Carbon-nanotube-based stimuli-responsive controlled-release system.

A stimuli-responsive controlled-release delivery system based on carbon nanotubes is demonstrated. Through TEM, FTIR spectroscopic, and thermogravimetric analysis, functional groups have been successfully attached to the open ends of the tubes, thereby enabling functionalized silica spheres to preferentially attach to the ends. This, in essence, plugs the ends of the tube. Controlling release of encapsulated materials within the tubes is illustrated by fluorescein-filled carbon nanotubes. The discharge process can be triggered by exposure to 1,4-dithiothreitol (DTT) or at elevated temperature. Moreover, both triggering systems, DTT and temperature, provide rate of release control through increased DTT concentration or temperature choice, respectively. This delivery system paves the way for the development of a new generation of site-selective, controlled-release, drug-delivery systems, and interactive nanosensor devices.

Low temperature growth of carbon nanotubes from methane catalytic decomposition over nickel supported on a zeolite.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes from 8 to 63 nm in diameter and from 60 to 413 nm in length, were synthesized over nickel supported on a zeolite by the chemical vapor deposition of methane in the relatively low temperature range 400-550 degrees C. The carbon deposited was analyzed by x-ray powder diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of the reaction temperature on the carbon nanotube formation and relative purity were evaluated.

Molecular simulations study of ligand-release mechanism in an odorant-binding protein from the southern house mosquito.

Pheromone-binding proteins transport hydrophobic pheromones through the aqueous medium to their receptors. The odorant-binding protein (OBP) of Culex quinquefasciatus (CquiOBP1), which binds to an oviposition pheromone (5R,6S)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide (MOP), plays a key role in sensing oviposition cues. However, so far the mechanism of MOP release from the protein is unclear. Therefore, in this contribution the process and pathway of the MOP release from CquiOBP1 are determined by conventional molecular dynamics, essential dynamics (ED), and ED sampling. The detailed analysis of the release process suggests the intrinsic flexibility of MOP, the distribution of contacts with MOP and local conformational changes of CquiOBP1 is crucial.

Synthesis, dispersion, and cytocompatibility of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide.

The synthesis, characterization, and toxicity of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide are reported. Prior to the cytocompatibility tests the stability of the suspensions in a wide range of concentrations (3.125-100 µg/mL) of three different dispersants is studied. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol-polyethylene glycol (Pluronic P123), and sodium deoxycholate (DOC) are investigated as the dispersants. The toxicity depends on the type of dispersant and concentration of the nanomaterials in the suspensions. Detailed analysis suggests that graphene oxide functionalized with PEG in the concentration range between 3125 µg/mL and 25 µg/mL exhibits the best biocompatibility with mice fibroblast cells (line L929).

Magnetic silica nanotubes: synthesis, drug release, and feasibility for magnetic hyperthermia.

A new kind of silica nanotube with incorporated γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles has been successfully prepared through sol-gel processes. Hematite particles supported on carbon nanotubes served as templates for the fabrication of the magnetic silica nanotubes. The obtained nanostructures consisting of magnetic Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles protected by a silica shell were fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N(2) sorption and desorption, and magnetization studies. The hollow inner space and the magnetic functionalization render the material promising for applications in biology and medicine. This is underlined by studies in alternating magnetic fields which show a significant heating effect, i.e., the feasibility for applications in hyperthermia therapies. In addition, the material exhibits enhanced drug-loading capacity which is demonstrated by loading with rhodamine B molecules as drugs and corresponding release experiments. The results show that magnetic silica nanotubes can be straightforwardly synthesized and have a great potential as a multifunctional drug carrier system.

Effect of functionalization of carbon nanotubes with psychosine on complement activation and protein adsorption.

Carbon nanotubes possess interesting physicochemical properties which make them potentially usable in medicine. Single-walled carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, for example, may carry and deliver anticancer drugs, such as cisplatin. Magnetic nanoparticles, like iron filled MWCNT, can be used in hyperthermia therapy. However, their hydrophobic character is a major difficulty, as preparation of stable dispersions of carbon nanotubes in biological buffers is an essential step towards biomedical applications. Recently, a novel treatment using the glycolipid, Galactosyl-beta1-sphingosine (psychosine), was employed to make stable suspensions of psychosine-functionalized carbon nanotubes in biological buffers. In this paper, the interactions of psychosine-functionalized carbon nanotubes with a part of the human immune system, complement, is presented. To investigate if human serum complement proteins can interact with psychosine-functionalized carbon nanotubes, complement consumption (depletion) assays were conducted. Moreover, direct protein binding studies, to analyze the interaction of plasma proteins with the psychosine-functionalized carbon nanotubes, using affinity chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis techniques, were applied. The psychosine-functionalized carbon nanotubes activate human complement via the classical pathway. Interestingly, as the hydrophilic part of the glycolipid may bind to ficolins, the lectin pathway could also be involved. Binding of human plasma proteins is very selective as only very few proteins adsorb to the psychosine-functionalized carbon nanotube surface, when placed in contact with human plasma. Bovine serum albumin-coated carbon nanotubes were used as a standard to find the differences in complement activation and protein adsorption patterns, caused by various non-covalent coatings of carbon nanotubes.

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes with and without catalyst particles.

The initial development of carbon nanotube synthesis revolved heavily around the use of 3d valence transition metals such as Fe, Ni, and Co. More recently, noble metals (e.g. Au) and poor metals (e.g. In, Pb) have been shown to also yield carbon nanotubes. In addition, various ceramics and semiconductors can serve as catalytic particles suitable for tube formation and in some cases hybrid metal/metal oxide systems are possible. All-carbon systems for carbon nanotube growth without any catalytic particles have also been demonstrated. These different growth systems are briefly examined in this article and serve to highlight the breadth of avenues available for carbon nanotube synthesis.

In situ observations of fullerene fusion and ejection in carbon nanotubes.

We present in situ experimental observations of fullerenes seamlessly fusing to single-walled carbon nanotubes. The morphing-entry of a fullerene to the interior of a nanotube is also captured. The confined (1D) motion of the newly-encapsulated fullerene within its host attests to the actual change from the exterior to interior.

Inner-tube chirality determination for double-walled carbon nanotubes by scanning tunneling microscopy.

Evidence for modified electronic structure in double-walled carbon nanotubes with respect to their individual inner and outer constituent single-walled nanotubes is provided by scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy experiments. The contribution originating from the inner tube to the local density of states of the double-walled system was identified in agreement with previous theoretical calculations. Consequently, the chiral index for the inner tube was extracted based on the additional van Hove singularities present in the experimental tunneling spectra.

Novel catalysts, room temperature, and the importance of oxygen for the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes.

In this letter, we show for the first time the use of metal oxides as catalysts in the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) using laser ablation. Further, SWCNTs have been synthesized at low temperature (down to room temperature), where their nucleation cannot be explained via fullerene nucleation. The data point to a nucleation mechanism previously not identified, that places a stable oxidized ring as the root cause for the growth of SWCNTs.