Water‐Soluble Molecularly Imprinted Nanoparticles (MINPs) with Tailored,Functionalized, Modifiable Binding Pockets

Construction of receptors with binding sites of specific size, shape, and functional groups is important to both chemistry and biology. Covalent imprinting of a photocleavable template within surface–core doubly cross‐linked micelles yielded carboxylic acid‐containing hydrophobic pockets within the water‐soluble molecularly imprinted nanoparticles. The functionalized binding pockets were characterized by their binding of amine‐ and acid‐functionalized guests under different pH values. The nanoparticles, on average, contained one binding site per particle and displayed highly selective binding among structural analogues. The binding sites could be modified further by covalent chemistry to modulate their binding properties.     

Bilayer-Coating Strategy for Hydrophobic Nanoparticles Providing Colloidal Stability,Functionality, and Surface Protection in Biological Media

The surface chemistry of nanoparticles is a key step on the pathway from particle design towards applications in biologically relevant environments. Here, a bilayer-based strategy for the surface modification of hydrophobic nanoparticles is introduced that leads to excellent colloidal stability in aqueous environments and good protection against disintegration, while permitting surface functionalization via simple carbodiimide chemistry. We have demonstrated the excellent potential of this strategy using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), initially coated with oleate and therefore dispersible only in organic solvents. The hydrophobic oleate capping is maintained and a bilayer is formed upon addition of excess oleate. The bilayer approach renders protection towards luminescence loss by water quenching, while the incorporation of additional molecules containing amino functions yields colloidal stability and facilitates the introduction of functionality. The biological relevance of the approach was confirmed with the use of two model dyes, a photosensitizer and a nitric oxide (NO) probe that, when attached to the surface of the UCNPs, retained their functionality to produce singlet oxygen and detect intracellular NO, respectively. We present a simple and fast strategy to protect and functionalize inorganic nanoparticles in biological media, which is important for controlled surface engineering of nanosized materials for theranostic applications.     

Surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles capped by oleic acids: characterization and colloidal stability in polar solvents

The lyophobic surface of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles capped by oleic acid was made to be more lyophilic by ozonolysis to increase the stability of the suspension in polar solvents like ethanol. The ozone oxidatively cleaved the double bond of oleic acid to form carbonyl and carboxyl groups on the surface of the nanoparticles. Additionally, interfacial ligand exchange of the capping molecules was applied to make the hydrophobic particle surface more hydrophilic. The magnetic particles showed enhanced miscibility and short-term stability in water after interfacial ligand exchange. The structure changes of the capping molecules on the nanoparticle surfaces were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). From these spectroscopy studies, the cleavage of the oleic acid and the formations of the carboxyl and carbonyl groups on the particle surface were confirmed. The shape and the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were maintained after the surface modification. Ozonolysis is an effective method in modifying the lyophobic surface of the magnetic nanoparticles.     

共轭亚油酸修饰Fe3O4纳米颗粒的刺激响应性

采用少量天然不饱和脂肪酸共轭亚油酸(CLA)代替常用油酸对Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒进行表面修饰. 通过引发CLA中共轭双键自交联增强表面修饰牢度, 并利用该修饰层为修饰后的Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒提供第二重pH响应性. 分别通过透射电子显微镜(TEM)表征粒径和形貌、 全反射傅里叶变换红外光谱(ATR-FTIR)表征配位模式、 热重(TG)分析修饰量、 θ角表征表面润湿性、 超景深三维显微技术表征修饰后颗粒稳定的Pickering乳液的粒径及分布等. 结果表明, 修饰后颗粒具有分散性好、 修饰层薄而稳定、 表面疏水性增强及具有明显的pH/磁双重响应性等特征. 修饰后颗粒稳定的Pickering乳液具有乳化剂用量(质量分数0.05%)少、 乳液为高内(油)相(体积分数80%)类型、 pH响应能够开关乳液、 外磁场驱使乳液定向移动等特征, 且模拟实验显示借助该乳液可以有效实现水相有机污染物的萃取与分离.     

