Nanocomposites: Properties and Applications in Health and Environmental Care

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closed (28 June 2025)

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30 August 2025

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2031

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

At present, there are health and environmental problems concerning different population segments around the world. There is great demand to generate new materials for the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases, as well as materials which inhibit the proliferation of new drug-resistant microorganisms and solve water, air, and soil pollution. Finding novel technologies to solve these global problems is urgent due to population growth, and the synthesis of new, environmentally friendly, economical, and recyclable materials is necessary for taking care of our ecosystems. There are new functional materials, containing nanoparticles of a different nature, designed for health and environmental applications. These are known as nanocomposite materials, possessing two or more phases and acting in a functional way for specific applications. This Topic aims to disseminate scientific innovations related to nanocomposite materials currently being developed for health and environmental applications and understand the mechanisms by which they act, uncovering how research into these materials is solving different problems of global interest. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following: -Functionalized nanoparticles (ultrasound, microwave, and plasma) for applications in health and the environment; -Polymeric nanocomposites obtained through different manufacturing processes; -Functional materials for health applications; -Nanocomposites with applications in the environment and agriculture; -Nanocomposites as adsorbent and filter media for medical devices and water remediation; -Evolution trends and new nanocomposite designs.

Dr. Christian J. Cabello-Alvarado
Dr. Carlos Alberto Avila-Orta
Dr. Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Applied Nano applnano	-	4.6	2020	14.8 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
Coatings coatings	2.8	5.4	2011	14.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.3	9.2	2010	15.4 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Polymers polymers	4.9	9.7	2009	14 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.2 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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All Applied Nano Coatings Nanomaterials Polymers Materials

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Supplementary material:
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14 pages, 2594 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Amorphous MoTe_x Nanomaterials Promote Visible-Light Co-Catalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

by Zhen Zhang, Bin Liu, Jian Zhou and Zhimei Sun

Materials 2025, 18(14), 3388; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18143388 - 18 Jul 2025

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Abstract

To investigate the application potential of amorphous transition metal chalcogenides in catalysis, this study successfully synthesized amorphous molybdenum telluride (MoTe_x) materials and systematically explored their structural characteristics, compositional modulation, and catalytic performance. Experimental results indicate that the synthesized amorphous system consists [...] Read more.

To investigate the application potential of amorphous transition metal chalcogenides in catalysis, this study successfully synthesized amorphous molybdenum telluride (MoTe_x) materials and systematically explored their structural characteristics, compositional modulation, and catalytic performance. Experimental results indicate that the synthesized amorphous system consists of particles of approximately 200–300 nm in size. This distinct microstructure facilitates the exposure of abundant active sites and enhances physical adsorption capacity. The amorphous MoTe₂/MoTe₃ catalysts achieve an approximately 30%/40% degradation of methylene blue (MB) within 90 min, demonstrating significantly enhanced photocatalytic efficiency compared to that of crystalline MoTe₂ (≈20% degradation under identical conditions). Furthermore, when integrated with titanium dioxide (TiO₂), the composite exhibits exceptional co-catalytic performance, achieving a 90% degradation of MB within 90 min under visible-light irradiation, representing a catalytic efficiency improvement exceeding 160% compared to the results for pristine TiO₂. Furthermore, through comparative analysis of the catalytic behavior and microstructural variations between amorphous MoTe₃ (a-MoTe₃) and MoTe₂ (a-MoTe₂), we observed that the catalytic activity of molybdenum tellurides exhibits a weak correlation with the tellurium content, with co-catalytic efficacy jointly governed by the density of the active sites and the physical adsorption properties. This research provides new methods and insights for the study and improvement of catalytic performance in chalcogenide materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nanocomposites: Properties and Applications in Health and Environmental Care)

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15 pages, 7465 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Nanocomposite Polysulfone/CB Modified by Melt Extrusion and Solution Mixing for Enhanced Removal of Uremic Toxins

by Marlene Andrade-Guel, Christian J. Cabello-Alvarado, Sendar Daniel Nery-Flores, Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego, Carlos Avila-Orta, Marissa Pérez-Alvarez, Diego Martínez-Carrillo, Zoe V. Quiñones-Jurado and Luis Cedeño Caero

Materials 2025, 18(14), 3352; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18143352 - 17 Jul 2025

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In this study, polysulfone-based nanocomposites with carbon black (CB) nanoparticles were fabricated to evaluate their urea-removal properties. The nanocomposites were obtained using two different methods: solution mixing and melt extrusion. These materials were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which allowed for [...] Read more.

In this study, polysulfone-based nanocomposites with carbon black (CB) nanoparticles were fabricated to evaluate their urea-removal properties. The nanocomposites were obtained using two different methods: solution mixing and melt extrusion. These materials were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which allowed for the identification of the corresponding functional groups within the polysulfone polymer matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed, confirming the amorphous structure of the polysulfone. The addition of modified carbon black shifted the most intense peak of the polysulfone. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed an increase in thermal stability with the addition of different concentrations of modified carbon black for solution-mixing method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the melt-extrusion method presented a better dispersion of the nanoparticles, since large agglomerates were not observed. Additionally, a urea adsorption study was conducted, obtaining removal percentages of 76% and 72% for the extrusion and solution-mixing methods, respectively. It was demonstrated that the nanocomposite can be used for up to five cycles without losing urea-removal efficiency, whereas the efficiency of pure polysulfone decreases as the number of cycles increases. Finally, the hemolysis test was performed, and the nanocomposites showed less than 1% hemolysis, indicating that the material is non-hemolytic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nanocomposites: Properties and Applications in Health and Environmental Care)

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Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 249 KiB)

11 pages, 1964 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

pH-Responsive Nanophotosensitizer Boosting Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy by Hydroxyl Radical Generation

by Peilin Tian, Xianyue Bai, Jing Feng, Luyao Xu, Shihao Xu, Xiaoya Yu, Caiju Fan, Qian Su, Jiaxing Song and Cuixia Lu

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(14), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15141075 - 10 Jul 2025

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Abstract

In this study, a pH-responsive nanophotosensitizer (MT@Ce6) was rationally developed by strategic integration of MIL-101 (Fe)-NH₂ metal–organic framework with tannic acid (TA) and chlorin e6. This nanocomposite exhibits pH-responsive degradation in acidic microenvironments, facilitating Fe³⁺ release and subsequent reduction to Fe [...] Read more.

In this study, a pH-responsive nanophotosensitizer (MT@Ce6) was rationally developed by strategic integration of MIL-101 (Fe)-NH₂ metal–organic framework with tannic acid (TA) and chlorin e6. This nanocomposite exhibits pH-responsive degradation in acidic microenvironments, facilitating Fe³⁺ release and subsequent reduction to Fe²⁺ that catalyzes Fenton reaction-mediated hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation. This cascade reaction shifts reactive oxygen species (ROS) predominance from transient singlet oxygen (¹O₂) to the long-range penetrative •OH, achieving robust biofilm disruption and over 90% eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) under 660 nm irradiation. In vivo evaluations revealed accelerated wound healing with 95% wound closure within 7 days, while species-selective antibacterial studies demonstrated a 2.3-fold enhanced potency against Gram-positive bacteria due to their unique peptidoglycan-rich cell wall architecture. These findings collectively establish a microenvironment-adaptive nanoplatform for precision antimicrobial interventions, providing a translational strategy to address drug-resistant infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Nanocomposites: Properties and Applications in Health and Environmental Care)

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