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Using nanocatalysts to catalyze water electrolysis for hydrogen production is an ideal solution to address the energy crisis. The most well-adopted fabrication methods for nanocatalysts are tube furnace annealing, Hydrothermal method, etc., hardly satisfying the trade-off among coarsening, dispersity, and particle size due to mutual restrictions. Herein, a universal, ultrafast and facile cellulose nanometer whiskers-high temperature shock (CNW-HTS) method was reported for fabricating a library of ultrafine metal nanoparticles with uniform dispersion and narrow size distribution. The metal-anchor functional groups in CNW (i.e., –OH and –COOH) and the characteristics of the HTS method for ultrafast heating and powerful quenching synergistically contribute to the successful synthesis of metal nanoparticles. As an initial demonstration, the as-prepared Pt nanocatalyst (η10 ​mA ​cm−2 ​= ​51.8 ​mV) shows more excellent catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance than the Pt catalyst prepared in the tubular furnace (η10 ​mA ​cm−2 ​= ​169.4 ​mV). This rapid and universal CNW-HTS method can pave the way for nanomanufacturing to produce high-quality metal nanoparticles, thereby expanding applications of energy conversion and electrocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early angiogenesis provides nutrient supply for bone tissue repair, and insufficient angiogenesis will lead tissue engineering failure. Lanthanide metal nanoparticles (LM NPs) are the preferred materials for tissue engineering and can effectively promote angiogenesis. Holmium oxide nanoparticles (HNPs) are LM NPs with the function of bone tissue "tracking" labelling. Preliminary studies have shown that HNPs has potential of promote angiogenesis, but the specific role and mechanism remain unclear. This limits the biological application of HNPs. Results: In this study, we confirmed that HNPs promoted early vessel formation, especially that of H-type vessels in vivo, thereby accelerating bone tissue repair. Moreover, HNPs promoted angiogenesis by increasing cell migration, which was mediated by filopodia extension in vitro. At the molecular level, HNPs interact with the membrane protein EphrinB2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and phosphorylated EphrinB2 can bind and activate VAV2, which is an activator of the filopodia regulatory protein CDC42. When these three molecules were inhibited separately, angiogenesis was reduced. Conclusion: Overall, our study confirmed that HNPs increased cell migration to promote angiogenesis for the first time, which is beneficial for bone repair. The EphrinB2/VAV2/CDC42 signalling pathway regulates cell migration, which is an important target of angiogenesis. Thus, HNPs are a new candidate biomaterial for tissue engineering, providing new insights into their biological application. Article highlights: Holmium oxide nanoparticles (HNPs) promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. HNPs increase cell migration by mediate filopodia extension, thus promote angiogenesis. HNPs interact with EphrinB2 to promote its phosphorylation. EphrinB2 interacts with and activates VAV2. VAV2 activates CDC42 to promote endothelial cell migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early angiogenesis provides nutrient supply for bone tissue repair, and insufficient angiogenesis will lead tissue engineering failure. Lanthanide metal nanoparticles (LM NPs) are the preferred materials for tissue engineering and can effectively promote angiogenesis. Holmium oxide nanoparticles (HNPs) are LM NPs with the function of bone tissue "tracking" labelling. Preliminary studies have shown that HNPs has potential of promote angiogenesis, but the specific role and mechanism remain unclear. This limits the biological application of HNPs. Results: In this study, we confirmed that HNPs promoted early vessel formation, especially that of H-type vessels in vivo, thereby accelerating bone tissue repair. Moreover, HNPs promoted angiogenesis by increasing cell migration, which was mediated by filopodia extension in vitro. At the molecular level, HNPs interact with the membrane protein EphrinB2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and phosphorylated EphrinB2 can bind and activate VAV2, which is an activator of the filopodia regulatory protein CDC42. When these three molecules were inhibited separately, angiogenesis was reduced. Conclusion: Overall, our study confirmed that HNPs increased cell migration to promote angiogenesis for the first time, which is beneficial for bone repair. The EphrinB2/VAV2/CDC42 signalling pathway regulates cell migration, which is an important target of angiogenesis. Thus, HNPs are a new candidate biomaterial for tissue engineering, providing new insights into their biological application. Article highlights: Holmium oxide nanoparticles (HNPs) promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. HNPs increase cell migration by mediate filopodia extension, thus promote angiogenesis. HNPs interact with EphrinB2 to promote its phosphorylation. EphrinB2 interacts with and activates VAV2. VAV2 activates CDC42 to promote endothelial cell migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tandem reactions are one of the effective measures for efficiently utilizing ammonia borane for organic conversion. However, in conventional reaction systems, mismatched reaction rates or too-long reaction times will cause excessive pressure in the reaction vessel, wastage of the hydrogen source, or reduction of the reaction efficiency. Therefore, higher requirements are proposed for the reaction system to utilize ammonia borane fully and rapidly for organic conversion. Herein, a novel Pickering emulsion stabilized by nanoparticles, which include emulsifying particles and hydrophilic particles, was developed as the reaction system for series-parallel catalysis. The emulsifying particles were carboxyl-modified silica nanoparticles loaded with Pd, and were endowed with pH-responsiveness, and catalysis and emulsification properties, and adsorbed at the oil–water interface of the emulsion. The hydrophilic particles were silica nanoparticles loaded with Pd and dispersed in a continuous phase. Ammonia borane released hydrogen in the water phase, while water-soluble organic matter and oil-soluble organic matter were hydrogenated in the water phase and oil phase, respectively. The reaction rates of dehydrogenation and hydrogenation were very close, resulting in efficient use of ammonia borane. The conversions of styrene and 2,5-dihydrofuran (2,5-DHF) reached as high as 95.42% and 96.08%, respectively. In addition, since the emulsions were endowed with pH-sensitivity, this enabled oil–water separation using a simple strategy. After 5 cycles, there was still a high conversion rate of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel biomass-based magnetic nanoparticle (Fe3O4-P-CMC/PAMAM) was synthesized by crosslinking carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM), followed by phosphorylation with the incorporation of magnetic ferric oxide nanoparticles. The characterization results verified the successful functionalization and structural integrity of the adsorbents with a surface area of ca. 43 m2/g. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that the adsorbent exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 1513.47 mg·g−1 for U(VI) at pH 5.5 and 298.15 K, with Fe3O4-P-CMC/G1.5-2 showing the highest affinity among the series. The adsorption kinetics adhered to a pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.99, qe,exp = 463.81 mg·g−1, k2 = 2.15×10−2 g·mg−1·min−1), indicating a chemically driven process. Thermodynamic analysis suggested that the adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous (ΔH° = 14.71 kJ·mol−1, ΔG° = −50.63 kJ·mol−1, 298. 