Environmental applications of silver nanoparticles: state-of-the-art review and emerging trends

• Soni Prajapati,
• Akash Kumar and
• Ranjana Singh

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 697–736, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.49

• exhibit toxicity towards aquatic organisms, including bacteria, algae, invertebrates, and fish, with reported adverse effects such as growth inhibition, reproductive impairment, and mortality [32][33]. Moreover, various factors influence the fate and transport of AgNPs in environmental samples, including

Recent progress in enhancing built-in electric fields of perovskite solar cells via junction engineering

• Tong Xiao and
• Ke Xu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 602–621, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.42

• -diffusion transport, and extraction pathways, thereby shaping critical device parameters such as open-circuit voltage and fill factor. This review highlights recent progress in junction engineering strategies for BEF enhancement. Homojunctions extend interfacial potential fields into the bulk through

• transport. By contrast, 2D/3D heterojunctions exploit interfacial dipole formation, intrinsic polarization, and phase-penetration effects to amplify and homogenize the BEF, while simultaneously improving energy-level alignment and defect passivation. We systematically compare these strategies within a

• fields. These effects facilitate directional transport and prolong carrier lifetimes. Therefore, the rational construction and optimization of generalized junctions to enhance the built-in electric field have become a key research direction for improving the efficiency and stability of PSCs, laying the

Towards targeted drugs and next generation of nanomedicines

• Anna Salvati,
• Silvia Giordani and
• Wolfgang J. Parak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 598–601, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.41

• size in a "big" human. At the same time, recent findings suggested that nanoparticles may be able to reach tumor tissue also via active mechanisms of uptake and transport across tumor endothelial cells, potentially opening up new ways to reach tumors with drugs [20][21][22]. Next to passive targeting

Advances in nanotechnology applied to natural products

• Douglas Dourado,
• Fábio Rocha Formiga,
• Éverton do Nascimento Alencar and
• Franceline Reynaud

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 555–558, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.36

• nanofibers, have been proposed for the simultaneous transport of hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactives, leveraging compartmentalization to combine material advantages and enable multifunctional controlled-release strategies [25]. Beyond organic nanocarriers, research has increasingly extended to inorganic

Fractional shot noise of an SU(N) Kondo system

• Damian Krychowski and
• Stanisław Lipiński

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 515–540, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.34

• Damian Krychowski Stanislaw Lipinski Department of Theory of Nanostructures and Quantum Materials, Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, M. Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland 10.3762/bjnano.17.34 Abstract We consider transport through a multilevel interacting quantum

• of a single excess charge on the dot increases. Strong dynamic correlations start to play a dominant role when Coulomb interaction exceeds electron kinetic energy. For dots weakly coupled to the leads, many-body resonances build up at low temperatures, opening new paths for coherent transport. Due to

• the generation of spin-polarized currents [19][20][21][22][23]. A continuing present goal is to test fundamental correlations between different degrees of freedom and to examine their role in quantum transport. The principal aim is to understand how dot or multidot structures with internal spin

Defects and defect-mediated engineering of two-dimensional materials: challenges and open questions

• Arkady V. Krasheninnikov,
• Matthias Batzill,
• Anouar-Akacha Delenda,
• Marija Drndić,
• Chris Ewels,
• Katharina J. Franke,
• Mahdi Ghorbani-Asl,
• Alexander Holleitner,
• Ado Jorio,
• Ute Kaiser,
• Daria Kieczka,
• Hannu-Pekka Komsa,
• Jani Kotakoski,
• Manuel Längle,
• David Lamprecht,
• Yun Liu,
• Steven G. Louie,
• Janina Maultzsch,
• Thomas Michely,
• Katherine Milton,
• Anna Niggas,
• Hanako Okuno,
• Joshua A. Robinson,
• Marika Schleberger,
• Bruno Schuler,
• Alexander Shluger,
• Kazu Suenaga,
• Kristian S. Thygesen,
• Richard A. Wilhelm,
• E. Harriet Åhlgren and
• Carla Bittencourt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 454–488, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.31

