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Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a multifunctional material due to its exceptional physicochemical properties and broad usefulness. The special properties resulting from the reduction of the material size from the macro scale to the nano scale has made the application of ZnO nanomaterials (ZnO NMs) more popular in numerous consumer products. In recent years, particular attention has been drawn to the development of various methods of ZnO NMs synthesis, which above all meet the requirements of the green chemistry approach. The application of the microwave heating technology when obtaining ZnO NMs enables the development of new methods of syntheses, which are characterised by, among others, the possibility to control the properties, repeatability, reproducibility, short synthesis duration, low price, purity, and fulfilment of the eco-friendly approach criterion. The dynamic development of materials engineering is the reason why it is necessary to obtain ZnO NMs with strictly defined properties. The present review aims to discuss the state of the art regarding the microwave synthesis of undoped and doped ZnO NMs. The first part of the review presents the properties of ZnO and new applications of ZnO NMs. Subsequently, the properties of microwave heating are discussed and compared with conventional heating and areas of application are presented. The final part of the paper presents reactants, parameters of processes, and the morphology of products, with a division of the microwave synthesis of ZnO NMs into three primary groups, namely hydrothermal, solvothermal, and hybrid methods.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a multifunctional material due to its exceptional physicochemical properties and broad usefulness. The special properties resulting from the reduction of the material size from the macro scale to the nano scale has made the application of ZnO nanomaterials (ZnO NMs) more popular in numerous consumer products. In recent years, particular attention has been drawn to the development of various methods of ZnO NMs synthesis, which above all meet the requirements of the green chemistry approach. The application of the microwave heating technology when obtaining ZnO NMs enables the development of new methods of syntheses, which are characterised by, among others, the possibility to control the properties, repeatability, reproducibility, short synthesis duration, low price, purity, and fulfilment of the eco-friendly approach criterion. The dynamic development of materials engineering is the reason why it is necessary to obtain ZnO NMs with strictly defined properties. The present review aims to discuss the state of the art regarding the microwave synthesis of undoped and doped ZnO NMs. The first part of the review presents the properties of ZnO and new applications of ZnO NMs. Subsequently, the properties of microwave heating are discussed and compared with conventional heating and areas of application are presented. The final part of the paper presents reactants, parameters of processes, and the morphology of products, with a division of the microwave synthesis of ZnO NMs into three primary groups, namely hydrothermal, solvothermal, and hybrid methods.

Nanotechnology, an emerging and promising therapeutic tool, may improve the effectiveness of phototherapy (PT) in antitumor therapy because of the development of nanomaterials (NMs) with light-absorbing properties. The tumor-targeted PTs, such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), transform light energy into heat and produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that accumulate at the tumor site. The increase in ROS levels induces oxidative stress (OS) during carcinogenesis and disease development. Because of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) feature of copper (Cu), a vital trace element in the human body, Cu-based NMs can exhibit good near-infrared (NIR) absorption and excellent photothermal properties. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), Cu2+ combines with H2O2 to produce O2 that is reduced to Cu1+ by glutathione (GSH), causing a Fenton-like reaction that reduces tumor hypoxia and simultaneously generates ROS to eliminate tumor cells in conjunction with PTT/PDT. Compared with other therapeutic modalities, PTT/PDT can precisely target tumor location to kill tumor cells. Moreover, multiple treatment modalities can be combined with PTT/PDT to treat a tumor using Cu-based NMs. Herein, we reviewed and briefly summarized the mechanisms of actions of tumor-targeted PTT/PDT and the role of Cu, generated from Cu-based NMs, in PTs. Furthermore, we described the Cu-based NMs used in PTT/PDT applications.

