High Surface Reactivity Research Articles

Coupling between conductive Co3(HITP)2 and SnO2 NPs for heterogeneous architectures: Toward sensitive chemiresistors for H2S at room temperature

Conductive metal–organic frameworks (C-MOF) having high surface area and reactivity offer great potential for chemiresistors. However, a highly sensitive, reversible, and high-speed gas sensor based on such materials still remains challenges. Herein, hybrid SnO2 NPs decorated Co3(HITP)2 NPs (SnO2@Co3(HITP)2) nanocomposites were synthesized as high active and conductive sensing material of chemiresistors for high-performance H2S detection at room temperature (RT). The SnO2@Co3(HITP)2 nanocomposites exhibit remarkably improved H2S sensing performance at RT, especially Sn1Co sensor shows higher response and excellent selectivity toward H2S gas under various measurement conditions. The enhanced gas sensing performance is discussed in terms of the adsorption behavior and the heterojunctions between Co3(HITP)2 and SnO2 using density functional theory (DFT) and band theory. The SnO2@Co3(HITP)2 hybrids discloses a novel strategy for designing high-performance Co3(HITP)2-based H2S gas sensors. Furthermore, Sn1Co sensor can successfully distinguish fresh meat from that stored for several days, demonstrating its ability in freshness of food detection.

Expanding the Toolbox of Oxidants: Controllable Etching of Ultrasmall Au Nanoparticles toward Tailorable NIR-II Luminescence and Ligand-Mediated Biodistribution and Clearance.

Oxidant-driven and controllable etching of small-sized nanoparticles (NPs, d < 3 nm) and tailorable modulation of their optical properties are challenging due to the high reactivity and complicated surface chemistry. Herein, we present a facile strategy for highly controllable oxidative etching of ultrasmall AuNPs and tailorable modulation of luminescence. The proper choice of a moderate oxidant, ClO-, could not only selectively etch the Au(I)-thiolate motifs from the nanoparticle surface at the subnanometer scale but also retained a stable metallic core structure without aggregation, which impressively prompted the wide-range luminescent switching from the visible to second near-infrared (NIR-II) region. The resultant oxidized AuNPs displayed highly luminescent NIR-II emission with a quantum yield of 3.0%, excellent monodispersed stability, ideal biocompatibility, and tunable shielding effects against protein adsorption. With those outstanding features, oxidized AuNPs could be utilized as nanoprobes for long-lasting and in vivo bioimaging of associated metabolic behaviors with distinguishable organ-specific targeting capabilities and ligand-mediated kinetics in nanoparticle clearance. These findings expand the toolbox of oxidants for the controllable synthesis of NIR-II nanoprobes and open up a path for exploring diverse ligand interactions on ultrasmall AuNPs with organs or tissues that might advance their monitoring applications for a wide range of clinically important diseases.

Investigating the impact of nanoplastics in altering the efficacy of clarithromycin antibiotics through In vitro studies

Plastics have significant global implications due to their environmental contamination from extensive use and improper disposal. Among plastic particles, nanoplastics (<1 μm) pose notable risks to organisms and ecosystems due to their high surface area, reactivity, and potential to carry environmental pollutants. This study explores the interaction between polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) and clarithromycin (CLA), a broad-spectrum antibiotic, focusing on their combined impact on insulin (INS) and antibiotic-resistant (AMR) bacteria. PSNPs can adsorb CLA, leading to structural changes in insulin and affecting its physiological functions, potentially causing insulin resistance. Additionally, PSNPs reduce CLA's inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria, facilitating antibiotic resistance. Our research utilized UV–Vis Spectroscopy, FTIR, Fluorescence spectroscopy, and Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to assess INS structural changes, alongside the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method for microbiological examination. The findings highlight the synergistic and antagonistic effects of PSNPs and CLA, underscoring the enhanced toxicity of CLA when adsorbed onto PSNPs and the complex interactions affecting both human health and bacterial resistance. Further studies are essential to fully understand these mechanisms and their broader implications.

Translocation of Ti2CO2 MXene monolayer through the cell membranes.

