Enhancing mechanical properties of chitosan/PVA electrospun nanofibers: a comprehensive review

• Nur Areisman Mohd Salleh,
• Amalina Muhammad Afifi,
• Fathiah Mohamed Zuki and
• Hanna Sofia SalehHudin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 286–307, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.22

• adsorbing heavy metals and radionuclides [16]. However, chitosan exhibits limited mechanical stability, is sensitive to pH variations, and tends to swell [17]. To improve the spinnability of chitosan during the electrospinning process, it is commonly blended with other polymers, such as PVA [18

Theoretical study of the electronic and optical properties of a composite formed by the zeolite NaA and a magnetite cluster

• Joel Antúnez-García,
• Roberto Núñez-González,
• Vitalii Petranovskii,
• H’Linh Hmok,
• Armando Reyes-Serrato,
• Fabian N. Murrieta-Rico,
• Mufei Xiao and
• Jonathan Zamora

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 44–53, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.5

• introduction of magnetic nanoparticles into zeolite crystals so that the resulting composite can respond to an external magnetic field [33]. By imparting magnetic properties to such composites, they can be efficiently recovered after capturing contaminants such as heavy metals [34][35][36][37] and dyes [38][39

Facile synthesis of size-tunable L-carnosine-capped silver nanoparticles and their role in metal ion sensing and catalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar,
• Ridhima Chadha,
• Abhishek Das,
• Nandita Maiti and
• Rayavarapu Raja Gopal

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1576–1592, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.124

• with various contaminants. Keywords: catalysis; heavy metals; ʟ-carnosine; p-nitrophenol; silver nanoparticles; Introduction The persistent rise in environmental pollution, notably from heavy metal ions and organic pollutants, has propelled the development of innovative and efficient environmental

• monitoring and remediation methods. Five heavy metals, namely, mercury (Hg2+), lead (Pb2+), cadmium (Cd2+), chromium (Cr3+), and arsenic (As3+), pose severe risks to human health and ecological systems because of their non-biodegradable nature and long biological half-lives, leading to bioaccumulation and

• [18]. Therefore, it was hypothesized that the synthesis of silver nanoparticles capped with ʟ-carnosine may provide two functionalities, that is, monitoring heavy metal ions and degradation of P-NP. Another challenge in sensing heavy metals with capped silver nanoparticles is to detect multiple metals

Nanoarchitectonics with cetrimonium bromide on metal nanoparticles for linker-free detection of toxic metal ions and catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

• Akash Kumar and
• Raja Gopal Rayavarapu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1312–1332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.106

• does not allow for interactions with ligands via ion–ion interactions. Therefore, multiple surface modifications or linkers must be used for selective interaction between ligand and CTAB-capped gold and silver nanoparticles [7][9]. Contaminants in form of heavy metals and pollutant such as 4

• [15]. Besides heavy metals, 4-nitrophenol is widely used for dye synthesis, insecticides and pesticides, indicators, and photographic chemicals [16]. Regarding the use of 4-nitrophenol, there are several toxicity concerns via different exposure routes, including dermal, oral, and inhalation [17

• ]. Therefore, developing methods to detect heavy metals at the low concentrations usually found in environmental samples is crucial. Similarly, the removal of 4-nitrophenol from exposed site requires necessary steps. Heavy metals are detected using high-throughput techniques, such as atomic absorption

Interaction of graphene oxide with tannic acid: computational modeling and toxicity mitigation in C. elegans

• Romana Petry,
• James M. de Almeida,
• Francine Côa,
• Felipe Crasto de Lima,
• Diego Stéfani T. Martinez and
• Adalberto Fazzio

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1297–1311, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.105

• elegans. Ouyang et al. [12] showed that small molecules (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and heavy metals, present in the natural water as nanocolloids, potentiate GO’s phytotoxicity. Moreover, biomolecules such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and humic acids may interact with the material’s

Unveiling the potential of alginate-based nanomaterials in sensing technology and smart delivery applications

• Shakhzodjon Uzokboev,
• Khojimukhammad Akhmadbekov,
• Ra’no Nuritdinova,
• Salah M. Tawfik and
• Yong-Ill Lee

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 1077–1104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.88

