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In this article, Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) method has been used for depositing Si/MoS 2 coating on Al alloy substrate. The Surface morphology of coating materials has been analysed by Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Scratch with ramp loading has been conducted and analysed into three regimes to understand the behaviour of coating during the scratch. Scratch results showed that peeling of the coating occurs at critical load 2385 μN and lateral load 239 μN. Wear experiments with 4–10 cycles have been conducted at a low load of 100 μN. The results revealed that the wear rate reduces with an increased number of cycles, which means Si/MoS 2 coating possesses the self-lubricating property. It was also observed that ductile and abrasive wear is the main mode of wear mechanism in Si/MoS 2 deposited coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resveratrol (3,4',5‐trihydroxystilbene) is beneficial to human health due to its diverse biological activities including its anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidative effects as confirmed by pharmacokinetic tests. Despite these clinical merits, resveratrol's limited hydrosolubility and chemical vulnerability remain challenging with regard to developing a controlled delivery system with enhanced bioavailability. In this work, we report a resveratrol‐β‐lactoglobulin (R‐BLG) composite nanocoating through a layer‐by‐layer assembly with Fe(III)‐tannic acid nanofilms. The R‐BLG composite nanocoating can be formed in planar and particulate substrates, showing excellent film stability under a broad range of pH values and against enzymatic digestion during a weeklong incubation. We envision that the proteinaceous nanocoating herein could be combined with existing pharmaceutical carrier materials (e. g., microcapsules and nanoparticles) to realize advanced drug delivery systems with an expanded repertoire of hydrophobic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A skin-inspired thermoelectric nanocoating was constructed. • The nanocoating exhibited accurate temperature sensing at 100–300 ℃. • The nanocoating exhibited sensitive and repeatable fire-warning capability. • The nanocoating significantly improved the flame retardancy of many combustible materials. Temperature sensing enables flammable materials to respond intelligently at high temperature, which is conducive to further improving their fire safety. However, it is still challenging to develop a smart nanocoating with sensitive temperature-sensing and efficient flame retardancy. Inspired by human skin, a thermoelectric flame retardant (TE-FR) nanocoating was fabricated by combining a dermis-mimicking thermoelectric (TE) layer and an epidermis-mimicking flame retardant (FR) layer. The TE-FR nanocoating exhibited accurate temperature sensing at 100–300 ℃ and repeatable fire-warning capability. When being burned, the fire-warning response time of the TE-FR nanocoating was only 2.0 s, and it retriggered the fire-warning device within 2.8 s when it was reburned. Meanwhile, the TE-FR nanocoating exhibited outstanding flame retardancy. The coated polypropylene self-extinguished in the horizontal and vertical burning tests. Besides, its peak heat release rate, total heat release, and peak smoke production rate were significantly reduced. This work proposed an ingenious strategy to fabricate smart nanocoating for temperature sensing and fire safety, which revealed an enticing prospect in the fields of fire protection, electronic skin, and temperature monitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities of movement and electrochemical reduction of fibroin macroions in the presence of tricalcium phosphate ions in the form of a nanocoating during electrolysis have been studied. The manifestation of a non-Newtonian flow of a mixture of macroions and ions in a shear flow, the conditions for their electrochemical reduction in the form of a nanocoating with uniform morphology, and thickness on the electrode surface are revealed. It was found that the excess ions in the mixture and the uneven relief of the electrode surface contribute to the formation of a nanocoating with an inhomogeneous and uneven thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent materials do not absorb light but have profound influence on the phase evolution of transmitted radiation. One consequence is chromatic dispersion, i.e., light of different frequencies travels at different velocities, causing ultrashort laser pulses to elongate in time while propagating. Here we experimentally demonstrate ultrathin nanostructured coatings that resolve this challenge: we tailor the dispersion of silicon nanopillar arrays such that they temporally reshape pulses upon transmission using slow light effects and act as ultrashort laser pulse compressors. The coatings induce anomalous group delay dispersion in the visible to near-infrared spectral region around 800 nm wavelength over an 80 nm bandwidth. We characterize the arrays' performance in the spectral domain via white light interferometry and directly demonstrate the temporal compression of femtosecond laser pulses. Applying these coatings to conventional optics renders them ultrashort pulse compatible and suitable for a wide range of applications. Controlling the dispersion of femtosecond light pulses remains a key challenge for their application. Here, the authors report dispersion-engineered transmissive nanocoatings for ultrashort laser pulse compression in the vis-NIR spectral region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexible polyurethane foam (FPUF) is extremely flammable and will release a large number of toxic fumes during the combustion process, which brings great safety hazards. Therefore, a binary hybrid nanocoating composed of graphene oxide (GO) and octaamino polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OA‐POSS) is deposited on the surface of FPUF through layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly technology, with the aim of enhance the flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties of the hybrid FPUF. Compared with pure FPUF, the peak heat release rate, the total heat release, the peak smoke production rate and the total smoke release of FPUF@GO/OA‐POSS‐6 is decreased by 67.3%, 28.3%, 65.03% and 42.9%, indicating the hybrid FPUF excellent flame retardancy and smoke suppression properties. Compared with pure FPUF, the tensile strength of FPUF@GO/OA‐POSS‐6 is increased by 42%, and after three times of compression, the compressive strength increases by 83.17% on average. Facts have proved that the hybrid effect between GO and OA‐POSS enhances