Themed collection REV 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.

A knowledge gap between NZVI synthesis and its ecotoxicological evaluation is shrinking due to the growing interest in nanoparticle toxicity.

In the past 10 years, single particle ICP-MS has grown into a powerful technique for nanoanalysis, capable of discerning naturally occurring nanoparticles in complex matrices when paired with increasingly sophisticated data analysis tools.

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

Engineering nanomaterials to combat plant-associated antibiotic resistance for global One Health.

A roadmap of micromotors as moving fighters against the spread of antibiotic resistance factors in water.

Oil spills frequently cause devastating impacts on coastal ecosystems and communities.

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

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.

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.

Nanobioremediation systems harness microbial versatility with synthetic and natural nanomaterials to efficiently remove hazardous contaminants, offering a sustainable and effective approach through novel technologies for environmental protection.

The large-scale application of organophosphate (OP) pesticides poses serious challenges to food safety, environmental sustainability, and human health, creating an urgent need for rapid and sensitive detection technologies.

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.

Construction strategies of MOF-based homojunction photocatalysts and their applications in sustainable energy production and environmental remediation.

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.

The design principles and the pivotal roles of MOFs in microcystin-LR detection and removal (adsorption and catalytic degradation) were summarized.

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.

Amidst the ongoing urbanization process, the significance of urban agriculture has garnered increasing attention.

Graphene-based composites have been widely applied in environmental remediation owing to their high removal capacity.

Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones.

Pesticides play a crucial role in agricultural production.

Electron-transfer management at carbon–iron–oxidant interfaces controls Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ cycling and toggles radical and non-radical pathways, showing how carbon architectures reshape iron-based AOPs into efficient, tunable oxidation systems.

Bacterial plant diseases remain a major constraint to global agriculture, threatening food security through yield losses, quality reduction, and increased production costs.

This review integrates green nanotechnology with climate change–driven antibiotic contamination in water, highlighting eco-friendly nanomaterials, remediation mechanisms, and strategies for safe, sustainable, climate-resilient water treatment.

This review explores the synergistic integration of nZVI with biological treatments for environmental remediation, detailing mechanisms, system configurations (illustrated for unanchored/anchored hybrids), key factors, and optimization strategies.

This review explores how nanochannel membranes advance SED by improving ion selectivity and separation performance.

The introduction of green nanoparticles to expedite the (bio)electrochemical reactions has proven to be a promising technique for wastewater treatment to meet the universal and equitable accessibility to clean water, which is in line with the clean water and sanitation goal (SDG 6).

A unified analytical toolkit integrates mass-, particle-, and morphology-based approaches to enable reliable detection, quantification, and standardisation of micro- and nanoplastics across diverse environmental matrices.

This review critically analyzes the shared mechanistic origins of nanoremediation efficacy and ecotoxicity, advocating for a safer-by-design paradigm.

Nanoparticle size plays a crucial role in determining their uptake, mobility, and biological effects in plants. Precise control over particle size is thus essential for productive use in agriculture.

Quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly used in diverse fields, and thus they inevitably spread unintentionally into the farmland ecosystem through (i) environmental release and (ii) intentional application in fertilizers.

SPEs towards the detection of arsenic with a focus on electrode modifications to enhance sensitivity and selectivity.

A critical overview of the synthesis, structure–activity relationships, and diverse applications of single-atom nanozymes in environmental monitoring and remediation.

From spectroscopy to mass spectrometry, this review dissects how current techniques detect nanoplastics—and why none alone is enough—proposing practical multimodal workflows and a roadmap for future standardisation.

Nanozymes, nanomaterials with exceptional catalytic performance, are recognized for their unique benefits over natural enzymes. This review summarizes the advancements in MXene nanohybrids with enzyme-like features for biochemical sensor applications.

The strong filter-feeding capacity of bivalves makes them more prone to accumulating nanoplastic particles from their environment, posing a threat to aquaculture and food safety.

The graphic systematically illustrates the generation of EPFRs on photoaged MNPs and summarizes their negative environmental and biological effects, as well as their application in environmental pollution improvement.

Stimuli-responsive silica nanocarriers enhance pesticide delivery efficiency by 31%, offering targeted release, reduced loss, and improved crop protection over conventional formulations.

Perovskite oxide types for VOCs catalytic oxidation and factors controlling activity.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are emerging neurotoxicants in aquatic environments, with increasing evidence linking their presence to behavioral impairments and molecular disruption in fish.

Iron nanomaterials are more effective in alleviating growth inhibition in stressed plants than in healthy plants.

Nano-enabled essential oil formulations provide a sustainable, effective solution for storage pest control with enhanced stability and reduced environmental impact.

Advanced nanoparticles represent a new direction in water purification technology because they remove water pollutants which traditional methods cannot handle effectively.

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.

This review explores techniques used to identify micro- and nanoplastics, including FT-IR, Raman, fluorescence and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopies, electroanalytical techniques, microfluidic systems, and advanced mass spectrometry methods.

Plant diseases pose a major threat to agricultural productivity and global food security, particularly in the context of climate change and increasing pesticide resistance.

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.

Nanoparticles mitigate salt-induced oxidative stress in plants by regulating signaling pathways, gene expression, and antioxidant enzyme activity, enhancing resilience and promoting sustainable crop productivity under salinity stress.

With the increasing application of nanotechnology, nanomaterials (NMs), especially metals or metal oxides, inevitably enter various environmental media and then enter into plants.

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.

Manganese based nanoparticles enhance biomass, photosynthesis, root/shoot growth, antioxidant defense, gene expression, and stress responses, supporting improved crop productivity, stress tolerance, and sustainable agriculture.

This review explores ROS-generating nanomaterials, highlighting heterojunctions and upconversion for pollutant degradation while addressing stability, scalability, and recyclable, cost-effective materials.

Increasing application of omics approaches contributes to a mechanistic understanding of nanomaterial ecotoxicity and risk assessment.

Application of nanofertilizers in agriculture to enhance crop yield and nutritional quality under environmental stress, ensuring agricultural safety and output integrity.

Fragmentation processes of BPs and the environment risks posed by BP intermediate products in soil.

The key roles of EPS in influencing the environmental processes and toxicity of NPs in aquatic systems are discussed and presented.

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.

The risk of long-term global food insecurity is being exacerbated by climate change, as well as by a range of other socio-economic and political factors.

Schematic representation for plant-mediated biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles.

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.

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

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.

The balanced presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) offers essential nutritional properties, whereas an excessive amount of nZnO can trigger ecotoxicity, both at the cellular and individual levels.

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.