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.

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.

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.

The toxicity of heavy metals to both humans and aquatic life makes them a major environmental concern. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and arsenic are major causes of concern. These metals can find their way into water systems by natural processes like soil erosion, as well as industrial ones like mining, electroplating, and metal polishing. They can bioaccumulate in wildlife and offer substantial health concerns to humans through numerous exposure pathways, leading to neurological and developmental disorders, kidney damage and bone degradation, immune system impairments in children, cancer, and skin lesions. Therefore, it is crucial to develop efficient technology for removing heavy metals from contaminated water to safeguard the environment and public health. Promising developments in cloud point extraction (CPE) and photocatalytic nanomaterials could be explored in heavy metal remediation. Photocatalytic nanomaterials can effectively remove heavy metals either by adsorbing or precipitating them. CPE is a very efficient way to separate different types of aqueous solutions to pre-concentrate and remove trace levels of heavy metals from water and wastewater. Although research has demonstrated that CPE and photocatalytic nanomaterials can successfully filter out heavy metals from water, practical applications necessitate the development of more effective and scalable manufacturing processes. Improving extraction conditions, recovering resources, and reusing them are all part of this process, as is creating cost-effective synthesis methods. To make these procedures work with other heavy metal ions, it's important to make them more selective and specific.

Due to the widespread use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for soil remediation and nano-enabled sustainable agriculture, there is a growing concern regarding the behavior and fate of ENMs released into soil systems in the presence of natural root exudates (REs). Herein, we investigate the influence of REs on the fate and ecological effect of ENMs from a comprehensive perspective. We summarize the key roles reported in the literature for REs in physical changes (e.g., adsorption, dispersion/aggregation), chemical changes (e.g., oxidation/redox reactions, and dissolution), and biotransformation of ENMs, which will further determine the ecological risk of ENMs in natural soil systems. Moreover, this review highlights the potential adverse effects of ENMs on different soil organisms (e.g., bacteria, plants, and eisenia foetida) in the presence of REs. The remaining unclear mechanisms (e.g., oxidative stress and DNA damage) of ENMs toxicity at the cellular level influenced by REs are reviewed and presented. Finally, the review concludes by addressing the current knowledge gaps and challenges in this field.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, an abundance of plastic face masks has been consumed and disposed of in the environment. In addition, substantial amounts of plastic mulch film have been used in intensive agriculture with low recovery. Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) and TiO2 nanomaterials (nTiO2) are widely applied in plastic products, leading to the inevitable release of BBP and nTiO2 into the soil system. However, the impact of coexposure of BBP and nTiO2 at low concentrations on earthworms remains understudied. In the present study, transcriptomics was applied to reveal the effects of individual BBP and nTiO2 exposures at a concentration of 1 mg kg -1, along with the combined exposure of BBP and nTiO2 (1 mg kg -1 BBP + 1 mg kg -1 nTiO2 (anatase)) on Metaphire guillelmi. The result showed that BBP and nTiO2 exposures have the potential to induce neurodegeneration through glutamate accumulation, tau protein, and oxidative stress in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, as well as metabolism dysfunction. The present study contributes to our understanding of the toxic mechanisms of emerging contaminants at environmentally relevant levels and prompts consideration of the management of BBP and nTiO2 within the soil ecosystems.