Application Of Nanotechnology Research Articles

Nano-Agrochemicals: Risk Assessment and Management Strategies

Application of nanotechnology in agriculture especially in the form of nano agrochemicals is increasing nowadays. Agrochemicals such as fertilizers, soil amendments, soil conditioners, pesticides and plant growth promoting hormones have both pros and cons. To overcome the constraints of conventional agrochemicals researchers are focusing on nano agrochemicals. Apart from the high potential and effectiveness these chemicals also have some threats to the human health, environment and ecological balances. With proper assessment of risks associated to these nano agrochemicals threats can be minimised and the potential of nanotechnology in agriculture can be explored to the greater extent. After assessment the risks could be managed by applying three thumb rules as risk prevention, risk mitigation and risk communication. In depth research is required to explore the potential of nanotechnology in agriculture.

Multi-functional xylanase from Aspergillus sydowii: biosynthesis of nanoconjugates, optimization by Taguchi approach and biodeinking potential

The search for effective production of xylanase which is an important industrial enzyme led to the present study that explored xylanase production by Aspergillus sydowii SF through Taguchi optimization that incorporated nanoconjugates in submerged fermentation. Calcium and zinc oxide nanoconjugates biosynthesized by xylanase were characterized via UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The xylanase-mediated calcium oxide and zinc oxide nanoconjugates with λmax of 374 and 316 nm, respectively, and were 5.32–17.69 nm in size. Xylanase production was improved by 2.90–10.58 folds (64.24–234.15 U/mL) through Taguchi optimization cum nanoconjugates, and ANOVA showed that nanoconjugates contributed 13.62–65.97% to improved production. The xylanase had up to 88.38% deinking activity, with 49.60–84.64% removal of blue color. The remarkable xylanase production, its use to biosynthesize nanoconjugates and biodeinking potentials contribute to the development of versatile biocatalysts with applications in biotechnology, nanotechnology, and sustainable paper production. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report of xylanase for biosynthesis of calcium oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles, as well as nanosupplementation to induce xylanase production, which can open new vista in bioprocess optimization.

Mesoporous Matrices as a Promising New Generation of Carriers for Multipolymorphic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Aripiprazole.

The enhancement of the properties (i.e., poor solubility and low bioavailability) of currently available active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is one of the major goals of modern pharmaceutical sciences. Among different strategies, a novel and innovative route to reach this milestone seems to be the application of nanotechnology, especially the incorporation of APIs into porous membranes composed of pores of nanometric size and made of nontoxic materials. Therefore, in this work, taking the antipsychotic API aripiprazole (APZ) infiltrated into various types of mesoporous matrices (anodic aluminum oxide, native, and silanized silica) characterized by similar pore diameters (d = 8-10 nm) as an example, we showed the advantage of incorporated systems in comparison to the bulk substance considering the crystallization kinetics, molecular dynamics, and physical stability. Calorimetric investigations supported by the temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that in the bulk system the recrystallization of polymorph III, which next is converted to the mixture of forms IV and I, is visible, while in the case of confined samples polymorphic forms I and III of APZ are produced upon heating of the molten API with different rates. Importantly, the two-step crystallization observed in thermograms obtained for the API infiltrated into native silica templates may suggest crystal formation by the interfacial and core molecules. Furthermore, dielectric studies enabled us to conclude that there is no trace of crystallization of spatially restricted API during one month of storage at T = 298 K. Finally, we found that in contrast to the crystalline and amorphous bulk samples, all examined confined systems show a logarithmic increase in API dissolution over time (very close to a prolonged release effect) without any sign of precipitation. Our data demonstrated that mesoporous matrices appear to be interesting candidates as carriers for unstable amorphous APIs, like APZ. In addition to protecting them against crystallization, they can provide the desired prolonged release effect, which may increase the drug concentration in the blood (resulting in higher bioavailability). We believe that the "nanostructirization" in terms of the application of porous membranes as a novel generation of drug carriers might open unique perspectives in the further development of drugs characterized by prolonged release.