Nanoparticle-based therapies represent a cutting-edge direction in medical research. Ti2CO2 MXene is a novel two-dimensional transition metal carbide with a high surface area and reactivity, making it suitable for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility. In biomedicine, Ti2CO2 MXene is particularly used in photothermal therapy, where its ability to absorb light and convert it into heat can be utilized to target and destroy cancer cells. The study of how temperature influences the interaction between nanoparticles and cell membranes is a critical aspect of this field. Our study conducts a thorough coarse-grained molecular dynamics analysis of a Ti2CO2 MXene nanosheet interacting with a phosphatidylcholine (POPC) membrane under various thermal conditions and nanosheet orientations. We show that the hydrophilic nature of the nanosheet presents a substantial barrier to membrane penetration and an increase in temperature significantly enhances the permeability of the membrane, thereby facilitating the migration of the MXene nanoparticles across it. The peak force required to translocate the nanosheet through the membrane decreases e.g., from 2150 pN at 300 kelvin to 1450 pN at 370 kelvin indicating significant reduction in resistance at higher temperatures. The study also highlights the critical role of the nanosheets' spatial orientation in cellular uptake. Our research underscores the importance of the application of MXenes for nanomedical and photothermal therapy purposes.

Advancements in Alumina Ultrathin Coatings for Enhanced Electrochemical Performance of Ni-Rich NMC811 Thick Electrodes

Lithium-ion batteries, renowned for their high energy density, face a significant challenge in the development of stable, high-performing, and cost-effective cathode materials. Ni-rich cathodes, while promising, suffer from instability issues such as microcracking, high surface reactivity, phase transformation, and thermal runaway. This study introduces a breakthrough: the application of an alumina (Al2O3) ultrathin coating to enhance the stability of Ni-rich thick electrodes. The uniform distribution of the Al2O3 coating across the electrode acts as a protective barrier, effectively reducing oxygen lattice release and microcracking. Our findings reveal that this atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique markedly boosts the cycling stability of the electrodes. Coated electrodes maintained high specific capacity after long cycling, significantly outperforming uncoated electrodes, which retained only small capacity. This innovative approach shows great potential for the development of high-performance and stable lithium-ion batteries. Figure 1

Understanding Surface Degradation Mechanisms in Ni-Rich Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

High Ni-rich layered cathodes, such as; LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA) and LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) materials, offer very high capacity and excellent rate capability fulfilling the pressing priorities. However, the cyclic performance is poor compared to other cathodes with lower Ni content. Due to high surface reactivity, first-cycle irreversibility is quite high in all these Ni-rich cathodes. Such surface reactions lead to different electrochemically inactive phases and reduce cyclic performance. Herein, we report a comprehensive analysis of plane selective cathode and electrolyte interface reactions and link the relationship between the formation of different cathode-electrolyte interphase (CEI) by-products with surface reconstruction mechanisms. Moreover, we established a guiding principle of coating strategy to enhance plane selective surface properties. Both bulk and thin-film Ni-rich NMC811 electrodes were used to investigate the surface properties. We fabricated epitaxial thin films of Ni-rich NMC811 cathodes of different orientations, such as; (104), (018), and (003). Al2O3 was chosen as a model coating material to understand how it modulates surface properties. The surface by-products depend highly on the surface charge and subsequently change with Al2O3 coating. Likewise, the surface reconstruction depends on these crystallographic planes and the coating layer exposed to the electrolyte. Keywords: NMC811; Thin film; Epitaxial; CEI; Surface reconstruction

Origins of High Air Sensitivity and Treatment Strategies in O3-Type NaMn1/3 Fe1/3Ni1/3O2.

