Journal of Nanoparticle Research最新文献

Fusarium graminearum is a pathogenic fungus responsible for significant plant diseases. To combat infections caused by this pathogen, we designed a pH-responsive nano-pesticide thiabendazole@MIL-101(Fe). Through systematic optimization of the loading parameters, the optimal preparation conditions were determined as follows: the thiabendazole solution concentration was 3 mg/mL, the amount of carrier used was 0.0400 g, and the loading time was 6 h. Structural characterization revealed that MIL-101(Fe) possesses a uniform octahedral structure with a smooth surface. Thiabendazole was successfully loaded into its pores without damaging the crystal structure of MIL-101(Fe). Regarding release behavior, thiabendazole@MIL-101(Fe) exhibited significant pH-responsive characteristics. After 238 h, the cumulative release rate of thiabendazole reached 74.08% at pH = 5.0, while the cumulative release rates at pH = 7.0 and 9.0 were 62.17% and 57.22%, respectively. The release kinetics study showed that the release process of thiabendazole@MIL-101(Fe) followed a first-order model. Furthermore, Ritger-Peppas model fitting suggested that the release mechanism is consistent with Fickian diffusion across pH = 5.0, 7.0, and 9.0. The prepared thiabendazole@MIL-101(Fe) displayed antibacterial activity comparable to that of conventional SC Thi and exhibited no adverse effects on wheat seed germination or seedling growth. This study provides new ideas and methods for the development of efficient and environmentally friendly nano-pesticides.

In recent years, metal-containing nanoparticles have attracted attention due to their novel physiological and pesticidal activity. Vector-borne diseases, including dengue, malaria, and chikungunya, persist as a considerable global health threat, requiring the formulation of economical and eco-friendly control strategies. In this study, we have presented facile gram-scale synthesis of CuO and CuS Nanoparticles (NPs) and their larvicidal potential against Aedes Aegypti larvae. This study involved the synthesis of CuO and CuS nanoparticles (NPs) at room temperature and their characterization using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The NPs were tested for larvicidal activity in controlled laboratory conditions against Ae. Aegypti. Furthermore, their ecotoxicological effects on the non-target organism, P. reticulata, were assessed using acute toxicity tests and histopathological examinations of gill and digestive tissues. Mortality rates of Ae. aegypti larvae and P. reticulata were recorded at 24 h intervals across varying concentrations of NPs. The Lethal Concentrations (LC₅₀) for Ae. aegypti and P. reticulata were obtained from experimental data. Among the tested NPs, CuS exhibited the highest larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti, causing a mean mortality rate of 63.33% at 5 ppm within 24 h, with a calculated LC₅₀ value of 3.70 ppm, while 5 ppm may be considered a promising concentration due to its larvicidal activity. These findings indicated that CuO, CuS and CuO-CuS NPs are promising and environmentally friendly materials for mosquito control.

Core–shell nanoparticles (CSNPs) have emerged as an attractive class of nanomaterials owing to their ability to engineer structure–property relationships through controlled compositional design. Among them, Ni–Pd CSNPs integrate the high strength and low cost of Ni with the superior thermal stability and chemical inertness of Pd. Despite their technological relevance, the coupled thermomechanical behavior governing their structural integrity remains poorly understood. In this study, classical molecular dynamics simulations employing a 2NN MEAM potential and segmental heating protocol were performed to investigate the effects of core-volume fraction (V_f = 33%, 50%, and 67%) and heating rate (β = 1, 1.6, and 2 K/ps) on the thermal and mechanical response of Ni–Pd CSNPs. The results reveal that thermal stability is governed primarily by composition rather than heating rate. All CSNPs exhibited lower melting temperatures than their monometallic counterparts, with the 33% V_f configuration showing the highest thermal stability and the 67% V_f configuration exhibiting the earliest melting and coalescence. Structural analyses further showed that increasing Ni core fraction promotes atomic disorder, diffusion, and densification during fusion. Mechanically, the resolidified CSNPs mitigate the intrinsic strength–ductility trade-off observed in pure Ni and Pd nanoparticles, simultaneously achieving high tensile strength (14.7–15.0 GPa) and substantial ductility (up to 11.7%). The 50% V_f configuration provided the most favorable balance of strength and ductility. Furthermore, all CSNPs exceeded rule of mixtures (ROM) predictions, with tensile strength enhancements of up to + 6.6%, indicating significant interface-induced strengthening effects. The findings establish the Ni–Pd interface as an active design element capable of co-optimizing thermal resilience, strength, and ductility, offering valuable guidance for the development of next-generation multifunctional nanomaterials.

