Themed collection Emerging Investigators Series

Fragmentation of plastic waste in the environment can lead to the formation of nanoscale plastic debris (NPD) of size < 1 μm.

A better recognition of the agronomic context and geographical differences, including economic, political and social constrains, are needed to support the development of viable and sustainable nano-innovations in agriculture.

We propose to include the time-dependent size distribution of dispersed and internalized nanoparticles (NPs) in the ecotoxicological evaluation of exposure of biota to NPs and to develop tools to add the particle dynamics in the bioavailability modelling of NPs.

This frontier reviews impressive progresses of nano-enabled solar-driven water evaporation and clean water production made in the past 4 years.

This review discusses polymeric nanocarriers for agrochemical delivery, from synthesis, characterization, and release, to benefits for agrochemical efficiency and sustainability.

Various membrane models used to study nanoparticle interactions with the cell plasma membrane.

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.

MNPs may undergo different environmental transformations in aquatic systems, consequently changing their mobility, bioavailability and toxicity to freshwater invertebrates.

Phase-based detection and monitoring of pathogens in water and wastewater.

Concerns about the environmental impacts due to the end of life for engineered nanomaterials (ENM) are growing.

Materials with different dimensions can exhibit markedly different responses to their environment, even for the same material composition.

This article reviews the challenges of nanosludge and provides new insights into the treatment of nanosludge for heavy metal recycling.

Due to serious pollution of the world's water resources, effective methods for the detection and removal of pollutants must be developed.

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

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

Aramid amphiphiles with chelating head groups spontaneously form robust nanoribbons in water with surfaces capable of heavy metal remediation.

CeO₂/CuO primary antimicrobial mechanism was high ROS production, resulting in faster and stronger activity than CuO. It showed low cytotoxicity to human keratinocytes in vitro and no acute toxicity to the bacterium Vibrio fischeri.

Complex carbon mineralization at nanoscale mineral interfaces resolved with in situ X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations.

Carbon nanotube induces stronger and unique microbiome alterations in the tomato rhizosphere compared to the bulk soil, whereas graphene has a limited impact on soil microbiomes.

A hetero-phase junction was constructed with metallic 1T and semiconductive 2H MoS₂, which exhibited outstanding photo-Fenton catalytic performance to effectively degrade organic pollutants in the aquatic environment.

The study reveals that the interaction with cations, colloidal stability and transport behavior of MoS₂ rely on its phase compositions and geometric structures.

We develop an automated infiltration platform and discover relationships for optimal incorporation of nanoparticles into living plants. Among others, these will benefit nanoscale sensors and genetic engineering approaches in plant nanobionics.

This study addresses barriers to large-scale application of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) in water treatment schemes through its affixation onto granular activated carbon (AC) as an active adsorbing platform.

Long-term ASiNP exposure led to lysosomal density and size increments as well as protein changes, and autophagosome and cholesterol accumulation in cells.

The formation of an alginate corona on the surface of Pd nanosheets can boost their peroxidase-like activity, giving rise to the fast generation of hydroxyl radicals and the enhancement of antibacterial activity.

The results of this research indicate that though SWCNTs are unlikely to be absorbed in the gastrointestinal system, they do cause disruption of the gastrointestinal lipidome.

The chemical stability of Ag-NPs and ZnO-NPs in simulated tear fluid was highly affected by proteins, which would further influence their antibacterial efficacies.

The relationship between oxygen content and toxicity in graphene oxide varies between species.

High-throughput single-particle ICP-TOFMS analyses are used to quantify and classify diverse metal nanoparticle types from wastewater treatment plant samples.

In estuaries the deposition of copper nanoparticles upon sediments can contribute to change metal availability and promote the transcriptional response of denitrifying bacteria.

SnZVI is more promising than nZVI for sustainable remediation of arsenic in soil.

3D printed fit-for-design graphene-biopolymer aerogel for adsorption and/or filtration of contaminants from water.

This work describes the development of an analytical technique that couples single nanoparticle electrochemistry and UV-vis spectroscopy to determine aggregation kinetics and critical coagulation concentrations (CCCs) of silver nanoparticles.

Engineered nanomaterials interfaced with plant seeds can improve stress tolerance during the vulnerable seedling stage.

For a set of compositionally tuned complex metal oxides we predict the thermodynamics of aqueous surface transformations that lead to metal release.

MONP and MONP–GO sorbents exhibited relatively high CO₂ sorption capacity (2.79–3.34 mmol g⁻¹) under elevated temperature conditions.

Mineral carbonation reactivity trends and thresholds in nanoconfined water films delineated with in situ X-ray diffraction and molecular simulations.

Assisted by perpendicularly-grown nanowires, a coaxial-electrode locally enhanced electric field treatment (LEEFT) device achieves high disinfection in pipes.

Here we track intracellular uptake, speciation and bioreactivity of silver and silver nanoparticles in a model of the fish intestine and show that intracellular silver speciation is related to its bio-reactivity.

Zn finger peptides catalyze dissolution and agglomeration of silver nanomaterials. In turn, the nanomaterials disrupt native structure and metalation of the peptide. Disruption of Zn finger function constitutes a potential toxicity mechanism.

The adsorption and unfolding behavior of bovine serum albumin onto catalytic- and food-grade titanium dioxide nanoparticles is dependent on the surface chemistry of the nanoparticles and their environmental exposure history.

Uptake of Eu³⁺ on clinoptilolite is significantly enhanced by the presence of UO₂²⁺ though cation–cation interactions between UO₂²⁺ and Eu³⁺.

A rapid widely accessible spectroscopic analysis was developed for quantification of carbon nanotubes in plant tissues.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and other ionizing engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are candidates for the development of antimicrobial agents due to their efficacy, multiple modes of bacterial inactivation, and tunability with respect to both the magnitude and mechanisms of antimicrobial activity.

A Cu/Mn immobilized carbon nanoframework modified sensor was used for continuously detecting the H₂O₂ concentration in an electro-Fenton system.

Synergistic effects of the heterogeneous reaction of sulfur dioxide on mineral dust nanoparticle mixtures.