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

• , scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen gas sorption surface area analysis using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory were employed to evaluate the surface structure, porosity, and overall texture of the materials. The SEM image in Figure 2a reveals the typical structure of AC, characterized by

• scattering (DLS) measurements was 12 nm (Figure 4b). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed spherical and well-dispersed nanoparticles and their particle size distribution (Figure 4c), based on the measurements of approximately 200 nanoparticles, yielded an average diameter of 12 nm with a

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

• ” consists of 15 articles representing all facets of research on biological and bioinspired surfaces, ranging from experimental and microscopy studies on biological objects, translational approaches with characterization of artificial replicas, bioinspired prototypes to theoretical studies including modeling

• nanostructures aiding in efficient cleaning of the eyes and antennae of this insect to maintain sensory functions. Another insect study by Lopez et al. [13] investigated the ultrablack cuticle of a velvet ant using a range of microscopy methods and optical spectrometry providing structural and spectrometric

Time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging of contaminant species in chemical vapour deposited graphene on copper

• Barry Brennan,
• Vlad-Petru Veigang-Radulescu,
• Philipp Braeuninger-Weimer,
• Stephan Hofmann and
• Andrew J. Pollard

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 200–213, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.13

• a Wyko NT1100 White Light Optical Profiling System using a 20× magnification in vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) mode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was carried out with a Carl Zeiss SIGMA VP at an acceleration voltage of 2 kV to ensure sample consistency. Four separate Cu foil samples

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

• neurons (ranging from 25.17% to 27.54%). Fluorescence and confocal microscopy micrographs revealed that, once internalized, NLs were concentrated in the perinuclear cell regions. Keywords: blood–brain barrier; cell co-culture; cell uptake; internalization; nanoliposomes; stability; surface

• fluorescence microscopy In order to obtain a deeper insight of the internalization and co-localization of the prepared NLs samples in living cells, hCMEC/D3 and SH-SY5Y cells were first seeded onto 35 mm glass dishes at a density of 2 × 105 cells per well (μ-Dish 35 mm, WillCo Glass Bottom Dishes, Netherlands

• incubation (37 °C, 5% CO2), the cells were washed twice with PBS, followed by subsequent fluorescence microscopy analysis at 37 °C (Zeiss Axio Observer Z1 inverted microscope, Zeiss, Jena, Germany), equipped with an epifluorescence illuminator and a plate heating chamber. The resulting images were processed

Development and in vitro evaluation of liposomes and immunoliposomes containing 5-fluorouracil and R-phycoerythrin as a potential phototheranostic system for colorectal cancer

• Raissa Rodrigues Camelo,
• Vivianne Cortez Sombra Vandesmet,
• Octavio Vital Baccallini,
• José de Brito Vieira Neto,
• Thais da Silva Moreira,
• Luzia Kalyne Almeida Moreira Leal,
• Claudia Pessoa,
• Daniel Giuliano Cerri,
• Maria Vitória Lopes Badra Bentley,
• Josimar O. Eloy,
• Ivanildo José da Silva Júnior and
• Raquel Petrilli

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 97–121, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.7

• force microscopy The topographical characterization of liposomal formulations was performed by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a Nanosurf® FlexAFM system. The samples analyzed included liposomes and immunoliposomes containing R-PE. Briefly, to avoid vesicle deformation or disruption, liposomes

• images were captured using the Nanosurf C3000i software and subsequently processed and analyzed with the Gwyddion v 2.66 software, which was used for image leveling, coloring, 3D visualization of the specimens, and roughness analysis [26]. 2.3.5.1 Atomic force microscopy roughness calculation. Roughness

• ™ 488. 2.7 Cellular uptake Cellular internalization was assessed by confocal microscopy. For confocal microscopy, 1 × 106 cells were seeded onto 6-well plates containing sterile cover slides and 1 mL of culture medium per well. After allowing cell adhesion overnight, the culture medium was removed and 1

Functional surface engineering for cultural heritage protection: the role of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic coatings – a comprehensive review

• Giuseppe Cesare Lama,
• Marino Lavorgna,
• Letizia Verdolotti,
• Federica Recupido,
• Giovanna Giuliana Buonocore and
• Bharat Bhushan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 63–96, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.6

Subdigital integumentary microstructure in Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkota): do those lineages with incipiently expressed toepads exclusively exhibit adhesive setae?

