Acid Nanocomposites Research Articles

Solvent-free synthesis of covalent-framework 2D crown ether and its application for polylactic acid nanocomposites having antibacterial property

This study showed the synthesis of a covalent-frameworked 2D crown ether, named C2O, consisting of carbon and oxygen in a 2:1 mol ratio, using solvent-free synthesis for the first time. The synthesized C2O is distinguished by its structure, which includes numerous phenol groups akin to phlorotannins, conferring high antibacterial property through contact-based mechanisms and biocompatibility. The inherent crown ether structure of C2O facilitates efficient metal adsorption, allowing for the easy facile preparation of C2O containing Cu atom (Cu@C2O). Cu@C2O exhibits enhanced antibacterial property at much lower concentrations compared to the native C2O. For practical application, polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite films were prepared using C2O as a filler, achieving 99.99 % of antibacterial property at just 0.1 wt% concentration. When the PLA nanocomposite films were prepared using Cu@C2O as the filler, the required concentration was further reduced to 0.03 wt%, while still demonstrating 99.99 % of antibacterial property. Additionally, the excellent copper ion adsorption capacity of Cu@C2O ensures minimal leaching, thus mitigating cytotoxicity concerns. Given their high and long-term antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, these materials represent promising candidates for various biomedical, packaging and antifouling paint applications, demonstrating significant potential across diverse domains.

Silica nanoparticles@folic acid (SNPs@FA) nanocomposite for the effective removal of Hg(II) from aqueous solution: insight into physicochemical properties, adsorption modelling, isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic investigations

ABSTRACT This study involved the preparation and utilisation of silica nanoparticles functionalised with folic acid (SNPs@FA) nanocomposite in the adsorptive removal of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions before its spectrometric analysis. Different characterisation techniques were employed to comprehensively assess the different physicochemical properties of the prepared adsorbent, such as elemental analysis, FTIR, SEM, TEM, XRD, TGA, BET, and pHpzc. Investigations were conducted into the variables influencing the adsorption process, such as pH, contact duration, adsorbent dosage, and Hg(II) concentration. It was found that a pH of 7 was ideal, while adsorption equilibration took 80 min. The Langmuir model suited the experimental data well, and 129.03 mg/g of Hg(II) was the maximum adsorption capacity. The kinetic data obtained from the experiments exhibited a remarkable alignment with the pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, the computed thermodynamic characteristics provided compelling evidence that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous. The recommended process was effectively used to recover Hg(II) that had been added to some real water samples. The regeneration investigation using potassium iodide demonstrated the remarkable regenerative power of the manufactured adsorbent. Finally, the obtained results in this work showed that silica nanoparticles@folic acid nanocomposite is a very efficient and environmentally safe adsorbent and can be used for cleaning mercury-contaminated water.

Improved Adsorption of Organic Dyes onto a Polypyrrole/Tannic Acid Nanocomposite.

Methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) dyes are toxic and carcinogenic; thus, their presence in water bodies has been a major concern. Designing an efficient adsorbent for removal of these dyes is a scientific challenge for researchers. In this work, a polypyrrole-tannic acid nanocomposite was prepared via a chemical oxidation method and used as a novel adsorbent for removing these toxic dyes. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods. The effect of different parameters on adsorption such as adsorbent doses, temperature, pH, initial dye concentration, and contact time was studied. The adsorption was in line with pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model. ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° were calculated to ascertain the feasibility of adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacities attained for this adsorbent were found to be 204.08 mg/g toward the MO dye and 217.39 mg/g toward the MB dye.

