Journal Description
Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials
is an international, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary scholarly open access journal, published semimonthly online by MDPI. It publishes reviews, regular research papers, communications, and short notes that are relevant to any field of study that involves nanomaterials, with respect to their science and application. The Spanish Carbon Group (GEC) is affiliated with Nanomaterials and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), PubMed, PMC, CAPlus / SciFinder, Inspec, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q1 (Physics, Applied) / CiteScore - Q1 (General Chemical Engineering)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 13.6 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
- Companion journals for Nanomaterials include: Nanomanufacturing and Applied Nano.
Impact Factor:
5.3 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
5.4 (2022)
Latest Articles
Size Effects of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Boosting Soybean Growth via Differentially Modulating Nitrogen Assimilation
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090746 (registering DOI) - 25 Apr 2024
Abstract
Nanoscale agrochemicals have been widely used in sustainable agriculture and may potentially affect the nitrogen fixation process in legume crops. The present study investigated the size-effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on nitrogen assimilation in soybean (G. max (L.) Merrill) plants,
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Nanoscale agrochemicals have been widely used in sustainable agriculture and may potentially affect the nitrogen fixation process in legume crops. The present study investigated the size-effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on nitrogen assimilation in soybean (G. max (L.) Merrill) plants, which were treated with different sizes (20 and 50 nm) of CuO NPs at low use doses (1 and 10 mg/kg) for 21 days under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that 50 nm CuO NPs significantly increased the fresh biomass more than 20 nm CuO NPs achieved at 10 mg/kg. The activities of N assimilation-associated enzymes and the contents of nitrogenous compounds, including nitrates, proteins, and amino acids, in soybean tissues were greatly increased across all the CuO NP treatments. The use doses of two sizes of CuO NPs had no impact on the Cu contents in shoots and roots but indeed increased the Cu contents in soils in a dose-dependent fashion. Overall, our findings demonstrated that both 20 and 50 nm CuO NPs could positively alter soybean growth and boost N assimilation, furthering our understanding that the application of nanoscale micro-nutrient-related agrochemicals at an optimal size and dose will greatly contribute to increasing the yield and quality of crops.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)
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Development of Light, Strong, and Water-Resistant PVA Composite Aerogels
by
Amir Abdolazizi, Ishara Wijesinghe, Ifra Marriam, Hiran Chathuranga, Dmitri Golberg and Cheng Yan
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090745 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
A significant weakness of many organic and inorganic aerogels is their poor mechanical behaviour, representing a great impediment to their application. For example, polymer aerogels generally have higher ductility than silica aerogels, but their elastic modulus is considered too low. Herein, we developed
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A significant weakness of many organic and inorganic aerogels is their poor mechanical behaviour, representing a great impediment to their application. For example, polymer aerogels generally have higher ductility than silica aerogels, but their elastic modulus is considered too low. Herein, we developed extremely low loading (<1 wt%) 2D graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets modified poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) aerogels via a facile and environmentally friendly method. The aerogel shows a 9-fold increase in compressional modulus compared to a pure polymer aerogel. With a low density of 0.04 mg/mm3 and a thermal conductivity of only 0.035 W/m·K, it outperforms many commercial insulators and foams. As compared to a pure PVA polymer aerogel, a 170% increase in storage modulus is obtained by adding only 0.6 wt% GO nanosheets. The nanocomposite aerogel demonstrates strong fire resistance, with a 50% increase in burning time and little smoke discharge. After surface modification with 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane, the aerogel demonstrates water resistance, which is suitable for outdoor applications in which it would be exposed to precipitation. Our research demonstrates a new pathway for considerable improvement in the performance and application of polymer aerogels.
