This study explores the synthesis, properties, and applications of chitosan-encapsulated silver sulphide (Ag2S) quantum dots (QDs) for biological applications. The investigation focuses on the fluctuations in the physico-chemical characteristics of chitosan Ag2S QDs, which can be carefully studied due to their environmental activity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements reveal that chitosan-coated Ag2S QDs exhibit higher-intensity peaks. The XRD analysis reports a range of crystallite sizes, with a minimum size of 8 nm and a maximum size of 12 nm. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the presence of chitosan through the detection of functional group peaks. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies indicate that the size of the artificial quantum dots is 6 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) verifies the composition of chitosan-encapsulated Ag2S QDs. Moreover, the chitosan Ag2S quantum dots demonstrate exceptional photocatalytic activity, as evidenced by the degradation of 92% of methylene blue dye within one hour. This research provides valuable insights into the synthesis, properties, and potential applications of chitosan-encapsulated Ag2S quantum dots in diverse fields.

In this study, biocompatible, antibacterial and high mechanical strength polyurethane-based wound dressing materials were prepared by using the electrospinning technique. In addition, allantoin and gentamicin which will contribute to wound healing, were incorporated into these fiber materials. Polyurethane structures containing trimethylolpropane ethoxylate (TMPE) with 2 different molecular weights were synthesized. TMPE-based polyurethanes/polycaprolactone (1:3) blends were also prepared by adding 1% gentamicin and 10% allantoin and they were knitted by the electrospinning method and turned into a wound dressing material. After this stage, chemical structure, morphological, thermal and mechanical properties, flexibility, antibacterial effect, in vitro biocompatibility, cell adhesion tests, allantoin release level, and biodegradability of the prepared wound dressing materials were performed. The prepared fiber materials exhibited antibacterial properties and 80% cell viability, approximately. In addition, the obtained wound dressing materials showed high mechanical strength and ideal gas permeability. For this reason, it offers an ideal alternative for closing wounds.

Magnetic composite structures were fabricated by embedding iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) into polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers through an electrospinning process. The PCL nanofibers incorporating 0.5 and 1 wt. % Fe₃O₄ were electrospun with various yarn and membrane architectures. SEM images of the fabricated fibers revealed diameter increment by raising the Fe₃O₄ proportion. Additionally, elongation at break, in tandem with the ultimate strength of the electrospun PCL yarn was improved by 63 and 67% through embedding 0.5 and 1 wt. % Fe₃O₄, respectively. The saturation magnetization results depended on the number of magnetic nanoparticles loaded in the electrospun fibers, as well as the architectural design of the electrospun fibers. The magnetic response of the fibrous yarns was enhanced by increasing the Fe₃O₄ mass fraction from 0.5 to 1 wt. %. The highest saturation magnetization of 5.38 emu/g was obtained for the electrospun yarn containing 1 wt. % Fe₃O_4, corroborating 13.6 times greater features than that of the fibrous membrane with a similar chemical composition. The obtained results implied that the as-spun fibrous yarn could be a great candidate as a surgical suture with the release capability of bioactive agents under a magnetic field.

The incorporation of S-g-C₃N₄ into CuNPs resulted in enhanced electrochemical performance. The introduction of sulfur facilitated the formation of a highly conductive network within the composite material, enabling effective charge transfer and improved specific capacitance. The g-C₃N₄ matrix served as a support network, controlling the accumulation of CuNPs and delivering stability during electrochemical cycling. The optimized S-g-C₃N₄/CuNPs composite showed superior electrochemical performance, high specific capacitance, and enhanced cycling stability. In this study, a facile and scalable synthesis method was employed to fabricate S-g-C₃N₄/CuNPs composite materials on GCE. The resulting composites were characterized using different optical and microscopic techniques. The electrochemical performance of the nanocomposites was assessed via using different techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) techniques. The S-g-C₃N₄/CuNPs nanocomposite exhibited excellent electrochemical properties with a specific capacitance of 1944.18 F/g at a current density of 0.5 A/g and excellent cycling stability. The resultant composite material exhibits excellent electrochemical performance, making it an advantageous nominee for energy storage applications needing high power density, extended cycling life, and steadfast performance.

In the present research, a chemical co-precipitation approach has been used to approach the synthesis, characterization, and photocatalytic applicability of Ni-doped α-Fe₂O₃ (hematite) nanoparticles. Biosynthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were successfully synthesized using a non-toxic leaf extract of the Azadirachta indica (AI) plant (neem) as a reducing and stabilizing agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) have all been used to examine the synthesized materials. All of the produced NPs contain only the nanocrystalline hematite phase, according to XRD measurements. The morphology studies of the Ni-doping hematite nanoparticles, as demonstrated by TEM and SEM. The phase purity and phonon modes of the prepared nanoparticles are confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The UV-Vis absorption tests show also that value of the band gap increases together with the reduction in particle size, going from 2.26 eV for chemical α-Fe₂O₃ to 2.5 eV for green Ni-doped α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. Additionally, it was clear from the magnetic characteristics that all of the samples behaved ferromagnetically at ambient temperatures. On the other side, malachite green (MG) dye was used as a surrogate industrial wastewater dye in order to study the photocatalytic efficiency of Ni-doped α-Fe₂O₃ particles. The pure/green Ni-doped α-Fe₂O₃ NPs showed that after 70 minutes of exposure, 92% of the MG had become discolored.