Fabrication of Cellulose Nanofiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Containing Anthocyanidin-Based Red Cabbage Extract For Anti-counterfeiting Thermochromic Ink

Fabrication of Cellulose Nanofiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Nanocomposite Containing Anthocyanidin-Based Red Cabbage Extract For Anti-counterfeiting Thermochromic Ink

Investigating the Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Sr and Fe Doped TiO2-Folic Acid Nanocomposite: Potential Therapeutic Applications

Investigating the Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Sr and Fe Doped TiO2-Folic Acid Nanocomposite: Potential Therapeutic Applications

A bio-sorbent based on polylactic acid nanocomposites for thin-film microextraction

A bio-sorbent based on polylactic acid nanocomposites for thin-film microextraction

Inclusion of modified nano-magnesium hydroxide as an adjuvant flame retardant in the development of PLA/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

For the preparation of thermal stable and flame-retardant polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites two new modified nano-structures including imide-carboxylated chitosan modified Mg(OH)2 (ICMH) and imide-silane functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (ISHA) were prepared. The structure, morphology, and properties of ICMH and ISHA were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PLA nanocomposites were prepared via solution casting method. The results of Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and SEM indicated a homogeneous structure for the PLA nanocomposites. The TGA results revealed that the presence of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA) led to increase the thermal resistance of the PLA nanocomposites containing Mg(OH)2 (MDH). Compared to pure PLA, the Tmax value of the PLA sample containing 3 wt% of each filler (the PMH6 sample) enhanced from 364 °C to 372 °C. The results from the microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) test illustrated that the key parameter values of the PLA nanocomposites were reduced, as compared to the pure PLA. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) and heat release capacity (HRC) values of PMH6 decreased 27 % and 35 %, respectively, as compared to the pure PLA. Also, flammability of PMH6 was reduced, as compared to the pure PLA, with UL-94 V-1 rating and LOI value 26.8 %. Furthermore, the tensile strength of the mentioned sample increased from 36.04 MPa to 38.58 MPa.

Investigation on Tensile Properties of Polylactide-Nanoclay (PLA/ MMT) Surface Modification Nanocomposites

Polylactic acid (PLA) has gained significant attention as an environmentally friendly biopolymer, but its limited mechanical properties have hindered broader applications. Nanoparticles such as montmorillonite (MMT) offer a promising approach to address this limitation. The intercalation of MMT with polymer chains can significantly impact the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Hence, this paper investigated the effect of surface-modified montmorillonite (MMT) nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposites. The acetylation process of MMT was carried out followed by neutralisation process with NaOH. PLA granules and acetylated-modified MMT were mixed, crushed into granular form, and moulded. The effect of varying concentrations of modified MMTs on the tensile strength, elongation at break, and maximum force of PLA/MMT nanocomposites was evaluated using the ASTM D638 standard. FTIR results showed shifts in peak intensities in regions 2750 cm-1- 2810 cm-1 led to changes in the aliphatic and aromatic regions, which confirmed the presence of acetylation. Controlled surface modification improved interfacial interactions and load distribution, enhancing overall mechanical performance. The incorporation of surface-modified MMT in PLA/MMT nanocomposite increased the maximum force, Young's modulus, elongation at breaks and tensile strength. PLA/1wt% MMT and the PLA/7wt% MMT compositions exhibited good mechanical properties. However, the PLA/5 wt% MMT blendis deemed more suitable for food applications, such as disposable cups, plates, and cutleries, due to its lower elongation point. In conclusion, the hydrophilic properties of MMT and the hydrophobic properties of PLA are compatible due to the synergistic effects during surface modification which enhance the overall performance of the nanocomposites.

Investigation of mechanical properties of compatibilized polyvinyl chloride/polylactic acid nanocomposites

AbstractPolymer alloying is particularly important due to the possibility of choosing a wide range of materials and the ability to design a product with desired properties. In case of incompatibility between the components, the resulting alloy cannot meet the set of desired properties and shows poor performance. In this research, alloys of polyvinyl chloride and polylactic acid were prepared in an internal mixer and nanoclay and maleic anhydride‐grafted styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MAH) compatibilizer were used to improve the properties. In order to investigate the morphology and phase distribution of polylactic acid, scanning electron microscope images were taken. Tensile and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis tests were performed to evaluate the properties of the samples. The scanning electron microscope test images show the improvement of system uniformity by adding compatibilizer to the alloy. Adding nanoclay to the alloy increased the storage modulus and uniformity of the system. An increase in glass transition temperature and storage modulus was observed in the samples containing compatibilizer, and the uniformity of the system was also improved. The tensile test results showed that by adding nanoclay up to 3 % by weight, the tensile strength and Young′s modulus increase. Addition of compatibilizer up to 5 % by weight increased the physical and mechanical properties.