15 K), with increasing adsorption capacity at higher temperatures. The adsorbent demonstrated significant selectivity for U(VI) in the presence of competing cations, with Fe3O4-P-CMC/G1.5-2 showing a high selectivity coefficient. The performed desorption and reusability tests indicated that the adsorbent could be effectively regenerated using 1M HCl, maintaining its adsorption capacity after five cycles. XPS analysis highlighted the role of phosphonate and amino groups in the complexation with uranyl ions, and validated the existence of bimodal U4f peaks at 380.1 eV and 390.1 eV belonging to U 4f7/2 and U 4f5/2. The results of this study underscore the promise of the developed adsorbent as an effective and selective material for the treatment of uranium-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the wide utility of micellar palladium (Pd) nanoparticle (NP)-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck reactions in laboratory and industrial synthesis, the easy construction of micellar Pd NPs and the detailed role of surfactants remain the focus of attention. Here, we present a simple and sustainable strategy to construct a nanoreactor by connecting micelles with Pd NPs. This strategy enables us to obtain ultrasmall Pd NPs with an average particle size of 1.8 nm, mainly in situ synthesized by triethylamine (Et3N) reduction and stabilized by chelating with sugar-based surfactant micelles. The first-order kinetic model related to the initial concentration of Pd-based catalyst is established, and the apparent activation energy of this reaction in aqueous micellar solutions is calculated to be 40.49 kJ mol−1. The mechanism of the active species ultrasmall Pd(0) NPs obtained by the reductive elimination of Pd(II) precursors by base was demonstrated. Notably, the recycled aqueous reaction mixture containing the micelles and Pd NPs can be reused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploration of stable, efficient, and low‐cost catalysts toward ammonia borane hydrolysis is of vital significance for the practical implementation of this hydrogen production technology. Integrating interface engineering and nano‐architecture engineering is a favorable strategy to elevate catalytic performance, as it can modify the electronic structure and provide sufficient active sites simultaneously. In this work, urchin‐like NiCoP/CoP heterostructures are prepared via a three‐step hydrothermal‐oxidation‐phosphorization synthesis route. It is demonstrated that the original Ni/Co molar ratio and the amount of phosphorus are crucial for adjusting the morphology, enhancing the exposed surface area, facilitating charge transfer, and modulating the adsorption and activation of H2O molecules. Consequently, the optimal Ni1Co2P heterostructure displays remarkable catalytic properties in the hydrolysis of ammonia borane with a turnover frequency (TOF) value of 30.3 molH2 ⋅ min−1 ⋅ molmetal−1, a low apparent activation energy of 25.89 kJ ⋅ mol−1, and good stability. Furthermore, by combining infrared spectroscopy and isotope kinetics experiments, a possible mechanism for the hydrolysis of ammonia borane was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation is the key to determining the performance and lifetime of direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). At present, the most effective and promising electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) are Pt and platinum-based catalysts. Unfortunately, the toxicity of CO intermediates leads to rapid inactivation of the MOR catalyst, further lowering the durability of the MOR. In response to this issue, it has been found that effective screening of good oxygen evolution reaction (OER) active materials and synergistic application with Pt in the MOR can reduce the loss of activity and improve its durability. Based on this strategy, a series of Pt-based MOR catalysts (Pt/Ni, Pt/Co and Pt/NiCo) are synthesized by electrodeposition. The results indicate that the OER activity of Pt/Ni, Pt/Co, and Pt/NiCo is positively correlated with MOR activity and durability. Among the Pt-based MOR catalysts, the ultimate optimized Pt/NiCo exhibits excellent MOR performance, with a good mass activity of 495 A gPt-1, strong CV cycle durability (63.6% activity retained after 5000 cycles), and a long-term operating durability of 15 000 s in alkaline solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulating metal‐metal and metal‐support interactions is one of the potent tools for augmenting catalytic performance. Herein, highly active Co/VN nanoparticles are well dispersed on three‐dimensional porous carbon nanofoam (Co/VN@NC) with the assistance of dicyandiamide. Studies certify that the consequential disordered carbon substrate reinforces the confinement of electrons, while the coupling of diverse components optimizes charge redistribution among species. Besides, theoretical analyses confirm that the regulated electron configuration can significantly tune the binding strength between the active sites and intermediates, thus optimizing reaction energy barriers. Therefore, Co/VN@NC exhibits a competitive potential difference (ΔE, 0.65 V) between the half‐wave potential of ORR and OER potential at 10 mA cm−2, outperforming Pt/C+RuO2 (0.67 V). Further, catalyst‐based aqueous/flexible ZABs present superior performances with peak power densities of 156 and 85 mW cm−2, superior to Pt/C‐based counterparts (128 and 73 mW cm−2). This research provides a pivotal foundation for the evolution of bifunctional catalysts in the energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous nanoparticles integrating the advantages of porosity and structural coherence typically possess numerous active sites confined on their surfaces. In this study, porous Co3O4, Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesised by one-step pyrolysis from metal–organic frameworks (MIL-101 (Fe) and ZIF-67 (Co)) to test the performance of CO oxidation. The prepared porous nanoparticles have uniform and stable porous structures without obvious shrinkage and structural collapse. The best catalytic performance was achieved by the porous Co3O4 nanoparticles, which reached 100% CO conversion at 130 °C without any decay in catalytic activity after 48 h of reaction. DRIFTS results present the mechanism of the CO oxidation by porous Co3O4 nanoparticle catalysis. The excellent catalytic activity of the porous Co3O4 nanoparticles is related to the large specific surface area and surface oxygen vacancies. This work provides a design approach for synthesizing other porous metal oxide nanoparticles and has reference value in the field of CO oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkenylboronates are highly versatile building blocks and valuable reagents in the synthesis of complex molecules. Compared with that of monosubstituted alkenylboronates, the synthesis of multisubstituted alkenylboronates is challenging. The copper‐catalyzed carboboration of alkynes is an operationally simple and straightforward method for synthesizing bis/trisubstituted alkenylboronates. In this work, a series of copper‐metallized N‐Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) ligand porous polymer catalysts are designed and synthesized in accordance with the mechanism of carboboration. By using CuCl@POL‐NHC‐Ph as the optimal nanocatalyst, this study realizes the β‐regio‐ and stereoselective (syn‐addition) 1,2‐carboboration of alkynes (regioselectivity up to >99:1) with satisfactory yields and a wide range of substrates. This work not only overcomes the selectivity of carboboration but also provides a new strategy for the design of nanocatalysts and their application in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The use of rutin in the food industry is limited by its poor solubility. Encapsulation can be used as an effective way to improve polyphenol solubility. Proteins with high safety, biocompatibility and multiple binding sites are known as the most promising encapsulating carriers. Therefore, the improvement of rutin solubility by pH‐driven encapsulation of rutin in soy protein isolate (SPI) nanoparticles, as well as the form of rutin after encapsulation and rutin–protein binding index were investigated. RESULTS: SPI had a high encapsulation efficiency (87.5%) and loading amount (10.6%) for rutin. When the mass ratio of protein to rutin was 5:1, the highest concentration of rutin in solution was 3.27 g L−1, which was a 51.57‐fold increase compared to the original rutin. At this situation, rutin transformed from crystalline to amorphous form. During the formation of nanoparticles, SPI was in a dynamic change of unfolding and refolding. Rutin deprotonated in alkaline conditions increasing its solubility and bound to protein to form nanoparticles during the process of returning to neutral. Hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding promoted the formation of the nanoparticles and there were at least 1–2 binding sites between rutin and each SPI molecule. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that encapsulation of rutin in protein nanoparticles can effectively increase the solubility of rutin. This study may provide important information for the effective utilization of polyphenol functional foods. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, a simple method combining atomic layer deposition and magnetron sputtering is developed to fabricate high‐performance Pd/SnO2 film patterns applied for micro‐electro‐mechanical systems (MEMS) H2 sensing chips. SnO2 film is first accurately deposited in the central areas of MEMS micro hotplate arrays by a mask‐assistant method, leading the patterns with wafer‐level high consistency in thickness. The grain size and density of Pd nanoparticles modified on the surface of the SnO2 film are further regulated to obtain an optimized sensing performance. The resulting MEMS H2 sensing chips show a wide detection range from 0.5 to 500 ppm, high resolution, and good repeatability. Based on the experiments and density functional theory calculations, a sensing enhancement mechanism is also proposed: a certain amount of Pd nanoparticles modified on the SnO2 surface could bring stronger H2 adsorption followed by dissociation, diffusion, and reaction with surface adsorbed oxygen species. Obviously, the method provided here is quite simple and effective for the manufacturing of MEMS H2 sensing chips with high consistency and optimized performance, which may also find broad applications in other MEMS chip technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Therapeutic strategies based on scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and suppressing inflammatory cascades are effective in improving functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the lack of targeting nanoparticles (NPs) with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties hampers the clinical translation of these strategies. Here, CD44-targeting hyaluronic acid-selenium (HA-Se) NPs were designed and prepared for scavenging ROS and suppressing inflammatory responses in the injured spinal cord, enhancing functional recovery. Results: The HA-Se NPs were easily prepared through direct reduction of seleninic acid in the presence of HA. The obtained HA-Se NPs exhibited a remarkable capacity to eliminate free radicals and CD44 receptor-facilitated internalization by astrocytes. Moreover, the HA-Se NPs effectively mitigated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6) by microglia cells (BV2) upon lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. In vivo experiments confirmed that HA-Se NPs could effectively accumulate within the lesion site through CD44 targeting. As a result, HA-Se NPs demonstrated superior protection of axons and neurons within the injury site, leading to enhanced functional recovery in a rat model of SCI. Conclusions: These results highlight the potential of CD44-targeting HA-Se NPs for SCI treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: In this study, a novel approach is proposed to achieve the uniformly dispersed Ru nanoparticles with N coordination loaded on three‐dimensionally ordered macro/mesoporous carbon (3DOMMC) through simultaneous pyrolysis of Ru3+ and cyanamide on 3DOMMC. In an alkaline medium, the synthesized catalysts exhibit exceptional hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. Specifically, Ru‐N/3DOMMC demonstrates a significantly low overpotential of 13.8 mV to achieve a current density of 10 mA·cm–2, and it exhibits a mass activity 17.5 times higher than that of commercial Pt/C. The outstanding performance could be attributed to the ultrahigh Ru dispersion and more efficient contact between active sites and reactant, which derived from the large specific surface area and interconnective three‐dimensionally macro/mesopores of 3DOMMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of high‐efficiency and good biocompatible photothermal therapy platforms is conducive to avoiding the risks of nano‐preparations in vivo. The poly‐L‐lactic acid (PLLA) indicated good biodegradability and biocompatibility. Inspired by natural melanin and the extraordinary nontoxic mussel biopolymer, polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) with photothermal efficacy have attracted increasing attention. Herein, we performed the study of blended PDA/PLLA and coated PDA@PLLA electrospun nanofibers (ESNFs) for photothermal therapy. In photothermal experiment, the PDA@PLLA ESNF displayed higher light‐to‐heat conversion and photothermal stability than that of PDA/PLLA and PLLA ESNF. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments tested that three kinds of ESNF exhibited low toxicity and outstanding biocompatibility. Moreover, the PDA@PLLA ESNF showed better property for the cell proliferation due to the rough surface and good hydrophilicity. The in vivo photothermal potentiality of the PLLA, PDA/PLA and PDA@PLLA ESNF was evaluated in nude mice of inoculating the tumor, in which the PDA/PLA and PDA@PLLA ESNF significantly inhibited the tumor increasing compared to control group. Especially, the PDA@PLLA ESNF showed better photothermal therapy, which made the tumor irreversible ablate at local tumor tissue. These results stand out the usage of PDA@PLLA ESNF as potential photothermal therapy material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease that affects all the tissues within the joint and currently lacks disease-modifying treatments in clinical practice. Despite the potential of rapamycin for OA disease alleviation, its clinical application is hindered by the challenge of achieving therapeutic concentrations, which necessitates multiple injections per week. To address this issue, rapamycin was loaded into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (RNPs), which are nontoxic, have a high encapsulation efficiency and exhibit sustained release properties for OA treatment. The RNPs were found to promote chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells and prevent senescence caused by oxidative stress in primary mouse articular chondrocytes. Moreover, RNPs were capable to alleviate metabolism homeostatic imbalance of primary mouse articular chondrocytes in both monolayer and 3D cultures under inflammatory or oxidative stress. In the mouse destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model, intra-articular injection of RNPs effectively mitigated joint cartilage destruction, osteophyte formation, chondrocytes hypertrophy, synovial inflammation, and pain. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using RNPs as a potential clinically translational therapy to prevent the progression of post-traumatic OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anode materials based on the TiO2 nanoparticles of different morphologies were prepared using the hydrothermal method and characterized by various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and N2 absorption. The TiO2 nanoparticles prepared were used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), and their electrochemical properties were tested using discharging/charging measurements. The results showed that the initial morphology of the nanoparticles plays a minor role in battery performance after the first few cycles and that better capacity was achieved for TiO2 nanobelt morphology. The sharp drop in the specific capacity of LIB during their first cycles is examined by considering changes in the morphology of TiO2 particles and their porosity properties in terms of size and connectivity. The performance of TiO2 anode materials has also been assessed by considering their phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding nanoparticles with high thermal conductivity into the work fluid is one of the most significant ways to enhance heat transfer. In this article, the influences of nanoparticle mass concentration (0.5–10.0 wt.%) and temperature (5–25 °C) were investigated on the viscosity of TiO2-propylene glycol nanofluid. At the same time, eight kinds of mass concentrations (0.5–10.0 wt.%) were used to investigate the changing regularity on the surface tension of nanofluid; Accordingly, the modified correlations including nanoparticle concentration were proposed respectively. The experimental results show that the viscosity of the nanofluid increases with the increase in particle concentration. Within the concentration of 10.0 wt.%, the viscosity increases by about 7.0% for every 1.0 wt.%. While the viscosity decreases with the increase in the temperature. The surface tension of the mixture increases slowly with the increase in particle concentration. Within 2.0 wt.%, the surface tension of nanofluid increases by less than 1.0% for every 0.5 wt.%, when the concentration of nanofluid exceeds 2.0 wt.%, surface tension raises less than 1.0% per 2.0 wt.%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a leading cause of mobility and mortality among patients with ischemic stroke. This study aims to develop a human serum albumin (HSA)-enriched nanoparticle platform for solubilizing clopidogrel bisulfate (CLP) for intravenous administration, and to explore the protective effect of HSA-enriched nanoparticles loaded with CLP (CLP-ANPs) against cerebral I/R injury in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model. Methods: CLP-ANPs were synthesized via a modified nanoparticle albumin-bound technology, lyophilized, and then characterized by morphology, particle size, zeta potential, drug loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency, stability and in vitro release kinetics. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were conducted using Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Also, an MCAO rat model was established to explore the therapeutic effect of CLP-ANPs on cerebral I/R injury. Results: CLP-ANPs remained spherical particles with a layer of proteins forming protein corona. Lyophilized CLP-ANPs after dispersion displayed an average size of about 235.6 ± 6.6 nm (PDI = 0.16 ± 0.08) with a zeta potential of about − 13.5 ± 1.8 mV. CLP-ANPs achieved sustained release for up to 168 h in vitro. Next, a single injection of CLP-ANPs dose-dependently reversed the histopathological changes induced by cerebral I/R injury possibly via attenuating apoptosis and reducing oxidative damages in the brain tissues. Conclusions: CLP-ANPs represent a promising and translatable platform system for the management of cerebral I/R injury during ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of polymer chain stiffness characterized by the bending modulus (kθ) on the glass transition temperature (Tg) of pure polymer systems, as well as polymer nanocomposites (PNCs), is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. At small kθ values, the pure polymer system and respective PNCs are in an amorphous state, whereas at large kθ values, both systems are in a semicrystalline state with a glass transition at low temperature. For the pure polymer system, Tg initially increases with kθ and does not change obviously at large kθ. However, the Tg of PNCs shows interesting behaviors with the increasing volume fraction of nanoparticles (fNP) at different kθ values. Tg tends to increase with fNP at small kθ, whereas it becomes suppressed at large kθ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute liver injury (ALI) has an elevated fatality rate due to untimely and ineffective treatment. Although, schisandrin B (SchB) has been extensively used to treat diverse liver diseases, its therapeutic efficacy on ALI was limited due to its high hydrophobicity. Palmitic acid-modified serum albumin (PSA) is not only an effective carrier for hydrophobic drugs, but also has a superb targeting effect via scavenger receptor-A (SR-A) on the M1 macrophages, which are potential therapeutic targets for ALI. Compared with the common macrophage-targeted delivery systems, PSA enables site-specific drug delivery to reduce off-target toxicity. Herein, we prepared SchB-PSA nanoparticles and further assessed their therapeutic effect on ALI. In vitro, compared with human serum albumin encapsulated SchB nanoparticles (SchB-HSA NPs), the SchB-PSA NPs exhibited more potent cytotoxicity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated Raw264.7 (LAR) cells, and LAR cells took up PSA NPs 8.79 times more than HSA NPs. As expected, the PSA NPs also accumulated more in the liver. Moreover, SchB-PSA NPs dramatically reduced the activation of NF-κB signaling, and significantly relieved inflammatory response and hepatic necrosis. Notably, the high dose of SchB-PSA NPs improved the survival rate in 72 h of ALI mice to 75%. Hence, SchB-PSA NPs are promising to treat ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation of excessive inflammation and impaired cell proliferation is crucial for healing diabetic wounds. Although plant‐to‐mammalian regulation offers effective approaches for chronic wound management, the development of a potent plant‐based therapeutic presents challenges. This study aims to validate the efficacy of turmeric‐derived nanoparticles (TDNPs) loaded with natural bioactive compounds. TDNPs can alleviate oxidative stress, promote fibroblast proliferation and migration, and reprogram macrophage polarization. Restoration of the fibroblast–macrophage communication network by TDNPs stimulates cellular regeneration, in turn enhancing diabetic wound healing. To address diabetic wound management, TDNPs are loaded in an ultralight‐weight, high swelling ratio, breathable aerogel (AG) constructed with cellulose nanofibers and sodium alginate backbones to obtain TDNPs@AG (TAG). TAG features wound shape‐customized accessibility, water‐adaptable tissue adhesiveness, and capacity for sustained release of TDNPs, exhibiting outstanding performance in facilitating in vivo diabetic wound healing. This study highlights the potential of TDNPs in regenerative medicine and their applicability as a promising solution for wound healing in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is meaningful to search high-efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) due to the energy crisis and environmental pollution. Here, we report the preparation of ultrafine Ru nanoparticles from a hybrid of ZIF-L(Co) MOF and polydopamine coated few-layered Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene (FL-Ti 3 C 2 T x). FL-Ti 3 C 2 T x is used as a template to grow regular leaf-shaped ZIF-L(Co) nanosheets through the reaction of Co ions anchored on the MXene surface with 2-methylimidazole. The obtained hybrid is then doped with Ru ions through ion exchange between Ru and Co ions, followed by thermal annealing at a temperature of 350 °C in an Ar atmosphere to produce ultrafine Ru nanoparticles. The obtained Ru@ZIF-L(Co)/FL-Ti 3 C 2 T x nanocomposite shows outstanding HER performance with a low overpotential of 16.2 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, a small Tafel slope of 21.0 mV dec−1 and excellent stability in 1.0 M KOH solution. This work provides a new strategy for the design and synthesis of highly efficient HER catalyst via MOFs with tunable composition and structure. [Display omitted] • A strategy is developed to prepare ultrafine Ru nanoparticles derived from ZIF-L(Co). • Regular leaf-shaped ZIF-L(Co) nanosheets are formed by using FL-Ti 3 C 2 T x as templates. • The hybrid Ru@ZIF-L(Co)/FL-Ti 3 C 2 T x shows excellent HER performance in alkaline media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of nanoencapsulation as a technology for enhancing the solubility of active substances has been demonstrated. In this particular investigation, Ganoderic acid DM (GA-DM) was encapsulated within sodium alginate nanoparticles (NPs) using the ionic crosslinking method. The confirmation of the successful loading of GA-DM was ascertained through the analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR). Empirical evidence derived from the examination of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, transmission electron microscope (TEM) images, atomic force microscope (AFM) images, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) demonstrated a regular distribution and spherical morphology, with an average particle size of approximately 133 nm. The investigation yielded an encapsulation efficiency of 95.27 ± 0.11 % and a drug loading efficiency of 21.17 ± 0.02 % for the prepared sample. The release kinetics of SGPN was fitted with the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model corresponding to diffusion-controlled release. The incorporation of GA-DM into sodium alginate nanocarriers exhibited a mitigating effect on the cytotoxicity of HaCat and B16, while also demonstrating inhibitory properties against tyrosinase activity and melanin formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale metal–organic framework (nMOF) based nano drug delivery systems show great potential in the biomedical field. In this work, a drug delivery system combined with chemotherapy and phototherapy (DOX/ICG@UiO-66-TK-PEG-F3 or simplified as DI@UiO-TPF3) was designed for the targeted therapy of tumors. The chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) and the photothermal therapeutic agent indocyanine green (ICG) were loaded onto the pH-sensitive UiO-66-NH2 carrier core by physical adsorption, and the surface of UiO-66-NH2 was modified by the multifunctional polymer TK-PEG-F3 to improve the stability and targeting of the drug-loaded core. Characterizations show that the drug delivery system DI@UiO-TPF3 was successfully prepared with an excellent drug loading rate (21.6%) and photothermal conversion efficiency (32.92%). DI@UiO-TPF3 not only shows the ability to stimulate a response to release drugs, but also achieves the synergistic anti-tumor effects of chemotherapy and photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT), which was confirmed by in vitro evaluation. In addition, cell experiments have confirmed that DI@UiO-TPF3 connected with F3 peptide can selectively bind to the nucleolin overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells and reduce the toxicity to normal cells. Therefore, DI@UiO-UTPF3 provided a feasible strategy for constructing a targeted drug delivery platform integrating chemotherapy and phototherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to their porous structure and capability to degrade under acidic conditions, CaCO3 nanoparticles in vaterite form can be used as carriers to effectively deliver drugs to low-pH sites such as tumors. The usually used intravenous administration requires long-term vaterite phase and colloidal stability for storage and blood circulation. While passive accumulation in tumors can be achieved via the enhanced permeation and retention effect, active accumulation requires reactive groups on vaterite nanoparticles to conjugate targeting molecules. Both requirements are hard to achieve in one simple and economical vaterite formulation. Herein, we used polyethylenimine (PEI)-based CO2 adduct as both a CO2 source and a template for vaterite mineralization to generate PEI-CO2@CaCO3 colloidal particles, with reactive amino groups from the PEI template. Results: The obtained nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic diameter