Surface modified of polyacrylonitrile nanofibers by TiO2/MWCNT for photodegradation of organic dyes and pharmaceutical drugs under visible light irradiation.

This work describes the fabrication of two composite nanofibers systems containing polyacrylonitrile polymer (PAN), Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) and Titania (TiO2) nanoparticles. Photodegradation experiments were performed to study the effect of various parameters including pH, catalyst dose, pollutant concentration and reaction time for three model compounds, methylene blue (MB), indigo carmine (IC), and ibuprofen (IBU) under visible light. Morphology and structure of the modified composite nanofibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, Raman spectra, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectra (XPS) analyses. The photocatalytic performance was achieved in a rather short time visible light (<30 min) and under low power intensity (125 W) compared to earlier reports. Kinetics data fitted well using pseudo-first order model to describe the mechanism of photocatalytic degradation processes. The stability and flexibility of the fabricated composite nanofibers allow their application in a continuous flow system and their re-use after several cycles.

Importance of the surface chemistry of nanoparticles on peroxidase-like activity.

We report the studies on origin of peroxidase-like activity for gold nanoparticles, as well as the impact from morphology and surface charge of nanoparticles. For this purpose, we have synthesized hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) and gold nanorods (AuNR) with different morphology and surface chemistry to investigate their influence on the catalytic activity. We found that citrate-capped HAuNS show catalyzing efficiency in oxidation reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and it is superior to that of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped AuNR. The kinetics of catalytic activities from HAuNS and AuNR were respectively studied under varied temperatures. The results indicated that surface chemistry rather than morphology of nanoparticles plays an important role in the catalytic reaction of substrate. Furthermore, influencing factors such as pH, amount of nanoparticle and H2O2 concentration were also investigated on HAuNS-catalyzed system. The great impact of nanoparticle surface properties on catalytic reactions makes a paradigm in constructing nanozymes as peroxidase mimic for sensing application.

Biodistribution of biodegradable polymeric nano-carriers loaded with busulphan and designed for multimodal imaging.

BACKGROUND: Multifunctional nanocarriers for controlled drug delivery, imaging of disease development and follow-up of treatment efficacy are promising novel tools for disease diagnosis and treatment. In the current investigation, we present a multifunctional theranostic nanocarrier system for anticancer drug delivery and molecular imaging. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as an MRI contrast agent and busulphan as a model for lipophilic antineoplastic drugs were encapsulated into poly (ethylene glycol)-co-poly (caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) micelles via the emulsion-evaporation method, and PEG-PCL was labelled with VivoTag 680XL fluorochrome for in vivo fluorescence imaging. RESULTS: Busulphan entrapment efficiency was 83% while the drug release showed a sustained pattern over 10 h. SPION loaded-PEG-PCL micelles showed contrast enhancement in T 2 *-weighted MRI with high r 2* relaxivity. In vitro cellular uptake of PEG-PCL micelles labeled with fluorescein in J774A cells was found to be time-dependent. The maximum uptake was observed after 24 h of incubation. The biodistribution of PEG-PCL micelles functionalized with VivoTag 680XL was investigated in Balb/c mice over 48 h using in vivo fluorescence imaging. The results of real-time live imaging were then confirmed by ex vivo organ imaging and histological examination. Generally, PEG-PCL micelles were highly distributed into the lungs during the first 4 h post intravenous administration, then redistributed and accumulated in liver and spleen until 48 h post administration. No pathological impairment was found in the major organs studied. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, with loaded contrast agent and conjugated fluorochrome, PEG-PCL micelles as biodegradable and biocompatible nanocarriers are efficient multimodal imaging agents, offering high drug loading capacity, and sustained drug release. These might offer high treatment efficacy and real-time tracking of the drug delivery system in vivo, which is crucial for designing of an efficient drug delivery system.

Fluorescence labeled microbubbles for multimodal imaging.

Air-filled polyvinyl alcohol microbubbles (PVA-MBs) were recently introduced as a contrast agent for ultrasound imaging. In the present study, we explore the possibility of extending their application in multimodal imaging by labeling them with a near infrared (NIR) fluorophore, VivoTag-680. PVA-MBs were injected intravenously into FVB/N female mice and their dynamic biodistribution over 24 h was determined by 3D-fluorescence imaging co-registered with 3D-µCT imaging, to verify the anatomic location. To further confirm the biodistribution results from in vivo imaging, organs were removed and examined histologically using bright field and fluorescence microscopy. Fluorescence imaging detected PVA-MB accumulation in the lungs within the first 30 min post-injection. Redistribution to a low extent was observed in liver and kidneys at 4 h, and to a high extent mainly in the liver and spleen at 24 h. Histology confirmed PVA-MB localization in lung capillaries and macrophages. In the liver, they were associated with Kupffer cells; in the spleen, they were located mostly within the marginal-zone. Occasional MBs were observed in the kidney glomeruli and interstitium. The potential application of PVA-MBs as a contrast agent was also studied using ultrasound (US) imaging in subcutaneous and orthotopic pancreatic cancer mouse models, to visualize blood flow within the tumor mass. In conclusion, this study showed that PVA-MBs are useful as a contrast agent for multimodal imaging.

