Paraffins are attractive as phase-change materials (PCMs) due to their high latent heat capacity and adjustable phase transition temperatures. However, the individual high-purity paraffins, especially the long-chain ones, are labor-intensive and costly to produce and capable of storing and releasing latent heat only within a limited temperature range. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of a high-purity paraffin wax fraction (C13-C49) obtained via the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process as a versatile latent heat storage additive within a wide range of phase transition temperatures (8.1-98.2 °C). To avoid the leakage, the FT wax was encapsulated via nanoemulsion interfacial polymerization of melamine formaldehyde (MF) shells with various core-to-monomer and melamine/formaldehyde ratios. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the latent heat storage capacity of the FT/MF capsules was 104.5-163.4 J/g depending on the FT loading efficiency, with the heat storage and release range of -0.7-100.2 °C and -9.8-85.8 °C, respectively. The capsules were tested as a thermoregulating additive to commercially available gypsum plaster. Unlike employment of the additives based on individual paraffins, the addition of FT/MF capsules led to a smooth reduction in heating/cooling rates of plaster layers in an extended temperature range. This makes FT/MF capsules a promising and versatile additive for a diversity of thermal energy storage applications.

The use of nanomaterials in seed coating offers great advantages, such as increasing the resistance of seeds to physical damage, promoting seed growth, and delivering essential nutrients to seeds. Herein, a functional seed coating material is obtained by anchoring selenium (Se) nanoparticles on the surface of polydopamine (PDA)modified halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) using an in-situ synthesis method. The SA/HNTs-PDA@Se (SHPS) coating is obtained by mixing HNTs-PDA@Se with sodium alginate (SA) solution as the film-forming agent. HNTs act as supporter for Se nanoparticles to prohibit their aggregation as well as a controlled release for the Se elements. Wheat seeds are selected as a plant model to be coated, and the coating can be formed using Ca2+ as interfacial crosslinker. HNTs improve the affinity of the composite coating solution on the smooth surface for seeds, as well as improving the hydrophilicity and mechanical property of the coating film. The composite coating improves the resistance of the seeds to physical damage, and the water absorption and water retention capacity. The SHPS coating does not affect seed germination, but rather improves the development of root systems in coated seeds. Seed coating with a nano-Se increases Se content in wheat leaves to 277.8 mu g/kg, and the crop become a Seenriched crop, which improves the quality of the crop. This work extends the application of natural HNTs in functional seed coating technique, which contributes to the research and development of controlled micronutrient delivery system using nanomaterials and nanotechnology.

Clathrate hydrates of carbon dioxide represent a subject of considerable interest in both fundamental science and the development of promising technologies. The phase behavior of CO2 hydrate in the presence of concentrated aqueous solutions remains poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the impact of magnesium chloride (0-24 mass%) and methanol (0-40 mass%) on the thermodynamic stability of CO2 hydrate. New experimental data on the three-phase gas-aqueous solution-gas hydrate equilibrium in the temperature range 243-283 K and pressure range 1-4.5 MPa were obtained. A correlation is proposed for the precise representation of equilibrium pressure-temperature lines. A comparison of the anti-hydrate effect, as indicated by the parameter ∆Th, of these substances demonstrated that ionic MgCl2 exhibits a stronger thermodynamic inhibitory effect on CO2 hydrate formation than nonionic MeOH. The results of measuring the melting point of ice at 0.1 MPa for aqueous solutions of MgCl2 and MeOH confirmed the thermodynamic consistency of the hydrate equilibrium data. A detailed comparison of the anti-hydrate effect of MgCl2 and MeOH in a wide concentration range was performed on hydrates of different gases (CO2 and CH4). The phase composition of CO2 hydrate samples obtained from water and aqueous solutions of MgCl2 and MeOH was examined using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) at 133 K. The PXRD results indicate the formation of sI CO2 hydrate with a cell parameter of 11.86 ± 0.04 Å in all cases.

There are many social needs that nanoarchitectonics, as an emerging technology, can meet, such as converting and storing energy [...]

