Nanocarbons for Biology and Medicine: Sensing, Imaging, and Drug Delivery

Inorganic nanoparticles and blood-brain barrier modulation: Advancing targeted neurological therapies

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective barrier that complicates the treatment of neurological disorders. Pharmaceutical compounds encounter significant challenges in crossing the central nervous system (CNS). Nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for treating neurological conditions as they help facilitate drug delivery. This review explores the diverse characteristics and mechanisms of inorganic NPs (INPs), including metal-based, ferric-oxide, and carbon-based nanoparticles, which facilitate their passage through the BBB. Emphasis is placed on the physicochemical properties of NPs such as size, shape, surface charge, and surface modifications and their role in enhancing drug delivery efficacy, reducing immune clearance, and improving BBB permeability. Specific synthesis approaches are demonstrated, with an emphasis on the influence of each one on NP property, biological activity and the capability of an NP for its intended application. As for the advances in the field, the review emphasizes those characterized the NP formulation and surface chemistry that conquered the BBB and tested the need for its alteration. Current findings indicate that NP therapy can in the future enable effective targeting of specific brain disorders and eventually evolve this drug delivery system, which would allow for lower doses with less side effects.

Holistic Investigation of Graphene Quantum Dot Endocytosis

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have gained popularity in nano-biotechnology due to their multifunctional delivery and imaging capabilities. The outcome of their therapeutic delivery applications relies on understanding cell internalization routes. Current literature presents often conflicting results based on surveying only a few endocytosis inhibitors. Herein, a holistic approach to cell uptake studies by utilizing six different inhibitors while considering their on- and off-target effects on internalization of the GQDs of different charges is provided. Endocytosis paths are explored by tracking intracellular GQD fluorescence in HeLa or HEK-293 cells. Contrary to the previous assumptions of a singular entry route, findings suggest that GQDs enter the cells through several endocytosis paths with some more prevalent than others. Selectivity between the pathways is based on GQD charge and functional groups. Positively charged nitrogen-doped GQDs (NGQDs) predominantly utilize a fast endophilin-mediated endocytosis (FEME) in HeLa cells with a secondary preference for clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME). In HEK-293 cells NGQDs internalize via clathrin-independent, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein-enriched compartments (CLIC/GEEC) and FEME. Conversely, GQDs with a substantial negative surface charge uptake through CME in HeLa cells. The optimization of these mechanisms can enhance GQD applications in biomedicine, ideally streamlining their translation into the clinic.

Azo-linked 5-ASA-coumarin prodrug: Fluorescent tracking for colonic drug release in UC treatment

Theranostic prodrugs that enable real-time, non-invasive monitoring of drug release and biodistribution are highly desirable for optimizing therapeutic efficacy and guiding personalized medication. Herein, we report a colon-targeted theranostic prodrug system (P1) for the simultaneous delivery and tracking of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). P1 comprises a fluorescent 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (7-AMC) reporter covalently linked to 5-ASA via an azo bond, which quenches the fluorescence of 7-AMC until P1 is activated by azoreductases in the colonic microenvironment. This selective activation triggers the release of 5-ASA and the revival of 7-AMC fluorescence, enabling real-time monitoring of drug delivery. To improve the solubility and targeted delivery of P1, it was encapsulated within polymeric micelles (PM) that selectively adhere to the positively charged, inflamed colonic tissues. In vitro studies confirmed the stability, biocompatibility, and selective activation of P1 under simulated colonic conditions. Notably, in a mouse model of UC, the P1-loaded PM achieved targeted delivery of 5-ASA to the inflamed colon, resulting in effective attenuation of colitis symptoms. Importantly, the in situ activation of P1 allowed for the real-time, non-invasive visualization of drug release and biodistribution, providing valuable insights for treatment optimization. This theranostic prodrug approach offers a promising strategy for the simultaneous therapy and tracking of 5-ASA delivery in UC treatment, with the potential to facilitate personalized medication and improve therapeutic outcomes.

Current nanocomposite advances for biomedical and environmental application diversity

Nanocomposite materials are emerging as key players in addressing critical challenges in healthcare, energy storage, and environmental remediation. These innovative systems hold great promise in engineering effective solutions for complex problems. Nanocomposites have demonstrated various advantages such as simplicity, versatility, lightweight, and potential cost-effectiveness. By reinforcing synthetic and natural polymers with nanomaterials, a range of nanocomposites have exhibited unique physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Current research on nanocomposites has demonstrated promising clinical and translational applications. Over the past decade, the production of nanocomposites has emerged as a critical nano-structuring methodology due to their adaptability and controllable surface structure. This comprehensive review article systematically addresses two principal domains. A comprehensive survey of metallic and nonmetallic nanomaterials (nanofillers), elucidating their efficacy as reinforcing agents in polymeric matrices. Emphasis is placed on the methodical design and engineering principles governing the development of functional nanocomposites. Additionally, the review provides an exhaustive examination of recent noteworthy advancements in industrial, environmental, biomedical, and clinical applications within the realms of nanocomposite materials. Finally, the review concludes by highlighting the ongoing challenges facing nanocomposites in a wide range of applications.

Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertrophy in H9c2 Cells Reveals Severe Cytotoxicity of Graphene Oxide

This study investigates the differential cytotoxicity of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and graphene oxide (GO) particles using an angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced hypertrophy model in H9c2 cells. Herein, GO particles were synthesized from graphite, and subsequent reduction was carried out to obtain RGO particles. To ensure a thorough assessment of particle size, functionalization, and purity, the particles were characterized by using UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Comprehensive characterization revealed that the transformation from GO (∼21.6% content of oxygen) to RGO (∼13.3% content of oxygen) results in an enrichment in the proportion of sp2 carbon. Additionally, rat cardiac myoblasts of the H9c2 cell line were subjected to Ang II to induce cellular hypertrophy, leading to cytoskeleton remodeling, increased cardiac myocyte surface area, extracellular matrix alterations, and collagen type 1a upregulation. To evaluate cytotoxicity, H9c2 cells were treated with RGO and GO suspensions at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10,000 μg/mL, and metabolic viability was assessed in both concentration- and time-dependent assays. GO and RGO reduced the viability of H9c2 cells; however, the metabolic viability assays showed that the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for GO and RGO were significantly lower in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes, with GO exhibiting an IC50 of 12.6 ± 10.7 μg/mL and RGO exhibiting an IC50 of 86.3 ± 12.9 μg/mL, compared to control cells (676.0 ± 80.3 μg/mL for GO and 152.9 ± 40.1 μg/mL for RGO). These results demonstrate that under hypertrophic conditions, there is a significant increase of cytotoxicity for GO (50-fold increase) in comparison to RGO (1.7-fold increase). It was demonstrated that GO particles create a pro-oxidative environment that ultimately leads to mechanistic impairments and cell death. Vulnerable populations predisposed to cardiac damage may be at increased risk of experiencing toxicity caused by the use of GO particles in potential bioapplications.

