Table of contents

Cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, with millions of lives lost annually and a projected increase in cases, particularly in regions like South Central Asia, Europe, Eastern Europe, etc, Traditional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, face limitations in effectively managing the complex tumor microenvironment and addressing the diverse characteristics of cancer cells. Nano-oncology has emerged as a promising frontier in cancer therapy, utilizing nanoscale materials to deliver therapeutic agents with precision and efficacy. The benefits of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems are the ability to target tumor cells while minimizing adverse effects and overcoming multidrug resistance. Advancements in hybrid nanoparticle development have further enhanced the stability and performance of drug delivery systems, offering new avenues for cancer treatment. Moreover, nanoparticle-based therapies hold the potential to modulate the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and improve outcomes in immunotherapy. The review provides a comprehensive overview of nanotherapeutic products currently in various preclinical and clinical study stages, focusing on their success rates in lung and breast cancers compared to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. By elucidating the landscape of nano-oncology and evaluating its efficacy in specific cancer types, this review aims to shed light on the transformative potential of nanoparticle-based approaches in cancer treatment and diagnosis. They are exploring nano-oncology promises to pave the way for innovative strategies in combating cancer and improving patient outcomes globally.

Emerging research in conductive and composite polymer nanoinks (CCPNIs) demonstrate remarkable advantages in electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties which are highly desired for printable applications. The development of suitable scalable production techniques can address the demand for wearable, printable, and flexible nanoink-based electronic applications. In this review we present a comparative analysis for contact based techniques such as screen printing (SP), nano imprint lithography (NIL) and non-contact printing techniques such as inkjet printing (IJP), aerosol jet printing (AIP) and 3D printing with a focus on CCPNIs. We discuss the application of these techniques across various electronic domains such as wearable electronics, flexible sensors and robotics which rely on scalable printing technologies. Among the techniques reviewed, SP stands out as particularly suitable and sustainable, primarily due to its scalability and efficiency. It is capable of producing between 1,000 and 5,000 parts per hour, while maintaining a practical resolution range of 1000 μm (±5–10%). SP is suitable for applications in printed electronics, where cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and scalability are of focus. In contrast, for complex and multidimensional printing, 3D printing shows promise with an excellent resolution which are crucial for industrial-scaled production.

A simple, eco-friendly, green synthesis protocol for producing biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles using the Moringa oleifera (MO) seed/pulp extracts (MSE/MPE) is reported. The crystallite phase formation of magnetite nanoparticles is confirmed using a powder x-ray diffractometer. The morphology, surface properties, and magnetic properties are investigated using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The particles with optimized properties from MSE and MPE synthesis are used for investigating their photocatalytic activity on methylene blue dye. Results of dye degradation show that the particles synthesized using MSE showed 53.46% degradation, whereas MPE showed 37.87% degradation of methylene blue dye under UV light. The photodegradation process follows pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicating that the dye is degraded to its intermediate compounds, which are chemically adsorbed on the particle surface, as confirmed through FTIR. The results show promising potential of synthesizing such nanoparticles for treatment of wastewater using a greener approach.

Berberine (BBR), a natural bioactive ingredient from Eastern nations, has low solubility and permeability that limits its applications. Hence, berberine nanostructured lipid carriers (BBR-NLCs) were fabricated to improve the drug therapeutic effectiveness. Glycerol monostearate, stearic acid and oleic acid were chosen for lipid base whereas Pluronic F127, Span 80, and Transcutol-P were used as the surfactant and co-surfactant. BBR-NLCs had an average particle size of 82 nm, zeta potential of −32 mV, and narrow size distribution (PDI approximately 0.2), prepared with probe ultrasonication at 490 W in 15 min. In addition, BBR-NLCs prepared at optimized conditions showed around 92% of encapsulation efficiency with drug loading over 5.5%. NLCs presented sustained released through mouse skin, dialysis membrane in Franz cell model, and oral dissolution test, compared with free drug over 24 h. Moreover, blank NLCs even increased the cell viability of HaCaT and HEK293T cells at lower concentrations. NLCs significantly enabled higher interactive BBR quantity with investigated cells. Therefore, BBR-NLCs could be considered as a potential nanocarrier for improved bioavailability of this therapeutic agent.

