Mitigating Interfacial Capacity Fading in Vanadium Pentoxide by Sacrificial Vanadium Sulfide Encapsulation for Rechargeable Mg-Ion Batteries.

Rechargeable Mg-ion Batteries (RMB) containing a Mg metal anode offer the promise of higher specific volumetric capacity, energy density, safety, and economic viability than lithium-ion battery technology, but their realization is challenging. The limited availability of suitable inorganic cathodes compatible with electrolytes relevant to Mg metal anode restricts the development of RMBs. Despite the promising capability of some oxides to reversibly intercalate Mg+2 ions at high potential, its lack of stability in chloride-containing ethereal electrolytes, relevant to Mg metal anode hinders the realization of a full practical RMB. Here the successful in situ encapsulation of monodispersed spherical V2 O5 (≈200 nm) is demonstrated by a thin layer of VS2 (≈12 nm) through a facile surface reduction route. The VS2 layer protects the surface of V2 O5 particles in RMB electrolyte solution (MgCl2 + MgTFSI in DME). Both V2 O5 and V2 O5 @VS2 particles demonstrate high initial discharge capacity. However, only the V2 O5 @VS2 material demonstrates superior rate performance, Coulombic efficiency (100%), and stability (138 mA h g-1 discharge capacity after 100 cycles), signifying the ability of the thin VS2 layer to protect the V2 O5 cathode and facilitate the Mg+2 ion intercalation/deintercalation into V2 O5 .

Protecting the Antibacterial Coating of Urinal Catheters for Improving Safety.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) are among the most common bacterial infections associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased healthcare expenditures. Despite recent advances in the prevention and treatment of these infections, there are still many challenges remaining, among them the creation of a durable catheter coating, which prevents bacterial biofilm formation. The current work reports on a method of protecting medical tubing endowed with antibiofilm properties. Silicone catheters coated sonochemically with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) demonstrated excellent antibiofilm effects. Toward approval by the European Medicines Agency, it was realized that the ZnO coating would not withstand the regulatory requirements of avoiding dissolution for 14 days in artificial urine examination. Namely, after exposure to urine for 14 days, the coating amount was reduced by 90%. Additional coatings with either carbon or silica maintained antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus while resisting dissolution in artificial urine for 14 days (C- or SiO2-protected catheters exhibited only 29% reduction). HR-SEM images of the protected catheters indicate the presence of the ZnO coating as well as the protective layer. Antibiofilm activity of all catheters was evaluated both before and after exposure to artificial urine. It was shown that before artificial urine exposure, all coated catheters showed high antibiofilm properties compared to the uncoated control. Exposure of ZnO-coated catheters, without the protective layer, to artificial urine had a significant effect exhibited by the decrease in antibiofilm activity by almost 2 orders of magnitude, compared to unexposed catheters. Toxicity studies performed using a reconstructed human epidermis demonstrated the safety of the improved coating. Exposure of the epidermis to ZnO catheter extracts in artificial urine affects tissue viability compared with control samples, which was not observed in the case of ZnO NPs coating with SiO2 or C. We suggest that silica and carbon coatings confer some protection against zinc ions release, improving ZnO coating safety.

Sonochemical treatment of packaging materials for prolonging fresh produce shelf life.

Packaging bags made of polyethylene (PE) were sonochemically coated with edible antibacterial nanoparticles of chitosan (CS). In this work, the nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on the surface of PE packaging bags by applying sonication waves on an acetic solution of chitosan. The characterization of CS NPs and PE bags was conducted by physicochemical techniques. The results showed that the coated bags had longer freshness than the uncoated ones. Furthermore, the characterization of cucumber, mushroom, and garlic placed into coated and uncoated PE bags was conducted by monitoring various parameters such as mass loss, total soluble solids, pH, and visual inspection. The study revealed that the PE bags coated with CS NPs showed a noticeable result in extending the shelf life of fresh produce. Finally, the antibacterial activity of PE bags was evaluated against various bacterial species. Hence, the PE bags coated with CS NPs could be a promising candidate for elongating the shelf life of packaged fresh produce.

Magnetite-Based Biosensors and Molecular Logic Gates: From Magnetite Synthesis to Application.

