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Functional Nanomaterial: Design, Synthesis and Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Nanoscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 June 2024) | Viewed by 7905

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Guest Editor
1. Mechanical Engineering Program, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg, Middletown, PA 17057, USA
2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA 16802, USA
Interests: nanomaterials; self-healing materials; bioinspired materials; gas sensors
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The International Journal of Molecular Sciences is dedicated to the publication of cutting-edge research on molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and related areas. This Special Issue focuses on the design, synthesis, and applications of functional organic nanomaterials, which have emerged as a promising area of research in the field of nanotechnology. The contributions in this Issue cover a broad range of topics, including the development of novel synthetic routes for organic nanomaterials, their structural characterization, and their applications in various fields such as drug delivery, biosensors, catalysis, and energy conversion. The research presented in this Issue highlights the potential of organic nanomaterials to addressing the grand challenges facing our society, from healthcare to sustainable energy. The Issue provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and promotes interdisciplinary collaborations to advance the field of functional organic nanomaterials.

Dr. Fariborz Tavangarian
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • functional organic nanomaterials
  • design
  • synthesis
  • applications
  • drug delivery
  • biosensors
  • catalysis
  • energy conversion

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 5974 KiB  
Article
Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dyes by Magnetite Nanoparticles Prepared by Co-Precipitation
by Thandi B. Mbuyazi and Peter A. Ajibade
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7876; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147876 - 18 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1325
Abstract
Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation using three different iron salt stoichiometric mole ratios. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the inverse cubic spinel structure of magnetite iron oxide. Transmission electron microscopic images showed Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different shapes and [...] Read more.
Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation using three different iron salt stoichiometric mole ratios. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns revealed the inverse cubic spinel structure of magnetite iron oxide. Transmission electron microscopic images showed Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different shapes and average particle sizes of 5.48 nm for Fe3O4-1:2, 6.02 nm for Fe3O4-1.5:2, and 6.98 nm for Fe3O4-2:3 with an energy bandgap of 3.27 to 3.53 eV. The as-prepared Fe3O4 nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts to degrade brilliant green (BG), rhodamine B (RhB), indigo carmine (IC), and methyl red (MR) under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 80.4% was obtained from Fe3O4-1:2 for brilliant green, 61.5% from Fe3O4-1.5:2 for rhodamine B, and 77.9% and 73.9% from Fe3O4-2:3 for both indigo carmine and methyl red. This indicates that Fe3O4-2:3 is more efficient in the degradation of more than one dye. This study shows that brilliant green degrades most effectively at pH 9, rhodamine B degrades best at pH 6.5, and indigo carmine and methyl red degrade most efficiently at pH 3. Recyclability experiments showed that the Fe3O4 photocatalysts can be recycled four times and are photostable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterial: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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11 pages, 4005 KiB  
Communication
Efficient Combination Chemo-Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy Using Mitochondria-Targeting Sonosensitizer-Loaded Polysorbate-Based Micelles
by Hyeon Ju Kang, Quan Truong Hoang, Jun Min, Min Soo Son, Le Thi Hong Tram, Byoung Choul Kim, Youngjun Song and Min Suk Shim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063474 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1408
Abstract
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), utilizing ultrasound (US) and sonosensitizers, holds immense potential as a noninvasive and targeted treatment for a variety of deep-seated tumors. However, the clinical translation of SDT is hampered by several key limitations in sonosensitizers, especially their low aqueous stability and [...] Read more.
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), utilizing ultrasound (US) and sonosensitizers, holds immense potential as a noninvasive and targeted treatment for a variety of deep-seated tumors. However, the clinical translation of SDT is hampered by several key limitations in sonosensitizers, especially their low aqueous stability and poor cellular uptake. In this study, non-ionic polysorbate (Tween 80, T80) was adopted to formulate effective nanocarriers for the safe and efficient delivery of sonosensitizers to cancer cells. Mitochondria-targeting triphenylphosphonium (TPP)-conjugated chlorin e6 (Ce6) sonosensitizer was loaded into T80-based micelles for efficient SDT. Pro-oxidant piperlongumine (PL) was co-encapsulated with TPP-conjugated Ce6 (T-Ce6) in T80 micelles to enable combination chemo-SDT. T80 micelles substantially enhanced the cellular internalization of T-Ce6. As a result, T80 micelles loaded with T-Ce6 and PL [T80(T-Ce6/PL)] significantly elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells upon US exposure. Moreover, T-Ce6 exhibited selective accumulation within the mitochondria, leading to efficient cell death under US irradiation. Importantly, T80(T-Ce6/PL) micelles caused cancer-specific cell death by selectively triggering apoptosis in cancer cells through PL. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using T80(T-Ce6/PL) micelles for efficient and cancer-specific combination chemo-SDT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterial: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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17 pages, 5497 KiB  
Article
Plasma-Activated Polydimethylsiloxane Microstructured Pattern with Collagen for Improved Myoblast Cell Guidance
by Nikola Slepičková Kasálková, Veronika Juřicová, Dominik Fajstavr, Bára Frýdlová, Silvie Rimpelová, Václav Švorčík and Petr Slepička
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 2779; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052779 - 28 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1655
