In the epoch of bioinformatics, pivotal biomedical scrutiny and clinical diagnosis hinge upon the unfolding of highly efficacious biosensors for intricate and targeted identification of specific biomolecules. In pursuit of developing robust biosensors endowed with superior sensitivity, precise selectivity, rapid performance, and operational simplicity, semiconductor QDs have been acknowledged as pivotal and advantageous entities. In this review, we present a comprehensive analysis of the latest unfolding within the domain of QDs used in fluorescent biosensors for the detection of diverse biomolecular entities, encompassing proteins, nucleic acids, and a range of small molecules, with an emphasis on the synthesis methodologies of QDs employed and mechanism behind sensing. Additionally, this review delves into several pivotal facets of QD-based fluorescent biosensors in detail, such as surface functionalization methodologies aimed at enhancing biocompatibility and improving target specificity. The challenges and future perspectives of QD-based fluorescent biosensors are also considered, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing multidisciplinary research to realize their full potential in enhancing personalized medicine and biomedical diagnostics.

Tobacco (nicotine) has been reported as one of the worst global public health pandemics in history, claiming about 8 million lives annually. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nicotine accounts for about 7 million deaths of firsthand users and over 1.3 million morbidities of secondhand users. Furthermore, smokeless tobacco products have been linked to more than 300 million morbidities, including chronic kidney illnesses. On the basis of this trend, a possible increase of over 100% in mortality rate and a state of emergency have been predicted from now till 2050. However, electrochemical analysis has demonstrated cost-effective and easily synthesised sensors as a timely alternative for the rapid analysis and quantification of nicotine in diverse products. A carbon-based silver sensor was fabricated and characterised by energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), direct light scattering (DLS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Herein, we report the first electrochemical detection, release monitoring and quantification of conjugated nicotine. The sensor showed a significant sensitivity, specificity and discriminating power with a detection and quantification limit of 2.283 × 10-9 and 0.761 × 10-8 M, respectively. An average recovery rate of 96.26% was recorded. The applicability of the modified electrode was examined in human urine and serum. The research showed the potential of this method for monitoring doping and nicotine release, as well as for diagnostic and quality control purposes.

Inorganic nanoparticles possess unique physicochemical properties that make them attractive candidates for diverse applications in nanomedicine, including as contrast agents and as therapeutics. However, many inorganic nanoparticles are composed of high-atomic-number elements, raising safety concerns due to potential long-term retention in the body. However, ultrasmall inorganic nanoparticles (UINPs), i.e., those that are less than ∼5 nm in diameter, can offer the advantage of rapid renal clearance from the body, reducing toxicity risks associated with prolonged exposure and thereby creating a path toward clinical translation. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on the design and functionalization of UINPs, exploring their capabilities from diagnosis to therapeutics, with examples including radiosensitization, photothermal, and anti-inflammatory catalytic therapies. In addition, we discuss their limitations, the approaches taken to solve their limitations, and progress of UINPs toward clinical translation. Through this discussion, we aim to provide a comprehensive perspective on how UINPs are advancing the field of nanomedicine, underscoring their potential to significantly improve bioimaging and therapeutic outcomes.

Periodontitis is a chronic multifactorial inflammatory oral disease that can lead to gingival recession, destruction of the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone loss, and tooth loss. Solutions for periodontal tissue regeneration utilize biological macromolecules, including natural ones (such as collagen (COL), alginate (ALG), chitosan (CS), silk fibroin (SF), hyaluronic acid (HA), etc.), inorganic ones (such as hydroxyapatite (HAp), β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP), bioactive glass (BG), etc.), synthetic, composite, and nanomaterials. Carrier materials, including hydrogels, nanofibers, nanoparticles, microneedles, and thin films, are used to effectively deliver therapeutic agents and biological factors such as stem cells, bioactive molecules, and genes, so as to promote the elimination of bacteria and tissue regeneration at the damaged periodontal sites. This review mainly focuses on the latest progress of biological macromolecules and tissue engineering technologies in periodontal regeneration in recent years. It aims to inspire the design and development of innovative biomaterials and delivery systems for novel regenerative periodontal treatments.

ConspectusThe ability to synthesize nanoarchitected materials with tunable geometries provides a means to control their functional properties, with applications in biological, environmental, and energy fields. To this end, various bottom-up and top-down synthesis processes have been developed. However, many of these processes require prepatterning or etching steps, making them challenging to scale-up to complex, nonplanar substrates. Furthermore, the ability to integrate nanomaterials into hierarchical arrays with precise control of feature spacing and orientation remains a challenge.One approach to overcome these patterning challenges is the use of surface modification layers to guide the resulting geometry of nanomaterial architectures grown from the substrate. A powerful strategy to accomplish this is what we will refer to as "surface-directed assembly," where the resulting geometric parameters (feature size, shape, orientation) are predetermined by the initial surface layer. In particular, the use of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to form a surface layer, followed by solution-based growth processes, has the ability to synthesize architected structures with tunable geometries on complex, nonplanar surfaces.Over the past decade, we have reported a series of studies where surface-directed assembly is used to synthesize ZnO nanowires (NWs) on top of a variety of substrates. In this case, a thin film of ZnO is deposited onto the substrate using ALD, which can guide the NW diameter, spacing, and angular orientation with respect to the substrate by controlling epitaxial relationships. Furthermore, we have shown that by depositing a submonolayer overcoat of a secondary material (e.g., amorphous TiO2), nucleation sites are partially blocked, which can further tune the spacing between nanowires while minimizing changes to their other geometric properties. This approach can be used to generate multilevel hierarchical structures, such as hyperbranched NW arrays with tunable control of each level of hierarchy using ALD. Finally, we have demonstrated that the tunable control of geometric parameters can be scaled-up to curved, nonplanar substrates. This highlights the power of ALD to conformally and uniformly deposit the seed layers on complex substrates with subnanometer precision.To complement these seeded hydrothermal approaches, we expanded this strategy to include conversion chemistry of the initial ALD seed layers. For example, by replacing ZnO with Al2O3 as the seed layer without changing the hydrothermal growth conditions, Al-Zn layered-double hydroxide nanosheets can be formed instead of nanowires. In another example of conversion chemistry, a solution anion-exchange process was used to incorporate sulfur into ALD metal oxide films. In both of these conversion processes, the properties of the initial ALD film enabled tuning of the resulting nanostructure geometry.In this Account, we describe the use of ALD to guide the growth of diverse nanomaterial systems, with tunable control over their geometry and composition. We further show how these approaches can be used to tune functional properties for a range of applications, including superomniphobic surfaces, antibiofouling coatings, and photocatalysis. We conclude with an outlook on how the combination of ALD and solution synthesis can enable future directions in scalable nanomanufacturing to overcome the limitations of traditional top-down and bottom-up approaches.

