The rapid progress of nanotechnology has created new avenues for the development of innovation in medical and biological devices. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) nanostructures such as tungsten disulfide nanodiscs (WS 2 -NDs) decorated with metallic nanoparticles, provide promising novel materials for surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). This work focuses on the design and fabrication of a new SERS substrate based on AuNPs/WS 2 -NDs hybrid system, which exhibits a strong localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) and achieves up to an order of magnitude enhancement in Raman spectra intensity compared to WS 2 -NDs only. This superior performance is attributed to the improved electromagnetic mechanism (EM) on the metallic gold nanoparticles and on the nonmetallic TMDs nanostructures. The chemical mechanism (CM), which facilitates charge transfer between analyte molecules and WS 2 -NDs, allows for further improvement of Raman spectra on SERS on tungsten disulfide nanodiscs.

Aflatoxin M1 detection in dairy products using metal nanoparticles: Advances and toxicological relevance - A review

Metal nanoparticles in food packaging: Benefits, functions and limitations

Synergistic interplay between cerium-based metallic compounds and gold nanoparticles for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction: A green design of ternary nanocomposites

Dual heterojunction engineering in SiC/Ni-MOF derivative hybrids for boosting photocatalytic CO2 reduction with H2O.

Corrigendum to “Metallic and metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized from melon juice. Synthesis, biological application, antioxidant, anticancer, and green catalyst in p-nitrophenol reduction” [Inorg. Chem. Commun. 158 (2023) 111636

Direct aging of AlSi10Mg alloy produced by powder bed fusion – laser beam: Eliminating the need for solution heat treatment

In this work, the CTA-MCM-41 material was modified by solutions containing a binary mixture of metallic cations (Ag + /Ni 2+ , Ag + /Cu 2+ , and Cu 2+ /Ni 2+ ), then the resulting solids were calcined at 550°C. The obtained materials were characterized by several characterization techniques to determine their structural, textural, and morphological properties. The obtained materials were tested via the reduction reaction of organic pollutants such as methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) as model reactions. The effects of the chemical composition of the catalyst, initial concentration of dye, catalyst mass, and chemical nature of the pollutants were assessed and discussed. To study the selectivity of the catalyst, binary systems containing MB+MO, MB+4-NP, and 4-NP+MO were evaluated. The obtained results showed that the calcination treatment promotes the formation of silver metal nanoparticles in a binary mixture, while copper and nickel are transformed into oxide forms having ultrafine sizes well dispersed in the MCM-41 framework. The ion exchange method used in this study between CTA + and the metal cation led to the deposition of low levels of metal or metal oxide on the surface of MCM-41. The catalytic tests showed good results via the reduction of MO, MB, and 4-NP, and the calculated rate constants were 0.0261, 0.0219, and 0.0107 s -1 , respectively. MCM-Ag-NiO was selected as the best catalyst based on its performance of reducing the MO dye in only 540s. In the binary systems comprising MB+MO and MB-4-NP, the MCM-Ag-NiO catalyst exhibited heightened selectivity for the MB. Conversely, within the binary system MO+4-NP, the catalyst demonstrated selectivity with MO. • Study of the catalytic performance of Ag-NiO, Ag-CuO, and NiO-CuO supported on MCM-41. • Good dispersion and ultrafine nanoparticle sizes were obtained. • Catalytic application via the reduction of MB, MO, and 4-NP in a simple binary system. • High performance and selectivity of the MCM-Ag-NiO catalyst via the MB dye.

