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Nanotechnology-enabled NPK fertilization combined with biostimulants offers a sustainable approach to enhance crop productivity, resource-use efficiency, and environmental performance in specialty crops. A two-year (2022-2023) factorial experiment (3 × 2), arranged in a completely randomized design, evaluated the interactive effects of nano humic acid-silicic acid-based Triple 20 NPK fertilizers (nano-NPK) applied at 40, 80, and 120 kg ha ⁻ ¹, with and without 0.3% salicylic acid (SA) as biostimulant, on processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. BHN 685) grown in a low-fertility soil under drip-irrigated, raised bed plasticulture. Conventional Triple 20 NPK fertilization at 120 kg ha ⁻ ¹ served as the control. Multivariate statistical analyses demonstrated that nano-NPK fertilization and SA, alone or in combination, significantly improved tomato yield components, water use efficiency (WUE), and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), while reducing cull fruit and increasing marketable yield. Among treatments, 80 kg ha ⁻ ¹ nano-NPK combined with 0.3% SA produced both total and marketable yields equivalent to or exceeding those obtained with 120 kg ha ⁻ ¹ nano-NPK or conventional fertilization, alongside higher nutrient, and water utilization. These improvements were associated with enhanced nutrient bioavailability, uptake, and photosynthetic performance due to nano-enabled NPK fertilization, with SA further promoting plant growth and fruit quality. This combination reduced fertilizer input by up to 33% without compromising yield, achieving WUE and FUE comparable to or better than conventional NPK fertilization (120 kg ha-1). Economically, 80 kg ha ⁻ ¹ nano-NPK + 0.3% SA achieved the highest benefit-cost ratio (1.26) and net return (US $1,988 ha ⁻ ¹), outperforming conventional NPK fertilization. Environmental assessment indicated improved energy use efficiency (4-6%) and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity per unit of marketable yield. Although total GHG emissions were statistically similar at higher application rates, nano-NPK, SA, or their combination reduced GHG intensity, highlighting their sustainability advantage. Overall, integrating 80 kg ha ⁻ ¹ nano-NPK with 0.3% SA optimizes yield, profitability, and environmental stewardship, offering an efficient pathway for sustainable intensification of tomato production.

This study examines magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) heat and mass transfer of a ternary hybrid nanofluid over a rotating sphere incorporating thermophoretic particle deposition, thermal radiation, activation energy and chemical reaction effects. The nanofluid consists of [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] nanoparticles dispersed in propylene glycol. The governing boundary layer equations are transformed into a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations via similarity transformations, which are solved using the Gegenbauer wavelet method. Results indicate that increasing magnetic interaction suppresses velocity due to Lorentz force effects while enhancing thermal distribution. Higher nanoparticle volume fraction improves heat transfer but increases viscous resistance. Thermophoresis and activation energy significantly influence mass transfer characteristics. Comparative analysis reveals that the ternary hybrid nanofluid exhibits enhanced thermal performance relative to the corresponding hybrid nanofluid configuration. The findings provide theoretical insight into MHD-controlled rotating nanofluid systems.

Autoimmune diseases pose a significant challenge to modern medicine due to their complicated and poorly understood mechanisms, which hinder effective diagnosis and treatment. The rising global incidence of autoimmune disorders is projected to place increasing strain on healthcare systems and financial resources. In response, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising avenue for both the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. Among various nano-technological approaches, nanoparticles have garnered particular attention due to their advantageous properties including biocompatibility, enhanced drug bioavailability and efficient permeability across biological membranes. Furthermore, their unique characteristics such as magnetic responsiveness, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial capabilities, enable precise drug delivery and improved therapeutic outcomes, as well as the potential for earlier disease detection. Despite these promising developments, the clinical translation of nanoparticle-based strategies faces challenges including concerns regarding their stability in vivo and the need for further research to validate their safety and efficacy. While current diagnostic tools remain limited, certain nanoparticles have already received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration, demonstrating their potential for clinical application. This review aims to highlight the recent advances in use of nanoparticles for the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases, and to explore their prospective role in future clinical practice.

