Tumor metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in cancer patients. Migratory breast cancer cells in lymphatic and blood vessels seek new sites and form metastatic colonies in the lung and bone, and then these cancer cells often wreak considerable havoc. With advances in nanotechnology, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are widely applied in tumor therapy. In this paper, small size fullerenol nanoparticles, which are separated by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis (IFE) for discrepancy of isoelectric point (pI), are used in the study of tumor metastasis. In this study, the commendable inhibition of tumor metastasis was uncovered by intravenous injection of purified fullerenol fraction with special surface charge and functional groups, which was separated by IFE for discrepancy of pI. By investigating the actin dynamics in several cancer cell lines, we found these small size fullerenol nanoparticles disturbed actin dynamics. Young’s modulus detection and cell migration assays revealed that fullerenol lowered stiffness and restrained migration of breast cancer cells. Filopodia, the main supporting structures of actin bundles, are important for cell motility and adhesion. Scanning electron microscopy showed that fullerenol reduced the number and length of filopodia. Simultaneously, the inhibition of integrin to form clusters on filopodias, which was likely induced by reorganizing of actin cytoskeleton, impacted cancer cell adhesion and motility. With intravenous injection of these fullerenol nanoparticles, tumor metastasis is well inhibited in vivo. The underlying mechanism most likely to be attributed to the effect of fullerenol nanoparticles on disturbing actin dynamics. With the disordered actin fiber, cell function is varied, including decreased cell stiffness, reduced filopodia formation, and inactivated integrin.

Inorganic nanomaterials are pivotal foundational materials driving traditional industries’ transformation and emerging sectors’ evolution. However, their industrial application is hindered by the limitations of conventional synthesis methods, including poor batch stability, scaling challenges, and complex quality control requirements. This review systematically examines strategies for constructing automated synthesis systems to enhance the production efficiency of inorganic nanomaterials. Methodologies encompassing hardware architecture design, software algorithm optimization, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled intelligent process control are analyzed. Case studies on quantum dots and gold nanoparticles demonstrate the enhanced efficiency of closed-loop synthesis systems and their machine learning-enabled autonomous optimization of process parameters. The study highlights the critical role of automation, intelligent technologies, and human–machine collaboration in elucidating synthesis mechanisms. Current challenges in cross-scale mechanistic modeling, high-throughput experimental integration, and standardized database development are discussed. Finally, the prospects of AI-driven synthesis systems are envisioned, emphasizing their potential to accelerate novel material discovery and revolutionize nanomanufacturing paradigms within the framework of AI-plus initiatives.

With a highly efficient optical absorption capability, bismuth selenide (Bi₂Se₃) can be used as an outstanding photothermal agent for anti-tumor treatment and shows promise in the field of nanotechnology-based biomedicine. However, little research has been completed on the relevant mechanism underlying the photothermal killing effect of Bi₂Se₃. Herein, the photothermal effects of Bi₂Se₃ particles on A549 cells were explored with emphasis put on autophagy. First, we characterized the structure and physicochemical property of the synthesized Bi₂Se₃ and confirmed their excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (35.72%), photostability, biocompatibility and ability of photothermal killing on A549 cells. Enhanced autophagy was detected in Bi₂Se₃-exposed cells under an 808 nm laser. Consistently, an elevated expression ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) to LC3-I, a marker of autophagy occurrence, was induced in Bi₂Se₃-exposed cells upon near infrared (NIR) irradiation. Meanwhile, the expression of cleaved-PARP was increased in the irradiated cells dependently on the exposure concentrations of Bi₂Se₃ particles. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) further strengthened the photothermal killing effect of Bi₂Se₃. Meanwhile, stress-related signaling pathways, including p38 and stress activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK), were activated, coupled with the attenuated PI3K/Akt signaling. Our study finds that autophagy and the activation of stress-related signaling pathways are involved in the photothermal killing of cancerous cells by Bi₂Se₃, which provides a more understanding of photothermal materials.