Durable antimicrobial activity of fabrics functionalized with zeolite ion-exchanged nanomaterials against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

• Perla Sánchez-López,
• Kendra Ramirez Acosta,
• Sergio Fuentes Moyado,
• Ruben Dario Cadena-Nava and
• Elena Smolentseva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 262–274, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.18

• incorporation of nanomaterials onto the fabric surfaces. Antimicrobial tests reveal significant inhibition of bacterial growth, with silver-based materials demonstrating superior efficacy. Importantly, the antimicrobial effect persists after five washing cycles, demonstrating the durability of the

• , surfaces coated with silver have exhibited lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against E. coli and S. aureus strains compared to surfaces doped with copper and zinc [44]. Considering this, it is worth noting that the weight percentage of Ag/CBV-600 in the fabrics is four times higher compared to

Gold nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide as a highly effective catalyst for the selective α,β-dehydrogenation of N-alkyl-4-piperidones

• Brenda Flore Kenyim,
• Mihir Tzalis,
• Marilyn Kaul,
• Robert Oestreich,
• Aysenur Limon,
• Chancellin Pecheu Nkepdep and
• Christoph Janiak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 218–238, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.15

• domains that enhance electrostatic attraction of AuNPs [31]. These combined effects explain the more homogeneous AuNP dispersion on rGO compared to AC or CB, which contain fewer functional groups and more inert graphitic surfaces [32]. AC often contains micropores that can trap some nanoparticles

• inner catalytic surfaces. Because the ODH reaction depends on molecular oxygen as the oxidant, such limitations lead to both external and internal diffusion constraints. Consequently, the apparent reaction rate decreases – not due to a loss of intrinsic catalytic activity, but because mass transfer

Micro- and nanoscale effects in biological and bioinspired materials and surfaces

• Thies H. Büscher,
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Manuela Rebora and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 214–217, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.14

• surfaces of any living organism constantly engage with the environment and face a wide range of challenges. To meet these challenges, the surfaces of any organism must often simultaneously fulfil multiple functions and adapt to various environmental pressures, which involve complex interactions between

• generalizing nanoscale properties and processes in biology to engineer functional surfaces and interfaces across different scales. In May 2023, the Beilstein Nanotechnology Symposium titled “Functional Micro- and Nanostructured Surfaces: from Biology to Biomimetics” brought together a diverse group of

• researchers from multiple disciplines in Limburg, Germany. On this occasion, various scientists contributed to a fruitful exchange of ideas across diverse fields focusing on biological and artificial surfaces. The symposium highlighted significant progress in the field of biomimetics and served as an

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging of contaminant species in chemical vapour deposited graphene on copper

• Barry Brennan,
• Vlad-Petru Veigang-Radulescu,
• Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer,
• Stephan Hofmann and
• Andrew J. Pollard

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 200–213, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.13

• fragmentation of the graphene carbon lattice [28], we can easily observe the areas of graphene coverage on the copper foil surfaces. Depending on the pre-treatment, the graphene nucleation density varies significantly, resulting in variations in coverage. For the BO and EP samples in Figure 1a,c, nucleation is

Safe and sustainable by design with ML/AI: A transformative approach to advancing nanotechnology

• Georgia Melagraki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 176–185, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.11

• and risks associated with specific ENMs [56]. One illustrative application involves modelling nanoparticle–protein interactions, a critical factor in drug delivery systems, where digital twins can accurately predict protein adsorption patterns on nanoparticle surfaces through read-across and

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

• that zwitterionic and neutral nanoparticles possess highly hydrated, charge-balanced surfaces that minimize serum protein adsorption, complement activation, and cytokine release (IL-6, TNF-α). In murine models, these particles exhibited reduced systemic inflammation and enhanced circulation stability

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

• , pollutants, and oily substances. These functional surfaces, often based on coatings consisting of polymeric, ceramic, and composite materials, can provide durable, non-invasive protection tailored to specific substrate weaknesses and exposure environments (indoor and outdoor). Objective of this review

• , acknowledging the conservative merits of amurca, obtained from wastes of olive oil production, that keeps bronze surfaces shinier and free from rust. Moreover, Pliny himself endorsed bitumen for being highly useful for bronze protection against fire, and mechanical and corrosion threats. Other examples of the

• transparency and reversibility, while smoother substrates favor thinner, more controllable films. Furthermore, artworks having stone or inorganic surfaces, may experience erosion due to the effect of acid rain if in outdoor environment (limestone might shift to gypsum due to sulfur dioxide, becoming porous and

Subdigital integumentary microstructure in Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkota): do those lineages with incipiently expressed toepads exclusively exhibit adhesive setae?