In this work, the fabrication and comparison of distinct types of multi-walled carbon nanotube-based gas sensing devices on N type (100) silicon substrates for the detection of low ammonia concentrations are reported. Every measurement was made at room temperature. The whole process was tested at 10 ppm of ammonia gas. We have noticed the characteristics of fast response/recovery time (1–9 s) in pristine and (1–5 s) in Manganese metal (Mn) nanoparticles (99.99% purity) decorated MWCNT. The high-quality sensor response of roughly 82% has been found in pristine,177% in 2 min decorated, 73% in 4 min decorated and 130% in 6 min decorated respectively. The sensitivity of the as prepared samples comes to be 14% for the pristine, 35%, 37%, and 43% for rest of the sensors on percentage bases respectively. 75%–85% recovery was attained based on the obtained sensor response graph. The stability was also measured for a period of 7 days at constant concentration. A Keithley 6514 source meter was used for the resistance variation measurements. FESEM (Gemini 500), Raman spectroscopy (Renishaw), XRD, EDS and FTIR have been used to examine the different morphologies of the as prepared materials.

The advancement of efficient and durable electrocatalysts is crucial for enhancing overall water-splitting technologies, particularly in harsh acidic environments. In this work, we treated carbon cloth (CC) with a mixture of HNO₃ and H₂SO₄ to improve its surface properties and use it as a substrate for depositing Au/Co₃O₄ catalysts. The acid-treated CC (TCC) exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity due to the introduction of increased hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups, leading to a higher loading of the Au/Co₃O₄ catalyst (3.36 wt% Co and 1.42 wt% Au) combined with uniform morphology compared to the untreated CC. The resulting Au/Co₃O₄/TCC catalyst demonstrated several desirable characteristics, including a higher specific surface area of 40.5 m² g⁻¹ and smaller charge transfer resistance. When employed as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for overall water splitting, the Au/Co₃O₄/TCC exhibited a low cell voltage of 1.62 V in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ electrolyte and outstanding durability, maintaining its performance over 24 h at a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² without significant degradation, attributed to the strong interfacial interaction between the catalyst and the substrate. The enhanced wettability, surface area, and catalyst-support interaction arising from the acid treatment of the carbon cloth substrate were the key factors enabling the superior electrochemical performance of the Au/Co₃O₄/TCC catalyst system.

Hydrogen, with its high energy density and environmentally friendly nature, holds great promise as a future energy. The development of efficient catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water splitting is necessary. In this study, we focused on synthesizing a hybrid material MoSSe-Graphene (MoSSe-Gr) as a catalyst for HER. The MoSSe-Gr hybrid catalyst was synthesized through a solvothermal method followed by calcination under an inert atmosphere at 800 °C. Morphology and structural analysis of the catalyst was analyzed using SEM, TEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The MoSSe-Gr hybrid catalyst exhibited remarkable catalytic activity for HER, showing significantly lower overpotentials of 90 mV and 200 mV at current densities of 1 and 10 mA cm⁻², respectively, comparable to the benchmark Pt/C catalyst. Furthermore, the MoSSe-Gr catalyst demonstrated long-term electrochemical stability during HER over a 24 h period in an acidic medium. Furthermore, the MoSSe-Gr catalyst demonstrated long-term electrochemical stability during HER in 24 h duration in an acidic medium. The MoSSe-Gr hybrid catalyst shows great potential as an efficient and stable catalyst for HER, promoting sustainable hydrogen production.

This article performs an extensive analysis of the ideal and non-ideal case of hybridization of biomolecules in the nano-gap cavity present in a biosensor device. A gate-on-source (GOS) dual metal, split-gate, step channel dielectrically modulated (DM) double gate TFET-based label-free biosensor is proposed in this paper. The commercial TCAD simulation software (Silvaco TCAD) is used to simulate the proposed device. The paper focusses on both the performance improvement of the TFET device used to implement the biosensor and the sensitivity of the biosensor device. This proposed label-free bio-sensing device exhibits a high drain current sensitivity ∼ 10⁸ (for dielectric constant k in the range of 15) irrespective of the presence/absence of charge on the biomolecules. A high I_ON/I_OFF ratio of the range ∼ 10⁸ is obtained for the proposed device. A low sub-threshold swing (less than 60 mV dec⁻¹) is seen to be given by the proposed device. There are several non-ideal cases investigated in this work to allow the comprehension of the viability of this biosensor in practical applications. The non-ideal cases with fill factors ranging from 30% to 80% are analysed alongwith steric hindrance effects n the device sensitivity. The integration of electrical FET device with the biological sensing module to develop a biosensor is successfully achieved in this work to allow the attainment of a feasible solution for everyday needs.

