Dr. Giuseppe Cavallaro is an Assistant Professor at Department of Physics and Chemistry “E. Segrè” of University of Palermo, Italy. He was a Research Associate at the Institute of Micromanifacturing, Louisiana Tech University, USA, and Institut fur Chemie, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany. He is the author of more than 120 publications in peer reviewed international journals. He is Editor of the book “Clay Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications – 1st Edition” by Giuseppe Cavallaro, Rawil Fakhrullin, Pooria Pasbakhsh (Publisher: Elsevier). His research activity is mainly focused on the physico-chemical characterization of nano-organized systems based on nanoclays and organic macromolecules, such as biopolymers and surfactants. Rawil F. Fakhrullin received his MSc from Kazan State University in 2003, later receiving a PhD in Biochemistry form Kazan State University (2006), and DSc in Microbiology from Kazan Federal University (2011). He also received an MSc degree in Chemistry with Nanotechnology from University of Hull, UK. He worked as a visiting scientist at the University of Hull (UK), University of Sheffield (UK) and Yeditepe University (Istanbul, Turkey). Currently, hProfessor, Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation . His research interests are focused on development of novel biomimetic materials (including functionalised cells), cell-based therapy, drug delivery, controllable assembly of living cells into multicellular clusters, fabrication of cell-based biosensors, and nanotoxicity. Dr. Pooria Pasbakhsh holds degrees in Material Science and Engineering, Metallurgy and Material Selection, and a PhD in Polymer Composites. With over 17 years of international research and industrial experience, he is a multidisciplinary materials scientist and Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. His work integrates chemistry, geology, and philosophy to develop sustainable bioplastics reinforced with Halloysite Nanotubes, creating smart nanocomposites with self-healing and antimicrobial properties. He has engineered active packaging solutions and transient materials, and currently leads circular economy projects on subsea infrastructure upcycling and carbon-sequestering hemp construction materials. Recognized among the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” since 2020, his impact spans materials, polymers, and chemistry.

• Part I Properties of clay nanoparticles1. Geological overview of clay nanoparticles CRISTINA VILLANOVA-DE-BENAVENT2. Structural characterization of clay systems by small-angle scattering LEONARDO CHIAPPISI3. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/polymer nanocomposites: thermal degradation and flame retardancyHENRI VAHABI, RODOLPHE SONNIER, AURÉLIE TAGUET,BELKACEM OTAZAGHINE, MOHAMMAD REZA SAEB AND GÜNTER BEYER4. Colloidal stability and self-assembling behavior of nanoclays LORENZO LISUZZO, GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO, FILIPPO PARISI, SERENA RIELA,STEFANA MILIOTO AND GIUSEPPE LAZZARA5. Organophilic nature of nanoclay KAUSIK DANA AND MADHUCHHANDA SARKAR6. Computational modeling of nanoclays EVA SCHOLTZOVÁPart II Technological applications of clay nanoparticles7. Flame retardant potential of clay nanoparticles AYESHA KAUSAR8. Nanoclays in drug delivery systems RAQUEL DE MELO BARBOSA, MARIANNA ARAÚJO FERREIRA, LYGHIA MARIAARAÚJO MEIRELLES, NICOLE ZORATO AND FERNANDA NERVO RAFFIN9. Decontamination application of nanoclays HUIJUAN GUAN AND YAFEI ZHAO10. Clays in cement production from the nanoscale LIDIA NATALIA TRUSILEWICZ11. Improving the thermal, termite resistance and anti-wetting properties of tropical timber using a polymethyl acrylate/ halloysite coating NISHAL ASHVIN SOLANKI, POORIA PASBAKHSH AND ALI RASHIDI12. Halloysite nanoclay for development of heterogeneouscatalysts SAMAHE SADJADI13. Covalently modified nanoclays: synthesis, properties andapplications MARINA MASSARO, GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO, GIUSEPPE LAZZARA ANDSERENA RIELA

