{"title":"Biowaste-derived carbon as an electrode material for sodium batteries and capacitors","authors":"Chandra Sekhar Bongu and Edreese H. Alsharaeh","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00333D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00333D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The conversion of inexpensive, plentiful, and renewable biomass into porous carbon materials for use in sodium-ion batteries and supercapacitor electrodes has garnered attention in recent years. This study presents a novel approach where blackberry seeds were carbonized and chemically activated with potassium hydroxide (KOH) to form activated carbons (ACs). The synthesized blackberry seed-derived activated carbon (BBSDAC's) morphology, defectiveness, crystal structure, and textural characteristics were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and low-temperature nitrogen physisorption. The characterization confirmed that the biocarbon has a good surface area with micropores and defectiveness. The electrochemical performance of the sodium-ion energy storage of the biocarbon was investigated in a half-cell, yielding a discharge capacity of 322 mAh g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> at a rate of 100 mA g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> with good rate capability, as well as outstanding cycling stability, retaining 99% of its capacity after 200 cycles. Even after 10 months of rest, the cell showed no capacity decay. Additionally, activated carbon was investigated in an aqueous solution as an electrode material for sodium-ion capacitors. The BBSDAC 700 exhibits remarkable characteristics with a high specific capacitance of 218 F g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> at a current density of 1 A g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> and excellent cycling stability with around 99.0% coulombic efficiency after 10 000 cycles. The capacitor demonstrated an energy density of around 20 Wh kg<small><sup>−1</sup></small>. The findings show that the BBSDAC 700 electrode advances the electrode materials used in energy storage applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 19","pages":" 6856-6867"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00333d?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145184010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ansh Desai, Subhojit Ghosh, Subramanian Sankaranarayanan, Dhiraj Bhatia and Amit K. Yadav
{"title":"A one health nanotechnology approach to address antimicrobial resistance: state-of-the-art and strategic outlook","authors":"Ansh Desai, Subhojit Ghosh, Subramanian Sankaranarayanan, Dhiraj Bhatia and Amit K. Yadav","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00487J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00487J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a critical global health threat, driven by the rapid evolution and dissemination of resistance mechanisms among pathogens, and exacerbated by the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health sectors. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the mechanisms underlying AMR including membrane permeability modification, efflux pumps, enzymatic inactivation, and target site modification while framing the crisis within the One Health perspective that emphasizes cross-sectoral collaboration and holistic strategies. The article systematically evaluates current approaches to combating AMR, such as novel drug discovery, combination therapies, bacteriophage-based interventions, antimicrobial adjuvants, and antimicrobial peptides, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations. The core of the review focuses on the advances in nanotechnology-based strategies, detailing the antimicrobial potential of diverse nanomaterials including chitosan, poly(lactic-<em>co</em>-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, metal and metal ion nanoparticles (<em>e.g</em>., zinc oxide, silver, copper, gold, titanium, magnetic, cobalt), carbon dots, dendrimers, and hydrogels. Special attention is given to their mechanisms of action, efficacy against multidrug-resistant organisms, and applicability across human, veterinary, and environmental contexts. Moreover, the review addresses the limitations of nanotechnology-based approaches, such as nanoparticle cytotoxicity, the potential for nanoparticle-induced resistance, and the toxicological and ecological risks posed to One Health ecosystems. By critically appraising these challenges, the review identifies key research gaps and regulatory hurdles that must be overcome to enable the safe and effective clinical translation of nano-antimicrobials. The article concludes by outlining future prospects for the field, advocating for interdisciplinary research, responsible stewardship, and innovative policy frameworks to sustain the fight against AMR and protect global health.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 19","pages":" 6612-6647"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00487j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145183958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xin Wang, Wen-Han Bu, Lu-Yang Han, Long-Xu Han, Qi-Ling Liang, Shan He, Zhe Gao, Yang Xu, Jian-Jun Chu and Fang He