• Philipp Ginal,
• Yannick Ecker,
• Timothy Higham,
• L. Lee Grismer,
• Benjamin Wipfler,
• Dennis Rödder,
• Anthony Russell and
• Jendrian Riedel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 38–56, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.4

• variation of digital form within this genus, from species with ancestrally small, round subdigital scales to macroscopically defined incipient toepads (broadened lamella-like subdigital scales). We employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and phylogenetic comparative methods to (a) explore the

• examined under a ZEISS Stemi 508 stereoscopic microscope (Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH, Göttingen, Germany) at magnifications between ×5 and ×100. Skin samples were taken exclusively from the fourth digit of the left or right pes, depending on which was in better condition. Ventral epidermal samples were

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

• and thickness were determined with scanning electron microscopy imaging. This paper also reveals electrical and electrochemical properties of the material. The conductivity of the material obtained at 800 °C reached ≈70 S/cm, and the discharge capacity reached ≈160 mAh/g at 100 mA/g current density

Quantitative estimation of nanoparticle/substrate adhesion by atomic force microscopy

• Aydan Çiçek,
• Markus Kratzer,
• Christian Teichert and
• Christian Mitterer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 1–14, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.1

• of copper nanoparticles to silicon substrates deposited under varying conditions using DC magnetron sputter inert gas condensation. Atomic force microscopy was utilized as a tool for the manipulation of the nanoparticles and to measure lateral forces for their displacement, with cantilever

• particles between 6 and 12 nm. In addition, an applied positive substrate bias voltage led to more energetic landing conditions and thus to increased adhesion forces. This study underscores the suitability of atomic force microscopy in characterizing adhesion on the nanoscale and offers insights into future

• strategies for tailoring nanoparticle/substrate interactions. Keywords: adhesion; atomic force microscopy; magnetron sputtering; nanomanipulation; nanoparticles; Introduction Nanoparticles (NPs) are at the forefront of basic research and technological innovation, captivating researchers and engineers from

Internal 3D temperature mapping in biological systems using ratiometric light-sheet imaging and lipid-coated upconversion nanothermometers

• Dannareli Barron-Ortiz,
• Enric Pérez-Parets,
• Rubén D. Cadena-Nava,
• Emilio J. Gualda,
• Jacob Licea-Rodríguez,
• Juan Hernández-Cordero,
• Pablo Loza-Álvarez and
• Israel Rocha-Mendoza

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2306–2316, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.159

• estimate temperature through ratiometric imaging of two thermally coupled fluorescence bands. This work demonstrates the feasibility of volumetric temperature mapping in internal biological systems using light-sheet fluorescence microscopy and lipid-coated UCNPs as nanothermometry markers. This approach

• -sheet microscopy; temperature mapping; upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles; Introduction Biological processes involving energy exchange often manifest as temperature fluctuations. Materials sought to measure such changes should exhibit high sensitivity, accuracy, high spatiotemporal resolution, good

• [44]. These features make FIR-based thermometry appealing for remote optical measurements in biological applications. Indeed, upon imaging the thermally coupled fluorescent bands emitted by UCNPs with microscopy techniques, precise temperature measurements within biological systems can be readily

Improving magnetic properties of Mn- and Zn-doped core–shell iron oxide nanoparticles by tuning their size

• Dounia Louaguef,
• Ghouti Medjahdi,
• Sébastien Diliberto,
• Klaus M. Seemann,
• Thomas Gries,
• Joelle Bizeau,
• Damien Mertz,
• Eric Gaffet and
• Halima Alem

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2285–2295, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.157

• least tenfold). The designed core NPs are composed of a Zn0.4Fe2.6O4 core and a MnFe2O4 shell. Their size and morphology were determined by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to investigate their chemical composition. The iron oxide phase was confirmed by

• microscopy (HRTEM) provides a comprehensive understanding of the material’s composition and properties. This work paves the way for the development of next-generation biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy and other biomedical applications. Materials and Methods Materials Iron

• evaluation of the Mössbauer spectra was performed by least-square fitting of lines using the Winnormos (Wissel) program. The error on all Fe Mössbauer spectra was ±0.1 mm·s−1. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images were performed

Visualizing nanostructures in supramolecular hydrogels: a correlative study using confocal and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy

• Shaun M. Smith,
• Ferdinando Malagreca,
• Jacqueline Hicks,
• Giuseppe Mantovani,
• David B. Amabilino,
• Christopher Parmenter and
• Lluïsa Pérez-García

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2274–2284, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.156

• ) fluorophores were imaged using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) of fully solvated gels and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) was used to observe the corresponding xerogels. The DPP@Gel systems exhibit strong fluorescence and are effectively imaged using CLSM, with fibre morphologies

• ideal for mimicking biological environments, yet these same properties pose major challenges for morphological characterization [6][7]. In particular, conventional electron microscopy often requires dehydration, which risks collapsing the delicate network, while optical methods are typically diffraction

