Nanoscale Research Letters最新文献

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.

One of the most commonly used antibiotics for humans and animals is tetracycline (TC). TC can indirectly cause harmful impacts on the environment by enhancing the risk of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Removing TC from water is challenging but crucial for human health. This work prepared TiO₂/PVDF film photocatalysts using the phase inversion method and evaluated their performance in degrading TC under UV light irradiation. The surface roughness and hydrophilicity of the TiO₂/PVDF film photocatalysts improved with increasing addition of TiO₂ to the photocatalyst films. The progress of TC degradation was monitored by UV–Vis spectroscopy, Liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (LC–MS), and chemical oxygen demand analysis. The PTi-6 film photocatalyst, comprised of 6 wt% TiO₂ and 12.5% PVDF, exhibited the highest TC degradation efficiencies. pH 5 is the optimum pH for tetracycline degradation using TiO₂/PVDF film. Based on the LC–MS results, the identified intermediates were used to propose the route of TC degradation. The PTi-6 film photocatalyst retained its photocatalytic efficiency for up to eight degradation cycles, proving the vast potential of the film to be applied in real-life situations.

On-chip optical trapping necessitates substrates that generate strong near-field forces while mitigating thermal instability. Here, metallic semi-continuous films are established as a transformative platform for high-efficiency optical manipulation. Through controlled sputter deposition, we engineer gold films across three morphological regimes: discontinuous nanoparticles (NPs), semi-continuous films (SCFs), and continuous films (CFs). Optical trapping experiments with 500-nm polystyrene spheres reveal that SCF substrates achieve a peak stiffness of 0.0955 ± 8.0 × 10^− 4 pN/µm, representing 16.9× and 6.2× enhancements over NP and CF substrates, respectively. The performance arises from sub-12-nm nanogaps within percolated gold networks, which concentrates electromagnetic fields via coupled gap-plasmon modes, intensifying optical gradient forces. Concurrently, SCFs’ interconnected pathways dissipate localized heating that destabilizes trapping in CFs. Electromagnetic simulations and experimental trajectory analysis confirm that SCFs balance field enhancement and thermal effect, overcoming the persistent trade-off in plasmonic optical trapping. This work provides a morphology-driven design principle for scalable lab-on-chip optical manipulation systems.

Green nanotechnology offers scalable, low-emission solutions to address climate change, particularly within agriculture, energy, and environmental systems. This review explores its potential to enhance climate-resilient agriculture, focusing on peanut cultivation and decentralized energy access in vulnerable, rural regions. Key applications include solar-powered irrigation, nano-enhanced rural infrastructure, and the valorization of peanut shell biomass for sustainable bioenergy production. Advanced nanomaterials, such as quantum dots, perovskites, and magnetic nanoparticles, are examined for their role in improving energy reliability, postharvest preservation, and farming efficiency in off-grid areas. Special emphasis is placed on green synthesis methods and the use of nanocatalysts for bioethanol and biodiesel production, supporting low-carbon development goals. The review synthesizes interdisciplinary research from nanomaterials, renewable energy, and agricultural engineering to provide a systems-level perspective on addressing agricultural challenges through nanoinnovations. However, barriers remain, including inconsistent nanomaterial synthesis, limited rural deployment, and weak policy integration. Overcoming these challenges requires the development of field-ready, safe-by-design technologies and deployment strategies customized to local needs. Future research should prioritize scalable implementation and strong regulatory frameworks. This review contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 7, 9, and 13 by advancing integrated food, energy, and water security through climate-smart nanotechnologies. Stakeholders are encouraged to invest in pilot projects and foster cross-sector collaboration to accelerate real-world adoption.

