Sample records for nanoparticles nps coated

  1. Monocrystalline solar cells performance coated by silver nanoparticles: Effect of NPs sizes from point of view Mie theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Elnoby, Rasha M.; Mourad, M. Hussein; Elnaby, Salah L. Hassab; Abou Kana, Maram T. H.

    2018-05-01

    Solar based cells coated by nanoparticles (NPs) acknowledge potential utilizing as a part of photovoltaic innovation. The acquired silicon solar cells (Si-SCs) coated with different sizes of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as well as uncoated were fabricated in our lab. The sizes and optical properties of prepared NPs were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and Mie theory respectively. The reflectivity of Si-SCs showed reduction of this property as the size of NPs increased. Electrical properties as open circuit current, fill factor and output power density were assessed and discussed depending on point of view of Mie theory for the optical properties of NPs. Also, photostabilities of SCs were assessed using diode laser of wavelength 450 nm and power 300 mW. Coated SCs with the largest Ag NPs size showed the highest Photostability due to its highest scattering efficiency according to Mie theory concept.

  2. Substrates coated with silver nanoparticles as a neuronal regenerative material

    PubMed Central

    Alon, Noa; Miroshnikov, Yana; Perkas, Nina; Nissan, Ifat; Gedanken, Aharon; Shefi, Orit

    2014-01-01

    Much effort has been devoted to the design of effective biomaterials for nerve regeneration. Here, we report the novel use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as regenerative agents to promote neuronal growth. We grew neuroblastoma cells on surfaces coated with AgNPs and studied the effect on the development of the neurites during the initiation and the elongation growth phases. We find that the AgNPs function as favorable anchoring sites, and the growth on the AgNP-coated substrates leads to a significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth. Cells grown on substrates coated with AgNPs have initiated three times more neurites than cells grown on uncoated substrates, and two times more than cells grown on substrates sputtered with a plain homogenous layer of silver. The growth of neurites on AgNPs in the elongation phase was enhanced as well. A comparison with substrates coated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) demonstrated a clear silver material-driven promoting effect, in addition to the nanotopography. The growth on substrates coated with AgNPs has led to a significantly higher number of initiating neurites when compared to substrates coated with AuNPs or ZnONPs. All nanoparticle-coated substrates affected and promoted the elongation of neurites, with a significant positive maximal effect for the AgNPs. Our results, combined with the well-known antibacterial effect of AgNPs, suggest the use of AgNPs as an attractive nanomaterial – with dual activity – for neuronal repair studies. PMID:24872701

  3. Exploring the Behavior and Metabolic Transformations of SeNPs in Exposed Lactic Acid Bacteria. Effect of Nanoparticles Coating Agent

    PubMed Central

    Palomo-Siguero, Maria; Madrid, Yolanda

    2017-01-01

    The behavior and transformation of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in living systems such as microorganisms is largely unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the effect of three types of SeNP suspensions toward Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LB-12 using a variety of techniques. SeNPs were synthesized using three types of coating agents (chitosan (CS-SeNPs), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC-SeNPs) and a non-ionic surfactant, surfynol (ethoxylated-SeNPs)). Morphologies of SeNPs were all spherical. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to locate SeNPs in the bacteria. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on line coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied to evaluate SeNP transformation by bacteria. Finally, flow cytometry employing the live/dead test and optical density measurements at 600 nm (OD600) were used for evaluating the percentages of bacteria viability when supplementing with SeNPs. Negligible damage was detected by flow cytometry when bacteria were exposed to HEC-SeNPs or CS-SeNPs at a level of 10 μg Se mL−1. In contrast, ethoxylated-SeNPs were found to be the most harmful nanoparticles toward bacteria. CS-SeNPs passed through the membrane without causing damage. Once inside, SeNPs were metabolically transformed to organic selenium compounds. Results evidenced the importance of capping agents when establishing the true behavior of NPs. PMID:28783048

  4. Bioresponsive polymer coating on nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Laemthong, Tunyaboon

    Nanotechnology incorporated with molecular biology became a promising way to treat cancer. The size of nanoparticles enables them to overcome the side effects noticed in cancer treatment like chemotherapy and surgery. Various types and shapes of nanoparticles have been synthesized and used in drug delivery to tumor sites. However, one of problems of using these nanoparticles is the aggregation after injecting them into human body due to flow rate of bloodstream. The coagulation and aggregation will result in clogging blood vessel and lower therapeutic efficacy. In this thesis, a solution to the aggregation problem was proposed, which is coating biopolymer on nanoparticles (NPs). The experimental sections covered synthesis and characterization of breast cancer specific targeting drug-encapsulated NPs and biopolymer coating on the surface of Au-Fe3O4 NPs for thermal therapy. Furthermore, in vitro studies of these NPs with breast cancer cells were also included. The specific targeting anticancer drug-encapsulated NRs showed significant inhibition in BT-474 breast cancer cell growth. The Au-Fe3O4 NPs has a possibility to treat cancer cells using the thermal therapy approach.

  5. Influence of particle coating and matrix constituents on the cloud point extraction efficiency of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) and application for monitoring the formation of Ag-NPs from Ag(+).

    PubMed

    Hartmann, Georg; Baumgartner, Tanja; Schuster, Michael

    2014-01-07

    For the quantification of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in environmental samples using cloud point extraction (CPE) for selective enrichment, surface modification of the Ag-NPs and matrix effects can play a key role. In this work we validate CPE with respect to the influence of different coatings and naturally occurring matrix components. The Ag-NPs tested were functionalized with inorganic and organic compounds as well as with biomolecules. Commercially available NPs and NPs synthesized according to methods published in the literature were used. We found that CPE can extract almost all Ag-NPs tested with very good efficiencies (82-105%). Only Ag-NPs functionalized with BSA (bovine serum albumin), which is a protein with the function to keep colloids in solution, cannot be extracted. No or little effect of environmentally relevant salts, organic matter, and inorganic colloids on the CPE of AgNPs was found. Additionally we used CPE to observe the in situ formation of Ag-NPs produced by the reduction of Ag(+) with natural organic matter (NOM).

  6. Facile Coating Strategy to Functionalize Inorganic Nanoparticles for Biosensing.

    PubMed

    Park, Yong Il; Kim, Eunha; Huang, Chen-Han; Park, Ki Soo; Castro, Cesar M; Lee, Hakho; Weissleder, Ralph

    2017-01-18

    The use of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) for biosensing requires that they exhibit high colloidal stability under various physiological conditions. Here, we report on a general approach to render hydrophobic NPs into hydrophilic ones that are ready for bioconjugation. The method uses peglyated polymers conjugated with multiple dopamines, which results in multidentate coordination. As proof-of-concept, we applied the coating to stabilize ferrite and lanthanide NPs synthesized by thermal decomposition. Both polymer-coated NPs showed excellent water solubility and were stable at high salt concentrations under physiological conditions. We used these NPs as molecular-sensing agents to detect exosomes and bacterial nucleic acids.

  7. Development of HA/Ag-NPs Composite Coating from Green Process for Hip Applications.

    PubMed

    Lozoya-Rodríguez, Denisse A; de Lima, Renata; Fraceto, Leonardo F; Ledezma Pérez, Antonio; Bazaldua Domínguez, Mercedes; Gómez Batres, Roberto; Reyes Rojas, Armando; Orozco Carmona, Víctor

    2017-08-08

    In the present study, biological hydroxyapatite (HA) was obtained from bovine bones through a thermal process. A total of 0% and 1% of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized from Opuntia ficus (nopal) were added to the biological hydroxyapatite coatings using an atmospheric plasma spray (APS) on a Ti6Al4V substrate. Following this, its antimicrobial efficiency was evaluated against the following bacterial strains: Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . This was conducted according to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z2801:2000 "Antimicrobial Product-Test for Antimicrobial Activity and Efficacy". Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were evenly distributed on the coating surface. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) shows that apatite deposition occurs on a daily basis, maintaining a Ca/P rate between 2.12 and 1.45. Biocompatibility properties were evaluated with osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1) by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay and Tali image cytometry.

  8. Eudragit S100-Coated Chitosan Nanoparticles Co-loading Tat for Enhanced Oral Colon Absorption of Insulin.

    PubMed

    Chen, Shuangxi; Guo, Feng; Deng, Tiantian; Zhu, Siqi; Liu, Wenyu; Zhong, Haijun; Yu, Hua; Luo, Rong; Deng, Zeyuan

    2017-05-01

    In order to improve oral absorption of insulin, especially the absorption at the colon, Eudragit S100® (ES)-coated chitosan nanoparticles loading insulin and a trans-activating transcriptional peptide (Tat) were employed as the vehicle. In vitro releases of insulin and Tat from ES-coated chitosan nanoparticles had a pH-dependant characteristic. A small amount of the contents was released from the coated nanoparticles at pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid, while a fairly fast and complete release was observed in pH 7.4 medium. Caco-2 cell was used as the model of cellular transport and uptake studies. The results showed that the cellular transport and uptake of insulin for ES-coated chitosan nanoparticles co-loading insulin and Tat (ES-Tat-cNPs) were about 3-fold and 4-fold higher than those for the nanoparticles loading only insulin (ES-cNPs), respectively. The evaluations in vivo of ES-Tat-cNPs were conducted on diabetic rats and normal minipigs, respectively. The experimental results on rats revealed that the pharmacodynamical bioavailability of ES-Tat-cNPs had 2.16-fold increase compared with ES-cNPs. After oral administration of nanoparticle suspensions to the minipigs, insulin bioavailability of ES-Tat-cNPs was 1.73-fold higher than that of ES-cNPs, and the main absorption site of insulin was probably located in the colon for the two nanoparticles. In summary, this report provided an exploratory means for the improvement of oral absorption of insulin.

  9. Zinc oxide nanoparticle-coated films: fabrication, characterization, and antibacterial properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Yunhong; O'Neill, Alex J.; Ding, Yulong

    2015-04-01

    In this article, novel antibacterial PVC-based films coated with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated, characterized, and studied for their antibacterial properties. It was shown that the ZnO NPs were coated on the surface of the PVC films uniformly and that the coating process did not affect the size and shape of the NPs on the surface of PVC films. Films coated with concentrations of either 0.2 or 0.075 g/L of ZnO NPs exhibited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli) bacteria, but exhibited no antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum. Smaller particles (100 nm) exhibited more potent antibacterial activity than larger particles (1000 nm). All ZnO-coated films maintained antibacterial activity after 30 days in water.

  10. Modeling of nanoparticle coatings for medical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Haume, Kaspar; Mason, Nigel J.; Solov'yov, Andrey V.

    2016-09-01

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been shown to possess properties beneficial for the treatment of cancerous tumors by acting as radiosensitizers for both photon and ion radiation. Blood circulation time is usually increased by coating the AuNPs with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) ligands. The effectiveness of the PEG coating, however, depends on both the ligand surface density and length of the PEG molecules, making it important to understand the structure of the coating. In this paper the thickness, ligand surface density, and density of the PEG coating is studied with classical molecular dynamics using the software package MBN Explorer. AuNPs consisting of 135 atoms (approximately 1.4 nm diameter) in a water medium have been studied with the number of PEG ligands varying between 32 and 60. We find that the thickness of the coating is only weakly dependent on the surface ligand density and that the degree of water penetration is increased when there is a smaller number of attached ligands.

  11. Antimicrobial activity of tantalum oxide coatings decorated with Ag nanoparticles

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

    Cao, Huiliang, E-mail: hlc@mail.sic.ac.cn; Meng, Fanhao; Liu, Xuanyong, E-mail: xyliu@mail.sic.ac.cn

    Silver plasma immersion ion implantation was used to decorate silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on tantalum oxide (TO) coatings. The coatings acted against bacterial cells (Staphylococcus epidermidis) in the dark by disrupting their integrity. The action was independent of silver release and likely driven by the electron storage capability of the Schottky barriers established at the interfaces between Ag NPs and the TO support. Moreover, no apparent side effect on the adhesion and differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells was detected when using Ag NPs-modified TO coatings. These results demonstrate that decoration of tantalum oxide using Ag NPs could bemore » a promising procedure for improving the antibacterial properties for orthopedic and dental implants.« less

  12. Improved Tribological Performance of Amorphous Carbon (a-C) Coating by ZrO₂ Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Tang, Jinzhu; Ding, Qi; Zhang, Songwei; Wu, Guizhi; Hu, Litian

    2016-09-22

    Nanomaterials, such as Graphene, h-BN nanoparticles and MoS₂ nanotubes, have shown their ability in improving the tribological performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) coatings. In the current study, the effectiveness of ZrO₂ nanoparticles (ZrO₂-NPs) in lubricating the self-mated nonhydrogenated a-C contacts was investigated in boundary lubrication regime. The results showed that 13% less friction and 50% less wear compared to the base oil were achieved by employing ZrO₂-NPs in the base oil in self-mated a-C contacts. Via analyzing the ZrO₂-NPs and the worn a-C surface after tests, it was found that the improved lubrication by ZrO₂-NPs was based on "polishing effects", which is a new phenomenon observed between a-C and nanoparticles. Under the "polishing effect", micro-plateaus with extremely smooth surface and uniform height were produced on the analyzed a-C surface. The resulting topography of the a-C coating is suitable for ZrO₂-NPs to act as nano-bearings between rubbing surfaces. Especially, the ZrO₂-NPs exhibited excellent mechanical and chemical stability, even under the severe service condition, suggesting that the combination of nonhydrogenated a-C coating with ZrO₂-NPs is an effective, long lasting and environment-friendly lubrication solution.

  13. Role of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the cardiovascular system.

    PubMed

    Gonzalez, Carmen; Rosas-Hernandez, Hector; Ramirez-Lee, Manuel Alejandro; Salazar-García, Samuel; Ali, Syed F

    2016-03-01

    With the advent of nanotechnology, the use and applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have increased, both in consumer products as well as in medical devices. However, little is known about the effects of these nanoparticles on human health, more specific in the cardiovascular system, since this system represents an important route of action in terms of distribution, bioaccumulation and bioavailability of the different circulating substances in the bloodstream. A collection of studies have addressed the effects and applications of different kinds of AgNPs (shaped, sized, coated and functionalized) in several components of the cardiovascular system, such as endothelial cells, isolated vessels and organs as well as integrative animal models, trying to identify the underlying mechanisms involved in their actions, to understand their implication in the field of biomedicine. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the most relevant studies to date of AgNPs effects in the cardiovascular system and provide a broader picture of the potential toxic effects and exposure risks, which in turn will allow pointing out the directions of further research as well as new applications of these versatile nanomaterials.

  14. Comparison of toxicity of uncoated and coated silver nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nguyen, K. C.; Seligy, V. L.; Massarsky, A.; Moon, T. W.; Rippstein, P.; Tan, J.; Tayabali, A. F.

    2013-04-01

    This study compares toxic effects of uncoated (20, 40, 60 and 80 nm) and OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) standard citrate- and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated (10, 50, and 75 nm) silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in J774A. 1 macrophage and HT29 epithelial cells. The cells were exposed to different concentrations (silver content) of Ag-NPs for 24 h. Analysis showed that uncoated Ag-NPs, at a concentration of 1 μg/ml, decreased cell viability by 20-40% and that 20 and 40 nm particles were 10% more cytotoxic than the 60 and 80 nm particles. In exposures to coated Ag-NPs, cell viability dropped at 25 μg/ml or higher concentrations, and the effects were also size-dependent. PVP-coated particles induced greater cytotoxicity than citrate-coated particles. Changes in sub-cellular architecture were observed in J774A. 1 cells upon exposure to test Ag-NPs. Furthermore, uncoated Ag-NPs (1 μg/mL) decreased the expression of selected cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-12 (p70) in J774A. 1 and IL-8 in HT29 cells. In contrast, both citrate- and PVP-coated Ag-NPs increased the expression of these cytokines at higher concentrations (25 μg/ml), and PVP-coated particles elevated cytokine levels the most. Moreover, while uncoated Ag-NPs resulted in decreased glutathione (GSH) content and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in test cells in a size-dependent manner at 1 μg/ml, coated Ag-NPs caused non-significant changes in GSH and SOD, even at the highest test concentrations. Lastly, uncoated (20 and 40 nm) at 1 μg/ml and coated Ag-NPs (10 nm PVP) at 50 μg/ml slightly increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our data showed that uncoated Ag-NPs are more toxic than coated Ag-NPs. While uncoated Ag-NPs appear to suppress inflammatory responses and enhance oxidative stress in the test cells, coated Ag-NPs induce toxic effects through up-regulation of cytokines. Our findings support the toxicity of Ag-NPs as being size

  15. PVP-coated silver nanoparticles showing antifungal improved activity against dermatophytes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silva, Edgar; Saraiva, Sofia M.; Miguel, Sónia P.; Correia, Ilídio J.

    2014-11-01

    Fungal infections affecting human beings have increased during the last years and the currently available treatments, when administered for long periods, trigger microbial resistance. Such demands the development of new viable therapeutic alternatives. Silver is known since the antiquity by its antimicrobial properties and, herein, it was used to produce two types of nanoparticles (NPs), uncoated and coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which were aimed to be used in fungal infection treatment. NPs properties were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis, Dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, in vitro studies were also performed to evaluate NPs cytotoxic profile and antifungal activity. The results obtained revealed that the produced nanoparticles are biocompatible and have a good potential for being used in the treatment of common skin infections caused by Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, being PVP-coated silver NPs the most suitable ones.

  16. Bisphosphonate-coated BSA nanoparticles lack bone targeting after systemic administration.

    PubMed

    Wang, Guilin; Kucharski, Cezary; Lin, Xiaoyue; Uludağ, Hasan

    2010-09-01

    A polymeric conjugate of polyethyleneimine-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) and 2-(3-mercaptopropylsulfanyl)-ethyl-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (PEI-PEG-thiolBP) was prepared and used for surface coating of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (NPs) designed for bone-specific delivery of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). The NP coating was achieved with a dialysis and an evaporation method, and the obtained NPs were characterized by particle size, zeta-potential, morphology, and cytotoxicity in vitro. The particle size and surface charge of the NPs could be effectively tuned by the PEG and thiolBP substitution ratios of the conjugate, the coating method, and the polymer concentration used for coating. The PEG modification on PEI reduced the toxicity of PEI and the coated NPs, based on in vitro assessment with human C2C12 cells and rat bone marrow stromal cells. On the basis of an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) induction assay, the NP-encapsulated BMP-2 displayed full retention of its bioactivity, except for BMP-2 in PEI-coated NPs. By encapsulating (125)I-labeled BMP-2, the polymer-coated NPs were assessed for hydroxyapatite (HA) affinity; all NP-encapsulated BMP-2 showed significant affinity to HA as compared with free BMP-2 in vitro, and the PEI-PEG-thiolBP coated NPs improved the in vivo retention of BMP-2 compared with uncoated NPs. However, the biodistribution of NPs after intravenous injection in a rat model indicated no beneficial effects of thiolBP-coated NPs for bone targeting. Our results suggested that the BP-conjugated NPs are useful for localized delivery of BMP-2 in bone repair and regeneration, but they are not effective for bone targeting after intravenous administration.

  17. Improved Tribological Performance of Amorphous Carbon (a-C) Coating by ZrO2 Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Tang, Jinzhu; Ding, Qi; Zhang, Songwei; Wu, Guizhi; Hu, Litian

    2016-01-01

    Nanomaterials, such as Graphene, h-BN nanoparticles and MoS2 nanotubes, have shown their ability in improving the tribological performance of amorphous carbon (a-C) coatings. In the current study, the effectiveness of ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2-NPs) in lubricating the self-mated nonhydrogenated a-C contacts was investigated in boundary lubrication regime. The results showed that 13% less friction and 50% less wear compared to the base oil were achieved by employing ZrO2-NPs in the base oil in self-mated a-C contacts. Via analyzing the ZrO2-NPs and the worn a-C surface after tests, it was found that the improved lubrication by ZrO2-NPs was based on “polishing effects”, which is a new phenomenon observed between a-C and nanoparticles. Under the “polishing effect”, micro-plateaus with extremely smooth surface and uniform height were produced on the analyzed a-C surface. The resulting topography of the a-C coating is suitable for ZrO2-NPs to act as nano-bearings between rubbing surfaces. Especially, the ZrO2-NPs exhibited excellent mechanical and chemical stability, even under the severe service condition, suggesting that the combination of nonhydrogenated a-C coating with ZrO2-NPs is an effective, long lasting and environment-friendly lubrication solution. PMID:28773916

  18. Thiol-reactive amphiphilic block copolymer for coating gold nanoparticles with neutral and functionable surfaces

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Hongwei; Zou, Hao; Paholak, Hayley J.; Ito, Masayuki; Qian, Wei; Che, Yong; Sun, Duxin

    2014-01-01

    Nanoparticles designed for biomedical applications are often coated with polymers containing reactive functional groups, such as –COOH and –NH2, to conjugate targeting ligands or drugs. However, introducing highly charged surfaces promotes binding of the nanoparticles to biomolecules in biological systems through ionic interactions, causing the nanoparticles to aggregate in biological environments and consequently undergo strong non-specific binding to off-target cells and tissues. Developing a unique polymer with neutral surfaces that can be further functionalized directly would be critical to develop suitable nanomaterials for nanomedicine. Here, we report a thiol-reactive amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(pyridyldisulfide ethylmeth acrylate) (PEO-b-PPDSM) for coating gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The resultant polymer-coated AuNPs have almost neutral surfaces with slightly negative zeta potentials from -10 to 0 mV over a wide pH range from 2 to 12. Although the zeta potential is close to zero we show that the PEO-b-PPDSM copolymer-coated AuNPs have both good stability in various physiological conditions and reduced non-specific adsorption of proteins/biomolecules. Because of the multiple pyridyldisulfide groups on the PPDSM block, these individually dispersed nanocomplexes with an overall hydrodynamic size around 43.8 nm can be directly functionalized via disulfide-thiol exchange chemistry. PMID:24729795

  19. Aqueous route to facile, efficient and functional silica coating of metal nanoparticles at room temperature

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shah, Kwok Wei; Sreethawong, Thammanoon; Liu, Shu-Hua; Zhang, Shuang-Yuan; Tan, Li Sirh; Han, Ming-Yong

    2014-09-01

    Various metal (Ag, Au, and Pt)@thiol-functionalized silica (SiO2-SH) nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully prepared at room temperature by a facile, efficient, functional, universal and scalable coating process in alcohol-free aqueous solution using pre-hydrolyzed 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The controlled pre-hydrolysis of the silane precursor in water and the consecutive condensation processes are the key to achieve the effective and uniform silica coating on metal NPs in aqueous solution. The thickness of the silica shell is tuned by simply varying the coating time. The silica shell can act as an effective protecting layer for Ag NPs in Ag@SiO2-SH NPs under conditions for silica coating in aqueous solution; however, it leads to a directional dissolution of Ag NPs in a more strongly basic ammonia solution. The environmentally friendly silica coating process in water is also applied to prepare highly surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active Ag@SiO2-SH NPs with different types of Raman molecules for highly sensitive SERS-based applications in various fields.Various metal (Ag, Au, and Pt)@thiol-functionalized silica (SiO2-SH) nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully prepared at room temperature by a facile, efficient, functional, universal and scalable coating process in alcohol-free aqueous solution using pre-hydrolyzed 3-(mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The controlled pre-hydrolysis of the silane precursor in water and the consecutive condensation processes are the key to achieve the effective and uniform silica coating on metal NPs in aqueous solution. The thickness of the silica shell is tuned by simply varying the coating time. The silica shell can act as an effective protecting layer for Ag NPs in Ag@SiO2-SH NPs under conditions for silica coating in aqueous solution; however, it leads to a directional dissolution of Ag NPs in a more strongly basic ammonia solution. The environmentally friendly silica coating process in water is also

  20. Gold nanoparticle plasmon resonance in near-field coupled Au NPs layer/Al film nanostructure: Dependence on metal film thickness

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yeshchenko, Oleg A.; Kozachenko, Viktor V.; Naumenko, Antonina P.; Berezovska, Nataliya I.; Kutsevol, Nataliya V.; Chumachenko, Vasyl A.; Haftel, Michael; Pinchuk, Anatoliy O.

    2018-05-01

    We study the effects of coupling between plasmonic metal nanoparticles and a thin metal film by using light extinction spectroscopy. A planar monolayer of gold nanoparticles located near an aluminum thin film (thicknesses within the range of 0-62 nm) was used to analyze the coupling between the monolayer and the thin metal film. SPR peak area increase for polymer coated Au NPs, non-monotonical behavior of the peak area for bare Au NPs, as well as red shift and broadening of SPR at the increase of the Al film thickness have been observed. These effects are rationalized as a result of coupling of the layer of Au NPs with Al film through the field of localized surface plasmons in Au NPs that causes the excitation of collective plasmonic gap mode in the nanostructure. An additional mechanism for bare Au NPs is the non-radiative damping of SPR that is caused by the electrical contact between metal NPs and film.

  1. Gold-Coated Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles for Single Methyl Discrimination in DNA Aptamers

    PubMed Central

    Tintoré, Maria; Mazzini, Stefania; Polito, Laura; Marelli, Marcello; Latorre, Alfonso; Somoza, Álvaro; Aviñó, Anna; Fàbrega, Carme; Eritja, Ramon

    2015-01-01

    Au- and iron-based magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are promising NPs for biomedical applications due to their unique properties. The combination of a gold coating over a magnetic core puts together the benefits from adding the magnetic properties to the robust chemistry provided by the thiol functionalization of gold. Here, the use of Au-coated magnetic NPs for molecular detection of a single methylation in DNA aptamer is described. Binding of α-thrombin to two aptamers conjugated to these NPs causes aggregation, a phenomenon that can be observed by UV, DLS and MRI. These techniques discriminate a single methylation in one of the aptamers, preventing aggregation due to the inability of α-thrombin to recognize it. A parallel study with gold and ferromagnetic NPs is detailed, concluding that the Au coating of FexOy NP does not affect their performance and that they are suitable as complex biosensors. These results prove the high detection potency of Au-coated SPIONs for biomedical applications especially for DNA repair detection. PMID:26593913

  2. Magnetoelectric behavior of carbonyl iron mixed Mn oxide-coated ferrite nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahad, Faris B. Abdul; Lee, Shang-Fan; Hung, Dung-Shing; Yao, Yeong-Der; Yang, Ruey-Bin; Lin, Chung-Kwei; Tsay, Chien-Yie

    2010-05-01

    The dielectric and magnetic properties of manganese oxide-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were measured by the cavity perturbation method at x-band microwave frequencies ranging from 7-12.5 GHz with controlled external magnetic field up to 2.2 kOe at room temperature. Different ratios (5%, 10%, and 20% by weight) of coated NPs were prepared by sol-gel method then mixed with carbonyl iron powder in epoxy matrix. The saturation magnetization is inversely proportional to the NPs ratio in the mixture between 150 and 180 emu/g. The real part of the permittivity decreased with increasing NPs concentration, but the permittivity change by magnetic field increased. The tunability behavior is explained by insulator-ferromagnetic interface magnetoelectricity and the large surface volume ratio for the NPs.

  3. Bioavailability, distribution and clearance of tracheally-instilled and gavaged uncoated or silica-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Nanoparticle pharmacokinetics and biological effects are influenced by several factors. We assessed the effects of amorphous SiO2 coating on the pharmacokinetics of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) following intratracheal (IT) instillation and gavage in rats. Methods Uncoated and SiO2-coated ZnO NPs were neutron-activated and IT-instilled at 1 mg/kg or gavaged at 5 mg/kg. Rats were followed over 28 days post-IT, and over 7 days post-gavage. Tissue samples were analyzed for 65Zn radioactivity. Pulmonary responses to instilled NPs were also evaluated at 24 hours. Results SiO2-coated ZnO elicited significantly higher inflammatory responses than uncoated NPs. Pulmonary clearance of both 65ZnO NPs was biphasic with a rapid initial t1/2 (0.2 - 0.3 hours), and a slower terminal t1/2 of 1.2 days (SiO2-coated ZnO) and 1.7 days (ZnO). Both NPs were almost completely cleared by day 7 (>98%). With IT-instilled 65ZnO NPs, significantly more 65Zn was found in skeletal muscle, liver, skin, kidneys, cecum and blood on day 2 in uncoated than SiO2-coated NPs. By 28 days, extrapulmonary levels of 65Zn from both NPs significantly decreased. However, 65Zn levels in skeletal muscle, skin and blood remained higher from uncoated NPs. Interestingly, 65Zn levels in bone marrow and thoracic lymph nodes were higher from coated 65ZnO NPs. More 65Zn was excreted in the urine from rats instilled with SiO2-coated 65ZnO NPs. After 7 days post-gavage, only 7.4% (uncoated) and 6.7% (coated) of 65Zn dose were measured in all tissues combined. As with instilled NPs, after gavage significantly more 65Zn was measured in skeletal muscle from uncoated NPs and less in thoracic lymph nodes. More 65Zn was excreted in the urine and feces with coated than uncoated 65ZnO NPs. However, over 95% of the total dose of both NPs was eliminated in the feces by day 7. Conclusions Although SiO2-coated ZnO NPs were more inflammogenic, the overall lung clearance rate was not affected. However, SiO2 coating

  4. Influence of PEG coating on the oral bioavailability of gold nanoparticles in rats.

    PubMed

    Alalaiwe, Ahmed; Roberts, Georgia; Carpinone, Paul; Munson, John; Roberts, Stephen

    2017-11-01

    Metallic nanoparticles can be produced in a variety of shapes, sizes, and surface chemistries, making them promising potential tools for drug delivery. Most studies to date have evaluated uptake of metallic nanoparticles from the GI tract with methods that are at best semi-quantitative. This study used the classical method of comparing blood concentration area under the curve (AUC) following intravenous and oral doses to determine the oral bioavailability of 1, 2 and 5 kDa PEG-coated 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Male rats were given a single intravenous dose (0.8 mg/kg) or oral (gavage) dose (8 mg/kg) of a PEG-coated AuNP, and the concentration of gold was measured in blood over time and in tissues (liver, spleen and kidney) at sacrifice. Blood concentrations following oral administration were inversely related to PEG size, and the AUC in blood was significantly greater for the 1 kDa PEG-coated AuNPs than particles coated with 2 or 5 kDa PEG. However, bioavailabilities of all of the particles were very low (< 0.1%). Concentrations in liver, spleen and kidney were similar after the intravenous doses, but kidney showed the highest concentrations after an oral dose. In addition to providing information on the bioavailability of AuNPs coated with PEG in the 1-5 kDa range, this study demonstrates the utility of applying the blood AUC approach to assess the quantitative oral bioavailability of metallic nanoparticles.

  5. Synthesis and In Vitro Performance of Polypyrrole-Coated Iron-Platinum Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy and Photoacoustic Imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Phan, Thi Tuong Vy; Bui, Nhat Quang; Moorthy, Madhappan Santha; Lee, Kang Dae; Oh, Junghwan

    2017-10-01

    Multifunctional nano-platform for the combination of photo-based therapy and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) for cancer treatment has recently attracted much attention to nanotechnology development. In this study, we developed iron-platinum nanoparticles (FePt NPs) with the polypyrrole (PPy) coating as novel agents for combined photothermal therapy (PTT) and PAI. The obtained PPy-coated FePt NPs (FePt@PPy NPs) showed excellent biocompatibility, photothermal stability, and high near-infrared (NIR) absorbance for the combination of PTT and PAI. In vitro investigation experimentally demonstrated the effectiveness of FePt@PPy NPs in killing cancer cells with NIR laser irradiation. Moreover, the phantom test of PAI used in conjunction with FePt@PPy NPs showed a strong photoacoustic signal. Thus, the novel FePt@PPy NPs could be considered as promising multifunctional nanoparticles for further applications of photo-based diagnosis and treatment.

  6. Monolayer coated gold nanoparticles for delivery applications

    PubMed Central

    Rana, Subinoy; Bajaj, Avinash; Mout, Rubul; Rotello, Vincent M.

    2011-01-01

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) provide attractive vehicles for delivery of drugs, genetic materials, proteins, and small molecules. AuNPs feature low core toxicity coupled with the ability to parametrically control particle size and surface properties. In this review, we focus on engineering of the AuNP surface monolayer, highlighting recent advances in tuning monolayer structures for efficient delivery of drugs and biomolecules. This review covers two broad categories of particle functionalization, organic monolayers and biomolecule coatings, and discusses their applications in drug, DNA/RNA, protein and small molecule delivery. PMID:21925556

  7. Inhibition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on pathogenic biofilm formation and invasion to host cells.

    PubMed

    Yu, Qilin; Li, Jianrong; Zhang, Yueqi; Wang, Yufan; Liu, Lu; Li, Mingchun

    2016-05-25

    Owing to the growing infectious diseases caused by eukaryotic and prokaryotic pathogens, it is urgent to develop novel antimicrobial agents against clinical pathogenic infections. Biofilm formation and invasion into the host cells are vital processes during pathogenic colonization and infection. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effect of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) on pathogenic growth, biofilm formation and invasion. Interestingly, although the synthesized AuNPs had no significant toxicity to the tested pathogens, Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the nanoparticles strongly inhibited pathogenic biofilm formation and invasion to dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Further investigations revealed that AuNPs abundantly bound to the pathogen cells, which likely contributed to their inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and invasion. Moreover, treatment of AuNPs led to activation of immune response-related genes in DPSCs, which may enhance the activity of host immune system against the pathogens. Zeta potential analysis and polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating tests further showed that the interaction between pathogen cells and AuNPs is associated with electrostatic attractions. Our findings shed novel light on the application of nanomaterials in fighting against clinical pathogens, and imply that the traditional growth inhibition test is not the only way to evaluate the drug effect during the screening of antimicrobial agents.

  8. Effects of coating molecules on the magnetic heating properties of Au-Fe3O4 heterodimer nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamamoto, Y.; Ogasawara, J.; Himukai, H.; Itoh, T.

    2016-10-01

    In this paper, we report the heating properties of gold-magnetite (Au-Fe3O4) heterodimer nanoparticles (NPs) subjected to an alternating magnetic field. The Au-Fe3O4 NPs coated with oleic acid and oleylamine (OA) were synthesized through a method that combines seed mediation and high-temperature decomposition. The coating was replaced with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) by the ligand-exchange method. The specific absorption rates (SARs) for the OA- and DMSA-coated Au-Fe3O4 NPs coated with OA and DMSA at room temperature were determined through the calorimetric and magnetometric methods. SAR depended on the square of the magnetic field H up to an H value of 4 kA/m. The absolute value of the SAR for DMSA-coated NPs is about fivefold higher than that of the OA-coated NPs. The AC magnetic hysteresis measurements showed the recovery of the magnetic volume and the decrease in the magnetic anisotropy of the DMSA-coated NPs relative to those of the OA-coated NPs. These results suggest that the protective agent influences the magnetic properties of magnetite NPs via gold NPs.

  9. Simultaneous sonochemical-enzymatic coating of medical textiles with antibacterial ZnO nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Petkova, Petya; Francesko, Antonio; Perelshtein, Ilana; Gedanken, Aharon; Tzanov, Tzanko

    2016-03-01

    The antimicrobial finishing is a must for production of medical textiles, aiming at reducing the bioburden in clinical wards and consequently decreasing the risk of hospital-acquired infections. This work reports for the first time on a simultaneous sonochemical/enzymatic process for durable antibacterial coating of cotton with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The novel technology goes beyond the "stepwise" concept we proposed recently for enzymatic pre-activation of the fabrics and subsequent sonochemical nano-coating, and is designed to produce "ready-to-use" antibacterial medical textiles in a single step. A multilayer coating of uniformly dispersed NPs was obtained in the process. The enzymatic treatment provides better adhesion of the ZnO NPs and, as a consequence, enhanced coating stability during exploitation. The NPs-coated cotton fabrics inhibited the growth of the medically relevant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively by 67% and 100%. The antibacterial efficiency of these textile materials resisted the intensive laundry regimes used in hospitals, though only 33% of the initially deposited NPs remained firmly fixed onto the fabrics after multiple washings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Impact of the organic coating on nanoparticles stability and reactivity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gelabert, A.; Sivry, Y.; Ould Boualy, L.; Roselyne, F.; Juillot, F.; Menguy, N.; Benedetti, M. F.

    2010-12-01

    The strong increase in the use of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) during the last decade may ultimately result in their release in environmental settings, as predicted for different types of NPs by Gottshalk et al.. Most of these NPs incorporate functionalized coatings to gain industrial benefits, which in turn may play a critical rule for the whole NPs reactivity. Thus, along with stability studies focusing on the fate of NPs in natural systems, an accurate understanding of the coating impacts on the NPs behaviour and reactivity is highly required. This study aims to estimate the impact of three different coatings on the NPs dissolution rates in natural water (Seine river water), and their sorption properties onto a model mineral substrate. In this work, ZnO NPs have been coated, either with triethoxycaprylylsilane (hydrophobic), methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (hydrophilic), or aminopropyltriethoxusilane (cationic). The dissolution rates were determined using two protocols: the Donnan Membrane Technique to measure the remaining free metal concentration in solution, and a 1 kDa ultrafiltration procedure to access both the free metal and small organic complexes part. For all three coating types, a fast dissolution step is reached in less than one day, followed by a slow precipitation of new mineral phases to finally reach a steady state. No major differences in the dissolution rates and profiles have been observed. Sorption studies on synthetic microsized goethite have been conducted at pH 7.5. The sorption ratio has been estimated as a function of initial NPs concentrations (from 10-7 M to 10-3 M), and follows a Langmuir shape for the hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings at concentrations lower than 2.10-4 M. Interestingly, those two NPs exhibit high sorption capacities (10 times higher) compared to free Zn2+ sorption. On the other hand, at those concentrations, the cationic coating only induces a weak sorption without any defined trend. Moreover, for the

  11. Anisotropic In Situ-Coated AuNPs on Screen-Printed Carbon Surface for Enhanced Prostate-Specific Antigen Impedimetric Aptasensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Do, Tram T. N.; Van Phi, Toan; Nguy, Tin Phan; Wagner, Patrick; Eersels, Kasper; Vestergaard, Mun'delanji C.; Truong, Lien T. N.

    2017-06-01

    An impedimetric aptasensor has been used to study the effect of charge transfer on the binding of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to its aptamer. Full understanding of this mechanism will be beneficial to further improve its sensitivity for PSA detection in human semen at physiologically relevant concentrations. Bare gold electrodes (SPAuEs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-coated screen-printed carbon ink electrodes (AuNPs/SPCEs) were coated with aptamer solution at various concentrations and the sensor response to increasing PSA concentration in buffer solution examined. AuNPs were deposited onto carbon electrodes in 10 cycles. AuNPs/SPCEs were then coated with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid prior to aptamer immobilization at dose of 5 μg mL-1. The results indicate that anisotropic AuNPs/SPCEs outperform bare gold electrodes in terms of decreased amount of aptamer bunches as well as the number of intermediate PSA-aptamer complexes formed on the electrode surface. The key finding is that the fabricated aptasensor is sensitive enough [limit of detection (LoD) 1.95 ng mL-1] for early diagnosis of prostate cancer and displays linear response in the physiologically relevant concentration range (0 ng mL-1 to 10 ng mL-1), as shown by the calibration curve of the relative change in electron transfer resistance (Δ R CT) versus PSA concentration when aptamer/SAM/AuNPs/SPCEs were exposed to buffer containing PSA at different concentrations.

  12. Direct synthesis of antimicrobial coatings based on tailored bi-elemental nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Benetti, Giulio; Cavaliere, Emanuele; Canteri, Adalberto; Landini, Giulia; Rossolini, Gian Maria; Pallecchi, Lucia; Chiodi, Mirco; Van Bael, Margriet J.; Winckelmans, Naomi; Bals, Sara; Gavioli, Luca

    2017-03-01

    Ultrathin coatings based on bi-elemental nanoparticles (NPs) are very promising to limit the surface-related spread of bacterial pathogens, particularly in nosocomial environments. However, tailoring the synthesis, composition, adhesion to substrate, and antimicrobial spectrum of the coating is an open challenge. Herein, we report on a radically new nanostructured coating, obtained by a one-step gas-phase deposition technique, and composed of bi-elemental Janus type Ag/Ti NPs. The NPs are characterized by a cluster-in-cluster mixing phase with metallic Ag nano-crystals embedded in amorphous TiO2 and present a promising antimicrobial activity including also multidrug resistant strains. We demonstrate the flexibility of the method to tune the embedded Ag nano-crystals dimension, the total relative composition of the coating, and the substrate type, opening the possibility of tailoring the dimension, composition, antimicrobial spectrum, and other physical/chemical properties of such multi-elemental systems. This work is expected to significantly spread the range of applications of NPs coatings, not only as an effective tool in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections but also in other technologically relevant fields like sensors or nano-/micro joining.

  13. Effects of coating spherical iron oxide nanoparticles

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

    Milosevic, Irena; Motte, Laurence; Aoun, Bachir

    2017-01-01

    We investigate the effect of several coatings applied in biomedical applications to iron oxide nanoparticles on the size, structure and composition of the particles. The four structural techniques employed - TEM, DLS, VSM, SAXS and EXAFS - show no significant effects of the coatings on the spherical shape of the bare nanoparticles, the average sizes or the local order around the Fe atoms. The NPs coated with hydroxylmethylene bisphosphonate or catechol have a lower proportion of magnetite than the bare and citrated ones, raising the question whether the former are responsible for increasing the valence state of the oxide onmore » the NP surfaces and lowering the overall proportion of magnetite in the particles. VSM measurements show that these two coatings lead to a slightly higher saturation magnetization than the citrate. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Science for Life" Guest Editor: Dr. Austen Angell, Dr. Salvatore Magazu and Dr. Federica Migliardo.« less

  14. Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles-coated Carbon Nanotubes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Yi; Heo, Sung Hwan; Yoo, Seung Hwa; Ali, Ghafar; Cho, Sung Oh

    2010-03-01

    A simple and straightforward approach to prepare TiO2-coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is presented. Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with the average size ~8 nm were coated on CNTs from peroxo titanic acid (PTA) precursor even at low temperature of 100 °C. We demonstrate the effects of CNTs/TiO2 molar ratio on the adsorption capability and photocatalytic efficiency under UV-visible irradiation. The samples showed not only good optical absorption in visible range, but also great adsorption capacity for methyl orange (MO) dye molecules. These properties facilitated the great enhancement of photocatalytic activity of TiO2 NPs-coated CNTs photocatalysts. The TiO2 NPs-coated CNTs exhibited 2.45 times higher photocatalytic activity for MO degradation than that of pure TiO2.

  15. Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles-coated Carbon Nanotubes

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    A simple and straightforward approach to prepare TiO2-coated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is presented. Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) with the average size ~8 nm were coated on CNTs from peroxo titanic acid (PTA) precursor even at low temperature of 100 °C. We demonstrate the effects of CNTs/TiO2 molar ratio on the adsorption capability and photocatalytic efficiency under UV–visible irradiation. The samples showed not only good optical absorption in visible range, but also great adsorption capacity for methyl orange (MO) dye molecules. These properties facilitated the great enhancement of photocatalytic activity of TiO2 NPs-coated CNTs photocatalysts. The TiO2 NPs-coated CNTs exhibited 2.45 times higher photocatalytic activity for MO degradation than that of pure TiO2. PMID:20671780

  16. Silica coating influences the corona and biokinetics of cerium oxide nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Konduru, Nagarjun V; Jimenez, Renato J; Swami, Archana; Friend, Sherri; Castranova, Vincent; Demokritou, Philip; Brain, Joseph D; Molina, Ramon M

    2015-10-12

    The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) influence their biological outcomes. We assessed the effects of an amorphous silica coating on the pharmacokinetics and pulmonary effects of CeO2 NPs following intratracheal (IT) instillation, gavage and intravenous injection in rats. Uncoated and silica-coated CeO2 NPs were generated by flame spray pyrolysis and later neutron-activated. These radioactive NPs were IT-instilled, gavaged, or intravenously (IV) injected in rats. Animals were analyzed over 28 days post-IT, 7 days post-gavage and 2 days post-injection. Our data indicate that silica coating caused more but transient lung inflammation compared to uncoated CeO2. The transient inflammation of silica-coated CeO2 was accompanied by its enhanced clearance. Then, from 7 to 28 days, clearance was similar although significantly more (141)Ce from silica-coated (35%) was cleared than from uncoated (19%) (141)CeO2 in 28 days. The protein coronas of the two NPs were significantly different when they were incubated with alveolar lining fluid. Despite more rapid clearance from the lungs, the extrapulmonary (141)Ce from silica-coated (141)CeO2 was still minimal (<1%) although lower than from uncoated (141)CeO2 NPs. Post-gavage, nearly 100% of both NPs were excreted in the feces consistent with very low gut absorption. Both IV-injected (141)CeO2 NP types were primarily retained in the liver and spleen. The silica coating significantly altered the plasma protein corona composition and enhanced retention of (141)Ce in other organs except the liver. We conclude that silica coating of nanoceria alters the biodistribution of cerium likely due to modifications in protein corona formation after IT and IV administration.

  17. Zwitterion-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Surface Chemistry and Intracellular Uptake by Hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) Cells.

    PubMed

    Mondini, Sara; Leonzino, Marianna; Drago, Carmelo; Ferretti, Anna M; Usseglio, Sandro; Maggioni, Daniela; Tornese, Paolo; Chini, Bice; Ponti, Alessandro

    2015-07-07

    Nanoparticles (NPs) have received much attention in recent years for their diverse potential biomedical applications. However, the synthesis of NPs with desired biodistribution and pharmacokinetics is still a major challenge, with NP size and surface chemistry being the main factors determining the behavior of NPs in vivo. Here we report on the surface chemistry and in vitro cellular uptake of magnetic iron oxide NPs coated with zwitterionic dopamine sulfonate (ZDS). ZDS-coated NPs were compared to similar iron oxide NPs coated with PEG-like 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid (MEEA) to investigate how surface chemistry affects their in vitro behavior. ZDS-coated NPs had a very dense coating, guaranteeing high colloidal stability in several aqueous media and negligible interaction with proteins. Treatment of HepG2 cells with increasing doses (2.5-100 μg Fe/mL) of ZDS-coated iron oxide NPs had no effect on cell viability and resulted in a low, dose-dependent NP uptake, inferior than most reported data for the internalization of iron oxide NPs by HepG2 cells. MEEA-coated NPs were scarcely stable and formed micrometer-sized aggregates in aqueous media. They decreased cell viability for dose ≥50 μg Fe/mL, and were more efficiently internalized than ZDS-coated NPs. In conclusion, our data indicate that the ZDS layer prevented both aggregation and sedimentation of iron oxide NPs and formed a biocompatible coating that did not display any biocorona effect. The very low cellular uptake of ZDS-coated iron NPs can be useful to achieve highly selective targeting upon specific functionalization.

  18. Antibacterial Activity of Polyaniline Coated Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Piper Betle Leaves Extract.

    PubMed

    Mamun Or Rashida, Md; Shafiul Islam, Md; Azizul Haque, Md; Arifur Rahman, Md; Tanvir Hossain, Md; Abdul Hamid, Md

    2016-01-01

    Plants or natural resources have been found to be a good alternative method for nanoparticles synthesis. In this study, polyaniline coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Piper betle leaves extract were investigated for their antibacterial activity. Silver nanoparticles were prepared from the reduction of silver nitrate and NaBH4 was used as reducing agent. Silver nanoparticles and extracts were mixed thoroughly and then coated by polyaniline. Prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Visual inspection, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Antibacterial activities of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Salmonella typhi ATCC 14028, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. UV-Vis spectrum of reaction mixture showed strong absorption peak with centering at 400 nm. The FT-IR results imply that Ag-NPs were successfully synthesized and capped with bio-compounds present in P. betle. TEM image showed that Ag-NPs formed were well dispersed with a spherical structures and particle size ranging from 10 to 30 nm. The result revealed that Ag-Extract NPs showed 32.78±0.64 mm zone of inhibition against S. aureus, whereas norfloxacin (positive control) showed maximum 32.15±0.40 mm zone of inhibition for S. aureus. Again, maximum zone of inhibition 29.55±0.45 mm was found for S. typhi, 27.12±0.38 mm for E. coli and 21.95±0.45 mm for P. aeruginosa. The results obtained by this study can't be directly extrapolated to human; so further studies should be undertaken to established the strong antimicrobial activity of Ag-Extract NPs for drug development program.

  19. Antibacterial Activity of Polyaniline Coated Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized from Piper Betle Leaves Extract

    PubMed Central

    Mamun Or Rashida, Md.; Shafiul Islam, Md.; Azizul Haque, Md.; Arifur Rahman, Md.; Tanvir Hossain, Md.; Abdul Hamid, Md.

    2016-01-01

    Plants or natural resources have been found to be a good alternative method for nanoparticles synthesis. In this study, polyaniline coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Piper betle leaves extract were investigated for their antibacterial activity. Silver nanoparticles were prepared from the reduction of silver nitrate and NaBH4 was used as reducing agent. Silver nanoparticles and extracts were mixed thoroughly and then coated by polyaniline. Prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Visual inspection, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), Fourier transform infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. Antibacterial activities of the synthesized silver nanoparticles were tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Salmonella typhi ATCC 14028, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. UV–Vis spectrum of reaction mixture showed strong absorption peak with centering at 400 nm. The FT-IR results imply that Ag-NPs were successfully synthesized and capped with bio-compounds present in P. betle. TEM image showed that Ag-NPs formed were well dispersed with a spherical structures and particle size ranging from 10 to 30 nm. The result revealed that Ag-Extract NPs showed 32.78±0.64 mm zone of inhibition against S. aureus, whereas norfloxacin (positive control) showed maximum 32.15±0.40 mm zone of inhibition for S. aureus. Again, maximum zone of inhibition 29.55±0.45 mm was found for S. typhi, 27.12±0.38 mm for E. coli and 21.95±0.45 mm for P. aeruginosa. The results obtained by this study can’t be directly extrapolated to human; so further studies should be undertaken to established the strong antimicrobial activity of Ag-Extract NPs for drug development program. PMID:27642330

  20. Gelatin-coated Gold Nanoparticles as Carriers of FLT3 Inhibitors for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment.

    PubMed

    Suarasan, Sorina; Simon, Timea; Boca, Sanda; Tomuleasa, Ciprian; Astilean, Simion

    2016-06-01

    This study presents the design of a gold nanoparticle (AuNPs)-drug system with improved efficiency for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. The system is based on four different FLT3 inhibitors, namely midostaurin, sorafenib, lestaurtinib, and quizartinib, which were independently loaded onto gelatin-coated gold nanoparticles. Detailed investigation of the physicochemical properties of the formed complexes lead to the selection of quizartinib-loaded AuNPs for the in vitro evaluation of the biological effects of the formed complex against OCI-AML3 acute myeloid leukemia cells. Viability tests by MTT demonstrated that the proposed drug complex has improved efficacy when compared with the drug alone. The obtained results constitute a premise for further in vivo investigation of such drug vehicles based on AuNPs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that investigates the delivery of the above-mentioned FLT3 inhibitors via gelatin-coated gold nanoparticles. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  1. Substrate- and plant-mediated removal of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles in constructed wetlands.

    PubMed

    Auvinen, Hannele; Sepúlveda, Viviana Vásquez; Rousseau, Diederik P L; Du Laing, Gijs

    2016-11-01

    The growing production and commercial application of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), such as Ag, CeO 2 , and TiO 2 nanoparticles, induce a risk to the environment as ENPs are released during their use. The comprehensive assessment of the environmental risk that the ENPs pose involves understanding their fate and behavior in wastewater treatment systems. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the effect of plants and different substrates on the retention and distribution of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in batch experimental setups simulating constructed wetlands (CWs). Sand, zeolite, and biofilm-coated gravel induce efficient removal (85, 55, and 67 %, respectively) of Ag from the water phase indicating that citrate-coated Ag-NPs are efficiently retained in CWs. Plants are a minor factor in retaining Ag as a large fraction of the recovered Ag remains in the water phase (0.42-0.58). Most Ag associated with the plant tissues is attached to or taken up by the roots, and only negligible amounts (maximum 3 %) of Ag are translocated to the leaves under the applied experimental conditions.

  2. Ag nanoparticles loading of polypyrrole-coated superwetting mesh for on-demand separation of oil-water mixtures and catalytic reduction of aromatic dyes.

    PubMed

    Yihan, Sun; Mingming, Liu; Guo, Zhiguang

    2018-05-19

    Herein, a catalytic mesh with unique wettability, high oil-water separation efficiency and excellent catalytic performance towards aromatic dyes was fabricated. Polypyrrole (PPy) was firstly pre-coated on pristine stainless-steel mesh (SSM) surface via cyclic voltammetry approach. Subsequently, a simple electrodeposition process was performed to prepare and anchor Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto the PPy-coated SSM surface. The PPy-coated mesh with anchored AgNPs was denoted as PPy/AgNPs-coated SSM. The obtained PPy/AgNPs-coated SSM exhibited dual superlyophobic properties and were able to achieve on-demand separation to deal with various of light oil (ρ oil  < ρ water ) and heavy oil (ρ oil  > ρ water )-water mixtures. Importantly, benefitting from AgNPs on mesh surface, the obtained PPy/AgNPs-coated SSM exhibits exceptional catalytic activity. As proof-of-concept three typical aromatic dye molecules (methylene blue, rhodamine B and Congo red) can be effectivity degraded. Additionally, the degradation of aromatic dyes and oil-water separation were achieved simultaneously when the PPy/AgNPs-coated SSM was converted to water-removing mode. Therefore, the present work is of great significance to the development of novel oil-water filtration membranes and can open a new avenue towards the practicability of metal nanoparticle catalysts in wastewater treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticle-coated fabric and leather against odor and skin infection causing bacteria.

    PubMed

    Velmurugan, Palanivel; Lee, Sang-Myeong; Cho, Min; Park, Jung-Hee; Seo, Sang-Ki; Myung, Hyun; Bang, Keuk-Soo; Oh, Byung-Taek

    2014-10-01

    We present a simple, eco-friendly synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles using a natural polymer pine gum solution as the reducing and capping agent. The pine gum solution was combined with silver nitrate (AgNO3) or a chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) solution to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), respectively. The reaction process was simple; formation of the nanoparticles was achieved by autoclaving the silver and gold ions with the pine gum. UV-Vis spectra showed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for silver and gold nanoparticles at 432 and 539 nm, respectively. The elemental forms of AgNPs and AuNPs were confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the biomolecules present in the pine gum, AgNPs, and AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed the shape and size of AgNPs and AuNPs. The crystalline nature of synthesized AgNPs and AuNPs was confirmed by X-ray crystallography [X-ray diffraction (XRD)]. Application of synthesized AgNPs onto cotton fabrics and leather, in order to evaluate their antibacterial properties against odor- or skin infection-causing bacteria, is also discussed. Among the four tested bacteria, AgNP-coated cotton fabric and leather samples displayed excellent antibacterial activity against Brevibacterium linens.

  4. Size- and coating-dependent cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of silver nanoparticles evaluated using in vitro standard assays.

    PubMed

    Guo, Xiaoqing; Li, Yan; Yan, Jian; Ingle, Taylor; Jones, Margie Yvonne; Mei, Nan; Boudreau, Mary D; Cunningham, Candice K; Abbas, Mazhar; Paredes, Angel M; Zhou, Tong; Moore, Martha M; Howard, Paul C; Chen, Tao

    2016-11-01

    The physicochemical characteristics of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may greatly alter their toxicological potential. To explore the effects of size and coating on the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of AgNPs, six different types of AgNPs, having three different sizes and two different coatings, were investigated using the Ames test, mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) and in vitro micronucleus assay. The genotoxicities of silver acetate and silver nitrate were evaluated to compare the genotoxicity of nanosilver to that of ionic silver. The Ames test produced inconclusive results for all types of the silver materials due to the high toxicity of silver to the test bacteria and the lack of entry of the nanoparticles into the cells. Treatment of L5718Y cells with AgNPs and ionic silver resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, mutagenicity in the Tk gene and the induction of micronuclei from exposure to nearly every type of the silver materials. Treatment of TK6 cells with these silver materials also resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity and significantly increased micronucleus frequency. With both the MLA and micronucleus assays, the smaller the AgNPs, the greater the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. The coatings had less effect on the relative genotoxicity of AgNPs than the particle size. Loss of heterozygosity analysis of the induced Tk mutants indicated that the types of mutations induced by AgNPs were different from those of ionic silver. These results suggest that AgNPs induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in a size- and coating-dependent manner. Furthermore, while the MLA and in vitro micronucleus assay (in both types of cells) are useful to quantitatively measure the genotoxic potencies of AgNPs, the Ames test cannot.

  5. Zinc oxide nanoparticle suspensions and layer-by-layer coatings inhibit staphylococcal growth.

    PubMed

    McGuffie, Matthew J; Hong, Jin; Bahng, Joong Hwan; Glynos, Emmanouil; Green, Peter F; Kotov, Nicholas A; Younger, John G; VanEpps, J Scott

    2016-01-01

    Despite a decade of engineering and process improvements, bacterial infection remains the primary threat to implanted medical devices. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have demonstrated antimicrobial properties. Their microbial selectivity, stability, ease of production, and low cost make them attractive alternatives to silver NPs or antimicrobial peptides. Here we sought to (1) determine the relative efficacy of ZnO-NPs on planktonic growth of medically relevant pathogens; (2) establish the role of bacterial surface chemistry on ZnO-NP effectiveness; (3) evaluate NP shape as a factor in the dose-response; and (4) evaluate layer-by-layer (LBL) ZnO-NP surface coatings on biofilm growth. ZnO-NPs inhibited bacterial growth in a shape-dependent manner not previously seen or predicted. Pyramid shaped particles were the most effective and contrary to previous work, larger particles were more effective than smaller particles. Differential susceptibility of pathogens may be related to their surface hydrophobicity. LBL ZnO-NO coatings reduced staphylococcal biofilm burden by >95%. From the Clinical Editor: The use of medical implants is widespread. However, bacterial colonization remains a major concern. In this article, the authors investigated the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to prevent bacterial infection. They showed in their experiments that ZnO-NPs significantly inhibited bacterial growth. This work may present a new alternative in using ZnO-NPs in medical devices. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Versatile theranostics agents designed by coating ferrite nanoparticles with biocompatible polymers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zahraei, M.; Marciello, M.; Lazaro-Carrillo, A.; Villanueva, A.; Herranz, F.; Talelli, M.; Costo, R.; Monshi, A.; Shahbazi-Gahrouei, D.; Amirnasr, M.; Behdadfar, B.; Morales, M. P.

    2016-06-01

    Three biocompatible polymers, polyethylene glycol (PEG), dextran and chitosan, have been used in this work to control the colloidal stability of magnetic nanoparticles (14 ± 5 nm in diameter) and to vary the aggregation state in order to study their effect on relaxometric and heating properties. Two different coating strategies have been deeply developed; one based on the formation of an amide bond between citric acid coated nanoparticles (NPs) and amine groups present on the polymer surface and the other based on the NP encapsulation. Relaxometric properties revealed that proton relaxation rates strongly depend on the coating layer hydrophilicity and the aggregation state of the particles due to the presence of magnetic interactions. Thus, while PEG coating reduces particle aggregation by increasing inter-particle spacing leading to reduction of both T1 and T2 relaxation, dextran and chitosan lead to an increase mainly in T2 values due to the aggregation of particles in bigger clusters where they are in close contact. Dextran and chitosan coated NPs have also shown a remarkable heating effect during the application of an alternating magnetic field. They have proved to be potential candidates as theranostic agents for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Finally, cytotoxicity of PEG conjugated NPs, which seem to be ideal for intravenous administration because of their small hydrodynamic size, was investigated resulting in high cell viability even at 0.2 mg Fe ml-1 after 24 h of incubation. This suspension can be used as drug/biomolecule carrier for in vivo applications.

  7. Low molecular weight chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles are effective for the treatment of MRSA-infected wounds.

    PubMed

    Peng, Yinbo; Song, Chenlu; Yang, Chuanfeng; Guo, Qige; Yao, Min

    2017-01-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are being widely applied as topical wound materials; however, accumulated deposition of silver in the liver, spleen, and other main organs may lead to organ damage and dysfunction. We report here that low molecular weight chitosan-coated silver nanoparticles (LMWC-AgNPs) are effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), have better biocompatibility, and have lower body absorption characteristics when compared with polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) and silver nanoparticles without surface stabilizer (uncoated-AgNPs) in a dorsal MRSA wound infection mouse model. LMWC-AgNPs were synthesized by reducing silver nitrate with low molecular weight chitosan as a stabilizer and reducing agent, while PVP-AgNPs were synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone as a stabilizer and ethanol as a reducing agent. AgNPs with different surface stabilizers were identified by UV-visible absorption spectrometry, and particle size was determined by transmission electron microscopy. UV-visible absorption spectra of LMWC-AgNPs, PVP-AgNPs and uncoated-AgNPs were similar and their sizes were in the range of 10-30 nm. In vitro experiments showed that the three types of AgNPs had similar MRSA-killing effects, with obvious effect at 4 μg/mL and 100% effect at 8 μg/mL. Bacteriostatic annulus experiments also showed that all the three types of AgNPs had similar antibacterial inhibitory effect at 10 μg/mL. Cell counting kit-8 assay and Hoechst/propidium iodide (PI) staining showed that LMWC-AgNPs were significantly less toxic to human fibroblasts than PVP-AgNPs and uncoated-AgNPs. Treatment of mice with MRSA wound infection demonstrated that the three types of AgNPs effectively controlled MRSA wound infection and promoted wound healing. After continuous application for 14 days, LMWC-AgNPs-treated mice showed significantly reduced liver dysfunction as demonstrated by the reduced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate

  8. Size-Controlled Dissolution of Organic-Coated Silver Nanoparticles

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

    Ma, Rui; Levard, Clément; Marinakos, Stella M.

    2012-04-02

    The solubility of Ag NPs can affect their toxicity and persistence in the environment. We measured the solubility of organic-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) having particle diameters ranging from 5 to 80 nm that were synthesized using various methods, and with different organic polymer coatings including poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and gum arabic. The size and morphology of Ag NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and synchrotron-based total X-ray scattering and pair distribution function (PDF) analysis were used to determine the local structure around Ag and evaluate changes in crystal lattice parameters and structure asmore » a function of NP size. Ag NP solubility dispersed in 1 mM NaHCO{sub 3} at pH 8 was found to be well correlated with particle size based on the distribution of measured TEM sizes as predicted by the modified Kelvin equation. Solubility of Ag NPs was not affected by the synthesis method and coating as much as by their size. Based on the modified Kelvin equation, the surface tension of Ag NPs was found to be {approx}1 J/m{sup 2}, which is expected for bulk fcc (face centered cubic) silver. Analysis of XAFS, X-ray scattering, and PDFs confirm that the lattice parameter, {alpha}, of the fcc crystal structure of Ag NPs did not change with particle size for Ag NPs as small as 6 nm, indicating the absence of lattice strain. These results are consistent with the finding that Ag NP solubility can be estimated based on TEM-derived particle size using the modified Kelvin equation for particles in the size range of 5-40 nm in diameter.« less

  9. Potential phototoxicity of aged Al(OH)3-coated Ti02 nanoparticles in retinal pigment epithelial cells

    EPA Science Inventory

    Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) exposed to UVA radiation generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). As a component of sunscreen formulations, TiO2 NPs may be coated with Al(OH)3 to prevent ROS from causing oxidative damage to tissues. Simulated swimming pool water (SSPW)...

  10. Multi-layer coating of SiO2 nanoparticles to enhance light absorption by Si solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nam, Yoon-Ho; Um, Han-Don; Park, Kwang-Tae; Shin, Sun-Mi; Baek, Jong-Wook; Park, Min-Joon; Jung, Jin-Young; Zhou, Keya; Jee, Sang-Won; Guo, Zhongyi; Lee, Jung-Ho

    2012-06-01

    We found that multi-layer coating of a Si substrate with SiO2 dielectric nanoparticles (NPs) was an effective method to suppress light reflection by silicon solar cells. To suppress light reflection, two conditions are required for the coating: 1) The difference of refractive indexes between air and Si should be alleviated, and 2) the quarter-wavelength antireflection condition should be satisfied while avoiding intrinsic absorption loss. Light reflection was reduced due to destructive interference at certain wavelengths that depended on the layer thickness. For the same thickness dielectric layer, smaller NPs enhanced antireflectance more than larger NPs due to a decrease in scattering loss by the smaller NPs.

  11. Cytotoxicity control of silicon nanoparticles by biopolymer coating and ultrasound irradiation for cancer theranostic applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sviridov, A. P.; Osminkina, L. A.; Kharin, A. Yu; Gongalsky, M. B.; Kargina, J. V.; Kudryavtsev, A. A.; Bezsudnova, Yu I.; Perova, T. S.; Geloen, A.; Lysenko, V.; Timoshenko, V. Yu

    2017-03-01

    Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) prepared by mechanical grinding of luminescent porous silicon were coated with a biopolymer (dextran) and investigated as a potential theranostic agent for bioimaging and sonodynamic therapy. Transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence and Raman scattering measurements of dextran-coated SiNPs gave evidence of their enhanced stability in water. In vitro experiments confirmed the lower cytotoxicity of the dextran-coated NPs in comparison with uncoated ones, especially for high concentrations of about 2 mg ml-1. Efficient uptake of the NPs by cancer cells was found using bioimaging in the optical transmittance and photoluminescence modes. Treatment of the cells with uptaken SiNPs by therapeutic ultrasound for 5-20 min resulted in a strong decrease in the number of living cells, while the total number of cells remained nearly unchanged. The obtained data indicate a ‘mild’ effect of the combined action of ultrasonic irradiation and SiNPs on cancer cells. The observed results reveal new opportunities for controlling the photoluminescent and sonosensitizing properties of silicon-based NPs for applications in the diagnostics and mild therapy of cancer.

  12. Transport of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles in unsaturated sand

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumahor, Samuel; Hron, Pavel; Metreveli, George; Schaumann, Gabriele; Vogel, Hans-Jörg

    2015-04-01

    Chemical factors and physical constraints lead to coupled effects during particle transport in unsaturated porous media. Unlike for saturated transport, studies on unsaturated transport as typical for soil are currently scarce. We investigated the mobility of citrate-coated Ag NPs in unsaturated sand (grain diameter: 0.1-0.3 mm). For three flux rates and a given pore-water ionic strength (1 mM KNO3), the citrate-coated Ag NPs were less mobile at pH = 5 compared to pH = 9. The classic Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory suggests unfavorable deposition conditions at both, the air-water interface and solid-water interface. Breakthrough curves measured under quasi-steady state unsaturated flow showed retardation of the citrate-coated Ag NPs compared to inert solute (KBr). After flushing with nanoparticle-free 1 mM KNO3 solution (pH-adjusted), retention was much lower in deeper depths compared to the surface where the particles entered the flow field. The results show a non-linear dependence of nanoparticle (NP) mobility on flux rate and water content. Especially the observed retardation similar to equilibrium sorption is in contrast to observations under saturated flow conditions. A convection-dispersion and reaction model that combines a reversible equilibrium process and a non-equilibrium interaction process reproduced the measured breakthrough curves reasonably well. From comparison between saturated and unsaturated experiments we conclude that the air-water interface is responsible for the reversible equilibrium process while the water-solid interface accounts for irreversible soption.

  13. Magneto-plasmonic Au-Coated Co nanoparticles synthesized via hot-injection method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Souza, João B., Jr.; Varanda, Laudemir C.

    2018-02-01

    A synthetic procedure is described for the obtaining of superparamagnetic Co nanoparticles (NPs) via hot-injection method in the presence of sodium borohydride. The Co NPs obtained have an average diameter of 5.3 nm and saturation magnetization of 115 emu g-1. A modified Langevin equation is fitted to the magnetization curves using a log-normal distribution for the particle diameter and an effective field to account for dipolar interactions. The calculated magnetic diameter of the Co NPs is 0.6 nm smaller than TEM-derived values, implying a magnetic dead layer of 0.3 nm. The magnetic core is coated with Au to prevent oxidation, resulting in water-stable magneto-plasmonic Co/Au core/shell NPs with saturation of 71.6 emu g-1. The coating adds a localized surface plasmon resonance property with absorbance in the so-called ‘therapeutic window’ (690-900 nm), suitable for biomedical applications. It is suggested that these multifunctional NPs are distinguished as a potential platform for applied and fundamental research.

  14. Electromagnetic characteristics of manganese oxide-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles at 2-18 GHz

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, R. B.; Liang, W. F.; Lin, C. K.

    2011-04-01

    The dielectric and magnetic properties of manganese oxide-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were measured by the transmission/reflection method in 2-18 GHz. MnOx-coated Fe3O4 NPs were prepared by sol-gel method followed by heat-treating at 300, 400, and 500 °C, respectively. The heat-treated powders were then used as magnetic fillers and added to an epoxy resin to prepare MnOx-coated Fe3O4 composites for the complex permittivity (ɛ'-jɛ″) and permeability (μ'-jμ″) measurements. After the sol-gel process, the coating of manganese oxide (mixture of major Mn2O3 and minor Mn3O4) reduced the value of ɛ'. The lower the heat-treating temperature, the larger the decrease in ɛ'. The relative decrease in ɛ', compared with uncoated Fe3O4 nanoparticles, is 28.7, 23.5, and 20.0% for coated MnOx heat-treated at 300, 400, and 500 °C, respectively, while the relative decrease in ɛ″ is 74.1, 68.8, and 65.2%, respectively. In the present study, MnOx-coated Fe3O4 exhibited a significant decrease in dielectric loss tangent of ˜100% compared to that of uncoated NPs and can be of practical use for microwave components.

  15. PEG-coated gold nanoparticles attenuate β-adrenergic receptor-mediated cardiac hypertrophy.

    PubMed

    Qiao, Yuhui; Zhu, Baoling; Tian, Aiju; Li, Zijian

    2017-01-01

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are widely used as a drug delivery vehicle, which can accumulate in the heart through blood circulation. Therefore, it is very important to understand the effect of AuNPs on the heart, especially under pathological conditions. In this study, we found that PEG-coated AuNPs attenuate β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR)-mediated acute cardiac hypertrophy and inflammation. However, both isoproterenol, a non-selective β-AR agonist, and AuNPs did not induce cardiac function change or cardiac fibrosis. AuNPs exerted an anti-cardiac hypertrophy effect by decreasing β 1 -AR expression and its downstream ERK1/2 hypertrophic pathway. Our results indicated that AuNPs might be safe and have the potential to be used as multi-functional materials (drug carrier systems and anti-cardiac hypertrophy agents).

  16. Toxicity Assessment of Silica Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles and Biocompatibility Improvement by Surface Engineering

    PubMed Central

    Malvindi, Maria Ada; De Matteis, Valeria; Galeone, Antonio; Brunetti, Virgilio; Anyfantis, George C.; Athanassiou, Athanassia; Cingolani, Roberto; Pompa, Pier Paolo

    2014-01-01

    We have studied in vitro toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) coated with a thin silica shell (Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs) on A549 and HeLa cells. We compared bare and surface passivated Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs to evaluate the effects of the coating on the particle stability and toxicity. NPs cytotoxicity was investigated by cell viability, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, and their genotoxicity by comet assay. Our results show that NPs surface passivation reduces the oxidative stress and alteration of iron homeostasis and, consequently, the overall toxicity, despite bare and passivated NPs show similar cell internalization efficiency. We found that the higher toxicity of bare NPs is due to their stronger in-situ degradation, with larger intracellular release of iron ions, as compared to surface passivated NPs. Our results indicate that surface engineering of Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs plays a key role in improving particles stability in biological environments reducing both cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. PMID:24465736

  17. Aggregation state and magnetic properties of magnetite nanoparticles controlled by an optimized silica coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pérez, Nicolás; Moya, C.; Tartaj, P.; Labarta, A.; Batlle, X.

    2017-01-01

    The control of magnetic interactions is becoming essential to expand/improve the applicability of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs). Here, we show that an optimized microemulsion method can be used to obtain homogenous silica coatings on even single magnetic nuclei of highly crystalline Fe3-xO4 NPs (7 and 16 nm) derived from a high-temperature method. We show that the thickness of this coating is controlled almost at will allowing much higher average separation among particles as compared to the oleic acid coating present on pristine NPs. Magnetic susceptibility studies show that the thickness of the silica coating allows the control of magnetic interactions. Specifically, as this effect is better displayed for the smallest particles, we show that dipole-dipole interparticle interactions can be tuned progressively for the 7 nm NPs, from almost non-interacting to strongly interacting particles at room temperature. The quantitative analysis of the magnetic properties unambiguously suggests that dipolar interactions significantly broaden the effective distribution of energy barriers by spreading the distribution of activation magnetic volumes.

  18. Characterization of the modified nickel-zinc ferrite nanoparticles coated with APTES by salinization reaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zainal, Israa G.; Al-Shammari, Ahmed Majeed; Kachi, Wjeah

    2018-05-01

    Surface functionalization of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) is a kind of functional materials, which have been widely used in the biotechnology and catalysis. In this study, Nickel-Zinc ferrite nanoparticles was functionalized with amino propyl triethoxy silane (APTES) by silanization reaction and both non coated and organosilane-coated magnetite characterized by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy. Basic groups of amino anchored on the external surface of the coated magnetite were observed. Our study procedure nanoparticles which have surface with free - NH2 groups which can carry out ionic interaction with carboxylic groups and act as a carrier of biological molecules, drugs and metals.

  19. Tumor targeting profiling of hyaluronan-coated lipid based-nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mizrahy, Shoshy; Goldsmith, Meir; Leviatan-Ben-Arye, Shani; Kisin-Finfer, Einat; Redy, Orit; Srinivasan, Srimeenakshi; Shabat, Doron; Godin, Biana; Peer, Dan

    2014-03-01

    Hyaluronan (HA), a naturally occurring high Mw (HMw) glycosaminoglycan, has been shown to play crucial roles in cell growth, embryonic development, healing processes, inflammation, and tumor development and progression. Low Mw (LMw, <10 kDa) HA has been reported to provoke inflammatory responses, such as induction of cytokines, chemokines, reactive nitrogen species and growth factors. Herein, we prepared and characterized two types of HA coated (LMw and HMw) lipid-based targeted and stabilized nanoparticles (tsNPs) and tested their binding to tumor cells expressing the HA receptor (CD44), systemic immunotoxicity, and biodistribution in tumor bearing mice. In vitro, the Mw of the surface anchored HA had a significant influence on the affinity towards CD44 on B16F10 murine melanoma cells. LMw HA-tsNPs exhibited weak binding, while binding of tsNPs coated with HMw HA was characterized by high binding. Both types of tsNPs had no measured effect on cytokine induction in vivo following intravenous administration to healthy C57BL/6 mice suggesting no immune activation. HMw HA-tsNPs showed enhanced circulation time and tumor targeting specificity, mainly by accumulating in the tumor and its vicinity compared with LMw HA-tsNPs. Finally, we show that methotrexate (MTX), a drug commonly used in cancer chemotherapy, entrapped in HMw HA-tsNPs slowly diffused from the particles with a half-life of 13.75 days, and improved the therapeutic outcome in a murine B16F10 melanoma model compared with NPs suggesting an active cellular targeting beyond the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. Taken together, these findings have major implications for the use of high molecular weight HA in nanomedicine as a selective and safe active cellular targeting moiety.Hyaluronan (HA), a naturally occurring high Mw (HMw) glycosaminoglycan, has been shown to play crucial roles in cell growth, embryonic development, healing processes, inflammation, and tumor development and progression

  20. Surface coating-modulated toxic responses to silver nanoparticles in Wolffia globosa.

    PubMed

    Zou, Xiaoyan; Li, Penghui; Lou, Jie; Zhang, Hongwu

    2017-08-01

    With the omnipresence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in our daily consumer products, their release has raised serious concerns. However, the biochemical mechanisms by which plants counteract the toxicity of nanoparticles are largely unknown. This study investigated the exposure of aquatic Wolffia globosa to ATP-nAg (AgNPs coated with adenosine triphosphate), cit-nAg (AgNPs coated with citrate), and Ag + . Hill reaction activity was basically lost in W. globosa treated with 10mg/L ATP-nAg and Ag + , while the activity was still maintained at 38.7%-38.9% of the respective controls at 10mg/L cit-nAg. The reduction of amounts of chlorophyll and soluble protein were shown in response to the Ag stresses. This was accompanied by the accumulation of sugar in W. globosa treated with cit-nAg. By contrast, the depletion of sugar was recorded after 10mg/L ATP-nAg and Ag + treatments. The superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities were significantly increased after exposure to 10mg/L ATP-nAg and Ag + , which did not occurred in W. globosa treated with cit-nAg. The ratio between NADPH/NADP + was higher after cit-nAg and Ag + stresses than the respective controls. The accumulation of Ag was found to increase in a concentration-dependent manner. Ag + and ATP-nAg inhibited the uptake of P and K, and promoted the uptake of Fe and Cu. In contrast, cit-nAg only promoted the uptake of Cu. Our results implied that surface coating induced different physiological responses of W. globosa to AgNPs. Based on above results, we speculated that after exposure to cit-nAg, citrate possibly could serve as the substrate for the tricarboxylic acid cycle and accumulated sugar may promote pentose phosphate pathways. For ATP-nAg treatments, ATP would act as an exogenous energy source of plant metabolisms. Our findings demonstrate that surface coating regulates the physiological responses of plants to AgNPs through distinct mechanisms. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  1. Zinc Oxide Coating Effect for the Dye Removal and Photocatalytic Mechanisms of Flower-Like MoS2 Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tian, Qingyong; Wu, Wei; Yang, Shuanglei; Liu, Jun; Yao, Weijing; Ren, Feng; Jiang, Changzhong

    2017-03-01

    Flower-like MoS2 nanoparticles (NPs) consist of ultra-thin MoS2 nanosheets are synthesized via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method. The MoS2/ZnO p-n heterostructure is formed by coating n-type ZnO on the surface of flower-like MoS2 NPs through the seed-mediate route and post-annealing treatment. The effects for the dye removal and photocatalytic performances after ZnO coating are systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that the coating of ZnO nanoparticles has a positive promotion to the photodegrading properties while negative effect on the adsorption capacity of the MoS2/ZnO heterostructures. The related mechanisms on the relationship of adsorption capacity and photocatalysis are discussed in detail.

  2. Evaluation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) sol-gel coatings, modified with green synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles for combating microfouling.

    PubMed

    Krupa, A Nithya Deva; Vimala, R

    2016-04-01

    Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) is gaining importance as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods due to its enormous applications. The present work reports the synthesis of ZnO-NPs using the endosperm of Cocos nucifera (coconut water) and the bio-molecules responsible for nanoparticle formation have been identified. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Zeta potential measurement. The results obtained reveal that the synthesized nanoparticles are moderately stable with the size ranging from 20 to 80 nm. The bactericidal effect of the nanoparticles was proved by well diffusion assay and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against marine biofilm forming bacteria. Further the green synthesized ZnO-NPs were doped with TEOS sol-gels (TESGs) in order to assess their antimicrofouling capability. Different volumes of liquid sol-gels were coated on to 96-well microtitre plate and cured under various conditions. The optimum curing conditions were found to be temperature 60 °C, time 72 h and volume 200 μl. Antiadhesion test of the undoped (SG) and ZnO-NP doped TEOS sol-gel (ZNSG) coatings were evaluated using marine biofilm forming bacteria. ZNSG coatings exhibited highest biofilm inhibition (89.2%) represented by lowest OD value against Pseudomonasotitidis strain NV1. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Mucoadhesive properties of low molecular weight chitosan- or glycol chitosan- and corresponding thiomer-coated poly(isobutylcyanoacrylate) core-shell nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Palazzo, Claudio; Trapani, Giuseppe; Ponchel, Gilles; Trapani, Adriana; Vauthier, Christine

    2017-08-01

    The aim of the present work was to evaluate the mucoadhesive properties of poly(isobutyl cyanoacrylate) (PIBCA) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with Low Molecular Weight (LMW) chitosan (CS)- and glycol chitosan (GCS)-based thiomers as well as with the corresponding LMW unmodified polysaccharides. For this purpose, all the CS- and GCS-based thiomers were prepared under simple and mild conditions starting from the LMW unmodified polymers CS and GCS. The resulting NPs were of spherical shape with diameters ranging from 400 to 600nm and 187 to 309nm, for CS- and GCS-based NPs, respectively. The mucoadhesive characteristics of these core shell NPs were studied in Ussing chambers measuring the percentage of NPs stuck on the mucosal of fresh intestinal tissue after 2h of incubation. Moreover, incubation of nanoparticle formulations with the intestinal tissue induced changes in transmucosal electrical resistance which were measured to gain information into the opening of tight junctions and to control the integrity of the mucosa. Thus, it was found that PIBCA NPs coated with the GCS-Glutathione conjugate (GCGPIBCA NPs) possessed the most favorable mucoadhesive performances. Moreover, both GCGPIBCA- and GCS-N-acetyl-cysteine (GCNPIBCA)-core-shell NPs might induced an enlargement of the epithelial cell tight junctions. In conclusion, coating of PIBCA NPs with GCS-based thiomers may be useful for improving the mucoadhesive and permeation properties of these nanocarriers. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Low cytotoxicity of anisotropic gold nanoparticles coated with lysine on peripheral blood mononuclear cells "in vitro".

    PubMed

    Avila-Alejo, Jorge O; González-Palomo, Ana K; Plascencia-Villa, Germán; José-Yacamán, Miguel; Navarro-Contreras, Hugo R; Pérez-Maldonado, Iván N

    2017-12-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of anisotropic (non spherical morphologies) gold nanoparticles coated with the amino acid Lysine (Lys) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) "in vitro". Gold (Au) nanoparticles tested in this study were synthesized by a seed-mediated growth using Lys as a structure and shape directing agent. Cytotoxic effects were evaluated by cell viability (resazurin assay), reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction (2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate assay), DNA damage (comet assay) and apoptosis/necrosis (AnnexinV/propidium iodide assay) after PBMC were exposed to increasing concentrations (10, 25, 50, 100, and 250μM) of AuNPs coated with Lys (AuNPs-Lys) at different exposure times (3, 6, 12, and 24h). The results demonstrated that AuNPs-Lys exhibited low cytotoxicity towards PBMC, (high cell viability), with low levels of ROS, DNA damage and apoptosis/necrosis detected after treatment. These data suggest that AuNPs-Lys, might be viable for biomedical application subject to further investigations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Glutathione reduces cytotoxicity of polyethyleneimine coated magnetic nanoparticles in CHO cells.

    PubMed

    Strojan, Klemen; Lojk, Jasna; Bregar, Vladimir B; Veranič, Peter; Pavlin, Mojca

    2017-06-01

    Polyethyleneimine (PEI) is a polycationic compound frequently used as a transfection agent. However, cytotoxicity of PEI and PEI-coated nanoparticles (PEI NPs) is still a major obstacle in its use. In this study we report a method for reducing cytotoxicity of PEI NPs by addition of glutathione in NPs synthesis. Glutathione reduced cytotoxic effects for at least 30% and decreased observed oxidative stress response compared to standard formulation. Results showed that the effect was partially due to reduced zeta potential and partially due to protective antioxidant properties of glutathione. Addition of glutathione to cell culture media with concurrent exposure to PEI NPs proved to be insufficient for cytotoxicity reduction. Additionally, we compared internalization pathways of both PEI NPs and GSH NPs. NPs were only found in endosomes and no NPs were found free in the cytosol, as would be expected according to so called proton sponge hypothesis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Folate receptor mediated in vivo targeted delivery of human serum albumin coated manganese ferrite magnetic nanoparticles to cancer cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zaidan, A.; Ilhami, F.; Fahmi, M. Z.; Purwanto, B.; Kharisma, R. Z.

