Search Results (393)

Growing concern over the environmental impact of conventional plastics has driven the development of biodegradable alternatives. In this context, natural polymers such as starch have emerged as sustainable options. Commercial montmorillonite, implemented as a reference nanomaterial, allows for the enhancement of the properties of biodegradable materials. In this study, commercial cassava starch powder plasticized with water and 35% glycerol, along with commercial nanoclay at concentrations of 0%, 2%, and 4%, was used as film reinforcement. The manufacturing process employed extrusion to evaluate the effectiveness of the nanomaterial in improving the mechanical and functional characteristics of the films. Films with varying concentrations of glycerol and nanoclay were produced to determine the optimal formulation by assessing their rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties. These films were subjected to comprehensive analysis using internationally standardised techniques, including Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and morphological characterisation via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Among the properties evaluated, water vapour permeability (WVTR) was of particular interest. Results showed that higher nanoclay content improved moisture retention, thus enhancing the films’ water barrier properties. Mechanical testing indicated that the film with the highest nanoclay concentration, F-g35-NC4, displayed tensile strength values of 0.23 ± 0.02 MPa and elongation of 66.90% ± 4.85, whereas F-g35-NC0 and F-g35-NC2 exhibited lower values. Conversely, the highest tear resistance was also recorded for F-g35-NC4, reaching 0.740 ± 0.009 kg. Contact angle measurements revealed a hydrophilic tendency, with values of 89.93° ± 8.78°. Finally, WVTR analysis confirmed that increased nanoclay content enhanced moisture retention and improved the water barrier performance, with a value of 0.030 ± 0.011 g/m²·day, supporting potential applications in the packaging sector. Full article

Contemporary advances in bioengineering and materials science have substantially improved the viability of medical implants. The demand for optimized implant technologies has led to the development of advanced coatings that enhance biocompatibility, antimicrobial activity, and durability. Implant manufacturers and surgeons must anticipate both biological and mechanical challenges when implementing devices for patient use. Key areas of concern include infection, corrosion, wear, immune response, and implant rejection; regulatory and economic considerations must also be addressed. Materials science developments are optimizing the integration of established materials such as biometrics, composites, and nanomaterials, while also advancing fabrication-based innovations including plasma functionalization, anodization, and self-assembled monolayers. Emerging smart and stimuli-responsive surface technologies enable controlled drug delivery and real-time implant status communication. These innovations enhance osseointegration, antimicrobial performance, and overall device functionality across orthopedic, dental, and cardiovascular applications. As implant design continues to shift toward personalized, responsive systems, advanced coating technologies are poised to deliver significantly improved long-term clinical outcomes for patients. Full article

New nano-biomaterials for specific dentistry applications have been developed thanks to contributions from materials science. The present work aims to characterize the physicochemical properties of a composite nanomaterial scaffold in block form for maxillofacial bone regeneration applications. The scaffold was composed of block-shaped elements and consisted of a mixture of nano-hydroxyapatite, β-tricalcium phosphate, and type I collagen of bovine origin. Collagen I molecule is biodegradable, biocompatible, easily available, and a natural bone matrix component. The biomaterial was analyzed using a range of methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), chemical composition microanalysis, and X-Ray diffractometry (XRD). The wettability was measured. This was carried out by measuring the contact angle of a 0.9% NaCl solution on the surface. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to measure the phase transformation temperatures. In the SEM and TEM analyses, it was possible to identify the layers of the materials and, with microanalysis, quantify their chemical composition. The XRD spectra showed the presence of nano-hydroxyapatite and ß-TCP. Wettability testing revealed that the material is highly hydrophilic, and BM-MSC culture analyses demonstrated that the biomaterial can promotes cell adhesion and interaction. The higher wettability is due to the higher density of the porous material observed in the SEM analysis. The results of the DSC testing showed that the sample analyzed undergoes endothermic transitions and transformation between 25 and 150 °C. The first phase transformation during heating occurs at 61.1 °C, which is above body temperature. The findings demonstrated that the composite was devoid of any contamination arising from manufacturing processes. It can be concluded that the n-HA/β-TCP and type 1 collagen are free of manufacturing contaminants. They also have high wettability, which increases the spreading of body fluids on the biomaterial’s surface and its interactions with cells and proteins. This makes them suitable for clinical application. Full article

