Journal of Nanoparticle Research最新文献

This study investigates graphene-based nanosensors for oxygen (O₂) detection by examining geometrical and electronic structures, adsorption mechanisms, density of states (DOS), charge transfer, sensor sensitivity, and recovery time. Using density functional theory (DFT), we analyze monolayer graphene (MG), AB-stacked bilayer graphene (BG), and twisted bilayer graphene (TwBG) with a 21.78° twist angle, both in pristine and beryllium-doped forms. The results show physisorption in pristine structures and chemisorption in Be-doped configurations, leading to enhanced adsorption energies and improved sensor responses. AB-stacked BG exhibits lower adsorption energy, charge transfer, sensor sensitivity, and shorter recovery time compared to monolayer graphene, while TwBG demonstrates increased adsorption, charge transfer, and sensitivity, highlighting a molecular-tuning effect due to interlayer interactions. Among monolayer systems, Be-doped MG shows the highest O₂ detection capability. In bilayer systems, TwBG outperforms AB-stacked graphene in both adsorption energy and sensor sensitivity, regardless of Be doping. These findings position TwBG, particularly when Be-doped, as a promising platform for advanced gas-sensing applications, offering enhanced efficiency, adaptability, and performance.

rGO/ V₂O₅ nanowire composites were synthesized via a green hydrothermal process, and the effect of hydrothermal duration on their morphology and photocatalytic performance was systematically evaluated. The composite prepared at 36 h exhibited the most uniform nanowire architecture and the strongest interfacial coupling. Under simulated solar irradiation, this sample achieved 95.5% degradation of methylene blue (20 mg/L) within 240 min, significantly outperforming pristine V₂O₅. Radical-trapping experiments confirmed that superoxide radicals (O₂^•−) and photogenerated holes (h⁺) are the primary active species, whereas hydroxyl radicals (•OH) contribute marginally. A mechanism is proposed in which photoexcited electrons transfer from V₂O₅ to rGO, where rGO acts as an electron sink that suppresses electron–hole recombination and promotes O₂ reduction to O₂^•−,thereby accelerating pollutant degradation into CO₂, H₂O, and inorganic ions. These results demonstrate the synergistic effect of rGO–V₂O₅ coupling and highlight a sustainable strategy for developing efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation.

Mucosal vaccines offer a promising strategy for inducing site-specific immunity, but their effectiveness depends heavily on safe and efficient delivery systems. This study aims to study exosome-functionalized carbonate apatite (CHA-EXO) nanoparticles as a novel immunomodulatory adjuvant for oral mucosal vaccination. The CHA nanoparticles were synthesized and functionalized with mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes with physical adsorption. Their physicochemical properties, including functional groups, morphology, size distribution, and surface charge, were characterized. Loading efficiency and stability were observed with Bradford assays. Cytocompatibility was assessed in RAW264.7 and TR146 cells using the MTT assay. Comparative analysis was performed against aluminum hydroxide as a conventional adjuvant. The synthesized CHA-EXO nanoparticles exhibited a nanoscale diameter of approximately 100–120 nm, with a moderate increase in size following exosome functionalization in a concentration-dependent manner. They maintained a stable dispersion, showing surface charges of −31.63 to −37.48 mV in water and around −26 mV in artificial saliva. The nanoparticles demonstrated high cytocompatibility in both TR146 and RAW264.7 cells (> 75% viability), performing better than aluminum hydroxide at comparable moderate doses. Furthermore, the functionalized nanoparticles formed stable complexes with high loading efficiency, reaching 93.89% at elevated exosome concentrations, and released only 19.40% of the cargo within 24 h. These findings indicate exosome immobilization and enhanced potential for increased cellular interaction. The CHA-EXO nanoparticles show promise as a stable and biocompatible oral mucosal adjuvant, offering both physicochemical stability and favorable cell interactions.

