Vol 7, No 2 (2024)

Table of Contents

Open Access
Article
Article ID: 6240
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by Esa Ghanim Fadhallah, Vera Pertiwi, Duwinda Duwinda, Sugaluh Yulianti, Umi Adila Tsani, Yunita Rachmawati
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    254 Views
Abstract Fraudulence in cosmetic ingredients is becoming increasingly prevalent, alongside the rising demand and utilization of cosmetics within the populace. One of the whitening agents still utilized in cosmetics is mercury, present in forms such as mercury chloramide (HgNH 2 Cl 2 ) and mercury chloride (HgCl 2 ). Prolonged mercury exposure can have adverse health effects. To address this issue, alternative mercury analysis methods in samples have been developed, including the utilization of silver nanoparticles amalgamated with sweet potato starch as a stabilizing agent. This paper aims to delve into the roles of silver nanoparticle AgNO 3 and sweet potato starch (as a stabilizer) as a sensor for mercury detection, which can be applied in cosmetic products. Detection of mercury utilizing nanoparticles is based on the Surface Plasmon Resonance phenomenon, which endows a high level of selectivity and sensitivity toward the presence of mercury metal ions. When interaction occurs between mercury metal and silver nanoparticles, the liquid undergoes a color change from yellowish-brown to transparent. This phenomenon arises from the oxidation of AgO (yellow) to Ag + ions (transparent) by the mercury metal. Consequently, a silver nanoparticle sensor utilizing sweet potato starch as a stabilizing agent exhibits the potential to detect mercury metal within a substance with high efficacy.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 6031
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by Y. Ben-Aryeh
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    170 Views
Abstract The electro-magnetic (EM) waves transmitted through a thin object with fine structures are observed by a microsphere located above the thin object. The EM radiation transmitted through the object produces both evanescent waves, which include information on the fine structures of the object (smaller than a wavelength), and propagating waves, which include the large image of the object (with dimensions larger than a wavelength). The super-resolutions are calculated by using the Helmholtz equation. According to this equation, evanescent waves have an imaginary component of the wavevector in the z direction, leading the components of the wavevector in the transversal directions to become very large so that the fine structures of the object can be observed. Due to the decay of the evanescent waves, only a small region near the contact point between the thin object and the microsphere is effective for producing the super resolution effects. The image with super-resolution can be increased by a movement of the microsphere over the object or by using arrays of microspheres. Both propagating and evanescent waves arrive at the inner surface of the microsphere. A coupling between the transmitted EM waves and resonances produced in the dielectric sphere, possibly obtained by the Mie method, leads to a product of the EM distribution function with the transfer function. While this transfer function might be calculated by the Mie method, it is also possible to use it as an experimental function. By Fourier transform of the above product, we get convolution between the EM spatial modes and those of the transfer function arriving at the nano-jet, which leads the evanescent waves to become propagating waves with effective very small wavelengths and thus increase the resolution.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 6236
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by Sravan K. Vittapu, Ravichand Sankuru, Ravi Bolimera, Kuruva Madhu Ramudu, Mekala Rameshwar Reddy, Maddula Manasa Reddy
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    160 Views
Abstract An alternative to CMOS VLSI called Quantum Cellular Automata (QCA) is presently being researched. Although a few basic logical circuits and devices have been examined, very little, if any, research has been done on the architecture of QCA device systems. In the context of nano communication networks, data transmission that is both dependable and efficient is still critical. The technology known as Quantum Dot Cellular Automata (QCA) has shown great promise in the development of nano-scale circuits because of its extremely low power consumption and rapid functioning. This study introduces a unique nano-communication parity-based arithmetic circuit that is reversible, error-detecting, and error-correcting. The minimal outputs are needed for the proposed structure. Based on QCA technology, the proposed nano-communication network makes use of reversible logic gates. The performance increase of the suggested parity generator and checker circuit is significant in terms of clock delay, size, and number of cells.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 6046
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by Mrinmoy Garai, Arianit A. Reka, Shibayan Roy
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    616 Views
Abstract This research study explores the addition of chromium (Cr 6+ ) ions as a nucleating agent in the alumino-silicate-glass (ASG) system (i.e., Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 -MgO-B 2 O 3 -K 2 O-F). The important feature of this study is the induction of nucleation/crystallization in the base glass matrix on addition of Cr 6+ content under annealing heat treatment (600 ± 10 °C) only. The melt-quenched glass is found to be amorphous, which in the presence of Cr 6+ ions became crystalline with a predominant crystalline phase, Spinel (MgCr 2 O 4 ). Microstructural experiment revealed the development of 200–500 nm crystallite particles in Cr 6+ -doped glass-ceramic matrix, and such type microstructure governed the mechanical properties. The machinability of the Cr-doped glass-ceramic was thereby higher compared to base alumino-silicate glass (ASG). From the nano-indentation experiment, the Young’s modulus was estimated 25(±10) GPa for base glass and increased to 894(±21) GPa for Cr-doped glass ceramics. Similarly, the microhardness for the base glass was 0.6(±0.5) GPa (nano-indentation measurements) and 3.63(±0.18) GPa (micro-indentation measurements). And that found increased to 8.4(±2.3) (nano-indentation measurements) and 3.94(±0.20) GPa (micro-indentation measurements) for Cr-containing glass ceramic.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 6414