Thermostable luciferase from Luciola cruciate for imaging of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotubes carrying doxorubicin using in vivo imaging system.

In the present study, we introduce a novel method for in vivo imaging of the biodistribution of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) labeled with recombinant thermo-stable Luciola cruciata luciferase (LcL). In addition, we highlight a new application for green fluorescent proteins in which they are utilized as imaging moieties for SWNTs. Carbon nanotubes show great positive potential compared to other drug nanocarriers with respect to loading capacity, cell internalization, and biodegradability. We have also studied the effect of binding mode (chemical conjugation and physical adsorption) on the chemiluminescence activity, decay rate, and half-life. We have shown that through proper chemical conjugation of LcL to CNTs, LcL remained biologically active for the catalysis of d-luciferin in the presence of ATP to release detectable amounts of photons for in vivo imaging. Chemiluminescence of LcL allows imaging of CNTs and their cargo in nonsuperficial locations at an organ resolution with no need of an excitation source. Loading LcL-CNTs with the antitumor antibiotic doxorubicin did not alter their biological activity for imaging. In vivo imaging of LcL-CNTs has been carried out using "IVIS spectrum" showing the uptake of LcL-CNTs by different organs in mice. We believe that the LcL-CNT system is an advanced powerful tool for in vivo imaging and therefore a step toward the advancement of the nanomedicine field.

Light absorber based on nano-spheres on a substrate reflector.

We systematically study a type of plasmonic light absorber based on a monolayer of gold nano-spheres with less than 30 nm in diameters deposited on top of a continuous gold substrate. The influences of particle size, inter-particle distance, particle-substrate spacer size etc on the resonance are studied thoroughly with a 3D finite-element method. We identified that the high-absorption resonance is mainly due to gap plasmon (coupled through particle bodies) when the separation between neighboring nano-spheres is small enough, such as close to 1 nm; at larger particle separations, the resonance is dominated by particle dipoles (coupled through the host dielectric). Experimentally, an absorber was fabricated based on chemically-synthesized gold nanoparticles coated with silica shell. The absorber shows a characteristic absorption band around 810 nm with a maximum absorbance of approximately 90%, which agrees reasonably well with our numerical calculation. The fabrication technique can be easily adapted for devising efficient light absorbers of large areas.

Photoluminescence from quasi-type-II spherical CdSe-CdS core-shell quantum dots.

Spherical CdSe-CdS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) are found to be flexible in the transition between the type-I regime and the type-II regime with different core/shell dimensions. The quasi-type-II feature of the colloidal dots is confirmed with time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Two recombination paths of the excitons with significantly different decay rates are observed and analyzed. The spherical CdSe-CdS core-shell QDs are numerically simulated to investigate the carrier separation. A relatively long radiative lifetime and high degree of spatial carrier separation provide good potential to achieve lasing under continuous-wave excitation. Amplified spontaneous emission at room temperature is detected from the QDs embedded in the polymer matrix. It is shown that a larger shell thickness results in a lower pumping threshold, while a smaller shell thickness leads to higher PL efficiency.

Photostability of lasing process from water solution of Rhodamine 6G with gold nanoparticles.

We report the lasing performance and photobleaching of gain material containing a water solution of Rhodamine 6G dye and gold nanoparticles (NPs). In comparison to a pure dye solution, the investigated material demonstrated both enhancement and quenching of the lasing output, depending on the relative concentration of the gold NPs. Although the presence of NPs with an optimized concentration looks preferable in terms of the lasing output enhancement, such additives deteriorate the operational resource of the gain material; i.e., the photobleaching rate speeds up.

Efficient internalization of silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles of different sizes by primary human macrophages and dendritic cells.