Peanut allergy represents one of the most severe and prevalent food allergies worldwide, posing a significant challenge to public health, regulatory compliance, and food industry practices. Given that strict avoidance remains the only effective preventive strategy, the reliable detection of trace peanut allergens in complex food matrices is essential to protect allergic consumers and to ensure accurate allergen labeling. In this context, electrochemical biosensors have emerged as powerful analytical tools that complement or overcome the limitations of conventional methods such as ELISA, PCR, and LC–MS, offering rapid response, high sensitivity, low cost, and suitability for on-site analysis. This comprehensive review critically examines recent advances in electrochemical biosensing strategies for peanut allergen detection, with a particular focus on major allergens such as Ara h1, Ara h2, and Ara h6. Both biosensors for protein allergen detection (including immunosensors and aptasensors) and genosensors for allergen-specific DNA detection are discussed, highlighting their respective biorecognition elements, transduction mechanisms, signal amplification approaches, and analytical performance. Special attention is given to the role of nanomaterials—including metallic nanoparticles, carbon-based nanostructures, magnetic beads, and hybrid nanocomposites—in enhancing sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness against matrix effects. The applicability of these platforms is evaluated through their successful validation in real food samples, ranging from baked goods and chocolate products to highly processed matrices. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives are addressed, including the need for improved resistance to food matrix interferences, harmonization with regulatory standards, and the integration of miniaturized, user-friendly, and multiplexed platforms. Overall, this review underscores the strong potential of electrochemical biosensors as next-generation tools for peanut allergen monitoring, paving the way toward reliable point-of-need testing and improved safety for allergic individuals. • Electrochemical biosensors enable rapid and sensitive peanut allergen detection. • Immunosensors and aptasensors dominate protein-based peanut analysis. • DNA-based genosensors overcome limitations of protein denaturation. • Nanomaterials dramatically enhance sensitivity and matrix tolerance. • Portable electrochemical platforms enable point-of-need allergen monitoring.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic response of an in vitro model of human fetal ventricular cardiomyocytes RL-14 in interaction with pH-dependent high molecular weight Gold-based chitosan nanoparticles

Fabrication of bio-hybridized Ag@rGO hydrogel nanostructure for enhanced catalytic degradation with electro catalytic and biological activity

Early and reliable detection of breast cancer-related microRNAs play a critical role in molecular diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies. In this work, a highly sensitive dual-channel electrochemical biosensor was developed for the simultaneous and independent detection of microRNA-21 and microRNA-155. The sensing interface was fabricated on an indium tin oxide electrode modified with a multilayer structure consisting of glutaraldehyde, polyaniline, and silver nanoparticles. Copper and cadmium metallic nanoparticles were employed as distinguishable electrochemical labels, enabling the generation of two well-separated redox signals using differential pulse voltammetry. Changes in peak current intensity were used as the analytical signal to evaluate sensor performance and optimize experimental parameters, including probe concentration, immobilization time, hybridization temperature, and electrolyte pH. Under optimized conditions, the biosensor exhibited a wide linear response range from 1.0 × 10-16 to 1.0 × 10-9 M, with ultralow limits of detection of 62.0 aM for microRNA-21 and 650.0 aM for microRNA-155. The platform demonstrated excellent selectivity, good repeatability and reproducibility, and stable performance for up to 3 weeks. Successful validation in human plasma samples with recovery values between 92% and 119% confirmed the reliability of the proposed system. Overall, this dual-channel biosensor provides a robust and ultrasensitive platform for multiplexed microRNA detection and shows strong potential for early stage breast cancer diagnostics.

Printed biosensors have attracted increasing attention as platforms for rapid, low-cost, and portable diagnostics because they can be fabricated on flexible or rigid substrates using scalable printing techniques. Their performance is strongly influenced by both the printing process and the materials employed, since factors such as ink rheology, particle dispersion, interfacial behavior, and post-processing conditions directly affect device architecture, sensing performance, and manufacturing reliability. This review summarizes recent advances in printed biosensors from the combined perspectives of printing technologies and functional materials. Commonly employed printing techniques, including inkjet, screen, aerosol jet, and roll-to-roll gravure printing, are discussed with emphasis on their processing characteristics and material requirements. The review also examines key material platforms used in printed biosensors, including carbon-based nanomaterials, metal oxides, metal nanoparticles, conductive polymers, dielectric materials, and hybrid composites, highlighting their roles in electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, biomolecule immobilization, mechanical flexibility, and overall analytical performance. Finally, current challenges and emerging research directions are outlined with respect to ink stability, post-processing strategies, sensor reliability, manufacturability, and practical translation. Overall, this review emphasizes that the development of high-performance printed biosensors depends on the synergistic integration of rational material design with optimized printing strategies.

