Preparation Of Nanomaterials Research Articles

Recent Advances in Nanomaterial-Mediated Cell Death for Cancer Therapy.

Nanomedicine has shown great anticancer potential by disrupting redox homeostasis and increasing the levels of oxidative stress, but the therapeutic effect is limited by factors including the intrinsic self-protection mechanism of tumors. Cancer cell death can be induced by the exploration of different cell death mechanisms, such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, cuproptosis, and ferroptosis. The merging of nanotechnology with biomedicine has provided tremendous opportunities to construct cell death-based nanomedicine for innovative cancer therapy. Nanocarriers are not only used for the targeted delivery of cell death inducers, but also as therapeutic components to induce cell death to achieve efficient tumor treatment. This review focuses on seven cell death modalities mediated by nanomaterials, such as apoptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, cuprotosis, immunogenic cell death, and autophagy. The mechanisms of these seven cell death modalities are described in detail, as well as the preparation of nanomaterials that induce them and the mechanisms, they used to exert their effects. Finally, this work describes the potential future development based on the current knowledge related to cell death induced by nanomaterials.

Morphology Control of Polymer-Inorganic Hybrid Nanomaterials Prepared in Miniemulsion: From Solid Particles to Capsules.

The preparation of so-called hybrid nanomaterials has been widely developed in terms of functional and morphological complexity. However, the specific control of the arrangement of organic and inorganic species, which determines the properties of the final material, still remains a challenge. This article offers a review of the strategies that have been used for the preparation of polymer-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles and nanocapsules via processes involving miniemulsions. Different polymer-inorganic nanostructures are classified into four main groups according to the sequential order followed between the synthesis of the polymer and the inorganic species, and the presence or not of their counterpart precursors. The minimization of the energy of the system governs the self-assembly of the different material components and can be addressed by the miniemulsion formulation to reduce the interfacial tensions between the phases involved. The state of the art in the preparation of hybrid nanoparticles is reviewed, offering insight into the structural possibilities allowed by miniemulsion as a versatile synthetic technique.

A Dual-Mode Optical Sensing Strategy for Rapid Detection of D-Penicillamine in Pharmaceutical Formulations

Accurate, rapid, and quantitative detection of D-penicillamine (D-PA) in pharmaceutical formulations is imperative for drug quality and clinical medication guidance. Various colorimetric and fluorescent assays have been constructed for D-PA based on nanomaterials. However, the reliable and rapid detection of D-PA in pharmaceutical formulations remains a challenge because these methods suffer from shortcomings such as time-consuming procedures, poor uniformity, and complicated nanomaterial preparation. In this work, an effective and facile homogeneous dual-mode optical sensing strategy was established based on the strong complexation between D-PA and Cu2+ and catalyzed the oxidation of O-phenylenediamine. This platform displayed a sensitive response to D-PA from 5 to 100 µmol/L, with a detection limits of 0.54 µmol/L (fluorescence) and 0.76 µmol/L (colorimetry). As expected, the method was successfully applied to the determination of D-PA in pharmaceutical formulations with satisfactory results. Overall, this developed strategy provides a facile and rapid dual-mode optical platform for D-PA and has great potential in D-PA-related pharmaceutical quality control.

Electrochemical sensor for glutathione reductase based on screen-printed electrodes coated with 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid-modified carbon nanotubes.

The preparation of a hybrid nanomaterial is reportedby covalently attaching 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid groups to the surface of oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes using 1,6-diaminohexane as cross-linking agent. This nanomaterial, modified with the redox mediator, was used as transduction element to construct an amperometric sensor for the efficient indirect determination of glutathione reductase at a low working potential of - 0.05V, through the oxidation of unconsumed nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) in the enzymatic reaction. The sensor exhibited an excellent linear response in the range 1.6 to 174 µU/µL, with high reproducibility and selectivity. The developed device was successfully validated in real samples, accurately determining the active enzyme in diluted human serum, making it a promising alternative for the determination of glutathione reductase and other related NADPH-dependent enzymes with relevance in clinical analysis.