Anti-osteoporotic effects and good biocompatibility of novel bioactive carbon quantum dots in vitro and in ovariectomized mice

Osteoporosis is a prevalent condition among the elderly, and current treatments are limited by their side effects. This study aimed to develop a safe nanocarbon material with anti-osteoporotic properties. A promising candidate, carbon quantum dots (CQDs), was synthesized using a single-step liquid-phase pulse method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To evaluate the biocompatibility and anti-osteoporotic effects of CQDs, they were administered at a dose of 276 μg/mL or a placebo to an osteoporotic mouse model (n = 16) for 3 months. Biocompatibility was assessed through monitoring weight changes, general health, blood tests, and H&E staining of visceral organs. To assess bone quality, imaging, histological analysis, and biomechanical tests were performed. The results showed that CQDs significantly inhibited osteoclastic activity, leading to improved bone mass and mechanical strength without obvious toxicity. These findings suggest CQDs as a promising candidate for safer osteoporosis therapies.

From flat to twisted - multifunctional phosphacyclic nanocarbons based on Vat Orange 3

The field of π-conjugated organic materials has seen significant advances in recent years. However, enhancing the functionality of well-established, mass-produced compounds remains a considerable challenge, despite being an intriguing strategy for designing high-value organic materials with low production costs. In this context, vat dyes, known for their wide range of colors and extensive use in the textile industry are particularly attractive. Here, we present an innovative approach that conjoins phosphorus heterocycles with the dye Vat Orange 3 (VO3) to yield novel nanocarbons with enhanced functional properties. X-ray crystallography reveals distinct twisting of the scaffold in the solid state, while the modification of the phosphorus centers leads to intriguing and versatile photophysics. Thin-film analyses show unusual, pronounced emission features that switch from green to orange upon aggregation. Furthermore, Lewis-adduct formation induces a fluorescence redshift upon coordination to the phosphorus moiety and cyclic voltammetry confirms the acceptor character of the system. This work demonstrates the versatility of phosphorus-modified vat dyes as value-added organic compounds and paves the way for the development of new functional 2D nanocarbons with broad technological relevance.

Rapid access to functionalized nanographenes through a palladium-catalyzed multi-annulation sequence

Nanographenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit many intriguing physical properties and have potential applications across a range of scientific fields, including electronics, catalysis, and biomedicine. To accelerate the development of such applications, efficient and reliable methods for accessing functionalized analogs are required. Herein, we report the efficient synthesis of functionalized small nanographenes from readily available iodobiaryl and diarylacetylene derivatives via a one-pot, multi-annulation sequence catalyzed by a single palladium catalyst. This method enables the preparation of small nanographenes bearing various polar functional groups, such as hydroxy, amino, and pyridinic nitrogen atoms, which are otherwise difficult to incorporate. These functional groups provide valuable sites for further derivatization, allowing the modulation of small nanographenes' solubility, optoelectronic properties, and photochromic and vapochromic behaviors. Our new method thus provides a platform for facile access to novel carbon-based materials.

A Comprehensive Review: Versatile Imaging Probe Based on Chemical Materials for Biomedical Applications

Imaging probe and contrast agents play significant role in combating cancer. Based on special chemical materials, imaging probe can convert cancer symptoms into information-rich images with high sensitivity and signal amplification, accompanying with detection, diagnosis, drug delivery and treatment. In the paper, some inorganic and organic chemical materials as imaging probe, including Ultrasound imaging (US), Optical imaging (OP), Photoacoustic imaging (PA), X-ray Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI), Radionuclide imaging (RNI) probe, as well as multi-modality imaging probe for diagnosis and therapy of tumour were introduced. The sophisticated and comprehensive chemical materials as imaging probe were highlighted in detail. Meanwhile, the advantages and disadvantages of the imaging probe were compared. In order to provide some reference and help researchers for construction imaging probe for tumour diagnosis and treatment, it attempts to exhaustively cover the whole field. Finally, the prospect and challenge for imaging probe were discussed.

Constructing conical helices inside carbon nanocones

Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that regular conical helices of poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) chains can be constructed inside the confined space of single-walled carbon nanocones (CNCs). The translocation displacement of the PPP chain combined with the change of the system total potential energy including each energy component and structural parameters of the formed conical helix is discussed to deeply explore the microstructure evolution, driving forces and dynamic mechanisms. In addition, the influence of chain length, cone angle, temperature, chain number, linked position of benzene rings and the form of Lennard-Jones potential on the helical encapsulation is further studied. The proposed method may provide a new way for constructing regular conical helices from polymer chains, with potential applications in electronic nanodevices.

Carbon Nanodots-Based Polymer Nanocomposite: A Potential Drug Delivery Armament of Phytopharmaceuticals

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) have garnered significant attention as viable drug delivery vehicles in recent years, especially in the field of phytomedicine. Although there is much promise for therapeutic applications with phytomedicine, its effectiveness is frequently restricted by its low solubility, stability, and bioavailability. This paper offers a thorough synopsis of the developing field of phytomedicine drug delivery based on CND. It explores CND synthesis processes, surface functionalization strategies, and structural and optical characteristics. Additionally, the advantages and difficulties of phytomedicine are examined, with a focus on the contribution of drug delivery methods to the increased effectiveness of phytomedicine. The applications of CNDs in drug delivery are also included in the review, along with the mechanisms that underlie their improved drug delivery capabilities. Additionally, it looks at controlled-release methods, stability augmentation, and phytomedicine-loading tactics onto CNDs. The potential of polymeric carbon nanodots in drug delivery is also covered, along with difficulties and prospective directions going forward, such as resolving toxicity and biocompatibility issues. In summary, the present review highlights the encouraging contribution of CNDs to the field of drug delivery, specifically in enhancing the potential of phytomedicine for therapeutic purposes.

Surface and Interfacial Engineering for Multifunctional Nanocarbon Materials

Multifunctional materials are accelerating the development of soft electronics with integrated capabilities including wearable physical sensing, efficient thermal management, and high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding. With outstanding mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, nanocarbon materials offer ample opportunities for designing multifunctional devices with broad applications. Surface and interfacial engineering have emerged as an effective approach to modulate interconnected structures, which may have tunable and synergistic effects for the precise control over mechanical, transport, and electromagnetic properties. This review presents a comprehensive summary of recent advances empowering the development of multifunctional nanocarbon materials via surface and interfacial engineering in the context of surface and interfacial engineering techniques, structural evolution, multifunctional properties, and their wide applications. Special emphasis is placed on identifying the critical correlations between interfacial structures across nanoscales, microscales, and macroscales and multifunctional properties. The challenges currently faced by the multifunctional nanocarbon materials are examined, and potential opportunities for applications are also revealed. We anticipate that this comprehensive review will promote the further development of soft electronics and trigger ideas for the interfacial design of nanocarbon materials in multidisciplinary applications.

Production, Characterization, and Application of Hydrophobin-Based IR780 Nanoparticles for Targeted Photothermal Cancer Therapy and Advanced Near-Infrared Imaging

As a promising approach for breast cancer treatment, photothermal therapy (PTT) features high spatial selectivity, noninvasiveness, and minimal drug resistance. IR780 (a near-infrared fluorescent dye) serves as an effective photosensitizer in PTT cancer therapy. However, the clinical application of IR780 in PTT has been hindered by its poor water solubility and unstable photostability. In this study, a genetically engineered dual-functional fusion protein tLyP-1-MGF6 is successfully constructed and expressed, which presents a novel use of hydrophobin MGF6 for its amphiphilicity combined with the tumor-penetrating peptide tLyP-1 to create an innovative carrier for IR780. These results show this fusion protein serving as a biodegradable and biocompatible carrier, significantly improves the water solubility of IR780 when formulated into nanoparticles. These studies demonstrate that the IR780@tLyP-1-MGF6 nanoparticles significantly enhance tumor targeting and photothermal therapeutic efficacy in comparison with control in vitro and in vivo. These advancements highlight the potential of the unique combination hydrophobin-based IR780 delivery system as a multifunctional nanoplatform for integrated imaging and targeted photothermal treatment of breast cancer.

