Bioactive Hybrids Containing Artificial Cell Membranes and Phyto-Gold-Silver Chloride Bio-Nanoparticles.

This research targets the need for eco-friendly strategies in the synthesis of bioactive materials, addressing the importance of valorization of vegetal waste. This study focuses on developing biohybrids containing biomimetic lipid vesicles and phytosynthesized gold-silver chloride nanoparticles (AuAgCl NPs) derived from L. extract.

Bioactive Carbon@CeO Composites as Efficient Antioxidants with Antiamyloid and Radioprotective Potentials.

Blending carbon particles (CPs) and nanoscale bioactive cerium dioxide is a promising approach for designing composites for biomedical applications, combining the sorption and antioxidant potentials of each individual component. To address this issue, it is crucial to assess the correlation between the components' ratio, physicochemical parameters, and biofunctionality of the composites. Thus, the current research was aimed at fabricating C@CeO composites with different molar ratios and the examination of how the parameters of the composites affect their bioactivity.

Enhancing SiGeSn nanocrystals SWIR photosensing by high passivation in nanocrystalline HfO matrix.

SiGeSn nanocrystals (NCs) in oxides are of considerable interest for photo-effect applications due to the fine-tuning of the optical bandgap by quantum confinement in NCs. We present a detailed study regarding the silicon germanium tin (SiGeSn) NCs embedded in a nanocrystalline hafnium oxide (HfO) matrix fabricated by using magnetron co-sputtering deposition at room temperature and rapid thermal annealing (RTA). The NCs were formed at temperatures in the range of 500-800 °C.

Design of Magnetic FeO/CeO "Core/Shell"-Like Nanocomposites with Pronounced Antiamyloidogenic and Antioxidant Bioactivity.

"Core/shell" nanocomposites based on magnetic magnetite (FeO) and redox-active cerium dioxide (CeO) nanoparticles (NPs) are promising in the field of biomedical interests because they can combine the ability of magnetic NPs to heat up in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) with the pronounced antioxidant activity of CeO NPs. Thus, this report is devoted to FeO/CeO nanocomposites (NCPs) synthesized by precipitation of the computed amount of "CeO-shell" on the surface of prefabricated FeO NPs. The X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy data validated the formation of FeO/CeO "core/shell"-like NCPs, in which ultrafine CeO NPs with an average size of approximately 3-3.

Antibacterial Activity of PVA Hydrogels Embedding Oxide Nanostructures Sensitized by Noble Metals and Ruthenium Dye.

Nanostructured oxides (SiO, TiO) were synthesized using the sol-gel method and modified with noble metal nanoparticles (Pt, Au) and ruthenium dye to enhance light harvesting and promote the photogeneration of reactive oxygen species, namely singlet oxygen (O) and hydroxyl radical (•OH). The resulting nanostructures were embedded in a transparent polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel. Morphological and structural characterization of the bare and modified oxides was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Fabrication of CuO ()-ZnO () Core-Shell Nanowires and Their -Sensing Properties.

Unlike the conventional one-dimensional (1D) core-shell nanowires (NWs) composed of -type shells and -type cores, in this work, an inverse design is proposed by depositing -type ZnO (shell) layers on the surface of -type CuO (core) NWs, to have a comprehensive understanding of their conductometric gas-sensing kinetics. The surface morphologies of bare and core-shell NWs were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The ZnO shell layer was presented by overlay images taken by electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM).

Synthesis and Anti-Melanoma Activity of L-Cysteine-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Loaded with Doxorubicin.

In this study, we report on the synthesis of L-Cysteine (L-Cys)-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with doxorubicin (Dox). The FeO-L-Cys-Dox NPs were extensively characterized for their compositional and morpho-structural features using EDS, SAED, XRD, FTIR and TEM. XPS, Mӧssbauer spectroscopy and SQUID measurements were also performed to determine the electronic and magnetic properties of the FeO-L-Cys-Dox nanoparticles.

Burdock-Derived Composites Based on Biogenic Gold, Silver Chloride and Zinc Oxide Particles as Green Multifunctional Platforms for Biomedical Applications and Environmental Protection.

Green nanotechnology is a rapidly growing field linked to using the principles of green chemistry to design novel nanomaterials with great potential in environmental and health protection. In this work, metal and semiconducting particles (AuNPs, AgClNPs, ZnO, AuZnO, AgClZnO, and AuAgClZnO) were phytosynthesized through a "green" bottom-up approach, using burdock ( L.) aqueous extract.

Influence of Ferroelectric Filler Size and Clustering on the Electrical Properties of (Ag-BaTiO)-PVDF Sub-Percolative Hybrid Composites.