the flame retardancy, smoke suppressive effects, tensile strength and compressive strength of FPUF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foley urinary catheters were coated with chlorhexidine‐loaded nanoparticles (CHX‐NPs), encapsulated in the form of micelles and nanospheres. Both of nanoparticles were deposited by multilayer nanocoating through dip and spray coating on the catheter surface both inner and outer surface. In our previous studies, the nanocoating of Foley urinary catheters was studied for chlorhexidine release, degradation, antibacterial evaluation, cytotoxicity assessment, hemocompatibility, skin irritation, skin sensitization, and stability during storage. The results demonstrated the antimicrobial functions and biocompatibility of the coated catheters. In this study, coated urinary catheters were inserted in the bladders of rabbits for 7 day to investigate their efficacy. Histopathology results showed no inflammation, redness, or swelling on bladder and urethra tissues. Surface morphology comparison of uncoated catheters in the control group and coated catheters in the treatment group revealed more encrustation and crystallization on uncoated catheter than on coated catheter, indicating that catheters coated with CHX‐NPs showed efficacy in delaying encrustation and bacterial colonization. These findings suggest that nanocoating of urinary catheters can potentially enhance the biocompatibility of medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modification is a main approach for natural polymers to gain flame retardancy. Developing a green coating system to endow natural polymers with flame retardancy and wash-durability is extremely challenging. Herein, a sandwich-like structured nanocoating system with mutual restricted network through electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and chemical bonding were designed via multi-layered coating and UV curing. The coated natural cotton fabrics demonstrated exellent flame retardancy, wash durability, and hydrophobicity. The chemicals involved include montmorillonite (MMT), ammonium polyphosphate (APP), acrylated polyurethane (PU), branched polyethylenimine (bPEI), and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The concentration of bPEI governed the wash durability of the coated fabrics, and those samples with a higher concentration of bPEI possessed better wash durability. Meanwhile, bPEI served as a flammable resource to deteriorate the flame retardant performance. The systematic evaluations of the coated fabrics after washing demonstrated that this coating system can maintain balanced wash durability and flame retardancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional cotton fabrics were prepared by low–cost and environmentally–friendly spray–assisted layer–by–layer assembly to simultaneously achieve excellent self–extinguishing ability, antistatic property and antimicrobial activity. Especially, a novel hot–dog structured protective coating was designed by was designed with the incorporation of polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers between graphene sheets, which could exhibit unique structural advantages and give full play to the compound synergetic effect. More clearly, 3–aminopropyl triethoxysilane, ammonium polyphosphate and PANI were selected for achieving phosphorus–silicon–nitrogen synergism in the assembled layer, while PANI nanofibers doped with various organic acids were intercalated between adjacent graphene sheets for constructing more stable and efficient protective space. The optimized coated fabric exhibited the excellent self–extinguishing ability for 5 composite layers including phytic acid doped nanofiber, and its limited oxygen index was increased significantly from 18.1% for neat cotton to 35.1%. Moreover, the peak heat release rate and the total heat release values were greatly declined by 78.3% and 49.0%, respectively. Furthermore, a low sheet resistance of 264.7 kΩ/sq for antistatic property, as well as remarkable growth inhibition of E. coli and S. aureus could be observed. In addition, the coated fabrics also had good washing durability. Therefore, such eco–friendly and facile large–scale fabrication approach has great potentials in application for multifunctional advanced textiles and could be employed to various kinds of other cellulose fibers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The presence of metallic species around failed implants raises concerns about the stability of titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). Graphene nanocoating on titanium alloy (GN) has promising anti-corrosion properties, but its long-term protective potential and structural stability remains unknown. The objective was to determine GN's anti-corrosion potential and stability over time. GN and uncoated titanium alloy (Control) were challenged with a highly acidic fluorinated corrosive medium (pH 2.0) for up to 240 days. The samples were periodically tested using potentiodynamic polarization curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (elemental release). The integrity of samples was determined using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Statistical analyses were performed with one-sample t-test, paired t-test and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test with a pre-set significance level of 5%. There was negligible corrosion and elemental loss on GN. After 240 days of corrosion challenge, the corrosion rate and roughness increased by two and twelve times for the Control whereas remained unchanged for GN. The nanocoating presented remarkably high structural integrity and coverage area (>98%) at all time points tested. Graphene nanocoating protects titanium alloy from corrosion and dissolution over a long period while maintaining high structural integrity. This coating has promising potential for persistent protection of titanium and potentially other metallic alloys against corrosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multifunctional spherical g-C 3 N 4 @PDA (CNP) nanocarrier was prepared. • Photothermal conversion efficiency of CNP solution is up to 24.89 %. • CNP exhibits a high gambogic acid (GA) loading efficiency of about 98.5 %. • CNP/GA has excellent chemo-photothermal synergistic efficacy on HepG2 cells. In this paper, by wrapping the near-infrared (NIR) response polydopamine (PDA) as a nanocoating on the surface of spherical nano graphitic phase carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) , a multifunctional g-C 3 N 4 /PDA (CNP) nanocarrier platform was prepared. The π-conjugation system in PDA and the electronegative hydroxyl groups on the surface of CNP promote the creation of abundant