Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology最新文献

In the coming decades, the development of nanocarriers (NCs) for targeted drug delivery will mark a significant advance in the field of pharmacology. NCs can improve drug solubility, ensure precise distribution, and enable passage across biological barriers. Despite these potential advantages, the interaction with many biological matrices, particularly with existing macrophages, must be considered. In this review, we will explore the dual role of macrophages in NC delivery, highlighting their physiological functions, the challenges posed by the mononuclear phagocyte system, and innovative strategies to exploit macrophage interactions for therapeutic advantage. Recent advancements in treating liver and lung diseases, particularly focusing on macrophage polarization and RNA-based therapies, have highlighted the potential developments in macrophage-NC interaction. Furthermore, we will delve into the intriguing potential of nanomedicine in neurology and traumatology, associated with macrophage interaction, and the exciting possibilities it holds for the future.

This paper reports simulation of a carbon monoxide gas sensor using COMSOL Multiphysics whose active sensing material used is a carbon nanocomposite (i.e., 0.1 wt % of single-walled carbon nanotubes along with PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate)) in an equal volume ratio of 1:1. Given the high cost associated with the development of these sensors, it becomes imperative to establish a mathematical model for economically predicting their behavior. The simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics is performed to obtain the surface coverage of the sensor by introducing carbon monoxide gas through a Gaussian pulse feed inlet at concentrations ranging from 1 to 7 ppm. The surface coverage over the range of 14% to 32.94% for the given range of concentrations is achieved giving the information of the amount of gas molecules adsorbed onto the surface of the sensing material at a given time. The surface coverage of the sensor is enhanced by using the nanocomposite materials which in turn enhances the sensitivity of the gas sensors.

The fundamental goal of our investigation is to employ a sustainable synthesis method for zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), utilizing lactic acid bacteria isolated from curd as the key biological agent. Bacteria function as agents for both reduction and capping processes, which aids the synthesis of ZnO NPs. Various characterization techniques including XRD, FTIR, UV-vis, TEM, SEM-EDX, and zeta potential measurements were employed to analyze the morphology, dimensions, and elemental composition of the generated nanoparticles. The experimental outcomes confirmed the presence of hexagonal wurtzite-structured ZnO NPs with an average size of 10 nm. The colloidal system demonstrated excellent stability with a zeta potential of -60 mV. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles displayed significant antibacterial activity against selected human pathogens, with the biggest inhibition zone observed against Staphylococcus aureus (22 ± 0.57 mm) and the smallest inhibition zone observed against Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (3 ± 1 mm). MTT assay revealed the promising antiproliferative potential of ZnO NPs, with an average IC₅₀ value of 98.53 µg/mL. Additionally, the NPs were photocatalytically and electrochemically analyzed, indicating their potential use in cancer research as well as in coating and drug delivery applications.

Nanosafety assessment, which seeks to evaluate the risks from exposure to nanoscale materials, spans materials synthesis and characterisation, exposure science, toxicology, and computational approaches, resulting in complex experimental workflows and diverse data types. Managing the data flows, with a focus on provenance (who generated the data and for what purpose) and quality (how was the data generated, using which protocol with which controls), as part of good research output management, is necessary to maximise the reuse potential and value of the data. Instance maps have been developed and evolved to visualise experimental nanosafety workflows and to bridge the gap between the theoretical principles of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable) data and the everyday practice of experimental researchers. Instance maps are most effective when applied at the study design stage to associate the workflow with the nanomaterials, environmental conditions, method descriptions, protocols, biological and computational models to be used, and the data flows arising from study execution. Application of the InstanceMaps tool (described herein) to research workflows of increasing complexity is presented to demonstrate its utility, starting from (i) documentation of a nanomaterial's synthesis, functionalisation, and characterisation, over (ii) assessment of a nanomaterial's transformations in complex media, (iii) description of the culturing of ecotoxicity model organisms Daphnia magna and their use in standardised tests for nanomaterials ecotoxicity assessment, and (iv) visualisation of complex workflows in human immunotoxicity assessment using cell lines and primary cellular models, to (v) the use of the instance map approach for the coordination of materials and data flows in complex multipartner collaborative projects and for the demonstration of case studies. Finally, areas for future development of the instance map approach and the tool are highlighted.

The electronic and optical properties of a composite created by introducing a magnetite cluster into NaA zeolite have been investigated in this work using DFT calculations. The results obtained indicate that the electronic and optical properties of the composite are enhanced because of the cluster. However, the properties exhibited by the cluster outside the zeolite differ from those it presents when it is part of the composite. It is noteworthy that the composite exhibits magnetic properties of a half-semiconductor and a strong optical response within the visible and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum.

