Nanoscience & Nanotechnology-Asia - Volume 11, Issue 6, 2021

In the current virus infection and pandemic situation, the extremely convenient gold nanoparticles sensor (AuNPs) dependent antibody and antigen detection kits are very important assays for infection detection. Various laboratories and manufacturers across the globe are utilizing different kits development and manufacturing processes, but the development of kits and large scale manufacturing are two different things. A manufacturing process needs to be controlled for financial, quality and regulatory compliance. The best way to control the process is by statistical method. The process produces products that contain variables as critical quality attributes (dependent variables) are predicted over the processing time. There are distinct immune-chromatographic point to care diagnosis devices and kits available with different quality attributes like antigen-antibody proteins, aptamers, markers (nanoparticles, latex beads, and fluorescence) and devices performance attributes, etc. Such attributes add uncertainty to the durability of such instruments. The gold nanoparticles are one of the key attributes, which certainly defines the performance of kits (sensitivity, specificity and uniformity). To establishing the manufacturing process capability, the static tolerance intervals are critical for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles, protein conjugation, and nitrocellulose membrane coating. In the immune test kits, critical process parameters (independent variable) affect dependent responses can be controlled statistically by fitting purpose methodology. The manufacturing process is to be established in the state of engineering control by setting up the critical process parameters. Statistically, the manufacturers can predict and handle out-of-specification (OOS) results even if the process is inconsistent and unstable. This article provides scientific tools to the reader to determine whether or not a gold nanoparticles based immunechromatographic development process is statically capable of scale-up.

Perovskite-based photovoltaic technology has gained significant attention owing to its tunable electrical and optical properties. Among them, lead-based perovskites are considered as the most efficient one that delivers maximum power conversion efficiency with ample stability. In the current scenario, the perovskite-based solar cells (PSCs) can be classified into two main categories, i.e. highly efficient lead-containing and underperforming lead-free based. Even though lead-based PSCs delivers high efficiency, it loses the charm in the context of lead toxicity. The toxicity issue related to lead stands as a barrier to the commercialization of lead-based PSCs. To date, various materials have been prepared and implemented as an alternative to lead in the absorber layer. Tin (Sn) based perovskites are explored as an alternative absorber material owing to their photovoltaic properties that are comparable to lead. Tin-based perovskites exhibit some drawbacks, such as rapid crystallization, lack of oxidation stability, etc. Many research groups have addressed the problems regarding tin-based perovskites and modified its structural and morphological aspects through compositional engineering and functional additives and managed to obtain an efficiency of around 10%. In this review, we portray the state of the art developments of tin-based PSCs and their future perspectives.

All groups/patient's quality of life (QOL) is affected because of overactive bladder (OAB), which leads to symptoms like urgency/urinary frequency/incontinence and nocturia. Several patients do not undergo management because of the embarrassment/misconception i.e. it is related to aging only and even discontinue the treatment due to side effects (repeated incidences). The objective of this review is to explore all management methods (including active ingredients involved in the treatment) and envisage the future scope of the different nano methods with minimizing apparent side effects to achieve a significant effect.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a metal oxide well known for its photocatalytic property and is widely used in cosmetics. Lately, it has gained more importance in its biomedical applications, especially in cancer therapy. Scientific works have elucidated the efficiency of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) against different cancer cell lines. There are safety concerns related to the usage of ZnO NPs as the zinc ion concentration may lead to changes in the human body. This review covers the significant pharmaceutical and biological aspects of ZnO NPs. Besides, this review updates ZnO NPs revolutionary use in photodynamic therapy (PDT), where it can work wonders and pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches against cancer.

Aim: For procuring the stable form of drug delivery, tremendous efforts have been made in developing new drug delivery vectors. One such approach that meets the desired stability standards is Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles (LCNs). Background: The liquid crystals are the intermediate forms of solid and liquid materials, which hold high tolerance to bear the influences of physical parameters. The liquid crystals are employed in nanotechnology to find the best way to produce the intended action of customized targeting drug delivery. The structural alignment is another critical aspect to consider, as these can accommodate wholesome drug amounts. Methods: From the studies, it has been evident that distinct characteristics like the simplicity in structure, self-assembling properties, feasibility of production and efficacy in delivery with low toxic values have addressed the excellency of LCNs. Conclusion: The current review focuses on key areas regarding the nature of liquid crystals, diverse forms, technologies used to transform them into the desired nanoparticles, and their applications as drug delivery carriers as well as theranostic agents.