Polyolefin waste presents a major upcycling challenge because of its chemical inertness. Ruthenium catalysts are highly active for polyethylene hydrogenolysis, but often overproduce methane and linear alkanes and show limited substrate scope. Here we establish a mechanistic framework showing that the interplay between Ru nuclearity, valence, and support acidity governs the selectivity in Ru/NbOx-catalyzed polyolefin hydroconversion. Metallic Ru nanoparticles activate both C-H and C-C bonds and favor hydrogenolysis, whereas atomically dispersed Ru species, together with hydrogen spillover-generated Nb-OH sites, enable C-H activation and Brønsted acid-assisted hydrocracking. Methane originates primarily from hydrogenolysis on extended metallic Ru domains and is minimized by controlling Ru ensemble size or shifting the reaction toward hydrocracking. Accordingly, Ru/NbOx-600 fully converts polyethylene to 93.1% C5-35 linear alkanes, while Ru/NbOx-300 hydrocracks polypropylene at 1731 gPP·gRu-1·h-1 with 90.6% C5-20 branched liquid fuel selectivity. This work establishes design principles of Ru catalysts for selective, efficient plastic upcycling.

Metal nanoparticles and their environment can be locally heated on an ultrafast time scale using femtosecond pulsed illumination of their plasmon resonance, making them of interest for spatiotemporal temperature control. Here, we propose experimental approaches to obtain time-resolved particle and medium temperatures using gold nanoparticles. 23.5 and 39 nm nanoparticles dispersed in water and DMF:water mixture were heated and probed using transient absorption spectroscopy. Simulations indicate that the change in absorbance >10 ps after excitation arises from temperature-induced alterations in the dielectric functions of the particle and the medium. Thus, we measured the temperature-dependent absorbance spectra of nanoparticles, where the signal reflects the combined response of the particle and the medium to heating for a known temperature. We then disentangled the spectra obtaining the particle (Method 1) and the medium contributions (Method 2) to heating independently, followed by a consistency check between the two approaches (Method 3). Accordingly, the transient absorbance spectrum was resolved to extract particle and medium temperatures at each time delay. The resulting profiles are in line with each other, revealing temperature increases of ∼80 K for the particle and 5-15 K for the medium when excited at 400 nm with ∼4 J/m2 fluence. A faster particle temperature decay was observed with decreasing particle size and a faster medium temperature decay with increasing medium thermal diffusivity, in agreement with expectations. Overall, we demonstrate an experimental methodology for simultaneous determination of particle and medium temperatures under a spatiotemporal gradient which is relevant for studies with transient heating and nanoparticles as sensors.

Metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as promising agents for drug delivery and therapeutic applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. However, their widespread use is limited by intrinsic toxicity arising from their metallic nature and their potential to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can trigger inflammatory signalling pathways and aggravate immune responses. Conventional anti-inflammatory drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also pose risks of adverse effects, emphasizing the need for safer alternatives. Recently, green synthesis approaches utilizing plant extracts and biological materials have gained attention for producing MNPs with enhanced biocompatibility and reduced toxicity. This review discusses the dual role of MNPs such as AgNPs, ZnO NPs, CuO NPs, TiO2 NPs in biomedical applications, their associated inflammatory and toxic effects, and highlights the green modification strategies aimed at mitigating these risks. The application of green-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) shows significant promise in attenuating inflammation through modulation of immune pathways, that may offer a safer and more effective platform for anti-inflammatory therapy.

