Phosphocreatine immobilization of the surface of silica and magnetite nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery

Russian Chemical Bulletin - A method is proposed for immobilization of anti-ischemic drug phosphocreatine on the surface of aminated silica and magnetite nanoparticles of similar size and shape....     

A novel route for immobilization of oligonucleotides onto modified silica nanoparticles

A novel approach for immobilization of probe oligonucleotides that uses zirconium phosphate modified silica nanoparticles is proposed. The surface modification of nanoparticles was carried out in two stages. Initially binding of Zr4+ to the surface of silica nanoparticles and later treated with phosphoric acid for terminal phosphate groups. Oligonucleotide probes modified with amine group at 5'-end were strongly binds to the phosphate terminated silica nanoparticles with imidazole in presence of 0.1 mol L(-1) EDC [N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide], as phosphate groups are more reactive towards amine group. Various studies, i.e., synthesis of silica nanoparticles, their surface modification, probe immobilization, measurement of hybridization and effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were carried out during optimization of reaction conditions. The significant reduction in the background signal was observed by treating the probe modified silica nanoparticles with bovine serum albumin prior to hybridization. The probe modified silica nanoparticles were retained their properties and the hybridization was induced by exposure of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) containing silica nanoparticles to the complementary DNA in solution. The decrease in the fluorescence signal for one mismatch and three mismatch was observed upon hybridization of probe with target DNAs, while there was no response for the random target ssDNA under the same experimental conditions. The intensity of fluorescence signal was linear to the concentration of target DNA ranging from 3.9 x 10(-9) to 3.0 x 10(-6)mol L(-1). A detection limit of 1.22 x 10(-9) mol L(-1) of oligonucleotides can be estimated. The proposed hybridization assay is simple and possesses good analytical characteristics and it can provide an effective and efficient route in the development of DNA biosensors and biochips.     

Characterization of modified styrene-co-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid magnetite nanoparticles

This work provides an insight into the effect of incorporating of magnetite nanoparticles on the rheology of fluids. In this respect, polymer-stabilized magnetite nanoparticles were obtained using sodium salt of poly (2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonate (PAMPS-Na). Monodisperse polymer coated magnetite nanoparticles Fe₃O₄/poly(styrene-AMPS) copolymer nanoparticles with diameters of 50–300 nm were prepared by radical polymerization in the presence of a ferrofluid coated with PAMPS-Na. The magnetic nanoparticles were easily separated in a magnetic field. The structure of the obtained magnetic nanoparticles was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphology and size of the magnetic nanoparticles were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR and TEM revealed that the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were incorporated into the shells of poly(styrene-AMPS). Aqueous dispersed solutions of a charged hydrophobically modified Fe₃O₄/poly(styrene-AMPS) copolymer nanoparticles exhibit high viscosities even at low polymer concentrations (0.1 wt %), which is an interesting feature in connection with enhanced oil recovery. Effects of temperature and addition of sodium chloride on the viscosity properties of a semidilute dispersed solution of Fe₃O₄/poly(styrene-AMPS) copolymer nanoparticles are examined. The results indicated that Fe₃O₄/poly(styrene-AMPS) copolymer nanoparticles disclose strong interactions between magnetite and coated polymers of both PAMPS-Na and styrene-AMPS copolymers.     

Colloidal dispersions of monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles modified with poly(ethylene glycol)

Monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were synthesized using a silane functionalized PEG obtained by reacting 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane with carboxylic acid-methoxy PEG (mPEG-COOH) using amide reactions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements show the particles are monodisperse (sigma(gv) approximately 0.2) and stable in water for pH of 3-9 and ionic strengths, up to 0.3 M NaCl. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with TEM and DLS indicates formation of a dense graft layer on the particle surface. An analysis of the interparticle interaction energy indicates that the particles are stabilized by strong steric repulsions between PEG chains on their surface.     

Synthesis of propyl aminopyridine modified magnetite nanoparticles for cadmium (II) adsorption in aqueous solutions

In this study, 2‐aminopyridine functionalized magnetite nanoparticles were chemically synthesized and used for removing Cd²⁺ ions from aqueous solutions. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The SEM results showed the synthesized magnetite nanoparticles have particle size around 26 nm. The effects of several variables including solution pH and volume, adsorbent mass, ionic strength and contact time on the Cd²⁺ adsorption were studied in batch experiments and finally the optimum conditions for adsorption were obtained. The kinetic data were investigated by pseudo‐ first‐order, pseudo‐ second‐order, intraparticle diffusion and Elovich kinetic models and data were described reasonably by pseudo‐ second‐order model (R² = 0.9996) with q_e = 2.31 mg g^?1. Adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The results indicated that the data were well fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model (R² = 0.9907). After study the possible interference effect of foreign ions on Cd²⁺ removal, the applicability of the proposed nanoparticles for adsorption from real samples confirmed the successfully removal of Cd²⁺ ions with removal efficiency higher than 92%. The obtained results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles as a reusable adsorbent can act as a good choice for Cd²⁺ removal with an easy procedure.     

