Self-assembly Technique Research Articles

Fabrication of hierarchical nanostructures using binary colloidal nanosphere assembly

In this paper, we investigate the self-assembly of hierarchical nanostructures using monodispersed nanospheres with two different diameters. Our approach is to use a two-step method where the assembly of larger 200 nm nanospheres is used to direct the assembly of smaller 50 nm particles. This self-assembly technique is based on Langmuir–Blodgett assembly and has low equipment cost when compared with traditional lithography methods. We examine the effects of substrate surface treatment, solution concentration ratio, and spin speeds on the quality of the hierarchical assembly. The fabricated samples are examined using optical and scanning electron microscopy to investigate assembly yield. Various defect types are identified and mitigated by process control. The ability to create more complex assembly can result in smaller features and can enhance the performance of photonics and nanostructured surfaces.

Design of Ru-Co/MgO-Al2O3 catalyst system for CO2 reforming of methane: Performance investigation concerning the Mg/Al ratio

This study explores the design of bimetallic Co-Ru nanoclusters deposited on surface-tuned mesoporous Mg-Al mixed oxide support for the CO2 reforming of methane (DRM) process. The evaporation-induced self-assembly technique was used to create a series of MgO-Al2O3 mixed oxide supports with various Mg/Al molar ratios. Co and Ru nanoclusters over the MgO-Al2O3 supports were decorated using a urea precipitation-deposition approach. Results revealed that the activity and stability of the DRM catalyst were substantially reliant on the Mg/Al molar ratio and Co-Ru metal combination. Among the series of Co-loaded catalysts, the best performance was obtained over an unpromoted CoMg20Al catalyst (20 wt.% Mg), with only a 10 % activity loss after 50 h of study. A modification of CoMg20Al by 0.5 wt.% Ru significantly enhanced the catalytic activity, demonstrating a 93 % methane conversion with raw feed and stable activity over a 100-h extended activity analysis. The catalyst characterization showed that Mg concentration increased basic sites over Mg-Al support. Due to the separation of crystalline phases as MgO-MgAl2O4, CoMg40Al had the most basic sites but poor DRM reaction performance. Balanced acidic/basic properties and well-dispersed Co-Rh nanoclusters-maintained DRM activity and stability. Ru-promoted CoMg20Al catalyzed the lowest activation energies.

Lignin Particle Production by Spray Dryer with Self-Assembly Technique

Spry dry and self-assembly techniques was applied to obtain a spherical lignin particle with low particles size distribution. Phase behavior of lignin, ethanol and water ternary system was investigated for spray dry process. Lignin with high solubility in ethanol fraction was used in this research. In the lignin/ethanol/water system, an increase in water content induces the self-assembly of lignin and forms lignin particles colloid. Sedimentation of lignin particles was observed at high lignin and water content. Three different contents of lignin at 1:9 of ethanol:water ratio which were stable colloids in the lignin/ethanol/water ternary system, were selected for spray dry process.,. The result was found that higher content of lignin showed smaller size (5.16 μm). FE-SEM results confirmed a spherical shape and low size distribution of the dried lignin particles. The chemical structure and thermal properties of the lignin particles were also investigated by FT-IR and TGA.

Layer-by-layer microneedle patch with antibacterial and antioxidant dual activities for accelerating bacterial-infected wound healing

Bacterial-infected wound healing has always been a huge challenge to humans. Owing to the appearance of antibiotic resistance, there is an emergency need to design antibiotic-free wound dressings to treat such wounds. Herein, a novel antibiotic-free microneedle patch was designed, which its backing layer with antioxidant effect was coated with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, 2-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (GLAA), and 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan through electrostatic interaction based on layer-by-layer self-assembly technique, and its tips consisted of gelatin and tannic acid (TA) via hydrogen bonding interaction (CGH/GTA MN patch). The obtained CGH/GTA MN patch could effectively puncture the skin, and exhibit properties of pH-responsive TA and GLAA release. In vitro experiments showed that the obtained CGH/GTA MN patch has excellent antioxidative (scavenging DPPH efficacy is above 80 %, and scavenging ABTS efficiency reaches about 100 %), antibacterial (antibacterial rates of nearly 100 % for both Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli)), biodegradable, and biocompatible properties. In the S. aureus-infected rat wounds, the CGH/GTA MN patch could efficiently accelerate infected-wound healing by eliminating S. aureus infection, inhibiting inflammation, promoting angiogenesis, and accelerating epidermal regeneration. Thus, this study will provide a promising strategy to heal bacterial-infected wounds.

