Safety Applications Research Articles

Creating Smart Washable Flooring: Sandwich‐Style Single‐Electrode Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Barium Titanate and Graphite‐Fluorinated Polymer‐Infused Ecoflex Hybrid Composites for Enhanced Safety and Security

AbstractSmart flooring embedded with TENG technology enhances safety and security in dream homes by generating energy through movement, providing real‐time alerts and monitoring capabilities. Research on smart flooring is limited, particularly concerning its washability, which remains a significant drawback. To tackle this challenge, an innovative solution is developed that is not only washable but also flexible and durable, combining barium titanate (BT) and graphite fluorinated polymer (FG) within an Ecoflex (EC) matrix, utilizing a sandwich‐style single‐electrode TENG (SWSE‐TENG) configuration. This design exhibits remarkable triboelectric performance, achieving an open‐circuit potential of 1000 V and a short‐circuit current of 25 µA when tapped with a nitrile‐glove‐clad hand. Extensive testing under various conditions such as humidity, water immersion, and frequent washing demonstrates outstanding stability and resilience. The SWSE‐TENG smart flooring shows promising applications in safety, security, and athletic environments. Prior to this, EC‐BT‐FG composites with varying BT and FG concentrations using a facile casting technique are fabricated, systematically analyzing their structural, crystalline, and electrical properties. Notably, the 5 wt% BT and 5 wt% FG embedded EC composite (EC‐5‐5) exhibits superior triboelectric performance, making it the optimal choice for this innovative flooring solution.

Applications of Nanomaterial Coatings in Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME)

This review explores the advances in developing adsorbent materials for solid-phase microextraction (SPME), focusing on nanoparticles, nanocomposites, and nanoporous structures. Nanoparticles, including those of metals (e.g., gold, silver), metal oxides (e.g., TiO2, ZnO), and carbon-based materials (e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene), offer enhanced surface area, improved extraction efficiency, and increased selectivity compared to traditional coatings. Nanocomposites, such as those combining metal oxides with polymers or carbon-based materials, exhibit synergistic properties, further improving extraction performance. Nanoporous materials, including metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and ordered mesoporous carbons, provide high surface area and tunable pore structures, enabling selective adsorption of analytes. These advanced materials have been successfully applied to various analytes, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, and heavy metals, demonstrating improved sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility compared to conventional SPME fibers. The incorporation of nanomaterials has significantly expanded the scope and applicability of SPME, enabling the analysis of trace-level analytes in complex matrices. This review highlights the significant potential of nanomaterials in revolutionizing SPME technology, offering new possibilities for sensitive and selective analysis in environmental monitoring, food safety, and other critical applications.

Advances and Future Trends in Nanozyme-Based SERS Sensors for Food Safety, Environmental and Biomedical Applications

Advances and Future Trends in Nanozyme-Based SERS Sensors for Food Safety, Environmental and Biomedical Applications

Exploring the Frontiers of Nanopore Sequencing in Food Safety and Food Microbiology.

Foodborne illnesses are a significant global public health challenge, with an estimated 600 million cases annually. Conventional food microbiology methods tend to be laborious and time consuming, pose difficulties in real-time utilization, and can display subpar accuracy or typing capabilities. With the recent advancements in third-generation sequencing and microbial omics, nanopore sequencing technology and its long-read sequencing capabilities have emerged as a promising platform. In recent years, nanopore sequencing technology has been benchmarked for its amplicon sequencing, whole-genome and transcriptome analysis, meta-analysis, and other advanced omics approaches. This review comprehensively covers nanopore sequencing technology's current advances in food safety applications, including outbreak investigation, pathogen surveillance, and antimicrobial resistance profiling. Despite significant progress, ongoing research and development are crucial to overcoming challenges in sequencing chemistry, accuracy, bioinformatics, and real-time adaptive sampling to fully realize nanopore sequencing technology's potential in food safety and food microbiology.

