3D Bioprinting with Visible Light Cross-Linkable Mucin-Hyaluronic Acid Composite Bioink for Lung Tissue Engineering.

3D printing can revolutionize personalized medicine by allowing cost-effective, customized tissue-engineering constructs. However, the limited availability and diversity of biopolymeric hydrogels restrict the variety and applications of bioinks. In this study, we introduce a composite bioink for 3D bioprinting, combining a photo-cross-linkable derivative of Mucin (Mu) called Methacrylated Mucin (MuMA) and Hyaluronic acid (HA).

Fabrication of ZnO Nanoparticle-Based FET Device for Label-Free Bacteria Detection.

This paper reports fabrication and characterization of ZnO nanoparticle based Field Effect Transistor (FET) device and its application for simple, rapid and label-free bacteria detection. [Formula: see text] FET devices were fabricated by standard UV lithography technique on Si wafers. The fabricated devices consisted of ZnO nanoparticles as channel material.

Integration of a Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug with Luminescent Copper for Cancer Therapy in a Mouse Model.

A facile, process of fabrication of a luminescent bovine serum albumin-copper nanocluster (BSA-CuNC) customized ibuprofen nanodrug (BSA-CuNC-Ibf), encapsulating the ibuprofen was developed. Ibuprofen, which is commonly used to treat inflammation, was utilized here as a model drug. The formation of BSA-CuNC initiated by encapsulation of the Cu ions within the protein moiety followed by gradual reduction of the Cu ions by certain amino acid residues like tyrosine and tryptophan at alkaline pH resulted in the formation of BSA-CuNC within the protein template.

Iron-Copper Bimetallic Nanocomposite Reinforced Dressing Materials for Infection Control and Healing of Diabetic Wound.

A multifunctional nanomaterial based wound healing matrix was fabricated by modified co-precipitation and chemical reduction method. The matrix was comprised of either a bimetallic Fe-Cu nanocomposite powder or a wound bed made up of absorbent cotton swab impregnated with bimetallic Fe-Cu nanocomposite. The detailed analytical studies of both dressing materials (powder and cotton bed) were carried out with transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and bright field microscopy.

Role of surface charge in enhancing antibacterial activity of fluorescent carbon dots.

Herein, different surface charged carbon dots (Cdots) were synthesized by using diethylene glycol as a carbon source with various amine containing surface passivating agents. The synthesis method is very simple and fast microwave oven-based, that results in almost similar sized positive, negative and uncharged fluorescent Cdots which has been confirmed by zeta potential analysis in our case. The formation of Cdots was confirmed by characterization using fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, XRD, FT-IR, and XPS spectroscopy.

Visible Light Excitation-Induced Luminescence from Gold Nanoclusters Following Surface Ligand Complexation with Zn for Daylight Sensing and Cellular Imaging.

Herein, we report a complexation reaction-mediated extended aggregation of gold nanoclusters exhibiting luminescence under visible light excitation. The complexation reaction between the carboxylate groups of mercaptopropionic acid and zinc ions induced the aggregation of gold nanoclusters, which featured bright green luminescence upon excitation with visible light of wavelength 450 nm and beyond. This luminescence of aggregated Au NCs, easily discernible with bare eyes (under broad daylight excitation), was used as a probe for luminescence-based detection of molecules based on the p K values of the latter.

Crystallization-Induced Emission Enhancement of Nanoclusters and One-Step Conversion of "Nanoclusters to Nanoparticles" as the Basis for Intracellular Logic Operations.

Herein, we report the construction of intracellular logic operations using luminescent histidine stabilized gold nanoclusters (His Au NCs). The luminescence intensity of His Au NCs was found to be significantly enhanced following interaction with zinc ions, owing to "Crystallization induced emission enhancement". Further, the luminescence intensity of His Au NCs was found to be effectively quenched in presence of sulphide ions, owing to transformation of emissive His Au NCs to non-emissive gold nanoparticles.

Solvent dependent synthesis of edge-controlled graphene quantum dots with high photoluminescence quantum yield and their application in confocal imaging of cancer cells.

We report on the synthesis of edge-controlled and highly fluorescent few-layer graphene quantum dots (GQDs) using different solvents and explore their application in the confocal imaging of cancer cells. TEM and AFM imaging analysis reveal that GQDs of sizes in the range 5-8 nm and few-layer (1-4) thickness were grown using DMF, DMSO, and water as solvents. Micro-Raman analysis reveals that GQDs grown with DMF possess primarily the armchair edges, while that grown with water contains primarily the zigzag edges.

Bimetallic Fe-Cu Nanocomposites on Sand Particles for the Inactivation of Clinical Isolates and Point-of-Use Water Filtration.

Bimetallic Fe-Cu nanocomposites with an average size of 26.4 ± 4.7 nm were prepared on the surface of fine sand particles by modified coprecipitation and the chemical reduction method and were applied as an in vitro broad spectrum antimicrobial agent and recyclable hand-held water filter to sieve bacteria and metals.

Polyethylene Glycol-Encapsulated Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Drug-Composite Nanoparticles for Combination Therapy with Artesunate.

Combination drug therapy has become an effective clinical practice for cancer treatment because of low cytotoxicity by the synergistic effect of each medicine. Luminescent Au nanoclusters (Au NCs) were formulated into spherical polyethylene glycol (PEG)-Au NC-encapsulated drug-sodium butyrate (NaB) composite nanoparticles (PEG-Au NC-NaB-NPs) in the presence of PEG and NaB. Their effect on cancer cells was investigated using bio imaging, unravelling the mechanism of the endocytosis pathway and combination therapeutic interventions with a plant-based antimalarial drug artesunate (ART).

