The coating of particles or decomposable cores with polyelectrolytes via Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly creates free-standing LbL-coated functional particles. Due to the numerous functions that their polymers can bestow, the particles are preferentially selected for a plethora of applications, including, but not limited to coatings, cargo-carriers, drug delivery vehicles and fabric enhancements. The number of publications discussing the fabrication and usage of LbL-assembled particles has consistently increased over the last vicennial. However, past literature fails to either mention or expand upon how these LbL-assembled particles immobilize on to a solid surface. This review evaluates examples of LbL-assembled particles that have been immobilized on to solid surfaces. To aid in the formulation of a mechanism for immobilization, this review examines which forces and factors influence immobilization, and how the latter can be confirmed. The predominant forces in the immobilization of the particles studied here are the Coulombic, capillary, and adhesive forces; hydrogen bonding as well as van der Waal’s and hydrophobic interactions are also considered. These are heavily dependent on the factors that influenced immobilization, such as the particle morphology and surface charge. The shape of the LbL particle is related to the particle core, whereas the charge was dependant on the outermost polyelectrolyte in the multilayer coating. The polyelectrolytes also determine the type of bonding that a particle can form with a solid surface. These can be via either physical (non-covalent) or chemical (covalent) bonds; the latter enforcing a stronger immobilization. This review proposes a fundamental theory for immobilization pathways and can be used to support future research in the field of surface patterning and for the general modification of solid surfaces with polymer-based nano- and micro-sized polymer structures.

Graphene-based nanomaterials have transformed biomedical applications due to their exceptional physicochemical properties, and nitrogen (N)-doping further enhances the electrocatalytic activity of graphene. Driven by the demand for safer and more sustainable nanomaterials, in this work, we compared eco-friendly produced N- doped graphene (bD) with conventionally synthesized N- doped graphene (cD) in three different cell lines. Across all cell types and assays, cD was more toxic than bD. In NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells, cD activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway, whereas in HaCaT keratinocytes, it triggered oxidative stress responses and increased the apoptotic population. High doses of cD also affected THP-1-derived macrophages by inducing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Although high doses of bD were also cytotoxic, overall, its effects were milder than cD. Our results confirm that green exfoliation of N- doped graphene retains its desirable biomedical properties while enhancing its biocompatibility, making bD a safer choice for future biomedical applications.

Azothiophene photoswitches show tunable half-lives and λ _max shifts via aromatic substitution, enabling visible-light E ↔ Z isomerization with high fatigue resistance; acid derivatives exhibit pH-governed azo-hydrazone tautomerism and color changes.

Developing sustainable strategies to enhance crop yields is critical to meeting global food demands under intensifying climate stress. This study investigates the synthesis and application of folic-acid-based carbon nanoassemblies (FA-CNAs) that integrate magnesium (Mg) or manganese (Mn) as precision nanobionic tools for agricultural enhancement. The produced materials were selected for photosynthetic enhancement due to their biofortification potential and their ability to expand the usable solar spectrum by harvesting underutilized UV-A wavelengths. In greenhouse trials with Raphanus sativus, FA-CNA-Mg treatment achieved significant biostimulation, resulting in a 13% increase in foliar dry mass, a 19% boost in chlorophyll concentration, and a 22% improvement in ascorbic acid content. Conversely, while FA-CNA-Mn facilitated exceptional systemic translocation (up to a 306% increase in root Mn concentration), it displayed inhibitions in the rate of the Hill reaction by 36%. Untargeted metabolomics revealed that the superior performance of FA-CNA-Mg is underpinned by systemic metabolic reprogramming, characterized by the upregulation of vitamin B5 and an accelerated flux of essential amino acids and nitrogen-rich ureides. These results highlight the potential of vitamin–metal synergy for developing high-efficiency, sustainable alternatives to conventional fertilizers that optimize both photosynthetic integrity and harvestable yield.

Boosting the photosynthetic efficiency remains a critical challenge for sustainable crop productivity. In this study, the design, synthesis, and functional evaluation of two carbon-based nanomaterials are reported: a fluorescent carbon nanoassembly (Compound 1) derived from citric acid and urea, and a cerium-incorporated variant (Compound 2) incorporating redox-active cerium oxide domains. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the formation of nanostructured materials with tunable optical properties, surface functionalities, and crystalline features. Both compounds exhibited strong UV-A absorbance and blue photoluminescence, with Compound 2 showing enhanced emission and additional red-shifted features due to cerium integration. Greenhouse trials usingRaphanus sativus as a model plant revealed significant improvements in biomass, pigment concentration, and ascorbic acid levels in the treated plants. Confocal microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed nanoparticle uptake and translocation, while flow cytometry revealed altered chloroplast fluorescence, supporting functional interaction at the organelle level. Together, these results establish carbon-based nanobionics as a promising platform for photonic enhancement of photosynthesis, offering new opportunities for advanced bioagricultural applications.