Themed collection HOT articles from Environmental Science: Nano

The recent application of sophisticated instrumentation and novel experimental techniques to environmental systems has driven the study of natural nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems towards new horizons.

With the development of nuclear power and the nuclear industry, some uranium-containing wastewater will inevitably be released into the environment, which poses a threat to human health and the environment.

With the development of industrialization, the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are steadily increasing, posing a significant risk to atmospheric quality and public health.

Both nanozymes (cerium oxide) and natural enzymes can destroy toxic organophosphates (pesticide paraoxon ethyl) using analogous reaction mechanisms.

There are numerous opportunities for nanomaterials and nanotechnology to support circular economy adoption. In this perspective, we present the important role engineered nanomaterials can play in advancing the circularity of bulk composite materials.

Following available approaches included e.g., in existing OECD Test Guidelines and Guidance Documents for the aquatic testing of particulate materials such as nanomaterials and microplastics leads to various challenges to be considered.

This perspective aims to shed light on the transformative potential of sustainable synthesis in guiding the transition towards circular economy conceptions in the nanotechnology domain.

This paper summarizes the main activation modes of peroxomonosulfate, the radical and non-radical degradation pathways, and the typical applications in organic pollutant removal through various degradation pathways.

The recent application of sophisticated instrumentation and novel experimental techniques to environmental systems has driven the study of natural nanoparticles and nanoparticle systems towards new horizons.

Herein, we systematically reviewed the environmental fate models of nanoparticles from the perspective of mathematical methods and proposed an optimal modeling process for simulating the fate of nanoparticles.

Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) have revolutionized multiple disciplines due to their unique physicochemical properties, which is significantly influenced by the specific crystal facets exposed on the surfaces of NPs.

The challenges inherent to the extraction of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) from the environment and the limited range of commercially available MNPs have prompted an increasing number of researchers to generate in-house reference and test MNPs.

Polymer nanocarriers are designed to deliver active ingredients in agricultural, food and pharmaceutical applications. It is essential to ensure their safety towards environmental and human health.

An optimum application of NPs can mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, but overuse can cause phytotoxicity. Research on the use of NPs for plant stress is demonstrating promising benefits.

Nanoplastics (NPs) are chemically reactive following abiotic and biotic weathering processes. These weathered NPs have the potential to facilitate the transformation of legacy contaminants, such as heavy metals.

The buildup of microplastics (MPs)/nanoplastics (NPs) in the aquatic biota has sparked concern owing to their negative consequences on human health and the environment, making it a global issue in recent years.

Photocatalysis is an eco-friendly and cost-effective method to realize the purification of ppb-level NO, and the end-product (nitrate/ammonia) of the photocatalytic NO complete oxidation/reduction reaction can be further recycled.

The review assesses the distribution of quantum dots (QDs) in aquatic ecosystems, summarizes their possible environmental behavior, and presents the toxicological effects of QDs on aquatic organisms.

This review summarizes the key roles of various vacancy defects in PS-AOPs and provides insights into the understanding of vacancy defect in persulfate activation to promote the development of PS-AOPs in water treatments.

Nanobiotechnology has received tremendous attention in recent years owing to its wide range of applications in various fields.

The synthesis method of metal nanoparticles and the form and application of microbial synthesis of metal nanoparticles.

Nano-bio-formulations for insect pest management.

This review provides new insights for the development of nanomaterials with potential immunomodulatory effects in plants towards resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.

This review summarized the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic effects of Ni-containing NPs on humans, lung cells in vitro, and rodent lungs in vivo, and the underlying mechanisms. Their extra-pulmonary effects were also briefly mentioned.

Carbon nanofibers are a class of lightweight, high-performance composite materials.

Environmental remediation based on peroxomonosulfate- and peroxydisulfate-activation-enabled radical/non-radical oxidation has gained growing interest due to the strong oxidation power, long life of reactive oxygen species, and wide pH adaptability.

This review discusses the characteristics and synthesis methods of Bi-based NPs. It delves into the removal efficiency in wastewater, emphasizing traditional/emerging strategies to enhance the performance, mechanisms, toxicology, and challenges.

Here we made a critical review on nanozyme-involved detection and degradation of environmental pollutants, and the research progress achieved in the last five years was emphatically concluded.

An improved solvothermal-synthesized 2D Fe-MOF (S-BUC-21(Fe)) achieves rapid photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) within 6 min using tartaric acid under UV light and sunlight.

The degradation mechanism and eco-friendly by-products were summarized.

Oxidation processes mediated by soil enzymes were monitored in situ and quantitatively to shed light on enzyme activity sensing.

This study demonstrates that environmental weathering processes differentially affect the aggregation behavior of nanoplastics, providing important insights into the risk assessment of nanoplastics contamination.

In this study, we explore the potential of graphene oxide (GO) as an additive to alleviate soil salinity.

This study explores the theoretical foundation behind the application of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for neonicotinoid quantification.

Light-activated UL₃ generates active species (h⁺) to attack DCF in a water environment, realizing efficient clean water purification.