Verification of Vulnerable Road User Pre-Crash Scenarios in Vision-Based Safety Applications

<div>Verifying training datasets in vision-based vehicle safety applications is crucial to understanding the potential limitations of detection capabilities that may result in a higher safety risk. Vision-based pedestrian safety applications with crash avoidance technologies rely on prompt detection to avoid a crash. This research aims to develop a verification process for vulnerable road user safety applications with vision-based detection functionalities. It consists of reviewing the application’s safety requirements, identifying the target objects of detection in the operational design domain and pre-crash scenarios, and evaluating the safety risks qualitatively by examining the training dataset based on the results of pre-crash scenarios classification. As a demonstration, the process is implemented using open-source pedestrian tracking software, and the pre-crash scenarios are classified based on the trajectories of pedestrians in an example training dataset used in a pedestrian automatic emergency braking system. The dataset provides abundant vulnerable road users under various operating conditions. Results show that the dataset does not cover snowy weather, fog, smoke, smog, and dust/dirt of particulate matter conditions. Crossing, cut-in, and front pre-crash scenarios are less well-represented in the dataset than pedestrians on the sidewalk. Very few pedestrians were found in the front-near zone, which suggests the dataset lacks sufficient imminent pre-crash scenarios that pose the greatest safety risk. The performance of the pedestrian tracking software is evaluated and future research for improving the proposed mechanism is discussed.</div>

Research Progress in Small-Molecule Detection Using Aptamer-Based SERS Techniques

Nucleic acid aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotides that are selected through exponential enrichment (SELEX) technology from synthetic DNA/RNA libraries. These aptamers can specifically recognize and bind to target molecules, serving as specific recognition elements. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is an ultra-sensitive, non-destructive analytical technique that can rapidly acquire the “fingerprint information” of the measured molecules. It has been widely applied in qualitative and trace analysis across various fields, including food safety, environmental monitoring, and biomedical applications. Small molecules, such as toxins, antibiotics, and pesticides, have significant biological effects and are harmful to both human health and the environment. In this paper, we mainly introduced the application and the research progress of SERS detection with aptamers (aptamer-based SERS techniques) in the field of small-molecule detection, particularly in the analysis of pesticide (animal) residues, antibiotics, and toxins. And the progress and prospect of combining the two methods in detection were reviewed.

Repurposing of Metabolic Drugs Metformin and Simvastatin as an Emerging Class of Cancer Therapeutics.

Metabolic alterations are commonly associated with various cancers and are recognized as contributing factors to cancer progression, invasion, and metastasis. Drug repurposing, a strategy in drug discovery, utilizes existing knowledge to recommend established drugs for new indications based on clinical data or biological evidence. This approach is considered a less risky alternative to traditional drug development. Metformin, a biguanide, is a product of Galega officinalis (French lilac) primarily prescribed for managing type 2 diabetes, is recognized for its ability to reduce hepatic glucose production and enhance insulin sensitivity, particularly in peripheral tissues such as muscle. It also improves glucose uptake and utilization while decreasing intestinal glucose absorption. Statins, first isolated from the fungus Penicillium citrinum is another class of medication mainly used to lower cholesterol levels in individuals at risk for cardiovascular diseases, work by inhibiting the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which is essential for cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver. Metformin is frequently used in conjunction with statins to investigate their potential synergistic effects. Combination of metformin and simvastatin has gathered much attention in cancer research because of its potential advantages for cancer prevention and treatment. In this review, we analyze the effects of metformin and simvastatin, both individually and in combination, on key cancer hallmarks, and how this combination affects the expression of biomolecules and associated signaling pathways. We also summarize preclinical research, including clinical trials, on the efficacy, safety, and potential applications of repurposing metformin and simvastatin for cancer therapy.

Amino acid-based, sustainable organic nanozyme and integrated sensing platform for histamine detection.

Inorganic nanozymes hold promise for biomolecule sensing but face challenges like complex fabrication, toxicity, and low sustainability, limiting their use. To overcome these, a sustainable organic nanozyme (OA nanozyme) was created using amino acids and a biocompatible polymer for effective histamine detection. The OA nanozyme exhibits peroxidase-like activity and was fabricated through a single chelation/polymer entanglement method, enabling rapid production (within 3h) with uniform morphology (≤100nm diameter) and a negative surface charge at neutral pH. It shows decent kinetic performance (Km=0.009mM for H2O2) and biocompatibility, making it suitable for biological applications. The OA nanozyme achieved high sensitivity for histamine detection (LOD: 21.37 pgmL-1) with excellent selectivity and specificity against related molecules. The system's ability to detect histamine in real food samples (e.g., spinach) was also confirmed. These findings indicate that the OA nanozyme holds significant potential for broader applications in food safety and quality assurance.