l-Tyrosine-based eco-friendly nitrogen-doped carbon dots have been synthesized using citric acid and isoniazid as precursors along with l-tyrosine via a facile one-pot hydrothermal approach for the corrosion mitigation of mild steel (MS) in HCl solution (15%). The authenticity of the synthesized carbon dots has been established using various spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The inhibition behavior was studied using gravimetric analysis, electrochemical measurements, and surface analysis. The potentiodynamic polarization revealed that the N-doped carbon dots act as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor; that is, it can act as both a cathodic as well as an anodic inhibitor, with the corrosion efficiency of 99.3% at the concentration of 150 ppm. N-CDs protect the metal surface by forming a layer that is particularly physisorbed as confirmed by ΔGabs values.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) continues to pose a considerable health challenge with few therapeutic alternatives. Liquid crystalline nanoparticles (LCN) are nanostructured drug delivery systems made of lipid-based amphiphilic materials that self-assemble into crystalline phases in aqueous environments. LCN have become a promising way to treat NSCLC owing to their specific properties that make them useful for targeted delivery and controlled drug release.

The review provides a brief overview of the use of LCN in the treatment of NSCLC. It explores their composition, fabrication methods, and characterization processes. The article further addresses several nanoparticle-based approaches for the treatment of NSCLC. Ultimately, it underscores the promise of LCNs as a promising drug delivery system for NSCLC and discusses the obstacles and outlook in this field.

LCN represents a promising frontier in the treatment of NSCLC, offering several specific advantages over conventional therapies. Utilizing their intrinsic self-assembly characteristics, LCN provides meticulous control over drug encapsulation, release kinetics, and cellular absorption, which are crucial for improving therapy success. LCN also has the capability for co-delivery of various drugs, facilitating synergistic therapeutic benefits and addressing multidrug resistance, a prevalent issue in NSCLC treatment.

Unraveling the corrosion dynamics of nanocrystal electrocatalysts is crucial for their rational design and practical application. Meanwhile, top-down corrosion processes can lead to the formation of novel heterostructures with enhanced physicochemical properties for catalytic applications. Herein, we encapsulate Pt and PtCo shells on Pd nanocubes to systematically study the distinct corrosion behaviors induced by transition metal incorporation. The results reveal that the core of Pd@PtCo nanocubes undergoes dominant etching at the terraces, in stark contrast to the corner-focused corrosion on the Pd cores observed in Pd@Pt nanocubes. Mechanistic insights were obtained through transmission electron microscopy analysis, revealing corrosion-induced concave Pd@PtCo nanocubes with abundant atomic steps. These unique heterostructures exhibit exceptional performance in the methanol oxidation reaction, achieving mass and specific activities 10 and 27 times higher, respectively, than those of commercial catalysts. These results enhance our understanding of the corrosion dynamics in noble-metal heterostructures and provide valuable insights into the development of efficient and durable electrocatalysts.

Batch-to-batch inconsistencies and time-intensive protocols remain significant challenges in conventional nanomaterial synthesis. Here, we present an automated system that precisely fabricates silica-coated gold nanostars (AuNS@SiO2) incorporating Raman reporters (4-MBA and IR-780) defined as nanotags, thereby enabling control over their morphological, optical, and spectroscopic properties. The resulting nanotags were comprehensively characterized through UV-vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), surface enhanced (resonance) Raman spectroscopy (SE(R)RS) measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analyzes. Compared to manual methods, our automated approach demonstrated higher reproducibility in both synthesis and the properties of the produced nanotags. Additionally, to underscore their potential in sensing applications, we functionalized the nanotags with streptavidin. By combining precise control over nanotags synthesis with robust characterization, this work establishes a new standard for the rapid and reliable production of advanced nanoplatforms for biomedical applications.

As environmental pollutants pose a serious threat to socioeconomic and environmental health, the development of simple, efficient, accurate and cost-effective methods for pollution monitoring and control remains a major challenge, but it is an unavoidable issue. In the past decade, the artificial nanozymes have been widely used for environmental pollutant monitoring and control, because of their low cost, high stability, easy mass production, etc. However, the conventional nanozyme technology faces significant challenges in terms of difficulty in regulating the exposed crystal surface, complex composition, low catalytic activity, etc. In contrast, the emerging single-atom nanozymes (SANs) have attracted much attention in the field of environmental monitoring and control, due to their multiple advantages of atomically dispersed active sites, high atom utilization efficiency, tunable coordination environment, etc. To date, the insufficient efforts have been made to comprehensively characterize the applications of SANs in the monitoring and control of environmental pollutants. Building on the recent advances in the field, this review systematically summarizes the main synthesis methods of SANs and highlights their advances in the monitoring and control of environmental pollutants. Finally, we critically evaluate the limitations and challenges of SANs, and provide the insights into their future prospects for the monitoring and control of environmental pollutants.

The aim of this work was the development and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles with magnetite phases (IONPs)-hydroxyapatite (HAp) composites. In this article, the chemical coprecipitation method was used to synthesize three different nanomaterials: IONPs, HAp, and IONPs-HAp composite. Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the crystal lattice parameters and presence of HAp and IONPS after synthesis, which was carried out at a temperature of 120 °C inductively coupled plasma (ICP) was used to identify the trace elements present, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to verify the functional groups present in each material and efficiency of washes for the composite material, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe the morphology and nanoparticle size for IONPs 11 nm and IONPs-HAp 15 nm. ζ potential measurements to investigate the surface charges for all samples had a positive value, the apatite samples showed a very stable behavior, and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) to evaluate the magnetic properties showed that IONPs and IONPs-HAp composite exhibit superparamagnetic behavior, while HAp nanoparticles show diamagnetic behavior. It was also shown that the saturation magnetization and magnetic moments of the IONPs do not change upon formation of the IONPs-HAp composite.

The exertion of nanomaterials is subjugated by factors such as size, thickness, morphology, crystallinity, and composition, however, the ability to control these parameters, particularly the morphology, through conventional synthesis methods are challenging. Nevertheless, liquid/liquid interface-assisted methods have paved the way for more precise and controlled synthesis of nanomaterials. In this study, an n-butanol/water interface was used to synthesize α-cobalt hydroxide (CH) nanostructures, and the effects of solvent ratio and stirring rate on the properties of the product were examined. The transition from pure water to pure n-butanol alters the morphology from irregular nanoflakes to flower-like structures. A 1:1 solvent ratio produced nonaggregated flower structures with an increased active surface area and minimal charge transfer resistance. The agitation speed also affected the morphology; as the stirring speed increased from zero to 150 rpm, the morphology changed from aggregated needles to flower-like structures. The sample synthesized with a 1:1 solvent ratio and 50 rpm stirring speed (BW2) exhibited enhanced electrochemical activity, which was harnessed for electrochemical sensing with minimal multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) addition. The CH/MWCNT composite effectively detected ascorbic acid (AA) across a broad linear range of 1-200 μM with a detection limit of 0.0943 μM and provided accurate AA recovery in vitamin C tablets and artificial sweat. A flexible miniature sensor was also developed for AA detection, demonstrating the potential of liquid/liquid interfaces to modulate the morphology and hence the electrochemical properties of transition metal oxides for a wide range of applications.

