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Topic Review
Biodegradable Packaging Materials
Food packaging is used to protect food products from physical, chemical, or biological stresses in their environment, thereby improving their quality and extending their shelf life. A variety of packaging materials have traditionally been used for this purpose, including plastic, glass, metal, paper, wood, and textiles. Some of these materials, particularly plastics, cause considerable environmental damage during their manufacture and after their disposal. For0 this reason, there has been great interest in developing biodegradable forms of packaging materials that are more sustainable to produce, that rapidly decompose after disposal, and that do not cause as much environmental pollution. These packaging materials can be constructed from biodegradable film-forming materials such as proteins, polysaccharides, and lipids. Moreover, their functional performance can be enhanced by incorporating organic or inorganic nanoparticles or nanofibers. For instance, nano-forms of clay, iron oxide (Fe2O3), titanium dioxide (TiO2), silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) can be used (inorganic nanoparticles), as well as nano-forms of chitin and cellulose and their derivatives (organic nanoparticles). The resulting nanocomposites often have enhanced technofunctional characteristics such as improved optical, mechanical and barrier properties, as well as some novel functional attributes, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, that can prolong the shelf life of packaged foods. Moreover, it is possible to incorporate sensing materials into biodegradable films to provide information about the quality, freshness, or safety of packaged foods. 
  • 1.9K
  • 30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Smart ECM-Based Electrospun Biomaterials
Electrospinning is a well-known technique to produce fibers that mimic the three dimensional microstructural arrangements of the extracellular matrix fibers. Natural and synthetic polymers are used in the electrospinning process; moreover, a blend of them provides composite materials that have demonstrated the potential advantage of supporting cell function and adhesion. Recently, the decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM), which is the noncellular component of tissue that retains relevant biological cues for cells, has been evaluated as a starting biomaterial to realize composite electrospun constructs. The properties of the electrospun systems can be further improved with innovative procedures of functionalization with biomolecules. Among the various approaches, great attention is devoted to the “click” concept in constructing a bioactive system, due to the modularity, orthogonality, and simplicity features of the “click” reactions. Here, we provide an overview of current approaches that can be used to obtain biofunctional composite electrospun biomaterials and propose a design of a smart ECM-based electrospun system suitable for skeletal muscle tissue regeneration.
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Nanomaterials in Neurodegenerative Disease Biomarkers
The unique and outstanding properties of nanomaterials (such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, gold, silver and magnetic nanoparticles, polymers and quantum dots) have been contributing to enhance the electrochemical and optical behavior of transducers while offering a suitable matrix for the immobilization of biological recognition elements. Therefore, optical and electrochemical immuno- and DNA-biosensors with higher sensitivity, selectivity and longer stability have been reported. This review aims to provide insights into the conjugation of nanomaterials with different transducers highlighting their crucial role in the construction of biosensors for detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) main biomarkers.
  • 1.9K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cerenkov luminescence imaging and applications
       Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) is a novel optical molecular imaging modality based on the detection of the Cerenkov radiation.
  • 1.9K
  • 21 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Interactions between Atmospheric Oxygen and MoS2 Crystals
MoS2 belongs to a class of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). TMDCs share a common formula MeX2, where Me is a transition metal element from group four (Ti, Zr, Hf), five (V, Nb or Ta) or six (Mo, W), and X is a chalcogen (S, Se or Te). Their crystalline structure comprises an inner Me layer sandwiched by two X layers. Herein, thermal oxidation of the microscopic MoS2 flakes is reviewed. An impact of relative humidity is also mentioned.
  • 1.9K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Ultracentrifugation Techniques for Nanoparticles Ordering
A centrifugal field can provide an external force for the ordering of nanoparticles. Especially with the knowledge from in-situ characterization by analytical (ultra)centrifugation, nanoparticle ordering can be rationally realized in preparative (ultra)centrifugation. This study summarizes the work back to the 1990s, where intuitive use of centrifugation was achieved for the fabrication of colloidal crystals to the very recent work where analytical (ultra)centrifugation is employed to tailor-make concentration gradients for advanced materials. This review is divided into three main parts. In the introduction part, the history of ordering microbeads in gravity is discussed and with the size of particles reduced to nanometers, a centrifugal field is necessary. In the next part, the research on the ordering of nanoparticles in analytical and preparative centrifugation in recent decades is described. In the last part, the applications of the functional materials, fabricated from centrifugation-induced nanoparticle superstructures are briefly discussed.
