Abstract Nanomaterials stand as transformative elements across diverse domains, ranging from biotechnology, aircraft, aviation, and space exploration to medicine, health, environmental preservation, resources, energy, and aerospace. This issue, comprising nine original research articles and two insightful reviews, we embark on a journey to unravel the multifaceted uses of nanomaterials, with a special emphasis on their contributions to environmental protection and medicine. Delving into the unique traits of various nanomaterials, our aim is to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding that transcends conventional boundaries, fostering a deeper appreciation for the impact of nanomaterials.

Abstract

A theory of many-body wave scattering is developed under the assumption a << d << λ, where a is the characteristic size of the small body, d is the distance between neighboring bodies and λ is the wave-length in the medium in which the bodies are embedded. The multiple scattering is essential under these assumptions. The author’s theory is used for creating materials with a desired refraction coefficient. This theory can be used in practice. A recipe for creating materials with a desired refraction coefficient is formulated. Materials with a desired radiation pattern, for example, wave-focusing materials, can be created.

Abstract

In this paper, we deal with one of the most urgent and relevant topics nowadays, i.e., water pollution. The problem is finding a valid candidate for the absorption and removal of different kinds of pollutants commonly found in water. There are already some indications about graphene oxide as a potential candidate. In the present work, we take a step forward to show how graphene nanoplatelets (rather than the oxide form of this material) are capable of decontaminating water. In this starting step, we use a specific substance as a model pollutant, i.e., acetonitrile, leaving for the future steps, to extend the analysis to additional types of pollutants. In addition to laboratory-produced graphene nanoplatelets, we already examined in the past; now we wish to consider also commercially available ones, so that the new results will not be bound to a laboratory (low technology readiness level) material, but will become interesting also from the industrial point of view, thanks to the scalability of the nanoplatelets production. For this aim, we compare the performance of two types of filters based on two classes of nanomaterials, i.e., those produced by microwave and ultrasound assisted exfoliation, already analyzed in our earlier works, with those commercially distributed by an Italian company, i.e., NANESA, http://www.nanesa.com/. The latter is an innovative SME involved in the production of graphene-based nanomaterials. We focus here in the graphene nanoplatelets, commercially available in industrial batches (GXNan grades). The present study leads to determine which filtering membrane, among the various types of commercial graphene considered, shows the greatest stability, and the lack of breakage of the membrane, concentrating on such accessory features, given that all types of graphene showed excellent adsorption properties.

Abstract

The semiclassical boron–boron interatomic pair potential is constructed in an integral form allowing its converting into the analytical one. It is an ab initio B–B potential free of any semiempirical adjusting parameters, which would serve as an effective tool for the theoretical characterization of all-boron and boron-rich nanomaterials.

Abstract

Eco-friendly and greener barrier materials are required to replace the synthetic packaging materials as they produce a threat to environment. These can be fabricated by natural polymers such as cellulose nanofiber (CNF). The sustainability of CNF was so amazing due to its potential for circular economy and provides alternative platform for synthetic plastics. The challenging task to fabricate CNF films still existed and also current methods have various limitations. CNF films have good oxygen permeability and the value was lower than synthetic plastics. However, CNF films have poor water vapour permeability and higher than that of synthetic plastics. The fabrication method is one of strong parameters to impact on the water permeability of CNF films. The deposition of CNF suspension on the stainless-steel plate via spraying, is a potential process for fabrication for CNF films acting as barrier material against water vapour. In spraying process, the time required to form CNF films in diameter of 15.9 cm was less than 1 min and it is independent of CNF content in the suspension. The uniqueness of CNF films via the spraying process was their surfaces, such as rough surface exposed to air and smooth surface exposed to stainless steel. Their surfaces were investigated by SEM, AFM and optical profilometry micrographs, confirming that the smooth surface was evaluated notable lower surface roughness. The spray coated surface was smooth and glossy and its impact on the water vapor permeability remains obscure. The spraying process is a flexible process to tailor the basis weight and thickness of CNF films can be adjusted by the spraying of CNF suspension with varying fibre content. The water vapour permeability of CNF films can be tailored via varying density of CNF films. The plot between water vapour transfer rate (WVTR)/water vapour and density of CNF films has been investigated. The WVP of spray coated CNF films varied from 6.99 ± 1.17 × 10⁻¹¹ to 4.19 ± 1.45 × 10⁻¹¹ g/m.s.Pa. with the density from 664 Kg/m³ to 1,412.08 Kg/m³. The WVP of CNF films achieved with 2 wt% CNF films (1,120 Kg/m³) was 3.91 × 10⁻¹¹ g/m.s.Pa. These values were comparable with the WVP of synthetic plastics. Given this correspondence, CNF films via spraying have a good barrier against water vapour. This process is a potential for scale up and commercialization of CNF films as barrier materials.