Synthesis, Crystal Structure Analyses, and Antibacterial Evaluation of the Cobalt(II) Complex with Sulfadiazine-Pyrazole Prodrug

The complex [Co(L)(H2O)4](NO3)2 of (E)-4-(2-(3-methyl-5-oxo-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4(5H)-ylidene)hydrazinyl)-N-(pyrimidin-2-yl)benzenesulfonamide (L) was synthesized via the self-assembly technique. Its molecular and supramolecular structures were analyzed using FTIR, elemental analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as Hirshfeld calculations. This complex crystallized in the triclinic space group P1¯ with Z = 2. The crystallographic asymmetric unit comprised one complex cation and two nitrate counter anions. This complex had distorted octahedral geometry around the Co(II) ion. Numerous intermolecular interactions affecting the molecular packing of this complex were conformed using Hirshfeld investigations. The most significant contacts for the cationic inner sphere [Co(L)(H2O)4]2+ were O···H (38.8%), H···H (27.8%), and N···H (9.9%). On the other hand, the main interactions for the counter NO3¯ ions were the O···H (79.6 and 77.8%), O···N (8.0%), and O···C (9.1%). A high propensity for making interactions for each atom pair in the contacts O…H, N…C, N…H, and C…C was revealed by enrichment ratio values greater than 1. The antibacterial efficacy of the complex and the free ligand were assessed. The free ligand had higher antibacterial activity (MIC = 62.5–125 µg/mL) than the [Co(L)(H2O)4](NO3)2 complex (MIC ≥ 250 µg/mL) versus all the studied bacteria.

Virus-Based Pyroelectricity.

The first observation of heat-induced electrical potential generation on a virus and its detection through pyroelectricity are presented. Specifically, the authors investigate the pyroelectric properties of the M13 phage, which possesses inherent dipole structures derived from the noncentrosymmetric arrangement of the major coat protein (pVIII) with an α-helical conformation. Unidirectional polarization of the phage is achieved through genetic engineering of the tail protein (pIII) and template-assisted self-assembly techniques. By modifying the pVIII proteins with varying numbers of glutamate residues, the structure-dependent tunable pyroelectric properties of the phage are explored. The most polarized phage exhibits a pyroelectric coefficient of 0.13 µC m-2 °C-1 . Computational modeling and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy analysis confirm that the unfolding of α-helices within the pVIII proteins leads to changes in phage polarization upon heating. Moreover, the phage is genetically modified to enable its pyroelectric function in diverse chemical environments. This phage-based approach not only provides valuable insights into bio-pyroelectricity but also opens up new opportunities for the detection of various viral particles. Furthermore, it holds great potential for the development of novel biomaterials for future applications in biosensors and bioelectric materials.

Two-dimensional perovskite NdNb2O7 for high-performance UV photodetectors by a general exfoliation and assembly strategy

Two-dimensional (2D) oxide perovskites show great promise as candidates for future optoelectronic devices. For the first time, we have successfully exfoliated 2D perovskite NdNb2O7 (NNO) nanosheets by a solid-state calcination and liquid-phase exfoliation method. The individual NNO nanosheet photodetector (PD) demonstrates outstanding performance in detecting UV light (260 nm, 3 V), including high responsivity (62 AW−1), high detectivity (6.7 *1012 Jones), high spectral selectivity (R260/R400= 9000), fast response speed (0.1/7.8 ms) and long-term stability. Furthermore, through a simple interface self-assembly technique, we have successfully achieved orderly and flat films of NNO nanosheets. The resulting film exhibits high transparency (>75 %) in the visible light range. The NNO film device demonstrates excellent performance after undergoing numerous bending tests. This work not only presents a new candidate for high-performance and high-stability UV photodetectors but also introduces a general exfoliation and assembly strategy.