• discussed, including drug delivery and environmental sensing applications for humidity, heavy metals, and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, biomedical sensing applications of alginate-based nanoparticles regarding various analytes such as glucose, cancer cells, pharmaceutical drugs, and human motion will also be

• contamination with heavy metals are good examples of the need for sensors [23]. In addition, incurable diseases such as cancer can be detected by biosensors, and the application of biosensors is also very important for medicine and pharmaceuticals [18][24][25]. Natural biopolymers are abundant and exhibit

• form gels. Sodium alginate, especially, sodium alginate hydrogel is becoming more attractive for sensing applications. This hydrogel can be used for tackling severe water contaminations with heavy metals and food contaminations [32]. Nanoparticles of the hydrogel have gained attention regarding sensing

Intermixing of MoS₂ and WS₂ photocatalysts toward methylene blue photodegradation

• Maryam Al Qaydi,
• Nitul S. Rajput,
• Michael Lejeune,
• Abdellatif Bouchalkha,
• Mimoun El Marssi,
• Steevy Cordette,
• Chaouki Kasmi and
• Mustapha Jouiad

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 817–829, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.68

• place corrective actions for the development of efficient strategies for water treatment [3]. Following these measures, various technologies have proven their efficacy for water depollution, including adsorption and photocatalysis, and are often utilized for heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, pesticide

Multiscale modelling of biomolecular corona formation on metallic surfaces

• Parinaz Mosaddeghi Amini,
• Ian Rouse,
• Julia Subbotina and
• Vladimir Lobaskin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2024, 15, 215–229, doi:10.3762/bjnano.15.21

• and scientific equipment [7]. Figure 1 presents a schematic contamination cycle of dairy products, showcasing potential sources and pathways of aluminum pollution. It illustrates the journey of milk from a cow grazing on grass contaminated with heavy metals, highlighting the crucial role of metallic

Prediction of cytotoxicity of heavy metals adsorbed on nano-TiO₂ with periodic table descriptors using machine learning approaches

• Joyita Roy,
• Souvik Pore and
• Kunal Roy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 939–950, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.77

• metals, upon release and emission, may interact with different environmental components, which may lead to co-exposure to living organisms. Nanoscale titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) can adsorb heavy metals. The current idea is that nanoparticles (NPs) may act as carriers and facilitate the entry of heavy

• metals into organisms. Thus, the present study reports nanoscale quantitative structure–activity relationship (nano-QSAR) models, which are based on an ensemble learning approach, for predicting the cytotoxicity of heavy metals adsorbed on nano-TiO2 to human renal cortex proximal tubule epithelial (HK-2

• present work manifests that ML in conjunction with periodic table descriptors can be used to explore the features and predict unknown compounds with similar properties. Keywords: heavy metals; HK-2 cell; ML algorithm; periodic table descriptors; QSAR; Introduction Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained much

Bismuth-based nanostructured photocatalysts for the remediation of antibiotics and organic dyes

• Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo and
• Faisal Suleiman Mustafa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2023, 14, 291–321, doi:10.3762/bjnano.14.26

• isolates from pond sediments in the northwest of the United Kingdom exhibited resistance to heavy metals and antibiotics (trimethoprim, oxacillin, and cefotaxime) where the intI1 gene was involved. A growing body of research indicates that parent antibiotics and their metabolites, which are released into

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

• igneous and metamorphic rocks [12]. It is also found in sediments and soils. Magnetite has the smallest energy gap, the highest conductivity, and one of the lowest reduction potentials among natural minerals. It is an important reducer of heavy metals and organic pollutants in aquatic environments. Due to

Rapid and sensitive detection of box turtles using an electrochemical DNA biosensor based on a gold/graphene nanocomposite

• Abu Hashem,
• M. A. Motalib Hossain,
• Ab Rahman Marlinda,
• Mohammad Al Mamun,
• Khanom Simarani and
• Mohd Rafie Johan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1458–1472, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.120

• microbes and sources of heavy metals/toxins [6][7], and are prohibited from consumption by Muslims [5]. Therefore, turtle materials in food chains and medicines pose both health and social risks. Aside from that, a rising demand encourages the illicit trafficking of BT [8]. Illegal turtle meat and species

