Structure-dependent thermochromism of PAZO thin films: theory and experiment

• Georgi Mateev,
• Dean Dimov,
• Nataliya Berberova-Buhova,
• Nikoleta Kircheva,
• Todor Dudev,
• Ludmila Nikolova,
• Elena Stoykova,
• Keehoon Hong,
• Dimana Nazarova,
• Silvia Angelova and
• Lian Nedelchev

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 186–199, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.12

• relationship between the structural organization of the polymer side chains and temperature-induced optical changes. By combining experimental spectroscopic techniques with theoretical modeling, we demonstrate that the thermochromic response of PAZO films is strongly influenced by molecular aggregation, film

• physicochemical, optoelectronic, and even biophysical properties creates myriad opportunities for their application, especially as polymer thin films [1][2]. These films are widely used in modern life as they can be easily tailored to have specific properties like high conductivity, optical transparency, or

• polymers in thin films are known to markedly differ from those observed in the bulk, with significant differences in glass transition behavior, diffusion, and viscoelastic properties [4]. The assembly of polymer molecules from solution to solid state play a critical role in determining thin film morphology

From shield to spear: Charge-reversible nanocarriers in overcoming cancer therapy barriers

• Madhuri Yeduvaka,
• Pooja Mittal,
• Ameer Boyalakuntla,
• Usman Bee Shaik,
• Himanshu Sharma,
• Thakur Gurjeet Singh,
• Siva Nageswara Rao Gajula and
• Lakshmi Vineela Nalla

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 159–175, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.10

• siRNA within lysosomes via protonation-induced release [21]. Similarly, a study presented a polymer nanocarrier with acid-triggered charge reversal achieving >60% drug release within 48 h at lysosomal pH 5.0, compared to less than 10% release at physiological pH 7.4. The system used tethered imidazole

• photothermal therapy and chemotherapy by encapsulating the HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG within UCST-type polymer-modified gold nanorods. Upon 1064 nm irradiation, they exhibit 65.1% photothermal conversion efficiency and trigger heat-induced 17-AAG release, achieving 98.86% of tumour growth inhibition in mice [57

• radiation compared to that under conventional methods. These dual-functionality CRNs improved drug delivery precision and enhanced the overall effectiveness of radiotherapy [61]. A study by Liu et al. developed the nanoscale coordination polymer Hf-nIm@PEG (HNP), which integrates hafnium ions (Hf4+) with 2

Influence of surface characteristics on the in vitro stability and cell uptake of nanoliposomes for brain delivery

• Dushko Shalabalija,
• Ljubica Mihailova,
• Nikola Geskovski,
• Andreas Zimmer,
• Otmar Geiss,
• Sabrina Gioria,
• Diletta Scaccabarozzi and
• Marija Glavas Dodov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 139–158, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.9

• (ethylene glycol) with a fixed concentration different than that used in the present study), examining their cellular uptake at a single time point. The results highlighted that both the type of nanocarrier and the nature of the surface polymer critically influence nanoparticle–cell interactions, including

• chains on the liposome surface is expected to be increased and be characterized with a“dense brush” conformation as steric hindrances restrict movement and self-coiling of the grafted polymer [44]. This fact is supported by the literature data that confirms that nanosystems characterized by “dense brush

Development and in vitro evaluation of liposomes and immunoliposomes containing 5-fluorouracil and R-phycoerythrin as a potential phototheranostic system for colorectal cancer

• Raissa Rodrigues Camelo,
• Vivianne Cortez Sombra Vandesmet,
• Octavio Vital Baccallini,
• José de Brito Vieira Neto,
• Thais da Silva Moreira,
• Luzia Kalyne Almeida Moreira Leal,
• Claudia Pessoa,
• Daniel Giuliano Cerri,
• Maria Vitória Lopes Badra Bentley,
• Josimar O. Eloy,
• Ivanildo José da Silva Júnior and
• Raquel Petrilli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 97–121, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.7

• polymer is known to reduce protein corona formation and confer greater stability in biological media [69][70]. In immunoliposomes, a tendency for size and PDI to increase after 24–48 h of incubation was observed, suggesting possible adsorption of serum proteins and/or reorganization of antibody chains on