Dr. Giuseppe Cavallaro is an Assistant Professor at Department of Physics and Chemistry “E. Segrè” of University of Palermo, Italy. He was a Research Associate at the Institute of Micromanifacturing, Louisiana Tech University, USA, and Institut fur Chemie, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany. He is the author of more than 120 publications in peer reviewed international journals. He is Editor of the book “Clay Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications – 1st Edition” by Giuseppe Cavallaro, Rawil Fakhrullin, Pooria Pasbakhsh (Publisher: Elsevier). His research activity is mainly focused on the physico-chemical characterization of nano-organized systems based on nanoclays and organic macromolecules, such as biopolymers and surfactants. Rawil F. Fakhrullin received his MSc from Kazan State University in 2003, later receiving a PhD in Biochemistry form Kazan State University (2006), and DSc in Microbiology from Kazan Federal University (2011). He also received an MSc degree in Chemistry with Nanotechnology from University of Hull, UK. He worked as a visiting scientist at the University of Hull (UK), University of Sheffield (UK) and Yeditepe University (Istanbul, Turkey). Currently, hProfessor, Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation . His research interests are focused on development of novel biomimetic materials (including functionalised cells), cell-based therapy, drug delivery, controllable assembly of living cells into multicellular clusters, fabrication of cell-based biosensors, and nanotoxicity. Dr. Pooria Pasbakhsh holds degrees in Material Science and Engineering, Metallurgy and Material Selection, and a PhD in Polymer Composites. With over 17 years of international research and industrial experience, he is a multidisciplinary materials scientist and Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. His work integrates chemistry, geology, and philosophy to develop sustainable bioplastics reinforced with Halloysite Nanotubes, creating smart nanocomposites with self-healing and antimicrobial properties. He has engineered active packaging solutions and transient materials, and currently leads circular economy projects on subsea infrastructure upcycling and carbon-sequestering hemp construction materials. Recognized among the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” since 2020, his impact spans materials, polymers, and chemistry.

• Part I Properties of clay nanoparticles1. Geological overview of clay nanoparticles CRISTINA VILLANOVA-DE-BENAVENT2. Structural characterization of clay systems by small-angle scattering LEONARDO CHIAPPISI3. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/polymer nanocomposites: thermal degradation and flame retardancyHENRI VAHABI, RODOLPHE SONNIER, AURÉLIE TAGUET,BELKACEM OTAZAGHINE, MOHAMMAD REZA SAEB AND GÜNTER BEYER4. Colloidal stability and self-assembling behavior of nanoclays LORENZO LISUZZO, GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO, FILIPPO PARISI, SERENA RIELA,STEFANA MILIOTO AND GIUSEPPE LAZZARA5. Organophilic nature of nanoclay KAUSIK DANA AND MADHUCHHANDA SARKAR6. Computational modeling of nanoclays EVA SCHOLTZOVÁPart II Technological applications of clay nanoparticles7. Flame retardant potential of clay nanoparticles AYESHA KAUSAR8. Nanoclays in drug delivery systems RAQUEL DE MELO BARBOSA, MARIANNA ARAÚJO FERREIRA, LYGHIA MARIAARAÚJO MEIRELLES, NICOLE ZORATO AND FERNANDA NERVO RAFFIN9. Decontamination application of nanoclays HUIJUAN GUAN AND YAFEI ZHAO10. Clays in cement production from the nanoscale LIDIA NATALIA TRUSILEWICZ11. Improving the thermal, termite resistance and anti-wetting properties of tropical timber using a polymethyl acrylate/ halloysite coating NISHAL ASHVIN SOLANKI, POORIA PASBAKHSH AND ALI RASHIDI12. Halloysite nanoclay for development of heterogeneouscatalysts SAMAHE SADJADI13. Covalently modified nanoclays: synthesis, properties andapplications MARINA MASSARO, GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO, GIUSEPPE LAZZARA ANDSERENA RIELA