Comprehensive Review on Fruit Seeds: Nutritional, Phytochemical, Nanotechnology, Toxicity, Food Biochemistry, and Biotechnology Perspective.

Fruit seeds are leftovers from a variety of culinary sectors. They are generally unutilized and contribute greatly to global disposals. These seeds not only possess various nutritional attributes but also have many heath-beneficial properties. One way to make use of these seeds is to extract their bioactive components and create fortified food items. Nowadays, researchers are highly interested in creating innovative functional meals and food components from these unconventional resources. The main objective of this manuscript was to determine the usefulness of seed powder from 70 highly consumed fruits, including Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Banana, Blackberry, Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Cherry, Common plum, Cranberry, Gooseberry, Jackfruit, Jamun, Kiwi, Lemon, Mahua, Mango, Melon, Olive, Orange, and many more have been presented. The nutritional attributes, phytochemical composition, health advantages, nanotechnology applications, and toxicity of these fruit seeds have been fully depicted. This study also goes into in-depth detailing on creating useful food items out of these seeds, such as bakery goods, milk products, cereal-based goods, and meat products. It also identifies enzymes purified from these seeds along with their biochemical applications and any research openings in this area.

Acoustic microscopy characterization of highly-ordered anodized nanoporous alumina films for nanotechnology applications

The acoustic properties of a well-aligned nanoporous alumina (NP Al2O3) film synthesized through a two-step anodization process have been characterized nondestructively using scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM). A novel method is proposed to extract the material properties of thin nanoporous film such as Elastic modulus, Poison's ratio, thickness, and porosity. The proposed technique to obtain the material properties is based on leaky surface-acoustic waves. These investigated material properties also agree well with their corresponding standard values obtained by other methods. An additional experimental investigation is conducted to detect non-uniformity in NP Al2O3 films based on the V(z) curve. It is found that the Rayleigh velocity for various scanning areas shows variation corresponding to non-uniformity in the film. This non-uniform surface morphology of nanoporous Al2O3 is also validated by polarized-resolved terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz TDS). A further thickness measurement using THz TDS coupled with acoustic microscopy provides a complete characterization of the NP Al2O3 film.

Surface-Induced Hydrophobin Assemblies with Versatile Properties and Distinct Underlying Structures.

Hydrophobins are remarkable proteins due to their ability to self-assemble into amphipathic coatings that reverse surface wettability. Here, the versatility of the Class I hydrophobins EASΔ15 and DewY in diverse nanosuspension and coating applications is demonstrated. The hydrophobins are shown to coat or emulsify a range of substrates including oil, hydrophobic drugs, and nanodiamonds and alter their solution and surface behavior. Surprisingly, while the coatings confer new properties, only a subset is found to be resistant to hot detergent treatment, a feature previously thought to be characteristic of the functional amyloid form of Class I hydrophobins. These results demonstrate that substrate surface properties can influence the molecular structures and physiochemical properties of hydrophobin and possibly other functional amyloids. Functional amyloid assembly with different substrates and conditions may be analogous to the propagation of different polymorphs of disease-associated amyloid fibrils with distinct structures, stability, and clinical phenotypes. Given that amyloid formation is not required for Class I hydrophobins to serve diverse applications, our findings open up new opportunities for their use in applications requiring a range of chemical and physical properties. In hydrophobin nanotechnological applications where high stability of assemblies is required, simultaneous structural and functional characterization should be carried out. Finally, while results in this study pertain to synthetic substrates, they raise the possibility that at least some members of the pseudo-Class I and Class III hydrophobins, reported to form assemblies with noncanonical properties, may be Class I hydrophobins adopting alternative structures in response to environmental cues.