• between different growth methods, for example, chemical vapor transport vs molecular beam epitaxy in terms of pressures and growth temperatures. Generally, the thermodynamic conditions are ill-defined during growth, especially the chemical potentials of the material constituents are not well known, making

Biomimetic nanoparticles in cancer photodynamic therapy: a review of targeted delivery systems and therapeutic outcomes

• Valentina I. Gorbacheva,
• Alexey S. Grabovoy,
• Polina S. Marukhina,
• Anastasiia O. Syrocheva and
• Ekaterina P. Kolesova

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 396–422, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.27

• . Beyond delivery, BNPs address hypoxia [5], a critical barrier to PDT efficacy, through oxygen-carrying systems like hemoglobin-based nanostructures, which retain the oxygen-binding capacity of hemoglobin and can effectively transport and release oxygen within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME

• cell membranes, such as immune evasion, prolonged circulation, and specific targeting, BNPs can be further enhanced through surface modifications to improve their therapeutic performance. These modifications enable BNPs to address complex challenges in drug delivery, including targeted transport

Fast vortex dynamics and relaxation times in NbRe-based heterostructures

• Francesco De Chiara,
• Zahra Makhdoumi Kakhaki,
• Francesco Avitabile,
• Francesco Colangelo,
• Abhishek Kumar,
• Carmine Attanasio and
• Carla Cirillo

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 292–302, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.20

• , were characterized through electrical transport measurements. The I–V characteristics show that, in the NbRe/Py bilayer, vortices reach higher critical velocities than those observed in the NbRe/Au structure. The analysis of the flux-flow instability within the Larkin–Ovchinnikov framework allows one

• ; superconductivity; vortex dynamics; Introduction Vortex dynamics plays a central role in the electrical transport under magnetic fields in type-II superconductors and is an essential subject of research in superconductivity [1]. In inhomogeneous type-II superconductors, structural defects create pinning centers

• that NbRe thin films are polycrystalline with oriented grains of nanometric size, of the order of a few nanometers [20][21]. Furthermore, earlier investigations have demonstrated that the superconducting and transport properties of NbRe are robust against moderate thickness variations [19]. These

Advancing nanolithography: a comprehensive review of materials for local anodic oxidation with AFM

• Matteo Lorenzoni

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 275–291, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.19

• authors agree with an oxidation kinetic consistent with the Cabrera–Mott model [44][45]. As an electrochemical process, LAO is inherently current-dependent. Early studies showed that oxide growth evolves from an initial electronic tunneling regime to ionic transport as the film develops [46]. Dagata and

• stress and trapped charges hinder further ion transport. Together, these effects progressively slow oxidation and ultimately halt growth [48]. This explains why local oxidation experiments on Si report maximum features below 10 nm, while oxide features grown on SiC (with different stoichiometry and

• features. Different materials exhibit varying oxidation kinetics, conductivity, and susceptibility to environmental conditions. For example, TMDs such as MoS2 and WSe2 are especially sensitive to phonon scattering, which significantly influences their thermal conductivity, electrical transport properties

Comparative study on 3D morphologies of delignified, single tracheids and fibers of five wood species

• Helen Gorges,
• Felicitas von Usslar,
• Cordt Zollfrank,
• Silja Flenner,
• Imke Greving,
• Martin Müller,
• Clemens F. Schaber,
• Chuchu Li and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 239–250, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.16

• ]. They are especially important in gymnosperms, where they serve as primary conduits for water transport, whereas in angiosperms, they function alongside vessel elements, contributing to both axial and lateral water movement by providing strength of the tissue [3][4]. Tracheids are specialized cells that

• are elongated, hollow, and tapered at both ends, forming an interconnected system that facilitates the transport of water and nutrients from the roots to the aerial parts of the plant [3]. Depending on the species and function, conifer tracheids are generally narrow, with varying diameters (8–80 µm

• enhance water transport efficiency during growth seasons, enabling the trees to support rapid growth. Conversely, narrower lumina in latewood provide superior mechanical support during periods of reduced growth, ensuring structural stability. However, across the five species studied here, the hardwood