In the last few decades, point-of-care (POC) sensors have become increasingly important in the detection of various targets for the early diagnostics and treatment of diseases. Diverse nanomaterials are used as building blocks for the development of smart biosensors and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) are among them. The intrinsic properties of MNPs, such as their large surface area, chemical stability, ease of functionalization, high saturation magnetization, and more, mean they have great potential for use in biosensors. Moreover, the unique characteristics of MNPs, such as their response to external magnetic fields, allow them to be easily manipulated (concentrated and redispersed) in fluidic media. As they are functionalized with biomolecules, MNPs bear high sensitivity and selectivity towards the detection of target biomolecules, which means they are advantageous in biosensor development and lead to a more sensitive, rapid, and accurate identification and quantification of target analytes. Due to the abovementioned properties of functionalized MNPs and their unique magnetic characteristics, they could be employed in the creation of new POC devices, molecular logic gates, and new biomolecular-based biocomputing interfaces, which would build on new ideas and principles. The current review outlines the synthesis, surface coverage, and functionalization of MNPs, as well as recent advancements in magnetite-based biosensors for POC diagnostics and some perspectives in molecular logic, and it also contains some of our own results regarding the topic, which include synthetic MNPs, their application for sample preparation, and the design of fluorescent-based molecular logic gates.

Enhanced UV Protection, Heavy Metal Detection, and Antibacterial Properties of Biomass-Derived Carbon Dots Coated on Protective Fabrics.

Carbon dots (CDs) were simply prepared from charcoal by hydrothermal processing at 180 °C for 15 h without any chemicals. The as-prepared CDs with an average diameter of 5 ± 6 nm exhibited a predominant absorption peak at 290 nm, corresponding to the n to π* transition of the oxygen functional groups (C═O) and the free amine functional groups (-NH2). The resulting CDs were then incorporated into cotton and polyester by facile ultrasonication for 1 h. The obtained CD-coated fabrics were first evaluated for their UV-blocking capability and then for their antibacterial properties against two model pathogens: Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus. Both cotton and polyester showed no UV protection at 280 or 380 nm; conversely, cotton or polyester decorated with CDs exhibited a UV blocking ratio of 82-98%. The CD-coated fabrics showed 100% antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus, whereas the pristine fabrics showed no effect. The CDs/fabrics could adsorb Hg2+ and Fe3+, resulting in a drastic fluorescence quenching. As such, this distinct feature was exploited for the removal and detection of these two ions with the limits of detection of 55and 72 µM, respectively.

Optoelectronics of Atomic Metal-Semiconductor Interfaces in Tin-Intercalated MoS2.

Metal-semiconductor interfaces are ubiquitous in modern electronics. These quantum-confined interfaces allow for the formation of atomically thin polarizable metals and feature rich optical and optoelectronic phenomena, including plasmon-induced hot-electron transfer from metal to semiconductors. Here, we report on the metal-semiconductor interface formed during the intercalation of zero-valent atomic layers of tin (Sn) between layers of MoS2, a van der Waals layered material. We demonstrate that Sn interaction leads to the emergence of gap states within the MoS2 band gap and to corresponding plasmonic features between 1 and 2 eV (0.6-1.2 µm). The observed stimulation of the photoconductivity, as well as the extension of the spectral response from the visible regime toward the mid-infrared suggests that hot-carrier generation and internal photoemission take place.

CuO-Coated Antibacterial and Antiviral Car Air-Conditioning Filters.

The demand for improved indoor air quality, especially during the pandemic of Covid-19, has led to renewed interest in antiviral and antibacterial air-conditioning systems. Here, air filters of vehicles made of nonwoven polyester filter media were sonochemically coated with CuO nanoparticles by a roll-to-roll coating method. The product, aimed at providing commuters with high air quality, showed good stability and mechanical properties and potent activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, H1N1 influenza, and two SARS-CoV-2 variants. The filtering properties of a coated filter were tested, and they were similar to those of the uncoated filter. Leaching tests as a function of airflow were conducted, and the main outcome was that the coating was stable and particles were not detached from the coated media. Extension to other air-conditioning systems was straightforward.

Promising Electrocatalytic Water and Methanol Oxidation Reaction Activity by Nickel Doped Hematite/Surface Oxidized Carbon Nanotubes Composite Structures.