active sites, which had a high drug loading rate of about 98.5 % for the electropositive GA. Due to the strong NIR reaction of CNP, the release of GA from CNP/GA can be greatly accelerated by the rising temperature, bonding disruption and charge transfer. Moreover, the photo-generated electron-hole pairs could be excited by the NIR effect of CNP, which promotes the production of ROS (·OH, · O 2 – and 1O 2) to induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Thus, the present spherical CNP nanocarrier with a combination of enzyme-mimic activity and NIR-responsive properties has a great potential for chemo-photothermal synergistic tumor therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active edible coating has gained significant attention for various applications and has recently been explored as a sustainable pretreatment approach for improving food products' drying performance and quality retention. This critical review explores the mechanistic understanding of diverse, active edible coating formulations and application techniques using novel pre-treatment approaches. This review focuses on enhancing drying performance and energy efficiency and retaining important nutritional attributes and microbial stability of dried food products. The application of edible coating as a pre-drying treatment has implications, notably affecting drying efficiency and significantly influencing coating and drying temperature. This approach was applied with other novel pre-treatments (ultrasound, ohmic heating, and osmotic dehydration) to enhance the drying efficiency and retain the stability of antioxidants, bioactive compounds, and vitamins. During drying, the maximum and minimum diffusion coefficients of the edible coated sample were obtained 1.70 × 10−9 m2/s and 9.53 × 10−11 m2/s, respectively. Ultrasound combined with coating treatment significantly reduced drying time by 31.11%. Active edible coating formulations enhanced these food qualities by synergistic interactions with plant-derived bioactive compounds and essential oils. It also minimizes the degradation of color (20%–30% reduction in total color change), texture and potentially reduces shrinkage by providing a more protective barrier. Moreover, it inhibits microbial growth and improves quality stability while storing dried food products. Furthermore, industrial relevance, sustainability, and regulatory outlook are discussed in this context. Future research should focus on in-depth synergistic interactions and refining formulations in this domain, including bio-based coating and nanocoating, optimization, and scale-up considerations. [Display omitted] • Diverse active edible coating formulations, mechanisms and application techniques were discussed. • The synergistic impact significantly enhances drying performance and stability of microbial quality. • Active edible coatings have remarkable enhancements multi-functional quality of foods. • Recent research on active edible coating with novel pretreatments techniques prior drying of foods has been compiled. • Industrial relevance, sustainability, and regulations were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nanofibers loaded with zein (ZN), flaxseed oil (FSO)-loaded zein (ZNF), gallic acid-loaded zein (ZNG), and a combination of flaxseed oil and gallic acid (GA) loaded zein (ZNFG) nanofibers were obtained. FSO and GA were highly encapsulated within the nanofibers with a high encapsulation efficiency (EE) ranging from 97.13% to 98.03% for FSO and 91.46%–92.53% for GA, respectively. ATR-FTIR analysis also confirmed the successful encapsulation of these bioactive compounds. The obtained nanofibers exhibited diameters ranging from 170.79 ± 61.47 to 318.55 ± 37.90 nm. Incorporating FSO and GA, with their antioxidant bioactive properties, into chicken meatballs aimed to delay oxidation. Additionally, the antimicrobial property of flaxseed oil was intended to delay microbial growth. All nanofibres were collected on aluminum foil on the collector plate of the electrospinning device. Chicken meatballs were coated with aluminum foils (containing zein-based nanofibres). Coating chicken meatballs with nanofibers presented a novel approach, and this study demonstrated that it was a highly successful preservation method during storage compared to the control samples. On the 3rd day of storage, the total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB) load in control samples was 6 log CFU g−1, while the TMAB load in samples coated with ZNF nanofibers reached 6 log CFU g−1 on the 10th day. ZNF nanofibers provided better protection in terms of the total yeast and mold count (TMY). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A comparative study of three cases for tabular solar still was carried out. • Enhanced tabular solar still with air injection, nanocoating and nanofluid was studied. • An energy, exergy, and economic analyses for the system were conducted. • The advanced tabular solar still distillate production cost per liter was 0.032$. • The advanced tabular solar still productivity has a 79.88 % increase over classic still. Nowadays, due to freshwater scarcity intensifying, researchers are actively seeking to improve solar desalination, a technology with immense potential, but there are still limitations in production capacity. This study investigated the integration of various additives in tubular solar still (TSS) at three configurations. In Case I, a V-corrugated basin and an air parabolic trough collector (PTC) equipped with evacuated tubes were integrated. Then, with the same attachments, CuO nanocoating was applied to the basin surface in Case II, aiming to enhance heat absorption. Finally, in Case III, CuO nanofluid was used in the presence of all previous enhancers. The system was studied during summer days with weather parameters having average ranges (minimum – peak) of 32.5–37.5 °C (ambient temperature), 318.5–1000 W/m2 (solar radiation), and 1.1–2.3 m/s (wind speed). The results were very acceptable and competitive. All modified configurations of the advanced TSS (ATSS) significantly increased distillate production compared to the classic TSS (CTSS), with a range of 49.84–79.88 %. Case III stood out as the most successful configuration, achieving outstanding gains in both energy and exergy efficiencies. Compared to the CTSS, Case III boasted an impressive 83.69 % improvement in energy efficiency and a staggering 242.45 % increase in exergy efficiency. This refers to a system that not only produces more desalinated water but also does so with significantly less wasted energy, making it a more environmentally sustainable solution. Case III also offered a good economic advantage with a 13.51 % cost reduction