Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 37 in total

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  1. Kalantari K, Mostafavi E, Afifi AM, Izadiyan Z, Jahangirian H, Rafiee-Moghaddam R, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2020 Jan 28;12(4):2268-2291.
    PMID: 31942896 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr08234d
    Infections are the main reason why most people die from burns and diabetic wounds. The clinical challenge for treating wound infections through traditional antibiotics has been growing steadily and has now reached a critical status requiring a paradigm shift for improved chronic wound care. The US Centers for Disease Control have predicted more deaths from antimicrobial-resistant bacteria than from all types of cancers combined by 2050. Thus, the development of new wound dressing materials that do not rely on antibiotics is of paramount importance. Currently, incorporating nanoparticles into scaffolds represents a new concept of 'nanoparticle dressing' which has gained considerable attention for wound healing. Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have been categorized as metal-based nanoparticles and are intriguing materials for wound healing because of their excellent antimicrobial properties. Ag-NPs embedded in wound dressing polymers promote wound healing and control microorganism growth. However, there have been several recent disadvantages of using Ag-NPs to fight infections, such as bacterial resistance. This review highlights the therapeutic approaches of using wound dressings functionalized with Ag-NPs and their potential role in revolutionizing wound healing. Moreover, the physiology of the skin and wounds is discussed to place the use of Ag-NPs in wound care into perspective.
  2. Chen Y, Ge D, Zhang J, Chu R, Zheng J, Wu C, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2018 Sep 20;10(36):17378-17387.
    PMID: 30203824 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr01195h
    Tin-based materials have been intensively studied as attractive candidates for high-capacity and long-cycle-life anodes in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their low cost and high energy density. However, they all suffer from severe structural decay during the lithium ion insertion/extraction process, which results in deterioration in the overall performance of the batteries. To mitigate this problem, we have synthesized a Mo-doped SnO2 nanostructure via a facile hydrothermal method, which then fragmented into ultrafine particles after dozens of cycles. The fracture-resistant size and ample contact with Super-P and Li2O greatly improved the electrochemical kinetics and cyclability to deliver a reversible capacity of 670 mA h g-1 after 700 cycles, which demonstrated the potential suitability of Mo-doped SnO2 nanoparticles as a long-cycle-life anode material. Then, the compounds were uniformly dispersed in carbon nanofibers and reduced in situ to prepare a free-standing anode via electrospinning and carbonization. When used directly as an anode in LIBs (without a polymeric binder or conductive agent, as well as a current collector), the nanofiber membrane anode delivered comparable cycling performance and capacity to that of a slurry-coated electrode.
  3. Huang YL, Chang WS, Van CN, Liu HJ, Tsai KA, Chen JW, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2016 Aug 25;8(34):15795-801.
    PMID: 27533610 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr04997d
    Ferroelectric photoelectrodes, other than conventional semiconductors, are alternative photo-absorbers in the process of water splitting. However, the capture of photons and efficient transfer of photo-excited carriers remain as two critical issues in ferroelectric photoelectrodes. In this work, we overcome the aforementioned issues by decorating the ferroelectric BiFeO3 (BFO) surface with Au nanocrystals, and thus improving the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of BFO film. We demonstrate that the internal field induced by the spontaneous polarization of BFO can (1) tune the efficiency of the photo-excited carriers' separation and charge transfer characteristics in bare BFO photoelectrodes, and (2) modulate an extra optical absorption within the visible light region, created by the surface plasmon resonance excitation of Au nanocrystals to capture more photons in the Au/BFO heterostructure. This study provides key insights for understanding the tunable features of PEC performance, composed of the heterostructure of noble metals and ferroelectric materials.
  4. Toh PY, Ng BW, Ahmad AL, Chieh DC, Lim J
    Nanoscale, 2014 Nov 7;6(21):12838-48.
