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Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusion Metal nanoparticles (MNPs) labeled with radioisotopes (RIs) are utilized as radio‐enhancers due to their ability to amplify the radiation dose in their immediate vicinity. A thorough understanding of nanoscale dosimetry around MNPs enables their effective application in radiotherapy. However, nanoscale dosimetry around MNPs still requires further investigation.This study aims to provide insight into the radio‐enhancement effects of MNPs by elucidating nanoscale dosimetry surrounding MNPs labeled with Auger‐emitting RIs. We particularly focus on distinguishing the respective dose contributions of photons and electrons emitted by Auger‐emitting RIs in the context of dose enhancement.A 50 nm diameter NP of silver (Ag) core and gold (Au) shell (Ag@Au NP) was assumed to emit mono‐energetic electrons and photons (3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 keV), or the energy spectrum corresponding to one of three Auger‐emitting RIs (103Pd, 125I, and 131Cs) from the Ag core. Nanoscale radial dose distributions around a single radioactive Ag@Au NP were evaluated in spherical shells of water. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted using single‐event and track structure transport methods implemented in MCNP6.2 and Geant4‐DNA‐Au physics, respectively. To evaluate the extent of radio‐enhancement by the Ag@Au NP, two scenarios were considered: Ag@Au NPs (Au shell included) and Ag@water NPs (Au shell replaced by water).The radial doses of 10, 20, and 30 keV electrons estimated by both codes were comparable. However, the radial doses of 3 and 5 keV electrons by MCNP6.2 were much larger near the NP surface than those by Geant4. There was a dose enhancement of a few % to tens % by the Au shell in the region of the NP surface to 10 µm, depending on the electron energy. The radial doses of photons with the Au shell were higher up to their secondary electron ranges than those without the Au shell. The maximum dose enhancement factor of photons occurred at 20 keV and was 63.4 by MCNP6.2 and 50.5 by Geant4. The overall radial doses of electrons were 1–2 orders of magnitude larger than those of photons. As a result, in cases of RIs emitting both electrons and photons, the radial doses up to electron ranges were dominantly governed by electrons. The dose enhancement estimated by both codes for the RIs ranged from a few % except in the immediate vicinity of the NP surface.Given the dominant contribution of electrons to radial doses of MNP labeled with Auger‐emitting RIs, physical dose enhancement expected by interactions with photons was hindered. Since there are no available RIs emitting exclusively photons, achieving enhanced physical doses within a cell through a combination of MNPs and RIs appears currently unattainable. The radial doses of photons near the NP surface exhibited considerable discrepancies between the codes, primarily attributed to low‐energy electrons. The difference may arise from higher cross‐sections of Au inelastic scattering in Geant4‐DNA‐Au compared to MCNP6.2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease present in a variety of manifestations listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the neglected diseases with a worse prognosis if not treated. Medicinal inorganic chemistry has provided a variety of drugs based on metal–organic complexes synthesized with different metal centers and organic ligands to fight against a great number of parasite maladies and specifically Leishmaniasis. Taking advantage of the natural properties that many metals present for biotechnological purposes, nanotechnology has offered, in recent years, a new approach consisting on the application of metal nanoparticles to treat a great number of parasitic diseases, as a drug vehicle or as a treatment themselves. The aim of this review is to gather the most widely used metal complexes and metallic nanoparticles and the most recent strategies proposed as antileishmanial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectral and kinetic characteristics of photoluminescence of BaF2 and SrF2 crystals implanted with high-energy (∼100 keV) Ag ions were studied. The photoluminescence spectra of both crystals have a similar structure, in which three components are observed with maxima in the wavelength ranges 500–550, 600–670, and 760–770 nm. The positions of the maxima depend on the material of the matrix and the excitation wavelength. The kinetic curves of luminescence decay also exhibit three components with characteristic decay times of ≤1, about 4, and 13–15 ns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C−H bond activation reactions facilitate highly efficient molecular transformations without requiring pre‐activating substrates. While the majority of reported reaction systems for C−H activation rely on metal complexes, certain reactions have demonstrated unique or superior catalysis of metal nanoparticles. This Concept article seeks to delineate recent reports that examine the novel catalysis and design strategy of supported metal nanoparticles for C−H bond activation reactions. These reactions include oxidative homocoupling of arenes, dehydrogenative alkylation of benzenes, selective H/D exchange reactions, and α,β‐dehydrogenation of ketones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exsolution is an effective method for synthesizing robust nanostructured metal‐based functional materials. However, no studies have investigated the exsolution of metal nanoparticles into metal nitride substrates. In this study, a versatile nitridation‐driven exsolution method is developed for embedding catalytically active metal nanoparticles in conductive metal nitride substrates via the ammonolysis of multimetallic oxides. Using this approach, Ti1−xRuxO2 nanowires are phase‐transformed into holey TiN nanotubes embedded with exsolved Ru nanoparticles. These Ru‐exsolved holey TiN nanotubes exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction with excellent durability, which is significantly higher than that of Ru‐deposited TiN nanotubes. The enhanced stability of the Ru‐exsolved TiN nanotubes can be attributed to the Ru nanoparticles embedded in the robust metal nitride matrix and the formation of interfacial Ti3+─N─Ru4+ bonds. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the exsolved Ru nanoparticles have a lower d‐band center position and optimized hydrogen affinity than deposited Ru nanoparticles, indicating the superior electrocatalyst performance of the former. In situ Raman spectroscopic analysis reveals that the electron transfer from TiN to Ru nanoparticles is enhanced during the electrocatalytic process. The proposed approach opens a new avenue for stabilizing diverse metal nanostructures in many conductive matrices like metal phosphides and chalcogenides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the catalyst support layer enables the preparation of catalyst nanoparticles arrayed at high density, they are susceptible to instability in the catalyst activity lifetime due to surface and bulk diffusion mechanisms. This study proposes a strategy to mitigate this limitation by maintaining structural stability and thus chemical reactivity using a double-layer (DL) support architecture. In place of a single support layer, which cannot adequately perform two functions, i.e., inhibit subsurface diffusion and impede surface diffusion mechanisms, the DL support uses two distinct metal oxide layers to address each issue. The DL support is composed of a top "anchor layer" to impede surface diffusion mechanisms, such as Ostwald ripening, and a high crystallinity "sealing layer" to inhibit subsurface diffusion. Elucidation of the roles and requirements of each layer allowed for the generalization of this approach to alternative support material combinations. In this way, we demonstrated significant improvements in the stability and performance of the catalyst array. Furthermore, we demonstrated the growth of millimeter-tall single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) forests, suggesting the potential of DL supports for optimizing catalyst performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is the estimation of the effect of SPI (soybean protein isolated)- cellulose nanofibers (CNF) in combination with TA (tannic acid) and TiO2 NPs (titanium dioxide nanoparticles) on the quality of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillets stored at 4 ± 1 °C in terms of quality properties including the bacterial counts, physicochemical characteristics, and sensory scores. Therefore, the fillets were randomly subjected to the following treatments by wrapping: SPI, SPI-CNF, SPI-CNF/TA, SPI-CNF/ TiO2, and SPI-CNF/TA-TiO2. The TBC and PBC of the SPI-CNF/TA-TiO2 wrapped sample significantly decreased during storage. The results demonstrate that the combination of TA and TiO2 with PSI-CNF solution is an active nanocomposite film with strong antimicrobial effects, exhibiting a synergistic effect between TA and TiO2. Adding CNF into SPI film caused to decrease of bacterial growth in fillets treated with SPI-CNF. SPI-CNF/TiO2 exhibited higher antibacterial activity than SPI-CNF/TA. The samples wrapped with SPI-CNF/TA were better than samples treated with SPI-CNF/TiO2 in reducing lipid and bacterial contamination oxidation of fillets. The sensory acceptance score in common carp fillet wrapped with SPI-CNF/TA-TiO2 was better than other samples on days 12, and it was lower the critical score for fishery products. From this study, it is apparent that SPI-CNF/TA-TiO2 film was the most effective film to preserve fillets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer-based dielectric capacitors have become important energy storage components in electronic power systems attributed to their high breakdown strength, low dielectric loss, good self-healing characteristics and easy-processability. However, the poor dielectric constant and energy storage density of polymers severely limit further practical applications of polymer-based film capacitors. Therefore, it is critical to enhance the dielectric constant as well as the energy density and the energy storage efficiency of polymer-based capacitors. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has become a hot research topic due to its good dielectric properties and high discharged energy density. Beginning with the energy storage principle of dielectrics, three major schemes for the material design and the performance regulation of PVDF-based nanocomposite dielectrics are reviewed: (1) polymers + inorganic high-dielectric nanofillers; (2) polymers + inorganic low dielectric nanofillers; (3) polymers + metal nanoparticles. This review provides an important reference for further improving the energy storage performance of polymer-based dielectric capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal nanoparticles offer promising prospects in agriculture, enhancing plant growth and ensuring food security. Silver, gold, copper, and zinc nanoparticles possess unique properties making them attractive for plant applications. Understanding molecular interactions between metal nanoparticles and plants is crucial for unlocking their potential to boost crop productivity and sustainability. This review explores metal nanoparticles in agriculture, emphasizing the need to understand these interactions. By elucidating mechanisms, it highlights the potential for enhancing crop productivity, stress tolerance, and nutrient-use efficiency, contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security. Quantifying benefits and risks reveal significant advantages. Metal nanoparticles enhance crop productivity by 20% on average and reduce disease incidence by up to 50% when used as antimicrobial agents. They also reduce nutrient leaching by 30% and enhance soil carbon sequestration by 15%, but concerns about toxicity, adverse effects on non-target organisms, and nanoparticle accumulation in the food chain must be addressed. Metal nanoparticles influence cellular processes including sensing, signaling, transcription, translation, and post-translational modifications. They act as signaling molecules, activate stress-responsive genes, enhance defense mechanisms, and improve nutrient uptake. The review explores their catalytic role in nutrient management, disease control, precision agriculture, nano-fertilizers, and nano-remediation. A bibliometric analysis offers insights into the current research landscape, highlighting trends, gaps, and future directions. In conclusion, metal nanoparticles hold potential for revolutionizing agriculture, enhancing productivity, mitigating environmental stressors, and promoting sustainability. Addressing risks and gaps is crucial for their safe integration into agricultural practices.