Nanomaterials have been extensively employed for the efficient removal of the cationic dye rhodamine B (RhB) from aqueous solutions. However, challenges such as complex synthesis processes, limited adsorption capacity, and poor cycling stability remain to be addressed. In this research, a novel nanoparticle-based β-cyclodextrin and sodium p-styrenesulfonate composite (M-β-SCDP) was synthesized via a two-step method to enhance its adsorption capabilities for RhB from water. The modification resulted in a material enriched with active sites (−OH, −SO³⁻) and a mesoporous structure, greatly enhancing its adsorption capacity to 2392.34 mg·g⁻¹ for RhB removal from water solutions. The M-β-SCDP exhibited excellent reversible symmetric adsorption, which remained stable after 10 regeneration cycles with no loss in adsorption capacity. The simple manufacturing process, along with its effective adsorption capabilities and outstanding reusability, indicates that M-β-SCDP has great potential for real-world use in efficiently treating RhB in water. Full article

Conventional dental materials with organised crystal structures exhibit limitations in corrosion resistance, bioactivity, and drug delivery capability. In contrast, amorphous nanomaterials offer potential advantages in overcoming these limitations due to their unique structural properties. They are characterised by a non-crystalline, disordered atomic structure and are similar to a solidified liquid at the nanoscale. Among the amorphous nanomaterials used in dentistry, there are five major categories: calcium-, silicon-, magnesium-, zirconia-, and polymer-based systems. This study reviewed these amorphous nanomaterials by investigating their synthesis, properties, applications, limitations, and future directions in dentistry. These amorphous nanomaterials are synthesised primarily through low-temperature methods, including sol–gel processes, rapid precipitation, and electrochemical etching, which prevent atomic arrangements into crystalline structures. The resulting disordered atomic configuration confers exceptional properties, including enhanced solubility, superior drug-loading capacity, high surface reactivity, and controlled biodegradability. These characteristics enable diverse dental applications. Calcium-based amorphous nanomaterials, particularly amorphous calcium phosphate, demonstrate the ability to remineralise tooth enamel. Silicon-based amorphous nanomaterials function as carriers that can release antibacterial agents in response to stimuli. Magnesium-based amorphous nanomaterials are antibacterial and support natural bone regeneration. Zirconia-based amorphous nanomaterials strengthen the mechanical properties of restorative materials. Polymer-based amorphous nanomaterials enable controlled release of medications over extended periods. Despite the advances in these amorphous nanomaterials, there are limitations regarding material stability over time, precise control of degradation rates in the oral environment, and the development of reliable large-scale manufacturing processes. Researchers are creating smart materials that respond to specific oral conditions and developing hybrid systems that combine the strengths of different nanomaterials. In summary, amorphous nanomaterials hold great promise for advancing dental treatments through their unique properties and versatile applications. Clinically, these materials could improve the durability, bioactivity, and targeted drug delivery in dental restorations and therapies, leading to better patient outcomes. Full article

The emergence of electrically conductive polymeric materials has revolutionized the landscape of sustainable energy technologies, presenting unprecedented opportunities for advancing both photovoltaic conversion systems and electrochemical energy-storage platforms. These remarkable macromolecular materials exhibit distinctive characteristics including adjustable electronic band structures, exceptional mechanical adaptability, solution-phase processability, and cost-effective manufacturing potential. This extensive review provides an in-depth examination of the fundamental principles governing charge carrier mobility in conjugated polymer systems, explores diverse synthetic methodologies for tailoring molecular architectures, and analyzes their transformative applications across multiple energy technology domains. In photovoltaic technologies, electrically conductive polymers have driven major advancements in organic solar cells and photoelectrochemical systems, significantly improving energy conversion efficiency while reducing manufacturing costs. In electrochemical energy storage, their integration into supercapacitors and rechargeable lithium-based batteries has enhanced charge storage capability, accelerated charge–discharge processes, and extended operational lifespan compared with conventional electrode materials. This comprehensive analysis emphasizes emerging developments in hybrid composite architectures that combine conductive polymers with carbon-based nanomaterials, metal oxides, and other functional components to create next-generation flexible, lightweight, and wearable energy systems. By synthesizing fundamental materials chemistry with device engineering perspectives, this review illuminates the transformative potential of electrically conductive polymers in establishing sustainable, efficient, and resilient energy infrastructures for future technological landscapes. Full article

Cancer remains a severe global health threat, with traditional therapies often plagued by limited efficacy and significant side effects. The emergence of nanotechnology, particularly metal-doped nanomaterials, offers a promising avenue for integrating diagnostic and therapeutic functions into a single platform, enabling a theranostic approach to oncology. This article explores the design and application of various metal-doped nanosystems, including gadolinium-doped selenium molybdenum nanosheets for magnetic resonance/photoacoustic dual-mode imaging and photothermal therapy, and metal-doped hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles that leverage the tumor’s acidic microenvironment to release ions for catalytic generation of reactive oxygen species. Despite their promise, the limited enzyme-like activity of some nanozymes, insufficient endogenous hydrogen peroxide in tumors, and the tumor microenvironment’s defensive mechanisms, such as high glutathione levels, can restrict therapeutic efficacy. Looking forward, the outlook for the field is contingent upon advancing material engineering strategies. Future research should prioritize the development of intelligent, multifunctional nanoplatforms that can dynamically respond to and remodel the tumor microenvironment. Innovations in surface modification for enhanced targeting, alongside rigorous preclinical studies focused on safety and standardized manufacturing, are crucial for bridging the gap between laboratory research and clinical application, ultimately paving the way for personalized cancer medicine. Full article