In this study, beta glucan nanoparticles were fabricated and encapsulated with Doxorubicin for an effective drug delivery for triple negative breast cancer treatment. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, TEM, SEM, DLS and zeta potential analysis. A drug encapsulation rate of 80% was achieved and drug release studies displayed a better release of drug from encapsulated glucan nanoparticles in acidic media. In vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake were evaluated by MTT and fluorescence microscopy, respectively where the IC50 concentrations for Dox and Dox loaded nano glucans were found to be 2.5 and 1µg/ml respectively. SEM, TEM and DLS results showed that beta glucan nanoparticles have a size distribution between 30-100 nm. FTIR and zeta potential analysis confirmed the loading of Dox. The results over MDA-MB-231 cells showed that Dox loaded beta glucan nanoparticles were effectively internalized and had more cytotoxic activity with respect to free drug.

The search for novel cancer treatment strategies is of great interest. Recently, it has been reported that laccases from various sources exhibit anti-tumor effects. In addition, the use of nanometric platforms for delivering therapeutic agents at the cellular level is a promising approach for efficient cancer treatment. In this work, the cytotoxicity of Coriolopsis gallica laccase on human leukemia MOLT-4 cells was evaluated. Laccase was nanoconfined in a virus-like nanoparticle (VLPs) of the brome mosaic virus (BMV), and both free and nanoconfined preparations were evaluated the activation of prodrugs. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by neutral red to obtain the dose-response curve. Afterward, the death cell and mechanisms were characterized using flow cytometry of combinations of laccase (free and VLPs) with prodrugs (Doxorubicin, Irinotecan, and Procarbazine). Laccase alone showed an apoptotic effect at a concentration of 0.35 μM (IC20), with a 49% of apoptotic cells at 24 hours. This effect was enhanced by the presence of doxorubicin (63.79%), irinotecan (43.44%), and procarbazine (53.27%) in the presence of both the free version (Lac) and the nano-encapsidated version (VLP-saLac). A similar effect was observed for the necroptosis population. Finally, the CI (Combination Index) was estimated by two different models, and the synergistic effect on cell death was confirmed. The laccase pro-apoptotic effect in MOLT-4 cells has been demonstrated, increasing cytotoxicity by activating prodrugs in both free and nanoconfined forms.

Nano-formulated chemotherapeutics prolong systemic availability of drugs and can reduce systemic toxicity, but their accumulation in solid tumours is often limited and unpredictable. Broadly applicable strategies to selectively enhance tumour delivery are lacking. We investigated whether subtherapeutic vascular disruption could be repurposed to transiently enhance tumour delivery of nano-formulated agents. Fluorescent reporter nanoparticles and the clinically approved nano-formulations Caelyx (doxorubicin) and Onivyde (irinotecan) were administered in combination with subtherapeutic doses of the vascular disrupting agent (VDA) combretastatin A4-phosphate (CA4P). Biodistribution, pharmacokinetics and therapeutic efficacy were assessed using longitudinal in vivo imaging and drug quantification via LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) in syngeneic murine 4T1 breast cancer models. Co-administration of CA4P increased tumour accumulation of nano-formulated agents by up to threefold without increasing exposure in healthy organs. This effect was observed across reporter particles and both chemotherapeutic formulations but was not retained after repeated treatments. Consequently, CA4P co-treatment did not improve tumour growth inhibition under standard multi-dose therapeutic regimens. Low-dose vascular disruption can transiently and selectively enhance tumour delivery of nano-formulated agents but does not improve therapeutic efficacy with repeated dosing. This strategy may therefore be best suited to single-dose applications, such as diagnostic imaging or delivery studies, rather than sustained cancer therapy.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, motivating the development of nanobiomaterials that exploit tumour-associated redox vulnerabilities while limiting systemic toxicity. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2, CNPs) are promising in this context due to their reversible Ce3+/Ce4+ redox cycling and oxygen vacancy mediated enzyme-mimetic activity, which enables microenvironment dependent modulation of reactive oxygen species. However, defect driven catalytic plasticity complicates predictive design for biological applications. Here, Zn- and Cu-doped CNPs (5-20 mol%) were synthesized via forced hydrolysis and characterized using XPS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential analysis, confirming fluorite structure with crystallite sizes of ∼4-7 nm and no secondary crystalline phases detectable by XRD, consistent with successful dopant incorporation. XPS analysis revealed dopant dependent differences in surface redox chemistry, with Zn- and Cu-doped CNPs exhibiting distinct Ce3+ fractions and redox active surface states. Enzyme-mimetic assays showed that Zn-doped CNPs substantially enhanced superoxide dismutase-like activity at low dopant levels while suppressing catalase-like activity, whereas Cu-doped CNPs significantly increased catalase-like activity at higher dopant loadings, indicating distinct catalytic fingerprints at the nano-bio interface. Normal human unbillical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exhibited an increase in cell number at low concentration of CNPs and doped nanoparticles, whereas Zn and Cu-doped CNPs showed significant reduction in cell number at higher concentrations. Collectively, these results demonstrate dopant-gated control of surface redox states as a strategy to tune the catalytic behavior of nanoceria and highlight the potential of doped CNPs as programmable redox-active nanobiomaterials with preferential in vitro cytotoxicity toward cancer cells.