    PMID: 25227473 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr03121k
    Successful application of a magnetophoretic separation technique for harvesting biological cells often relies on the need to tag the cells with magnetic nanoparticles. This study investigates the underlying principle behind the attachment of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) onto microalgal cells, Chlorella sp. and Nannochloropsis sp., in both freshwater and seawater, by taking into account the contributions of various colloidal forces involved. The complex interplay between van der Waals (vdW), electrostatic (ES) and Lewis acid-base interactions (AB) in dictating IONP attachment was studied under the framework of extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) analysis. Our results showed that ES interaction plays an important role in determining the net interaction between the Chlorella sp. cells and IONPs in freshwater, while the AB and vdW interactions play a more dominant role in dictating the net particle-to-cell interaction in high ionic strength media (≥100 mM NaCl), such as seawater. XDLVO predicted effective attachment between cells and surface functionalized IONPs (SF-IONPs) with an estimated secondary minimum of -3.12 kT in freshwater. This prediction is in accordance with the experimental observation in which 98.89% of cells can be magnetophoretically separated from freshwater with SF-IONPs. We have observed successful magnetophoretic separation of microalgal cells from freshwater and/or seawater for all the cases as long as XDLVO analysis predicts particle attachment. For both the conditions, no pH adjustment is required for particle-to-cell attachment.
  5. Wang J, Wang Z, Zhang J, Chai SP, Dai K, Low J
    Nanoscale, 2022 Dec 15;14(48):18087-18093.
    PMID: 36448604 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr05341a
    Heterojunction photocatalysts have shown their immense capability in enhancing photogenerated charge carrier separation. Yet, the intrinsic scarcity of active sites in semiconductor components of heterojunction photocatalysts limits their potential for photocatalysis being used in practical applications. Herein, we employ a non-noble metal cocatalyst (i.e., NiS) for modulating a S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst consisting of Cd3(C3N3S3)2 (CdCNS) and CdS. It is revealed that the formation of the CdCNS/CdS S-scheme heterojunction can enable optimal photogenerated charge carrier utilization efficiency and optimized redox capability. More importantly, the meticulous loading of NiS can play multiple roles in enhancing the photocatalytic performance of the CdCNS/CdS photocatalyst, including endowing it with abundant surface-active sites and acting as a photogenerated electron acceptor. As a result, the optimized NiS-loaded CdCNS/CdS attains an excellent hydrogen production rate of 38.17 mmol g-1 h-1, to reach a quantum efficiency of 29.02% at 420 nm. The results reported in this work provide an interesting insight into the important roles of surface-active site modulation in optimizing photocatalytic performances.
  6. Hooper TJN, Fang Y, Brown AAM, Pu SH, White TJ
    Nanoscale, 2021 Oct 01;13(37):15770-15780.
    PMID: 34528047 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04602k
    This investigation has characterised the structure and surface chemistry of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals with controlled diameters between 6.4 to 12.8 nm. The nanocrystals were investigated via a thorough 133Cs solid state NMR and nuclear relaxation study, identifying and mapping radially-increasing nanoscale disorder. This work has formalised 133Cs NMR as a highly sensitive probe of nanocrystal size, which can conveniently analyse nanocrystals in solid forms, as they would be utilised in optoelectronic devices. A combined multinuclear solid state NMR and XPS approach, including 133Cs-1H heteronuclear correlation 2D (HETCOR) NMR, was utilised to study the nanocrystal surface and ligands, demonstrating that the surface is Cs-Br rich with vacancies passivated by didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) ligands. Furthermore, it is shown that a negligible amount of phosphonate ligands remain on the powder nanocrystal surface, despite the key role of octylphosphonic acid (OPA) in controlling the colloidal nanocrystal growth. The CsPbBr3 NCs were shown to be structurally stable under ambient conditions for up to 6 months, albeit with some particle agglomeration.
  7. Aupama V, Kao-Ian W, Sangsawang J, Mohan G, Wannapaiboon S, Mohamad AA, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2023 May 25;15(20):9003-9013.
    PMID: 37128979 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr00898c
    Zinc (Zn) is an excellent material for use as an anode for rechargeable batteries in water-based electrolytes. Nevertheless, the high activity of water leads to Zn corrosion and hydrogen evolution, along with the formation of dendrites on the Zn surface during repeated charge-discharge (CD) cycles. To protect the Zn anode and limit parasitic side reactions, an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (ASEI) protective layer is an effective strategy. Herein, an ASEI made of a covalent organic framework (COFs: HqTp and BpTp) was fabricated on the surface of a Zn anode via Schiff base reactions of aldehyde and amine linkers. It is seen that COFs can regulate the Zn-ion flux, resulting in dendritic-free Zn. COFs can also mitigate the formation of an irreversible passive layer and the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Zn plating/stripping tests using a symmetrical cell suggest that HqTpCOF@Zn shows superior stability and greater coulombic efficiency (CE) compared to bare Zn. The full cell having COFs@Zn also displays much improved cyclability. As a result, the COF proves to be a promising ASEI material to enhance the stability of the Zn anode in aqueous media.