Translocation mechanism of anticancer drugs through membrane with the assistance of graphene quantum dot

In recent years, as a new type of quasi-zero-dimensional nanomaterials, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have shown excellent performance in advanced drug targeted delivery and controlled release. In this work, the delivery process of model drugs translocating into POPC lipid membrane with the assistance of GQDs was investigated via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Our simulation results demonstrated that a single doxorubicin (DOX) or deoxyadenine (DA) molecule is difficult to penetrate into the cell membrane. GQD7 could form sandwich-like structure with DOX and assist DOX to enter into the POPC membrane. However, due to the weak interaction with DA, both GQD7 and GQD19 can not assist DA translocating the POPC membrane in the limited MD simulation time. The drug delivery process for DOX could be divided into two steps: 1. GQDs and DOX aggregated into a cluster; 2. the aggregates enter into the POPC membrane. In all our simulation systems, if GQDs loaded with model drugs and entered the cell membrane, it had little effect on the cell membrane structure, and the cell membrane could maintain high integrity and stability. These results may promote the molecular design and application of GQD-based drug delivery systems.

Light-emitting probes for in situ sensing of plant information

Monitoring plant physiological information for gaining a comprehensive understanding of plant growth and stress responses contributes to safeguarding plant health. Light-emitting probes - in terms of small-molecule, nanomaterials-based, and genetically protein-based probes - can be introduced into plants through foliar and root treatment or genetic transformation. These probes offer exciting opportunities for sensitive and in situ monitoring of dynamic plant chemical information - for example, reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium ions, phytohormones - with spatiotemporal resolution. In this review we explore the sensing mechanisms of these light-emitting probes and their applications in monitoring various chemical information in plants in situ. These probes can be used as part of a sentinel plant approach to provide stress warning in the field or to explore plant signaling pathways.

Twenty Years of Graphene: From Pristine to Chemically Engineered Nano-Sized Flakes

It is a celebratory moment for graphene! This year marks the 20th anniversary of the discovery of this amazing material by Geim and Novoselov. Curiously, it coincides with the century mark of graphite's layered structure discovery. Since the discovery of graphene with the promise that its outstanding properties would change the world, society often wonders where is graphene? In this context, their discoverers said in 2005, "despite the reigning optimism about graphene-based electronics, "graphenium" microprocessors are unlikely to appear for the next 20 years". Today, possibilities for graphene are endless! It can be used in electronics, photonics, fuel cells, energy storage, artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and even cultural heritage or sports. Additionally, the electronic properties of this material have been modified in fascinating ways. Bilayer graphene sheets have been found to be superconductive when twisted at a "magic angle", leading to a new and exciting field of research known as "moiré quantum materials" or "twistronics". Additionally, small graphene fragments with nanometer sizes undergo a quantum confinement effect of electrons, affording semiconductive materials with applications in optoelectronics. Organic synthesis allows the preparation of molecules with a graphene-like pattern with total control of the shape and size, exhibiting a big catalog of chiroptical and optoelectronic properties. This Perspective shows some of the fascinating milestones raised in the field of graphene-like materials from a chemical point of view, including functionalization strategies employed to chemically modify the topology and the properties of pristine graphene as well as the rising molecular graphenes.

DNA Nanomaterial-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Clinical Diagnosis

Sensitive and quantitative detection of chemical and biological molecules for screening, diagnosis and monitoring diseases is essential to treatment planning and response monitoring. Electrochemical biosensors are fast, sensitive, and easy to miniaturize, which has led to rapid development in clinical diagnosis. Benefiting from their excellent molecular recognition ability and high programmability, DNA nanomaterials could overcome the Debye length of electrochemical biosensors by simple molecular design and are well suited as recognition elements for electrochemical biosensors. Therefore, to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of electrochemical biosensors, significant progress has been made in recent years by optimizing the DNA nanomaterials design. Here, the establishment of electrochemical sensing strategies based on DNA nanomaterials is reviewed in detail. First, the structural design of DNA nanomaterial is examined to enhance the sensitivity of electrochemical biosensors by improving recognition and overcoming Debye length. In addition, the strategies of electrical signal transduction and signal amplification based on DNA nanomaterials are reviewed, and the applications of DNA nanomaterial-based electrochemical biosensors and integrated devices in clinical diagnosis are further summarized. Finally, the main opportunities and challenges of DNA nanomaterial-based electrochemical biosensors in detecting disease biomarkers are presented in an aim to guide the design of DNA nanomaterial-based electrochemical devices with high sensitivity and specificity.

Decafluorinated and Perfluorinated Warped Nanographenes: Synthesis, Structural Analysis, and Properties

Fluorination is a useful approach for tailoring the physicochemical properties of nanocarbon materials. However, owing to the violent reactivity of fluorination, achieving edge-perfluorination of nanographene while maintaining its original π-conjugated structure is challenging. Instead of using traditional fluorination, here, we employed a bottom-up strategy involving fluorine preinstallation and synthesized decafluorinated and perfluorinated warped nanographenes (DFWNG and PFWNG, respectively) through a 10-fold Suzuki-Miyaura coupling followed by a harsh Scholl reaction, whereby precisely edge-perfluorinated nanographene with an intact π-conjugated structure was achieved for the first time. X-ray crystallography confirmed the intact π-conjugated structure and more twisted saddle-shaped geometry of PFWNG compared to that of DFWNG. Dynamic study revealed that the 26-ring carbon framework of PFWNG is less flexible than that of DFWNG and the pristine WNG, enabling chirality resolution of PFWNG and facilitating the achievement of CD spectra at -10 °C. The edge-perfluorination of PFWNG resulted in improved solubility, lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, and a surface electrostatic potentials/dipole moment direction opposite those of the pristine WNG. Likely owing to its intact π-conjugated structure, PFWNG exhibits comparable electron mobility with well-known PC61BM. Furthermore, perfluorination improves thermal stability and hydrophobicity, making PFWNG suitable for use as a thermostable/hydrophobic n-type semiconductor material. In the future, this fluorination strategy can be used to synthesize other perfluorinated nanocarbon materials, such as perfluorinated graphene nanoribbons and porous nanocarbon.

