Nanocellulose: Recent advances and its prospects in environmental remediation

• Katrina Pui Yee Shak,
• Yean Ling Pang and
• Shee Keat Mah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2479–2498, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.232

• continues to push for materials which are renewable, biocompatible, and less toxic as a replacement for CNTs. Given the abundance of plant resources, plant extracts are the most studied category to date for the synthesis of green nanomaterials [8]. Cellulose, one of the most abundant natural polymers, has

• domains [24] (Figure 2a). Due to the complex structure of cellulose fibre, the plant cell wall must be subjected to strong mechanical disintegration before turning the fibres into CNF [24]. The diameter of the fibres is commonly within the range of 10–100 nm, depending on the disintegration power [24]. In

• organisms through enzymatic polymerization of organic substrates such as sugar and glycerol [11][31]. The main difference between BC and other plant-derived CNFs is the absence of certain functional groups (except alcohol) and polymers (lignin, hemicellulose, and pectin) in BC [32]. Therefore, BC is known

Fabrication of photothermally active poly(vinyl alcohol) films with gold nanostars for antibacterial applications

• Mykola Borzenkov,
• Maria Moros,
• Claudia Tortiglione,
• Serena Bertoldi,
• Nicola Contessi,
• Silvia Faré,
• Angelo Taglietti,
• Agnese D’Agostino,
• Piersandro Pallavicini,
• Maddalena Collini and
• Giuseppe Chirico

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2040–2048, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.193

• studies have reported the preparation and the antibacterial efficacy of PVA films containing plant extracts, silver nanoparticles or zinc oxide nanoparticles [17][18][19][20][21][22]. However, when bacteria start to form biofilms they become resistant and conventional antibiotics do not eradicate biofilms

SO₂ gas adsorption on carbon nanomaterials: a comparative study

• Deepu J. Babu,
• Divya Puthusseri,
• Frank G. Kühl,
• Sherif Okeil,
• Michael Bruns,
• Manfred Hampe and
• Jörg J. Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1782–1792, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.169

• conventional techniques such as absorption in liquids, the adsorptive removal of environmentally toxic gases, e.g., SO2, offers several advantages such as ease of regeneration, low maintenance and simple plant design [1][2]. Consequently, in the last few years a wide variety of adsorbents has been investigated

Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: history, sources, toxicity and regulations

• Jaison Jeevanandam,
• Ahmed Barhoum,
• Yen S. Chan,
• Alain Dufresne and
• Michael K. Danquah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1050–1074, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.98

• human, animal, and plant activities by blocking and scattering the sunlight. The volcanically erupted particles may possess heavy metals that are toxic to humans [69]. The short-term effects of particles from volcanic eruptions include nose, throat, eye and skin irritations and bronchial symptoms, while

• [131][132]. Plant viruses have been found to be nontoxic towards human cells at required dosages for effective administration of the drug load [133][134]. Nanobacteria and nanobes: Generally, bacteria will bind to soluble, toxic heavy metals and precipitate them to their surface, producing metal NPs

• network (nanofibers) [188]. Plant surfaces, especially leaves, contain nanostructures that are used for numerous purposes such as insects sliding [189], mechanical stability [190], increased visible light and harmful UV reflection and radiation absorption respectively [191][192] as shown in Figure 6. The

Bioinspired self-healing materials: lessons from nature

• Joseph C. Cremaldi and
• Bharat Bhushan

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 907–935, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.85

• Joseph C. Cremaldi Bharat Bhushan Nanoprobe Laboratory for Bio & Nanotechnology and Biomimetics (NLBB), The Ohio State University, 201 W. 19th Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1142, USA 10.3762/bjnano.9.85 Abstract Healing is an intrinsic ability in the incredibly biodiverse populations of the plant

• . Every organism has evolved to occupy a specific role in the ecosystem, with underlying themes in reproduction, animal complexity, the food chain, and the environment [1][2][3]. Evolution has created a very large amount of diversity in the animal and plant kingdoms. Approximately 1 M of the 7.7 M animals

