The surface modification of the silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles and their application in molecular diagnostics of virus infection.

The study presents a series of examples of magnetic nanoparticle systems designed for the diagnosis of viral diseases. In this interdisciplinary work, we describe one of the most comprehensive synthetic approaches for the preparation and functionalization of smart nanoparticle systems for rapid and effective RT-PCR diagnostics and isolation of viral RNA. Twelve different organic ligands and inorganic porous silica were used for surface functionalization of the FeO magnetic core to increase the number of active centres for efficient RNA binding from human swab samples.

Platinum Nanoparticles Immobilized on Electrospun Membranes for Catalytic Oxidation of Volatile Organic Compounds.

Structured catalytic membranes with high porosity and a low pressure drop are particularly suitable for industrial processes carried out at high space velocities. One of these processes is the catalytic total oxidation of volatile organic compounds, which is an economically feasible and environmentally friendly way of emission abatement. Noble metal catalysts are typically preferred due to high activity and stability.

Multimodal Contrast Agent Enabling pH Sensing Based on Organically Functionalized Gold Nanoshells with Mn-Zn Ferrite Cores.

Highly complex nanoparticles combining multimodal imaging with the sensing of physical properties in biological systems can considerably enhance biomedical research, but reports demonstrating the performance of a single nanosized probe in several imaging modalities and its sensing potential at the same time are rather scarce. Gold nanoshells with magnetic cores and complex organic functionalization may offer an efficient multimodal platform for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), photoacoustic imaging (PAI), and fluorescence techniques combined with pH sensing by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In the present study, the synthesis of gold nanoshells with Mn-Zn ferrite cores is described, and their structure, composition, and fundamental properties are analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, magnetic measurements, and UV-Vis spectroscopy.

The Key Role of Tin (Sn) in Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TiSnC (MAX) Thin Nanocrystalline Films and Powdered Polycrystalline Samples.

Layered ternary TiSnC carbides have attracted significant attention because of their advantage as a M2AX phase to bridge the gap between properties of metals and ceramics. In this study, TiSnC materials were synthesized by two different methods-an unconventional low-energy ion facility (LEIF) based on Ar ion beam sputtering of the Ti, Sn, and C targets and sintering of a compressed mixture consisting of Ti, Sn, and C elemental powders up to 1250 °C. The TiSnC nanocrystalline thin films obtained by LEIF were irradiated by Ar ions with an energy of 30 keV to the fluence of 1.

Chemical vapor deposition of germanium-rich CrGe nanowires.

Chemical vapor deposition was applied to synthetize nanostructured deposits containing several sorts of nanoobjects (i.e., nanoballs, irregular particles, and nanowires).