Soil stability is crucial for construction, traditionally achieved with cement, lime, and fly ash. However, challenges with weak subgrade soils have led to nanomaterials as a promising alternative. This review critically evaluates the application of nanomaterials in improving the physicochemical, mechanical, and microscopic properties of subgrade and underlying soils, based on 136 peer-reviewed studies published between 2002 and 2025. Eighteen nanomaterials were identified, with nano-silica being the most studied. Other notable ones include nano-clay, carbon nanotubes, nano-alumina, nano-magnesium oxide, nano-copper, and polymeric nanomaterials. The review reveals a predominant focus on fine-grained problematic soils, particularly soft clay and silty sand, primarily in research from Iran. Nanomaterials improved soil by reducing plasticity, enhancing compaction, boosting strength (unconfined compressive strength, California Bearing Ratio, shear strength), and lowering permeability through void-filling, pozzolanic reactions, and Calcium Silicate Hydrate gel formation. They also increased durability under freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles while reducing cement usage. However, concerns remain about cost, scalability, and environmental safety, with gaps in field-scale studies and limited research on nano-ZnO, nano-CuO, and nano-graphene oxide. This review serves as a reference for sustainable geotechnical engineering.

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have aroused extensive interest in agricultural, industrial, and medical applications. The integration of ENMs into the agricultural systems aligns with the principles of United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs), circular economy (CE) and bio-economy (BE) principles. This approach offers excellent opportunities to enhance productivity and address global climate change challenges. The revelation of the adverse effects of nanomaterials (NMs) on various organisms and ecosystems, however, has fueled the debate on 'Nano-paradox' leading to emergence of a new research domain 'Nanotoxicology'. ENMs have shown different interactions with biological and environmental systems as compared to their bulk counterparts. They bioaccumulate in organisms, soils, and other environmental matrices, move through food chains and reach higher trophic levels including humans ultimately resulting in oxidative stress and cellular damage. Understanding nano-bio interactions, the mechanism of gene- and cytotoxicity, and associated potential hazards, is therefore, essential to mitigate their toxicological outputs. This review comprehensively examines the cyto- and genotoxicity mechanisms of ENMs in biological systems, covering aspects such as their entry, uptake, cellular responses, dynamic interactions in biological environments their long-term effects and environmental risk assessment (ERA). It also discusses toxicological assessment methods, regulatory policies, strategies for toxicity management/mitigation and future research directions in nanotechnology, all within the context of SDGs, CE, promoting resource efficiency and sustainability. Navigating the nano-paradox involves balancing the benefits of nanomaterials with concerns about nanotoxicity. Prioritizing thorough research on above facets can ensure sustainability and safety, enabling responsible harnessing of nanotechnology's transformative potential in various applications including mitigating global climate change and enhancing agricultural productivity.

The increasing demand for sustainable road infrastructure necessitates alternative materials that enhance soil stabilization while reducing environmental impact. This study investigated the application of organosilane-based nanotechnology to improve the structural performance and durability of road corridors in Peru, offering a viable alternative to conventional stabilization methods. A comparative experimental approach was employed, where modified soil and asphalt mixtures were evaluated against control samples without nanotechnology. Laboratory tests showed that organosilane-treated soil achieved up to a 100% increase in the California Bearing Ratio (CBR), while maintaining expansion below 0.5%, significantly reducing moisture susceptibility compared to untreated soil. Asphalt mixtures incorporating nanotechnology-based adhesion enhancers exhibited a Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) exceeding 80%, ensuring a superior resistance to moisture-induced damage relative to conventional mixtures. Non-destructive evaluations, including Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) and Pavement Condition Index (PCI) tests, confirmed the improved long-term durability and load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, statistical analysis of the International Roughness Index (IRI) revealed a mean value of 2.449 m/km, which is well below the Peruvian regulatory threshold of 3.5 m/km, demonstrating a significant improvement over untreated pavements. Furthermore, a comparative reference to IRI standards from other countries contextualized these results. This research underscores the potential of nanotechnology to enhance pavement resilience, optimize resource utilization, and advance sustainable construction practices.