In this study, we successfully synthesized N-doped porous carbon material derived from mango peel, decorated with Co/FeCo nanoparticles, using a hydrothermal method followed by high-temperature carbonization. The resulting Co/FeCo/NPC nanocomposites achieved optimal reflection loss of − 48.4 dB and effective absorption bandwidth of 5.23 GHz in the X band, at 10% filling ratio and matching thickness of 3.4 mm. Furthermore, by optimizing the thickness, the absorption peaks facilitate lower frequencies of C-band, with optimal reflection loss of − 40.30 dB at 5.68 GHz. These remarkable EMW attenuation characteristics are attributed to strong magnetic loss, multiple heterogeneous interface polarization, dipole polarization, and optimal impedance matching. Moreover, coatings based on the Co/FeCo/NPC-3 nanocomposite demonstrated that the radar cross-section was decreased by up to 20.82 dBm², indicating possible radar-absorbing application.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a highly adaptable opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with chronic and hard-to-treat infections, particularly in burn units and immunocompromised patients. Its intrinsic and acquired resistance to multiple antibiotics poses a major therapeutic challenge. While ZnO nanoparticles conjugated with thiosemicarbazone (TSC) have shown promise in general antimicrobial applications, their potential for simultaneously inhibiting biofilm formation and pyocyanin production—key virulence factors—in clinical P. aeruginosa strains remains unexplored. In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal route and conjugated with a glutamine-modified TSC ligand (ZnO@Glu-TSC) to enhance their antimicrobial efficacy. The nanoconjugate was comprehensively characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Functional evaluations were conducted against clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index, biofilm inhibition, and pyocyanin suppression assays. ZnO@Glu-TSC nanoparticles exhibited a sharp UV–Vis absorption peak at 380 nm with a band gap of 3.26 eV, and XRD confirmed a hexagonal wurtzite structure with an average crystallite size of ~ 19.8 nm. The nanoconjugate demonstrated significantly enhanced antibacterial activity with MIC values ranging from 128 to 512 µg/mL and synergistic effects in 70% of clinical isolates (FIC ≤ 0.5, p < 0.01). Biofilm inhibition assays revealed an 80% reduction in biomass (OD values approaching those of the negative control), while pyocyanin production decreased by more than 75% at 512 µg/mL (p < 0.001). These results represent the first demonstration of ZnO@Glu-TSC's dual antivirulence action against clinical P. aeruginosa strains, underscoring its therapeutic promise as a potent, multi-targeted nanoantimicrobial candidate and warranting further development for translational nanomedicine applications in combating persistent infections.

Wound healing is a complex biological process involving multiple stages that require interactions between several cells, growth factors, and cytokines. The lack of a suitable environment, along with microbial infection, impairs the normal wound-healing process. Burns, trauma, diabetic injuries, and chronic ulcers are the most prevalent types of wounds on the skin. Conventional wound treatments, with their focus on a single aspect, often fail to consider the complex conditions fully surrounding the pathogens that cause infections. Nanotechnology, a rapidly developing and cutting-edge field, facilitates tissue engineering and drug delivery and has proven effective in tackling several wound healing challenges by delivering anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and angiogenic benefits. This review explores the wound healing process, chronic wounds, and current wound care challenges, highlighting how nanotechnology, through the use of metallic nanoparticles (such as silver, gold, and zinc oxide), polymeric systems, lipid-based carriers, and carbon-based materials, offers significant advantages and has become a crucial part of modern wound treatment. It further explores the role of nanotechnology in skin wound repair, its advantages over conventional treatment techniques, its biocompatibility, and it also highlights clinical trials using nanotech-based approaches and outlines future directions in wound healing research.

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Ovarian cancer is a common malignancy affecting the female reproductive system. Curcumin (Cur) demonstrates potential as a treatment for ovarian cancer, but creating an effective curcumin-based drug delivery system remains challenging. The advent of the Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework (ZIF) system offers a novel approach for antitumor drug delivery. In this study, effective drug delivery to ovarian cancer cells was accomplished through the construction of a ZIF-based nanodrug delivery system, ZIF-Cur, that encapsulates curcumin. We verified that Cur delivered by ZIF enhanced mitochondrial ROS accumulation in tumor cells, thereby killing tumor cells. The system showed the well biosafety profile, offering a insight therapeutic perspective for ovarian cancer treatment.