    2017-05-01

    Manganese ferrite nanoparticles (MnFe2O4) have received increasing attention due to their remarkable magnetic properties and have been used for various biomedical applications. They have potential applications in magnetic resonance imaging and hyperthermia for cancer. Both novel applications require a delivery system that will allow nanoparticle to move easily and localization of nanoparticle to the target tissue. In our work, we developed human serum albumin coated manganese ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (HSA-MF NPs). The nanoparticles were prepared using solvothermal method and modified with folic acid for targeted delivery. Structure and morphology of manganese ferrite nanoparticle were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of folic acid conjugated HSA-MF NPs (HSA-MF-FA NPs) were studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS). In the in vivo study, we used benzopyrene-induced cancer in mice. We successfully delivered HSA-MF-FA NPs through intravenous tail injection after induction of the tumour. We found that 54% of initial HSA-MF-FA NPs which previously injected localize in the target tissue. While obtained p-value from independent T-test is 0.013 which shows that there is a difference between the control group (HSA-MF NPs) and the treated group (HSA-MF-FA NPs)

  7. Fucoidan-coated CuS nanoparticles for chemo-and photothermal therapy against cancer

    PubMed Central

    Jang, Bian; Moorthy, Madhappan Santha; Manivasagan, Panchanathan; Xu, Li; Song, Kyeongeun; Lee, Kang Dae; Kwak, Minseok; Oh, Junghwan; Jin, Jun-O

    2018-01-01

    In advanced cancer therapy, the combinational therapeutic effect of photothermal therapy (PTT) using near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) and anti-cancer drug delivery-mediated chemotherapy has been widely applied. In the present study, using a facile, low-cost, and solution-based method, we developed and synthesized fucoidan, a natural polymer isolated from seaweed that has demonstrated anti-cancer effect, and coated NPs with it as an ideal candidate in chemo-photothermal therapy against cancer cells. Fucoidan-coated copper sulfide nanoparticles (F-CuS) act not only as a nanocarrier to enhance the intracellular delivery of fucoidan but also as a photothermal agent to effectively ablate different cancer cells (e.g., HeLa, A549, and K562), both in vitro and in vivo, with the induction of apoptosis under 808 nm diode laser irradiation. These results point to the potential usage of F-CuS in treating human cancer. PMID:29560098

  8. Effects of Systematic Variation in Size and Surface Coating of Silver Nanoparticles on Their In Vitro Toxicity to Macrophage RAW 264.7 Cells.

    PubMed

    Makama, Sunday; Kloet, Samantha K; Piella, Jordi; van den Berg, Hans; de Ruijter, Norbert C A; Puntes, Victor F; Rietjens, Ivonne M C M; van den Brink, Nico W

    2018-03-01

    In literature, varying and sometimes conflicting effects of physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) are reported on their uptake and effects in organisms. To address this, small- and medium-sized (20 and 50 nm) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with specified different surface coating/charges were synthesized and used to systematically assess effects of NP-properties on their uptake and effects in vitro. Silver nanoparticles were fully characterized for charge and size distribution in both water and test media. Macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) were exposed to these AgNPs at different concentrations (0-200 µg/ml). Uptake dynamics, cell viability, induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, ATP production, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were assessed. Microscopic imaging of living exposed cells showed rapid uptake and subcellular cytoplasmic accumulation of AgNPs. Exposure to the tested AgNPs resulted in reduced overall viability. Influence of both size and surface coating (charge) was demonstrated, with the 20-nm-sized AgNPs and bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated (negatively charged) AgNPs being slightly more toxic. On specific mechanisms of toxicity (TNF-α and ROS production) however, the AgNPs differed to a larger extent. The highest induction of TNF-α was found in cells exposed to the negatively charged AgNP_BSA, both sizes (80× higher than control). Reactive oxygen species induction was only significant with the 20 nm positively charged AgNP_Chit.

  9. Reproductive performance of breeder quails fed diets supplemented with L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Mohammadi, H; Farzinpour, A; Vaziry, A

    2017-04-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles on reproductive performance in breeder quails. The five treatment diets consisted of (i) negative control diet not supplemented with iron, (ii) positive control diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg of Fe 3 O 4 and (iii) experimental diets supplemented with 0.6, 6 and 60 mg/kg of L-cysteine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. A total of 100 seven-day-old quail chicks were weighed and randomly placed to five groups of five replicate cages. Four quails (one male and three females) were raised in each cage (50 × 15 × 17 cm). Egg production, feed consumption and egg weight were recorded daily and calculated on a hen per day basis. Egg components, fertility, hatchability and day-old chicks hatched from their eggs were measured at the end of the experiment. The percentage of egg production and egg mass of the 6 mg/kg Fe 3 O 4 -Cys NPs group were significantly higher than those of the control groups. Throughout the experimental period, the highest weekly egg weight was recorded for the 60 mg/kg Fe 3 O 4 -Cys NPs group. Fertility was improved by diet supplemented with iron, both FeSO 4 and Fe 3 O 4 -Cys NPs. The breeder fed Fe 3 O 4 -Cys NPs had the highest day-old chicks weight. The results of this study showed that Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles that were coated by L-cysteine could improve availability and utilization of iron in diet. Finally, it was proposed that Fe 3 O 4 -Cys NPs could be used as feed additives in quails. © 2017 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

  10. Next-Generation Magnetic Nanocomposites: Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Effects of Coated and Uncoated Ferric Cobalt Boron (FeCoB) Nanoparticles In Vitro.

    PubMed

    Netzer, Katharina; Jordakieva, Galateja; Girard, Angelika M; Budinsky, Alexandra C; Pilger, Alexander; Richter, Lukas; Kataeva, Nadezhda; Schotter, Joerg; Godnic-Cvar, Jasminka; Ertl, Peter

    2018-03-01

    Metal nanoparticles (NPs) have unique physicochemical properties and a widespread application scope depending on their composition and surface characteristics. Potential biomedical applications and the growing diversity of novel nanocomposites highlight the need for toxicological hazard assessment of next-generation magnetic nanomaterials. Our study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of coated and uncoated ferric cobalt boron (FeCoB) NPs (5-15 nm particle size) in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts. Cell proliferation was assessed via ATP bioluminescence kit, and DNA breakage and chromosomal damage were measured by alkaline comet assay and micronucleus test. Polyacryl acid-coated FeCoB NPs [polyacrylic acid (PAA)-FeCoB NPs) and uncoated FeCoB NPs inhibited cell proliferation at 10 μg/ml. DNA strand breaks were significantly increased by PAA-coated FeCoB NPs, uncoated FeCoB NPs and l-cysteine-coated FeCoB NPs (Cys-FeCoB NPs), although high concentrations (10 μg/ml) of coated NPs (Cys- and PAA-FeCoB NPs) showed significantly more DNA breakage when compared to uncoated ones. Uncoated FeCoB NPs and coated NPs (PAA-FeCoB NPs) also induced the formation of micronuclei. Additionally, PAA-coated NPs and uncoated FeCoB NPs showed a negative correlation between cell proliferation and DNA strand breaks, suggesting a common pathomechanism, possibly by oxidation-induced DNA damage. We conclude that uncoated FeCoB NPs are cytotoxic and genotoxic at in vitro conditions. Surface coating of FeCoB NPs with Cys and PAA does not prevent but rather aggravates DNA damage. Further safety assessment and a well-considered choice of surface coating are needed prior to application of FeCoB nanocomposites in biomedicine. © 2017 Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).

  11. Carbon-coated nanoparticle superlattices for energy applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Jun; Yiliguma, Affa; Wang, Yifei; Zheng, Gengfeng

    2016-07-01

    Nanoparticle (NP) superlattices represent a unique material architecture for energy conversion and storage. Recent reports on carbon-coated NP superlattices have shown exciting electrochemical properties attributed to their rationally designed compositions and structures, fast electron transport, short diffusion length, and abundant reactive sites via enhanced coupling between close-packed NPs, which are distinctive from their isolated or disordered NP or bulk counterparts. In this minireview, we summarize the recent developments of highly-ordered and interconnected carbon-coated NP superlattices featuring high surface area, tailorable and uniform doping, high conductivity, and structure stability. We then introduce the precisely-engineered NP superlattices by tuning/studying specific aspects, including intermetallic structures, long-range ordering control, and carbon coating methods. In addition, these carbon-coated NP superlattices exhibit promising characteristics in energy-oriented applications, in particular, in the fields of lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and electrocatalysis. Finally, the challenges and perspectives are discussed to further explore the carbon-coated NP superlattices for optimized electrochemical performances.

  12. Transport, retention, and long-term release behavior of ZnO nanoparticle aggregates in saturated quartz sand: Role of solution pH and biofilm coating

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The transport, retention, and long-term fate of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were investigated in saturated, bare and biofilm (Pseudomonas putida) coated sand packed columns. Almost complete retention of ZnO-NPs occurred in bare and biofilm coated sand when the influent solution pH was 9 and t...

  13. Macrophage membrane-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for enhanced photothermal tumor therapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meng, Qian-Fang; Rao, Lang; Zan, Minghui; Chen, Ming; Yu, Guang-Tao; Wei, Xiaoyun; Wu, Zhuhao; Sun, Yue; Guo, Shi-Shang; Zhao, Xing-Zhong; Wang, Fu-Bing; Liu, Wei

    2018-04-01

    Nanotechnology possesses the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. The ideal nanoparticles used for in vivo cancer therapy should have long blood circulation times and active cancer targeting. Additionally, they should be harmless and invisible to the immune system. Here, we developed a biomimetic nanoplatform with the above properties for cancer therapy. Macrophage membranes were reconstructed into vesicles and then coated onto magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). Inherited from the Fe3O4 core and the macrophage membrane shell, the resulting Fe3O4@MM NPs exhibited good biocompatibility, immune evasion, cancer targeting and light-to-heat conversion capabilities. Due to the favorable in vitro and in vivo properties, biomimetic Fe3O4@MM NPs were further used for highly effective photothermal therapy of breast cancer in nude mice. Surface modification of synthetic nanomaterials with biomimetic cell membranes exemplifies a novel strategy for designing an ideal nanoplatform for translational medicine.

  14. Long-acting inhalable chitosan-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles containing hydrophobically modified exendin-4 for treating type 2 diabetes

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Changkyu; Choi, Ji Su; Kim, Insoo; Oh, Kyung Taek; Lee, Eun Seong; Park, Eun-Seok; Lee, Kang Choon; Youn, Yu Seok

    2013-01-01

    Inhalable glycol chitosan-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles containing palmitic acid-modified exendin-4 (Pal-Ex4) (chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs) were prepared and characterized. The surface morphology, particle size, and zeta potential of chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were investigated, and the adsorption and cytotoxicity of chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were evaluated in human lung epithelial cells (A549). Finally, the lung deposition characteristics and hypoglycemia caused by chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were evaluated after pulmonary administration in imprinting control region (ICR) and type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Results showed that chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs were spherical, compact and had a diameter of ~700 nm and a positive surface charge of +28.5 mV Chitosan-coated PLGA NPs were adsorbed onto A549 cells much more so than non-coated PLGA NPs. Pal-Ex4 release from chitosan-coated PLGA NPs was delayed by as much as 1.5 days as compared with chitosan-coated Ex4 PLGA NPs. In addition, chitosan-coated PLGA NPs remained in the lungs for ~72 hours after pulmonary administration, whereas most non-coated PLGA NPs were lost at 8 hours after administration. Furthermore, the hypoglycemic efficacy of inhaled chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs was 3.1-fold greater than that of chitosan Ex4 PLGA NPs in db/db mice. The authors believe chitosan Pal-Ex4 PLGA NPs have considerable potential as a long-acting inhalation delivery system for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. PMID:23976850

  15. Cysteine could change the transport mechanism of PVP-coated silver nanoparticles in porous media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yang, X.; Lin, S.; Wiesner, M.

    2012-12-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) can hardly be removed by wastewater treatment plant and have big potential to enter groundwater, jeopardizing the water quality & aquatic ecosystem. Most AgNPs have surface coatings such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) which dominate their transport in porous media. Our previous study shows that PVP may promote the deposition of AgNPs on silica surface by a bridging mechanism. This study further explored how cysteine, a natural organic matter type, may influence the role of the PVP coating on AgNP translocation. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) measurement (Figure 1A) shows that the PVP coating rendered the AgNP dispersion high stability during the measuring period (3hrs). Addition of 100 ppm cysteine to the dispersion resulted in a rapid decrease in particle size from 100nm to 52nm within one hour, following which no further decline in particle size occurred. Column experiment results (Figure 1B) show that corresponding to the particle size change was a substantial decrease in particle deposition rates: introduction of 100 ppm cysteine into the particle dispersion resulted in a decrease in AgNP attenuation by the porous medium from 67% to 26%. The decline in particle size suggested that cysteine may have displaced the macromolecular PVP from the particle surface. Desorption of PVP resulted in a weakening or vanish of polymer bridging effect which in turn lowered the deposition rates substantially. This study demonstrated an implication of environmental transformation of coated AgNPs to their mobility in saturated sand aquifers. Acknowledgment Xinyao Yang appreciates the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.:41101475) for covering the registration fee and traveling costs.igure 1 Particle size measurement (A) and breakthrough curves (B) of PVP-coated silver nanoparticle in the absence and presence of cysteine: pH=7.0, ionic strength=1mM, flow rate=1ml/min.

  16. Influence of anchoring ligands and particle size on the colloidal stability and in vivo biodistribution of polyethylene glycol-coated gold nanoparticles in tumor-xenografted mice

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Guodong; Yang, Zhi; Lu, Wei; Zhang, Rui; Huang, Qian; Tian, Mei; Li, Li; Liang, Dong; Li, Chun

    2009-01-01

    Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated (pegylated) gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been proposed as drug carriers and diagnostic contrast agents. However, the impact of particle characteristics on the biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of pegylated AuNPs is not clear. We investigated the effects of PEG molecular weight, type of anchoring ligand, and particle size on the assembly properties and colloidal stability of PEG-coated AuNPs. The pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of the most stable PEG-coated AuNPs in nude mice bearing subcutaneous A431 squamous tumors were further studied using 111In-labeled AuNPs. AuNPs coated with thioctic acid (TA)-anchored PEG exhibited higher colloidal stability in phosphate-buffered saline in the presence of dithiothreitol than did AuNPs coated with monothiol-anchored PEG. AuNPs coated with high-molecular-weight (5000 Da) PEG were more stable than AuNPs coated with low-molecular-weight (2000 Da) PEG. Of the 20-nm, 40-nm, and 80-nm AuNPs coated with TA-terminated PEG5000, the 20-nm AuNPs exhibited the lowest uptake by reticuloendothelial cells and the slowest clearance from the body. Moreover, the 20-nm AuNPs coated with TA-terminated PEG5000 showed significantly higher tumor uptake and extravasation from the tumor blood vessels than did the 40- and 80-nm AuNPs. Thus, 20-nm AuNPs coated with TA-terminated PEG5000 are promising potential drug delivery vehicles and diagnostic imaging agents. PMID:19131103

  17. Protein Corona Composition of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Various Physico-Chemical Properties and Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakulkhu, Usawadee; Mahmoudi, Morteza; Maurizi, Lionel; Salaklang, Jatuporn; Hofmann, Heinrich

    2014-05-01

    Because of their biocompatibility and unique magnetic properties, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles NPs (SPIONs) are recognized as some of the most prominent agents for theranostic applications. Thus, understanding the interaction of SPIONs with biological systems is important for their safe design and efficient applications. In this study, SPIONs were coated with 2 different polymers: polyvinyl alcohol polymer (PVA) and dextran. The obtained NPs with different surface charges (positive, neutral, and negative) were used as a model study of the effect of surface charges and surface polymer materials on protein adsorption using a magnetic separator. We found that the PVA-coated SPIONs with negative and neutral surface charge adsorbed more serum proteins than the dextran-coated SPIONs, which resulted in higher blood circulation time for PVA-coated NPs than the dextran-coated ones. Highly abundant proteins such as serum albumin, serotransferrin, prothrombin, alpha-fetoprotein, and kininogen-1 were commonly found on both PVA- and dextran-coated SPIONs. By increasing the ionic strength, soft- and hard-corona proteins were observed on 3 types of PVA-SPIONs. However, the tightly bound proteins were observed only on negatively charged PVA-coated SPIONs after the strong protein elution.

  18. Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Activity of AgBr and Ag Nanoparticles (NPs)

    PubMed Central

    Suchomel, Petr; Kvitek, Libor; Panacek, Ales; Prucek, Robert; Hrbac, Jan; Vecerova, Renata; Zboril, Radek

    2015-01-01

    The diverse mechanism of antimicrobial activity of Ag and AgBr nanoparticles against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and also against several strains of candida was explored in this study. The AgBr nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by simple precipitation of silver nitrate by potassium bromide in the presence of stabilizing polymers. The used polymers (PEG, PVP, PVA, and HEC) influence significantly the size of the prepared AgBr NPs dependently on the mode of interaction of polymer with Ag+ ions. Small NPs (diameter of about 60–70 nm) were formed in the presence of the polymer with low interaction as are PEG and HEC, the polymers which interact with Ag+ strongly produce nearly two times bigger NPs (120–130 nm). The prepared AgBr NPs were transformed to Ag NPs by the reduction using NaBH4. The sizes of the produced Ag NPs followed the same trends – the smallest NPs were produced in the presence of PEG and HEC polymers. Prepared AgBr and Ag NPs dispersions were tested for their biological activity. The obtained results of antimicrobial activity of AgBr and Ag NPs are discussed in terms of possible mechanism of the action of these NPs against tested microbial strains. The AgBr NPs are more effective against gram-negative bacteria and tested yeast strains while Ag NPs show the best antibacterial action against gram-positive bacteria strains. PMID:25781988

  19. Facile and eco-friendly fabrication of AgNPs coated silk for antibacterial and antioxidant textiles using honeysuckle extract.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Yuyang; Tang, Ren-Cheng

    2018-01-01

    Recently, there is a growing trend towards the functionalization of silk through nanotechnology for the prevention of fiber damage from microbial attack and the enhancement of hygienic aspects. Considering sustainable development and environmental protection, the eco-friendly fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-modified silk using natural extracts has currently become a hot research area. This study presents a facile strategy for the fabrication of colorful and multifunctional silk fabric using biogenic AgNPs prepared by honeysuckle extract as natural reductant and stabilizing agents. The influences of pH and reactant concentrations on the AgNPs synthesis were investigated. The color characteristics and functionalities of AgNPs treated silk were evaluated. The results revealed that the particle size of AgNPs decreased with increasing pH. The diameter of AgNPs decreased with increasing amount of honeysuckle extract and reducing amount of silver nitrate. The transmission electron microscopy image showed that the AgNPs were spherical in shape with a narrow size distribution. The treated silk showed excellent antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus, and certain antioxidant activity. Both of the antibacterial and antioxidant activities were well maintained even after 30 washing cycles. This work provides a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to the fabrication of AgNPs coated silk for colorful and long-term multifunctional textiles using honeysuckle extract. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. TiO2-SiO2 Coatings with a Low Content of AuNPs for Producing Self-Cleaning Building Materials

    PubMed Central

    Gil, M. L. Almoraima; Mosquera, María J.

    2018-01-01

    The high pollution levels in our cities are producing a significant increase of dust on buildings. An application of photoactive coatings on building materials can produce buildings with self-cleaning surfaces. In this study, we have developed a simple sol-gel route for producing Au-TiO2/SiO2 photocatalysts with application on buildings. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) improved the TiO2 photoactivity under solar radiation because they promoted absorption in the visible range. We varied the content of AuNPs in the sols under study, in order to investigate their effect on self-cleaning properties. The sols obtained were sprayed on a common building stone, producing coatings which adhere firmly to the stone and preserve their aesthetic qualities. We studied the decolourization efficiency of the photocatalysts under study against methylene blue and against soot (a real staining agent for buildings). Finally, we established that the coating with an intermediate Au content presented the best self-cleaning performance, due to the role played by its structure and texture on its photoactivity. PMID:29558437

  1. Antifungal Effects of Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) against Various Plant Pathogenic Fungi.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sang Woo; Jung, Jin Hee; Lamsal, Kabir; Kim, Yun Seok; Min, Ji Seon; Lee, Youn Su

    2012-03-01

    This research is concerned with the fungicidal properties of nano-size silver colloidal solution used as an agent for antifungal treatment of various plant pathogens. We used WA-CV-WA13B, WA-AT-WB13R, and WA-PR-WB13R silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, and 100 ppm. Eighteen different plant pathogenic fungi were treated with these AgNPs on potato dextrose agar (PDA), malt extract agar, and corn meal agar plates. We calculated fungal inhibition in order to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of silver nanoparticles against pathogens. The results indicated that AgNPs possess antifungal properties against these plant pathogens at various levels. Treatment with WA-CV-WB13R AgNPs resulted in maximum inhibition of most fungi. Results also showed that the most significant inhibition of plant pathogenic fungi was observed on PDA and 100 ppm of AgNPs.

  2. Polysorbate 80-coated PLGA nanoparticles improve the permeability of acetylpuerarin and enhance its brain-protective effects in rats.

    PubMed

    Sun, Deqing; Xue, Aiying; Zhang, Bin; Lou, Haiyan; Shi, Huanying; Zhang, Xiumei

    2015-12-01

    Acetylpuerarin (AP) is an acetylated derivative of puerarin (PUE). The study aimed to prepare polysorbate 80-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles to improve the permeability of AP across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enhance its brain-protective effects. AP-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (AP-PLGA-NPs) were prepared using a solvent diffusion methodology. The NPs were characterized. The pharmacokinetics, tissue distributions and brain-protective effects of AP-PLGA-NPs were evaluated in animals. AP-PLGA-NPs were successfully prepared with a mean particle size of 145.0 nm and a zeta potential of -14.81 mV. The in-vitro release of AP from the PLGA-NPs showed a biphasic release profile. AP was metabolized into PUE in rats. The AUC0-∞ values of AP and PUE for AP-PLGA-NPs were 2.90- and 2.29-fold as great as those for AP solution, respectively. The values of the relative targeting efficiency in the brain were 2.40 and 2.58 for AP and PUE, and the ratios of peak concentration were 1.91 and 1.89 for AP and PUE, respectively. Compared with the crude drug, AP-PLGA-NPs showed better brain-protective effects in rats. Polysorbate 80-coated PLGA-NPs can improve the permeability of AP cross the BBB and enhance its brain-protective effects in rats. © 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  3. Mercaptosuccinic acid-coated NIR-emitting gold nanoparticles for the sensitive and selective detection of Hg2.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Xiaodong; Lai, Xiaoqi; Liu, Jinbin

    2018-01-05

    A sensitive fluorescent detection platform for Hg 2+ was constructed based on mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) coated near-infrared (NIR)-emitting gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The thiolated mercaptosuccinic acid was employed as both reducing agent and surface coating ligand in a one-step synthesis of NIR-emitting AuNPs (MSA-AuNPs), which exhibited stable fluorescence with the maximum wavelength at 800nm and a wide range of excitation (220-650nm) with the maxima at 413nm. The MSA coated NIR-emitting AuNPs showed a rapid fluorescence quenching toward Hg 2+ over other metal ions with a limit of detection (LOD, 3δ) as low as 4.8nM. The sensing mechanism investigation revealed that the AuNPs formed aggregation due to the "recognition" of Hg 2+ from the MSA, and the resultant strong coupling interaction between Hg 2+ and Au (I) to further quench the fluorescence of the AuNPs, which synergistically resulted in a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence response toward Hg 2+ . This proposed strategy was also demonstrated the possibility to be used for Hg 2+ detection in water samples. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  4. Mercaptosuccinic acid-coated NIR-emitting gold nanoparticles for the sensitive and selective detection of Hg2 +

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiong, Xiaodong; Lai, Xiaoqi; Liu, Jinbin

    2018-01-01

    A sensitive fluorescent detection platform for Hg2 + was constructed based on mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) coated near-infrared (NIR)-emitting gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The thiolated mercaptosuccinic acid was employed as both reducing agent and surface coating ligand in a one-step synthesis of NIR-emitting AuNPs (MSA-AuNPs), which exhibited stable fluorescence with the maximum wavelength at 800 nm and a wide range of excitation (220-650 nm) with the maxima at 413 nm. The MSA coated NIR-emitting AuNPs showed a rapid fluorescence quenching toward Hg2 + over other metal ions with a limit of detection (LOD, 3δ) as low as 4.8 nM. The sensing mechanism investigation revealed that the AuNPs formed aggregation due to the "recognition" of Hg2 + from the MSA, and the resultant strong coupling interaction between Hg2 + and Au (I) to further quench the fluorescence of the AuNPs, which synergistically resulted in a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence response toward Hg2 +. This proposed strategy was also demonstrated the possibility to be used for Hg2 + detection in water samples.

  5. Airborne Nanoparticle Release and Toxicological Risk from Metal-Oxide-Coated Textiles: Toward a Multiscale Safe-by-Design Approach.

    PubMed

    Mantecca, Paride; Kasemets, Kaja; Deokar, Archana; Perelshtein, Ilana; Gedanken, Aharon; Bahk, Yeon Kyoung; Kianfar, Baharh; Wang, Jing

    2017-08-15

    Nano metal oxides have been proposed as alternatives to silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) for antibacterial coatings. Here, cotton and polyester-cotton fabrics were sonochemically coated with zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide (CuO) NPs. By varying the reaction solvent (water or ethanol), NPs with different sizes and shapes were synthesized. The cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory effects of studied NPs were investigated in vitro in human alveolar epithelial A549 and macrophage-like THP1 cells. To understand the potential respiratory impact of the NPs, the coated textiles were subjected to the abrasion tests, and the released airborne particles were measured. A very small amount of the studied metal oxides NPs was released from abrasion of the textiles coated by the ethanol-based sonochemical process. The release from the water-based coating was comparably higher. Lung and immune cells viability decreased after 24 h of exposure only at the highest studied NPs concentration (100 μg/mL). Different from the ZnO NPs, both formulations of CuO NPs induced IL-8 release in the lung epithelial cells already at subtoxic concentrations (1-10 μg/mL) but not in immune cells. All of the studied NPs did not induce IL-6 release by the lung and immune cells. Calculations revealed that the exposures of the NPs to human lung due to the abrasion of the textiles were lower or comparable to the minimum doses in the cell viability tests (0.1 μg/mL), at which acute cytotoxicity was not observed. The results alleviate the concerns regarding the potential risk of these metal oxide NPs in their applications for the textile coating and provide insight for the safe-by-design approach.

  6. Colorimetric detection of trace copper ions based on catalytic leaching of silver-coated gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Lou, Tingting; Chen, Lingxin; Chen, Zhaopeng; Wang, Yunqing; Chen, Ling; Li, Jinhua

    2011-11-01

    A colorimetric, label-free, and nonaggregation-based silver coated gold nanoparticles (Ag/Au NPs) probe has been developed for detection of trace Cu(2+) in aqueous solution, based on the fact that Cu(2+) can accelerate the leaching rate of Ag/Au NPs by thiosulfate (S(2)O(3)(2-)). The leaching of Ag/Au NPs would lead to dramatic decrease in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption as the size of Ag/Au NPs decreased. This colorimetric strategy based on size-dependence of nanoparticles during their leaching process provided a highly sensitive (1.0 nM) and selective detection toward Cu(2+), with a wide linear detection range (5-800 nM) over nearly 3 orders of magnitude. The cost-effective probe allows rapid and sensitive detection of trace Cu(2+) ions in water samples, indicating its potential applicability for the determination of copper in real samples.

  7. Tumor targeting profiling of hyaluronan-coated lipid based-nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Mizrahy, Shoshy; Goldsmith, Meir; Leviatan-Ben-Arye, Shani; Kisin-Finfer, Einat; Redy, Orit; Srinivasan, Srimeenakshi; Shabat, Doron; Godin, Biana; Peer, Dan

    2014-04-07

    Hyaluronan (HA), a naturally occurring high Mw (HMw) glycosaminoglycan, has been shown to play crucial roles in cell growth, embryonic development, healing processes, inflammation, and tumor development and progression. Low Mw (LMw, <10 kDa) HA has been reported to provoke inflammatory responses, such as induction of cytokines, chemokines, reactive nitrogen species and growth factors. Herein, we prepared and characterized two types of HA coated (LMw and HMw) lipid-based targeted and stabilized nanoparticles (tsNPs) and tested their binding to tumor cells expressing the HA receptor (CD44), systemic immunotoxicity, and biodistribution in tumor bearing mice. In vitro, the Mw of the surface anchored HA had a significant influence on the affinity towards CD44 on B16F10 murine melanoma cells. LMw HA-tsNPs exhibited weak binding, while binding of tsNPs coated with HMw HA was characterized by high binding. Both types of tsNPs had no measured effect on cytokine induction in vivo following intravenous administration to healthy C57BL/6 mice suggesting no immune activation. HMw HA-tsNPs showed enhanced circulation time and tumor targeting specificity, mainly by accumulating in the tumor and its vicinity compared with LMw HA-tsNPs. Finally, we show that methotrexate (MTX), a drug commonly used in cancer chemotherapy, entrapped in HMw HA-tsNPs slowly diffused from the particles with a half-life of 13.75 days, and improved the therapeutic outcome in a murine B16F10 melanoma model compared with NPs suggesting an active cellular targeting beyond the Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. Taken together, these findings have major implications for the use of high molecular weight HA in nanomedicine as a selective and safe active cellular targeting moiety.

  8. Influence of surface coating on the intracellular behaviour of gold nanoparticles: a fluorescence correlation spectroscopy study.

    PubMed

    Silvestri, A; Di Silvio, D; Llarena, I; Murray, R A; Marelli, M; Lay, L; Polito, L; Moya, S E

    2017-10-05

    In the biomedical applications of nanoparticles (NPs), the proper choice of surface chemistry is a crucial aspect in their design. The nature of the coating can heavily impact the interaction of NPs with biomolecules, affect the state of aggregation, and ultimately determine their biological fate. As such, protein corona formation and the aggregation behaviour of gold NPs (Au NPs) are studied here. Au NPs are prepared with four distinct surface functionalisations, namely mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA), N-4-thiobutyroil glucosamine, HS-PEG 5000 and HS-alkyl-PEG 600 . Corona formation, aggregation, and the intracellular behaviour of the Au NPs are then investigated by means of Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) in cell culture media and in live cells. To evaluate the state of aggregation and the formation of a protein corona, the Au NPs are incubated in cell media and the diffusion coefficient is determined via FCS. The in vitro behaviour is compared with the level of aggregation of the NPs in cells. Diffusion times of the NPs are estimated at different positions in the cell after a one hour incubation period. It is found that the majority of MSA and glucose-Au NPs are present inside the cell as slowly diffusing species with diffusion times (τ D ) greater than 6000 μs (hydrodynamic diameter >250 nm). PEGylated Au NPs adsorb a small amount of protein and manifest low agglomeration both in media and in living cells. In particular, the HS-alkyl-PEG 600 coating shows an excellent correlation between lower protein adsorption, 4-fold lower compared to the MSA coated NPs, and limited intracellular aggregation. In the case of single HS-alkyl-PEG 600 coated NPs, it is found that typical intracellular τ D values range from 500 to 1500 μs, indicating that these particles display reduced aggregation in the intracellular environment.

  9. Robust infrared-shielding coating films prepared using perhydropolysilazane and hydrophobized indium tin oxide nanoparticles with tuned surface plasmon resonance.

    PubMed

    Katagiri, Kiyofumi; Takabatake, Ryuichi; Inumaru, Kei

    2013-10-23

    Robust infrared (IR)-shielding coating films were prepared by dispersing indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles (NPs) in a silica matrix. Hydrophobized ITO NPs were synthesized via a liquid phase process. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption of the ITO NPs could be tuned by varying the concentration of Sn doping from 3 to 30 mol %. The shortest SPR wavelength and strongest SPR absorption were obtained for the ITO NPs doped with 10% Sn because they possessed the highest electron carrier density. Coating films composed of a continuous silica matrix homogeneously dispersed with ITO NPs were obtained using perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) as a precursor. PHPS was completely converted to silica by exposure to the vapor from aqueous ammonia at 50 °C. The prepared coating films can efficiently shield IR radiation even though they are more than 80% transparent in the visible range. The coating film with the greatest IR-shielding ability completely blocked IR light at wavelengths longer than 1400 nm. The pencil hardness of this coating film was 9H at a load of 750 g, which is sufficiently robust for applications such as automotive glass.

  10. Hepatoprotective effect of engineered silver nanoparticles coated bioactive compounds against diethylnitrosamine induced hepatocarcinogenesis in experimental mice.

    PubMed

    Prasannaraj, Govindaraj; Venkatachalam, Perumal

    2017-02-01

    Nanoparticle based drug delivery can rapidly improves the therapeutic potential of anti-cancer agents. The present study focused to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using aqueous extracts of Andrographis paniculata leaves (ApAgNPs) and Semecarpus anacardium nuts (SaAgNPs) against diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced liver cancer in mice model. The physico-chemical properties of synthesized AgNPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum, Zeta potential and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption spectrum revealed a strong peak at 420nm for both SaAgNPs and ApAgNPs. FTIR results exhibited the presence of possible functional groups in the synthesized AgNPs. TEM analysis determined the hexagonal, and spherical shape of the synthesized silver nanoparticles. The XRD and SAED pattern confirmed the crystalline nature and crystalline size of the AgNPs. EDX result clearly showed strong silver signals in the range between 2 and 4keV. Zeta potential measurements indicated a sharp peak at -3.93 and -13.8mV for ApAgNPs and SaAgNPs, respectively. DLS measurement expressed the particle size distribution was 70 and 60nm for ApAgNPs and SaAgNPs, respectively. DEN (20mg/kg b.wt.) was subjected to induce liver cancer in mice for 8weeks and treated with biosynthesized silver nanoparticles. Interestingly, ApAgNPs and SaAgNPs treated DEN induced animal groups show a decreased level of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) activity and elevated level of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity over untreated DEN control

  11. Glycans coated silver nanoparticles induces autophagy and necrosis in HeLa cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Panzarini, Elisa; Mariano, Stefania; Dini, Luciana

    2015-06-01

    This study reports the induction of autophagy by two concentrations (2×103 or 2×104 NPs/cell) of 30 nm sized β-D-Glucose- and β-D-Glucose/Sucrose-coated silver NanoParticles (AgNPs-G and AgNPs-GS respectively) in HeLa cells treated for 6, 12, 24 and 48 hrs. Cell viability was assessed by Neutral Red (NR) test and morphological evaluation. In addition ROS generation (NBT test) and induction of apoptosis/necrosis (Annexin V/Propidium Iodide-Annexin V/PI staining) and autophagy (Monodansylcadaverine-MDC staining) were evaluated. Cytotoxicity, ROS generation and morphology changes depend on NPs type and amount, and incubation time. As a general result, AgNPs-G are more toxic than AgNPs-GS. Moreover, the lowest AgNPs-GS concentration is ineffective on cell viability and ROS generation. Only 10% and 25% of viable HeLa cells were found at the end of incubation time in the presence of higher amount of AgNPs - G and AgNPs-GS respectively and in parallel ROS generation is induced. To elucidate the type of cell death, Annexin V/PI and MDC staining was performed. Interestingly, irrespective of coating type and NPs amount the percentage of apoptotic cells (Annexin V+/PI-) is similar to viable HeLa cells. At contrary, we observed a NPs amount dependent autophagy and necrosis induction. In fact, the lower amount of NPs induces autophagy (MDC+/PI- cells) whereas the higher one induces necrosis (Annexin V+/PI+ cells). Our findings suggest that AgNPs-induced cytotoxicity depends on AgNPs amount and type and provide preliminary evidence of induction of autophagy in HeLa cells cultured in the presence of AgNPs.

  12. Glycofunctionalization of Poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) Polymers: Building Blocks for the Generation of Defined Sugar-Coated Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Palmioli, Alessandro; La Ferla, Barbara

    2018-06-15

    A set of poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) polymers functionalized with different monosaccharides as well as glycodendrimers and surface-decorated nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized and characterized. The functionalization of the polymer was carried out through amide bond formation with amino-modified sugar monomers and through a biocompatible chemoselective method exploiting the reducing end of a free sugar. The assemblage of the NPs adopting a nanoprecipitation method was straightforward and allowed the preparation of sugars/sugar dendrimer coated NPs.

  13. In situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles uniformly distributed on polydopamine-coated silk fibers for antibacterial application.

    PubMed

    Lu, Zhisong; Xiao, Jing; Wang, Ying; Meng, Mei

    2015-08-15

    Fabrication of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)-modified silk for antibacterial application is one of the hottest topics in the textile material research. However, the utilization of a polymer as both 3-dimensional matrix and reductant for the in-situ synthesis of AgNPs on silk fibers has not been realized. In this work, a facile, efficient and green approach was developed to in-situ grow AgNPs on the polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized silk. AgNPs with the size of 30-90 nm were uniformly deposited on the silk fiber surface with the PDA coating layer as a reduction reagent. The AgNPs exhibit excellent face-centered cubic crystalline structures. The bacterial growth curve and inhibition zone assays clearly demonstrate the antibacterial properties of the functionalized silk. Both high Ag(+) release level and long-time release profile were observed for the as-prepared AgNPs-PDA-coated silk, indicating the high-density loading of AgNPs and the possible long-term antibacterial effects. This work may provide a new method for the preparation of AgNPs-functionalized silk with antibacterial activity for the clothing and textile industry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Interaction of flavonols with human serum albumin: a biophysical study showing structure-activity relationship and enhancement when coated on silver nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Das, Pratyusa; Chaudhari, Sunil Kumar; Das, Asmita; Kundu, Somashree; Saha, Chabita

    2018-04-24

    Binding affinities of flavonols namely quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol to human serum albumin (HSA) were determined fluorimetrically and the order was observed to be myricetin > quercetin > kaempferol demonstrating structure-activity relationship. Quercetin-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show higher binding affinity to HSA compared to free quercetin with binding constants 6.04 × 10 7  M -1 and 4.2 × 10 6  M -1 , respectively. Using site-specific markers it is concluded that free quercetin and that coated on AgNPs bind at different sites. Significant structural changes in circular dichroism (CD) spectra of HSA were recorded with quercetin-coated AgNPs compared to free quercetin. These results were further substantiated by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy where fluorescence life time of the tryptophan residue in HSA-quercetin-coated AgNPs complex decreased to 3.63 ns from 4.22 ns in HSA-quercetin complex. Isothermal calorimetric studies reveal two binding modes for quercetin-coated AgNPs and also higher binding constants compared to free quercetin. These higher binding affinities are attributed to altered properties of quercetin when coated on AgNPs enabling it to reach the binding sites other than site II where free quercetin mainly binds.

  15. Bioinspired anchoring AgNPs onto micro-nanoporous TiO2 orthopedic coatings: Trap-killing of bacteria, surface-regulated osteoblast functions and host responses.

    PubMed

    Jia, Zhaojun; Xiu, Peng; Li, Ming; Xu, Xuchen; Shi, Yuying; Cheng, Yan; Wei, Shicheng; Zheng, Yufeng; Xi, Tingfei; Cai, Hong; Liu, Zhongjun

    2016-01-01

    The therapeutic applications of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against biomedical device-associated infections (BAI), by local delivery, are encountered with risks of detachment, instability and nanotoxicity in physiological milieus. To firmly anchor AgNPs onto modified biomaterial surfaces through tight physicochemical interactions would potentially relieve these concerns. Herein, we present a strategy for hierarchical TiO2/Ag coating, in an attempt to endow medical titanium (Ti) with anticorrosion and antibacterial properties whilst maintaining normal biological functions. In brief, by harnessing the adhesion and reactivity of bioinspired polydopamine, silver nanoparticles were easily immobilized onto peripheral surface and incorporated into interior cavity of a micro/nanoporous TiO2 ceramic coating in situ grown from template Ti. The resulting coating protected the substrate well from corrosion and gave a sustained release of Ag(+) up to 28 d. An interesting germicidal effect, termed "trap-killing", was observed against Staphylococcus aureus strain. The multiple osteoblast responses, i.e. adherence, spreading, proliferation, and differentiation, were retained normal or promoted, via a putative surface-initiated self-regulation mechanism. After subcutaneous implantation for a month, the coated specimens elicited minimal, comparable inflammatory responses relative to the control. Moreover, this simple and safe functionalization strategy manifested a good degree of flexibility towards three-dimensional sophisticated objects. Expectedly, it can become a prospective bench to bedside solution to current challenges facing orthopedics. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Durable antimicrobial cotton textiles coated sonochemically with ZnO nanoparticles embedded in an in-situ enzymatically generated bioadhesive.

    PubMed

    Salat, Marc; Petkova, Petya; Hoyo, Javier; Perelshtein, Ilana; Gedanken, Aharon; Tzanov, Tzanko

    2018-06-01

    An important preventive measure for providing a bacteria-free environment for the patients is the introduction of highly efficient and durable antibacterial textiles in hospitals. This work describes a single step sono-enzymatic process for coating of cotton medical textiles with antibacterial ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and gallic acid (GA) to produce biocompatible fabrics with durable antibacterial properties. Cellulose substrates, however, need pre-activation to achieve sufficient stability of the NPs on their surface. Herein, this drawback is overcome by the simultaneous sonochemical deposition of ZnO NPs and the synthesis of a bio-based adhesive generated by the enzymatic cross-linking of GA in which the NPs were embedded. GA possesses the multiple functions of an antibacterial agent, a building block of the cross-linked phenolic network, and as a compound providing the safe contact of the coated materials with human skin. The ZnO NPs-GA coated fabrics maintained above 60% antibacterial efficacy even after 60 washing cycles at 75 °C hospital laundry regime. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Acid-enhanced conformation changes of yeast cytochrome c coated onto gold nanoparticles, a FT-IR spectroscopic analysis.

    PubMed

    Dong, Aichun; Brown, Corina; Bai, Shufeng; Dong, Jian

    2018-06-01

    Under conditions with or without linker molecules, the effects of acidic pH on the conformation of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c coated onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in correlation with color changes of a Cyt c-coated AuNPs solution/suspension were examined by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and correlated to color change. The results of detailed secondary structural analysis revealed that although the color changes coincide with acid-induced conformational changes in Cyt c coated onto AuNPs, the pH-related conformational unfolding of Cyt c coated onto AuNPs differed dramatically from that of its counterpart in solution. For Cyt c free in solution, the acid-induced unfolding did not occur until the pH was below 3.0, whereas for Cyt c coated onto AuNPs via C102 coordination near the C-terminal, a partial unfolding was observed even at near neutral pH which continuously intensified as pH decreased. Insertion of a short alkanethiol (3-mercaptoproprionic acid, 3-MPA) molecule between Cyt c and AuNP, which changes the interaction mode from a thiol coordination between Cyt c and AuNP to an electrostatic interaction between Cyt c and 3-MPA, which stabilized the conformation of Cyt c significantly, but did not prevent the acid-induced aggregation of Cyt c-3MPA-AuNPs. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Anaerobic Toxicity of Cationic Silver Nanoparticles | Science ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    The microbial toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stabilized with different capping agents was compared to that of Ag+ under anaerobic conditions. Three AgNPs were investigated: (1) negatively charged citrate-coated AgNPs (citrate-AgNPs), (2) minimally charged polyvinylpyrrolidone coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNps) and (3) positively charged branched polyethyleneimine coated AgNPs (BPEI-AgNPs). The AgNPs investigated in this experiment were similar in size (10-15 nm), spherical in shape, but varied in surface charge which ranged from highly negative to highly positive. While, at AgNPs concentrations lower than 5 mg L-1, the anaerobic decomposition process was not influenced by the presence of the nanoparticles, there was an observed impact on the diversity of the microbial community. At elevated concentrations (100 mg L-1 as silver), only the cationic BPEI-AgNPs demonstrated toxicity similar in magnitude to that of Ag+. Both citrate and PVP-AgNPs did not exhibit toxicity at the 100 mg L-1 as measured by biogas evolution. These findings further indicate the varying modes of action for nanoparticle toxicity and represent one of the few studies that evaluate end-of-life management concerns with regards to the increasing use of nanomaterials in our everyday life. These findings also highlight some of the concerns with a one size fits all approach to the evaluation of environmental health and safety concerns associated with the use of nanoparticles. The current

  19. Size-dependent tissue kinetics of PEG-coated gold nanoparticles

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

    Cho, Wan-Seob; Department of Toxicological Research, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Korea Food and Drug Administration, Seoul 122-704; Cho, Minjung

    2010-05-15

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be used in various biomedical applications, however, very little is known about their size-dependent in vivo kinetics. Here, we performed a kinetic study in mice with different sizes of PEG-coated AuNPs. Small AuNPs (4 or 13 nm) showed high levels in blood for 24 h and were cleared by 7 days, whereas large (100 nm) AuNPs were completely cleared by 24 h. All AuNPs in blood re-increased at 3 months, which correlated with organ levels. Levels of small AuNPs were peaked at 7 days in the liver and spleen and at 1 month in the mesentericmore » lymph node, and remained high until 6 months, with slow elimination. In contrast, large AuNPs were taken up rapidly (approx 30 min) into the liver, spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes with less elimination phase. TEM showed that AuNPs were entrapped in cytoplasmic vesicles and lysosomes of Kupffer cells and macrophages of spleen and mesenteric lymph node. Small AuNPs transiently activated CYP1A1 and 2B, phase I metabolic enzymes, in liver tissues from 24 h to 7 days, which mirrored with elevated gold levels in the liver. Large AuNPs did not affect the metabolic enzymes. Thus, propensity to accumulate in the reticuloendothelial organs and activation of phase I metabolic enzymes, suggest that extensive further studies are needed for practical in vivo applications.« less

  20. Toxicity of PAMAM-coated gold nanoparticles in different unicellular models.

    PubMed

    Perreault, François; Melegari, Silvia Pedroso; Fuzinatto, Cristiane Funghetto; Bogdan, Nicoleta; Morin, Mario; Popovic, Radovan; Matias, William Gerson

    2014-03-01

    Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are used for many pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. However, the toxicological risks of several PAMAM-based compounds are still not fully evaluated, despite evidences of PAMAM deleterious effects on biological membranes, leading to toxicity. In this report, we investigated the toxicity of generation 0 PAMAM-coated gold nanoparticles (AuG0 NPs) in four different models to determine how different cellular systems are affected by PAMAM-coated NPs. Toxicity was evaluated in two mammalian cell lines, Neuro 2A and Vero, in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and the bacteria Vibrio fischeri. AuG0 NP treatments reduced cell metabolic activity in algal and bacterial cells, measured by esterase enzymatic activity (C. reinhardtii) and luminescence emission (V. fischeri). EC50 value after 30 min of treatment was similar in both organisms, with 0.114 and 0.167 mg mL(-1) for C. reinhardtii and V. fischeri, respectively. On the other hand, AuG0 NPs induced no change of mitochondrial activity in mammalian cells after 24 h of treatment to up to 0.4 mg mL(-1) AuG0 NPs. Change in the absorption spectra of AuG0 NP in the mammalian cell culture media may indicate an alteration of NP properties that contributed to the low toxicity of AuG0 NPs in mammalian cells. For a safe development of PAMAM-based nanomaterials, the difference of sensitivity between mammalian and microbial cells, as well as the modulation of NPs toxicity by medium properties, should be taken into account when designing PAMAM NPs for applications that may lead to their introduction in the environment. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Citrate-Coated Silver Nanoparticles Growth-Independently Inhibit Aflatoxin Synthesis in Aspergillus parasiticus.

    PubMed

    Mitra, Chandrani; Gummadidala, Phani M; Afshinnia, Kamelia; Merrifield, Ruth C; Baalousha, Mohammed; Lead, Jamie R; Chanda, Anindya

    2017-07-18

    Manufactured silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have long been used as antimicrobials. However, little is known about how these NPs affect fungal cell functions. While multiple previous studies reveal that Ag NPs inhibit secondary metabolite syntheses in several mycotoxin producing filamentous fungi, these effects are associated with growth repression and hence need sublethal to lethal NP doses, which besides stopping fungal growth, can potentially accumulate in the environment. Here we demonstrate that citrate-coated Ag NPs of size 20 nm, when applied at a selected nonlethal dose, can result in a >2 fold inhibition of biosynthesis of the carcinogenic mycotoxin and secondary metabolite, aflatoxin B 1 in the filamentous fungus and an important plant pathogen, Aspergillus parasiticus, without inhibiting fungal growth. We also show that the observed inhibition was not due to Ag ions, but was specifically associated with the mycelial uptake of Ag NPs. The NP exposure resulted in a significant decrease in transcript levels of five aflatoxin genes and at least two key global regulators of secondary metabolism, laeA and veA, with a concomitant reduction of total reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, the depletion of Ag NPs in the growth medium allowed the fungus to regain completely its ability of aflatoxin biosynthesis. Our results therefore demonstrate the feasibility of Ag NPs to inhibit fungal secondary metabolism at nonlethal concentrations, hence providing a novel starting point for discovery of custom designed engineered nanoparticles that can efficiently prevent mycotoxins with minimal risk to health and environment.

  2. Toxicological implications of selenium nanoparticles with different coatings along with Se4+ on Lemna minor.

    PubMed

    Tarrahi, Roshanak; Khataee, Alireza; Movafeghi, Ali; Rezanejad, Farkhondeh; Gohari, Gholamreza

    2017-08-01

    Nanoparticles have potential high risks for living organisms in the environment due to their specific qualities and their easy access. In the present study, selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) with two different coatings (l-cysteine and tannic acid) were synthesized. The characteristics of particles were analyzed using XRD, FT-IR and SEM. The impact of the nanoparticles besides Se 4+ , on the aquatic higher plant Lemna minor was evaluated and compared. Entrance of l-cysteine and tannic acid capped Se NPs in the roots of Lemna minor was proved by TEM and fluorescence microscopy. Adverse effects of mentioned NPs and differences of these effects from those by sodium selenite as the ionic form were assessed by a range of biophysicochemical tests. Altogether, the results asserted that Lemna minor was notably poisoned by both capped Se NPs and Se 4+ . Thus, growth and photosynthetic pigments were decreased while lipid peroxidation along with total phenol and flavonoid contents were raised. Eventually some changes in enzymatic activities were presented. To sum up the consequences, it can be concluded that all changes occurred due to the plant defense system especially in order to remove reactive oxygen species (ROS) and possible phytotoxicity originated by l- cysteine and tannic acid capped Se NPs in addition to Se 4+ . The influence of tannic acid capped Se NPs after sodium selenite is stronger by the means of antioxidant enzymes activity in comparison with l-cysteine capped Se NPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Effect of silver nanoparticle coatings on mycobacterial biofilm attachment and growth: Implications for ceramic water filters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Larimer, Curtis James

    Silver is a natural, broad-spectrum antibacterial metal and its toxicity can be enhanced when surface area is maximized. As a result, silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been investigated for use in novel water treatment technologies. The hypothesis of this work is that deposited AgNPs can enhance water treatment technologies by inhibiting growth of planktonic bacteria and biofilms. This was investigated by evaluating the antibacterial efficacy of AgNPs both in solution and as deposited on surfaces. AgNPs were found to be toxic to three species of environmental mycobacteria, M. smegmatis, M. avium, and M. marinum and the level of susceptibility varied widely, probably owing to the varying levels of silver that each species is exposed to in its natural environment. When cultured in a AgNP enriched environment M. smegmatis developed resistance to the toxic effects of both the nanoparticles and silver ions. The resistant mutant was as viable as the unmodified strain and was also resistant to antibiotic isoniazid. However, the strain was more susceptible to other toxic metal ions from ZnSO4 and CuSO4. AgNPs were deposited on silicon wafer substrates by vertical colloidal deposition (VCD). Manipulating deposition speed and also concentration of AgNPs in the depositing liquid led to a range of AgNP coatings with distinctive deposition lines perpendicular to the motion of the meniscus. Experimental results for areal coverage, which was measured from SEM images of AgNP coatings, were compared to Diao's theory of VCD but did not show agreement due to a stick-slip mechanism that is not accounted for by the theory. Durability of AgNP coatings is critical for antibacterial efficacy and to mitigate the risks of exposing the environment to nanomaterials and it was measured by exposing AgNP coatings to liquid flow in a flow cell. Durability was improved by modifying processing to include a heat treatment after deposition. Finally, the antibiofilm efficacy of deposited AgNPs was

  4. Antibacterial Activity of Polymer Coated Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Shah, Vishal; Shah, Shreya; Shah, Hirsh; Rispoli, Fred J.; McDonnell, Kevin T.; Workeneh, Selam; Karakoti, Ajay; Kumar, Amit; Seal, Sudipta

    2012-01-01

    Cerium oxide nanoparticles have found numerous applications in the biomedical industry due to their strong antioxidant properties. In the current study, we report the influence of nine different physical and chemical parameters: pH, aeration and, concentrations of MgSO4, CaCl2, KCl, natural organic matter, fructose, nanoparticles and Escherichia coli, on the antibacterial activity of dextran coated cerium oxide nanoparticles. A least-squares quadratic regression model was developed to understand the collective influence of the tested parameters on the anti-bacterial activity and subsequently a computer-based, interactive visualization tool was developed. The visualization allows us to elucidate the effect of each of the parameters in combination with other parameters, on the antibacterial activity of nanoparticles. The results indicate that the toxicity of CeO2 NPs depend on the physical and chemical environment; and in a majority of the possible combinations of the nine parameters, non-lethal to the bacteria. In fact, the cerium oxide nanoparticles can decrease the anti-bacterial activity exerted by magnesium and potassium salts. PMID:23110109

  5. Transport of poly(acrylic acid) coated 2-line ferrihydrite nanoparticles in saturated aquifer sediments for environmental remediation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiang, Aishuang; Zhou, Sheng; Koel, Bruce E.; Jaffé, Peter R.

    2014-04-01

    Groundwater remediation using iron oxide and zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NPs) can be effective, but is limited in many applications due to the NP strong retention in groundwater-saturated porous media after injection, the passivation of the porous surface, and the high cost of nanomaterials versus macro scale iron. In this study, we investigated transport of bare and polymer-coated 2-line ferrihydrite NPs (30-300 nm) in saturated aquifer sediments. The influence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) polymer coatings was studied on the colloidal stability and transport in sediments packed column tests simulating groundwater flow in saturated sediments. In addition, the influence of calcium cations was investigated by transport measurements using sediments with calcium concentrations in the aqueous phase ranging from 0.5 (typical for most sediments) to 2 mM. Measurements were also made of zeta potential, hydrodynamic diameter, polymer adsorption and desorption properties, and bio-availability of PAA-coated NPs. We found that NP transport through the saturated aquifer sediments was improved by PAA coating and that the transport properties could be tuned by adjusting the polymer concentration. We further discovered that PAA coatings enhanced NP transport, compared to bare NPs, in all calcium-containing experiments tested, however, the presence of calcium always exhibited a negative effect on NP transport. In tests of bioavailability, the iron reduction rate of the coated and bare NPs by Geobacter sulfurreducens was the same, which shows that the PAA coating does not significantly reduce NP Fe(III) bioavailability. Our results demonstrate that much improved transport of iron oxide NP can be achieved in saturated aquifer sediments by introducing negatively charged polyelectrolytes and optimizing polymer concentrations, and furthermore, these coated NPs retain their bioavailability that is needed for applications in bio-environmental remediation.

  6. Nanoparticle-Based Receptors Mimic Protein-Ligand Recognition.

    PubMed

    Riccardi, Laura; Gabrielli, Luca; Sun, Xiaohuan; De Biasi, Federico; Rastrelli, Federico; Mancin, Fabrizio; De Vivo, Marco

    2017-07-13

    The self-assembly of a monolayer of ligands on the surface of noble-metal nanoparticles dictates the fundamental nanoparticle's behavior and its functionality. In this combined computational-experimental study, we analyze the structure, organization, and dynamics of functionalized coating thiols in monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). We explain how functionalized coating thiols self-organize through a delicate and somehow counterintuitive balance of interactions within the monolayer itself and with the solvent. We further describe how the nature and plasticity of these interactions modulate nanoparticle-based chemosensing. Importantly, we found that self-organization of coating thiols can induce the formation of binding pockets in AuNPs. These transient cavities can accommodate small molecules, mimicking protein-ligand recognition, which could explain the selectivity and sensitivity observed for different organic analytes in NMR chemosensing experiments. Thus, our findings advocate for the rational design of tailored coating groups to form specific recognition binding sites on monolayer-protected AuNPs.

  7. In vivo toxicity, biodistribution, and clearance of glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Simpson, Carrie A; Salleng, Kenneth J; Cliffel, David E; Feldheim, Daniel L

    2013-02-01

    Gold nanoparticles are emerging as promising materials from which to construct nanoscale therapeutics and therapeutic delivery systems. However, animal studies have shown that gold nanoparticles modified with certain thiol monolayers such as tiopronin can cause renal complications and morbidity. Although these effects may be eliminated by coadsorbing small amounts of polyethylene glycol (PEG) onto the nanoparticle surface, PEG can also lower cellular internalization efficiency and binding interactions with protein disease targets, significantly reducing the potential for using gold nanoparticles as therapeutics. Using ICP-MS analysis of blood, urine, and several organs, we show in this article that glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles (1.2 nm ± 0.9 nm) cause no morbidity at any concentration up to and including 60 μM and target primary organs although providing gradual dissipation and clearance over time. This study suggests that glutathione may be an attractive alternative to PEG in the design of gold nanoparticle therapeutics. This study describes the utility and toxicity of glutathione coated gold nanoparticles in comparison to PEGylated counterparts that are commonly used to increase "Stealth" properties and lower cytotoxicity. Too much PEG on the NPs can lead to lower cellular internalization efficiency and less efficient binding interactions with protein disease targets, significantly reducing the potential for using gold nanoparticles as therapeutics. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Effect of PEG and water-soluble chitosan coating on moxifloxacin-loaded PLGA long-circulating nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Mustafa, Sanaul; Devi, V Kusum; Pai, Roopa S

    2017-02-01

    Moxifloxacin (MOX) is a Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA gyrase inhibitor. Due to its intense hydrophilicity, MOX is cleared from the body within 24 h and required for repetitive doses which may then result in hepatotoxicity and acquisition of MOX resistant-TB, related with its use. To overcome the aforementioned limitations, the current study aimed to develop PLGA nanoparticles (PLGA NPs), to act as an efficient carrier for controlled delivery of MOX. To achieve a substantial extension in blood circulation, a combined design, affixation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to MOX-PLGA NPs and adsorption of water-soluble chitosan (WSC) (cationic deacetylated chitin) to particle surface, was rose for surface modification of NPs. Surface modified NPs (MOX-PEG-WSC NPs) were prepared to provide controlled delivery and circulate in the bloodstream for an extended period of time, thus minimizing dosing frequency. In vivo pharmacokinetic and in vivo biodistribution following oral administration were investigated. NP surface charge was closed to neutral +4.76 mV and significantly affected by the WSC coating. MOX-PEG-WSC NPs presented striking prolongation in blood circulation, reduced protein binding, and long-drawn-out the blood circulation half-life with resultant reduced liver sequestration vis-à-vis MOX-PLGA NPs. The studies, therefore, indicate the successful formulation development of MOX-PEG-WSC NPs that showed sustained release behavior from nanoparticles which indicates low frequency of dosing.

  9. Molecular aspects of metal oxide nanoparticle (MO-NPs) mediated pharmacological effects.

    PubMed

    Tuli, Hardeep Singh; Kashyap, Dharambir; Bedi, Simranjeet Kaur; Kumar, Pardeep; Kumar, Gaurav; Sandhu, Sardul Singh

    2015-12-15

    Metal oxide nanoparticles (MO-NPs) are the multidisciplinary nano-scaled molecules which are being used in the diagnosis and treatment of the challenging diseases including cancer. Evidence suggest that antimicrobial formulations in the form of MO-NPs can be possibly used as effective antimicrobial agents. In addition, MO-NPs are known to target various cellular signaling pathways associated with apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis and inflammation of cancer. In combination with other chemotherapeutic/anticancer agents, MO-NPs not only increase their bioavailability and efficacy but also lower down the requirement of active dosages. To date, to our knowledge there is no single comprehensive report on cellular and molecular interactions of MO-NPs which have been well elaborated in this review. Also we highlight various action mechanisms through which MO-NPs act as antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. An effective intracellular delivery system of monoclonal antibody for treatment of tumors: erythrocyte membrane-coated self-associated antibody nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Lipeng; Han, Lin; Ding, Xiaoling; Xu, Jiaojiao; Wang, Jing; Zhu, Jianzhong; Lu, Weiyue; Sun, Jihong; Yu, Lei; Yan, Zhiqiang; Wang, Yiting

    2017-08-01

    Antibody-based drugs have attracted much attention for their targeting ability, high efficacy and low toxicity. But it is difficult for those intrabodies, a kind of antibody whose targets are intracellular biomarkers, to become effective drugs due to the lack of intracellular delivery strategy and their short circulation time in blood. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), an important biomarker for tumors, is expressed only in cytoplasm instead of on cell membrane. In this study, the anti-hTERT blocking monoclonal antibody (mAb), as the model intrabody, was used to prepare nanoparticles (NPs), followed by the encapsulation of erythrocyte membrane (EM), to obtain the EM-coated anti-hTERT mAb NPs delivery system. The final NPs showed a z-average hydrodynamic diameter of about 197.3 nm. The in vitro cellular uptake by HeLa cells confirmed that compared with free anti-hTERT mAb, the EM-coated anti-hTERT mAb NPs exhibited a significantly increased uptake by tumor cells. Besides, the pharmacokinetic study confirmed that the EM encapsulation can remarkably prolong the circulation time and increase the area under curve (AUC) of NPs in blood. The EM-coated anti-hTERT mAb NPs exhibited a remarkably decreased uptake by macrophages than uncoated NPs, which may be responsible for the prolonged circulation time and increased AUC. Furthermore, the frozen section of tumor tissue was performed and proved that the EM-coated anti-hTERT mAb NPs can be more effectively accumulated in tumor tissues than the free mAb and uncoated NPs. In summary, this study indicated that EM-coated anti-hTERT mAb NPs are an effective delivery system for the long circulation and intracellular delivery of an intrabody, and make it possible for the intracellular biomarkers to become the potential targets of drugs.

  11. The photoactivity of titanium dioxide coatings with silver nanoparticles prepared by sol-gel and reactive magnetron sputtering methods - comparative studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kądzioła, Kinga; Piwoński, Ireneusz; Kisielewska, Aneta; Szczukocki, Dominik; Krawczyk, Barbara; Sielski, Jan

    2014-01-01

    Titanium dioxide coatings were deposited on silicon substrates using two different methods: sol-gel dip-coating (SG) and reactive magnetron sputtering (MS). In order to obtain anatase phase, as-prepared coatings were calcined at 500 °C in air. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were grown on the surface of TiO2 coatings by photoreduction of silver ions, initiated by illumination of the UV lamp operated at λ = 365 nm. The concentrations of silver ions were 0.1 mmol dm-3 and 1.0 mmol dm-3. Coatings immersed in these solutions were illuminated during 5 min and 30 min. The coating thicknesses, evaluated by ellipsometry, were 118 nm and 147 nm for SG and MS methods, respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging revealed that the surface roughness of TiO2 coating prepared by MS is about 6 times larger as compared to coatings prepared by SG method. The size of AgNPs deposited on SG and MS coatings were in the range of 17-132 nm and 54-103 nm respectively. The photoactivity of AgNPs/TiO2 coatings was determined by the measurement of the decomposition rate of bisphenol A (BPA). The concentration of BPA before and after illumination under UV light (λ = 365 nm) was monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). It was found that AgNPs enhance the photoactivity of the TiO2 coatings.

  12. Anaerobic Toxicity of Cationic Silver Nanoparticles

    EPA Science Inventory

    The microbial toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) stabilized with different capping agents was compared to that of Ag+ under anaerobic conditions. Three AgNPs were investigated: (1) negatively charged citrate-coated AgNPs (citrate-AgNPs), (2) minimally charged p...

  13. Coating barium titanate nanoparticles with polyethylenimine improves cellular uptake and allows for coupled imaging and gene delivery

    PubMed Central

    Dempsey, Christopher; Lee, Isac; Cowan, Katie; Suh, Junghae

    2015-01-01

    Barium titanate nanoparticles (BT NP) belong to a class of second harmonic generating (SHG) nanoprobes that have recently demonstrated promise in biological imaging. Unfortunately, BT NPs display low cellular uptake efficiencies, which may be a problem if cellular internalization is desired or required for a particular application. To overcome this issue, while concomitantly developing a particle platform that can also deliver nucleic acids into cells, we coated the BT NPs with the cationic polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) – one of the most effective nonviral gene delivery agents. Coating of BT with PEI yielded complexes with positive zeta potentials and resulted in an 8-fold increase in cellular uptake of the BT NPs. Importantly, we were able to achieve high levels of gene delivery with the BT-PEI/DNA complexes, supporting further efforts to generate BT platforms for coupled imaging and gene therapy. PMID:23973999

  14. Influence of natural organic matter on transport and retention of polymer coated silver nanoparticles in porous media.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xinyao; Lin, Shihong; Wiesner, Mark R

    2014-01-15

    Interactions between organic matter (OM) and engineered polymer coatings as they affect the retention of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were studied. Two distinct types of OM-cysteine representing low molecular weight multivalent functional groups, and Suwannee River Humic Acid (HA) representing high molecular weight polymers, were investigated with respect to their effects on particle stability in aggregation and deposition. Aggregation of the PVP coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) was enhanced by cysteine addition at high ionic strengths, which was attributed to cysteine binding to the AgNPs and replacing the otherwise steric stabilizing agent PVP. In contrast the addition of HA did not increase aggregation rates and decreased PVP-AgNP deposition to the silica porous medium, consistent with enhanced electrosteric stabilization by the HA. Although cysteine also reduced deposition in the porous medium, the mechanisms of reduced deposition appear to be enhanced electric double layer (EDL) interaction at low ionic strengths. At higher ionic strengths, aggregation was favored leading to lower deposition due to smaller diffusion coefficients and single collector efficiencies despite the reduced EDL interactions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles coated with combined WGA and water-soluble chitosan for mucosal delivery of β-galactosidase.

    PubMed

    Sheng, Yan; He, Hongjun; Zou, Hui

    2014-08-01

    A combinatorial design, physical adsorption of water-soluble chitosan (WSC) to particle surface and covalent conjugation of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to WSC, was applied to surface modification of poly(lactic acid) nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted delivery of β-galactosidase to the intestinal mucosa. All the surface-engineered NPs in the size range of 500-600 nm were prepared by a w/o/w solvent diffusion/evaporation technique. β-Galactosidase encapsulated in these NPs was well protected from external proteolysis and exerted high hydrolytic activity on the permeable lactose. The presence of WSC coating, whether alone or with WGA, highly improved the suspension stability of NPs and tailored the particle surface positively charged. In comparison to NPs modified with WGA or WSC alone, the synergistic action of WGA and WSC greatly enhanced the NP-mucin interactions in vitro. The highest amount of NPs was found in the small intestine at 24 h after oral administration in rats. Notably, calculated half-life of WGA-WSC-NPs in the small intestine was 6.72 h, resulting in 2.1- and 4.3-fold increase when compared to WGA-polyvinylalcohol (PVA)-NPs and WSC-NPs, much longer than that of control PVA-NPs (6.9-fold). These results suggest that NPs with the combined WGA and WSC coating represent promising candidates for efficient mucosal drug delivery as well as biomimetic treatment of lactose intolerance.

  16. Synthesis of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with Antibacterial Activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Campillo Gloria, E.; Ederley, Vélez; Gladis, Morales; César, Hincapié; Jaime, Osorio; Oscar, Arnache; Uribe José, Ignacio; Franklin, Jaramillo

    2017-06-01

    The synthesis of nanomaterials is currently one of the most active in nanoscience branches; especially those help improve the human quality life. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an example of this as it is known to have inhibitory and bactericidal effects. In this work, we report the synthesis of silver nanoparticles by chemical reduction method of silver nitrate (AgNO3) from aqueous solution, using a mix of polivinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) - Aloe Vera as reducing agent and for stabilization and control of particle size. Silver nanoparticles obtained were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy and measurements using Zetasizer Nano ZS were applied to size estimation. The existence of surface plasmon resonance peak at λmax ~ 420 nm is evidence of silver nanoparticles formation. It was possible to standardize an appropriate protocol for the evaluation of bactericidal activity of the nanoparticles, for mesophilic microorganisms. Bactericidal activity above 90% against these kinds of bacteria was demonstrated.

  17. Polymer coated gold nanoparticles for tracing the mobility of engineered nanoparticles in the subsurface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uthuppu, Basil; Sidelmann Fjordbøge, Annika; Caspersen, Eva; Broholm, Mette Martina; Havsteen Jakobsen, Mogens

    2014-05-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) are manufactured for their specific properties providing possibilities for new and improved products and applications. The use of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has therefore brought significant innovation and advances to society, including benefits for human health and the environment. At the same time, little is known about the potential risk associated with the inevitable release of these new materials to the environment, and their new properties are poorly understood . Suspensions of ENPs are not very stable, as they tend to aggregate thereby losing their properties as single particles. Coatings, including a large variety of natural and synthetic polymers, are used to enhance the colloid stability in high concentrations . However, increasing the stability of these materials may lead to unintended effects, such as enhancing their mobility in surface water and groundwater leading to inadvertent impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Detection of ENPs in natural water systems, however, has proved very challenging. Hence, there is a need for tracing of ENP behaviour in the environment. We suggest a possibility of introducing inert gold NPs with the same mobility as the reactive NPs, as tracer particles. Colloidal gold has been of great interest for centuries due to its vibrant colors produced by the interaction with visible light. The unusual optical-electronic properties, high chemical stability and relatively low toxicity have made them the model system of choice in this context. Also, the natural occurrence of these particles in the proposed environment is very rare. Laboratory based experiments conducted in sand columns show that stable aqueous suspensions of gold NPs coated with amphiphilic block co polymers (PVP-VA and PVA-COOH) are extremely mobile (retardation factors of 1.0-1.2) with high recovery values (50-95 %). The specific retardation and recovery depends on the coating type, concentration and grafting method. The NPs

  18. Monolayer nanoparticle-covered liquid marbles derived from a sol-gel coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xiaoguang; Wang, Yiqi; Huang, Junchao; Yang, Yao; Wang, Renxian; Geng, Xingguo; Zang, Duyang

    2017-12-01

    A sol-gel coating consisting of hydrophobic SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) was used to produce monolayer NP-covered (mNPc) liquid marbles. The simplest approach was rolling a droplet on this coating, and an identifiable signet allowed determination of the coverage ratio of the resulting liquid marble. Alternatively, the particles were squeezed onto a droplet surface with two such coatings, generating surface buckling from interfacial NP jamming, and then a liquid marble was produced via a jamming-relief process in which water was added into the buckled droplet. This process revealed an ˜7% reduction in particle distance after interfacial jamming. The mNPc liquid marbles obtained by the two methods were transparent with smooth profiles, as naked droplets, and could be advantageously used in fundamental and applied researches for their unique functions.

  19. Size and Aging Effects on Antimicrobial Efficiency of Silver Nanoparticles Coated on Polyamide Fabrics Activated by Atmospheric DBD Plasma.

    PubMed

    Zille, Andrea; Fernandes, Margarida M; Francesko, Antonio; Tzanov, Tzanko; Fernandes, Marta; Oliveira, Fernando R; Almeida, Luís; Amorim, Teresa; Carneiro, Noémia; Esteves, Maria F; Souto, António P

    2015-07-01

    This work studies the surface characteristics, antimicrobial activity, and aging effect of plasma-pretreated polyamide 6,6 (PA66) fabrics coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), aiming to identify the optimum size of nanosilver exhibiting antibacterial properties suitable for the manufacture of hospital textiles. The release of bactericidal Ag(+) ions from a 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100 nm AgNPs-coated PA66 surface was a function of the particles' size, number, and aging. Plasma pretreatment promoted both ionic and covalent interactions between AgNPs and the formed oxygen species on the fibers, favoring the deposition of smaller-diameter AgNPs that consequently showed better immediate and durable antimicrobial effects against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Surprisingly, after 30 days of aging, a comparable bacterial growth inhibition was achieved for all of the fibers treated with AgNPs <100 nm in size. The Ag(+) in the coatings also favored the electrostatic stabilization of the plasma-induced functional groups on the PA66 surface, thereby retarding the aging process. At the same time, the size-related ratio (Ag(+)/Ag(0)) of the AgNPs between 40 and 60 nm allowed for the controlled release of Ag(+) rather than bulk silver. Overall, the results suggest that instead of reducing the size of the AgNPs, which is associated with higher toxicity, similar long-term effects can be achieved with larger NPs (40-60 nm), even in lower concentrations. Because the antimicrobial efficiency of AgNPs larger than 30 nm is mainly ruled by the release of Ag(+) over time and not by the size and number of the AgNPs, this parameter is crucial for the development of efficient antimicrobial coatings on plasma-treated surfaces and contributes to the safety and durability of clothing used in clinical settings.

  20. Tyrosine- and tryptophan-coated gold nanoparticles inhibit amyloid aggregation of insulin.

    PubMed

    Dubey, Kriti; Anand, Bibin G; Badhwar, Rahul; Bagler, Ganesh; Navya, P N; Daima, Hemant Kumar; Kar, Karunakar

    2015-12-01

    Here, we have strategically synthesized stable gold (AuNPs(Tyr), AuNPs(Trp)) and silver (AgNPs(Tyr)) nanoparticles which are surface functionalized with either tyrosine or tryptophan residues and have examined their potential to inhibit amyloid aggregation of insulin. Inhibition of both spontaneous and seed-induced aggregation of insulin was observed in the presence of AuNPs(Tyr), AgNPs(Tyr), and AuNPs(Trp) nanoparticles. These nanoparticles also triggered the disassembly of insulin amyloid fibrils. Surface functionalization of amino acids appears to be important for the inhibition effect since isolated tryptophan and tyrosine molecules did not prevent insulin aggregation. Bioinformatics analysis predicts involvement of tyrosine in H-bonding interactions mediated by its C=O, -NH2, and aromatic moiety. These results offer significant opportunities for developing nanoparticle-based therapeutics against diseases related to protein aggregation.

  1. Electroenhanced Antimicrobial Coating Based on Conjugated Polymers with Covalently Coupled Silver Nanoparticles Prevents Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation.

    PubMed

    Gomez-Carretero, Salvador; Nybom, Rolf; Richter-Dahlfors, Agneta

    2017-10-01

    The incidence of hospital-acquired infections is to a large extent due to device-associated infections. Bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on surfaces of medical devices often act as seeding points of infection. To prevent such infections, coatings based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are often applied, however with varying clinical success. Here, the traditional AgNP-based antibacterial technology is reimagined, now forming the base for an electroenhanced antimicrobial coating. To integrate AgNPs in an electrically conducting polymer layer, a simple, yet effective chemical strategy based on poly(hydroxymethyl 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-MeOH:PSS) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane is designed. The resultant PEDOT-MeOH:PSS-AgNP composite presents a consistent coating of covalently linked AgNPs, as shown by scanning electron microscopy and surface plasmon resonance analysis. The efficacy of the coatings, with and without electrical addressing, is then tested against Staphylococcus aureus, a major colonizer of medical implants. Using custom-designed culturing devices, a nearly complete prevention of biofilm growth is obtained in AgNP composite devices addressed with a square wave voltage input. It is concluded that this electroenhancement of the bactericidal effect of the coupled AgNPs offers a novel, efficient solution against biofilm colonization of medical implants. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  2. Surface modification of SiO2 coated ZnO nanoparticles for multifunctional cotton fabrics.

    PubMed

    El-Naggar, Mehrez E; Hassabo, Ahmed G; Mohamed, Amina L; Shaheen, Tharwat I

    2017-07-15

    A simple chemical synthetic route was designed to prepare zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) by using sodium alginate as anti-agglomeration agent in the presence of sodium hydroxide as alkali. Next, surface modification of ZnO-NPs with SiO 2 nanoparticles was achieved as per to sol-gel process. Further enhancing of the multifunctional properties of SiO 2 @ZnO-NPs was conducted successfully thanks to (aminopropyl)triethoxysilan (APTES) and vinyltriethoxysilan (VTES) which, in turns, increase the affinity of the SiO 2 @ZnO-NPs nanocomposite towards glycosidic chains of cotton fabrics. Thorough characterizations of synthesized ZnO-NPs, SiO 2 @ZnO-NPs, SiO 2 @ZnO-NPs/APTES and SiO 2 @ZnO-NPs/VTES were conducted by the making use of well advanced techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, TEM, DLS and SEM-EDX. The data obtained clarified the formation of an interfacial chemical bond between ZnO and SiO 2 as affirmed by FT-IR and XRD analysis. In addition, the results revealed by TEM, zeta sizer and SEM-EDX techniques, declared that the amorphous layers of SiO 2 , APTES or VTES evenly coated the surface of ZnO-NPs. For these nanocomposites, the work was extended to render cotton fabrics multifunctional properties such as antibacterial and UV protection with high durability even after 20 washing cycles using pad dry cure method. Taking the advantages of the silane compounds terminated by active groups such as OH, NH 2 , etc., open the door for further functionalization of the cotton fabrics' surfaces by durable multifunctional agents applied in various applications. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. A perspective of mitochondrial dysfunction in rats treated with silver and titanium nanoparticles (AgNPs and TiNPs).

    PubMed

    Pereira, Lilian Cristina; Pazin, Murilo; Franco-Bernardes, Mariana Furio; Martins, Airton da Cunha; Barcelos, Gustavo Rafael Mazzaron; Pereira, Márcio Cesar; Mesquita, João Paulo; Rodrigues, Jairo Lisboa; Barbosa, Fernando; Dorta, Daniel Junqueira

    2018-05-01

    Nanotechnology is a growing branch of science that deals with the development of structural features bearing at least one dimension in the nano range. More specifically, nanomaterials are defined as objects with dimensions that range from 1 to 100 nm, which give rise to interesting properties. In particular, silver and titanium nanoparticles (AgNPs and TiNPs, respectively) are known for their biological and biomedical properties and are often used in consumer products such as cosmetics, food additives, kitchen utensils, and toys. This situation has increased environmental and occupational exposure to AgNPs and TiNPs, which has placed demand for the risk assessment of NPs. Indeed, the same properties that make nanomaterials so attractive could also prove deleterious to biological systems. Of particular concern is the effect of NPs on mitochondria because these organelles play an essential role in cellular homeostasis. In this scenario, this work aimed to study how AgNPs and TiNPs interact with the mitochondrial respiration chain and to analyze how this interaction interferes in the bioenergetics and oxidative state of the organelles after sub-chronic exposure. Mitochondria were exposed to the NPs by gavage treatment for 21 days to check whether co-exposure of the organelles to the two types of NPs elicited any mitochondrion-NP interaction. More specifically, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups. Groups I, II, III, and IV received mineral oil, TiNPs (100 μg/kg/day), AgNPs (100 μg/kg/day), and TiNPs + AgNPs (100 μg/kg/day), respectively, by gavage. The liver was immediately removed, and the mitochondria were isolated and used within 3 h. Exposure of mitochondria to TiNPs + AgNPs lowered the respiratory control ratio, causing an uncoupling effect in the oxidative phosphorylation system. Moreover, both types of NPs induced mitochondrial swelling. Extended exposure of mitochondria to the NPs maintained increased ROS levels and

  4. Electrochemical Sensor Coating Based on Electrophoretic Deposition of Au-Doped Self-Assembled Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Rongli; Zhu, Ye; Huang, Jing; Xu, Sheng; Luo, Jing; Liu, Xiaoya

    2018-02-14

    The electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of self-assembled nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface of an electrode is a new strategy for preparing sensor coating. By simply changing the deposition conditions, the electrochemical response for an analyte of deposited NPs-based coating can be controlled. This advantage can decrease the difference between different batches of sensor coating and ensure the reproducibility of each sensor. This work investigated the effects of deposition conditions (including deposition voltage, pH value of suspension, and deposition time) on the structure and the electrochemical response for l-tryptophan of sensor coating formed from Au-doped poly(sodium γ-glutamate) with pendant dopamine units nanohybrids (Au/γ-PGA-DA NBs) via the EPD method. The structure and thickness of the deposited sensor coating were measured by atomic force microscopy, which demonstrated that the structure and thickness of coating can be affected by the deposition voltage, the pH value of the suspension, and the deposition time. The responsive current for l-tryptophan of the deposited sensor coating were measured by differential pulse voltammetry, which showed that the responsive current value was affected by the structure and thickness of the deposited coating. These arguments suggested that a rich design-space for tuning the electrochemical response for analyte and a source of variability in the structure of sensor coating can be provided by the deposition conditions. When Au/γ-PGA-DA NBs were deposited on the electrode surface and formed a continuous coating with particle morphology and thinner thickness, the deposited sensor coating exhibited optimal electrochemical response for l-tryptophan.

  5. Thermally stable silica-coated hydrophobic gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Kanehara, Masayuki; Watanabe, Yuka; Teranishi, Toshiharu

    2009-01-01

    We have successfully developed a method for silica coating on hydrophobic dodecanethiol-protected Au nanoparticles with coating thickness ranging from 10 to 40 nm. The formation of silica-coated Au nanoparticles could be accomplished via the preparation of hydrophilic Au nanoparticle micelles by cationic surfactant encapsulation in aqueous phase, followed by hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate on the hydrophilic surface of gold nanoparticle micelles. Silica-coated Au nanoparticles exhibited quite high thermal stability, that is, no agglomeration of the Au cores could be observed after annealing at 600 degrees C for 30 min. Silica-coated Au nanoparticles could serve as a template to derive hollow nanoparticles. An addition of NaCN solution to silica-coated Au nanoparticles led the formation of hollow silica nanoparticles, which were redispersible in deionized water. The formation of the hollow silica nanoparticles results from the mesoporous structures of the silica shell and such a mesoporous structure is applicable to both catalyst support and drug delivery.

  6. Poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles as delivery agents for photodynamic therapy: enhancing singlet oxygen release and photototoxicity by surface PEG coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boix-Garriga, Ester; Acedo, Pilar; Casadó, Ana; Villanueva, Angeles; Stockert, Juan Carlos; Cañete, Magdalena; Mora, Margarita; Lluïsa Sagristá, Maria; Nonell, Santi

    2015-09-01

    Poly(D, L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) are being considered as nanodelivery systems for photodynamic therapy. The physico-chemical and biological aspects of their use remain largely unknown. Herein we report the results of a study of PLGA NPs for the delivery of the model hydrophobic photosensitizer ZnTPP to HeLa cells. ZnTPP was encapsulated in PLGA with high efficiency and the NPs showed negative zeta potentials and diameters close to 110 nm. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) coating, introduced to prevent opsonization and clearance by macrophages, decreased the size and zeta potential of the NPs by roughly a factor of two and improved their stability in the presence of serum proteins. Photophysical studies revealed two and three populations of ZnTPP and singlet oxygen in uncoated and PEGylated NPs, respectively. Singlet oxygen is confined within the NPs in bare PLGA while it is more easily released into the external medium after PEG coating, which contributes to a higher photocytotoxicity towards HeLa cells in vitro. PLGA NPs are internalized by endocytosis, deliver their cargo to lysosomes and induce cell death by apoptosis upon exposure to light. In conclusion, PLGA NPs coated with PEG show high potential as delivery systems for photodynamic applications.

