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Using Monte Carlo electronic transport simulations, coupled self-consistently with the Poisson equation for electrostatics, we explore the thermoelectric power factor of nanoengineered materials. These materials consist of alternating highly doped and intrinsic regions on the scale of several nanometers. This structure enables the creation of potential wells and barriers, implementing a mechanism for filtering carrier energy. Our study demonstrates that by carefully designing the nanostructure, we can significantly enhance its thermoelectric power factor compared to the original pristine material. Importantly, these enhancements stem not only from the energy filtering effect that boosts the Seebeck coefficient but also from the utilization of high-energy carriers within the wells and intrinsic barrier regions to maintain relatively high electronic conductivity. These findings can offer guidance for the design and optimization of new-generation thermoelectric materials through improvements in the power factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar photocatalysis is considered as one of the best methods for "green" purification of environment. Accordingly, efficient, stable, and low-price materials must be developed for possible commercial application. Herein, flower-like bismuth molybdate (Bi 2 MoO 6) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized by CTAB-assisted hydrothermal process, and then surface modified with platinum by photodeposition. The obtained materials were characterized by various methods, including XRD, DRS, XPS, SEM, TEM, ESR, photoluminescence spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical tests. Photocatalytic activity was tested mainly for tetracycline (TC) antibiotic degradation under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), including scavenger tests and experiments for different operation conditions (TC concentration, photocatalyst dose, pH value, in the presence of inorganic salts, water taken from different reservoirs). It has been found that the best photocatalyst containing 0.5 wt% of platinum exhibits 94.2 % TC removal during 60-min visible-light irradiation, reaching the reaction rate constant of 0.0392 min−1 (exceeding the data reported up to now). It is proposed that exceptional photocatalytic performance is caused by the synergy between the uniform flower structure (efficient light harvesting and large specific surface area) and double function of platinum deposits, i.e., as a sink for electrons (hindering charge carriers' recombination) and a plasmonic sensitizer (allowing energy transfer from excited platinum to oxygen). Superoxide radicals (•O 2 −) are the main oxidation species, as proven by the quenching experiments and EPR analysis. However, in the case of platinum-modified samples, singlet oxygen plays also an important role, and thus an energy transfer from plasmonic platinum to oxygen could be expected. Additionally, TC degradation pathways, elucidated by the detection of intermediates, and the toxicity data (TC and its degradation products), assessed by a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) method, have confirmed that photocatalytic degradation of TC is indeed an environmental-friendly method, highly recommended for the decomposition of persistent organic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoengineering has emerged as a progressive method in cancer treatment, offering precise and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents while concurrently reducing overall toxicity. This scholarly article delves into the innovative strategies and advancements in nanoengineering that bridge the gap between clinical practice and research in the field of cancer treatment. Various nanoengineered platforms such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and dendrimers are scrutinized for their capacity to encapsulate drugs, augment drug efficacy, and enhance pharmacokinetics. Moreover, the article investigates research breakthroughs that drive the progression and enhancement of nanoengineered remedies, encompassing the identification of biomarkers, establishment of preclinical models, and advancement of biomaterials, all of which are imperative for translating laboratory findings into practical medical interventions. Furthermore, the integration of nanotechnology with imaging modalities, which amplify cancer detection, treatment monitoring, and response assessment, is thoroughly examined. Finally, the obstacles and prospective directions in nanoengineering, including regulatory challenges and issues related to scalability, are examined. This underscores the significance of fostering collaboration among various entities in order to efficiently translate nanoengineered interventions into enhanced cancer therapies and patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiscale nanoengineering strategy, simultaneously including metal nanoparticle-atomized pathway and metal-organic framework-derived approach, is developed to realize the anchoring of atomic and nanosized transition-metal species in N-doped hierarchically tubular porous carbon for high-performance oxygen reduction and evolution reactions. [Display omitted] • A multiscale nanoengineering strategy, simultaneously including metal-organic framework-derived approach and metal nanoparticle-atomized pathway, to realize the anchoring of atomic and nanosized Fe/Co species on N-doped hierarchically tubular porous carbon substrate. • Fe/Co nanoparticles and single atoms are respectively utilized for accelerating OER and ORR, endowing the obtained material with a small OER/ORR potential gap of 0.684 V. • When the obtained material is used in the air electrode, 260 mW cm-2 of peak power density for liquid-state Zn-air battery, 110 mW cm-2 of peak power density for solid-state Zn-air battery, and 1000 charge-discharge cycles without decay are realized. The development of cost-effective, high-activity and stable catalysts to accelerate the sluggish kinetics of cathodic oxygen reduction/evolution reactions (ORR/OER) plays a critical part in commercialization application of rechargeable Zn-air batteries (RZABs). Herein, a multiscale nanoengineering strategy is developed to simultaneously stabilize Co-doped Fe nanoparticles originated from metal-organic framework-derived approach and atomic Fe/Co sites derived from metal nanoparticle-atomized way on N-doped hierarchically tubular porous carbon substrate. Thereinto, metal nanoparticles and single atoms are respectively used to expedite the OER and ORR. Consequently, the final material is acted as an oxygen electrode catalyst, displaying 0.684 V of OER/ORR potential gap, 260 mW cm-2 of peak power density for liquid-state RZAB, 110 mW cm-2 of peak power density for solid-state RZAB, and 1000 charge-discharge cycles without decay, which confirms great potential for energy storage and conversion applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confounding results of engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) used as cellular vehicles has plagued technologies whereby success or failure of novel approaches may be dismissed or inaccurately ascribed solely to the biotechnology platform rather than suitability of the human donor. Polymeric materials were screened for non‐viral engineering of MSCs from multiple human donors to deliver bone morphogenic protein‐4 (BMP4), a protein previously investigated in clinical trials for glioblastoma (GBM) to combat a subpopulation of highly invasive and tumorigenic clones. A “smart technology” that target the migratory and stem‐like nature of GBM will require: (1) a cellular vehicle (MSC) which can scavenge and target residual cells left behind after surgical debulking and deliver; (2) anti‐glioma cargo (BMP4). Multiple MSC donors are safely engineered, though varied in susceptibility to accept BMP4 due to intrinsic characteristics revealed by their molecular signatures. Efficiency is compared via secretion, downstream signaling, differentiation, and anti‐proliferative properties across all donors. In a clinically relevant resection and recurrence model of patient‐derived human GBM, we demonstrate that nanoengineered MSCs are not “donor agnostic” and efficacy is influenced by the inherent suitability of the MSC to the cargo. Therefore, donor profiles hold greater influence in determining downstream outcomes than the technical capabilities of the engineering technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A suitable interface between the electrode and electrolyte is crucial in achieving highly stable electrochemical performance for Li‐ion batteries, as facile ionic transport is required. Intriguing research and development have recently been conducted to form a stable interface between the electrode and electrolyte. Therefore, it is essential to investigate emerging knowledge and contextualize it. The nanoengineering of the electrode‐electrolyte interface has been actively researched at the electrode/electrolyte and interphase levels. This review presents and summarizes some recent advances aimed at nanoengineering approaches to build a more stable electrode‐electrolyte interface and assess the impact of each approach adopted. Furthermore, future perspectives on the feasibility and practicality of each approach will also be reviewed in detail. Finally, this review aids in projecting a more sustainable research pathway for a nanoengineered interphase design between electrode and electrolyte, which is pivotal for high‐performance, thermally stable Li‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work is to investigate the function of SNHG1, a long non-coding RNA implicated in disease progression, apoptosis, and proliferation, in order to solve the problem of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in newborn care. We investigated the impact of overexpressing SNHG1 on hypoxia-induced apoptosis and studied its expression in BV2 microglial cells under hypoxic circumstances. As a result of modifying YY1 expression, SNHG1′s overexpression prevents apoptosis, as our data demonstrate that it is considerably downregulated under hypoxia. We demonstrate that SNHG1 might potentially reduce microglial ischemia-reperfusion damage by using sophisticated nanoengineering drug delivery technologies to target it. This provides encouraging information for the therapy of ischemic epilepsy.

