Preparation Of Nanostructures Research Articles

Controlling the Selectivity of Reaction Products by Transmetalation on a Ag(111) Substrate.

On-surface synthesis has shown great promise in the precise bottom-up preparation of molecular nanostructures. Apart from the direct C-C coupling reaction pathway, an alternative strategy is to exploit the metal-organic interactions provided by integrated metals for preassembly, which exhibit high reversibility and can anchor specific conformations of molecular precursors, thus allowing the precise construction of nanostructures with improved reaction selectivity. Previous studies have mainly been devoted to the construction of target reaction products through the incorporation of metal atoms, ranging from intrinsic to extrinsic atoms on metal substrates and, more recently, to their cooperative effects. However, the formation of different covalent nanostructures by competitive interactions between intrinsic and extrinsic adatoms remains elusive. Herein, we controlled the selectivity of covalent reaction products from isomerically specific trans-chains to cis-rings, resulting from the transmetalation of intrinsic Ag adatoms to extrinsic Na atoms on a Ag(111) substrate. Our results exhibit the competitive interactions between intrinsic and extrinsic metal atoms in real space and demonstrate their influence on the selectivity of reaction products, which should broaden the regulatory strategies for on-surface synthesis that shed light on the controllable and selective synthesis of target covalent nanostructures.

Ambient Synthesis of Vanadium-Based Prussian Blue Analogues Nanocubes for High-Performance and Durable Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries with Eutectic Electrolytes.

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have been widely studied in aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) due to the characteristics of large specific surface area, open aperture, and straightforward synthesis. In this work, vanadium-based PBA nanocubes were firstly prepared using a mild in situ conversion strategy at room temperature without the protection of noble gas. Benefiting from the multiple-redox active sites of V3+/V4+, V4+/V5+, and Fe2+/Fe3+, the cathode exhibited an excellent discharge specific capacity of 200 mAh g-1 in AZIBs, which is much higher than those of other metal-based PBAs nanocubes. To further improve the long-term cycling stability of the V-PBA cathode, a high concentration water-in-salt electrolyte (4.5 M ZnSO4+3 M Zn(OTf)2), and a water-based eutectic electrolyte (5.55 M glucose+3 M Zn(OTf)2) were designed to successfully inhibit the dissolution of vanadium and improve the deposition of Zn2+ onto the zinc anode. More importantly, the assembled AZIBs maintained 55 % of their highest discharge specific capacity even after 10000 cycles at 10 A g-1 with superior rate capability. This study provides a new strategy for the preparation of pure PBA nanostructures and a new direction for enhancing the long-term cycling stability of PBA-based AZIBs at high current densities for industrialization prospects.

Mn-doped ZnO nanopowders prepared by sol-gel and microwave-assisted sol-gel methods and their photocatalytic properties.

Although the microwave-assisted sol-gel method is quite frequently used for the preparation of oxide nanostructures, the synergism of the reaction pathways is not fully explained. However, state-of-the-art theoretical and practical results of high novelty can be achieved by continuously evaluating the as-synthesized materials. The present paper presents a comparative study of Mn-doped ZnO nanopowders prepared by both sol-gel and microwave-assisted sol-gel methods. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the as-obtained powders were established and correlated with their newly proved functionality, namely, the ability to photogenerate distinct reactive oxygen species (·OH or O2 -) and to act as photoactive materials in aqueous media. The solar light-induced mineralization of oxalic acid by Mn-doped ZnO materials was clearly observed while similar amounts of generated CO2 were measured for both catalysts. These inexpensive semiconductor materials, which proved to be light-responsive, can be further used for developing water depollution technologies based on solar light energy.

Biosynthesis of NiO nanoparticles using Senna occidentalis leaves extract: Effects of annealing temperature and antibacterial activity

In this work a cost effective and ecofriendly green method for the preparation of NiO nanostructures employing Senna occidentalis (S. occidentalis) leaves extract has been reported. XRD studies show that the 400 °C and 500 °C annealed nanostructures were authenticated as pure face centered cubic phase with an average crystallite size are about 27 nm and 15 nm, respectively. The SEM results show that both the annealed samples were nearly spherical with grain sizes ranging between 65 and 74 nm. The band gap of 400 °C and 500 °C annealed NiO nanoparticles (NPs) was estimated to be 5.28 eV and 5.40 eV, respectively from UV–visible studies while the occurrence of Ni-O stretching in the FTIR spectra validates the formation of NiO. Further this work witnesses that the NiO NPs synthesized from the green route offer better antibacterial activity. The observed maximum zone of inhibition of 500 °C annealed NiO NPs was found to be 20 mm and 19 mm for Serratia marcescens and Bacillus cereus strains and indicates that this material can serve as a prospective drug for biomedical application.

