Transport Of Nanomaterials Research Articles

Bimetallic Nanozymes‐Integrated Parachute‐Like Au2Pt@PMO@ICG Janus Nanomotor with Dual Propulsion for Enhanced Tumor Penetration and Synergistic PTT/PDT/CDT Cancer Therapy

AbstractNanocatalytic therapeutic agents with triple synergistic treatment modes of chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are emerging nanomaterials in malignancy treatment. Nevertheless, the passive diffusion and transport of nanomaterials result in poor permeability in tumor lesions, severely affecting the effectiveness of synergistic therapy. Herein, a dual‐source‐driven parachute‐like Au2Pt@PMO@ICG Janus nanomotor (APIJNS) is prepared by an interfacial energy‐mediated anisotropic growth strategy for PTT‐mediated CDT/PDT triple synergistic cancer therapy. Such nanomotor can realize self‐thermophoresis drive under the trigger of near‐infrared light, which can effectively enhance the active permeability and uptake of the APIJNS in the tumor tissue, thus achieving efficient PTT/PDT/CDT synergistic therapeutic effect. In addition, parachute‐like APIJNS exhibits high‐efficiency catalase (CAT)‐like activity and can catalyze the overexpressed H2O2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to generate oxygen (O2), not only alleviating the hypoxia in the tumor lesion, but also converting it into singlet oxygen (1O2) to activate the photosensitizer ICG, achieving PDT. This work provides new ideas for enhancing triple synergistic cancer therapy by improving tumor permeability with dual‐drive Janus nanomotors based on dual noble metal nanozymes.

Carbon Nanodot-Microbe-Plant Nexus in Agroecosystem and Antimicrobial Applications.

The intensive applications of nanomaterials in the agroecosystem led to the creation of several environmental problems. More efforts are needed to discover new insights in the nanomaterial-microbe-plant nexus. This relationship has several dimensions, which may include the transport of nanomaterials to different plant organs, the nanotoxicity to soil microbes and plants, and different possible regulations. This review focuses on the challenges and prospects of the nanomaterial-microbe-plant nexus under agroecosystem conditions. The previous nano-forms were selected in this study because of the rare, published articles on such nanomaterials. Under the study's nexus, more insights on the carbon nanodot-microbe-plant nexus were discussed along with the role of the new frontier in nano-tellurium-microbe nexus. Transport of nanomaterials to different plant organs under possible applications, and translocation of these nanoparticles besides their expected nanotoxicity to soil microbes will be also reported in the current study. Nanotoxicity to soil microbes and plants was investigated by taking account of morpho-physiological, molecular, and biochemical concerns. This study highlights the regulations of nanotoxicity with a focus on risk and challenges at the ecological level and their risks to human health, along with the scientific and organizational levels. This study opens many windows in such studies nexus which are needed in the near future.

Release and Transport of Nanomaterials from Hydrogels Controlled by Temperature.

Understanding the transport of nanoparticles from and within hydrogels is a key issue for the design of nanocomposite hydrogels for drug delivery systems and tissue engineering. To investigate the translocation of nanocarriers from and within hydrogel networks triggered by changes of temperature, ultrasmall (8nm) and small (80nm) silica nanocapsules are embedded in temperature-responsive hydrogels and non-responsive hydrogels. The ultrasmall silica nanocapsules are released from temperature-responsive hydrogels to water or transported to other hydrogels upon direct activation by heating or indirect activation by Joule heating; while, they are not released from non-responsive hydrogel. Programmable transport of nanocarriers from and in hydrogels provides insights for the development of complex biomedical devices and soft robotics.

Recent Advances in the Application of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials for the Conservation of Stone Artefacts, Ecotoxicological Impact and Preventive Measures

Due to the ongoing threat of degradation of artefacts and monuments, the conservation of cultural heritage items has been gaining prominence on the global scale. Thus, finding suitable approaches that can preserve these materials while keeping their natural aspect of is crucial. In particular, preventive conservation is an approach that aims to control deterioration before it happens in order to decrease the need for the intervention. Several techniques have been developed in this context. Notably, the application of coatings made of metal oxide nanomaterials dispersed in polymer matrix can be effectively address stone heritage deterioration issues. In particular, metal oxide nanomaterials (TiO2, ZnO, CuO, and MgO) with self-cleaning and antimicrobial activity have been considered as possible cultural heritage conservative materials. Metal oxide nanomaterials have been used to strengthen heritage items in several studies. This review seeks to update the knowledge of different kinds of metal oxide nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles and nanocomposites, that have been employed in the preservation and consolidation of heritage items over the last 10 years. Notably, the transport of nanomaterials in diverse environments is undoubtedly not well understood. Therefore, controlling their effects on various neighbouring non-target organisms and ecological processes is crucial.