Abstract Nanoparticulate systems have the prospect of accounting for a new making of drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology is manifested to traverse the hurdle of both physical and biological sciences by implementing nanostructures indistinct fields of science, particularly in nano-based drug delivery. The low delivery efficiency of nanoparticles is a critical obstacle in the field of tumor diagnosis. Several nano-based drug delivery studies are focused on for tumor diagnosis. But, the nano-based drug delivery efficiency was not increased for tumor diagnosis. This work proposes a method called point biserial correlation symbiotic organism search nanoengineering-based drug delivery (PBC-SOSN). The objective and aim of the PBC-SOSN method is to achieve higher drug delivery efficiency and lesser drug delivery time for tumor diagnosis. The contribution of the PBC-SOSN is to optimized nanonengineering-based drug delivery with higher r drug delivery detection rate and smaller drug delivery error detection rate. Initially, raw data acquired from the nano-tumor dataset, and nano-drugs for glioblastoma dataset, overhead improved preprocessed samples are evolved using nano variational model decomposition-based preprocessing. After that, the preprocessed samples as input are subjected to variance analysis and point biserial correlation-based feature selection model. Finally, the preprocessed samples and features selected are subjected to symbiotic organism search nanoengineering (SOSN) to corroborate the objective. Based on these findings, point biserial correlation-based feature selection and a symbiotic organism search nanoengineering were tested for their modeling performance with a nano-tumor dataset and nano-drugs for glioblastoma dataset, finding the latter the better algorithm. Incorporated into the method is the potential to adjust the drug delivery detection rate and drug delivery error detection rate of the learned method based on selected features determined by nano variational model decomposition for efficient drug delivery.

Photocatalysis is considered as an environmentally friendly method for both solar energy conversion and environmental purification of water, wastewater, air, and surfaces. Among various photocatalytic materials, titania is still the most widely investigated and applied, but more efforts must be carried out considering the synthesis of highly efficient photocatalysts for multifarious applications. It is thought that nanoengineering design of titania morphology might be the best solution. Accordingly, here, titania mesocrystals, assembled from crystallographically oriented nanocrystals, have been synthesized by an easy, cheap, and "green" solvothermal method (without the use of surfactants and templates), followed by simple annealing. The obtained materials have been characterized by various methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It has been found that the as-obtained photocatalysts exhibit a unique nanorod-like subunit structure with excellent crystalline and surface properties. However, pristine titania is hardly active for a hydrogen evolution reaction, and thus additional modification has been performed by platinum photodeposition (and silver as a reference). Indeed, the modification with only 2 wt% of noble metals results in a significant enhancement in activity, i.e., ca. 75 and 550 times by silver- and platinum-modified samples, respectively, reaching the corresponding reaction rates of 37 μmol h−1 and 276 μmol h−1. Additionally, titania mesocrystals exhibit high oxidation power under simulated solar light irradiation for the degradation of antibiotics within the tetracycline group (tetracycline (TC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC)). It has been found that both experimental results and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the high ability of titania mesocrystals for oxidative decomposition of tetracycline antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific efforts in search of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels have increased over the last few decades. Exploring natural energy sources such as the sun and the wind offers viable alternatives for energy production other than burning carbon-based fuels. Although these natural energy sources are seasonally regulated, hydrogen provides a huge platform for storing these energies to ensure their continued application; hence, the implementation of a hydrogen economy consisting of hydrogen production, storage, and conversion, in which hydrogen storage plays a vital role. One of its promising playgrounds is solid-state hydrogen storage in magnesium hydride (MgH 2), which offers the benefit of hydrogen reversibility with a high capacity of 7.6 wt%. However, it operates at temperatures above 350 °C, unsuitable for storing hydrogen for fuel cells operating near ambient temperatures. Among several methods used to disrupt the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the hydride to ensure its operability under ambient conditions, nanostructuring offers a broad approach with great benefits. In this review, the recent advances in Mg/MgH 2 nanoengineering that cut across nanoconfinement using scaffolds, nanoconfinement with in-situ catalysis, and non-confinement via chemical reduction of Mg/Mg-salts are summarized. The hydrogen storage implications of these emerging techniques are also correlated to unravel the challenges and provide insights for future developments. [Display omitted] • Refined perspectives on solid-state hydrogen storage in Mg/MgH 2 are presented. • The effects of nanoengineering on the properties of Mg/MgH 2 are summarized. • The recent advances in nanoengineering of Mg/MgH 2 to ultrafine scale are discussed. • The challenges of the emerging techniques and some perspectives for further optimization are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using Monte Carlo electronic transport simulations, coupled self-consistently with the Poisson equation for electrostatics, we explore the thermoelectric power factor of nanoengineered materials. These materials consist of alternating highly doped and intrinsic regions on the scale of several nanometers. This structure enables the creation of potential wells and barriers, implementing a mechanism for filtering carrier energy. Our study demonstrates that by carefully designing the nanostructure, we can significantly enhance its thermoelectric power factor compared to the original pristine material. Importantly, these enhancements stem not only from the energy filtering effect that boosts the Seebeck coefficient but also from the utilization of high-energy carriers within the wells and intrinsic barrier regions to maintain relatively high electronic conductivity. These findings can offer guidance for the design and optimization of new-generation thermoelectric materials through improvements in the power factor.

