Search

In cancer molecular imaging, selecting binders with high specificity and affinity for biomarkers is paramount for achieving high-contrast imaging within clinical time frames. Nanobodies have emerged as potent candidates, surpassing antibodies in pre-clinical imaging due to their convenient production, rapid renal clearance, and deeper tissue penetration. Multimerization of nanobodies is a popular strategy to enhance their affinity and pharmacokinetics; however, traditional methods are laborious and may yield heterogeneous products. In this study, we employ a Holliday junction (HJ)-like nucleic acid-based scaffold to create homogeneous nanostructures with precise multivalent and multiparatopic nanobody displays. The plug-and-play assembly allowed the screening of several nanobody multimer configurations for the detection of the breast cancer biomarker, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). In vitro studies demonstrated significant improvements in binding avidity, particularly with the biparatopic construct exhibiting high sensitivity, surpassing that of traditional antibody-based cell binding. Furthermore, our HJ platform allowed for adaptation from fluorescence-based to nuclear imaging, as demonstrated in xenografted mice, thereby allowing for future in vivo applications. This work highlights the potential of nucleic acid-mediated multimerization to markedly enhance nanobody binding, by exploring synergistic combinations and offering versatility for both in vitro diagnostics and cancer molecular imaging with prospects for future theranostic applications.

An analytical model of helium-induced fuzz growth on heated tungsten (Patino et al., 2023) is expanded to include the effects of material exposure temperature via an Arrhenius relation and helium-induced sputtering. The expanded model is able to replicate experimental measurements of fuzz thickness for a range of helium fluences from 0.7–110×1026 m−2, sample temperatures from 993–1300 K, and ion energies from 50–500 eV.

The effects of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP), multiple cryogenic rolling and aging treatment on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity of Cu–1Cr–0.1Zr alloy were investigated. The results showed that multi-stage deformation and aging (ECAP at ambient temperature + primary cryogenic rolling 50 % + 450 °C aging for 1h + secondary cryogenic rolling 80 % + 150 °C aging for 1h) can lead to the rational comprehensive performance of Cu–1Cr–0.1Zr alloy with tensile strength of 730 MPa and electrical conductivity of 75.5 % IACS. The microstructure characterization revealed that in the Cu–1Cr–0.1Zr alloy a subject to the multistage deformation and aging, there ultrafine grains, nanotwins, nanoprecipitates and micrometer precipitates constituted the nanostructured state. The increase in tensile strength was mainly attributed to fine grain strengthening and precipitation strengthening, followed by dislocation strengthening due to low temperature deformation. The ECAP resulted in the refinement of grain, and the increased dislocation density. The following primary cryogenic rolling refined the grains up to ultrafine-grained (UFG) size and created nanotwins. The introduction of nano-precipitated phases by intermediate aging pinned dislocations and impeded the motion of dislocation entanglements, allowing the alloy to achieve higher strength. Multi-stage deformation and aging resulted in a higher density of twin boundaries in the nanostructure and dilute solid solution in comparison with one stage treatment. These microstructural features were responsible for the excellent electrical conductivity.

X-ray powder diffraction and multi-wavelength Raman spectroscopy were employed to characterize carbonaceous geomaterials, offering the first nanostructural analysis of rare pyrobitumen (LP) samples from the Lopérec gold deposit in Brittany, France, by comparing them to Karelian shungite (KS) and carbon allotropes samples. The inter-reticular distances d(002) for LP/KS, derived from X-ray diffraction patterns, are 3.57(1)/3.48(1) Å, with crystal thickness Lc(002) and graphitization degree of 1.4/2.0 nm and 6.9/13.1, respectively. Raman band deconvolution indicates graphitic domain sizes of La = 6.7/8.2 nm and graphene-like flake tortuosity Lt = 9.2/11.3 nm. Extensive density functional theory calculations on various 2D nanoflakes accurately predict that the D and G Raman bands may originate from graphene quantum dots, which form part of the nanostructure of these geomaterials. LP exhibits greater structural disorder than KS, along with a lower density (1.60 vs. 1.85 g/cm³), suggesting a lower degree of graphitization, likely due to formation at a lower temperature (∼300 °C). The Lopérec pyrobitumen is believed to result from a redox process involving a CO2-rich, oxidizing hydrothermal solution interacting with a local hydrocarbon source.

The necessary information on the formation of high manganese silicide (Mn4Si7) coating by magnetron sputtering method is presented in this work. The technology and basic modes of creating the necessary targets for a magnetron sputtering device are presented. Targets were created by adding silicon and manganese powders in the required amount and heating them under vacuum conditions at high temperature and pressure. Thin silicide films (thin coatings) of different thicknesses were formed on the surface of silicon dioxide from the produced targets using the method of magnetron sputtering. The electrophysical and thermoelectric properties of the produced films were studied using physical and optical methods.Due to the change in the structure of the coatings during subsequent heat treatment, the Seebeck coefficient noticeably increases.

This study examines the changes in the micro- and nano-structures of microwave-cured cement and slag pastes over 7 years. The properties of aged samples were compared with those of young pastes made from the same mixtures. Both young and aged samples were analyzed by XRD, DTA-TG, SEM-EDX, and Solid-state MAS NMR of 29Si and 27Al. It is found that, in addition to the usual components (C-S-H, calcium hydroxide, monosulfoaluminate, trisulfoaluminate, and hydrotalcite-like phases (HT)), the aged samples contained calcium magnesium aluminate hydrate and gibbsite (AH3). Over time, some HT or AH3 integrated into the C-S-H nanostructure as additional layers. These findings suggest that microwaves accelerate the general hydration processes in cement due to thermodynamic effects and selectively activate reactions in the aluminate components. This discovery highlights the potential for using microwaves to manipulate cement reactions.

Summary: Fabrication of stimuli-responsive superstructure capable of delivering chemotherapeutics directly to the cancer cell by sparing healthy cells is crucial. Herein, we developed redox-responsive hollow spherical assemblies through self-assembly of disulfide-linked cysteine-diphenylalanine (SN). These fluorescent hollow spheres display intrinsic green fluorescence, are proteolytically stable and biocompatible, and allow for real-time monitoring of their intracellular entry. The disulfide bond facilitates selective degradation in the presence of high glutathione (GSH) concentrations, prevalent in cancer cells. We achieved efficient encapsulation (68.72%) of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (Dox) and demonstrated GSH-dependent, redox-responsive drug release within cancerous cells. SN-Dox exhibited a 20-fold lower effective concentration (2.5 μM) for compromising breast cancer cell viability compared to non-malignant cells (50 μM). The ability of SN-Dox to initiate DNA damage signaling and trigger apoptosis was comparable to that of the unencapsulated drug. Our findings highlight the potential of SN for creating site-specific drug delivery vehicles for sustained therapeutic release.

