Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) represent a versatile magnetic nanoparticle (NP) system with considerable, yet underexplored, potential in diverse applications, particularly in emerging biomedical fields such as magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic hyperthermia, targeted drug delivery, and biosensing. The successful translation of MIONPs into these applications requires reproducible synthesis methods and precise control over particle uniformity in terms of size, shape, and composition. However, reproducibility in nanoparticle synthesis remains a persistent challenge, limiting the ability of researchers to replicate results and integrate MIONPs into application-oriented studies. In recent years, substantial efforts have been directed toward elucidating synthesis mechanisms and improving both reproducibility and particle uniformity, enabling notable advances in the biomedical deployment of MIONPs. This review summarizes progress in the synthesis of MIONPs, with emphasis on three widely employed precursors: iron oleate, iron acetylacetonate, and iron pentacarbonyl. The discussion focuses on key findings in NP synthesis, relevant chemical aspects, and the magnetic properties of MIONPs, which are critical for optimizing their functional performance. By consolidating recent advances, this review aims to provide a reliable framework for the preparation of high-quality MIONPs and to support their effective use in specific biomedical applications.

Recent advancements in nanotechnology and materials science have enabled the development of magnetic photocatalysts with improved efficiency, stability, and reusability, offering a promising approach for wastewater treatment. The integration of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) into photocatalytic processes has gained significant attention as a sustainable method for addressing emerging pollutants—such as antibiotics and pharmaceutical compounds—which pose environmental and public health risks, including the proliferation of antibiotic resistance. Surface modification techniques, specifically applied to MNPs, are employed to enhance their photocatalytic performance by improving surface reactivity, reducing nanoparticle agglomeration, and increasing photocatalytic activity under both visible and ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. These modifications also facilitate the selective adsorption and degradation of target contaminants. Importantly, the modified nanoparticles retain their magnetic properties, allowing for facile separation and reuse in multiple treatment cycles via external magnetic fields. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments in surface-modified MNPs for wastewater treatment, with a focus on their physicochemical properties, surface modification strategies, and effectiveness in the removal of antibiotics from aqueous environments. Furthermore, the review discusses advantages over conventional treatment methods, current limitations, and future research directions, emphasizing the potential of this technology for sustainable and efficient water purification.

The ability to efficiently tailor the surface properties of layered transition metal dichalcogenide (LTMD) dispersions is critical for optimizing performance and enabling scalable manufacturing techniques, such as spray coating and inkjet printing, for optoelectronic, energy storage, and sensing applications. Group VI LTMDs, owing to their unique properties in the monolayer architecture, offer exceptional potential; however, the properties of exfoliated dispersions are strongly dependent on the specific solution-processing techniques employed. These techniques determine the choice of subsequent surface functionalization strategies and, consequently, the characteristics of the resulting functionalized hybrids. Furthermore, the inherent heterogeneity of solution-processed dispersions—manifested, among other factors, in broad distributions of flake thickness and lateral size—remains a significant challenge and strongly influences the behavior of hybridized materials. As a result, exfoliation-method-dependent properties and dispersion heterogeneity introduce substantial complexity in the selection of appropriate surface-tailoring strategies, characterization methodologies, and data interpretation. To address these challenges, we systematically classify exfoliated Group VI LTMD dispersions according to their exfoliation methods and highlight recent findings that challenge previously accepted assumptions in the field. Finally, we provide perspectives on surface functionalization approaches for Group VI LTMDs and discuss key limitations associated with the characterization of these newly hybridized materials.