{"title":"Furanone-based comonomer used to manufacture antibacterial bone cement with simultaneously enhanced mechanical strength and antibacterial activity","authors":"Xin Wang, Wen-Han Bu, Lu-Yang Han, Long-Xu Han, Qi-Ling Liang, Shan He, Zhe Gao, Yang Xu, Jian-Jun Chu and Fang He","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00442J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00442J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Non-leaching bone cement (NLBC) with immobilized antibacterial agents represents a novel approach to fundamentally resolve the issue of burst release of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC). In this study, a furanone-based methacrylate carbamate comonomer has been reported, which we named FUMA. With this comonomer in hand, a new NLBC FUMA cement was manufactured. Surprisingly, the mechanical strength of the FUMA cement increased with the monomer content, meeting the ISO 5833 requirements. Further studies showed that the antibacterial activity of the FUMA cement increased with higher monomer content, and the 25% FUMA cement exhibited 97.57 ± 2.27% antibacterial activity against <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> and 43 ± 4.82% against methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (MRSA). This cement demonstrated no hemolytic activity or acute toxicity. These findings provide new potential approaches for the prevention of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs).</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 6406-6415"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00442j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elsayed Elbayoumy, Emadeldin M. Ibrahim, Ashraf El-Bindary, Tamaki Nakano and Mohamed M. Aboelnga
{"title":"Revealing an efficient copper oxide nanoparticle catalyst for the reduction of the hazardous nitrophenol: experimental and DFT studies","authors":"Elsayed Elbayoumy, Emadeldin M. Ibrahim, Ashraf El-Bindary, Tamaki Nakano and Mohamed M. Aboelnga","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00620A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00620A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The accumulation of hazardous nitrophenols generated from industrial wastewater necessitates every possible scientific collaboration to help protect our ecosystem. To participate in this increasingly pressing matter, we provide a synthesized crosslinked vinyl polymer loaded with copper oxide nanoclusters as a high-performance catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The catalyst was synthesized <em>via</em> free radical polymerization using divinylbenzene (DVB) as the monomer. The resulting polymer served as a support matrix for copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs). The structural characteristics of the synthesized composites were analyzed for their properties using FTIR, TGA, XRD, TEM, and BET for surface area measurements. The results confirm that copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were uniformly distributed across the poly(DVB) surface with no aggregation. BET analysis revealed a microporous structure with a defined surface area of 90.0928 m<small><sup>2</sup></small> g<small><sup>−1</sup></small>. When employed as a heterogeneous catalyst in the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), the composite achieved a reaction rate constant of 0.45 min<small><sup>−1</sup></small> and a half-life of 1.45 min. Notably, the catalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused for four consecutive cycles without significant loss in activity. DFT calculations were carried out to elucidate the underlying reduction mechanism of nitrophenol.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 6291-6304"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00620a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Barbora Jansová, Václav Kozmík, Jiří Svoboda, Martin Krupička, Damian Pociecha, Petr Bečvář, Marcel Bouvet, Zuzana Böhmová, Vladimíra Novotná and Michal Kohout
{"title":"Design and synthesis of photoresponsive bent-core liquid crystals exhibiting polar smectic phases","authors":"Barbora Jansová, Václav Kozmík, Jiří Svoboda, Martin Krupička, Damian Pociecha, Petr Bečvář, Marcel Bouvet, Zuzana Böhmová, Vladimíra Novotná and Michal Kohout","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00379B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00379B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Bent-core liquid crystals represent a fascinating class of self-assembling materials. This is due to their unique organized fluidic states – mesophases – that are widely studied for their electro-optical and photonic responses. We designed and synthesized two series of mesogens based on laterally substituted 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, systematically tuning their properties by varying the linking group in both side arms. The mesomorphic behaviour was investigated using polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction, revealing the presence of several types of smectic phases. For homologues containing a photoresponsive azo group, we evaluated their light-induced switching in solution as well as in mesophase, under external UV irradiation. We demonstrated that these materials can completely undergo the light-induced switching from a mesophase to an isotropic liquid under <em>in situ</em> illumination during X-ray measurements. Unlike previously reported analogues with related structures, the studied compounds exhibited nematic phases with surprisingly narrow temperature range and stable enantiotropic antiferroelectric polar smectic C phases. A transition from a polar SmC to SmC<small><sub>A</sub></small>P<small><sub>A</sub></small> phase is also documented.