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Multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials featuring functional superiority and high value-added physicochemical nature have received immense attention in electrochemical energy storage. Microfluidic synthesis has become an emergent technology for massively producing multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials with tunable microstructure and morphology due to its rapid mass/heat transfer and precise fluid controllability. In this review, the latest progresses and achievements in microfluidic-synthesized multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials are summarized via reaction process intensification, multifunctional micro-/nanostructural engineering and electrochemical energy storage applications. The reaction process intensification mechanisms of various micro-/nanomaterials, including quantum dots (QDs), metal materials, conducting polymers, metallic oxides, polyanionic compounds, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and two-dimensional (2D) materials, are discussed. Especially, the multifunctional structural engineering principles of as-fabricated micro-/nanomaterials, such as vertically aligned structure, heterostructure, core-shell structure, and tunable microsphere, are introduced. Subsequently, the electrochemical energy storage application of as-prepared multifunctional micro-/nanomaterials is clarified in supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, all-vanadium redox flow batteries, and dielectric capacitors. Finally, the current problems and future forecasts are illustrated.

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Biologically engineered nanomaterials give rise to unique and intriguing properties, which are not available in nature. The full-realization of such has been hindered by the lack of robust and straightforward techniques to produce the required architectures. Here a new bottomup bionano-engineering route is developed to construct nanomaterials using a guided assembly of collagen building blocks, establishing a lithographic process for three-dimensional collagen-based hierarchical micronano-architectures. By introducing optimized hybrid electro-hydrodynamic micronano-lithography exploiting collagen molecules as biological building blocks to self-assemble into a complex variety of structures, quasi-ordered mimics of metamaterials-like are constructed. The tailor-designed engineered apparatus generates the underlying substrates with vertical orientation of collagen at controlled speeds. Templating these hierarchical structures into inorganic materials allows the replication of their network into periodic metal micronano-assemblies. These generate substrates with interesting optical properties, suggesting that size-and-orientation dependent nanofilaments with varying degree of lateral order yield distinctly coloured structures with characteristic optical spectra correlated with observed colours, which varying diameters and interspacing, are attributable to coherent scattering by different periodicity of each fibrous micronano-structure. The artificial mimics display similar optical characteristics to the natural butterfly wing's structure, known to exhibit extraordinary electromagnetic properties, driving future applications in cloaking, super-lenses, photovoltaics and photodetectors.

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The facile modification of cotton fabrics for excellent self-cleaning, oil-water separation, and antibacterial activity is of great interest for multifunctional requirements. Herein, a durable, robust, fluorine-free multifunctional cotton fabric was fabricated via in-situ growing zeolitic imidazolate framework-67 (ZIF-67) on the cotton surface, followed by depositing hydrophobic SiO2 (H-SiO2) nanoparticles synthesized via an improved Stöber reaction. Meanwhile, the abundant hydroxyls of the cotton fabrics provided the necessary ion interaction sites for the uniform deposition of micro/nanomaterials, confirmed by the visualized Raman imaging technology. The resultant H-SiO2/ZIF-67@cotton fabric exhibited superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 159° and versatile self-cleaning, antifouling, oil-water separation, as well as prominent antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. At the same time, the superhydrophobic cotton fabric possessed excellent durability and stability against harsh environments, including abrasion, washing, acid, base, salt, and organic solvents. This facile technique can be applied for large-scale production of multifunctional superhydrophobic cotton fabrics due to its easy operation, low cost, and environmental friendliness.

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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a type of chronic recurrent inflammation disease that mainly includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Currently, the treatments for IBD remain highly challenging, with clinical treatment drugs showing limited efficacy and adverse side effects. Thus, developing drug candidates with comprehensive therapeutic effects, high efficiency, and low toxicity is urgently needed. Recently, micro/nanomaterials have attracted considerable interest because of their bioavailability, multitarget and efficient effects on IBD. In addition, gut modulation plays a substantial role in restoring intestinal homeostasis. Therefore, efficient microbiota-based strategies modulating gut microenvironment have great potential in remarkably treating IBD. With the development of micro- and nanomaterials for the treatment of IBD and more in-depth studies of their therapeutic mechanisms, it has been found that these treatments also have a tendency to positively regulate the intestinal flora, resulting in an increase in the beneficial flora and a decrease in the level of pathogenic bacteria, thus regulating the composition of the intestinal flora to a normal state. In this review, we first present the interactions among the immune system, intestinal barrier, and gut microbiome. In addition, recent advances in administration routes and methods that positively arouse the regulation of intestinal flora for IBD using probiotics, prebiotics, and redox-active micro/nanomaterials have been reviewed. Finally, the key challenges and critical perspectives of gut microbiota-based micro/nanomaterial treatment are also discussed.

