ABSTRACT Osthole (OS), a natural coumarin derivative with anti‐diabetic, antioxidant, and anti‐inflammatory properties, shows promise for diabetic wound healing. Preliminary molecular docking studies demonstrated moderate binding affinities of OS toward MMP‐9, Keap‐1, and TLR‐4, indicating its potential to modulate key wound‐healing biomarkers. However, the poor aqueous solubility of OS limits its therapeutic efficacy. To overcome this limitation, OS was encapsulated into lyotropic liquid crystalline nanoparticles (OS‐LLCNPs) and optimized using a central composite design. The optimized formulation exhibited a particle size of 168.5 ± 1.13 nm, PDI of 0.1973 ± 0.03, zeta potential of −16.09 ± 2.14 mV, encapsulation efficiency of 89.42 ± 4.27%, and drug loading of 1.51 ± 0.2%. FT‐IR analysis confirmed successful encapsulation and compatibility of formulation components. In vitro release studies showed approximately 90% cumulative drug release within 24 h. Cell culture studies demonstrated good cytocompatibility under normal and glucose‐induced diabetic conditions, while OS‐LLCNPs significantly enhanced fibroblast migration (6.51‐fold increase). Incorporation of OS‐LLCNPs into a cryo‐gel produced a porous, shear‐thinning matrix with favorable moisture‐handling and degradation properties, supporting its potential as a promising platform for diabetic wound healing.
ABSTRACT Liver diseases (LD) are a global health concern that arises due to limitations of conventional therapies, including low solubility in biological fluids, rapid metabolism, and insufficient hepatic concentrations. However, nanocrystals (NCs) composed of pure active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are emerging as the most effective tool for increasing the solubility, bioavailability, and targeting of poorly soluble drugs for LD. This review summarizes recent advances in the design, processing, and application of NCs for LD. The review focuses particularly on comparing top‐down, bottom‐up, and combined processing methods, with special consideration given to API‐specific requirements as a drug selection criterion for NCs, the choice of stabilizers, and the application of NCs in LD. The idea is to present polysaccharide‐based, inorganic, and drug NCs for targeting hepatocytes, kupffer cells, or hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Despite these promising advances, challenges including nonspecific sequestration by Kupffer cells, physical instability during storage, and limited clinical translation continue to restrict the therapeutic potential of nanocrystal‐based liver drug delivery systems. Further novel perspectives, such as artificial intelligence‐assisted preparation, liver‐on‐a‐chip technology, and Quality by Design approaches, are presented to develop NCs more comprehensively toward precision nanomedicines for treating liver fibrosis, hepatitis, or hepatic cancer.
ABSTRACT Diabetic wound, one of the most common diabetes complications, faces significant challenges with substantial medical and financial burdens. Clinically, conventional monotherapies struggle to disrupt the vicious cycle caused by persistent bacterial infections and a highly oxidative microenvironment. In this study, we developed poly‐L‐lysine and chitosan oligosaccharide lactate‐based antibacterial and antioxidative carbon dots ( ɛ ‐PLLCD) via a relatively low‐temperature incomplete carbonization strategy, which preserves the structural integrity and intrinsic functional groups of the polymer precursors. Consequently, ɛ ‐PLLCD exhibits broad‐spectrum bactericidal activity via electrostatic membrane disruption while concurrently acting as a potent ROS scavenger to neutralize the hyper‐oxidative wound microenvironment. In vitro assays confirmed antibacterial and antioxidative capabilities of ɛ ‐PLLCD. Meanwhile, S. aureus ‐infected diabetic mouse model was applied, showing that ɛ ‐PLLCD significantly accelerated wound closure with nearly 100% healing on day 9. In addition, downregulation of IL‐6 was also observed after mice were treated with ɛ ‐PLLCD, indicating effective antioxidative effects. Overall, this polypeptide‐based carbon dot could provide a strategy for the clinical management of chronic diabetic wounds.