of 200–300 nm have a vaterite phase and colloidal stability in an aqueous solution for over 8 months. These nanoparticles could effectively load anticancer drug doxorubicin via coprecipitation and be surface-modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and folic acid for long-term blood circulation and tumor targeting purposes, respectively. After being endocytosed, the PEI-CO2 adduct accelerates the dissolution of drug-loaded nanoparticles to generate CO2 bubbles to break the lysosomes, leading to rapid doxorubicin delivery inside tumor cells. The degradation of PEI-CO2 in the CaCO3 nanoparticles could also release PEI and CO2 and may contribute to the disruption of normal cellular functions. As a result, the drug-loaded PEI-CO2@CaCO3 nanoparticles strongly suppressed tumor growth in mice with HeLa tumor xenografts. Conclusions: A new and effective vaterite drug carrier for anticancer therapy has been developed using PEI-CO2 adduct as both a CO2 source and vaterite template for CaCO3 mineralization. This delivery system illustrates an application of CO2 generation materials in drug delivery and has the potential for further development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] To study the release behavior of a thermosensitive controlled release drug delivery system and construct a predictable mathematical model of drug release, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-Allylamine) (P(NIPA-AL17)) and ploy(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were functionalized on the surface of hollow mesoporous carbon nanoparticles (HMCNs) through layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly to construct a photothermal responsive controlled release system. A five-level four-factorial central composite design (CCD) was performed to investigate the relationship between four independent variables including drug loading (A), number of polymer layers (B), temperature (C) and vibration rate of the shaker (D), and three dependent response variables, including cumulative release over 1 h (Y 1), cumulative release over 24 h (Y 2) and the release rate constant k (Y 3). The CCD results indicate that A and C significantly affect Y 1 (P < 0.05). C significantly affects Y 2 (P < 0.05). A and B is found to affect Y 3 (P < 0.05) significantly. When C is below 39 °C, Y 1 and Y 2 decrease with the increase of A and B, and when C is above 39 °C, they increase with the increase of A and B; Y 3 decreases as A and B increase; and D shows the least or even no influence on Y 1 , Y 2 and Y 3. The constructed predictable mathematical model will provide a scientific reference for the further development and application of photothermal responsive controlled-release preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and synthesis of ultra-small-sized Pt-based catalyst with specific effects for enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is an effective way to improve the utilization of Pt. Herein, Pt-Pd-Ni octahedra nanoparticles characterized by the ultra-small size of 4.71 nm were synthesized by a Pd seed-inducing-growth route. Initially, Pd nanocubes were synthesized under solvothermal conditions; subsequently, Pt-Ni was deposited in the Pd seed solution. The Pd seeds were oxidized into Pd2+ and combined with Pt2+ and Ni2+ in the solution and finally formed the ternary alloy small-sized octahedra. In the synthesis process of the ultra-small Pt-Pd-Ni octahedra, Pd nanocube seed played an important role. In addition, the size of the Pt-Pd-Ni octahedra could be regulated by adjusting the concentration rate of Pt-Ni. The ultra-small Pt-Pd-Ni octahedra formation by depositing Pt-Ni with a feeding ratio of 2:1 showed good ORR activity, and the high half-wave potential was 0.933 V. In addition, the Pt-Pd-Ni octahedra showed an enhanced mass activity of 0.93 A mg−1 Pt+Pd in ORR, which was 5.81 times higher than commercial Pt/C. The theoretical calculation shows that compared to Pt/C, the small-sized ternary alloy octahedra had an obvious contraction strain effect (contraction rate: 3.49%). The alloying effect affected the d-band center of the Pt negative shift. In the four-electron reaction, Pt-Pd-Ni ultra-small octahedra exhibited the lowest overpotential, resulting in the adsorption performance to become optimized. Therefore, the Pd seed-inducing-growth route provides a new idea for exploring the synthesis of small-sized nanoparticle catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The near-field and photo-thermal properties of nanostructures have always been the focus of attention due to their wide applications in nanomaterials. In this work, we numerically investigate the near-field and photo-thermal temperature distribution in a nanoparticle array when the scattering light field among particles is considered. 'Hot spots', which represent strong electric field enhancement, were analyzed at the difference of the particle size, particle spacing and the polarization direction of the incident light. Interestingly, it is found that the position of the 'hot spots' does not rotate with the polarization direction of the incident light and always remains in the particle gaps along the line between particle centers. Moreover, the near-field is independent of the polarization in some special areas, and the factor of near-field enhancement keeps constant in these spots when the illumination polarization varies. As for photo-induced heating, our results show that both the temperature of the structure center and maximum temperature increase linearly with the particle number of the array while decreasing with the increase in particle spacing. This work provides some theoretical considerations for the near-field manipulation and photo-thermal applications of nanoarrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanozymes have attracted wide attention for the unique advantages of low cost, high stability and designability. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have demonstrated great potential as a new type of nanozymes due to their excellent specificity and high affinity. However, effective approaches for creating molecularly imprinted nanozymes still remain limited. Herein, reverse microemulsion template docking surface imprinting (RMTD‐SI) is reported as a new approach for the rational design and engineering of nanozymes with free substrate access for the ligation of ssDNA sequences. As a proof of the principle, octa‐deoxyribonucleotide‐imprinted nanoparticles were successfully prepared. Using tetradeoxyribonucleotides and octa‐deoxyribonucleotide as substrates, the properties, catalytic activity and behavior of the imprinted nanoparticles were thoroughly investigated. The imprinted nanozyme exhibited an enhanced reaction speed (by up to 41‐fold) and good sequence selectivity towards substrate tetra‐deoxyribonucleotides. More interestingly, due to the open substrate access, the imprinted nanozyme also allowed the ligation of a ssDNA that fully matched with the imprinted cavity and other ssDNA substrates to form longer sequences, but at the price of substrate selectivity. Thus, this study provides not only a new avenue to the rational design and synthesis of molecularly imprinted nanozymes but also new insights of their catalytic behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that ultraviolet (UV) and blue light cause a series of health problems and damages to polymer materials. Therefore, there are increasing demands for UV-blue light-shielding. Herein, a new type of iron-doped titania (Fe-TiO2) nanoparticle was synthesized. Fe-TiO2 nanoparticles with small particle size (ca. 10 nm) are composed of anatase and brookite. The iron element is incorporated into the lattice of titania and forms a hematite phase (α-Fe2O3). The iron doping imparted full-band UV and blue light absorption to Fe-TiO2 nanoparticles, and greatly suppressed the photocatalytic activity. The prepared Fe-TiO2/polyurethane (PU) films exhibited prominent UV-blue light-shielding performance and high transparency, which showed great potential in light-shielding fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient bio-conditioning of the nanomaterial for microbial inhibition and catalytic degradation has been recognized as a promising solution to protect public health and environmental safety. Herein, a bio-conditioned poly-dihydromyricetin-fused zinc nanoparticles (PDMY-Zn NPs) were designed and constructed based on a green tonic approach, which displays excellent processing efficiency against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) as well as three dye effluents. Irregular-shaped PDMY-Zn NPs of size range 300–400 nm were formed by the undirected aggregation between Zn2+ and dihydromyricetin (DMY) isolated from Ampelopsis grossedentata, contributing to the controlled release of Zn2+ in gastrointestinal fluid. Such bio-conditioned nanomaterial relied on the stable and strong interaction between the bacterial membrane and carbohydrate polymeric DMY chain in PDMY-Zn NPs achieves a large amount