Insights into polystyrene nanoplastics adsorption mechanisms onto quartz sand used in drinking water treatment plants

The widespread production and use of plastics with poor recycling practices have resulted in higher discharge of plastic waste into the aquatic systems. Nanoplastics (NPLs) resulting from the fragmentation of microplastics, are considered as the most hazardous fraction. Adsorption to mineral surfaces is considered as one of the most important processes controlling the fate and transport of nanomaterials both in the natural environment and conventional filtration systems. However, adsorption mechanisms, influencing physicochemical parameters, and adsorption capacities of different porous media are still poorly known. In this study, the adsorption process of polystyrene (PS) NPLs to quartz sand, used as a filter medium in the drinking water treatment plant in Geneva (Switzerland), is investigated. Contrasting conditions are considered: ultrapure water and Geneva Lake water. Results indicate that PS NPLs dispersed in ultrapure water are adsorbed to the sand surface mainly due to the electrostatic interactions and adsorption capacity of the sand grains varies from 0.05 ± 0.01 mg g−1 to 0.10 ± 0.02 mg g−1 for PS NPLs concentrations comprised between 10 and 50 mg L−1. The adsorption process is successfully described by Langmuir isotherm, therefore indicating the formation of a monolayer on the sand grain surfaces. SEM micrography confirms PS NPLs monolayer formation and image analysis indicates a maximum surface coverage ranging from 9 to 12 %. Adsorption mechanisms of PS NPLs are significantly modified under environmental conditions (i.e., pH, ionic composition, presence of DOM). The adsorption capacity of sand grains for the removal of PS NPLs increased and varies from 0.05 ± 0.01 mg g−1 to 0.7 ± 0.2 mg g−1 for PS NPLs concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 mg L−1. Increased adsorption capacity is due to heteroaggregation and cation bridging processes. SEM micrography shows aggregates attached to smooth sand surfaces and deposited in the vicinity of surface irregularities.

In situ study of structural changes: Exploring the mechanism of protein corona transition from soft to hard

HypothesisThe process of protein corona changes has been widely believed to follow the Vroman effect, while protein structural change during the process is rarely reported, due to the lack of analytical methods. In-situ interpretation for protein structural change is critical to processes such as the recognition and transport of nanomaterials. ExperimentsMolecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to predict the deflection and twist of the protein tertiary structure. The structural changes of the surface protein corona during the interaction of nanoparticles (NPs) with lipid bilayer were probed in situ and real-time by sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy. FindingsThe ring tertiary structure of the protein corona is altered from vertical to horizontal on particle surface, a process of the soft-to-hard structural transition, which is contributed by the hydrogen bonding force between the protein and water molecules. The negatively charged protein corona can induce the redistribution of interfacial charge, leading to a more stable hydrogen bond network of the interfacial water. Our findings suggest that the structural change from flexible to rigid is a crucial process in the soft-to-hard transition of the protein corona, which will be a beneficial supplement to the Vroman effect of protein adsorption.

On the Origin of Interfacial Resistance in Ideal Nanomaterials

Interfacial resistance significantly hinders transport in nanomaterials and membranes, limiting efficiency improvement as system size is reduced. While slow transport of fluids in finite-sized materials, found in experiment and simulation, has been imputed to interfacial resistance, the underlying mechanism is unclear, and no theory exists for its prediction. A kinetic theory-based approach for low-density transport in finite nanopores is developed here, which demonstrates interfacial resistance to arise from an entry region of developing flow, in which the transport coefficient is nonuniform. The origin of interfacial resistance is shown to lie in the enhanced influence of short molecular trajectories in the entry region, with increased frequency of wall collision, which reduces the local transport coefficient. It is shown that the relative interfacial resistance is a universal function of a parameter related to length and surface momentum accommodation factor for a given fluid–solid interaction potential. While interfacial resistance is system size-dependent, it approaches a limiting value in long nanopores that is readily determined. Application of the approach to H2 transport in carbon nanotubes using molecular dynamics simulation results shows the apparent interfacial resistance to increase with decrease in nanotube diameter and with increase in fluid–solid interaction strength.