  • 1.9K
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Environmental Applications of Nanocellulose-Based Membranes
Extensive research and development in the production of nanocellulose, a green, bio-based, and renewable biomaterial has paved the way for the development of advanced functional materials for a multitude of applications. From a membrane technology perspective, the exceptional mechanical strength, high crystallinity, tunable surface chemistry, and anti-fouling behavior of nanocellulose, manifested from its structural and nanodimensional properties are particularly attractive. Thus, an opportunity has emerged to exploit these features to develop nanocellulose-based membranes for environmental applications including water filtration, environmental remediation, and for the development of pollutant sensors and energy devices.
  • 1.9K
  • 09 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Ionic Liquids in DSSCs
The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) which are considered as the third-generation solar cells have a huge potential to be commercialized due to their low cost, simplicity in fabrication, and promising photon-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency. Nevertheless, a high cell efficiency can only be achieved when an organic solvent is incorporated into the formulation of the electrolyte, which is prone to evaporation and leakage. As a result, DSSCs become unsuitable for long-run usage due to thermal instability in the electrolyte. The early intention of incorporating ionic liquids (ILs) into the electrolyte was to curb the abovementioned problem and to enable the DSSCs to function as a sustainable energy device. ILs have been incorporated into the electrolyte formulation and the extent of how the ILs can affect the cell efficiency in various electrolyte states is highlighted. This sheds light on the true purpose of introducing ILs into DSSC electrolyte, which is to enhance the ionicity of the electrolyte.
  • 1.9K
  • 26 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Detecting Organochlorine Pesticides by SERS
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) embody highly lipophilic hazardous chemicals that are being phased out globally. Due to their persistent nature, they are still contaminating the environment, being classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They bioaccumulate through bioconcentration and biomagnification, leading to elevated concentrations at higher trophic levels. Studies show that human long-term exposure to OCPs is correlated with a large panel of common chronic diseases. Due to toxicity concerns, most OCPs are listed as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Conventionally, separation techniques such as gas chromatography are used to analyze OCPs (e.g., gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or electron capture detection (GC/ECD)).
  • 1.9K
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
MiRNA-Based Therapies in Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension involves a continuous remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature, that is similar to cancer in some aspects due to the uncontrolled proliferation of certain cells. This leads to muscularization of pulmonary vessels, development of vascular lesions, continuous vasoconstriction, and final heart failure. Current pharmacological therapies only target three molecular pathways and as a result, patients can only improve their life quality but not without suffering adverse side effects. This fatal lung disease lacks effective treatments. Therefore, there are compelling reasons to find new molecular targets and novel therapies that reverse the development of the disease. In this context, miRNA-based therapies have shown promising results that will provided in the following text while explaining the important role that had played their nanoencapsulation.
  • 1.9K
  • 22 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Manganese and Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles
Manganese and its oxides in the form of nanoparticles could be a promising alternative for gadolinium-based contrast agents used in diagnostic imaging. Manganese, which is essential for living organisms as an enzyme cofactor, under excessive exposure—for example, due to water contamination or as an occupational hazard for welders—can lead to neurological disorders, including manganism—a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease. This review attempts to summarise the available literature data on the potential applications of manganese and manganese oxide nanoparticles.
  • 1.9K
  • 18 May 2021
Topic Review
Silicon Nanowires Synthesis by MACE
Silicon is the undisputed leader for microelectronics among all the industrial materials and Si nanostructures flourish as natural candidates for tomorrow’s technologies due to the rising of novel physical properties at the nanoscale. In particular, silicon nanowires (Si NWs) are emerging as a promising resource in different fields such as electronics, photovoltaic, photonics, and sensing. Despite the plethora of techniques available for the synthesis of Si NWs, metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) is today a cutting-edge technology for cost-effective Si nanomaterial fabrication already adopted in several research labs. During these years, MACE demonstrates interesting results for Si NW fabrication outstanding other methods. A critical study of all the main MACE routes for Si NWs is here presented, providing the comparison among all the advantages and drawbacks for different MACE approaches. All these fabrication techniques are investigated in terms of equipment, cost, complexity of the process, repeatability, also analyzing the possibility of a commercial transfer of these technologies for microelectronics, and which one may be preferred as industrial approach. 