Water as Solvent for the Dispersion of 2D Nanostructured Materials.

The development of large number of two-dimensional (2D) nanostructured materials that followed the success of graphene and the need for their handling and manipulation e. g., in inks, brought to the fore the study of solvents and substances that contribute to the stabilization of 2D nanomaterials in the liquid phase. The successful dispersion of 2D materials in solvents is combined with one of the most widespread preparation methods, that of liquid phase exfoliation. In this article, a review for the role of water in the preparation of different 2D nanostructures and their stable dispersions in the liquid phase is discussed. The use of water as a solvent or dispersant is instrumental in promoting materials with an ecological footprint, low cost, and sustainability.

A Lab Prototype for Rapid Electrochemical Detection of Escherichia coli in Water Using Modified Screen-Printed Electrodes.

Recognizing the need for a hand-held device capable of quantitatively measuring the concentration of bacteria in water, this paper describes a label-free method for rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water via H2O2 decomposition using screen-printed electrodes (SPE) modified with nanostructured metal oxide layers. The study encompasses sensor preparation, bacteria culture, synthesis and characterization of nanostructures, and development of a readout circuitry for lab prototyping. During sensing measurements, the bacteria are first made to interact with H2O2 and subsequently, the H2O2 solution is exposed on the sensing surface. The electrochemical sensors are fabricated by modifying the working electrode of SPE with nanostructured metal oxide layers of MnO2 and TiO2 as these play a crucial role in the detection of E. coli in water. The sensing experiments of MnO2-modified SPE show a significant response to bacteria with a sensitivity of 0.82 mV.mL/log CFU and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8 CFU/mL, while the TiO2-modified SPE exhibits a linear response over a wide range of bacterial concentrations with a sensitivity of 1.12 mV·mL/log CFU and a limit of detection of 2.23 CFU/mL. Both sensors demonstrate a rapid response, stability, repeatability, and a recovery time of 70 ms. Additionally, selectivity with respect to other bacteria, wastewater components such as glucose, ammonium sulfate, and sodium carbonate, and testing with RO, DI, and tap water samples are conducted to evaluate the sensors' performance. A detailed sensing mechanism has been developed to comprehend the results, including chemical and biological reactions, metal oxide interfaces, morphology, and other surface studies of the sensing surface. A prototype comprising a sensor chip, an Arduino board, and other necessary circuit components is tested with various bacterial solutions. This enables its use for on-field rapid detection of bacteria in water using smaller volumes and a portable system.

New Supramolecular Hydrogels Based on Diastereomeric Dehydrotripeptide Mixtures for Potential Drug Delivery Applications.

Self-assembly of peptide building blocks offers unique opportunities for bottom-up preparation of exquisite nanostructures, nanoarchitectures, and nanostructured bulk materials, namely hydrogels. In this work we describe the synthesis, characterization, gelation, and rheological properties of new dehydrotripeptides, Cbz-L-Lys(Cbz)-L,D-Asp-∆Phe-OH and (2-Naph)-L-Lys(2-Naph)-L,D-Asp-∆Phe-OH, containing a N-terminal lysine residue Nα,ε-bis-capped with carboxybenzyl (Cbz) and 2-Naphthylacetyl (2-Naph) aromatic moieties, an aspartic acid residue (Asp), and a C-terminal dehydrophenylalanine (∆Phe) residue. The dehydrotripeptides were obtained as diastereomeric mixtures (L,L,Z and L,D,Z), presumably via aspartimide chemistry. The dehydrotripeptides afforded hydrogels at exceedingly low concentrations (0.1 and 0.04 wt%). The hydrogels revealed exceptional elasticity (G' = 5.44 × 104 and 3.43 × 106 Pa) and self-healing properties. STEM studies showed that the diastereomers of the Cbz-capped peptide undergo co-assembly, generating a fibrillar 3D network, while the diastereomers of the 2-Naph-capped dehydropeptide seem to undergo self-sorting, originating a fibril network with embedded spheroidal nanostructures. The 2-Naph-capped hydrogel displayed full fast recovery following breakup by a mechanical stimulus. Spheroidal nanostructures are absent in the recovered hydrogel, as seen by STEM, suggesting that the mechanical stimulus triggers rearrangement of the spheroidal nanostructures into fibers. Overall, this study demonstrates that diastereomeric mixtures of peptides can be efficacious gelators. Importantly, these results suggest that the structure (size, aromaticity) of the capping group can have a directing effect on the self-assembly (co-assembly vs. self-sorting) of diastereomers. The cytotoxicity of the newly synthesized gelators was evaluated using human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line). The results indicated that the two gelators exhibited some cytotoxicity, having a small impact on cell viability. In sustained release experiments, the influence of the charge on model drug compounds was assessed in relation to their release rate from the hydrogel matrix. The hydrogels demonstrated sustained release for methyl orange (anionic), while methylene blue (cationic) was retained within the network.

