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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the airways, posing a substantial health threat to a large number of people worldwide. Bronchodilators effectively alleviate symptoms of airway obstruction by inducing relaxation of the smooth muscles in the airways, thereby reducing breathlessness and enhancing overall quality of life. The drug targeting to lungs poses significant challenges; however, this issue can be resolved by employing nano- and micro-particles drug delivery systems. This review provides brief insights about underlying mechanisms of asthma, including the role of several inflammatory mediators that contribute to the development and progression of this disease. This article provides an overview of the physicochemical features, pharmacokinetics, and mechanism of action of particular groups of bronchodilators, including sympathomimetics, PDE-4 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors), methylxanthines, and anticholinergics. This study presents a detailed summary of the most recent developments in incorporation of bronchodilators in nano- and micro-particle-based delivery systems which include solid lipid nanoparticles, bilosomes, novasomes, liposomes, polymeric nano- and micro-particles. Specifically, it focuses on breakthroughs in the categories of sympathomimetics, methylxanthines, PDE-4 inhibitors, and anticholinergics. These medications have the ability to specifically target alveolar macrophages, leading to a higher concentration of pharmaceuticals in the lung tissues., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 2024. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

The careful arrangement of nanomaterials (NMs) holds promise for revolutionizing various fields, from electronics and biosensing to medicine and optics. This review delves into the intricacies of nano-assembly (NA) techniques, focusing on oriented-assembly methodologies and stimuli-dependent approaches. The introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the significance and potential applications of NA, setting the stage for review. The oriented-assembly section elucidates methodologies for the precise alignment and organization of NMs, crucial for achieving desired functionalities. The subsequent section delves into stimuli-dependent techniques, categorizing them into chemical and physical stimuli-based approaches. Chemical stimuli-based self-assembly methods, including solvent, acid-base, biomolecule, metal ion, and gas-induced assembly, are discussed in detail by presenting examples. Additionally, physical stimuli such as light, magnetic fields, electric fields, and temperature are examined for their role in driving self-assembly processes. Looking ahead, the review outlines futuristic scopes and perspectives in NA, highlighting emerging trends and potential breakthroughs. Finally, concluding remarks summarize key findings and underscore the significance of NA in shaping future technologies. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, offering insights into the diverse methodologies and potential applications of NA in interdisciplinary research fields.

Helical nanostructures fabricated via the self-assembly of artificial motifs have been a captivating subject because of their structural aesthetics and multiple functionalities. Herein, we report the facile construction of a self-assembled nanohelix (NH) by leveraging an achiral aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogen (G) and pillar[5]arene (H), driven by host-guest interactions and metal coordination. Inspired by the "sergeants and soldiers" effect and "majority rule" principle, the host-guest complexation between G and H is employed to fixate the twisted conformation of G for the generation of "contortion sites", which further induced the emergence of helicity as the 1D assemblies are formed via Ag(I) coordination and hexagonally packed into nano-sized fibers. The strategy has proved feasible in both homogeneous and heterogeneous syntheses. Along with the formation of NH, boosted luminescence and enhanced productivity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are afforded because of the efficient restriction on G, indicating the concurrent regulation of NH's morphology and photophysical properties by supramolecular assembly. In addition, NH also exhibits the capacity for bacteria imaging and photodynamic antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli)., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Tracer tests are an important tool for characterizing and monitoring subsurface reservoir properties. However, they are limited both because of the tracer molecules constraining factors such as irreversible adsorption, retention, and degradations, i.e. interaction processes of fluorophore molecule with surrounding media resulting in a large variation in transport properties. Elaborate tests utilizing more than one tracer to distinguish time or location of injection are complex and interpretation is ambiguous because each tracer interacts differently. In this study, we present an approach to increase tracer stability and enhance the transport uniformity of different tracers, thus making tests utilizing multiple tracers simpler and more feasible. We present this concept of tracer multiplicity by encapsulating an anionic, cationic or amphoteric fluorophore inside mesoporous silica nanoparticle carriers coated with a protective titania layer. Upon encapsulation, increased thermal resistance and drastically lowered sorption affinity towards quartz sand was detected in batch and flow-through experiments. An additional advantage of the presented nanoparticle tracers over molecular tracers is their modularity, which is demonstrated by surface modifications and application of additives that greatly reduce sorption and increase recovery rates in the flow experiments. With the here presented concept of tracer multiplicity, we introduce a new approach for colloidal tracer design that has the potential to expand and enhance measurable parameters, measurement accuracy and simplicity of analysis., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The semiconductor industry has long been driven by advances in a nanofabrication technology known as lithography, and the fabrication of nanostructures on chips relies on an important coating, the photoresist layer. Photoresists are typically spin-coated to form a film and have a photolysis solubility transition and etch resistance that allow for rapid fabrication of nanostructures. As a result, photoresists have attracted great interest in both fundamental research and industrial applications. Currently, the semiconductor industry has entered the era of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) and expects photoresists to be able to fabricate sub-10 nm structures. In order to realize sub-10 nm nanofabrication, the development of photoresists faces several challenges in terms of sensitivity, etch resistance, and molecular size. In this paper, three types of lithographic mechanisms are reviewed to provide strategies for designing photoresists that can enable high-resolution nanofabrication. The discussion of the current state of the art in optical lithography is presented in depth. Practical applications of photoresists and related recent advances are summarized. Finally, the current achievements and remaining issues of photoresists are discussed and future research directions are envisioned., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Synthetic plastic polymers are causing considerable emerging ecological hazards. Starch-based biofilms are a potential alternative. However, depending on the natural source and extraction method, the properties of starch can vary, affecting the physicochemical characteristics of the corresponding casted films generated from it. These differences might entail morphological changes at the nanoscale, which can be explored by inspecting their surfaces. Potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) is a well-known tuber containing a high amount of starch, but the properties of the biofilms extracted from it are dependent on the specific variety. In this research, four Ecuadorian potato varieties ( Leona Blanca , Única , Chola , and Santa Rosa ) were analyzed and blended with different glycerol concentrations. The amylose content of each extracted starch was estimated, and biofilms obtained were characterized at both macroscopic and nanoscopic levels. Macroscopic tests were conducted to evaluate their elastic properties, visible optical absorption, water vapor permeability, moisture content, and solubility. It was observed that as the glycerol percentage increased, both moisture content and soluble matter increased, while tensile strength decreased, especially in the case of the Chola variety. These results were correlated to a surface analysis using atomic force microscopy, providing a possible explanation based on the topography and phase contrast observations made at the nanoscale.