compared to CTSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-assembling molecular layers (SAMs) can serve as a densely packed film of monomers that can be easily crosslinked to form nanometer-thick polymer coatings with high protective properties. However, the properties of the resulting coatings are highly dependent on the preparation method used to apply the SAM to the surface. In this work, the influence of different SAM preparation steps (preparation of the oxide layer, self-assembly and drying) on the corrosion resistance of the coated samples, as well as the method of applying the molecules to the surface (immersion, spraying, brush application), was investigated. Elaidic acid, an unsaturated trans fatty acid, was applied to copper and crosslinked with gamma radiation. The properties of the coatings were studied by electrochemical methods, contact angle measurements, XPS, AFM and FTIR. The results show that the oxidation step is crucial for obtaining proper coatings, while the drying at elevated temperatures is not required. It has also been shown that the immersion of samples results in coatings with the best protective properties, while the application by brush can be an alternative method of application. On the other hand, spraying the elaidic acid results in a less uniform coating. • Self-assembled molecular layers can be crosslinked by ionizing radiation. • Preparation of self-assembled molecular layers influences crosslinked coatings. • Oxidation of copper before self-assembling is needed. • Drying before irradiation reduces protective properties of crosslinked coatings. • Immersion gives better protective properties then application by spray or brush. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal management is essential to ensure efficient operation of devices that are used by humans in their day-today life. Ineffective thermal management results in unpredicted failure of devices that may cause hazard to the end users. Through research work around the globe and pieces of literatures, it is observed that there are many effective ways to ensure optimum thermal management of the electrical and electronical devices. This empirical study explores the efficacy of nano-coated heat sinks and compares their capability with the non-coated counterpart. Two distinctive nano-powders i.e., graphene (350 nm), and carbon nanotubes (625 nm) were used as the coating materials. Square-finned heat sinks are considered in this study because of their low cost, ease of fabrication and potential in effective heat transfer under controlled environment. Natural convective heat transfer is considered in this study, while determining the temperature fluctuation during the heating till 60°Cwhile heating under 15 W, 25 W, 35 W, and 45 W and subsequent cooling process. Thermal imaging of the heat sinks was taken using a thermal camera to monitor the maximum temperature attainment and thermal distribution along the surface of the fins and the base surface of the heat sinks. The experiment revealed that the graphene-coated heat sink exhibited an almost consistent enhancement ratio of 2. However, the heat sink carbon nanotubes coated heat sink reduced from a peak value of 5.5 when heated under 15 W to 1.3 when heated under 45 W respectively. The study reveals that the graphene is exceptionally effective in thermal management, especially at high temperatures, outperforming the carbon nanotubes coating. [Display omitted] • Graphene and carbon nanotubes were applied as nano-coatings on heat sink surfaces to enhance heat dissipation. • Infrared imaging techniques were used to visualize heat energy concentration within the heat sink. • The study highlighted the vital role of extended surfaces in electronic device thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the constructions of heat pipes and thermosiphons with nanofluids, nanocoatings, and nanocomposites based on metal oxides and carbon materials for volume absorption of solar energy and cooling of electronic components is presented. Nanofluids are considered as actual working media intended for application in transparent heat miniexchangers, heat pipes, and thermosiphons for volume heating a nanofluid by laser or solar radiation. Nanocoatings of the evaporator walls of heat pipes are created for intensifying two-phase heat transfer in cooling the devices of high-current electronics. Nanocomposites applied as heat pipe and thermosiphon casings possess thermophysical and mechanical properties that in a number of cases are best than those from metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium implants present 2 major drawbacks-namely, the long time needed for osseointegration and the lack of inherent antimicrobial properties. Surface modifications and coatings to improve biomaterials can lose their integrity and biological potential when exposed to stressful microenvironments. Graphene nanocoating (GN) can be deposited onto actual-size dental and orthopedic implants. It has antiadhesive properties and can enhance bone formation in vivo. However, its ability to maintain structural integrity and quality when challenged by biologically relevant stresses remains largely unknown. GN was produced by chemical vapor deposition and transferred to titanium via a polymer-assisted transfer technique. GN has high inertness and did not increase expression of inflammatory markers by macrophages, even in the presence of lipopolysaccharides. It kept high coverage at the top tercile of tapered dental implant collars after installation and removal from bone substitute and pig maxilla. It also resisted microbiologically influenced corrosion, and it maintained very high coverage area and quality after prolonged exposure to biofilms and their removal by different techniques. Our findings show that GN is unresponsive to harsh and inflammatory environments and that it maintains a promising level of structural integrity on the top tercile of dental implant collars, which is the area highly affected by biofilms during the onset of implant diseases. Our findings open the avenues for the clinical studies required for the use of GN in the development of implants that have higher osteogenic potential and are less prone to implant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the antioxidant activity of Bunium persicum essential oil (EO) at different concentrations of 1%, 1.5%, and 2% (W/V) was evaluated. Also, antibacterial effect of three types of nano-coatings, i.e., basil seed gum (BSG), Lepidium perfoliatum seed gum (LPSG), and their combination (1:1 ratio), was examined for extending the shelf life of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fillets for 16 days at 4 °C. The amount of