Methods of preparation and modification of advanced zero-valent iron nanoparticles, their properties and application in water treatment technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filip, Jan; Kašlík, Josef; Medřík, Ivo; Petala, Eleni; Zbořil, Radek; Slunský, Jan; Černík, Miroslav; Stavělová, Monika

2014-05-01

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles are commonly used in modern water treatment technologies. Compared to conventionally-used macroscopic iron or iron microparticles, the using of nanoparticles has the advantages given mainly by their generally large specific surface area (it drives their high reactivity and/or sorption capacity), small dimensions (it allows their migration e.g. in ground water), and particular physical and chemical properties. Following the applications of zero-valent iron particles in various pilot tests, there arose several critical suggestions for improvements of used nanomaterials and for development of new generation of reactive nanomaterials. In the presentation, the methods of zero-valent iron nanoparticles synthesis will be summarized with a special attention paid to the thermally-induced solid-state reaction allowing preparation of zero-valent iron nanoparticles in an industrial scale. Moreover, the method of thermal reduction of iron-oxide precursors enables to finely tune the critical parameters (mainly particle size and morphology, specific surface area, surface chemistry of nanoparticles etc.) of resulting zero-valet iron nanoparticles. The most important trends of advanced nanoparticles development will be discussed: (i) surface modification of nanomaterilas, (ii) development of nanocomposites and (iii) development of materials for combined reductive-sorption technologies. Laboratory testing of zero-valent iron nanoparticles reactivity and migration will be presented and compared with the field observations: the advanced zero-valent iron nanoparticles were used for groundwater treatment at the locality contaminated by chlorinated hydrocarbons (VC, DCE, TCE and PCE) and reacted nanoparticles were extracted from the sediments for their fate assessment. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic "Competence Centres" (project No. TE01020218) and the EU FP7 (project NANOREM).

Recovery of Drug Delivery Nanoparticles from Human Plasma Using an Electrokinetic Platform Technology.

PubMed

Ibsen, Stuart; Sonnenberg, Avery; Schutt, Carolyn; Mukthavaram, Rajesh; Yeh, Yasan; Ortac, Inanc; Manouchehri, Sareh; Kesari, Santosh; Esener, Sadik; Heller, Michael J

2015-10-01

The effect of complex biological fluids on the surface and structure of nanoparticles is a rapidly expanding field of study. One of the challenges holding back this research is the difficulty of recovering therapeutic nanoparticles from biological samples due to their small size, low density, and stealth surface coatings. Here, the first demonstration of the recovery and analysis of drug delivery nanoparticles from undiluted human plasma samples through the use of a new electrokinetic platform technology is presented. The particles are recovered from plasma through a dielectrophoresis separation force that is created by innate differences in the dielectric properties between the unaltered nanoparticles and the surrounding plasma. It is shown that this can be applied to a wide range of drug delivery nanoparticles of different morphologies and materials, including low-density nanoliposomes. These recovered particles can then be analyzed using different methods including scanning electron microscopy to monitor surface and structural changes that result from plasma exposure. This new recovery technique can be broadly applied to the recovery of nanoparticles from high conductance fluids in a wide range of applications. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Gold nanoparticle contrast agents in advanced X-ray imaging technologies.

PubMed

Ahn, Sungsook; Jung, Sung Yong; Lee, Sang Joon

2013-05-17

Recently, there has been significant progress in the field of soft- and hard-X-ray imaging for a wide range of applications, both technically and scientifically, via developments in sources, optics and imaging methodologies. While one community is pursuing extensive applications of available X-ray tools, others are investigating improvements in techniques, including new optics, higher spatial resolutions and brighter compact sources. For increased image quality and more exquisite investigation on characteristic biological phenomena, contrast agents have been employed extensively in imaging technologies. Heavy metal nanoparticles are excellent absorbers of X-rays and can offer excellent improvements in medical diagnosis and X-ray imaging. In this context, the role of gold (Au) is important for advanced X-ray imaging applications. Au has a long-history in a wide range of medical applications and exhibits characteristic interactions with X-rays. Therefore, Au can offer a particular advantage as a tracer and a contrast enhancer in X-ray imaging technologies by sensing the variation in X-ray attenuation in a given sample volume. This review summarizes basic understanding on X-ray imaging from device set-up to technologies. Then this review covers recent studies in the development of X-ray imaging techniques utilizing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their relevant applications, including two- and three-dimensional biological imaging, dynamical processes in a living system, single cell-based imaging and quantitative analysis of circulatory systems and so on. In addition to conventional medical applications, various novel research areas have been developed and are expected to be further developed through AuNP-based X-ray imaging technologies.

ALI (Autonomous Lunar Investigator): Revolutionary Approach to Exploring the Moon with Addressable Reconfigurable Technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clark, P. E.; Curtis, S. A.; Rilee, M. L.; Floyd, S. R.

2005-01-01

Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART) based structures: Mission Concepts based on Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART), originally studied for future ANTS (Autonomous Nanotechnology Swarm) Space Architectures, are now being developed as rovers for nearer term use in lunar and planetary surface exploration. The architecture is based on the reconfigurable tetrahedron as a building block. Tetrahedra are combined to form space-filling networks, shaped for the required function. Basic structural components are highly modular, addressable arrays of robust nodes (tetrahedral apices) from which highly reconfigurable struts (tetrahedral edges), acting as supports or tethers, are efficiently reversibly deployed/stowed, transforming and reshaping the structures as required.

Developing sustainable global health technologies: insight from an initiative to address neonatal hypothermia.

PubMed

Gupta, Rajesh; Patel, Rajan; Murty, Naganand; Panicker, Rahul; Chen, Jane

2015-02-01

Relative to drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines, efforts to develop other global health technologies, such as medical devices, are limited and often focus on the short-term goal of prototype development instead of the long-term goal of a sustainable business model. To develop a medical device to address neonatal hypothermia for use in resource-limited settings, we turned to principles of design theory: (1) define the problem with consideration of appropriate integration into relevant health policies, (2) identify the users of the technology and the scenarios in which the technology would be used, and (3) use a highly iterative product design and development process that incorporates the perspective of the user of the technology at the outset and addresses scalability. In contrast to our initial idea, to create a single device, the process guided us to create two separate devices, both strikingly different from current solutions. We offer insights from our initial experience that may be helpful to others engaging in global health technology development.

Quantification of intracellular payload release from polymersome nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scarpa, Edoardo; Bailey, Joanne L.; Janeczek, Agnieszka A.; Stumpf, Patrick S.; Johnston, Alexander H.; Oreffo, Richard O. C.; Woo, Yin L.; Cheong, Ying C.; Evans, Nicholas D.; Newman, Tracey A.

2016-07-01

Polymersome nanoparticles (PMs) are attractive candidates for spatio-temporal controlled delivery of therapeutic agents. Although many studies have addressed cellular uptake of solid nanoparticles, there is very little data available on intracellular release of molecules encapsulated in membranous carriers, such as polymersomes. Here, we addressed this by developing a quantitative assay based on the hydrophilic dye, fluorescein. Fluorescein was encapsulated stably in PMs of mean diameter 85 nm, with minimal leakage after sustained dialysis. No fluorescence was detectable from fluorescein PMs, indicating quenching. Following incubation of L929 cells with fluorescein PMs, there was a gradual increase in intracellular fluorescence, indicating PM disruption and cytosolic release of fluorescein. By combining absorbance measurements with flow cytometry, we quantified the real-time intracellular release of a fluorescein at a single-cell resolution. We found that 173 ± 38 polymersomes released their payload per cell, with significant heterogeneity in uptake, despite controlled synchronisation of cell cycle. This novel method for quantification of the release of compounds from nanoparticles provides fundamental information on cellular uptake of nanoparticle-encapsulated compounds. It also illustrates the stochastic nature of population distribution in homogeneous cell populations, a factor that must be taken into account in clinical use of this technology.

A nano-bio interfacial protein corona on silica nanoparticle.

PubMed

Zhang, Hongyan; Peng, Jiaxi; Li, Xin; Liu, Shengju; Hu, Zhengyan; Xu, Guiju; Wu, Ren'an

2018-07-01

Nano-bio interaction takes the crucial role in bio-application of nanoparticles. The systematic mapping of interfacial proteins remains the big challenge as low level of proteins within interface regions and lack of appropriate technology. Here, a facile proteomic strategy was developed to characterize the interfacial protein corona (noted as IPC) that has strong interactions with silica nanoparticle, via the combination of the vigorous elution with high concentration sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the pre-isolation of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The trace level IPCs for silica nanoparticle were thus qualitatively and quantitatively identified. Bioinformatics analyses revealed the intrinsic compositions, relevance and potential regularity addressing the strong interactions between IPC and nanoparticle. This strategy in determining IPCs is opening an avenue to give a deep insight to understand the interaction between proteins and not only nanoparticles but also other bulk materials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methods for Addressing Technology-induced Errors: The Current State.

PubMed

Borycki, E; Dexheimer, J W; Hullin Lucay Cossio, C; Gong, Y; Jensen, S; Kaipio, J; Kennebeck, S; Kirkendall, E; Kushniruk, A W; Kuziemsky, C; Marcilly, R; Röhrig, R; Saranto, K; Senathirajah, Y; Weber, J; Takeda, H

2016-11-10

The objectives of this paper are to review and discuss the methods that are being used internationally to report on, mitigate, and eliminate technology-induced errors. The IMIA Working Group for Health Informatics for Patient Safety worked together to review and synthesize some of the main methods and approaches associated with technology- induced error reporting, reduction, and mitigation. The work involved a review of the evidence-based literature as well as guideline publications specific to health informatics. The paper presents a rich overview of current approaches, issues, and methods associated with: (1) safe HIT design, (2) safe HIT implementation, (3) reporting on technology-induced errors, (4) technology-induced error analysis, and (5) health information technology (HIT) risk management. The work is based on research from around the world. Internationally, researchers have been developing methods that can be used to identify, report on, mitigate, and eliminate technology-induced errors. Although there remain issues and challenges associated with the methodologies, they have been shown to improve the quality and safety of HIT. Since the first publications documenting technology-induced errors in healthcare in 2005, we have seen in a short 10 years researchers develop ways of identifying and addressing these types of errors. We have also seen organizations begin to use these approaches. Knowledge has been translated into practice in a short ten years whereas the norm for other research areas is of 20 years.

Methods for Addressing Technology-Induced Errors: The Current State

PubMed Central

Dexheimer, J. W.; Hullin Lucay Cossio, C.; Gong, Y.; Jensen, S.; Kaipio, J.; Kennebeck, S.; Kirkendall, E.; Kushniruk, A. W.; Kuziemsky, C.; Marcilly, R.; Röhrig, R.; Saranto, K.; Senathirajah, Y.; Weber, J.; Takeda, H.

2016-01-01

Summary Objectives The objectives of this paper are to review and discuss the methods that are being used internationally to report on, mitigate, and eliminate technology-induced errors. Methods The IMIA Working Group for Health Informatics for Patient Safety worked together to review and synthesize some of the main methods and approaches associated with technology-induced error reporting, reduction, and mitigation. The work involved a review of the evidence-based literature as well as guideline publications specific to health informatics. Results The paper presents a rich overview of current approaches, issues, and methods associated with: (1) safe HIT design, (2) safe HIT implementation, (3) reporting on technology-induced errors, (4) technology-induced error analysis, and (5) health information technology (HIT) risk management. The work is based on research from around the world. Conclusions Internationally, researchers have been developing methods that can be used to identify, report on, mitigate, and eliminate technology-induced errors. Although there remain issues and challenges associated with the methodologies, they have been shown to improve the quality and safety of HIT. Since the first publications documenting technology-induced errors in healthcare in 2005, we have seen in a short 10 years researchers develop ways of identifying and addressing these types of errors. We have also seen organizations begin to use these approaches. Knowledge has been translated into practice in a short ten years whereas the norm for other research areas is of 20 years. PMID:27830228

Optimizing magnetic nanoparticles for drinking water technology: The case of Cr(VI).

PubMed

Simeonidis, K; Kaprara, E; Samaras, T; Angelakeris, M; Pliatsikas, N; Vourlias, G; Mitrakas, M; Andritsos, N

2015-12-01

The potential of magnetite nanoparticles to be applied in drinking water treatment for the removal of hexavalent chromium is discussed. In this study, a method for their preparation which combines the use of low-cost iron sources (FeSO4 and Fe2(SO4)3) and a continuous flow mode, was developed. The produced magnetite nanoparticles with a size of around 20 nm, appeared relatively stable to passivation providing a removal capacity of 1.8 μg Cr(VI)/mg for a residual concentration of 50 μg/L when tested in natural water at pH7. Such efficiency is explained by the reducing ability of magnetite which turns Cr(VI) to an insoluble Cr(OH)3 form. The successful operation of a small-scale system consisting of a contact reactor and a magnetic separator demonstrates a way for the practical introduction and recovery of magnetite nanoparticles in water treatment technology. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Case Study of Policies and Procedures to Address Cyberbullying at a Technology-Based Middle School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tate, Bettina Polite

2017-01-01

This qualitative case study explored the policies and procedures used to effectively address cyberbullying at a technology-based middle school. The purpose of the study was to gain an in-depth understanding of policies and procedures used to address cyberbullying at a technology-based middle school in the southern United States. The study sought…

Genotoxicity of metal nanoparticles.

PubMed

Xie, Hong; Mason, Michael M; Wise, John Pierce

2011-01-01

Nanotechnology is currently used in industry, medicine, and military applications, as well as in more than 300 commercial products. Yet, the same properties that make these particles exciting for technology also make them daunting public health concerns because their toxicity is unknown and relatively unexplored. Increased attention is being placed on the study of metal particle genotoxicity; however, a lot of unknowns remain about their effects and the mechanisms. In this article, we highlight some metal and metal oxide nanoparticles of interest and discuss the current in vivo and in vitro studies of genotoxic effects. Many metal nanoparticles were found to cause chromosomal aberrations, DNA strand breaks, oxidative DNA damage, and mutations. Inconsistencies are found in the literature, however, thus drawing conclusions is difficult due to a variety of factors. Therefore, the areas requiring further attention are highlighted and recommendations to improve our understanding of the genotoxic potential are addressed.

Targeted Nanoparticles for Image-guided Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Clinical Significance and Technological Advances

PubMed Central

Miller-Kleinhenz, Jasmine M.; Bozeman, Erica N.

2015-01-01

Effective treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) with its aggressive tumor biology, highly heterogeneous tumor cells, and poor prognosis requires an integrated therapeutic approach that addresses critical issues in cancer therapy. Multifunctional nanoparticles with the abilities of targeted drug delivery and non-invasive imaging for monitoring drug delivery and responses to therapy, such as theranostic nanoparticles, hold great promise towards the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of TNBC using a single therapeutic platform. The biological and pathological characteristics of TNBC provide insight into several potential molecular targets for current and future nanoparticle based therapeutics. Extensive tumor stroma, highly proliferative cells, and a high rate of drug-resistance are all barriers that must be appropriately addressed in order for these nanotherapeutic platforms to be effective. Utilization of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect coupled with active targeting of cell surface receptors expressed by TNBC cells, and tumor associated endothelial cells, stromal fibroblasts and macrophages is likely to overcome such barriers to facilitate more effective drug delivery. An in depth summary of current studies investigating targeted nanoparticles in preclinical TNBC mouse and human xenograft models is presented. This review aims to outline the current status of nanotherapeutic options for TNBC patients, identification of promising molecular targets, challenges associated with the development of targeted nanotherapeutics, the research done by our group as well as others and future perspectives on the nanomedicine field and ways to translate current preclinical studies into the clinic. PMID:25966677

Recent Advances in Targeted, Self-Assembling Nanoparticles to Address Vascular Damage Due to Atherosclerosis

PubMed Central

Chung, Eun Ji; Tirrell, Matthew

2016-01-01

Self-assembling nanoparticles functionalized with targeting moieties have significant potential for atherosclerosis nanomedicine. While self-assembly allows for easy construction (and degradation) of nanoparticles with therapeutic or diagnostic functionality, or both, the targeting agent can direct them to a specific molecular marker within a given stage of the disease. Therefore, supramolecular nanoparticles have been investigated in the last decade as molecular imaging agents or explored as nanocarriers that can decrease the systemic toxicity of drugs by producing accumulation predominantly in specific tissues of interest. In this review, we first describe the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the damage caused to vascular tissue, as well as the current diagnostic and treatment options. Then we provide an overview of targeted strategies using self-assembling nanoparticles and include liposomes, high density lipoproteins, protein cages, micelles, proticles, and perfluorocarbon nanoparticles. Finally, we elaborate on and provide an overview of current challenges, limitations, and future applications for personalized medicine in the context of atherosclerosis of self-assembling nanoparticles. PMID:26085109

Hydrogel Nanoparticles from Supercritical Technology for Pharmaceutical and Seismological Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemingway, Melinda Graham

This research focuses on hydrogel nanoparticle formation using miniemulsion polymerization and supercritical carbon dioxide. Hydrogel nanopowder is produced by a novel combination of inverse miniemulsion polymerization and supercritical drying (MPSD) methods. Three drying methods of miniemulsions are examined: (1) a conventional freeze drying technique, and (2) two supercritical drying techniques: (2a) supercritical fluid injection into miniemulsions, and (2b) the polymerized miniemulsion injection into supercritical fluid. Method 2b can produce non-agglomerated hydrogel nanoparticles that are free of solvent or surfactant (Chapter 2). The optimized MPSD method was applied for producing an extended release drug formulation with mucoadhesive properties. Drug nanoparticles of mesalamine, were produced using supercritical antisolvent technology and encapsulation within two hydrogels, polyacrylamide and poly(acrylic acid-co-acrylamide). The encapsulation efficiency and release profile of drug nanoparticles is compared with commercial ground mesalamine particles. The loading efficiency is influenced by morphological compatibility (Chapter 3). The MPSD method was extended for encapsulation of zinc oxide nanoparticles for UV protection in sunscreens (Chapter 4). ZnO was incorporated into the inverse miniemulsion during polymerization. The effect of process parameters are examined on absorbency of ultraviolet light and transparency of visible light. For use of hydrogel nanoparticles in a seismological application, delayed hydration is needed. Supercritical methods extend MPSD so that a hydrophobic coating can be applied on the particle surface (Chapter 5). Multiple analysis methods and coating materials were investigated to elucidate compatibility of coating material to polyacrylamide hydrogel. Coating materials of poly(lactide), poly(sulphone), poly(vinyl acetate), poly(hydroxybutyrate), Geluice 50-13, Span 80, octadecyltrichlorosilane, and perfluorobutane sulfate (PFBS

Comic Relief: Graduate Students Address Multiple Meanings for Technology Integration with Digital Comic Creation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sockman, Beth Rajan; Sutton, Rhonda; Herrmann, Michele

2016-01-01

This study determined the usefulness of digital comic creation with 77 graduate students in a teacher technology course. Students completed an assigned reading and created digital comics that addressed technology integration concerns in the schools and society. Using practical action research, 77 student-created comics were analyzed. The findings…

Assessment of Carbon- and Metal-Based Nanoparticle DNA Damage with Microfluidic Electrophoretic Separation Technology.

PubMed

Schrand, Amanda M; Powell, Thomas; Robertson, Tiffany; Hussain, Saber M

2015-02-01

In this study, we examined the feasibility of extracting DNA from whole cell lysates exposed to nanoparticles using two different methodologies for evaluation of fragmentation with microfluidic electrophoretic separation. Human lung macrophages were exposed to five different carbon- and metal-based nanoparticles at two different time points (2 h, 24 h) and two different doses (5 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml). The primary difference in the banding patterns after 2 h of nanoparticle exposure is more DNA fragmentation at the higher NP concentration when examining cells exposed to nanoparticles of the same composition. However, higher doses of carbon and silver nanoparticles at both short and long dosing periods can contribute to erroneous or incomplete data with this technique. Also comparing DNA isolation methodologies, we recommend the centrifugation extraction technique, which provides more consistent banding patterns in the control samples compared to the spooling technique. Here we demonstrate that multi-walled carbon nanotubes, 15 nm silver nanoparticles and the positive control cadmium oxide cause similar DNA fragmentation at the short time point of 2 h with the centrifugation extraction technique. Therefore, the results of these studies contribute to elucidating the relationship between nanoparticle physicochemical properties and DNA fragmentation results while providing the pros and cons of altering the DNA isolation methodology. Overall, this technique provides a high throughput way to analyze subcellular alterations in DNA profiles of cells exposed to nanomaterials to aid in understanding the consequences of exposure and mechanistic effects. Future studies in microfluidic electrophoretic separation technologies should be investigated to determine the utility of protein or other assays applicable to cellular systems exposed to nanoparticles.

Targeted nanoparticles for image-guided treatment of triple-negative breast cancer: clinical significance and technological advances.

PubMed

Miller-Kleinhenz, Jasmine M; Bozeman, Erica N; Yang, Lily

2015-01-01

Effective treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with its aggressive tumor biology, highly heterogeneous tumor cells, and poor prognosis requires an integrated therapeutic approach that addresses critical issues in cancer therapy. Multifunctional nanoparticles with the abilities of targeted drug delivery and noninvasive imaging for monitoring drug delivery and responses to therapy, such as theranostic nanoparticles, hold great promise toward the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of TNBC using a single therapeutic platform. The biological and pathological characteristics of TNBC provide insight into several potential molecular targets for current and future nanoparticle-based therapeutics. Extensive tumor stroma, highly proliferative cells, and a high rate of drug resistance are all barriers that must be appropriately addressed in order for these nanotherapeutic platforms to be effective. Utilization of the enhanced permeability and retention effect coupled with active targeting of cell surface receptors expressed by TNBC cells, and tumor-associated endothelial cells, stromal fibroblasts, and macrophages is likely to overcome such barriers to facilitate more effective drug delivery. An in-depth summary of current studies investigating targeted nanoparticles in preclinical TNBC mouse and human xenograft models is presented. This review aims to outline the current status of nanotherapeutic options for TNBC patients, identification of promising molecular targets, challenges associated with the development of targeted nanotherapeutics, the research done by our group as well as by others, and future perspectives on the nanomedicine field and ways to translate current preclinical studies into the clinic. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Technological Prospection on Membranes Containing Silver Nanoparticles for Water Disinfection.

PubMed

Linhares, Aline Marques Ferreira; Grando, Rafaela Lora; Borges, Cristiano Piacsek; da Fonseca, Fabiana Valeria

2018-02-14

Membrane separation is an established technological process, and since 1980s, it has been used commercially at large industrial plants worldwide. Water and wastewater disinfection is one of the applications of membrane technologies, but fouling and biofouling are still a challenge for the sector. The use of silver nanoparticles in membranes has attracted research interest because of their biocidal action. This technology foresight study investigates the academic literature and patenting activity to map out the technological progress and difficulties in the area. One hundred and sixty-seven articles on the subject published between 2005 and 2017 were retrieved, and it was found that the greatest number of publications were undertaken in 2016. A wide range of materials being used to make membranes and institutions involved in researching this technology were identified. Fifty-nine patents of relevance were also retrieved, with 2011 and 2013 seeing the highest number of patent applications filed. The countries with the most academic output and priority patents are the United States and China, but no institution stands out from the others in this area. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Silver nanoparticles as potential antibacterial agents.

PubMed

Franci, Gianluigi; Falanga, Annarita; Galdiero, Stefania; Palomba, Luciana; Rai, Mahendra; Morelli, Giancarlo; Galdiero, Massimiliano

2015-05-18

Multi-drug resistance is a growing problem in the treatment of infectious diseases and the widespread use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has produced antibiotic resistance for many human bacterial pathogens. Advances in nanotechnology have opened new horizons in nanomedicine, allowing the synthesis of nanoparticles that can be assembled into complex architectures. Novel studies and technologies are devoted to understanding the mechanisms of disease for the design of new drugs, but unfortunately infectious diseases continue to be a major health burden worldwide. Since ancient times, silver was known for its anti-bacterial effects and for centuries it has been used for prevention and control of disparate infections. Currently nanotechnology and nanomaterials are fully integrated in common applications and objects that we use every day. In addition, the silver nanoparticles are attracting much interest because of their potent antibacterial activity. Many studies have also shown an important activity of silver nanoparticles against bacterial biofilms. This review aims to summarize the emerging efforts to address current challenges and solutions in the treatment of infectious diseases, particularly the use of nanosilver antimicrobials.

The use of technology to address patterns of risk among teenage drivers.

PubMed

Brovold, Shawn; Ward, Nic; Donath, Max; Simon, Stephen; Shankwitz, Craig; Creaser, Janet

2007-01-01

The crash risk of teens is high, with fatal crash rates of teen drivers higher than any other age group. New approaches to reduce teen traffic fatalities are clearly needed. A possible approach to reduce the incidence of teen driver crashes and fatalities is through the use of vehicle-based intelligent driver support systems. To be most effective, the system should address the behaviors associated with an overwhelming number of teen fatal crashes: speed, low seatbelt use, and alcohol impairment. In-vehicle technology also offers an opportunity to address the issue of inexperience through enforcement of certain Graduated Driver's License provisions. To fully understand the capability of such technologies, there should be a concerted effort to further their development, and human factors testing should take place to understand their effects on the driver. If successfully implemented, a Teen Driver Support System (TDSS), such as the one described here, could significantly decrease the number of teens killed in traffic crashes.

Silver nanoparticle ink technology: state of the art

PubMed Central

Rajan, Krishna; Roppolo, Ignazio; Chiappone, Annalisa; Bocchini, Sergio; Perrone, Denis; Chiolerio, Alessandro

2016-01-01

Printed electronics will bring to the consumer level great breakthroughs and unique products in the near future, shifting the usual paradigm of electronic devices and circuit boards from hard boxes and rigid sheets into flexible thin layers and bringing disposable electronics, smart tags, and so on. The most promising tool to achieve the target depends upon the availability of nanotechnology-based functional inks. A certain delay in the innovation-transfer process to the market is now being observed. Nevertheless, the most widely diffused product, settled technology, and the highest sales volumes are related to the silver nanoparticle-based ink market, representing the best example of commercial nanotechnology today. This is a compact review on synthesis routes, main properties, and practical applications. PMID:26811673

Silver nanoparticle ink technology: state of the art.

PubMed

Rajan, Krishna; Roppolo, Ignazio; Chiappone, Annalisa; Bocchini, Sergio; Perrone, Denis; Chiolerio, Alessandro

2016-01-01

Printed electronics will bring to the consumer level great breakthroughs and unique products in the near future, shifting the usual paradigm of electronic devices and circuit boards from hard boxes and rigid sheets into flexible thin layers and bringing disposable electronics, smart tags, and so on. The most promising tool to achieve the target depends upon the availability of nanotechnology-based functional inks. A certain delay in the innovation-transfer process to the market is now being observed. Nevertheless, the most widely diffused product, settled technology, and the highest sales volumes are related to the silver nanoparticle-based ink market, representing the best example of commercial nanotechnology today. This is a compact review on synthesis routes, main properties, and practical applications.

Improving Evaluation to Address the Unintended Consequences of Health Information Technology:

PubMed Central

Ammenwerth, E.; Hyppönen, H.; de Keizer, N.; Nykänen, P.; Rigby, M.; Scott, P.; Talmon, J.; Georgiou, A.

2016-01-01

Summary Background and objectives With growing use of IT by healthcare professionals and patients, the opportunity for any unintended effects of technology to disrupt care health processes and outcomes is intensified. The objectives of this position paper by the IMIA Working Group (WG) on Technology Assessment and Quality Development are to highlight how our ongoing initiatives to enhance evaluation are also addressing the unintended consequences of health IT. Methods Review of WG initiatives Results We argue that an evidence-based approach underpinned by rigorous evaluation is fundamental to the safe and effective use of IT, and for detecting and addressing its unintended consequences in a timely manner. We provide an overview of our ongoing initiatives to strengthen study design, execution and reporting by using evaluation frameworks and guidelines which can enable better characterization and monitoring of unintended consequences, including the Good Evaluation Practice Guideline in Health Informatics (GEP-HI) and the Statement on Reporting of Evaluation Studies in Health Informatics (STARE-HI). Indicators to benchmark the adoption and impact of IT can similarly be used to monitor unintended effects on healthcare structures, processes and outcome. We have also developed EvalDB, a web-based database of evaluation studies to promulgate evidence about unintended effects and are developing the content for courses to improve training in health IT evaluation. Conclusion Evaluation is an essential ingredient for the effective use of IT to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. WG resources and skills development initiatives can facilitate a proactive and evidence-based approach to detecting and addressing the unintended effects of health IT. PMID:27830232

Vault Nanoparticles Packaged with Enzymes as an Efficient Pollutant Biodegradation Technology.

PubMed

Wang, Meng; Abad, Danny; Kickhoefer, Valerie A; Rome, Leonard H; Mahendra, Shaily

2015-11-24

Vault nanoparticles packaged with enzymes were synthesized as agents for efficiently degrading environmental contaminants. Enzymatic biodegradation is an attractive technology for in situ cleanup of contaminated environments because enzyme-catalyzed reactions are not constrained by nutrient requirements for microbial growth and often have higher biodegradation rates. However, the limited stability of extracellular enzymes remains a major challenge for practical applications. Encapsulation is a recognized method to enhance enzymatic stability, but it can increase substrate diffusion resistance, lower catalytic rates, and increase the apparent half-saturation constants. Here, we report an effective approach for boosting enzymatic stability by single-step packaging into vault nanoparticles. With hollow core structures, assembled vault nanoparticles can simultaneously contain multiple enzymes. Manganese peroxidase (MnP), which is widely used in biodegradation of organic contaminants, was chosen as a model enzyme in the present study. MnP was incorporated into vaults via fusion to a packaging domain called INT, which strongly interacts with vaults' interior surface. MnP fused to INT and vaults packaged with the MnP-INT fusion protein maintained peroxidase activity. Furthermore, MnP-INT packaged in vaults displayed stability significantly higher than that of free MnP-INT, with slightly increased Km value. Additionally, vault-packaged MnP-INT exhibited 3 times higher phenol biodegradation in 24 h than did unpackaged MnP-INT. These results indicate that the packaging of MnP enzymes in vault nanoparticles extends their stability without compromising catalytic activity. This research will serve as the foundation for the development of efficient and sustainable vault-based bioremediation approaches for removing multiple contaminants from drinking water and groundwater.

Novel anti-reflection technology for GaAs single-junction solar cells using surface patterning and Au nanoparticles.

PubMed

Kim, Youngjo; Lam, Nguyen Dinh; Kim, Kangho; Kim, Sangin; Rotermund, Fabian; Lim, Hanjo; Lee, Jaejin

2012-07-01

Single-junction GaAs solar cell structures were grown by low-pressure MOCVD on GaAs (100) substrates. Micro-rod arrays with diameters of 2 microm, 5 microm, and 10 microm were fabricated on the surfaces of the GaAs solar cells via photolithography and wet chemical etching. The patterned surfaces were coated with Au nanoparticles using an Au colloidal solution. Characteristics of the GaAs solar cells with and without the micro-rod arrays and Au nanoparticles were investigated. The short-circuit current density of the GaAs solar cell with 2 microm rod arrays and Au nanoparticles increased up to 34.9% compared to that of the reference cell without micro-rod arrays and Au nanoparticles. The conversion efficiency of the GaAs solar cell that was coated with Au nanoparticles on the patterned surface with micro-rod arrays can be improved from 14.1% to 19.9% under 1 sun AM 1.5G illumination. These results show that micro-rod arrays and Au nanoparticle coating can be applied together in surface patterning to achieve a novel cost-effective anti-reflection technology.

Antimicrobial precious-metal nanoparticles and their use in novel materials.

PubMed

Senior, Katharina; Müller, Stefanie; Schacht, Veronika J; Bunge, Michael

2012-12-01

Nanotechnology offers powerful new approaches to controlling unwanted microorganisms and other potential biohazards. Engineered nanoparticles with antifungal, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties are now being developed for a variety of applications, including manufacture and maintenance of sterile surfaces, prevention and control of biological contamination, food and water safety, and treatment of infectious diseases and cancer. The great potential of antimicrobial precious-metal nanoparticles is reflected by the high number of recent publications and patent applications, which is summarized, at least in part, in this paper. This review should provide an overview and offer guidance to the scientific community interested in nano(bio)technology, nanomedicine, and nanotoxicology, and may also be of interest to a broader scientific audience. Furthermore, this review covers specific topics in research and development addressing the effects of nanoparticles on microorganisms as well as novel nanotechnology-based approaches for controlling potentially pathogenic microorganisms.

Effects of different combinations of nanocrystallization technologies on avanafil nanoparticles: in vitro, in vivo and stability evaluation.

PubMed

Soliman, Kareem AbuBakr; Ibrahim, Howida Kamal; Ghorab, Mahmoud Mohammed

2017-01-30

The study investigated the effects of different combined top-down and bottom-up nanocrystallization technologies on particle size and solid state of avanafil nanoparticles. Combined antisolvent precipitation-ultrasonication (sonoprecipitation) technique was adopted to prepare 18 formulas according to 3 2 .2 1 factorial design using 3 stabilizers; Tween 80, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Pluronic F68 at different concentrations with different cryoprotectants. Particle size analysis of the lyophilized formulas showed that Tween 80 was an effective nanoparticles stabilizer in contrast to Pluronic F68 and PVA which failed to prevent nanoparticles flocculation when they were used at high concentration. The combined effects of nanonization and amorphism contributed to the improvement in solubility. Further processing of the sonoprecipitated formulas by high pressure homogenization (HPH) (modified NANOEDGE™ technology) resulted in further size reduction of PVA-stabilized particles, while it stimulated flocculation of Tween-stabilized nanoparticles. Nevertheless, all of the homogenized formulas partially retrieved their crystallinity which reduced their solubility. Non-homogenized formula 2E composed of 1:2 (avanafil: Tween) with glucose as cryoprotectant, exhibited 13.68- and 2.59-fold improvement in solubility and in vitro dissolution, respectively. This formula had oral bioavailability of 137.02% relative to Spedra ® tablets and it maintained its nanosize, amorphism and dissolution behavior over 6 months of storage under stress conditions. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of cost-effective aeration technology solutions to address total trihalomethane (TTHM) compliance

EPA Science Inventory

The primary objective of this project was to evaluate cost-effective aeration technology solutions to address TTHM compliance at a water treatment plant clearwell. The project team worked closely with EPA Region 6 and the EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD) to identify a...

Information Technology for Training and Education (ITTE): Conference Keynote Addresses (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, February 4-8, 1991).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Queensland Univ., Brisbane (Australia).

This volume presents the text of nine keynote addresses and an abstract of one other address presented at ITTE'91, an international forum and conference on Information Technology for Training and Education (ITTE). Each address is preceded by biographical information on the speaker and followed by a brief critique by a professional in information…

Addressing Theory and Performance Enhancements for the Independent Sustain and Address AC Plasma Display

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warren, Kevin Wilson

The Independent Sustain and Address (ISA) AC plasma panel is a flat, flicker-free, gas discharge type of display device. This display technology promises to reduce both the cost of manufacturing and operation of AC plasma displays. The ISA technology uses a vastly different mechanism to change the state of the display pixels than the standard AC plasma technology. This addressing mechanism is an exploitation of some of the natural characteristics associated with the plasma that can form during strong gas discharges. This thesis presents detailed data from experiments that were designed to evaluate and test the effectiveness of this mechanism. Through these experiments, the theory that the addressing methodology is based upon is developed and evaluated. These experiments show that the address margin windows for this technology are very large, minimally two to three times larger than the address margins for the standard XY AC plasma addressing techniques. New capabilities are also described, such as global brightness control for the ISA technology and a technique for increasing the addressing rate. These advances were designed into working prototypes and transferred to industry where there are currently commercial products available based upon these advances. A technique for implementing gray scale using some of these advances is also proposed.

Programmed Nanoparticle-Loaded Nanoparticles for Deep-Penetrating 3D Cancer Therapy.

PubMed

Kim, Jinhwan; Jo, Changshin; Lim, Won-Gwang; Jung, Sungjin; Lee, Yeong Mi; Lim, Jun; Lee, Haeshin; Lee, Jinwoo; Kim, Won Jong

2018-05-18

Tumors are 3D, composed of cellular agglomerations and blood vessels. Therapies involving nanoparticles utilize specific accumulations due to the leaky vascular structures. However, systemically injected nanoparticles are mostly uptaken by cells located on the surfaces of cancer tissues, lacking deep penetration into the core cancer regions. Herein, an unprecedented strategy, described as injecting "nanoparticle-loaded nanoparticles" to address the long-lasting problem is reported for effective surface-to-core drug delivery in entire 3D tumors. The "nanoparticle-loaded nanoparticle" is a silica nanoparticle (≈150 nm) with well-developed, interconnected channels (diameter of ≈30 nm), in which small gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (≈15 nm) with programmable DNA are located. The nanoparticle (AuNPs)-loaded nanoparticles (silica): (1) can accumulate in tumors through leaky vascular structures by protecting the inner therapeutic AuNPs during blood circulation, and then (2) allow diffusion of the AuNPs for penetration into the entire surface-to-core tumor tissues, and finally (3) release a drug triggered by cancer-characteristic pH gradients. The hierarchical "nanoparticle-loaded nanoparticle" can be a rational design for cancer therapies because the outer large nanoparticles are effective in blood circulation and in protection of the therapeutic nanoparticles inside, allowing the loaded small nanoparticles to penetrate deeply into 3D tumors with anticancer drugs. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Hallmarks of mechanochemistry: from nanoparticles to technology.

PubMed

Baláž, Peter; Achimovičová, Marcela; Baláž, Matej; Billik, Peter; Cherkezova-Zheleva, Zara; Criado, José Manuel; Delogu, Francesco; Dutková, Erika; Gaffet, Eric; Gotor, Francisco José; Kumar, Rakesh; Mitov, Ivan; Rojac, Tadej; Senna, Mamoru; Streletskii, Andrey; Wieczorek-Ciurowa, Krystyna

2013-09-21

The aim of this review article on recent developments of mechanochemistry (nowadays established as a part of chemistry) is to provide a comprehensive overview of advances achieved in the field of atomistic processes, phase transformations, simple and multicomponent nanosystems and peculiarities of mechanochemical reactions. Industrial aspects with successful penetration into fields like materials engineering, heterogeneous catalysis and extractive metallurgy are also reviewed. The hallmarks of mechanochemistry include influencing reactivity of solids by the presence of solid-state defects, interphases and relaxation phenomena, enabling processes to take place under non-equilibrium conditions, creating a well-crystallized core of nanoparticles with disordered near-surface shell regions and performing simple dry time-convenient one-step syntheses. Underlying these hallmarks are technological consequences like preparing new nanomaterials with the desired properties or producing these materials in a reproducible way with high yield and under simple and easy operating conditions. The last but not least hallmark is enabling work under environmentally friendly and essentially waste-free conditions (822 references).

ALI (Autonomous Lunar Investigator): Revolutionary Approach to Exploring the Moon with Addressable Reconfigurable Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, P. E.; Curtis, S. A.; Rilee, M. L.; Floyd, S. R.

2005-03-01

Addressable Reconfigurable Technology (ART), conceived for future ANTS (Autonomous Nanotechnology Swarm) Architectures, is now implemented as Autonomous Lunar Investigator (ALI) rovers, a mission concept allowing autonomous exploration of the lunar farside and poles within 10 years.

A complex network approach for nanoparticle agglomeration analysis in nanoscale images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machado, Bruno Brandoli; Scabini, Leonardo Felipe; Margarido Orue, Jonatan Patrick; de Arruda, Mauro Santos; Goncalves, Diogo Nunes; Goncalves, Wesley Nunes; Moreira, Raphaell; Rodrigues-Jr, Jose F.

2017-02-01

Complex networks have been widely used in science and technology because of their ability to represent several systems. One of these systems is found in Biochemistry, in which the synthesis of new nanoparticles is a hot topic. However, the interpretation of experimental results in the search of new nanoparticles poses several challenges. This is due to the characteristics of nanoparticle images and due to their multiple intricate properties; one property of recurrent interest is the agglomeration of particles. Addressing this issue, this paper introduces an approach that uses complex networks to detect and describe nanoparticle agglomerates so to foster easier and more insightful analyses. In this approach, each detected particle in an image corresponds to a vertice and the distances between the particles define a criterion for creating edges. Edges are created if the distance is smaller than a radius of interest. Once this network is set, we calculate several discrete measures able to reveal the most outstanding agglomerates in a nanoparticle image. Experimental results using images of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of gold nanoparticles demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach over several samples, as reflected by the separability between particles in three usual settings. The results also demonstrated efficacy for both convex and non-convex agglomerates.

Synthesis and characterization of novel amphiphilic copolymer stearic acid-coupled F127 nanoparticles for nano-technology based drug delivery system.

PubMed

Gao, Qihe; Liang, Qing; Yu, Fei; Xu, Jian; Zhao, Qihua; Sun, Baiwang

2011-12-01

Pluronic, F127, amphiphilic block copolymers, are used for several applications, including drug delivery systems. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of F127 is about 0.26-0.8 wt% so that the utility of F127 in nano-technology based drug delivery system is limited since the nano-sized micelles could dissociate upon dilution. Herein, stearic acid (SA) was simply coupled to F127 between the carboxyl group of SA and the hydroxyl group of F127, which formed a novel copolymer named as SA-coupled F127, with significantly lower CMC. Above the CMC 6.9 × 10(-5)wt%, SA-coupled F127 self-assembled stable nanoparticles with Zeta potential -36 mV. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded nanoparticles were made, with drug loading (DL) 5.7 wt% and Zeta potential -36 to -39 mV, and the nanoparticles exhibited distinct shape with the size distribution from 20 to 50 nm. DOX-loaded nanoparticles were relatively stable and exhibited DOX dependant cytotoxicity toward MCF-7 cells in vitro. These results suggest that SA-coupled F127 potentially could be applied as a nano-technology based drug delivery method. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bioelectrochemistry of non-covalent immobilized alcohol dehydrogenase on oxidized diamond nanoparticles.

PubMed

Nicolau, Eduardo; Méndez, Jessica; Fonseca, José J; Griebenow, Kai; Cabrera, Carlos R

2012-06-01

Diamond nanoparticles are considered a biocompatible material mainly due to their non-cytotoxicity and remarkable cellular uptake. Model proteins such as cytochrome c and lysozyme have been physically adsorbed onto diamond nanoparticles, proving it to be a suitable surface for high protein loading. Herein, we explore the non-covalent immobilization of the redox enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (E.C.1.1.1.1) onto oxidized diamond nanoparticles for bioelectrochemical applications. Diamond nanoparticles were first oxidized and physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-IR and TEM. Langmuir isotherms were constructed to investigate the ADH adsorption onto the diamond nanoparticles as a function of pH. It was found that a higher packing density is achieved at the isoelectric point of the enzyme. Moreover, the relative activity of the immobilized enzyme on diamond nanoparticles was addressed under optimum pH conditions able to retain up to 70% of its initial activity. Thereafter, an ethanol bioelectrochemical cell was constructed by employing the immobilized alcohol dehydrogenase onto diamond nanoparticles, this being able to provide a current increment of 72% when compared to the blank solution. The results of this investigation suggest that this technology may be useful for the construction of alcohol biosensors or biofuel cells in the near future. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Engineering Gd-loaded nanoparticles to enhance MRI sensitivity via T1 shortening

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bruckman, Michael A.; Yu, Xin; Steinmetz, Nicole F.

2013-11-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive imaging technique capable of obtaining high-resolution anatomical images of the body. Major drawbacks of MRI are the low contrast agent sensitivity and inability to distinguish healthy tissue from diseased tissue, making early detection challenging. To address this technological hurdle, paramagnetic contrast agents have been developed to increase the longitudinal relaxivity, leading to an increased signal-to-noise ratio. This review focuses on methods and principles that enabled the design and engineering of nanoparticles to deliver contrast agents with enhanced ionic relaxivities. Different engineering strategies and nanoparticle platforms will be compared in terms of their manufacturability, biocompatibility properties, and their overall potential to make an impact in clinical MR imaging.

Selective recovery of silver from waste low-temperature co-fired ceramic and valorization through silver nanoparticle synthesis.

PubMed

Swain, Basudev; Shin, Dongyoon; Joo, So Yeong; Ahn, Nak Kyoon; Lee, Chan Gi; Yoon, Jin-Ho

2017-11-01

Considering the value of silver metal and silver nanoparticles, the waste generated during manufacturing of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) were recycled through the simple yet cost effective process by chemical-metallurgy. Followed by leaching optimization, silver was selectively recovered through precipitation. The precipitated silver chloride was valorized though silver nanoparticle synthesis by a simple one-pot greener synthesis route. Through leaching-precipitation optimization, quantitative selective recovery of silver chloride was achieved, followed by homogeneous pure silver nanoparticle about 100nm size were synthesized. The reported recycling process is a simple process, versatile, easy to implement, requires minimum facilities and no specialty chemicals, through which semiconductor manufacturing industry can treat the waste generated during manufacturing of LTCC and reutilize the valorized silver nanoparticles in manufacturing in a close loop process. Our reported process can address issues like; (i) waste disposal, as well as value-added silver recovery, (ii) brings back the material to production stream and address the circular economy, and (iii) can be part of lower the futuristic carbon economy and cradle-to-cradle technology management, simultaneously. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assistive technologies to address capabilities of people with dementia: From research to practice.

PubMed

Kenigsberg, Paul-Ariel; Aquino, Jean-Pierre; Bérard, Alain; Brémond, François; Charras, Kevin; Dening, Tom; Droës, Rose-Marie; Gzil, Fabrice; Hicks, Ben; Innes, Anthea; Nguyen, Mai; Nygård, Louise; Pino, Maribel; Sacco, Guillaume; Salmon, Eric; van der Roest, Henriëtte; Villet, Hervé; Villez, Marion; Robert, Philippe; Manera, Valeria

2017-01-01

Assistive technologies became pervasive and virtually present in all our life domains. They can be either an enabler or an obstacle leading to social exclusion. The Fondation Médéric Alzheimer gathered international experts of dementia care, with backgrounds in biomedical, human and social sciences, to analyze how assistive technologies can address the capabilities of people with dementia, on the basis of their needs. Discussion covered the unmet needs of people with dementia, the domains of daily life activities where assistive technologies can provide help to people with dementia, the enabling and empowering impact of technology to improve their safety and wellbeing, barriers and limits of use, technology assessment, ethical and legal issues. The capability approach (possible freedom) appears particularly relevant in person-centered dementia care and technology development. The focus is not on the solution, rather on what the person can do with it: seeing dementia as disability, with technology as an enabler to promote capabilities of the person, provides a useful framework for both research and practice. This article summarizes how these concepts took momentum in professional practice and public policies in the past 15 years (2000-2015), discusses current issues in the design, development and economic model of assistive technologies for people with dementia, and covers how these technologies are being used and assessed.

Nanoparticles: synthesis and applications in life science and environmental technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luong Nguyen, Hoang; Nguyen, Hoang Nam; Hai Nguyen, Hoang; Quynh Luu, Manh; Hieu Nguyen, Minh

2015-03-01

This work focuses on the synthesis, functionalization, and application of gold and silver nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles Fe3O4, combination of 4-ATP-coated silver nanoparticles and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The synthesis methods such as chemical reduction, seeding, coprecipitation,and inverse microemulsion will be outlined. Silica- and amino-coated nanoparticles are suitable for several applications in biomedicine and the environment. The applications of the prepared nanoparticles for early detection of breast cancer cells, basal cell carcinoma, antibacterial test, arsenic removal from water, Herpes DNA separation, CD4+ cell separation and isolation of DNA of Hepatitis virus type B (HBV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are discussed. Finally, some promising perspectives will be pointed out. Invited talk at the 7th International Workshop on Advanced Materials Science and Nanotechnology IWAMSN2014, 2-6 November, 2014, Ha Long, Vietnam.

Analysis of nanoparticles with an optical sensor based on carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stäb, J.; Furin, D.; Fechner, P.; Proll, G.; Soriano-Dotor, L. M.; Ruiz-Palomero, C.; Valcárcel, M.; Gauglitz, G.

2017-05-01

Nanomaterials play an important role in science and in every day products. This is due to their varied and specific properties, whereby especially engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have shown various beneficial properties for a wide range of application in consumables (e.g. cosmetics, drinks, food and food packaging). Silver nanoparticles for instance are hidden in meat packaging materials or in deodorants. Reasons for this can be found in the antibacterial effect of silver, which leads to high applicability in consumer products. However, ENPs are under permanent discussion due to their unforeseen hazards and an unknown disposition in living organisms and the environment. So far, there is a lack of methods, which allows for the fast and effective characterization and quantification of such nanoparticles in complex matrices (e.g. creams, fruit juice), since matrix components can impede a specific detection of the analyte. It was the objective of project INSTANT to address this topic and compose a method to detect nanoparticles as a first step. Therefore, the development of a sensor system with an upstream sample preparation for the characterization and quantification of specific nanoparticles in complex matrices using a label free optical sensor array in combination with novel recognition elements was developed. The promising optical technology iRIfS (imaging reflectometric interference sensor) was used for this purpose. As a recognition element, functionalized carbon nanotubes can be effectively used. Owing to their excellent electronical, mechanical and chemical properties, CNTs have already been used for extracting ENPs from complex matrices as sorbent material by filtration. After successful immobilization of CNTs on microscope glass slides e.g. the detection of stabilized silver nanoparticles extracted by a sample preparation unit using the iRIfS technology was performed.

Fe3O4 nanoparticles and nanocomposites with potential application in biomedicine and in communication technologies: Nanoparticle aggregation, interaction, and effective magnetic anisotropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allia, P.; Barrera, G.; Tiberto, P.; Nardi, T.; Leterrier, Y.; Sangermano, M.

2014-09-01

Magnetite nanoparticles with a size of 5-6 nm with potential impact on biomedicine and information/communication technologies were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Fe(acac)3 and subsequently coated with a silica shell exploiting a water-in-oil synthetic procedure. The as-produced powders (comprised of either Fe3O4 or Fe3O4@silica nanoparticles) were mixed with a photocurable resin obtaining two magnetic nanocomposites with the same nominal amount of magnetic material. The static magnetic properties of the two nanopowders and the corresponding nanocomposites were measured in the 10 K-300 K temperature range. Magnetic measurements are shown here to be able to give unambiguous information on single-particle properties such as particle size and magnetic anisotropy as well as on nanoparticle aggregation and interparticle interaction. A comparison between the size distribution functions obtained from magnetic measurements and from TEM images shows that figures estimated from properly analyzed magnetic measurements are very close to the actual values. In addition, the present analysis allows us to determine the value of the effective magnetic anisotropy and to estimate the anisotropy contribution from the surface. The Field-cooled/zero field cooled curves reveal a high degree of particle aggregation in the Fe3O4 nanopowder, which is partially reduced by silica coating and strongly decreased by dissolution in the host polymer. In all considered materials, the nanoparticles are magnetically interacting, the interaction strength being a function of nanoparticle environment and being the lowest in the nanocomposite containing bare, well-separate Fe3O4 particles. All samples behave as interacting superparamagnetic materials instead of ideal superparamagnets and follow the corresponding scaling law.

Leveraging CubeSat Technology to Address Nighttime Imagery Requirements over the Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pereira, J. J.; Mamula, D.; Caulfield, M.; Gallagher, F. W., III; Spencer, D.; Petrescu, E. M.; Ostroy, J.; Pack, D. W.; LaRosa, A.

2017-12-01

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has begun planning for the future operational environmental satellite system by conducting the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study. In support of the NSOSA study, NOAA is exploring how CubeSat technology funded by NASA can be used to demonstrate the ability to measure three-dimensional profiles of global temperature and water vapor. These measurements are critical for the National Weather Service's (NWS) weather prediction mission. NOAA is conducting design studies on Earth Observing Nanosatellites (EON) for microwave (EON-MW) and infrared (EON-IR) soundings, with MIT Lincoln Laboratory and NASA JPL, respectively. The next step is to explore the technology required for a CubeSat mission to address NWS nighttime imagery requirements over the Arctic. The concept is called EON-Day/Night Band (DNB). The DNB is a 0.5-0.9 micron channel currently on the operational Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument, which is part of the Suomi-National Polar-orbiting Partnership and Joint Polar Satellite System satellites. NWS has found DNB very useful during the long periods of darkness that occur during the Alaskan cold season. The DNB enables nighttime imagery products of fog, clouds, and sea ice. EON-DNB will leverage experiments carried out by The Aerospace Corporation's CUbesat MULtispectral Observation System (CUMULOS) sensor and other related work. CUMULOS is a DoD-funded demonstration of COTS camera technology integrated as a secondary mission on the JPL Integrated Solar Array and Reflectarray Antenna mission. CUMULOS is demonstrating a staring visible Si CMOS camera. The EON-DNB project will leverage proven, advanced compact visible lens and focal plane camera technologies to meet NWS user needs for nighttime visible imagery. Expanding this technology to an operational demonstration carries several areas of risk that need to be addressed prior to an operational mission

Perspective on nanoparticle technology for biomedical use

PubMed Central

Raliya, Ramesh; Chadha, Tandeep Singh; Hadad, Kelsey; Biswas, Pratim

2016-01-01

This review gives a short overview on the widespread use of nanostructured and nanocomposite materials for disease diagnostics, drug delivery, imaging and biomedical sensing applications. Nanoparticle interaction with a biological matrix/entity is greatly influenced by its morphology, crystal phase, surface chemistry, functionalization, physicochemical and electronic properties of the particle. Various nanoparticle synthesis routes, characteristization, and functionalization methodologies to be used for biomedical applications ranging from drug delivery to molecular probing of underlying mechanisms and concepts are described with several examples (150 references). PMID:26951098

Internet and mobile technologies: addressing the mental health of trauma survivors in less resourced communities.

PubMed

Ruzek, J I; Yeager, C M

2017-01-01

Internet and mobile technologies offer potentially critical ways of delivering mental health support in low-resource settings. Much evidence indicates an enormous negative impact of mental health problems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and many of these problems are caused, or worsened, by exposure to wars, conflicts, natural and human-caused disasters, and other traumatic events. Though specific mental health treatments have been found to be efficacious and cost-effective for low-resource settings, most individuals living in these areas do not have access to them. Low-intensity task-sharing interventions will help, but there is a limit to the scalability and sustainability of human resources in these settings. To address the needs of trauma survivors, it will be important to develop and implement Internet and mobile technology resources to help reduce the scarcity, inequity, and inefficiency of current mental health services in LMICs. Mobile and Internet resources are experiencing a rapid growth in LMICs and can help address time, stigma, and cost barriers and connect those who have been socially isolated by traumatic events. This review discusses current research in technological interventions in low-resource settings and outlines key issues and future challenges and opportunities. Though formidable challenges exist for large-scale deployment of mobile and Internet mental health technologies, work to date indicates that these technologies are indeed feasible to develop, evaluate, and deliver to those in need of mental health services, and that they can be effective.

Inorganic Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy

PubMed Central

Bhattacharyya, Sanjib; Kudgus, Rachel A.; Bhattacharya, Resham; Mukherjee, Priyabrata

2011-01-01

Nanotechnology is an evolving field with enormous potential for biomedical applications. The growing interest to use inorganic nanoparticles in medicine is due to the unique size and shape-dependent optoelectronic properties. Herein, we will focus on gold, silver and platinum nanoparticles, discussing recent developments for therapeutic applications with regard to cancer in terms of nanoparticles being used as a delivery vehicle as well as therapeutic agents. We will also discuss some of the key challenges to be addressed in future studies. PMID:21104301

Sensor Arrays from Multicomponent Micropatterned Nanoparticles and Graphene

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-10

UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Case Western Reserve University,Case School of Engineering,Cleveland, OH ,44106 8...treatment, followed by region-selective substrate-enhanced electroless deposition of Au nanoparticles and solution alkalization of ferrous chloride...tetrahydrate in the presence of ammonia into Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The resultant Fe3O4/ Au multicomponent micropatterned-graphene films were found to be highly

Engineering nanoparticle strategies for effective cancer immunotherapy.