Ceria-based nanostructures, employed as catalytic supports for noble and non-noble metals, are well-known for their remarkable activity in steam-reforming reactions, exceptional resistance to degradation, and thermal stability. However, the catalytic activity and selectivity of such systems are strongly dependent on the size and shape of ceria, making it possible to tune the oxide properties, affecting catalyst design and performance. The rational manipulation of ceria nanostructures offers various features that directly impact steam-reforming transformations, including the possibility of tuning oxygen vacancies, redox properties, and oxygen storage capacity. Thus, the importance of shape control in ceria nanomaterials is highlighted herein, emphasizing how the surface atomic configurations (exposure of different facets) significantly impact their efficiency. Although the main focus of this review is to discuss how the catalyst design may affect the performance of hydrogen production, some other elemental studies are shown, when necessary, to exemplify the level of deepness (or not) that literature has reached. Thus, an overview of ceria properties and how the physicochemical control of nanostructures contributes to their tuning will be presented, as well as a discussion regarding elemental materials design and the most prominent synthetic procedures; then, we select some metals (Ni, Co, and Pt) to discuss the understanding of such aspects for the field. Finally, challenges and perspectives for nanoengineering catalysts based on shape-controlled ceria nanostructures will be described to possibly improve the performance of designed catalysts for steam-reforming reactions. Although there are other literature reviews on ceria-based catalysts for these reactions, they do not specifically focus on the influence of the size and shape of the oxide.

Injectable hydrogels were discovered as attractive materials for bone tissue engineering applications given their outstanding biocompatibility, high water content, and versatile fabrication platforms into materials with different physiochemical properties. However, traditional hydrogels suffer from weak mechanical strength, limiting their use in heavy load-bearing areas. Thus, the fabrication of mechanically robust injectable hydrogels that are suitable for load-bearing environments is of great interest. Successful material design for bone tissue engineering requires an understanding of the composition and structure of the material chosen, as well as the appropriate selection of biomimetic natural or synthetic materials. This review focuses on recent advancements in materials–design considerations and approaches to prepare mechanically robust injectable hydrogels for bone tissue engineering applications. We outline the materials–design approaches through a selection of materials and fabrication methods. Finally, we discuss unmet needs and current challenges in the development of ideal materials for bone tissue regeneration and highlight emerging strategies in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceria-based nanostructures, employed as catalytic supports for noble and non-noble metals, are well-known for their remarkable activity in steam-reforming reactions, exceptional resistance to degradation, and thermal stability. However, the catalytic activity and selectivity of such systems are strongly dependent on the size and shape of ceria, making it possible to tune the oxide properties, affecting catalyst design and performance. The rational manipulation of ceria nanostructures offers various features that directly impact steam-reforming transformations, including the possibility of tuning oxygen vacancies, redox properties, and oxygen storage capacity. Thus, the importance of shape control in ceria nanomaterials is highlighted herein, emphasizing how the surface atomic configurations (exposure of different facets) significantly impact their efficiency. Although the main focus of this review is to discuss how the catalyst design may affect the performance of hydrogen production, some other elemental studies are shown, when necessary, to exemplify the level of deepness (or not) that literature has reached. Thus, an overview of ceria properties and how the physicochemical control of nanostructures contributes to their tuning will be presented, as well as a discussion regarding elemental materials design and the most prominent synthetic procedures; then, we select some metals (Ni, Co, and Pt) to discuss the understanding of such aspects for the field. Finally, challenges and perspectives for nanoengineering catalysts based on shape-controlled ceria nanostructures will be described to possibly improve the performance of designed catalysts for steam-reforming reactions. Although there are other literature reviews on ceria-based catalysts for these reactions, they do not specifically focus on the influence of the size and shape of the oxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of trilayer superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) Josephson junctions with high-temperature superconductor (HTS) electrodes requires atomically perfect interfaces. Therefore, despite great interest and efforts, this remained a challenge for over three decades. Here, we report the discovery of a new family of metastable materials, La2−xSrxZnO4 (LSZO), synthesized by atomic-layer-by-layer molecular beam epitaxy (ALL-MBE). We show that LSZO is insulating and epitaxially compatible with an HTS compound, La2−xSrxCuO4 (LSCO). Since the "parent" compound La2ZnO4 (LZO) is easier to grow, here we focus on this material as our insulating layer. Growing LZO at very low temperatures to reduce cation interdiffusion makes LSCO/LZO interfaces atomically sharp. We show that in LSCO/LZO/LSCO trilayers, the superconducting properties of the LSCO electrodes remain undiminished, unlike in previous attempts with insulator barriers made of other materials. This opens prospects to produce high-quality HTS tunnel junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Globally, millions of patients suffer from regenerative deficiencies, such as refractory wound healing, which is characterized by excessive inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis. Growth factors and stem cells are currently employed to accelerate tissue repair and regeneration; however, they are complex and costly. Thus, the exploration of new regeneration accelerators is of considerable medical interest. This study developed a plain nanoparticle that accelerates tissue regeneration with the involvement of angiogenesis and inflammatory regulation. Methods Grey selenium and sublimed sulphur were thermalized in PEG-200 and isothermally recrystallised to composite nanoparticles (Nano-Se@S). The tissue regeneration accelerating activities of Nano-Se@S were evaluated in mice, zebrafish, chick embryos, and human cells. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the potential mechanisms involved during tissue regeneration. Results Through the cooperation of sulphur, which is inert to tissue regeneration, Nano-Se@S demonstrated improved tissue regeneration acceleration activity compared to Nano-Se. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Nano-Se@S improved biosynthesis and ROS scavenging but suppressed inflammation. The ROS scavenging and angiogenesis-promoting activities of Nano-Se@S were further confirmed in transgenic zebrafish and chick embryos. Interestingly, we found that Nano-Se@S recruits leukocytes to the wound surface at the early stage of regeneration, which contributes to sterilization during regeneration. Conclusion Our study highlights Nano-Se@S as a tissue regeneration accelerator, and Nano-Se@S may provide new inspiration for therapeutics for regenerative-deficient diseases. Graphical Abstract

