Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications

This review examines three aspects of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterials: properties, synthesis methods, and biomedical applications. We focus the scope of review on three types of h-BN nanostructures: boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs, few-layered h-BN, larger than ∼100 nm in lateral dimens...

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Main Authors: Raksha Dubey, Matthew Cowles, Zohreh Salimi, Xiuling Liu, Rodney Oakley, Nazmiye Yapici, Join Uddin, Dongyan Zhang, Yoke Khin Yap
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-04-01
Series:APL Materials
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0255590
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author Raksha Dubey
Matthew Cowles
Zohreh Salimi
Xiuling Liu
Rodney Oakley
Nazmiye Yapici
Join Uddin
Dongyan Zhang
Yoke Khin Yap
author_facet Raksha Dubey
Matthew Cowles
Zohreh Salimi
Xiuling Liu
Rodney Oakley
Nazmiye Yapici
Join Uddin
Dongyan Zhang
Yoke Khin Yap
author_sort Raksha Dubey
collection DOAJ
description This review examines three aspects of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterials: properties, synthesis methods, and biomedical applications. We focus the scope of review on three types of h-BN nanostructures: boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs, few-layered h-BN, larger than ∼100 nm in lateral dimensions), boron nitride quantum dots (BN QDs, smaller than ∼10 nm in all dimensions, with inherent excitation-dependent fluorescence), and boron nitride dots (BN dots, smaller than ∼10 nm in all dimensions, wide bandgap without noise fluorescence). The synthesis methods of BNNSs, BN QDs, and BN dots are summarized in top-down and bottom-up approaches. Future synthesis research should focus on the scalability and the quality of the products, which are essential for reproducible applications. Regarding biomedical applications, BNNSs were used as nanocarriers for drug delivery, mechanical reinforcements (bone tissue engineering), and antibacterial applications. BN QDs are still limited for non-specific bioimaging applications. BN dots are used for the small dimension to construct high-brightness probes (HBPs) for gene sequence detections inside cells. To differentiate from other two-dimensional materials, future applications should focus on using the unique properties of BN nanostructures, such as piezoelectricity, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), and their electrically insulating and optically transparent nature. Examples would be combining BNCT and chemo drug delivery using BNNSs, and using BN dots to form HBPs with enhanced fluorescence by preventing fluorescence quenching using electrically insulating BN dots.
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spelling doaj-art-c41d7af14eb84d5ea67d60b6744117442025-08-20T01:48:13ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Materials2166-532X2025-04-01134040601040601-2310.1063/5.0255590Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applicationsRaksha Dubey0Matthew Cowles1Zohreh Salimi2Xiuling Liu3Rodney Oakley4Nazmiye Yapici5Join Uddin6Dongyan Zhang7Yoke Khin Yap8Department of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USAStabiLux Biosciences, Inc., 600 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USADepartment of Physics, and Elizabeth and Richard Henes Center for Quantum Phenomena, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USAThis review examines three aspects of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterials: properties, synthesis methods, and biomedical applications. We focus the scope of review on three types of h-BN nanostructures: boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs, few-layered h-BN, larger than ∼100 nm in lateral dimensions), boron nitride quantum dots (BN QDs, smaller than ∼10 nm in all dimensions, with inherent excitation-dependent fluorescence), and boron nitride dots (BN dots, smaller than ∼10 nm in all dimensions, wide bandgap without noise fluorescence). The synthesis methods of BNNSs, BN QDs, and BN dots are summarized in top-down and bottom-up approaches. Future synthesis research should focus on the scalability and the quality of the products, which are essential for reproducible applications. Regarding biomedical applications, BNNSs were used as nanocarriers for drug delivery, mechanical reinforcements (bone tissue engineering), and antibacterial applications. BN QDs are still limited for non-specific bioimaging applications. BN dots are used for the small dimension to construct high-brightness probes (HBPs) for gene sequence detections inside cells. To differentiate from other two-dimensional materials, future applications should focus on using the unique properties of BN nanostructures, such as piezoelectricity, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), and their electrically insulating and optically transparent nature. Examples would be combining BNCT and chemo drug delivery using BNNSs, and using BN dots to form HBPs with enhanced fluorescence by preventing fluorescence quenching using electrically insulating BN dots.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0255590
spellingShingle Raksha Dubey
Matthew Cowles
Zohreh Salimi
Xiuling Liu
Rodney Oakley
Nazmiye Yapici
Join Uddin
Dongyan Zhang
Yoke Khin Yap
Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications
APL Materials
title Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications
title_full Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications
title_fullStr Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications
title_full_unstemmed Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications
title_short Boron nitride nanosheets, quantum dots, and dots: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications
title_sort boron nitride nanosheets quantum dots and dots synthesis properties and biomedical applications
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0255590
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