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Open AccessArticle
Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon Derived from Covalent Triazine Framework for Catalytic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol
by
Xin Pan, Yanan Zhu, Yongchang Yang and Qianqian Zhu
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090744 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
The catalytic oxidation of alcohols is an important transformation in the chemical industry. Carbon materials with a large surface area and N doping show great promise as metal-free catalysts for the reaction. In this study, a rich N-containing covalent triazine framework polymerized by
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The catalytic oxidation of alcohols is an important transformation in the chemical industry. Carbon materials with a large surface area and N doping show great promise as metal-free catalysts for the reaction. In this study, a rich N-containing covalent triazine framework polymerized by cyanuric chloride and p-phenylenediamine was used to synthesize N-doped porous carbon with the assistance of a pore-forming agent—NaCl. First, the mass ratio of the polymer/NaCl was optimized to 1:9. Then, the influence of the pyrolysis temperatures (700–1000 °C) on the materials was studied in detail. It was found that the carbon materials were gradually exfoliated by molten salt at high temperatures. XRD and Raman characterizations showed them with a certain graphitization. The optimal doped carbon CNN-1-9-900 achieved the highest surface area of 199.03 m2g−1 with the largest pore volume of 0.29 cm3g−1. Furthermore, it had a high N content of 9.9 at% with the highest relative proportion of pyridinic/graphitic N. Due to the synergistic effect between the surface area and pyridinic/graphitic N, CNN-1-9-900 showed the best performance for benzyl alcohol oxidation with TBHP at moderate conditions, and the process also worked for its derivatives.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Section 2D and Carbon Nanomaterials)
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Open AccessArticle
A Systematic Genotoxicity Assessment of a Suite of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Reveals Their DNA Damaging and Clastogenic Potential
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Silvia Aidee Solorio-Rodriguez, Dongmei Wu, Andrey Boyadzhiev, Callum Christ, Andrew Williams and Sabina Halappanavar
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090743 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONP/s) induce DNA damage, which is influenced by their physicochemical properties. In this study, the high-throughput CometChip and micronucleus (MicroFlow) assays were used to investigate DNA and chromosomal damage in mouse lung epithelial cells induced by nano and bulk sizes
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Metal oxide nanoparticles (MONP/s) induce DNA damage, which is influenced by their physicochemical properties. In this study, the high-throughput CometChip and micronucleus (MicroFlow) assays were used to investigate DNA and chromosomal damage in mouse lung epithelial cells induced by nano and bulk sizes of zinc oxide, copper oxide, manganese oxide, nickel oxide, aluminum oxide, cerium oxide, titanium dioxide, and iron oxide. Ionic forms of MONPs were also included. The study evaluated the impact of solubility, surface coating, and particle size on response. Correlation analysis showed that solubility in the cell culture medium was positively associated with response in both assays, with the nano form showing the same or higher response than larger particles. A subtle reduction in DNA damage response was observed post-exposure to some surface-coated MONPs. The observed difference in genotoxicity highlighted the mechanistic differences in the MONP-induced response, possibly influenced by both particle stability and chemical composition. The results highlight that combinations of properties influence response to MONPs and that solubility alone, while playing an important role, is not enough to explain the observed toxicity. The results have implications on the potential application of read-across strategies in support of human health risk assessment of MONPs.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approach Methodologies for the Toxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials)
Open AccessArticle
Improvement of Thermal Stability and Photoelectric Performance of Cs2PbI2Cl2/CsPbI2.5Br0.5 Perovskite Solar Cells by Triple-Layer Inorganic Hole Transport Materials
by
Yu Liu, Bicui Li, Jia Xu and Jianxi Yao
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090742 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
Conventional hole transport layer (HTL) Spiro-OMeTAD requires the addition of hygroscopic dopants due to its low conductivity and hole mobility, resulting in a high preparation cost and poor device stability. Cuprous thiocyanate (CuSCN) is a cost-effective alternative with a suitable energy structure and
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Conventional hole transport layer (HTL) Spiro-OMeTAD requires the addition of hygroscopic dopants due to its low conductivity and hole mobility, resulting in a high preparation cost and poor device stability. Cuprous thiocyanate (CuSCN) is a cost-effective alternative with a suitable energy structure and high hole mobility. However, CuSCN-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are affected by environmental factors, and the solvents of an HTL can potentially corrode the perovskite layer. In this study, a Co3O4/CuSCN/Co3O4 sandwich structure was proposed as an HTL for inorganic Cs2PbI2Cl2/CsPbI2.5Br0.5 PSCs to address these issues. The Co3O4 layers can serve as buffer and encapsulation layers, protecting the perovskite layer from solvent-induced corrosion and enhancing hole mobility at the interface. Based on this sandwich structure, the photovoltaic performances of the Cs2PbI2Cl2/CsPbI2.5Br0.5 PSCs are significantly improved, with the power conversion efficiency (PCE) increasing from 9.87% (without Co3O4) to 11.06%. Furthermore, the thermal stability of the devices is also significantly enhanced, retaining 80% of its initial PCE after 40 h of continuous aging at 60 °C. These results indicate that the Co3O4/CuSCN/Co3O4 sandwich structure can effectively mitigate the corrosion of the perovskite layer by solvents of an HTL and significantly improves the photovoltaic performance and thermal stability of devices.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Thermal, Electrical and Thermoelectric Properties of Nanomaterials)
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Mechanochemical Solid-State Immobilization of Photofunctional Dyes on Amorphous Silica Particles and Investigation of Their Interactive Mechanisms
by
Reo Kimura, Sunao Chatani, Masahiko Inui, Satoshi Motozuka, Iori Yamada and Motohiro Tagaya
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090741 - 24 Apr 2024
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Amorphous silica particles (ASPs) have been reported to exhibit bioactive properties and are becoming the focus of attention as bioceramics. However, their interactions with proteins in living organisms remain to be understood and need to be investigated in order to achieve wider applications.