  8. Brown AAM, Hooper TJN, Veldhuis SA, Chin XY, Bruno A, Vashishtha P, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2019 Jul 07;11(25):12370-12380.
    PMID: 31215940 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr02566a
    We report the self-assembly of an extensive inter-ligand hydrogen-bonding network of octylphosphonates on the surface of cesium lead bromide nanocrystals (CsPbBr3 NCs). The post-synthetic addition of octylphosphonic acid to oleic acid/oleylamine-capped CsPbBr3 NCs promoted the attachment of octylphosphonate to the NC surface, while the remaining oleylammonium ligands maintained the high dispersability of the NCs in non-polar solvent. Through powerful 2D solid-state 31P-1H NMR, we demonstrated that an ethyl acetate/acetonitrile purification regime was crucial for initiating the self-assembly of extensive octylphosphonate chains. Octylphosphonate ligands were found to preferentially bind in a monodentate mode through P-O-, leaving polar P[double bond, length as m-dash]O and P-OH groups free to form inter-ligand hydrogen bonds. The octylphosphonate ligand network strongly passivated the nanocrystal surface, yielding a fully-purified CsPbBr3 NC ink with PLQY of 62%, over 3 times higher than untreated NCs. We translated this to LED devices, achieving maximum external quantum efficiency and luminance of 7.74% and 1022 cd m-2 with OPA treatment, as opposed to 3.59% and 229 cd m-2 for untreated CsPbBr3 NCs. This represents one of the highest efficiency LEDs obtained for all-inorganic CsPbBr3 NCs, accomplished through simple, effective passivation and purification processes. The robust binding of octylphosphonates to the perovskite lattice, and specifically their ability to interlink through hydrogen bonding, offers a promising passivation approach which could potentially be beneficial across a breadth of halide perovskite optoelectronic applications.
  9. Etesami M, Abouzari-Lotf E, Sha'rani SS, Miyake M, Moozarm Nia P, Ripin A, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2018 Jul 13;10(27):13212-13222.
    PMID: 29971298 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr02450b
    A novel polyoxometalate-based electrode was developed by incorporating phosphotungstic acid (PWA) in nylon-6,6 nanofiber, followed by carbonization. The developed PWA-carbon nanofiber (PWA-CNF) showed the characteristics of the dual-scale porosity of micro- and mesoporous substrate with surface area of around 684 m2 g-1. The compound exhibited excellent stability in vanadium electrolyte and battery cycling. Evaluation of electrocatalytic properties toward V2+/V3+ and VO2+/VO2+ redox couples indicated promising advantages in electron transfer kinetics and increasing energy efficiency, particularly for the VO2+/VO2+ couple. Moreover, the developed electrode exhibited substantially improved energy efficiency (14% higher than that of pristine carbon felt) in the single cell vanadium redox flow battery. This outstanding performance was attributed to high surface area and abundant oxygen-containing linkages in the developed electrode.
  10. Tan XQ, Mo W, Lin X, Loh JY, Mohamed AR, Ong WJ
    Nanoscale, 2023 Apr 06;15(14):6536-6562.
    PMID: 36942445 DOI: 10.1039/d2nr05718b
    The electro/photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a long-term avenue toward synthesizing renewable fuels and value-added chemicals, as well as addressing the global energy crisis and environmental challenges. As a result, current research studies have focused on investigating new materials and implementing numerous fabrication approaches to increase the catalytic performances of electro/photocatalysts toward the CO2RR. MXenes, also known as 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, are intriguing materials with outstanding traits. Since their discovery in 2011, there has been a flurry of interest in MXenes in electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, owing to their several benefits, including high mechanical strength, tunable structure, surface functionality, high specific surface area, and remarkable electrical conductivity. Herein, this review serves as a milestone for the most recent development of MXene-based catalysts for the electrocatalytic and photocatalytic CO2RR. The overall structure of MXenes is described, followed by a summary of several synthesis pathways classified as top-down and bottom-up approaches, including HF-etching, in situ HF-formation, electrochemical etching, and halogen etching. Additionally, the state-of-the-art development in the field of both the electrocatalytic and photocatalytic CO2RR is systematically reviewed. Surface termination modulation and heterostructure engineering of MXene-based electro/photocatalysts, and insights into the reaction mechanism for the comprehension of the structure-performance relationship from the CO2RR via density functional theory (DFT) have been underlined toward activity enhancement. Finally, imperative issues together with future perspectives associated with MXene-based electro/photocatalysts are proposed.
