Mercury telluride colloidal quantum dots are considered the ideal nanomaterial for infrared applications [1]. The nearly zero band gap energy of bulk mercury telluride and the quantum confinement effect allowed us to prepare HgTe CQDs with absorption that covers all infrared windows [2]. The importance of infrared technology was observed in several applications, such as medical imaging, infrared lasers, sensors, and detectors [2-4]. Tri-octylphosphine telluride (TOPTe) is the most common precursor used in the synthesis of HgTe colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) [5]. The weak stability of TOPTe towards dissociation compared to TOPS and TOPSe motivated scientists to explore new tellurium precursors [6]. Tris(dimethylamino)phosphine telluride (Me₂N)₃PTe is a new tellurium precursor that was used in the synthesis of CdTe nanocrystals. [6]. In this work, we report the study of several phosphine tellurides in the preparation of HgTe CQDs. The efficient synthesis and characterization of HgTe CQDs were developed for the first time by applying TDMAPTe/THF and mercury chloride (HgCl₂) precursors. The preparation was conducted by organometallic hot – injection route. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), SAED analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy were employed in the characterization of obtained nanocrystals. The comparison between TDMAPTe and TOPTe precursors revealed that the first one has a higher chemical reactivity. The band edge peak of the prepared nanocrystals was at 1296.5 nm after 15 min of reaction time with narrow size distribution (FWHM = 213.93 nm). The first absorption peak red-shifted to 1335.5 nm after 60 min and no significant red-shift was observed.

Innovative drug delivery systems show how pharmaceuticals are administered to the site of action that will produce the therapeutic effect. Fungal infections are a problem today on a global scale. There is no medical cover-up in the world regarding the significance of fungi as human pathogens. According to recent development, accurate diagnosis and treatment of these infections are crucial and required. Numerous factors influence the development of modern pharmaceutical products and the method of administration. Development of a successful novel antifungal drug delivery system, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the relationships between the formulations, mode of administration, pharmacological properties, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, stability, efficacy, safety, and clinical indications. This review article discusses various types of nano-particles used in the delivery of antifungal drugs, including dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, and nano-particles based on phospholipids (nono-vesicles). Due to their unique properties, nano-particles can exert more inhibitory power through lower concentrations than conventional dosages when used in the treatment of fungal infections. Reduced drug efficacy, limited penetration through tissue, poor aqueous solubility, decreased bioavailability, and poor drug pharmacokinetics are among the drawbacks to using antifungal medications in delivery systems. Therefore, the in-corporation of antifungal medications through the nano-particles drug delivery system can reduce these undesirable properties.

Oral drug administration is among the most popular options in terms of patient compliance. The absorption window's influence enables the majority of commercially available modified-release dosage forms to have the desired physiological impact. In order to achieve the desired activity against the body's challenges, the formulator must keep the dosage form in the stomach, which is the aim of Gastro-retentive Drug Delivery (GRDD). In this process of maintaining in the Gastro Intestinal (GI) tract influenced by the nature of excipients driven by the type of formulation to achieve therapeutic goal, GRDD’s is comparable to improvised CDDS (Control Drug Delivery System). Control Delivery System before it reaches the absorption site. The most prevalent kind of preferred modified release system in use is solid oral dosage forms. To achieve the desired release profile, fewer doses are required when using these forms. Each drug candidate has a unique GIT absorption window, so there are many challenges. Solvability characteristics, pH-dependent variables, stability, physiological region, etc. Due to the barriers that have been added to this system, many products have been created. This review article contain nano-materials used in GRDD’s as novel drug delivery, factors affecting, challenges to formulate nano-materials, evaluation and advance technology used for application of nano-materials.