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Amorphous silica particles (ASPs) have been reported to exhibit bioactive properties and are becoming the focus of attention as bioceramics. However, their interactions with proteins in living organisms remain to be understood and need to be investigated in order to achieve wider applications. Our research group found that chlorine (Cl)-containing ASPs are useful for protein immobilization. Photofunctional dyes (fluorescein (FS−), methylene blue (MB+)) that have the carboxy and amino groups as the main functional groups were immobilized on the Cl-containing ASPs via the mechanochemical method as the model molecule and their spectral properties were used to investigate and discuss the organic/inorganic interfacial bonding states. In FS−, the oxygen atoms of the carboxy groups in the molecule were immobilized by the hydrogen bonds with the silanol groups on the ASPs surfaces, indicating that there is an optimum Cl content for the immobilization as the monomer state. In the case of MB+, as the Cl concentration in the ASPs increases, the immobilization via the electrostatic interactions between the Cl in the ASPs and the terminal dimethylamino group, and the hydrogen bonding between the N atoms of the MB+ hetero ring and the particle silanol group were enhanced. These results mainly suggest that the protein adsorption system occurs through the hydrogen bonding between the carboxy groups of the protein and the silanol groups on the particles and via electrostatic interactions between the amino groups of the protein and the dissociated silanol groups and the contained Cl at the particles. Thus, the spectral characterization using dyes as probes is expected to predict the protein interactions with the amorphous silica particles.
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Open AccessArticle
Luminescent/Temperature-Sensing Properties of Multifunctional Rare-Earth Upconversion Kevlar Nanofiber Composite under 1550 nm
by
Juan Li, Shengang Xu, Yingliang Liu and Shaokui Cao
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090740 - 24 Apr 2024
Abstract
The unique properties of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are responsible for their diverse applications in photonic materials, medicine, analytics, and energy conversion. In this study, water-soluble rare-earth upconversion nanomaterials emitting green, yellow, and red light under 1550 nm excitation were synthesized. These nanomaterials were
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The unique properties of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are responsible for their diverse applications in photonic materials, medicine, analytics, and energy conversion. In this study, water-soluble rare-earth upconversion nanomaterials emitting green, yellow, and red light under 1550 nm excitation were synthesized. These nanomaterials were then integrated into water-soluble Kevlar nanofibers (KNFs) to fabricate ultra-thin composite films exhibiting favorable mechanical characteristics. The characterization of the products, along with their luminescent, mechanical, and temperature-sensing properties, was examined. The results indicate that the composite material exhibited varying colors based on the doped nanoparticles when subjected to 1550 nm excitation. The composite showed highly sensitive temperature-sensing properties, excellent luminescent characteristics, and superior mechanical strength. This study suggests that KNFs are effective carriers of UCNPs. This study offers a reference for the utilization of rare-earth upconversion in anti-counterfeiting displays, wearable health monitoring, and remote temperature sensing.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanocomposites for Sensing Applications)
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Study on Spectrum Shifting and Pulse Splitting of Mode-Locked Fiber Lasers Based on NPR Technology
by
Zhenhua Hao, Yu Hu, Siyu Zhou, Jinhui Liu, Xiaohui Li, Yishan Wang and Cunxiao Gao
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090739 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
We conducted a systematic investigation into the spectral and pulse characteristics of C and L-band Nonlinear Polarization Rotation (NPR) mode-locked fiber lasers effectively employing nonlinear polarization rotation technology. In our experimental setup, we achieved a stable mode-locked state at 1560.076 nm, exhibiting a
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We conducted a systematic investigation into the spectral and pulse characteristics of C and L-band Nonlinear Polarization Rotation (NPR) mode-locked fiber lasers effectively employing nonlinear polarization rotation technology. In our experimental setup, we achieved a stable mode-locked state at 1560.076 nm, exhibiting a 3 dB spectral bandwidth of 9.1 nm. As the pump power increased, we observed spectral shifts accompanied by shifts in the first Kelly sideband and the generation of new Kelly sidebands. In this paper, the phenomenon of spectral deviation is elucidated through the interplay of self-phase modulation, group velocity drift, and polarization-dependent isolator (PD-ISO) filter effect, with an analysis of the formation and deviation of Kelly sidebands. Notably, spectral shift persisted even when the pump power exceeded 200 mW. However, continuous pump power escalation led to soliton splitting, resulting in the formation of new soliton beams. Based on the simultaneous generation of spectral shift and pulse splitting, our study contributes to an enhanced understanding of soliton dynamics in ultrafast fiber lasers and lays a foundation for the application of high-repetition-frequency harmonic mode-locked lasers with tunable wavelengths.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonlinear Optical Materials in Fundamental Science and Practical Applications)
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Open AccessArticle
