Nano-enabled synthetic biology

Biological systems display a functional diversity, density and efficiency that make them a paradigm for synthetic systems. In natural systems, the cell is the elemental unit and efforts to emulate cells, their components, and organization have relied primarily on the use of bioorganic materials. Impressive advances have been made towards assembling simple genetic systems within cellular scale containers. These biological system assembly efforts are particularly instructive, as we gain command over the directed synthesis and assembly of synthetic nanoscale structures. Advances in nanoscale fabrication, assembly, and characterization are providing the tools and materials for characterizing and emulating the smallest scale features of biology. Further, they are revealing unique physical properties that emerge at the nanoscale. Realizing these properties in useful ways will require attention to the assembly of these nanoscale components. Attention to systems biology principles can lead to the practical development of nanoscale technologies with possible realization of synthetic systems with cell-like complexity. In turn, useful tools for interpreting biological complexity and for interfacing to biological processes will result

Research roadmap for nanosafety - Part III: Closer to the market (CTTM)

Nano-products and nano-enabled applications need a clear and easy-to-follow human and environmental safety framework for the development along the innovation chain from initial idea to market and beyond that facilitates navigation through the complex regulatory and approval processes under which different product categories fall. The missing framework results in a lack of (i) solid data regarding roadblocks to market penetration of nano-enabled products as well as the absence of (ii) transparency in terms of which products (e.g. containing nanomaterials (NMs); nano-enabled products) are on the market (e.g. registries) and voluntary schemes and labelling requirements for cosmetics and food, which processes are used for manufacturing nano-enabled products, and (iii) meager inclusiveness in the dialogue (between all stakeholders) most likely exist as a result of the missing framework. The Closer-to-the-Market-Roadmap (abbrev. CTTM) aims at speeding up the progress towards market implementation of nanotechnologies by outlining the steps needed to develop such a framework. In its current form it is addressed towards policy makers, but the ultimate framework will be designed for use by SME and enterprise organisations

Advancements in nano-enabled therapeutics for neuroHIV management

This viewpoint is a global call to promote fundamental and applied research aiming toward designing smart nanocarriers of desired properties, novel noninvasive strategies to open the blood–brain barrier (BBB), delivery/release of single/multiple therapeutic agents across the BBB to eradicate neurohuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV), strategies for on-demand site-specific release of antiretroviral therapy, developing novel nanoformulations capable to recognize and eradicate latently infected HIV reservoirs, and developing novel smart analytical diagnostic tools to detect and monitor HIV infection. Thus, investigation of novel nanoformulations, methodologies for site-specific delivery/release, analytical methods, and diagnostic tools would be of high significance to eradicate and monitor neuroacquired immu-nodeficiency syndrome. Overall, these developments will certainly help to develop personalized nanomedicines to cure HIV and to develop smart HIV-monitoring analytical systems for disease management

Nano-Enabled Photovoltaics. Progress in Materials and Methodologies

Nanoenabled photovoltaics consist of a family of related approaches to make solar cells that use nanosized material elements, involving a combination of inorganic and organic components and hard and soft matter, including liquid electrolytes, which are combined using low-cost preparation methods, mainly by low-temperature solution processes. This type of solar cells have been developed rather strongly in recent times in three main directions, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), organic bulk heterojunction solar cells (BHJs), and quantum dot (QD)-based solar cells. The progress has been realized in new molecules, materials, and preparation methods that boosted the performance in many of these types of solar cells. On another hand, a wide range of scientific work involving characterization tools and modeling has produced detailed understanding of many features of the device operation. The Perspectives presented in this issue show an updated view of these aspects of development of the nanostructured solar cells

Lignin-based nano-enabled agriculture: A mini-review

Nowadays sustainable nanotechnological strategies to improve the efficiency of conventional agricultural practices are of utmost importance. As a matter of fact, the increasing use of productive factors in response to the growing food demand plays an important role in determining the environmental impact of agriculture. In this respect, low-efficiency conventional practices are becoming obsolete. On the other hand, the exploitation of nanoscaled systems for the controlled delivery of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides shows great potential towards the development of sustainable, efficient and resilient agricultural processes, while promoting food security. In this context, lignin - especially in the form of its nanostructures - can play an important role as sustainable biomaterial for nano-enabled agricultural applications. In this review, we present and discuss the current advancements in the preparation of lignin nanoparticles for the controlled release of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, as well as the latest findings in terms of plant response to their application. Special attention has been paid to the state-of-the-art literature concerning the release performance of these lignin-based nanomaterials, whose efficiency is compared with the conventional approaches. Finally, the major challenges and the future scenarios of lignin-based nano-enabled agriculture are considered

Nanomaterials in construction - what is being used, and where?