Polymorphism of G-quadruplexes formed by short oligonucleotides containing a 3′-3′ inversion of polarity: From G:C:G:C tetrads to π–π stacked G-wires

G-wires are supramolecular DNA structures based on the G-quadruplex (G4) structural motif obtained by the self-assembly of interlocked slipped G-rich oligonucleotide (ON) strands, or by end-to-end stacking of G4 units. Despite the increasing interest towards G-wires due to their potential applications in DNA nanotechnologies, the self-assembly process to obtain G-wires having a predefined length and stability is still neither completely understood nor controlled. In our previous studies, we demonstrated that the d(5′CG2-3′-3′-G2C5′) ON, characterized by the presence of a 3′-3′-inversion of polarity site self-assembles into a G-wire structure when annealed in the presence of K+ ions. Herein, by using CD, PAGE, HPLC size exclusion chromatography, and NMR investigations we studied the propensity of shorter analogues having sequences 5′CGn-3′-3′-GmC5′ (with n = 1 and 1 ≤ m ≤ 3) to form the corresponding G-quadruplexes and stacked G-wires. The results revealed that the formation of G-wires starting from d(5′CGn-3′-3′-GmC5′) ONs is possible only for the sequences having n and m > 1 in which both guanosines flanking the 5′-ending cytosines are not involved into the 3′-3′ phosphodiester bond.

OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF CARBON CONTAINING NANOCOMPOSITE FILMS BASED ON THE POLYSTYRENE-FULLERENE C60 SYSTEM

Carbon-based nanocomposites have attracted significant attention due to their unique properties and potential for use in various technological applications. In this study, experimental investigations were conducted to determine the spectral properties of carbon-containing nanocomposite polymer films based on polystyrene (PS) with fullerene C60 nanoadditives. The results indicate that the incorporation of fullerene nanoparticles into the PS matrix enhances the optical properties of the material. Specifically, the optical density of the samples increases, the absorption coefficient increases, and the width of the bandgap decreases with an increase in carbon additive concentration. These findings suggest that fullerene-based nanocomposites are promising materials for optoelectronic and nanotechnological applications. The results of this work contribute to the growing body of research on carbon-based nanocomposites and their potential for use in a range of fields, including electronics, energy storage, and sensing applications. The enhanced optical properties of fullerene-based nanocomposites suggest that they may be particularly useful for developing novel optoelectronic devices and sensors. Overall, this study highlights the potential of fullerene-based nanocomposites as a versatile and promising material platform for various technological applications.

Lipopeptides as tools in catalysis, supramolecular, materials and medicinal chemistry.

Lipopeptides are amphiphilic peptides in which an aliphatic chain is attached to either the C or N terminus of peptides. Their self-assembly - into micelles, vesicles, nanotubes, fibres or nanobelts - leads to applications in nanotechnology, catalysis or medicinal chemistry. Self-organization of lipopeptides is dependent on both the length of the lipid tail and the amino acid sequence, in which the chirality of the peptide sequence can be transmitted into the supramolecular species. This Review describes the use of lipopeptides to design synthetic advanced dynamic supramolecular systems, nanostructured materials or self-responsive delivery systems in the area of medical biotechnology. We examine the influence of external stimuli, the ability of lipopeptide-derived structures to adapt over time and their application as medicinal agents with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral or anticancer activities. Finally, we discuss the catalytic efficiency of lipopeptides, with the aim of building minimal synthetic enzymes, and recent efforts to incorporate metals into lipopeptide assemblies.

Shrinking the battlefield in cancer therapy: Nanotechnology against cancer stem cells

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, presenting a significant healthcare challenge owing to the limited efficacy of current treatments. The application of nanotechnology in cancer treatment leverages the unique optical, magnetic, and electrical attributes of nanomaterials to engineer innovative, targeted therapies. Specifically, manipulating nanomaterials allows for enhanced drug loading efficiency, improved bioavailability, and targeted delivery systems, reducing the non-specific cytotoxic effects characteristic of conventional chemotherapies. Furthermore, recent advances in nanotechnology have demonstrated encouraging results in specifically targeting CSCs, a key development considering the role of these cells in disease recurrence and resistance to treatment. Despite these breakthroughs, the clinical approval rates of nano-drugs have not kept pace with research advances, pointing to existing obstacles that must be addressed. In conclusion, nanotechnology presents a novel, powerful tool in the fight against cancer, particularly in targeting the elusive and treatment-resistant CSCs. This comprehensive review delves into the intricacies of nanotherapy, explicitly targeting cancer stem cells, their markers, and associated signaling pathways.

