Polymer nanoparticles from low-energy nanoemulsions for biomedical applications

• Santiago Grijalvo and
• Carlos Rodriguez-Abreu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 339–350, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.29

• , particularly by the phase inversion composition method, and the use of these nanoemulsions as templates for the preparation of polymer nanoparticles for biomedical applications are reviewed. The methods of preparation, nature of the components in the formulation, and their impact on the physicochemical

• , nanoparticle concentration, surface functionalization, and the type of polymers that can be processed. Keywords: ethyl cellulose; nanoemulsions; nanomedicine; phase inversion composition (PIC) method; PLGA; polymer nanoparticles; polyuria; polyurethane; surfactants; Review 1 Introduction The field of

• research on the fabrication of polymer nanoparticles from low-energy nanoemulsions, focusing on phase inversion composition. We particularly emphasize their biomedical applications as drug carriers. 2 Nanoemulsions Nanoemulsions are constituted by nanoscale droplets (20–200 nm) dispersed in a continuous

Nanotechnology – a robust tool for fighting the challenges of drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer

• Filip Gorachinov,
• Fatima Mraiche,
• Diala Alhaj Moustafa,
• Ola Hishari,
• Yomna Ismail,
• Jensa Joseph,
• Maja Simonoska Crcarevska,
• Marija Glavas Dodov,
• Nikola Geskovski and
• Katerina Goracinova

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 240–261, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.23

• targeting motifs, multifunctional and multistage nanomicelles and polymer nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid nanocarriers, combined with precision oncology research to identify additional targetable biomarkers, have emerged. Some have been applied in the co-delivery of clinically relevant combinations

• of molecularly targeted drugs, chemotherapeutic agents, and siRNA. Historically, the most promising first-generation, passive targeting, stealth polymer NPs for anticancer drug/gene delivery are hydrophobic core–hydrophilic shell NPs including (i) self-assembled kinetically stable amphiphilic block

• copolymer core–shell NPs, (ii) polymer–polypeptide hybrid core–shell NPs, and (iii) polymer–lipid hybrid core–shell NPs additionally decorated with ligands for overexpressed receptors on cancer cells [92]. Traditionally selected overexpressed cancer cell surface markers for the active targeting of NPs

Cyclodextrins as eminent constituents in nanoarchitectonics for drug delivery systems

• Makoto Komiyama

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 218–232, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.21

• too bulky (and non-planar) and hardly accommodated by the cavity. In many cases, the photoisomerization of azobenzene can proceed smoothly even in nanoarchitectures. For example, photoresponsive supramolecular nanoparticles were prepared from azobenzene-modified β-CyD and a polymer involving α-CyD

• are disassembled to release the encapsulated drugs. β-CyD units have been connected to mesoporous silica nanoparticles via a disulfide linkage, and azobenzene molecules have been bound to a galactose-grafted polymer [49]. Prior to photoirradiation, the trans isomer of azobenzene forms an inclusion

• , only the trans isomer of mAzo efficiently forms inclusion complexes with β-CyD (Figure 2). The surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles was modified with β-CyD and covered with a polymer bearing mAzo units [51]. Drugs were loaded in the pores of the silica nanoparticles. Prior to photoirradiation

A novel approach to pulsed laser deposition of platinum catalyst on carbon particles for use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

• Bogusław Budner,
• Wojciech Tokarz,
• Sławomir Dyjak,
• Andrzej Czerwiński,
• Bartosz Bartosewicz and
• Bartłomiej Jankiewicz

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 190–204, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.19

• an efficient Pt-based catalyst for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by using a cost-effective and efficient physical method to deposit platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) on carbon supports directly from the platinum target. The method developed avoids the chemical functionalization of the

• electric power generation. Among various fuel cells, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have received considerable attention because of several physicochemical advantages over other fuel cell types [1][2][3][4][5]. PEMFCs, constructed of polymer electrolyte membranes as the proton conductor

• cost of PEMFCs depend on the materials used to construct their major components, which are anode, cathode, and polymer electrolyte membranes [3][6]. Therefore, supplying good-performance materials with controlled nanostructures to fuel cell technology is a crucial issue [7]. One solution to this

Structural, optical, and bioimaging characterization of carbon quantum dots solvothermally synthesized from o-phenylenediamine

• Zoran M. Marković,
• Milica D. Budimir,
• Martin Danko,
• Dušan D. Milivojević,
• Pavel Kubat,
• Danica Z. Zmejkoski,
• Vladimir B. Pavlović,
• Marija M. Mojsin,
• Milena J. Stevanović and
• Biljana M. Todorović Marković

