Double-interpenetrating nanostructured networks of marine polysaccharides possessing properties comparable to synthetic polymers.

Sustainable circular economy requires materials that possess a property profile comparable to synthetic polymers and, additionally, processing and sourcing of raw materials that have a small environmental footprint. Here, we present a paradigm for processing marine biopolymers into materials that possess both elastic and plastic behavior within a single system involving a double-interpenetrating polymer network comprising the elastic phase of dynamic physical cross-links and stress-dissipating ionically cross-linked domains. As a proof of principle, films possessing more than twofold higher elastic modulus, ultimate tensile strength, and yield stress than those of polylactic acid were realized by blending two water-soluble marine polysaccharides, namely alginic acid (Alg) with physically cross-linkable carboxylated agarose (CA) followed by ionic cross-linking with a divalent cation. Dried CAAlg films showed homogeneous nano-micro-scale domains, with yield stress and size of the domains scaling inversely with calcium concentration. Through surface activation/cross-linking using calcium, CAAlg films could be further processed using wet bonding to yield laminated structures with interfacial failure loads (13.2 ± 0.81 N) similar to the ultimate loads of unlaminated films (10.09 ± 1.47 N). Toward the engineering of wood-marine biopolymer composites, an array of lines of CAAlg were printed on wood veneers (panels), dried, and then bonded following activation with calcium to yield fully bonded wood two-ply laminate. The system presented herein provides a blueprint for the adoption of marine algae-derived polysaccharides in the development of sustainable high-performance materials.

Surface Nanostructures Promote Droplet Splash on Hot Substrates.

Splash, one of the most visually apparent droplet dynamics, can manifest on any surface above a certain impact velocity, regardless of surface wettability. Previous studies demonstrate that elevating the substrate temperature can suppress droplet splash, which is unfavorable for many practical applications, such as spray cooling and combustion. Here, we report that the suppression effect of substrate temperature on splash is nullified by utilizing surfaces with nanostructures. By manipulating air evacuation time through surface nanostructures, we have identified a pathway for precise control over the splash threshold and the ability to tailor the dependence of the splash onset on surface temperature. We further propose a theoretical criterion to determine different splash regimes by considering the competition between air evacuation and the development of flow instabilities. Our findings underscore the crucial role of nanostructures in splash dynamics, offering valuable insights for the control of splash in various industrial scenarios.

Thermal Stability of Skyrmion Tubes in Nanostructured Cuboids.

Magnetic skyrmions in bulk materials are typically regarded as two-dimensional structures. However, they also exhibit three-dimensional configurations, known as skyrmion tubes, that elongate and extend in-depth. Understanding the configurations and stabilization mechanism of skyrmion tubes is crucial for the development of advanced spintronic devices. However, the generation and annihilation of skyrmion tubes in confined geometries are still rarely reported. Here, we present direct imaging of skyrmion tubes in nanostructured cuboids of a chiral magnet FeGe using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (TEM), while applying an in-plane magnetic field. It is observed that skyrmion tubes stabilize in a narrow field-temperature region near the Curie temperature (Tc). Through a field cooling process, metastable skyrmion tubes can exist in a larger region of the field-temperature diagram. Combining these experimental findings with micromagnetic simulations, we attribute these phenomena to energy differences and thermal fluctuations. Our results could promote topological spintronic devices based on skyrmion tubes.

Facile Fabrication of Multifunctional Hydrogel Nanoweb Coating Using Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Based Short Nanofibers for Blood-Contacting Medical Devices.