Preparation and Ammonia Sensing of Copper Iodide Nanomaterials Combined with Copper Iodide‐Isopropanolamine Complexes

AbstractWith the increasing awareness of the hazards associated with ammonia (NH3) contamination and the potential application of NH3 detection in physical health monitoring, the exploration of high‐performance NH3 sensors has attracted significant attention in recent years. In this paper, we prepared copper iodide (CuI) nanomaterials combined with CuI‐isopropanolamine (C3H9NO) complexes by dissolving CuI in C3H9NO and subsequent annealing. The resulting product demonstrated exceptional sensing performance to 0.15 (mole fraction) NH3, exhibiting a maximum response of 7.5×105 with a response time of 5 s. The achieved detection limit was 10 ppm. Our findings provide a valuable reference for further research on NH3 sensors utilizing complexes formed by copper compounds and organic amines.

Pharmaceutical/Biomedical Applications of Electrospun Nanofibers - Comprehensive Review, Attentive to Process Parameters and Patent Landscape.

Nanotechnology is a new science and business endeavour with worldwide economic benefits. Growing knowledge of nanomaterial fabrication techniques has increased the focus on nanomaterial preparation for various purposes. Nanofibers are one-dimensional nanomaterials having distinct physicochemical properties and characteristics. Nanofibers are nanomaterial types with a cross-sectional dimension of tens to hundreds of nanometres. They may create high porosity mesh networks with significant interconnections among pores, making them suitable for advanced applications. Electrospinning stands out for its ease of use, flexibility, low cost, and variety among the approaches described in the literature. The most common method for making nanofibers is electrospinning. This article extensively describes and summarizes the impact of various process variables on the fabrication of nanofibers. Special attention has been given to scientific and patent prospection to confirm the research interests in nanofibers.

Enhanced removal of nanoplastics from freshwater using in-situ synthesized and anchored nano-Fe3O4 via two-step ferrous oxidation

Magnetic separation is a promising strategy for removing nanoplastics (NPs) from water; however, it often requires complex processeses, such as synthesizing nano-Fe3O4 magnets and attaching them to specific carriers. This study presents an innovative and efficient strategy to in-situ synthesize and anchor nano-Fe3O4 onto polystyrene (PS) NPs through a two-step oxidation of ferrous ions, which significantly enhances NPs removal via magnetic separation. The two-step process involves initial alkalization of a ferrous aqueous solution under anoxic conditions, followed by oxidation in air. In the presence of PS spheres, nano-Fe3O4 forms in-situ on the PS surfaces, promoting sedimentation under a magnetic field. Results demonstrate that two-step ferrous oxidation achieves superior removal rates, with 99.32 % for 500 nm PS spheres (PS-500) and 93.16 % for 100 nm PS spheres (PS-100) using a low Fe2+ dosage of 0.1 mM. In contrast, the conventional one-step method, which simultaneously alkalizes and oxidizes ferrous sulfate in aerobic conditions, fails to form nano-Fe3O4 and results in low removal rates of only 56.49 % for PS-500 and 8.89 % for PS-100, respectively. Furthermore, the turbidity and residual Fe can be reduced to below 1 NTU and 0.1 mg/L by using two-step process, respectively, meeting drinking water safety and hygiene standards. This approach not only simplifies the magnetic nanomaterial preparation process but also substantially improves the NP removal efficiency, offering a promising solution for enhanced water treatment technologies and safer drinking water.

The preparation and characterization of WS2 nanomaterials with different morphologies and the mechanistic study of peroxymonosulfate activation for phenol degradation

Transitional metal chalcogenides like WS2 play a significant role as cocatalysts in activating PMS (peroxymonosulfate) due to their high reductivity. Three WS2 samples with different morphologies, specific surface areas, and 1 T phase contents were prepared in this study. Characterizations by SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, Raman, XPS, and catalytic degradation experiments confirmed that the a-WS2 sample exhibited the richest morphology, the largest specific surface area, the highest 1 T phase content, and the best cocatalytic performance. The a-WS2/Fe(II)/PMS system efficiently degraded 20 mg/L phenol within 15 minutes and was also effective in degrading pollutants like RhB (Rhodamine B) and OFX (Ofloxacin). Characterization predicted the degradation pathway of phenol and revealed 10 intermediate products. The degradation mechanism indicated that the presence of WS2 accelerated the conversion of Fe(III) to Fe(II), thereby further promoting the activation of PMS. ·SO4−, ·OH, and ·O2− were identified as the main active radicals in this system. a-WS2 exhibits characteristics such as high catalytic performance, good stability, high recyclability, and a low ion leaching rate, and it generates sulfur vacancies during use. This system shows promising prospects in the treatment of high-concentration organic wastewater.