The plant root system dynamically grows and senses stress, especially phytotoxic heavy metals (HMs), which threaten plant growth and human health through food contamination. Agricultural soils act as reservoirs and pathways for HMs, with accumulation intensified by human activities, including industrial discharges, mining, and heavy use of agrochemicals. Persistent HMs, including cadmium, lead, chromium, and arsenic, alter soil properties, disrupt microbes, and impair nutrient cycling. Strategies to reduce HM stress in plants include nanomaterials, noted for their high reactivity and tunability. Nano-selenium (nano-Se), a trace element, shows promise in regulating plant stress tolerance. Evidence indicates that nano-Se reduces HM uptake and translocation by strengthening antioxidant defenses and modulating rhizosphere and hormonal processes, thereby enhancing root growth, microbial activity, and nutrient-water uptake under metal stress. This review summarizes recent advances in nano-Se signaling, focusing on rhizosphere chemistry and plant-microbe interactions, and examines their potential for sustainable crop growth in HM-polluted soils.

Ceramide is a central bioactive lipid that acts as both a membrane structural component and a crucial signaling molecule in the cells. In order to maintain cellular homeostasis, ceramide metabolism is tightly regulated by enzymes in the endolysosomal system such as acid ceramidase (AC) and acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). We investigate the biochemical consequence of ceramide accumulation within the endolysosomes of living animal cells by optical nanoprobing, using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) with gold nanoparticles. The ceramide level in 3T3 fibroblast cells was systematically increased by interfering with two key enzymatic pathways in sphingolipid metabolism as well as by adding exogenous ceramide. The modulation of enzyme activity occurred by the inhibition of AC using the inhibitor N-[(2S,3R)-1,3-dihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl]2-chloroacetamide (SACLAC) in different incubation schemes and supplementation of the cells with additional ASM, respectively, both were added through the culture medium. The analysis of SERS data from the endolysosomal compartment reveals changes in the structure and interaction of proteins alongside variations in membrane composition and organization that correspond to ceramide stress. Combined cryo soft-X-ray nanotomography data of the intact cells show that the biomolecular alterations transform the cellular ultrastructure to varying degrees depending on the specific route and extent of ceramide increase. The ultrastructural changes include severe membrane deformation and changed vesicular organization as a consequence of a high ceramide content. The results demonstrate the label-free optical monitoring of metabolic processes at the subcellular level, before their complex biochemical background, and refine the description of molecular and nanostructure changes associated with distorted sphingolipid metabolism.