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Inorganic nanoparticulate biomaterials, such as calcium phosphate and bioglass particles, with chemical compositions similar to that of the inorganic component of natural bone, and hence having excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity, are widely used for the fabrication of synthetic bone graft substitutes. Growing evidence suggests that structurally anisotropic, or 1D inorganic micro-/nanobiomaterials are superior to inorganic nanoparticulate biomaterials in the context of mechanical reinforcement and construction of self-supporting 3D network structures. Therefore, in the past decades, efforts have been devoted to developing advanced synthetic scaffolds for bone regeneration using 1D micro-/nanobiomaterials as building blocks. These scaffolds feature extraordinary physical and biological properties, such as enhanced mechanical properties, super elasticity, multiscale hierarchical architecture, extracellular matrix-like fibrous microstructure, and desirable biocompatibility and bioactivity, etc. In this review, an overview of recent progress in the development of advanced scaffolds for bone regeneration is provided based on 1D inorganic micro-/nanobiomaterials with a focus on their structural design, mechanical properties, and bioactivity. The promising perspectives for future research directions are also highlighted.

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As the focus of architecture, furniture, and other fields, wood has attracted extensive attention for its many advantages, such as environmental friendliness and excellent mechanical properties. Inspired by the wetting model of natural lotus leaves, researchers prepared superhydrophobic coatings with strong mechanical properties and good durability on the modified wood surface. The prepared superhydrophobic coating has achieved functions such as oil-water separation and self-cleaning. At present, some methods such as the sol-gel method, the etching method, graft copolymerization, and the layer-by-layer self-assembly method can be used to prepare superhydrophobic surfaces, which are widely used in biology, the textile industry, national defense, the military industry, and many other fields. However, most methods for preparing superhydrophobic coatings on wood surfaces are limited by reaction conditions and process control, with low coating preparation efficiency and insufficiently fine nanostructures. The sol-gel process is suitable for large-scale industrial production due to its simple preparation method, easy process control, and low cost. In this paper, the research progress on wood superhydrophobic coatings is summarized. Taking the sol-gel method with silicide as an example, the preparation methods of superhydrophobic coatings on wood surfaces under different acid-base catalysis processes are discussed in detail. The latest progress in the preparation of superhydrophobic coatings by the sol-gel method at home and abroad is reviewed, and the future development of superhydrophobic surfaces is prospected.

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Atmospheric micro-/nanominerals play an important role in the adsorption, enrichment, and migration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). In the present study, the correlations between OCPs and minerals in outdoor atmospheric dustfall were investigated, and the correlations were used to speculate the source of p,p'-(dicofol+dichlorobenzophenone [DBP]), which is the sum of p,p'-dicofol and p,p'-DBP. Atmospheric dustfall samples were collected from 53 sites in the Chengdu-Deyang-Mianyang economic region in the Sichuan basin. In this region, 24 OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The average concentration of 24 OCPs was 51.2 ± 27.4 ng/g. The results showed that the concentration of Σ24 OCPs in urban areas was higher than that in suburban areas (p < 0.05). Minerals in atmospheric dustfall were semiquantitatively analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The primary minerals were quartz, calcite, and gypsum. A Spearman correlation analysis of OCPs and minerals showed that low-volatility OCPs could be adsorbed by minerals in atmospheric dustfall. A density functional theory simulation verified that p,p'-(dicofol+DBP) in atmospheric dustfall was primarily derived from the p,p'-dicofol adsorbed by gypsum. Isomeric ratio results suggested that the samples had weathered lindane and chlordane profiles and confirmed that residents in the Sichuan basin used technical dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane. Finally, the OCPs were evaluated to determine the potential risk of cancer in adults and children from OCP exposure. Exposure to OCPs via atmospheric dustfall was safe for adults. The cancer risk for children exposed to OCPs was slightly lower than the threshold value (10-6 ) under a high dust ingestion rate, which poses a concern. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:594-604. © 2022 SETAC.