Adsorption of drugs on B12N12 and Al12N12 nanocages

The adsorption behavior of twelve drug molecules (5-fluorouracil, nitrosourea, pyrazinamide, sulfanilamide, ethionamide, 6-thioguanine, ciclopirox, 6-mercaptopurine, isoniazid, metformin, 4-aminopyridine, and cathinone) on B12N12 and Al12N12 nanocages was studied using density functional theory. In general, the drug molecules prefer to bind with the boron atom of the B12N12 nanocage and the aluminium atoms of the Al12N12 nanocage. However, a hydrogen atom is transferred from each of 5-fluorouracil, nitrosourea, 6-thioguanine, ciclopirox, and 6-mercaptopurine to the nitrogen atom of the Al12N12 nanocage. All the drug molecules are found to be chemisorbed on the B12N12 and Al12N12 nanocages. The adsorption energies of the drug/B12N12 system are linearly correlated with the molecular electrostatic potential minimum values of the drug molecules. The transfer of the hydrogen atom from the drug molecules to the nitrogen atom of the Al12N12 nanocage leads to relatively high adsorption energies. We observed significant changes in the reactivity parameters (e.g. electronic chemical potential) of the nanocages due to the chemisorption process. Overall, the QTAIM analysis indicates that the interactions between drug molecules and nanocages have a partial covalent character. Among the studied systems, the adsorption process was more spontaneous for the ciclopirox/Al12N12 system in water.

A holistic review on red fluorescent graphene quantum dots, its synthesis, unique properties with emphasis on biomedical applications

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are an evolving class of carbon-based nanomaterial, seizing tremendous attention owing to their intense optical property, engineered shapes and structures, and good photostability. Being a zero-dimensional form of carbon structure, GQDs have superior photoluminescent behavior, tunable emission and absorption, excellent biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, hydrophilic nature, modifying surface states. Their water dispersibility and functionalized surface structure, involving heteroatoms and various functional groups onto the surface of GQDs, make them particularly suitable for biological applications. Based on their absolute luminescence properties, GQDs emit blue, green, yellow, and red light under ultraviolet irradiation. Amongst the three colors, red luminescence can achieve deeper penetration of light into tissues, good cellular distribution, bio-sensing property, cell imaging, drug delivery, and serves as a better candidate for photodynamic therapy. The overall objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the synthesis methods for red fluorescence graphene quantum dots (RF-GQDs), critical comparative analyses of spectral techniques used for their characterization, the tunable photoluminescence mechanisms underpinning red emission, and the significance of chemically functionalizing GQDs' surface edges in achieving red fluorescence are discussed in depth. This review also discusses the effective biological applications and critical challenges associated with RF-GQDs are examined, providing insights into their future potential in clinical and industrial applications.

Current advance of nanotechnology in diagnosis and treatment for malignant tumors

Cancer remains a significant risk to human health. Nanomedicine is a new multidisciplinary field that is garnering a lot of interest and investigation. Nanomedicine shows great potential for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Specifically engineered nanoparticles can be employed as contrast agents in cancer diagnostics to enable high sensitivity and high-resolution tumor detection by imaging examinations. Novel approaches for tumor labeling and detection are also made possible by the use of nanoprobes and nanobiosensors. The achievement of targeted medication delivery in cancer therapy can be accomplished through the rational design and manufacture of nanodrug carriers. Nanoparticles have the capability to effectively transport medications or gene fragments to tumor tissues via passive or active targeting processes, thus enhancing treatment outcomes while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Simultaneously, nanoparticles can be employed in the context of radiation sensitization and photothermal therapy to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of malignant tumors. This review presents a literature overview and summary of how nanotechnology is used in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. According to oncological diseases originating from different systems of the body and combining the pathophysiological features of cancers at different sites, we review the most recent developments in nanotechnology applications. Finally, we briefly discuss the prospects and challenges of nanotechnology in cancer.

Prospectives and challenges of nano-tailored biomaterials-assisted biological molecules delivery for tissue engineering purposes

Nano carriers have gained more attention for their possible medical and technological applications. Tailored nanomaterials can transport medications efficiently to targeted areas and allow for sustained medication discharge, reducing undesirable toxicities while boosting curative effectiveness. Nonetheless, transitioning nanomedicines from experimental to therapeutic applications has proven difficult, so different pharmaceutical incorporation approaches in nano scaffolds are discussed. Then numerous types of nanobiomaterials implemented as carriers and their manufacturing techniques are explored. This article is also supported by various applications of nanobiomaterials in the biomedical field.

Visible-light-induced direct C-H alkylation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with alkylsulfones

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are fragments of graphene that have attracted considerable attention as a new class of carbon-based materials. The functionalization of edge positions in PAHs is important to enable the modulation of physical and chemical properties essential for various applications. However, straightforward methods that combine functional group tolerance and regioselectivity remain sought after. Here we report a photochemical approach for the direct alkylation of carbon-hydrogen bonds in PAHs that takes place in a regiospecific manner, an outcome that has never been achieved in related thermal reactions. A reaction mechanism involving a single electron transfer process from photo-excited PAHs to sulfones, and a rationale for the origin of regioselectivity are proposed on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and theoretical calculations.

Investigating the potential of monocyclic B9N9 and C18 rings for the electrochemical sensing, and adsorption of carbazole-based anti-cancer drug derivatives: DFT-based first-principle study

CONTEXT

For the first time, the use of monocyclic rings C18 and B9N9 as sensors for the sensing of carbazole-based anti-cancer drugs, such as tetrahydrocarbazole (THC), mukonal (MKN), murrayanine (MRY), and ellipticine (EPT), is described using DFT simulations and computational characterization. The geometries, electronic properties, stability studies, sensitivity, and adsorption capabilities of C18 and B9N9 counterparts towards the selected compounds confirm that the analytes interact through active cavities of the C18 and B9N9 rings of the complexes.

METHODS

Based on the interaction energies, the sensitivity of surfaces towards EPT, MKN, MRY, and THC analytes is observed. The interaction energy of EPT@B9N9, MKN@B9N9, MRY@B9N9, and THC@B9N9 complexes are observed - 20.40, - 19.49, - 20.07, and - 18.27 kcal/mol respectively which is more exothermic than EPT@C18, MKN@C18, MRY@C18, and THC@C18 complexes are - 16.37, - 13.97, - 13.96, and - 11.39 kcal/mol respectively. According to findings from the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and the reduced density gradient (RDG), dispersion forces play a significant role in maintaining the stability of these complexes. The electronic properties including FMOs, density of states (DOS), natural bond orbitals (NBO), charge transfer, and absorption studies are carried out. In comparison of B9N9 and C18, the analyte recovery time for C18 is much shorter (9.91 × 10-11 for THC@C18) than that for B9N9 shorter recovery time value of 3.75 × 10-9 for EPT@B9N9. These results suggest that our reported sensors B9N9 and C18 make it faster to detect adsorbed molecules at room temperature. The sensor response is more prominent in B9N9 due to its fine energy gap and high adsorption energy. Consequently, it is possible to think of these monocyclic systems as a potential material for sensor applications.

Silver sulfide anchored bismuth molybdate p-n heterojunction nano-coating with excellent photo-thermal self-healing performance

In this research, a self-healing nano-coating with excellent photo-thermal response to near-infrared (NIR) laser is prepared. This coating incorporates silver sulfide anchored bismuth molybdate (Ag2S@Bi2MoO6) into a shape memory epoxy resin to achieve for a good photo-thermal conversion capability. The Ag2S@Bi2MoO6 p-n heterojunction could photo-generate more electron-holes pairs under the NIR laser irradiation. Also, it shows a wider absorption range of visible light, leading to effectively absorb the light energy, generate enough heat to induce the shape memory recovery in the coating, and seal the scratch. The results indicate that the temperature of EP-1 % Ag2S@Bi2MoO6 coating has reached about 88 °C, while good self-healing and anti-corrosion properties with a self-healing rate of 88.41 % have been achieved. Furthermore, calculations based on Density Functional Theory and Finite Element Method pointed out that the formation of p-n heterojunction effectively has enhanced the photo-thermal effect. This research opens a new way for developing self-healing coatings with an ultra-fast response time and high self-healing efficiency.