Nanocatalyzed Synthesis of Benzoxazoles

AbstractNaturally, occurring as well as synthetic nitrogen and oxygen containing heterocyclic compounds like benzoxazoles and its derivatives have found to be playing a vital role in the Pharmaceutical, agriculture; polymer, material science and they also exhibits series of significant antimicrobial activities. In the last decade, an organic transformation has found abundant application of nanotechnology and nanoscience can aid design catalyst with excellent efficiency, selectivity and stability. Academics and industry have recently shown a lot of interest in the application of nanocatalysts, a field that is expanding significantly, to create sustainable and environmentally friendly processes for the synthesis of benzoxazole derivatives with multi‐component reactions (MCRs). Nanocatalyst reactions have advantages over conventional catalyst reactions because of the interaction of chemical reactants made possible by a high surface area ratio, simple purification, low catalyst loading, high atom economy, inexpensiveness, short reaction time, better yield, and recyclability of the nanocatalysts. In this review article, mainly focus is on the nanocatalysts fabrications, characterizations and their applications for the synthesis of benzoxazoles moiety during the last decennary (2011 to 2022).

Advancements in the Application of the Fenton Reaction in the Cancer Microenvironment.

Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease that continues to be a global health challenge. It exerts a tremendous burden on individuals, families, healthcare systems, and society as a whole. To mitigate the impact of cancer, concerted efforts and collaboration on a global scale are essential. This includes strengthening preventive measures, promoting early detection, and advancing effective treatment strategies. In the field of cancer treatment, researchers and clinicians are constantly seeking new approaches and technologies to improve therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects. One promising avenue of investigation is the utilization of the Fenton reaction, a chemical process that involves the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals (·OH) through the interaction of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with ferrous ions (Fe2+). The generated ·OH radicals possess strong oxidative properties, which can lead to the selective destruction of cancer cells. In recent years, researchers have successfully introduced the Fenton reaction into the cancer microenvironment through the application of nanotechnology, such as polymer nanoparticles and light-responsive nanoparticles. This article reviews the progress of the application of the Fenton reaction, catalyzed by polymer nanoparticles and light-responsive nanoparticles, in the cancer microenvironment, as well as the potential applications and future development directions of the Fenton reaction in the field of tumor treatment.

The Key Benefits and Application of Nanotechnology in Agriculture

The science of controlling materials at the nanoscale is known as nanotechnology. Working with the smallest particles conceivable gives rise to aspirations for increasing agricultural production by running into issues that can't be solved traditionally. In the management aspects, attempts are made to restore soil fertility by releasing fixed nutrients, as well as to boost the efficacy of applied fertilizer with the aid of nano clays and zeolites. With the aid of nano biosensors and satellite systems, the input requirements for crops are determined in controlled environments for agriculture and precision farming based on needs, and the necessary quantities are given at the appropriate times and locations. To combat the issues of managing perennial weeds and depleting the weed seed bank, nano herbicides are being developed. By using targeted delivery, slow/controlled release, and conditional release mechanisms, nanostructured formulations could more accurately time the release of their active ingredients in response to biological needs and environmental cues. According to studies, using nano fertilizers improves the efficiency with which nutrients are used, lessens soil toxicity, reduces the frequency of treatment, and minimizes any potential side effects from overdosing. Because of this, nanotechnology, especially in underdeveloped nations, has tremendous potential for attaining sustainable agriculture. To increase agricultural productivity, new technologies are frequently used in agriculture. Employing nanoparticles in agriculture is known as "nanoagriculture," and these particles will have positive effects on crops.