Cancer, being one of the deadliest diseases, poses significant challenges despite the existence of traditional treatment approaches. This has led to a growing demand for innovative pharmaceutical agents that specifically target cancer cells for effective treatment. In recent years, the use of metal nanoparticles (NPs) as a promising alternative to conventional therapies has gained prominence in cancer research. Metal NPs exhibit unique properties that hold tremendous potential for various applications in cancer treatment. Studies have demonstrated that certain metals possess inherent or acquired anticancer capabilities through their surfaces. These properties make metal NPs an attractive focus for therapeutic development. In this review, we will investigate the applicability of several distinct classes of metal NPs for tumor targeting in cancer treatment. These classes may include gold, silver, iron oxide, and other metals with unique properties that can be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Additionally, we will provide a comprehensive summary of the risk factors associated with the therapeutic application of metal NPs. Understanding and addressing these factors will be crucial for successful clinical translation and to mitigate any potential challenges or failures in the translation of metal NP-based therapies. By exploring the therapeutic potential of metal NPs and identifying the associated risk factors, this review aims to contribute to the advancement of cancer treatment strategies. The anticipated outcome of this review is to provide valuable insights and pave the way for the advancement of effective and targeted therapies utilizing metal NPs specifically for cancer patients.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a treatable infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogen. However, patient non-compliance during treatment contributes to the emergence of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB). This literature review aims to further explore the potential of zinc oxide metal nanoparticles (NP-ZnO) in anti-TB drugs as an advanced modality for MDR-TB treatment by enhancing drug efficacy, reducing intestine degradation, and increasing absorption and bioavailability. Methods: Literature was searched using search engines such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, ResearchGate, and NCBI. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in 14 relevant articles. Results and Discussion: Zinc oxide metal nanoparticles (NP-ZnO) exhibit antibacterial effects. Studies show that NP-ZnO can decrease Rifampicin's minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) fourfold by enhancing bacterial cell membrane permeability and increasing bactericidal effects through interactions with host macrophage cells. Bactericidal effects were found with NP-ZnO and its combination with selenium (NP ZnO-Se). Meanwhile, bacteriostatic effects on MDR-TB and XDR-TB were observed with NP-ZnO and its combination with silver (NP Ag-ZnO). Conclusion: NP-ZnO encapsulated first-line anti-TB drugs offer advantages in delivering medication to target organs, accelerating therapy onset even with smaller doses, and mimicking M.tb's activity in infecting target organs. NP-ZnO and its combinations are also more sensitive in interacting with alveolar macrophages, the first immune cells responding to M.tb. NP-ZnO encapsulated first-line anti-TB drug technology holds potential as an advanced modality for MDR-TB treatment. Keyword: First-line anti-TB drugs, metal nanoparticle, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, zinc oxide nanoparticle Latar Belakang: Tuberkulosis (TBC) merupakan penyakit menular yang disebabkan oleh patogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) dan dapat diobati, tetapi rendahnya kepatuhan pasien selama pengobatan berdampak pada timbulnya Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Tinjauan literatur ini bertujuan untuk meninjau lebih lanjut potensi teknologi nanopartikel logam seng oksida (NP-ZnO) pada obat anti-TB sebagai modalitas mutakhir pengobatan penyakit MDR-TB dengan meningkatkan kemanjuran obat yang diberikan, mengurangi degradasi usus, serta meningkatkan absorpsi dan bioavailabilitas. Metode: Literatur dicari menggunakan situs pencari seperti Google Scholar, Science Direct, ResearchGate, dan NCBI. Kriteria inklusi dan eksklusi digunakan untuk mengeliminasi literatur yang tidak berkaitan sehingga diperoleh 14 literatur. Hasil dan Pembahasan: Nanopartikel logam seng oksida (NP-ZnO) menunjukkan efek antibakteri. Studi ini menunjukkan NP-ZnO dapat menurunkan minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) rifampisin empat kali lipat dengan meningkatkan permeabilitas membran sel bakteri serta meningkatkan efek bakterisida melalui interaksinya dengan makrofag sel inang. Efek bakterisida ditemukan pada NP-ZnO dan kombinasinya dengan selenium (NP ZnO-Se). Sementara itu, efek bakteriostatik MDR-TB dan XDR-TB ditemukan pada NP-ZnO dan kombinasinya dengan perak (NP Ag-ZnO). Kesimpulan: Obat anti-TB lini pertama terenkapsulasi NP-ZnO memiliki keunggulan dalam penghantaran obat ke organ target, mempercepat onset terapi walau dengan dosis yang lebih kecil, dan meniru aktivitas M.tb dalam menginfeksi organ target. NP-ZnO maupun kombinasinya juga lebih sensitif dalam berinteraksi dengan makrofag alveolar yang merupakan sel imun pertama yang merespons M.tb. Teknologi obat anti-TB lini pertama terenkapsulasi NP-ZnO berpotensi sebagai modalitas mutakhir pengobatan MDR-TB. Kata Kunci: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, nanopartikel logam, nanopartikel seng oksida, obat anti-TB lini pertama