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 165–174, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.17

• Belgrade, Serbia Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84 541 Bratislava, Slovakia J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Dolejškova 3, 182 23, Praha 8, Czech Republic Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6

• as polymer-like nanoparticles of amorphous carbon with embedded partially sp2-hybridized atomic domains [8]. In this structure, electrons are partially delocalized over the domain area, but a strong coupling of the amorphous host matrix is maintained continuously. CQDs are well known as chemically

• (nitrogen, chlorine, and fluorine) affected structural properties and ROS production with or without visible light irradiation. In addition, we examined antibacterial and cytotoxic properties. An important issue is the preparation of CQDs and polymer-based composites and their possible antibacterial

Batch preparation of nanofibers containing nanoparticles by an electrospinning device with multiple air inlets

• Dong Wei,
• Chengwei Ye,
• Adnan Ahmed and
• Lan Xu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 141–150, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.15

• force (Ph) caused by the fluctuation height of spinning solution, surface tension (Ps) of the spinning solution, and electric field force (PE) produced by the applied voltage. These forces determine whether a jet could be formed at point A. The polymer fluid surface tension would make the liquid surface

• shrink and bend as much as possible, and the change of external electric field would interact with the accumulated charges on the polymer fluid surface, making the charge density on the charged fluid surface uneven. Accordingly, the formulas to calculate these three forces are as follows: where ρ is the

• density of spinning solution (kg/m3), g is the gravitational acceleration (m/s2), h is the fluctuation height of the polymer spinning solution (m), γ is the surface tension coefficient of the spinning solution (N/m), ε0 is vacuum dielectric constant, E0 is the edge electric field intensity (V/m), Ep is

Antimicrobial and mechanical properties of functionalized textile by nanoarchitectured photoinduced Ag@polymer coating

• Jessica Plé,
• Marine Dabert,
• Helene Lecoq,
• Sophie Hellé,
• Lydie Ploux and
• Lavinia Balan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 95–109, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.11

• photoinduced approach was investigated for textile functionalization with a silver@polymer self-assembled nanocomposite. By exposing the photosensitive formulation containing a silver precursor, a photoinitiator, and acrylic monomers to a UV source, highly reflective metallic coatings were obtained directly on

• nanocomposites exhibited remarkable microbial growth inhibitory effects. Keywords: antimicrobial properties; C. albicans fungus; E. coli bacteria; photoinduced functionalized textile; silver/polymer nanomaterials; Introduction The proliferation of microorganisms is a major concern for health organizations

• adhesion, etc.) [32][33]. The deposition techniques are also costly, time-consuming and restrictive (under vacuum, numerous steps, toxic chemicals, etc.), which limits industrial scale-up options. Nanometal-polymer coatings offer an interesting alternative to the aforementioned metallized textiles. Such

Liquid phase exfoliation of talc: effect of the medium on flake size and shape

• Samuel M. Sousa,
• Helane L. O. Morais,
• Joyce C. C. Santos,
• Ana Paula M. Barboza,
• Bernardo R. A. Neves,
• Elisângela S. Pinto and
• Mariana C. Prado

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 68–78, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.8

• phyllosilicate group [12]. Phyllosilicates are crystalline minerals with a basic Si2O5 composition that exhibit a layer structure, making them ideal candidates for mechanical exfoliation. Talc already has several industrial applications [12], ranging from polymer and ceramics fillers [13][14][15][16] to

Solvent-induced assembly of mono- and divalent silica nanoparticles

• Bin Liu,
• Etienne Duguet and
• Serge Ravaine

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 52–60, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.6

• by liquid bridging [23], and into a series of structures under an AC electric field [24]. The linear self-assembly of patchy gold nanorods tethered with hydrophobic polymer chains at both ends can be triggered by solvophobic attractions induced by a change in solvent quality [25]. By using post

Utilizing the surface potential of a solid electrolyte region as the potential reference in Kelvin probe force microscopy

• Nobuyuki Ishida

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1558–1563, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.129

• the reduction of Ti ions in the solid electrolyte owing to direct contact between the Li metal and solid electrolyte, a poly(ethylene oxide)-based polymer electrolyte film (Osaka Soda Co., Ltd.), denoted PEO, was inserted between them. Before the KPFM measurements, the sample was heated at 150 °C for

