(MLCC): nano-scale multi-layered-composite coatings [1]

Because they are composed of particles smaller than a pixel, nano coatings offer a
unique solution to many common problems, as they can be applied in thin layers to any
surface (Mahdavian et al., 2022).

These coatings have advanced to the point where they are now able to provide
complete protection for surfaces, as well as enhanced mechanical, chemical and thermal
properties (Sahoo et al., 2022).In adidtion, provide superior protection against abrasion,
corrosion, and UV radiation. The protective nano coatings also enable manufacturers to
increase the lifespan and improve the performance of their products. These advancements
are especially beneficial in industries like automotive, marine, aerospace, and medical,
which depend on having durable surfaces that can withstand friction and environmental
conditions.

Overview about MLCC

Multi-layered composite coatings (MLCC) are a type of protective coating that is

composed of multiple layers of different materials. Each layer of the coating provides a
unique combination of properties that together form a stronger, more effective coating.
The materials used in MLCC can include metal, polymer, ceramic, and other materials.
Each layer of the coating is designed to provide specific properties, such as corrosion
resistance, wear resistance, electrical insulation, and thermal insulation. .In particular, the
combination of Al/Cu/Sn/Ni layers makes for an ideal material for many applications due
to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. In order to evaluate the
macro and microstructure of this composite material, several tests must be conducted.
These tests measure the material’s strength, elongation, and modulus of elasticity, as well
as its ductility and fatigue resistance. The mechanical properties are also affected by the
post-heat treatment process, so they can be compared to samples that were not heat-
treated to assess the influence of the post-heat treatment.

Nano-scale MLCC are effective at reducing the heat output of a surface while
maintaining its function:

Enhanced Hardness and Wear Resistance

Reduced Friction and Improved Lubrication

Improved Adhesion and Coating Integrity

Superior Thermal Stability

 Tailored Coating Properties

Challenge must face in developing MLCC

The nano-scale size of the layers and the complexity of the multi-layered structure
requires a high degree of precision and accuracy in the production process (Ganeshkumar
et al., 2020). The layers must be carefully monitored and controlled to ensure that they
are properly formed.

Each layer is composed of a variety of materials, which must be precisely mixed

and applied in order to achieve the desired properties. The composition of the layers must
also be carefully monitored and adjusted as the coating is formed, as even small changes
in the composition can drastically alter the properties of the coating.

Controlling the film morphology and the substrate surface because the film
morphology and the substrate surface can affect the performance of the coating.

One way to control film morphology is to use a focused ion beam (FIB) to create
nanoscale features on the film. FIB is an advanced tool that is used to create features on
film that are smaller than 100 nm. The use of FIB can help to control film morphology by
controlling the size and shape of the features. Another way to control film morphology is
to use step coverage (Ganeshkumar and Venkatesh, 2022). Step coverage is a technique
that is used to create a uniform film on the substrate. Step coverage is achieved by
covering the substrate with a series of thin films. This method can be used to control film
morphology by controlling the amount of coverage. Another way to control film
morphology is to use an amorphous substrate. Amorphous substrates are substrates that
do not have a well-defined shape. Amorphous substrates can be used to control film
morphology by controlling the degree of crystallinity (Ganeshkumar et al., 2022c).
Another way to control film morphology is to use a blend of two or more films. Blends of
films can be used to control film morphology by controlling the interfacial properties
between the films. Another way to control film morphology is to use a process called
vacuumassisted coating (VAC). VAC is a process that is used to apply a coating without
having to contact the substrate. VAC can be used to control film morphology by
controlling the deposition rate and the substrate temperature. All of these methods can be
used to control film morphology. However, each method has its own advantages and
disadvantages. The use of FIB is the most controllable method of controlling film
morphology. FIB can be used to control the size and shape of the features on the film.
FIB can also be used to create nanoscale features on the film. The use of step coverage is
the least controllable method of controlling film morphology. Step coverage is achieved
by covering the substrate with a series of thin films. Step coverage is not as controllable
as FIB because the amount of coverage can vary. The use of an amorphous substrate is
the least controllable method of controlling film morphology. Amorphous substrates can
be difficult to control because the degree of crystallinity can vary. The use of a blend of
two or more films is the most controllable method of controlling film morphology.
Blends of films can be used to control film morphology by controlling the interfacial
properties between the films. The use of VAC is the least controllable method of
controlling film morphology. VAC is a process that is used to apply a coating without
having to contact the substrate. VAC is less controllable than step coverage and FIB
because the deposition rate and the substrate temperature can vary. Overall, the use of
FIB, step coverage, amorphous substrates, and blends of films are the most controllable
methods of controlling film morphology. VAC is the least controllable method of
controlling film morphology (Ganeshkumar et al., 2022b).