Anisotropic mechanical and sensing properties of carbon black-polylactic acid nanocomposites produced by fused filament fabrication

3D-printable conductive polymers are gaining remarkable attention for diverse applications, including wearables, pressure sensors, interference shielding, flexible electronics, and damage identification. However, the relationship between the anisotropy of their mechanical and electrical properties remains rather unexplored. This study focuses on characterizing Polylactic Acid/Carbon Black nanocomposites manufactured through fused filament fabrication. It aims to investigate the effect of the orientation of 3D printing layers on the mechanical properties, failure mechanisms, and self-sensing capabilities of the 3D printed material. To this end, we use a coupled health monitoring system in which electrical resistance measurements are applied to diagnose the damage state of 3D-printed samples during tensile testing. The results provide novel insights into the strong dependence of the material behavior on 3D printing pattern orientation, suggesting avenues for optimizing mechanical and electrical anisotropy through a multi-objective approach. Additionally, they offer guidelines for designing self-sensing components for structural health monitoring applications and strain gauge sensors with superior performance.

Copper doped hybrid 2D ZnO-stearic acid nanocomposite for boosting photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants under simulated solar light

This study explores the enhancement of photocatalytic performance in 2D ZnO-stearic acid (SA) composites through copper (II) doping. Materials containing 1–10 mol% Cu (II) were synthesized by coprecipitation and characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, UV–visible and vibrational spectroscopies, as well as X-ray diffraction. These analyses confirmed the formation of single-phase composites with structures resembling the ZnO-SA precursor, but exhibiting discrete Zn/Cu doping, forming Zn1-xCuOx-SA materials. Scanning electron microscopy and Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed layered structure and the elemental compositions of the samples. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images confirm the layered morphology of the Zn0.95Cu0.05O-SA sample, underscoring its two-dimensional material characteristics. Absorption band edge of the undoped hybrid ZnO is centered in the UVA zone, while copper-doped samples expanded into the visible range. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibit multiple emission peaks related to defects within ZnO host. An intensity slight decrease in PL intensity is observed with increasing copper concentration, indicated a low recombination rate. Photoelectrochemical testing showed that Cu doping reduces charge recombination and increases current density, thereby improving photocatalytic degradation of pollutants such as indigo carmine and 4-chlorophenol under simulated sunlight. The optimally doped Zn0.95Cu0.05O-SA displayed significant efficiency improvements, degrading contaminants up to four times faster than the undoped composite and maintaining consistent performance over multiple cycles. Additional testing linked these photocatalytic improvements to enhanced charge separation and electron/hole transfer facilitated by Cu2+ ions, thereby boosting photocatalytic activity.

Foliar spraying with amino acids and their chitosan nanocomposites as promising way to alleviate abiotic stress in iceberg lettuce grown at different temperatures

We analyzed the effects of foliar spraying with amino acids, chitosan (CHS) and nanocomposites (NCs) of chitosan with the amino acids proline, l-cysteine and glycine betaine (CHS-Pro NCs; CHS-Cys NCs, CHS-GB NCs, respectively) on the changes in the physiological and biochemical parameters of iceberg lettuce grown at the control temperature (20 °C) and under chilling conditions (4 °C). The physicochemical parameters of the phospholipid monolayers (PLs) extracted from plants showed the effects of the treatments on the properties of the monolayers, namely, the packing density and flexibility. We observed increased accumulation of proline at 4 °C, and differences in the concentrations of sugars in most of the analyzed variants were a consequence of the lowered temperature and/or the use of organic compounds. A temperature of 4 °C caused a significant increase in the l-ascorbic acid level compared with that at 20 °C. Differences were also found in glutathione (GSH) content depending on the temperature and treatment with the tested organic compounds. CHS NCs loaded with Pro and GB were effective at increasing the amount of phenols under stress temperature conditions. We noted that a significant increase in the antioxidant activity of plants at 4 °C occurred after priming with Cys, CHS-Cys NCs, Pro and CHS-Pro NCs, and the CHS nanocomposites were more effective in this respect. Both low-temperature stress and foliar spraying of lettuce with various organic compounds caused changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Two forms of dismutase (SOD), iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD), were identified in extracts from the leaves of iceberg lettuce seedlings. The application of the tested organic compounds, alone or in combination with CHS, increased the amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plants grown under controlled temperature conditions. Chilling caused an increase in the content of MDA, but some organic compounds mitigated the impact of low temperature. Compared with that of plants subjected to 20 °C, the fresh weight of plants exposed to chilling decreased. However, the tested compounds caused a decrease in fresh weight at 4 °C compared with the corresponding control samples. An interesting exception was the use of Cys, for which the difference in the fresh weight of plants grown at 20 °C and 4 °C was not statistically significant. After Cys application, the dry weight of the chilled plants was greater than that of the chilled control plants but was also greater than that of the other treated plants in this group. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that engineered chitosan–amino acid nanocomposites could be applied as innovative protective agents to mitigate the effects of chilling stress in crop plants.

