Colloids and Interfaces

Liposomes are widely recognized as versatile nanocarriers in drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, tunable physicochemical properties, and ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds. In this study, the encapsulation and release of diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), using lecithin–cholesterol liposomes are explored. Encapsulation parameters were first optimized with calcein as a model fluorophore, confirming that cholesterol addition enhances encapsulation efficiency by reducing membrane permeability. Guided by these results, liposomes containing equal weight fractions of lecithin and cholesterol were selected as an optimized formulation, providing calcein and diclofenac encapsulation efficiencies up to approximately 35% while maintaining hydrodynamic diameters below 300 nm with low polydispersity (PdI < 0.2), optimal for intravenous administration and prolonged systemic circulation. Release studies demonstrated sustained drug release over 15 days, with cumulative release exceeding 80%. Weibull modeling yielded ${\theta }_{\mathrm{\infty }}$ ≈ 1 and β values up to ~1.6 at higher loadings, with β > 1 indicating a complex, sigmoidal (non-Fickian) release mechanism. These findings support the potential of liposomes as delivery platforms for NSAIDs with solubility and bioavailability limitations.

Palm oil is a major agricultural commodity and an important economic driver in Asia. However, the sustainability and productivity of this crop are constantly threatened by a range of pathogenic fungi, especially Ganoderma boninense. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an eco-friendly hexaconazole-loaded nanoemulsion (Hexa-NE) for effective and targeted fungicide delivery while reducing environmental and health impacts. The optimized Hexa-NE formulation was evaluated for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, pH, viscosity, and morphology using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Fungicide release, stability, and antifungal activity were conducted to assess the overall efficacy and performance of the formulation. The Hexa-NE exhibited particle size of 105.8 nm, a PDI of 0.358, a zeta potential of −53.53 mV. The formulation remained stable over three months of storage. It also demonstrated favourable physicochemical properties including low viscosity (30.24 mPa·s), low surface tension (23.87 mN/m), and suitable pH (6.14) for foliar application. TEM and SEM analyses confirmed spherical droplets and revealed significant hyphal damage to G. boninense. The antifungal test showed a higher inhibition of 97.1% at 0.1 µM of Hexa-NE as compared to hexaconazole solution which only 40% at the same concentration. Release studies exhibited a sustained release of hexaconazole, which may prolonged fungicidal activity. In conclusion, Hexa-NE showed promising laboratory-scale antifungal performance against G. boninense. These findings support its potential for further investigation as a nanoformulated fungicide for future greenhouse and field evaluations.

High-purity precursors are often required for the targeted synthesis of functional nanomaterials. Molybdenum blue (MB) dispersions are promising precursors for the production of functional materials based on molybdenum oxides and carbides. Here, a facile, spectator-ion-free synthesis of molybdenum blue dispersions via a tailored ion-exchange strategy is reported. By eliminating extrinsic counter-ions, we achieve uniform toroidal nanoclusters (~3.5 nm) of {Mo154} wheel-type molybdenum blue with a precise mixed-valence Mo⁵⁺/Mo⁶⁺ framework and long time aggregative and sedimentation stability. Moderate reduction ratios yield crystalline monoclinic MoO₂, whereas high reduction ratios drive an in situ carbothermal reduction, selectively yielding hexagonal β-Mo₂C/η-MoC phases. This approach establishes a versatile, scalable pathway for engineering molybdenum blue nanoparticles as precursors for oxide- and carbide-based advanced functional materials.