Ramesha Hanumanthappa, Sumit Ramesh Naik, Sahana Prakash Nayak, Asmatanzeem Bepari, Hanan Nasser Altamimi, Mujeeb Ahmed Shaikh, Fahd A. Nasr, Farha M. Shaikh, P. C. Nethravathi, Hemalatha Nanjaiah, D. Suresh, Raghu S. V. and Kuramkote Shivanna Devaraju
{"title":"A novel nanocomposite Lf-DA-MSN-PF127 aided the delivery of dopamine for the treatment of Parkinson's disease in a rat model","authors":"Ramesha Hanumanthappa, Sumit Ramesh Naik, Sahana Prakash Nayak, Asmatanzeem Bepari, Hanan Nasser Altamimi, Mujeeb Ahmed Shaikh, Fahd A. Nasr, Farha M. Shaikh, P. C. Nethravathi, Hemalatha Nanjaiah, D. Suresh, Raghu S. V. and Kuramkote Shivanna Devaraju","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00593K","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00593K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Dopamine is a pivotal neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, which is instrumental in motor functions. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive, age-related neurodegenerative disorder marked by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the pars compacta of the <em>substantia nigra</em> in the midbrain, resulting in the reduction of dopamine levels. Levodopa is a prescribed medicine for symptomatic relief of PD, as it is an amino acid precursor of dopamine that readily crosses the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB). However, levodopa exhibits poor plasma bioavailability and limited brain uptake, and induces peripheral side effects. To overcome this biological impediment, we have developed and characterized a lactoferrin-functionalized Pluronic F-127 capped dopamine-loaded mesoporous silica nanocomposite (Lf-DA-MSN-PF127) to furnish dopamine across the BBB. <em>In vivo</em> experiments using a rotenone (ROT) induced PD rat model confirmed that Lf-DA-MSN-PF127 crosses the BBB and delivers dopamine. It remarkably boosts motor symptoms and dopamine levels in ROT-induced PD rats. Our study illustrates the nontoxic effect of the Lf-DA-MSN-PF127 nanocomposite and its efficacy in delivering dopamine across the BBB, providing a novel treatment strategy for PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 19","pages":" 6017-6031"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12356145/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144874194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Vorlaufer, J. Josten, A. Hutzler, C. A. Macauley, N. Martić, M. Weiser, G. Schmid, K. J. J. Mayrhofer and P. Felfer
{"title":"Understanding the degradation of Ag2Cu2O3 electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction†","authors":"N. Vorlaufer, J. Josten, A. Hutzler, C. A. Macauley, N. Martić, M. Weiser, G. Schmid, K. J. J. Mayrhofer and P. Felfer","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00328H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00328H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Recently, a mixed-metal oxide with a paramelaconite-type crystal structure (Ag<small><sub>2</sub></small>Cu<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>3</sub></small>) has been investigated as a promising catalyst for electrochemical reduction of CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> and CO. The catalyst operates with a reasonable overpotential and good selectivity. However, during its utilization, the catalyst experiences a degradation in conversion efficiency, thus limiting its potential in industrial application. This has so far been attributed to the unstable nature of the crystal structure, which tends to partition into metallic copper and silver. In this study, we characterized this decomposition using atom probe tomography and analytical electron microscopy. We found this decomposition to take place also under an electron beam without any ongoing reaction conditions. We also found that dissolution mechanisms must play a role in the degradation of the catalyst. This is deduced from the existence of nanostructures which only form during catalyst operation and are comprised of copper and potassium, the latter of which stems from the electrolyte. The composition of these nanostructures was confirmed using an atom probe.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 19","pages":" 6005-6016"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12352627/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144874199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amit Sahoo, Achyuta N. Acharya, Priyambada Jena, M. Moonis, J. P. Biswal, S. Swain and M. C. Tripathy
{"title":"Zirconium ferrite nanoparticles as smart materials for energy and environmental applications: fractional-order supercapacitors, reservoirs of F− ions, and efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting","authors":"Amit Sahoo, Achyuta N. Acharya, Priyambada Jena, M. Moonis, J. P. Biswal, S. Swain and M. C. Tripathy","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00578G","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00578G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >A novel electrocatalyst, zirconium ferrite nanoparticles (NPs) (ZrFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>5</sub></small> NPs), was synthesized through coprecipitation and calcination processes at 300 °C and 500 °C using iron rust. The ZrFe<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>5</sub></small> NPs were used as catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Furthermore, these NPs in an alkaline medium exhibited superior properties of a fractional order supercapacitor, based on which a prototype device was fabricated to demonstrate its energy storage applications. The capacitance and phase graphs of the fractional-order