Photocatalysis is considered as an environmentally friendly method for both solar energy conversion and environmental purification of water, wastewater, air, and surfaces. Among various photocatalytic materials, titania is still the most widely investigated and applied, but more efforts must be carried out considering the synthesis of highly efficient photocatalysts for multifarious applications. It is thought that nanoengineering design of titania morphology might be the best solution. Accordingly, here, titania mesocrystals, assembled from crystallographically oriented nanocrystals, have been synthesized by an easy, cheap, and “green” solvothermal method (without the use of surfactants and templates), followed by simple annealing. The obtained materials have been characterized by various methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). It has been found that the as-obtained photocatalysts exhibit a unique nanorod-like subunit structure with excellent crystalline and surface properties. However, pristine titania is hardly active for a hydrogen evolution reaction, and thus additional modification has been performed by platinum photodeposition (and silver as a reference). Indeed, the modification with only 2 wt% of noble metals results in a significant enhancement in activity, i.e., ca. 75 and 550 times by silver- and platinum-modified samples, respectively, reaching the corresponding reaction rates of 37 μmol h−1 and 276 μmol h−1. Additionally, titania mesocrystals exhibit high oxidation power under simulated solar light irradiation for the degradation of antibiotics within the tetracycline group (tetracycline (TC), ciprofloxacin (CIP), norfloxacin (NOR) and oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC)). It has been found that both experimental results and the density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm the high ability of titania mesocrystals for oxidative decomposition of tetracycline antibiotics.

[Display omitted] From being questioned by most scientists to taking center stage in mainstream cancer treatment, cancer immunotherapy has gone through more than a century. The past decade has witnessed great strides in cancer immunotherapy with unprecedented tumor remission and inspiring clinical achievements. However, the limited clinical response rate of generally 10–40% and the high therapeutic cost are existing problems to be solved in cancer immunotherapy. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials provide a promising strategy for improving the efficacy and saving costs of cancer immunotherapy. Among them, nanoengineered coordination polymers materials, constructed from metal ions/clusters and organic ligands, have shown great potential due to their easy synthesis, tunable composition and structure, and diverse functions. In this review, we comprehensively summarize the state-of-the art research on the application of nanoengineered coordination polymers in cancer immunotherapy. First, development history, basic concepts, and main types of cancer immunotherapy are briefly introduced. Next, the characteristics of nanoengineered coordination polymers, their interactions with immune-related biomolecules, and their biosafety and biodegradation properties are comprehensively described. Most importantly, the applications of nanoengineered coordination polymers in immune-related payload protection, immune regulation, and especially cancer immunotherapy are systematically summarized. Finally, the prospects of nanoengineered coordination polymers in cancer immunotherapy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrated cement is one of the complex composite systems due to the presence of multi-scale phases with varying morphologies. Calcium silicate hydrate, which is the principal binder phase in the hydrated cement, is responsible for the stiffness, strength, and durability of Portland cement concrete. To understand the mechanical and durability behavior of concrete, it is important to investigate the interactions of hydrated cement phases with other materials at the nanoscale. In this regard, the molecular simulation of cement-based materials is an effective approach to study the properties and interactions of the cement system at the fundamental scale. Recently, many studies have been published regarding atomistic simulations to investigate the cement phases to define/explain the microscopic physical and chemical properties, thereby improving the macroscopic performance of hardened binders. The research in molecular simulation of cementitious systems involves researchers with multidisciplinary backgrounds, mainly in two areas: ① cement chemistry, where the hydration reactions govern most of the chemical and physical properties at the atomic scale; and ② computational materials science and engineering, where the bottom-up approach is required. The latter approach is still in its infancy, and as such, a study of the prevailing knowledge is useful, namely through an exhaustive literature review. This state-of-the-art report provides a comprehensive survey on studies that were conducted in this area and cites the important findings.