Metal nanocomposites are rapidly emerging as a powerful platform for biosensing applications, particularly in the analysis of biological fluids. This review paper examines the recent advancements in the development and application of metal nanocomposites as biosensors for detecting various analytes in complex biological matrices such as blood, serum, urine, and saliva. We discuss the unique physicochemical properties of metal nanocomposites, including their high surface area, enhanced conductivity, and tunable optical and electrochemical characteristics, which contribute to their superior sensing capabilities. The review will cover various fabrication techniques, focusing on their impact on the sensitivity, selectivity, and stability of the resulting biosensors. Furthermore, we will analyze the diverse applications of these biosensors in the detection of disease biomarkers, environmental toxins, and therapeutic drugs within biological fluids. Finally, we will address the current challenges and future perspectives of this field, highlighting the potential for improved diagnostic tools and personalized medicine through the continued development of advanced metal nanocomposite-based biosensors.

Biomedical materials are of great significance for preventing and treating major diseases and protecting human health. At present, more stringent requirements have been put forward for the preparation methods and dimension control of biomedical materials based on the urgent demand for high-performance biomedical materials, especially the existence of various physiological size thresholds in vitro/in vivo. Microfluidic platforms break the limitations of traditional micro-/nanomaterial synthesis, which provide a miniaturized and highly controlled environment for size-dependent biomaterials. In this review, the basic conceptions and technical characteristics of microfluidics are first described. Then the syntheses of biomedical materials with different dimensions (0D, 1D, 2D, 3D) driven by microfluidics have been systematically summarized. Meanwhile, the applications of microfluidics-driven biomedical materials, including diagnosis, anti-inflammatory, drug delivery, antibacterial, and disease therapy, are discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and developments in the research field are further proposed. This work is expected to facilitate the convergence between the bioscience and engineering communities and continue to contribute to this emerging field.

This study evaluates the properties of starch/chitosan films (SCF) produced via the casting method, incorporating 40 % (w/w) plasticizers (glycerol and sorbitol) and various concentrations (0, 3, 5, and 10 % (w/w)) of nanoclays (Cloisite 20A, Cloisite 30B, and K-10). The effects of each nanofiller on the films were thoroughly investigated. Films containing nanoclays exhibited reduced water solubility and enhanced thermal stability compared to films without nanofillers. A higher nanoclay concentration (10 % (w/w)) led to a reduction in the solubility of the starch/chitosan films, with a decrease of approximately 15 % relative to the SCF sample. Incorporating the three types of nanoclays improved tensile strength at break, particularly in samples with 3 % and 5 % (w/w) nanoclay content, achieving an approximate 68 % increase in tensile strength at break compared to the SCF sample. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis revealed that increasing nanofiller content significantly heightened surface roughness. Films incorporating Cloisite 30B demonstrated lower surface roughness than those with Cloisite 20A and K-10 nanoclays, especially at concentrations of 3 % and 5 % (w/w), with a reduction of approximately 40 %. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated superior interaction in films containing Cloisite 20A and 30B, while films with 10 % (w/w) K-10 exhibited a diffraction peak at 8.88°, suggesting inadequate incorporation. These findings align with the AFM analysis results for this film. Consequently, the integration of nanoclays improves the properties of starch/chitosan films, with formulations utilizing 20A and 30B nanoclays at 3 % and 5 % (w/w) showing the most promising potential for future applications in food packaging.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. While traditional and synthetic medical therapies are in place for cancer treatment, their effectiveness is hindered by various limitations, such as toxic side effects, limited availability, and high costs. In recent years, a promising alternative approach has emerged in the form of green-synthesized metallic nanoparticles (MNPs), which offer targeted cancer therapy. These nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant attention from cancer researchers owing to their natural or surface-induced anticancer properties, versatility of metals as agents, and eco-friendly nature. This approach may positively impact healthy cells surrounding the cancerous cells. Green-synthesized MNPs have gained popularity in cancer management because of their ease of handling in the laboratory and the affordability of starting materials compared to synthetic methods. This review analyzes green-synthesized MNPs for targeted cancer therapy, highlighting tumor-targeting strategies, synthesis methods, and clinical challenges. Unlike general reviews, it compares plant-, microbial-, and enzyme-mediated synthesis approaches, emphasizing their impact on nanoparticle stability, functionalization, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

Ovarian cancer remains one of the main causes of human mortality, accounting for millions of deaths every year. Despite of several clinical options such as chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), hormonal treatment, radiation therapy, and surgery to manage this disease, the mortality rate is still very high. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for innovative approaches to improve both diagnosis and treatment. Success stories of iron oxide nanoparticles, i.e. Ferucarbotran (Resovist®) and Ferrixan (Cliavist®) for liver imaging, CNS (Central nervous system) imaging, cell labeling, etc. have motivated researchers to explore these nanocarriers for treatment and diagnosis of different diseases. Iron oxide nanoparticles have improved the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs through targeted delivery, heat/ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation on application of external energy and have also shown great potential as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their unique magnetic properties enable sensitive imaging, and surface modification allows the attachment of specific biomolecules for targeted detection of ovarian cancer cells. Their unique properties, viz. magnetic responsiveness and surface functionalization, make them versatile tools for enhancing both imaging and therapeutic outcomes. Present article reviews the literature on the synthesis, functionalization, and applications of iron oxide nanoparticles in management of ovarian cancer.

Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted great attention and become promising candidates in the biomedicine field due to their special physicochemical properties. They are generally divided into metallic and non-metallic magnetic nanoparticles, according to their compositions. Both of the two types have shown practical values in biomedicine applications, such as drug delivery, biosensing, bioimaging, and so on. Research efforts are devoted to the improvement of synthesis strategies to achieve magnetic nanoparticles with controllable morphology, diverse composition, active surface, or multiple functions. Taking high repeatability, programmable operation, precise fluid control, and simple device into account, the microfluidics system can expand the production scale and develop magnetic nanoparticles with desired features. This review will first describe different classifications of promising magnetic nanoparticles, followed by the advancements in microfluidic synthesis and the latest biomedical applications of these magnetic nanoparticles. In addition, the challenges and prospects of magnetic nanoparticles in the biomedical field are also discussed.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials offer a transformative platform for photothermal therapy (PTT) due to their unique physicochemical properties and exceptional photothermal conversion efficiencies. This Minireview summarizes the photothermal mechanisms of common 2D nanomaterials and details their synthesis, surface modification, and optimization strategies. Recent advances leveraging 2D nanomaterials for enhanced PTT are highlighted, with particular emphasis on synergistic therapeutic modalities. Despite the significant potential of 2D nanomaterials in PTT, challenges persist, including scalable and reproducible manufacturing, precise targeted delivery, understanding of the underlying biological interactions, and comprehensive assessment of long-term biocompatibility and toxicity. Looking forward, emerging technologies such as machine learning are expected to play a crucial role in accelerating the design and optimization of 2D nanomaterials for PTT, enabling the prediction of optimal structures, properties, and therapeutic efficacy, and ultimately paving the way for personalized nanomedicine.