PubMed

Yoon, Hong Yeol; Selvan, Subramanian Tamil; Yang, Yoosoo; Kim, Min Ju; Yi, Dong Kee; Kwon, Ick Chan; Kim, Kwangmeyung

2018-03-21

Cancer immunotherapy has been emerging in recent years, due to the inherent nature of the immune system. Although recent successes of immunotherapeutics in clinical application have attracted development of a novel immunotherapeutics, the off-target side effect and low immunogenicity of them remain challenges for the effective cancer immunotherapy. Theranostic nanoparticle system may one of key technology to address these issues by offering targeted delivery of various types of immunotherapeutics, resulting in significant improvements in the tumor immunotherapy. However, appropriate design or engineering of nanoparticles will be needed to improve delivery efficiency of antigen, adjuvant and therapeutics, resulting in eliciting antitumor immunity. Here, we review the current state of the art of cancer immunotherapeutic strategies, mainly based on nanoparticles (NPs). This includes NP-based antigen/adjuvant delivery vehicles to draining lymph nodes, and tumor antigen-specific T-lymphocytes for cancer immunotherapy. Several NP-based examples are shown for immune checkpoint modulation and immunogenic cell death. These overall studies demonstrate the great potential of NPs in cancer immunotherapy. Finally, engineering NP strategies will provide great opportunities to improve therapeutic effects as well as optimization of treatment processes, allowing to meet the individual needs in the cancer immunotherapy. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnetic nanoparticles coated with polyaniline to stabilize immobilized trypsin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maciel, J. C.; D. Mercês, A. A.; Cabrera, M.; Shigeyosi, W. T.; de Souza, S. D.; Olzon-Dionysio, M.; Fabris, J. D.; Cardoso, C. A.; Neri, D. F. M.; C. Silva, M. P.; Carvalho, L. B.

2016-12-01

It is reported the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles via the chemical co-precipitation of Fe 3+ ions and their preparation by coating them with polyaniline. The electronic micrograph analysis showed that the mean diameter for the nanoparticles is ˜15 nm. FTIR, powder X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy were used to understand the chemical, crystallographic and 57Fe hyperfine structures for the two samples. The nanoparticles, which exhibited magnetic behavior with relatively high spontaneous magnetization at room temperature, were identified as being mainly formed by maghemite ( γFe2O3). The coated magnetic nanoparticles (sample labeled "mPANI") presented a real ability to bind biological molecules such as trypsin, forming the magnetic enzyme derivative (sample "mPANIG-Trypsin"). The amount of protein and specific activity of the immobilized trypsin were found to be 13±5 μg of protein/mg of mPANI (49.3 % of immobilized protein) and 24.1±0.7 U/mg of immobilized protein, respectively. After 48 days of storage at 4 ∘C, the activity of the immobilized trypsin was found to be 89 % of its initial activity. This simple, fast and low-cost procedure was revealed to be a promising way to prepare mPANI nanoparticles if technological applications addressed to covalently link biomolecules are envisaged. This route yields chemically stable derivatives, which can be easily recovered from the reaction mixture with a magnetic field and recyclable reused.

Nuclear decontamination technology evaluation to address contamination of a municipal water system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McFee, J.; Langsted, J.; Young, M.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are considering the impact and recovery from contamination of municipal water systems, including intentional contamination of those systems. Industrial chemicals, biological agents, drugs, pesticides, chemical warfare agents, and radionuclides all could be introduced into a municipal water system to create detrimental health effects and disrupt a community. Although unintentional, the 1993 cryptosporidium contamination of the Milwaukee WS water system resulted in 100 fatalities and disrupted the city for weeks. Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure Inc, (Shaw), as a subcontractor on a DHS contract with Michael Baker Jr., Inc.,more » was responsible for evaluation of the impact and recovery from radionuclide contamination in a municipal water system distribution system. Shaw was tasked to develop a matrix of nuclear industry decontamination technologies and evaluate applicability to municipal water systems. Shaw expanded the evaluation to include decontamination methods commonly used in the drinking water supply. The matrix compared all technologies for implementability, effectiveness, and cost. To address the very broad range of contaminants and contamination scenarios, Shaw bounded the problem by identification of specific contaminant release scenario(s) for specific water system architecture(s). A decontamination technology matrix was developed containing fifty-nine decontamination technologies potentially applicable to the water distribution system piping, pumps, tanks, associated equipment, and/or contaminated water. Qualitatively, the majority of the nuclear industry decontamination technologies were eliminated from consideration due to implementability concerns. However, inclusion of the municipal water system technologies supported recommendations that combined the most effective approaches in both industries. (authors)« less

A novel technology using transscleral ultrasound to deliver protein loaded nanoparticles.

PubMed

Huang, Di; Wang, Lili; Dong, Yixuan; Pan, Xin; Li, Ge; Wu, Chuanbin

2014-09-01

This study was designed to investigate the feasibility of silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) for sustained drug delivery in transscleral ultrasound. Fluorescein isothiocynate labeled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA, MW 66.45 kDa) was chosen as a model macromolecular protein drug and SFNs were used as nano-carrier systems suitable for ocular drug delivery. Drug loaded nanoparticles (FITC-BSA-SFNs) were first prepared and characterized. In vitro transscleral study under ultrasound exposure (1MHz, 0.5 W/cm(2), 5 min continuous wave) using isolated sclera of rabbit was performed. The posterior eye segment of rabbit was examined for adverse effect by slit-lamp and histology. It was found that FITC-BSA-SFNs possessed sustained release, bioadhesive, and co-permeation characteristics. The ultrasound application significantly improved the penetration efficiency of FITC-BSA-SFNs as compared with passive delivery, meanwhile caused no damages to the ocular tissue and particles themselves. The distribution profile of SFNs revealed rapid and lasting adhesion on the outer scleral tissues, followed by migration into the interior up to one week after treatment. This research suggested a novel non-invasive transscleral administration of macromolecular protein drugs using SFN carriers combining with ultrasound technology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Real-time Monitoring of Nanoparticle-based Therapeutics: A Review.

PubMed

Han, Qingqing; Niu, Meng; Wu, Qirun; Zhong, Hongshan

2018-01-01

With the development of nanomaterials, nanoparticle-based therapeutics have found increasing application in various fields, including clinical and basic medicine. Real-time monitoring of nanoparticle-based therapeutics is considered critical to both pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. In this review, we discuss the different methods of real-time monitoring of nanoparticle-based therapeutics comprising different types of nanoparticle carriers, such as metal nanoparticles, inorganic nonmetallic nanoparticles, biodegradable polymer nanoparticles, and biological nanoparticles. In the light of examples and analyses, we conclude that the methods of analysis of the four types of nanoparticle carriers are commonly used methods and mostly not necessary. Under most circumstances, real-time monitoring differs according to nanoparticle type, drugs, diseases, and surroundings. With technology development and advanced researches, there have been increasing measures to track the real-time changes in nanoparticles, and this has led to great progress in pharmacology and therapeutics. However, future studies are warranted to determine the accuracy, applicability, and practicability of different technologies. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Development of a multilayered polymeric DNA biosensor using radio frequency technology with gold and magnetic nanoparticles.

PubMed

Yang, Cheng-Hao; Kuo, Long-Sheng; Chen, Ping-Hei; Yang, Chii-Rong; Tsai, Zuo-Min

2012-01-15

This study utilized the radio frequency (RF) technology to develop a multilayered polymeric DNA sensor with the help of gold and magnetic nanoparticles. The flexible polymeric materials, poly (p-xylylene) (Parylene) and polyethylene naphtholate (PEN), were used as substrates to replace the conventional rigid substrates such as glass and silicon wafers. The multilayered polymeric RF biosensor, including the two polymer layers and two copper transmission structure layers, was developed to reduce the total sensor size and further enhance the sensitivity of the biochip in the RF DNA detection. Thioglycolic acid (TGA) was used on the surface of the proposed biochip to form a thiolate-modified sensing surface for DNA hybridization. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were used to immobilize on the surface of the biosensor to enhance overall detection sensitivity. In addition to gold nanoparticles, the magnetic nanoparticles has been demonstrated the applicability for RF DNA detection. The performance of the proposed biosensor was evaluated by the shift of the center frequency of the RF biosensor because the electromagnetic characteristic of the biosensors can be altered by the immobilized multilayer nanoparticles on the biosensor. The experimental results show that the detection limit of the DNA concentration can reach as low as 10 pM, and the largest shift of the center frequency with triple-layer AuNPs and MNPs can approach 0.9 and 0.7 GHz, respectively. Such the achievement implies that the developed biosensor can offer an alternative inexpensive, disposable, and highly sensitive option for application in biomedicine diagnostic systems because the price and size of each biochip can be effectively reduced by using fully polymeric materials and multilayer-detecting structures. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticles in the clinic

PubMed Central

Anselmo, Aaron C.

2016-01-01

Abstract Nanoparticle/microparticle‐based drug delivery systems for systemic (i.e., intravenous) applications have significant advantages over their nonformulated and free drug counterparts. For example, nanoparticle systems are capable of delivering therapeutics and treating areas of the body that other delivery systems cannot reach. As such, nanoparticle drug delivery and imaging systems are one of the most investigated systems in preclinical and clinical settings. Here, we will highlight the diversity of nanoparticle types, the key advantages these systems have over their free drug counterparts, and discuss their overall potential in influencing clinical care. In particular, we will focus on current clinical trials for nanoparticle formulations that have yet to be clinically approved. Additional emphasis will be on clinically approved nanoparticle systems, both for their currently approved indications and their use in active clinical trials. Finally, we will discuss many of the often overlooked biological, technological, and study design challenges that impact the clinical success of nanoparticle delivery systems. PMID:29313004

Self-Assembled Array of Tethered Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles for the Next Generation of Energy Storage

PubMed Central

Stevens, Tyler E.; Pearce, Charles J.; Whitten, Caleah N.; Grant, Richard P.; Monson, Todd C.

2017-01-01

Many challenges must be overcome in order to create reliable electrochemical energy storage devices with not only high energy but also high power densities. Gaps exist in both battery and supercapacitor technologies, with neither one satisfying the need for both large power and energy densities in a single device. To begin addressing these challenges (and others), we report a process to create a self-assembled array of electrochemically active nanoparticles bound directly to a current collector using extremely short (2 nm or less) conductive tethers. The tethered array of nanoparticles, MnO in this case, bound directly to a gold current collector via short conducting linkages eliminates the need for fillers, resulting in a material which achieves 99.9% active material by mass (excluding the current collector). This strategy is expected to be both scalable as well as effective for alternative tethers and metal oxide nanoparticles. PMID:28287183

Influence of different surfactants on the technological properties and in vivo ocular tolerability of lipid nanoparticles.

PubMed

Leonardi, Antonio; Bucolo, Claudio; Romano, Giovanni Luca; Platania, Chiara Bianca Maria; Drago, Filippo; Puglisi, Giovanni; Pignatello, Rosario

2014-08-15

Addition of one or more surfactant agents is often necessary for the production of nanostructured lipid and polymeric systems. The removal of residual surfactants is a required step for technological and toxicological reasons, especially for peculiar applications, such as the ophthalmic field. This study was planned to assess the technological properties of some surfactants, commonly used for the production of lipid nanoparticles, as well as their ocular safety profile. Stable and small-size solid lipid nanoparticles were obtained using Dynasan(®) 114 as the lipid matrix and all the tested surfactants. However, from a toxicological point of view, the nanocarriers produced using Kolliphor(®) P188 were the most valuable, showing no irritant effect on the ocular surface up to the highest tested surfactant concentration (0.4%, w/v). The SLN produced using Cremophor(®) A25 and Lipoid(®) S100 were tolerated up to a surfactant concentration of 0.2% by weight, while for Tween(®) 80 and Kolliphor(®) HS 15 a maximum concentration of 0.05% can be considered totally not-irritant. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Silver Nanoparticles: An Influential Element in Plant Nanobiotechnology.

PubMed

Sarmast, Mostafa K; Salehi, H

2016-07-01

Profound interest and progress has been made since the invention of nanotechnology in 1959. However, its application in plant tissue culture and biotechnology has not been fully acknowledged in parallel with other facets of this technology. In this manuscript, the AgNPs effects on plant tissue culture and biotechnology encompass their antimicrobial effects and their mechanisms of action addressed to some extends. Moreover, their effects on seedling growth also reviewed. Most of the presented papers in the field of plant science have focused on antimicrobial effects of silver nanoparticles but its interesting inhibitory effects of plant senescence phytohormone ethylene, most likely can open a new window for future research.

Immobilization of gold nanoparticles on cell culture surfaces for safe and enhanced gold nanoparticle-mediated laser transfection.

PubMed

Kalies, Stefan; Heinemann, Dag; Schomaker, Markus; Gentemann, Lara; Meyer, Heiko; Ripken, Tammo

2014-01-01

In comparison to standard transfection methods, gold nanoparticle-mediated laser transfection has proven to be a versatile alternative. This is based on its minor influence on cell viability and its high efficiency, especially for the delivery of small molecules like small interfering RNA. However, in order to transfer it to routine usage, a safety aspect is of major concern: The avoidance of nanoparticle uptake by the cells is desired. The immobilization of the gold nanoparticles on cell culture surfaces can address this issue. In this study, we achieved this by silanization of the appropriate surfaces and the binding of gold nanoparticles to them. Comparable perforation efficiencies to the previous approaches of gold nanoparticle-mediated laser transfection with free gold nanoparticles are demonstrated. The uptake of the immobilized particles by the cells is unlikely. Consequently, these investigations offer the possibility of bringing gold nanoparticle-mediated laser transfection closer to routine usage.

Supercritical fluid technology of nanoparticle coating for new ceramic materials.

PubMed

Aymonier, Cyril; Elissalde, Catherine; Reveron, Helen; Weill, François; Maglione, Mario; Cansell, François

2005-06-01

This work highlights, for the first time, the coating of ferroelectric nanoparticles with a chemical fluid deposition process in supercritical fluids. BaTiO3 nanoparticles of about 50 nm are coated with a shell of a few nanometers of amorphous alumina and can be recovered as a dry powder for processing. The sintering of these core-shell nanoparticles gives access to a ceramic material with very interesting ferroelectric properties, in particular, dielectric losses below 1%.

Addressing Energy Poverty through Smarter Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oldfield, Eddie

2011-01-01

Energy poverty is a key detriment to labor productivity, economic growth, and social well-being. This article presents a qualitative review of literature on the potential role of intelligent communication technology, web-based standards, and smart grid technology to alleviate energy costs and improve access to clean distributed energy in developed…

Studies on the biodistribution of dextrin nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonçalves, C.; Ferreira, M. F. M.; Santos, A. C.; Prata, M. I. M.; Geraldes, C. F. G. C.; Martins, J. A.; Gama, F. M.

2010-07-01

The characterization of biodistribution is a central requirement in the development of biomedical applications based on the use of nanoparticles, in particular for controlled drug delivery. The blood circulation time, organ biodistribution and rate of excretion must be well characterized in the process of product development. In this work, the biodistribution of recently developed self-assembled dextrin nanoparticles is addressed. Functionalization of the dextrin nanoparticles with a DOTA-monoamide-type metal chelator, via click chemistry, is described. The metal chelator functionalized nanoparticles were labelled with a γ-emitting 153Sm3 + radioisotope and the blood clearance rate and organ biodistribution of the nanoparticles were obtained. The effect of PEG surface coating on the blood clearance rate and organ biodistribution of the nanoparticles was also studied.

Cell membrane-based nanoparticles: a new biomimetic platform for tumor diagnosis and treatment.

PubMed

Li, Ruixiang; He, Yuwei; Zhang, Shuya; Qin, Jing; Wang, Jianxin

2018-01-01

Taking inspiration from nature, the biomimetic concept has been integrated into drug delivery systems in cancer therapy. Disguised with cell membranes, the nanoparticles can acquire various functions of natural cells. The cell membrane-coating technology has pushed the limits of common nano-systems (fast elimination in circulation) to more effectively navigate within the body. Moreover, because of the various functional molecules on the surface, cell membrane-based nanoparticles (CMBNPs) are capable of interacting with the complex biological microenvironment of the tumor. Various sources of cell membranes have been explored to camouflage CMBNPs and different tumor-targeting strategies have been developed to enhance the anti-tumor drug delivery therapy. In this review article we highlight the most recent advances in CMBNP-based cancer targeting systems and address the challenges and opportunities in this field.

Silicon nanoparticles: applications in cell biology and medicine

PubMed Central

O’Farrell, Norah; Houlton, Andrew; Horrocks, Benjamin R

2006-01-01

In this review, we describe the synthesis, physical properties, surface functionalization, and biological applications of silicon nanoparticles (also known as quantum dots). We compare them against current technologies, such as fluorescent organic dyes and heavy metal chalcogenide-based quantum dots. In particular, we examine the many different methods that can be used to both create and modify these nanoparticles and the advantages they may have over current technologies that have stimulated research into designing silicon nanoparticles for in vitro and in vivo applications. PMID:17722279

Precision Nanoparticles

ScienceCinema

John Hemminger

2017-12-09

A revolutionary technology that efficiently produces nanoparticles in uniform and prescribed sizes (1-100 nanometers) using supercritical fluids. INL researcher Robert Fox was joined by Idaho State University researchers Rene Rodriquez and Joshua Pak in d

Nanoparticles alloying in liquids: Laser-ablation-generated Ag or Pd nanoparticles and laser irradiation-induced AgPd nanoparticle alloying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Semaltianos, N. G.; Chassagnon, R.; Moutarlier, V.; Blondeau-Patissier, V.; Assoul, M.; Monteil, G.

2017-04-01

Laser irradiation of a mixture of single-element micro/nanomaterials may lead to their alloying and fabrication of multi-element structures. In addition to the laser induced alloying of particulates in the form of micro/nanopowders in ambient atmosphere (which forms the basis of the field of additive manufacturing technology), another interesting problem is the laser-induced alloying of a mixture of single-element nanoparticles in liquids since this process may lead to the direct fabrication of alloyed-nanoparticle colloidal solutions. In this work, bare-surface ligand-free Ag and Pd nanoparticles in solution were prepared by laser ablation of the corresponding bulk target materials, separately in water. The two solutions were mixed and the mixed solution was laser irradiated for different time durations in order to investigate the laser-induced nanoparticles alloying in liquid. Nanoparticles alloying and the formation of AgPd alloyed nanoparticles takes place with a decrease of the intensity of the surface-plasmon resonance peak of the Ag nanoparticles (at ∼405 nm) with the irradiation time while the low wavelength interband absorption peaks of either Ag or Pd nanoparticles remain unaffected by the irradiation for a time duration even as long as 30 min. The nanoalloys have lattice constants with values between those of the pure metals, which indicates that they consist of Ag and Pd in an approximately 1:1 ratio similar to the atomic composition of the starting mixed-nanoparticle solution. Formation of nanoparticle networks consisting of bimetallic alloyed nanoparticles and nanoparticles that remain as single elements (even after the end of the irradiation), joining together, are also formed. The binding energies of the 3d core electrons of both Ag and Pd nanoparticles shift to lower energies with the irradiation time, which is also a typical characteristic of AgPd alloyed nanoparticles. The mechanisms of nanoparticles alloying and network formation are also

Nanoparticles alloying in liquids: Laser-ablation-generated Ag or Pd nanoparticles and laser irradiation-induced AgPd nanoparticle alloying.

PubMed

Semaltianos, N G; Chassagnon, R; Moutarlier, V; Blondeau-Patissier, V; Assoul, M; Monteil, G

2017-04-18

Laser irradiation of a mixture of single-element micro/nanomaterials may lead to their alloying and fabrication of multi-element structures. In addition to the laser induced alloying of particulates in the form of micro/nanopowders in ambient atmosphere (which forms the basis of the field of additive manufacturing technology), another interesting problem is the laser-induced alloying of a mixture of single-element nanoparticles in liquids since this process may lead to the direct fabrication of alloyed-nanoparticle colloidal solutions. In this work, bare-surface ligand-free Ag and Pd nanoparticles in solution were prepared by laser ablation of the corresponding bulk target materials, separately in water. The two solutions were mixed and the mixed solution was laser irradiated for different time durations in order to investigate the laser-induced nanoparticles alloying in liquid. Nanoparticles alloying and the formation of AgPd alloyed nanoparticles takes place with a decrease of the intensity of the surface-plasmon resonance peak of the Ag nanoparticles (at ∼405 nm) with the irradiation time while the low wavelength interband absorption peaks of either Ag or Pd nanoparticles remain unaffected by the irradiation for a time duration even as long as 30 min. The nanoalloys have lattice constants with values between those of the pure metals, which indicates that they consist of Ag and Pd in an approximately 1:1 ratio similar to the atomic composition of the starting mixed-nanoparticle solution. Formation of nanoparticle networks consisting of bimetallic alloyed nanoparticles and nanoparticles that remain as single elements (even after the end of the irradiation), joining together, are also formed. The binding energies of the 3d core electrons of both Ag and Pd nanoparticles shift to lower energies with the irradiation time, which is also a typical characteristic of AgPd alloyed nanoparticles. The mechanisms of nanoparticles alloying and network formation are also

Ordering nanoparticles with polymer brushes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Shengfeng; Stevens, Mark J.; Grest, Gary S.

Ordering nanoparticles into a desired super-structure is often crucial for their technological applications. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the assembly of nanoparticles in a polymer brush randomly grafted to a planar surface as the solvent evaporates. Initially, the nanoparticles are dispersed in a solvent that wets the polymer brush. After the solvent evaporates, the nanoparticles are either inside the brush or adsorbed at the surface of the brush, depending on the strength of the nanoparticle-polymer interaction. For strong nanoparticle-polymer interactions, a 2-dimensional ordered array is only formed when the brush density is finely tuned to accommodate a singlemore » layer of nanoparticles. When the brush density is higher or lower than this optimal value, the distribution of nanoparticles shows large fluctuations in space and the packing order diminishes. For weak nanoparticle-polymer interactions, the nanoparticles order into a hexagonal array on top of the polymer brush as long as the grafting density is high enough to yield a dense brush. As a result, an interesting healing effect is observed for a low-grafting-density polymer brush that can become more uniform in the presence of weakly adsorbed nanoparticles.« less

Ordering nanoparticles with polymer brushes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Shengfeng; Stevens, Mark J.; Grest, Gary S.

2017-12-01

Ordering nanoparticles into a desired super-structure is often crucial for their technological applications. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the assembly of nanoparticles in a polymer brush randomly grafted to a planar surface as the solvent evaporates. Initially, the nanoparticles are dispersed in a solvent that wets the polymer brush. After the solvent evaporates, the nanoparticles are either inside the brush or adsorbed at the surface of the brush, depending on the strength of the nanoparticle-polymer interaction. For strong nanoparticle-polymer interactions, a 2-dimensional ordered array is only formed when the brush density is finely tuned to accommodate a single layer of nanoparticles. When the brush density is higher or lower than this optimal value, the distribution of nanoparticles shows large fluctuations in space and the packing order diminishes. For weak nanoparticle-polymer interactions, the nanoparticles order into a hexagonal array on top of the polymer brush as long as the grafting density is high enough to yield a dense brush. An interesting healing effect is observed for a low-grafting-density polymer brush that can become more uniform in the presence of weakly adsorbed nanoparticles.

Ordering nanoparticles with polymer brushes

DOE PAGES

Cheng, Shengfeng; Stevens, Mark J.; Grest, Gary S.

2017-12-08

Ordering nanoparticles into a desired super-structure is often crucial for their technological applications. We use molecular dynamics simulations to study the assembly of nanoparticles in a polymer brush randomly grafted to a planar surface as the solvent evaporates. Initially, the nanoparticles are dispersed in a solvent that wets the polymer brush. After the solvent evaporates, the nanoparticles are either inside the brush or adsorbed at the surface of the brush, depending on the strength of the nanoparticle-polymer interaction. For strong nanoparticle-polymer interactions, a 2-dimensional ordered array is only formed when the brush density is finely tuned to accommodate a singlemore » layer of nanoparticles. When the brush density is higher or lower than this optimal value, the distribution of nanoparticles shows large fluctuations in space and the packing order diminishes. For weak nanoparticle-polymer interactions, the nanoparticles order into a hexagonal array on top of the polymer brush as long as the grafting density is high enough to yield a dense brush. As a result, an interesting healing effect is observed for a low-grafting-density polymer brush that can become more uniform in the presence of weakly adsorbed nanoparticles.« less

Self-Assembled Array of Tethered Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles for the Next Generation of Energy Storage

DOE PAGES

Stevens, Tyler E.; Pearce, Charles J.; Whitten, Caleah N.; ...

2017-03-13

There are many challenges to overcome in order to create reliable electrochemical energy storage devices with not only high energy but also high power densities. Gaps exist in both battery and supercapacitor technologies, with neither one satisfying the need for both large power and energy densities in a single device. We report a process to create a self-assembled array of electrochemically active nanoparticles bound directly to a current collector using extremely short (2 nm or less) conductive tethers, in order to begin addressing these challenges (and others). The tethered array of nanoparticles, MnO in this case, bound directly to amore » gold current collector via short conducting linkages eliminates the need for fillers, resulting in a material which achieves 99.9% active material by mass (excluding the current collector). Our strategy is expected to be both scalable as well as effective for alternative tethers and metal oxide nanoparticles.« less

Toxicity of Engineered Nanoparticles in the Environment

PubMed Central

Maurer-Jones, Melissa A.; Gunsolus, Ian L.; Murphy, Catherine J.; Haynes, Christy L.

2014-01-01

While nanoparticles occur naturally in the environment and have been intentionally used for centuries, the production and use of engineered nanoparticles has seen a recent spike, which makes environmental release almost certain. Therefore, recent efforts to characterize the toxicity of engineered nanoparticles have focused on the environmental implications, including exploration of toxicity to organisms from wide-ranging parts of the ecosystem food webs. Herein, we summarize the current understanding of toxicity of engineered nanoparticles to representatives of various trophic levels, including bacteria, plants, and multicellular aquatic/terrestrial organisms, to highlight important challenges within the field of econanotoxicity, challenges that analytical chemists are expertly poised to address. PMID:23427995

Toxicity of engineered nanoparticles in the environment.

PubMed

Maurer-Jones, Melissa A; Gunsolus, Ian L; Murphy, Catherine J; Haynes, Christy L

2013-03-19

While nanoparticles occur naturally in the environment and have been intentionally used for centuries, the production and use of engineered nanoparticles has seen a recent spike, which makes environmental release almost certain. Therefore, recent efforts to characterize the toxicity of engineered nanoparticles have focused on the environmental implications, including exploration of toxicity to organisms from wide-ranging parts of the ecosystem food webs. Herein, we summarize the current understanding of toxicity of engineered nanoparticles to representatives of various trophic levels, including bacteria, plants, and multicellular aquatic/terrestrial organisms, to highlight important challenges within the field of econanotoxicity, challenges that analytical chemists are expertly poised to address.

Scintillation of rare earth doped fluoride nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacobsohn, L. G.; McPherson, C. L.; Sprinkle, K. B.; Yukihara, E. G.; DeVol, T. A.; Ballato, J.

2011-09-01

The scintillation response of rare earth (RE) doped core/undoped (multi-)shell fluoride nanoparticles was investigated under x-ray and alpha particle irradiation. A significant enhancement of the scintillation response was observed with increasing shells due: (i) to the passivation of surface quenching defects together with the activation of the REs on the surface of the core nanoparticle after the growth of a shell, and (ii) to the increase of the volume of the nanoparticles. These results are expected to reflect a general aspect of the scintillation process in nanoparticles, and to impact radiation sensing technologies that make use of nanoparticles.

Characterization of Magnetic NiFe Nanoparticles with Controlled Bimetallic Composition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yan; Chi, Yanxiu; Shan, Shiyao

2014-02-25

The exploration of the magnetic properties of bimetallic alloy nanoparticles for various technological applications requires the ability to control the morphology, composition, and surface properties. In this report, we describe new findings of an investigation of the morphology and composition of NiFe alloy nanoparticles synthesized under controlled conditions. The controllability over the bimetallic composition has been demonstrated by the observation of an approximate linear relationship between the composition in the nanoparticles and in the synthetic feeding. The morphology of the NiFe nanoparticles is consistent with an fcc-type alloy, with the lattice strain increasing linearly with the iron content in themore » nanoparticles. The alloy nanoparticles exhibit remarkable resistance to air oxidation in comparison with Ni or Fe particles. The thermal stability and the magnetic properties of the as-synthesized alloy nanoparticles are shown to depend on the composition. The alloy nanoparticles have also be sown to display low saturation magnetization and coercivity values in comparison with the Ni nanoparticles, in line with the superparamagnetic characteristic. These findings have important implications for the design of stable and controllable magnetic nanoparticles for various technological applications.« less

Control of viscous fingering by nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabet, Nasser; Hassanzadeh, Hassan; Abedi, Jalal

2017-12-01

A substantial viscosity increase by the addition of a low dose of nanoparticles to the base fluids can well influence the dynamics of viscous fingering. There is a lack of detailed theoretical studies that address the effect of the presence of nanoparticles on unstable miscible displacements. In this study, the impact of nonreactive nanoparticle presence on the stability and subsequent mixing of an originally unstable binary system is examined using linear stability analysis (LSA) and pseudospectral-based direct numerical simulations (DNS). We have parametrized the role of both nondepositing and depositing nanoparticles on the stability of miscible displacements using the developed static and dynamic parametric analyses. Our results show that nanoparticles have the potential to weaken the instabilities of an originally unstable system. Our LSA and DNS results also reveal that nondepositing nanoparticles can be used to fully stabilize an originally unstable front while depositing particles may act as temporary stabilizers whose influence diminishes in the course of time. In addition, we explain the existing inconsistencies concerning the effect of the nanoparticle diffusion coefficient on the dynamics of the system. This study provides a basis for further research on the application of nanoparticles for control of viscosity-driven instabilities.

Nanoparticles in Porous Microparticles Prepared by Supercritical Infusion and Pressure Quench Technology for Sustained Delivery of Bevacizumab

PubMed Central

K.Yandrapu, Sarath; Upadhyay, Arun K.; Petrash, J. Mark; Kompella, Uday B.

2014-01-01

Nanoparticles in porous microparticles (NPinPMP), a novel delivery system for sustained delivery of protein drugs, was developed using supercritical infusion and pressure quench technology, which does not expose proteins to organic solvents or sonication. The delivery system design is based on the ability of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) to expand poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) matrix but not polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The technology was applied to bevacizumab, a protein drug administered once a month intravitreally to treat wet age related macular degeneration. Bevacizumab coated PLA nanoparticles were encapsulated into porosifying PLGA microparticles by exposing the mixture to SC CO2. After SC CO2 exposure, the size of PLGA microparticles increased by 6.9 fold. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy studies demonstrated the expansion and porosification of PLGA microparticles and infusion of PLA nanoparticles inside PLGA microparticles. In vitro release of bevacizumab from NPinPMP was sustained for 4 months. Size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, and ELISA studies indicated that the released bevacizumab maintained its monomeric form, conformation, and activity. Further, in vivo delivery of bevacizumab from NPinPMP was evaluated using noninvasive fluorophotometry after intravitreal administration of Alexa Flour 488 conjugated bevacizumab in either solution or NPinPMP in a rat model. Unlike the vitreal signal from Alexa-bevacizumab solution, which reached baseline at 2 weeks, release of Alexa-bevacizumab from NPinPMP could be detected for 2 months. Thus, NPinPMP is a novel sustained release system for protein drugs to reduce frequency of protein injections in the therapy of back of the eye diseases. PMID:24131101

Nanoparticles in porous microparticles prepared by supercritical infusion and pressure quench technology for sustained delivery of bevacizumab.

PubMed

Yandrapu, Sarath K; Upadhyay, Arun K; Petrash, J Mark; Kompella, Uday B

2013-12-02

Nanoparticles in porous microparticles (NPinPMP), a novel delivery system for sustained delivery of protein drugs, was developed using supercritical infusion and pressure quench technology, which does not expose proteins to organic solvents or sonication. The delivery system design is based on the ability of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC CO2) to expand poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) matrix but not polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The technology was applied to bevacizumab, a protein drug administered once a month intravitreally to treat wet age related macular degeneration. Bevacizumab coated PLA nanoparticles were encapsulated into porosifying PLGA microparticles by exposing the mixture to SC CO2. After SC CO2 exposure, the size of PLGA microparticles increased by 6.9-fold. Confocal and scanning electron microscopy studies demonstrated the expansion and porosification of PLGA microparticles and infusion of PLA nanoparticles inside PLGA microparticles. In vitro release of bevacizumab from NPinPMP was sustained for 4 months. Size exclusion chromatography, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, SDS-PAGE, and ELISA studies indicated that the released bevacizumab maintained its monomeric form, conformation, and activity. Further, in vivo delivery of bevacizumab from NPinPMP was evaluated using noninvasive fluorophotometry after intravitreal administration of Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated bevacizumab in either solution or NPinPMP in a rat model. Unlike the vitreal signal from Alexa-bevacizumab solution, which reached baseline at 2 weeks, release of Alexa-bevacizumab from NPinPMP could be detected for 2 months. Thus, NPinPMP is a novel sustained release system for protein drugs to reduce frequency of protein injections in the therapy of back of the eye diseases.

Preparing Special Educators in Eastern North Carolina To Use Assistive Technology: A Multimedia Approach to Addressing Training Needs Unique to Rural Areas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Darrow, Melissa; And Others

This paper describes a project addressing the assistive technology training needs of teachers of children with disabilities in rural eastern North Carolina, through development of a multimedia software tutorial service. The project utilized both a special education/assistive technology professional and an instructional technology professional to…

Casting technology for ODS steels - dispersion of nanoparticles in liquid metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarma, M.; Grants, I.; Kaldre, I.; Bojarevics, A.; Gerbeth, G.

2017-07-01

Dispersion of particles to produce metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNC) can be achieved by means of ultrasonic vibration of the melt using ultrasound transducers. However, a direct transfer of this method to produce steel composites is not feasible because of the much higher working temperature. Therefore, an inductive technology for contactless treatment by acoustic cavitation was developed. This report describes the samples produced to assess the feasibility of the proposed method for nano-particle separation in steel. Stainless steel samples with inclusions of TiB2, TiO2, Y2O3, CeO2, Al2O3 and TiN have been created and analyzed. Additional experiments have been performed using light metals with an increased value of the steady magnetic field using a superconducting magnet with a field strength of up to 5 T.

Oligonucleotide flexibility dictates crystal quality in DNA-programmable nanoparticle superlattices.

PubMed

Senesi, Andrew J; Eichelsdoerfer, Daniel J; Brown, Keith A; Lee, Byeongdu; Auyeung, Evelyn; Choi, Chung Hang J; Macfarlane, Robert J; Young, Kaylie L; Mirkin, Chad A

2014-11-12

The evolution of crystallite size and microstrain in DNA-mediated nanoparticle superlattices is dictated by annealing temperature and the flexibility of the interparticle bonds. This work addresses a major challenge in synthesizing optical metamaterials based upon noble metal nanoparticles by enabling the crystallization of large nanoparticles (100 nm diameter) at high volume fractions (34% metal). © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

New and improved proteomics technologies for understanding complex biological systems: Addressing a grand challenge in the life sciences

PubMed Central

Hood, Leroy E.; Omenn, Gilbert S.; Moritz, Robert L.; Aebersold, Ruedi; Yamamoto, Keith R.; Amos, Michael; Hunter-Cevera, Jennie; Locascio, Laurie

2014-01-01

This White Paper sets out a Life Sciences Grand Challenge for Proteomics Technologies to enhance our understanding of complex biological systems, link genomes with phenotypes, and bring broad benefits to the biosciences and the US economy. The paper is based on a workshop hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, 14–15 February 2011, with participants from many federal R&D agencies and research communities, under the aegis of the US National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Opportunities are identified for a coordinated R&D effort to achieve major technology-based goals and address societal challenges in health, agriculture, nutrition, energy, environment, national security, and economic development. PMID:22807061

MOLECULAR DYNAMICS SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF GOLD NANOPARTICLE TEMPLATED HDL-LIKE NANOPARTICLES FOR CHOLESTEROL (POSTPRINT)

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-21

STINFO COPY) AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURING DIRECTORATE WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OH 45433-7750 AIR FORCE MATERIEL...9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY ACRONYM(S) Air Force Research Laboratory...removing excess cholesterol from arterial plaques. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with apolipoprotein A-I and with the lipids 1,2

Gas-Phase Combustion Synthesis of Nonoxide Nanoparticles in Microgravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Axelbaum, R. L.; Kumfer, B. M.; Sun, Z.; Chao, B. H.

2001-01-01

Gas-phase combustion synthesis is a promising process for creating nanoparticles for the growing nanostructure materials industry. The challenges that must be addressed are controlling particle size, preventing hard agglomerates, maintaining purity, and, if nonoxides are synthesized, protecting the particles from oxidation and/or hydrolysis during post-processing. Sodium-halide Flame Encapsulation (SFE) is a unique methodology for producing nonoxide nanoparticles that addresses these challenges. This flame synthesis process incorporates sodium and metal-halide chemistry, resulting in nanoparticles that are encapsulated in salt during the early stages of their growth in the flame. Salt encapsulation has been shown to allow control of particle size and morphology, while serving as an effective protective coating for preserving the purity of the core particles. Metals and compounds that have been produced using this technology include Al, W, Ti, TiB2, AlN, and composites of W-Ti and Al-AlN. Oxygen content in SFE synthesized nano- AlN has been measured by neutron activation analysis to be as low as 0.54wt.%, as compared to over 5wt.% for unprotected AlN of comparable size. The overall objective of this work is to study the SFE process and nano-encapsulation so that they can be used to produce novel and superior materials. SFE experiments in microgravity allow the study of flame and particle dynamics without the influence of buoyancy forces. Spherical sodium-halide flames are produced in microgravity by ejecting the halide from a spherical porous burner into a quiescent atmosphere of sodium vapor and argon. Experiments are performed in the 2.2 sec Drop Tower at the NASA-Glenn Research Center. Numerical models of the flame and particle dynamics were developed and are compared with the experimental results.

Recent advancements in nanoparticle based drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders.

PubMed

Mittal, Rahul; Patel, Amit P; Jhaveri, Vasanti M; Kay, Sae-In S; Debs, Luca H; Parrish, James M; Pan, Debbie R; Nguyen, Desiree; Mittal, Jeenu; Jayant, Rahul Dev

2018-03-01

The emergent field of nanoparticles has presented a wealth of opportunities for improving the treatment of human diseases. Recent advances have allowed for promising developments in drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Modified delivery systems allow improved drug delivery over traditional pH, microbe, or receptor dependent models, while antibody association allows for more advanced imaging modalities. Nanoparticles have potential clinical application in the field of gastroenterology as they offer several advantages compared to the conventional treatment systems including target drug delivery, enhanced treatment efficacy, and reduced side effects. Areas covered: The aim of this review article is to summarize the recent advancements in developing nanoparticle technologies to treat gastrointestinal diseases. We have covered the application of nanoparticles in various gastrointestinal disorders including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. We also have discussed how the gut microbiota affects the nanoparticle based drug delivery in the gastrointestinal tract. Expert opinion: Nanoparticles based drug delivery offers a great platform for targeted drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders. However, it is influenced by the presence of microbiota, drug interaction with nanoparticles, and cytotoxicity of nanoparticles. With the advancements in nanoparticle technology, it may be possible to overcome these barriers leading to efficient drug delivery for gastrointestinal disorders based on nanoparticle platform.

Hydroxychloroquine-conjugated gold nanoparticles for improved siRNA activity.

PubMed

Perche, F; Yi, Y; Hespel, L; Mi, P; Dirisala, A; Cabral, H; Miyata, K; Kataoka, K

2016-06-01

Current technology of siRNA delivery relies on pharmaceutical dosage forms to route maximal doses of siRNA to the tumor. However, this rationale does not address intracellular bottlenecks governing silencing activity. Here, we tested the impact of hydroxychloroquine conjugation on the intracellular fate and silencing activity of siRNA conjugated PEGylated gold nanoparticles. Addition of hydroxychloroquine improved endosomal escape and increased siRNA guide strand distribution to the RNA induced silencing complex (RISC), both crucial obstacles to the potency of siRNA. This modification significantly improved gene downregulation in cellulo. Altogether, our data suggest the benefit of this modification for the design of improved siRNA delivery systems. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Organic nanoparticles for photovoltaic and sensing applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Venkatraman, B. Harihara

2011-12-01

Can organic semiconducting nanoparticles be used as building blocks for fabricating electronic devices? The first half of this dissertation focuses on addressing this question and the associated research challenges for attaining morphological control pertaining to organic photovoltaic devices by nanoparticle assembly. Conjugated polymer nanoparticles were synthesized using miniemulsion technique and their optical, charge transfer and charge transport properties were studied. Some degree of control in polymer chain packing within the nanoparticle was also demonstrated. The optical, charge transfer and charge transport properties of these nanoparticles were found to be similar to that of parent conjugated polymer irrespective of the surface charge. From the initial photovoltaic measurements, it is shown that these nanoparticles are potential candidates for fabricating future photovoltaic devices. The second half of this dissertation is focused on developing a novel and viable strategy for sensing aqueous based nitroaromatic compounds. Nitroaromatic compounds are commonly used as explosives and possess serious health hazards. Thiophene-based conjugated polymer nanoparticles were synthesized and were shown to effectively detect aqueous based nitroaromatic explosives.

Interrogating the catalytic mechanism of nanoparticle mediated Stille coupling reactions employing bio-inspired Pd nanocatalysts.

PubMed

Pacardo, Dennis B; Slocik, Joseph M; Kirk, Kyle C; Naik, Rajesh R; Knecht, Marc R

2011-05-01

To address issues concerning the global environmental and energy state, new catalytic technologies must be developed that translate ambient and efficient conditions to heavily used reactions. To achieve this, the structure/function relationship between model catalysts and individual reactions must be critically discerned to identify structural motifs responsible for the reactivity. This is especially true for nanoparticle-based systems where this level of information remains limited. Here we present evidence indicating that peptide-capped Pd nanoparticles drive Stille C-C coupling reactions via Pd atom leaching. Through a series of reaction studies, the materials are shown to be optimized for reactivity under ambient conditions where increases in temperature or catalyst concentration deactivate reactivity due to the leaching process. A quartz crystal microbalance analysis demonstrates that Pd leaching occurs during the initial oxidative addition step at the nanoparticle surface by aryl halides. Together, this suggests that peptide-based materials may be optimally suited for use as model systems to isolate structural motifs responsible for the generation of catalytically reactive materials under ambient synthetic conditions. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2011

Interrogating the catalytic mechanism of nanoparticle mediated Stille coupling reactions employing bio-inspired Pd nanocatalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pacardo, Dennis B.; Slocik, Joseph M.; Kirk, Kyle C.; Naik, Rajesh R.; Knecht, Marc R.

2011-05-01

To address issues concerning the global environmental and energy state, new catalytic technologies must be developed that translate ambient and efficient conditions to heavily used reactions. To achieve this, the structure/function relationship between model catalysts and individual reactions must be critically discerned to identify structural motifs responsible for the reactivity. This is especially true for nanoparticle-based systems where this level of information remains limited. Here we present evidence indicating that peptide-capped Pd nanoparticles drive Stille C-C coupling reactions via Pd atom leaching. Through a series of reaction studies, the materials are shown to be optimized for reactivity under ambient conditions where increases in temperature or catalyst concentration deactivate reactivity due to the leaching process. A quartz crystal microbalance analysis demonstrates that Pd leaching occurs during the initial oxidative addition step at the nanoparticle surface by aryl halides. Together, this suggests that peptide-based materials may be optimally suited for use as model systems to isolate structural motifs responsible for the generation of catalytically reactive materials under ambient synthetic conditions.

The internalization of fluorescence-labeled PLA nanoparticles by macrophages.

PubMed

Li, Fengjuan; Zhu, Aiping; Song, Xiaoli; Ji, Lijun; Wang, Juan

2013-09-10

Rhodamine B (RhB)-labeled PLA nanoparticles were prepared through surface grafting copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) onto PLA nanoparticles during the emulsion/evaporation process. RhB firstly interacts with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) through electrostatic interaction to form hydrophobic complex (SDS-RhB). Due to the high-affinity of SDS-RhB with GMA, hydrophilic RhB can be successfully combined into PLA nanoparticles. The internalization of RhB-labeled PLA nanoparticles by macrophages was investigated with fluorescence microscope technology. The effects of the PLA nanoparticle surface nature and size on the internalization were investigated. The results indicate that the PLA particles smaller than 200 nm can avoid the uptake of phagocytosis. The bigger PLA particles (300 nm) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) surface showed less internalization by macrophage compared with those with poly(ethylene oxide-propylene oxide) copolymer (F127) or poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) surface. The "stealth" function of PEG on the PLA nanoparticles from internalization of macrophages due to the low protein adsorption is revealed by electrochemical impedance technology. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biodegradable nanoparticles for intracellular delivery of antimicrobial agents.

PubMed

Xie, Shuyu; Tao, Yanfei; Pan, Yuanhu; Qu, Wei; Cheng, Guyue; Huang, Lingli; Chen, Dongmei; Wang, Xu; Liu, Zhenli; Yuan, Zonghui

2014-08-10

Biodegradable nanoparticles have emerged as a promising strategy for ferrying antimicrobial agents into specific cells due to their unique properties. This review discusses the current progress and challenges of biodegradable nanoparticles for intracellular antimicrobial delivery to understand design principles for the development of ideal nanocarriers. The intracellular delivery performances of biodegradable nanoparticles for diverse antimicrobial agents are first summarized. Second, the cellular internalization and intracellular trafficking, degradation and release kinetics of nanoparticles as well as their relation with intracellular delivery of encapsulated antimicrobial agents are provided. Third, the influences of nanoparticle properties on the cellular internalization and intracellular fate of nanoparticles and their payload antimicrobial agents are discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of nanoparticles for intracellular delivery of antimicrobial agents are addressed. The review will be helpful to the scientists who are interested in searching for more efficient nanosystem strategies for intracellular delivery of antimicrobial agents. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Promising iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical engineering.

PubMed

Tran, Phuong Ha-Lien; Tran, Thao Truong-Dinh; Vo, Toi Van; Lee, Beom-Jin

2012-12-01

For the past few decades biomedical engineering has imprinted its significant impact on the map of science through its wide applications on many other fields. An important example obviously proving this fact is the versatile application of magnetic nanoparticles in theranostics. Due to preferable properties such as biocompatibility, non-toxicity compared to other metal derivations, iron oxide-based magnetic nanoparticles was chosen to be addressed in this review. Aim of this review is to give the readers a whole working window of these magnetic nanoparticles in the current context of science. Thus, preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with the so-far techniques, methods of characterizing the nanoparticles as well as their most recent biomedical applications will be stated.

Addressing the complexity of water chemistry in environmental fate modeling for engineered nanoparticles.

PubMed

Sani-Kast, Nicole; Scheringer, Martin; Slomberg, Danielle; Labille, Jérôme; Praetorius, Antonia; Ollivier, Patrick; Hungerbühler, Konrad

2015-12-01

Engineered nanoparticle (ENP) fate models developed to date - aimed at predicting ENP concentration in the aqueous environment - have limited applicability because they employ constant environmental conditions along the modeled system or a highly specific environmental representation; both approaches do not show the effects of spatial and/or temporal variability. To address this conceptual gap, we developed a novel modeling strategy that: 1) incorporates spatial variability in environmental conditions in an existing ENP fate model; and 2) analyzes the effect of a wide range of randomly sampled environmental conditions (representing variations in water chemistry). This approach was employed to investigate the transport of nano-TiO2 in the Lower Rhône River (France) under numerous sets of environmental conditions. The predicted spatial concentration profiles of nano-TiO2 were then grouped according to their similarity by using cluster analysis. The analysis resulted in a small number of clusters representing groups of spatial concentration profiles. All clusters show nano-TiO2 accumulation in the sediment layer, supporting results from previous studies. Analysis of the characteristic features of each cluster demonstrated a strong association between the water conditions in regions close to the ENP emission source and the cluster membership of the corresponding spatial concentration profiles. In particular, water compositions favoring heteroaggregation between the ENPs and suspended particulate matter resulted in clusters of low variability. These conditions are, therefore, reliable predictors of the eventual fate of the modeled ENPs. The conclusions from this study are also valid for ENP fate in other large river systems. Our results, therefore, shift the focus of future modeling and experimental research of ENP environmental fate to the water characteristic in regions near the expected ENP emission sources. Under conditions favoring heteroaggregation in these

Targeting therapeutics to the glomerulus with nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zuckerman, Jonathan E; Davis, Mark E

2013-11-01

Nanoparticles are an enabling technology for the creation of tissue-/cell-specific therapeutics that have been investigated extensively as targeted therapeutics for cancer. The kidney, specifically the glomerulus, is another accessible site for nanoparticle delivery that has been relatively overlooked as a target organ. Given the medical need for the development of more potent, kidney-targeted therapies, the use of nanoparticle-based therapeutics may be one such solution to this problem. Here, we review the literature on nanoparticle targeting of the glomerulus. Specifically, we provide a broad overview of nanoparticle-based therapeutics and how the unique structural characteristics of the glomerulus allow for selective, nanoparticle targeting of this area of the kidney. We then summarize literature examples of nanoparticle delivery to the glomerulus and elaborate on the appropriate nanoparticle design criteria for glomerular targeting. Finally, we discuss the behavior of nanoparticles in animal models of diseased glomeruli and review examples of nanoparticle therapeutic approaches that have shown promise in animal models of glomerulonephritic disease. Copyright © 2013 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New and improved proteomics technologies for understanding complex biological systems: addressing a grand challenge in the life sciences.

PubMed

Hood, Leroy E; Omenn, Gilbert S; Moritz, Robert L; Aebersold, Ruedi; Yamamoto, Keith R; Amos, Michael; Hunter-Cevera, Jennie; Locascio, Laurie

2012-09-01

This White Paper sets out a Life Sciences Grand Challenge for Proteomics Technologies to enhance our understanding of complex biological systems, link genomes with phenotypes, and bring broad benefits to the biosciences and the US economy. The paper is based on a workshop hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD, 14-15 February 2011, with participants from many federal R&D agencies and research communities, under the aegis of the US National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). Opportunities are identified for a coordinated R&D effort to achieve major technology-based goals and address societal challenges in health, agriculture, nutrition, energy, environment, national security, and economic development. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Electrosprayed nanoparticles for drug delivery and pharmaceutical applications

PubMed Central

Sridhar, Radhakrishnan; Ramakrishna, Seeram

2013-01-01

Nanotechnology based Pharma has emerged significantly and has influenced the Pharma industry up to a considerable extent. Nanoparticles technology holds a good share of the nanotech Pharma and is significant in comparison with the other domains. Electrospraying technology answers the potential needs of nanoparticle production such as scalability, reproducibility, effective encapsulation etc. Many drugs have been electrosprayed with and without polymer carriers. Drug release characteristics are improved with the incorporation of biodegradable polymer carriers which sustain the release of encapsulated drug. Electrospraying is acknowledged as an important technique for the preparation of nanoparticles with respect to pharmaceutical applications. Herein we attempted to consolidate the reports pertaining to electrospraying and their corresponding therapeutic application area. PMID:23512013

Electrochemical Nanoparticle Sizing Via Nano-Impacts: How Large a Nanoparticle Can be Measured?

PubMed Central

Bartlett, Thomas R; Sokolov, Stanislav V; Compton, Richard G

2015-01-01

The field of nanoparticle (NP) sizing encompasses a wide array of techniques, with electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS) having become the established methods for NP quantification; however, these techniques are not always applicable. A new and rapidly developing method that addresses the limitations of these techniques is the electrochemical detection of NPs in solution. The ‘nano-impacts’ technique is an excellent and qualitative in situ method for nanoparticle characterization. Two complementary studies on silver and silver bromide nanoparticles (NPs) were used to assess the large radius limit of the nano-impact method for NP sizing. Noting that by definition a NP cannot be larger than 100 nm in diameter, we have shown that the method quantitatively sizes at the largest limit, the lower limit having been previously reported as ∼6 nm.1 PMID:26491639

Methods and apparatus for transparent display using up-converting nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Hsu, Chia Wei; Qiu, Wenjun; Zhen, Bo; Shapira, Ofer; Soljacic, Marin

2016-10-04

Disclosed herein are transparent color displays with nanoparticles made with nonlinear materials and/or designed to exhibit optical resonances. These nanoparticles are embedded in or hosted on a transparent substrate, such as a flexible piece of clear plastic or acrylic. Illuminating the nanoparticles with invisible light (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet light) causes them to emit visible light. For example, a rare-earth doped nanoparticle may emit visible light when illuminated simultaneoulsy with a first infrared beam at a first wavelength .lamda..sub.1 and a second infrared beam at a second wavelength .lamda..sub.2. And a frequency-doubling nanoparticle may emit visible light when illuminated with a single infrared beam at the nanoparticle's resonant frequency. Selectively addressing these nanoparticles with appropiately selected pump beams yields visible light emitted from the nanoparticles hosted by the transparent substrate in a desired pattern.

[Effect of stability and dissolution of realgar nano-particles using solid dispersion technology].

PubMed

Guo, Teng; Shi, Feng; Yang, Gang; Feng, Nian-Ping

2013-09-01

To improve the stability and dissolution of realgar nano-particles by solid dispersion. Using polyethylene glycol 6000 and poloxamer-188 as carriers, the solid dispersions were prepare by melting method. XRD, microscopic inspection were used to determine the status of realgar nano-particles in solid dispersions. The content and stability test of As(2)0(3) were determined by DDC-Ag method. Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the content of Arsenic and investigated the in vitro dissolution behavior of solid dispersions. The results of XRD and microscopic inspection showed that realgar nano-particles in solid dispersions were amorphous. The dissolution amount and rate of Arsenic from realgar nano-particles of all solid dispersions were increased significantly, the reunion of realgar nano-particles and content of As(2)0(3) were reduced for the formation of solid dispersions. The solid dispersion of realgar nano-particles with poloxamer-188 as carriers could obviously improve stability, dissolution and solubility.

Nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia in cancer therapy

PubMed Central

Chatterjee, Dev Kumar; Diagaradjane, Parmeswaran; Krishnan, Sunil

2011-01-01

A small rise in tumor temperature (hyperthermia) makes cancer cells more susceptible to radiation and chemotherapy. The means of achieving this is not trivial, and traditional methods have certain drawbacks. Loading tumors with systematically asministered energy-transducing nanoparticles can circumvent several of the obstacles to achieve tumor hyperthermia. However, nanoparticles also face unique challenges prior to clinical implementation. This article summarizes the state-of-the-art current technology and discusses the advantages and challenges of the three major nanoparticle formulations in focus: gold nanoshells and nanorods, superparamagnetic iron oxide particles and carbon nanotubes. PMID:22506095

Decontaminating soil organic pollutants with manufactured nanoparticles.

PubMed

Li, Qi; Chen, Xijuan; Zhuang, Jie; Chen, Xin

2016-06-01

Organic pollutants in soils might threaten the environmental and human health. Manufactured nanoparticles are capable to reduce this risk efficiently due to their relatively large capacity of sorption and degradation of organic pollutants. Stability, mobility, and reactivity of nanoparticles are prerequisites for their efficacy in soil remediation. On the basis of a brief introduction of these issues, this review provides a comprehensive summary of the application and effectiveness of various types of manufactured nanoparticles for removing organic pollutants from soil. The main categories of nanoparticles include iron (oxides), titanium dioxide, carbonaceous, palladium, and amphiphilic polymeric nanoparticles. Their advantages (e.g., unique properties and high sorption capacity) and disadvantages (e.g., high cost and low recovery) for soil remediation are discussed with respect to the characteristics of organic pollutants. The factors that influence the decontamination effects, such as properties, surfactants, solution chemistry, and soil organic matter, are addressed.

Plug-and-actuate on demand: multimodal individual addressability of microarray plates using modular hybrid acoustic wave technology.

PubMed

Rezk, Amgad R; Ramesan, Shwathy; Yeo, Leslie Y

2018-01-30

The microarray titre plate remains a fundamental workhorse in genomic, proteomic and cellomic analyses that underpin the drug discovery process. Nevertheless, liquid handling technologies for sample dispensing, processing and transfer have not progressed significantly beyond conventional robotic micropipetting techniques, which are not only at their fundamental sample size limit, but are also prone to mechanical failure and contamination. This is because alternative technologies to date suffer from a number of constraints, mainly their limitation to carry out only a single liquid operation such as dispensing or mixing at a given time, and their inability to address individual wells, particularly at high throughput. Here, we demonstrate the possibility for true sequential or simultaneous single- and multi-well addressability in a 96-well plate using a reconfigurable modular platform from which MHz-order hybrid surface and bulk acoustic waves can be coupled to drive a variety of microfluidic modes including mixing, sample preconcentration and droplet jetting/ejection in individual or multiple wells on demand, thus constituting a highly versatile yet simple setup capable of improving the functionality of existing laboratory protocols and processes.