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by Daniele Lopez, Giovanna Panza, Pietro Gobbi, Michele Guescini, Laura Valentini, Stefano Papa, Vieri Fusi, Eleonora Macedi, Daniele Paderni, Mariele Montanari, Barbara Canonico
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    209 Views
Abstract The food industry progressively requires innovative and environmentally safe packaging materials with increased physical, mechanical, and barrier properties. Due to its unique properties, cellulose has several potential applications in the food industry as a packaging material, stabilizing agent, and functional food ingredient. A coffee pod is a filter of cellulosic, non-rigid, ready-made material containing ground portions and pressed coffee prepared in dedicated machines. In our study, we obtained, with homogenization and sonication, cellulose micro/nanoparticles from three different coffee pods. It is known that nanoparticulate systems can enter live cells and, if ingested, could exert alterations in gastrointestinal tract cells. Our work aims to investigate the response of HT-29 cells to cellulose nanoparticles from coffee pods. In particular, the subcellular effects between coffee-embedded nanocellulose (CENC) and cellulose nanoparticles (NC) were compared. Finally, we analysed the pathologic condition (Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT) from Campylobacter jejuni ) on the same cells conditioned by NC and CENC. We evidenced that, for the cellular functional features analysed, NC and CENC pre-treatments do not worsen cell response to the C. jejuni CDT, also pointing out an improvement of the autophagic flux, particularly for CENC preconditioning.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 7007
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by Naba Almukharraq, Marwa Almarzooqi, Hasan Ruyan, Fatima AlHannan, Praveen Kumar, Fryad Henari, G. Roshan Deen
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    118 Views
Abstract Alginate-silver nanocomposites in the form of spherical beads and films were prepared using a green approach by using the aqueous extract of Ajwa date seeds. The nanocomposites were fabricated by in situ reduction and gelation by ionotropic crosslinking using calcium ions in solution. The rich phytochemicals of the date seed extract played a dual role as a reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The formation of silver nanoparticles was studied using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at 421 nm characteristic of silver nanoparticles confirmed the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The morphology of the nanocomposite beads and film was compact, with an even distribution of silver nanoclusters. The catalytic property of the nanocomposite beads was evaluated for the degradation of 2-nitrophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.40 × 10 −3 s −1 at 23 ℃ and an activation energy of 18.45 kJ mol −1 . The thermodynamic parameters, such as changes in enthalpy and entropy, were evaluated to be 15.22 kJ mol −1 and −197.50 J mol −1 K −1 , respectively. The nanocomposite exhibited properties against three clinically important pathogens (gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria).
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 6401
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by Sravan Kumar Vittapu, Ravichand Sankuru, Chepuri Rakshana, Beeradhar Mahesh, Amudha Naga Teja
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    204 Views
Abstract In the last few decades, nano-electronic devices have been manufactured using VLSI technology. Over the past four decades, IC technology has been growing by using CMOS technology successfully, but this CMOS technology has a scaling limitation. To overcome this scaling limitation, QCA (quantum dot cellular automata) emerges as an alternative. This work is the implementation of the design of a polar encoder using QCA technology. This design is a single-layered and even bottom-up approach technique. The Polar code is more efficient and has less energy dissipation compared to the turbo code and conventional codes (CC). This design explores (8:4). A Polar encoder is designed to have fewer cells and area compared to the turbo encoder and conventional encoder. The proposed design is implemented using the QCA designer tool.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 4768
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by Aditya Dam, Tanu Rajput, Sakshi Verma, Devendra Kumar
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    222 Views
Abstract Herein, we developed a non-enzymatic biosensing platform using polyaniline (PANI) polymer matrix grafted with CeO 2 . The one-pot synthesized nanocomposite has been used for the detection of 17β-estradiol (E2). The homogeneous distribution of CeO 2 onto the PANI matrix leads to an increase in surface area, conductivity, and effectiveness of the synthesized nanocomposite PANI@CeO 2 . The PANI@CeO 2 nanocomposite was characterized using structural and morphological techniques. Further, the electrode fabrication was performed electrophoretically by depositing the PANI@CeO 2 nanocomposite onto the ITO electrode. The PANI@CeO 2 /ITO showed enhanced electrochemical behavior as compared to PANI/ITO. Detection of E2 was carried out using the differential pulse voltametric technique (DPV). Linearity has been observed through the detection range of 1 µM–100 µM with LOD = 2.15 µM. The developed biosensor has been found to be stable and selective towards E2. It has been successfully utilized for the detection of E2 in real samples like tap water and human urine samples. Thus, this research encourages its use for more applications in clinical diagnosis and biomedical sciences.
