-Pd nanoparticles were highly active and gave the fastest initial reaction rate. Bimetallic bio-PdPt and bio-PdRh catalysts performed comparably to bio-Pd, using half the Pd content. This work highlights the ability of metal-reducing bacteria to synthesise functional nanocatalysts while recovering precious metals from mixed metal-containing wastewaters.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogenic bacteria remains a major challenge and critical threat to the global healthcare industry, demanding alternative therapeutic strategies. Among the various nanomaterials studied, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have shown promising antibacterial properties due to their broad-spectrum activity, oligodynamic effect, and reduced possibility of inducing microbial resistance. This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of biogenically synthesised silver nanoparticles using a cell-free extract of Enterobacter xiangfangensis Pb204 combined with antibiotics against eight pathogenic bacterial strains, including ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp.), E. coli, and Vibrio cholerae. The biogenic Ag-NPs were characterised by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Disc diffusion assays demonstrated that biogenic Ag-NPs (21 µg and 25 µg) effectively inhibited the growth of all tested pathogens. When Ag-NPs were combined with antibiotics amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC), ampicillin (AMP), ciprofloxacin (CIP), meropenem (MEM), and vancomycin (VAN), most inhibition zones expanded, with the greatest synergistic effect observed in combination with vancomycin against Enterococcus faecium. These results support the potential of combined therapies using antibiotics and biogenic Ag-NPs to combat the effects of AMR in clinically significant pathogens.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious condition characterized by a sudden decrease in kidney function, often leading to chronic kidney disease. Current treatment options are limited, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. We previously showed that microRNA-486-5p (miR-486-5p) protects against AKI by regulating cell death (apoptosis) both in vitro and in vivo. However, efficient and selective delivery remains a challenge. In this study, we designed and developed nanoparticles (NPs) to encapsulate and deliver miR-486-5p to cultured endothelial and kidney tubular epithelial cells. NPs were characterized and optimized for size, polydispersity index, surface charge, and encapsulation efficiency. The stability of NPs in long-term storage and in biological solutions was confirmed. Results indicated effective cellular uptake of NPs, cargo microRNA delivery to the intracellular environment, and the absence of cytotoxicity upon NP treatment. Functional assessments showed that miR-486-5p-encapsulating lipid-polymeric hybrid NPs (HNPs) suppressed the expression of Forkhead Box Protein O1 (FOXO1), a validated target of miR-486-5p, in all cell lines investigated, suggesting effective miR-486-5p protection and transport. Both endothelial and tubular epithelial cells were significantly protected against induced apoptosis when pretreated with miR-486-5p-encapsulating HNPs. However, selective siRNA-mediated knockdown of FOXO1 did not result in injury protection, suggesting involvement of other miR-486-5p targets. Furthermore, cell injury-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines was inhibited by HNP-delivered miR-486-5p in both cell lines. These findings demonstrate the protective and anti-inflammatory effects of miR-486-5p-HNP systems in injured endothelial and tubular epithelial cells, highlighting their capacity as a potential nano-therapy for AKI and paving the way for in vivo studies and clinical applications.

Here at Nanoscale Advances we are lucky to receive high quality research papers from across the full range of nanoscience and nanotechnology topics every year. We wanted to find a way to recognise the most significant papers published in the journal each year, judged by the expert nanoscience and nanotechnology researchers who make up our Editorial and Advisory Boards. In this article we are excited to announce the winner and runners-up of the very first Paper Prize, as well as the process that we have taken to select these excellent articles.

Here at Nanoscale Advances we are lucky to receive high quality research papers from across the full range of nanoscience and nanotechnology topics every year. We wanted to find a way to recognise the most significant papers published in the journal each year, judged by the expert nanoscience and nanotechnology researchers who make up our Editorial and Advisory Boards. In this article we are excited to announce the winner and runners-up of the very first Paper Prize, as well as the process that we have taken to select these excellent articles.

Ensuring food safety requires rapid, sensitive detection of pathogens and contaminants, driven by global challenges such as rising foodborne illnesses and regulatory demands for real-time monitoring. This review examines cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃) perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) as advanced fluorescent nanosensors for multiplexed detection of foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella, Vibrio) and non-pesticide contaminants (e.g., mycotoxins, heavy metals, dyes, antibiotics) in complex food matrices. Utilizing high quantum yields and narrow emission spectra, these nanosensors achieve detection limits as low as 10 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU mL⁻¹) and sub-nanomolar levels via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), and aggregation-induced quenching (AIQ) mechanisms. We explore advanced synthesis methods (hot-injection, ligand-assisted reprecipitation (LARP), microfluidics) and surface modifications (molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP), metal–organic frameworks (MOF), silica coatings) to enhance stability and specificity. This focused and up-to-date comprehensive review is dedicated to the use of CsPbBr₃ PQDs in the fluorescence-based detection of foodborne pathogens and non-pesticide contaminants. Unlike prior reviews on general perovskite QDs or broader nanosensors, it provides a structured framework emphasizing synthesis strategies, detection mechanisms in real food matrices, comparative performance with other nanomaterials, toxicity mitigation, and prospects for IoT-integrated, regulatory-compliant, field-deployable sensing technologies. The review addresses toxicity and instability challenges through lead-free alternatives and Internet of Things (IoT)-integrated platforms, paving the way for scalable, real-time food safety diagnostics.