Synthesis of Core-Shell Nanoparticle Composites

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-17

Mawson Institute, University of South Australia 1 Final Report Contract Number FA2386-09-1-4043 Synthesis of Core-Shell Nanoparticle Composites...CI: Peter Majewski, School of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering, Mawson Institute, University of South Australia, peter.majewski...5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Blvd., Mawson Lakes SA, Australia

Radiofrequency Heating Pathways for Gold Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Collins, C. B.; McCoy, R. S.; Ackerson, B. J.; Collins, G. J.

2015-01-01

This feature article reviews the thermal dissipation of nanoscopic gold under radiofrequency (RF) irradiation. It also presents previously unpublished data addressing obscure aspects of this phenomenon. While applications in biology motivated initial investigation of RF heating of gold nanoparticles, recent controversy concerning whether thermal effects can be attributed to nanoscopic gold highlight the need to understand the involved mechanism or mechanisms of heating. Both the nature of the particle and the nature of the RF field influence heating. Aspects of nanoparticle chemistry and physics, including the hydrodynamic diameter of the particle, the oxidation state and related magnetism of the core, and the chemical nature of the ligand shell may all strongly influence to what extent a nanoparticle heats in an RF field. Aspects of RF include: power, frequency and antenna designs that emphasize relative strength of magnetic or electric fields, and also influence the extent to which a gold nanoparticle heats in RF. These nanoparticle and RF properties are analysed in the context of three heating mechanisms proposed to explain gold nanoparticle heating in an RF field. This article also makes a critical analysis of the existing literature in the context of the nanoparticle preparations, RF structure, and suggested mechanisms in previously reported experiments. PMID:24962620

DNA nanostructure-directed assembly of metal nanoparticle superlattices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Julin, Sofia; Nummelin, Sami; Kostiainen, Mauri A.; Linko, Veikko

2018-05-01

Structural DNA nanotechnology provides unique, well-controlled, versatile, and highly addressable motifs and templates for assembling materials at the nanoscale. These methods to build from the bottom-up using DNA as a construction material are based on programmable and fully predictable Watson-Crick base pairing. Researchers have adopted these techniques to an increasing extent for creating numerous DNA nanostructures for a variety of uses ranging from nanoelectronics to drug-delivery applications. Recently, an increasing effort has been put into attaching nanoparticles (the size range of 1-20 nm) to the accurate DNA motifs and into creating metallic nanostructures (typically 20-100 nm) using designer DNA nanoshapes as molds or stencils. By combining nanoparticles with the superior addressability of DNA-based scaffolds, it is possible to form well-ordered materials with intriguing and completely new optical, plasmonic, electronic, and magnetic properties. This focused review discusses the DNA structure-directed nanoparticle assemblies covering the wide range of different one-, two-, and three-dimensional systems.

Improving Evaluation to Address the Unintended Consequences of Health Information Technology:. a Position Paper from the Working Group on Technology Assessment & Quality Development.

PubMed

Magrabi, F; Ammenwerth, E; Hyppönen, H; de Keizer, N; Nykänen, P; Rigby, M; Scott, P; Talmon, J; Georgiou, A

2016-11-10

With growing use of IT by healthcare professionals and patients, the opportunity for any unintended effects of technology to disrupt care health processes and outcomes is intensified. The objectives of this position paper by the IMIA Working Group (WG) on Technology Assessment and Quality Development are to highlight how our ongoing initiatives to enhance evaluation are also addressing the unintended consequences of health IT. Review of WG initiatives Results: We argue that an evidence-based approach underpinned by rigorous evaluation is fundamental to the safe and effective use of IT, and for detecting and addressing its unintended consequences in a timely manner. We provide an overview of our ongoing initiatives to strengthen study design, execution and reporting by using evaluation frameworks and guidelines which can enable better characterization and monitoring of unintended consequences, including the Good Evaluation Practice Guideline in Health Informatics (GEP-HI) and the Statement on Reporting of Evaluation Studies in Health Informatics (STARE-HI). Indicators to benchmark the adoption and impact of IT can similarly be used to monitor unintended effects on healthcare structures, processes and outcome. We have also developed EvalDB, a web-based database of evaluation studies to promulgate evidence about unintended effects and are developing the content for courses to improve training in health IT evaluation. Evaluation is an essential ingredient for the effective use of IT to improve healthcare quality and patient safety. WG resources and skills development initiatives can facilitate a proactive and evidence-based approach to detecting and addressing the unintended effects of health IT.

Enzyme-Mediated Individual Nanoparticle Release Assay

PubMed Central

Glass, James R.; Dickerson, Janet C.; Schultz, David A.

2007-01-01

Numerous methods have been developed to measure the presence of macromolecular species in a sample, however methods that detect functional activity, or modulators of that activity are more limited. To address this limitation, an approach was developed that utilizes the optical detection of nanoparticles as a measure of enzyme activity. Nanoparticles are increasingly being used as biological labels in static binding assays; here we describe their use in a release assay format where the enzyme-mediated liberation of individual nanoparticles from a surface is measured. A double stranded fragment of DNA is used as the initial tether to bind the nanoparticles to a solid surface. The nanoparticle spatial distribution and number are determined using dark-field optical microscopy and digital image capture. Site specific cleavage of the DNA tether results in nanoparticle release. The methodology and validation of this approach for measuring enzyme-mediated, individual DNA cleavage events, rapidly, with high specificity, and in real-time is described. This approach was used to detect and discriminate between non-methylated and methylated DNA, and demonstrates a novel platform for high-throughput screening of modulators of enzyme activity. PMID:16620746

Radiolabeled Nanoparticles for Multimodality Tumor Imaging

PubMed Central

Xing, Yan; Zhao, Jinhua; Conti, Peter S.; Chen, Kai

2014-01-01

Each imaging modality has its own unique strengths. Multimodality imaging, taking advantages of strengths from two or more imaging modalities, can provide overall structural, functional, and molecular information, offering the prospect of improved diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring abilities. The devices of molecular imaging with multimodality and multifunction are of great value for cancer diagnosis and treatment, and greatly accelerate the development of radionuclide-based multimodal molecular imaging. Radiolabeled nanoparticles bearing intrinsic properties have gained great interest in multimodality tumor imaging over the past decade. Significant breakthrough has been made toward the development of various radiolabeled nanoparticles, which can be used as novel cancer diagnostic tools in multimodality imaging systems. It is expected that quantitative multimodality imaging with multifunctional radiolabeled nanoparticles will afford accurate and precise assessment of biological signatures in cancer in a real-time manner and thus, pave the path towards personalized cancer medicine. This review addresses advantages and challenges in developing multimodality imaging probes by using different types of nanoparticles, and summarizes the recent advances in the applications of radiolabeled nanoparticles for multimodal imaging of tumor. The key issues involved in the translation of radiolabeled nanoparticles to the clinic are also discussed. PMID:24505237

Rapid single cell detection of Staphylococcus aureus by aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Chang, Yi-Chung; Yang, Chia-Ying; Sun, Ruei-Lin; Cheng, Yi-Feng; Kao, Wei-Chen; Yang, Pan-Chyr

2013-01-01

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens, causing more than 500,000 infections in the United States each year. Traditional methods for bacterial culture and identification take several days, wasting precious time for patients who are suffering severe bacterial infections. Numerous nucleic acid-based detection methods have been introduced to address this deficiency; however, the costs and requirement for expensive equipment may limit the widespread use of such technologies. Thus, there is an unmet demand of new platform technology to improve the bacterial detection and identification in clinical practice. In this study, we developed a rapid, ultra-sensitive, low cost, and non-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for bacterial identification. Using this method, which measures the resonance light-scattering signal of aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles, we successfully detected single S. aureus cell within 1.5 hours. This new platform technology may have potential to develop a rapid and sensitive bacterial testing at point-of-care. PMID:23689505

Rapid single cell detection of Staphylococcus aureus by aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Chang, Yi-Chung; Yang, Chia-Ying; Sun, Ruei-Lin; Cheng, Yi-Feng; Kao, Wei-Chen; Yang, Pan-Chyr

2013-01-01

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens, causing more than 500,000 infections in the United States each year. Traditional methods for bacterial culture and identification take several days, wasting precious time for patients who are suffering severe bacterial infections. Numerous nucleic acid-based detection methods have been introduced to address this deficiency; however, the costs and requirement for expensive equipment may limit the widespread use of such technologies. Thus, there is an unmet demand of new platform technology to improve the bacterial detection and identification in clinical practice. In this study, we developed a rapid, ultra-sensitive, low cost, and non-polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for bacterial identification. Using this method, which measures the resonance light-scattering signal of aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles, we successfully detected single S. aureus cell within 1.5 hours. This new platform technology may have potential to develop a rapid and sensitive bacterial testing at point-of-care.

Review Article—Dielectrophoresis: Status of the theory, technology, and applications

PubMed Central

Pethig, Ronald

2010-01-01

A review is presented of the present status of the theory, the developed technology and the current applications of dielectrophoresis (DEP). Over the past 10 years around 2000 publications have addressed these three aspects, and current trends suggest that the theory and technology have matured sufficiently for most effort to now be directed towards applying DEP to unmet needs in such areas as biosensors, cell therapeutics, drug discovery, medical diagnostics, microfluidics, nanoassembly, and particle filtration. The dipole approximation to describe the DEP force acting on a particle subjected to a nonuniform electric field has evolved to include multipole contributions, the perturbing effects arising from interactions with other cells and boundary surfaces, and the influence of electrical double-layer polarizations that must be considered for nanoparticles. Theoretical modelling of the electric field gradients generated by different electrode designs has also reached an advanced state. Advances in the technology include the development of sophisticated electrode designs, along with the introduction of new materials (e.g., silicone polymers, dry film resist) and methods for fabricating the electrodes and microfluidics of DEP devices (photo and electron beam lithography, laser ablation, thin film techniques, CMOS technology). Around three-quarters of the 300 or so scientific publications now being published each year on DEP are directed towards practical applications, and this is matched with an increasing number of patent applications. A summary of the US patents granted since January 2005 is given, along with an outline of the small number of perceived industrial applications (e.g., mineral separation, micropolishing, manipulation and dispensing of fluid droplets, manipulation and assembly of micro components). The technology has also advanced sufficiently for DEP to be used as a tool to manipulate nanoparticles (e.g., carbon nanotubes, nano wires, gold and metal

Cryomilling for the fabrication of doxorubicin-containing silica-nanoparticle/polycaprolactone nanocomposite films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Yu; Lim, Jing; Han, Yiyuan; Wang, Lifeng; Chong, Mark Seow Khoon; Teoh, Swee-Hin; Xu, Chenjie

2016-01-01

Bionanocomposites need to have a homogeneous distribution of nanomaterials in the polymeric matrix to achieve consistent mechanical and biological functions. However, a significant challenge lies in achieving the homogeneous distribution of nanomaterials, particularly through a solvent-free approach. This report introduces a technology to address this need. Specifically, cryomilling, a solvent-free, low-temperature processing method, was applied to generate a bionanocomposite film with well-dispersed nanoparticles. As a proof-of-concept, polycaprolactone (PCL) and doxorubicin-containing silica nanoparticles (Si-Dox) were processed through cryomilling and subsequently heat pressed to form the PCL/Si-Dox (cPCL/Si-Dox) film. Homogeneous distribution of Si-Dox was observed under both confocal imaging and atomic force microscopy imaging. The mechanical properties of cPCL/Si-Dox were comparable to those of the pure PCL film. Subsequent in vitro release profiles suggested that sustained release of Dox from the cPCL/Si-Dox film was achievable over 50 days. When human cervical cancer cells were seeded directly on these films, uptake of Dox was observed as early as day 1 and significant inhibition of cell growth was recorded on day 5.Bionanocomposites need to have a homogeneous distribution of nanomaterials in the polymeric matrix to achieve consistent mechanical and biological functions. However, a significant challenge lies in achieving the homogeneous distribution of nanomaterials, particularly through a solvent-free approach. This report introduces a technology to address this need. Specifically, cryomilling, a solvent-free, low-temperature processing method, was applied to generate a bionanocomposite film with well-dispersed nanoparticles. As a proof-of-concept, polycaprolactone (PCL) and doxorubicin-containing silica nanoparticles (Si-Dox) were processed through cryomilling and subsequently heat pressed to form the PCL/Si-Dox (cPCL/Si-Dox) film. Homogeneous

A Holistic Approach towards Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Addressing Education Challenges in Asia and the Pacific

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ra, Sungsup; Chin, Brian; Lim, Cher Ping

2016-01-01

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) offers opportunities for governments to address key education challenges of quality, equity, and efficiency. While governments and educational institutions in developed countries may have taken up these opportunities, many developing countries in Asia and the Pacific region have often missed them out.…

Nanoparticle puzzles and research opportunities that go beyond state of the art.

PubMed

Jee, Ah-Young; Lou, Kai; Jang, Hyun-Sook; Nagamanasa, K Hima; Granick, Steve

2016-01-01

We present an overview of current progress and research challenges in the field of nanoparticle assembly, touching on the following topics: (1) historical perspective; (2) consideration of what is a nanoparticle; (3) contrast between nanoparticle self-assembly and top-down construction; (4) opportunities for nanoparticles with more intelligent sub-structures; (5) opportunities for nanoparticle systems cued to interact subtly in space and time. In this personal and subjective account, certain holy grails for nanoparticle science and technology are identified.

Application of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Pretreatment Device for POPs Analysis in Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chu, Dongzhi; Kong, Xiangfeng; Wu, Bingwei; Fan, Pingping; Cao, Xuan; Zhang, Ting

2018-01-01

In order to reduce process time and labour force of POPs pretreatment, and solve the problem that extraction column was easily clogged, the paper proposed a new technology of extraction and enrichment which used magnetic nanoparticles. Automatic pretreatment system had automatic sampling unit, extraction enrichment unit and elution enrichment unit. The paper briefly introduced the preparation technology of magnetic nanoparticles, and detailly introduced the structure and control system of automatic pretreatment system. The result of magnetic nanoparticles mass recovery experiments showed that the system had POPs analysis preprocessing capability, and the recovery rate of magnetic nanoparticles were over 70%. In conclusion, the author proposed three points optimization recommendation.

Standardisation of magnetic nanoparticles in liquid suspension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wells, James; Kazakova, Olga; Posth, Oliver; Steinhoff, Uwe; Petronis, Sarunas; Bogart, Lara K.; Southern, Paul; Pankhurst, Quentin; Johansson, Christer

2017-09-01

Suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles offer diverse opportunities for technology innovation, spanning a large number of industry sectors from imaging and actuation based applications in biomedicine and biotechnology, through large-scale environmental remediation uses such as water purification, to engineering-based applications such as position-controlled lubricants and soaps. Continuous advances in their manufacture have produced an ever-growing range of products, each with their own unique properties. At the same time, the characterisation of magnetic nanoparticles is often complex, and expert knowledge is needed to correctly interpret the measurement data. In many cases, the stringent requirements of the end-user technologies dictate that magnetic nanoparticle products should be clearly defined, well characterised, consistent and safe; or to put it another way—standardised. The aims of this document are to outline the concepts and terminology necessary for discussion of magnetic nanoparticles, to examine the current state-of-the-art in characterisation methods necessary for the most prominent applications of magnetic nanoparticle suspensions, to suggest a possible structure for the future development of standardisation within the field, and to identify areas and topics which deserve to be the focus of future work items. We discuss potential roadmaps for the future standardisation of this developing industry, and the likely challenges to be encountered along the way.

Registering Names and Addresses for Information Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Knapp, Arthur A.

The identification of administrative authorities and the development of associated procedures for registering and accessing names and addresses of communications data systems are considered in this paper. It is noted that, for data communications systems using standards based on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model specified by…

Synthesis and Characterization of BSA Conjugated Silver Nanoparticles (Ag/BSA Nanoparticles) and Evaluation of Biological Properties of Ag/BSA Nanoparticles and Ag/BSA Nanoparticles Loaded Poly(hydroxy butyrate valerate) PHBV Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambaye, Almaz

Ag/BSA nanoparticles was found to be in a range of 9-13 nm. X-ray photo electron spectroscopy measurements of argon sputtered Ag/BSA nanoparticles provided evidence that the outer and inner region of nanoparticles are mainly composed of BSA and silver, respectively. Having characterized the nanoparticles, the next phase of the study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity level of BSA stabilized silver nanoparticles. The antibacterial efficacy of Ag/BSA nanoparticles against E. coli and S. aureus was evaluated, and minimum lethal concentration was found to be 2ppm and 7ppm, respectively. E. coli showed a higher susceptibility to silver nanoparticles than S. aureus, which could be attributed to the difference in the cell wall structure. We have also investigated the cytotoxicity level of Ag/BSA nanoparticles towards MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. The minimum bactericidal concentration found for both strains is lower than the silver nanoparticles concentration that was toxic to the osteoblast cells. Preliminary studies of Ag/BSA nanoparticles loaded collagen immobilized PHBV film showed that the Ag/BSA nanoparticles loaded PHBV film inhibit bacterial growth. The findings of our study can be extremely useful in the design of novel scaffold to address the critical needs of bone tissue engineering community.

Unusual multiscale mechanics of biomimetic nanoparticle hydrogels

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Yunlong; Damasceno, Pablo F.; Somashekar, Bagganahalli S.; ...

2018-01-12

Viscoelastic properties are central for gels and other materials. Simultaneously, high storage and loss moduli are difficult to attain due to their contrarian requirements to chemical structure. Biomimetic inorganic nanoparticles offer a promising toolbox for multiscale engineering of gel mechanics, but a conceptual framework for their molecular, nanoscale, mesoscale, and microscale engineering as viscoelastic materials is absent. Here we show nanoparticle gels with simultaneously high storage and loss moduli from CdTe nanoparticles. Viscoelastic figure of merit reaches 1.83 MPa exceeding that of comparable gels by 100–1000 times for glutathione-stabilized nanoparticles. The gels made from the smallest nanoparticles display the highestmore » stiffness, which was attributed to the drastic change of GSH configurations when nanoparticles decrease in size. A computational model accounting for the difference in nanoparticle interactions for variable GSH configurations describes the unusual trends of nanoparticle gel viscoelasticity. These observations are generalizable to other NP gels interconnected by supramolecular interactions and lead to materials with high-load bearing abilities and energy dissipation needed for multiple technologies.« less

Unusual multiscale mechanics of biomimetic nanoparticle hydrogels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhou, Yunlong; Damasceno, Pablo F.; Somashekar, Bagganahalli S.

Viscoelastic properties are central for gels and other materials. Simultaneously, high storage and loss moduli are difficult to attain due to their contrarian requirements to chemical structure. Biomimetic inorganic nanoparticles offer a promising toolbox for multiscale engineering of gel mechanics, but a conceptual framework for their molecular, nanoscale, mesoscale, and microscale engineering as viscoelastic materials is absent. Here we show nanoparticle gels with simultaneously high storage and loss moduli from CdTe nanoparticles. Viscoelastic figure of merit reaches 1.83 MPa exceeding that of comparable gels by 100–1000 times for glutathione-stabilized nanoparticles. The gels made from the smallest nanoparticles display the highestmore » stiffness, which was attributed to the drastic change of GSH configurations when nanoparticles decrease in size. A computational model accounting for the difference in nanoparticle interactions for variable GSH configurations describes the unusual trends of nanoparticle gel viscoelasticity. These observations are generalizable to other NP gels interconnected by supramolecular interactions and lead to materials with high-load bearing abilities and energy dissipation needed for multiple technologies.« less

Hyperthermia using nanoparticles--Promises and pitfalls.

PubMed

Kaur, Punit; Aliru, Maureen L; Chadha, Awalpreet S; Asea, Alexzander; Krishnan, Sunil

2016-01-01

An ever-increasing body of literature affirms the physical and biological basis for sensitisation of tumours to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy by mild temperature hyperthermia. This knowledge has fuelled the efforts to attain, maintain, measure and monitor temperature via technological advances. A relatively new entrant in the field of hyperthermia is nanotechnology which capitalises on locally injected or systemically administered nanoparticles that are activated by extrinsic energy sources to generate heat. This review describes the kinds of nanoparticles available for hyperthermia generation, their activation sources, their characteristics, and the unique opportunities and challenges with nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia.

Interference-free Micro/nanoparticle Cell Engineering by Use of High-Throughput Microfluidic Separation.

PubMed

Yeo, David C; Wiraja, Christian; Zhou, Yingying; Tay, Hui Min; Xu, Chenjie; Hou, Han Wei

2015-09-23

Engineering cells with active-ingredient-loaded micro/nanoparticles is becoming increasingly popular for imaging and therapeutic applications. A critical yet inadequately addressed issue during its implementation concerns the significant number of particles that remain unbound following the engineering process, which inadvertently generate signals and impart transformative effects onto neighboring nontarget cells. Here we demonstrate that those unbound micro/nanoparticles remaining in solution can be efficiently separated from the particle-labeled cells by implementing a fast, continuous, and high-throughput Dean flow fractionation (DFF) microfluidic device. As proof-of-concept, we applied the DFF microfluidic device for buffer exchange to sort labeled suspension cells (THP-1) from unbound fluorescent dye and dye-loaded micro/nanoparticles. Compared to conventional centrifugation, the depletion efficiency of free dyes or particles was improved 20-fold and the mislabeling of nontarget bystander cells by free particles was minimized. The microfluidic device was adapted to further accommodate heterogeneous-sized mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Complete removal of unbound nanoparticles using DFF led to the usage of engineered MSCs without exerting off-target transformative effects on the functional properties of neighboring endothelial cells. Apart from its effectiveness in removing free particles, this strategy is also efficient and scalable. It could continuously process cell solutions with concentrations up to 10(7) cells·mL(-1) (cell densities commonly encountered during cell therapy) without observable loss of performance. Successful implementation of this technology is expected to pave the way for interference-free clinical application of micro/nanoparticle engineered cells.

Enhancing regenerative approaches with nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Habibovic, Pamela

2017-01-01

In this review, we discuss recent developments in the field of nanoparticles and their use in tissue regeneration approaches. Owing to their unique chemical properties and flexibility in design, nanoparticles can be used as drug delivery systems, to create novel features within materials or as bioimaging agents, or indeed these properties can be combined to create smart multifunctional structures. This review aims to provide an overview of this research field where the focus will be on nanoparticle-based strategies to stimulate bone regeneration; however, the same principles can be applied for other tissue and organ regeneration strategies. In the first section, nanoparticle-based methods for the delivery of drugs, growth factors and genetic material to promote tissue regeneration are discussed. The second section deals with the addition of nanoparticles to materials to create nanocomposites. Such materials can improve several material properties, including mechanical stability, biocompatibility and biological activity. The third section will deal with the emergence of a relatively new field of research using nanoparticles in advanced cell imaging and stem cell tracking approaches. As the development of nanoparticles continues, incorporation of this technology in the field of regenerative medicine will ultimately lead to new tools that can diagnose, track and stimulate the growth of new tissues and organs. PMID:28404870

Enhancing regenerative approaches with nanoparticles.

PubMed

van Rijt, Sabine; Habibovic, Pamela

2017-04-01

In this review, we discuss recent developments in the field of nanoparticles and their use in tissue regeneration approaches. Owing to their unique chemical properties and flexibility in design, nanoparticles can be used as drug delivery systems, to create novel features within materials or as bioimaging agents, or indeed these properties can be combined to create smart multifunctional structures. This review aims to provide an overview of this research field where the focus will be on nanoparticle-based strategies to stimulate bone regeneration; however, the same principles can be applied for other tissue and organ regeneration strategies. In the first section, nanoparticle-based methods for the delivery of drugs, growth factors and genetic material to promote tissue regeneration are discussed. The second section deals with the addition of nanoparticles to materials to create nanocomposites. Such materials can improve several material properties, including mechanical stability, biocompatibility and biological activity. The third section will deal with the emergence of a relatively new field of research using nanoparticles in advanced cell imaging and stem cell tracking approaches. As the development of nanoparticles continues, incorporation of this technology in the field of regenerative medicine will ultimately lead to new tools that can diagnose, track and stimulate the growth of new tissues and organs. © 2017 The Author(s).

Thermometry of Silicon Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mecklenburg, Matthew; Zutter, Brian; Regan, B. C.

2018-01-01

Current thermometry techniques lack the spatial resolution required to see the temperature gradients in typical, highly scaled modern transistors. As a step toward addressing this problem, we measure the temperature dependence of the volume plasmon energy in silicon nanoparticles from room temperature to 1250 °C , using a chip-style heating sample holder in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) equipped with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The plasmon energy changes as expected for an electron gas subject to the thermal expansion of silicon. Reversing this reasoning, we find that measurements of the plasmon energy provide an independent measure of the nanoparticle temperature consistent with that of the heater chip's macroscopic, dual-function heater-and-thermometer to within the 5% accuracy of the thermometer's calibration. Thus, silicon has the potential to provide its own high-spatial-resolution thermometric readout signal via measurements of its volume plasmon energy. Furthermore, nanoparticles can, in general, serve as convenient nanothermometers for in situ electron-microscopy experiments.

Advances in targeting strategies for nanoparticles in cancer imaging and therapy.

PubMed

Yhee, Ji Young; Lee, Sangmin; Kim, Kwangmeyung

2014-11-21

In the last decade, nanoparticles have offered great advances in diagnostic imaging and targeted drug delivery. In particular, nanoparticles have provided remarkable progress in cancer imaging and therapy based on materials science and biochemical engineering technology. Researchers constantly attempted to develop the nanoparticles which can deliver drugs more specifically to cancer cells, and these efforts brought the advances in the targeting strategy of nanoparticles. This minireview will discuss the progress in targeting strategies for nanoparticles focused on the recent innovative work for nanomedicine.

Digital Citizenship: Addressing Appropriate Technology Behavior

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ribble, Mike S.; Bailey, Gerald D.; Ross, Tweed W.

2004-01-01

Recently, the popular press has pointed to increasing evidence of misuse and abuse of emerging technologies in U.S. schools. Some examples include using Web sites to intimidate or threaten students, downloading music illegally from the Internet, plagiarizing information using the Internet, using cellular phones during class time, and playing games…

On the application potential of gold nanoparticles in nanoelectronics and biomedicine.

PubMed

Homberger, Melanie; Simon, Ulrich

2010-03-28

Ligand-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are of high interest to research dedicated to future technologies such as nanoelectronics or biomedical applications. This research interest arises from the unique size-dependent properties such as surface plasmon resonance or Coulomb charging effects. It is shown here how the unique properties of individual AuNPs and AuNP assemblies can be used to create new functional materials for applications in a technical or biological environment. While the term technical environment focuses on the potential use of AuNPs as subunits in nanoelectronic devices, the term biological environment addresses issues of toxicity and novel concepts of controlling biomolecular reactions on the surface of AuNPs.

Pharmaceutical Amorphous Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Jog, Rajan; Burgess, Diane J

2017-01-01

There has been a tremendous revolution in the field of nanotechnology, resulting in the advent of novel drug delivery systems known as nanomedicines for diagnosis and therapy. One of the applications is nanoparticulate drug delivery systems which are used to improve the solubility and oral bioavailability of poorly soluble compounds. This is particularly important because most of the molecules emerging from the drug discovery pipeline in recent years have problems associated with solubility and bioavailability. There has been considerable focus on nanocrystalline materials; however, amorphous nanoparticles have the advantage of synergistic mechanisms of enhancing dissolution rates (due to their nanosize range and amorphous nature) as well as increasing supersaturation levels (due to their amorphous nature). An example of this technology is Nanomorph TM , developed by Soliqus/Abbott, wherein the nanosize drug particles are precipitated in an amorphous form in order to enhance the dissolution rate. This along with other simple and easily scalable manufacturing techniques for amorphous nanoparticles is described. In addition, the mechanisms of formation of amorphous nanoparticles and several physicochemical properties associated with amorphous nanoparticles are critically reviewed. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Enzymatically Controlled Vacancies in Nanoparticle Crystals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barnaby, Stacey N.; Ross, Michael B.; Thaner, Ryan V.

In atomic systems, the mixing of metals results in distinct phase behavior that depends on the identity and bonding characteristics of the atoms. In nanoscale systems, the use of oligonucleotides as programmable “bonds” that link nanoparticle “atoms” into superlattices allows for the decoupling of atom identity and bonding. While much research in atomic systems is dedicated to understanding different phase behavior of mixed metals, it is not well understood on the nanoscale how changes in the nanoscale “bond” affect the phase behavior of nanoparticle crystals. In this work, the identity of the atom is kept the same but the chemicalmore » nature of the bond is altered, which is not possible in atomic systems, through the use of DNA and RNA bonding elements. These building blocks assemble into single crystal nanoparticle superlattices with mixed DNA and RNA bonding elements throughout. The nanoparticle crystals can be dynamically changed through the selective and enzymatic hydrolysis of the RNA bonding elements, resulting in superlattices that retain their crystalline structure and habit, while incorporating up to 35% random vacancies generated from the nanoparticles removed. Therefore, the bonding elements of nanoparticle crystals can be enzymatically and selectively addressed without affecting the nature of the atom.« less

Stimuli-Responsive Polymeric Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaolin; Yang, Ying; Urban, Marek W

2017-07-01

There is increasing evidence that stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have become significantly critical components of modern materials design and technological developments. Recent advances in synthesis and fabrication of stimuli-responsive polymeric nanoparticles with built-in stimuli-responsive components (Part A) and surface modifications of functional nanoparticles that facilitate responsiveness (Part B) are outlined here. The synthesis and construction of stimuli-responsive spherical, core-shell, concentric, hollow, Janus, gibbous/inverse gibbous, and cocklebur morphologies are discussed in Part A, with the focus on shape, color, or size changes resulting from external stimuli. Although inorganic/metallic nanoparticles exhibit many useful properties, including thermal or electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, or magnetic properties, their assemblies and formation of higher order constructs are often enhanced by surface modifications. Section B focuses on selected surface reactions that lead to responsiveness achieved by decorating nanoparticles with stimuli-responsive polymers. Although grafting-to and grafting-from dominate these synthetic efforts, there are opportunities for developing novel synthetic approaches facilitating controllable recognition, signaling, or sequential responses. Many nanotechnologies utilize a combination of organic and inorganic phases to produce ceramic or metallic nanoparticles. One can envision the development of new properties by combining inorganic (metals, metal oxides) and organic (polymer) phases into one nanoparticle designated as "ceramers" (inorganics) and "metamers" (metallic). © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Selective manipulation of superparamagnetic nanoparticles for product purification and microfluidic diagnostics.

PubMed

Gädke, Johannes; Thies, Jan-Wilhelm; Kleinfeldt, Lennart; Schulze, Torben; Biedendieck, Rebekka; Rustenbeck, Ingo; Garnweitner, Georg; Krull, Rainer; Dietzel, Andreas

2018-05-01

The needs of scalable product purification as well as the demand for sensitive diagnostics for highly dilute entities can be addressed with the utilization of tailored superparamagnetic nanoparticles. Recent developments have led to more efficient fluidic systems at different scales with suspended nanoparticles or nanoparticle aggregates. However, magnetic nanoparticle systems differ widely in properties and their applications are characterized by very specific challenges. This review summarizes advances in the synthesis of superparamagnetic particles and displays states and trends in research making use of these particles in biotechnological downstream processing and in biosensing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biological Synthesis of Nanoparticles from Plants and Microorganisms.

PubMed

Singh, Priyanka; Kim, Yu-Jin; Zhang, Dabing; Yang, Deok-Chun

2016-07-01

Nanotechnology has become one of the most promising technologies applied in all areas of science. Metal nanoparticles produced by nanotechnology have received global attention due to their extensive applications in the biomedical and physiochemical fields. Recently, synthesizing metal nanoparticles using microorganisms and plants has been extensively studied and has been recognized as a green and efficient way for further exploiting microorganisms as convenient nanofactories. Here, we explore and detail the potential uses of various biological sources for nanoparticle synthesis and the application of those nanoparticles. Furthermore, we highlight recent milestones achieved for the biogenic synthesis of nanoparticles by controlling critical parameters, including the choice of biological source, incubation period, pH, and temperature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of nanoparticle size on in vivo pharmacokinetics and cellular interaction

PubMed Central

Hoshyar, Nazanin; Gray, Samantha; Han, Hongbin; Bao, Gang

2016-01-01

Nanoparticle-based technologies offer exciting new approaches to disease diagnostics and therapeutics. To take advantage of unique properties of nanoscale materials and structures, the size, shape and/or surface chemistry of nanoparticles need to be optimized, allowing their functionalities to be tailored for different biomedical applications. Here we review the effects of nanoparticle size on cellular interaction and in vivo pharmacokinetics, including cellular uptake, biodistribution and circulation half-life of nanoparticles. Important features of nanoparticle probes for molecular imaging and modeling of nanoparticle size effects are also discussed. PMID:27003448

Radiofrequency heating pathways for gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Collins, C B; McCoy, R S; Ackerson, B J; Collins, G J; Ackerson, C J

2014-08-07

This feature article reviews the thermal dissipation of nanoscopic gold under radiofrequency (RF) irradiation. It also presents previously unpublished data addressing obscure aspects of this phenomenon. While applications in biology motivated initial investigation of RF heating of gold nanoparticles, recent controversy concerning whether thermal effects can be attributed to nanoscopic gold highlight the need to understand the involved mechanism or mechanisms of heating. Both the nature of the particle and the nature of the RF field influence heating. Aspects of nanoparticle chemistry which may affect thermal dissipation include the hydrodynamic diameter of the particle, the oxidation state and related magnetism of the core, and the chemical nature of the ligand shell. Aspects of RF which may affect thermal dissipation include power, frequency and antenna designs that emphasize relative strength of magnetic or electric fields. These nanoparticle and RF properties are analysed in the context of three heating mechanisms proposed to explain gold nanoparticle heating in an RF field. This article also makes a critical analysis of the existing literature in the context of the nanoparticle preparations, RF structure, and suggested mechanisms in previously reported experiments.

Designing synthetic RNA for delivery by nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jedrzejczyk, Dominika; Gendaszewska-Darmach, Edyta; Pawlowska, Roza; Chworos, Arkadiusz

2017-03-01

The rapid development of synthetic biology and nanobiotechnology has led to the construction of various synthetic RNA nanoparticles of different functionalities and potential applications. As they occur naturally, nucleic acids are an attractive construction material for biocompatible nanoscaffold and nanomachine design. In this review, we provide an overview of the types of RNA and nucleic acid’s nanoparticle design, with the focus on relevant nanostructures utilized for gene-expression regulation in cellular models. Structural analysis and modeling is addressed along with the tools available for RNA structural prediction. The functionalization of RNA-based nanoparticles leading to prospective applications of such constructs in potential therapies is shown. The route from the nanoparticle design and modeling through synthesis and functionalization to cellular application is also described. For a better understanding of the fate of targeted RNA after delivery, an overview of RNA processing inside the cell is also provided.

Nanoparticle-Based Manipulation of Antigen-Presenting Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy.

PubMed

Fang, Ronnie H; Kroll, Ashley V; Zhang, Liangfang

2015-11-04

Immunotherapeutic approaches for treating cancer overall have been receiving a considerable amount of interest due to the recent approval of several clinical formulations. Among the different modalities, anticancer vaccination acts by training the body to endogenously generate a response against tumor cells. However, despite the large amount of work that has gone into the development of such vaccines, the near absence of clinically approved formulations highlights the many challenges facing those working in the field. The generation of potent endogenous anticancer responses poses unique challenges due to the similarity between cancer cells and normal, healthy cells. As researchers continue to tackle the limited efficacy of vaccine formulations, fresh and novel approaches are being sought after to address many of the underlying problems. Here the application of nanoparticle technology towards the development of anticancer vaccines is discussed. Specifically, there is a focus on the benefits of using such strategies to manipulate antigen presenting cells (APCs), which are essential to the vaccination process, and how nanoparticle-based platforms can be rationally engineered to elicit appropriate downstream immune responses. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Carrier recombination dynamics in anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavigli, Lucia; Bogani, Franco; Vinattieri, Anna; Cortese, Lorenzo; Colocci, Marcello; Faso, Valentina; Baldi, Giovanni

2010-11-01

We present an experimental study of the radiative recombination dynamics in size-controlled TiO 2 nanoparticles in the range 20-130 nm. Time-integrated photoluminescence spectra clearly show a dominance of self-trapped exciton (STE) emission, with main features not dependent on the nanoparticle size and on its environment. From picosecond time-resolved experiments as a function of the excitation density and the nanoparticle size we address the STE recombination dynamics as the result of two main processes related to the direct STE formation and to the indirect STE formation mediated by non-radiative surface states.

Potential of insulin nanoparticle formulations for oral delivery and diabetes treatment.

PubMed

Wong, Chun Y; Al-Salami, Hani; Dass, Crispin R

2017-10-28

Nanoparticles have demonstrated significant advancements in potential oral delivery of insulin. In this publication, we review the current status of polymeric, inorganic and solid-lipid nanoparticles designed for oral administration of insulin. Firstly, the structure and physiological function of insulin are examined. Then, the efficiency and shortcomings of insulin nanoparticle are discussed. These include the susceptibility to digestive enzyme degradation, instability in the acidic pH environment, poor mucus diffusion and inadequate permeation through the gastrointestinal epithelium. In order to optimise the nanocarriers, the following considerations, including polymer nature, surface charge, size, polydispersity index and morphology of nanoparticles, have to be taken into account. Some novel designs such as chitosan-based glucose-responsive nanoparticles, layer by layer technique-based nanoparticles and zwitterion nanoparticles are being adopted to overcome the physiological challenges. The review ends with some future directions and challenges to be addressed for the success of oral delivery of insulin-loaded nanoparticle formulation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Three strategies to stabilise nearly monodispersed silver nanoparticles in aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stevenson, Amadeus PZ; Blanco Bea, Duani; Civit, Sergi; Antoranz Contera, Sonia; Iglesias Cerveto, Alberto; Trigueros, Sonia

2012-02-01

Silver nanoparticles are extensively used due to their chemical and physical properties and promising applications in areas such as medicine and electronics. Controlled synthesis of silver nanoparticles remains a major challenge due to the difficulty in producing long-term stable particles of the same size and shape in aqueous solution. To address this problem, we examine three strategies to stabilise aqueous solutions of 15 nm citrate-reduced silver nanoparticles using organic polymeric capping, bimetallic core-shell and bimetallic alloying. Our results show that these strategies drastically improve nanoparticle stability by distinct mechanisms. Additionally, we report a new role of polymer functionalisation in preventing further uncontrolled nanoparticle growth. For bimetallic nanoparticles, we attribute the presence of a higher valence metal on the surface of the nanoparticle as one of the key factors for improving their long-term stability. Stable silver-based nanoparticles, free of organic solvents, will have great potential for accelerating further environmental and nanotoxicity studies. PACS: 81.07.-b; 81.16.Be; 82.70.Dd.

Nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foam for CO₂ EOR application

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Ning; Lee, Robert; Yu, Jianjia

The purpose of this project was to develop nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foam for CO₂ -EOR application, in which nanoparticles instead of surfactants are used for stabilizing CO₂ foam to improve the CO₂ sweep efficiency and increase oil recovery. The studies included: (1) investigation of CO₂ foam generation nanoparticles, such as silica nanoparticles, and the effects of particle concentration and surface properties, CO₂/brine ratio, brine salinity, pressure, and temperature on foam generation and foam stability; (2) coreflooding tests to understand the nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foam for waterflooded residual oil recovery, which include: oil-free coreflooding experiments with nanoparticle-stabilized CO₂ foam to understand the transportationmore » of nanoparticles through the core; measurements of foam stability and CO₂ sweep efficiency under reservoir conditions to investigate temperature and pressure effects on the foam performance and oil recovery as well as the sweep efficiency in different core samples with different rock properties; and (3) long-term coreflooding experiments with the nanoparticle- stabilized CO₂ foam for residual oil recovery. Finally, the technical and economical feasibility of this technology was evaluated.« less

Development of novel magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassim, Shiraz M.; Giustini, Andrew J.; Baker, Ian; Hoopes, P. Jack

2011-03-01

Advances in magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia are opening new doors in cancer therapy. As a standalone or adjuvant therapy this new modality has the opportunity significantly advance thermal medicine. Major advantages of using magnetic magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are their highly localized power deposition and the fact that the alternating magnetic fields (AMF) used to excite them can penetrate deeply into the body without harmful effect. One limitation, however, which hinders the technology, is the problem of inductive heating of normal tissue by the AMF if the frequency and fields strength are not appropriately matched to the tissue. Restricting AMF amplitude and frequency limits the heat dose which can be selectively applied to cancerous tissue via the magnetic nanoparticle, thus lowering therapeutic effect. In an effort to address this problem, particles with optimized magnetic properties must be developed. Using particles with higher saturation magnetizations and coercivity will enhance hysteresis heating increasing particle power density at milder AMF strengths and frequencies. In this study we used oil in water microemulsions to develop nanoparticles with zero-valent Fe cores and magnetite shells. The superior magnetic properties of zero-valent Fe give these particles the potential for improved SAR over pure magnetite particles. Silane and subsequently dextran have been attached to the particle surface in order to provide a biocompatible surfactant coating. The heating capability of the particles was tested in-vivo using a mouse tumor model. Although we determined that the final stage of synthesis, purification of the dextran coated particles, permits significant corrosion/oxidation of the iron core to hematite, the particles can effectively heat tumor tissue. Improving the purification procedure will allow the generation Fe/Fe3O4 with superior SAR values.

Liquid crystals from mesogens containing gold nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewandowski, Wiktor; Gorecka, Ewa

Long-range ordered structures made of nanoparticles are perspective materials for future optical, electronic and sensing technologies. Conspicuous physicochemical features of nanoparticle aggregates originate from distant-dependent collective interactions, therefore lately a lot of attention was put to the development of assembly strategies allowing control over nanoparticle spatial distribution. In this chapter we will focus on the assembly process based on using thermotropic liquid-crystalline molecules as surface nanoparticle ligands. First, we discuss architectural parameters that inuence structure and thermal properties of the aggregates. Then, we show that this approach enables formation of assemblies with metamaterial characteristic, gives access to dynamic materials with light-, magneto- and thermo-responsive behavior and allows formation of aggregates with unique structures, which all make this strategy an attractive object of research.

Hyperthermia Using Nanoparticles – Promises and Pitfalls

PubMed Central

Kaur, Punit; Aliru, Maureen L.; Chadha, Awalpreet S.; Asea, Alexzander; Krishnan, Sunil

2016-01-01

An ever-increasing body of literature affirms the physical and biological basis for sensitization of tumors to conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy by mild temperature hyperthermia. This knowledge has fueled the efforts to attain, maintain, measure and monitor temperature via technological advances. A relatively new entrant in the field of hyperthermia is nanotechnology which capitalizes on locally injected or systemically administered nanoparticles that are activated by extrinsic energy sources to generate heat. This review describes the kinds of nanoparticles available for hyperthermia generation, their activation sources, their characteristics, and the unique opportunities and challenges with nanoparticle-mediated hyperthermia. PMID:26757879

Nanoparticles and Controlled Delivery for Bioactive Compounds: Outlining Challenges for New “Smart-Foods” for Health

PubMed Central

Martínez-Ballesta, MCarment; García-Viguera, Cristina

2018-01-01

Nanotechnology is a field of research that has been stressed as a very valuable approach for the prevention and treatment of different human health disorders. This has been stressed as a delivery system for the therapeutic fight against an array of pathophysiological situations. Actually, industry has applied this technology in the search for new oral delivery alternatives obtained upon the modification of the solubility properties of bioactive compounds. Significant works have been made in the last years for testing the input that nanomaterials and nanoparticles provide for an array of pathophysiological situations. In this frame, this review addresses general questions concerning the extent to which nanoparticles offer alternatives that improve therapeutic value, while avoid toxicity, by releasing bioactive compounds specifically to target tissues affected by specific chemical and pathophysiological settings. In this regard, to date, the contribution of nanoparticles to protect encapsulated bioactive compounds from degradation as a result of gastrointestinal digestion and cellular metabolism, to enable their release in a controlled manner, enhancing biodistribution of bioactive compounds, and to allow them to target those tissues affected by biological disturbances has been demonstrated. PMID:29735897

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, speaks at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Superparamagnetic nanoparticles for enhanced magnetic resonance and multimodal imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sikma, Elise Ann Schultz

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for noninvasive tomographic imaging of biological systems with high spatial and temporal resolution. Superparamagnetic (SPM) nanoparticles have emerged as highly effective MR contrast agents due to their biocompatibility, ease of surface modification and magnetic properties. Conventional nanoparticle contrast agents suffer from difficult synthetic reproducibility, polydisperse sizes and weak magnetism. Numerous synthetic techniques and nanoparticle formulations have been developed to overcome these barriers. However, there are still major limitations in the development of new nanoparticle-based probes for MR and multimodal imaging including low signal amplification and absence of biochemical reporters. To address these issues, a set of multimodal (T2/optical) and dual contrast (T1/T2) nanoparticle probes has been developed. Their unique magnetic properties and imaging capabilities were thoroughly explored. An enzyme-activatable contrast agent is currently being developed as an innovative means for early in vivo detection of cancer at the cellular level. Multimodal probes function by combining the strengths of multiple imaging techniques into a single agent. Co-registration of data obtained by multiple imaging modalities validates the data, enhancing its quality and reliability. A series of T2/optical probes were successfully synthesized by attachment of a fluorescent dye to the surface of different types of nanoparticles. The multimodal nanoparticles generated sufficient MR and fluorescence signal to image transplanted islets in vivo. Dual contrast T1/T2 imaging probes were designed to overcome disadvantages inherent in the individual T1 and T2 components. A class of T1/T2 agents was developed consisting of a gadolinium (III) complex (DTPA chelate or DO3A macrocycle) conjugated to a biocompatible silica-coated metal oxide nanoparticle through a disulfide linker. The disulfide linker has the ability to be reduced

Impact of Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles on Plant: A Critical Review

PubMed Central

Rastogi, Anshu; Zivcak, Marek; Sytar, Oksana; Kalaji, Hazem M.; He, Xiaolan; Mbarki, Sonia; Brestic, Marian

2017-01-01

An increasing need of nanotechnology in various industries may cause a huge environment dispersion of nanoparticles in coming years. A concern about nanoparticles interaction with flora and fauna is raised due to a growing load of it in the environment. In recent years, several investigators have shown impact of nanoparticles on plant growth and their accumulation in food source. This review examines the research performed in the last decade to show how metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are influencing the plant metabolism. We addressed here, the impact of nanoparticle on plant in relation to its size, concentration, and exposure methodology. Based on the available reports, we proposed oxidative burst as a general mechanism through which the toxic effects of nanoparticles are spread in plants. This review summarizes the current understanding and the future possibilities of plant-nanoparticle research. PMID:29075626

Impact of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles on plant: A critical review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rastogi, Anshu; Zivcak, Marek; Sytar, Oksana; Kalaji, Hazem M.; He, Xiaolan; Mbarki, Sonia; Brestic, Marian

2017-10-01

An increasing need of nanotechnology in various industries may cause a huge environment dispersion of nanoparticles in coming years. A concern about nanoparticles interaction with flora and fauna is raised due to a growing load of it in the environment. In recent years, several investigators have shown impact of nanoparticles on plant growth and its accumulation in food source. This review examines the research performed in the last decade to show how metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are influencing the plant metabolisms. We addressed here, the impact of nanoparticle on plant in relation to its size, concentration, and exposure methodology. Based on the available reports, we proposed oxidative burst as a general mechanism through which the toxic effects of nanoparticles are spread in plants. This review summarises the current understanding and the future possibilities of plant-nanoparticle research.

NanoDLSay: a new platform technology for biomolecular detection and analysis using gold nanoparticle probes coupled with dynamic light scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogdanovic, Jelena; Huo, Qun

2010-04-01

Most analytical techniques that are routinely used in biomedical research for detection and quantification of biomolecules are time-consuming, expensive and labor-intensive, and there is always a need for rapid, affordable and convenient methods. Recently we have developed a new platform technology for biomolecular detection and analysis: NanoDLSay. NanoDLSay employs antibody-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and dynamic light scattering, and correlates the specific increase in particle size after antigen-antibody interaction to the target antigen concentration. We applied this technology to develop an assay for rapid detection of actin, a protein widely used as a loading control in Western Blot analysis. GNPs were coated with two types of polyclonal anti-actin antibodies, and used in the assay to detect two types of actin: β- and bovine skeletal muscle actin in RIPA buffer. The results of our study revealed some complex aspects of actin binding characteristics, which depended on the type of actin reagent and anti-actin antibody used. A surprising finding was a reverse dose-response relationship between the actin concentration and the average particle size in the assay solution, which we attributed to the effect of RIPA buffer. Our results indicate that RIPA may also interfere in other types of nanoparticle-based assays, and that this interference deserves further study.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) nanoparticle tumour vaccination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phua, Kyle K. L.; Nair, Smita K.; Leong, Kam W.

2014-06-01

Use of mRNA-based vaccines for tumour immunotherapy has gained increasing attention in recent years. A growing number of studies applying nanomedicine concepts to mRNA tumour vaccination show that the mRNA delivered in nanoparticle format can generate a more robust immune response. Advances in the past decade have deepened our understanding of gene delivery barriers, mRNA's biological stability and immunological properties, and support the notion for engineering innovations tailored towards a more efficient mRNA nanoparticle vaccine delivery system. In this review we will first examine the suitability of mRNA for engineering manipulations, followed by discussion of a model framework that highlights the barriers to a robust anti-tumour immunity mediated by mRNA encapsulated in nanoparticles. Finally, by consolidating existing literature on mRNA nanoparticle tumour vaccination within the context of this framework, we aim to identify bottlenecks that can be addressed by future nanoengineering research.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, listens to a question during the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, talks with NASA's 2013 astronaut candidates at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Assessing nanoparticle risk poses prodigious challenges.

PubMed

MacPhail, Robert C; Grulke, Eric A; Yokel, Robert A

2013-01-01

Risk assessment is used both formally and informally to estimate the likelihood of an adverse event occurring, for example, as a consequence of exposure to a hazardous chemical, drug, or other agent. Formal risk assessments in government regulatory agencies have a long history of practice. The precision with which risk can be estimated is inevitably constrained, however, by uncertainties arising from the lack of pertinent data. Developing accurate risk assessments for nanoparticles and nanoparticle-containing products may present further challenges because of the unique properties of the particles, uncertainties about their composition and the populations exposed to them, and how these may change throughout the particle's life cycle. This review introduces the evolving practice of risk assessment followed by some of the uncertainties that need to be addressed to improve our understanding of nanoparticle risks. Given the clarion call for life-cycle assessments of nanoparticles, an unprecedented degree of national and international coordination between scientific organizations, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders will be required to achieve this goal. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Process-generated nanoparticles from ceramic tile sintering: Emissions, exposure and environmental release.

PubMed

Fonseca, A S; Maragkidou, A; Viana, M; Querol, X; Hämeri, K; de Francisco, I; Estepa, C; Borrell, C; Lennikov, V; de la Fuente, G F

2016-09-15

The ceramic industry is an industrial sector in need of significant process changes, which may benefit from innovative technologies such as laser sintering of ceramic tiles. Such innovations result in a considerable research gap within exposure assessment studies for process-generated ultrafine and nanoparticles. This study addresses this issue aiming to characterise particle formation, release mechanisms and their impact on personal exposure during a tile sintering activity in an industrial-scale pilot plant, as a follow-up of a previous study in a laboratory-scale plant. In addition, possible particle transformations in the exhaust system, the potential for particle release to the outdoor environment, and the effectiveness of the filtration system were also assessed. For this purpose, a tiered measurement strategy was conducted. The main findings evidence that nanoparticle emission patterns were strongly linked to temperature and tile chemical composition, and mainly independent of the laser treatment. Also, new particle formation (from gaseous precursors) events were detected, with nanoparticles <30nm in diameter being formed during the thermal treatment. In addition, ultrafine and nano-sized airborne particles were generated and emitted into workplace air during sintering process on a statistically significant level. These results evidence the risk of occupational exposure to ultrafine and nanoparticles during tile sintering activity since workers would be exposed to concentrations above the nano reference value (NRV; 4×10(4)cm(-3)), with 8-hour time weighted average concentrations in the range of 1.4×10(5)cm(-3) and 5.3×10(5)cm(-3). A potential risk for nanoparticle and ultrafine particle release to the environment was also identified, despite the fact that the efficiency of the filtration system was successfully tested and evidenced a >87% efficiency in particle number concentrations removal. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All

Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Technologies Keynote Address

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lebacqz, J. Victor

2004-01-01

Slides for the Keynote Address present graphics to enhance the discussion of NASA's vision, the National Space Exploration Initiative, current Mars exploration, and aeronautics exploration. The presentation also focuses on development of an Air Transportation System and transformation from present systems.

Principles of nanoparticle design for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery

PubMed Central

Blanco, Elvin; Shen, Haifa; Ferrari, Mauro

2016-01-01

Biological barriers to drug transport prevent successful accumulation of nanotherapeutics specifically at diseased sites, limiting efficacious responses in disease processes ranging from cancer to inflammation. Although substantial research efforts have aimed to incorporate multiple functionalities and moieties within the overall nanoparticle design, many of these strategies fail to adequately address these barriers. Obstacles, such as nonspecific distribution and inadequate accumulation of therapeutics, remain formidable challenges to drug developers. A reimagining of conventional nanoparticles is needed to successfully negotiate these impediments to drug delivery. Site-specific delivery of therapeutics will remain a distant reality unless nanocarrier design takes into account the majority, if not all, of the biological barriers that a particle encounters upon intravenous administration. By successively addressing each of these barriers, innovative design features can be rationally incorporated that will create a new generation of nanotherapeutics, realizing a paradigmatic shift in nanoparticle-based drug delivery. PMID:26348965

Stroma Breaking Theranostic Nanoparticles for Targeted Pancreatic Cancer Therapy

Cancer.gov

This project develops a dual-targeted and stroma breaking theranostic nanoparticle platform to address an unmet, clinical challenge of poor drug delivery efficiency in the application of nanomedicine to cancer therapy.

Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of Magnetic Nanoparticle Heating for Improved Applications in Cancer Hyperthermia and Biomaterial Cryopreservation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Etheridge, Michael L.

The current work focused on the ability of magnetic nanoparticles to produce heat in the presence of an applied alternating magnetic field. Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia applications utilize this behavior to treat cancer and this approach has received clinical approval in the European Union, but significant developments are necessary for this technology to have a chance for wider-spread acceptance. Here then we begin by investigating some of the important limitations of the current technology. By characterizing the ability of superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic nanoparticles to heat under a range of applied fields, we are able to determine the optimal field settings for clinical application and make recommendations on the highest impact strategies to increase heating. In addition, we apply these experimentally determined limits to heating in a series of heat transfer models, to demonstrate the therapeutic impact of nanoparticle concentration, target volume, and delivery strategy. Next, we attempt to address one of the key questions facing the field- what is the impact of biological aggregation on heating? Controlled aggregate populations are produced and characterized in ionic and protein solutions and their heating is compared with nanoparticles incubated in cellular suspensions. Through this investigation we are able to demonstrate that aggregation is responsible for up to a 50% decrease in heating. However, more importantly, we are able to demonstrate that the observed reductions in heating correlate with reductions in longitudinal relaxation (T1) measured by sweep imaging with Fourier transformation (SWIFT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), providing a potential platform to account for these aggregation effects and directly predict heating in a clinical setting. Finally, we present a new application for magnetic nanoparticle heating, in the thawing of cryopreserved biomaterials. A number of groups have demonstrated the ability to rapidly cool and preserve

Recent progress on the development of anisotropic gold nanoparticles: Design strategies and growth mechanism.

PubMed

Jones, Stacy; Pramanik, Avijit; Sweet, Carrie; Keyes, Anthony; Begum, Salma; Vangra, Aruna; Yu, Hongtal; Fu, Peter P; Ray, Paresh Chandra

2017-01-02

This review summarizes recent advances on design strategies for shape-controlled anisotropic gold nanoparticles. Detailed chemical mechanism has been discussed to understand the anisotropic growth. The effect of various chemical parameters and surface facets for the formation of different shaped anisotropic nanoparticles have been addressed.

Nano-particle dynamics during capillary suction.