Intramolecular distance-regulated G4 DNA enzymatic activity-based chromophotometric system for visual monitoring of diquat.

As global food production continues to surge, the widespread use of herbicides has also increased concurrently, posing challenges like health risks and environmental pollution. Traditional detection methods for pesticide residues, such as diquat (DQ), were hampered by limitations like high expenses, lengthy detection times and complex operations, restricting their practical application in rapid clinical diagnosis. In light of the pressing necessity for the identification of minute pesticide residues and the intrinsic constraints of small molecule analysis, a novel chromophotometric biosensor targeting small molecules was developed based on bi-epitopes on single antibody to immobilize two DQ-PAL, inhibiting the hybridization of DQ-PAL. Accordingly, the free DQ-PAL could hybridize with each other to form a G-quadruplex for a highly selective analysis of DQ with a detection limit of 26.3pg/mL and 10pg/mL by chromophotometric and image colorimetric method respectively. Furthermore, this designed biosensor has been successfully applied to evaluate the levels of DQ residues in real samples, providing an efficient solution for the biological analysis of small molecule targets and enhancing food safety concerning pesticide residues. In comparison to conventional techniques, this biosensor has the advantages of user-friendly operations, portability, high sensitivity, low detection limit and minimal background interference, making it well-suited for clinical diagnostics. At the same time, this technology provides a new idea for the rapid in vitro detection of biological small molecules, and shows great potential applications in agricultural residue-related food safety.

Ultra-sensitive, on-site pesticide detection for environmental and food safety monitoring using flexible cellulose nano fiber/Au nanorod@Ag SERS sensor.

This paper introduces a highly absorbent and sensitive cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/gold nanorod (GNR)@Ag surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor, fabricated using the vacuum filtration method. By optimizing the Ag thickness in the GNR@Ag core-shell structures and integrating them with CNFs, optimal SERS hotspots were identified using the Raman probe molecule 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP). To concentrate pesticides extracted from fruit and vegetable surfaces, we utilized the evaporation enrichment effect using hydrophilic CNF and hole-punched hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). This design leverages the hydrophilic substrate and localized evaporation to create a microfluidic flow that concentrates analytes within a small hole area, enhancing SERS sensitivity by up to 465 %. The sensor achieved on-site detection limits for Thiram as low as 10-11 M on fruit surfaces, specifically apples and chili peppers. This approach underscores how localized molecule enrichment can substantially improve field-based pesticide analysis. the sensor's response to interfering substances (e.g., glucose and citric acid) and other harmful molecules (e.g., carbendazim and nitrofurazone was also evaluated, demonstrating high sensitivity and accuracy). The PDMS-assisted CNF/GNR@Ag SERS sensor exhibits flexibility, ease of fabrication, and excellent sensitivity and selectivity, showing significant potential for applications in food safety, agriculture, and environmental monitoring. These advancements are anticipated to promote the practical adoption of SERS-based sensor technology across diverse fields, suggesting broad future utility.

Extraction, purification, structural characterization, and biological activity of polysaccharides from Aralia: A review.

Aralia Linn. Plants (ALPs) is a member of the Araliaceae family, a genus of more than thirty species, some plants of Aralia Linn are commonly used as herbal medicines. ALPs is commonly utilized for relieving the symptoms of neurasthenia, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. The principal extraction approaches of polysaccharides of ALPs (AEP) encompass water extraction, ultrasonic-assisted, compound enzyme and microwave-assisted. Various extraction approaches and extraction conditions will affect the extraction rate and purity of the AEP. AEP is mainly composed of arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), rhamnose (Rha), xylose (Xyl) and so on with different proportions of monosaccharides. AEP is one of the principal active components of ALPs, which has a variety of biological activities. Studies have shown that activities of AEP are anti-tumor, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-radiation, and hypoglycemic. One of the anti-tumor mechanisms of AEP is mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and its regulatory process is described in detail. This review mainly summarizes the researches on extraction, separation, structural characterization and pharmacological activities of some AEP both the latest local and international in recent years. It lays a foundation for clinical safety application and the broadening of the application scope.