The new insights towards smart pH-responsive anticorrosion coating based on HNTs carrying synergistic inhibitors: Experimental and molecular simulation

Corrosion of steel structures in reinforced concrete structures in coastal areas has long been an urgent concern. In this study, a combined corrosion inhibitor, consisting of benzotriazole (BTA) and sodium D-gluconate (SD), was loaded onto halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) using the vacuum negative pressure method. Then, the HNTs were encapsulated with biomass polyelectrolytes sodium alginate (SA) and chitosan (CS) by layer-by-layer self-assembly technique to prepare BTA/SD-HNTs@CS/SA (FHNTs) composite. Furtherly, a functional epoxy coating (FEP) with pH-responsive and long-term service ability was successfully fabricated. It is found that BTA/SD was released in large quantities under alkaline (pH = 11) and acidic (pH = 2) conditions, while essentially no release under neutral condition. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements demonstrate that the corrosion protection ability of FEP was significantly stronger than pure epoxy coating (EP), and the addition of 2 % FHNTs having the most excellent anticorrosion performance with the maximum charge transfer resistance (Rct) value (4.8 × 106 Ω cm2) after 4 weeks of immersion, which was 2 orders of magnitude greater than the pure EP coating. Particularly, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that FEP coating has better barrier properties than EP, while the fractional free volume (FFV) value of H2O and Cl− in EP was 9.1 % and 5.1 %, respectively, whereas this value decreased by about 15 % to 7.7 % and 4.4 % in FEP. The results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the released BTA and SD molecules have a synergistic adsorption effect on the surface, which can form a compact film to hinder the invasion of corrosive species. Overall, this study provides new insights for developing smart pH-responsive and superior anticorrosion coatings.

Osteogenesis and cytocompatibility compression of cerium and gallium doped mesoporous bioactive glass-ceramics

Bone defects have recently become one of the biggest problems for surgeons. This study aims to compression osteogenic properties of cerium and gallium doping in mesoporous bioactive glass-ceramics (MBGCs). MBGCs are synthesized using sol-gel method through evaporation induced self-assembly technique. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed size of nanoparticle in MBGCs is ∼29 nm. The impact of cerium and gallium ions on ceramics was characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 29Si Magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopic methods. Images of samples taken with a transmission electron microscope show aggregated particles with irregular forms. MBGCs doped with cerium and gallium in vitro biocompatibility investigations do not show any cytotoxicity towards MG63 cells and also have considerably improved osteogenic properties. Overall, Ga doped MBGCs with desired osteogenesis properties compared to Ce doped MBGCs, and Ga doped MBGCs offers encouraging possibilities for the effective repair of bone fractures with implants.

2D/2D g-C3N4/(001)-TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction decorated with CQDs for enhanced Photocatalytic activity

Although the g-C3N4/TiO2 Z-scheme heterojunction has superior photocatalytic performance; however, photocatalytic efficiency is still limited by the fast recombination of photoexcited charges. Herein, we propose an electrostatic self-assembly technique to enhance the photocatalytic activity by decorating carbon quantum dots (CQDs) onto the heterojunction. The relationships among composition, phase structure, electrochemical and catalytic performances were investigated, indicating the adhesion of CQDs. A fantastic photocatalytic capability was achieved in 80 μL CQDs/g-C3N4/TiO2, and the photocatalytic activity exhibited exceptional stability and broad applicability for the degradation of rhodamine B (>99 %) and tetracycline hydrochloride (>91 %) under both ultraviolet and visible light irradiation, owing to the significant enhancement of photogenerated carrier separation by CQDs. In the photocatalytic reaction, h+ is the most essential active group through the free radical trapping experiment. This research serves as a guide for modifying photocatalysts. This study provides a promising system to promote photocatalytic efficiency, and the CQDs/g-C3N4/TiO2 to be used for antibiotic and organic pollutant removal on a large scale.

Enhanced Thermal Decomposition and Safety of Spherical CL-20@MOF-199 Composites via Micro-Nanostructured Self-Assembly Regulation.

