Application Of Nanotechnology Research Articles

A potential building block for spintronic devices: Theoretical description of electronic transport and magnetoresistance of catechol under an external magnetic field stimulus

Understanding the electronic transport properties of low-dimensional devices has increased dramatically in recent decades, especially for those with a promising future for application in nanotechnology. Among these nanoscopic systems are molecular systems, particularly organic molecules such as catechol, representing the small piece of a potential conductor assembled through larger biomolecules and inserted between two or more metal contacts. In this work, we present a theoretical description of the electronic transport of catechol, based on its π-conjugated aromatic system, under an external magnetic field stimulus, which is transverse to the alignment of the molecule. Thus, we analyze catechol’s spintronic properties through the magnetoresistance generated by this field. We model the molecule using a tight-binding Hamiltonian and Green’s functions; the transmission probability is calculated by means of the Fisher-Lee relation, and the characteristic current–voltage, spin polarization, and magnetoresistance curves based on Landauer’s approach for two linking models of catechol to the metallic contacts. The results suggest a strong dependence on the spin direction of the charge carriers and the Zeeman energy (Ez) on the Fermi level, generating a switch-like mechanism going from conducting to semiconducting material. This behavior opens a potential application of these catechol-based systems in future spintronic devices.

Novel cutting edge nano-strategies to address old long-standing complications in cardiovascular diseases. A comprehensive review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) impact a substantial portion of the global population and represent a significant threat to experiencing life-threatening outcomes, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure. Despite remarkable progress in pharmacology and medical interventions, CVD persists as a major public health concern, and now ranks as the primary global cause of death and the highest consumer of global budgets. Ongoing research endeavours persist in seeking novel therapeutic avenues and interventions to deepen our understanding of CVD, enhance prevention measures, and refine treatment strategies. Nanotechnology applied to the development of new molecular probes with diagnostic and theranostic properties represents one of the greatest technological challenges in preclinical and clinical research. The application of nanotechnology in cardiovascular medicine holds great promise for advancing our understanding of CVDs and revolutionizing their diagnosis and treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. In addition, the capacity of drug encapsulation in nanoparticles has significantly bolstered their biological safety, bioavailability and solubility. In combination with imaging technologies, molecular imaging has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic tool, offering insight into the molecular events underlying disease and facilitating targeted treatment approaches. Here, we present a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in targeted nanoparticle approaches for diagnosing CVDs, encompassing molecular imaging techniques, underscoring the significant progress in theranostic, as a novel and promising therapeutic strategy.

Exact solutions of hydromagnetic convective flow in a microchannel with superhydrophobic slip and temperature jump: Microfluidics applications

AbstractThe researchers explored the free convective flow of a hybrid nanofluid in a vertical microchannel with a rectangular cross‐section. Notably, both channel walls were heated alternately, and a transverse magnetic field was applied across the channel. The channel walls had unique properties, one of which was nonslip and the other was exceedingly hydrophobic. The major purpose was to investigate the effects of magnetism and superhydrophobicity on important flow parameters. The differential equations in the investigation were solved, producing accurate results. The study yielded some significant discoveries. First, when heated, the magnetic parameter reduced skin friction on both sides. Second, in both heating conditions, the magnetic field reduced flow rate and velocity. The flow rates in the two reported situations were similar at a crucial temperature jump coefficient. Furthermore, for low‐temperature jump coefficients, heating the superhydrophobic side reduced the Nusselt number whereas heating the nonslip side had no magnetic effect. The percentage change in the value of Nusselt number and velocity decreases continuously with increase in nonlinear density variation with temperature (NDT) parameter and magnetic parameter. The percentage increases in the value of skin friction with increase in temperature jump and slip length but decrease in the percentage of skin friction for the effect of magnetic term and NDT parameter. As the NDT parameter increases, the velocity percentage rises to 50.59% when the superhydrophobic surface is heated and to 84.30% when the nonslip surface is heated. The temperature jump is statistically significant for the value of the Nusselt number and skin friction for the no‐slip surface condition. These discoveries have practical consequences for the design and management of both tiny and large‐scale systems, with possible applications in microfluidics, microelectronics, nanoscience, and nanotechnology.