Blood-contacting medical devices (BCDs) require antithrombotic, antibacterial, and low-friction surfaces. Incorporating a nanostructured surface with the functional hydrogel onto BCD surfaces can enhance the performances; however, their fabrication remains challenging. Here, we introduce a straightforward method to fabricate a multifunctional hydrogel-based nanostructure on BCD surfaces using O-carboxymethyl chitosan-based short nanofibers (CMC-SNFs). CMC-SNFs, fabricated via electrospinning and cutting processes, are easily sprayed and entangled onto the BCD surface. The deposited CMC-SNFs form a robust nanoweb layer via fusion at the contact area of the nanofiber interfaces. The superhydrophilic CMC-SNF nanoweb surface creates a water-bound layer that effectively prevents the nonspecific adhesion of bacteria and blood cells, thereby enhancing both antimicrobial and antithrombotic performances. Furthermore, the CMC-SNF nanoweb exhibits excellent lubricity and durability on the bovine aorta. The demonstration results of the CMC-SNF coating on catheters and sheaths provide evidence of its capability to apply multifunctional surfaces simply for diverse BCDs.

Enhanced Thermoelectric Performance of Nanostructured 2D Tin Telluride.

A lot of experimental studies are conducted on theoretically predicted thermoelectric 2D materials. Such materials can pave the way for charging ultra-thin electronic devices, self-charging wearable devices, and medical implants. This study systematically explores the thermoelectric attributes of bulk and 2D nanostructured Tin Telluride (SnTe), employing experimental investigations and theoretical analyses based on semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory. The bulk SnTe is synthesized through flame melting, while the 2D SnTe is produced via liquid phase exfoliation. The comprehensive assessment of thermoelectric properties integrated experimental measurements utilizing a Physical Property Measurement System and theoretical calculations from the BoltzTraP code. Experimental thermoelectric studies show a high ZT of 0.17 for 2D SnTe when compared to bulk (0.005) at room temperature. This rise in ZT is due to the high Seebeck coefficient and low thermal conductivity of nanostructured 2D SnTe. Density functional theory (DFT) studies reveal the contribution of the density of states (DOS) and energy bandgap in enhancing the Seebeck coefficient and lowering thermal conductivity by interface scattering.

Synthesis of Iron Sulfide Nanocrystals Encapsulated in Highly Porous Carbon-Coated CNT Microsphere as Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Highly porous carbon materials with a rationally designed pore structure can be utilized as reservoirs for metal or nonmetal components. The use of small-sized metal or metal compound nanoparticles, completely encapsulated by carbon materials, has attracted significant attention as an effective approach to enhancing sodium ion storage properties. These materials have the ability to mitigate structural collapse caused by volume expansion during the charging process, enable short ion transport length, and prevent polysulfide elution. In this study, a concept of highly porous carbon-coated carbon nanotube (CNT) porous microspheres, which serve as excellent reservoir materials is suggested and a porous microsphere is developed by encapsulating iron sulfide nanocrystals within the highly porous carbon-coated CNTs using a sulfidation process. Furthermore, various sulfidation processes to determine the optimal method for achieving complete encapsulation are investigated by comparing the morphologies of diverse iron sulfide-carbon composites. The fully encapsulated structure, combined with the porous carbon, provides ample space to accommodate the significant volume changes during cycling. As a result, the porous iron sulfide-carbon-CNT composite microspheres exhibited outstanding cycling stability (293 mA h g-1 over 600 cycles at 1 A g-1 ) and remarkable rate capability (100 mA h g-1 at 5 A g-1 ).

Regulation Strategy of Nanostructured Engineering on Indium-Based Materials for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2.

Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (CO2 RR), as an emerging technology, can combine with sustainable energies to convert CO2 into high value-added products, providing an effective pathway to realize carbon neutrality. However, the high activation energy of CO2 , low mass transfer, and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) leads to the unsatisfied catalytic activity. Recently, Indium (In)-based materials have attracted significant attention in CO2 RR and a series of regulation strategies of nanostructured engineering are exploited to rationally design various advanced In-based electrocatalysts, which forces the necessary of a comprehensive and fundamental summary, but there is still a scarcity. Herein, this review provides a systematic discussion of the nanostructure engineering of In-based materials for the efficient electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to fuels. These efficient regulation strategies including morphology, size, composition, defects, surface modification, interfacial structure, alloying, and single-atom structure, are summarized for exploring the internal relationship between the CO2 RR performance and the physicochemical properties of In-based catalysts. The correlation of electronic structure and adsorption behavior of reaction intermediates are highlighted to gain in-depth understanding of catalytic reaction kinetics for CO2 RR. Moreover, the challenges and opportunities of In-based materials are proposed, which is expected to inspire the development of other effective catalysts for CO2 RR.

