Biomass-based magnetic fluorescent nanoparticles: One-step scalable synthesis, application as drug carriers and mechanism study

Nano-scaled polyacrylonitrile for industrialization of nanofibers with photoluminescence and microbicide performance

Nanofibers are investigated to be superiorly applicable in different purposes such as drug delivery systems, air filters, wound dressing, water filters, and tissue engineering. Herein, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is thermally treated for autocatalytic cyclization, to give optically active PAN-nanopolymer, which is subsequently applicable for preparation of nanofibers through solution blow spinning. Whereas, solution blow spinning is identified as a process for production of nanofibers characterized with high porosity and large surface area from a minimum amounts of polymer solution. The as-prepared nanofibers were shown with excellent photoluminescence and microbicide performance. According to rheological properties, to obtain spinnable PAN-nanopolymer, PAN (12.5-15% wt/vol, honey like solution, 678-834 mPa s), thermal treatment for 2-4 h must be performed, whereas, time prolongation resulted in PAN-nanopolymer gelling or rubbering. Size distribution of PAN-nanopolymer (12.5% wt/vol) is estimated (68.8 ± 22.2 nm), to reflect its compatibility for the production of carbon nanofibers with size distribution of 300-400 nm. Spectral mapping data for the photoluminescent emission showed that, PAN-nanopolymer were exhibited with two intense peaks at 498 nm and 545 nm, to affirm their superiority for production of fluorescent nanofibers. The microbial reduction % was estimated for carbon nanofibers prepared from PAN-nanopolymer (12.5% wt/vol) to be 61.5%, 71.4% and 81.9%, against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans, respectively. So, the prepared florescent carbon nanofibers can be potentially applicable in anti-infective therapy.

Recent advances on hyperthermia therapy applications of carbon-based nanocomposites

Generally, hyperthermia is referred to the composites capability to increase local temperature in such a way that the generated heat would lead to cancerous or bacteria cells destruction, with minimum damage to normal tissue cells. Many different materials have been utilized for hyperthermia application via different heat generating methods. Carbon-based nanomaterials consisting of graphene oxide (GO), carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon dot (CD) and carbon quantum dot (CQD), nanodiamond (ND), fullerene and carbon fiber (CF), have been studied significantly for different applications including hyperthermia due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, chemical and physical stability, thermal and electrical conductivity and in some cases photothermal conversion. Therefore, in this comprehensive review, a structure-based view on carbon nanomaterials application in hyperthermia therapy of cancer and bacteria via various methods such as optical, magnetic, ultrasonic and radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia is presented.

Preparation, Properties, and Application of Lignocellulosic-Based Fluorescent Carbon Dots

Carbon dots (CDs) are a relatively new type of fluorescent carbon material with excellent performance and widespread application. As the most readily available and widely distributed biomass resource, lignocellulosics are a renewable bioresource with great potential. Research into the preparation of CDs with lignocellulose (LC-CDs) has become the focus of numerous researchers. Compared with other carbon sources, lignocellulose is low cost, rich in structural variety, exhibits excellent biocompatibility,^[1] and the structures of CDs prepared by lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose are similar. This Review summarized research progress in the preparation of CDs from lignocellulosics in recent years and reviewed traditional and new preparation methods, physical and chemical properties, optical properties, and applications of LC-CDs, providing guidance for the formation and improvement of LC-CDs. In addition, the challenges of synthesizing LC-CDs were also highlighted, including the interaction of different lignocellulose components on the formation of LC-CDs and the nucleation and growth mechanism of LC-CDs; from this, current trends and opportunities of LC-CDs were examined, and some research methods for future research were put forward.

Nanocomposites membranes from cellulose nanofibers, SiO2 and carboxymethyl cellulose with improved properties

The binary nanocomposites blended by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and SiO₂ nanoparticles were constructed to prepare the films with superior thermal stability and flame retardant properties. The incorporation of cellulose nanofibers(CNFs) and SiO₂ nanoparticles were followed to prepare ternary nanocomposite films exhibiting excellent mechanical properties. The mechanism and chemical reaction of the thermal decomposition for the CMC/SiO₂ composite membrane were proposed, which showed that the mass residuals were Na₂CO₃, SiO₂ and Na₂SiO₃, Na₂CO₃ when the content of the SiO₂ nanoparticles was lowered and higher than 9.6 %, respectively. Compared with the pure CMC, micro combustion calorimeter (MCC) showed that the total heat release (THR) and the peak heat release rate (PHRR) both decreased from 6.4 kJ/g to 5.8 kJ/g, 134 w/g to 27 w/g, respectively. Moreover, mechanical properties of CMC/CNFs/SiO₂ membrane showed that the toughness and rigidity of the nanocomposites increased by 56.0 % and 63.0 % on the basis of CMC, respectively.

CQDs-Doped Magnetic Electrospun Nanofibers: Fluorescence Self-Display and Adsorption Removal of Mercury(II)

This paper reports the carbon quantum dots-doped magnetic electrospinning nanofibers for the self-display and removal of Hg(II) ions from water. The fluorescent carbon quantum dots and magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were pre-prepared successfully, and they appeared to be homogeneously dispersed in nanofibers via electrospinning. During the sorption of Hg(II) ions, the significant fluorescence signals of nanofibers gradually declined and exhibited a good linear relationship with cumulative adsorption capacity, which could be easily recorded by the photoluminescence spectra. The sorption performance of mercury ions onto the nanofibers was investigated in terms of different experimental factors including contact time, solution pH value, and initial ion concentration. Considering the actual parameters, the nanofibers were sensitive self-display adsorption system for Hg(II) ions in the existence of other cation. The sorption data were described by different kinetic models, which indicate that the whole sorption was controlled by chemical adsorption. The intraparticle diffusion mass transfer was not obvious in this system, which further proved the uniform adsorption and even fluorescence quenching in nanofibers. Additionally, the nanocomposite fiber could regenerate in several cycles with no significant loss of adsorption capacity and fluorescence intensity. Thus, the nanofibers are promising alternatives for environmental pollution incidents. It is especially competent due to its high efficiency for self-display and removal of high concentration of mercury ions.