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Molecular Insights and Design Strategies for Carbonaceous Nanomaterials

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 (20 August 2025) | Viewed by 961

Special Issue Editors


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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnology is a rapidly developing field of science. The innovative structures employed in nanotechnology are applied in various fields: the agro-food industry; medical and biological sciences; cosmetics; and many other areas of our lives. The discovery of carbon allotropes, including fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, as well as carbon quantum dots, has revolutionized the industry. Carbon-allotrope-based nanocomposites have become a leading sector for exploration and progress due to their unique mechanical, optical and electrical properties. Carbon nanoparticles are most widely employed as nanofillers in composite materials, as this combination can considerably enhance their functionality. Their key functional properties include extremely good electrical and thermal conductivity, electrochemical and thermal stability, and mechanical strength. Recent studies have also revealed their high biocompatibility with cells such as osteocytes and neurons, as well as their antimicrobial activity, which greatly enhances their applicability in biomedical sciences. Owing to the rapid development of nanotechnology, the traditional agro-food sector is being transformed. The development of novel nanomaterials has led to an improvement in the quality and safety of food, an increase in crops due to the enhanced monitoring of plant growth, and the protection of the environment. Medicine is an area in which nanotechnology seems to be extremely influential. Nanodevices and nanomaterials have great potential in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases. This is mainly due to the ability of nanostructures to penetrate human cells, thus enabling targeted therapy and the accurate detection of the source of disease. The precision of nanotechnology makes it a potential technology for cancer detection and therapy. In the diagnosis of these diseases, nanoparticles are utilized as contrast agents to detect cancer cells at an early stage and monitor treatment progress. A wide area of scientific interest is the application of carbon nanoparticles in energy storage. Carbon nanotubes and their analogues have great potential in electrical and electronic applications, such as photovoltaics, sensors, semiconductor devices, displays, conductors, smart materials, and energy conversion devices. The production of new varieties of carbonaceous nanomaterials and the study of their properties, as well as their subsequent functionalization, are crucial tasks in nanotechnology and materials engineering.

Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on the molecular aspects of the design, production, and application of carbonaceous nanomaterials in various areas of our lives. Moreover, it seeks to offer profound insights into the intricate interplay of structure and performance. These endeavors will collectively promote rapid progress in associated applications.

Dr. Magdalena Krystyjan
Dr. Gohar Khachatryan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • carbon nanomaterials
  • carbon (nano)fillers
  • graphene
  • carbon nanotubes
  • carbon quantum dots
  • nanoparticles
  • nanostructures

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 3126 KB  
Article
The In Vitro Toxicity Profile of Nanoencapsulated Curcumin in a Chitosan–Alginate Gel Carrier Using Rabbit Lymphocytes: Preliminary Research
by Marta Kuchta-Gładysz, Joanna Wojciechowska-Puchałka, Anna Grzesiakowska-Dul, Michał Kmiecik, Karen Khachatryan and Gohar Khachatryan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8577; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178577 - 3 Sep 2025
Viewed by 279
Abstract
Curcumin is a natural bioactive compound of plant origin, characterised by a wide variety of properties that make it useful in numerous industries. Furthermore, due to its health-promoting properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects, it has found applications in medicine and [...] Read more.
Curcumin is a natural bioactive compound of plant origin, characterised by a wide variety of properties that make it useful in numerous industries. Furthermore, due to its health-promoting properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects, it has found applications in medicine and animal husbandry. Unfortunately, curcumin has low bioavailability; its hydrophobic nature means it is poorly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract, and it is rapidly metabolised in the liver. In recent years, research has been conducted into adding nanoencapsulated active ingredients, such as curcumin, to animal feed. This research aims to improve the bioavailability and stability of these ingredients, extend their shelf life, and enhance their absorption. These effects are expected to improve overall animal health, increase production efficiency, and enhance the quality of animal products. However, a significant challenge remains: the irreversible aggregation and chemical instability of bioactive substances due to the hydrolysis of their polymeric encapsulants, which can lead to toxic effects. This study utilised peripheral whole blood from five Blanc de Termonde rabbits. In vitro cell exposure was conducted using three distinct concentrations of nanoencapsulated curcumin (C1–C3: 10, 5.0, and 2.5 µg/mL) and a control. Cytotoxicity was determined by assessing viability using trypan blue exclusion, the comet assay, and the micronucleus assay. The results indicated that all tested concentrations of nanocurcumin significantly decreased the viability of blood cells to approximately 1–9%. In contrast, the encapsulation matrices themselves were not toxic (results were statistically significant). In the comet assay, the nanocurcumin formulations were toxic at all concentrations, and the results were statistically significant. Following exposure, the micronucleus assay revealed cell damage and a high percentage of apoptotic cells (up to 30% for Cur1 at 10 ug/mL). A significant number of binucleated cells with two micronuclei (BNCs + 2MN) were also observed, again for Cur1. In view of the considerable variation in the results from the individual tests, it is advisable to repeat the research using different matrix forms and concentrations of curcumin. Full article
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