Studies on the ecotoxicity of doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are recent, with the first publications starting in 2010. In this sense, this is the first study that comprehensively reviews the ecotoxicological effects of ZnO NPs doped with lanthanide elements to fill this literature gap. This research explores a multifaceted question at the intersection of nanotechnology, toxicology, and environmental science. Different types of dopants commonly used for ZnO doping were investigated in this review, focusing on the ecotoxicological effects of lanthanides as dopants. Bacteria were the main class of organisms used in ecotoxicological studies, since antimicrobial activity of these nanomaterials is extensively explored to combat the imminent problem of resistant bacteria, in addition to enabling the safe use of these nanomaterials for biomedical applications. Doping appears to exhibit greater efficacy when compared to undoped ZnO NPs in terms of antimicrobial effects; however, it cannot be said that it has no impact on non-target organisms. An extensive examination of the literature also establishes the importance and need to evaluate the effects of doped ZnO NPs on organisms from different environmental compartments in order to identify their potential impacts. We underscore the dearth of research information regarding the environmental toxicity/ecotoxicity of doped ZnO nanoparticles across various ecological levels, thereby limiting the extrapolation of findings to humans or other complex models. Therefore, we emphasize the urgency of a multi-parameter assessment for the development of sanitary and environmentally safe nanotechnologies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful tool in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development. By manipulating materials at the nanoscale, researchers have unlocked new possibilities in various fields, including energy, healthcare, agriculture, construction, transportation, and environmental conservation. This paper explores the potential of nanotechnology and nanostructures in contributing to the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by improving energy efficiency and energy conversion, leading to a more sustainable and clean energy future, improving water purification processes, enabling access to clean drinking water for communities, enabling targeted drug delivery systems, early disease detection, and personalized medicine, thus revolutionizing healthcare, improving crop yields, efficient nutrient delivery systems, pest control mechanisms, and many other areas, therefore addressing food security issues. It also highlights the potential of nanomaterials in environmental remediation and pollution control. Therefore, by understanding and harnessing nanotechnology's potential, policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders can work together toward a more sustainable future by achieving the 17 UN SDGs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author.)

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are known as life-threatening illnessescaused by severe abnormalities in the cardiovascular system. They are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.Nanotechnology integrated substantialinnovations in cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic at the nanoscale. This in-depth analysis explores cutting-edge methods for diagnosing CVDs, including nanotechnological interventions and crucial components for identifying risk factors, developing treatment plans, and monitoring patients' progress with chronic CVDs.Intensive research has gone into making nano-carriers that can image and treat patients. To improve the efficiency of treating CVDs, the presentreview sheds light on a decision-tree-based solution by investigating recent and innovative approaches in CVD diagnosis by utilizing nanoparticles (NPs). Treatment choices for chronic diseases like CVD, whose etiology might take decades to manifest, are very condition-specific and disease-stage-based. Moreover, thisreview alsobenchmarks the changing landscape of employing NPs for targeted and better drug administration while examining the limitations of various NPs in CVD diagnosis, including cost, space, time, and complexity. To better understand and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, the conversation moves on to the nano-cardiovascular possibilities for medical research.We also focus on recent developments in nanoparticle applications, the ways they might be helpful, and the medical fields where they may find future use. Finally, this reviewadds to the continuing conversation on improved diagnosis and treatment approaches for cardiovascular disorders by discussing the obstacles and highlighting the revolutionary effects of nanotechnology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declared that they have no competing interests among them., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases are highly complex, limiting treatment and the development of new therapies. Recent work has shown that cell-free DNA bound to biological microparticles is linked to systemic lupus erythematosus, a prototypic autoimmune disease. However, the heterogeneity and technical challenges associated with the study of biological particles have hindered a mechanistic understanding of their role. Our goal was to develop a well-controlled DNA-particle model system to understand how DNA-particle complexes affect cells. We first characterized the adsorption of DNA on the surface of polystyrene nanoparticles (200 nm and 2 µm) using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and colorimetric DNA concentration assays. We found that DNA adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles was resistant to degradation by DNase 1. Macrophage cells incubated with the DNA-nanoparticle complexes had increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). We probed two intracellular DNA sensing pathways, toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING), to determine how cells sense the DNA-nanoparticle complexes. We found that the cGAS-STING pathway is the primary route for the interaction between DNA-nanoparticles and macrophages. These studies provide a molecular and cellular-level understanding of DNA-nanoparticle-macrophage interactions. In addition, this work provides the mechanistic information necessary for future in vivo experiments to elucidate the role of DNA-particle interactions in autoimmune diseases, providing a unique experimental framework to develop novel therapeutic approaches., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Small-angle X-ray scattering has revealed how magnetic Janus particles pair up in solutions in small and large magnetic fields., (open access.)

