Effect Of Nanoparticles Research Articles

Nanoparticles-induced potential toxicity on human health: Applications, toxicity mechanisms, and evaluation models.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have become one of the most popular objects of scientific study during the past decades. However, despite wealth of study reports, still there is a gap, particularly in health toxicology studies, underlying mechanisms, and related evaluation models to deeply understanding the NPs risk effects. In this review, we first present a comprehensive landscape of the applications of NPs on health, especially addressing the role of NPs in medical diagnosis, therapy. Then, the toxicity of NPs on health systems is introduced. We describe in detail the effects of NPs on various systems, including respiratory, nervous, endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems, and the carcinogenicity of NPs. Furthermore, we unravels the underlying mechanisms of NPs including ROS accumulation, mitochondrial damage, inflammatory reaction, apoptosis, DNA damage, cell cycle, and epigenetic regulation. In addition, the classical study models such as cell lines and mice and the emerging models such as 3D organoids used for evaluating the toxicity or scientific study are both introduced. Overall, this review presents a critical summary and evaluation of the state of understanding of NPs, giving readers more better understanding of the NPs toxicology to remedy key gaps in knowledge and techniques.

Computational investigation of the effect ZnS buffer layer on the hole transport of polymer solar cell

Semiconductor organic solar absorber exhibits poor charge transport process because of exciton short diffusion length, short life time, and poor carrier mobilities in the medium. Such transport properties have negatively impacted the performance of organic solar cells (OSC). This article is designed to investigate the effect of solar absorber thickness and metal plasmonic nanoparticles using the most popular polymer blend (P3HT:PCBM) via SCAPS device simulation program. Bulk hetero-junction (BHJ) design of OSC has partially addressed the challenges by increasing inter-facial area of the acceptor/donor (A/D) molecules, which boosts the generation of free charges. However, the collection of these charges hindered due to low carrier mobilities in polymer medium. Significant influence of the Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been observed on the performance of OSC at various concentrations. Thus, we are reporting here the effect of absorber layer thickness and ZnS NPs on the charge transport process in OSC.

Exposure to silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles at supra-environmental concentrations decreased sperm motility and affected spermatozoa subpopulations in gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata.

Marine pollution by nanoparticles (NPs) can be reprotoxic for fish and disturb successful reproduction of wild populations. In gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a mild effect on sperm motility was observed after exposure to high concentrations of silver NPs. Considering the great heterogeneity traits within a sperm sample, it is possible that NPs affect spermatozoa accordingly, modulating subpopulation profile. Thus, this work aimed to analyse NP effects in sperm motility in general and considering spermatozoa population structure, using a subpopulation approach. Seabream sperm samples from mature males were exposed for 1 h to increasing concentrations of titanium dioxide (1, 10, 100, 1000 and 10,000 μg L-1) and silver (0.25, 25 and 250 μg L-1) NPs, including Ag NP and Ag+, dissolved in a non-activating medium (0.9 % NaCl). Concentrations chosen include realistic (10-100 and 0.25 μg L-1, respectively, for TiO2 and Ag) and supra-environmental values. The mean particle diameter was determined as 19.34 ± 6.72 and 21.50 ± 8.27 nm in the stock suspension, respectively, for titanium dioxide and silver. After the ex vivo exposure, sperm motility parameters were determined using computer-assisted sperm analysis, and sperm subpopulations were later identified using a two-step cluster analysis. Results revealed a significant reduction in total motility after exposure to the 2 highest concentrations of titanium dioxide NPs, while curvilinear and straight-line velocities were not altered. Exposure to silver NPs (Ag NP and Ag+) lowered significantly total and progressive motilities at all concentrations, while curvilinear and straight-line velocities were significantly lower only at the highest concentration. Sperm subpopulations were also affected by the exposure to both titanium dioxide and silver NPs. In both cases, the highest levels of NPs triggered a decrease in the percentage of fast sperm subpopulations (38.2% in TiO2 1000 μg L-1, 34.8.% in Ag NP 250 μg L-1, and 45.0% in Ag+ 250 μg L-1 vs 53.4% in the control), while an increase on slow sperm subpopulations. A reprotoxic effect was proven for both NPs, but only at supra-environmental concentrations.