Many body effects in the wetting layer (WL)-double quantum dot (DQD)-metal nanoparticle (MNP) structure have been studied by modeling the Coulomb scattering rates in this structure. The strong coupling between WL-DQD-MNPs was considered. An orthogonalized plane wave (OPW) is assumed between WL-QD transitions. The transition momenta are calculated accordingly to specify the normalized Rabi frequency on this structure, considering the strong coupling between the WL-DQD-MNP structures. This approach is important for realizing scattering rates, including in-and-out capture and relaxation rates, which are essential for specifying the type of structure used depending on the optimum value of the scattering time required to fit the application. The QD hole capture rate is the highest, and the hole capture times are the shortest. The relaxation times are less than the electron capture times by one order, while they are half of the hole capture times. The capture rates increase with increasing distance R between the DQDs and the MNP. High tunneling increases hole-capture rates and changes the relaxation rates, showing the importance of tunneling in controlling the scattering rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, silica nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as biocompatible and stable templates for embedding noble metals. Noble-metal-embedded silica NPs utilize the exceptional optical properties of novel metals while overcoming the limitations of individual novel metal NPs. In addition, the structure of metal-embedded silica NPs decorated with small metal NPs around the silica core results in strong signal enhancement in localized surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. This review summarizes recent studies on metal-embedded silica NPs, focusing on their unique designs and applications. The characteristics of the metal-embedded silica NPs depend on the type and structure of the embedded metals. Based on this progress, metal-embedded silica NPs are currently utilized in various spectroscopic applications, serving as nanozymes, detection and imaging probes, drug carriers, photothermal inducers, and bioactivation molecule screening identifiers. Owing to their versatile roles, metal-embedded silica NPs are expected to be applied in various fields, such as biology and medicine, in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven hydrogen (H2) evolution combined with synchronously selective oxidation for fine chemicals production is of great significance in energy and synthetic chemistry. Herein, ultrafine Pd nanoparticles‐encapsulated MIL‐100(Fe) (Pd‐MOF‐Fe) nanocomposites are synthesized through double‐solvent impregnation integrated with photo‐reduction method. Integrating MOF‐based catalysis and Pd‐based catalysis, the Pd‐MOF‐Fe can serve as multifunctional catalyst for photoinduced alcohol dehydrogenation reaction. Optimal generation rates of H2 (3.61 mmol g−1 h−1) and benzaldehyde (3.40 mmol g−1 h−1) are gained over Pd‐MOF‐Fe, ca. 4.1 times that of the Pd/MOF‐Fe, in which Pd crystals with size ranging from 3 to 6 nm are immobilized on the intersurface of MOFs. Besides, controlled experiments reveal the pivotal role of the opened FeO6 nodes of MIL‐100(Fe) as Lewis acid sites toward alcohol activation. This work provides a controllable approach for metal nanoparticle immobilization. Furthermore, considering the diversified MOF structures, this study also highlights the infinite possibility of metal nanoparticle/MOFs as multifunctional platform for solar energy conversion and chemicals production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To calculate the optical parameters, the finite difference method in the time domain (FDTD) was used, which can be applied to solve Maxwell's equations. A large number of combinations of a planar structure with metal nanoparticles and a structure with nanowires and metal nanoparticles (NPs) were calculated. The height of nanowires h varied from 50 to 3000 nm, the period of the structure P was 100-600 nm, and the diameter of metal nanoparticles d was 50-400 nm. The reduction of light reflection was determined by the anti-reflection effect of the Si-NWs array itself and the direct scattering effect of metal nanoparticles. It was shown that all structures gave significantly lower reflection coefficients compared to that of a solid silicon plate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Organ ischemia-reperfusion (IR) is a common clinical condition associated with various situations such as trauma surgery, organ transplantation, and myocardial ischemia. Current therapeutic methods for IR injury have limitations, and nanotechnology, particularly zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), offers new approaches for disease diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we investigated the protective and anti-apoptotic effects of ZnO NPs in liver ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rats. Methods: Forty-eight male rats were divided into six groups: sham, ZnO5, ZnO10, ischemiareperfusion (IR), IR+ZnO5, and IR+ZnO10. The protective effect of ZnO NPs was evaluated by liver enzymes (AST, ALT, Bilirubin, ALP), biochemical (TAC, TNF-a, and MDA), molecular examinations (Bcl2, BAX), and histopathological evaluations (H&E, TUNEL). Results: Pre-treatment with ZnO5 and ZnO10 improved hepatic function in IR liver injury, attenuated the levels of oxidants (P = 0.03) and inflammatory mediators, and reduced apoptosis (P = 0). ZnO10 was found to have a greater effect on ischemic reperfusion injury than ZnO5 did. Histopathological examination also showed a dose-dependent decrease in alterations in the IR+ZnO5 and IR+ZnO10 groups. Conclusion: Administration of ZnO5 and ZnO10 improved liver function after IR. The findings of this study suggest that ZnO NPs have a protective effect against oxidative stress and apoptosis in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. These results may have important implications for developing advanced methods in ischemia-reperfusion treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Exsolution is an effective method for synthesizing robust nanostructured metal‐based functional materials. However, no studies have investigated the exsolution of metal nanoparticles into metal nitride substrates. In this study, a versatile nitridation‐driven exsolution method is developed for embedding catalytically active metal nanoparticles in conductive metal nitride substrates via the ammonolysis of multimetallic oxides. Using this approach, Ti1−xRuxO2 nanowires are phase‐transformed into holey TiN nanotubes embedded with exsolved Ru nanoparticles. These Ru‐exsolved holey TiN nanotubes exhibit outstanding electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction with excellent durability, which is significantly higher than that of Ru‐deposited TiN nanotubes. The enhanced stability of the Ru‐exsolved TiN nanotubes can be attributed to the Ru nanoparticles embedded in the robust metal nitride matrix and the formation of interfacial Ti3+─N─Ru4+ bonds. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the exsolved Ru nanoparticles have a lower d‐band center position and optimized hydrogen affinity than deposited Ru nanoparticles, indicating the superior electrocatalyst performance of the former. In situ Raman spectroscopic analysis reveals that the electron transfer from TiN to Ru nanoparticles is enhanced during the electrocatalytic process. The proposed approach opens a new avenue for stabilizing diverse metal nanostructures in many conductive matrices like metal phosphides and chalcogenides.

