Remote-Controlled Magnetic Stimulation of Cell-Based Bioengineered Tissues for In Situ Bone Regeneration Lúcia F. Santos, Maria C. Mendes, João A. Pereira, Isabel R. Dias, Carlos A. Viegas, et al. Advanced Materials, 2025 The native cell microenvironment activates signaling pathways through mechanotransduction mechanisms, influencing cells’ physiological and functional outcomes. Magnetic fields are explored to manipulate these environments, and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are highlighted as nano‐instructive agents capable of activating key signaling pathways, presenting exciting possibilities in tissue engineering. Still, the ability to precisely control the assembly and differentiation of stem cells within a dynamically responsive microenvironment, crucial for effective tissue regeneration, remains unexplored. This study showcases a novel method wherein MNPs facilitate the precise assembly of magnetically responsive cells into complex 3D tissue structures upon internalization and exposure to temporally defined cyclic magnetic fields. By remotely stimulating these constructs, it is demonstrated for the first time the possibility of remote‐controlled modulation of stem cell fate in vivo without biochemical supplementation. Notably, this approach led to ectopic bone formation, highlighting the ability of magnetic actuation to drive osteogenesis in non‐bone environments. MNP‐driven mechanical stimulation of implanted tissues functions as a bioresponsive system guiding osteogenic differentiation of human adipose‐derived stem cells. The in vivo model further illustrates accelerated construct integration, enhanced osteogenic differentiation, and minimal local inflammation, underscoring the potential of this less invasive, remotely controllable platform to advance regenerative strategies for bone engineering.
Progress in Thin-Film Photovoltaics: A Review of Key Strategies to Enhance the Efficiency of CIGS, CdTe, and CZTSSe Solar Cells Sivabalan Maniam Sivasankar, Carlos de Oliveira Amorim, António F. da Cunha Journal of Composites Science, 2025 Thin-film solar cells (TFSCs) represent a promising frontier in renewable energy technologies due to their potential for cost reduction, material efficiency, and adaptability. This literature review examines the key materials and advancements that make up TFSC technologies, with a focus on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), and Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) and its sulfo-selenide counterpart Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe). Each material’s unique properties—including tuneable bandgaps, high absorption coefficients, and low-cost scalability—make them viable candidates for a wide range of applications, from building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) to portable energy solutions. This review explores recent progress in the enhancement of power conversion efficiency (PCE), particularly through bandgap engineering, alkali metal doping, and interface optimization. Key innovations such as silver (Ag) alloying in CIGS, selenium (Se) alloying in CdTe, and sulfur (S) to Se ratio optimization in CZTSSe have driven PCE improvements and expanded the range of practical uses. Additionally, the adaptability of TFSCs for roll-to-roll manufacturing on flexible substrates has further cemented their role in advancing renewable energy adoption. Challenges remain, including environmental concerns, but ongoing research addresses these limitations, paving the way for TFSCs to become a crucial technology for transitioning to sustainable energy systems.
Assessing Cu3BiS3 for Thin-Film Photovoltaics: A Systematic DFT Study Comparing LCAO and PAW Across Multiple Functionals Carlos O. Amorim, Sivabalan M. Sivasankar, António F. da Cunha Materials, 2025 Cu3BiS3 (CBS) has emerged as a promising earth-abundant absorber for thin-film photovoltaics, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional technologies. However, ab initio studies on its optoelectronic properties remain scarce and often yield contradictory results. This study systematically examines the influence of two density functional theory (DFT) methodologies, linear combination of atomic orbitals (LCAO) and projector augmented wave (PAW), on the structural and electronic properties of CBS, aiming to establish a reliable computational framework for future research. With this in mind, we also assessed the impact of a wide range of exchange-correlation (XC) functionals within both methods, including 6 from the local density approximation (LDA) family (HL, PW, PZ, RPA, Wigner, XA), 10 from the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) family (BLYP, BP86, BPW91, GAM, KT2, PBE, PBEsol, PW91, RPBE, XLYP), 2 meta-GGA functionals (SCAN, R2SCAN), and the hybrid HSE06 functional. Both LCAO and PAW consistently predict an indirect bandgap for CBS across all XC functionals, aligning with most previous DFT studies but contradicting experimental reports of a direct transition. The LDA and meta-GGA functionals systematically underestimated the CBS bandgap (<1 eV), with further reductions upon structural relaxation. GGA functionals performed better, with BLYP and XLYP yielding the most experimentally consistent results. The hybrid HSE06 functional substantially overestimated the bandgap (1.9 eV), with minimal changes after relaxation. The calculated hole and electron effective masses reveal strong anisotropy along the X, Y, and Z crystallographic directions. Additionally, CBS exhibits an intrinsic p-type nature, as the Fermi level consistently lies closer to the valence band maximum across all methods and functionals. However, the PAW method generally predicted more accurate lattice parameters than LCAO; the best agreement with experimental values was achieved using the PW91 (1.2% deviation) and HSE06 (0.9% deviation) functionals within LCAO. Based on these findings, we recommend the PW91 functional with LCAO for structural optimizations in large supercell studies of CBS dopants and/or defects and BLYP/XLYP for electronic properties.