The 21st century information and communication industries have played the pivotal role of bio-sensing technologies, refining privacy policies for human performance, facilitating scientific innovation, shaping e-governance, and reinforcing public confidence using nanotechnology. Human body is a thermodynamic heat engine in providing effective mechanical work as a function of psyche, conventional fuel transformation into enriched protein meal, and balancing of work-life fulcrum. The triboelectric effect of rubbing surfaces, interfaces, and interphases is invincible from the large field of the planet to nanodomains., Competing Interests: None conflict of interests to declare., (© 2024 The Author.)

This study successfully fabricated the quaternary topological insulator thin films of Bi 1.2 Sb 0.8 Te 0.4 Se 2.6 (BSTS) with a thickness of 25 nm, improving the intrinsic defects in binary topological materials through doping methods and achieving the separation of transport characteristics between the bulk and surface of topological insulator materials by utilizing a comprehensive Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) and Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to extract electronic transport information for both bulk and surface states. Additionally, the dielectric polarization behavior of BSTS in the low-frequency (10-10 7 Hz) and high-frequency (0.5-2.0 THz) ranges was investigated. These research findings provide crucial experimental groundwork and theoretical guidance for the development of novel low-energy electronic devices, spintronic devices, and quantum computing technology based on topological insulators.

The increasing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains responsible for morbidity and mortality worldwide; their effective diagnostic or treatment methods are of great interest to researchers. The use of NPs and nanocarriers in cardiology has drawn much interest. The present comprehensive review provides deep insights into the use of current and innovative approaches in CVD diagnostics to offer practical ways to utilize nanotechnological interventions and the critical elements in the CVD diagnosis, associated risk factors, and management strategies of patients with chronic CVDs. We proposed a decision tree-based solution by discussing the emerging applications of NPs for the higher number of rules to increase efficiency in treating CVDs. This review-based study explores the screening methods, tests, and toxicity to provide a unique way of creating a multi-parametric feature that includes cutting-edge techniques for identifying cardiovascular problems and their treatments. We discussed the benefits and drawbacks of various NPs in the context of cost, space, time and complexity that have been previously suggested in the literature for the diagnosis of CVDs risk factors. Also, we highlighted the advances in using NPs for targeted and improved drug delivery and discussed the evolution toward the nano-cardiovascular potential for medical science. Finally, we also examined the mixed-based diagnostic approaches crucial for treating cardiovascular disorders, broad applications and the potential future applications of nanotechnology in medical sciences., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nanotechnology seems to provide solutions to the unresolved complications in skin tissue engineering. According to the broad function of nanoparticles, this review article is intended to build a perspective for future success in skin tissue engineering. In the present review, recent studies were reviewed, and essential benefits and challenging issues regarding the application of nanoparticles in skin tissue engineering were summarized. Previous studies indicated that nanoparticles can play essential roles in the improvement of engineered skin. Bio-inspired design of an engineered skin structure first needs to understand the native tissue and mimic that in laboratory conditions. Moreover, a fundamental comprehension of the nanoparticles and their related effects on the final structure can guide researchers in recruiting appropriate nanoparticles. Attention to essential details, including the designation of nanoparticle type according to the scaffold, how to prepare the nanoparticles, and what concentration to use, is critical for the application of nanoparticles to become a reality. In conclusion, nanoparticles were applied to promote scaffold characteristics and angiogenesis, improve cell behavior, provide antimicrobial conditions, and cell tracking., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Axonal damage is the main characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases. This research was focused on remodeling cell morphology and developing a semi-tissue nanoenvironment via mechanobiological stimuli. The combination of nanogroove topography and polyaniline-chitosan enabled the manipulation of the cells by changing the morphology of PC12 cells to spindle shape and inducing the early stage of signal transduction, which is vital for differentiation. The nanosubstarte embedded with nanogooves induced PC12 cells to elongate their morphology and increase their size by 51% as compared with controls. In addition, the use of an electroconductive nanocomposite alongside nanogrooves resulted in the differentiation of PC12 cells into neurons with an average length of 193 ± 7 μm for each axon and an average number of seven axons for each neurite. Our results represent a combined tool to initiate a promising future for cell reprogramming by inducing cell differentiation and specific cellular morphology in many cases, including neurodegenerative diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare there is no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

The orientation ordering and assembly behavior of silica-nickel Janus particles in a static external magnetic field were probed by ultra small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS). Even in a weak applied field, the net magnetic moments of the individual particles aligned in the direction of the field, as indicated by the anisotropy in the recorded USAXS patterns. X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) measurements on these suspensions revealed that the corresponding particle dynamics are primarily Brownian diffusion [Zinn, Sharpnack & Narayanan (2023). Soft Matter, 19, 2311-2318]. At higher fields, the magnetic forces led to chain-like configurations of particles, as indicated by an additional feature in the USAXS pattern. A theoretical framework is provided for the quantitative interpretation of the observed anisotropic scattering diagrams and the corresponding degree of orientation. No anisotropy was detected when the magnetic field was applied along the beam direction, which is also replicated by the model. The method presented here could be useful for the interpretation of oriented scattering patterns from a wide variety of particulate systems. The combination of USAXS and XPCS is a powerful approach for investigating asymmetric colloidal particles in external fields., (open access.)