MnCo₂O₄ nanorods (MCO) are successfully fabricated by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. MCO is coated on the commercial screen-printed electrode (SPE), aiming for effective detection of copper (II) ions (Cu²⁺). The morphological and structural characteristics are investigated through x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. Besides, electrochemical properties and performance to detect Cu²⁺ on the modified electrode (MCO/SPE) are studied in detail using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) measurements. The results show the MCO/SPE display magnificent enhancements in dynamic linear range, sensitivity, limit of detection (LOD), selectivity, and stability. Under optimized conditions, the prepared electrochemical sensor had a linear range of 0.001–100 μM, corresponding to LOD of 0.72 nM. Notably, the achieved results point out the great potential of the developed sensor based on MnCo₂O₄ nanorods for heavy metal ion detection.

The rapidly expanding industrial sector frequently generates hazardous waste for the environment. Semiconductor materials can be employed to remove contaminants in the photocatalyst process. In this paper, sulfur-doped ZnO (at 1%–5% S) has been prepared using matoa leaf extract as a biostabilizer. The synthesized sample was characterized using XRD, FESEM, EDX, UV–vis, and spectroscopy to study its crystallinity, morphology, elemental composition, absorption, and functional group. XRD analysis confirmed a wurtzite hexagonal-shaped crystal with a high purity of ZnO without other phases. Dopant S does not significantly affect the size of the crystal. Nanoflakes of ZnO have changed to nanospheres as dopant S increases. The S dopants reveal broadening absorption peaks with narrow bandgap energy from 2.82–3.08 eV. Sulfur-doped ZnO successfully degrades 4-nitrophenol by 98.79% after illumination under UV light for 120 min. Therefore, S-doped ZnO green synthesis has a great opportunity to be applied to degrade pollutants found in the aquatic environment.

Luminescent bacteria, having reductase enzymes, can reduce metal ions as nanoparticles. In this study, the synergic effect of biosynthesized selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), using Pseudomonas putida KT2440, carrying lux AB gene with biogenic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is assessed. The SeNPs were first purified and then characterized using different techniques, including UV-visible and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analyses. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of SeNPs were also evaluated with and without AuNPs, at 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg l⁻¹ concentrations. The SEM images showed that biogenic SeNPs were spherical attached to the surface of the producing bacteria. The FTIR spectroscopic results revealed the presence of protein molecules on the surface of the synthesized SeNPs. It is found that purified SeNPs have proper antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against several potential human pathogenic bacteria, depending on the NPs concentrations. It was also found that the presence of AuNPs enhances the antibacterial activity of SeNPs. Our results showed that adding SeNPs improved the antibacterial activity of AuNPs against Bacillus subtilis (71%), Staphylococcus aureus (55%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (52%), Escherichia coli (47%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (26%). Also, the antibiofilm activity of SeNPs improved by about 26% and 37% against E. faecalis and S. aureus, respectively. In conclusion, the mixture of biosynthesized SeNPs and AuNPs, using luminescent bacteria as Se-Au nanoparticles is more effective and can be applied as an antimicrobial agent against multi-antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria.

In this research, we describe the technology of fabrication of double-sided nanoporous alumina membranes with an ordered pore arrangement, adjustable pore size and smoothed surface relief, which allows maintaining the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of [Co/Pd] multilayers deposited over them. Their fabrication includes several important technological processes, namely two-step anodization of aluminum foil and subsequent ion-beam etching, which together allow for effective control of the morphology of the formed membranes. It is demonstrated that the adjustability of the anodization process allows for the control of the basic characteristics of the porous structure of the membrane, including cell and pore size, as well as its properties, including its flexibility and transparency, through alteration of the voltage and selection of an appropriate electrolyte. Simultaneously, ion-beam treatment is able to modify significantly the surface relief of membranes that facilitates their adaptation to the requirements of potential applications. The implemented transfer of the uniform porous morphology from the membrane to the deposited film accompanied by the conservation of PMA of the latter opens up opportunities of creating nanostructured magnetic media on porous alumina membranes which can be applicable in flexible spintronic devices.