Cu3BiS3 film synthesis through rapid thermal processing sulfurization of electron beam evaporated precursors C. O. Amorim, M. S. Liborio, J. C. A. Queiroz, B. M. G. Melo, S. M. Sivasankar, et al. Emergent Materials, 2025 In response to the increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions, Cu3BiS3 (CBS) films emerge as a promising alternative for cost-effective and eco-friendly photovoltaic absorbers. This work explores the synthesis and characterization of CBS films via sulfurization of metallic Cu and Bi precursors deposited using electron beam evaporation. We investigated the effects of both duration and temperature during the Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) sulfurization. Using SEM/EDS, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and UV-VIS-NIR transmittance measurements, we demonstrate the successful formation of the CBS Wittichenite phase with band gap energies $$\\:{E}_{g}\\approx\\:1.4\\:eV$$, and absorption coefficients $$\\:\\alpha\\:\\ge\\:{10}^{4}\\:{cm}^{-1}$$, highlighting the CBS potential as a viable alternative as a photovoltaic absorber. We achieved films with the dominant CBS phase, with large highly crystalline grains but still containing some undesired copper sulphide secondary phases. These films were obtained at low RTP temperatures (350 °C) and short durations (5 min), ensuring both time and energy efficient consumption, in contrast to commonly reported lengthy, high-temperature processes. Graphical abstract
A Compendium of Magnetic Nanoparticle Essentials: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners and Experts Carlos O. Amorim Pharmaceutics, 2025 Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are advanced materials that combine the unique properties of magnetic materials and nanoscale dimensions, enabling a wide range of applications in biomedicine, environmental science, and information technology. This review provides a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the fundamental principles, characterization techniques, and diverse applications of MNPs, with a focus on their nanoscale magnetic properties, such as superparamagnetism, single-domain behavior, and surface effects. It also delves into their classification and the critical role of parameters like magnetic anisotropy and blocking temperature. Emphasis is placed on routine characterization methods, including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and magnetometry, as well as advanced concepts like magnetic hyperthermia and self-regulated heating. Designed for newcomers and experts alike, this review serves as both an educational guide and a quick-reference resource, ensuring clarity while maintaining scientific rigor.
Chitosan/Alginate Polyelectrolyte Magnetic Gel Nanoarchitectonics with Tunable Mechanical Properties for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Sustained Release of 5-Fluorouracil SRS Veloso, M Vázquez-González, MO Ribeiro, L Hilliou, CO Amorim, ... ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 17 (45), 61731-61741 , 2025 2025 Citations: 3
Remote‐Controlled Magnetic Stimulation of Cell‐Based Bioengineered Tissues for In Situ Bone Regeneration LF Santos, MC Mendes, JA Pereira, IR Dias, CA Viegas, CO Amorim, ... Advanced Materials 37 (39), 2500657 , 2025 2025 Citations: 8
Fine-Tuning of Mn-Ferrite nanoparticle size using a Dual-Base coprecipitation method AC Horta, A Poças, JS Amaral, CO Amorim Materials Science and Engineering: B 314, 118058 , 2025 2025 Citations: 6
Progress in thin-film photovoltaics: A review of key strategies to enhance the efficiency of CIGS, CdTe, and CZTSSe solar cells SM Sivasankar, CO Amorim, AF Cunha Journal of Composites Science 9 (3), 143 , 2025 2025 Citations: 75
Assessing Cu 3 BiS 3 for Thin-Film Photovoltaics: A Systematic DFT Study Comparing LCAO and PAW Across Multiple Functionals CO Amorim, SM Sivasankar, AF Cunha Materials 18 (6), 1213 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Hg sorption by Fe3O4/SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles functionalized with dithiocarbamate: Determining Hg coordination with a combined experimental and ab-initio approach CO Amorim, NM Fortunato, AS Fenta, JN Gonçalves, DS Tavares, ... Solid State Communications 397, 115829 , 2025 2025