In this paper, the authors present the results of modeling the movement of three methane molecules into a closed carbon nanotube. The main approach in this work is to model the interaction between methane molecules and the structure of a nanocapsule, which is a single-walled closed carbon nanotube. Descriptively, the interaction is represented using molecular dynamics approaches and the Lennard-Jones potential. Methane molecules in this model are material points corresponding to the centers of mass of the molecules. To solve the resulting equations of motion of molecules inside the nanotube, the Runge-Kutta method of the 4th order of accuracy is used. The results obtained are presented in the form of graphs depicting the trajectories of the movement of molecules inside the nanotube as a function of time, graphs of the dependence of the velocities of molecules on time and coordinates, and graphs of the change in the total energy of the system as a function of time. Due to the fact that this model does not implement the energy exchange between the nanostructure and molecules, the total energy must be conserved with some accuracy associated with the computational method. Analyzing the obtained results, it is possible to evaluate the potential possibility of using single-walled closed carbon nanotubes as nanocontainers for transporting or storing methane.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) are one of the most remarkable nanomaterials. They have aroused great interest in the last years due to their high potential for biomedical applications. Due to their small size, these nanoparticles can cross the blood-brain barrier, which makes them good candidates for the treatment of diseases related to the central nervous system. For all these applications, it is essential to discard any potential harmful effects. On this basis, the main objective of the present work was to evaluate the influence of surface charge on biological behaviour of AuNP by assessing the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects induced in neuronal cells exposed to AuNP with different charge, i.e. cationic, anionic and neutral. For this purpose, SH-SY5Y cells were treated with a range of concentrations of each type of nanoparticle for 3 and 24h. Cytotoxic effects were analysed by evaluating morphological alterations and changes in cell viability after AuNP exposure, whereas genotoxic effects were assessed by means of γH2AX assay, which detects DNA double strand breaks. Also, cellular uptake was evaluated by flow cytometry. The results obtained showed different toxicological behaviour depending on the surface charge of the nanoparticles. In particular, anionic and neutral AuNP did not cause cytotoxic effects, while cationic nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity. Furthermore, cationic and neutral AuNP showed a low genotoxic potential, while those with a negative charge did not induce double-strand breaks in DNA at all. The study of cellular uptake by flow cytometry did not provide conclusive results likely because the extremely small size of the AuNP hinders their detection.

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation: MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grants PID2020-114908GA-I00 and PID2020-117856GA-I00), Xunta de Galicia (ED431B 2022/16), CICA-Disrupting Project 2021SEM-A1, and Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport [BEAGAL18/00142 to V.V.].

Cerium dioxide nanoparticles (CeO2NP) show antioxidant enzyme-mimetic properties and ROS scavenging activity, making them a promising material for nanomedicine, although their potential adverse effects are not totally understood yet. The objective of this work was to assess the biological behaviour of CeO2NP in human neuronal SH-SY5Y and glial A172 cells. After carrying out the physical-chemical characterization of the CeO₂NP and analysing their ability to be taken up by neuronal and glial cells, the possible alterations in cell viability and the induction of DNA double strand breaks was determined in the presence of these NP by means of MTT assay and γH2AX assay, respectively. The possible existence of interference of the NP with the assay methodologies was previously addressed and corrected when necessary. The results obtained showed that, even though there was a significant dose- and time-dependent internalization of the NP by both cell lines, the CeO₂NP generally presented scarce cyto- or genotoxicity, essentially depending on the NP exposure time and being restricted to higher doses. These results provide a better understanding of CeO₂NP interaction with cellular systems and their possible adverse effects, specifically at the level of the nervous system. These data may be used in risk assessment of exposure to these NP, and as a basis for establishing good practice guidelines for their management, in addition to contributing to increase the knowledge about the impact of CeO₂NP on human health.

Funding: Ministry of Science and Innovation: MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grant PID2020-114908GA-I00), Xunta de Galicia (ED431B 2022/16), CICA-Disrupting Project 2021SEM‐B2, Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport [BEAGAL18/00142 to V.V.], and FCT [SFRH/BPD/122112/2016 to A.T.R]. This communication is based upon work from COST Action "Nano2Clinic" CA17140, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

Transition metal nitrides such as TiN and VN belong to the class of refractory hard metal nitrides with unique physical and chemical properties. Due to high melting points, ultra hardness, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and slow resistance to corrosion these compounds are widely used in many applications. Also these compounds are applied as the counterparts of modern functional composite materials. Here we present the results of comparative study of TiN and VN interaction at mechanochemical processing of the equimolar TiN-VN mixture in a high-energy planetary mill and after HPHT sintering (7.7 GPa and 1750-2300 °C) of the cBN-TiN-VN charge, which contains 35 vol. % of this mixture. It was found that mechanical alloying for five hours or HPHT sintering at 2000-2300 °C results in the formation of two Ti_xV_1-xN_y and V_xTi_1-xN_y mutual solid solutions containing 8-10 at.% of vanadium or titanium, respectively in the samples studied. The crystal structures of solid solutions formed at mechanical alloying is characterized by increased value of defectiveness of their metal sublattices, while HPHT sintering leads to rearrangement of the nitrogen atoms in crystal lattice. It was shown that the preliminary processing of initial powder mixture in a ball mill promotes the occurrence of solid state reactions at HPHT sintering of composites containing a mixture of TiN and VN nitrides and influences their physical characteristics.

