Nanoscale Research Letters最新文献

Aim

This study presents a bibliometric analysis of research trends and emerging hotspots in upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) for drug delivery and biomedical targeting in photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Methods

We retrieved 474 publications from the Web of Science (2007–2025) and analyzed publication trends, contributions from countries, institutions, and authors, keyword co-occurrence, citation bursts, and co-citation networks using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, HistCite, and R software.

Results

UCNP-PDT research progressed through three distinct phases, with China and the USA contributing the most publications. Nanoscale published the highest number of articles, while high-impact reviews appeared in Chemical Society Reviews and Advanced Materials. Emerging research focuses include the tumor microenvironment, metal–organic frameworks, combination therapies, and antimicrobial PDT.

Conclusion

UCNP-PDT has evolved from simple photosensitizer loading to multifunctional nanoplatforms, expanding applications to cancer therapy, infection control, and immune modulation. Clinical translation remains limited by size–efficiency trade-offs, low-power irradiation, hypoxia, tissue heating under 980 nm excitation, GMP-compliant production, and insufficient long-term biosafety data. Future advances require coordinated strategies integrating material optimization, mechanistic insight, and translational considerations to achieve safe, scalable, and effective UCNP-PDT for clinical use.

A variety of compounds have been treated with lit semiconductors for water pollution treatment. UV irradiation with oxidants or catalysts (TiO₂) can remediate industrial effluent. The goal of this study is to prepare and characterize TiO₂–SnO₂ nanocomposites with different ratios to degradation dyes in wastewater treatment. These nanocomposites will be used to photocatalysis degradation of acid red 37 dye in aqueous solution using UV irradiation as a model pollutant. The characterization of TiO₂–SnO₂ nanocomposites was conducted using XRD, TEM, EDAX, FTIR, and XPS. The photocatalytic degradation was tested with several advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) by adding varying concentrations of SnO₂ (0–20 wt.%), and then by employing an inorganic antioxidant (H₂O₂, Na₂S₂O₈, NaIO₄) with a ratio of UV/TiO₂–SnO₂ (90:10) to high efficiency of degradation of acid red 37 dye using a batch photoreactor. Consequently, the effects of pH, dye concentrations, and different loading (g/L) of nanocomposite on the photocatalytic activity of the SnO₂–TiO₂ nanocrystals were examined. The UV/TiO₂–SnO₂ (90:10) wt.% has higher photocatalytic efficiency for degradation acid red 37 dye from either TiO₂, SnO₂ or the other ratios in this study.

Traditional drug delivery systems often face problems such as low drug accumulation at the target site, rapid clearance in the body, and potential damage to healthy tissues. Under such circumstances, nanoparticle drug delivery systems have been developed. Although they have certain advantages, they still struggle to achieve efficient and specific targeting and may exhibit cytotoxicity. In contrast, neutrophil membrane-coated nanoparticles (NM-NPs) inherit the natural cell surface proteins and ligands of neutrophils, possessing numerous advantages such as low immunogenicity, immune evasion, and the ability to achieve precise targeting, thus showing great potential. This review is the first article to comprehensively summarize the application of neutrophil membrane-coated nanoparticles in targeted therapy. It mainly focuses on the pathophysiological role of neutrophils, the advantages of neutrophil membrane coating, the selection and preparation of nanoparticle cores, the targeting mechanism of neutrophil membrane-coated nanoparticles, the types of nano-drugs for targeted delivery, their application in disease treatment, and discussions on related safety and toxicology.

Graphical abstract

Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs) have garnered significant attention as crucial mediators of intercellular and cross-species communication in plants, owing to their unique bioactivity and medicinal potential. However, quality control of PDEVs is of paramount importance for their functionality and applications. This review systematically summarizes the key aspects that influence PDEVs quality, including source material preparation, isolation and purification, characterization, and storage conditions. Regarding source material preparation, the genetic background, abiotic factors (such as light, temperature, and moisture), biotic factors (including pathogen infection and probiotic effects), and traditional processing methods significantly affect the composition and function of PDEVs. Plant tissue culture techniques and temporary immersion bioreactor systems (TIBS) have substantial potential for addressing the issue of fluctuating raw material quality. During the isolation and purification processes, existing methods (e.g., ultracentrifugation, polymer precipitation, and size-exclusion chromatography) have their respective advantages and disadvantages, necessitating the optimization of operations based on specific requirements to avoid vesicle damage or impurity introduction. In terms of characterisation, integrating techniques such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blotting can comprehensively evaluate the quality of PDEVs. Additionally, storage conditions significantly affect the stability of PDEVs, and appropriate measures should be adopted to reduce degradation. Future research should focus on developing standardized preparation processes and efficient characterization techniques to facilitate the widespread application of PDEVs in drug delivery, functional foods, and other fields.

Graphical abstract

MXene/chitosan (MX/CS) composites have recently garnered significant attention due to their unique properties. This synergistic integration has opened new opportunities for various industrial applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in the use of MX/CS composites across multiple sectors, including electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, electrochemical sensing, water treatment, fire-retardant materials, environmental remediation, and energy storage devices such as supercapacitors and batteries. Each application has its own requirements and standards for the chosen building materials. Fortunately, all the divergent requirements can be achieved in MXene (MX) and chitosan (CS) by relatively moderate treatment. The discussion highlights how the unique interactions between MX nanosheets and CS matrices enhance performance characteristics. Despite these advantages, several critical challenges remain, including long-term stability, material scalability, and cost-effective manufacturing processes. This review summarizes recent advancements by identifying key research gaps and aims to guide further innovation in the fields. The potential of MX/CS composites to contribute to sustainable and high-performance industrial solutions is undeniable, provided that existing challenges are met with innovative approaches.