Wettability of Graffiti Coatings by Green Nanostructured Fluids.

Green nanostructured fluids (GNFs), specifically water-in-oil nanoemulsions (w/o NEs), were investigated as professional "brush on, wipe off" nanodetergents for the effective removal of various challenging graffiti coatings. The efficacy of the advanced nanodetergents in eradicating resilient graffiti coatings was evaluated using various methods to assess the surface properties of forming graffiti coatings. The surface properties of these coatings were examined by assessing their wettability by water, surface free energy, and topography to obtain information on the intermolecular interactions with the nanodetergent during the wetting and graffiti removal process. Our findings revealed significant variations in the coating removal rate and efficacy of green nanostructured fluids, which are stabilized using surfactants derived from saccharides or amino acids. A water-in-oil nanoemulsion, stabilized by caprylyl/capryl glucoside, demonstrated exceptional efficiency at cleaning graffiti paints based on alkyd resin and containing various additives such as nitrocellulose or bitumen, from any hard surface within a short time period. However, a w/o NE, stabilized by sodium cocoyl glycinate, also showed effective removal of graffiti paints containing durable bitumen, albeit at a slower rate on. These green nanostructured fluids can be used as specific nanodetergents for the comprehensive removal of various graffiti coatings, but require a specified action time to prevent damage to the original substrate beneath the paint coating.

Interfacial Phenomena in Nanostructured Systems with Various Materials.

Interfacial phenomena linked to the behavior of bound water, organic solvents (co-sorbates, dispersion media), hydrogen, methane, acids/bases, and salts bound to various silicas, polymers, and carbon materials were analyzed vs. temperature and concentrations using 1 H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and other methods. The material characteristics were studied using microscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and nitrogen adsorption. Confined space effects (CSE) result in enhanced freezing point depression (FPD) and stronger diminution of solvent activity and colligative properties of liquid mixtures in narrower pores. Short hydrophobic functionalities (≡Si-CH3 , =Si(CH3 )2 ) at a silica surface and the presence of nanopores result in differentiation of bound water into weakly (WAW, δH =0.2-2.0 ppm) and strongly (SAW, δH =4-6 ppm) associated waters of smaller solvent activity in smaller clusters located in narrower pores and unfrozen below a bulk freezing point. These effects are enhanced in hydrophobic dispersion media. Hydrophobic liquids could displace bound water into narrower pores inaccessible for their molecules larger than water and/or into broader pores to reduce contact area between immiscible liquids. The observed phenomena depend on sorbent/sorbate kinds and play an important role on practical applications of various sorbents.

On the Structure, Stability, and Cell Uptake of Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Drug Delivery.

The efficacy of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for drug delivery strongly depends on their stability and cell uptake. Both properties are governed by their compositions and internal structure. To test the effect of the lipid composition of NLC on cell uptake and stability, three kinds of liquid lipids with different degrees of unsaturation are employed. After ensuring homogeneous size distributions, the thermodynamic characteristics, stability, and mixing properties of NLC are characterized. Then the rates and predominant pathways of cell uptake are determined. Although the same surfactant is used in all cases, different uptake rates are observed. This finding contradicts the view that the surface properties of NLC are dominated by the surfactant. Instead, the uptake rates are explained by the structure of the nanocarrier. Depending on the mixing properties, some liquid lipids remain inside the nanocarrier, while other liquid lipids are present on the surface. Nanocarriers with liquid lipids on the surface are taken up more readily by the cells. This shows that the engineering of efficient lipid nanocarriers requires a delicate balance of interactions between all components of the nanocarrier on the molecular level.