Engineered nanoparticles are being considered for a wide range of biomedical applications, from magnetic resonance imaging to "smart" drug delivery systems. The development of novel nanomaterials for biomedical applications must be accompanied by careful scrutiny of their biocompatibility. In this regard, particular attention should be paid to the possible interactions between nanoparticles and cells of the immune system, our primary defense system against foreign invasion. On the other hand, labeling of immune cells serves as an ideal tool for visualization, diagnosis or treatment of inflammatory processes, which requires the efficient internalization of the nanoparticles into the cells of interest. Here, we compare novel monodispersed silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles with commercially available dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. The silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles displayed excellent magnetic properties. Furthermore, they were non-toxic to primary human monocyte-derived macrophages at all doses tested whereas dose-dependent toxicity of the smaller silica-coated nanoparticles (30nm and 50nm) was observed for primary monocyte-derived dendritic cells, but not for the similarly small dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. No macrophage or dendritic cell secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines was observed upon administration of nanoparticles. The silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles were taken up to a significantly higher degree when compared to the dextran-coated nanoparticles, irrespective of size. Cellular internalization of the silica-coated nanoparticles was through an active, actin cytoskeleton-dependent process. We conclude that these novel silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles are promising materials for medical imaging, cell tracking and other biomedical applications.

Synthesis of tetrahedral quasi-type-II CdSe-CdS core-shell quantum dots.

Synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals of II-VI semiconductor materials has been refined in recent decades and their size dependent optoelectronic properties have been well established. Here we report a facile synthesis of CdSe-CdS core-shell heterostructures using a two-step hot injection process. Red-shifts in absorption and photoluminescence spectra show that the obtained quantum dots have quasi-type-II alignment of energy levels. The obtained nanocrystals have a heterostructure with a large and highly faceted tetrahedral CdS shell grown epitaxially over a spherical CdSe core. The obtained morphology as well as high resolution electron microscopy confirms that the tetrahedral shell have a zinc blende crystal structure. A phenomenological mechanism for the growth and morphology of the nanocrystals is discussed.

Characterization of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and its application in protein purification.

The application of surface modified magnetic adsorbent particles in combination with magnetic separation techniques has received considerable awareness in recent years. There is a particular need in protein purification and analysis for specific, functional and generic methods of protein binding on solid supports. Nanoscale superparamagnetic iron oxide particles have been used to purify a natural coagulant protein extracted from Moringa oleifera seeds. Spectrophotometric analysis of the coagulant protein was performed using synthetic clay solution as substrate. Protein binding with carboxyl and silica surface modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) were compared with the known carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) beads of approximately 1 microm. SPION modified with carboxyl surface showed higher binding capacity towards the coagulant protein compared to the CMC beads. The high surface area to volume ratio of the carboxyl-coated SPION resulted in high binding capacity and rapid adsorption kinetics of the crude protein extract. The purification and molecular weight of coagulant protein is analyzed by SDS-PAGE. This approach utilizes the most efficient, feasible and economical method of coagulant protein purification and it can also be applicable to other proteins that possess similar properties.

Visualization and analysis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the inner ear by light microscopy and energy filtered TEM.

Nanoparticles as potential carriers for local drug transfer are an alternative to systemic drug delivery into the inner ear. We report on the first in vitro tests of a new ferrogel consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and a Pluronic(®) F127 (PF127) copolymer. Pluronic copolymers possess a unique viscosity-adjustable property that makes PF127 gels easy to handle compared to conventional cross-linked hydrogels. This ferrogel was successfully tested in cadaver human temporal bones as well as in organotypic explant cultures of mouse inner ears. SPIONs were identified by light microscopy and localized with different imaging modes in energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy. Our approach shows a promising possibility to use iron oxide nanoparticles, which are suitable for visualization and characterization at both the light- and electron-microscopic levels. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: The authors report the first in vitro tests of a new ferrogel consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and a Pluronic® F127 (PF127) copolymer for drug delivery in the inner ear, demonstrasting a promising possibility to use iron oxide nanoparticles, which are suitable for visualization and characterization at both the light- and electron-microscopic levels.

Dual-drug delivery of Ag-chitosan nanoparticles and phenytoin via core-shell PVA/PCL electrospun nanofibers.

Dual-drug delivery systems were constructed through coaxial techniques, which were convenient for the model drugs used the present work. This study aimed to fabricate core-shell electrospun nanofibrous membranes displaying simultaneous cell proliferation and antibacterial activity. For that purpose, phenytoin (Ph), a well-known proliferative agent, was loaded into a polycaprolactone (PCL) shell membrane, and as-prepared silver-chitosan nanoparticles (Ag-CS NPs), as biocidal agents, were embedded in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) core layer. The morphology, chemical composition, mechanical and thermal properties of the nanofibrous membranes were characterized by FESEM/STEM, FTIR and DSC. The coaxial PVA-Ag CS NPs/PCL-Ph nanofibers (NFs) showed more controlled Ph release than PVA/PCL-Ph NFs. There was notable improvement in the morphology, thermal, mechanical, antibacterial properties and cytobiocompatibility of the fibers upon incorporation of Ph and Ag-CS NPs. The proposed core-shell PVA/PCL NFs represent promising scaffolds for tissue regeneration and wound healing by the effective dual delivery of phenytoin and Ag-CS NPs.