Here, we present surface analysis and biocompatibility evaluation of novel composite material based on graphene oxide traded as Hastalex. First, the surface morphology and elemental analysis of the pristine material were examined by atomic force and scanning electron microscopies, and by energy-dispersive and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, respectively. The Hastalex surface was then modified by plasma (3 and 8 W with exposure times up to 240 s), the impact of which on the material surface wettability and morphology was further evaluated. In addition, the material aging was studied at room and elevated temperatures. Significant changes in surface roughness, morphology, and area were detected at the nanometer scale after plasma exposure. An increase in oxygen content due to the plasma exposure was observed both for 3 and 8 W. The plasma treatment had an outstanding effect on the cytocompatibility of Hastalex foil treated at both input powers of 3 and 8 W. The cell number of human MRC-5 fibroblasts on Hastalex foils exposed to plasma increased significantly compared to pristine Hastalex and even to tissue culture polystyrene. The plasma exposure also affected the fibroblasts’ cell growth and shape.

Silicon-based lithium-ion battery negative electrodes represent one of graphite's most promising replacements. However, the enhanced capacity and unique Li+ storage method have raised the demands on the binder and other passive electrode components. For cycle stability, a sufficient carbonaceous matrix with silicon is needed. One of the most desirable anode materials for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) is Si, which has been noted for its exceptional volumetric and gravimetric qualities. Its affordability, abundance, and environmental safety stand out in particular. We assess the most recent improvements in the production of intercalation-type, conversion-type, and alloying-type anode materials in this work. After explaining the electrochemical reaction and failure, we reviewed several techniques for enhancing battery performance, including nanostructuring, alloying, building hierarchical structures, and employing the proper binders. Researchers will get the necessary information from this research work to conduct future research.

In this work, SiCp reinforced Al–Si–Mg matrix composites were prepared by stirring casting with different SiCp sizes. The effect of SiCp sizes on the microstructure and mechanical properties was investigated, and different strengthening effects were systematically calculated and analyzed. With the decrease of SiCp sizes, the microstructure of composites is refined and the plasticity is improved significantly. The refined SiCp also leads to a more intense grain refinement strengthening and thermal expansion mismatch strengthening. However, an abnormal decrease of yield strength is discovered with the refinement of SiCp, which is due to the influence of SiCp on GP zones strengthening in the matrix. As SiCp sizes decreasing, the increased SiCp/Al interfaces capture more Mg atoms, and then inhibits the formation of GP zones in the α-Al. Therefore, the refined SiCp weaken the precipitation strengthening in composites. These acicular Mg–Si GP zones exhibit a preferentially growing direction along Al and present a same structure as α-Al with coherent interfaces which pin dislocations and provide precipitation strengthening. The high density of GP zones also increases nano-hardness and elastic modulus of α-Al, which improves the wear resistance of SiCp/Al–Si–Mg composites. Therefore, it is suggested that the interaction between the SiCp and precipitates in matrix should also be considered to obtain a suitable strengthening effect in the design of SiCp/Al alloy composites.

Nanostructures composed of rare earth oxides, specifically Ho2O3 and Nd2O3, exhibit a range of desirable characteristics. Notably, neodymium oxides are renowned for their distinctive electrical and optical properties. Consequently, the development of rare earth oxide nanostructures, encompassing the aforementioned compositions, has emerged as a prominent area of research. The introductory section provides an overview of recent advancements pertaining to diverse applications of these nanostructures. Due to the technological significance of this class of materials, various methods for synthesizing these rare earth oxides have been introduced. This review provides a comprehensive description and examination of the synthesis of Ho2O3 and Nd2O3 nanostructures through different techniques. Finally, a comparative analysis is conducted, considering aspects such as methodology, efficiency, morphology, and grain size of the resulting samples.

Metal-polymer composite components are widely used in aerospace, automotive, and other industries as lightweight composite parts that can result in significant weight savings. Injection-molded direct joining (IMDJ) technology has a broad application prospect for achieving a close connection between metal and polymer without destroying the metal matrix. This study subjected the titanium alloy surface to sandblasting, anodizing, etching, and annealing, resulting in uniformly distributed claw-like nanostructures generated on the surface. This treatment also improved the surface roughness, exhibiting excellent wettability with a contact angle of only 10.7°. The injection-molded direct joining technique was employed to join Ti alloy and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composite components. Tensile testing revealed a bond strength of 33.5 MPa, and analysis of the peeled specimens' residual elements indicated that failure of the composite components occurred in the form of polymer cohesion damage, showcasing excellent bonding effects.

The challenge of fabricating nanostructured W–Cu composites by powder metallurgy has been solved by means of modulated phase separation. A hierarchically nanostructured (HN) W–Cu composite was prepared using intermediary Al through sluggish asynchronous phase separation. In addition to a dual network composed of a Cu phase and the W–Cu nanostructure, dense Al-containing nanoprecipitates with a body-centered cubic (bcc) structure are distributed in the W matrix. Compared with a pristine W/Cu interface, the newly formed W/Cu interfaces modulated by Al and the coherent W/Al-containing particle interfaces possess lower energy and enhanced bonding strength due to efficient electron transfer and strong coupling interactions. With a large number of stable heterogeneous interfaces and a “self-locking” geometry, the HN W–Cu composite exhibits excellent resistance against plastic deformation. The combination of the presented composite’s hardness and compressive strength outperforms all other sintered W–Cu composites with the same Cu content. Under a reciprocating sliding load, the reactive Al prevents excessive oxidation. The excellent synergy of the hardness and toughness of the friction-induced surface endows the HN composite with high abrasion resistance. This study provides a new strategy to modulate the structure and energy state of interfaces in metallic composites containing immiscible components in order to achieve high mechanical performance.

Despite significant advancements in microstructural characterization methods, the interconnections between nanostructure and morphological diversity of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H), the primary binding phase in modern concrete, remain unclear. This review delves into the state-of-the-art experimental findings of the morphology of C-S-H and comprehensively analyses the various influencing factors. The focus here is to address the long-standing debate: whether there are fundamental structural units, either fractural globule or nano sheet, that assemble to form diverse C-S-H microstructures. We critically assess that C-S-H formation involves the structured assembly of layered nanostructure with an approximate size of 4–10 nm, rather than occurring randomly. Such nanostructure may have substantial heterogeneity and deformability, often blurring the distinction between the globular and sheet models. Finally, this paper offers perspectives on future research directions aimed at further unravelling the intricate structure of C-S-H.

