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Nanocrystals, Nanoclusters, Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Optical Properties
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Nanocrystals, Nanoclusters, Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Optical Properties

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: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 1705

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maćkowski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicholas Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100 Torun, Poland
2. Baltic Institute of Technology, al. Zwyciestwa 96/98, 81-451 Gdynia, Poland
Interests: fluorescence imaging and spectroscopy; plasmonics; energy transfer; artificial photosynthesis; carbon nanostructures; semiconductor nanocrystals; up-converting nanocrystals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent progress in the field of controlling matter at the nanoscale has impacted science in a rather unprecedented way. With advances in the synthesis and control of morphology, chemical composition, as well as in the sizes and shapes of nanoparticles, nanocrystals, and nanoclusters, it has become possible to tune their properties on demand. In turn, interactions between these nanomaterials and molecular systems have been investigated in a broad range of aspects, including optoelectronics, sensorics, photocatalysis, artificial photosynthesis, and many more. Moreover, such materials can also be frequently coupled with biomolecules in a controlled way, affecting their properties and functions. Thus, multiple functionality systems, such as theranostic agents, have been proposed.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for collecting work focused on various aspects of the synthesis and optical characterization of nanoparticles, nanocrystals, and nanoclusters (both as individual nanostructures but also as vital components of hybrid nanostructures), where synergy effects can be studied and exploited. Experimental and theoretical papers, review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Maćkowski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • nanocrystals
  • nanoclusters
  • nanoparticles
  • synthesis
  • optical properties

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 6950 KiB  
Article
Structural, Magnetic, Optical and Photocatalytic Properties of Co-Doped ZnO Nanocrystals
by Manuel Fernando Acosta-Humánez, Claudio J. Magon, Luis Montes-Vides, Juan Jiménez and Ovidio Almanza
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 2117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26052117 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 395
Abstract
Energy levels associated with several crystalline defects, such as zinc (VZn) and oxygen (VO) vacancies, Zn and O interstitials (Zni and Oi respectively), Zn and O antisite defects, and charged oxygen vacancies Vo-, among others, are generated [...] Read more.
Energy levels associated with several crystalline defects, such as zinc (VZn) and oxygen (VO) vacancies, Zn and O interstitials (Zni and Oi respectively), Zn and O antisite defects, and charged oxygen vacancies Vo-, among others, are generated by the introduction of cobalt (Co) into the structure. The effective introduction of Co into the Zn occupancy site was evaluated by XRD and electron paramagnetic resonance. The EPR spectra remain consistent across all doping concentrations of Co2+ ions and revealed intriguing features linked to four distinct Co2+ paramagnetic centers; among them, a pair of Co2+ ions exhibited ferromagnetic coupling. ZnO nanocrystals doped with cobalt were produced by sol gel and their use as photocatalysts were evaluated in the degradation of the Congo red pollutant. The degradation efficiency improved by more than 50% when compared to the efficiency of pure ZnO nanocrystals at the same activity time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocrystals, Nanoclusters, Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Optical Properties)
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19 pages, 7094 KiB  
Article
Biodistribution of Polyaldehydedextran Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Epirubicin in Ovarian Tumor-Bearing Mice via Optical Imaging
by Wioletta Kośnik, Hanna Sikorska, Adam Kiciak and Tomasz Ciach
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(3), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26030970 - 24 Jan 2025
Viewed by 934
Abstract
This study investigates the biodistribution of polysaccharide-based nanoparticles loaded with epirubicin (POLEPI) compared to epirubicin hydrochloride (EPI) in naïve female nude mice following a single intravenous dose. The inherent fluorescence of epirubicin was tracked using Newton 7 animal imager and Varioskan. Initial whole-animal [...] Read more.
This study investigates the biodistribution of polysaccharide-based nanoparticles loaded with epirubicin (POLEPI) compared to epirubicin hydrochloride (EPI) in naïve female nude mice following a single intravenous dose. The inherent fluorescence of epirubicin was tracked using Newton 7 animal imager and Varioskan. Initial whole-animal optical imaging failed to reliably detect epirubicin distribution, necessitating ex vivo imaging of key tissues harvested at intervals between 10 min and 48 h post-injection. Optimal imaging conditions were established using a 5 s exposure time with excitation (Ex)/emission (Em) at 480 nm/550 nm. The biodistribution of POLEPI was further evaluated in both naïve mice and immunocompromised mice bearing patient-derived ovarian tumors. Unlike epirubicin, POLEPI exhibited notable tissue distribution within 3 h post-injection. By 48 h, fluorescence signals were undetectable in both models, although non-tumored animals exhibited persistent signals. In both models, the liver was the primary organ for POLEPI accumulation, with lower levels in tumored mice. Interestingly, brain fluorescence was higher in POLEPI-treated mice compared to those receiving epirubicin. Neither POLEPI nor epirubicin accumulated in the spleen or bone marrow. In tumors, POLEPI fluorescence peaked at 24 h, with levels 2.1 times higher than in the epirubicin-treated group over a 48 h period. Furthermore, POLEPI uptake in tumors exceeded that in healthy ovaries, with the most significant tumor-to-healthy-ovary ratio observed between 6 and 24 h post-injection. These findings demonstrate that POLEPI, a novel polyaldehydedextran nanoparticle formulation, exhibits enhanced accumulation and retention in tumor tissue compared to epirubicin, with preferential distribution to the orthotopic tumor-bearing ovary over healthy ovarian tissue. The inherent fluorescence of epirubicin provided a rapid and cost-effective means of estimating biodistribution, although the limitations of this method—particularly, the inability to differentiate between the parent drug and its metabolites—were acknowledged. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanocrystals, Nanoclusters, Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Optical Properties)
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