The ameliorating effects of cinnamic acid-based nanocomposite against salt stress in peppermint.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are important in regulating plant tolerance to salt stress. Peppermint is one of the most widely used aromatic plants, with a high sensitivity to salt stress. The present study investigated physiological and biochemical factors to understand better the behavior of cinnamic acid (CA) and cinnamic acid nanocomposite in salinity control in peppermint plants. The first factor was salt stress with different salt concentrations, including 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L, the second factor was 50 μM CA, and the third factor was 50 μM CA nanocomposite based on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-CA NC). Results showed that stress markers increased with increasing salinity levels. On the contrary, plants treated with salinity showed a decrease in physiological and photosynthetic parameters, while the application of CA and CMC CA NC increased these critical parameters. Under salinity, compared to the control, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents decreased by 11.3% and 70.4%, respectively. Furthermore, CA and CMC-CA NC enhanced peppermint tolerance to salinity by increasing compatible solute content such as proline, free amino acids, protein content, and soluble carbohydrates, increasing antioxidant enzymes, and decreasing stress markers in plant tissues. Compared to the control, chlorophyll fluorescence and proline content increased by 1.1% and 172.1%, respectively. Salinity stress negatively affected all physiological and biochemical parameters, but CA and CMC-CA NC treatments improved them. We concluded that the nanocomposite, a biostimulant, significantly enhances mint tolerance under salinity conditions.

Vanillic Acid Nanocomposite: Synthesis, Characterization Analysis, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Potentials.

Recently, nanoparticles have received considerable attention owing to their efficiency in overcoming the limitations of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs. In our study, we synthesized a vanillic acid nanocomposite using both chitosan and silver nanoparticles, tested its efficacy against lung cancer cells, and analyzed its antimicrobial effects. We used several characterization techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to determine the stability, morphological characteristics, and properties of the biosynthesized vanillic acid nanocomposites. Furthermore, the vanillic acid nanocomposites were tested for their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The data showed that the nanocomposite effectively inhibited microbes, but its efficacy was less than that of the individual silver and chitosan nanoparticles. Moreover, the vanillic acid nanocomposite exhibited anticancer effects by increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (BAX, Casp3, Casp7, cyt C, and p53) and decreasing the gene expression of Bcl-2. Overall, vanillic acid nanocomposites possess promising potential against microbes, exhibit anticancer effects, and can be effectively used for treating diseases such as cancers and infectious diseases.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Control Release of Zinc Layered Nitrate Intercalated with Beta-Napthoxyacetic Acid (BNOA) Nanocomposite

In this research, the synthesis of the host using zinc nitrate-hexahydrate as a precursor to form zinc layered nitrate (ZLN) and the guest anion which is beta-napthoxyacetic acid (BNOA) will be intercalated with the ZLN to produce nanocomposites called ZLN/beta-napthoxyacetic acid (ZLNB). The method used for the synthesis of the host was self-assembly and ion exchange. The nanocomposites were confirmed with the basal spacing increases from 9.8 to 28.2 Å by using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Therefore, proved the bigger basal spacing compared to the layered double hydroxide of MgAl and ZnAl. The appearance of the FTIR shift band at 1603 cm−1 of C=C aromatic ring indicates that the anions have been successfully incorporated into the interlayers of ZLNB. Moreover, the loading percentage estimated by the carbon content from the ZLNB determined by CHNS analyzer was 41.8% (w/w). The morphology analysis confirmed the plate-like structure for ZLN into flaky-like with irregular, porous and unambiguous structure for ZLNB by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The controlled release property showed that the release of BNOA in the various aqueous solutions is in the order of Na3PO4 > Na2SO4 > NaCl and fitted into pseudo-second-order kinetic models.