• thought to exist have been discovered [1][4][5], and on the order of 200,000 out of the 300,000 plant species thought to exist have been discovered [4][5]. This biological diversity has also resulted in incredibly diverse types of healing and injury prevention found throughout nature. Therefore, having a

Mechanistic insights into plasmonic photocatalysts in utilizing visible light

• Kah Hon Leong,
• Azrina Abd Aziz,
• Lan Ching Sim,
• Pichiah Saravanan,
• Min Jang and
• Detlef Bahnemann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 628–648, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.59

• capsids and DNA origami as biological scaffolds to increase fluorescence intensity by tuning the distance between capsid and Au NPs [155]. In recent years, the phytochemicals present in plant-based and waste materials have been used as reducing and stabilizing agents to prepare plasmonic metals (Au and Ag

Ultralight super-hydrophobic carbon aerogels based on cellulose nanofibers/poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene oxide (CNFs/PVA/GO) for highly effective oil–water separation

• Zhaoyang Xu,
• Huan Zhou,
• Sicong Tan,
• Xiangdong Jiang,
• Weibing Wu,
• Jiangtao Shi and
• Peng Chen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 508–519, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.49

• history of using plant cellulose fibers as reinforcements in polymer composite materials [13][14]. However, the use of nanoscale cellulose fibers to reinforce polymers is a relatively recent effort [15][16]. Despite the challenges described below, CNFs have been combined with various polymer matrices

Kinetics of solvent supported tubule formation of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) wax on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) investigated by atomic force microscopy

• Sujit Kumar Dora,
• Kerstin Koch,
• Wilhelm Barthlott and
• Klaus Wandelt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 468–481, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.45

• ; crystallization; epicuticular wax; Lotus; Nelumbo nucifera; nonacosanol tubules; self-assembly; superhydrophobic; Introduction The plant cuticle, a cutin matrix embedded and covered by waxes provides a multitasking interface between plant and environment [1]. These waxes are either reside within the cutin layer

• (intracuticular wax) or deposited over the cutin surface (epicuticular wax) of primary plant organs. Being the first point of contact between plants and environment, the cuticle provides protection against water loss and external environmental stresses. Other important functions include control of transpiration

• , hydrophobicity, protection of photo synthetic cells, interaction with chemicals and other organisms, providing optical properties etc. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Plant waxes are a conglomerate of various long chain (>C20) hydrocarbons, aldehydes, ketones, acids, alcohols etc. [10]. Further, cyclic compounds, e.g

Humidity-dependent wound sealing in succulent leaves of Delosperma cooperi – An adaptation to seasonal drought stress

• Olga Speck,
• Mark Schlechtendahl,
• Florian Borm,
• Tim Kampowski and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 175–186, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.20

• Olga Speck Mark Schlechtendahl Florian Borm Tim Kampowski Thomas Speck Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Competence Network Biomimetics, Baden-Württemberg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany

• the last 3.8 billion years of biological evolution, plants have increasingly evolved diverse mechanisms of wound reactions. High selective pressure on the development of self-repair in the plant kingdom and the independent evolution of various mechanisms of self-repair in the different plant groups

• and plant species is thus highly probable. During self-repair processes in all the plant species investigated so far, an initial self-sealing phase and subsequent self-healing phase can be discerned. The rapid self-sealing is characterised by a functionally repaired but still present fissure. This

Review on optofluidic microreactors for artificial photosynthesis

• Xiaowen Huang,
• Jianchun Wang,
• Tenghao Li,
• Jianmei Wang,
• Min Xu,
• Weixing Yu,
• Abdel El Abed and
• Xuming Zhang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 30–41, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.5

• utilize sunlight, water and CO2 to synthesize energy-rich carbohydrates [10][11]. The chloroplast is the place where NPS occurs. To clearly introduce this organelle, progressively smaller structures (plant cell, chloroplast, thylakoid membrane) of a general leaf are shown in Figure 1A–D. Each chloroplast

• typical plant leaf. (B) Chloroplasts inside the plant cells. The average size of the chloroplasts is 6 µm (ranging from 3 to 10 µm). (C) Plant cell chloroplast structure. Adapted from [22], copyright BioMed Central Ltd. 2014. (D) Thylakoid membrane containing photosystem II reaction centers P680 and