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 6469-6478"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00379b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhanced catalytic performance of MnO2 nanowires for soot combustion by cobalt incorporation","authors":"Issara Sereewatthanawut, Chalempol Khajonvittayakul, Notsawan Swadchaipong, Vut Tongnan, Panupun Maneesard, Rossarin Ampairojanawong, Ammarika Makdee, Tawiwan Kangsadan, Matthew Hartley and Unalome Wetwatana Hartley","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00480B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00480B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The impact of cobalt (Co) doping on the structure, redox, and catalytic properties of MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> nanowires (NWs) for soot combustion was investigated. XRD analysis revealed that pure MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> NWs exhibit a mixture of major α-MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> and minor γ-MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> phases, while Co doping at 10 mol% enhanced the γ-MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> content and induced unbalanced charge in the MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> structure <em>via</em> Mn substitution by Co, which induced lattice defects, including oxygen vacancies. SEM images confirmed the successful formation of nanowire morphology using the hydrothermal method for all prepared catalysts. H<small><sub>2</sub></small>-TPR profiles demonstrated enhanced reducibility and oxygen mobility in Co-doped catalysts, attributed to synergistic effects between Mn and Co species and increased oxygen vacancy concentration. The soot oxidation mechanism suggested that oxygen vacancies and mobility play a key role in sustaining lattice oxygen activation. Catalytic activity tests for soot combustion revealed that 10 mol% Co-doped MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> NWs achieved the lowest <em>T</em><small><sub>50</sub></small> (363 °C), outperforming both pure MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> NWs and 20 mol% Co-doped MnO<small><sub>2</sub></small> NWs, due to optimized structural, porosity, and redox properties, and oxygen mobility. Post-reaction investigations demonstrated that the nanowire catalyst might provide sustained catalytic performance over several reaction cycles by converting to catalytically active Mn<small><sub>3</sub></small>O<small><sub>4</sub></small> without morphological degradation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 6416-6426"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00480b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Neelanjana Mukherjee, Nancy S. Muyanja and G. J. Blanchard
{"title":"Layer-by-layer growth of graphene oxide multilayers using robust interlayer linking chemistry. 1. Zr-bisphosphates","authors":"Neelanjana Mukherjee, Nancy S. Muyanja and G. J. Blanchard","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00600G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00600G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Graphene oxide (GO) holds substantial interest because of its utility in applications ranging from chemical sensing to catalysis and energy storage. We report on the layer-by-layer formation of graphene oxide phosphate (P-GO) multilayers on silica and oxidized silicon supports, with the layers connected <em>via</em> Zr-bisphosphate (ZP) linking chemistry. Layers were grown either directly by ZP linkages between P-GO sheets, or with the use of 1,4-phenylene bisphosphate (BP1) or [1,1′-biphenyl]4,4′-diyl bisphosphate (BP2). The layers have been characterized using optical null ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There is a linear dependence of assembly thickness on the number of layers deposited and the integrated area of the optical absorbance bands also increases linearly with number of layers deposited. XPS data provides information on interlayer linking stoichiometry. SEM images provide insight into the morphology of the adlayers, suggesting the structure and length of the interlayer linking moieties used in the multilayer assembly play a significant role in the organization of the resulting system.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 20","pages":" 7243-7251"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00600g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145284122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dennis Röcker, Fabian Biebl, Lisa Meier, Sebastian Patrick Schwaminger, Paula Fraga-García and Sonja Berensmeier
{"title":"Activated carbon cloth as efficient microporous electrode for maleic acid recovery through electrical potential","authors":"Dennis Röcker, Fabian Biebl, Lisa Meier, Sebastian Patrick Schwaminger, Paula Fraga-García and Sonja Berensmeier","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00422E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00422E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The purification of biobased organic acids poses considerable challenges due to the high energy demand and associated costs of conventional methods, which hinder the market potential of these renewable carbon sources. This study investigates the charging and electrosorptive behavior of activated carbon cloths for maleic acid as an alternative to the recently proposed particulate and monolithic electrosorptive systems for organic acid recovery. Characterization of the activated carbon cloth (ACC) revealed slightly acidic behavior with a point of zero charge (pHpzc) of 6.18, while Raman spectroscopy confirmed a highly amorphous structure. These features influence both adsorption capacity and charging behavior. Positive potentials increase maleic acid uptake to a maximum of 50.40 mg g<small><sup>−1</sup></small> at +1.00 V <em>vs.</em> Ag/AgCl, marking a greater than 5-fold improvement compared to open-circuit conditions. Conversely, negative potentials promote desorption, achieving recoveries of up to 93% at −1.00 V <em>vs.