Microstructure changes in radiochromic films due to magnetic field and radiation.

Purpose: To correlate the dose response and changes in microscopic structures of the radiochromic films exposed to the clinical magnetic field in the range 1.5-3 T with standard and flattening filter-free (FFF) photon beams.

Methods: The radiochromic film was cut into 5 × 5 cm sheets/samples from one batch.

Treatment of Cancer In Vitro Using Radiation and High-Frequency Bursts of Submicrosecond Electrical Pulses.

High-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) is an emerging cancer therapy, which uses bursts of short duration, alternating polarity, high-voltage electrical pulses to focally ablate tumors. Here, we present a preliminary investigation of the combinatorial effects of H-FIRE and ionizing radiation. In vitro cell cultures were exposed to bursts of 500 ns pulses and single radiation doses of 2 or 20 Gy then analyzed for 14 days.

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Inhibits HIV-1 Replication in Macrophages by Targeting Both the Virus and the Cells.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a specific type of partially ionized gas that is less than 104°F at the point of application. It was recently shown that CAP can be used for decontamination and sterilization, as well as anti-cancer treatment. Here, we investigated the effects of CAP on HIV-1 replication in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM).

Differential Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasma in the Treatment of Malignant Glioma.

Objective: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has recently been shown to selectively target cancer cells with minimal effects on normal cells. We systematically assessed the effects of CAP in the treatment of glioblastoma.

Methods: Three glioma cell lines, normal astrocytes, and endothelial cell lines were treated with CAP.

Efficient Radioisotope Energy Transfer by Gold Nanoclusters for Molecular Imaging.

Beta-emitting isotopes Fluorine-18 and Yttrium-90 are tested for their potential to stimulate gold nanoclusters conjugated with blood serum proteins (AuNCs). AuNCs excited by either medical radioisotope are found to be highly effective ionizing radiation energy transfer mediators, suitable for in vivo optical imaging. AuNCs synthesized with protein templates convert beta-decaying radioisotope energy into tissue-penetrating optical signals between 620 and 800 nm.

Synergistic assembly of heavy metal clusters and luminescent organic bridging ligands in metal-organic frameworks for highly efficient X-ray scintillation.

We have designed two metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to efficiently convert X-ray to visible-light luminescence. The MOFs are constructed from M6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4(carboxylate)12 (M = Hf or Zr) secondary building units (SBUs) and anthracene-based dicarboxylate bridging ligands. The high atomic number of Zr and Hf in the SBUs serves as effective X-ray antenna by absorbing X-ray photons and converting them to fast electrons through the photoelectric effect.

Hard X-ray-induced optical luminescence via biomolecule-directed metal clusters.

Here, we demonstrate that biomolecule-directed metal clusters are applicable in the study of hard X-ray excited optical luminescence, promising a new direction in the development of novel X-ray-activated imaging probes.

Targeting the cancer cell cycle by cold atmospheric plasma.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a technology based on quasi-neutral ionized gas at low temperatures, is currently being evaluated as a new highly selective alternative addition to existing cancer therapies. Here, we present a first attempt to identify the mechanism of CAP action. CAP induced a robust ~2-fold G2/M increase in two different types of cancer cells with different degrees of tumorigenicity.

Controlling diameter distribution of catalyst nanoparticles in arc discharge.

It is demonstrated that the diameter distribution of catalyst nanoparticles in arc discharge can be controlled by a magnetic field. The magnetic field affects the arc shape, shortens the diffusing time of the catalyst nanoparticles through the nucleation zone, and consequentially reduces the average diameters of nanoparticles. The average diameter is reduced from about 7.

Single-step synthesis and magnetic separation of graphene and carbon nanotubes in arc discharge plasmas.

The unique properties of graphene and carbon nanotubes made them the most promising nanomaterials attracting enormous attention, due to the prospects for applications in various nanodevices, from nanoelectronics to sensors and energy conversion devices. Here we report on a novel deterministic, single-step approach to simultaneous production and magnetic separation of graphene flakes and carbon nanotubes in an arc discharge by splitting the high-temperature growth and low-temperature separation zones using a non-uniform magnetic field and tailor-designed catalyst alloy, and depositing nanotubes and graphene in different areas. Our results are very relevant to the development of commercially-viable, single-step production of bulk amounts of high-quality graphene.

Tailored distribution of single-wall carbon nanotubes from arc plasma synthesis using magnetic fields.

We report a method for tuning the distribution of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) produced by the anodic arc production method via the application of nonuniform magnetic fields to the gap region during synthesis. Raman, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared absorbance and near-infrared fluorescence spectroscopies were used to characterize samples together with scanning electron microscopy. Application of the nonuniform magnetic field 0.

Ignition and temperature behavior of a single-wall carbon nanotube sample.

The electrical resistance of mats of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is measured as a function of mat temperature under various helium pressures, in vacuum and in atmospheric air. The objective of this paper is to study the thermal stability of SWNTs produced in a helium arc discharge in the experimental conditions close to natural conditions of SWNT growth in an arc, using a furnace instead of an arc discharge. For each tested condition, there is a temperature threshold at which the mat's resistance reaches its minimum.