Identifying where nanomaterials are present in construction materials is challenging. Academic literature reports what nanotechnology can offer construction, but this can differs from the reality of what is currently in use. Furthermore, it is difficult to source accurate information regarding nano-enabled products on the market; under current legislation, the declaration of nano content is voluntary and there is no requirement to provide details within safety data sheets. Although publically available information remains opaque and incomplete, several studies and reports have attempted to clarify this situation. This research builds upon this information, presenting an overview of nano-enabled products currently available for use in construction. This is based upon literature, manufacturers’ published information and on discussions with suppliers and end users. Concrete, glass and coatings are the most widely available nano-enabled products, together with insulation and special steels. The precise nanomaterial used in each case however, and the form and quantity involved, can be difficult to identify. This makes assessing the risks difficult, which is problematic as some nanomaterials are considered to be hazardous. More detailed information regarding commercially available products will be important if risks are to be managed, enabling the industry to take full advantage of the benefits of nanotechnology

Demonstration of a Nano-Enabled Space Power System

The Nano-Enabled Space Power System will demonstrate power systems with nanomaterial-enhanced components as are placement for CubeSat power generation, transmission, and storage. Successful flights of these nano-power systems will accelerate the use of this revolutionary technology in the aerospace industry. The use of nano materials in solar cells, wire harnesses,and lithium ion batteries can increase the device performance without significantly altering the devices physical dimensions or the devices operating range (temperature,voltage, current). In many cases, the use of nanomaterials widens the viable range of operating conditions, such as increased depth of discharge of lithium ion batteries, tunable bandgaps in solar cells, and increased flexure tolerance of wire harnesses

Registration of nanomaterials and nano-enabled products: solution in regulation and governance or new challenge.

Regulation and governance of infinite number and diversified types of engineered nanomaterials has been a genuine challenge for the regulators around the world in recent times. Recent experience with the genetically modified food compelled the regulators, specially from the Europe, to take cautious move from the very beginning regarding nanomaterials. One of the initial tasks in relation to regulation and governance is the registration of nanomaterials and development of the nano-enabled product registers. This paper intends to shed focus on and evaluate the development of different registers on materials and products. It is apparent that though some European regulators have initiated the registration process, other regulators like Australia and the USA are skeptical about the success of such initiative. Albeit, in order to provide remedies for any possible future damage arising out of defective products or material the importance of such databases cannot be ignored