  11. Chu RX, Lin J, Wu CQ, Zheng J, Chen YL, Zhang J, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2017 Jun 23.
    PMID: 28644506 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr02423a
    Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted great attention owing to their excellent electrochemical properties, such as the high discharge voltage of 2.3 V, specific capacity of 1675 mA h g(-1) and energy density of 2600 Wh kg(-1). The widely used slurry made electrodes of Li-S batteries are plagued by the serious shuttle effect and insulating nature of sulfur. Herein, a reduced graphene oxide coated porous carbon nanofiber flexible paper (rGO@S-PCNP) was fabricated and directly used as an additive-free cathode for Li-S batteries. The results show that the rGO@S-PCNP is certified to be effective at relieving the shuttle effect and improving the conductivity, thus achieving high electrochemical performance. The rGO@S-PCNP composite with a sulfur content of 58.4 wt% delivers a high discharge capacity of 623.7 mA h g(-1) after 200 cycles at 0.1 C (1 C = 1675 mA g(-1)) with the average Coulombic efficiency of 97.1%. The excellent cyclability and high Coulombic efficiency indicate that the as-prepared rGO@S-PCNP composite paper can be a promising cathode for lithium-sulfur batteries, and is envisioned to have great potential in high energy density flexible power devices. This facile strategy brings great significance for large-scale industrial fabrication of flexible lithium-sulfur batteries.
  12. Trache D, Hussin MH, Haafiz MK, Thakur VK
    Nanoscale, 2017 Feb 02;9(5):1763-1786.
    PMID: 28116390 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr09494e
    Cellulose nanocrystals, a class of fascinating bio-based nanoscale materials, have received a tremendous amount of interest both in industry and academia owing to its unique structural features and impressive physicochemical properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, renewability, low density, adaptable surface chemistry, optical transparency, and improved mechanical properties. This nanomaterial is a promising candidate for applications in fields such as biomedical, pharmaceuticals, electronics, barrier films, nanocomposites, membranes, supercapacitors, etc. New resources, new extraction procedures, and new treatments are currently under development to satisfy the increasing demand of manufacturing new types of cellulose nanocrystals-based materials on an industrial scale. Therefore, this review addresses the recent progress in the production methodologies of cellulose nanocrystals, covering principal cellulose resources and the main processes used for its isolation. A critical and analytical examination of the shortcomings of various approaches employed so far is made. Additionally, structural organization of cellulose and nomenclature of cellulose nanomaterials have also been discussed for beginners in this field.
  13. Xu JY, Tong X, Besteiro LV, Li X, Hu C, Liu R, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2021 Sep 23;13(36):15301-15310.
    PMID: 34490860 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr04199a
    "Giant" core/shell quantum dots (g-QDs) are promising candidates for emerging optoelectronic technologies thanks to their facile structure/composition-tunable optoelectronic properties and outstanding photo-physical/chemical stability. Here, we synthesized a new type of CuInTeSe (CITS)/CdS g-QDs and regulated their optoelectronic properties by controlling the shell thickness. Through increasing the shell thickness, as-prepared g-QDs exhibited tunable red-shifted emission (from 900 to 1200 nm) and prolonged photoluminescence (PL) lifetimes (up to ∼14.0 μs), indicating a formed band structure showing efficient charge separation and transfer, which is further testified by theoretical calculations and ultrafast time-resolved transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. These CITS/CdS g-QDs with various shell thicknesses can be employed to fabricate photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, exhibiting improved photoresponse and stability as compared to the bare CITS QD-based devices. The results indicate that the rational design and engineering of g-QDs is very promising for future QD-based optoelectronic technologies.
  14. Thien GSH, Chan KY, Marlinda AR, Yap BK
    Nanoscale, 2023 Dec 07;15(47):19039-19061.