Enhancing Multi-Spectral Fingerprint Sensing for Trace Explosive Molecules with All-Silicon Metasurfaces
by
Jie Lin, Ying Xue, Weijin Wang, Mingjun Sun, Shengnan Shi, Shan Zhang and Yanpeng Shi
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090738 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to identify the specific fingerprints of analytes in a label-free way. However, conventional sensing methods face unavoidable barriers in analyzing trace-amount target molecules due to the difficulties of enhancing the broadband molecular absorption. Here, we propose a sensing
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Spectroscopy is a powerful tool to identify the specific fingerprints of analytes in a label-free way. However, conventional sensing methods face unavoidable barriers in analyzing trace-amount target molecules due to the difficulties of enhancing the broadband molecular absorption. Here, we propose a sensing scheme to achieve strong fingerprint absorption based on the angular-scanning strategy on an all-silicon metasurface. By integrating the mid-infrared and terahertz sensing units into a single metasurface, the sensor can efficiently identify 2,4-DNT with high sensitivity. The results reveal that the fingerprint peak in the enhanced fingerprint spectrum is formed by the linked envelope. It exhibits a significant enhancement factor exceeding 64-fold in the terahertz region and more than 55-fold in the mid-infrared region. Particularly, the corresponding identification limit of 2,4-DNT is 1.32 µg cm−2, respectively. Our study will provide a novel research idea in identifying trace-amount explosives and advance practical applications of absorption spectroscopy enhancement identification in civil and military security industries.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials for Terahertz Technology Applications)
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of Carbon-Based Nanoparticles on Polyvinyl Alcohol Polarizer Features: Photonics Applications
by
Natalia Kamanina, Larisa Fedorova, Svetlana Likhomanova, Yulia Zubtcova and Pavel Kuzhakov
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090737 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Among different inorganic and organic polarizer elements, thin-film light polarizers occupy a special place because of their flexibility, ease of integration into any optoelectronic circuit, and good functioning in the visible and near-infrared spectral range and can compete with Glan and Nicolas volumetric
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Among different inorganic and organic polarizer elements, thin-film light polarizers occupy a special place because of their flexibility, ease of integration into any optoelectronic circuit, and good functioning in the visible and near-infrared spectral range and can compete with Glan and Nicolas volumetric prisms. This paper presents the results of a study on how carbon-based nanoparticles influence on the basic properties of a well-known PVA-based polymer matrix, using which it is possible to obtain good transparency for parallel light components. An accent is made on graphene oxide nanoparticles, which are used as PVA sensitizers. It was shown for the first time that the structuring of PVA with graphene oxides allows an increased transmittance of the parallel light component to be obtained, saving the transmittance of the orthogonal one. Moreover, the graphene network can increase the mechanical strength of such thin-film PVA-based polarizers and provoke a change in the wetting angle. These advantages make it possible to use graphene oxide-structured thin-film light polarizers based on a PVA matrix as an independent optoelectronic element. Some comparative results for polarizers based on PVA-C70 structures are shown as well.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress of Nanoscale Materials in Plasmonics and Photonics)
Open AccessArticle
Lossy Mode Resonance Sensors Based on Anisotropic Few-Layer Black Phosphorus
by
Yanting Shen, Qifeng Zhu, Zhuo Chen, Jiawei Wu, Binghuang Chen, Enwen Dai and Weiqing Pan
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 736; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090736 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
Lossy mode resonance (LMR) sensors offer a promising avenue to surpass the constraints of conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors by delivering enhanced label-free detection capabilities. A notable edge of LMR over SPR is its excitation potential by both transverse electric (TE) and
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Lossy mode resonance (LMR) sensors offer a promising avenue to surpass the constraints of conventional surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors by delivering enhanced label-free detection capabilities. A notable edge of LMR over SPR is its excitation potential by both transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light. Yet this merit remains underexplored due to challenges to achieving high sensing performance under both TM and TE polarization within a singular LMR model. This study introduces a theoretical model for an LMR prism refractive index sensor based on a MgF -few layer black phosphorus-MgF configuration, which can achieve angular sensitivity nearing 90 refractive index unit (RIU ) for both polarizations. Leveraging the distinct anisotropic nature of black phosphorus, the figure of merit (FOM) values along its two principal crystal axes (zigzag and armchair) show great difference, achieving an impressive FOM of 1.178 × 10 RIU along the zigzag direction under TE polarized light and 1.231 × 10 RIU along the armchair direction under TM polarized light. We also provide an analysis of the electric field distribution for each configuration at its respective resonant conditions. The proposed structure paves the way for innovative applications of anisotropic-material-based LMR sensors in various applications.