of adhesion to both E. coli and S. aureus, which allows the targeted detachment of Zn2+ from nanoparticles and accurate penetration into the pathogens, thereby achieving the nontoxicity to normal cells and minimizing drug-resistant bacteria. The division and spread of E. coli and S. aureus treated with PDMY-Zn NPs were effectively restricted and halted owing to multidimensional antibacterial behaviors of bacteriostatic agents, which are reflected in membrane damage, high cellular leakages and destroying intracellular ATP. Moreover, the designed PDMY-Zn NPs exhibit an efficient generation of hydroxyl (OH) and excess superoxide, which support it as a promising catalyst for photodegradation of methyl blue (93.02%), methyl orange (93.02%) and safranine (88.3%). Thus, this novel bio-conditioned nanomaterial provides a stable, nontoxic and advanced strategy to address drug-resistant bacteria infections as well as degradation of toxic dye effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silica‐supported Pd, Rh and Pt metal nanoparticles catalyze the hydrogenolysis of the Pt−OPh bond of (tbpy)Pt(OPh)Cl to release PhOH. Based on kinetic studies monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy, the reactivity trend is Pd>Rh>Pt. Kinetic studies with Pd/SiO2 are consistent with a first‐order dependence on the catalyst and the molecular Pt(II) complex (tbpy)Pt(OPh)Cl. Using TEM‐EDS mapping and ICP‐OES measurements of a recovered Pd catalyst, after 1 hour of hydrogenolysis of (tbpy)Pt(OPh)Cl, approximately 10–16 % Pt deposition (relative to Pd mol %) on the Pd/SiO2 surface was quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of nanomedicine, physicians have harnessed these approaches for the prophylaxis, detection, and therapy of life-threatening diseases, particularly cancer. Nanoparticles have demonstrated notable efficacy in cancer therapy, showcasing the primary application of nanotechnology in targeted drug delivery. Pancreatic cancer stands out as the most lethal solid tumour in humans. The low survival rate is attributed to its highly aggressive nature, intrinsic resistance to chemotherapeutics, and the lack of successful therapies, compounded by delayed diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms and the absence of rapid diagnostic strategies. Despite these challenges, nanotechnology-based carrier methods have been successfully employed in imaging and therapy approaches. Overcoming drug resistance in pancreatic cancer necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the microenvironment associated with the disease, paving the way for innovative nanocarriers. Hindered chemotherapy infiltration, attributed to inadequate vascularization and a dense tumour stroma, is a major hurdle that nanotechnology addresses. Intelligent delivery techniques, based on the Enhanced Permeability and Retention effect, form the basis of recently developed anticancer nanocarriers. These advancements aim to enhance drug accumulation in tumour locations, offering a potential solution to the treatment-resistant nature of cancer. Addressing the challenges in pancreatic cancer treatment demands innovative therapies, and the emergence of active nanocarriers presents a promising avenue for enhancing outcomes. This review specifically delves into the latest advancements in nanotechnology for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. • Innovative Nanotechnology Approach: Enhancing drug delivery efficiency while preserving stromal constraints. • Diverse Nanocarriers Exploration: Investigation of various nanocarriers and highlighting their unique properties for targeted drug delivery. • Therapeutic Advancements: Advancements in nanotechnology-based carriers demonstrating improved therapeutic efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium nitride (TiN) serves as an ideal reagent for photothermal therapy due to its cost-effectiveness, stability, and biocompatibility. This study investigates the optical and thermal properties of TiN nanoparticles in the near-infrared (NIR) region. Specifically, we employ the COMSOL Multiphysics software to solve Maxwell's equations using a finite element method, enabling us to investigate the photothermal characteristics of individual TiN nanorods. To ensure accurate photothermal coupling calculations, we utilize the Fourier steady-state heat conduction equation. The results demonstrate that the nanorod photothermal properties exhibit significantly enhanced effects when the incident light is polarized along the long axis of the rod, while the thermal properties of the nanorods are primarily influenced by their optical absorption efficiency. The tunability investigation of the nanorods demonstrates that an increase in aspect ratio (AR) results in a red-shift of the absorption peaks. Concurrently, there is an expansion in the bandwidth corresponding to the absorption peak, accompanied by an augmentation in its peak value. It is evident that at AR = 5, the TiN nanorods exhibit enhanced photothermal properties in the NIR region, resulting in a temperature increase of 43 K in the surrounding medium through efficient heat transfer. Consequently, this accomplishment enables achieving the desired temperature range for effective photothermal therapy. The significance of this study lies in providing a valuable reference and theoretical guidance for exploring the utilization of TiN nanorods in photothermal therapy, with a specific focus on attaining a more precise understanding of temperature elevation and distribution during the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

H2 recycling between naphthalene, tetralin and decalin can be a promising application in chemical hydrogen storage, which is an important area for hydrogen fuel cell applications. Pt-based catalysts can be used in the dehydrogenation reaction for this purpose and support modification can effectively improve the catalytic performance. Effects of preparation method, Mg/Al molar ratio and metal composition on the Pt-based LDH-derived nanoplatelets catalysts for decalin dehydrogenation were systematically investigated in this work. The results out of this study indicated that the preparation method, Mg/Al molar ratio and metal composition exert significant effects on the microstructure and catalytic performance of the catalysts for decalin dehydrogenation. The Pt/MgAl-LDO catalyst with a Mg/Al molar ratio of 4 prepared by hydrothermal method yielded the largest specific surface area of 374 m2/g and the smallest average Pt particle size of 1.62 nm, which exhibited excellent H2 production yield of 5.94 mol/gPt. These are mainly attributed to the sheet-like structure, large specific surface area and strong Pt-support interaction, leading to the superior Pt dispersion. This work provides a new approach for the preparation of low-cost and high-performance decalin dehydrogenation catalysts, which is of great significance for the application of liquid-phase organic hydride hydrogen storage technology.Graphical abstract: H2 recycling between naphthalene, tetralin and decalin can be a promising application in chemical hydrogen storage, which is an important area for hydrogen fuel cell applications. Pt-based catalysts can be used in the dehydrogenation reaction for this purpose and support modification can effectively improve the catalytic performance. Effects of preparation method, Mg/Al molar ratio and metal composition on the Pt-based LDH-derived nanoplatelets catalysts for decalin dehydrogenation were systematically investigated in this work. The results out of this study indicated that the preparation method, Mg/Al molar ratio and metal composition exert significant effects on the microstructure and catalytic performance of the catalysts for decalin dehydrogenation. The Pt/MgAl-LDO catalyst with a Mg/Al molar ratio of 4 prepared by hydrothermal method yielded the largest specific surface area of 374 m2/g and the smallest average Pt particle size of 1.62 nm, which exhibited excellent H2 production yield of 5.94 mol/gPt. These are mainly attributed to the sheet-like structure, large specific surface area and strong Pt-support interaction, leading to the superior Pt dispersion. This work provides a new approach for the preparation of low-cost and high-performance decalin dehydrogenation catalysts, which is of great significance for the application of liquid-phase organic hydride hydrogen storage technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of antibiotic-loaded microneedles has been hindered for years by limited excipient options, restricted drug-loading space, poor microneedle formability, and short-term drug retention. Therefore, this study proposes a dissolving microneedle fabricated from the host-defense peptide ε-poly- l -lysine (EPL) as an antibacterial adjuvant system for delivering antibiotics. EPL serves not only as a major matrix material for the microneedle tips, but also as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent that facilitates the intracellular accumulation of the antibiotic