It is of great significance to develop carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using green carbon sources, which are cheap, non-toxic and harmless, and further expand their application scopes, e.g., fluorescence sensors, blue light screening. In this study, we have prepared Peperomia tetraphylla-based carbon quantum dots (PT-CQDs) with strong water solubility, good salt resistance, specific quenching reactions and excellent optical properties via a simple one-step hydrothermal method. In one application, PT-CQDs are utilized as a fluorescence sensor due to their high selectivity and sensitivity to ferric ions (Fe3+). The limit of detection (LOD) was 2.7 μmol·L-1. On the other hand, PT-CQDs/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with excellent ultraviolet- (UV) and high-energy blue light (HEBL)-blocking properties were obtained. The obtained films exhibited a high blue light weight blocking rate of 100% in UV and 80% in HEBL. The concentrations of the composites could also be controlled to achieve the desired light-blocking rate. In addition, the composites were able to absorb blue light and convert it to other forms of light. These properties suggest their potential applications in the development of advanced blue light screening and fluorescence sensors.

Metal-based nanoparticles (MNPs) have great potential for applications in wound healing and tissue engineering, and due to their unique structures, high bioactivities, and excellent designability characteristics, an increasing number of studies have been devoted to modifying these species to generate novel composites with desirable optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. However, few systematic and detailed reviews have been performed relating to the modification approaches available for MNPs and their resulting composites. In this review, a comprehensive summary is performed regarding the optimized modification formulations of MNPs for application in wound dressings, and the techniques used to prepare composite wound dressings are discussed. In addition, the safety profiles of the novel nanocomposite formulations and the limitations of the reported systems are evaluated. More importantly, a number of solution strategies are proposed to address these limitations. Overall, this review provides new ideas for the design of MNPs to facilitate their application in the field of skin tissue repair, and also looks into the future direction of MNPs in the biomedical field.

Nanotechnology, based on the utilization of nanoparticles, has revolutionized drug delivery techniques, offering groundbreaking methods for managing and diagnosing intricate ailments over the past four decades. This article aims to underscore how the use of these particles has been used to treat previously incurable diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Recently, the integration of diagnostic imaging and targeted therapy using theranostic nanoparticles has improved cancer treatment precision. Moreover, exosome-based drug delivery has demonstrated high in vivo biocompatibility and antigen-carrying ability during vaccine development. The unique properties of these tiny particles enable their transport to specific locations inaccessible to large drug molecules. The development of these nanodrugs by either encapsulation or adsorption of drugs on particles has allowed the loading of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Innovative engineering approaches have enabled the engineering of shear-sensitive nanoparticles for site-targeted drug release, which eliminates the requirement for frequent doses, which is common in conventional drug delivery. Factors such as size, shape as well as surface modification are considered during the top-down and bottom-up approaches for engineering nanoparticle-based systems. However, issues related to scaling up manufacturing, long-term safety, and regulatory approval for these techniques must be resolved. The use of these drug delivery systems offers many therapeutic advantages. This article examines the application of these systems across various medical domains including cancer treatment, infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders, central nervous system ailments, and ophthalmic conditions. This fusion of nanotechnology with drug delivery has the potential to elevate healthcare standards in the future by introducing innovative frameworks for revolutionizing therapeutic practices.

Nanotechnology is an important science that finds a wide range of applications from energy production to industrial production processes and biomedical applications. Nanoparti-cles, which are the most frequently preferred nanomaterials that form the basis of nanotechnolo-gy, are prepared with different composition, size, shape and surface chemistry to provide new techniques in applications in many different fields. The use of nanoparticles in the preparation of plasmonic sensors has increased the interest in plasmonic sensors such as surface plasmon resonance, electrochemical sensors, surface enhanced raman scattering and colorimetric sensors due to their increased sensing capacity on sensor surfaces. Plasmonic sensors are an important option in many different fields, such as medicine, environmental agriculture and food safety, thanks to their ability to solve a multitude of challenges. Because, plasmonic sensors are defined as sensing devices with important features such as sensitive and fast detection, no need for labels, real-time analysis, portability. In this review, the information about nanoparticles and their types and working principles of plasmonic sensors is given. Then, examples in clinical applications using different plasmonic sensors prepared with plasmonic nanoparticles are discussed in detail.

Catalytic species such as molecular catalysts and metal catalysts are commonly attached to varieties of supports to simplify their separation and recovery and accommodate various reaction conditions. The physicochemical microenvironments surrounding catalytic species play an important role in catalytic performance, and the rational design and engineering of microenvironments can achieve more efficient chemical synthesis, leading to greener and more sustainable catalysis. In this review, we highlight recent works addressing the topic of the design and engineering of microenvironments of supported catalysts, including supported molecular catalysts and supported metal catalysts. Six types of materials, including oxide nano/microparticle, mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN), polymer nanomaterial, reticular material, zeolite, and carbon-based nanomaterial, are widely used as supports for the immobilization of catalytic species. We summarize and discuss the synthesis and modification of supports and the positive effects of microenvironments on catalytic properties such as metal-support interaction, molecular recognition, pseudo-solvent effect, regulating mass transfer, steric effect, etc. These design principles and engineering strategies allow access to a better understanding of structure-property relationships and advance the development of more efficient catalytic processes.

The biosynthesis of nanomaterials is a vast and expanding field of study due to their applications in a variety of fields, particularly the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. Various synthetic routes, including physical and chemical methods, have been developed in order to generate metal nanoparticles (NPs) with definite shapes and sizes. In this review, focused on the recent advancements in the green synthetic methods for the generation of silver, zinc and copper NPs with simple and eco-friendly approaches and the potential of the biosynthesized metal and metal oxide NPs as alternative and therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Inflammation is a body's own defense mechanism that can become chronic inflammation affecting healthy cells. Owning to the size-based advantages of NPs which can mitigate in theses medical conditions and serve as anti-inflammatory drugs. The factors influencing their physicochemical properties, toxicity, biocompatibility and mode of action to formulate an effective nanomedicine in the treatment of inflammation.

