Synthesis, Application and Future Perspectives of Smart Nano-materials (Part 2)

Nanomaterials have emerged as a promising technology for environmental remediation due to their unique size, surface area, and physicochemical properties. Nanomaterials can be used to remove pollutants from water, soil, and air, as well as to degrade hazardous waste. Examples of nanomaterials used for environmental remediation include metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and other engineered nanomaterials. Metal nanoparticles, such as silver, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide, can be used to degrade organic pollutants. Carbon nanotubes can also be used to adsorb heavy metals such as lead and mercury from water and soil. Additionally, certain nanomaterials can be used as catalysts to speed up the degradation of hazardous chemicals. Nanomaterials can also be used to create more efficient and less energyintensive processes for environmental remediation. For example, nanofiltration membranes can be used to reduce energy consumption when removing pollutants from water. Nanomaterials can also be used to create more effective adsorbents for the removal of pollutants from air. The use of nanomaterials for environmental remediation is still in its infancy, and research is needed to understand their potential applications and risks. However, the potential of nanomaterials to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental remediation processes is clear.

Polycarbonate nanocomposite fibers of beadless surface morphology were prepared using electrospinning technology. The spinning and solution parameters were the same as those used for the preparation of plane polycarbonate nanofibers of the lowest average diameter. There was not much variation in the average diameter and surface morphology of the polycarbonate nanocomposite fibers obtained by the incorporation of the nanofiller. The homogeneous dispersion of the nanoparticles on the entire area of the fibers was observed from TEM investigation. Agglomeration of nanoparticles in the fibers was also prevented by providing a uniform coverage of surfactant on the nanoparticle surface. UV-Visible and photoluminescence spectroscopy studies show that polycarbonate nanofibers embedded with oleic acidcoated cadmium sulfide nanoparticles exhibit attractive optical properties. The augmentation of filler nanoparticles increased the visible light absorption capability of the polycarbonate nanocomposite fibers. The nanocomposite fibers also exhibited attractive red and green luminescence, as shown by phase contrast fluorescent microscopy analysis. The crystalline area calculated from the XRD data established a semicrystalline attribute for the nanocomposite fibers. The present work utilized versatile electrospinning technology to prepare a composite material in which both the matrix and filler are in the nano dimension. Polymer composites with excellent optical properties, particularly green light emission, can be utilized for various electronic and sensor applications.

Plant extracts contain a wide range of substances, including proteins, pigments, amines, amides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and terpenoids. During the green manufacturing of nanoparticles, the aforementioned phytochemical ingredients aid in the stability and reduction of metal ions. The emerging nano-revolution has garnered significant attention for its exploration of the role of plants in the green synthesis of nanoparticles, with the aim of producing stable nanoparticles. A variety of traditional techniques have been utilized for the production of nanoparticles. However, traditional techniques are associated with numerous limitations, including the production of harmful and dangerous chemicals, as well as high costs. Due to the aforementioned constraints, scientists have devised safe and environmentally friendly alternative methods for synthesizing nanoparticles. Among these methods, biological systems have been particularly emphasized and utilized as a preferred green approach for nanoparticle synthesis. The utilization of plant extracts for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles is a financially feasible approach, which renders it a practical and sustainable substitute for the mass production of metal nanoparticles. It has been observed that extracts derived from plants found in nature possess the ability to function as both reducing and capping agents during the process of nanoparticle synthesis. Biological organisms possess a distinctive capacity to generate highly specific shapes and regulated structures. The synthesized nanoparticles that are ecofriendly and green in color exhibit a wide range of biological activities. 

The structurally and functionally significant moieties created by the immediate assembly of molecules by themselves are known as molecular selfassemblies. Molecular self-assemblies are having a large number of applications in science and medical science. Among molecular self-assemblies, peptide self-assembles, specifically self-assembled peptide nano-materials, are of much importance because of their wide biomedical applications, like tissue engineering, wound healing, gene delivery, drug delivery, and vaccines. Peptide self-assemblies, in general, molecular self-assemblies, are stabilized by non-covalent interactions like van der Waals interaction, π−π stacking, hydrogen bonding, halogen bonding, ionic dipolar interaction, metal−ligand coordination, organic−ionic compound interaction, etc. Selfassembled peptide nanomaterials form mainly three different types of structural classes viz peptide nano-fibers, peptide nano-tubes and peptide nano-vesicles. Apart from these important applications of peptide nano-materials, the self-assembly of peptides in our body forming amyloid fibrils leads to different disease conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Characterization of different structural classes of self-assembled peptide nanomaterials is very important in understanding their specific properties and hence, their applications in science and medical science. Furthermore, the characterization of amyloid fibrils formed in our body is very important for the discovery of anti-amyloid agents. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, particularly solid-state NMR (SSNMR) spectroscopy, is a very useful tool for the characterization of different self-assembled peptide nano-materials. In this chapter, we are discussing the characterization of different structural classes of self-assembled peptide nano-materials using spectroscopic methods particularly NMR spectroscopy. The best way to characterize various structural classes of self-assembled peptide nanomaterials is to use NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with other experimental approaches.

