Synthesis and characterization of RF-sputtered ZnTe/Cu_2−xTe thin films for solar cell applications

• Gerardo Arreola Jardón,
• Susana Meraz Dávila,
• Claudia Elena Pérez García,
• Aime Margarita Gutiérrez Peralta and
• Sergio Joaquín Jiménez Sandoval

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 1016–1027, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.69

• indicates that, above a critical dopant concentration, the solubility limit of Cu and O in the ZnTe lattice is exceeded, leading to phase segregation. In general, the films grown at 350 °C show the same crystalline phases identified at 300 °C (Figure 2a), although with improved peak definition, reflecting

• Cu7Te5 secondary phase. This behavior suggests that, beyond a certain solubility limit, excess Cu promotes phase segregation, leading to the coexistence of ZnTe and Cu7Te5 phases within the films. The increase in Cu7Te5 peak intensity with substrate temperature may be attributed to enhanced atomic

• , the observed deviation may result from the combined effects of limited Cu solubility in ZnTe, the increasing volume fraction of conductive Cu-rich phases, and the associated microstructural evolution. The simultaneous increase in both carrier concentration and mobility suggests that electrical

Ultrasonic irradiation in the synthesis of nanohydroxyapatite: a chemically friendly technique for improving hemocompatibility and antibiofilm applications

• Juan Mendoza Turmero,
• Cristina Parra Pantoja,
• Marcos Sabino Gutiérrez,
• Milagro Fernández-Delgado,
• Claudia Alvarado-Castillo,
• Damarys Soto Gil,
• María E. Gomes Gomes,
• Yony Gutiérrez Barrios and
• Daniel Suárez Arteaga

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 991–1015, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.68

• evaluated irradiation times (15 to 60 min). This stability confirms that the ultrasonic treatment does not promote the further growth of the secondary phase over time. A deeper understanding of calcite formation under these conditions can be gained by considering the chemical equilibrium and the solubility

• of the precursor reagents. Results shown by Kitamura et al. [62] revealed that the dissolution of calcium hydroxide in the reaction medium significantly influences the nucleation of specific calcium carbonate polymorphs. In this context, the solubility product (Ksp) is a key parameter for predicting

• reaction medium: The solubility product of hydroxyapatite is a key a parameter of great interest for understanding its higher precipitation capacity compared to calcite. An acceptable value for the Ksp of HA is 2.91 × 10−58, as reported by L. C. Bell and coworkers [65]. According to Equation 14, this value

Development of Protium heptaphyllum essential oil-loaded nanocapsules: experimental design and biological activity

• Debora Freitas Silva,
• Kaidy Giselle Orellana,
• Allessya Lara Dantas Formiga,
• Jin Wang,
• Eloisa Helena de Aguiar Andrade,
• Aline Collares Valente Pinheiro,
• Maria Izabel de Jesus,
• Francisco Canindé Ferreira de Luna,
• Wallax Augusto Silva Ferreira,
• Edivaldo Herculano Correa de Oliveira,
• Francisco Humberto Xavier Junior,
• Emmanuel Abraham Ho and
• Marcele Fonseca Passos

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 974–990, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.67

• essential oil (EO) a promising candidate for therapeutic and cosmetic formulations. However, its practical use in industry is limited by physicochemical issues such as high volatility, poor solubility, and susceptibility to oxidative degradation [8]. Overcoming these limitations requires innovative

• increased solubility and lipophilicity [52]. These combined effects provide a mechanistic rationale for the moderate but significant improvement in keratinocyte migration observed with the nanocapsule treatment. Cytokine dosage by cytometric bead array The cytometric bead array (CBA) results showed that P

Materials challenges in solid-state sensors for continuous monitoring of ions in water

• Maryam Darestani-Farahani and
• Peter Kruse

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 935–973, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.66

Nanocarrier strategies to overcome P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistance in cancer therapy

• Andreina Quevedo-Enríquez,
• Katty Yi Zhang,
• Denisse Yajaira Enriquez,
• Byron Raul Inapanta,
• Roxana Noemí Peroni and
• Christian Rafael Quijia

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 882–921, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.64

• enhance therapeutic efficacy by improving solubility, stability, bioavailability, and controlled drug release. Additionally, their low toxicity, scalability, and manufacturing feasibility make them attractive for both clinical and industrial applications [44]. There are several types of LNPs, including

• enhance the delivery of anticancer drugs, particularly hydrophobic ones [106]. Their architecture, consisting of a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic corona, protects the encapsulated drug during systemic circulation and improves solubility. To prevent premature drug release and increase efficacy at the