Functional surface engineering for cultural heritage protection: the role of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic coatings – a comprehensive review

• Giuseppe Cesare Lama,
• Marino Lavorgna,
• Letizia Verdolotti,
• Federica Recupido,
• Giovanna Giuliana Buonocore and
• Bharat Bhushan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 63–96, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.6

• conservation challenges. Application of the PHB–EL–DFO gel on these mock-ups demonstrated its ability to safely and efficiently remove both corrosion products and polymer coatings, even when coatings penetrated the corrosion layer. The gel was prepared at 110 °C and cooled to form a malleable, easy-to-use

• without potential residues. Sustainability is also partially met; the process is water-based and free from hazardous reagents, yet its reliance on synthetic polyelectrolytes reduces its ecological advantage compared to fully bio-derived alternatives. There are reported examples of polymer-based coatings

• labeled F-WPU@ZIF-8/ Ti3C2Tx. The two nanomaterials (the MOF ZIF-8 and the 2D MXene Ti3C2Tx), synthesized and dispersed uniformly before being incorporated into the WPU matrix and sprayed onto the bronze substrates, were aimed to fill microcracks and structural defects in the polymer matrix, improving

Chiral plasmonic nanostructures fabricated with circularly polarized light

• Tian Qiao and
• Ming Lee Tang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2245–2264, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.154

• solutions by sonicating the substrates in an aqueous solution of surfactant. 2.4 Plasmon-mediated polymer motions and polymerization using CPL The enhanced EM field under CPL of achiral PNSs can result in a spatially dissymmetric distribution of light absorption by chromophores. As depicted in Figure 5a

• , CPL resulted in a chiral electric field distribution around an achiral gold meta molecule comprised of three gold discs [107]. This meta molecule was coated with an azobenzene-containing polymer that undergoes a conformational change upon photon absorption, inducing molecular movement. This movement

• can lead to a significant displacement of the polymer backbone, with the degree of displacement being dependent on the strength of the electric field under CPL. Chiral topographic changes due to the polymer displacement were observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Similar observations were made

Optical bio/chemical sensors for vitamin B₁₂ analysis in food and pharmaceuticals: state of the art, challenges, and future outlooks

• Seyed Mohammad Taghi Gharibzahedi and
• Zeynep Altintas

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2207–2244, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.153

Microplastic pollution in Himalayan lakes: assessment, risks, and sustainable remediation strategies

• Sameeksha Rawat,
• S. M. Tauseef and
• Madhuben Sharma

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2144–2167, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.148

• safe for the environment. Photocatalysis produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), which attack polymer chains and cause oxidative cleavage. Studies have shown that, under ideal circumstances, this process is quite successful in degrading polymers such as PS [74]. Bionanomaterials, which are composite

• , attack the polymer chains of MPs. They either break the chains into smaller pieces or mineralize them into CO2 and water. A lot of research is being done on the photocatalytic properties of nanomaterials like TiO2, graphene oxide (GO), and ZnO. An excellent material for breaking down MPs in water systems

Molecular and mechanical insights into gecko seta adhesion: multiscale simulations combining molecular dynamics and the finite element method

• Yash Jain,
• Saeed Norouzi,
• Tobias Materzok,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Florian Müller-Plathe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2055–2076, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.141

• step, ΔtMD, the number of MD steps per iteration, nMD, and the number of iterations per load step, niter: Using this time and the imposed strain per load step εls, the pull-off velocity is set as In our previous work [46][47][48][49][50] on bulk polymer models, we found that prescribing a displacement

• of around 0.004–0.1% of the system size per load step was effective. For our seta model, a 1 nm displacement is 0.004% of the initial height. Furthermore, a parameter study for our polymer models [47] showed that should be small enough (50–100% of a polymer bond length) to avoid a excessively large

• /s. For a displacement (εls) of 1 nm and a velocity () of 0.7 m/s, our load step time (Δtls) then corresponded to 1.4 ns according to Equation 11. The parameter study for our previous multiscale polymer models [47] showed that such an approach, in general, is robust with respect to the number of

Beyond the shell: exploring polymer–lipid interfaces in core–shell nanofibers to carry hyaluronic acid and β-caryophyllene