Renal neoplasms are highlighted as one of the 10 most common types of cancer. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of renal cancer, considered the seventh most common type of cancer in the Western world. The most frequently altered genes described as altered are VHL, PBRM1, SETD2, KDM5C, PTEN, BAP1, mTOR, TP53, TCEB1 (ELOC), SMARCA4, ARID1A, and PIK3CA. RCC therapies can be classified in three groups: monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and mTOR inhibitors. Besides, there are targeted agents to treat RCC. However, frequently patients present side effects and resistance. Even though many multidrug resistance mechanisms already have been reported to RCC, studies focused on revealing new biomarkers as well as more effective antitumor therapies with no or low side effects are very important. Some studies reported that natural products, such as honey, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), curcumin, resveratrol, and englerin A showed antitumor activity against RCC. Moreover, nanoscience is another strategy to improve RCC treatment and reduce the side effects due to the improvement in pharmacokinetics and reduction of toxicities of chemotherapies. Taking this into account, we conducted a systemic review of recent research findings on RCC hallmarks, drug resistance, and adjuvant therapies. In conclusion, a range of studies reported that RCC is characterized by high incidence and increased mortality rates because of the development of resistance to standard therapies. Given the importance of improving RCC treatment and reducing adverse effects, nanoscience and natural products can be included in therapeutic strategies., Competing Interests: The Authors have no conflicts of interest to report in relation to this study., (Copyright 2023, International Institute of Anticancer Research.)

Current gaseous sensors hardly discriminate trace volatile organic compounds at the ppt level. Herein, we present an integrated platform for simultaneously enabling rapid preconcentration, reliable surface-enhanced Raman scattering, (SERS) detection and automatic identification of trace aldehydes at the ppt level. For rapid preconcentration, we demonstrate that the nozzle-like microfluidic concentrator allows the enrichment of rare gaseous analytes by five-fold in only 0.01 ms. The enriched gas is subsequently captured and detected by an integrated silicon-based SERS chip, which is made of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 coated silver nanoparticles grown in situ on a silicon wafer. After SERS measurement, a fully connected deep neural network is built to extract faint features in the spectral dataset and discriminate volatile organic compound classes. We demonstrate that six kinds of gaseous aldehydes at 100 ppt could be detected and classified with an identification accuracy of ∼80.9% by using this platform., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this article., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Nanoscience and technology have shown promise in revitalizing the agricultural sector and industries. This tool has gained the interest of many researchers as it can be utilized to drive sustainable agriculture by suggesting long-lasting solutions to different problems in the agricultural space. However, there is a paucity of data on its health implications for the environment, plants, animals, and humans. This review evaluated the cost-effectiveness and productivity of nanoscience and technologies. The review highlighted the underlying health implications of nanoscience and technology from a One Health perspective., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

The desire to control and measure individual quantum systems such as atoms and ions in a vacuum has led to significant scientific and engineering developments in the past decades that form the basis of today's quantum information science. Single atoms and molecules on surfaces, on the other hand, are heavily investigated by physicists, chemists, and material scientists in search of novel electronic and magnetic functionalities. These two paths crossed in 2015 when it was first clearly demonstrated that individual spins on a surface can be coherently controlled and read out in an all-electrical fashion. The enabling technique is a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and electron spin resonance, which offers unprecedented coherent controllability at the Angstrom length scale. This review aims to illustrate the essential ingredients that allow the quantum operations of single spins on surfaces. Three domains of applications of surface spins, namely quantum sensing, quantum control, and quantum simulation, are discussed with physical principles explained and examples presented. Enabled by the atomically-precise fabrication capability of STM, single spins on surfaces might one day lead to the realization of quantum nanodevices and artificial quantum materials at the atomic scale., (© 2022 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Florfenicol is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic used exclusively in veterinary medicine in order to treat the pathology of farm and aquatic animals. It is a synthetic fluorinated analog of thiamphenicol and chloramphenicol that functions by inhibiting ribosomal activity, which disrupts bacterial protein synthesis and has shown over time a strong activity against Gram-positive and negative bacterial groups. Florfenicol was also reported to have anti-inflammatory activity through a marked reduction in immune cell proliferation and cytokine production. The need for improvement came from (1) the inappropriate use (to an important extent) of this antimicrobial, which led to serious concerns about florfenicol-related resistance genes, and (2) the fact that this antibiotic has a low water solubility making it difficult to formulate an aqueous solution in organic solvents, and applicable for different routes of administration. This review aims to synthesize the various applications of florfenicol in veterinary medicine, explore the potential use of nanotechnology to improve its effectiveness and analyze the advantages and limitations of such approaches. The review is based on data from scientific articles and systematic reviews identified in several databases., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Biofilms contain extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that provide structural support and restrict penetration of antimicrobial treatment. To overcome limited penetration, functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) have been suggested as carriers for antimicrobial delivery. Using microscopy, we evaluate the diffusion of nanoparticles in function of the structure of Salmonella biofilms. We observe anomalous diffusion and heterogeneous mobility of NPs resulting in distinct NPs distribution that depended on biofilm structure. Through Brownian dynamics modeling with spatially varying viscosity around bacteria, we demonstrated that spatial gradients in diffusivity generate viscous sinks that trap NPs near bacteria. This model replicates the characteristic diffusion signature and vertical distribution of NPs in the biofilm. From a treatment perspective, our work indicates that both biofilm structure and the level of EPS can impact NP drug delivery, where low levels of EPS might benefit delivery by immobilizing NPs closer to bacteria and higher levels hamper delivery due to shielding effects., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

The magnetic small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) cross section of dilute ensembles of uniformly magnetized and randomly oriented Stoner-Wohlfarth particles is calculated using the Landau-Lifshitz equation. The focus of this study is on the angular anisotropy of the magnetic SANS signal as it can be seen on a two-dimensional position-sensitive detector. Depending on the symmetry of the magnetic anisotropy of the particles (e.g. uniaxial, cubic), an anisotropic magnetic SANS pattern may result, even in the remanent state or at the coercive field. The case of inhomogeneously magnetized particles and the effects of a particle-size distribution and interparticle correlations are also discussed., (open access.)