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Open AccessArticle
Rationalizing Graphene–ZnO Composites for Gas Sensing via Functionalization with Amines
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Maxim K. Rabchinskii, Victor V. Sysoev, Maria Brzhezinskaya, Maksim A. Solomatin, Vladimir S. Gabrelian, Demid A. Kirilenko, Dina Yu. Stolyarova, Sviatoslav D. Saveliev, Alexander V. Shvidchenko, Polina D. Cherviakova, Alexey S. Varezhnikov, Sergey I. Pavlov, Sergei A. Ryzhkov, Boris G. Khalturin, Nikita D. Prasolov and Pavel N. Brunkov
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090735 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The rational design of composites based on graphene/metal oxides is one of the pillars for advancing their application in various practical fields, particularly gas sensing. In this study, a uniform distribution of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) through the graphene layer was achieved, taking advantage
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The rational design of composites based on graphene/metal oxides is one of the pillars for advancing their application in various practical fields, particularly gas sensing. In this study, a uniform distribution of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) through the graphene layer was achieved, taking advantage of amine functionalization. The beneficial effect of amine groups on the arrangement of ZnO NPs and the efficiency of their immobilization was revealed by core-level spectroscopy, pointing out strong ionic bonding between the aminated graphene (AmG) and ZnO. The stability of the resulting Am-ZnO nanocomposite was confirmed by demonstrating that its morphology remains unchanged even after prolonged heating up to 350 °C, as observed by electron microscopy. On-chip multisensor arrays composed of both AmG and Am-ZnO were fabricated and thoroughly tested, showing almost tenfold enhancement of the chemiresistive response upon decorating the AmG layer with ZnO nanoparticles, due to the formation of p-n heterojunctions. Operating at room temperature, the fabricated multisensor chips exhibited high robustness and a detection limit of 3.6 ppm and 5.1 ppm for ammonia and ethanol, respectively. Precise identification of the studied analytes was achieved by employing the pattern recognition technique based on linear discriminant analysis to process the acquired multisensor response.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene and Other 2D Layer-Based Nanomaterials for Energy and Sensing Applications)
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Open AccessSystematic Review
In Vitro Toxicological Insights from the Biomedical Applications of Iron Carbide Nanoparticles in Tumor Theranostics: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by
Maria Antoniou, Georgia Melagraki, Iseult Lynch and Antreas Afantitis
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090734 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
(1) Background: Despite the encouraging indications regarding the suitability (biocompatibility) of iron carbide nanoparticles (ICNPs) in various biomedical applications, the published evidence of their biosafety is dispersed and relatively sparse. The present review synthesizes the existing nanotoxicological data from in vitro studies relevant
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(1) Background: Despite the encouraging indications regarding the suitability (biocompatibility) of iron carbide nanoparticles (ICNPs) in various biomedical applications, the published evidence of their biosafety is dispersed and relatively sparse. The present review synthesizes the existing nanotoxicological data from in vitro studies relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. (2) Methods: A systematic review was performed in electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library) on December 2023, searching for toxicity assessments of ICNPs of different sizes, coatings, and surface modifications investigated in immortalized human and murine cell lines. The risk of bias in the studies was assessed using the ToxRTool for in vitro studies. (3) Results: Among the selected studies (n = 22), cell viability emerged as the most frequently assessed cellular-level toxicity endpoint. The results of the meta-analysis showed that cell models treated with ICNPs had a reduced cell viability (SMD = −2.531; 95% CI: −2.959 to −2.109) compared to untreated samples. A subgroup analysis was performed due to the high magnitude of heterogeneity (I2 = 77.1%), revealing that ICNP concentration and conjugated ligands are the factors that largely influence toxicity (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: A dose-dependent cytotoxicity of ICNP exposure was observed, regardless of the health status of the cell, tested organism, and NP size. Inconsistent reporting of ICNP physicochemical properties was noted, which hinders comparability among the studies. A comprehensive exploration of the available in vivo studies is required in future research to assess the safety of ICNPs’ use in bioimaging and cancer treatment.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Approach Methodologies for the Toxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials)
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Open AccessArticle
Heteropolyacids@Silica Heterogeneous Catalysts to Produce Solketal from Glycerol Acetalization
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Catarina N. Dias, Isabel C. M. S. Santos-Vieira, Carlos R. Gomes, Fátima Mirante and Salete S. Balula
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090733 - 23 Apr 2024
Abstract