    PMID: 37987540 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr03874b
    Oxide perovskites (OPs) have emerged as promising photocatalysts for numerous applications, such as energy conversion, renewable fuels, and environmental remediation. Although OPs are gaining traction, their efficacies are still hindered by low charge carrier mobility and poor stability. This study investigated the function of polymers actively participating in OP structures to improve the overall characteristics. An overview of the polymer-enhanced perovskite oxide photocatalyst (PEPOP) field was effectively reviewed. These PEPOPs were demonstrated in photovoltaics, pollutant degradation, and gas conversion and reduction. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to explore the potential of PEPOPs to establish their efficacy in photocatalytic applications. The technological improvements of PEPOPs were hindered by significant challenges related to stability and sensitivity. The urgency of this review was apparent due to the fast-paced nature of research in the field of photocatalysis. Recent breakthroughs and emerging applications highlight the need for a comprehensive overview of PEPOPs and their enhanced catalytic capabilities. Consequently, a broad outlook was provided for the current state of PEPOP-related studies, highlighting the potential of these materials for future applications.
  15. Teridi MA, Sookhakian M, Basirun WJ, Zakaria R, Schneider FK, da Silva WJ, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2015 Apr 28;7(16):7091-100.
    PMID: 25640454 DOI: 10.1039/c4nr05874g
    High performance organic devices including polymer solar cells (PSCs) and light emitting diodes (PLEDs) were successfully demonstrated with the presence of highly ordered nanoimprinted Au nanodisks (Au NDs) in their solution-processed active/emissive layers, respectively. PSCs and PLEDs were fabricated using a low bandgap polymer and acceptor, nitrogen doped multiwalled carbon nanotubes poly[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b']dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl] thieno[3,4-b]-thiophenediyl] (n-MWCNTs:PTB7), and [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) and (4,4-N,N-dicarbazole) biphenyl (CBP) doped with tris(2-phenylpyridine) iridium(iii) (Ir(ppy)3) as active/emissive layers, respectively. We synthesized nitrogen doped graphene and used it as anodic buffer layer in both devices. The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect from Au NDs clearly contributed to the increase in light absorption/emission in the active layers from electromagnetic field enhancement, which originated from the excited LSPR in PSCs and PLEDs. In addition to the high density of LSPR and strong exciton-SP coupling, the electroluminescent (EL) enhancement is ascribed to enhanced spontaneous emission rates. This is due to the plasmonic near-field effect induced by Au NDs. The PSCs and PLEDs exhibited 14.98% (8.08% to 9.29%) under one sun of simulated air mass 1.5 global (AM1.5G) illumination (100 mW cm(-2)) and 19.18% (8.24 to 9.82 lm W(-1)) enhancement in the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) compared to the control devices without Au NDs.
  16. Khaled YS, Khot MI, Aiyappa-Maudsley R, Maisey T, Pramanik A, Tiernan J, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2024 Mar 20.
    PMID: 38506227 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr04118b
    Theranostic nanoparticles hold promise for simultaneous imaging and therapy in colorectal cancer. Carcinoembryonic antigen can be used as a target for these nanoparticles because it is overexpressed in most colorectal cancers. Affimer reagents are synthetic proteins capable of binding specific targets, with additional advantages over antibodies for targeting. We fabricated silica nanoparticles using a water-in-oil microemulsion technique, loaded them with the photosensitiser Foslip, and functionalised the surface with anti-CEA Affimers to facilitate fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy of colorectal cancer. CEA-specific fluorescence imaging and phototoxicity were quantified in colorectal cancer cell lines and a LS174T murine xenograft colorectal cancer model. Anti-CEA targeted nanoparticles exhibited CEA-specific fluorescence in the LoVo, LS174T and HCT116 cell lines when compared to control particles (p < 0.0001). No toxicity was observed in LS174T cancer mouse xenografts or other organs. Following photo-irradiation, the anti-CEA targeted particles caused significant cell death in LoVo (60%), LS174T (90%) and HCT116 (70%) compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Photodynamic therapy (PDT) at 24 h in vivo showed a 4-fold reduction in tumour volume compared to control mouse xenografts (p < 0.0001). This study demonstrates the efficacy of targeted fluorescence imaging and PDT using Foslip nanoparticles conjugated to anti-CEA Affimer nanoparticles in in vitro and in vivo colorectal cancer models.
  17. Iwasaki T, Muruganathan M, Schmidt ME, Mizuta H
    Nanoscale, 2017 Jan 26;9(4):1662-1669.