Removal of phenol from aqueous solution using montmorillonite-Fe3O4-humic acid (MFH) nanocomposite

Abstract Phenol is a highly toxic pollutant commonly found in industrial wastewater. Its removal is crucial to protect the environment and human health. Various methods are available for phenol removal, but adsorption is the most widely used and effective approach. Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NP) have emerged as a promising adsorbent due to their cost-effectiveness, high surface area, and exceptional adsorption capabilities. However, its small size can lead to issues such as oxidation, aggregation, and difficulty in separation. This study introduces a new approach for phenol removal using a montmorillonite-Fe3O4-humic acid (MFH) nanocomposite. The synthesis of the MFH nanocomposite involved dispersing Fe3O4 nanoparticles onto montmorillonite clay and coating the surface with humic acid to enhance stability and adsorption efficiency. The prepared MFH nanocomposite was thoroughly characterized to find the morphology, composition and functional group. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the presence of Fe-O, O-Si and C=O vibrations which confirmed the successful formation of the nanocomposite. The average crystal size of the synthesized nanoparticles is obtained from XRD analysis as 10.99 nm. The Fe3O4: montmorillonite ratio was found to influence the adsorption performance, with a Fe3O4:montmorillonite ratio of 1:4 exhibiting the highest removal efficiency. Batch experiments were performed to assess the phenol removal effectiveness of the MFH nanocomposite. At optimum operating conditions of pH 4 and contact time 150 minutes, the phenol removal efficiency was found to decrease from 98% to 87% when the concentration of phenol in influent increased from 10 to 100 mg/L. The adsorption kinetics of phenol on MFH followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating a chemisorption process with strong correlation and agreement between experimental and predicted results. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models both provided suitable descriptions of the adsorption behaviour. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) was determined to be 11.14 mg/g. The presence of carbonyl groups(C=O), Hydroxyl groups (-OH) and silanol groups (Si-O) in MFH offers a significant advantage for enhancing the removal efficiency of phenol. The phenol sorption capacity of MFH nanocomposites was found to be significantly greater compared to that of magnetite. The results showed that the developed MFH nanocomposite offers a promising solution for the efficient removal of phenol from wastewater.

Polydopamine nanoparticles cross-linked hyaluronic acid photothermal hydrogel with cascading immunoinducible effects for in situ antitumor vaccination

Tumor vaccine, which can effectively prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis, is a promising tool in tumor immunotherapy. However, heterogeneity of tumors and the inability to achieve a cascade effect limit the therapeutic effects of most developing tumor vaccine. We have developed a cascading immunoinducible in-situ mannose-functionalized polydopamine loaded with imiquimod phenylboronic hyaluronic acid nanocomposite gel vaccine (M/P-PDA@IQ PHA) through a boronic ester-based reaction. This reaction utilizes mannose-functionalized polydopamine loaded with imiquimod (M/P-PDA@IQ NAs) as a cross-linking agent to react with phenylboronic-grafted hyaluronic acid. Under near-infrared light irradiation, the M/P-PDA@IQ PHA caused local hyperthermia to trigger immunogenic cell death of tumor cells and tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) releasing. Subsequently, the M/P-PDA@IQ NAs which were gradually released by the pH/ROS/GSH-triggered degradation of M/P-PDA@IQ PHA, could capture and deliver these TAAs to lymph nodes. Finally, the M/P-PDA@IQ NAs facilitated maturation and cross-presentation of dendritic cells, as well as activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Overall, the M/P-PDA@IQ PHA could serve as a novel in situ vaccine to stimulate several key nodes including TAAs release and capture, targeting lymph nodes and enhanced dendritic cells uptake and maturation as well as T cells activation. This cascading immune activation strategy can effectively elicit antitumor immune response.