Photodynamic therapy for cancer: mechanisms, photosensitizers, nanocarriers, and clinical studies

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a temporally and spatially precisely controllable, noninvasive, and potentially highly efficient method of phototherapy. The three components of PDT primarily include photosensitizers, oxygen, and light. PDT employs specific wavelengths of light to active photosensitizers at the tumor site, generating reactive oxygen species that are fatal to tumor cells. Nevertheless, traditional photosensitizers have disadvantages such as poor water solubility, severe oxygen-dependency, and low targetability, and the light is difficult to penetrate the deep tumor tissue, which remains the toughest task in the application of PDT in the clinic. Here, we systematically summarize the development and the molecular mechanisms of photosensitizers, and the challenges of PDT in tumor management, highlighting the advantages of nanocarriers-based PDT against cancer. The development of third generation photosensitizers has opened up new horizons in PDT, and the cooperation between nanocarriers and PDT has attained satisfactory achievements. Finally, the clinical studies of PDT are discussed. Overall, we present an overview and our perspective of PDT in the field of tumor management, and we believe this work will provide a new insight into tumor-based PDT.

From cells to subcellular organelles: Next-generation cancer therapy based on peptide self-assembly

Due to the editability, functionality, and excellent biocompatibility of peptides, in situ self-assembly of peptides in cells is a powerful strategy for biomedical applications. Subcellular organelle targeting of peptides assemblies enables more precise drug delivery, enhances selectivity to disease cells, and mitigates drug resistance, providing an effective strategy for disease diagnosis and therapy. This reviewer first introduces the triggering conditions, morphological changes, and intracellular locations of self-assembling peptides. Then, the functions of peptide assemblies are summarized, followed by a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between peptide assemblies and subcellular organelles. Finally, we provide a brief outlook and the remaining challenges in this field.

Catalytically Active Carbon for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Energy Conversion: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

The shortage and unevenness of fossil energy sources are affecting the development and progress of human civilization. The technology of efficiently converting material resources into energy for utilization and storage is attracting the attention of researchers. Environmentally friendly biomass materials are a treasure to drive the development of new-generation energy sources. Electrochemical theory is used to efficiently convert the chemical energy of chemical substances into electrical energy. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of green and economical electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Although many reviews have been reported around the application of biomass-derived catalytically active carbon (CAC) catalysts in ORR, these reviews have only selected a single/partial topic (including synthesis and preparation of catalysts from different sources, structural optimization, or performance enhancement methods based on CAC catalysts, and application of biomass-derived CACs) for discussion. There is no review that systematically addresses the latest progress in the synthesis, performance enhancement, and applications related to biomass-derived CAC-based oxygen reduction electrocatalysts synchronously. This review fills the gap by providing a timely and comprehensive review and summary from the following sections: the exposition of the basic catalytic principles of ORR, the summary of the chemical composition and structural properties of various types of biomass, the analysis of traditional and the latest popular biomass-derived CAC synthesis methods and optimization strategies, and the summary of the practical applications of biomass-derived CAC-based oxidative reduction electrocatalysts. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the latest advances to provide research directions and design ideas for the development of catalyst synthesis/optimization and contributes to the industrialization of biomass-derived CAC electrocatalysis and electric energy storage.

Innovative tumor interstitial fluid-triggered carbon dot-docetaxel nanoassemblies for targeted drug delivery and imaging of HER2-positive breast cancer

In this study, we have developed an innovative pH-triggered nanomedicine delivery system, targeting HER2-positive breast cancer cells for effective low-cost, imaging-guided drug delivery and precise therapy. The key feature of this system lies in its unique tumor interstitial fluid microenvironment-responsive drug release behavior which achieved tumor site-specific drug delivery. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that the carbon dot-integrated material achieves more efficient DTX release (96.13 % at 72 h) in the tumor interstitial fluid microenvironment (pH 6.5), thereby boosting drug concentration at the tumor site and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. Further cell experiments confirmed the system's significant inhibitory effect on HER2-positive tumor cells SKBR3 in a pH 6.5 environment, and apoptosis assays indicating a notable increase in early cell apoptosis (from 8.39 % to 24.61 % compared with pH 7.4). Furthermore, the integration of HER2 aptamer within the carbon dot-based system enables targeted recognition and binding to tumor cells, ensuring more precise delivery of DTX while minimizing potential side effects. Crucially, the carbon dots in this system emit superior red fluorescence (the QY = 47.64 % excited at 535 nm compared with Rodamine 6G), enabling real-time visualization of the drug delivery process. This feature provides valuable feedback on treatment effectiveness, facilitating necessary adjustments. The small size (1.88 ± 0.48 nm) of carbon dots significantly improved their ability to penetrate biological barriers, while their low toxicity (no significant cell toxicity under 350 μg/mL) contributed to the formulation's outstanding biocompatibility. Overall, this carbon dot-enhanced drug delivery system offers immense potential for enhancing drug efficacy, minimizing side effects, and providing real-time treatment monitoring, thus proposing a innovate strategy for breast cancer therapy.

Review of NIR-responsive ''Smart'' carriers for photothermal chemotherapy

This review focuses on the versatile applications of near-infrared (NIR)-responsive smart carriers in biomedical applications, particularly drug delivery and photothermal chemotherapy. These carriers demonstrate multi-responsive theranostics capabilities, including pH-dependent drug release, targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics, heat-mediated drug release, and photothermal tumor damage. Biological samples are transparent to NIR light with a suitable wavelength, and therefore, NIR light is advantageous for deep-tissue penetration. It also generates sufficient heat in tissue samples, which is beneficial for on-demand NIR-responsive drug delivery in vivo systems. The development of biocompatible materials with sufficient NIR light absorption properties and drug-carrying functionality has shown tremendous growth in the last five years. Thus, this review offers insights into the current research development of NIR-responsive materials with therapeutic potential and prospects aimed at overcoming challenges to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety in the dynamic field of NIR-responsive drug delivery.