A state-of-the-art review on carbon quantum dots: Prospective, advances, zebrafish biocompatibility and bioimaging in vivo and bibliometric analysis

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are recently discovered, in the beginning, a few different types of synthesis are discussed in detail. These include the “top-down” synthetic approach (such as the electrochemical method, laser ablations, and biomass decompositions), the bottom-up approach (such as hydrothermal, microwave, and acidic oxidation), and CQD synthesis methods are derived from waste products. The zebrafish larvae and embryos' fluorescence emission was used to successfully observe the distribution of CQDs throughout the zebrafish life cycle. CQDs used as imaging and molecular probe were shown to have both a “low-toxicity” and “high-biocompatibility” by all the results. Distribution of CQD in zebrafish provided insight into their absorption, distribution, excretion, and metabolism route. The procedures about zebrafish are appropriate for investigating the biocompatibility, adverse effect, toxicity, and transport of nanomaterials, in addition to the screening of drugs using zebrafish as a model. Particular attention is paid to their synthesis, advancement, bibliometric analysis, and technical applications of bioimaging. The bibliometric analysis of title search results from 2011 to 2022 for keywords, nations; co-author networks, co-occurrence, and journals are visualizations using the Scopus database and RStudio software described. Data were extracted from a total of 1456 papers, 379 review articles, and 1377 article proceedings within 12 years (2011−2022).

Investigating the size effect on the electrical conductivity at nanoscale with solid spins

With the miniaturization of electrical components at nanoscale, the impact of dimension and shape on the electrical properties of the devices plays an important role in the applications. In this work, we used an ensemble of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond to noninvasively investigate the size effect on electric conductivity at nanoscale. The magnetic noise originated from the random movement of electrons in conductors, which is related to the conductivity, was detected by recording the spin relaxation of NV centers. The results indicate that the conductivity increases with the size of devices at the scale of electron mean free path. By further imaging the magnetic noise of the metallic structure with discontinuous thickness, we demonstrated that the spatial distribution of conductance at nanoscale can be revealed with high density NV center arrays. The results can help to understand the electron transport in nanomaterials. This technique can be used to optimize the design of nanoscale electrical devices.

Robust and high-sensitivity thermal probing at the nanoscale based on resonance Raman ratio (R3)

Raman spectroscopy-based temperature sensing usually tracks the change of Raman wavenumber, linewidth and intensity, and has found very broad applications in characterizing the energy and charge transport in nanomaterials over the last decade. The temperature coefficients of these Raman properties are highly material-dependent, and are subjected to local optical scattering influence. As a result, Raman-based temperature sensing usually suffers quite large uncertainties and has low sensitivity. Here, a novel method based on dual resonance Raman phenomenon is developed to precisely measure the absolute temperature rise of nanomaterial (nm WS2 film in this work) from 170 to 470 K. A 532 nm laser (2.33 eV photon energy) is used to conduct the Raman experiment. Its photon energy is very close to the excitonic transition energy of WS2 at temperatures close to room temperature. A parameter, termed resonance Raman ratio (R3) is introduced to combine the temperature effects on resonance Raman scattering for the A1g and E2g modes. Ω has a change of more than two orders of magnitude from 177 to 477 K, and such change is independent of film thickness and local optical scattering. It is shown that when Ω is varied by 1%, the temperature probing sensitivity is 0.42 K and 1.16 K at low and high temperatures, respectively. Based on Ω, the in-plane thermal conductivity (k) of a ∼25 nm-thick suspended WS2 film is measured using our energy transport state-resolved Raman (ET-Raman). k is found decreasing from 50.0 to 20.0 Wm−1 K−1 when temperature increases from 170 to 470 K. This agrees with previous experimental and theoretical results and the measurement data using our FET-Raman. The R3 technique provides a very robust and high-sensitivity method for temperature probing of nanomaterials and will have broad applications in nanoscale thermal transport characterization, non-destructive evaluation, and manufacturing monitoring.