Evaluation of in vitro immunostimulatory and cytotoxic effects of recombinant survivin protein in combination with doxorubicin and breast cancer antigen-loaded polycaprolactone nanoparticles

In this study, the immunostimulatory and anticancer activities of the doxorubicin (DOX), MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer antigen-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with survivin recombinant protein (RP) and an alum adjuvant are evaluated in vitro on J774 macrophage, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. A double-emulsion solvent evaporation method was used for encapsulation of DOX and antigens into PCL NPs. The physicochemical characterization of NPs included size, morphology, zeta potential, release profiles and encapsulation efficiencies, analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, a zeta-sizer and UV–vis spectrometry. The cytotoxic and inhibitory effects of NPs were determined using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay. Immunostimulatory effects of the NPs were detected by Griess reaction and ELISA tests to determine nitric oxide and cytokine levels, respectively. According to the results, DOX and antigen-loaded PCL NPs ranged between 240 nm and 290 nm. Antigen and drug-loaded NPs appear less toxic over macrophage cells in comparison with non-capsulated free agents. In addition, considerable inhibitory effects of antigen and drug-loaded NPs were observed at non-toxic concentrations, such as 25 and 50 μg ml−1, on human mammary cancer cell lines (p⩽ 0.0001). The amount of nitrite released from macrophages that were treated with antigen and DOX-encapsulated PCL NPs, in combination with alum and survivin RP, after 96 h incubation was significantly higher than the control, especially at 50 and 100 μg ml−1, and triggered macrophages to produce high quantities of IL-4 and IL-12 cytokines in contrast to the control. As a result, DOX and antigen-loaded PCL NPs in combination with survivin and alum adjuvant revealed significant immunostimulatory and inhibiting influence on macrophage and breast cancer cells, respectively. The outcomes revealed that antigen and drug-loaded PCL NPs supplemented with survivin RP and an alum adjuvant created an effective platform for the development of nanotechnology-based immunotherapeutic tools to inhibit breast cancer cells. However, these outputs should be supported by further in vivo studies.

Loading regulation of gold nanoparticles on self-assembled 3D MoO3 hierarchical structure for high triethylamine sensing

Au@MoO3 nanocomposites for effectively detecting triethylamine (TEA) have been successfully synthesized via facile hydrothermal method by regulating the loading paths of Au nanoparticles (NPs). Due to the difference in loading effect, the introduction sequence of Au is adjusted to investigate their phase composition, micro-structure and gas sensitivity with the techniques of XRD, Raman, FT-IR, UV-Vis, SEM, TEM, XPS and BET. 3D hierarchical structure assembled by 200–500 nm nanosheets is formed with relatively large specific surface area. The typical Au@MoO3-H-C sensor loaded with more Au NPs (size of 10–20 nm) has the higher response of 106.6 to 25 ppm TEA with the lower detection limit of 0.1 ppm and the relatively short response/recovery times of 14/47 s at 240°C. Compared with other interfering vapors (including acetone, formaldehyde, isopropanol, glycol, ethanol, n-octane and ethylenediamine), the sensor has significant selectivity and anti-interference to TEA, as well as the reliable repeatability and stability. Its augmented TEA-sensing may be attributed to the synergies between sensitization effect of Au NPs and hierarchical structure with high active sites, which deliver great potential for the wide application of metal oxide gas sensor.

Can titanium dioxide nanoparticles modulate the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles on aquatic leaf litter decomposition?

The potential impacts of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) at environmental levels on freshwater ecosystems cannot be ignored due to their frequent release. The most widely used metallic oxide, ZnO NPs and TiO2 NPs (100 ng L−1) were applied to explore their single and combined effects on leaf litter decomposition. Although ZnO NPs and TiO2 NPs alone or in combination increased 22.68%–41.17% of the leaf decomposition rate, they performed different toxic mechanisms in ecological processes. The microbial mass and enzyme activities significantly increased after acute exposure, but significantly decreased after chronic exposure to ZnO NPs. The activity of BG was the most sensitive factor that was decreased by 66.22%, 56.97%, and 39.39% after 21-day exposure to ZnO NPs, TiO2 NPs, and in combination, respectively. In addition, the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested a novel perspective on understanding the promoting mechanism. The promotion effect of ZnO NPs relied on the enhanced decomposition of refractory organics and easily degradable substances due to the contribution of Anguillospora, Pyrenochaetopsis, and Bipolaris. The single exposure to TiO2 NPs and combined exposure with ZnO NPs promoted microbial mass and hydrolase activities, with the stimulating effect attributed to the enhanced decomposition of soluble substances. Therefore, the results highlight the importance of chemical analysis of decomposed leaves to evaluate the potential threat of metallic NPs to the function of freshwater ecosystems.