• Philipp Ginal,
• Yannick Ecker,
• Timothy Higham,
• L. Lee Grismer,
• Benjamin Wipfler,
• Dennis Rödder,
• Anthony Russell and
• Jendrian Riedel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 38–56, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.4

• /bjnano.17.4 Abstract In taxa such as insects, spiders, bats, frogs, and lizards, adhesive structures at the distal ends of their limbs have independently evolved, enabling the animals to adhere to inclined or even inverted surfaces. The adhesive apparatus of geckos functions via a complex interaction

• surfaces, either by employing dry adhesion via microstructures, or wet adhesion, which is additionally supported by secretions [1][2][3][4][5]. In lizards, subdigital adhesive microstructures facilitating dry adhesion evolved independently in anoles, some skinks, and multiple times in geckos [3][6][7][8

• arboreal, lifestyle [29] as these microstructures effect increased adhesive interactions with smooth, inclined surfaces. The surfaces of some arboreal habitats can be very smooth [30][31][32], imposing selective demands for adhesive capabilities that permit safe and efficient locomotion. Saxicoline

Quantitative estimation of nanoparticle/substrate adhesion by atomic force microscopy

• Aydan Çiçek,
• Markus Kratzer,
• Christian Teichert and
• Christian Mitterer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 1–14, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.1

• NPs and significantly enhancing their interfacial adhesion. Their mechanical stability was tested utilizing scanning probe microscopy nanomanipulation [12]. Another approach tested for SiO2 NPs was functionalizing their surfaces for improved adhesion on epoxy film-covered substrate surfaces [13]. In

• ] stands out as the most commonly utilized and, with subsequently suggested modifications [38], widely accepted state-of-the-art procedure. In this study, a TGZ calibration grating from NT-MDT with defined Si slopes of 55° was used for the wedge calibration. The method is based on scanning sloped surfaces

• partial penetration, removal, or reduction cannot be excluded. We did not detect changes in the roughness between pristine and plasma-treated surfaces (RMS < 0.2 nm at 5 × 5 µm area) that would contribute to a change in friction. Interfacial redox reactions between the copper NP and the wafer surface

Internal 3D temperature mapping in biological systems using ratiometric light-sheet imaging and lipid-coated upconversion nanothermometers

• Dannareli Barron-Ortiz,
• Enric Pérez-Parets,
• Rubén D. Cadena-Nava,
• Emilio J. Gualda,
• Jacob Licea-Rodríguez,
• Juan Hernández-Cordero,
• Pablo Loza-Álvarez and
• Israel Rocha-Mendoza

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2306–2316, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.159

• electrostatic interactions between the cationic PEI coating and negatively charged cell surfaces. The positive charge of PEI can be enhanced at lower pH levels, such as those found in parts of the C. elegans digestive tract [60], potentially promoting further endocytosis. In contrast, the UCNPs@lipids

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

Ultrathin water layers on mannosylated gold nanoparticles

• Maiara A. Iriarte Alonso,
• Jorge H. Melillo,
• Silvina Cerveny,
• Yujin Tong and
• Alexander M. Bittner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2183–2198, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.151

• light scattering, and infrared spectroscopy. We probed particles adsorbed on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy, both operated under variable air humidity. For AFM, we additionally tested hydrophilic and

• [17], is essential to infection. Complete dryness is certainly detrimental (lipid bilayers ultimately collapse). Still, how such virus surfaces are preserved under low-humidity conditions, as is typical for airborne transmission in Northern Hemisphere winters, is unknown [18]. We believe that a

• high and the shape cannot be identical (hemagglutinin is roughly a triangular 7 nm prism of 15 nm length), the size is in the typical NP range, and a dense coating with oligomannoside should mimic surface physics. Accordingly, we note that the adsorption of AuNPs on surfaces would mimic the survival of

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

• smaller molecules [48]. Biofilms adhering to the plastic surfaces are required for biological degradation since they secrete enzymes that degrade polymers outside cells [49]. As noted by Rai et al., biofilms can speed up the breakdown of MPs, even though such a process is prone to interference from

• studies showing their capacity to break down PET [46]. Biofilms can accelerate the breakdown process under cold conditions by generating enzymatically active microenvironments [71]. According to Dhiman et al., these microbial colonies stick to the surfaces of MPs and release enzymes that break down