Effects of environmental factor fulvic acid on AgNPs food chain delivery and bioavailability

Due to its antimicrobial activity, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have become the most commonly applied nanomaterials. However, the potential ecotoxicological toxicity of AgNPs in the environment is still unclear. Here we assessed the trophic transfer and toxicity of commercially manufactured polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-coated AgNPs using a model food chain from Escherichia coli (E. coli) to Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Our results demonstrated that AgNPs could be accumulated in E. coli and transferred to C. elegans that preyed on the bacteria. Although low concentration of AgNPs had no significant inhibition on E. coli, they could affect germ cell apoptosis, reproduction ability and population size of C. elegans through food chain. Importantly, natural organic matter (NOM), which is omnipresent in environmental system, could increase the accumulation of AgNPs in E. coli and C. elegans, and significantly enhance the ecotoxicity of AgNPs. Our findings indicated that potential risks of nanomaterial through food chain should be considered for higher trophic organisms. And environmental factors could play an important role in transport of nanomaterials and altering their accumulation and toxicity in ecosystem.

Towards a better understanding of CeO2 manufactured nanoparticles adsorption onto sand grains used in drinking water treatment plants

Increasing production of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) will inevitably lead to their higher emissions into natural water bodies. As these emissions pose a significant treat in terms of environmental impacts and possible human health risks, it is necessary to carefully evaluate processes responsible for their mobility, retention and bioavailability. Adsorption is considered as one of the most important processes controlling the fate and transport of nanomaterials in the environment and industrial filtration units. However, mechanisms and physical or chemical parameters influencing these processes are still poorly understood, especially in the case of porous materials used in water purification. In this study, mechanisms responsible for deposition and attachment of CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) onto quartz sand used as a filter medium in the drinking water treatment plant of Geneva (Switzerland) are examined. For that purpose, a combination of theoretical kinetics and thermodynamic models and a variety of complementary experimental techniques are used. Batch experiments were performed using ultrapure water (pH of 3.0; reference case) and filtered raw Geneva Lake water (pH of 8.6). Size and surface charge of CeO2 NPs dispersed in the supernatant after mixing with sand were determined using dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler velocimetry whereas residual CeO2 NPs concentrations were measured by UV–vis spectroscopy. CeO2 NPs were found to adsorb onto sand grains surfaces under acidic conditions due to electrostatic attractive interactions. The kinetics of adsorption followed well both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption process was successfully described by Langmuir isotherm which indicated the formation of a monolayer, with a maximal adsorption capacity of 0.85 ± 0.20 mg g-1 at grain surfaces. Further scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed individual CeO2 NPs or small aggregates attached to the sand surface, thus confirming the adsorption mechanisms and corresponding model. The results obtained from batch studies conducted using Geneva Lake water showed that aggregation, caused by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) and multivalent ions, and further aggregate sedimentation are the main processes responsible for CeO2 NPs elimination under environmental conditions. Moreover, as CeO2 NPs and sand grains both carried negative charges, electrostatic repulsion was a main factor limiting the adsorption. The SEM images confirmed these observations and revealed only few aggregates in the vicinity of sand surface irregularities.

Developing a Solution for Nasal and Olfactory Transport of Nanomaterials.

With advances in nanotechnology, engineered nanomaterial applications are a rapidly growing sector of the economy. Some nanomaterials can reach the brain through nose-to-brain transport. This transport creates concern for potential neurotoxicity of insoluble nanomaterials and a need for toxicity screening tests that detect nose-to-brain transport. Such tests can involve intranasal instillation of aqueous suspensions of nanomaterials in dispersion media that limit particle agglomeration. Unfortunately, protein and some elements in existing dispersion media are suboptimal for potential nose-to-brain transport of nanomaterials because olfactory transport has size- and ion-composition requirements. Therefore, we designed a protein-free dispersion media containing phospholipids and amino acids in an isotonic balanced electrolyte solution, a solution for nasal and olfactory transport (SNOT). SNOT disperses hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials with a peak particle diameter below 100 nm. In addition, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in an established dispersion medium, when diluted with SNOT, maintain dispersion with reduced albumin concentration. Using stereomicroscopy and microscopic examination of plastic sections, dextran dyes dispersed in SNOT are demonstrated in the neuroepithelium of the nose and olfactory bulb of B6;129P2-Omptm3Mom/MomJ mice after intranasal instillation in SNOT. These findings support the potential for SNOT to disperse nanomaterials in a manner permitting nose-to-brain transport for neurotoxicity studies.