Nano Fertilizers: New Vistas towards Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review

To ensure the food and nutritional security of the burgeoning global population, food production needs to be doubled in developing countries by 2050. Currently, 30-40% of agriculture production predominantly relies on chemical fertilizers. Precise crop nutrition, low nutrient efficiency, maintaining soil fertility, less damage to soil flora and minimal environmental footprint are the major challenges in modern agriculture. Recent developments in the application of nanotechnology to produce agriculture inputs emerged as a sustainable solution for addressing the challenges in modern intensive agriculture by replacing synthetic bulk fertilizers with their nanoparticle size ( less than 100 nm), superior properties and smart delivery system. Nano fertilizers had the potential to fulfill the requirements of plant nutrition along with imparting sustainability in crop production without compromising the yield of the crops. Some of the current research studies have been reviewed in this paper with citation and these results showed that nano fertilizers have a substantial effect on plant growth, development and physiological parameters including chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity, it depends on their composition, method and time of application. Their enhanced nutrient use efficiency, correlated with mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Hence evolving as a cutting-edge approach for sustainable agriculture in climate change is enlightened in this review.

Advances in Nanocarrier Systems for Overcoming Formulation Challenges of Curcumin: Current Insights

Curcumin, an organic phenolic molecule that is extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa Linn, has undergone extensive evaluation for its diverse biological activities in both animals and humans. Despite its favorable characteristics, curcumin encounters various formulation challenges and stability issues that can be effectively addressed through the application of nanotechnology. Nano-based techniques specifically focused on enhancing solubility, bioavailability, and therapeutic efficacy while mitigating toxicity, have been explored for curcumin. This review systematically presents information on the improvement of curcumin’s beneficial properties when incorporated, either individually or in conjunction with other drugs, into diverse nanosystems such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, solid-lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers. Additionally, the review examines ongoing clinical trials and recently granted patents, offering a thorough overview of the dynamic landscape in curcumin delivery. Researchers are currently exploring nanocarriers with crucial features such as surface modification, substantial loading capacity, biodegradability, compatibility, and autonomous targeting specificity and selectivity. Nevertheless, the utilization of nanocarriers for curcumin delivery is still in its initial phases, with regulatory approval pending and persistent safety concerns surrounding their use.

Applications of Nanotechnology in the Field of Cardiology

Applications of Nanotechnology in the Field of Cardiology

Application of nanotechnology in periodontal therapy: Narrative review

The potential of nanotechnology to improve human health, optimize natural resource utilization, and reduce environmental pollution is remarkable. With the ever-growing advancement in dentistry, one of the breakthroughs is using nanotechnology. Nanotechnology in periodontics has touched every aspect of treatment modality, from non-surgical therapy to implant procedures, including regenerative procedures. Understanding of their mechanism plays a pivotal role in more efficient usage of nanotechnology, better treatment procedures, and eventually better outcomes. In this paper we review the application of nanotechnology in periodontal therapy. We performed the search for papers in Scopus using the key words and phrases as follows: “nanodentistry”; “dentistry and nanotechnology”; “dentistry and nanoparticles”; “dentistry and nanomedicine”; “dentistry and nanorobots”. There were found 530 papers in total. Some papers belonged to two and more categories. It is revealed that the number of papers versus year does not follow any specific pattern, but the cumulative amount of papers versus year is fitted with the exponential regression. There were also selected papers using certain inclusion/exclusion criteria. Only the selected papers were analyzed. Nanomedicine is subjected to intensive studies nowadays. There are some promising results that will likely be implemented into praxis soon in the fields of medical diagnostics and clinical therapeutics. The appearance of nanotechnology can have a considerable impact on treatment of periodontal diseases.