• Aline Tavares da Silva Barreto,
• Francisco Alexandrino-Júnior,
• Bráulio Soares Arcanjo,
• Paulo Henrique de Souza Picciani and
• Kattya Gyselle de Holanda e Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2015–2033, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.139

• membrane applications. Thermal and crystalline analyses demonstrated improved thermal stability upon NE-βCp incorporation. Collectively, these results provide robust evidence for the feasibility of producing multifunctional nanofiber membranes that successfully integrate a polymer–lipid hybrid core

• process variables, such as high voltage, flow rate, and the distance from the Taylor cone to the collector, which significantly impacts nanofiber morphology [17]. Furthermore, selection of the material to be electrospun is crucial, requiring control over key attributes such as molecular weight, polymer

• concentration, surface tension, conductivity, and solvent volatility, alongside careful consideration of electrospinning conditions, such as temperature and humidity [18][19]. The polymer selection of nanofibers intended for biomedical applications must prioritize not only mechanical strength, controlled

PEGylated lipids in lipid nanoparticle delivery dynamics and therapeutic innovation

• Peiyang Gao

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1914–1930, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.133

• Flory radius (RPEG) of PEG and the interchain distance (D). According to polymer scaling theory, when D exceeds twice RF (D > 2RPEG), chains exist as isolated mushrooms with minimal overlap, enabling protein penetration to the nanoparticle surface. Experimental validation using quartz crystal

• below 0.2 in pSar55 polymer-incorporated LNP. Moreover, this reduced antibody binding was found to be pSar-unit-dependent. It was observed that pSar with 10 and 15 units provided only partial reduction, while the 55-unit pSar showed nearly complete suppression of antibody binding. Although not further

• lower than anti-PEG IgM during the repeated administrations. While it is argued that PEG alternatives may still elicit immune recognition through other pathways, this analysis is insightful to support that DMG-PEOZ2k lipid induces a markedly milder IgM response. Notably, this reduction in anti-polymer

Current status of using adsorbent nanomaterials for removing microplastics from water supply systems: a mini review

• Nguyen Thi Nhan and
• Tran Le Luu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1837–1850, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.127

• modified to interact with different polymer compositions of MPs, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS). The main mechanisms of MP removal depend on their structural and chemical properties, as shown in Figure 2 [50][51][52]. Many studies have been conducted to clarify the

• depends on polymer type and particle size. In contrast, nanomaterials show higher and more significant removal efficiency, in some cases exceeding 99%. Particularly, multifunctional materials (e.g., Fe3O4@PDA-lipase nanoparticles or MOFs) combine adsorption, magnetic recovery, and even catalytic

Further insights into the thermodynamics of linear carbon chains for temperatures ranging from 13 to 300 K

• Alexandre Rocha Paschoal,
• Thiago Alves de Moura,
• Juan S. Rodríguez-Hernández,
• Carlos William de Araujo Paschoal,
• Yoong Ahm Kim,
• Morinobu Endo and
• Paulo T. Araujo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1818–1825, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.125

• , Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487, USA Departamento de Ensino, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), 62580-000, Acarau, Ceara, Brazil Department of Polymer Engineering, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, and Alan G. MacDiarmid Energy Research Institute, Chonnam National

Electrical, photocatalytic, and sensory properties of graphene oxide and polyimide implanted with low- and medium-energy silver ions

• Josef Novák,
• Eva Štěpanovská,
• Petr Malinský,
• Vlastimil Mazánek,
• Jan Luxa,
• Ulrich Kentsch and
• Zdeněk Sofer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1794–1811, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.123

• multifunctional behavior of polymer systems. Keywords: ERDA; graphene oxide; ion implantation; photocatalysis; polyimide; RBS; Introduction Silver ion implantation is an effective strategy for controlling modification of the physicochemical properties of polymers and graphene-based materials. This method allows

• for the precise introduction of implanted atoms into the surface layers without the need for subsequent chemical modification, thus opening new possibilities in the development of functional thin films. In this study, Ag ions were used to modify polymer matrices to improve chemical and electronic