2D nanosheets produced using liquid phase exfoliation method offers scalable and cost effective routes to optoelectronics devices. But this technique sometimes yields high defect, low stability, and compromised electronic properties. In this work, we employed an innovative approach that improved the existing liquid phase exfoliation method for fabricating MoS2/graphene heterostructure-based photodetector with enhanced optoelectronic properties. This technique involves hydrothermally treating MoS2 before dispersing it in a carefully chosen and environmentally friendly IPA/water solvent for ultrasonication exfoliation through an optomechanical approach. Thereafter, heterostructure nanosheets of MoS2 and graphene were formed through sequential deposition technique for the fabrication of vertical heterojunctions. Furthermore, we achieved a vertically stacked MoS2/graphene photodetector and a bare MoS2 photodetector. The MoS2/graphene hybrid nanosheets were characterized using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The results obtained show the size of the nanosheets is between 350 and 500 nm on average, and their thickness is less than or equal to 5 nm, and high crystallinity in the 2H semiconducting phase. The photocurrent, photoresponsivity, external quantum efficiency (EQE), and specific detectivity of MoS2/graphene heterostructure at 4 V bias voltage and 650 nm illumination wavelength were 3.55 μA, 39.44 mA/W, 7.54 %, and 2.02 × 1010 Jones, respectively, and that of MoS2 photodetector are 0.55 μA, 6.11 mA/W, 1.16 %, and 3.4 × 109 Jones. The results presented indicate that the photoresponse performances of the as-prepared MoS2/graphene were greatly improved (about 7-fold) compared to the photoresponse of the sole MoS2. Again, the MoS2/graphene heterostructure fabricated in this work show better optoelectronic characteristics as compared to the similar heterostructure prepared using the conventional solution processed method. The results provide a modest, inexpensive, and efficient method to fabricate heterojunctions with improved optoelectronic performance.

The paper studies oxidation resistance and electrical conductivity of dense coatings produced by vacuum-arc deposition technique on α-titanium thin (0.1 mm) substrate using a hot pressed Ti2AlC–TiC target. The coatings were deposited at low (7 mA/cm2) and high (15 mA/cm2) current densities on the substrate and marked LCD and HCD, respectively. This provided different local chemical and phase compositions of the coatings. It was found that phase compositions of the coatings differ from that of the target. The HCD coating has high oxidation resistance evaluated in terms of the specific weight gain (Δm/S = 0.06 mg/cm2) as well as high surface electrical conductivity (σ = 1.23·106 S/m) after long-term (1000 h) holding at 600 °C in the air due to the formation of an over thin (450 nm) Ti–Al-(C, O, N) near-surface layer. The thin titanium substrate with such Ti–Al–C coating is recommended as a lightweight interconnect of an intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell.

This computational investigation delves into the electronic and optical attributes of InGaN/GaN nanostructures subjected to both harmonic and anharmonic confinement potentials, coupled with the influence of a nonresonant intense laser field (ILF). The theoretical framework incorporates higher-order anharmonic terms, specifically quartic and sextic terms. The solutions to the Schrödinger equation have been computed employing the finite element method and the effective mass theory. Moreover, linear and third-order nonlinear optical absorption coefficients are derived via a density matrix expansion. Our analysis reveals the feasibility of manipulating electronic and optical properties by adjusting confinement potential parameters, system attributes, and laser field intensity. In addition, the ILF induces remarkable modifications, characterized by reduced resonance peak amplitudes and a blue shift in absorption coefficients. Intriguingly, regardless of potential harmonicity, the impact of incident electromagnetic intensity is notably more pronounced in the absence of the ILF. These findings hold significant promise for advancing theoretical predictions, providing valuable insights into the intricate interplay between confinement potentials, laser fields, and their effects on electronic and optical behaviors within nanostructures.

The complexity of procedures, concentration dependency, and time consumption associated with traditional microRNA analysis platforms render them unsuitable for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. In order to address the challenges posed by reduced electro activity resulting from the use of surfactants or stabilizers in the fabrication of nanostructures for biosensors, we have developed a customized method for gold nanofabrication. This technique involves the deposition of gold nanostructures (Au-NS) onto FTO electrodes without the use of surfactants or stabilizers, followed by the immobilization of thiolated ssDNA onto the substrate surface. To assess the performance of the resulting biosensor, we hybridized miR-9 with the ssDNA and determined the linear detection range to be from 10 zM to 100 nM. Our approach provides a unique solution to the limitations associated with electrochemical and/or SERS biosensors and demonstrates the potential for improved biosensing applications. The acquired data demonstrate the superior ability of nanostructured biosensors for label-free detection of miR-9 at attomolar limit of detection (LOD = 0.012 aM). The HRSEM data also revealed a unique nanostructure; the AFM topology confirmed an increase in the surface area aspect ratio features; and the GIXRD analysis approved the fabricated AuNSs on FTO electrodes. Furthermore, electrochemical analysis of AuNS’ platforms showed considerable electroactivity compared to bare FTO. In addition to its previously demonstrated performance, our biosensor exhibited outstanding selectivity in the detection of miR-486. The use of AuNSs in our biosensor fabrication results in excellent selectivity, high electroactivity, and ease of fabrication, rendering it an ideal option for both biosensing and cancer screening applications.

Nanostructured metallic multilayered composites have many excellent properties due to their high-density heterophase interfaces, but they also pose challenges to the thermal stability of their multilayered structures. In this work, destabilization behavior of nanostructured Ag/Cu multilayer with an individual layer thickness of 40 nm prepared by multicomponent accumulative roll bonding is directly observed by transmission electron microscope. The results show that the destabilization of the nanostructured Ag/Cu multilayer originates from the interfacial instability perturbation driven by compositional gradient and capillary force. The subsequent destabilizing process is closely related to the cross-sectional ratio of the lamellar structure. When the thickness difference between adjacent lamellae is large, the lamellae with smaller thickness will follow a destabilizing sequence of perturbation → necking → pinching → termination migration. While the thickness of adjacent lamellae is similar, the perturbed lamellae tend to form stable grooves during roughening.