The composites of heteropolyacids (H3PW12, H3PMo12) incorporated into amine-functionalized silica materials were used for the first time as heterogeneous catalysts in the valorization of glycerol (a major waste from the biodiesel industry) through acetalization reaction
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The composites of heteropolyacids (H3PW12, H3PMo12) incorporated into amine-functionalized silica materials were used for the first time as heterogeneous catalysts in the valorization of glycerol (a major waste from the biodiesel industry) through acetalization reaction with acetone. The polyoxotungstate catalyst H3PW12@AptesSBA-15 exhibited higher catalytic efficiency than the phosphomolybdate, achieving 97% conversion and 97% of solketal selectivity, after 60 min at 25 °C, or 91% glycerol conversion and the same selectivity, after 5 min, performing the reaction at 60 °C. A correlation between catalytic performance and catalyst acidity is presented here. Furthermore, the stability of the solid catalyst was investigated and discussed.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments in Nanochemistry for Heterogeneous Catalysis Advancements (2nd Edition))
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Open AccessArticle
Epitaxial Growth of GaN Films on Chemical-Vapor-Deposited 2D MoS2 Layers by Plasma-Assisted Molecular Beam Epitaxy
by
Iwan Susanto, Hong-Shan Liu, Yen-Ten Ho and Ing-Song Yu
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 732; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080732 - 22 Apr 2024
Abstract
The van der Waals epitaxy of wafer-scale GaN on 2D MoS2 and the integration of GaN/MoS2 heterostructures were investigated in this report. GaN films have been successfully grown on 2D MoS2 layers using three different Ga fluxes via a plasma-assisted
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The van der Waals epitaxy of wafer-scale GaN on 2D MoS2 and the integration of GaN/MoS2 heterostructures were investigated in this report. GaN films have been successfully grown on 2D MoS2 layers using three different Ga fluxes via a plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) system. The substrate for the growth was a few-layer 2D MoS2 deposited on sapphire using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Three different Ga fluxes were provided by the gallium source of the K-cell at temperatures of 825, 875, and 925 °C, respectively. After the growth, RHEED, HR-XRD, and TEM were conducted to study the crystal structure of GaN films. The surface morphology was obtained using FE-SEM and AFM. Chemical composition was confirmed by XPS and EDS. Raman and PL spectra were carried out to investigate the optical properties of GaN films. According to the characterizations of GaN films, the van der Waals epitaxial growth mechanism of GaN films changed from 3D to 2D with the increase in Ga flux, provided by higher temperatures of the K-cell. GaN films grown at 750 °C for 3 h with a K-cell temperature of 925 °C demonstrated the greatest crystal quality, chemical composition, and optical properties. The heterostructure of 3D GaN on 2D MoS2 was integrated successfully using the low-temperature PA-MBE technique, which could be applied to novel electronics and optoelectronics.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue III-Nitride Semiconductors: Design, Characterization, Applications, and Devices)
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Open AccessArticle
Fluoride Removal Using Nanofiltration-Ranged Polyamide Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane Incorporated Titanium Oxide Nanosheets
by
Fekri Abdulraqeb Ahmed Ali, Javed Alam, Saif M. H. Qaid, Arun Kumar Shukla, Ahmed S. Al-Fatesh, Ahmad M. Alghamdi, Farid Fadhillah, Ahmed I. Osman and Mansour Alhoshan
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080731 - 22 Apr 2024
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Drinking water defluoridation has attracted significant attention in the scientific community, from which membrane technology, by exploring thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, has demonstrated a great potential for treating fluoride-contaminated water. This study investigates the development of a TFN membrane by integrating titanium
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Drinking water defluoridation has attracted significant attention in the scientific community, from which membrane technology, by exploring thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes, has demonstrated a great potential for treating fluoride-contaminated water. This study investigates the development of a TFN membrane by integrating titanium oxide nanosheets (TiO2 NSs) into the polyamide (PA) layer using interfacial polymerization. The characterization results suggest that successfully incorporating TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of the TFN membrane led to a surface with a high negative charge, hydrophilic properties, and a smooth surface at the nanoscale. The TFN membrane, containing 80 ppm of TiO2 NSs, demonstrated a notably high fluoride rejection rate of 98%. The Donnan-steric-pore-model-dielectric-exclusion model was employed to analyze the effect of embedding TiO2 NSs into the PA layer of TFN on membrane properties, including charge density (Xd), the pore radius (rp), and pore dielectric constant (εp). The results indicated that embedding TiO2 NSs increased Xd and decreased the εp by less than the TFC membrane without significantly affecting the rp. The resulting TFN membrane demonstrates promising potential for application in water treatment systems, providing an effective and sustainable solution for fluoride remediation in drinking water.