The current advancements in nanotechnology had exquisite impacts on biocatalysis. Enzymes are exceptional biocatalysts because of their excellent substrate selectivity, regio- and stereo-specificity, and capacity to accelerate the reaction rate up to several orders of magnitude. One of the significant challenges in biotechnology is the utilization and development of enzymes as reliable biocatalysts. Applications of enzymes have drawn a lot of attention as demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable operations increases. Enzymes are promising biocatalysts with a wide range of uses, including as a biosensor, in food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries. The distinctive catalytic chemistry of enzyme-linked compatible nanostructures put forward many applications, including biocatalysis. The most recent advancements in enzyme immobilization organic / inorganic supports—including carbon-based, polymeric or hybrid, metal–organic framework—as well as various nanomaterials comprised of metals and metal oxides are discussed. The methods for immobilizing enzymes onto carriers and their stability and catalytic properties are also highlighted. The synergistic coupling of nanotechnology with biotechnology covers a broad range of tremendous applications. Nanostructures have specific characteristics that can balance parameters like effective encapsulation of enzymes, porosity, etc., which present peculiar prospects for designing an ideal biocatalyst. For synthetic chemistry and bio-manufacturing, photo-enzymes are potentially attractive biocatalysts. This review highlights that efforts are underway to bring the benefits of combining two research-intensive fields, biocatalysis and photo-biocatalysis, in a meaningful way. Graphical Abstract

This review explores the application of in vitro cell transformation assays (CTAs) as a screening platform to assess the carcinogenic potential of nanomaterials (NMs) resulting from continuously growing industrial production and use. The widespread application of NMs in various fields has raised concerns about their potential adverse effects, necessitating safety evaluations, particularly in long-term continuous exposure scenarios. CTAs present a realistic screening platform for known and emerging NMs by examining their resemblance to the hallmark of malignancy, including high proliferation rates, loss of contact inhibition, the gain of anchorage-independent growth, cellular invasion, dysregulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis resistance, and ability to form tumors in experimental animals. Through the deliberate transformation of cells via chronic NM exposure, researchers can investigate the tumorigenic properties of NMs and the underlying mechanisms of cancer development. This article examines NM-induced cell transformation studies, focusing on identifying existing knowledge gaps. Specifically, it explores the physicochemical properties of NMs, experimental models, assays, dose and time requirements for cell transformation, and the underlying mechanisms of malignancy. Our review aims to advance understanding in this field and identify areas for further investigation.

Nanotechnology (NT) refers to the generation and application of nanoparticles (NPs). Research in NT has been ongoing for several decades and has resulted in a wide range of materials at the nano-scale. Globally, NPs serve various domestic, pharmaceuticals, aviation, textiles, and other industrial purposes. These particles are currently used in kitchen utensils, medical applications, energy-related research, aircraft, etc. The future of our planet depends on NT. Numerous molecular indicators of genetic and autoimmune diseases, malignant tumors, and a wide range of other disorders can currently be diagnosed using NPs. Drug delivery to specific tissues and organs with controlled drug release and accumulation parameters is achieved through NPs. In addition, NPs have been used as active components in some cases. For example, photodynamic therapy’s incorporation and heating are photosensitizers and hyper-thermic tumor killing through NPs. Despite numerous beneficiary use and economic success of NPs, their toxic effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems have also gained attention. Excessive exposure to NPs in sectors, such as agriculture, industry, etc. has generated negative health effects in humans. The review highlights about NPs in great detail. The paper discusses their sources, usage, toxicity and health effects, transportation, analysis, and treatment. It represents a summary of recent research developments and achievements in the field of NT and substantial gap areas that need to be addressed.

Nanomaterials (NMs) are currently being used in agricultural soils as part of a new bioremediation (BR) process. In this study, we reviewed the biosynthesis of NMs, as well as their chemical composition and prospective strategies for helpful and sustainable agricultural soil bioremediation (BR). Different types of NMs, such as nanoparticles, nanocomposites, nanocrystals, nano-powders, and nanotubes, are used in agricultural soil reclamation, and they reflect the toxicity of NMs to microorganisms. Plants (Sargassum muticum, Dodonaea viscose, Aloe Vera, Rosemarinus officinalis, Azadirachta indica, Green tea, and so on) and microorganisms ( Escherichia coli, Shewanella oneidensis, Pleurotus sp ., Klebsiella oxytoca, Aspergillus clavatus , and so on) are the primary sources for the biosynthesis of NMs. By using the BR process, microorganisms, such as bacteria and plants, can immobilize metals and change both inorganic and organic contaminants in the soil. Combining NMs with bioremediation techniques for agricultural soil remediation will be a valuable long-term solution.