The pervasive environmental presence of nano- and microplastics, particularly polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs), has raised increasing concern regarding their potential adverse effects on human health. While epithelial barrier impairment is recognized as a critical toxicological outcome, the oral epithelium remains a poorly understood target despite being the primary gateway for ingested nanoplastics. In this study, we demonstrate that PSNPs induce significant functional impairment of the oral barrier even under sub-cytotoxic conditions (>80% cell viability). Exposure of TR146 human buccal epithelial cell layers to PSNPs triggered an early increase in paracellular permeability (fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran (4 kDa) flux), followed by a decline in transepithelial electrical resistance. Crucially, these functional deficits occurred in the absence of overt cytotoxicity and were associated with the molecular downregulation and altered distribution of tight junction-related proteins, including ZO-2, occludin, MarvelD3, and claudin-3 and claudin-4. Our findings indicate that PSNP-induced alterations in TJ-related protein distribution may represent an early molecular event associated with oral epithelial barrier dysfunction under sub-cytotoxic conditions. Collectively, this study highlights the oral epithelium as a highly sensitive target and underscores that functional barrier failure, rather than direct cytotoxicity, may represent a key mechanism underlying nanoplastic-associated toxicity.

Biofilm-associated infections represent a major challenge in healthcare due to antibiotic resistance, driving the search for effective nano-antimicrobial agents. This study presents the synthesis of Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles (Cu1-x Zn x O, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5) via an eco-friendly co-precipitation method and investigates their anti-adhesive efficacy against Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis S61 and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2629. Comprehensive characterization (XRD, SEM, AFM, FTIR, and EDX) revealed that Zn doping refined crystallite size, altered surface morphology, and enhanced specific surface area. The anti-biofilm assays demonstrated that Zn incorporation significantly improved anti-adhesive activity against S. epidermidis, with x = 0.2 achieving >73% inhibition at 500 µg mL-1. In contrast, pure CuO was most effective against P. aeruginosa, indicating a strain-dependent response linked to bacterial cell-wall structure. The anti-adhesive mechanism is attributed to nanoparticle-surface interactions, ion release, and reactive oxygen species generation. These findings highlight the potential of compositionally tunable Zn-doped CuO nanoparticles as selective anti-biofilm agents for combating healthcare-associated infections.

DNA, a ∼2 nm diameter biopolymer, represents a fundamental nanoscale target for anticancer therapeutics due to its central role in replication and transcription. In parallel, DNA topoisomerase II (topo II), a key regulator of DNA topology, remains a validated enzymatic target for chemotherapeutic intervention. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of azole-linked s-triazine-isatin hybrids 9a-f designed as multifunctional nanoscale DNA-targeting architectures. The nano-bio interactions of these hybrids with salmon sperm DNA (SS-DNA) were systematically investigated under physiological conditions (pH 7.4) using UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. Binding constants (K b), determined using Benesi-Hildebrand analyses, ranged from 103 to 105 M-1, with 9f showing the highest affinity (1.20 × 105 M-1 at 298 K), comparable to the reference standard. The Gibbs free energy change (ΔG = -28.9 kJ mol-1) indicated that the binding of 9f is spontaneous. Molecular docking studies supported these experimental findings, revealing that 9f forms stabilizing hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions within AT-rich DNA grooves (docking score: -10.3 kcal mol-1, PDB: 3EY0) and binds topoisomerase II with a docking score of -10.7 kcal mol-1 (PDB: 3QX3). Molecular dynamics simulations further confirmed the structural stability and dynamic behavior of the DNA-ligand and protein-ligand complexes. In addition, DFT calculations and in silico drug-likeness evaluations provided insights into electronic properties and pharmacokinetic potential. Collectively, these results highlight azole-linked s-triazine-isatin hybrids as promising nanoscale DNA-targeting scaffolds for anticancer development.