The development and modification of high volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete using nanomaterials to enhance the strength has advanced significantly of late. However, the long-term behavior of HVFA concrete with nanomaterials, including permeation and durability characteristics, have yet to be studied in detail. This study reports the long-term permeation and diffusion characteristics and the carbonation of nanoengineered HVFA concretes utilizing up to 80% cement replacement with fly ash, hydrated lime, and nanosilica. The 450-day compressive strength of the HVFA concrete was 73 MPa. The air and water permeability indices of HVFA-65 and HVFA-80 concretes (65% and 80% cement replaced) decreased from 0.058 to 0.039 Ln(mbar)/min and 0.3–0.1(×10−7 m3/min0.5) between 28 and 450 days, and 0.078–0.043 Ln(mbar)/min and 0.5–0.2(×10−7 m3/min0.5) , respectively. These permeation values were significantly lower than the specified indices for low permeability concretes. The presence of pores, ranging from 30 μm to 1 mm, was observed to be the principal influence on the permeability properties. The pore size and the quantity of pores decreased significantly in the HVFA composites over time. The C─ A─ S─ H gel products formed [ Ca/Si=0.43 and Ca/(Si+Al)=0.25 ] increased both pore discontinuity and the strength of the interfacial transmission zone (ITZ). This increased the packing density in the gel matrix correlated with enhanced durability. The chloride diffusion coefficients of HVFA-65 and HVFA-80 decreased from 3.88 to 0.60(×10−12 m2/s) and from 4.06 to 1.61(×10−12 m2/s) , respectively, between 28 and 450 days. Furthermore, both HVFA-65 and HVFA-80 composites displayed low carbonation coefficients, 2.93 and 4.73 mm/month0.5 , respectively. Calcite was observed at 28 days and was attributed to the carbonation of the hydrated lime. Calcite intensity in the HVFA concretes was observed to decrease up to 90 days; this was attributed to dissolution in pore water to form the more soluble calcium bicarbonate. However, from 90 to 450 days, carbonation led to the accumulating of additional undissolved calcite (calcium carbonate) within the HVFA composites over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic glasses with nanostructures recently have attracted extensive attention in various fields due to their unique functional properties. The amorphous atomic structure and nanoscale forms are the fundamental features of these nanomaterials. Herein, the current nanoengineering approaches for fabricating the metallic glasses with nanostructures such as thermoplastic forming, ultrasonic plasticity forming, dealloying, etc., are systematically summarized and the morphology and composition of the various types of metallic glasses with nanostructures that are formed by nanoengineering are classified. In addition, the functional properties and applications of metallic glasses with nanostructures are focused on. On the basis of this comprehensive review, some options for optimizing nanoengineering and anticipating the potential functional applications of metallic glasses with nanostructures are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale fluorescence emitters are efficient for measuring biomolecular interactions, but their utility for applications requiring single-unit observations is constrained by the need for large numerical aperture objectives, fluorescence intermittency, and poor photon collection efficiency resulting from omnidirectional emission. Photonic crystal (PC) structures hold promise to address the aforementioned challenges in fluorescence enhancement. In this review, we provide a broad overview of PCs by explaining their structures, design strategies, fabrication techniques, and sensing principles. Furthermore, we discuss recent applications of PC-enhanced fluorescence-based biosensors incorporated with emerging technologies, including nucleic acids sensing, protein detection, and steroid monitoring. Finally, we discuss current challenges associated with PC-enhanced fluorescence and provide an outlook for fluorescence enhancement with photonic-plasmonics coupling and their promise for point-of-care biosensing as well monitoring analytes of biological and environmental relevance. The review presents the transdisciplinary applications of PCs in the broad arena of fluorescence spectroscopy with broad applications in photo-plasmonics, life science research, materials chemistry, cancer diagnostics, and internet of things. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Globally, millions of patients suffer from regenerative deficiencies, such as refractory wound healing, which is characterized by excessive inflammation and abnormal angiogenesis. Growth factors and stem cells are currently employed to accelerate tissue repair and regeneration; however, they are complex and costly. Thus, the exploration of new regeneration accelerators is of considerable medical interest. This study developed a plain nanoparticle that accelerates tissue regeneration with the involvement of angiogenesis and inflammatory regulation. Methods: Grey selenium and sublimed sulphur were thermalized in PEG-200 and isothermally recrystallised to composite nanoparticles (Nano-Se@S). The tissue regeneration accelerating activities of Nano-Se@S were evaluated in mice, zebrafish, chick embryos, and human cells. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to investigate the potential mechanisms involved during tissue regeneration. Results: Through the cooperation of sulphur, which is inert to tissue regeneration, Nano-Se@S demonstrated improved tissue regeneration acceleration activity compared to Nano-Se. Transcriptome analysis revealed that Nano-Se@S improved biosynthesis and ROS scavenging but suppressed inflammation. The ROS scavenging and angiogenesis-promoting activities of Nano-Se@S were further confirmed in transgenic zebrafish and chick embryos. Interestingly, we found that Nano-Se@S recruits leukocytes to the wound surface at the early stage of regeneration, which contributes to sterilization during regeneration. Conclusion: Our study highlights Nano-Se@S as a tissue regeneration accelerator, and Nano-Se@S may provide new inspiration for therapeutics for regenerative-deficient diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulator–metal transition (IMT) in correlated vanadium oxides is among critical issues and has drawn significant attention in the communities of condensed matter physics, functional Mott materials and devices. It is always essential to understand and manipulate IMT behaviors in vanadium oxides toward advanced electronics and photonics. Selected‐area chemical nanoengineering (SACNE) enables direct modulating of structural compositions and physical/chemical properties. Herein, the realization of an IMT in metallic VO2−x nanobeams through artificially implanting an insulating VO2 segment is described. Original temperature‐dependent IMT behaviors are suppressed when insulating VO2 was reduced into metallic VO2−x. By exploiting an implanting nanoengineering, oxidation states and compositions to fabricate an insulating segment in the metallic VO2−x nanobeam are selectively controlled. Then, an abrupt temperature‐dependent resistance changing is demonstrated in the VO2−x nanobeam with implanted VO2 segment. It is expected that the modulations on segmental compositions and IMT behaviors in the VO2−x nanobeam would help for the understanding of correlated oxides and the construction of IMT‐based sensors and transistors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidants are very active compounds that can cause damage to biological systems under specific environmental conditions. One effective way to counterbalance these adverse effects is the use of anti-oxidants. At low concentrations, an antioxidant is defined as a compound that can delay, control, or prevent an oxidative process. Antioxidants exist in plants, soil, and minerals; therefore, nature is a rich source of natural antioxidants, such as tocopherols and polyphenols. In nature, antioxidants perform in tandem with their bio-environment, which may tune their activity and protect them from degradation. In vitro use of antioxidants, i.e., out of their biomatrix, may encounter several drawbacks, such as auto-oxidation and polymerization. Artificial nanoantioxidants can be developed via surface modification of a nanoparticle with an antioxidant that can be either natural or synthetic, directly mimicking a natural antioxidant system. In this direction, state-of-the-art nanotechnology has been extensively incorporated to overcome inherent drawbacks encountered in vitro use of antioxidants, i.e., out of their biomatrix, and facilitate the production and use of antioxidants on a larger scale. Biomimetic nanoengineering has been adopted to optimize bio-medical antioxidant systems to improve stability, control release, enhance targeted administration, and overcome toxicity and biocompatibility issues. Focusing on biotechnological sciences, this review highlights the importance of nanoengineering in developing effective antioxidant structures and comparing the effectiveness of different nanoengineering methods. Additionally, this study gathers and clarifies the different antioxidant mechanisms reported in the literature and provides a clear picture of the existing evaluation methods, which can provide vital insights into bio-medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The workshop, organized by the PhD Course in Nanosciences and Advanced Technologies, aims to create a forum on hot topics of current interest in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology such as Nanomedicine, Biotechnology, Energy-nanotech, Environmental nanoscience, Green nanotechnology, Nanoengineering.