ZrO2 is a fascinating metal oxide with rich physical phenomenon and promised applications. In this study, the effects of chemical doping with Co+2 ions on nanostructure, electronic, optical, photoluminescence (PL), and magnetic properties of Zr1-xCoxO2 thin films (x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15) prepared by sol–gel spin-coating method were investigated. The films exhibited a tetragonal structure with crystallinity improved with Co doping. Pure ZrO2 film showed a smooth surface morphology consisting of small particle size of 22 nm. The Co-doped ZrO2 films exhibited well-ordered holes, and their size and number increased with Co doping up to x = 0.1 and then decreased at x = 0.15. Root-mean-square roughness increased from 1.1 nm for pure ZrO2 to 16.5 nm for film x = 0.15. The Co ions in the films existed in a 2 + valence state. Energy band gap decreased with Co doping and had values of 4.40, 4.396, 4.392, and 4.170 eV for the films with x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15, respectively. The PL spectra of films x = 0.00 and 0.05 are mainly comprised of two emission peaks; intense peak centred at 370 nm and broad peak centred about 500 nm. As the Co concentration increased, two intense and sharp emission peaks emerged at 335 and 373 nm. The films showed soft hysteresis loop, and their magnetization was enhanced with the increase of Co content.

Self-assembly generates three-dimensional architectures through the non-covalent interactions of building blocks of various sizes, ranging from nanometers to micrometers, and the assembled structures may have new functions that the building blocks do not have. Cell self-assembly has attracted considerable attention in cancer treatment because it can overcome the side effects of conventional chemotherapy and the low therapeutic effect on drug-resistant cells. In addition, the trigger in the building block reacts with the specific environment of the cancer, such as pH, ions, redox reactions, enzymes, or receptors, facilitating cancer-targeted therapy. However, the precise control of self-assembly for the construction of nanostructures is difficult in harsh intracellular environments. To overcome this challenge, various researchers have investigated intracellular self-assembly. In particular, the self-assembly in cellular organelles is of great interest. Compared with self-assembly in the cytoplasm of cells, organelle-targeting self-assembly has the advantage of being able to self-assemble without side effects under more stable conditions with a relatively low concentration of building blocks. In this mini-review, we discuss the latest research on self-assembly inside or near organelles for cancer treatment.

In this work, the mechanism of the transition state of electron transfer reaction on the surface of the ZnO nanoparticles-based gas sensor has been investigated. The deposited ZnO nanoparticles thick films on glass slides had been synthesized by the current heating method and modified its surface by coating novel metals of gold and palladium with a sputtering technique with different sputtering times of 45–180 s. Field emission electron microscopy (FE-SEM), x-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used for the characterization of ZnO nanoparticle thick films. After that, the reflectance spectra of films were investigated using Near-IR spectroscopy in the range of 900–2500 nm to study the surface absorption efficiency. The decrease in reflectance spectra was observed for conditions over 90 s of sputtering time. The particle size distribution and zeta potential of ZnO nanoparticles were analyzed using the dynamic light scattering technique for the calculation of particle size and the electrical charge potential. The results showed that the size particle distribution ranged from 155 to 245 nm and the more extensive range of 360–1100 nm. The optimized zeta potential of −14.44 mV was exhibited at the sputtering time of 45 s. Finally, the gas sensing mechanism in terms of surface charge density was proposed and used to explain the sensitivity enhancement of both resistive and capacitive gas sensors.

In this research, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles doped with different percentages of produced cobalt using the green synthesis method. ZnO nanoparticles showed good cellular and microbial toxicity due to their high surface-to-volume ratio. Adding cobalt metal to the nanostructure can lead to the appearance of a new feature. To investigate the effect of adding cobalt metal, synthesized ZnO nanoparticles containing 3 and 6% cobalt were synthesized using plant extract. The resulting nanostructures were characterized by a Raman spectroscopy, UV–Visible spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy. Ultimately, the synthesized samples' cytotoxicity and antimicrobial tests were performed. XRD confirmed the formation of a hexagonal wurtzite ZnO structure. XRD and electron imaging showed that doping resulted in a decrease in average crystal size. The results showed that with cobalt doping, the particle size decreased slightly. The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial effects results showed that in all three studies, cobalt doping leads to an increase in the toxicity of this nanostructure compared to non-doped nanoparticles.

Self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) yields unparalleled opportunities to integrate exquisite characteristics for preparation of advanced nanotechnology materials. The high-yield manufacturing of BCP is extremely desired, yet rarely exploited. Herein, we displayed that stereocomplex crystals (sc) of poly lactide (PLA) enantiomers, acting as pseudo linkage between adjacent polymer chains, enable formation of quasi-block copolymer (qBCPs) by straightforward melt compounding. Identical content of poly (D-lactide) (PDLA) and poly (L-lactide) (PLLA) were pre-grafted onto the backbones of poly styrene (PS) and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), respectively. Due to the complementary multiple hydrobonding interactions between PDLA and PLLA grafted moieties, PS-“block”-PMMA connected by cocrystallized sc was induced during the subsequent melt processing of PDLA-g-PS/PLLA-g-PMMA, thus allowing local segregation of PS-“block” and PMMA-“block” with nanometer size. The refined morphology, which was resembled with micro-phase separation of classical BCP, can be facilely tuned by varying the length and ratio of enantiomeric PDLA/PLLA grafts. More interestingly, the PS-“block”-PMMA typed qBCPs demonstrated superiority in compatibilizing immiscible PS/PMMA polymer blends, as compared with the classical compatibilizer (PS-block-PMMA) via reactive blending. Overall, our strategy represents a general method to construct noncovalent linked di-block copolymer via industrially relevant melt processing, which is quite challenging to achieve by existing synthetic technologies.

In this study, the nanostructured Al/Ni energetic composites were processed using the high-energy ball milling method. The milling conditions, i.e. the ball to powder ratio (BPR), ball sizes, and milling time, were varied to investigate their effect on the microstructures and reaction properties of the Al/Ni NECs. Results indicated that large BPR, appropriate size assortment of milling balls, and long milling time promoted the formation of nano lamellar structure and improved the reaction performance. When the BPR was 10 and the milling time was 100min, the Al/Ni NECs had a nano lamellar structure and a low ignition temperature of 619 K. The activation energy was calculated to be 54.49 kJ/mol using the Kissinger method, and 63.87 kJ/mol using the Ozawa method, respectively.

Summary: Imines are important intermediates for synthesizing various fine chemicals, with the disadvantage of requiring the use of expensive metal-containing catalysts. We report that the dehydrogenative cross-coupling of phenylmethanol and benzylamine (or aniline) directly forms the corresponding imine with a yield of up to 98%, and water as the sole by-product, in the presence of a stoichiometric base, using carbon nanostructures as the “green” metal-free carbon catalysts with high spin concentrations, which is synthesized by C(sp2)-C(sp3) free radical coupling reactions. The catalytic mechanism is attributed to the unpaired electrons of carbon catalysts to reduce O2 to O2·−, which triggers the oxidative coupling reaction to form imines, whereas the holes in the carbon catalysts receive electrons from the amine to restore the spin states. This is supported by density functional theory calculations. This work will open up an avenue for synthesizing carbon catalysts and offer great potential for industrial applications.