Radiotherapy is a cornerstone of cancer treatment but is limited by its lack of specificity, causing damage to both healthy and malignant tissues. pH-sensitive nanoparticles have emerged as innovative radiosensitizers, exploiting the acidic tumor microenvironment to enhance targeted drug release, increase radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupt DNA repair, and modulate key cellular pathways such as STING activation, JNK inhibition, and G2/M cell cycle arrest. This review highlights recent advances in metallic, polymeric, nanogel, and hybrid pH-sensitive nanoparticles, integrating molecular mechanisms with imaging-guided strategies to improve tumor selectivity, radiosensitization efficiency, and therapeutic outcomes. While these nanoparticles show significant preclinical promise, challenges including heterogeneous tumor microenvironments, limited tissue penetration, immune modulation, systemic toxicity, and hurdles in clinical translation remain. Collectively, pH-sensitive nanoparticles represent a promising strategy for enhancing radiotherapy efficacy, and overcoming current translational barriers is critical to realizing their full therapeutic potential.

Graphical Abstract

Degradation of pesticides (e.g., chlorpyrifos (CP)) and their metabolites is an area of evolving research. Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) synthesis was achieved by microbial consortia from sludge to be used later as catalysts for the degradation of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP), CP’s metabolite. Hydrogen (H₂) and glucose were used as electron donors to reduce Pd(II) and synthesize Pd NPs. When both glucose and Pd NPs were present, TCP removal exceeded 90% but suggested the presence of potential intermediates, consistent with a stepwise dechlorination. In contrast, H₂ microcosms with Pd NPs achieved > 95% TCP removal, but when lacking Pd NPs, microcosms supplemented only with H₂ showed marginal TCP degradation. Azospira and Thauera were dominant across all microcosms and could be dechlorinating TCP and producing Pd NPs. Clostridium dominated the microcosm with glucose and Pd, which pointed to its role in fermenting and generating H₂ to be later used for Pd NP production. Abiotic control microcosms showed Pd NPs synthesis with H₂ as an electron donor but not with glucose; therefore, microorganisms were needed for Pd NPs synthesis if glucose is provided. While several studies have focused on synthetic microbial consortia or single strain research for TCP microbial degradation, this research demonstrated the capacity of naturally occurring microbial consortia to degrade TCP with the aid of Pd NPs, which were also synthesized biologically.

The accurate and rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is essential for the effective treatment of tuberculosis. In this work, perovskite/silica nanocomposites CsPbBr₃@MSNs-PbBrOH (DP-CPB) were synthesized via a dual in situ-coating strategy, encapsulating CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals with mesoporous silica and PbBrOH. The resulting nanocomposites exhibited excellent stability in physiological media. The nanocomposites’ surface was conjugated with the MS10-Trunc aptamer specific for Mtb malate synthase (MtbMS). Leveraging the aptamer’s high affinity, we developed two fluorescent aptasensors: one based on a 96-well plate for MtbMS detection, and another employing magnetic nanoparticles for the detection of Mtb bacterial strains (Mtb H37Rv). The sensors demonstrate dynamic ranges of 50-750 nM for MtbMS and 10²-10⁷ CFU/mL for Mtb H37Rv, with low limits of detection (LOD) of 1.17 nM and 3 CFU/mL, respectively. The aptasensors possess the comprehensive advantages of the highly efficient photoluminescence of DP-CPB, high specificity, and fast detection of MtbMS and H37Rv. The aptasensor was successfully applied for the determination of Mtb H37Rv, revealing the vast potential of perovskites in biosensing.

Textile dye effluents are persistent contaminants that require robust, low-cost photocatalysts that are operable under broad-spectrum illumination. Herein, we report the solvent-free ex situ synthesis of ternary ZnO-TiO₂-g-C₃N₄ (85:5:10, w/w) nanohybrids and benchmark them against their single and binary counterparts for rhodamine 6G (R6G) degradation. Comprehensive physicochemical analyses (XRD/Rietveld, FTIR, UV–Vis DRS, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, SAED, PL, BET, Raman, and XPS) jointly confirm crystalline phase coexistence with intimate interfacial coupling (Zn-O-Ti linkages), bandgap narrowing to 2.85 eV, and interfacial charge redistribution with oxygen vacancy signatures beneficial to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Compared with pristine and binary materials, the ternary nanohybrids exhibited markedly quenched PL emission, reduced charge transfer resistance, and enhanced defect density, correlating with 99.99% R6G removal in 180 min with a first-order R6G degradation rate constant of 2.16 × 10⁻² min⁻¹. Antioxidant performance (DPPH assay) was also enhanced to compare with bare, reaching 71.78% radical scavenging at 100 µg/mL. The catalyst retained > 96% removal efficiency over five reuse cycles without discernible structural degradation (post-cycle XRD and FTIR), underscoring operational stability. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the solvent-free fabrication of ternary ZnO-TiO₂-g-C₃N₄ nanohybrids, dual (photocatalytic/antioxidant) functionality, and recyclability make this system a promising platform for water remediation and related bio-interfaces, subject to future cytocompatibility validation.