Background: Novel drug delivery systems have always been of immense interest for research. The majority of the drugs suffer from solubility related constraints. Lipid-based drug delivery systems provide a promising approach to address this issue. Amongst various approaches, liquid crystalline systems offer distinct advantages over other available options. It maintains the phase stability between solid and liquid phases. Objective: Lyotropic Liquid Crystals (LLCs) have highly ordered internal structure forming capabilities, thereby assisting the controlled release of a therapeutic agent of varying sizes and polarities. Methods: The present article covers the structural features of dispersed mesophases (cubosomes and hexosomes), components used to prepare various mesophases, methods of preparation, characterization techniques, and potential applications. Results: LLCs offers a distinct choice for delivering hydrophobic as well as hydrophilic drug. They are also suitable for the delivery of macromolecules such as peptides and proteins through various routes of administration. Lyotropic liquid crystals are extremely versatile drug delivery systems that can be used for delivering drugs across topical, oral, buccal, pulmonary, and intravenous routes. Their use in the delivery of drugs that are tough to deliver, hormones, peptides, biomolecules, and vaccines is particularly important. Conclusion: This review discusses the composition, methods of preparation, and characterization of LLCs. The LLCs offer promising delivery choices for drugs with lower solubility and higher toxicity.

Nanomedicine has emerged as a lucrative option, attracting the attention of scientific and industrial stalwarts for its enormous potential and new business opportunities in the health sector. It encompasses physical, chemical, and biological interventions used for the transformation of bulk materials into nanomaterials (NMs) with particles size ~ 1-100 nm for highly specific medical applications. Therefore, its effects in diagnosis, efficacy, treatment and prevention of diseases may easily be foreseen. The credit goes to nanotechnology, which has emerged with the ability to manipulate the NMs concerning size, shape, composition as well as surface characteristics. Due to the advantages of their tiny size as well as novel properties, NMs are useful for loading more drugs with controlled release and specific targeting. Although full bloom of nanomedicine realization might take years, recent innovations in formulations of nanotechnology-based smart drug/vaccine delivery systems are beginning to change the landscape of future medicines. They are being designed to overcome biological barriers in the living systems by improving the delivery and efficacy of traditional therapeutics and reducing the toxicity by specificity to target cells/tissues. This review focuses on basic understanding and progress in the field of nanomedicine (especially nanocarriers-based drug and vaccine delivery), including nanoformulation of Amphotericin B with functionalized carbon nanotubes for the therapy of visceral leishmaniasis.

Objective: In this paper, we present a rheological analysis of suspended single-walled Carbon nanotubes in a Walters' B fluid. Methods: We assume that the viscosity varies exponentially as a function of the temperature use the Reynolds model of viscosity for the study. A variable thermal conductivity is also assumed along with buoyancy, magnetic field, viscous dissipation and a convective boundary condition. The system of nonlinear coupled equations is solved using the spectral local linearization method. Results: Our solutions are validated using through comparison with previously published results for a given set of conditions. Conclusion: The study finds that good agreement is achieved.

Background: Polybutylene succinate (PBS) is a type of biodegradable polymers that have gained considerable attention among scholars as a great completion has been observed worldwide to find alternatives to petroleum-based polymeric materials. Methods: A modified clay was used in preparing nanocomposites for the PBS/Corn starch mixture. Nanocomposites were prepared by 0.5-5 percent of HDA-MMT being integrated. An X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) was employed to characterize the modifier’s interaction in the clay layer. To the nanocomposites to be synthesized, a solution was used to cast off the modified clay and (PBS)/Corn starch) blend. Results: The nanocomposites production was verified by XRD and transmission electron microscopy. Conclusion: Modified clay nanocomposites (PBS/Corn starch) demonstrate higher thermal stability and substantial improvement in contrast to the PBS/Corn starch blend.