Efficient tailoring of platinum nanoparticles supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes for cancer therapy.

Therapeutically targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), which play a role in tumor initiation and relapse, remains challenging. Novel-formulated platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) supported on polybenzimidazole (PBI)-functionalized polymers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were prepared and their effect on CSCs was evaluated. Pt-NPs showed homogenous distribution on the surface of MWCNT/PBI composites, with very narrow particle size.

Synthesis of a New Nitrate-Fertilizer Form with a Controlled Release Behavior via an Incorporation Technique into a Clay Material.

The current study shows an advanced synesthetic technique of a nitrate-fertilizer with a controlled release behavior into different soils (normal and acidic agriculture soils solutions) at different climate temperatures. The environmentally friendly and the biocompatible layered double hydroxide (LDH) clay material was used as a host to accommodate the nitrate anion into its interlayer gallery by applying a reconstruction-incorporation technique (the memory effect property of LDH that allows calcined LDH to memorize its original structure). The prepared materials were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques including; X-ray powder spectroscopy, IR, SEM, TEM, and TGA analyses.

Tailoring of a Potential Nanoformulated Form of Gibberellic Acid: Synthesis, Characterization, and Field Applications on Vegetation and Flowering.

Nanoformulation of agrochemicals has become a potential choice to improve the physicochemical properties, enhance the utilization efficiency, and reduce the side effects and ecotoxicity of many hazardous chemicals. Here, we tailored a new formulation platform for gibberellic acid (GA) using the layered double hydroxides (LDH) as a potential carrier. Typically, we synthesized, characterized, and potentially applied the newly nanoformulated form of GA on the quantity and quality properties of Dendranthema grandiflorum cultivar.

A highly durable fuel cell electrocatalyst based on double-polymer-coated carbon nanotubes.

Driven by the demand for the commercialization of fuel cell (FC) technology, we describe the design and fabrication of a highly durable FC electrocatalyst based on double-polymer-coated carbon nanotubes for use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The fabricated electrocatalyst is composed of Pt-deposited polybenzimidazole-coated carbon nanotubes, which are further coated with Nafion. By using this electrocatalyst, a high FC performance with a power density of 375 mW/cm(2) (at 70 ˚C, 50% relative humidity using air (cathode)/H2(anode)) was obtained, and a remarkable durability of 500,000 accelerated potential cycles was recorded with only a 5% loss of the initial FC potential and 20% loss of the maximum power density, which were far superior properties compared to those of the membrane electrode assembly prepared using carbon black in place of the carbon nanotubes.

Enhancement of platinum mass activity on the surface of polymer-wrapped carbon nanotube-based fuel cell electrocatalysts.

Cost reduction and improved durability are the two major targets for accelerating the commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs). To achieve these goals, the development of a novel method to fabricate platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts with a high mass activity, deposited on durable conductive support materials, is necessary. In this study, we describe a facile approach to grow homogeneously dispersed Pt nanoparticles (Pt) with a narrow diameter distribution in a highly controllable fashion on polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

Target delivery and controlled release of the chemopreventive drug sulindac by using an advanced layered double hydroxide nanomatrix formulation system.

Target delivery and controlled release of the chemopreventive drug sulindac that possesses low water solubility present a great challenge for its pharmaceutical industry. Here, we offered an advanced nanomatrix formulation system of sulindac based on layered double hydroxide materials. The X-ray analysis and infrared spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of sulindac into the gallery of the layered double hydroxides.

Design of a multifunctional nanohybrid system of the phytohormone gibberellic acid using an inorganic layered double-hydroxide material.

To offer a multifunctional and applicable system of the high-value biotechnological phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA), a nanohybrid system of GA using the inorganic Mg-Al layered double-hydroxide material (LDH) was formulated. The ion-exchange technique of LDH was applied to synthesize the GA-LDH hybrid. The hybrid structure of GA-LDH was confirmed by different spectroscopic techniques.

Nanocomposite formulation system of lipid-regulating drugs based on layered double hydroxide: synthesis, characterization and drug release properties.

Purpose: To design a nanocomposite formulation system of lipid-regulating drugs with versatile approaches using layered double hydroxide (LDH) material.

Methods: The co-precipitation technique has been used to prepare the selected drugs [bezafibrate (BZF) and clofibric acid (CF)]-LDH nanocomposites. The nanocomposite materials (BZF-LDH and CF-LDH) were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

Unusually large hysteresis of temperature-responsive poly(N-ethyl-2-propionamidoacrylamide) studied by microcalorimetry and FT-IR.

We reported here the full characterization of the hysteresis of the phase transition behavior of an aqueous solution of poly(N-ethyl-2-propionamidoacrylamide) (PNEPA), which has a unique alpha,alpha-disubstituted structure, by using microcalorimetry and FT-IR. Phase transition temperatures near the thermodynamic equilibrium were determined by extrapolating the scanning rate of the microcalorimetry to zero. The calculated hysteresis from the phase transition temperature was unusually very large (approximately 8 degrees C).