The oscillatory motion of graphene oxide-Go nanoparticles in water lubricating Maxwell nanofluid flow for heat and mass transfer enhancement in steady and fluctuating regime is important significance of this study. The aim of this work indicates the temperature distribution, nanoparticle concentration rate and velocity field around stretching radiating-cylinder in drilling systems. The nonlinear radiating energy, entropy generation, mixed convection, buoyancy ratio and oscillatory effects are assumed for heat and mass performance. The partial differential based mathematical expressions are developed to estimate the values of current analysis. The oscillatory stokes conditions, complex variables, and primitive transformations are applied to develop steady and fluctuating results. The computational outputs are secured using very efficient methods like finite difference and Gaussian elimination. The graphical outputs are displayed through TecPlot-360 and FORTRAN. The fluid velocity field, energy, and concentration outputs are executed with the help of various physical factors. The steady friction and steady thermal rate are depicted and are used in transient algorithm to depict the fluctuating friction rate and oscillatory thermal-mass transport. The magnitude of fluid velocity, fluid temperature and fluid concentration enhances as Maxwell parameter is enhanced. The variation in fluid velocity amplitude and fluid temperature increases as radiating energy is enhanced. For high parametric range of Maxwell number, the steady skin friction and mass transfer increases but heat transfer decreases. At smaller Eckert number, the oscillations in transient skin friction, transient heat and mass transfer are enhanced. At higher Maxwell parameter, buoyancy and Schmidt number, the large amplitude in heat and mass oscillations is observed.

Foam cell formation is a hallmark of early atherosclerosis, driving plaque development and chronic vascular inflammation. These lipid-engorged macrophages form through excessive uptake of oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and play a central role in disease progression. Graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), known for their high surface area and biocompatibility, have emerged as promising nanomaterials for biomedical intervention. This study evaluates the potential of GNPs to prevent atherosclerosis by targeting foam cell formation. Computational analyses, including molecular docking and dynamics simulations, were used to assess the binding affinity of GNPs with key atherogenic proteins such as apolipoprotein B and the LDL receptor. GNPs were structurally characterised using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. In vitro assays were conducted on RAW264.7 macrophages to assess cytotoxicity, lipid accumulation, cholesterol levels, cytokine production, and gene expression after treatment with GNPs (1 μg/mL) and oxLDL. GNPs exhibited strong binding affinity to apoB and the LDL receptor, suggesting potential interference with lipid uptake. Structural analyses confirmed the integrity and purity of the GNPs. In vitro, GNPs showed no cytotoxic effects and significantly reduced lipid accumulation and intracellular cholesterol levels in oxLDL-treated macrophages. They also suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, IL-6, IL-1β) and downregulated genes associated with foam cell formation (IL-1β, ACAT-1, CD36), while upregulating ABCA1, a key gene involved in cholesterol efflux. These findings demonstrate that GNPs effectively inhibit foam cell formation, reduce atherogenic inflammation, and enhance lipid clearance in macrophages. GNPs represent a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Plastic-waste pollution has become one of the major threats to the entire environment, including the aquatic ecosystems. Vast literature is available on microplastics ecotoxicity; however, further degradation leads to nano-sized plastics, or nanoplastics (NP), which were reported to be more reactive and even more toxic for the aquatic biota despite the fact that they were studied to a lesser extent. In a context of a changing world, where freshwater systems are particularly sensitive, and the ecotoxicology of plastic as a nanopollutant has been poorly addressed in comparison with the marine environment, the objective of this study is to evaluate the physiological effects in case of NP co-exposures with other pollutants and/or stressors, and also provide further insights into in a context of climate change (CC) based on peer-reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025. The most represented groups were freshwater algae, microinvertebrate and fish; however, they were predominantly represented by a few model species: Chlorella spp. alga, Daphnia magna microcrustacean, and Danio rerio fish, respectively. Metals and pesticides were the most frequently studied co-stressors. Synergistic interactions emerged as particularly relevant, often linked to NP acting as pollutant vectors through Trojan horse-derived mechanism. Regarding CC, rising temperature was the most assessed variable, generally enhancing NP toxicity in freshwater organisms. Our findings highlight the complexity of realistic co-exposure scenarios and emphasize the need for ecotoxicological studies that address multiple stressors in a changing world.