• protective covering made of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). These EPSs are made by the microbes themselves and stick to surfaces, such as MPs. The enzymes secreted by these microbial colonies have the ability to degrade synthetic polymers into smaller, biodegradable components. Tiwari et al. have

Electron transport through nanoscale multilayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride junctions

• Aleksandar Staykov and
• Takaya Fujisaki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2132–2143, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.147

• in far-ultraviolet light-emitting devices. These applications leverage h-BN’s properties like high temperature stability, electrical insulation, and chemical resistance [18][20][21]. An interesting application of multilayer h-BN is its deposition on electrode surfaces as an electron blocking layer

Multifrequency AFM integrating PeakForce tapping and higher eigenmodes for heterogeneous surface characterization

• Yanping Wei,
• Jiafeng Shen,
• Yirong Yao,
• Xuke Li,
• Ming Li and
• Peiling Ke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2077–2085, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.142

• nanoscale [1][2][3][4][5]. Among its various operating modes, tapping mode AFM is particularly prevalent due to lateral force minimization and its ability to give phase-contrast images of heterogeneous surfaces [6]. This mode involves oscillating the cantilever near its resonance frequency with the tip

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

• gecko keratin [11]. It also helped clarify other aspects of humidity-enhanced adhesion, revealing that keratin softening due to water uptake accounts for only a minor part of the increase in adhesion on very smooth surfaces [13]. The present paper builds on our previous research and extends the

• parametrization of our coarse-grained potential against united-atom simulations of gecko keratin on nonpolar surfaces [10]. Hydrophilic substrates, roughness, and humidity, which introduce additional mechanisms such as keratin softening and capillary forces, have been addressed in our previous spatula-scale

• exceedingly smooth compared to real surfaces, agreement with experimental friction values at comparable sliding velocities was not a goal of this study. Nonetheless, our simulations revealed significant spatula sliding, particularly among the pad-dominant (even-numbered) spatulae (Figure 2). During the 400

Stereodiscrimination of guests in chiral organosilica aerogels studied by ESR spectroscopy

• Sebastian Polarz,
• Yasar Krysiak,
• Martin Wessig and
• Florian Kuhlmann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2034–2054, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.140

• Sebastian Polarz Yasar Krysiak Martin Wessig Florian Kuhlmann Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Leibniz-University Hannover, Callinstrasse 9, 30167 Hannover, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.16.140 Abstract Macroporous materials containing surfaces with chiral groups are highly relevant for applications in

• extensive description of the enormous progress of liquid chromatography with chiral, stationary phases made over several decades [18]. The author analyzes that a molecular understanding of the recognition mechanisms on chiral surfaces is still scarce, particularly regarding dynamic aspects. Meanwhile

• surfaces has proven challenging. For the separation of the individual factors, researchers developed powerful nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. Great success was reached using pulsed field gradient (PFG)-NMR [19][20][21]. PFG-NMR incorporates the application of magnetic field gradients in

The cement of the tube-dwelling polychaete Sabellaria alveolata: a complex composite adhesive material

• Emilie Duthoo,
• Aurélie Lambert,
• Pierre Becker,
• Carla Pugliese,
• Jean-Marc Baele,
• Arnaud Delfairière,
• Matthew J. Harrington and
• Patrick Flammang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1998–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.138

• ) residues, which may facilitate bonding to mineral surfaces and play a role in quinone-mediated cross-linking during cement hardening [14][15]. Pc-3 exists in at least two major isoforms, Pc-3A and Pc-3B. Both isoforms are exceptionally rich in serine (72.9 mol %), with up to 90% of these residues

• contain phosphoserine residues that can bind to calcareous mineral surfaces [45]. But it is in Sabellariid tubeworms that this post-translationally modified amino acid seems to be the most important. In sandcastle worms, more than 25% of the cement was found to be composed of phosphoserine [15]. In this

Laser ablation in liquids for shape-tailored synthesis of nanomaterials: status and challenges

• Natalie Tarasenka

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1963–1997, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.137

• compared to that in the liquid phase, which has been shown in [27] to have an impact on the NP size. On the contrary, if the conditions favour more NPs to be transferred into the liquid (and their nucleation and growth is occurring preferentially outside the bubble) then fast passivation of the NP surfaces

Mechanical property measurements enabled by short-term Fourier-transform of atomic force microscopy thermal deflection analysis

