2026-03-23
Parthasarathi Pal, Sanjay Kumar, Themis Prodromakis
Analog memristors with multilevel cells are suitable for analog in-memory and neuromorphic applications. Herein, we report a 2-bit/cell complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible HfO2/Ta2O5 bilayer memristor with both TiN electrodes fabricated via single thermal atomic layer deposition at 300 °C. The fabricated devices exhibit stable bipolar switching characteristics distinguished between both low resistance state and the high resistance state with a P/E endurance of 105WRITE cycles, as well as show better retention property beyond 104 s. The devices exhibited excellent uniformity in terms of low device-to-device (D2D) and low cycle-to-cycle (C2C) variation. Furthermore, analog switching responses are implemented with the pulse width from 2 ms to 500 µs, and the corresponding percentage change in the device resistance was measured. The results exhibit a significant change in the device resistance even at 500 µs, with an overall change in the device resistance in the range of 10%–17%. In addition, the performance of the devices has been verified for neuromorphic applications using the experimentally extracted data. The non-linearity of 0.07, including highly stable synaptic plasticity, has been achieved using symmetric pulses, making the devices compatible for designing an analog memristor-based neuromorphic computing system hardware.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2026.17885272026-03-04
Mautushi Das, Tapan Kumar Mohanta, Marchia K. Sangma, Khikeya Semy, Bishwambhar Mishra, Sarvesh Rustagi, Nanaocha Sharma, Yugal Kishore Mohanta
Green algae, a diverse and abundant bioresource, have emerged as a sustainable platform for synthesizing nanoparticles (NPs) with wide-ranging applications. This review paper involves the reduction of metal salts by biological factors such as algae, inducing nanoparticles with unique properties, highlighting their eco-friendly synthesis, unique physicochemical properties, and multifaceted applications in biomedicine, agriculture, environmental remediation, and food technology. Algae-mediated NPs exhibit significant antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, and catalytic properties, making them valuable for drug delivery, water purification, and biofuel production. From the 17 goals of SDGs, the role of algae is emphasized, notably in potable water safe to drink (SDG 6), renewable and accessible energy sources (SDG 7), hunger eradication (SDG 2), and climate mitigation (SDG 13). Nanomaterials hold great promise across various applications, yet they face significant challenges. Key issues include scalability for mass production, ensuring economic viability, and navigating complex regulatory landscapes that can hinder their development and implementation. Future research aims to optimize production methods, enhance biocompatibility, and expand applications in nanotechnology. Green algae-based NPs represent a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional nanomaterials, offering innovative solutions for global environmental and health challenges.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2026.17518412026-02-02
Gomathi Arivalagan, Utpal Das
Selenium (Se), initially perceived mostly as a harmful element, is now recognised as an effective trace nutrient that promotes plant growth and stress resilience. Though not vital for most plant species, adequate Se concentrations may increase photosynthesis, activate antioxidant defence mechanisms, and improve tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stressors. The application of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) has been proposed because they exhibit greater bioavailability, higher stability, and lower toxicity compared to inorganic selenium forms, and recent advances in nanotechnology have enabled their efficient synthesis. SeNPs are readily internalised by plants, where they promote growth, regulate osmotic balance, activate stress-responsive genes, and strengthen plant defence mechanisms while minimising pollution. Current research highlights the role of Se and SeNPs in regulating redox homeostasis, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and defence signalling networks. This review synthesises recent findings on Se speciation, uptake pathways, metabolic incorporation, and the diverse physiological roles of SeNPs in improving crop resilience. Future studies must rely on clarifying the molecular mechanisms, determining optimal application strategies, and integrating SeNPs into sustainable agricultural practices to enhance productivity and stress tolerance, thereby addressing concerns over food security under the impacts of climate change.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2026.17272362026-01-16
In Jun Oh, Doyoun Kim, Seong-Yeop Kim, Sueun Choi, Woon-Hong Yeo, Hyo-Ryoung Lim
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has evolved from a rapid polymer-to-carbon conversion method into a versatile platform for fabricating high-performance flexible electronics. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the photothermal and photochemical mechanisms governing LIG formation, emphasizing how laser parameters wavelength, fluence, and scanning speed determine graphitization pathways and resulting electrical characteristics. Beyond process fundamentals, we highlight recent advances in conductivity engineering achieved through pre- and post-treatment strategies, including metal nanoparticle incorporation, catalytic doping, and rapid Joule annealing. These modifications enable sheet resistances below 10 Ω/sq and significantly enhance electrochemical and mechanical performance. Finally, we discuss the integration of LIG in flexible sensors, energy harvesters, and bioelectronic systems, underscoring its scalability, design freedom, and environmental sustainability. By unifying insights across mechanism, processing, and application, this review outlines a coherent roadmap for harnessing LIG as a key material in next-generation soft electronics and wearable technologies.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2025.17501932026-01-16