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) have gained high repute in drug delivery systems owing to their relatively higher efficacy as natural drug delivery vehicles. The current literature has advanced the use of EVs in drug delivery through exploring various aspects including their biogenesis, characterization, and nanoengineering techniques thereby leading them from laboratory to clinical use with optimized good laboratory practices. In this timely review, we summarize the current status of EVs characterizations and recent updates on nanoengineering of EVs regarding Cargo loading and surface fabrication. Further, we have also reviewed current progress in clinical translation and implications of EVs in clinical trials together with future recommendations.

Hydrogen (H2) has emerged as a sustainable energy carrier capable of replacing/complementing the global carbon-based energy matrix. Although studies in this area have often focused on the fundamental understanding of catalytic processes and the demonstration of their activities towards different strategies, much effort is still needed to develop high-performance technologies and advanced materials to accomplish widespread utilization. The main goal of this review is to discuss the recent contributions in the H2 production field by employing nanomaterials with well-defined and controllable physicochemical features. Nanoengineering approaches at the sub-nano or atomic scale are especially interesting, as they allow us to unravel how activity varies as a function of these parameters (shape, size, composition, structure, electronic, and support interaction) and obtain insights into structure–performance relationships in the field of H2 production, allowing not only the optimization of performances but also enabling the rational design of nanocatalysts with desired activities and selectivity for H2 production. Herein, we start with a brief description of preparing such materials, emphasizing the importance of accomplishing the physicochemical control of nanostructures. The review finally culminates in the leading technologies for H2 production, identifying the promising applications of controlled nanomaterials.

Engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated extensively for gene delivery and, more recently, for targeted small molecule delivery. While preclinical studies demonstrate the potential of MSCs for targeted delivery, clinical studies suggest that tumor homing of native MSCs may be inefficient. We report here a surprising finding that loading MSCs with the anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) by nanoengineering results in significantly improved tumor homing compared to naïve MSCs. Loading PTX in MSCs results in increased levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). In response to this oxidative stress, MSCs upregulate two important set of proteins. First were critical antioxidant proteins, most importantly nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2), the master regulator of antioxidant responses; upregulation of antioxidant proteins may explain how MSCs protect themselves from drug-induced oxidative stress. The second was CXCR4, a direct target of Nrf2 and a key mediator of tumor homing; upregulation of CXCR4 suggested a mechanism that may underlie the improved tumor homing of nanoengineered MSCs. In addition to demonstrating the potential mechanism of improved tumor targeting of nanoengineered MSCs, our studies reveal that MSCs utilize a novel mechanism of resistance against drug-induced oxidative stress and cell death, explaining how MSCs can deliver therapeutic concentrations of cytotoxic payload while maintaining their viability.