The fibrous hybrid material was synthesized by suspension radical styrene polymerization on the surface of cellulose microfibers. The resulting material was used to prepare a thermally stable and mechanically strong porous composite matrix that was employed as a carrier for further precipitation of the hygroscopic agents: CaCl2 and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The obtained composite materials were used to capture atmospheric water at different relative humidity levels and extract fresh water. A composite material containing an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) as a hygroscopic agent demonstrated the best water absorption efficiency and reusability potential.

Halloysite clay nanotubes are a viable model to investigate the colloid behaviour of particles dispersed in water. They demonstrate excellent colloid stability in water due to the strong overall negative surface charge. We performed detailed characterisation of halloysite surface inhomogeneity and in situ observations of diluted halloysite water suspensions behaviour. Using dark-field microscopy, we detected an aggregation between individual halloysite rods, behaving unlike the bulk majority of the non-aggregating nanoparticles. The stochastic distribution of positively charged patches on overall smooth halloysite surfaces facilitates the electrostatic clustering of individual clay nanotubes into stable aggregates having end-to-end and end-to-side configurations. Another pattern of halloysite aggregation through seemingly long-range attraction of like-charged colloids was attributed to trace amounts of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), ubiquitous microgels of biogenic origin, persisting in purified deionised water and bridging individual halloysites into long-standing coordinated clusters. These aggregates demonstrate the earlier unknown role of water-suspended nanoscale particulate organic matter in counterintuitive long-range aggregation of like-charged colloids. We also found that microbial biopolymer mucospheres attract halloysite rods, forming unusual sea urchin-like motile microstructures, confirming the participation of TEP in natural colloids self-assembly. The persistence of barely detectable amounts of TEP in sterile purified deionised water suggests their important role in colloids interactions and other nano/micro scale processes.

Biomolecular coacervates, dynamic compartments formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), are essential for orchestrating intracellular processes and have emerged as versatile tools in bioengineering. Peptides, with their modular amino acid sequences, exhibit unique potential in coacervate design due to their ability to undergo LLPS while offering precise control over molecular architecture and environmental responsiveness. Their simplicity, synthetic accessibility, and tunability make peptide-based coacervates particularly attractive for biomedical and materials applications. However, the formation and stability of these systems depend on a delicate balance of intrinsic factors (e.g., sequence charge, hydrophobicity, and chain length) and extrinsic conditions (e.g., pH, ionic strength, and temperature), necessitating a deeper understanding of their interplay. This review synthesizes recent advances in the molecular mechanisms driving peptide coacervation, emphasizing how sequence design and environmental cues govern phase behavior. We further highlight groundbreaking applications, from drug delivery platforms to protocell mimics, and discuss strategies to translate mechanistic insights into functional materials. By bridging fundamental principles with innovative applications, this work aims to accelerate the development of peptide coacervates as programmable, multifunctional systems, offering a roadmap for next-generation biochemical technologies.

A simple method for producing a nanocomposite based on halloysite nanotubes modified with carboxymethylcellulose and trypsin and lysozyme enzymes was developed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of enzymes in the samples. Chitosan-based coatings were subsequently produced from the nanocomposites. Atomic force microscopy visualization revealed the formation of globular structures consisting of enzymes and carboxymethylcellulose on the halloysite surface. An analysis of the coatings revealed a uniform distribution of halloysite throughout the matrix. The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite containing lysozyme against Escherichia coli OP 50-1 was 47.2% and 63.9% at a concentration of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite containing trypsin against Escherichia coli OP 50-1 was 44.4 and 55.5% at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite containing lysozyme against Staphylococcus aureus 6583 was 26.1 and 50.7% at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposite containing trypsin against Staphylococcus aureus 6583 was 53.6 and 75.4% at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity of coatings based on chitosan and the nanocomposites containing trypsin and lysozyme against Escherichia coli OP 50-1 and Staphylococcus aureus 6583 was observed.