Dr. Giuseppe Cavallaro is an Assistant Professor at Department of Physics and Chemistry “E. Segrè” of University of Palermo, Italy. He was a Research Associate at the Institute of Micromanifacturing, Louisiana Tech University, USA, and Institut fur Chemie, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany. He is the author of more than 120 publications in peer reviewed international journals. He is Editor of the book “Clay Nanoparticles: Properties and Applications – 1st Edition” by Giuseppe Cavallaro, Rawil Fakhrullin, Pooria Pasbakhsh (Publisher: Elsevier). His research activity is mainly focused on the physico-chemical characterization of nano-organized systems based on nanoclays and organic macromolecules, such as biopolymers and surfactants. Rawil F. Fakhrullin received his MSc from Kazan State University in 2003, later receiving a PhD in Biochemistry form Kazan State University (2006), and DSc in Microbiology from Kazan Federal University (2011). He also received an MSc degree in Chemistry with Nanotechnology from University of Hull, UK. He worked as a visiting scientist at the University of Hull (UK), University of Sheffield (UK) and Yeditepe University (Istanbul, Turkey). Currently, hProfessor, Bionanotechnology Lab, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russian Federation . His research interests are focused on development of novel biomimetic materials (including functionalised cells), cell-based therapy, drug delivery, controllable assembly of living cells into multicellular clusters, fabrication of cell-based biosensors, and nanotoxicity. Dr. Pooria Pasbakhsh holds degrees in Material Science and Engineering, Metallurgy and Material Selection, and a PhD in Polymer Composites. With over 17 years of international research and industrial experience, he is a multidisciplinary materials scientist and Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. His work integrates chemistry, geology, and philosophy to develop sustainable bioplastics reinforced with Halloysite Nanotubes, creating smart nanocomposites with self-healing and antimicrobial properties. He has engineered active packaging solutions and transient materials, and currently leads circular economy projects on subsea infrastructure upcycling and carbon-sequestering hemp construction materials. Recognized among the “World’s Top 2% Scientists” since 2020, his impact spans materials, polymers, and chemistry.

• Part I Properties of clay nanoparticles1. Geological overview of clay nanoparticles CRISTINA VILLANOVA-DE-BENAVENT2. Structural characterization of clay systems by small-angle scattering LEONARDO CHIAPPISI3. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/polymer nanocomposites: thermal degradation and flame retardancyHENRI VAHABI, RODOLPHE SONNIER, AURÉLIE TAGUET,BELKACEM OTAZAGHINE, MOHAMMAD REZA SAEB AND GÜNTER BEYER4. Colloidal stability and self-assembling behavior of nanoclays LORENZO LISUZZO, GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO, FILIPPO PARISI, SERENA RIELA,STEFANA MILIOTO AND GIUSEPPE LAZZARA5. Organophilic nature of nanoclay KAUSIK DANA AND MADHUCHHANDA SARKAR6. Computational modeling of nanoclays EVA SCHOLTZOVÁPart II Technological applications of clay nanoparticles7. Flame retardant potential of clay nanoparticles AYESHA KAUSAR8. Nanoclays in drug delivery systems RAQUEL DE MELO BARBOSA, MARIANNA ARAÚJO FERREIRA, LYGHIA MARIAARAÚJO MEIRELLES, NICOLE ZORATO AND FERNANDA NERVO RAFFIN9. Decontamination application of nanoclays HUIJUAN GUAN AND YAFEI ZHAO10. Clays in cement production from the nanoscale LIDIA NATALIA TRUSILEWICZ11. Improving the thermal, termite resistance and anti-wetting properties of tropical timber using a polymethyl acrylate/ halloysite coating NISHAL ASHVIN SOLANKI, POORIA PASBAKHSH AND ALI RASHIDI12. Halloysite nanoclay for development of heterogeneouscatalysts SAMAHE SADJADI13. Covalently modified nanoclays: synthesis, properties andapplications MARINA MASSARO, GIUSEPPE CAVALLARO, GIUSEPPE LAZZARA ANDSERENA RIELA