Agriculture and environmental management through nanotechnology: Eco-friendly nanomaterial synthesis for soil-plant systems, food safety, and sustainability

Through the advancement of nanotechnology, agricultural and food systems are undergoing strategic enhancements, offering innovative solutions to complex problems. This scholarly essay thoroughly examines nanotechnological innovations and their implications within these critical industries. Traditional practices are undergoing radical transformation as nanomaterials emerge as novel agents in roles traditionally filled by fertilizers, pesticides, and biosensors. Micronutrient management and preservation techniques are further enhanced, indicating a shift towards more nutrient-dense and longevity-oriented food production. Nanoparticles (NPs), with their unique physicochemical properties, such as an extraordinary surface-to-volume ratio, find applications in healthcare, diagnostics, agriculture, and other fields. However, concerns about their potential overuse and bioaccumulation raise unanswered questions about their health effects. Molecule-to-molecule interactions and physicochemical dynamics create pathways through which nanoparticles cause toxicity. The combination of nanotechnology and environmental sustainability principles leads to the examination of green nanoparticle synthesis. The discourse extends to how nanomaterials penetrate biological systems, their applications, toxicological effects, and dissemination routes. Additionally, this examination delves into the ecological consequences of nanomaterial contamination in natural ecosystems. Employing robust risk assessment methodologies, including the risk allocation framework, is recommended to address potential dangers associated with nanotechnology integration. Establishing standardized, universally accepted guidelines for evaluating nanomaterial toxicity and protocols for nano-waste disposal is urged to ensure responsible stewardship of this transformative technology. In conclusion, the article summarizes global trends, persistent challenges, and emerging regulatory strategies shaping nanotechnology in agriculture and food science. Sustained, in-depth research is crucial to fully benefit from nanotechnology prospects for sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Multiplex signal amplification for ultrasensitive CRP assay via integrated electrochemical biosensor array using MOF-derived carbon material and aptamers

Accurate and precise detection of disease-associated proteins, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), remains a challenge in biosensor development. Herein, we present a novel approach－an integrated disposable aptasensor array－designed for precise, ultra-sensitive, and parallel detection of CRP in plasma samples. This integrated biosensing array platform enables multiplex parallel testing, ensuring the accuracy and reliability in sample analysis. The ultra-sensitivity of this biosensor is achieved through multiplex signal amplification. Leveraging the superior conductivity and extensive surface area of MOF-derived nanoporous carbon material (CMOF), the biosensor enhances recognition elements (aptamers) by catalyzing the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) label enzyme reaction to multiply the number of probe molecules. Optimized conditions yielded exceptional performance, exhibiting high accuracy (relative standard deviation, RSD≤10.0 %), a low detection limit (0.3 pg/mL, S/N = 3), ultra-sensitivity (0.16 μA/ng mL-1 mm-2), and a rapid response (seven parallel tests within 60 min). Importantly, this multi-unit integrated disposable aptasensor array accurately quantified CRP in human serum, demonstrating comparable results to commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This technology showcases promise for detecting various biomarkers using a unified approach, presenting an appealing strategy for early disease diagnosis and biological analysis.

Fluorescent Nanocarbons: From Synthesis and Structure to Cancer Imaging and Therapy

Nanocarbons are emerging at the forefront of nanoscience, with diverse carbon nanoforms emerging over the past two decades. Early cancer diagnosis and therapy, driven by advanced chemistry techniques, play a pivotal role in mitigating mortality rates associated with cancer. Nanocarbons, with an attractive combination of well-defined architectures, biocompatibility, and nanoscale dimension, offer an incredibly versatile platform for cancer imaging and therapy. This paper aims to review the underlying principles regarding the controllable synthesis, fluorescence origins, cellular toxicity, and surface functionalization routes of several classes of nanocarbons: carbon nanodots, nanodiamonds, carbon nanoonions, and carbon nanohorns. This review also highlights recent breakthroughs regarding the green synthesis of different nanocarbons from renewable sources. It also presents a comprehensive and unified overview of the latest cancer-related applications of nanocarbons and how they can be designed to interface with biological systems and work as cancer diagnostics and therapeutic tools. The commercial status for large-scale manufacturing of nanocarbons is also presented. Finally, it proposes future research opportunities aimed at engendering modifiable and high-performance nanocarbons for emerging applications across medical industries. This work is envisioned as a cornerstone to guide interdisciplinary teams in crafting fluorescent nanocarbons with tailored attributes that can revolutionize cancer diagnostics and therapy.

Defect-Repaired g-C3N4 Nanosheets: Elevating the Efficacy of Sonodynamic Cancer Therapy Through Enhanced Charge Carrier Migration

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has garnered growing interest owing to its high tissue penetration depth and minimal side effects. However, the lack of efficient sonosensitizers remains the primary limiting factor for the clinical application of this treatment method. Here, defect-repaired graphene phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets are prepared and utilized for enhanced SDT in anti-tumor treatment. After defect engineering optimization, the bulk defects of g-C3N4 are significantly reduced, resulting in higher crystallinity and exhibiting a polyheptazine imide (PHI) structure. Due to the more extended conjugated structure of PHI, facilitating faster charge transfer on the surface, it exhibits superior SDT performance for inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. This work focuses on introducing a novel carbon nitride nanomaterial as a sonosensitizer and a strategy for optimizing sonosensitizer performance by reducing bulk defects.

Integrating Explicit and Implicit Fullerene Models into UNRES Force Field for Protein Interaction Studies

Fullerenes, particularly C60, exhibit unique properties that make them promising candidates for various applications, including drug delivery and nanomedicine. However, their interactions with biomolecules, especially proteins, remain not fully understood. This study implements both explicit and implicit C60 models into the UNRES coarse-grained force field, enabling the investigation of fullerene-protein interactions without the need for restraints to stabilize protein structures. The UNRES force field offers computational efficiency, allowing for longer timescale simulations while maintaining accuracy. Five model proteins were studied: FK506 binding protein, HIV-1 protease, intestinal fatty acid binding protein, PCB-binding protein, and hen egg-white lysozyme. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed with and without C60 to assess protein stability and investigate the impact of fullerene interactions. Analysis of contact probabilities reveals distinct interaction patterns for each protein. FK506 binding protein (1FKF) shows specific binding sites, while intestinal fatty acid binding protein (1ICN) and uteroglobin (1UTR) exhibit more generalized interactions. The explicit C60 model shows good agreement with all-atom simulations in predicting protein flexibility, the position of C60 in the binding pocket, and the estimation of effective binding energies. The integration of explicit and implicit C60 models into the UNRES force field, coupled with recent advances in coarse-grained modeling and multiscale approaches, provides a powerful framework for investigating protein-nanoparticle interactions at biologically relevant scales without the need to use restraints stabilizing the protein, thus allowing for large conformational changes to occur. These computational tools, in synergy with experimental techniques, can aid in understanding the mechanisms and consequences of nanoparticle-biomolecule interactions, guiding the design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Electronic and structural properties of Möbius boron-nitride and carbon nanobelts

For the development of nanofilters and nanosensors, we wish to know the impact of size on their geometric, electronic, and thermal stabilities. Using the semiempirical tight binding method as implemented in the xTB program, we characterized Möbius boron-nitride and carbon-based nanobelts with different sizes and compared them to each other and to normal nanobelts. The calculated properties include the infrared spectra, the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), the energy gap, the chemical potential, and the molecular hardness. The agreement between the peak positions from theoretical infrared spectra compared with experimental ones for all systems validates the methodology that we used. Our findings show that for the boron-nitride-based nanobelts, the calculated properties have an opposite monotonic relationship with the size of the systems, whereas for the carbon-based nanobelts, the properties show the same monotonic relationship for both types of nanobelts. Also, the torsion presented on the Möbius nanobelts, in the case of boron-nitride, induced an inhomogeneous surface distribution for the HOMO orbitals. High-temperature molecular dynamics also allowed us to contrast carbon-based systems with boron-nitride systems at various temperatures. In all cases, the properties vary with the increase in size of the nanobelts, indicating that it is possible to choose the desired values by changing the size and type of the systems. This work has many implications for future studies, for example our results show that carbon-based nanobelts did not break as we increased the temperature, whereas boron-nitride nanobelts had a rupture temperature that varied with their size; this is a meaningful result that can be tested when the use of more accurate simulation methods become practical for such systems in the future.