Abstract

In recent years, using novel nanomaterials to improve the antifouling and antibacterial performance of reverse osmosis membranes has received much attention. In this study, hydrophilic Ag@ZnO-hyperbranched polyglycerols nanoparticles were fabricated by ring-opening multibranched polymerization of glycidyl acid with the core-shell Ag@ZnO nanoparticles. The cellulose triacetate composite membranes were prepared by grafting Ag@ZnO-HPGs nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose triacetate membranes. The surface of the nanoparticles with active functional group –OH was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Surface morphology, charge, and hydrophilicity of the composite membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope, zeta potential, and contact angle analysis. The results showed that grafting the Ag@ZnO-HPGs nanoparticles onto the cellulose triacetate membrane surface improved the physical and chemical properties of the cellulose triacetate composite membranes. The water flux of cellulose triacetate composite membranes increased while the salt rejection rate to NaCl slightly decreased. Meanwhile, the cellulose triacetate composite membranes showed excellent antifouling properties of having a high flux recovery. The antibacterial performance of the cellulose triacetate composite membrane against E. coli and S. aureus was prominent that the antibacterial rates were 99.50% and 92.38%, and bacterial adhesion rates were as low as 19.12% and 21.35%, respectively.

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide. Most of the anticancer agents have been showing a variety of side effects. Recently, bacterial proteins have been investigated as promising anticancer agents. Azurin is a bacterial cupredoxin protein secreted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and has been reported as a potent multi-targeting anticancer agent, which makes it an appropriate candidate for drug delivery. Azurin may be delivered to cancer cells using different carriers like polymeric micro and nanoparticles. In the present study, azurin was extracted from the bacterial host and loaded into chitosan particles. Then its effect on MCF-7 cell line was investigated. Chitosan-azurin particles were made using the ion gelation method. Results showed that chitosan-azurin particles are about 200 nm, and the loading of the protein in particles did not affect its integrity. The MTT assay showed a significant reduction in cell viability in azurin and chitosan-azurin-treated cells. The toxicity level after 5 days was 63.78% and 82.53% for free azurin and chitosan-azurin-treated cells, respectively. It seems using an appropriate carrier system for anticancer proteins like azurin is a promising tool for developing low side effect anticancer agents.

Abstract

Zero-valent iron is a moderately reducing reagent that is both non-toxic and affordable. In the present work, iron nanoparticles were synthesized using bitter guard leaf extract (Momordica charantia L.) (BGL-Fe NP). Using leaf samples from bitter protectant extract, iron nanoparticles were synthesized with secondary metabolites such as flavonoids and polyphenols acting as capping and reducing agents. Polyphenols reduce Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ to nanovalent iron or iron nanoparticles. Iron nanoparticles were synthesized by reducing iron chloride as a precursor with bitter protective leaf extract in an alkaline environment. The obtained BGL-Fe NPs were calcined for 4 h at various temperatures of 400 °C, 500 °C, and 600 °C. The obtained samples were coded as BGL-Fe NPs-4, BGL-Fe NPs-5, and BGL-Fe NPs-6, respectively. The synthesized BGL-Fe NPs were systematically characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, UV-Vis and TG-DTA analysis. The obtained BGL-Fe NPs were then used as an adsorbent to remove the aqueous solution of basic methylene blue (MB) dye. MB concentration was monitored using UV-Vis spectroscopy.