This study performs a numerical simulation of brain radiation therapy with a deep tumour at its centre using the Monte Carlo simulation program Geant4. The primary goal is to analyze the effect of nanomaterials (NMs) injected into the tumour on the dose and amount of radiation absorbed by the tumour. We built a spherical tumour measuring 1.5 cm in diameter in the middle of an adult human head while considering their chemical compositions and proportions. We are interested in studying the effects of adding bionanomaterials such as Gold nanoparticles (AuNP), hafnium oxide (HfO2), cerium oxide (CeO2), tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) and bismuth sulfur (Bi2S3) to the amount absorbed during an external exposure at a wavelength of energy ranging from 10 keV to 200 keV. The findings demonstrate that an absorbable dose improvement of 5.5 is obtained with a low concentration of 2% Bi2S3 nanoparticles inside the tumour, nearly four times with CeO2 nanoparticles and slightly more than three times with AuNPs. According to our results, Bi2S3 and CeO2 provide more enhancement in Radiotherapy than the most well-known materials in the literature, such as AuNPs.

Literature has suggested metallic nanomaterials (NMs) for a multitude of applications in cosmetic products, either as active ingredients or excipients. Alike most high-paced industrial sectors, cosmetology continues to capitalize on its unique properties/functions (e.g., as UV-filters, colorants, etc.), adding value to a wide range of products. However, as a result of their nano-scale, NMs do not always conform with the handling guidelines of their bulk counterparts, nor do conventional analytical methods account for their complex physicochemical and biological interactions. Among others, metallic nanoparticles have attracted the interest of many over the years due to their unique features, but possible precautions should be considered because of their bio-persistent nature. As a result, it is prevalent to consider a nano-specific framework, to regulate the use of NMs and the production of nano-enhanced cosmetics. To address this, we provide insight into the NMs that are currently used in the EU market, with a focus on metallic NMs, while analyzing the underlying legislation and relevant Opinions of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), from a scientific and commercial perspective. Even though the current Cosmetics Regulation (EU Regulation No 1223/2009) already entails specific provisions on NMs, cosmetic products incorporating unauthorized NMs have been repeatedly commercialized in the European Union. Considering the potential risks of NMs if they are mishandled, we provide an analysis of the risk assessment, as stated in Article 16 of the Cosmetics Regulation, to serve as a guideline for the future growth of nano-enhanced products. Based on the limited integration of metallic NMs along with multiple non-metallic NPs into cosmetic products, the attention of the community is directed towards coordinating efforts on the integration of metallic NMs into cosmetics.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely recognised as a sustainable technology for managing organic waste and generating renewable energy. Despite its potential, slow kinetics, instability under varying operational conditions, and inhibition from toxic intermediates often hinder AD processes. Nanobiotechnology has emerged as a mechanistically promising approach to enhance process stability and methane production by strengthening microbial performance, accelerating hydrolysis kinetics, and reinforcing syntrophic electron transfer pathways. The addition of zero-valent iron, carbon nanotubes, and metal oxides enhances hydrolysis rates, stimulates methanogenic pathways, and facilitates direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). These mechanisms collectively improve methane yield while maintaining redox balance, buffering capacity, and long-term operational stability. Evidence from laboratory- and pilot-scale studies indicates that nanomaterial amendments can enhance methane production, typically by 10%–60% under optimised dosing conditions in most systems, with higher enhancements reported for selected conductive transition metal carbides under controlled experimental regimes. Reductions in lag phase duration of 15%–40% and improved tolerance to ammonia concentrations exceeding 1.5–3.0 g L −1 NH 4 + –N have also been documented, depending on reactor configuration and substrate type. These enhancement ranges are derived from condition-resolved extraction of experimental studies meeting predefined inclusion criteria and were normalised against non-amended controls under identical operational settings rather than selectively cited maximum values. Additionally, integrating nanomaterials with pretreatment techniques, bioaugmentation, and bio-electrochemical systems offers synergistic pathways for optimising biogas production. However, the application of nanomaterials also raises important environmental and biosafety concerns, including their transformation during digestion, partitioning into digestates, potential impacts on soil and aquatic systems following land application, and challenges related to dose optimisation, recovery, and lifecycle risk assessment. This review applies a condition-resolved quantitative synthesis by extracting methane yield and production rate and stability indicators (e.g., lag phase, VFA, alkalinity, TAN/FAN tolerance) and normalising enhancements against non-amended controls within operational clusters (temperature regime, reactor configuration, ISR/SIR, substrate class, and nanomaterial dose).