Propagation Channel Measurements for Indoor-to-Outdoor Communications for Device-to-Device Public Safety Applications

Propagation Channel Measurements for Indoor-to-Outdoor Communications for Device-to-Device Public Safety Applications

Ultrasensitive and quantitative SERS detection using SiO2@Au core-satellite structures on paper-based super-hydrophobic substrates for food safety applications

Ultrasensitive and quantitative SERS detection using SiO2@Au core-satellite structures on paper-based super-hydrophobic substrates for food safety applications

Oxidase mimicking nanozyme based sensors: From classification and catalytic mechanisms to food safety applications

Oxidase mimicking nanozyme based sensors: From classification and catalytic mechanisms to food safety applications

Therapeutic Frontiers in Nanozyme-Based Cancer Treatment: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions

Nanozymes, artificial nanomaterials mimicking enzyme activity, are at the forefront of innovative cancer therapies, particularly in chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT). Their capacity to selectively generate reactive oxygen species under tumor-specific conditions, including low pH and high H₂O₂ levels, facilitates targeted induction of cancer cell death while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. When integrated with PDT or PTT, nanozymes enhance oxidative stress and promote immunogenic cell death, further amplifying anti-tumor immune responses. Recent advances in single-atom nanozymes and intelligent nanozymes have shown promise in overcoming therapeutic limitations, such as tumor hypoxia and immune suppression while modulating the tumor microenvironment to boost treatment efficacy. Additionally, ongoing preclinical and clinical evaluations highlight the potential of nanozymes to synergistically enhance immunotherapy outcomes. Their advantages over traditional enzymes, such as stability, tunability, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to maintain catalytic activity in hostile environments, position nanozymes as transformative agents in cancer therapy. However, their clinical translation faces significant challenges, including biocompatibility concerns, delivery inefficiencies to tumor sites, and stringent regulatory hurdles, which require comprehensive research and innovative solutions to address. Despite these limitations, advancements in nanozyme design and functionalization continue to pave the way for more effective and safer applications in cancer therapy which will be discussed in detail in this review.Keywords: Cancer therapy, Nanomaterial, Nanozymes, ROS, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT)

A Review of Nanotechnology Applications in Food Processing, Packaging, and Preservation

Nanotechnology has certainly become a phenomenon that is of great significance in many regions such as the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and in particular the food sector, over the years. This is because nanotechnology overlaps with pharmaceutical sciences which involve the structural modification of materials to the nano level, increasing the dissolution rate, stability, and functionality of a variety of food safety and quality applications. The novel food supply frameworks enable firms within the food sector to emerge sustainability focused innovations, which tackle safety and nutrition deficiencies within the food industry. Narrowing down on the supply chain, this review seeks to highlight nanotechnology applications across food supply chains, stressing the importance of advancements in bioavailability, nutrition, and safety. In aid of nutrient delivery, overcoming shelf life and packaging issues – development in nanoencapsulation technology and new packaging materials have enhanced mechanical properties, antibacterial properties. Moreover, nanodevice-based smart packaging is considered as valuable tools for real-time monitoring of food safety and quality. Despite these benefits, degenerative concerns about nanoparticles health risks underscore the importance of sound regulatory approaches. While nanotechnology shows considerable potential for enhancing food sustainability and quality, the study ultimately finds that comprehensive regulation and increased public awareness of potential risks are necessary first steps. Continued research and global collaboration may be vital to really unlock the potential of nanotechnology in food systems while safeguarding public health.

Theoretical Study of CO, NO, NO2, Cl2, and H2S Adsorption Interactions with PdO–Graphene Composites for Gas Sensor Applications