Review of Nanotechnology’s Potential in Agricultural Applications

Nowadays, the fundamental concept of nanoscience and nanotechnology is used in a variety of fields for a numerous reasons, purposes, and applications at Nano scale. This is an interdisciplinary subject, and its applications include engineering, biotechnology, biomedical instruments, and composite materials; however, nanotechnology has recently become most imperative and exciting in the field of agriculture. Nanotechnology and nanoscale materials have the potential to provide solutions to many significant challenges confronting our farmers. This review paper summarizes some of the most promising and significant nanotechnology applications in agricultural products such as nanopesticides, nanourea, nanosensors, and other nanoscale processes. The current review concentrates on technical and financial challenges confronting achievement of nanotechnology in rural community development.

Emerging Applications of Nanotechnology in Healthcare and Medicine.

Knowing the beneficial aspects of nanomedicine, scientists are trying to harness the applications of nanotechnology in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. There are also potential uses in designing medical tools and processes for the new generation of medical scientists. The main objective for conducting this research review is to gather the widespread aspects of nanomedicine under one heading and to highlight standard research practices in the medical field. Comprehensive research has been conducted to incorporate the latest data related to nanotechnology in medicine and therapeutics derived from acknowledged scientific platforms. Nanotechnology is used to conduct sensitive medical procedures. Nanotechnology is showing successful and beneficial uses in the fields of diagnostics, disease treatment, regenerative medicine, gene therapy, dentistry, oncology, aesthetics industry, drug delivery, and therapeutics. A thorough association of and cooperation between physicians, clinicians, researchers, and technologies will bring forward a future where there is a more calculated, outlined, and technically programed field of nanomedicine. Advances are being made to overcome challenges associated with the application of nanotechnology in the medical field due to the pathophysiological basis of diseases. This review highlights the multipronged aspects of nanomedicine and how nanotechnology is proving beneficial for the health industry. There is a need to minimize the health, environmental, and ethical concerns linked to nanotechnology.

Performance analysis of full adder and full subtractor using quantum-dot cellular automata

Quantum cellular automata (QCA), a nanotechnology application has shown to be a profoundly powerful computational environment when compared to CMOS. This article uses a quantum dot cellular automaton (QCA) to primarily project the implementation and simulation outcome of different regenerable full adders and full subtractors. The technique for changing irreversible functions into reversible ones is used to achieve the same. For improving the energy efficiency of the QCA based designs, the conversion of irreversible functions to reversible is quite desirous in recent era. A novel symmetric and planar design for a majority gate having five inputs whose fault tolerant is suggested. The designs outperform the best existing ones concerning complexity, size, and delay, the quantity of majority and invertible gates, garbage outputs, including control inputs.

Electronic and optical properties of new Pentagonal Janus PtXY (X, Y=S, Se, Te; X [formula omitted] Y) monolayers: A DFT study

In this work, we investigate a new phase of two-dimensional Janus PtXY (X, Y = S, Se, Te; X ≠ Y) monolayers named pentagonal (Penta-PtXY) using the first-principles calculations. We found that Penta-PtXY monolayers are semiconductors with an indirect band gap of 1.69 eV, 1.52 eV, and 1.43 eV for Penta-PtSSe, Penta-PtSTe, and Penta-PtSeTe, respectively, that is reduced with the inclusion of spin–orbit coupling. These structures are dynamically stable as their phonon dispersions showed no soft phonon frequencies. The investigation of the optical properties revealed that monolayers Penta-PtXY have in-plane anisotropic optical properties with higher absorption spectra along the y-direction. Moreover, the maximum absorption occurs in the ultraviolet (UV) region, therefore, they can harvest UV and visible photons more effectively. This combination of properties makes these materials attractive for fundamental studies of anisotropic phenomena in 2D materials and may enable novel optoelectronic and nanotechnology applications.