This study investigated the variation of particle number (PN), morphological features and nano structural parameters of particulate matter (PM) from a China Ⅵ GDI engine under different working conditions, oxidation temperatures, and aerodynamic diameters. The results showed that, particles with a diameter less than 10 nm or 23 nm accounted for 40–65% and 68–94% of total PN respectively. Engine speed has a larger effect on PN emissions with the diameter less than 10 nm. PM emitted from the GDI engine were mainly consisted of primary particles with a diameter of 12–72 nm. Primary particles were composed of numerous graphite fringes with a length of 0.1–1.8 nm, tortuosity of 1.10–2.65, and separation distance of 0.2–1.6 nm. The boundaries of primary particles became vague, the fringe tortuosity and separation distance decreased with the progress of oxidation. Particles in larger aerodynamic diameters were more likely to form cluster-like PM in micromorphology. PM accumulated by particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 52.1 nm had larger fractal dimension, smaller fringe length, higher fringe tortuosity, and greater fringe separation distance, and was more easily be oxidized.

Nanoscale medicine confers passive and active targeting potential. The development of nanomedicine is however met with processing, handling and administration hurdles. Excessive solid nanoparticle aggregation and caking result in low product yield, poor particle flowability and inefficient drug administration. These are overcome by converting the nanoparticles into a microscale dosage form via agglomeration or compaction techniques. Agglomeration and compaction nonetheless predispose the nanoparticles to risks of losing their nanogeometry, surface composition or chemistry being altered and negating biological performance. This study reviews risk factors faced during agglomeration and compaction that could result in these changes to nanoparticles. The potential risk factors pertain to materials choice in nanoparticle and microscale dosage form development, and their interplay effects with process temperature, physical forces and environmental stresses. To render the physicochemical and biological behaviour of the nanoparticles unaffected by agglomeration or compaction, modes to modulate the interplay effects of material and formulation with processing and environment variables are discussed.

Yttrium oxide is a wide bandgap semiconductor material, with a bandgap energy (Eg) between 4.86 and 5.68 eV, which may anticipate its limitations in photocatalysis. However, its ability to adsorb water and form hydroxyl radicals (•OH) suggests its possible application in the degradation of organic pollutant compounds. Therefore, Y2O3 was prepared by the coprecipitation method, with subsequent calcination at 500 °C. A unique morphology consisting of nanostructured semispheres, with sizes between 1.7 and 2.5 μm, was observed by electron microscopy. This material was used to degrade diluted aqueous solutions of Congo red (CR) and malachite green (MG). For CR, UV–vis spectra revealed a photodegradation percent of ∼24% after 60 min of exposure to UV (λ = 365 nm); meanwhile, the dissociative adsorption accounts for ∼22%, in the same period. Therefore, most of the degradation of this compound can be ascribed to this phenomenon. For MG, an average photodegradation of ∼94% was achieved in the same period, however, dissociative adsorption was estimated as ∼71%. The mechanism of degradation can be explained by the adsorption of dye molecules on Y2O3 and their degradation by reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are free hydroxyl radicals such as •OH and • O2− ions that have high oxidizing capacity. XPS analyses performed on samples used in dye degradation provide evidence of the role of ROS, as a significant peak increase associated with OH− groups was observed.

Tin oxide (SnO2) nanostructure has potential application for the removal of organic contaminants from industrial effluents. However, higher bandgap value (3.8 eV and fast recombination of charge carriers (e- - h+ pair)) have limited its applications. To overcome these limitations, we have proposed a double Z-scheme strategy, which not only reduced the rate of recombination but lso provides a new pathway for charge carriers to degrade the organic toxins. SnO2 surface sensitization with MoS2 nanofibers by hydrothermal method followed by composite formation with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via ultrasonication was employed as photocatalyst for methylene blue (MB) degradation. The surface sensitized SnO2 with MoS2 and its composite with rGO were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-rays (EDX), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis.) spectroscopy. XRD analysis revealed that SnO /MoS2 heterostructure has very small crystallite. From UV-visible studies, a redshift was observed for the SnO2 /MoS2 heterostructure as compared to SnO2, which further extends to the visible spectrum with the introduction of reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The photocatalytic studies revealed that SnO2 /MoS2 /rGO composite significantly improved the photocatalytic efficiency up to 90% under 75 min in the presence of solar light. EIS measurements exhibited that SnO2/MoS2/rGO has better charge transfer and mass transfer potential as compared to SnO2.

Summary: Hybrid materials based on inorganic nanocrystals with organic polymers feature peculiar and fascinating properties and various applications. However, there is still a need for simple synthesis procedures that provide precise control over the polymer/nanocrystal microstructure of these materials. Herein, a novel organometallic approach to polymer-coated ZnO nanocrystals was developed. The presented method merges the initial ring-opening polymerization of ϵ-caprolactone mediated by an organozinc alkoxide initiator and an air-promoted transformation of the resulting macromolecular organozinc species. This one-pot procedure results in quantum-sized ZnO crystals with a core diameter of ca 3 nm coated by poly(ϵ-caprolactone) covalently bonded to the surface. Overall, the ability to create well-defined hybrid composites should provide a unique ability to access various nanosystems.

In this study, we report the synthesis of the heterostructure by a simple and inexpensive electrochemical deposition method. As a result, nanocrystallites of the ''desert rose'' type were synthesized on the surface of mono-GaAs. According to research results, it was established that the AlxGa1–xAs/GaAs heterostructure has a ''soft'' transitional porous layer, which ensures excellent quality of nanostructures and good adhesion to the crystal surface. Furthermore, it is shown that semiconductors GaAs and AlAs are extreme cases of AlxGa1-xAs at x=0 and x=1, respectively. These semiconductors have almost identical crystal lattice parameters. Therefore, GaAs can be considered an ideal substrate to grow the AlxGa1-xAs/GaAs heterostructure. Such structures can find interesting fields of application because of their developed morphology and large effective area.

