Current Nanoscience - Volume 20, Issue 2, 2024

Nanocomposite hydrogels have attracted extensive research interest due to their potential applications in health care, electronic skin, and sensors. This paper reviews the performance and characteristics of nanocomposite hydrogels based on zero-dimensional, onedimensional, and two-dimensional nanofillers, including sensitivity, detection range, detection limit, and application scenarios. The effects of different dimensional nanofillers on the performance of nanocomposite hydrogels are discussed, and the advantages and disadvantages of nanocomposite hydrogels based on different nanomaterials are analyzed. The structural design, materials, processing strategies and encapsulation methods of nanocomposite hydrogel sensors are also briefly described. Then, this paper focuses on the application of wearable sensors in human motion detection and biomedical direction and compares the advantages and disadvantages of wearable sensors based on different nanocomposite hydrogels in the above two applications directions. Finally, the problems and challenges existing in the application of wearable sensors are discussed, and the development trend of wearable sensors based on nanocomposite hydrogels is attempted to be prospected.

Graphene has drawn significant attention due to its commercial usage in various fields. Several methods have been developed for the synthesis of graphene sheets but most of them involve only lab-scale production and are expensive too. So, the production of high-grade graphene on a large scale by cost-efficient and eco-friendly methods is still a challenge for the scientific community. The reduction of graphene oxide to produce high-quality graphene is considered the most eco-efficient and auspicious approach. Various pathways for the reduction of graphene oxide involving chemical reduction, thermal annealing, microwave and photoreduction, solvothermal, electrochemical, and green reduction have been explored. Several of these methods use harmful and toxic reagents that cause adverse effects on human health and the environment. The reduction of graphene oxide by plant extracts is simple, easily accessible, environment-friendly, sustainable, renewable, and economical. This review highlights different approaches for the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide with the main focus on green reduction using plant extracts. Moreover, several applications of reduced graphene oxide in various fields have also been elaborated. The main aim of this review is to provide deep insights for current and future researchers related to the greener methods for the synthesis of reduced graphene oxide along with its potential applications.

Background: The spread of infectious diseases caused by viruses is always a global concern to public health. Developing affordable, accurate, fast and effective technologies for virus detection is crucial in reducing virus transmission. A nanopore is a sensor that can identify target molecules at a single molecule level, often used for genome sequencing and early disease detection. Nanopores are classified in two types: biological nanopores, ideal for detecting viral nucleic acid sequences, and solid-state nanopores primarily used to detect viral particles. Methods: In this review, we first provide a brief overview of the properties and fundamental principles of these two types of the nanopore. Then, we focus on the application of nanopores in viral nucleic acid sequencing and the quantitative detection of viral nanoparticles. Additionally, we discuss new strategies combining nanopore sensors with other technologies, which greatly improve the sensing performance. Results: A literature review on the application of nanopores in controlling viral epidemics is provided. The pros and cons of biological nanopores and solid-state nanopores are summarized, respectively, and the opportunities of integrating novel technologies with nanopore sensors to enhance the latter are addressed in this paper. Conclusion: Owing to significant advancements in nanotechnology and integration with other technologies such as machine learning, nanopore sensors are becoming widely applied in virusesrelated analysis. In the long term, nanopore sensors are expected to play an important role in the field of virus detection and analysis.

Owing to the advantages of rapid adsorption and desorption characteristics, excellent gas separation performance, as well as good thermal and chemical resistance, carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes have been developed as a promising gas separation tool. Over the past 30 years, hollow fiber carbon molecular sieve (HFCMS) membranes have become the preferred choice for industrial applications due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio and the ability to assemble lightweight membrane modules. The gas transport mechanism behind the HFCMS is dominated by molecular sieving function. They can be prepared by pyrolysis of the polymeric hollow fiber precursors. Post-treatments can tailor the ultramicropores structure to improve the separation performance. This paper aims to review the recent progress in the preparation of HFCMS membranes from aspects of precursor selection, pyrolysis conditions and post-treatment. Moreover, a brief perspective in terms of future investigation of HFCMS membrane is also proposed.

Hybrid functional materials, composed of inorganic and organic components, are considered versatile platforms whose applications in electronics, optics, mechanics, energy storage, informatics, catalysis, sensors, and medicine field have represented a breakthrough for human well-being. Among hybrid materials, micro/nanostructured hybrid colloidal systems have been widely investigated due to the dramatic enhancement of activity provided by the large surface area exposed at the interfaces with respect to the bulk counterpart. Recently, a growing interest has been in the exploration of novel environmental-friendly and versatile procedures that allow the formulation of hybrid nanostructures through safety procedures and mild experimental conditions. This review aims to provide an introduction to hybrid organic-inorganic materials for biomedical applications in particular nanostructured ones, describing the commonly exploited materials for their fabrication and techniques, advantages, and drawbacks.