</em> Ag/AgCl. While applied potentials enabled precise control over the electrosorptive uptake and recovery of maleic acid, pore diffusion limitations resulted in prolonged kinetics for uptake (∼180 min) and recovery (∼60 min). For background electrolyte concentrations up to 20 mM NaCl, competition from inorganic ions was negligible and did not affect uptake behavior, while higher concentrations facilitated maleic acid release through electrodesorption. Our results demonstrate the potential of ACCs for the electrosorptive recovery of organic acids, even in media with elevated competing ion concentrations. Thus, ACCs offer a promising alternative to conventional purification methods, contributing towards sustainable bioprocessing and industrial applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 6162-6173"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00422e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiri Jancalek, Aidan Milam, Stanislav Slang, Michal Kurka, Roman Svoboda, Jiri Jemelka, Miroslav Vlcek and Karel Palka
{"title":"Spin-coated Ge–In–Se thin films: characterization and changes induced by visible and electron radiation in relation to indium content","authors":"Jiri Jancalek, Aidan Milam, Stanislav Slang, Michal Kurka, Roman Svoboda, Jiri Jemelka, Miroslav Vlcek and Karel Palka","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00596E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00596E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Solution-processed Ge<small><sub>25−<em>x</em></sub></small>In<small><sub><em>x</em></sub></small>Se<small><sub>75</sub></small> (<em>x</em> = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10) thin films were prepared <em>via</em> spin-coating for the first time. The glass transition temperature of source bulk glasses decreased with increasing indium content and subsequently guided the hard-baking temperatures of deposited thin films (60–240 °C). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed thermally induced selenium loss at elevated temperatures, particularly in indium-rich compositions, and a greater resistance to organic residue removal with higher indium content. Increasing the hard-baking temperature led to structural changes resulting in decreased film thickness and optical bandgap, with a simultaneous increase in refractive index. At 240 °C, the optical parameters converged across indium-containing compositions, likely due to the content of low-index organics. Atomic force microscopy showed low surface roughness with minor porosity in Ge<small><sub>17.5</sub></small>In<small><sub>7.5</sub></small>Se<small><sub>75</sub></small>, and Ge<small><sub>15</sub></small>In<small><sub>10</sub></small>Se<small><sub>75</sub></small> thin films. Raman spectroscopy confirmed thermal structural polymerization, with indium-based units showing difficult reintegration into the glass network. Photo- and electron-sensitivity studies using 532 nm laser exposure and electron beam lithography showed that 2.5 at% of indium significantly enhanced sensitivity, while further increases in indium content resulted in a gradual decline. Notably, Ge<small><sub>22.5</sub></small>In<small><sub>2.5</sub></small>Se<small><sub>75</sub></small> thin films exhibited an etching selectivity of 6.4, among the highest ever reported for solution-processed chalcogenide thin films.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 17","pages":" 6152-6161"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00596e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144909566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Veronica Ghini, Giorgio Di Paco, Lucrezia Cosottini, Antonio Rosato and Paola Turano
{"title":"19F NMR as a tool to probe drug binding and structural dynamics in ferritin-based nanocarriers","authors":"Veronica Ghini, Giorgio Di Paco, Lucrezia Cosottini, Antonio Rosato and Paola Turano","doi":"10.1039/D5MA00538H","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5MA00538H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Ferritin-based nanocarriers offer a promising platform for targeted drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, stability, and ability to cross biological barriers. In this study, we used human heavy chain ferritin (HuHf) nanocage incorporating 5-fluorotryptophan to investigate the binding and structural dynamics of three gold(<small>I</small>)-based cytotoxic compounds: auranofin (AF), aurothiomalate (AuTM), and a gold(<small>I</small>)-N-heterocyclic carbene complex (AuNHC). Using <small><sup>19</sup></small>F NMR spectroscopy, we monitored site-specific interactions at the cysteine dyad (C90/C102) near the fluorinated tryptophan residue (W93), revealing distinct chemical shift signatures for each compound. Molecular dynamics simulations complemented the spectroscopic data, elucidating how conformational rearrangements of W93 correlate with the NMR shifts. Such rearrangements can change significantly the local environment of W93, affecting its solvent exposure as well as the distance from the gold(<small>I</small>) ion. These findings provide atomistic insight into the structural behavior of metallated ferritin nanocages and establish <small><sup>19</sup></small>F NMR as a powerful tool for probing protein–metal interactions in drug delivery systems also of nanoscale dimension.</p>","PeriodicalId":18242,"journal":{"name":"Materials Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 6337-6344"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ma/d5ma00538h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145062052","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}