Smart Nano-Devices

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Nanoelectronics, Nanosensors and Devices".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 17019

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: micro/nanomotors; sensing; electrochemistry; bactericidal; environmental
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Chemistry Faculty, Complutense University, Plaza de las Ciencias s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: nanomachines; molecular gates; drug delivery; nanosensors; electrochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart nano-devices, including nanorobots, nanoelectronics and nanosensors, which are nanoscale devices designed to response to external stimuli (light, electrical and magnetic fields, ultrasounds), internal stimuli (enzyme activity, pH, redox) and internal and external stimuli (temperature), have attracted a great deal of attention over the past decade due their promising multiple applications in different fields such as in the medicine, sensing and environmental fields. For instance, at present, in the field of nanomedicine, smart nano-devices have successfully demonstrated to enhance the diffusion and control de release of the drug to target locations in comparison with passive drug delivery systems or, in the environmental field, they have improved the mixing and mass transfer, greatly enhancing the rate of various remediation processes.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials tittle “Smart nano-devices” will attempt to cover the recent advancements in the Smart nano-devices focused on the nanomaterials employed. Both reviews and original research articles are welcome.

If you have any suggestions that you would like to discuss beforehand, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to and welcome your participation in this special issue.

Dr. Diana Vilela Garcia
Dr. Alfredo Sanchez Sanchez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanorobots
  • nanomachines
  • drug delivery
  • nanomedicine
  • nanomaterials
  • smart-devices