Sodium-ion layered oxides are one of the most highly regarded sodium-ion cathode materials and are expected to be used in electric vehicles and large-scale grid-level energy storage systems. However, highly air-sensitive issues limit sodium-ion layered oxide cathode materials to maximize cost advantages. Industrial and scientific researchers have been developing cost-effective air sensitivity treatment strategies with little success because the impurity formation mechanism is still unclear. Using density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, this work shows that the poor air stability of O3-type NaMn1/3Fe1/3Ni1/3O2 (NMFNO) may be as follows: (1) low percentage of nonreactive (003) surface; (2) strong surface adsorption capacity and high surface reactivity; and (3) instability of the surface sodium ions. Our physical images point out that the high reactivity of the NMFNO surface originates from the increase in electron loss and unpaired electrons (magnetic moments) of the surface oxygen active site as well as the enhanced metal coactivation effect due to the large radius of the sodium ion. We also found that the hydrolysis reaction requires a higher reactivity of the surface oxygen active site, while the carbon hybridization mode transformation in carbonate formation depends mainly on metal activation and does not even require the involvement of surface oxygen active sites. Based on the calculation results and our proposed physical images, we discuss the feasibility of these treatment strategies (including surface morphology modulation, cation/anion substitution, and surface configuration design) for air-sensitive issues.

Recent Advances in the Delivery, Mechanism of Action and Antibacterial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles

Study’s Novelty/Excerpt This study comprehensively review the significant advancements in the antimicrobial application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), focusing on innovative delivery mechanisms such as nanogels, liposomes, and polymer-based nanoparticles. It highlights the unique physicochemical properties of AgNPs that contribute to their antibacterial efficacy, including their ability to disrupt bacterial cell membranes and inhibit biofilm formation. The review also addresses the critical challenges of cytotoxicity and delivery method refinement, emphasizing the potential of AgNPs in combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Full Abstract Nanoparticles,especially silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), have revolutionized various fields like microbiology, biotechnology, pharmacy, and medicine owing to their distinct properties. This research delves into the significant potential of AgNPs in antimicrobial therapy, focusing on recent advancements in their delivery mechanisms, mechanisms of action, and antibacterial efficacy. The effective targeted delivery of AgNPs to specific body sites remains a challenge, leading to innovative approaches in nanotechnology. Nanogels, liposomes, and polymer-based nanoparticles have emerged as promising delivery systems, enhancing the stability, bioavailability, and controlled release of AgNPs. The antimicrobial activity of AgNPs is rooted in their unique physicochemical properties, such as high surface area and reactivity. They disrupt bacterial cell membranes, increasing permeability, causing cell death, and interfering with intracellular components. Additionally, AgNPs have shown potential in inhibiting biofilm formation, a common defense mechanism of bacteria against antibiotics. Despite their promise, addressing issues related to cytotoxicity and refining delivery methods remains imperative. This review comprehensively addresses the challenges associated with the delivery of AgNPs, their cytotoxic effects, and their efficacy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, highlighting their mechanism of action in bacterial eradication and biofilm inhibition.

Synthesis and investigation of acrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid copolymer-modified graphene oxide nanomaterials with intensive viscosification capacity: An experimental and molecular dynamics study

The polymer-modified nanomaterials with spontaneously generated cross-linked network greatly improve the dispersion viscosity, which is crucial for extending the sweep range and enhancing oil recovery. Recently, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets have attracted extensive attention due to their high chemical reactivity and specific surface. In this paper, the AA molecule, synthesized by acrylamide (AM) and 2-acrylamido-2-methypropanesulfonic acid (AMPS) copolymerization, modified GO nanosheets (GAA) material is firstly synthesized and characterized. With the same content of AMPS segments, GAAn systems consistently exhibit better dispersion stability than AAn systems, along with higher absolute zeta potential values. The comprehensive investigation on the rheological property of GAA system reveals that GAA15 with the highest AMPS content exhibits the largest zero-shear viscosity (409.27 mPa·s) and the longest relaxation time. Based on the molecular dynamic simulation approaches, the aggregation morphology and stability of AA and GAA molecules are evaluated via the configuration analysis and the statistics of hydrogen bond numbers. The abundant binding sites from GO segments of GAA promote additional hydrogen bonds between GAA molecules and water, resulting in a more stable configuration. Molecular surface potential analysis and the independent gradient model based on Hirshfeld partition (IGMH) methods are further used to visualize the non-bonded interaction existed in cross-linked networks, which also predict and validate non-bonding interaction sites among molecular segments. The simulation results indicate higher viscosity in the GAA system should be ascribed to the formation of dispersion-strengthened cross-linked structures (AM-GO plane and GO-GO stacking segments). In summary, the microscopic viscosity-increasing mechanism of novel GAA system is proposed from the perspective of intermolecular interactions, which lays a preliminary theoretical foundation for the application of GAA material in the oil industry.