Leishmaniasis is a complex disease present in a variety of manifestations listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the neglected diseases with a worse prognosis if not treated. Medicinal inorganic chemistry has provided a variety of drugs based on metal–organic complexes synthesized with different metal centers and organic ligands to fight against a great number of parasite maladies and specifically Leishmaniasis. Taking advantage of the natural properties that many metals present for biotechnological purposes, nanotechnology has offered, in recent years, a new approach consisting on the application of metal nanoparticles to treat a great number of parasitic diseases, as a drug vehicle or as a treatment themselves. The aim of this review is to gather the most widely used metal complexes and metallic nanoparticles and the most recent strategies proposed as antileishmanial agents.

This work studies the tunability of absorbed energy rate ( Q tot ) from a double quantum dot (DQD)-metal nanoparticle (MNP) system under changing the transition momenta of the quantum dot (QD)-QD and wetting layer (WL)-QD. The modeling considers the WL and the orthogonalized plane wave (OPW) for WL-QD transitions, and the study is taken when the plasmonic electromagnetically induced transparency (PEIT) is attained. PEIT was not studied earlier under OPW consideration, which is essential for considering the formulation of the WL-QD system. Also, our modeling is a material property that does not take an averaging of energies and momenta as in the literature. It calculates the QD energy states, QD-QD, and WL-QD transition momenta. It is shown that a slight variation in the QD-QD momentum gives efficient changes in the Q tot . Reducing the WL-QD valence band momenta is more efficient in Q tot reduction while the spectrum exhibits four PEIT windows. Also, controlling the WL-QD conduction band transition gives six PEIT windows. These results are essential in biomedical and quantum computer applications. It is significant and is not obtained with other QD-MNP systems. It results from the flexibility of the DQD-MNP system used here, not found in other systems. One of the WL-QD momenta has an inverted effect on Q tot . The results in this work show that the transition momenta can tune PEIT, which refers to a high possibility of designing the structure according to the application required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction of excitons with localized surface plasmons in hybrid nanostructures containing semiconductor quantum dots and metal nanoparticles, under specific conditions, may generate products with collective optical properties that have an abundance of potential applications in the area of nanotechnology. In the present study, we explore the behavior of the linear absorption and dispersion properties of the double-semiconductor quantum dot molecule in the presence of a spherical metal nanoparticle. We find that a transparency window arises in the absorption spectrum, the width of which decreases with the decrease in the electron tunnelling rate. In the low-electron-tunnelling regime, slow light is generated, an effect closely associated with tunneling-induced transparency. The enhancement of the tunneling rate induces a broadening in the transparency window, occurring due to the Autler–Townes splitting. The investigation of the impact of the distance between the quantum dot and the metal nanoparticle on the slowdown factor and the width of the transparency window shows that, by transposing the metal nanoparticle closer to the double-semiconductor quantum dot molecule, the transparency window widens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The study of strong coupling between light and matter has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential applications in diverse fields, including artificial light harvesting, ultraefficient polariton lasing, and quantum information processing. Plasmonic cavities are a compelling alternative of conventional photonic resonators, enabling ultracompact polaritonic systems to operate at room temperature. This review focuses on colloidal metal nanoparticles, highlighting their advantages as plasmonic cavities in terms of their facile synthesis, tunable plasmonic properties, and easy integration with excitonic materials. We explore recent examples of strong coupling in single nanoparticles, dimers, nanoparticle-on-a-mirror configurations, and other types of nanoparticle-based resonators. These systems are coupled with an array of excitonic materials, including atomic emitters, semiconductor quantum dots, two-dimensional materials, and perovskites. In the concluding section, we offer perspectives on the future of strong coupling research in nanoparticle systems, emphasizing the challenges and potentials that lie ahead. By offering a thorough understanding of the current state of research in this field, we aim to inspire further investigations and advances in the study of strongly coupled nanoparticle systems, ultimately unlocking new avenues in nanophotonic applications.