supercapacitor exhibit a peak value of 1.5 F s<small><sup>−1−<em>α</em></sup></small> in the mid-frequency range, followed by a decrease at increased frequencies. Furthermore, these NPs were found to be the most effective agents for removing fluoride ions. In a modified one-pot synthetic approach, the hydrogel (Hy) was synthesized using PVA and glycerine in an aqueous medium at 100 °C. The composite Hy membranes were prepared by mixing Hy with these NPs, which were applied to remove fluoride ions efficiently within the pH range of 1–10 from the aqueous medium through adsorption, yielding defluorinated water. The adsorption process of fluoride ions was correlated with the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms, with pseudo-second-order kinetics as the preferred approach. The zirconium ferrite NPs and the composite Hy membranes were characterized through various characterization techniques, <em>i.e.</em>, XRD, XPS, FTIR, solid UV-visible spectroscopy, STA, FESEM, HRTEM, and BET surface area analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 20","pages":" 6575-6595"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12412254/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Magnetic catalyst marvels: a sustainable approach to highly substituted imidazole synthesis.","authors":"Mosstafa Kazemi, Ramin Javahershenas, Jayanti Makasana, Suhas Ballal, Munther Kadheem, Abhayveer Singh, Kattela Chennakesavulu, Kamal Kant Joshi","doi":"10.1039/d5na00368g","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5na00368g","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This comprehensive review delves into the recent advancements in magnetic catalyst technology, mainly focusing on their application in facilitating greener and more efficient synthetic routes for imidazole derivatives. This manuscript assesses various magnetic catalyst systems, examining their synthesis, functionalization, and mechanistic roles in promoting imidazole formation. Special attention is given to the environmental benefits of using magnetic catalysts, such as reduced solvent use, lower energy consumption, and enhanced recyclability, which align with sustainable chemistry principles. The unique properties of magnetic catalysts, including their easy recovery <i>via</i> external magnetic fields and reusability without significant loss of activity, are highlighted as key factors driving the synthetic processes' sustainability and economic viability. Furthermore, the review discusses the challenges and limitations currently faced in this realm and proposes future directions for research, including the development of novel magnetic catalyst compositions and the exploration of their utility in other heterocyclic syntheses. By providing a detailed analysis of existing data and suggesting pathways for innovation, this review aims to inspire continued advancement in sustainable catalysis, promising to revolutionize the synthesis of highly substituted imidazoles and expand their potential applications in various industries. This manuscript is a crucial resource for researchers in catalysis and sustainable chemistry. It underscores the broader implications of magnetic catalysts in enhancing green manufacturing practices in the chemical industry, thereby contributing to global sustainability goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12443059/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145086528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A nano-powered green and chemically synthesized Au/MWCNT modified electrochemical sensor for methylene blue detection in river water.","authors":"Seleke J Mokole, Omolola E Fayemi","doi":"10.1039/d5na00396b","DOIUrl":"10.1039/d5na00396b","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores the development of novel gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites for methylene blue (MB) dye detection, leveraging both green (Au<sub>grn</sub>) and chemical (Au<sub>chm</sub>) synthesis methods. A thorough analysis of the nanomaterials synthesized using green and chemical routes was performed utilizing Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing particle sizes of 13.66 nm and 14.86 nm for Au<sub>chm</sub> and Au<sub>grn</sub>, respectively. UV-visible spectroscopy (UV) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) reveal crystallite sizes ranging from 5.36 nm to 21.26 nm. Electrochemical analysis <i>via</i> cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) revealed distinct current responses among the synthesized materials. EASA, which is the electrochemical active surface area of the electrodes was calculated, and the values were 0.053 cm<sup>2</sup> (Au<sub>chm</sub>/MWCNTs), 0.031 cm<sup>2</sup> (Au<sub>grn</sub>/MWCNTs), 0.024 cm<sup>2</sup> (MWCNTs), 0.006 cm<sup>2</sup> (Au<sub>grn</sub>), 0.005 cm<sup>2</sup> (Au<sub>chm</sub>), and 0.002 cm<sup>2</sup> (bare). EIS showed <i>R</i> <sub>ct</sub> values in the following order: 32.20 Ω < 34.02 Ω < 36.61 Ω < 3.4 × 10<sup>5</sup> Ω < 3.7 × 10<sup>5</sup> Ω < 5.6 × 10<sup>5</sup> Ω for Au<sub>grn</sub>/MWCNTs, MWCNTs, Au<sub>chm</sub>/MWCNTs, Au<sub>chm</sub>, Au<sub>grn</sub>, and bare electrode, respectively, which correlated with CV oxidation peaks in FeCN, except for the bare electrode due to the <i>n</i>-value of 0.87. The oxidation current response in MB decreased in the order of 124.29 μA for MWCNTs, 114.77 μA for Au<sub>grn</sub>/MWCNTs, 60.85 μA for Au<sub>chm</sub>/MWCNTs, 18.96 μA for Au<sub>chm</sub>, 2.81 μA for bare, and 2.08 μA for Au<sub>grn</sub>. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were determined to be 20.62 nM and 62.51 nM for Au<sub>chm</sub>/MWCNTs and 20.23 nM and 61.30 nM for Au<sub>grn</sub>/MWCNTs, respectively, indicating slightly superior sensitivity for Au<sub>grn</sub>/MWCNTs. Analysis of real-life environmental samples demonstrated the practical applicability of the synthesized electrodes, with recovery percentages ranging from 90% to 107% (<i>n</i> = 3). These findings underscore the dependability and sensitivity of the developed nanocomposites for MB detection.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12352623/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144874193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mi-Hsueh (Michelle) Wu, James Singh Konthoujam, Iris Lin, Tzu-Yu Peng, Yu-Jung Lu and Min-Hsiung Shih