Nano-enabled coatings for prevention of medical device-related infections

Les infeccions urinàries associades als dispositius mèdics (MD) són les infeccions més comunes relacionades amb la salut, que representen un augment de la morbiditat i la mortalitat, i una enorme càrrega financera per als sistemes sanitaris. Més del 80 % d'aquestes infeccions es deuen a la formació de biofilms, mentre que aproximadament el 40% de totes les infeccions nosocomials són infeccions urinàries associades a catèters (CAUTI). Les estratègies per reduir l'aparició de CAUTI inclouen la substitució freqüent del dispositiu, que causa molèsties considerables als pacients i augmenta els costos del tractament, o teràpies antibiòtiques agressives amb efectes secundaris associats com la hipersensibilitat, la inflamació i el desenvolupament de resistència antimicrobiana (AMR). Per tant, es necessiten solucions innovadores per a la inhibició del creixement bacterià i la formació de biofilm per millorar la seguretat i l'ús a llarg termini dels catèters, i el confort dels pacients. En aquest treball, es van desenvolupar innovadores nanopartícules de lauril gal·lat carregades de ceragenines (CGNP), imitacions no peptídiques de pèptids antimicrobians, amb una major activitat antibacteriana i estabilitat en un procés sonoquímic d'un sol pas. Els CGNP es van dipositar en plasma activat i preaminat amb (3-aminopropil) trietoxisilà material de silicona juntament amb zwitterions antifouling mitjançant ultrasons d'alta intensitat juntament amb empelt mediat per laccase per obtenir un recobriment estable per inhibir la formació de biofilm. El recobriment nano-habilitat desenvolupat va demostrar ser eficaç contra patògens gramnegatius i grampositius comuns que es troben en els CAUTI. A més, la silicona recoberta es va caracteritzar mitjançant espectroscòpia FTIR-ATR i angle de contacte amb l'aigua. Els resultats van demostrar que el recobriment generat es podria utilitzar per controlar infeccions bacterianes associades a biofilms resistents als antibiòtics.Las infecciones urinarias asociadas a dispositivos médicos (MD) son las infecciones más comunes relacionadas con la atención médica y representan una mayor morbilidad y mortalidad, y una enorme carga financiera para los sistemas de atención médica. Más del 80 % de estas infecciones se deben a la formación de biopelículas, mientras que aproximadamente el 40 % de todas las infecciones nosocomiales son infecciones del tracto urinario asociadas al catéter (ITUAC). Las estrategias para reducir la aparición de CAUTI incluyen el reemplazo frecuente del dispositivo, lo que causa una incomodidad considerable a los pacientes y aumenta los costos del tratamiento, o terapias agresivas con antibióticos con efectos secundarios asociados, como hipersensibilidad, inflamación y desarrollo de resistencia antimicrobiana (AMR). Por lo tanto, se necesitan soluciones innovadoras para la inhibición del crecimiento bacteriano y la formación de biopelículas para mejorar la seguridad y el uso a largo plazo de los catéteres y la comodidad de los pacientes. En este trabajo, se desarrollaron innovadoras nanopartículas de galato de laurilo cargadas con cerageninas (CGNP), imitadores no peptídicos de péptidos antimicrobianos, con actividad antibacteriana mejorada y estabilidad en un proceso sonoquímico de un solo paso. Luego, los CGNP se depositaron en material de silicona de (3-aminopropil) trietoxisilano activado por plasma y preaminado junto con iones de zwitter antiincrustantes usando ultrasonido de alta intensidad junto con injerto mediado por lacasa para obtener un recubrimiento estable para la inhibición de la formación de biopelículas. El recubrimiento nanohabilitado desarrollado demostró ser eficaz contra los patógenos gramnegativos y grampositivos comunes que se encuentran en las CAUTI. Además, la silicona recubierta se caracterizó mediante espectroscopia FTIR-ATR y ángulo de contacto con el agua. Los resultados demostraron que el recubrimiento generado podría usarse para controlar infeMedical device (MD)-associated urinary infections are the most common healthcare related infections accounting for increased morbidity and mortality, and huge financial burden on healthcare systems. More than 80 % of such infections are due to biofilm formation, whereas approximately 40% of all nosocomial infections are catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). Strategies to reduce CAUTIs occurrence include frequent replacement of the device, which causes considerable discomfort to the patients and increases treatment costs, or aggressive antibiotic therapies with associated side effects such as hypersensitivity, inflammation and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development. Therefore, innovative solutions for inhibition of bacterial growth and biofilm formation are needed to improve the catheters safety and long-term use, and patients comfort. In this work, innovative lauryl gallate nanoparticles loaded with ceragenins (CGNPs), non-peptide mimics of antimicrobial peptides, with enhanced antibacterial activity and stability were developed in a single-step sonochemical process. CGNPs were then deposited on plasma-activated and preaminated with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane silicone material together with antifouling zwitterions using high-intensity ultrasound coupled with laccase-mediated grafting to obtain stable coating for inhibition of biofilm formation. The developed nano-enabled coating proved to be effective against common Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens found in CAUTIs. Additionally, the coated-silicone was characterized using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and water contact angle. The results demonstrated that the generated coating could be used to control antibiotic-resistant biofilm-associated bacterial infections

Distributed interfacing by nanoscale photodiodes enables single-neuron light activation and sensory enhancement in 3D spinal explants

Among emerging technologies developed to interface neuronal signaling, engineering electrodes at the nanoscale would yield more precise biodevices opening to progress in neural circuit investigations and to new therapeutic potential. Despite remarkable progress in miniature electronics for less invasive neurostimulation, most nano-enabled, optically triggered interfaces are demonstrated in cultured cells, which precludes the studies of natural neural circuits. We exploit here free-standing silicon-based nanoscale photodiodes to optically modulate single, identified neurons in mammalian spinal cord explants. With near-infrared light stimulation, we show that activating single excitatory or inhibitory neurons differently affects sensory circuits processing in the dorsal horn. We successfully functionalize nano-photodiodes to target single molecules, such as glutamate AMPA receptor subunits, thus enabling light activation of specific synaptic pathways. We conclude that nano-enabled neural interfaces can modulate selected sensory networks with low invasiveness. The use of nanoscale photodiodes can thus provide original perspective in linking neural activity to specific behavioral outcome