Metal–phenolic network nanocomposites are demonstrated as effective agents for mitigating the toxicity elicited by copper-based nanoagrochemicals commonly used in environmental applications.

Eco-friendly CS/N-CD composites exert synergistic preservation effects via enhanced barrier, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, improving the microbial microenvironment of stored chili peppers (Capsicum annuum L.).

14 predictive models based on the fine-tuned TLSER were developed for estimating the adsorption energy (E_ad) onto BNNTs with varying diameters/types of chirality.

Proposed mechanisms of the influence of Nd³⁺ and Y³⁺ doping on Fh aging fate and Cr(VI)/PO₄³⁻sequestration.

1%Fe-Beta (Z₂[Fe–O–Fe]) catalyst enables simultaneous removal of N₂O/NO/CH₃OH/H₂ from p-phenylenediamine tail gas; NH₃ and CH₃OH steer N–O vs. N–N cleavage to form HCONH₂, boosting low-temperature deN₂O and multipollutant control.

Proteomics-based analysis of eco-coronas reveals different contributions of secreted host and microbiome proteins from Daphnia magna and Danio rerio to the surface properties of metal and carbon nanomaterials.

Fe(VI)/PMS achieves complete fosfomycin degradation via synergistic radical/high-valent iron oxidation, and the in situ formed ferric nanoparticles enable simultaneous phosphate removal through co-precipitation.

Fluorescent plastic nanoparticles prepared with the flash nanoprecipitation method enabled single-particle tracking and revealed how both electrostatics and cholesterol modulate their nanoscale interactions with lipid membranes.

In this work, we present three different pathways to render commercial melamine sponges, both magnetic and hydrophobic, thereby offering them the capacity to effectively and selectively remove crude oil and heavy metals from aqueous environments.

Furan–styrene interactions suppress secondary organic aerosol (SOA) yield and light absorption by inhibiting the formation of low-volatility and high absorptive compounds, revealing non-linear effects in biomass-burning emissions.

Nano-La₂O₃ invades honeybee brains and increases neuronal apoptosis, resulting in impaired olfactory reward learning and memory.

The uptake of nanoparticles (NPs) in the intestine and liver is influenced by their biological milieu.

Key differences have been identified in the cellular and molecular toxicity mechanisms of freshwater microalgae exposed to violet phosphorus versus black phosphorus nanosheets.

Molecular-scale design of tunable multilayer GO–PA sandwich nanocomposite for ultra-efficient oil–water separation via synergistic oxygen coverage and PA ratio control.

Carbonyl coordination and sulfur vacancy engineering in LAC@Co_xS_y–V synergistically stabilize Co²⁺ species and promote PMS activation toward SO₄˙⁻-dominated pathway, enabling efficient degradation and mineralization of sulfamethoxazole.

Continuous light and dark exposure enhance developmental toxicity of NPs on zebrafish larvae, but decrease larval swimming distances caused by NPs, which is opposite to the effect under NP single exposure.

Lead ferrite nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode is selective and effective electrochemical sensor for the detection of amoxicillin.

The widespread use and improper disposal of antibiotics pose serious environmental and public health risks largely due to their ecotoxicity and bacterial resistance.

Single-cell mass cytometry in a 3D alveolar tetra-culture model uncovers cell-type and cluster-specific heterogeneity in silver nanoparticle association and downstream signaling, revealing mechanistic insights into NP cytotoxicity.

A new nanoherbicide using bentazon (Btz), a widely used post-emergence herbicide, was developed to considerably reduce the required dosages without compromising its efficacy.

The SAbyNA platform supports value chain actors in developing safe-by-design nano-enabled products early in their development phases. The potential of digital guidance is exemplified in a case study on carbon nanotube-based 3D-printed products.

LungDepo is a user-friendly web app that supports policy makers, risk assessors, and industry in computing lung deposition of coarse, fine, and ultrafine particles across the head airway, tracheobronchial, and alveolar regions.

Environmental factors and biomolecules shape the stability of carbon dots and nanodiamonds, offering insights into their fate and behaviour in natural waters.

Our study finds that smaller-sized plastics affect the survival of septic mice by damaging and aggravating kidney injury. Multi-omics analysis has revealed that five genes—Srm, Pycr2, Arg2, Asns, and Psat1—may play key roles in this process.

Triple competitive species-mediated defect engineering yields hierarchically porous Zr-MOFs with exceptional adsorption performance.

Plastics are persistent in the environment, which suggests that they may induce adverse effects due to their progressive accumulation over time.

Waterlogging stress is a global factor limiting agricultural productivity.

Copper-based nanoformulations allow higher leaf adhesion, targeting specific leaf tissues and improved biocompatibility compared to CuSO₄, offering advantages in safer plant protection strategies.

Co modification enhances the proportion of three-coordinated Al (Al_III) on Al₂O₃ catalysts, enabling efficient low-temperature decomposition of CF₄.

The synthesized CoNiFc-MOF catalyst can rapidly activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) to efficiently degrade BPA. The synergistic mineralization of BPA into H₂O and CO₂ through free radical (·O₂⁻) and non-free radical (¹O₂/e⁻) pathways.