In the current investigation, the green synthesis of TiO₂, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and TiO₂-ZnO nanocomposite (NC) from the aqueous extract of Terminalia catappa (T.C) leaves and the assessment of their photocatalytic, cytotoxicity, antibacterial, and wound healing properties. The synthesized NPs and NC was characterized in order to know the optical, structural, morphological and composition etc. According to the XRD analysis, crystallites size 24 nm was measured for TiO₂-ZnO NC. The optical properties of composite revealed that the band energy (Eg) was found to be 2.9 eV. FT-IR and XPS were used to confirm the functional groups of T.C extract, metal oxide stretches, surface interfaces and chemical state. HR-TEM micrographs confirmed the particle size (21–27 nm) and spherical morphology. SEM for NC revealed small particles with high tendencies to form larger spherical agglomerations. EDX spectra for the composites revealed the elemental composition of metal oxides with plant extract. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of NC in aqueous solution of Methylene Blue (MB) dye was investigated under visible light irradiation. The high photodegradation efficiency value of NC observed at 45 min was 98%. In the MTT assay, TiO₂-ZnO NC exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity effects on fibroblast cells (L929 cell line). In addition, diameter inhibition zones demonstrated that NC showed dose-dependent bacterial activities against various disease-causing strains of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The results of wound scratch assay showed that NC enhanced the cell migration and proliferation with noticeable cell shrinkage observed in the wound model. The present study indicates that the green synthesis of TiO₂-ZnO NC from T.C aqueous leaf extract has the potential to be used as a photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants and as an antibacterial agent against various disease-causing pathogens and hence could be useful for developing wound healing drugs.

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern science, semiconducting oxides have emerged as indispensable materials, driving innovation across a myriad of fields. Among these, zinc oxide (ZnO) stands out for its versatility in various applications. This study delves into the realm of enhancing ZnO's thin films through strontium (Sr) doping, employing the SILAR method to achieve this modification while meticulously examining its effects on structural, morphological, and optical properties. Through meticulous analysis, Sr doping has been found to induce significant changes in ZnO's crystalline structure, retaining the wurtzite phase while reducing crystallite size. Morphological assessments via SEM reveal pronounced alterations, notably mitigating agglomeration and modifying surface characteristics. Optical studies demonstrate a gradual increase in the optical band-gap values of ZnO:Sr thin films with escalating Sr concentrations, implying heightened light absorption capacities. Crucially, practical assessments of photocatalytic performance against organic dyes (methylene blue and rose bangale), conducted under sunlight irradiation across varied pH conditions, unveil substantial enhancements. Particularly noteworthy is the exceptional efficiency of Sr-coupled ZnO thin films in basic pH environments, achieving up to 97.60% degradation of target pollutants. These findings underscore the transformative potential of Sr doping in bolstering the photocatalytic activity of ZnO thin films.

This paper reports the improvement in photocatalytic performance of ZnO by substitution of Cu with variable Cu concentration. ZnO and Cu 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% doped ZnO nanoparticles have been synthesized by sol gel combustion method. Before measuring photocatalytic property, we have confirmed the HCP structure, granular nanoparticles morphology of all samples with XRD and SEM analysis. Functional group have been ascertain by FTIR peak assignment. Small variation in structural parameter and ZnO stretching mode indicate substitution of Cu at ZnO site of ZnO nanostructure. The band gap engineering with variable Cu concentration successfully reduces the apparent band gap, which help to improve the photocatalytic performance of ZnO. The Rhodamine B dye degradation efficiency depend on Cu doping concertation and shows best result for Cu 2% doped ZnO nanoparticles.

A Schiff-base material was synthesized and characterized by the 1H- and 13C-NMR, FTIR, Mass, and UV-visible spectroscopy. A thin layer of pure P3HT:PCBM and P3HT:PCBM:Schiffbase with two concentrations 2 mM and 4 mM are prepared using spin coating method. At room temperature, doping of P3HT:PCBM active-layer by Schiff-base material at concentration of 4 mM led to enhance the electrical current and conductivity by a factor of 24x under dark conditions and by a factor of 27x under white-light illumination (I_o = 50 mW cm⁻²). The electrical current, conductivity, and resistivity are measured as a function of time under illumination for three different wavelengths, white, green, and red, proving that the photo-sensors based on P3HT:PCBM:schiffbase thin films exhibit a good reproducibility, fast-response time, and high optical-sensitivity. It was also found that the photo-electrical characterization of the photo-sensors are wavelength dependent, where, under red-light, the samples exhibit the lowest optical-response while the highest value was obtained under white-light. The study revealed that the photo-responsivity and quantum efficiency of the P3HT:PCBM:Schiffbase(4 mM) based photo-sensors exposed by white light are higher than those the corresponding values of the photo-sensors based on P3HT:PCBM by a factor of ∼31x. Moreover, the performance of the photo-sensors were improved due to depositing an ultra-thin film of carbon on top of the active-layer, exhibiting a significant enhancement in the electrical and photo-electrical properties. The photo-sensors based on P3HT:PCBM:Schiffbase/carbon-nano-sheet show a superior quantum efficiency (∼6%) with photo-responsivity of ∼24 mA W⁻¹, confirming that the doped P3HT:PCBM active-layer are very interesting for organic optical sensors and photovoltaic devices.

