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Synthesis, Functionalization and Application of Nanostructured Materials

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2020) | Viewed by 21330

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Dr. Aimin Yu

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Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3000, Australia
Interests: nanostructured materials; thin films and coatings; nanocomposites; surface functionalization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanostructured materials, including nanocomposites and thin films/coatings, are types of advanced materials that possess unique properties and have found wide applications in various research fields. Surface functionalization is an efficient and important way to tune the surface property of a material by bringing new physical, chemical or biological characteristics to the original material, thereby enabling its application in a particular area.

All researchers working in the field are cordially invited to contribute original research papers or reviews to this Special Issue of Molecules which report on the synthesis, functionalization, and application of nanostructured materials.

Assoc. Prof. Aimin Yu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Nanostructured materials
Nanocomposites
Thin films/coatings
Surface functionalization
Functional materials

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 1808 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phyto-Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Terminalia chebula Fruit Extract and Evaluation of Its Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Potential

by Veena Malligere Ankegowda, Shiva Prasad Kollur, Shashanka K. Prasad, Sushma Pradeep, Chandan Dhramashekara, Anisha S. Jain, Ashwini Prasad, Chandrashekar Srinivasa, Poojitha B. Sridhara Setty, S. M. Gopinath, Rajendra Prasad S., Ali H. Bahkali, Asad Syed and Chandan Shivamallu

Molecules 2020, 25(21), 5042; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25215042 - 30 Oct 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3267

Abstract

The increasing interest in developing potent non-toxic drugs in medicine is widening the opportunities for studying the usage of nanostructures in the treatment of various diseases. The present work reports a method for a facile and an eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Terminalia chebula fruit extract (TCE). The obtained AgNPs was characterized by using different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The analysis of the results revealed that the as-obtained AgNPs have spherical morphology with an average diameter of 22 nm. Furthermore, the preliminary bioactivity evaluations revealed that the bio-conjugation of AgNPs, using TCE, significantly enhanced the antibacterial and anti-breast cancer potentials of the latter. The antibacterial activity of the as-prepared AgNPs showed that B. subtilis was more sensitive towards the AgNPs, followed by P. aeruginosa; while, E. coli and S. mutans showed comparatively minimal sensitivity toward the AgNPs. The IC₅₀ values of TCE, AgNPs and TCE + AgNPs treatment of MCF-7 were found to be 17.53, 14.25 and 6.484 µg/mL, respectively. Therefore, it can be ascertained that the bio-conjugation may provide a headway with regard to the therapeutic employment of T. chebula, upon mechanistically understanding the basis of observed antibacterial and anticancer activities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Functionalization and Application of Nanostructured Materials)

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20 pages, 4836 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smart Synthesis of Trimethyl Ethoxysilane (TMS) Functionalized Core–Shell Magnetic Nanosorbents Fe₃O₄@SiO₂: Process Optimization and Application for Extraction of Pesticides

by Khalid Al-Saad, Ahmed A. Issa, Sourour Idoudi, Basem Shomar, Mohammad A. Al-Ghouti, Nessreen Al-Hashimi and Marwa El-Azazy

Molecules 2020, 25(20), 4827; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204827 - 20 Oct 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2278

Abstract

In the current study, a smart approach for synthesizing trimethyl ethoxysilane–decorated magnetic-core silica-nanoparticles (TMS-mcSNPs) and its effectiveness as nanosorbents have been exploited. While the magnetite core was synthesized using the modified Mössbauer method, Stöber method was employed to coat the magnetic particles. The objective of this work is to maximize the magnetic properties and to minimize both particle size (PS) and particle size distribution (PSD). Using a full factorial design (2^k-FFD), the influences of four factors on the coating process was assessed by optimizing the three responses (magnetic properties, PS, and PSD). These four factors were: (1) concentration of tetraethyl-orthosilicate (TEOS); (2) concentration of ammonia; (3) dose of magnetite (Fe₃O₄); and (4) addition mode. Magnetic properties were calculated as the attraction weight. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine PS, and standard deviation (±SD) was calculated to determine the PSD. Composite desirability function (D) was used to consolidate the multiple responses into a single performance characteristic. Pareto chart of standardized effects together with analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 95.0 confidence interval (CI) were used to determine statistically significant variable(s). Trimethyl ethoxysilane–functionalized mcSNPs were further applied as nanosorbents for magnetic solid phase extraction (TMS-MSPE) of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Functionalization and Application of Nanostructured Materials)