Nanotechnology is an evolving field that presents extensive opportunities in antimicrobial and eco-friendly food packaging applications. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are particularly valuable in this context due to their outstanding physicochemical properties and demonstrated biological and antimicrobial efficacy, rendering them highly effective in food packaging applications. Historically, nanoparticle synthesis has largely relied on synthetic chemicals and physical methods; however, growing awareness of their potential toxic impacts on human health and the environment has led researchers to reassess these conventional approaches. In response, green synthesis using plants or their metabolites to produce nanoparticles (NPs) has emerged as a focal point in recent research. This approach provides significant advantages, notably in reducing toxicity associated with traditionally synthesized nanoparticles. Silver, recognized for its non-toxic, safe profile as an inorganic antibacterial and antifungal agent, has been employed for centuries and exhibits remarkable potential in various biological applications in its nanoparticle form. Environmentally friendly synthesis techniques are increasingly prioritized within chemical sciences to reduce the harmful byproducts of reactions. Green synthesis methods also offer economic benefits due to their lower costs and the abundant availability of natural raw materials. In the past five years, concerted efforts have been made to develop new, sustainable, and cost-effective methodologies for nanoparticle synthesis. This review explains the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles from different sources along with their quantification techniques and application in food packaging.

The development of inorganic metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) has attracted significant attention in diverse biomedical and biotechnological fields including bio-detection, drug delivery, imaging, and theranostics. An emerging field in this context is the use of MNPs for applications in reproductive biology. In this article, we offer a rational review of the development of MNPs employed in the field of reproductive biology by focusing on their interactions with highly delicate and specialized germ cells like spermatozoa, oocytes, and developing embryos. By their unique physicochemical properties, MNPs are versatile and strong candidates for targeted imaging and delivery of various therapeutic molecules to the specific sites of the gametes and reproductive cells. Functionalized MNPs can serve as transfection vectors for the generation of transgenic animals by spermatozoon-supported gene transfer. In addition, MNPs have shown great promise in application fields such as semen collection, nano-purification, cryopreservation, and sex sorting of sperm in the livestock industry. Recently, the potential toxicity of MNPs on maturing oocytes has been investigated, as well as the use of MNPs to preserve fertility by improving cryopreservation and reducing oxidative stress in oocytes. The article further elaborates on the uptake, translocation mechanism, and biocompatibility issues of the MNPs to reproduction-relevant sites on cellular and molecular levels. Based on these promising achievements, the current challenges and prospects for the development of these functionalized MNPs for clinical research in conjunction with the reproductive system will be discussed.

Cancer is a heterogeneous and multicomplex disease with the highest morbidity and mortality rate. The targeting of tumour progression with drugs is a very well-established treatment strategy. Despite these, due to the failure of commonly used drugs in combating cancer, new drugs need to be screened and established for better therapeutic approach. With this rationale, the current investigation was aimed to develop quinoline compound (QC) derivatives as anti-tumour molecules. In this extended study, a series of QC analogues were subjected to anti proliferative assays through cell-based screening and evaluated its mechanism of action through apoptotic and anti-angiogenic assays. The change in cell behaviour was assessed through gene expression analysis using qRT-PCR and immunoblot analysis. Further, in vivo solid tumour model was developed and the anti-tumour potential of QC-4 was verified with gene expression studies. The results suggested that QC-4 exhibited significant cytotoxic effect, particularly against human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines and murine Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma cells. The QC-4 induced condensation, nuclear damage and changes in membrane integrity resulted in apoptosis and neovascularisation inhibition. The modulation of apoptotic and angiogenic genes such as BAX, BAD, p53 and MMP-2 and 9 further supported the molecular cause of cytotoxicity induced by QC-4. The regression of in vivo solid tumour with extended survivability warranted the in vitro results and the gene expression patterns were additionally supportive. Overall, the QC-4 analogue exhibits the anti-neoplastic with a multi-target approach, reserving its capacity to be developed into a new class of the anticancer molecules.

Freestanding networked nanoparticle (NP) films hold substantial potential due to their high surface areas and customizable porosities. However, NPs with high surface energies and heterogeneous sizes or shapes present considerable challenges as they tend to aggregate, compromising their structural integrities. In this study, we report the scalable fabrication of ultrathin, bicontinuous, and densely packed carbon NP films via Pickering emulsion-mediated interfacial assembly. This method enables the efficient transfer of closely packed NP networks from emulsions to air-water interface and ultimately to diverse substrates, which provides broad versatility for tailored applications. Utilizing the jamming structures of NPs at the fluid interface, we achieve precise control over film size with homogeneous thickness while minimizing material waste and facilitating recyclability. Notably, the films can be smoothly transferred to micropatterned, stretchable, and complex three-dimensional substrates, enabling the realization of robust conformal coatings. The resulting films exhibit high structural stability and flexibility, demonstrating significant potential for the design of stretchable and flexible devices.

This review underscores the transformative potential of photonic nanomaterials in wearable health technologies, driven by increasing demands for personalized health monitoring. Their unique optical and physical properties enable rapid, precise, and sensitive real-time monitoring, outperforming conventional electrical-based sensors. Integrated into ultra-thin, flexible, and stretchable formats, these materials enhance compatibility with the human body, enabling prolonged wear, improved efficiency, and reduced power consumption. A comprehensive exploration is provided of the integration of photonic nanomaterials into wearable devices, addressing material selection, light-matter interaction principles, and device assembly strategies. The review highlights critical elements such as device form factors, sensing modalities, and power and data communication, with representative examples in skin patches and contact lenses. These devices enable precise monitoring and management of biomarkers of diseases or biological responses. Furthermore, advancements in materials and integration approaches have paved the way for continuum of care systems combining multifunctional sensors with therapeutic drug delivery mechanisms. To overcome existing barriers, this review outlines strategies of material design, device engineering, system integration, and machine learning to inspire innovation and accelerate the adoption of photonic nanomaterials for next-generation of wearable health, showcasing their versatility and transformative potential for digital health applications.

Chiral nanocarriers enhance therapeutic efficacy by improving in vivo stability and cellular uptake. Chemical functionalization reduces cytotoxicity, resulting in favorable biocompatibility. Nanoparticles self-assemble into supraparticles, enhancing drug delivery through improved retention and drug loading.

This review covers chiral nanostructures and chiral supraparticles, and their applications in drug delivery and various healthcare applications.

The chirality of biomaterials is crucial for advancing nanomedicine. Chiral nanosystem enhance drug delivery by interacting selectively with biological molecules, improving their specificity and efficacy. This reduces off-target effects and improves therapeutic outcomes. Research has focused on cellular uptake and elimination to ensure safety, and chiral nanomaterials also show promise in optical sensing and gene editing. Their biocompatibility and ability to self-assemble into supraparticles may make them ideal for drug delivery systems.