Development and In Vitro Evaluation of Biocompatible PLA-Based Trilayer Nanofibrous Membranes for the Delivery of Nanoceria: A Novel Approach for Diabetic Wound Healing.

The attempts to explore and optimize the efficiency of diabetic wound healing's promotors are still in progress. Incorporation of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) in appropriate nanofibers (NFs) can prolong and maximize their promoting effect for the healing of diabetic wounds, through their sustained releases, as well as the nanofibers role in mimicking of the extra cellular matrix (ECM). The as-prepared nCeO2 were analyzed by using UV-Vis spectroscopy, XRD, SEM-EDX, TEM and FTIR, where TEM and SEM images of both aqueous suspension and powder showed spherical/ovoid-shaped particles. Biodegradable trilayer NFs with cytobiocompatibility were developed to sandwich nCeO2 in PVA NFs as a middle layer where PLA NFs were electrospun as outer bilayer. The nCeO2-loaded trilayer NFs were characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR and DSC. A two-stage release behavior was observed when the nanoceria was released from the trilayer-based nanofibers; an initial burst release took place, and then it was followed by a sustained release pattern. The mouse embryo fibroblasts, i.e., 3T3 cells, were seeded over the nCeO2-loaded NFs mats to investigate their cyto-biocompatibility. The presence and sustained release of nCeO2 efficiently enhance the adhesion, growth and proliferation of the fibroblasts' populations. Moreover, the incorporation of nCeO2 with a higher amount into the designed trilayer NFs demonstrated a significant improvement in morphological, mechanical, thermal and cyto-biocompatibility properties than lower doses. Overall, the obtained results suggest that designated trilayer nanofibrous membranes would offer a specific approach for the treatment of diabetic wounds through an effective controlled release of nCeO2.

Novel solution route synthesis of low thermal conductivity nanocrystalline bismuth telluride.

A novel synthesis approach based on a solution route has been developed for the fabrication of nanocrystalline bismuth telluride. The method consists of dissolving both bismuth and tellurium into the same organic solvent with the assistance of complexing agents and one-step coprecipitation of bismuth telluride. The synthesized nanocrystalline bismuth telluride powders possess rhombohedral crystal structure and are nanosheet/nanorod-like with an average size of between 30 and 40 nm. The thermal conductivity of the hot-pressed compact consolidated from the as-synthesized nanopowders is 0.39-0.45 Wm(-1)K(-1) in the temperature range of 323 to 523 K, which is at most one third of that of bulk bismuth telluride-based materials reported in the literature. Such low thermal conductivity of the investigated bismuth telluride is mainly attributed to substantially high concentration of grain boundaries provided by nanostructuring to scatter phonons intensively.

Multimodal Imaging of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Using Multifunctional Nanoparticles as Contrast Agents.

Late diagnosis and refractory behavior toward current treatment protocols make pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) one of the most difficult cancer forms to treat. The imaging-based approach plays an important role to identify potentially curable PDAC patients in high-risk groups at the early stage. In the present study, we developed a core-shell structured gold nanorod (AuNR) as a contrast agent for multimodal imaging and investigated its application for PDAC diagnosis. The composite nanoparticles composed of a AuNR core inside a layer of mesoporous silica that was then coated with a gadolinium oxide carbonate shell (AuNR-SiO2-Gd) are designed to be used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray computed tomography (CT), and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). A phantom study with the AuNR-SiO2-Gd NPs demonstrated higher MRI contrast compared to Gadovist and higher X-ray attenuation than Visipaque. A strong, stable, and broad wavelength range signal with a peak at 800 nm was observed in PAI. The AuNR-SiO2-Gd NPs showed significant contrast enhancement under PAI/MRI/CT in both the liver and spleen of control mice after intravenous administration. The utility in PDAC was studied in a genetically engineered mouse model carrying Kras and p53 mutations, which develops spontaneous tumors and keeps the desmoplasia and hypovascularity feature of PDAC in patients. The AuNR-SiO2-Gd NPs were highly accumulated in the surrounding soft tissues but were sparsely distributed throughout the tumor due to dense stroma infiltration and poor tumor vascularization. Hence, a negative contrast within the tumor area in CT/PAI and a positive contrast in MRI were observed. In conclusion, AuNR-SiO2-Gd NPs have good potential to be developed as a multimodal contrast agent for PDAC, which might improve early diagnosis and benefit the clinical outcome for PDAC patients.