Nanozyme-Enhanced Electrochemical Biosensors: Mechanisms and Applications

Nanozymes, as innovative materials, have demonstrated remarkable potential in the field of electrochemical biosensors. This article provides an overview of the mechanisms and extensive practical applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors. First, the definition and characteristics of nanozymes are introduced, emphasizing their significant role in constructing efficient sensors. Subsequently, several common categories of nanozyme materials are delved into, including metal-based, carbon-based, metal-organic framework, and layered double hydroxide nanostructures, discussing their applications in electrochemical biosensors. Regarding their mechanisms, two key roles of nanozymes are particularly focused in electrochemical biosensors: selective enhancement and signal amplification, which crucially support the enhancement of sensor performance. In terms of practical applications, the widespread use of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors are showcased in various domains. From detecting biomolecules, pollutants, nucleic acids, proteins, to cells, providing robust means for high-sensitivity detection. Furthermore, insights into the future development of nanozyme-based electrochemical biosensors is provided, encompassing improvements and optimizations of nanozyme materials, innovative sensor design and integration, and the expansion of application fields through interdisciplinary collaboration. In conclusion, this article systematically presents the mechanisms and applications of nanozymes in electrochemical biosensors, offering valuable references and prospects for research and development in this field.

Carbon Nanomaterial Fluorescent Probes and Their Biological Applications

Fluorescent carbon nanomaterials have broadly useful chemical and photophysical attributes that are conducive to applications in biology. In this review, we focus on materials whose photophysics allow for the use of these materials in biomedical and environmental applications, with emphasis on imaging, biosensing, and cargo delivery. The review focuses primarily on graphitic carbon nanomaterials including graphene and its derivatives, carbon nanotubes, as well as carbon dots and carbon nanohoops. Recent advances in and future prospects of these fields are discussed at depth, and where appropriate, references to reviews pertaining to older literature are provided.

Asymmetric disturbance and permeabilization of bilayer membranes by 3-nm carbon dots

Small-sized fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) are gaining increasing attention in the field of biomedical applications. The environmental and biological compatibility of positively charged CDs has been extensively investigated; however, the potential cytotoxicity caused by negatively and particularly neutrally charged small CDs has been significantly overlooked. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation into the cellular membrane disruption effect of weakly negatively charged 3-nm CDs using a combination of various biophysical techniques. Our findings demonstrate that even at a low concentration of 0.5 μg mL-1, these CDs induce significant perturbations on the cellular membrane, resulting in increased membrane permeability due to asymmetric disruption of the bilayer structure. Furthermore, CDs exhibit distinct mechanisms at different concentrations, including prompt insertion into the bilayer at low concentrations (<20 μg mL-1) and a synergistic effect after a threshold time at high concentrations (e.g., 25-200 μg mL-1). Moreover, these CDs possess specific antibacterial properties against Acinetobacter baumannii (with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 μg mL-1) while showing minimal hemolytic or cytotoxic effects on mammalian cells. This study provides comprehensive insights into the biophysical aspects of cellular membrane toxicity caused by small weakly negatively charged CDs and contributes to assessing their potential biomedical applications.

Lawsonia inermis-organically modified chitosan intercalated bentonite clay: A multifunctional nanotheranostic system for controlled drug delivery, sensing and cellular imaging

This study presents the development of organo-bentonites (OBs); a cost-effective drug delivery system holding both sensing and imaging capabilities. The OBs were synthesized using quaternary ammonium cations derived from chitosan, Lawsonia inermis, and pyrene/anthracene carboxaldehyde combinations through a three-step process: Mannich reaction, quaternization, and intercalation. Physicochemical characterization confirms the organic modification of bentonite. The OBs: NQPB and NQAB hold substantial ciprofloxacin (Cipro) loading capacities (71.51 % and 78.04 %, respectively) and exhibit pH-dependent release profiles, suggesting their potential use as drug delivery platforms. Cell viability evaluation by MTT and live-dead assays indicates favourable results. Both OBs demonstrate fluorescence within the 450-500 nm range, and they display concentration-dependent fluorescence quenching and enhancement for NQPB and NQAB, respectively, in the presence of tryptophan (Trp), making them suitable for its detection. Confocal analysis further enunciates the live intracellular fluorescence upon OB uptake. In summary, the intrinsically fluorescent mesoporous OBs synthesized from Lawsonia inermis and chitosan exhibit multifunctionality, including Cipro delivery, Trp sensing, and live cell imaging. Among the OBs, NQAB could be considered as a promising theranostic platform owing to its superior cytocompatibility (>80 %), appreciable fluorescence, and controlled release profile.

Neurodiagnostic and neurotherapeutic potential of graphene nanomaterials

Graphene has emerged as a highly promising nanomaterial for a variety of advanced technologies, including batteries, energy, electronics, and biotechnologies. Its recent contribution to neurotechnology is particularly noteworthy because its superior conductivity, chemical resilience, biocompatibility, thermal stability, and scalable nature make it well-suited for measuring brain activity and plasticity in health and disease. Graphene-mediated compounds are microfabricated in two central methods: chemical processes with natural graphite and chemical vapor deposition of graphene in a film form. They are widely used as biosensors and bioelectronics for neurodiagnostic and neurotherapeutic purposes in several brain disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, glioma, epilepsy, tinnitus, and Alzheimer's disease. This review provides an overview of studies that have demonstrated the technical advances of graphene nanomaterials in neuroscientific and clinical applications. We also discuss current limitations and future demands in relation to the clinical application of graphene, highlighting its potential technological and clinical significance for treating brain disorders. Our review underscores the potential of graphene nanomaterials as powerful tools for advancing the understanding of the brain and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Advanced Nanomaterials in Medical 3D Printing

3D printing is now recognized as a significant tool for medical research and clinical practice, leading to the emergence of medical 3D printing technology. It is essential to improve the properties of 3D-printed products to meet the demand for medical use. The core of generating qualified 3D printing products is to develop advanced materials and processes. Taking advantage of nanomaterials with tunable and distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties, integrating nanotechnology into 3D printing creates new opportunities for advancing medical 3D printing field. Recently, some attempts are made to improve medical 3D printing through nanotechnology, providing new insights into developing advanced medical 3D printing technology. With high-resolution 3D printing technology, nano-structures can be directly fabricated for medical applications. Incorporating nanomaterials into the 3D printing material system can improve the properties of the 3D-printed medical products. At the same time, nanomaterials can be used to expand novel medical 3D printing technologies. This review introduced the strategies and progresses of improving medical 3D printing through nanotechnology and discussed challenges in clinical translation.