  • 1.9K
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Hybrid Protein–DNA Nanotechnology
Proteins and DNA exhibit key physical chemical properties that make them advantageous for building nanostructures with outstanding features. Both DNA and protein nanotechnology have growth notably and proved to be fertile disciplines. The combination of both types of nanotechnologies is helpful to overcome the individual weaknesses and limitations of each one, paving the way for the continuing diversification of structural nanotechnologies. Recent studies have implemented a synergistic combination of both biomolecules to assemble unique and sophisticate protein–DNA nanostructures. These hybrid nanostructures are highly programmable and display remarkable features that create new opportunities to build on the nanoscale.
  • 1.9K
  • 03 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Optical Fiber-Integrated Metasurfaces
The advent of metasurface technology has revolutionized the field of optics and photonics in recent years due to its capability of engineering optical wavefronts with well-patterned nanostructures at the subwavelength scale. Meanwhile, inspired and benefited from the tremendous success of the “lab-on-fiber” concept, the integration of metasurface with optical fibers, due to its powerful function of light manipulation and shaping in the 2D version, has drawn particular interest, which truly establishes a novel technological platform for the development of “all-in-fiber" metasurface-based devices.
  • 1.9K
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Nanoparticles in Polyelectrolyte Multilayer LbL
Originally regarded as auxiliary additives, nanoparticles have become important constituents of polyelectrolyte multilayers. They represent the key components to enhance mechanical properties, enable activation by laser light or ultrasound, construct anisotropic and multicompartment structures, and facilitate the development of novel sensors and movable particles.
  • 1.9K
  • 15 May 2021
Topic Review
Covalent Organic Framework Composites
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline, porous materials formed by the self-assembly of organic building blocks. Composite materials containing COFs have raised increasing interest. To date, various synthesis techniques have emerged that allow for the preparation of crystalline and porous COF composites with different materials offering highly efficient tools for analytical applications.
  • 1.9K
  • 08 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts
Plant extracts and essential oils have a wide variety of molecules with potential application in different fields such as medicine, the food industry, and cosmetics. Furthermore, these plant derivatives are widely interested in human and animal health, including potent antitumor, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and bactericidal activity. Given this diversity, different methodologies were needed to optimize the extraction, purification, and characterization of each class of biomolecules. In addition, these plant products can still be used in the synthesis of nanomaterials to reduce the undesirable effects of conventional synthesis routes based on hazardous/toxic chemical reagents and associate the properties of nanomaterials with those present in extracts and essential oils. 
  • 1.9K
  • 10 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Hot Electrons in Plasmon-Sensitized TiO2
Hot carriers are electron-hole pairs formed by Landau damping or chemical interface damping of particle plasmons. The term “hot electrons” not only describes the individual electrons themselves, but also describes the Fermi–Dirac distribution of electrons in a solid albeit with an elevated effective temperature—the effective temperatures involved when considering the carrier kinetic energies and carrier densities in the solid, and not that of the solid itself- as opposed to thermal equilibrium. Typically, hot carriers lose their excess energy and relax to thermal equilibrium within a few picoseconds of formation due to a variety of scattering processes. Therefore, it is very difficult to extract useful work from hot carriers with thermodynamic efficiencies that are of interest for practical devices. However, heterojunctions of TiO2 with coinage metals have been consistently shown to be effective in utilizing hot carriers to perform useful work, such as driving a chemical reaction or generating an electric current. A secondary benefit of such TiO2-coinage metal heterojunctions is the "visible light sensitization" effect which allows broader harvesting of visible light. 
  • 1.9K
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Surface-Functionalized Separator
The surface-modified separator plays a role in improving the electrolyte wettability, homogenizing Li+flux, and strengthening the mechanical/thermal property. Due to these favorable benefits, the formation of sharp Li dendrite is efficiently suppressed and the thermal stability of battery is greatly enhanced. In this article, separator-coating materials are classified into six categories in terms of material characteristics to show how each material has different electrochemical properties. We believe that the suggested approach would become a powerful strategy to improve the performance and stability of next-generation batteries such as lithium-metal batteries.
  • 1.8K
  • 23 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Textile Fabric Coatings for UV Protection
The rapid progress in the use of textile fabric materials in various industrial and domestic applications requires the inclusion of smart functions to achieve comfortable and safety properties to the end users. Advances in the development of coatings for sustainable textile fabrics for UV protection are presented here.
  • 1.8K
  • 10 Nov 2022
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