Ag+-Induced Assembly of Pt Clusters for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

Cluster-assembled nanowires provide a unique strategy for the preparation of high-performance nanostructures. However, existing preparations are limited by complex processes and harsh reaction conditions. Here, Ag+ ions were utilized as a novel structure-directing agent to generate the self-assembly of Pt clusters to form ultrafine nanowires with a diameter of less than 5 nm. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) characterizations demonstrated that every Ag+ bridged two [Pt3(CO)3(μ2-CO)3]n2- clusters through coordination and formed a sandwich-like structure of [Pt3(CO)3(μ2-CO)3]nAg[Pt3(CO)3(μ2-CO)3]m3-. As a result, multiple sandwich-like structures of [Pt3(CO)3(μ2-CO)3]nAg[Pt3(CO)3(μ2-CO)3]m3- were established by Ag+ to form Pt nanowire superstructures {[Pt3(CO)6]nAg[Pt3(CO)6]mAg[Pt3(CO)6]x}∞ (abbreviated as Ag-Pt NWS). Our results demonstrate that the Pt nanowire superstructures showed promising cocatalytic performance for photocatalytic H2 production with the involvement of Ag+, which promises a desirable way to develop advanced functional nanomaterials.

Self-assembling Peptides (SAPs) as Powerful Tools for the Preparation of Antimicrobial and Wound-Healing Nanostructures

: Supramolecular self-assembly (SA) is a naturally occurring and free energy-driven process of molecules to produce nanostructured systems depending on the assembling environment. SA molecules have captivated the research attention since they possess singular physicochemical properties that are potentially useful to make the nanostructures quite suitable for biomedical applications, such as diagnostics, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. Due to their high biological activity and low toxicity, the self-assembly properties of peptides bid certain advantages as drugs and drug delivery platforms. Among the discovered self-assembling bioactive peptides (SAPs), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely distributed through plant and animal kingdoms and play a key role as an alternative strategy to fight infections bypassing conventional antimicrobial drugs, susceptible to antimicrobial resistance. Based on this evidence, in this review, we summarized the mechanism of the self-assembling of peptides, the main forces responsible for the SAPs formation, and the studies regarding their possible implication in infectious diseases as well as wound dressing materials.

Molten Salt Preparation of Carbon Nanostructures for Metal-Ion Storage Applications

Efficient electrical energy storage relies on the preparation of low-cost yet high-quality carbon nanostructures. This presentation introduces innovative molten salt approaches for generating such carbon materials, leveraging diverse carbon sources such as natural or synthetic graphite, biomass waste, and plastic materials. Electrochemical exfoliation of various graphite materials in molten salt is demonstrated to yield electrolytic carbon nanostructures, including graphene nanosheets, carbon nanotubes, and onion-like carbon nanoparticles. The distinctive morphology, structure, and electrical conductivity of these carbon materials are investigated, and their impact on Na-ion and Li-ion storage performances is thoroughly discussed. Furthermore, the presentation explores the molten salt-assisted carbonization of corn lignocellulosic waste, resulting in carbon materials with tailored morphological and compositional characteristics conducive to efficient Li-ion and Na-ion storage performance. Additionally, insights are provided into the transformation of waste plastic materials into graphene-based nanostructures through molten salt techniques, with a focus on their electrical and electrochemical performances. This comprehensive exploration not only underscores the versatility of molten salt methodologies in synthesizing diverse carbon nanostructures but also sheds light on their potential applications in advancing energy storage technologies. References A.R. Kamali*, H. Zhao, J. Alloy. Compd. 949 (2023) 169819H. Zhao, A. Rezaei, A.R. Kamali*, J. Electrochem. Soc. 169 (2022) 054512R. Li, A.R. Kamali*, Chem. Eng. Sci. 265 (2023) 118222A.R. Kamali*, S. Li, Appl. Energy 334 (2023) 120692A.R. Kamali*, J. Yang, Polym. Degrad. Stab. 177 (2020) 109184A. Rezaei, B. Kamali, A.R. Kamali*, Measurement 150 (2020) 107087A.R. Kamali* et al., J. Mater. Chem. A 5 (2017) 19126-19135A.R. Kamali*, Carbon 123 (2017) 205-215