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14 pages, 1643 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Hyperthermia of Monodispersed Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapeutics

by Mauricio A. Medina, Goldie Oza, A. Ángeles-Pascual, Marlene González M., R. Antaño-López, A. Vera, L. Leija, Edilso Reguera, L. G. Arriaga, José Manuel Hernández Hernández and José Tapia Ramírez

Molecules 2020, 25(19), 4428; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25194428 - 27 Sep 2020

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4113

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles such as cobalt ferrite are investigated under clinical hyperthermia conditions for the treatment of cancer. Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFNPs) synthesized by the thermal decomposition method, using nonionic surfactant Triton-X100, possess hydrophilic polyethylene oxide chains acting as reducing agents for the cobalt and iron precursors. The monodispersed nanoparticles were of 10 nm size, as confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The X-ray diffraction patterns of CFNPs prove the existence of cubic spinel cobalt ferrites. Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy–high-angle annular dark-field imaging (STEM–HAADF) of CFNPs confirmed their multi-twinned crystallinity due to the presence of atomic columns and defects in the nanostructure. Magnetic measurements proved that the CFNPs possess reduced remnant magnetization (M_R/M_S) (0.86), which justifies cubic anisotropy in the system. Microwave-based hyperthermia studies performed at 2.45 GHz under clinical conditions in physiological saline increased the temperature of the CFNP samples due to the transformation of radiation energy to heat. The specific absorption rate of CFNPs in physiological saline was 68.28 W/g. Furthermore, when triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) in the presence of increasing CFNP concentration (5 mg/mL to 40 mg/mL) were exposed to microwaves, the cell cytotoxicity was enhanced compared to CFNPs alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Functionalization and Application of Nanostructured Materials)

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13 pages, 5233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polydopamine Nanosphere with In-Situ Loaded Gentamicin and Its Antimicrobial Activity

by Rahila Batul, Mrinal Bhave, Peter J. Mahon and Aimin Yu

Molecules 2020, 25(9), 2090; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25092090 - 30 Apr 2020

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 5247

Abstract

The mussel inspired polydopamine has acquired great relevance in the field of nanomedicines, owing to its incredible physicochemical properties. Polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) due to their low cytotoxicity, high biocompatibility and ready biodegradation have already been widely investigated in various drug delivery, chemotherapeutic, and diagnostic applications. In addition, owing to its highly reactive nature, it possesses a very high capability for loading drugs and chemotherapeutics. Therefore, the loading efficiency of PDA NPs for an antibiotic i.e., gentamicin (G) has been investigated in this work. For this purpose, an in-situ polymerization method was studied to load the drug into PDA NPs using variable drug: monomer ratios. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the successful loading of drug within PDA NPs, mainly via hydrogen bonding between the amine groups of gentamicin and the hydroxyl groups of PDA. The loading amount was quantified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and the highest percentage loading capacity was achieved for G-PDA prepared with drug to monomer ratio of 1:1. Moreover, the gentamicin loaded PDA NPs were tested in a preliminary antibacterial evaluation using the broth microdilution method against both Gram-(+) Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-(−) Pseudomonas aeruginosa microorganisms. The highest loaded G-PDA sample exhibited the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values. The developed gentamicin loaded PDA is very promising for long term drug release and treating various microbial infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Functionalization and Application of Nanostructured Materials)

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20 pages, 2919 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of Selenium Nanoparticles Using Theobroma cacao L. Bean Shell Extract

by Cristina Mellinas, Alfonso Jiménez and María del Carmen Garrigós

Molecules 2019, 24(22), 4048; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24224048 - 8 Nov 2019

Cited by 85 | Viewed by 5936

Abstract

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are successfully synthesized through microwave heating by using Theobroma cacao L. bean shell extract as a stabilizing and capping agent. Response surface methodology is used to obtain optimal synthesis conditions. The effect of microwave power, irradiation time and amount of Na₂SeO₃ are evaluated on crystalline size by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Z-potential by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) using a central composite design (CCD). Optimal synthesis conditions are determined as 15.6 min, 788.6 W and 0.14 g of sodium selenite using 50 mL of Theobroma cacao L. bean shell extract. The successful biosynthesis of SeNPs is confirmed by UV-visible and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analyses. The XRD pattern and Raman spectra show the presence of trigonal and amorphous synthesized SeNPs. Spherical SeNPs are observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) with a particle size of 1–3 nm in diameter, at least one order of magnitude lower than those previously reported. The obtained SeNPs can be stable up to 55 days at 4 °C. Additionally, the SeNPs show an excellent antioxidant performance by the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods, with potential application in different sectors, such as food, medical and pharmaceutical. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Functionalization and Application of Nanostructured Materials)

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