Sustainable fabrication of 2D-based devices through reuse of substrates with microfabricated electrodes

• Ying Zhang,
• Yigit Sozen,
• Esteban Zamora-Amo,
• Thomas Pucher,
• Nuria Jiménez-Arévalo,
• Zdenek Sofer,
• Yong Xie and
• Andres Castellanos-Gomez

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 818–827, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.58

• cleaning conditions. Dihydrolevoglucosenone (Cyrene) has recently emerged as a greener alternative within this class, with solubility parameters and surface tension similar to those of NMP and DMF, but a lower toxicity profile [30][31]. Overall, these observations suggest that the solvent classes effective

• conditions. As summarized in Table S1 (Supporting Information File 1), NMP and DMF possess surface tensions (γ) and dispersive solubility parameters (δD) that closely match the surface energy characteristics of MoS2 (γ ≈ 40 mN/m, δD ≈ 18 MPa1/2), whereas dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and acetone deviate more

Interface-engineered Caco-2 cell culture on a collagen-coated liquid–liquid interface in a microfluidic device

• Satoru Kuriu and
• Soo Hyeon Kim

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 760–768, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.53

• attractive due to their chemical inertness, immiscibility with aqueous media, and high gas solubility [11], making them well suited for multiphase microfluidic applications. In this study, we propose a novel microfluidic cell culture system by utilizing a collagen-coated liquid–liquid interface that serves

Cellulose as a photocatalyst support material: extraction, structural features, and environmental applications

• Yee Teng Lim,
• Nur Farhana Jaafar,
• Azizul Hakim Lahuri and
• Endang Tri Wahyuni

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 635–652, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.44

• solubility, improved compatibility with biological systems, and the ability to be tuned or functionalized for the development of advanced composite materials [68][69]. These forms of cellulose are particularly valuable in producing highly purified wound dressings that promote tissue regeneration, especially

Two-step laser synthesis of Ag@TiO₂ nanomaterials for the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B

• Marija Kovačević,
• Miloš Tošić,
• Rafaela Radičić,
• Vladimir Rajić,
• Nikša Krstulović,
• Miloš Momčilović and
• Sanja Živković

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 622–634, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.43

• , chemical stability and photostability, and high solubility in water. However, its widespread application and persistent nature raise serious environmental and health concerns. Once released into aquatic environments, RhB resists natural degradation processes, leading to long-term accumulation. It disrupts

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

• , including: (i) antioxidant, (ii) anti-inflammatory, (iii) antimicrobial, (iv) vector-control capacity (e.g., larvicidal and repellent properties), and (v) antitumor [2]. However, despite their chemical and functional diversity, they have significant limitations, such as (a) low solubility, (b) thermal or

• , broadening the use of natural products in areas such as biological product development, immunization, and vector control [21][22]. In addition, polymeric micellar systems, such as poloxamer-based systems, have been explored to improve the solubility and dispersion of poorly water-soluble natural compounds

Nanocarrier-integrated multilayer films produced by 3D printing for improved skin adhesion and curcumin photostability

• Thayse Viana de Oliveira,
• Ana Paula Farias Leão,
• Júlia Leão,
• Cesar Liberato Petzhold and
• Ruy Carlos Ruver Beck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 440–453, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.30

• produced by SSE could address these limitations. To overcome its poor solubility and enhance bioadhesion, curcumin was encapsulated in polymeric nanocapsules (C-NCs), yielding a mean particle size of 218 ± 5 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.10 ± 0.02, a zeta potential of −11 ± 4 mV, and 100% encapsulation

• for incorporation into topical dosage forms such as emulsions, fibres, films, and hydrogels for wound-healing applications. However, curcumin also exhibits low aqueous solubility, which limits its use in certain formulations [18]. Nanoparticles have the potential to overcome this limitation, as they

• nanocapsules or non-encapsulated curcumin was based on previous studies demonstrating the ability of nanocarriers to improve the aqueous solubility and antioxidant activity of curcumin when formulated as a gel [24][25][26]. Consequently, the objective of the present study was to use SSE 3D printing to design

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

• , nanoencapsulation strategies for PSs are being actively developed [7][8]. Encapsulation of hydrophobic PSs in nanocarriers such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, or micelles addresses solubility and stability, preventing aggregation [9]. Nanoparticles with sizes of 10–200 nm passively accumulate in tumor

• broad range of molecular therapeutics, including small molecules [34], RNA [35], plasmids [36], CRISPR/Cas systems [37], and other bioactive agents. Several key advantages of nanocarriers in PDT can be highlighted: (i) improved solubility and stability of PSs, (ii) enhanced delivery through both passive

