Pointprobe

Plant-Growth Synchronized, Acid Phosphatase-Responsive Lignin-Based Controlled Release Phosphorus Nanofertilizers

Developing smarter fertilizer systems that deliver nutrients when and where plants need them could help improve nutrient efficiency while reducing unnecessary losses to the environment. In this article, Alice Boarino, Nicola Carrara, Joaquin Clua, Nick Zahnd, Yves Poirier, and Harm-Anton Klok present a lignin-based nanofertilizer platform designed to respond to a biological signal associated with phosphate deficiency in plants.

The researchers developed tripolyphosphate (TPP)-cross-linked lignin nanoparticles engineered to release phosphorus in response to acid phosphatase. This enzyme is upregulated by plants under phosphate-starvation conditions, providing a mechanism for synchronizing nutrient release with plant demand. The lignin/TPP nanoparticles therefore combine a biodegradable polymer-based carrier with an enzyme-responsive release mechanism rather than relying on a conventional uncontrolled release process.

The nanofertilizers were prepared from aminated lignin and tripolyphosphate through ionic gelation followed by covalent cross-linking. The resulting nanoparticles were investigated to determine their structural and functional properties and to understand how exposure to acid phosphatase affects their stability. The authors found that phosphorus release was triggered by acid phosphatase activity and occurred together with nanoparticle disintegration, demonstrating the responsiveness of the lignin-based delivery system to the targeted enzymatic stimulus.

The biological experiments further demonstrated the potential of the nanoparticles as a phosphorus source for Arabidopsis thaliana. Treatment with lignin-TPP nanoparticles suppressed the growth inhibition and molecular responses normally associated with phosphate deficiency, supporting their potential as controlled-release nanofertilizers for plant growth and development.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize the morphology and size distribution of the lignin-based nanoparticles. AFM imaging was performed in tapping mode using a NanoWorld PointProbe® NCSTR-50 AFM probe, an aluminum-coated silicon cantilever with a spring constant of 7.4 N/m and a resonance frequency of approximately 160 kHz.

For AFM analysis, nanoparticle dispersions were deposited onto cleaned silicon wafers and dried overnight at room temperature. Samples prepared in Milli-Q water were used to characterize nanoparticle dimensions, while dispersions in MES buffer were used to investigate the effect of acid phosphatase on nanoparticle stability. The resulting AFM images enabled direct nanoscale characterization of the particles, with nanoparticle sizes determined from the measured particle heights.

The use of a NanoWorld AFM probe in tapping mode provided a suitable approach for imaging these nanoscale polymer-based structures while limiting the interaction between the AFM probe and the deposited nanoparticles. The NanoWorld PointProbe® NCSTR-50 AFM probe therefore played an important role in confirming the morphology and dimensions of the lignin-TPP nanofertilizers.

This work highlights how NanoWorld AFM probes can support nanoscale characterization of responsive polymer nanoparticles and advanced agricultural materials. By combining AFM-based morphological analysis with biochemical response testing and plant experiments, the authors demonstrate a promising approach toward nanofertilizers capable of delivering phosphorus in a plant-growth-synchronized manner.

The study also illustrates the broader potential of nanoscale characterization in the development of responsive agricultural materials, where nanoparticle size, morphology, stability, and stimulus-dependent behavior can all influence the performance of the final delivery system.

Figure 6.AFM images of cross-linked lignin/TPP nanoparticles after A) 0 h, B) 24 h, C) 48 h, and D) 72 h of incubation with acid phosphatase (10 mU/mL). — Figure 6.
AFM images of cross-linked lignin/TPP nanoparticles after A) 0 h, B) 24 h, C) 48 h, and D) 72 h of incubation with acid phosphatase (10 mU/mL).

Full citation:
Boarino, A.; Carrara, N.; Clua, J.; Zahnd, N.; Poirier, Y.; Klok, H.-A.
Plant-Growth Synchronized, Acid Phosphatase-Responsive Lignin-Based Controlled Release Phosphorus Nanofertilizers.
Biomacromolecules 2026, 27, 5, 3176–3187.
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.5c02594

Creative Commons license: CC BY 4.0

Multifunctional Microstructured Surfaces by Microcontact Printing of Reactive Microgels

Engineering surfaces with precisely controlled chemical and structural properties is essential for developing advanced biomaterials, tissue engineering platforms, and biofunctional interfaces. In this article, Inga Litzen, Alexander Töpel, Martin Zenke, Antonio Sechi, and Andrij Pich present a versatile strategy for fabricating multifunctional microstructured surfaces by combining microcontact printing with reactive microgel technology.
The authors synthesized poly(N-vinylcaprolactam-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (p(VCL-co-GMA)) microgels that serve as functional colloidal inks for microcontact printing onto glass substrates. This approach enabled the fabrication of stable microgel arrays with well-defined geometries and allowed subsequent post-modification with functional molecules, including fluorescent dyes and cell-adhesive peptide sequences. By further introducing controlled surface-chemical gradients through dip-coating, the researchers demonstrated precise spatial control over surface functionality. Cell culture experiments using NIH-3T3 fibroblasts confirmed that peptide-functionalized microgel patterns significantly influenced cell adhesion and migration, highlighting the potential of this platform for bioengineering and regenerative medicine.
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to characterize the morphology and surface structure of the synthesized microgels after deposition. High-resolution AFM imaging was performed in tapping mode using a NanoWorld PointProbe® NCH AFM probe. The silicon AFM probe, featuring a resonance frequency of approximately 320 kHz and a spring constant of 42 N/m, enabled detailed visualization of the microgel topography and provided valuable information on particle morphology and surface organization at the nanoscale.
AFM characterization complemented dynamic light scattering and zeta potential measurements by providing direct nanoscale imaging of the surface-coated microgels. The high spatial resolution of the NanoWorld PointProbe® NCH AFM probe allowed the authors to verify the successful formation of uniform microgel structures, supporting the optimization of the microcontact printing process and the subsequent surface functionalization steps.