Water covers more than two-thirds of the earth's surface, but only around 0.3% is suitable for human use. Water sources are highly polluted with various chemicals, heavy metals, and agricultural wastes. The quick and precise assessment of these contaminants in the water is one of the most important aspects of environmental monitoring. Antibiotics are one of the emerging groups of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic ecosystems due to their uncontrolled release and overuse. This review highlights important optical sensing techniques and analytical tools for onsite antibiotic monitoring in water samples that are simple to use and require minimal sample preparation. The integration of nanomaterials with these optical technologies has helped with exceptional detection capability and good stability due to their unique optical properties. In particular, this review summarizes surface plasmon resonance, colorimetry, fluorescence, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy-based detection, and their realization toward the chip and optical fiber-based sensors development. The characteristics and advantages of various nanomaterials for antibiotic detection, their mechanism of action, and future trends are discussed in detail. The insights of this review article will be informative and guide the researchers to develop advanced optical sensors for antibiotic detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rare sugar D-allulose is a potential replacement for sucrose with a wide range of health benefits. Conventional production involves the employment of the Izumoring strategy, which utilises D-allulose 3-epimerase (DAEase) or D-psicose 3-epimerase (DPEase) to convert D-fructose into D-allulose. Additionally, the process can also utilise D-tagatose 3-epimerase (DTEase). However, the process is not efficient due to the poor thermotolerance of the enzymes and low conversion rates between the sugars. This review describes three newly identified DAEases that possess desirable properties for the industrial-scale manufacturing of D-allulose. Other methods used to enhance process efficiency include the engineering of DAEases for improved thermotolerance or acid resistance, the utilization of Bacillus subtilis for the biosynthesis of D-allulose, and the immobilization of DAEases to enhance its activity, half-life, and stability. All these research advancements improve the yield of D-allulose, hence closing the gap between the small-scale production and industrial-scale manufacturing of D-allulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additive manufacturing (AM), often referred to as 3D printing, is an emerging technology with a wide range of industrial applications and process typologies. Although the release of metal nanoparticles as by-products could occur, occupational exposure limits and cogent safety standards are not currently available due to the novelty of the technology. To support the definition of benchmarks, this study aims to provide a preliminary comparison between the nanoparticle release patterns of laser metal deposition, adopting different feedstocks, namely, metal wire and metal powder. The monitored device is a university research setup, and the work presents the results of two different processes with AISI 316 L as a feedstock in powder and wired form, respectively. The monitoring confirmed the outcomes of previous studies, with a high release of nanoparticles from the powder head on the device (average 138,713 n/cm3 during printing, with maximum values exceeding 106 n/cm3). Moreover, the results show a significant concentration of nanoparticles with a wire head during the printing phase (average release of 628,156 n/cm3 with a maximum of 1,114,987 n/cm3) and pauses (average of 32,633 n/cm3 and a maximum of 733,779 n/cm3). The monitored values during pauses are particularly relevant since no personal protection equipment was used in the wire processes and the operators could access the printing room during pauses for device interventions, thus being exposed to significant nanoparticle concentrations. This study presents a preliminary evaluation of the potential exposure during laser metal deposition while implementing different technologies and provides evidence for defining effective operational safety procedures for the operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of tailored medication delivery in cancer treatment has the potential to increase efficacy while decreasing unfavourable side effects. For researchers looking to improve clinical outcomes, chemotherapy for cancer continues to be the most challenging topic. Cancer is one of the worst illnesses despite the limits of current cancer therapies. New anticancer medications are therefore required to treat cancer. Nanotechnology has revolutionized medical research with new and improved materials for biomedical applications, with a particular focus on therapy and diagnostics. In cancer research, the application of metal nanoparticles as substitute chemotherapy drugs is growing. Metals exhibit inherent or surface-induced anticancer properties, making metallic nanoparticles extremely useful. The development of metal nanoparticles is proceeding rapidly and in many directions, offering alternative therapeutic strategies and improving outcomes for many cancer treatments. This review aimed to present the most commonly used nanoparticles for cancer applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revealing the fundamental mechanisms governing reactant-induced disintegration of supported metal nanoparticles and their dependences on the metal component and reactant species is vital for improving the stability of supported metal nanocatalysts and single-atom catalysts. Here we use first-principles based disintegration thermodynamics to study the CO- and OH- induced disintegration of Ag, Cu, Au, Ni, Pt, Rh, Ru, and Ir nanoparticles into metal-reactant complexes (M(CO)n, M(OH)n, n=1 and 2) on the pristine and bridge oxygen vacancy site of TiO2(110). It was found that CO has a stronger interaction with these considered transition metals compared to OH, resulting in lower formation energy and a larger promotion effect on the disintegration of nanoparticles (NPs). The corresponding reactant adsorption energy shows a linear dependence on the metal cohesive energy, and metals with higher cohesive energies tend to have higher atomic stability due to their stronger binding with reactant and support. Further disintegration free energy calculations of NPs into metal-reactant complexes indicate only CO-induced disintegration of Ni, Rh, Ru, and Ir nanoparticles is thermodynamically feasible. These results provide a deeper understanding of reactant-induced disintegration of metal nanoparticles into thermodynamically stable metal single-atom catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of strong coupling between light and matter has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential applications in diverse fields, including artificial light harvesting, ultraefficient polariton lasing, and quantum information processing. Plasmonic cavities are a compelling alternative of conventional photonic resonators, enabling ultracompact polaritonic systems to operate at room temperature. This review focuses on colloidal metal nanoparticles, highlighting their advantages as plasmonic cavities in terms of their facile synthesis, tunable plasmonic properties, and easy integration with excitonic materials. We explore