Enhanced in vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Tumors by PEGylated Iron-Oxide-Gold Core-Shell Nanoparticles with Prolonged Blood Circulation Properties.

High-density poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coated iron-oxide-gold core-shell nanoparticles (AuIONs) were developed as T(2) -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for cancer imaging. The PEG-coated iron-oxide-gold core-shell nanoparticles (PEG-AuIONs) were approximately 25 nm in diameter with a narrow distribution. Biodistribution experiments in mice bearing a subcutaneous colon cancer model prepared with C26 murine colon adenocarcinoma cells showed high accumulation of the PEG-AuIONs within the tumor mass and low nonspecific accumulation in the liver and spleen, resulting in high specificity to solid tumors.

Retention of enzymatic activity of alpha-amylase in the reductive synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

In this paper, we report the generation of Au nanoparticles (NPs), using a pure enzyme for the reduction of AuCl4(-), with the retention of enzymatic activity in the complex. As a model system, alpha-amylase was used to readily synthesize and stabilize Au NPs in aqueous solution. Although several other enzymes were also pursued for the synthesis, it was interesting to observe that only alpha-amylase and EcoRI could produce Au NPs.

Reversible encapsulation of nanometer-size polyaniline and polyaniline-Au-nanoparticle composite in starch.

In this paper we report a new method of solubilization of polyaniline and polyaniline-Au-nanoparticle composite by encapsulating nanometer-size particles in starch. The solubilization was carried out in the presence of ultrasonic waves. We also report that the encapsulation was completely reversible and the dissolved polyaniline as well as the composite could be recovered by replacement with molecular iodine.

Starch-mediated shape-selective synthesis of Au nanoparticles with tunable longitudinal plasmon resonance.

We report the synthesis ofAu nanoparticles, with tunable longitudinal plasmon band and shape selectivity, mediated by starch in the presence of ultrasonic waves. The synthesis was carried out by reduction of HAuCl4, at various concentrations, using H2O2 as the reducing agent. When the reactions were carried out in the absence of ultrasonic waves, there was no occurrence of the longitudinal resonance band, while the transverse plasmon resonance band shifted toward a higher wavelength.

Spreading and recoil of a surfactant-containing water drop on glass-supported alcohol films.

In this paper we report the experimental observation of spreading and recoil of surfactant-containing water drops on various alcohol films supported on glass slides. The time evolution of spreading and recoil behavior was recorded by placing a web camera above the drop. We observed that the drop spread the fastest on CH3OH, followed by C2H5OH, and the slowest on i-PrOH.

Au nanoparticles and polyaniline coated resin beads for simultaneous catalytic oxidation of glucose and colorimetric detection of the product.

In this letter, we report the synthesis of Au nanoparticles (NPs) and polyaniline (PANI) on the same cation-exchange resin beads and demonstrate their use in catalyzing the oxidation of glucose to gluconic acid by Au NPs and simultaneously in detecting the formation of the acid by the color change of PANI. The synthesis was carried out by exchanging the cations of the resins with HAuCl4 and anilinuium chloride and then reducing the metal ions by NaBH4 to produce Au NPs followed by polymerization of aniline using H2O2. The green emeraldine salt form of PANI thus obtained was treated with NaOH to be converted to blue emeraldine base before use.

A polyaniline-containing filter paper that acts as a sensor, acid, base, and endpoint indicator and also filters acids and bases.

In this paper we report a new idea for synthesizing polyaniline in an ordinary filter paper. The synthesis was carried out by a process in which aqueous acidic aniline solution and the oxidizing agent H(2)O(2) was added to the paper drop by drop and in sequence. Uniform polymerization could be obtained with the addition of reagents in either sequence.

Synthesis of Au nanoparticle-conductive polyaniline composite using H2O2 as oxidising as well as reducing agent.

We report a new method of synthesis of an Au nanoparticle-conductive polyaniline composite by using H2O2 both for reduction of HAuCl4 and polymerization of aniline in the same aqueous medium: the electrical conductivity of the composite has been measured to be two orders of magnitude higher than the polymer itself.