Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been one of the most attractive nanomaterials in biomedicine due to their unique physicochemical properties. In this paper, we review the state-of-the-art advances of AgNPs in the synthesis methods, medical applications and biosafety of AgNPs. The synthesis methods of AgNPs include physical, chemical and biological routes. AgNPs are mainly used for antimicrobial and anticancer therapy, and also applied in the promotion of wound repair and bone healing, or as the vaccine adjuvant, anti-diabetic agent and biosensors. This review also summarizes the biological action mechanisms of AgNPs, which mainly involve the release of silver ions (Ag + ), generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), destruction of membrane structure. Despite these therapeutic benefits, their biological safety problems such as potential toxicity on cells, tissue, and organs should be paid enough attention. Besides, we briefly introduce a new type of Ag particles smaller than AgNPs, silver Ångstrom (Å, 1 Å = 0.1 nm) particles (AgÅPs), which exhibit better biological activity and lower toxicity compared with AgNPs. Finally, we conclude the current challenges and point out the future development direction of AgNPs.

is study was originally performed to compare the MnO 2-based degradation of aqueous methylene blue (MB) under microwave irradiation-(MW-) enhanced and conventional heating-(CH-) enhanced conditions. e degradation process and kinetics were investigated to elucidate the microwave effect on the reaction. e results showed that all three tested conditions, sole MnO 2 , MnO 2 /CH, and MnO 2 /MW, followed the third-order (second upon MB and �rst upon MnO 2) kinetic model. However, a higher degradation rate of MB was available under the MW-enhanced process, which implies that the "athermal effect" of MW might be of more bene�t for the generation of electrophilic oxygen ions (O 2 − , O − , and O 2−) to degrade MB. e results showed that the degradation percentage of MB could reach 100%, corresponding to 92% total organic carbon (TOC) removal under microwave irradiation at pH 7.20 for 10 min.

Articles you may be interested inTemperature-dependent characteristics of an InP/InGaAs double heterojunction bipolar transistor with a stepgraded InAlGaAs collector Effect of composite collector design on the breakdown behavior of InGaP/GaAs double heterojunction bipolar transistorThe temperature-dependent dc characteristics of an interesting heterojunction bipolar transistor with an InGaAsP spacer and an InGaAs/ InGaAsP composite-collector structure are studied and demonstrated. By employing the intermediate band-gap In 0.72 Ga 0.28 As 0.61 P 0.39 material at the emitter-base and base-collector heterojunction, the electron blocking effect is effectively eliminated. The studied device gives the promising dc performances including the small offset and saturation voltages without degrading the breakdown behaviors. The typical incremental current gain of 114 and the maximum dc current gain of 118 are obtained. It is worthwhile to note that the desired current amplification over 11 decades of the magnitude of collector current I C is obtained in the studied device. Moreover, the switching or hysteresis phenomenon usually observed in InP-based devices is not seen in the studied device.

InGaP/InGaAs double doped channel heterostructure field-effect transistors (DDCHFETs) with δ-doped channels and uniformly doped channels are comprehensively studied and demonstrated. From the simulation results, based on a two-dimensional simulator of Atlas, the band diagrams, DC and RF characteristics of studied devices are compared and studied. The better drain current drivability, higher transconductance and microwave performances are obtained in the studied device with δ-doped channel. In addition, experimentally, the DDCHFET with δ-doped quantum well channel is fabricated successfully. Due to the employed InGaAs double δ-doped channel structure and Schottky behaviours of InGaP 'insulator', good DC properties including pinch-off and saturation characteristics, higher and linear transconductance, and good RF properties are obtained. Moreover, the experimental results are consistent with simulated data.