The use of magnetic nanorods under the action of a magnetic field or near-infrared laser radiation is a promising method for the formation of tissue structures. In particular, this is due to the high magnetisation of iron oxide-based nanorods and their low toxicity thanks to polymer coatings. The using of the thermal effect of laser exposure can solve the possibility of forming more complex tissue structures. The purpose of this study was the development of a method for the formation of tissue structures using nanorods under of magnetic fields and laser radiation in the near-infrared spectrum. Nanorods were prepared from Fe₃0₄ and coated with polyacrylic acid (Fe₃O₄@PAA). By transmission electron microscopy, the nanorods were characterized by an average thickness of 30 nm and an average length of 700 nm. The zeta potential of the particles: - 79 mV. The MTT test for cytotoxicity of the fibroblast cell line L929 was carried out and showed that the nanorods were non-toxic at concentrations ranging from 5-60 µg(Fe)/mL. IC50 was 135.7 µg/mL. After laser exposure (808 nm, 10 min) with dose of 31.5 µg(Fe)/mL Fe₃O₄@PAA MTT test showed almost total cell death. The data of double stained acridine orange and ethidium iodide confirmed the data of MTT test and showed that necrosis was the main cause of cell death after laser exposure. The possibility of forming cell structures by exposing cells with nanorods to a magnetic field has been shown. Thus, our synthesized Fe₃O₄@PAA could be used to form different cell structures from fibroblasts using a magnetic field, as well as changing the structure with near-infrared spectrum laser.

In 2014, the discovery of Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) led to a revolution in the preparation of graphene foams. The LIG method allows to effortlessly produce patterned graphene-like foams with high surface area from polyimides. Specifically, LIG is obtained by means of a photothermal process, which is initiated by a pulsed CO₂ laser scriber in ambient conditions. Since its discovery, LIG has received much attention from researchers, and nowadays it has a wide range of established applications. However, to the best of our knowledge, only a few studies have focused on potential applications of LIG in Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEM-FC) devices. In this context, porous carbon-based materials have been accepted for several years as a standard in the fabrication of PEM-FC Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs) and catalyst supports. Porous carbon-based materials fulfill many crucial roles in PEM-FCs: they provide electronic conduction pathways; they exhibit high electrochemically active surface area; they have the capability to both transport gases to reaction sites and remove excess water through their pores. As a result of our study, we present robust evidence of LIG being a potential alternative to conventional carbon-based materials for GDE as well as catalyst support in PEM-FC devices. We investigate morphological, electric, chemical, and electrochemical properties of LIG; key properties for applications in PEM-FCs. We treat the LIG precursor with metal salts to further increase LIG porosity and surface area. Moreover, this treatment activates the carbon within the LIG, thus increasing catalytic performance of LIG towards the Oxygen Reduction Reaction occurring in PEM-FCs. We believe that the promising results we obtained, in addition to the ease and speed of preparation of LIG, could lead to the replacement of conventional carbon-based materials as GDEs and catalyst supports in PEM-FC devices.

Currently, the environmental problems of using injection systems associated with the combustion of liquid fuels are relevant, as is the search for low-cost technologies and fuel economy and searching new types of alternative fuels. Until now, methods have been presented in the works using an air filter in the form of a permeable monomolecular film controlled by an electric field, which serves as a membrane that passes only oxygen [1, 2]. In the future, it is also worth paying attention to the change in the design of the combustion chamber and its geometric characteristics, in particular, the passage of air through the nanomaterial and compare the results [3]. In this paper, low-cost and effective methods of reducing harmful emissions (with choosing optimal combustion parameters) during the combustion of liquid fuels in injection systems will be analyzed and the results of computer modeling and their comparison with experimental data on the KIVA program will be presented [4].

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[2] Makuev V.A and etc., Nanomaterials and their use In Internal Combustion Engines. Mater. 2014, 150-153.

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[4] Amsden A.A., O'Rourke P.J., Butler T.D. KIVA-II: A computer program for chemically reactive flows with sprays, Los Alamos. Mater.1989, 160.