Charge-conversional and pH-sensitive PEGylated polymeric micelles as efficient nanocarriers for drug delivery.

A novel amphiphilic copolymer, poly (ethylene glycol)-graft-polyethyleneimine/amide (PEG-g-PEI/amide), is synthesized by grafting PEG and1,2-cis-Cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride onto the PEI. PEGylated polymeric micelles can be assembled from the amphiphilic copolymers with well-defined nano-sizes, and anti-cancer drugs are successfully loaded into micelle core formed by the amide. The amides with neighboring carboxylic acid groups exhibit pH-dependent hydrolysis and can reversibly shield the cationic charge of amine groups on the PEI, giving the micelles a charge-conversion property from negative to positive in acidic tumor tissue environment.

Layer by layer self-assembly of poly[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine] multilayer via the ionic complexation with zirconium.

Zirconium-phosphonate (Zr-P) ionic complexation chemistry is explored as a new approach to fabricate poly[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl phosphorylcholine] (PMPC) multilayer film by layer-by-layer self-assembly method. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and optical ellipsometry measurements demonstrated that PMPC layer can be fully absorbed on each Zr(4+) layer. The thickness of the multilayer film with a good linear relationship was followed by the ellipsometry in situ adlayer characterization.

Aggregation-induced emission of tetraphenylethene derivative as a fluorescence method for probing the assembling/disassembling of amphiphilic molecules.

The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of a 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-di(p-tolyl)ethene (TPE) was explored as a novel fluorescence method for probing the assembling/disassembling of amphiphilic molecules. The fluorescence intensity was able to monitor the formation of micelles and determine the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of surfactants. The temperature-dependent micellization of the pharmaceutically important PEO-PPO-PEO copolymer, Pluronic F127, was further studied by using the TPE fluorescence spectrum intensity.

Biocompatible micelles based on comb-like PEG derivates: formation, characterization, and photo-responsiveness.

A novel comb-like derivative CPEG-g-DNQ was prepared by incorporating light responsive 2-diazo-1,2-naphthoquinone (DNQ) groups into the structure of comb-like poly(ethylene glycol) (CPEG). DLS and TEM results showed that CPEG-g-DNQ self-assembled into spherical micelles with an average size of about 135 nm in water. Upon exposure to light, the micelles could be disrupted because of the conversion of hydrophobic DNQ to hydrophilic 3-indenecarboylic acid.

Energy transfer between Cr3+ and Ni2+ in transparent silicate glass ceramics containing Cr3+/Ni2+ co-doped ZnAl2O4 nanocrystals.

The emission intensity of Ni(2+) at 1200 nm in transparent ZnO-Al(2)O(3)-SiO2 glass ceramics containing ZnAl(2)O(4) nanocrystals is improved approximately 8 times by Cr(3+) codoping with 532 nm excitation. This enhanced emission could be attributed to an efficient energy transfer from Cr(3+) to Ni(2+), which is confirmed by time-resolved emission spectra. The energy transfer efficiency is estimated to be 57% and the energy transfer mechanism is also discussed.

Enhanced broadband near-infrared luminescence from transparent Yb3+/Ni2+ codoped silicate glass ceramics.

The near-infrared emission intensity of Ni(2+) in Yb(3+)/Ni(2+) codoped transparent MgO-Al(2)O(3)-Ga(2)O(3)-SiO(2)-TiO(2) glass ceramics could be enhanced up to 4.4 times via energy transfer from Yb(3+) to Ni(2+) in nanocrystals. The best Yb(2)O(3) concentration was about 1.

Three-photon-excited upconversion luminescence of Ce(3+): YAP crystal by femtosecond laser irradiation.

Infrared to ultraviolet and visible upconversion luminescence was demonstrated in trivalent cerium doped YAlO(3) crystal (Ce(3+): YAP) under focused infrared femtosecond laser irradiation. The fluorescence spectra show that the upconverted luminescence comes from the 5d-4f transitions of trivalent cerium ions. The dependence of luminescence intensity of trivalent cerium on infrared pumping power reveals that the conversion of infrared radiation is dominated by three-photon excitation process.

Superbroadband 1310 nm emission from bismuth and tantalum codoped germanium oxide glasses.

Near-infrared broadband emission from bismuth-tantalum-codoped germanium oxide glasses was observed at room temperature when the glasses were pumped by an 808 nm laser diode. The emission band covered the O, E, S, C, and L bands (1260-1625 nm), with a maximum peak at approximately 1310 nm, a FWHM broader than 400 nm, and a lifetime longer than 200 micros. The observed broadband luminescence was attributed to bismuth clusters in the glasses.

