Nanoscale Research Letters最新文献

A dielectric modulated dual-source triple-gate tunnel field effect transistor (DM-DSTG TFET) based biosensor is proposed for the detection of biomolecules, the performance of the proposed biosensor was rigorously evaluated using the Silvaco Atlas simulator. The dual-source is positioned within the two voids of the triple parallel gates, while cavities located between the source, a portion of the channel and the gate are specifically designed for biomolecule conjugation. Variations in the device's electrostatics, including the electric field, surface potential, and energy band diagrams, are analyzed in response to changes in the dielectric constant of different biomolecules, thereby reflecting the biorecognition process within the biosensor. The results demonstrate that the proposed device exhibits enhanced sensitivity (10¹⁰) and a reduced subthreshold swing (32.7 mV/decade), highlighting its superior performance. The feasibility of the biosensor as a label-free detection platform is further validated using avian influenza virus and DNA as target biomolecules. Consequently, the DM-DSTG TFET based biosensor emerges as a highly promising candidate, offering advanced detection and recognition capabilities for future biosensing applications.

Nickel cobalt sulphide (NiCo₂S₄) is a promising battery-type electrode material due to its high theoretical capacitance and rich redox activity. However, its poor electrical conductivity and structural instability hinder practical application. Incorporation of two-dimensional (2D) Ti₃C₂ MXene can address these issues by improving conductivity and mechanical integrity. While previous studies have explored the synergistic effects of Ti₃C₂ and NiCo₂S₄, the influence of MXene exfoliation state and morphology control on electrochemical performance remains underexplored. Herein, we report a one-step hydrothermal synthesis of delaminated Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄ (d-Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄) composites with tunable morphology by varying hydrothermal time (4–48 h). Among them, the 24 h sample (d-Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄-24) featuring a hexagonal layered platelet structure exhibits superior performance, delivering 161.94 mAh g⁻¹ (1165 F g⁻¹) at 1 A g⁻¹, with ~ 81% rate capability at 5 A g⁻¹ and 85% capacity retention over 20,000 cycles. It significantly outperforms both bare NiCo₂S₄-24 and the multilayer Ti₃C₂-based composite. The asymmetric device (d-Ti₃C₂@NiCo₂S₄-24//AC) delivers 19.88 Wh kg⁻¹ at 399.82 W kg⁻¹ with 86% retention after 9000 cycles, demonstrating excellent potential for practical energy storage applications.

The stabilization of hexagonal close-packed (hcp) iron at ambient conditions remains a significant challenge due to its metastable nature. Here, we report a novel and facile strategy for templating the epitaxial growth of hcp-Fe flakes using tailored copper oxide sublayers. By simply varying the sublayer annealing temperature, we achieved precise control over the iron morphology, obtaining uniform hexagonal hcp-Fe flakes on optimally prepared surfaces. Structural analysis confirms the successful stabilization of hcp-Fe, revealing a coherent epitaxial relationship between hcp-Fe(002) and CuO(− 112). Crucially, the stabilized hcp-Fe exhibits antiferromagnetic ordering, as demonstrated by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, contrasting the ferromagnetism of bulk bcc-Fe. This work provides a facile and scalable pathway to synthesize and study hcp-Fe without extreme pressures, offering substantial potential for fundamental geophysical research and applications in antiferromagnetic spintronics and catalysis.

Graphical abstract

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of hospital cancer morbidity and mortality in the world with more than 1.9 million new cases and almost one million deaths annually based on GLOBOCAN 2022. Although there are improvements in surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, the existing treatment regimens are usually restricted by systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance, and late diagnosis. Such dilemmas will require the invention of more accurate and comprehensive methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Objective

The objective of the review is to critically assess the application of theranostics that is, therapeutic and diagnostic modalities in the management of colorectal cancer; more so nanotechnology-based systems, molecular imaging and even targeted therapies.