Size-controlled synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles

Monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles have been synthesized by high-temperature solution-phase reaction of Fe(acac)3 in phenyl ether with alcohol, oleic acid, and oleylamine. Seed-mediated growth is used to control Fe3O4 nanoparticle size, and variously sized nanoparticles from 3 to 20 nm have been produced. The as-synthesized Fe3O4 nanoparticles have inverse spinel structure, and their assemblies can be transformed into gamma-Fe2O3 or alpha-Fe nanoparticle assemblies, depending on the annealing conditions. The reported procedure can be used as a general approach to various ferrite nanoparticles and nanoparticle superlattices.     

On-chip bioorthogonal chemistry enables immobilization of in situ modified nanoparticles and small molecules for label-free monitoring of protein binding and reaction kinetics

Efficient methods to immobilize small molecules under continuous-flow microfluidic conditions would greatly improve label-free molecular interaction studies using biosensor technology. At present, small-molecule immobilization chemistries require special conditions and in many cases must be performed outside the detector and microfluidic system where real-time monitoring is not possible. Here, we have developed and optimized a method for on-chip bioorthogonal chemistry that enables rapid, reversible immobilization of small molecules with control over orientation and immobilization density, and apply this technique to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) studies. Immobilized small molecules reverse the orientation of canonical SPR interaction studies, and also enable a variety of new SPR applications including on-chip assembly and interaction studies of multicomponent structures, such as functionalized nanoparticles, and measurement of bioorthogonal reaction rates. We use this approach to demonstrate that on-chip assembled functionalized nanoparticles show a preserved ability to interact with their target protein, and to measure rapid bioorthogonal reaction rates with k(2) > 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). This method offers multiple benefits for microfluidic biological applications, including rapid screening of targeted nanoparticles with vastly decreased nanoparticle synthetic requirements, robust immobilization chemistry in the presence of serum, and a continuous flow technique that mimics biologic contexts better than current methods used to measure bioorthogonal reaction kinetics such as NMR or UV-vis spectroscopy (e.g., stopped flow kinetics). Taken together, this approach constitutes a flexible and powerful technique for evaluating a wide variety of reactions and intermolecular interactions for in vitro or in vivo applications.     

Electrochemical immunosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen based on antigen immobilization in gold nanoparticles modified chitosan membrane.

A disposable electrochemical immunosensor for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was proposed based on the antigen immobilized in a colloidal gold nanoparticles modified chitosan membrane on the surface of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The different membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope and electrochemical methods. Based on a competitive immunoassay format, the immobilized antigen of the immunosensor was incubated with a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labeled antibody and sample CEA antigen, and the formed immunoconjugate in the immunosensor was detected by an o-phenylenediamine-H(2)O(2)-HRP electrochemical system. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the electrocatalytic current decreased linearly with the competitive mechanism. CEA could be determined in the linear range from 2.0 to 20 ng/ml with a detection limit of 1.0 ng/ml. The prepared CEA immunosensor is not only economic due to the low-cost ITO electrode obtained from industrial mass production, but is also capable with good stability and reproducibility for batch fabrication.     

Thermal transformation of water-dispersible magnetite nanoparticles

This paper presents a study on rapid hardening behaviors of β-C₂S by accelerated carbonation curing. β-C₂S cubes compacted at various molding pressures were subjected to different CO₂ concentration for accelerated carbonation curing. The CO₂ uptake and microstructure changes were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), QXRD, FT-IR and MAS-NMR. The results indicated that CO₂ uptake was affected by molding pressure and CO₂ concentration seriously. TG analysis indicated that the carbonation reaction was rapid in the first hour. The carbonation degree reached 21.6% and giving a compressive strength of 85.7 MPa after 6 h carbonation in 99.9% CO₂ concentration. And it showed a much less carbonation degree in 20.0% CO₂. Calcite, vaterite and amorphous silica-rich phase formed in the carbonation progress. The FT-IR and NMR analysis indicated β-C₂S was decalcified to C–S–H gel and further decalcified to formation of an amorphous silica gel composed of Q ³ and Q ⁴ silicate tetrahedral. The chain length of C–S–H gel increased from to 2.67 to 6.36 with prolonged carbonation time, showing a lower C/S ratio and higher polymerization and also resulting in a lower C–S–H content.     