Tailoring the precise construction of non-precious metals and carbon-based heterogeneous catalysts for electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is crucial for energy conversion applications. Herein, this work reports the composite of Ni doped Fe2 O3 (Ni-Fe2 O3 ) with mildly oxidized multi-walled CNT (O-CNT) as an outstanding Mott-Schottky catalyst for OER and MOR. O-CNT acts as a co-catalyst which effectively regulates the charge transfer in Ni-Fe2 O3 and thus enhances the electrocatalytic performance. Ni-Fe2 O3 /O-CNT exhibits a low onset potential of 260 mV and overpotential 310 mV @ 10 mA cm-2 for oxygen evolution. Being a Mott-Schottky catalyst, it achieves the higher flat band potential of -1.15 V with the carrier density of 0.173×1024  cm-3 . Further, in presence of 1 M CH3 OH, it delivers the MOR current density of 10 mA cm-2 at 1.46 V vs. RHE. The excellent electrocatalytic OER and MOR activity of Ni-Fe2 O3 /O-CNT could be attributed to the synergistic interaction between Ni-doped Fe2 O3 and O-CNT.

Effects of a ZnCuO-Nanocoated Ti-6Al-4V Surface on Bacterial and Host Cells.

This study aims to investigate the effects of a novel ZnCuO nanoparticle coating for dental implants-versus those of conventional titanium surfaces-on bacteria and host cells. A multispecies biofilm composed of Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum was grown for 14 days on various titanium discs: machined, sandblasted, sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA), ZnCuO-coated, and hydroxyapatite discs. Bacterial species were quantified with qPCR, and their viability was examined via confocal microscopy. Osteoblast-like and macrophage-like cells grown on the various discs for 48 h were examined for proliferation using an XTT assay, and for activity using ALP and TNF-α assays. The CSLM revealed more dead bacteria in biofilms grown on titanium than on hydroxyapatite, and less on sandblasted than on machined and ZnCuO-coated surfaces, with the latter showing a significant decrease in all four biofilm species. The osteoblast-like cells showed increased proliferation on all of the titanium surfaces, with higher activity on the ZnCuO-coated and sandblasted discs. The macrophage-like cells showed higher proliferation on the hydroxyapatite and sandblasted discs, and lower activity on the SLA and ZnCuO-coated discs. The ZnCuO-coated titanium has anti-biofilm characteristics with desired effects on host cells, thus representing a promising candidate in the complex battle against peri-implantitis.

Magnetite Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications in Optics and Nanophotonics.

Magnetite nanoparticles with different surface coverages are of great interest for many applications due to their intrinsic magnetic properties, nanometer size, and definite surface morphology. Magnetite nanoparticles are widely used for different medical-biological applications while their usage in optics is not as widespread. In recent years, nanomagnetite suspensions, so-called magnetic ferrofluids, are applied in optics due to their magneto-optical properties. This review gives an overview of nanomagnetite synthesis and its properties. In addition, the preparation and application of magnetic nanofluids in optics, nanophotonics, and magnetic imaging are described.

Rhenium Sulfide Incorporated in Molybdenum Sulfide Nanosheets for High-Performance Symmetric Supercapacitors with Enhanced Capacitance.

Supercapacitors are considered potential energy storage devices and have drawn significant attention due to their superior intrinsic advantages. Herein, we report the synthesis of ReS2 embedded in MoS2 nanosheets (RMS-31) by a hydrothermal technique. The prepared RMS-31 electrode material demonstrated superior pseudocapacitive behavior in 1 M KOH electrolyte solution, which is confirmed by the heterostructure of RMS-31 nanosheet architectures. RMS-31 has a specific capacitance of 244 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1 and a greater areal capacitance of 540 mF cm-2 at a current density of 5 mA cm-2. The symmetric supercapacitor device with the RMS-31 electrode delivers an energy density of 28 W h cm-2 with a power density of 1 W cm-2 and reveals long-term stability at a constant current density of 5 mA cm-2 for 10,000 cycles while accomplishing a retention of 66.5%. The high performance of this symmetric device is attributed to the synergistic effect of ReS2 and MoS2 and the presence of the metallic 1T-MoS2 phase in the RMS-31 electrode. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of increasing the interlayer spacing of 2H-MoS2 by incorporating ReS2 for symmetric supercapacitor applications.