Methods

A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in the publications published starting in January 2020 until May 2025. Articles concerned with nanotechnology-based theranostic systems, molecular imaging modes, and targeted therapy of colorectal cancer were considered. Non-English and non-integrated diagnostic or curative researches were gone.

Graphical abstract

The progression of earth-abundant and effective sustainable materials for energy conversion applications, such as the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), is vital for our future. Particularly, biomass procured carbon materials are considered as a potential catalyst owed to the inherent possessions such as environmental friendly nature, low cost and abundance. In this work, biomass-derived carbon materials were synthesized using bougainvillea petals at several temperatures, including 600 °C, 700 °C and 800 °C, via an economical approach. Various physicochemical characterizations, such as XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM and TEM analysis, were conducted, which demonstrated the formation of carbon materials and showed off the existence of porous carbon nanosheets. The prepared electrocatalyst at 700 °C exhibited outstanding catalytic performance in the OER, and it was evidenced by the low overpotential value of 368 mV to attain a current density of 50 mA/cm². Furthermore, prepared electrocatalyst at 700 °C had the highest C_dl value and ECSA value of 2.07 mF/cm² and 51.75 cm², respectively, which denoted more catalytically active sites for OER activity compared to the other synthesized materials. The finest-performed electrocatalyst of 700 °C exhibited exceptional stability over a long-term continuity process. Hence, this work will promote the successful synthesis of porous carbon nanosheets from dead flowers, demonstrating its practicability as well as its performance denotes superior effectiveness for future applications.

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide.

Methods

In this study, we developed a novel nanomedicine-based therapeutic approach targeting key molecules involved in the progression of CRC. By utilizing bioinformatics tools and computer simulations, we identified SLC2A1 and PKM2 as potential therapeutic targets for CRC. Through molecular docking, we confirmed that shikonin (SHK), a bioactive compound derived from traditional herbal medicine, could effectively bind to SLC2A1 and PKM2, indicating its potential therapeutic effect. The novel SHK-loaded nanoplatform, functionalized with albumin (BSA) and glycoside modification (gBSA/SHK), was designed to enhance stability and targeted delivery to tumor sites.

Results

In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that SHK-loaded nanoparticles exhibited good tumoricidal effects on CT26 colorectal cancer cells and shifted tumor cell metabolism.

Conclusions

Overall, our results suggest that SHK-loaded nanodrugs can effectively target key molecular pathways in CRC and provide a promising strategy for colorectal cancer treatment with advantages such as improved drug stability, tumor-specific targeting, and reduced systemic toxicity.

The issue of organic dye pollutant in wastewater system is a major of global concern for human health. This work reports the synthesis of CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites and its visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of Organic dyes. CuO/TiO₂ nanocomposites was produced by process that involves chemical precipitation and thermal treatment method, and characterized for its structural property using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, EDS, and functional groups using Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and applied its application in light-driven photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO), ideal organic dye. The influence of such parameters as adsorbent dosage, dye initial concentration, solution pH, and contact time on the uptake of the dye was also investigated, and over 92.7% of the dye has been removed using 50 mg of adsorbent for 10 mg/L of dye concentration at the optimum pH 6 and RT for a shaking time of 60 min. The adsorption data could be best described by pseudo-second-order model with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.9969 undertaken for a shaking time of 3 h, where the adsorption attains equilibrium. The adsorption experiments of the CuO/TiO₂ followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption isotherms were accurately represented by the Langmuir model. The degradation of methyl orange (MO) by CuO/TiO₂ fitted well with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model, and MO removal was obtained through a synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis. Unlike previous reports that focused mainly on either absorption or photocatalysis, our work demonstrating the synergistic effect of adsorption and photocatalysis in TiO2/CuO composite synthesized via simple precipitation-thermal method. Therefore, the synthesized composites may potentially be used for the removal of organic water pollutants from water.