The rapidly expanding industrialization and global increase in economic activities have drawn attention to the concerning accumulation of waste. The textile industry plays a significant role in environmental pollution, especially in and water pollution. Harmful dyes used during the fabrication process are mixed with water bodies through sewage or wastewater ejected from industrial factories. These toxic dyes are not only applied in textile industries but also used in other industries like pharmaceutical companies and rubber manufacturing. Therefore, scientists have adopted alternative techniques for the degradation of organic dyes because of eliminating the drawbacks from the traditionally used techniques. Catalytic degradation of organic dyes with the help of a safe and easy nanocatalyst is one of the best alternatives. Accordingly, the use of biomaterials or waste materials offers an easy, cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of such nanocatalysts. Several nanocatalysts have been used for the degradation of dyes present in industrial wastewater. The well-known semi-conductor selenium has several important properties, viz., optoelectronic, photovoltaic, thermoconductivity, and anisotropy, and has drawn significant research attention for its catalytic application in dye degradation. Considering all these points, selenium nanoparticles synthesized via green techniques provide the best possible alternative catalyst for the degradation of organic dyes in industrial wastewater. The current review covers various aspects of the biosynthesis of selenium nanoparticles; their application as a catalyst for the degradation of harmful organic dyes, viz., methylene blue, methyl orange, rhodamine B, alizarin S, malachite green, sunset yellow, fuchsin, safranin T, Congo red, and bromothymol blue; and their mechanism for the degradation process. This review will also shed light on the importance of using green chemistry towards the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles and different biosynthesis procedures and explores all aspects of the interesting catalytic activity towards the dye degradation mechanism. Hence this article will be beneficial to both industrialists and acdemicians bridging the gap between industrial and academic sceintists.

The burgeoning field of biosensors has seen significant advancements with the induction of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures, because of their unique structural, electrical, and optical properties. ZnO nanostructures provide numerous benefits for biosensor applications. Their superior electron mobility enables effective electron transfer between the bioreceptor and transducer, enhancing sensitivity and reducing detection limits. Furthermore, ZnO's biocompatibility and non-toxicity make it ideal for in vivo applications, reducing the chances of adverse biological responses. This review paper explores the prospects of ZnO nanostructures in the development of biosensors, focusing on their morphological and structural characteristics. Various synthesis techniques, that include sol-gel, sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition, were successfully employed to prepare different ZnO nanostructures, like nanorods, nanotubes, and nanowires. The various findings in this field underscore the efficacy of ZnO nanostructures in enhancing the specificity and sensitivity of biosensors, presenting a promising avenue for the advancement of point-of-care diagnostic devices.

Soil salinization, extreme climate conditions, and phytopathogens are abiotic and biotic stressors that remarkably reduce agricultural productivity. Recently, nanomaterials have gained attention as effective agents for agricultural applications to mitigate such stresses. This review aims to critically appraise the available literature on interactions involving nanomaterials, plants, and microorganisms. This review explores the role of nanomaterials in enhancing plant growth and mitigating biotic and abiotic stresses. These materials can be synthesized by microbes, plants, and algae, and they can be applied as fertilizers and stress amelioration agents. Nanomaterials facilitate nutrient uptake, improve water retention, and enhance the efficiency of active ingredient delivery. Nanomaterials strengthen plant antioxidant systems, regulate photosynthesis, and stabilize hormonal pathways. Concurrently, their antimicrobial and protective properties provide resilience against biotic stressors, including pathogens and pests, by promoting plant immune responses and optimizing microbial-plant symbiosis. The synergistic interactions of nanomaterials with beneficial microorganisms optimize plant growth under stress conditions. These materials also serve as carriers of nutrients, growth regulators, and pesticides, thus acting like "smart fertilizers. While nanotechnology offers great promise, addressing potential environmental and ecotoxicological risks associated with their use is necessary. This review outlines pathways for leveraging nanotechnology to achieve resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart agricultural systems by integrating molecular insights and practical applications.

In recent years, advancements in chemistry have allowed the tailoring of materials at the nanoscopic level as needed. There are mainly four main types of nanomaterials used as drug carriers:metal-based nanomaterials, organic nanomaterials, inorganic nanomaterials, and polymer nanomaterials. The nanomaterials as a drug carrier showed advantages for decreased side effects with a higher therapeutic index. The stability of the drug compounds are increased by encapsulation of the drug within the nano-drug carriers, leading to decreased systemic toxicity. Nano-drug carriers are also used for controlled drug release by tailoring system-made solubility characteristics of nanoparticles by surface coating with surfactants. The review focuses on the different types of nanoparticles used as drug carriers, the nanoparticle synthesis process, techniques of nanoparticle surface coating for drug carrier purposes, applications of nano-drug carriers, and prospects of nanomaterials as drug carriers for biomedical applications.

Aim: The goal of the present work was to formulate zein-decorated rifaximin (RFX) nanosuspension to attain sustained release as well as effectiveness against Escherichia coli (E. coli).Methods: The RFX nanosuspension was fabricated by using antisolvent addition method followed by coating using hydroalcoholic zein solution. The optimized RFX-NS and RFX-NS@zein was lyophilized for further spectroscopic evaluations. In vitro antibacterial potential was elucidated using well diffusion method whereas MIC value was determined by microbroth dilution method against E. coli for RFX-NS and pure RFX.Results: Box-Behnken Design was employed to assess the effects of independent variables on quality target product profile of RFX-NS. Optimized RFX-NS depicted particle size of 193.5 ± 4.45 nm with 76.49 ± 1.71% drug content. The significant change in particle size and zeta potential confirmed the formation of zein coated RFX-NS (RFX-NS@zein). In vitro release study depicted, 96.91 ± 1.21% release of RFX from RFX-NS in 6 h whereas 97.47 ± 1.99% RFX release was observed from RFX-NS@zein at the end of 12 h. Antibacterial assay of RFX-NS and free RFX against E. coli displayed MIC value of 15.44 ± 0.01 μg/ml and 72.96 ± 0.25 μg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The results highlighted a significance of nanosuspension for improving the solubility of RFX and its antibacterial potential against E. coli.

Green nanotechnology is an emerging field of research in recent decades with rapidly growing interest. This integrates green chemistry with green engineering to avoid using toxic chemicals in the synthesis of organic nanomaterials. Green nanotechnology would create a huge potential for the use of nanoparticles for more sustainable utilization in improving animal health. Nanoparticles can be synthesised by physical, chemical and biological processes. Traditional methods for physical and chemical synthesis of nanoparticles are toxic to humans, animals and environmental health, which limits their usefulness. Green synthesis of nanoparticles via biological processes and their application in animal health could maximize the benefits of nanotechnology in terms of enhancing food animal health and production as well as minimize the undesirable impacts on Planetary Health. Recent advances in nanotechnology have meant different nanomaterials, especially those from metal sources, are now available for use in nanomedicine. Metal nanoparticles are one of the most widely researched in green nanotechnology, and the number of articles on this subject in food animal production is growing. Therefore, research on metal nanoparticles using green technologies have utmost importance. In this review, we report the recent advancement of green synthesized metal nanoparticles in terms of their utilization in monogastric animal health, elucidate the research gap in this field and provide recommendations for future prospects.

