Transparent infrared-emitting CeF3:Yb-Er polymer nanocomposites for optical applications.

Bright infrared-emitting nanocomposites of unmodified CeF(3):Yb-Er with polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS), which offer a vast range of potential applications, which include optical amplifiers, waveguides, laser materials, and implantable medical devices, were developed. For the optical application of these nanocomposites, it is critical to obtain highly transparent composites to minimize absorption and scattering losses. Preparation of transparent composites typically requires powder processing approaches that include sophisticated particle size control, deagglomeration, and dispersion stabilization methods leading to an increase in process complexity and processing steps.

Protection from radiation-induced pneumonitis using cerium oxide nanoparticles.

In an effort to combat the harmful effects of radiation exposure, we propose that rare-earth cerium oxide (CeO(2)) nanoparticles (free-radical scavengers) protect normal tissue from radiation-induced damage. Preliminary studies suggest that these nanoparticles may be a therapeutic regenerative nanomedicine that will scavenge reactive oxygen species, which are responsible for radiation-induced cell damage. The effectiveness of CeO(2) nanoparticles in radiation protection in murine models during high-dose radiation exposure is investigated, with the ultimate goal of offering a new approach to radiation protection, using nanotechnology.

Rare earth nanoparticles prevent retinal degeneration induced by intracellular peroxides.

Photoreceptor cells are incessantly bombarded with photons of light, which, along with the cells' high rate of oxygen metabolism, continuously exposes them to elevated levels of toxic reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs). Vacancy-engineered mixed-valence-state cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria particles) scavenge ROIs. Our data show that nanoceria particles prevent increases in the intracellular concentrations of ROIs in primary cell cultures of rat retina and, in vivo, prevent loss of vision due to light-induced degeneration of photoreceptor cells.

Protein adsorption and cellular uptake of cerium oxide nanoparticles as a function of zeta potential.

The surface chemistry of biomaterials can have a significant impact on their performance in biological applications. Our recent work suggests that cerium oxide nanoparticles are potent antioxidants in cell culture models and we have evaluated several therapeutic applications of these nanoparticles in different biological systems. Knowledge of protein adsorption and cellular uptake will be very useful in improving the beneficial effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles in biology.

Superoxide dismutase mimetic properties exhibited by vacancy engineered ceria nanoparticles.

In this report ceria nanoparticles are shown to act as catalysts that mimic superoxide dismutase (SOD) with the catalytic rate constant exceeding that determined for the enzyme SOD.

Auto-catalytic ceria nanoparticles offer neuroprotection to adult rat spinal cord neurons.

This paper describes the evaluation of the auto-catalytic anti-oxidant behavior and biocompatibility of cerium oxide nanoparticles for applications in spinal cord repair and other diseases of the central nervous system. The application of a single dose of nano-ceria at a nano-molar concentration is biocompatible, regenerative and provides a significant neuroprotective effect on adult rat spinal cord neurons. Retention of neuronal function is demonstrated from electrophysiological recordings and the possibility of its application to prevent ischemic insult is suggested from an oxidative injury assay.

Spontaneous self-assembly of cerium oxide nanoparticles to nanorods through supraaggregate formation.

Self-assembly of cerium oxide nanoparticles to nanorods is reported. Such nanorods have an aspect ratio of 6 with a diameter of approximately 40 nm. The formation of cylindrical supraaggregates and their subsequent growth by preferential assembling of ceria nanocrystallites along the longitudinal direction was proposed to be the probable mechanism of spontaneous self-assembly of nanorods.

Solution-based chemical synthesis of boehmite nanofibers and alumina nanorods.

This article reports an easy chemical method of synthesizing boehmite nanofibers by a modified sol-gel process involving aluminum isopropoxide precursor. Nanorods of gamma-alumina have been successfully prepared after dehydration of the viscous sol at 600 degrees C for 4 h in air. The boehmite nanofibers and gamma-alumina nanorods were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for surface chemistry and functional groups, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction, and energy-dispersed spectroscopy for morphology and structure identification.

Vacancy engineered ceria nanostructures for protection from radiation-induced cellular damage.

The ability of engineered cerium oxide nanoparticles to confer radioprotection was examined. Human normal and tumor cells were treated with nanoceria and irradiated, and cell survival was measured. Treatment of normal cells conferred almost 99% protection from radiation-induced cell death, whereas the same concentration showed almost no protection of tumor cells.