• oxide)-based polymer electrolyte film, denoted PEO, is inserted between the metallic Li and the solid electrolyte to avoid reduction of Ti ions. A DC voltage is applied between the two Au electrodes. The left Au electrode (Au1) potential relative to the metallic Li electrode (vs Li+/Li) is measured

• , shown in Figure 1. Potential of Au1 and Au2 electrodes relative to the Li reference electrode at each applied DC voltage during the KPFM measurements. Acknowledgements We thank Osaka Soda Co., Ltd. for the supply of the polymer electrolyte film. Funding This work was partially supported by the

Induced electric conductivity in organic polymers

• Konstantin Y. Arutyunov,
• Anatoli S. Gurski,
• Vladimir V. Artemov,
• Alexander L. Vasiliev,
• Azat R. Yusupov,
• Danfis D. Karamov and
• Alexei N. Lachinov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1551–1557, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.128

• currents limited by the space charge. At temperatures below ≈8 K, a number of samples exhibit features that can be explained by the effect of induced superconductivity in a thin film of conducting polymer enclosed between two massive superconductors (lead). Keywords: conducting polymer; superconductivity

• ]. The effect is interpreted as stimulation of metallic state [2]. Poly(diphenylene phthalide) (PDP) was chosen as the object of study being a representative electro-active polymer demonstrating induced electric conductivity. PDP is a carbocyclic polymer with high chemical and thermal stability

• ) × 103 without the formation of a gel fraction have been found. A model image of the structural unit of the PDP polymer is shown in Figure 1a. Polymers of this class are soluble in organic solvents and have exceptional film-forming properties [5][6]. According to these results, continuous homogeneous

Non-stoichiometric magnetite as catalyst for the photocatalytic degradation of phenol and 2,6-dibromo-4-methylphenol – a new approach in water treatment

• Joanna Kisała,
• Anna Tomaszewska and
• Przemysław Kolek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1531–1540, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.126

• , BFRs), wood preservatives, and components in the polymer industry [4][5]. Bromophenols from various industries can cause severe contamination of soil, sediment, and water [6][7]. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has listed BPs as hazardous waste with strict environmental

Orally administered docetaxel-loaded chitosan-decorated cationic PLGA nanoparticles for intestinal tumors: formulation, comprehensive in vitro characterization, and release kinetics

• Sedat Ünal,
• Osman Doğan and
• Yeşim Aktaş

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1393–1407, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.115

• polymer approved by the FDA, which can be synthesized as a copolymer of lactic and glycolic acids at various monomer ratios [21]. With its chemical structure suitable for the preparation of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems and its polymeric structure suitable for drug release profile designs, it is

• frequently used in research especially in the development of nanoparticulate drug formulations [17][22][23][24]. Chitosan (CS) is a common biocompatible polymer used extensively in drug delivery applications as a vehicle for drugs, proteins, and nucleic acids. Also, it is used as a coating polymer in nano

• prepared nanoparticles [78]. Encapsulated DCX was extracted from freeze-dried NPs formulations. Briefly, drug and polymer were dissolved by adding 1 mL of methanol to the lyophilized nanoparticles. This mixture was vortexed for 1 min, and then bath sonication was applied for 1 min. This mixture was then

Supramolecular assembly of pentamidine and polymeric cyclodextrin bimetallic core–shell nanoarchitectures

• Alexandru-Milentie Hada,
• Nina Burduja,
• Marco Abbate,
• Claudio Stagno,
• Guy Caljon,
• Louis Maes,
• Nicola Micale,
• Massimiliano Cordaro,
• Angela Scala,
• Antonino Mazzaglia and
• Anna Piperno

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1361–1369, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.112

• ability of the β-cyclodextrin polymer (PolyCD) to act as a symbiont of both MNPs and BMNPs [14]. Specifically, functional groups of PolyCD (i.e., amines, primary and secondary alcohols, and hemiacetals) are involved in the direct reduction of gold ions to Au NPs (Figure 1). PolyCD-capped Au NPs showed an

• redispersed in deuterium oxide to perform NMR analyses. The 1H NMR spectra of PolyCD, nanoG, and nanoGS provided only limited structural information due to the complex structure of PolyCD and/or its eventual oxidated derivatives. The pattern of resonances attributed to the β-CD-branched polymer was very

• similar for all the samples. Specifically, two distinct broad regions of signals in the range between 5.0–5.5 ppm and 3.0–4.5 ppm attributed to the CD anomeric protons and to all the remaining resonances of the polymer, respectively, were detected (Figure 3A). Interestingly, after the formation of