Machine learning-informed timescale dependent modes of nanoparticle diffusion through human mucus

Modes of diffusion and transport of nanomaterials through biological gels, like mucus, is of critical importance to many applied areas of research (e.g., drug delivery). However, it is often challenging to interpret the dynamics of nanoparticles within biological gel networks due to the complexity and inherent heterogeneity of their microstructure and biochemistry. In this study, we measured the diffusion of densely PEGylated, muco-inert nanoparticles (NP) in human airway mucus using multiple particle tracking and utilized machine learning to classify NP movement as either traditional Brownian motion (BM) or two different models of anomalous diffusion; fractional Brownian motion (FBM) and continuous time random walk (CTRW).

Bacteria-Assisted Transport of Nanomaterials to Improve Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy.

Currently, the design of nanomaterials for the treatment of different pathologies is presenting a major impact on biomedical research. Thanks to this, nanoparticles represent a successful strategy for the delivery of high amounts of drugs for the treatment of cancer. Different nanosystems have been designed to combat this pathology. However, the poor penetration of these nanomaterials into the tumor tissue prevents the drug from entering the inner regions of the tumor. Some bacterial strains have self-propulsion and guiding capacity thanks to their flagella. They also have a preference to accumulate in certain tumor regions due to the presence of different chemo-attractants factors. Bioconjugation reactions allow the binding of nanoparticles in living systems, such as cells or bacteria, in a simple way. Therefore, bacteria are being used as a transport vehicle for nanoparticles, facilitating their penetration and the subsequent release of the drug inside the tumor. This review would summarize the literature on the anchoring methods of diverse nanosystems in bacteria and, interestingly, their advantages and possible applications in cancer therapy.

Flow and heat transport phenomenon for dynamics of Jeffrey nanofluid past stretchable sheet subject to Lorentz force and dissipation effects

Survey of literature unveils that nanofluids are more efficient for heat transport in comparison to the traditional fluids. However, the enlightenment of developed techniques for the augmentation of heat transport in nanomaterials has considerable gaps and, consequently, an extensive investigation for aforementioned models is vital. The ongoing investigation aims to study the 2-D, incompressible Jeffrey nanofluid heat transference flow due to a stretchable surface. Furthermore, the effect of dispersion of graphene nanoparticles in base liquid ethylene glycol (EG) on the performance of flow and heat transport using the Tawari-Das model in the existence of Ohmic heating (electroconductive heating) and viscous heat dissipation is contemplated. The boundary-layer PDEs are reconstituted as ODEs employing appropriate similarity transformation. Keller-Box Method (KBM) is utilized to determine the numerical findings of the problem. Graphene conducts heat greater in rate than all of the other materials and it is a good conductor of electrical energy. Graphene/EG nanofluid is employed to look out the parametric aspects of heat transport flow, drag coefficient, and heat transference rate phenomena with the aid of graphs and tables. The numerical outcomes indicate that concentration and magnetic field abate the shear stresses for the nanofluid. An increase of Graphene nanoparticle volume fraction parameter can boost the heat transport rate. The effect of Prandtl Number is to slow down the rate of heat transport as well as decelerate the temperature. Additionally, the rate of heat transportation augments on a surface under Deborah's number. Results indicate that the temperature of the graphene-EG nanofluid is greater than the convectional fluid hence graphene-EG nanofluid gets more important in the cooling process, biosensors and drug delivery than conventional fluids.