Unveiling the Potential Scope of Nanoparticles in the Current Era of Crop Productivity

Nanotechnology, a revolutionary field encompassing the manipulation of matter on an atomic or molecular scale, holds immense potential for upgrading wide areas, including agriculture. Understanding the scope of nanotechnology, researchers have directed their focus towards addressing the challenges in agriculture and enhancing crop productivity. Nanoparticles offer unique properties, including high surface area and reactivity, that can be harnessed to optimize nutrient delivery, mitigate soil toxicity, and enhance plant growth. Various studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of nanoparticles in increasing crop yields, improving nutrient uptake efficiency, and reducing environmental impacts associated with conventional agricultural practices with sustainable agriculture. Nanotechnology overcomes various challenges encountered in traditional agricultural practices including limited availability of nutrients in the soil, inefficient nutrient uptake by plants, soil degradation, and environmental pollution by providing targeted nutrient delivery, improving nutrient absorption, and mitigating environmental impacts. Also, nanoparticle interactions with plants and microbes and strengthening symbiotic relationships by providing active nutrient supplies to microbes. Furthermore, nanoparticles can improve soil structure and fertility by reducing compaction, increasing water retention, and enhancing soil aggregation. These improvements in soil quality not only benefit crop growth but also contribute to sustainable land management practices.This review paper provides an overview of the current research landscape in the application of nanoparticles in agriculture, highlighting key findings, challenges, and future prospects. By leveraging the principles of nanotechnology, agricultural scientists and practitioners aim to revolutionize crop production, meet the needs of farmers, and ensure food security in the face of evolving environmental and socio-economic challenges.

Functionalized Calcium Carbonate-Based Microparticles as a Versatile Tool for Targeted Drug Delivery and Cancer Treatment.

Nano- and microparticles are increasingly widely used in biomedical research and applications, particularly as specific labels and targeted delivery vehicles. Silica has long been considered the best material for such vehicles, but it has some disadvantages limiting its potential, such as the proneness of silica-based carriers to spontaneous drug release. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an emerging alternative, being an easily available, cost-effective, and biocompatible material with high porosity and surface reactivity, which makes it an attractive choice for targeted drug delivery. CaCO3 particles are used in this field in the form of either bare CaCO3 microbeads or core/shell microparticles representing polymer-coated CaCO3 cores. In addition, they serve as removable templates for obtaining hollow polymer microcapsules. Each of these types of particles has its specific advantages in terms of biomedical applications. CaCO3 microbeads are primarily used due to their capacity for carrying pharmaceutics, whereas core/shell systems ensure better protection of the drug-loaded core from the environment. Hollow polymer capsules are particularly attractive because they can encapsulate large amounts of pharmaceutical agents and can be so designed as to release their contents in the target site in response to specific stimuli. This review focuses first on the chemistry of the CaCO3 cores, core/shell microbeads, and polymer microcapsules. Then, systems using these structures for the delivery of therapeutic agents, including drugs, proteins, and DNA, are outlined. The results of the systematic analysis of available data are presented. They show that the encapsulation of various therapeutic agents in CaCO3-based microbeads or polymer microcapsules is a promising technique of drug delivery, especially in cancer therapy, enhancing drug bioavailability and specific targeting of cancer cells while reducing side effects. To date, research in CaCO3-based microparticles and polymer microcapsules assembled on CaCO3 templates has mainly dealt with their properties in vitro, whereas their in vivo behavior still remains poorly studied. However, the enormous potential of these highly biocompatible carriers for in vivo applications is undoubted. This last issue is addressed in depth in the Conclusions and Outlook sections of the review.