This literature study will investigate cubosomal preparation in various pharmaceutical compositions. Cubosomal particles are nanostructured liquid crystalline particles with submicron diameters ranging from 10 to 500 nanometers with high encapsulation efficacy. This literature has investigated the anatomy and function of cubosomal units, as well as their formulation, material application, benefit, disadvantage, and preparation technique. Due to their nano-irritancy, cubosomal nanostructures have become a preferred method for treating a range of illnesses.

Background: Cancer is a global public health issue; in the United States, it is the second leading cause of death. Furthermore, cancer, which consists of distinct subtypes of cancer cells and variable components, may cause a continuum of carcinogenesis. It can be categorized according to the part where it begins in the body, such as breast cancer or cervix cancer. Cervical cancer attacks cervix cells, most commonly in the transition area, when the endocervix's glandular cells transform into the exocervix's squamous cells. Cervical cancer is treated in several methods depending on the degree and size of the tumour and frequently entails surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Methods: It is vital to have an effective drug delivery system that may increase the treatment effectiveness to overcome the limits of traditional therapy and achieve higher cancer therapeutic efficacy that is successful in treating cervical cancer. Additionally, these therapies are safer than traditional therapy. Although many nanocarriers have been created, only a few numbers have received clinical approval to deliver anticancer medications to the targeted areas where their predicted activity is to be seen. Conclusion: Along with the patents released, various research reports illustrating the value of nanocarriers are addressed in this review. Some recent publications, clinical evidence, and patent records on nanocarrier architectures have been given, strengthening the understanding of tumor management.

The extensive interest in electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) as a key in advancing the efficiency and controllability of fluid-based microelectromechanical and actuator systems has resulted in a deluge of technological research, especially in the area of microfluidics, liquid lenses, and fluid-based lab-on-chips. More recently, the integration of nanostructures into EWOD-driven devices has shown promising improvement in these devices' performance, design, and miniaturization. Due to the exceptional properties, availability, versatility, and tunability of nanostructures, they are being utilized as components of EWOD systems for various applications. Utilization ranges from fabricating nanodimensional dielectric layers to incorporating nanoparticles in fluid droplets. With the current trend in improving the performance and functionality of EWOD-driven devices at low voltage operations, it is timely to revisit the fundamental principle of EWOD phenomena and how it is extended experimentally using nanostructures. In this paper, we present the different nanostructures investigated as dielectric materials in various EWOD experiments focusing on metal oxide and silicon nitride layers. Notes on the structure of these dielectric layers are also presented. Furthermore, various EWOD experiments employing nanofluid droplets are also described. This paper provides a clear picture of nanostructures' diverse impact on the advancement of EWOD technology. The insights presented in this paper may also serve as a guidepost for future exploration and development of the role of nanostructures in EWOD-driven devices.

Background: In this study, ampicillin sodium fluorescent carbon quantum dots were prepared by one-step hydrothermal method with ampicillin sodium as the carbon source and urea as the nitrogen source. Methods: The structure of CQDs were characterized by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometer. The pH, reaction time and ionic strength of phenol detected by N-CQDs were optimized. The optimum experimental conditions were 40 μL ampicillin sodium N-CQDs, 2 mL buffer solution with pH 8.0, and the reaction time was 6 min. Results: Through the detection of fluorescence spectrophotometry, p-nitrophenol had obvious fluorescence quenching phenomenon on ampicillin sodium N-CQDs, and the detection limit was 75 nM. It was used in the standard addition experiment of actual samples, and the recovery rates were more than 85%. Conclusion: Therefore, the N-CQDs could be used as fluorescent probe to analyze the content of p-nitrophenol in the actual environment.

Introduction: It is well known, that titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles can lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon photoexcitation. Methods: In this work, we investigated mesoporous surfaces based on TiO2 nanoparticles doped with 0.6-0.7% manganese (Mn), which showed reduced photoactivity and were based on the more stable rutile polymorph of titania.Results: In particular, we showed spectrophotometrically that the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOD) can be successfully adsorbed up to 80% while retaining its bioactivity in contact with the TiO2:Mn-based surface.Conclusion: We propose that this study could potentially give rise to biocompatible surfaces for biosensing applications.