There is no doubt that nanotechnology and nanoscience open new doors to new applications and products that can potentially revolutionize the practice field and how we conserve built heritage materials. However, we are living at the beginning of this era and the potential benefits of nanotechnology to specific conservation practice needs are not always fully understood. This opinion/review paper aims to present reflections and answer a question that we are often asked when working directly with stone field conservators: why should we use a nanomaterial instead of a conventional product? Why does size matter? To answer this question, we revise the basic concepts of nanoscience with implications for the built heritage conservation field.

The discovery of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) phenomenon in 2001 has had a significant impact on materials development across different research disciplines. AIE-active materials have been widely exploited for various applications in optoelectronics, sensing, biomedical, and stimuli-responsive systems, etc. This is made possible by integrating AIE features with other fields of science and engineering, such as nanoscience and nanotechnology. AIE has been extensively employed, particularly for biomedical applications, such as biosensing, bioimaging, and theranostics. However, development of AIE-based nanotechnology for other applications is comparatively less, although there have been increasing research activities in recent years. Given the significance and potential of the marriage between AIE hallmark and nanotechnology in AIE-active materials development, this review article summarizes and showcases the latest research efforts in AIE-based nanomaterials, including nanomaterials synthesis and their nonbiomedical applications, such as sensing, optoelectronics, functional coatings, and stimuli-responsive systems. A perspective on the outlook of AIE-based nanostructured materials and relevant nanotechnology for nonbiomedical applications will be provided, giving an insight into how to design AIE-active nanostructures as well as their applications beyond the biomedical domain.

Globally, ibuprofen is the third most consumed drug and its presence in the environment is a concern because little is known about its adverse effects on humans and aquatic life. Environmentalists have made monitoring and the detection of ibuprofen in biological and environmental matrices a priority. For the detection and monitoring of ibuprofen, sensors and biosensors have provided rapid analysis time, sensitivity, high-throughput screening, and real-time analysis. Researchers are increasingly seeking eco-friendly technology, and this has led to an interest in developing biodegradable, bioavailable, and non-toxic sensors, or biosensors. The integration of polymers into sensor systems has proven to significantly improve sensitivity, selectivity, and stability and minimize sample preparation using bioavailable and biodegradable polymers. This review provides a general overview of perspectives and trends of polymer-based sensors and biosensors for the detection of ibuprofen compared to non-polymer-based sensors., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The in-depth intersection between nanoscience and oncology comes from the fact that nanomaterials are in a similar dimension to basic biomolecules. Drug delivery systems (DDSs), which are either targeted to a particular site or intended for the controlled release in a particular position, have been studied extensively at the nanoscale and are, by far, the most advanced technology in the area of nanoparticle applications. This, consequently lead to the improvement and development of convenient administration routes, lower toxicity, fewer side effects, and extended drug life cycle. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) with favorable size and unique fluorescence properties, which was considered an ideal candidate to transport or deliver therapeutic drugs to specific targets in a controlled manner. The development of DDSs based on them constitutes an interesting topic in highly effective and universal therapies to achieve better therapeutic outcomes and reduce the side effects of malignancies. In this review, the cutting-edge progress of CNMs in DDSs was comprehensively summarized. Additionally, the emphasis was placed on the applications of CNMs including fullerene, graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon dots (CDs), and nano-diamonds (NDs) in drug delivering. Further, we gave some insights into the future direction and foreseeable challenges of DDSs based on CNMs used in cancer therapy, which we hope these inspirations in DDSs associated with anti-cancer therapy will provide perspectives in designing new drugs for further tumor treatment., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an ultrasensitive spectroscopic technique that has been extensively applied in the studies of catalysis, electrochemistry, material science, etc.; however, it is substrate and material limited. The development of shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) effectively offsets this limitation that attracts enormous attention due to its potential to be applied to any surface. As the core of the SHINERS technique, the inert shell prevents the exposure of the active metal surface, however, also significantly enlarges the metallic gap where the light is trapped. Consequently, the shell is widely considered a side issue to debilitate the coupling efficiency and hinder the sensitivity of SHINERS without systematic studies. Herein, we investigate the shell and structural effect of SHINERS by performing the quantitative optical and structural characterization of single nanostructures. By a statistic of over two hundred nanostructures, we observe that the field enhancement loss due to the shell could be overcome by optimizing the coupling geometry of the shell-isolated nanoparticles (SHINs). An example of SHIN dimers shows even higher field enhancement than their bare Au nanoparticle counterparts as confirmed and explained by FDTD simulations. We demonstrate the signal enhancement of SHINERS saturates with the increasing number of hot spots but could be further optimized by altering the aggregation geometries of the nanoparticles. The sensitivity improvement of the SHINERS technique will boost its broader applications in material science.

Numerous benefits of nanotechnology are available in many scientific domains. In this sense, nanoparticles serve as the fundamental foundation of nanotechnology. Recent developments in nanotechnology have demonstrated that nanoparticles have enormous promise for use in almost every field of life sciences. Nanoscience and nanotechnology use the distinctive characteristics of tiny nanoparticles (NPs) for various purposes in electronics, fabrics, cosmetics, biopharmaceutical industries, and medicines. The exclusive physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of nanoparticles prompt different immune responses in the body. Nanoparticles are believed to have strong potential for the development of advanced adjuvants, cytokines, vaccines, drugs, immunotherapies, and theranostic applications for the treatment of targeted bacterial, fungal, viral, and allergic diseases and removal of the tumor with minimal toxicity as compared to macro and microstructures. This review highlights the medical and non-medical applications with a detailed discussion on enhanced and targeted natural and acquired immunity against pathogens provoked by nanoparticles. The immunological aspects of the nanotechnology field are beyond the scope of this Review. However, we provide updated data that will explore novel theragnostic immunological applications of nanotechnology for better and immediate treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Mobeen, Safdar, Fatima, Afzal, Zaman and Mehdi.)