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Open Access
Article
Article ID: 4682
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by Elham Ghazizadeh, Sahar Aghayani
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    46 Views
Abstract Freeze-thawing plays a vital role in enhancing materials in medicines. Here, we describe the F-T process of synthesis of Poly (vinyl alcol)- Methylene blue single strand- Mxene (PVA–MB-ssDNA –Mxene), which may be effective for gen delivery applications. The PVA –MB-ssDNA –Mxene hydrogel was formed using 1,3,5 consecutive cycles. We also demonstrated that PVA –MB-ssDNA –Mxene hydrogel can be formed by the affection of DNA with PVA and the MXene network. The F-T process shows the new intra molecular bond of PVA-PVA, compared to the non F-T hydrogel which formed by a biologic crosslinking as MB-ssDNA. Scanning electron microscopy reported that the microstructure. The differential scan shows three endothermic peaks at 70, 180, and 300 ℃ for water loss and decomposition. The swelling behavior rapidly increased due to the PVA chains in the F-T methods and then became stable. With a high concentration of MB-DNA, the tensile strength was slightly high, and the swelling behavior was low. Our results indicated that the PVA –MB-ssDNA –Mxene hydrogel using F-T process would have more suitable structural features as gene hydrogel carrier which need greater mechanical strength and stability in body analyses.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 4946
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by Ayesha Kausar, Ishaq Ahmad
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    248 Views
Abstract Graphene has been ranked among one of the most remarkable nanostructures in the carbon world. Graphene modification and nanocomposite formation have been used to expand the practical potential of graphene nanostructure. The overview is an effort to highlight the indispensable synthesis strategies towards the formation of graphene nanocomposites. Consequently, graphene has been combined with useful matrices (thermoplastic, conducting, or others) to attain the desired end material. Common fabrication approaches like the in-situ method, solution processing, and melt extrusion have been widely involved to form the graphene nanocomposites. Moreover, advanced, sophisticated methods such as three- or four-dimensional printing, electrospinning, and others have been used to synthesize the graphene nanocomposites. The focus of all synthesis strategies has remained on the standardized graphene dispersion, physical properties, and applications. However, continuous future efforts are required to resolve the challenges in synthesis strategies and optimization of the parameters behind each technique. As the graphene nanocomposite design and properties directly depend upon the fabrication techniques used, there is an obvious need for the development of advanced methods having better control over process parameters. Here, the main challenging factors may involve the precise parameter control of the advanced techniques used for graphene nanocomposite manufacturing. Hence, there is not only a need for current and future research to resolve the field challenges related to material fabrication, but also reporting compiled review articles can be useful for interested field researchers towards challenge solving and future developments in graphene manufacturing.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 4945
PDF
by Ayesha Kausar
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    190 Views
Abstract Among carbon nanoparticles, fullerene has been observed as a unique zero-dimensional hollow molecule. Fullerene has a high surface area and exceptional structural and physical features (optical, electronic, heat, mechanical, and others). Advancements in fullerene have been observed in the form of nanocomposites. Application of fullerene nanocomposites has been found in the membrane sector. This cutting-edge review article basically describes the potential of fullerene nanocomposite membranes for water remediation. Adding fullerene nanoparticles has been found to amend the microstructure and physical features of the nanocomposite membranes in addition to membrane porosity, selectivity, permeation, water flux, desalination, and other significant properties for water remediation. Variations in the designs of fullerene nanocomposites have resulted in greater separations between salts, desired metals, toxic metal ions, microorganisms, etc. Future investigations on ground-breaking fullerene-based membrane materials may overcome several design and performance challenges for advanced applications.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 5454
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by Otar Tsagareishvili, Levan Chkhartishvili, Marina Matcharashvili, Shorena Dekanosidze
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    151 Views
Abstract Boron and tungsten carbides, B 4 C and WC, are hard materials widely used in modern technologies. Further improvement of their performance characteristics involves the development of new B 4 C and WC-based and/or related composites in a nanodispersed state. This article provides a review of available literature research on B-C-W systems, which would be useful in future studies in this direction.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 2539
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by Mudavath Hanuma Naik, Jala Satyanarayana, Raj Kumar Kudari
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    125 Views
