Gold nanoparticles anchored graphitized carbon nanofibers ionic liquid electrode for ultrasensitive and selective electrochemical sensing of anticancer drug irinotecan.

An electrochemical sensor is described for highly sensitive and selective determination of anticancer drug irinitecan (IRT). Gold nanoparticles anchored graphitized carbon nanofibers (Au@GCNFs) was prepared. Au@GCNFs was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray. The combination of high catalytic activity of the nanocomposite Au@GCNFs and the good conductivity ionic liquid [BMIM]PF6 (IL) resulted in a modified paste electrode (IL/Au@GCNFs-PE). The IL/Au@GCNFs-PE exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity for selective determination of IRT in the presence of physiological electroactive species, such as ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and caffeine (CAF) mixture, typically at working potential of 0.88 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The linear response ranges 4.0 nM-1.79 µM and 4.5 nM-1.57 µM with limits of detection of 1.55 nM and 1.70 nM were calculated for IRT in the absence and presence of the quaternary mixture, respectively. The sensor is reproducible and stable over four weeks, and interference by biologically essential compounds is negligible. The method was applied to the determination of IRT in pharmaceutical formulations, in spiked blood serum and urine, and in clinical patient blood. The recovery values ranged from 96.0 to 104.2%. Graphical abstract The combination of high catalytic activity of the new nanocomposite AuNPs@GCNFs with the good conductivity ionic liquid (IL) resulted to a modified paste electrode (IL/Au@GCNFs-PE). The novel sensor was successfully applied for the sensitive and selective detection of IRT in biological samples in the presence of quaternary ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and caffeine (CAF) mixture.

Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Electrospun Nanofiber Mats through Controllable Welding at the Cross Points.

This communication describes a simple and effective method for welding electrospun nanofibers at the cross points to enhance the mechanical properties of their nonwoven mats. The welding is achieved by placing a nonwoven mat of the nanofibers in a capped vial with the vapor of a proper solvent. For polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers, the solvent is dichloromethane (DCM). The welding can be managed in a controllable fashion by simply varying the partial pressure of DCM and/or the exposure time. Relative to the pristine nanofiber mat, the mechanical strength of the welded PCL nanofiber mat can be increased by as much as 200%. Meanwhile, such a treatment does not cause any major structural changes, including morphology, fiber diameter, and pore size. This study provides a generic method for improving the mechanical properties of nonwoven nanofiber mats, holding great potential in various applications.

Synthesis, characterization and electrospinning of corn cob cellulose-graft-polyacrylonitrile and their clay nanocomposites.

This study aims at evaluation of cellulose recovered from agricultural waste (corn cob) in terms of synthesis of graft copolymers, polymer/clay nanocomposites, and nanofibers. The copolymers and nanocomposites were synthesized in aqueous solution using Ce(4+) initiator. Conditions (concentrations of the components, reaction temperature, and period) were determined first for copolymer synthesis to obtain the highest conversion ratio. Then found parameters were used to synthesize nanocomposites adding clay mineral to reaction medium. Although there was a decrease in conversion in nanocomposites syntheses, thermal and rheologic measurements indicated enhancements compared to pristine copolymer. Obtained polymeric materials have been successfully electrospun into nanofibers and characterized. Average diameter of the nanofibers was about 650nm and was strongly influenced by NaMMT amount in the nanocomposite sample.

Optimization of fully aligned bioactive electrospun fibers for "in vitro" nerve guidance.

Complex architecture of natural tissues such as nerves requires the use of multifunctional scaffolds with peculiar topological and biochemical signals able to address cell behavior towards specific events at the cellular (microscale) and macromolecular (nanoscale) level. In this context, the electrospinning technique is useful to generate fiber assemblies having peculiar fiber diameters at the nanoscale and patterned by unidirectional ways, to facilitate neurite extension via contact guidance. Following a bio-mimetic approach, fully aligned polycaprolactone fibers blended with gelatin macromolecules have been fabricated as potential bioactive substrate for nerve regeneration. Morphological and topographic aspects of electrospun fibers assessed by SEM/AFM microscopy supported by image analyses elaboration allow estimating an increase of fully aligned fibers from 5 to 39% as collector rotating rate increases from 1,000 to 3,000 rpm. We verify that fully alignment of fibers positively influences in vitro response of hMSC and PC-12 cells in neurogenic way. Immunostaining images show that the presence of topological defects, i.e., kinks--due to more frequent fiber crossing--in the case of randomly organized fiber assembly concurs to interfere with proper neurite outgrowth. On the contrary, fully aligned fibers without kinks offer a more efficient contact guidance to direct the orientation of nerve cells along the fibers respect to randomly organized ones, promoting a high elongation of neurites at 7 days and the formation of bipolar extensions. So, this confirms that the topological cue of fully alignment of fibers elicits a favorable environment for nerve regeneration.

Aerosol monitoring during carbon nanofiber production: mobile direct-reading sampling.

Detailed investigations were conducted at a facility that manufactures and processes carbon nanofibers (CNFs). Presented research summarizes the direct-reading monitoring aspects of the study. A mobile aerosol sampling platform, equipped with an aerosol instrument array, was used to characterize emissions at different locations within the facility. Particle number, respirable mass, active surface area, and photoelectric response were monitored with a condensation particle counter (CPC), a photometer, a diffusion charger, and a photoelectric aerosol sensor, respectively. CO and CO(2) were additionally monitored. Combined simultaneous monitoring of these metrics can be utilized to determine source and relative contribution of airborne particles (CNFs and others) within a workplace. Elevated particle number concentrations, up to 1.15 x 10(6) cm(-3), were found within the facility but were not due to CNFs. Ultrafine particle emissions, released during thermal treatment of CNFs, were primarily responsible. In contrast, transient increases in respirable particle mass concentration, with a maximum of 1.1 mg m(-3), were due to CNF release through uncontrolled transfer and bagging. Of the applied metrics, our findings suggest that particle mass was probably the most useful and practical metric for monitoring CNF emissions in this facility. Through chemical means, CNFs may be selectively distinguished from other workplace contaminants (Birch et al., in preparation), and for direct-reading monitoring applications, the photometer was found to provide a reasonable estimate of respirable CNF mass concentration. Particle size distribution measurements were conducted with an electrical low-pressure impactor and a fast particle size spectrometer. Results suggest that the dominant CNF mode by particle number lies between 200 and 250 nm for both aerodynamic and mobility equivalent diameters. Significant emissions of CO were also evident in this facility. Exposure control recommendations were described for processes as required.