Growing ZnO crystals on magnetite nanoparticles

We report herein on the oriented growth of ZnO crystals on magnetite nanoparticles. The ZnO crystals were grown by hydrolyzing a supersaturated aqueous solution of zinc nitrate. The seeds for the growth were magnetite nanoparticles with a diameter of 5.7 nm and a narrow size distribution. Hollowed ZnO hexagons of 0.15 microm width and 0.5 microm length filled with Fe(3)O(4) particles were obtained. HR-TEM (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) and selected-area EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy) show that the nanoparticles are homogenously spread in the ZnO tubes. Zeta potential measurements were employed to understand the relationship between the nanoparticles and the oriented growth of the ZnO crystals. The results show that the surfactants induced the directional growth of the ZnO crystals.     

Sorption of uranium on magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticle was synthesized using a solid state mechanochemical method and used for studying the sorption of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution onto the nanomaterial. The synthesized product is characterized using SEM, XRD and XPS. The particles were found to be largely agglomerated. XPS analysis showed that Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of the product is 0.58. Sorption of uranium on the synthesized nanomaterials was studied as a function of various operational parameters such as pH, initial metal ion concentration, ionic strength and contact time. pH studies showed that uranium sorption on magnetite is maximum in neutral solution. Uranium sorption onto magnetite showed two step kinetics, an initial fast sorption completing in 4–6 h followed by a slow uptake extending to several days. XPS analysis of the nanoparticle after sorption of uranium showed presence of the reduced species U(IV) on the nanoparticle surface. Fe(II)/Fe(III) ratio of the nanoparticle after uranium sorption was found to be 0.48, lower than the initial value indicating that some of the ferrous ion might be oxidized in the presence of uranium(VI). Uranium sorption studies were also conducted with effluent from ammonium diuranate precipitation process having a uranium concentration of about 4 ppm. 42% removal was observed during 6 h of equilibration.     

Actinides selective extractants coated magnetite nanoparticles for analytical applications

N,N,N′,N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) and bis(2-ethylhexy)phosphoric acid (HDEHP) were coated on Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles under different chemical conditions. The TODGA-coated magnetite nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄@TODGA) captured representative actinides Am(III) and Pu(IV) at 3–4 M HNO₃ with high efficiency. However, the HNO₃ induced pre-organization of TODGA, before coating on the magnetite nanoparticles, was found to be important for the sorption of Am(III) and Pu(IV) ions. The Fe₃O₄@HDEHP particles exhibited selectivity toward Pu(IV), and Am(III) did not sorb from 3 to 4 M HNO₃. The quantification of Pu(IV) preconcentrated on coated particles was carried out by removing the extractant coating in dioxane based scintillator, followed by liquid scintillation counting.

     

Layer-by-layer immobilization of horseradish peroxidase on a gold electrode modified with colloidal gold nanoparticles

An amperometric biosensor, based on layer-by-layer self-assembly of colloidal gold nanoparticles, cysteine and horseradish peroxidase on Nafion modified electrode surface by electrostatic adsorption, has been used for the determination of hydrogen peroxide. The electrochemical behavior of the multilayer film was studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The step layer-by-layer adsorption interface morphology was further characterized by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The performance and factors influencing the resulted biosensor were studied in detail. The sensor displayed an excellent electrocatalytic response to the reduction of H₂O₂ without the aid of an electron transfer mediator. Linear response to H₂O₂ was obtained for the concentration range from 1.6 μM to 2.4 mM under optimized conditions. The detection limit of the biosensor was 0.5 μM (S/N = 3), and the sensor achieved 95% of the steady-state current within 10 s. The sensor exhibited high sensitivity, selectivity and stability. Correspondence: Yan Liu, College of Chemistry, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing 400047, P.R. China     

Calixarenes functionalised water-soluble iron oxide magnetite nanoparticles for enzyme immobilisation

ABSTRACT

In this study, we first used water-soluble iron oxide nanoparticles for Candida rugosa lipase immobilisation. Moreover, two new complexation phenomena of the prepared water-soluble Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with an enzyme might address interesting results in terms of enzyme activity and stability in typical enzymatic reactions. The catalytic activity on pH and temperature dependence, and reusability of the immobilised lipases ( p-SCX4-NP-E and p-SCX8-NP-E) were also investigated with the hydrolysis reaction of p-nitrophenyl palmitate (p-NPP). The results show that the highest catalytic affinities for p-SCX4-NP-E and p-SCX8-NP-E were obtained at pH 5.0 and pH 7.0, respectively.     