Chitosan, a natural and abundant polysaccharide, offers several advantageous properties, such as excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antimicrobial activity, making it a highly versatile material. However, its extensive application is hindered by its insolubility in water and most organic solvents, due to numerous intramolecular/intermolecular hydrogen bonds. To overcome this limitation and optimize its benefits, chitosan is often chemically modified to enhance its utility in various industries. Biomedical materials, environmental management, biological papermaking, food preservation, and the daily chemical industry are a few examples. Modified chitosan retains the inherent properties of chitosan and acquires new physicochemical characteristics as a result of introduced functional groups. Hydrophilic modifications typically include carboxylation, phosphorylation, and quaternary ammonium modification reactions. The specific properties and applications of chitosan derivatives depend on the grafted groups. This review summarizes the reaction conditions, properties, and applications of hydrophilic chitosan derivatives in drug delivery and food preservation, serving as a reference for the development and use of chitosan-based biomaterials. The bibliography includes 128 references.

The increase in the resistance of microorganisms to existing antibiotics associated with their ability to survive in biofilms makes the development of new antimicrobial agents a topical question. Of great interest in this field are nanocomposites based on halloysite and silver nanoparticles, since they have a broad antimicrobial activity and can reduce the toxic effects of nanoparticles. In this study, we assessed the effect of the AgHNT nanocomposite at a concentration of 0.5 mg/ml on the pathogenicity factors of Serratia marcescens. The antibiofilm activity of AgHNT was assessed by resazurin assay, and visualized using light and AFM microscopy. AgHNT were found to significantly inhibit biofilm formation in S. marcescens. Although the silver-containing species did not affect protease activity, they greatly reduced the production of prodigiosin, another quorum-sensing factor, by bacteria. The AgHNT nanocomposite was more efficient in suppressing S. marcescens biofilms than the antibiotic streptomycin.

Micropatterning of biological surfaces performed via assembly of nano-blocks is an efficient design method for functional materials with complex organic-inorganic architecture. Halloysite clay nanotubes with high aspect ratios and empty lumens have attracted widespread interest for aligned biocompatible composite production. Here, we give our vision of advances in interfacial self-assembly techniques for these natural nanotubes. Highly ordered micropatterns of halloysite, such as coffee rings, regular strips, and concentric circles, can be obtained through high-temperature evaporation-induced self-assembly in a confined space and shear-force brush-induced orientation. Assembly of these clay nanotubes on biological surfaces, including the coating of human or animal hair, wool, and cotton, was generalized with the indication of common features. Halloysite-coated microfibers promise new approaches in cotton and hair dyeing, medical hemostasis, and flame-retardant tissue applications. An interfacial halloysite assembly on oil microdroplets (Pickering emulsion) and its core-shell structure (functionalization with quantum dots) was described in comparison with microfiber nanoclay coatings. In addition to being abundantly available in nature, halloysite is also biosafe, which makes its spontaneous surface micropatterning prospective for high-performance materials, and it is a promising technique with potential for an industrial scale-up.

Gelatin-based hydrogels have gained considerable attention due to their resemblance to the extracellular matrix and hydrophilic three-dimensional network structure. Apart from providing an air-permeable and moist environment, these hydrogels optimize the inflammatory microenvironment of the wounds. These properties make gelatin-based hydrogels highly competitive in the field of wound dressings. In this study, a series of composite hydrogels were prepared using gelatin (Gel) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) as primary materials, glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker, and aloe vera juice as an anti-inflammatory component. The properties of the hydrogel, including its rheological properties, microscopic structures, mechanical properties, swelling ratios, thermal stability, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility, were investigated. The results demonstrate that the gelatin-based hydrogels exhibit good elasticity and rapid self-healing ability. The hydrogels exhibited slight shear behavior, which is advantageous for skin care applications. Furthermore, the inclusion of aloe vera juice into the hydrogel resulted in a dense structure, improved mechanical properties and enhanced swelling ratio. The Gel/CMCh/Aloe hydrogels tolerate a compressive strength similar to that of human skin. Moreover, the hydrogels displayed excellent cytocompatibility with HFF-1 cells, and exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Lomefloxacin was used as a model drug to study the releasing behavior of the Gel/CMCh/aloe hydrogels. The results showed that the drug was released rapidly at the initial stage, and could continue to be released for 12 h, the maximum releasing rate exceeded 20 %. These findings suggest that the gelatin-based hydrogels hold great promise as effective wound dressings.

