Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

Micro- and nanoplastics may cross the blood–brain barrier and potentially contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.

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 illuminates the crucial need to consider gas feedstock purity and source when designing new electrified CO₂ conversion nanomaterials.

Recycling of non-product outputs containing substantial amounts of rare elements originating in nanomaterial syntheses is relatively attractive as rare elements tend to be more valuable than abundant elements.

An overview on physicochemical properties, functional performance and mechanisms of antipathogenic action of nano-scaled advanced materials that covers novel assays and means to optimize their sustainability and circularity profile.

In the realm of soil management, nanotechnology holds promising and tremendous potential for improving food security and ensuring sustainability.

An overview on the detection and removal of metallic contaminants in our water systems.

Membranes have become a basis in tackling the global challenge of freshwater scarcity, notably in the fields of desalination and water purification.

ESKAPEE pathogens: where we can find them in hospital environments and how to detect them through nanotechnologies devices.

The distinct molecules composing the biological fluids lead to different coronas on NMs, altering their physicochemical properties and affect their biological fate.

The critical review covers the applications, associated mechanisms, challenges, and prospects of magnetically recyclable nanophotocatalysts in photocatalysis-related processes.

PFAS adsorption on nanoplastics occurs in aqueous environments and the toxicity of the formed adducts increases with the colloidal stability.

Development of UV-weathered micro- and nanoplastic controls for overcoming challenges associated with accurate chemical identification.

In this paper, we report the use of conjugated polymer nanoparticles as a new analytical tool for the detection of microplastics, with the ability to stain polystyrene effectively for at least 2.5 year after initial detection.

Suspended nanoplastics can be removed from the water column with nanobubbles if interparticle repulsive forces are overcome by pH adjustment.

Temperature modulation was demonstrated as a novel way to control water partitioning during the reaction of silicate minerals with water-saturated supercritical carbon dioxide.

We successfully predict distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) in human tissues applying surface energies for NPs, membranes, plasma and protein, considering various biochemical interactions. Phagocyte-rich and cancerous tissues accumulate NPs.

Soil species sensitivity distributions developed for silver nanomaterials (AgNMs) for soils and liquid exposures using chronic no observed effect concentrations (NOEC).

The combination application of AgNPs and Trichoderma koningiopsis could control the MFW disease and improve the growth and development of muskmelon.

We report water-based transparent and non-fluorinated amphiphobic coatings using polyurethane and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). These coatings are scalable, robust, and offer a safer alternative to PFAS-based treatments.

Key UK experts and stakeholders offer valuable perspectives from two workshops on the safe and sustainable development of advanced materials.

This work uses image-based profiling techniques to assess the environmental impacts of nanoplastics in fish gill cells at sublethal concentrations.

The autocatalytic growth and dissolution of hematite by Fe(II)_aq and/or oxalic acid was probed at the single particle scale. Multimodal analyses reveal electron transfer and interfacial reactivity are highly anisotropic and facet-dependent.

Responses of green microalga Chlorella vulgaris to novel antibacterial nanoparticle ECA-NPs.

Stabilising graphene oxide with gold nanoparticles: enhancing suspension stability and reducing toxicity in environmental and biological media (schematic prepared using Biorender Software).

A novel strategy based on lignin nanocapsules to deliver capsaicin and neem oil against Plutella xylostella.

Cerium oxide is an optimal sorbent. Arsenate adsorbs in stable 4-fold and 5-fold coordination, which need inclusion in fitting EXAFS spectra. Such sorption has characteristic simulated Raman and Infrared spectra.

A portable and wireless sensor system based on graphene for fast and sensitive detection of lead ions in water.

In response to the limited environmentally relevant biobased nanoplastic models, the formation of poly(lactic acid) nanoplastics with comparable properties to the ones deriving from the environmental ageing of poly(lactic acid) debris, is presented.

Growing demand for metals, particularly those with irreplaceable utility within renewable energy technologies dictates an urgent demand for the development of new innovative approaches for their extraction from primary and secondary sources.

Our approach lowers the size of nanosized plastics detectable via micro-Raman spectroscopy, exploiting the resonance Raman signal from blue-pigmented, highly abundant microplastics.

An analytical processing design is proposed to accumulate nano-plastics diluted in water-based solvents and evaluate their individual IR spectral properties.

Polymer–iron oxide nanofiber composites.

Degradation of microplastics (MPs) through the photocatalytic and photo-Fenton process using Fe-modified TiO₂ aerogel powders.

UV-B irradiation on 53 nm amine modified polystyrene nanoparticles lowers the toxicity to Daphnia magna and releases small toxic molecules.

The toxicity of nanoplastics bound to plant growth-promoting bacteria strongly depends on their mode of growth, significantly limiting their ability to colonize roots.

