Nanoarchitecture of Eumeninae nest: the compositional mystery unwrapped

Abstract

Abstract Nanoarchitecture in naturally occurring materials has always fascinated man tempting him to mimic them and explore the mystery behind their unparallel physical, structural, optical, thermal, and pharmacological properties. The paper scientifically validates the unknown composition of the Eumeninae wasp nest (EWN) exhibiting exceptional thermophysical and pharmacological properties. The Eumeninae wasp nest is subjected to various structure, elemental, and morphological characterizations by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Having understood the nanoarchitecture with the constituent elements, the electrical and thermal behaviour of the sample are also studied. The sample is closely similar to lateritic soil seen at the location where the nest sample is collected. The pharmacological potential of EWN is also unveiled through antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxicity studies.