To address the worldwide energy challenges, advanced energy storage and conversion systems with high comprehensive performances, as the promising technologies, are inevitably required on a timely ...basis. The performance of these energy systems is intimately dependent on the properties of their electrodes. In addition to the electrode materials selection and their compositional optimization, materials fabrication with the designed nanostructure also provides significant benefits for their performances. In the past decade, considerable efforts have been made to promote the search for multidimensional nanostructures containing both one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) nanostructures in synergy, namely, 1D‐2D synergized nanostructures. By developing the freestanding electrodes with such unique nanoarchitectures, the structural features and electroactivities of each component can be manifested, where the synergistic properties among them can be simultaneously obtained for further enhanced properties, such as the increased number of active sites, fast electronic/ionic transport, and so forth. This review overviews the state‐of‐the‐art on the 1D‐2D synergized nanostructures, which can be broadly divided into three groups, namely, core/shell, cactus‐like, and sandwich‐like nanostructures. For each category, we introduce them from the aspects of structural features, fabrication methodologies to their successful applications in different types of energy storage/conversion devices, including rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, water splitting, and so forth. Finally, the main challenges faced by and perspectives on the 1D‐2D synergized nanostructures are discussed.
A proper combination of one‐dimensional (1D) and two‐dimensional (2D) materials in assembling of an electrode with 1D‐2D synergized nanostructure is an effective pathway to achieve outstanding electrochemical performance. In a timely follow up to this exciting development, this review focuses on the 1D‐2D synergized nanostructures, which can be divided into three groups, namely, core@shell, cactus‐like, and sandwich‐like nanostructures. For each category, we highlight their unique nano/meso‐features, electrochemical behavior and recent advances for energy storage and conversion applications. The main challenges faced by and perspectives on the 1D‐2D synergized nanostructures are also discussed.
Owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, graphene and its derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and GO-nanocomposites have attracted tremendous interest ...in many different fields including biomedicine in recent years. With every atom exposed on its surface, single-layered graphene shows ultra-high surface area available for efficient molecular loading and bioconjugation, and has been widely explored as novel nano-carriers for drug and gene delivery. Utilizing the intrinsic near-infrared (NIR) optical absorbance, in vivo graphene-based photothermal therapy has been realized, achieving excellent anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy in animal experiments. A variety of inorganic nanoparticles can be grown on the surface of nano-graphene, obtaining functional graphene-based nanocomposites with interesting optical and magnetic properties useful for multi-modal imaging and imaging-guided cancer therapy. Moreover, significant efforts have also been devoted to study the behaviors and toxicology of functionalized nano-graphene in animals. It has been uncovered that both surface chemistry and sizes play key roles in controlling the biodistribution, excretion, and toxicity of nano-graphene. Biocompatibly coated nano-graphene with ultra-small sizes can be cleared out from body after systemic administration, without rendering noticeable toxicity to the treated mice. In this review article, we will summarize the latest progress in this rapidly growing field, and discuss future prospects and challenges of using graphene-based materials for theranostic applications.
Materials patterned with high‐aspect‐ratio nanostructures have features on similar length scales to cellular components. These surfaces are an extreme topography on the cellular level and have become ...useful tools for perturbing and sensing the cellular environment. Motivation comes from the ability of high‐aspect‐ratio nanostructures to deliver cargoes into cells and tissues, access the intracellular environment, and control cell behavior. These structures directly perturb cells' ability to sense and respond to external forces, influencing cell fate, and enabling new mechanistic studies. Through careful design of their nanoscale structure, these systems act as biological metamaterials, eliciting unusual biological responses. While predominantly used to interface eukaryotic cells, there is growing interest in nonanimal and prokaryotic cell interfacing. Both experimental and theoretical studies have attempted to develop a mechanistic understanding for the observed behaviors, predominantly focusing on the cell–nanostructure interface. This review considers how high‐aspect‐ratio nanostructured surfaces are used to both stimulate and sense biological systems.
High‐aspect‐ratio nanostructured surfaces trigger a wide range of biological responses and can be thought to act as biological metamaterials. Their nanoscale structuring is comparable with that of intracellular machinery, interacting directly with the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. They are used for molecular delivery, intracellular sensing, and as biomechanical cues. Different applications and open research questions are summarized.
A micro/nanostructured (MN) surface induces a robust icephobic/anti‐icing property, more than that of a nanostructured surface, and far more than that of a microstructured or smooth surface. A long ...delay time of more than 7000 s maintains the icephobicity/anti‐icing on the MN‐surface at a temperature of –10 °C.
Among different kinds of modified release profiles, sustained drug release (SDR) has received the most attention due to its capability to provide a “safe, efficacious, and convenient” drug delivery ...effect. Electrospun nanofibers have shown their popularity in this interdisciplinary field, as demonstrated by the first reports about SDRs on drug delivery applications of blended nanofibers and core–shell nanofibers. Along with the evolution of electrospinning from a single‐fluid blending process to coaxial, tri‐axial, side‐by‐side, and other multi‐fluid processes, more multi‐chamber nanostructures can be created through a single‐step straight forward manner. These multi‐chamber nanostructures can act as a powerful platform to support a wide variety of new strategies for the development of novel SDR nanomaterials. Thus, this review describes a combination history of electrospinning and SDR and its further development trend. After a summary of the presently popular multi‐chamber core–shell nanostructures, 15 strategies for furnishing SDR profiles are categorized and exemplified. The perspectives of electrospun multi‐chamber nanostructures for further promoting SDR are narrated.