The Impact of Gold Nanoparticles on Somatic Embryogenesis Using the Example of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Although the influence of nanoparticles (NPs) on developmental processes is better understood, little is known about their impact on somatic embryogenesis (SE). This process involves changes in the direction of cell differentiation. Thus, studying the effect of NPs on SE is essential to reveal their impact on cell fate. This study aimed to examine the influence of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) with different surface charges on the SE of 35S:BBM Arabidopsis thaliana, with particular emphasis on the spatiotemporal localization of pectic arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and extensin epitopes in cells changing the direction of their differentiation. The results show that under the influence of nanoparticles, the explant cells of 35S:BBM Arabidopsis thaliana seedling origin did not enter the path of SE. Bulges and the formation of organ-like structures were observed in these explants, in contrast to the control, where somatic embryos developed. Additionally, spatiotemporal changes in the chemical composition of the cell walls during the culture were observed. Under the influence of Au NPs, the following effects were observed: (1) explant cells did not enter the SE pathway, (2) the impacts of Au NPs with different surface charges on the explants were variable, and (3) the compositions of the analyzed pectic AGPs and extensin epitopes were diverse in the cells with different developmental programs: SE (control) and non-SE (treated with Au NPs).

Al2O3 nanoparticles as surface modifier enables deposition of high quality perovskite films for ultra-flexible photovoltaics

Advanced photovoltaics, such as ultra-flexible perovskite solar cells (UF-PSCs), which are known for their lightweight design and high power-to-mass ratio, have been a long-standing goal that we, as humans, have continuously pursued. Unlike normal PSCs fabricated on rigid substrates, producing high-efficiency UF-PSCs remains a challenge due to the difficulty in achieving full coverage and minimizing defects of metal halide perovskite (MHP) films. In this study, we utilized Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) as an inorganic surface modifier to enhance the wettability and reduce the roughness of poly-bis(4-phenyl) (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) amine simultaneously. This approach proves essentials in fabricating UF-PSCs, enabling the deposition of uniform and dense MHP films with full coverage and fewer defects. We systematically investigated the effect of Al2O3 NPs on film formation, combining simulation with experiments. Our strategy not only significantly increases the power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 11.96% to 16.33%, but also promotes reproducibility by effectively addressing the short circuit issue commonly encountered in UF-PSCs. Additionally, our UF-PSCs demonstrates good mechanical stability, maintaining 98.6% and 79.0% of their initial PCEs after 10,000 bending cycles with radii of 1.0 and 0.5 ​mm, respectively.

ROS induction within 4T1 breast cancer cells by CuS NPs as chemodynamic agent

Minimally invasive and highly precise cancer cell death is a goal, and nanoformulations that can respond to the unique TME hold promise. This article describes the development of a nanoparticles (NPs) for chemodynamic treatment (CDT) to combat the cancer. As a consequence, CuS NPs cores are used as Fenton-like catalysts, while Alginate (Alg) is used as a stabilizer and template for entrapping and stabilizing Cu NPs. Here, Alg coated CuS NPs (CuS@Alg NPs) was synthesized via a green and facile method. To promote biocompatibility, Alg is added to the system. The malignant cells are killed by generated toxic hydroxyl radicals (·OH) using CuS@Alg NPs as a Fenton-like process catalyst. The effectiveness of NPs was assessed by MTT assay, live/dead cells staining, and ROS generation within cancer cells. Results not only confirmed ROS generation ability of CuS@Alg NPs within cells, but also show the anticancer ability of them. By CDT, the created smart nanoscale system showed remarkable effectiveness for breast cancer suppression.

Synthesis of vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles via laser ablation for biomedical applications

