Journal of Nanoparticle Research最新文献

This study examines the preparation and evaluation of two‑layer polymer films containing different types of quantum dots (QDs) as reversible ratiometric luminescent temperature sensors. Films comprising chalcogenide and lead halide QDs dispersed in two layers of optically transparent polymer matrixes are investigated. Differences in temperature sensitivity are analyzed, and optimal mass ratios of the QDs are selected to obtain clearly distinguishable individual luminescence peaks in two‑layer films. The dependences of the luminescence intensity ratio (LIR) of the components on the temperature are calculated in the range from 298 to 373 K. It is shown that the LIR of films containing only chalcogenide quantum dots is well described by second-order polynomial functions with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. Moreover, the LIR of films containing both chalcogenide and perovskite QDs exhibits a linear dependence in the temperature range of 298–353 K. The temperature stability of the luminescence of the studied films is demonstrated during repeated heating‑cooling cycles.

Proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology had aroused considerable research interest in the past few decades. However, PROTAC technology still suffers some limitations such as unfavorable aqueous solubility, limited cell membrane permeability, poor tissue selectivity and adverse side effects. To advance its clinical translation, herein, a hyaluronic acid (HA)-encapsulated and GSH-responsive degradable dendritic mesoporous organosilicone nanoparticles was constructed as novel nanocarrier for enhanced delivery and controllable releasing of PROTAC within cancer cells. As a proof of concept, PROTAC ARV-771 is chosen and the DMONs-NH₂@ARV-771@HA nanocomplex is prepared by step-by-step loading of ARV-771 and HA. The results showed that the DMONs-NH₂@HA can specifically and efficiently transport cargo molecules into the tumor cells through CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, the redox reaction with glutathione causes the breakup of DMONs-NH₂ and subsequent controllable release of ARV-771, enabling degradation of target protein BRD4 and selective therapy within tumor cells. The DMONs-NH₂@HA nanoparticles only provide a novel delivery system for PROTAC but also may facilitate the clinical application of PROTAC in the near future.

The wetting behavior of thin films in nanotechnological coating applications is strongly affected by surface roughness. In this study, the effect of the fabrication method on the hydrophobicity of ZnO/stearic acid nanocomposite thin films was investigated. CBD (chemical bath deposition), SILAR (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction), and flow-through chemical deposition (FTCD) were used to coat the nanocomposite films on a glass substrate. The ZnO/stearic acid nanocomposite film synthesized via FTCD using a continuous-flow reactor exhibited lower surface roughness and better wetting behavior compared to the conventional coating methods. XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscopy), EDS (energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy), UV–Vis (ultraviolet–visible), FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared), and SPM (scanning probe microscopy) were used for structural, optical, and morphological characterization of the nanocomposite thin films. The wettability character of the hydrophobic ZnO coatings was evaluated by WCA (water contact angle) measurements. Nanocomposite coatings prepared by CBD (Rq: 80.91 nm), SILAR (Rq: 78.18 nm), and FTCD (Rq: 42.29 nm) exhibited water contact angles of 145.26° ± 3.04°, 141.09° ± 3.50°, and 130.63° ± 3.78°, respectively, revealing the relationship between surface roughness and wettability. Correlating the roughness-dependent wetting behavior with morphological parameters in the context of coating technique has contributed to the design and fabrication of hydrophobic surfaces for applications such as self-cleaning and corrosion inhibition.

This review reports reliable methods and good practices for the synthesis of shape-controlled plasmonic nanocrystals, focusing on Au and, comparatively, Pd. The authors attempted to reproduce most of the syntheses discussed below and report with high confidence the most reproducible protocols; some pioneering studies receive less emphasis where a more reliable route to the same shape has since been reported. Shape and interfacial chemistry, more than composition or size alone, govern light–matter interactions in plasmonic nanocrystals, dictating the position, intensity, and directionality of the localized surface plasmon resonance. Colloidal bottom-up synthesis is the method of choice for accessing this shape space, owing to its versatility and native compatibility with liquid media, an advantage for biomedical applications requiring dispersed, functionalized, stable aqueous nanoparticles. This versatility is also the field’s central challenge: anisotropic growth is an out-of-equilibrium process governed by a delicate interplay between reaction kinetics and facet-specific interfacial forces (capping agents, halides, underpotential-deposited metal adlayers), so small variations in precursor ratios, reagent purity, addition order, or reaction scale can have an outsized, often unpredictable impact on morphology, posing persistent obstacles to reproducibility and scale-up [25]. This review surveys shape-controlled synthesis of Au and Pd nanocrystals, for which a broad shape library has been achieved, including spheres, nanorods, mini-nanorods, cubes, concave and convex cubes, stars, bipyramids, plates, octahedra, icosahedra, truncated octahedra, and rhombohedra. By examining mechanistic principles common to these syntheses — seed crystallinity, ligand- and halide-mediated facet passivation, and deposition/diffusion kinetics — this work aims to provide a unified framework for understanding, and improving the reproducibility of, shape-controlled noble-metal nanocrystal synthesis.