phenolic compounds for Bunium persicum was 133.81 ± 2.74 mg/g. The antioxidant activity of EO was assessed by two methods of DPPH and beta-carotene at different concentrations (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L). The size of the prepared nano-coatings ranged from 265.17 to 454.66 nm and the zeta potential was negative for all of them. In order to study the effect of nanocomposite coating on the shelf life, 10 treatments including control, BSG, LPSG, and their combination with EO (at 1, 1.5, and 2%) were prepared and peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid, as well as pH, total volatile nitrogen, total viable count, total psychrotrophic count were measured in 4-day intervals. The results showed that the nano-coatings containing EO had antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and were able to improve the above-mentioned properties. The data obtained from this study revealed that the nano-coatings containing EO could delay the oxidation process and microbial spoilage of the treatments (p < 0.05); by increasing the concentration of EO, better results were observed. According to the results, BSG-LPSG containing 2% EO can be used as a proper substitute for artificial and chemical food preservatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact lenses are widely used for visual corrections. However, while wearing contact lenses, eyes typically face discomforts (itching, irritation, burning, etc.) due to foreign object sensation, lack of oxygen permeability, and tear film disruption as opposed to a lack of wetting agents. Eyes are also prone to ocular infections such as bacterial keratitis (BK) and fungal keratitis (FK) and inflammatory events such as contact lens-related acute red eye (CLARE), contact lens peripheral ulcer (CLPU), and infiltrative keratitis (IK) caused by pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains that contaminate contact lenses. Therefore, a good design of contact lenses should adequately address the need for wetting, the supply of antioxidants, and antifouling and antimicrobial efficacy. Here, we developed multifunctional gallic acid (GA), phytomolecules-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZN), and phytomolecules-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles + gallic acid + tobramycin (ZGT)-coated contact lenses using a sonochemical technique. The coated contact lenses exhibited significant antibacterial (>log 10 5.60), antifungal, and antibiofilm performance against BK-causing multidrug resistant bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Escherichia. coli) and FK-related pathogenic fungal strains (Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus , and Fusarium solani). The gallic acid, tobramycin, and phytomolecules-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles have different functionalities (-OH, -NH 2 , -COOH, -COH, etc.) that enhanced wettability of the coated contact lenses as compared to that of uncoated ones and further enabled them to exhibit remarkable antifouling property by prohibiting adhesion of platelets and proteins. The coated contact lenses also showed significant antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH and good cytocompatibility to human corneal epithelial cells and keratinocytes cell lines. • Multifunctional coated lenses were developed with an efficient sonochemical approach. • Lens surface was modified with nanocoatings of ZnO nanoparticles, gallic acid, and tobramycin. • This synergistic combination endowed the lenses with remarkable antimicrobial activity. • Coated lenses also showed noteworthy antifouling and biofilm inhibition activities. • Coated lenses showed good antioxidant, biocompatibility, and wettability characteristics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology is the field of science dealing with the manipulation of the matter at the nanoscale level. The science of nanotechnology has emerged as a promising concept in all fields of medicine including dentistry and its scope is increasing everyday. It has also gained relevance in the field of orthodontics owing to its wide range of applications ranging from nanocoatings in archwires and brackets, orthodontic bonding, antimicrobial properties, atomic force microscopy to some future applications such as shape memory polymers, mandibular growth stimulation with gene therapy, acceleration of orthodontic movement, and use as biomechanical sensors. The enormous range of application of nanotechnology in orthodontics demands an intensive research into its current and future usages. This article aims to review and discuss the various applications and its potential usage in orthodontics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grinding media play an important role in cement industry, and these balls suffered from severe wear during the grinding process of clinker. The aim of this investigation is to decrease the wear rate of the grinding balls used in horizontal cement mills by using nanocoating of tungsten carbides WC. The samples of white cast iron are prepared according to standards of ASTM 522 and DIN 1669 German for microhardness test and wear test (pin on disc). High-velocity oxy-fuel system used to coat the samples with a thickness of 50, 70, and 80 μm with nanoparticles of WC. The results show that the best coat thickness is of 70 μm that gives good results and best adhesion with the base material. The presence of nanocoating on sample surface increases the wear resistance by about 75% and increases the microhardness by about 14.6% for samples coated with 70 μm layer thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First-principle calculations are employed to investigate the interaction of oxygen with ideal and defective MoS2 monolayers. Our calculations show that while oxygen atoms are strongly bound on top of sulfur atoms, the oxygen molecule only weakly interacts with the surface. The penetration of oxygen atoms and molecules through a defect-free MoS2 monolayer is prevented by a very high diffusion barrier indicating that MoS2 can serve as a protective layer for oxidation. The analysis is extended to WS2 and similar coating characteristics are obtained. Our calculations indicate that ideal and continuous MoS2 and WS2 monolayers can improve the oxidation and corrosionresistance of the covered surface and can be considered as an efficient nanocoating material. VC 2014 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, nanocomposite coatings consisting of chitosan (CSNPs) and cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) were deposited on bare 316L stainless steel alloy (316L SS) as a bone implant. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) were applied to characterize the morphological and chemical composition of the tested nanocoatings. In-vitro degradation and hydrogen evolution behaviour of the coated samples were examined by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization techniques, in Hank's solution containing of 1 × 10−3 M calcium hydrogen phosphate drug at pH 7.4 and temperature 37 °C. This drug used as an inhibitor for protecting the alloy surface from the corrosive medium and minimized the hydrogen evolution rate. Results showed that the di-phasic coating (CoNPs-CSNPs) gave the highest electrochemical corrosion resistance with the lowest hydrogen evolution rate in comparison to the monophasic coatings (CS-NPs & Co-NPs). These corrosion results suggested that a CoNPs-CSNPs nanocomposite coating on 316L SS was effective for renewable or functional implants. [Display omitted] • High quality and uniform Co-CS-NPs nano-composite coating was deposited on 316L SS implant. • The electrochemical corrosion resistances of nano-coatings are arranged as follows: Co-CS-NPs > Co-NPs > CS-NPs. • Co-CS-NPs nano-composite coating has a high total resistance value of 1150.77 kΩ cm2. • Co-CS-NPs nano-composite coating has PE % reaching to 99.01%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White button mushrooms are greatly high perishable and can deteriorate within a few days after harvesting due to physicomechanical damage, respiration, microbial growth of the delicate epidermal structure. For that reason, the present research work was applied to evaluate the effect of chitosan combination with nano-coating treatments on physicochemical parameters and microbial populations on button mushrooms at chilling storage. Nano coating with the addition of nisin 1% (CHSSN/M) established the minimum value for weight loss 12.18%, maintained firmness 11.55 N, and color index profile. Moreover, O2% rate of (CHSSN/M) mushrooms was the lowest at 1.78%; while the highest rate was reported for CO2 24.88% compared to the untreated samples (Control/M) on day 12. Both pH and total soluble solid concentrations increased during storage. Results reported that the (CHSS/M) mushroom significantly (P < 0.05) reduced polyphenol oxidase activity (24.31 U mg−1 Protein) compared with (Control/M) mushrooms that increased faster than the treated samples. (CHSSN/M) treatment was the most efficient in the reduction of yeast and mold, aerobic plate microorganisms (5.27–5.10 log CFU/g), respectively. The results established that nano-coating film might delay the aging degree and accompany by marked prolongation of postharvest mushroom freshness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have proposed a new technological solution for the creation of solar energy elements using bilateral structures of macroporous silicon to increase the overall efficiency of converting light energy into electricity. Recently, the research on R&D in solar cell technology has focused mainly on crystalline silicon technologies and photovoltaic systems, including organic ones. The main physical phenomenon that determines the prospects of two-dimensional structures of macroporous silicon with nanocoatings as solar cells is the increase in absorption of electromagnetic radiation and photoconductivity as a result of interaction of optical modes with the developed surface of cylindrical macropores with a barrier on the nanocoating-surface boundary. We fabricated two-sided macroporous silicon structures with nanocoatings for solar cells, including silicon technology, organic nanoformations, and photovoltaic system formation. Silicon is a promising material for the manufacture of structures with a cylindrical geometry of air macropores due to the anisotropy of the cheap process of photoelectrochemical etching. The presence of periodically located cylindrical pores separated by silicon columns provides a large effective surface of the samples and enhanced optical and photophysical characteristics of silicon structures. Polymer composites with nanocoatings with CdS nanocrystals and multilayer carbon nanotubes in polyethyleneimine generate charges of opposite sign on both surfaces of the structures under illumination. The formation of bilateral structures of macroporous silicon with nanocoatings increases the overall energy conversion efficiency in solar cells by up to 60 %. In addition, one can use our proposed solar cells in the upper atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foley urinary catheters were coated by chlorhexidine‐loaded micelles and chlorhexidine‐loaded nanospheres. In our prior study, the nanocoating of Foley urinary catheter was investigated for chlorhexidine‐release study, degradation, antibacterial evaluation, and cytotoxicity assessment. These studies presented the 1 month antibacterial property of nanocoating deposited via the layers of micelles and nanospheres. In this study, we evaluated the biocompatibility of these catheters, including hemocompatibility, skin irritation, skin sensitization, and stability during the age of coated urinary catheter. Results demonstrated that coated urinary catheters presented slight hemolysis, whereas skin irritation on rabbit and skin sensitization on Dunkin Hartley guinea pig showed no signs of dermal toxicity, which indicated that inflammation, redness, and swelling did not occur. Moreover, the stability of coated urinary catheters during storage indicated no change in chlorhexidine peaks by high performance liquid chromatography. Information from these studies supports the biocompatibility of coated urinary catheters via nanocoating and their use as indwelling devices to prevent urinary tract infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is, as a matter of fact, an ever increasing number of patients requiring total hip replacement (Pabinger, C.; Geissler, A. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2014, 22, 734–741). Implant-associated acute inflammations after an invasive orthopedic surgery are one of the major causes of implant failure. In addition, there are instability, aseptic loosening, infection, metallosis and fracture (Melvin, J. S.; Karthikeyan, T.; Cope, R.; Fehring, T. K. J. Arthroplasty 2014, 29, 1285–1288). In this work, a drug-delivery nanoplatform system consisting of polymeric celluloce acetate (CA) scaffolds loaded with dexamethasone was fabricated through electrospinning. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated the successful fabrication of these structures. Cytotoxicity studies were performed by using MTT assay, methylene-blue staining and SEM fixation and showed very good cell adhesion and proliferation, indicating the cytocompatibility of these fibrous scaffolds. Drug-release kinetics was measured for the evaluation of a controllable and sustained release of anti-inflammatory drug onto the engineered implants and degradation study was conducted in order to assess the mass loss of polymers. This drug-delivery nanoplatform as coating on titanium implants may be a promising approach not only to alleviate but also to prevent implant-associated acute inflammations along with a simultaneous controlled release of the drug.