Pitch-based porous carbon via the solid–liquid synergistic oxidation of K2FeO4 for excellent electrocapacitive desalination

To address limited desalination capacity and insufficient charge efficiency for carbon materials in capacitive deionization (CDI), a solid–liquid synergistic oxidation strategy of potassium pertechnetate (VI) for pitch was proposed to construct porous carbon with a reasonable pore structure and high reactive surface. On the one hand, K2FeO4 is first utilized for the solid-phase oxidation (SPO) of pitch by a high-energy ball mill, introducing rich oxygen-containing groups such as ether bonds. Meanwhile, dehydro-condensation reactions occurred during SPO, resulting in the formation of the oxidized pitch with a high degree of condensation. Importantly, the pyrolysis yield of the oxidized pitch is as high as 46.9 % at 800 °C, almost twice that of the pristine pitch, meaning that the oxidized pitch with high polymer degree and rich C-O bridge bonds facilitates the carbon fixation and emission reduction during carbonization. On the other hand, the self-oxidation of K2FeO4 in aqueous solution forms bifunctional activators (KOH and Fe(OH)3) for the preparation of pitch-based porous carbon. Benefiting from the crosslinking structure of oxidized pitch and the multi-effective activation, the prepared porous carbon (H-CBPF) exhibits a robust layered stacking topology with a high surface area and oxygen content. Thereby, it can deliver an excellent salt adsorption capacity (SAC) of 22.1 mg g−1 with an average desalination rate of 1.89 mg g−1 min−1 and a high charge efficiency of 85 % at 1.2 V in 500 mg L-1 NaCl solution. This work opens up a green and economical route for the preparation of pitch-derived porous carbon for high-performance CDI.

Biosynthesis of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles using &lt;i&gt;Pennisetum Purpureum&lt;/i&gt; and Application in Removal of Cadmium Contaminant from Water

This study evaluated an innovative approach to synthesize magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) through a green synthesis method using Pennisetum purpureum extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The green synthesis of MgO NPs is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful synthesis of nanoparticles with unique properties. Debye-Scherrer equation is used for the determination of particle size, which was found to be 15.7nm. The potential application of MgO NPs in the removal of cadmium (Cd) contaminant from water sources was investigated through batch adsorption experiments. Cadmium pollution poses a severe threat to ecosystems and human health due to its toxic nature and persistence in the environment. MgO NPs, with their high surface area and reactivity, efficiently adsorbed and immobilize cadmium ions from water. Adsorption isotherm models indicated that Langmuir isotherm is the best model to describe the adsorption of Cd2+ on magnesium oxide nanoparticles prepared by elephant grass extracts. It was found that a removal of greater percent of Cd2+ could be accomplished through adsorption with 0.05g of magnesium oxide nanoparticles, an initial concentration of metal at 5ppm pH of 10 and at contact time of 65minutes.

Biocompatible MXene-reinforced molecularly imprinted membranes for simultaneous filtration and acetaminophen capture

In this study, the fabrication of biocompatible MXene-reinforced imprinted membranes (MX-AIM) capable of selectively capturing acetaminophen (APAP) molecules during filtration was demonstrated. The incorporation of MXene into a polymeric support membrane led to an overall improvement in both mechanical integrity and surface reactivity of the resulting composite, subsequently allowing efficient deposition of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer on its surface. The synergy between the high surface reactivities of MXenes and the MIP layer rendered more adsorption sites, leading to the capture of approximately 32 % APAP on MX-AIM from a 200 ppm drug feed solution, compared to only ∼2 % for directly imprinted membranes. Additionally, these MXene-modified membranes exhibited high cell viabilities when tested against human monocytic cells, reaching up to >190 % cell proliferation. Overall, this research offers important insights on incorporating MXene nanofillers into membrane production, with the potential to overcome the challenges associated with applying the molecular imprinting technique to enhance the functionality of polymer materials.