Synthesis and magnetic properties of bulk transparent PMMA/Fe-oxide nanocomposites.

PMMA/Fe-oxide nanocomposites are fabricated by a chemical method. Monodispersed Fe-oxide nanoparticles are well dispersed in the PMMA matrix by in situ polymerization, resulting in a bulk transparent polymeric nanocomposite. The magnetic behavior of the PMMA/Fe-oxide nanocomposites is investigated. The transparent PMMA/Fe-oxide nanocomposite has potentially interesting magneto-optic applications without compromising the advantages of a lightweight, noncorrosive polymeric material with very high transparency even for bulk samples.

Template electrodeposition of ordered bismuth telluride nanowire arrays.

Thermoelectric bismuth telluride nanowire arrays have been synthesized by direct-current electrode-position into porous anodic alumina membranes both galvanostatically and potentiostatically. The as-synthesized Bi2Te3 nanowire arrays are highly ordered in large area, stoichiometric, uniform, with high aspect ratio (above 100) and high filling ratio (>90%) of the membrane. The effects of different electrochemical deposition parameters on crystal structures, morphology and composition have been investigated. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of the nanowires.

CT Scanning and MATLAB Calculations for Preservation of Coptic Mural Paintings in Historic Egyptian Monasteries.

Investigations of Coptic mural paintings in historic churches and monasteries demand a deep understanding of the micro structure of the mural painting layers. The main objective of the present study is to study the efficiency of new avenues of computed X-ray tomography (CT Scan) and MATLAB in the analysis of Coptic mural paintings, either in the form of images or videos made to collect information about the physical characteristics of the material structure of the layers of mural paintings. These advanced techniques have been used in the investigation of samples of Coptic mural paintings dating back to the V-VIII century A.D, which have been collected from several locations in the Coptic monasteries in Upper Egypt. The application of CT-scanning is a powerful non-destructive tool for imaging and investigation which can be applied to the preservation of monuments made from many different materials. The second stage of research will be to characterize the materials through analytical techniques including XRD, XRF, EDX and FTIR to confirm the findings of CT scanning and to provide additional information concerning the materials used and their deterioration processes. This paper presents the results of the first pilot study in which CT scan and MATLAB have been utilized in combination for the non-destructive evaluation and investigation of Coptic mural paintings in Upper Egypt. The examinations have been carried out on mural painting samples from three important Coptic monasteries in Upper Egypt: the Qubbat Al Hawa Monastery in Aswan, the Saint Simeon Monastery in Aswan and the Saint Matthew the Potter Monastery in Luxor. This multi-stranded investigation has provided us with important information about the physical structure of the paintings, grains dimensions, grain texture, pore media characterization which include the micro porosity, BET and TPV, surface rendering, and calculation of the points in the surface through calculations completed using MATLAB. CT scanning assisted in the investigation and analyses of image surface details, and helped to visualize hidden micro structures that would otherwise be inaccessible due to over painting.

Fe3O4 and gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles for the adsorption of Co2+ from aqueous solution.

The adsorption of Co2+ ions from nitrate solutions using iron oxide nanoparticles of magnetite (Fe3O4) and maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) has been studied. The adsorption of Co2+ ions on the surface of the particles was investigated under different conditions of oxide content, contact time, solution pH, and initial Co2+ ion concentration. It has been found that the equilibrium can be attained in less than 5 min. The maximum loading capacity of Fe3O4 and gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles is 5.8 x 10(-5) and 3.7 x 10(-5) mol m(-2), respectively, which are much higher than the previously studied, iron oxides and conventional ion exchange resins. Co2+ ions were also recovered by dilute nitric acid from the loaded gamma-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 with an efficiency of 86 and 30%, respectively. That has been explained by the different mechanisms by including both the surface and structural loadings of Co2+ ions. The surface adsorption of Co2+ on Fe3O4 and gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles has been found to have the same mechanism of ion exchange reaction between Co2+ in the solution and proton bonded on the particle surface. The conditional equilibrium constants of surface adsorption of Co2+ on Fe3O4 and gamma-Fe2O3 nanoparticles have been determined to be log K=-3.3+/-0.3 and -3.1+/-0.2, respectively. The structural loading of Co2+ ions into Fe3O4 lattice has been found to be the ion exchange reaction between Co2+ and Fe2+ while that into gamma-Fe2O3 lattice to fill its vacancy. The effect of temperature on the adsorption of Co2+ was also investigated, and the value of enthalpy change was determined to be 19 kJ mol(-1).