Hierarchical Bi₂WO₆/TiO₂-nanotube composites derived from natural cellulose for visible-light photocatalytic treatment of pollutants

• Zehao Lin,
• Zhan Yang and
• Jianguo Huang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 745–762, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.66

• pollutants including dyes, organic matter, and heavy metals has caused disastrous consequences to the ecosystem [1]. Cr(VI) is one of the unmanageable pollutants in industrial effluents. It is highly toxic, carcinogenic, and harmful to the lungs, liver, and other organs [2][3]. Photocatalysis is a promising

A comprehensive review on electrospun nanohybrid membranes for wastewater treatment

• Senuri Kumarage,
• Imalka Munaweera and
• Nilwala Kottegoda

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 137–159, doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.10

• electrospinning [17]. Similarly, a wide range of ENH membranes are being used to remove particles, heavy metals, other metal cations, organic chemicals, dyes, and microorganisms from water and will be discussed in detail in this review article. Water is one of the most critical natural resources and is non

• heavy metals, cations, oils, dyes, and other organic and inorganic chemicals. In recent years, electrospun nanohybrid membranes have been developed and modified for the removal of these pollutants from synthetic/waste water. Heavy metals and other metal cations, such as Cd2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Hg2+, As3

• +/5+, and radioactive metals, such as Th4+, U6+, are being released to environmental water with the growing industrialization and through agricultural run-offs. Bioaccumulation of these metals causes serious harm to biodiversity and has also become a severe health issue [58]. To remove these heavy

Biocompatibility and cytotoxicity in vitro of surface-functionalized drug-loaded spinel ferrite nanoparticles

• Sadaf Mushtaq,
• Khuram Shahzad,
• Tariq Saeed,
• Anwar Ul-Hamid,
• Bilal Haider Abbasi,
• Nafees Ahmad,
• Waqas Khalid,
• Muhammad Atif,
• Zulqurnain Ali and
• Rashda Abbasi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1339–1364, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.99

• family, responsible for the efflux of xenobiotics and hydrophobic drugs, namely methotrexate, vinca alkaloids, anthracyclines, antiandrogens, and heavy metals. Both multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and MRP1 proteins are majorly responsible for lowering the therapeutic outcomes of chemotherapy [64

Recent progress in magnetic applications for micro- and nanorobots

• Ke Xu,
• Shuang Xu and
• Fanan Wei

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 744–755, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.58

• ). Nayak [39] used metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to adsorb heavy metals in water for water purification. MOFs have a very high specific surface area and modular structure, showing great advantages in the sustainable supply of clean drinking water. Later, Yu et al. [40] reported a method to disassemble

Impact of GaAs(100) surface preparation on EQE of AZO/Al₂O₃/p-GaAs photovoltaic structures

• Piotr Caban,
• Rafał Pietruszka,
• Jarosław Kaszewski,
• Monika Ożga,
• Bartłomiej S. Witkowski,
• Krzysztof Kopalko,
• Piotr Kuźmiuk,
• Katarzyna Gwóźdź,
• Ewa Płaczek-Popko,
• Krystyna Lawniczak-Jablonska and
• Marek Godlewski

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 578–592, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.48

• ][18][19]. Many protocols for etching solutions are known. Depending on the requirements (e.g., etched compound – oxide or semiconductor, etching profiles, etching rate, ability to remove contaminants – heavy metals, and crystallographic orientation of the substrate) one can use a suitable solution [20

A review on the green and sustainable synthesis of silver nanoparticles and one-dimensional silver nanostructures

• Sina Kaabipour and
• Shohreh Hemmati

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 102–136, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.9

• natural source for the removal of heavy metals from soils and underground water [308]. The removal of heavy metals takes place by phytoremediation strategies such as phytoextraction, phytofiltration, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, phytodegradation, rhizodegradation, and phytodesalination [309

Bio-imaging with the helium-ion microscope: A review

• Matthias Schmidt,
• James M. Byrne and
• Ilari J. Maasilta

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2021, 12, 1–23, doi:10.3762/bjnano.12.1

Ultrasensitive detection of cadmium ions using a microcantilever-based piezoresistive sensor for groundwater