Surfactant-induced enhancement of droplet adhesion in superhydrophobic soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves

• Oliver Hagedorn,
• Ingo Fleute-Schlachter,
• Hans Georg Mainx,
• Viktoria Zeisler-Diehl and
• Kerstin Koch

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 2345–2356, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.234

• applied droplets, even on superhydrophobic leaves, to reduce undesirable soil contamination by roll-off of agrochemical formulations from the plant surfaces. The wettability and morphology of soybean (Glycine max L.) leaf surfaces before and after treatment with six different surfactants (Agnique® SBO10

• higher plant surfaces, represents the interface between plants and their environment and accomplishes essential functions to ensure the maintenance of a terrestrial plant life, such as the reduction of water loss [1], control of gas exchange [2][3], protection from harmful UV radiation [4] and aiding

• mechanical stability [5]. Furthermore, the cuticle interacts with its biotic environment and plays a crucial role for insect signaling [6] and insect attachment [7][8][9]. The leaf surfaces are composed of epidermis cells covered by a cuticle, which is a continuous extracellular membrane on primary plant

Air–water interface of submerged superhydrophobic surfaces imaged by atomic force microscopy

• Markus Moosmann,
• Thomas Schimmel,
• Wilhelm Barthlott and
• Matthias Mail

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1671–1679, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.167

• most complex plant surfaces is exhibited by the giant floating fern Salvinia molesta (Figure 1a,b). With its elastic egg-beater-like shaped trichomes and chemical heterogeneities [5], the fern is capable of maintaining a stable air layer underwater for several weeks. Another example is the backswimmer

Development of a nitrogen-doped 2D material for tribological applications in the boundary-lubrication regime

• Shende Rashmi Chandrabhan,
• Velayudhanpillai Jayan,
• Somendra Singh Parihar and
• Sundara Ramaprabhu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1476–1483, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.147

• in tribological properties can be attributed to the sliding mechanism of N-rGO accompanied by the high mechanical strength of graphene. Further, the nanolubricant is prepared at large scale (700 liter) and field trials are carried out at one NTPC thermal plant in India. The implementation of the

• heat transfer fluid and decreases the temperature at friction interfaces. Application of the nanolubricant in induced draft (ID) fans Stable nanolubricants were prepared in large scale (700 liter) for field trial at a power plant of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in India. The study was

• Information Supporting Information File 152: Additional experimental data. Acknowledgements This research work is supported by NTPC Ltd and authors are grateful to NTPC management for permission to publish this work. The help received from plant engineers is thankfully acknowledged.

Growth, structure and stability of sputter-deposited MoS₂ thin films

• Reinhard Kaindl,
• Bernhard C. Bayer,
• Roland Resel,
• Thomas Müller,
• Viera Skakalova,
• Gerlinde Habler,
• Rainer Abart,
• Alexey S. Cherevan,
• Dominik Eder,
• Maxime Blatter,
• Fabian Fischer,
• Jannik C. Meyer,
• Dmitry K. Polyushkin and
• Wolfgang Waldhauser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1115–1126, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.113

• electrocatalysis applications of our PVD MoS2 films. Experimental Magnetron sputter deposition MoS2 deposition was undertaken in a modified, industrially compatible sputtering plant (Pfeiffer Vakuum, Germany). Thin films have been sputter deposited by an unbalanced cathode from AJA (AJA International, North

Treatment of fly ash from power plants using thermal plasma

• Sulaiman Al-Mayman,
• Ibrahim AlShunaifi,
• Abdullah Albeladi,
• Imed Ghiloufi and
• Saud Binjuwair

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1043–1048, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.105

• glassy. Keywords: fly ash; power plant; stabilization/solidification; surface characterization; thermal plasma; Introduction Fly ash is a residue material produced in power plants. This fly ash contains a high level of residual carbon [1], and it contains also transition metals (Fe, Mn, and Co) and

