The selective growth inhibition of oral cancer by iron core-gold shell nanoparticles through mitochondria-mediated autophagy.

Nanoparticles with an iron core and gold shell (denoted "Fe@AuÓ") have been reported to limit cancer-cell proliferation and therefore have been proposed as a potential anti-cancer agent. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. In this study, we used flow cytometry, confocal fluorescence microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to analyse the morphological and functional alterations of mitochondria in cancerous cells and healthy cells when treated with Fe@Au.

Cancer-cell-specific cytotoxicity of non-oxidized iron elements in iron core-gold shell NPs.

Unlabelled: Gold-coated iron nanoparticles (NPs) selectively and significantly (P <0.0001) inhibit proliferation of oral- and colorectal-cancer cells in vitro at doses as low as 5 μg/mL, but have little adverse effect on normal healthy control cells. The particle treatment caused delay in cell-cycle progression, especially in the S-phase.

Atom probe microscopy of self-assembled monolayers: preliminary results.

We have achieved three-dimensional imaging of decanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metal surfaces by atom probe tomography (APT). The present Letter provides preliminary results on Ni [001] and Au [111], shows the analytical potential of APT analysis of SAMs, and details developments in specimen preparation and in data-treatment methodologies. Importantly, the investigation of the mass spectra from analysis of the SAMs revealed no combination of sulfur and hydrogen at the interface between the metal substrates and the organic materials, potentially providing insight about the bonding of the thiols on the substrate.

Carbon nanomaterials in biosensors: should you use nanotubes or graphene?

From diagnosis of life-threatening diseases to detection of biological agents in warfare or terrorist attacks, biosensors are becoming a critical part of modern life. Many recent biosensors have incorporated carbon nanotubes as sensing elements, while a growing body of work has begun to do the same with the emergent nanomaterial graphene, which is effectively an unrolled nanotube. With this widespread use of carbon nanomaterials in biosensors, it is timely to assess how this trend is contributing to the science and applications of biosensors.

Toward ubiquitous environmental gas sensors-capitalizing on the promise of graphene.

Atomically thin sheets of carbon known as "graphene" have captured the imagination of much of the scientific world during the past few years. Although these single sheets of graphite were under our noses for years-within technologies ranging from the humble pencil, which has been around since at least 1565 (Petroski, H. The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance; Alfred A.

Three-dimensional electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells: synthesis of indium-tin-oxide nanowire arrays and ITO/TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays by electrophoretic deposition.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) show promise as a cheaper alternative to silicon-based photovoltaics for specialized applications, provided conversion efficiency can be maximized and production costs minimized. This study demonstrates that arrays of nanowires can be formed by wet-chemical methods for use as three-dimensional (3D) electrodes in DSSCs, thereby improving photoelectric conversion efficiency. Two approaches were employed to create the arrays of ITO (indium-tin-oxide) nanowires or arrays of ITO/TiO(2) core-shell nanowires; both methods were based on electrophoretic deposition (EPD) within a polycarbonate template.

Ceramic membranes for separation of proteins and DNA through in situ growth of alumina nanofibres inside porous substrates.

Ceramic membranes were fabricated by in situ synthesis of alumina nanofibres in the pores of an alumina support as a separation layer, and exhibited a high permeation selectivity for bovine serum albumin relative to bovine hemoglobin (over 60 times) and can effectively retain DNA molecules at high fluxes.

High-flux ceramic membranes with a nanomesh of metal oxide nanofibers.

Traditional ceramic separation membranes, which are fabricated by applying colloidal suspensions of metal hydroxides to porous supports, tend to suffer from pinholes and cracks that seriously affect their quality. Other intrinsic problems for these membranes include dramatic losses of flux when the pore sizes are reduced to enhance selectivity and dead-end pores that make no contribution to filtration. In this work, we propose a new strategy for addressing these problems by constructing a hierarchically structured separation layer on a porous substrate using large titanate nanofibers and smaller boehmite nanofibers.