This study aimed to create and describe mucoadhesive nimodipine solid lipid nanoparticles as buccal tablets by altering the amounts of three polymers: Carbopol 934, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and Hydroxyethyl cellulose. The Nimodipine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were formulated by high shear homogenization and ultrasonication process using palmitic and stearic acid as the lipid matrix and Tween-80 as the surfactant. The swelling properties of all formulations were investigated, and it was discovered that all formulations have a good swelling index at 6 hours. The surface pH of each batch varied between 5.6 and 6.1. The mucoadhesive strengths (15.3-29.5 g) varied with polymer concentrations, particularly Carbopol 934. All batches had considerably different dissolution profiles, ranging from a maximum release of 89.08% (at 8h in batch NT3) to a minimum release of 80.32% (at 8h in batch NT2). SLN formulations had the best results in both Entrapment efficiency and In-vitro drug release, showing that SLN may be a promising delivery strategy for improving Nimodipine release.

Optical coherence tomography is a well-known technique for the optical imaging biological tissues. However, the depth scanning range of high-resolution optical coherence tomography is restricted by its depth of focus. In this study, a Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) Microlens Array (MLA) is employed to overcome the depth-of-focus limitation of optical coherence tomography. The ZnSe material with a low Abbe number and high chromatic dispersion extends the depth of focus with transverse resolution. The ZnSe MLA focused the incident light (from visible to near-infrared (NIR) region) on multiple focal planes with the uniform distribution of light over a biological tissue. The MLA is designed using Zemax OpticStudio software and fabricated via a single-point diamond-turning based on Slow Tool Servo (STS) configuration. STS machining has the unique advantage of offering larger degrees of freedom with no additional baggage, thereby reducing the setup time. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the STS machining process in fabricating ZnSe MLA with desired accuracies. The characterization of fabricated MLA using Coherence Correlation Interferometry (CCI) depicts uniform lenslets with no structural and positional distortion, with a total error of 32 nm within the tolerance limit.

Background: The utilization of photocatalytic materials has garnered significant consideration due to their distinctive properties and diverse applications in environmental remediation and energy conversion. In photocatalysis, several wide and narrow band gap photocatalysts have been discovered. Amongst several photocatalysts, g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst is becoming the interest of the research community due to its unique properties. But as a single photocatalyst, it is inherited with certain confines for instance higher photocarrier recombination rate, lower quantum yield, low specific surface area, etc. However, the heterojunction formation of g-C₃N₄ with other wide band gap photocatalysts (ZnO) has improved its photocatalytic properties by overcoming its limitations.

Methods: The synergistic interaction amid g-C₃N₄ and ZnO photocatalysts enhanced optoelectrical properties superior mechanical strength and improved photocatalytic activity. The nanocomposite exhibits excellent stability, high surface area, efficient separation, and migration of photocarriers, which are advantageous for applications in photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation. The g-C₃N₄-ZnO nanocomposite represents a material comprising g-C₃N₄ and ZnO photocatalysts which exhibit a broad absorption range, efficient electron-hole separation, and strong redox potential. The combination of these two distinct materials imparts enhanced properties to the resulting nanocomposite, making it suitable for various applications. Henceforth, current review, we have discussed the photocatalytic properties of g-C₃N₄ and ZnO photocatalysts and modification strategies to improve their photocatalytic properties.

Significant Findings: This article offers an inclusive overview of the g-C₃N₄-ZnO-based nanocomposite, highlighting its photocatalytic properties and potential applications in several pollutant degradation and energy conversion including hydrogen production and CO₂ reduction.