• loading capacity. For instance, melanin-based nanoparticles loaded with Ce6 (loading efficiency ≈ 30%) showed enhanced biocompatibility and water solubility, with synergistic photodynamic and photothermal effects under imaging guidance [156]. Another strategy involves chemically attaching porphyrin-based

Polycatecholamine nanocoatings on stainless steel: the effect on attachment of human fibroblasts and platelets

• Paulina Trzaskowska,
• Ewa Rybak,
• Maciej Trzaskowski,
• Kamil Kopeć,
• Jakub Krzemiński,
• Rafał Podgórski,
• Hatice Genc,
• Mehtap Civelek and
• Iwona Cicha

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 365–380, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.25

• oxidation reaction due to the limited solubility of ʟ-tyrosine in water. Thus, we used a supersaturated ʟ-tyrosine solution, to ensure that the oxidized part of the substrate is replaced by a fresh portion dissolved from the suspension [12]. The resulting SS-PDA and SS-PTYR samples were sterilizable, non

Structure-dependent thermochromism of PAZO thin films: theory and experiment

• Georgi Mateev,
• Dean Dimov,
• Nataliya Berberova-Buhova,
• Nikoleta Kircheva,
• Todor Dudev,
• Ludmila Nikolova,
• Elena Stoykova,
• Keehoon Hong,
• Dimana Nazarova,
• Silvia Angelova and
• Lian Nedelchev

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2026, 17, 186–199, doi:10.3762/bjnano.17.12

• undergo reversible E–Z isomerization upon exposure to light with different wavelengths. This E–Z isomerization of the azobenzene units leads to significant changes in the conformation, supramolecular structure, and bulk properties of the polymer such as optical anisotropy, solubility, and mechanical

• or meta-GGA functionals are desirable for geometry optimization, but considering a polymer with a realistic length would make the calculation too long and, therefore, expensive. On the other hand, the properties of the material (polymer), including crystallinity, density and solubility, are

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

• , drug resistance, and poor tumour selectivity. In response to these limitations, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have gained prominence for enhancing solubility, improving molecular stability, enabling controlled drug release, and prolonging systemic circulation, offering superior therapeutic

• pressing need for innovative solutions. An example would be smart nanocarrier drug delivery systems that enhance targeting precision and mitigate adverse effects [9][10]. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have revolutionised cancer treatment by improving drug solubility, stability, and

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

• ), to the initial mixture in order to reduce the wettability of the final coating. The formulation containing 2% of MCC enhanced with oregano essential oil (OEO) showed the lowest solubility, swelling, and wettability, along with strong antimicrobial activity against stone-deteriorating microorganisms

• immersion, showing low solubility, and conferring antimicrobial protection. Regarding safety, both chitosan and oregano essential oil are recognized as nontoxic to humans, biocompatible, and safe for handling. Finally, the criterion of sustainability was addressed, as the materials are biodegradable

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

• nitrogen atoms are functionalized with carboxymethyl groups, providing aqueous solubility and enabling favourable interactions with the cationic imidazolium-based moieties in the gel network. Together, these probes enable complementary insights into the gel network’s morphology and probe–gel interactions

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

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

• breast cancers. Its small molecular weight and good aqueous solubility facilitate encapsulation in diverse DDSs, while its instability and short half-life, due to rapid deamination and phosphorylation, highlight the need for protective nanocarriers to improve bioavailability. These features make

• stabilising surface coatings are employed to preserve nanoparticle stability over time. The degree of functionalisation is also a key consideration as surface modifications can enhance solubility, targeting ability, and biocompatibility. Consistent functionalisation is necessary to ensure reproducibility and

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

• inflammatory response during wound healing [32][33]. Chemically, βCp is characterized as a natural bicyclic sesquiterpene found in several plants and essential oils, and as expected for compounds of this class, it exhibits characteristic volatility and low solubility in water [34]. To address these limitations

• impregnated with HA and βCp nanoemulsion. The use of βCp in practice is questioned due to its low aqueous solubility, low viscosity, extreme volatility, and sensitivity to temperature, oxygen, and light [38]. The production of a nanoemulsion was developed as a nanocarrier system designed to enhance both the

Targeting the vector of arboviruses Aedes aegypti with nanoemulsions based on essential oils: a review with focus on larvicidal and repellent properties