Applications of Nanoparticles in Elemental Speciation

Nanoparticles, notable for their small size, high surface area to volume ratios, and strong adsorption capacity, have been the subject of great interest in analytical chemistry. Over the past decade, nanoparticles have been widely used as adsorbents for elemental speciation. Elemental ions or chelates may interact with nanoparticles by van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions. Various types of nanoparticles used for elemental speciation, including magnetic nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, metallic oxide nanoparticles, nanostructured mixed oxides, and ion imprinted polymer nanoparticles, are reviewed. Future trends and development in this research area are discussed.     

纳米氧化锌的机械力化学表面改性

采用机械力化学表面改性工艺,以硬脂酸为改性剂,在气流粉碎机中对纳米氧化锌进行解团聚和表面改性,并借助SEM、XRD、FF—IR和XPS对改性前后的氧化锌粉体进行结构表征．结果表明：硬脂酸分子化学键合在氧化锌表面．改性前后氧化锌的晶体结构相同,其颗粒的团聚性降低,二次粒径明显减小．通过测定改性样品的活化指数和亲油化度,选择最佳的改性剂用量为氧化锌质量的10％,氧化锌表面亲油疏水,在有机溶剂中有较好的分散性．     

Role of surface ligands in the nanoparticle assemblies: a case study of regularly shaped colloidal crystals composed of sodium rare earth fluoride

Assembly of nanoparticles is a promising route to fabricate devices from nanomaterials. Colloidal crystals are well-defined three-dimensional assemblies of nanoparticles with long-range ordered structures and crystalline symmetries. Here, we use a solvent evaporation induced assembly method to obtain colloidal crystals composed of polyhedral sodium rare earth fluoride nanoparticles. The building blocks exhibit the same crystalline orientation in each colloidal crystal as indicated in electron diffraction patterns. The driving force of the oriented assembly is ascribed to the facet-selected capping of oleic acid molecules on {110} facets of the nanoparticles, and the favorable coordination behavior of OA molecules is explained by the steric hindrance determined adsorption based on the studies of the surface atomic structure of nanocrystals and molecular mechanics simulation of OA molecules. The capping ligands also provide hydrophobic interactions between nanoparticles and further direct the oriented assembly process to construct a face-centered cubic structure. These results not only provide a new type of building block for colloidal crystals, but also clarify the important role of surface ligands, which determine the packed structure and orientations of nanoparticles in the assemblies.     

Synthesis of Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag magnetic nanocomposite based on small-sized and highly dispersed silver nanoparticles for catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

We demonstrate a single-step facile approach for the synthesis of glycine (amino acid) passivated Fe(3)O(4) magnetic nanoparticles (GMNPs) using soft chemical route. The surface passivation of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles with glycine molecules was evident from infrared spectroscopy, thermal and elemental analyses, and light scattering measurements. These nanoparticles show better colloidal stability, good magnetization, excellent self-heating capacity under external AC magnetic field and cytocompatibility with cell lines. Further, the active functional groups (-NH(2)) present on the surface of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles can be accessible for routine conjugation of biomolecules/biolabelling through well-developed bioconjugation chemistry. Specifically, a new colloidal glycine passivated biocompatible Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles with excellent specific absorption rate (SAR) have been fabricated, which can be used as an effective heating source for hyperthermia treatment of cancer (thermal therapy).     

ZnS:Mn nanoparticles conjugated to sol–gel-derived silica matrices

Composites from ZnS:Mn nanoparticles and modified silicas are of interest for a broad range of potential applications in the form of films, structured particles, and self-assembled structures (e.g., colloidal crystals). They combine the versatility of silica sol gel chemistry with the wealth of functionalities available from doped nanoparticulate semiconductors (e.g., optical, electrical, and magnetic). In this work, ZnS:Mn nanoparticles have been prepared and modified in such a way that they can be incorporated seamlessly, either by inclusion or by covalent bonding into silicas. Functionalization was achieved through the use of silanes or thioles. Further processing by standard sol gel chemistry then either led directly to covalent conjugation with the silica network formed after condensation, or to isolated particles encapsulated in a silica shell. The results are heavily loaded (up to 30 wt%), transparent (including semiconductor particles that are smaller than 15 nm) and luminescent films, and massive bodies. In this work, the progress of nanocomposite formation was followed mainly by luminescence spectroscopy. Further work will have to address the electrical and magnetic properties of these nanocomposites as well.     