The particulate matter and soluble organic fraction emitted by diesel engine are hazardous to environment and human health. Exploring the effect mechanism of soluble organic fraction on soot oxidation is beneficial for reducing the emissions. In this study, the effects of four different types of soluble organic fractions on the soot oxidation activity and physicochemical properties are investigated. The results show that the attachment of oxygen-containing soluble organic fractions enhances the soot oxidation and reduces the peak characteristic temperature. However, the low volatility soluble organic fractions without oxygen element inhibit soot oxidation. Additionally, the high volatility soluble organic fractions without oxygen element elicit limited effects on soot oxidation. the contents of aliphatic C-H functional groups, carbonyl CO functional groups, and carboxylic acid O-CO functional groups significantly increase after adding oxygen-containing soluble organic fractions, while the limited increase in functional groups is observed in soluble organic fractions without oxygen element. Solid soluble organic fractions adhere to soot particles in the form of small particles, leading a reduction in the initial particle size distribution, while liquid soluble organic fractions exhibit block and chain shapes around the soot particles, which makes the initial particle size distribution increasing. Moreover, the attachment of all soluble organic fractions disrupts the surface order of soot particle, leading to a decrease in soot graphitization. This study is beneficial for revealing the interaction mechanism between soot and soluble organic fractions., 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.)

Passive daytime radiative cooling is a zero-energy consumption cooling technology, which can dissipate heat to outer space via infrared radiation. Recently, coupling radiative cooling technology and thermoelectric devices to generate electricity has attracted much attention. However, existing radiative cooling integrated thermoelectric devices still suffer from low-temperature gradient and output voltage. Here, based on the Mie scattering and internal reflection enhancing principle, an impact-inducing geometry reconstruction approach was proposed to fabricate hierarchical nanostructured cellulosic coatings with good daytime cooling performance to achieve stable electricity generation function, which can be realized by using a scalable and facile wet ball milling technology. Guided by the theoretical simulations of the finite difference time domain method (FDTD), the cellulose and TiO 2 nanoparticles can assemble into spherical envelope structured coatings drying by the shear, impact, and friction interaction in the ball milling process, dramatically enhancing the Mie scattering and internal reflection of coatings. The cellulosic coatings exhibit sunlight reflectivity of 0.962 and infrared emissivity of 0.94, resulting in a daytime radiative cooling efficiency of 5.9 °C under direct sunlight. Energy Plus stimulation demonstrated 35 % cooling energy and 468.9 kWh of cooling energy can be saved annually in China. Meanwhile, this cellulosic coating-based thermoelectric device can deliver a high voltage output of 150 mV under 1 Sun due to the strong bonding and high-temperature gradient formation (30 °C), which is higher than previous reports. This study will facilitate the development of sustainable power generation device for the goal of green future., 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.)

The effects on the structure, valence state and morphological properties of FeCo-containing SnO 2 nanostructured solids were investigated. The physicochemical features were tuned by distinct synthesis routes e.g., sol-gel, coprecipitation and nanocasting, to apply them as catalysts in the glycerol valorization to cyclic acetals. Based on Mössbauer and XPS spectroscopy results, all nanosized FeCoSn solids have Fe-based phases, which contain Co and Sn included in the structure, and well-dispersed Fe 3+ and Fe 2+ surface active sites. Raman, FTIR and EPR spectroscopies measurements of the spent solids demonstrated structural stability for the sol-gel based solid, which is indeed responsible for the highest catalytic performance, among the nanocasted and coprecipitated counterparts. Morphological and elemental analyses illustrated distinct morphologies and composition on solid surface, depending on the synthesis route. The Fe/Co and Fe/Sn surface ratios are closely related to the catalytic performance. The improved glycerol conversion and selectivities of the solid obtained by sol-gel method was ascribed to the leaching resistance and the Sn action as a structural promoter., 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.)

In this paper, using finite element method (FEM) as a three-dimensional simulation, the light trapping mechanism due to the use of plasmonic core/shell nanorod (PLCS-NR) array as well as its effect on absorption, generation, transfer of carriers and power conversion efficiency (PCE) in a perovskite solar cell (PSC) has been investigated. The short-circuit current density (Jsc) increased due to the increase in the carrier generation rate in a PSC with a light-trapping architecture under the normal-angle sunlight (AM1.5G). Moreover, by choosing gold (Au) and silver (Ag) as the core and CuSCN as the shell in the PLCS-NR, the active layer (AL) absorption is increased compared to the planar structure. Using this proposed structure in the PSC can help improve the recombination rate and reduce it. The simulation results show that the device performance is highly dependent on the core and shell materials, and the height of the PLCS-NRs. Overall, an optimum height of 120 nm, a core radius of 10 nm, and Ag as the core were achieved for the PLCS-NRs in the PSC with Jscof 23.12 mA/cm2, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1 V, and the PCE of 19.33%.

Summary: Constructing sophisticated 3D structure has been shown to be fruitful in developing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) microwave absorbers (MAs). However, issues with the unclear electromagnetic (EM) responding synergy of CNTs toward substrate and the limited dissipation property caused by the large dense CNTs networks throughout the reported models still need to be resolved. Inspired by the creeper-window-room-structured architecture, an analogous conformal nanostructure of amorphous carbon/CNTs (N-AC/CNTs) hybrid is constructed through an in situ autocatalytic planting approach. By this model, not only the inheritance of frequency dependence characteristic but the co-inheritance of lossy behavior and impedance matching is demonstrated. Moreover, by virtue of the unique structure, a synergistic reinforcing dielectric loss from conductive loss and dielectric polarization was introduced. Therefore, N-AC/CNTs-750 shows impressive EM performance. This work hereby unveils the synergy of EM response from CNTs toward substrate, and provides a pioneering insight into developing architecture-inspired structure engineering to construct high-performance MAs.

Biofilm formation in medical devices represents one of the major problems for the healthcare system, especially those that occur on implantable silicone-based devices. To provide a general solution to avoid biofilm formation in the first stages of development, this work studied how nanostructured metallic silver coatings hinder bacteria-surface interaction by preventing bacteria adhesion. The three studied silver nanostructures (“Sharp blades”, “Thick blades” and “Leaves”) combined superhydrophobic behavior with a physical impediment of the coating nanostructure that produced a bacteriophobic effect avoiding the adhesion mechanism of different bacterial strains. These silver nanostructures are immobilized on stretchable substrates through a polymeric thin film of plasma–polymerized penta-fluorophenyl methacrylate. The control over the nanostructures and therefore its bacteriophobic—bactericidal effect depends on the plasma polymerization conditions of the polymer. The characterization of this bacteriophobic effect through FE-SEM microscopy, live/dead cell staining, and direct bacterial adhesion counts, provided a complete mapping of how bacteria interact with the surface in each scenario. Results revealed that the bacterial adhesion was reduced by up to six orders of magnitude in comparison with uncoated surfaces thereby constituting an effective strategy to avoid the formation of biofilm on medical materials.