• controlled modification of the electrical properties of dielectric and semiconducting materials [7]. When Ag ions are implanted into polymer substrates, such as polyimide (PI) or graphene oxide (GO), fundamental changes occur at the molecular and electronic levels, leading to a significant decrease in the

Exploring the potential of polymers: advancements in oral nanocarrier technology

• Rousilândia de Araujo Silva,
• Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda,
• Luise Lopes Chaves,
• Mônica Felts de La Roca Soares and
• Jose Lamartine Soares Sobrinho

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1751–1793, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.122

• developing diverse nanocarriers for oral applications, and this review provides a valuable theoretical foundation for understanding the strategies currently employed in this field. Keywords: drug delivery; nanoparticle; oral administration; polymer; polymeric nanoparticle; Review 1 Introduction The oral

• . Therefore, different polymer surfaces impact the NPs’ fate in the GIT in a different way [20]. Polymers are classified as either natural, derived from natural products, or synthetic, chemically synthesized from monomers. Examples of natural polymers include chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid. Synthetic

• (Figure 2A), resulting in a uniform dispersion of active compounds within the polymer [29][30]. The encapsulation of drugs in nanocapsules and nanospheres correlates with their biopharmaceutical characteristics, which are directly linked to oral absorption. Amidon et al. [31], through studies correlating

Prospects of nanotechnology and natural products for cancer and immunotherapy

• Jan Filipe Andrade Santos,
• Marcela Bernardes Brasileiro,
• Pamela Danielle Cavalcante Barreto,
• Ligiane Aranha Rocha and
• José Adão Carvalho Nascimento Júnior

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1644–1667, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.116

• , cellular absorption, and slow release of drugs [38]. Polymeric nanoparticles are colloidal polymer systems used as drug carriers for targeted therapies and diagnostics [39]. Gold nanoparticles have properties such as chemical reactivity, anti-inflammatory effects, and protein-binding abilities, while

Venom-loaded cationic-functionalized poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles for serum production against Tityus serrulatus scorpion

• Philippe de Castro Mesquita,
• Karla Samara Rocha Soares,
• Manoela Torres-Rêgo,
• Emanuell dos Santos-Silva,
• Mariana Farias Alves-Silva,
• Alianda Maira Cornélio,
• Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa and
• Arnóbio Antônio da Silva-Júnior

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1633–1643, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.115

• -loaded PLA nanoparticles were fabricated by nanoprecipitation methods. In this technique, the PLA nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by low-energy solvent displacement and functionalized with polyethylenimine (cationic polymer) for the T. serrulatus protein adsorption. The NPs showed a mean diameter of

• nanoparticles was functionalized with PEI, a hydrophilic polymer that provides a positive surface charge. This modification enhances high macromolecule loading or improves the cell interaction and cellular uptake [22][33][34]. The cationic character induces biomolecules with negative charges, such as proteins

• a certain advantage over the polymer, and it is responsible for the nanoparticle cationic character, ensuring binding of venom proteins. Similar results were obtained using the ionic affinity interaction to bind negatively charged proteins of the T. serrulatus scorpion venom to the amine groups of

Nanotechnology-based approaches for the removal of microplastics from wastewater: a comprehensive review

• Nayanathara O Sanjeev,
• Manjunath Singanodi Vallabha and
• Rebekah Rubidha Lisha Rabi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1607–1632, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.114

• oxidation mechanisms. These processes generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) through methods such as photocatalysis, ozonation, and electrochemical activation, which effectively break down the polymer chains of MPs, leading to their mineralization. The primary AOP techniques used for removing MPs from water

• radicals attack weak points in the polymer chains, typically structural flaws or chromophoric sites. This attack generates low-molecular-weight alkyl radicals within polyethylene. These reactive species then trigger various transformations, including chain cleavage, branching, crosslinking, and oxidation

• . Interaction with oxygen forms peroxy radicals, which extract hydrogen atoms from the polymer backbone, creating hydroperoxide intermediates. These intermediates break down into alkoxy radicals, which further react to produce carbonyl and vinyl groups, markers of advanced photo-oxidation. The presence of these

Bioinspired polypropylene-based functionally graded materials and metamaterials modeling the mistletoe–host interface