{"title":"Carrier recombination manipulation for tunable multicolor emission in two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide light-emitting devices","authors":"Mi-Hsueh (Michelle) Wu, James Singh Konthoujam, Iris Lin, Tzu-Yu Peng, Yu-Jung Lu and Min-Hsiung Shih","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00623F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00623F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >We demonstrate a dual-colored light-emitting device using 2D semiconductors by modulating AC carrier injection through independent electrodes with phase delay, enabling balanced emission from WSe<small><sub>2</sub></small> and WS<small><sub>2</sub></small> monolayers. This innovative approach allows balanced, dynamically controllable, and spectrally stable emissions from WSe<small><sub>2</sub></small> and WS<small><sub>2</sub></small> monolayers, significantly enhancing emission control and expanding possibilities in advanced multicolor optoelectronic applications, including integrated photonic circuits and high-resolution display technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 19","pages":" 5944-5950"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12369644/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144961794","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mitisha Jain, Silvan Kretschmer and Arkady V. Krasheninnikov
{"title":"Simulations of the response of supported 2D materials to ion irradiation with explicit account for the atomic structure of the substrate","authors":"Mitisha Jain, Silvan Kretschmer and Arkady V. Krasheninnikov","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00468C","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00468C","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Ion irradiation has routinely been used to create defects or even pattern two-dimensional (2D) materials. For efficient defect engineering, that is, choosing the proper ion fluence to achieve the desired concentration of defects, it is of paramount importance to know the probability of creating defects as a function of ion energy. Atomistic simulations of ion impacts on 2D targets can provide such information, especially for free-standing systems, but in the case of supported 2D materials, the substrate can strongly affect defect production. Here, we employ analytical potential molecular dynamics simulations to calculate the average number of defects produced by light (He) and heavy (Ar) ions in 2D MoS<small><sub>2</sub></small> and graphene, two archetypal 2D materials, both free-standing and supported, in a wide range of ion energies. We take explicit account of the atomic structure of the SiO<small><sub>2</sub></small> and Au substrates and use several approaches to choose impact points in the supercell to increase the accuracy of the calculations. We show that depending on ion type and energy, the substrate can increase or decrease defect production, and the concentration of irradiation-induced defects and sputtering yield can be quite different for different substrate types. Our simulations provide microscopic insights into different channels of defect production in free-standing and supported 2D systems, and give quantitative results on sputtering yield and defect concentration, which can directly be compared to experimental data.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 20","pages":" 6596-6606"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12412250/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145015900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mahmoud G. Soliman, Jennifer Fernandez Alarcon, Tanja Ursula Lüdtke, Martina B. Violatto, Marko Dobricic, Chiara Cordiglieri, Alessandro Corbelli, Fabio Fiordaliso, Giovanni Sitia, James S. O'Donnell, Daniel I. R. Spencer, Sergio Moya, Paolo Bigini and Marco P. Monopoli
{"title":"Decoration of gold nanoparticles with glycopeptides leads to a lower cellular uptake and liver retention†","authors":"Mahmoud G. Soliman, Jennifer Fernandez Alarcon, Tanja Ursula Lüdtke, Martina B. Violatto, Marko Dobricic, Chiara Cordiglieri, Alessandro Corbelli, Fabio Fiordaliso, Giovanni Sitia, James S. O'Donnell, Daniel I. R. Spencer, Sergio Moya, Paolo Bigini and Marco P. Monopoli","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00464K","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00464K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Unspecific uptake by the liver is one of the main drawbacks of the translation of nanomaterials into clinics, preventing their delivery into diseased tissues. Here, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) decorated with a sialic acid-displaying glycopeptide to enhance their specific targeting properties by reducing their uptake inside hepatic cells. We demonstrated the biocompatibility of the glycopeptide-coated GNPs with two different nanomaterial shapes (spherical and rod-like GNPs) and the targeting properties of the glycopeptide were retained in serum-free and protein-rich media. We found that the glycopeptide reduces nanomaterial interaction with hepatic cells by 1.96 times. In the liver, Kupffer cells (KCs) and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) were the only cells that interacted with the GNPs, increasing the expression of sialic acid-binding receptors such as Siglec-1. This work provides potential new strategies to overcome off-target nanomaterial accumulation by manipulating nanomaterial functionalisation with glycans to alter hepatic cell interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 5784-5798"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12341466/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144847584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Scaccini, A. Sensini, D. Puppi, M. Gagliardi, L. Moroni, M. Cecchini, P. Wieringa and I. Tonazzini