This article demonstrates how NanoWorld AFM probes contribute to the characterization of advanced polymeric microgel systems used for surface engineering. By combining high-resolution AFM imaging with microcontact printing and post-functionalization strategies, the study provides new opportunities for designing multifunctional surfaces for biomedical, biotechnology, and materials science applications.

Figure 3
Imaging of surfaces structured with p(VCL-co-10mol%GMA-shell) microgels via microcontact printing. a,b,e-j) Light microscopy images and c,k-m) AFM images were recorded. Additionally, d) shows a height profile generated from the AFM image b). The ideal dimensions of resulting patterns are given in the schemes above. Dark grey areas in light microscopy images represent microgel stripes, lighter areas represent the bare glass. Scale bars in light microscopy images: 100 µm.

Full citation:
Litzen, I.; Töpel, A.; Zenke, M.; Sechi, A.; Pich, A.
Multifunctional Microstructured Surfaces by Microcontact Printing of Reactive Microgels.
Advanced Functional Materials 36(15), e16135 (2026).
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202516135

Creative Commons license: CC BY 4.0

Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells

The optimization of nonradiative recombination losses through interface engineering is key to the development of efficient, stable, and hysteresis-free perovskite solar cells (PSCs). *

In the article “Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells” Shrabani Panigrahi, Hussein O. Badr, Jonas Deuermeier, Santanu Jana, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins and Michel W. Barsoum, for the first time in solar cell technology, present a novel approach to interface modification by employing one-dimensional lepidocrocite (henceforth referred to as 1DL) TiO2-based nanofilaments, NFs, between the mesoporous TiO2 (mp TiO2) and halide perovskite film in PSCs to improve both the efficiency and stability of the devices. *

The 1DLs can be easily produced on the kilogram scale starting with cheap and earth-abundant precursor powders, such as TiC, TiN, TiB2, etc., and a common organic base like tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Notably, the 1DL deposition influenced perovskite grain development, resulting in a larger grain size and a more compact perovskite layer. Additionally, it minimized trap centers in the material and reduced charge recombination processes, as confirmed by the photoluminescence analysis. *

The overall promotion led to an improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) from 13 ± 3.2 to 16 ± 1.8% after interface modification. The champion PCE for the 1DL-containing devices is 17.82%, which is higher than that of 16.17% for the control devices. *

The passivation effect is further demonstrated by evaluating the stability of PSCs under ambient conditions, wherein the 1DL-containing PSCs maintain ∼87% of their initial efficiency after 120 days. *

The article not only presents cost-effective, novel, and promising materials for cathode interface engineering but also an effective approach to achieve high-efficiency PSCs with long-term stability devoid of encapsulation. *

To get a deeper understanding of the enhanced photocurrent production within the perovskite layer, the authors used photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pcAFM) to map the photocurrent distribution at the nanoscale for the same perovskite layers on both types of ETLs. *

pcAFM measurements were taken in air with a commercially available Atomic Force Microscopy by using conductive PtIr-coated NanoWorld Pointprobe® CONTPt silicon AFM probes (typical resonance frequency = 13 kHz, typical spring constant = 0.2 N/m) and a current detector holder. A light source was used to light the samples. *

Figure 4 from Shrabani Panigrahi et al. 2024 “Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells”:Characterization of the perovskite films (MAPbI3 is denoted as MAPI inside figure) deposited on mp TiO2 and mp/1DL ETLs: (a, b) FESEM micrographs, (c) XRD patterns, (d) UV/vis absorption, and (e) PL spectra. (f, h) AFM topography images and (g, i) corresponding pcAFM photocurrent images of the perovskite layers deposited on mp TiO2 and mp/1DL TiO2 ETLS, respectively. (j) Photocurrent line profiles across the perovskite layers. pcAFM measurements were taken in air using conductive PtIr-coated NanoWorld Pointprobe® CONTPt silicon AFM probes — Figure 4 from Shrabani Panigrahi et al. 2024 “Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells”:
Characterization of the perovskite films (MAPbI3 is denoted as MAPI inside figure) deposited on mp TiO2 and mp/1DL ETLs: (a, b) FESEM micrographs, (c) XRD patterns, (d) UV/vis absorption, and (e) PL spectra. (f, h) AFM topography images and (g, i) corresponding pcAFM photocurrent images of the perovskite layers deposited on mp TiO2 and mp/1DL TiO2 ETLS, respectively. (j) Photocurrent line profiles across the perovskite layers.

*Shrabani Panigrahi, Hussein O. Badr, Jonas Deuermeier, Santanu Jana, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins and Michel W. Barsoum
Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells
ACS Omega 2024, 9, 51, 50820–50829
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c09516

Open Access The article “Interfacial Engineering with One-Dimensional Lepidocrocite TiO2-Based Nanofilaments for High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells” by Shrabani Panigrahi, Hussein O. Badr, Jonas Deuermeier, Santanu Jana, Elvira Fortunato, Rodrigo Martins and Michel W. Barsoum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third-party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.