Laser-processed antiadhesive bionic combs for handling nanofibers inspired by nanostructures on the legs of cribellate spiders

• Sebastian Lifka,
• Kristóf Harsányi,
• Erich Baumgartner,
• Lukas Pichler,
• Dariya Baiko,
• Karsten Wasmuth,
• Johannes Heitz,
• Marco Meyer,
• Anna-Christin Joel,
• Jörn Bonse and
• Werner Baumgartner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1268–1283, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.105

• nanostructure on the calamistrum in fact reduces adhesion of native spider silk and that this reduced adhesion can be mimicked by artificially structured polymer foils [14]. In order to technically integrate these antiadhesive structures, the structures have to be adapted as typical technical nanofibers differ

• , Switzerland) pointprobe. Electrospinning Electrospinning was performed using a custom-made setup (Figure 11). The liquid PA-6 solution consisting of 6 g PA-6 polymer, 15 g formic acid, and 29 g acetic acid was mixed at 80 °C for about 90 min. The dope solution was delivered to the blunt needle tip (Sterican

Role of titanium and organic precursors in molecular layer deposition of “titanicone” hybrid materials

• Arbresha Muriqi and
• Michael Nolan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1240–1255, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.103

• the bridging between the polymer chains in the film and this also improves the stability of the film. Nanoindentation experiments [30] showed also that GL-based titanicones have much higher elastic modulus and higher hardness compared to EG-based titanicones. Annealing experiments indicated a higher

Roll-to-roll fabrication of superhydrophobic pads covered with nanofur for the efficient clean-up of oil spills

• Patrick Weiser,
• Robin Kietz,
• Marc Schneider,
• Matthias Worgull and
• Hendrik Hölscher

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1228–1239, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.102

• fabricate such a surface featuring the lotus effect, solely through structuring, is hot pulling of a polymer surface. This technique provides the so-called nanofur, which consists of a polymer surface densely covered with a polymeric fur of extremely thin hair-like structures. Here, we present a continuous

• , the polymer foils are equipped with tiny holes through which oil is absorbed and finally saved in the embedded oil-absorbing material. Results and Discussion This chapter is written in two parts. The first one describes the fabrication process for large area nanofur, and the second one deals with the

• universal process steps. First, a thin polymer foil is extruded on a sacrificial layer (Figure 1a). In a second step, the nanofur is hot-pulled from this extruded film in a R2R machine with a sandblasted roller. Subsequently, the nanofur film can be peeled of the sacrificial layer (Figure 1b). This

Design of surface nanostructures for chirality sensing based on quartz crystal microbalance

• Yinglin Ma,
• Xiangyun Xiao and
• Qingmin Ji

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1201–1219, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.100

• , including biomolecular layers, chiral molecular assemblies, polymer hybrids, inorganic nanostructures, and metal crystals. Review Construction of molecular layers for chiral sensing by QCM Organic molecular layers are the most common selectors used for chiral recognition in the QCM system. The selector

• modified QCM sensors [29]. The sensor layers were constructed by self-assembly of ʟ(ᴅ)-Val monolayers or comb-teeth-type grafted polymer brushes with ʟ(ᴅ)-Val. According to the frequency shifts upon bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorption, ʟ-Val-modified sensors were shown to have a stronger binding to BSA

• blocking layer between R-Nap and BSA. This suggested that this stronger interaction with R-Nap rather than with S-Nap should arise from different steric hindrance effects between BSA and R/S-Nap. The result was consistent with the QCM measurements. Polymer-based films for chirality sensing Polymers have

Application of nanoarchitectonics in moist-electric generation

• Jia-Cheng Feng and
• Hong Xia

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1185–1200, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.99

• the device provided an instantaneous electrical output with a maximum open-circuit voltage of 0.3 V and a short-circuit current of 120 μA. After adding a conducting polymer to improve the number of charged ions and the ion selectivity of the diffusion channel, a specific electrolyte fluid was selected

• propylene (FEP) film and made it have a nanoscale network structure with rough surface as shown in Figure 6g,h [21]. On a fluctuating water surface, the upper and lower electrodes on the back of the polymer will generate a potential difference, thereby generating current and voltage. Multiple device groups

• in MEGs due to their rich natural composition. Furthermore, functional groups can easily be added to cellulose-based MEGs to improve the output power. 3.3 Other polymer nanomaterials When an ion concentration gradient is generated in the nanostructure, this gradient distribution makes ions move from