  7. Gold nanoparticles coated polystyrene/reduced graphite oxide microspheres with improved dispersibility and electrical conductivity for dopamine detection.

    PubMed

    Qian, Tao; Yu, Chenfei; Wu, Shishan; Shen, Jian

    2013-12-01

    Gold nanoparticles coated polystyrene/reduced graphite oxide (AuNPs@PS/RGO) microspheres have been successfully prepared via a facile process, and the decorative gold nanoparticles could prevent the aggregation of RGO by electrostatic repulsive interaction, and lead to high dispersibility of the composite. The prepared composite has a highly increased conductivity of 129Sm(-1) due to the unique electrical properties of citrate reduced gold nanoparticles. Being employed as an electrochemical sensor for detection of dopamine, the modified electrode exhibits remarkable sensitivity (3.44μA/μM) and lower detection limit (5nM), with linear response in a range of 0.05-20μM. Moreover, valid response to dopamine obtained in present work also indicates the prospective performances of AuNPs@PS/RGO microspheres to other biological molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins and enzymes. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Influence of salinity on the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nitrate (AgNO3) in halophilic microalgae, Dunaliella salina.

    PubMed

    Johari, Seyed Ali; Sarkheil, Mehrdad; Behzadi Tayemeh, Mohammad; Veisi, Shakila

    2018-06-13

    This study aim to evaluate the potential toxic effects of citrate coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ionic silver (AgNO 3 ) on marine microalgae Dunaliella salina under three different salinities (35, 70, and 140 g/L). The toxicity was investigated according to modified OECD guideline (No. 201) by 72 h exposure of microalgae to various concentrations of each of the chemicals in Walne's saline media. According to the results, the growth inhibitory effects of AgNPs and AgNO 3 increased significantly coincidence with increasing time and concentration compared to control (P < 0.05). The values of median inhibitory concentrations (IC 50 ) of AgNPs and AgNO 3 based on average specific growth rate and yield for D. salina increased significantly with elevation of water salinity from 35 to 140 g/L (P < 0.05). Toxicity of AgNO 3 based on IC 50 to D. salina was significantly higher than AgNPs at all salinities (P < 0.05). In conclusion, both AgNPs and AgNO 3 inhibited the growth of D. salina at different saltwater medium. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Porous palladium coated conducting polymer nanoparticles for ultrasensitive hydrogen sensors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lee, Jun Seop; Kim, Sung Gun; Cho, Sunghun; Jang, Jyongsik

    2015-12-01

    Hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel, is of key importance to various industrial applications, including fuel cells and in the aerospace and automotive industries. However, hydrogen gas is odorless, colorless, and highly flammable; thus appropriate safety protocol implementation and monitoring are essential. Highly sensitive hydrogen leak detection and surveillance sensor systems are needed; additionally, the ability to maintain uniformity through repetitive hydrogen sensing is becoming increasingly important. In this report, we detail the fabrication of porous palladium coated conducting polymer (3-carboxylate polypyrrole) nanoparticles (Pd@CPPys) to detect hydrogen gas. The Pd@CPPys are produced by means of facile alkyl functionalization and chemical reduction of a pristine 3-carboxylate polypyrrole nanoparticle-contained palladium precursor (PdCl2) solution. The resulting Pd@CPPy-based sensor electrode exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity (0.1 ppm) and stability toward hydrogen gas at room temperature due to the palladium sensing layer.Hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel, is of key importance to various industrial applications, including fuel cells and in the aerospace and automotive industries. However, hydrogen gas is odorless, colorless, and highly flammable; thus appropriate safety protocol implementation and monitoring are essential. Highly sensitive hydrogen leak detection and surveillance sensor systems are needed; additionally, the ability to maintain uniformity through repetitive hydrogen sensing is becoming increasingly important. In this report, we detail the fabrication of porous palladium coated conducting polymer (3-carboxylate polypyrrole) nanoparticles (Pd@CPPys) to detect hydrogen gas. The Pd@CPPys are produced by means of facile alkyl functionalization and chemical reduction of a pristine 3-carboxylate polypyrrole nanoparticle-contained palladium precursor (PdCl2) solution. The resulting Pd@CPPy-based sensor electrode exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity (0.1 ppm

  10. Probing the Interaction of Dielectric Nanoparticles with Supported Lipid Membrane Coatings on Nanoplasmonic Arrays

    PubMed Central

    Ferhan, Abdul Rahim; Ma, Gamaliel Junren; Jackman, Joshua A.; Sut, Tun Naw; Park, Jae Hyeon; Cho, Nam-Joon

    2017-01-01

    The integration of supported lipid membranes with surface-based nanoplasmonic arrays provides a powerful sensing approach to investigate biointerfacial phenomena at membrane interfaces. While a growing number of lipid vesicles, protein, and nucleic acid systems have been explored with nanoplasmonic sensors, there has been only very limited investigation of the interactions between solution-phase nanomaterials and supported lipid membranes. Herein, we established a surface-based localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing platform for probing the interaction of dielectric nanoparticles with supported lipid bilayer (SLB)-coated, plasmonic nanodisk arrays. A key emphasis was placed on controlling membrane functionality by tuning the membrane surface charge vis-à-vis lipid composition. The optical sensing properties of the bare and SLB-coated sensor surfaces were quantitatively compared, and provided an experimental approach to evaluate nanoparticle–membrane interactions across different SLB platforms. While the interaction of negatively-charged silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) with a zwitterionic SLB resulted in monotonic adsorption, a stronger interaction with a positively-charged SLB resulted in adsorption and lipid transfer from the SLB to the SiNP surface, in turn influencing the LSPR measurement responses based on the changing spatial proximity of transferred lipids relative to the sensor surface. Precoating SiNPs with bovine serum albumin (BSA) suppressed lipid transfer, resulting in monotonic adsorption onto both zwitterionic and positively-charged SLBs. Collectively, our findings contribute a quantitative understanding of how supported lipid membrane coatings influence the sensing performance of nanoplasmonic arrays, and demonstrate how the high surface sensitivity of nanoplasmonic sensors is well-suited for detecting the complex interactions between nanoparticles and lipid membranes. PMID:28644423

  11. CE-MS analysis of heroin and its basic impurities using a charged polymer-protected gold nanoparticle-coated capillary.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhengxiang; Yan, Bo; Liu, Kelin; Liao, Yiping; Liu, Huwei

    2009-01-01

    The first application of charged polymer-protected gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) as semi-permanent capillary coating in CE-MS was presented. Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) was the only reducing and stabilizing agent for Au NPs preparation. Stable and repeatable coating with good tolerance to 0.1 M HCl, methanol, and ACN was obtained via a simple rinsing procedure. Au NPs enhanced the coating stability toward flushing by methanol, improved the run-to-run and capillary-to-capillary repeatabilities, and improved the separation efficiency of heroin and its basic impurities for tracing geographical origins of illicit samples. Baseline resolution of eight heroin-related alkaloids was achieved on the PDDA-protected Au NPs-coated capillary under the optimum conditions: 120 mM ammonium acetate (pH 5.2) with addition of 13% methanol, separation temperature 20 degrees C, applied voltage -20 kV, and capillary effective length 60.0 cm. CE-MS analysis with run-to-run RSDs (n=5) of migration time in the range of 0.43-0.62% and RSDs (n=5) of peak area in the range of 1.49-4.68% was obtained. The established CE-MS method would offer sensitive detection and confident identification of heroin and related compounds and provide an alternative to LC-MS and GC-MS for illicit drug control.

  12. Transport of nanoparticles with dispersant through biofilm coated drinking water sand filters.

    PubMed

    Li, Zhen; Aly Hassan, Ashraf; Sahle-Demessie, Endalkachew; Sorial, George A

    2013-11-01

    This article characterizes, experimentally and theoretically, the transport and retention of engineered nanoparticles (NP) through sand filters at drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) under realistic conditions. The transport of four commonly used NPs (ZnO, CeO2, TiO2, and Ag, with bare surfaces and coating agents) through filter beds filled with sands from either acid washed and calcined, freshly acquired filter media, and used filter media from active filter media, were investigated. The study was conducted using water obtained upstream of the sand filter at DWTP. The results have shown that capping agents have a determinant importance in the colloidal stability and transport of NPs through the different filter media. The presence of the biofilm in used filter media increased adsorption of NPs but its effects in retaining capped NPs was less significant. The data was used to build a mathematical model based on the advection-dispersion equation. The model was used to simulate the performance of a scale-up sand filter and the effects on filtration cycle of traditional sand filtration system used in DWTPs. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  13. Bio-nano complexes of ZVFeNPs/Fe-s-M13 and Cd (II)/Cd-s-M13 accelerate Cd (II) reduction by FeNPs through dual dispersing and separate deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Shuai; Nakano, Kazuhiko; Yu, Huimin; Shen, Zhongyao

    2014-03-01

    Reduction of Cd (II) in liquor by solid zero valent Fe nanoparticles (ZVFeNPs) is a liquid-solid biphasic reaction in which the reduction efficiency was often lowered by either aggregation of ZVFeNPs or coating of the generated ZVCd. In light of the filamentous nanostructure of bacteriophage M13 with ˜2700 copies of pVIII protein in delicate distribution at the coat, a novel dual dispersing reduction route was designed by introducing two different kinds of M13 with Fe-binding specificity (Fe-s-M13) and Cd-binding specificity (Cd-s-M13) to disperse ZVFeNPs and Cd (II) ions, respectively. The Fe-s-M13 was used for synthesis of the ZVFeNPs/Fe-s-M13 complex, where ZVFeNPs were uniformly dispersed into small nanoparticles (5-10 nm) on Fe-s-M13. The engineered Cd-s-M13, constructed by genetic recombination of pVIII through inserting the gene of a biopanned 7-mer Cd-specific peptide (SCPICPG) into the N-terminus of pVIII gene, was used for Cd (II) dispersion before reduction. The dispersed complex of Cd(II)/Cd-s-M13 was rapidly reduced by complex of ZVFeNPs/Fe-s-M13. Kinetics results showed that the initial reduction rate and final reduction ratio of Cd (II) increased by 35.7% and 16.4%, respectively, through dispersion of ZVFeNPs by Fe-s-M13; they improved again by 53.6% and 37.0%, respectively, through further dispersion of Cd (II) by Cd-s-M13. TEM and EDS results revealed that the acceleration effect of the dual dispersing reduction was arising from uniform dispersion of the small ZVFeNPs and separate deposition of the reduced ZVCd on the two different M13 phages.

  14. The effect of biologically and chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on biofilm formation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chojniak, Joanna; Biedroń, Izabela; Mendrek, Barbara; Płaza, Grażyna

    2017-11-01

    Bionanotechnology has emerged up as integration between biotechnology and nanotechnology for developing biosynthetic and environmental-friendly technology for synthesis of nanomaterials. Different types of nanomaterials like copper, zinc, titanium, magnesium, gold, and silver have applied in the various industries but silver nanoparticles have proved to be most effective against bacteria, viruses and eukaryotic microorganisms. The antimicrobial property of silver nanoparticles are widely known. Due to strong antibacterial property silver nanoparticles are used, e.g. in clothing, food industry, sunscreens, cosmetics and many household and environmental appliances. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized biologically and chemically on the biofilm formation. The biofilm was formed by the bacteria isolated from the water supply network. The commonly used crystal violet assay (CV) was applied for biofilm analysis. In this study effect of biologically synthesized Ag-NPs on the biofilm formation was evaluated.

  15. Protein coated gold nanoparticles as template for the directed synthesis of highly fluorescent gold nanoclusters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Lingyan; Han, Fei

    2018-04-01

    Bovine serum albumin (BSA) modified gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was selected as template for the synthesis of AuNPs@gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) core/shell nanoparticles, in which BSA not only acted as dual functions agent for both anchoring and reducing Au3+ ions, but also was employed as a bridge between the AuNPs and AuNCs. Optical properties of AuNPs@AuNCs core/shell nanoparticles were studied using UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The prepared AuNPs@AuNCs core/shell nanoparticles exhibited sphere size uniformity with improved monodispersity, excellent fluorescence and fluorescent stability. Compared with AuNCs, AuNPs@AuNCs core/shell nanoparticles possessed large size and strong fluorescence intensity due to the effect of AuNPs as core. Moreover, the mechanism of the AuNPs induced fluorescence changes of the core/shell nanoparticles was first explored.

  16. Antimicrobial and anticancer activity of AgNPs coated with Alphonsea sclerocarpa extract.

    PubMed

    Doddapaneni, Suman Joshi D S; Amgoth, Chander; Kalle, Arunasree M; Suryadevara, Surya Narayana; Alapati, Krishna Satya

    2018-03-01

    The synthesis and characterization of an aggregate of AgNPs coated with plant extract (PE) from Alphonsea sclerocarpa and its significant antimicrobial activity and inhibition on K562 (blood cancer) cells have been appended in the article. Synthesis of aggregate [(AgNPs)-(PE)] has been followed by a facile eco-friendly approach without using any harmful chemicals. The morphology of an aggregate [(AgNPs)-(PE)] was confirmed by TEM and SEM microscopic characterizations. Properties like solid state, the presence of functional groups, and elemental composition have been characterized through the XRD, FTIR, and EDAX. The biocompatibility of synthesized aggregate of [(AgNPs)-(PE)] was confirmed by the MTT assay. An in vitro cell (HEK293)-based studies were performed for the biocompatibility tests and it is found that the aggregate [(AgNPs)-(PE)] is not harmful to normal/healthy cells. Even though A. sclerocarpa show the antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) activity, it has been further enhanced with the developed aggregate of [(AgNPs)-(PE)]. Furthermore, it has been extended to examine the cellular inhibition on K562 cells and obtained > 75% cell inhibition for 24 h treated cells.

  17. Cell uptake, intracellular distribution, fate and reactive oxygen species generation of polymer brush engineered CeO2-x NPs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qiu, Yuan; Rojas, Elena; Murray, Richard A.; Irigoyen, Joseba; Gregurec, Danijela; Castro-Hartmann, Pablo; Fledderman, Jana; Estrela-Lopis, Irina; Donath, Edwin; Moya, Sergio E.

    2015-04-01

    Cerium Oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-x NPs) are modified with polymer brushes of negatively charged poly (3-sulfopropylmethacrylate) (PSPM) and positively charged poly (2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP). CeO2-x NPs are fluorescently labelled by covalently attaching Alexa Fluor® 488/Fluorescein isothiocyanate to the NP surface prior to polymerisation. Cell uptake, intracellular distribution and the impact on the generation of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) with respect to CeO2-x NPs are studied by means of Raman Confocal Microscopy (CRM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). PSPM and PMETAC coated CeO2-x NPs show slower and less uptake compared to uncoated Brush modified NPs display a higher degree of co-localisation with cell endosomes and lysosomes after 24 h of incubation. They also show higher co-localisation with lipid bodies when compared to unmodified CeO2-x NPs. The brush coating does not prevent CeO2-x NPs from displaying antioxidant properties.Cerium Oxide nanoparticles (CeO2-x NPs) are modified with polymer brushes of negatively charged poly (3-sulfopropylmethacrylate) (PSPM) and positively charged poly (2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride) (PMETAC) by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerisation (ATRP). CeO2-x NPs are fluorescently labelled by covalently attaching Alexa Fluor® 488/Fluorescein isothiocyanate to the NP surface prior to polymerisation. Cell uptake, intracellular distribution and the impact on the generation of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) with respect to CeO2-x NPs are studied by means of Raman Confocal Microscopy (CRM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). PSPM and PMETAC coated CeO2-x NPs show slower and less uptake compared to uncoated Brush modified NPs display a higher degree of co-localisation with cell

  18. Designed Synthesis of Lipid-Coated Polyacrylic Acid/Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles as Dual pH-Responsive Drug-Delivery Vehicles for Cancer Chemotherapy.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xin; Zhang, Manjie; Zhang, Lingyu; Li, Lu; Li, Shengnan; Wang, Chungang; Su, Zhongmin; Yuan, Yue; Pan, Weisan

    2017-05-11

    Herein, we report a facile strategy to prepare supported lipid-bilayer-coated polyacrylic acid/calcium phosphate nanoparticles (designated as PAA/CaP@SLB NPs) as a new dual pH-responsive drug-delivery platform for cancer chemotherapy. The synthesized PAA/CaP NPs exhibited both a high payload of doxorubicin (DOX) and dual pH-responsive drug-release properties. Additionally, the coated lipid bilayer had the ability to enhance the cellular uptake of PAA/CaP NPs without affecting the pH-responsive drug release. Moreover, the blank PAA/CaP@SLB NPs exhibited excellent biocompatibility and the DOX-loaded PAA/CaP@SLB NPs markedly increased the cellular accumulation of DOX and its cytotoxic effects on HepG-2 cells. Furthermore, when used to evaluate the in vivo therapeutic efficacy in mice with the hepatocarcinoma cell line (H-22), the DOX-loaded PAA/CaP@SLB NPs exhibited superior inhibition of tumor growth compared with the free DOX group. Thus, PAA/CaP@SLB NPs are a promising drug-delivery vehicle to increase the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  19. Enzyme Functionalized AuNPs and Glucometer-based Protein Detection

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dai, Tao; Fang, Jie; Yu, Wen; Xie, Guoming

    2017-12-01

    We here developed a novel method for protein detection by using protein aptamer-functionalized magnetic beads for protein recognition and invertase-functionalized AuNPs catalyze sucrose generate glucose that can be detected by a glucometer. First, the invertase and DNA probe P2 are immobilized onto the gold nanoparticles (I.P2@AuNPs). Next protein aptamer P1 are immobilized onto the streptavidin-coated Magnetic beads (P1@MB). P1 and P2 can complementary to form double-stranded DNA. When target protein presence, P1 combine with target and release I/P2@AuNPs. Then magnetic separation, take supernatant fluid and add sucrose after a period of reaction, detection of glucose concentration by glucometer, thus achieve the sensitive and selective detection of the target protein.

  20. Phytotoxicity of silver nanoparticles to Lemna minor: Surface coating and exposure period-related effects.

    PubMed

    Pereira, Susana P P; Jesus, Fátima; Aguiar, Sara; de Oliveira, Rhaul; Fernandes, Marco; Ranville, James; Nogueira, António J A

    2018-03-15

    Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) exponential production raises concern about their environmental impact. The effects of Ag NPs to aquatic plants remain scarcely studied, especially in extended exposures. This paper aims to evaluate Ag NPs effects in Lemna minor at individual and sub-individual levels, focusing on three variables: Ag form (NPs versus ions - Ag + ), NPs surface coating (citrate vs polyvinylpyrrolidone - PVP) and exposure period (7 vs 14days). Endpoints were assessed at individual level (specific growth rate, chlorosis incidence and number of fronds per colony) and sub-individual level (enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)). Generally, plants exposed to all Ag forms underwent decays on growth rate and fronds per colony, and increases on chlorosis, GPX and GST, but no effects on CAT. The most sensitive endpoints were specific growth rate and GPx activity, showing significant effects down to 0.05mg/L for Ag NPs and 3μg/L for Ag + , after 14days. Ag + showed higher toxicity with a 14d-EC 50 of 0.0037mg Ag/L. Concerning surface coating, PVP-Ag NPs were more deleterious on growth rate and fronds per colony, whereas citrate-Ag NPs affected more the chlorosis incidence and GPx and GST activities. The exposure period significantly affected chlorosis: 14days triggered a chlorosis increase in Ag + -exposed plants and a decrease in Ag NPs-exposed plants when compared to 7days. Ag NPs induced an oxidative stress status in cells, thus ensuing upregulated enzymatic activity as a self-defense mechanism. Since Ag NPs dissolution might occur on a steady and continuous mode along time, and the average longevity of fronds, we propose longer exposures periods than the recommended by the OECD guideline. This approach would provide more relevant and holistic evidences on the overall response of freshwater plants to Ag NPs in an ecological relevant scenario. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Anthelmintic activity of silver-extract nanoparticles synthesized from the combination of silver nanoparticles and M. charantia fruit extract.

    PubMed

    Rashid, Md Mamun Or; Ferdous, Jannatul; Banik, Sujan; Islam, Md Rabiul; Uddin, A H M Mazbah; Robel, Fataha Nur

    2016-07-26

    Present study has been conducted to know the anthelmintic activity of polyaniline coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized from Momordica charantia fruit extract. By reduction of AgNO3 in presence of NaBH4, silver nanoparticles were prepared. After mixing silver nanoparticles and extracts, coating was given on nanoparticles using polyaniline. Prepared nanoparticles were characterized by Visual, UV, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM techniques, and TEM analysis. The FTIR results implied that AgNPs were successfully synthesized and capped with bio-compounds present in the extract. The result showed that death times of worm were 35.12 ± 0.5 and 59.3 ± 0.3 minutes for M. charantia extract and Ag-nanoparticles individually. But when these two combined together, paralysis and death time fall drastically which were only 6.16 ± 0.6 and 9.1 ± 0.4 minutes respectively. Albendazole tablet was used as standard, which made worms death in 3.66 ± 0.1 minutes. Ag-Extract NPs showed strong anthelmintic activity against worm. This study has paved the way for further research to design new anthelmintic drug from the combination of M. charantia and AgNPs.

  2. Laminin Receptor-Avid Nanotherapeutic EGCg-AuNPs as a Potential Alternative Therapeutic Approach to Prevent Restenosis

    PubMed Central

    Khoobchandani, Menka; Katti, Kavita; Maxwell, Adam; Fay, William P.; Katti, Kattesh V.

    2016-01-01

    In our efforts to develop new approaches to treat and prevent human vascular diseases, we report herein our results on the proliferation and migration of human smooth muscles cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) using epigallocatechin-3-gallate conjugated gold nanoparticles (EGCg-AuNPs) as possible alternatives to drug coated stents. Detailed in vitro stability studies of EGCg-AuNPs in various biological fluids, affinity and selectivity towards SMCs and ECs have been investigated. The EGCg-AuNPs showed selective inhibitory efficacy toward the migration of SMCs. However, the endothelial cells remained unaffected under similar experimental conditions. The cellular internalization studies have indicated that EGCg-AuNPs internalize into the SMCs and ECs within short periods of time through laminin receptor mediated endocytosis mode. Favorable toxicity profiles and selective affinity toward SMCs and ECs suggest that EGCg-AuNPs may provide attractive alternatives to drug coated stents and therefore offer new therapeutic approaches in treating cardiovascular diseases. PMID:26938531

  3. Cytotoxicity of β-D-glucose/sucrose-coated silver nanoparticles depends on cell type, nanoparticles concentration and time of incubation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vergallo, Cristian; Panzarini, Elisa; Carata, Elisabetta; Ahmadi, Meysam; Mariano, Stefania; Tenuzzo, Bernardetta Anna; Dini, Luciana

    2016-06-01

    The use of silver NanoParticles (AgNPs) in several consumer commercialized products, like food contact materials, medical devices and cosmetics has increased significantly, owing to their antibacterial and antifungal properties. Even though the NPs are widely diffused, due to the great variety in size, coating or shape, controversial data on their possible detrimental health effects still exist. Herein, by performing an easy and fast green method synthesis, we used β-D-glucose/sucrose to stabilize AgNPs and avoid the release of cytotoxic soluble silver ions Ag+ in the culture medium. The cytotoxic effects of these β-D-Glucose/Sucrose-Coated AgNPs (AgNPs-GS) was assessed on two cell culture models, which are human liver HepG2 and human Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes (PBLs) cells. AgNPs-GS, as determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analyses, had an average diameter of 30±5 nm, a spherical shape and were well-dispersed in the freshly-prepared solution. In addition, they were found spectrophotometrically stable throughout the experiment. Cytotoxicity, determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction assay, was evaluated by using two AgNPs-GS amounts, indicated as highest (10×103 of NPs/cell) and lowest (2×103 NPs/cell) concentration for 6, 12 and 24 h. The highest concentration of AgNPs-GS was significantly cytotoxic for both HepG2 and PBLs cells at all times, when compared with the negative control; conversely, the lowest amount of AgNPs-GS was toxic only for HepG2 cells. A significant increase of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels, determined by Nitro Blue Tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assay, was observed only in PBLs after treatment with NPs, by reaching maximum levels after the incubation with the lowest amount of NPs for 24 h. Significant morphological changes, depending on NPs/cell amount, characteristic of cell toxicity, like shape, cytoplasm, and nucleus alterations, were observed in lymphocytes and Hep

  4. Preparation and characterization of lysine-immobilized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) nanoparticle-coated capillary for the separation of amino acids by open tubular capillary electrochromatography.

    PubMed

    Xu, Liang; Cui, Pengfei; Wang, Dongmei; Tang, Cheng; Dong, Linyi; Zhang, Can; Duan, Hongquan; Yang, Victor C

    2014-01-03

    In this study, poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and chemically immobilized for the first time onto a capillary inner wall for open tubular capillary electrochromatography (OTCEC). The immobilization of PGMA NPs onto the capillary was attained by a ring-opening reaction between the NPs and an amino-silylated fused capillary inner surface. Scanning electron micrographs clearly demonstrated that the NPs were bound to the capillary inner surface in a dense monolayer. The PGMA NP-coated column was then functionalized by lysine (Lys). After fuctionalization, the capillary can afford strong anodic electroosmotic flow, especially in acidic running buffers. Separations of three amino acids (including tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine) were performed in NP-modified, monolayer Lys-functionalized and bare uncoated capillaries. Results indicated that the NP-coated column can provide more retention and higher resolution for analytes due to the hydrophobic interaction between analytes and the NP-coating. Run-to-run and column-to-column reproducibilities in the separation of the amino acids using the NP-modified column were also demonstrated. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Discrete nanoparticles induce loss of Legionella pneumophila biofilms from surfaces.

    PubMed

    Raftery, Tara D; Kerscher, Petra; Hart, Ashley E; Saville, Steven L; Qi, Bin; Kitchens, Christopher L; Mefford, Olin Thompson; McNealy, Tamara L

    2014-08-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) have been shown to induce dispersal events in microbial biofilms but the mechanism of the dispersal is unknown. Biofilms contaminate many man-made aquatic systems such as cooling towers, spas and dental lines. Within these biofilms, Legionella pneumophila is a primary pathogen, leading to these environments serving as sources for disease outbreaks. Here we show a reduction in biofilm bio-volume upon treatment with citrate-coated 6-nm platinum NPs, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated 11-nm gold NPs, and PEG-coated 8-nm iron oxide NPs. Treatment with citrate-coated 8-nm silver NPs, however, did not reduce biomass. The synthesis of NPs that remain dispersed and resist irreversible aggregation in the exposure media appears to be a key factor in the ability of NPs to induce biofilm dispersal.

  6. C1q-Mediated Complement Activation and C3 Opsonization Trigger Recognition of Stealth Poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-Coated Silica Nanoparticles by Human Phagocytes.

    PubMed

    Tavano, Regina; Gabrielli, Luca; Lubian, Elisa; Fedeli, Chiara; Visentin, Silvia; Polverino De Laureto, Patrizia; Arrigoni, Giorgio; Geffner-Smith, Alessandra; Chen, Fangfang; Simberg, Dmitri; Morgese, Giulia; Benetti, Edmondo M; Wu, Linping; Moghimi, Seyed Moein; Mancin, Fabrizio; Papini, Emanuele

    2018-05-23

    Poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOXA) is an alternative promising polymer to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) for design and engineering of macrophage-evading nanoparticles (NPs). Although PMOXA-engineered NPs have shown comparable pharmacokinetics and in vivo performance to PEGylated stealth NPs in the murine model, its interaction with elements of the human innate immune system has not been studied. From a translational angle, we studied the interaction of fully characterized PMOXA-coated vinyltriethoxysilane-derived organically modified silica NPs (PMOXA-coated NPs) of approximately 100 nm in diameter with human complement system, blood leukocytes, and macrophages and compared their performance with PEGylated and uncoated NP counterparts. Through detailed immunological and proteomic profiling, we show that PMOXA-coated NPs extensively trigger complement activation in human sera exclusively through the classical pathway. Complement activation is initiated by the sensing molecule C1q, where C1q binds with high affinity ( K d = 11 ± 1 nM) to NP surfaces independent of immunoglobulin binding. C1q-mediated complement activation accelerates PMOXA opsonization with the third complement protein (C3) through the amplification loop of the alternative pathway. This promoted NP recognition by human blood leukocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. The macrophage capture of PMOXA-coated NPs correlates with sera donor variability in complement activation and opsonization but not with other major corona proteins, including clusterin and a wide range of apolipoproteins. In contrast to these observations, PMOXA-coated NPs poorly activated the murine complement system and were marginally recognized by mouse macrophages. These studies provide important insights into compatibility of engineered NPs with elements of the human innate immune system for translational steps.

  7. Antibacterial polymeric coatings grown by matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paun, Irina Alexandra; Moldovan, Antoniu; Luculescu, Catalin Romeo; Dinescu, Maria

    2013-03-01

    We report on a simple and environmental friendly method to produce composite biocompatible antibacterial coatings consisting of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, size 40 nm) combined with polymer blends (polyethylene glycol/poly(lactide-co-glycolide), PEG/PLGA blends). The PEG/PLGA&AgNPs coatings were produced by Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation, using a Nd:YAG laser with λ=266 nm. The AgNPs were deposited either on top of a PEG/PLGA layer (i.e., bilayered coating), or simultaneously with the polymers (i.e., blended coating). In both cases, chemical analysis indicated that the polymers preserved their integrity, with no evidence of chemical interaction with the AgNPs. Morphological investigations evidenced homogenous distribution of individual AgNPs on the surface of the coatings, with no signs of aggregation. The size of the AgNPs was ˜40 nm, consistent with size of the as-received ones. The presence of AgNPs in the coatings was confirmed by the absorption band at ˜420 nm and their stability was checked by monitoring this absorption versus time. After exposure to air, the AgNPs from the bilayered coating showed signs of oxidation. In the blended coating, the oxidation of the AgNPs was prevented by the neighboring polymer molecules. Finally, preliminary investigations confirmed the bacterial killing activity of the coatings against Escherichia coli.

  8. Constructing of DNA vectors with controlled nanosize and single dispersion by block copolymer coating gold nanoparticles as template assembly

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Junbo; Wu, Wenlan; Gao, Jiayu; Liang, Ju; Zhou, Huiyun; Liang, Lijuan

    2017-03-01

    Synthesized vectors with nanoscale size and stable colloid dispersion are highly desirable for improving gene delivery efficiency. Here, a core-shell template particle was constructed with polyethylene glycol- b-poly1-(3-aminopropyl)-3-(2-methacryloyloxy propylimidazolium bromine) (PEG- b-PAMPImB) coating gold nanoparticles (PEG- b-PAMPImB-@-Au NPs) for loading DNA and delivering in vitro. Data from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) suggest that these nanoplexes, by forming an electrostatic complex with DNA at the inner PAMPImB shell, offer steric protection for the outer PEG corona leading to single dispersion and small size. Notably, higher colloid stability and lower cytotoxicity were achieved with these nanoplexes when compared with PAMPImB monolayer-coated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). Confocal laser scanning microscopy and intracellular trafficking TEM further indicate that the nanoplexes can translocate across the cell membrane and partly enter the nucleus for high efficient expression. Thus, template assembly represents a promising approach to control the size and colloid stability of gene vectors and ensure safety and efficiency of DNA delivery.

  9. Nanoparticle/Polymer Nanocomposite Bond Coat or Coating

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, Sandi G.

    2011-01-01

    This innovation addresses the problem of coatings (meant to reduce gas permeation) applied to polymer matrix composites spalling off in service due to incompatibility with the polymer matrix. A bond coat/coating has been created that uses chemically functionalized nanoparticles (either clay or graphene) to create a barrier film that bonds well to the matrix resin, and provides an outstanding barrier to gas permeation. There is interest in applying clay nanoparticles as a coating/bond coat to a polymer matrix composite. Often, nanoclays are chemically functionalized with an organic compound intended to facilitate dispersion of the clay in a matrix. That organic modifier generally degrades at the processing temperature of many high-temperature polymers, rendering the clay useless as a nano-additive to high-temperature polymers. However, this innovation includes the use of organic compounds compatible with hightemperature polymer matrix, and is suitable for nanoclay functionalization, the preparation of that clay into a coating/bondcoat for high-temperature polymers, the use of the clay as a coating for composites that do not have a hightemperature requirement, and a comparable approach to the preparation of graphene coatings/bond coats for polymer matrix composites.

  10. Effects of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles on interactions between soil bacteria and the major crop plant Zea mays

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Doody, Michael; Bais, Harsh; Jin, Yan

    2014-05-01

    The increasing use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in commercial antimicrobial products presents an opportunity for increased environmental exposures. While the behavior of AgNPs in surface waters is becoming increasingly understood, little research has been conducted on the effects of these, or any nanoparticles, on soil-dwelling bacteria and major crop plants. Because of the importance of soil bacteria to the overall health of natural and agricultural soils, it is necessary to better understand how AgNPs interact with common bacterial species such as Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. It is further necessary to quantify the effect of AgNPs on major crop plants, including Zea mays, a staple crop for much of the world. Finally, research is needed on how complex plant-microbe interactions that originate in the rhizosphere may be disrupted by AgNPs. Our preliminary data show highly statistically significant growth inhibition near 30% for both species of bacteria exposed to 1.0 mg L-1 citrate-coated AgNPs (c-AgNPs). Growth curves compiled from absorbance data show a similar dose-response for both species. Treatment with aqueous Ag as AgNO3 slightly inhibits E. coli (90 ± 5 %), but enhances growth of B. subtilis to 127 ± 23% of control. These results indicate that toxicity may be related to specific nano-scale properties of the c-AgNPs. On-going experiments measure potential growth inhibition, root development and morphology of Z. mays exposed to c-AgNPs, and resulting changes in plant-microbe interactions.

  11. Modifying Thermal Switchability of Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles by Alkyl Ligands Variation

    PubMed Central

    Żuk, Maciej; Tupikowska, Martyna

    2018-01-01

    By coating plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) with thermally responsive liquid crystals (LCs) it is possible to prepare reversibly reconfigurable plasmonic nanomaterials with prospective applications in optoelectronic devices. However, simple and versatile methods to precisely tailor properties of liquid-crystalline nanoparticles (LC NPs) are still required. Here, we report a new method for tuning structural properties of assemblies of nanoparticles grafted with a mixture of promesogenic and alkyl thiols, by varying design of the latter. As a model system, we used Ag and Au nanoparticles that were coated with three-ring promesogenic molecules and dodecanethiol ligand. These LC NPs self-assemble into switchable lamellar (Ag NPs) or tetragonal (Au NPs) aggregates, as determined with small angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Reconfigurable assemblies of Au NPs with different unit cell symmetry (orthorombic) are formed if hexadecanethiol and 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol were used in the place of dodecanethiol; in the case of Ag NPs the use of 11-hydroxyundecanethiol promotes formation of a lamellar structure as in the reference system, although with substantially broader range of thermal stability (140 vs. 90 °C). Our results underline the importance of alkyl ligand functionalities in determining structural properties of liquid-crystalline nanoparticles, and, more generally, broaden the scope of synthetic tools available for tailoring properties of reversibly reconfigurable plasmonic nanomaterials. PMID:29518916

  12. Thermal and magnetic properties of chitosan-iron oxide nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Soares, Paula I P; Machado, Diana; Laia, César; Pereira, Laura C J; Coutinho, Joana T; Ferreira, Isabel M M; Novo, Carlos M M; Borges, João Paulo

    2016-09-20

    Chitosan is a biopolymer widely used for biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Chitosan can be used as coating for other types of materials such as iron oxide nanoparticles, improving its biocompatibility while extending its range of applications. In this work iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) produced by chemical precipitation and thermal decomposition and coated with chitosan with different molecular weights were studied. Basic characterization on bare and chitosan-Fe3O4 NPs was performed demonstrating that chitosan does not affect the crystallinity, chemical composition, and superparamagnetic properties of the Fe3O4 NPs, and also the incorporation of Fe3O4 NPs into chitosan nanoparticles increases the later hydrodynamic diameter without compromising its physical and chemical properties. The nano-composite was tested for magnetic hyperthermia by applying an alternating current magnetic field to the samples demonstrating that the heating ability of the Fe3O4 NPs was not significantly affected by chitosan. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Faraday rotation enhancement of gold coated Fe2O3 nanoparticles: comparison of experiment and theory.

    PubMed

    Dani, Raj Kumar; Wang, Hongwang; Bossmann, Stefan H; Wysin, Gary; Chikan, Viktor

    2011-12-14

    Understanding plasmonic enhancement of nanoscale magnetic materials is important to evaluate their potential for application. In this study, the Faraday rotation (FR) enhancement of gold coated Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles (NP) is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The experiment shows that the Faraday rotation of a Fe(2)O(3) NP solution changes from approximately 3 rad/Tm to 10 rad/Tm as 5 nm gold shell is coated on a 9.7 nm Fe(2)O(3) core at 632 nm. The results also show how the volume fraction normalized Faraday rotation varies with the gold shell thickness. From the comparison of experiment and calculated Faraday rotation based on the Maxwell-Garnett theory, it is concluded that the enhancement and shell dependence of Faraday rotation of Fe(2)O(3) NPs is a result of the shifting plasmon resonance of the composite NP. In addition, the clustering of the NPs induces a different phase lag on the Faraday signal, which suggests that the collective response of the magnetic NP aggregates needs to be considered even in solution. From the Faraday phase lag, the estimated time of the full alignment of the magnetic spins of bare (cluster size 160 nm) and gold coated NPs (cluster size 90 nm) are found to be 0.65 and 0.17 μs. The calculation includes a simple theoretical approach based on the Bruggeman theory to account for the aggregation and its effect on the Faraday rotation. The Bruggeman model provides a qualitatively better agreement with the experimentally observed Faraday rotation and points out the importance of making a connection between component properties and the average "effective" optical behavior of the Faraday medium containing magnetic nanoparticles. © 2011 American Institute of Physics

  14. Dynamic cellular uptake of mixed-monolayer protected nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Carney, Randy P; Carney, Tamara M; Mueller, Marie; Stellacci, Francesco

    2012-12-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) are gaining increasing attention for potential application in medicine; consequently, studying their interaction with cells is of central importance. We found that both ligand arrangement and composition on gold nanoparticles play a crucial role in their cellular internalization. In our previous investigation, we showed that 66-34OT nanoparticles coated with stripe-like domains of hydrophobic (octanethiol, OT, 34%) and hydrophilic (11-mercaptoundecane sulfonate, MUS, 66%) ligands permeated through the cellular lipid bilayer via passive diffusion, in addition to endo-/pino-cytosis. Here, we show an analysis of NP internalization by DC2.4, 3T3, and HeLa cells at two temperatures and multiple time points. We study four NPs that differ in their surface structures and ligand compositions and report on their cellular internalization by intracellular fluorescence quantification. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy we have found that all three cell types internalize the 66-34OT NPs more than particles coated only with MUS, or particles coated with a very similar coating but lacking any detectable ligand shell structure, or 'striped' particles but with a different composition (34-66OT) at multiple data points.

  15. Nanoparticles Affect PCR Primarily via Surface Interactions with PCR Components: Using Amino-Modified Silica-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles as a Main Model.

    PubMed

    Bai, Yalong; Cui, Yan; Paoli, George C; Shi, Chunlei; Wang, Dapeng; Shi, Xianming

    2015-06-24

    Nanomaterials have been widely reported to affect the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, many studies in which these effects were observed were not comprehensive, and many of the proposed mechanisms have been primarily speculative. In this work, we used amino-modified silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles (ASMNPs, which can be collected very easily using an external magnetic field) as a model and compared them with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, which have been studied extensively) to reveal the mechanisms by which nanoparticles affect PCR. We found that nanoparticles affect PCR primarily by binding to PCR components: (1) inhibition, (2) specifity, and (3) efficiency and yield of PCR are impacted. (1) Excess nanomaterials inhibit PCR by adsorbing to DNA polymerase, Mg(2+), oligonucleotide primers, or DNA templates. Nanoparticle surface-active groups are particularly important to this effect. (2, a) Nanomaterials do not inhibit nonspecific amplification products caused by false priming as previously surmised. It was shown that relatively low concentrations of nanoparticles inhibited the amplification of long amplicons, and increasing the amount of nanoparticles inhibited the amplification of short amplicons. This concentration phenomenon appears to be the result of the formation of "joints" upon the adsorption of ASMNPs to DNA templates. (b) Nanomaterials are able to inhibit nonspecific amplification products due to incomplete amplification by preferably adsorbing single-stranded incomplete amplification products. (3) Some types of nanomaterials, such as AuNPs, enhance the efficiency and yield of PCR because these types of nanoparticles can adsorb to single-stranded DNA more strongly than to double-stranded DNA. This behavior assists in the rapid and thorough denaturation of double-stranded DNA templates. Therefore, the interaction between the surface of nanoparticles and PCR components is sufficient to explain most of the effects of nanoparticles on PCR.

  16. Influence of alumina coating on characteristics and effects of SiO2 nanoparticles in algal growth inhibition assays at various pH and organic matter contents.

    PubMed

    Van Hoecke, Karen; De Schamphelaere, Karel A C; Ramirez-Garcia, Sonia; Van der Meeren, Paul; Smagghe, Guy; Janssen, Colin R

    2011-08-01

    Silica nanoparticles (NPs) belong to the industrially most important NP types. In a previous study it was shown that amorphous SiO(2) NPs of 12.5 and 27.0 nm are stable in algal growth inhibition assays and that their ecotoxic effects are related to NP surface area. Here, it was hypothesized and demonstrated that an alumina coating completely alters the particle-particle, particle-test medium and particle-algae interactions of SiO(2) NPs. Therefore, stability and surface characteristics, dissolution, nutrient adsorption and effects on algal growth rate of both alumina coated SiO(2) NPs and bare SiO(2) NPs in OECD algal test medium as a function of pH (6.0-8.6) and natural organic matter (NOM) contents (0-12 mg C/l) were investigated. Alumina coated SiO(2) NPs aggregated in all media and adsorbed phosphate depending on pH and NOM concentration. On the other hand, no aggregation or nutrient adsorption was observed for the bare SiO(2) NPs. Due to their positive surface charge, alumina coated SiO(2) NPs agglomerated with Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Consequently, algal cell density measurements based on cell counts were unreliable and hence fluorescent detection of extracted chlorophyll was the preferred method. Alumina coated SiO(2) NPs showed lower toxicity than bare SiO(2) NPs at concentrations ≥46 mg/l, except at pH 6.0. At low concentrations, no clear pH effect was observed for alumina coated SiO(2) NPs, while at higher concentrations phosphate deficiency could have contributed to the higher toxicity of those particles at pH 6.0-6.8 compared to higher pH values. Bare SiO(2) NPs were not toxic at pH 6.0 up to 220 mg/l. Addition of NOM decreased toxicity of both particles. For SiO(2) NPs the 48 h 20% effect concentration of 21.8 mg/l increased 2.6-21 fold and a linear relationship was observed between NOM concentration and effective concentrations. No effect was observed for alumina coated SiO(2) NPs in presence of NOM up to 1000 mg/l. All experiments point

  17. Peptide-coated gold nanoparticles for modulation of angiogenesis in vivo.

    PubMed

    Roma-Rodrigues, Catarina; Heuer-Jungemann, Amelie; Fernandes, Alexandra R; Kanaras, Antonios G; Baptista, Pedro V

    2016-01-01

    In this work, peptides designed to selectively interact with cellular receptors involved in the regulation of angiogenesis were anchored to oligo-ethylene glycol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and used to evaluate the modulation of vascular development using an ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. These nanoparticles alter the balance between naturally secreted pro- and antiangiogenic factors, under various biological conditions, without causing toxicity. Exposure of chorioallantoic membranes to AuNP-peptide activators of angiogenesis accelerated the formation of new arterioles when compared to scrambled peptide-coated nanoparticles. On the other hand, antiangiogenic AuNP-peptide conjugates were able to selectively inhibit angiogenesis in vivo. We demonstrated that AuNP vectorization is crucial for enhancing the effect of active peptides. Our data showed for the first time the effective control of activation or inhibition of blood vessel formation in chick embryo via AuNP-based formulations suitable for the selective modulation of angiogenesis, which is of paramount importance in applications where promotion of vascular growth is desirable (eg, wound healing) or ought to be contravened, as in cancer development.

  18. Green synthesis and characterization of size tunable silica-capped gold core-shell nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wangoo, Nishima; Shekhawat, Gajendra; Wu, Jin-Song; Bhasin, Aman K. K.; Suri, C. R.; Bhasin, K. K.; Dravid, Vinayak

    2012-08-01

    Silica-coated gold nanoparticles (Au@SiO2) with controlled silica-shell thickness were prepared by a modified Stober's method using 10-nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as seeds. The AuNPs were silica-coated with a sol-gel reaction using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) as a silica source and ammonia as a catalyst. An increase in TEOS concentration resulted in an increase in shell thickness. The NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning near-field ultrasound holography and scanning transmission electron microscopy. The method required no surface modification and the synthesized core shell nanoparticles can be used for various types of biological applications.

  19. Biopolymer mediated nanoparticles synthesized from Adenia hondala for enhanced tamoxifen drug delivery in breast cancer cell line

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Varadharajaperumal, Pradeepa; Subramanian, Balakumar; Santhanam, Amutha

    2017-09-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are an important class of nanomaterials, which have used as antimicrobial and disinfectant agents due to their detrimental effect on target cells. In the present study it was explored to deliver a novel tamoxifen drug system that can be used in breast cancer treatment, based on chitosan coated silver nanoparticles on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. AgNPs synthesized from Adenia hondala tuber extract were used to make the chitosan coated AgNPs (Ch-AgNPs), in which the drug tamoxifen was loaded on chitosan coated silver nanoparticles (Tam-Ch-AgNPs) to construct drug loaded nanoparticles as drug delivery system. The morphology and characteristics of the Ch-AgNPs were investigated by UV, FTIR, zeta potential and FESEM. Furthermore, the toxicity of AgNPs, Ch-AgNPs, Tam-Ch-AgNPs was evaluated through cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, reactive oxygen species generation, caspase-3, DNA laddering, and TUNEL assay in human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and HBL-100 continuous cell line as a control. Treatment of cancer cells with various concentrations of AgNPs, Ch-AgNPs, Tam-Ch-AgNPs for 24 h revealed that Tam-Ch-AgNPs could inhibit cell viability and induce significant membrane leakage in a dose-dependent manner. Cells exposed to Tam-Ch-AgNPs showed increased reactive oxygen species and hydroxyl radical production when compared to AgNPs, Ch-AgNPs. Furthermore, the apoptotic effects of AgNPs, Ch-AgNPs, Tam-Ch-AgNPs were confirmed by activation of caspase-3 and DNA nuclear fragmentation. The present findings suggest that Tam-Ch-AgNPs could contribute to the development of a suitable anticancer drug delivery.

  20. Fluidized bed coupled rotary reactor for nanoparticles coating via atomic layer deposition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, Chen-Long; Liu, Xiao; Shan, Bin; Chen, Rong

    2015-07-01

    A fluidized bed coupled rotary reactor has been designed for coating on nanoparticles (NPs) via atomic layer deposition. It consists of five major parts: reaction chamber, dosing and fluidizing section, pumping section, rotary manipulator components, as well as a double-layer cartridge for the storage of particles. In the deposition procedure, continuous fluidization of particles enlarges and homogenizes the void fraction in the particle bed, while rotation enhances the gas-solid interactions to stabilize fluidization. The particle cartridge presented here enables both the fluidization and rotation acting on the particle bed, demonstrated by the analysis of pressure drop. Moreover, enlarged interstitials and intense gas-solid contact under sufficient fluidizing velocity and proper rotation speed facilitate the precursor delivery throughout the particle bed and consequently provide a fast coating process. The cartridge can ensure precursors flowing through the particle bed exclusively to achieve high utilization without static exposure operation. By optimizing superficial gas velocities and rotation speeds, minimum pulse time for complete coating has been shortened in experiment, and in situ mass spectrometry showed the precursor usage can reach 90%. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy results suggested a saturated growth of nanoscale Al2O3 films on spherical SiO2 NPs. Finally, the uniformity and composition of the shells were characterized by high angle annular dark field-transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.

  1. In vitro evaluation of acaricidal activity of novel green silver nanoparticles against deltamethrin resistance Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

    PubMed

    Avinash, B; Venu, R; Alpha Raj, M; Srinivasa Rao, K; Srilatha, Ch; Prasad, T N V K V

    2017-04-15

    An investigation was undertaken to study, for the first time, in vitro acaricidal activity of green silver nanoparticles on deltamethrin resistance Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The compounds tested were neem coated silver nanoparticles (N-Ag NPs), deltamethrin neem coated silver nanoparticles (DN-Ag NPs), 2, 3 dehydrosalannol (2,3 DHS), 2, 3 DHS coated silver nanoparticles (2, 3-DHS-Ag NPs), Quercetin dihydrate (QDH) and QDH coated silver nanoparticles (QDH-Ag NPs). Also included in this study, for the purpose of comparison, were neem leaf extract (NLE), silver nitrate (AgNO 3 ) and deltamethrin (D). Acaricidal activity on larvae and adults of R. (B.) microplus was tested by larval packet test (LPT) and adult immersion test (AIT) respectively. In the LPT, 100% mortality was obtained at concentrations (ppm) of 360, 6000, 260, 200, 50, 300, 85, 600 and 200 for the compounds, D, NLE, Ag NO 3 , N-Ag NPs, DN-Ag NPs, 2, 3 DHS, 2, 3 DHS-Ag NPs, QDH, QDH-Ag NPs respectively. In AIT, the proportions of mortality and oviposition inhibition were proportionate but the reproductive index was inversely proportional to the concentration of the compounds used. The effect of DN-Ag NPs on mortality was the highest (93.33%) at 50ppm concentration. The mean reproductive index (0.01) and oviposition inhibition (99.16%) values were statistically significant when compared to control group. DN-Ag NPs showed significantly (P<0.05) lower LC 50 (3.87ppm; 21.95ppm) and LC 99 (53.05ppm; 90.06ppm) values against both the larvae and adults of R. (B.) microplus. The oviposition inhibiting ability of various compounds was determined to assess the reproductive performance of adult female ticks. The DN-Ag NPs had potent oviposition inhibitory activity with significantly lower IC 50 and IC 99 values compared to the rest of the treatments at 0.034 and 51.07ppm respectively. These results showed that the DN-Ag NPs had significant acaricidal activity against R. (B.) microplus. Copyright © 2017

  2. Antagonistic effects of humic acid and iron oxyhydroxide grain-coating on biochar nanoparticle transport in saturated sand.

    PubMed

    Wang, Dengjun; Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Dongmei

    2013-05-21

    Biochar land application may result in multiple agronomic and environmental benefits (e.g., carbon sequestration, improving soil quality, and immobilizing environmental contaminants). However, our understanding of biochar particle transport is largely unknown in natural environments with significant heterogeneity in solid (e.g., patches of iron oxyhydroxide coating) and solution chemistry (e.g., the presence of natural organic matter), which represents a critical knowledge gap in assessing the environmental impact of biochar land application. Transport and retention kinetics of nanoparticles (NPs) from wheat straw biochars produced at two pyrolysis temperatures (i.e., 350 and 550 °C) were investigated in water-saturated sand columns at environmentally relevant concentrations of dissolved humic acid (HA, 0, 1, 5, and 10 mg L(-1)) and fractional surface coverage of iron oxyhydroxide coatings on sand grains (ω, 0.16, 0.28, and 0.40). Transport of biochar NPs increased with increasing HA concentration, largely because of enhanced repulsive interaction energy between biochar NPs and sand grains. Conversely, transport of biochar NPs decreased significantly with increasing ω due to enhanced electrostatic attraction between negatively charged biochar NPs and positively charged iron oxyhydroxides. At a given ω of 0.28, biochar NPs were less retained with increasing HA concentration due to increased electrosteric repulsion between biochar NPs and sand grains. Experimental breakthrough curves and retention profiles were well described using a two-site kinetic retention model that accounted for Langmuirian blocking or random sequential adsorption at one site. Consistent with the blocking effect, the often observed flat retention profiles stemmed from decreased retention rate and/or maximum retention capacity at a higher HA concentration or smaller ω. The antagonistic effects of HA and iron oxyhydroxide grain-coating imparted on the mobility of biochar NPs suggest that

  3. Effect of different densities of silver nanoparticles on neuronal growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nissan, Ifat; Schori, Hadas; Lipovsky, Anat; Alon, Noa; Gedanken, Aharon; Shefi, Orit

    2016-08-01

    Nerve regeneration has become a subject of great interest, and much effort is devoted to the design and manufacturing of effective biomaterials. In this paper, we report the capability of surfaces coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to serve as platforms for nerve regeneration. We fabricated substrates coated with silver nanoparticles at different densities using sonochemistry, and grew neuroblastoma cells on the AgNPs. The effect of the different densities on the development of the neurites during the initiation and elongation growth phases was studied. We found that the AgNPs function as favorable anchoring sites for the neuroblastoma cells, significantly enhancing neurite outgrowth. One of the main goals of this study is to test whether the enhanced growth of the neurites is due to the mere presence of AgNPs or whether their topography also plays a vital role. We found that this phenomenon was repeated for all the tested densities, with a maximal effect for the substrates that are coated with 45 NPs/μm2. We also studied the amount of reactive oxygen spices (ROS) in the presence of AgNPs as indicator of cell activation. Our results, combined with the well-known antibacterial effects of AgNPs, suggest that substrates coated with AgNP are attractive nanomaterials—with dual activity—for neuronal repair studies and therapeutics.

  4. Synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles: effect of solvent and antifungal capacity of NPs obtained in ethylene glycol

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    López, Cenayda; Rodríguez-Páez, Jorge E.

    2017-12-01

    In this work, nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized using acetic acid, ethanol and ethylene glycol as solvents. To determine the physicochemical and structural characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles, IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used. The characterization results indicated that the particles obtained were of nanometers size (< 100 nm) with different morphologies: needle-type when using acetic acid, nanoribbons using ethanol, and spheroidal using ethylene glycol. The results of this work show that on using solvents with a lower dielectric constant value a preferential direction of nanoparticle growth would be favored, leading to the formation of nanoribbons, in ethanol ( ɛ r = 24.3), and needles in acetic acid ( ɛ r = 6.2). The band gap of ZnO-Nps depends of synthesis solvent used: 3.37 eV for acetic acid, 3.3 eV to ethanol and 3.28 eV to ethylene glycol, indicating that the optical properties of these nanoparticles are affected by the synthesis medium. Based on the information from the characterization of the ZnO-NPs synthesized, the spheroidal nanoparticles were selected, to determine their antifungal capacity on cultures of Aspergillus niger strains. The concentrations of ZnO-NPs that showed the greatest antifungal effect were those from 9 mmol L-1.

  5. Synthesis and characterization of manganese diselenide nanoparticles (MnSeNPs): Determination of capsaicin by using MnSeNP-modified glassy carbon electrode.

    PubMed

    Sukanya, Ramaraj; Sakthivel, Mani; Chen, Shen-Ming; Chen, Tse-Wei; Al-Hemaid, Fahad M A; Ajmal Ali, M; Elshikh, Mohamed Soliman

    2018-06-02

    A new type of manganese diselenide nanoparticles (MnSeNPs) was synthesized by using a hydrothermal method. Their surface morphology, crystallinity and elemental distribution were characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy which scrutinize the formation of the NPs. The NPs were coated on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were applied to study the electroanalytical properties towards the oxidation of the food additive capsaicin. The modified GCE displays lower charge transfer resistance (R ct  = 29.52 Ω), a larger active surface area (0.089 cm 2 /g, and more efficient electrochemical oxidation of capsaicin compared to a MnS 2 /GCE and a bare GCE. The oxidation peak potential is 0.43 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) which is lower than that of previously reported GCEs. The sensor has a detection limit as low as 0.05 μM and an electrochemical sensitivity of 2.41 μA μM -1  cm -2 . The method was applied to the determination of capsaicin in pepper samples. Graphical abstract Electrochemical determination of capsaicin in pepper extract by using MnSeNPs modified electrode.

  6. Bioavailability of coated and uncoated ZnO nanoparticles to cucumber in soil with or without organic matter.

    PubMed

    Moghaddasi, Sahar; Fotovat, Amir; Khoshgoftarmanesh, Amir Hossein; Karimzadeh, F; Khazaei, Hamid Reza; Khorassani, Reza

    2017-10-01

    There is a gap of knowledge for the fate, effects and bioavailability of coated and uncoated ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) in soil. Moreover, little is known about the effects of soil properties on effects of NPs on plants. In this study, the availability ZnO NPs in two soils with different organic matter content (one treated with cow manure (CM) and the other as untreated) was compared with their bulk particles. Results showed that coated and uncoated ZnO NPs can be more bioaccessible than their bulk counterpart and despite their more positive effects at low concentration (< 100mgkg -1 ), they were more phytotoxic for plants compared to the bulk ZnO particles at high concentration (1000mgkg -1 ) in the soil untreated with CM. The concentration of 1000mgkg -1 of ZnO NPs, decreased shoot dry biomass (52%) in the soil untreated with CM but increased shoot dry biomass (35%) in CM-treated soil compared to their bulk counterpart. In general, plants in the CM-treated soil showed higher Zn concentration in their tissues compared with those in untreated soil. The difference in shoot Zn concentration between CM-treated and untreated soil for NPs treatments was more than bulk particles treatment. This different percentage at 100mgkg -1 of bulk particles was 20.6% and for coated and uncoated NPs were 37% and 32%, respectively. Generally, the distribution of ZnO among Zn fractions in soil (exchangeable, the metal bound to carbonates, Fe-Mn oxides, organic matter and silicate minerals and the residual fraction) changed based on applied Zn concentration, Zn source and soil organic matter content. The root tip deformation under high concentration of NPs (1000mgkg -1 treatment ) was observed by light microscopy in plants at the soil untreated with CM. It seems that root tip deformation is one of the specific effects of NPs which in turn inhibits plant growth and nutrients uptake by root. The transmission electron microcopy image showed the aggregation of NPs inside the plant cytoplasm

  7. Magnetism in nanoparticles: tuning properties with coatings.

    PubMed

    Crespo, Patricia; de la Presa, Patricia; Marín, Pilar; Multigner, Marta; Alonso, José María; Rivero, Guillermo; Yndurain, Félix; González-Calbet, José María; Hernando, Antonio

    2013-12-04

    This paper reviews the effect of organic and inorganic coatings on magnetic nanoparticles. The ferromagnetic-like behaviour observed in nanoparticles constituted by materials which are non-magnetic in bulk is analysed for two cases: (a) Pd and Pt nanoparticles, formed by substances close to the onset of ferromagnetism, and (b) Au and ZnO nanoparticles, which were found to be surprisingly magnetic at the nanoscale when coated by organic surfactants. An overview of theories accounting for this unexpected magnetism, induced by the nanosize influence, is presented. In addition, the effect of coating magnetic nanoparticles with biocompatible metals, oxides or organic molecules is also reviewed, focusing on their applications.

  8. Silicon Quantum Dot Nanoparticles with Antifouling Coatings for Immunostaining on Live Cancer Cells.

    PubMed

    Tu, Chang-Ching; Chen, Kuang-Po; Yang, Tsu-An; Chou, Min-Yuan; Lin, Lih Y; Li, Yaw-Kuen

    2016-06-08

    Fluorescent silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) have shown a great potential as antiphotobleaching, nontoxic and biodegradable labels for various in vitro and in vivo applications. However, fabricating SiQDs with high water-solubility and high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) remains a challenge. Furthermore, for targeted imaging, their surface chemistry has to be capable of conjugating to antibodies, as well as sufficiently antifouling. Herein, antibody-conjugated SiQD nanoparticles (SiQD-NPs) with antifouling coatings composed of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are demonstrated for immunostaining on live cancer cells. The monodisperse SiQD-NPs of diameter about 130 nm are synthesized by a novel top-down method, including electrochemical etching, photochemical hydrosilylation, high energy ball milling, and "selective-etching" in HNO3 and HF. Subsequently, the BSA and PEG are covalently grafted on to the SiQD-NP surface through presynthesized chemical linkers, resulting in a stable, hydrophilic, and antifouling organic capping layer with isothiocyanates as the terminal functional groups for facile conjugation to the antibodies. The in vitro cell viability assay reveals that the BSA-coated SiQD-NPs had exceptional biocompatibility, with minimal cytotoxicity at concentration up to 1600 μg mL(-1). Under 365 nm excitation, the SiQD-NP colloid emits bright reddish photoluminescence with PLQY = 45-55% in organic solvent and 5-10% in aqueous buffer. Finally, through confocal fluorescent imaging and flow cytometry analysis, the anti-HER2 conjugated SiQD-NPs show obvious specific binding to the HER2-overexpressing SKOV3 cells and negligible nonspecific binding to the HER2-nonexpressing CHO cells. Under similar experimental conditions, the immunofluorescence results obtained with the SiQD-NPs are comparable to those using conventional fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC).

  9. Silver nanoparticles coated with natural polysaccharides as models to study AgNP aggregation kinetics using UV-Visible spectrophotometry upon discharge in complex environments.

    PubMed

    Lodeiro, Pablo; Achterberg, Eric P; Pampín, Joaquín; Affatati, Alice; El-Shahawi, Mohammed S

    2016-01-01

    This study provides quantitative information on the aggregation and dissolution behaviour of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) upon discharge in fresh and sea waters, represented here as NaCl solutions of increasing ionic strength (up to 1M) and natural fjord waters. Natural polysaccharides, sodium alginate (ALG) and gum Arabic (GA), were used as coatings to stabilize the AgNPs and the compounds acted as models to study AgNP aggregation kinetics. The DLVO theory was used to quantitatively describe the interactions between the AgNPs. The stability of AgNPs was established using UV-Visible spectrophotometry, including unique information collected during the first seconds of the aggregaton process. Alginate coating resulted in a moderate stabilization of AgNPs in terms of critical coagulation concentration (~82mM NaCl) and a low dissolution of <10% total Ag in NaCl solutions up to 1M. Gum Arabic coated AgNPs were more strongly stabilized, with ~7-30% size increase up to 77mM NaCl, but only when the silver ion content initially present in solution was low (<10% total Ag). The ALG and GA coated AgNPs showed a strongly enhanced stability in natural fjord waters (ca. 5h required to reduce the area of the surface plasmon resonance band (SPRB) by two fold) compared with NaCl at an equivalent ionic strength (1-2min period for a two fold SPRB reduction). This is ascribed to a stabilizing effect from dissolved organic matter present in natural fjord waters. Interestingly, for AgNP-GA solutions with 40% of total silver present as unreacted silver ions in the NP stock solution, fast aggregation kinetics were observed in NaCl solutions (SPRB area was reduced by ca. 50% within 40-150min), with even more rapid removal in fjord waters, attributed to the high amount of silver-chloride charged species, that interact with the NP coating and/or organic matter and reduce the NPs stabilization. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. A comparative study on the morphology of P3HT:PCBM solar cells with the addition of Fe3O4 nanoparticles by spin and rod coating methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Wenluan; Nguyen, Ngoc A.; Murray, Roy; Xin, Jiyuan; Mackay, Michael E.

    2017-09-01

    Our previous study presented up to 20% power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancement of poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) solar cells under the Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) self-assembly (SA) effect by spin coating. Fe3O4 NPs (about 11 nm hydrodynamic diameter) form a thin layer at the top interface of the light absorbing active layer, which results in the generation of PCBM rich region improving the charge transport (Zhang et al. Sol Energ Mat Sol C 160:126-133, 2017). In order to investigate the feasibility of this Fe3O4 NPs SA effect under large-scale production condition, a smooth rod was implemented to mimic roll-to-roll coating technique and yield active layers having about the same thickness as the spin-coated ones. Small angle neutron scattering and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction were employed finding out similar morphologies of the active layers by these two coating techniques. However, rod-coated solar cell's PCE decreases with the addition of Fe3O4 NPs compared with the one without them. This is because PCBM rich region is not created at the top interface of the active layer due to the absence of Fe3O4 NPs, which is attributed to the weak convective flow and low diffusion rate. Moreover, in the rod-coated solar cells, the presence of Fe3O4 NPs causes decrease in P3HT crystallinity, thus the charge transport and the device performance. Our study confirms the role of spin coating in the Fe3O4 NPs SA effect and enables researchers to explore this finding in other polymer nanocomposite systems.

  11. In Situ Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles on the Polyelectrolyte-Coated Sericin/PVA Film for Enhanced Antibacterial Application

    PubMed Central

    Cai, Rui; Tao, Gang; Guo, Pengchao; Yang, Meirong; Ding, Chaoxiang; Zuo, Hua; Wang, Lingyan; Zhao, Ping; Wang, Yejing

    2017-01-01

    To develop silk sericin (SS) as a potential antibacterial biomaterial, a novel composite of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) coated sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (SS/PVA) film modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been developed using a layer-by-layer assembly technique and ultraviolet-assisted AgNPs synthesis method. Ag ions were enriched by PEMs via the electrostatic attraction between Ag ions and PEMs, and then reduced to AgNPs in situ with the assistance of ultraviolet irradiation. PEMs facilitated the high-density growth of AgNPs and protected the synthesized AgNPs due to the formation of a 3D matrix, and thus endowed SS/PVA film with highly effective and durable antibacterial activity. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle, mechanical property and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to characterize SS/PVA, PEMs-SS/PVA and AgNPs-PEMs-SS/PVA films, respectively. AgNPs-PEMs-SS/PVA film has exhibited good mechanical performance, hydrophilicity, water absorption capability as well as excellent and durable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and good stability and degradability. This study has developed a simple method to design and prepare AgNPs-PEMs-SS/PVA film for potential antibacterial application. PMID:28820482

  12. Cell type-specific response to high intracellular loading of polyacrylic acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Lojk, Jasna; Bregar, Vladimir B; Rajh, Maruša; Miš, Katarina; Kreft, Mateja Erdani; Pirkmajer, Sergej; Veranič, Peter; Pavlin, Mojca

    2015-01-01

    Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are a special type of NP with a ferromagnetic, electron-dense core that enables several applications such as cell tracking, hyperthermia, and magnetic separation, as well as multimodality. So far, superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs) are the only clinically approved type of metal oxide NPs, but cobalt ferrite NPs have properties suitable for biomedical applications as well. In this study, we analyzed the cellular responses to magnetic cobalt ferrite NPs coated with polyacrylic acid (PAA) in three cell types: Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO), mouse melanoma (B16) cell line, and primary human myoblasts (MYO). We compared the internalization pathway, intracellular trafficking, and intracellular fate of our NPs using fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as quantified NP uptake and analyzed uptake dynamics. We determined cell viability after 24 or 96 hours’ exposure to increasing concentrations of NPs, and quantified the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon 24 and 48 hours’ exposure. Our NPs have been shown to readily enter and accumulate in cells in high quantities using the same two endocytic pathways; mostly by macropinocytosis and partially by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The cell types differed in their uptake rate, the dynamics of intracellular trafficking, and the uptake capacity, as well as in their response to higher concentrations of internalized NPs. The observed differences in cell responses stress the importance of evaluation of NP–cell interactions on several different cell types for better prediction of possible toxic effects on different cell and tissue types in vivo. PMID:25733835

  13. One-Step Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles on Polydopamine-Coated Sericin/Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Films for Potential Antimicrobial Applications.

    PubMed

    Cai, Rui; Tao, Gang; He, Huawei; Song, Kai; Zuo, Hua; Jiang, Wenchao; Wang, Yejing

    2017-04-30

    Silk sericin has great potential as a biomaterial for biomedical applications due to its good hydrophilicity, reactivity, and biodegradability. To develop multifunctional sericin materials for potential antibacterial application, a one-step synthesis method for preparing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) modified on polydopamine-coated sericin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composite films was developed. Polydopamine (PDA) acted as both metal ion chelating and reducing agent to synthesize AgNPs in situ on the sericin/PVA composite film. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis revealed that polydopamine could effectively facilitate the high-density growth of AgNPs as a 3-D matrix. X-ray diffractometry studies suggested the synthesized AgNPs formed good face-centered cubic crystalline structures. Contact angle measurement and mechanical test indicated AgNPs modified PDA-sericin/PVA composite film had good hydrophilicity and mechanical property. The bacterial growth curve and inhibition zone assays showed the AgNPs modified PDA-sericin/PVA composite film had long-term antibacterial activities. This work develops a new method for the preparation of AgNPs modified PDA-sericin/PVA film with good hydrophilicity, mechanical performance and antibacterial activities for the potential antimicrobial application in biomedicine.

  14. Development of polyethersulfone (PES)/silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanofiltration membrane

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johary, Fasihah; Jamaluddin, Nur Adibah; Rohani, Rosiah; Hassan, Abdul Rahman; Sharifuddin, Syazrin Syima; Isa, Mohd Hafez Mohd

    2018-06-01

    Nanofiltration is a membrane-based separation process that has been used widely in the separation and purification fields for various applications such as dye desalting, applications of water softening, pharmaceuticals and wastewater treatment. In this research, polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene glycol (PEG), Pluronic F108 and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) nanofiltration membrane was prepared using casting solution technique with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as a solvent. The effects of Pluronic F108 and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) concentrations in the casting solutions on the membrane performance/properties were also studied. The membrane pure water permeation (PWP) and salt rejection tests were carried out for membrane performance analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the membrane morphology characterization. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was utilized to identify functional groups in the membrane. Membrane with 2.0 wt.% of Pluronic F108 and 0.05 wt.% of AgNPs showed the best performances for both PWP (40.89 L/m2h) as well as permeation flux of salts solution of NaCl (43.95 L/m2h), Na2SO4 (21.16 L/m2h), MgCl2 (26.46 L/m2h) and MgSO4 (20.41 L/m2h). All fabricated membranes with different formulation of dope composition obtained high salts rejection in the range of 79% to 91%. SEM images showed addition of AgNPs has improved fabricated membrane morphology with higher pore density and larger macro-void structure.

  15. Cell viability and MRI performance of highly efficient polyol-coated magnetic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arteaga-Cardona, Fernando; Gutiérrez-García, Eric; Hidalgo-Tobón, Silvia; López-Vasquez, Ciro; Brito-Barrera, Yazmín A.; Flores-Tochihuitl, Julia; Angulo-Molina, Aracely; Reyes-Leyva, Julio R.; González-Rodríguez, Roberto; Coffer, Jeffery L.; Pal, Umapada; Diaz-Conti, Mario Pérez-Peña; Platas-Neri, Diana; Dies-Suarez, Pilar; Fonseca, Rebeca Sosa; Arias-Carrión, Oscar; Méndez-Rojas, Miguel A.

    2016-11-01

    This work aimed at determining conditions that would allow us to control the size of the NPs and create a system with characteristics apt for biomedical applications. We describe a comprehensive study on the synthesis and physical characterization of two highly sensitive sets of triethylene glycol (TREG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to be evaluated for use as magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents. The ferrofluids demonstrated excellent colloidal stability in deionized water at pH 7.0 as indicated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) data. The magnetic relaxivities, r 2, were measured on a 1.5 T clinical MRI instrument. Values in the range from 205 to 257 mM-1 s-1 were obtained, varying proportionally to the SPIONs' sizes and coating nature. Further in vitro cell viability tests and in vivo biodistribution analyses of the intravenously administered nanoparticles showed that the prepared systems have good biocompatibility and migrate to several organs, mainly the meninges, spleen, and liver. Based on these results, our findings demonstrated the potential utility of these nanosystems as clinical contrast agents for MR imaging.

  16. The effect of nanoparticles (NPs) on sorption and suspension stability of technology critical elements (TCEs) in soil/sand solutions.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dror, I.; Stepka, Z.; Berkowitz, B.

    2016-12-01

    As a consequence of their growing use in a range of electronic and industrial applications, increasing amounts of technology critical elements (TCEs) are being released to the environment. Currently, little is known about their fate and potential environmental impact. We report here on the adsorption of TCEs on sand and soil in the presence of selected nanoparticles (NPs). TCEs were tested within three different mixtures containing (i) rare earth elements (REEs), (ii) Ge, Pd, Ru and Ir together with Mo, Sb, Sn and Ti, and (iii) In, Sc, Th, Y and Yb together with a variety of other metals. The NPs examined for their suspending properties were: Al2O3, SiO2, CeO2, ZnO, Ag, Au, carbon dots and montmorillonite. Each NP was examined with each TCE solution mixture separately and with added humic acid. A clear difference was observed between REEs (and In, Sc), and the other TCEs. All REEs (and In, Sc) completely adsorb on soil and sand. For sand and soil, the presence of most NPs, alone, does not increase TCE concentrations in solution. For sand, addition of humic acid, with or without NPs, yields approximately the same increase in TCE concentration in solution (>80%). For soil solutions, presence of both NPs and humic acid increases TCE concentrations up to 500% more than any other combination tested, yielding 20% of added TCE amount. The other TCEs tested (mixtures (ii) and (iii)) adsorb less strongly to soil and sand, and unlike the REEs no general trend can be identified. For Al2O3, SiO2, CeO2, ZnO, carbon dots and montmorillonite, the increased concentrations of TCEs in the presence of NPs and humic acid were similar. This indicates that the observed effect depends on the presence of NPs and their surface coating rather than on the type of NP. Ag and Au NPs, however, reduce adsorption of TCEs to sand even when humic acid is absent. For example, Ag NPs reduce adsorption of REEs by >90% and Au NPs by 10%. For REEs, increased solution concentrations are correlated

  17. Synthesis and characterization of dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Predescu, Andra Mihaela; Matei, Ecaterina; Berbecaru, Andrei Constantin; Pantilimon, Cristian; Drăgan, Claudia; Vidu, Ruxandra; Predescu, Cristian; Kuncser, Victor

    2018-03-01

    Synthesis and characterization of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a large molar weight dextran for environmental applications are reported. The first experiments involved the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles which were coated with dextran at different concentrations. The synthesis was performed by a co-precipitation technique, while the coating of iron oxide nanoparticles was carried out in solution. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. The results demonstrated a successful coating of iron oxide nanoparticles with large molar weight dextran, of which agglomeration tendency depended on the amount of dextran in the coating solution. SEM and TEM observations have shown that the iron oxide nanoparticles are of about 7 nm in size.

  18. Hyperexponential and nonmonotonic retention of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles in an Ultisol.

    PubMed

    Wang, Dengjun; Ge, Liqiang; He, Jianzhou; Zhang, Wei; Jaisi, Deb P; Zhou, Dongmei

    2014-08-01

    The increasing application of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) has heightened the concern that these ENPs would eventually be released to the environment and may enter into life cycle of living beings. In this regard, it is essential to understand how these ENPs transport and retain in natural soils because they are considered to be a major repository for ENPs. Herein, transport and retention of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) were investigated over a wide range of physicochemical factors in water-saturated columns packed with an Ultisol rich in clay-size particles. Higher mobility of PVP-AgNPs occurred at larger soil grain size, lower solution ionic strength and divalent cation concentration, higher flow rate, and greater PVP concentrations. Most breakthrough curves (BTCs) for PVP-AgNPs exhibited significant amounts of retardation in the soil due to its large surface area and quantity of retention sites. In contrast to colloid filtration theory, the shapes of retention profiles (RPs) for PVP-AgNPs were either hyperexponential or nonmonotonic (a peak in particle retention down-gradient from the column inlet). The BTCs and hyperexponential RPs were successfully described using a 1-species model that considered time- and depth-dependent retention. Conversely, a 2-species model that included reversibility of retained PVP-AgNPs had to be employed to better simulate the BTCs and nonmonotonic RPs. As the retained concentration of species 1 approached the maximum solid-phase concentration, a second mobile species (species 2, i.e., the same PVP-AgNPs that are reversibly retained) was released that could be retained at a different rate than species 1 and thus yielded the nonmonotonic RPs. Some retained PVP-AgNPs were likely to irreversibly deposit in the primary minimum associated with microscopic chemical heterogeneity (favorable sites). Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis suggested that these

  19. Developmental and reproductive toxicity of PVP/PEI-coated silver nanoparticles to zebrafish.

    PubMed

    Orbea, Amaia; González-Soto, Nagore; Lacave, José María; Barrio, Irantzu; Cajaraville, Miren P

    2017-09-01

    Cellular and molecular mechanisms of toxicity of silver nanoparticles (NPs) and their toxicity to fish embryos after waterborne exposure have been widely investigated, but much less information is available regarding the effect of Ag NPs on physiological functions such as growth or reproduction. In this work, the effects of waterborne exposure of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) to PVP/PEI coated Ag NPs (~5nm) on reproduction (fecundity) were investigated. Moreover, the development of the embryos after parental exposure was compared with the development of embryos after direct waterborne exposure to the NPs. For this, two experiments were run: 1) embryos from unexposed parents were treated for 5days with Ag NPs (10μgAgL -1 -10mgAgL -1 ) and development was monitored, and 2) selected breeding zebrafish were exposed for 3weeks to 100ngAgL -1 (environmentally relevant concentration) or to 10μgAgL -1 of Ag NPs, fecundity was scored and development of resulting embryos was monitored up to 5days. Waterborne exposure of embryos to Ag NPs resulted in being highly toxic (LC50 at 120h=50μgAgL -1 ), causing 100% mortality during the first 24h of exposure at 0.1mgAgL -1 . Exposure of adults, even at the environmentally relevant silver concentration, caused a significant reduction of fecundity by the second week of treatment and resulting embryos showed a higher prevalence of malformations than control embryos. Exposed adult females presented higher prevalence of vacuolization in the liver. These results show that Ag NPs at an environmentally relevant concentration are able to affect population level parameters in zebrafish. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Prussian blue coated gold nanoparticles for simultaneous photoacoustic/CT bimodal imaging and photothermal ablation of cancer.

    PubMed

    Jing, Lijia; Liang, Xiaolong; Deng, Zijian; Feng, Shanshan; Li, Xiaoda; Huang, Maomao; Li, Changhui; Dai, Zhifei

    2014-07-01

    The combination of CT imaging and photoacoustic (PA) imaging represents not only high resolution and ease of forming 3D visual image for locating tissues of interest, but also good soft tissue contrast and excellent high sensitivity, which is very beneficial to the precise guidance for photothermal therapy (PTT). The near infrared (NIR) absorbing Au nanostructures take advantages to operate as a CT contrast agent due to high absorption coefficient of X-ray and outstanding biocompatibility, but show obvious deficiency for PA imaging and PTT because of low photostability. Attacking this problem head on, the Au nanoparticles (NPs) were coated with Prussian blue (PB) which is a typical FDA-approved drug in clinic for safe and effective treatment of radioactive exposure. The obtained core/shell NPs of Au@PB NPs of 17.8 ± 2.3 nm were found to be an excellent photoabsorbing agent for both PTT and PA imaging due to high photostability and high molar extinction coefficient in NIR region. Their gold core of 9.1 ± 0.64 nm ensured a remarkable contrast enhancement for CT imaging. Through a one-time treatment of NIR laser irradiation after intravenous injection of Au@PB NPs, 100 mm(3) sized tumors in nude mice could be completely ablated without recurrence. Such versatile nanoparticles integrating effective cancer diagnosis with noninvasive therapy might bring opportunities to future cancer therapy. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Synthesis of cuprous oxide epoxy nanocomposite as an environmentally antimicrobial coating.

    PubMed

    M El Saeed, Ashraf; Abd El-Fattah, M; Azzam, Ahmed M; Dardir, M M; Bader, Magd M

    2016-08-01

    Cuprous oxide is commonly used as a pigment; paint manufacturers begin to employ cuprous oxide as booster biocides in their formulations, to replace the banned organotins as the principal antifouling compounds. Epoxy coating was reinforced with cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs). The antibacterial as well as antifungal activity of Cu2O epoxy nanocomposite (Cu2O EN) coating films was investigated. Cu2O NPs were also experimented for antibiofilm and time-kill assay. The thermal stability and the mechanical properties of Cu2O EN coating films were also investigated. The antimicrobial activity results showed slowdown, the growth of organisms on the Cu2O EN coating surface. TGA results showed that incorporating Cu2O NPs into epoxy coating considerably enhanced the thermal stability and increased the char residue. The addition of Cu2O NPs at lower concentration into epoxy coating also led to an improvement in the mechanical resistance such as scratch and abrasion. Cu2O NPs purity was confirmed by XRD. The TEM photograph demonstrated that the synthesized Cu2O NPs were of cubic shape and the average diameter of the crystals was around 25nm. The resulting perfect dispersion of Cu2O NPs in epoxy coating revealed by SEM ensured white particles embedded in the epoxy matrix. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Functionalization and Characterization of Metal Oxide Coatings of Stainless Steel and Silica Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Slaney, Anne Margaret

    The development of tolerogens, fabricated devices eliciting tolerance toward incompatible donor ABO antigens in implant patients, is the ultimate goal of this project. This would permit ABO incompatible organ transplants, increase the donor pool for patients, increase efficiency in the use of available organs, reduce waitlist times and reduce mortality rates of patients. Stainless steel stents and silica nanoparticles were chosen as platforms for the stationary and circulating tolerogens. Stainless steel was coated with silica by solgel dip-coating, electrodeposition, and atomic layer deposition (ALD). The coatings were evaluated by CV, EIS, SEM, AFM, VASE, FTIR, XPS, and AES. Of the silica films, those deposited by ALD provided superior insulating, conformal, and thin coatings. These silica ALD films outperformed even titania ALD films upon stressing. Silica ALD films were subsequently functionalized with mixtures of silane derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), to prevent nonspecific protein binding, and monosaccharides (MS) or trisaccharide and tetrasaccharide (TS) antigens. Functionalizations were characterized by FTIR, XPS and UV-Vis following enzyme-linked lectin assays (ELLAs) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Effective functionalization allowing biological availability and activity even after incubation in blood plasma was confirmed. Microarray microscope slides were similarly developed with all ABO antigen subtypes, characterized by ToF-SIMS and ELISA, and proved useful in detecting antibodies in human blood samples. Silica nanoparticles, including fluorescent and magnetic varieties, in a range of sizes were prepared by sol-gel synthesis. The nanoparticles were evaluated by SEM, DLS, zeta potential measurements, fluorescence imaging, flow cytometry, two-photon excitation fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and TEM. Different dye incorporation methods were used for effective detection of NPs, and additional silica layers improved

  3. Protein corona composition of gold nanoparticles/nanorods affects amyloid beta fibrillation process

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mirsadeghi, Somayeh; Dinarvand, Rassoul; Ghahremani, Mohammad Hossein; Hormozi-Nezhad, Mohammad Reza; Mahmoudi, Zohreh; Hajipour, Mohammad Javad; Atyabi, Fatemeh; Ghavami, Mahdi; Mahmoudi, Morteza

    2015-03-01

    Protein fibrillation process (e.g., from amyloid beta (Aβ) and α-synuclein) is the main cause of several catastrophic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson diseases. During the past few decades, nanoparticles (NPs) were recognized as one of the most promising tools for inhibiting the progress of the disease by controlling the fibrillation kinetic process; for instance, gold NPs have a strong capability to inhibit Aβ fibrillations. It is now well understood that a layer of biomolecules would cover the surface of NPs (so called ``protein corona'') upon the interaction of NPs with protein sources. Due to the fact that the biological species (e.g., cells and amyloidal proteins) ``see'' the protein corona coated NPs rather than the pristine coated particles, one should monitor the fibrillation process of amyloidal proteins in the presence of corona coated NPs (and not pristine coated ones). Therefore, the previously obtained data on NPs effects on the fibrillation process should be modified to achieve a more reliable and predictable in vivo results. Herein, we probed the effects of various gold NPs (with different sizes and shapes) on the fibrillation process of Aβ in the presence and absence of protein sources (i.e., serum and plasma). We found that the protein corona formed a shell at the surface of gold NPs, regardless of their size and shape, reducing the access of Aβ to the gold inhibitory surface and, therefore, affecting the rate of Aβ fibril formation. More specifically, the anti-fibrillation potencies of various corona coated gold NPs were strongly dependent on the protein source and their concentrations (10% serum/plasma (simulation of an in vitro milieu) and 100% serum/plasma (simulation of an in vivo milieu)).Protein fibrillation process (e.g., from amyloid beta (Aβ) and α-synuclein) is the main cause of several catastrophic neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson diseases. During the past few decades

  4. Molecular Mechanisms of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Genotoxicity Short Running Title: Genotoxicity of ZnO NPs

    PubMed Central

    Scherzad, Agmal; Meyer, Till; Kleinsasser, Norbert

    2017-01-01

    Background: Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are among the most frequently applied nanomaterials in consumer products. Evidence exists regarding the cytotoxic effects of ZnO NPs in mammalian cells; however, knowledge about the potential genotoxicity of ZnO NPs is rare, and results presented in the current literature are inconsistent. Objectives: The aim of this review is to summarize the existing data regarding the DNA damage that ZnO NPs induce, and focus on the possible molecular mechanisms underlying genotoxic events. Methods: Electronic literature databases were systematically searched for studies that report on the genotoxicity of ZnO NPs. Results: Several methods and different endpoints demonstrate the genotoxic potential of ZnO NPs. Most publications describe in vitro assessments of the oxidative DNA damage triggered by dissoluted Zn2+ ions. Most genotoxicological investigations of ZnO NPs address acute exposure situations. Conclusion: Existing evidence indicates that ZnO NPs possibly have the potential to damage DNA. However, there is a lack of long-term exposure experiments that clarify the intracellular bioaccumulation of ZnO NPs and the possible mechanisms of DNA repair and cell survival. PMID:29240707

  5. 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.