    PMID: 28074959 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr08117g
    The transformation of systematic vacuum and hydrogen annealing effects in graphene devices on the SiO2 surface is reported based on experimental and van der Waals interaction corrected density functional theory (DFT) simulation results. Vacuum annealing removes p-type dopants and reduces charged impurity scattering in graphene. Moreover, it induces n-type doping into graphene, leading to the improvement of the electron mobility and conductivity in the electron transport regime, which are reversed by exposing to atmospheric environment. On the other hand, annealing in hydrogen/argon gas results in smaller n-type doping along with a decrease in the overall conductivity and carrier mobility. This degradation of the conductivity is irreversible even the graphene devices are exposed to ambience. This was clarified by DFT simulations: initially, silicon dangling bonds were partially terminated by hydrogen, subsequently, the remaining dangling bonds became active and the distance between the graphene and SiO2 surface decreased. Moreover, both annealing methods affect the graphene channel including the vicinity of the metal contacts, which plays an important role in asymmetric carrier transport.
  18. Mohd Yusoff AR, Mat Teridi MA, Jang J
    Nanoscale, 2016 Mar 17;8(12):6328-34.
    PMID: 26489053 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06234a
    Solution processed zirconium acetylacetonate (Zr(acac)) is successfully employed as an electron extraction layer, replacing conventional titanium oxide, in planar CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cells. The as-prepared Zr(acac) film possesses high transparency, high conductivity, a smooth morphology, high wettability, compatibility with PbI2 DMF solution, and an energy level matching that of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite material. An average power conversion efficiency of about 11.93%, along with a high fill factor of 74.36%, an open circuit voltage of 1.03 V, and a short-circuit current density of 15.58 mA cm(-2) is achieved. The overall performance of the devices is slight better than that of cells using ruthenium acetylacetonate (Ru(acac)). The differences between solar cells with different electron extraction layers in charge recombination, charge transport and transfer and lifetime are further explored and it is demonstrate that Zr(acac) is a more effective and promising electron extraction layer. This work provides a simple, and cost effective route for the preparation of an effective hole extraction layer.
  19. Low LE, Wang Q, Chen Y, Lin P, Yang S, Gong L, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2021 Jun 17;13(23):10197-10238.
    PMID: 34027535 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr02127c
    Neurodegenerative disorder is an illness involving neural dysfunction/death attributed to complex pathological processes, which eventually lead to the mortality of the host. It is generally recognized through features such as mitochondrial dysfunction, protein aggregation, oxidative stress, metal ions dyshomeostasis, membrane potential change, neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter impairment. The aforementioned neuronal dysregulations result in the formation of a complex neurodegenerative microenvironment (NME), and may interact with each other, hindering the performance of therapeutics for neurodegenerative disease (ND). Recently, smart nanoassemblies prepared from functional nanoparticles, which possess the ability to interfere with different NME factors, have shown great promise to enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy of NDs. Herein, this review highlights the recent advances of stimuli-responsive nanoassemblies that can effectively combat the NME for the management of ND. The first section outlined the NME properties and their interrelations that are exploitable for nanoscale targeting. The discussion is then extended to the controlled assembly of functional nanoparticles for the construction of stimuli-responsive nanoassemblies. Further, the applications of stimuli-responsive nanoassemblies for the enhanced diagnosis and therapy of ND are introduced. Finally, perspectives on the future development of NME-tailored nanomedicines are given.
  20. Fonseka HA, Ameruddin AS, Caroff P, Tedeschi D, De Luca M, Mura F, et al.
    Nanoscale, 2017 Sep 21;9(36):13554-13562.
    PMID: 28872181 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr04598k
    The usability and tunability of the essential InP-InGaAs material combination in nanowire-based quantum wells (QWs) are assessed. The wurtzite phase core-multi-shell InP-InGaAs-InP nanowire QWs are characterised using cross-section transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescence measurements. The InP-InGaAs direct interface is found to be sharp while the InGaAs-InP inverted interface is more diffused, in agreement with their planar counterpart. Bright emission is observed from the single nanowires containing the QWs at room temperature, with no emission from the InP core or outer barrier. The tunability of the QW emission wavelength in the 1.3-1.55 μm communication wavelength range is demonstrated by varying the QW thickness and in the 1.3 μm range by varying the composition. The experiments are supported by simulation of the emission wavelength of the wurtzite phase InP-InGaAs QWs in the thickness range considered. The radial heterostructure is further extended to design multiple QWs with bright emission, therefore establishing the capability of this material system for nanowire based optical devices for communication applications.
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