Surface chemistry: a non-negligible parameter in determining optical properties of small colloidal metal nanoparticles

Surface chemistry can become pronounced in determining the optical properties of colloidal metal nanoparticles as the nanoparticles become so small (diameters <20 nm) that the surface atoms, which can undergo chemical interactions with the environment, represent a significant fraction of the total number of atoms although this effect is often ignored. For instance, formation of chemical bonds between surface atoms of small metal nanoparticles and capping molecules that help stabilize the nanoparticles can reduce the density of conduction band electrons in the surface layer of metal atoms. This reduced electron density consequently influences the frequency-dependent dielectric constant of the metal atoms in the surface layer and, for sufficiently high surface to volume ratios, the overall surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption spectrum. The important role of surface chemistry is highlighted here by carefully analyzing the classical Mie theory and a multi-layer model is presented to produce more accurate predictions by considering the chemically reduced density of conduction band electrons in the outer shell of metal atoms in nanoparticles. Calculated absorption spectra of small Ag nanoparticles quantitatively agree with the experimental results for our monodispersed Ag nanoparticles synthesized via a well-defined chemical reduction process, revealing an exceptional size-dependence of absorption peak positions: the peaks first blue-shift followed by a turnover and a dramatic red-shift as the particle size decreases. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between surface chemistry and optical properties is beneficial to exploit new applications of small colloidal metal nanoparticles, such as colorimetric sensing, electrochromic devices, and surface enhanced spectroscopies.     

From colloidal Co/CoO core/shell nanoparticles to arrays of metallic nanomagnets: surface modification and magnetic properties.

The magnetic properties of nanoparticles can be subject to strong variations as the chemical composition of the particle surface is modified. To study this interrelation of surface chemistry and magnetism, self-assembled layers of colloidal 9.5 nm Co/CoO core/shell nanoparticles were exposed to mild reactive hydrogen and oxygen plasmas. The consecutive oxygen/hydrogen plasma treatment transforms the particle layer into an array of metallic nanomagnets with complete reduction of the oxide and removal of the organic surfactants. The original arrangement of the particle array and the number of Co atoms per particle remains unchanged within the experimental error, and thus this is a possible route for the fabrication of ultrahigh-density magnetic bit structures from colloidal dispersions. The magnetic properties can be tuned by controlling the thickness of the surface oxide layer, which magnetically hardens the particles, as evidenced by element-specific magnetic hysteresis loops.     

PVP-b-PLA修饰Fe_3O_4磁性纳米粒子的制备与表征

通过硅烷偶联剂与Fe3O4磁性纳米粒子偶合在其表面引入C C端基,进一步与N-乙烯基吡咯烷酮(NVP)加成聚合制备含端羟基PVP包裹的磁体,再引发丙交酯(LA)开环聚合制得PVP-b-PLA修饰的Fe3O4纳米粒子.通过XRD、GPC、FTIR、SEM、TG、DSC和激光粒度仪等,对产物进行分析和表征,结果表明,纳米Fe3O4与PVP以及PVP与PLA之间均为化学键联,PVP和PLA是以嵌段共聚物的形式存在且两者之间存在明显的微相分离,纳米Fe3O4表面聚合物包覆率为35%,厚度约13 nm.此外,该PVP-b-PLA包覆的磁性纳米粒子比饱和磁化强度为53 emu/g,与未包覆相比下降约25%.     

Water-based ferrofluids from FexPt1-x nanoparticles synthesized in organic media

This paper describes an effective method to transfer oleic acid/oleylamine-capped colloidal FePt nanoparticles dispersed in hexane into water, using tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) as a phase transfer agent. FexPt1-x nanoparticles with different compositions (x = 0.32, 0.40, 0.48, 0.60, 0.66, 0.69) in the size range of 2-4 nm were synthesized by a high-temperature organometallic route with oleic acid and oleylamine as stabilizers. The surface of such nanoparticles was modified through removal of the organic, hydrophobic layer and adsorption of TMAOH, which provides the nanoparticles with sufficient surface charge so that an electrostatic double layer builds up, and the FePt nanoparticles can be fully redispersed in aqueous solution, even with high concentrations. The water-dispersible FePt nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, electrophoretic mobility, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.     

Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds in artificial sea-water using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)

This paper reports an accurate synthesis of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active substrates, based on gold colloidal monolayer, suitable for in situ environmental analysis. Quartz substrates were functionalized by silanization with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPMS) or (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and they subsequently reacted with colloidal suspension of gold metal nanoparticles: respectively, the functional groups SH and NH₂ bound gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles were prepared by the chemical reduction of HAuCl₄ using sodium tricitrate and immobilized onto silanized quartz substrates. Active substrate surface morphology was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements and gold nanoparticles presented a diameter in the range 40-100 nm. Colloidal hydrophobic films, allowing nonpolar molecule pre-concentration, were obtained. The surfaces exhibit strong enhancement of Raman scattering from molecules adsorbed on the films. Spectra were recorded for two PAHs, naphthalene and pyrene, in artificial sea-water (ASW) with limits of detection (LODs) of 10 ppb for both on MPMS silanized substrates.     

Covalent immobilization of albumin on micron‐sized magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate‐divinylbenzene‐glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres prepared by modified suspension polymerization

Micron‐sized magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate‐divinylbenzene‐glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres were prepared by a modified suspension polymerization in the presence of oleic acid‐coated magnetite nanoparticles. The magnetic microspheres were functionalized by reacting the epoxy groups with ammonia solution to provide amino groups. After activated with glutaraldehyde (GA), bovine serum albumin was covalently immobilized on these magnetic microspheres. The influence of initial protein concentration, pH and ionic strength of the protein solution on covalent immobilization was studied. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the magnetic microspheres had an average size of 6.4 µm and relative narrow size distribution. Magnetic measurement revealed the magnetic microspheres were superparamagetic with saturation magnetization of 7.32 emu/g. The successful amination of the magnetic microspheres was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of surface coordination chemistry on the magnetic properties of MnFe(2)O(4) spinel ferrite nanoparticles

To understand the influence of surface interactions upon the magnetic properties of magnetic nanoparticles, the surface of manganese ferrite, MnFe(2)O(4), nanoparticles have been systematically modified with a series of para-substituted benzoic acid ligands (HOOC-C(6)H(4)-R; R = H, CH(3), Cl, NO(2), OH) and substituted benzene ligands (Y-C(6)H(5), Y = COOH, SH, NH(2), OH, SO(3)H). The coercivity of magnetic nanoparticles decreases up to almost 50% upon the coordination of the ligands on the nanoparticle surface, whereas the saturation magnetization has increased. The percentage coercivity decrease of the modified nanoparticles with respect to the native nanoparticles strongly correlates with the crystal field splitting energy (CFSE) Delta evoked by the coordination ligands. The ligand inducing largest CFSE results in the strongest effect on the coercivity of magnetic nanoparticles. The change in magnetic properties of nanoparticles also correlates with the specific coordinating functional group bound onto the nanoparticle surface. The correlations suggest the decrease in spin-orbital couplings and surface anisotropy of magnetic nanoparticles due to the surface coordination. Such surface effects clearly show the dependence on the size of nanoparticles.     

Simple colorimetric detection of dopamine using modified silver nanoparticles

Dopamine(DA) plays an important role in health and peripheral nervous systems. Colorimetric detection of DA has the advantage of color change and simplicity in operation and instrumentation. Herein, we report a highly sensitive and selective colorimetric detection of DA by using two specific ligands modified Ag nanoparticles, where the DA molecules can make dual recognition with high specificity. The colloidal suspension of modified Ag nanoparticles was agglomerated after interacting with DA, while the color of Ag nanoparticles suspension changed from yellow to brown, arising from the interparticle plasmon coupling during the aggregation of Ag nanoparticles. The modified Ag nanoparticles suspension and agglomeration were confirmed by transmission electron microscope images. The optical properties behind the color change were thoroughly investigated by using UV-Vis and Raman techniques. The changes in p H, zeta potential, particle size and surface charge density by adding DA were also determined by using dynamic light scattering measurements. The detection limits of modified Ag probes for DA was calculated to be 6.13′10~(-6) mol L~(-1)(S/N=2.04) and the correlation co-efficient was determined to be 0.9878. Because of the simplicity in operation and instrumentation of the colorimetric method, this work may afford a feasible, fast approach for detecting and monitoring the DA levels in physiological and pathological systems.     