PdAg alloy nanowheats: Facile interfacial synthesis and highly selective catalysis in the hydrogenation of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde

Developing a simple and mild one-step method for the preparation of bimetallic nanomaterials with both free-standing features and excellent catalytic performance is highly desirable but remains technically difficult. Herein, a facile liquid-liquid interface route is exploited to grow the wheat-like PdAg nanostructures at the interface of chloroform and water under mild conditions without the use of any surfactants and supports. To implement this scheme, Na2PdCl4 and AgNO3 as precursors are dissolved in aqueous phase and α-naphthol as reducing agent in chloroform phase to build up the interfacial reaction system. At 40°C, the PdAg nanowheats are orderly grown, fused and assembled by many newly generated nanoparticles at the interface region, which have uniform shapes with the length of about 340 nm and the diameter of about 45 nm, abundant defects and strong electronic interaction between Au and Pd, as well as free-standing features. In the hydrogenation reaction of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde, PdAg-1 nanowheats exhibit excellent catalytic activity, selectivity and durability. Within 60.0 min of reaction at 35°C under atmospheric pressure, 99.8 % conversion of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and 99.5 % selectivity toward 4-aminobenzaldehyde can be realized. After 5 cycles, 99.4 % conversion of 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and 98.0 % selectivity toward 4-aminobenzaldehyde can be maintained.

Innovative design and experimental research on the world's first pilot plant for continuous supercritical hydrothermal synthesis nano copper

Supercritical hydrothermal synthesis (SCHS) is a promising nanomaterial preparation technology. We have successfully constructed the world's first continuous supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nano copper pilot plant, with a yield of 100 kg/d and a grain size of nano copper products between 48–90 nm. In this work, the progressiveness of the supercritical hydrothermal synthesis pilot plant is systematically introduced, including rapid and uniform mixing, high Reynolds number, precise control of reaction time, avoidance of blockage and corrosion, and automation and safety control of the pilot plant. In addition, the synthesis mechanism and experimental results of supercritical hydrothermal synthesis of nano copper are further introduced. Finally, we analyze the economy of the pilot plant. The experimental research on the continuous hydrothermal synthesis of nano copper on a pilot scale may provide some guidance for future commercialization.

Carbon Nanomaterials with SOD-like Activity: The Effect of the Ionic Strength.

Electrogenerated hydrophilic carbon (EHC) nanomaterials emerge as a highly attractive option for mimicking the activity of the superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD) due to their exceptional water solubility and electron-transfer reversibility. Motivated by these properties, the EHC nanomaterials were utilized to assess the effect of ionic strength on the SOD-like activity. Superoxide anion radicals (O2•-) were generated using the hypoxanthine-xanthine oxidase system, with nitro blue tetrazolium chloride serving as the detecting system. A significant boost in the SOD-like activity was found via the addition of an electrolyte to the as-prepared nanomaterial solution. The effect of the electrolyte cation (Na+ and K+), as well as its counterion (Cl-, CH3COO-, and H2PO4-/HPO42-) were analyzed. Based on these studies, a new formulation for the preparation of the carbon-based nanomaterial was established. It was demonstrated that the SOD-like activity follows an enzyme-type catalytic activity rather than the stoichiometric scavenging of the superoxide anion radical. It was concluded that 12.71 µg/mL of the EHC nanomaterial exhibits catalytic activity comparable to 15.46 µg/mL of the native Cu/Zn-SOD enzyme. This study provides a starting point for the development of a new nanotool to fight the oxidative stress associated with pathophysiological conditions where SOD activity is depleted.

One-pot radiolytically synthesized reduced graphene oxide-gold nanoparticles composites and exploration in energy storage

Graphene and its composites are of primary importance, particularly in the field of energy storage. Numerous bottom-up and top-down methods have been proposed in the literature to produce these materials with enhanced physicochemical properties. Recently, an innovative and green methodology was developed based on ionizing radiation, allowing the quantitative synthesis of graphene oxide-based materials. With the aim to extend this strategy for the preparation of hybrid nanomaterials, the objective of this work was the one-pot synthesis of nanocomposites composed of reduced graphene oxide – gold nanoparticles (rGO-AuNPs) via gamma ray-induced radiolytic reduction. UV–Vis Absorption Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy were utilized to comprehensively evaluate the reduction degree of graphene oxide and the formation of gold nanoparticles. Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were employed to obtain the morphological and topographical information on synthesized nanocomposites. Thermal properties were investigated by Thermogravimetric Analysis and electrical properties were investigated using Cyclic Voltammetry and Potentiostatic Charge and Discharge method. The results demonstrated the successful reduction of graphene oxide and gold ions through the drastic transformation of oxygen-containing functional groups and the formation of gold nanoparticles. Electrical characterization results highlighted the excellent electrical properties of radiosynthesized rGO-AuNPs composites and their great potential for supercapacitance application.