CdTe/MnS core/shell nanoheterostructure is a novel nanomaterial with excellent properties for the use in fluorescence sensors, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), molecular imaging, and biomedical diagnostics. The MnS coating on the surface of the CdTe core is formed by a spontaneous self-assembly mechanism promoted by the degradation of thioglycolic acid (TGA), which acts as a source of S^2- ions. Due to the high surface area to volume ratio characteristic of this nanoheterostructure, it is possible to construct a multifunctional “intelligent” nanoplatform for theranostic functions, combining diagnostic and therapeutic functions in a single platform. In this work, the electronic transitions in CdTe/MnS nanoheterostructure synthesized in aqueous solution were studied. Optical measurements revealed quantum confinement and confirmed the formation of the nanoparticles. The absorption optical (Abs) spectrum reveals the presence of three bands and an electronic gap in the range of 2.3 to 2.4 eV for all samples, whose values are consistent with those obtained with the Photoluminescence (PL) and Photoluminescence Excitation measurements (PLE). In the framework of k·p theory, we accomplish detailed calculations of electronic structure, transition energies, optical selection rules, and their corresponding intra- and interband oscillator strengths. For a better description of the transitions between bound states associated with the presence of the nanoheterostrutures and between bound and extended states in the conduction band, we use the multiband k·p method to calculate energy level structures. Therefore, this work presents exciting findings regarding the electronic transitions of nanoparticles and brings a methodology to analyze together the results from two absorption techniques, PLE and Abs.

The rational design of low-dimensional heterostructures is crucial for next-generation electronic and thermoelectric materials. Here, we report a versatile colloidal-phase strategy for synthesizing one-dimensional PbTe-Ag₂Te and PbTe-Cu₁.₇₅Te superlattice nanowires (SLNWs) using Te-PbTe heterostructure (HS) nanowires as sacrificial templates. Selective conversion of exposed Te segments through reaction-limited dewetting and galvanic replacement enables periodic modulation of composition along the nanowire axis, producing superlattice architectures with atomically sharp interfaces. Systematic control of precursor concentration, solvent environment, and reaction time allows precise tuning of segment thickness, shell formation, and interfacial quality. Structural and microstructural analysis using XRD, FESEM, TEM, and HRTEM confirms single-crystalline PbTe domains epitaxially coupled to Ag₂Te or Cu₁.₇₅Te, with well-defined crystallographic relationships between adjoining phases. The resulting hetero-structured nanowires combine materials with contrasting electronic and photonic characteristics, offering a platform for interface-engineered carrier filtering and phonon scattering. This work establishes a generalizable, solution-based route for fabricating compositionally modulated metal–telluride superlattices and provides insights into the kinetic and thermodynamic factors governing their formation. The approach is broadly applicable for designing tailored nanoscale heterostructures for thermoelectric, optoelectronic, and energy-conversion applications.

Antimicrobial resistance represents a significant global health challenge, undermining the efficacy of conventional antibiotics and driving the need for innovative antimicrobial strategies. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with antibiotics represent promising drug-delivery platforms due to their ability to improve intracellular delivery, enable controlled release, facilitate superior biofilm penetration, and enhance antibiotic stability. These properties collectively increase antibacterial efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of antibiotic-loaded gold (Au), silver (Ag), zinc oxide (ZnO), and iron (Fe)-based NPs, focusing on antibiotic-loading approaches, release profiles, antibacterial mechanisms, therapeutic outcomes, biosafety and translational prospects. Comparative analyses demonstrate that the composition and surface modification of NPs significantly influence drug-loading capacity, release kinetics, antibacterial efficacy and cytocompatibility. Ag and ZnO- NPs based systems typically demonstrate strong intrinsic antibacterial effects via ion release, membrane disruption and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, while Au and Fe-based nanocarriers offer enhanced biocompatibility, precise drug delivery and greater adaptability for surface modification. Recent research highlights improved antibacterial activity against clinically relevant MDR pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, along with superior antibiofilm efficacy. This review also addresses key challenges related to pharmacokinetics, long-term biosafety, manufacturing consistency, regulatory pathways and clinical translation. Collectively, current evidence suggests that the advancement of metallic nanoantibiotics relies on the integrated optimization of nanoparticle composition, surface properties, drug-loading strategies and biosafety considerations. Progress in surface engineering, multifunctional nanocarriers, standardized assessment protocols and clinically relevant preclinical models is anticipated to accelerate the clinical translation of antibiotic-loaded metallic NPs for effective antimicrobial therapy.