Gas sensors play a vital role in detecting gases in the air, converting their concentrations into electrical signals for industrial, environmental, and safety applications. This study used density functional theory methods to explore the mechanism and sensitivity of a PdO–graphene composite sensor towards various gases (CO, NO, NO2, H2S, and Cl2). All calculations, including structure, energy, and frequency optimizations, were performed using the Gaussian software with appropriate configurations and basis sets. Key parameters such as the adsorption energy, charge transfer, energy gap, density of states, and HOMO–LUMO were computed for each gas molecule on the PdO–graphene composite. The sensitivity and recovery time were also evaluated. The findings show that CO exhibited the highest adsorption energy (−6.5513 eV) and adsorbed with a noticeable tilt toward the PdO–graphene plane, indicating a strong interaction, and H2S exhibited the lowest adsorption energy, calculated as −2.0110 eV. H2S demonstrated the highest charge transfer of 0.445 e and an energy gap of 3.1321 eV, and CO exhibited the lowest charge transfer, calculated as 0.036 e, while NO2 demonstrated the lowest energy gap, determined to be 2.5004 eV. NO2 demonstrated the highest sensitivity, at 1285.2% for the PdO–graphene composite, and the lowest were Cl2 and H2S, with a sensitivity of 99.9%, while Cl2 had the shortest recovery time of 7.66 × 10−11 s, and CO had the longest recovery time of 2.55 × 10−10 s. The addition of PdO significantly enhanced the interaction strength between the adsorbed gas molecules and the graphene sheet when compared to Pd–graphene or pure graphene. This enhancement is reflected in the increased adsorption energy and band gap and low charge transfer, which significantly influenced the electrical conductivity of the PdO–graphene sheet. In conclusion, the incorporation of PdO into graphene improves the sensitivity of the gas sensor, particularly for detecting NO2, making PdO–graphene a highly suitable material for gas sensing applications.

The Advanced Role of Carbon Quantum Dots in Nano-Food Science: Applications, Bibliographic Analysis, Safety Concerns, and Perspectives

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are innovative carbon-based nanomaterials that can be synthesized from organic and inorganic sources using two approaches: “top-down” (laser ablation, arc discharge, electrochemical, and acidic oxidation) and “bottom-up” (hydrothermal, ultrasound-assisted, microwave, and thermal decomposition). Among these, hydrothermal synthesis stands out as the best option as it is affordable and eco-friendly and can produce a high quantum yield. Due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties, CQDs are highly promising materials for diverse applications, i.e., medicine, bioimaging, and especially in food safety, which is one of the thriving fields of recent research worldwide. As an innovative sensing tool, CQDs with different surface functional groups enable them to detect food contaminants, i.e., food additives in processed food, drug residues in honey, and mycotoxins in beer and flour, based on different sensing mechanisms (IFE, PET, and FRET). This article discussed the sources, fabrication methods, advantages, and limitations of CQDs as a sensing for the detection of food contaminants. In addition, the cost-effectiveness, eco-friendliness, high quantum yield, safety concerns, and future research perspectives to enhance food quality and security were briefly highlighted. This review also explored recent advancements in CQD applications in food safety, supported by a bibliometric analysis (2014–2024) using the PubMed database.

Review on Development and Research of Underwater Capacitive Power Transfer

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology applied to underwater environments has the advantages of no electrical contact, high safety, and high applicability. Underwater capacitive power transfer (UCPT) technology shows great potential in the field of underwater wireless power transfer as it has more advantages compared to underwater inductive power transfer (UIPT) technology. This paper begins with the system principles of UCPT and explains the advantages of UCPT technology for underwater applications. It then reviews the coupler and equivalent circuit models currently used for UCPT in various underwater environments, which indicates the direction for the design of underwater couplers in the future. In addition, compensation networks currently applied in UCPT systems are summarized and compared. Furthermore, different application examples of UCPT are introduced, and the key factors constraining UCPT development are pointed out. Research directions for future development of UCPT technology are also investigated.

Assessment of dermal safety of petroleum ether extract from Acorus calamus L

Acorus calamus L (A. calamus), known for its aromatic leaves and rhizomes, is extensively used in traditional medicine to treat digestive issues, inflammation, pain, anxiety, and stress. The petroleum ether extract of A. calamus isolates specific bioactive compounds using petroleum ether, a nonpolar solvent effective in dissolving nonpolar plant compounds. This extract potentially offers antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic benefits. However, research on this extract is limited, necessitating further investigation to determine its safety, efficacy, and medical applications. This study aims to develop more efficient extraction methods for the petroleum ether extract, focusing on sesquiterpenes and isocalamendiol from A. calamus. Additionally, the study will evaluate the extract’s safety for topical use, providing insights into potential side effects and contraindications. This information is crucial for assessing the extract’s suitability for topical treatments and guiding the development of new therapies and products.