ABSTRACT MXene quantum dots (MQDs) are zero‐dimensional, surface‐dominated nanomaterials whose quantum confinement and chemically diverse terminations enable unusual interfacial activity in complex biological environments. This review provides the first focused and integrative assessment of MQDs within infection control–adaptive wound healing systems, emphasizing how physicochemical identity governs biological relevance and translational potential. Rather than cataloging applications, the discussion examines dimensional confinement, surface termination heterogeneity, colloidal dynamics, redox responsiveness, and physicochemical stability in physiological milieus, establishing a materials‐centered foundation for interpreting bio–nano interactions. Experimental evidence is evaluated to elucidate how surface‐dominated properties manifest in infection‐relevant microenvironments, including wound‐associated interfaces and structurally complex biological matrices. Particular attention is given to the distinction between intrinsic physicochemical responsiveness and context‐dependent biological outcomes, avoiding performance‐driven generalizations. Translational considerations—spanning safety profiles, physicochemical reproducibility, scalability, and regulatory alignment—are systematically analyzed to identify design principles required for clinical relevance. By unifying materials chemistry, interfacial science, and translational constraints, this review advances a conceptual framework in which MQDs are positioned as adaptive enablers of next‐generation wound healing strategies centered on infection control rather than single‐function efficacy.
ABSTRACT Branched plasmonic nanoparticles enable strong optical confinement and spatially localized energy dissipation. Here, we present an atomistically resolved electrodynamic study of gold tripod and octapod nanostructures using a fluctuating‐charge/fluctuating‐dipole framework. By explicitly resolving atomic geometry, junction morphology, and branch coupling, we compute absorption spectra, near‐field distributions, induced charge densities, and plasmon‐induced energy dissipation. We show that reduced symmetry concentrates plasmonic activity into polarization‐selective modes, while higher symmetry redistributes excitation across multiple coupled branches. These results demonstrate how atomistic electrodynamics enables symmetry‐resolved analysis of plasmon localization and dissipation beyond continuum models.
ABSTRACT Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have attracted considerable attention for solar‐energy applications. However, solar cells integrating these materials raise concerns because of the well‐known toxicity of lead. As such, lead‐free bismuth halide perovskites have been explored as an alternative, although their reported performance remains well below that of lead‐based counterparts. A challenge in this area is the limited availability of non‐conventional chemical strategies for synthesizing nanocrystalline bismuth halide perovskites, particularly when compared with the well‐established methods for preparing lead halide perovskites and when considering implementation under green‐chemistry principles. In this work, we report the first sonochemistry‐assisted synthesis of Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 perovskite‐like nanocrystals (NCs) using a vegetable oil as a green solvent. The optical, morphological, and structural properties of the resulting nanocrystals were then evaluated before processing into thin films. Although surface‐ligand exchange is crucial for processing perovskite NCs into thin films for solar cells, it has not yet been explored for lead‐free systems. Here, we investigate the thin‐film processing of Cs 3 Bi 2 I 9 NCs prepared in the green solvent and using different antisolvents/purification cycles prior solar‐cell fabrication.
Aqueous Zn‐ion batteries attract much attention due to their advantages of considerable theoretical energy capacity, high safety, environment friendly, and low cost. However, viable vanadium‐based cathode materials usually suffer from sluggish kinetics and limited stability. Herein, it is reported that NaV 6 O 15 nanorods (NaVO) with a diameter of 170 nm are successfully fabricated via a facile process of hydrothermal and subsequent annealing. After a process of reduction, the reduced NaV 6 O 15 nanorods (R‐NaVO) were obtained, with more oxygen vacancies and a higher tetravalent vanadium ratio than NaVO. As a result, R‐NaVO nanorods show much higher charge‐transfer rate and ion‐diffusion rate. Just due to the unique structure features, the assembled R‐NaVO//Zn battery can supply a higher capacity of 182.8 mAh g −1 at the current density of 1 A g −1 than 119.6 mAh g −1 of NaVO//Zn battery, and perform excellent cycling stability of 97.5% retention after 1000 charge/discharge cycles. This work provides a facile fabrication method for supplying high‐capacity and long‐life NaV 6 O 15 cathode materials and great practical value for the development of vanadium‐based aqueous Zn‐ion batteries in the future.