(Ganeshkumar et al., 2023)

Biomedical micro-nano hydrogel [2]

Nanogels are dispersions of polymer particles formed by chemical or physical
crosslinking of polymer chains, with an internal threedimensional network structure, and
particle sizes typically ranging from 1 to-200 nm, making them an advanced
nanodelivery carrier, nanogels have a smaller particle size and a larger specific surface
area, which is beneficial for further biocoupling. In addition, nanogels can overcome in
vivo physiological barriers more effectively, and remain stable in the internal circulation,
have high bioavailability, and can effectively concentrate bioactive substances in vivo.
Especially in the administration of special sites such as cartilage, nanogels can overcome
the cartilage barrier and effectively achieve drug delivery, the most important property of
nanogels, that is the response to external stimuli (such as temperature or ph changes),
makes it promising as an intelligent delivery system. Moreover, because the nanoscale
size, it is easier for nanogels to interact with cells and even be internalized, showing good
application prospects in biomedicine.

Preparation techniques for micro hydrogels

Spray drying: spray drying technology has the advantages of low cost and green
environmental protection. Spray-dried hydrogel microspheres can be used to encapsulate
a variety of drugs and cells. For example, E-Sherbiny et al. Prepared special PLGA
nanoparticles loaded with curcumin and then encapsulated these unique nanoparticles
into amphiphilic hydrogel microspheres through spray drying based on a PEG-chitosan
graft copolymer. Another example, a composite hydrogel was prepared by combining a
chitosan-alginate hydrogel with microspheres composed of a hydrophobic polymer
PLGA and a hydrophilic drug DFO. The results showed that the particles contained in the
gel were monolithic and spherical in shape with no collapse.

Nanogels for antibacterial

The formation of bacterial biofilms is currently one of the biggest causes of

implant failure in clinical practice, leading to multiple complications and even death. Due
to the advantages of stability and drug targeting, the nanogel carrier can achieve local
high concentration release, and has great application potential in antibacterial and
antiinfection. For example, Liu et al, designed and synthesized silver thiolide
nanoclusters (agncs) and further impregnated them in chitosan, successfully preparing
multifunctional nanogels. Compared with unencapsulated agncs, it exhibits enhanced
antimicrobial activity (approximately > 10-fold).

Alginate

Alginate is a naturally occurring anionic polymer, usually extracted from brown

seaweed and bacteria. The most common method for preparing alginate hydrogels is to
combine alginate with divalent cations and ionic crosslinkers (such as Ca2þ, Mg2þ, Fe2þ,
Ba2þ or Sr2þ). Alginate is composed of blocks of (1,4)-linked β-d-mannuronate (M) and
α-l-guluronate (G) residues. According to its source, typically, a block consists of three
different forms of polymer segments: continuous G residues, continuous M residues, and
alternating MG residues. Alginate is composed of blocks of (1,4)-linked β-d-mannuronate
(M) and α-l-guluronate (G) residues. According to its source, typically, a block consists of
three different forms of polymer segments: continuous G residues, continuous M
residues, and alternating MG residues. In addition, as a polymer approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alginate has been extensively used in the food
industry as a stabilizer.