Liquid-liquid phase separation provides a versatile approach to fabricating cell-mimicking coacervates. Recently, it was discovered that phase separation of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) allows for forming protocells and microgels in multicomponent systems. However, the mechanism of the ssDNA phase separation is not comprehensively understood. Here, we present mechanistic insights into the metal-dependent phase separation of ssDNA and leverage this understanding for a straightforward formation of all-DNA droplets. Two phase separation temperatures are found that correspond to the formation of primary nuclei and a growth process. Ca 2+ allows for irreversible, whereas Mg 2+ leads to reversible phase separation. Capitalizing on these differences makes it possible to control the information transfer of one-component DNA droplets and two-component core-shell protocells. This study introduces new kinetic traps of phase separating ssDNA that lead to new phenomena in cell-mimicking systems., (© 2022 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Nanoscience has witnessed wide developments in various directions, in addition to its crossing through different vital medical and industrial applications. This prompted the development of green nanotechnology that is environmentally friendly with low toxicity, less energy use, and low eco-hazard. So, algae as green autotrophic organisms, gain increasing attention from nanotechnologists, giving a space for the arising of a new field "Algae nanotechnology", where the algae can be used either directly or via mimicry of their unique features and diversity. Algae can biosynthesis nanoparticles in intercellular or extracellular ways, depending on their cellular reactions inside the cells, their secondary metabolites, or extraction of the algal contents. The different ways of using algae for nanoparticles biosynthesis make it available to control the synthesizing of ecofriendly & biocompatible nanoparticles, with different types and morphologies. This review provides an overview of the previous efforts in this emerging field, giving a summary of the ability of algae in nanotechnology, besides future prospective of these trends in algal nanotechnology., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The replacement of synthetic polymers by starch biofilms entails a significant potentiality. They are non-toxic materials, biodegradable, and relatively easy to gather from several sources. However, various applications may require physicochemical properties that might prevent the use of some types of starch biofilms. Causes should be explored at the nanoscale. Here we present an atomic force microscopy surface analysis of starch biofilms extracted from the Andean tubers melloco ( Ullucus tuberosus ), mashua ( Tropaeolum tuberosum ), oca ( Oxalis tuberosa ), and potato ( Solanum tuberosum ) and relate the results to the macroscopic effects of moisture content, water activity, total soluble matter, water vapor permeability, elastic properties, opacity and IR absorption. Characterization reveals important differences at the nanoscale between the starch-based biofilms examined. Comparison permitted correlating macroscopic properties observed to the topography and tapping phase contrast segregation at the nanoscale. For instance, those samples presenting granular topography and disconnected phases at the nanoscale are associated with less elastic strength and more water molecule affinity. As an application example, we propose using the starch biofilms developed as a matrix to dispose of mouthwash and discover that melloco films are quite appropriate for this purpose.

Background: Ferroptosis has been widely investigated as an emerging drug target, while its combination with nanoscience provides bourgeoning application prospects. The development of ferroptosis regulating nanomedicines have attracted worldwide attentions in recent years. It would be meaningful to describe the relevant publication paradigm., Methods: Herein, a bibliometric analysis was performed using the database of Web of Science Core Collection to clarify the publication paradigm. The development of related publications in the last 6 years was described, and the revolutionary trends were figured out. Ultimately, the possible future exploration directions were proposed., Results: The bibliometric analysis of 327 documents of interest indicated that the main research focus was in multiple fields including Materials science, Science & technology, Chemistry, and Pharmacology & pharmacy. With widely cooperation and strong funding, the researchers from Chinese organizations contributed most of publications, followed with United States and Australia. Cocitation analysis revealed that several original papers reported the key molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis were considered as the foundation for subsequent studies, and some nanomedicines-related documents were taken as examples and discussed. Mining results showed that the mechanism evaluation of ferroptosis regulation therapy for cancer treatment was the hotspot. Then, several possible future explorations of ferroptosis-related nanoscience were presented and discussed., Conclusions: The bibliometric profile of nanoscience-ferroptosis research was analyzed in detail. We believe that the bibliometric analysis could act as a robust method for explicating the publication paradigm as a certain field., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Health Care Science published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of Tsinghua University Press.)