Controlling the tip arrangement and interparticle gaps in gold nanobipyramids (AuNBPs) self-assembled monolayers remains a critical challenge for achieving uniform surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hotspots. Herein, we demonstrate a facile liquid-gas interface self-assembly strategy modulated by a free ligand concentration gradient to precisely engineer tip-overlapping structures. By tuning the concentration of free thiol-terminated polystyrene (PS-SH) ligands (0-1.2 mg/mL), we achieve a continuous evolution of AuNBPs tip arrangements-from separated gaps (similar to 6 nm) to tip alignment, and further to tunable tip-overlapping configurations (overlap length up to 18 nm). Combined experimental and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations reveal that the tip-overlapping structure formed at 1.2 mg/mL induces strong electromagnetic coupling, generating dense and uniform hotspots. Consequently, the optimized substrate exhibits exceptional SERS performance for crystal violet detection, with a wide linear range (10(-3)-10(-7) M, R-2 = 0.968), and outstanding signal uniformity (RSD = 3.78%). Conversely, excess ligands (>1.2 mg/mL) trigger entropy-driven three-dimensional disorder, degrading performance. This work provides a practical strategy for designing sensitive and reproducible SERS substrates through nanoscale structural engineering, while also highlighting the importance of balancing hotspot optimization and ligand-mediated molecular accessibility.
Highly textured gallium (Ga) doped zinc oxide (ZnO) nano-structured thin films were prepared using sol-gel dip coating on a silicon glass substrate. The prepared films were investigated by XRD, XPS, FESEM, EDAX, TEM, Four Point Probe Technique, UV-vis spectrometer, and FTIR, respectively. To tune the desired properties, prepared films were post-heat-treated at 450 degrees C. The XRD analysis results revealed that the ZnO:Ga films were polycrystalline with a single-phase structure, and high-intensity, sharp peaks were exhibited in preferred orientation along the (101) direction. The elemental composition, chemical state, and binding energies are determined by using XPS. FESEM analysis showed a hierarchically arranged sponge-like morphology, and EDAX analysis results confirmed the presence of Zn, Ga, and O elements. TEM analysis displayed the hexagon-like morphology with a particle size of similar to 36 nm. The UV-vis spectroscopy confirmed that all the prepared samples showed a good transmittance value greater than 95% in the visible range (400-800 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. The result of the four-probe technique shows the least resistivity of 1.8 & times; 10-2 ohm cm. The obtained results of the prepared ZnO:Ga nanostructured thin films have wider usage in photovoltaic cells and optoelectronic devices.
Pesticides play a crucial role in improving agricultural productivity and, consequently, global food security. However, conventional pesticide delivery systems typically rely on organic solvents and/or surfactants to solubilize highly hydrophobic active ingredients, leading to significant environmental concerns. In this work, we present a degradable bicontinuous delivery system for pesticide loading that can be produced through a simple, solvent- and surfactant-free process. As demonstrated in our previous studies, this platform enables the simultaneous incorporation of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds during material fabrication, offering potential cost reductions. Here, we investigate atrazine as a model herbicide. Its release kinetics were evaluated in both celite and natural soil as representative release media. In plant-growth assays, atrazine-loaded bicontinuous structures markedly reduced Brassica sp. growth, whereas no measurable effect was observed for Zea mays under the tested conditions.