Nanotechnology has gained widespread attention in various scientific fields due to the special properties of nanomaterials. Sustainable nanotechnology prioritizes minimizing the environmental impact of nanomaterials and manufacturing processes while ensuring biocompatibility and safety. By utilizing eco-friendly materials, renewable energy sources, and greener production techniques, sustainable nanotechnology addresses the pressing need for eco-conscious advancements in cancer treatment. The integration of sustainable nanotechnology with advanced imaging techniques enables precise tumor detection, characterization, and monitoring. To improve cancer treatment, sustainable nanotechnology-based novel carriers have attracted significant attention, which includes proteins, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, and antibody-drug conjugates that are employed for the co-delivery of phytochemicals and anticancer agents at the targeted sites. Green synthesis approaches to nanomaterials have gained attention due to their sustainability and environmental friendliness. Nevertheless, there are issues with this synthesis process, like bulk manufacturing, cytotoxicity of nanomaterials, and safe solvent selection. Furthermore, several of the anticipated sustainable nanotechnologies, such as gene- and immunotherapy-based nanoformulations and therapeutics, have redefined existing nanotechnologies. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of eco-friendly and sustainable nanotechnology for cancer diagnostics and treatment, emphasizing the efficacy, safety, and environmental sustainability of current nanotechnology in cancer treatments.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are receiving increasing attention from individual scientists and research companies as promising materials for biomedical applications. MNPs can be synthesized by many different methods. Before proceeding to the synthesis process, the cost of using it and the practicality of the synthesis conditions are well investigated. Especially in their use in the biomedical field, features such as not containing toxic substances, high biocompatibility, and low particle size are desired. However, the use of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications is limited due to various difficulties such as particle agglomeration and oxidation of magnetic cores of MNPs. To overcome these challenges, MNPs can be coated with various natural and synthetic polymers to alter their morphological structure, magnetic character, biocompatibility, and especially surface functional groups. Therefore, this review focuses on the synthesis of MNPs by different methods and the effects of these synthesis methods on magnetic properties and size, their modifications with natural and synthetic polymers, and the use of these polymer-coated MNPs in biomedical fields such as targeted drug release, enzyme immobilization, biosensors, tissue engineering, magnetic imaging, and hyperthermia. The review article also provides examples of advanced biomedical applications of polymer-coated MNPs and perspectives for future research to promote polymer-coated MNPs. To this end, we aim to highlight knowledge gaps that can guide future research to improve the performance of MNPs for different applications.

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The research of energy-storage systems has been encouraged in the last ten years by the rapid development of portable electronic gadgets. Hybrid-ion capacitors are a novel kind of capacitor-battery hybrid energy storage device that has earned a lot of interest because of their high power density while maintaining energy density and a long lifecycle. Mostly, lithium-based energy storage technology is now being studied for use in electric grid storage. But the price increment and intermittent availability of lithium reserves make lithium-based commercialization unstable. Therefore, sodium-based technologies have been proposed as potential substitutes for lithium-based technologies. Sodium-ion capacitors (SICs) are acknowledged as potential innovative energy storage technologies which have lower standard electrode potentials and lower costs than lithium-ion capacitors. However, the large radius of the sodium ion also contributes to unfavorable reaction kinetics, low energy density, and brief lifespan of SICs. Recently, transition metal oxide (TMO)-based candidates have been considered potential due to the large theoretical capacity, environmental friendliness, and low cost for SICs. This brief study summarizes current advancements in research of TMOs and sodium-based TMOs as electrode candidates for SIC applications. Also, we have covered in detail the state of the exploration and upcoming prospects of TMOs for SICs.

The contemporary era's top environmental problems include the lack of energy, recycling of waste resources, and water pollution. Due to the speedy growth of modern industrialization, the utilization of non-renewable sources has increased rapidly, which has caused many serious environmental and energy issues. In photocatalysis, as a proficient candidate, g-C₃N₄ (metal-free polymeric photocatalyst) has gained much attention due to its auspicious properties and excellent photocatalytic performance. But, regrettably, the quick recombination of photoinduced charge carriers, feeble redox ability, and inadequate visible light absorption are some major drawbacks of g-C₃N₄ that hamper its photocatalytic ability. Henceforth, these significant limitations can be solved by incorporating modification strategies. Among all modification techniques, the amalgamation of g-C₃N₄ with two or more photocatalytic semiconducting materials via heterojunction formation is more advantageous. In this review, we have discussed various modification strategies, including conventional, Z-scheme and S-scheme heterojunctions. S-scheme heterojunction is consideredan efficient and profitable charge transferal pathway due to the excellent departure and transferal of photoexcited charge carriers with outstanding redox ability. Consequently, the current review is focused on various photocatalytic applications of S-scheme-based g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts in pollutant degradation, H₂ production, and CO₂ reduction.

Functional coatings provide durability to the bulk material and add other value-added properties which enhance the surface's mechanical, electrical, optical, and many other properties. The functional response of these coatings stems from the ambiance, which can be made to sense in response to a sharp change in the temperature, pH, moisture, active ions, or mechanical stresses. Recently, many efforts have been made to impart multi-functionality within a single coating, i.e., to achieve hydrophobicity and antifouling characteristics, which can be achieved by combining an appropriate coating material with a geometric nanopattern. Such coatings are poised to shape the future of the transport, healthcare, and energy sectors, including marine, aeronautics, automobile, petrochemical, biomedical, electrical and electronic industries. This perspective sheds light on the design specifications and requirements to fabricate functional coatings and critically discusses the fabrication methods, working principles, and case studies to survey various applications with a particular focus on anti-corrosion and self-cleaning applications.