Optimizing Silicon Nanostructures for Enhanced Li-Ion Storage: Microstructure, Binder and Production Technology

The utilization of silicon nanostructures as anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) presents a promising avenue for improving device performance. However challenges related to prolonged cycling, energy density, and costs need to be addressed. This presentation outlines three strategies employed within the E2MC framework to overcome these challenges: (a) By incorporating high-quality graphene nanosheets, produced through a low-cost and scalable molten salt method, common silicon nanoparticles (generated by commercially available pyrolysis-based methods) can be enveloped in graphene layers with a controllable chemical composition. The graphene-encapsulated silicon nanoparticles exhibit stable electrochemical lithiation/delithiation performance, showcasing significantly improved energy density, even after numerous Li-insertion and extraction cycles, outperforming bare Si nanoparticles; (b) Thermally modified polyimide (PI) is introduced as an efficient binder to enhance the Li-ion storage performance of silicon nanoparticles. An optimized thermal treatment of the electrodes containing Si nanoparticles and PI binder produces an effective charge transfer complex (CTC) structure, improving the electrochemical performance by forming a compact structure that reduces charge transfer impedance. This enhancement significantly boosts the cycling performance of the silicon anode; (c) An ultra-fast shock-wave combustion synthesis approach is introduced for the rapid and low-cost preparation of Si nanostructures using naturally available SiO2 as the silicon feedstock. Completed at an ignition temperature of approximately 550 °C, this method requires virtually no dwell time. The resulting nanostructured Si product exhibits a mesoporous integrated sheet-like morphology, demonstrating excellent and stable Li-ion storage performance. This approach contributes to a more sustainable and cost-effective utilization of elemental Si nanoparticles in LIB applications.

Mangenese Copper Selenide Nanosheet Arrays Derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Solid-State Asymmetric Supercapacitors

Metal chalcogenide nanostructures, particularly metal selenides, have unique properties, such as high electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, exclusive porous networks, and exceptional electrochemical properties compared to traditional nanostructures.1 2 A novel strategy is proposed to design and fabricate hierarchical Manganese copper selenide nanosheet (MnCuSe NS) arrays from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The hierarchical MnCuSe NS arrays can deliver enriched electroactive sites and shorten the ion/electron diffusion pathways. When evaluated as positive electrodes for supercapacitor (SC), the MnCuSe NS electrode displayed remarkable electrochemical properties with ultra-high specific capacity of ≈350.4 mA h g− 1 and an areal capacity of ≈0.94 mA h cm− 2 at a current density of 3 mA cm− 2, exceptional rate capability (≈79.5% of the capacity retention at a higher current density of 50 mA cm− 2), and outstanding cyclic stability (≈95.4 % of capacity retention after 10 000 cycles). Most importantly, the assembled MnCuSe NS//FeMnO/NG solid-state asymmetric SC exhibited a wide operating potential window of 1.6 V with an ultra-high volumetric capacity of ≈2.4 mA h cm− 3 at a current density of 3 mA cm− 2, an excellent energy density of ≈71.6 Wh Kg− 1 at a power density of ≈794 W Kg− 1, and ultra-long cycle life (≈93.4 % of capacity retention after 10 000 cycles). This proposed method provides a general protocol to design and fabricate metal selenide nanosheet arrays with superior electrochemical energy storage properties and exceptional cyclic stability, holding significant potential for future energy storage devices in commercial aspects. Keywords: Hierarchical, Metal-organic frameworks, Metal chalcogenide, Energy density, Asymmetric supercapacitorsReference:(1) Han, J. H.; Kwak, M.; Kim, Y.; Cheon, J. Recent Advances in the Solution-Based Preparation of Two-Dimensional Layered Transition Metal Chalcogenide Nanostructures. Chem. Rev. 2018, 118 (13), 6151–6188. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00264.(2) Karuppasamy, K.; Vikraman, D.; Hussain, S.; Kumar Veerasubramani, G.; Santhoshkumar, P.; Lee, S.-H.; Bose, R.; Kathalingam, A.; Kim, H.-S. Unveiling a Binary Metal Selenide Composite of CuSe Polyhedrons/CoSe2 Nanorods Decorated Graphene Oxide as an Active Electrode Material for High-Performance Hybrid Supercapacitors. Chemical Engineering Journal 2022, 427, 131535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.131535.

