Amphiphilic Core–Shell Nanocomposite Particles for Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A scalable synthesis of magnetic core–shell nanocomposite particles, acting as a novel class of magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents, has been developed. Each nanocomposite particle consists of a biocompatible chitosan shell and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core where multiple aggregated γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles are confined within the hydrophobic core. Properties of the nanocomposite particles including their chemical structure, particle size, size distribution, and morphology, as well as crystallinity of the magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic properties were systematically characterized. Their potential application as an MR contrast agent has been evaluated. Results show that the nanocomposite particles have good stability in biological media and very low cytotoxicity in both L929 mouse fibroblasts (normal cells) and HeLa cells (cervical cancer cells). They also exhibited excellent MR imaging performance with a T₂ relaxivity of up to 364 mM_Fe^?1 s^?1. An in vivo MR test performed on a naked mouse bearing breast tumor indicates that the nanocomposite particles can localize in both normal liver and tumor tissues. These results suggest that the magnetic core–shell nanocomposite particles are an efficient, inexpensive and safe T₂‐weighted MR contrast agent for both liver and tumor MR imaging in cancer therapy.     

The neutrinoless double-beta decay: A test for new physics

The neutrinoless double-beta decay is not allowed in the Standard Model (SM) but it is allowed in most Grand Unified Theories (GUTs). The neutrino must be a Majorana particle (identical with its antiparticle) and must have a mass to allow the neutrinoless double-beta decay. Apart of one claim that the neutrinoless double-beta decay in ⁷⁶Ge is measured, one has only upper limits for this transition probability. But even the upper limits allow to give upper limits for the electron Majorana neutrino mass and upper limits for parameters of GUTs and the minimal R-parity violating supersymmetric model. One further can give lower limits for the vector boson mediating mainly the right-handed weak interaction and the heavy mainly right-handed Majorana neutrino in left-right symmetric GUTs. For that, one has to assume that the specific mechanism is the leading one for the neutrinoless double-beta decay and one has to be able to calculate reliably the corresponding nuclear matrix elements. In the present contribution, one discusses the accuracy of the present status of calculating the nuclear matrix elements and the corresponding limits of GUTs and supersymmetric parameters.     

Comparison of theoretical and experimental studies of infrared and microwave spectral data for 5- and 6-membered ring heterocycles: The rotation constants, centrifugal distortion and vibration rotation constants

A systematic study of the rotation constants, vibration-rotation constants and quartic centrifugal distortion constants has been performed for furan, pyrrole, thiophene, both oxazoles and thiazoles, 1,2,4- and 1,2,5-oxa- and -thiadiazoles, 1,2,5-selenadiazole, and several 6-membered heterocycles (azines). The main study used cc-pVTZ basis sets. There is a very close correlation between the observed constants above and those calculated, especially using the cc-pVTZ + B3LYP procedures; some trends in these appear on substitution of HC by N in the azoles. This strong correlation between experimental values and this theoretical procedure is also apparent with vibrational differences in rotation constants, all over large numbers of measured values. However, a small number of calculated values do not correlate well with experiment; this may be a result of some of the experimental values being subject to resonance perturbations not included in the calculations. In general, a TZ2P basis set with B3LYP methodology, and cc-pVTZ results with MP2 methodology, lead to correlations of similar quality, but the latter require markedly more computing power. The present study draws attention to a tetrad in the IR spectrum of 1,2,5-oxadiazole, where further analysis is necessary.     

Double-electron capture of Se and the search for neutrinoless decay

Experimental results on the measurement of the double-electron capture (εε) decay process of ⁷⁴Se are described. This decay is particularly interesting, because ⁷⁴Se is almost degenerate to the second excited state at 1204 keV in the daughter nucleus ⁷⁴Ge. Such a degeneracy favors a neutrinoless decay because of the large phase-space suppression for a decay with two neutrinos. Subsequent de-excitation would generate a 2γ-ray cascade of 608 and 596 keV, whose coincident detection provides a unique signature for this particular εε process. The 2γ-ray cascade has been searched for by a HPGe γ-ray detector in coincidence with a NaI detector using 3 kg of natural selenium.