Photocatalytic activity enhancement of nanostructured metal-oxides photocatalyst: a review.

Nanostructured metal oxide semiconductors have emerged as promising nanoscale photocatalysts due to their excellent photosensitivity, chemical stability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility. Enhancing the photocatalytic activity of metal oxide is critical in improving their efficiency in radical ion production upon optical exposure for various applications. Therefore, this review paper provides an in-depth analysis of the photocatalytic activity of nanostructured metal oxides, including the photocatalytic mechanism, factors affecting the photocatalytic efficiency, and approaches taken to boost the photocatalytic performance through structure or material modifications. This paper also highlights an overview of the recent applications and discusses the recent advancement of ZnO-based nanocomposite as a promising photocatalytic material for environmental remediation, energy conversion, and biomedical applications.

An efficient modeling workflow for high-performance nanowire single-photon avalanche detector.

Single-photon detector (SPD), an essential building block of the quantum communication system, plays a fundamental role in developing next-generation quantum technologies. In this work, we propose an efficient modeling workflow of nanowire SPDs utilizing avalanche breakdown at reverse-biased conditions. The proposed workflow is explored to maximize computational efficiency and balance time-consuming drift-diffusion simulation with fast script-based post-processing. Without excessive computational effort, we could predict a suite of key device performance metrics, including breakdown voltage, dark/light avalanche built-up time, photon detection efficiency, dark count rate, and the deterministic part of timing jitter due to device structures. Implementing the proposed workflow onto a single InP nanowire and comparing it to the extensively studied planar devices and superconducting nanowire SPDs, we showed the great potential of nanowire avalanche SPD to outperform their planar counterparts and obtain as superior performance as superconducting nanowires, i.e. achieve a high photon detection efficiency of 70% with a dark count rate less than 20 Hz at non-cryogenic temperature. The proposed workflow is not limited to single-nanowire or nanowire-based device modeling and can be readily extended to more complicated two-/three dimensional structures.

Facile adipocyte uptake and liver/adipose tissue delivery of conjugated linoleic acid-loaded tocol nanocarriers for a synergistic anti-adipogenesis effect.

Obesity is a major risk to human health. Adipogenesis is blocked by α-tocopherol and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). However, their effect at preventing obesity is uncertain. The effectiveness of the bioactive agents is associated with their delivery method. Herein, we designed CLA-loaded tocol nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) for enhancing the anti-adipogenic activity of α-tocopherol and CLA. Adipogenesis inhibition by the nanocarriers was examined using an in vitro adipocyte model and an in vivo rat model fed a high fat diet (HFD). The targeting of the tocol NLCs into adipocytes and adipose tissues were also investigated. A synergistic anti-adipogenesis effect was observed for the combination of free α-tocopherol and CLA. Nanoparticles with different amounts of solid lipid were developed with an average size of 121‒151 nm. The NLCs with the smallest size (121 nm) showed greater adipocyte internalization and differentiation prevention than the larger size. The small-sized NLCs promoted CLA delivery into adipocytes by 5.5-fold as compared to free control. The nanocarriers reduced fat accumulation in adipocytes by counteracting the expression of the adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α, and lipogenic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Localized administration of CLA-loaded tocol NLCs significantly reduced body weight, total cholesterol, and liver damage indicators in obese rats. The biodistribution study demonstrated that the nanoparticles mainly accumulated in liver and adipose tissues. The NLCs decreased adipocyte hypertrophy and cytokine overexpression in the groin and epididymis to a greater degree than the combination of free α-tocopherol and CLA. In conclusion, the lipid-based nanocarriers were verified to inhibit adipogenesis in an efficient and safe way.

Nanostructured gadolinium(III) micelles: Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic activities, and MRI applications in vivo.