The paper presents a study concerning the role of ferroelectric filler size and clustering in the dielectric properties of 20%BaTiO-80%PVDF and of 20% (2%Ag-98%BaTiO)-PVDF hybrid nanocomposites. By finite element calculations, it was shown that using fillers with ε > 10 does not provide a permittivity rise in the composites and the effective dielectric constant tends to saturate to specific values determined by the filler size and agglomeration degree. Irrespective of the ferroelectric filler sizes, the addition of metallic ultrafine nanoparticles (Ag) results in permittivity intensification and the effect is even stronger if the metallic nanoparticles are connected to a higher degree with the ferroelectric particles' surfaces.

Structural, Optical, and Sensing Properties of Nb-Doped ITO Thin Films Deposited by the Sol-Gel Method.

The aim of the present study was the development of Nb-doped ITO thin films for carbon monoxide (CO) sensing applications. The detection of CO is imperious because of its high toxicity, with long-term exposure having a negative impact on human health. Using a feasible sol-gel method, the doped ITO thin films were prepared at room temperature and deposited onto various substrates (Si, SiO/glass, and glass).

Multifunctional Zn-Doped ITO Sol-Gel Films Deposited on Different Substrates: Application as CO-Sensing Material.

Undoped and Zn-doped ITO (ITO:Zn) multifunctional thin films were successfully synthesized using the sol-gel and dipping method on three different types of substrates (glass, SiO/glass, and Si). The effect of Zn doping on the optoelectronic, microstructural, and gas-sensing properties of the films was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), Raman spectroscopy, Hall effect measurements (HE), and gas testing. The results showed that the optical constants, the transmission, and the carrier numbers were correlated with the substrate type and with the microstructure and the thickness of the films.

Facile synthesis of low toxicity iron oxide/TiO nanocomposites with hyperthermic and photo-oxidation properties.

The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of developing low-cost multipurpose iron oxide/TiO nanocomposites (NCs) for use in combined antitumor therapies and water treatment applications. Larger size (≈ 100 nm) iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) formed magnetic core-TiO shell structures at high Fe/Ti ratios and solid dispersions of IONPs embedded in TiO matrices when the Fe/Ti ratio was low. When the size of the iron phase was comparable to the size of the crystallized TiO nanoparticles (≈ 10 nm), the obtained nanocomposites consisted of randomly mixed aggregates of TiO and IONPs.

Increasing Permittivity and Mechanical Harvesting Response of PVDF-Based Flexible Composites by Using Ag Nanoparticles onto BaTiO Nanofillers.

The role of Ag addition on the structural, dielectric, and mechanical harvesting response of 20%(Ag - (1 - )BaTiO) - 80%PVDF ( = 0, 2, 5, 7 and 27 vol.%) flexible composites is investigated. The inorganic fillers were realized by precipitating fine (~3 nm) silver nanoparticles onto BaTiO nanoparticles (~60 nm average size).

Low Blue Dose Photodynamic Therapy with Porphyrin-Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Complexes: In Vitro Study on Human Melanoma Cells.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness in photodynamic therapy of iron oxide nanoparticles (γ-FeO NPs), synthesized by laser pyrolysis technique, functionalized with 5,10,15,20-(Tetra-4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin tetraammonium (TPPS) on human cutaneous melanoma cells, after only 1 min blue light exposure. The efficiency of porphyrin loading on the iron oxide nanocarriers was estimated by using absorption and FTIR spectroscopy. The singlet oxygen yield was determined via transient characteristics of singlet oxygen phosphorescence at 1270 nm both for porphyrin functionalized nanoparticles and rose bengal used as standard.

Biocompatible Silver Nanoparticles: Study of the Chemical and Molecular Structure, and the Ability to Interact with Cadmium and Arsenic in Water and Biological Properties.

In the field of research for designing and preparing innovative nanostructured systems, these systems are able to reveal the presence of heavy metals in water samples, and can efficiently and selectively interact with them, allowing for future applications in the field of water remediation. We investigated the electronic and molecular structure, as well as the morphology, of silver nanoparticles stabilized by mixed biocompatible ligands (the amino acid L-cysteine and the organic molecule citrate) in the presence of cadmium and arsenic ions. The molecular, electronic, and local structure at the ligands/silver nanoparticles interface was probed by the complementary synchrotron radiation-induced techniques (SR-XPS, NEXAFS and XAS).

Thickness-Dependent Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Properties of Self-Assembled Nanostructured LaFeO Perovskite Thin Films.