Driven by the diverse functionalization of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and advanced membrane preparation technologies, a tremendous progress in HNTs-polymer nanocomposite membranes has been made during the last dozen years. Yet even with these achievements, an elaborate and comprehensive overview on the rational design of HNTs-polymer nanocomposite membranes, their various application areas as well as the corresponding membrane performance status is still missing. Herein, we provide a timeline of the ongoing research on the advanced HNTs-polymer nanocomposite membranes and then outline the progress on: (1) versatile functionalization methods of the HNTs for the state-of-the-art HNTs-polymer nanocomposite membranes. (2) key routes to prepare and design the HNTs-polymer nanocomposite membranes, and the corresponding influences of the modified HNTs on their membrane structures and performances. (3) the overall inductive performances for specific applications in the areas of water treatment, gas treatment, energy conversion, as well as biomedicine. We envision that an insightful perspective will be timely presented in this review to stimulate the innovation in developing more advanced HNTs-polymer nanocomposite membranes, and then motivating and extending their applications.

In live organisms, cells are embedded in tissue-specific extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides chemical and mechanical signals important for cell differentiation, migration, and overall functionality. Careful reproduction of ECM properties in artificial cell scaffolds is necessary to get physiologically relevant results of in vitro studies and produce robust materials for cell and tissue engineering. Nanoarchitectonics is a contemporary way to building complex materials from nano-scale objects of artificial and biological origin. Decellularized ECM (dECM), remaining after cell elimination from organs, tissues and cell cultures is arguably the closest equivalent of native ECM achievable today. dECM-based materials can be used as templates or components for producing cell scaffolds using nanoarchitectonic approach. Irrespective of the form, in which dECM is used (whole acellular organ/tissue, bioink or hydrogel), the local stiffness of the dECM scaffold must be evaluated, since the fate of seeded cells depends on the mechanical properties of their environment. Careful dECM characterization is also necessary to reproduce essential ECM traits in artificial cell scaffolds by nanoparticle assembly. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a valuable characterization tool, as it allows simultaneous assessment of mechanical and topographic features of the scaffold, and additionally evaluate the efficiency of decellularization process and preservation of the extracellular matrix. This review depicts the current application of AFM in the field of dECM-based materials, including the basics of AFM technique and the use of flicker-noise spectroscopy (FNS) method for the quantification of the dECM micro- and nanostructure.

Using dark-field hyperspectral microscopy, we analyzed the distribution of fluorescently-labelled polystyrene microspheres with a size of 2 μm in mosquito larvae and observed the quenching of fluorescence and changes in spectral properties due to histological processing. We propose enhanced dark-field microscopy coupled with hyperspectral imaging as a versatile method for analysing polymer colloids (microplastics) biodistribution in complex tissues.

Gelatin-based hydrogels have gained considerable attention due to their resemblance to the extracellular matrix and hydrophilic three-dimensional network structure. Apart from providing an air-permeable and moist environment, these hydrogels optimize the inflammatory microenvironment of the wounds. These properties make gelatin-based hydrogels highly competitive in the field of wound dressings. In this study, a series of composite hydrogels were prepared using gelatin (Gel) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCh) as primary materials, glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker, and aloe vera juice as an anti-inflammatory component. The properties of the hydrogel, including its rheological properties, microscopic structures, mechanical properties, swelling ratios, thermal stability, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility, were investigated. The results demonstrate that the gelatin-based hydrogels exhibit good elasticity and rapid self-healing ability. The hydrogels exhibited slight shear behavior, which is advantageous for skin care applications. Furthermore, the inclusion of aloe vera juice into the hydrogel resulted in a dense structure, improved mechanical properties and enhanced swelling ratio. The Gel/CMCh/Aloe hydrogels tolerate a compressive strength similar to that of human skin. Moreover, the hydrogels displayed excellent cytocompatibility with HFF-1 cells, and exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus. Lomefloxacin was used as a model drug to study the releasing behavior of the Gel/CMCh/aloe hydrogels. The results showed that the drug was released rapidly at the initial stage, and could continue to be released for 12 h, the maximum releasing rate exceeded 20 %. These findings suggest that the gelatin-based hydrogels hold great promise as effective wound dressings.