Gold nanoparticle-decorated reduced graphene oxide as a highly effective catalyst for the selective α,β-dehydrogenation of N-alkyl-4-piperidones

• Brenda Flore Kenyim,
• Mihir Tzalis,
• Marilyn Kaul,
• Robert Oestreich,
• Aysenur Limon,
• Chancellin Pecheu Nkepdep and
• Christoph Janiak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 218–238, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.15

• largely below 2 nm and indicate a predominantly microporous structure (Figure S1a, Supporting Information File 1), which may limit mass transport and hinder catalytic performance in reactions requiring easy access to active sites. Reduced graphene oxide has a moderate BET surface area (231 m2·g−1), but

• the highest total pore volume (2.03 cm3·g−1). The pore diameters extend into the mesoporous region (2–50 nm) for a large fraction of the pores (Figure S1b, Supporting Information File 1). This combination suggests a more open and accessible porous network, facilitating better mass transport and

• volume. These features provide a more favorable environment for mass transport, reactant diffusion, and nanoparticle dispersion, making rGO a more effective catalyst support, so we expect a better catalytic activity with rGO. In addition to the morphological and textural properties of carbon supports

Micro- and nanoscale effects in biological and bioinspired materials and surfaces

• Thies H. Büscher,
• Rhainer Guillermo Ferreira,
• Manuela Rebora and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 214–217, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.14

• biological surface features to improve transport and effects of drugs, biological systems can be suitable templates for recognition of biomolecules. The review by Gharibzahedi and Altintas [27] provides a timely and comprehensive overview of recent advances in optical biosensing technologies for the

Safe and sustainable by design with ML/AI: A transformative approach to advancing nanotechnology

• Georgia Melagraki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 176–185, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.11

• transport of ENMs, as well as potential occupational and consumer exposures across production, use, and disposal stages [42][43][44]. Predictive toxicology Predictive toxicology is pivotal to SSbD strategies because it enables early-stage assessments of potential nanomaterial hazards, thereby minimizing

• most critical. By integrating real-time data on ENM fate and transport, these models provide the flexibility to adapt to new evidence or change regulatory thresholds. Taken together, LCA methodologies – particularly those enhanced by Bayesian and dynamic modelling – support a preventative, SSbD mindset

From shield to spear: Charge-reversible nanocarriers in overcoming cancer therapy barriers

• Madhuri Yeduvaka,
• Pooja Mittal,
• Ameer Boyalakuntla,
• Usman Bee Shaik,
• Himanshu Sharma,
• Thakur Gurjeet Singh,
• Siva Nageswara Rao Gajula and
• Lakshmi Vineela Nalla

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 159–175, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.10

• the crucial role of surface charge in cellular uptake and intracellular transport, highlighting recent advances that demonstrate improved targeting, reduced systemic toxicity, enhanced cellular internalisation, and the potential for integrated approaches, including combination therapies and

• transport of CRISPR components [92]. Ben-Akiva et al. engineered biodegradable, lipophilic polymer-based nanocarriers capable of systemically delivering mRNA along with TLR agonists to dendritic cells in the spleen, leading to strong activation of CD8+ T cells and effective tumour suppression in mouse

Influence of surface characteristics on the in vitro stability and cell uptake of nanoliposomes for brain delivery

• Dushko Shalabalija,
• Ljubica Mihailova,
• Nikola Geskovski,
• Andreas Zimmer,
• Otmar Geiss,
• Sabrina Gioria,
• Diletta Scaccabarozzi and
• Marija Glavas Dodov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 139–158, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.9

• showed a time- and concentration-dependent internalization pattern, with high impact of the surface characteristics of the different formulations. In addition, transport studies on hCMEC/D3/SH-SY5Y co-cultures confirmed the successful transport of NLs across the BBB cells and their subsequent uptake by

• may stem from the incomplete understanding of factors affecting the NLs optimal delivery to the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of NLs transport across the BBB and the impact of NLs properties as well as the disease pathophysiology is crucial for improving