Chitosan

Chitosan (CS) is used as a raw material for food packaging. It is a kind of natural
polysaccharide with abundant sources and simple application (Saenz-Mendoza et al.,
2020). It has good film forming properties, and has been certain antibacterial, antioxidant,
non-toxic and biodegradable properties (S. Chen, Zhang, et al., 2022), making chitosan
and its derivatives a class of competitive candidates for developing food preservation
films (X. Liu, Liao, & Xia, 2023; Luo et al., 2023; W. Zhang, Gao, Jiang, & Xia,
2023). Chitosan is prepared by either chemical or enzymatic deacetylation of chitin. The
deacetyl degree of chitosan is generally in the range from 30% to 95%. Chitosan is often
combined with electrospun fibers and has been broadly applied in tissue repair because of
its excellent biocompatibility, antibacterial and antifungal properties, and anti-adhesion
properties, as well as abundant sources and low price. Clinically, chitosan has been used
in skin wound healing and hemostatic dressings, as well as approved as a dietary
supplement for obesity and hyperlipidemia.

(Yang et al., 2023)

(EOs) Essential Oil to preserve bluberries [3]

The most common preservation methods are low-temperature storage and
chemical coating. However, these methods cannot completely inhibit the infection of
pathogenic microorganisms, require high cost, or have a short validity period (djenane
2012). Synthetic preservatives application in food system is currently discouraged
because residual chemical substances on the surface may also affect human health
(hashemi et al., 2015).

 The use of some eos for food preservation has also been reported and applied on a
large scale as green chemicals in the agriculture sector (ben et al., 2017, hao et al., 1998,
djenane, 2012). Many eos have been exempted from the toxicity criteria required by the
us-fda and epa and therefore tabulated under the generally recognized as safe (gras)
category, supporting their consumption as safer food preservatives. The characteristics of
high volatility, thermal instability and poor water solubility of eos, there are some
limitations to their application as food preservatives. To solve this prblem, it is proposed
to improve the stability of eos by encapsulating it with trehalose microcapsules, coating it
with methylcellulose or compounding multiple eos. Moreover, previous studies have
shown that nano-emulsions based on several commercial eos can remarkably inhibit the
growth of multiple pathogens and food-borne microorganisms. The authors' previous
study also suggested that a nano-emulsion of meo can significantly inhibit the growth
of aflatoxin flavus on peanuts (song et al., 2022). Therefore, nano-emulsification of eos is
an effective mean to improve their activity and stability.

Microbial infection not only leads to the loss of nutrients and functional
components of blueberries, but also produces toxins that endanger human health (Qin
2017). Thus, how to keep blueberries fresh after picking is an urgent problem that needs
to be solved. EOs with antibacterial properties have attracted the interest of many
researchers because of their efficiency and safety. However, the practical application of
EOs is difficult due to their instability and low yield. Nano-emulsificated essential oils
can improve their antibacterial activity and stability has been claimed by researchers (Cui
et al., 2020). In the present study, we screened a variety of aromatic plants with a
specially designed device and found that M. didyma showed a great preservation effect on
blueberries and that its oil also exhibited a superior inhibitory effect on blueberry
pathogens. Nano-emulsificated MEO (MNE) was characterized and tested for its
inhibitory potential against pathogens and compared with that of un-nano-emulsificated
MEO. MNE was found to have more efficient antifungi activity and effectively prevent
the spoilage of blueberries and reduce the loss of functional components.

