Importance of the surface chemistry of nanoparticles on peroxidase-like activity.

We report the studies on origin of peroxidase-like activity for gold nanoparticles, as well as the impact from morphology and surface charge of nanoparticles. For this purpose, we have synthesized hollow gold nanospheres (HAuNS) and gold nanorods (AuNR) with different morphology and surface chemistry to investigate their influence on the catalytic activity. We found that citrate-capped HAuNS show catalyzing efficiency in oxidation reaction of 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by hydrogen peroxide (HO) and it is superior to that of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-capped AuNR.

Biodistribution of biodegradable polymeric nano-carriers loaded with busulphan and designed for multimodal imaging.

Background: Multifunctional nanocarriers for controlled drug delivery, imaging of disease development and follow-up of treatment efficacy are promising novel tools for disease diagnosis and treatment. In the current investigation, we present a multifunctional theranostic nanocarrier system for anticancer drug delivery and molecular imaging. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as an MRI contrast agent and busulphan as a model for lipophilic antineoplastic drugs were encapsulated into poly (ethylene glycol)-co-poly (caprolactone) (PEG-PCL) micelles via the emulsion-evaporation method, and PEG-PCL was labelled with VivoTag 680XL fluorochrome for in vivo fluorescence imaging.

Development and biodistribution of a theranostic aluminum phthalocyanine nanophotosensitizer.

Background: Aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPc) is an efficient second generation photosensitizer (PS) with high fluorescence ability. Its use in photodynamic therapy (PDT) is hampered by hydrophobicity and poor biodistribution.

Methods: AlPc was converted to a biocompatible nanostructure by incorporation into amphiphilic polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (PECL) copolymer nanoparticles, allowing efficient entrapment of the PS in the hydrophobic core, water dispersibility and biodistribution enhancement by PEG-induced surface characteristics.

Biodegradable polymeric vesicles containing magnetic nanoparticles, quantum dots and anticancer drugs for drug delivery and imaging.

We have developed biodegradable polymeric vesicles as a nanocarrier system for multimodal bio-imaging and anticancer drug delivery. The poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) vesicles were fabricated by encapsulating inorganic imaging agents of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), manganese-doped zinc sulfide (Mn:ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) and the anticancer drug busulfan into PLGA nanoparticles via an emulsion-evaporation method. T2∗-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of PLGA-SPION-Mn:ZnS phantoms exhibited enhanced negative contrast with r2∗ relaxivity of approximately 523 s(-1) mM(-1) Fe.

Antibiotic-free nanotherapeutics: hypericin nanoparticles thereof for improved in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and wound healing.

Hypericin (HY) is a naturally-occurring, potent photosensitizer. However, its lipophilicity limits its therapeutic applications. Our attempt is, thus, to develop a biodegradable nanocarrier for hypericin capable of preserving its antibacterial photoactivity.