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors worldwide, with the highest incidence and mortality among women. Early precise diagnosis and the development of efficient treatment regimens remain major clinical challenges. Harnessing the programmable size, surface chemistry, and tumor microenvironment (TME) responsiveness of nanomaterials, there is tremendous potential for their applications in breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. In the diagnostic arena, nanomaterials serve as core components of novel contrast agents (e.g., gold nanorods, quantum dots, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles) and biosensing platforms, substantially enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of molecular imaging modalities—such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and fluorescence imaging (FLI)—and enabling high-sensitivity detection of circulating tumor cells and tumor-derived exosomes, among various liquid biopsy biomarkers. In therapy, nanoscale carriers (e.g., liposomes, polymeric micelles) improve tumor targeting and accumulation efficiency through passive and active targeting strategies, thereby augmenting anticancer efficacy while effectively reducing systemic toxicity. Furthermore, nanotechnology has spurred the rapid advancement of emerging modalities, including photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and immunotherapy. Notably, the construction of theranostic platforms that integrate diagnostic and therapeutic units within a single nanosystem enables in vivo, real-time visualization of drug delivery, treatment monitoring, and therapeutic response feedback, providing a powerful toolkit for advancing breast cancer toward personalized, precision medicine. Despite challenges that remain before clinical translation—such as biocompatibility, scalable manufacturing, and standardized evaluation—nanomaterials are undoubtedly reshaping the paradigm of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Full article

Accurate potentiometric sensing critically depends on the stability and reproducibility of the reference electrode potential. Conventional liquid-filled Ag/AgCl or calomel electrodes, though well-established, are poorly compatible with miniaturized, portable, or long-term in situ sensing devices due to electrolyte leakage, junction potential instability, and maintenance requirements. Recent advances in solid-state and membrane-based reference electrodes offer a promising alternative by eliminating the liquid junction while maintaining stable and well-defined potential. This review summarizes the advancements in polymer-based and composite reference membranes, focusing on material strategies, stabilization mechanisms, and integration approaches. Emphasis is placed on ionic-liquid-doped membranes, conducting polymers, lipophilic salts, and carbon nanomaterials as functional components enhancing interfacial stability and charge transfer. The performances of various architectures, solid-contact, liquid-junction-free, and quasi-reference systems, are compared in terms of potential drift, matrix resistance, biocompatibility, and manufacturability. Furthermore, recent developments in printed, microfluidic, and wearable potentiometric platforms demonstrate how reference membrane innovations enable reliable operation in compact, low-cost, and flexible analytical systems. The review outlines current trends, challenges, and future directions toward universal, miniaturized, and leak-free reference electrodes suitable for innovative sensing technologies. Full article

Optical fiber biosensors have evolved into powerful tools for non-invasive biomedical analysis. While foundational principles are well-established, recent years have marked a paradigm shift, driven by advancements in nanomaterials, fabrication techniques, and data processing. This review provides a focused overview of these emerging trends, critically analyzing the innovations that distinguish the current generation of optical fiber biosensors from their predecessors. We begin with a concise summary of fundamental sensing principles, including Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) and Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), before delving into the latest breakthroughs. Key areas of focus include integrating novel 2D materials and nanostructures to dramatically enhance sensitivity and advancing synergy with Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) platforms. A significant portion of this review is dedicated to the rapid expansion of clinical applications, particularly in early cancer detection, infectious disease diagnostics, and continuous glucose monitoring. We highlight the pivotal trend towards wearable and in vivo sensors and explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in processing complex sensor data to improve diagnostic accuracy. Finally, we address the persistent challenges—biocompatibility, long-term stability, and scalable manufacturing—that must be overcome for widespread clinical adoption and commercialization, offering a forward-looking perspective on the future of this dynamic field. Full article