  6. 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

  7. Luminescent gold nanoparticles for bioimaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Chen

    Inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) with tunable and diverse material properties hold great potential as contrast agents for better disease management. Over the past decades, luminescent gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with intrinsic emissions ranging from the visible to the near infrared have been synthesized and emerge as a new class of fluorophores for bioimaging. This dissertation aims to fundamentally understand the structure-property relationships in luminescent AuNPs and apply them as contrast agents to address some critical challenges in bioimaging at both the in vitro and in vivo level. In Chapter 2, we described the synthesized ~20 nm polycrystalline AuNPs (pAuNPs), which successfully integrated and enhanced plasmonic and fluorescence properties into a single AuNP through the grain size effect. The combination of these properties in one NP enabled AuNPs to serve as a multimodal contrast agent for in vitro optical microscopic imaging, making it possible to develop correlative microscopic imaging techniques. In Chapters 3-5, we proposed a feasible approach to optimize the in vivo kinetics and clearance profile of nanoprobes for multimodality in vivo bioimaging applications by using straightforward surface chemistry with luminescent AuNPs as a model. Luminescent glutathione-coated AuNPs of ~2 nm were synthesized. Investigation of the biodistribution showed that these glutathione-coated AuNPs (GS-AuNPs) exhibit stealthiness to the reticuloendothelial system (RES) organs and efficient renal clearance, with only 3.7+/-1.9% and 0.3+/-0.1% accumulating in the liver and spleen, and over 65% of the injection dose cleared out via the urine within the first 72 hours. In addition, ~2.5 nm NIR-emitting radioactive glutathione-coated [198Au]AuNPs (GS-[198Au]AuNPs) were synthesized for further evaluation of the pharmacokinetic profile of GS-AuNPs and potential multimodal imaging. The results showed that the GS-[198Au]AuNPs behave like small-molecule contrast agents in

  8. Antimicrobial Effect of Biocompatible Silicon Nanoparticles Activated Using Therapeutic Ultrasound.

    PubMed

    Shevchenko, Svetlana N; Burkhardt, Markus; Sheval, Eugene V; Natashina, Ulyana A; Grosse, Christina; Nikolaev, Alexander L; Gopin, Alexander V; Neugebauer, Ute; Kudryavtsev, Andrew A; Sivakov, Vladimir; Osminkina, Liubov A

    2017-03-14

    In this study, we report a method for the suppression of Escherichia coli (E. coli) vitality by means of therapeutic ultrasound irradiation (USI) using biocompatible silicon nanoparticles as cavitation sensitizers. Silicon nanoparticles without (SiNPs) and with polysaccharide (dextran) coating (DSiNPs) were used. Both types of nanoparticles were nontoxic to Hep 2 cells up to a concentration of 2 mg/mL. The treatment of bacteria with nanoparticles and application of 1 W/cm 2 USI resulted in the reduction of their viabilities up to 35 and 72% for SiNPs and DSiNPs, respectively. The higher bacterial viability reduction for DSiNPs as compared with SiNPs can be explained by the fact that the biopolymer shell of the polysaccharide provides a stronger adhesion of nanoparticles to the bacterial surface. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies showed that the bacterial lipid shell was partially perforated after the combined treatment of DSiNPs and USI, which can be explained by the lysis of bacterial membrane due to the cavitation sensitized by the SiNPs. Furthermore, we have shown that 100% inhibition of E. coli bacterial colony growth is possible by coupling the treatments of DSiNPs and USI with an increased intensity of up to 3 W/cm 2 . The observed results reveal the application of SiNPs as promising antimicrobial agents.

  9. Gold-coated nanoparticles for use in biotechnology applications

    DOEpatents

    Berning, Douglas E [Los Alamos, NM; Kraus, Jr., Robert H.; Atcher, Robert W [Los Alamos, NM; Schmidt, Jurgen G [Los Alamos, NM

    2009-07-07

    A process of preparing gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles is disclosed and includes forming a suspension of magnetic nanoparticles within a suitable liquid, adding an amount of a reducible gold compound and a reducing agent to the suspension, and, maintaining the suspension for time sufficient to form gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles.

  10. Gold-coated nanoparticles for use in biotechnology applications

    DOEpatents

    Berning, Douglas E [Los Alamos, NM; Kraus, Jr., Robert H.; Atcher, Robert W [Los Alamos, NM; Schmidt, Jurgen G [Los Alamos, NM

    2007-06-05

    A process of preparing gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles is disclosed and includes forming a suspension of magnetic nanoparticles within a suitable liquid, adding an amount of a reducible gold compound and a reducing agent to the suspension, and, maintaining the suspension for time sufficient to form gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles.

  11. Multifunctional biocompatible coatings on magnetic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bychkova, A. V.; Sorokina, O. N.; Rosenfeld, M. A.; Kovarski, A. L.

    2012-11-01

    Methods for coating formation on magnetic nanoparticles used in biology and medicine are considered. Key requirements to the coatings are formulated, namely, biocompatibility, stability, the possibility of attachment of pharmaceutical agents, and the absence of toxicity. The behaviour of nanoparticle/coating nanosystems in the body including penetration through cellular membranes and the excretion rates and routes is analyzed. Parameters characterizing the magnetic properties of these systems and their magnetic controllability are described. Factors limiting the applications of magnetically controlled nanosystems for targeted drug delivery are discussed. The bibliography includes 405 references.

  12. Genotoxicity of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles to human keratinocytes assessed by the comet assay and cytokinesis blocked micronucleus assay.

    PubMed

    Bastos, V; Duarte, I F; Santos, C; Oliveira, H

    2017-02-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in industrial, cosmetic, and biomedical products, and humans are frequently exposed to these products through the skin. It is widely recognized that the characteristics of AgNPs (e.g., size, coating) may influence their cytotoxic effects, but their correlation with DNA damage and mitotic disorders remains poorly explored. In this study, human keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) were exposed to well-characterized 30 nm AgNPs coated with citrate, and their effects on viability, DNA fragmentation (assessed by the comet assay), and micronuclei (MNi) induction (assessed by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assays, CBMN) were investigated. The results showed that 10 and 40 μg/mL AgNPs decreased cell proliferation and viability, and induced a significant genetic damage. This was observed by an increase of DNA amount in comet tail, which linearly correlated with dose and time of exposure. Also, cytostaticity (increase of mononucleated cells) and MNi rates increased in treated cells. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in nucleoplasmatic bridges (NPBs) or nuclear buds (NBUDs), although NBUDs tended to increase in all conditions and periods. The cytostatic effects on HaCaT cells were also shown by the decrease of their nuclear division index. Thus, both comet and CBMN assays supported the observation that citrate-AgNPs induced genotoxic effects on HaCaT cells. Considering that AgNPs are present in a vast number of consumer products and also in multiple nanomedicine skin applications and formulations, more research is needed to determine the properties that confer less toxicity of AgNPs to different cell lines.

  13. Impact of surface coating and food-mimicking media on nanosilver-protein interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burcza, Anna; Gräf, Volker; Walz, Elke; Greiner, Ralf

    2015-11-01

    The application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in food contact materials has recently become a subject of dispute due to the possible migration of silver in nanoform into foods and beverages. Therefore, the analysis of the interaction of AgNPs with food components, especially proteins, is of high importance in order to increase our knowledge of the behavior of nanoparticles in food matrices. AgPURE™ W10 (20 nm), an industrially applied nanomaterial, was compared with AgNPs of similar size frequently investigated for scientific purposes differing in the surface capping agent (spherical AgNP coated with either PVP or citrate). The interactions of the AgNPs with whey proteins (BSA, α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin) at different pH values (4.2, 7 or 7.4) were investigated using surface plasmon resonance, SDS-PAGE, and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation. The data obtained by the three different methods correlated well. Besides the nature of the protein and the nanoparticle coating, the environment was shown to affect the interaction significantly. The strongest interaction was obtained with BSA and AgNPs in an acidic environment. Neutral and slightly alkaline conditions however, seemed to prevent the AgNP-protein interaction almost completely. Furthermore, the interaction of whey proteins with AgPURE™ W10 was found to be weaker compared to the interaction with the other two AgNPs under all conditions investigated.

  14. Development of a ubiquitously transferrable silver-nanoparticle-loaded polymer nanosheet as an antimicrobial coating.

    PubMed

    Ito, Keisuke; Saito, Akihiro; Fujie, Toshinori; Miyazaki, Hiromi; Kinoshita, Manabu; Saitoh, Daizoh; Ohtsubo, Shinya; Takeoka, Shinji

    2016-04-01

    Ultra-thin polymer films (nanosheets) fabricated by a layer-by-layer (LbL) method possess unique properties such as high flexibility, adhesive strength, and transparency, and can be peeled off from a substrate and attached to various surfaces via a water-soluble supporting film. Therefore, flexible and transferrable LbL nanosheets are convenient tools as coating materials. Here, we fabricated a novel antimicrobial coating material by embedding silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in an LbL nanosheet composed of layers of chitosan and sodium alginate (Ag-LbL nanosheet) by means of a photo-reduction method. Optimizing the amount of irradiated energy applied led to robust antimicrobial efficacy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), sufficient to meet ISO standards (ISO 22196), while maintaining the flexibility and adhesive potency of the LbL nanosheet. Thus, the Ag-LbL nanosheet is a promising coating material that can provide antimicrobial efficacy to various surfaces. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Doxorubicin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles coated with chitosan/alginate by layer by layer technology for antitumor applications.

    PubMed

    Chai, Fujuan; Sun, Linlin; He, Xinyi; Li, Jieli; Liu, Yuanfen; Xiong, Fei; Ge, Liang; Webster, Thomas J; Zheng, Chunli

    2017-01-01

    Natural polyelectrolyte multilayers of chitosan (CHI) and alginate (ALG) were alternately deposited on doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) with layer by layer self-assembly to control drug release for antitumor activity. Numerous factors which influenced the multilayer growth on nano-colloidal particles were studied: polyelectrolyte concentration, NaCl concentration and temperature. Then the growth regime of the CHI/ALG multilayers was elucidated. The coated NPs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction and a zeta potential analyzer. In vitro studies demonstrated an undesirable initial burst release of DOX-loaded PLGA NPs (DOX-PLGA NPs), which was relieved from 55.12% to 5.78% through the use of the layer by layer technique. The release of DOX increased more than 40% as the pH of media decreased from 7.4 to 5.0. More importantly, DOX-PLGA (CHI/ALG) 3 NPs had superior in vivo tumor inhibition rates at 83.17% and decreased toxicity, compared with DOX-PLGA NPs and DOX in solution. Thus, the presently formulated PLGA-polyelectrolyte NPs have strong potential applications for numerous controlled anticancer drug release applications.

  16. A simple and general route for monofunctionalization of fluorescent and magnetic nanoparticles using peptides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Clarke, Samuel; Tamang, Sudarsan; Reiss, Peter; Dahan, Maxime

    2011-04-01

    Nanoparticles are now utilized in many diverse biological and medical applications. Despite this, it remains challenging to tailor their surface for specific molecular targeting while maintaining high biocompatibility. To address this problem, we evaluate a phytochelatin-related peptide surface coating to produce functional and biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs) based on fluorescent InP/ZnS and CdSe/ZnS or superparamagnetic FePt and Fe3O4. Using a combination of transmission electron microscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and gel electrophoresis (GE), we demonstrate the excellent colloidal properties of the peptide-coated NPs (pNPs) and the compact nature of the coating (~4 nm thickness). We develop a simple protocol for the monofunctionalization of the pNPs with targeting biomolecules, by combining covalent conjugation with GE purification. We then employ functionalized InP/ZnS pNPs in a live-cell, single-molecule imaging application to specifically target and detect individual proteins in the cell membrane. These findings showcase the versatility of the peptides for preparing compact NPs of various compositions and sizes, which are easily functionalized, and suitable for a broad range of biomedical applications.

  17. A simple and general route for monofunctionalization of fluorescent and magnetic nanoparticles using peptides.

    PubMed

    Clarke, Samuel; Tamang, Sudarsan; Reiss, Peter; Dahan, Maxime

    2011-04-29

    Nanoparticles are now utilized in many diverse biological and medical applications. Despite this, it remains challenging to tailor their surface for specific molecular targeting while maintaining high biocompatibility. To address this problem, we evaluate a phytochelatin-related peptide surface coating to produce functional and biocompatible nanoparticles (NPs) based on fluorescent InP/ZnS and CdSe/ZnS or superparamagnetic FePt and Fe(3)O(4). Using a combination of transmission electron microscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and gel electrophoresis (GE), we demonstrate the excellent colloidal properties of the peptide-coated NPs (pNPs) and the compact nature of the coating (∼4 nm thickness). We develop a simple protocol for the monofunctionalization of the pNPs with targeting biomolecules, by combining covalent conjugation with GE purification. We then employ functionalized InP/ZnS pNPs in a live-cell, single-molecule imaging application to specifically target and detect individual proteins in the cell membrane. These findings showcase the versatility of the peptides for preparing compact NPs of various compositions and sizes, which are easily functionalized, and suitable for a broad range of biomedical applications.

  18. Silica Coating of Nonsilicate Nanoparticles for Resin-Based Composite Materials

    PubMed Central

    Kaizer, M.R.; Almeida, J.R.; Gonçalves, A.P.R.; Zhang, Y.; Cava, S.S.; Moraes, R.R.

    2016-01-01

    This study was designed to develop and characterize a silica-coating method for crystalline nonsilicate ceramic nanoparticles (Al2O3, TiO2, and ZrO2). The hypothesis was that the coated nonsilicate nanoparticles would stably reinforce a polymeric matrix due to effective silanation. Silica coating was applied via a sol-gel method, with tetraethyl orthosilicate as a silica precursor, followed by heat treatment. The chemical and microstructural characteristics of the nanopowders were evaluated before and after silica coating through x-ray diffraction, BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. Coated and noncoated nanoparticles were silanated before preparation of hybrid composites, which contained glass microparticles in addition to the nanoparticles. The composites were mechanically tested in 4-point bending mode after aging (10,000 thermal cycles). Results of all chemical and microstructural analyses confirmed the successful obtaining of silica-coated nanoparticles. Two distinct aspects were observed depending on the type of nanoparticle tested: 1) formation of a silica shell on the surface of the particles and 2) nanoparticle clusters embedded into a silica matrix. The aged hybrid composites formulated with the coated nanoparticles showed improved flexural strength (10% to 30% higher) and work of fracture (35% to 40% higher) as compared with composites formulated with noncoated nanoparticles. The tested hypothesis was confirmed: silanated silica-coated nonsilicate nanoparticles yielded stable reinforcement of dimethacrylate polymeric matrix due to effective silanation. The silica-coating method presented here is a versatile and promising novel strategy for the use of crystalline nonsilicate ceramics as a reinforcing phase of polymeric composite biomaterials. PMID:27470069

  19. Corrosion Prevention of Aluminum Nanoparticles by a Polyurethane Coating.

    PubMed

    Nishimura, Toshiyasu; Raman, Vedarajan

    2014-06-19

    In order to prevent corrosion, aluminum nanoparticles were coated with a polyurethane polymer. The coverage of the polyurethane polymer was controlled from 0 to 100%, which changed the corrosion rate of the nanoparticles quantitatively. The surface of the polymer coating was investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and the corrosion resistance of the nanoparticles was estimated by a wet/dry corrosion test on a Pt plate with a NaCl solution. From a TEM with EDAX analysis, the 10 mass% polymer coated Al particles in the synthesis were almost 100% covered on the surface by a polymer film of 10 nm thick. On the other hand, the 3 mass% polymer coated Al was almost 40% covered by a film. In the AFM, the potential around the Al particles had a relatively low value with the polymer coating, which indicated that the conductivity of the Al was isolated from the Pt plate by the polymer. Both the corrosion and H₂ evolution reaction rates were quantitatively reduced by the mass% of polymer coating. In the case of the 10 mass% coated sample, there was no corrosion of Al nanoparticles. This fact suggested that the electrochemical reaction was suppressed by the polymer coating. Moreover, the reaction rate of Al nanoparticles was suppressed in proportion to the coverage percentage of the coating. Thus, to conclude, it was found that the corrosion rate of Al nanoparticles could be quantitatively suppressed by the coverage percentage of the polymer coating.

  20. Quantitation of Surface Coating on Nanoparticles Using Thermogravimetric Analysis.

    PubMed

    Dongargaonkar, Alpana A; Clogston, Jeffrey D

    2018-01-01

    Nanoparticles are critical components in nanomedicine and nanotherapeutic applications. Some nanoparticles, such as metallic nanoparticles, consist of a surface coating or surface modification to aid in its dispersion and stability. This surface coating may affect the behavior of nanoparticles in a biological environment, thus it is important to measure. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) can be used to determine the amount of coating on the surface of the nanoparticle. TGA experiments run under inert atmosphere can also be used to determine residual metal content present in the sample. In this chapter, the TGA technique and experimental method are described.

  1. Transport, retention, and long-term release behavior of polymer-coated silver nanoparticles in saturated quartz sand: The impact of natural organic matters and electrolyte.

    PubMed

    Hou, Jun; Zhang, Mingzhi; Wang, Peifang; Wang, Chao; Miao, Lingzhan; Xu, Yi; You, Guoxiang; Lv, Bowen; Yang, Yangyang; Liu, Zhilin

    2017-10-01

    This study investigated the transport and long-term release of stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), including polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) and bare AgNPs (Bare-AgNPs), in the presence of natural organic matters (NOMs; both humic acids (HA) and alginate (Alg)) and an electrolyte (Ca 2+ ) in a sand-packed column. Very low breakthrough rate (C/C 0 ) of AgNPs (below 0.04) occurred in the absence of NOM and the electrolyte. Increasing the concentration of NOM and decreasing the influent NOM solution's ionic strength (IS) reduced the retention of AgNPs. The reduced NP retention at high NOM and low IS was mainly attributed to the increased energy barrier between the AgNPs and the sand grain surface. Notably, the retention of PVP-AgNPs was enhanced at high Alg concentration and low IS, which mainly resulted from the improved hydrophobicity that could increase the interaction between the PVP-AgNPs and the collector. The total release amount of PVP-AgNPs (10.03%, 9.50%, 28.42%, 6.37%) and Bare-AgNPs (3.28%, 2.58%, 10.36%, 1.54%) were gained when exposed to four kinds of NOM solutions, including deionized water, an electrolyte solution (1 mM Ca 2+ ), HA with an electrolyte (1 mM Ca 2+ ), and a Alg (40 mg/L) solution with an electrolyte (1 mM Ca 2+ ). The long-term release of retained silver nanoparticles in the quartz sand was mostly through the form of released Ag NPs. The factors that increased the mobility of AgNPs in quartz sand could improve the release of the AgNPs. The release of AgNPs had no significant change in the presence Ca 2+ but were increased in the presence of HA. The Alg slightly decreased the release of AgNPs by increasing the hydrophobicity of AgNPs. The results of the study indicated that all the tested NOM and Ca 2+ have prominent influence on the transport and long-term release behavior of silver nanoparticles in saturated quartz sand. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Controllable in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles on multilayered film-coated silk fibers for antibacterial application.

    PubMed

    Meng, Mei; He, Huawei; Xiao, Jing; Zhao, Ping; Xie, Jiale; Lu, Zhisong

    2016-01-01

    Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is a versatile technique for the preparation of multilayered polymeric films. However, fabrication of LbL polymetic film on silk for the in situ growth of high-density silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has not been realized. Herein poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA) multilayers are constructed on silk via the LbL approach, subsequently serving as a 3-dimensional matrix for in situ synthesis of AgNPs. After 8 rounds of LbL assembly, the silk is fully covered with a layer of polymeric film. AgNPs with good crystalline structures could be in-situ generated in the silk-coated multilayers and their amount could be tailored by adjusting the bilayer numbers. The as-prepared silk could effectively kill the existing bacteria and inhibit the bacterial growth, demonstrating the antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the release of Ag(+) from the modified silk can last for 120 h, rendering the modified silk sustainable antimicrobial activity. This work may provide a novel method to prepare AgNPs-functionalized antimicrobial silk for potential applications in textile industry. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Surface spins disorder in uncoated and SiO2 coated maghemite nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zeb, F.; Nadeem, K.; Shah, S. Kamran Ali; Kamran, M.; Gul, I. Hussain; Ali, L.

    2017-05-01

    We studied the surface spins disorder in uncoated and silica (SiO2) coated maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles using temperature and time dependent magnetization. The average crystallite size for SiO2 coated and uncoated nanoparticles was about 12 and 29 nm, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the nanoparticles are spherical in shape and well separated. Temperature scans of zero field cooled (ZFC)/field cooled (FC) magnetization measurements showed lower average blocking temperature (TB) for SiO2 coated maghemite nanoparticles as compared to uncoated nanoparticles. The saturation magnetization (Ms) of SiO2 coated maghemite nanoparticles was also lower than the uncoated nanoparticles and is attributed to smaller average crystallite size of SiO2 coated nanoparticles. For saturation magnetization vs. temperature data, Bloch's law (M(T)= M(0).(1- BTb)) was fitted well for both uncoated and SiO2 coated nanoparticles and yields: B =3×10-7 K-b, b=2.22 and B=0.0127 K-b, b=0.57 for uncoated and SiO2 coated nanoparticles, respectively. Higher value of B for SiO2 coated nanoparticles depicts decrease in exchange coupling due to enhanced surface spins disorder (broken surface bonds) as compared to uncoated nanoparticles. The Bloch's exponent b was decreased for SiO2 coated nanoparticles which is due to their smaller average crystallite size or finite size effects. Furthermore, a sharp increase of coercivity at low temperatures (<25 K) was observed for SiO2 coated nanoparticles which is also due to contribution of increased surface anisotropy or frozen surface spins in these smaller nanoparticles. The FC magnetic relaxation data was fitted to stretched exponential law which revealed slower magnetic relaxation for SiO2 coated nanoparticles. All these measurements revealed smaller average crystallite size and enhanced surface spins disorder in SiO2 coated nanoparticles than in uncoated γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles.

  4. Differential Phytotoxic Impact of Plant Mediated Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) and Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) on Brassica sp.

    PubMed Central

    Vishwakarma, Kanchan; Shweta; Upadhyay, Neha; Singh, Jaspreet; Liu, Shiliang; Singh, Vijay P.; Prasad, Sheo M.; Chauhan, Devendra K.; Tripathi, Durgesh K.; Sharma, Shivesh

    2017-01-01

    Continuous formation and utilization of nanoparticles (NPs) have resulted into significant discharge of nanosized particles into the environment. NPs find applications in numerous products and agriculture sector, and gaining importance in recent years. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized from silver nitrate (AgNO3) by green synthesis approach using Aloe vera extract. Mustard (Brassica sp.) seedlings were grown hydroponically and toxicity of both AgNP and AgNO3 (as ionic Ag+) was assessed at various concentrations (1 and 3 mM) by analyzing shoot and root length, fresh mass, protein content, photosynthetic pigments and performance, cell viability, oxidative damage, DNA degradation and enzyme activities. The results revealed that both AgNPs and AgNO3 declined growth of Brassica seedlings due to enhanced accumulation of AgNPs and AgNO3 that subsequently caused severe inhibition in photosynthesis. Further, the results showed that both AgNPs and AgNO3 induced oxidative stress as indicated by histochemical staining of superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide that was manifested in terms of DNA degradation and cell death. Activities of antioxidants, i.e., ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) were inhibited by AgNPs and AgNO3. Interestingly, damaging impact of AgNPs was lesser than AgNO3 on Brassica seedlings which was due to lesser accumulation of AgNPs and better activities of APX and CAT, which resulted in lesser oxidative stress, DNA degradation and cell death. The results of the present study showed differential impact of AgNPs and AgNO3 on Brassica seedlings, their mode of action, and reasons for their differential impact. The results of the present study could be implied in toxicological research for designing strategies to reduce adverse impact of AgNPs and AgNO3 on crop plants. PMID:29075270

  5. TEA controllable preparation of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) with excellent magnetic properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Chengliang; Zhu, Dejie; Wu, Hanzhao; Li, Yao; Cheng, Lu; Hu, Kunhong

    2016-06-01

    A fast and controllable synthesis method for superparamagnetic magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) was developed in Fe(III)-triethanolamine (TEA) solution. The phase structure, morphology and particle size of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the magnetic particles were pure Fe3O4 with mean sizes of approximately 10 nm. The used TEA has key effects on the formation of well dispersing Fe3O4 NPs. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) result indicated that the as-obtained Fe3O4 NPs exhibited superparamagnetic behavior and the saturation magnetization (Ms) was about 70 emu/g, which had potential applications in magnetic science and technology.

  6. Chitosan magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery systems.

    PubMed

    Assa, Farnaz; Jafarizadeh-Malmiri, Hoda; Ajamein, Hossein; Vaghari, Hamideh; Anarjan, Navideh; Ahmadi, Omid; Berenjian, Aydin

    2017-06-01

    The potential of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in drug delivery systems (DDSs) is mainly related to its magnetic core and surface coating. These coatings can eliminate or minimize their aggregation under physiological conditions. Also, they can provide functional groups for bioconjugation to anticancer drugs and/or targeted ligands. Chitosan, as a derivative of chitin, is an attractive natural biopolymer from renewable resources with the presence of reactive amino and hydroxyl functional groups in its structure. Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs), due to their huge surface to volume ratio as compared to the chitosan in its bulk form, have outstanding physico-chemical, antimicrobial and biological properties. These unique properties make chitosan NPs a promising biopolymer for the application of DDSs. In this review, the current state and challenges for the application magnetic chitosan NPs in drug delivery systems were investigated. The present review also revisits the limitations and commercial impediments to provide insight for future works.

  7. Folate-receptor-targeted NIR-sensitive polydopamine nanoparticles for chemo-photothermal cancer therapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Hao; Jin, Zhen; Cho, Sunghoon; Jeon, Mi Jeong; Du Nguyen, Van; Park, Jong-Oh; Park, Sukho

    2017-10-01

    We propose the use of folate-receptor-targeted, near-infrared-sensitive polydopamine nanoparticles (NPs) for chemo-photothermal cancer therapy as an enhanced type of drug-delivery system which can be synthesized by in situ polymerization and conjugation with folic acid. The NPs consist of a Fe3O4/Au core, coated polydopamine, conjugated folic acid, and loaded anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin). The proposed multifunctional NPs show many advantages for therapeutic applications such as good biocompatibility and easy bioconjugation. The polydopamine coating of the NPs show a higher photothermal effect and thus more effective cancer killing compared to Fe3O4/Au nanoparticles at the same intensity as near-infrared laser irradiation. In addition, the conjugation of folic acid was shown to enhance cancer cellular uptake efficiency via the folate receptor and thus improve chemotherapeutic efficiency. Through in vitro cancer cell treatment testing, the proposed multifunctional NPs showed advanced photothermal and chemotherapeutic performance. Based on these enhanced anti-cancer properties, we expect that the proposed multifunctional NPs can be used as a drug-delivery system in cancer therapy.

  8. Interaction of colloidal nanoparticles with cells (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Parak, Wolfgang J.

    2017-02-01

    What happens to inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), such as plasmonic gold or silver, superparamagnetic iron oxide, or fluorescent quantum dot NPs, after they have been administrated to an animal or a human being? The review discusses the integrity, biodistribution, and fate of NPs after in vivo administration. First the hybrid nature of the NPs is described, by conceptually dividing them into the inorganic NP core, an engineered surface coating around the core which comprises the ligand shell and optionally also bioconjugation, and into the corona of adsorbed biological molecules. It is shown that in vivo all of these three compounds may degrade individually and that each of them can drastically modify the life-cycle and biodistribution of the whole hetero-structure. The NPs thus may be disintegrated into different parts, of which biodistribution and fate would need to be analyzed individually. Multiple labelling and quantification strategies for such purpose will be discussed. All reviewed data indicate that in vivo NPs no longer should be considered as homogeneous entity, but should be seen as inorganic/organic/biological nano-hybrids with complex and intricately linked degradation pathways. References: M. Chanana, P. Rivera Gil, M. A. Correa-Duarte, L. M. Liz-Marzán. W. J. Parak, "Physicochemical Properties of Protein-Coated Gold Nanoparticles in Biological Fluids and Cells before and after Proteolytic Digestion", Angewandte Chemie International Edition 52, 4179-4183 (2013). W. G. Kreyling, A. M. Abdelmonem, Z. Ali, F. Alves, M. Geiser, N. Haberl, R. Hartmann, S. Hirn, K. Kantner, D. Jimenez de Aberasturi, G. Khadem-Saba, J.-M. Montenegro, J. Rejman, T. Rojo, I. Ruiz de Larramendi, R. Ufartes, A. Wenk, W. J. Parak, "In vivo integrity of polymer-coated gold nanoparticles", Nature Nanotechnology 10, 619-623 (2015).J. Clerk Maxwell, A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, 3rd ed., vol. 2. Oxford: Clarendon, 1892, pp.68-73.

  9. 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.

  10. ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and their antifungal activity against coffee fungus Erythricium salmonicolor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Arciniegas-Grijalba, P. A.; Patiño-Portela, M. C.; Mosquera-Sánchez, L. P.; Guerrero-Vargas, J. A.; Rodríguez-Páez, J. E.

    2017-06-01

    In this work, a methodology of synthesis was designed to obtain ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) in a controlled and reproducible manner. The nanoparticles obtained were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, we determined the antifungal capacity in vitro of zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized, examining their action on Erythricium salmonicolor fungy causal of pink disease. To determine the effect of the quantity of zinc precursor used during ZnO NPs synthesis on the antifungal capacity, 0.1 and 0.15 M concentrations of zinc acetate were examined. To study the inactivation of the mycelial growth of the fungus, different concentrations of ZnO NPs of the two types of synthesized samples were used. The inhibitory effect on the growth of the fungus was determined by measuring the growth area as a function of time. The morphological change was observed with high-resolution optical microscopy (HROM), while TEM was used to observe changes in its ultrastructure. The results showed that a concentration of 9 mmol L-1 for the sample obtained from the 0.15 M and at 12 mmol L-1 for the 0.1 M system significantly inhibited growth of E. salmonicolor. In the HROM images a deformation was observed in the growth pattern: notable thinning of the fibers of the hyphae and a clumping tendency. The TEM images showed a liquefaction of the cytoplasmic content, making it less electron-dense, with the presence of a number of vacuoles and significant detachment of the cell wall.

  11. A study of the effects of citrate-coated silver nanoparticles on RAW 264.7 cells using a toolbox of cytotoxic endpoints

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bastos, V.; Duarte, I. F.; Santos, C.; Oliveira, H.

    2017-05-01

    Citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (citrate-AgNPs) are among the most commonly used nanomaterials, widely present in industrial and biomedical products. In this study, the cytotoxicity of 30-nm citrate-AgNPs on the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 was evaluated, using a battery of cytotoxicity endpoints (viability, oxidative stress, and cytostaticity/clastogenicity), at 24 and 48 h of exposure. Citrate-AgNPs decreased cell proliferation and viability only at 75 μg/mL, suggesting a low sensitivity of RAW cells to lower doses of these AgNPs. After 24 h of exposure, ROS content decreased in cells exposed to 60 μg/mL AgNPs (IC20 value), corroborating the high tolerance of these cells to citrate-AgNPs. However, these cells suffered an impairment of the cell cycle, shown by an increase at the sub-G1 phase. This increase of the sub-G1 population was correlated with an increase of DNA fragmentation, suggesting an increase of apoptosis. Thus, our data are important to understand the effects of low concentrations (IC20) of citrate-AgNPs on in vitro vital macrophage functions.

  12. The effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on proliferation and apoptosis of in ovo cultured glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells.

    PubMed

    Urbańska, Kaja; Pająk, Beata; Orzechowski, Arkadiusz; Sokołowska, Justyna; Grodzik, Marta; Sawosz, Ewa; Szmidt, Maciej; Sysa, Paweł

    2015-01-01

    Recently, it has been shown that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) provide a unique approach to the treatment of tumors, especially those of neuroepithelial origin. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of AgNPs on proliferation and activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells cultured in an in ovo model. Human GBM cells, line U-87, were placed on chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane. After 8 days, the tumors were divided into three groups: control (non-treated), treated with colloidal AgNPs (40 μg/ml), and placebo (tumors supplemented with vehicle only). At the end of the experiment, all tumors were isolated. Assessment of cell proliferation and cell apoptosis was estimated by histological, immunohistochemical, and Western blot analyses. The results show that AgNPs can influence GBM growth. AgNPs inhibit proliferation of GBM cells and seem to have proapoptotic properties. Although there were statistically significant differences between control and AgNP groups in the AI and the levels of active caspase 9 and active caspase 3, the level of these proteins in GBM cells treated with AgNPs seems to be on the border between the spontaneous apoptosis and the induced. Our results indicate that the antiproliferative properties of silver nanoparticles overwhelm proapoptotic ones. Further research focused on the cytotoxic effect of AgNPs on tumor and normal cells should be conducted.

  13. Raman scattering studies on PEG functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yamini, D.; Devanand Venkatasubbu, G.; Kumar, J.; Ramakrishnan, V.

    2014-01-01

    The pure hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by wet chemical precipitation method. Raman spectral measurements have been made for pure HAP, pure Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and PEG coated HAP in different mass ratios (sample 1, sample 2 and sample 3). The peaks observed in Raman spectrum of pure HAP and the XRD pattern have confirmed the formation of HAP NPs. Vibrational modes have been assigned for pure HAP and pure PEG 6000. The observed variation in peak position of Raman active vibrational modes of PEG in PEG coated HAP has been elucidated in this work, in terms of intermolecular interactions between PEG and HAP. Further these results suggest that the functionalization of nanoparticles may be independent of PEG mass.

  14. Promising biocidal activity of thymol loaded chitosan silver nanoparticles (T-C@AgNPs) as anti-infective agents against perilous pathogens.

    PubMed

    Manukumar, H M; Umesha, S; Kumar, H N Naveen

    2017-09-01

    The advent of biodegradable polymer-encapsulated drug nanoparticles has made an exciting area of drug delivery research. The present study investigated novel and simple route for synthesis of thymol loaded chitosan silver nanoparticles (T-C@AgNPs) using chitosan and thymol as reducing, capping agent respectively to understand the therapeutic efficacy. The UV-vis spectroscopy, DLS, FT-IR, SEM, EDS, XRD used for characterization and radical scavenging activity, anti-microbial and biocompatibility was taken to ascertain an efficacy of novel T-C@AgNPs. The T-C@AgNPs intense peak at 490nm indicates the formation of nanoparticles and had average particle size of 28.94nm with spherical shape, monodisperse state in water, also exhibited excellent biocompatibility of cubic shaped pure silver element containing T-C@AgNPs. The antibacterial activity was studied for gram positive and gram negative food-borne pathogens and effective inhibition at 100μgmL -1 to S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus (10.08, 10.00, 11.23mm) and S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa and S. flexneri (9.28, 9.33, 12.03mm) compared to antibiotic Streptomycin. This study revealed the efficacy against multiple food-borne pathogens and therapeutic efficacy of T-C@AgNPs offers a valuable contribution in the area of nanotechnology. This proved to be a first-class novel antimicrobial material for the first time in this study. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Ultrafast and continuous synthesis of crystalline ferrite nanoparticles in supercritical ethanol.

    PubMed

    Pascu, Oana; Marre, Samuel; Aymonier, Cyril; Roig, Anna

    2013-03-07

    Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are of increasing interest in various industrially relevant products. For these, the development of greener and faster approaches facilitating scaling-up production is of paramount importance. Here, we report a novel, green and potentially scalable approach for the continuous and ultrafast (90 s) synthesis of superparamagnetic ferrite NPs (MnFe(2)O(4), Fe(3)O(4)) in supercritical ethanol (scEtOH) at a fairly moderate temperature (260 °C). ScEtOH exhibits numerous advantages such as its production from bio-resources, its lack of toxicity and its relatively low supercritical coordinates (p(c) = 6.39 MPa and T(c) = 243 °C), being therefore appropriate for the development of sustainable technologies. The present study is completed by the investigation of both in situ and ex situ NP surface functionalization. The as-obtained nanoparticles present good crystallinity, sizes below 8 nm, superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature and high saturation magnetization. Moreover, depending on the capping strategy, the ferrite NPs present extended (for in situ coated NPs) or short-term (for ex situ coated NPs) colloidal stability.

  16. Comparison of cell uptake, biodistribution and tumor retention of folate-coated and PEG-coated gadolinium nanoparticles in tumor-bearing mice.

    PubMed

    Oyewumi, Moses O; Yokel, Robert A; Jay, Michael; Coakley, Tricia; Mumper, Russell J

    2004-03-24

    The purpose of these studies was to compare the cell uptake, biodistribution and tumor retention of folate-coated and PEG-coated gadolinium (Gd) nanoparticles. Gd is a potential agent for neutron capture therapy (NCT) of tumors. Gd nanoparticles were engineered from oil-in-water microemulsion templates. To obtain folate-coated nanoparticles, a folate ligand [folic acid chemically linked to distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) via a PEG spacer MW 3350] was included in nanoparticle preparations. Similarly, control nanoparticles were coated with DSPE-PEG-MW 3350 (PEG-coated). Nanoparticles were characterized based on size, size distribution, morphology, biocompatibility and tumor cell uptake. In vivo studies were carried out in KB (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma) tumor-bearing athymic mice. Biodistribution and tumor retention studies were carried out at pre-determined time intervals after injection of nanoparticles (10 mg/kg). Gd nanoparticles did not aggregate platelets or activate neutrophils. The retention of nanoparticles in the blood 8, 16 and 24 h post-injection was 60%, 13% and 11% of the injected dose (ID), respectively. A maximum Gd tumor localization of 33+/-7 microg Gd/g was achieved. Both folate-coated and PEG-coated nanoparticles had comparable tumor accumulation. However, the cell uptake and tumor retention of folate-coated nanoparticles was significantly enhanced over PEG-coated nanoparticles. Thus, the benefits of folate ligand coating were to facilitate tumor cell internalization and retention of Gd-nanoparticles in the tumor tissue. The engineered nanoparticles may have potential in tumor-targeted delivery of Gd thereby enhancing the therapeutic success of NCT.

  17. Synthesis, characterization and luminescence of europium perchlorate with MABA-Si complex and coating structure SiO2 @Eu(MABA-Si) luminescence nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Fu, Zhi-Fang; Li, Wen-Xian; Bai, Juan; Bao, Jin-Rong; Cao, Xiao-Fang; Zheng, Yu-Shan

    2017-05-01

    This article reports a novel category of coating structure SiO 2 @Eu(MABA-Si) luminescence nanoparticles (NPs) consisting of a unique organic shell, composed of perchlorate europium(III) complex, and an inorganic core, composed of silica. The binary complex Eu(MABA-Si) 3 ·(ClO 4 ) 3 ·5H 2 O was synthesized using HOOCC 6 H 4 N(CONH(CH 2 ) 3 Si(OCH 2 CH 3 ) 3 ) 2 (MABA-Si) and was used as a ligand. Furthermore, the as-prepared silica NPs were successfully coated with the -Si(OCH 2 CH 3 ) 3 group of MABA-Si to form Si-O-Si chemical bonds by means of the hydrolyzation of MABA-Si. The binary complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity and coordination titration analysis. The results indicated that the composition of the binary complex was Eu(MABA-Si) 3 ·(ClO 4 ) 3 ·5H 2 O. Coating structure SiO 2 @Eu(MABA-Si) NPs were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared (IR) spectra. Based on the SEM and TEM measurements, the diameter of core-SiO 2 particles was ~400 and 600 nm, and the thickness of the cladding layer Eu(MABA-Si) was ~20 nm. In the binary complex Eu(MABA-Si) 3 ·(ClO 4 ) 3 ·5H 2 O, the fluorescence spectra illustrated that the energy of the ligand MABA-Si transferred to the energy level for the excitation state of europium(III) ion. Coating structure SiO 2 @Eu(MABA-Si) NPs exhibited intense red luminescence compared with the binary complex. The fluorescence lifetime and fluorescence quantum efficiency of the binary complex and of the coating structure NPs were also calculated. The way in which the size of core-SiO 2 spheres influences the luminescence was also studied. Moreover, the luminescent mechanisms of the complex were studied and explained. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  18. Evaluation of hybrid sol-gel incorporated with nanoparticles as nano paint

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

    Jameel, Zainab N., E-mail: zeinb76-alrekbe@yahoo.com; Haider, Adawiya J., E-mail: adawiyahaider@yahoo.com; Taha, Samar Y., E-mail: samarjam2002@yahoo.com

    A coating with self-cleaning characteristics has been developed using a TiO{sub 2}/SiO{sub 2} hybrid sol-gel, TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles and organosilicate nanoparticles (OSNP). A patented technology of the hybrid sol-gel and OSNP was combined with TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles to create the surface chemistry for self-cleaning. Two synthesis methods have been developed to prepare TiO{sub 2} nanoparticles (NPs), resulting in the enhancement of local paint by the addition of anatase and rutile TiO{sub 2} phases. The NPs size as determined by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) ranges within of (3-4) and (20-42) nm, which was also confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Themore » nanoparticles showed surface charge (zeta-potential, ζ) of +35 and +25.62 mV for the methods, respectively, and ζ values of +41.31 and 34.02 mV for anatase and rutile phases, respectively. The NPs were mixed with the coating solution (i.e., hybrid sol-gel and OSNP) in different concentrations and thin films were prepared by spin coating. Self-cleaning tests were performed using Rhodamine B (RhB) as a pollution indicator. The effect of UV-irradiation on the films was also studied. Anatase and rutile incorporated as a mixture with different ratios in local paint and washability as well as a contrast ratio tests were performed. It was found that the addition of TiO{sub 2} NPs in combination with irradiation show a great enhancement of RhB degradation (1%) wt. with a decrease in contact angle and improved washability.« less

  19. Preparation and Investigation of Electrodeposited Ni-NANO-Cr2O3 Composite Coatings

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jiang, Jibo; Feng, Chenqi; Qian, Wei; Yu, Libin; Ye, Fengying; Zhong, Qingdong; Han, Sheng

    2016-12-01

    The electrodeposition of Ni-nano-Cr2O3 composite coatings was studied in electrolyte containing different contents of Cr2O3 nanoparticles (Cr2O3 NPs) on mild steel surfaces. Some techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microhardness, the potentiodynamic polarization curves (Tafel) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to compare pure Ni coatings and Ni-nano-Cr2O3 composite coatings. The results show that the incorporation of Cr2O3 NPs resulted in an increase of hardness and corrosion resistance, and the maximum microhardness of Ni-nano-Cr2O3 composite coatings reaches about 495 HV. The coatings exhibit an active-passive transition and relatively large impedance values. Moreover, the effect of Cr2O3 NPs on Ni electrocrystallization is also investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and EIS spectroscopy, which demonstrates that the nature of Ni-based composite coatings changes attributes to Cr2O3 NPs by offering more nucleation sites and less charge transfer resistance.

  20. Silver nanoparticles as a medical device in healthcare settings: a five-step approach for candidate screening of coating agents

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marassi, Valentina; Di Cristo, Luisana; Smith, Stephen G. J.; Ortelli, Simona; Blosi, Magda; Costa, Anna L.; Reschiglian, Pierluigi; Volkov, Yuri; Prina-Mello, Adriele

    2018-01-01

    Silver nanoparticle-based antimicrobials can promote a long lasting bactericidal effect without detrimental toxic side effects. However, there is not a clear and complete protocol to define and relate the properties of the particles (size, shape, surface charge, ionic content) with their specific activity. In this paper, we propose an effective multi-step approach for the identification of a `purpose-specific active applicability window' to maximize the antimicrobial activity of medical devices containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) (such as surface coaters), minimizing any consequent risk for human health (safety by design strategy). The antimicrobial activity and the cellular toxicity of four types of Ag NPs, differing in their coating composition and concentration have been quantified. Through the implementation of flow-field flow fractionation, Ag NPs have been characterized in terms of metal release, size and shape. The particles are fractionated in the process while being left unmodified, allowing for the identification of biological particle-specific contribution. Toxicity and inflammatory response in vitro have been assessed on human skin models, while antimicrobial activity has been monitored with both non-pathogenic and pathogenic Escherichia coli. The main benefit associated with such approach is the comprehensive assessment of the maximal effectiveness of candidate nanomaterials, while simultaneously indexing their properties against their safety.

  1. Silver nanoparticles as a medical device in healthcare settings: a five-step approach for candidate screening of coating agents.

    PubMed

    Marassi, Valentina; Di Cristo, Luisana; Smith, Stephen G J; Ortelli, Simona; Blosi, Magda; Costa, Anna L; Reschiglian, Pierluigi; Volkov, Yuri; Prina-Mello, Adriele

    2018-01-01

    Silver nanoparticle-based antimicrobials can promote a long lasting bactericidal effect without detrimental toxic side effects. However, there is not a clear and complete protocol to define and relate the properties of the particles (size, shape, surface charge, ionic content) with their specific activity. In this paper, we propose an effective multi-step approach for the identification of a 'purpose-specific active applicability window' to maximize the antimicrobial activity of medical devices containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) (such as surface coaters), minimizing any consequent risk for human health (safety by design strategy). The antimicrobial activity and the cellular toxicity of four types of Ag NPs, differing in their coating composition and concentration have been quantified. Through the implementation of flow-field flow fractionation, Ag NPs have been characterized in terms of metal release, size and shape. The particles are fractionated in the process while being left unmodified, allowing for the identification of biological particle-specific contribution. Toxicity and inflammatory response in vitro have been assessed on human skin models, while antimicrobial activity has been monitored with both non-pathogenic and pathogenic Escherichia coli . The main benefit associated with such approach is the comprehensive assessment of the maximal effectiveness of candidate nanomaterials, while simultaneously indexing their properties against their safety.

  2. Silver nanoparticles as a medical device in healthcare settings: a five-step approach for candidate screening of coating agents

    PubMed Central

    Marassi, Valentina; Di Cristo, Luisana; Smith, Stephen G. J.; Ortelli, Simona; Blosi, Magda; Costa, Anna L.; Reschiglian, Pierluigi; Volkov, Yuri

    2018-01-01

    Silver nanoparticle-based antimicrobials can promote a long lasting bactericidal effect without detrimental toxic side effects. However, there is not a clear and complete protocol to define and relate the properties of the particles (size, shape, surface charge, ionic content) with their specific activity. In this paper, we propose an effective multi-step approach for the identification of a ‘purpose-specific active applicability window’ to maximize the antimicrobial activity of medical devices containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) (such as surface coaters), minimizing any consequent risk for human health (safety by design strategy). The antimicrobial activity and the cellular toxicity of four types of Ag NPs, differing in their coating composition and concentration have been quantified. Through the implementation of flow-field flow fractionation, Ag NPs have been characterized in terms of metal release, size and shape. The particles are fractionated in the process while being left unmodified, allowing for the identification of biological particle-specific contribution. Toxicity and inflammatory response in vitro have been assessed on human skin models, while antimicrobial activity has been monitored with both non-pathogenic and pathogenic Escherichia coli. The main benefit associated with such approach is the comprehensive assessment of the maximal effectiveness of candidate nanomaterials, while simultaneously indexing their properties against their safety. PMID:29410826

  3. Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles in Targeted Drug/Gene Delivery Systems.

    PubMed

    Shen, Lazhen; Li, Bei; Qiao, Yongsheng

    2018-02-23

    Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs), the most traditional magnetic nanoparticles, have received a great deal of attention in the biomedical field, especially for targeted drug/gene delivery systems, due to their outstanding magnetism, biocompatibility, lower toxicity, biodegradability, and other features. Naked Fe₃O₄ NPs are easy to aggregate and oxidize, and thus are often made with various coatings to realize superior properties for targeted drug/gene delivery. In this review, we first list the three commonly utilized synthesis methods of Fe₃O₄ NPs, and their advantages and disadvantages. In the second part, we describe coating materials that exhibit noticeable features that allow functionalization of Fe₃O₄ NPs and summarize their methods of drug targeting/gene delivery. Then our efforts will be devoted to the research status and progress of several different functionalized Fe₃O₄ NP delivery systems loaded with chemotherapeutic agents, and we present targeted gene transitive carriers in detail. In the following section, we illuminate the most effective treatment systems of the combined drug and gene therapy. Finally, we propose opportunities and challenges of the clinical transformation of Fe₃O₄ NPs targeting drug/gene delivery systems.

  4. The functional dissection of the plasma corona of SiO₂-NPs spots histidine rich glycoprotein as a major player able to hamper nanoparticle capture by macrophages.

    PubMed

    Fedeli, Chiara; Segat, Daniela; Tavano, Regina; Bubacco, Luigi; De Franceschi, Giorgia; de Laureto, Patrizia Polverino; Lubian, Elisa; Selvestrel, Francesco; Mancin, Fabrizio; Papini, Emanuele

    2015-11-14

    A coat of strongly-bound host proteins, or hard corona, may influence the biological and pharmacological features of nanotheranostics by altering their cell-interaction selectivity and macrophage clearance. With the goal of identifying specific corona-effectors, we investigated how the capture of amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs; Ø = 26 nm; zeta potential = -18.3 mV) by human lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages is modulated by the prominent proteins of their plasma corona. LC MS/MS analysis, western blotting and quantitative SDS-PAGE densitometry show that Histidine Rich Glycoprotein (HRG) is the most abundant component of the SiO2-NP hard corona in excess plasma from humans (HP) and mice (MP), together with minor amounts of the homologous Kininogen-1 (Kin-1), while it is remarkably absent in their Foetal Calf Serum (FCS)-derived corona. HRG binds with high affinity to SiO2-NPs (HRG Kd ∼2 nM) and competes with other plasma proteins for the NP surface, so forming a stable and quite homogeneous corona inhibiting nanoparticles binding to the macrophage membrane and their subsequent uptake. Conversely, in the case of lymphocytes and monocytes not only HRG but also several common plasma proteins can interchange in this inhibitory activity. The depletion of HRG and Kin-1 from HP or their plasma exhaustion by increasing NP concentration (>40 μg ml(-1) in 10% HP) lead to a heterogeneous hard corona, mostly formed by fibrinogen (Fibr), HDLs, LDLs, IgGs, Kallikrein and several minor components, allowing nanoparticle binding to macrophages. Consistently, the FCS-derived SiO2-NP hard corona, mainly formed by hemoglobin, α2 macroglobulin and HDLs but lacking HRG, permits nanoparticle uptake by macrophages. Moreover, purified HRG competes with FCS proteins for the NP surface, inhibiting their recruitment in the corona and blocking NP macrophage capture. HRG, the main component of the plasma-derived SiO2-NPs' hard corona, has antiopsonin characteristics and

  5. Copper Nanoparticle Induced Cytotoxicity to Nitrifying Bacteria ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    With the inclusion of engineered nanomaterials in industrial processes and consumer products, wastewater treatments plants (WWTPs) will serve as a major sink for these emerging contaminants. Previous research has demonstrated that nanomaterials are potentially toxic to microbial communities utilized in biological wastewater treatment (BWT). Copper-based nanoparticles (CuNPs) are of particular interest based on their increasing use in wood treatment, paints, household products, coatings, and byproducts of semiconductor manufacturing. A critical step in BWT is nutrient removal via denitrification. This study examined the potential toxicity of bare and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated CuO, and Cu2O nanoparticles, as well as Cu ions to microbial communities responsible for nitrogen removal in BWT. Inhibition was inferred from changes to the specific oxygen uptake rate (sOUR) in the absence and presence of Cu ions and CuNPs. X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, with Linear Combination Fitting (LCF), was utilized to track changes to Cu speciation throughout exposure. Results indicate that the dissolution of Cu ions from CuNPs drive microbial inhibition. The presence of a PVP coating on CuNPs has little effect on inhibition. LCF fitting of the biomass combined with metal partitioning analysis supports the current hypothesis that Cu-induced cytotoxicity is primarily caused by reactive oxygen species formed from ionic Cu in solution via catalytic reaction inter

  6. Polysaccharide-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles for Imaging and Gene Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Uthaman, Saji; Cherukula, Kondareddy; Cho, Chong-Su; Park, In-Kyu

    2015-01-01

    Today, nanotechnology plays a vital role in biomedical applications, especially for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. Among the many different types of fabricated nanoparticles, magnetic metal oxide nanoparticles stand out as unique and useful tools for biomedical applications, because of their imaging characteristics and therapeutic properties such as drug and gene carriers. Polymer-coated magnetic particles are currently of particular interest to investigators in the fields of nanobiomedicine and fundamental biomaterials. Theranostic magnetic nanoparticles that are encapsulated or coated with polymers not only exhibit imaging properties in response to stimuli, but also can efficiently deliver various drugs and therapeutic genes. Even though a large number of polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles have been fabricated over the last decade, most of these have only been used for imaging purposes. The focus of this review is on polysaccharide-coated magnetic nanoparticles used for imaging and gene delivery. PMID:26078971

  7. Biofabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles coated with phycomolecules as novel micronutrient catalysts for stimulating plant growth of cotton

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Priyanka, N.; Venkatachalam, P.

    2016-12-01

    This study describes the bioengineering of phycomolecule-coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as a novel type of plant-growth-enhancing micronutrient catalyst aimed at increasing crop productivity. The impact of natural engineered phycomolecule-loaded ZnO NPs on plant growth characteristics and biochemical changes in Gossypium hirsutum L. plants was investigated after 21 days of exposure to a wide range of concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 200 mg l-l). ZnO NP exposure significantly enhanced growth and biomass by 125.4% and 132.8%, respectively, in the treated plants compared to the untreated control. Interestingly, photosynthetic pigments, namely, chlorophyll a (134.7%), chlorophyll b (132.6%), carotenoids (160.1%), and total soluble protein contents (165.4%) increased significantly, but the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) content (73.8%) decreased in the ZnO-NP-exposed plants compared to the control. The results showed that there were significant increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD, 267.8%) and peroxidase (POX, 174.5%) enzyme activity, whereas decreased catalase (CAT, 83.2%) activity was recorded in the NP-treated plants compared to the control. ZnO NP treatment did not show distinct alterations (the presence or absence of DNA) in a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) banding pattern. These results suggest that bioengineered ZnO NPs coated with natural phycochemicals display different biochemical effects associated with enhanced growth and biomass in G. hirsutum. Our results imply that ZnO NPs have tremendous potential in their use as an effective plant-growth-promoting micronutrient catalyst in agriculture.

  8. Characteristics of silver nanoparticles in vehicles for biological applications.

    PubMed

    Kejlová, Kristina; Kašpárková, Věra; Krsek, Daniel; Jírová, Dagmar; Kolářová, Hana; Dvořáková, Markéta; Tománková, Kateřina; Mikulcová, Veronika

    2015-12-30

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used for decades as anti-bacterial agents in various industrial fields such as cosmetics, health industry, food storage, textile coatings and environmental applications, although their toxicity is not fully recognized yet. Antimicrobial and catalytic activity of AgNPs depends on their size as well as structure, shape, size distribution, and physico-chemical environment. The unique properties of AgNPs require novel or modified toxicological methods for evaluation of their toxic potential combined with robust analytical methods for characterization of nanoparticles applied in relevant vehicles, e.g., culture medium with/without serum and phosphate buffered saline. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Colon-specific delivery of curcumin by exploiting Eudragit-decorated chitosan nanoparticles in vitro and in vivo

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khatik, Renuka; Mishra, Ramakant; Verma, Ashwni; Dwivedi, Pankaj; Kumar, Vivek; Gupta, Varsha; Paliwal, Sarvesh Kumar; Mishra, Prabhat Ranjan; Dwivedi, Anil Kumar

    2013-09-01

    The aim of present investigation was to prepare chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) and to study the targeting ability of Eudragit S 100 (ES)-coated chitosan nanoparticles (ES-CS-NPs) in comparison with CS-NPs; both loaded with curcumin (CU); to colon, when administered orally, by restricting the size of formulation up to few nanometers and exploiting the pH sensitivity of ES. The CU-loaded CS-NPs (CS-NPs-CU) have been prepared by ionic gelation method. The coating of ES on CS-NPs-CU (ES-CS-NPs-CU) was performed by oil-in-oil solvent evaporation method using coat:core ratio (2:1). The cross-linking of CS with tri poly phosphate during the preparation of CS-NPs has been confirmed by FTIR. CS-NPs-CU and ES-CS-NPs-CU were evaluated for particle size, their size distribution, percentage drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release study. CS-NPs-CU has an average size 173 ± 4.5 nm and poly dispersity index (PDI) 0.16, whereas ES-CS-NPs-CU shows average size 236 ± 3.2 nm and PDI 0.22. Surface morphology of prepared NPs was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The release profile reveals that the ES coating on the ES-CS-NPs-CU protects the release of CU in upper gastrointestinal tract while maximum release of CU occurred in simulated colonic fluids of pH 6.8. There was no major difference in cell viability between ES-CS-NPs-CU and CS-NPs-CU when they were exposed to Caco-2 cells at all equivalent concentrations. The in vivo uptake studies revealed preferential uptake of ES-CS-NPs-CU in the colon. The significantly higher ( P < 0.01) AUC0-∞ has been observed in case of ES-CS-NPs-CU as compared to CU and CS-NPs-CU representing that ES-CS-NPs-CU was more bioavailable. These results demonstrated that ES-CS-NPs-CU may be useful as potential delivery system for treatment of colon cancer.

  10. Fate of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Coated onto Macronutrient Fertilizers in an Alkaline Calcareous Soil

    PubMed Central

    Milani, Narges; Hettiarachchi, Ganga M.; Kirby, Jason K.; Beak, Douglas G.; Stacey, Samuel P.; McLaughlin, Mike J.

    2015-01-01

    Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles may provide a more soluble and plant available source of Zn in Zn fertilizers due to their greater reactivity compared to equivalent micron- or millimetre-sized (bulk) particles. However, the effect of soil on solubility, spatial distribution and speciation of ZnO nanoparticles has not yet been investigated. In this study, we examined the diffusion and solid phase speciation of Zn in an alkaline calcareous soil following application of nanoparticulate and bulk ZnO coated fertilizer products (monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and urea) using laboratory-based x-ray techniques and synchrotron-based μ-x-ray fluorescence (μ–XRF) mapping and absorption fine structure spectroscopy (μ–XAFS). Mapping of the soil-fertilizer reaction zones revealed that most of the applied Zn for all treatments remained on the coated fertilizer granule or close to the point of application after five weeks of incubation in soil. Zinc precipitated mainly as scholzite (CaZn2(PO4)2.2H2O) and zinc ammonium phosphate (Zn(NH4)PO4) species at the surface of MAP granules. These reactions reduced dissolution and diffusion of Zn from the MAP granules. Although Zn remained as zincite (ZnO) at the surface of urea granules, limited diffusion of Zn from ZnO-coated urea granules was also observed for both bulk and nanoparticulate ZnO treatments. This might be due to either the high pH of urea granules, which reduced solubility of Zn, or aggregation (due to high ionic strength) of released ZnO nanoparticles around the granule/point of application. The relative proportion of Zn(OH)2 and ZnCO3 species increased for all Zn treatments with increasing distance from coated MAP and urea granules in the calcareous soil. When coated on macronutrient fertilizers, Zn from ZnO nanoparticles (without surface modifiers) was not more mobile or diffusible compared to bulk forms of ZnO. The results also suggest that risk associated with the presence of ZnO NPs in calcareous soils would be the

  11. Ferritin Decorated PLGA/Paclitaxel Loaded Nanoparticles Endowed with an Enhanced Toxicity Toward MCF-7 Breast Tumor Cells.

    PubMed

    Turino, Ludmila N; Ruggiero, Maria R; Stefanìa, Rachele; Cutrin, Juan C; Aime, Silvio; Geninatti Crich, Simonetta

    2017-04-19

    Polylactic and glycolic acid nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs), coated with L-ferritin, are exploited for the simultaneous delivery of paclitaxel and an amphiphilic Gd based MRI contrast agent into breast cancer cells (MCF7). L-ferritin has been covalently conjugated to the external surface of PLGA-NPs exploiting NHS activated carboxylic groups. The results confirmed that nanoparticles decorated with L-ferritin have many advantages with respect to both albumin-decorated and nondecorated particles. Ferritin moieties endow PLGA-NPs with targeting capability, exploiting SCARA5 receptors overexpressed by these tumor cells, that results in an increased paclitaxel cytotoxicity. Moreover, protein coating increased nanoparticle stability, thus reducing the fast and aspecific drug release before reaching the target. The theranostic potential of the nanoparticles has been demonstrated by evaluating the signal intensity enhancement on T 1 -weighted MRI images of labeled MCF7 cells. The results were compared with that obtained with MDA cells used as negative control due to their lower SCARA5 expression.

  12. Water-dispersible sugar-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. An evaluation of their relaxometric and magnetic hyperthermia properties.

    PubMed

    Lartigue, Lenaic; Innocenti, Claudia; Kalaivani, Thangavel; Awwad, Azzam; Sanchez Duque, Maria del Mar; Guari, Yannick; Larionova, Joulia; Guérin, Christian; Montero, Jean-Louis Georges; Barragan-Montero, Véronique; Arosio, Paolo; Lascialfari, Alessandro; Gatteschi, Dante; Sangregorio, Claudio

    2011-07-13

    Synthesis of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications represents a current challenge. In this paper we present the synthesis and characterization of water-dispersible sugar-coated iron oxide NPs specifically designed as magnetic fluid hyperthermia heat mediators and negative contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. In particular, the influence of the inorganic core size was investigated. To this end, iron oxide NPs with average size in the range of 4-35 nm were prepared by thermal decomposition of molecular precursors and then coated with organic ligands bearing a phosphonate group on one side and rhamnose, mannose, or ribose moieties on the other side. In this way a strong anchorage of the organic ligand on the inorganic surface was simply realized by ligand exchange, due to covalent bonding between the Fe(3+) atom and the phosphonate group. These synthesized nanoobjects can be fully dispersed in water forming colloids that are stable over very long periods. Mannose, ribose, and rhamnose were chosen to test the versatility of the method and also because these carbohydrates, in particular rhamnose, which is a substrate of skin lectin, confer targeting properties to the nanosystems. The magnetic, hyperthermal, and relaxometric properties of all the synthesized samples were investigated. Iron oxide NPs of ca. 16-18 nm were found to represent an efficient bifunctional targeting system for theranostic applications, as they have very good transverse relaxivity (three times larger than the best currently available commercial products) and large heat release upon application of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation with amplitude and frequency close to the human tolerance limit. The results have been rationalized on the basis of the magnetic properties of the investigated samples.

  13. Nanoparticle uptake and their co-localization with cell compartments - a confocal Raman microscopy study at single cell level

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Estrela-Lopis, I.; Romero, G.; Rojas, E.; Moya, S. E.; Donath, E.

    2011-07-01

    Confocal Raman Microscopy, a non-invasive, non-destructive and label-free technique, was employed to study the uptake and localization of nanoparticles (NPs) in the Hepatocarcinoma human cell line HepG2 at the level of single cells. Cells were exposed to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) the surface of which was engineered with polyelectrolytes and lipid layers, aluminium oxide and cerium dioxide nanoparticles. Raman spectra deconvolution was applied to obtain the spatial distributions of NPs together with lipids/proteins in cells. The colocalization of the NPs with different intracellular environments, lipid bodies, protein and DNA, was inferred. Lipid coated CNTs associated preferentially with lipid rich regions, whereas polyelectrolyte coated CNTs were excluded from lipid rich regions. Al2O3 NPs were found in the cytoplasm. CeO2 NPs were readily taken up and have been observed all over the cell. Raman z-scans proved the intracellular distribution of the respective NPs.

  14. Biological Fate of Fe3O4 Core-Shell Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Depending on Particle Surface Chemistry

    PubMed Central

    Rascol, Estelle; Daurat, Morgane; Da Silva, Afitz; Maynadier, Marie; Dorandeu, Christophe; Charnay, Clarence; Garcia, Marcel; Lai-Kee-Him, Joséphine; Bron, Patrick; Auffan, Mélanie; Angeletti, Bernard; Devoisselle, Jean-Marie; Guari, Yannick; Gary-Bobo, Magali; Chopineau, Joël

    2017-01-01

    The biological fate of nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications is highly dependent of their size and charge, their aggregation state and their surface chemistry. The chemical composition of the NPs surface influences their stability in biological fluids, their interaction with proteins, and their attraction to the cell membranes. In this work, core-shell magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Fe3O4@MSN), that are considered as potential theranostic candidates, are coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) lipid bilayer. Their biological fate is studied in comparison to the native NPs. The physicochemical properties of these three types of NPs and their suspension behavior in different media are investigated. The attraction to a membrane model is also evaluated using a supported lipid bilayer. The surface composition of NPs strongly influences their dispersion in biological fluids mimics, protein binding and their interaction with cell membrane. While none of these types of NPs is found to be toxic on mice four days after intravenous injection of a dose of 40 mg kg−1 of NPs, their surface coating nature influences the in vivo biodistribution. Importantly, NP coated with DMPC exhibit a strong accumulation in liver and a very low accumulation in lung in comparison with nude or PEG ones. PMID:28665317

  15. Toxicity Effects of Functionalized Quantum Dots, Gold and Polystyrene Nanoparticles on Target Aquatic Biological Models: A Review.

    PubMed

    Libralato, Giovanni; Galdiero, Emilia; Falanga, Annarita; Carotenuto, Rosa; de Alteriis, Elisabetta; Guida, Marco

    2017-08-31

    Nano-based products are widespread in several sectors, including textiles, medical-products, cosmetics, paints and plastics. Nanosafety and safe-by-design are driving nanoparticle (NP) production and applications through NP functionalization (@NPs). Indeed, @NPs frequently present biological effects that differ from the parent material. This paper reviews the impact of quantum dots (QDs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and polystyrene-cored NPs (PSNPs), evidencing the role of NP functionalization in toxicity definition. Key biological models were taken into consideration for NP evaluation: Saccharomyces cerevisiae , fresh- (F) and saltwater (S) microalgae ( Raphidocelis subcapitata (F), Scenedesmus obliquus (F) and Chlorella spp. (F), and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (S)), Daphnia magna , and Xenopus laevis . QDs are quite widespread in technological devices, and they are known to induce genotoxicity and oxidative stress that can drastically change according to the coating employed. For example, AuNPs are frequently functionalized with antimicrobial peptides, which is shown to both increase their activity and decrease the relative environmental toxicity. P-NPs are frequently coated with NH₂ - for cationic and COOH - for anionic surfaces, but when positively charged toxicity effects can be observed. Careful assessment of functionalized and non-functionalized NPs is compulsory to also understand their potential direct and indirect effects when the coating is removed or degraded.

  16. Bacillus thuringiensis coated zinc oxide nanoparticle and its biopesticidal effects on the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus.

    PubMed

    Malaikozhundan, Balasubramanian; Vaseeharan, Baskaralingam; Vijayakumar, Sekar; Thangaraj, Merlin P

    2017-09-01

    Insect pests belonging to the genus Callosobruchus are the major cause of damage to stored pulse crops. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool for pest control. In the present study, we report for the first time the synthesis and biological evaluation of Bacillus thuringiensis coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Bt-ZnO NPs) on the pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. The biologically synthesized Bt-ZnO NPs were extensively characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Zeta potential. The bio-physical characterization revealed that the Bt-ZnO NPs has a hexagonal wurtzite structures with an average particle size of 20nm. In addition, zeta potential measurement demonstrated that the Bt-ZnO NPs are negatively charged (-12.7mV) and are moderately stable. The biopesticidal effect of Bt-ZnO NPs was tested against the pulse beetle, C. maculatus. Treatment with Bt-ZnO NPs reduced the fecundity (eggs laid) and hatchability of C. maculatus in a dose-dependent manner. A significant delay in the larval, pupal and total development period of C. maculatus was observed after treatment with Bt-ZnO NPs at 25μg/mL. Furthermore, Bt-ZnO NPs are highly effective in the control of C. maculatus and caused 100% mortality at 25μg/mL. The LC 50 value was estimated to be 10.71μg/mL. In addition, treatment with Bt-ZnO NPs decreased the mid-gut α-amylase, cysteine protease, α-glucosidase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in C. maculatus. Our results suggest that Bt-ZnO NPs are effective against C. maculatus and could be used as nanobiopesticides in the control of stored grain insect pests in the future. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. The effect of composition and thermodynamics on the surface morphology of durable superhydrophobic polymer coatings.

    PubMed

    Nahum, Tehila; Dodiuk, Hanna; Kenig, Samuel; Panwar, Artee; Barry, Carol; Mead, Joey

    2017-01-01

    Durable superhydrophobic coatings were synthesized using a system of silica nanoparticles (NPs) to provide nanoscale roughness, fluorosilane to give hydrophobic chemistry, and three different polymer binders: urethane acrylate, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. Coatings composed of different binders incorporating NPs in various concentrations exhibited different superhydrophobic attributes when applied on polycarbonate (PC) and glass substrates and as a function of coating composition. It was found that the substrate surface characteristics and wettability affected the superhydrophobic characteristics of the coatings. Interfacial tension and spreading coefficient parameters (thermodynamics) of the coating components were used to predict the localization of the NPs for the different binders' concentrations. The thermodynamic analysis of the NPs localization was in good agreement with the experimental observations. On the basis of the thermodynamic analysis and the experimental scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, profilometry, and atomic force microscopy results, it was concluded that localization of the NPs on the surface was critical to provide the necessary roughness and resulting superhydrophobicity. The durability evaluated by tape testing of the epoxy formulations was the best on both glass and PC. Several coating compositions retained their superhydrophobicity after the tape test. In summary, it was concluded that thermodynamic analysis is a powerful tool to predict the roughness of the coating due to the location of NPs on the surface, and hence can be used in the design of superhydrophobic coatings.

  18. Gas-Phase Synthesis of Gold- and Silica-Coated Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Boies, Adam Meyer

    2011-12-01

    Composite nanoparticles consisting of separate core-shell materials are of interest for a variety of biomedical and industrial applications. By combining different materials at the nanoscale, particles can exhibit enhanced or multi-functional behavior such as plasmon resonance combined with superparamagnetism. Gas-phase nanoparticle synthesis processes are promising because they can continuously produce particles with high mass-yield rates. In this dissertation, new methods are investigated for producing gas-phase coatings of nanoparticles in an "assembly-line" fashion. Separate processes are developed to create coatings from silica and gold that can be used with a variety of core-particle chemistries. A photoinduced chemical vapor deposition (photo-CVD) method is used to produce silica coatings from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) on the surface of nanoparticles (diameter ˜5--70 nm). Tandem differential mobility analysis (TDMA) of the process demonstrates that particle coatings can be produced with controllable thicknesses (˜1--10 nm) by varying system parameters such as precursor flow rate. Electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy confirm that the photo-CVD films uniformly coat the particles and that the coatings are silica. In order to describe the coating process a chemical mechanism is proposed that includes gas-phase, surface and photochemical reactions. A chemical kinetics model of the mechanism indicates that photo-CVD coating proceeds primarily through the photodecomposition of TEOS which removes ethyl groups, thus creating activated TEOS species. The activated TEOS then adsorbs onto the surface of the particle where a series of subsequent reactions remove the remaining ethyl groups to produce a silica film with an open site for further attachment. The model results show good agreement with the experimentally measured coating trends, where increased TEOS flow increases coating thickness and increased nitrogen flow decreases coating thickness. Gold

  19. Raman scattering studies on PEG functionalized hydroxyapatite nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Yamini, D; Devanand Venkatasubbu, G; Kumar, J; Ramakrishnan, V

    2014-01-03

    The pure hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by wet chemical precipitation method. Raman spectral measurements have been made for pure HAP, pure Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and PEG coated HAP in different mass ratios (sample 1, sample 2 and sample 3). The peaks observed in Raman spectrum of pure HAP and the XRD pattern have confirmed the formation of HAP NPs. Vibrational modes have been assigned for pure HAP and pure PEG 6000. The observed variation in peak position of Raman active vibrational modes of PEG in PEG coated HAP has been elucidated in this work, in terms of intermolecular interactions between PEG and HAP. Further these results suggest that the functionalization of nanoparticles may be independent of PEG mass. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Brain Tumor Diagnostics and Therapeutics with Superparamagnetic Ferrite Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Hyder, Fahmeed; Manjura Hoque, S

    2017-01-01

    Ferrite nanoparticles (F-NPs) can transform both cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Superparamagnetic F-NPs exhibit high magnetic moment and susceptibility such that in presence of a static magnetic field transverse relaxation rate of water protons for MRI contrast is augmented to locate F-NPs (i.e., diagnostics) and exposed to an alternating magnetic field local temperature is increased to induce tissue necrosis (i.e., thermotherapy). F-NPs are modified by chemical synthesis of mixed spinel ferrites as well as their size, shape, and coating. Purposely designed drug-containing nanoparticles (D-NPs) can slowly deliver drugs (i.e., chemotherapy). Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of D-NPs with MRI guidance improves glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment. MRI monitors the location of chemotherapy when D-NPs and F-NPs are coadministered with CED. However superparamagnetic field gradients produced by F-NPs complicate MRI readouts (spatial distortions) and MRS (extensive line broadening). Since extracellular pH (pH e ) is a cancer hallmark, pH e imaging is needed to screen cancer treatments. Biosensor imaging of redundant deviation in shifts (BIRDS) extrapolates pH e from paramagnetically shifted signals and the pH e accuracy remains unaffected by F-NPs. Hence effect of both chemotherapy and thermotherapy can be monitored (by BIRDS), whereas location of F-NPs is revealed (by MRI). Smarter tethering of nanoparticles and agents will impact GBM theranostics.

  1. Effect of Size and Surface Charge of Gold Nanoparticles on their Skin Permeability: A Molecular Dynamics Study

    PubMed Central

    Gupta, Rakesh; Rai, Beena

    2017-01-01

    Molecular level understanding of permeation of nanoparticles through human skin establishes the basis for development of novel transdermal drug delivery systems and design and formulation of cosmetics. Recent experiments suggest that surface coated nano-sized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can penetrate the rat and human skin. However, the mechanisms by which these AuNPs penetrate are not well understood. In this study, we have carried out coarse grained molecular dynamics simulations to explore the permeation of dodecanethiol coated neutral hydrophobic AuNPs of different sizes (2–5 nm) and surface charges (cationic and anionic) through the model skin lipid membrane. The results indicate that the neutral hydrophobic AuNPs disrupted the bilayer and entered in it with in ~200 ns, while charged AuNPs were adsorbed on the bilayer headgroup. The permeation free energy calculation revealed that at the head group of the bilayer, a very small barrier existed for neutral hydrophobic AuNP while a free energy minimum was observed for charged AuNPs. The permeability was maximum for neutral 2 nm gold nanoparticle (AuNP) and minimum for 3 nm cationic AuNP. The obtained results are aligned with recent experimental findings. This study would be helpful in designing customized nanoparticles for cosmetic and transdermal drug delivery application. PMID:28349970

  2. Multifunctional gold nanoparticles for diagnosis and therapy of disease

    PubMed Central

    Mieszawska, Aneta J.; Mulder, Willem J. M.; Fayad, Zahi A.

    2013-01-01

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have a number of physical properties that make them appealing for medical applications. For example, the attenuation of X-rays by gold nanoparticles has led to their use in computed tomography imaging and as adjuvants for radiotherapy. AuNPs have numerous other applications in imaging, therapy and diagnostic systems. The advanced state of synthetic chemistry of gold nanoparticles offers precise control over physicochemical and optical properties. Furthermore gold cores are inert and are considered to be biocompatible and non-toxic. The surface of gold nanoparticles can easily be modified for a specific application and ligands for targeting, drugs or biocompatible coatings can be introduced. AuNPs can be incorporated into larger structures such as polymeric nanoparticles or liposomes that deliver large payloads for enhanced diagnostic applications, efficiently encapsulate drugs for concurrent therapy or add additional imaging labels. This array of features has led to the afore-mentioned applications in biomedical fields, but more recently in approaches where multifunctional gold nanoparticles are used for multiple methods, such as concurrent diagnosis and therapy, so called theranostics. The following review covers basic principles and recent findings in gold nanoparticle applications for imaging, therapy and diagnostics, with a focus on reports of multifunctional AuNPs. PMID:23360440

  3. Extraction of trace amounts of mercury with sodium dodecyle sulphate-coated magnetite nanoparticles and its determination by flow injection inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Faraji, Mohammad; Yamini, Yadollah; Rezaee, Mohammad

    2010-05-15

    A new method for solid-phase extraction and preconcentration of trace amounts Hg(II) from environmental samples was developed by using sodium dodecyle sulphate-coated magnetite nanoparticles (SDS-coated Fe(3)O(4) NPs) as a new extractant. The procedure is based on the adsorption of the analyte, as mercury-Michler's thioketone [Hg(2)(TMK)(4)](2+) complex on the negatively charged surface of the SDS-coated Fe(3)O(4) NPs and then elution of the preconcentrated mercury from the surface of the SDS-coated Fe(3)O(4) NPs prior to its determination by flow injection inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The effects of pH, TMK concentration, SDS and Fe(3)O(4) NPs amounts, eluent type, sample volume and interfering ions on the recovery of the analyte were investigated. Under optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.2-100ngmL(-1) with r(2)=0.9994 (n=8). The limit of detection for Hg(II) determination was 0.04ngmL(-1). Also, relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for the determination of 2 and 50ngmL(-1) of Hg(II) was 5.2 and 4.7% (n=6), respectively. Due to the quantitative extraction of Hg(II) from 1000mL of the sample solution an enhancement factor as large as 1230-fold can be obtained. The proposed method has been validated using a certified reference materials, and also the method has been applied successfully for the determination of Hg(II) in aqueous samples.

  4. Doped Si nanoparticles with conformal carbon coating and cyclized-polyacrylonitrile network as high-capacity and high-rate lithium-ion battery anodes.

    PubMed

    Xie, Ming; Piper, Daniela Molina; Tian, Miao; Clancey, Joel; George, Steven M; Lee, Se-Hee; Zhou, Yun

    2015-09-11

    Doped Si nanoparticles (SiNPs) with conformal carbon coating and cyclized-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) network displayed capacities of 3500 and 3000 mAh g(-1) at C/20 and C/10, respectively. At 1 C, the electrode preserves a specific discharge capacity of ∼1500 mAh g(-1) for at least 60 cycles without decay. Al2O3 atomic layer deposition (ALD) helps improve the initial Coulombic efficiency (CE) to 85%. The dual coating of conformal carbon and cyclized-PAN help alleviate volume change and facilitate charge transfer. Ultra-thin Al2O3 ALD layers help form a stable solid electrolyte interphase interface.

  5. Generation of metal nanoparticles from silver and copper objects: nanoparticle dynamics on surfaces and potential sources of nanoparticles in the environment.