Preparation of two-dimensional assembled silver nanowires and the disturbances faced

At present, self-assembled materials are widely applied and have become one of the most important methods for the preparation of nanomaterials due to their scale effect and structural diversity. Nanoscale self-assembled materials can be used to prepare media with different pore sizes, morphologies and distributions, resulting in larger specific surface area and transparency. Moreover, they can be used to prepare nanoelectronic devices, nanosensors, and nanophotonic devices. Metal self-assembled materials are widely used in nanocatalytic reactions, where their high specific surface area can improve the reaction efficiency and catalytic activity. Silver nanowires, a branch of self-assembled material, are excellent materials for fabricating transparent flexible electrodes. However, the preparation process of silver nanowires faces many difficulties, and it is very challenging to make the final product with low resistivity. Therefore, the paper aims to explore the preparation of silver nanowires and the many interfering factors facing the preparation process. Through the review of related literature, this paper analyzes the basic principles of a series of self-assembled materials, improves further understanding of the concept and application of self-assembled materials, and thus indicates the preparation methods that can obtain silver nanowires with better performance.

Effect of precursor concentration on the growth of magnesium oxide nanomaterials by direct heating method

Various methods have been developed for the preparation of MgO nanomaterials. However, they often suffer from limitations such as high cost, lengthy synthesis times, and excessive power consumption. In response, a direct heating (DH) method has been developed to address these challenges, enabling rapid (< 10 min) and cost-effective production of MgO nanomaterials. In this study, the DH process was optimized by investigating the influence of precursor solution concentrations (0.01 M to 0.10 M) on the growth of MgO nanomaterials on wire surfaces. Analyses utilizing Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the formation of MgO. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) revealed that the nanomaterials predominantly nano-walls and particles. The optimized synthesis conditions for MgO nanomaterials requires the heating of 0.10 M Mg(NO3)2·6H2O precursor at 50 W.h. for 10 min. Under this specific condition, a favourable surface coverage of 81.54% was achieved where the MgO nanowalls produced has demonstrated promising capability to remove Methylene Blue (MB) dye under UV irradiation. In conclusion, DH technique is a favourable alternative route to synthesize MgO nanomaterial in a simple, cost-and -time efficient and environmentally friendly way.

Full‐Component Utilization of Cellulose Nanofibrils and Artificial Stone Waste for Cement Enhancement

With the concept of carbon neutrality, the value‐added utilization of biomass materials and solid waste becomes a cutting‐edge topic. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) receive much attention due to their excellent properties in terms of high aspect ratio, specific strength, and specific surface area, but their large‐scale preparation remains a great challenge. Herein, a facile aqueous solution method is proposed for the fabrication of CNFs through artificial stone waste (ASW)‐assisted supramolecular interfacial interactions for the full‐component utilization in cement mortar materials. The strong hydrogen bonding interaction between ASW and CNFs can effectively prevent the intramolecular hydrogen bonding of CNFs and agglomeration of ASW, while improving the stability of CNF/ASW suspensions. The resulting CNFs/ASW with active hydroxyl or carboxyl group can improve the flexural and compressive strength of cement (30.8% and 37.8% higher than that of pristine cement, respectively) by embedding into the defects of cement mortar and promoting the hydration process of cement. In this work, not only a new idea is provided for the large‐scale preparation of biomass nanomaterials, but also the full‐component value‐added utilization of biomass and solid waste in cement materials is opened up.