Controllable preparation of surface nanostructures on boron doped diamond by plasma etching

Controllable preparation of surface nanostructures on boron doped diamond by plasma etching

Highly Efficient Preparation of Length and Width-Controllable Donor-Acceptor Nanoribbons via Polymerization-Induced Crystallization-Driven Self-Assembly of Fully Conjugated Block Copolymers.

Despite the high potential of one-dimensional (1D) donor-acceptor (D-A) coaxial nanostructures in bulk-heterojunction solar cell applications, the preparation of such 1D nanostructures using π-conjugated polymers has remained elusive. Herein, we demonstrate the first example of D-A semiconducting nanoribbons based on fully conjugated block copolymers (BCPs) prepared in a highly efficient procedure with controllable width and length via living crystallization-driven self-assembly (CDSA). Initially, Suzuki-Miyaura catalyst-transfer polymerization was employed to successfully synthesize BCPs containing two types of acceptor shells as the first block, followed by a donor poly(3-propylthiophene) core as the second block. The limited solubility and high crystallinity of the core induced a polymerization-induced crystallization-driven self-assembly (PI-CDSA) of the BCPs into nanoribbons during polymerization, providing a tunable width (7.6-39.6 nm) depending on the length of the polymer backbone. Surprisingly, purifying as-synthesized BCPs via simple precipitation directly yielded short and uniform seed structures, greatly shortening the overall protocol by eliminating the time-consuming process of initial aging and breaking down to the seed required for the conventional CDSA. With this new highly efficient method, we achieved length control over a broad range from 169 to 2210 nm, with high precision (Lw/Ln < 1.20). Furthermore, combining self-seeding and seeded growth from two different D-A-type BCPs enabled continuous living epitaxial growth from each end of the nanoribbons, resulting in B-A-B triblock D-A semiconducting comicelles with controlled length.

Controlled epitaxial growth of strain-induced large-area bilayer MoS2 by chemical vapor deposition based on two-stage strategy

Two-dimensional (2D) bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in the fields of electronics, optoelectronics, valleytronics and nonlinear optics. However, the precise synthesis of large-area, high-yield and uniform bilayer MoS2 semiconductors remains a significant challenge. Herein, we have developed one two-stage chemical vapor deposition strategy based on strain engineering, enabling the controlled preparation of large-area (4 × 6 cm2) bilayer MoS2 nanostructures. Systematic characterizations indicate that compressive strain was introduced during the growth of first layer MoS2, which effectively induces the synthesis of the second layer MoS2. First-principles calculations based on density functional theory further reveal the mechanism of strain induced controllable growth of bilayer MoS2. Field-effect transistors based on AA and AB stacking bilayer MoS2 have been fabricated exhibiting excellent electronic properties. Our work provides a new pathway for the precise preparation of bilayer TMDCs nanostructures, offering experimental support for their application in the field of electronic and optoelectronic devices.

Crystal facet engineering of hollow cadmium sulfide for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Metal sulfides have been considered as potential candidates for photocatalytic hydrogen production, but their practical applications are still limited by incident light utilization and charge separation despite the impressive advances in recent decades. To address these challenges, the construction of hollow nanostructure with exposing high active facets offers a desirable pathway for developing novel and high-efficiency photocatalysts. Here, by taking wurtzite CdS as an example, we first develop a general template-assisted cation exchange route for the preparation of hollow CdS nanostructures with diverse exposed facets. The obtained hollow CdS octahedrons with dominant {101} facets exhibit superior photocatalytic H2 evolution rate under visible-light irradiation compared with common CdS nanorods. According to the characterization results and density functional theory calculations, the excellent photocatalytic performance is attributed to the construction of hollow nano-octahedrons with exposed {101} active facets, which facilitates efficient light harvesting and photoinduced charge separation of CdS photocatalyst. The present approach gives a reference to design advanced semiconductors with remarkable photocatalytic activity for realizing efficient solar-to-chemical conversion.