    PubMed

    Glover, Richard D; Miller, John M; Hutchison, James E

    2011-11-22

    The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in antimicrobial applications, including a wide range of consumer goods and apparel, has attracted attention because of the unknown health and environmental risks associated with these emerging materials. Of particular concern is whether there are new risks that are a direct consequence of their nanoscale size. Identifying those risks associated with nanoscale structure has been difficult due to the fundamental challenge of detecting and monitoring nanoparticles in products or the environment. Here, we introduce a new strategy to directly monitor nanoparticles and their transformations under a variety of environmental conditions. These studies reveal unprecedented dynamic behavior of AgNPs on surfaces. Most notably, under ambient conditions at relative humidities greater than 50%, new silver nanoparticles form in the vicinity of the parent particles. This humidity-dependent formation of new particles was broadly observed for a variety of AgNPs and substrate surface coatings. We hypothesize that nanoparticle production occurs through a process involving three stages: (i) oxidation and dissolution of silver from the surface of the particle, (ii) diffusion of silver ion across the surface in an adsorbed water layer, and (iii) formation of new, smaller particles by chemical and/or photoreduction. Guided by these findings, we investigated non-nanoscale sources of silver such as wire, jewelry, and eating utensils that are placed in contact with surfaces and found that they also formed new nanoparticles. Copper objects display similar reactivity, suggesting that this phenomenon may be more general. These findings challenge conventional thinking about nanoparticle reactivity and imply that the production of new nanoparticles is an intrinsic property of the material that is not strongly size dependent. The discovery that AgNPs and CuNPs are generated spontaneously from manmade objects implies that humans have long been in direct

  6. Synthesis of SiO2-Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles Using Ultrasound and Its Application in DNA Extraction from Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Human Cancer Tissues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hieu, Nguyen Minh; Nam, Nguyen Hoang; Huyen, Nguyen Thi; Van Anh, Nguyen Thi; Nghia, Phan Tuan; Khoa, Nguyen Ba; Toan, Nguyen Linh; Luong, Nguyen Hoang

    2017-06-01

    SiO2-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs) were successfully synthesized using ultrasound in order to extract DNA from cancer tissues for application in diagnostics. The core 10.7-nm-diameter Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation of Fe3+ and Fe2+ as reaction substrates and NH4OH as precipitant, then coated with a thin layer of amorphous silica by a modified Stober method. Further SiO2 coating using alkaline hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate in ethanol and water mixture was accelerated in the presence of a 37-kHz ultrasound, resulting in the NPs having different sizes of 14.5 nm (version M1), 24.4 nm (version M2), and 34.9 nm (version M3) with saturation magnetization values of 50.2 emu/g, 18.6 emu/g, 10.3 emu/g, respectively. Among the three Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs versions, the M1 NPs allowed extraction of DNAs from 10 mg formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with the highest recovery of about 100-500 ng/ μl and good purity (A260/A280: 1.8-1.9). The extracted DNAs could be used as templates for downstream amplification of 252-bp sequencing specifically for the Braf cancer biomarker gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), as well as detection of the pathogenic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the human papilloma-virus (HPV) using real-time PCR. DNA extraction recoveries of both EBV and HPV using Fe3O4@SiO2 NPs M1 were significantly better that those using commercialized Fe3O4@SiO2 microbeads, as indicated by lower threshold cycles of all fluorescent signals including fluorescein amidite (FAM) dye representative for EBV infection, hexachlorofluorescein (HEX) dye representative for β-globin (internal control), and SYBR Green dye representative for HPV infection in tested clinical samples from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

  7. Carbon-11 radiolabeling of iron-oxide nanoparticles for dual-modality PET/MR imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharma, Ramesh; Xu, Youwen; Kim, Sung Won; Schueller, Michael J.; Alexoff, David; Smith, S. David; Wang, Wei; Schlyer, David

    2013-07-01

    Dual-modality imaging, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) simultaneously, is a powerful tool to gain valuable information correlating structure with function in biomedicine. The advantage of this dual approach is that the strengths of one modality can balance the weaknesses of the other. However, success of this technique requires developing imaging probes suitable for both. Here, we report on the development of a nanoparticle labeling procedure via covalent bonding with carbon-11 PET isotope. Carbon-11 in the form of [11C]methyl iodide was used as a methylation agent to react with carboxylic acid (-COOH) and amine (-NH2) functional groups of ligands bound to the nanoparticles (NPs). The surface coating ligands present on superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NPs) were radiolabeled to achieve dual-modality PET/MR imaging capabilities. The proof-of-concept dual-modality PET/MR imaging using the radiolabeled SPIO NPs was demonstrated in an in vivo experiment.Dual-modality imaging, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) simultaneously, is a powerful tool to gain valuable information correlating structure with function in biomedicine. The advantage of this dual approach is that the strengths of one modality can balance the weaknesses of the other. However, success of this technique requires developing imaging probes suitable for both. Here, we report on the development of a nanoparticle labeling procedure via covalent bonding with carbon-11 PET isotope. Carbon-11 in the form of [11C]methyl iodide was used as a methylation agent to react with carboxylic acid (-COOH) and amine (-NH2) functional groups of ligands bound to the nanoparticles (NPs). The surface coating ligands present on superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIO NPs) were radiolabeled to achieve dual-modality PET/MR imaging capabilities. The proof-of-concept dual-modality PET/MR imaging using the radiolabeled

  8. Significance of surface charge and shell material of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) based core/shell nanoparticles on the composition of the protein corona.

    PubMed

    Sakulkhu, Usawadee; Mahmoudi, Morteza; Maurizi, Lionel; Coullerez, Geraldine; Hofmann-Amtenbrink, Margarethe; Vries, Marcel; Motazacker, Mahdi; Rezaee, Farhad; Hofmann, Heinrich

    2015-02-01

    As nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used in many applications their safety and efficient applications in nanomedicine have become concerns. Protein coronas on nanomaterials' surfaces can influence how the cell "recognizes" nanoparticles, as well as the in vitro and in vivo NPs' behaviors. The SuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle (SPION) is one of the most prominent agents because of its superparamagnetic properties, which is useful for separation applications. To mimic surface properties of different types of NPs, a core-shell SPION library was prepared by coating with different surfaces: polyvinyl alcohol polymer (PVA) (positive, neutral and negative), SiO2 (positive and negative), titanium dioxide and metal gold. The SPIONs with different surfaces were incubated at a fixed serum : nanoparticle surface ratio, magnetically trapped and washed. The tightly bound proteins were quantified and identified. The surface charge has a great impact on protein adsorption, especially on PVA and silica where proteins preferred binding to the neutral and positively charged surfaces. The importance of surface material on protein adsorption was also revealed by preferential binding on TiO2 and gold coated SPION, even negatively charged. There is no correlation between the protein net charge and the nanoparticle surface charge on protein binding, nor direct correlation between the serum proteins' concentration and the proteins detected in the coronas.

  9. The influence of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) on the reactivity of Fe NPs toward decabrominated diphenyl ether: The Ni doping, temperature, pH, and anion effects.

    PubMed

    Tso, Chih-Ping; Shih, Yang-Hsin

    2017-01-15

    Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commonly used brominated flame retardants in many products. They have accumulated in the environment and become widely dispersed. In this study, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) was applied to modify nanoscale zerovalent iron (NZVI) and bimetallic Ni/Fe nanoparticles (NPs) to prevent NP aggregation. In this study the removal kinetics of the decabrominated diphenyl ethers (DBDE) with CMC-stabilized Fe NPs were evaluated. CMC-stabilized Ni/Fe NPs with an average size of 86.7nm contained metallic Fe 0 and reduced Ni. The colloidal stability decreased with a decrease in pH, which was further accompanied by a change in the removal rate of DBDE. Our results showed that anions do not change the removal rates of DBDE, with the exception of 10mM NO 3 - , which induced the formation of Fe (hydro)oxides on the Fe NP surface, which could further coagulate with DBDE. This study provides important information for our understanding of the influence of CMC coatings on the reactivity of Fe NPs. Because CMC coatings prevent the passivation of Fe in the presence of anions, CMC-coated Fe NPs show potential for the in-situ remediation of PBDEs in the environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. A wireless and sensitive detection of octachlorostyrene using modified AuNPs as signal-amplifying tags.

    PubMed

    Chen, Lan; Li, Jiezhen; ThanhThuy, T Tran; Zhou, Liping; Huang, Chen'an; Yuan, Lijuan; Cai, Qingyun

    2014-02-15

    A wireless, remote query octachlorostyrene (OCS) biosensor was fabricated by coating a mass-sensitive magnetoelastic ribbon with anti-OCS antibody. In response to a time-varying magnetic field, the magnetoelastic sensor mechanically vibrates at a characteristic resonance frequency which inversely depends on the sensor mass loading. As the magnetoelastic film is magnetostrictive itself, the vibrations launch magnetic flux that can be remotely detected using a pickup coil. Au nanoparticles (NPs) were used to amplify the mass loading. In a sample solution containing OCS target and OCS-modified AuNPs (OCS-AuNPs), both OCS and OCS-AuNPs react with the anti-OCS antibody immobilized on the sensor surface in a competition mode. The bound OCS-AuNPs amount is inversely proportional to the OCS target concentration. The reduction of bound OCS-AuNPs induced by free OCS results in significant change in mass loading, which amplifies the responses. The biosensor demonstrates a linear shift in resonance frequency with OCS concentration between 7.4 μM and 9 nM, with a detection limit of 2.8 nM. © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.

  11. Environmental transformations and ecological effects of iron-based nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Lei, Cheng; Sun, Yuqing; Tsang, Daniel C W; Lin, Daohui

    2018-01-01

    The increasing application of iron-based nanoparticles (NPs), especially high concentrations of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI), has raised concerns regarding their environmental behavior and potential ecological effects. In the environment, iron-based NPs undergo physical, chemical, and/or biological transformations as influenced by environmental factors such as pH, ions, dissolved oxygen, natural organic matter (NOM), and biotas. This review presents recent research advances on environmental transformations of iron-based NPs, and articulates their relationships with the observed toxicities. The type and extent of physical, chemical, and biological transformations, including aggregation, oxidation, and bio-reduction, depend on the properties of NPs and the receiving environment. Toxicities of iron-based NPs to bacteria, algae, fish, and plants are increasingly observed, which are evaluated with a particular focus on the underlying mechanisms. The toxicity of iron-based NPs is a function of their properties, tolerance of test organisms, and environmental conditions. Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species is considered as the primary toxic mechanism of iron-based NPs. Factors influencing the toxicity of iron-based NPs are addressed and environmental transformations play a significant role, for example, surface oxidation or coating by NOM generally lowers the toxicity of nZVI. Research gaps and future directions are suggested with an aim to boost concerted research efforts on environmental transformations and toxicity of iron-based NPs, e.g., toxicity studies of transformed NPs in field, expansion of toxicity endpoints, and roles of laden contaminants and surface coating. This review will enhance our understanding of potential risks of iron-based NPs and proper uses of environmentally benign NPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Antibacterial, antibiofilm and cytotoxic effects of Nigella sativa essential oil coated gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Manju, Sivalingam; Malaikozhundan, Balasubramanian; Vijayakumar, Sekar; Shanthi, Sathappan; Jaishabanu, Ameeramja; Ekambaram, Perumal; Vaseeharan, Baskaralingam

    2016-02-01

    This study reports the biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles using essential oil of Nigella sativa (NsEO-AuNPs). The synthesized NsEO-AuNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-vis spectra of NsEO-AuNPs showed strong absorption peak at 540 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed crystalline nature of nanoparticle with distinctive facets (111, 200, 220 and 311 planes) of NsEO-AuNPs. The FTIR spectra recorded peaks at 3388, 2842, 1685, 1607, 1391 and 1018 cm(-1). TEM studies showed the spherical shape of nanoparticles and the particle size ranges between 15.6 and 28.4 nm. The antibacterial activity of NsEO-AuNPs was greater against Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 9542 (16 mm) than Gram negative Vibrio harveyi MTCC 7771 (5 mm) at the concentration of 10 μg ml(-1). NsEO-AuNPs effectively inhibited the biofilm formation of S. aureus and V. harveyi by decreasing the hydrophobicity index (78% and 46% respectively). The in-vitro anti-lung cancer activity confirmed by MTT assay on the cell line of A549 carcinoma cells showed IC50 values of bulk Au at 87.2 μg ml(-1), N. sativa essential oil at 64.15 μg ml(-1) and NsEO-AuNPs at 28.37 μg ml(-1). The IC50 value showed that NsEO-AuNPs was highly effective in inhibiting the A549 lung cancer cells compared to bulk Au and N. sativa essential oil. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Ambient, rapid and facile deposition of polymer brushes for immobilization of plasmonic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yilmaz, Hatice; Pekdemir, Sami; Ipekci, Hasan H.; Kiremitler, N. Burak; Hancer, Mehmet; Onses, M. Serdar

    2016-11-01

    The immobilization of nanoparticles (NPs) is of great interest to many technological applications and scientific fields. Methods to immobilize NPs either lack the uniformity, robustness and controllability or require complex and impractical preparation techniques. This paper aims in closing this gap by presenting practical routes in preparation of poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP) brush grafted silicon oxide terminated substrates for immobilization of NPs. Here, we demonstrate that hydroxyl-terminated P2VP can be deposited using different coating techniques and grafted in air at processing times as short as a few minutes. The grafted P2VP brushes can immobilize spherical Au nanoparticles that are 20 nm in diameter, on the surface of substrates with densities as high as ∼600 particles/μm2. The density of the immobilized NPs can be further tuned with the grafting conditions and duration of the particle treatment. More than 80% of the grafted brushes and Au NPs remain on the substrate following abrasion tests proving mechanical robustness of the coatings. The immobilized Au NPs can impart surface enhanced Raman scattering effects in sensing of molecules, illustrating a representative use of the presented platform.

  14. Acute toxicity and pharmacokinetics of 13 nm-sized PEG-coated gold nanoparticles

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

    Cho, Wan-Seob; Cho, Minjung; Jeong, Jinyoung

    2009-04-01

    In general, gold nanoparticles are recognized as being as nontoxic. Still, there have been some reports on their toxicity, which has been shown to depend on the physical dimension, surface chemistry, and shape of the nanoparticles. In this study, we carry out an in vivo toxicity study using 13 nm-sized gold nanoparticles coated with PEG (MW 5000). In our findings the 13 nm sized PEG-coated gold nanoparticles were seen to induce acute inflammation and apoptosis in the liver. These nanoparticles were found to accumulate in the liver and spleen for up to 7 days after injection and to have longmore » blood circulation times. In addition, transmission electron microscopy showed that numerous cytoplasmic vesicles and lysosomes of liver Kupffer cells and spleen macrophages contained the PEG-coated gold nanoparticles. These findings of toxicity and kinetics of PEG-coated gold nanoparticles may have important clinical implications regarding the safety issue as PEG-coated gold nanoparticles are widely used in biomedical applications.« less

  15. The Evolution of Silica Nanoparticle-polyester Coatings on Surfaces Exposed to Sunlight.

    PubMed

    Truong, Vi Khanh; Stefanovic, Miljan; Maclaughlin, Shane; Tobin, Mark; Vongsvivut, Jitraporn; Al Kobaisi, Mohammad; Crawford, Russell J; Ivanova, Elena P

    2016-10-11

    Corrosion of metallic surfaces is prevalent in the environment and is of great concern in many areas, including the military, transport, aviation, building and food industries, amongst others. Polyester and coatings containing both polyester and silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have been widely used to protect steel substrata from corrosion. In this study, we utilized X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection infrared micro-spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, optical profiling and atomic force microscopy to provide an insight into how exposure to sunlight can cause changes in the micro- and nanoscale integrity of the coatings. No significant change in surface micro-topography was detected using optical profilometry, however, statistically significant nanoscale changes to the surface were detected using atomic force microscopy. Analysis of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection infrared micro-spectroscopy data revealed that degradation of the ester groups had occurred through exposure to ultraviolet light to form COO·, -H2C·, -O·, -CO· radicals. During the degradation process, CO and CO2 were also produced.

  16. Size-controlled synthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their surface coating by gold for biomedical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maleki, H.; Simchi, A.; Imani, M.; Costa, B. F. O.

    2012-11-01

    The size mono-dispersity, saturation magnetization, and surface chemistry of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) are recognized as critical factors for efficient biomedical applications. Here, we performed modified water-in-oil inverse nano-emulsion procedure for preparation of stable colloidal superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs) with high saturation magnetization. To achieve mono-dispersed SPIONs, optimization process was probed on several important factors including molar ratio of iron salts [Fe3+ and Fe2+], the concentration of ammonium hydroxide as reducing agent, and molar ratio of water to surfactant. The biocompatibility of the obtained NPs, at various concentrations, was evaluated via MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the results showed that the NPs were non-toxic at concentrations <0.1 mg/mL. Surface functionalization was performed by conformal coating of the NPs with a thin shell of gold (˜4 nm) through chemical reduction of attached gold salts at the surface of the SPIONs. The Fe3O4 core/Au shell particles demonstrate strong plasmon resonance absorption and can be separated from solution using an external magnetic field. Experimental data from both physical and chemical determinations of the changes in particle size, surface plasmon resonance optical band, phase components, core-shell surface composition, and magnetic properties have confirmed the formation of the mono-dispersed core-shell nanostructure.

  17. Processing and Characterization of Nanoparticle Coatings for Quartz Crystal Microbalance Measurements

    PubMed Central

    Torrey, Jessica D.; Kirschling, Teresa L.; Greenlee, Lauren F.

    2015-01-01

    The quartz-crystal microbalance is a sensitive and versatile tool for measuring adsorption of a variety of compounds (e.g. small molecules, polymers, biomolecules, nanoparticles and cells) to surfaces. While the technique has traditionally been used for measuring adsorption to flat surfaces and thin ridged films, it can also be extended to study adsorption to nanoparticle surfaces when the nanoparticles are fixed to the crystal surface. The sensitivity and accuracy of the measurement depend on the users’ ability to reproducibly prepare a thin uniform nanoparticle coating. This study evaluated four coating techniques, including spin coating, spray coating, drop casting, and electrophoretic deposition, for two unique particle chemistries [nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) and titanium dioxide (TiO2)] to produce uniform and reproducible nanoparticle coatings for real-time quartz-crystal microbalance measurements. Uniform TiO2 coatings were produced from a 50 mg/mL methanol suspension via spin coating. Nanoscale zero-valent iron was best applied by spray coating a low concentration 1.0 mg/mL suspended in methanol. The application of multiple coatings, rather than an increase in the suspension concentration, was the best method to increase the mass of nanoparticles on the crystal surface while maintaining coating uniformity. An upper mass threshold was determined to be approximately 96 µg/cm2; above this mass, coatings no longer maintained their uniform rigid characteristic, and a low signal to noise ratio resulted in loss of measurable signal from crystal resonances above the fundamental. PMID:26958434

  18. Surface-independent antibacterial coating using silver nanoparticle-generating engineered mussel glue.

    PubMed

    Jo, Yun Kee; Seo, Jeong Hyun; Choi, Bong-Hyuk; Kim, Bum Jin; Shin, Hwa Hui; Hwang, Byeong Hee; Cha, Hyung Joon

    2014-11-26

    During implant surgeries, antibacterial agents are needed to prevent bacterial infections, which can cause the formation of biofilms between implanted materials and tissue. Mussel adhesive proteins (MAPs) derived from marine mussels are bioadhesives that show strong adhesion and coating ability on various surfaces even in wet environment. Here, we proposed a novel surface-independent antibacterial coating strategy based on the fusion of MAP to a silver-binding peptide, which can synthesize silver nanoparticles having broad antibacterial activity. This sticky recombinant fusion protein enabled the efficient coating on target surface and the easy generation of silver nanoparticles on the coated-surface under mild condition. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed excellent antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and also revealed good cytocompatibility with mammalian cells. In this coating strategy, MAP-silver binding peptide fusion proteins provide hybrid environment incorporating inorganic silver nanoparticle and simultaneously mediate the interaction of silver nanoparticle with surroundings. Moreover, the silver nanoparticles were fully synthesized on various surfaces including metal, plastic, and glass by a simple, surface-independent coating manner, and they were also successfully synthesized on a nanofiber surface fabricated by electrospinning of the fusion protein. Thus, this facile surface-independent silver nanoparticle-generating antibacterial coating has great potential to be used for the prevention of bacterial infection in diverse biomedical fields.

  19. Controlled assembly of nanoparticle structures: spherical and toroidal superlattices and nanoparticle-coated polymeric beads.

    PubMed

    Isojima, Tatsushi; Suh, Su Kyung; Vander Sande, John B; Hatton, T Alan

    2009-07-21

    The emulsion droplet solvent evaporation method has been used to prepare nanoclusters of monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles of varying morphologies depending on the temperature and rate of solvent evaporation and on the composition (solvent, presence of polymer, nanoparticle concentration, etc.) of the emulsion droplets. In the absence of a polymer, and with increasing solvent evaporation temperatures, the nanoparticles formed single- or multidomain crystalline superlattices, amorphous spherical aggregates, or toroidal clusters, as determined by the energetics and dynamics of the solvent evaporation process. When polymers that are incompatible with the nanoparticle coatings were included in the emulsion formulation, monolayer- and multilayer-coated polymer beads and partially coated Janus beads were prepared; the nanoparticles were expelled by the polymer as its concentration increased on evaporation of the solvent and accumulated on the surfaces of the beads in a well-ordered structure. The precise number of nanoparticle layers depended on the polymer/magnetic nanoparticle ratio in the oil droplet phase parent emulsion. The magnetic nanoparticle superstructures responded to the application of a modest magnetic field by forming regular chains with alignment of nonuniform structures (e.g., toroids and Janus beads) that are in accord with theoretical predictions and with observations in other systems.

  20. Rapid visual detection of quaternary ammonium surfactants using citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) based on hydrophobic effect.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Li-Qing; Yu, Xiao-Dong; Xu, Jing-Juan; Chen, Hong-Yuan

    2014-01-01

    In this work, a rapid, sensitive and low-cost colorimetric method for detection of quaternary ammonium surfactants using citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was developed. The quaternary ammonium surfactants induce the aggregation of Ag NPs through the hydrophobic effect, which is a novel aggregation mechanism of Ag NPs. The addition of cationic surfactant results in color change of Ag NPs solution from yellow to red and finally to colorless, which is due to the broadening of the surface plasmon band. The color change was monitored using a UV-vis spectrophotometer. The LOD of different cationic surfactants was in the range of 0.5-5 µM. More importantly, this detection method was successfully utilized to the disinfectant residual sample. Crown Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Polymer nanoparticles for cross-presentation of exogenous antigens and enhanced cytotoxic T-lymphocyte immune response

    PubMed Central

    Song, Chanyoung; Noh, Young-Woock; Lim, Yong Taik

    2016-01-01

    Effective induction of an antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune response is one of the key goals of cancer immunotherapy. We report the design and fabrication of polyethylenimine (PEI)-coated polymer nanoparticles (NPs) as efficient antigen-delivery carriers that can induce antigen cross-presentation and a strong CTL response. After synthesis of poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) NPs containing ovalbumin (OVA) by the double-emulsion solvent-evaporation method, cationic-charged PLGA NPs were generated by coating them with PEI. In a methyl tetrazolium salt assay, no discernible cytotoxic effect of PEI-coated PLGA (OVA) NPs was observed. The capacity and mechanism of PEI-coated PLGA (OVA) NPs for antigen delivery and cross-presentation on dendritic cells (DCs) were determined by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. PEI-coated PLGA (OVA) NPs were internalized efficiently via phagocytosis or macropinocytosis in DCs and induced efficient cross-presentation of the antigen on MHC class I molecules via both endosome escape and a lysosomal processing mechanism. The DCs treated with PEI-coated PLGA (OVA) NPs induced a release of IL-2 cytokine from OVA-specific CD8-OVA1.3 T cells more efficiently than DCs treated with PLGA (OVA) NPs. Therefore, the PEI-coated PLGA (OVA) NPs can induce antigen cross-presentation and are expected to be used for induction of a strong CTL immune response and for efficient anticancer immunotherapy. PMID:27540289

  2. Preparation and characterization of AuNPs/CNTs-ErGO electrochemical sensors for highly sensitive detection of hydrazine.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Zhenting; Sun, Yongjiao; Li, Pengwei; Zhang, Wendong; Lian, Kun; Hu, Jie; Chen, Yong

    2016-09-01

    A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor of hydrazine has been fabricated by Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) coating of carbon nanotubes-electrochemical reduced graphene oxide composite film (CNTs-ErGO) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Cyclic voltammetry and potential amperometry have been used to investigate the electrochemical properties of the fabricated sensors for hydrazine detection. The performances of the sensors were optimized by varying the CNTs to ErGO ratio and the quantity of Au nanoparticles. The results show that under optimal conditions, a sensitivity of 9.73μAμM(-1)cm(-2), a short response time of 3s, and a low detection limit of 0.065μM could be achieved with a linear concentration response range from 0.3μM to 319μM. The enhanced electrochemical performances could be attributed to the synergistic effect between AuNPs and CNTs-ErGO film and the outstanding catalytic effect of the Au nanoparticles. Finally, the sensor was successfully used to analyse the tap water, showing high potential for practical applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. One-step preparation of antimicrobial silver nanoparticles in polymer matrix

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lyutakov, O.; Kalachyova, Y.; Solovyev, A.; Vytykacova, S.; Svanda, J.; Siegel, J.; Ulbrich, P.; Svorcik, V.

    2015-03-01

    Simple one-step procedure for in situ preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the polymer thin films is described. Nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by reaction of N-methyl pyrrolidone with silver salt in semi-dry polymer film and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, XPS, and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. Direct synthesis of NPs in polymer has several advantages; even though it avoids time-consuming NPs mixing with polymer matrix, uniform silver distribution in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) films is achieved without necessity of additional stabilization. The influence of the silver concentration, reaction temperature and time on reaction conversion rate, and the size and size-distribution of the AgNPs was investigated. Polymer films doped with AgNPs were tested for their antibacterial activity on Gram-negative bacteria. Antimicrobial properties of AgNPs/PMMA films were found to be depended on NPs concentration, their size and distribution. Proposed one-step synthesis of functional polymer containing AgNPs is environmentally friendly, experimentally simple and extremely quick. It opens up new possibilities in development of antimicrobial coatings with medical and sanitation applications.

  4. Effective oral delivery of insulin in animal models using vitamin B12-coated dextran nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Chalasani, Kishore B; Russell-Jones, Gregory J; Jain, Akhlesh K; Diwan, Prakash V; Jain, Sanjay K

    2007-09-26

    The potential utility of vitamin B12 carrier system for the oral delivery of conjugated peptides/proteins and enhancement of nanoparticles (NPs) transport has been demonstrated. The present study aims to optimize the effectiveness of VB12-NPs conjugates using different levels of cross-linking, linked with different VB(12)-coatings and evaluates in animal models to investigate an efficient insulin carrier. Amino alkyl VB12 derivatives suitable for oral delivery were synthesized at 5'hydoxy ribose and e-propionamide sites via carbamate and ester/amide linkages, and were coupled to succinic acid modified dextran NPs of varied cross-linking. VB12 binding was confirmed by XPS analysis, and was quantified by HPLC (4.0 to 5.7% w/w of NPs). These polydisperse NPs conjugates showed higher size, high insulin entrapment and faster insulin release with low levels of cross-linking. These VB12-NPs conjugates (150-300 nm) showed profound (70-75% blood glucose reductions) and prolonged (54 h) anti-diabetic effects with biphasic behaviour in STZ diabetic rats. NPs with the low levels of cross-linking were found to be superior carriers, and were more effective with VB12 derivatives of carbamate linkage. The pharmacological availability relative to SC insulin was found to be 29.4%, which was superior compared to NPs conjugate of ester linked VB12 (1.5 fold) and relatively higher cross-linked particles (1.1 fold). Further, the NPs carrier demonstrated a similar oral insulin efficacy in congenital diabetic mice (60% reduction at 20 h). Significant quantities of plasma insulin were found in both animal models (231 and 197 muIU/ml). At two investigated doses, the carrier system shows dose response. Pre-dosing with a large excess of free VB12 minimized the observed activity, indicating predominance of VB12 mediated uptake. It is concluded that VB12-dextran NPs conjugate is a viable carrier for peroral insulin delivery to treat diabetics.

  5. Experimental and Modeling Study on Detachment of Silver Nanoparticles in Saturated Granular Media

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, I.; Jeon, C. H.; Lawler, D. F.

    2017-12-01

    The detachment of citrate-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) previously captured in a column packed with 350-μm glass beads was investigated either by increasing the hydrodynamic force (filtration velocity) or by reducing electrosteric attraction. Overall, the physical enforcement showed negligible (0.4 0.7%) release of attached AgNPs while the chemically-driven force resulted in the noticeable release up to 25.5% of attached AgNPs. Among the chemical parameters tested in this study, Na ionic strength reduction clearly demonstrated the reversible deposition in the secondary energy minimum of classical DLVO theory, yielding the most significant release of the attached AgNPs. The immediate and transient AgNP release after the ionic strength reduction further corroborated the weak deposition. However, an insignificant release was observed with Ca ionic strength reduction due to the strong Ca-citrate complexation and the subsequent deposition in the primary energy minimum; calculations indicated that the depth of the secondary energy minimum was only 1/10 that of the Na ion case. The natural organic matter (NOM) coating on both AgNPs and granular media resulted in approximately 6.1% greater AgNP release compared to the case without NOM coating, indicating additional weak deposition due to the reduced steric attraction between AgNPs and granular media. A modified filtration model in agreement with the experimental data provided the estimated detachment coefficient as a transient AgNP releasing capacity independent of the amount of attached AgNPs. The marginal difference between the detachment coefficients from Na ionic strength reduction and NOM coating indicates the release potential by NOM coating was possibly underestimated in the experimental study due to a lesser amount of the initially attached AgNPs. The findings provide insights into chemical factors on possible reentrainment behavior of the engineered nanoparticles in soil and groundwater contamination.

  6. Mixed-charge nanoparticles for long circulation, low reticuloendothelial system clearance, and high tumor accumulation.

    PubMed

    Liu, Xiangsheng; Li, Huan; Chen, Yangjun; Jin, Qiao; Ren, Kefeng; Ji, Jian

    2014-09-01

    Mixed-charge zwitterionic surface modification shows great potential as a simple strategy to fabricate nanoparticle (NP) surfaces that are nonfouling. Here, the in vivo fate of 16 nm mixed-charge gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is investigated, coated with mixed quaternary ammonium and sulfonic groups. The results show that mixed-charge AuNPs have a much longer blood half-life (≈30.6 h) than do poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, M¯w = 2000) -coated AuNPs (≈6.65 h) and they accumulate in the liver and spleen far less than do the PEGylated AuNPs. Using transmission electron microscopy, it is further confirmed that the mixed-charge AuNPs have much lower uptake and different existing states in liver Kupffer cells and spleen macrophages one month after injection compared with the PEGylated AuNPs. Moreover, these mixed-charge AuNPs do not cause appreciable toxicity at this tested dose to mice in a period of 1 month as evidenced by histological examinations. Importantly, the mixed-charge AuNPs have higher accumulation and slower clearance in tumors than do PEGylated AuNPs for times of 24-72 h. Results from this work show promise for effectively designing tumor-targeting NPs that can minimize reticuloendothelial system clearance and circulate for long periods by using a simple mixed-charge strategy. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  7. Kanamycin Sulphate Loaded PLGA-Vitamin-E-TPGS Long Circulating Nanoparticles Using Combined Coating of PEG and Water-Soluble Chitosan

    PubMed Central

    Mustafa, Sanaul

    2017-01-01

    Kanamycin sulphate (KS) is a Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein synthesis inhibitor. Due to its intense hydrophilicity, KS is cleared from the body within 8 h. KS has a very short plasma half-life (2.5 h). KS is used in high concentrations to reach the therapeutic levels in plasma, which results in serious nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity. To overcome aforementioned limitations, the current study aimed to develop KS loaded PLGA-Vitamin-E-TPGS nanoparticles (KS-PLGA-TPGS NPs), to act as an efficient carrier for controlled delivery of KS. To achieve a substantial extension in blood circulation, a combined design, affixation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to KS-PLGA-TPGS NPs and adsorption of water-soluble chitosan (WSC) (cationic deacetylated chitin) to particle surface, was raised for surface modification of NPs. Surface modified NPs (KS-PEG-WSC NPs) were prepared to provide controlled delivery and circulate in the bloodstream for an extended period of time, thus minimizing dosing frequency. In vivo pharmacokinetics and in vivo biodistribution following intramuscular administration were investigated. NPs surface charge was close to neutral +3.61 mV and significantly affected by the WSC coating. KS-PEG-WSC NPs presented striking prolongation in blood circulation, reduced protein binding, and long drew-out the blood circulation half-life with resultant reduced kidney sequestration vis-à-vis KS-PLGA-TPGS NPs. The studies, therefore, indicate the successful formulation development of KS-PEG-WSC NPs with reduced frequency of dosing of KS indicating low incidence of nephrotoxicity/ototoxicity. PMID:28352475

  8. The synergistic effects of carbon coating and micropore structure on the microwave absorption properties of Co/CoO nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Xie, Xiubo; Pang, Yu; Kikuchi, Hiroaki; Liu, Tong

    2016-11-09

    25 nm carbon-coated microporous Co/CoO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by integrating chemical de-alloying and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods. The NPs possess micropores of 0.8-1.5 nm and display a homogeneous carbon shell of about 4 nm in thickness with a low graphitization degree. The saturation magnetization (M S ) and coercivity (H C ) of the NPs were 70.3 emu g -1 and 398.4 Oe, respectively. The microporous Co/CoO/C NPs exhibited enhanced microwave absorption performance with a minimum reflection coefficient (RC) of -78.4 dB and a wide absorption bandwidth of 8.1 GHz (RC ≤ -10 dB), larger than those of the nonporous counterparts of -68.3 dB and 5.8 GHz. The minimum RC values of the microporous Co/CoO/C NPs at different thicknesses were much smaller than the nonporous counterparts. The high microwave absorption mechanism of the microporous Co/CoO/C nanocomposite can be interpreted in terms of the interfacial polarization relaxation of the core/shell and micropore structures, the effective permittivity modification of the air in the micropores and the polarization relaxation of the defects in the low-graphitization carbon shell and the porous Co NPs. Our study demonstrates that the microporous Co/CoO/C nanocomposite is an efficient microwave absorber with high absorption intensity and wide absorption bandwidth.

  9. Cytotoxicity of various types of gold-mesoporous silica nanoparticles in human breast cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Guomu; Li, Qiongshu; Ni, Weihua; Zhang, Nannan; Zheng, Xiao; Wang, Yingshuai; Shao, Dan; Tai, Guixiang

    2015-01-01

    Recently, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have shown promising biological applications due to their unique electronic and optical properties. However, the potential toxicity of AuNPs remains a major hurdle that impedes their use in clinical settings. Mesoporous silica is very suitable for the use as a coating material for AuNPs and might not only reduce the cytotoxicity of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated AuNPs but might also facilitate the loading and delivery of drugs. Herein, three types of rod-like gold-mesoporous silica nanoparticles (termed bare AuNPs, core–shell Au@mSiO2NPs, and Janus Au@mSiO2NPs) were specially designed, and the effects of these AuNPs on cellular uptake, toxic behavior, and mechanism were then systematically studied. Our results indicate that bare AuNPs exerted higher toxicity than the Au@mSiO2NPs and that Janus Au@mSiO2NPs exhibited the lowest toxicity in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, consistent with the endocytosis capacity of the nanoparticles, which followed the order, bare AuNPs > core–shell Au@mSiO2NPs > Janus Au@mSiO2NPs. More importantly, the AuNPs-induced apoptosis of MCF-7 cells exhibited features that were characteristic of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, activation of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, an enhanced Bax-to-Bcl-2 ratio, and loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential. Simultaneously, cytochrome c was released from mitochondria, and the caspase-3/9 cascade was activated. Moreover, both ROS scavenger (N-acetylcysteine) and JNK inhibitor (SP600125) partly blocked the induction of apoptosis in all AuNPs-treated cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that all AuNPs induce apoptosis through the ROS-/JNK-mediated mitochondrial pathway. Thus, Janus Au@mSiO2NPs exhibit the potential for applications in biomedicine, thus aiding the clinical translation of AuNPs. PMID:26491285

  10. The effect of composition and thermodynamics on the surface morphology of durable superhydrophobic polymer coatings

    PubMed Central

    Nahum, Tehila; Dodiuk, Hanna; Kenig, Samuel; Panwar, Artee; Barry, Carol; Mead, Joey

    2017-01-01

    Durable superhydrophobic coatings were synthesized using a system of silica nanoparticles (NPs) to provide nanoscale roughness, fluorosilane to give hydrophobic chemistry, and three different polymer binders: urethane acrylate, ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, and epoxy. Coatings composed of different binders incorporating NPs in various concentrations exhibited different superhydrophobic attributes when applied on polycarbonate (PC) and glass substrates and as a function of coating composition. It was found that the substrate surface characteristics and wettability affected the superhydrophobic characteristics of the coatings. Interfacial tension and spreading coefficient parameters (thermodynamics) of the coating components were used to predict the localization of the NPs for the different binders’ concentrations. The thermodynamic analysis of the NPs localization was in good agreement with the experimental observations. On the basis of the thermodynamic analysis and the experimental scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, profilometry, and atomic force microscopy results, it was concluded that localization of the NPs on the surface was critical to provide the necessary roughness and resulting superhydrophobicity. The durability evaluated by tape testing of the epoxy formulations was the best on both glass and PC. Several coating compositions retained their superhydrophobicity after the tape test. In summary, it was concluded that thermodynamic analysis is a powerful tool to predict the roughness of the coating due to the location of NPs on the surface, and hence can be used in the design of superhydrophobic coatings. PMID:28243071

  11. Synthesis of superparamagnetic silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles for biomedical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kaur, Navjot; Chudasama, Bhupendra

    2015-05-01

    Multifunctional superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with silica are widely researched for biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging, tissue repair, cell separation, hyperthermia, drug delivery, etc. In this article synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles and their coating with SiO2 is reported. Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation and it was coated with silica by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate. XRD, FTIR, TEM and VSM techniques were used to characterize bare and coated nanoparticles. Results indicated that the average size of SPIONS was 8.4 nm. X-ray diffraction patterns of silica coated SPIONS were identical to that of SPIONS confirming the inner spinal structure of SPIONS. FTIR results confirmed the binding of silica with the magnetite and the formation of the silica shell around the magnetite core. Magnetic properties of SPIONS and silica coated SPIONS are determined by VSM. They are superparamagnetic. The major conclusion drawn from this study is that the synthesis route yields stable, non-aggregated magnetite-silica core-shell nanostructures with tailored morphology and excellent magnetic properties.

  12. Dose-dependent effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on fertility and survival of Drosophila: An in-vivo study

    PubMed Central

    Raj, Akanksha; Shah, Prasanna

    2017-01-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) containing consumer products have been proliferating in the market due to its unique antimicrobial property, however, lack of in-depth knowledge about their potential effect on human health in a longer run is of great concern. Therefore, we investigated dose-dependent in vivo effect of AgNPs using Drosophila as a model system. Drosophila, a genetically tractable organism with distinct developmental stages, short life cycle and significant homology with human serves as an ideal organism to study nanomaterial-mediated toxicity. Our studies suggest that ingestion of AgNPs in Drosophila during adult stage for short and long duration significantly affects egg laying capability along with impaired growth of ovary. Additionally, dietary intake of AgNPs from larval stage has more deleterious effects that result in reduced survival, longevity, ovary size and egg laying capability at a further lower dosage. Interestingly, the trans-generational effect of AgNPs was also observed without feeding progeny with AgNPs, thereby suggesting its impact from previous generation. Our results strongly imply that higher doses of AgNPs and its administration early during development is detrimental to the reproductive health and survival of Drosophila that follows in generations to come without feeding them to AgNPs. PMID:28542630

  13. Dose-dependent effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on fertility and survival of Drosophila: An in-vivo study.

    PubMed

    Raj, Akanksha; Shah, Prasanna; Agrawal, Namita

    2017-01-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) containing consumer products have been proliferating in the market due to its unique antimicrobial property, however, lack of in-depth knowledge about their potential effect on human health in a longer run is of great concern. Therefore, we investigated dose-dependent in vivo effect of AgNPs using Drosophila as a model system. Drosophila, a genetically tractable organism with distinct developmental stages, short life cycle and significant homology with human serves as an ideal organism to study nanomaterial-mediated toxicity. Our studies suggest that ingestion of AgNPs in Drosophila during adult stage for short and long duration significantly affects egg laying capability along with impaired growth of ovary. Additionally, dietary intake of AgNPs from larval stage has more deleterious effects that result in reduced survival, longevity, ovary size and egg laying capability at a further lower dosage. Interestingly, the trans-generational effect of AgNPs was also observed without feeding progeny with AgNPs, thereby suggesting its impact from previous generation. Our results strongly imply that higher doses of AgNPs and its administration early during development is detrimental to the reproductive health and survival of Drosophila that follows in generations to come without feeding them to AgNPs.

  14. NaNO3/NaCl Oxidant and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Capped Gold Nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a Novel Green Route for AuNPs Detection in Electrochemical Biosensors.

    PubMed

    López-Marzo, Adaris M; Hoyos-de-la-Torre, Raquel; Baldrich, Eva

    2018-03-20

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been exploited as signal-producing tags in electrochemical biosensors. However, the electrochemical detection of AuNPs is currently performed using corrosive acid solutions, which may raise health and environmental concerns. Here, oxidant salts, and specifically the environmentally friendly and occupational safe NaNO 3 /NaCl mixture, have been evaluated for the first time as potential alternatives to the acid solutions traditionally used for AuNPs electrooxidation. In addition, a new strategy to improve the sensitivity of the biosensor through PEG-based ligand exchange to produce less compact and easier to oxidize AuNPs immunoconjugates is presented too. As we show, the electrochemical immunosensor using NaNO 3 /NaCl measurement solution for AuNPs electrooxidation and detection, coupled to the employment of PEG-capped nanoimmunoconjugates, produced results comparable to classical HCl detection. The procedure developed was next tested for human matrix metallopeptidase-9 (hMMP9) analysis, exhibiting a 0.18-23 ng/mL linear range, a detection limit of 0.06 ng/mL, and recoveries between 95 and 105% in spiked human plasma. These results show that the procedure developed is applicable to the analysis of protein biomarkers in blood plasma and could contribute to the development of more environmentally friendly AuNP-based electrochemical biosensors.

  15. Temperature and anion responsive self-assembly of ionic liquid block copolymers coating gold nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Junbo; Zhao, Jianlong; Wu, Wenlan; Liang, Ju; Guo, Jinwu; Zhou, Huiyun; Liang, Lijuan

    2016-06-01

    In this paper, double hydrophilic ionic liquid block copolymers (ILBCs), poly poly[1-methyl-3-(2-methacryloyloxy propylimidazolium bromine)]- block-(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PMMPImB- b-PNIPAAm) was first synthesized by reversible additionfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and then attached on the surface of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) via a strong gold-sulfur bonding for preparing hybrid nanoparticles (PMMPImB- b-PNIPAAm-@-Au NPs). The hybrid NPs had a three layers micelle-like structure, including a gold core, thermo-responsive inner shell and anion responsive outer corona. The self-assembling behavior of thermal- and anion-response from shell and corona were respectively investigated by change of temperature and addition of (CF3SO2)2N-. The results showed the hybrid NPs retained a stable dispersion beyond the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) because of the space or electrostatic protecting by outer PMMPImB. However, with increasing concentration of (CF3SO2)2N-, the micellization of self-assembling PMMPImB- b-PNIPAAm-@-Au NPs was induced to form micellar structure containing the core with hydrophobic PMMPImB-(CF3SO2)2N- surrounded by composite shell of Au NPs-PNIPAAm via the anionresponsive properties of ILBCs. These results indicated that the block copolymers protected plasmonic nanoparticles remain self-assembling properties of block copolymers when phase transition from outer corona polymer.

  16. High efficiency protein separation with organosilane assembled silica coated magnetic nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chang, Jeong Ho; Kang, Ki Ho; Choi, Jinsub; Jeong, Young Keun

    2008-10-01

    This work describes the development of high efficiency protein separation with functionalized organosilanes on the surface of silica coated magnetic nanoparticles. The magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized with average particle size of 9 nm and silica coated magnetic nanoparticles were obtained by controlling the coating thicknesses on magnetic nanoparticles. The silica coating thickness could be uniformly sized with a diameter of 10-40 nm by a sol-gel approach. The surface modification was performed with four kinds of functionalized organosilanes such as carboxyl, aldehyde, amine, and thiol groups. The protein separation work with organosilane assembled silica coated magnetic nanoparticles was achieved for model proteins such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme (LSZ) at different pH conditions. Among the various functionalities, the thiol group showed good separation efficiency due to the change of electrostatic interactions and protein conformational structure. The adsorption efficiency of BSA and LSZ was up to 74% and 90% corresponding pH 4.65 and pH 11.

  17. Monodispersed spherical shaped selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized by Bacillus subtilis and its toxicity evaluation in zebrafish embryos

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chandramohan, Subburaman; Sundar, Krishnan; Muthukumaran, Azhaguchamy

    2018-02-01

    Selenium is one of the essential elements involved in antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects in human body. By naturally, selenium ions are metabolised and converted into nano selenium. Now a days there is an increasing attention on applications of nanoparticles in therapeutic field. In the present study Bacillus subtilis was used to convert sodium selenite to SeNPs. The synthesized SeNPs were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X ray spectroscopy (EDX). The presence of SeNPs was confirmed by the formation of red colour. The bands were sharp with broad absorption peaks at 3562 cm-1 and 1678-1 cm in FTIR which showed that the bacterial proteins were responsible for the reduction of sodium selenite to SeNPs. The average size of the SeNPs was 334 nm and were spherical in shape with uniform distribution. The XRD data confirmed that SeNPs were of amorphous in nature. The zeta potential of SeNPs was negative in charge which indicated high stability. In the present study zebrafish embryos were used to study the toxicity of SeNPs and the results showed that the concentration beyond 10 μg ml-1 leads to toxic effects in embryos/hatchlings. The lesser concentration of SeNPs can be useful in various biomedical applications.

  18. Biodesulfurization of Dibenzothiophene by Microbial Cells Coated with Magnetite Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Shan, GuoBin; Xing, JianMin; Zhang, HuaiYing; Liu, HuiZhou

    2005-01-01

    Microbial cells of Pseudomonas delafieldii were coated with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles and then immobilized by external application of a magnetic field. Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were synthesized by a coprecipitation method followed by modification with ammonium oleate. The surface-modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles were monodispersed in an aqueous solution and did not precipitate in over 18 months. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the average size of the magnetic particles was found to be in the range from 10 to 15 nm. TEM cross section analysis of the cells showed further that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles were for the most part strongly absorbed by the surfaces of the cells and coated the cells. The coated cells had distinct superparamagnetic properties. The magnetization (δs) was 8.39 emu · g−1. The coated cells not only had the same desulfurizing activity as free cells but could also be reused more than five times. Compared to cells immobilized on Celite, the cells coated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles had greater desulfurizing activity and operational stability. PMID:16085841

  19. Development of novel cationic chitosan-and anionic alginate–coated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles for controlled release and light protection of resveratrol

    PubMed Central

    Sanna, Vanna; Roggio, Anna Maria; Siliani, Silvia; Piccinini, Massimo; Marceddu, Salvatore; Mariani, Alberto; Sechi, Mario

    2012-01-01

    Background Resveratrol, like other natural polyphenols, is an extremely photosensitive compound with low chemical stability, which limits the therapeutic application of its beneficial effects. The development of innovative formulation strategies, able to overcome physicochemical and pharmacokinetic limitations of this compound, may be achieved via suitable carriers able to associate controlled release and protection. In this context, nanotechnology is proving to be a powerful strategy. In this study, we developed novel cationic chitosan (CS)- and anionic alginate (Alg)-coated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with the bioactive polyphenolic trans-(E)-resveratrol (RSV) for biomedical applications. Methods NPs were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized in terms of morphology, size and zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, Raman spectroscopy, swelling properties, differential scanning calorimetry, and in vitro release studies. The protective effect of the nanosystems under the light-stressed RSV and long-term stability were investigated. Results NPs turned out to be spherical in shape, with size ranging from 135 to about 580 nm, depending on the composition and the amount of polyelectrolytes, while the encapsulation efficiencies increased from 8% of uncoated poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) to 23% and 32% of Alg- and CS-coated PLGA NPs, respectively. All nanocarriers are characterized by a biphasic release pattern, and more effective controlled release rates are obtained for NPs formulated with higher polyelectrolyte concentrations. Stability studies revealed that encapsulation provides significant protection against light-exposure degradation, by reducing the trans–cis photoisomerization reaction. Moreover, the nanosystems are able to prevent the degradation of trans isoform and the leakage of RSV from the carrier for a period of 6 months. Conclusion Our findings indicated that the newly developed CS- and Alg-coated

  20. Platinum-nanoparticle-supported core-shell polymer nanospheres with unexpected water stability and facile further modification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yuan, Conghui; Xu, Yiting; Luo, Weiang; Zeng, Birong; Qiu, Wuhui; Liu, Jie; Huang, Huiling; Dai, Lizong

    2012-05-01

    Core-shell nanospheres (CSNSs) with hydrophobic cores and hydrophilic shells were fabricated via a simple mini-emulsion polymerization for the stabilization of platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs). The CSNSs showed extremely high loading capacity of Pt-NPs (the largest loading amount of the Pt-NPs was about 49.2 wt%). Importantly, the Pt-NPs/CSNSs nanocomposites had unexpected stability in aqueous solution. DLS results revealed that the CSNSs loaded with Pt-NPs exhibited almost no aggregation after standing for a long time . However, the Pt-NPs immobilized on the CSNSs were not straitlaced: they could transport and redistribute between CSNSs freely when the environmental temperature was higher than the melting point of the CSNS shell. Owing to their excellent stability in aqueous solution, the surface of the Pt-NPs/CSNSs nanocomposites could be further decorated easily. For example, polyaniline (PANI)-coated Pt-NPs/CSNSs, nickel (Ni)-coated Pt-NPs/CSNSs and PANI/Pt-NPs dual-layer hollow nanospheres were facilely fabricated from the Pt-NPs/CSNS nanocomposites.

  1. Evaluation of nickel ferrite nanoparticles coated with oleylamine by NMR relaxation measurements and magnetic hyperthermia.

    PubMed

    Menelaou, M; Georgoula, K; Simeonidis, K; Dendrinou-Samara, C

    2014-03-07

    Nickel ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via a facile solvothermal approach. Oleylamine (OAm) was used in all synthetic procedures as a stabilizing agent and solvent. By varying the polarity of the solvents, hydrophobic NiFe2O4 nanoparticles coated with OAm of relatively similar sizes (9-11.7 nm) and in a range of magnetization values (32.0-53.5 emu g(-1)) were obtained. The as-prepared hydrophobic nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, TGA and VSM and converted to hydrophilic by two different approaches. The addition of a positively charged ligand (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, CTAB) and the ligand exchange procedure (2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, DMSA) have been successfully applied. The aqueous suspensions of NiFe2O4@CTAB and NiFe2O4@DMSA showed good colloidal stability after a long period of time. The different surface modification affected both the NMR relaxometric measurements and the hyperthermia effects. In both techniques CTAB modification demonstrated higher r2 relaxivity (278.9 s(-1) mM(-1) in an NMR spectrometer at 11.7 T) and SAR values (423.4 W g(-1) at an applied AC field with a particle concentration of 0.5 mg mL(-1)). The results indicate that a coating with a larger molecule as CTAB under the same size, shape and magnetization of NiFe2O4 NPs gave rise to NMR relaxometric properties and heating efficacy.

  2. The Impact of Nanoparticle Surface Chemistry on Biological Systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Thorn, Angie Sue Morris

    because they are easy to synthesize and their properties (such as size, porosity and surface chemistry) can be fine-tuned. Silica nanoparticles can be found in thousands of commercially available products such as toothpastes, cosmetics and detergents and are currently being developed for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and biomedical imaging. Our findings herein indicate that the surface chemistry of silica nanoparticles can have an effect on lung inflammation after exposure. Specifically, amine-modified silica NPs are considered to be less toxic compared to bare silica nanoparticles. Together, these studies provide insight into the role that material properties have on toxicity and allow for a better understanding of their impact on human and environmental health. The final aim of this thesis was to develop surface-modified nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. For this, biodegradable, polymeric NPs were used due to their inert nature and biocompatibility. Furthermore, polymeric NPs are excellent for loading drugs and using them as drug delivery vehicles. In this work, poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs were loaded with a therapeutic peptide. These NPs were then coated with chitosan (a mucoadhesive polymer) for the treatment of allergic asthma or coated with a small cationic mitochondrial targeting agent for the treatment of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Taken as a whole, this thesis sheds light on the impact of NPs on human health. First by providing useful toxological data for CuO and silica NPs as well as highlighting the potential of surface-modified polymeric NPs to be used in drug delivery-based applications.

  3. Biogenic selenium nanoparticles: current status and future prospects.

    PubMed

    Wadhwani, Sweety A; Shedbalkar, Utkarsha U; Singh, Richa; Chopade, Balu A

    2016-03-01

    Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are gaining importance in the field of medicine owing to their antibacterial and anticancer properties. SeNPs are biocompatible and non-toxic compared to the counterparts, selenite (SeO3 (-2)) and selenate (SeO4 (-2)). They can be synthesized by physical, chemical, and biological methods and have distinct bright orange-red color. Biogenic SeNPs are stable and do not aggregate owing to natural coating of the biomolecules. Various hypotheses have been proposed to describe the mechanism of microbial synthesis of SeNPs. It is primarily a two-step reduction process from SeO4 (-2) to SeO3 (-2) to insoluble elemental selenium (Se(0)) catalyzed by selenate and selenite reductases. Phenazine-1-carboxylic acid and glutathione are involved in selenite reduction. Se factor A (SefA) and metalloid reductase Rar A present on the surface of SeNPs confer stability to the nanoparticles. SeNPs act as potent chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. Conjugation with antibiotics enhances their anticancer efficacy. These also have applications in nanobiosensors and environmental remediation.

  4. Mussel-inspired chitosan-polyurethane coatings for improving the antifouling and antibacterial properties of polyethersulfone membranes.

    PubMed

    Wang, Rui; Song, Xin; Xiang, Tao; Liu, Qiang; Su, Baihai; Zhao, Weifeng; Zhao, Changsheng

    2017-07-15

    A straightforward mussel-inspired approach was proposed to construct chitosan-polyurethane coatings and load Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) to endow polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with dual-antibacterial and antifouling properties. The macromolecule O-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) was directly reacted with catechol in the absence of carbodiimide chemistry to form the coating and load AgNPs via in situ reduction; while lysine (Lys) was used as a representative small molecule for comparison. Then, PEG-based polyurethane (PU) was used for constructing Lys-Ag-PU and CMC-Ag-PU composite coatings, which substantially improved the protein antifouling property of the membranes. Furthermore, the CMC-Ag-PU coating exhibited superior broad-spectrum antibacterial property towards E. coli and S. aureus than Lys-Ag-PU coating. Meanwhile, the CMC-Ag-PU coating showed sustained antifouling property against bacteria and could reload AgNPs to be regenerated as antibacterial and antifouling coating. This approach is believed to have potential to fabricate reusable antifouling and antibacterial coatings on materials surfaces for aquatic industries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Physiological stability and renal clearance of ultrasmall zwitterionic gold nanoparticles: Ligand length matters

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ning, Xuhui; Peng, Chuanqi; Li, Eric S.; Xu, Jing; Vinluan, Rodrigo D.; Yu, Mengxiao; Zheng, Jie

    2017-05-01

    Efficient renal clearance has been observed from ultrasmall zwitterionic glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles (GS-AuNPs), which have broad preclinical applications in cancer diagnosis and kidney functional imaging. However, origin of such efficient renal clearance is still not clear. Herein, we conducted head-to-head comparison on physiological stability and renal clearance of two zwitterionic luminescent AuNPs coated with cysteine and glycine-cysteine (Cys-AuNPs and Gly-Cys-AuNPs), respectively. While both of them exhibited similar surface charges and the same core sizes, additional glycine slightly increased the hydrodynamic diameter of the AuNPs by 0.4 nm but significantly enhanced physiological stability of the AuNPs as well as altered their clearance pathways. These studies indicate that the ligand length, in addition to surface charges and size, also plays a key role in the physiological stability and renal clearance of ultrasmall zwitterionic inorganic NPs.

  6. Phenol adsorption on surface-functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles: modeling of the kinetics, isotherm, and mechanism

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yoon, Soon Uk; Mahanty, Biswanath; Ha, Hun Moon; Kim, Chang Gyun

    2016-06-01

    Phenol adsorption from aqueous solution was carried out using uncoated and methyl acrylic acid (MAA)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs), having size <10 nm, as adsorbents. Batch adsorption studies revealed that the phenol removal efficiency of MAA-coated NPs (950 mg g-1) is significantly higher than that of uncoated NPs (550 mg g-1) under neutral to acidic conditions. However, this improvement disappears above pH 9. The adsorption data under optimized conditions (pH 7) were modeled with pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order kinetics and subjected to Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms. The analysis determined that pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich model are appropriate for both uncoated and MAA-coated NPs (all R 2 > 0.98). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of pristine and phenol-adsorbed NPs revealed core-level binding energy and charge for Fe(2 s) and O(1 s) on the NP surfaces. The calculations suggest that phenol adsorption onto MAA-coated NPs is a charge transfer process, where the adsorbate (phenol) acts as an electron donor and the NP surface (Fe, O) as an electron acceptor. However, a physisorption process appears to be the relevant mechanism for uncoated NPs.

  7. Quantifying the Impact of Nanoparticle Coatings and Non-uniformities on XPS Analysis: Gold/silver Core-shell Nanoparticles

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

    Wang, Yung-Chen Andrew; Engelhard, Mark H.; Baer, Donald R.

    2016-03-07

    Abstract or short description: Spectral modeling of photoelectrons can serve as a valuable tool when combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Herein, a new version of the NIST Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA 2.0) software, capable of directly simulating spherical multilayer NPs, was applied to model citrate stabilized Au/Ag-core/shell nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were characterized using XPS and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to determine the composition and morphology of the NPs. The Au/Ag-core/shell NPs were observed to be polydispersed in size, non-circular, and contain off-centered Au-cores. Using the average NP dimensions determined from STEM analysis,more » SESSA spectral modeling indicated that washed Au/Ag-core shell NPs were stabilized with a 0.8 nm l« less

  8. Biogenic SeNPs from Bacillus mycoides SelTE01 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SelTE02: Characterization with reference to their associated organic coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Piacenza, Elena; Bulgarini, Alessandra; Lampis, Silvia; Vallini, Giovanni; Turner, Raymond J.

    2017-08-01

    The exploitation of biological systems (i.e. plants, fungi and bacteria) for the production of nanomaterials relies on their ability to bioconvert toxic metal(loid) ions into their less toxic and bioavailable elemental states forming mainly nanoparticles (NPs) or nanorods (NRs). Further, these methods of nanomaterial production are nowadays recognized as eco-friendly alternatives to the chemical synthesis processes. A common feature among the so-called biogenic nanomaterials is the presence of an organic layer surrounding them. However, we are just learning the existing relation between biogenic nanostructures and their organic material. Our work is focused on the study of bacterial strains for the production of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) as end product of selenite (SeO32 -) bioconversion. In this context, our previous reports described the ability of two bacteria, namely Bacillus mycoides SelTE01 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia SelTE02, to generate SeNPs, which were surrounded by organic material. Here, the potential role of this organic material as stabilizing agent of SeNPs was investigated altering both the bacteria cells culturing and the SeNPs extraction procedure, in order to understand the interaction between these two elements in suspension. As a result, SeNPs produced by both bacterial strains showed the tendency to aggregate when subjected to the treatments tested, suggesting an involvement of the surrounding organic material in their stabilization in suspension.

  9. Preparation of silver nano-particles immobilized onto chitin nano-crystals and their application to cellulose paper for imparting antimicrobial activity.

    PubMed

    Li, Zhihan; Zhang, Ming; Cheng, Dong; Yang, Rendang

    2016-10-20

    Immobilized silver nano-particles (Ag NPs) possess excellent antimicrobial properties due to their unique surface characteristics. In this paper, immobilized silver nano-particles were synthesized in the presence of chitin nano-crystals (CNC) based on the Tollens mechanism (reduction of silver ion by aldehydes in the chitosan oligosaccharides (COS)) under microwave-assisted conditions. The prepared Ag NPs-loaded CNC nano-composites were then applied onto the paper surface via coating for the preparation of antibacterial paper. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed that the Ag NPs were immobilized onto the CNC. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results further revealed that the spherical Ag NPs (5-12nm) were well dispersed on the surface of CNC. The coated paper made from the Ag NPs-loaded CNC nano-composites exhibited a high effectiveness of the antibacterial activity against E. coli or S. aureus. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Nonlinear absorption enhancement of AuNPs based polymer nanocomposites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zulina, Natalia A.; Baranov, Mikhail A.; Kniazev, Kirill I.; Kaliabin, Viacheslav O.; Denisyuk, Igor Yu.; Achor, Susan U.; Sitnikova, Vera E.

    2018-07-01

    Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) based polymer nanocomposites with high nonlinear absorption coefficient were synthesized by UV-photocuring. AuNPs were synthesized by laser ablation method in liquid monomer isodecyl acrylate (IDA). In this research, two colloids with 70 nm and 20 nm nanoparticles average sizes were studied. Size control was performed with SEM and STEM. Prepared nanomaterials exhibit strong third-order nonlinear optical responses under CW laser irradiation at 532 nm, which was estimated by using z-scan technique performed with open aperture. It was found experimentally that nonlinear absorption β is almost twice higher for nanocomposites with smaller AuNPs.

  11. A highly sensitive hydrogen sensor with gas selectivity using a PMMA membrane-coated Pd nanoparticle/single-layer graphene hybrid.

    PubMed

    Hong, Juree; Lee, Sanggeun; Seo, Jungmok; Pyo, Soonjae; Kim, Jongbaeg; Lee, Taeyoon

    2015-02-18

    A polymer membrane-coated palladium (Pd) nanoparticle (NP)/single-layer graphene (SLG) hybrid sensor was fabricated for highly sensitive hydrogen gas (H2) sensing with gas selectivity. Pd NPs were deposited on SLG via the galvanic displacement reaction between graphene-buffered copper (Cu) and Pd ion. During the galvanic displacement reaction, graphene was used as a buffer layer, which transports electrons from Cu for Pd to nucleate on the SLG surface. The deposited Pd NPs on the SLG surface were well-distributed with high uniformity and low defects. The Pd NP/SLG hybrid was then coated with polymer membrane layer for the selective filtration of H2. Because of the selective H2 filtration effect of the polymer membrane layer, the sensor had no responses to methane, carbon monoxide, or nitrogen dioxide gas. On the contrary, the PMMA/Pd NP/SLG hybrid sensor exhibited a good response to exposure to 2% H2: on average, 66.37% response within 1.81 min and recovery within 5.52 min. In addition, reliable and repeatable sensing behaviors were obtained when the sensor was exposed to different H2 concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 2%.

  12. Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Imaging of RNA Transcripts in Breast Cancer Cells

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-06-01

    iron oxide NPs via thermal decomposition. - Prepared gold-coated iron oxide NPs. - Developed a click chemistry protocol (i.e. Cu-catalyzed terminal...D.L.J., Elias, D.R., Tsourkas, A. (2009) Comparative analysis of nanoparticle-antibody conjugations: carbodiimide versus click chemistry . Submitted...carbodiimide versus click chemistry . Submitted. APPENDICES: 1) Thorek, D.L.J., Tsourkas, A. (2008) Size, charge, and concentration dependent

  13. Tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for delivery across the blood–brain barrier

    PubMed Central

    Chaturvedi, Mayank; Molino, Yves; Sreedhar, Bojja; Khrestchatisky, Michel; Kaczmarek, Leszek

    2014-01-01

    Aim The aim of this study was to develop poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) for delivery of a protein – tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) – across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to inhibit deleterious matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Materials and methods The NPs were formulated by multiple-emulsion solvent-evaporation, and for enhancing BBB penetration, they were coated with polysorbate 80 (Ps80). We compared Ps80-coated and uncoated NPs for their toxicity, binding, and BBB penetration on primary rat brain capillary endothelial cell cultures and the rat brain endothelial 4 cell line. These studies were followed by in vivo studies for brain delivery of these NPs. Results Results showed that neither Ps80-coated nor uncoated NPs caused significant opening of the BBB, and essentially they were nontoxic. NPs without Ps80 coating had more binding to endothelial cells compared to Ps80-coated NPs. Penetration studies showed that TIMP-1 NPs + Ps80 had 11.21%±1.35% penetration, whereas TIMP-1 alone and TIMP-1 NPs without Ps80 coating did not cross the endothelial monolayer. In vivo studies indicated BBB penetration of intravenously injected TIMP-1 NPs + Ps80. Conclusion The study demonstrated that Ps80 coating of NPs does not cause significant toxic effects to endothelial cells and that it can be used to enhance the delivery of protein across endothelial cell barriers, both in vitro and in vivo. PMID:24531257

  14. The impact of anticancer activity upon Beta vulgaris extract mediated biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (ag-NPs) against human breast (MCF-7), lung (A549) and pharynx (Hep-2) cancer cell lines.

    PubMed

    Venugopal, K; Ahmad, H; Manikandan, E; Thanigai Arul, K; Kavitha, K; Moodley, M K; Rajagopal, K; Balabhaskar, R; Bhaskar, M

    2017-08-01

    The present study tried for a phyto-synthetic method of producing silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) with size controlled as and eco-friendly route that can lead to their advanced production with decorative tranquil morphology. By inducing temperature fluctuation of the reaction mixture from 25 to 80°C the plasmon resonance band raised slowly which had an ultimate effect on size and shape of Ag-NPs as shown by UV-visible spectroscopy and TEM results. The biosynthesized nanoparticles showed good cytotoxic impact against MCF-7, A549 and Hep2 cells compared to normal cell lines. Compared to control plates, the percentage of cell growth inhibition was found to be high with as concentrations of Ag-NPs becomes more as determined by MTT assay. The AO/EtBr staining observations demonstrated that the mechanism of cell death induced by Ag-NPs was due to apoptosis in cancer cells. These present results propose that the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) may be utilized as anticancer agents for the treatment of various cancer types. However, there is a need for study of in vivo examination of these nanoparticles to find their role and mechanism inside human body. Further, studies we plan to do biomarker fabrication from the green synthesized plant extract nanoparticles like silver, gold and copper nanoparticles with optimized shape and sizes and their enhancement of these noble nanoparticles. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  15. Green Nanotechnology from Tea: Phytochemicals in Tea as Building Blocks for Production of Biocompatible Gold Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Nune, Satish K; Chanda, Nripen; Shukla, Ravi; Katti, Kavita; Kulkarni, Rajesh R; Thilakavathi, Subramanian; Mekapothula, Swapna; Kannan, Raghuraman; Katti, Kattesh V

    2009-06-01

    Phytochemicals occluded in tea have been extensively used as dietary supplements and as natural pharmaceuticals in the treatment of various diseases including human cancer. Results on the reduction capabilities of phytochemicals present in tea to reduce gold salts to the corresponding gold nanoparticles are presented in this paper. The phytochemicals present in tea serve the dual roles as effective reducing agents to reduce gold and also as stabilizers to provide robust coating on the gold nanoparticles in a single step. The Tea-generated gold nanoparticles (T-AuNPs), have demonstrated remarkable in vitro stability in various buffers including saline, histidine, HSA, and cysteine solutions. T-AuNPs with phytochemical coatings have shown significant affinity toward prostate (PC-3) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells. Results on the cellular internalization of T-AuNPs through endocytosis into the PC-3 and MCF-7 cells are presented. The generation of T-AuNPs follows all principles of green chemistry and have been found to be non toxic as assessed through MTT assays. No 'man made' chemicals, other than gold salts, are used in this true biogenic green nanotechnological process thus paving excellent opportunities for their applications in molecular imaging and therapy.

  16. The potential use of a layer-by-layer strategy to develop LDPE antimicrobial films coated with silver nanoparticles for packaging applications.

    PubMed

    Azlin-Hasim, Shafrina; Cruz-Romero, Malco C; Cummins, Enda; Kerry, Joseph P; Morris, Michael A

    2016-01-01

    Commercial low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films were UV/ozone treated and coated using a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique by alternating the deposition of polyethyleneimine (PEI) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) polymer solutions and antimicrobial silver (Ag). The effects of the initial pH of the PEI/PAA polymer solutions alternating layers (pH 10.5/4 or 9/6.5) on the antimicrobial activity of the developed LbL coatings combined with Ag against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were investigated. The results from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and toluidine blue O assay showed that LDPE LbL coated using PEI/PAA polymer solutions with initial pH of 10.5/4 significantly increased the presence of carboxylic acid groups and after Ag attachment the coating had higher antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria compared to the LDPE LbL coated using PEI/PAA polymer solutions with initial pH of 9/6.5. The LDPE LbL coated films using non-modified pH PEI/PAA polymer solutions decreased the water contact-angle indicating an increased hydrophilicity of the film, also increased the tensile strength and roughness of LDPE LbL coated films compared to uncoated LbL samples. The LDPE LbL coated films attached with Ag(+) were UV/ozone treated for 20 min to oxidise Ag(+) to Ag(0). The presence of Ag(0) (Ag nanoparticles (NPs)) on the LDPE LbL coated films was confirmed by XRD, UV-vis spectrophotometer and colour changes. The overall results demonstrated that the LbL technique has the potential to be used as a coating method containing antimicrobial Ag NPs and that the manufactured films could potentially be applied as antimicrobial packaging. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Synthesis of superparamagnetic silica-coated magnetite nanoparticles for biomedical applications

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

    Kaur, Navjot, E-mail: navjot.dhindsa2989@gmail.com; Chudasama, Bhupendra, E-mail: bnchudasama@gmail.com

    Multifunctional superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated with silica are widely researched for biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging, tissue repair, cell separation, hyperthermia, drug delivery, etc. In this article synthesis of magnetite (Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4}) nanoparticles and their coating with SiO{sub 2} is reported. Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation and it was coated with silica by hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate. XRD, FTIR, TEM and VSM techniques were used to characterize bare and coated nanoparticles. Results indicated that the average size of SPIONS was 8.4 nm. X-ray diffraction patterns of silica coated SPIONS were identicalmore » to that of SPIONS confirming the inner spinal structure of SPIONS. FTIR results confirmed the binding of silica with the magnetite and the formation of the silica shell around the magnetite core. Magnetic properties of SPIONS and silica coated SPIONS are determined by VSM. They are superparamagnetic. The major conclusion drawn from this study is that the synthesis route yields stable, non-aggregated magnetite-silica core-shell nanostructures with tailored morphology and excellent magnetic properties.« less

  18. The effect of magnetic nanoparticles on neuronal differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursors

    PubMed Central

    Jiráková, Klára; Šeneklová, Monika; Jirák, Daniel; Turnovcová, Karolína; Vosmanská, Magda; Babič, Michal; Horák, Daniel; Veverka, Pavel; Jendelová, Pavla

    2016-01-01

    Introduction Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is suitable for noninvasive long-term tracking. We labeled human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursors (iPSC-NPs) with two types of iron-based nanoparticles, silica-coated cobalt zinc ferrite nanoparticles (CZF) and poly-l-lysine-coated iron oxide superparamagnetic nanoparticles (PLL-coated γ-Fe2O3) and studied their effect on proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Materials and methods We investigated the effect of these two contrast agents on neural precursor cell proliferation and differentiation capability. We further defined the intracellular localization and labeling efficiency and analyzed labeled cells by MR. Results Cell proliferation was not affected by PLL-coated γ-Fe2O3 but was slowed down in cells labeled with CZF. Labeling efficiency, iron content and relaxation rates measured by MR were lower in cells labeled with CZF when compared to PLL-coated γ-Fe2O3. Cytoplasmic localization of both types of nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry and immunocytochemical analysis of specific markers expressed during neuronal differentiation did not show any significant differences between unlabeled cells or cells labeled with both magnetic nanoparticles. Conclusion Our results show that cells labeled with PLL-coated γ-Fe2O3 are suitable for MR detection, did not affect the differentiation potential of iPSC-NPs and are suitable for in vivo cell therapies in experimental models of central nervous system disorders. PMID:27920532

  19. Catechol-Functional Chitosan/Silver Nanoparticle Composite as a Highly Effective Antibacterial Agent with Species-Specific Mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Huang, Xiaofei; Bao, Xiaojiong; Liu, Yalan; Wang, Zhengke; Hu, Qiaoling

    2017-05-12

    In this study, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) coated with catechol-conjugated chitosan (CSS) were prepared using green methods. Interestingly, we uncovered that CSS-coated Ag NPs (CSS-Ag NPs) exhibited a higher toxicity against gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria than against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. The differences revealed that the CSS-Ag NPs killed gram bacteria with distinct, species-specific mechanisms. The aim of this study is to further investigate these underlying mechanisms through a series of analyses. The ultrastructure and morphology of the bacteria before and after treatment with CSS-Ag NPs were observed. The results demonstrated the CSS-Ag NPs killed gram-positive bacteria through a disorganization of the cell wall and leakage of cytoplasmic content. In contrast, the primary mechanism of action on gram-negative bacteria was a change in membrane permeability, induced by adsorption of CSS-Ag NPs. The species-specific mechanisms are caused by structural differences in the cell walls of gram bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria are protected from CSS-Ag NPs by a thicker cell wall, while gram-negatives are more easily killed due to an interaction between a special outer membrane and the nanoparticles. Our study offers an in-depth understanding of the antibacterial behaviors of CSS-Ag NPs and provides insights into ultimately optimizing the design of Ag NPs for treatment of bacterial infections.

  20. CXCR4-targeted lipid-coated PLGA nanoparticles deliver sorafenib and overcome acquired drug resistance in liver cancer.

    PubMed

    Gao, Dong-Yu; Lin, Ts-Ting; Sung, Yun-Chieh; Liu, Ya Chi; Chiang, Wen-Hsuan; Chang, Chih-Chun; Liu, Jia-Yu; Chen, Yunching

    2015-10-01

    Sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor, has been used as an anti-angiogenic agent against highly vascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) - yet associated with only moderate therapeutic effect and the high incidence of HCC recurrence. We have shown intratumoral hypoxia induced by sorafenib activated C-X-C receptor type 4 (CXCR4)/stromal-derived factor 1α (SDF1α) axis, resulting in polarization toward a tumor-promoting microenvironment and resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy in HCC. Herein, we formulated sorafenib in CXCR4-targeted lipid-coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) modified with a CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100 to systemically deliver sorafenib into HCC and sensitize HCC to sorafenib treatment. We demonstrated that CXCR4-targeted NPs efficiently delivered sorafenib into HCCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to achieve cytotoxicity and anti-angiogenic effect in vitro and in vivo. Despite the increased expression of SDF1α upon the persistent hypoxia induced by sorafenib-loaded CXCR4-targeted NPs, AMD3100 attached to the NPs can block CXCR4/SDF1α, leading to the reduced infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages, enhanced anti-angiogenic effect, a delay in tumor progression and increased overall survival in the orthotopic HCC model compared with other control groups. In conclusion, our results highlight the clinical potential of CXCR4-targeted NPs for delivering sorafenib and overcoming acquired drug resistance in liver cancer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Fast self-assembly of silver nanoparticle monolayer in hydrophobic environment and its application as SERS substrate

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Leiterer, Christian; Zopf, David; Seise, Barbara; Jahn, Franka; Weber, Karina; Popp, Jürgen; Cialla-May, Dana; Fritzsche, Wolfgang

    2014-09-01

    We present a method which allows the straightforward wet-chemical synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), hydrophobic coating assembling into monolayer, and their utilization as substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In order to fabricate the SERS-active substrates, AgNPs were synthesized in water by chemical reduction of Ag+, coated with a hydrophobic shell (dodecanethiol), transferred to a non-polar solvent, and finally assembled through precipitation into a SERS-active self-assembled monolayer (SAM). Simple approaches for concentration and purification of the coated AgNPs are shown. The synthesized particles and SAMs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, optical imaging, and spectroscopic measurements. This manuscript can be used as a do-it-yourself (DIY) tutorial which allows making SAMs from coated AgNPs (<15 nm) in every laboratory within less than 1 h and their utilization as potential low-cost SERS substrates (movie 1-4).

  2. Generation of drugs coated iron nanoparticles through high energy ball milling

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

    Radhika Devi, A.; Murty, B. S.; Chelvane, J. A.

    The iron nanoparticles coated with oleic acid and drugs such as folic acid/Amoxicillin were synthesized by high energy ball milling and characterized by X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscope, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, Fourier Transform Infra red (FT-IR) measurements, and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). FT-IR and TGA measurements show good adsorption of drugs on oleic acid coated nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements indicate that saturation magnetization is larger for amoxicillin coated particles compared to folic acid coated particles. The biocompatibility of the magnetic nanoparticles prepared was evaluated by in vitro cytotoxicity assay using L929 cells as model cells.

  3. Relative evaluation of micronutrients (MN) and its respective nanoparticles (NPs) as additives for the enhanced methane generation.

    PubMed

    Juntupally, Sudharshan; Begum, Sameena; Allu, Sarat Kumar; Nakkasunchi, Shalini; Madugula, Mrudula; Anupoju, Gangagni Rao

    2017-08-01

    In the present work, effect of micro nutrients (MN) (NiCl 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , CoCl 2 , (NH 4 ) 6 Mo 7 O 24 ) was compared with nanoparticles (NPs) of respective MN with cattle manure (CM) slurry in single and bi-phasic anaerobic digestion (AD) at a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 20days at a mesophilic temperature of 37±2°C for the generation of biogas with enhanced methane (70-80%). Experiments were also carried out with CM slurry as control. During single phase AD, highest biogas production of 0.16L/(gVS reduced) and 0.14L/(gVS reduced) was obtained from Fe 3 O 4 NPs and CoCl 2 MN respectively whereas in bi-phasic AD 0.3L/(gVS reduced) and 0.2L/(gVS reduced) was obtained from NiO NPs and NiCl 2 MN correspondingly. The results elucidated that NiCl 2 (either as MN or NPs) yielded highest biogas in comparison with either control or other MN and NPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Localized surface plasmon and exciton interaction in silver-coated cadmium sulphide quantum dots

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

    Ghosh, P.; Rustagi, K. C.; Vasa, P.

    2015-05-15

    Localized surface plasmon and exciton coupling has been investigated on colloidal solutions of silver-coated CdS nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized by gamma irradiation. Two broad photoluminescence (PL) bands (blue/red) corresponding to band to band and defect state transitions have been observed for the bare and coated samples. In case of bare CdS NPs, the intensity of the red PL peak is about ten times higher than the blue PL peak intensity. However, on coating the CdS NPs with silver, the peak intensity of the blue PL band gets enhanced and becomes equal to that of the red PL band. High-resolution transmission electronmore » microscopic (HRTEM) images adequately demonstrate size distribution of these metal/semiconductor nanocomposites. UV-Vis absorption studies show quantum confinement effect in these semiconductor quantum dot (SQD) systems. Absorption spectrum of silver-coated SQDs shows signature of surface plasmon-exciton coupling which has been theoretically verified.« less

  5. A Novel Method of Coating Orthodontic Archwires with Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Syed, Shibli S; Kulkarni, Dinraj; Todkar, Rohit; Bagul, Ravikiran S; Parekh, Kreena; Bhujbal, Nikita

    2015-01-01

    Background: The major hazard to the orthodontic tooth movement is the friction developing at the bracket wire interface. In the past, there have been various attempts to reduce this friction. We believe that coating the commercially available orthodontic wires with nanoparticles can result in a successful reduction of this friction. The objective of this study is to develop a novel method of coating orthodontic archwires with nanoparticles. Materials and Methods: Stainless steel (Ormco, CA, USA), titanium molybdenum alloy (Ormco, CA, USA) and nickel-titanium (G and H Wire Company, USA) orthodontic wires with a rectangular cross-section dimension of 0.019”× 0.025”, were selected. The wires were later coated with a uniform and smooth nanoparticle film using 100 ml nanocremics. The coating procedure described in this article is a sol-gel thin film dip coating method. Results: The coating procedure was verified by comparing the surface topography of nanocoated archwires with the commercially available archwires in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The ESEM images prove that the surface topography of the coated wires was found to be smoother with less surface deteriorations as compared to the commercially available wires. Conclusion: Commercially available orthodontic wires can be successfully coated using a novel method of sol-gel thin film dip coating method. PMID:26028899

  6. Impact of protein pre-coating on the protein corona composition and nanoparticle cellular uptake.

    PubMed

    Mirshafiee, Vahid; Kim, Raehyun; Park, Soyun; Mahmoudi, Morteza; Kraft, Mary L

    2016-01-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) are functionalized with targeting ligands to enable selectively delivering drugs to desired locations in the body. When these functionalized NPs enter the blood stream, plasma proteins bind to their surfaces, forming a protein corona that affects NP uptake and targeting efficiency. To address this problem, new strategies for directing the formation of a protein corona that has targeting capabilities are emerging. Here, we have investigated the feasibility of directing corona composition to promote targeted NP uptake by specific types of cells. We used the well-characterized process of opsonin-induced phagocytosis by macrophages as a simplified model of corona-mediated NP uptake by a desired cell type. We demonstrate that pre-coating silica NPs with gamma-globulins (γ-globulins) produced a protein corona that was enriched with opsonins, such as immunoglobulins. Although immunoglobulins are ligands that bind to receptors on macrophages and elicit phagocytois, the opsonin-rich protein corona did not increase NP uptake by macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Immunolabeling experiments indicated that the binding of opsonins to their target cell surface receptors was impeded by other proteins in the corona. Thus, corona-mediated NP targeting strategies must optimize both the recruitment of the desired plasma proteins as well as their accessibility and orientation in the corona layer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Fe3O4 Nanoparticles in Targeted Drug/Gene Delivery Systems

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Lazhen; Li, Bei; Qiao, Yongsheng

    2018-01-01

    Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs), the most traditional magnetic nanoparticles, have received a great deal of attention in the biomedical field, especially for targeted drug/gene delivery systems, due to their outstanding magnetism, biocompatibility, lower toxicity, biodegradability, and other features. Naked Fe3O4 NPs are easy to aggregate and oxidize, and thus are often made with various coatings to realize superior properties for targeted drug/gene delivery. In this review, we first list the three commonly utilized synthesis methods of Fe3O4 NPs, and their advantages and disadvantages. In the second part, we describe coating materials that exhibit noticeable features that allow functionalization of Fe3O4 NPs and summarize their methods of drug targeting/gene delivery. Then our efforts will be devoted to the research status and progress of several different functionalized Fe3O4 NP delivery systems loaded with chemotherapeutic agents, and we present targeted gene transitive carriers in detail. In the following section, we illuminate the most effective treatment systems of the combined drug and gene therapy. Finally, we propose opportunities and challenges of the clinical transformation of Fe3O4 NPs targeting drug/gene delivery systems. PMID:29473914

  8. Preparation and in vitro characterization of gallic acid-loaded human serum albumin nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mohammad-Beigi, Hossein; Shojaosadati, Seyed Abbas; Morshedi, Dina; Arpanaei, Ayyoob; Marvian, Amir Tayaranian

    2015-04-01

    Gallic acid (GA), as an antioxidant and antiparkinson agent, was loaded onto cationic human serum albumin nanoparticles (HSA NPs). Polyethylenimine (PEI)-coated HSA (PEI-HSA) NPs were prepared using three different methods: (I) coating negatively charged HSA NPs with positively charged PEI through attractive electrostatic interactions, (II) coating HSA NPs with PEI via covalent amide bond formation using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)- N-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, and (III) coating HSA NPs with PEI via covalent bonding using glutaraldehyde for linking amine groups of PEI and amine groups of albumin NPs. Method II was selected since it resulted in a higher shift in the zeta potential value (mV) and less zeta potential value deviation, and also less size polydispersity. GA was loaded by adsorption onto the surface of PEI-HSA NPs of two different sizes: 117 ± 2.9 nm (PEI-P1) and 180 ± 3.1 nm (PEI-P2) NPs. Both GA-entrapment and GA-loading efficiencies increased slightly with the increasing size of NPs, and were affected intensely by the mass ratio of GA to PEI-HSA NPs. Free radical scavenging of GA was quantified based on the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. The obtained results showed that GA remains active during the preparation of GA-loaded PEI-HSA NPs. The cytotoxicities of HSA, PEI-HSA, and GA-loaded PEI-HSA NPs on the PC-12 cells, as the neuroendocrine cell line, were measured. Our results indicate that positively charged PEI-HSA NPs are good candidates for efficient and safe delivery of GA to the brain.