The use of bioactive compounds in plants as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents in nanoparticle manufacturing is an exceptionally eco-friendly approach. This work used rosehip seed extract, acquired by automatic solvent extraction, in the microwave-assisted green production of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of the extracted materials and nanoparticles (NPs) were assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The ideal synthesis parameters were established as 25 mL of extract, pH 12, 360 W of microwave power, and a metal salt concentration of 0.05 M for a duration of 7 min. The characterization of the ZnO NPs synthesized under these conditions was performed using x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurements, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. High-purity, nano-sized, antioxidant ZnO NPs were manufactured using an ecologically friendly, sustainable, and ecological technique.

Preclinical and clinical diagnostics depend greatly on medical imaging, which enables the identification of physiological and pathological processes in living subjects. It is often necessary to use contrast agents to complement anatomical data with functional information or to describe the disease phenotypically. Nanomaterials are used as contrast agents in many advanced bioimaging techniques and applications because of their high payload, physicochemical properties, improved sensitivity, and multimodality. Metals with k-edge energy within the X-ray bandwidth respond to photon counting and spectral X-ray imaging. This Perspective examines the progress made in the emerging area of nanoparticle-based k-edge contrast agents. These nano "k-edge" particles have been explored with spectral photon counting CT (SPCCT) for multiplexed molecular imaging, pushing the boundaries of resolution and capabilities of CT imaging. Design considerations, contrast properties, and biological behavior are discussed in detail. The key applications are highlighted by categorizing these nanomaterials based on their X-ray, k-edge energy, and biological properties, as well as their synthesis, functionalization, and characterization processes. The article delves into the transformative impact of nano "k-edge" particles on early disease detection and other biomedical applications. The review provides further insights into how the "k-edge signatures" of these nanoparticles combined with photon counting technique can be leveraged for quantitative, multicontrast imaging of diseases. We also discuss the status quo of clinically approved nanoparticles for imaging and highlight the challenges such as toxicity and clearance as well as promising clinical perspectives, providing a balanced view of the potential and limitations of these nanomaterials. Furthermore, we discuss the necessary future research efforts required to clinically translate nano "k-edge" particles as SPCCT contrast agents for early disease diagnosis and tracking.

Nanomaterial properties such as size, structure, and composition can be controlled by manipulating radiation, such as gamma rays, X-rays, and electron beams. This control allows scientists to create materials with desired properties that can be used in a wide range of applications, from electronics to medicine. This use of radiation for nanotechnology is revolutionizing the way we design and manufacture materials. Additionally, radiation-induced nanomaterials are more cost effective and energy efficient. This technology is also having a positive impact on the environment, as materials are being produced with fewer emissions, less energy, and less waste. This cutting-edge technology is opening up new possibilities and has become an attractive option for many industries, from medical advancements to energy storage. It is also helping to make the world a better place by reducing our carbon footprint and preserving natural resources. This review aims to meticulously point out the synthesis approach and highlights significant progress in generating radiation-induced nanomaterials with tunable and complex morphologies. This comprehensive review article is essential for researchers to design innovative materials for advancements in health care, electronics, energy storage, and environmental remediation.

Innovative photocatalytic systems designed to enhance efficiency of nitrogen fixation processes, specifically focusing on sustainable ammonia (NH3) production strategies via dinitrogen (N2) reduction into ammonia (NH3). This process is critical for sustainable agriculture and energy production. To improve photocatalyst activity, catalyst stability and reusability, reduction efficiency due to electron/hole recombination, and light-absorption efficiency has drawn extensive attention. Herein, a broad range of research progress and comprehensive overview of step-scheme/type-II heterojunctions focusing on dinitrogen (N2) reduction are reviewed with focus on general synthesis, characterization by their unique charge separation mechanisms that improve light absorption and electron-hole pair utilization. The review highlights recent advancements in material design, which have shown promising results in enhancing photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. A significant portion of the review delves into the underlying mechanisms which these heterojunctions operate. Despite the promising literature results, several challenges facing this field, such as scalability, stability of photocatalysts, and environmental impact under operational conditions were also discussed. In summary, this review provides valuable insights into the potential of step-scheme/type-II photocatalysts for dinitrogen reduction to ammonia. The need for interdisciplinary approaches to overcome existing challenges such as incorporation of piezoelectric biomaterials and unlocking the full potential of these materials in addressing global nitrogen demands sustainably are highlighted, outlining future directions for further research and innovations.

Rising temperature due to changing climate significantly impacts the production of tomato. The morpho-physiological functions of tomato such as gas exchange, growth and development, flowering, fruit setting, quality, fruit size, weight that can influence the yield and production is drastically affected by higher temperatures. Among the growth stages of tomato, flowering and fruit setting stage is highly vulnerable to high temperature resulting in reduced flower numbers, increased flower abortion, stigma exertion, abnormal ovule, reduced pollen germination, pollen numbers, pollen tube development, pollen viability and increased male sterility. The flower to fruit ratio and duration also highly influenced by higher temperatures. It significantly reduced fruit set, fruit number, weight and quality (Lycopene, carotenoids), changing sugars and acids ratio. Apart from day temperature, the asymmetrically rising night temperature and difference in day and night temperature pattern plays a considerable role in physiological and biochemical processes of tomato. Nanotechnology proves to be a successful tool for sustainable production of tomato than many other alternative mitigation strategies due to its localized action, low quantity requirement, minimal wastage, less residues, eco friendliness, biodegradability, multifunctionality, synergistic capabilities and higher plant productivity. It imitates the antioxidant enzymes playing active role in physiological functions in tomato thereby inducing tolerance mechanisms for managing high temperature stress. Further research should focus on use of several other nanoparticles that have potential but not yet experimented on tomato to mitigate heat stress and producing biodegradable, green synthesized nanoparticles that are cost effective and affordable to farmers.

This work presents a unique and straightforward method to synthesise hafnium oxide (HfO2) and hafnium carbide (HfC) nanoparticles (NPs) and to fabricate hafnium nanostructures (NSs) on a Hf surface. Ultrafast picosecond laser ablation of the Hf metal target was performed in three different liquid media, namely, deionised water (DW), toluene, and anisole, to fabricate HfO2 and HfC NPs along with Hf NSs. Spherical HfO2 NPs and nanofibres were formed when Hf was ablated in DW. Hf ablated in toluene and anisole demonstrated the formation of core-shell NPs of HfC with a graphitic shell. All NPs exhibited novel optical reflectance properties. Reflectance measurements revealed that the fabricated NPs had a very high and broad optical absorption throughout the UV-vis-NIR range. The NPs synthesised in toluene exhibited the best absorption. The successful fabrication of Hf NSs with the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) with low spatial frequency (LSFL) and high spatial frequency (HSFL) orthogonal to each other was also demonstrated. The LSFL and HSFL both exhibited quasi-periodicity. This work presents a simple way to fabricate HfO2 and HfC NPs and provides insight into their morphological and optical characteristics paving way for their applications in future.