CVD-Assisted Synthesis of 2D Layered MoSe2 on Mo Foil and Low Frequency Raman Scattering of Its Exfoliated Few-Layer Nanosheets on CaF2 Substrates.

Transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are unique layered materials with exotic properties. So, examining their structures holds tremendous importance. 2H-MoSe2 (analogous to MoS2; Gr. 6 TMDC) is a crucial optoelectronic material studied extensively using Raman spectroscopy. In this regard, low-frequency Raman (LFR) spectroscopy can probe this material's structure as it reveals distinct vibration modes. Here, we focus on understanding the microstructural evolution of different 2H-MoSe2 morphologies and their layers using LFR scattering. We grew phase-pure 2H-MoSe2 (with variable microstructures) directly on a Mo foil using a two-furnace ambient-pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system by carefully controlling the process parameters. We analyzed the layers of exfoliated flakes after ultrasonication and drop-cast 2H-MoSe2 of different layer thicknesses by choosing different concentrations of 2H-MoSe2 solutions. Further detailed analyses of the respective LFR regions confirm the presence of newly identified Raman signals for the 2H-MoSe2 nanosheets drop-cast on Raman-grade CaF2. Our results show that CaF2 is an appropriate Raman-enhancing substrate compared to Si/SiO2 as it presents new LFR modes of 2H-MoSe2. Therefore, CaF2 substrates are a promising medium to characterize in detail other TMDCs using LFR spectroscopy.

Sonochemically engineered nano-enabled zinc oxide/amylase coatings prevent the occurrence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), caused by biofilms, are the most frequent health-care associated infections. Novel antibiofilm coatings are needed to increase the urinary catheters' life-span, decrease the prevalence of CAUTIs and reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance. Herein, antibacterial zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were decorated with a biofilm matrix-degrading enzyme amylase (AM) and simultaneously deposited onto silicone urinary catheters in a one-step sonochemical process. The obtained nano-enabled coatings inhibited the biofilm formation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by 80% and 60%, respectively, for up to 7 days in vitro in a model of catheterized bladder with recirculation of artificial urine due to the complementary mode of antibacterial and antibiofilm action provided by the NPs and the enzyme. Over this period, the coatings did not induce toxicity to mammalian cell lines. In vivo, the nano-engineered ZnO@AM coated catheters demonstrated lower incidence of bacteriuria and prevent the early onset of CAUTIs in a rabbit model, compared to the animals treated with pristine silicone devices. The nano-functionalization of catheters with hybrid ZnO@AM coatings appears as a promising strategy for prevention and control of CAUTIs in the clinic.

Interfacial Engineering of Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3 Hollow Spheres through Atomic Layer Deposition of TiO2 : Boosting Capacity and Mitigating Structural Instability.

To mitigate the associated challenges of instability and capacity improvement in Na3 V2 (PO4 )2 F3  (NVPF), rationally designed uniformly distributed hollow spherical NVPF and coating the surface of NVPF with ultrathin (≈2 nm) amorphous TiO2  by atomic layer deposition is demonstrated. The coating facilitates higher mobility of the ion through the cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) and enables higher capacity during cycling. The TiO2 @NVPF exhibit discharge capacity of >120 mAhg-1 , even at 1C rates, and show lower irreversible capacity in the first cycle. Further, nearly 100% capacity retention after rate performance in high current densities and 99.9% coulombic efficiency after prolonged cycling in high current density is reported. The improved performance in TiO2 @NVPF is ascribed to the passivation behavior of TiO2  coating which protects the surface of NVPF from volume expansion, significantly less formation of carbonates, and decomposition of electrolyte, which is also validated through post cycling analysis. The study shows the importance of ultrathin surface protection artificial CEI for advanced sodium-ion battery cathodes. The protection layer is diminishing parasitic reaction, which eventually enhances the Na ion participation in reaction and stabilizes the cathode structure.

Laser Printing of Multilayered Alternately Conducting and Insulating Microstructures.