Chitosan nanoparticle applications in dentistry: a sustainable biopolymer

The epoch of Nano-biomaterials and their application in the field of medicine and dentistry has been long-lived. The application of nanotechnology is extensively used in diagnosis and treatment aspects of oral diseases. The nanomaterials and its structures are being widely involved in the production of medicines and drugs used for the treatment of oral diseases like periodontitis, oral carcinoma, etc. and helps in maintaining the longevity of oral health. Chitosan is a naturally occurring biopolymer derived from chitin which is seen commonly in arthropods. Chitosan nanoparticles are the latest in the trend of nanoparticles used in dentistry and are becoming the most wanted biopolymer for use toward therapeutic interventions. Literature search has also shown that chitosan nanoparticles have anti-tumor effects. This review highlights the various aspects of chitosan nanoparticles and their implications in dentistry.

Molecular Templates on Surfaces by Exploiting Supramolecular Chemistry in Langmuir–Blodgett Monolayers

AbstractAttaining precise control over molecular arrangements is of paramount importance for numerous applications in nanotechnology, particularly in constructing molecular templates to accurately immobilize target materials on surfaces. A strategic combination of supramolecular and interfacial chemistry may serve to build a well‐organized molecular network, enabling the subsequent location of target molecules on specific positions of a surface. A supramolecular complex (compound 1) comprised of a melamine unit forming hydrogen bonds with dendritic arms terminated in a coumarin unit is utilized, which readily undergoes photodimerization. The research demonstrates the formation of well‐organized Langmuir films of compound 1 which can be transferred on substrates at low surface pressures adopting a lying‐flat orientation. Upon irradiation of the pristine films at 365 nm the coumarin units undergo photo‐cross linking, leading to the formation of a compact photo‐crosslinked film. Incubation of these photo‐crosslinked films in a solution containing 1‐hexanethiol results in the withdrawal of the melamine and the chemisorption of two thiol molecules per each melamine unit. The nanopores created by the removal of the melamine core are attributed to the disruption of hydrogen bonds in compound 1 by the thiols. This precisely defined molecular network holds significant promise as a template for orchestrating the arrangement of functional materials on surfaces.

Nanomaterials-mediated lysosomal regulation: a robust protein-clearance approach for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating, progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive accumulation of abnormal proteins, including amyloid plaques and intracellular tau tangles, primarily within the brain. Lysosomes, crucial intracellular organelles responsible for protein degradation, play a key role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Some studies have suggested a link between the dysregulation of the lysosomal system and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Restoring the normal physiological function of lysosomes hold the potential to reduce the pathological burden and improve the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Currently, the efficacy of drugs in treating Alzheimer's disease is limited, with major challenges in drug delivery efficiency and targeting. Recently, nanomaterials have gained widespread use in Alzheimer's disease drug research owing to their favorable physical and chemical properties. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in using nanomaterials (polymeric nanomaterials, nanoemulsions, and carbon-based nanomaterials) to enhance lysosomal function in treating Alzheimer's disease. This review also explores new concepts and potential therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's disease through the integration of nanomaterials and modulation of lysosomal function. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the potential of nanomaterials in modulating lysosomal function to improve the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease. The application of nanotechnology to the development of Alzheimer's disease drugs brings new ideas and approaches for future treatment of this disease.

