Sonochemical synthesis of versatile hydrophilic magnetite nanoparticles.

Hydrophilic magnetite nanoparticles in the size range 30-10nm are easily and rapidly prepared under ultrasonic irradiation of Fe(OH)(2) in di- and tri-ethylene glycol/water solution with volume ratio varying between 7:3 and 3:7. Structural (XRD) and morphological (SEM) characterization reveal good crystalline and homogeneous particles whereas, when solvothermally prepared, the particles are inhomogeneous and aggregated. The sonochemically prepared particles are versatile, i.e. well suited to covalently bind molecules because of the free glycol hydroxylic groups on their surface or exchange the diethylene or triethylene glycol ligand. They can be easily transferred in hydrophobic solvents too. Room-temperature magnetic hysteresis properties measured by means of Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) display a nearly superparamagnetic character. The sonochemical preparation is easily scalable to meet industrial demand.

Thermal hysteresis of Morin transition in hematite particles.

Rhombohedral shaped, single crystal hematite particles with narrow size distribution (D(TEM) = 93 +/- 2 nm) were prepared by hydrolysis of iron chloride and polymerisation in water. The results of field dependent magnetization measurements at different warming-cooling rates and ac susceptibility measurements at varying frequencies are reported and discussed. Thermal hysteresis (DeltaT(M)) associated with the Morin transition and field dependence of the Morin temperature (T(M)) are observed in warming-cooling cycles (DeltaT(M) = 25 and 13 K for H = 0.1 and 3 T, respectively) due to the first order phase transition. A frequency dependence of ac susceptibility is observed above T(M), as a result of the relaxation of the magnetic moment of hematite particles in the weak-ferromagnetic phase.

A freely diffusible form of Sonic hedgehog mediates long-range signalling.

The secreted protein Sonic hedgehog (Shh) exerts many of its patterning effects through a combination of short- and long-range signalling. Three distinct mechanisms, which are not necessarily mutually exclusive, have been proposed to account for the long-range effects of Shh: simple diffusion of Shh, a relay mechanism in which Shh activates secondary signals, and direct delivery of Shh through cytoplasmic extensions, termed cytonemes. Although there is much data (using soluble recombinant Shh (ShhN)) to support the simple diffusion model of long-range Shh signalling, there has been little evidence to date for a native form of Shh that is freely diffusible and not membrane-associated. Here we provide evidence for a freely diffusible form of Shh (s-ShhNp) that is cholesterol modified, multimeric and biologically potent. We further demonstrate that the availability of s-ShhNp is regulated by two functional antagonists of the Shh pathway, Patched (Ptc) and Hedgehog-interacting protein (Hip). Finally, we show a gradient of s-ShhNp across the anterior-posterior axis of the chick limb, demonstrating the physiological relevance of s-ShhNp.