Ag@AgCl nanocomposites were synthesized via green and facile method using silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and Ixora Coccinea leaf extract as precursors without using any other agent or chemical. The phytochemicals present in the Ixora Coccinea leaf extract were used as a reducing agent and the Cl⁻ ion source. The effect of the AgNO₃ concentration on nanocomposites' crystallinity, average grain size, and the ratio between Ag and AgCl in nanocomposites was evaluated through UV–Vis spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The results imply that with an AgNO₃ concentration of 0.04 M, Ag@AgCl nanocomposite shows the highest crystallinity and most balance ratio between Ag and AgCl. The photocatalytic activity of Ag@AgCl nanocomposite prepared with 0.04-M AgNO₃ solution was investigated against organic dyes (Rhodamine B, Methylene Blue, Congo Red) and textile dyeing wastewater. The photocatalytic results show that, with 20 mg of Ag@AgCl nanocomposite, the Rhodamine B degradation efficiency reaches the highest value of 99.62% after about one hour under visible light irradiation. The Rhodamine B photo-degradation kinetic of Ag@AgCl nanocomposite is well described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Ag@AgCl nanocomposite also shows high photodegradation efficiency with Methylene Blue, Congo Red dyes, and textile dyeing wastewater. These results imply that green-synthesized Ag@AgCl using Ixora Coccinea leaf extract is a promising candidate for photocatalytic applications.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common pathogenic, multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria that triggers postoperative infections, leading to septic shock and fatality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to generate rapid and sensitive diagnosis techniques for timely and effective intervention. The present work described the fabrication of lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) based on antibody-gold nanoparticle covalent conjugation combined with an RGB system to detect Klebsiella pneumoniae quantitatively. The LFIAs showed the lines after 15 min with good sensitivity and a low limit of detection of 2.40 CFUs ml⁻¹ in the linear detection range of this immunosensor from 10¹ to 10⁸ CFUs ml⁻¹ when combined with the color saturation system. No false positives and cross-reactions were observed on the test strips in this study, indicating that the system was optimized with high specificity. This finding might provide a well-suited solution for a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-use detection method for potential commercial manufacture.

We report the synthesis and crystallization of a newly synthesized triphenylmethyl derivative (4-(tritylthio)butylthio)triphenylmethane and its nano-level assembly, forming a rare organic nano-flower. We implemented a combination of S-XRD, Electron Microscopy, NMR and Raman spectroscopy to characterize the self-assembled structures. Fewer studies have been reported on the design and synthesis of triphenyl methyl (trityl) based nanostructures despite their wide range of possible applications in different fields. Its acid-labile nature is desirable for synthesizing and fabricating nano-level assemblies based on trityl systems. The present work demonstrates the formation of nanocrystalline materials formed using small organic molecules through aromatic π-π interactions, that can act as the principal directive governing molecular recognition and assembly. Also, it provides potential insights that can direct future design of new trityl-based materials.

A bionanocomposite containing Ag/AgCl nanoparticles and plant biomass was prepared via solvent-free biomechanochemical synthesis utilizing planetary ball milling of lavender plant and silver nitrate powders in this work. The impact of four input parameters, namely milling speed, milling time sample mass and plant-to-AgNO₃ mass ratio was assessed via a 'Design of Experiments methodology', namely Taguchi orthogonal array. In this way, optimum conditions were identified and analysis of variance and regression analysis was performed. The obtained Ag and AgCl were nanocrystalline, their content varying depending on the milling conditions. Agar well diffusion assay has shown the antibacterial action in all the analyzed samples, being slightly higher for Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli. The regression analysis has shown that the crystallite size of Ag nanoparticles is the most important parameter influencing the antibacterial action. In the end, the sample under optimum conditions was prepared and the values predicted with Taguchi methodology were compared with those obtained experimentally, showing a decent match in parameters calculated from XD-ray diffraction and antibacterial action.