Vanadium-based compounds are promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), while the relatively poor high-rate performance, unstable long-term stability, and slow migration of Zn2+ ions have limited their practical applications. In this work, a sandwich-like stack of vanadium oxide-carbon nanobelts engineered with selenium defects (SL-V2O3/C-Se) was synthesized and used as a high-performance cathode for aqueous ZIBs. Taking advantage of the ordered and parallel arrangement of nanobelts with abundant selenium defects that facilitated the migration of the Zn2+ ion and electrolyte, SL-V2O3/C-Se exhibited rate performance and long-term stability much better than those of commercial V2O3 and V2O3/C without selenium doping. Even at a current density of 10 A g-1, SL-V2O3/C-Se exhibited a reversible capacity of 300 mAh g-1, which could retain 66% of its original capacity after 7000 cycles. This work provides an innovative approach to improve the capacity, long-term stability, and rate capability of electrode materials.

Sophoraflavanone G, SG, is a flavonoid compound found in Sophora species with various biological properties, including antibacterial, anticancer, antibio-film activities. However, this compound shows limited solubility in water, which reduces its bioavailability and hinders its practical application. To overcome this barrier, SG nano-niosomal form was prepared. In the current study, a nano-niosomal form of SG was prepared using cholesterol (Chol) and Tween 20. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were assessed by disc and well diffusion and biofilm assays, respectively, while anticancer specificity was evaluated by MTT on KB and L929 cell lines. Disc and well diffusion assays showed a reduction in planktonic antibacterial activity of niosomal SG compared with free SG, whereas biofilm assays improved anti-biofilm effects; MTT assays indicated reduced cytotoxicity toward L929 cells with retained activity against KB cancer cells, suggesting improved anticancer specificity. While niosomal formulation decreased SG's activity against planktonic bacteria, it enhanced antibiofilm effects and improved anticancer specificity by reducing toxicity to normal cells, making niosomal SG a promising candidate for cancer-directed therapeutic applications despite limited antimicrobial gains.

Biomarkers based cancer cells discrimination plays an important role in the era of precision medicine. Single biomolecule-based cancer cells identification methods may lead to false positive results, while multiplexed and logic analysis methods have excellent accuracy and efficiency performances. In this work, a fluorescence composite coding strategy combining color and intensity was constructed with tandem shaped tetrahedral nano-string (TanTNS) as carrier and four Alexa Flour dyes as tags. More than 29 TanTNS codes were built by changing the types and numbers of AF dyes loaded on TanTNS. TanTNS probes prepared by the nanostructure of TanTNS codes binding with three bio-recognition unites successfully realized the specific fluorescence imaging of two miRNAs (miRNA 21 and miRNA-31) and two membrane proteins (EpCAM and PTK-7). Multiplexed fluorescence imaging of four molecules was demonstrated in single breast cell line by using TanTNS probes. Three beast cell types were logically distinguished based on fluorescence imaging of these four TanTNS probes in the co-cultured system. To further validate the specificity results and decode the genuine spatial information of targets, an independently developed fluorescence colocalization analysis method by using MATLAB was proposed. The TanTNS probes provided brand-new tools for precision medicine, expecting to be used for clinical liquid biopsy.

Nanoconfined fluid is central to many engineering applications such as shale energy production, carbon sequestration, and molecular separations. While classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation provides essential atomistic detail, its prohibitive computational cost severely limits accessible time and length scales. Hybrid MD-Monte Carlo (MDMC) methods accelerate sampling but lack generality beyond their trained conditions. In this work, we introduce an AI-assisted MDMC framework that overcomes this limitation by learning local, conditional transition statistics directly from MD trajectories. Our method encodes molecular motion into a compact set of neural network-predicted displacement actions, preserving MD-level accuracy within a drastically reduced dimensionality. This approach enables efficient sampling with robust generality. We systematically demonstrate the framework's accuracy and transferability across diverse thermodynamic conditions (temperature, pressure), spatial scales, and complex nano-scale geometries, establishing a versatile path for simulating confined fluid phenomena relevant to engineering applications.