• -limited, preventing direct visualization of nanoscale features [6][8]. Confocal fluorescence microscopy addresses some of these limitations by allowing hydrogels to be imaged in situ, fully hydrated, and often in real time when a fluorophore is incorporated into the colloidal network [2][9]. Through

Chiral plasmonic nanostructures fabricated with circularly polarized light

• Tian Qiao and
• Ming Lee Tang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2245–2264, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.154

• . Synthesizing chiral metallic NCs using plasmon-mediated synthesis is challenging due to reactions with nonlocalized warm electrons. Even though metallic nanostructures display optical dissymmetry in their CD spectra, electron microscopy images of the nanostructures obtained do not demonstrate clear structural

• can lead to a significant displacement of the polymer backbone, with the degree of displacement being dependent on the strength of the electric field under CPL. Chiral topographic changes due to the polymer displacement were observed using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Similar observations were made

• field. This section will cover the experimental methods for observing the near fields of cPNSs. Advanced techniques, such as near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM), cathodoluminescence (CL), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), offer spatial

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

Ultrathin water layers on mannosylated gold nanoparticles

• Maiara A. Iriarte Alonso,
• Jorge H. Melillo,
• Silvina Cerveny,
• Yujin Tong and
• Alexander M. Bittner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2183–2198, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.151

• nanoparticle systems, one functionalized with an oligo(ethylene glycol) ligand, and one functionalized with a mixture of the same with a dimannoside ligand. The dimannoside ligand was chosen to mimic the surface chemistry of viral spike proteins. We characterized the particles by electron microscopy, dynamic

• light scattering, and infrared spectroscopy. We probed particles adsorbed on hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy, both operated under variable air humidity. For AFM, we additionally tested hydrophilic and

• short oligo(ethylene glycol) chains. The particles were first characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential (ZP) measurements in solution, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) in vacuum. Samples were adsorbed on flat

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

• isolated locations is, however, limited by factors such as harsh climatic conditions, logistical challenges, and the need for expert analytical techniques like microscopy and spectroscopy. The present review considers sources, pathways, and ecological impacts of microplastics in Himalayan lakes compared to

• polymers that result from local tourist waste and those transported by atmospheric deposition in Himalayan lakes of high elevation [37]. 4.2.2 Microscopy. Microscopic techniques remain crucial for the initial description of MPs, particularly when assessing their physical properties. Scanning electron

• microscopy (SEM) produces high-resolution images of particle shapes. It also indicates surface wear and tear patterns that reflect how old the MP is and how long it has been in the environment [38]. Ease of operation and minimal cost of optical microscopy make it widely used, despite being less sophisticated

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

• tunneling behavior. Current–voltage characteristics showed linear dependence at low bias and exponential growth at higher voltages. Conductive atomic force microscopy measurements revealed highly uniform, defect-free tunneling across atomically flat h-BN terraces, with breakdown fields near 1 GV·m−1. These

Toward clinical translation of carbon nanomaterials in anticancer drug delivery: the need for standardisation

• Michał Bartkowski,
• Francesco Calzaferri and
• Silvia Giordani

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2092–2104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.144

• instance, small carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) are readily cleared through renal pathways, whereas larger or irregularly shaped CNPs tend to accumulate in organs such as the liver and spleen. Characterisation of these properties is typically performed using dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, or

• atomic force microscopy. Surface charge plays a significant role in determining how CNMs interact with biological membranes and intracellular environments. It influences processes such as cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and inflammatory signalling. For example, BSA-derived negatively charged CDs exhibited

Calibration of piezo actuators and systems by dynamic interferometry

• Knarik Khachatryan and
• Michael Reichling

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2086–2091, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.143

• Knarik Khachatryan Michael Reichling Institut für Physik, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 7, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.16.143 Abstract To achieve precise measurements of small displacements in non-contact atomic force microscopy, it is crucial to control the position of moving

• oscillation amplitude calibration under conditions of various amounts of tube piezo contraction and extension. The merits and limits of accuracy for such type of calibration are discussed. Keywords: cantilever excitation; fiber interferometer; NC-AFM; piezo calibration; non-contact atomic force microscopy

• ; Introduction Interferometric displacement detection stands as a cornerstone in high-precision techniques employed in cantilever-based atomic force microscopy (AFM), since its early days [1][2][3][4][5][6]. This method of cantilever displacement detection is specifically well suited for non-contact atomic force

Multifrequency AFM integrating PeakForce tapping and higher eigenmodes for heterogeneous surface characterization