The rapid pace of technological advancement and short lifespans of electronic devices have made electronic waste (e-waste) a pressing global environmental concern. This study presents a sustainable approach to recovering tin from solder alloys present in waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) and converting it into nanostructured tin oxide (SnO₂) via acid leaching. The synthesised SnO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) were systematically characterised to confirm their phase purity and nanoscale features. The XRD analysis revealed a tetragonal rutile structure, while FTIR spectroscopy confirmed Sn–O-Sn stretching vibrations characteristic of SnO₂. The FESEM and TEM images showed nearly spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 7.6 nm. XPS analysis confirmed the dominance of Sn⁴⁺ species, affirming the complete oxidation of tin and successful synthesis of phase-pure SnO₂. The photocatalytic evaluation revealed that the synthesised SnO₂ NPs exhibited remarkable activity for RhB degradation, achieving complete (100%) removal within 165 min of UV irradiation and a 95.2% reduction in COD, indicating efficient mineralisation. The reaction kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order model with an apparent rate constant of 0.0114 min⁻¹. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrated excellent stability and reusability, retaining 91.96% of its degradation efficiency even after five consecutive cycles. This approach offers dual advantages: it not only addresses the challenge of e-waste management but also enables the generation of functional SnO₂ nanomaterials with potential applications in photocatalytic wastewater treatment.

This article addresses the expanding presence of content analysis in bibliometric studies. The Journal of Nanoparticle Research publishes bibliometric articles for insights regarding research, industrial, and societal trends centering on nanotechnology. Characteristic of bibliometrics is its reliance on network analysis, which is the basis for claiming that earlier-in-time documents influence later ones, i.e., for drawing causal inferences. Bibliometric techniques employed in the Journal’s articles (bibliographic coupling, co-citation, word co-occurrence, and main path analyses) are examined and comparisons made to the methodology expected of review articles authored by subject matter experts. The potential for subject matter experts to change their literature practices using open, noncommercial search technology and the increasing availability of content analysis techniques, such as large language models, are recurring themes. Major focal points are as follows: delineating research communities using keywords or alternatives, ensuring that commercial and marketplace characteristics align with search criteria when examining patents, and balancing the individual’s informal use of search technology and artificial intelligence with the formal, statistical analyses expected with published bibliometric articles.

The present study evaluates the structural transformation of niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) through reaction with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) under hydrothermal conditions, focusing on the effects of temperature and reaction time on its crystalline morphology. In this parametric study, Nb₂O₅ particles were reacted with NaOH at 160 °C and 180 °C temperatures and reaction times of 90, 120, and 180 min. The resulting materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser diffraction particle size analysis (LDPSA), specific surface area analysis (BET), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD confirmed the formation of NaNbO₃ and highlighted changes in the crystalline structure. LDPSA showed particle size redistribution due to the reaction conditions. BET analysis revealed significant surface area enhancements, with the sample treated at 180 °C for 90 min achieving the highest value. SEM images confirmed morphological changes induced by temperature and reaction time. These results underscore the importance of precise control over synthesis parameters to optimize the textural and structural properties of niobium oxide for advanced applications, such as active polymer packaging systems, catalysis, adsorption, and biomedicine.

A reducing agent–free AuNP synthesis approach in an alkaline aqueous medium was optimized using the design of experiments (DoE) to improve batch-to-batch reproducibility. A Box–Behnken design was employed to investigate the effects of Au³⁺ concentration, NaOH concentration, stirring, and temperature on AuNP formation. The significant variables identified in the model, which described absorbance and Ψ responses, included the concentrations of Au³⁺ and NaOH, as well as the interaction of NaOH with stirring and temperature. Using the desirability function, the system was optimized to produce more concentrated AuNP with reduced polydispersity, yielding optimal parameters of 200 µM Au³⁺, 4.75 mM NaOH, 130 °C, and 350 rpm. The revised synthesis method demonstrated excellent batch-to-batch reproducibility of AuNP. The optimized AuNP were predominantly spherical, with a mean particle diameter of 18.66 ± 4.78 nm by TEM and a hydrodynamic diameter of 19.8 ± 0.9 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.208 by DLS. Complementary control experiments supported the importance of the alkaline medium for AuNP formation and indicated that temperature influences the rate of AuNP formation. This methodology provides a straightforward approach for producing “naked” AuNP with consistent batch-to-batch reproducibility.

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Sr₂SiO₄:xCe³⁺ nanophosphors were prepared by the sol-gel method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of both α- and β-phases of Sr₂SiO₄, and that Ce³⁺ was successfully incorporated into the host matrix. Crystallite size and micro-strain were estimated, indicating short-range crystalline order with minimal lattice distortion. The excitation and emission spectra showed that the phosphors can be effectively excited at 271 nm and emit blue-green light with a peak at 468 nm, corresponding to the 5d→4f allowed transition of Ce³⁺ ions. The Ce³⁺ concentration quenching process was also investigated, and the mechanism was identified as a possible dipole-dipole transition. Additionally, zero phonon energy and Stokes shift were determined. CIE coordinates and colour purity were evaluated from the emission data. These preliminary findings indicate that the prepared Ce³⁺-doped nanophosphors are promising candidates for solid-state lighting applications, pending further studies of quantum yield and prototype devices.