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Periodontitis is a highly prevalent chronic oral inflammatory disease. It is featured by sustained inflammation, progressive periodontal tissue damage, and irreversible alveolar bone resorption, which remains a critical clinical challenge. In this study, a core–shell composite silk fibroin nanoparticle delivery system loaded with doxycycline (DOX) was successfully constructed. Firstly, ethanol-induced modification combined with silk fibroin self-assembly technology was applied to fabricate DOX-loaded silk fibroin microspheres. Based on electrostatic adsorption, layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly was further adopted to alternately adsorb chitosan (CS)-DOX and silk fibroin on the microsphere surface, thereby obtaining core–shell structured composite nanoparticles with a drug-loaded inner core. The as-prepared nanocarrier achieves favorable sustained drug release, antibacterial activity, and osteogenic potency. In vitro and in vivo experiments verified that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibit prominent antibacterial ability and favorable osteogenic activity, revealing great application potential. Compared with conventional periodontal treatment, this local targeted drug delivery strategy effectively overcomes the shortcomings of frequent administration and systemic side effects. Consequently, the DOX-loaded composite nanoparticles possess excellent clinical value and developmental prospects for targeted periodontitis therapy.

The structural and electronic properties of C₃B monolayers decorated with graphene domain and Ni₃ nanocluster were investigated using the density functional theory calculations. The formation energy of the graphene modified C₃B system is -1.88 eV, indicating its great structural stability. In addition, the Ni₃ cluster modified C₃B nanosheet exhibits the significant binding energy of -3.01 eV, which corroborates the good stability of the Ni-C₃B nanosheet. The adsorption energy of CO molecule on the Ni₃ cluster modified C₃B system is -3.04 eV, which specifies the strong interaction with chemisorption nature. Other gas molecules also exhibit good chemical adsorption on the substrate. On the pristine C₃B monolayer, the CO and NO molecules are weakly physisorbed, while the Ni cluster decorated C₃B monolayer show strong adsorption for the gas molecules. After CO adsorption, there is charge transfer of about 0.191 e from the Ni₃-G-C₃B nanosheet to the CO molecule, indicating the acceptor property of CO gas. The great redistribution of charges at the space between gas molecules and Ni-C₃B nanosheet exhibits chemical interaction between them. Our results suggest that the Ni cluster decorated C₃B nanosheets can be used as potential candidates for adsorption of CO and NO gas molecules.

The increasing demand for clean water, driven by population growth and industrial activities, has intensified the challenge of heavy metal contamination in aquatic environments. Conventional water treatment technologies often face limitations in selectivity, efficiency, and energy consumption, particularly when targeting trace level metal ions from complex aqueous matrices. In this context, nanotechnology has emerged as a powerful approach for developing advanced materials with enhanced interfacial and surface properties. Nanomaterials offer high surface to volume ratios, tunable physicochemical characteristics, and multifunctional behavior, making them highly suitable for environmental remediation applications. In particular, their integration into membrane systems has led to significant improvements in separation performance. Nanoparticle-enabled membranes can be engineered through several strategies, including blending, in situ polymerization, nano-embedding, and surface coating. Among these, layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly has gained increasing attention due to its ability to precisely control film architecture at the nanoscale, enabling the design of highly selective and functional interfaces. When combined with adsorption-based mechanisms, membrane systems evolve into adsorptive membranes, which integrate physical separation with chemical affinity for target contaminants. Despite substantial progress, a systematic understanding of how nanoscale architecture and fabrication methods influence adsorption-separation synergy remains limited. This review focuses on layer-by-layer-based adsorptive membrane technologies for heavy metal removal with emphasis on the relationship between nanoscale design, interfacial structure and separation performance.

We present a novel approach for the rapid synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots using a microwave-assisted reverse micelle (MARM) method. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate sodium salt (AOT) was used to form reverse micelles in a nonpolar medium, dodecane, which does not absorb microwave radiation. Reverse micelles containing an aqueous phase were dispersed in the oil phase, and these small polar droplets acted as nanoreactors. The aqueous phase contained citric acid and Tris base as reactants. Under microwave heating, only these microreactors absorbed microwave energy and were heated efficiently and homogeneously, facilitating the formation of carbon dots. The micelle size could be tuned by adjusting the water-to-surfactant molar ratio, producing carbon dots with uniform sizes ranging from 1.8 to 2.6 nm, depending on the AOT concentration. Transmission electron microscopy and photospectroscopy data were compared for carbon dots prepared using hydrothermal, domestic microwave-assisted, solvothermal reverse micelle, hexanoic-acid-based MARM, and dodecane-based MARM approaches. The characteristics of carbon dots produced using the proposed method were similar to those obtained using hydrothermal and domestic microwave-assisted methods. However, the proposed method is faster than the hydrothermal process and yields more homogeneous carbon dots than the domestic microwave-assisted method, while maintaining a high quantum yield.