Dear Colleagues,

Nanostructures, like carbon and boron nitride nanotubes, graphene and boron nitride sheets, and both non-metallic and metallic nanowires, have numerous potential applications in various fields of sciences and technologies, including health science, strain and mechanical nanosensors, and hydrogen storage. In most of these particular applications, these tiny elements could interact with the in-contact nanoparticles (in both statics and moving states) due to the weight and inertia forces of nanoparticles and the existence of bonds, mostly van der Waals forces between the nanoparticles and the nanostructure. As a result, the nanoparticles are capable of altering the mechanical responses/behaviour of their host nanostructures through special mechanisms, which their explorations are of concern here by employing size-dependent continuum mechanics.

Until now, the role of the above interactions on several structural responses of nanostructures with/subjected to nanoparticles (vibrations, buckling, and static deformations) have been examined in special cases via advanced theories of elasticity; however, there are still many unexplained problems in this vast realm of the applied mechanics that require the further attention of investigators. Herein, both analytical and numerical models for exploring the raised nanomechanical problems are highly welcomed, particularly those deal with both symmetrical and asymmetrical aspects of the mechanical responses of nanostructure-nanoparticle systems.

A very pivotal exploration strategy is also seeking the symmetry between the mathematical modeling description and the atomistic-based simulations to verify the fundamental theories/models in these areas in order to achieve a comprehensive realization.

This Special Issue of Symmetry seeks to show the great significance of expressing new ideas and conducting research. The topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

• Beam-, plate-, and shell-like nanostructures for nanoparticle delivery;
• Ensembles of nanotubes with attached nanoparticles as physical sensors;
• Nanostructures with in-contact nanoparticles under multi-physical fields;
• Nanostructures–nanoparticle-systems in a moving state;
• Nonlinear mechanical aspects of nanoparticle–nanostructure interactions.

This planned issue of Symmetry aims to encourage scholars to conduct research on mechanical interactions of nanostructures with nanoparticles in the above context and to submit their research reports in this interesting field, hence presenting the great significance of new ideas. Papers that employ the symmetry or asymmetry concept in their methodologies, achieved results, and discussion in the fields of interactions between nanostructures and nanoparticles, even the review articles and short communications, are highly welcomed. We also welcome scholars in related fields to contribute their latest research results to this Special Issue.

Dr. Keivan Kiani
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. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• vibrations
• mechanical response
• nanoparticles
• nanostructures
• static and dynamic instabilities
• mechanical interactions
• advanced continuum mechanics