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Open AccessReview
Regeneration in Mice of Injured Skin, Heart, and Spinal Cord by α-Gal Nanoparticles Recapitulates Regeneration in Amphibians
by
Uri Galili, Jianming Li and Gary L. Schaer
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080730 - 22 Apr 2024
Abstract
The healing of skin wounds, myocardial, and spinal cord injuries in salamander, newt, and axolotl amphibians, and in mouse neonates, results in scar-free regeneration, whereas injuries in adult mice heal by fibrosis and scar formation. Although both types of healing are mediated by
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The healing of skin wounds, myocardial, and spinal cord injuries in salamander, newt, and axolotl amphibians, and in mouse neonates, results in scar-free regeneration, whereas injuries in adult mice heal by fibrosis and scar formation. Although both types of healing are mediated by macrophages, regeneration in these amphibians and in mouse neonates also involves innate activation of the complement system. These differences suggest that localized complement activation in adult mouse injuries might induce regeneration instead of the default fibrosis and scar formation. Localized complement activation is feasible by antigen/antibody interaction between biodegradable nanoparticles presenting α-gal epitopes (α-gal nanoparticles) and the natural anti-Gal antibody which is abundant in humans. Administration of α-gal nanoparticles into injuries of anti-Gal-producing adult mice results in localized complement activation which induces rapid and extensive macrophage recruitment. These macrophages bind anti-Gal-coated α-gal nanoparticles and polarize into M2 pro-regenerative macrophages that orchestrate accelerated scar-free regeneration of skin wounds and regeneration of myocardium injured by myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, injection of α-gal nanoparticles into spinal cord injuries of anti-Gal-producing adult mice induces recruitment of M2 macrophages, that mediate extensive angiogenesis and axonal sprouting, which reconnects between proximal and distal severed axons. Thus, α-gal nanoparticle treatment in adult mice mimics physiologic regeneration in amphibians. These studies further suggest that α-gal nanoparticles may be of significance in the treatment of human injuries.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Biomaterials in Tissue Engineering: Fabrication and Application)
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Open AccessArticle
Plant-Mediated Synthesis of Magnetite Nanoparticles with Matricaria chamomilla Aqueous Extract
by
Andrea Paut, Lucija Guć, Martina Vrankić, Doris Crnčević, Pavla Šenjug, Damir Pajić, Renata Odžak, Matilda Šprung, Kristian Nakić, Marijan Marciuš, Ante Prkić and Ivana Mitar
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080729 - 22 Apr 2024
Abstract
Magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) possess properties that make them suitable for a wide range of applications. In recent years, interest in the synthesis of magnetite NPs and their surface functionalization has increased significantly, especially regarding their application in biomedicine such as for controlled and
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Magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) possess properties that make them suitable for a wide range of applications. In recent years, interest in the synthesis of magnetite NPs and their surface functionalization has increased significantly, especially regarding their application in biomedicine such as for controlled and targeted drug delivery. There are several conventional methods for preparing magnetite NPs, all of which mostly utilize Fe(iii) and Fe(ii) salt precursors. In this study, we present a microwave hydrothermal synthesis for the precipitation of magnetite NPs at temperatures of 200 °C for 20 min and 260 °C for 5 min, with only iron(iii) as a precursor utilizing chamomile flower extract as a stabilizing, capping, and reducing agent. Products were characterized using FTIR, PXRD, SEM, and magnetometry. Our analysis revealed significant differences in the properties of magnetite NPs prepared with this approach, and the conventional two-precursor hydrothermal microwave method (sample MagH). FTIR and PXRD analyses confirmed coated magnetite particles. The temperature and magnetic-field dependence of magnetization indicate their superparamagnetic behavior. Importantly, the results of our study show the noticeable cytotoxicity of coated magnetite NPs—toxic to carcinoma cells but harmless to healthy cells—further emphasizing the potential of these NPs for biomedical applications.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Nanomaterials in Green Analytical Chemistry)