Metallic dendrites, a class of three-dimensional nanostructured materials, have drawn a lot of interests in the recent years because of their interesting hierarchical structures and distinctive features. They are a hierarchical self-assembled array of primary, secondary, and terminal branches with a plethora of pointed ends, ridges, and edges. These features provide them with larger active surface areas. Due to their enormous active areas, the catalytic activity and conductivity of these nanostructures are higher as compared to other nanomaterials; therefore, they are increasingly used in the fabrication of sensors. This review begins with the properties and various synthetic approaches of nanodendrites. The primary goal of this review is to summarize various nanodendrites-engineered biosensors for monitoring of small molecules, macromolecules, metal ions, and cells in a wide variety of real matrices. Finally, to enlighten future research, the limitations and future potential of these newly discovered materials are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen energy has been recognized as "Ultimate Power Source" in the 21st century, which could be the best solution to the looming energy crisis and climate degeneration in the near future. Due to its high safety, low price, abundant resources and decent hydrogen storage density, magnesium based solid-state hydrogen storage materials are becoming the leading candidate for onboard hydrogen storage. However, the high operation temperature and slow reaction rate of MgH 2 , as a result of the large formation enthalpy and high reaction activation energy, respectively, are the first and most difficult problems we need to face and overcome to realize its industrialization. Herein, a state-of-the-art review on tailoring the stable thermodynamics and sluggish kinetics of hydrogen storage in MgH 2 , particularly through nanoengnieering and catalysis is presented, aiming to provide references and solutions for its promotion and application. Promising methods to overcome the challenges faced by MgH 2 /Mg, such as bidirectional catalysts and nanoconfinement with in-situ catalysis are compared and the required improvements are discussed to stimulate further discussions and ideas in the rational design of MgH 2 /Mg systems with ability for hydrogen release/uptake at lower temperatures and cycle stability in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the crystallographic versatility of niobium pentoxide (Nb 2 O 5) at the nanoscale, showcasing enhanced catalytic efficiency for cutting-edge sustainable energy and environmental applications. The synthesis strategies explored encompass defect engineering, doping engineering, s-scheme formation, and heterojunction engineering to fine-tune the physicochemical attributes of diverse dimensional (0-D, 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D) Nb 2 O 5 nanosystems as per targeted application. In addressing escalating environmental challenges, Nb 2 O 5 emerges as a semiconductor photocatalyst with transformative potential, spanning applications from dye degradation to antibiotic and metal removal. Beyond its environmental impact, Nb 2 O 5 is pivotal in sustainable energy applications, specifically in carbon dioxide and hydrogen conversion. However, challenges such as limited light absorption efficiency and scalability in production methods prompt the need for targeted research endeavors. The review details the state-of-the-art Nb 2 O 5 nanosystems engineering, tuning their physicochemical properties employing material engineering, and their high catalytic performance in environment remediation and energy generation. It outlines challenges, potential mitigation strategies, and prospects, urging for developing greener synthesis routes, advanced charge transfer techniques, targeted optimization for specific pollutants, and application for micro/nano plastics photocatalytic reduction. As researchers and environmental stewards collaborate, Nb 2 O 5 stands poised at the intersection of environmental remediation, energy harvesting, and nanomaterial advancements, offering a beacon of progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable future. [Display omitted] • Explored state-of-the-art aspects of Nb 2 O 5 morphologies like 0D, 1D, 2D & 3D. • Emergence of Nb 2 O 5 's significance in energy conversion, particularly in CO 2 reduction & H 2 production. • Modification strategies for Nb2O5 like defect, Vacancy, and heterojunction formation. • Discussed prospects of Nb 2 O 5 in Waste Plastic Reduction via Photoredox Catalysis. • Exploring Advanced Charge Transfer Techniques for In-Depth Understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acid-based programmable devices connect the fields of computation and biology. The synthesis, stability, and molecular hybridization are paramount data storage capabilities of DNA. This potential could lead to the development of biological devices. The integration of environment-sensitive logic circuits could resemble the systematic molecular evolution within living systems. The living cells inherently respond to environmental stimuli, with proteins playing a central role by acting as extracellular entity receptors. Although semiconductors have led unparalleled advances in logic devices, they exhibit limitations when assessing living cell parameters. Novel approaches are emerging to counter these limitations, such as using chemical molecules as micro-environment sensing computational agents. The intersection of biology and computation is marked by rapid molecular evolution. A plethora of devices, ranging from sensors and diagnostic tools to therapeutic agents, is now available, each hinting at the vast possibilities in smart biotechnology. This review offers an extensive summary of the most recent progress in biomolecular logic devices, intending to give researchers an insight into the current state of the field as well as mapping out directions for future logic device research. The emphasis on the promise and potential of nanomaterials interface with DNA, nucleic acid and protein to shape the future of computational logic devices underscores the importance of ongoing exploration and innovation in the field of bio-computing systems. [Display omitted] • Synthesis of biomolecular computational circuits. • Biomolecular logic devices are exceptionally sensitive to cellular and environmental phenomena. • DNA logic devices offer a low-cost and highly customizable medium for the development of complex circuits. • Toehold-mediated strand displacement, split G-quadruplex, and other strategies facilitates designing of DNA devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injectable hydrogels were discovered as attractive materials for bone tissue engineering applications given their outstanding biocompatibility, high water content, and versatile fabrication platforms into materials with different physiochemical properties. However, traditional hydrogels suffer from weak mechanical strength, limiting their use in heavy load-bearing areas. Thus, the fabrication of mechanically robust injectable hydrogels that are suitable for load-bearing environments is of great interest. Successful material design for bone tissue engineering requires an understanding of the composition and structure of the material chosen, as well as the appropriate selection of biomimetic natural or synthetic materials. This review focuses on recent advancements in materials–design considerations and approaches to prepare mechanically robust injectable hydrogels for bone tissue engineering applications. We outline the materials–design approaches through a selection of materials and fabrication methods. Finally, we discuss unmet needs and current challenges in the development of ideal materials for bone tissue regeneration and highlight emerging strategies in the field.