Graphical abstract

In recent years, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to be effective nanofillers for fabricating thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes for dye wastewater treatment. In this study, University of Oslo-66 (UiO-66) was modified with polydopamine (PDA) to synthesize PDA@UiO-66 nanoparticles, aiming to overcome their inherent dispersion and compatibility limitations. Subsequently, TFN membranes incorporating PDA@UiO-66 (denoted as TFN-PDU) were fabricated via interfacial polymerization using an aqueous piperazine (PIP) solution containing well-dispersed PDA@UiO-66 and an organic trimesoyl chloride (TMC) solution. Owing to the suitable pore size, improved hydrophilicity, and enhanced compatibility of PDA@UiO-66, the prepared TFN-PDU membranes exhibited elevated water permeability, salt rejection, and dye desalination performance compared to the pristine thin-film composite (TFC) membrane and the TFN membrane containing unmodified UiO-66. The effects of different PDA@UiO-66 loadings on membrane morphology, structure, and performance were systematically investigated. Compared to the conventional UiO-66-incorporated TFN membrane (water permeability: 5.21 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹), the optimal TFN-PDU2 membrane (with 0.10 wt% PDA@UiO-66 loading) exhibited a higher water permeability of 6.85 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹, an increased Na₂SO₄ rejection (from 87.6% to 89.4%), and an enhanced methylene blue (MB) rejection (from 93.4% to 95.6%). This study provides a feasible strategy for designing high-performance TFN membranes using hydrophilic MOFs for efficient dye wastewater treatment.

Methylene blue (MB) and other organic dyes often pose significant environmental challenges, particularly when they enter water bodies as industrial waste from sectors such as textiles, plastics, and pesticides. However, during photocatalytic dye removal, sunlight is generally used to initiate the degradation process which might not be readily available in many places. In this study, we explore the potential of V₃O₇ nanostructures, synthesized via a simple and cost-effective hydrothermal method to degrade MB dye solution without using any light source. The prepared nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FESEM, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, BET, and EPR analysis. Here, a relatively small amount that is 20 mg of V₃O₇ is enough to effectively degrade 20 ppm of the dye. In 110 min, the V₃O₇ nanostructures showed a MB degradation efficiency of (sim) 95% in dark conditions. Upon adding NaBH₄, the degradation process was significantly accelerated, and 95% dye degradation was achieved within 10 min. The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the degradation mechanism was identified, and the possible reaction pathways are also discussed. Hence, the mesoporous V₃O₇ can act as a potential catalyst for effective MB dye removal from aqueous systems, under dark conditions.

The progress of an actual, economical and maintainable material for energy storage applications is essential in today's technological era. The developed nanohybrid sample, SrBiO₃/rGO, was designed to enhance storage energy capabilities and catalytic performance. In the current work, a hydrothermal method was used to prepare a SrBiO₃/rGO nanohybrid. Electrochemical properties were conducted to compare the behaviour of SrBiO₃ and SrBiO₃/rGO electrodes to assess their capacitive properties for supercapacitor characteristics. The SrBiO₃/rGO nanohybrid displayed remarkable hybrid characteristics, delivering a specific capacitance (898.48 F/g) at 1 A/g and reserved 78.67% specific capacitance after the 5000^th cycle. Moreover, the SrBiO₃/rGO displayed exceptional and durable electrocatalytic activity, requiring reduced 226 mV overpotential (η) and 44 mV/dec Tafel gradient at 10 mA/cm in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) procedure. These outcomes indicate that SrBiO₃-based graphene nanohybrid holds promising potential for energy-saving devices and effective catalytic characteristics.