Preparation of iron composite filler for PRB technology and its application in the removal of toxic metals(loids) from groundwater

Iron-based materials have garnered significant research interest due to their high surface reactivity, exhibiting potential for remediating metal(loid)s in groundwater. However, agglomeration and blockage limit its long-term and stability performance in application in permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology. In this study, three innovative and low-cost iron composite fillers were prepared using a mass-producible impregnation method and applied as fillers for PRB. Static sorption and dynamic column experiments were conducted to assess the long-term performance of these composites to remediate multiple toxic metals(loids) contaminated groundwater. The results showed that the iron composite fillers had the excellent adsorption capacities for Co(II), Cu(II), Cr(VI) and As(III) from simulated contaminated groundwater even under the interference of Fe(III) and Mn(II). The pH of the influent favored the adsorption of toxic metals(loids) by the iron composite fillers in the order of 3.00＞5.00＞8.00＞7.00＞9.00＞6.00. The overall adsorption process was more consistent with the quasi-secondary kinetic equation. The corresponding constant values of Cr, Co, Cu, and As on CZ were 0.022, 0.093, 0.756, and 0.342 h−1, respectively. And that of CP-I and CP-II were 0.004, 0.022, 0.001, 0.126, 0.008, 0.041, 0.001, and 0.154 h−1, respectively. The specific surface area of the composite zeolite (Na92Al92Si100O384) and composite pumice was 48.185 m2/g and 0.63 m2/g, respectively. The dynamic column experiment was run steadily for 40 days, during which the average removal rates of toxic metals(loids) were above 95% and approximate 20 times its own volume of contaminated water was purified. FeO(OH) on composite zeolite and Fe3O4 on composite pumice played a dominant role in the removal of toxic metals(loids). The toxic metals(loids) adsorbed in the PRB were mainly in a stable phase of residual fraction and Fe-Mn oxide fraction, making them less likely to cause secondary pollution problems.

Characterization of mechanochemical modification in SiC powder

In this study, SiC powder was prepared via a mechanochemical method utilizing high-energy ball milling. The SiC powder, subjected to varying milling durations, was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, Masterizer2000, and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that SiC powder achieves a uniform distribution of particle size after 5 min of ball milling, resulting in smaller particle diameters and a larger specific surface area. Concurrently, it exhibits high solid activity and enhanced purity. This suggests that a brief period of ball milling is sufficient to significantly improve the physical properties of SiC powder, which is crucial for applications requiring high material purity and reactive surface area.

Artificial Layer Construction via Cosolvent Enables Stable Ni-Rich Cathodes for Enhanced Lithium Storage.

Ni-rich cathodes have recently gained significant attention as next-generation cathodes for lithium-ion batteries. However, their relatively high oxidative surface should be reduced to control the high surface reactivity because the capacity retention decreases rapidly in the batteries. Herein, a simple and effective method to pretreat LiNi0.8Mn0.1Co0.1O2 (NMC811) particles using a cosolvent for improving the battery performance is reported. Imitating the interfacial reaction in practical cells, an artificial layer is created via a spontaneous redox reaction between the cathode and the organic solvent. The artificial layer comprises metal-organic compounds with reduced transition-metal cations. Benefiting from the artificial layer, the cells deliver high capacity retention at a high current density and better rate capability, which might result from the low and stable interfacial resistance of the modified NMC811 cathode. Our approach can effectively reduce the high oxidative surface of most oxide cathode materials and induce a long cyclic lifespan and high capacity retention in most battery systems.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Crystal Violet Dye Using Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Increased industrial population causes water pollution. The release of toxic waste products from various industries become a major environmental issue. There are several methods for water decontamination and the advanced oxidation process (AOP) is one of them. The AOP’s rate can be increased using a variety of nanoparticles as a catalyst to degrade contaminants dyes like Crystal violet (CV). Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are one of the most suitable materials to deal with this environmental issue because of their easy reusability along with high reactive surface area and easy to synthesize. Considering this, using the co-precipitation method iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were synthesised in the present work. The as-prepared nanoparticles are then systematically characterized by various analytical tools. The XRD and FTIR suggest the crystalline structure and surface functional groups of the IONPs. The zeta potential study depicts the surface charge of nanoparticles within the colloidal solution. Additionally, the catalytic activity of IONPs was studied by the photo-Fenton process. The utilization of various catalytic parameters like pH (3–7), catalyst dosage (100–400 mg), dye concentration (0.025–0.1 mM) and H2O2 concentration (2–8 mM) has enhanced the effectiveness of the photo-Fenton process for the efficient removal of organic pollutant. Degradation efficiency was observed to be 94% after 90 minutes in the treatment of 5 mg nanoparticles with 0.05 mM dye solution. This magnetically recyclable catalyst will facilitate the advancement of water treatment in an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective manner, with notable potential.