recent examples of strong coupling in single nanoparticles, dimers, nanoparticle-on-a-mirror configurations, and other types of nanoparticle-based resonators. These systems are coupled with an array of excitonic materials, including atomic emitters, semiconductor quantum dots, two-dimensional materials, and perovskites. In the concluding section, we offer perspectives on the future of strong coupling research in nanoparticle systems, emphasizing the challenges and potentials that lie ahead. By offering a thorough understanding of the current state of research in this field, we aim to inspire further investigations and advances in the study of strongly coupled nanoparticle systems, ultimately unlocking new avenues in nanophotonic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical and biological methods are available for synthesizing manganese dioxide nanoparticles, with the characteristic electrochemical features tunable through natural product extract. MnO2 nanoparticles reduce the prevalence of organism resistance to drugs. Manganese dioxide nanoparticles are effective against various bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli. Manganese dioxide nanoparticles can potentially be used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and the preservation of cartilage. They are also promising ROS scavengers and may be used to fabricate antioxidant polymer microreactors. In cancer treatment, the MnO2 nanoparticles inhibit ATP production by cancer cells. In magnetic resonance imaging, the nanoparticles improve the signal-to-noise ratio and selectivity. Based on this background information, MnO2 nanoparticles today find use in photodynamic, chemodynamic, and immune therapy and diagnostics, where the oxygen produced by MnO2 nanoparticles is said to improve the therapeutic efficiency. Hybrid nanoparticles of gold nanorods and MnO2 nanoparticles enhance the performance in hormone-, pH-, and NIR- responsiveness. Other applications include glucose oxidase activity, photothermal conversion, and enhanced antitumor immunity. On the other hand, the nanoparticles can cause spermatogenesis failure, oxidative stress, active oxygen, and sperm motility reduction. As surface functionalization can improve the overall functional properties of the nanoparticles, polymer coating on MnO2 nanoparticles brings about new and improved properties. For instance, the layer of biopolymers such as chitosan enhances the magnetic resonance images’ quality and opens up the potential for attaching drugs and targeting moieties.

Carbon-based electrode materials have been widely applied for the electrochemical analysis of biomolecules. In addition to traditional carbon electrodes such as glassy carbon and carbon paste, a wide variety of carbon materials such as nanocarbons and boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes have been employed for electrochemical analysis and biosensors in the last 25 years. Of the carbon electrode materials, carbon films are practically advantageous because they can be fabricated reproducibly with a wide range of shapes and sizes. In this paper, we report the application of sputter deposited nanocarbon film electrodes for the electrochemical analysis of biomolecules. The pure nanocarbon film electrodes have been employed for detecting DNA methylation, and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Nitrogen-containing carbon films show improved electrochemical activity for biomolecules and excellent biocompatibility with interferents such as proteins. Metal nanoparticle embedded or modified carbon film electrodes show excellent electrocatalytic performance with sugars.

The theoretical analysis of the energy relaxation of an electron–phonon system of metal nanoparticles embedded in a dielectric matrix is usually based on semiphenomenological dynamic equations for electron and phonon temperatures (two-temperature model), which does not take into account the nonthermal nature of the phonon distribution function. In this work, we use a microscopic model that describes the dynamics of the electron–phonon system of metal nanorods and metal spherical nanoparticles in terms of the kinetic equation for the phonon distribution function. We focus on the size effect in the transfer of heat from a nanoparticle to a dielectric matrix. If the dimensions of the nanoparticle are much larger than the phonon-electron mean free path, then the heat transfer is determined by the properties of the interface between the nanoparticle and the matrix. In the opposite case, heat removal is determined solely by the parameters of the electron–phonon interaction in a metal nanoparticle. The dynamics of cooling of nanoparticles is also considered and the dependence of the electron temperature on time is obtained.

Recently, silica nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as biocompatible and stable templates for embedding noble metals. Noble-metal-embedded silica NPs utilize the exceptional optical properties of novel metals while overcoming the limitations of individual novel metal NPs. In addition, the structure of metal-embedded silica NPs decorated with small metal NPs around the silica core results in strong signal enhancement in localized surface plasmon resonance and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. This review summarizes recent studies on metal-embedded silica NPs, focusing on their unique designs and applications. The characteristics of the metal-embedded silica NPs depend on the type and structure of the embedded metals. Based on this progress, metal-embedded silica NPs are currently utilized in various spectroscopic applications, serving as nanozymes, detection and imaging probes, drug carriers, photothermal inducers, and bioactivation molecule screening identifiers. Owing to their versatile roles, metal-embedded silica NPs are expected to be applied in various fields, such as biology and medicine, in the future.

Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in daily life and commercial activities owing to their unique physicochemical properties. Consequently, there is an increasing risk of daily and occupational exposure to metal NPs, which raises concerns regarding their health hazards. Programmed cell deaths (PCDs) have been clarified to be involved in metal NP-induced cytotoxicity, including apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis. However, whether and how ferroptosis, a newly recognized PCD, contributes to metal NP-induced cell death remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the ferroptotic effects of two representative metal NPs, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), on macrophages in vitro. Our results revealed that AgNPs, rather than AuNPs, induced non-apoptotic PCD, accompanied by lipid peroxidation and iron homeostasis disorders, which are two hallmarks of ferroptosis, in macrophages. Treatment with a ferroptosis inhibitor (ferrostatin-1) and iron chelator (deferoxamine) reversed AgNP-induced PCD, corroborating the induction of ferroptosis upon exposure to AgNPs. Moreover, our results revealed that smaller AgNPs elicited greater ferroptotic effects on macrophages than larger ones. Importantly, ferroptosis in AgNP-treated macrophages was mainly triggered by AgNPs per se rather than by Ag ions. Overall, our study highlights the ferroptotic effects elicited by AgNPs in macrophages, which will promote the understanding of their cytotoxic effects and facilitate the safer design of metal nanoproducts.