• Dinesh Rotake,
• Anand Darji and
• Nitin Kale

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 1242–1253, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.108

• the resistance because of compressive surface stress when a large number of biomolecules bind to the microcantilever surface (Figure 4a,c,e) [47]. Figure 5 demonstrates the average change in piezoresistance of a sensor based on Au-Cys-DL-GC-coated cantilevers for different heavy metals (AlCl3, MnCl2

• selectivity for Cd(II) than for other heavy metals. The average value of change in piezoresistance of the Au-Cys-DL-GC-coated microcantilevers is approximately 130–240 Ω for Cd(II) and 5–30 Ω for the other injected heavy metals. The total value of the average change in piezoresistance for a concentration of

Molecular architectonics of DNA for functional nanoarchitectures

• Debasis Ghosh,
• Lakshmi P. Datta and
• Thimmaiah Govindaraju

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2020, 11, 124–140, doi:10.3762/bjnano.11.11

• assembly systems points at potential drug delivery systems for small molecular and gene-based drugs. Mercury is one of the most toxic heavy metals, with a severe impact on human health already at ultralow concentrations [20][72][73][74]. Selective binding of Hg(II) with thymine is a highly feasible

Advanced hybrid nanomaterials

• Andreas Taubert,
• Fabrice Leroux,
• Pierre Rabu and
• Verónica de Zea Bermudez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 2563–2567, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.247

• immobilized, has been studied in “Removal of toxic heavy metals from river water samples using a porous silica surface modified with a new β-ketoenolic host” [38]. The metal adsorption speciation is relevant for some divalent cations in aqueous medium, and the hybrid system is recyclable. Finally, catalysis

Photoactive nanoarchitectures based on clays incorporating TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles

• Eduardo Ruiz-Hitzky,
• Pilar Aranda,
• Marwa Akkari,
• Nithima Khaorapapong and
• Makoto Ogawa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1140–1156, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.114

• , highly toxic heavy metals such as Cr(VI) and Hg(II) can be removed from aqueous environments by photoreduction employing NPs as heterogeneous photocatalysts leading to insolubilization [23][27][28][29]. Based on the redox and photoactive properties, TiO2 and ZnO are the most commonly reported

Removal of toxic heavy metals from river water samples using a porous silica surface modified with a new β-ketoenolic host

• Said Tighadouini,
• Smaail Radi,
• Abderrahman Elidrissi,
• Khadija Haboubi,
• Maryse Bacquet,
• Stéphanie Degoutin,
• Mustapha Zaghrioui and
• Yann Garcia

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 262–273, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.25

• , Belgium 10.3762/bjnano.10.25 Abstract A new hybrid adsorbent material for the efficient removal of heavy metals from natural real water solutions (Moroccan river water samples) was prepared by the immobilization of a new conjugated β-ketoenol–pyridine–furan ligand onto a silica matrix. The

• cycles of adsorption/desorption. Compared to literature results, this material can be considered a high-performing remediation adsorbent for the extraction of Zn(II) from natural real water solution. Keywords: heavy metals; hybrid materials; β-ketoenol–pyridine–furan ligands; polluted media; porous

• silica; remediation; Introduction Nowadays, pollution by a large number of heavy metals in water sources is commonly observed due the constant economical growth of our modern society. This environmental issue is being seriously considered by different circles [1][2], given that heavy metal ions are

New micro/mesoporous nanocomposite material from low-cost sources for the efficient removal of aromatic and pathogenic pollutants from water

• Emmanuel I. Unuabonah,
• Robert Nöske,
• Jens Weber,
• Christina Günter and
• Andreas Taubert

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 119–131, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.11

• ; micro/mesoporous; nanocomposite; water remediation; Introduction Porous carbon-based materials and carbon/inorganic hybrid materials have extensively been used for the adsorption of pollutants, such as heavy metals or aromatic hydrocarbons, from water in developing countries [1][2][3][4]. The removal

• situations. As a result, cheap yet highly efficient materials that can be used for the purification of very large volumes of water are therefore highly sought after [4]. This approach applies to all subgroups of contaminants – heavy metals, organic pollutants, and biological contaminants. One approach to