Water pollution caused by harmful organic pollutants discharged from various industries, such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, papermaking, and printing, is resulting in serious health complications and adversely impacting aquatic life. Numerous strategies/methods have been employed to remove these pollutants from water streams. Amongst them, photocatalysts have proven effective in tackling these issues. Zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium Dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts are at the forefront due to their exceptional properties, which render them ideal for wastewater treatment. However, their full capacity as photocatalysts is limited by the wide band gap and faster electron-hole recombination rates. Metal decoration on the surface of these semiconductors is one of the fascinating strategies to address these limitations. In this brief review, the synthesis, morphology, and photocatalytic activity of ZnO and TiO2 decorated with metal nanoparticles (NPs) towards the degradation of harmful organic pollutants from various industries are presented. Metal decoration of the surface of ZnO and TiO2 is a viable method to enhance the photocatalytic activity of these semiconductors, particularly under visible light.

The unicellular green microalga Dunaliella salina is well known for being one of the best natural sources of β-carotene, a potent antioxidant and essential precursor to vitamin A. β-carotene is vital for human health because it improves immune system performance, supports vision, and lowers the risk of a number of chronic illnesses, including some forms of cancer. So far, a number of methods to increase β-carotene production in D. salina, including genetic engineering, applying abiotic stressors, plant growth regulators, and using metal nanoparticles. In this study, we examined the synergistic effects of plant growth regulators on the production of β-carotene and biomass accumulation in D. salina during various growth phases. Among the phytohormones examined, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and indole acetic acid (IAA) were discovered to have important physiological functions in controlling the microalga’s growth and metabolism. We maximized productivity by optimizing these phytohormone concentrations using response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD). Our findings showed that when applied during the combination of 3 mg L−1 IAA implemented at non carotenogenic phase (the 0th day of cultivation), and 200 μM MeJA implemented on carotenogenic phase (20th day of the cultivation) significantly increased growth and carotenoid accumulation, yielding 5.2 g/L of biomass and a 2027.96 μg of β-carotene content for every 100 mg of dry cell weight.

ABSTRACT Electrochemical urea synthesis from CO 2 and nitrate is a promising route for sustainable fertilizer production, yet the role of different catalyst phases remains unclear. Here, we report a phase‐controlled copper catalyst system derived from Cu‐doped ZIF‐8, enabling a transition from atomically dispersed Cu─N sites to metallic Cu nanoparticles within N‐doped carbon frameworks. Among them, the Cu─N coordinated catalyst exhibits superior performance, delivering the lowest onset potential and highest selectivity in H‐cell measurements. In a flow cell, it optimized a faradaic efficiency of 49% and a urea yield rate of 2,970 mg g −1 h −1 at −0.5 V vs RHE. Mechanistic studies reveal that Cu single‐atom sites facilitate C─N coupling and lower the energy barrier for urea desorption. Electronic structure analysis indicates optimized intermediate binding, suppressing competing reactions. These findings highlight the importance of phase‐controlled Cu catalysts for efficient urea electrosynthesis.

Extrinsic energy filtering (EEF) selectively allows high-energy charge carriers to pass through an energy barrier, blocking lower-energy (cold) carriers. This mechanism enhances thermoelectric performance by increasing the Seebeck coefficient S, since only high-energy carriers contribute, while maintaining electrical conductivity σ due to their higher mobility despite lower carrier density. The combined effect significantly boosts the power factor (PF) σS2. The concept of EEF dates back nearly 50 years, initially demonstrated by embedding metallic nanoparticles in telluride materials. Since then, theoretical models have advanced, and practical implementations have expanded to include elemental semiconductors, chalcogenides, and recently polymers. Nanostructured systems have played a key role by enabling close comparisons between theory, computational simulations, and experiments, deepening the understanding of EEF physics. This review offers a critical overview of both theoretical foundations and experimental progress in EEF over five decades. It highlights criteria for identifying genuine energy filtering effects in real materials and stresses the importance of distinguishing this phenomenon from other mechanisms that also improve the thermoelectric PF.