Dispersion of single-wall carbon nanotubes with supramolecular Congo red – properties of the complexes and mechanism of the interaction

• Anna Jagusiak,
• Barbara Piekarska,
• Tomasz Pańczyk,
• Małgorzata Jemioła-Rzemińska,
• Elżbieta Bielańska,
• Barbara Stopa,
• Grzegorz Zemanek,
• Janina Rybarska,
• Irena Roterman and
• Leszek Konieczny

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 636–648, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.68

• , Poland Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Science, Niezapominajek 8, Kraków 30-239, Poland Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology

Biological and biomimetic materials and surfaces

• Stanislav Gorb and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 403–407, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.42

• Stanislav Gorb Thomas Speck Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany Plant Biomechanics Group & Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg

• , an observant naturalist, and a truly outstanding personality, on the occasion of his 70th birthday. One of his most important achievements was building a bridge between systematic studies of plant surfaces and the nano-/microtechnology of superhydrophobic, self-cleaning, and air-holding technical

• reason for this physicochemical “self-cleaning behaviour” is the double-structured water-repellent surface of the plant leaves which is comprised of micro- and nanostructured wax on dome-shaped papillose epidermis cells. Dirt particles as well as microorganisms and fungus spores are attached only via a

Innovations from the “ivory tower”: Wilhelm Barthlott and the paradigm shift in surface science

• Christoph Neinhuis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 394–402, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.41

• , the unique natural history of isolated rocky outcrops called inselbergs, or the global distribution of biodiversity), plant surfaces and especially the tremendous diversity of minute structures on leaves, fruits, seeds and other parts of plants represent a common thread through 40 years of scientific

• compiling, to our knowledge, the largest dataset on plant epicuticular surface features. Epicuticular waxes are made up of various soluble lipids and, at least most of them, originate from self-assembly, again a topic studied in various different types of crystals accompanied by recrystallization

• experiments and modern microscopy techniques [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]. Examining plant surfaces, especially fine structures of micrometre size and smaller, through scanning electron microscopy needed careful preparation, including cleaning of the surfaces. After repeating these procedures

Association of aescin with β- and γ-cyclodextrins studied by DFT calculations and spectroscopic methods

• Ana I. Ramos,
• Pedro D. Vaz,
• Susana S. Braga and
• Artur M. S. Silva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 348–357, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.37

• for over two decades, being first reported as a sequestering agent and sweetness inhibitor for strognin, a natural sweetener found in the Malaysian plant Staurogyne merguensi [15]. With glycemnic acid, a sweetness suppressing agent, γ-CD also acts as inhibitor, thus restoring one’s ability to taste

When the going gets rough – studying the effect of surface roughness on the adhesive abilities of tree frogs

• Niall Crawford,
• Thomas Endlein,
• Jonathan T. Pham,
• Mathis Riehle and
• W. Jon P. Barnes

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 2116–2131, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.201

• require low fluid contact angles), and deprive the pads of adhesive ability. Indeed, many plant surfaces are hydrophobic, as this reduces water loss [5]. Turning to surface roughness, this affects the ability of the pad surface to form close contact with the surface. With fine-scale roughness, the volume

• possess claws as well as adhesive pads. Additionally, there are studies of plant surfaces that have evolved to be anti-adhesive as far as insects are concerned. The effects of surface roughness on animals with hairy pads (geckos, spiders, insects such as beetles) are reasonably predictable. When the

The cleaner, the greener? Product sustainability assessment of the biomimetic façade paint Lotusan^® in comparison to the conventional façade paint Jumbosil^®

• Florian Antony,
• Rainer Grießhammer,
• Thomas Speck and
• Olga Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 2100–2115, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.200

• Florian Antony Rainer Griesshammer Thomas Speck Olga Speck Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany Öko-Institut e.V., Institute for Applied Ecology, 79017 Freiburg, Germany Competence Network Biomimetics, Germany Freiburg

• developments were derived from biological examples over the last years [5][6][7]. The analysis of plant surfaces as contribution to the systematics of plants lead to the discovery of the operating principle of the self-cleaning effect of plant surfaces. This was brought into the construction market as