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are used in around 40 % of MRI procedures. Despite initial perceptions of minimal risk, their long-term use has emphasized the need to reduce toxicity and develop more efficient GBCAs with extended blood retention. Advancements in nanomaterials have led to improved GBCAs, enhancing MRI diagnostics. This study synthesizes and characterizes nanostructured gadolinium(III) micelles as superior MRI contrast agents. The complexes, [Gd(L)2], where L is a ligand of the N-alkyl-N-methylglucamine surfactant series (L8, L10 or L12, L10), form nanostructured micelles in aqueous solution. Gd(L8)2 and Gd(L10)2 relaxivities remained stable across concentrations. Compared to Gd-DTPA, Gd(III) micelles showed enhanced T1-weighted MRI contrast. Gd(L12)2 micelles exhibited cytotoxicity against B16F10 melanoma cells (IC50 42.5 ± 2.2 µM) and L292L929 fibroblasts (IC50 52.0 ± 2.5 µM), with a selectivity index of 1.2. In vivo application in mice brain T2-weighted images suggests nanostructured Gd(III) micelles are promising MRI contrast agents for targeting healthy organs or tumors.

A comprehensive review on lipid nanocarrier systems for cancer treatment: fabrication, future prospects and clinical trials.

Over the last few decades, cancer has been considered a clinical challenge, being among the leading causes of mortality all over the world. Although many treatment approaches have been developed for cancer, chemotherapy is still the most utilized in the clinical setting. However, the available chemotherapeutics-based treatments have several caveats including their lack of specificity, adverse effects as well as cancer relapse and metastasis which mainly explains the low survival rate of patients. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been utilized as promising nanocarrier systems for chemotherapeutics to overcome the challenges of the currently applied therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. Loading chemotherapeutic agent(s) into LNPs improves drug delivery at different aspects including specific targeting of tumours, and enhancing the bioavailability of drugs at the tumour site through selective release of their payload, thus reducing their undesired side effects on healthy cells. This review article delineates an overview of the clinical challenges in many cancer treatments as well as depicts the role of LNPs in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, the review contains a comprehensive description of the many LNPs categories used as nanocarriers in cancer treatment to date, as well as the potential of LNPs for future applications in other areas of medicine and research.

An electrochemical biosensor for sensitive detection of live Salmonella in food via MXene amplified methylene blue signals and electrostatic immobilization of bacteriophages.

A novel bacteriophage-targeted electrochemical biosensor designed for accurate and quantitative detection of live Salmonella in food samples is presented. The biosensor is simply constructed by electrostatic immobilizing bacteriophages on MXene-nanostructured electrodes. MXene, renowned for its high surface area, biocompatibility, and conductivity, serves as an ideal platform for bacteriophage immobilization. This allows for a high-density immobilization of bacteriophage particles, achieving approximately 71 pcs µm-2. Remarkably, the bacteriophages immobilized MXene nanostructured electrodes still maintain their viability and functionality, ensuring their effectiveness in pathogen detection. Therefore, the proposed biosensor exhibited enhanced sensitivity with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 5 CFU mL-1. Notably, the biosensor shows excellent specificity in the presence of other bacteria that commonly contaminate food and can distinguish live Salmonella from a mixed population. Furthermore, it is applicable in detecting live Salmonella in food samples, which highlights its potential in food safety monitoring. This biosensor offers simplicity, convenience, and suitability for resource-limited environments, making it a promising tool for on-site monitoring of foodborne pathogenic bacteria.