• Laryssa Ferreira do Nascimento Silva,
• Douglas Dourado,
• Thayse Silva Medeiros,
• Mariana Alice Gonzaga Gabú,
• Maria Cecilia Queiroga dos Santos,
• Daiane Rodrigues dos Santos,
• Mylena Lemos dos Santos,
• Gabriel Bezerra Faierstein,
• Rosângela Maria Rodrigues Barbosa and
• Fabio Rocha Formiga

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1894–1913, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.132

• solubility, high volatility, and intrinsic oxidation sensitivity. Thus, the development of novel formulations to efficiently deliver bioactives represents an innovative approach for Aedes aegypti control. In this context, nanothecnology provides smart formulations with improved drug solubility, controlled

• ]. Furthermore, they increase the water solubility of poorly soluble compounds, improve the dispersion of essential oils in vector control, and provide a controlled release of the bioactives. Finally, these systems can be obtained at low cost and through more sustainable technologies [36]. Given these advantages

• , pharmaceutical nanotechnology strategies such as nanoemulsions have been used as tools for vector control [79]. Numerous studies have shown that nanoemulsions can increase the solubility and prolong the larvicidal and/or repellent activity of essential oils, making them a promising solution to improve the

Phytol-loaded soybean oil nanoemulsion as a promising alternative against Leishmania amazonensis

• Victória Louise Pinto Freire,
• Mariana Farias Alves-Silva,
• Johny W. de Freitas Oliveira,
• Matheus de Freitas Fernandes-Pedrosa,
• Alianda Maira Cornélio,
• Marcelo de Souza-Silva,
• Thayse Silva Medeiros and
• Arnóbio Antônio da Silva Junior

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1826–1836, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.126

• attracted attention due to their broad biological activities. To increase their solubility, stability, and cell delivery, nanotechnology-based systems, such as nanoemulsions (NEs), represent a promising approach. In this study, soybean oil nanoemulsions loaded with phytol (PHYT-NE) were developed using the

• pharmaceutical application by reducing bioavailability [18]. To overcome these limitations, the incorporation of phytol into nanostructured delivery systems, has been proposed to improve its solubility, stability, and intracellular delivery efficiency [19]. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems that

Piezoelectricity of layered double hydroxides: perspectives regarding piezocatalysis and nanogenerators

• Evgeniy S. Seliverstov,
• Evgeniya A. Tarasenko and
• Olga E. Lebedeva

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1812–1817, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.124

• emerging area of catalysis utilizes the ability of piezoelectric materials to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy for subsequent electrochemical reactions [13]. Liu et al. suggested that ultrathin Ni/Fe-LDH modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for better water solubility and

Exploring the potential of polymers: advancements in oral nanocarrier technology

• Rousilândia de Araujo Silva,
• Igor Eduardo Silva Arruda,
• Luise Lopes Chaves,
• Mônica Felts de La Roca Soares and
• Jose Lamartine Soares Sobrinho

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1751–1793, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.122

• particles. Materials reduced to this scale exhibit alterations in their physicochemical properties, enhancing their interactions with molecular and cellular processes. Consequently, nanotechnology has diverse pharmaceutical applications, as the nanoencapsulation of drugs improves solubility and

• made PNs a topic of growing interest in light of their small size and unique physicochemical properties [22][23]. These systems offer advantages for drug delivery, including the ability to protect labile compounds, control release kinetics, improve drug solubility and stability, enhance oral

• solubility and permeability in the cell membrane both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated the importance of these characteristics for the pharmacokinetic performance of drugs and developed the “Biopharmaceutical Classification System” (BCS), which remains widely used today by regulatory agencies, research

Advances of aptamers in esophageal cancer diagnosis, treatment and drug delivery

• Yang Fei,
• Hui Xu,
• Chunwei Zhang,
• Jingjing Wang and
• Yong Jin

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2025, 16, 1734–1750, doi:10.3762/bjnano.16.121

• obstacles to their safe application. Hence, ongoing research explores strategies to optimize the solubility and targeting ability of anti-EC drugs, and aptamers [25] represent a distinct class of molecular tools. Aptamers are small nucleotide or peptide sequences screened by “systematic evolution of ligands

• drug nanocarriers (AFDNs), based on ApDCs, encapsulate drugs for protection and exhibit specific chemical modifications. AFDNs are not only helpful to improve drug solubility, ability to cross various biological barriers, and circulation time in vivo, but also achieve highly specific targeting with the

• delivery of gene-silencing therapeutics; (2) direct intercalation of aptamers with small-molecule chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., DOX), forming stable complexes; (3) co-encapsulation of aptamers and hydrophobic drugs into nanoparticles (e.g., liposomes or polymeric micelles) to improve drug solubility and