Anthropogenic Carbon Nanotubes Found in the Airways of Parisian Children.

Compelling evidence shows that fine particulate matters (PMs) from air pollution penetrate lower airways and are associated with adverse health effects even within concentrations below those recommended by the WHO. A paper reported a dose-dependent link between carbon content in alveolar macrophages (assessed only by optical microscopy) and the decline in lung function. However, to the best of our knowledge, PM had never been accurately characterized inside human lung cells and the most responsible components of the particulate mix are still unknown.

Preclinical evaluation of Raman nanoparticle biodistribution for their potential use in clinical endoscopy imaging.

Raman imaging offers unsurpassed sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities. However, its limited depth of light penetration makes direct clinical translation challenging. Therefore, a more suitable way to harness its attributes in a clinical setting would be to couple Raman spectroscopy with endoscopy.

In vivo behavior of large doses of ultrashort and full-length single-walled carbon nanotubes after oral and intraperitoneal administration to Swiss mice.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) materials are of special interest as potential tools for biomedical applications. However, available toxicological data concerning single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) remain contradictory. Here, we compared the effects of SWNTs as a function of dose, length, and surface chemistry in Swiss mice.

Serine-derivatized gadonanotubes as magnetic nanoprobes for intracellular labeling.

Gadonanotubes (GNTs), which are powerful new T(1)-weighted MRI contrast agents, were derivatized with serine amino acid substituents to produce water-soluble (2 mg ml(-1)) ser-gadonanotubes (ser-GNs) as magnetic nanoprobes for intracellular labeling. The ser-GNTs were used to efficiently label MCF-7 human breast cancer cells (1.5 x 10(9) Gd(3+) ions/cell) with no observable cytotoxicity.

Catalytic synthesis of amino acid and peptide derivatized gadonanotubes.

A new Rh(6)(CO)(16)-catalyzed functionalization of gadonanotube MRI probes offers the opportunity to prepare a number of amino acid and peptide derivatized gadonanotubes under RT conditions, containing, for example, the cyclic RGD peptide for the biological targeting of cancer.

TiO2 nanoparticles as a soft X-ray molecular probe.

This communication reports the development of a TiO2-streptavidin nanoconjugate as a new biological label for X-ray bio-imaging applications; this new probe, used in conjunction with the nanogold probe, will make it possible to obtain quantitative, high-resolution information about the location of proteins using X-ray microscopy.

Detecting and treating cancer with nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology offers many opportunities for enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic medicine against cancer and other diseases. In this review, the special properties that result from the nanoscale size of quantum dots, metal colloids, superparamagnetic iron oxide, and carbon-based nanostructures are reviewed and interpreted against a background of the structural and electronic detail that gives rise to their nanotechnologic behavior. The detection and treatment of cancer is emphasized, with special attention paid to the biologic targeting of the disease.

Carbon nanostructures as a new high-performance platform for MR molecular imaging.

Over the last several years, great interest has developed in the potential use of carbon nanostructures (C60 fullerenes and nanotubes) in medicine. In some cases, medical agents derived from these materials have demonstrated greater efficacy than existing clinical agents in many imaging and therapeutic applications. This chapter provides an overall review of the application of these materials in the area of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with an emphasis on their future applications in targeted MR molecular imaging for the early detection of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Gadonanotubes as ultrasensitive pH-smart probes for magnetic resonance imaging.

With their nanoscalar, superparamagnetic Gd(3+)-ion clusters (1 x 5 nm) confined within ultrashort (20-80 nm) single-walled carbon nanotube capsules, gadonanotubes are high-performance T1-weighted contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At 1.5 T, 37 degrees C, and pH 6.

Preparation of I2@SWNTs: synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of I2-loaded SWNTs.

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) along with inductively coupled plasma analysis (ICP-AE) and Raman spectroscopy have been used to define the location and to quantify the amount of iodine in HiPco SWNT samples loaded with molecular I(2) via sublimation (I(2)-SWNTs). The exterior-adsorbed I(2) can be removed (as I(-)) by reducing the sample of filled nanotubes with Na(0)/THF or by heating the I(2)-SWNTs to 300 degrees C (without reduction), leaving I(2) contained only within the interior of the SWNTs (I(2)@SWNTs) as proven by XPS. These I(2)@SWNTs contain approximately 25 wt % of I(2) and are stable without the loss of I(2) even after exposure to additional reduction with Na(0)/THF or upon heating to ca.

Fullerene (C60) immunoconjugates: interaction of water-soluble C60 derivatives with the murine anti-gp240 melanoma antibody.

The first fullerene (C60) immunoconjugates have been prepared and characterized as an initial step toward the development of fullerene immunotherapy (FIT).