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1768 KiB  
Article
Studies on Aggregated Nanoparticles Steering during Deep Brain Membrane Crossing
by Ali Kafash Hoshiar, Shahriar Dadras Javan, Tuan-Anh Le, Mohammad Reza Hairi Yazdi and Jungwon Yoon
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2754; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11102754 - 17 Oct 2021
Viewed by 2226
Abstract
Many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), affect the deep brain region, which hinders their effective treatment. The hippocampus, a deep brain area critical for learning and memory, is especially vulnerable to damage during early stages of AD. Magnetic [...] Read more.
Many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), affect the deep brain region, which hinders their effective treatment. The hippocampus, a deep brain area critical for learning and memory, is especially vulnerable to damage during early stages of AD. Magnetic drug targeting has shown high potential in delivering drugs to a targeted disease site effectively by applying a strong electromagnetic force. This study illustrates a nanotechnology-based scheme for delivering magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) to the deep brain region. First, we developed a mathematical model and a molecular dynamic simulation to analyze membrane crossing, and to study the effects of particle size, aggregation, and crossing velocities. Then, using in vitro experiments, we studied effective parameters in aggregation. We have also studied the process and environmental parameters. We have demonstrated that aggregation size can be controlled when particles are subjected to external electromagnetic fields. Our simulations and experimental studies can be used for capturing MNPs in brain, the transport of particles across the intact BBB and deep region targeting. These results are in line with previous in vivo studies and establish an effective strategy for deep brain region targeting with drug loaded MNPs through the application of an external electromagnetic field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nano-Devices)
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11 pages, 2484 KiB  
Article
Sucrose-Responsive Intercommunicated Janus Nanoparticles Network
by Sandra Jimenez-Falcao, Daniel Torres, Paloma Martínez-Ruiz, Diana Vilela, Ramón Martínez-Máñez and Reynaldo Villalonga
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(10), 2492; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11102492 - 24 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1813
Abstract
Inspired by biological systems, the development of artificial nanoscale materials that communicate over a short distance is still at its early stages. This work shows a new example of a cooperating system with intercommunicated devices at the nanoscale. The system is based on [...] Read more.
Inspired by biological systems, the development of artificial nanoscale materials that communicate over a short distance is still at its early stages. This work shows a new example of a cooperating system with intercommunicated devices at the nanoscale. The system is based on the new sucrose-responsive Janus gold-mesoporous silica (Janus Au-MS) nanoparticles network with two enzyme-powered nanodevices. These nanodevices involve two enzymatic processes based on invertase and glucose oxidase, which are anchored on the Au surfaces of different Janus Au-MS nanoparticles, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine and [Ru(bpy)3]2+ loaded as chemical messengers, respectively. Sucrose acts as the INPUT, triggering the sequential delivery of two different cargoes through the enzymatic control. Nanoscale communication using abiotic nanodevices is a developing potential research field and may prompt several applications in different disciplines, such as nanomedicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nano-Devices)
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14 pages, 2272 KiB  
Article
Simultaneous Detection of Inflammatory Biomarkers by SERS Nanotag-Based Lateral Flow Assay with Portable Cloud Raman Spectrometer
by Yang Li, Xiaojia Liu, Jiuchuan Guo, Yueting Zhang, Jinhong Guo, Xinggui Wu, Bo Wang and Xing Ma
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(6), 1496; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11061496 - 05 Jun 2021
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3542
Abstract
Inflammatory biomarkers are closely related to infectious diseases. However, traditional clinical tests of laboratory inspection are unable to achieve rapid and accurate detection of these biomarkers on-site due to shortcomings such as complex experimental operation, expensive equipment, and long test time. Herein, we [...] Read more.
Inflammatory biomarkers are closely related to infectious diseases. However, traditional clinical tests of laboratory inspection are unable to achieve rapid and accurate detection of these biomarkers on-site due to shortcomings such as complex experimental operation, expensive equipment, and long test time. Herein, we proposed a lateral flow assay (LFA) strip based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanotags (SERS-LFA strips) for the simultaneous and quantitative detection of dual infection biomarkers, serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP), respectively. In practice, mesoporous silica (mSiO2)-coated Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) were used as the SERS substrate. Mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) was embedded in the internal gap between Au NPs and the mSiO2 shell to prepare AuMBA@mSiO2 NPs, onto which SAA and CRP antibodies were modified to prepare two AuMBA@mSiO2 SERS nanotags. The Raman intensities of the test and control lines were simultaneously identified for the qualitative detection of SAA and CRP, with limits of detection (LODs) as low as 0.1 and 0.05 ng/mL for SAA and CRP, respectively. Finally, aiming at point-of-care testing (POCT) applications, we used a smartphone-based portable Raman spectrometer to quantitatively analyze the SERS-LFA strips. The Raman signal could still be accurately detected when the concentration of SAA and CRP was 10 ng/mL, which is lower than the LOD required in clinical practice for most diseases. Therefore, taking into account its simple operation and short analysis time, by using a portable Raman spectrometer which can be equipped with a 5G cloud-based healthcare management system, the current strategy based on SERS-LFA provides the potential for the quick and on-site diagnosis of infectious diseases such as sepsis, which is of great significance for medical guidance on the treatment of widely spread infection-related diseases in remote areas that lack well-developed medical resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nano-Devices)
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15 pages, 4262 KiB  
Article
Controlling Nanostructure in Inkjet Printed Organic Transistors for Pressure Sensing Applications
by Matthew J. Griffith, Nathan A. Cooling, Daniel C. Elkington, Michael Wasson, Xiaojing Zhou, Warwick J. Belcher and Paul C. Dastoor
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11051185 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2461
Abstract
This work reports the development of a highly sensitive pressure detector prepared by inkjet printing of electroactive organic semiconducting materials. The pressure sensing is achieved by incorporating a quantum tunnelling composite material composed of graphite nanoparticles in a rubber matrix into the multilayer [...] Read more.
This work reports the development of a highly sensitive pressure detector prepared by inkjet printing of electroactive organic semiconducting materials. The pressure sensing is achieved by incorporating a quantum tunnelling composite material composed of graphite nanoparticles in a rubber matrix into the multilayer nanostructure of a printed organic thin film transistor. This printed device was able to convert shock wave inputs rapidly and reproducibly into an inherently amplified electronic output signal. Variation of the organic ink material, solvents, and printing speeds were shown to modulate the multilayer nanostructure of the organic semiconducting and dielectric layers, enabling tuneable optimisation of the transistor response. The optimised printed device exhibits rapid switching from a non-conductive to a conductive state upon application of low pressures whilst operating at very low source-drain voltages (0–5 V), a feature that is often required in applications sensitive to stray electromagnetic signals but is not provided by conventional inorganic transistors and switches. The printed sensor also operates without the need for any gate voltage bias, further reducing the electronics required for operation. The printable low-voltage sensing and signalling system offers a route to simple low-cost assemblies for secure detection of stimuli in highly energetic systems including combustible or chemically sensitive materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nano-Devices)
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12 pages, 2763 KiB  
Article
Analog Memristive Characteristics of Square Shaped Lanthanum Oxide Nanoplates Layered Device
by Wonkyu Kang, Kyoungmin Woo, Hyon Bin Na, Chi Jung Kang, Tae-Sik Yoon, Kyung Min Kim and Hyun Ho Lee
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(2), 441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano11020441 - 09 Feb 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2543
Abstract
Square-shaped or rectangular nanoparticles (NPs) of lanthanum oxide (LaOx) were synthesized and layered by convective self-assembly to demonstrate an analog memristive device in this study. Along with non-volatile analog memory effect, selection diode property could be co-existent without any implementation of [...] Read more.
Square-shaped or rectangular nanoparticles (NPs) of lanthanum oxide (LaOx) were synthesized and layered by convective self-assembly to demonstrate an analog memristive device in this study. Along with non-volatile analog memory effect, selection diode property could be co-existent without any implementation of heterogeneous multiple stacks with ~1 μm thick LaOx NPs layer. Current–voltage (I–V) behavior of the LaOx NPs resistive switching (RS) device has shown an evolved current level with memristive behavior and additional rectification functionality with threshold voltage. The concurrent memristor and diode type selector characteristics were examined with electrical stimuli or spikes for the duration of 10–50 ms pulse biases. The pulsed spike increased current levels at a read voltage of +0.2 V sequentially along with ±7 V biases, which have emulated neuromorphic operation of long-term potentiation (LTP). This study can open a new application of rare-earth LaOx NPs as a component of neuromorphic synaptic device. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nano-Devices)
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9 pages, 1489 KiB  
Article
Optically-Thin Broadband Graphene-Membrane Photodetector
by Tania Moein, Darius Gailevičius, Tomas Katkus, Soon Hock Ng, Stefan Lundgaard, David J. Moss, Hamza Kurt, Vygantas Mizeikis, Kȩstutis Staliūnas, Mangirdas Malinauskas and Saulius Juodkazis
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(3), 407; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nano10030407 - 25 Feb 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3591
Abstract
A broadband graphene-on-Si3N4-membrane photodetector for the visible-IR spectral range is realised by simple lithography and deposition techniques. Photo-current is produced upon illumination due to presence of the build-in potential between dissimilar metal electrodes on graphene as a result of [...] Read more.
A broadband graphene-on-Si3N4-membrane photodetector for the visible-IR spectral range is realised by simple lithography and deposition techniques. Photo-current is produced upon illumination due to presence of the build-in potential between dissimilar metal electrodes on graphene as a result of charge transfer. The sensitivity of the photo-detector is ∼1.1 μA/W when irradiated with 515 and 1030 nm wavelengths; a smaller separation between the metal contacts favors gradient formation of the built-in electric field and increases the efficiency of charge separation. This optically-thin graphene-on-membrane photodetector and its interdigitated counterpart has the potential to be used within 3D optical elements, such as photonic crystals, sensors, and wearable electronics applications where there is a need to minimise optical losses introduced by the detector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Nano-Devices)
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