In Situ Synthesis of Luminescent Au Nanoclusters on a Bacterial Template for Rapid Detection, Quantification, and Distinction of Kanamycin-Resistant Bacteria.

Herein, we introduce a new facile method of luminescent gold nanocluster (Au NC) synthesis on the surface of bacteria for detection, counting, and strain differentiation. The limit of detection was 740 ± 14 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL for the Gram-negative and was 634 ± 16 CFU/mL for the Gram-positive bacteria. Brief treatment with lysozyme could differentiate the Gram strains based on their luminescence intensities.

Probing Cancer Cells through Intracellular Aggregation-Induced Emission Kinetic Rate of Copper Nanoclusters.

pH-responsive luminescent copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics have been synthesized. Upon internalization into living cells, the NCs displayed a cellular pH environment-dependent luminescence change with orange-red emission at pH 4.5, whereas bright green emission was observed over time at pH 7.

Crystalline assembly of gold nanoclusters for mitochondria targeted cancer theranostics.

Herein, we report the formation of a crystalline assembly of gold (Au) nanoclusters for cancer theranostics via active targeting of mitochondria. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the target specific activity of an "assembly of gold nanoclusters". Au nanoclusters were stabilized with mercaptopropionic acid and l-tyrosine.

A New Bis(aquated) High Relaxivity Mn(II) Complex as an Alternative to Gd(III)-Based MRI Contrast Agent.

Disclosed here are a piperazine, a pyridine, and two carboxylate groups containing pentadentate ligand Hpmpa and its corresponding water-soluble Mn(II) complex (1). DFT-based structural optimization implied that the complex had pentagonal bipyramidal geometry where the axial positions were occupied by two water molecules, and the equatorial plane was constituted by the ligand ONO donor set. Thus, a bis(aquated) disc-like Mn(II) complex has been synthesized.

Transferrin-Copper Nanocluster-Doxorubicin Nanoparticles as Targeted Theranostic Cancer Nanodrug.

Transferrin (Tf)-templated luminescent blue copper nanoclusters (Tf-Cu NCs) are synthesized. They are further formulated into spherical Tf-Cu NC-doxorubicin nanoparticles (Tf-Cu NC-Dox NPs) based on electrostatic interaction with doxorubicin (Dox). The as-synthesized Tf-Cu NC-Dox NPs are explored for bioimaging and targeted drug delivery to delineate high therapeutic efficacy.

A highly stable l-alanine-based mono(aquated) Mn(ii) complex as a T-weighted MRI contrast agent.

The synthesized lithium (S)-6,6'-(1-carboxyethylazanediyl)bis(methylene)dipicolinate (Licbda) is a new chiral, alanine-based ligand bearing two picolinate functionalities. The trianionic form of the ligand [(cbda)] constitutes a seven-coordinate, water-soluble, pentagonal bipyramidal Mn(ii) complex (1). The structural analysis reveals the presence of a water coordinating site in the complex.

Silver Nanocluster Embedded Composite Nanoparticles for Targeted Prodrug Delivery in Cancer Theranostics.

Cancer therapy with theranostic nanoparticles having the dual properties of concurrent delivery of therapeutics and its tracking offers a huge prospect to overcome the limitations of conventional therapy. Delivery of the nontoxic prodrug, which converts into the toxic drug due to cellular stimuli, offers a great deal of scope in cancer therapy. The paracetamol dimer (PD) generally considered as nontoxic is encapsulated with fluorescent silver nanocluster (Ag NC) embedded composite nanoparticles where it acts as a prodrug.

Targeting Wnt Canonical Signaling by Recombinant sFRP1 Bound Luminescent Au-Nanocluster Embedded Nanoparticles in Cancer Theranostics.

Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) is a natural blocker of the Wnt signaling pathway in normal adult cells but is epigenetically silenced in cancer cells leading to aberrant proliferation. In this study, we have reported novel composite nanoparticles fabricated with gold nanocluster embedded chitosan and alginate, bound to bacterially expressed human recombinant sFRP1. The Wnt pathway, which is upregulated in cancer, has been specifically targeted with the nanoparticles to achieve an antiproliferative effect on cancer cells, as evident from reduced levels of downstream molecules, namely, β-catenin, cyclin D1, and survivin.

Functional characterization of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (hGMCSF) immobilized onto silica nanoparticles.

Objectives: Granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF), an important therapeutic cytokine, was immobilized onto silica nanoparticles. Maintenance of structural integrity and biological performance in immobilized cytokine was assessed to augment its applicability in possible biomedical implications.

Results: Following its cloning and expression in E.

Cu-embedded carbon nanoparticles as anticancer agents.

We report the synthesis of luminescent carbon nanoparticles (93 ± 50 nm) embedded with Cu. It was observed that at a relatively low concentration of Cu (2.55 ppm), cervical cancer HeLa cells died due to apoptosis induced by the nanoparticles.

Synergistic anticancer activity of fluorescent copper nanoclusters and cisplatin delivered through a hydrogel nanocarrier.

Highly fluorescent red copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) were synthesized in aqueous medium in the presence of dihydrolipoic acid and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The Cu NCs, in solid form, were stable, retained their optical properties for a month, and could be redispersed for use when required. The NCs in aqueous medium exhibited pH-tunable reversible optical properties.