doxycycline (DOX) by increasing bacterial cell membrane permeability. Furthermore, the formation of physically crosslinked networks of EPL affords microneedle tips with improved formability, good mechanical properties, and amorphous nanoparticles (approximately 7.2 nm) of encapsulated DOX. As a result, a high total loading content of both antimicrobials up to 2319.1 μg/patch is achieved for efficient transdermal drug delivery. In a Pseudomonas aeruginosa -induced deep cutaneous infection model, the EPL microneedles demonstrates potent and long-term effects by synergistically enhancing antibiotic activities and prolonging drug retention in infected lesions, resulting in remarkable therapeutic efficacy with 99.91 % (3.04 log) reduction in skin bacterial burden after a single administration. Overall, our study highlights the distinct advantages of EPL microneedles and their potential in clinical antibacterial practice when loaded with amorphous DOX nanoparticles. • Epsilon-poly- l -lysine (EPL) microneedles (MN) possess a high drug loading capacity. • The EPL-based MN can encapsulate more antibiotics and inhibit crystal growth. • Amorphous antibiotic nanoparticles can be formed within the MN needle tip. • The EPL can enhance antibiotic efficacy by facilitating bacterial internalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of antibiotic-loaded microneedles has been hindered for years by limited excipient options, restricted drug-loading space, poor microneedle formability, and short-term drug retention. Therefore, this study proposes a dissolving microneedle fabricated from the host-defense peptide ε-poly- l -lysine (EPL) as an antibacterial adjuvant system for delivering antibiotics. EPL serves not only as a major matrix material for the microneedle tips, but also as a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent that facilitates the intracellular accumulation of the antibiotic doxycycline (DOX) by increasing bacterial cell membrane permeability. Furthermore, the formation of physically crosslinked networks of EPL affords microneedle tips with improved formability, good mechanical properties, and amorphous nanoparticles (approximately 7.2 nm) of encapsulated DOX. As a result, a high total loading content of both antimicrobials up to 2319.1 μg/patch is achieved for efficient transdermal drug delivery. In a Pseudomonas aeruginosa -induced deep cutaneous infection model, the EPL microneedles demonstrates potent and long-term effects by synergistically enhancing antibiotic activities and prolonging drug retention in infected lesions, resulting in remarkable therapeutic efficacy with 99.91 % (3.04 log) reduction in skin bacterial burden after a single administration. Overall, our study highlights the distinct advantages of EPL microneedles and their potential in clinical antibacterial practice when loaded with amorphous DOX nanoparticles. • Epsilon-poly- l -lysine (EPL) microneedles (MN) possess a high drug loading capacity. • The EPL-based MN can encapsulate more antibiotics and inhibit crystal growth. • Amorphous antibiotic nanoparticles can be formed within the MN needle tip. • The EPL can enhance antibiotic efficacy by facilitating bacterial internalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using 0.5-mm-thick SiO 2 wafers as substrates, Au3+Ag3 sample was prepared by sequentially implanting 45 keV Au ions and 30 keV Ag ions to the same fluence of 3.0 × 1016 ions/cm2, and Zn2+Au4.5 sample was fabricated by first implanting 40 keV Zn ions to a fluence of 2.0 × 1016 ions/cm2 and then 30 keV Au ions to a fluence of 4.5 × 1016 ions/cm2. The structural and optical properties of the two samples as well as their refractive index sensitivities were systematically investigated. The results revealed that although Au3+Ag3 sample did not possess a single nanocomposite surface layer due to the formation of approximately double-layer Au–Ag alloy nanoparticles with minor difference in composition, it still had a chance to become a refractive index sensor since its characteristic reflection signal associated with the shallower-layer Au–Ag alloy nanoparticles linearly depended on the refractive index of the monitored medium in terms of intensity. In Zn2+Au4.5 sample, a single nanocomposite surface layer containing Au nanoparticles was formed. Owing to the presence of Zn 2 SiO 4 , the dielectric environment of Au nanoparticles was slightly improved. As a result, the Zn2+Au4.5 sample, compared to that implanted with Au ions alone, increased by ∼32% in refractive index sensitivity. • Prepare Au3+Ag3 and Zn2+Au4.5 samples by implanting dual metal ions into SiO 2. • Reveal the formation of double-layer alloy nanoparticles in Au3+Ag3 sample. • Study and demonstrate the refractive index sensitivity of Au3+Ag3 sample. • Confirm the formation of Au nanoparticles in Zn2+Au4.5 sample. • Exhibit an increased refractive index sensitivity for Zn2+Au4.5 sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have fabricated the Pt doped SnS 2 microflowers successfully, and the Pt doped SnS 2 sensor shows superior gas-sensing performance toward n-butanol. [Display omitted] • The Pt-doped SnS 2 microflowers with voids and pores was prepared by hydrothermal method. • The Pt/SnS 2 sensor shows excellent gas sensing performance to n-butanol. • The LOD of 3 % Pt/SnS 2 sensor to n-butanol was 14.76 ppb. N-butanol is flammable and can explode in open air. The Pt-doped SnS 2 microflowers with voids and pores was prepared by hydrothermal method to detect N-butanol. We used XRD, SEM, XPS and UV–vis to characterize the samples. Finally, the response value, response/recovery time, stability et.al and enhanced sensing mechanism to n-butanol were investigated too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are decorated by l -cysteine (L-Cys), and the resultant chiral L-Cys/AuNPs can be used for colorimetric discrimination and spectroscopic detection of the tyrosine (Tyr) enantiomers. Melamine (Mel) can induce the aggregation of the L-Cys/AuNPs through ligand exchange, leading to a distinct color change from wine red to purple. Owing to the same rotatory direction of L-Cys/AuNPs and L-Tyr, the L-Cys/AuNPs exhibit a significantly higher binding affinity toward L-Tyr than D-Tyr, and thus the Mel induced aggregation of the L-Cys/AuNPs is greatly alleviated by the protection from the L-Tyr protective layer. Therefore, the Tyr enantiomers can be simply discriminated by naked eyes. In addition, the absorbance of the aggregated L-Cys/AuNPs at ∼630 nm increases linearly with decreasing concentrations of L-Tyr ranging from 10 nM to 1 mM due to the weakened protection effect from L-Tyr, and thus spectroscopic detection of L-Tyr can also be accomplished by the developed L-Cys/AuNPs with a limit of detection (LOD) of 5.3 nM. [Display omitted] • Chiral L-Cys/AuNPs are facilely prepared by using L-Cys as the chiral source. • The L-Cys/AuNPs exhibit a greatly higher binding affinity toward L-Tyr than D-Tyr. • Mel induced aggregation of L-Cys/AuNPs is inhibited by the protection from L-Tyr. • The Tyr enantiomers can be simply discriminated by naked eyes. • Spectroscopic detection of L-Tyr can be accomplished with the developed L-Cys/AuNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi2TiO4F2 nanosheets with abundant polarity surfaces make them a good candidate photocatalyst for CH4 activation. Decorated with AuPd alloy nanoparticles, highly efficient CH4 to CH3OH transformation of 277.32 μmol g−1 h−1 with 93.5% selectivity is achieved over a AuPd/Bi2TiO4F2 nanosheet photocatalyst, which is 7.4 times higher than that of the pristine Bi2TiO4F2 nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inner ear is located deep in the temporal bone and has a complex anatomy. It is difficult to observe and obtain pathological tissues directly. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment of inner ear diseases have always been a major clinical problem. The onset of inner ear disease can be accompanied by symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness and tinnitus, which seriously affect people's lives. Nanoparticles have the characteristics of small size, high bioavailability and strong plasticity. With the development of related research on nanoparticles in inner ear diseases, nanoparticles have gradually become a research hotspot in inner ear diseases. This review briefly summarizes the research progress, opportunities and challenges of the application of nanoparticles in inner ear diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of low-cost and stable catalysts to enhance the electrocatalytic performance of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) has long been a concern. Herein, the rational synthesis of bimetallic phosphide nanoparticles anchored onto N-doped carbon of CoNiP/NC-X (X = 1, 2, 3 represent the molar ratio between Co and Ni of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 in crystalline precursors, respectively) nanocomposites as high-performance electrocatalysts, which are calcined from a series of Co/Ni-based isostructural coordination polymers as the precursors. After pyrolysis, the as-obtained CoNiP/NC-1 nanostrips are intrinsically endowed with favorable nanostructure, large specific surface area, suitable heteroatom doping, abundant catalytic active sites and highly graphitic carbon network. Therefore, it exhibits a decent quasi-4-electron OER performance with a small overpotential of 330 mV at 10 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 80.5 mV dec−1 and a 94.27% current retention after 10 hours in alkaline solution. The hierarchical nanostructures of CoNiP/NC-X series and their positive response to electrocatalytic properties have shed light on the preparation of other non-noble metal based carbon nanomaterials for efficient energy-related applications. [Display omitted] • Bimetallic coordination polymer can be structurally tuned by various molar ratio. • Bimetallic phosphides embedded into carbon nanostrips are obtained. • The synergistic effect of phosphorous doping and graphitic carbon improves OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphite nanoparticles (GNPs) were prepared on the surface of monocrystalline Si by laser irradiation under different laser energy densities (3.3–8.33 kJ/cm2). The effects of laser energy density on structure and surface morphology were systematically investigated. The results show that the morphology of GNPs remained polycrystalline structure under laser irradiation with an energy density of 2.22 kJ/cm2. When the laser energy density was 2.78 kJ/cm2, the GNPs can induce the preset GNPs to transform into amorphous graphite nanofibers. The GNPs under the laser density of 3.33 kJ/cm2 showed a more amorphous structure. With the further increase of the laser energy density to 5.55 kJ/cm2, the main phase composition turned to SiC and Si. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper oxide nanoparticles (nano-CuO) are recognized as an emerging pollutant. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can mitigate the adverse impacts of various pollutants on host plants. However, AMF's mechanism for alleviating nano-CuO phytotoxicity remains unclear. The goal of this study was to evaluate how AMF inoculations affect the physiological features of Canna indica seedlings exposed to nano-CuO stress. Compared with the non-AMF inoculated treatment, AMF inoculations noticeably improved plant biomass, mycorrhizal colonization, leaf chlorophyll contents, and the photosynthetic parameters of C. indica under nano-CuO treatments. Moreover, AMF inoculation was able to significantly mitigate nano-CuO stress by enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities and decreasing ROS levels in the leaves and roots of C. indica, thus increasing the expression of genes involved in the antioxidant response. In addition, AMF inoculation reduced the level of Cu in seedlings and was associated with an increased expression of Cu transport genes and metallothionein genes. Furthermore, AMF inoculations increased the expression levels of organic acid metabolism-associated genes while facilitating organic acid secretion, thus reducing the accumulation of Cu. The data demonstrate that AMF–plant symbiosis is a feasible biocontrol approach to remediate nano-CuO pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide crop yields are threatened by persistent pathogenic bacteria that cause significant damage and jeopardize global food security. Chemical pesticides have shown limited effectiveness in protecting crops from severe yield loss. To address this obstacle, there is a growing need to develop environmentally friendly bactericides with broad-spectrum and sustained protection against persistent crop pathogens. Here, we present a method for preparing a nanocomposite that combines antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and bimetallic Cu-Ag nanoparticles anchored onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The nanocomposite exhibited dual antibacterial activity by disrupting bacterial cell membranes and splicing nucleic acids. By functionalizing MWCNTs with small AMPs (sAMPs), we achieved enhanced stability and penetration of the nanocomposite, and improved loading capacity of the Cu-Ag nanoparticles. The synthesized MWCNTs&CuNCs@AgNPs@P nanocomposites demonstrated broad-spectrum lethality against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Glasshouse pot trials confirmed the efficacy of the nanocomposites in protecting rice crops against bacterial leaf blight and tomato crops against bacterial wilt. These findings highlight the excellent antibacterial properties of the MWCNTs&CuNCs@AgNPs@P nanocomposite and its potential to replace chemical pesticides, offering significant advantages for agricultural applications. • A small antimicrobial peptide was functionalized onto a multiwalled carbon nanotube surface using bimetallic copper and silver nanoparticles. • MWCNTs&CuNCs@AgNPs@P showed excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial properties against persistent bacterial crop pathogens. • MWCNTs&CuNCs@AgNPs@P effectively suppressed rice bacterial leaf blight and tomato bacterial wilt diseases. • MWCNTs&CuNCs@AgNPs@P can potentially replace chemical pesticides in agricultural applications owing to their safety in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ordered mesoporous supports endow good dispersion of Ag nanoparticles. • Ag/SiO 2 catalysts show remarkable support effects on both activity and selectivity. • Supports effects originate from distinct activation and diffusion behaviors. • Competitive-adsorption of H 2 versus DMO dominates DMO semi-hydrogenation. Support materials play vital roles in heterogenous catalysis via the so-called support effects, and understanding on the support effects is beneficial for the design of high-performance catalysts. Herein, we represent detailed investigations on the support effects of Ag catalysts for dimethyl glycolate (DMO) semi-hydrogenation to methyl glycolate (MG), where G6 silica with amorphous mesopores, SBA-15 with parallel mesopores and silica nanospheres (MSNS) with center-radial ones were employed as the supports. The hydrogenation activity decreases in the order of Ag/MSNS > Ag/SBA-15 > Ag/G6 while the MG selectivity in the order of Ag/G6 > Ag/MSNS > Ag/SBA-15 at the same reaction conditions, indicating remarkable support effects on both activity and selectivity. Structural characterizations, temperature programmed experiments and in-situ FTIR of DMO adsorption experiments demonstrate that the weak confinement effect of G6 leads to the larger sized Ag nanoparticles and weakened activation of DMO and H 2 , which contributes to low hydrogenation activity. In contrast, the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 and MSNS deliver well confinement effects for Ag nanoparticles and the activation of DMO and H 2 , but the distinct pore structures result in different activation and diffusion behaviors. Finally, DMO conversion and MG yield are well correlated with the competitive adsorption of H 2 versus DMO on Ag catalysts, indicating such competitivity as a descriptor for DMO semi-hydrogenation over Ag catalysts. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of heavy metal ions by nanofiltration (NF) membranes is attractive, but it is limited by a trade-off effect between permeation and solute rejection. Generally, the permeability of the NF membrane is closely related to its hydrophilicity, while the solute rejection is closely related to size exclusion and the Donnan effect. In this study, porous etched zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were prepared through alkali etching, and a thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) NF membrane was fabricated by interfacial polymerization (IP) method between PEI and TMC on a polysulfone (PSF) substrate. The incorporation of 0.01 wt% etched ZnO nanoparticles increased the hydrophilicity and positive charge of the NF membrane, resulting in an increase in the permeability (from 6.0 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 to 8.1 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and rejection of heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Zn2+, and Ni2+ increased from 85 % to over 96 %). Long-term filtration experiments using the simulated wastewater demonstrated that the prepared NF membrane exhibited good stability and had the potential for industrial applications. It opens a new pathway for studying TFN NF membranes, indicating that alkaline etching can transform smooth nanoparticles into nanoparticles with higher specific surface area and porosity, thereby improving the performance of membranes. [Display omitted] • ZnO nanoparticles were etched using potassium hydroxide. • The specific surface area of ZnO nanoparticles increased more than seven times. • The hydrophilicity and positive charge of the membrane were significantly improved. • The membrane has good performance in removing divalent heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]