Exploring the Frontiers of Green Nanotechnology: Advancing Biomedicine, Herbonanoceuticals, Environment, and Sustainability

Green nanotechnology represents a burgeoning field that holds immense promise in the realm of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted applications of green nanotechnology, offering an extensive analysis of its potential and current achievements in these vital sectors. The utilization of plant extracts and natural compounds as reducing and stabilizing agents for nanoparticles is a key focus of this review. The discussion encompasses various synthesis techniques, shedding light on the innovative developments and methods that researchers employ to harness the full potential of green nanotechnology. The array of applications covered in this review spans applications in drug delivery systems and nanomedicine to imaging and diagnostics and environmental applications. We underscore the significance of maintaining nanoparticle stability and bioavailability throughout their journey within the body, addressing critical issues related to nanotoxicology, in vivo testing, and formulation development. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the pivotal role of green nanotechnology in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals by elucidating its contributions to enhanced drug efficacy, reduced side effects, and improved patient outcomes. In conclusion, the blend of green nanotechnology with nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals offers a remarkable opportunity to revolutionize the healthcare landscape. By harnessing the potential of plant-derived nanoparticles and innovative synthesis methods, researchers and industries alike are poised to unlock new frontiers in drug delivery, diagnostics, and patient care.

Advancement in Biopolymer Assisted Cancer Theranostics.

Applications of nanotechnology have increased the importance of research and nanocarriers, which have revolutionized the method of drug delivery to treat several diseases, including cancer, in the past few years. Cancer, one of the world's fatal diseases, has drawn scientists' attention for its multidrug resistance to various chemotherapeutic drugs. To minimize the side effects of chemotherapeutic agents on healthy cells and to develop technological advancement in drug delivery systems, scientists have developed an alternative approach to delivering chemotherapeutic drugs at the targeted site by integrating it inside the nanocarriers like synthetic polymers, nanotubes, micelles, dendrimers, magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), lipid nanoparticles, nano-biopolymeric substances, etc., which has shown promising results in both preclinical and clinical trials of cancer management. Besides that, nanocarriers, especially biopolymeric nanoparticles, have received much attention from researchers due to their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, treatment efficacy, and ability to target drug delivery by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This review emphasizes the fabrication processes, the therapeutic and theragnostic applications, and the importance of different biopolymeric nanocarriers in targeting cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which conclude with the challenges and opportunities of future exploration using biopolymeric nanocarriers in onco-therapy with improved availability and reduced toxicity.

Biogenic silver nanoparticles: in vitro activity against Staphylococcus aureus methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS).

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are one problem in health since the therapeutic alternative are reduced. For this, the application of nanotechnology through functionalized nanoparticles, like a biogenic silver nanoparticle (Bio-AgNP), obtained by biological synthesis, emerges as a possible alternative against the MDR bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterialand antibiofilm activity of Bio-AgNP obtained for biological synthesis by Fusarium oxysporum strain 551 against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and MDR coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) isolates. Bio-AgNP has activity against S. aureus ATCC 25904, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984, and MDR isolates, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 3.75 to 15 μg.mL-1 and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) from 7.5 to 30 μg.mL-1. In the membrane leakage assay, it was observed that all concentrations tested led to proteins release from the cellular content dose-dependently, where the highest concentrations led to higher protein in the supernatant. The 2×MIC of Bio-AgNP killed ATCC 35984 after 6h of treatment, and ATCC 25904 and S. aureus (SA3) strains after 24h of treatment. The 4×MIC was bactericidal in 6h of treatment for all strains in the study. The biofilm of MDR isolates was inhibited in 80.94 to 100% and eradicated in 60 to 94%. The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis demonstrated similar results to the antibiofilm assays. The Bio-AgNP has antibacterial and antibiofilm activity and can be a promising therapeutic alternative against MDR bacteria.