Abstract
We focused on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a substrate for replication, micropatterning, and construction of biologically active surfaces. The novelty of this study is based on the combination of the argon plasma exposure of a micropatterned PDMS scaffold, where the plasma served as a [...] Read more.
We focused on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a substrate for replication, micropatterning, and construction of biologically active surfaces. The novelty of this study is based on the combination of the argon plasma exposure of a micropatterned PDMS scaffold, where the plasma served as a strong tool for subsequent grafting of collagen coatings and their application as cell growth scaffolds, where the standard was significantly exceeded. As part of the scaffold design, templates with a patterned microstructure of different dimensions (50 × 50, 50 × 20, and 30 × 30 μm2) were created by photolithography followed by pattern replication on a PDMS polymer substrate. Subsequently, the prepared microstructured PDMS replicas were coated with a type I collagen layer. The sample preparation was followed by the characterization of material surface properties using various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To evaluate the biocompatibility of the produced samples, we conducted studies on the interactions between selected polymer replicas and micro- and nanostructures and mammalian cells. Specifically, we utilized mouse myoblasts (C2C12), and our results demonstrate that we achieved excellent cell alignment in conjunction with the development of a cytocompatible surface. Consequently, the outcomes of this research contribute to an enhanced comprehension of surface properties and interactions between structured polymers and mammalian cells. The use of periodic microstructures has the potential to advance the creation of novel materials and scaffolds in tissue engineering. These materials exhibit exceptional biocompatibility and possess the capacity to promote cell adhesion and growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterial: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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15 pages, 8540 KiB  
Article
Label-Free Imaging of Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis Products and Their Modifications Tethered in Microspots Using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry
by Dimitry Schmidt, Josef Maier, Hubert Bernauer and Alexander Nesterov-Mueller
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 15945; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115945 - 3 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1366
Abstract
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry is used to analyze solid-phase synthesis products in 60 µm spots of high-density peptide arrays. As a result, a table of specific fragments for the individual detection of amino acids and their side chain protecting groups within peptides [...] Read more.
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry is used to analyze solid-phase synthesis products in 60 µm spots of high-density peptide arrays. As a result, a table of specific fragments for the individual detection of amino acids and their side chain protecting groups within peptides is compiled. The specific signal of an amino acid increases linearly as its number increases in the immobilized peptide. Mass-to-charge ratio values are identified that can distinguish between isomers such as leucine and isoleucine. The accessibility of the N-terminus of polyalanine will be studied depending on the number of its residues. The examples provided in the study demonstrate the significant potential of time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry for high-throughput screening of functional groups and their accessibility to chemical reactions occurring simultaneously in hundreds of thousands of microreactors on a single microscope slide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterial: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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14 pages, 7025 KiB  
Article
Phase-Controlled Multi-Dimensional-Structure SnS/SnS2/CdS Nanocomposite for Development of Solar-Driven Hydrogen Evolution Photocatalyst
by Rak Hyun Jeong, Jae Hyeong Lee and Jin-Hyo Boo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(18), 13774; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813774 - 7 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1417
Abstract
The quest for water-splitting photocatalysts to generate hydrogen as a clean energy source from two-dimensional (2D) materials has enormous implications for sustainable energy solutions. Photocatalytic water splitting, a major field of interest, is focused on the efficient production of hydrogen from renewable resources [...] Read more.
The quest for water-splitting photocatalysts to generate hydrogen as a clean energy source from two-dimensional (2D) materials has enormous implications for sustainable energy solutions. Photocatalytic water splitting, a major field of interest, is focused on the efficient production of hydrogen from renewable resources such as water using 2D materials. Tin sulfide and tin disulfide, collectively known as SnS and SnS2, respectively, are metal sulfide compounds that have gained attention for their photocatalytic properties. Their unique electronic structures and morphological characteristics make them promising candidates for harnessing solar energy for environmental and energy-related purposes. CdS/SnS/SnS2 photocatalysts with two Sn phases (II and IV) were synthesized using a solvothermal method in this study. CdS was successfully placed on a broad SnS/SnS2 plane after a series of characterizations. We found that it is composited in the same way as a core-shell shape. When the SnS/SnS2 phase ratio was dominated by SnS and the structure was composited with CdS, the degradation efficiency was optimal. This material demonstrated high photocatalytic hydrogenation efficiency as well as efficient photocatalytic removal of Cr(VI) over 120 min. Because of the broad light absorption of CdS, the specific surface area, which is the reaction site, became very large. Second, it served as a transport medium for electron transfer from the conduction band (CB) of the SnS to the CB of the SnS2. Because of the composite, these electrons flowed into the CB of CdS, improving the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers even further. This material, which was easily composited, also effectively prevented mineral corrosion, which is a major issue with CdS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Nanomaterial: Design, Synthesis and Applications)
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