C-14 powered dye-sensitized betavoltaic cells.

A dye-sensitized betavoltaic cell is developed for the first time, which utilizes radioisotopic carbon, composed of nano-sized quantum dots, and ruthenium-based dye sensitized TiO2 as electrodes. In this cell, emitted beta radiations are absorbed by the dye rather than TiO2, which resulted in enhanced performance compared to the pristine betavoltaic cell.

Synthesis and Growth Mechanism of Stable Prenucleated (≈0.8 nm Diameter) PbS Quantum Dots by Medium Energy Ion Scattering Spectroscopy.

In the current work, stable prenucleated PbS quantum dots (QDs) with a sub-nanometer (0.8 nm) size have been successfully synthesized via a systematically designed experiment. A detailed analysis of critical nucleation, growth, and stability for such ultrasmall prenucleated clusters is done. The experimental strategy is based on controlled concentration, temperature and injection of respective precursors, thus enabling us to control nucleation rate and separation of stable sub-nanometer PbS QDs with size 0.8 nm. Significantly, by providing additional thermal energy to sub-nanometer PbS QDs, we achieved the fully nucleated cubic crystalline structure of PbS with size of around 1.5 nm. The size and composition of the prenucleated QDs are investigated by sophisticated tools like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) spectroscopy which confirms the synthesis of PbS with Pb2+ rich surface while the UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) data suggests an alternative crystallization path. Non-classical nucleation theory is employed to substantiate the growth mechanism of prenucleated PbS QDs.

Enhanced Therapeutic Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Using Surface-Modified Nanoporous Acupuncture Needles.

Acupuncture originated within the auspices of Oriental medicine, and today is used as an alternative method for treating various diseases and symptoms. The physiological mechanisms of acupuncture appear to involve the release of endogenous opiates and neurotransmitters, with the signals mediating through electrical stimulation of the central nervous system (CNS). Earlier we reported a nanoporous stainless steel acupuncture needle with enhanced therapeutic properties, evaluated by electrophysiological and behavioral responses in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Herein, we investigate molecular changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) rats by acupuncture treatment using the nanoporous needles. Treatment at acupoint HT7 is found most effective at reducing average tumor size, ß-catenin expression levels, and the number of aberrant crypt foci in the colon endothelium. Surface modification of acupuncture needles further enhances the therapeutic effects of acupuncture treatment in CRC rats.