• interactions in complex organs like the brain, in vitro cell culture models, such as hCMEC/D3 and SH-SY5Y, are often used [9]. Therefore, the hCMEC/D3 model is useful for examining nanosystems, drug uptake, and transport across the BBB, with advantages like easy growth and mimicking basic BBB properties

Reduced graphene oxide paper electrode for lithium-ion cells – towards optimized thermal reduction

• Agata Pawłowska,
• Magdalena Baran,
• Stefan Marynowicz,
• Aleksandra Izabela Banasiak,
• Adrian Racki,
• Adrian Chlanda,
• Tymoteusz Ciuk,
• Marta Wolczko and
• Andrzej Budziak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 24–37, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.3

• specific surface area, and low bulk density [3][4]. The role of rGO in electrode materials can be considered in two ways. It can be applied as a conductive additive, improving transport properties and, as a result, enhancing capacity [5]. It can also be the active material itself [6][7]. To mention just a

• transport and accessibility for lithium ions. Thermogravimetric analysis (Figure 3) was performed on the M300 sample in order to determine the temperatures corresponding to the maximum rates of weight change resulting from the removal of oxygen functional groups. Differential analysis of the TGA curve

• a composite lithium cobalt oxide electrode [55]. Furthermore, the introduction of defects as a result of iodine doping reported by Li et al. resulted in improved sodium ion storage and electron transport [56]. The carbon lattice in rGO flakes provides electrical conductivity, while defects and

Competitive helical bands and highly efficient diode effect in F/S/TI/S/F hybrid structures

• Tairzhan Karabassov,
• Irina V. Bobkova,
• Pavel M. Marychev,
• Vasiliy S. Stolyarov,
• Vyacheslav M. Silkin and
• Andrey S. Vasenko

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 15–23, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.2

• [1]. However, it should be emphasized that the lack of inversion symmetry is the implication of the gyrotropy in the structure of the material that supports nonreciprocal transport [39]. On the microscopic level, the lack of inversion symmetry is expressed by the SOC term. In this regard, systems

Geometry-controlled engineering of the low-temperature proximity effect in normal metal–superconductor junctions

• Munisa A. Tomayeva,
• Vyacheslav D. Neverov,
• Andrey V. Krasavin,
• Alexei Vagov and
• Mihail D. Croitoru

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2265–2273, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.155

• hybrid devices by enhancing normal quasiparticle scattering at the expense of Cooper pair transport [42]. Although interface transparency can be tuned by chemical surface treatments or in situ growth [43], an alternative and less explored approach is to control the proximity effect via the geometry of

Optical bio/chemical sensors for vitamin B₁₂ analysis in food and pharmaceuticals: state of the art, challenges, and future outlooks

• Seyed Mohammad Taghi Gharibzahedi and
• Zeynep Altintas

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2207–2244, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.153

• absorption of VB12 (Figure 2), namely, passive diffusion and active transport [34][44]. In passive diffusion, a minor fraction (1–2%) of oral VB12 dose can be directly absorbed via the intestinal mucosa and the gastrointestinal tract surface without the need for the intrinsic factor (IF). If the active

• transport of VB12 is impossible, a high dose of oral VB12 (like 1.0 mg daily) is essential for ensuring an “adequate” intake of this vitamin in the body [34][49]. Accordingly, this IF-independent pathway is less efficient and becomes more significant in individuals with a deficiency or absence of IF, or

• when the capacity of the IF system is exceeded [50]. In the active transport pathway, the absorption of VB12 through receptors commences following its liberation from the dietary source. Food proteins act as carriers for dietary VB12. The acidic conditions within the gastric lumen enable the liberation

Microplastic pollution in Himalayan lakes: assessment, risks, and sustainable remediation strategies

• Sameeksha Rawat,
• S. M. Tauseef and
• Madhuben Sharma

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2144–2167, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.148

• , although the upland catchments are so crucial to maintaining these rivers, high-altitude regions, above all, the Himalayas, are still inadequately studied. Himalayan lakes are exposed to increased plastic contamination by natural and human-induced processes. The complex process of MP transport and