Today's growing population and the increasing global pandemics have made inroads for new technologies and developments for effective treatments and bringing in holistic health for scores of patients affected. Nanotechnology and nanomedicine are emerging technologies wherein the use of nanomaterials for drug deliveries has replaced the conventional systems of drug delivery, which are generally associated with side effects. Cancer nanotherapeutics has made skewed progress, bringing in a sea change in the delivery mechanisms whereby the problems of nonspecific biodistribution and targeting are being decimated to no-problem deliveries. The synthesis of smart nanoparticles has brought much hope and resilience to scores of patients needing the applications of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The smart drug delivery systems based on pH and temperature, magnetic, redox, and enzyme responsiveness have shown excellent therapeutic applications in autoimmune diseases and metabolic disorders. Tissue engineering is a field that has brought in new technologies in the medical world that improve, repair, and replace damaged tissue or organs. The applications of smart nanomaterials have envisaged new methods and developments in end applications like biomimetics. This review gives an overview of nanomaterial synthesis, smart drug delivery systems and their applications using nanomaterials, the role of nanomaterials in nanomedicine and tissue engineering, and finally, the significance of amalgamations of Theragnostics nanomedicine with nanoscience, therapeutics, and diagnostics.

Nanomaterials' surface (high surface to volume ratio) acts as an electron mediator to trigger chemical reaction and sensing phenomenon. Sensing element is an important chemisorptions site in chemical sensor. The adsorbed oxygen molecules play an energetic role on the surface of nanomaterials in sensing reaction and recognition at optimum temperature. Low molecular Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) evaporate at room temperature exclusively because of high vapor pressure. Sensing requires special structural design (large number of surface sites, defects and oxygen vacancy) to trigger rapid chemical reactions for detoxification and decontamination. Chemical reaction triggers sensing phenomenon over specific surface sites and selective structure. Nanomaterials may enable specific functional groups that are selected to align with targeted applications. Surface functionalized sensors are highly susceptible to chemical interaction with contaminants to deliver digital information. The recognition element enables extensive porosity, high binding affinity and excellent physico-chemical stability. The chromophoric group grafted nanomaterial extends the optical properties through the interaction of the analyte. Strong adsorption capacity and high surface reactivity hold better sensitivity. The present chapter focuses on an exclusive vision of chemical sensors integrated by various functionalized, hybrid or composite nanomaterials having strong adsorption capacity, selectivity and high surface reactivity on the broad scale of frontiers and structural diversity. 

Nanotechnology is an interdisciplinary field that serves as a bridge between scientific inquiry and technological innovation. It is a highly appealing area of study. Due to their unique properties, nanomaterials possess the potential to be utilized in a diverse range of applications across various fields. This is due to the inherent capacity of nanomaterials to be employed in a diverse range of applications. Research has demonstrated that nanoparticles possess the capability to cause detrimental impacts on the adjacent ecosystem. Furthermore, the singularity of these compounds has been demonstrated to yield beneficial outcomes. This has yielded a favorable outcome, in conjunction with the exceptional results that have arisen from the uniqueness of these compounds. Various technologies, including nanotechnology in its diverse applications, have been developed to facilitate the conduction of environmental risk assessments over a period of time. Nanotechnology is among the diverse technological advancements. Furthermore, each country has established a prescribed set of guidelines that must be adhered to in order to mitigate the potential hazards associated with said undertaking. The objective of these regulations is to mitigate the potential risks associated with the said activity. The objective of enacting these laws is to mitigate the degree of risk that is linked with the particular activity to a level that is deemed acceptable. Notwithstanding, there exists a clear imperative for a proficient educational framework to mitigate the likelihood of challenges emerging in both the immediate and distant future.