Broadband infrared luminescence from Li2O-Al2O3-ZnO-SiO2 glasses doped with Bi2O3.

The broadband emission in the 1.2~1.6mum region from Li2O-Al2O3-ZnO-SiO2 ( LAZS ) glass codoped with 0.

Optical transfer of periodic microstructures by interfering femtosecond laser beams.

We report on an optical interference method for transferring periodic microstructures of metal film from a supporting substrate to a receiving substrate by means of five-beam interference of femtosecond laser pulses. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy revealed microstructures with micrometer-order were transferred to the receiving substrate. In the meanwhile, a negative copy of the transferred structures was induced in the metal film on the supporting substrate.

Direct writing computer-generated holograms on metal film by an infrared femtosecond laser.

Writing computer-generated holograms have been achieved by using a near infrared femtosecond laser selective ablation of metal film deposited on glass substrate. The diffraction features with data reconstruction of the fabricated computer-generated holograms were evaluated. Both transmission and reflection holograms can be fabricated in a single process.

Infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped barium-aluminum-borate glasses.

We report near infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped barium-aluminum-borate glasses. The broadband emission covers 1.3microm window in optical telecommunication systems.

Near infrared broadband emission of bismuth-doped aluminophosphate glass.

Near infrared broadband emission characteristics of bismuth-doped aluminophosphate glass have been investigated. Broad infrared emissions peaking at 1210nm, 1173nm and 1300nm were observed when the glass was pumped by 405nm laser diode (LD), 514nm Ar+ laser and 808nm LD, respectively. The full widths at half maximum (FWHMs) are 235nm, 207nm and 300nm for the emissions at 1210nm, 1173nm and 1300nm, respectively.

Rare-earth-doped silica microchip laser fabricated by sintering nanoporous glass.

We report a new method for fabricating rare-earth-doped silica glasses for laser materials obtained by sintering nanoporous silica glasses impregnated with rare-earth-doped ions. The fabricated materials have no residual pores and show good optical and mechanical properties. Good performance from a Nd3+ -doped silica microchip laser operating at 1.

One-off writing of multimicrogratings on glass by two interfered femtosecond laser pulses.

Multimicrogratings are one-off written on silicate glass by two interfered femtosecond pulsed laser beams with the aid of a mask. The period and depth of the multimicrogratings are revealed by optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The depth is dependent on both the colliding angle between the two interfered laser beams and the laser pulse energy, but the period relies on the colliding angle only.

Bismuth- and aluminum-codoped germanium oxide glasses for super-broadband optical amplification.

Broadband infrared luminescence from bismuth-doped germanium oxide glasses prepared by a conventional melting-quenching technique was discovered. The absorption spectrum of the glasses covered a wide range from the visible to the near-infrared wavelength regions and consisted of five broad peaks below 370, 500, 700, 800, and 1000 nm. The fluorescence spectrum exhibited broadband characteristics (FWHM) greater than 300 nm with a maximum at 1300 nm pumped by an 808-nm laser.

Controllable precipitation and dissolution of silver nanoparticles in ultrafast laser pulses irradiated Ag+-doped phosphate glass.

We report a controllable process of recipitation and dissolution of silver nanoparticles in ultrashort laser pulses irradiated Ag+-doped phosphate glass. Absorption spectra, transmission electron microscopy and refractive index measurement revealed that metallic silver nanoparticles were precipitated in the glass sample after irradiation by an 800-nm femtosecond laser and subsequent annealing at 300 degrees C, and dissolved after further annealing at 450 degrees C. We discuss a mechanism that combines the formation and decoloration of color centers, precipitation and dissolution of silver nanoparticles.

Fabrication of internal diffraction gratings in calcium fluoride crystals by a focused femtosecond laser.

We report the fabrication of internal diffraction gratings in calcium fluoride crystals by a focused near-IR 800 nm femtosecond laser. The diffraction efficiency and refractive index change were evaluated after femtosecond laser irradiation and subsequent annealing. The maximum refractive index change was estimated to be 3.

Optical properties of structurally modified glasses doped with gold ions.

We report on the optical properties of a structurally modified silicate glass doped with Au ions. The area in the vicinity of the focal point of an 800-nm femtosecond laser in a glass sample became gray as a result of the formation of color centers after laser irradiation and turned red because of precipitation of Au nanoparticles after further annealing at 550 degrees C for 30 min. When the glass was excited by UV light at 365 nm, yellowish-white and orange-yellow emissions were observed in the laser-irradiated and the Au-nanoparticle-precipitated area, respectively.