To implement a specific function, cells recognize multiple physical and chemical cues and exhibit molecular responses at their interfaces - the boundary regions between the cell lipid-based membrane and the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM). Mimicking the cellular external microenvironment presents a big challenge in nanoarchitectonics due to the complexity of the ECM and lipid membrane fragility. This study reports an approach for the assembly of a lipid bilayer, mimicking the cellular membrane, placed on top of a polyelectrolyte multilayer cushion made of hyaluronic acid and poly-L-lysine - a nanostructured biomaterial, which represents a 3D artificial ECM. Model proteins, lysozyme and α-lactalbumin, (which have similar molecular masses but carry opposite net charges) have been employed as soluble signalling molecules to probe their interaction with these hybrids. The formation of a lipid bilayer and the intermolecular interactions in the hybrid structure are monitored using a quartz crystal microbalance and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Electrostatic interactions between poly-L-lysine and the externally added proteins govern the transport of proteins into the hybrid. Designed ECM-cell mimicking hybrids open up new avenues for modelling a broad range of cell membranes and ECM and their associated phenomena, which can be used as a tool for synthetic biology and drug screening.

Introduction. In the present study, a comparative assessment of the toxic effects of industrial single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT and MWCNT) at doses corresponding to industrial exposures on BEAS-2B and A549 cells was carried out. Materials and methods. The size distribution of SWCNT and MWCNT agglomerates in dispersions was estimated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Cytotoxicity was assessed using a MTS test and LDH assay. The interaction of CNTs with cells was visualized using dark-field and transmission electron microscopy. Results. Cytotoxic effects of pristine SWCNT and MWCNT in concentrations of 50-200 μg/ml and purified SWCNT in the range of 25-200 μg/ml were found in BEAS-2B cells. SWCNT and MWCNT were found to penetrate into the cytoplasm of both BEAS-2B and A549 cells, while MWCNT are more often revealed in the intracellular content as vacuolized clusters, and single SWCNT and agglomerates are visualized in the cytoplasm without a tendency to vacuolization. Limitations. CNT were introduced into cells in the form of dispersions, where both single nanotubes and their agglomerates were found. The calculation of CNT concentrations for introduction into cells was based on computer simulation. Conclusion. Further study of the mechanisms of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of different types of carbon nanotubes (CNT) may contribute to the identification of MWCNT and SWCNT specific effects on the cells of the respiratory system to develop methodological approaches to the safe use of CNT.

The high worldwide consumption of cheap plastic goods has already resulted in a serious environmental plastic pollution, exacerbated by piling of disposed personal protective equipment because of the recent outbreak of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of dark-field hyperspectral microscopy in the 400-1000 wavelength range for detection of nanoplastics derived from weathered polypropylene masks. A surgical mask was separated to layers and exposed to UV radiation (254 nm) for 192 h. Oxidative degradation of the polypropylene was evidenced by ATR FT-IR analysis. UV treatment for 192 h resulted in generation of differently shaped micro- and nano-sized particles, visualized by dark-field microscopy. The presence of nanoparticles was confirmed by AFM studies. The hyperspectral profiles (400-1000 nm) were collected after every 48 h of the UV treatment. The distinct hyperspectral features faded after prolonged UV exposure, but the assignment of some particles to either blue or white layers of mask could still be made based on spectral characteristics.