The integration of deep-tissue optical imaging with programmable cancer therapy in a single nanoplatform remains challenging due to the poor photostability and aggregation-induced quenching of clinical NIR dyes, along with the limited catalytic efficiency of conventional nanozymes. Herein, we report rationally designed plasmonic core-shell-shell nanohybrids, AuNRs@mSiO2-ICG@PAA and AuNRs@mSiO2-ICG@GO, enabling dual-modal NIR fluorescence and two-photon excitation imaging combined with NIR-triggered catalytic-photothermal therapy. The architecture comprises an anisotropic gold nanorod (AuNR) core as a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) generator, a mesoporous silica shell encapsulating indocyanine green (ICG), and an outer PAA or GO coating that enhances stability and suppresses dye leakage and photobleaching. Optimized plasmon-exciton coupling yields similar to 2-fold fluorescence enhancement and strong two-photon excitation fluorescence for high-contrast imaging. Notably, the GO-wrapped hybrid acts as a plasmon-activated nanozyme, exhibiting photo-enhanced peroxidase-like activity under 808 nm irradiation (2 W cm- 2) via hot-electron transfer, accelerating H2O2 conversion into hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) for chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Simultaneously, efficient photothermal heating (Delta T approximate to 58 degrees C; eta = 27.5%) enables photothermal therapy (PTT). The synergistic CDT-PTT effect achieves near-complete HeLa cell ablation (similar to 9% viability), establishing a new LSPR-driven theragnostic strategy for imaging-guided cancer treatment.
In this study, we demonstrate that the optimized incorporation of Cr into Mn-Fe containing mixed oxides effectively tailors the redox activity of the Mn and Fe centers for enhanced alkaline water splitting. This incorporation of Cr is precisely achieved through a facile controlled co-precipitation route yielding compositionally tuned Cr-Mn-Fe mixed oxides. The structural characteristics of the synthesized materials were verified via XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. XRD analysis revealed that the synthesized materials are primarily composed of rhombohedral alpha-Fe2O3, while additional weak reflections in Cr-containing samples suggest the possible presence of Cr2O3 related secondary phases. Morphological evolution from dense agglomerated grains (F1N) to porous nanostructures (F4N) enhances electroactive surface exposure, while XPS confirms mixed-valence states of Fe2+/Fe3+, Mn2+/Mn3+, and Cr3+, facilitating synergistic redox coupling. Electrochemical evaluations in 1.0 m KOH reveal that the optimized F3N catalyst exhibits improved bifunctional activity, requiring remarkably low overpotentials of 0.28 V for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and 0.23 V for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at 10 mA/cm2. The corresponding Tafel slopes of 37.64 mV/dec (OER) and 35.00 mV/dec (HER) indicate accelerated charge-transfer kinetics. Furthermore, the F4N catalyst also demonstrates improved long-term durability, retaining 90.87% of its catalytic current density under continuous operation.
Developing durable, Nafion-free proton exchange membranes (PEMs) with high proton conductivity and long-term chemical resilience remains a critical challenge in fuel cell technology. In this work, sulfonated PVDF-HFP composite membranes incorporating variable loadings of sulfonated Fe-MIL-88B-NH2 (5, 7, and 9 wt.%) were synthesized to investigate the influence of MOF dispersion on mechanical integrity, oxidative stability, and proton-transport behavior. Structural analysis revealed that low to moderate MOF incorporation significantly improved the membrane microstructure by introducing well-connected hydrophilic channels while maintaining polymer flexibility. Mechanical testing demonstrated that 5 and 7 wt.% composites displayed enhanced ductility and toughness compared to pristine polymer, whereas excessive loading (9 wt.%) led to filler agglomeration, promoting premature failure. Proton conductivity measurements showed a clear temperature-activated conduction mechanism, with the 7 wt.% membrane exhibiting the highest conductivity across all temperatures. Although the lowest activation energy was observed at 9 wt.% loading, the 7 wt.% membrane exhibited the highest conductivity due to optimized microstructure and transport pathways. Nyquist impedance spectra further supported these findings, showing minimal bulk resistance for the 7 wt.% membrane. Additionally, oxidative stability tests demonstrated that controlled MOF dispersion enhances resistance to radical-induced degradation, with the 7 wt.% composite offering the best balance between stability and performance. Overall, this study highlights the critical role of optimized MOF distribution in achieving high-performance composite PEMs and establishes PHF-MIL88-7 as a promising candidate for Nafion-free fuel cell applications.