Modeling and analysis of the triple diffusion unsteady flow of couple stress nanofluid with variable viscosity and distinct thermal sources

Thanks to their optimal thermal characteristics, nanomaterials stand out for their varied applications in heat transfer systems, energy storage, industrial processes, and biomedical research. Recently, scientists explored various dynamic properties in nanofluid flow to develop an even better thermal model. In this context, the phenomenon of triple diffusion in nanofluids constitutes an active area of research, offering promising applications in nanotechnology, metallurgical processes, chemical reactors, and thermo-diffusion processes. This paper analyzes the triple diffusion flow of a torque-constrained nanofluid, induced by a periodically oscillating porous surface, taking into account the importance of variations in thermal consequences. The viscosity of the torque-constrained nanofluid is assumed to be temperature-dependent. The analysis takes into account the variable role of thermal conductivity, mass diffusivity, and solute volume fraction. The modeling of the problem is expressed by coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. The semi-analytic technique, known as the homotopic analysis scheme, is used for resolution. The solution is validated and confirms the convergence region. The physical aspects of the parameters are examined with regard to the parameters involved. The simulated observations reveal that with the Dufour–Lewis factor and varying mass diffusivity, an increase in solute concentration is seen. The concentration of nanoparticles decreases with the nano-Lewis number.

Controllable and reusable seesaw circuit based on nicking endonucleases

Seesaw circuits are essential for molecular computing and biosensing. However, a notable limitation of seesaw circuits lies in the irreversible depletion of components, precluding the attainment of system recovery and rendering nucleic acid circuits non-reusable. We developed a brand-new method for creating controllable and reusable seesaw circuits. By using the nicking endonucleases Nt.BbvCI and Nt.Alwi, we removed “functional components” while keeping the “skeletal components” for recurrent usage. T-inputs were introduced, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of AND logic from 2.68 to 11.33 and demonstrating compatibility. We identified the logic switching feature and verified that it does not impair circuit performance. We also built intricate logic circuits, such as OR-AND gate, to demonstrate the versatility of our methodology. This controllable reusability extends the applications of nanotechnology and bioengineering, enhancing the practicality and efficiency of these circuits across various domains.

Effect of densification process on mechanical enhancement of graphene laminates

Graphene nanosheets have attracted great attention in the field of nanotechnology applications due to their extraordinary mechanical properties. While the structural defects such as gaps will occur during the preparation of graphene laminates, which will greatly damage the performance of the macroscopic material. Hence, a simple and promising mechanical compression method is used to improve the mechanical properties of graphene laminates. However, the roles of the densification process in the mechanical enhancement mechanism of graphene laminates are not clear. In our work, the mechanical enhancement of the compressed graphene (PG) laminates was investigated by the coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation method. The tensile strength of PG model could be increased by increasing the graphene nanosheet size and the degree of compression in the system. And the model has the stronger van der Waals effect between graphene sheets due to the larger graphene size as well as the higher overlap ratio. Furthermore, two kinds of PG laminates were prepared by densification method, and the tensile strength was consistent with the upward trend of the PG model. This work provides an in-depth understanding on the mechanical enhancement of the densification process and lays a foundation for the future practical application of graphene laminates.

Heavy metals removal from synthetic and industrial wastewater using synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles

With the advancement in wastewater treatment systems over conventional systems the application of nanotechnology has gained popularity in the past decade. The process can be applied by modifying the physico-chemical properties of metal oxides that increase their effectiveness in extracting heavy metals from wastewater. The present study has been carried out by synthesizing the Zinc oxide nanoparticles using green and chemical synthetic methods. Green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (GS-ZnO-NP) were discovered to exhibit a maximum removal effectiveness of 93% and 94% for heavy metals in industrial wastewater and synthetic wastewater, respectively. However, heavy metals removal efficiency from industrial and synthetic wastewater was observed to be 98% and 98% respectively using chemically synthesized ZnO nanoparticles (CS-ZnO-NP). The heavy metals removal efficiency for specific metal is observed to be Cr > Pb > Cu > Hg > As. The kinetics of adsorption was calculated using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models. Freundlich model is the best fit with the coefficient of correlation in the range of 0.71–1 for green synthesized and 0.82 to 0.95 for chemically synthesized ZnO nanoparticles.

Application of Common Culinary Herbs for the Development of Bioactive Materials.