Nano-engineered sensor systems represent a paradigm shift in disease diagnostics, offering unprecedented capabilities for precision medicine. This review methodically evaluates these advanced platforms, consolidating recent advancements across four critical clinical domains: diabetes monitoring, cancer detection, infectious disease diagnostics and cardiac/genetic health. We demonstrate how the unique properties of nanomaterials, such as graphene, quantum dots and plasmonic nanoparticles, are being harnessed to achieve remarkable gains in analytical sensitivity, selectivity and real-time monitoring. Specific breakthroughs include graphene-based sensors attaining clinically significant limits for continuous glucose monitoring, quantum dot bioconjugates enabling ultrasensitive imaging of cancer biomarkers and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) probes facilitating early tumor identification. Furthermore, nanosensors exhibit exceptional precision in detecting viral antigens and genetic mutations, underscoring their robust translational potential. Collectively, these developments signal a clear trajectory toward integrated, intelligent healthcare ecosystems. However, for these promising technologies to transition into accessible and cost-effective diagnostic solutions, persistent challenges in scalability, manufacturing reproducibility and long-term biocompatibility must be addressed through continued interdisciplinary innovation. Full article

Accurate tumor visualization remains a central challenge in oncology, as single-modality imaging often lacks the depth, sensitivity, and specificity needed for precise therapeutic guidance. Nano-theranostic platforms address this by combining multimodal imaging with tumor-responsive activation and therapeutic functions within a single system. Advances in carbon-based nanomaterials, metallic and metal oxide nanoplatforms, polymeric and lipid carriers, and biomimetic architectures enable integration of fluorescence (FL), near-infrared II fluorescence (NIR-II FL), photoacoustic (PA), magnetic resonance (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasound (US) imaging for comprehensive anatomical, functional, and molecular tumor characterization. Coupled with photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemo-dynamic therapy (CDT), ferroptosis induction, metabolic modulation, gas-based therapeutics, and immune activation, these nanoplatforms transform imaging from a passive diagnostic tool into an active, feedback-regulated therapeutic modality. This review outlines the mechanistic foundations, integrated functionalities, and preclinical significance of synergistic imaging-guided nano-theranostics. We also highlight emerging priorities—including adaptive closed-loop platforms, streamlined multifunctional designs, immunotherapy integration, and scalable, biocompatible manufacturing—to advance clinically viable nano-theranostics for precision oncology. Full article

Silver nanoplates hold significant promise for advanced electronic materials, especially in low-temperature conductive silver pastes crucial for next-generation solar cells. However, their widespread practical application, like many nanomaterials, is currently limited by insufficient production capacity and inconsistent quality inherent in conventional batch synthesis methods. To overcome these critical challenges, we developed a novel ultrasound-assisted continuous-flow synthesis method for the scalable and high-yield production of silver nanoplates. This innovative approach effectively addresses common issues such as nanoparticle deposition and pipeline clogging by leveraging ultrasonic cavitation for enhanced mixing and stable flow. Through systematic optimization of synthetic parameters-including temperature, flow rate, and seed concentration-our continuous-flow reactor achieved mass production of pure silver nanoplates at a rate of 3.8 g/h. This scaled-up system is capable of producing hundreds of grams per day. The as-prepared nanoplates demonstrate excellent electrical performance, highlighting the method’s potential for industrial-scale manufacturing and significantly advancing the development of high-efficiency electronic devices. Full article

Nanomaterials are usually associated with modern technologies and advanced processing methods. Three silver Dacian bracelets within Cehei hoard (Salaj County, Romania) are tougher than they should be according to the apparently higher silver content. The microstructural investigation reveals that all three bracelets have silver content of about 90 wt.%. The metallographic inspection of a bracelet sample reveals a very refined microstructure of α grain while fewer eutectic grains are almost undetectable, indicating intensive plastic deformation. XRD patterns of the bracelets reveal relevant peaks for silver (without copper) having a much-broadened aspect indicating nanostructural level. The nano-grains were evidenced at high magnification of SEM imaging: 55 nm for bracelet 1, 95 nm for bracelet 2 and 75 nm for bracelet 3. Elemental maps reveal that the nanograins are basically formed by α phase; the finest eutectic traces are situated and uniformly dispersed within α phase, appearing as small red spots. Vickers µHV10 micro indentation was calibrated on a pure silver 999.9 ‰ in annealed state, resulting in 37 HV10. The nanostructured bracelets have about 56 µHV10 for bracelet 1; 50 µHV10 for bracelet 2 and 52 µHV10 for bracelet 3. Dyrrachium drachmas have Vickers microhardness of about 37 µHV10. The obtained results confirm the historian’s supposition that Dyrrachium drachmas could be the source for silver but also clearly indicate that the final steps of bracelets manufacturing were effectuated by cold deformation with intensive cold hardening. It results that cold deformation of the bracelets rods induces a nanostructural state that significantly increases their microhardness instead of their higher silver title. Full article