PubMed

Kuijpers, C J; Huinink, H P; Tomozeiu, N; Erich, S J F; Adan, O C G

2018-07-01

Due to the increased use of nanoparticles in everyday applications, there is a need for theoretical descriptions of particle transport and attachment in porous media. It should be possible to develop a one dimensional model to describe nanoparticle retention during capillary transport of liquid mixtures in porous media. Water-glycerol-nanoparticle mixtures were prepared and the penetration process in porous Al 2 O 3 samples of varying pore size is measured using NMR imaging. The liquid and particle front can be measured by utilizing T 2 relaxation effects from the paramagnetic nanoparticles. A good agreement between experimental data and the predicted particle retention by the developed theory is found. Using the model, the binding constant for Fe 2 O 3 nanoparticles on sintered Al 2 O 3 samples and the maximum surface coverage are determined. Furthermore, we show that the penetrating liquid front follows a square root of time behavior as predicted by Darcy's law. However, scaling with the liquid parameters is no longer sufficient to map different liquid mixtures onto a single master curve. The Darcy model should be extended to address the two formed domains (with and without particles) and their interaction, to give an accurate prediction for the penetrating liquid front. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DNA nanomapping using CRISPR-Cas9 as a programmable nanoparticle.

PubMed

Mikheikin, Andrey; Olsen, Anita; Leslie, Kevin; Russell-Pavier, Freddie; Yacoot, Andrew; Picco, Loren; Payton, Oliver; Toor, Amir; Chesney, Alden; Gimzewski, James K; Mishra, Bud; Reed, Jason

2017-11-21

Progress in whole-genome sequencing using short-read (e.g., <150 bp), next-generation sequencing technologies has reinvigorated interest in high-resolution physical mapping to fill technical gaps that are not well addressed by sequencing. Here, we report two technical advances in DNA nanotechnology and single-molecule genomics: (1) we describe a labeling technique (CRISPR-Cas9 nanoparticles) for high-speed AFM-based physical mapping of DNA and (2) the first successful demonstration of using DVD optics to image DNA molecules with high-speed AFM. As a proof of principle, we used this new "nanomapping" method to detect and map precisely BCL2-IGH translocations present in lymph node biopsies of follicular lymphoma patents. This HS-AFM "nanomapping" technique can be complementary to both sequencing and other physical mapping approaches.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy is interviewed by TIME for Kids reporter Kristen Rigsby, ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Silver Nanoparticles: Technological Advances, Societal Impacts, and Metrological Challenges

PubMed Central

Calderón-Jiménez, Bryan; Johnson, Monique E.; Montoro Bustos, Antonio R.; Murphy, Karen E.; Winchester, Michael R.; Vega Baudrit, José R.

2017-01-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show different physical and chemical properties compared to their macroscale analogs. This is primarily due to their small size and, consequently, the exceptional surface area of these materials. Presently, advances in the synthesis, stabilization, and production of AgNPs have fostered a new generation of commercial products and intensified scientific investigation within the nanotechnology field. The use of AgNPs in commercial products is increasing and impacts on the environment and human health are largely unknown. This article discusses advances in AgNP production and presents an overview of the commercial, societal, and environmental impacts of this emerging nanoparticle (NP), and nanomaterials in general. Finally, we examine the challenges associated with AgNP characterization, discuss the importance of the development of NP reference materials (RMs) and explore their role as a metrological mechanism to improve the quality and comparability of NP measurements. PMID:28271059

Silver nanoparticles: technological advances, societal impacts, and metrological challenges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calderón-Jiménez, Bryan; Johnson, Monique E.; Montoro Bustos, Antonio R.; Murphy, Karen E.; Winchester, Michael R.; Vega Baudrit, José R.

2017-02-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show different physical and chemical properties compared to their macroscale analogs. This is primarily due to their small size and, consequently, the exceptional surface area of these materials. Presently, advances in the synthesis, stabilization, and production of AgNPs have fostered a new generation of commercial products and intensified scientific investigation within the nanotechnology field. The use of AgNPs in commercial products is increasing and impacts on the environment and human health are largely unknown. This article discusses advances in AgNP production and presents an overview of the commercial, societal, and environmental impacts of this emerging nanoparticle (NP), and nanomaterials in general. Finally, we examine the challenges associated with AgNP characterization, discuss the importance of the development of NP reference materials (RMs) and explore their role as a metrological mechanism to improve the quality and comparability of NP measurements.

Silver Nanoparticles: Technological Advances, Societal Impacts, and Metrological Challenges.

PubMed

Calderón-Jiménez, Bryan; Johnson, Monique E; Montoro Bustos, Antonio R; Murphy, Karen E; Winchester, Michael R; Vega Baudrit, José R

2017-01-01

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show different physical and chemical properties compared to their macroscale analogs. This is primarily due to their small size and, consequently, the exceptional surface area of these materials. Presently, advances in the synthesis, stabilization, and production of AgNPs have fostered a new generation of commercial products and intensified scientific investigation within the nanotechnology field. The use of AgNPs in commercial products is increasing and impacts on the environment and human health are largely unknown. This article discusses advances in AgNP production and presents an overview of the commercial, societal, and environmental impacts of this emerging nanoparticle (NP), and nanomaterials in general. Finally, we examine the challenges associated with AgNP characterization, discuss the importance of the development of NP reference materials (RMs) and explore their role as a metrological mechanism to improve the quality and comparability of NP measurements.

Therapeutic gold, silver, and platinum nanoparticles.

PubMed

Yamada, Miko; Foote, Matthew; Prow, Tarl W

2015-01-01

There are an abundance of nanoparticle technologies being developed for use as part of therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on a narrow class of metal nanoparticles that have therapeutic potential that is a consequence of elemental composition and size. The most widely known of these are gold nanoshells that have been developed over the last two decades for photothermal ablation in superficial cancers. The therapeutic effect is the outcome of the thickness and diameter of the gold shell that enables fine tuning of the plasmon resonance. When these metal nanoparticles are exposed to the relevant wavelength of light, their temperature rapidly increases. This in turn induces a localized photothermal ablation that kills the surrounding tumor tissue. Similarly, gold nanoparticles have been developed to enhance radiotherapy. The high-Z nature of gold dramatically increases the photoelectric cross-section. Thus, the photoelectric effects are significantly increased. The outcome of these interactions is enhanced tumor killing with lower doses of radiation, all while sparing tissue without gold nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles have been used for their wound healing properties in addition to enhancing the tumor-killing effects of anticancer drugs. Finally, platinum nanoparticles are thought to serve as a reservoir for platinum ions that can induce DNA damage in cancer cells. The future is bright with the path to clinical trials is largely cleared for some of the less complex therapeutic metal nanoparticle systems. © 2014 The Authors. WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Silencing the roadblocks to effective triple-negative breast cancer treatments by siRNA nanoparticles.

PubMed

Parvani, Jenny G; Jackson, Mark W

2017-04-01

Over the past decade, RNA interference (RNAi) has been ubiquitously utilized to study biological function in vitro ; however, limitations were associated with its utility in vivo More recently, small interfering RNA (siRNA) nanoparticles with improved biocompatibility have gained prevalence as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of various diseases. The adaptability of siRNA nanoparticles enables the delivery of virtually any siRNA, which is especially advantageous for therapeutic applications in heterogeneous diseases that lack unifying molecular features, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is stratified by the lack of estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor expression and HER2 amplification. There are currently no FDA-approved targeted therapies for the treatment of TNBCs, making cytotoxic chemotherapy the only treatment option available to these patients. In this review, we outline the current status of siRNA nanoparticles in clinical trials for cancer treatment and discuss the promising preclinical approaches that have utilized siRNA nanoparticles for TNBC treatment. Next, we address TNBC subtype-specific therapeutic interventions and highlight where and how siRNA nanoparticles fit into these strategies. Lastly, we point out ongoing challenges in the field of siRNA nanoparticle research that, if addressed, would significantly improve the efficacy of siRNA nanoparticles as a therapeutic option for cancer treatment. © 2017 Society for Endocrinology.

Quantitative nanoparticle tracking: applications to nanomedicine.

PubMed

Huang, Feiran; Dempsey, Christopher; Chona, Daniela; Suh, Junghae

2011-06-01

Particle tracking is an invaluable technique to extract quantitative and qualitative information regarding the transport of nanomaterials through complex biological environments. This technique can be used to probe the dynamic behavior of nanoparticles as they interact with and navigate through intra- and extra-cellular barriers. In this article, we focus on the recent developments in the application of particle-tracking technology to nanomedicine, including the study of synthetic and virus-based materials designed for gene and drug delivery. Specifically, we cover research where mean square displacements of nanomaterial transport were explicitly determined in order to quantitatively assess the transport of nanoparticles through biological environments. Particle-tracking experiments can provide important insights that may help guide the design of more intelligent and effective diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles.

Chiromagnetic nanoparticles and gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeom, Jihyeon; Santos, Uallisson S.; Chekini, Mahshid; Cha, Minjeong; de Moura, André F.; Kotov, Nicholas A.

2018-01-01

Chiral inorganic nanostructures have high circular dichroism, but real-time control of their optical activity has so far been achieved only by irreversible chemical changes. Field modulation is a far more desirable path to chiroptical devices. We hypothesized that magnetic field modulation can be attained for chiral nanostructures with large contributions of the magnetic transition dipole moments to polarization rotation. We found that dispersions and gels of paramagnetic Co3O4 nanoparticles with chiral distortions of the crystal lattices exhibited chiroptical activity in the visible range that was 10 times as strong as that of nonparamagnetic nanoparticles of comparable size. Transparency of the nanoparticle gels to circularly polarized light beams in the ultraviolet range was reversibly modulated by magnetic fields. These phenomena were also observed for other nanoscale metal oxides with lattice distortions from imprinted amino acids and other chiral ligands. The large family of chiral ceramic nanostructures and gels can be pivotal for new technologies and knowledge at the nexus of chirality and magnetism.

Controlling Release of Integral Lipid Nanoparticles Based on Osmotic Pump Technology.

PubMed

Tian, Zhiqiang; Yu, Qin; Xie, Yunchang; Li, Fengqian; Lu, Yi; Dong, Xiaochun; Zhao, Weili; Qi, Jianping; Wu, Wei

2016-08-01

To achieve controlled release of integral nanoparticles by the osmotic pump strategy using nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) as model nanoparticles. NLCs was prepared by a hot-homogenization method, transformed into powder by lyophilization, and formulated into osmotic pump tablets (OPTs). Release of integral NLCs was visualized by live imaging after labeling with a water-quenching fluorescent probe. Effects of formulation variables on in vitro release characteristics were evaluated by measuring the model drug fenofibrate. Pharmacokinetics were studied in beagle dogs using the core tablet and a micronized fenofibrate formulation as references. NLCs are released through the release orifices of the OPTs as integral nanoparticles. Near zero-order kinetics can be achieved by optimizing the influencing variables. After oral administration, decreased C max and steady drug levels for as long as over 24 h are observed. NLC-OPTs show an oral bioavailability of the model drug fenofibrate similar to that of the core tablets, which is about 1.75 folds that of a fast-release formulation. Controlled release of integral NLCs is achieved by the osmotic pump strategy.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, right, is interviewed by National Geographic Kids reporter Trevor Jehl ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, left, is interviewed by TIME for Kids reporter Grace Clark ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

S-nitrosocaptopril nanoparticles as nitric oxide-liberating and transnitrosylating anti-infective technology.

PubMed

Mordorski, Breanne; Pelgrift, Robert; Adler, Brandon; Krausz, Aimee; da Costa Neto, Alexandre Batista; Liang, Hongying; Gunther, Leslie; Clendaniel, Alicea; Harper, Stacey; Friedman, Joel M; Nosanchuk, Joshua D; Nacharaju, Parimala; Friedman, Adam J

2015-02-01

Nitric oxide (NO), an essential agent of the innate immune system, exhibits multi-mechanistic antimicrobial activity. Previously, NO-releasing nanoparticles (NO-np) demonstrated increased antimicrobial activity when combined with glutathione (GSH) due to formation of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a transnitrosylating agent. To capitalize on this finding, we incorporated the thiol-containing ACE-inhibitor, captopril, with NO-np to form SNO-CAP-np, nanoparticles that both release NO and form S-nitrosocaptopril. In the presence of GSH, SNO-CAP-np demonstrated increased transnitrosylation activity compared to NO-np, as exhibited by increased GSNO formation. Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were highly susceptible to SNO-CAP-np in a dose-dependent fashion, with E. coli being most susceptible, and SNO-CAP-np were nontoxic in zebrafish embryos at translatable concentrations. Given SNO-CAP-np's increased transnitrosylation activity and increased E. coli susceptibility compared to NO-np, transnitrosylation rather than free NO is likely responsible for overcoming E. coli's resistance mechanisms and ultimately killing the pathogen. This team of authors incorporated the thiol-containing ACE-inhibitor, captopril, into a nitric oxide releasing nanoparticle system, generating nanoparticles that both release NO and form S-nitrosocaptopril, with pronounced toxic effects on MRSA and E. coli in the presented model system. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development and characterization of voriconazole loaded nanoparticles for parenteral delivery.

PubMed

Füredi, Petra; Kovács, Kristóf; Ludányi, Krisztina; Antal, István; Klebovich, Imre

2016-08-20

Human serum albumin (HSA) has attracted the most attention in the last decades as a new nanocarrier system of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) due to its biocompatibility and high binding capacity to hydrophobic drugs. Voriconazole (VCZ), an antifungal agent with low water solubility, was selected to produce albumin based nanoparticles using nanoparticle albumin-bound technology (nab™-technology). Aim of our study was to study the development process of VCZ-loaded nanoparticles for parenteral drug delivery, such as homogenizing pressure, homogenizing cycle number and drug loading capacity. The main characters of nanoparticles such as particle size distribution and polydispersity index (PDI) were determined by dynamic light scattering. Six homogenization cycles at 1800bar were ensured the acceptable PDI value (lower than 0.3) of the VCZ content nanoparticles. Optimized formulation process produced 81.2±1nm average particle size which meets the requirements of intravenous administration. Furthermore, the encapsulated concentration of VCZ was 69.7±4.2% and the water solubility was over 2 times greater than the API itself which were determined by the developed HPLC method. The in vivo release behavior can be predicted from our applied in vitro dissolution study. Almost 50% of VCZ was liberated from the nanoparticles in the first 60min. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Delivery of Fluorescent Nanoparticles to the Brain.

PubMed

Shimoni, Olga; Shi, Bingyang; Adlard, Paul A; Bush, Ashley I

2016-11-01

Nanotechnology applications in neuroscience promises to deliver significant scientific and technological breakthroughs, providing answers to unresolved questions regarding the processes occurring in the brain. In this perspective, we provide a short background on two distinct fluorescent nanoparticles and summarize several studies focussed on achieving delivery of these into the brain and their interaction with brain tissue. Furthermore, we discuss challenges and opportunities for further development of nanoparticle-based therapies for targeting delivery of drugs across the blood-brain barrier.

Bioactivity of Hybrid Polymeric Magnetic Nanoparticles and Their Applications in Drug Delivery.

PubMed

Mohammed, Leena; Ragab, Doaa; Gomaa, Hassan

2016-01-01

Engineered magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) possess unique properties and hold great potential in biomedicine and clinical applications. With their magnetic properties and their ability to work at cellular and molecular level, MNP have been applied both in-vitro and in-vivo in targeted drug delivery and imaging. Focusing on Iron Oxide Superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPIONs), this paper elaborates on the recent advances in development of hybrid polymeric-magnetic nanoparticles. Their main applications in drug delivery include Chemotherapeutics, Hyperthermia treatment, Radio-therapeutics, Gene delivary, and Biotheraputics. Physiochemical properties such as size, shape, surface and magnetic properties are key factors in determining their behavior. Additionally tailoring SPIONs surface is often vital for desired cell targetting and improved efficiency. Polymer coating is specifically reviewed with brief discussion of SPIONs administration routes. Commonly used drug release models for describing release mechanisms and the nanotoxicity aspects are also discussed. This review focus on superparamagnetic nanoparticles coated with different types of polymers starting with the key physiochemical features that dominate their behavior. The importance of surface modification is addressed. Subsequently, the major classes of polymer modified iron oxide nanoparticles is demonstrated according to their clinical use and application. Clinically approved nanoparticles are then addressed and the different routes of administration are mentioned. Lastly, mathematical models of drug release profile of the common used nanoparticles are addressed. MNPs emerging in recent medicine are remarkable for both imaging and therapeutics, particularly, as drug carriers for their great potential in targeted delivery and cancer treatment. Targeting ability and biocompatibility can be improved though surface coating which provides a mean to alter the surface features including physical characteristics and

Multifunctional clickable and protein-repellent magnetic silica nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estupiñán, Diego; Bannwarth, Markus B.; Mylon, Steven E.; Landfester, Katharina; Muñoz-Espí, Rafael; Crespy, Daniel

2016-01-01

Silica nanoparticles are versatile materials whose physicochemical surface properties can be precisely adjusted. Because it is possible to combine several functionalities in a single carrier, silica-based materials are excellent candidates for biomedical applications. However, the functionality of the nanoparticles can get lost upon exposure to biological media due to uncontrolled biomolecule adsorption. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that reduce non-specific protein-particle interactions without losing the introduced surface functionality. Herein, organosilane chemistry is employed to produce magnetic silica nanoparticles bearing differing amounts of amino and alkene functional groups on their surface as orthogonally addressable chemical functionalities. Simultaneously, a short-chain zwitterion is added to decrease the non-specific adsorption of biomolecules on the nanoparticles surface. The multifunctional particles display reduced protein adsorption after incubation in undiluted fetal bovine serum as well as in single protein solutions (serum albumin and lysozyme). Besides, the particles retain their capacity to selectively react with biomolecules. Thus, they can be covalently bio-functionalized with an antibody by means of orthogonal click reactions. These features make the described multifunctional silica nanoparticles a promising system for the study of surface interactions with biomolecules, targeting, and bio-sensing.Silica nanoparticles are versatile materials whose physicochemical surface properties can be precisely adjusted. Because it is possible to combine several functionalities in a single carrier, silica-based materials are excellent candidates for biomedical applications. However, the functionality of the nanoparticles can get lost upon exposure to biological media due to uncontrolled biomolecule adsorption. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that reduce non-specific protein-particle interactions without losing the

AIR Louisville: Addressing Asthma With Technology, Crowdsourcing, Cross-Sector Collaboration, And Policy.

PubMed

Barrett, Meredith; Combs, Veronica; Su, Jason G; Henderson, Kelly; Tuffli, Michael

2018-04-01

Cross-sector partnerships benefit public health by leveraging ideas, resources, and expertise from a wide range of partners. In this study we documented the process and impact of AIR Louisville (a collaboration forged among the Louisville Metro Government, a nonprofit institute, and a technology company) in successfully tackling a complex public health challenge: asthma. We enrolled residents of Louisville, Kentucky, with asthma and used electronic inhaler sensors to monitor where and when they used medication. We found that the use of the digital health platform achieved positive clinical outcomes, including a 78 percent reduction in rescue inhaler use and a 48 percent improvement in symptom-free days. Moreover, the crowdsourced real-world data on inhaler use, combined with environmental data, led to policy recommendations including enhancing tree canopy, tree removal mitigation, zoning for air pollution emission buffers, recommended truck routes, and developing a community asthma notification system. AIR Louisville represents a model that can be replicated to address many public health challenges by simultaneously guiding individual, clinical, and policy decisions.

The tracer diffusion coefficient of soft nanoparticles in a linear polymer matrix

DOE PAGES

Imel, Adam E.; Rostom, Sahar; Holley, Wade; ...

2017-03-09

The diffusion properties of nanoparticles in polymer nanocomposites are largely unknown and are often difficult to determine experimentally. To address this shortcoming, we have developed a novel method to determine the tracer diffusion coefficient of soft polystyrene nanoparticles in a linear polystyrene matrix. Monitoring the interdiffusion of soft nanoparticles into a linear polystyrene matrix provides the mutual diffusion coefficient of this system, from which the tracer diffusion coefficient of the soft nanoparticle can be determined using the slow mode theory. Utilizing this protocol, the role of nanoparticle molecular weight and rigidity on its tracer diffusion coefficient is provided. These resultsmore » demonstrate that the diffusive behavior of these soft nanoparticles differ from that of star polymers, which is surprising since our recent studies suggest that the nanoparticle interacts with a linear polymer similarly to that of a star polymer. It appears that these deformable nanoparticles mostly closely mimic the diffusive behavior of fractal macromolecular architectures or microgels, where the transport of the nanoparticle relies on the cooperative motion of neighboring linear chains. Finally, the less cross-linked, and thus more deformable, nanoparticles diffuse faster than the more highly crosslinked nanoparticles, presumably because the increased deformability allows the nanoparticle to distort and fit into available space.« less

nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreu-Cabedo, Patricia; Mondragon, Rosa; Hernandez, Leonor; Martinez-Cuenca, Raul; Cabedo, Luis; Julia, J. Enrique

2014-10-01

Thermal energy storage (TES) is extremely important in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants since it represents the main difference and advantage of CSP plants with respect to other renewable energy sources such as wind, photovoltaic, etc. CSP represents a low-carbon emission renewable source of energy, and TES allows CSP plants to have energy availability and dispatchability using available industrial technologies. Molten salts are used in CSP plants as a TES material because of their high operational temperature and stability of up to 500°C. Their main drawbacks are their relative poor thermal properties and energy storage density. A simple cost-effective way to improve thermal properties of fluids is to dope them with nanoparticles, thus obtaining the so-called salt-based nanofluids. In this work, solar salt used in CSP plants (60% NaNO3 + 40% KNO3) was doped with silica nanoparticles at different solid mass concentrations (from 0.5% to 2%). Specific heat was measured by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A maximum increase of 25.03% was found at an optimal concentration of 1 wt.% of nanoparticles. The size distribution of nanoparticle clusters present in the salt at each concentration was evaluated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and image processing, as well as by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cluster size and the specific surface available depended on the solid content, and a relationship between the specific heat increment and the available particle surface area was obtained. It was proved that the mechanism involved in the specific heat increment is based on a surface phenomenon. Stability of samples was tested for several thermal cycles and thermogravimetric analysis at high temperature was carried out, the samples being stable.

Orientation-dependent deformation mechanisms of bcc niobium nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, J. J.; Yang, L.; Niu, X. R.; Wang, G. F.

2018-07-01

Nanoparticles usually exhibit pronounced anisotropic properties, and a close insight into the atomic-scale deformation mechanisms is of great interest. In present study, atomic simulations are conducted to analyse the compression of bcc nanoparticles, and orientation-dependent features are addressed. It is revealed that surface morphology under indenter predominantly governs the initial elastic response. The loading curve follows the flat punch contact model in [1 1 0] compression, while it obeys the Hertzian contact model in [1 1 1] and [0 0 1] compressions. In plastic deformation regime, full dislocation gliding is dominated in [1 1 0] compression, while deformation twinning is prominent in [1 1 1] compression, and these two mechanisms coexist in [0 0 1] compression. Such deformation mechanisms are distinct from those in bulk crystals under nanoindentation and nanopillars under compression, and the major differences are also illuminated. Our results provide an atomic perspective on the mechanical behaviours of bcc nanoparticles and are helpful for the design of nanoparticle-based components and systems.

Ultrasmall lanthanide-doped nanoparticles as multimodal platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yust, Brian G.; Pedraza, Francisco J.; Sardar, Dhiraj K.

2014-03-01

Recently, there has been a great amount of interest in nanoparticles which are able to provide a platform with high contrast for multiple imaging modalities in order to advance the tools available to biomedical researchers and physicians. However, many nanoparticles do not have ideal properties to provide high contrast in different imaging modes. In order to address this, ultrasmall lanthanide doped oxide and fluoride nanoparticles with strong NIR to NIR upconversion fluorescence and a strong magnetic response for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been developed. Specifically, these nanoparticles incorporate gadolinium, dysprosium, or a combination of both into the nano-crystalline host to achieve the magnetic properties. Thulium, erbium, and neodymium codopants provide the strong NIR absorption and emission lines that allow for deeper tissue imaging since near infrared light is not strongly absorbed or scattered by most tissues within this region. This also leads to better image quality and lower necessary excitation intensities. As a part of the one pot synthesis, these nanoparticles are coated with peg, pmao, or d-glucuronic acid to make them water soluble, biocompatible, and bioconjugable due to the available carboxyl or amine groups. Here, the synthesis, morphological characterization, magnetic response, NIR emission, and the quantum yield will be discussed. Cytotoxicity tested through cell viability at varying concentrations of nanoparticles in growth media will also be discussed.

How Can eHealth Technology Address Challenges Related to Multimorbidity? Perspectives from Patients with Multiple Chronic Conditions.

PubMed

Zulman, Donna M; Jenchura, Emily C; Cohen, Danielle M; Lewis, Eleanor T; Houston, Thomas K; Asch, Steven M

2015-08-01

Patient eHealth technology offers potential support for disease self-management, but the value of existing applications for patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) is unclear. To understand self-management and health care navigation challenges that patients face due to MCCs and to identify opportunities to support these patients through new and enhanced eHealth technology. After administering a screening survey, we conducted 10 focus groups of 3-8 patients grouped by age, sex, and common chronic conditions. Patients discussed challenges associated with having MCCs and their use of (and desires from) technology to support self-management. Three investigators used standard content analysis methods to code the focus group transcripts. Emergent themes were reviewed with all collaborators, and final themes and representative quotes were validated with a sample of participants. Fifty-three individuals with ≥3 chronic conditions and experience using technology for health-related purposes. Focus group participants had an average of five chronic conditions. Participants reported using technology most frequently to search for health information (96%), communicate with health care providers (92%), track medical information (83%), track medications (77%), and support decision-making about treatment (55%). Three themes emerged to guide eHealth technology development: (1) Patients with MCCs manage a high volume of information, visits, and self-care tasks; (2) they need to coordinate, synthesize, and reconcile health information from multiple providers and about different conditions; (3) their unique position at the hub of multiple health issues requires self-advocacy and expertise. Focus groups identified desirable eHealth resources and tools that reflect these themes. Although patients with multiple health issues use eHealth technology to support self-care for specific conditions, they also desire tools that transcend disease boundaries. By addressing the holistic

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, left, is interviewed by TIME for Kids reporter Kristen Rigsby, as Moira Vahey, Deputy Assistant Director for Strategic Communications at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, right, takes notes ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Carbothermal shock synthesis of high-entropy-alloy nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Yonggang; Huang, Zhennan; Xie, Pengfei; Lacey, Steven D.; Jacob, Rohit Jiji; Xie, Hua; Chen, Fengjuan; Nie, Anmin; Pu, Tiancheng; Rehwoldt, Miles; Yu, Daiwei; Zachariah, Michael R.; Wang, Chao; Shahbazian-Yassar, Reza; Li, Ju; Hu, Liangbing

2018-03-01

The controllable incorporation of multiple immiscible elements into a single nanoparticle merits untold scientific and technological potential, yet remains a challenge using conventional synthetic techniques. We present a general route for alloying up to eight dissimilar elements into single-phase solid-solution nanoparticles, referred to as high-entropy-alloy nanoparticles (HEA-NPs), by thermally shocking precursor metal salt mixtures loaded onto carbon supports [temperature ~2000 kelvin (K), 55-millisecond duration, rate of ~105 K per second]. We synthesized a wide range of multicomponent nanoparticles with a desired chemistry (composition), size, and phase (solid solution, phase-separated) by controlling the carbothermal shock (CTS) parameters (substrate, temperature, shock duration, and heating/cooling rate). To prove utility, we synthesized quinary HEA-NPs as ammonia oxidation catalysts with ~100% conversion and >99% nitrogen oxide selectivity over prolonged operations.

Exposure assessment and risk management of engineered nanoparticles: Investigation in semiconductor wafer processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shepard, Michele N.

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are currently used in hundreds of commercial products and industrial processes, with more applications being investigated. Nanomaterials have unique properties that differ from bulk materials. While these properties may enable technological advancements, the potential risks of ENMs to people and the environment are not yet fully understood. Certain low solubility nanoparticles are more toxic than their bulk material, such that existing occupational exposure limits may not be sufficiently protective for workers. Risk assessments are currently challenging due to gaps in data on the numerous emerging materials and applications as well as method uncertainties and limitations. Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes with engineered nanoparticle abrasives are used for research and commercial manufacturing applications in the semiconductor and related industries. Despite growing use, no published studies addressed occupational exposures to nanoparticles associated with CMP or risk assessment and management practices for these scenarios. Additional studies are needed to evaluate potential sources of workplace exposure or emission, as well as to help test and refine assessment methods. This research was conducted to: identify the lifecycle stages and potential exposure sources for ENMs in CMP processes; characterize worker exposure; determine recommended engineering controls and compare risk assessment models. The study included workplace air and surface sampling and an evaluation of qualitative risk banding approaches. Exposure assessment results indicated the potential for worker contact with ENMs on workplace surfaces but did not identify nanoparticles readily dispersed in air during work tasks. Some increases in respirable particle concentrations were identified, but not consistently. Measured aerosol concentrations by number and mass were well below current reference values for poorly soluble low toxicity nanoparticles. From

Rationally engineered polymeric cisplatin nanoparticle for improved antitumor efficacy

PubMed Central

Paraskar, Abhimanyu; Soni, Shivani; Basu, Sudipta; Chitra, J; Amarasiriwardena; Lupoli, Nicola; Srivats, Shyam; Roy, Rituparna Sinha; Sengupta, Shiladitya

2011-01-01

The use of cisplatin, a first line chemotherapy for most cancers, is dose-limited due to nephrotoxicity. While, this toxicity can be addressed through nanotechnology, previous attempts at engineering cisplatin nanoparticles have been limited by the impact on the potency of cisplatin. Here we report the rational engineering of a novel cisplatin nanoparticle by harnessing a novel polyethylene glycol-functionalized poly-isobutylene-maleic acid (PEG-PIMA) co-polymer, which can complex with cis-platinum (II) through a monocarboxylato and a coordinate bond. We show that this complex self-assembles into a nanoparticle, and exhibit an IC50 = 0.77 ± 0.11μM comparable to that of free cisplatin (IC50 = 0.44 ± 0.09 μM). The nanoparticles are internalized into the endolysosomal compartment of cancer cells, and releases cisplatin in a pH-dependent manner. Furthermore, the nanoparticles exhibited significantly improved antitumor efficacy in a 4T1 breast cancer model in vivo with limited nephrotoxicity, which can be explained by preferential biodistribution in the tumor with reduced kidney concentrations. Our results suggest that the PEG-PIMA-cisplatin nanoparticle can emerge as an attractive solution to the challenges in cisplatin chemotherapy. PMID:21576779

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Environmentalist and third-year law student at Elon University School of Law Tyrone Davis is interviewed by TIME for Kids reporter Grace Clark ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Davis sat with the First Lady at the President’s 2014 State of the Union Address. As a Fellow with the Environmental Defense Fund in 2010, he helped show Elizabeth City State University how to save more than $31,000 a year and 200 tons of carbon emissions reductions annually by using technology and efficiency solutions. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Encapsulated Solid-Liquid Phase Change Nanoparticles as Thermal Barcodes for Highly Sensitive Detections of Multiple Lung Cancer Biomarkers

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

5e. TASK NUMBER LC90061 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT...transduction mechanism based on solid- liquid phase change nanoparticles works for the detection of multiple proteins. A series of metal and alloy...early stage. With the support from DOD-LCRP, we have proved the new signal transduction mechanism based on solid-liquid phase change nanoparticles works

RFID in the pharmaceutical industry: addressing counterfeits with technology.

PubMed

Taylor, Douglas

2014-11-01

The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in the pharmaceutical industry has grown in recent years. The technology has matured from its specialized tracking and retail uses to a systemic part of supply chain management in international pharmaceutical production and distribution. Counterfeit drugs, however, remain a significant challenge for governments, pharmaceutical companies, clinicians, and patients and the use of RFID to track these compounds represents an opportunity for development. This paper discusses the medical, technological, and economic factors that support widespread adoption of RFID technology in the pharmaceutical industry in an effort to prevent counterfeit medicines from harming patients and brand equity.

Magneto-optical nanoparticles for cyclic magnetomotive photoacoustic imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnal, Bastien; Yoon, Soon Joon; Li, Junwei; Gao, Xiaohu; O'Donnell, Matthew

2018-05-01

Photoacoustic imaging is a highly promising tool to visualize molecular events with deep tissue penetration. Like most other modalities, however, image contrast under in vivo conditions is far from optimal due to background signals from tissue. Using iron oxide-gold core-shell nanoparticles, we previously demonstrated that magnetomotive photoacoustic (mmPA) imaging can dramatically reduce the influence of background signals and produce high-contrast molecular images. Here we report two significant advances toward clinical translation of this technology. First, we introduce a new class of compact, uniform, magneto-optically coupled core-shell nanoparticle, prepared through localized copolymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) on an iron oxide nanoparticle surface. The resulting iron oxide-PPy nanoparticles solve the photo-instability and small-scale synthesis problems previously encountered by the gold coating approach, and extend the large optical absorption coefficient of the particles beyond 1000 nm in wavelength. In parallel, we have developed a new generation of mmPA imaging featuring cyclic magnetic motion and ultrasound speckle tracking, with an image capture frame rate several hundred times faster than the photoacoustic speckle tracking method demonstrated previously. These advances enable robust artifact elimination caused by physiologic motion and first application of the mmPA technology in vivo for sensitive tumor imaging.

In-situ degradation of soil-sorbed 17β-estradiol using carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized manganese oxide nanoparticles: Column studies.

PubMed

Han, Bing; Zhang, Man; Zhao, Dongye

2017-04-01

This work tested a new remediation technology for in-situ degradation of estrogens by delivering a new class of stabilized manganese oxide (MnO 2 ) nanoparticles in contaminated soils. The nanoparticles were prepared using a food-grade carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a stabilizer, which was able to facilitate particle delivery into soil. The effectiveness of the technology was tested using 17β-estradiol (E2) as a model estrogen and three sandy loams (SL1, SL2, and SL3) as model soils. Column transport tests showed that the nanoparticles can be delivered in the three soils, though retention of the nanoparticles varied. The nanoparticle retention is strongly dependent on the injection pore velocity. The treatment effectiveness is highly dependent upon the mass transfer rates of both the nanoparticles and contaminants. When the E2-laden soils were treated with 22-130 pore volumes of a 0.174 g/L MnO 2 nanoparticle suspension, up to 88% of water leachable E2 was degraded. The nanoparticles were more effective for soils that offer moderate desorption rates of E2. Decreasing injection velocity or increasing MnO 2 concentration facilitate E2 degradation. The nanoparticles-based technology appears promising for in-situ oxidation of endocrine disruptors in groundwater. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticle-Cell Interaction: A Cell Mechanics Perspective.

PubMed

Septiadi, Dedy; Crippa, Federica; Moore, Thomas Lee; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara; Petri-Fink, Alke

2018-05-01

Progress in the field of nanoparticles has enabled the rapid development of multiple products and technologies; however, some nanoparticles can pose both a threat to the environment and human health. To enable their safe implementation, a comprehensive knowledge of nanoparticles and their biological interactions is needed. In vitro and in vivo toxicity tests have been considered the gold standard to evaluate nanoparticle safety, but it is becoming necessary to understand the impact of nanosystems on cell mechanics. Here, the interaction between particles and cells, from the point of view of cell mechanics (i.e., bionanomechanics), is highlighted and put in perspective. Specifically, the ability of intracellular and extracellular nanoparticles to impair cell adhesion, cytoskeletal organization, stiffness, and migration are discussed. Furthermore, the development of cutting-edge, nanotechnology-driven tools based on the use of particles allowing the determination of cell mechanics is emphasized. These include traction force microscopy, colloidal probe atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers, magnetic manipulation, and particle tracking microrheology. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Nanoparticle contamination control for EUVL-technology: especially for photomasks in carriers and scanners

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fissan, Heinz; Asbach, Christof; Kuhlbusch, Thomas A. J.; Wang, Jing; Pui, David Y. H.; Yook, Se-Jin; Kim, Jung H.

2009-05-01

Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography (EUVL) is a leading lithography technology for the sub-32 nm chip manufacturing technology. Photomasks, in a mask carrier or inside a vacuum scanner, need to be protected from contamination by nanoparticles larger than the minimum feature size expected from this technology. The most critical part with respect to contamination in the EUVL-system is the photomask. The protection is made more difficult because protective pellicles cannot be used, due to the attenuation of the EUV beam by the pellicle. We have defined a set of protection schemes to protect EUVL photomasks from particle contamination and developed models to describe their effectiveness at atmospheric pressure (e.g. in mask carriers) or during scanning operation at low pressure. These schemes include that the mask is maintained facing down to avoid gravitational settling and the establishment of a thermal gradient underneath the mask surface to thermophoretically repel particles. Experimental verification studies of the models were carried out in atmospheric-pressure carriers and in a vacuum system down to about 3.3 Pa. Particles with sizes between 60 (for experiments, isn't it 125 nm?) nm and 250 nm were injected into the vacuum chamber with controlled speed and concentration to validate the analytical and numerical models. It could be shown that a deterministic approach using free molecular expressions can be used to accurately describe particle deposition at these low pressure levels. Thermophoresis was found to be very effective at both atmospheric and low pressure against the diffusional particle deposition, whereas inertial particle deposition of large and/or fast particles can likely not be prevented. A review of the models and their verification will be presented in this paper.

Evaluation of polymeric gene delivery nanoparticles by nanoparticle tracking analysis and high-throughput flow cytometry.

PubMed

Shmueli, Ron B; Bhise, Nupura S; Green, Jordan J

2013-03-01

Non-viral gene delivery using polymeric nanoparticles has emerged as an attractive approach for gene therapy to treat genetic diseases(1) and as a technology for regenerative medicine(2). Unlike viruses, which have significant safety issues, polymeric nanoparticles can be designed to be non-toxic, non-immunogenic, non-mutagenic, easier to synthesize, chemically versatile, capable of carrying larger nucleic acid cargo and biodegradable and/or environmentally responsive. Cationic polymers self-assemble with negatively charged DNA via electrostatic interaction to form complexes on the order of 100 nm that are commonly termed polymeric nanoparticles. Examples of biomaterials used to form nanoscale polycationic gene delivery nanoparticles include polylysine, polyphosphoesters, poly(amidoamines)s and polyethylenimine (PEI), which is a non-degradable off-the-shelf cationic polymer commonly used for nucleic acid delivery(1,3) . Poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs) are a newer class of cationic polymers(4) that are hydrolytically degradable(5,6) and have been shown to be effective at gene delivery to hard-to-transfect cell types such as human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs)(7), mouse mammary epithelial cells(8), human brain cancer cells(9) and macrovascular (human umbilical vein, HUVECs) endothelial cells(10). A new protocol to characterize polymeric nanoparticles utilizing nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) is described. In this approach, both the particle size distribution and the distribution of the number of plasmids per particle are obtained(11). In addition, a high-throughput 96-well plate transfection assay for rapid screening of the transfection efficacy of polymeric nanoparticles is presented. In this protocol, poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs) are used as model polymers and human retinal endothelial cells (HRECs) are used as model human cells. This protocol can be easily adapted to evaluate any polymeric nanoparticle and any cell type of interest in a multi

Hazardous Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Ecosystem

PubMed Central

Hussain, Muzammal; Khan, Muzaffar

2017-01-01

Although nanoparticles (NPs) have made incredible progress in the field of nanotechnology and biomedical research and their applications are demanded throughout industrial world particularly over the past decades, little is known about the fate of nanoparticles in ecosystem. Concerning the biosafety of nanotechnology, nanotoxicity is going to be the second most priority of nanotechnology that needs to be properly addressed. This review covers the chemical as well as the biological concerns about nanoparticles particularly titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs and emphasizes the toxicological profile of TiO2 at the molecular level in both in vitro and in vivo systems. In addition, the challenges and future prospects of nanotoxicology are discussed that may provide better understanding and new insights into ongoing and future research in this field. PMID:28373829

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, left, smiles along with 16-year-old Joey Hudy, a former White House Science Fair participant and self-described “Maker” at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Breakthrough: Fighting Cancer with Nanoparticles

ScienceCinema

Rozhkova, Elena

2018-05-07

Argonne nanoscientist Elena Rozhkova is studying ways to enlist nanoparticles to treat brain cancer. This nano-bio technology may eventually provide an alternative form of therapy that targets only cancer cells and does not affect normal living tissue. Read more at http://1.usa.gov/JAXh7Q.

Magnetic nanoparticles: In vivo cancer diagnosis and therapy.

PubMed

Lima-Tenório, Michele K; Pineda, Edgardo A Gómez; Ahmad, Nasir M; Fessi, Hatem; Elaissari, Abdelhamid

2015-09-30

Recently, significant research efforts have been devoted to the finding of efficient approaches in order to reduce the side effects of traditional cancer therapy and diagnosis. In this context, magnetic nanoparticles have attracted much attention because of their unique physical properties, magnetic susceptibility, biocompatibility, stability and many more relevant characteristics. Particularly, magnetic nanoparticles for in vivo biomedical applications need to fulfill special criteria with respect to size, size distribution, surface charge, biodegradability or bio-eliminability and optionally bear well selected ligands for specific targeting. In this context, many routes have been developed to synthesize these materials, and tune their functionalities through intriguing techniques including functionalization, coating and encapsulation strategies. In this review article, the use of magnetic nanoparticles for cancer therapy and diagnosis is evaluated addressing potential applications in MRI, drug delivery, hyperthermia, theranostics and several other domains. In view of potential biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles, the review focuses on the most recent progress made with respect to synthetic routes to produce magnetic nanoparticles and their salient accomplishments for in vivo cancer diagnosis and therapy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multifunctional clickable and protein-repellent magnetic silica nanoparticles.

PubMed

Estupiñán, Diego; Bannwarth, Markus B; Mylon, Steven E; Landfester, Katharina; Muñoz-Espí, Rafael; Crespy, Daniel

2016-02-07

Silica nanoparticles are versatile materials whose physicochemical surface properties can be precisely adjusted. Because it is possible to combine several functionalities in a single carrier, silica-based materials are excellent candidates for biomedical applications. However, the functionality of the nanoparticles can get lost upon exposure to biological media due to uncontrolled biomolecule adsorption. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that reduce non-specific protein-particle interactions without losing the introduced surface functionality. Herein, organosilane chemistry is employed to produce magnetic silica nanoparticles bearing differing amounts of amino and alkene functional groups on their surface as orthogonally addressable chemical functionalities. Simultaneously, a short-chain zwitterion is added to decrease the non-specific adsorption of biomolecules on the nanoparticles surface. The multifunctional particles display reduced protein adsorption after incubation in undiluted fetal bovine serum as well as in single protein solutions (serum albumin and lysozyme). Besides, the particles retain their capacity to selectively react with biomolecules. Thus, they can be covalently bio-functionalized with an antibody by means of orthogonal click reactions. These features make the described multifunctional silica nanoparticles a promising system for the study of surface interactions with biomolecules, targeting, and bio-sensing.

Bacterial resistance to silver nanoparticles and how to overcome it

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panáček, Aleš; Kvítek, Libor; Smékalová, Monika; Večeřová, Renata; Kolář, Milan; Röderová, Magdalena; Dyčka, Filip; Šebela, Marek; Prucek, Robert; Tomanec, Ondřej; Zbořil, Radek

2018-01-01

Silver nanoparticles have already been successfully applied in various biomedical and antimicrobial technologies and products used in everyday life. Although bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been extensively discussed in the literature, the possible development of resistance to silver nanoparticles has not been fully explored. We report that the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 013, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 3955 and E. coli CCM 3954 can develop resistance to silver nanoparticles after repeated exposure. The resistance stems from the production of the adhesive flagellum protein flagellin, which triggers the aggregation of the nanoparticles. This resistance evolves without any genetic changes; only phenotypic change is needed to reduce the nanoparticles' colloidal stability and thus eliminate their antibacterial activity. The resistance mechanism cannot be overcome by additional stabilization of silver nanoparticles using surfactants or polymers. It is, however, strongly suppressed by inhibiting flagellin production with pomegranate rind extract.

Bacterial resistance to silver nanoparticles and how to overcome it.

PubMed

Panáček, Aleš; Kvítek, Libor; Smékalová, Monika; Večeřová, Renata; Kolář, Milan; Röderová, Magdalena; Dyčka, Filip; Šebela, Marek; Prucek, Robert; Tomanec, Ondřej; Zbořil, Radek

2018-01-01

Silver nanoparticles have already been successfully applied in various biomedical and antimicrobial technologies and products used in everyday life. Although bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been extensively discussed in the literature, the possible development of resistance to silver nanoparticles has not been fully explored. We report that the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli 013, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CCM 3955 and E. coli CCM 3954 can develop resistance to silver nanoparticles after repeated exposure. The resistance stems from the production of the adhesive flagellum protein flagellin, which triggers the aggregation of the nanoparticles. This resistance evolves without any genetic changes; only phenotypic change is needed to reduce the nanoparticles' colloidal stability and thus eliminate their antibacterial activity. The resistance mechanism cannot be overcome by additional stabilization of silver nanoparticles using surfactants or polymers. It is, however, strongly suppressed by inhibiting flagellin production with pomegranate rind extract.

Synthesizing nanoparticles by mimicking nature | Science ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

As particulate matter with at least one dimension that is less than 100 nm, nanoparticles are the minuscule building blocks of new commercial products and consumer materials in the emerging field of nanotechnology. Nanoparticles are being discovered and introduced in the marketplace at a very fast pace. Also, commercial interest in nanotechnology has significantly increased, translating into more than a multibillion-dollar investment from public and private sources. Among several unique properties, nanoparticles have an exceptionally large surface area–to-volume ratio, which is the most important of the characteristics that are responsible for their widespread use in an array of industries. Unfortunately, their small size and corresponding high surface area often create a number of problems. For instance, the outer layer of atoms may have a different composition, and therefore a different chemistry, from the rest of the particle. Furthermore, nanoparticle surfaces are sensitive to changes in redox conditions, pH, ionic strength, and the types of microorganisms present. The synthesis of metal nanoparticles has been the subject of intense research, primarily because of their unique properties and their potential applications from a technological point of view. The optical, magnetic, electronic, and catalytic properties of these materials depend on their morphology and size distribution. Noble-metal nanoparticles are of particular interest because of their close-

Aptamer-Functionalized Nanoparticles for Medical Applications: Challenges and Opportunities

PubMed Central

Xiao, Zeyu; Farokhzad, Omid C.

2012-01-01

With advances in aptamer selection technologies and nanomedicine, aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles are being explored as promising platforms for targeted therapeutic and diagnostic applications. In this Perspective, we outline recent progress in this field, as exemplified by Bamrungsap et al. in this issue of ACS Nano. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges and opportunities in translating current proof-of-concept designs into in vivo applications, with emphasis on the intrinsic properties of aptamers and their interplay with nanoparticles. With continuous efforts, we expect aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles to advance from preclinical into clinical development for further evaluation. PMID:22574989

Biosynthesis of nanoparticles using microbes- a review.

PubMed

Hulkoti, Nasreen I; Taranath, T C

2014-09-01

The biosynthesis of nanoparticles by microorganism is a green and eco-friendly technology. This review focuses on the use of consortium of diverse microorganisms belonging to both prokaryotes and eukaryotes for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles viz. silver, gold, platinum, zirconium, palladium, iron, cadmium and metal oxides such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, etc. These microorganisms include bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and algae. The synthesis of nanoparticles may be intracellular or extracellular. The several workers have reported that NADH dependent nitrate reductase enzyme plays a vital role in the conversion of metallic ions to nanoparticles. The FTIR study reveals that diverse biomolecules viz. carboxyl group, primary and secondary amines, amide I, II, and III bands etc serve as a tool for bioreduction and capping agents there by offering stability to particles by preventing agglomeration and growth. The size and shape of the nanoparticles vary with the organism employed and conditions employed during the synthesis which included pH, temperature and substrate concentration. The microorganisms provide diverse environment for biosynthesis of nanoparticles. These particles are safe and eco-friendly with a lot of applications in medicine, agriculture, cosmetic industry, drug delivery and biochemical sensors. The challenges for redressal include optimal production and minimal time to obtain desired size and shape, to enhance the stability of nanoparticles and optimization of specific microorganisms for specific application. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prospects of nanoparticle-DNA binding and its implications in medical biotechnology.

PubMed

An, Hongjie; Jin, Bo

2012-01-01

Bio-nanotechnology is a new interdisciplinary R&D area that integrates engineering and physical science with biology through the development of multifunctional devices and systems, focusing biology inspired processes or their applications, in particular in medical biotechnology. DNA based nanotechnology, in many ways, has been one of the most intensively studied fields in recent years that involves the use and the creation of bio-inspired materials and their technologies for highly selective biosensing, nanoarchitecture engineering and nanoelectronics. Increasing researches have been offered to a fundamental understanding how the interactions between the nanoparticles and DNA molecules could alter DNA molecular structure and its biochemical activities. This minor review describes the mechanisms of the nanoparticle-DNA binding and molecular interactions. We present recent discoveries and research progresses how the nanoparticle-DNA binding could vary DNA molecular structure, DNA detection, and gene therapy. We report a few case studies associated with the application of the nanoparticle-DNA binding devices in medical detection and biotechnology. The potential impacts of the nanoparticles via DNA binding on toxicity of the microorganisms are briefly discussed. The nanoparticle-DNA interactions and their impact on molecular and microbial functionalities have only drown attention in recent a few years. The information presented in this review can provide useful references for further studies on biomedical science and technology. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, left, is interviewed by Montgomery Blair High School Student Newspaper “Silver Chips” Online Editor-in-Chief Aanchal Johri, center, and Photo Editor Emma Howells, from Silver Spring, MD. ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Biosensors based on inorganic nanoparticles with biomimetic properties: Biomedical applications and in vivo cytotoxicity measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ispas, Cristina R.

The rapid progress of nanotechnology and advanced nanomaterials production offer significant opportunities for designing powerful biosensing devices with enhanced performances. This thesis introduces ceria (CeO 2) nanoparticles and its congeners as a new class of materials with huge potential in bioanalytical and biosensing applications. Unique redox, catalytic and oxygen storage/release properties of ceria nanoparticles, originating from their dual oxidation state are used to design biomedical sensors with high sensitivity and low oxygen dependency. This thesis describes a new approach for fabrication of implantable microbiosensors designed for monitoring neurological activity in physiological conditions. Understanding the mechanisms involved in neurological signaling and functioning is of great physiological importance. In this respect, the development of effective methods that allow accurate detection and quantification of biological analytes (i.e. L-glutamate and glucose) associated with neurological processes is of paramount importance. The performance of most analytical techniques currently used to monitor L-glutamate and glucose is suboptimal and only a limited number of approaches address the problem of operation in oxygen-restricted conditions, such as ischemic brain injury. Over the past couple of years, enzyme based biosensors have been used to investigate processes related to L-glutamate release/uptake and the glucose cycle within the brain. However, most of these sensors, based on oxidoreductase enzymes, do not work in conditions of limited oxygen availability. This thesis presents the development of a novel sensing technology for the detection of L-glutamate and glucose in conditions of oxygen deprivation. This technology provides real-time assessment of the concentrations of these analytes with high sensitivity, wide linear range, and low oxygen dependence. The fabrication, characterization and optimization of enzyme microbiosensors are discussed

High-throughput screening platform for engineered nanoparticle-mediated genotoxicity using CometChip technology.

PubMed

Watson, Christa; Ge, Jing; Cohen, Joel; Pyrgiotakis, Georgios; Engelward, Bevin P; Demokritou, Philip

2014-03-25

The likelihood of intentional and unintentional engineered nanoparticle (ENP) exposure has dramatically increased due to the use of nanoenabled products. Indeed, ENPs have been incorporated in many useful products and have enhanced our way of life. However, there are many unanswered questions about the consequences of nanoparticle exposures, in particular, with regard to their potential to damage the genome and thus potentially promote cancer. In this study, we present a high-throughput screening assay based upon the recently developed CometChip technology, which enables evaluation of single-stranded DNA breaks, abasic sites, and alkali-sensitive sites in cells exposed to ENPs. The strategic microfabricated, 96-well design and automated processing improves efficiency, reduces processing time, and suppresses user bias in comparison to the standard comet assay. We evaluated the versatility of this assay by screening five industrially relevant ENP exposures (SiO2, ZnO, Fe2O3, Ag, and CeO2) on both suspension human lymphoblastoid (TK6) and adherent Chinese hamster ovary (H9T3) cell lines. MTT and CyQuant NF assays were employed to assess cellular viability and proliferation after ENP exposure. Exposure to ENPs at a dose range of 5, 10, and 20 μg/mL induced dose-dependent increases in DNA damage and cytotoxicity. Genotoxicity profiles of ZnO>Ag>Fe2O3>CeO2>SiO2 in TK6 cells at 4 h and Ag>Fe2O3>ZnO>CeO2>SiO2 in H9T3 cells at 24 h were observed. The presented CometChip platform enabled efficient and reliable measurement of ENP-mediated DNA damage, therefore demonstrating the efficacy of this powerful tool in nanogenotoxicity studies.

Phytosynthesis of nanoparticles: concept, controversy and application

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Nanotechnology is an exciting and powerful discipline of science; the altered properties of which have offered many new and profitable products and applications. Agriculture, food and medicine sector industries have been investing more in nanotechnology research. Plants or their extracts provide a biological synthesis route of several metallic nanoparticles which is more eco-friendly and allows a controlled synthesis with well-defined size and shape. The rapid drug delivery in the presence of a carrier is a recent development to treat patients with nanoparticles of certain metals. The engineered nanoparticles are more useful in increasing the crop production, although this issue is still in infancy. This is simply due to the unprecedented and unforeseen health hazard and environmental concern. The well-known metal ions such as zinc, iron and copper are essential constituents of several enzymes found in the human system even though the indiscriminate use of similar other metal nanoparticle in food and medicine without clinical trial is not advisable. This review is intended to describe the novel phytosynthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles with regard to their shape, size, structure and diverse application in almost all fields of medicine, agriculture and technology. We have also emphasized the concept and controversial mechanism of green synthesis of nanoparticles. PMID:24910577

Phytosynthesis of nanoparticles: concept, controversy and application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Husen, Azamal; Siddiqi, Khwaja Salahuddin

2014-05-01

Nanotechnology is an exciting and powerful discipline of science; the altered properties of which have offered many new and profitable products and applications. Agriculture, food and medicine sector industries have been investing more in nanotechnology research. Plants or their extracts provide a biological synthesis route of several metallic nanoparticles which is more eco-friendly and allows a controlled synthesis with well-defined size and shape. The rapid drug delivery in the presence of a carrier is a recent development to treat patients with nanoparticles of certain metals. The engineered nanoparticles are more useful in increasing the crop production, although this issue is still in infancy. This is simply due to the unprecedented and unforeseen health hazard and environmental concern. The well-known metal ions such as zinc, iron and copper are essential constituents of several enzymes found in the human system even though the indiscriminate use of similar other metal nanoparticle in food and medicine without clinical trial is not advisable. This review is intended to describe the novel phytosynthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles with regard to their shape, size, structure and diverse application in almost all fields of medicine, agriculture and technology. We have also emphasized the concept and controversial mechanism of green synthesis of nanoparticles.

Production of drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles by electrospraying technology.

PubMed

Sosnik, Alejandro

2014-09-01

The pharmaceutical industry struggles with high attrition. The outbreak of pharmaceutical micro/nanotechnology has been fundamental to overcome several (bio)pharmaceutic drawbacks of drugs such as poor aqueous solubility, physicochemical instability, short half life, inappropriate biodistribution and toxicity. The spatiotemporal release of drugs directly in the site of action and the restriction of the systemic exposure by means of nanotechnology has notoriously improved drug safety ratios. At the same time, the development of production methods that are cost-effective, scalable and reproducible under industrial settings becomes crucial to ensure the clinical translation of any development. The electrospraying process, also known as electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA), is a single-stage technique of liquid atomization by means of electrical forces that enables the generation of micro/nanoparticles with especially narrow size distribution. EHDA is based on the ability of an electric field to deform the interface of a liquid drop and break it into smaller mono-disperse droplets. The main advantageous features over conventional methods are the possibility to produce particles without the use of surfactants, at ambient temperature and pressure and with maximum encapsulation efficiency due to the absence of an external medium that allows the migration and/or dissolution of water-soluble cargos. In addition, the mild conditions are optimal for the encapsulation of thermo-sensitive cargos. The present article overviews the applications of this technology for the production of nano-drug delivery systems and discusses its key role to support the transfer of a broad spectrum of nanomedicines to the market.

Report Outlines Promising Opportunities for Addressing Climate Change

Science.gov Websites

Report Outlines Promising Opportunities for Addressing Climate Change For more information contact , have issued a major report that finds the United States can make impressive strides toward addressing climate change through smart policies and technologies. The report, "Scenarios for a Clean Energy

Application of biomolecular recognition via magnetic nanoparticle in nanobiotechnology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shen, Wei-Zheng; Cetinel, Sibel; Montemagno, Carlo

2018-05-01

The marriage of biomolecular recognition and magnetic nanoparticle creates tremendous opportunities in the development of advanced technology both in academic research and in industrial sectors. In this paper, we review current progress on the magnetic nanoparticle-biomolecule hybrid systems, particularly employing the recognition pairs of DNA-DNA, DNA-protein, protein-protein, and protein-inorganics in several nanobiotechnology application areas, including molecular biology, diagnostics, medical treatment, industrial biocatalysts, and environmental separations.