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties, can be considered viable candidates for nanotechnology applications, in particular for the phytosynthesis of metal nanoparticles. The present work aims to evaluate the potential application of hyssop and oregano for the phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, as well as to evaluate the biological activities of their extracts and obtained nanoparticles (antioxidant potential, as well as cell viability, inflammation level and cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts HFIB-G cell line studies). In order to obtain natural extracts, two extraction methods were applied (classical temperature extraction and microwave-assisted extraction), with the extraction method having a major influence on their composition, as demonstrated by both the total phenolic compounds (significantly higher for the microwave-assisted extraction; the oregano extracts had consistently higher TPC values, compared with the hyssop extracts) and in terms of individual components identified via HPLC. The obtained nanoparticles ware characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with the lowest dimension nanoparticles being recorded for the nanoparticles obtained using the oregano microwave extract (crystallite size 2.94 nm through XRD, average diameter 10 nm via TEM). The extract composition and particle size also influenced the antioxidant properties (over 60% DPPH inhibition being recorded for the NPs obtained using the oregano microwave extract). Cell viability was not affected at the lowest tested concentrations, which can be correlated with the nitric oxide level. Cell membrane integrity was not affected after exposure to classic temperature hyssop extract-NPs, while the other samples led to a significant LDH increase.

Current Advances and Applications in CRISPR-Cas Technology, Plant Sciences and Nanotechnology

The CRISPR toolbox can perform precise programmable genetic sequence insertions to the development of new technologies. The Cas9 nuclease is one of the proteins that make up the so-called genetic scissors, a system of directed cutting of foreign DNA and, RNA that is the subject of extensive research among all known Cas proteins. The correction of alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency and cancer immunotherapy are two important therapeutic development scenarios where HDR-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 editing has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in the clinical testing. Protospacers are DNA segments that are targeted by the prokaryotic immune system and resemble the corresponding spacers at the CRISPR locus, with the exception of the PAM motif. The transpiration is the loss of water by a plant, mostly through the stomata on its leaves. Drought is a dangerous occurrence that significantly affects how well plants perform. It sets off physiological and biochemical processes that help the plant withstand drought by lessening its impacts. Medicinal plants and other soil-grown agricultural goods are often impacted by oil pollution. The existence of hazardous heavy metals in the soil, such as cadmium, mercury, lead, chromium, arsenic, nickel, copper, and zinc, is one of the many other explanations for why some bacteria and germs have become resistant to medications this century.

Fabrication of Metal Contacts on Silicon Nanopillars: The Role of Surface Termination and Defectivity.

The application of nanotechnology in developing novel thermoelectric materials has yielded remarkable advancements in material efficiency. In many instances, dimensional constraints have resulted in a beneficial decoupling of thermal conductivity and power factor, leading to large increases in the achievable thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT). For instance, the ZT of silicon increases by nearly two orders of magnitude when transitioning from bulk single crystals to nanowires. Metal-assisted chemical etching offers a viable, low-cost route for preparing silicon nanopillars for use in thermoelectric devices. The aim of this paper is to review strategies for obtaining high-density forests of Si nanopillars and achieving high-quality contacts on them. We will discuss how electroplating can be used for this aim. As an alternative, nanopillars can be embedded into appropriate electrical and thermal insulators, with contacts made by metal evaporation on uncapped nanopillar tips. In both cases, it will be shown how achieving control over surface termination and defectivity is of paramount importance, demonstrating how a judicious control of defectivity enhances contact quality.