• Thomas Mathias,
• Roland Bennewitz and
• Philip Egberts

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1952–1962, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.136

• ); mechanical property measurements; surface science; Introduction Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become an indispensable tool for imaging the surface topography on a variety of surfaces [1]. Since the invention of the AFM [2], several other modes of AFM have been developed, including friction force

• viscoelastic modulus) of surfaces [5]. It is particularly useful for the measurement of heterogeneous surfaces, characteristic of composite and biological materials, where understanding the interplay between microstructure and mechanical properties of the constituent materials is critical for the performance

• difficult to measure mechanical properties of heterogeneous surfaces as the cantilever is scanned over the surface, or to measure how mechanical properties of the surface evolve with time as the cantilever is pressed against the surface. Furthermore, the analysis assumes that the cantilever’s oscillation

Evaluating metal-organic precursors for focused ion beam-induced deposition through solid-layer decomposition analysis

• Benedykt R. Jany,
• Katarzyna Madajska,
• Aleksandra Butrymowicz-Kubiak,
• Franciszek Krok and
• Iwona B. Szymańska

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1942–1951, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.135

• masks, and resistance, with the flexibility of depositing materials on non-planar surfaces [4][5][14]. The FIBID method has several advantages compared to the FEBID technique in depositing thin films on substrates. First, ions generate more secondary electrons on the substrate surface than electrons

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

• adsorb onto the nanoparticle surfaces to form a “corona” [21]. This dynamic layer, often called the biomolecular or protein corona, can significantly influence the biological identity and behavior of nanoparticles [22]. Among the factors shaping corona formation, the presence of a PEG layer on the outer

• ]. PEG’s hydrophilic and steric properties are instrumental in reducing the adsorption of proteins onto LNP surfaces. By creating a hydrated barrier, PEG minimizes nonspecific binding, leading to a “stealth” effect that prolongs circulation time and reduces recognition by the mononuclear phagocytic system

Low-temperature AFM with a microwave cavity optomechanical transducer

• Ermes Scarano,
• Elisabet K. Arvidsson,
• August K. Roos,
• Erik Holmgren,
• Riccardo Borgani,
• Mats O. Tholén and
• David B. Haviland

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1873–1882, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.130

• refrigerator, which was not designed for preparation of pristine surfaces, nor was any attempt made to sharpen the tip in situ. Our analysis shows that the KIMEC principle of detecting cantilever deflection, as it is implemented in these sensors, is capable of operating at the thermal limit of force

Self-assembly and adhesive properties of Pollicipes pollicipes barnacle cement protein cp19k: influence of pH and ionic strength

• Shrutika Sawant,
• Anne Marie Power and
• J. Gerard Wall

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1863–1872, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.129

• to promote the formation of extended, needle-like fibrils by the cp19k protein. The β-amyloid nature of fibrils formed under these conditions and at high pH/low salt concentration was confirmed by Thioflavin T assay. Non-fibrillar cp19k adhered most effectively to hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces

• bioinspired adhesives and biomaterials. Keywords: adhesive; amyloid fibre; barnacle cement protein; surface coating; transmission electron microscopy; Introduction Marine adhesives are naturally occurring substances secreted by a variety of organisms to attach themselves to submerged surfaces such as rocks

• may help to inform the design of eco-friendly adhesives for application in biomedicine, industry, and underwater engineering [2][3]. Mussel adhesive proteins are the most extensively studied of marine bioadhesives. Mussels anchor to submerged surfaces using a byssus, a bundle of proteinaceous threads

On the road to sustainability – application of metallic nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis in dentistry: a scoping review

• Lorena Pinheiro Vasconcelos Silva,
• Joice Catiane Soares Martins,
• Israel Luís Carvalho Diniz,
• Júlio Abreu Miranda,
• Danilo Rodrigues de Souza,
• Éverton do Nascimento Alencar,
• Moan Jéfter Fernandes Costa and
• Pedro Henrique Sette-de-Souza

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1851–1862, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.128

• materials or applied to prosthetic and restorative surfaces [8][25][26]. Despite the potential for application in dentistry, there is a lack of reviews integrating recent advances in the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles in this field. Therefore, this scoping review employed the “population, concept

• coatings for dental and orthodontic surfaces. Beyond the initial findings, nanoparticles have also been incorporated into a wide range of preventive and restorative dental materials. Composite resins and glass ionomer cements reinforced with silver or zinc oxide nanoparticles exhibit enhanced antimicrobial