The characteristics of high burning rate, high energy output, and low pressure exponent have always been the focus of development in the field of composite solid rocket propellants. In this paper, a metal-organic framework (MOF-199) compound is introduced to prepare micro-nanospherical CL-20@MOF-199 composites via the spray-drying self-assembly technique to reach the above goals. MOF-199, which acts as an attractive combustion catalyst and a safety regulator, is uniformly coated on the surface of CL-20 with close interface contact between particles, effectively accelerating the thermal decomposition of CL-20 and ensuring safety performance. The average noncovalent interaction (aNCI) analysis illustrates that there are strong C-H···O hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interaction between CL-20 and MOF-199 molecules, greatly enhancing the effect of interparticle assembly. The effects of different contents of MOF-199 on the thermal, safety, and energy properties of CL-20 were discussed. The thermal analysis demonstrates that MOF-199 has a significant thermal catalytic effect on CL-20, with an advanced peak temperature of thermal decomposition of 14.2 °C and a reduced activation energy barrier of 34.2 kJ·mol-1, mainly benefitting from more exposed catalytic active sites and close interface contact. In addition, CL-20@MOF-199 composites exhibit decreased mechanical sensitivity (IS: 21-40 cm, FS: 80-240 N) and excellent energy performance. This work clearly demonstrates that MOF-199 is both a superior combustion catalyst and a good safety buffer for CL-20, and it opens new potential for further applications of CL-20 in composite solid propellants.

Exceptional arsenic removal using novel mesoporous Mg-Al-Ti ternary composite oxide nanoparticles prepared via self-assembly templating method

Arsenic contamination of water through natural and anthropogenic activities is a grave problem today. One of the most efficient ways to remove arsenic from water is through adsorption. Porous nanomaterials show high adsorption capacities due to high surface area, and efficient mass transfer with plenty of active adsorption sites. Porous metal oxides have been successfully employed to remove arsenic from water previously. However, ternary metal oxide composites hold potential for novel adsorbent materials but have yet to be explored in depth. Mesoporous Mg-Al-Ti oxide composite oxide nanoparticles with varying compositions were synthesized via a low-cost, scalable, evaporation-induced self-assembly technique using P123 block copolymer as a soft template. All the compositions of synthesized ternary oxide nanoparticles exhibited exceptionally high arsenic adsorption capacities ranging from 543 to 1215 mg/g for As(V) and 359.6–919.4 mg/g for As(III) along with 96–98% removal of arsenic from real groundwater samples of up to 489.3 ppb. The composites show mesopores and high surface area ranging from 93-393.6 m2/g with very small particle size ranging from 8 to 12 nm. The nanoparticles have shown great selectivity towards arsenic and exceptional adsorption performance in a wide pH range. High volume-to-surface area ratio, an abundance of hydroxyl groups, interconnected mesoporous morphology, and high point of zero charge pH contribute to the high adsorption capacity of the composite oxides. Mesoporous Mg-Al-Ti ternary oxide composite nanoparticles have shown higher adsorption capacity towards arsenic than many existing adsorbent material materials and can be a very promising candidate for arsenic remediation from water.

Engineering of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks based on magnetic three-dimensional graphene as effective and reusable adsorbent to enhance the adsorption and removal of caffeine from tea samples

As more and more adverse health effects of caffeine are being discovered, decaffeinated drinks are receiving increasing attention. In this work, a magnetic imidazole zeolite backbone compounded with three-dimensional graphene was successfully synthesized as a solid adsorbent using a layer-by-layer self-assembly technique, which can rapidly and effectively adsorb caffeine from tea. Meanwhile, the structure and properties of caffeine in tea were investigated by various physicochemical characterization tools. The analytical data showed that Fe3O4@3DGA@ZIF-8 had a specific surface area of 162.9754 m2/g and an adsorption capacity of up to 19.57 mg/g with a maximum adsorption rate of 96.55%, which could be maintained with good adsorption repeated utilization three times. The adsorption isotherm and the adsorption kinetic better fit with the Langmuir model and the preudo-second order kinetic model, respectively. Therefore, Fe3O4@3DGA@ZIF-8 is a good magnetic adsorbent for the separation and the effective removal of caffeine from tea sample.

Advanced applications of DNA nanostructures dominated by DNA origami in antitumor drug delivery.

DNA origami is a cutting-edge DNA self-assembly technique that neatly folds DNA strands and creates specific structures based on the complementary base pairing principle. These innovative DNA origami nanostructures provide numerous benefits, including lower biotoxicity, increased stability, and superior adaptability, making them an excellent choice for transporting anti-tumor agents. Furthermore, they can considerably reduce side effects and improve therapy success by offering precise, targeted, and multifunctional drug delivery system. This comprehensive review looks into the principles and design strategies of DNA origami, providing valuable insights into this technology's latest research achievements and development trends in the field of anti-tumor drug delivery. Additionally, we review the key function and major benefits of DNA origami in cancer treatment, some of these approaches also involve aspects related to DNA tetrahedra, aiming to provide novel ideas and effective solutions to address drug delivery challenges in cancer therapy.