Preparation of ultra-fine powders from polysaccharide-coated solid lipid nanoparticles and nanostructured lipid carriers by innovative nano spray drying technology.

PubMed

Wang, Taoran; Hu, Qiaobin; Zhou, Mingyong; Xue, Jingyi; Luo, Yangchao

2016-09-10

In this study, five polysaccharides were applied as natural polymeric coating materials to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructure lipid carriers (NLC), and then the obtained lipid colloidal particles were transformed to solid powders by the innovative nano spray drying technology. The feasibility and suitability of this new technology to generate ultra-fine lipid powder particles were evaluated and the formulation was optimized. The spray dried SLN powder exhibited the aggregated and irregular shape and dimension, but small, uniform, well-separated spherical powder particles of was obtained from NLC. The optimal formulation of NLC was prepared by a 20-30% oleic acid content with carrageenan or pectin as coating material. Therefore, nano spray drying technology has a potential application to produce uniform, spherical, and sub-microscale lipid powder particles when the formulation of lipid delivery system is appropriately designed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular Imaging with Theranostic Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Jokerst, Jesse V.; Gambhir, Sanjiv S.

2011-01-01

Conspectus Nanoparticles offer diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities impossible with small molecules or micro-scale tools. As molecular biology merges with medical imaging to form the field of molecular imaging, nanoparticle imaging is increasingly common with both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The term theranostic indicates technology with concurrent and complementary diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. When performed with sub-micron materials, the field may be termed theranostic nanomedicine. Although nanoparticles have been FDA-approved for clinical use as transport vehicles for nearly 15 years, full translation of their theranostic potential is incomplete. Still, remarkable successes with nanoparticles have been realized in the areas of drug delivery and magnetic resonance imaging. Emerging applications include image-guided resection, optical/photoacoustic imaging in vivo, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and thermoablative therapy. Diagnosis with nanoparticles in molecular imaging involves correlating signal to a phenotype. The disease’s size, stage, and biochemical signature can be gleaned from the location and intensity of nanoparticle signal emanating from a living subject. Therapy with NP uses the image for resection or delivery of small molecule or RNA thererapeutic. Ablation of the affected area is also possible via heat or radioactivity. The ideal theranostic NP: (1) selectively and rapidly accumulates in diseased tissue, (2) reports biochemical and morphological characteristics of the area, (3) delivers a non-invasive therapeutic, and (4) is safe and biodegrades with non-toxic byproducts. Above is a schematic of such a system which contains a central imaging core (yellow) surrounded by small molecule therapeutics (red). The system targets via ligands such as IgG (pink) and is protected from immune scavengers by a cloak of protective polymer (green). While no nanoparticle has achieved all of the above features, many NPs do fulfill one

Ultrasound mediated nanoparticle drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mullin, Lee B.

Ultrasound is not only a powerful diagnostic tool, but also a promising therapeutic technology that can be used to improve localized drug delivery. Microbubble contrast agents are micron sized encapsulated gas filled bubbles that are administered intravenously. Originally developed to enhance ultrasound images, microbubbles are highly echogenic due to the gas core that provides a detectable impedance difference from the surrounding medium. The core also allows for controlled response of the microbubbles to ultrasound pulses. Microbubbles can be pushed using acoustic radiation force and ruptured using high pressures. Destruction of microbubbles can increase permeability at the cellular and vascular level, which can be advantageous for drug delivery. Advances in drug delivery methods have been seen with the introduction of nanoparticles, nanometer sized objects often carrying a drug payload. In chemotherapy, nanoparticles can deliver drugs to tumors while limiting systemic exposure due to abnormalities in tumor vasculature such large gaps between endothelial cells that allow nanoparticles to enter into the interstitial space; this is referred to as the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. However, this effect may be overestimated in many tumors. Additionally, only a small percentage of the injected dose accumulates in the tumor, which most the nanoparticles accumulating in the liver and spleen. It is hypothesized that combining the acoustic activity of an ultrasound contrast agent with the high payload and extravasation ability of a nanoparticle, localized delivery to the tumor with reduced systemic toxicity can be achieved. This method can be accomplished by either loading nanoparticles onto the shell of the microbubble or through a coadministration method of both nanoparticles and microbubbles. The work presented in this dissertation utilizes novel and commercial nanoparticle formulations, combined with microbubbles and a variety of ultrasound systems

Protein nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers for cancer therapy.

PubMed

Lohcharoenkal, Warangkana; Wang, Liying; Chen, Yi Charlie; Rojanasakul, Yon

2014-01-01

Nanoparticles have increasingly been used for a variety of applications, most notably for the delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents. A large number of nanoparticle drug delivery systems have been developed for cancer treatment and various materials have been explored as drug delivery agents to improve the therapeutic efficacy and safety of anticancer drugs. Natural biomolecules such as proteins are an attractive alternative to synthetic polymers which are commonly used in drug formulations because of their safety. In general, protein nanoparticles offer a number of advantages including biocompatibility and biodegradability. They can be prepared under mild conditions without the use of toxic chemicals or organic solvents. Moreover, due to their defined primary structure, protein-based nanoparticles offer various possibilities for surface modifications including covalent attachment of drugs and targeting ligands. In this paper, we review the most significant advancements in protein nanoparticle technology and their use in drug delivery arena. We then examine the various sources of protein materials that have been used successfully for the construction of protein nanoparticles as well as their methods of preparation. Finally, we discuss the applications of protein nanoparticles in cancer therapy.

Dynamic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Renal Clearable Gold Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Chen, Feng; Goel, Shreya; Hernandez, Reinier; Graves, Stephen A.; Shi, Sixiang; Nickles, Robert J.; Cai, Weibo

2016-01-01

Optical imaging has been the primary imaging modality for nearly all of the renal clearable nanoparticles since 2007. Due to the tissue depth penetration limitation, providing accurate organ kinetics non-invasively has long been a huge challenge. Although a more quantitative imaging technique has been developed by labeling nanoparticles with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) isotopes, the low temporal resolution of SPECT still limits its potential for visualizing the rapid dynamic process of renal clearable nanoparticles in vivo. Here, we report the dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of renal clearable gold (Au) nanoparticles by labeling them with copper-64 (64Cu) to form 64Cu-NOTA-Au-GSH. Systematic nanoparticle synthesis and characterizations were performed to demonstrate the efficient renal clearance of as-prepared nanoparticles. A rapid renal clearance of 64Cu-NOTA-Au-GSH was observed (>75 %ID at 24 h post-injection) with its elimination half-life calculated to be less than 6 min, over 130 times shorter than previously reported similar nanoparticles. Dynamic PET imaging not only addresses the current challenges in accurately and non-invasively acquiring the organ kinetics, but also potentially provides a highly useful tool for studying renal clearance mechanism of other ultra-small nanoparticles, as well as the diagnosis of kidney diseases in the near future. PMID:27062146

Colloidal synthesis of silicon nanoparticles in molten salts.

PubMed

Shavel, A; Guerrini, L; Alvarez-Puebla, R A

2017-06-22

Silicon nanoparticles are unique materials with applications in a variety of fields, from electronics to catalysis and biomedical uses. Despite technological advancements in nanofabrication, the development of a simple and inexpensive route for the synthesis of homogeneous silicon nanoparticles remains highly challenging. Herein, we describe a new, simple and inexpensive colloidal synthetic method for the preparation, under normal pressure and mild temperature conditions, of relatively homogeneous spherical silicon nanoparticles of either ca. 4 or 6 nm diameter. The key features of this method are the selection of a eutectic salt mixture as a solvent, the identification of appropriate silicon alkoxide precursors, and the unconventional use of alkali earth metals as shape-controlling agents.

Molecular Organization Induced Anisotropic Properties of Perylene - Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Sriramulu, Deepa; Turaga, Shuvan Prashant; Bettiol, Andrew Anthony; Valiyaveettil, Suresh

2017-08-10

Optically active silica nanoparticles are interesting owing to high stability and easy accessibility. Unlike previous reports on dye loaded silica particles, here we address an important question on how optical properties are dependent on the aggregation-induced segregation of perylene molecules inside and outside the silica nanoparticles. Three differentially functionalized fluorescent perylene - silica hybrid nanoparticles are prepared from appropriate ratios of perylene derivatives and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and investigated the structure property correlation (P-ST, P-NP and P-SF). The particles differ from each other on the distribution, organization and intermolecular interaction of perylene inside or outside the silica matrix. Structure and morphology of all hybrid nanoparticles were characterized using a range of techniques such as electron microscope, optical spectroscopic measurements and thermal analysis. The organizations of perylene in three different silica nanoparticles were explored using steady-state fluorescence, fluorescence anisotropy, lifetime measurements and solid state polarized spectroscopic studies. The interactions and changes in optical properties of the silica nanoparticles in presence of different amines were tested and quantified both in solution and in vapor phase using fluorescence quenching studies. The synthesized materials can be regenerated after washing with water and reused for sensing of amines.

The synthesis and characterization of iron nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, Tyler

Nanoparticle synthesis has garnered attention for technological applications for catalysts, industrial processing, and medical applications. The size ranges for these is in the particles nanostructural domain. Pure iron nanoparticles have been of particular interest for their reactivity and relative biological inertness. Applications include cancer treatment and carrying medicine to a relevant site. Unfortunately, because of their reactivity, pure iron nanoparticles have been difficult to study. This is because of their accelerated tendency to form oxides in air, due to the increased surface area to volume ratio. Using synthesis processes with polyphenols or long chain amines, air stable iron nanoparticles have been produced with a diameter size range of ~ 2 to about ~10 nm, but apparently have transformed due to internal pressure and crystallographic defects to the FCC phase. The FCC crystals have been seen to form icosahedral and decahedral shapes. This size is within the range for use as a catalyst for the growth of both carbon nanotubes and boron nitride nanotubes as well for biomedical applications. The advantages of these kinds of catalysts are that nanotube growth can be for the first time separated from the catalyst formation. Additionally, the catalyst size can be preselected for a certain size nanotube to grow. In summary: (1) we found the size distributions of nanoparticles for various synthesis processes, (2) we discovered the right size range for growth of nanotubes from the iron nanoparticles, (3) the nanoparticles are under a very high internal pressure, (4) the nanoparticles are in the FCC phase, (5) they appear to be in icosahedral and decahedral structures, (6) they undergo room temperature twinning, (7) the FCC crystals are distorted due to carbon in octahedral sites, (8) the iron nanoparticles are stable in air, (9) adding small amounts of copper make the iron nanoparticles smaller.

Multiscale study of metal nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Byeongchan

Extremely small structures with reduced dimensionality have emerged as a scientific motif for their interesting properties. In particular, metal nanoparticles have been identified as a fundamental material in many catalytic activities; as a consequence, a better understanding of structure-function relationship of nanoparticles has become crucial. The functional analysis of nanoparticles, reactivity for example, requires an accurate method at the electronic structure level, whereas the structural analysis to find energetically stable local minima is beyond the scope of quantum mechanical methods as the computational cost becomes prohibitingly high. The challenge is that the inherent length scale and accuracy associated with any single method hardly covers the broad scale range spanned by both structural and functional analyses. In order to address this, and effectively explore the energetics and reactivity of metal nanoparticles, a hierarchical multiscale modeling is developed, where methodologies of different length scales, i.e. first principles density functional theory, atomistic calculations, and continuum modeling, are utilized in a sequential fashion. This work has focused on identifying the essential information that bridges two different methods so that a successive use of different methods is seamless. The bond characteristics of low coordination systems have been obtained with first principles calculations, and incorporated into the atomistic simulation. This also rectifies the deficiency of conventional interatomic potentials fitted to bulk properties, and improves the accuracy of atomistic calculations for nanoparticles. For the systematic shape selection of nanoparticles, we have improved the Wulff-type construction using a semi-continuum approach, in which atomistic surface energetics and crystallinity of materials are added on to the continuum framework. The developed multiscale modeling scheme is applied to the rational design of platinum

NiFe nanoparticles: a soft magnetic material?

PubMed

Margeat, Olivier; Ciuculescu, Diana; Lecante, Pierre; Respaud, Marc; Amiens, Catherine; Chaudret, Bruno

2007-03-01

Polytetrahedral NiFe nanoparticles with diameters of (2.8+/-0.3) nm have been obtained by hydrogenation of Ni[(COD)(2)] (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene) and Fe[{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2)] at 150 degrees C using stearic acid and hexadecylamine as stabilizing ligands. The nanoparticles are superparamagnetic at room temperature and display a blocking temperature of 17.6 K. Their anisotropy (2.7x10(5)J m(-3)) is determined to be more than two orders of magnitude higher than that of the bulk NiFe alloy (10(3)J m(-3)) and is close to that determined for Fe nanoparticles of the same size. Still, they display a magnetization of (1.69+/-0.05) mu(B) per metallic atom, identical to that of the bulk NiFe alloy. Combining the results from X-ray absorption and Mössbauer studies, we evidence a progressive enrichment in iron atoms from the core to the surface of the nanoparticles. These results are discussed in relation to both size and chemical effects. They show the main role played by the enriched Fe surface on the magnetic properties and address the feasibility of soft magnetic materials at the nanoscale.

Time Management: Addressing and Assessing Classroom Participation Problems

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-01

Time Management Addressing and Assessing Classroom Participation Problems Cary A. Balser Abstract While research shows that technology in...novel experimental design in concert with SmartSync technology to block cadet use of internet and outlook email on their computers in order to measure...undergraduate institution with a clear focus on STEM, technology in the classroom is very nearly necessitated by the content in many technical courses

Nanoparticle fouling and its combination with organic fouling during forward osmosis process for silver nanoparticles removal from simulated wastewater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Yanxiao; Wang, Xinhua; Wang, Zhiwei; Li, Xiufen; Ren, Yueping

2016-05-01

The increasing and wide application of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has resulted in their appearance in wastewater. In consideration of their potential toxicity and environmental impacts, it is necessary to find effective technology for their removal from wastewater. Here, forward osmosis (FO) membrane was applied for Ag NPs removal from wastewater, and single and combined fouling of nanoparticles and organic macromolecules were further investigated during the FO process. The findings demonstrated that FO membrane can effectively remove Ag NPs from wastewater due to its high rejection performance. Fouling tests indicated that water flux declined appreciably even at the beginning of the single Ag NPs fouling test, and more remarkable flux decline and larger amounts of deposited Ag NPs were observed with an increase of Ag NPs concentration. However, the addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) could effectively alleviate the FO membrane fouling induced by Ag NPs. The interaction between Ag NPs and BSA was responsible for this phenomenon. BSA can easily form a nanoparticle-protein corona surrounded nanoparticles, which prevented nanoparticles from aggregation due to the steric stabilization mechanism. Furthermore, the interaction between BSA and Ag NPs occurred not only in wastewater but also on FO membrane surface.

Laser deposition of resonant silicon nanoparticles on perovskite for photoluminescence enhancement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiguntseva, E. Y.; Zalogina, A. S.; Milichko, V. A.; Zuev, D. A.; Omelyanovich, M. M.; Ishteev, A.; Cerdan Pasaran, A.; Haroldson, R.; Makarov, S. V.; Zakhidov, A. A.

2017-11-01

Hybrid lead halide perovskite based optoelectronics is a promising area of modern technologies yielding excellent characteristics of light emitting diodes and lasers as well as high efficiencies of photovoltaic devices. However, the efficiency of perovskite based devices hold a potential of further improvement. Here we demonstrate high photoluminescence efficiency of perovskites thin films via deposition of resonant silicon nanoparticles on their surface. The deposited nanoparticles have a number of advances over their plasmonic counterparts, which were applied in previous studies. We show experimentally the increase of photoluminescence of perovskite film with the silicon nanoparticles by 150 % as compared to the film without the nanoparticles. The results are supported by numerical calculations. Our results pave the way to high throughput implementation of low loss resonant nanoparticles in order to create highly effective perovskite based optoelectronic devices.

Characterization of Factors Affecting Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis Results With Synthetic and Protein Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Krueger, Aaron B; Carnell, Pauline; Carpenter, John F

2016-04-01

In many manufacturing and research areas, the ability to accurately monitor and characterize nanoparticles is becoming increasingly important. Nanoparticle tracking analysis is rapidly becoming a standard method for this characterization, yet several key factors in data acquisition and analysis may affect results. Nanoparticle tracking analysis is prone to user input and bias on account of a high number of parameters available, contains a limited analysis volume, and individual sample characteristics such as polydispersity or complex protein solutions may affect analysis results. This study systematically addressed these key issues. The integrated syringe pump was used to increase the sample volume analyzed. It was observed that measurements recorded under flow caused a reduction in total particle counts for both polystyrene and protein particles compared to those collected under static conditions. In addition, data for polydisperse samples tended to lose peak resolution at higher flow rates, masking distinct particle populations. Furthermore, in a bimodal particle population, a bias was seen toward the larger species within the sample. The impacts of filtration on an agitated intravenous immunoglobulin sample and operating parameters including "MINexps" and "blur" were investigated to optimize the method. Taken together, this study provides recommendations on instrument settings and sample preparations to properly characterize complex samples. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Toxicity of silver and gold nanoparticles on marine microalgae.

PubMed

Moreno-Garrido, Ignacio; Pérez, Sara; Blasco, Julián

2015-10-01

The increased use of nanomaterials in several novel industrial applications during the last decade has led to a rise in concerns about the potential toxic effects of released engineered nanoparticles (NPs) into the environment, as their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms is just beginning to be recognised. Toxicity of metallic nanoparticles to aquatic organisms, including microalgae, seems to be related to their physical and chemical properties, as well as their behaviour in the aquatic media where processes of dissolution, aggregation and agglomeration can occur. Although the production of these particles has increased considerably in recent years, data on their toxicity on microalgae, especially those belonging to marine or estuarine environments remain scarce and scattered. The literature shows a wide variation of results on toxicity, mainly due to the different methodology used in bioassays involving microalgae. These can range for up to EC50 data, in the case of AgNPs, representing five orders of magnitude. The importance of initial cellular density is also addressed in the text, as well as the need for keeping test conditions as close as possible to environmental conditions, in order to increase their environmental relevance. This review focuses on the fate and toxicity of silver, gold, and gold-silver alloy nanoparticles on microalgae, as key organisms in aquatic ecosystems. It is prompted by their increased production and use, and taking into account that oceans and estuaries are the final sink for those NPs. The design of bioassays and further research in the field of microalgae nanoecotoxicology is discussed, with a brief survey on newly developed technology of green (algae mediated) production of Ag, Au and Ag-Au bimetallic NPs, as well as some final considerations about future research on this field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Overcoming the Coupling Dilemma in DNA-Programmable Nanoparticle Assemblies by "Ag+ Soldering".

PubMed

Wang, Huiqiao; Li, Yulin; Liu, Miao; Gong, Ming; Deng, Zhaoxiang

2015-05-20

Strong coupling between nanoparticles is critical for facilitating charge and energy transfers. Despite the great success of DNA-programmable nanoparticle assemblies, the very weak interparticle coupling represents a key barrier to various applications. Here, an extremely simple, fast, and highly efficient process combining DNA-programming and molecular/ionic bonding is developed to address this challenge, which exhibits a seamless fusion with DNA nanotechnology. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Enhancement of antioxidant and antibacterial properties for tannin acid/chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles filled electrospinning films: Surface modification of sliver nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhan, Fuchao; Sheng, Feng; Yan, Xiangxing; Zhu, Yingrui; Jin, Weiping; Li, Jing; Li, Bin

2017-11-01

The tannin acid/chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles were encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/poly-acrylic acid (PAA) electrospinning films by electrostatic spinning technology. To optimize the prepared condition, properties and morphology of nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The optimized initial concentration of tannin, chitosan and tripolyphosphate solutions were 1, 1, 0.5mg/ml, respectively, with adding proportion for 5:5:1. The average diameter of tannin acid/chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles was ∼80nm. The electrospinning films showed an excellent water-resistant property with 0.5wt%N,N'-Methylenebisacrylamide (MBA). Due to the antioxidant and antibacterial of tannic acid, the films possessed these properties. The antioxidant and antibacterial of these fibers significantly improved after in situ formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Electrospun films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticles for Site Specific Genome Editing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McNeer, Nicole Ali

Triplex-forming peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) can be used to coordinate the recombination of short 50-60 by "donor DNA" fragments into genomic DNA, resulting in site-specific correction of genetic mutations or the introduction of advantageous genetic modifications. Site-specific gene editing in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) could result in treatment or cure of inherited disorders of the blood such as beta-thalassemia. Gene editing in HSPCs and differentiated T cells could help combat HIV/AIDs by modifying receptors, such as CCR5, necessary for R5-tropic HIV entry. However, translation of genome modification technologies to clinical practice is limited by challenges in intracellular delivery, especially in difficult-to-transfect hematolymphoid cells. In vivo gene editing could also provide novel treatment for systemic monogenic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor. Here, we have engineered biodegradable nanoparticles to deliver oligonucleotides for site-specific genome editing of disease-relevant genes in human cells, with high efficiency, low toxicity, and editing of clinically relevant cell types. We designed nanoparticles to edit the human beta-globin and CCR5 genes in hematopoietic cells. We show that poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles can delivery PNA and donor DNA for site-specific gene modification in human hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo in NOD-scid IL2rgammanull mice. Nanoparticles delivered by tail vein localized to hematopoietic compartments in the spleen and bone marrow of humanized mice, resulting in modification of the beta-globin and CCR5 genes. Modification frequencies ranged from 0.005 to 20% of cells depending on the organ and cell type, without detectable toxicity. This project developed highly versatile methods for delivery of therapeutics to hematolymphoid cells and hematopoietic stem cells, and will help to

Detection of Peptide-based nanoparticles in blood plasma by ELISA.

PubMed

Bode, Gerard H; Pickl, Karin E; Sanchez-Purrà, Maria; Albaiges, Berta; Borrós, Salvador; Pötgens, Andy J G; Schmitz, Christoph; Sinner, Frank M; Losen, Mario; Steinbusch, Harry W M; Frank, Hans-Georg; Martinez-Martinez, Pilar

2015-01-01

The aim of the current study was to develop a method to detect peptide-linked nanoparticles in blood plasma. A convenient enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of peptides functionalized with biotin and fluorescein groups. As a proof of principle, polymerized pentafluorophenyl methacrylate nanoparticles linked to biotin-carboxyfluorescein labeled peptides were intravenously injected in Wistar rats. Serial blood plasma samples were analyzed by ELISA and by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technology. The ELISA based method for the detection of FITC labeled peptides had a detection limit of 1 ng/mL. We were able to accurately measure peptides bound to pentafluorophenyl methacrylate nanoparticles in blood plasma of rats, and similar results were obtained by LC/MS. We detected FITC-labeled peptides on pentafluorophenyl methacrylate nanoparticles after injection in vivo. This method can be extended to detect nanoparticles with different chemical compositions.

Rolling up gold nanoparticle-dressed DNA origami into three-dimensional plasmonic chiral nanostructures.

PubMed

Shen, Xibo; Song, Chen; Wang, Jinye; Shi, Dangwei; Wang, Zhengang; Liu, Na; Ding, Baoquan

2012-01-11

Construction of three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic architectures using structural DNA nanotechnology is an emerging multidisciplinary area of research. This technology excels in controlling spatial addressability at sub-10 nm resolution, which has thus far been beyond the reach of traditional top-down techniques. In this paper, we demonstrate the realization of 3D plasmonic chiral nanostructures through programmable transformation of gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-dressed DNA origami. AuNPs were assembled along two linear chains on a two-dimensional rectangular DNA origami sheet with well-controlled positions and particle spacing. By rational rolling of the 2D origami template, the AuNPs can be automatically arranged in a helical geometry, suggesting the possibility of achieving engineerable chiral nanomaterials in the visible range. © 2011 American Chemical Society

The Green Synthesis and Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebear-Eigzabher, Bellsabel

Nanoparticle (NP) research has received exceptional attention as the field of study that contributes to transforming the world of materials science. When implementing NPs in consumer and industrial products, their unique properties improve technologies to the extent of significant game-changing breakthroughs. Conversely, the increased production of NPs, their use, their disposal or inadvertent release in the environment drove the need for processes and policies that ensures consumer and environmental safety. Mitigation of any harmful effects that NPs could potentially have combines methods of safe preparation, safe handling and safe disposal as well as containment of any inadvertent release. Our focus is in safe preparation of nanomaterials and we report green and energy efficient synthesis methods for metal NPs and metal oxide NPs of two popular materials: silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO). The thesis explained: 1) The impact of NPs in nowadays' world; 2) Synthesis methods that were designed to include environmentally-friendly staring materials and energy-saving fabrication processes, with emphasis on maintaining NPs final size and morphology when compared with existing methods; and 3) Nanoparticles characterization and data collection which allowed us to determine and/or validate their properties. Nanoparticles were studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD), low-voltage (5 keV) transmission electron microscopy (LV EM 5), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. We developed an aqueous-based preparation of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using microwave-assisted chemistry to render a well-controlled particle size distribution within each set of reaction conditions in the range of 15 nm to 75 nm. We developed a scalable silver nanoparticles synthesis by chemical reduction methods. The NPs could be used in consumer products. The measurement tools for consumer products

Formulation and characterization of hydrophilic drug diclofenac sodium-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles based on phospholipid complexes technology.

PubMed

Liu, Dongfei; Chen, Li; Jiang, Sunmin; Zhu, Shuning; Qian, Yong; Wang, Fengzhen; Li, Rui; Xu, Qunwei

2014-03-01

To successfully prepare the diclofenac sodium (DS)-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), phospholipid complexes (PCs) technology was applied here to improve the liposolubility of DS. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with phospholipid complexes (PCs) were prepared by the modified emulsion/solvent evaporation method. DS could be solubilized effectively in the organic solvents with the existence of phospholipid and apparent partition coefficient of DS in PCs increased significantly. X-ray diffraction analysis suggested that DS in PCs was either molecularly dispersed or in an amorphous form. However, no significant difference was observed between the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectra of physical mixture and that of PCs. Particles with small sizes, narrow polydispersity indexes and high entrapment efficiencies could be obtained with the addition of PCs. Furthermore, according to the transmission electron microscopy, a core-shell structure was likely to be formed. The presence of PCs caused the change of zeta potential and retarded the drug release of SLNs, which indicated that phospholipid formed multilayers around the solid lipid core of SLNs. Both FT-IR and differential scanning calorimetry analysis also illustrated that some weak interactions between DS and lipid materials might take place during the preparation of SLNs. In conclusion, the model hydrophilic drug-DS can be formulated into the SLNs with the help of PCs.

Templated assembly of albumin-based nanoparticles for simultaneous gene silencing and magnetic resonance imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mertz, Damien; Affolter-Zbaraszczuk, Christine; Barthès, Julien; Cui, Jiwei; Caruso, Frank; Baumert, Thomas F.; Voegel, Jean-Claude; Ogier, Joelle; Meyer, Florent

2014-09-01

In this article, we address the design of innovative human serum albumin (HSA)-based nanoparticles loaded with silencing RNA and grafted with gadolinium complexes having average sizes ranging from ca. 50 to 150 nm according to the siRNA/HSA composition. The non-covalent siRNA/HSA assembly is formed on isobutyramide-modified mesoporous silica and the self-supported HSA-based nanoparticles are obtained following the silica template dissolution. These original protein particles provide simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement and cellular in vitro gene silencing.In this article, we address the design of innovative human serum albumin (HSA)-based nanoparticles loaded with silencing RNA and grafted with gadolinium complexes having average sizes ranging from ca. 50 to 150 nm according to the siRNA/HSA composition. The non-covalent siRNA/HSA assembly is formed on isobutyramide-modified mesoporous silica and the self-supported HSA-based nanoparticles are obtained following the silica template dissolution. These original protein particles provide simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement and cellular in vitro gene silencing. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Experimental details and supporting Fig. S1-S4. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr02623c

Influence of shell thickness on thermal stability of bimetallic Al-Pd nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen, John Z.; Nguyen, Ngoc Ha; Rawlins, John; Petre, Catalin F.; Ringuette, Sophie

2014-07-01

Aluminum-based bimetallic core-shell nanoparticles have shown promising applications in civil and defense industries. This study addresses the thermal stability of aluminum-palladium (Al-Pd) core/shell nanoparticles with a varying shell thickness of 5, 6, and 7 Å, respectively. The classic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed in order to investigate the effects of the shell thickness on the ignition mechanism and subsequent energetic processes of these nanoparticles. The histograms of temperature change and structural evolution clearly show the inhibition role of the Pd shell during ignition. While the nanoparticle with a thicker shell is more thermally stable and hence requires more excess energy, stored as the potential energy of the nanoparticle and provided through numerically heating, to initiate the thermite reaction, a higher adiabatic temperature can be produced from this nanoparticle, thanks to its greater content of Pd. The two-stage thermite reactions are discussed with their activation energy based on the energy balance processes during MD heating and production. Analyses of the simulation results reveal that the inner pressure of the core-shell nanoparticle increases with both temperature and the absorbed thermal energy during heating, which may result in a breakup of the Pd shell.

Disruptive technologies and force transformation: a Canadian perspective (Keynote Address)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moen, Ingar O.; Walker, Robert S.

2005-05-01

Transformation of Canada"s military forces is being pursued to ensure their relevancy and impact in light of the new defence and security environment. This environment is characterized by an increasingly complex spectrum of military operations spanning pre- and post-conflict, the emergence of an asymmetric threat that differs substantially from the peer-on-peer threat of the Cold War, and the globalization of science and technology. Disruptive technologies - those that have a profound impact on established practice - are increasingly shaping both the civil and military sectors, with advances in one sector now regularly seeding disruptions in the other. This paper postulates the likely sources of disruptive technologies over the next 10-20 years. It then looks at how science and technology investments can contribute to force transformation either to take advantage of or mitigate the effects of these disruptions.

Lipid nanoparticles as novel delivery systems for cosmetics and dermal pharmaceuticals.

PubMed

Puglia, Carmelo; Bonina, Francesco

2012-04-01

Lipid nanoparticles are innovative carrier systems developed as an alternative to traditional vehicles such as emulsions, liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and the newest nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) show important advantages for dermal application of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. This article focuses on the main features of lipid nanoparticles, in terms of their preparation and recent advancements. A detailed review of the literature is presented, introducing the importance of these systems in the topical delivery of drugs and active substances. Lipid nanoparticles are able to enhance drug penetration into the skin, allowing increased targeting to the epidermis and consequently increasing treatment efficiency and reducing the systemic absorption of drugs and cosmetic actives. The complete biodegradation of lipid nanoparticles and their biocompatible chemical nature have secured them the title of 'nanosafe carriers.' SLN and NLC represent a new technological era, which has been taken over by the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, which will open new channels for effective topical delivery of substances.

Are Australians concerned about nanoparticles? A comparative analysis with established and emerging environmental health issues.

PubMed

Capon, Adam; Rolfe, Margaret; Gillespie, James; Smith, Wayne

2015-02-01

Introducing new technologies into society raises considerable public concern. We determine the public concern about nanoparticles, and compare this concern to other environmental health issues such as wind farms and coal seam gas production. A repeat cross sectional survey examining views on environmental health issues, risk, chemicals and trust was undertaken in more than 1,300 Australian residents in 2000 and 2013. Logistic regression and principal component analysis was used to investigate predictors of nanoparticle concern and identify a component structure for environmental health issues that could explain a trend of future nanoparticle concern. Australians have a relatively low level of concern about the risks of nanoparticles to health when compared to their concerns about other environmental health issues. Items associated with concern included gender, a general wish to avoid chemicals and possibly trust in politicians. Concern over nanoparticles clustered with similar views on technological risks. Current public concern over the risks of nanoparticles is low. However, a reframing of the issue towards 'chemicals' is likely to have a negative effect on risk perceptions. This paper raises questions about appropriate channels for the effective communication of risk. © 2015 Public Health Association of Australia.

Preparation and characterization of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles functionalized by nisin.

PubMed

Gruskiene, Ruta; Krivorotova, Tatjana; Staneviciene, Ramune; Ratautas, Dalius; Serviene, Elena; Sereikaite, Jolanta

2018-05-08

Nisin is a known bacteriocin approved as a food additive for food preservation. It exhibits a wide spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction method. A main part of iron oxide nanoparticles was found to be maghemite though a small quantity of magnetite could also be present. Magnetic nanoparticles were stabilized by citric, ascorbic, gallic or glucuronic acid coating. Stable iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were functionalized by nisin using a simple and low cost adsorption method. Nisin loading was confirmed by FT-IR spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering and atomic force microscopy methods. Nisin-loaded iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles were stable at least six weeks as judged by the measurements of zeta-potential and hydrodynamic diameter. The antimicrobial activity of nisin-loaded iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles was demonstrated toward Gram-positive bacteria. Functionalized nanoparticles could therefore find the application as antimicrobials in innovative and emerging technologies based on the magnetic field. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Formulation design for target delivery of iron nanoparticles to TCE zones.

PubMed

Wang, Ziheng; Acosta, Edgar

2013-12-01

Nanoparticles of zero-valent iron (NZVI) are effective reducing agents for some dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) contaminants such as trichloroethylene (TCE). However, target delivery of iron nanoparticles to DNAPL zones in the aquifer remains an elusive feature for NZVI technologies. This work discusses three strategies to deliver iron nanoparticles to DNAPL zones. To this end, iron oxide nanoparticles coated with oleate (OL) ions were used as stable analogs for NZVI. The OL-coated iron oxide nanoparticles are rendered lipophilic via (a) the addition of CaCl2, (b) acidification, or (c) the addition of a cationic surfactant, benzethonium chloride (BC). Mixtures of OL and BC show promise as a target delivery strategy due to the high stability of the nanoparticles in water, and their preferential partition into TCE in batch experiments. Column tests show that while the OL-BC coated iron oxide nanoparticles remain largely mobile in TCE-free columns, a large fraction of these particles are retained in TCE-contaminated columns, confirming the effectiveness of this target delivery strategy. © 2013.

Inkjet Printing of Drug-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles-A Platform for Drug Development.

PubMed

Wickström, Henrika; Hilgert, Ellen; Nyman, Johan O; Desai, Diti; Şen Karaman, Didem; de Beer, Thomas; Sandler, Niklas; Rosenholm, Jessica M

2017-11-21

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have shown great potential in improving drug delivery of poorly water soluble (BCS class II, IV) and poorly permeable (BCS class III, IV) drugs, as well as facilitating successful delivery of unstable compounds. The nanoparticle technology would allow improved treatment by reducing adverse reactions of currently approved drugs and possibly reintroducing previously discarded compounds from the drug development pipeline. This study aims to highlight important aspects in mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) ink formulation development for digital inkjet printing technology and to advice on choosing a method (2D/3D) for nanoparticle print deposit characterization. The results show that both unfunctionalized and polyethyeleneimine (PEI) surface functionalized MSNs, as well as drug-free and drug-loaded MSN-PEI suspensions, can be successfully inkjet-printed. Furthermore, the model BCS class IV drug remained incorporated in the MSNs and the suspension remained physically stable during the processing time and steps. This proof-of-concept study suggests that inkjet printing technology would be a flexible deposition method of pharmaceutical MSN suspensions to generate patterns according to predefined designs. The concept could be utilized as a versatile drug screening platform in the future due to the possibility of accurately depositing controlled volumes of MSN suspensions on various materials.

Microscopic Electron Dynamics in Metal Nanoparticles for Photovoltaic Systems.

PubMed

Kluczyk, Katarzyna; Jacak, Lucjan; Jacak, Witold; David, Christin

2018-06-25

Nanoparticles—regularly patterned or randomly dispersed—are a key ingredient for emerging technologies in photonics. Of particular interest are scattering and field enhancement effects of metal nanoparticles for energy harvesting and converting systems. An often neglected aspect in the modeling of nanoparticles are light interaction effects at the ultimate nanoscale beyond classical electrodynamics. Those arise from microscopic electron dynamics in confined systems, the accelerated motion in the plasmon oscillation and the quantum nature of the free electron gas in metals, such as Coulomb repulsion and electron diffusion. We give a detailed account on free electron phenomena in metal nanoparticles and discuss analytic expressions stemming from microscopic (Random Phase Approximation—RPA) and semi-classical (hydrodynamic) theories. These can be incorporated into standard computational schemes to produce more reliable results on the optical properties of metal nanoparticles. We combine these solutions into a single framework and study systematically their joint impact on isolated Au, Ag, and Al nanoparticles as well as dimer structures. The spectral position of the plasmon resonance and its broadening as well as local field enhancement show an intriguing dependence on the particle size due to the relevance of additional damping channels.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, center, poses for a group photograph with NASA's 2013 astronaut candidates, from left, Josh A. Cassada, Nicole Aunapu Mann, Jessica U. Meir, Tyler N. "Nick" Hague, Holdren, Victor J. Glover, Christina M. Hammock, Andrew R. Morgan, and, Anne C. McClain at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Nanoparticle targeting of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria for magnetic-based separations of bacterial pathogens

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Hoang D.; Yang, Shirley S.; Wilson, Brian K.; McManus, Simon A.; Chen, Christopher V. H.-H.; Prud'homme, Robert K.

2017-04-01

Antimicrobial resistance is a healthcare problem of increasing significance, and there is increasing interest in developing new tools to address bacterial infections. Bacteria-targeting nanoparticles hold promise to improve drug efficacy, compliance, and safety. In addition, nanoparticles can also be used for novel applications, such as bacterial imaging or bioseperations. We here present the use of a scalable block-copolymer-directed self-assembly process, Flash NanoPrecipitation, to form zinc(II)-bis(dipicolylamine) modified nanoparticles that bind to both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with specificity. Particles have tunable surface ligand densities that change particle avidity and binding efficacy. A variety of materials can be encapsulated into the core of the particles, such as optical dyes or iron oxide colloids, to produce imageable and magnetically active bacterial targeting constructs. As a proof-of-concept, these particles are used to bind and separate bacteria from solution in a magnetic column. Magnetic manipulation and separation would translate to a platform for pathogen identification or removal. These magnetic and targeted nanoparticles enable new methods to address bacterial infections.

Sodium hydroxide catalyzed monodispersed high surface area silica nanoparticles.

PubMed

Bhakta, Snehasis; Dixit, Chandra K; Bist, Itti; Jalil, Karim Abdel; Suib, Steven L; Rusling, James F

2016-07-01

Understanding of the synthesis kinetics and our ability to modulate medium conditions allowed us to generate nanoparticles via an ultra-fast process. The synthesis medium is kept quite simple with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor and 50% ethanol and sodium hydroxide catalyst. Synthesis is performed under gentle conditions at 20 °C for 20 min Long synthesis time and catalyst-associated drawbacks are most crucial in silica nanoparticle synthesis. We have addressed both these bottlenecks by replacing the conventional Stober catalyst, ammonium hydroxide, with sodium hydroxide. We have reduced the overall synthesis time from 20 to 1/3 h, ~60-fold decrease, and obtained highly monodispersed nanoparticles with 5-fold higher surface area than Stober particles. We have demonstrated that the developed NPs with ~3-fold higher silane can be used as efficient probes for biosensor applications.

Functionalization of textiles with silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pulit-Prociak, Jolanta; Chwastowski, Jarosław; Kucharski, Arkadiusz; Banach, Marcin

2016-11-01

The paper presents a method for functionalization of textile materials using fabric dyes modified with silver or zinc oxide nanoparticles. Embedding of these nanoparticles into the structure of other materials makes that the final product is characterized by antimicrobial properties. Indigo and commercially available dye were involved in studies. It is worth to note that silver nanoparticles were obtained in-situ in the reaction of preparing indigo dye and in the process of preparing commercial dye baths. Such a method allows reducing technological steps. The modified dyes were used for dyeing of cotton fibers. The antimicrobial properties of final textile materials were studied. Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was used in microbiological test. The results confirmed biocidal activity of prepared materials.

[Occupational exposure to nanoparticles. Assessment of workplace exposure].

PubMed

Bujak-Pietrek, Stella

2010-01-01

Nanotechnology is currently one of the most popular branch of science. It is a technology that enables designing, manufacturing and application of materials and structures of very small dimensions, and its products are applied in almost every field of life. Nanoparticles are the structures having one or more dimensions of the order of 100 nm or less. They are used in precise mechanics, electronics, optics, medicine, pharmacy, cosmetics and many other spheres. Due to their very small size, nanostructures have completely different and specific properties, unknown for the bulk of materials. Fast-growing nanotechnology provides a wide spectrum of applications, but it also brings about new and unknown danger to human health. Nanotechnology is the branch that has developed rather recently, and much information about health risk and its influence on the environment is beyond our knowledge. Nanoparticles, released in many technological processes, as well as manufactured nanoparticles can induce occupational hazards to workers. The lack of regulations and standards, compulsory in the manufacture and use ofnanoparticles is a fundamental problem faced in the evaluation of exposure. Another problem is the choice of proper measurement equipment for surveying of very small particles - their number, mass and surface area in the workpost air. In this article, the possibility and scope of exposure assessment is discussed and a brief specification of available instrumentation for counting and assessing the parameters essential for classifying the exposure to nanoparticles is presented.

Technological challenges of addressing new and more complex migrating products from novel food packaging materials.

PubMed

Munro, Ian C; Haighton, Lois A; Lynch, Barry S; Tafazoli, Shahrzad

2009-12-01

The risk assessment of migration products resulting from packaging material has and continues to pose a difficult challenge. In most jurisdictions, there are regulatory requirements for the approval or notification of food contact substances that will be used in packaging. These processes generally require risk assessment to ensure safety concerns are addressed. The science of assessing food contact materials was instrumental in the development of the concept of Threshold of Regulation and the Threshold of Toxicological Concern procedures. While the risk assessment process is in place, the technology of food packaging continues to evolve to include new initiatives, such as the inclusion of antimicrobial substances or enzyme systems to prevent spoilage, use of plastic packaging intended to remain on foods as they are being cooked, to the introduction of more rigid, stable and reusable materials, and active packaging to extend the shelf-life of food. Each new technology brings with it the potential for exposure to new and possibly novel substances as a result of migration, interaction with other chemical packaging components, or, in the case of plastics now used in direct cooking of products, degradation products formed during heating. Furthermore, the presence of trace levels of certain chemicals from packaging that were once accepted as being of low risk based on traditional toxicology studies are being challenged on the basis of reports of adverse effects, particularly with respect to endocrine disruption, alleged to occur at very low doses. A recent example is the case of bisphenol A. The way forward to assess new packaging technologies and reports of very low dose effects in non-standard studies of food contact substances is likely to remain controversial. However, the risk assessment paradigm is sufficiently robust and flexible to be adapted to meet these challenges. The use of the Threshold of Regulation and the Threshold of Toxicological Concern concepts may

Preparation and in Vitro Analysis of Human Serum Albumin Nanoparticles Loaded with Anthracycline Derivatives.

PubMed

Kimura, Kotaro; Yamasaki, Keishi; Nakamura, Hideaki; Haratake, Mamoru; Taguchi, Kazuaki; Otagiri, Masaki

2018-01-01

Nanoparticles prepared using human serum albumin (HSA) have emerged as versatile carriers for improving the pharmacokinetic profile of drugs. The desolvation of HSA using ethanol followed by stabilization through crosslinking with glutaraldehyde is a common technique for preparing HSA nanoparticles, but our knowledge concerning the characteristics (or functions) of HSA nanoparticles and their efficiency when loaded with drugs is limited. To address this issue in more detail, we prepared anthracycline-loaded HSA nanoparticles. Doxorubicin-loaded HSA nanoparticles with a size similar to doxorubicin-unloaded particles could be prepared by desolvating at a higher pH (8-9), and the size (100-150 nm) was optimum for delivery to tumor tissues. Using this procedure, HSA nanoparticles were loaded with other anthracycline derivatives, and all showed cytotoxicity in cancer cells. However, the efficiency of drug loading and dissolution rate were different among them possibly due to the differences in the type of association of the drugs on nanoparticles (doxorubicin and daunorubicin; covalently bound to nanoparticles, pirarubicin; both covalently bound to and adsorbed on nanoparticles, aclarubicin; adsorbed on nanoparticles). Since the formulation of such drug-loaded HSA nanoparticles should be modified for efficient delivery to tumors, the findings reported herein provide the useful information for optimizing the formulation and the production process for the HSA nanoparticles using a desolvation technique.

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Calotropis gigantea and their potential mosquito larvicidal property

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In recent years the utilization of secondary metabolites from plant extract has emerged as a novel technology for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of plant synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Calotropis gigan...

Plasmonic and silicon spherical nanoparticle antireflective coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baryshnikova, K. V.; Petrov, M. I.; Babicheva, V. E.; Belov, P. A.

2016-03-01

Over the last decade, plasmonic antireflecting nanostructures have been extensively studied to be utilized in various optical and optoelectronic systems such as lenses, solar cells, photodetectors, and others. The growing interest to all-dielectric photonics as an alternative optical technology along with plasmonics motivates us to compare antireflective properties of plasmonic and all-dielectric nanoparticle coatings based on silver and crystalline silicon respectively. Our simulation results for spherical nanoparticles array on top of amorphous silicon show that both silicon and silver coatings demonstrate strong antireflective properties in the visible spectral range. For the first time, we show that zero reflectance from the structure with silicon coatings originates from the destructive interference of electric- and magnetic-dipole responses of nanoparticle array with the wave reflected from the substrate, and we refer to this reflection suppression as substrate-mediated Kerker effect. We theoretically compare the silicon and silver coating effectiveness for the thin-film photovoltaic applications. Silver nanoparticles can be more efficient, enabling up to 30% increase of the overall absorbance in semiconductor layer. Nevertheless, silicon coatings allow up to 64% absorbance increase in the narrow band spectral range because of the substrate-mediated Kerker effect, and band position can be effectively tuned by varying the nanoparticles sizes.

Plasmonic and silicon spherical nanoparticle antireflective coatings

PubMed Central

Baryshnikova, K. V.; Petrov, M. I.; Babicheva, V. E.; Belov, P. A.

2016-01-01

Over the last decade, plasmonic antireflecting nanostructures have been extensively studied to be utilized in various optical and optoelectronic systems such as lenses, solar cells, photodetectors, and others. The growing interest to all-dielectric photonics as an alternative optical technology along with plasmonics motivates us to compare antireflective properties of plasmonic and all-dielectric nanoparticle coatings based on silver and crystalline silicon respectively. Our simulation results for spherical nanoparticles array on top of amorphous silicon show that both silicon and silver coatings demonstrate strong antireflective properties in the visible spectral range. For the first time, we show that zero reflectance from the structure with silicon coatings originates from the destructive interference of electric- and magnetic-dipole responses of nanoparticle array with the wave reflected from the substrate, and we refer to this reflection suppression as substrate-mediated Kerker effect. We theoretically compare the silicon and silver coating effectiveness for the thin-film photovoltaic applications. Silver nanoparticles can be more efficient, enabling up to 30% increase of the overall absorbance in semiconductor layer. Nevertheless, silicon coatings allow up to 64% absorbance increase in the narrow band spectral range because of the substrate-mediated Kerker effect, and band position can be effectively tuned by varying the nanoparticles sizes. PMID:26926602

PLA coated paper containing active inorganic nanoparticles: Material characterization and fate of nanoparticles in the paper recycling process.

PubMed

Zhang, Hai; Bussini, Daniele; Hortal, Mercedes; Elegir, Graziano; Mendes, Joana; Jordá Beneyto, Maria

2016-06-01

For paper and paperboard packaging, recyclability plays an important role in conserving the resources and reducing the environmental impacts. Therefore, when it comes to the nano-enabled paper packaging material, the recyclability issue should be properly addressed. This study represents our first report on the fate of nanomaterials in paper recycling process. The packaging material of concern is a PLA (Polylactic Acid) coated paper incorporating zinc oxide nanoparticles in the coating layer. The material was characterised and assessed in a lab-scale paper recycling line. The recyclability test was based on a method adapted from ATICELCA MC501-13, which enabled to recover over 99% of the solids material. The mass balance result indicates that 86-91% zinc oxide nanoparticles ended up in the rejected material stream, mostly embedded within the polymer coating; whereas 7-16% nanoparticles ended up in the accepted material stream. Besides, the tensile strength of the recycled handsheets suggests that the nano-enabled coating had no negative impacts on the recovered fibre quality. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gadolinium nanoparticle based switchable mirrors: quenching of hydrogenation-dehydrogenation hysteresis.

PubMed

Aruna, I; Mehta, B R; Malhotra, L K

2007-06-01

A continuous and reversible 'structural, optical, and electronic' transition between the reflecting metallic dihydride and transparent semiconducting trihydride states observed in rare earth metals on hydrogenation make these materials and their hydrides suitable for switchable mirror, sensing, and other technological applications. Recently Pd capped Gd nanoparticle based 'new generation' switchable mirrors have been fabricated with extended color neutrality, better optical contrast, and faster kinetics in comparison to the polycrystalline, epitaxial, alloy, and multilayer films. The present report aims at investigating the effect of nanoparticle nature on the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation hysteresis in switchable mirrors by carrying out in situ measurement of optical transmittance and electrode potentials during electrochemical hydrogen loading-deloading of Gd nanoparticle samples. Interestingly, Gd nanoparticle samples were observed to exhibit quenched hysteresis. The quenching of hysteresis in hydrogen-induced properties has been attributed to the absence of structural transition upon hydrogenation, reduction in topographical interlocking of the grains and elimination of lateral clamping of the slack nanoparticle layer to the substrate.

Detection of Peptide-Based Nanoparticles in Blood Plasma by ELISA

PubMed Central

Bode, Gerard H.; Pickl, Karin E.; Sanchez-Purrà, Maria; Albaiges, Berta; Borrós, Salvador; Pötgens, Andy J. G.; Schmitz, Christoph; Sinner, Frank M.; Losen, Mario; Steinbusch, Harry W. M.; Frank, Hans-Georg; Martinez-Martinez, Pilar

2015-01-01

Aims The aim of the current study was to develop a method to detect peptide-linked nanoparticles in blood plasma. Materials & Methods A convenient enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of peptides functionalized with biotin and fluorescein groups. As a proof of principle, polymerized pentafluorophenyl methacrylate nanoparticles linked to biotin-carboxyfluorescein labeled peptides were intravenously injected in Wistar rats. Serial blood plasma samples were analyzed by ELISA and by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technology. Results The ELISA based method for the detection of FITC labeled peptides had a detection limit of 1 ng/mL. We were able to accurately measure peptides bound to pentafluorophenyl methacrylate nanoparticles in blood plasma of rats, and similar results were obtained by LC/MS. Conclusions We detected FITC-labeled peptides on pentafluorophenyl methacrylate nanoparticles after injection in vivo. This method can be extended to detect nanoparticles with different chemical compositions. PMID:25996618

Quantitative comparison of tumor delivery for multiple targeted nanoparticles simultaneously by multiplex ICP-MS.

PubMed

Elias, Andrew; Crayton, Samuel H; Warden-Rothman, Robert; Tsourkas, Andrew

2014-07-28

Given the rapidly expanding library of disease biomarkers and targeting agents, the number of unique targeted nanoparticles is growing exponentially. The high variability and expense of animal testing often makes it unfeasible to examine this large number of nanoparticles in vivo. This often leads to the investigation of a single formulation that performed best in vitro. However, nanoparticle performance in vivo depends on many variables, many of which cannot be adequately assessed with cell-based assays. To address this issue, we developed a lanthanide-doped nanoparticle method that allows quantitative comparison of multiple targeted nanoparticles simultaneously. Specifically, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles with different targeting ligands were created, each with a unique lanthanide dopant. Following the simultaneous injection of the various SPIO compositions into tumor-bearing mice, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy was used to quantitatively and orthogonally assess the concentration of each SPIO composition in serial blood and resected tumor samples.

Quantitative Comparison of Tumor Delivery for Multiple Targeted Nanoparticles Simultaneously by Multiplex ICP-MS

PubMed Central

Elias, Andrew; Crayton, Samuel H.; Warden-Rothman, Robert; Tsourkas, Andrew

2014-01-01

Given the rapidly expanding library of disease biomarkers and targeting agents, the number of unique targeted nanoparticles is growing exponentially. The high variability and expense of animal testing often makes it unfeasible to examine this large number of nanoparticles in vivo. This often leads to the investigation of a single formulation that performed best in vitro. However, nanoparticle performance in vivo depends on many variables, many of which cannot be adequately assessed with cell-based assays. To address this issue, we developed a lanthanide-doped nanoparticle method that allows quantitative comparison of multiple targeted nanoparticles simultaneously. Specifically, superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles with different targeting ligands were created, each with a unique lanthanide dopant. Following the simultaneous injection of the various SPIO compositions into tumor-bearing mice, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy was used to quantitatively and orthogonally assess the concentration of each SPIO composition in serial blood and resected tumor samples. PMID:25068300

Multifunctional Nanoparticles for Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy

PubMed Central

Cheng, Yu; Morshed, Ramin; Auffinger, Brenda; Tobias, Alex L.; Lesniak, Maciej S.

2013-01-01

Brain tumors are a diverse group of neoplasms that often carry a poor prognosis for patients. Despite tremendous efforts to develop diagnostic tools and therapeutic avenues, the treatment of brain tumors remains a formidable challenge in the field of neuro-oncology. Physiological barriers including the blood-brain barrier result in insufficient accumulation of therapeutic agents at the site of a tumor, preventing adequate destruction of malignant cells. Furthermore, there is a need for improvements in brain tumor imaging to allow for better characterization and delineation of tumors, visualization of malignant tissue during surgery, and tracking of response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Multifunctional nanoparticles offer the potential to improve upon many of these issues and may lead to breakthroughs in brain tumor management. In this review, we discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of nanoparticles for brain tumors with an emphasis on innovative approaches in tumor targeting, tumor imaging, and therapeutic agent delivery. Clinically feasible nanoparticle administration strategies for brain tumor patients are also examined. Furthermore, we address the barriers towards clinical implementation of multifunctional nanoparticles in the context of brain tumor management. PMID:24060923

Mucosal delivery of liposome-chitosan nanoparticle complexes.

PubMed

Carvalho, Edison L S; Grenha, Ana; Remuñán-López, Carmen; Alonso, Maria José; Seijo, Begoña

2009-01-01

Designing adequate drug carriers has long been a major challenge for those working in drug delivery. Since drug delivery strategies have evolved for mucosal delivery as the outstanding alternative to parenteral administration, many new drug delivery systems have been developed which evidence promising properties to address specific issues. Colloidal carriers, such as nanoparticles and liposomes, have been referred to as the most valuable approaches, but still have some limitations that can become more inconvenient as a function of the specific characteristics of administration routes. To overcome these limitations, we developed a new drug delivery system that results from the combination of chitosan nanoparticles and liposomes, in an approach of combining their advantages, while avoiding their individual limitations. These lipid/chitosan nanoparticle complexes are, thus, expected to protect the encapsulated drug from harsh environmental conditions, while concomitantly providing its controlled release. To prepare these assemblies, two different strategies have been applied: one focusing on the simple hydration of a previously formed dry lipid film with a suspension of chitosan nanoparticles, and the other relying on the lyophilization of both basic structures (nanoparticles and liposomes) with a subsequent step of hydration with water. The developed systems are able to provide a controlled release of the encapsulated model peptide, insulin, evidencing release profiles that are dependent on their lipid composition. Moreover, satisfactory in vivo results have been obtained, confirming the potential of these newly developed drug delivery systems as drug carriers through distinct mucosal routes.