In recent years, vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable interest due to their potential medicinal applications, including cancer therapy, antibiotic resistance and antibacterial activity. Manufacturing V2O5 NPs is a crucial step in developing these applications, and laser ablation in solution has proven to be a particularly successful technique. Following fabrication, colloidal solutions were analyzed using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) absorption spectra, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In this work, XRD study revealed that the produced NPs had an orthorhombic phase. Based on the laser energy, nanosized vanadium pentoxide particles were created by laser irradiating a vanadium bulk submerged in a double deionized water (DDW), resulting in spherical particles with average sizes ranging from 15.4 to 33.8[Formula: see text]nm, as shown by TEM micrographs. Conforming to the quantum size concept, the bandgap energy of V2O5 NPs is higher than that of bulk V2O5 due to the decrease in particle size. This study examined the effectiveness of V2O5 NPs against pathogenic bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus as Gram’s positive bacteria and Escherichia coli as negative Gram’s bacteria. Then, we evaluated anticancer activity of V2O5 NPs against a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7 cells) using MTT assay. The results reveal that the activity of prepared V2O5 NPs against S. aureus is greater than that of E. coli. The findings suggest that prepared NPs can act as an anti-proliferative agent against MCF-7 cells. Subsequently, the produced NPs might be exploited as a future strategy for other biomedical applications.

Toxicological effects of selenium nanoparticles in laboratory animals: A review.

This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the main toxicological studies conducted on selenium nanoparticles (NPs) using laboratory animals, up until February 28, 2023. A literature search revealed 17 articles describing experimental studies conducted on warm-blooded animals. Despite some uncertainties, in vivo studies have demonstrated that selenium NPs have an adverse effect on laboratory animals, as evidenced by several indicators of general toxic action. These effects include reductions of body mass, changes in hepatotoxicity indices (increased enzyme activity and accumulation of selenium in the liver), and the possibility of impairment of fatty acid, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolisms. However, no specific toxic action attributable solely to selenium has been identified. The LOAEL and NOAEL values are contradictory. The NOAEL was 0.22 mg/kg body weight per day for males and 0.33 mg/kg body weight per day for females, while the LOAEL was assumed to be a dose of 0.05 mg/kg of nanoselenium. This LOAEL value is much higher for rats than for humans. The relationship between the adverse effects of selenium NPs and exposure dose is controversial and presents a wide typological diversity. Further research is needed to clarify the absorption, metabolism, and long-term toxicity of selenium NPs, which is critical to improving the risk assessment of these compounds.

AgAuSe Quantum Dots‐Based Eco‐Friendly Solar Cells

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) without toxic heavy metals are promising candidates for exploiting the next‐generation solar cells by virtue of their numerous merits, including solution processability, facile bandgap tunability and wide absorption spectrum range. However, a large number of photo‐generated carriers are captured by their inherent defects instead of effective dissociation, which immensely hinders the device performance. Herein, the silver‐gold‐selenide (AgAuSe) QDs with well‐treated defect states were firstly employed as the photo‐absorber of active layer to construct environment‐friendly QD solar cells, in which an inverted AgAuSe QD solar cell composed of ITO/SnO2/AgAuSe/Au/PCE10:BTP‐4Cl/MoO3/Al was fabricated. Thereinto, after the n‐i‐p infrastructure of SnO2/QD/PCE10 being determined, a layer of Au nanoparticles (NPs) was introduced into the QD/PCE10 interface to modulate the energy‐level alignment of the device. This interfacial modification significantly improved the device performance by increasing the open‐circuit voltage and fill factor, which was different from the absorption enhancement mechanism originated from the plasmonic effects of Au NPs. Lastly, the PCE10 layer was blended with BTP‐4Cl to increase the short‐circuit current density of device through its complementary absorption to AgAuSe QD, which further increased the power conversion efficiency up to 4.14% with the synergistic effect of Au NPs layer.

A novel way to prepare PbZrO3 nanocomposite films for increasing electrical properties and energy storage performance

The energy storage performance of dielectric materials depends largely on their polarization properties and electric breakdown strength. Nanocomposites have emerged as an effective method for improving these properties. In this study, we propose a novel method to prepare PbZrO3-Al2O3 nanocomposite films by combining chemical solution deposition with thermal evaporation of a metal Al layer. The resulting composite films exhibit a layered distribution of Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) on the PbZrO3 matrix, which can be used to control the shape and characteristics of the polarization-electric field (P-E) hysteresis loop by varying the thickness of the Al layer. We thoroughly investigated the effects of Al2O3 NPs on the microstructure, polarization, leakage current, and energy storage properties of the composite films. Our results show that as the content of Al2O3 NPs increases, the property of the composite films gradually evolves from antiferroelectric characteristics to ferroelectric characteristics. Specifically, the maximum polarization, remanent polarization, and electrical breakdown strength increase, while the leakage current decreases. Compared to PbZrO3 thin films, the electrical breakdown strength (1850 kV/cm) and energy storage density (25.0 J/cm3) of the nanocomposite thin films increased by 189% and 93%, respectively. Our study presents a new method to prepare dielectric nanocomposite films and opens up a new avenue for designing energy storage capacitor materials using nanocomposites.