  9. A distance-controlled nanoparticle array using PEGylated ferritin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Chao; Uenuma, Mutsunori; Okamoto, Naofumi; Kamitake, Hiroki; Ishikawa, Yasuaki; Yamashita, Ichiro; Uraoka, Yukiharu

    2014-12-01

    A distance-controlled nanoparticle (NP) array was investigated using a simple spin coating process. It was found that the separation distance of NPs was controlled at the nanoscale by using polyethylene glycols (PEGs). Ferritin was used to synthesize NPs and carry them to a substrate by using the different molecular weight of PEGs. In order to control the distance of the NPs, PEGs with molecular weights of 2k, 5k, 10k and 20k were modified on ferritin with 10 mM ion strength and 0.01 mg ml-1 ferritin concentration. The separated distances of NPs increased along with increase in PEG molecular weight.

  10. Development and characterization of PLGA nanoparticles as delivery systems of a prodrug of zidovudine obtained by its conjugation with ursodeoxycholic acid.

    PubMed

    Dalpiaz, Alessandro; Contado, Catia; Mari, Lara; Perrone, Daniela; Pavan, Barbara; Paganetto, Guglielmo; Hanuskovà, Miriam; Vighi, Eleonora; Leo, Eliana

    2014-05-01

    Zidovudine (AZT) is employed against AIDS and hepatitis; its use is limited by active efflux transporters (AETs) that induce multidrug resistance for intracellular therapies and hamper AZT to reach the brain. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) conjugation with AZT (prodrug UDCA-AZT) allows to elude the AET systems. To investigate the effect of the Pluronic F68 coating on the loading, release and stability of poly(D,L lactide-co-glicolide) nanoparticles (NPs) embedded with UDCA-AZT. The mean diameter of the NP prepared by nanoprecipitation or emulsion/solvent evaporation methods was determined using both photon correlation spectroscopy and sedimentation field-flow fractionation; particle morphology was detected by scanning electron microscope. The stability of the free and encapsulated UDCA-AZT was evaluated in rat liver homogenates by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. The mean diameter of the NPs was found to be ∼ 600 nm with a relatively high polydispersity. The NPs obtained by emulsion/solvent evaporation were not able to control the prodrug release, differently from NPs obtained by nanoprecipitation. The presence of the Pluronic coating did not substantially modify the kinetics of the drug release, or the extent of the burst effect that were instead only influenced by the preparation parameters. UDCA-AZT incorporated in the NPs was more stable in the rat liver homogenates than the free prodrug and no influence of the Pluronic coating was observed. Considering the different potential applications of nanoparticles coated and uncoated with Pluronic (brain and macrophage targeting, respectively), both of these nanoparticle systems could be useful in the therapies against HIV.

  11. Sonochemical coating of textile fabrics with antibacterial nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Beddow, Jamie; Singh, Gagandeep; Blanes, María; Molla, Korina; Perelshtein, Ilana; Gedanken, Aharon; Joyce, Eadaoin; Mason, Timothy

    2012-05-01

    The high incidence of hospital-acquired infections places a huge financial burden on our healthcare systems. These infections are also responsible for many millions of deaths each year. Antibacterial fabrics for use in medical textiles, such as hospital uniforms, bedding and wound dressings, can provide a useful weapon in the on-going fight against these infections. The aim of this EU funded Framework 7 project is to develop a pilot line sonochemical coating machine for the production of antibacterial fabrics. The sonochemical coating technology under development is based on a lab scale process that was developed at Bar-Ilan University (BIU). It involves two processes that are driven by acoustic cavitation; the in situ generation of the metal oxide (MO) nanoparticles and the simultaneous high velocity propulsion of these nanoparticles onto a fabric leading to impregnation. Here we report on a comparison of 2 different MO nanoparticle coatings, ZnO and CuO, that were sonochemically applied on to a plain cotton fabric. Both of these coatings were prepared by BIU. In this work, the antibacterial efficacy of the coated fabrics was quantitatively assessed using the absorption method from BS EN ISO 20743:2007. Both types of metal oxide nanoparticle displayed antibacterial activity against all of the test bacteria with particularly high levels of bacterial reduction observed with the CuO coating. The results presented here are from an EU Framework 7 funded project (SONO, EU Project Number: 228730). The project is a collaboration between 17 partner organizations from 10 different European countries. Further details can be found on the project website at: www.fp7-sono.eu.

  12. The antibacterial activity of ceramsite coated by silver nanoparticles in micropore.

    PubMed

    Qiu, Shan; Huang, Xu; Xu, Shanwen; Ma, Fang

    2015-05-01

    In the present study, ceramsite was combined with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to fabricate a new nanocomposite for water disinfection. The ceramsite was prepared by fly ash, straw ash, and cement. AgNPs were synthesized using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as the capping agent. The nanocomposite was prepared by self-aggregation of AgNPs on the surface of the ceramsite. AgNPs capped with PVP can form a thin film on the surface of micropore in ceramsite. The nanocomposite can inhibit bacteria growth and induce damage of the cell membrane of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Therefore, the nanocomposite is a new material which can be used for disinfection in drinking water.

  13. Synthesis and Characterization of Composite Hydroxyapatite-Silver Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Charlena; Nuzulia, N. A.; Handika

    2017-03-01

    Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is commonly used as bone implant coating recently; however, the material has disadvantage such as lack of antibacterial properties, that can cause an bacterial infection. Addition of silver nanoparticles is expected to be able to provide antibacterial properties. Silver nanoparticles was obtained by reduction of AgNO3 using glucose monohydrate with microwave heating at 100p for 4 minutes. The composite of hydroxyapatite-silver nanoparticles was synthesized using chemical methods by coprecipitation suspension of Ca(OH)2 with (NH4)HPO4, followed by adding silver nanoparticles solution. The size of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was 30-50 nm and exhibited good antibacterial activity. Nevertheless, when it was composited with HAp to form HAp-AgNPs, there was no antibacterial activity due to very low concentration of silver nanoparticles. This was indicated by the absence of silver nanoparticles diffraction patterns. Infrared spectra indicated the presence of chemical shift and the results of scanning electron microscope showed size of the HAp-AgNPs composite was smaller than that of the HAp. This showed the interaction between HAp and the silver nanoparticles.

  14. Sheddable Coatings for Long-Circulating Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Romberg, Birgit; Hennink, Wim E.

    2007-01-01

    Nanoparticles, such as liposomes, polymeric micelles, lipoplexes and polyplexes are frequently studied as targeted drug carrier systems. The ability of these particles to circulate in the bloodstream for a prolonged period of time is often a prerequisite for successful targeted delivery. To achieve this, hydrophilic ‘stealth’ polymers, such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), are used as coating materials. Such polymers shield the particle surface and thereby reduce opsonization by blood proteins and uptake by macrophages of the mononuclear phagocyte system. Yet, after localizing in the pathological site, nanoparticles should deliver their contents in an efficient manner to achieve a sufficient therapeutic response. The polymer coating, however, may hinder drug release and target cell interaction and can therefore be an obstacle in the realization of the therapeutic response. Attempts have been made to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of sterically stabilized nanoparticles by means of shedding, i.e. a loss of the coating after arrival at the target site. Such an ‘unmasking’ process may facilitate drug release and/or target cell interaction processes. This review presents an overview of the literature regarding different shedding strategies that have been investigated for the preparation of sterically stabilized nanoparticulates. Detach mechanisms and stimuli that have been used are described. PMID:17551809

  15. Antibacterial activity of N-halamine decorated mesoporous silica nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Jiarong; Zhang, Yu; Zhao, Yanbao; Zou, Xueyan

    2017-09-01

    N-halamine decorated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (mSiO2/halamine NPs) were prepared by coating mSiO2 NPs with poly (1-allylhydantoin-co-methyl methacrylate) (AH-co-MMA) by the aid of the radical polymerization, followed by chlorination treatment. The sterilizing effect on the bacterial strain is investigated by incubating Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Results indicated that the mSiO2/halamine NPs had excellent antibacterial activity and no significant change occurred in antibacterial efficiency after five recycle experiments.

  16. Development and characterization of antibody reagents for detecting nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ravichandran, Supriya; Sullivan, Mark A.; Callahan, Linda M.; Bentley, Karen L.; Delouise, Lisa A.

    2015-11-01

    The increasing use of nanoparticles (NPs) in technological applications and in commercial products has escalated environmental health and safety concerns. The detection of NPs in the environment and in biological systems is challenged by limitations associated with commonly used analytical techniques. In this paper we report on the development and characterization of NP binding antibodies, termed NProbes. Phage display methodology was used to discover antibodies that bind NPs dispersed in solution. We present a proof-of-concept for the generation of NProbes and their use for detecting quantum dots and titanium dioxide NPs in vitro and in an ex vivo human skin model. Continued development and refinement of NProbes to detect NPs that vary in composition, shape, size, and surface coating will comprise a powerful tool kit that can be used to advance nanotechnology research particularly in the nanotoxicology and nanotherapeutics fields.The increasing use of nanoparticles (NPs) in technological applications and in commercial products has escalated environmental health and safety concerns. The detection of NPs in the environment and in biological systems is challenged by limitations associated with commonly used analytical techniques. In this paper we report on the development and characterization of NP binding antibodies, termed NProbes. Phage display methodology was used to discover antibodies that bind NPs dispersed in solution. We present a proof-of-concept for the generation of NProbes and their use for detecting quantum dots and titanium dioxide NPs in vitro and in an ex vivo human skin model. Continued development and refinement of NProbes to detect NPs that vary in composition, shape, size, and surface coating will comprise a powerful tool kit that can be used to advance nanotechnology research particularly in the nanotoxicology and nanotherapeutics fields. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Figures and detailed methods of various techniques

  17. Phytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles and the released Zn(II) ion to corn (Zea mays L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) during germination.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Ruichang; Zhang, Haibo; Tu, Chen; Hu, Xuefeng; Li, Lianzhen; Luo, Yongming; Christie, Peter

    2015-07-01

    Toxicity of engineered nanoparticles on organisms is of concern worldwide due to their extensive use and unique properties. The impacts of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on seed germination and root elongation of corn (Zea mays L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were investigated in this study. The role of seed coats of corn in the mitigation toxicity of nanoparticles was also evaluated. ZnO NPs (1,000 mg L(-1)) reduced root length of corn and cucumber by 17 % (p < 0.05) and 51 % (p < 0.05), respectively, but exhibited no effects on germination. In comparison with Zn(2+), toxicity of ZnO NPs on the root elongation of corn could be attributed to the nanoparticulate ZnO, while released Zn ion from ZnO could solely contribute to the inhibition of root elongation of cucumber. Zn uptake in corn exposed to ZnO NPs during germination was much higher than that in corn exposed to Zn(2+), whereas Zn uptake in cucumber was significantly correlated with soluble Zn in suspension. It could be inferred that Zn was taken up by corn and cucumber mainly in the form of ZnO NPs and soluble Zn, respectively. Transmission electron microscope confirmed the uptake of ZnO NPs into root of corn. Although isolation of the seed coats might not be the principal factor that achieved avoidance from toxicity on germination, seed coats of corn were found to mitigate the toxicity of ZnO NPs on root elongation and prevent approximately half of the Zn from entering into root and endosperm.

  18. Shock-induced compaction of nanoparticle layers into nanostructured coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mayer, Alexander E.; Ebel, Andrei A.

    2017-10-01

    A new process of shock wave consolidation of nanoparticles into a nanocrystalline coating is theoretically considered. In the proposed scheme, the nanoparticle layers, which are attached to the substrate surface by adhesion, are compacted by plane ultra-short shock waves coming from the substrate. The initial adhesion is self-arisen at any contact between the nanoparticles without a pre-compression. The absence of the nanoparticle ejections due to the shock wave action is connected with the strong adhesive forces, which allow nanoparticles to be attached to each other and to substrate while they are being compacted; this should be valid for small enough nanoparticles. Severe plastic deformation of the nanoparticles and the increased temperature due to collapse of voids between them facilitate their compaction into the monolithic nanocrystalline layer. We consider the examples of Cu and Ni nanoparticles on Al substrate using molecular dynamic simulations. We show the efficiency of the action of multiple shock waves with the duration in the range 2-20 ps and the amplitude in the range 4-12 GPa for sequential layerwise compaction of nanoparticles. A series of shock waves can be created by a repetitive powerful pulsed laser irradiation of the opposite surface of the substrate. The method offers the challenge for the formation of nanostructured coatings of various compositions. The thickness of the compacted nanocrystalline coating can be locally varied and controlled by the number of acting pulses.

  19. Preparation of CNC-dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles and their application in conductive paper.

    PubMed

    Liu, Kai; Nasrallah, Joseph; Chen, Lihui; Huang, Liulian; Ni, Yonghao

    2015-08-01

    Well-dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a co-precipitation method in the presence of cellulose nano-crystals (CNC) as the template. The thus prepared Fe3O4 NPs were then used as a coating agent for the preparation of conductive paper. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results revealed that the Fe3O4 NPs were immobilized on the CNC through interactions between the hydroxyl groups of CNC and Fe3O4. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images showed that the Fe3O4 NPs prepared in the presence of CNC can be dispersed in the CNC network, while the Fe3O4 NPs prepared in the absence of CNC tended to aggregate in aqueous solutions. The conductivity of the Fe3O4 NPs coated paper can reach to 0.0269 S/m at the coating amount of 14.75 g/m(2) Fe3O4/CNC nanocomposites. Therefore, the thus obtained coated paper can be potentially used as anti-static packaging material in the packaging field. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Interactions of DNA coated upconversion nanoparticles with 2D materials

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Giust, Davide; Lucío, María. Isabel; Muskens, Otto L.; Kanaras, Antonios G.

    2018-02-01

    In this work we investigated the nature of quenching between different types of 2D materials (WS2, MoS2 and graphene oxide) and oligonucleotide coated-upconversion nanoparticles. This study contributes towards the efficient design of biosensors based on 2D materials and DNA-coated upconversion nanoparticles.

  1. Glass frits coated with silver nanoparticles for silicon solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Yingfen; Gan, Weiping; Zhou, Jian; Li, Biyuan

    2015-06-01

    Glass frits coated with silver nanoparticles were prepared by electroless plating. Gum Arabic (GA) was used as the activating agent of glass frits without the assistance of stannous chloride or palladium chloride. The silver-coated glass frits prepared with different GA dosages were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The characterization results indicated that silver-coated glass frits had the structures of both glass and silver. Spherical silver nanoparticles were distributed on the glass frits evenly. The density and particle size of silver nanoparticles on the glass frits can be controlled by adjusting the GA dosage. The silver-coated glass frits were applied to silver pastes to act as both the densification promoter and silver crystallite formation aid in the silver electrodes. The prepared silver-coated glass frits can improve the photovoltaic performances of solar cells.

  2. Silica nanoparticles on front glass for efficiency enhancement in superstrate-type amorphous silicon solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Das, Sonali; Banerjee, Chandan; Kundu, Avra; Dey, Prasenjit; Saha, Hiranmay; Datta, Swapan K.

    2013-10-01

    Antireflective coating on front glass of superstrate-type single junction amorphous silicon solar cells (SCs) has been applied using highly monodispersed and stable silica nanoparticles (NPs). The silica NPs having 300 nm diameter were synthesized by Stober technique where the size of the NPs was controlled by varying the alcohol medium. The synthesized silica NPs were analysed by dynamic light scattering technique and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The NPs were spin coated on glass side of fluorinated tin oxide (SnO2: F) coated glass superstrate and optimization of the concentration of the colloidal solution, spin speed and number of coated layers was done to achieve minimum reflection characteristics. An estimation of the distribution of the NPs for different optimization parameters has been done using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Subsequently, the transparent conducting oxide coated glass with the layer having the minimum reflectance is used for fabrication of amorphous silicon SC. Electrical analysis of the fabricated cell indicates an improvement of 6.5% in short-circuit current density from a reference of 12.40 mA cm-2 while the open circuit voltage and the fill factor remains unaltered. A realistic optical model has also been proposed to gain an insight into the system.

  3. Assessment of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) and copper (II) oxide (CuO) induced hemato- and hepatotoxicity in Cyprinus carpio

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Noureen, Aasma; Jabeen, Farhat; Tabish, Tanveer A.; Yaqub, Sajid; Ali, Muhammad; Shakoor Chaudhry, Abdul

    2018-04-01

    Recently, Cu-based nanoparticles have drawn considerable attention for their various fascinating roles in multiple biological systems. It is recognized that their frequent use can create compatibility challenges for the recipient systems. Nevertheless, it is unclear how various biological interactions affect the compatibility of Cu oxide II (CuO) and Cu oxide nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) for different organisms. Consequently, it has been difficult to perform structured risk assessments for their use in biological systems. Therefore, this study compared the effects of different doses of waterborne Cu-NPs and CuO on the blood and liver of selected groups of Cyprinus (C) carpio. These fish while housed in suitable water tanks were exposed to one of the following treatments for 14 d: control (no added Cu) or 0.5 or 1 or 1.5 mg Cu as Cu-NPs or CuO l-1 of water. We found significant changes in all assessed blood parameters of fish in response to increasing doses from 0 to 1.5 mg of Cu-NPs or CuO. Similarly, increased levels of lipid peroxide and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also observed in the livers of C. carpio in Cu-NPs or CuO treated groups. Enhanced levels of lipid peroxidation and GSH were also recorded in the Cu-NP treated groups compared with the CuO treated groups in a dose dependent manner. The lowest catalase activity was observed in the liver of C. carpio treated with the higer dose of Cu-NPs. Cu-NP or CuO exposure induced significant histological alterations in the liver of C. carpio including focal necrosis, cloudy swelling of hepatocytes, degenerative hepatocytes, vacuolization, pyknotic nuclei, damaged central vein, nuclear hypertrophy, dilated sinusoid, vacuolated degeneration, congestion, and complete degeneration in a dose dependent manner. Substantial alterations in blood and liver specimens were observed in the Cu-NP treated fish when compared with the CuO treated fish. It appeared that the Cu-NPs were more toxic than the CuO as shown by the hemato- and

  4. Biochar alleviates the toxicity of imidacloprid and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to Enchytraeus albidus (Oligochaeta).

    PubMed

    Nyoka, Ngitheni Winnie-Kate; Kanyile, Sthandiwe Nomthandazo; Bredenhand, Emile; Prinsloo, Godfried Jacob; Voua Otomo, Patricks

    2018-04-01

    The present study investigated the use of biochar for the alleviation of the toxic effects of a nanosilver colloidal dispersion and a chloronicotinyl insecticide. The survival and reproduction of the potworm Enchytraeus albidus were assessed after exposure to imidacloprid and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). E. albidus was exposed to 0, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg imidacloprid/kg and 0, 5, 25, 125, and 625 mg Ag/kg for 21 days in 10% biochar amended and non-biochar amended OECD artificial soil. In both exposure substrates, the effects of imidacloprid on survival were significant in the two highest treatments (p < 0.01). No biochar effect was observed as survival was statistically similar in both soils after exposure to imidacloprid. In the case of AgNPs, significant mortality was only observed in the highest AgNP treatments in both the amended and non-amended soils (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, statistically greater survival occurred in the biochar-amended treatment (p < 0.05). Reproduction results showed a more pronounced biochar effect with an EC 50  = 22.27 mg imidacloprid/kg in the non-amended soil and a higher EC 50  = 46.23 mg imidacloprid/kg in the biochar-amended soil. This indicated a 2-fold decrease in imidacloprid toxicity due to biochar amendment. A similar observation was made in the case of AgNPs where a reproduction EC 50  = 166.70 mg Ag/kg soil in the non-amended soil increased to an EC 50  > 625 mg Ag/kg soil (the highest AgNP treatment) in the amended soil. This indicated at least a 3.7-fold decrease in AgNPs toxicity due to biochar amendment. Although more studies may be needed to optimize the easing effects of biochar on the toxicity of these chemicals, the present results show that biochar could be useful for the alleviation of the toxic effects of imidacloprid and silver nanoparticles in the soil.

  5. Unconventional route to encapsulated ultrasmall gold nanoparticles for high-temperature catalysis.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Tingting; Zhao, Hongyu; He, Shengnan; Liu, Kai; Liu, Hongyang; Yin, Yadong; Gao, Chuanbo

    2014-07-22

    Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (us-AuNPs, <3 nm) have been recently recognized as surprisingly active and extraordinarily effective green catalysts. Their stability against sintering during reactions, however, remains a serious issue for practical applications. Encapsulating such small nanoparticles in a layer of porous silica can dramatically enhance the stability, but it has been extremely difficult to achieve using conventional sol-gel coating methods due to the weak metal/oxide affinity. In this work, we address this challenge by developing an effective protocol for the synthesis of us-AuNP@SiO2 single-core/shell nanospheres. More specifically, we take an alternative route by starting with ultrasmall gold hydroxide nanoparticles, which have excellent affinity to silica, then carrying out controllable silica coating in reverse micelles, and finally converting gold hydroxide particles into well-protected us-AuNPs. With a single-core/shell configuration that prevents sintering of nearby us-AuNPs and amino group modification of the Au/SiO2 interface that provides additional coordinating interactions, the resulting us-AuNP@SiO2 nanospheres are highly stable at high temperatures and show high activity in catalytic CO oxidation reactions. A dramatic and continuous increase in the catalytic activity has been observed when the size of the us-AuNPs decreases from 2.3 to 1.5 nm, which reflects the intrinsic size effect of the Au nanoparticles on an inert support. The synthesis scheme described in this work is believed to be extendable to many other ultrasmall metal@oxide nanostructures for much broader catalytic applications.

  6. Wear resistance of WC/Co HVOF-coatings and galvanic Cr coatings modified by diamond nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kandeva, M.; Grozdanova, T.; Karastoyanov, D.; Assenova, E.

    2017-02-01

    The efforts in the recent 20 years are related to search of ecological solutions in the tribotechnologies for the replacement of galvanic Cr coatings in the contact systems operating under extreme conditions: abrasion, erosion, cavitation, corrosion, shock and vibration loads. One of the solutions is in the composite coatings deposited by high velocity gas-flame process (HVOF). The present paper presents comparative study results for mechanical and tribological characteristics of galvanic Cr coatings without nanoparticles, galvanic Cr coatings modified by diamond nanoparticles NDDS of various concentration 0.6; 10; 15 и 20% obtained under three technological regimes, and composite WC-12Co coating. Comparative results about hardness, wear, wear resistance and friction coefficient are obtained for galvanic Cr-NDDS and WC-12Co coatings operating at equal friction conditions of dry friction on abrasive surface. The WC-12Co coating shows 5.4 to 7 times higher wear resistance compared to the galvanic Cr-NDDS coatings.

  7. Electron transport in gold colloidal nanoparticle-based strain gauges.

    PubMed

    Moreira, Helena; Grisolia, Jérémie; Sangeetha, Neralagatta M; Decorde, Nicolas; Farcau, Cosmin; Viallet, Benoit; Chen, Ke; Viau, Guillaume; Ressier, Laurence

    2013-03-08

    A systematic approach for understanding the electron transport mechanisms in resistive strain gauges based on assemblies of gold colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) protected by organic ligands is described. The strain gauges were fabricated from parallel micrometer wide wires made of 14 nm gold (Au) colloidal NPs on polyethylene terephthalate substrates, elaborated by convective self-assembly. Electron transport in such devices occurs by inter-particle electron tunneling through the tunnel barrier imposed by the organic ligands protecting the NPs. This tunnel barrier was varied by changing the nature of organic ligands coating the nanoparticles: citrate (CIT), phosphines (BSPP, TDSP) and thiols (MPA, MUDA). Electro-mechanical tests indicate that only the gold NPs protected by phosphine and thiol ligands yield high gauge sensitivity. Temperature-dependent resistance measurements are explained using the 'regular island array model' that extracts transport parameters, i.e., the tunneling decay constant β and the Coulomb charging energy E(C). This reveals that the Au@CIT nanoparticle assemblies exhibit a behavior characteristic of a strong-coupling regime, whereas those of Au@BSPP, Au@TDSP, Au@MPA and Au@MUDA nanoparticles manifest a weak-coupling regime. A comparison of the parameters extracted from the two methods indicates that the most sensitive gauges in the weak-coupling regime feature the highest β. Moreover, the E(C) values of these 14 nm NPs cannot be neglected in determining the β values.

  8. Electron transport in gold colloidal nanoparticle-based strain gauges

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moreira, Helena; Grisolia, Jérémie; Sangeetha, Neralagatta M.; Decorde, Nicolas; Farcau, Cosmin; Viallet, Benoit; Chen, Ke; Viau, Guillaume; Ressier, Laurence

    2013-03-01

    A systematic approach for understanding the electron transport mechanisms in resistive strain gauges based on assemblies of gold colloidal nanoparticles (NPs) protected by organic ligands is described. The strain gauges were fabricated from parallel micrometer wide wires made of 14 nm gold (Au) colloidal NPs on polyethylene terephthalate substrates, elaborated by convective self-assembly. Electron transport in such devices occurs by inter-particle electron tunneling through the tunnel barrier imposed by the organic ligands protecting the NPs. This tunnel barrier was varied by changing the nature of organic ligands coating the nanoparticles: citrate (CIT), phosphines (BSPP, TDSP) and thiols (MPA, MUDA). Electro-mechanical tests indicate that only the gold NPs protected by phosphine and thiol ligands yield high gauge sensitivity. Temperature-dependent resistance measurements are explained using the ‘regular island array model’ that extracts transport parameters, i.e., the tunneling decay constant β and the Coulomb charging energy EC. This reveals that the Au@CIT nanoparticle assemblies exhibit a behavior characteristic of a strong-coupling regime, whereas those of Au@BSPP, Au@TDSP, Au@MPA and Au@MUDA nanoparticles manifest a weak-coupling regime. A comparison of the parameters extracted from the two methods indicates that the most sensitive gauges in the weak-coupling regime feature the highest β. Moreover, the EC values of these 14 nm NPs cannot be neglected in determining the β values.

  9. Fe3O4/carbon hybrid nanoparticle electrodes for high-capacity electrochemical capacitors.

    PubMed

    Lee, Jun Seop; Shin, Dong Hoon; Jun, Jaemoon; Lee, Choonghyeon; Jang, Jyongsik

    2014-06-01

    Fe3O4/carbon hybrid nanoparticles (FeCHNPs) were fabricated using dual-nozzle electrospraying, vapor deposition polymerization (VDP), and carbonization. FeOOH nanoneedles decorated with polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles (FePNPs) were fabricated by electrospraying pristine PPy mixed with FeCl3 solution, followed by heating stirring reaction. A PPy coating was then formed on the FeOOH nanoneedles through a VDP process. FeCHNPs were produced through carbonization of PPy and FeOOH phase transitions. These hybrid carbon nanoparticles (NPs) were used to build electrodes of electrochemical capacitors. The specific capacitance of the FeCHNPs was 455 F g(-1), which is larger than that of pristine PPy NPs (105 F g(-1)) or other hybrid PPy NPs. Furthermore, the FeCHNP-based capacitors exhibited better cycle stability during charge-discharge cycling than other hybrid NP capacitors. This is because the carbon layer on the Fe3 O4 surface formed a protective coating, preventing damage to the electrode materials during the charge-discharge processes. This fabrication technique is an effective approach for forming stable carbon/metal oxide nanostructures for energy storage applications. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  10. Transport of bare and capped zinc oxide nanoparticles is dependent on porous medium composition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kurlanda-Witek, H.; Ngwenya, B. T.; Butler, I. B.

    2014-07-01

    Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are one of the most frequently used nanoparticles in industry and hence are likely to be introduced to the groundwater environment. The mobility of these nanoparticles in different aquifer materials has not been assessed. While some studies have been published on the transport of ZnO nanoparticles in individual porous media, these studies do not generally account for varying porous medium composition both within and between aquifers. As a first step towards understanding the impact of this variability, this paper compares the transport of bare ZnO nanoparticles (bZnO-NPs) and capped ZnO nanoparticles, coated with tri-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (cZnO-NPs), in saturated columns packed with glass beads, fine grained sand and fine grained calcite, at near-neutral pH and groundwater salinity levels. With the exception of cZnO-NPs in sand columns, ZnO nanoparticles are highly immobile in all three types of studied porous media, with most retention taking place near the column inlet. Results are in general agreement with DLVO theory, and the deviation in experiments with cZnO-NPs flowing through columns packed with sand is linked to variability in zeta potential of the capped nanoparticles and sand grains. Therefore, differences in surface charge of nanoparticles and porous media are demonstrated to be key drivers in nanoparticle transport.

  11. Surface-modified multifunctional MIP nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moczko, Ewa; Poma, Alessandro; Guerreiro, Antonio; Perez de Vargas Sansalvador, Isabel; Caygill, Sarah; Canfarotta, Francesco; Whitcombe, Michael J.; Piletsky, Sergey

    2013-04-01

    The synthesis of core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP NPs) has been performed using a novel solid-phase approach on immobilised templates. The same solid phase also acts as a protective functionality for high affinity binding sites during subsequent derivatisation/shell formation. This procedure allows for the rapid synthesis, controlled separation and purification of high-affinity materials, with each production cycle taking just 2 hours. The aim of this approach is to synthesise uniformly sized imprinted materials at the nanoscale which can be readily grafted with various polymers without affecting their affinity and specificity. For demonstration purposes we grafted anti-melamine MIP NPs with coatings which introduce the following surface characteristics: high polarity (PEG methacrylate); electro-activity (vinylferrocene); fluorescence (eosin acrylate); thiol groups (pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate)). The method has broad applicability and can be used to produce multifunctional imprinted nanoparticles with potential for further application in the biosensors, diagnostics and biomedical fields and as an alternative to natural receptors.The synthesis of core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP NPs) has been performed using a novel solid-phase approach on immobilised templates. The same solid phase also acts as a protective functionality for high affinity binding sites during subsequent derivatisation/shell formation. This procedure allows for the rapid synthesis, controlled separation and purification of high-affinity materials, with each production cycle taking just 2 hours. The aim of this approach is to synthesise uniformly sized imprinted materials at the nanoscale which can be readily grafted with various polymers without affecting their affinity and specificity. For demonstration purposes we grafted anti-melamine MIP NPs with coatings which introduce the following surface characteristics: high polarity

  12. Toxicity, Bioaccumulation and Biotransformation of Silver Nanoparticles in Marine Organisms.

    EPA Science Inventory

    The toxicity, bioaccumulation and biotransformation of citrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated silver nanoparticles (NPs) (AgNP-citrate and AgNP-PVP) in marine organisms via marine sediment exposure was investigated. Results from 7-d sediment toxicity tests indicate that Ag...

  13. Relevance of protein-protein interactions on the biological identity of nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Vasti, Cecilia; Bonnet, Laura V; Galiano, Mauricio R; Rojas, Ricardo; Giacomelli, Carla E

    2018-06-01

    Considering that the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers of therapeutic or theranostic agents has increased in the last years, it is mandatory to understand the interaction between NPs and living systems. In contact with biological fluids, the NPs (synthetic identity) are covered with biomolecules that form a protein corona, which defines the biological identity. It is well known that the protein corona formation is mediated by non-specific physical interactions, but protein-protein interactions (PPI), involving specific recognition sites of the polypeptides, are also involved. This work explores the relationship between the synthetic and biological identities of layered double hydroxides nanoparticles (LDH-NPs) and the effect of the protein corona on the cellular response. With such a purpose, the synthetic identity was modified by coating LDH-NPs with either a single protein or a complex mixture of them, followed by the characterization of the protein corona formed in a commonly used cell culture medium. A proteomic approach was used to identify the protein corona molecules and the PPI network was constructed with a novel bioinformatic tool. The coating on LDH-NPs defines the biological identity in such a way that the composition of the protein corona as well as PPI are changed. Electrostatic interactions appear not to be the only driving force regulating the interactions between NPs, proteins and cells since the specific recognition also play a fundamental role. However, the biological identity of LDH-NPs does not affect the interactions with cells that shows negligible cytotoxicity and high internalization levels. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  14. The detection of HBV DNA with gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticle gene probes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xi, Dong; Luo, XiaoPing; Lu, QiangHua; Yao, KaiLun; Liu, ZuLi; Ning, Qin

    2008-03-01

    Gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticle Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA probes were prepared, and their application for HBV DNA measurement was studied. Gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by the citrate reduction of tetra-chloroauric acid in the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles which were added as seeds. With a fluorescence-based method, the maximal surface coverage of hexaethiol 30-mer oligonucleotides and the maximal percentage of hybridization strands on gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles were (120 ± 8) oligonucleotides per nanoparticle, and (14 ± 2%), respectively, which were comparable with those of (132 ± 10) and (22 ± 3%) in Au nanoparticle groups. Large network aggregates were formed when gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticle HBV DNA gene probe was applied to detect HBV DNA molecules as evidenced by transmission electron microscopy and the high specificity was verified by blot hybridization. Our results further suggested that detecting DNA with iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic separator was feasible and might be an alternative effective method.

  15. Self-Assembled Double-Quarter Antireflective Coatings using Silica and Titania Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lal, Anitesh; Castedo Velasco, Raisa; Mazilu, Dan

    2011-03-01

    Antireflective coatings have a wide range of applications, from eyeglass and camera lenses, to solar panels and optoelectronic devices, to name just a few. Our study examines several factors that affect the quality of antireflective coatings created by the self-assembly of alternating layers of SiO2 and/or TiO2 nanoparticles and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) polycation on glass substrates. We use a factorial design to investigate the effects of the molarity of the nanoparticle solution, the size of the nanoparticles, the pH of the nanoparticle and polycation solutions, and the number of nanoparticle-polycation bilayers on the optical properties of the films. The first order effects of these factors, as well as their interactions, on the reflectance, transmittance, and uniformity of the coatings are reported.

  16. Systemic delivery of siRNA by hyaluronan-functionalized calcium phosphate nanoparticles for tumor-targeted therapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qiu, Chong; Wei, Wei; Sun, Jing; Zhang, Hai-Tao; Ding, Jing-Song; Wang, Jian-Cheng; Zhang, Qiang

    2016-06-01

    In this study, hyaluronan (HA)-functionalized calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs) were developed for an injectable and targetable delivery of siRNA, which were prepared by coating the alendronate-hyaluronan graft polymer (AHA) around the surface of calcium phosphate-siRNA co-precipitates. The prepared CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs had a uniform spherical core-shell morphology with an approximate size of 170 nm and zeta potential of -12 mV. The coating of hydrophilic HA improved the physical stability of nanoparticles over one month due to the strong interactions between phosphonate and calcium. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the negatively charged CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs could effectively deliver EGFR-targeted siRNA into A549 cells through CD44-mediated endocytosis and significantly down-regulate the level of EGFR expression. Also, the internalized CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs exhibited a pH-responsive release of siRNA, indicating that the acidification of lysosomes probably facilitated the disassembling of nanoparticles and the resultant ions sharply increased the inner osmotic pressure and thus expedited the release of siRNA from late lysosomes into the cytoplasm. Furthermore, in vivo tumor therapy demonstrated that high accumulation of CaP-AHA/siEGFR NPs in tumor led to a significant tumor growth inhibition with a specific EGFR gene silencing effect after intravenous administration in nude mice xenografted with A549 tumor, along with a negligible body weight loss. These results suggested that the CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs could be an effective and safe systemic siRNA delivery system for a RNAi-based tumor targeted therapy strategy.In this study, hyaluronan (HA)-functionalized calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs) were developed for an injectable and targetable delivery of siRNA, which were prepared by coating the alendronate-hyaluronan graft polymer (AHA) around the surface of calcium phosphate-siRNA co-precipitates. The prepared CaP-AHA/siRNA NPs had a uniform

  17. A general mechanism for intracellular toxicity of metal-containing nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sabella, Stefania; Carney, Randy P.; Brunetti, Virgilio; Malvindi, Maria Ada; Al-Juffali, Noura; Vecchio, Giuseppe; Janes, Sam M.; Bakr, Osman M.; Cingolani, Roberto; Stellacci, Francesco; Pompa, Pier Paolo

    2014-05-01

    The assessment of the risks exerted by nanoparticles is a key challenge for academic, industrial, and regulatory communities worldwide. Experimental evidence points towards significant toxicity for a range of nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo. Worldwide efforts aim at uncovering the underlying mechanisms for this toxicity. Here, we show that the intracellular ion release elicited by the acidic conditions of the lysosomal cellular compartment - where particles are abundantly internalized - is responsible for the cascading events associated with nanoparticles-induced intracellular toxicity. We call this mechanism a ``lysosome-enhanced Trojan horse effect'' since, in the case of nanoparticles, the protective cellular machinery designed to degrade foreign objects is actually responsible for their toxicity. To test our hypothesis, we compare the toxicity of similar gold particles whose main difference is in the internalization pathways. We show that particles known to pass directly through cell membranes become more toxic when modified so as to be mostly internalized by endocytosis. Furthermore, using experiments with chelating and lysosomotropic agents, we found that the toxicity mechanism for different metal containing NPs (such as metallic, metal oxide, and semiconductor NPs) is mainly associated with the release of the corresponding toxic ions. Finally, we show that particles unable to release toxic ions (such as stably coated NPs, or diamond and silica NPs) are not harmful to intracellular environments.The assessment of the risks exerted by nanoparticles is a key challenge for academic, industrial, and regulatory communities worldwide. Experimental evidence points towards significant toxicity for a range of nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo. Worldwide efforts aim at uncovering the underlying mechanisms for this toxicity. Here, we show that the intracellular ion release elicited by the acidic conditions of the lysosomal cellular compartment - where

  18. Anti-cancer activity of bromelain nanoparticles by oral administration.

    PubMed

    Bhatnagar, Priyanka; Patnaik, Soma; Srivastava, Amit K; Mudiam, Mohan K R; Shukla, Yogeshwer; Panda, Amulya K; Pant, Aditya B; Kumar, Pradeep; Gupta, Kailash C

    2014-12-01

    Oral administration of anti-cancer drugs is an effective alternative to improve their efficacy and reduce undesired toxicity. Bromelain (BL) is known as an effective anti-cancer phyto-therapeutic agent, however, its activity is reduced upon oral administration. In addressing the issue, BL was encapsulated in Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to formulate nanoparticles (NPs). Further, the NPs were coated with Eudragit L30D polymer to introduce stability against the gastric acidic conditions. The resultant coated NPs were characterized for BL entrapment, proteolytic activity and mean particle size. The stability and release pattern of NPs were evaluated under simulated gastrointestinal tract (GIT) pH conditions. Cytotoxicity studies carried out in human cell lines of diverse origin have shown significant dose advantage (-7-10 folds) with NPs in reducing the IC50 values compared with free BL. The cellular uptake of NPs in MCF-7, HeLa and Caco-2 cells monolayer was significantly enhanced several folds as compared to free BL. Altered expression of marker proteins associated with apoptosis and cell death (P53, P21, Bcl2, Bax) also confirmed the enhanced anti-carcinogenic potential of formulated NPs. Oral administration of NPs reduced the tumor burden of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice and also increased their life-span (160.0 ± 5.8%) when compared with free BL (24 ± 3.2%). The generation of reactive oxygen species, induction of apoptosis and impaired mitochondrial membrane potential in EAC cells treated with NPs confirmed the suitability of Eudragit coated BL-NPs as a promising candidate for oral chemotherapy.

  19. Low-cost mercury (II) ion sensor by biosynthesized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guerrero, Jet G.; Candano, Gabrielle Jackie; Mendoza, Aileen Nicole; Paderanga, Marciella; Cardino, Krenz John; Locsin, Alessandro; Bibon, Cherilou

    2017-11-01

    Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles has attracted the curiosity of scientists over the past few decades. Nanoparticles have been proven to exhibit enhanced properties and offer a variety of applications in different fields of study. Utilizing nanoparticles instead of bulky equipment and noxious chemicals has become more convenient; reagents needed for synthesis have been proven to be benign (mostly aqueous solutions) and are cost-effective. In this study, gold nanoparticles were biosynthesized using guyabano (Annonamuricata) peel samples as the source of reducing agents. The optimum concentration ratio of gold chloride to guyabano extract was determined to be 1:7. Characterization studies were accomplished using UV Vis Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Electron Microscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Spectroscopic maximum absorbance was found to be at 532 nm thereby confirming the presence of gold nanoparticles. Hydroxyl (O-H stretching), carbonyl (C=O stretching), and amide (N-H stretching) functional groups shown in the FTIR spectra are present on possible reducing agents such as phenols, alkaloids, and saponins found in the plant extract. SEM images revealed spherical shaped nanoparticles with mean diameter of 23.18 nm. It was observed that the bio-synthesized AuNPs were selective to mercury ions through uniform color change from wine red to yellow. A novel smartphone-based mercury (II) ions assay was developed using the gold nanoparticles. A calibration curve correlated the analytical response (Red intensity) to the concentrations of Hg 2+ ions. Around 94% of the variations in the intensity is accounted for by the variations in the concentration of mercury (II) ions suggesting a good linear relationship between the two variables. A relative standard deviation (RSD) of less than 1% was achieved at all individual points. The metal sensor displayed a sensitivity of 0.039 R.I./ppm with an LOD of 93.79 ppm. Thus, the bio-fabricated gold nanoparticles

  20. 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%.

  1. Synthesis of platinum nanoparticles using seaweed Padina gymnospora and their catalytic activity as PVP/PtNPs nanocomposite towards biological applications.

    PubMed

    Ramkumar, V Sri; Pugazhendhi, A; Prakash, S; Ahila, N K; Vinoj, G; Selvam, S; Kumar, G; Kannapiran, E; Rajendran, R Babu

    2017-08-01

    In the recent years, synthesis of nanomaterials using seaweeds and their diverse applications is escalating research in modern era. Among the noble metals, platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) are of great importance owing to their catalytic property and less toxicity. The significance of this work is a simple one-step synthesis of PtNPs using aqueous extract of Indian brown seaweed Padina gymnospora and their catalytic activity with a polymer Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as PVP/PtNPs nanocomposite towards antimicrobial, haemolytic, cytotoxic (Artemia salina) and antioxidant properties. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrum results showed diversified functional groups (biomoeities such as carbohydrates and proteins) present in the seaweed extract is responsible for the reduction of platinum ions (Pt + ) to PtNPs. The seaweed mediated PtNPs was characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) analysis. The synthesized PtNPs was found to be truncated octahedral in shape with the range of 5-50nm. Crystalline nature of the nanoparticles was evidenced by Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) pattern with bright circular spots corresponding to (111), (200), (220) and (311) Bragg's reflection planes. The size of the PtNPs was further evidenced by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis and it is originate to be stable at -22.5mV through Zeta Potential (ZP) analysis. The present study shows that the catalytic behavior of PtNPs as polymer/metal nanocomposite (PVP/PtNPs) preparation for an antibacterial activity against seven disease causing pathogenic bacterial strains with the maximum activity against Escherichia coli (15.6mm) followed by Lactococcus lactis (14.8mm) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.4mm). But no haemolytic activity was seen at their effective bactericidal

  2. Silica coating of nanoparticles by the sonogel process.

    PubMed

    Chen, Quan; Boothroyd, Chris; Tan, Gim Hong; Sutanto, Nelvi; Soutar, Andrew McIntosh; Zeng, Xian Ting

    2008-02-05

    A modified aqueous sol-gel route was developed using ultrasonic power for the silica coating of indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles. In this approach, organosilane with an amino functional group was first used to cover the surface of as-received nanoparticles. Subsequent silica coating was initiated and sustained under power ultrasound irradiation in an aqueous mixture of surface-treated particles and epoxy silane. This process resulted in a thin but homogeneous coverage of silica on the particle surface. Particles coated with a layer of silica show better dispersability in aqueous and organic media compared with the untreated powder. Samples were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the zeta potential.

  3. Optimization of the behavior of CTAB coated cobalt ferrite nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumari, Mukesh; Bhatnagar, Mukesh Chander

    2018-05-01

    In this work, we have synthesized cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) mixed cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs) using sol-gel auto-combustion method taking a different weight percent ratio of CTAB i.e., 0%, 1%, 2%, 3% and 4% with respect to metal nitrates. The morphological, structural and magnetic properties of these NPs are characterized by high resolution transmitted electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectrometer and physical property measurement system (PPMS). It has been found that saturation magnetization of cobalt ferrite increases with increase in crystalline size of the NPs. Saturation magnetization and crystallite size both were found to be lowest in the case of sample containing 2% CTAB.

  4. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Alternanthera sessilis (Linn.) extract and their antimicrobial, antioxidant activities.

    PubMed

    Niraimathi, K L; Sudha, V; Lavanya, R; Brindha, P

    2013-02-01

    The present work focuses the use of the aqueous extract of Alternanthera sessilis Linn. (Amaranthaceae) in producing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from silver nitrate aqueous. Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, ascorbic acid, carbohydrates and proteins and they serve as effective reducing and capping agents for converting silver nitrate into nanoparticles. The synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were also tested for proteins and ascorbic acid. Its pH was also determined (5.63). The AgNPs obtained was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, Zeta sizer and TG-DSC. SEM images which revealed the presence of various shapes and sizes. FT-IR spectrum showed the AgNPs having a coating of proteins indicating a dual role of bio-molecules responsible for capping and efficient stabilization of the silver nanoparticles. Presence of impurities and melting point profile were screened by TG-DSC analyzer. AgNPs were synthesized from the silver nitrate through the reducing power of ascorbic acid present in A. sessilis leaves. In this study, we also investigated antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of green synthesized AgNPs. The antimicrobial activity is investigated by Bauer et al.'s method. Antioxidant activity was done by DPPH method. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. The effect of coating on heat generation properties of Iron oxide nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yuan, Yuan

    Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted more and more attention for their potential application as heating agents in cancer hyperthermia. The effectiveness of cancer hyperthermia can be increased by using particles that have a higher heat generation rate, quantified by specific absorption rate (SAR), at a smaller applied field. In order to optimize the functionality of nanoparticles as heating agents, it is essential to have a comprehensive understanding of factors that may influence SAR including coating and aggregation. In all biomedical applications, the magnetic particles are coated with surfactants and polymers to enhance biocompatibility, prevent agglomeration and add functionality. Coatings may profoundly influence particles' clustering behavior and magnetic properties. Yet its effect on the heat generation rate of the nanoparticles has been scarcely investigated. In this context, a systematic investigation was carried out in this dissertation in order to understand the impact of the surface coating of magnetic nanoparticles on their heat generation rate. The study also includes investigation of normal nerve cell viability in presence of biofunctionalized magnetic nanoparticles with and without exposure to magnetic heating. Commercially available suspensions of iron oxide nanoparticles with a diameter of approximately 10 nm and different coatings relevant to biomedical applications such as aminosilane, carboxymethyl-dextran, protein A, biotin were extensively characterized. First of all, magnetic phase reduction of magnetite nanoparticles was examined by studying the discrepancy between the volume fraction of magnetic phase calculated from magnetization curve and the magnetic core concentration obtained from Tiron chelation test. The findings indicated that coatings might interact with the surface atoms of the magnetic core and form a magnetically disordered layer reducing the total amount of the magnetic phase. Secondly, the impact of coating and aggregation

  6. Speciation of nanoscale objects by nanoparticle imprinted matrices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hitrik, Maria; Pisman, Yamit; Wittstock, Gunther; Mandler, Daniel

    2016-07-01

    selective matrix is formed by the adsorption of either oleic acid (OA) or poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) on the non-occupied areas. The AuNPs are removed by electrooxidation to form complementary voids. These voids are able to recognize the AuNPs selectively based on their size. Furthermore, the selectivity could be improved by adsorbing an additional layer of 1-hexadecylamine, which deepened the voids. Interestingly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were also recognized if their size matched those of the template AuNPs. The steps in assembling the NAIMs and the reuptake of the nanoparticles were characterized carefully. The prospects for the analytical use of NAIMs, which are simple, of small dimension, cost-efficient and portable, are in the sensing and separation of nanoobjects. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: S1 - instrumentation, S2 - immobilization of AuNPs, S3 - time dependent immobilization, S4 - CVs at matrix-coated substrates, S5 - CVs at AuNP-loaded matrices, S6 - peak potentials for the oxidation of AuNPs of different sizes, S7 - schematics for the change of conductive area of the matrices, S8 - probe CVs before and after AuNPs oxidation, S9 - calculation of adsorbed and reuptaken AuNPs, S10 - CVs of AuNPs adsorbed on non-imprinted matrices, S11 - SEM images of AuNPs adsorbed on non-imprinted matrices, S12 - SEM images after reuptake of AuNPs, S13 - schematic of the effect of thickening the matrix. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01106c

  7. Natural inorganic nanoparticles--formation, fate, and toxicity in the environment.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Virender K; Filip, Jan; Zboril, Radek; Varma, Rajender S

    2015-12-07

    The synthesis, stability, and toxicity of engineered metal nanoparticles (ENPs) have been extensively studied during the past two decades. In contrast, research on the formation, fate, and ecological effects of naturally-occurring nanoparticles (NNPs) has become a focus of attention only recently. The natural existence of metal nanoparticles and their oxides/sulfides in waters, wastewaters, ore deposits, mining regions, and hydrothermal vents, as exemplified by the formation of nanoparticles containing silver and gold (AgNPs and AuNPs), Fe, Mn, pyrite (FeS2), Ag2S, CuS, CdS, and ZnS, is dictated largely by environmental conditions (temperature, pH, oxic/anoxic, light, and concentration and characteristics of natural organic matter (NOM)). Examples include the formation of nanoparticles containing pyrite, Cu and Zn-containing pyrite, and iron in hydrothermal vent black smoker emissions. Metal sulfide nanoparticles can be formed directly from their precursor ions or indirectly by sulfide ion-assisted transformation of the corresponding metal oxides under anaerobic conditions. This tutorial focuses on the formation mechanisms, fate, and toxicity of natural metal nanoparticles. Natural waters containing Ag(I) and Au(III) ions in the presence of NOM generate AgNPs and AuNPs under thermal, non-thermal, and photochemical conditions. These processes are significantly accelerated by existing redox species of iron (Fe(II)/Fe(III)). NOM, metal-NOM complexes, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O2˙(-), ˙OH, and H2O2 are largely responsible for the natural occurrence of nanoparticles. AgNPs and AuNPs emanating from Ag(I)/Au(III)-NOM reactions are stable for several months, thus indicating their potential to be transported over long distances from their point of origin. However, endogenous cations present in natural waters can destabilize the nanoparticles, with divalent cations (e.g., Ca(2+), Mg(2+)) being more influential than their monovalent equivalents (e.g., Na

  8. Mimetic Ag nanoparticle/Zn-based MOF nanocomposite (AgNPs@ZnMOF) capped with molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective detection of patulin.

    PubMed

    Bagheri, Nafiseh; Khataee, Alireza; Habibi, Biuck; Hassanzadeh, Javad

    2018-03-01

    Here, Ag nanoparticle/flake-like Zn-based MOF nanocomposite (AgNPs@ZnMOF) with great peroxidase-like activity was applied as an efficient support for molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and successfully used for selective determination of patulin. AgNPs@ZnMOF was simply synthesized by creating Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) inside the nano-pores of flake-like (Zn)MOF. The high surface area of MOF remarkably improved the catalytic activity of Ag NPs which was assessed by fluorometric, colorimetric and electrochemical techniques. Furthermore, it was observed that patulin could strangely reduce the catalytic activity of AgNPs@ZnMOF, probably due to its electron capturing features. This outcome was the motivation to design an assay for patulin detection. In order to make a selective interaction with patulin molecules, MIP layer was created on the surface of AgNPs@ZnMOF by co-polymerization reaction of 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) monomers wherein patulin was applied as template agent. Combination between the selective identifying feature of MIP and outstanding peroxidase-like activity of novel AgNPs@ZnMOF nanocomposite as well as the sensitive fluorescence detection system was led to the design of a reliable probe for patulin. The prepared MIP-capped AgNPs@ZnMOF catalyzed the H 2 O 2 -terephthalic acid reaction which produced a high florescent product. In the presence of patulin, the fluorescence intensity was decreased proportional to its concentration in the range of 0.1-10µmolL -1 with a detection limit of 0.06µmolL -1 . The proposed method was able to selectively measure patulin in a complex media without significant interfering effects from analogue compounds. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Study of energy transfer between riboflavin (vitamin B2) and AgNPs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mokashi, Vidya V.; Walekar, Laxman S.; Anbhule, Prashant V.; Lee, Sang Hak; Patil, Shivajirao R.; Kolekar, Govind B.

    2014-03-01

    Here, we report the studies on the interaction and formation of nanobiocomplex between silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) and vitamin B2, i.e., riboflavin (RF). The binding study of AgNP to RF was studied by fluorescence, UV-Vis, and TEM techniques. AgNPs were prepared by reducing AgNO3 with trisodium citrate. Prepared nanoparticles size obtained at 20 nm having surface Plasmon resonance band at 426 nm. The absorbance band of RF at 264, 374, and 444 nm changes significantly in the presence of AgNPs suggests that there is change in the chemical environment surrounding AgNPs. A fluorescence spectral change for a solution of RF upon the addition of AgNPs and rapid quenching is suggestive of a rapid adsorption of RF on AgNPs.

  10. Engineering of air-stable Fe/C/Pd composite nanoparticles for environmental remediation applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Haham, Hai; Grinblat, Judith; Sougrati, Moulay-Tahar; Stievano, Lorenzo; Margel, Shlomo

    2015-09-01

    The present manuscript presents a convenient method for the synthesis of iron/carbon (Fe/C) nanoparticles (NPs) coated with much smaller Pd NPs for the removal of halogenated organic pollutants. For this purpose, iron oxide/polyvinylpyrrolidone (IO/PVP) NPs were first prepared by the thermal decomposition of ferrocene mixed with PVP at 350 °C under an inert atmosphere. IO,Fe/C and Fe/C NPs coated with graphitic and amorphous carbon layers were then produced by annealing the IO/PVP NPs at 500 and 600 °C, respectively, under an inert atmosphere. The effect of the annealing temperature on the chemical composition, shape, crystallinity, surface area and magnetic properties of the IO/PVP, IO,Fe/C and Fe/C NPs has been elucidated. Air-stable Fe/C/Pd NPs were produced by mixing the precursor palladium acetate with the air-stable Fe/C NPs in ethanol. The obtained Fe/C/Pd NPs demonstrated significantly higher environmental activity than the Fe/C NPs on eosin Y, a model halogenated organic pollutant. The environmental activity of the Fe/C/Pd NPs also increased with their increasing Pd content.

  11. In vitro biological validation and cytocompatibility evaluation of hydrogel iron-oxide nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Catalano, Enrico

    2017-08-01

    Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) have recently been investigated for their excellent biocompatibility as well as multi-purpose biomedical potential with promising results, owing to their ability to be targeted and heated by magnetic fields. In this study, novel hydrogel, chitosan Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized for possible use for induced magnetic hyperthermia, and targeted drug delivery. The coating of iron oxide nanoparticles plays a key-role to efficiently improve internalization of nanoparticles in many cell types. Targeting is also highly desirable for these applications. In this regard hydrophilic coating like chitosan was used to improve drug release. Uncoated (Fe3O4)and chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (CS-Fe3O4) were synthesized and characterized from the biological point of view. The aim of this study was to provide an in vitro evaluation of the cytocompatibility of Fe3O4 and CS-Fe3O4 MNPs by using different in vitro evaluation tests. In this context, the cytocompatibility and cytotoxic effects of uncoated and hydrogel chemically-engineered chitosan-coated iron oxide NPs were investigated according to the ISO standard 10993-5:2009. Fe3O4 and CS-Fe3O4 NPs were tested on human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) by using direct and not direct contact cytotoxicity evaluation tests, by evaluating influence of the iron particles on the cytoskeleton with phalloidin/DAPI staining and in vitro cellular iron uptake with Perl's Prussian blue staining. The results indicate that uncoated and chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles are cytocompatible, without negative influence on the cytoskeleton or higher accumulation of iron in the cytoplasm. Therefore, it is encouraging that our data suggest uncoated and chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles have satisfactory proliferative and viability effects on MCF-10A cells. In conclusion data suggest that both MNP types may be differently aimed in biomedical application in relation

  12. Anthelmintic Effect of Biocompatible Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Gigantocotyle explanatum, a Neglected Parasite of Indian Water Buffalo

    PubMed Central

    Khan, Yasir Akhtar; Singh, Braj Raj; Ullah, Rizwan; Shoeb, Mohd; Naqvi, Alim H.; Abidi, Syed M. A.

    2015-01-01

    Helminth parasites of veterinary importance cause huge revenue losses to agrarian economy worldwide. With the emergence of drug resistance against the current formulations, there is a need to focus on the alternative approaches in order to control this menace. In the present study, biocompatible zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were used to see their in vitro effect on the biliary amphistomes, Gigantocotyle explanatum, infecting Bubalus bubalis because these nanoparticles are involved in generation of free radicals that induce oxidative stress, resulting in disruption of cellular machinery. The ZnO NPs were synthesized by using egg albumin as a biotemplate and subsequently characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction and Spectrophotometrical, which showed that ZnO NPs were highly purified wurtzite type polycrystals, with a mean size of 16.7 nm. When the parasites were treated with lower concentrations (0.004% and 0.008%) of the ZnO NPs, the worms mounted a protective response by stimulating the antioxidant system but the treatment of G. explanatum with 0.012% ZnO NPs produced significant inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p< 0.05) and glutathione S- transferase (GST) (p<0.01), while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker, was significantly (p< 0.01) elevated. SEM and histopathology revealed pronounced tegumental damage showing the disruption of surface papillae and the annulations, particularly in the posterior region near acetabulum. The under expression of a number of polypeptides, loss of worm motility in a time dependent manner, further reflect strong anthelmintic potential of ZnO NPs. It can be concluded that the anthelmintic effect might be due to the production of reactive oxygen species that target a variety of macromolecules such as nucleic acid, protein and lipids which are involved in different cellular processes. PMID:26177503

  13. Anthelmintic Effect of Biocompatible Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on Gigantocotyle explanatum, a Neglected Parasite of Indian Water Buffalo.

    PubMed

    Khan, Yasir Akhtar; Singh, Braj Raj; Ullah, Rizwan; Shoeb, Mohd; Naqvi, Alim H; Abidi, Syed M A

    2015-01-01

    Helminth parasites of veterinary importance cause huge revenue losses to agrarian economy worldwide. With the emergence of drug resistance against the current formulations, there is a need to focus on the alternative approaches in order to control this menace. In the present study, biocompatible zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were used to see their in vitro effect on the biliary amphistomes, Gigantocotyle explanatum, infecting Bubalus bubalis because these nanoparticles are involved in generation of free radicals that induce oxidative stress, resulting in disruption of cellular machinery. The ZnO NPs were synthesized by using egg albumin as a biotemplate and subsequently characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction and Spectrophotometrical, which showed that ZnO NPs were highly purified wurtzite type polycrystals, with a mean size of 16.7 nm. When the parasites were treated with lower concentrations (0.004% and 0.008%) of the ZnO NPs, the worms mounted a protective response by stimulating the antioxidant system but the treatment of G. explanatum with 0.012% ZnO NPs produced significant inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) (p< 0.05) and glutathione S- transferase (GST) (p<0.01), while the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), a lipid peroxidation marker, was significantly (p< 0.01) elevated. SEM and histopathology revealed pronounced tegumental damage showing the disruption of surface papillae and the annulations, particularly in the posterior region near acetabulum. The under expression of a number of polypeptides, loss of worm motility in a time dependent manner, further reflect strong anthelmintic potential of ZnO NPs. It can be concluded that the anthelmintic effect might be due to the production of reactive oxygen species that target a variety of macromolecules such as nucleic acid, protein and lipids which are involved in different cellular processes.

  14. Synthesis of silica coated zinc oxide–poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) matrix and its UV shielding evaluation

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

    Ramasamy, Mohankandhasamy; Kim, Yu Jun; Gao, Haiyan

    Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Well layer thickness controlled silica shell was made on ZnO nanoparticles. • PEAA, an interfacial agent is used to make nanocomposite–polymer matrix by twin-screw extruder. • Si-ZnO/PEAA matrix is highly stable and UV protective as compared to ZnO/PEAA matrix. • Nanoparticle embedded polymer matrix is suggested to make UV shielding fabrics with Nylon4. - Abstract: Silica coated zinc oxide nanoparticles (Si-ZnO NPs) (7 nm thick) were synthesized successfully and melt blended with poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (PEAA resin) to improving ultraviolet (UV) shielding of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs). The photostability of both the ZnO NPs andmore » Si-ZnO NPs were analyzed by the difference in photoluminescence (PL) and by methylene blue (MB) degradation. Photo-degradation studies confirmed that Si-ZnO NPs are highly photostable compared to ZnO NPs. The melt blended matrices were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy interfaced with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM-EDX). The UV shielding property was analyzed from the transmittance spectra of UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The results confirmed fine dispersion of thick Si-ZnO NPs in the entire resin matrix. Moreover, the Si-ZnO/PEAA showed about 97% UV shielding properties than the ZnO/PEAA.« less

  15. Microneedle-mediated transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA coated on cationic PLGA nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Kumar, Amit; Wonganan, Piyanuch; Sandoval, Michael A; Li, Xinran; Zhu, Saijie; Cui, Zhengrong

    2012-10-28

    Previously, it was shown that microneedle-mediated transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA can potentially induce a stronger immune response than intramuscular injection of the same plasmid DNA. In the present study, we showed that the immune responses induced by transcutaneous immunization by applying plasmid DNA onto a skin area pretreated with solid microneedles were significantly enhanced by coating the plasmid DNA on the surface of cationic nanoparticles. In addition, the net surface charge of the DNA-coated nanoparticles significantly affected their in vitro skin permeation and their ability to induce immune responses in vivo. Transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA-coated net positively charged nanoparticles elicited a stronger immune response than with plasmid DNA-coated net negatively charged nanoparticles or by intramuscular immunization with plasmid DNA alone. Transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA-coated net positively charged nanoparticles induced comparable immune responses as intramuscular injection of them, but transcutaneous immunization was able to induce specific mucosal immunity and a more balanced T helper type 1 and type 2 response. The ability of the net positively charged DNA-coated nanoparticles to induce a strong immune response through microneedle-mediated transcutaneous immunization may be attributed to their ability to increase the expression of the antigen gene encoded by the plasmid and to more effectively stimulate the maturation of antigen-presenting cells. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Magnetic studies of SiO2 coated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Limaye, Mukta V.; Singh, Shashi B.; Das, Raja; Poddar, Pankaj; Abyaneh, Majid K.; Kulkarni, Sulabha K.

    2017-11-01

    Oleic acid capped CoFe2O4 nanoparticles which exhibit a high coercivity of ∼9.47 kOe at room temperature were coated with a robust coating of SiO2. We have used chemical synthesis method to obtain SiO2 coated CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with different weight percentages of CoFe2O4 in SiO2 (1.5, 3.1 and 4.8 wt.%). The morphological investigation of the coated nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy shows that the particles are spherical with average size ∼160 nm. Infrared spectroscopy reveals that oleic acid capping on the surface of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles is retained after silica coating process. The complete coating of SiO2 on CoFe2O4 nanoparticles is confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as there is no signature of cobalt or iron ions on the surface. Magnetic measurements show that coercivity of SiO2 coated CoFe2O4 particles remains more or less unaffected as in CoFe2O4 nanoparticles at room temperature. In addition, the temperature dependent magnetic measurements show that at 5 K the CoFe2O4 and SiO2 coated 1.5 wt.% CoFe2O4 samples exhibit a very high value of coercivity (∼20 kOe) which is more than twice as compared to room temperature coercivity value (∼9.47 kOe). We conclude that silica coating in our study does not significantly affect the coercivity of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles.

  17. Evasion of the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon by coating of nanoparticles with various hydrophilic polymers.

    PubMed

    Ishihara, Tsutomu; Maeda, Taishi; Sakamoto, Haruka; Takasaki, Naoko; Shigyo, Masao; Ishida, Tatsuhiro; Kiwada, Hiroshi; Mizushima, Yutaka; Mizushima, Tohru

    2010-10-11

    The accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon is induced upon repeated injections of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coated colloidal carriers. It is essential to suppress this phenomenon in a clinical setting because the pharmacokinetics must be reproducible. In this study, we evaluated the induction of the ABC phenomenon using nanoparticles coated with various hydrophilic polymers instead of PEG. Nanoparticles encapsulating prostaglandin E1 were prepared by the solvent diffusion method from a blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and block copolymers consisting of various hydrophilic polymers and PLA. Coating of nanoparticles with poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(4-acryloylmorpholine), or poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) led to extended residence of the nanoparticles in blood circulation in rats, although they had a shorter half-life than the PEG-coated nanoparticles. The ABC phenomenon was not induced upon repeated injection of PVP-coated nanoparticles at various time intervals, dosages, or frequencies, whereas it was elicited by PEG-coated nanoparticles. In addition, anti-PVP IgM antibody, which is estimated to be one of the crucial factors for induction of the ABC phenomenon, was not produced after injection of PVP-coated nanoparticles. These results suggest that the use of PVP, instead of PEG, as a coating material for colloidal carriers can evade the ABC phenomenon.

  18. Jointed toxicity of TiO2 NPs and Cd to rice seedlings: NPs alleviated Cd toxicity and Cd promoted NPs uptake.

    PubMed

    Ji, Ye; Zhou, Yun; Ma, Chuanxin; Feng, Yan; Hao, Yi; Rui, Yukui; Wu, Wenhao; Gui, Xin; Le, Van Nhan; Han, Yaning; Wang, Yingcai; Xing, Baoshan; Liu, Liming; Cao, Weidong

    2017-01-01

    Previous studies have reported that nanoparticles (NPs) and heavy metals are toxic to the environment. However, the jointed toxicity is not yet well understood. This study was aimed to investigate the combined toxicity of TiO 2 NPs and the heavy metal cadmium (Cd) to plants. Rice (Oryzasativa L.) was selected as the target plant. The rice seedlings were randomly separated into 12 groups and treated with CdCl 2 (0, 10 and 20 mg/L) and TiO 2 NPs (0, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/L). The plant height, biomass and root length indicated significant toxicity of Cd to the growth, but TiO 2 NPs exhibited the potential ability to alleviate the Cd toxicity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) confirmed the existence of TiO 2 NPs in plants. Elemental analysis of Ti and Cd suggested that the presences of Cd significantly decreased the Ti accumulation in the rice roots in the co-exposure treatments. Interestingly, TiO 2 NPs could lower the Cd uptake and distribution in rice roots and leaves. The results of antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxide as well as phytohormones varied in the different treatments. Comparing with the Cd alone treatment, the net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content were significantly increased in the co-exposure treatments, suggesting that TiO 2 NPs could tremendously reduce the Cd toxicity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  19. Biotin-Conjugated Multilayer Poly [D,L-lactide-co-glycolide]-Lecithin-Polyethylene Glycol Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Doxorubicin.

    PubMed

    Dai, Yu; Xing, Han; Song, Fuling; Yang, Yue; Qiu, Zhixia; Lu, Xiaoyu; Liu, Qi; Ren, Shuangxia; Chen, Xijing; Li, Ning

    2016-09-01

    Multilayer nanoparticle combining the merits of liposome and polymer nanoparticle has been designed for the targeted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) in cancer treatment. In this study, DOX-PLGA-lecithin-PEG-biotin nanoparticles (DOX-PLPB-NPs) were fabricated and functionalized with biotin for specific tumor targeting. Under the transmission electron microscopy observation, the lipid layer was found to be coated on the polymer core. The physical characteristics of PLPB-NPs were also evaluated. The confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed the cellular uptake of nanoparticles and targeted delivery PLPB-NPs. The in vitro release experiment demonstrated a pH-depending release of DOX from drug-loaded PLPB-NPs. Cytotoxicity studies in HepG2 cells and in vivo antitumor experiment in tumor-bearing mice both proved DOX-PLPB-NPs showed the best inhibition effect of tumor proliferation. In biodistribution studies, DOX-PLPB-NPs showed a higher DOX concentration than free DOX and DOX-PLGA-lecithin-PEG nanoparticles (DOX-PLP-NPs) in tumor site, especially in 24 h, and the lowest DOX level in normal organs. The results were coincident with the strongest antitumor ability showed among in vivo antitumor experiment. Histopathology analysis demonstrated that DOX-PLPB-NPs exhibited the strongest antitumor ability and lowest cardiotoxicity. In brief, the PLPB-NPs were proved to be an efficient delivery system for tumor-targeting treatment. Copyright © 2016 American Pharmacists Association®. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Engineering nanoparticle-coated bacteria as oral DNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

    PubMed

    Hu, Qinglian; Wu, Min; Fang, Chun; Cheng, Changyong; Zhao, Mengmeng; Fang, Weihuan; Chu, Paul K; Ping, Yuan; Tang, Guping

    2015-04-08

    Live attenuated bacteria are of increasing importance in biotechnology and medicine in the emerging field of cancer immunotherapy. Oral DNA vaccination mediated by live attenuated bacteria often suffers from low infection efficiency due to various biological barriers during the infection process. To this end, we herein report, for the first time, a new strategy to engineer cationic nanoparticle-coated bacterial vectors that can efficiently deliver oral DNA vaccine for efficacious cancer immunotherapy. By coating live attenuated bacteria with synthetic nanoparticles self-assembled from cationic polymers and plasmid DNA, the protective nanoparticle coating layer is able to facilitate bacteria to effectively escape phagosomes, significantly enhance the acid tolerance of bacteria in stomach and intestines, and greatly promote dissemination of bacteria into blood circulation after oral administration. Most importantly, oral delivery of DNA vaccines encoding autologous vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) by this hybrid vector showed remarkable T cell activation and cytokine production. Successful inhibition of tumor growth was also achieved by efficient oral delivery of VEGFR2 with nanoparticle-coated bacterial vectors due to angiogenesis suppression in the tumor vasculature and tumor necrosis. This proof-of-concept work demonstrates that coating live bacterial cells with synthetic nanoparticles represents a promising strategy to engineer efficient and versatile DNA vaccines for the era of immunotherapy.

  1. Targeting multiple types of tumors using NKG2D-coated iron oxide nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Ming-Ru; Cook, W. James; Zhang, Tong; Sentman, Charles L.

    2014-11-01

    Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) hold great potential for cancer therapy. Actively targeting IONPs to tumor cells can further increase therapeutic efficacy and decrease off-target side effects. To target tumor cells, a natural killer (NK) cell activating receptor, NKG2D, was utilized to develop pan-tumor targeting IONPs. NKG2D ligands are expressed on many tumor types and its ligands are not found on most normal tissues under steady state conditions. The data showed that mouse and human fragment crystallizable (Fc)-fusion NKG2D (Fc-NKG2D) coated IONPs (NKG2D/NPs) can target multiple NKG2D ligand positive tumor types in vitro in a dose dependent manner by magnetic cell sorting. Tumor targeting effect was robust even under a very low tumor cell to normal cell ratio and targeting efficiency correlated with NKG2D ligand expression level on tumor cells. Furthermore, the magnetic separation platform utilized to test NKG2D/NP specificity has the potential to be developed into high throughput screening strategies to identify ideal fusion proteins or antibodies for targeting IONPs. In conclusion, NKG2D/NPs can be used to target multiple tumor types and magnetic separation platform can facilitate the proof-of-concept phase of tumor targeting IONP development.

  2. Impact of surface coating and environmental conditions on the fate and transport of silver nanoparticles in the aquatic environment.

    PubMed

    Ellis, Laura-Jayne A; Valsami-Jones, Eugenia; Lead, Jamie R; Baalousha, Mohammed

    2016-10-15

    The role of surface coating (polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and citrate) and water chemistry on the fate and behavior of AgNPs in aquatic microcosms is reported in this study. The migration and transformation of the AgNPs was examined in low (ultrapure water-UPW) and high ionic strength (moderately hard water - MHW) preparations, and in the presence of modeled natural organic matter (NOM) of Suwannee River Fulvic Acid (SRFA). The migration and fate of the AgNPs in the microcosms was validated using a sedimentation-diffusion model and the aggregation behavior was monitored by UV-visible spectrometry (UV-vis). Dissolved and particulate Ag concentrations (% Ag) were analyzed by ultrafiltration methods. Imaging of the AgNPs was captured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results indicate that PVP-coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) remained stable for 28days with similarly distributed concentrations of the PVP-AgNPs throughout the columns in each of the water conditions after approximately 96h (4days). The sedimentation-diffusion model confirmed PVP-AgNP stability in each condition, by showing diffusion dominated transport by using the original unaltered AgNP sizes to fit the parameters. In comparison, citrate AgNPs were largely unstable in the more complex water preparations (MHW). In MHW, aggregation dominated behavior followed by sedimentation/dissolution controlled transport was observed. The addition of SRFA to MHW resulted in small stabilizing effects, to the citrate coated AgNPs, producing smaller sized AgNPs (TEM) and mixed sedimentation and diffusion migration compared the studies absent of SRFA. The results suggest that surface coating and solution chemistry has a major impact on AgNP stability, furthermore the corresponding modeling will support the experimental understanding of the overall fate of AgNPs in the environment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Construction of Au@Pt core—satellite nanoparticles based on in-situ reduction of polymeric ionic liquid protected gold nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Wenlan; Li, Junbo; Zou, Sheng; Guo, Jinwu; Zhou, Huiyun

    2017-03-01

    A method of in-situ reduction to prepare Au@Pt core-satellite nanoparticles (NPs) is described by using Au NPs coating poly[1-methyl 3-(2-methacryloyloxy propylimidazolium bromine)] (PMMPImB-@-Au NPs) as the template. After electrostatic complex chloroplatinic acid with PMMPImB shell, the composite NP was directly reduced with N2H4 to produce Au@Pt core-satellite NPs. The characterization of composite and core-satellite NPs under different amounts of chloroplatinic acid were studied by DLS, UV-vis absorption spectrum and TEM. The satellite Pt NPs with a small size ( 2 nm) dotted around Au core, and the resulting Au@Pt core-satellite NPs showed a red-shift surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and a good dispersion due to effectively electrostatic repulsion providing by the polymeric ionic liquid (PIL) shell. Finally, Au@Pt core-satellite NPs exhibit an enhanced catalytic activity and cycled catalytic capability for the reduction of p-nitrophenol with NaBH4.

  4. Impact of bio-palladium nanoparticles (bio-Pd NPs) on the activity and structure of a marine microbial community.

    PubMed

    Nuzzo, Andrea; Hosseinkhani, Baharak; Boon, Nico; Zanaroli, Giulio; Fava, Fabio

    2017-01-01

    Biogenic palladium nanoparticles (bio-Pd NPs) represent a promising catalyst for organohalide remediation in water and sediments. However, the available information regarding their possible impact in case of release into the environment, particularly on the environmental microbiota, is limited. In this study the toxicity of bio-Pd NPs on the model marine bacterium V. fischeri was assessed. The impacts of different concentrations of bio-Pd NPs on the respiratory metabolisms (i.e. organohalide respiration, sulfate reduction and methanogenesis) and the structure of a PCB-dechlorinating microbial community enriched form a marine sediment were also investigated in microcosms mimicking the actual sampling site conditions. Bio-Pd NPs had no toxic effect on V. fischeri. In addition, they had no significant effects on PCB-dehalogenating activity, while showing a partial, dose-dependent inhibitory effect on sulfate reduction as well as on methanogenesis. No toxic effects by bio-Pd NPs could be also observed on the total bacterial community structure, as its biodiversity was increased compared to the not exposed community. In addition, resilience of the microbial community to bio-Pd NPs exposure was observed, being the final community organization (Gini coefficient) of samples exposed to bio-Pd NPs similar to that of the not exposed one. Considering all the factors evaluated, bio-Pd NPs could be deemed as non-toxic to the marine microbiota in the conditions tested. This is the first study in which the impact of bio-Pd NPs is extensively evaluated over a microbial community in relevant environmental conditions, providing important information for the assessment of their environmental safety. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. PEG-stearate coated solid lipid nanoparticles as levothyroxine carriers for oral administration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kashanian, Soheila; Rostami, Elham

    2014-03-01

    In this study, poly ethylene glycol 100 stearate (PEG 100-S) was used to prepare coated solid lipid nanoparticles with loading levothyroxine sodium (levo-loaded PEG 100-S-coated SLNs) by microemulsification technique. Evaluation of the release kinetic of prepared colloidal carriers was conducted. The particle size and zeta potential of levo-loaded PEG 100-S-coated SLNs have been measured to be 187.5 nm and -23.0 mV, respectively, using photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Drug entrapment efficiency (EE) was calculated to be 99 %. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated that the majority of drug loaded in PEG 100-S-coated SLNs were in amorphous state which could be considered desirable for drug delivery. The purpose of this study was to develop a new nanoparticle system, consisting lipid nanoparticles coated with PEG 100-S. The modification procedure led to a reduction in the zeta potential values, varying from -40.0 to -23.0 mV for the uncoated and PEG-coated SLNs, respectively. Stability results of the nanoparticles in gastric and intestinal media show that the low pH of the gastric medium is responsible for the critical aggregation and degradation of the uncoated lipid nanoparticles. PEG 100-S-coated SLNs were more stable due to their polymer coating layer which prevented aggregation of SLNs. Consequently, it is possible that the PEG surrounds the particles reducing the attachment of enzymes and further degradation of the triglyceride cores. Shape and surface morphology of particles were determined by transition electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy that revealed spherical shape of nanoparticles. In vitro drug release of PEG 100-S-coated SLNs was characterized using diffusion cell which showed a controlled release for drug.

  6. Enhance the photoluminescence and radioluminescence of La2Zr2O7:Eu3+ core nanoparticles by coating with a thin Y2O3 shell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pokhrel, Madhab; Burger, Arnold; Groza, Michael; Mao, Yuanbing

    2017-06-01

    We report the generation of La2Zr2O7:5%Eu3+@Y2O3 (LZO5E@YO) core@shell crystalline inorganic-inorganic heterogeneous nanoparticles (NPs). The Y2O3 (YO) shell coating process based on a chemical sol-gel method led to the growth of a thin YO shell on the ordered pyrochlore La2Zr2O7:5%Eu3+ (LZO5E) core NPs. Photoluminescence (PL) analyses demonstrated a blue shift of 15 nm on charge transfer (CT) excitation band of the core@shell NPs from that of the core NPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) along x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies confirmed the formation of the thin YO layer over the LZO5E core NPs. The PL intensity of the LZO5E@YO core@shell NPs was enhanced by three fold compared to that of the LZO5E core NPs, and higher quantum yield (QY) was observed for the former compared to the original NPs by more than 70%. Higher radioluminescence (RL) emission was also observed for the core@shell NPs compared to the core NPs. Our ability of obtaining near-perfect core@shell heterostructure with enhanced luminescence performance opens the door for the development of efficient La2Zr2O7:5%Eu3+@Y2O3 NPs for both optical and x-ray scintillation applications.

  7. Studying the morphological features of plasma treated silver and PEGylated silver nanoparticles: antibacterial activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Waseem, M.; Awan, T.; Yasin, H. M.; Rehman, N. U.

    2018-03-01

    A strategy to treat the silver and PEGylated silver nanoparticles with plasma was being purposed. Oil in water (o/w) microemulsion method was used for the synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) having molecular weight 600 was used to coat the surface of AgNPs. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) was used to characterize the plasma and it is noted that plasma treatment is useful to modify the structural characteristic of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were treated with helium-oxygen mixture plasma, generated in plasma needle at atmospheric pressure. Both AgNPs and PEGylated AgNPs before and after plasma treatment were characterized by x-rays diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystallite size of silver nanoparticles after the treatment of plasma decreases from 71 nm to 27 nm. The SEM micrographs show that the size of Ag nanoparticles was nearly 118 nm whereas the thickness of the silver needle was around 135 nm. All the characteristics IR bands associated to the silver nanoparticles were detected. The FTIR spectrum also support the accumulation of OH radicals in the plasma treated samples. The samples before and after plasma treatment were screened against Gram positive (Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa) bacteria. The promising response was detected when plasma treated PEGylated AgNPs was tested against bacterial strains.

  8. Combined use of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles and secondary enhanced nanoparticles for rapid surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of bacteria.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chongwen; Gu, Bing; Liu, Qiqi; Pang, Yuanfeng; Xiao, Rui; Wang, Shengqi

    2018-01-01

    Pathogenic bacteria have always been a significant threat to human health. The detection of pathogens needs to be rapid, accurate, and convenient. We present a sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor based on the combination of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 @Ag-Van MNPs) and Au@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) that can effectively capture and discriminate bacterial pathogens from solution. The high-performance Fe 3 O 4 @Ag MNPs were modified with vancomycin and used as bacteria capturer for magnetic separation and enrichment. The modified MNPS were found to exhibit strong affinity with a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. After separating and rinsing bacteria, Fe 3 O 4 @Ag-Van MNPs and Au@Ag NPs were synergistically used to construct a very large number of hot spots on bacteria cells, leading to ultrasensitive SERS detection. The dominant merits of our dual enhanced strategy included high bacterial-capture efficiency (>65%) within a wide pH range (pH 3.0-11.0), a short assay time (<30 min), and a low detection limit (5×10 2 cells/mL). Moreover, the spiked tests show that this method is still valid in milk and blood samples. Owing to these capabilities, the combined system enabled the sensitive and specific discrimination of different pathogens in complex solution, as verified by its detection of Gram-positive bacterium Escherichia coli , Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus , and methicillin-resistant S. aureus . This method has great potential for field applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and infectious disease diagnosis.

  9. Serum albumin 'camouflage' of plant virus based nanoparticles prevents their antibody recognition and enhances pharmacokinetics.