Comparative study of polymeric stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles using ATRP

A series of polyelectrolytes with controlled molecular weight, a narrow chain-length distribution, and systematic structural differences were synthesized using atom-transfer radical polymerization and investigated as stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles in aqueous suspensions. Structural differences include the degree of polymerization, the chain architecture, and the identity of the charged functional unit. The synthesized polymers are sulfonated poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), a block copolymer of the former with poly(n-butyl methacrylate), poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), poly(sodium acrylate), and poly(sodium vinylphosphonate). The colloidal stability is assessed by measuring the fraction of particles, based on turbidity, that sediment after a period of time at increasing ionic strength. Sedimentation results are complimented by dynamic light scattering determinations of the hydrodynamic diameter of the particles that remain suspended. When adsorption and sedimentation are conducted at high pH, poly(sodium acrylate) and poly(sodium vinylphosphonate) yield the most stable suspensions because of their strong coordinative interactions with the iron oxide surface. At low pH, the polymers that retain pendant negative charges (each of the sulfonated polymers) yield high stable fractions at all ionic strengths investigated up to 100 mM (NaCl), whereas polyelectrolytes that become protonated with decreasing pH, poly(sodium acrylate) and poly(sodium vinylphosphonate), lose their stabilizing capacity even at low ionic strengths. The chain-length distribution profoundly alters a polymer's stabilization tendencies. Two poly(sodium acrylate) samples with the same number-average molecular weight but widely different chain-length distributions proved to have opposite tendencies, with the polydisperse sample being a good stabilizer and the low polydispersity one being a strong flocculant. This investigation provides guidelines for the design of polymeric stabilizers for magnetite nanoparticles according to the pH and ionic strength of the intended application.     

Carbonyl groups anchoring for the water dispersibility of magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetite nanoparticles, which were synthesized by using diethylene glycol (DEG) as both solvent and reductant, displayed excellent hydrophilicity and water dispersibility. The influences of the amount of carboxymethyl-dextran sodium salt and NaOH on nanoparticles dispersibility were evaluated in terms of zeta potentials, concentration variation under centrifugal field, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectra, respectively. The results showed that the water dispersibility is not related to the amount of carboxymethyl-dextran, but depends on that of NaOH. Further evaluation revealed that DEG was partially oxidized with the assistance of NaOH, and thanks to the resultant carbonyl groups, the flexible oxidized DEG chains were anchored on the nanoparticles surface, which provides sufficient protection and high water-dispersibility of the as-prepared magnetite nanoparticles. Furthermore, we suggest that the binding between carbonyl groups and nanoparticles is related to the electron-withdrawing effect. The current study may provide more selectiveness of modifying molecules for magnetite nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanoparticles for photocatalysis of nitrobenzene

The present work shows the photocatalytic degradation of nitrobenzene (NB) using Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) as a photocatalyst in the presence of UV light. The MNP were synthesized by an ultrasonic-assisted reverse co-precipitation (US-RP) method using FeSO₄, FeCl₃ and NH₄OH as precursors. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Zeta potential, Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Magnetic thermogravimetric analysis (MTGA). The successive decrement in the absorbance at 265 nm shows the effective decrease in NB concentration measured by UV–vis spectroscopy. The reaction intermediates detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrum (GC/MS) were 2-nitrophenol (2-NPh), 3-nitrophenol (3-NPh) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NPh). The prepared MNP showed an optimal NB degradation at an initial pH of 2 and 100 ppm of the photocatalyst.     

Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene-grafted magnetite nanoparticles

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical precipitation. To reduce the aggregation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, an effective surface modification method was proposed by grafting polystyrene onto the Fe₃O₄ particles. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectra and elemental analysis showed that the polymer chains have been successfully grafted from the surface of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and that the percentage of grafting can reach 73%. Transmission electron microscope showed that grafted polymer chains on nanoparticles could prevent the aggregation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles markedly in toluene and improve their compatibility with organic phase. Another finding was the grafting reaction did not alter the crystalline structure of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles according to the X-ray diffraction patterns, and the saturation magnetization of PS-Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was found to be lower than bulk magnetite.     

Chemically modified nylons as supports for enzyme immobilization

An isocyanide derivative of nylon, polyisonitrile-nylon (1,2), was used as a starting material whereby, through a series of modification reactions, different chemically reactive functional groups could be introduced on the polyamide backbone. The chemistry employed allowed for considerable flexibility in the choice of procedures for covalent fixation of proteins, all starting from the same chemically reactive parent polymer, polyisonitrile-nylon. Thus, polyisonitrilenylon could be used directly for the immobilization of enzymes via fourcomponent condensation reactions. The isocyanide functional groups of the parent polymer could be transformed, by treatment with bromine, into the strongly electrophilic dibromoisocyanide (—N=CBr^b2) groups. The selectivity of the —N=CBr^b2 group toward the various functional groups present in proteins could be regulated by appropriate control of the pH of the coupling reaction. Dibromoisocyanide-nylon was also further modified into other types of chemically reactive nylon derivatives.