Production of multilayered microstructures composed of conducting and insulating materials is of great interest as they can be utilized as microelectronic components. Current proposed fabrication methods of these microstructures include top-down and bottom-up methods, each having their own set of drawbacks. Laser-based methods were shown to pattern various materials with micron/sub-micron resolution; however, multilayered structures demonstrating conducting/insulating/conducting properties were not yet realized. Here, we demonstrate laser printing of multilayered microstructures consisting of conducting platinum and insulating silicon oxide layers by a combination of thermally driven reactions with microbubble-assisted printing. PtCl2 dissolved in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as a precursor to form conducting Pt layers, while tetraethyl orthosilicate dissolved in NMP formed insulating silicon oxide layers identified by Raman spectroscopy. We demonstrate control over the height of the insulating layer between ∼50 and 250 nm by varying the laser power and number of iterations. The resistivity of the silicon oxide layer at 0.5 V was 1.5 × 1011 Ωm. Other materials that we studied were found to be porous and prone to cracking, rendering them irrelevant as insulators. Finally, we show how microfluidics can enhance multilayered laser microprinting by quickly switching between precursors. The concepts presented here could provide new opportunities for simple fabrication of multilayered microelectronic devices.

Antibacterial and In Vivo Studies of a Green, One-Pot Preparation of Copper/Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Bandages.

Simultaneous water and ethanol-based synthesis and coating of copper and zinc oxide (CuO/ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) on bandages was carried out by ultrasound irradiation. High resolution-transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the effects of the solvent on the particle size and shape of metal oxide NPs. An antibacterial activity study of metal-oxide-coated bandages was carried out against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative). CuO NP-coated bandages made from both water and ethanol demonstrated complete killing of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria within 30 min., whereas ZnO NP-coated bandages demonstrated five-log reductions in viability for both kinds of bacteria after 60 min of interaction. Further, the antibacterial mechanism of CuO/ZnO NP-coated bandages is proposed here based on electron spin resonance studies. Nanotoxicology investigations were conducted via in vivo examinations of the effect of the metal-oxide bandages on frog embryos (teratogenesis assay-Xenopus). The results show that water-based coatings resulted in lesser impacts on embryo development than the ethanol-based ones. These bandages should therefore be considered safer than the ethanol-based ones. The comparison between the toxicity of the metal oxide NPs prepared in water and ethanol is of great importance, because water will replace ethanol for bulk scale synthesis of metal oxide NPs in commercial companies to avoid further ignition problems. The novelty and importance of this manuscript is avoiding the ethanol in the typical water:ethanol mixture as the solvent for the preparation of metal oxide NPs. Ethanol is ignitable, and commercial companies are trying the evade its use. This is especially important these days, as the face mask produced by sonochemistry (SONOMASK) is being sold all over the world by SONOVIA, and it is coated with ZnO.

Novel Lignin-Capped Silver Nanoparticles against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

The emergence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics and the resulting infections are increasingly becoming a public health issue. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are responsible for infections leading to increased morbidity and mortality in hospitals, prolonged time of hospitalization, and additional burden to financial costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for novel antibacterial agents that will both treat MDR infections and outsmart the bacterial evolutionary mechanisms, preventing further resistance development. In this study, a green synthesis employing nontoxic lignin as both reducing and capping agents was adopted to formulate stable and biocompatible silver-lignin nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting antibacterial activity. The resulting silver-lignin NPs were approximately 20 nm in diameter and did not agglomerate after one year of storage at 4 °C. They were able to inhibit the growth of a panel of MDR clinical isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Acinetobacter baumannii, at concentrations that did not affect the viability of a monocyte-derived THP-1 human cell line. Furthermore, the exposure of silver-lignin NPs to the THP-1 cells led to a significant increase in the secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, demonstrating the potential of these particles to act as an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent simultaneously. P. aeruginosa genes linked with efflux, heavy metal resistance, capsular biosynthesis, and quorum sensing were investigated for changes in gene expression upon sublethal exposure to the silver-lignin NPs. Genes encoding for membrane proteins with an efflux function were upregulated. However, all other genes were membrane proteins that did not efflux metals and were downregulated.

Higher Ultrasonic Frequency Liquid Phase Exfoliation Leads to Larger and Monolayer to Few-Layer Flakes of 2D Layered Materials.