Cu 3 BiS 3 film synthesis through rapid thermal processing sulfurization of electron beam evaporated precursors CO Amorim, MS Liborio, JCA Queiroz, BMG Melo, SM Sivasankar, ... Emergent Materials 8 (3), 1919-1931 , 2025 2025 Citations: 7
A compendium of magnetic nanoparticle essentials: A comprehensive guide for beginners and experts CO Amorim Pharmaceutics 17 (1), 137 , 2025 2025 Citations: 10
Strategies to Enhance the Efficiency of Cu 3 BiS 3 -Based Photovoltaic Devices: Simulation Insights and Buffer Layer Engineering M Santana Liborio, CO Amorim, JCA Queiroz, SM Sivasankar, THC Costa, ... ACS Applied Optical Materials 3 (1), 81-90 , 2024 2024 Citations: 2
Curie temperature control in Zn-Fe ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticles AC Horta, P André, JS Amaral, CO Amorim Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials 610, 172497 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Comprehensive Characterization of Bi 1.34 Fe 0.66 Nb 1.34 O 6.35 Ceramics: Structural, Morphological, Electrical, and Magnetic Properties S Devesa, CO Amorim, JH Belo, JP Araújo, SS Teixeira, MPF Graça, ... Magnetochemistry 10 (10), 79 , 2024 2024 Citations: 8
An injectable composite co‐assembled dehydropeptide‐based magnetic/plasmonic lipogel for multimodal cancer therapy SRS Veloso, M Vázquez‐González, C Spuch, L Freiría‐Martínez, ... Advanced Functional Materials 34 (38), 2402926 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
Hybrid nanocomposites of Fe3O4/SiO2-EDTA GTAD Santos, AC Estrada, CO Amorim, JS Amaral, J Deuermeier, ... 2024
Hybrid nanocomposites of Fe3O4/SiO2-EDTA: Holistic comparison of one-step and two-step modification methods GTAD Santos, AC Estrada, CO Amorim, JS Amaral, J Deuermeier, ... Powder Technology 444, 120046 , 2024 2024 Citations: 10
Eco-friendly synthesis of fluorescent cobalt-doped manganese ferrites for thermo-therapeutic applications SRS Veloso, SF Nereu, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, MA Correa-Duarte, ... Materials Today Communications 39, 108822 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
A Review of Cu 3 BiS 3 Thin Films: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Photovoltaic Material MS Libório, JCA Queiroz, SM Sivasankar, THC Costa, AF Cunha, ... Crystals 14 (6), 524 , 2024 2024 Citations: 14
Elastic Liposomes Containing Calcium/Magnesium Ferrite Nanoparticles Coupled with Gold Nanorods for Application in Photothermal Therapy ARF Pacheco, AM Barros, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, PJG Coutinho, ... Nanomaterials 14 (8), 679 , 2024 2024 Citations: 6
Complete thermodynamic characterization of second-order phase transition magnetocaloric materials exclusively through magnetometry CS Pereira, R Almeida, R Kiefe, C Amorim, DJ Silva, JS Amaral, JH Belo Journal of Alloys and Compounds 976, 173290 , 2024 2024 Citations: 9
film synthesis through rapid thermal processing sulfurization of electron beam evaporated precursors CO Amorim, MS Liborio, JCA Queiroz, BMG Melo, SM Sivasankar, ... 2024
Alkaline water electrolysis performance of mixed cation metal phosphorous trichalcogenides FM Oliveira, J Paštika, I Ayaz, V Mazánek, I Plutnarová, L Zeng, E Olsson, ... Materials Today Energy 39, 101468 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Progress in thin-film photovoltaics: A review of key strategies to enhance the efficiency of CIGS, CdTe, and CZTSSe solar cells SM Sivasankar, CO Amorim, AF Cunha Journal of Composites Science 9 (3), 143 , 2025 2025 Citations: 75
Magnetic driven nanocarriers for pH-responsive doxorubicin release in cancer therapy J Nogueira, SF Soares, CO Amorim, JS Amaral, C Silva, F Martel, ... Molecules 25 (2), 333 , 2020 2020 Citations: 69
Magnetic nanosorbents with siliceous hybrid shells of alginic acid and carrageenan for removal of ciprofloxacin SF Soares, MJ Rocha, M Ferro, CO Amorim, JS Amaral, T Trindade, ... International journal of biological macromolecules 139, 827-841 , 2019 2019 Citations: 67
On the efficient removal, regeneration and reuse of quaternary chitosan magnetite nanosorbents for glyphosate herbicide in water SF Soares, CO Amorim, JS Amaral, T Trindade, AL Daniel-da-Silva Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9 (3), 105189 , 2021 2021 Citations: 62