{"title":"Chitosan–glycerol blended nanofibers for peripheral nerve regeneration applications","authors":"L. Scaccini, A. Sensini, D. Puppi, M. Gagliardi, L. Moroni, M. Cecchini, P. Wieringa and I. Tonazzini","doi":"10.1039/D4NA01038H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4NA01038H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Over the last decade, chitosan has drawn increasing attention in the field of regenerative medicine as a natural polymer that is biocompatible, biodegradable, non-immunogenic and widely available. However, while chitosan scaffolds (<em>e.g.</em> nanofibers, films, <em>etc.</em>) have been developed by multiple methods, the application of these scaffolds has been hampered by the brittle and fragile nature of this material. Chitosan plasticization is possible as a means of improving mechanical properties, with the incorporation of glycerol within solid films having demonstrated its potential to enhance the mechanical properties of chitosan. In this work, we report the first use of plasticized chitosan for the production of nanofibers. We produced aligned glycerol plasticized chitosan nanofibers (Gly–Chi NFs) using electrospinning. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer in order to modulate the mechanical properties of chitosan. We optimized the production process and the glycerol concentration, and measured the surface wettability, FT-IR spectra and thermal properties of the NFs. We obtained continuous, defect-free Gly (2%)–Chi nanofibers with a diameter of 184 ± 6 nm and a high level of anisotropy. These Gly–Chi aligned nanofibers also exhibited biocompatibility with primary Schwann cells <em>in vitro</em>, and were effective in guiding their bipolarization, thus suggesting their potential for peripheral nerve regeneration applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 19","pages":" 6132-6144"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12371569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144961894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Piumika Yapa, Imalka Munaweera and Mayuri Geethanjalie Thammitiyagodage
{"title":"Evaluation of the safety profile of a metal-based nanosystem for developing antimicrobial polymer membranes in healthcare applications†","authors":"Piumika Yapa, Imalka Munaweera and Mayuri Geethanjalie Thammitiyagodage","doi":"10.1039/D5NA00380F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5NA00380F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Healthcare-associated infections remain a significant concern, driving the exploration of metal-based nanosystems as innovative solutions for developing antimicrobial polymer membranes. This study evaluates the toxicity of a novel nanofiber membrane reinforced with multimetallic silica nanohybrids, proposed as an advanced antimicrobial layer. Initially, silver (Ag), copper (Cu), and cobalt (Co) were doped into silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) <em>via</em> the sol–gel method. The trimetallic nanohybrid demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity compared to Ag-, Cu-, or Co-doped SiNPs alone, showing enhanced efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi, due to the synergistic action of the metals. Toxicity was assessed using zebrafish embryo assays (OECD 236) with concentrations ranging from 10.000 to 0.156 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small>. LC<small><sub>50</sub></small> values were 2.05 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (AgSiNPs), 5.53 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (CuSiNPs), 9.99 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (CoSiNPs), and 6.35 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (trimetallic SiNPs). Based on these results, the trimetallic nanohybrid, which showed the lowest toxicity, was electrospun into a polymer membrane. Skin irritation was evaluated using the HET-CAM assay (ICCVAM protocol), yielding irritation scores of 13.33 ± 0.58 (Ag), 11.67 ± 0.58 (Cu), 1.00 ± 1.00 (Co), and 3.67 ± 0.58 (trimetallic), suggesting minimal irritation potential (<em>p</em> = 0.05). Franz diffusion cell analysis detected no Cu or Co, and only 0.26 mg L<small><sup>−1</sup></small> of Ag after 24 hours, well below toxic thresholds. Statistical analysis (<em>p</em> < 0.05) confirmed the safety of the membrane, showing reduced toxicity and minimal metal nanohybrid diffusion. The multimetallic nanohybrid membrane is therefore considered safe as an antimicrobial polymer membrane in healthcare applications and recommends further <em>in vivo</em> evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18806,"journal":{"name":"Nanoscale Advances","volume":" 18","pages":" 5735-5759"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12340984/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144847585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}