Elaboration of Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles by Microwave-Assisted Co-Precipitation: A New One-Step Method in Water.

Iron oxide nanoparticles are extensively utilized in various fields, particularly in biomedical applications. For such uses, nanoparticles must meet specific criteria, including precise size, morphology, physico-chemical properties, stability, and biocompatibility. Microwave-assisted co-precipitation offers an efficient method for producing water-soluble nanoparticles.

Gold@Prussian blue analogue core-shell nanoheterostructures: their optical and magnetic properties.

Au@Prussian-Blue Analogue (PBA) shell nanoheterostructures are multifunctional nano-objects combining optical properties (surface plasmon resonance) of the Au core and magnetic properties of the PBA shell. We report in this article a series of new Au core@PBA shell nano-objects with different PBA shells: Au@K/Co/[FeII(CN)6] (2) and Au@K/Ni/[CrIII(CN)6]:[FeII(CN)6] (3) single PBA shell, as well as Au@K/Ni/[FeII(CN)6]@K/Ni/[FeIII(CN)6] (4) double PBA shell and Au@K/Ni/[FeII(CN)6]@K/Ni/[FeIII(CN)6]@K/Ni/[CrIII(CN)6] (5) triple PBA shell systems. The position and intensity of the Au SPR band, as well as the magnetic behaviour of the nanoheterostructures, are strongly affected by the shell composition and its thickness.

Reactive nano-patterns in triple structured bio-inspired honeycomb films as a clickable platform.

A hierarchically structured platform was obtained from directed self-assembly of a poly(styrene)-b-poly(4-vinylbenzylchloride) (PS-b-PVBC) block copolymer (BCP) during breath figure (BF) templating. The BF process using a water/ethanol atmosphere gave a unique double porosity in which hexagonally arranged micron-sized pores were encircled by a secondary population of smaller, nano-sized pores. A third level of structuration was simultaneously introduced between the pores by BCP self-assembly to form out-of-the-plane nano-cylinders, offering a film with an unprecedented triple structure, which could be used as a reactive platform.

Design and Cellular Fate of Bioinspired Au-Ag Nanoshells@Hybrid Silica Nanoparticles.

Silica-coated gold-silver alloy nanoshells were obtained via a bioinspired approach using gelatin and poly-l-lysine (PLL) as biotemplates for the interfacial condensation of sodium silicate solutions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used as an efficient tool for the in-depth and complete characterization of the chemical features of nanoparticles during the whole synthetic process. Cytotoxicity assays using HaCaT cells evidenced the detrimental effect of the gelatin nanocoating and significant induction of late apoptosis after silicification.

Formulation and evaluation of cefuroxim loaded submicron particles for ophthalmic delivery.

Chitosan gelatin particles could be the ideal candidate for intraocular drug delivery due to their desirable properties. Double crosslinking in double emulsion has been used as an original and reliable method for particles preparation and their morphology has been optimized considering the main synthesis parameters such as polymers ratio, crosslinker amount, stirring speed, tensioactive amount and ionic crosslinking time, respectively. The particles have been analyzed for their physical-chemical properties (swelling degree, drug loading and release capacity, surface characteristics, etc.

Biosorption of chromium by alginate extraction products from Sargassum filipendula: investigation of adsorption mechanisms using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis.

The alginate extraction products from Brazilian brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula were studied for chromium biosorption. Batch experiments were conducted at pH 2 and 3 and 20°C to determine the sorption capacity of this biosorbents for chromium (VI) and (III). The biomass was characterized before and after metal binding by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in order to determine the mechanisms of chromium biosorption.

Intercalation and grafting of benzene derivatives into zinc-aluminum and copper-chromium layered double hydroxide hosts: an XPS monitoring study.

We report an original strategy to describe, via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, the interactions between the organic and the mineral sub-systems within a multifunctional hybrid material. A tunable layered double hydroxide (LDH) host system, either a Zn(2)Al- or Cu(2)Cr-hydrotalcite like compound, is modified with the insertion of the organic guest entities, 4-phenol-sulfonate (HBS) or -carboxylate (HBC). The resulting interactions are studied at two levels: after the organic molecules' insertion in the host LDH (ionic exchange between the LDH counter-ions and the organic anions) and after the condensation (grafting) of the organic species onto the mineral layers when thermally treated.

Generation of a mesoporous silica MSU shell onto solid core silica nanoparticles using a simple two-step sol-gel process.

Silica core-shell nanoparticles with a MSU shell have been synthesized using several non-ionic poly(ethylene oxide) based surfactants via a two step sol-gel method. The materials exhibit a typical worm-hole pore structure and tunable pore diameters between 2.4 nm and 5.