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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely applied for the prevention and cure of various diseases for centuries. Ingredient with pharmacological activity is the key to the application of TCM. Hence, it is of significance to separate and detect active ingredients in TCM effectively. Micro/nanomaterial is the promising candidate for adsorption and sensing due to its unique physical and chemical properties. For years, many efforts have been made to develop functional micro/nanomaterials to realize the effective adsorption or sensing of bioactive compounds in TCM. In this review, we discussed recent progresses in the application of various functional micro/nanomaterials for adsorption or detection (electrochemical detection, fluorescent detection, and colorimetric detection) of active ingredients. Based on the kind of matrix materials, micro/nano-adsorbents or sensors can be classified into following categories: metal-based micro/nanomaterials, porous materials, carbon-based materials, graphene/graphite-liked micro/nanomaterials and hybrid micro/nanomaterials.

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Optoelectrokinetics (OEK), a fusion of optics, electrokinetics, and microfluidics, has been demonstrated to offer a series of extraordinary advantages in the manipulation and fabrication of micro/nanomaterials, such as requiring no mask, programmability, flexibility, and rapidness. In this paper, we summarize a variety of differently structured OEK chips, followed by a discussion on how they are fabricated and the ways in which they work. We also review how three differently sized polystyrene beads can be separated simultaneously, how a variety of nanoparticles can be assembled, and how micro/nanomaterials can be fabricated into functional devices. Another focus of our paper is on mask-free fabrication and assembly of hydrogel-based micro/nanostructures and its possible applications in biological fields. We provide a summary of the current challenges facing the OEK technique and its future prospects at the end of this paper.

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The hydrophobicity and color stability of wood are important properties that can be easily changed when wood is used as a raw material for outdoor products, reducing the service life of wood. Herein, an epoxy@ZnO coating was applied by a two-step simple spray coating method to improve the hydrophobicity and color stability of Styrax tonkinensis wood. The hydrophobicity, robustness of coating, as well as the color stability of uncoated wood samples and epoxy@ZnO coated wood samples were evaluated. The microstructure morphology and crystal structures of the coating were also characterized by a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. Results showed that the obtained epoxy@ZnO coating was not only superhydrophobic with an average water contact angle of 154.1°, but also maintained superhydrophobicity with an average water contact angle of 149.6° after five water jetting tests. The color stability of the coated wood samples was improved by around 50% compared to that of uncoated wood samples. Additionally, a continuous epoxy@ZnO coating with hierarchical micro/nanoscale structures constructed by the wurtzite hexagonal structure of ZnO micro/nanoparticles on wood surfaces was confirmed.

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Antifouling booster biocides are chemicals used in protective paints to tackle the adhesion of fouling organisms to maritime artificial structures. However, they are also known to exert toxic effects on non-target organisms. Recent research developments have highlighted the potential use of engineered micro/nanomaterials (EMNMs) as carriers of antifouling booster biocides in order to control their release and to reduce the harmful effects on living biota. In the present study, we sought to assess the toxicity of two commercially-available booster biocides: (zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) and copper pyrithione (CuPT)); three unloaded engineered micro/nanomaterials (EMNMs); layered double hydroxides (LDH), silica nanocapsules (SiNC), polyurea microcapsules (PU); , and six novel EMNMs (loaded with each of the two biocides). The exposure tests were conducted on the larval stage (nauplii) of the brine shrimp Artemia salina and on two embryonic developmental stages of the European purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. The findings indicate that the unloaded LDH and PU (i.e. both biocide-free EMNMs) have non/low toxic effects on both species. The unloaded SiNC, in contrast, exerted a mild toxic effect on the A. salina nauplii and P. lividus embryos. The free biocides presented different toxicity values, with ZnPT being more toxic than CuPT in the P. lividus assays. LDH-based pyrithiones demonstrated lower toxicity compared to the free forms of the state-of-the-art compounds, and constitute good candidates in terms of their antifouling efficacy.

