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Protein-based nanocarriers with inherent biocompatibility have been widely served as building blocks to construct versatile therapeutic nanoplatforms. Herein, bovine serum albumin-iridium oxide nanoparticles (denoted BSA-IrO 2 NPs) are successfully synthesized via one-step biomineralization approach. The BSA-IrO 2 NPs exhibits uniform size (40 nm), superb biocompatibility and high drug loading capacity for doxorubicin (27.4 wt%). Under near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation, the as-prepared BSA-IrO 2 NPs exhibited high photothermal conversion ability (54.3%) and good photostability. The in vitro drug release experiments displayed pH and NIR laser -triggered DOX release profiles, which could enhance the therapeutic anticancer effect. By utilizing this DOX loaded nanoplatform, effective synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy against human osteosarcoma can be realized, which has been systematically verified both in vitro and in vivo . Notably, in vivo pharmacokinetics studies showed that BSA-IrO 2 @DOX had prolonged blood circulation time due to the BSA component can improve the stealthiness of the nanoparticles during the blood circulation. Meanwhile, in vitro and in vivo  toxicity studies demonstrated that the BSA-IrO 2 NPs can act as biocompatible agents for drug delivery and cancer therapy. Therefore, this work presents a biomineralized iridium-based NPs with remarkable features and be used as a very potential therapeutic nanoplatform for cancer treatment.

• Nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized from corn straw extract promote methane production. • Iron NPs encourages the emergence of new liquid products. • Iron NPs promote nutrient exchange between bacteria. • Copper NPs inhibits the activity of acid-producing and CO 2 /H 2 -producing bacteria. • Iron NPs increase the abundance of functional gene for producing more methane. To investigate the influence of nanoparticles (NPs) as additives on methane production from coal, bituminous coal was selected for the biogas production experiment, and iron and copper NPs were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of corn straw. Biomethane production, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, microbial community structure, and functional gene expression were analyzed to determine the effect of NPs on coal conversion to biomethane. The optimal amount of iron NPs (Fe 3 O 4), composite NPs (Fe 3 O 4 /CuO), and copper NPs (CuO) for the biogas production experiment were 1.5 g/L, 1.0 g/L, and 1.5 g/L, respectively, and the corresponding methane production increased by 701.22%, 337.81%, and 12.20% compared to the biogas production experiment without NPs. After the addition of iron NPs, a new product (butylated hydroxytoluene) was produced, promoting fatty acid biosynthesis and decreasing the CO 2 accumulation. The abundance of liquid products in the biogas production with composite NPs was not significantly different from the experimental group without NPs. The microbial community structure analysis results showed that adding NPs eliminated Lysinibacillus in the bacterial community, while Pseudomonas prevailed as the dominant bacteria. Copper NPs inhibited acid-producing and CO 2 /H 2 -producing bacteria (Sphaerochaeta). The abundance of functional genes involved in glycolysis and methane metabolism in the biogas production experiment with iron NPs was the largest, promoting biomethane production. Gene abundance related to nitrate reduction was the highest in experiments with copper NPs, while the gene abundance related to sulfate reduction was the same between copper and iron NPs groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ag nanoparticles embedded in soda-lime silicate glasses were fabricated by the ion-exchange technique. Effects of thermal treatment on the optical nonlinearity and ultrafast dynamics of Ag nanoparticles were investigated by applying time-resolved optical Kerr effect and pump-probe techniques. The results indicate that thermal treatment is an efficient method to improve the nonlinear optical performance of this kind of material. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ag nanoparticles embedded in soda-lime silicate glass were fabricated by ion-exchange and subsequently annealing method. Z-scan technique, femtosecond time-resolved optical Kerr effect (OKE) technique and femtosecond pump-probe experiment were used to investigate the effects of laser wavelength and laser pulse duration as well as annealing temperature on the third-order optical nonlinearity and ultrafast dynamics of the composites. It was found that the third-order susceptibility of Ag nanoparticles composite glass measured by 400 nm pulse source is larger than that measured by 800 nm pulse source due to an enhancement effect of local field near surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanoparticles in silicate glass. The third-order optical nonlinearity measured by ns laser source is about two orders of magnitude larger than that measured from fs pulse. The annealing temperature has an important effect on the third-order optical nonlinearity and ultrafast dynamics of the composites. Third-order nonlinear susceptibility up to 10-10 esu and fast relaxation process up to 0.2 ps have been obtained in Ag nanoparticles doped glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal organic framework CuBTC nanoparticles were incorporated into polyether-block-amide (Pebax) to promote the transport of penetrant molecules in the membranes. The CuBTC nanoparticles can form hydrogen-bonds with the Pebax chains, thus interfered with the chain packing and tailored the free volume properties of Pebax. The channels and active metal sites of CuBTC promoted the transport of sulfur-containing molecules when the membranes were employed for gasoline desulfurization. When the filler content was 2 wt%, the optimal separation performance was achieved with a permeation flux of 4.4 kg/(m 2 h) and a thiophene enrichment factor of 6.0 at 40 °C, increased by 36% and 11% compared with the Pebax pristine membrane. The comprehensive performance of the membranes is more competitive than widely-used PDMS membranes, especially under high temperatures. A permeation flux of 16.45 kg/(m 2 h) is reached with an enrichment factor of 4.04 at 70 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]