Characterization of Chiral Nanostructured Surfaces Made via Colloidal Lithography.

Optically anisotropic materials were produced via colloidal lithography and characterized using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), confocal microscopy, and polarimetry. A compact hexagonal array mask composed of silica sub-micron particles was fabricated via the Langmuir-Blodgett self-assembly technique. Subsequently, the mask pattern was transferred onto monocrystalline silicon and commercial glass substrates using ion beam etching in a vacuum. Varying the azimuthal angle while etching at oblique incidence carved screw-like shaped pillars into the substrates, resulting in heterochiral structures depending on the azimuthal angle direction. To enhance the material's optical properties through plasmon resonance, gold films were deposited onto the pillars. Polarimetric measurements were realized at normal and oblique incidences, showing that the etching directions have a clear influence on the value of the linear birefringence and linear dichroism. The polarimetric properties, especially the chiroptical responses, increased with the increase in the angle of incidence.

Experimental considerations for integration method of Si thin-film microchips for fluidic self-assembly

Fluidic self-assembly is a technique in which numerous semiconductor chips are integrated spontaneously. Here, we demonstrate that the integration efficiency is significantly improved by optimizing the separation conditions and appropriately controlling the external forces to which the microchips are subjected to the solution. In particular, an external drag force was found to prevent the Si microchips from forming aggregations and prompting transfer to the Si receiver pockets. This resulted in a significant improvement in the integration selectivity. Moreover, experiments with various microchip sizes statistically determined the effect of the Si receiver chip rinse on the evaluation functions: deposition selectivity, yield, and overall yield. While rinsing was effective for fluidic self-assembly of 10 μm scale Si microchips, rinsing of 800 nm scale chips is indicated to have different integration mechanisms. Our quantitative analysis indicated the potential applicability of the fluidic self-assembly technique to the integration technologies of Si micro semiconductor devices.

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) Biosensor Based on the Conducting Polymer Using Self-Assembly Technique

Biosensors are in principle fabricated by immobilized biomaterials on a detector membrane and combining them with electrochemical equipment. The applications of enzyme-based biosensors can be explored such as in the process of gas detection, medicine, pathogen detection and detection of toxic levels of substances before and after bioremediation. In this study, H2O2 detection was performed using HRP/PANI, HRP/PPY, HRP/PT and HRP/PT/PPY/PANI layers. The HRP/PANI layer from Variable Pressure Scanning Electron Microscopy (VPSEM) image exhibited a dry surface. The HRP/PPY layer exhibited a surface with agglomerate molecules. The HRP/PT layer, on the hand, exhibited a layer surface with almost the same molecular size. This is confirmed by the higher surface roughness value for HRP/PPY compared to other layers obtained via characterization with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The increasing current response for all three layers was arranged in HRP/PANI> HRP/PT> HRP/PPY. VPSEM and AFM images exhibited surfaces with molecules being in an agglomeration state after the H2O2 detection process. In terms of current response, the response rate of H2O2on the surface of the HRP/PT/PPY/PANI electrode caused the current response obtained to be fast. The roughness value increased with time due to the reaction that took place between the surface of the HRP/PT/PPY/PANI layer with H2O2. The day-based current response showed that day 1 to day 14 exhibited a uniform graph pattern but from day 21 to day 30 there was a change in the graph pattern due to the HRP/PT/PPY/PANI layer undergoing degradation. The activity of the HRP enzyme was studied by looking at its absorption effect for 30 days. From day 1 to day 14, there was a difference in the overall rate of absorption. However, from day 21 to day 30, the rate of absorption remained constant which explains the slowing down of HRP activity.