Regardless of changes of ZnO NPs after interaction with the soil solutions, it remains active!

Nanomaterials exhibit significant advantages in biomedical applications.

Wrinkled graphene coatings are engineered to fulfill multiple functions desired for ultrathin gloves that prevent human exposure to chemical toxicants.

This paper investigates the toxicological concerns associated with nickel–silicon carbide (Ni–SiC) electroplated nanocomposite coatings as an alternative to conventional chromium electrodeposition.

This study determines the critical interactions that dictate the adsorption characteristics of fluorotelomers in the confined pores of neutral, low and high charged clay minerals in soil.

CeO₂/graphene oxide nanocomposites efficiently degrade bisphenols A, S, and F. Hydrolytic cleavage of bisphenol S was observed even without any illumination.

Implementation of the safe and sustainable by design framework using cement mortar containing an SiO₂@ZnO multi-component nanomaterial for NO_x degradation as a case study.

Top-side foliar application of layered double hydroxide penetrates the cuticle better, accumulates between epidermal cell walls, and improves plant performance more than bottom-side application.

Micro and nanoplastics pose a growing environmental threat with complex implications for human health.

nZnO exposure disrupts metabolism and delays post-hypoxic recovery in mussels.

C₆₀ could regulate the absorption of nitrogen and 15 nutrient elements in these crops. Their contents and changes were determined simultaneously by using stable isotope labeling technology combined with SR-μXRF.

Size-dependent adsorption of Cu²⁺ ions onto polystyrene nanoparticles in aquatic environments: influence of UV-ageing, temperature and salt ions in the medium.

Nanoparticles like TiO₂ and ZnO can form harmful, stable pollutants called EPFRs. But TiO₂ readily forms even at low temperatures. This finding suggests these pollutants can form in many environments.

Graphene oxide obtained from biomass possesses a rich variety of properties and applications. Sargassum, a macroalgae abundant in the Caribbean Sea, has been proposed as a viable and cost-effective biomass.

Macrophages treated with polylactide beads degrade them but show various responses in the meantime.

Our work suggested that cuproptosis serves as a key toxic mechanism of CuO NPs, damaging mitochondria to induce ferroptosis by disrupting mitochondrial membrane lipid synthesis.

Ti- and Zn-containing nanoparticles from a mineral-based sunscreen are detected and classified against the natural particle background from river water using single-particle ICP-TOFMS and hierarchical clustering analysis.

Extracellular polymeric substances from the diatom Cyclotella meneghiniana adsorb onto citrate-coated nAg, forming an eco-corona and reducing nanoparticle dissolution and aggregation.

Our study presents an atmospheric inventory of Ti-containing NPs from industrial sources, highlighting environmental risks and informing strategies for pollution control and public health protection.

The low molecular weight degradation products of nanosize biodegradable plastics were identified by mass spectrometry. The only detected products for PLA, PCL and PET were found to a rise from hydrolysis.

Methanol probe chemisorption quantifies the number of reactive surface sites of engineered nanomaterials, enabling normalization per reactive site in reactivity and toxicity tests, rather than per mass or physical surface area.

An easy recoverable TiO₂-immobilized PVDF bead photocatalyst with stable Ti–F binding for water treatment under UVA LED irradiation and efficient usage of TiO₂ nanoparticles is presented.

Biocompatible nanoformulations made from olive pomace and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine to deliver hydroxytyrosol as an antiparasitic agent.

Anthropogenic contaminants can place significant stress on vegetation, especially when they are taken up into plants.

Exposure to AgNP-polymer nanocomposites and its individual component materials results in widespread but differing toxicologic effects.

Wetland mesocosms retained nanoplastics. Nanoplastics where taken up by freshwater invertebrates and macrophytes and mainly ended up in the sediments of the water compartment.

Potential bioaccumulation and human oral bioavailability of TiO₂ NPs and Ag NPs in aquaculture products.

Abrasion study of Ag–PETG nanocomposites helps to estimate how much AgNP microplastics are released from composite products during use or into the environment during their lifecycle.

This study compares the impact of different types of metal nanoparticles on major endocrine pathways. It shows that metal ions releasing ones such as silver nanoparticles inhibit Zn-finger dependent pathways, while rock solid nanoparticles do not.

AMEA supports innovators in the earliest phases of material development. AMEA provides design rules and recommends more testing requirements and/or specific methods depending on the positioning of the material in categories.

Sucrose foams are novel nanocomposites to remediate co-contaminated soils without affecting pH and EC or Fe availability in the soils.

The green and safe polymer HEC confers bio-interactive properties to Ag-Nps that, together with the small size and positive ζ potential, increase their biological reactivity towards zebrafish embryos.

The M@GO sorbent is easily separated from wastewater by a magnetic field.