Despite widespread interest in nanoscale pillar structures for various optical devices, including solar cells, photonic crystal lasers, and sensors, the critical challenges for mass production are the high equipment costs and limited scalability of traditional manufacturing methods. To overcome these hurdles, this study develops a simple and highly scalable etch-mask superposition technique based on thermally assisted nanotransfer printing (T-nTP) of Cr line patterns. The orthogonal superposition of linear Cr mask patterns creates double-height cross-point arrays that effectively and selectively protect the underlying SiO2 during subsequent reactive ion etching. This process generates highly uniform nanoscale pillar arrays with an extremely high density of 0.1 tera-pillars per square inch, eliminating the need for high-cost patterning platforms. As an exemplary application, we demonstrate the use of these perfectly ordered nanopillar arrays as high-performance surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors through the deposition of noble metal films on the nanopillar surface. These nanopillars enable exceptionally uniform SERS intensity with spot variations of less than 7% in methylene blue (MB) measurements. Additionally, they exhibit sensitive detections and accurate quantification for thiabendazole (TBZ) at concentrations as low as 10-8 M, along with multicycle reusability without noticeable degradation, owing to the outstanding robustness of the SiO2 nanopillars.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly expanding field with diverse healthcare, agriculture, and industry applications. Central to this discipline is manipulating materials at the nanoscale, particularly nanoparticles (NPs) ranging from 1 to 100 nm. These NPs can be synthesized through various methods, including chemical, physical, and biological processes. Among these, biological synthesis has gained significant attention due to its eco-friendly nature, utilizing natural resources such as microbes and plants as reducing and capping agents. However, information is scarce regarding the production of iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) using biological approaches, and even less is available on the synthesis of FeNPs employing microbial bioflocculants. This review aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the synthesis of FeNPs using microbial bioflocculants, highlighting the methodologies involved and their implications for environmental applications. Recent findings indicate that microbial bioflocculants enhance the stability and efficiency of FeNP synthesis while promoting environmentally friendly production methods. The synthesized FeNPs demonstrated effective removal of contaminants from wastewater, achieving removal rates of up to 93 % for specific dyes and significant reductions in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD). Additionally, these FeNPs exhibited notable antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This review encompasses studies conducted between January 2015 and December 2023, providing detailed characterization of the synthesized FeNPs and underscoring their potential applications in wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.

Size-dependent optical and electronic properties are unique characteristics of quantum dots (QDs). A significant advantage is the quantum confinement effect that allows their precise tuning to achieve required characteristics and behavior for the targeted applications. Regarding the aforementioned factors, QDs-based sensors have exhibited dramatic potential for the diverse and advanced applications. For example, QDs-based devices have been potentially utilized for bioimaging, drug delivery, cancer therapy, and environmental remediation. In recent years, use of QDs-based electrochemical sensors have been further extended in other areas like gas sensing, metal ion detection, monitoring of organic pollutants, and detection of radioactive isotopes. Objective of this study is to rationalize the QDs-based electrochemical sensors for state-of-the-art applications. This review article comprehensively illustrates the importance of aforementioned devices along with sources from which QDs devices have been formulated and fabricated. Other distinct features of QDs devices are associated with their extremely high active surfaces, inherent ability of reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity for the targeted analyte detection. In this review, major categories of QD materials along with justification of their key roles in electrochemical devices have been demonstrated and discussed. All categories have been evaluated with special emphasis on the advantages and drawbacks/challenges associated with QD materials. However, in the interests of readers and researchers, recent improvements also have been included and discussed. On the evaluation, it has been concluded that despite significant challenges, QDs-based electrochemical sensors exhibit excellent performances for state-of-the-art and targeted applications.

The role and opportunities presented by particulate technologies (due to novel processing methods and advanced materials) have multiplied over the last few decades, leading to promising and ideal properties for drug delivery. For example, the dissolution and bioavailability of poorly soluble drug substances and achieving site- specific drug delivery with a desired release profile are crucial aspects of forming (to some extent) state-of-the-art platforms. Atomisation techniques are intended to achieve efficient control over particle size, improved processing time, improved drug loading efficiency, and the opportunity to encapsulate a broad range of viable yet sensitive therapeutic moieties. Particulate engineering through atomization is accomplished by employing various mechanisms such as air, no air, centrifugal, electrohydrodynamic, acoustic, and supercritical fluid driven processes. These driving forces overcome capillary stresses (e.g., liquid viscosity, surface tension) and transform formulation media (liquid) into fine droplets. More frequently, solvent removal, multiple methods are included to reduce the final size distribution. Nevertheless, a thorough understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat, and mass transfer is imperative to appreciate and predict outputs in real time. More so, in recent years, several advancements have been introduced to improve such processes through complex particle design coupled with quality by-design (QbD) yielding optimal particulate geometry in a predictable manner. Despite these valuable and numerous advancements, atomisation techniques face difficulty scaling up from laboratory scales to manufacturing industry scales. This review details the various atomisation techniques (from design to mechanism) along with examples of drug delivery systems developed. In addition, future perspectives and bottlenecks are provided while highlighting current and selected seminal developments in the field.

Currently, Nano-materials have been explored for their abundant biomedical applications. In the present study the green synthesized (SC-AgNPs) by root extract of Smilax Chenensis have been characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy revealed SPR peak at 432 nm and FT-IR data reveals that the bioactive components of root extract have been actively involved in the reduction and stabilization of SC-AgNPs. TEM and AFM results revealed that SC-AgNPs were roughly spherical in shape. Further, the particle size of SC-AgNPs was also carried out by Dynamic Light Scattering method by aqueous colloidal solution and the results reveals that the SC-AgNPs are poly-dispersed in nature with an average size 45.6 nm with a Z average of 39.5 nm. The stability of colloidal SC-AgNPs was further confirmed by negative zeta potential value of - 21.0 mV. The SC-AgNPs showed good antibacterial activity against both gram -ve and gram + ve bacteria, whereas, SC-AgNPs coupled with antibiotic reveals excellent and enhanced antibacterial activity. The gram -ve E.coli and gram + ve S.aureus revealed highest zone of inhibition when compared to other two bacterial species. So, SC-AgNPs coupled with antibiotics can be excellent alternative to treat antibiotic resistant bacteria. The SC-AgNPs also reveals excellent antioxidant activity among them DPPH method revealed superior activity with an IC50 value76.22. The SC-AgNPs also reveals superior anticancer activity against MDA-MB-231 with IC50 value of 33.98 µg/mL and photo-catalytic activity the optical density of reduced from 1.861 to 0.135 OD within 30 min. The green SC-AgNPs detected to have multiple therapeutic applications.