Detectable quorum signaling molecule via PANI-metal oxides nanocomposites sensors.

The detection of N-hexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL), a crucial signal in Gram-negative bacterial communication, is essential for addressing microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) induced by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in oil and gas industries. Metal oxides (MOx) intercalated into conducting polymers (CPs) offer a promising sensing approach due to their effective detection of biological molecules such as C6-HSL. In this study, we synthesized and characterized two MOx/polyaniline-dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (PANI-DBSA) nanocomposites, namely ZnO/PANI-DBSA and Fe2O3/PANI-DBSA. These nanocomposites were applied with 1% by-weight carbon paste over a carbon working electrode (WE) for qualitative and quantitative detection of C6-HSL through electrochemical analysis. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) confirmed the composites' capability to monitor C6-HSL produced by SRB-biofilm, with detection limits of 624 ppm for ZnO/PANI-DBSA and 441 ppm for Fe2O3/PANI-DBSA. Furthermore, calorimetric measurements validated the presence of SRB-biofilm, supporting the EIS analysis. The utilization of these MOx/CP nanocomposites offers a practical approach for detecting C6-HSL and monitoring SRB-biofilm formation, aiding in MIC management in oil and gas wells. The ZnO/PANI-DBSA-based sensor exhibited higher sensitivity towards C6-HSL compared to Fe2O3/PANI-DBSA, indicating its potential for enhanced detection capabilities in this context. Stability tests revealed ZnO/PANI-DBSA's superior stability over Fe2O3/PANI-DBSA, with both sensors retaining approximately 85-90% of their initial current after 1month, demonstrating remarkable reproducibility and durability.

Development of Aptamer-DNAzyme based metal-nucleic acid frameworks for gastric cancer therapy.

The metal-nucleic acid nanocomposites, first termed metal-nucleic acid frameworks (MNFs) in this work, show extraordinary potential as functional nanomaterials. However, thus far, realized MNFs face limitations including harsh synthesis conditions, instability, and non-targeting. Herein, we discover that longer oligonucleotides can enhance the synthesis efficiency and stability of MNFs by increasing oligonucleotide folding and entanglement probabilities during the reaction. Besides, longer oligonucleotides provide upgraded metal ions binding conditions, facilitating MNFs to load macromolecular protein drugs at room temperature. Furthermore, longer oligonucleotides facilitate functional expansion of nucleotide sequences, enabling disease-targeted MNFs. As a proof-of-concept, we build an interferon regulatory factor-1(IRF-1) loaded Ca2+/(aptamer-deoxyribozyme) MNF to target regulate glucose transporter (GLUT-1) expression in human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) positive gastric cancer cells. This MNF nanodevice disrupts GSH/ROS homeostasis, suppresses DNA repair, and augments ROS-mediated DNA damage therapy, with tumor inhibition rate up to 90%. Our work signifies a significant advancement towards an era of universal MNF application.

Adsorption of Polylactic-co-Glycolic Acid on Zinc Oxide Systems: A Computational Approach to Describe Surface Phenomena.

Zinc oxide and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (ZnO-PLGA) nanocomposites are known to exhibit different biomedical applications and antibacterial activity, which could be beneficial for adding to wound dressings after different surgeries. However, possible cytotoxic effects along with various unexpected activities could reduce the use of these prominent systems. This is correlated to the property of ZnO, which exhibits different polymeric forms, in particular, wurtzite, zinc-blende, and rocksalt. In this study, we propose a computational approach based on the density functional theory to investigate the properties of ZnO-PLGA systems in detail. First, three different stable polymorphs of ZnO were considered. Subsequently, the abilities of each system to absorb the PLGA copolymer were thoroughly investigated, taking into account the modulation of electrical, optical, and mechanical properties. Significant differences between ZnO and PLGA systems have been found; in this study, we remark on the potential use of these models and the necessity to describe crucial surface aspects that might be challenging to observe with experimental approaches but which can modulate the performance of nanocomposites.