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are promising bioactive agents for wound management due to their antimicrobial and regenerative properties, and their ability to induce analgesia in animal models. Vitamins A and E are known to support tissue repair and modulate inflammatory pain. This study evaluates a topical ointment combining green-synthesized ZnO NPs (derived from Prosopis juliflora leaf extract) with vitamins A and E, for wound-healing, analgesic, and antibacterial efficacy in a rat excisional wound model. Four ointment formulations were applied to adult male Wistar rats for 14 days. ZnO NP-containing formulations exhibited clear antibacterial effects, with the vitamin A + ZnO NP combination showing the strongest activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. In the wound model, the combined vitamin/ZnO NP ointment significantly accelerated wound closure, reduced wound area, improved epithelial thickness and collagen organization, and produced the strongest analgesic effect among the tested formulations. This treatment also markedly increased VEGF and TGF-beta expression, indicating enhanced tissue regeneration. The analgesic effect may be associated, at least in part, with modulation of NMDA-related pain pathways. These findings suggest a beneficial interaction between green-synthesized ZnO NPs and vitamins A/E, supporting their potential in multifunctional topical wound-care formulations.
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) offer lightweight, flexible, and high-performance displays but face challenges such as high production cost and limited operational stability. Here, we present a sustainable one-step solid-state synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) from lignocellulosic biomass using citric acid and urea. Controlled BaCl2 and ZnCl2 doping tunes CQD crystallinity, surface chemistry, and optical properties. Structural analyses (XRD, STEM, XPS) show BaCl2 promotes graphitized, crystalline CQDs, whereas ZnCl2 yields amorphous, oxygen-rich structures. Ba-doped CQDs exhibit strong blue emission, high quantum yield (60.2%), and superior OLED device performance (256 cd m- 2), highlighting the role of metal-ion-assisted nucleation in enhancing charge transport and exciton recombination. This study provides a green, scalable route to high-efficiency CQD-based OLEDs.
Gold nanostars (GNS) show great potential for cancer therapy due to their photothermal effect under near-infrared excitation. Here we propose to combine photothermia with chemotherapy to make the treatment more efficient. GNS were prepared by a seeded-growth method involving silver nitrate in a 1-min process. The optimal conditions were 15 nm seeds, 3 mm of silver nitrate and a seeds to gold chloride ratio of 0.004 to obtain plasmonic resonance at 807 nm. These optimized GNS showed an increase of 4 degrees C upon 808 nm excitation. Photothermal properties were similar to those of commercial gold nanorods (GNR) with a plasmon band centered at 813 nm. Then GNS and GNR were modified with PEG-SH molecules in order to incubate them with HT29 cancer cell spheroids prepared in hydrogel microwells. Spheroids were submitted to various treatments, in addition to incubation with GNS and GNR. They were also incubated with gemcitabine, a chemo-therapeutic agent, and irradiated at 808 nm, with the objective to combine chemotherapy with photothermal therapy. The dead/live cell evaluation after treatment was performed by fluorescence microscopy. The optimal combination of GNS, gemcitabine, and laser irradiation was found to induce the highest percentage of dead cells and a decrease of spheroids size.
A sustainable synthesis of a hybrid zinc oxide-cobalt oxide nanocomposite (ZnO-Co3O4 NCs) has been achieved using extracts from A. cardiosperma in a one-pot green chemistry method. The multifarious biological and environmental applications of the green-synthesized ZnO-Co3O4 NCs were evaluated based on their antioxidant, antibacterial, and dye-degradation activities, as well as their plant-growth-promoting properties. The morphological features of the surface functionalized hybrid ZnO-Co3O4 NCs have been determined by UV-vis, fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering- zeta potential (DLS-Zeta), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) techniques. The characteristic surface plasmon resonance peaks (lambda max) appeared at 270 and 510 nm. XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques validated the crystalline structure and electron binding affinity of NCs, respectively. The ZnO-Co3O4 NCs demonstrated excellent inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtlis (25 mm) at 100 & micro;g/mL. Furthermore, ZnO-Co3O4 NCs exhibited potent radical scavenging, ferrous ion reducing, and metal chelation capabilities. In environmental applications, the ZnO-Co3O4 NCs exhibited efficient photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue, achieving 98.19% under sunlight irradiation. The study examined their efficacy in combating infectious diseases, facilitating environmental remediation, and enhancing plant development, thereby advancing sustainable technological development.