Facile interfacial synthesis of thin AuPd alloy nanowires for plasmon-enhanced selective photocatalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol

Bimetallic AuPd plasmonic photocatalyst is a promising candidate for catalyzing selective oxidation of aromatic alcohol. However, developing a simple one-step method for the preparation of free-standing AuPd nanostructures with excellent photocatalytic performance remains a huge challenge. Here, a facile liquid–liquid interface route was exploited to one-pot prepare free-standing AuPd alloy nanowires (NWs) under mild conditions. Specifically, Au1Pd1 NWs are grown via oriented attachment at chloroform-water interface and 40 °C with Na2PdCl4 and HAuCl4 as precursors and 1-naphthol as reductant. Au1Pd1 NWs possess many advantages, such as thin diameter (4.0 nm), large aspect ratio, abundant defects and strong Au-Pd electronic interaction. During benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde, Au1Pd1 NWs exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity and durability. At 40 min of visible light illumination, 98 % conversion of benzyl alcohol and 100 % selectivity to benzaldehyde are finished. After five cycles, Au1Pd1 NWs still maintain high photocatalytic activity. Compared to pure Au NWs, alloying Pd with Au in Au1Pd1 NWs dramatically enhances photocatalytic activity. The results indicate that the generated abundant •O2– under illumination play an important role in significantly improving benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde.

Hybrid Nanoparticles from Random Polyelectrolytes and Carbon Dots.

The present study concerns the preparation of hybrid nanostructures composed of carbon dots (CDs) synthesized in our lab and a double-hydrophilic poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (P(DMAEMA-co-OEGMA)) random copolymer through electrostatic interactions between the negatively charged CDs and the positively charged DMAEMA segments of the copolymer. The synthesis of P(DMAEMA-co-OEGMA) copolymer was conducted through RAFT polymerization. Furthermore, the copolymer was converted into a strong cationic random polyelectrolyte through quaternization of the amine groups of DMAEMA segments with methyl iodide (CH3I), and it was subsequently utilized for the complexation with the carbon dots. The molecular, physicochemical, and photophysical characterization of the aqueous solution of the copolymers and their hybrid nanoparticles was conducted using dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS, ELS) and spectroscopic techniques, such as UV-Vis, fluorescence (FS), and FT-IR spectroscopy. In addition, studies of their aqueous solution using DLS and ELS showed their responsiveness to external stimuli (pH, temperature, ionic strength). Finally, the interaction of selected hybrid nanoparticles with iron (III) ions was confirmed through FS spectroscopy, demonstrating their potential application for heavy metal ions sensing.

Luminescent Alendronic Acid-Conjugated Micellar Nanostructures for Potential Application in the Bone-Targeted Delivery of Cholecalciferol

Vitamin D, an essential micronutrient crucial for skeletal integrity and various non-skeletal physiological functions, exhibits limited bioavailability and stability in vivo. This study is focused on the development of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted phospholipid micellar nanostructures co-encapsulating vitamin D3 and conjugated with alendronic acid, aimed at active bone targeting. Furthermore, these nanostructures are rendered optically traceable in the UV–visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum via the simultaneous encapsulation of vitamin D3 with carbon dots, a newly emerging class of fluorescents, biocompatible nanoparticles characterized by their resistance to photobleaching and environmental friendliness, which hold promise for future in vitro bioimaging studies. A systematic investigation is conducted to optimize experimental parameters for the preparation of micellar nanostructures with an average hydrodynamic diameter below 200 nm, ensuring colloidal stability in physiological media while preserving the optical luminescent properties of the encapsulated carbon dots. Comprehensive chemical-physical characterization of these micellar nanostructures is performed employing optical and morphological techniques. Furthermore, their binding affinity for the principal inorganic constituent of bone tissue is assessed through a binding assay with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, indicating significant potential for active bone-targeting. These formulated nanostructures hold promise for novel therapeutic interventions to address skeletal-related complications in cancer affected patients in the future.

Preparation and characterization of TiO2 nanostructures by changing the parameters of trichloroaniline concentration, pH and annealing for dye-sensitized solar cell application

Preparation and characterization of TiO2 nanostructures by changing the parameters of trichloroaniline concentration, pH and annealing for dye-sensitized solar cell application