• key mechanism in remote lakes besides direct input [7]. Groundwater modeling methods have been instrumental in describing the transport and fate of contaminants, including MPs, in subsurface environments. Numerical methods such as MODFLOW coupled with transport methods such as MT3DMS and RT3D are

• widely used to simulate groundwater flow and contaminant transport processes [20]. Such models have been adapted to cold mountain environments by adding glacier-fed recharge zones, freeze–thaw processes in soils, and topography-induced flow [21]. Semi-distributed models such as SWAT and MIKE SHE have

Electron transport through nanoscale multilayer graphene and hexagonal boron nitride junctions

• Aleksandar Staykov and
• Takaya Fujisaki

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2132–2143, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.147

• ) method combined with density functional theory (DFT) to compare electron transport through several layers of nanoscale graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). Calculations were performed for one to six layers, corresponding to thicknesses of 0.5–3.0 nm, respectively. Electron transport was computed

• and Stone–Wales defects. Nitrogen doping transforms graphene from a zero-bandgap semiconductor to a metal, while Stone–Wales defects open the bandgap. For h-BN, we considered Stone–Wales defects. A detailed comparison of electron transport through five materials, that is, multilayer nanoscale graphene

• , N-doped multilayer nanoscale graphene, Stone–Wales-defective multilayer nanoscale graphene, h-BN, and Stone–Wales-defective h-BN allowed us to understand the currents at the nanoscale and the chemical and structural control over the electron transport. The slopes of the current decay with thickness

Stereodiscrimination of guests in chiral organosilica aerogels studied by ESR spectroscopy

• Sebastian Polarz,
• Yasar Krysiak,
• Martin Wessig and
• Florian Kuhlmann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2034–2054, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.140

• or derivatizing agents, enabling the separation of enantiomers based on their interactions with these chiral entities. It is obvious that the transport properties of the two enantiomers must be different for them to be separated successfully. Transport in porous media is a topic with much broader and

• more general relevance than just for chromatography. Transport processes in porous materials are fundamental phenomena that influence the behavior and performance of a wide range of natural and engineered systems. They are relevant in applications including catalysis, filtration, energy storage

• , environmental remediation, and construction. The key transport processes in porous materials include diffusion, advection, capillary action, and sometimes reactions that might occur within the pores, highly complex phenomena one tries to understand as detailed as possible [15][16][17]. Laemmerhofer gave an

Laser ablation in liquids for shape-tailored synthesis of nanomaterials: status and challenges

• Natalie Tarasenka

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1963–1997, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.137

Evaluating metal-organic precursors for focused ion beam-induced deposition through solid-layer decomposition analysis

• Benedykt R. Jany,
• Katarzyna Madajska,
• Aleksandra Butrymowicz-Kubiak,
• Franciszek Krok and
• Iwona B. Szymańska

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1942–1951, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.135

• an onset below 100 °C are considered suitable for efficient transport through a GIS. Those with higher sublimation points are unlikely to reach the deposition zone and are thus disqualified early. Despite its advantages, EIMS pre-screening has significant limitations; it cannot determine the final

Quantum circuits with SINIS structures

• Mikhail Tarasov,
• Mikhail Fominskii,
• Aleksandra Gunbina,
• Artem Krasilnikov,
• Maria Mansfeld,
• Dmitrii Kukushkin,
• Andrei Maruhno,
• Valeria Ievleva,
• Mikhail Strelkov,
• Daniil Zhogov,
• Konstantin Arutyunov,
• Vyacheslav Vdovin,
• Vladislav Stolyarov and
• Valerian Edelman

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1931–1941, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.134

• nanostructure consisting of a T-shaped normal metal electrode (copper), an insulating tunnel layer (aluminum oxide), and a superconducting fork (aluminum), Figure 2a. Tunnel junction size is 0.2 × 0.2 µm, loop area 2, 4, 8, or 10 µm2. The transport characteristics of the fabricated interferometers were studied