Polymer-Gel-Derived PbS/C Composite Nanosheets and Their Photoelectronic Response Properties Studies in the NIR

Non-conjugated polymer-derived functional nanocomposites are one of the important ways to develop multifunctional hybrids. By increasing the degree of crosslinking, their photophysical properties can be improved. PbS is a class of narrow bandgap infrared active materials. To avoid aggregation and passivation of the surface defects of PbS nanomaterials, a large number of organic and inorganic ligands are usually used. In this study, PbS/C composite nanosheets were synthesized with Pb2+ ion-crosslinked sodium alginate gel by one-pot carbonization. The resulting nanosheets were coated on untreated A4 printing paper, and the electrodes were the graphite electrodes with 5B pencil drawings. The photocurrent signals of the products were measured using typical 650, 808, 980, and 1064 nm light sources. The results showed that the photocurrent switching signals were effectively extracted in the visible and near-infrared regions, which was attributed to the mutual passivation of defects during the in situ preparation of PbS and carbon nanomaterials. At the same time, the resulting nanocomposite exhibited electrical switching responses to the applied strain to a certain extent. The photophysical and defect passivation mechanisms were discussed based on the aggregation state of the carbon hybrid and the interfacial electron interaction. This material would have potential applications in broadband flexible photodetectors, tentacle sensors, or light harvesting interdisciplinary areas. This study provided a facile approach to prepare a low-cost hybrid with external stimulus response and multifunctionality. These results show that the interfacial charge transfer is the direct experimental evidence of interfacial interaction, and the regulation of interfacial interaction can improve the physical and chemical properties of nanocomposites, which can meet the interdisciplinary application. The interdisciplinary and application of more non-conjugated polymer systems in some frontier areas will be expanded upon.

Upconversion-based chiral nanoprobe for highly selective dual-mode sensing and bioimaging of hydrogen sulfide in vitro and in vivo

Chiral assemblies have become one of the most active research areas due to their versatility, playing an increasingly important role in bio-detection, imaging and therapy. In this work, chiral UCNPs/CuxOS@ZIF nanoprobes are prepared by encapsulating upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and CuxOS nanoparticles (NPs) into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). The novel excited-state energy distribution-modulated upconversion nanostructure (NaYbF4@NaYF4: Yb, Er) is selected as the fluorescence source and energy donor for highly efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). CuxOS NP is employed as chiral source and energy acceptor to quench upconversion luminescence (UCL) and provide circular dichroism (CD) signal. Utilizing the natural adsorption and sorting advantages of ZIF-8, the designed nanoprobe can isolate the influence of other common disruptors, thus achieve ultra-sensitive and highly selective UCL/CD dual-mode quantification of H2S in aqueous solution and in living cells. Notably, the nanoprobe is also capable of in vivo intra-tumoral H2S tracking. Our work highlights the multifunctional properties of chiral nanocomposites in sensing and opens a new vision and idea for the preparation and application of chiral nanomaterials in biomedical and biological analysis.

3D shuttle V2O5 preparation of porous nanomaterials and lithium storage properties

3D shuttle V2O5 preparation of porous nanomaterials and lithium storage properties

Effect of ball milling conditions on the microstructure for alumina-based ceramic with nano-silica additives

Abstract Alumina-based ceramics, known for their excellent high-temperature stability and tensile strength, are utilized across various sectors like metallurgy, aerospace, and chemicals as thermal insulators and reinforcements. The mechanochemical method, which involves mechanical actions like stirring and grinding to induce chemical reactions without solvents, offers a green, time-efficient approach with minimal pollution. This technique is pivotal for nanomaterials preparation. This study successfully crafts nano-silica-enhanced alumina-based ceramics via mechanochemical methods. The impact of mechanochemical processes on ceramic properties is assessed through particle size, N2 adsorption, and various microscopic analyses.

Carbon nanomaterials in flexible wearable sensors

Recent remarkable advances in flexible and wearable functional electronics have been achieved due to their advantages of lightweight, convenience to detect complex measured objects, and flexibility, which makes electronic equipment develop from a rigid system to a flexible system. Flexible materials toward wearable devices present a huge market prospect, which demonstrate promise in healthcare, human motion detection, biomedicine, environmental monitoring, and other fields. Unique physical and chemical properties are the critical characteristics of flexible wearable sensors, and the huge surface-to-volume ratio facilitates carbon nanomaterials to be used in various flexible sensors. This review comprehensively introduces the structure, properties, and preparation of carbon nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, and MXene. The sensing mechanism of the sensor is outlined, and flexible sensors based on carbon nanomaterials in detecting targets such as pressure, temperature, and gases are proposed. Enhancement of conductivity, sensing factor, and sensitivity of carbon nanomaterials by modifying their structure or preparing composites is presented in detail. Finally, this paper outlines the challenges associated with implementing carbon nanomaterials within the field of flexible wearable sensors and future development.