Ineffective Healthcare Technology Management in Benin’s Public Health Sector: The Perceptions of Key Actors and Their Ability to Address the Main Problems

PubMed Central

Houngbo, P. Thierry; De Cock Buning, Tjard; Bunders, Joske; Coleman, Harry L. S.; Medenou, Daton; Dakpanon, Laurent; Zweekhorst, Marjolein

2017-01-01

Background: Low-income countries face many contextual challenges to manage healthcare technologies effectively, as the majority are imported and resources are constrained to a greater extent. Previous healthcare technology management (HTM) policies in Benin have failed to produce better quality of care for the population and costeffectiveness for the government. This study aims to identify and assess the main problems facing HTM in Benin’s public health sector, as well as the ability of key actors within the sector to address these problems. Methods: We conducted 2 surveys in 117 selected health facilities. The first survey was based on 377 questionnaires and 259 interviews, and the second involved observation and group interviews at health facilities. The Temple-Bird Healthcare Technology Package System (TBHTPS), tailored to the context of Benin’s health system, was used as a conceptual framework. Results: The findings of the first survey show that 85% of key actors in Benin’s HTM sector characterized the system as failing in components of the TBHTPS framework. Biomedical, clinical, healthcare technology engineers and technicians perceived problems most severely, followed by users of equipment, managers and hospital directors, international organization officers, local and foreign suppliers, and finally policy-makers, planners and administrators at the Ministry of Health (MoH). The 5 most important challenges to be addressed are policy, strategic management and planning, and technology needs assessment and selection – categorized as major enabling inputs (MEI) in HTM by the TBHTPS framework – and installation and commissioning, training and skill development and procurement, which are import and use activities (IUA). The ability of each key actor to address these problems (the degree of political or administrative power they possess) was inversely proportional to their perception of the severity of the problems. Observational data gathered during site

Ultrasmall inorganic nanoparticles: State-of-the-art and perspectives for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Zarschler, Kristof; Rocks, Louise; Licciardello, Nadia; Boselli, Luca; Polo, Ester; Garcia, Karina Pombo; De Cola, Luisa; Stephan, Holger; Dawson, Kenneth A

2016-08-01

Ultrasmall nanoparticulate materials with core sizes in the 1-3nm range bridge the gap between single molecules and classical, larger-sized nanomaterials, not only in terms of spatial dimension, but also as regards physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Due to these unique properties, ultrasmall nanoparticles appear to be promising materials for nanomedicinal applications. This review overviews the different synthetic methods of inorganic ultrasmall nanoparticles as well as their properties, characterization, surface modification and toxicity. We moreover summarize the current state of knowledge regarding pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and targeting of nanoscale materials. Aside from addressing the issue of biomolecular corona formation and elaborating on the interactions of ultrasmall nanoparticles with individual cells, we discuss the potential diagnostic, therapeutic and theranostic applications of ultrasmall nanoparticles in the emerging field of nanomedicine in the final part of this review. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nanomaterials and nanoparticles: sources and toxicity.

PubMed

Buzea, Cristina; Pacheco, Ivan I; Robbie, Kevin

2007-12-01

This review is presented as a common foundation for scientists interested in nanoparticles, their origin,activity, and biological toxicity. It is written with the goal of rationalizing and informing public health concerns related to this sometimes-strange new science of "nano," while raising awareness of nanomaterials' toxicity among scientists and manufacturers handling them.We show that humans have always been exposed to tiny particles via dust storms, volcanic ash, and other natural processes, and that our bodily systems are well adapted to protect us from these potentially harmful intruders. There ticuloendothelial system, in particular, actively neutralizes and eliminates foreign matter in the body,including viruses and nonbiological particles. Particles originating from human activities have existed for millennia, e.g., smoke from combustion and lint from garments, but the recent development of industry and combustion-based engine transportation has profoundly increased an thropogenic particulate pollution. Significantly, technological advancement has also changed the character of particulate pollution, increasing the proportion of nanometer-sized particles--"nanoparticles"--and expanding the variety of chemical compositions. Recent epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between particulate air pollution levels, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, and mortality. Adverse effects of nanoparticles on human health depend on individual factors such as genetics and existing disease, as well as exposure, and nanoparticle chemistry, size, shape,agglomeration state, and electromagnetic properties. Animal and human studies show that inhaled nanoparticles are less efficiently removed than larger particles by the macrophage clearance mechanisms in the lungs, causing lung damage, and that nanoparticles can translocate through the circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems to many tissues and organs, including the brain. The key to

Nanoparticle interaction potentials constructed by multiscale computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Cheng K.; Hua, Chi C.

2010-06-01

The van der Waals (vdW) potentials governing macroscopic objects have long been formulated in the context of classical theories, such as Hamaker's microscopic theory and Lifshitz's continuum theory. This work addresses the possibility of constructing the vdW interaction potentials of nanoparticle species using multiscale simulation schemes. Amorphous silica nanoparticles were considered as a benchmark example for which a series of (SiO2)n (n being an integer) has been systematically surveyed as the potential candidates of the packing units that reproduce known bulk material properties in atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. This strategy led to the identification of spherical Si6O12 molecules, later utilized as the elementary coarse-grained (CG) particles to compute the pair interaction potentials of silica nanoparticles ranging from 0.62 to 100 nm in diameter. The model nanoparticles so built may, in turn, serve as the children CG particles to construct nanoparticles assuming arbitrary sizes and shapes. Major observations are as follows. The pair interaction potentials for all the investigated spherical silica nanoparticles can be cast into a semiempirical, generalized Lennard-Jones 2α-α potential (α being a size-dependent, large integral number). In its reduced form, we discuss the implied universalities for the vdW potentials governing a certain range of amorphous nanoparticle species as well as how thermodynamic transferability can be fulfilled automatically. In view of future applications with colloidal suspensions, we briefly evaluated the vdW potential in the presence of a "screening" medium mimicking the effects of electrical double layers or grafting materials atop the nanoparticle core. The general observations shed new light on strategies to attain a microscopic control over interparticle attractions. In future perspectives, the proposed multiscale computation scheme shall help bridge the current gap between the modeling of polymer chains and

Magneto-electric nano-particles for non-invasive brain stimulation.

PubMed

Yue, Kun; Guduru, Rakesh; Hong, Jeongmin; Liang, Ping; Nair, Madhavan; Khizroev, Sakhrat

2012-01-01

This paper for the first time discusses a computational study of using magneto-electric (ME) nanoparticles to artificially stimulate the neural activity deep in the brain. The new technology provides a unique way to couple electric signals in the neural network to the magnetic dipoles in the nanoparticles with the purpose to enable a non-invasive approach. Simulations of the effect of ME nanoparticles for non-invasively stimulating the brain of a patient with Parkinson's Disease to bring the pulsed sequences of the electric field to the levels comparable to those of healthy people show that the optimized values for the concentration of the 20-nm nanoparticles (with the magneto-electric (ME) coefficient of 100 V cm(-1) Oe(-1) in the aqueous solution) is 3 × 10(6) particles/cc, and the frequency of the externally applied 300-Oe magnetic field is 80 Hz.

Iron oxide and gold nanoparticles in cancer therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gotman, Irena; Psakhie, Sergey G.; Lozhkomoev, Aleksandr S.; Gutmanas, Elazar Y.

2016-08-01

Continuous research activities in the field of nanomedicine in the past decade have, to a great extent, been focused on nanoparticle technologies for cancer therapy. Gold and iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) are two of the most studied inorganic nanomaterials due to their unique optical and magnetic properties. Both types of NPs are emerging as promising systems for anti-tumor drug delivery and for nanoparticle-mediated thermal therapy of cancer. In thermal therapy, localized heating inside tumors or in proximity of tumor cells can be induced, for example, with Au NPs by radiofrequency ablation heating or conversion of photon energy (photothermal therapy) and in iron oxide magnetic NPs by heat generation through relaxation in an alternating magnetic field (magnetic hyperthermia). Furthermore, the superparamagnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles have led to their use as potent MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) contrast agents. Surface modification/coating can produce NPs with tailored and desired properties, such as enhanced blood circulation time, stability, biocompatibility and water solubility. To target nanoparticles to specific tumor cells, NPs should be conjugated with targeting moieties on the surface which bind to receptors or other molecular structures on the cell surface. The article presents several approaches to enhancing the specificity of Au and iron oxide nanoparticles for tumor tissue by appropriate surface modification/functionalization, as well as the effect of these treatments on the saturation magnetization value of iron oxide NPs. The use of other nanoparticles and nanostructures in cancer treatment is also briefly reviewed.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles as selective killers of proliferating cells.

PubMed

Taccola, Liuba; Raffa, Vittoria; Riggio, Cristina; Vittorio, Orazio; Iorio, Maria Carla; Vanacore, Renato; Pietrabissa, Andrea; Cuschieri, Alfred

2011-01-01

It has recently been demonstrated that zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) induce death of cancerous cells whilst having no cytotoxic effect on normal cells. However, there are several issues which need to be resolved before translation of zinc oxide nanoparticles into medical use, including lack of suitable biocompatible dispersion protocols and a better understanding being needed of the mechanism of their selective cytotoxic action. Nanoparticle dose affecting cell viability was evaluated in a model of proliferating cells both experimentally and mathematically. The key issue of selective toxicity of ZnO NPs toward proliferating cells was addressed by experiments using a biological model of noncancerous cells, ie, mesenchymal stem cells before and after cell differentiation to the osteogenic lineage. In this paper, we report a biocompatible protocol for preparation of stable aqueous solutions of monodispersed zinc oxide nanoparticles. We found that the threshold of intracellular ZnO NP concentration required to induce cell death in proliferating cells is 0.4 ± 0.02 mM. Finally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the threshold dose of zinc oxide nanoparticles was lethal to proliferating pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells but exhibited negligible cytotoxic effects to osteogenically differentiated mesenchymal stem cells. Results confirm the ZnO NP selective cytotoxic action on rapidly proliferating cells, whether benign or malignant.

RISK ASSESSMENT FOR MANUFACTURED NANOPARTICLES USED IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS (RAMNUC)

EPA Science Inventory

Most recent scientific efforts have focused on examining toxicities of manufactured nano-particles (MNPs) only in source materials. By not evaluating MNPs at the point of exposure, these efforts fail to address the relevant question of whether or not consumer-product-derived M...

Co-Transcriptional Assembly of Modified RNA Nanoparticles | NCI Technology Transfer Center | TTC

Cancer.gov

The National Cancer Institute’s Nanobiology Program seeks parties interested in collaborative research to co-develop a method to generate RNA molecules suitable for nanoparticle and biomedical applications.

Support needs for medication use and the suitability of eHealth technologies to address these needs: a focus group study of older patients with rheumatoid arthritis

PubMed Central

Mathijssen, Elke GE; Vriezekolk, Johanna E; Eijsbouts, Agnes MM; van den Hoogen, Frank HJ; van den Bemt, Bart JF

2018-01-01

Objective The objectives of this study were to explore the needs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) regarding support for medication use and to gain insight into their perspective on the suitability of eHealth technologies to address these needs. Methods Three focus groups were conducted with 28 patients with RA. Audio recordings made during the focus groups were transcribed verbatim. Two researchers independently performed an inductive, thematic analysis on the data (ie, the transcripts and field notes). Results The following three themes that described support needs of patients with RA for medication use were identified in the data: 1) informational support; 2) practical support; and 3) emotional support. Informational support reflected the provision of information and facts, including advice, suggestions, and feedback from health care providers. Practical support included the reinforcement of practical skills as well as the provision of medication aids and pharmacy services. Emotional support reflected a trusted patient–health care provider relationship, characterized by good communication. Although potential advantages of eHealth technologies to address the patients’ support needs were recognized, concerns over matters such as personal interaction with health care providers, privacy and data security, and the quality and reliability of online information were prevalent. Conclusion Patients with RA have informational, practical, and emotional support needs for medication use. Informational support seems to be most important. From the patients’ perspective, eHealth technologies may have the potential to address these needs. However, these technologies are regarded as a complement to, rather than a replacement of, current practices. PMID:29563778

Inorganic nanoparticles for transfection of mammalian cells and removal of viruses from aqueous solutions.

PubMed

Link, Nils; Brunner, Tobias J; Dreesen, Imke A J; Stark, Wendelin J; Fussenegger, Martin

2007-12-01

Owing to their small size, synthetic nanoparticles show unprecedented biophysical and biochemical properties which may foster novel advances in life-science research. Using flame-spray synthesis technology we have produced non-coated aluminum-, calcium-, cerium-, and zirconium-derived inorganic metal oxide nanoparticles which not only exhibit high affinity for nucleic acids, but can sequester such compounds from aqueous solution. This non-covalent DNA-binding capacity was successfully used to transiently transfect a variety of mammalian cells including human, reaching transfection efficiencies which compared favorably with classic calcium phosphate precipitation (CaP) procedures and lipofection. In this straightforward protocol, transfection was enabled by simply mixing nanoparticles with DNA in solution prior to addition to the target cell population. Transiently transfected cells showed higher production levels of the human secreted glycoprotein SEAP compared to isogenic populations transfected with established technologies. Inorganic metal oxide nanoparticles also showed a high binding capacity to human-pathogenic viruses including adenovirus, adeno-associated virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and were able to clear these pathogens from aqueous solutions. The DNA transfection and viral clearance capacities of inorganic metal oxide nanoparticles may provide cost-effective biopharmaceutical manufacturing and water treatment in developing countries.

Synthesis and applications of novel silver nanoparticle structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dukes, Kyle

The field of nanotechnology is rapidly expanding across disciplines as each new development is realized. New exciting technologies are being driven by advances in the application of nanotechnology; including biochemical, optical, and semiconductors research. This thesis will focus on the use of silver nanoparticles as optical labels on cells, methods of forming different small structures of silver nanoparticles, as well as the use of silver nanoparticles in the development of a photovoltaic cell. Silver nanoparticles have been modified with self-assembled monolayers of hydroxyl-terminated long chain thiols and encapsulated with a silica shell. The resulting core-shell nanoparticles were used as optical labels for cell analysis using flow cytometry and microscopy. The excitation of plasmon resonances in nanoparticles results in strong depolarized scattering of visible light permitting detection at the single nanoparticle level. The nanoparticles were modified with neutravidin via epoxide-azide coupling chemistry and biotinylated antibodies targeting cell surface receptors were bound to the nanoparticle surface. The nanoparticle labels exhibited long-term stability under physiological conditions without aggregation or silver ion leaching. Labeled cells exhibited two orders of magnitude enhancement of the scattering intensity compared to unlabeled cells. Dimers of silver nanoparticles have been fabricated by first immobilizing a monolayer of single silver nanoparticles onto poly(4-vinylpyridine) covered glass slides. The monolayer was then exposed to adenine, which has two amines which will bind to silver. The nanoparticle monolayer, now modified with adenine, is exposed to a second suspension of nanoparticles which will bind with the amine modified monolayer. Finally, a thin silica shell is formed about the structure via solgel chemistry to prevent dissolution or aggregation upon sonication/striping. Circular arrays of silver nanoparticels are developed using a

Targeting of tumor endothelium by RGD-grafted PLGA-nanoparticles.

PubMed

Danhier, Fabienne; Pourcelle, Vincent; Marchand-Brynaert, Jacqueline; Jérôme, Christine; Feron, Olivier; Préat, Véronique

2012-01-01

The destruction of the neovessels in solid tumors can cause the death of tumor cells resulting from the lack of oxygen and nutrients. Peculiarities of the tumor vasculature, however, also position angiogenic endothelial cells as obvious targets to address cytotoxic drugs into the tumor. In particular, the identification of a three-amino acids sequence, arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD), as a fundamental recognition site for proliferating endothelial attachment to the extracellular matrix leads to the development of tumor-targeting ligands for nanoparticles. The RGD peptide can target the α(v)β(3) integrin overexpressed by the tumor endothelium, and thereby increases the accumulation of drug-loaded RGD-grafted nanoparticles. RGD-nanoparticles may thus extravasate more efficiently and enter the tumor via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. This combination of active and passive processes leads to the penetration of nanoparticles into the tumor tissue, followed by cellular uptake and intracellular delivery of the cytotoxic payload. Since cancer cells may also express α(v)β(3) integrin, the entrapping of RGD-nanoparticles into the tumor interstitial fluid may yet be facilitated through direct binding to cancer cells. Here, we describe methods used for the preparation of RGD-nanoparticles and for the validation of their potential of tumor endothelium targeting both in vitro and in vivo. We also illustrate how RGD-nanoparticles may be more suited than nontargeted modalities for the tumor delivery of poorly soluble and/or highly cytotoxic drugs, using different mouse tumor xenograft models. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

White House innovation expert Cristin Dorgelo speaks at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Chiral DNA origami nanotubes with well-defined and addressable inside and outside surfaces.

PubMed

Benn, Florence; Haley, Natalie E C; Lucas, Alexandra E; Silvester, Emma; Helmi, Seham; Schreiber, Robert; Bath, Jonathan; Turberfield, Andrew J

2018-04-18

We report the design and assembly of chiral DNA nanotubes with well-defined and addressable inside and outside surfaces. We demonstrate that the outside surface can be functionalised with a chiral arrangement of gold nanoparticles to create a plasmonic device and that the inside surface can be functionalised with a track for a molecular motor allowing transport of a cargo within the central cavity. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent for in vivo tumor imaging with photoacoustic tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Q.; Iwakuma, N.; Sharma, P.; Moudgil, B. M.; Wu, C.; McNeill, J.; Jiang, H.; Grobmyer, S. R.

2009-09-01

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is a rapidly emerging non-invasive imaging technology that integrates the merits of high optical contrast with high ultrasound resolution. The ability to quantitatively and non-invasively image nanoparticles has important implications for the development of nanoparticles as in vivo cancer diagnostic and therapeutic agents. In this study, the ability of systemically administered poly(ethylene glycol)-coated (PEGylated) gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent for in vivo tumor imaging with PAT has been evaluated. We demonstrate that gold nanoparticles (20 and 50 nm) have high photoacoustic contrast as compared to mouse tissue ex vivo. Gold nanoparticles can be visualized in mice in vivo following subcutaneous administration using PAT. Following intravenous administration of PEGylated gold nanoparticles to tumor-bearing mice, accumulation of gold nanoparticles in tumors can be effectively imaged with PAT. With gold nanoparticles as a contrast agent, PAT has important potential applications in the image guided therapy of superficial tumors such as breast cancer, melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Panels participants, from left, Dr. John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, former White House Science Fair participant Joey Hudy, Environmentalist and third-year law student at Elon University School of Law Tyrone Davis, White House innovation expert Cristin Dorgelo, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Gill Pratt, take a question from the audience during the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

How health technology assessment agencies address the issue of unpublished data.

PubMed

Kreis, Julia; Panteli, Dimitra; Busse, Reinhard

2014-01-01

Reporting bias potentially threatens the validity of results in health technology assessment (HTA) reports. Our study aimed to explore policies and practices of HTA agencies regarding strategies to include previously unpublished data in their assessments, focusing on requests to industry for unpublished data. We included international HTA agencies with publicly available methods papers as well as HTA reports. From the methods papers and recent reports we extracted information on requests to industry and on searches in trial registries, regulatory authority Web sites and for conference abstracts. Eighteen HTA agencies and seventy-three reports were included. Agencies' methods papers showed variability regarding requests to industry (requests are routinely carried out in seven cases, not mentioned in six, at the discretion of HTA authors in three, and based on manufacturer applications in two), which were reflected in the reports investigated. As reporting of requests was limited, it often remained unclear whether unpublished data had been received. Searches in trial registries, at regulatory authorities or for conference abstracts are described as a routine or optional part of the search strategy in the methods papers of 9, 11, and 8 included agencies, respectively. A total of 52 percent, 39 percent, and 16 percent of reports described searches in trial registries, at regulatory agencies, and hand searching of conference proceedings. International HTA agencies currently differ considerably in their efforts to address the issue of unpublished data. Requests to industry may constitute one strategy to access and include unpublished data, while agencies can learn from each other concerning successful practice.

Measurement of nanoparticle size, suspension polydispersity, and stability using near-field optical trapping and light scattering (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schein, Perry; O'Dell, Dakota; Erickson, David

2017-02-01

Nanoparticles are becoming ubiquitous in applications including diagnostic assays, drug delivery and therapeutics. However, there remain challenges in the quality control of these products. Here we present methods for the orthogonal measurement of these parameters by tracking the motion of the nanoparticle in all three special dimensions as it interacts with an optical waveguide. These simultaneous measurements from a single particle basis address some of the gaps left by current measurement technologies such as nanoparticle tracking analysis, ζ-potential measurements, and absorption spectroscopy. As nanoparticles suspended in a microfluidic channel interact with the evanescent field of an optical waveguide, they experience forces and resulting motion in three dimensions: along the propagation axis of the waveguide (x-direction) they are propelled by the optical forces, parallel to the plane of the waveguide and perpendicular to the optical propagation axis (y-direction) they experience an optical gradient force generated from the waveguide mode profile which confines them in a harmonic potential well, and normal to the surface of the waveguide they experience an exponential downward optical force balanced by the surface interactions that confines the particle in an asymmetric well. Building on our Nanophotonic Force Microscopy technique, in this talk we will explain how to simultaneously use the motion in the y-direction to estimate the size of the particle, the comparative velocity in the x-direction to measure the polydispersity of a particle population, and the motion in the z-direction to measure the potential energy landscape of the interaction, providing insight into the colloidal stability.

Hydrogen sensors based on electrophoretically deposited Pd nanoparticles onto InP

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Electrophoretic deposition of palladium nanoparticles prepared by the reverse micelle technique onto InP substrates is addressed. We demonstrate that the substrate pre-deposition treatment and the deposition conditions can extensively influence the morphology of the deposited palladium nanoparticle films. Schottky diodes based on these films show notably high values of the barrier height and of the rectification ratio giving evidence of a small degree of the Fermi level pinning. Moreover, electrical characteristics of these diodes are exceptionally sensitive to the exposure to gas mixtures with small hydrogen content. PMID:21711912

A review of critical factors for assessing the dermal absorption of metal oxide nanoparticles from sunscreens applied to humans, and a research strategy to address current deficiencies.

PubMed

Gulson, Brian; McCall, Maxine J; Bowman, Diana M; Pinheiro, Teresa

2015-11-01

Metal oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens provide broad-spectrum ultraviolet protection to skin. All studies to assess dermal penetration of nanoparticles have unanimously concluded that the overwhelming majority of nanoparticles remain on the outer surface of the skin. However, possibly due to many different experimental protocols in use, conclusions over the potential penetration to viable skin are mixed. Here, we review several factors that may influence experimental results for dermal penetration including the species studied (human, or animal model), size and coating of the metal oxide nanoparticles, composition of the sunscreen formulation, site of sunscreen application, dose and number of applications, duration of the study, types of biological samples analysed, methods for analysing samples, exposure to UV and skin flexing. Based on this information, we suggest an appropriate research agenda involving international collaboration that maximises the potential for dermal absorption of nanoparticles, and their detection, under normal conditions of sunscreen use by humans. If results from this research agenda indicate no absorption is observed, then concerns over adverse health effects from the dermal absorption of nanoparticles in sunscreens may be allayed.

Nanoparticle-Hydrogel: A Hybrid Biomaterial System for Localized Drug Delivery

PubMed Central

Gao, Weiwei; Zhang, Yue; Zhang, Qiangzhe; Zhang, Liangfang

2016-01-01

Nanoparticles have offered a unique set of properties for drug delivery including high drug loading capacity, combinatorial delivery, controlled and sustained drug release, prolonged stability and lifetime, and targeted delivery. To further enhance therapeutic index, especially for localized application, nanoparticles have been increasingly combined with hydrogels to form a hybrid biomaterial system for controlled drug delivery. Herein, we review recent progresses in engineering such nanoparticle-hydrogel hybrid system (namely ‘NP-gel’) with a particular focus on its application for localized drug delivery. Specifically, we highlight four research areas where NP-gel has shown great promises, including (1) passively controlled drug release, (2) stimuli-responsive drug delivery, (3) site-specific drug delivery, and (4) detoxification. Overall, integrating therapeutic nanoparticles with hydrogel technologies creates a unique and robust hybrid biomaterial system that enables effective localized drug delivery. PMID:26951462

Spatial redistribution of nano-particles using electrokinetic micro-focuser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia, Daniel E.; Silva, Aleidy; Ho, Chih-Ming

2007-09-01

Current microfabrication technologies rely on top-down, photolithographic techniques that are ultimately limited by the wavelength of light. While systems for nanofabrication do exist, they frequently suffer from high costs and slow processing times, creating a need for a new manufacturing paradigm. The combination of top-down and bottom-up fabrication approaches in device construction creates a new paradigm in micro- and nano-manufacturing. The pre-requisite for the realization of the manufacturing paradigm relies on the manipulation of molecules in a deterministic and controlled manner. The use of AC electrokinetic forces, such as dielectrophoresis (DEP) and AC electroosmosis, is a promising technology for manipulating nano-sized particle in a parallel fashion. A three-electrode micro-focusing system was designed to expoit this forces in order to control the spatial distribution of nano-particles in different frequency ranges. Thus far, we have demonstrated the ability to concentrate 40 nm and 300 nm diameter particles using a 50 μm diameter focusing system. AC electroosmotic motion of the nano-particles was observed while using low frequencies (in a range of 30 Hz - 1 KHz). By using different frequencies and changing the ground location, we have manipulated the nano-particles into circular band structures with different width, and focused the nanoparticles into circular spots with different diameters. Currently, we are in the progress of optimizing the operation parameters (e.g. frequency and AC voltages) by using the technique of particle image velocimetry (PIV). In the future, design of different electrode geometries and the numerical simulation of electric field distribution will be carried out to manipulate the nano-particles into a variety of geometries.

Gold nanoparticles in breast cancer treatment: Promise and potential pitfalls

PubMed Central

Lee, Jihyoun; Chatterjee, Dev Kumar; Lee, Min Hyuk; Krishnan, Sunil

2014-01-01

Despite remarkable achievements in the treatment of breast cancer, some obstacles still remain. Gold nanoparticles may prove valuable in addressing these problems owing to their unique characteristics, including their enhanced permeability and retention in tumor tissue, their light absorbance and surface plasmon resonance in near-infrared light, their interaction with radiation to generate secondary electrons, and their ability to be conjugated with drugs or other agents. Herein, we discuss some basic concepts of gold nanoparticles, and early results from studies regarding their use in breast cancer, including toxicity and side effects. We also discuss these particles’ potential clinical applications. PMID:24556077

Polypropylene/glass fiber hierarchical composites incorporating inorganic fullerene-like nanoparticles for advanced technological applications.

PubMed

Díez-Pascual, Ana M; Naffakh, Mohammed

2013-10-09

Novel isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/glass fiber (GF) laminates reinforced with inorganic fullerene-like tungsten disulfide (IF-WS2) nanoparticles as environmentally friendly fillers have been successfully fabricated by simple melt-blending and fiber impregnation in a hot-press without the addition of any compatibilizer. The influence of IF-WS2 concentration on the morphology, viscosity. and thermal and mechanical behavior of the hierarchical composites has been investigated. Results revealed an unprecedented 62 °C increase in the degradation temperature of iPP/GF upon addition of only 4.0 wt % IF-WS2. The coexistence of both micro- and nanoscale fillers resulted in synergistic effects on enhancing the stiffness, strength, crystallinity, thermal stability, glass transition (Tg) and heat distortion temperature (HDT) of the matrix. The approach used in this work is an efficient, versatile, scalable and economic strategy to improve the mechanical and thermal behavior of GF-reinforced thermoplastics with a view to extend their use in advanced technological applications. This new type of composite materials shows great potential to improve the efficiency and sustainability of many forms of transport.

The toxic effects of silver nanoparticles on blood mononuclear cells.

PubMed

Barkhordari, A; Barzegar, S; Hekmatimoghaddam, H; Jebali, A; Rahimi Moghadam, S; Khanjani, N

2014-07-01

Nanoparticles have become one of the leading technologies over the past two years. The extensive use of nanoparticles has raised great concern about their occupational fate and biological effects. With an increase in the production and use of nanomaterial, it is more likely to get exposed to them occupationally and environmentally. To assess the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on human mononuclear cells. In this in vitro experimental study, suspensions of blood mononuclear cells from 10 young healthy men were incubated with 10-nm silver nanoparticles in different concentrations (range: 1-500 μg/mL) for 6 and 24 hours by MTT assay. Positive and negative controls were used for comparison. After 6 hours of exposure, 10.9% to 48.4% of the cells died. After 24 hours of exposure, the rate ranged from 56.8% to 86.3%. Regardless of the exposure time, the maximum cytotoxicity was observed at the concentration of 500 μg/mL of silver nanoparticles. By increasing the exposure time to 24 hours, the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles substantially increased at all concentrations. Cell death was significantly higher when compared to the controls (p<0.01). Silver nanoparticles possess both time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity and can thus be considered as very toxic for mononuclear cells.

Role of nanoparticle size, shape and surface chemistry in oral drug delivery.

PubMed

Banerjee, Amrita; Qi, Jianping; Gogoi, Rohan; Wong, Jessica; Mitragotri, Samir

2016-09-28

Nanoparticles find intriguing applications in oral drug delivery since they present a large surface area for interactions with the gastrointestinal tract and can be modified in various ways to address the barriers associated with oral delivery. The size, shape and surface chemistry of nanoparticles can greatly impact cellular uptake and efficacy of the treatment. However, the interplay between particle size, shape and surface chemistry has not been well investigated especially for oral drug delivery. To this end, we prepared sphere-, rod- and disc-shaped nanoparticles and conjugated them with targeting ligands to study the influence of size, shape and surface chemistry on their uptake and transport across intestinal cells. A triple co-culture model of intestinal cells was utilized to more closely mimic the intestinal epithelium. Results demonstrated higher cellular uptake of rod-shaped nanoparticles in the co-culture compared to spheres regardless of the presence of active targeting moieties. Transport of nanorods across the intestinal co-culture was also significantly higher than spheres. The findings indicate that nanoparticle-mediated oral drug delivery can be potentially improved with departure from spherical shape which has been traditionally utilized for the design of nanoparticles. We believe that understanding the role of nanoparticle geometry in intestinal uptake and transport will bring forth a paradigm shift in nanoparticle engineering for oral delivery and non-spherical nanoparticles should be further investigated and considered for oral delivery of therapeutic drugs and diagnostic materials. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Gill Pratt speaks at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Evaluation of uptake and distribution of gold nanoparticles in solid tumors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

England, Christopheri G.; Gobin, André M.; Frieboes, Hermann B.

2015-11-01

Although nanotherapeutics offer a targeted and potentially less toxic alternative to systemic chemotherapy in cancer treatment, nanotherapeutic transport is typically hindered by abnormal characteristics of tumor tissue. Once nanoparticles targeted to tumor cells arrive in the circulation of tumor vasculature, they must extravasate from irregular vessels and diffuse through the tissue to ideally reach all malignant cells in cytotoxic concentrations. The enhanced permeability and retention effect can be leveraged to promote extravasation of appropriately sized particles from tumor vasculature; however, therapeutic success remains elusive partly due to inadequate intra-tumoral transport promoting heterogeneous nanoparticle uptake and distribution. Irregular tumor vasculature not only hinders particle transport but also sustains hypoxic tissue kregions with quiescent cells, which may be unaffected by cycle-dependent chemotherapeutics released from nanoparticles and thus regrow tumor tissue following nanotherapy. Furthermore, a large proportion of systemically injected nanoparticles may become sequestered by the reticulo-endothelial system, resulting in overall diminished efficacy. We review recent work evaluating the uptake and distribution of gold nanoparticles in pre-clinical tumor models, with the goal to help improve nanotherapy outcomes. We also examine the potential role of novel layered gold nanoparticles designed to address some of these critical issues, assessing their uptake and transport in cancerous tissue.

SiC nanoparticles cyto- and genotoxicity to Hep-G2 cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barillet, Sabrina; Jugan, Mary-Line; Simon-Deckers, Angélique; Leconte, Yann; Herlin-Boime, Nathalie; Mayne-l'Hermite, Martine; Reynaud, Cécile; Carrière, Marie

2009-05-01

While emerging nanotechnologies have seen significant development in recent years, knowledge on exposure levels as well as data on toxicity of nanoparticles are still quite limited. Indeed, there is a general agreement that development of nanotechnologies may lead to considerable dissemination of nanoparticles in the environment. Nevertheless, questions relative to toxicity versus innocuousness of such materials still remain. Our present study has thus been carried out with the purpose of assessing some aspects of toxicological capacities of three kinds of nano-sized particles: TiO2 and SiC nanoparticles, as well as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT). In order to address the question of their potential toxicity toward living cells, we chose several cellular models. Assuming inhalation as the most probable exposure scenario, we used A549 alveolar epithelial cells as a model for mammalian primary target organ (lung). Furthermore, we considered that nanoparticles that would deposit into the pulmonary system may be translocated to the circulatory system. Thus, we decided to study the effect of nanoparticles on potentially secondary target organs: liver (WIF-B9, Can-10, HepG2) and kidneys (NRK-52E, LLC-PK1). Herein, we will focus our attention on results obtained on the HepG2 cell line exposed to SiC nanoparticles. Scarce literature exists on SiC nanotoxicology. According to the authors that have already carried out studies on this particular nanoparticle, it would seem that SiC nanoparticles do not induce cytotoxicity. That is one of the reasons of the potential use of these nanoparticles as biological labels [1]. We thus were interested in acquiring more data on biological effects induced by SiC nanoparticles. Furthermore, one of the particular aspects of the present study lies in the fact that we tried to specify the influence of physico-chemical characteristics of nanoparticles on toxicological endpoints (cytotoxicity and genotoxicity).

A Metal Bump Bonding Method Using Ag Nanoparticles as Intermediate Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Weixin; Nimura, Masatsugu; Kasahara, Takashi; Mimatsu, Hayata; Okada, Akiko; Shoji, Shuichi; Ishizuka, Shugo; Mizuno, Jun

2015-11-01

The future development of low-temperature and low-pressure bonding technology is necessary for fine-pitch bump application. We propose a bump structure using Ag nanoparticles as an intermediate layer coated on a fine-pitch Cu pillar bump. The intermediate layer is prepared using an efficient and cost-saving squeegee-coating method followed by a 100°C baking process. This bump structure can be easily flattened before the bonding process, and the low-temperature sinterability of the nanoparticles is retained. The bonding experiment was successfully performed at 250°C and 39.8 MPa and the bonding strength was comparable to that achieved via other bonding technology utilizing metal particles or porous material as bump materials.

Altering Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Surface Properties Induce Cortical Neuron Cytotoxicity

PubMed Central

Rivet, Christopher J.; Yuan, Yuan; Borca-Tasciuc, Diana-Andra; Gilbert, Ryan J.

2014-01-01

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, with diameters in the range of a few tens of nanometers, display the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and are envisioned as diagnostic and therapeutic tools in neuro-medicine. However, despite the numerous applications being explored, insufficient information is available on their potential toxic effect on neurons. While iron oxide has been shown to pose a decreased risk of toxicity, surface functionalization, often employed for targeted delivery, can significantly alter the biological response. This aspect is addressed in the present study, which investigates the response of primary cortical neurons to iron oxide nanoparticles with coatings frequently used in biomedical applications: aminosilane, dextran, and polydimethylamine. Prior to administering the particles to neuronal cultures, each particle type was thoroughly characterized to assess the (1) size of individual nanoparticles, (2) concentration of the particles in solution and (3) agglomeration size and morphology. Culture results show that polydimethylamine functionalized nanoparticles induce cell death at all concentrations tested by swift and complete removal of the plasma membrane. Aminosilane coated particles affected metabolic activity only at higher concentrations while leaving the membrane intact and dextran-coated nanoparticles partially altered viability at higher concentrations. These findings suggest that nanoparticle characterization and primary cell-based cytotoxicity evaluation should be completed prior to applying nanomaterials to the nervous system. PMID:22111864

Characterization of starch nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szymońska, J.; Targosz-Korecka, M.; Krok, F.

2009-01-01

Nanomaterials already attract great interest because of their potential applications in technology, food science and medicine. Biomaterials are biodegradable and quite abundant in nature, so they are favoured over synthetic polymer based materials. Starch as a nontoxic, cheap and renewable raw material is particularly suitable for preparation of nanoparticles. In the paper, the structure and some physicochemical properties of potato and cassava starch particles of the size between 50 to 100 nm, obtained by mechanical treatment of native starch, were presented. We demonstrated, with the aim of the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and the non-contact Atomic Force Microscopy (nc-AFM), that the shape and dimensions of the obtained nanoparticles both potato and cassava starch fit the blocklets - previously proposed as basic structural features of native starch granules. This observation was supported by aqueous solubility and swelling power of the particles as well as their iodine binding capacity similar to those for amylopectin-type short branched polysaccharide species. Obtained results indicated that glycosidic bonds of the branch linkage points in the granule amorphous lamellae might be broken during the applied mechanical treatment. Thus the released amylopectin clusters could escape out of the granules. The starch nanoparticles, for their properties qualitatively different from those of native starch granules, could be utilized in new applications.

Cryo-electron tomography investigation of serum albumin-camouflaged tobacco mosaic virus nanoparticles.

PubMed

Gulati, Neetu M; Pitek, Andrzej S; Steinmetz, Nicole F; Stewart, Phoebe L

2017-03-09

Nanoparticles offer great potential in drug delivery and imaging, but shielding strategies are necessary to increase circulation time and performance. Structure-function studies are required to define the design rules to achieve effective shielding. With several formulations reaching clinical testing and approval, the ability to assess and detail nanoparticle formulations at the single particle level is becoming increasingly important. To address this need, we use cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to investigate stealth-coated nanoparticles. As a model system, we studied the soft matter nanotubes formed by tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) coated with human serum albumin (SA) stealth proteins. Cryo-ET and subtomogram averaging allow for visualization of individual SA molecules and determination of their orientations relative to the TMV surface, and also for measurement of the surface coverage provided by added stealth proteins. This information fills a critical gap in the understanding of the structural morphology of stealth-coated nanoparticles, and therefore cryo-ET may play an important role in guiding the development of future nanoparticle-based therapeutics.

Application of High-Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) as a Graphene Nanoparticle Reinforced Composite Thermoplastic Adhesive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stitt, Erik

Adhesive bonding is a more efficient joining method for composites than traditional mechanical fasteners and provides advantages in weight reduction, simplicity, and cost. In addition, the utilization of mechanical fasteners introduces stress concentrations and damage to the fiber-matrix interface. Adhesive bonding with thermoset polymers distributes mechanical loads but also makes disassembly for repair and recycling difficult. The ability to utilize thermoplastic polymers as adhesives offers an approach to address these limitations and can even produce a reversible adhesive joining technology through combining conductive nanoparticles with a thermoplastic polymer. The incorporation of the conductive nanoparticles allows for selective heating of the adhesive via exposure to electromagnetic (EM) radiation and simultaneously can augment the mechanical properties of the adhesive and the adhesive joint. This approach provides a versatile mechanism for efficiently creating and reversing structural adhesive joints across a wide range of materials. In this work, a high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) co-polymer containing butadiene as a toughness modifier is compounded with graphene nano-platelets (GnP) for investigation as a thermoplastic adhesive. The properties of the bulk composite adhesive are tailored by altering the morphology, dispersion, and concentration of GnP. The thermal response of the material to EM radiation in the microwave frequency spectrum was investigated and optimized. Surface treatments of the adhesive films were explored to enhance the viability of this nanoparticle thermoplastic polymer to function as a reversible adhesive. As a result, it has been shown that lap-shear strengths of multi-material joints produced from aforementioned thermoplastic adhesives were comparable to similar thermoset bonded joints.

Immunogenicity and ecotoxicity of engineered nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maurer-Jones, Melissa Ann

The growing use of nanoscale materials in commercially available products and therapeutics has created an urgent need to determine the toxicity of these materials so that they may be designed and employed safely. As nanoparticles have unique physical and chemical properties, the challenges in determining their physiological and environmental impact have been numerous. It is, therefore, the goal of my thesis work to employ sensitive analytical tools to fundamentally understand the how nanoparticles interact with immunologically and ecologically relevant models. My project approaches nanotoxicity studies starting with a relevant model system exposed to well-characterized nanoparticles to (1) determine if cells/organisms survive exposure using traditional toxicological assays and, if the majority survives exposure, (2) use sensitive analytical tools to determine if there are changes to critical cell/organism function. If perturbation of function is detected, (3) the mechanism or cause of changes in cell function should be determined, including assessment of nanoparticle uptake and localization. Once a mechanism of interaction is determined, this process could begin again with a modified particle that may address the toxic response. Chapter Two describes the impact of metal oxide (TiO2 and SiO2) nanoparticles on mast cells, critical immune system cells, and utilizes the sensitive technique of carbon-fiber microelectrode amperometry (CFMA) to monitor changes in the important mast cell function of exocytosis. Chapter Three expands upon Chapter Two and examines in more detail the mechanism by which TiO2 nanoparticles impact exocytotic cell function, completing the process nanotoxicity described above. From these studies, it was determined that, while nanoparticles do not decrease the viability of mast cells, there are significant changes to exocytosis upon nanoparticle exposure, and in the case of TiO2, these changes in exocytosis are correlated to nanoparticle

Chrysopogon zizanioides aqueous extract mediated synthesis, characterization of crystalline silver and gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications

PubMed Central

Arunachalam, Kantha D; Annamalai, Sathesh Kumar

2013-01-01

The exploitation of various plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles is considered a green technology as it does not involve any harmful chemicals. The aim of this study was to develop a simple biological method for the synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using Chrysopogon zizanioides. To exploit various plant materials for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles was considered a green technology. An aqueous leaf extract of C. zizanioides was used to synthesize silver and gold nanoparticles by the bioreduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) respectively. Water-soluble organics present in the plant materials were mainly responsible for reducing silver or gold ions to nanosized Ag or Au particles. The synthesized silver and gold nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The kinetics decline reactions of aqueous silver/gold ion with the C. zizanioides crude extract were determined by UV-visible spectroscopy. SEM analysis showed that aqueous gold ions, when exposed to the extract were reduced and resulted in the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles in the size range 20–50 nm. This eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of nanoparticles is simple, can be scaled up for large-scale production with powerful bioactivity as demonstrated by the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The synthesized nanoparticles can have clinical use as antibacterial, antioxidant, as well as cytotoxic agents and can be used for biomedical applications. PMID:23861583

Preparation of bio-compatible boron nanoparticles and novel mesoporous silica nanoparticles for bio-applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Zhe

This dissertation presents the synthesis and characterization of several novel inorganic and hybrid nanoparticles, including the bio-compatible boron nanoparticles (BNPs) for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), tannic acid-templated mesoporous silica nanoparticles and degradable bridged silsesquioxane silica nanoparticles. Chapter 1 provides background information of BNCT and reviews the development of design and synthesizing silica nanoparticles and the study of silica material degradability. Chapter 2 describes the preparation and characterization of dopamine modified BNPs and the preliminary cell study of them. The BNPs were first produced via ball milling, with fatty acid on the surface to stabilize the combustible boron elements. This chapter will mainly focus on the ligand-exchange strategy, in which the fatty acids were replaced by non-toxic dopamines in a facile one-pot reaction. The dopamine-coated BNPs (DA-BNPs) revealed good water dispersibility and low cytotoxicity. Chapter 3 describes the synthesis of tannic acid template mesoporous silica nanoparticles (TA-TEOS SiNPs) and their application to immobilize proteins. The monodispersed TA SiNPs with uniform pore size up to approximately 13 nm were produced by utilizing tannic acid as a molecular template. We studied the influence of TA concentration and reaction time on the morphology and pore size of the particles. Furthermore, the TA-TEOS particles could subsequently be modified with amine groups allowing them to be capable of incorporating imaging ligands and other guest molecules. The ability of the TA-TEOS particles to store biomolecules was preliminarily assessed with three proteins of different charge characteristics and dimensions. The immobilization of malic dehydrogenase on TA-TEOS enhanced the stability of the enzyme at room temperature. Chapter 4 details the synthesis of several bridged silsesquioxanes and the preparation of degradable hybrid SiNPs via co-condensation of bridged

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

NASA associate administrator for education and former astronaut Leland Melvin speaks at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Synthesis and characterization of Gd-doped magnetite nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Honghu; Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA; Malik, Vikash

There has been rising interest in the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles due to their importance in biomedical and technological applications. Tunable magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles to meet specific requirements will greatly expand the spectrum of applications. Tremendous efforts have been devoted to studying and controlling the size, shape and magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles. We investigate gadolinium (Gd) doping to influence the growth process as well as magnetic properties of magnetite nanocrystals via a simple co-precipitation method under mild conditions in aqueous media. Gd doping was found to affect the growth process leading to synthesis of controllable particle sizesmore » under the conditions tested (0–10 at% Gd 3+). Typically, undoped and 5 at% Gd-doped magnetite nanoparticles were found to have crystal sizes of about 18 and 44 nm, respectively, supported by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. These results showed that Gd-doped nanoparticles retained the magnetite crystal structure, with Gd 3+ randomly incorporated in the crystal lattice, probably in the octahedral sites. The composition of 5 at% Gd-doped magnetite was Fe (3-x)Gd xO 4 (x=0.085±0.002), as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. 5 at% Gd-doped nanoparticles exhibited ferrimagnetic properties with small coercivity (~65 Oe) and slightly decreased magnetization at 260 K in contrast to the undoped, superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles. Templation by the bacterial biomineralization protein Mms6 did not appear to affect the growth of the Gd-doped magnetite particles synthesized by this method.« less

Synthesis and characterization of Gd-doped magnetite nanoparticles

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Honghu; Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA; Malik, Vikash; ...

2016-10-04

There has been rising interest in the synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles due to their importance in biomedical and technological applications. Tunable magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles to meet specific requirements will greatly expand the spectrum of applications. Tremendous efforts have been devoted to studying and controlling the size, shape and magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles. We investigate gadolinium (Gd) doping to influence the growth process as well as magnetic properties of magnetite nanocrystals via a simple co-precipitation method under mild conditions in aqueous media. Gd doping was found to affect the growth process leading to synthesis of controllable particle sizesmore » under the conditions tested (0–10 at% Gd 3+). Typically, undoped and 5 at% Gd-doped magnetite nanoparticles were found to have crystal sizes of about 18 and 44 nm, respectively, supported by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. These results showed that Gd-doped nanoparticles retained the magnetite crystal structure, with Gd 3+ randomly incorporated in the crystal lattice, probably in the octahedral sites. The composition of 5 at% Gd-doped magnetite was Fe (3-x)Gd xO 4 (x=0.085±0.002), as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. 5 at% Gd-doped nanoparticles exhibited ferrimagnetic properties with small coercivity (~65 Oe) and slightly decreased magnetization at 260 K in contrast to the undoped, superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles. Templation by the bacterial biomineralization protein Mms6 did not appear to affect the growth of the Gd-doped magnetite particles synthesized by this method.« less

Nanoparticle toxicity by the gastrointestinal route: evidence and knowledge gaps

PubMed Central

Bergin, Ingrid L.; Witzmann, Frank A.

2013-01-01

The increasing interest in nanoparticles for advanced technologies, consumer products, and biomedical applications has led to great excitement about potential benefits but also concern over the potential for adverse human health effects. The gastrointestinal tract represents a likely route of entry for many nanomaterials, both directly through intentional ingestion or indirectly via nanoparticle dissolution from food containers or by secondary ingestion of inhaled particles. Additionally, increased utilisation of nanoparticles may lead to increased environmental contamination and unintentional ingestion via water, food animals, or fish. The gastrointestinal tract is a site of complex, symbiotic interactions between host cells and the resident microbiome. Accordingly, evaluation of nanoparticles must take into consideration not only absorption and extraintestinal organ accumulation but also the potential for altered gut microbes and the effects of this perturbation on the host. The existing literature was evaluated for evidence of toxicity based on these considerations. Focus was placed on three categories of nanomaterials: nanometals and metal oxides, carbon-based nanoparticles, and polymer/dendrimers with emphasis on those particles of greatest relevance to gastrointestinal exposures. PMID:24228068

Precisely Size-Tunable Monodisperse Hairy Plasmonic Nanoparticles via Amphiphilic Star-Like Block Copolymers.

PubMed

Chen, Yihuang; Yoon, Young Jun; Pang, Xinchang; He, Yanjie; Jung, Jaehan; Feng, Chaowei; Zhang, Guangzhao; Lin, Zhiqun

2016-12-01

In situ precision synthesis of monodisperse hairy plasmonic nanoparticles with tailored dimensions and compositions by capitalizing on amphiphilic star-like diblock copolymers as nanoreactors are reported. Such hairy plasmonic nanoparticles comprise uniform noble metal nanoparticles intimately and perpetually capped by hydrophobic polymer chains (i.e., "hairs") with even length. Interestingly, amphiphilic star-like diblock copolymer nanoreactors retain the spherical shape under reaction conditions, and the diameter of the resulting plasmonic nanoparticles and the thickness of polymer chains situated on the surface of the nanoparticle can be readily and precisely tailored. These hairy nanoparticles can be regarded as hard/soft core/shell nanoparticles. Notably, the polymer "hairs" are directly and permanently tethered to the noble metal nanoparticle surface, thereby preventing the aggregation of nanoparticles and rendering their dissolution in nonpolar solvents and the homogeneous distribution in polymer matrices with long-term stability. This amphiphilic star-like block copolymer nanoreactor-based strategy is viable and robust and conceptually enables the design and synthesis of a rich variety of hairy functional nanoparticles with new horizons for fundamental research on self-assembly and technological applications in plasmonics, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, bioimaging, and biosensors. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Folate-targeted nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis therapy.

PubMed

Nogueira, Eugénia; Gomes, Andreia C; Preto, Ana; Cavaco-Paulo, Artur

2016-05-01

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease, affecting almost 1% of the world population. Although the cause of RA remains unknown, the complex interaction between immune mediators (cytokines and effector cells) is responsible for the joint damage that begins at the synovial membrane. Activated macrophages are critical in the pathogenesis of RA and showed specifically express a receptor for the vitamin folic acid (FA), folate receptor β (FRβ). This particular receptor allows internalization of FA-coupled cargo. In this review we will address the potential of nanoparticles as an effective drug delivery system for therapies that will directly target activated macrophages. Special attention will be given to stealth degree of the nanoparticles as a strategy to avoid clearance by macrophages of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS). This review summarizes the application of FA-target nanoparticles as drug delivery systems for RA and proposes prospective future directions. Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating autoimmune disease of the joints which affects many people worldwide. Up till now, there is a lack of optimal therapy against this disease. In this review article, the authors outlined in depth the current mechanism of disease for rheumatoid arthritis and described the latest research in using folic acid-targeted nanoparticles to target synovial macrophages in the fight against rheumatoid arthritis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Uncapped silver nanoparticles synthesized by DC arc thermal plasma technique for conductor paste formulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinde, Manish; Pawar, Amol; Karmakar, Soumen; Seth, Tanay; Raut, Varsha; Rane, Sunit; Bhoraskar, Sudha; Amalnerkar, Dinesh

2009-11-01

Uncapped silver nanoparticles were synthesized by DC arc thermal plasma technique. The synthesized nanoparticles were structurally cubic and showed wide particle size variation (between 20-150 nm). Thick film paste formulated from such uncapped silver nanoparticles was screen-printed on alumina substrates and the resultant `green' films were fired at different firing temperatures. The films fired at 600 °C revealed better microstructure properties and also yielded the lowest value of sheet resistance in comparison to those corresponding to conventional peak firing temperature of 850 °C. Our findings directly support the role of silver nanoparticles in substantially depressing the operative peak firing temperature involved in traditional conductor thick films technology.

Drug-induced amplification of nanoparticle targeting to tumors

PubMed Central

Lin, Kevin Y.; Kwon, Ester J.; Lo, Justin H.; Bhatia, Sangeeta N.

2018-01-01

Summary Nanomedicines have the potential to significantly impact cancer therapy by improving drug efficacy and decreasing off-target effects, yet our ability to efficiently home nanoparticles to disease sites remains limited. One frequently overlooked constraint of current active targeting schemes is the relative dearth of targetable antigens within tumors, which restricts the amount of cargo that can be delivered in a tumor-specific manner. To address this limitation, we exploit tumor-specific responses to drugs to construct a cooperative targeting system where a small molecule therapeutic modulates the disease microenvironment to amplify nanoparticle recruitment in vivo. We first administer a vascular disrupting agent, ombrabulin, which selectively affects tumors and leads to locally elevated presentation of the stress-related protein, p32. This increase in p32 levels provides more binding sites for circulating p32-targeted nanoparticles, enhancing their delivery of diagnostic or therapeutic cargos to tumors. We show that this cooperative targeting system recruits over five times higher doses of nanoparticles to tumors and decreases tumor burden when compared with non-cooperative controls. These results suggest that using nanomedicine in conjunction with drugs that enhance the presentation of target antigens in the tumor environment may be an effective strategy for improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. PMID:29731806

Identification of Nanoparticle Prototypes and Archetypes.

PubMed

Fernandez, Michael; Barnard, Amanda S

2015-12-22

High-throughput (HT) computational characterization of nanomaterials is poised to accelerate novel material breakthroughs. The number of possible nanomaterials is increasing exponentially along with their complexity, and so statistical and information technology will play a fundamental role in rationalizing nanomaterials HT data. We demonstrate that multivariate statistical analysis of heterogeneous ensembles can identify the truly significant nanoparticles and their most relevant properties. Virtual samples of diamond nanoparticles and graphene nanoflakes are characterized using clustering and archetypal analysis, where we find that saturated particles are defined by their geometry, while nonsaturated nanoparticles are defined by their carbon chemistry. At the complex hull of the nanostructure spaces, a combination of complex archetypes can efficiency describe a large number of members of the ensembles, whereas the regular shapes that are typically assumed to be representative can only describe a small set of the most regular morphologies. This approach provides a route toward the characterization of computationally intractable virtual nanomaterial spaces, which can aid nanomaterials discovery in the foreseen big data scenario.

Recent advances in porous nanoparticles for drug delivery in antitumoral applications: inorganic nanoparticles and nanoscale metal-organic frameworks.

PubMed

Baeza, Alejandro; Ruiz-Molina, Daniel; Vallet-Regí, María

2017-06-01

Nanotechnology has provided new tools for addressing unmet clinical situations, especially in the oncology field. The development of smart nanocarriers able to deliver chemotherapeutic agents specifically to the diseased cells and to release them in a controlled way has offered a paramount advantage over conventional therapy. Areas covered: Among the different types of nanoparticle that can be employed for this purpose, inorganic porous materials have received significant attention in the last decade due to their unique properties such as high loading capacity, chemical and physical robustness, low toxicity and easy and cheap production in the laboratory. This review discuss the recent advances performed in the application of porous inorganic and metal-organic materials for antitumoral therapy, paying special attention to the application of mesoporous silica, porous silicon and metal-organic nanoparticles. Expert opinion: The use of porous inorganic nanoparticles as drug carriers for cancer therapy has the potential to improve the life expectancy of the patients affected by this disease. However, much work is needed to overcome their drawbacks, which are aggravated by their hard nature, exploiting the advantages offered by highly the ordered pore network of these materials.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles as selective killers of proliferating cells

PubMed Central

Taccola, Liuba; Raffa, Vittoria; Riggio, Cristina; Vittorio, Orazio; Iorio, Maria Carla; Vanacore, Renato; Pietrabissa, Andrea; Cuschieri, Alfred

2011-01-01

Background: It has recently been demonstrated that zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) induce death of cancerous cells whilst having no cytotoxic effect on normal cells. However, there are several issues which need to be resolved before translation of zinc oxide nanoparticles into medical use, including lack of suitable biocompatible dispersion protocols and a better understanding being needed of the mechanism of their selective cytotoxic action. Methods: Nanoparticle dose affecting cell viability was evaluated in a model of proliferating cells both experimentally and mathematically. The key issue of selective toxicity of ZnO NPs toward proliferating cells was addressed by experiments using a biological model of noncancerous cells, ie, mesenchymal stem cells before and after cell differentiation to the osteogenic lineage. Results: In this paper, we report a biocompatible protocol for preparation of stable aqueous solutions of monodispersed zinc oxide nanoparticles. We found that the threshold of intracellular ZnO NP concentration required to induce cell death in proliferating cells is 0.4 ± 0.02 mM. Finally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the threshold dose of zinc oxide nanoparticles was lethal to proliferating pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells but exhibited negligible cytotoxic effects to osteogenically differentiated mesenchymal stem cells. Conclusion: Results confirm the ZnO NP selective cytotoxic action on rapidly proliferating cells, whether benign or malignant. PMID:21698081

A new green chemistry method based on plant extracts to synthesize gold nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montes Castillo, Milka Odemariz

Extraordinary chemical and physical properties exhibited by nanomaterials, as compared to their bulk counterparts, have made the area of nanotechnology a growing realm in the past three decades. It is the nanoscale size (from 1 to 100 nm) and the morphologies of nanomaterials that provide several properties and applications not possible for the same material in the bulk. Magnetic and optical properties, as well as surface reactivity are highly dependent on the size and morphology of the nanomaterial. Diverse nanomaterials are being widely used in molecular diagnostics as well as in medicine, electronic and optical devices. Among the most studied nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles are of special interest due to their multifunctional capabilities. For instance, spherical gold nanoparticles measuring 15-20 nm in diameter have been studied due to their insulin binding properties. Also, thiol functionalized gold nanoparticles between 5 and 30 nm are used in the detection of DNA. Thus, harnessing the shape and size of gold nanoparticles plays an important role in science and technology. The synthesis of gold nanoparticles via the reduction of gold salts, using citrate or other reducing agents, has been widely studied. In recent years, algae, fungi, bacteria, and living plants have been used to reduce trivalent gold (Au3+) to its zero oxidation state (Au 0) forming gold nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes. In addition, plant biomasses have also been studied for their gold-reducing power and nanoparticle formation. Although there is information about the synthesis of the gold nanoparticles by biologically based materials; to our knowledge, the study of the use of alfalfa extracts has not been reported. This innovation represents a significant improvement; that is an environmentally friendly method that does not use toxic chemicals. Also, the problem of extracting the formed gold nanoparticles from biomaterials is addressed in this research but still remains to be

Strategies for the synthesis of supported gold palladium nanoparticles with controlled morphology and composition.