Among the most reliable techniques for exfoliation of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials, sonication-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) is considered as a cost-effective and straightforward method for preparing graphene and its 2D inorganic counterparts at reasonable sizes and acceptable levels of defects. Although there were rapid advances in this field, the effect and outcome of the sonication frequency are poorly understood and often ignored, resulting in a low exfoliation efficiency. Here, we demonstrate that simple mild bath sonication at a higher frequency and low power positively contributes to the thickness, size, and quality of the final exfoliated products. We show that monolayer graphene flakes can be directly exfoliated from graphite using ethanol as a solvent by increasing the frequency of the bath sonication from 37 to 80 kHz. The statistical analysis shows that ∼77% of the measured graphene flakes have a thickness below three layers with an average lateral size of 13 µm. We demonstrate that this approach works for digenite (Cu9S5) and silver sulfide (Ag2S), thus indicating that this exfoliation technique can be applied to other inorganic 2D materials to obtain high-quality few-layered flakes. This simple and effective method facilitates the formation of monolayer/few layers of graphene and transition metal chalcogenides for a wide range of applications.

Robust Room-Temperature NO2 Sensors from Exfoliated 2D Few-Layered CVD-Grown Bulk Tungsten Di-selenide (2H-WSe2).

We report a facile and robust room-temperature NO2 sensor fabricated using bi- and multi-layered 2H variant of tungsten di-selenide (2H-WSe2) nanosheets, exhibiting high sensing characteristics. A simple liquid-assisted exfoliation of 2H-WSe2, prepared using ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition, allows smooth integration of these nanosheets on transducers. Three sensor batches are fabricated by modulating the total number of layers (L) obtained from the total number of droplets from a homogeneous 2H-WSe2 dispersion, such as ∼2L, ∼5-6L, and ∼13-17L, respectively. The gas-sensing attributes of 2H-WSe2 nanosheets are investigated thoroughly. Room temperature (RT) experiments show that these devices are specifically tailored for NO2 detection. 2L WSe2 nanosheets deliver the best rapid response compared to ∼5-6L or ∼13-17L. The response of 2L WSe2 at RT is 250, 328, and 361% to 2, 4, and 6 ppm NO2, respectively. The sensor showed nearly the same response toward low NO2 concentration even after 9 months of testing, confirming its remarkable long-term stability. A selectivity study, performed at three working temperatures (RT, 100, and 150 °C), shows high selectivity at 150 and 100 °C. Full selectivity toward NO2 at RT confirms that 2H-WSe2 nanosheet-based sensors are ideal candidates for NO2 gas detection.

In vitro skin toxicity of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles: Application in the safety assessment of antimicrobial coated textiles.

In the context of nosocomial infections, there is an urgent need to develop efficient nanomaterials (NMs) with antibacterial properties for the prevention of infection diseases. Metal oxide nanoparticles (MeO-NPs) are promising candidates for the development of new antibacterial textiles. However, the direct exposure to MeO-NPs and MeO-coated NMs through skin contact could constitute a severe hazard for human health. In this work, the toxicity of copper and zinc oxide (CuO, ZnO) NPs antimicrobial-coated textiles was assessed on an in vitro reconstructed 3D model of epidermis. Thus, MeO-NPs and extracts from MeO-coated NMs were tested on EpiDerm™ skin model according to OECD TG 431 (Corrosion Test) and 439 (Irritation Test), respectively. Skin surface fluids composition is a crucial aspect to be considered in the development of NMs that have to encounter this tissue. So, for the irritation test, coated textiles were extracted in artificial sweat solutions at pH 4.7 and 6.5. Skin tissue viability, pro-inflammatory interleukin-8 secretion and morphological alteration of intermediate and actin filaments of keratinocytes were evaluated after 18 h exposure to extracts from CuO- and ZnO-coated textiles. Analysis of extracts at the two pH conditions indicated that released ions and not NPs are involved in promoting adverse effects on epidermis. Since Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions are known to penetrate epidermis, Balb/3 T3 cells were used as model of dermis. Fibroblasts viability was investigated after the exposure to trans-epidermis permeated ions, collected from EpiDerm™ basal supernatants, and to extracts, as representative of a direct interaction of ions with dermis cells by wounded skin. From our data we can conclude that: 1) skin surface fluids composition is a key parameter for the stability of NPs-coated textiles; 2) MeO ions released from coated textiles can deeply affect the epidermal tissue and the underlying dermal cells upon trans-epidermal permeation; 3) skin barrier integrity is a fundamental prerequisite that should be taken into account during the assessment of NMs safety by direct contact exposure.