Abstract

Broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as tetracyclines, are used to treat and manage a range of infectious disorders. Since the kidneys are the primary organs responsible for excreting tetracyclines, clinicians should refrain from prescribing them to patients who have renal failure. Tetracyclines are one of the clinical waste products of today. One of the biggest problems in the field of pollution of the environment today is the persistence of different pharmaceutical residues, drug residues, pesticides, and metal ion species of the new-generation pollutants in surfaces and groundwater. In the present work, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-CuO nanoparticles (CMC-CuO NPs) were synthesized using CuO NPs within different amounts of CMC (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g) at 85 °C. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, FT IR, SEM, and TG-DTA analysis. According to XRD and SEM, the crystallize size and morphology influenced the dosage of CMC. FT-IR analysis confines the layer of CMC to the CuO nanoparticle surface. TG-DTA results indicated that the CMC content of CMC-CuO NPs was between the range of 69% and 75% by weight. The effects of some parameters such as initial concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time on the adsorption of tetracycline from aqueous model solutions on CMC-CuO NPs were investigated with batch studies. It was found that the removal of tetracycline was obtained about 80% with optimized parameters of 10 mg/L concentration, 180 min contact time, 5 pH, and 0.3 g/25 mL dose. The synthesized CMC-CuO NPs nanocomposite may be a promising material for the removal of tetracycline in environmental pollution and toxicology.

Abstract

A failsafe network design recovering from the stressed condition against a massive supply disruption is generally useful for various applications. Water flow in plants under a tension is inherently vulnerable to an embolism, a water supply cut off, causing a death. However, the function of the network structures of leaf veins and xylem stems effectively reduces the embolism-induced failure. In this study, water transport in plants under the pressurized conditions compared to the normal physiological conditions is observed by X-ray imaing. By examining embolism-induced water supply limits in the architecturally diverse leaf and stem networks, a progressive hydraulic rule has been found: the limited flows in the selected parts of the network structures against a total fail. For a scientific explanation on nanoscale water flow dynamics occurring in plants, temporal meniscus development in the nanomembrane model system is investigated. The pressure-driven hydrodynamic transport phenomena can be explained to follow network dynamics of the modified imbibition typically occuring in nanostrutcures. This study contributes to a variety of design technologies of networked materials against the spread of flow damages under the stressed conditions.

Abstract

Graphene oxide can be referred to as oxidized graphene. Similar to graphene, oxidized graphene possesses remarkable structural features, advantageous properties, and technical applications. Among polymeric matrices, conducting polymers have been categorized for p conjugated backbone and semiconducting features. In this context, doping, or nano-additive inclusion, has been found to enhance the electrical conduction features of conjugated polymers. Like other carbon nanostructures (fullerene, carbon nanotube, etc.), graphene has been used to reinforce the conjugated matrices. Graphene can be further modified into several derived forms, including graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, and functionalized graphene. Among these, graphene oxide has been identified as an important graphene derivative and nanofiller for conducting matrices. This overview covers essential aspects and progressions in the sector of conjugated polymers and graphene oxide derived nanomaterials. Since the importance of graphene oxide derived nanocomposites, this overview has been developed aiming at conductive polymer/graphene oxide nanocomposites. The novelty of this article relies on the originality and design of the outline, the review framework, and recent literature gathering compared with previous literature reviews. To the best of our knowledge, such an all-inclusive overview of conducting polymer/graphene oxide focusing on fundamentals and essential technical developments has not been seen in the literature before. Due to advantageous structural, morphological, conducting, and other specific properties, conductive polymer/graphene oxide nanomaterials have been applied for a range of technical applications such as supercapacitors, photovoltaics, corrosion resistance, etc. Future research on these high-performance nanocomposites may overcome the design and performance-related challenges facing industrial utilization.

Abstract

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is a versatile and widely used polymer that has gained significant attention in various industries due to its unique combination of properties and ease of processing. PMMA, also known as acrylic or plexiglass, is a transparent thermoplastic with exceptional optical clarity, high-impact resistance, and excellent weatherability. This scholarly article endeavors to offer an exhaustive examination of the composition, characteristics, and broad utilization of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the molecular composition and chemical attributes inherent to PMMA. Furthermore, it intends to examine the mechanical and physical attributes exhibited by PMMA meticulously. Additionally, an exploration of varied methodologies employed in the processing and fabrication of PMMA will be undertaken. The extensive array of applications of PMMA spanning multiple industries will be underscored, followed by a comprehensive discourse on its merits, constraints, contemporary advancements, and prospective avenues. Understanding the properties and applications of PMMA is crucial for engineers, scientists, and professionals working in fields such as automotive, aerospace, medical, and signage, where PMMA finds extensive use.