PubMed

Hutchings, Graham J; Kiely, Christopher J

2013-08-20

The discovery that supported gold nanoparticles are exceptionally effective catalysts for redox reactions has led to an explosion of interest in gold nanoparticles. In addition, incorporating a second metal as an alloy with gold can enhance the catalyst performance even more. The addition of small amounts of gold to palladium, in particular, and vice versa significantly enhances the activity of supported gold-palladium nanoparticles as redox catalysts through what researchers believe is an electronic effect. In this Account, we describe and discuss methodologies for the synthesis of supported gold-palladium nanoparticles and their use as heterogeneous catalysts. In general, three key challenges need to be addressed in the synthesis of bimetallic nanoparticles: (i) control of the particle morphology, (ii) control of the particle size distribution, and (iii) control of the nanoparticle composition. We describe three methodologies to address these challenges. First, we discuss the relatively simple method of coimpregnation. Impregnation allows control of particle morphology during alloy formation but does not control the particle compositions or the particle size distribution. Even so, we contend that this method is the best preparation method in the catalyst discovery phase of any project, since it permits the investigation of many different catalyst structures in one experiment, which may aid the identification of new catalysts. A second approach, sol-immobilization, allows enhanced control of the particle size distribution and the particle morphology, but control of the composition of individual nanoparticles is not possible. Finally, a modified impregnation method can allow the control of all three of these crucial parameters. We discuss the effect of the different methodologies on three redox reactions: benzyl alcohol oxidation, toluene oxidation, and the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide. We show that the coimpregnation method provides the best reaction

The importance of microfluidics for the preparation of nanoparticles as advanced drug delivery systems.

PubMed

Martins, João Pedro; Torrieri, Giulia; Santos, Hélder A

2018-05-01

Nanoparticles are anticipated to overcome persistent challenges in efficient drug delivery, but the limitations associated with conventional methods of preparation are resulting in slow translation from research to clinical applications. Due to their enormous potential, microfluidic technologies have emerged as an advanced approach for the development of drug delivery systems with well-defined physicochemical characteristics and in a reproducible manner. Areas covered: This review provides an overview of microfluidic devices and materials used for their manufacturing, together with the flow patterns and regimes commonly used for nanoparticle preparation. Additionally, the different geometries used in droplet microfluidics are reviewed, with particular attention to the co-flow geometry used for the production of nanoparticles. Finally, this review summarizes the main and most recent nanoparticulate systems prepared using microfluidics, including drug nanosuspensions, polymeric, lipid, structured, and theranostic nanoparticles. Expert opinion: The production of nanoparticles at industrial scale is still a challenge, but the microfluidic technologies bring exciting opportunities to develop drug delivery systems that can be engineered in an easy, cost-effective and reproducible manner. As a highly interdisciplinary research field, more efforts and general acceptance are needed to allow for the translation of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems from academic research to the clinical practice.

First-principles configurational thermodynamics of alloyed nanoparticles with adsorbates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Lin-Lin; Tan, Teck L.; Johnson, Duane D.

2014-03-01

Transition-metal, alloyed nanoparticles (NPs) are key components in current and emerging energy technologies because they are found to improve catalytic activity and selectivity for many energy-conversion processes. However, thermodynamic investigations of the compositional profile of alloyed nanoparticles, which determines their catalytic properties, have been limited mostly to NP core-shell preference without the presence of adsorbates. Here, by extending cluster expansion methods to treat both alloyed nanoparticles and adsorbates, we study the configurational thermodynamics of bimetallic NPs under chemically reactive conditions, using databases from density functional theory calculations. With a few examples, we show that such simulations can provide information needed for rational design of NP catalysts. DOE/BES under DE-FG02-03ER15476 (Catalysis) and DE-AC02-07CH11358 at the Ames Laboratory.

Sustainable health systems: addressing three key areas.

PubMed

Chhanabhai, Prajesh N; Holt, Alec; Benwell, George

2007-01-01

In the modern context sustainable health systems are being developed using the newest technological and communication technologies. This is proving to be a great success for the growth of Health Informatics and healthcare improvement. However this revolution is not being reached by a lot of the world population. This paper will address the importance of closing the Digital Divide, Empowerment of health consumers and the importance of converging communications. Key areas in the development of a truly sustainable health system.

Solar-assisted synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using lime juice: a green approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinge, Shruti P.; Pandit, Aniruddha B.

2017-12-01

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are those nanoparticles which have been synthesized in various morphologies and shapes. Their size and shape dependent properties and their applications in vivid sectors of science and technology make them interesting to synthesize. Present work reports a green method for ZnO nanoparticle synthesis using lime juice and sunlight. ZnO nanoparticles were also synthesized by conventionally used methods like heating, stirring or no heating and/or stirring. The nanoparticles were characterized using different techniques like UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) was also carried out for the intermediate product to select the calcination temperature. Stoichiometric study reveals that the intermediate product formed is zinc citrate dihydrate. The synthesized calcined nanoparticles have good crystallinity, uniform shape, and high purity and were in the size range of 20-30 nm. These nanoparticles formed agglomerates of various shapes in the size range of 200-750 nm. This process is ecofriendly and is amiable for easy scale up.

Biocompatible near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles for macro and microscopic in vivo functional bioimaging

PubMed Central

Chu, Liliang; Wang, Shaowei; Li, Kanghui; Xi, Wang; Zhao, Xinyuan; Qian, Jun

2014-01-01

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging technology has been widely used for biomedical research and applications, since it can achieve deep penetration in biological tissues due to less absorption and scattering of NIR light. In our research, polymer nanoparticles with NIR fluorophores doped were synthesized. The morphology, absorption/emission features and chemical stability of the fluorescent nanoparticles were characterized, separately. NIR fluorescent nanoparticles were then utilized as bright optical probes for macro in vivo imaging of mice, including sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping, as well as distribution and excretion monitoring of nanoparticles in animal body. Furthermore, we applied the NIR fluorescent nanoparticles in in vivo microscopic bioimaging via a confocal microscope. Under the 635 nm-CW excitation, the blood vessel architecture in the ear and the brain of mice, which were administered with nanoparticles, was visualized very clearly. The imaging depth of our one-photon microscopy, which was assisted with NIR fluorescent nanoprobes, can reach as deep as 500 μm. Our experiments show that NIR fluorescent nanoparticles have great potentials in various deep-tissue imaging applications. PMID:25426331

Single Nanoparticle Translocation Through Chemically Modified Solid Nanopore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Shengwei; Wang, Lei; Liu, Hang; Wu, Hongwen; Liu, Quanjun

2016-02-01

The nanopore sensor as a high-throughput and low-cost technology can detect single nanoparticle in solution. In the present study, the silicon nitride nanopores were fabricated by focused Ga ion beam (FIB), and the surface was functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to change its surface charge density. The positively charged nanopore surface attracted negatively charged nanoparticles when they were in the vicinity of the nanopore. And, nanoparticle translocation speed was slowed down to obtain a clear and deterministic signal. Compared with previous studied small nanoparticles, the electrophoretic translocation of negatively charged polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles (diameter ~100 nm) was investigated in solution using the Coulter counter principle in which the time-dependent nanopore current was recorded as the nanoparticles were driven across the nanopore. A linear dependence was found between current drop and biased voltage. An exponentially decaying function ( t d ~ e -v/v0 ) was found between the duration time and biased voltage. The interaction between the amine-functionalized nanopore wall and PS microspheres was discussed while translating PS microspheres. We explored also translocations of PS microspheres through amine-functionalized solid-state nanopores by varying the solution pH (5.4, 7.0, and 10.0) with 0.02 M potassium chloride (KCl). Surface functionalization showed to provide a useful step to fine-tune the surface property, which can selectively transport molecules or particles. This approach is likely to be applied to gene sequencing.

Magnetic nanoparticle targeted hyperthermia of cutaneous Staphylococcus aureus infection

PubMed Central

Kim, Min-Ho; Yamayoshi, Itsukyo; Mathew, Steven; Liln, Hubert; Nayfach, Joseph; Simon, Scott I.

2013-01-01

The incidence of wound infections that do not adequately respond to standard-of-care antimicrobial treatment has been increasing. To address this challenge, a novel antimicrobial magnetic thermotherapy platform has been developed in which a high-amplitude, high-frequency, alternating magnetic field (AMF) is used to rapidly heat magnetic nanoparticles that are bound to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The antimicrobial efficacy of this platform was evaluated in the treatment of both an in vitro culture model of S. aureus biofilm and a mouse model of cutaneous S. aureus infection. We demonstrated that an antibody-targeted magnetic nanoparticle bound to S. aureus was effective at thermally inactivating S. aureus and achieving accelerated wound healing without causing tissue injury. PMID:23149904

Photophysical Properties and Singlet Oxygen Generation Efficiencies of Water-Soluble Fullerene Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Stasheuski, Alexander S; Galievsky, Victor A; Stupak, Alexander P; Dzhagarov, Boris M; Choi, Mi Jin; Chung, Bong Hyun; Jeong, Jin Young

2014-01-01

As various fullerene derivatives have been developed, it is necessary to explore their photophysical properties for potential use in photoelectronics and medicine. Here, we address the photophysical properties of newly synthesized water-soluble fullerene-based nanoparticles and polyhydroxylated fullerene as a representative water-soluble fullerene derivative. They show broad emission band arising from a wide-range of excitation energies. It is attributed to the optical transitions from disorder-induced states, which decay in the nanosecond time range. We determine the kinetic properties of the singlet oxygen (1O2) luminescence generated by the fullerene nanoparticles and polyhydroxylated fullerene to consider the potential as photodynamic agents. Triplet state decay of the nanoparticles was longer than 1O2 lifetime in water. Singlet oxygen quantum yield of a series of the fullerene nanoparticles is comparably higher ranging from 0.15 to 0.2 than that of polyhydroxylated fullerene, which is about 0.06. PMID:24893622

Compensated individually addressable array technology for human breast imaging

DOEpatents

Lewis, D. Kent

2003-01-01

A method of forming broad bandwidth acoustic or microwave beams which encompass array design, array excitation, source signal preprocessing, and received signal postprocessing. This technique uses several different methods to achieve improvement over conventional array systems. These methods are: 1) individually addressable array elements; 2) digital-to-analog converters for the source signals; 3) inverse filtering from source precompensation; and 4) spectral extrapolation to expand the bandwidth of the received signals. The components of the system will be used as follows: 1) The individually addressable array allows scanning around and over an object, such as a human breast, without any moving parts. The elements of the array are broad bandwidth elements and efficient radiators, as well as detectors. 2) Digital-to-analog converters as the source signal generators allow virtually any radiated field to be created in the half-space in front of the array. 3) Preprocessing allows for corrections in the system, most notably in the response of the individual elements and in the ability to increase contrast and resolution of signal propagating through the medium under investigation. 4) Postprocessing allows the received broad bandwidth signals to be expanded in a process similar to analytic continuation. Used together, the system allows for compensation to create beams of any desired shape, control the wave fields generated to correct for medium differences, and improve contract and resolution in and through the medium.

Development of polymeric-cationic peptide composite nanoparticles, a nanoparticle-in-nanoparticle system for controlled gene delivery.

PubMed

Jain, Arvind K; Massey, Ashley; Yusuf, Helmy; McDonald, Denise M; McCarthy, Helen O; Kett, Vicky L

2015-01-01

We report the formulation of novel composite nanoparticles that combine the high transfection efficiency of cationic peptide-DNA nanoparticles with the biocompatibility and prolonged delivery of polylactic acid-polyethylene glycol (PLA-PEG). The cationic cell-penetrating peptide RALA was used to condense DNA into nanoparticles that were encapsulated within a range of PLA-PEG copolymers. The composite nanoparticles produced exhibited excellent physicochemical properties including size <200 nm and encapsulation efficiency >80%. Images of the composite nanoparticles obtained with a new transmission electron microscopy staining method revealed the peptide-DNA nanoparticles within the PLA-PEG matrix. Varying the copolymers modulated the DNA release rate >6 weeks in vitro. The best formulation was selected and was able to transfect cells while maintaining viability. The effect of transferrin-appended composite nanoparticles was also studied. Thus, we have demonstrated the manufacture of composite nanoparticles for the controlled delivery of DNA.

Development of polymeric–cationic peptide composite nanoparticles, a nanoparticle-in-nanoparticle system for controlled gene delivery

PubMed Central

Jain, Arvind K; Massey, Ashley; Yusuf, Helmy; McDonald, Denise M; McCarthy, Helen O; Kett, Vicky L

2015-01-01

We report the formulation of novel composite nanoparticles that combine the high transfection efficiency of cationic peptide-DNA nanoparticles with the biocompatibility and prolonged delivery of polylactic acid–polyethylene glycol (PLA-PEG). The cationic cell-penetrating peptide RALA was used to condense DNA into nanoparticles that were encapsulated within a range of PLA-PEG copolymers. The composite nanoparticles produced exhibited excellent physicochemical properties including size <200 nm and encapsulation efficiency >80%. Images of the composite nanoparticles obtained with a new transmission electron microscopy staining method revealed the peptide-DNA nanoparticles within the PLA-PEG matrix. Varying the copolymers modulated the DNA release rate >6 weeks in vitro. The best formulation was selected and was able to transfect cells while maintaining viability. The effect of transferrin-appended composite nanoparticles was also studied. Thus, we have demonstrated the manufacture of composite nanoparticles for the controlled delivery of DNA. PMID:26648722

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Environmentalist and third-year law student at Elon University School of Law Tyrone Davis speaks at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

NASA Astronaut Joe Acaba, left, is interviewed by National Geographic Kids reporter Trevor Jehl ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

NASA Astronaut Joe Acaba, left, is interviewed by TIME for Kids reporter Grace Clark ahead of the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Gold-manganese nanoparticles for targeted diagnostic and imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Murph, Simona Hunyadi

Imagine the possibility of non-invasive, non-radiation based Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combating cardiac disease. Researchers at the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) are developing a process that would use nanotechnology in a novel, targeted approach that would allow MRIs to be more descriptive and brighter, and to target specific organs. Researchers at SRNL have discovered a way to use multifunctional metallic gold-manganese nanoparticles to create a unique, targeted positive contrast agent. SRNL Senior Scientist Dr. Simona Hunyadi Murph says she first thought of using the nanoparticles for cardiac disease applications after learning that people who survive an infarct exhibitmore » up to 15 times higher rate of developing chronic heart failure, arrhythmias and/or sudden death compared to the general population. Without question, nanotechnology will revolutionize the future of technology. The development of functional nanomaterials with multi-detection modalities opens up new avenues for creating multi-purpose technologies for biomedical applications.« less

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles are not Cytotoxic or Clastogenic in Human Skin Cells

PubMed Central

Browning, Cynthia L; The, Therry; Mason, Michael D; Wise, John Pierce

2015-01-01

The application of nanoparticle technology is rapidly expanding. The reduced dimensionality of nanoparticles can give rise to changes in chemical and physical properties, often resulting in altered toxicity. People are exposed dermally to titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in industrial and residential settings. The general public is increasingly exposed to these nanoparticles as their use in cosmetics, sunscreens and lotions expands. The toxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles towards human skin cells is unclear and understudied. We used a human skin fibroblast cell line to investigate the cytotoxicity and clastogenicity of TiO2 nanoparticles after 24 h exposure. In a clonogenic survival assay, treatments of 10, 50 and 100 μg/cm2 induced 97.8, 88.8 and 84.7% relative survival, respectively. Clastogenicity was assessed using a chromosomal aberration assay in order to determine whether TiO2 nanoparticles induced serious forms of DNA damage such as chromatid breaks, isochromatid lesions or chromatid exchanges. Treatments of 0, 10, 50 and 100 μg/cm2 induced 3.3, 3.0, 3.0 and 2.7% metaphases with damage, respectively. No isochromatid lesions or chromatid exchanges were detected. These data show that TiO2 nanoparticles are not cytotoxic or clastogenic to human skin cells. PMID:26568896

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles are not Cytotoxic or Clastogenic in Human Skin Cells.

PubMed

Browning, Cynthia L; The, Therry; Mason, Michael D; Wise, John Pierce

2014-11-01

The application of nanoparticle technology is rapidly expanding. The reduced dimensionality of nanoparticles can give rise to changes in chemical and physical properties, often resulting in altered toxicity. People are exposed dermally to titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles in industrial and residential settings. The general public is increasingly exposed to these nanoparticles as their use in cosmetics, sunscreens and lotions expands. The toxicity of TiO 2 nanoparticles towards human skin cells is unclear and understudied. We used a human skin fibroblast cell line to investigate the cytotoxicity and clastogenicity of TiO 2 nanoparticles after 24 h exposure. In a clonogenic survival assay, treatments of 10, 50 and 100 μg/cm 2 induced 97.8, 88.8 and 84.7% relative survival, respectively. Clastogenicity was assessed using a chromosomal aberration assay in order to determine whether TiO 2 nanoparticles induced serious forms of DNA damage such as chromatid breaks, isochromatid lesions or chromatid exchanges. Treatments of 0, 10, 50 and 100 μg/cm 2 induced 3.3, 3.0, 3.0 and 2.7% metaphases with damage, respectively. No isochromatid lesions or chromatid exchanges were detected. These data show that TiO 2 nanoparticles are not cytotoxic or clastogenic to human skin cells.

Effect of metal oxide nanoparticles on Godavari river water treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goud, Ravi Kumar; Ajay Kumar, V.; Reddy, T. Rakesh; Vinod, B.; Shravani, S.

2018-05-01

Nowadays there is a continuously increasing worldwide concern for the development of water treatment technologies. In the area of water purification, nanotechnology offers the possibility of an efficient removal of pollutants and germs. Nanomaterials reveal good results than other techniques used in water treatment because of its high surface area to volume ratio. In the present work, iron oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by simple heating method. The synthesized nanoparticles were used to purify Godavari river water. The effect of nanoparticles at 70°C temperature, 12 centimeter of sand bed height and pH of 8 shows good results as compared to simple sand bed filter. The attained values of BOD5, COD and Turbidity were in permissible limit of world health organization.

Inorganic and metal nanoparticles and their antimicrobial activity in food packaging applications.

PubMed

Hoseinnejad, Mahmoud; Jafari, Seid Mahdi; Katouzian, Iman

2018-03-01

Nanotechnology has revolutionized almost all the fields of science and technology, particularly the food packaging industry. Accordingly, some nanoparticles can be used in food contact materials to preserve food products for longer periods. To date, many inorganic and metal nanoparticles have been implemented to synthesize active food packaging materials and to extend the shelf-life of foods. Packaging with nanocomposites containing these nanoparticles offers advantages, such as reduction in the usage of preservatives and higher rate of reactions to inhibit the microbial growth. Nevertheless, the safety issues of employing the metal and inorganic nanoparticles in food packaging are still a major concern and more studies along with clinical trials need to be carried out prior to the mass production of these promising food containers. In this review, we have evaluated recent studies plus the applications of inorganic and metal nanoparticles mostly in food packaging applications along with their antimicrobial properties and reaction mechanisms. Many examples have been provided with the aim of opening new horizons for researchers to implement inorganic and metal nanoparticles in active food packaging field.

Technology transfer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Handley, Thomas

1992-01-01

The requirements for a successful technology transfer program and what such a program would look like are discussed. In particular, the issues associated with technology transfer in general, and within the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) environment specifically are addressed. The section on background sets the stage, identifies the barriers to successful technology transfer, and suggests actions to address the barriers either generally or specifically. The section on technology transfer presents a process with its supporting management plan that is required to ensure a smooth transfer process. Viewgraphs are also included.

Glioma Selectivity of Magnetically Targeted Nanoparticles: A Role of Abnormal Tumor Hydrodynamics

PubMed Central

Chertok, Beata; David, Allan E.; Huang, Yongzhuo; Yang, Victor C.

2007-01-01

Magnetic targeting is a promising strategy for achieving localized drug delivery. Application of this strategy to treat brain tumors, however, is complicated by their deep intracranial location, since magnetic field density cannot be focused at a distance from an externally applied magnet. This study intended to examine whether, with magnetic targeting, pathological alteration in brain tumor flow dynamics could be of value in discriminating the diseased site from healthy brain. To address this question, the capture of magnetic nanoparticles was first assessed in vitro using a simple flow system under theoretically estimated glioma and normal brain flow conditions. Secondly, accumulation of nanoparticles via magnetic targeting was evaluated in vivo using 9L-glioma bearing rats. In vitro results that predicted a 7.6-fold increase in nanoparticle capture at glioma-versus contralateral brain-relevant flow rates were relatively consistent with the 9.6-fold glioma selectivity of nanoparticle accumulation over the contralateral brain observed in vivo. Based on these finding, the in vitro ratio of nanoparticle capture can be viewed as a plausible indicator of in vivo glioma selectivity. Overall, it can be concluded that the decreased blood flow rate in glioma, reflecting tumor vascular abnormalities, is an important contributor to glioma-selective nanoparticle accumulation with magnetic targeting. PMID:17628157

Glioma selectivity of magnetically targeted nanoparticles: a role of abnormal tumor hydrodynamics.

PubMed

Chertok, Beata; David, Allan E; Huang, Yongzhuo; Yang, Victor C

2007-10-08

Magnetic targeting is a promising strategy for achieving localized drug delivery. Application of this strategy to treat brain tumors, however, is complicated by their deep intracranial location, since magnetic field density cannot be focused at a distance from an externally applied magnet. This study intended to examine whether, with magnetic targeting, pathological alteration in brain tumor flow dynamics could be of value in discriminating the diseased site from healthy brain. To address this question, the capture of magnetic nanoparticles was first assessed in vitro using a simple flow system under theoretically estimated glioma and normal brain flow conditions. Secondly, accumulation of nanoparticles via magnetic targeting was evaluated in vivo using 9L-glioma bearing rats. In vitro results that predicted a 7.6-fold increase in nanoparticle capture at glioma- versus contralateral brain-relevant flow rates were relatively consistent with the 9.6-fold glioma selectivity of nanoparticle accumulation over the contralateral brain observed in vivo. Based on these finding, the in vitro ratio of nanoparticle capture can be viewed as a plausible indicator of in vivo glioma selectivity. Overall, it can be concluded that the decreased blood flow rate in glioma, reflecting tumor vascular abnormalities, is an important contributor to glioma-selective nanoparticle accumulation with magnetic targeting.

Fungus mediated synthesis of biomedically important cerium oxide nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khan, Shadab Ali; Ahmad, Absar, E-mail: a.ahmad@ncl.res.in

2013-10-15

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • First time biological synthesis of cerium oxide oxide nanoparticles using fungus Humicola sp. • Complete characterization of cerium oxide nanoparticles. • Biosynthesis of naturally protein capped, luminescent and water dispersible CeO{sub 2} nanoparticles. • Biosynthesized CeO{sub 2} nanoparticles can be used for many biomedical applications. - Abstract: Nanomaterials can be synthesized by chemical, physical and the more recently discovered biological routes. The biological routes are advantageous over the chemical and physical ones as unlike these, the biological synthesis protocols occur at ambient conditions, are cheap, non-toxic and eco-friendly. Although purely biological and bioinspired methods formore » the synthesis of nanomaterials are environmentally benign and energy conserving processes, their true potential has not been explored yet and attempts are being made to extend the formation of technologically important nanoparticles using microorganisms like fungi. Though there have been reports on the biosynthesis of oxide nanoparticles by our group in the past, no attempts have been made to employ fungi for the synthesis of nanoparticles of rare earth metals or lanthanides. Here we report for the first time, the bio-inspired synthesis of biomedically important cerium oxide (CeO{sub 2}) nanoparticles using the thermophilic fungus Humicola sp. The fungus Humicola sp. when exposed to aqueous solutions of oxide precursor cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate (CeN{sub 3}O{sub 9}·6H{sub 2}O) results in the extracellular formation of CeO{sub 2} nanoparticles containing Ce (III) and Ce (IV) mixed oxidation states, confirmed by X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS). The formed nanoparticles are naturally capped by proteins secreted by the fungus and thus do not agglomerate, are highly stable, water dispersible and are highly fluorescent as well. The biosynthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy

Understanding nanoparticle-mediated nucleation pathways of anisotropic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laramy, Christine R.; Fong, Lam-Kiu; Jones, Matthew R.; O'Brien, Matthew N.; Schatz, George C.; Mirkin, Chad A.

2017-09-01

Several seed-mediated syntheses of low symmetry anisotropic nanoparticles yield broad product distributions with multiple defect structures. This observation challenges the role of the nanoparticle precursor as a seed for certain syntheses and suggests the possibility of alternate nucleation pathways. Herein, we report a method to probe the role of the nanoparticle precursor in anisotropic nanoparticle nucleation with compositional and structural 'labels' to track their fate. We use the synthesis of gold triangular nanoprisms (Au TPs) as a model system. We propose a mechanism in which, rather than acting as a template, the nanoparticle precursor catalyzes homogenous nucleation of Au TPs.

Special Technology Area Review on Vacuum Electronics Technology for RF Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-12-12

systems. QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED AT THE STAR: 1. What are the RF applications and systems that will benefit from advances in Vacuum Electronic...technologies? What are the status and prospects of early insertion efforts? What is the impact if technology efforts are successful? 2. What are the RF...technical barriers best addressed by Vacuum Electronic technologies? What are the technology advancement needs and opportunities? Can the barriers

Fungicidal activity of silver nanoparticles against Alternaria brassicicola

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Deepika; Chauhan, Pratima

2016-04-01

This work highlighted the fungicidal properties of silver nanoparticles against Alternaria brassicicola. Alternaria brassicicola causes Black spot of Cauliflower, radish, cabbage, kale which results in sever agricultural loss. We treat the synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of 10, 25, 50, 100 and 110 ppm concentrations against Alternaria brassicicola on PDA containing Petri dish. We calculated inhibitory rate (%) in order to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of silver nanoparticles against pathogens. Treatment with 100ppm AgNPs resulted in maximum inhibition of Alternaria brassicicola i.e.92.2%. 110ppm of AgNPS also shows the same result, therefore 100ppm AgNPs was treated as optimize concentration. AgNPs effectively inhibited the growth of a Alternaria brassicicola, which suggests that AgNPs could be used as fungicide in plant disease management. Further research and development are necessary to translate this technology into plant disease management strategies.

Albumin nanoparticle encapsulation of potent cytotoxic therapeutics shows sustained drug release and alleviates cancer drug toxicity.

PubMed

Wang, Hangxiang; Wu, Jiaping; Xu, Li; Xie, Ke; Chen, Chao; Dong, Yuehan

2017-02-23

We here provide the first report on the construction of nanoparticles formulating highly potent cytotoxic therapeutics using albumin. Maytansinoid DM1 can be efficiently integrated into albumin nanoparticles, resulting in remarkable alleviation of in vivo drug toxicity and expanding the repertoire of albumin technology available for cancer therapy.

NIST gold nanoparticle reference materials do not induce oxidative DNA damage.

PubMed

Nelson, Bryant C; Petersen, Elijah J; Marquis, Bryce J; Atha, Donald H; Elliott, John T; Cleveland, Danielle; Watson, Stephanie S; Tseng, I-Hsiang; Dillon, Andrew; Theodore, Mellisa; Jackman, Joany

2013-02-01

One primary challenge in nanotoxicology studies is the lack of well-characterised nanoparticle reference materials which could be used as positive or negative nanoparticle controls. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed three gold nanoparticle (AuNP) reference materials (10, 30 and 60 nm). The genotoxicity of these nanoparticles was tested using HepG2 cells and calf-thymus DNA. DNA damage was assessed based on the specific and sensitive measurement of four oxidatively-modified DNA lesions (8-hydroxy-2´-deoxyguanosine, 8-hydroxy-2´-deoxyadenosine, (5´S)-8,5´-cyclo-2´-deoxyadenosine and (5´R)-8,5´-cyclo-2´-deoxyadenosine) using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Significantly elevated, dose-dependent DNA damage was not detected at concentrations up to 0.2 μg/ml, and free radicals were not detected using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. These data suggest that the NIST AuNPs could potentially serve as suitable negative-control nanoparticle reference materials for in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies. NIST AuNPs thus hold substantial promise for improving the reproducibility and reliability of nanoparticle genotoxicity studies.

Bioluminescent magnetic nanoparticles as potential imaging agents for mammalian spermatozoa.

PubMed

Vasquez, Erick S; Feugang, Jean M; Willard, Scott T; Ryan, Peter L; Walters, Keisha B

2016-03-17

Nanoparticles have emerged as key materials for developing applications in nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology, bioimaging and theranostics. Existing bioimaging technologies include bioluminescent resonance energy transfer-conjugated quantum dots (BRET-QDs). Despite the current use of BRET-QDs for bioimaging, there are strong concerns about QD nanocomposites containing cadmium which exhibits potential cellular toxicity. In this study, bioluminescent composites comprised of magnetic nanoparticles and firefly luciferase (Photinus pyralis) are examined as potential light-emitting agents for imaging, detection, and tracking mammalian spermatozoa. Characterization was carried out using infrared spectroscopy, TEM and cryo-TEM imaging, and ζ-potential measurements to demonstrate the successful preparation of these nanocomposites. Binding interactions between the synthesized nanoparticles and spermatozoon were characterized using confocal and atomic/magnetic force microscopy. Bioluminescence imaging and UV-visible-NIR microscopy results showed light emission from sperm samples incubated with the firefly luciferase-modified nanoparticles. Therefore, these newly synthesized luciferase-modified magnetic nanoparticles show promise as substitutes for QD labeling, and can potentially also be used for in vivo manipulation and tracking, as well as MRI techniques. These preliminary data indicate that luciferase-magnetic nanoparticle composites can potentially be used for spermatozoa detection and imaging. Their magnetic properties add additional functionality to allow for manipulation, sorting, or tracking of cells using magnetic techniques.

Engineering empty space between Si nanoparticles for lithium-ion battery anodes.

PubMed

Wu, Hui; Zheng, Guangyuan; Liu, Nian; Carney, Thomas J; Yang, Yuan; Cui, Yi

2012-02-08

Silicon is a promising high-capacity anode material for lithium-ion batteries yet attaining long cycle life remains a significant challenge due to pulverization of the silicon and unstable solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation during the electrochemical cycles. Despite significant advances in nanostructured Si electrodes, challenges including short cycle life and scalability hinder its widespread implementation. To address these challenges, we engineered an empty space between Si nanoparticles by encapsulating them in hollow carbon tubes. The synthesis process used low-cost Si nanoparticles and electrospinning methods, both of which can be easily scaled. The empty space around the Si nanoparticles allowed the electrode to successfully overcome these problems Our anode demonstrated a high gravimetric capacity (~1000 mAh/g based on the total mass) and long cycle life (200 cycles with 90% capacity retention). © 2012 American Chemical Society

Kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of nanoparticle film formation via nanocolloid drying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kameya, Yuki

2017-06-01

A kinetic Monte Carlo simulation of nanoparticle film formation via nanocolloid drying is presented. The proposed two-dimensional model addresses the dynamics of nanoparticles in the vertical plane of a drying nanocolloid film. The gas-liquid interface movement due to solvent evaporation was controlled by a time-dependent chemical potential, and the resultant particle dynamics including Brownian diffusion and aggregate growth were calculated. Simulations were performed at various Peclet numbers defined based on the rate ratio of solvent evaporation and nanoparticle diffusion. At high Peclet numbers, nanoparticles accumulated at the top layer of the liquid film and eventually formed a skin layer, causing the formation of a particulate film with a densely packed structure. At low Peclet numbers, enhanced particle diffusion led to significant particle aggregation in the bulk colloid, and the resulting film structure became highly porous. The simulated results showed some typical characteristics of a drying nanocolloid that had been reported experimentally. Finally, the potential of the model as well as the remaining challenges are discussed.

The Optoelectronic Properties of Nanoparticles from First Principles Calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brawand, Nicholas Peter

systems, in particular, silicon and lead chalcogenide nanoparticles. In the case of Si, blinking in oxidized Si nanoparticles was addressed. Si dangling bonds at the surface were found to introduce defect states which, depending on their charge and local stress conditions, may give rise to ON and OFF states responsible for exponential blinking statistics. We also investigated, engineering of band edge positions of nanoparticles through post-synthetic surface chemistry modification, with a focus on lead chalcogenides. In collaboration with experiment, we demonstrated how band edge positions of lead sulfide nanoparticles can be tuned by over 2.0 eV. We established a clear relationship between ligand dipole moments and nanoparticle band edge shifts which can be used to engineer nanoparticles for optoelectronic applications. Calculations of transport properties focused on charge transfer in silicon and lead chalcogenide nanoparticles. Si nanoparticles with deep defects and shallow impurities were investigated, showing that shallow defects may be more detrimental to charge transport than previously assumed. In the case of lead chalcogenide nanoparticles, hydrogen was found to form complexes with defects which can be used to remove potentially detrimental charge traps in nanoparticle solids. The methods and results presented in this dissertation are expected to help guide engineering of nanoparticles for future device applications.

Spectral Induced Polarization Measurements of Nanoparticles in Laboratory Column Experiments

EPA Science Inventory

Nano sized materials are prevalent in consumer goods, manufacturing, industrial processes, and remediation technologies. The intentional and accidental introduction of nanoparticles (NP) into the subsurface pose a potential risk to the environment and public health. This resea...

Ultralow-Power Electronic Trapping of Nanoparticles with Sub-10 nm Gold Nanogap Electrodes.

PubMed

Barik, Avijit; Chen, Xiaoshu; Oh, Sang-Hyun

2016-10-12

We demonstrate nanogap electrodes for rapid, parallel, and ultralow-power trapping of nanoparticles. Our device pushes the limit of dielectrophoresis by shrinking the separation between gold electrodes to sub-10 nm, thereby creating strong trapping forces at biases as low as the 100 mV ranges. Using high-throughput atomic layer lithography, we manufacture sub-10 nm gaps between 0.8 mm long gold electrodes and pattern them into individually addressable parallel electronic traps. Unlike pointlike junctions made by electron-beam lithography or larger micron-gap electrodes that are used for conventional dielectrophoresis, our sub-10 nm gold nanogap electrodes provide strong trapping forces over a mm-scale trapping zone. Importantly, our technology solves the key challenges associated with traditional dielectrophoresis experiments, such as high voltages that cause heat generation, bubble formation, and unwanted electrochemical reactions. The strongly enhanced fields around the nanogap induce particle-transport speed exceeding 10 μm/s and enable the trapping of 30 nm polystyrene nanoparticles using an ultralow bias of 200 mV. We also demonstrate rapid electronic trapping of quantum dots and nanodiamond particles on arrays of parallel traps. Our sub-10 nm gold nanogap electrodes can be combined with plasmonic sensors or nanophotonic circuitry, and their low-power electronic operation can potentially enable high-density integration on a chip as well as portable biosensing.

Characterization of the disassembly and reassembly of the HBV glycoprotein surface antigen, a pliable nanoparticle vaccine platform

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gallagher, John R.; Torian, Udana; McCraw, Dustin

While nanoparticle vaccine technology is gaining interest due to the success of vaccines like those for the human papillomavirus that is based on viral capsid nanoparticles, little information is available on the disassembly and reassembly of viral surface glycoprotein-based nanoparticles. One such particle is the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (sAg) that exists as nanoparticles. Here we show, using biochemical analysis coupled with electron microscopy, that sAg nanoparticle disassembly requires both reducing agent to disrupt intermolecular disulfide bonds, and detergent to disrupt hydrophobic interactions that stabilize the nanoparticle. Particles were otherwise resistant to salt and urea, suggesting the driving mechanismmore » of particle formation involves hydrophobic interactions. We reassembled isolated sAg protein into nanoparticles by detergent removal and reassembly resulted in a wider distribution of particle diameters. Knowledge of these driving forces of nanoparticle assembly and stability should facilitate construction of epitope-displaying nanoparticles that can be used as immunogens in vaccines.« less

Characterization of the disassembly and reassembly of the HBV glycoprotein surface antigen, a pliable nanoparticle vaccine platform.

PubMed

Gallagher, John R; Torian, Udana; McCraw, Dustin M; Harris, Audray K

2017-02-01

While nanoparticle vaccine technology is gaining interest due to the success of vaccines like those for the human papillomavirus that is based on viral capsid nanoparticles, little information is available on the disassembly and reassembly of viral surface glycoprotein-based nanoparticles. One such particle is the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (sAg) that exists as nanoparticles. Here we show, using biochemical analysis coupled with electron microscopy, that sAg nanoparticle disassembly requires both reducing agent to disrupt intermolecular disulfide bonds, and detergent to disrupt hydrophobic interactions that stabilize the nanoparticle. Particles were otherwise resistant to salt and urea, suggesting the driving mechanism of particle formation involves hydrophobic interactions. We reassembled isolated sAg protein into nanoparticles by detergent removal and reassembly resulted in a wider distribution of particle diameters. Knowledge of these driving forces of nanoparticle assembly and stability should facilitate construction of epitope-displaying nanoparticles that can be used as immunogens in vaccines. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Adapting Semantic Natural Language Processing Technology to Address Information Overload in Influenza Epidemic Management

PubMed Central

Keselman, Alla; Rosemblat, Graciela; Kilicoglu, Halil; Fiszman, Marcelo; Jin, Honglan; Shin, Dongwook; Rindflesch, Thomas C.

2013-01-01

Explosion of disaster health information results in information overload among response professionals. The objective of this project was to determine the feasibility of applying semantic natural language processing (NLP) technology to addressing this overload. The project characterizes concepts and relationships commonly used in disaster health-related documents on influenza pandemics, as the basis for adapting an existing semantic summarizer to the domain. Methods include human review and semantic NLP analysis of a set of relevant documents. This is followed by a pilot-test in which two information specialists use the adapted application for a realistic information seeking task. According to the results, the ontology of influenza epidemics management can be described via a manageable number of semantic relationships that involve concepts from a limited number of semantic types. Test users demonstrate several ways to engage with the application to obtain useful information. This suggests that existing semantic NLP algorithms can be adapted to support information summarization and visualization in influenza epidemics and other disaster health areas. However, additional research is needed in the areas of terminology development (as many relevant relationships and terms are not part of existing standardized vocabularies), NLP, and user interface design. PMID:24311971

Virus-based nanoparticles as platform technologies for modern vaccines

PubMed Central

Lee, Karin L.; Twyman, Richard M.; Fiering, Steven

2017-01-01

Nanoscale engineering is revolutionizing the development of vaccines and immunotherapies. Viruses have played a key role in this field because they can function as prefabricated nanoscaffolds with unique properties that are easy to modify. Viruses are immunogenic through multiple pathways, and antigens displayed naturally or by engineering on the surface can be used to create vaccines against the cognate virus, other pathogens, specific molecules or cellular targets such as tumors. This review focuses on the development of virus-based nanoparticle systems as vaccines indicated for the prevention or treatment of infectious diseases, chronic diseases, cancer, and addiction. PMID:26782096

Removing Bacillus subtilis from fermentation broth using alumina nanoparticles.

PubMed

Mu, Dashuai; Mu, Xin; Xu, Zhenxing; Du, Zongjun; Chen, Guanjun

2015-12-01

In this study, an efficient separation technology using Al2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) was developed for removing Bacillus subtilis from fermentation broth. The dosage of alumina nanoparticles used for separating B. subtilis increased during the culture process and remained stable in the stationary phase of the culture process. The pH of the culture-broth was also investigated for its effects on flocculation efficiency, and showed an acidic pH could enhance the flocculation efficiency. The attachment mechanisms of Al2O3 NPs to the B. subtilis surface were investigated, and the zeta potential analysis showed that Al2O3 NPs could attach to B. subtilis via electrostatic attachment. Finally, the metabolite content and the antibacterial effect of the fermentation supernatants were detected and did not significantly differ between alumina nanoparticle separation and centrifugation separation. Together, these results indicate a great potential for a highly efficient and economical method for removing B. subtilis from fermentation broth using alumina nanoparticles. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Has Research on Collaborative Learning Technologies Addressed Massiveness? A Literature Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manathunga, Kalpani; Hernández-Leo, Davinia

2015-01-01

There is a growing interest in understanding to what extent innovative educational technologies can be used to support massive courses. Collaboration is one of the main desired elements in massive learning actions involving large communities of participants. Accumulated research in collaborative learning technologies has proposed and evaluated…

Addressing Learning Disabilities with UDL and Technology: Strategic Reader

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hall, Tracey E.; Cohen, Nicole; Vue, Ge; Ganley, Patricia

2015-01-01

CAST created "Strategic Reader," a technology-based system blending Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) in a digital learning environment to improve reading comprehension instruction. This experimental study evaluates the effectiveness of Strategic Reader using two treatment conditions for measuring…

Teaching Digital Natives: Promoting Information Literacy and Addressing Instructional Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Neumann, Crystal

2016-01-01

Technology must be used as a teaching and learning tool to help students succeed. However, educators must be proactive in identifying some of the pitfalls of technology, such as information illiteracy. The phenomenological study covers how English instructors from Indianapolis, who teach first year students, address information literacy and the…

Rapid Pharmacokinetic and Biodistribution Studies Using Cholorotoxin-Conjugated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: A Novel Non-Radioactive Method

PubMed Central

Lee, Michelle Jeung-Eun; Veiseh, Omid; Bhattarai, Narayan; Sun, Conroy; Hansen, Stacey J.; Ditzler, Sally; Knoblaugh, Sue; Lee, Donghoon; Ellenbogen, Richard; Zhang, Miqin; Olson, James M.

2010-01-01

Background Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of biocompatible nanoparticles for in vivo molecular imaging and targeted therapy. Many nanoparticles have undesirable tissue distribution or unacceptably low serum half-lives. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and biodistribution studies can help inform decisions determining particle size, coatings, or other features early in nanoparticle development. Unfortunately, these studies are rarely done in a timely fashion because many nanotechnology labs lack the resources and expertise to synthesize radioactive nanoparticles and evaluate them in mice. Methodology/Principal Findings To address this problem, we developed an economical, radioactivity-free method for assessing serum half-life and tissue distribution of nanoparticles in mice. Iron oxide nanoparticles coated with chitosan and polyethylene glycol that utilize chlorotoxin as a targeting molecule have a serum half-life of 7–8 hours and the particles remain stable for extended periods of time in physiologic fluids and in vivo. Nanoparticles preferentially distribute to spleen and liver, presumably due to reticuloendothelial uptake. Other organs have very low levels of nanoparticles, which is ideal for imaging most cancers in the future. No acute toxicity was attributed to the nanoparticles. Conclusions/Significance We report here a simple near-infrared fluorescence based methodology to assess PK properties of nanoparticles in order to integrate pharmacokinetic data into early nanoparticle design and synthesis. The nanoparticles tested demonstrate properties that are excellent for future clinical imaging strategies and potentially suitable for targeted therapy. PMID:20209054

Silica-based mesoporous nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery

PubMed Central

Kwon, Sooyeon; Singh, Rajendra K; Perez, Roman A; Abou Neel, Ensanya A

2013-01-01

Drug molecules with lack of specificity and solubility lead patients to take high doses of the drug to achieve sufficient therapeutic effects. This is a leading cause of adverse drug reactions, particularly for drugs with narrow therapeutic window or cytotoxic chemotherapeutics. To address these problems, there are various functional biocompatible drug carriers available in the market, which can deliver therapeutic agents to the target site in a controlled manner. Among the carriers developed thus far, mesoporous materials emerged as a promising candidate that can deliver a variety of drug molecules in a controllable and sustainable manner. In particular, mesoporous silica nanoparticles are widely used as a delivery reagent because silica possesses favourable chemical properties, thermal stability and biocompatibility. Currently, sol-gel-derived mesoporous silica nanoparticles in soft conditions are of main interest due to simplicity in production and modification and the capacity to maintain function of bioactive agents. The unique mesoporous structure of silica facilitates effective loading of drugs and their subsequent controlled release. The properties of mesopores, including pore size and porosity as well as the surface properties, can be altered depending on additives used to fabricate mesoporous silica nanoparticles. Active surface enables functionalisation to modify surface properties and link therapeutic molecules. The tuneable mesopore structure and modifiable surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticle allow incorporation of various classes of drug molecules and controlled delivery to the target sites. This review aims to present the state of knowledge of currently available drug delivery system and identify properties of an ideal drug carrier for specific application, focusing on mesoporous silica nanoparticles. PMID:24020012

Optimization of β-carotene loaded solid lipid nanoparticles preparation using a high shear homogenization technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Triplett, Michael D.; Rathman, James F.

2009-04-01

Using statistical experimental design methodologies, the solid lipid nanoparticle design space was found to be more robust than previously shown in literature. Formulation and high shear homogenization process effects on solid lipid nanoparticle size distribution, stability, drug loading, and drug release have been investigated. Experimentation indicated stearic acid as the optimal lipid, sodium taurocholate as the optimal cosurfactant, an optimum lecithin to sodium taurocholate ratio of 3:1, and an inverse relationship between mixing time and speed and nanoparticle size and polydispersity. Having defined the base solid lipid nanoparticle system, β-carotene was incorporated into stearic acid nanoparticles to investigate the effects of introducing a drug into the base solid lipid nanoparticle system. The presence of β-carotene produced a significant effect on the optimal formulation and process conditions, but the design space was found to be robust enough to accommodate the drug. β-Carotene entrapment efficiency averaged 40%. β-Carotene was retained in the nanoparticles for 1 month. As demonstrated herein, solid lipid nanoparticle technology can be sufficiently robust from a design standpoint to become commercially viable.

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

Joey Hudy, Anthem, AZ, 16-year-old self-described “Maker” answers a question from the audience at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Joey sat with the First Lady at the President’s 2014 State of the Union Address after his first shot to fame in 2012 when he attended the White House Science Fair where the President took a turn using his “extreme marshmallow cannon” to launch a marshmallow across the East Room of the White House. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

State of STEM (SoSTEM) Address

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-01-29

National Geographic Kids reporter Trevor Jehl, right, interviews Joey Hudy, Anthem, AZ, 16-year-old self-described “Maker” at the annual White House State of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (SoSTEM) address, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, in the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex in Washington. Joey sat with the First Lady at the President’s 2014 State of the Union Address after his first shot to fame in 2012 when he attended the White House Science Fair where the President took a turn using his “extreme marshmallow cannon” to launch a marshmallow across the East Room of the White House. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

State of the Union Address Student Guests

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-01-25

White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Associate Director for Science Carl Wieman, left, talks with West Philadelphia High School student Brandon Ford, left, and Montana Central Catholic High School student Mikayla Nelson at the New Executive Office Building, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011 in Washington. The students are all young achievers in science and technology and will be amongst other guests seated in the First Lady’s Box in the U.S. Capitol during the President’s State of the Union Address. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Recent advancement of gelatin nanoparticles in drug and vaccine delivery.

PubMed

Sahoo, Nityananda; Sahoo, Ranjan Ku; Biswas, Nikhil; Guha, Arijit; Kuotsu, Ketousetuo

2015-11-01

Novel drug delivery system using nanoscale materials with a broad spectrum of applications provides a new therapeutic foundation for technological integration and innovation. Nanoparticles are suitable drug carrier for various routes of administration as well as rapid recognition by the immune system. Gelatin, the biological macromolecule is a versatile drug/vaccine delivery carrier in pharmaceutical field due to its biodegradable, biocompatible, non-antigenicity and low cost with easy availability. The surface of gelatin nanoparticles can be modified with site-specific ligands, cationized with amine derivatives or, coated with polyethyl glycols to achieve targeted and sustained release drug delivery. Compared to other colloidal carriers, gelatin nanoparticles are better stable in biological fluids to provide the desired controlled and sustained release of entrapped drug molecules. The current review highlights the different formulation aspects of gelatin nanoparticles which affect the particle characteristics like zeta potential, polydispersity index, entrapment efficacy and drug release properties. It has also given emphasis on the major applications of gelatin nanoparticles in drug and vaccine delivery, gene delivery to target tissues and nutraceutical delivery for improving the poor bioavailabity of bioactive phytonutrients. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface-Directed Synthesis of Erbium-Doped Yttrium Oxide Nanoparticles within Organosilane Zeptoliter Containers

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

We introduce an approach to synthesize rare earth oxide nanoparticles using high temperature without aggregation of the nanoparticles. The dispersity of the nanoparticles is controlled at the nanoscale by using small organosilane molds as reaction containers. Zeptoliter reaction vessels prepared from organosilane self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were used for the surface-directed synthesis of rare earth oxide (REO) nanoparticles. Nanopores of octadecyltrichlorosilane were prepared on Si(111) using particle lithography with immersion steps. The nanopores were filled with a precursor solution of erbium and yttrium salts to confine the crystallization step to occur within individual zeptoliter-sized organosilane reaction vessels. Areas between the nanopores were separated by a matrix film of octadecyltrichlorosilane. With heating, the organosilane template was removed by calcination to generate a surface array of erbium-doped yttria nanoparticles. Nanoparticles synthesized by the surface-directed approach retain the periodic arrangement of the nanopores formed from mesoparticle masks. While bulk rare earth oxides can be readily prepared by solid state methods at high temperature (>900 °C), approaches for preparing REO nanoparticles are limited. Conventional wet chemistry methods are limited to low temperatures according to the boiling points of the solvents used for synthesis. To achieve crystallinity of REO nanoparticles requires steps for high-temperature processing of samples, which can cause self-aggregation and dispersity in sample diameters. The facile steps for particle lithography address the problems of aggregation and the requirement for high-temperature synthesis. PMID:25163977

Nanoparticles for Retinal Gene Therapy

PubMed Central

Conley, Shannon M.; Naash, Muna I.

2010-01-01

Ocular gene therapy is becoming a well-established field. Viral gene therapies for the treatment of Leber’s congentinal amaurosis (LCA) are in clinical trials, and many other gene therapy approaches are being rapidly developed for application to diverse ophthalmic pathologies. Of late, development of non-viral gene therapies has been an area of intense focus and one technology, polymer-compacted DNA nanoparticles, is especially promising. However, development of pharmaceutically and clinically viable therapeutics depends not only on having an effective and safe vector but also on a practical treatment strategy. Inherited retinal pathologies are caused by mutations in over 220 genes, some of which contain over 200 individual disease-causing mutations, which are individually very rare. This review will focus on both the progress and future of nanoparticles and also on what will be required to make them relevant ocular pharmaceutics. PMID:20452457

A Conductometric Indium Oxide Semiconducting Nanoparticle Enzymatic Biosensor Array

PubMed Central

Lee, Dongjin; Ondrake, Janet; Cui, Tianhong

2011-01-01

We report a conductometric nanoparticle biosensor array to address the significant variation of electrical property in nanomaterial biosensors due to the random network nature of nanoparticle thin-film. Indium oxide and silica nanoparticles (SNP) are assembled selectively on the multi-site channel area of the resistors using layer-by-layer self-assembly. To demonstrate enzymatic biosensing capability, glucose oxidase is immobilized on the SNP layer for glucose detection. The packaged sensor chip onto a ceramic pin grid array is tested using syringe pump driven feed and multi-channel I–V measurement system. It is successfully demonstrated that glucose is detected in many different sensing sites within a chip, leading to concentration dependent currents. The sensitivity has been found to be dependent on the channel length of the resistor, 4–12 nA/mM for channel lengths of 5–20 μm, while the apparent Michaelis-Menten constant is 20 mM. By using sensor array, analytical data could be obtained with a single step of sample solution feeding. This work sheds light on the applicability of the developed nanoparticle microsensor array to multi-analyte sensors, novel bioassay platforms, and sensing components in a lab-on-a-chip. PMID:22163696

A nanoparticle-based epigenetic modulator for efficient gene modulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pongkulapa, Thanapat

Modulation of gene expression through chromatin remodeling involves epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone acetylation. Acetylation is tightly regulated by two classes of enzymes, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). Molecules that can regulate these enzymes by altering (activating or inhibiting) their functions have become a valuable tool for understanding cell development and diseases. HAT activators, i.e. N-(4-Chloro-(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-ethoxybenzamide (CTB), have shown a therapeutic potential for many diseases, including cancer and neurodegeneration. However, these compounds encounter a solubility and a membrane permeability issue, which restricts their full potential for practical usage, especially for in vivo applications. To address this issue, in this work, we developed a nanoparticle-based HAT activator CTB, named Au-CTB, by incorporating a new CTB analogue onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) along with a poly(ethylene glycol) moiety and a nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide to assist with solubility and membrane permeability. We found that our new CTB analogue and Au-CTB could activate HAT activity. Significantly, an increase in potency to activate HAT activity by Au-CTB proved the effectiveness of using the nanoparticle delivery platform. In addition, the versatility of Au-CTB platform permits the attachment of multiple ligands with tunable ratios on the nanoparticle surface via facile surface functionalization of gold nanoparticles. Due to its high delivery efficiency and versatility, Au-CTB can be a powerful platform for applications in epigenetic regulation of gene expression.

Technology Strategies to Address Grade-Level Outcomes: National Standards 1 and 2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baert, Helena

2015-01-01

The need to prepare students to thrive in the digital world and the benefit of using instructional technology have both been widely recognized in education. As new technology becomes available, its use by both students and teachers must be carefully evaluated. Technology can help enhance learning and facilitate the teaching process, if and when it…

Boron nitride encapsulated copper nanoparticles: a facile one-step synthesis and their effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate.

PubMed

Huang, Caijin; Liu, Qiuwen; Fan, Wenjie; Qiu, Xiaoqing

2015-11-16

Reactivity is of great importance for metal nanoparticles used as catalysts, biomaterials and advanced sensors, but seeking for high reactivity seems to be conflict with high chemical stability required for metal nanoparticles. There is a subtle balance between reactivity and stability. This could be reached for colloidal metal nanoparticles using organic capping reagents, whereas it is challenging for powder metal nanoparticles. Here, we developed an alternative approach to encapsulate copper nanoparticles with a chemical inertness material--hexagonal boron nitride. The wrapped copper nanoparticles not only exhibit high oxidation resistance under air atmosphere, but also keep excellent promoting effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. This approach opens the way to design metal nanoparticles with both high stability and reactivity for nanocatalysts and their technological application.

Boron nitride encapsulated copper nanoparticles: a facile one-step synthesis and their effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

PubMed Central

Huang, Caijin; liu, Qiuwen; Fan, Wenjie; Qiu, Xiaoqing

2015-01-01

Reactivity is of great importance for metal nanoparticles used as catalysts, biomaterials and advanced sensors, but seeking for high reactivity seems to be conflict with high chemical stability required for metal nanoparticles. There is a subtle balance between reactivity and stability. This could be reached for colloidal metal nanoparticles using organic capping reagents, whereas it is challenging for powder metal nanoparticles. Here, we developed an alternative approach to encapsulate copper nanoparticles with a chemical inertness material—hexagonal boron nitride. The wrapped copper nanoparticles not only exhibit high oxidation resistance under air atmosphere, but also keep excellent promoting effect on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. This approach opens the way to design metal nanoparticles with both high stability and reactivity for nanocatalysts and their technological application. PMID:26567862

Magnetic nanoparticles as contrast agents for molecular imaging in medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Donnell, Matthew

2018-05-01

For over twenty years, superparamagnetic nanoparticles have been developed for a number of medical applications ranging from bioseparations, magnetic drug targeting, hyperthermia and imaging. Recent studies have shown that they can be functionalized for in vivo biological targeting, potentially enabling nanoagents for molecular imaging and site-localized drug delivery. Here we review several imaging technologies developed using functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as targeted molecular agents. Several imaging modalities have exploited the large induced magnetic moment of SPIONs to create local mechanical force. Magnetic force microscopy can probe nanoparticle uptake in single cells. For in vivo applications, magnetomotive modulation of primary images in ultrasound (US), photoacoustics (PA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) can help identify very small concentrations of nanoagents while simultaneously suppressing intrinsic background signals from tissue.