(Zhang et al., 2023)

The CIN-TA NEs/CS (CSCT) to preserve mushrooms [4]

The antibacterial and antioxidant effects of pure chitosan films are difficult to meet
the needs of practical applications and additional additives are needed to enhance their
antibacterial and antioxidant effects. CS is often combined with compounds,
nanoparticles and MOFs to improve the mechanical, antioxidant and antibacterial
properties of composite films, but there are some problems of toxicity and poor
biodegradability (Purohit, Priyadarshi, Bhaskar, & Han, 2023; Zhou et al., 2022). To
improve the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of CS films, essential oils (L. Liu,
Swift, Tollemache, Perera, & Kilmartin, 2022; Nazurah, Noranizan, Nor-Khaizura, & Nur
Hanani, 2022) and extracts containing polyphenols (Shao et al., 2020) are added to meet
the higher needs of chitosan-based films in food packaging. Gasti et al. (Gasti et al.,
2022) improved the antibacterial properties of chitosan film by incorporating clove
essential oil and applied the film to chicken packaging. Wang et al. (Xingchi Xingchi
Wang et al., 2019)

The CIN-TA NEs/CS (CSCT) film was successfully prepared by incorporating

CIN-TA NEs into chitosan (CS), which effectively improved the utilization rate of CIN
and endowed the composite film with multiple functional effects, reduced water vapor
and oxygen permeability, and increased water resistance of the composite film. The
incorporation of CIN-TA NEs endowed CS composite films with 100% UV protection
ability, over 99% antibacterial effect, and 90.56% and 94.02% clearance rates for DPPH
and ABTS free radicals. In addition, the CSCT composite film had high biosafety, and TA
promoted the biodegradation of composite film to a certain extent. The preservation
experiment of Agaricus bisporus has proven that CSCT composite film effectively
prolongs the preservation time of mushrooms, which is more than 4 days longer than PE
film. This work has prepared a composite film with multiple functions, which has great
application prospects for extending the shelf life of mushrooms.
 Cinnamaldehyde (CIN) is a common natural essential oil substance, which has
excellent antiseptic and antibacterial effects and is also edible (Fang, Feng, Lei, Chen, &
Yan, 2021; Y. Wang et al., 2023). It is often used for food preservation and flavor
enhancement (Thongsrikhem, Taokaew, Sriariyanun, & Kirdponpattara, 2022). However,
due to the low-water solubility, instability and high volatility of CIN, and it is also prone
to oxidation and deterioration when exposed to harsh conditions such as light, heat and
oxygen, the utilization rate is extremely low, and it is difficult to commercialize (Yildiz,
Kilic, Durgun, & Uyar, 2019). Incorporating CIN into CS can form packaging materials
with antibacterial and antioxidant functions to reduce the deterioration and waste of CIN.
In some studies, CIN was prepared as nanoparticles (Vahedikia et al., 2019) or nano-
emulsions (Chen et al., 2016) and added to various substrates for the preparation of
packaging materials. The incorporation of nano-emulsion had a better effect than solid
nanoparticles in preserving the basic and functional properties of the film (Z. Li et al.,
2022). The incorporation of nano-emulsion had a better effect than solid nanoparticles in
preserving the basic and functional properties of the film (Z. Li et al., 2022). Nano-
emulsion (NEs) refers to the droplet size less than 1 μm, which enhances the solubility of
oil phase and water phase (Krithika & Preetha, 2019).

Tannic acid (TA) is a natural polyphenol extract, with a large number of phenolic
hydroxyl groups in its structure that can provide good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties (T. Chen, Zhang, et al., 2022; Glaive et al., 2017). The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration classifies tannins as GRAS (generally considered safe) substances. It is a
natural antibacterial agent and can be used directly as a food additive (Wanli Zhang, Roy,
Ezati, Yang, & Rhim, 2023). The UV protection, tensile strength, antioxidant and
antibacterial properties of the composite films can be improved by TA (C. Chen, Yang, et
al., 2022). Phenolic compounds TA can increase the bioactivity of biopolymer-based
films (P. Li, Sirviö, Haapala, Khakalo, & Liimatainen, 2019). Meanwhile, the abundant
hydroxyl groups in TA can be bound to the macromolecules in the polymer through
hydrogen bonding (Deng et al., 2021; Xuan Wang et al., 2021).