Liquid metal (LM) catalysts have been demonstrated to accelerate chemical reactions, providing an intriguing route to fine chemical synthesis with immense technological implications. Herein, we explore gallium-based LMs as catalysts to promote the oxidative self-polymerization of natural polyphenols, an emerging class of natural building blocks for surface functionalization with diverse biochemical properties. The oxidative polymerization of polyphenols, triggered by eutectic alloy of gallium and indium, results in nanocoatings with remarkably high reaction kinetics. The oxidative polymerization occurs in a wide pH range including an acidic environmenta condition previously unexplored for the deposition of phenolic coatings. The LM triggers the generation of highly active radical species from the oxidant causing the rapid oxidation of the polyphenols and their subsequent deposition on a range of different substrates. We further show that the LM-based catalytic system addresses several other limitations of existing coating methods including a narrow pH range, substrate specificity (precursor–dependent), and low coating uniformity. Finally, we demonstrate that the phenolic nanocoatings obtained from the acidic pH environment have excellent antioxidant and antibacterial properties without requiring any post-functionalization step. This process for creating phenolic nanocoatings may find applications in a wide range of industries, food science, and biomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to simplify the automation of the process of sputtering nanocoatings by a laser–plasma method in vacuum, it is suggested to obtain an ion flow from a laser plasma and smoothly regulate the energy of ions and the density of their flow with the aid of the electric field potential. In treating the substrate surface by ion streams, the regimes of etching the surface have been determined, as well as creation of a pseudodiffusional layer of the target material in the near-surface zone of the substrate, and deposition of the laser target material on the substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparent polymeric thin films with high oxygen barrier are important for extending the shelf life of food and protecting flexible organic electronic devices. Polyelectrolyte/clay multilayer nanocoatings are shown to exhibit super gas barrier performance, but the layer‐by‐layer assembly process requires numerous deposition steps. In an effort to more quickly fabricate this type of barrier, a polyelectrolyte/clay coacervate composed of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and kaolinite (KAO) clay is prepared and deposited in a single step, followed by humidity and thermal post‐treatments. When deposited onto a 179 µm poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film, a 4 µm coacervate coating reduces the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) by more than three orders of magnitude, while maintaining high transparency. This single‐step deposition process uses only low‐cost, water‐based components and ambient conditions, which can be used to for sensitive food and electronics packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicanscolonizes biomaterial surfaces and are highly resistant to therapeutics. Graphene nanocoating on titanium compromises initial biofilm formation. However, its sustained antibiofilm potential is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of graphene nanocoating to decrease long-term fungal biofilm development and hyphae growth on titanium. Graphene nanocoating was deposited twice (TiGD) or five times (TiGV) on grade 4 titanium with vacuum assisted technique and characterized with Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscope. The biofilm formation and hyphae growth of C. albicans was monitored for seven days by CFU, XTT, confocal, mean cell density and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Uncoated titanium was the Control. All tests had three independent biological samples and were performed in independent triplicates. Data was analyzed with one- or two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD (α = 0.05). Both TiGD and TiGV presented less biofilms at all times points compared with Control. The confocal and SEM images revealed few adhered cells on graphene coated samples, absence of hyphae and no features of a mature biofilm architecture. The increase in number of layers of graphene nanocoating did not improve its antibiofilm potential. The graphene nanocoating exerted a long-term persistent inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation on titanium. The fewer cells that were able to attach on graphene coated titanium were scattered and unable to form a mature biofilm with hyphae elements. The findings open opportunities to prevent microbial attachment and proliferation on implantable materials without the use of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts in powder form commonly cannot have a high photocatalytic efficiency without strong agitation in traditional photocatalytic process. It is also inconvenient for recovery of the photocatalysts in powder form after usage. This consequently, results in a secondary pollution which limits their application in water treatment for heavily polluted natural waterways. In this work, coating GO and TiO2 nanomaterials over large-scale cellulose substrates which can easily float on water was performed in the presence of crosslinker by applying a simple dip-coating method. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by studying the degradation of two models of organic pollutants, methylene blue and glyphosate under visible light irradiation. The nanomaterial wrapped substrates endured over 40 times reuse at an optimum photocatalyst concentration of 0.1 g/L GO and 15% TiO2 based on fabric weight. The highest degradation rate was obtained at this point and a further increase in concentration decreased the degradation rate. The efficient degradation of glyphosate by the nanomaterial loaded substrate confirms its industrial application in treating pesticide and herbicide polluted waters. Remarkably, this study has established a feasible practical way for direct degradation of pollutants in lakes or rivers using mechanically floating large-scale cellulose-supported photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pectobacterium carotovorum is a phytopathogenic bacteria that causes significant economic loses in food crops, such as bell pepper, which is of special significance in the value of production and trade in Mexico. Therefore, a solution for fruit conservation must be sought. Due to environmental concerns, it is necessary the use of environmentally‐friendly active packaging. In this article, chitosan and chitosan‐thyme essential oil nanocoatings were used for the preservation of green bell pepper. Different formulations based on chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) and chitosan‐thyme essential oil nanoparticles (15, 30, and 45%) were prepared. For uncoated and coated bell peppers, the quality and physiological variables of inoculated and uninoculated fruit with P. carotovorum during 12‐day storage period were assessed. According to the results, the weight loss of the fruit remained almost constant over the storage days for the different formulations. A decrease in fruit firmness and an increase in the respiration rate and ascorbic acid content until day 8 with a decrease at the end of the storage period were observed. Of all the evaluated nanocoatings, the fruit treated with the formulation containing 15% CSNPs showed the lowest colony‐forming units and disease incidence. Also, the coated bell peppers with this formulation had lower CO2 production compared to the remaining treatments, and the weight loss and firmness were maintained. Therefore, the use of CSNP coatings could represent a good alternative for the protection of bell pepper against the pathogenic bacteria P. carotovorum. Practical Application: The results of the application of nanocoatings based on chitosan and chitosan‐thyme essential oil as an antibacterial agent against P. carotovorum on green bell pepper during 12‐day storage period suggest that nanoparticle‐based coatings can be a natural option for the preservation of fruit quality during ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of blanching on the physical properties of frozen garlic cloves and to explore the relationship between quality changes and microstructure. A short‐term blanching treatment (100 °C for 45 s, 90 °C for 45 s, and 80 °C for 60 s) before freezing did not affect the total organosulfur compound content. In a preliminary research, blanching conditions were determined to be 100 °C for 45 to 80 s. Under these conditions, peroxidase was inactivated, but organosulfur compounds were retained. Mechanical and color tests showed a damaging effect of blanching and freezing on frozen garlic blanched for 60 and 80 s at 100 °C. Compared to frozen fresh garlic, frozen garlic treated by blanching for 45 s at 100 °C retained 2871.49 ± 200.24 µg/g of allicin, although 81.83% of peroxidase was inactivated; browning and hardness improved by 49.97 and 48.01%, respectively. According to scanning electron microscopy, significant damage to the microstructure was observed in both frozen fresh garlic and frozen garlic after 60 s and 80 s of blanching at 100 °C. Moreover, 1H low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) indicated that blanching for 60 s and 80 s induced an increase in free water in garlic tissues, resulting in further damage after freezing. As peroxidase was efficiently inactivated, the microstructure and organosulfur compounds were better preserved, and blanching treatment at 100 °C for 45 s before freezing is a potential method for obtaining frozen garlic with high sensory and nutritional qualities. Practical Application: Freezing helps to overcome challenges associated with growing seasons and the deterioration of garlic during storage. After frozen garlic is thawed, it is prone to some undesirable changes, such as enzymatic browning and softening. Minimal blanching (45 s at 100 °C) pretreatment can help to maintain the bioactive compounds of garlic and prevent texture and color deterioration caused by freezing directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart materials have an important role in modern applications. They have contributed to improving various applications in several fields. One of the areas most affected by the improvement of smart materials is nanostructures. These materials are created by basic techniques, such as arrangement manipulation. Significant efforts have been made to enhance smart materials so that they resemble natural materials in terms of accuracy, design, and utility. Here, a review of the latest research on smart materials that can alter the electrical properties of nanostructures is presented. The main objective of this review is to introduce the role of smart materials in controlling the electrical performance of nanostructures. Furthermore, this review proposes an analysis of the integration and cooperation of previous research, such as the use of a piezoelectric motor in the design of structural magnetic nanodevices to control these devices. Piezoelectric actuators can also be used to develop a new method for controlling PV modulators for fabricating a single-wall nanotube. This new proposal could alter the properties of many nanoscale systems serving several medical and engineering fields. Moreover, this review proposes a novel methodology for nanocoating by introducing an antireflective coating with multiple layers. This method can effectively enhance the functions of the nanoscale coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) with a bright red colour have aroused worldwide attention due to their unique properties in selenium supplementation because of their low toxicity and favourable bioavailability. A simple method was developed for making a red selenium nanolayer on the inner surface of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and silicone tube. The selenium nanoparticles were produced by the reaction of sodium selenite and ascorbic acid. Red amorphous selenium nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by the reaction of 500 mg dm-3 Se (sodium selenite) solution with 10 g dm-3 ascorbic acid solution at room temperature, and morphology was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The coating density was compared on PVC and silicone surfaces by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energydispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis. The nanolayer with about 16 µm thickness on the silicone surface significantly evenly distributed compared to the PVC surface. The selenium coated silicone tube could be a good source of selenium for a continuous, low-level selenium supplementation of farm animals via drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]