Water and wastewater treatment applications stand to benefit immensely from the design and development of new materials based on silica nanoparticles and their derivatives. Nanosilica possesses unique properties, including low toxicity, chemical inertness, and excellent biocompatibility, and can be developed from a variety of sustainable precursor materials. Herein, we provide an account of the recent advances in the synthesis and utilization of nanosilica for wastewater treatment. This review covers key physicochemical aspects of several nanosilica materials and a variety of nanotechnology-enabled wastewater treatment techniques such as adsorption, separation membranes, and antimicrobial applications. It also discusses the prospective design and tuning options for nanosilica production, such as size control, morphological tuning, and surface functionalization. Informative discussions on nanosilica production from agricultural wastes have been offered, with a focus on the synthesis methodologies and pretreatment requirements for biomass precursors. The characterization of the different physicochemical features of nanosilica materials using critical surface analysis methods is discussed. Bio-hybrid nanosilica materials have also been highlighted to emphasize the critical relevance of environmental sustainability in wastewater treatment. To guarantee the thoroughness of the review, insights into nanosilica regeneration and reuse are provided. Overall, it is envisaged that this work's insights and views will inspire unique and efficient nanosilica material design and development with robust properties for water and wastewater treatment applications., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Establishing direct, close contact between individual nano-objects is crucial to fabricating hierarchical and multifunctional nanostructures. Nanowelding is a technical prerequisite for successfully manufacturing such structures. In this paper, we review the nanoscale thermoplasmonic welding with a focus on its physical mechanisms, key influencing factor, and emerging applications. The basic mechanisms are firstly described from the photothermal conversion to self-limited heating physics. Key aspects related to the welding process including material scrutinization, nanoparticle geometric and spatial configuration, heating scheme and performance characterization are then discussed in terms of the distinctive properties of plasmonic welding. Based on the characteristics of high precision and flexible platform of thermoplasmonic welding, the potential applications are further highlighted from electronics and optics to additive manufacturing. Finally, the future challenges and prospects are outlined for future prospects of this dynamic field. This work summarizes these innovative concepts and works on thermoplasmonic welding, which is significant to establish a common link between nanoscale welding and additive manufacturing communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

We recently assisted in a revolution in the realm of fluorescence microscopy triggered by the advent of super-resolution techniques that surpass the classic diffraction limit barrier. By providing optical images with nanometer resolution in the far field, super-resolution microscopy (SRM) is currently accelerating our understanding of the molecular organization of bio-specimens, bridging the gap between cellular observations and molecular structural knowledge, which was previously only accessible using electron microscopy. SRM mainly finds its roots in progress made in the control and manipulation of the optical properties of (single) fluorescent molecules. The flourishing development of novel fluorescent nanostructures has recently opened the possibility of associating super-resolution imaging strategies with nanomaterials' design and applications. In this review article, we discuss some of the recent developments in the field of super-resolution imaging explicitly based on the use of nanomaterials. As an archetypal class of fluorescent nanomaterial, we mainly focus on single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), which are photoluminescent emitters at near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths bearing great interest for biological imaging and for information optical transmission. Whether for fundamental applications in nanomaterial science or in biology, we show how super-resolution techniques can be applied to create nanoscale images " in ", " of " and " with " SWCNTs.

In the periodic table the position of each atom follows the 'aufbau' principle of the individual electron shells. The resulting intrinsic periodicity of atomic properties determines the overall behavior of atoms in two-dimensional (2D) bonding and structure formation. Insight into the type and strength of bonding is the key in the discovery of innovative 2D materials. The primary features of 2D bonding and the ensuing monolayer structures of the main-group II-VI elements result from the number of valence electrons and the change of atom size, which determine the type of hybridization. The results reveal the tight connection between strength of bonding and bond length in 2D networks. The predictive power of the periodic table reveals general rules of bonding, the bonding-structure relationship, and allows an assessment of published data of 2D materials., (© 2022 The Authors. ChemPhysChem published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The development of synthetic non-equilibrium systems opens doors for man-made life-like materials. Yet, creating distinct transient functions from artificial fuel-driven structures remains a challenge. Building on our ATP-driven dynamic covalent DNA assembly in an enzymatic reaction network of concurrent ATP-powered ligation and restriction, we introduce ATP-fueled transient organization of functional subunits for various functions. The programmability of the ligation/restriction site allows to precisely organize multiple sticky-end-encoded oligo segments into double-stranded (ds) DNA complexes. We demonstrate principles of ATP-driven organization into sequence-defined oligomers by sensing barcode-embedded targets with different defects. Furthermore, ATP-fueled DNAzymes for substrate cleavage are achieved by transiently ligating two DNAzyme subunits into a dsDNA complex, rendering ATP-fueled transient catalytic function., (© 2022 The Authors. Angewandte Chemie International Edition published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) enzymes are over-expressed by some metastatic cancers, in which they are responsible for the degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. In recent years, MMPs have emerged as promising targets for enzyme-responsive diagnostic probes because oligopeptides can be designed to be selectively hydrolyzed by exposure to these enzymes. With the ultimate goal of developing radio-iodinated peptides as supramolecular building blocks for MMP-sensitive tools for nuclear imaging and therapy, we designed three MMP-9-responsive peptides containing either tyrosine or iodotyrosine to assess the impact of iodotyrosine introduction to the peptide structure and cleavage kinetics. We found that the peptides containing iodotyrosine underwent more rapid and more complete hydrolysis by MMP-9. While the peptides under investigation were predominantly disordered, it was found that iodination increased the degree of aromatic residue-driven aggregation of the peptides. We determined that these iodination-related trends stem from the improved overall intramolecular order through H- and halogen bonding, in addition to intermolecular organization of the self-assembled peptides due to steric and electrostatic effects introduced by the halogenated tyrosine. These fundamental observations provide insights for the development of enzyme-triggered peptide aggregation tools for localized radioactive iodine-based tumor imaging.