Copper (Cu) is a recyclable, abundant, and promising catalyst for energy transition reactions like electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO₃RR) and CO₂ electroreduction. However, conventional Cu-based electrocatalysts struggle with activity, selectivity, and durability, especially under harsh electrochemical conditions. Exsolution-the in situ generation of metallic nanoparticles on oxide supports in a single step-enables tightly anchored, size-controlled particles, enhancing stability and performance. Incorporating Cu into Sr_1-α (Ti, Fe)O_3-γ perovskites, an earth-abundant system with promising ionic-electronic conductivity and adequate oxygen vacancies, overcomes the limitations of traditional Sr(Ti, Fe)O_3-γ in facilitating nanoparticle exsolution. This work demonstrates controlled Cu nanoparticle exsolution from Sr_0.95Ti_0.3Fe_0.7-x Cu _x O_3-γ perovskites at temperatures as low as 400 °C, notably milder than conventional exsolution conditions. By systematically varying reduction parameters, we achieve control over nanoparticle size (13-38 nm) and population density (118-650 particles per µm²). Electrochemical characterisation using nitrate reduction as a probe reaction demonstrates how exsolution conditions directly influence surface reactivity, establishing these materials as tuneable platforms for (electro)catalytic applications.

This study demonstrates a simple and effective two-step strategy for synthesizing high-quality graphene on copper foils at a low growth temperature of 400 °C, significantly reducing the temperature required compared with conventional CVD methods. First, CO₂ laser pretreatment is applied to the copper substrate, which significantly improves surface smoothness and reduces surface oxides and particulates through localized heating. This process effectively lowers the nucleation density, thereby promoting the formation of larger graphene domains with fewer grain boundaries. Importantly, this approach addresses the common challenge of high defect density in low-temperature-synthesized graphene, enabling the production of films with excellent electrical and structural quality. The graphene/Cu hybrid structure achieves a 66.9% reduction in electrical resistance compared to pristine copper foil and demonstrates outstanding oxidation resistance. To demonstrate practical relevance, a photodetector fabricated using the low-temperature graphene exhibits a high responsivity of 666.95 mA W^-1 and a detectivity of 2.32 × 10¹⁰ Jones under 5 V bias and 100 W m^-2 illumination. Moreover, it maintains stable switching performance even at 0.1 V, highlighting its suitability for low-power optoelectronic and sensor applications.

The product of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) stabilized in water-soluble yeast β-glucan (SeNPs/β-glucan) was successfully synthesized by γ-ray irradiation on a scale of 3 liters per batch. The analysis results of its transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image showed that SeNPs in the product were spherical with an average actual particle size of about 63.3 nm, while dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses indicated that the average hydrodynamic particle size of the product was about 93.5 nm with a narrow distribution and negative zeta potential value (−10.1 mV). In addition, the results also showed the hydrodynamic particle size and size distribution of the product slightly increased after storage for 60 days at 4 °C, whereas a more pronounced increase was observed when stored at room temperature (25 °C). Besides, the structural characteristics of SeNPs/β-glucan were also comprehensively analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to confirm the crystal structure of the Se nanoparticles and their interaction with β-glucan molecules. The anticancer effects of SeNPs/β-glucan on the liver cancer cell line (HepG2) were also investigated and the obtained results demonstrated that SeNPs/β-glucan strongly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of about 6.5 ppm, while its IC₅₀ on the normal cell line (L929) was found to be 48.3 ppm, indicating very low cytotoxicity. The selectivity index (SI) value of the product was determined to be around 7.4, indicating selective toxicity toward cancer cells. Furthermore, apoptosis assays demonstrated that SeNPs/β-glucan induced apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells by triggering cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases in a dose-dependent manner. These findings provide a theoretical foundation and experimental evidence supporting the potential applications of SeNPs/β-glucan in the food and pharmaceutical fields.

Two-dimensional layered metal oxides (2D LMOs) have emerged as a rapidly growing class of materials that combine the advantages of reduced dimensionality with the functional diversity of transition metal oxides. Their high surface-to-volume ratio, structural anisotropy, tunable bandgap, and variable oxidation states endow them with unique electrical, optical, and catalytic properties. Recent advances in atomic layer deposition, vapor-phase synthesis, and liquid-phase exfoliation have enabled the scalable fabrication of high-quality 2D LMOs with controlled stoichiometry and thickness. This review provides a comprehensive overview of their structure–property relationships, charge transport mechanisms, and interfacial phenomena, emphasizing how defect engineering, quantum confinement, and interlayer coupling can be exploited to tailor their performance. The integration of 2D LMOs into van der Waals heterostructures further enhances band alignment, charge transfer, and excitonic control, unlocking new opportunities for transistors, sensors, and spintronic and optoelectronic devices. Current challenges such as environmental stability, phase control, and large-scale processability are critically assessed. Finally, emerging computational and machine learning-guided approaches are discussed as pathways to accelerate the rational design of 2D LMOs for flexible, energy-efficient, and multifunctional electronic applications.