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Micro- and nanometer-sized metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) materials have attracted great attention due to their unique properties and various potential applications in photonics, electronics, high-density storage, chemo-, and biosensors. The study of these materials supplies insight into how the crystal structure, molecular components, and micro-/nanoscale effects can influence the performance of inorganic-organic hybrid materials. In this Minireview article, we introduce recent breakthroughs in the controlled synthesis of MOF micro-/nanomaterials with specific structures and compositions, the tunable photonic and electronic properties of which would provide a novel platform for multifunctional applications. Firstly, the design strategies for MOFs based on self-assembly and crystal engineering principles are introduced. Attention is then focused on the methods of fabrication of low-dimensional MOF micro-/nanostructures. Their new applications including two-photon excited fluorescence, multi-photon pumped lasing, optical waveguides, nonlinear optical (NLO), and field-effect transistors are also outlined. Finally, we briefly discuss perspectives on the further development of these hybrid crystalline micro-/nanomaterials.

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A simple in situ self-assembly selective synthetic strategy for one-step controllable formation of various three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical Co3O4 micro/nanomaterials with peculiar morphologies, uniform size, and high quality is successfully developed. The morphological control and related impact factors are investigated and clarified in detail. The results further clarify the corresponding mechanisms on the reaction process, product generation, and calcining process as well as the formation of specific morphologies. Furthermore, the superior catalytic properties of these materials are confirmed by two typical Co-based energy applications on the decomposition of an important solid rocket propellant, ammonium perchlorate (AP), and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The addition of Co3O4 materials to AP obviously decreases the decomposition temperatures by about 118-140 °C and increases the exothermic heat to a great extent. As the substituted counter electrodes of DSSCs, the 3D hierarchical Co3O4 materials exhibit attractive photovoltaic performances. These findings provide a facile and effective way for designing new types of 3D hierarchical materials toward high catalytic activity for energy devices.

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BACKGROUND: Cancer hyperthermia is attracting much attention in basic science and clinics. Among the hyperthermia techniques, microwave (MW) heating is most commonly used for cancer treatment. It offers highly competitive advantages: faster heat generation from microwave radiation, less susceptibility to heat up local tissues, maneuverability, and depth of penetration in tissues and capability of killing tumor cells. Although the encouraging clinical results are being collected, MW hyperthermia has its own challenges, such as inaccurate targeting and low selectivity, which lead to damage to the surrounding vital organs and tissues. To address these issues, this review aims to introduce micronanomaterials as promising agents for receiving the electromagnetic wave, which should be beneficial for improving the efficacy of MW hyperthermia. METHODS: We have searched many peer-reviewed papers in medical and chemical material databases about micro-nanomaterials for tumor microwave hyperthermia. Distinguishing features and important progresses are introduced in this review. RESULTS: One hundred and forty papers were chosen and included in this review. Four parts were described, including hyperthermia techniques and the application of micro-nanomaterials, microwave thermal therapy and treatment principle, microwave absorbing micro-nanomaterials, the preparation and application of micro-nanomaterials in microwave thermal therapy. CONCLUSION: We review the most recent literatures on micro-nanomaterials-based MW heating strategies for cancer treatment, with the aim to give the reader an overview of the state-of-the-art of MW hyperthermia therapy. The future of MW responsive materials will also be discussed, including combination of imaging probes and targeting moieties.

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A microbial biosensor is an analytical device with a biologically integrated transducer that generates a measurable signal indicating the analyte concentration. This method is ideally suited for the analysis of extracellular chemicals and the environment, and for metabolic sensory regulation. Although microbial biosensors show promise for application in various detection fields, some limitations still remain such as poor selectivity, low sensitivity, and impractical portability. To overcome such limitations, microbial biosensors have been integrated with many recently developed micro/nanotechnologies and applied to a wide range of detection purposes. This review article discusses micro/nanotechnologies that have been integrated with microbial biosensors and summarizes recent advances and the applications achieved through such novel integration. Future perspectives on the combination of micro/nanotechnologies and microbial biosensors will be discussed, and the necessary developments and improvements will be strategically deliberated.