• paint with self-cleaning properties. Results and Discussion Test of the criterion: Biomimetic product yes or no As suggested by Antony et al. [16], clarifying whether the superhydrophobic properties of double-structured rough plant surfaces like the one of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) have been

“Sticky invasion” – the physical properties of Plantago lanceolata L. seed mucilage

• Agnieszka Kreitschitz,
• Alexander Kovalev and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1918–1927, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.183

• Agnieszka Kreitschitz Alexander Kovalev Stanislav N. Gorb Department of Plant Developmental Biology, Institute of Experimental Biology, University of Wrocław, ul. Kanonia 6/8, 50-328 Wrocław, Poland Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, University of Kiel, Am Botanischen Garten 9

• characteristic of plants that grow in dry or disturbed habitats [1][3]. The presence of mucilage results in different benefits for the plant including (1) fixation of diaspores to the ground, (2) water supply essential for germinating an embryo or (3) egzo- and endozoochoric dispersal by animals [1][2][3

• kind of nanobiomaterial. Cellulose is well known as natural and renewable plant polymer. Nano-cellulose is used in biomedicine, cosmetics and food industry [30]. Mucilage, which contains diverse polysaccharides, among them cellulose, exhibits a high cohesive and adhesive properties. Due to this

Biomechanics of selected arborescent and shrubby monocotyledons

• Tom Masselter,
• Tobias Haushahn,
• Samuel Fink and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1602–1619, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.154

• Tom Masselter Tobias Haushahn Samuel Fink Thomas Speck Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, D-79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.7.154 Abstract Main aims of the study are a deepened understanding of the

• properties concentrate on two hierarchical levels: On a first level, the radial and axial Young’s moduli of stem tissues in the five “woody” monocotyledon species are analysed (Figure 2A). In addition, in stems of Dracaena marginata, which was chosen as a representative model plant for “woody” monocotyledons

• structural and mechanical requirements of Dracaena marginata, which was chosen as a representative model organism for arborescent monocotyledonous plants with lignified vascular bundles and anomalous secondary growth. Morphology and anatomy of monocotyledons The model plant Dracaena marginata was chosen for

Surface roughness rather than surface chemistry essentially affects insect adhesion

• Matt W. England,
• Tomoya Sato,
• Makoto Yagihashi,
• Atsushi Hozumi,
• Stanislav N. Gorb and
• Elena V. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1471–1479, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.139

• hydrocarbons [26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. Several hypotheses exist on how plant surfaces prevent insect attachment. These are typically based on (1) the reduction of the contact area between the substrate and the insect adhesive pad through surface micro-roughness, (2) a decrease in substrate surface energy

• ]. However, recent studies on insect attachment have yielded contradicting results. For example, a previous experimental study on attachment of the beetle Gastrophysa viridula to the leaf surface of its host plant Rumex obtusifolius, and artificial micro-roughened and smooth (hydrophobic and hydrophilic

• pronounced reduction. Prüm et al. [17] measured the traction force of the beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata on different plant surfaces and their artificial replicas, and reported that surface roughness exerted a strong influence on attachment, whereas surface chemistry was found to have no significant

Influence of ambient humidity on the attachment ability of ladybird beetles (Coccinella septempunctata)

• Lars Heepe,
• Jonas O. Wolff and
• Stanislav N. Gorb

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 1322–1329, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.123

• niche occupation of plant-dwelling insects, since it is substantial for resting and locomotion in a complex environment. Consequently, a high diversity of friction and adhesion enhancing structures has evolved among insects [1][2]. Several studies showed that not only the intrinsic structure of an

• geckoes [10][11][12][13] and spiders [14]. For small arthropods these conditions may highly vary micro-spatially, especially in the boundary layer of plant leaves [15]. Furthermore, on most surfaces there is an adsorbed film of water molecules, with a thickness and mechanical properties highly influenced

• species is a generalist, living on diverse plant surfaces [38][39]. In their natural environment, beetles are exposed to various humidities, hence, their adhesive system must be well adapted to changing environmental conditions. Beetles were collected from bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) in the New