• Yanping Wei,
• Jiafeng Shen,
• Yirong Yao,
• Xuke Li,
• Ming Li and
• Peiling Ke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2077–2085, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.142

• Yanping Wei Jiafeng Shen Yirong Yao Xuke Li Ming Li Peiling Ke Public Technology Center, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China 10.3762/bjnano.16.142 Abstract This study introduces a multifrequency atomic force microscopy (AFM

• . Keywords: atomic force microscopy (AFM); high eigenmodes; multifrequency AFM; nanoscale material analysis; surface characterization; Introduction Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has become an indispensable tool for characterizing the morphology and surface properties of materials at the micro- and the

Molecular and mechanical insights into gecko seta adhesion: multiscale simulations combining molecular dynamics and the finite element method

• Yash Jain,
• Saeed Norouzi,
• Tobias Materzok,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Florian Müller-Plathe

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2055–2076, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.141

• detachment, thereby enhancing adhesion strength. The computed pull-off forces and observed mechanisms are consistent with atomic force microscopy measurements and previous simulations. These results align with existing experimental and computational studies. They also overcome scale and resolution

• microscopy (AFM) experiments. Our investigation into how gecko keratin interacts with hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrates [12] supported the importance of the water-mediating effect [10] and elucidated mechanistic differences depending on surface chemistry. A particle-based mesoscale model of a single

• to more spatula–substrate sites is straightforward but would increase runtime. Models Multiscale seta–spatula model A seta branches into spatulae as seen in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of gecko setae (Figure 1). A single seta on a gecko’s foot can have dozens of sub-branches, which

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

• prepare chiral oSILs by co-condensation of Si(OiPr)4 with a sol–gel precursor that already contains the amino acid. An example is an Ala-modified 1,3-bis(triisopropoxysilyl)aniline [45][49] as shown in Scheme 1. The resulting material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM; Figure 2a); it

• using a Bruker AVANCE III spectrometer operating at 400 MHz equipped with a 4 mm PH MAS DVT 400W1 BL4 N-P/H CGR probe head with magic angle gradient. 1H NMR measurements were performed on a Bruker Ascend 400 MHz spectrometer. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were

Beyond the shell: exploring polymer–lipid interfaces in core–shell nanofibers to carry hyaluronic acid and β-caryophyllene

• Aline Tavares da Silva Barreto,
• Francisco Alexandrino-Júnior,
• Bráulio Soares Arcanjo,
• Paulo Henrique de Souza Picciani and
• Kattya Gyselle de Holanda e Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 2015–2033, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.139

• fibers without the lipid core. Furthermore, maintaining ambient relative humidity below 45% proved essential for processing stability. Comprehensive morphological characterization via scanning electron microscopy confirmed the uniformity of the fibers. At the same time, confocal microscopy, cross

• scaffolds remains challenging, as modifications that improve release kinetics or protect the core can sometimes compromise biocompatibility or cellular interactions [55]. To evaluate the structure of the nanofibers produced, confocal microscopy was used under a fluorescent filter to study the morphologies

• core–shell structure indicates the absence of core material at the surface, and that the shell structure does not possess pores that would allow permeation or direct contact of water molecules with the core, as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Electrospun nanofibers organize into

The cement of the tube-dwelling polychaete Sabellaria alveolata: a complex composite adhesive material

• Emilie Duthoo,
• Aurélie Lambert,
• Pierre Becker,
• Carla Pugliese,
• Jean-Marc Baele,
• Arnaud Delfairière,
• Matthew J. Harrington and
• Patrick Flammang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1998–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.138

• % paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline, rinsed, and air-dried. Worms were left in the remaining proximal part of the tube and were provided with glass beads (425–600 µm in diameter; Sigma) to reconstruct the missing part [25]. Scanning electron microscopy and elemental composition analyses For secondary

• ) equipped with an 80 mm2 silicon drift detector. Acquisition conditions on the SEM were 15 kV, 10 mm working distance, and 10 s live time acquisition at approximately 30–40% dead time. The spectra were acquired with an AZtec (Oxford Instrument) EDS data processing software. Transmission electron microscopy

• building organ form the external part of a complex secretory organ made up of clusters of cement cells located deep within the parathoracic segments of the worm [6][17]. Using transmission electron microscopy, two main types of cement cells can be distinguished based on the ultrastructure of their

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

• observed the formation of a mixture of nanosheets and spherical NPs for the ablation using the 1064 nm laser wavelength, while at 532 nm only spherical NPs were observed. The authors observed nanosheets only in scanning electron microscopy, while transmission electron microscopy showed only spherical