• Lina M. Rojas González,
• Naeim Ghavidelnia,
• Christoph Eberl and
• Max D. Mylo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1592–1606, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.113

• -reinforced polypropylene and exhibits a continuously graded mistletoe-inspired V-shaped interface. Microtomographic analyses quantified the gradual transition of the glass fiber content along one specimen from 0 to 30%, further revealing the random fiber orientation in the polymer matrix. Tensile tests

• control [38]. However, their work is limited to bimaterial structures, and they are unable to produce continuous graduated materials due to limitations in their manufacturing method. This study aims to establish a polymer-based hot-compression FGM material system that overcomes the limitations of additive

• moduli are manufacturer’s data and were obtained by testing injection molded specimens. The polymer blends were extruded using a co-rotating twin-screw microcompounder (XPlore 15 mL, Sittard, Netherlands) at a screw speed of 120 rpm, a barrel temperature of 200 °C and a processing time of 90 s. Five

Transient electronics for sustainability: Emerging technologies and future directions

• Jae-Young Bae,
• Myung-Kyun Choi and
• Seung-Kyun Kang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1545–1556, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.109

• discourse, it has long been recognized in several application domains. For instance, biodegradable polymer-based materials have been extensively explored as environmentally benign alternatives that do not leave persistent residues [4]. Similarly, in the realm of implantable medical devices, efforts have

• mechanical flexibility of bioresorbable polymers have emerged as a representative form of transient electronics [14]. A typical example includes devices that integrate inorganic silicon nanomembranes or metal oxide semiconductors on bioresorbable polymer substrates such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA

• ) or silk, enabling implantable sensors, stimulators, or power harvesters that degrade harmlessly after use. For simple sensor devices, direct deposition of inorganic materials onto bioresorbable polymer substrates using shadow masks has been employed [14][48][63][64]. For example, conductive materials

Dendrimer-modified carbon nanotubes for the removal and recovery of heavy metal ions from water

• Thao Quynh Ngan Tran,
• Huu Trung Nguyen,
• Subodh Kumar and
• Xuan Thang Cao

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1522–1532, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.107

• In this study, we successfully functionalized MA onto the surface of CNTs via Diels–Alder reaction, utilizing a DES as a catalytic medium. This functionalization provided a facile platform for further successive reactions of EDA and MA to grow multibranched polymer networks. Dendrimerized CNTs were

Cross-reactivities in conjugation reactions involving iron oxide nanoparticles

• Shoronia N. Cross,
• Katalin V. Korpany,
• Hanine Zakaria and
• Amy Szuchmacher Blum

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1504–1521, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.106

• other IONP preparations. A thick polymer shell may protect the IONPs from these cross-reactivities, but this also significantly increases their hydrodynamic diameter, which may not be favorable, depending on the application. Regardless, proper controls should be performed and reported to rule out the

Nanomaterials for biomedical applications

• Iqra Zainab,
• Zohra Naseem,
• Syeda Rubab Batool,
• Filippo Pierini,
• Seda Kizilel and
• Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1499–1503, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.105

• recent years, the scientific community has started focusing on what nanocomposites potentially offer. Binding nanoparticles along with biomaterials enhances their strength, flexibility, and durability. For example, adding hydroxyapatite nanoparticles to a polymer can improve bone compatibility, making it

Laser processing in liquids: insights into nanocolloid generation and thin film integration for energy, photonic, and sensing applications

• Akshana Parameswaran Sreekala,
• Pooja Raveendran Nair,
• Jithin Kundalam Kadavath,
• Bindu Krishnan,
• David Avellaneda Avellaneda,
• M. R. Anantharaman and
• Sadasivan Shaji

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1428–1498, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.104

The role of biochar in combating microplastic pollution: a bibliometric analysis in environmental contexts

• Tuan Minh Truong Dang,
• Thao Thu Thi Huynh,
• Guo-Ping Chang-Chien and
• Ha Manh Bui

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1401–1416, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.102

• ecological pollution in agricultural soils [7]. In contrast, wastewater systems in Oman exhibited polymer indices ranging from moderate to extreme danger, emphasizing the need for enhanced MP removal technologies [12]. These findings highlight the pervasive nature of MP contamination across terrestrial and