To deal with the increasing consumption of metal oxide nanoparticles and carbon-based nanomaterials challenges, researchers have focused their attention on finding environmentally friendly paths for the synthesis of nanoparticles. In this study, a green approach synthesized graphene oxide-based nanoparticles from brown seaweed of Polycladia myrica, ZnO, and TiO2 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were investigated with XRD, Raman, FESEM, EDS, mapping, and TEM. The bioactivity of antibacterial, anti-algae, and toxicity of barnacle larvae was evaluated for the nanoparticles. The best results were observed in the antibacterial test and toxicity of barnacle larvae in the graphene oxide reduced with P. myrica/zinc oxide (GZ) nanoparticles and anti-algae test in the graphene oxide reduced with P. myrica/zinc oxide/titanium dioxide (GTZ) nanoparticles. Compared with inorganic NPs, the nanoecotoxicological effects of GZ and GTZ nanoparticles are less studied in saltwater. However, the results presented in this study provide a better understanding of the antimicrobial, toxic potential, and benefits of green GZ and GTZ nanoparticles to replace them in an eco-friendly manner with a chemical counterpart for widespread biomedical applications. Herein, we wish to report a green approach for synthesized graphene oxide-based nanoparticles from brown seaweed of Polycladia myrica, ZnO, and TiO2 nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of ruthenium nanoparticles (RuNPs) were synthesized by the organometallic approach in different functionalized imidazolium ionic liquids (FILs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed well-dispersed and narrow-sized RuNPs ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 nm, depending on the IL functionalization. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) allowed the interaction between the RuNPs and the ILs to be studied. The RuNPs stabilized by methoxy-based FILs (MEM and MME) displayed a good balance between catalytic activity and stability when evaluated in the hydrogenation of styrene (S) under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, the catalysts showed total selectivity towards ethylbenzene (EB) under milder reaction conditions (5 bar, 30 °C) than reported in the literature for other RuNP catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bottom‐up assembly of nanoparticle‐on‐mirror (NPoM) nanocavities enables precise inter‐metal gap control down to ≈ 0.4 nm for confining light to sub‐nanometer scales, thereby opening opportunities for developing innovative nanophotonic devices. However limited understanding, prediction, and optimization of light coupling and the difficulty of controlling nanoparticle facet shapes restricts the use of such building blocks. Here, an ultraprecise symmetry‐breaking plasmonic nanocavity based on gold nanodecahedra is presented, to form the nanodecahedron‐on‐mirror (NDoM) which shows highly consistent cavity modes and fields. By characterizing > 20 000 individual NDoMs, the variability of light in/output coupling is thoroughly explored and a set of robust higher‐order plasmonic whispering gallery modes uniquely localized at the edges of the triangular facet in contact with the metallic substrate is found. Assisted by quasinormal mode simulations, systematic elaboration of NDoMs is proposed to give nanocavities with near hundred‐fold enhanced radiative efficiencies. Such systematically designed and precisely‐assembled metallic nanocavities will find broad application in nanophotonic devices, optomechanics, and surface science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, researchers have focused on the recycling of agro-food wastes for the production of value-added products. This eco-friendly trend is also observed in nanotechnology, where recycled raw materials may be processed into valuable nanomaterials with practical applications. Regarding environmental safety, replacing hazardous chemical substances with natural products obtained from plant wastes is an excellent opportunity for the "green synthesis" of nanomaterials. This paper aims to critically discuss plant waste, with particular emphasis on grape waste, methods of recovery of active compounds, and nanomaterials obtained from by-products, along with their versatile applications, including healthcare uses. Moreover, the challenges that may appear in this field, as well as future perspectives, are also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a highly contagious DNA virus that affects the majority of people worldwide. HSV establishes a latent infection in the ganglia, where it can reactivate, leading to recurrent disease. Currently, there are many experimental vaccines against HSV, but none have been used to treat herpes infections. At the same time, the therapeutic effect of existing anti-HSV drugs is limited. Nanocarriers, which deliver drugs to specific targets, have been used in different diseases, including viral infections. Nanocarriers could be designed to encapsulate drugs and directly target infected cells. This review will describe in detail the use of nanocarriers for targeted therapy of HSV infection. HSV is a widespread DNA virus that affects most people worldwide. Although there are many experimental vaccines against HSV, none have completed clinical trials and are put into use. At the same time, the therapeutic effect of existing anti-HSV drugs is limited. Nanocarriers, which can deliver drugs to specific targets, have been used in different diseases, including viral infections. Nanocarriers can be designed to wrap drugs and target infected cells directly. The application of nanocarriers in targeted therapy for HSV infection will be introduced in detail here. HSV is a widespread DNA virus that affects most people worldwide. Although there are many experimental vaccines against HSV, none have completed clinical trials and entered service. Meanwhile, the therapeutic effect of existing anti-HSV drugs is limited. Nanocarriers, which can deliver drugs to specific targets, have been used in different diseases, including viral infections. Nanocarriers can be designed to wrap drugs and directly target infected cells. Let's review the application of nanocarriers in targeted therapy for HSV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]