Nanotechnology, which involves manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular scales to produce structures and devices ranging from 1 to 100 nm, is increasingly being applied in agriculture. Nanoscale materials possess distinct optical, electrochemical, and mechanical properties that enable the smart, targeted delivery of pesticides, fertilizers, and genetic materials to plants, as well as rapid sensing and on-site monitoring of plant health, soil fertility, and water quality in a digital format. This review explores the application of nanotechnology in agriculture, examining the challenges and benefits related to all aspects of crop production, with a particular focus on regulatory issues. Key findings indicate that nanotechnology can improve crop production and reduce the environmental footprint of agriculture through precise input management. However, several critical issues need to be addressed, including the limited knowledge of the long-term environmental impacts associated with agricultural nanotechnology and the ambiguity of current regulations. This underscores the need for further research to elucidate its impact on soil, water, and environmental and human health, to inform evidence-based regulations. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Geopolymer has being emerged as a promising alternative to traditional Portland cement in geotechnical engineering, particularly for subgrade applications in cold regions, owing to its eco-friendly and high-performance characteristics. However, exposing geopolymer solidified soils (GSSs) to cold environments can deteriorate the mechanical properties. Hence, it is crucial to improve the mechanical properties and freeze-thaw resistance of the GSSs. In this study, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS), hydro-thermal-deformation characteristics, and microstructure of the nano-silica geopolymer solidified soils (NSGSSs) were experimentally investigated, and the sustainability of the NSGSSs was assessed. The results showed that under the same strain condition, the stresses of the NSGSSs were larger than those of the GSSs. Besides, the UCS of the NSGSSs firstly increased and then decreased with nano-silica (NS) content, with the GSSs containing 3 wt% NS demonstrating the highest peak stress. The UCS loss rate increased with the freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) and then stabilized, with the first FTC having the most significant impact on the UCS of the soil samples. During the FTCs, the NSGSSs exhibited a larger amplitude of soil temperature variation and residual volumetric unfrozen water content compared to the GSSs. However, the vertical deformation, frost heave and thaw settlement rates of the NSGSSs were markedly smaller than those of the GSSs. After the 9th FTC, the NSGSSs with 3 wt% NS content showed a denser structure and excellent freeze-thaw resistance. Moreover, although adding NS to GSSs increased carbon emissions and costs, the low values of the carbon emission index and economic efficiency index indicated that the substantial improvement in mechanical properties outweighed these negative aspects, particularly for the NSGSSs exposed to the FTCs. This study would provide valuable insights into the development of new eco-friendly materials and offers a novel approach for frost heave prevention and control in cold region geotechnical engineering.

Soil pollution caused by potentially toxic transition metals has become a worldwide environmental issue. Geogenic processes and anthropogenic activities are two important sources of soil pollution. Soils may inherit toxic transition metals from parent materials; however, soil pollution mostly results from industrial and agricultural activities. Contamination by transition metals can be indicated by the changes in chemical, biochemical, and microbial properties of soils and plant responses. The target of this research is removing transition metals of chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), tungsten (W), cadmium (Cd) from soil due to nanomaterial-based boron nitride nanocage (B5N10-nc). The electromagnetic and thermodynamic attributes of toxic transition metals trapped in B5N10-nc was depicted by materials modeling. The encapsulation of these elements occurs via chemisorption. It has been studied the behavior of trapping of Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, Cd by B5N10-nc for sensing the soil metal cations. B5N10-nc was designed in the existence of transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, Cd). Case characterization was performed by DFT method. The nature of covalent features for these complexes has represented the analogous energy amount and vision of the partial density of states between the p states of boron and nitrogen in B5N10-nc with d states of transition metals in X B5N10-nc complexes (X= Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, Cd). Furthermore, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis indicated the notable peaks surrounding Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, W, Cd through the trapping in the B5N10-nc during atom detection and removal from soil; however, it can be seen some fluctuations in the chemical shielding treatment of isotropic and anisotropy tensors. Based on the results in this research, the selectivity of toxic metal, metalloid and nonmetal elements adsorption by B5N10-nc (atom sensor) have been indicated as: Cd > Zn > Fe > Cr > Mn approximate to W. In this article, it is proposed that toxic metal, metalloid and nonmetal elements-adsorbed might be applied to design and expand the optoelectronic specifications of B5N10-nc for generating photoelectric instruments toward soil purification.