Despite the widespread use of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs), a simple, cost-effective, and reproducible synthesis protocol remains a critical unmet need. Existing protocols for ionic gelation methods are often laborious, requiring overnight stirring, costly filtration, and time-consuming lyophilization. In this study, we present a novel, easy-to-adopt, cost-effective, scalable, and highly reproducible protocol for synthesizing CNPs via ionic gelation, bypassing these common drawbacks. Our method standardizes the use of low molecular weight chitosan (0.1%) stabilized with Tween 80 in 1% acetic acid solution, crosslinked with sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) in 3:1 volume ratio to form CNPs. The CNPs are efficiently separated using simple centrifugation, eliminating the need for complex and expensive lyophilization. The nanoparticles obtained were systematically characterized for their physicochemical and structural properties, including particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, and elemental composition, using a wide range of analytical techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM). Comprehensive characterization of synthesized CNPs consistently demonstrated the formation of well-defined, spherical amorphous nanoparticles within the nanometer range, exhibiting a positive surface charge, presence of functional groups, and desirable elemental composition. The protocol’s simplicity, low cost, scalability, accessibility, and reproducibility of the synthesized CNPs make it a significant advancement for researchers in various fields. Given their inherent biocompatibility and functional versatility, these CNPs are highly promising for a wide range of applications, including antimicrobial coatings, food preservation, water treatment, drug delivery, and sustainable agriculture.

Over the past two decades, the persistent escalation in global temperatures has emerged as a critical driver of ecological instability, exerting profound consequences on agricultural productivity and sustainability. Various environmental stressors, including biomedical contaminants, collectively impair plant growth, development, and yield potential. Numerous adaptive strategies have been explored to mitigate these stresses and enhance plant resilience. Among these, silicon has gained increasing recognition as a quasi-essential element capable of alleviating abiotic and biotic stress through multifaceted mechanisms. Additionally, Si synergistically interacts with micronutrients and plant growth regulators (PGRs) to promote metabolic efficiency and physiological robustness. Recent advancements highlight the pivotal role of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) in enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and stress resilience. SiNPs surpass bulk forms by improving biomass and limiting heavy metal translocation. Mechanistically, they regulate antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD, APX), modulate transporter genes and signalling pathways, and influence hormonal cross-talk with ABA, auxin, and ethylene, collectively strengthening plant defence systems. This review highlighted the response of micro- and nano-silicon to regulating key metabolic pathways involved in stress resilience. This review uniquely synthesizes emerging evidence comparing micro- and nano-silicon, emphasizing their distinct roles in modulating antioxidant defence, nutrient signalling, and heavy metal detoxification under environmental stress.

This paper reports the development of an advanced dual-stimuli-responsive drug-delivery system designed to enhance the precision and efficiency of targeted therapies. The system integrates the unique properties of ferrocene and porous iron oxide microspheres (P-Fe₂O₃) to respond to reactive oxygen species and external magnetic fields. Ferrocene, with its well-known redox properties, facilitates selective drug release in oxidative environments commonly found in tumor tissues, while P-Fe₂O₃ imparts magnetism and porosity for improved targeting and controlled release under magnetic stimuli. P-Fe₂O₃ is synthesized using an environmentally friendly, continuous, and scalable spray pyrolysis technique, whereas ferrocene-based polymers are prepared via radical polymerization. As conventional nanostructured microsphere syntheses are time intensive, use toxic acids, and face scale-up challenges, this study proposes spray pyrolysis as an efficient approach for producing well-designed porous iron oxide microspheres capable of loading ferrocene nanoparticles on a large scale. Combining these materials yields a synergistic effect, optimizing drug delivery through selective release and enhanced control mechanisms. The drug release profiles of the model compounds are assessed, underscoring the potential of this dual-response system for precise, efficient, and safe therapeutic delivery. This innovative platform demonstrates significant potential as a next-generation drug-delivery technology aimed at minimizing side effects and maximizing therapeutic outcomes in oncological applications.