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Open AccessArticle
Efficient Production of Self-Assembled Bioconjugate Nanovaccines against Klebsiella pneumoniae O2 Serotype in Engineered Escherichia coli
by
Yan Zhang, Peng Sun, Ting Li, Juntao Li, Jingqin Ye, Xiang Li, Jun Wu, Ying Lu, Li Zhu, Hengliang Wang and Chao Pan
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 728; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080728 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
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Nanoparticles (NPs) have been surfacing as a pivotal platform for vaccine development. In our previous work, we developed a cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-based self-assembled nanoparticle (CNP) and produced highly promising bioconjugate nanovaccines by loading bacterial polysaccharide (OPS) in vivo. In particular, the
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Nanoparticles (NPs) have been surfacing as a pivotal platform for vaccine development. In our previous work, we developed a cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-based self-assembled nanoparticle (CNP) and produced highly promising bioconjugate nanovaccines by loading bacterial polysaccharide (OPS) in vivo. In particular, the Klebsiella pneumoniae O2 serotype vaccine showcased a potent immune response and protection against infection. However, extremely low yields limited its further application. In this study, we prepared an efficient Klebsiella pneumoniae bioconjugate nanovaccine in Escherichia coli with a very high yield. By modifying the 33rd glycine (G) in the CNP to aspartate (D), we were able to observe a dramatically increased expression of glycoprotein. Subsequently, through a series of mutations, we determined that G33D was essential to increasing production. In addition, this increase only occurred in engineered E. coli but not in the natural host K. pneumoniae strain 355 (Kp355) expressing OPSKpO2. Next, T-cell epitopes were fused at the end of the CNP(G33D), and animal experiments showed that fusion of the M51 peptide induced high antibody titers, consistent with the levels of the original nanovaccine, CNP-OPSKpO2. Hence, we provide an effective approach for the high-yield production of K. pneumoniae bioconjugate nanovaccines and guidance for uncovering glycosylation mechanisms and refining glycosylation systems.
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Open AccessArticle
Synergistic Effect of He for the Fabrication of Ne and Ar Gas-Charged Silicon Thin Films as Solid Targets for Spectroscopic Studies
by
Asunción Fernández, Vanda Godinho, José Ávila, M. Carmen Jiménez de Haro, Dirk Hufschmidt, Jennifer López-Viejobueno, G. Eduardo Almanza-Vergara, F. Javier Ferrer, Julien L. Colaux, Stephane Lucas and M. Carmen Asensio
Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 727; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080727 - 21 Apr 2024
Abstract
Sputtering of silicon in a He magnetron discharge (MS) has been reported as a bottom-up procedure to obtain He-charged silicon films (i.e., He nanobubbles encapsulated in a silicon matrix). The incorporation of heavier noble gases is demonstrated in this work with a synergistic
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Sputtering of silicon in a He magnetron discharge (MS) has been reported as a bottom-up procedure to obtain He-charged silicon films (i.e., He nanobubbles encapsulated in a silicon matrix). The incorporation of heavier noble gases is demonstrated in this work with a synergistic effect, producing increased Ne and Ar incorporations when using He–Ne and He–Ar gas mixtures in the MS process. Microstructural and chemical characterizations are reported using ion beam analysis (IBA) and scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM). In addition to gas incorporation, He promotes the formation of larger nanobubbles. In the case of Ne, high-resolution X-ray photoelectron and absorption spectroscopies (XPS and XAS) are reported, with remarkable dependence of the Ne 1s photoemission and the Ne K-edge absorption on the nanobubble’s size and composition. The gas (He, Ne and Ar)-charged thin films are proposed as “solid” targets for the characterization of spectroscopic properties of noble gases in a confined state without the need for cryogenics or high-pressure anvils devices. Also, their use as targets for nuclear reaction studies is foreseen.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Coatings with Nanostructures: Synthesis, Characterizations and Applications)
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