A fast simulation approach for focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) numerically solves the diffusion-reaction equation (continuum model) of the precursor surface on the growing nanostructure in conjunction with a Monte Carlo simulation for electron transport in the growing deposit. An important requirement in this regard is to have access to a methodology that can be used to systematically determine the values for the set of precursor parameters needed for this model. In this work we introduce such a method to derive the precursor sticking coefficient as one member of the precursor parameter set. The method is based on the analysis of the different growth regimes in FEBID, in particular the diffusion-enhanced growth regime in the center region of an intentionally defocused electron beam. We employ the method to determine the precursor sticking coefficient for bis(benzene)chromium, Cr(C₆H₆)₂, and trimethyl(methylcyclopentadienyl)platinum(IV), Me₃CpPtMe, and find a value of about 10^-2 for both precursors, which is substantially smaller than the sticking coefficients previously assumed for Me₃CpPtMe (1.0). Furthermore, depositions performed at different substrate temperatures indicate a temperature dependence of the sticking coefficient.

Scaling of steel surfaces, prevalent in various industrial applications, results in significant operational inefficiencies and maintenance costs. Inspired by the natural hydrophobicity of springtail (Collembola) skin, which employs micro- and nanostructures to repel water, we investigate the application of silicone nanofilaments (SNFs) as a coating on steel surfaces to mitigate scaling. Silicone nanofilaments, previously successful on polymers, textiles, and glass, are explored for their hydrophobic properties and stability on steel. Our study demonstrates the successful coating of stainless steel with SNFs, achieving super-hydrophobicity and resilience under high shear stress and explosion/decompression tests. Scaling experiments reveal a 75.5% reduction in calcium carbonate deposition on SNF-coated steel surfaces. This reduction is attributed to altered flow dynamics near the super-hydrophobic surface, inhibiting nucleation and growth of scale. Our findings highlight the potential of bioinspired SNF coatings to enhance the performance and longevity of steel surfaces in industrial environments.

Disruption of cholinesterases and, as a consequence, increased levels of acetylcholine lead to serious disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, including death. The need for rapid administration of an antidote to restore esterase activity is critical, but practical implementation of this is often difficult. One promising solution may be the development of antidote delivery systems that will release the drug only when acetylcholine levels are elevated. This approach will ensure timely delivery of the antidote and minimize side effects associated with uncontrolled drug release. Here, we describe the creation of a new smart system that serves as a carrier for delivering an antidote (i.e., atropine) and functions as a synthetic esterase to hydrolyze acetylcholine. The nanocarrier was synthesized through microemulsion polycondensation of phenylboronic acid with resorcinarenes containing hydroxy, imidazole, and carboxylic groups on the upper rim. The nanocarrier breaks down acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid. The latter acts on the boronate bonds, dissociating them. This leads to the destruction of the nanocarrier and the release of the antidote. The paper covers the creation of the nanocarrier, its physicochemical and biological properties, encapsulation of the antidote, acetylcholine hydrolysis, and antidote release.

The scales of the gold-dust weevil Hypomeces squamosus are green because of three-dimensional diamond-type chitin-air photonic crystals with an average periodicity of about 430 nm and a chitin fill fraction of about 0.44. A single scale usually contains one to three crystallites with different lattice orientations. The reciprocal space images and reflection spectra obtained from single domains indicated a partial photonic bandgap in the wavelength range from 450 to 650 nm. Light reflected from {111}-oriented domains is green-yellow. Light reflected from blue, {100}-oriented domains exhibits polarization conversion, rotating the angle of linearly polarized light. The overall coloration, resulting from the reflections from many scales, is close to uniformly diffuse because of the random orientation of the domains. Using titania sol-gel chemistry, we produced negative replicas that exhibited a 70 to 120 nm redshift of the bandgap, depending on the lattice orientation. The wavelength shift in {100} orientation is supported by full-wave optical modeling of a dual diamond network with an exchanged fill fraction (0.56) of the material with the refractive index in the range of 1.55 to 2.00. The study suggests that the effective refractive index of titania in the 3D lattice is similar to that in sol-gel films. The study demonstrates the potential of replicating complex biophotonic structures using the sol-gel technique. Optimization of the sol-gel process could lead to customizable photonic bandgaps that might be used in novel optical materials.