Abstract Background Clinical translation of therapeutic nuclear acid, particularly those targeting tumor progression, has been hampered by the intrinsic weaknesses of nuclear acid therapeutic including poor systemic stability, rapid clearance, low membrane permeability and lack of targeting ability. Small nuclear acid engineered into carrier-free nanodrugs with structural stability and disease targeting may be viable to overcome pharmaceutical obstacles of nuclear acid. Methods A general method through a mild and simple chemistry was established to convert therapeutic miRNA into an infinite Auric-sulfhydryl coordination supramolecular miRNA termed IacsRNA with near-spherical nanostructure, high colloid as well as anti-hydrolysis stability and low macrophage uptakes. Results IacsRNA presented the increased half-life period in circulation and accumulation at tumor sites in comparison to normal miRNA. Moreover, Iacs-miR-30c showed no toxicity of viscera and sanguis system in the 5-time injection dosage of the treatment. More importantly, Iacs-miR-30c potently suppressed the Wnt signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo, and effectively sensitized both potency of 5-Fu in PDX model of colon cancer and Anti-PD1 in B16F10 homograft model of melanoma. Conclusion Collectively, this work amply confirmed the design of IacsRNA as a general and viable strategy of nano-pharmaceutic to concert flimsy therapeutic miRNA into potential drugs. Considering from a broader perspective, the miRNA-initiated infinite coordination self-assembly strategy has distinct advantages in resurrecting nuclear acid therapeutics, probably bringing new inspiration to RNA-derived therapeutics of a great variety of human diseases including cancer. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy occurring in the digestive system and ranks second in cancer mortality worldwide. In colorectal cancer, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is selectively upregulated, resulting in the further exacerbation of the disease. Therefore, the clearance of H2S and the regulation of the enzymes on the H2S pathways are of great significance for colorectal cancer therapy. Methods Here, we investigated the H2S content in various clinical tumor tissues from patients and confirmed that overproduced concentration of H2S in colorectal cancer. Accordingly, we developed an H2S-responsive nanoplatform based on zinc oxide coated virus-like silica nanoparticles (VZnO) for the therapy of colorectal cancer. Results Owing to its excellent H2S scavenging ability, VZnO could effectively reduce H2S content in colorectal cancer to prohibit the growth of CT26 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. Moreover, the removal of H2S in colorectal cancer also leads to tumor inhibition through activating ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic form of cell death. The biosafety-related toxicological and pathological analysis confirmed the low toxicity and high safety of VZnO in colorectal cancer treatment. Furthermore, as an H2S-responsible nanosystem, VZnO appears to have no therapeutic effect on other non H2S rich cancers, such as the 4T1 breast cancer model. Conclusions We anticipate that the H2S-depletion-induced ferroptosis strategy using zinc oxide-based nanomaterials would provide insights in designing nanomedicines for colorectal cancer-target theranostics and may offer clinical promise. Graphic abstract

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The clinical relevance of liquid biopsy for glioblastoma (GBM) remains undetermined due to practical and biological limitations such as absence of a reliable GBM‐specific biomarker, trace levels in circulation due to the blood–brain–barrier, and lack of a sensitive method to detect the trace levels of biomarkers. It is hypothesized that GBM stem cell (GSC)‐associated cell free DNA can function as reliable biomarker for GBM because it accounts for tumor heterogeneity and provide accurate molecular information about the cancer. An integrative methodology is used for GBM diagnosis by utilizing the sub‐single molecular sensitivity of nanoengineered plasmonic metasensors for real‐time genomic profiling of GSC DNA. The nanoengineered metasensors can detect the rare circulating GSC‐DNA accurately from just 5 µL of blood and the test can be performed in under 10 min. Analysis of clinical serum samples from GBM patients and healthy volunteers demonstrates that the technology yielded an accurate classification of GBM in an independent validation cohort (accuracy 98.3%, specificity 100%). The methodology detects GBM‐signatures from the patient blood rapidly within the half‐life period of cfDNA in circulation, non‐invasively and amplification‐free with a high diagnostic accuracy. With clinical validation, this methodology can evolve as a clinically viable diagnostic tool for fatal and hard‐to‐detect cancer like GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid instabilities can be harnessed for facile self-assembly of patterned structures on the nano- and microscale. Evaporative self-assembly from drops is one simple technique that enables a range of patterning behaviors due to the multitude of fluid instabilities that arise due to the simultaneous existence of temperature and solutal gradients. However, the method suffers from limited controllability over patterns that can arise and their morphology. Here, we demonstrate that a range of distinct crystalline patterns including hexagonal arrays, branches, and sawtooth structures emerge from evaporation of water drops containing calcium sulfate on hydrophilic and superhydrophilic substrates. Different pattern regimes emerge as a function of contact line dynamics and evaporation rates, which dictate which fluid instabilities are most likely to emerge. The underlying physical mechanisms behind instability for controlled self-assembly involve Marangoni flows and forced wetting/dewetting. We also demonstrate that these patterns composed of water-soluble inorganic crystals can serve as sustainable and easily removable masks for applications in microscale fabrication.

In recent years, an increase in the number of chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases has led to a global health burden majorly affecting underdeveloped and developing nations. A key biomarker for assessing the kidneys' normal functioning is creatinine, which is filtered out from the blood by the kidney. Thus, timely and specific detection of creatinine becomes necessary for diagnosis and subsequent treatment of CKD. Hence, in this study, we have tried to develop a field-deployable, software-integrated immunosensor for the detection of creatinine in a serum sample. The immunosensor was developed by incorporating gold nanoparticles, boron doped MXene, polyaniline, and anticreatinine antibody using an appropriate bioconjugation reaction. The developed sensor was able to detect creatinine in a linear dynamic range of 10 nM to 0.1 M with a limit of detection of 1.72 (±0.07) nM. The sensor was integrated with an indigenously developed software named "CretCheck" which simplifies the process of data analysis. The software integrated personalized biosensing device was used to find the creatinine concentrations directly from the obtained analytical signals. The developed immunosensor with the integrated software can also be implemented directly in primary health care facilities for creatinine detection in the future.

The growing demands for X-ray imaging applications impose diverse and stringent requirements on advanced X-ray detectors. Among these, flexibility stands out as the most expected characteristic for next-generation X-ray detectors. Flexible X-ray detectors can spatially conform to nonflat surfaces, substantially improving the imaging resolution, reducing the X-ray exposure dosage, and enabling extended application opportunities that are hardly achievable by conventional rigid flat-panel detectors. Over the past years, indirect- and direct-conversion flexible X-ray detectors have made marvelous achievements. In particular, microscale and nanoscale engineering technologies play a pivotal role in defining the optical, electrical, and mechanical properties of flexible X-ray detectors. In this Perspective, we spotlight recent landmark advancements in flexible X-ray detectors from the aspects of micro/nano engineering strategies, which are broadly categorized into two prevailing modalities: materials-in-substrate and materials-on-substrate. We also discuss existing challenges hindering the development of flexible X-ray detectors, as well as prospective research opportunities to mitigate these issues.