Strain-rate sensitivity of cement composites: Insights from field's metal nano-inclusions

In this study, we investigated the effects of Field's metal (FM) nanoparticles (NPs) on the mechanical behaviour of cement paste under quasi-static (QS) and dynamic strain rates. We found the highest mechanical improvement under QS loading with 1 % FM dosage, beyond which boosting the dosage diminished its contribution to the mechanical performance. Conversely, under dynamic loadings, boosting the dosage from 1 % to 4 % FM significantly and progressively enhanced the overall mechanical performance. These results indicated that the mechanical impacts that ensue from the microstructural modification effects of FM differ with dosage and strain rates. Under QS loading, the pore-refining effect of the NPs was predominant, whereas, under dynamic loadings, the reinforcing effect of the NPs was the primary factor. Furthermore, by comparing the effects of FM and nanosilica NPs, our findings underscored the pronounced effect of the nanomaterial physical and mechanical properties on the strain-rate sensitivity of cementitious nanocomposites.

Facile synthesis of Pt/polyoxometalate/hollow carbon sphere tri-component nanoparticles via a "double gain strategy" for high-performance electrochemical sensing of adrenaline.

In this study, we designed and successfully synthesized the Pt/polyoxometalate/hollow carbon sphere (Pt/POM/HCS) tri-component nanoparticles (NPs) by a pollution-free, efficient, and convenient method. HCSs with outstanding chemical stability and conductivity are self-generated by acid etching and calcination of silica spheres synthesized by a hard template method. HCSs have a hollow internal structure that provides specific three-dimensional storage space, and can increase the surface area. The mesoporous system is beneficial to providing numerous mass transfer passageways and immobilizing NPs. In addition, we introduced a "double gain strategy", by taking advantage of POMs as reducing and bridging agents, to achieve the loading of ultrafine Pt NPs on the surface of HCSs. Pt NPs have excellent stability and unique electrocatalytic activity. As a result of the synergistic effect of HCSs and ultrafine Pt NPs, the electrochemical sensing of adrenaline exhibits high-performance catalytic activity, sensitivity, suitable linearity range (0.16μM-1.195mM), and low limit of detection (57.5nM, S/N=3), excellent stability, and reproducibility. The developed platform is a sensitive and effective adrenaline electrical sensing platform with broad practical application prospects.

Toxicity and Mechanisms of Engineered Nanoparticles in Animals with Established Allergic Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that is highly sensitive to environmental pollutants, including engineered nanoparticles (NPs). Exposure to NPs has become a growing concern for human health, especially for susceptible populations. Toxicological studies have demonstrated strong associations between ubiquitous NPs and allergic asthma. In this review, we analyze articles that focus on adverse health effects induced by NPs in animal models of allergic asthma to highlight their critical role in asthma. We also integrate potential mechanisms that could stimulate and aggravate asthma by NPs. The toxic effects of NPs are influenced by their physicochemical properties, exposure dose, duration, route, as well as the exposure order between NPs and allergens. The toxic mechanisms involve oxidative stress, various inflammasomes, antigen presenting cells, immune cells, and signaling pathways. We suggest that future research should concentrate on establishing standardized models, exploring mechanistic insights at the molecular level, assessing the combined effects of binary exposures, and determining safe exposure levels of NPs. This work provides concrete evidence of the hazards posed by NPs in animals with compromised respiratory health and supports the modifying role of NPs exposure in allergic asthma.

Two common nanoparticles exert immunostimulatory and protective effects in Tegillarca granosa against Vibrio parahaemolyticus

There are many studies revealed that metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) possess excellent bactericidal effect on multitudinous bacteria and fungi. However, the control effect of NPs as antimicrobial agents to against Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection remain in poorly understood for blood clam, Tegillarca granosa. In order to evaluate the effect, the changes in six physiological parameters and the immune-related genes expression of clams exposed to V. parahaemolyticus alone or along with NPs (nZnO or nCuO) were investigated in present study. Results showed that both tested NPs exerted prominent redemptive or mitigative effect in an inverse dose-dependent way on physiological indexes of clam, especially in the total counts, phagocytosis and the cell viability of haemocytes, as well as the concentration and activity of lysozymes, when co-exposed with Vibrio. Gene expression analysis showed NPs at a concentration of 0.1mg/L generally mitigated the downregulation of immune-related genes after clam exposure to V. parahaemolyticus. The combination of 0.1mg/mL nZnO and nCuO additives has been shown to significantly enhance the humoral immunity of blood clam, suggesting its potential as a protective measure against V. parahaemolyticus infection in T. granosa.