From Cleanroom to Desktop: Emerging Micro-Nanofabrication Technology for Biomedical Applications

PubMed Central

Wang, Wei

2010-01-01

This review is motivated by the growing demand for low-cost, easy-to-use, compact-size yet powerful micro-nanofabrication technology to address emerging challenges of fundamental biology and translational medicine in regular laboratory settings. Recent advancements in the field benefit considerably from rapidly expanding material selections, ranging from inorganics to organics and from nanoparticles to self-assembled molecules. Meanwhile a great number of novel methodologies, employing off-the-shelf consumer electronics, intriguing interfacial phenomena, bottom-up self-assembly principles, etc., have been implemented to transit micro-nanofabrication from a cleanroom environment to a desktop setup. Furthermore, the latest application of micro-nanofabrication to emerging biomedical research will be presented in detail, which includes point-of-care diagnostics, on-chip cell culture as well as bio-manipulation. While significant progresses have been made in the rapidly growing field, both apparent and unrevealed roadblocks will need to be addressed in the future. We conclude this review by offering our perspectives on the current technical challenges and future research opportunities. PMID:21161384

From cleanroom to desktop: emerging micro-nanofabrication technology for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Pan, Tingrui; Wang, Wei

2011-02-01

This review is motivated by the growing demand for low-cost, easy-to-use, compact-size yet powerful micro-nanofabrication technology to address emerging challenges of fundamental biology and translational medicine in regular laboratory settings. Recent advancements in the field benefit considerably from rapidly expanding material selections, ranging from inorganics to organics and from nanoparticles to self-assembled molecules. Meanwhile a great number of novel methodologies, employing off-the-shelf consumer electronics, intriguing interfacial phenomena, bottom-up self-assembly principles, etc., have been implemented to transit micro-nanofabrication from a cleanroom environment to a desktop setup. Furthermore, the latest application of micro-nanofabrication to emerging biomedical research will be presented in detail, which includes point-of-care diagnostics, on-chip cell culture as well as bio-manipulation. While significant progresses have been made in the rapidly growing field, both apparent and unrevealed roadblocks will need to be addressed in the future. We conclude this review by offering our perspectives on the current technical challenges and future research opportunities.

Immune response to functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heidegger, Simon; Gößl, Dorothée; Schmidt, Alexandra; Niedermayer, Stefan; Argyo, Christian; Endres, Stefan; Bein, Thomas; Bourquin, Carole

2015-12-01

Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) have attracted substantial attention with regard to their high potential for targeted drug delivery. For future clinical applications it is crucial to address safety concerns and understand the potential immunotoxicity of these nanoparticles. In this study, we assess the biocompatibility and functionality of multifunctional MSN in freshly isolated, primary murine immune cells. We show that the functionalized silica nanoparticles are rapidly and efficiently taken up into the endosomal compartment by specialized antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells. The silica nanoparticles showed a favorable toxicity profile and did not affect the viability of primary immune cells from the spleen in relevant concentrations. Cargo-free MSN induced only very low immune responses in primary cells as determined by surface expression of activation markers and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-6, -12 and -1β. In contrast, when surface-functionalized MSN with a pH-responsive polymer capping were loaded with an immune-activating drug, the synthetic Toll-like receptor 7 agonist R848, a strong immune response was provoked. We thus demonstrate that MSN represent an efficient drug delivery vehicle to primary immune cells that is both non-toxic and non-inflammagenic, which is a prerequisite for the use of these particles in biomedical applications.Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) have attracted substantial attention with regard to their high potential for targeted drug delivery. For future clinical applications it is crucial to address safety concerns and understand the potential immunotoxicity of these nanoparticles. In this study, we assess the biocompatibility and functionality of multifunctional MSN in freshly isolated, primary murine immune cells. We show that the functionalized silica nanoparticles are rapidly and efficiently taken up into the endosomal compartment by specialized

Scalable fabrication of size-controlled chitosan nanoparticles for oral delivery of insulin.

PubMed

He, Zhiyu; Santos, Jose Luis; Tian, Houkuan; Huang, Huahua; Hu, Yizong; Liu, Lixin; Leong, Kam W; Chen, Yongming; Mao, Hai-Quan

2017-06-01

Controlled delivery of protein would find diverse therapeutic applications. Formulation of protein nanoparticles by polyelectrolyte complexation between the protein and a natural polymer such as chitosan (CS) is a popular approach. However, the current method of batch-mode mixing faces significant challenges in scaling up while maintaining size control, high uniformity, and high encapsulation efficiency. Here we report a new method, termed flash nanocomplexation (FNC), to fabricate insulin nanoparticles by infusing aqueous solutions of CS, tripolyphosphate (TPP), and insulin under rapid mixing condition (Re > 1600) in a multi-inlet vortex mixer. In comparison with the bulk-mixing method, the optimized FNC process produces CS/TPP/insulin nanoparticles with a smaller size (down to 45 nm) and narrower size distribution, higher encapsulation efficiency (up to 90%), and pH-dependent nanoparticle dissolution and insulin release. The CS/TPP/insulin nanoparticles can be lyophilized and reconstituted without loss of activity, and produced at a throughput of 5.1 g h -1 when a flow rate of 50 mL min -1 is used. Evaluated in a Type I diabetes rat model, the smaller nanoparticles (45 nm and 115 nm) control the blood glucose level through oral administration more effectively than the larger particles (240 nm). This efficient, reproducible and continuous FNC technique is amenable to scale-up in order to address the critical barrier of manufacturing for the translation of protein nanoparticles. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Immobilization of mercury in field soil and sediment using carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized iron sulfide nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Yanyan; Liu, Yuanyuan; Xiong, Zhong; Kaback, Dawn; Zhao, Dongye

2012-07-01

Mercury (Hg) is one of the most pervasive and bio-accumulative metals in the environment. Yet, effective in situ remediation technologies have been lacking. This study investigated the effectiveness of a class of soil-deliverable FeS nanoparticles for in situ immobilization of Hg in two field-contaminated soils from a New Jersey site and one sediment from an Alabama site. The nanoparticles were prepared using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a stabilizer. Transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed a particle size of 34.3 ± 8.3 nm (standard deviation), whereas dynamic light scattering gave a hydrodynamic diameter of 222.5 ± 3.2 nm. Batch tests showed that at an FeS-to-Hg molar ratio of 28:1-118:1, the nanoparticles reduced water-leachable Hg by 79%-96% and the TCLP (toxicity characteristic leaching procedure) based leachability by 26%-96%. Column breakthrough tests indicated that the nanoparticles were deliverable in the sediment/soil columns under moderate injection pressure. However, once the external pressure was removed, the delivered nanoparticles remained virtually mobile under typical groundwater flow conditions. When the Hg-contaminated soil and sediment were treated with 52-95 pore volumes of a 500 mg l-1 FeS nanoparticle suspension, water-leachable Hg was reduced by 90%-93% and TCLP-leachable Hg was reduced by 65%-91%. The results warrant further field demonstration of this promising in situ remediation technology.

Microfluidic Reactors for the Controlled Synthesis of Nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Erdem, Emine Yegan

Nanoparticles have attracted a lot of attention in the past few decades due to their unique, size-dependent properties. In order to use these nanoparticles in devices or sensors effectively, it is important to maintain uniform properties throughout the system; therefore nanoparticles need to have uniform sizes -- or monodisperse. In order to achieve monodispersity, an extreme control over the reaction conditions is required during their synthesis. These reaction conditions such as temperature, concentration of reagents, residence times, etc. affect the structure of nanoparticles dramatically; therefore when the conditions vary locally in the reaction vessel, different sized nanoparticles form, causing polydispersity. In widely-used batch wise synthesis techniques, large sized reaction vessels are used to mix and heat reagents. In these types of systems, it is very hard to avoid thermal gradients and to achieve rapid mixing times as well as to control residence times. Also it is not possible to make rapid changes in the reaction parameters during the synthesis. The other drawback of conventional methods is that it is not possible to separate the nucleation of nanoparticles from their growth; this leads to combined nucleation and growth and subsequently results in polydisperse size distributions. Microfluidics is an alternative method by which the limitations of conventional techniques can be addressed. Due to the small size, it is possible to control temperature and concentration of reagents precisely as well as to make rapid changes in mixing ratios of reagents or temperature of the reaction zones. There have been several microfluidic reactors -- (microreactors) in literature that were designed to improve the size distribution of nanoparticles. In this work, two novel microfluidic systems were developed for achieving controlled synthesis of nanoparticles. The first microreactor was made out of a chemically robust polymer, polyurethane, and it was used for low

Radiolabeled inorganic nanoparticles for positron emission tomography imaging of cancer: an overview

PubMed Central

CHAKRAVARTY, Rubel; GOEL, Shreya; DASH, Ashutosh; CAI, Weibo

2017-01-01

Over the last few years, a plethora of radiolabeled inorganic nanoparticles have been developed and evaluated for their potential use as probes in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of a wide variety of cancers. Inorganic nanoparticles represent an emerging paradigm in molecular imaging probe design, allowing the incorporation of various imaging modalities, targeting ligands, and therapeutic payloads into a single vector. A major challenge in this endeavor is to develop disease-specific nanoparticles with facile and robust radiolabeling strategies. Also, the radiolabeled nanoparticles should demonstrate adequate in vitro and in vivo stability, enhanced sensitivity for detection of disease at an early stage, optimized in vivo pharmacokinetics for reduced non-specific organ uptake, and improved targeting for achieving high efficacy. Owing to these challenges and other technological and regulatory issues, only a single radiolabeled nanoparticle formulation, namely “C-dots” (Cornell dots), has found its way into clinical trials thus far. This review describes the available options for radiolabeling of nanoparticles and summarizes the recent developments in PET imaging of cancer in preclinical and clinical settings using radiolabeled nanoparticles as probes. The key considerations toward clinical translation of these novel PET imaging probes are discussed, which will be beneficial for advancement of the field. PMID:28124549

Advances in the manufacture of MIP nanoparticles.

PubMed

Poma, Alessandro; Turner, Anthony P F; Piletsky, Sergey A

2010-12-01

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are prepared by creating a three-dimensional polymeric matrix around a template molecule. After the matrix is removed, complementary cavities with respect to shape and functional groups remain. MIPs have been produced for applications in in vitro diagnostics, therapeutics and separations. However, this promising technology still lacks widespread application because of issues related to large-scale production and optimization of the synthesis. Recent developments in the area of MIP nanoparticles might offer solutions to several problems associated with performance and application. This review discusses various approaches used in the preparation of MIP nanoparticles, focusing in particular on the issues associated with large-scale manufacture and implications for the performance of synthesized nanomaterials. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Nanoparticle Surface on the HPLC Elution Profile of Liposomal Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Itoh, Naoki; Yamamoto, Eiichi; Santa, Tomofumi; Funatsu, Takashi; Kato, Masaru

2016-06-01

Nanoparticles have been used in diverse areas, and even broader applications are expected in the future. Since surface modification can influence the configuration and toxicity of nanoparticles, a rapid screening method is important to ensure nanoparticle quality. We examined the effect of the nanoparticle surface morphology on the HPLC elution profile using two types of 100-nm liposomal nanoparticles (AmBisome(Ⓡ) and DOXIL(Ⓡ)). These 100-nm-sized nanoparticles eluted before the holdup time (about 4 min), even when a column packed with particles with a relatively large pore size (30 nm) was used. The elution time of the nanoparticles increased with pegylation of the nanoparticles and protein adsorption to the nanoparticles; however, the nanoparticles still eluted before the holdup time. The results of this study indicate that HPLC is a suitable tool for rapid evaluation of the surface of liposomal nanoparticles.

Critical questions in development of targeted nanoparticle therapeutics.

PubMed

Korsmeyer, Richard

2016-06-01

One of the fourteen Grand Challenges for Engineering articulated by the US National Academy of Engineering is 'Engineer Better Medicines'. Although there are many ways that better medicines could be engineered, one of the most promising ideas is to improve our ability to deliver the therapeutic molecule more precisely to the desired target. Most conventional drug delivery methods (oral absorption, intravenous infusion etc.) result in systemic exposure to the therapeutic molecule, which places severe constraints on the types of molecules that can be used. A molecule administered by systemic delivery must be effective at low concentrations in the target tissue, yet safe everywhere else in the body. If drug carriers could be developed to deliver therapeutic molecules selectively to the desired target, it should be possible to greatly improve safety and efficacy of therapy. Nanoparticles (and related nanostructures, such as liposomes, nanoemulsions, micelles and dendrimers) are an attractive drug carrier concept because they can be made from a variety of materials engineered to have properties that allow loading and precise delivery of bound therapeutic molecules. The field of targeted nanoparticles has been extraordinarily active in the academic realm, with thousands of articles published over the last few years. Many of these publications seem to demonstrate very promising results in in vitro studies and even in animal models. In addition, a handful of human clinical trials are in progress. Yet, the biopharmaceutical industry has been relatively slow to make major investments in targeted nanoparticle development programs, despite a clear desire to introduce innovative new therapies to the market. What is the reason for such caution? Some degree of caution is no doubt due to the use of novel materials and the unproven nature of targeted nanoparticle technology, but many other unproven technologies have generated intense interest at various times. We believe that the

PEG-Stabilized Core–Shell Surface-Imprinted Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Moczko, Ewa; Guerreiro, Antonio; Piletska, Elena; Piletsky, Sergey

2016-01-01

Here we present a simple technique to produce target-specific molecularly imprinted polymeric nanoparticles (MIP NPs) and their surface modification in order to prevent the aggregation process that is ever-present in most nanomaterial suspensions/dispersions. Specifically, we studied the influence of surface modification of MIP NPs with polymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) on their degree of stability in water, in phosphate buffer, and in the presence of serum proteins. Grafting a polymer shell on the surface of nanoparticles decreases the surface energy, enhances the polarity, and as a result improves the dispersibility, storage, and colloidal stability as compared to those of core (unmodified) particles. Because of the unique solid-phase approach used for synthesis, the binding sites of MIP NPs are protected during grafting, and the recognition properties of nanoparticles are not affected. These results are significant for developing nanomaterials with selective molecular recognition, increased biocompatibility, and stability in solution. Materials synthesized this way have the potential to be used in a variety of technological fields, including in vivo applications such as drug delivery and imaging. PMID:23855734

PEG-stabilized core-shell surface-imprinted nanoparticles.

PubMed

Moczko, Ewa; Guerreiro, Antonio; Piletska, Elena; Piletsky, Sergey

2013-08-06

Here we present a simple technique to produce target-specific molecularly imprinted polymeric nanoparticles (MIP NPs) and their surface modification in order to prevent the aggregation process that is ever-present in most nanomaterial suspensions/dispersions. Specifically, we studied the influence of surface modification of MIP NPs with polymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) on their degree of stability in water, in phosphate buffer, and in the presence of serum proteins. Grafting a polymer shell on the surface of nanoparticles decreases the surface energy, enhances the polarity, and as a result improves the dispersibility, storage, and colloidal stability as compared to those of core (unmodified) particles. Because of the unique solid-phase approach used for synthesis, the binding sites of MIP NPs are protected during grafting, and the recognition properties of nanoparticles are not affected. These results are significant for developing nanomaterials with selective molecular recognition, increased biocompatibility, and stability in solution. Materials synthesized this way have the potential to be used in a variety of technological fields, including in vivo applications such as drug delivery and imaging.

Gold Nanoparticle Based Platforms for Circulating Cancer Marker Detection

PubMed Central

Huang, Xiaohua; O'Connor, Ryan; Kwizera, Elyahb Allie

2017-01-01

Detection of cancer-related circulating biomarkers in body fluids has become a cutting-edge technology that has the potential to noninvasively screen cancer, diagnose cancer at early stage, monitor tumor progression, and evaluate therapy responses. Traditional molecular and cellular detection methods are either insensitive for early cancer intervention or technically costly and complicated making them impractical for typical clinical settings. Due to their exceptional structural and functional properties that are not available from bulk materials or discrete molecules, nanotechnology is opening new horizons for low cost, rapid, highly sensitive, and highly specific detection of circulating cancer markers. Gold nanoparticles have emerged as a unique nanoplatform for circulating biomarker detection owning to their advantages of easy synthesis, facile surface chemistry, excellent biocompatibility, and remarkable structure and environment sensitive optical properties. In this review, we introduce current gold nanoparticle-based technology platforms for the detection of four major classes of circulating cancer markers - circulating tumor cells, vesicles, nucleic acids, and proteins. The techniques will be summarized in terms of signal detection strategies. Distinctive examples are provided to highlight the state-of-the-art technologies that significantly advance basic and clinical cancer research. PMID:28217434

Recirculating Air Filtration Significantly Reduces Exposure to Airborne Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Pui, David Y.H.; Qi, Chaolong; Stanley, Nick; Oberdörster, Günter; Maynard, Andrew

2008-01-01

Background Airborne nanoparticles from vehicle emissions have been associated with adverse effects in people with pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, and toxicologic studies have shown that nanoparticles can be more hazardous than their larger-scale counterparts. Recirculating air filtration in automobiles and houses may provide a low-cost solution to reducing exposures in many cases, thus reducing possible health risks. Objectives We investigated the effectiveness of recirculating air filtration on reducing exposure to incidental and intentionally produced airborne nanoparticles under two scenarios while driving in traffic, and while generating nanomaterials using gas-phase synthesis. Methods We tested the recirculating air filtration in two commercial vehicles when driving in traffic, as well as in a nonventilation room with a nanoparticle generator, simulating a nanomaterial production facility. We also measured the time-resolved aerosol size distribution during the in-car recirculation to investigate how recirculating air filtration affects particles of different sizes. We developed a recirculation model to describe the aerosol concentration change during recirculation. Results The use of inexpensive, low-efficiency filters in recirculation systems is shown to reduce nanoparticle concentrations to below levels found in a typical office within 3 min while driving through heavy traffic, and within 20 min in a simulated nanomaterial production facility. Conclusions Development and application of this technology could lead to significant reductions in airborne nanoparticle exposure, reducing possible risks to health and providing solutions for generating nanomaterials safely. PMID:18629306

Utilization of nanoparticle labels for signal amplification in ultrasensitive electrochemical affinity biosensors: a review.

PubMed

Ding, Liang; Bond, Alan M; Zhai, Jianping; Zhang, Jie

2013-10-03

Nanoparticles with desirable properties not exhibited by the bulk material can be readily synthesized because of rapid technological developments in the fields of materials science and nanotechnology. In particular their highly attractive electrochemical properties and electrocatalytic activity have facilitated achievement of the high level of signal amplification needed for the development of ultrasensitive electrochemical affinity biosensors for the detection of proteins and DNA. This review article explains the basic principles of nanoparticle based electrochemical biosensors, highlights the recent advances in the development of nanoparticle based signal amplification strategies, and provides a critical assessment of the likely drawbacks associated with each strategy. Finally, future perspectives for achieving advanced signal simplification in nanoparticles based biosensors are considered. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Intersection of CMOS Microsystems and Upconversion Nanoparticles for Luminescence Bioimaging and Bioassays

PubMed Central

Wei, Liping.; Doughan, Samer.; Han, Yi.; DaCosta, Matthew V.; Krull, Ulrich J.; Ho, Derek.

2014-01-01

Organic fluorophores and quantum dots are ubiquitous as contrast agents for bio-imaging and as labels in bioassays to enable the detection of biological targets and processes. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer a different set of opportunities as labels in bioassays and for bioimaging. UCNPs are excited at near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths where biological molecules are optically transparent, and their luminesce in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range is suitable for detection using complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. These nanoparticles provide multiple sharp emission bands, long lifetimes, tunable emission, high photostability, and low cytotoxicity, which render them particularly useful for bio-imaging applications and multiplexed bioassays. This paper surveys several key concepts surrounding upconversion nanoparticles and the systems that detect and process the corresponding luminescence signals. The principle of photon upconversion, tuning of emission wavelengths, UCNP bioassays, and UCNP time-resolved techniques are described. Electronic readout systems for signal detection and processing suitable for UCNP luminescence using CMOS technology are discussed. This includes recent progress in miniaturized detectors, integrated spectral sensing, and high-precision time-domain circuits. Emphasis is placed on the physical attributes of UCNPs that map strongly to the technical features that CMOS devices excel in delivering, exploring the interoperability between the two technologies. PMID:25211198

Formation of redispersible polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles from gallic acid-chitosan conjugate and gum arabic.

PubMed

Hu, Qiaobin; Wang, Taoran; Zhou, Mingyong; Xue, Jingyi; Luo, Yangchao

2016-11-01

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) nanoparticles between chitosan (CS) and biomacromolecules offer better physicochemical properties as delivery vehicles for nutrients than other CS-based nanoparticles. Our major objective was to fabricate PEC nanoparticles between water soluble gallic acid-chitosan conjugate (GA-CS) and gum arabic. The optimal fabrication method, physicochemical characteristics and stability were investigated. Furthermore, we also evaluated the effects of nano spray drying technology on the morphology and redispersibility of nanoparticle powders using Buchi B-90 Nano Spray Dryer. Results showed that the mass ratio between GA-CS and gum arabic and the preparation pH had significant contributions in determining the particle size and count rate of the nanoparticles, with the ratio of 3:1 and pH 5.0 being the optimal conditions that resulted in 112.2nm and 122.9kcps. The polyethylene glycol (PEG) played a vital role in forming the well-separated spray dried nanoparticles. The most homogeneous nanoparticles with the smoothest surface were obtained when the mass ratio of GA-CS and PEG was 1:0.5. In addition, the GA-CS/gum arabic spray dried nanoparticles exhibited excellent water-redispersibiliy compared to native CS/gum arabic nanoparticles. Our results demonstrated GA-CS/gum arabic nanoparticles were successfully fabricated with promising physicochemical properties and great potential for their applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Weissella oryzae DC6-facilitated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antimicrobial potential.

PubMed

Singh, Priyanka; Kim, Yeon J; Wang, Chao; Mathiyalagan, Ramya; Yang, Deok C

2016-09-01

Nanoparticles and nanomaterials are at the prominent edge of the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Recently, nanoparticle synthesis using biological resources has been found to be a new area with considerable prospects for development. Biological systems are the masters of ambient condition chemistry and are able to synthesize nanoparticles by utilizing metal salts. In the perspective of the current initiative to develop green technologies for the synthesis of nanoparticles, microorganisms are of considerable interest. Thus, the present study describes a bacterial strain-Weissella oryzae DC6-isolated from mountain ginseng, for the green and facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The particles were synthesized effectively without the need for any supplementary modification to maintain stability. The synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated by several instrumental techniques, comprising ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, field emission transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction, and dynamic light scattering. In addition, the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were explored for their antimicrobial activity against clinical pathogens including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Furthermore, the potential of nanoparticles has been observed for biofilm inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thus, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by the strain W. oryzae DC6 may serve as a simple, green, cost-effective, consistent, and harmless method to produce antimicrobial silver nanoparticles.

Impact of the emulsification-diffusion method on the development of pharmaceutical nanoparticles.

PubMed

Quintanar-Guerrero, David; Zambrano-Zaragoza, María de la Luz; Gutierrez-Cortez, Elsa; Mendoza-Munoz, Nestor

2012-12-01

Nanotechnology is having a profound impact in many scientific fields and it has become one of the most important and exciting discipline. Like all technological advances, nanotechnology has its own scientific basis with a broad interdisciplinary effect. Perhaps, we are witnessing an exponential growth of nanotechnology, reflection of this is the important increase in the number of patents, scientific papers and specialized "nano" meetings and journals. The impact in the pharmaceutical area is related to the use of colloidal drug delivery systems as carriers for bioactive agents, in particular, the nanoparticle technology. The term nanoparticles designates solid submicronic particles formed of acceptable materials (e.g. polymers, lipids, etc.) containing an active substance. It includes both nanospheres (matricial systems) and nanocapsules (membrane systems). The knowledge of the nanoparticle preparation methods is a key issue for the formulator involved with drug-delivery research and development. In general, the methods based on preformed polymers, in particular biodegradable polymers, are preferred due to their easy implementation and lower potential toxicity. One of the most widely used methods to prepare polymeric nanoparticles is emulsification-diffusion. This method has been discussed in some reviews that compile research works but has a small number of patents. In this review, the emulsification-diffusion method is discussed from a technological point of view in order to show the operating conditions and formulation variables from data extracted of recent patents and experimental works. The main idea is to provide the reader with a general guide for formulators to make decisions about the usefulness of this method to develop specific nanoparticulate systems. The first part of this review provides an overview of the emulsification-diffusion method to prepare polymeric nanoparticles, while the second part evaluates the influence of preparative variables on the

Molecularly-Targeted Gold-Based Nanoparticles for Cancer Imaging and Near-Infrared Photothermal Therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Day, Emily Shannon

2011-12-01

better mimic the clinical setting. These tumors are highly vascularized, so nanoparticles were addressed toward receptors abundantly expressed on tumor vessels using growth factors as a novel targeting strategy. Photothermal therapy with these vascular-targeted nanoparticles disrupted tumor vessels, leading to a 2.2-fold prolongation of median survival versus control mice. This work confirms that nanoparticle surface coating can affect biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy. With continued optimization of molecular targeting strategies, imaging and photothermal therapy mediated by nanoshells and gold-gold sulfide nanoparticles may offer an effective alternative to conventional cancer management.

Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors for Quantitative Spatial Imaging of Chemical Species.

PubMed

Yoshinobu, Tatsuo; Miyamoto, Ko-Ichiro; Werner, Carl Frederik; Poghossian, Arshak; Wagner, Torsten; Schöning, Michael J

2017-06-12

A light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) is a semiconductor-based chemical sensor, in which a measurement site on the sensing surface is defined by illumination. This light addressability can be applied to visualize the spatial distribution of pH or the concentration of a specific chemical species, with potential applications in the fields of chemistry, materials science, biology, and medicine. In this review, the features of this chemical imaging sensor technology are compared with those of other technologies. Instrumentation, principles of operation, and various measurement modes of chemical imaging sensor systems are described. The review discusses and summarizes state-of-the-art technologies, especially with regard to the spatial resolution and measurement speed; for example, a high spatial resolution in a submicron range and a readout speed in the range of several tens of thousands of pixels per second have been achieved with the LAPS. The possibility of combining this technology with microfluidic devices and other potential future developments are discussed.

Stem cell-extracellular vesicles as drug delivery systems: New frontiers for silk/curcumin nanoparticles.

PubMed

Perteghella, Sara; Crivelli, Barbara; Catenacci, Laura; Sorrenti, Milena; Bruni, Giovanna; Necchi, Vittorio; Vigani, Barbara; Sorlini, Marzio; Torre, Maria Luisa; Chlapanidas, Theodora

2017-03-30

The aim of this work was to develop a novel carrier-in-carrier system based on stem cell-extracellular vesicles loaded of silk/curcumin nanoparticles by endogenous technique. Silk nanoparticles were produced by desolvation method and curcumin has been selected as drug model because of its limited water solubility and poor bioavailability. Nanoparticles were stable, with spherical geometry, 100nm in average diameter and the drug content reached about 30%. Cellular uptake studies, performed on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), showed the accumulation of nanoparticles in the cytosol around the nuclear membrane, without cytotoxic effects. Finally, MSCs were able to release extracellular vesicles entrapping silk/curcumin nanoparticles. This combined biological-technological approach represents a novel class of nanosystems, combining beneficial effects of both regenerative cell therapies and pharmaceutical nanomedicine, avoiding the use of viable replicating stem cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vivo assessment of impact of titanium oxide nanoparticle on zebrafish embryo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Verma, Suresh K.; Mishra, Anurag K.; Suar, M.; Parashar, S. K. S.

2017-05-01

Technologies and innovations have attended a new height with recent development in nanotechnology in last few decades. With these developments there has a great raise in demand of metal oxides like TiO2, ZnO having versatile physical, chemical and biological application. However the great rise has raised concern over the effect of these nanoparticles in biological system. In this study, we have assessed the impact of titanium oxide nanoparticles synthesized by high energy ball milling (HEBM) by milling bulk TiO2 particles for 15h. The synthesized particles were characterized with XRD, UV-Visible spectroscopy and DLS for their physiochemical properties. Biological impact of these nanoparticles was then studied on zebrafish embryo as invivo model. Mortality and hatching rate were calculated for 48hpf and 96hpf treatment. To determine the mechanism of mortality effect, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined with the help of flow cytometry. 15h nanoparticles were found to have a LC50 of ( ) for zebrafish embryo. However TiO2 nanoparticles were found to be a ROS scavenger for the treated Zebrafish cells.

EDITORIAL: Biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Grady, K.

2002-07-01

Magnetic materials have been used with grain sizes down to the nanoscale for longer than any other type of material. This is because of a fundamental change in the magnetic structure of ferro- and ferrimagnetic materials when grain sizes are reduced. In these circumstances, the normal macroscopic domain structure transforms into a single domain state at a critical size which typically lies below 100 nm. Once this transformation occurs the mechanism of magnetisation reversal can only be via the rotation of the magnetisation vector from one magnetic easy axis to another via a magnetically hard direction. This change of reversal mechanism has led to a new class of magnetic materials whose properties and the basic underlying physical mechanism governing them were defined in a seminal work first published by E C Stoner and E P Wolhfarth in 1949. As a consequence of this rotation mechanism, magnetic nanoparticles exist having coercivities which are highly controllable and lie between soft materials and normal permanent magnet materials. This ability to control coercivity in such particles has led to a number of significant technological advances, particularly in the field of information storage. The high value of information storage technology has meant that since the 1950s an enormous research and development effort has gone into techniques for the preparation of magnetic particles and thin films having well defined properties. Hence, certainly since the 1960s, a wide range of techniques to produce both metallic and oxide magnetic nanoparticles with sizes ranging from 4-100 nm has been developed. The availability of this wide range of materials led to speculation from the 1960s onwards that they may have applications in biology and medicine. The fact that a magnetic field gradient can be used to either remotely position or selectively filter biological materials leads to a number of obvious applications. These applications fall broadly into two categories: those

Mangifera Indica leaf-assisted biosynthesis of well-dispersed silver nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Philip, Daizy

2011-01-01

The use of various parts of plants for the synthesis of nanoparticles is considered as a green technology as it does not involve any harmful chemicals. The present study reports a facile and rapid biosynthesis of well-dispersed silver nanoparticles. The method developed is environmentally friendly and allows the reduction to be accelerated by changing the temperature and pH of the reaction mixture consisting of aqueous AgNO 3 and Mangifera Indica leaf extract. At a pH of 8, the colloid consists of well-dispersed triangular, hexagonal and nearly spherical nanoparticles having size ˜20 nm. The UV-vis spectrum of silver nanoparticles gave surface plasmon resonance (SPR) at 439 nm. The synthesized nanocrystals were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Water soluble organics present in the leaf are responsible for the reduction of silver ions. This green method provides faster synthesis comparable to chemical methods and can be used in areas such as cosmetics, foods and medical applications.

Influence of gold nanoparticles on platelets functional activity in vitro

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akchurin, Garif G.; Akchurin, George G.; Ivanov, Alexey N.; Kirichuk, Vyacheslav F.; Terentyuk, George S.; Khlebtsov, Boris N.; Khlebtsov, Nikolay G.

2008-02-01

Now in the leading biomedical centers of the world approved new technology of laser photothermal destruction of cancer cells using plasmon gold nanoparticles. Investigations of influence of gold nanoparticles on white rat platelets aggregative activity in vitro have been made. Platelet aggregation was investigated in platelet rich plasma (PRP) with help of laser analyzer 230 LA <>, Russia). Aggregation inductor was ADP solution in terminal concentration 2.5 micromole (<>, Russia). Gold nanoshells soluted in salt solution were used for experiments. Samples of PRP were incubated with 50 or 100 μl gold nanoshells solution in 5 minute, after that we made definition ADP induced platelet aggregation. We found out increase platelet function activity after incubation with nanoparticles solution which shown in maximum ADP-induced aggregation degree increase. Increase platelet function activity during intravenous nanoshells injection can be cause of thrombosis on patients. That's why before clinical application of cancer cell destruction based on laser photothermal used with plasmon gold nanoparticles careful investigations of thrombosis process and detail analyze of physiological blood parameters are very necessary.

Light-responsive expansion-contraction of spherical nanoparticle grafted with azopolymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Jie; Zhang, Xinghua; Miao, Bing; Yan, Dadong

2017-04-01

Due to the very importance for both fundamental research and technological applications, smart materials with stimuli-responsive properties have been studied intensively. Theoretical investigation contributes to this endeavor through constructing and analyzing a model system which captures main features of the corresponding complex material, wherefrom useful insight can be provided to the trial-and-error experiments. We here report a theoretical study on the smart spherical nanoparticle grafted with light-responsive azobenzene-containing polymers. Utilizing the photoisomerization ability of the azobenzene group, nanoparticles can undergo a light-induced expansion-contraction transition. The wormlike chain based single chain in mean field theory, which has been developed by us recently, is used to investigate this transition in detail. Exploring a large parameter space, our results definitely determine the parameters, including the chain length and effective Kuhn length of grafted chain, nanoparticle radius, grafting density, and position of the azobenzene group along the chain contour, to admit optimum light-responsive behavior of the smart nanoparticle, which provides a guide for experimentalists to design this type of material in a rational manner.

Digital Sensor Technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ted Quinn; Jerry Mauck; Richard Bockhorst

The nuclear industry has been slow to incorporate digital sensor technology into nuclear plant designs due to concerns with digital qualification issues. However, the benefits of digital sensor technology for nuclear plant instrumentation are substantial in terms of accuracy, reliability, availability, and maintainability. This report demonstrates these benefits in direct comparisons of digital and analog sensor applications. It also addresses the qualification issues that must be addressed in the application of digital sensor technology.

A chemical reduction approach to the synthesis of copper nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Ayesha; Rashid, Audil; Younas, Rafia; Chong, Ren

2016-11-01

Development of improved methods for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles is of high priority for the advancement of material science and technology. Herein, starch-protected zero-valent copper (Cu) nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by a novel facile route. The method is based on the chemical reduction in aqueous copper salt using ascorbic acid as reducing agent at low temperature (80 °C). X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements were taken to investigate the size, structure and composition of synthesized Cu nanocrystals, respectively. Average crystallite size of Cu nanocrystals calculated from the major diffraction peaks using the Scherrer formula is about 28.73 nm. It is expected that the outcomes of the study take us a step closer toward designing rational strategies for the synthesis of nascent Cu nanoparticles without inert gas protection.

Revolution from monometallic to trimetallic nanoparticle composites, various synthesis methods and their applications: A review.

PubMed

Sharma, Gaurav; Kumar, Deepak; Kumar, Amit; Al-Muhtaseb, Ala'a H; Pathania, Deepak; Naushad, Mu; Mola, Genene Tessema

2017-02-01

Trimetallic nanoparticles are mainly formed by the combination of three different metals. The trimetallic catalysts were considerably more professional than bimetallic one. The trimetallic and bimetallic nanoparticles are of enormous attention than that of monometallic in both technological and scientific view as in these nanoparticles the catalytic properties can be tailored better than that of in the single monometallic catalyst. The trimetallic nanoparticles have been synthesized by different methods such as microwave, selective catalytic reduction, micro-emulsion, co-precipitation and hydrothermal etc. The surfaces area of trimetallic nanoparticles is comparatively unstable and thus gets simply precipitated away from their solution and ultimately resulted in their reduced catalytic activity. By using stabilizers like block copolymers, organic ligands, surfactants and dendrimers the trimetallic nanoparticles can be stabilized. The nanocomposites of trimetallics have been synthesized with inorganic and organic compounds such as: carbon, graphene, gelatin, cellulose, starch, chitosan, alginate, collagen and Al 2 O 3 etc. Trimetallic nanoparticles are used as a catalyst due to their outstanding electrochemical catalytic activity in comparison with the monometallic or bimetallic nanoparticles. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nanoparticle agglomerates of fluticasone propionate in combination with albuterol sulfate as dry powder aerosols

PubMed Central

El-Gendy, Nashwa; Pornputtapitak, Warangkana; Berkland, Cory

2015-01-01

Particle engineering strategies remain at the forefront of aerosol research for localized treatment of lung diseases and represent an alternative for systemic drug therapy. With the hastily growing popularity and complexity of inhalation therapy, there is a rising demand for tailor-made inhalable drug particles capable of affording the most proficient delivery to the lungs and the most advantageous therapeutic outcomes. To address this formulation demand, nanoparticle agglomeration was used to develop aerosols of the asthma therapeutics, fluticasone or albuterol. In addition, a combination aerosol was formed by drying agglomerates of fluticasone nanoparticles in the presence of albuterol in solution. Powders of the single drug nanoparticle agglomerates or of the combined therapeutics possessed desirable aerodynamic properties for inhalation. Powders were efficiently aerosolized (~75% deposition determined by cascade impaction) with high fine particle fraction and rapid dissolution. Nanoparticle agglomeration offers a unique approach to obtain high performance aerosols from combinations of asthma therapeutics. PMID:21964203

Synthesis of internally functionalized silica nanoparticles for theranostic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walton, Nathan Isaac

This thesis addresses the synthesis and characterization of novel inorganic silica nanoparticle hybrids. It focuses in large part on their potential applications in the medical field. Silica acts as a useful carrier for a variety of compounds and this thesis silica will demonstrate its use as a carrier for boron or gadolinium. Boron-10 and gadolinium-157 have been suggested for the radiological treatment of tumor cells through the process called neutron capture therapy (NCT). Gadolinium is also commonly used as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agent. Particles that carry it have potential theranostic applications of both imaging and treating tumors. Chapter 1 presents a background on synthetic strategies and usages of silica nanoparticles, and NCT theory. Chapter 2 describes a procedure to create mesoporous metal chelating silica nanoparticles, mDTTA. This is achieved via a co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-trimethoxysilyl-propyl diethylenetriamine (SiDETA) followed by a post-synthesis modification step with bromoacetic acid (BrAA). These particles have a large surface area and well-defined pores of ~2 nm. The mDTTA nanoparticles were used to chelate the copper(II), cobalt(II) and gadolinium(III). The chelating of gadolinium is the most interesting since it can be used as a MRI contrast agent and a neutron capture therapeutic. The synthetic procedure developed also allows for the attachment of a fluorophore that gives the gadolinium chelating mDTTA nanoparticles a dual imaging modality. Chapter 3 presents the synthetic method used to produce two classes of large surface area organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles. Condensating the organosilane vinyltrimethoxysilane in a micellar solution results in nanoparticles that are either surface rough (raspberry-like) or mesoporous nanoparticles, which prior to this thesis has not been demonstrated in ORMOSIL chemistry. Furthermore, the vinyl functionalities are modified, using

Zinc tetraaminophthalocyanine-Fe3O4 nanoparticle composite for laccase immobilization

PubMed Central

Huang, Jun; Liu, Cheng; Xiao, Haiyan; Wang, Juntao; Jiang, Desheng; GU, Erdan

2007-01-01

Zinc tetraaminophthalocyanine-Fe3O4 nanoparticle composites were prepared by organic-inorganic complex technology and characterized. It has been proved that the ZnTAPc dispersed randomly onto the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles to form molecular dispersion layer and there was a relatively strong bond between central zinc cation and oxygen. The nanoparticle composite took the shape of roundish spheres with the mean diameter of about 15 nm. Active amino groups of magnetic carriers could be used to bind laccase via glutaraldehyde. The optimal pH for the activity of the immobilized laccases and free laccase were the same at pH 3.0 and the optimal temperature for laccase immobilization on ZnTAPc-Fe3O4 nanoparticle composite was 45°. The immobilization yields and Km value of the laccase immobilized on ZnTAPc-Fe3O4 nanoparticle composite were 25% and 20.1 μM, respectively. This kind of immobilized laccase has good thermal, storage and operation stability, and could be used as the sensing biocomponent for the fiber optic biosensor based on enzyme catalysis. PMID:18203444

Silicon based nanogap device for studying electrical transport phenomena in molecule-nanoparticle hybrids.

PubMed

Strobel, Sebastian; Hernández, Rocío Murcia; Hansen, Allan G; Tornow, Marc

2008-09-17

We report the fabrication and characterization of vertical nanogap electrode devices using silicon-on-insulator substrates. Using only standard silicon microelectronic process technology, nanogaps down to 26 nm electrode separation were prepared. Transmission electron microscopy cross-sectional analysis revealed the well defined material architecture of the nanogap, comprising two electrodes of dissimilar geometrical shape. This asymmetry is directly reflected in transport measurements on molecule-nanoparticle hybrid systems formed by self-assembling a monolayer of mercaptohexanol on the electrode surface and the subsequent dielectrophoretic trapping of 30 nm diameter Au nanoparticles. The observed Coulomb staircase I-V characteristic measured at T = 4.2 K is in excellent agreement with theoretical modelling, whereby junction capacitances of the order of a few 10(-18) farad and asymmetric resistances of 30 and 300 MΩ, respectively, are also supported well by our independent estimates for the formed double barrier tunnelling system. We propose our nanoelectrode system for integrating novel functional electronic devices such as molecular junctions or nanoparticle hybrids into existing silicon microelectronic process technology.

Mechanically Milled Irregular Zinc Nanoparticles for Printable Bioresorbable Electronics.

PubMed

Mahajan, Bikram K; Yu, Xiaowei; Shou, Wan; Pan, Heng; Huang, Xian

2017-05-01

Bioresorbable electronics is predominantly realized by complex and time-consuming anhydrous fabrication processes. New technology explores printable methods using inks containing micro- or nano-bioresorbable particles (e.g., Zn and Mg). However, these particles have seldom been obtained in the context of bioresorbable electronics using cheap, reliable, and effective approaches with limited study on properties essential to printable electronics. Here, irregular nanocrystalline Zn with controllable sizes and optimized electrical performance is obtained through ball milling approach using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a process control agent to stabilize Zn particles and prevent cold welding. Time and PVP dependence of the ball milled particles are studied with systematic characterizations of morphology and composition of the nanoparticles. The results reveal crystallized Zn nanoparticles with a size of ≈34.834 ± 1.76 nm and low surface oxidation. The resulting Zn nanoparticles can be readily printed onto bioresorbable substrates and sintered at room temperature using a photonic sintering approach, leading to a high conductivity of 44 643 S m -1 for printable zinc nanoparticles. The techniques to obtain Zn nanoparticles through ball milling and processing them through photonic sintering may potentially lead to a mass fabrication method for bioresorbable electronics and promote its applications in healthcare, environmental protection, and consumer electronics. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Micelles and Nanoparticles for Ultrasonic Drug and Gene Delivery

PubMed Central

Husseini, Ghaleb A.; Pitt, William G.

2008-01-01

Drug delivery research employing micelles and nanoparticles has expanded in recent years. Of particular interest is the use of these nanovehicles that deliver high concentrations of cytotoxic drugs to diseased tissues selectively, thus reducing the agent’s side effects on the rest of the body. Ultrasound, traditionally used in diagnostic medicine, is finding a place in drug delivery in connection with these nanoparticles. In addition to their non-invasive nature and the fact that they can be focused on targeted tissues, acoustic waves have been credited with releasing pharmacological agents from nanocarriers, as well as rendering cell membranes more permeable. In this article, we summarize new technologies that combine the use of nanoparticles with acoustic power both in drug and gene delivery. Ultrasonic drug delivery from micelles usually employs polyether block copolymers, and has been found effective in vivo for treating tumors. Ultrasound releases drug from micelles, most probably via shear stress and shock waves from collapse of cavitation bubbles. Liquid emulsions and solid nanoparticles are used with ultrasound to deliver genes in vitro and in vivo. The small packaging allows nanoparticles to extravasate into tumor tissues. Ultrasonic drug and gene delivery from nano-carriers has tremendous potential because of the wide variety of drugs and genes that could be delivered to targeted tissues by fairly non-invasive means. PMID:18486269

Toxicity testing of four silver nanoparticle-coated dental castings in 3-D LO2 cell cultures.

PubMed

Zhao, Yi-Ying; Chu, Qiang; Shi, Xu-Er; Zheng, Xiao-Dong; Shen, Xiao-Ting; Zhang, Yan-Zhen

To address the controversial issue of the toxicity of dental alloys and silver nanoparticles in medical applications, an in vivo-like LO2 3-D model was constructed within polyvinylidene fluoride hollow fiber materials to mimic the microenvironment of liver tissue. The use of microscopy methods and the measurement of liver-specific functions optimized the model for best cell performances and also proved the superiority of the 3-D LO2 model when compared with the traditional monolayer model. Toxicity tests were conducted using the newly constructed model, finding that four dental castings coated with silver nanoparticles were toxic to human hepatocytes after cell viability assays. In general, the toxicity of both the castings and the coated silver nanoparticles aggravated as time increased, yet the nanoparticles attenuated the general toxicity by preventing metal ion release, especially at high concentrations.

Facile preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces based on metal oxide nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Xue-Mei; Cui, Jin-Feng; Sun, Han-Xue; Liang, Wei-Dong; Zhu, Zhao-Qi; An, Jin; Yang, Bao-Ping; La, Pei-Qing; Li, An

2014-06-01

A novel method for fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces was developed by facile coating various metal oxide nanoparticles, including ZnO, Al2O3 and Fe3O4, on various substrates followed by treatment with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. Using ZnO nanoparticles as a model, the changes in the surface chemical composition and crystalline structures of the metal oxide nanoparticles by PDMS treatment were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The results show that the combination of the improved surface roughness generated from of the nanoparticles aggregation with the low surface-energy of silicon-coating originated from the thermal pyrolysis of PDMS would be responsible for the surface superhydrophobicity. By a simple dip-coating method, we show that the metal oxide nanoparticles can be easily coated onto the surfaces of various textural and dimensional substrates, including glass slide, paper, fabric or sponge, for preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces for different purpose. The present strategy may provide an inexpensive and new route to surperhydrophobic surfaces, which would be of technological significance for various practical applications especially for separation of oils or organic contaminates from water.

Intermetallic nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Singh, Dileep; Yusufoglu, Yusuf; Timofeeva, Elena; Routbort, Jules

2015-07-14

A process for preparing intermetallic nanoparticles of two or more metals is provided. In particular, the process includes the steps: a) dispersing nanoparticles of a first metal in a solvent to prepare a first metal solution, b) forming a reaction mixture with the first metal solution and a reducing agent, c) heating the reaction mixture to a reaction temperature; and d) adding a second metal solution containing a salt of a second metal to the reaction mixture. During this process, intermetallic nanoparticles, which contain a compound with the first and second metals are formed. The intermetallic nanoparticles with uniform size and a narrow size distribution is also provided. An electrochemical device such as a battery with the intermetallic nanoparticles is also provided.

Intermetallic nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Singh, Dileep; Yusufoglu, Yusuf; Timofeeva, Elena; Routbort, Jules L.

2015-11-20

A process for preparing intermetallic nanoparticles of two or more metals is provided. In particular, the process includes the steps: a) dispersing nanoparticles of a first metal in a solvent to prepare a first metal solution, b) forming a reaction mixture with the first metal solution and a reducing agent, c) heating the reaction mixture to a reaction temperature; and d) adding a second metal solution containing a salt of a second metal to the reaction mixture. During this process, intermetallic nanoparticles, which contain a compound with the first and second metals are formed. The intermetallic nanoparticles with uniform size and a narrow size distribution is also provided. An electrochemical device such as a battery with the intermetallic nanoparticles is also provided.

Intermetallic nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Singh, Dileep; Yusufoglu, Yusuf; Timofeeva, Elena; Routbort, Jules L.

2017-01-03

A process for preparing intermetallic nanoparticles of two or more metals is provided. In particular, the process includes the steps: a) dispersing nanoparticles of a first metal in a solvent to prepare a first metal solution, b) forming a reaction mixture with the first metal solution and a reducing agent, c) heating the reaction mixture to a reaction temperature; and d) adding a second metal solution containing a salt of a second metal to the reaction mixture. During this process, intermetallic nanoparticles, which contain a compound with the first and second metals are formed. The intermetallic nanoparticles with uniform size and a narrow size distribution is also provided. An electrochemical device such as a battery with the intermetallic nanoparticles is also provided.

Erosion Characteristics of Nanoparticle-Reinforced Polyurethane Coatings on Stainless Steel Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Syamsundar, C.; Chatterjee, Dhiman; Kamaraj, M.; Maiti, A. K.

2015-04-01

Hydropower generation from the Himalayan rivers in India faces challenge in the form of silt-laden water which can erode the turbine blades and reduce turbine life. To address this issue, polyurethane coatings reinforced with boron carbide (B4C) or silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles on 16Cr-5Ni martensitic stainless steel substrate were used in the present investigation to improve erosion wear resistance in silt erosion conditions. Slurry erosive wear tests were carried out based on ASTM G-73 protocol at various test conditions of impact velocity, impingement angle, and erodent particle size as well as slurry concentrations as determined by the implementation of Taguchi design of experiments. Analysis of variance studies of erosion rate indicated that nanoparticle content in PU material is the single most important parameter, and interaction of impact velocity and impingement angle was also proved to be significant. The coatings with B4C nanoparticles had higher wear resistances than those with SiC nanoparticles due to higher hardness of the former. An interesting finding from the results is that there is an optimum amount of nanoparticles at which mass removal is the minimum. This observation has been explained in terms of surface characteristics of coatings as brought out by a combination of measurements including SEM images as well as roughness measurement.

Gold nanoparticle-based optical microfluidic sensors for analysis of environmental pollutants.

PubMed

Lafleur, Josiane P; Senkbeil, Silja; Jensen, Thomas G; Kutter, Jörg P

2012-11-21

Conventional methods of environmental analysis can be significantly improved by the development of portable microscale technologies for direct in-field sensing at remote locations. This report demonstrates the vast potential of gold nanoparticle-based microfluidic sensors for the rapid, in-field, detection of two important classes of environmental contaminants - heavy metals and pesticides. Using gold nanoparticle-based microfluidic sensors linked to a simple digital camera as the detector, detection limits as low as 0.6 μg L(-1) and 16 μg L(-1) could be obtained for the heavy metal mercury and the dithiocarbamate pesticide ziram, respectively. These results demonstrate that the attractive optical properties of gold nanoparticle probes combine synergistically with the inherent qualities of microfluidic platforms to offer simple, portable and sensitive sensors for environmental contaminants.

Physics considerations in targeted anticancer drug delivery by magnetoelectric nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stimphil, Emmanuel; Nagesetti, Abhignyan; Guduru, Rakesh; Stewart, Tiffanie; Rodzinski, Alexandra; Liang, Ping; Khizroev, Sakhrat

2017-06-01

In regard to cancer therapy, magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENs) have proven to be in a class of its own when compared to any other nanoparticle type. Like conventional magnetic nanoparticles, they can be used for externally controlled drug delivery via application of a magnetic field gradient and image-guided delivery. However, unlike conventional nanoparticles, due to the presence of a non-zero magnetoelectric effect, MENs provide a unique mix of important properties to address key challenges in modern cancer therapy: (i) a targeting mechanism driven by a physical force rather than antibody matching, (ii) a high-specificity delivery to enhance the cellular uptake of therapeutic drugs across the cancer cell membranes only, while sparing normal cells, (iii) an externally controlled mechanism to release drugs on demand, and (iv) a capability for image guided precision medicine. These properties separate MEN-based targeted delivery from traditional biotechnology approaches and lay a foundation for the complementary approach of technobiology. The biotechnology approach stems from the underlying biology and exploits bioinformatics to find the right therapy. In contrast, the technobiology approach is geared towards using the physics of molecular-level interactions between cells and nanoparticles to treat cancer at the most fundamental level and thus can be extended to all the cancers. This paper gives an overview of the current state of the art and presents an ab initio model to describe the underlying mechanisms of cancer treatment with MENs from the perspective of basic physics.

Temperature-dependent infrared and calorimetric studies on arsenicals adsorption from solution to hematite nanoparticles

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

To address the lack of systematic and surface sensitive studies on the adsorption energetics of arsenic compounds on metal (oxyhydr)oxides, we conducted temperature-dependent ATR-FTIR studies for the adsorption of arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid on hematite nanoparticles a...

Formation of coffee-stain patterns at the nanoscale: The role of nanoparticle solubility and solvent evaporation rate.

PubMed

Zhang, Jianguo; Milzetti, Jasmin; Leroy, Frédéric; Müller-Plathe, Florian

2017-03-21

When droplets of nanoparticle suspension evaporate from surfaces, they leave behind a deposit of nanoparticles. The mechanism of evaporation-induced pattern formation in the deposit is studied by molecular dynamics simulations for sessile nanodroplets. The influence of the interaction between nanoparticles and liquid molecules and the influence of the evaporation rate on the final deposition pattern are addressed. When the nanoparticle-liquid interaction is weaker than the liquid-liquid interaction, an interaction-driven or evaporation-induced layer of nanoparticles appears at the liquid-vapor interface and eventually collapses onto the solid surface to form a uniform deposit independently of the evaporation rate. When the nanoparticle-liquid and liquid-liquid interactions are comparable, the nanoparticles are dispersed inside the droplet and evaporation takes place with the contact line pinned at a surface defect. In such a case, a pattern with an approximate ring-like shape is found with fast evaporation, while a more uniform distribution is observed with slower evaporation. When the liquid-nanoparticle interaction is stronger than the liquid-liquid interaction, evaporation always occurs with receding contact line. The final deposition pattern changes from volcano-like to pancake-like with decreasing evaporation rate. These findings might help to design nanoscale structures like nanopatterns or nanowires on surface through controlled solvent evaporation.

Formation of coffee-stain patterns at the nanoscale: The role of nanoparticle solubility and solvent evaporation rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jianguo; Milzetti, Jasmin; Leroy, Frédéric; Müller-Plathe, Florian

2017-03-01

When droplets of nanoparticle suspension evaporate from surfaces, they leave behind a deposit of nanoparticles. The mechanism of evaporation-induced pattern formation in the deposit is studied by molecular dynamics simulations for sessile nanodroplets. The influence of the interaction between nanoparticles and liquid molecules and the influence of the evaporation rate on the final deposition pattern are addressed. When the nanoparticle-liquid interaction is weaker than the liquid-liquid interaction, an interaction-driven or evaporation-induced layer of nanoparticles appears at the liquid-vapor interface and eventually collapses onto the solid surface to form a uniform deposit independently of the evaporation rate. When the nanoparticle-liquid and liquid-liquid interactions are comparable, the nanoparticles are dispersed inside the droplet and evaporation takes place with the contact line pinned at a surface defect. In such a case, a pattern with an approximate ring-like shape is found with fast evaporation, while a more uniform distribution is observed with slower evaporation. When the liquid-nanoparticle interaction is stronger than the liquid-liquid interaction, evaporation always occurs with receding contact line. The final deposition pattern changes from volcano-like to pancake-like with decreasing evaporation rate. These findings might help to design nanoscale structures like nanopatterns or nanowires on surface through controlled solvent evaporation.

The Interactions between L-Tyrosine Based Nanoparticles Decorated with Folic Acid and Cervical Cancer Cells Under Physiological Flow

PubMed Central

Ditto, Andrew J.; Shah, Kush N.; Robishaw, Nikki K.; Panzner, Matthew J.; Youngs, Wiley J.; Yun, Yang H.

2012-01-01

Many anticancer drugs have been established clinically, but their efficacy can be compromised by nonspecific toxicity and an inability to reach the desired cancerous intracellular spaces. In order to address these issues, researchers have explored the use of folic acid as a targeted moiety to increase specificity of chemotherapeutic drugs. To expand upon such research, we have conjugated folic acid to functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) and subsequently decorated the surface of L-tyrosine polyphosphate (LTP) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles possess the appropriate size (100–500 nm) for internalization as shown by scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Under simulated physiological flow, LTP nanoparticles decorated with folic acid (targeted nanoparticles) show a 10-fold greater attachment to HeLa, a cervical cancer cell line, compared to control nanoparticles and to human dermal fibroblasts. The attachment of these targeted nanoparticles progresses at a linear rate, and the strength of this nanoparticle attachment is shown to withstand shear stresses of 3.0 dynes/cm2. These interactions of the targeted nanoparticles to HeLa are likely a result of a receptor-ligand binding, as a competition study with free folic acid inhibits the nanoparticle attachment. Finally, the targeted nanoparticles encapsulated with a silver based drug show increased efficacy in comparison to non-decorated (plain) nanoparticles and drug alone against HeLa cells. Thus, targeted nanoparticles are a promising delivery platform for developing anticancer therapies that over-express the folate receptors (FRs). PMID:22957928

Silver Nanoparticles