Testing Strategies of the In Vitro Micronucleus Assay for the Genotoxicity Assessment of Nanomaterials in BEAS-2B Cells

The evaluation of the frequency of micronuclei (MN) is a broadly utilised approach in in vitro toxicity testing. Nevertheless, the specific properties of nanomaterials (NMs) give rise to concerns regarding the optimal methodological variants of the MN assay. In bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B), we tested the genotoxicity of five types of NMs (TiO2: NM101, NM103; SiO2: NM200; Ag: NM300K, NM302) using four variants of MN protocols, differing in the time of exposure and the application of cytochalasin-B combined with the simultaneous and delayed co-treatment with NMs. Using transmission electron microscopy, we evaluated the impact of cytochalasin-B on the transport of NMs into the cells. To assess the behaviour of NMs in a culture media for individual testing conditions, we used dynamic light scattering measurement. The presence of NMs in the cells, their intracellular aggregation and dispersion properties were comparable when tests with or without cytochalasin-B were performed. The genotoxic potential of various TiO2 and Ag particles differed (NM101 < NM103 and NM302 < NM300K, respectively). The application of cytochalasin-B tended to increase the percentage of aberrant cells. In conclusion, the comparison of the testing strategies revealed that the level of DNA damage induced by NMs is affected by the selected methodological approach. This fact should be considered in the interpretation of the results of genotoxicity tests.

New Tools to Support the Risk Assessment Process of Nanomaterials in the Insurance Sector.

During the last decade, the use of nanomaterials, due to their multiple utilities, has exponentially increased. Nanomaterials have unique properties such as a larger specific surface area and surface activity, which may result in health and environmental hazards different from those demonstrated by the same materials in bulk form. Besides, due to their small size, they can easily penetrate through the environmental and biological barriers. In terms of exposure potential, the vast majority of studies are focused on workplace areas, where inhalation is the most common route of exposure. The main route of entry into the environment is due to indirect emissions of nanomaterials from industrial settings, as well as uncontrollable releases into the environment during the use, recycling and disposal of nano-enabled products. Accidental spills during production or later transport of nanomaterials and release from wear and tear of materials containing nanomaterials may lead to potential exposure. In this sense, a proper understanding of all significant risks due to the exposure to nanomaterials that might result in a liability claim has been proved to be necessary. In this paper, the utility of an application for smartphones developed for the insurance sector has been validated as a solution for the analysis and evaluation of the emerging risk of the application of nanotechnology in the market. Different exposure scenarios for nanomaterials have been simulated with this application. The results obtained have been compared with real scenarios, corroborating that the use of novel tools can be used by companies that offer risk management in the form of insurance contracts.

Decoupled low-rank iterative methods for a large-scale system of nonlinear matrix equations arising from electron transport of nano materials

To describe the electron transport in nano materials more accurately, the single layer after the material surface has been generalized to multi-periodic layers and the computation of the corresponding Green function in this case requires to solve a system of nonlinear matrix equations (SNME). A sufficient condition of existence of the stabilizing solution pair of the SNME is first proposed and the decoupled doubling algorithm is then developed into the decoupled tripling version. By the use of the discretized low-rank structure of coefficient matrices, the decoupled low-rank doubling algorithm (DLDA) and tripling algorithm (DLTA) are presented subsequently and the evaluation of the residual is redesigned for the large-scale SNME. Analysis of iteration formats shows that the DLTA shares the same pre-processing complexity with that of the DLDA, but fortunately being able to attain a lower residual level within less iterations via additionally neglected iteration time. Numerical experiments show that the DLTA is highly efficient to compute the stabilizing solution pair of the large-scale SNME.

The interaction of the pulsed laser irradiation with titania nanotubes - Theoretical studies on the thermal effect

This paper reports temperature dispersion simulations of titania nanotubes irradiated by the 355 nm, pulsed, nanosecond laser. The modelling with the use of Finite Elements Method concerns titania nanotubes of the length and the wall thickness in the range of 0.5–2 μm and 5–20 nm, respectively. The uniqueness of the morphology was preserved by ensuring the wall thickness variation along the height of the tube, which was determined by an exponential equation. The easily adapted model of optical transition under the heat treatment in vacuum was successfully introduced. According to the obtained results, the change in titania nanotube shape and formation of the doping centres during laser annealing are crucial to accurately reproduce the temperature distribution along the nanotubes. The temperature profiles suggest that treatment with a fluence of 25 mJ cm−2 at 355 nm wavelength may lead to the re-solidification of the nanotubes surface only, if their wall is thinner than 15 nm. Such simulations are reported for the first time and are important for the understanding of thermal transport in nanomaterials with highly ordered, tubular architecture.