Nanotechnology's frontier in combatting infectious and inflammatory diseases: prevention and treatment

Inflammation-associated diseases encompass a range of infectious diseases and non-infectious inflammatory diseases, which continuously pose one of the most serious threats to human health, attributed to factors such as the emergence of new pathogens, increasing drug resistance, changes in living environments and lifestyles, and the aging population. Despite rapid advancements in mechanistic research and drug development for these diseases, current treatments often have limited efficacy and notable side effects, necessitating the development of more effective and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies. In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided crucial technological support for the prevention, treatment, and detection of inflammation-associated diseases. Various types of nanoparticles (NPs) play significant roles, serving as vaccine vehicles to enhance immunogenicity and as drug carriers to improve targeting and bioavailability. NPs can also directly combat pathogens and inflammation. In addition, nanotechnology has facilitated the development of biosensors for pathogen detection and imaging techniques for inflammatory diseases. This review categorizes and characterizes different types of NPs, summarizes their applications in the prevention, treatment, and detection of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It also discusses the challenges associated with clinical translation in this field and explores the latest developments and prospects. In conclusion, nanotechnology opens up new possibilities for the comprehensive management of infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Carbon-based nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Carbon nanomaterials have attracted significant attention in the biomedical field, including for biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications. Based on their inherent properties such as their unique structure and high conductivity, carbon nanomaterials can overcome the current limitations in biomedical research such as poor stability of biomolecules, low sensitivity and selectivity of biosensors, and difficulty in precise drug delivery. In addition, recently, several novel nanomaterials have been integrated with carbon nanomaterials to develop carbon-based nanocomposites for application in biomedical research. In this review, we discuss recent studies on carbon-based nanocomposites and their biomedical applications. First, we discuss the representative carbon nanomaterials and nanocomposites composed of carbon and other novel nanomaterials. Next, applications of carbon nanomaterials and nanocomposites in the biomedical field are discussed according to topics in the biomedical field. We have discussed the recent studies on biosensors, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. In conclusion, we believe that this review provides the potential and applicability of carbon nanomaterials and their nanocomposites and suggests future directions of the application of carbon-based nanocomposites in biomedical applications.

Unveiling the regioselectivity of rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions for open-cage C70 production

The regioselective functionalization of fullerenes holds significant promise for applications in the fields of medicinal chemistry, materials science, and photovoltaics. In this study, we investigate the regioselectivity of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions between diynes and C70 as a novel procedure for generating C70 bis(fulleroid) derivatives. The aim is to shed light on the regioselectivity of the process through both experimental and computational approaches. In addition, the photooxidation of one of the C-C double bonds in the synthesized bis(fulleroids) affords open-cage C70 derivatives having a 12-membered ring opening.

Luminescent Chiral Furanol-PAHs via Straightforward Ni-Catalysed Csp2 -F Functionalization: Mechanistic Insights into the Scholl Reaction

Here we report the stepwise synthesis of new nanographenes (NGs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) obtained via Scholl ring fusion applied at aromatic homologation compounds, which are obtained through one-step Ni-catalysed Csp2 -F functionalization. The latter are rapidly accessed valid precursors for the Scholl reaction, and screening of experimental conditions allowed us to describe for the first time furanol-bearing PAHs. Mechanistic insights are obtained by DFT to rationalize the formation of the furanol PAHs under moderately acidic conditions. All PAHs and NGs synthesized show moderate/weak fluorescent properties, and all PAHs crystallized show some degree of curvature and are obtained as racemic mixtures. Enantiomeric separation by chiral HPLC of one furanol-bearing PAH allowed the study of their chiroptical CD properties.

Effects of mechanical properties of carbon-based nanocomposites on scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: a comprehensive review

Mechanical properties, such as elasticity modulus, tensile strength, elongation, hardness, density, creep, toughness, brittleness, durability, stiffness, creep rupture, corrosion and wear, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, and fatigue limit, are some of the most important features of a biomaterial in tissue engineering applications. Furthermore, the scaffolds used in tissue engineering must exhibit mechanical and biological behaviour close to the target tissue. Thus, a variety of materials has been studied for enhancing the mechanical performance of composites. Carbon-based nanostructures, such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), fibrous carbon nanostructures, and nanodiamonds (NDs), have shown great potential for this purpose. This is owing to their biocompatibility, high chemical and physical stability, ease of functionalization, and numerous surface functional groups with the capability to form covalent bonds and electrostatic interactions with other components in the composite, thus significantly enhancing their mechanical properties. Considering the outstanding capabilities of carbon nanostructures in enhancing the mechanical properties of biocomposites and increasing their applicability in tissue engineering and the lack of comprehensive studies on their biosafety and role in increasing the mechanical behaviour of scaffolds, a comprehensive review on carbon nanostructures is provided in this study.

π-π Interaction-Induced Organic Long-wavelength Room-Temperature Phosphorescence for In Vivo Atherosclerotic Plaque Imaging

Room-temperature phosphorescent (RTP) materials have great potential for in vivo imaging because they can circumvent the autofluorescence of biological tissues. In this study, a class of organic-doped long-wavelength (≈600 nm) RTP materials with benzo[c][1,2,5] thiadiazole as a guest was constructed. Both host and guest molecules have simple structures and can be directly purchased commercially at a low cost. Owing to the long phosphorescence wavelength of the doping system, it exhibited good tissue penetration (10 mm). Notably, these RTP nanoparticles were successfully used to image atherosclerotic plaques, with a signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of 44.52. This study provides a new approach for constructing inexpensive red organic phosphorescent materials and a new method for imaging cardiovascular diseases using these materials.

Linear Extension of Carbaporphyrin Chromophores: Synthesis, Protonation, and Metalation of Anthro[2,3-b]carbaporphyrins: Evidence for 30π-Electron Aromatic Circuits in a Palladium(II) Complex

Acid-catalyzed condensation of a naphtho[2,3-f]indane dialdehyde with a tripyrrane, followed by an oxidation step, afforded an anthro[2,3-b]-21-carbaporphyrin. The presence of a fused anthracene unit induced minor bathochromic shifts and did not significantly affect the aromatic characteristics of the carbaporphyrin core. Protonation led to the formation of a monocation with similar diatropic properties, but the dication generated in the presence of a large excess of trifluoroacetic acid had a weakened Soret band absorption and a broad absorption at 754 nm. Nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations indicate that the dication is only weakly aromatic and possesses a 32-atom 30π electron delocalization pathway. Alkylation with methyl iodide and potassium carbonate gave a 22-methyl derivative that reacted with palladium(II) acetate to afford an aromatic palladium(II) complex. Upon heating, the methyl group migrated from the nitrogen to the internal carbon atom and the resulting complex exhibited diminished aromatic character. A comparison with related carbaporphyrin complexes without ring fusion or with benzo- or naphtho-fused units demonstrated that the diatropic character decreased with increasing conjugation. NICS calculations and anisotropy of induced current density (AICD) plots confirmed this trend and showed that the remaining aromatic properties of the anthrocarbaporphyrin complex were due to a 30π electron circuit that extends around the entire anthracene unit.

Roadmap on multifunctional materials for drug delivery

This Roadmap on drug delivery aims to cover some of the most recent advances in the field of materials for drug delivery systems (DDSs) and emphasizes the role that multifunctional materials play in advancing the performance of modern DDSs in the context of the most current challenges presented. The Roadmap is comprised of multiple sections, each of which introduces the status of the field, the current and future challenges faced, and a perspective of the required advances necessary for biomaterial science to tackle these challenges. It is our hope that this collective vision will contribute to the initiation of conversation and collaboration across all areas of multifunctional materials for DDSs. We stress that this article is not meant to be a fully comprehensive review but rather an up-to-date snapshot of different areas of research, with a minimal number of references that focus upon the very latest research developments.