Microneedle-based ocular drug delivery systems – recent advances and challenges

• Piotr Gadziński,
• Anna Froelich,
• Monika Wojtyłko,
• Antoni Białek,
• Julia Krysztofiak and
• Tomasz Osmałek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1167–1184, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.98

• advantage of soluble inserts is that they do not have to be removed from the eye. The rate of drug release is influenced by dissolution or erosion of the polymer matrix. Ophthalmic therapeutic systems belong to the group of non-biodegradable inserts from which the drug substance is released by diffusion at

• are usually prepared from ceramic materials, silicon, or metal, they display higher stiffness than polymer-based systems. The risk of clogging the internal canals of the needles upon application is mentioned in the literature as a possible drawback of these systems [142]. Dissolving microneedles are

• intended to deliver active ingredients that are sensitive to heat, as these systems can be prepared from water-based polymer solutions at room temperature. The polymer dissolves in the tissue after the administration and the incorporated drug is released in this way. The dissolution time required to

Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015–2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications

• Aisha Kanwal,
• Naheed Bibi,
• Sajjad Hyder,
• Arif Muhammad,
• Hao Ren,
• Jiangtao Liu and
• Zhongli Lei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1068–1107, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.93

• materials, are summarized in Table 4. Natural polymer-based CDs Numerous natural polymers, including proteins and polysaccharides, have been used to obtain CDs (Table 5). Chen and co-workers used starch as a source to synthesize graphene quantum dots (CDs) via a one-pot hydrothermal method. They also

Biomimetic chitosan with biocomposite nanomaterials for bone tissue repair and regeneration

• Se-Kwon Kim,
• Sesha Subramanian Murugan,
• Pandurang Appana Dalavi,
• Sebanti Gupta,
• Sukumaran Anil,
• Gi Hun Seong and
• Jayachandran Venkatesan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1051–1067, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.92

• regeneration, and other applications. Furthermore, chitosan-containing polymer composites are being extensively explored for drug delivery in targeted tumour treatment and nucleic acid delivery in genetic engineering applications. More research is required to optimise chitosan composites utilised in scaffolds

Analytical and numerical design of a hybrid Fabry–Perot plano-concave microcavity for hexagonal boron nitride

• Felipe Ortiz-Huerta and
• Karina Garay-Palmett

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1030–1037, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.90

• the desired shape. A natural extension to the development of polymer photonic structures consists of the fabrication of hybrid (i.e., metal-dielectric) resonant structures [15] with the potential to enhance the light–matter interactions of such SPEs. This work will focus on finding an optimal design

• hBN where its value falls between experimentally achievable thicknesses of multilayer 2D materials [6]. A 3D concave shape polymer then could be fabricated on top of the 2D material (Figure 2b) by a direct laser writing system (e.g., Photonic Professional, Nanoscribe GmbH) by use of a 2PP process

• . Afterwards an 80 nm silver layer could be added, by thermal evaporative deposition, on top of the concave shape polymer to ensure a high reflectivity inside our microcavity. When designing the concave shape polymer a small rectangular aperture at its edge must be taken into account in the fabrication step

Design of a biomimetic, small-scale artificial leaf surface for the study of environmental interactions

• Miriam Anna Huth,
• Axel Huth,
• Lukas Schreiber and
• Kerstin Koch

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 944–957, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.83

• differentiated into intracuticular waxes, which are incorporated into the cutin matrix, and epicuticular waxes, which are deposited on the polymer. Intra- and epicuticular waxes differ not only in their localization, but also in their chemical composition [12][13]. Epicuticular waxes form the outermost layer of

Bioselectivity of silk protein-based materials and their bio-inspired applications

• Hendrik Bargel,
• Vanessa T. Trossmann,
• Christoph Sommer and
• Thomas Scheibel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 902–921, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.81

• , Germany Bavarian Polymer Institute (BPI), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Bayreuth Center of Colloids and Interfaces (BZKG), University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstr. 30, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Bayreuth Center for Molecular Biosciences (BZMB), University of Bayreuth

• from the development of sophisticated synthetic polymer systems [26][27], protein-based and bioinspired materials have nowadays an enormous impact [28][29]. Biomaterials based on native collagen, keratin, elastin, silk, and their recombinant, engineered counterparts become increasingly popular in

• attraction, and hydrophobic interaction free energies of surface-bound hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymer [67]. Greater surface density and chain length of terminally attached PEO chains were reported to correlate to a lower van der Waals attractive component. In turn, steric repulsion of the