Expectations for safer and sustainable chemicals and products are growing to comply with the United Nations and European strategies for sustainability. The application of Safe(r) by Design (SbD) in nanotechnology implies an iterative process where functionality, human health and safety, environmental and economic impact and cost are assessed and balanced as early as possible in the innovation process and updated at each step. The EU H2020 NanoReg2 project was the first European project to implement SbD in six companies handling and/or manufacturing nanomaterials (NMs) and nano-enabled products (NEP). The results from this experience have been used to develop these guidelines on the practical application of SbD. The SbD approach foresees the identification, estimation, and reduction of human and environmental risks as early as possible in the development of a NM or NEP, and it is based on three pillars: (i) safer NMs and NEP; (ii) safer use and end of life and (iii) safer industrial production. The presented guidelines include a set of information and tools that will help deciding at each step of the innovation process whether to continue, apply SbD measures or carry out further tests to reduce uncertainty. It does not intend to be a prescriptive protocol where all suggested steps have to be followed to achieve a SbD NM/NEP or process. Rather, the guidelines are designed to identify risks at an early state and information to be considered to identify those risks. Each company adapts the approach to its specific needs and circumstances as company decisions influence the way forward., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Plants have complex internal signaling pathways to quickly adjust to environmental changes and harvest energy from the environment. Facing the growing population, there is an urgent need for plant transformation and precise monitoring of plant growth to improve crop yields. Nanotechnology, an interdisciplinary research field, has recently been boosting plant yields and meeting global energy needs. In this context, a new field, "plant nanoscience," which describes the interaction between plants and nanotechnology, emerges as the times require. Nanosensors, nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, and nano-plant genetic engineering are of great help in increasing crop yields. Nanogenerators are helping to develop the potential of plants in the field of energy harvesting. Furthermore, the uptake and internalization of nanomaterials in plants and the possible effects are also worthy of attention. In this review, a forward-looking perspective on the plant nanoscience is presented and feasible solutions for future food shortages and energy crises are provided., (© 2021 The Authors. Advanced Science published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Since the end of 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide. The RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2, which is highly infectious and prone to rapid mutation, encodes both structural and nonstructural proteins. Vaccination is currently the only effective method to prevent COVID-19, and structural proteins are critical targets for vaccine development. Currently, many vaccines are in clinical trials or are already on the market. This review highlights ongoing advances in the design of prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines against COVID-19, including viral vector vaccines, DNA vaccines, RNA vaccines, live-attenuated vaccines, inactivated virus vaccines, recombinant protein vaccines and bionic nanoparticle vaccines. In addition to traditional inactivated virus vaccines, some novel vaccines based on viral vectors, nanoscience and synthetic biology also play important roles in combating COVID-19. However, many challenges persist in ongoing clinical trials., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Nanotechnology is one of the most relevant scientific areas today due to its multiple applications in fields such as medicine, environmental remediation, information technology and energy conversion. This importance has led to the need to advance in the development of environmentally sustainable and safe nanomaterials by incorporating the principles of green chemistry during their synthesis and in their applications. However, this qualitative framework of thought does not offer minimum criteria for the use of the term "green", and therefore, this adjective is commonly used to refer to bio-based or nanotechnological processes without taking into account their net ecological impact. In this context, environmental sustainability metrics can be applied to nanotechnology to compare, optimize and quantify the environmental sustainability of synthesis procedures. This review provides an overview of green chemistry and its application in nanotechnology, but also an analysis of the use of green chemistry principles in the development of bio-based nanobiotechnology and nanosynthesis, with special emphasis on the use of sustainability's metrics for the quantitative analysis of nanomaterial synthesis protocols. These include: Atom Economy, E-factor, Process Mass Intensity, Energy Intensity, and Life Cycle Analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nucleation and crystal growth of edible fats at the nanoscale have received little attention due to analytical limitations. A key factor to modify the properties of edible fats is nanostructure understanding. Progress within the last years will be presented, including analytical techniques used to investigate fat crystallization. Cocoa butter has been the subject of several works due to its properties and its high impact on chocolate manufacturing. Moreover, this vegetable fat has been used as the solid lipid component in nano delivery systems. Since nanoplatelet is the smallest unit in crystalline fats, and the nanoscale is influenced by supersaturation, temperature, shear fields, and surfactants, nanostructure engineering is possible. On its part, cocoa butter has been included in innovative delivery systems along the last years. This review will highlight main results and challenges on these topics., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

High-accuracy X-ray mass attenuation coefficients were measured from the first X-ray Extended Range Technique (XERT)-like experiment at the Australian Synchrotron. Experimentally measured mass attenuation coefficients deviate by ∼50% from the theoretical values near the zinc absorption edge, suggesting that improvements in theoretical tabulations of mass attenuation coefficients are required to bring them into better agreement with experiment. Using these values the imaginary component of the atomic form factor of zinc was determined for all the measured photon energies. The zinc K-edge jump ratio and jump factor are determined and results raise significant questions regarding the definitions of quantities used and best practice for background subtraction prior to X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) analysis. The XAFS analysis shows excellent agreement between the measured and tabulated values and yields bond lengths and nanostructure of zinc with uncertainties of from 0.1% to 0.3% or 0.003 Å to 0.008 Å. Significant variation from the reported crystal structure was observed, suggesting local dynamic motion of the standard crystal lattice. XAFS is sensitive to dynamic correlated motion and in principle is capable of observing local dynamic motion beyond the reach of conventional crystallography. These results for the zinc absorption coefficient, XAFS and structure are the most accurate structural refinements of zinc at room temperature.

The mechanical bond has opened a new world for structural and dynamic stereochemistry, which is still largely underexplored and whose significance for various applications is becoming increasingly evident. We demonstrate that designed rearrangements involving both covalent and mechanical bonds can be integrated in [2]rotaxanes, leading to interesting consequences in terms of E/Z isomerization mechanisms. Two entirely distinct and concomitant stereomutations, pertaining to the same stereogenic element but involving different kinds of linkages within the molecule, are observed and are thoroughly characterized. The rate of the two processes is affected in opposite ways upon changing solvent polarity; such a phenomenon can be used to selectively modify the rate of each motion and adjust the relative contribution of the two mechanisms to the isomerization. Although the movements are not synchronized, an analysis of the intriguing fundamental implications for transition state theory, reaction pathway bifurcation, and microscopic reversibility was triggered by our experimental observations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2021 The Authors.)