Summary: The heat transport of surface phonon-polaritons propagating along a polar uniaxial anisotropic nanofilm is studied for different orientations of its optical axis, film thicknesses, and temperatures. For an hBN nanofilm, it is shown that i) the propagation of polaritons can be described in terms of even and odd modes that generalize the transverse magnetic and transverse electrical ones that typically appear in isotropic films. ii) The frequency spectrum of polaritons can efficiently be tuned with the angle between the film optical axis and their propagation direction. iii) The polariton thermal conductivity takes higher values for a thinner or hotter nanofilm. iv) The even and odd modes have a remarkable contribution to the total polariton thermal conductivity, which takes a value higher than 5.6 Wm−1K−1 for a 25-nm-thick nanofilm at 500 K. The obtained results thus uncover some key features of the propagation and heat transport of polaritons in uniaxial nanofilms.

The construction of highly ordered nanostructure plays an important role in realizing the specific functions of organic materials. However, it remains challenging to design photoelectric materials with sub-10-nm nanostructures. Herein, a novel tetraphenylethylene derivative tethered with polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane nanocages (TPE-BPOSS) was designed and synthesized. The experimental results reveal that the introduction of POSS nanocages endows TPE-BPOSS with a hierarchically sub-10-nm ordered structure composed of columnar phase of non-planar TPE cores and crystalline phase of POSS moieties. Moreover, due to the transition between the ordered and disordered structure, TPE-BPOSS can exhibit reversible mechanochromism property. It is speculated that incorporating POSS nanocages into different non-planar fluorophores may be a new strategy to prepare functional materials with sub-10-nm nanostructure and luminescent property.

Desulfation of cholesterol sulfate (CholS) to cholesterol (Chol) is an important event in epidermal homeostasis and necessary for stratum corneum (SC) barrier function. The CholS/Chol ratio decreases during SC maturation but remains high in pathological conditions, such as X-linked ichthyosis, characterized by dry and scaly skin. The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of the CholS/Chol molar ratio on the structure, dynamics, and permeability of SC lipid model mixtures. We synthesized deuterated CholS and investigated lipid models with specifically deuterated components using 2H solid-state NMR spectroscopy at temperatures from 25°C to 80°C. Although the rigid acyl chains in ceramides and fatty acids remained essentially rigid upon variation of the CholS/Chol ratio, both sterols were increasingly fluidized in lipid models containing higher CholS concentrations. We also show the X-ray repeat distance of the lipid lamellar phase (105 Å) and the orthorhombic chain packing of the ceramide’s acyl chains and long free fatty acids did not change upon the variation of the CholS content. However, the Chol phase separation visible in models with high Chol concentration disappeared at the 50:50 CholS/Chol ratio. This increased fluidity resulted in higher permeabilities to model markers of these SC models. These results reveal that a high CholS/Chol ratio fluidizes the sterol fraction and increases the permeability of the SC lipid phase while maintaining the lamellar lipid arrangement with an asymmetric sterol distribution.

Hydrogels obtained by acidification with glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), starting from nanoemulsions formulated with different concentrations of sodium caseinate (1–4 wt%) or 4 wt% sodium caseinate and sucrose (2–8 wt%), were prepared with the aim of quantifying structural parameters of both, initial nanoemulsions and hydrogels after 2.5 h of GDL addition, using the Guinier-Porod (GP) or the generalized GP models. Gelation process was followed by performing in situ temperature-controlled X-ray small angle scattering experiments (SAXS) using synchrotron radiation. In nanoemulsions, the calculated radius of gyration for oil nanodroplets (Rgoil) decreased with increasing protein concentration and for the 4 wt% protein nanoemulsion, with increasing sucrose content. Calculated values of Rgoil were validated correlating them with experimental Z-average values as measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). For hydrogels, radii of gyration for the sphere equivalent to the hydrogel scattering object (Rgsph) were close to 3 nm while correlation distances among building blocks (Rg2) were dependent on formulation. They increased with increasing contents of sodium caseinate and sucrose. Rg2 parameter linearly correlated with hydrogel strength (G’∞): a more connected nanostructure led to a stronger hydrogel.

This study aimed to explore the link between block copolymers’ interfacial properties and nanoscale carrier formation and found out the influence of length ratio on these characters to optimize drug delivery system. A library of diblock copolymers of PEG-PCL and triblock copolymers with additional PEI (PEG-PCL-PEI) were synthesized. Subsequently, a systematic isothermal investigation was performed to explore molecular arrangements of copolymers at air/water interface. Then, structural properties and drug encapsulation in self-assembly were investigated with DLS, SLS and TEM. We found the additional hydrogen bond in the PEG-PCL-PEI contributes to film stability upon the hydrophobic interaction compared with PEG-PCL. PEG-PCL-PEI assemble into smaller micelle-like (such as PEG-PCL4006-PEI) or particle-like structure (such as PEG-PCL8636-PEI) determined by their hydrophilic and hydrophobic block ratio. The distinct structural architectures of copolymer are consistent between interface and self-assembly. Despite the disparity of constituent ratio, we discovered the arrangement of both chains guarantees balanced hydrophilic–hydrophobic ratio in self-assembly to form stable construction. Meanwhile, the structural differences were found to have significant influence on model drugs incorporation including docetaxel and siRNA. Taken together, these findings indicate the correlation between molecular arrangement and self-assembly and inspire us to tune block compositions to achieve desired nanostructure and drug loading.

To obtain uniform and stable nanostructure with fine α-Fe grains is very important for the wide applications of Fe-based nanocrystalline soft-magnetic alloys. In this study, the nanostructure evolution of the Fe84.75Si2B9P3C0.5Cu0.75 (at.%) alloy after annealing under different conditions was characterized in detail. It is found that the alloy exhibits excellent structural stability, which can maintain small α-Fe grains for a prolonged annealing time at low temperature. The increase of annealing temperature and/or annealing time will lead to the precipitation of compound phases in the intergranular amorphous interphase, which affects the α-Fe grains size greatly and determines the structural stability. The elemental mappings of the nanostructured alloys reveal that metalloid elements are enriched in the intergranular amorphous interphase, wrapping around α-Fe grains. The grain refinement and nanostructure stability of these alloys are derived from the shielding and soft-impingement effects of the core-shell like structure. The nanostructure stability is lost with the precipitation of compound phases in the intergranular amorphous interphase, owing to the break-down of the shielding layer, which results in the rapid coarsening of α-Fe grains by coalescence.