The drive toward efficient hydrogen technologies demands electrocatalysts that unite low cost with strong bifunctional activity. Here, we explore a microwave-assisted route to UiO-66-NH2 using ZrOCl2 & centerdot;8H2O, where the coordinated water molecules within the precursor unexpectedly act as structural contributors, steering crystal development and enhancing both hydrogen and oxygen evolution performances. Carboxylate modulation with acetic, formic, and benzoic acids further reshapes the physicochemical landscape of the MOFs, inducing controlled variations in nanoparticle dimensions, electronic structure, and surface defect environments. These modulators not only tune the bandgap but also influence the oxidation states revealed in X-ray photoelectron spectra, directly impacting charge-transfer characteristics. Among the explored systems, acetic acid modulation promotes an optimal interplay between defect density and conductive pathways, yielding highly stable and responsive catalytic interfaces suitable for overall water splitting. This study reveals how precursor-bound water, rational modulator choice, and rapid microwave crystallization synergistically govern the electrocatalytic identity of UiO-66-NH2. The findings emphasize the broader potential of strategic defect engineering, accessible zirconium sources, and sustainable synthesis routes in developing next-generation MOF-based catalysts for clean energy applications.
Metal oxide nanoparticles are at the core of many nanotechnology applications, notably UV blocking filters, sunscreen creams and photocatalyzers. However, the tendency of metal oxide nanoparticles to form complex nanoaggregates complicates their analysis and imposes the development of alternative characterization methods with a sensitivity down to the level of a single nanoaggregate to reveal the size and shape dependences hidden in the ensemble-based bulk measurements. Here we use bright-field UV microscopy to monitor the extinction cross-sections of TiO2, SnO2 and Fe2O3 nanoparticles with a resolution of a single nanoaggregate with dimensions well below 200 nm. Correlative electron and atomic force microscopy images of the same nanoaggregates provide information about the dimensions and fill fractions of each sample. Our experimental results are put in regard to numerical simulations based on discrete dipole approximation (DDA), demonstrating correct qualitative and quantitative consistency with theoretical predictions, given the assumptions and simplifications of the model. Our results provide critical information characterizing the material and morphology parameters determining the UV response of metal oxide nanoaggregates, with a direct relevance for cosmetic sunscreen applications and related areas of nanotechnology.
The growing concern over water contamination by potentially toxic metals underscores the need for sustainable and cost-effective remediation strategies. In this study, sodalite (SOD-Na) was synthesized from alum sludge (AS), a by-product of water treatment plants rich in Si and Al, through a hydrothermal process in an autoclave. Zeolitic concentrate was characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), Brunauer Emmet Teller (BET) method, and zeta potential analysis, confirming the formation of sodalite with mesoporous structure and surface charge favorable to cation adsorption. Adsorption experiments demonstrated high affinity for Pb2+ (189 mg g-1), Cd2+ (121 mg g-1), and Ni2+ (58.4 mg g-1), whereas limited adsorption was observed for Cr6+ (Cr2O7 2-) (8.2 mg g-1), consistent with the material's negative surface charge and ion-exchange mechanism. Tests with real wastewater confirmed the material's applicability, showing Ni2+ removal capacity of 26.5 mg g-1 despite competitive interactions with coexisting ions. These findings highlight the potential of sodalite synthesized from alum sludge as an effective and sustainable adsorbent for wastewater treatment, contributing to circular economy strategies and reducing environmental liabilities.
