Structurally modified poly(methyl methacrylate) electrospun nanofibers as better host matrix for noble metal nanoparticles

Polymer Nanocomposites of Selenium Biofabricated Using Fungi

Nanoparticle-reinforced polymer-based materials effectively combine the functional properties of polymers and unique characteristic features of NPs. Biopolymers have attained great attention, with perspective multifunctional and high-performance nanocomposites exhibiting a low environmental impact with unique properties, being abundantly available, renewable, and eco-friendly. Nanocomposites of biopolymers are termed green biocomposites. Different biocomposites are reported with numerous inorganic nanofillers, which include selenium. Selenium is a micronutrient that can potentially be used in the prevention and treatment of diseases and has been extensively studied for its biological activity. SeNPs have attracted increasing attention due to their high bioavailability, low toxicity, and novel therapeutic properties. One of the best routes to take advantage of SeNPs' properties is by mixing these NPs with polymers to obtain nanocomposites with functionalities associated with the NPs together with the main characteristics of the polymer matrix. These nanocomposite materials have markedly improved properties achieved at low SeNP concentrations. Composites based on polysaccharides, including fungal beta-glucans, are bioactive, biocompatible, biodegradable, and have exhibited an innovative potential. Mushrooms meet certain obvious requirements for the green entity applied to the SeNP manufacturing. Fungal-matrixed selenium nanoparticles are a new promising biocomposite material. This review aims to give a summary of what is known by now about the mycosynthesized selenium polymeric nanocomposites with the impact on fungal-assisted manufactured ones, the mechanisms of the involved processes at the chemical reaction level, and problems and challenges posed in this area.

Studies on the structural and optical properties of samarium β-diketonate complex incorporated electrospun poly(methylmethacrylate) nanofibres with different architectures

Electrospinning is the most favourable method for production of polymer nanofibres. In this study, we prepared a samarium β-diketonate complex that incorporated pure, surface-roughened and coaxial hollow poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibres through electrospinning. The successful incorporation of this samarium complex into the PMMA nanofibres with different architectures was elucidated through various structural and morphological studies. Optical investigations as well as other characterization techniques for the pure, surface-roughened and coaxial hollow PMMA nanofibres before and after incorporating the samarium β-diketonate complex explained the host matrix nature of the PMMA nanofibres. Photoluminescence properties of the pure and structurally modified PMMA nanofibres were enhanced two or three times after incorporating the samarium complex into the fibre. Comparison of the optical properties between the pure and structurally modified PMMA nanofibres incorporating the samarium β-diketonate complex demonstrated the structural and optical improvements as well as the better host matrix nature of the surface-roughened and coaxial hollow PMMA nanofibres over pure PMMA nanofibres for the samarium β-diketonate complex. These optical enhancements make these materials applicable for various optical devices.