Abstract Cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death globally, and the countries with low-to-middle income account for most cancer cases. The current diagnostic tools, including imaging, molecular detection, and immune histochemistry (IHC), have intrinsic limitations, such as poor accuracy. However, researchers have been working to improve anti-cancer treatment using different drug delivery systems (DDS) to target tumor cells more precisely. Current advances, however, are enough to meet the growing call for more efficient drug delivery systems, but the adverse effects of these systems are a major problem. Nanorobots are typically controlled devices made up of nanometric component assemblies that can interact with and even diffuse the cellular membrane due to their small size, offering a direct channel to the cellular level. The nanorobots improve treatment efficiency by performing advanced biomedical therapies using minimally invasive operations. Chemotherapy’s harsh side effects and untargeted drug distribution necessitate new cancer treatment trials. The nanorobots are currently designed to recognize 12 different types of cancer cells. Nanorobots are an emerging field of nanotechnology with nanoscale dimensions and are predictable to work at an atomic, molecular, and cellular level. Nanorobots to date are under the line of investigation, but some primary molecular models of these medically programmable machines have been tested. This review on nanorobots presents the various aspects allied, i.e., introduction, history, ideal characteristics, approaches in nanorobots, basis for the development, tool kit recognition and retrieval from the body, and application considering diagnosis and treatment.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 6348
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by Nujud Badawi M., M. Bhuyan, Namrata Agrawal, Yogesh Kumar
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    101 Views
Abstract MXenes are one of the most important classes of materials discussed worldwide by many researchers of diverse fields for diverse applications in recent years. It is a nanomaterial with a wide range of applications due to its multiple forms and structures with fascinating properties, for example, high surface area and porosity, biocompatibility, ease of fictionalizing with various active chemical moieties, benefit of high metallic conductivity, activated metallic hydroxide sites, and sensitivity to moisture. MXenes have great chances for potential applications in environmental issues, water purification, biological applications, and energy storage devices and sensors. MXenes show great selectivity towards the absorption of heavy metals and a good capability to reduce chemical and biological pollutants present in the water. The present review article critically analyzed advancements in water purification using the adsorption and reduction abilities of MXenes and their composites. The mechanism of various procedures, important challenges, and associated problems using MXene and their composites are discussed in detail. The future research directions can be extracted from this article efficiently and comprehensively. The energy storage issues of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, batteries other than lithium-ion batteries, and electrochemical capacitors are also discussed in detail.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 8543
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by Razu Shahazi, Amirul Islam Saddam, Md. Rakibul Islam, Md. Kawsar Mahamud, Mohammed Muzibur Rahman, Md. Mahmud Alam
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    33 Views
Abstract Water splitting has gained significant attention as a means to produce clean and sustainable hydrogen fuel through the electrochemical or photoelectrochemical decomposition of water. Efficient and cost-effective water splitting requires the development of highly active and stable catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Carbon nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon nanofibers, etc., have emerged as promising candidates for catalyzing these reactions due to their unique properties, such as high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and chemical stability. This review article provides an overview of recent advancements in the utilization of carbon nanomaterials as catalysts or catalyst supports for the OER and HER in water splitting. It discusses various strategies employed to enhance the catalytic activity and stability of carbon nanomaterials, such as surface functionalization, hybridization with other active materials, and optimization of nanostructure and morphology. The influence of carbon nanomaterial properties, such as defect density, doping, and surface chemistry, on electrochemical performance is also explored. Furthermore, the article highlights the challenges and opportunities in the field, including scalability, long-term stability, and integration of carbon nanomaterials into practical water splitting devices. Overall, carbon nanomaterials show great potential for advancing the field of water splitting and enabling the realization of efficient and sustainable hydrogen production.
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Open Access
Review
Article ID: 8205
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by Asma Shahzad
Charact. Appl. Nanomater. 2024 , 7(2);    17 Views
Abstract Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been known to possess exceptional electric, biochemical, and optical characteristics and are ‘the topic of discussion’ these days, especially relating to the field of biomedicine. Several plants, bacteria, and fungi have been utilized for the generation of AuNPs, besides other physical and chemical methods. While some studies have been reported with gold nanoparticles, less are aimed at fungi and its optimization factors. These parameters can allow us to design AuNPs of our choice depending on the use. The present review focuses on and inspects AuNPs with green synthesis through fungus optimization parameters followed by applications, aiming specifically at their antibacterial activity. Their antibacterial characteristics can open new doors for the pharmaceutical industry in the future.
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