This article is categorized under:
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Electrospun complex nanostructures and their applications for sustained drug release
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•A promising route to architect hollow microspheres.•Microwave absorbing characteristics of the ZnAl2O4.•Morphological influence on the microwave, optical, and magnetic ...properties.•Interfacial effects on the microwave absorbing features using novel matrices including PS and PVDF.
The morphological modification has demonstrated that can pave the way of the microwave absorbing materials. The ZnAl2O4 nanoparticles with diverse morphology have been tailored using modified sol-gel and solvothermal methods. 2D structures and hollow blueberry like morphologies of the ZnAl2O4 nanostructures were architected by the sucrose and carbon microspheres as novel templates. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analyses were applied to characterize fabricated nanostructures denoting pure ZnAl2O4 nanostructures have been synthesized having novel morphologies. Noticeably, the surface characteristics of the architected nanoparticles were studied by N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Moreover, optical performance of the nanoparticles were evaluated by diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS) analysis exhibiting the morphology of the nanoparticles has a considerable influence on the light absorption and energy bad gap. Eventually, a vector network analyzer (VNA) revealed microwave absorbing characteristics of the morphology-modified nanoparticles. It is well known that the interfacial interactions at grain boundaries have salient effect in microwave absorption, dissected in this research using polystyrene (PS) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) media. The blue berry like nanostructure (BH) demonstrated eye-catching microwave absorbing features. BH/PVDF nanocomposite depicted remarkable reflection loss (RL) (−95.63 dB) at 9.63 GHz with 3.00 mm in thickness meanwhile it displayed an efficient bandwidth as wide as 2.80 GHz (RL < −20 dB) with a thickness of 2.50 mm. Interestingly, BH/PS nanocomposite exhibited a broad efficient bandwidth of 9.14 GHz (RL < −10 dB).
A study investigagted the effectiveness of polymeric nanostructures for diagnostic efficacy. Topics addressed include the design of polymer nanostructures to address challenges in imaging and therapy ...and polymeric nanostructures for theranostic applications.
Although a growing number of innovations have emerged in the fields of nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine, new engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) with novel physicochemical properties are posing novel ...challenges to understand the full spectrum of interactions at the nano–bio interface. Because these could include potentially hazardous interactions, researchers need a comprehensive understanding of toxicological properties of nanomaterials and their safer design. In depth research is needed to understand how nanomaterial properties influence bioavailability, transport, fate, cellular uptake, and catalysis of injurious biological responses. Toxicity of ENMs differ with their size and surface properties, and those connections hold true across a spectrum of in vitro to in vivo nano–bio interfaces. In addition, the in vitro results provide a basis for modeling the biokinetics and in vivo behavior of ENMs. Nonetheless, we must use caution in interpreting in vitro toxicity results too literally because of dosimetry differences between in vitro and in vivo systems as well the increased complexity of an in vivo environment. In this Account, we describe the impact of ENM physicochemical properties on cellular bioprocessing based on the research performed in our groups. Organic, inorganic, and hybrid ENMs can be produced in various sizes, shapes and surface modifications and a range of tunable compositions that can be dynamically modified under different biological and environmental conditions. Accordingly, we cover how ENM chemical properties such as hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, material composition, surface functionalization and charge, dispersal state, and adsorption of proteins on the surface determine ENM cellular uptake, intracellular biotransformation, and bioelimination versus bioaccumulation. We review how physical properties such as size, aspect ratio, and surface area of ENMs influence the interactions of these materials with biological systems, thereby affecting their hazard potential. We discuss our actual experimental findings and show how these properties can be tuned to control the uptake, biotransformation, fate, and hazard of ENMs. This Account provides specific information about ENM biological behavior and safety issues. This research also assists the development of safer nanotherapeutics and guides the design of new materials that can execute novel functions at the nano–bio interface.
Correction for 'Nano-micellar Zn(Cys) sub(2) complex mimics the chloroperoxidase active site' by Mohammad M. Akbarzadeh et al., RSC Adv., 2016, 6, 12081-12083.
Electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction is a promising way to provide renewable energy from gaseous CO₂. The development of nanostructures improves energy efficiency and selectivity for value-added chemicals, ...but complex nanostructures limit the CO₂ conversion rates due to poor mass transport during vigorous electrolysis. Herein, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) hierarchically porous Au comprising interconnected macroporous channels (200–300 nm) and nanopores (∼10 nm) fabricated via proximity-field nanopatterning. The interconnected macropores and nanopores enable efficient mass transport and large active areas, respectively. The roles of each pore network are investigated using reliable 3D nanostructures possessing controlled pore distribution and size. The hierarchical nanostructured electrodes show a high CO selectivity of 85.8% at a low overpotential of 0.264 V and efficient mass activity that is maximum 3.96 times higher than that of dealloyed nanoporous Au. Hence, the systematic model study shows the proposed hierarchical nanostructures have important value in increasing the efficiency of expensive Au.
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