Graphical abstract

This work examines the transient flow and heat transfer characteristics of a Carreau ternary hybrid nanofluid ((hbox {TiO}_2) + Cu + (hbox {Al}_2hbox {O}_3)/CMC–(hbox {H}_2)O) across a stretched sheet subjected to combined electromagnetic and thermal influences. The model integrates suction/injection, heat radiation, Ohmic dissipation, and concentration fluctuations, emphasising entropy generation. The governing nonlinear equations are converted using similarity variables and solved numerically using the BVP5c technique. Multiple linear regression is used to forecast skin friction, Nusselt number, and Sherwood number. Results indicate that magnetic and electric field intensities, Weissenberg number, and thermal radiation substantially affect velocity, temperature, and concentration distributions, but entropy production underscores irreversibility processes. The ternary hybrid nanofluid has enhanced thermal performance relative to mono and binary nanofluids, presenting potential advantages for cooling, extrusion, and coating applications.

A number of different metallic nanoparticles have been extensively investigated in recent years owing to their diverse potential biomedical and cancer applications, antibacterial activities, and chemical properties. Here, silver nitroprusside nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared from silver nitrate and sodium nitroprusside, and their anticancer activity was evaluated. AgNPs were prepared and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In vitro tests were performed using two breast cancer cell lines, a non-malignant breast epithelial cell line (MCF-10A), and a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The results obtained from cytotoxicity assays (MTT and resazurin assays) and bright-field microscopy revealed that AgNPs (3.0 μg/mL) exhibited preferential selectivity for non-malignant breast epithelial cells and were toxic to tumorigenic cells (MCF-7), with preferential cell death via apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments using a murine breast tumor model demonstrated that AgNP treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth without systemic toxicity, confirming its selective antitumor activity. These results suggest that AgNPs have potential applications in breast cancer treatment. In this study, we focused on the development and application of silver nitroprusside nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate their antitumor activity and effects in different models of breast cancer.

Graphical abstract

Metal oxide nanostructures have recently gained high attention due to advances in their synthesis, particularly hydrothermal techniques, which allow precise control over their morphology, composition, and crystallinity, as well as integration into devices. Zinc-tin oxide (ZTO) nanostructures, in particular, are notable for their sustainability and multifunctional applications, including catalysis, electronics, sensors, and energy harvesting. Their ternary oxide nature supports a broad range of functionalities. The use of seed layers during synthesis has proven to be beneficial, particularly for binary systems such as ZnO, as it not only impacts the growth of nanostructures but is also advantageous for applications requiring nanostructures supported on substrates, such as in photocatalysis and sensor technologies. This work investigates the effect of various seed layers (e.g., Cu, stainless steel, Cr, Ni) on the hydrothermal synthesis of ZTO nanostructures. Compared to seed layer free methods under similar conditions, the presence of seed layers significantly influenced the resulting structures. The study produced diverse morphologies, including ZnSnO₃ nanowires and Zn₂SnO₄ nanoparticles, octahedrons, and nanowires. Findings suggest a relationship between the seed layer’s phase and the resulting nanostructure phase. Furthermore, shorter synthesis durations favored discrete nanostructures, while longer durations facilitated the formation of thin films with nanostructured surfaces. These observations underscore the dual role of seed layers in influencing both the structural phase and growth kinetics of ZTO nanostructures.

The increasing demand for miniaturised, high-performance sensing platforms necessitates materials that can be deposited with high spatial precision. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has emerged as a powerful analytical technique, offering significant signal amplification. Nanoporous (np) metals, particularly np Ag, are promising candidates for SERS substrates due to their high surface area and tunable nanostructure. In this study, we compare np Ag fabricated via electrohydrodynamic redox printing (EHD-RP), an additive manufacturing technique with high spatial resolution, to conventionally produced counterparts using physical vapour deposition (PVD). EHD-RP-derived np Ag exhibits comparable SERS performance to PVD samples. Structural analysis reveals that the density of sub-25 nm pores and the degree of structural disorder strongly contribute to enhancement factors. Additionally, EHD-RP-derived np Ag demonstrates excellent stability under varying illumination conditions and effectively catalyses the plasmon-driven dimerisation of 4-nitrobenzenethiol. These results underscore the potential of EHD-RP for fabricating functional nanostructured materials for integrated sensing applications.

The need for reliable and effective energy storage systems has grown because of the world’s growing energy needs and the quest for sustainable technology. Researchers are interested in supercapacitors because they can charge and discharge quickly, have a high power density, and last a long time. To meet future energy storage requirements, the fabrication of advanced electrode materials is essential.This study focuses on developing CdFe₂O₄-rGO nanocomposites, leveraging the synergistic combination of cadmium ferrite (CdFe₂O₄), a redox-active spinel oxide, and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), a highly conductive material, to enhance supercapacitor performance. The integration of these materials improves electrochemical properties by combining pseudocapacitive and double-layer capacitance mechanisms, with CdFe₂O₄ providing excellent redox activity and rGO enhancing conductivity and surface area, thus elevatingactive sites for ion adsorption and redox reactions.Morphological studies reveal that CdFe₂O₄ bundles of clustered platelets are uniformly anchored on rGO sheets, creating a well interconnected structure that facilitates efficient ion diffusion and electron transfer.Comprehensive structural (XRD and FTIR) and electrochemical analyses confirm the superior charge storage capacity and long-term cycling stability of the rGO-CdFe₂O₄ composite, which exhibits a specific capacitance (C_sp) of 340.08 Ag⁻¹. Future research could explore optimizing the synthesis process and investigating the composite’s performance in hybrid energy storage systems to further enhance its practical viability.