A novel coating method of transforming scholzite (SZ, CaZn2(PO4)2·2H2O) into hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) coating on the surface of titanium (Ti) has been presented. It deposited a primary SZ coating through a phosphate chemical conversion (PCC) technology, and then transformed it to the HA coating via calcium (Ca) chelating. FE-SEM and XRD results proved that a nanostructured HA coating with a cauliflower-like shape and without zinc (Zn) element doping could be obtained from the primary petal-like SZ coating. It suggests that SZ may act as a simple and effective intermediate for HA precipitation. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) test was employed to evaluate the corrosion behavior of the coated samples in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed that the HA-coated sample obtained by Ca chelating post-treatment exhibited improved barrier performance compared with the primary SZ-coated one.

Summary: Extracellular electron transfer (EET) from microorganisms to inorganic electrodes is a unique ability of electrochemically active bacteria. Despite rigorous genetic and biochemical screening of the c-type cytochromes that make up the EET network, the individual electron transfer steps over the cell membrane remain mostly unresolved. As such, attempts to transplant entire EET chains from native into non-native exoelectrogens have resulted in inferior electron transfer rates. In this study we investigate how nanostructured electrodes can interface with Shewanella oneidensis to establish an alternative EET pathway. Improved biocompatibility was observed for densely packed nanostructured surfaces with a low cell-nanowire load distribution during applied external forces. External gravitational forces were needed to establish a bioelectrochemical cell-nanorod interface. Bioelectrochemical analysis showed evidence of nanorod penetration beyond the outer cell membrane of a deletion mutant lacking all outer membrane cytochrome encoding genes that was only electroactive on a nanostructured surface and under external force.

The present study is on the fabrication of new photocatalytic nanocomposites (Dy2O3-SiO2) employing a basic agent, tetraethylenepentamine (Tetrene), through a simple, efficient and, quick sonochemical approach. The features of the fabricated photocatalytic nanocomposite were examined employing a variety of microscopic and spectroscopic methods such as XRD, EDS, TEM, FTIR, DRS, and FESEM. The outcomes of morphological studies demonstrated that by proper tuning of sonication time and ultrasonic power (10 min and 400 W), a porous nanocomposite composed of sphere-shaped nanoparticles with a particle size in the range of 20 to 60 nm could be fabricated. The energy gap for the binary Dy2O3-SiO2 nanophotocatalyst was determined to be 3.41 eV, making these nanocomposite favorable for removing contaminants. The photocatalytic performance of the optimal nanocomposite sample was tested for photodecomposition of several contaminants including erythrosine, thymol blue, eriochrome black T, Acid Red 14, methyl orange, malachite green, and Rhodamine B. The binary Dy2O3-SiO2 nanophotocatalyst exhibited superior efficiency toward the decomposition of the studied contaminants. It was able to degrade the erythrosine pollutant more effectively (92.9%). Optimization studies for the photocatalytic decomposition of each contaminant demonstrated that the best performance could be achieved at a specific amount of contaminant and nanocatalyst. Trapping experiments illustrated that hydroxyl radicals were more effectively involved in the decomposition of contaminant molecules by Dy2O3-SiO2 nanophotocatalyst.

The present work describes the fabrication of the quaternary Zn-Cd-Sn-S nanostructure and its use in photocatalytic remediation of the biological contaminant pyrene from water resources. Nanostructures fabricated were characterized by XRD, UV-DRS, FTIR, DLS, EDX, and SEM. In addition, an agar well diffusion test was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity. Zn-Cd-Sn-S (ZCSS) nanostructures were evaluated for their photocatalytic degrading potential by using pyrene as a model pollutant and evaluating the effects of parameters like initial pyrene concentration, nanocatalyst dosage, solution pH, and light sources during batch adsorption. Nanostructures had a size of 16.74 nm according to the XRD analysis. With a 300 min time interval, ZCSS nanostructures achieved the highest removal rate of 86.3%. Pyrene degradation metabolites were identified using GC-MS analysis of the degraded samples. A Freundlich isothermal (R 2 0.9) and pseudo-first-order (R 2 0.952) reaction kinetic path best fit the adsorption results for pyrene by the fabricated ZCSS nanostructure, based on the adsorption and kinetic studies. Zn-Cd-Sn-S exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcusaureus (22.4 mM). Due to the combined synergistic actions of the constituent metals, this quaternary nanostructure exhibited exceptional photocatalytic activity. To our est knowledge, the ZCSS nanostructure was made and used to remove pyrene by photocatalysis and fight microbes. Ultimately, the ZCSS nanostructure was found to be an effective photocatalyst for eradicating pathogenic microbes from water., 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

New adjuvant strategies are needed to improve protein-based subunit vaccine immunogenicity. We examined the potential to use nanostructure of 6-O-ascorbyl palmitate to formulate ovalbumin (OVA) protein and an oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) (OCC). In mice immunized with a single dose, OCC elicited an OVA-specific immune response superior to OVA/CpG-ODN solution (OC). Rheological studies demonstrated OCC's self-assembling viscoelastic properties. Biodistribution studies indicated that OCC prolonged OVA and CpG-ODN retention at injection site and lymph nodes, reducing systemic spread. Flow-cytometry assays demonstrated that OCC promoted OVA and CpG-ODN co-uptake by Ly6C hi CD11b hi CD11c+ monocytes. OCC and OC induced early IFN-γ in lymph nodes, but OCC led to higher concentration. Conversely, mice immunized with OC showed higher serum IFN-γ concentration compared to those immunized with OCC. In mice immunized with OCC, NK1.1+ cells were the IFN-γ major producers, and IFN-γ was essential for OVA-specific IgG2c switching. These findings illustrate how this nanostructure improves vaccine's response., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declared 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 Inc. All rights reserved.)

The lack of more effective therapies for breast cancer has enhanced mortality among breast cancer patients. Recent efforts have established efficient treatments to reduce breast cancer-related deaths. The ever-increasing attraction to employing biocompatible polysaccharide-based nanostructures as delivery systems has created interest in various disease therapies, especially breast cancer treatment. A wide range of therapeutic cargo comprising bioactive or chemical drugs, oligonucleotides, peptides, and targeted biomarkers have been considered to comprehend their anti-cancer effects against breast cancer. Some limitations of naked agents or undesired constructs, such as no or low bioavailability, enzymatic digestion, short-range stability, low-cellular uptake, poor solubility, and low surface area, have lessened their effectiveness. However, nanoscale formulations of therapeutic ingredients have provided a promising platform to address the mentioned concerns. For instance, some capable polysaccharides, including cellulose, pectin, chitosan, alginate, and dextran, were developed as breast cancer therapeutics with great nanoparticle structures. This review carefully examines the characteristics of beneficial polysaccharides that are utilized in the formation of nanoparticles (NPs). It also highlights the applications of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and NPs made from polysaccharides in the treatment of breast cancer and suggests ways to enhance these particles for future research., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)