 This research aimed to explore the improvement of the antibacterial, antioxidant,

and anti-ultraviolet properties of chitosan composite film by nano-emulsion, and
investigate the preservation extension effect of composite film on mushrooms. The results
showed that the developed CIN-TA NEs/CS (CSCT) composite film have a great
potential for practical applications in the storage and preservation of mushrooms.

(Fu et al., 2023)

 
 CMCS/MgO/RCA films to preserve shrimp [5]
Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS), an amphoteric polysaccharide derivative of
chitosan, is easily synthesized and has excellent film-forming properties, making it
potential matrix material for biodegradable composites. Compared with chitosan, CMCS
has much better antimicrobial activity resulting from the inter- and intramolecular
interactions between the carboxyl and amino groups. This interplay process contributes to
the formation of increased cationic –NH3+ groups and results in a stronger electrostatic
interaction with negatively charged bacterial cell membranes, which favors the disruption
of normal functions of cells and ultimately promotes cell lysis (Chen et al., 2012). CMCS
can inhibit the adhesion of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis)
to the surface of medical materials by 90%, making CMCS possess broader applications
as an antimicrobial material (Wang et al., 2012). Moreover, chitosan exhibited limited
antibacterial ability at a pH above 6.5 while CMCS can be applied in a wider pH range
from 3 to 11. Therefore, blending CMCS with other biocompatible components, such as
cellulose and beeswax, can produce various edible films (Diao et al., 2020). However, the
poor mechanical property of CMCS limits its applications in food packaging and
preservation.

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is a white hygroscopic solid mineral that naturally

occurs as periclase and can be easily synthesized using low-cost raw materials such as
brines, magnesium salts, dolomite, and magnesium-bearing minerals (Mantilaka et al.,
2014). Nano-MgO has excellent reusability, biocompatibility, and UV-blocking ability
(Gao et al., 2012). Nano-MgO can significantly enhance the physico-mechanical and
thermal stability of packaging polymers and exhibited the best antimicrobial properties
among metal oxide nanoparticles studied (Baliyan et al., 2022, Luo et al., 2022, Wang et
al., 2020), which convincingly confirmed the potential of nano-MgO in food packaging
applications.

CMCS can interact with various nanosized metal oxides, including zinc oxide
(Wang et al., 2016), titanium oxide (Wei et al., 2016), and ferroferric oxide (Yang et al.,
2016). Several previous studies have demonstrated that CMCS can be grafted on MgO
nanoparticles, and the consequent nanocomposites showed significantly enhanced
mechanical and antibacterial properties (de Silva et al., 2017, Wang et al., 2020).
Consequently, incorporating nano-MgO into the CMCS matrix has great potential in the
fields of food preservation, packaging, and coating.

(Xie et al., 2023)

[1] Ganeshkumar, S., Kumar, A., Maniraj, J., Babu, Y. S., Kumar, A., Goyal, A.,
Kareem, I., Saxena, K. K., Prakash, C., Altuijri, R., Khan, M. I., & Hassan, A. M.
(2023). Exploring the potential of nano technology : A assessment of nano-scale
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[2] Yang, S., Wang, F., Han, H., Santos, H. A., Zhang, Y., Zhang, H., Wei, J., & Cai, Z.
(2023). Fabricated technology of biomedical micro-nano hydrogel. Biomedical
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[3] Zhang, Y., Dai, J., Ma, X., Jia, C., Han, J., Song, C., Liu, Y., Wei, D., Xu, H., Qin, J.,
& Yang, S. (2023). Nano-emulsification essential oil of Monarda didyma L. to
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[4] Fu, H., Huang, R., Li, J., Lin, Z., Wei, F., & Lin, B. (2023). Multifunctional
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preservation. Food Hydrocolloids, 109111.
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.FOODHYD.2023.109111
[5] Xie, Q., Luo, D., Mu, K., & Xue, W. (2023). Preparation and characterization of
carboxymethyl chitosan/nano-MgO/red cabbage anthocyanins multifunctional films
via colloid formation and its application on shrimp preservation. Food Packaging
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