Galvanic-Replacement-Assisted Synthesis of Nanostructured Silver-Surface for SERS Characterization of Two-Dimensional Polymers.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is a powerful technology in trace analysis. However, the wide applications of SERS in practice are limited by the expensive substrate materials and the complicated preparation processes. Here we report a simple and economical galvanic-replacement-assisted synthesis route to prepare Ag nanoparticles on Cu(0) foil (nanoAg@Cu), which can be directly used as SERS substrate. The fabrication process is fast (ca. 10 min) and easily scaled up to centimeters or even larger. In addition, the morphology of the nanoAg@Cu (with Ag particles size from 30 nm to 160 nm) can be adjusted by various additives (e.g., amino-containing ligands). Finally, we show that the as-prepared nanoAg@Cu can be used for SERS characterization of two-dimensional polymers, and ca. 298 times relative enhancement of Raman intensity is achieved. This work offers a simple and economical strategy for the scalable fabrication of silver-based SERS substrate in thin film analysis.

Widely Varying Kondo and Magnetic Interactions in Molecule Gold Nanostructured Materials by Changing the Gold Nanoarchitecture.

Delocalized-localized electron interactions are central to strongly correlated electron phenomena. Here, we study the Kondo effect, a prototypical strongly correlated phenomena, in a tunable fashion using gold nanostructures (nanoparticle, NP, and nanoshell, NS) + molecule cross-linkers (butanedithiol, BDT). NP films exhibit hallmark signatures of the Kondo effect, including (1) a log temperature resistance upturn as temperature decreases in a metallic regime, and (2) zero-bias conductance peaks (ZBCPs) that are well fit by a Frota function near a percolation insulator transition, previously used to model Kondo peaks observed using tunnel junctions. Remarkably, NP + NS films exhibit ZBCPs that persist to >220 K, i.e., >10-fold higher than that in NP films. Magnetic measurements reveal that moments in NP powders align, and in NS powders, they antialign at low temperatures. Based on these observations, we propose a mechanism in which varying such material nanobuilding blocks can modify electron-electron interactions to such a large degree.

Rapid Bacterial Detection and Gram-Identification Using Bacterially Activated, Macrophage-Membrane-Coated Nanowired-Si Surfaces in a Microfluidic Device.

Bacterially induced sepsis requires rapid bacterial detection and identification. Hours count for critically ill septic patients, while current culture-based detection requires at least 10 h up to several days. Here, we apply a microfluidic device equipped with a bacterially activated, macrophage-membrane-coating on nanowired-Si adsorbent surfaces for rapid, bacterial detection and Gram-identification in bacterially contaminated blood. Perfusion of suspensions of Gram-negative or Gram-positive bacteria through a microfluidic device equipped with membrane-coated adsorbent surfaces detected low (<10 CFU/mL) bacterial levels. Subsequent, in situ fluorescence-staining yielded Gram-identification for guiding antibiotic selection. In mixed Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suspensions, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were detected in the same ratios as those fixed in suspension. Results were validated with a 100% correct score by blinded evaluation (two observers) of 15 human blood samples, spiked with widely different bacterial strains or combinations of strains, demonstrating the potential of the platform for rapid (1.5 h in total) diagnosis of bacterial sepsis.

Quality by design endorsed atorvastatin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers embedded in pH-responsive gel for melanoma.

AIM: Our aim was to repurpose atorvastatin for melanoma by encapsulating in a nanostructured lipid carrier matrix to promote tumour cell internalisation and skin permeation. pH-responsive chitosan gel was employed to restrict At-NLCs in upper dermal layers. METHODS: We utilised a quality by design approach for encapsulating At within the NLC matrix. Further, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity was evaluated along with pH-responsive release and ex vivo skin permeation. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity assay showed 3.13-fold enhanced cytotoxicity on melanoma cells compared to plain drug with nuclear staining showing apoptotic markers. In vitro, release studies showed 5.9-fold rapid release in chitosan gel matrix at pH 5.5 compared to neutral pH. CONCLUSIONS: At-NLCs prevented precipitation, promoted skin permeation, and SK-MEL 28 cell internalisation. The localisation of NLCs on the upper dermal layer due to electrostatic interactions of skin with chitosan gel diminished the incidence of untoward systemic effects.