Tuning the intrinsic structural and stoichiometric properties by different means is used for increasing the green energy production efficiency of complex oxide materials. Here, we report on the formation of self-assembled nanodomains and their effects on the photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of LaFeO (LFO) epitaxial thin films as a function of layer's thickness. The variation with the film's thickness of the structural parameters such as in-plane and out-of-plane crystalline coherence length and the coexistence of different epitaxial orientation-<100>SrTiO//<001> LFO, <100>SrTiO//<110> LFO and [110] LFO//[10] STO, as well as the appearance of self-assembled nanodomains for film's thicknesses higher than 14 nm, is presented.

The Influence of the Structural and Morphological Properties of WO Thin Films Obtained by PLD on the Photoelectrochemical Water-Splitting Reaction Efficiency.

Due to its physical and chemical properties, the n-type tungsten oxide (WO) semiconductor is a suitable photoanode for water decomposition reaction. The responses of the photoelectrochemical PEC water-splitting properties as an effect of structural and optical changes of WO thin films, as well as the nature of electrolyte solutions, were studied in this work. The WO thins films have been obtained by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) on silicon (Si(001)) covered with platinum substrates using three different laser wavelengths.

Electron paramagnetic resonance and microstructural insights into the thermal behavior of simonkolleite nanoplatelets.

The aim of this paper is the study of the thermal behavior of the simonkolleite Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O (ZHC) by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, in particular. It is well known that during heating ZHC undergoes a complex transformation which involves several overlapping stages. However, with reference to the data reported on this subject, it can be concluded that there is still an ongoing debate regarding the intermediate stages of this process.

3D hybrid structures based on biomimetic membranes and Caryophyllus aromaticus - "green" synthesized nano-silver with improved bioperformances.

The paper describes an innovative bio-design of some hybrid nanoarchitectures containing bioartificial membranes and silver nanoparticles phytogenerated by using a natural extract Caryophyllus aromaticus (cloves) that contains many bioactive compounds. Two kinds of liposomes with and without chlorophyll a (Chla) obtained through thin film hydration method were used to achieve bio-green-generated hybrids by a simple, cost effective bottom-up approach. The characteristic peaks of CE-nAg monitored by UV-Vis absorption have firstly demonstrated the biohybrids formation.

Heavy doping of ceria by wet impregnation: a viable alternative to bulk doping approaches.

To avoid the deleterious effects of dopant segregation, synthesis methods that facilitate a homogenous dopant distribution in the ceria lattice were employed. Though doping ceria by wet impregnation was also credited to induce a homogeneous solid solution even in the heavy regime (concentration ≥20%, A. Corma, P.

Development and Biocompatibility Evaluation of Photocatalytic TiO₂/Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Nanoparticles Designed for Self-Cleaning Purposes.

Graphene is widely used in nanotechnologies to amplify the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂, but the development of TiO₂/graphene composites imposes the assessment of their risk to human and environmental health. Therefore, reduced graphene oxide was decorated with two types of TiO₂ particles co-doped with 1% iron and nitrogen, one of them being obtained by a simultaneous precipitation of Ti and Fe ions to achieve their uniform distribution, and the other one after a sequential precipitation of these two cations for a higher concentration of iron on the surface. Physico-chemical characterization, photocatalytic efficiency evaluation, antimicrobial analysis and biocompatibility assessment were performed for these TiO₂-based composites.

Nanostructured germanium deposited on heated substrates with enhanced photoelectric properties.

Obtaining high-quality materials, based on nanocrystals, at low temperatures is one of the current challenges for opening new paths in improving and developing functional devices in nanoscale electronics and optoelectronics. Here we report a detailed investigation of the optimization of parameters for the in situ synthesis of thin films with high Ge content (50 %) into SiO. Crystalline Ge nanoparticles were directly formed during co-deposition of SiO and Ge on substrates at 300, 400 and 500 °C.

Multiscale investigation of USPIO nanoparticles in atherosclerotic plaques and their catabolism and storage in vivo.

The storage and catabolism of Ultrasmall SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles were analyzed through a multiscale approach combining Two Photon Laser Scanning Microscopy (TPLSM) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) at different times after intravenous injection in an atherosclerotic ApoE(-/-) mouse model. The atherosclerotic plaque features and the USPIO heterogeneous biodistribution were revealed down from organ's scale to subcellular level. The biotransformation of the nanoparticle iron oxide (maghemite) core into ferritin, the non-toxic form of iron storage, was demonstrated for the first time ex vivo in atherosclerotic plaques as well as in spleen, the iron storage organ.

Degradability of superparamagnetic nanoparticles in a model of intracellular environment: follow-up of magnetic, structural and chemical properties.

The unique magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles have paved the way for various biomedical applications, such as magnetic resonance cellular imaging or magnetically induced therapeutic hyperthermia. Living cells interact with nanoparticles by internalizing them within intracellular acidic compartments. Although no acute toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles has been reported up to now, the mechanisms of nanoparticle degradation by the cellular environment are still unknown.