Magnetic Fe3O4@mesoporous silica composites for drug delivery and bioadsorption.

Magnetic Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous silica (MS) composites were synthesized by generating Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles in the mesoporous silica matrix using the sol-gel method in nitrogen atmosphere. The mesoporous silica hosts include SBA-15 particles owning highly ordered p6mm mesostructure, siliceous mesostructured cellular foams (MCFs), and fiber-like mesoporous silica (FMS) with unique pore structures. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N(2) adsorption/desorption results show that Fe(3)O(4) functionalized MCFs and FMS possess suitable mesoporous structure for the adsorption of both small-molecular drug and large biomolecules. The biocompatibility tests on L929 fibroblast cells using MTT assay reveal low cytotoxicity of these systems. These Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous silica composites show sustained release properties for aspirin in vitro. The release of the aspirin molecules from the pores of the Fe(3)O(4)@mesoporous silica composites is basically a diffusive process. Fe(3)O(4)@MCFs and Fe(3)O(4)@FMS owning larger pore size are good candidates for the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA). These magnetic composites can be potential vectors for drug delivery and bioadsorption.

Systematic synthesis and characterization of single-crystal lanthanide phenylphosphonate nanorods.

Using low-temperature hydrothermal methods, nanoscale lanthanide phenylphosphonates species with different morphologies, namely, nanoparticles and nanorods, have been systematically synthesized. The possible growth mechanism of these nanorods was discussed. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and photoluminescence spectra were used to characterize these materials. The photoluminescent properties of Eu(O3PC6H5)(HO3PC6H5) and La0.91Eu0.09(O3PC6H5)(HO3PC6H5) nanorods were discussed.

Effect of praseodymium(III) on zinc(II) species in human interstitial fluid.

A multiphase model of metal ion species in human interstitial fluid was constructed under physiological conditions. The effect of Pr(III) on Zn(II) species was studied. At the normal conditions, Zn(II) species mainly distribute in [Zn(HSA)], [Zn(IgG)], and [Zn(Cys)(2)H](+). With the Pr(III) level increased, the apparent competition of Pr(III) for ligands lead to the redistribution of Zn(II) species.

Computer simulation of Gd(III) speciation in human interstitial fluid.

The speciation and distribution of Gd(III) in human interstitial fluid was studied by computer simulation. The results show that at the background concentration, all the Gd(III) species are soluble and no precipitates appear. However as the total concentration of Gd(III) rises above 2.610 x 10(-9) mol/l, the insoluble species become predominant. GdPO4 is formed first as a precipitate and then Gd2(CO3)3. Among soluble species, free Gd(III), [Gd(HSA)] , [Gd(Ox)] and the ternary complexes of Gd(III) with citrate as the primary ligand are main species when the total concentration of Gd(III) is below 2.074 x 10(-2) mol/l. With the total concentration of Gd(III) further rising, [Gd3(OH)4] begins to appear and gradually becomes a predominant species.

Computer simulation for effect of Pr(III) on Ca(II) speciation in human interstitial fluid.

A multiphase model of metal ion speciation in human interstitial fluid was constructed and the effect of Pr(III) on Ca(II) speciation was studied. Results show that free Ca2+, [Ca(HCO3)], and [Ca(Lac)] are the main species of Ca(II). Because of the competition of Pr(III) for ligands with Ca(II), the percentages of free Ca2+, [Ca(Lac)], and [Ca(His)(Thr)H3] increase gradually and the percentages of CaHPO4(aq) and [Ca(Cit)(His)H2] decrease gradually with the increase in the total concentration of Pr(III). However, the percentages of [Ca(HCO3)] and CaCO3(aq) first increase and then begin to decrease when the total concentration of Pr(III) exceeds 6.070 x 10-4 M.

Computer simulation for effect of Pr(III) on Ca(II) speciation in human interstitial fluid.

A mutiphase model of metal ion speciation in human interstitial fluid was constructed and the effect of Pr(III) on Ca(II) speciation was studied. Results show that Ca(II) mainly distributes in free Ca2+, [Ca(HCO3)], and [Ca(Lac)]. Because of the competition of Pr(III) for ligands with Ca(II), with the total concentration of Pr(III) rising, the percentages of free Ca2+, [Ca(Lac)] and [Ca(His)(Thr)H3], gradually increase and the percentages of CaHPO4(aq) and [Ca(Cit)(His)H2] gradually decrease. However, the percentages of [Ca(HCO3)] and CaCO3(aq) first increase, and then begin to decrease when the total concentration of Pr(III) exceeds 6.070x10(-4) M.

Tetra-mu-alpha-alanine-bis[tetraaquagadolinium(III)] hexaperchlorate.

The title complex, [Gd(2)(C(3)H(7)NO(2))(4)(H(2)O)(8)](ClO(4))(6), contains centrosymmetric dimeric [Gd(2)(Ala)(4)(H(2)O)(8)](6+) cations (Ala is alpha-alanine) and perchlorate anions. The four alanine molecules act as bridging ligands linking two Gd(3+) ions through their carboxylate O atoms. Each Gd(3+) ion is also coordinated by four water molecules, which complete an eightfold coordination in a square-antiprism fashion. The perchlorate anions and the methyl groups of the alanine ligands are disordered.

Computer simulation of Zn(II) speciation and effect of Gd(III) on Zn(II) speciation in human blood plasma.

The speciation and distribution of Zn(II) and the effect of Gd(III) on Zn(II) speciation in human blood plasma were studied by computer simulation. The results show that, in normal blood plasma, the most predominant species of Zn(II) are [Zn(HSA)] (58.2%), [Zn(IgG)](20.1%), [Zn(Tf)] (10.4%), ternary complexes of [Zn(Cit)(Cys)] (6.6%) and of [Zn(Cys)(His)H] (1.6%), and the binary complex of [Zn(Cys)2H] (1.2%). When zinc is deficient, the distribution of Zn(II) species is similar to that in normal blood plasma. Then, the distribution changes with increasing zinc(II) total concentration. Overloading Zn(II) is initially mainly bound to human serum albumin (HSA). As the available amount of HSA is exceeded, phosphate metal and carbonate metal species are established. Gd(III) entering human blood plasma predominantly competes for phosphate and carbonate to form precipitate species. However, Zn(II) complexes with phosphate and carbonate are negligible in normal blood plasma, so Gd(III) only have a little effect on zinc(II) species in human blood plasma at a concentration above 1.0 x 10(-4) M.