    PubMed

    Pitek, Andrzej S; Jameson, Slater A; Veliz, Frank A; Shukla, Sourabh; Steinmetz, Nicole F

    2016-05-01

    Plant virus-based nanoparticles (VNPs) are a novel class of nanocarriers with unique potential for biomedical applications. VNPs have many advantageous properties such as ease of manufacture and high degree of quality control. Their biocompatibility and biodegradability make them an attractive alternative to synthetic nanoparticles (NPs). Nevertheless, as with synthetic NPs, to be successful in drug delivery or imaging, the carriers need to overcome several biological barriers including innate immune recognition. Plasma opsonization can tag (V)NPs for clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), resulting in shortened circulation half lives and non-specific sequestration in non-targeted organs. PEG coatings have been traditionally used to 'shield' nanocarriers from immune surveillance. However, due to broad use of PEG in cosmetics and other industries, the prevalence of anti-PEG antibodies has been reported, which may limit the utility of PEGylation in nanomedicine. Alternative strategies are needed to tailor the in vivo properties of (plant virus-based) nanocarriers. We demonstrate the use of serum albumin (SA) as a viable alternative. SA conjugation to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based nanocarriers results in a 'camouflage' effect more effective than PEG coatings. SA-'camouflaged' TMV particles exhibit decreased antibody recognition, as well as enhanced pharmacokinetics in a Balb/C mouse model. Therefore, SA-coatings may provide an alternative and improved coating technique to yield (plant virus-based) NPs with improved in vivo properties enhancing drug delivery and molecular imaging. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Bacopa monnieri Phytochemicals Mediated Synthesis of Platinum Nanoparticles and Its Neurorescue Effect on 1-Methyl 4-Phenyl 1,2,3,6 Tetrahydropyridine-Induced Experimental Parkinsonism in Zebrafish

    PubMed Central

    Nellore, Jayshree; Pauline, Cynthia; Amarnath, Kanchana

    2013-01-01

    Current discovery demonstrates the rapid formation of platinum nanoparticles using leaf extract of a neurobeneficial plant, Bacopa monnieri (BmE). The nanoparticles (BmE-PtNPs) were stabilized and then coated with varied phytochemicals present within the leaf extract. These nanoparticles demonstrated the same activity of Complex I, as that of oxidizing NADH to NAD+ using a spectrophotometric method. This suggests that BmE-PtNPs are a potential medicinal substance for oxidative stress mediated disease with suppressed mitochondrial complex I, namely, Parkinson's disease (PD). Hence, the neuroprotective potentials of the phytochemical coated nanoparticle were explored in 1-methyl 4-phenyl 1,2,3,6 tetrahydropyridine- (MPTP-)induced experimental Parkinsonism in zebrafish model. BmE-PtNPs pretreatment significantly reversed toxic effects of MPTP by increasing the levels of dopamine, its metabolites, GSH and activities of GPx, catalase, SOD and complex I, and reducing levels of MDA along with enhanced locomotor activity. Taken together, these findings suggest that BmE-PtNPs have protective effect in MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in this model of Parkinson's disease via their dual functions as mitochondrial complex I and antioxidant activity. PMID:26317003

  11. Influence of natural organic matter (NOM) coatings on nanoparticle adsorption onto supported lipid bilayers.

    PubMed

    Bo, Zhang; Avsar, Saziye Yorulmaz; Corliss, Michael K; Chung, Minsub; Cho, Nam-Joon

    2017-10-05

    As the worldwide usage of nanoparticles in commercial products continues to increase, there is growing concern about the environmental risks that nanoparticles pose to biological systems, including potential damage to cellular membranes. A detailed understanding of how different types of nanoparticles behave in environmentally relevant conditions is imperative for predicting and mitigating potential membrane-associated toxicities. Herein, we investigated the adsorption of two popular nanoparticles (silver and buckminsterfullerene) onto biomimetic supported lipid bilayers of varying membrane charge (positive and negative). The quartz crystal microbalance-dissipation (QCM-D) measurement technique was employed to track the adsorption kinetics. Particular attention was focused on understanding how natural organic matter (NOM) coatings affect nanoparticle-bilayer interactions. Both types of nanoparticles preferentially adsorbed onto the positively charged bilayers, although NOM coatings on the nanoparticle and lipid bilayer surfaces could either inhibit or promote adsorption in certain electrolyte conditions. While past findings showed that NOM coatings inhibit membrane adhesion, our findings demonstrate that the effects of NOM coatings are more nuanced depending on the type of nanoparticle and electrolyte condition. Taken together, the results demonstrate that NOM coatings can modulate the lipid membrane interactions of various nanoparticles, suggesting a possible way to improve the environmental safety of nanoparticles. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for anticancer activities (MCF 7 breast and A549 lung cell lines) of the crude extract of Syzygium aromaticum.

    PubMed

    Venugopal, K; Rather, H A; Rajagopal, K; Shanthi, M P; Sheriff, K; Illiyas, M; Rather, R A; Manikandan, E; Uvarajan, S; Bhaskar, M; Maaza, M

    2017-02-01

    In the present report, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using Piper nigrum extract for in vitro cytotoxicity efficacy against MCF-7 and HEP-2 cells. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were formed within 20min and after preliminarily confirmation by UV-Visible spectroscopy (strong peak observed at ~441nm), they were characterized by using FT-IR and HR-TEM. The TEM images show spherical shape of biosynthesized AgNPs with particle size in the range 5-40nm while as compositional analysis were observed by EDAX. MTT assays were carried out for cytotoxicity of various concentrations of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles and Piper nigrum extract ranging from 10 to 100μg. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles showed a significant anticancer activity against both MCF-7 and Hep-2 cells compared to Piper nigrum extract which was dose dependent. Our study thus revealed an excellent application of greenly synthesized silver nanoparticles using Piper nigrum. The study further suggested the potential therapeutic use of these nanoparticles in cancer study. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  13. Nanoparticles in orthodontics, a review of antimicrobial and anti-caries applications.

    PubMed

    Borzabadi-Farahani, Ali; Borzabadi, Ebrahim; Lynch, Edward

    2014-08-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) are insoluble particles smaller than 100 nm in size. In order to prevent microbial adhesion or enamel demineralization in orthodontic therapy, two broad strategies have been used. These are incorporating certain NPs into orthodontic adhesives/cements or acrylic resins (nanofillers, silver, TiO2, SiO2, hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, fluorohydroxyapatite) and coating surfaces of orthodontic appliances with NPs (i.e. coating bracket surfaces with a thin film of nitrogen-doped TiO2). Although the use of NPs in orthodontics can offer new possibilities, previous studies investigated the antimicrobial or physical characteristic over a short time span, i.e. 24 hours to a few weeks, and the limitations of in vitro studies should be recognized. Information on the long-term performance of orthodontic material using nanotechnology is lacking and necessitates further investigation and so do possible safety issues (toxicity), which can be related to the NP sizes.

  14. Targeting to carcinoma cells with chitosan- and starch-coated magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia.

    PubMed

    Kim, Dong-Hyun; Kim, Kyoung-Nam; Kim, Kwang-Mahn; Lee, Yong-Keun

    2009-01-01

    The delivery of hyperthermic thermoseeds to a specific target site with minimal side effects is an important challenge in targeted hyperthermia, which employs magnetic method and functional polymers. An external magnetic field is used to control the site-specific targeting of the magnetic nanoparticles. Polymer-coated magnetic nanoparticles can confer a higher affinity to the biological cell membranes. In this study, uncoated, chitosan-coated, and starch-coated magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized for use as a hyperthermic thermoseed. Each sample was examined with respect to their applications to hyperthermia using XRD, VSM, and FTIR. In addition, the temperature changes under an alternating magnetic field were observed. As in vitro tests, the magnetic responsiveness of chitosan- and starch-coated magnetite was determined by a simple blood vessel model under various intensities of magnetic field. L929 normal cells and KB carcinoma cells were used to examine the cytotoxicity and affinity of each sample using the MTT method. The chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles generated a higher DeltaT of 23 degrees C under an AC magnetic field than the starch-coated magnetite, and the capturing rate of the particles was 96% under an external magnetic field of 0.4 T. The highest viability of L929 cells was 93.7%. Comparing the rate of KB cells capture with the rate of L929 cells capture, the rate of KB cells capture relatively increased with 10.8% in chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Hence, chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles are biocompatible and have a selective affinity to KB cells. The targeting of magnetic nanoparticles in hyperthermia was improved using a controlled magnetic field and a chitosan-coating. Therefore, chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles are expected to be promising materials for use in magnetic targeted hyperthermia. 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Alterations in Physical State of Silver Nanoparticles Exposed to Synthetic Human Stomach Fluid

    EPA Science Inventory

    The bioavailability of ingested silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) depends in large part on initial particle size, shape and surface coating, properties which will influence aggregation, solubility and chemical composition during transit of the gastrointestinal tract. Citrate-stabilize...

  16. Multifunctional AgNPs@Wool: colored, UV-protective and antioxidant functional textiles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shabbir, Mohd; Mohammad, Faqeer

    2018-02-01

    Nanomaterials have great impact on textile industry for multifunctional and smart clothing as per the need of present, and further, green nanotechnology is the current hotspot of research and industrial developments. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are synthesized (in situ) by using natural compounds of plant extracts (naphthoquinones, phenolics/flavonoids, polyphenols) as reducing or stabilizing agents, and simultaneously deposited on wool fabric for coloration, UV protection and antioxidant properties. UV-visible spectroscopy is used to monitor the route of biosynthesis of nanoparticles and transmission electron microscopy for morphological characteristics of synthesized AgNPs. Spherical and almost oval-shaped AgNPs were synthesized by naphthoquinones, polyphenols and flavonoids, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were used for the AgNPs@Wool fabrics characterization. SEM-EDX analysis and XRD patterns confirmed the successful deposition of silver nanoparticles on wool. Coloration characteristics in terms of color strength (K/S) and CIEL*a*b*c*h° values, UV protection abilities in terms of UV transmittance and UV protection factor, and % antioxidant activity of AgNPs@Wool are suggestive of good-to-excellent results.

  17. In vitro and ex vivo evaluation of polymeric nanoparticles for vaginal and rectal delivery of the anti-HIV drug dapivirine.

    PubMed

    das Neves, José; Araújo, Francisca; Andrade, Fernanda; Michiels, Johan; Ariën, Kevin K; Vanham, Guido; Amiji, Mansoor; Bahia, Maria Fernanda; Sarmento, Bruno

    2013-07-01

    Prevention strategies such as the development of microbicides are thought to be valuable in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Despite recent achievements, there is still a long road ahead in the field, particularly at the level of drug formulation. Drug nanocarriers based on polymers may be useful in enhancing local drug delivery while limiting systemic exposure. We prepared differently surface-engineered poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoparticles (NPs) and tested their ability to modulate the permeability and retention of dapivirine in cell monolayers and pig vaginal and rectal mucosa. NPs coated with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were shown able to reduce permeability across monolayers/tissues, while modification of nanosystems with cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) enhanced transport. In the case of coating NPs with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), dapivirine permeability was unchanged. All NPs increased monolayer/tissue drug retention as compared to unformulated dapivirine. This fact was associated, at least partially, to the ability of NPs to be taken up by cells or penetrate mucosal tissue. Cell and tissue toxicity was also affected differently by NPs: PEO modification decreased the in vitro (but not ex vivo) toxicity of dapivirine, while higher toxicity was generally observed for NPs coated with SLS or CTAB. Overall, presented results support that PCL nanoparticles are capable of modulating drug permeability and retention in cell monolayers and mucosal tissues relevant for vaginal and rectal delivery of microbicides. In particular, PEO-modified dapivirine-loaded PCL NPs may be advantageous in increasing drug residence at epithelial cell lines/mucosal tissues, which may potentially increase the efficacy of microbicide drugs.

  18. Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) coated iron nanoparticles in polar aprotic solvent.

    PubMed

    Ban, Zhihui; Cushing, Brian L; O'Connor, Charles J

    2008-04-01

    Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) coated iron nanoparticles which show well-defined core-shell structures have been successfully synthesized in a polar aprotic solvent. In this approach, PVP was employed not as capping agent, but as coating polymer directly applied to the metallic (iron) core nanoparticles. The morphologies, structures, compositions and magnetic properties of the products were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS), SQUID magnetometry and FTIR spectroscopy.

  19. Coating and dispersion of ceramic nanoparticles by UV-ozone etching assisted surface-initiated living radical polymerization.

    PubMed

    Arita, Toshihiko

    2010-10-01

    Commercially available unmodified ceramic nanoparticles (NPs) in dry powder state were surface-modified and dispersed in almost single-crystal size. The surface-initiated living radical polymerization after just UV-ozone soft etching enables one to graft polymers onto the surface of ceramic NPs and disperse them in solvents. Furthermore, a number of NPs were dispersed with single-crystal sizes. The technique developed here could be applied to almost all ceramic NPs including metal nitrides.

  20. Synthesis and application of surfactants coated magnetite nanoparticles for demulsification of crude oil in water emulsion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yau, Xin Hui; Khe, Cheng Seong; Liu, Wei Wen; Lai, Chin Wei; Oo, Zeya

    2017-10-01

    Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized through co-precipitation method, in which surfactant such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) were applied as stabilizing agent. Various techniques were employed to characterize the synthesized magnetite nanoparticles. Magnetite nanoparticles with spinel structure are successfully synthesized and confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results proved that surface of magnetite nanoparticles were successfully coated with PVP and SDBS. From the transmission electron microscope (TEM), it showed that surfactant coated magnetite nanoparticles possess smaller particle size than that of bare magnetite nanoparticles. In comparison with SDBS, PVP has a better capping efficiency and the PVP coated magnetite nanoparticles have an average particle size of 10.8 nm. In addition, surfactant coated magnetite nanoparticles also exhibited lower value of saturation magnetization (Ms). Lower value of Ms might be attributed to the small sized nanoparticles. All magnetite nanoparticles synthesized with and without surfactant showed superparamagnetic behaviour. Bare and surfactant coated magnetite nanoparticles have been utilized as a demulsifier for crude oil in water emulsion. Those nanoparticles that produced using SDBS (ED= 87%) showed higher efficiency than that of PVP coated (ED=80%) and bare magnetite nanoparticles (ED=85%) in demulsification tests.

  1. Magnetic Nanoparticle-Based Imaging of RNA Transcripts in Breast Cancer Cells

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-06-30

    control (Months 33 – 36). These studies have not yet commenced. KEY RESEARCH ACCOMPLISHMENTS: - Synthesized dextran-coated iron oxide NPs with...Size, charge, and concentration dependent uptake of iron oxide nanoparticles by non-phagocytic cells: a comparative study of USPIO, SSPIO, and MPIO...A. (2008) Size, charge, and concentration dependent uptake of iron oxide nanoparticles by non-phagocytic cells: a comparative study of USPIO, SSPIO

  2. Nata de coco (NDC) hydrogel as nanoreactors for preparation iron nanoparticles (FeNps) from ferrocenium reduction

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

    Andarini, Mellissa; Lazim, Azwan

    This study focuses on hydrogel as nano template to produce iron nanoparticles (FeNps). Radical polymerization was used to synthesize the hydrogel from nata de coco (NDC-g-PAA). Ferrocenium (FcCL) with 1 × 10{sup −4} g/ml has successfully incorporated with NDC-g-PAA hydrogel system and reduce using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at different concentrations. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) result demonstrates that the size of FeNps produced was about 5 – 20 nm. Morphological analysis of hydrogel is carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), SEM-EDEX is used to determine percentage of iron (Fe) in hydrogel. The results offer a wide range of application inmore » various areas, especially the use of hydrogel system as a responsive template.« less

  3. Self-Cleaning Ceramic Tiles Produced via Stable Coating of TiO₂ Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Shakeri, Amid; Yip, Darren; Badv, Maryam; Imani, Sara M; Sanjari, Mehdi; Didar, Tohid F

    2018-06-13

    The high photocatalytic power of TiO₂ nanoparticles has drawn great attention in environmental and medical applications. Coating surfaces with these particles enables us to benefit from self-cleaning properties and decomposition of pollutants. In this paper, two strategies have been introduced to coat ceramic tiles with TiO₂ nanoparticles, and the self-cleaning effect of the surfaces on degradation of an organic dye under ultraviolent (UV) exposure is investigated. In the first approach, a simple one-step heat treatment method is introduced for coating, and different parameters of the heat treatment process are examined. In the second method, TiO₂ nanoparticles are first aminosilanized using (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) treatment followed by their covalently attachment onto CO₂ plasma treated ceramic tiles via N -(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)- N ′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N -Hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) chemistry. We monitor TiO₂ nanoparticle sizes throughout the coating process using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and characterize developed surfaces using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Moreover, hydrophilicity of the coated surfaces is quantified using a contact angle measurement. It is shown that applying a one-step heat treatment process with the optimum temperature of 200 °C for 5 h results in successful coating of nanoparticles and rapid degradation of dye in a short time. In the second strategy, the APTES treatment creates a stable covalent coating, while the photocatalytic capability of the particles is preserved. The results show that coated ceramic tiles are capable of fully degrading the added dyes under UV exposure in less than 24 h.

  4. Photo-crosslinked hyaluronic acid coated upconverting nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mrazek, Jiri; Kettou, Sofiane; Matuska, Vit; Svozil, Vit; Huerta-Angeles, Gloria; Pospisilova, Martina; Nesporova, Kristina; Velebny, Vladimir

    2017-02-01

    Hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated inorganic nanoparticles display enhanced interaction with the CD44 receptors which are overexpressed in many types of cancer cells. Here, we describe a modification of core-shell β-NaY0.80Yb0.18Er0.02F4@NaYF4 nanoparticles (UCNP) by HA derivative bearing photo-reactive groups. UCNP capped with oleic acid were firstly transferred to aqueous phase by an improved protocol using hydrochloric acid or lactic acid treatment. Subsequently, HA bearing furanacryloyl moieties (HA-FU) was adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface and crosslinked by UV irradiation. The crosslinking resulted in stable HA coating, and no polymer desorption was observed. As-prepared UCNP@HA-FU show a hydrodynamic diameter of about 180 nm and are colloidally stable in water and cell culture media. The cellular uptake by normal human fibroblasts and MDA MB-231 cancer cell line was investigated by upconversion luminescence imaging.

  5. Different cell responses induced by exposure to maghemite nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Luengo, Yurena; Nardecchia, Stefania; Morales, María Puerto; Serrano, M Concepción

    2013-12-07

    Recent advances in nanotechnology have permitted the development of a wide repertoire of inorganic magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) with extensive promise for biomedical applications. Despite this remarkable potential, many questions still arise concerning the biocompatible nature of NPs when in contact with biological systems. Herein, we have investigated how controlled changes in the physicochemical properties of iron oxide NPs at their surface (i.e., surface charge and hydrodynamic size) affect, first, their interaction with cell media components and, subsequently, cell responses to NP exposure. For that purpose, we have prepared iron oxide NPs with three different coatings (i.e., dimercaptosuccinic acid - DMSA, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane - APS and dextran) and explored the response of two different cell types, murine L929 fibroblasts and human Saos-2 osteoblasts, to their exposure. Interestingly, different cell responses were found depending on the NP concentration, surface charge and cell type. In this sense, neutral NPs, as those coated with dextran, induced negligible cell damage, as their cellular internalization was significantly reduced. In contrast, surface-charged NPs (i.e., those coated with DMSA and APS) caused significant cellular changes in viability, morphology and cell cycle under certain culture conditions, as a result of a more active cellular internalization. These results also revealed a particular cellular ability to detect and remember the original physicochemical properties of the NPs, despite the formation of a protein corona when incubated in culture media. Overall, conclusions from these studies are of crucial interest for future biomedical applications of iron oxide NPs.

  6. Quantitative investigation on the critical thickness of the dielectric shell for metallic nanoparticles determined by the plasmon decay length.

    PubMed

    Li, Anran; Lim, Xinyi; Guo, Lin; Li, Shuzhou

    2018-04-20

    Inert dielectric shells coating the surface of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are important for enhancing the NPs' stability, biocompatibility, and realizing targeting detection, but they impair NPs' sensing ability due to the electric fields damping. The dielectric shell not only determines the distance of the analyte from the NP surface, but also affects the field decay. From a practical point of view, it is extremely important to investigate the critical thickness of the shell, beyond which the NPs are no longer able to effectively detect the analytes. The plasmon decay length of the shell-coated NPs determines the critical thickness of the coating layer. Extracting from the exponential fitting results, we quantitatively demonstrate that the critical thickness of the shell exhibits a linear dependence on the NP volume and the dielectric constants of the shell and the surrounding medium, but only with a small variation influenced by the NP shape where the dipole resonance is dominated. We show the critical thickness increases with enlarging the NP sizes, or increasing the dielectric constant differences between the shell and surrounding medium. The findings are essential for applications of shell-coated NPs in plasmonic sensing.

  7. Thiol-Capped Gold Nanoparticles Swell-Encapsulated into Polyurethane as Powerful Antibacterial Surfaces Under Dark and Light Conditions

    PubMed Central

    Macdonald, Thomas J.; Wu, Ke; Sehmi, Sandeep K.; Noimark, Sacha; Peveler, William J.; du Toit, Hendrik; Voelcker, Nicolas H.; Allan, Elaine; MacRobert, Alexander J.; Gavriilidis, Asterios; Parkin, Ivan P.

    2016-01-01

    A simple procedure to develop antibacterial surfaces using thiol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is shown, which effectively kill bacteria under dark and light conditions. The effect of AuNP size and concentration on photo-activated antibacterial surfaces is reported and we show significant size effects, as well as bactericidal activity with crystal violet (CV) coated polyurethane. These materials have been proven to be powerful antibacterial surfaces against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. AuNPs of 2, 3 or 5 nm diameter were swell-encapsulated into PU before a coating of CV was applied (known as PU-AuNPs-CV). The antibacterial activity of PU-AuNPs-CV samples was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli as representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria under dark and light conditions. All light conditions in this study simulated a typical white-light hospital environment. This work demonstrates that the antibacterial activity of PU-AuNPs-CV samples and the synergistic enhancement of photoactivity of triarylmethane type dyes is highly dependent on nanoparticle size and concentration. The most powerful PU-AuNPs-CV antibacterial surfaces were achieved using 1.0 mg mL−1 swell encapsulation concentrations of 2 nm AuNPs. After two hours, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were reduced to below the detection limit (>4 log) under dark and light conditions. PMID:27982122

  8. Aggregation-based colorimetric sensor for determination of prothioconazole fungicide using colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ivrigh, Zahra Jafar-Nezhad; Fahimi-Kashani, Nafiseh; Hormozi-Nezhad, M. Reza

    2017-12-01

    There is a growing interest in developing high-performance sensors monitoring fungicides, due to their broadly usage and their adverse effects on humans and wildlife. In the present study, a colorimetric probe has been proposed for detection of prothioconazole based on aggregation of unmodified silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Under optimized condition, linear relationships between the concentration of prothioconazole and the absorbance ratio of A500/A395 were found over the range of 0.01 μg·mL- 1 to 0.4 μg·mL- 1 with quantification limit as low as 1.7 ng·mL- 1. Furthermore, AgNPs color change from yellow to pink-orange in presence of prothioconazole, indicates highly sensitive naked-eye colorimetric assay for quantifying prothioconazole in real applications. The proposed approach was successfully used for the determination of prothioconazole in wheat flour and paddy water sample.

  9. Profiling of the toxicity mechanisms of coated and uncoated silver nanoparticles to yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae BY4741 using a set of its 9 single-gene deletion mutants defective in oxidative stress response, cell wall or membrane integrity and endocytosis.

    PubMed

    Käosaar, Sandra; Kahru, Anne; Mantecca, Paride; Kasemets, Kaja

    2016-09-01

    The widespread use of nanosilver in various antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral products warrants the studies of the toxicity pathways of nanosilver-enabled materials toward microbes and viruses. We profiled the toxicity mechanisms of uncoated, casein-coated, and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild-type (wt) and its 9 single-gene deletion mutants defective in oxidative stress (OS) defense, cell wall/membrane integrity, and endocytosis. The 48-h growth inhibition assay in organic-rich growth medium and 24-h cell viability assay in deionized (DI) water were applied whereas AgNO3, H2O2, and SDS served as positive controls. Both coated AgNPs (primary size 8-12nm) were significantly more toxic than the uncoated (~85nm) AgNPs. All studied AgNPs were ~30 times more toxic if exposed to yeast cells in DI water than in the rich growth medium: the IC50 based on nominal concentration of AgNPs in the growth inhibition test ranged from 77 to 576mg Ag/L and in the cell viability test from 2.7 to 18.7mg Ag/L, respectively. Confocal microscopy showed that wt but not endocytosis mutant (end3Δ) internalized AgNPs. Comparison of toxicity patterns of wt and mutant strains defective in OS defense and membrane integrity revealed that the toxicity of the studied AgNPs to S. cerevisiae was not caused by the OS or cell wall/membrane permeabilization. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  10. Microneedle-mediated transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA coated on cationic PLGA nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Kumar, Amit; Wonganan, Piyanuch; Sandoval, Michael A.; Li, Xinran; Zhu, Saijie; Cui, Zhengrong

    2012-01-01

    Previously, it was shown that microneedle-mediated transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA can potentially induce a stronger immune response than intramuscular injection of the same plasmid DNA. In the present study, we showed that the immune responses induced by transcutaneous immunization by applying plasmid DNA onto a skin area pretreated with solid microneedles were significantly enhanced by coating the plasmid DNA on the surface of cationic nanoparticles. In addition, the net surface charge of the DNA-coated nanoparticles significantly affected their in vitro skin permeation and their ability to induce immune responses in vivo. Transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA-coated net positively charged anoparticles elicited a stronger immune response than with plasmid DNA-coated net negatively charged nanoparticles or by intramuscular immunization with plasmid DNA alone. Transcutaneous immunization with plasmid DNA-coated net positively charged nanoparticles induced comparable immune responses as intramuscular injection of them, but transcutaneous immunization was able to induce specific mucosal immunity and a more balanced T helper type 1 and type 2 response. The ability of the net positively charged DNA-coated nanoparticles to induce a strong immune response through microneedle-mediated transcutaneous immunization may be attributed to their ability to increase the expression of the antigen gene encoded by the plasmid and to more effectively stimulate the maturation of antigen-presenting cells. PMID:22921518

  11. Effective anodic oxidation of naproxen by platinum nanoparticles coated FTO glass.

    PubMed

    Chin, Ching-Ju Monica; Chen, Tsan-Yao; Lee, Menshan; Chang, Chiung-Fen; Liu, Yu-Ting; Kuo, Yu-Tsun

    2014-07-30

    This study investigated applications of the electrochemical anodic oxidation process with Pt-FTO and Pt/MWCNTs-FTO glasses as anodes on the treatment of one of the most important emerging contaminants, naproxen. The anodes used in this study have been synthesized using commercial FTO, MWCNTs and Pt nanoparticles (PtNP). XRD patterns of Pt nanoparticles coated on FTO and MWCNTs revealed that MWCNTs can prevent the surface of PtNPs from sintering and thus provide a greater reaction sites density to interact with naproxen, which have also been confirmed by higher degradation and mineralization efficiencies in the Pt/MWCNTs-FTO system. Results from the CV analysis showed that the Pt-FTO and Pt/MWCNTs-FTO electrodes possessed dual functions of decreasing activation energy and interactions between hydroxyl radicals to effectively degrade naproxen. The lower the solution pH value, the better the degradation efficiency. The existence of humic acid indeed inhibited the degradation ability of naproxen due to the competitions in the multiple-component system. The electrochemical degradation processes were controlled by diffusion mechanism and two major intermediates of 2-acetyl-6-methoxynaphthalene and 2-(6-Hydroxy-2-naphthyl)propanoic acid were identified. This study has successfully demonstrated new, easy, flexible and effective anodic materials which can be feasibly applied to the electrochemical oxidation of naproxen. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Initial study of sediment antagonism and characteristics of silver nanoparticle-coated biliary stents in an experimental animal model.

    PubMed

    Tian, Yigeng; Xia, Mingfeng; Zhang, Shuai; Fu, Zhen; Wen, Qingbin; Liu, Feng; Xu, Zongzhen; Li, Tao; Tian, Hu

    2016-01-01

    Plastic biliary stents used to relieve obstructive jaundice are frequently blocked by sediment, resulting in loss of drainage. We prepared stents coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and compared their ability to resist sedimentation with Teflon stents in a beagle model of obstructive jaundice. AgNP-coated Teflon biliary stents were prepared by chemical oxidation-reduction and evaluated in an obstructive jaundice model that was produced by ligation of common bile duct (CBD); animals were randomized to two equal groups for placement of AgNP-coated or Teflon control stents. Liver function and inflammatory index were found to be similar in the two groups, and the obstruction was relieved. Stents were removed 21 days after insertion and observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The AgNP coating was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), and the composition of sediment was assayed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Electron microscopy revealed a black, closely adherent AgNP stent coating, with thicknesses of 1.5-6 µm. Sediment thickness and density were greater on Teflon than on AgNP-coated stents. EDXA confirmed the stability and integrity of the AgNP coating before and after in vivo animal experimentation. FTIR spectroscopy identified stent sediment components including bilirubin, cholesterol, bile acid, protein, calcium, and other substances. AgNP-coated biliary stents resisted sediment accumulation in this canine model of obstructive jaundice caused by ligation of the CBD.

  13. Initial study of sediment antagonism and characteristics of silver nanoparticle-coated biliary stents in an experimental animal model

    PubMed Central

    Tian, Yigeng; Xia, Mingfeng; Zhang, Shuai; Fu, Zhen; Wen, Qingbin; Liu, Feng; Xu, Zongzhen; Li, Tao; Tian, Hu

    2016-01-01

    Objective Plastic biliary stents used to relieve obstructive jaundice are frequently blocked by sediment, resulting in loss of drainage. We prepared stents coated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and compared their ability to resist sedimentation with Teflon stents in a beagle model of obstructive jaundice. Methods AgNP-coated Teflon biliary stents were prepared by chemical oxidation–reduction and evaluated in an obstructive jaundice model that was produced by ligation of common bile duct (CBD); animals were randomized to two equal groups for placement of AgNP-coated or Teflon control stents. Liver function and inflammatory index were found to be similar in the two groups, and the obstruction was relieved. Stents were removed 21 days after insertion and observed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The AgNP coating was analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), and the composition of sediment was assayed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results Electron microscopy revealed a black, closely adherent AgNP stent coating, with thicknesses of 1.5–6 µm. Sediment thickness and density were greater on Teflon than on AgNP-coated stents. EDXA confirmed the stability and integrity of the AgNP coating before and after in vivo animal experimentation. FTIR spectroscopy identified stent sediment components including bilirubin, cholesterol, bile acid, protein, calcium, and other substances. Conclusion AgNP-coated biliary stents resisted sediment accumulation in this canine model of obstructive jaundice caused by ligation of the CBD. PMID:27217749

  14. On the Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Antibiotics Mixed with Gold Nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burygin, G. L.; Khlebtsov, B. N.; Shantrokha, A. N.; Dykman, L. A.; Bogatyrev, V. A.; Khlebtsov, N. G.

    2009-08-01

    The bacterial action of gentamicin and that of a mixture of gentamicin and 15-nm colloidal-gold particles on Escherichia coli K12 was examined by the agar-well-diffusion method, enumeration of colony-forming units, and turbidimetry. Addition of gentamicin to colloidal gold changed the gold color and extinction spectrum. Within the experimental errors, there were no significant differences in antibacterial activity between pure gentamicin and its mixture with gold nanoparticles (NPs). Atomic absorption spectroscopy showed that upon application of the gentamicin-particle mixture, there were no gold NPs in the zone of bacterial-growth suppression in agar. Yet, free NPs diffused into the agar. These facts are in conflict with the earlier findings indicating an enhancement of the bacterial activity of similar gentamicin-gold nanoparticle mixtures. The possible causes for these discrepancies are discussed, and the suggestion is made that a necessary condition for enhancement of antibacterial activity is the preparation of stable conjugates of NPs coated with the antibiotic molecules.

  15. Double dielectric barrier (DBD) plasma-assisted deposition of chemical stabilized nanoparticles on polyamide 6,6 and polyester fabrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ribeiro, A. I.; Modic, M.; Cvelbar, U.; Dinescu, G.; Mitu, B.; Nikiforov, A.; Leys, C.; Kuchakova, I.; Vanneste, M.; Heyse, P.; De Vrieze, M.; Carneiro, N.; Souto, A. P.; Zille, A.

    2017-10-01

    The development of new multifunctional textiles containing nanoparticles (NPs) has a special interest in several applications for pharmaceutical and medical products. Cu, Zn and Ag are the most promising antimicrobial NPs, exhibiting strong antibacterial activities. However, most of antimicrobial textiles coated with NPs are not able to perform a controlled release of NPs because of the high degree of aggregation. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of NPs stabilizers such as citrate, alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in Cu, Zn and Ag NPs dispersions. The obtained dispersions were used to develop a new class of antibacterial NPs coatings onto polyamide 6,6 (PA66) and polyester fabrics (PES) by Double Dielectric Barrier (DBD) plasma discharge. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to evaluate the best dispersing agent in terms of size, polydispersity index and zeta potential. Coating efficiency was evaluated by SEM, XPS and FTIR. The washing fastness of the coatings developed was also tested. The results show that the best dispersions were obtained using 2.5% of citrate for ZnO, 5% Alginate for Cu and 2.5% alginate for Ag NPs. SEM, XPS and FTIR analysis shows that DBD is an efficient deposition technique only for Ag and Cu NPs and that better perform in PA66 than PES fabric. The DBD deposition in air display similar results in term of NPS deposition of usually more efficient plasma jets using carrier gas such as N2 and Ar.

  16. Human-like collagen protein-coated magnetic nanoparticles with high magnetic hyperthermia performance and improved biocompatibility

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liu, Xiaoli; Zhang, Huan; Chang, Le; Yu, Baozhi; Liu, Qiuying; Wu, Jianpeng; Miao, Yuqing; Ma, Pei; Fan, Daidi; Fan, Haiming

    2015-01-01

    Human-like collagen (HLC)-coated monodispersed superparamagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been successfully prepared to investigate its effect on heat induction property and cell toxicity. After coating of HLC, the sample shows a faster rate of temperature increase under an alternating magnetic field although it has a reduced saturation magnetization. This is most probably a result of the effective heat conduction and good colloid stability due to the high charge of HLC on the surface. In addition, compared with Fe3O4 nanoparticles before coating with HLC, HLC-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles do not induce notable cytotoxic effect at higher concentration which indicates that HLC-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles has improved biocompatibility. Our results clearly show that Fe3O4 nanoparticles after coating with HLC not only possess effective heat induction for cancer treatment but also have improved biocompatibility for biomedicine applications.

  17. Piezoresistive Sensor with High Elasticity Based on 3D Hybrid Network of Sponge@CNTs@Ag NPs.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hui; Liu, Nishuang; Shi, Yuling; Liu, Weijie; Yue, Yang; Wang, Siliang; Ma, Yanan; Wen, Li; Li, Luying; Long, Fei; Zou, Zhengguang; Gao, Yihua

    2016-08-31

    Pressure sensors with high elasticity are in great demand for the realization of intelligent sensing, but there is a need to develope a simple, inexpensive, and scalable method for the manufacture of the sensors. Here, we reported an efficient, simple, facile, and repeatable "dipping and coating" process to manufacture a piezoresistive sensor with high elasticity, based on homogeneous 3D hybrid network of carbon nanotubes@silver nanoparticles (CNTs@Ag NPs) anchored on a skeleton sponge. Highly elastic, sensitive, and wearable sensors are obtained using the porous structure of sponge and the synergy effect of CNTs/Ag NPs. Our sensor was also tested for over 2000 compression-release cycles, exhibiting excellent elasticity and cycling stability. Sensors with high performance and a simple fabrication process are promising devices for commercial production in various electronic devices, for example, sport performance monitoring and man-machine interfaces.

  18. Toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of differently coated silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate in Enchytraeus crypticus upon aqueous exposure in an inert sand medium.

    PubMed

    Topuz, Emel; van Gestel, Cornelis A M

    2015-12-01

    The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Enchytraeus crypticus, applying a combined toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics approach to understand the relationship between survival and the development of internal Ag concentrations in the animals over time. Toxicity tests were conducted in medium composed of well-defined aqueous solutions added to inert quartz sand to avoid the complexity of soil conditions. Citrate-coated AgNPs (AgNP-Cit) and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (AgNP-PVP) were tested and compared with silver nitrate (AgNO3), which was used as a positive control for Ag ion effects. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values based on Ag concentrations in the solution phase of the test medium decreased over time and reached steady state after 7 d, with AgNO3 and AgNP-PVP being more toxic than AgNP-Cit. Slow dissolution may explain the low uptake kinetics and lower toxicity of AgNP-Cit compared with the other 2 Ag forms. The LC50 values based on internal Ag concentrations in the animals were almost stable over time, highlighting the importance of integrating toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics and relating survival with internal Ag concentrations. Neither survival-based elimination rates nor internal LC50s in the organisms showed any significant evidence of nano-specific effects for both AgNPs, although they suggested some uptake of particulate Ag for AgNP-Cit. The authors conclude that the toxicity of both types of AgNP probably is mainly attributable to the release of Ag ions. © 2015 SETAC.

  19. Analysis of silver nanoparticles in antimicrobial products using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

    PubMed

    Guo, Huiyuan; Zhang, Zhiyun; Xing, Baoshan; Mukherjee, Arnab; Musante, Craig; White, Jason C; He, Lili

    2015-04-07

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the most commonly used nanoparticles in consumer products. Concerns over human exposure to and risk from these particles have resulted in increased interest in novel strategies to detect AgNPs. This study investigated the feasibility of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) as a method for the detection and quantification of AgNPs in antimicrobial products. By using ferbam (ferric dimethyl-dithiocarbamate) as an indicator molecule that binds strongly onto the nanoparticles, AgNPs detection and discrimination were achieved based on the signature SERS response of AgNPs-ferbam complexes. SERS response with ferbam was distinct for silver ions, silver chloride, silver bulk particles, and AgNPs. Two types of AgNPs with different coatings, citrate and polyvinylpirrolidone (PVP), both showed strong interactions with ferbam and induced strong SERS signals. SERS was effectively applicable for detecting Ag particles ranging from 20 to 200 nm, with the highest signal intensity in the 60-100 nm range. A linear relationship (R(2) = 0.9804) between Raman intensity and citrate-AgNPs concentrations (60 nm; 0-20 mg/L) indicates the potential for particle quantification. We also evaluated SERS detection of AgNPs in four commercially available antimicrobial products. Combined with ICP-MS and TEM data, the results indicated that the SERS response is primarily dependent on size, but also affected by AgNPs concentration. The findings demonstrate that SERS is a promising analytical platform for studying environmentally relevant levels of AgNPs in consumer products and related matrices.

  20. Synthesis and characterization of γ-Fe2O3 NPs on silicon substrate for power device application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hussein Nurul Athirah, Abu; Bee Chin, Ang; Yew Hoong, Wong; Boon Hoong, Ong; Aainaa Aqilah, Baharuddin

    2018-06-01

    Maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe2O3 NPs) were synthesized using Massart procedure. The formation reaction were optimized by varying the concentration of ferric nitrate solution (Fe(NO3)3) (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 M). All samples were characterized by means of x-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Alternating Gradient Magnetometer (AGM). The smallest size of the NPs were chosen to be deposited on Silicon (100) substrate by spin coating technique. Annealing process of the samples were performed in Argon ambient at different temperatures (600, 700, 800 and 900°) for 20 min. Metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors were then fabricated by depositing Aluminium as the gate electrode. The effect of the annealing process on the structural and electrical properties of γ-Fe2O3 NPs thin film were investigated. The structural properties of the deposited thin film were evaluated by XRD analysis, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Raman Analysis. On the other hand, the electrical properties was conducted by current-voltage analysis. It was revealed that the difference in the annealing temperature affect the grain size, surface roughness, distribution of the nanoparticles as well as the electrical performance of the samples where low annealing temperature (600 °C) gives low leakage current while high annealing temperature (900 °C) gives high electrical breakdown.

  1. Photoconversion of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of hydrazine with AgNPs-TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel method.

    PubMed

    Hernández-Gordillo, Agileo; Arroyo, Missael; Zanella, R; Rodríguez-González, V

    2014-03-15

    The photocatalytic properties of functionalized TiO2 with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of hydrazine were investigated. The TiO2 semiconductor synthesized by the sol-gel method was functionalized with AgNPs at different loadings, and their structural and optical properties were characterized by several techniques. The functionalized TiO2 with 1.5wt% AgNPs presented the highest photocatalytic activity for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol with appropriate hydrazine concentrations (0.5M). The photoefficiency enhancement under UV light irradiation was attributed to the electron transfer from the TiO2 semiconductor surface to the adsorbed acceptor reactant (4-nitrophenol) through the deposited AgNPs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Stabilizing Fe Nanoparticles in the SmCo 5 Matrix

    DOE PAGES

    Shen, Bo; Mendoza-Garcia, Adriana; Baker, Sarah E.; ...

    2017-08-03

    In this paper, we report a new strategy for stabilizing Fe nanoparticles (NPs) in the preparation of SmCo 5–Fe nanocomposites. We coat the presynthesized Fe NPs with SiO 2 and assemble the Fe/SiO 2 NPs with Sm–Co–OH to form a mixture. After reductive annealing at 850 °C in the presence of Ca, we obtain SmCo 5–Fe/SiO 2 composites. Following aqueous NaOH washing and compaction, we produced exchange-coupled SmCo 5–Fe nanocomposites with Fe NPs controlled at 12 nm. In conclusion, our work demonstrates a successful strategy of stabilizing high moment magnetic NPs in a hard magnetic matrix to produce a nanocompositemore » with tunable magnetic properties.« less

  3. Alterations in nanoparticle protein corona by biological surfactants: impact of bile salts on β-lactoglobulin-coated gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Winuprasith, Thunnalin; Chantarak, Sirinya; Suphantharika, Manop; He, Lili; McClements, David Julian

    2014-07-15

    The impact of biological surfactants (bile salts) on the protein (β-lactoglobulin) corona surrounding gold nanoparticles (200 nm) was studied using a variety of analytical techniques at pH 7: dynamic light scattering (DLS); particle electrophoresis (ζ-potential); UV-visible (UV) spectroscopy; transmission electron microscopy (TEM); and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The bile salts adsorbed to the protein-coated nanoparticle surfaces and altered their interfacial composition, charge, and structure. SERS spectra of protein-coated nanoparticles after bile salt addition contained bands from both protein and bile salts, indicating that the protein was not fully displaced by the bile salts. UV, DLS and TEM techniques also indicated that the protein coating was not fully displaced from the nanoparticle surfaces. The impact of bile salts could be described by an orogenic mechanism: mixed interfaces were formed that consisted of islands of aggregated proteins surrounded by a sea of bile salts. This knowledge is useful for understanding the interactions of bile salts with protein-coated colloidal particles, which may be important for controlling the fate of colloidal delivery systems in the human gastrointestinal tract, or the gastrointestinal fate of ingested inorganic nanoparticles. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Synthesis and characterization of polymer-coated manganese ferrite nanoparticles as controlled drug delivery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Guangshuo; Zhao, Dexing; Ma, Yingying; Zhang, Zhixiao; Che, Hongwei; Mu, Jingbo; Zhang, Xiaoliang; Zhang, Zheng

    2018-01-01

    In this study, monodisperse and superparamagnetic manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles have been synthesized by a one-pot sonochemical method using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer. The as-prepared MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were investigated systematically by TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS, SQUID and MTT. The TEM observation showed that the PVP-coated MnFe2O4 nanoparticles had uniform dispersion with narrow particle size distribution. The magnetization curves demonstrated superparamagnetic properties of the coated MnFe2O4 nanoparticles with good hydrophilicity at room temperature. The in vitro cytotoxicity experiments exhibited negligible cytotoxicity of the obtained PVP-coated MnFe2O4 nanoparticles even at the high concentration of 150 μg/mL after 24 h treatment. More importantly, anti-cancer model drug of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was loaded on the surface of MnFe2O4 nanoparticles. The drug loading capacity of the developed nanocarrier reached 0.45 mg/mg and the loaded DOX exhibited interesting pH-dependent release behavior. In conclusion, the as-prepared PVP-coated MnFe2O4 nanoparticles were proposed as a potential candidate for controlled drug delivery.

  5. Stealth Biocompatible Si-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

    PubMed Central

    Chaix, Arnaud; Gary-Bobo, Magali; Angeletti, Bernard; Masion, Armand; Da Silva, Afitz; Daurat, Morgane; Lichon, Laure; Garcia, Marcel; Morère, Alain; El Cheikh, Khaled; Durand, Jean-Olivier; Cunin, Frédérique; Auffan, Mélanie

    2017-01-01

    A challenge regarding the design of nanocarriers for drug delivery is to prevent their recognition by the immune system. To improve the blood residence time and prevent their capture by organs, nanoparticles can be designed with stealth properties using polymeric coating. In this study, we focused on the influence of surface modification with polyethylene glycol and/or mannose on the stealth behavior of porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNP, ~200 nm). In vivo biodistribution of pSiNPs formulations were evaluated in mice 5 h after intravenous injection. Results indicated that the distribution in the organs was surface functionalization-dependent. Pristine pSiNPs and PEGylated pSiNPs were distributed mainly in the liver and spleen, while mannose-functionalized pSiNPs escaped capture by the spleen, and had higher blood retention. The most efficient stealth behavior was observed with PEGylated pSiNPs anchored with mannose that were the most excreted in urine at 5 h. The biodegradation kinetics evaluated in vitro were in agreement with these in vivo observations. The biocompatibility of the pristine and functionalized pSiNPs was confirmed in vitro on human cell lines and in vivo by cytotoxic and systemic inflammation investigations, respectively. With their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and stealth properties, the pSiNPs functionalized with mannose and PEG show promising potential for biomedical applications. PMID:28946628

  6. Solid-stabilized emulsion formation using stearoyl lactylate coated iron oxide nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vengsarkar, Pranav S.; Roberts, Christopher B.

    2014-10-01

    Iron oxide nanoparticles can exhibit highly tunable physicochemical properties that are extremely important in applications such as catalysis, biomedicine and environmental remediation. The small size of iron oxide nanoparticles can be used to stabilize oil-in-water Pickering emulsions due to their high energy of adsorption at the interface of oil droplets in water. The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of the primary particle characteristics and stabilizing agent chemistry on the stability of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation method using stoichiometric amounts of Fe2+ and Fe3+ salts. Sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), a Food and Drug Administration approved food additive, was used to functionalize the iron oxide nanoparticles. SSL is useful in the generation of fat-in-water emulsions due to its high hydrophilic-lipophilic balance and its bilayer-forming capacity. Generation of a monolayer or a bilayer coating on the nanoparticles was controlled through systematic changes in reagent concentrations. The coated particles were then characterized using various analytical techniques to determine their size, their crystal structure and surface functionalization. The capacity of these bilayer coated nanoparticles to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions under various salt concentrations and pH values was also systematically determined using various characterization techniques. This study successfully demonstrated the ability to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles (20-40 nm) coated with SSL in order to generate stable Pickering emulsions that were pH-responsive and resistant to significant destabilization in a saline environment, thereby lending themselves to applications in advanced oil spill recovery and remediation.

  7. Simultaneous size control and surface functionalization of titania nanoparticles through bioadhesion-assisted bio-inspired mineralization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shi, Jiafu; Yang, Dong; Jiang, Zhongyi; Jiang, Yanjun; Liang, Yanpeng; Zhu, Yuanyuan; Wang, Xiaoli; Wang, Huihui

    2012-09-01

    Simultaneous size control and surface functionalization of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are often desired for their efficient applications in (bio)catalysis, drug and/or DNA delivery, and photonics, etc. In this study, a novel strategy "bioadhesion-assisted bio-inspired mineralization (BABM)" was put forward to prepare titania nanoparticles (TiNPs) with tunable particle size and multiple surface functionality. Specifically, the initial formation and subsequent growth of TiNPs were enabled by arginine via bio-inspired mineralization, while the mineralization process was terminated through the addition of the pre-polymerized dopa (oligodopa). By adjusting the addition time of oligodopa, the size of TiNPs could be facilely tailored from ca. 30-350 nm; meanwhile, the surface of TiNPs could be functionalized by oligodopa through metal-catechol coordination interaction (a typical bioadhesion phenomenon). In other words, oligodopa coating could not only exquisitely control the size of TiNPs, but also render TiNPs surface multifunctional groups for secondary treatment such as conjugating proteins through amine-catechol adduct formation. Hopefully, this BABM approach will construct a versatile platform for green and facile synthesis of inorganic NPs, in particular transition metal oxide NPs.

  8. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a contrast agent for imaging of animal tissue using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mondal, Indranil; Raj, Shipra; Roy, Poulomi; Poddar, Raju

    2018-01-01

    We present noninvasive three-dimensional depth-resolved imaging of animal tissue with a swept-source optical coherence tomography system at 1064 nm center wavelength and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a potential contrast agent. A swept-source laser light source is used to enable an imaging rate of 100 kHz (100 000 A-scans s-1). Swept-source optical coherence tomography is a new variant of the optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique, offering unique advantages in terms of sensitivity, reduction of motion artifacts, etc. To enhance the contrast of an OCT image, AgNPs are utilized as an exogeneous contrast agent. AgNPs are synthesized using a modified Tollens method and characterization is done by UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. In vitro imaging of chicken breast tissue, with and without the application of AgNPs, is performed. The effect of AgNPs is studied with different exposure times. A mathematical model is also built to calculate changes in the local scattering coefficient of tissue from OCT images. A quantitative estimation of scattering coefficient and contrast is performed for tissues with and without application of AgNPs. Significant improvement in contrast and increase in scattering coefficient with time is observed.

  9. Combined use of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles and secondary enhanced nanoparticles for rapid surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection of bacteria

    PubMed Central

    Pang, Yuanfeng; Xiao, Rui; Wang, Shengqi

    2018-01-01

    Background Pathogenic bacteria have always been a significant threat to human health. The detection of pathogens needs to be rapid, accurate, and convenient. Methods We present a sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) biosensor based on the combination of vancomycin-modified Ag-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Ag-Van MNPs) and Au@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) that can effectively capture and discriminate bacterial pathogens from solution. The high-performance Fe3O4@Ag MNPs were modified with vancomycin and used as bacteria capturer for magnetic separation and enrichment. The modified MNPS were found to exhibit strong affinity with a broad range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. After separating and rinsing bacteria, Fe3O4@Ag-Van MNPs and Au@Ag NPs were synergistically used to construct a very large number of hot spots on bacteria cells, leading to ultrasensitive SERS detection. Results The dominant merits of our dual enhanced strategy included high bacterial-capture efficiency (>65%) within a wide pH range (pH 3.0–11.0), a short assay time (<30 min), and a low detection limit (5×102 cells/mL). Moreover, the spiked tests show that this method is still valid in milk and blood samples. Owing to these capabilities, the combined system enabled the sensitive and specific discrimination of different pathogens in complex solution, as verified by its detection of Gram-positive bacterium Escherichia coli, Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Conclusion This method has great potential for field applications in food safety, environmental monitoring, and infectious disease diagnosis. PMID:29520142

  10. Biodegradable luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles for in vivo applications

    PubMed Central

    Park, Ji-Ho; Gu, Luo; von Maltzahn, Geoffrey; Ruoslahti, Erkki; Bhatia, Sangeeta N.; Sailor, Michael J.

    2011-01-01

    Nanomaterials that can circulate in the body hold great potential to diagnose and treat disease1–4. For such applications, it is important that the nanomaterials be harmlessly eliminated from the body in a reasonable period of time after they carry out their diagnostic or therapeutic function. Despite efforts to improve their targeting efficiency, significant quantities of systemically administered nanomaterials are cleared by the mononuclear phagocytic system before finding their targets, increasing the likelihood of unintended acute or chronic toxicity. However, there has been little effort to engineer the self-destruction of errant nanoparticles into non-toxic, systemically eliminated products. Here, we present luminescent porous silicon nanoparticles (LPSiNPs) that can carry a drug payload and of which the intrinsic near-infrared photoluminescence enables monitoring of both accumulation and degradation in vivo. Furthermore, in contrast to most optically active nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and quantum dots), LPSiNPs self-destruct in a mouse model into renally cleared components in a relatively short period of time with no evidence of toxicity. As a preliminary in vivo application, we demonstrate tumour imaging using dextran-coated LPSiNPs (D-LPSiNPs). These results demonstrate a new type of multifunctional nanostructure with a low-toxicity degradation pathway for in vivo applications. PMID:19234444

  11. 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

  12. Cancer cell detection and therapeutics using peroxidase-active nanohybrid of gold nanoparticle-loaded mesoporous silica-coated graphene.

    PubMed

    Maji, Swarup Kumar; Mandal, Amal Kumar; Nguyen, Kim Truc; Borah, Parijat; Zhao, Yanli

    2015-05-13

    Development of efficient artificial enzymes is an emerging field in nanobiotechnology, since these artificial enzymes could overcome serious disadvantages of natural enzymes. In this work, a new nanostructured hybrid was developed as a mimetic enzyme for in vitro detection and therapeutic treatment of cancer cells. The hybrid (GSF@AuNPs) was prepared by the immobilization of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on mesoporous silica-coated nanosized reduced graphene oxide conjugated with folic acid, a cancer cell-targeting ligand. The GSF@AuNPs hybrid showed unprecedented peroxidase-like activity, monitored by catalytic oxidation of a typical peroxidase substrate, 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), in the presence of H2O2. On basis of this peroxidase activity, the hybrid was utilized as a selective, quantitative, and fast colorimetric detection probe for cancer cells. Finally, the hybrid as a mimetic enzyme was employed for H2O2- and ascorbic acid (AA)-mediated therapeutics of cancer cells. In vitro experiments using human cervical cancer cells (HeLa cells) exhibited the formation of reactive oxygen species (OH(•) radical) in the presence of peroxidase-mimic GSF@AuNPs with either exogenous H2O2 or endogenous H2O2 generated from AA, leading to an enhanced cytotoxicity to HeLa cells. In the case of normal cells (human embryonic kidney HEK 293 cells), the treatment with the hybrid and H2O2 or AA showed no obvious damage, proving selective killing effect of the hybrid to cancer cells.

  13. Synthesis and characterization of pHLIP® coated gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Daniels, Jennifer L; Crawford, Troy M; Andreev, Oleg A; Reshetnyak, Yana K

    2017-07-01

    Novel approaches in synthesis of spherical and multispiked gold nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and pH Low Insertion Peptide (pHLIP ® ) were introduced. The presence of a tumor-targeting pHLIP ® peptide in the nanoparticle coating enhances the stability of particles in solution and promotes a pH-dependent cellular uptake. The spherical particles were prepared with sodium citrate as a gold reducing agent to form particles of 7.0±2.5 nm in mean metallic core diameter and ∼43 nm in mean hydrodynamic diameter. The particles that were injected into tumors in mice (21 µg of gold) were homogeneously distributed within a tumor mass with no staining of the muscle tissue adjacent to the tumor. Up to 30% of the injected gold dose remained within the tumor one hour post-injection. The multispiked gold nanoparticles with a mean metallic core diameter of 146.0±50.4 nm and a mean hydrodynamic size of ~161 nm were prepared using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and disk-like bicelles as a template. Only the presence of a soft template, like bicelles, ensured the appearance of spiked nanoparticles with resonance in the near infrared region. The irradiation of spiked gold nanoparticles by an 805 nm laser led to the time- and concentration-dependent increase of temperature. Both pHLIP ® and PEG coated gold spherical and multispiked nanoparticles might find application in radiation and thermal therapies of tumors.

  14. Combining protein-shelled platinum nanoparticles with graphene to build a bionanohybrid capacitor.

    PubMed

    San, Boi Hoa; Kim, Jang Ah; Kulkarni, Atul; Moh, Sang Hyun; Dugasani, Sreekantha Reddy; Subramani, Vinod Kumar; Thorat, Nanasaheb D; Lee, Hyun Ho; Park, Sung Ha; Kim, Taesung; Kim, Kyeong Kyu

    2014-12-23

    The electronic properties of biomolecules and their hybrids with inorganic materials can be utilized for the fabrication of nanoelectronic devices. Here, we report the charge transport behavior of protein-shelled inorganic nanoparticles combined with graphene and demonstrate their possible application as a bionanohybrid capacitor. The conductivity of PepA, a bacterial aminopeptidase used as a protein shell (PS), and the platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) encapsulated by PepA was measured using a field effect transistor (FET) and a graphene-based FET (GFET). Furthermore, we confirmed that the electronic properties of PepA-PtNPs were controlled by varying the size of the PtNPs. The use of two poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-coated graphene layers separated by PepA-PtNPs enabled us to build a bionanohybrid capacitor with tunable properties. The combination of bioinorganic nanohybrids with graphene is regarded as the cornerstone for developing flexible and biocompatible bionanoelectronic devices that can be integrated into bioelectric circuits for biomedical purposes.

  15. Size-Dependent Protein-Nanoparticle Interactions in Citrate-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles: The Emergence of the Protein Corona.

    PubMed

    Piella, Jordi; Bastús, Neus G; Puntes, Víctor

    2017-01-18

    Surface modifications of highly monodisperse citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with sizes ranging from 3.5 to 150 nm after their exposure to cell culture media supplemented with fetal bovine serum were studied and characterized by the combined use of UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential measurements. In all the tested AuNPs, a dynamic process of protein adsorption was observed, evolving toward the formation of an irreversible hard protein coating known as Protein Corona. Interestingly, the thickness and density of this protein coating were strongly dependent on the particle size, making it possible to identify different transition regimes as the size of the particles increased: (i) NP-protein complexes (or incomplete corona), (ii) the formation of a near-single dense protein corona layer, and (iii) the formation of a multilayer corona. In addition, the different temporal patterns in the evolution of the protein coating came about more quickly for small particles than for the larger ones, further revealing the significant role that size plays in the kinetics of this process. Since the biological identity of the NPs is ultimately determined by the protein corona and different NP-biological interactions take place at different time scales, these results are relevant to biological and toxicological studies.

  16. On the Use of the Electrospinning Coating Technique to Produce Antimicrobial Polyhydroxyalkanoate Materials Containing In Situ-Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Castro-Mayorga, Jinneth Lorena; Fabra, Maria Jose; Cabedo, Luis; Lagaron, Jose Maria

    2016-12-29

    Electro-hydrodynamic processing, comprising electrospraying and electrospinning techniques, has emerged as a versatile technology to produce nanostructured fiber-based and particle-based materials. In this work, an antimicrobial active multilayer system comprising a commercial polyhydroxyalkanoate substrate (PHA) and an electrospun PHA coating containing in situ-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was successfully developed and characterized in terms of morphology, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties. The obtained materials reduced the bacterial population of Salmonella enterica below the detection limits at very low silver loading of 0.002 ± 0.0005 wt %. As a result, this study provides an innovative route to generate fully renewable and biodegradable materials that could prevent microbial outbreaks in food packages and food contact surfaces.

  17. Structural properties of perovskite films on zinc oxide nanoparticles-reduced graphene oxide (ZnO-NPs/rGO) prepared by electrophoretic deposition technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bahtiar, Ayi; Nurazizah, Euis Siti; Latiffah, Efa; Risdiana, Furukawa, Yukio

    2018-02-01

    Perovskite solar cells highly believed as next generation solar cells to replace currently available inorganic silicon solar cells due to their high power conversion efficiency and easy processing to thin films using solution processing techniques. Performance and stability, however still need to be improved for mass production and widely used for public electricity generation. Perovskite solar cells are commonly deposited on Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) film as an effective electron transport layer (ETL). We used Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as ETL in perovskite solar cells due to the low temperature required for crystallization and can be formed into different shapes of nanostructures. However, perovskite film can easily degrade into insulating lead iodide due to deprotonation of the methylammoniumcation at the surface of ZnO-NPs, in particular when it stored in ambient air with high relative humidity. The degradation of perovskite layer is therefore needed to be overcome. Here, we capped ZnO-NPs with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to overcome the degradation of perovskite film where ZnO-NPs is synthesized by sol-gel method. The average nanoparticle size of ZnO is 15 nm. ZnO-NPs and ZnO-NPs-rGO films are prepared using electrophoretic deposition technique, which can produce large area with good homogeneity and high reproducibility. The stability of perovskite layer can significantly be improved by capping ZnO with rGO, which is indicated by absence of color change of perovskite after storage for 5 (five) days in ambient air with relative humidity above 95%. Moreover, the X-Ray Diffaction peaks of perovskite film are more preserved when deposited on ZnO/rGO film than using only ZnO film. We strongly believe, by capping ZnO film with rGO, both the performance and stability of perovskite solar cells can be improved significantly.

  18. Aspheric Solute Ions Modulate Gold Nanoparticle Interactions in an Aqueous Solution: An Optimal Way to Reversibly Concentrate Functionalized Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Villarreal, Oscar D; Chen, Liao Y; Whetten, Robert L; Demeler, Borries

    2015-01-01

    Nanometer-sized gold particles (AuNPs) are of peculiar interest because their behaviors in an aqueous solution are sensitive to changes in environmental factors including the size and shape of the solute ions. In order to determine these important characteristics, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on the icosahedral Au144 nanoparticles each coated with a homogeneous set of 60 thiolates (4-mercapto-benzoate, pMBA) in eight aqueous solutions having ions of varying sizes and shapes (Na+, K+, tetramethylamonium cation TMA+, trisamonium cation TRS+, Cl−, and OH−). For each solution, we computed the reversible work (potential of mean of force) to bring two nanoparticles together as a function of their separation distance. We found that the behavior of pMBA protected Au144 nanoparticles can be readily modulated by tuning their aqueous environmental factors (pH and solute ion combinations). We examined the atomistic details on how the sizes and shapes of solute ions quantitatively factor in the definitive characteristics of nanoparticle-environment and nanoparticle-nanoparticle interactions. We predict that tuning the concentrations of non-spherical composite ions such as TRS+ in an aqueous solution of AuNPs be an effective means to modulate the aggregation propensity desired in biomedical and other applications of small charged nanoparticles. PMID:26581232

  19. Aspheric Solute Ions Modulate Gold Nanoparticle Interactions in an Aqueous Solution: An Optimal Way To Reversibly Concentrate Functionalized Nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Villarreal, Oscar D; Chen, Liao Y; Whetten, Robert L; Demeler, Borries

    2015-12-17

    Nanometer-sized gold particles (AuNPs) are of peculiar interest because their behaviors in an aqueous solution are sensitive to changes in environmental factors including the size and shape of the solute ions. In order to determine these important characteristics, we performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on the icosahedral Au144 nanoparticles each coated with a homogeneous set of 60 thiolates (4-mercaptobenzoate, pMBA) in eight aqueous solutions having ions of varying sizes and shapes (Na(+), K(+), tetramethylamonium cation TMA(+), tris-ammonium cation TRS(+), Cl(-), and OH(-)). For each solution, we computed the reversible work (potential of mean of force) to bring two nanoparticles together as a function of their separation distance. We found that the behavior of pMBA protected Au144 nanoparticles can be readily modulated by tuning their aqueous environmental factors (pH and solute ion combinations). We examined the atomistic details on how the sizes and shapes of solute ions quantitatively factor in the definitive characteristics of nanoparticle-environment and nanoparticle-nanoparticle interactions. We predict that tuning the concentrations of nonspherical composite ions such as TRS(+) in an aqueous solution of AuNPs be an effective means to modulate the aggregation propensity desired in biomedical and other applications of small charged nanoparticles.

  20. Ultralow-power near-infrared excited neodymium-doped nanoparticles for long-term in vivo bioimaging.

    PubMed

    Qin, Qing-Song; Zhang, Pei-Zhi; Sun, Ling-Dong; Shi, Shuo; Chen, Nai-Xiu; Dong, Hao; Zheng, Xiao-Yu; Li, Le-Min; Yan, Chun-Hua

    2017-04-06

    Lanthanide-doped luminescent nanoparticles with both emission and excitation in the near-infrared (NIR-to-NIR) region hold great promise for bioimaging. Herein, core@shell structured LiLuF 4 :Nd@LiLuF 4 (named as Nd@Lu) nanoparticles (NPs) with highly efficient NIR emission were developed for high-performance in vivo bioimaging. Strikingly, the absolute quantum yield of Nd@Lu NPs reached as high as 32%. After coating with polyethylene glycol (PEG), the water-dispersible Nd@Lu NPs showed good bio-compatibility and low toxicity. With efficient NIR emission, the Nd@Lu NPs were clearly detectable in tissues at depths of up to 20 mm. In addition, long-term in vivo biodistribution with a high signal-to-noise ratio of 25.1 was distinctly tracked upon an ultralow-power-density excitation (10 mW cm -2 ) of 732 nm for the first time.

  1. Using thermal energy produced by irradiation of Mn-Zn ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (MZF-NPs) for heat-inducible gene expression.

    PubMed

    Tang, Qiu-sha; Zhang, Dong-sheng; Cong, Xiao-ming; Wan, Mei-ling; Jin, Li-qiang

    2008-06-01

    One of the main advantages of gene therapy over traditional therapy is the potential to target the expression of therapeutic genes in desired cells or tissues. To achieve targeted gene expression, we developed a novel heat-inducible gene expression system in which thermal energy generated by Mn-Zn ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (MZF-NPs) under an alternating magnetic field (AMF) was used to activate gene expression. MZF-NPs, obtained by co-precipitation method, were firstly surface modified with cation poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). Then thermodynamic test of various doses of MZF-NPs was preformed in vivo and in vitro. PEI-MZF-NPs showed good DNA binding ability and high transfection efficiency. In AMF, they could rise to a steady temperature. To analyze the heat-induced gene expression under an AMF, we combined P1730OR vector transfection with hyperthermia produced by irradiation of MZF-NPs. By using LacZ gene as a reporter gene and Hsp70 as a promoter, it was demonstrated that expression of a heterogeneous gene could be elevated to 10 to 500-fold over background by moderate hyperthermia (added 12.24 or 25.81 mg MZF-NPs to growth medium) in tissue cultured cells. When injected with 2.6 or 4.6 mg MZF-NPs, the temperature of tumor-bearing nude mice could rise to 39.5 or 42.8 degrees C, respectively, and the beta-gal concentration could increase up to 3.8 or 8.1 mU/mg proteins accordingly 1 day after hyperthermia treatment. Our results therefore supported hyperthermia produced by irradiation of MZF-NPs under an AMF as a feasible approach for targeted heat-induced gene expression. This novel system made use of the relative low Curie point of MZF-NPs to control the in vivo hyperthermia temperature and therefore acquired safe and effective heat-inducible transgene expression.

  2. Two-dimensional self-assembly of DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Wenjie; Zhang, Honghu; Hagen, Noah; Kuzmenko, Ivan; Akinc, Mufit; Travesset, Alex; Mallapragada, Surya; Vaknin, David

    2D superlattices of nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for nano-devices. It is still challenging to develop a simple yet efficient protocol to assemble NPs in a controlled manner. Here, we report on formation of 2D Gibbs monolayers of single-stranded DNA-coated gold nanoparticles (ssDNA-AuNPs) at the air-water interface by manipulation of salts contents. MgCl2 and CaCl2 in solutions facilitate the accumulation of the non-complementary ssDNA-AuNPs on aqueous surfaces. Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) and X-ray reflectivity show that the surface AuNPs assembly forms a mono-particle layer and undergoes a transformation from short-range to long-range (hexagonal) order above a threshold of [MgCl2] or [CaCl2]. For solutions that include two kinds of ssDNA-AuNPs with complementary base-pairing, the surface AuNPs form a thicker film and only in-plane short-range order is observed. By using other salts (NaCl or LaCl3) at concentrations of similar ionic strength to those of MgCl2 or CaCl2, we find that surface adsorbed NPs lack any orders. X-ray fluorescence measurements provide direct evidence of surface enrichment of AuNPs and divalent ions (Ca2 +) . The work was supported by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, USDOE under Contract No. DE-AC02-07CH11358 and DE-AC02-06CH11357.

  3. Slight temperature changes affect protein affinity and cellular uptake/toxicity of nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mahmoudi, Morteza; Shokrgozar, Mohammad A.; Behzadi, Shahed

    2013-03-01

    It is known that what the cell actually ``sees'' at the nanoscale is an outer shell formed of `protein corona' on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs). The amount and composition of various proteins on the corona are strongly dependent on the biophysicochemical properties of NPs, which have been extensively studied. However, the effect of a small variation in temperature, due to the human circadian rhythm, on the composition of the protein corona and the affinity of various proteins to the surface of NPs, was ignored. Here, the effect of temperature on the composition of protein corona and the affinity of various proteins to the surface of NPs and, subsequently, cell responses to the protein coated NPs are probed. The results confirmed that cellular entrance, dispersion, and toxicity of NPs are strongly diverse with slight body temperature changes. This new finding can help scientists to maximise NP entrance to specific cells/organs with lower toxicity by adjusting the cellular/organ temperature.It is known that what the cell actually ``sees'' at the nanoscale is an outer shell formed of `protein corona' on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs). The amount and composition of various proteins on the corona are strongly dependent on the biophysicochemical properties of NPs, which have been extensively studied. However, the effect of a small variation in temperature, due to the human circadian rhythm, on the composition of the protein corona and the affinity of various proteins to the surface of NPs, was ignored. Here, the effect of temperature on the composition of protein corona and the affinity of various proteins to the surface of NPs and, subsequently, cell responses to the protein coated NPs are probed. The results confirmed that cellular entrance, dispersion, and toxicity of NPs are strongly diverse with slight body temperature changes. This new finding can help scientists to maximise NP entrance to specific cells/organs with lower toxicity by adjusting the cellular

  4. Surface functionalization of dopamine coated iron oxide nanoparticles for various surface functionalities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sherwood, Jennifer; Xu, Yaolin; Lovas, Kira; Qin, Ying; Bao, Yuping

    2017-04-01

    We present effective conjugation of four small molecules (glutathione, cysteine, lysine, and Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane) onto dopamine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. Conjugation of these molecules could improve the surface functionality of nanoparticles for more neutral surface charge at physiological pH and potentially reduce non-specific adsorption of proteins to nanoparticles surfaces. The success of conjugation was evaluated with dynamic light scattering by measuring the surface charge changes and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for surface chemistry analysis. The stability of dopamine-coated nanoparticles and the ability of conjugated nanoparticles to reduce the formation of protein corona were evaluated by measuring the size and charge of the nanoparticles in biological medium. This facile conjugation method opens up possibilities for attaching various surface functionalities onto iron oxide nanoparticle surfaces for biomedical applications.

  5. Self-deposition of Pt nanoparticles on graphene woven fabrics for enhanced hybrid Schottky junctions and photoelectrochemical solar cells.

    PubMed

    Kang, Zhe; Tan, Xinyu; Li, Xiao; Xiao, Ting; Zhang, Li; Lao, Junchao; Li, Xinming; Cheng, Shan; Xie, Dan; Zhu, Hongwei

    2016-01-21

    In this study, we demonstrated a self-deposition method to deposit Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on graphene woven fabrics (GWF) to improve the performance of graphene-on-silicon solar cells. The deposition of Pt NPs increased the work function of GWF and reduced the sheet resistance of GWF, thereby improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of graphene-on-silicon solar cells. The PCE (>10%) was further enhanced via solid electrolyte coating of the hybrid Schottky junction in the photoelectrochemical solar cells. These results suggest that the combination of self-deposition of Pt NPs and solid-state electrolyte coating of graphene-on-silicon is a promising way to produce high performance graphene-on-semiconductor solar cells.

  6. Green engineering of biomolecule-coated metallic silver nanoparticles and their potential cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Prasannaraj, Govindaraj; Venkatachalam, Perumal

    2017-06-01

    This report describes the synthesis of metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using extracts of four medicinal plants (Aegle marmelos (A. marmelos), Alstonia scholaris (A. scholaris), Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata) and Centella asiatica (C. asiatica)). The bio-conjugates were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and zeta potential. This analysis confirmed that UV-Vis spectral peaks at 375 nm, 380 nm, 420 nm and 380 nm are corresponding to A. marmelos, A. scholaris, A. paniculata and C. asiatica mediated AgNPs, respectively. SEM images revealed that all the obtained four AgNPs are predominantly spherical, fibres and rectangle in shape with an average size of 36-97 nm. SEM-EDS and XRD analysis confirmed the presence of elemental AgNPs in crystalline form for all the four nanoparticle samples. The phytochemicals of various medicinal plant extracts with different functional groups were responsible for reduction of Ag+ to AgNPs, which act as capping and stabilizing agent. Among four types of AgNPs tested for anticancer activity, the Ap mediated AgNPs had shown enhanced activity against HepG2 cells (27.01 µg ml-1) and PC3 cells (32.15 µg ml-1).

  7. Antibody-directed targeting of lysostaphin adsorbed onto polylactide nanoparticles increases its antimicrobial activity against S. aureus in vitro

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Satishkumar, R.; Vertegel, A. A.

    2011-12-01

    The objective of this paper was to study the effect of antibody-directed targeting of S. aureus by comparing the activities of lysostaphin conjugated to biodegradable polylactide nanoparticles (NPs) in the presence and in the absence of co-immobilized anti-S. aureus antibody. Lysostaphin-antibody-NP conjugates were synthesized through physical adsorption at different enzyme:antibody:NP ratios. The synthesized enzyme-NP conjugates were characterized by means of dynamic light scattering and zeta potential analysis, and the total protein binding yield on the NPs was characterized using Alexa Fluor 350 and 594 dyes for the S. aureus antibody and lysostaphin respectively. We observed enhanced antimicrobial activity for both enzyme-coated and enzyme-antibody-coated NPs for lysostaphin coatings corresponding to ~ 40% of the initial monolayer and higher compared to the free enzyme case (p < 0.05). At the highest antibody coating concentration, bacterial lysis rates for antibody-coated samples were significantly higher than for lysostaphin-coated samples lacking the antibody (p < 0.05). Such enzyme-NP conjugates thus have the potential for becoming novel therapeutic agents for treating antibiotic-resistant S. aureus infections.

  8. The Role of Dextran Coatings on the Cytotoxicity Properties of Ceria Nanoparticles Toward Bone Cancer Cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yazici, Hilal; Alpaslan, Ece; Webster, Thomas J.

    2015-04-01

    Cerium oxide nanoparticles have demonstrated great potential as antioxidant and radioprotective agents for nanomedicine applications especially for cancer therapy. The surface chemistry of nanoparticles is an important property that has a significant effect on their performance in biological applications including cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, and bacterial infection. Recently, various nanosized cerium oxide particles with different types of polymer coatings have been developed to improve aqueous solubility and allow for surface functionalization for distinct applications. In this study, the role of ceria nanoparticles coated with dextran on the cytotoxicity properties of bone cancer cells was shown. Specifically, 0.1 M and 0.01 M dextran-coated, <5-nm ceria nanoparticles, were synthesized. The cytotoxicity of 0.1 M and 0.01 M dextran-coated ceria nanoparticles was evaluated against osteosarcoma cells. A change in cell viability was observed when treating osteosarcoma cells with 0.1 M dextran-coated ceria nanoparticles in the 250 -1000 μg/mL concentration range. In contrast, minimal toxicity to bone cancer cells was observed for the 0.01 M dextran coating after 3 days compared with the 0.1 M dextran coating. These results indicated that surface dextran functionalization had a positive impact on the cytotoxicity of cerium oxide nanoparticles against osteosarcoma cells.

  9. Nanoparticles: nanotoxicity aspects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vlastou, Elena; Gazouli, Maria; Ploussi, Agapi; Platoni, Kalliopi; Efstathopoulos, Efstathios P.

    2017-11-01

    The giant steps towards Nanosciences dictate the need to gain a broad knowledge about not only beneficial but also noxious properties of Nanomaterials. Apart from the remarkable advantages of Nanoparticles (NPs) in medicine and industry, there have been raised plenty of concerns about their potential adverse effects in living organisms and ecosystems as well. Without a doubt, it is of critical importance to ensure that NPs medical and industrial applications are accompanied by the essential safety so that the balance will be tilted in favor of the profits that society will earn. However, the evaluation of NPs toxic effects remains a great challenge for the scientific community due to the wealth of factors that Nanotoxicity depends on. Size, surface area, dosing, shape, surface coating and charge and bulk material are the basic parameters under investigation to assess the risk involved in NPs usage. Our purpose is to highlight NPs physical and chemical properties responsible for induced toxicity, describe the mechanisms that take place in their interaction with cells and organs and finally report the potential harmful consequences that may result from the innovative applications of Nanomaterials.

  10. Enzyme-mediated formulation of stable elliptical silver nanoparticles tested against clinical pathogens and MDR bacteria and development of antimicrobial surgical thread.

    PubMed

    Thapa, Rupak; Bhagat, Chintan; Shrestha, Pragya; Awal, Suvash; Dudhagara, Pravin

    2017-05-16

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are believed to be emerging tool against various infectious diseases including multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. In the present study, in vitro synthesis of AgNPs was optimized using 1:50 ratio of macerozyme (25 μg/μl) and 1 mM AgNO 3 incubated at 80 °C for 8 h. AgNPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Characterization studies suggest the synthesis of elliptical, stable and crystalline AgNPs with an average size of 38.26 ± 0.4 nm calculated using TEM. The XRD pattern revealed the face-centered-cubic (fcc) form of metallic silver. Good shape integrity and dispersion of AgNPs after 1 year of incubation confirmed their stability. AgNPs were exibited the antimicrobial property against ten pathogenic bacteria, three molds and one yeast. The AgNPs also revealed remarkable antimicrobial activity against three MDR strains i.e. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase positive Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Teicoplanin resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae. The AgNPs coated surgical threads (suture) were revealed the remarkble antibacterial activity against three MDR strains. This is the first report to synthesize antimicrobial elliptical AgNPs using enzymes. The results suggest the possibilities to develop the nanoparticles coated antimicrobial medical fabric to combat against MDR infection.

  11. Effect of location and ionic interaction on photocatalytic activity of silver nanoparticles stabilized with polyDOPA

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cheon, Ja Young; Park, Won Ho

    2018-05-01

    PVA nanofibrous webs containing silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) stabilized with poly(3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) (polyDOPA) were prepared using either the electrospinning or coating methods. The Ag NPs incorporated in the nanofibers were identified using SEM, TEM, TGA, and XRD. The catalytic reactions of the PVA nanofibrous webs containing the Ag NPs were compared using organic dyes under UV-vis spectroscopy. The location (inside and outside) of the Ag NPs in the nanofibers and the charge interaction between the dye and the Ag NPs had a significant effect on the catalytic reaction rate. When the Ag NPs existed in the outside of the nanofiber due to the coating method, the reaction rate was increased due to the presence of more contact sites with respect to the organic dye. Also, an electrostatic attraction between the organic dye and the pDA surrounding the Ag NPs increased the catalytic reaction rate. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the location and the surface charge of the Ag NPs in the nanofibrous web should be considered as crucial factors in terms of the catalytic performance of the Ag NPs for model dyes.

  12. Sustained delivery of proangiogenic microRNA-132 by nanoparticle transfection improves endothelial cell transplantation

    PubMed Central

    Devalliere, Julie; Chang, William G.; Andrejecsk, Jillian W.; Abrahimi, Parwiz; Cheng, Christopher J.; Jane-wit, Dan; Saltzman, W. Mark; Pober, Jordan S.

    2014-01-01

    Transplantation of endothelial cells (ECs) for therapeutic vascularization or tissue engineering is a promising method for increasing tissue perfusion. Here, we report on a new approach for enhanced EC transplantation using targeted nanoparticle transfection to deliver proangiogenic microRNA-132 (miR-132) to cultured ECs before their transplantation, thereby sensitizing cells to the effects of endogenous growth factors. We synthesized biodegradable PLGA polymer nanoparticles (NPs) that were loaded with miR-132 and coated with cyclic RGD (cRGD) peptides that target integrin αvβ3 expressed on cultured human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), increasing NP uptake through clathrin-coated pits. Unlike previously reported NPs for miR delivery, these NPs slowly release RNA for several weeks. The endocytosed NPs remain in clathrin-coated vesicles from which they mediate intracellular delivery of siRNA or miRNA. Transfection of HUVECs with miR-132 enhances growth factor-induced proliferation and migration in 2D culture, producing a 1.8- and 5-fold increase, respectively. However, while the effects of conventional transfection were short-lived, NP transfection produced protein knockdown and biological effects that were significantly longer in duration (≥6 d). Transfection of HUVECs with miR-132 NP resulted in a 2-fold increase in the number of microvessels per square millimeter compared to lipid after transplantation into immunodeficient mice and led to a higher number of mural cell-invested vessels than control transfection. These data suggest that sustained delivery of miR-132 encapsulated in a targeted biodegradable polymer NP is a safe and efficient strategy to improve EC transplantation and vascularization.—Devalliere, J., Chang, W. G., Andrejecsk, J. W., Abrahimi, P., Cheng, C. J., Jane-wit, D., Saltzman, W. M., Pober, J. S. Sustained delivery of proangiogenic microRNA-132 by nanoparticle transfection improves endothelial cell transplantation. PMID:24221087

  13. Role of Au(NPs) in the enhanced response of Au(NPs)-decorated MWCNT electrochemical biosensor

    PubMed Central

    Mehmood, Shahid; Ciancio, Regina; Carlino, Elvio; Bhatti, Arshad S

    2018-01-01

    Background The combination of Au-metallic-NPs and CNTs are a new class of hybrid nanomaterials for the development of electrochemical biosensor. Concentration of Au(nanoparticles [NPs]) in the electrochemical biosensor is crucial for the efficient charge transfer between the Au-NPs-MWCNTs modified electrode and electrolytic solution. Methods In this work, the charge transfer kinetics in the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with Au(NPs)–multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanohybrid with varied concentrations of Au(NPs) in the range 40–100 nM was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the attachment of Au(NPs) on the surface of MWCNTs. Results The cyclic voltammetry and EIS results showed that the charge transfer mechanism was diffusion controlled and the rate of charge transfer was dependent on the concentration of Au(NPs) in the nanohybrid. The formation of spherical diffusion zone, which was dependent on the concentration of Au(NPs) in nanohybrids, was attributed to result in 3 times the increase in the charge transfer rate ks, 5 times increase in mass transfer, and 5% (9%) increase in Ipa (Ipc) observed in cyclic voltammetry in 80 nM Au(NP) nanohybrid-modified GCE from MWCNT-modified GCE. The work was extended to probe the effect of charge transfer rates at various concentrations of Au(NPs) in the nanohybrid-modified electrodes in the presence of Escherichia coli. The cyclic voltammetry results clearly showed the best results for 80 nM Au(NPs) in nanohybrid electrode. Conclusion The present study suggested that the formation of spherical diffusion zone in nanohybrid-modified electrodes is critical for the enhanced electrochemical biosensing applications. PMID:29713161

  14. Facile deposition of gold nanoparticles on core-shell Fe3O4@polydopamine as recyclable nanocatalyst

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Yan; Yeh, Yaowen; Liu, Rui; You, Jinmao; Qu, Fengli

    2015-07-01

    A simple and green method for the controllable synthesis of core-shell Fe3O4 polydopamine nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PDA NPs) with tunable shell thickness and their application as a recyclable nanocatalyst support is presented. Magnetite Fe3O4 NPs formed in a one-pot process by the hydrothermal approach with a diameter of ˜240 nm were coated with a polydopamine shell layer with a tunable thickness of 15-45 nm. The facile deposition of Au NPs atop Fe3O4@PDA NPs was achieved by utilizing PDA as both the reducing agent and the coupling agent. The satellite nanocatalysts exhibited high catalytic performance for the reduction of p-nitrophenol. Furthermore, the recovery and reuse of the catalyst was demonstrated 8 times without detectible loss in activity. The synergistic combination of unique features of PDA and magnetic nanoparticles establishes these core-shell NPs as a versatile platform for potential applications.

  15. Detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in transgenic mice by Gd-DTPA- and rhodamine 123-conjugated human serum albumin nanoparticles in T1 magnetic resonance imaging.

