A hydrofluoric acid-free method to dissolve and quantify silica nanoparticles in aqueous and solid matrices.

As the commercial use of synthetic amorphous silica nanomaterials (SiO-NPs) increases, their effects on the environment and human health have still not been explored in detail. An often-insurmountable obstacle for SiO-NP fate and hazard research is the challenging analytics of solid particulate silica species, which involves toxic and corrosive hydrofluoric acid (HF). We therefore developed and validated a set of simple hydrofluoric acid-free sample preparation methods for the quantification of amorphous SiO micro- and nanoparticles.

Polymer-Coated Gold Nanospheres Do Not Impair the Innate Immune Function of Human B Lymphocytes in Vitro.

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are intended for use within a variety of biomedical applications due to their physicochemical properties. Although, in general, biocompatibility of GNPs with immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells is well established, the impact of GNPs on B lymphocyte immune function remains to be determined. Since B lymphocytes play an important role in health and disease, the suitability of GNPs as a B cell-targeting tool is of high relevance.

Advanced multiresponsive comploids: from design to possible applications.

We extend the commonly used synthesis strategies for responsive microgels to the design of novel multiresponsive and multifunctional nanoparticles that combine inorganic magnetic, metallic/catalytic and thermoresponsive organic moieties. Magnetic responsiveness is implemented through the integration of silica-coated maghemite nanoparticles into fluorescently labeled crosslinked poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide) microgels. These particles are then employed as templates for the in situ reduction of catalytically active gold nanoparticles.