Comparative Studies of Phonon Frequency Spectrum of HTSCs GdBa2Cu3O7 and SmBa2Cu3O7 Through Normal Co-Ordinate Analysis

The prime application of Nano technology is High temperature superconductor. The Raman spectroscopy of HTSC explains that the role played by the phonons in the mechanism of superconductivity in the perovskite family of superconductors is not fully understood although a large series of experimental results has shown considerable coupling of some phonons to electronic excitation in these systems. Optical spectroscopy and especially Raman and Infrared spectroscopy revealed strong direct influences of the changes in the electronic states to the phonon at the center of the Brillouin. However, it is indispensable to have a precise knowledge of the zone –boundary phonons to investigate the contribution of electron-phonon coupling to Tc which can be achieved by neutron scattering techniques. The most commonly employed model is the valence force field model for computing phonon frequencies based on stretching bond and bending bond coordinates. Such models have the advantage of being well adopted to describe a covalent bonding but ignored the long–range Coulomb forces and wave vector dependence of the phonon spectrum. Even though a fairly good amount of literature is available on the vibrational spectra of high temperature superconductors, still some specific feature in the experimental vibration spectra could not be assigned reliable to a definite type of vibration. Hence a normal coordinate analysis (NCA) which is applicable to zero wave-vector normal-mode vibrations have been carried out for the high temperature superconductors and the assignment of specific features like phonon softening and hardening were looked in for the clear understanding of the superconducting mechanism in these new class materials. In the normal coordinate analysis, PED play an important role for characterization of the relative contributions from each internal coordinate to the total potential energy associated with particular normal coordinate of the molecule. The contribution to the potential energy from the individual diagonal elements give rise to a conceptual link between the empirical analysis of infrared spectra of complex molecules dealing with characteristic group frequencies and the theoretical approach from the computation of the normal modes. NCA gives complete assessment of all normal vibration modes of the system.

A Novel Approach for Colloidal Lithography: From Dry Particle Assembly to High-Throughput Nanofabrication.

We introduce a novel approach for colloidal lithography based on the dry particle assembly into a dense monolayer on an elastomer, followed by mechanical transfer to a substrate of any material and curvature. This method can be implemented either manually or automatically and it produces large area patterns with the quality obtained by the state-of-the-art colloidal lithography at a very high throughput. We first demonstrated the fabrication of nanopatterns with a periodicity ranging between 200 nm and 2 μm. We then demonstrated two nanotechnological applications of this approach. The first one is antireflective structures, fabricated on silicon and sapphire, with different geometries including arrays of bumps and holes and adjusted for different spectral ranges. The second one is smart 3D nanostructures for mechanostimulation of T cells that are used for their effective proliferation, with potential application in cancer immunotherapy. This new approach unleashes the potential of bottom-up nanofabrication and paves the way for nanoscale devices and systems in numerous applications.

Using machine learning with atomistic surface and local water features to predict heterogeneous ice nucleation.

Heterogeneous ice nucleation (HIN) has applications in climate science, nanotechnology, and cryopreservation. Ice nucleation on the earth's surface or in the atmosphere usually occurs heterogeneously involving foreign substrates, known as ice nucleating particles (INPs). Experiments identify good INPs but lack sufficient microscopic resolution to answer the basic question: What makes a good INP? We employ molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in combination with machine learning (ML) to address this question. Often, the large amount of computational cost required to cross the nucleation barrier and observe HIN in MD simulations is a practical limitation. We use information obtained from short MD simulations of atomistic surface and water models to predict the likelihood of HIN. We consider 153 atomistic substrates with some surfaces differing in elemental composition and others only in terms of lattice parameters, surface morphology, or surface charges. A range of water features near the surface (local) are extracted from short MD simulations over a time interval (≤300 ns) where ice nucleation has not initiated. Three ML classification models, Random Forest (RF), support vector machine, and Gaussian process classification are considered, and the accuracies achieved by all three approaches lie within their statistical uncertainties. Including local water features is essential for accurate prediction. The accuracy of our best RF classification model obtained including both surface and local water features is 0.89 ± 0.05. A similar accuracy can be achieved including only local water features, suggesting that the important surface properties are largely captured by the local water features. Some important features identified by ML analysis are local icelike structures, water density and polarization profiles perpendicular to the surface, and the two-dimensional lattice match to ice. We expect that this work, with its strong focus on realistic surface models, will serve as a guide to the identification or design of substrates that can promote or discourage ice nucleation.