Paolo Signorello, Ludovica Cacopardo, Francesco Fontana, Cláudia Martins, Bruno Sarmento, Arti Ahluwalia
Intestinal dysmotility represents a significant health burden, often leading to severe and life-threatening complications. Current therapies are limited, highlighting the need for smart treatment strategies. We propose a novel, minimally invasive approach involving the oral delivery of mucoadhesive magneto-responsive nanoparticles, which can be actuated by external magnets. As a proof of concept, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with chitosan to optimise their interaction and adhesion to the intestinal epithelium and to enhance cytocompatibility. To protect the chitosan-coated particles from the acidic conditions of the stomach and enable their targeted release further along the gastrointestinal tract, they were encapsulated in pH responsive alginate beads. Using an advanced 3D multi-layered in vitro model of the intestinal wall, we confirmed the absence of nanoparticle translocation across the barrier. Moreover, epithelial para- and transcellular transport pathways were unaltered in the presence of the chitosan-coated particles, suggesting that nutrient passage is conserved. Finally, a hydrogel simulating the intestinal submucosal layer was loaded with the nanoparticles and then actuated with external magnets to verify their capacity to generate physiological strains. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of magnetically actuated mucoadhesive nanoparticles as a foundation for new therapeutic strategies to restore intestinal motility, paving the way for externally controlled, minimally invasive interventions in gastrointestinal disorders.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2025.17163602026-01-15
Ranil Vikraman Kumarasamy, Prabhu Manickam Natarajan, Isai Mathivanan, Mohanapriya Balasubramaniam, Suresh SN, Dhamodharan Prabhu, Kamaraj Raju, Monica Mironescu, Ion Dan Mironescu
The increasing incidence of oral malignancies, coupled with the limitations of conventional treatments such as toxicity and drug resistance, has driven the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have emerged as promising anticancer agents due to their distinctive physicochemical attributes, which facilitate antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and tumor-suppressive activities. Unlike traditional chemical or physical synthesis methods, plant-mediated green synthesis offers a sustainable and ecologically sound alternative, leveraging the natural reducing and stabilizing compounds inherent in botanical extracts. This review provides a detailed analysis of contemporary advancements in the eco-conscious production of AgNPs using diverse plant sources and their potential role in addressing oral cancer. Furthermore, the article evaluates the cytotoxic impact of these biogenic nanoparticles on oral cancer cell models, elucidating molecular pathways such as oxidative stress induction, apoptosis activation, and inhibition of proliferative signaling. Clinical implications are explored, emphasizing the balance between therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility in normal cells. While plant-derived AgNPs present a groundbreaking avenue for targeted oral cancer therapy, challenges such as scalability, standardization, and long-term safety require resolution for successful clinical translation. This synthesis of current knowledge aims to inspire innovative, nature-driven strategies to enhance oral oncology outcomes.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2025.16489002026-01-15
Christoph Gadermaier
High-harmonic generation has been established in gases both as a source of extreme ultraviolet light as well as a tool for studying atomic and molecular physics in the attosecond time domain. The more recent extension of these methods to condensed matter affords much higher conversion efficiencies and offers an even richer selection of accessible phenomena. Atomically thin two-dimensional semiconductors combine mechanical robustness with intriguing many-body physics and exceptionally strong light-matter interaction. This mini-review gives a glance into the high-harmonic generation mechanisms in two-dimensional semiconductors, with particular emphasis on symmetry considerations, many-body effects, photodoping, and techniques to further enhance the high-harmonic generation efficiency.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2025.16672172026-01-14
Rahul Ramesh, Spyros Stathopoulos, Sanjay Kumar, Hannah Levene, Deepika Yadav, Andreas Tsiamis, Themis Prodromakis
In this work, an atomic layer deposited (ALD) Hf1Zr1O4 (HZO)-based switching layer is investigated in the device structure of a TiN/HZO/TiN. The thickness of the switching layer is ∼10 nm, which was grown by the thermal ALD at 250 °C by a super-cycle approach. Both pristine and annealed (400 °C for 60 s in N2) devices exhibit stable bipolar resistive switching responses after an essential electroforming process. However, the annealed devices require a relatively higher forming voltage but significantly improved ON/OFF ratio than pristine devices, which can be due to a certain modification at the TiN/HZO interface. The significant improvement in the ON/OFF ratio is attributed to the formation of nano-crystallinity in the film and an increment in sub-oxide content. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis also reveals the formation of a significant amount of sub-oxide (HfO2-x and ZrO2-x) after the annealing process. Additionally, the pristine devices exhibit comparatively poor switching stability and show a systematic decrement in the hysteresis loop, i.e., 73% after 100 switching cycles, whereas only a ∼22% drop is observed with annealed samples that significantly enhance the device stability. Lastly, the annealed device exhibits high volatility towards multiple programmable states, which can be useful in the development of multilevel memory storage, in-memory computation, and neuromorphic computation.
DOI: 10.3389/fnano.2026.1729291