Amphiphilic Hexylamine Modified Polysuccinimide: Synthesis,Characterization, and Formation of Nanoparticles in Aqueous Medium

A series of hexylamine modified polysuccinimide (PSI–HA) copolymers were synthesized by aminolysis of polysuccinimide (PSI) with hexylamine. FTIR and ¹H NMR measurements confirmed the structure of the copolymers and the substitution degree of the N-hexyl aspartamide units ranged from 7 to 92 mol%. Stable nanoparticles formed when the DMF solution of PSI–HA copolymers was dropped into excess water, and the particle size reduced as increasing the substitution degree. ¹H NMR analysis indicated that hexyl chain and succinimide units interacted to form the hydrophobic core, while, the nanoparticles were stabilized by the amide groups which formed hydrogen bonds with the surrounding water molecules. The nanoparticles became more compact at higher temperature due to the break of hydrogen bonds between amide groups and water molecules. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the nanoparticles were nearly spherical. Larger nanoparticles formed when the dispersion concentration increased from 0.1% to 1.0% according to the DLS and steady-state fluorescence measurements. After the nanoparticles formed in water, a sequential dilution can't influence the particles size of the nanoparticles any longer.     

Polysaccharide-modified iron oxide nanoparticles as an effective magnetic affinity adsorbent for bovine serum albumin

The magnetic separation technique based on magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) has potential applications in protein adsorption and purification, enzyme immobilization, cell sorting, nucleic acid detachment, and drug release. However, the naked MNPs are often insufficient for their hydrophilicity, colloidal stability, and further functionalization. To overcome these limitations, chitosan was firstly carboxymethylated and then covalently conjugated on the surface of the MNPs ranging in size from about 5 to 15 nm, which were prepared by co-precipitating iron (II) and iron (III) in alkaline solution and then treating under hydrothermal conditions. It was found that such modification did not result in the phase change of the MNPs, and the resultant modified nanoparticles were still superparamagnetic. In particular, the colloidal stability of MNPs in aqueous suspension was improved after the surface modification. By investigating the adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the modified MNPs, it was observed that the adsorption capacity of the BSA on the modified MNPs increased rapidly within several minutes and then reached the maximum value at about 10 min. The adsorption equilibrium isotherm could be fitted well by the Langmuir model. The medium pH affected greatly the adsorption of the BSA. The maximum adsorption of the BSA occurred at the pH value close to the isoelectric point of the BSA, with a saturation adsorption amount of 94.45 mg/g (25 °C). For the BSA feed concentration of 1.017 mg/ml, a high desorption percentage of 91.5% could be achieved under an alkaline condition (pH 9.4).     

表面羧基化Fe3O4磁性纳米粒子的快捷制备及表征

亲水性磁性纳米颗粒在生物科学领域有着广泛应用,本研究提出了一种快速对磁性纳米粒子表面进行羧基化的方法. 首先使用氯化铁和氯化亚铁为原料, 以油酸为表面活性剂, 通过共沉淀法制得油酸包覆的亲油性磁性纳米粒子, 然后用高锰酸钾进行原位氧化, 将覆盖在粒子表面的油酸中的C＝C键氧化成-COOH, 从而得到单层羧基功能化的亲水性磁性纳米粒子. 利用透射电镜(TEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、傅利叶红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、热重分析仪(TGA)、振动样品磁强计(VSM)、Zeta电位分析仪等对其进行表征. 结果表明磁性纳米粒子表面被成功羧基化,粒子的平均直径约为9 nm,饱和磁化值为64.5 emu/g,剩磁和矫顽力近似为零,具有典型的超顺磁性. 羧基化磁性纳米粒子可在pH7-10的水溶液中形成稳定分散的磁流体,保存6周无沉淀出现.