Anti-CD38 targeted nanotrojan horses stimulated by acoustic waves as therapeutic nanotools selectively against Burkitt’s lymphoma cells

The horizon of nanomedicine research is moving toward the design of therapeutic tools able to be completely safe per se, and simultaneously be capable of becoming toxic when externally activated by stimuli of different nature. Among all the stimuli, ultrasounds come to the fore as an innovative approach to produce cytotoxicity on demand in presence of NPs, without invasiveness, with high biosafety and low cost. In this context, zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are among the most promising metal oxide materials for theranostic application due to their optical and semi-conductor properties, high surface reactivity, and their response to ultrasound irradiation. Here, ZnO nanocrystals constitute the stimuli-responsive core with a customized biomimicking lipidic shielding, resembling the composition of natural extracellular vesicles. This core–shell hybrid structure provides high bio- and hemocompatibility towards healthy cells and is here proofed for the treatment of Burkitt’s Lymphoma. This is a very common haematological tumor, typically found in children, for which consolidated therapies are so far the combination of chemo-therapy drugs and targeted immunotherapy. In this work, the proposed safe-by-design antiCD38-targeted hybrid nanosystem exhibits an efficient selectivity toward cancerous cells, and an on-demand activation, leading to a significant killing efficacy due to the synergistic interaction between US and targeted hybrid NPs. Interestingly, this innovative treatment does not significantly affect healthy B lymphocytes nor a negative control cancer cell line, a CD38- acute myeloid leukemia, being thus highly specific and targeted. Different characterization and analyses confirmed indeed the effective formation of targeted hybrid ZnO NPs, their cellular internalization and the damages produced in Burkitt’s Lymphoma cells only with respect to the other cell lines. The presented work holds promises for future clinical applications, as well as translation to other tumor types.Graphical abstract

Effects of applied negative bias voltage on the optical and structural properties of CaF2 coatings deposited by RF magnetron sputtering

Calcium fluoride (CaF2) is a ceramic material exhibiting versatile properties including broadband transparency, lubrication at high temperature, and mechanical stability. In the current research, aimed at improving optically-driven infrared detection devices, CaF2 coatings were deposited on sapphire. One challenge concerning this CaF2/sapphire system is the significant difference between their coefficients of thermal expansion, which can cause adhesion failure. To avoid such failure, we first studied the behavior of thick CaF2 coatings on silicon substrates where adhesion issues are expected to be more pronounced, then employed thin CaF2 coatings, initially on silicon and subsequently on sapphire substrates.Deposition was carried out by radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique in an argon atmosphere at a fixed power of 4.4 W/cm2. Substrate bias voltage was varied from 0 to - 150 V in order to explore voltage impact on properties of the obtained CaF2 coatings.Coatings deposited with low negative bias voltages presented an inhomogeneous surface with a columnar structure that remained firmly attached to the substrate; optical transmission for these coatings was reduced relative to that for bare sapphire. Alternatively, while coatings deposited with high negative bias voltages became dense and uniform, they were also subjected to high surface reactivity causing formation of CaO/Ca(OH)2 phases and defects, as well as delamination that reduced optical transmission. In contrast, only samples deposited with moderate bias voltages exhibited a sufficiently dense, highly adhesive layer, resulting (relative to that for bare sapphire) in improved optical transmission. Thin CaF2 coatings deposited with −100 V improved transmittance (at a wavelength of 1.9 μm) from almost 88.5 %–92 %, representing approximately a 30 % decrease in radiation loss caused by absorbance, scattering, and reflectance effects. Even though the optical values of transmittance for increased wavelength (up to 5 μm) were reduced, these values still surpassed those obtained for sapphire alone.