This article explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in predicting nanomaterial properties, particularly its significance within geotechnical engineering. By analyzing multiple AI-based studies, the review concentrates on the forecasting of nanomaterial-altered soil characteristics and behaviors. Encouraging findings from these studies underscore AI's ability to accurately predict the geotechnical properties of nanomaterials, though challenges remain, particularly in quantifying nanomaterial percentages and their implications across various applications. Future research should address these challenges to enhance the accuracy of AI-based prediction models in geotechnical engineering. Nonetheless, the growing adoption of AI for predicting nanomaterial properties demonstrates its potential to revolutionize geotechnical engineering. AI's capacity to uncover intricate patterns and relationships beyond human capabilities enables more precise soil behavior predictions, fostering innovative solutions to geotechnical challenges. Its ability to process vast datasets, adapt to various scenarios, and continuously learn from new information makes AI an indispensable tool for understanding nanomaterial properties and their impact on soil behavior. In summary, the integration of AI and geotechnical engineering represents a pivotal advancement in comprehending nanomaterial properties and their practical applications. As research advances and AI technologies evolve, transformative progress in geotechnical engineering is expected. By harnessing AI's capabilities, researchers can unlock groundbreaking insights, drive innovation, and shape a more resilient and sustainable future for the geotechnical engineering industry.

Nanostructure design is presented as one of the economically viable technical alternatives for increasing the efficiency of agrochemical use (fertilizers and pesticides) by reducing runoff, increasing foliar uptake and bioavailability, and reducing environmental impact. Nanomaterials (NMs) possess unique properties due to their nanoscale dimensions, typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers. At low concentrations, NMs can promote plant growth and development, but at higher doses, they may become toxic, causing oxidative stress, membrane damage, and disrupting key physiological processes. This review aims to comprehensively explore how this toxicity is influenced by NMs properties like chemical composition, dosage, surface structure, and solubility. Gaps in knowledge regarding NMs transport across the root surface and within plants hinder the rational design of NMs for targeted applications. Therefore, this review delves into the physical criteria that affect NMs uptake, translocation, and absorption in plants, as well as the interaction of NMs with plant cells, soil, and their environmental impact. Existing literature on NMs deposited on roots and foliar uptake mechanisms (via stomata, cuticle, trichomes, and necrotic patches) are also examined. The review also discusses how NMs penetrate plant cell walls and utilize plasmodesmata (PD) for translocation between cells, shedding light on the mechanisms and factors influencing these processes. The current knowledge highlights the participation of the symplast, including the PD, in the movement of NMs within the plant. These findings enhance understanding of how plant structure and NM characteristics influence their transport and distribution, aiding the rational design of NMs for controlled uptake and safe application in plants.

For almost a decade, various studies have been carried out to prove the suitability of nano additives in enhancing the geotechnical properties of soil. Yet, this line of research is still in its elementary stage, restricting itself to laboratory tests to determine soil's index and engineering properties blended with varying dosages of nano additives. In other words, research on practical applications of nano additives for soil stabilization is scarce. The present work attempts to investigate the suitability of three different nanomaterials as a load-bearing stratum for shallow foundations. The nano additives were chosen in such a way that each of them is from a different origin. One of them is nano calcium carbonate (inorganic) whereas the other two are nano-sized varieties of natural biopolymers, namely nano chitosan (crustacean-based) and nano carboxymethyl cellulose (plant-based). A series of laboratory tests were initially conducted to determine the strength of all three nano-additive-treated soils at different dosages, which were investigated for 180 days to ensure their long-term performance. This was followed by a foundation model study on untreated soil and on soil treated with optimal dosages of nano additives. The results were validated using finite element software followed by a parametric study to optimize the depth of soil stabilization. It was observed that all three nano additives exhibited a better performance when the top layer had the optimal dosage and the subsequent layers had a relatively lesser dosage.

Fertilizers play a crucial role in enhancing the productivity of plants. However, low nutrient use efficiencies of conventional fertilizers (CFs) associated with several losses have led to widespread multi-nutrient deficiencies in the soil and lower productivity. Furthermore, their excess application has caused serious damage to the soil and environment. Recently, nanotechnology has broadened its applicability in plant nutrition and has paved a way for the production of nanoparticle-induced fertilizers. Therefore, nanofertilizers stand out as promising alternative to CFs for sustainable agriculture. Nanofertilizers are composed of nanoparticles that contain macro- and micronutrients and deliver them in a controlled way to the plant's rhizosphere. This contributes to the enhanced nutrient utilization efficiency. This review delves into the effect of nanotechnology-based nanofertilizers in different forms and dosages on soil properties and plant development. Additionally, the mechanism underlying absorption of nanofertilizers and their advantages and limitations have also been discussed. A thorough comparison between conventional and nanofertilizers has also been made in this review in terms of their nutrient delivery mechanism, efficiency and application. As the use of nanoparticle-embedded fertilizers in plant nutrition is still in its infancy, this review can serve as a guide for future investigations to enhance the knowledge of the use of nanoparticles in the mineral nutrition of different crops.