Assessing cobalt metal nanoparticles uptake by cancer cells using live Raman spectroscopy E Rauwel, S Al-Arag, H Salehi, CO Amorim, F Cuisinier, M Guha, ... International journal of nanomedicine, 7051-7062 , 2020 2020 Citations: 59
Stealth magnetoliposomes based on calcium-substituted magnesium ferrite nanoparticles for curcumin transport and release BD Cardoso, ARO Rodrigues, BG Almeida, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, ... International journal of molecular sciences 21 (10), 3641 , 2020 2020 Citations: 58
Magnetoliposomes containing calcium ferrite nanoparticles for applications in breast cancer therapy DSM Pereira, BD Cardoso, ARO Rodrigues, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, ... Pharmaceutics 11 (9), 477 , 2019 2019 Citations: 51
Dehydropeptide-based plasmonic magnetogels: A supramolecular composite nanosystem for multimodal cancer therapy SRS Veloso, JA Martins, L Hilliou, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, BG Almeida, ... Journal of Materials Chemistry B 8 (1), 45-64 , 2020 2020 Citations: 45
Solvent-free microwave-induced oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by ferrite magnetic nanoparticles NMR Martins, LM Martins, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, AJL Pombeiro Catalysts 7 (7), 222 , 2017 2017 Citations: 42
A geometry-independent moment correction method for the MPMS3 SQUID-based magnetometer CO Amorim, F Mohseni, RK Dumas, VS Amaral, JS Amaral Measurement Science and Technology 32 (10), 105602 , 2021 2021 Citations: 40
Bio-based polyurethane foams from kraft lignin with improved fire resistance FR Vieira, NV Gama, DV Evtuguin, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, PCOR Pinto, ... Polymers 15 (5), 1074 , 2023 2023 Citations: 39
Magnetoliposomes based on shape anisotropic calcium/magnesium ferrite nanoparticles as nanocarriers for doxorubicin BD Cardoso, ARO Rodrigues, M Bañobre-López, BG Almeida, ... Pharmaceutics 13 (8), 1248 , 2021 2021 Citations: 34
Chitosan/alginate nanogels containing multicore magnetic nanoparticles for delivery of doxorubicin SRS Veloso, ES Marta, PV Rodrigues, C Moura, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, ... Pharmaceutics 15 (9), 2194 , 2023 2023 Citations: 32
Can contaminated waters or wastewater be alternative sources for technology-critical elements? The case of removal and recovery of lanthanides EL Afonso, L Carvalho, S Fateixa, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, C Vale, ... Journal of Hazardous Materials 380, 120845 , 2019 2019 Citations: 31
Magnetic nanoparticles of zinc/calcium ferrite decorated with silver for photodegradation of dyes RJC Fernandes, CAB Magalhães, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, BG Almeida, ... Materials 12 (21), 3582 , 2019 2019 Citations: 23
Oxidative precipitation synthesis of calcium-doped manganese ferrite nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia SRS Veloso, RGD Andrade, V Gomes, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, ... International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23 (22), 14145 , 2022 2022 Citations: 22
Tuning the drug multimodal release through a co-assembly strategy based on magnetic gels SRS Veloso, E Tiryaki, C Spuch, L Hilliou, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, ... Nanoscale 14 (14), 5488-5500 , 2022 2022 Citations: 20
Magnetoliposomes with calcium-doped magnesium ferrites anchored in the lipid surface for enhanced DOX release BD Cardoso, DEM Fernandes, CO Amorim, VS Amaral, PJG Coutinho, ... Nanomaterials 13 (18), 2597 , 2023 2023 Citations: 16
A Review of Cu 3 BiS 3 Thin Films: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Photovoltaic Material MS Libório, JCA Queiroz, SM Sivasankar, THC Costa, AF Cunha, ... Crystals 14 (6), 524 , 2024 2024 Citations: 14
An injectable composite co‐assembled dehydropeptide‐based magnetic/plasmonic lipogel for multimodal cancer therapy SRS Veloso, M Vázquez‐González, C Spuch, L Freiría‐Martínez, ... Advanced Functional Materials 34 (38), 2402926 , 2024 2024 Citations: 12