Excellent NH3-SCR activity and significant sulfur resistance over novel core–shell Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 catalyst

A core–shell Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 catalyst with both microporous and mesoporous pores was successfully synthesized using a self-assembly technique in this research. The catalyst was tested via NH3–SCR of NOx removal from diesel exhausts. The Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 catalyst was found to have significantly improved activity at high temperatures, wider temperature range, improved hydrothermal stability, and anti-sulfur performance. After the introduction of meso-CeO2, a significant synergistic effect between the Cu2+/Ce4+ ions on the core–shell layer was observed, and the amounts of Cu2+–2Z species and acidic sites increased, which may be conducive to the superior catalytic performance of Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 contrasted to Cu-SSZ-13. Subsequent to hydrothermal treatment, Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 maintains a superior CHA-type structure, additional L-acidic sites, and isolated Cu2+ ions while being protected by a meso-CeO2 shell. In addition, in the presence of SO2, the meso-CeO2 shell in Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 reacts with SO2 to produce cerium sulfate, which serves as a protective component for the copper species on Cu-SSZ-13. Moreover, the reaction mechanism studies have indicated that NO reduction primarily adheres to the E–R mechanism on Cu-SSZ-13, whereas both L–H and E–R mechanisms contribute to Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2. SO2 has a less significant inhibitive effect on the adsorption of NH3 over Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 compared with that over Cu-SSZ-13. The inhibitive influence of SO2 on Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 is primarily owing to the inhibitory adsorption of NO and the reduction of the L–H reaction path, with little effect on the E–R reaction mechanism, which is significantly affected in Cu-SSZ-13. The Cu-SSZ-13@meso-CeO2 catalyst demonstrated exceptional NH3–SCR performance, a broad temperature range, and super hydrothermal stability as well as anti-sulfur performance, indicating great application prospects for NOx removal from diesel vehicle exhausts.

Green synthesis of nanolipo-fibersomes using Nutriose® FB 06 for delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside delivery: Characterization, physicochemical properties, and application

Anthocyanins are potential bioactive compounds with less bioavailability due to instability in physicochemical and physiological harsh environments. This study synthesized a “nanolipo-fibersomes (NLFS)” using Lipoid® S75 and Nutriose® FB 06 (dextrinization of wheat starch) through a self-assembly technique with probe sonication. We aimed to encapsulate delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside (D3S) successfully and evaluate physicochemical and controlled release properties with improved antioxidant activity on palmitic acid (PA)-induced colonic cells (Caco-2 cells). D3S-loaded nanolipo-fibersomes (D3S-NLFS) were nanosized (<150 nm), spherical shaped, and homogenously dispersed in solution with promising encapsulation efficiency (~ 89.31 to 97.31 %). Particles formation was further verified by FTIR. NLFS were well-stable in thermal, storage, and gastrointestinal mimic environments. NLFS exhibited better-controlled release and mucoadhesive properties compared to nanoliposomes (NL). The NLFS showed better cellular uptake than NL, which was correlated to higher mucoadhesive properties. Furthermore, D3S-NLFS exhibited promising protective effects against PA-induced cytotoxicity, O2•− radicals generation, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and GSH depletion, while the free D3S was ineffective. Among D3S-loaded nanoparticles, D3S-NLFS 3 was the most efficient nanocarrier followed by D3S-NLFS 2, D3S-NLFS 1, and D3S-NL, respectively. The above data suggest that nanolipo-fibersomes can be considered as promising nanovesicles for improving colonic delivery of hydrophilic compounds with controlled release properties and greater antioxidant activity.

From Self-Assembly of Colloidal Crystals toward Ordered Porous Layer Interferometry.

Interferometry-based, reflectometric, label-free biosensors have made significant progress in the analysis of molecular interactions after years of development. The design of interference substrates is a key research topic for these biosensors, and many studies have focused on porous films prepared by top-down methods such as porous silicon and anodic aluminum oxide. Lately, more research has been conducted on ordered porous layer interferometry (OPLI), which uses ordered porous colloidal crystal films as interference substrates. These films are made using self-assembly techniques, which is the bottom-up approach. They also offer several advantages for biosensing applications, such as budget cost, adjustable porosity, and high structural consistency. This review will briefly explain the fundamental components of self-assembled materials and thoroughly discuss various self-assembly techniques in depth. We will also summarize the latest studies that used the OPLI technique for label-free biosensing applications and divide them into several aspects for further discussion. Then, we will comprehensively evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of self-assembly techniques and discuss possible future research directions. Finally, we will outlook the upcoming challenges and opportunities for label-free biosensing using the OPLI technique.