In Operando Photoswitching of Cu Oxidation States in Cu-Based Plasmonic Heterogeneous Photocatalysis for Efficient H2 Evolution.

Metal nanoparticles (NP) supported on TiO2 are known to be efficient photocatalysts for solar-to-chemical energy conversion. While TiO2 decorated with copper NPs has the potential to become an attractive system, the poor oxidative stability of Cu severely limits its applicability. In this work, we demonstrate that, when Cu NPs supported on TiO2 nanobelts (NBs) are engaged in the photocatalytic generation of H2 from water under light illumination, Cu is not only oxidized in CuO but also dissolved under the form of Cu+/Cu2+ ions, leading to a continuous reconstruction of nanoparticles via Ostwald ripening. By nanoencapsulating the CuOx (Cu/CuO/Cu2O) NPs by a few layers of carbon supported on TiO2 (TC@C), Ostwald ripening can be suppressed. Simultaneously, the resulting CuOx@C NPs are photoreduced under light illumination to generate Cu@C NPs. This photoswitching strategy allows the preparation of a Cu plasmonic photocatalyst with enhanced activity for H2 production. Remarkably, the photocatalyst is even active when illuminated with visible light, indicating a clear plasmonic enhancement of photocatalytic activity from the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect of Cu NPs. Three-dimensional electromagnetic wave-frequency domain (3D-EWFD) simulations were conducted to confirm the SPR enhancement. This advance bodes for the development of scalable multifunctional Cu-based plasmonic photocatalysts for solar energy transfer.

Enhancing the photoelectrochemical performance of ZnO nanopagoda photoanode through sensitization with Ag and Ag2S NPs co-deposition

ZnO nanopagoda arrays (NPGs) modified with Ag and Ag2S nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated using aqueous downward growth and SILAR techniques and investigated as photoanodes for the photoelectrochemical system. The crystal structure, morphology, elemental composition, optical characteristics, and photoelectrochemical performance of the fabricated samples were studied. The obtained results disclosed that the successful deposition of Ag and Ag2S NPs on ZnO NPGs’ surface not only enhanced the visible light-harvesting but also promoted the e−/h+ separation and injection. In addition, various SILAR cycles were investigated. The optimum eight SILAR cycles for Ag–Ag2S NPs deposition on ZnO NPGs achieved the maximum photocurrent of 2.91 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), about five folds superior to that of bare ZnO NPGs. It also demonstrated the improved applied bias photon-to-current conversion efficiency of 0.43% at 0.6 V vs. RHE. The charge transfer and PEC mechanisms for the fabricated ZnO NPGs/Ag–Ag2S NPs photoanodes were also proposed. This study offers a facile fabrication of a distinctive ZnO NPGs morphology and an improvement of the PEC performance through the synergistic effect of the LSPR effect of Ag NPs and visible light sensitization of Ag2S NPs.

Immunomodulatory biomimetic nanoparticles target articular cartilage trauma after systemic administration

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is one of the leading causes of disability in developed countries and accounts for 12% of all osteoarthritis cases in the United States. After trauma, inflammatory cells (macrophages amongst others) are quickly recruited within the inflamed synovium and infiltrate the joint space, initiating dysregulation of cartilage tissue homeostasis. Current therapeutic strategies are ineffective, and PTOA remains an open clinical challenge. Here, the targeting potential of liposome-based nanoparticles (NPs) is evaluated in a PTOA mouse model, during the acute phase of inflammation, in both sexes. NPs are composed of biomimetic phospholipids or functionalized with macrophage membrane proteins. Intravenous administration of NPs in the acute phase of PTOA and advanced in vivo imaging techniques reveal preferential accumulation of NPs within the injured joint for up to 7 days post injury, in comparison to controls. Finally, imaging mass cytometry uncovers an extraordinary immunomodulatory effect of NPs that are capable of decreasing the amount of immune cells infiltrating the joint and conditioning their phenotype. Thus, biomimetic NPs could be a powerful theranostic tool for PTOA as their accumulation in injury sites allows their identification and they have an intrinsic immunomodulatory effect.