    PubMed

    Watcharin, Waralee; Schmithals, Christian; Pleli, Thomas; Köberle, Verena; Korkusuz, Hüdayi; Hübner, Frank; Waidmann, Oliver; Zeuzem, Stefan; Korf, Horst-Werner; Terfort, Andreas; Gelperina, Svetlana; Vogl, Thomas J; Kreuter, Jörg; Piiper, Albrecht

    2015-02-10

    Nanoparticle (NP)-based contrast agents that enable high resolution anatomic T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer the prospect of improving differential diagnosis of liver tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we investigated the possibility of employing novel non-toxic human serum albumin nanoparticles conjugated with Gd-DTPA and rhodamine 123 (Gd-Rho-HSA-NPs) for the detection of HCC by T1-weighted MRI. In addition, the influence of surface coating of the NPs with poloxamine 908, which alters the absorptive behavior of NPs and changes their distribution between the liver and tumor was examined. MRI of transgenic mice with endogenously formed HCCs following intravenous injection of Gd-Rho-HSA-NPs revealed a strong negative contrast of the tumors. Contrasting of the HCCs by NP-enhanced MRI required less Gd as compared to gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-enhanced MRI, which currently provides the most sensitive detection of HCC in patients. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the Gd-Rho-HSA-NPs were localized to macrophages, which were - similar to HCC in patients - fewer in number in HCC as compared to the liver tissue, which is in agreement with the negative contrasting of HCC in Gd-Rho-HSA-NP-enhanced MRI. Poloxamine-coated NPs showed lower accumulation in the tumor macrophages and caused a longer lasting enhancement of the MRI signal. These data indicate that Gd-Rho-HSA-NPs enable sensitive detection of HCC by T1-weighted MRI in mice with endogenous HCC through their uptake by macrophages. Poloxamine coating of the NPs delayed the tumor localization of the NPs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  16. Engineered Biocompatible Nanoparticles for in Vivo Imaging Applications

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Iron−platinum alloy nanoparticles (FePt NPs) are extremely promising candidates for the next generation of contrast agents for magnetic resonance (MR) diagnostic imaging and MR-guided interventions, including hyperthermic ablation of solid cancers. FePt has high Curie temperature, saturation magnetic moment, magneto-crystalline anisotropy, and chemical stability. We describe the synthesis and characterization of a family of biocompatible FePt NPs suitable for biomedical applications, showing and discussing that FePt NPs can exhibit low cytotoxicity. The importance of engineering the interface of strongly magnetic NPs using a coating allowing free aqueous permeation is demonstrated to be an essential parameter in the design of new generations of diagnostic and therapeutic MRI contrast agents. We report effective cell internalization of FePt NPs and demonstrate that they can be used for cellular imaging and in vivo MRI applications. This opens the way for several future applications of FePt NPs, including regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy in addition to enhanced MR diagnostic imaging. PMID:20919679

  17. Au-coated 3-D nanoporous titania layer prepared using polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) block copolymer nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Shin, Won-Jeong; Basarir, Fevzihan; Yoon, Tae-Ho; Lee, Jae-Suk

    2009-04-09

    New nanoporous structures of Au-coated titania layers were prepared by using amphiphilic block copolymer nanoparticles as a template. A 3-D template composed of self-assembled quaternized polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (Q-PS-b-P2VP) block copolymer nanoparticles below 100 nm was prepared. The core-shell-type nanoparticles were well ordered three-dimensionally using the vertical immersion method on the substrate. The polar solvents were added to the polymer solution to prevent particle merging at 40 degrees C when considering the interaction between polymer nanoparticles and solvents. Furthermore, Au-coated PS-b-P2VP nanoparticles were prepared using thiol-capped Au nanoparticles (3 nm). The 3-D arrays with Au-coated PS-b-P2VP nanoparticles as a template contributed to the preparation of the nanoporous Au-coated titania layer. Therefore, the nanoporous Au-coated titania layer was fabricated by removing PS-b-P2VP block copolymer nanoparticles by oxygen plasma etching.

  18. Synthesis of Fe5C2@SiO2 core@shell nanoparticles as a potential candidate for biomedical application

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmadpoor, Fatemeh; Shojaosadati, Seyed Abbas; Delavari H, Hamid; Christiansen, Gunna; Saber, Reza

    2018-05-01

    A new strategy for water-dispersibility of hydrophobic carbide nanostructures was proposed. In this regard, hydrophobic Fe5C2 nanoparticles (NPs) with size ranging 25–40 nm were synthesized and coated with 12–15 nm silica shell for biomedical applications. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that Fe5C2 NPs with monoclinic structure were successfully prepared. The crystalline structure of Fe5C2 NPs was remained unchanged and saturation magnetization of core remained nearly constant after coating with silica shell. Moreover, Raman spectroscopy identified D-band of amorphous carbon shells which was also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, Fe5C2@SiO2 core@shell NPs demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity and appropriate heat generating which makes them a promising candidate for magnetic fluid hyperthermia applications.

  19. In vitro antiplasmodial activity of PDDS-coated metal oxide nanoparticles against Plasmodium falciparum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jacob Inbaneson, Samuel; Ravikumar, Sundaram

    2013-06-01

    Malaria is the most important parasitic disease, leading to annual death of about one million people and the Plasmodium falciparum develops resistant to well-established antimalarial drugs. The newest antiplasmodial drug from metal oxide nanoparticles helps in addressing this problem. Commercial nanoparticles such as Fe3O4, MgO, ZrO2, Al2O3 and CeO2 coated with PDDS and all the coated and non-coated nanoparticles were screened for antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum. The Al2O3 nanoparticles (71.42 ± 0.49 μg ml-1) showed minimum level of IC50 value and followed by MgO (72.33 ± 0.37 μg ml-1) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles (77.23 ± 0.42 μg ml-1). The PDDS-Fe3O4 showed minimum level of IC50 value (48.66 ± 0.45 μg ml-1), followed by PDDS-MgO (60.28 ± 0.42 μg ml-1) and PDDS-CeO2 (67.06 ± 0.61 μg ml-1). The PDDS-coated metal oxide nanoparticles showed superior antiplasmodial activity than the non-PDDS-coated metal oxide nanoparticles. Statistical analysis reveals that, significant in vitro antiplasmodial activity ( P < 0.05) was observed between the concentrations and time of exposure. The chemical injury to erythrocytes showed no morphological changes in erythrocytes by the nanoparticles after 48 h of incubation. It is concluded from the present study that, the PDDS-Fe3O4 showed good antiplasmodial activity and it might be used for the development of antiplasmodial drugs.

  20. Interaction of firefly luciferase and silver nanoparticles and its impact on enzyme activity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Käkinen, Aleksandr; Ding, Feng; Chen, Pengyu; Mortimer, Monika; Kahru, Anne; Ke, Pu Chun

    2013-08-01

    We report on the dose-dependent inhibition of firefly luciferase activity induced by exposure of the enzyme to 20 nm citrate-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The inhibition mechanism was examined by characterizing the physicochemical properties and biophysical interactions of the enzyme and the AgNPs. Consistently, binding of the enzyme induced an increase in zeta potential from -22 to 6 mV for the AgNPs, triggered a red-shift of 44 nm in the absorbance peak of the AgNPs, and rendered a ‘protein corona’ of 20 nm in thickness on the nanoparticle surfaces. However, the secondary structures of the enzyme were only marginally affected upon formation of the protein corona, as verified by circular dichroism spectroscopy measurement and multiscale discrete molecular dynamics simulations. Rather, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurement revealed a significant ion release from the AgNPs. The released silver ions could readily react with the cysteine residues and N-groups of the enzyme to alter the physicochemical environment of their neighboring catalytic site and subsequently impair the enzymatic activity.

  1. Simultaneous hyperthermia and doxorubicin delivery from polymer-coated magnetite nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Iglesias, G. R.; Delgado, A. V.; González-Caballero, F.; Ramos-Tejada, M. M.

    2017-06-01

    In this work, the hyperthermia response, (i.e., heating induced by an externally applied alternating magnetic field) and the simultaneous release of an anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin) by polymer-coated magnetite nanoparticles have been investigated. After describing the setup for hyperthermia measurements in suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles, the hyperthermia (represented by the rate of suspension heating and, ultimately, by the specific absorption rate or SAR) of magnetite nanoparticles (both bare and polymer-coated as drug nanocarriers) is discussed. The effect of the applied ac magnetic field on doxorubicin release is also studied, and it is concluded that the field does not interfere with the release process, demonstrating the double functionality of the investigated particles.

  2. Silica Nanoparticles Functionalized with Zwitterionic Sulfobetaine Siloxane for Application as a Versatile Antifouling Coating System.

    PubMed

    Knowles, Brianna R; Wagner, Pawel; Maclaughlin, Shane; Higgins, Michael J; Molino, Paul J

    2017-06-07

    The growing need to develop surfaces able to effectively resist biological fouling has resulted in the widespread investigation of nanomaterials with potential antifouling properties. However, the preparation of effective antifouling coatings is limited by the availability of reactive surface functional groups and our ability to carefully control and organize chemistries at a materials' interface. Here, we present two methods of preparing hydrophilic low-fouling surface coatings through reaction of silica-nanoparticle suspensions and predeposited silica-nanoparticle films with zwitterionic sulfobetaine (SB). Silica-nanoparticle suspensions were functionalized with SB across three pH conditions and deposited as thin films via a simple spin-coating process to generate hydrophilic antifouling coatings. In addition, coatings of predeposited silica nanoparticles were surface functionalized via exposure to zwitterionic solutions. Quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring was employed as a high throughput technique for monitoring and optimizing reaction to the silica-nanoparticle surfaces. Functionalization of nanoparticle films was rapid and could be achieved over a wide pH range and at low zwitterion concentrations. All functionalized particle surfaces presented a high degree of wettability and resulted in large reductions in adsorption of bovine serum albumin protein. Particle coatings also showed a reduction in adhesion of fungal spores (Epicoccum nigrum) and bacteria (Escherichia coli) by up to 87 and 96%, respectively. These results indicate the potential for functionalized nanosilicas to be further developed as versatile fouling-resistant coatings for widespread coating applications.

  3. Gold nanoparticles reduced in situ and dispersed in polymer thin films: optical and thermal properties.

    PubMed

    Berry, Keith R; Russell, Aaron G; Blake, Phillip A; Keith Roper, D

    2012-09-21

    Optical and thermal activity of plasmon-active nanoparticles in transparent dielectric media is of growing interest in thermal therapies, photovoltaics and optoelectronic components in which localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) could play a significant role. This work compares a new method to embed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in dense, composite films with an extension of a previously introduced method. Microscopic and spectroscopic properties of the two films are related to thermal behavior induced via laser excitation of LSPR at 532 nm in the optically transparent dielectric. Gold nanoparticles were incorporated into effectively nonporous 680 μm thick polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films by (1) direct addition of organic-coated 16 nm nanoparticles; and (2) reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (TCA) into AuNPs. Power loss at LSPR excitation frequency and steady-state temperature maxima at 100 mW continuous laser irradiation showed corresponding increases with respect to the mass of gold introduced into the PDMS films by either method. Measured rates of temperature increase were higher for organic-coated NP, but higher gold content was achieved by reducing TCA, which resulted in larger overall temperature changes in reduced AuNP films.

  4. Memantine loaded PLGA PEGylated nanoparticles for Alzheimer's disease: in vitro and in vivo characterization.

    PubMed

    Sánchez-López, Elena; Ettcheto, Miren; Egea, Maria Antonia; Espina, Marta; Cano, Amanda; Calpena, Ana Cristina; Camins, Antoni; Carmona, Nuria; Silva, Amélia M; Souto, Eliana B; García, Maria Luisa

    2018-03-27

    Memantine, drug approved for moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease, has not shown to be fully effective. In order to solve this issue, polylactic-co-glycolic (PLGA) nanoparticles could be a suitable solution to increase drug's action on the target site as well as decrease adverse effects. For these reason, Memantine was loaded in biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles, produced by double emulsion method and surface-coated with polyethylene glycol. MEM-PEG-PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) were aimed to target the blood-brain barrier (BBB) upon oral administration for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The production parameters were optimized by design of experiments. MEM-PEG-PLGA NPs showed a mean particle size below 200 nm (152.6 ± 0.5 nm), monomodal size distribution (polydispersity index, PI < 0.1) and negative surface charge (- 22.4 mV). Physicochemical characterization of NPs confirmed that the crystalline drug was dispersed inside the PLGA matrix. MEM-PEG-PLGA NPs were found to be non-cytotoxic on brain cell lines (bEnd.3 and astrocytes). Memantine followed a slower release profile from the NPs against the free drug solution, allowing to reduce drug administration frequency in vivo. Nanoparticles were able to cross BBB both in vitro and in vivo. Behavioral tests carried out on transgenic APPswe/PS1dE9 mice demonstrated to enhance the benefit of decreasing memory impairment when using MEM-PEG-PLGA NPs in comparison to the free drug solution. Histological studies confirmed that MEM-PEG-PLGA NPs reduced β-amyloid plaques and the associated inflammation characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Memantine NPs were suitable for Alzheimer's disease and more effective than the free drug.

  5. Effects of functional groups and ionization on the structure of alkanethiol coated gold nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bolintineanu, Dan S.; Lane, J. Matthew D.; Grest, Gary S.

    2013-03-01

    We report fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of alkanethiol coated gold nanoparticles solvated in water and decane. The structure of the coatings is analyzed as a function of various functional end groups, including amine and carboxyl groups in different neutralization states. We study the effects of charge in the end groups for two different chain lengths (10 and 18 carbons) and different counterions (mono- and divalent). For the longer alkanes we find significant local phase segregation of chains on the nanoparticle surface, which results in highly asymmetric coating structures. In general, the charged end groups attenuate this effect by enhancing the water solubility of the nanoparticles. Based on the coating structures and density profiles, we can qualitatively infer the overall solubility of the nanoparticles. The asymmetry in the alkanethiol coatings is also likely to have a significant effect on aggregation behavior. More importantly, our simulations suggest the ability to modulate end group charge states (e.g. by changing the pH of the solution) in order to control coating structure, and therefore control solubility and aggregation behavior.

  6. Induction of Apoptosis in Human Cancer Cells Through Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways by Balanites aegyptiaca Furostanol Saponins and Saponin-Coated SilverNanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Yassin, Abdelrahman M; El-Deeb, Nehal M; Metwaly, Ahmed M; El Fawal, Gomaa F; Radwan, Mohamed M; Hafez, Elsayed E

    2017-08-01

    The aim of this investigation is to examine the anticancer activities of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit extract with its biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against colon and liver cancer cells. B. aegyptiaca aqueous extract was fractionated according to polarity and by biosynthesized AgNP. The cytotoxicity of the extract, semi-purified fractions, and the AgNPs was examined on noncancerous cell lines. The safer fraction was subjected to ultra-performance liquid chromatography-MS to identify the major active constituents. The anticancer activities of the nontoxic doses of all the used treatments were tested against HepG2 and CaCo2 cells. The nontoxic dose of the B. aegyptiaca (0.63 mg/ml) extract showed high anti-proliferative activities against HepG2 and CaCo2 with a percentage of 81 and 77%, respectively. The butanol fraction was safer than the other two fractions with 46.3 and 90.35% anti-proliferative activity against Caco2 and HepG2 cells, respectively. The nontoxic dose of AgNPs (0.63 mg/ml) inhibits both HepG2 and Caco2 cells with a percentage of 84.5 and 83.4%, respectively. In addition, AgNPs regulate the expression of certain genes with folding higher than that of crude extract. Saponin-coated AgNPs showed great abilities to select the most anticancer ingredient(s) from the B. aegyptiaca extract with a more safety pattern than the polarity gradient fractionation.

  7. Comparison of subchronic immunotoxicity of four different types of aluminum-based nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Park, Eun-Jung; Lee, Sang Jin; Lee, Gwang-Hee; Kim, Dong-Wan; Yoon, Cheolho; Lee, Byoung-Seok; Kim, Younghun; Chang, Jaerak; Lee, Kyuhong

    2018-04-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) have recently emerged as an inhalable pollutant, owing to their applications, aluminum-based NPs (Al-NPs) have been prioritized for toxicity testing. In the current study, we compared the pulmonary biopersistence and subsequent toxicity of four different types of Al-NPs (two rod-type aluminum oxide NPs [AlONPs] with different aspect ratios [short (S)- and long (L)-AlONPs], spherical aluminum cerium oxide NPs [AlCeO 3 , AlCeONPs] and spherical γ-aluminum oxide hydroxide nanoparticles [AlOOHNPs]) 13weeks after a single intratracheal instillation, considering the importance of their properties in their toxicity. We found that the pulmonary biopersistence of Al-NPs was strengthened by a high aspect ratio in the rod-type AlONPs and by the presence of hydroxyl groups in the spherical-type Al-NPs. The highest toxicity was observed in the mice treated with AlOOHNPs, which showed low biostability. More importantly, we identified that the commercially available AlCeONPs were Al 2 O 3 -coated CeO 2 NPs, but not AlCeO 3 NPs, although they have been sold under the trade name of AlCeONPs. In conclusion, the aspect ratio and biostability may be important factors in the determination of the biopersistence of NPs and the subsequent biological response. In addition, the physicochemical properties of NPs should be examined in detail before their release into the market to prevent unexpected adverse health effects. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  8. Silver Nanoparticle-Mediated Cellular Responses in Various Cell Lines: An in Vitro Model

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Xi-Feng; Shen, Wei; Gurunathan, Sangiliyandi

    2016-01-01

    Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted increased interest and are currently used in various industries including medicine, cosmetics, textiles, electronics, and pharmaceuticals, owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, particularly as antimicrobial and anticancer agents. Recently, several studies have reported both beneficial and toxic effects of AgNPs on various prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. To develop nanoparticles for mediated therapy, several laboratories have used a variety of cell lines under in vitro conditions to evaluate the properties, mode of action, differential responses, and mechanisms of action of AgNPs. In vitro models are simple, cost-effective, rapid, and can be used to easily assess efficacy and performance. The cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and biocompatibility of AgNPs depend on many factors such as size, shape, surface charge, surface coating, solubility, concentration, surface functionalization, distribution of particles, mode of entry, mode of action, growth media, exposure time, and cell type. Cellular responses to AgNPs are different in each cell type and depend on the physical and chemical nature of AgNPs. This review evaluates significant contributions to the literature on biological applications of AgNPs. It begins with an introduction to AgNPs, with particular attention to their overall impact on cellular effects. The main objective of this review is to elucidate the reasons for different cell types exhibiting differential responses to nanoparticles even when they possess similar size, shape, and other parameters. Firstly, we discuss the cellular effects of AgNPs on a variety of cell lines; Secondly, we discuss the mechanisms of action of AgNPs in various cellular systems, and try to elucidate how AgNPs interact with different mammalian cell lines and produce significant effects; Finally, we discuss the cellular activation of various signaling molecules in response to AgNPs, and conclude with future perspectives

  9. Inorganic Nanoparticle Induced Morphological Transition for Confined Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers within Emulsion Droplets.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Yan; He, Yun; Yan, Nan; Zhu, Yutian; Hu, Yuexin

    2017-09-07

    Recently, it has been reported that the incorporation of functional inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) into the three-dimensional (3D) confined self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) creates the unique nanostructured hybrid composites, which can not only introduce new functions to BCPs but also induce some interesting morphological transitions of BCPs. In the current study, we systematically investigate the cooperative self-assembly of a series of size-controlled and surface chemistry-tunable gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) diblock copolymer within the emulsion droplets. The influences of the size, content, and surface chemistry of the AuNPs on the coassembled nanostructures as well as the spatial distribution of AuNPs in the hybrid particles are examined. It is found that the size and content of the AuNPs are related to the entropic interaction, while the surface chemistry of AuNPs is related to the enthalpic interaction, which can be utilized to tailor the self-assembled morphologies of block copolymer confined in the emulsion droplets. As the content of PS-coated AuNPs increases, the morphology of the resulting AuNPs/PS-b-P2VP hybrid particles changes from the pupa-like particles to the bud-like particles and then to the onion-like particles. However, a unique morphological transition from the pupa-like particles to the mushroom-like particles is observed as the content of P4VP-coated AuNPs increases. More interestingly, it is observed that the large AuNPs are expelled to the surface of the BCP particles to reduce the loss in the conformational entropy of the block segment, which can arrange into the strings of necklaces on the surfaces of the hybrid particles.

  10. Synthesis and surface immobilization of antibacterial hybrid silver-poly(l-lactide) nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taheri, Shima; Baier, Grit; Majewski, Peter; Barton, Mary; Förch, Renate; Landfester, Katharina; Vasilev, Krasimir

    2014-08-01

    Infections associated with medical devices are a substantial healthcare problem. Consequently, there has been increasing research and technological efforts directed toward the development of coatings that are capable of preventing bacterial colonization of the device surface. Herein, we report on novel hybrid silver loaded poly(L-lactic acid) nanoparticles (PLLA-AgNPs) with narrowly distributed sizes (17 ± 3 nm) prepared using a combination of solvent evaporation and mini-emulsion technology. These particles were then immobilized onto solid surfaces premodified with a thin layer of allylamine plasma polymer (AApp). The antibacterial efficacy of the PLLA-AgNPs nanoparticles was studied in vitro against both gram-positive (Staphylococcus epidermidis) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentration values against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli were 0.610 and 1.156 μg · mL-1, respectively. The capacity of the prepared coatings to prevent bacterial surface colonization was assessed in the presence of Staphylococcus epidermidis, which is a strong biofilm former that causes substantial problems with medical device associated infections. The level of inhibition of bacterial growth was 98%. The substrate independent nature and the high antibacterial efficacy of coatings presented in this study may offer new alternatives for antibacterial coatings for medical devices.

  11. Magnet-induced temporary superhydrophobic coatings from one-pot synthesized hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Fang, Jian; Wang, Hongxia; Xue, Yuhua; Wang, Xungai; Lin, Tong

    2010-05-01

    In this paper, we report on the production of superhydrophobic coatings on various substrates (e.g., glass slide, silicon wafer, aluminum foil, plastic film, nanofiber mat, textile fabrics) using hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles and a magnet-assembly technique. Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with a thin layer of fluoroalkyl silica on the surface were synthesized by one-step coprecipitation of Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) under an alkaline condition in the presence of a fluorinated alkyl silane. Under a magnetic field, the magnetic nanoparticles can be easily deposited on any solid substrate to form a thin superhydrophobic coating with water contact angle as high as 172 degrees , and the surface superhydrophobicity showed very little dependence on the substrate type. The particulate coating showed reasonable durability because of strong aggregation effect of nanoparticles, but the coating layer can be removed (e.g., by ultrasonication) to restore the original surface feature of the substrates. By comparison, the thin particle layer deposited under no magnetic field showed much lower hydrophobicity. The main reason for magnet-induced superhydrophobic surfaces is the formation of nano- and microstructured surface features. Such a magnet-induced temporary superhydrophobic coating may have wide applications in electronic, biomedical, and defense-related areas.

  12. Stability of polyvinyl alcohol-coated biochar nanoparticles in brine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Griffith, Christopher; Daigle, Hugh

    2017-01-01

    This paper reports on the dispersion stability of 150 nm polyvinyl alcohol coated biochar nanoparticles in brine water. Biochar is a renewable, carbon based material that is of significant interest for enhanced oil recovery operations primarily due to its wide ranging surface properties, low cost of synthesis, and low environmental toxicity. Nanoparticles used as stabilizing agents for foams (and emulsions) or in nanofluids have emerged as potential alternatives to surfactants for subsurface applications due to their improved stability at reservoir conditions. If, however, the particles are not properly designed, they are susceptible to aggregation because of the high salinity brines typical of oil and gas reservoirs. Attachment of polymers to the nanoparticle surface, through covalent bonds, provides steric stabilization, and is a necessary step. Our results show that as the graft density of polyvinyl alcohol increases, so too does the stability of nanoparticles in brine solutions. A maximum of 34 wt% of 50,000 Da polyvinyl alcohol was grafted to the particle surface, and the size of the particles was reduced from 3500 nm (no coating) to 350 nm in brine. After 24 h, the particles had a size of 500 nm, and after 48 h completely aggregated. 100,000 Da PVA coated at 24 wt% on the biochar particles were stable in brine for over 1 month with no change in mean particle size of 330 nm.

  13. Surface-modified multifunctional MIP nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Moczko, Ewa; Poma, Alessandro; Guerreiro, Antonio; de Vargas Sansalvador, Isabel Perez; Caygill, Sarah; Canfarotta, Francesco; Whitcombe, Michael J.; Piletsky, Sergey

    2015-01-01

    The synthesis of core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP NPs) has been performed using a novel solid-phase approach on immobilised templates. The same solid phase also acts as protective functionality for high affinity binding sites during subsequent derivatisation/shell formation. This procedure allows for the rapid synthesis, controlled separation and purification of high-affinity materials, with each production cycle taking just 2 hours. The aim of this approach is to synthesise uniformly-sized imprinted materials at the nanoscale which can be readily grafted with various polymers without affecting their affinity and specificity. For demonstration purposes we grafted anti-melamine MIP NPs with coatings which introduce the following surface characteristics: high polarity (PEG methacrylate); electro-activity (vinyl ferrocene); fluorescence (eosin acrylate); thiol groups (pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate)). The method has broad applicability and can be used to produce multifunctional imprinted nanoparticles with potential for further application in the biosensors, diagnostics and biomedical fields and as an alternative to natural receptors. PMID:23503559

  14. Surface-modified multifunctional MIP nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Moczko, Ewa; Poma, Alessandro; Guerreiro, Antonio; Perez de Vargas Sansalvador, Isabel; Caygill, Sarah; Canfarotta, Francesco; Whitcombe, Michael J; Piletsky, Sergey

    2013-05-07

    The synthesis of core-shell molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP NPs) has been performed using a novel solid-phase approach on immobilised templates. The same solid phase also acts as a protective functionality for high affinity binding sites during subsequent derivatisation/shell formation. This procedure allows for the rapid synthesis, controlled separation and purification of high-affinity materials, with each production cycle taking just 2 hours. The aim of this approach is to synthesise uniformly sized imprinted materials at the nanoscale which can be readily grafted with various polymers without affecting their affinity and specificity. For demonstration purposes we grafted anti-melamine MIP NPs with coatings which introduce the following surface characteristics: high polarity (PEG methacrylate); electro-activity (vinylferrocene); fluorescence (eosin acrylate); thiol groups (pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate)). The method has broad applicability and can be used to produce multifunctional imprinted nanoparticles with potential for further application in the biosensors, diagnostics and biomedical fields and as an alternative to natural receptors.

  15. Evaluation of E. coli inhibition by plain and polymer-coated silver nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Ashmore, D'Andrea; Chaudhari, Atul; Barlow, Brandi; Barlow, Brett; Harper, Talia; Vig, Komal; Miller, Michael; Singh, Shree; Nelson, Edward; Pillai, Shreekumar

    2018-01-01

    Escherichia coli causes various ailments such as septicemia, enteritis, foodborne illnesses, and urinary tract infections which are of concern in the public health field due to antibiotic resistance. Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are known for their biocompatibility and antibacterial activity, and may prove to be an alternative method of treatment, especially as wound dressings. In this study, we compared the antibacterial efficacy of two polymer-coated silver nanoparticles either containing 10% Ag (Ag 10% + Polymer), or 99% Ag (AgPVP) in relation to plain uncoated silver nanoparticles (AgNP). Atomic force microscopy was used to characterize the nanoparticles, and their antibacterial efficacy was compared by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bacterial growth curve assays, followed by molecular studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and (qRT- PCR). AgNP inhibited the growth of E. coli only at 0.621 mg/mL, which was double the concentration required for both coated nanoparticles (0.312 mg/mL). Similarly, bacterial growth was impeded as early as 8 h at 0.156 mg/mL of both coated nanoparticles as compared to 0.312 mg/mL for plain AgNP. SEM data showed that nanoparticles damaged the cell membrane, resulting in bacterial cell lysis, expulsion of cellular contents, and complete disintegration of some cells. The expression of genes associated with the TCA cycle (aceF and frdB) and amino acid metabolism (gadB, metL, argC) were substantially downregulated in E. coli treated with nanoparticles. The reduction in the silver ion (Ag+) concentration of polymer-coated AgNP did not affect their antibacterial efficacy against E. coli.

  16. Hyaluronic acid-functionalized polymeric nanoparticles for colon cancer-targeted combination chemotherapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xiao, Bo; Han, Moon Kwon; Viennois, Emilie; Wang, Lixin; Zhang, Mingzhen; Si, Xiaoying; Merlin, Didier

    2015-10-01

    Nanoparticle (NP)-based combination chemotherapy has been proposed as an effective strategy for achieving synergistic effects and targeted drug delivery for colon cancer therapy. Here, we fabricated a series of hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized camptothecin (CPT)/curcumin (CUR)-loaded polymeric NPs (HA-CPT/CUR-NPs) with various weight ratios of CPT to CUR (1 : 1, 2 : 1 and 4 : 1). The resultant spherical HA-CPT/CUR-NPs had a desirable particle size (around 289 nm), relative narrow size distribution, and slightly negative zeta potential. These NPs exhibited a simultaneous sustained release profile for both drugs throughout the time frame examined. Subsequent cellular uptake experiments demonstrated that the introduction of HA to the NP surface endowed NPs with colon cancer-targeting capability and markedly increased cellular uptake efficiency compared with chitosan-coated NPs. Importantly, the combined delivery of CPT and CUR in one HA-functionalized NP exerted strong synergistic effects. HA-CPT/CUR-NP (1 : 1) showed the highest antitumor activity among the three HA-CPT/CUR-NPs, resulting in an extremely low combination index. Collectively, our findings indicate that this HA-CPT/CUR-NP can be exploited as an efficient formulation for colon cancer-targeted combination chemotherapy.Nanoparticle (NP)-based combination chemotherapy has been proposed as an effective strategy for achieving synergistic effects and targeted drug delivery for colon cancer therapy. Here, we fabricated a series of hyaluronic acid (HA)-functionalized camptothecin (CPT)/curcumin (CUR)-loaded polymeric NPs (HA-CPT/CUR-NPs) with various weight ratios of CPT to CUR (1 : 1, 2 : 1 and 4 : 1). The resultant spherical HA-CPT/CUR-NPs had a desirable particle size (around 289 nm), relative narrow size distribution, and slightly negative zeta potential. These NPs exhibited a simultaneous sustained release profile for both drugs throughout the time frame examined. Subsequent cellular uptake experiments

  17. Preparation, characterization and dynamical mechanical properties of dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (DIONPs).

    PubMed

    Can, Hatice Kaplan; Kavlak, Serap; ParviziKhosroshahi, Shahed; Güner, Ali

    2018-03-01

    Dextran-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (DIONPs) with appropriate surface chemistry exhibit many interesting properties that can be exploited in a variety of biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement, tissue repair, hyperthermia, drug delivery and in cell separation. This paper reports the experimental detail for preparation, characterization and investigation of thermal and dynamical mechanical characteristics of the dextran-coated Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles. In our work, DIONPs were prepared in a 1:2 ratio of Fe(II) and Fe(III) salt in the HCl solution with NaOH at given temperature. The obtained dextran-coated iron-oxide nanoparticles structure-property correlation was characterized by spectroscopic methods; attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and XRD. Coating dextran on the iron-oxide proof of important peaks can be seen from the ATR-FTIR. Dramatic crystallinity increment can be observed from the XRD pattern of the iron-oxide dextran nanoparticles. The thermal analysis was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Dynamical mechanical properties of dextran nanoparticles were analysed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Thermal stability of the iron oxide dextran nanoparticles is higher than that of the dextran.

  18. Coiled-coil forming peptides for the induction of silver nanoparticles

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

    Božič Abram, Sabina; Graduate School of Biomedicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana 1000; Aupič, Jana

    Biopolymers with defined sequence patterns offer an attractive alternative for the formation of silver nanoparticle (AgNP). A set of coiled-coil dimer forming peptides was tested for their AgNP formation ability. Seventeen of those peptides mediated the formation of AgNPs in aqueous solution at neutral pH, while the formation of a coiled-coil dimer inhibited the nanoparticle generation. A QSAR regression model on the relationship between sequence and function suggests that in this peptide type the patterns KXQQ and KXEE are favorable, whereas Ala residues appear to have an inhibitory effect. UV–VIS spectra of the obtained nanoparticles gave a peak at aroundmore » 420 nm, typical for AgNPs in the size range around 40 nm, which was confirmed by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. Peptide-induced AgNPs exhibited good antibacterial activity, even after a 15 min contact time, while they had low toxicity to human cells at the same concentrations. These results show that our designed peptides generate AgNPs with antibacterial activity at mild conditions and might be used for antibacterial coatings. - Highlights: • 17 of the 30 tested coiled-coil forming peptides induce AgNP formation. • Coiled-coil dimer formation suppresses AgNP generation of individual peptides. • Size of the peptide-induced silver nanoparticles is around 40 nm. • QSAR analysis points to the importance of KXQQ and KXEE motifs for AgNP generation. • Peptide-induced silver nanoparticles exhibit antibacterial activity.« less

  19. Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles using Gelidium amansii and its antimicrobial property against various pathogenic bacteria.

    PubMed

    Pugazhendhi, Arivalagan; Prabakar, Desika; Jacob, Jaya Mary; Karuppusamy, Indira; Saratale, Rijuta Ganesh

    2018-01-01

    Microfouling is evolving at a fast rate causing augmented mortality rates and damage worldwide. Until now, several remedial measures have been exploited to overcome microfouling, amongst them nanoparticles play a superior role. Currently, green synthesized nanoparticles have been centered owing to its eco-friendly, cost effectively and non-toxic nature which has also increased its industrial applications (biomedicine, food and textile). In the present research Silver Nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized using marine red algae Gelidium amansii. The synthesized Ag NPs were characterized using UV-Vis Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Further the antibacterial potentials of Ag NPs were evaluated against pathogenic Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus) and Gram negative bacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Aeromonas hydrophila) pathogens. Our findings suggest that Ag NPs synthesized using a green approach effectively reduce the bacterial growth by eliciting a bactericidal activity against the Gram Negative and Gram Positive biofilm forming pathogens. Thereby, Ag NPs synthesized using G. amansii could reflect as potential anti micro-fouling coatings for various biomedical and environmental applications. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  20. Highly conductive ribbons prepared by stick-slip assembly of organosoluble gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Lawrence, Jimmy; Pham, Jonathan T; Lee, Dong Yun; Liu, Yujie; Crosby, Alfred J; Emrick, Todd

    2014-02-25

    Precisely positioning and assembling nanoparticles (NPs) into hierarchical nanostructures is opening opportunities in a wide variety of applications. Many techniques employed to produce hierarchical micrometer and nanoscale structures are limited by complex fabrication of templates and difficulties with scalability. Here we describe the fabrication and characterization of conductive nanoparticle ribbons prepared from surfactant-free organosoluble gold nanoparticles (Au NPs). We used a flow-coating technique in a controlled, stick-slip assembly to regulate the deposition of Au NPs into densely packed, multilayered structures. This affords centimeter-scale long, high-resolution Au NP ribbons with precise periodic spacing in a rapid manner, up to 2 orders-of-magnitude finer and faster than previously reported methods. These Au NP ribbons exhibit linear ohmic response, with conductivity that varies by changing the binding headgroup of the ligands. Controlling NP percolation during sintering (e.g., by adding polymer to retard rapid NP coalescence) enables the formation of highly conductive ribbons, similar to thermally sintered conductive adhesives. Hierarchical, conductive Au NP ribbons represent a promising platform to enable opportunities in sensing, optoelectronics, and electromechanical devices.

  1. Fabrication of superhydrophobic coating for preventing microleakage in a dental composite restoration.

    PubMed

    Cao, Danfeng; Zhang, Yingchao; Li, Yao; Shi, Xiaoyu; Gong, Haihuan; Feng, Dan; Guo, Xiaowei; Shi, Zuosen; Zhu, Song; Cui, Zhanchen

    2017-09-01

    Superhydrophobic coatings were successfully fabricated by photo-crosslinked polyurethane (PU) and organic fluoro group-functionalized SiO 2 nanoparticles (F-SiO 2 NPs), and were introduced for preventing microleakage in a dental composite restoration. The F-SiO 2 NPs possessed low surface energy and the PU can not only improve the mechanical stability but also promote F-SiO 2 NPs to form multiscale structure, which could facilitate the properties of the as-prepared superhydrophobic coating by synergetic effect. The morphology and properties of the resulted superhydrophobic coatings with different PU/F-SiO 2 ratios were studied using 1 H NMR spectrum, fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The results showed that the superhydrophobic coatings with low PU/F-SiO 2 ratio (1:3) possessed excellent hierarchical papillae structure with trapped air pockets, high contact angle (160.1°), low sliding angle (<1°) and good transparency. Additionally, MTT experiments results certified the prominent cell viability and biocompatibility for clinical application. Based on its fantastically superhydrophobic property, the as-prepared superhydrophobic coatings effectively prevented water permeation in resin composite restoration evaluation. This research may provide an effective method to solve the problem of microleakage and will efficiently increase the success rate of dental composite restorations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Temperature-Triggered Protein Adsorption on Polymer-Coated Nanoparticles in Serum.

    PubMed

    Koshkina, Olga; Lang, Thomas; Thiermann, Raphael; Docter, Dominic; Stauber, Roland H; Secker, Christian; Schlaad, Helmut; Weidner, Steffen; Mohr, Benjamin; Maskos, Michael; Bertin, Annabelle

    2015-08-18

    The protein corona, which forms on the nanoparticle's surface in most biological media, determines the nanoparticle's physicochemical characteristics. The formation of the protein corona has a significant impact on the biodistribution and clearance of nanoparticles in vivo. Therefore, the ability to influence the formation of the protein corona is essential to most biomedical applications, including drug delivery and imaging. In this study, we investigate the protein adsorption on nanoparticles with a hydrodynamic radius of 30 nm and a coating of thermoresponsive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) in serum. Using multiangle dynamic light scattering (DLS) we demonstrate that heating of the nanoparticles above their phase separation temperature induces the formation of agglomerates, with a hydrodynamic radius of 1 μm. In serum, noticeably stronger agglomeration occurs at lower temperatures compared to serum-free conditions. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) revealed a high packing density of agglomerates when serum was not present. In contrast, in the presence of serum, agglomerated nanoparticles were loosely packed, indicating that proteins are intercalated between them. Moreover, an increase in protein content is observed upon heating, confirming that protein adsorption is induced by the alteration of the surface during phase separation. After cooling and switching the surface back, most of the agglomerates were dissolved and the main fraction returned to the original size of approximately 30 nm as shown by asymmetrical flow-field flow fractionation (AF-FFF) and DLS. Furthermore, the amounts of adsorbed proteins are similar before and after heating the nanoparticles to above their phase-separation temperature. Overall, our results demonstrate that the thermoresponsivity of the polymer coating enables turning the corona formation on nanoparticles on and off in situ. As the local heating of body areas can be easily done in vivo, the thermoresponsive

  3. Porous silicon nanoparticles as biocompatible contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging

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

    Gongalsky, M. B., E-mail: mgongalsky@gmail.com; Kargina, Yu. V.; Osminkina, L. A.

    2015-12-07

    We propose porous silicon nanoparticles (PSi NPs) with natural oxide coating as biocompatible and bioresorbable contrast agents for magnetic resonant imaging (MRI). A strong shortening of the transversal proton relaxation time (T{sub 2}) was observed for aqueous suspensions of PSi NPs, whereas the longitudinal relaxation time (T{sub 1}) changed moderately. The longitudinal and transversal relaxivities are estimated to be 0.03 and 0.4 l/(g·s), respectively, which are promising for biomedical studies. The proton relaxation is suggested to undergo via the magnetic dipole-dipole interaction with Si dangling bonds on surfaces of PSi NPs. MRI experiments with phantoms have revealed the remarkable contrastingmore » properties of PSi NPs for medical diagnostics.« less

  4. Improvement of corrosion resistance and antibacterial effect of NiTi orthopedic materials by chitosan and gold nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ahmed, Rasha A.; Fadl-allah, Sahar A.; El-Bagoury, Nader; El-Rab, Sanaa M. F. Gad

    2014-02-01

    Biocomposite consists of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a natural polymer as Chitosan (CS) was electrodeposited over NiTi alloy to improve biocompatibility, biostability, surface corrosion resistance and antibacterial effect for orthopedic implantation. The forming process and surface morphology of this biocomposite coats over NiTi alloy were studied. The results showed that the nm-scale gold particles were embedded in the composite forming compact, thick and smooth coat. Elemental analysis revealed significant less Ni ion release from the coated NiTi alloy compared with the uncoated one by 20 fold. Furthermore, the electrochemical corrosion measurements indicated that AuNPs/CS composite coat was effective for improving corrosion resistance in different immersion times and at all pH values, which suggests that the coated NiTi alloys have potential for orthopedic applications. Additionally, the efficiencies of the biocomposite coats for inhibiting bacterial growth indicate high antibacterial effect.

  5. Wear mechanisms of the biotribological nanocomposite a-C : H coatings implanted by metallic nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Major, L; Janusz, M; Lackner, J M; Kot, M; Dyner, M; Major, B

    2017-10-01

    Recently, to reduce the residual stress and increase the mechanical properties of a-C:H coatings, metallic nanoparticles have been implanted into their structure. In the present work, to improve the properties of the coating, metallic nanoparticles, including Cu, Nb, Ta, Zr, AgPt and Ag, were inserted into the a-C:H structure. The applied biological and mechanical analysis allowed the optimal biotribological parameters to be indicated for the potential application as protective coatings for metallic medical tools. Wear mechanisms operating at the small length of the designed biotribological coating, such as a-C:H implanted by Zr nanoparticles, were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM analysis confirmed very good coating adhesion to the metallic substrate. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.

  6. Carboxylated SiO2-coated α-Fe nanoparticles: towards a versatile platform for biomedical applications.

    PubMed

    Kohara, Kaori; Yamamoto, Shinpei; Seinberg, Liis; Murakami, Tatsuya; Tsujimoto, Masahiko; Ogawa, Tetsuya; Kurata, Hiroki; Kageyama, Hiroshi; Takano, Mikio

    2013-03-28

    Carboxylated SiO2-coated α-Fe nanoparticles have been successfully prepared via CaH2-mediated reduction of SiO2-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles followed by surface carboxylation. These α-Fe-based nanoparticles, which are characterized by ease of coating with additional functional groups, a large magnetization of 154 emu per g-Fe, enhanced corrosion resistivity, excellent aqueous dispersibility, and low cytotoxicity, have potential to be a versatile platform in biomedical applications.

  7. On the Use of the Electrospinning Coating Technique to Produce Antimicrobial Polyhydroxyalkanoate Materials Containing In Situ-Stabilized Silver Nanoparticles

    PubMed Central

    Castro-Mayorga, Jinneth Lorena; Fabra, Maria Jose; Cabedo, Luis; Lagaron, Jose Maria

    2016-01-01

    Electro-hydrodynamic processing, comprising electrospraying and electrospinning techniques, has emerged as a versatile technology to produce nanostructured fiber-based and particle-based materials. In this work, an antimicrobial active multilayer system comprising a commercial polyhydroxyalkanoate substrate (PHA) and an electrospun PHA coating containing in situ-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was successfully developed and characterized in terms of morphology, thermal, mechanical, and barrier properties. The obtained materials reduced the bacterial population of Salmonella enterica below the detection limits at very low silver loading of 0.002 ± 0.0005 wt %. As a result, this study provides an innovative route to generate fully renewable and biodegradable materials that could prevent microbial outbreaks in food packages and food contact surfaces. PMID:28336838

  8. TiO2 nanoparticles act as a carrier of Cd bioaccumulation in the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila.

    PubMed

    Yang, Wei-Wan; Wang, Ying; Huang, Bin; Wang, Ning-Xin; Wei, Zhong-Bo; Luo, Jun; Miao, Ai-Jun; Yang, Liu-Yan

    2014-07-01

    When nanoparticles can enter a unicellular organism directly, how may they affect the bioaccumulation and toxicity of other pollutants already present in the environment? To answer this question, we conducted experiments with a protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. The well-dispersed polyacrylate-coated TiO2 nanoparticles (PAA-TiO2-NPs) were used as a representative nanomaterial, and Cd as a conventional pollutant. We found that PAA-TiO2-NPs could get into Tetrahymena cells directly. Such internalization was first induced by low concentrations of Cd, but later suppressed when Cd concentrations were higher than 1 μg/L. Considering its significant adsorption on PAA-TiO2-NPs, Cd could be taken up by T. thermophila in the form of free ion or metal-nanoparticle complexes. The latter route accounted for 46.3% of Cd internalization. During the 5 h depuration period, 4.34-22.1% of Cd was excreted out, which was independent of the concentrations of intracellular Cd and PAA-TiO2-NPs. On the other hand, both free and intracellular Cd concentrations only partly predicted its toxicity at different levels of PAA-TiO2-NPs. This may have resulted from PAA-TiO2-NPs' synergistic effects and the distinct subcellular distribution of Cd taken up via the two routes above. Overall, we should pay attention to the carrier effects of nanoparticles when assessing their environmental risks.

  9. Light-induced covalent immobilization of monolayers of magnetic nanoparticles on hydrogen-terminated silicon.

    PubMed

    Leem, Gyu; Zhang, Shishan; Jamison, Andrew C; Galstyan, Eduard; Rusakova, Irene; Lorenz, Bernd; Litvinov, Dmitri; Lee, T Randall

    2010-10-01

    Specifically tailored ω-alkenyl-1-carboxylic acids were synthesized for use as surfactants in the single-step preparation of manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs). Monodisperse manganese ferrite NPs terminated with ω-alkenyl moieties were prepared via a one-pot reaction at high temperature without the need of ligand exchange. Using this approach, simple adjustment of the rate of heating allowed precise tuning of the size of the nanoparticles, which were characterized in bulk form by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). These surfactant-coated magnetic nanoparticles were then deposited onto hydrogen-terminated silicon(111) wafers and covalently anchored to the surface by UV-initiated covalent bonding. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the UV treatment led to covalent immobilization of the NPs on the silicon surface with a consistent packing density across the surface. The magnetic properties of the stable, surface-bound nanoparticle arrays were characterized using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. The materials and methods described here are being developed for use in bit-patterned ultrahigh density magnetic recording media and nanoscale biomagnetic sensing.

  10. Silver deposited carboxymethyl chitosan-grafted magnetic nanoparticles as dual action deliverable antimicrobial materials.

    PubMed

    Vo, Duc-Thang; Sabrina, Sabrina; Lee, Cheng-Kang

    2017-04-01

    Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) was known to have a much better antimicrobial activity than chitosan due to the increased cationic -NH 3 + groups resulted from the intra- and intermolecular interactions between the carboxyl and amino groups. CMCS was grafted onto the surface of silica coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to obtain magnetically retrievable and deliverable antimicrobial nanoparticles (MNPs@CMCS). The presence of carboxylate groups in CMCS not only enhanced antimicrobial activity but also enabled Ag ions chelating ability to induce the in situ formation of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs). The deposition of AgNPs on the surface of MNPs@CMCS could significantly increase its antimicrobial activity against planktonic cells due to the dual action of CMCS and AgNPs. Due to its high magnetism, the as-prepared MNPs@CMCS-Ag could be efficiently delivered into an existing biofilm under the guidance of an applied magnetic field. Without direct contact, the Ag ions and/or radical oxygen species (ROS) released from the deposited Ag nanoparticles could effectively kill the bacteria embedded in the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix of biofilm. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Plasmonic Three-Dimensional Transparent Conductor Based on Al-Doped Zinc Oxide-Coated Nanostructured Glass Using Atomic Layer Deposition

    DOE PAGES

    Malek, Gary A.; Aytug, Tolga; Liu, Qingfeng; ...

    2015-04-02

    Transparent nanostructured glass coatings, fabricated on glass substrates, with a unique three-dimensional (3D) architecture were utilized as the foundation for the design of plasmonic 3D transparent conductors. Transformation of the non-conducting 3D structure to a conducting 3D network was accomplished through atomic layer deposition of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). After AZO growth, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were deposited by electronbeam evaporation to enhance light trapping and decrease the overall sheet resistance. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microcopy images revealed the highly porous, nanostructured morphology of the AZO coated glass surface along with the in-plane dimensions of the depositedmore » AuNPs. Sheet resistance measurements conducted on the coated samples verified that the electrical properties of the 3D network are comparable to that of the untextured two-dimensional AZO coated glass substrates. In addition, transmittance measurements of the glass samples coated with various AZO thicknesses showed preservation of the highly transparent nature of each sample, while the AuNPs demonstrated enhanced light scattering as well as light-trapping capability.« less

  12. Plasmonic Three-Dimensional Transparent Conductor Based on Al-Doped Zinc Oxide-Coated Nanostructured Glass Using Atomic Layer Deposition

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

    Malek, Gary A.; Aytug, Tolga; Liu, Qingfeng

    Transparent nanostructured glass coatings, fabricated on glass substrates, with a unique three-dimensional (3D) architecture were utilized as the foundation for the design of plasmonic 3D transparent conductors. Transformation of the non-conducting 3D structure to a conducting 3D network was accomplished through atomic layer deposition of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO). After AZO growth, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were deposited by electronbeam evaporation to enhance light trapping and decrease the overall sheet resistance. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microcopy images revealed the highly porous, nanostructured morphology of the AZO coated glass surface along with the in-plane dimensions of the depositedmore » AuNPs. Sheet resistance measurements conducted on the coated samples verified that the electrical properties of the 3D network are comparable to that of the untextured two-dimensional AZO coated glass substrates. In addition, transmittance measurements of the glass samples coated with various AZO thicknesses showed preservation of the highly transparent nature of each sample, while the AuNPs demonstrated enhanced light scattering as well as light-trapping capability.« less

  13. Effects of oleic acid surface coating on the properties of nickel ferrite nanoparticles/PLA composites.

    PubMed

    Yin, Hong; Chow, Gan-Moog

    2009-11-01

    Nickel ferrite nanoparticles with or without oleic acid surface coating were mixed with poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA) by double emulsion method. If the nanoparticles were prepared without oleic acid coating, they adsorbed on the PLA surface. If the nanoparticles were coated with oleic acid, they could be readily encapsulated within the PLA microspheres. A slight depression in glass transition temperature was found in all composites and it could be related to the interfacial energies between nanoparticles and PLA. Optimum mixed composite was achieved by reducing interfacial energy. However, loading capacity was limited in this composite. Increasing the amount of nickel ferrite nanoparticles was not useful to increase loading capacity. Cytotoxicity of the composite decreased significantly when nickel ferrite nanoparticles were effectively encapsulated in PLA microspheres. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  14. Effect of additive on Zeta potential and particle size of nickel nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sharma, Vikash; Tarachand, Chotia, Chandrabhan; Okram, G. S.

    2017-05-01

    Nickel nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by thermal decomposition method using Oleylamine (OLY) as a solvent and Trioctylphosphine (TOP) as a surfactant. We have investigated the effect of pH and addition of Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the stability and particle size of Ni NPs using zeta potential and particle size analyser. Coating of the surfactants on the surface of Ni NPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Autotitration study of zeta potential of these NPs in ethanol by dynamic light scattering (DLS) at different pH values confirmed an isoelectric point (IEP) at pH = 3.64 in ethanol and pH = 3.04 after addition of EDTA in ethanol. It was observed that addition of EDTA in nanosuspension enhances stability of Ni-NPs significantly.

  15. Fluorescence life-time imaging and steady state polarization for examining binding of fluorophores to gold nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Shmulik; Fixler, Dror; Popovtzer, Rachela; Shefi, Orit

    2015-11-01

    Nanocomposites as multifunctional agents are capable of combing imaging and cell biology technologies. The conventional methods used for validation of the conjugation process of nanoparticles (NPs) to fluorescent molecules such as spectroscopy analysis and surface potential measurements, are not sufficient. In this paper we present a new and highly sensitive procedure that uses the combination of (1) fluorescence spectrum, (2) fluorescence lifetime, and (3) steady state fluorescence polarization measurements. We characterize and analyze gold NPs with Lucifer yellow (LY) surface coating as a model. We demonstrate the ability to differentiate between LY-GNP (the conjugated complex) and a mixture of coated NP and free dyes. We suggest the approach for neuroscience applications where LY is used for detecting and labeling cells, studying morphology and intracellular communications. Histograms of Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) of free LY dye (Left) in comparison to the conjugated dye to gold nanoparticles, LY-GNP (Middle) enable the differentiation between LY-GNP (the conjugated complex) and a mixture of coated NP and free dyes (Right). © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  16. Potential of silver nanoparticle-coated polyurethane foam as an antibacterial water filter.

    PubMed

    Jain, Prashant; Pradeep, T

    2005-04-05

    Silver nanoparticles can be coated on common polyurethane (PU) foams by overnight exposure of the foams to nanoparticle solutions. Repeated washing and air-drying yields uniformly coated PU foam, which can be used as a drinking water filter where bacterial contamination of the surface water is a health risk. Nanoparticles are stable on the foam and are not washed away by water. Morphology of the foam was retained after coating. The nanoparticle binding is due to its interaction with the nitrogen atom of the PU. Online tests were conducted with a prototypical water filter. At a flow rate of 0.5 L/min, in which contact time was of the order of a second, the output count of Escherichia coli was nil when the input water had a bacterial load of 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU) per mL. Combined with the low cost and effectiveness in its applications, the technology may have large implications to developing countries. Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Nanosecond pulsed laser ablated sub-10 nm silicon nanoparticles for improving photovoltaic conversion efficiency of commercial solar cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rasouli, H. R.; Ghobadi, A.; Ulusoy Ghobadi, T. G.; Ates, H.; Topalli, K.; Okyay, A. K.

    2017-10-01

    In this paper, we demonstrate the enhancement of photovoltaic (PV) solar cell efficiency using luminescent silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs). Sub-10 nm Si-NPs are synthesized via pulsed laser ablation technique. These ultra-small Si nanoparticles exhibit photoluminescence (PL) character tics at 425 and 517 nm upon excitation by ultra-violet (UV) light. Therefore, they can act as secondary light sources that convert high energetic photons to ones at visible range. This down-shifting property can be a promising approach to enhance PV performance of the solar cell, regardless of its type. As proof-of-concept, polycrystalline commercial solar cells with an efficiency of ca 10% are coated with these luminescent Si-NPs. The nanoparticle-decorated solar cells exhibit up to 1.64% increase in the external quantum efficiency with respect to the uncoated reference cells. According to spectral photo-responsivity characterizations, the efficiency enhancement is stronger in wavelengths below 550 nm. As expected, this is attributed to down-shifting via Si-NPs, which is verified by their PL characteristics. The results presented here can serve as a beacon for future performance enhanced devices in a wide range of applications based on Si-NPs including PVs and LED applications.

  18. Preparation and characterization of chemically functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles as a DNA separator.

    PubMed

    Kang, Kiho; Choi, Jinsub; Nam, Joong Hee; Lee, Sang Cheon; Kim, Kyung Ja; Lee, Sang-Won; Chang, Jeong Ho

    2009-01-15

    The work describes a simple and convenient process for highly efficient and direct DNA separation with functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles. Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles and silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles were prepared uniformly, and the silica coating thickness could be easily controlled in a range from 10 to 50 nm by changing the concentration of silica precursor (TEOS) including controlled magnetic strength and particle size. A change in the surface modification on the nanoparticles was introduced by aminosilanization to enhance the selective DNA separation resulting from electrostatic interaction. The efficiency of the DNA separation was explored via the function of the amino-group numbers, particle size, the amount of the nanoparticles used, and the concentration of NaCl salt. The DNA adsorption yields were high in terms of the amount of triamino-functionalized nanoparticles used, and the average particle size was 25 nm. The adsorption efficiency of aminofunctionalized nanoparticles was the 4-5 times (80-100%) higher compared to silica-coated nanoparticles only (10-20%). DNA desorption efficiency showed an optimum level of over 0.7 M of the NaCl concentration. To elucidate the agglomeration of nanoparticles after electrostatic DNA binding, the Guinier plots were calculated from small-angle X-ray diffractions in a comparison of the results of energy diffraction TEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Additionally, the direct separation of human genomic DNA was achieved from human saliva and whole blood with high efficiency.

  19. Controlling the Nanoscale Patterning of AuNPs on Silicon Surfaces

    PubMed Central

    Williams, Sophie E.; Davies, Philip R.; Bowen, Jenna L.; Allender, Chris J.

    2013-01-01

    This study evaluates the effectiveness of vapour-phase deposition for creating sub-monolayer coverage of aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) on silicon in order to exert control over subsequent gold nanoparticle deposition. Surface coverage was evaluated indirectly by observing the extent to which gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited onto the modified silicon surface. By varying the distance of the silicon wafer from the APTES source and concentration of APTES in the evaporating media, control over subsequent gold nanoparticle deposition was achievable to an extent. Fine control over AuNP deposition (AuNPs/μm2) however, was best achieved by adjusting the ionic concentration of the AuNP-depositing solution. Furthermore it was demonstrated that although APTES was fully removed from the silicon surface following four hours incubation in water, the gold nanoparticle-amino surface complex was stable under the same conditions. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to study these affects. PMID:28348330

  20. Mixed hemimicelles solid-phase extraction based on ionic liquid-coated Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles for the determination of flavonoids in bio-matrix samples coupled with high performance liquid chromatography.

    PubMed

    He, Huan; Yuan, Danhua; Gao, Zhanqi; Xiao, Deli; He, Hua; Dai, Hao; Peng, Jun; Li, Nan

    2014-01-10

    A novel magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) method based on mixed hemimicelles of room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) coated Fe3O4/SiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) was developed for simultaneous extraction of trace amounts of flavonoids in bio-matrix samples. A comparative study on the use of RTILs (C16mimBr) and CTAB-coated Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs as sorbents was presented. Owing to bigger adsorption amounts for analytes, RTILs-coated Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs was selected as MSPE materials and three analytes luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol can be quantitatively extracted and simultaneously determined coupled with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in urine samples. No interferences were caused by proteins or endogenous compounds. Good linearity (R(2)>0.9993) for all calibration curves was obtained, and the limits of detection (LOD) for luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol were 0.10 ng/mL, 0.50 ng/mL and 0.20 ng/mL in urine samples, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries (93.5-97.6%, 90.1-95.4% and 93.3-96.6% for luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol) in biological matrices were achieved. It was notable that while using a small amount of Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs (4.0 mg) and C16mimBr (1.0 mg), satisfactory preconcentration factors and extraction recoveries for the three flavonoids were obtained. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a mixed hemimicelles MSPE method based on RTILs and Fe3O4/SiO2 NPs magnetic separation has ever been used for pretreatment of complex biological samples. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Toward a molecular understanding of nanoparticle-protein interactions.

    PubMed

    Treuel, Lennart; Nienhaus, Gerd Ulrich

    2012-06-01

    Wherever nanoparticles (NPs) come in contact with a living organism, physical and chemical interactions take place between the surfaces of the NPs and biomatter, in particular proteins. When NP are exposed to biological fluids, an adsorption layer of proteins, a "protein corona" forms around the NPs. Consequently, living systems interact with the protein-coated NP rather than with a bare NP. To anticipate biological responses to NPs, we thus require comprehensive knowledge of the interactions at the bio-nano interface. In recent years, a wide variety of biophysical techniques have been employed to elucidate mechanistic aspects of NP-protein interactions. In this brief review, we present the latest findings regarding the composition of the protein corona as it forms on NPs in the blood stream. We also discuss molecular aspects of this adsorption layer and its time evolution. The current state of knowledge is summarized, and issues that still need to be addressed to further advance our understanding of NP-protein interactions are identified.

  2. Efficient metal adsorption and microbial reduction from Rawal Lake wastewater using metal nanoparticle coated cotton.

    PubMed

    Ali, Attarad; Gul, Ayesha; Mannan, Abdul; Zia, Muhammad

    2018-05-17

    This study was designed to investigate removal of toxic metals and reduction of bacterial count from Rawal Lake wastewater with novel nanocomposite sorbents. Iron, zinc and silver oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were attached on cotton. The nanocomposites (iron NPs on cotton (FeCt), zinc NPs on cotton (ZnCt) and silver NPs on cotton (AgCt)) were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM, which showed successful adsorption of 10-30 nm size nanoparticles. Batch experiments were performed to determine the adsorption capacity of nanocomposite for metal removal. All the three adsorbents demonstrated 100% adsorption efficiency for Ag + , Co 2+ , Fe 3+ , Zn 2+ and Cu 2+ whereas less adsorption for Cd 2+ and Cr 3+ . The maximum adsorbance (qe) was exhibited by Co 2+ on ZnCt, FeCt and AgCt as 125.0, 111.1 and 100.0 mg g -1 , respectively. The efficiency of adsorbents for metal ions sorption was found as AgCt > ZnCt > FeCt while the order of adsorption for metals was observed as Fe 3+  > Co 2+  > Zn 2+  > Cu 2+  > Ag +  > Cr 3+  > Cd 2 + . The adsorption mechanism mostly follow Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model. The maximum microbial reduction was exhibited by AgCt followed by ZnCt and FeCt. The microbes were further processed for staining and biochemical characteristics to evaluate resistance and sensitive microbes. The study concludes that the NPs doped on cotton can be effectively used for adsorption of heavy metals and reduction of microbial count from natural wastewater making it valuable for human consumption. In addition, the nanoparticles impregnated cotton can be efficiently used in water filtration plants. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. Salt-Driven Deposition of Thermoresponsive Polymer-Coated Metal Nanoparticles on Solid Substrates.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhiyue; Maji, Samarendra; da Fonseca Antunes, André B; De Rycke, Riet; Hoogenboom, Richard; De Geest, Bruno G

    2016-06-13

    Here we report on a simple, generally applicable method for depositing metal nanoparticles on a wide variety of solid surfaces under all aqueous conditions. Noble-metal nanoparticles obtained by citrate reduction followed by coating with thermoresponsive polymers spontaneously form a monolayer-like structure on a wide variety of substrates in presence of sodium chloride whereas this phenomenon does not occur in salt-free medium. Interestingly, this phenomenon occurs below the cloud point temperature of the polymers and we hypothesize that salt ion-induced screening of electrostatic charges on the nanoparticle surface entropically favors hydrophobic association between the polymer-coated nanoparticles and a hydrophobic substrate. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  4. Mutagenicity of silver nanoparticles in CHO cells dependent on particle surface functionalization and metabolic activation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Guigas, Claudia; Walz, Elke; Gräf, Volker; Heller, Knut J.; Greiner, Ralf

    2017-06-01

    The potential of engineered nanomaterials to induce genotoxic effects is an important aspect of hazard identification. In this study, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity as a function of metabolic activation of three silver nanoparticle (AgNP) preparations differing in surface coating were determined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) subclone K1 cells. Three silver nanoparticle preparations ( x 90,0 <30 nm) stabilized with polyoxyethylene glycerol trioleate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (AgPure™), citrate (Citrate-Ag), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-Ag) were used for the experiments. The cytotoxic effect of AgNPs was assessed with the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide) test using different concentrations of nanoparticles, while the mutagenicity was evaluated using the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene mutation assay. The cytotoxicity of all three AgNPs was lower in a cell culture medium containing 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) than in medium without FCS. The HPRT test without metabolic activation system S9 revealed that compared to the other AgNP formulations, citrate-coated Ag showed a lower genotoxic effect. However, addition of S9 increased the mutation frequency of all AgNPs and especially influenced the genotoxicity of Citrate-Ag. The results showed that exogenous metabolic activation of nanosilver is crucial even if interactions of the metabolic activation system, nanosilver, and cells are not really understood up to now.

  5. Effects of ZnO nanoparticle-coated packaging film on pork meat quality during cold storage.

    PubMed

    Suo, Biao; Li, Huarong; Wang, Yuexia; Li, Zhen; Pan, Zhili; Ai, Zhilu

    2017-05-01

    There has been limited research on the use of ZnO nanoparticle-coated film for the quality preservation of pork meat under low temperature. In the present study, ZnO nanoparticles were mixed with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) to form a nanocomposite film, to investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticle-coated film on pork meat quality and the growth of bacteria during storage under low temperature. When ZnO nanoparticle-coated film was used as the packaging material for pork meat for 14 days of cold storage at 4 °C, the results demonstrated a significant effect on restricting the increases in total volatile basic nitrogen and pH levels, limiting the decreases of lightness (increased L* value) and redness (increased a* value), and maintaining the water-holding capacity compared to the control pork samples (P < 0.05). The present study also discovered that the ZnO nanoparticle-coated film restrained the increase in total plate count (TPC). When Staphylococcus aureus was used as the representative strain, scanning electron microscopy revealed that ZnO nanoparticles increased the occurrence of cell membrane rupture under cold conditions. ZnO nanoparticle-coated film helps retain the quality of pork meat during cold storage by increasing the occurrence of microorganism injury. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

  6. Biotin-decorated silica coated PbS nanocrystals emitting in the second biological near infrared window for bioimaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Corricelli, M.; Depalo, N.; di Carlo, E.; Fanizza, E.; Laquintana, V.; Denora, N.; Agostiano, A.; Striccoli, M.; Curri, M. L.

    2014-06-01

    Nanoparticles (NPs) emitting in the second biological near infrared (NIR) window of the electromagnetic spectrum have been successfully synthesized by growing a silica shell on the hydrophobic surface of OLEA/TOP PbS nanocrystals (NCs), by means of a reverse microemulsion approach, and subsequently decorated with biotin molecules. The fabrication of very uniform and monodisperse NPs, formed of SiO2 shell coated single core PbS NCs, has been demonstrated by means of a set of complementary optical and structural techniques (Vis-NIR absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy) that have highlighted how experimental parameters, such as PbS NC and silica precursor concentration, are crucial to direct the morphology and optical properties of silica coated PbS NPs. Subsequently, the silica surface of the core-shell NPs has been grafted with amino groups, in order to achieve covalent binding of biotin to NIR emitting silica coated NPs. Finally the successful reaction with a green-fluorescent labelled streptavidin has verified the molecular recognition response of the biotin molecules decorating the PbS@SiO2 NP surface. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential techniques have been used to monitor the hydrodynamic diameter and colloidal stability of both PbS@SiO2 and biotin decorated NPs, showing their high colloidal stability in physiological media, as needed for biomedical applications. Remarkably the obtained biotinylated PbS@SiO2 NPs have been found to retain emission properties in the `second optical window' of the NIR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, thus representing attractive receptor-targeted NIR fluorescent probes for in vivo tumour imaging.Nanoparticles (NPs) emitting in the second biological near infrared (NIR) window of the electromagnetic spectrum have been successfully synthesized by growing a silica shell on the hydrophobic surface of OLEA/TOP PbS nanocrystals (NCs), by means of a reverse microemulsion

  7. Highly Stretchable and Conductive Superhydrophobic Coating for Flexible Electronics.

    PubMed

    Su, Xiaojing; Li, Hongqiang; Lai, Xuejun; Chen, Zhonghua; Zeng, Xingrong

    2018-03-28

    Superhydrophobic materials integrating stretchability with conductivity have huge potential in the emerging application horizons such as wearable electronic sensors, flexible power storage apparatus, and corrosion-resistant circuits. Herein, a facile spraying method is reported to fabricate a durable superhydrophobic coating with excellent stretchable and electrical performance by combing 1-octadecanethiol-modified silver nanoparticles (M-AgNPs) with polystyrene- b-poly(ethylene- co-butylene)- b-polystyrene (SEBS) on a prestretched natural rubber (NR) substrate. The embedding of M-AgNPs in elastic SEBS matrix and relaxation of prestretched NR substrate construct hierarchical rough architecture and endow the coating with dense charge-transport pathways. The fabricated coating exhibits superhydrophobicity with water contact angle larger than 160° and a high conductivity with resistance of about 10 Ω. The coating not only maintains superhydrophobicity at low/high stretch ratio for the newly generated small/large protuberances but also responds to stretching and bending with good sensitivity, broad sensing range, and stable response cycles. Moreover, the coating exhibits excellent durability to heat and strong acid/alkali and mechanical forces including droplet impact, kneading, torsion, and repetitive stretching-relaxation. The findings conceivably stand out as a new tool to fabricate multifunctional superhydrophobic materials with excellent stretchability and conductivity for flexible electronics under wet or corrosive environments.

  8. In-situ growth of AuNPs on WS2@U-bent optical fiber for evanescent wave absorption sensor

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Suzhen; Zhao, Yuefeng; Zhang, Chao; Jiang, Shouzhen; Yang, Cheng; Xiu, Xianwu; Li, Chonghui; Li, Zhen; Zhao, Xiaofei; Man, Baoyuan

    2018-05-01

    The sensitivity of the evanescent wave absorption sensor is always a hot topic which has been attracted researchers' discussion. It is still a challenge for developing the effective sensor to sensitively detect some biochemical molecules solution in a simple and low-cost way. In this paper, an evanescent wave absorption (EWA) sensor has been presented based on the U-bent multimode fiber coated with tungsten disulfide (WS2) film and in-situ growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the detection of ethanol solution and sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. Benefitted from the effective light coupling produced between U-bent probe and AuNPs, we attained the optimal size of the AuNPs by changing the reaction time between WS2 and tetrachloroauric acid (HAuCl4). With the AuNPs/WS2@U-bent optical fiber, we discussed the behaviors of EWA sensor, such as sensitivity, reproducibility, fast response-recovery time and stability. The sensitivity (△A/△C) of the proposed AuNPs/WS2@U-bent optical fiber EWA sensor is 0.65 for the detection of the ethanol solution. Besides, the AuNPs/WS2@U-bent optical fiber EWA sensor exhibits high sensitivity in detection of the sodium chloride (NaCl), which can reach 1.5 when the proposed sensor was immersed into NaCl solution. Our work demonstrates that the U-bent optical fiber EWA sensor may have promising applications in testing the solution of concentration.

  9. The role of nano-particles in the field of thermal spray coating technology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Siegmann, Stephan; Leparoux, Marc; Rohr, Lukas

    2005-06-01

    Nano-particles play not only a key role in recent research fields, but also in the public discussions about health and safety in nanotechnology. Nevertheless, the worldwide activities in nano-particles research increased dramatically during the last 5 to 10 years. There are different potential routes for the future production of nano-particles at large scale. The main directions envisaged are mechanical milling, wet chemical reactions or gas phase processes. Each of the processes has its specific advantages and limitations. Mechanical milling and wet chemical reactions are typically time intensive and batch processes, whereas gas phase productions by flames or plasma can be carried out continuously. Materials of interest are mainly oxide ceramics, carbides, nitrides, and pure metals. Nano-ceramics are interesting candidates for coating technologies due to expected higher coating toughness, better thermal shock and wear resistance. Especially embedded nano-carbides and-nitrides offer homogenously distributed hard phases, which enhance coatings hardness. Thermal spraying, a nearly 100 years old and world wide established coating technology, gets new possibilities thanks to optimized, nano-sized and/or nano-structured powders. Latest coating system developments like high velocity flame spraying (HVOF), cold gas deposition or liquid suspension spraying in combination with new powder qualities may open new applications and markets. This article gives an overview on the latest activities in nano-particle research and production in special relation to thermal spray coating technology.

  10. Development and characterisation of chitosan films impregnated with insulin loaded PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles (NPs): a potential approach for buccal delivery of macromolecules.

    PubMed

    Giovino, Concetta; Ayensu, Isaac; Tetteh, John; Boateng, Joshua S

    2012-05-30

    Mucoadhesive chitosan based films, incorporated with insulin loaded nanoparticles (NPs) made of poly(ethylene glycol)methyl ether-block-polylactide (PEG-b-PLA) have been developed and characterised. Blank-NPs were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation technique with varying concentrations of the copolymer (5 and 10%, w/v). The optimised formulation was loaded with insulin (model protein) at initial loadings of 2, 5 and 10% with respect to copolymer weight. The developed NPs were analysed for size, size distribution, surface charge, morphology, encapsulation efficiency and drug release. NPs showing negative (ζ)-potential (<-6 mV) with average diameter> 300 nm and a polydispersity index (P.I.) of ≈ 0.2, irrespective of formulation process, were achieved. Insulin encapsulation efficiencies of 70% and 30% for NPs-Insulin-2 and NPs-Insulin-5 were obtained, respectively. The in vitro release behaviour of both formulations showed a classic biphasic sustained release of protein over 5 weeks which was influenced by pH of the release medium. Optimised chitosan films embedded with 3mg of insulin loaded NPs were produced by solvent casting with homogeneous distribution of NPs in the mucoadhesive matrix, which displayed excellent physico-mechanical properties. The drug delivery system has been designed as a novel platform for potential buccal delivery of macromolecules. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Pathway and mechanism of nitrogen transformation during composting: Functional enzymes and genes under different concentrations of PVP-AgNPs.

    PubMed

    Zeng, Guangming; Zhang, Lihua; Dong, Haoran; Chen, Yaoning; Zhang, Jiachao; Zhu, Yuan; Yuan, Yujie; Xie, Yankai; Fang, Wei

    2018-04-01

    Polyvinylpyrrolidone coated silver nanoparticles (PVP-AgNPs) were applied at different concentrations to reduce total nitrogen (TN) losses and the mechanisms of nitrogen bio-transformation were investigated in terms of the nitrogen functional enzymes and genes. Results showed that mineral N in pile 3 which was treated with AgNPs at a concentration of 10 mg/kg compost was the highest (6.58 g/kg dry weight (DW) compost) and the TN loss (47.07%) was the lowest at the end of composting. Correlation analysis indicated that TN loss was significantly correlated with amoA abundance. High throughput sequencing showed that the dominant family of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was Nitrosomonadaceae, and the number of Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) reduced after the beginning of composting when compared with day 1. In summary, treatment with AgNPs at a concentration of 10 mg/kg compost was considerable to reduce TN losses and reserve more mineral N during composting. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Assessment of the migration potential of nanosilver from nanoparticle-coated low-density polyethylene food packaging into food simulants.

    PubMed

    Hannon, Joseph Christopher; Kerry, Joseph P; Cruz-Romero, Malco; Azlin-Hasim, Shafrina; Morris, Michael; Cummins, Enda

    2016-01-01

    An experimental nanosilver-coated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) food packaging was incubated with food simulants using a conventional oven and tested for migration according to European Commission Regulation No. 10/2011. The commercial LDPE films were coated using a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique and three levels of silver (Ag) precursor concentration (0.5%, 2% and 5% silver nitrate (AgNO3), respectively) were used to attach antimicrobial Ag. The experimental migration study conditions (time, temperature and food simulant) under conventional oven heating (10 days at 60°C, 2 h at 70°C, 2 h at 60°C or 10 days at 70°C) were chosen to simulate the worst-case storage period of over 6 months. In addition, migration was quantified under microwave heating. The total Ag migrant levels in the food simulants were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Mean migration levels obtained by ICP-AES for oven heating were in the range 0.01-1.75 mg l(-1). Migration observed for microwave heating was found to be significantly higher when compared with oven heating for similar temperatures (100°C) and identical exposure times (2 min). In each of the packaging materials and food simulants tested, the presence of nanoparticles (NPs) was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On inspection of the migration observed under conventional oven heating, an important finding was the significant reduction in migration resulting from the increased Ag precursor concentration used to attach Ag on the LDPE LbL-coated films. This observation merits further investigation into the LbL coating process used, as it suggests potential for process modifications to reduce migration. In turn, any reduction in NP migration below regulatory limits could greatly support the antimicrobial silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-LDPE LbL-coated films being used as a food packaging material.

  13. 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.

  14. Electrochemical analysis of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles for detecting immunological interaction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pham, Thao Thi-Hien; Sim, Sang Jun

    2010-01-01

    An electrochemical impedance immunosensor was developed for detecting the immunological interaction between human immunoglobulin (IgG) and protein A from Staphylococcus aureus based on the immobilization of human IgG on the surface of modified gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles. The nanoparticles with an Au shell and Fe oxide cores were functionalized by a self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid. The electrochemical analysis was conducted on the modified magnetic carbon paste electrodes with the nanoparticles. The magnetic nanoparticles were attached to the surface of the magnetic carbon paste electrodes via magnetic force. The cyclic voltammetry technique and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements of the magnetic carbon paste electrodes coated with magnetic nanoparticles-human IgG complex showed changes in its alternating current (AC) response both after the modification of the surface of the electrode and the addition of protein A. The immunological interaction between human IgG on the surface of the modified magnetic carbon paste electrodes and protein A in the solution could be successfully monitored.

  15. Water-repellent coatings prepared by modification of ZnO nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chakradhar, R. P. S.; Dinesh Kumar, V.

    Superhydrophobic coatings with a static water contact angle (WCA) > 150° were prepared by modifying ZnO nanoparticles with stearic acid (ZnO@SA). ZnO nanoparticles of size ˜14 nm were prepared by solution combustion method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies reveal that as prepared ZnO has hexagonal wurtzite structure whereas the modified coatings convert to zinc stearate. Field emission scanning electron micrographs (FE-SEM) show the dual morphology of the coatings exhibiting both particles and flakes. The flakes are highly fluffy in nature with voids and nanopores. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectrum shows the stearate ion co-ordinates with Zn2+ in the bidentate form. The surface properties such as surface free energy (γp) and work of adhesion (W) of the unmodified and modified ZnO coatings have been evaluated. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy reveals that surface defects play a major role in the wetting behavior.

  16. RES-loaded pegylated CS NPs: for efficient ocular delivery.

    PubMed

    Pandian, Saravanakumar; Jeevanesan, Vinoth; Ponnusamy, Chandrasekar; Natesan, Subramanian

    2017-02-01

    The objective of this study is to develop resveratrol (RES) loaded polyethylene glycols (PEGs) modified chitosan (CS) nanoparticles (NPs) by ionic gelation method for the treatment of glaucoma. While increasing the concentration of PEG, the particle size and polydispersity index of the formulations increased. Entrapment efficiency and RES loading (RL) of NPs decreased while increasing PEG concentration. The in vitro release of NPs showed an initial burst release of RES (45%) followed by controlled release. Osmolality of formulations revealed that the prepared NPs were iso-osmolar with the tear. Ocular tolerance of the NPs was evaluated using hen's egg test on the chorioallantoic membrane and it showed that the NPs were non-irritant. RES-loaded PEG-modified CS NPs shows an improved corneal permeation compared with RES dispersion. Fluorescein isothiocyanate loaded CS NPs accumulated on the surface of the cornea but the PEG-modified CS NPs crossed the cornea and reached retinal choroid. RES-loaded PEG-modified CS NPs reduced the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) by 4.3 ± 0.5 mmHg up to 8 h in normotensive rabbits. These results indicate that the developed NPs have efficient delivery of RES to the ocular tissues and reduce the IOP for the treatment of glaucoma.

  17. Green synthesis of high conductivity silver nanoparticle-reduced graphene oxide composite films

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dinh, D. A.; Hui, K. S.; Hui, K. N.; Cho, Y. R.; Zhou, Wei; Hong, Xiaoting; Chun, Ho-Hwan

    2014-04-01

    A green facile chemical approach to control the dimensions of Ag nanoparticles-graphene oxide (AgNPs/GO) composites was performed by the in situ ultrasonication of a mixture of AgNO3 and graphene oxide solutions with the assistance of vitamin C acting as an environmentally friendly reducing agent at room temperature. With decreasing ultrasonication time, the size of the Ag nanoparticles decreased and became uniformly distributed over the surface of the GO nanosheets. The as-prepared AgNPs/rGO composite films were then formed using a spin coating method and reduced at 500 °C under N2/H2 gas flow for 1 h. Four-point probe measurements showed that the sheet resistance of the AgNPs/rGO films decreased with decreasing AgNPs size. The lowest sheet resistance of 270 Ω/sq was obtained in the film corresponding to 1 min of ultrasonication, which showed a 40 times lower resistivity than the rGO film (10.93 kΩ/sq). The formation mechanisms of the as-prepared AgNPs/rGO films are proposed. This study provides a guide to controlling the dimensions of AgNPs/rGO films, which might hold promise as advanced materials for a range of analytical applications, such as catalysis, sensors and microchips.

  18. Investigations of spherical Cu NPs in sodium lauryl sulphate with Tb{sup 3+} ions dispersed in PVA films

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

    Kumar, Brijesh; Kaur, Gagandeep, E-mail: gagandeep_bhu@yahoo.com; Rai, S.B., E-mail: sbrai49@yahoo.co.in

    2016-03-15

    Highlights: • Cu NPs were prepared in SDS using 1064 nm laser radiation at fluence 37, 64 and 88 J/cm{sup 2}. • Spherical Cu NPs with average diameter varying between 10 and 50 nm atdifferent fluence. • PL of Tb3+ ions in PVA polymer film is maximum with Cu NPS at fluence 37 J/cm{sup 2}. • PVA films of Cu NPs displayed a highly temperature-dependent electrical conductivity. • These copper NPs embedded PVA films can be used as novel, low-cost sensor materials. - Abstract: Cu nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared in SDS solution using 1064 nm laser radiation at differentmore » fluence 37 J/cm{sup 2}, 64 J/cm{sup 2} and 88 J/cm{sup 2} and structurally characterized. The TEM measurements reveal the presence of nanoparticles of spherical shape with different size. The size of the nanoparticles and their concentration increases with the increase of fluence.The effect of these Cu nanoparticles on the emissive properties of Tb{sup 3+} ion in polymer films has been studied. It is found that emission intensity of Tb{sup 3+} first increases and then deceases both with concentration of Cu NPs as well as with sizes. The PL intensity of Tb{sup 3+} ions is minimum for Cu NPs prepared with highest fluence. It has been explained in term of local field effect. This was also verified by life time measurements. These thin PVA films of copper nanoparticles displayed a highly temperature-dependent electrical conductivity with sensitivity at least comparable to commercial materials which suggest the use of these copper NPs embedded PVA films as novel, low-cost sensor materials.« less

  19. Quantitative investigation on the critical thickness of the dielectric shell for metallic nanoparticles determined by the plasmon decay length

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Anran; Lim, Xinyi; Guo, Lin; Li, Shuzhou

    2018-04-01

    Inert dielectric shells coating the surface of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are important for enhancing the NPs’ stability, biocompatibility, and realizing targeting detection, but they impair NPs’ sensing ability due to the electric fields damping. The dielectric shell not only determines the distance of the analyte from the NP surface, but also affects the field decay. From a practical point of view, it is extremely important to investigate the critical thickness of the shell, beyond which the NPs are no longer able to effectively detect the analytes. The plasmon decay length of the shell-coated NPs determines the critical thickness of the coating layer. Extracting from the exponential fitting results, we quantitatively demonstrate that the critical thickness of the shell exhibits a linear dependence on the NP volume and the dielectric constants of the shell and the surrounding medium, but only with a small variation influenced by the NP shape where the dipole resonance is dominated. We show the critical thickness increases with enlarging the NP sizes, or increasing the dielectric constant differences between the shell and surrounding medium. The findings are essential for applications of shell-coated NPs in plasmonic sensing.

  20. Gold nanoparticles cellular toxicity and recovery: adipose Derived Stromal cells.

    PubMed

    Mironava, Tatsiana; Hadjiargyrou, Michael; Simon, Marcia; Rafailovich, Miriam H

    2014-03-01

    Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are currently used in numerous medical applications. Herein, we describe their in vitro impact on human adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) using 13 nm and 45 nm citrate-coated AuNPs. In their non-differentiated state, ADSCs were penetrated by the AuNPs and stored in vacuoles. The presence of the AuNPs in ADSCs resulted in increased population doubling times, decreased cell motility and cell-mediated collagen contraction. The degree to which the cells were impacted was a function of particle concentration, where the smaller particles required a sevenfold higher concentration to have the same effect as the larger ones. Furthermore, AuNPs reduced adipogenesis as measured by lipid droplet accumulation and adiponectin secretion. These effects correlated with transient increases in DLK1 and with relative reductions in fibronectin. Upon removal of exogenous AuNPs, cellular NP levels decreased and normal ADSC functions were restored. As adiponectin helps regulate energy metabolism, local fluctuations triggered by AuNPs can lead to systemic changes. Hence, careful choice of size, concentration and clinical application duration of AuNPs is warranted.