Electrochemistry of Tetrathiafulvalene Ligands Assembled on the Surface of Gold Nanoparticles

The synthesis of a tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivative, S-[4-({4-[(2,2′-bi-1,3-dithiol-4-ylmethoxy)methyl] phenyl}ethynyl)phenyl] ethanethioate, suitable for the modification of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), is described in this article. The TTF ligand was self-assembled on the AuNP surface through ligand exchange, starting from dodecanethiol-stabilized AuNPs. The resulting modified AuNPs were characterized by TEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and electrochemistry. The most suitable electrochemical method was the phase-sensitive AC voltammetry at very low frequencies of the sine-wave perturbation. The results indicate a diminishing electronic communication between the two equivalent redox centers of TTF and also intermolecular donor–acceptor interactions manifested by an additional oxidation wave upon attachment of the ligand to AuNPs.     

Fabrication of PEGylated Chitosan Nanoparticles Containing Tenofovir Alafenamide: Synthesis and Characterization

Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is an antiretroviral (ARV) drug that is used for the management and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The clinical availability of ARV delivery systems that provide long-lasting protection against HIV transmission is lacking. There is a dire need to formulate nanocarrier systems that can help in revolutionizing the way to fight against HIV/AIDS. Here, we aimed to synthesize a polymer using chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG) by the PEGylation of chitosan at the hydroxyl group. After successful modification and confirmation by FTIR, XRD, and SEM, TAF-loaded PEGylated chitosan nanoparticles were prepared and analyzed for their particle size, zeta potential, morphology, crystallinity, chemical interactions, entrapment efficacy, drug loading, in vitro drug release, and release kinetic modeling. The fabricated nanoparticles were found to be in a nanosized range (219.6 nm), with ~90% entrapment efficacy, ~14% drug loading, and a spherical uniform distribution. The FTIR analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of PEGylated chitosan and nanoparticles. The in vitro analysis showed ~60% of the drug was released from the PEGylated polymeric reservoir system within 48 h at pH 7.4. The drug release kinetics were depicted by the Korsmeyer–Peppas release model with thermodynamically nonspontaneous drug release. Conclusively, PEGylated chitosan has the potential to deliver TAF from a nanocarrier system, and in the future, cytotoxicity and in vivo studies can be performed to further authenticate the synthesized polymer.     

Lycopene,Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Their Association: A Possible Alternative against Vulvovaginal Candidiasis?

Commonly found colonizing the human microbiota, Candida albicans is a microorganism known for its ability to cause infections, mainly in the vulvovaginal region known as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). This pathology is, in fact, one of the main C. albicans clinical manifestations, changing from a colonizer to a pathogen. The increase in VVC cases and limited antifungal therapy make C. albicans an increasingly frequent risk in women’s lives, especially in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new therapeutic options, especially those involving natural products associated with nanotechnology, such as lycopene and mesoporous silica nanoparticles. From this perspective, this study sought to assess whether lycopene, mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their combination would be an attractive product for the treatment of this serious disease through microbiological in vitro tests and acute toxicity tests in an alternative in vivo model of Galleria mellonella. Although they did not show desirable antifungal activity for VVC therapy, the present study strongly encourages the use of mesoporous silica nanoparticles impregnated with lycopene for the treatment of other human pathologies, since the products evaluated here did not show toxicity in the in vivo test performed, being therefore, a topic to be further explored.     

Steric and Electronic Effects in N-Heterocyclic Carbene Gold(III) Complexes: An Experimental and Computational Study

A series of neutral acridine-based gold(III)-NHC complexes containing the pentafluorophenyl (–C₆F₅) group were synthesized. All of the complexes were fully characterized by analytical techniques. The square planar geometry around the gold center was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis for complexes 1 (Trichloro [1-methyl-3-(9-acridine)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(III)) and 2 (Chloro-bis(pentafluorophenyl)[1-methyl-3-(9-acridine)imidazol-2-ylidene]gold(III)). In both cases, the acridine rings play a key role in the crystal packing of the solid structures by mean of π–π stacking interactions, with centroid–centroid and interplanar distances being similar to those found in other previously reported acridine-based Au(I)-NHC complexes. A different reactivity when using a bulkier N-heterocyclic carbene ligand such as 1,3-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-2-imidazolidinylidene (SIPr) was observed. While the use of the acridine-based NHC ligand led to the expected organometallic gold(III) species, the steric hindrance of the bulky SIPr ligand led to the formation of the corresponding imidazolinium cation stabilized by the tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aurate(III) [Au(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ anion. Computational experiments were carried out in order to figure out the ground state electronic structure and the binding formation energy of the complexes and, therefore, to explain the observed reactivity.     

基于金纳米棒-壳聚糖复合膜的葡萄糖生物传感器

本文采用金纳米棒-壳聚糖复合膜固定葡萄糖氧化酶构建电流型葡萄糖生物传感器.通过电化学交流阻抗法和循环伏安法对酶膜状态进行了表征,得到了相应的等效电路和动力学参数.实验结果表明,金纳米棒-壳聚糖复合膜可以辅助电子传递,提高电极的电流响应,并使生物传感器的使用温度范围有很大的扩展.此传感器表现出对葡萄糖溶液浓度的优良响应,线性范围在2.78×10^-5mol/L—2.22×10^-3mol/L,响应灵敏度约为7.819μA·cm^-2(mmol/L)^-1,表观米氏常数为10mmol/L.本工作还研究了温度和溶液pH值对电极电流响应的影响.     

纳米铂微粒修饰电极上甲醛电催化氧化的电位振荡和电流振荡

通过阴极还原-阳极氧化法制备了钛基纳米铂微粒修饰电极, 扫描电镜观察发现, 分布于钛基体表面的氧化钛膜三维网状孔道中的纳米铂微粒具有高度分散状态. 采用多种电化学手段在该电极上不仅观察到甲醛在恒电流条件下产生的电位振荡, 而且在循环伏安和恒电位两种条件下均观察到强烈的电流振荡, 这进一步证明高度分散的纳米铂微粒使电极的催化活性大大提高, 促进了甲醛及其毒化中间产物的电催化氧化过程, 从而有利于电极上电化学振荡的产生. 研究结果还表明, 甲醛底物浓度、硫酸介质浓度、恒电位或恒电流大小等多种因素对振荡强度、范围或类型会产生规律性的影响.     

Exogenous Application of Green Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to Improve the Germination,Physiochemical, and Yield Parameters of Wheat Plants under Salinity Stress

Agriculture is the backbone of every developing country. Among various crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the family Poaceae and is the most important staple food crop of various countries. Different biotic (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic stresses (water logging, drought and salinity) adversely affect the qualitative and quantitative attributes of wheat. Among these stresses, salinity stress is a very important limiting factor affecting the morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes and grain yield of wheat. This research work was carried out to evaluate the influence of phytosynthesized TiO₂ NPs on the germination, physiochemical, and yield attributes of wheat varieties in response to salinity. TiO₂ NPs were synthesized using TiO₂ salt and a Buddleja asiatica plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. Various concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) and salt solutions (NaCl) (100 and 150 mM) were used. A total of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L improve germination attributes, osmotic and water potential, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content, soluble sugar and proteins, proline and amino acid content, superoxide dismutase activity, and reduce malondialdhehyde (MDA) content at both levels of salinity. These two concentrations also improved the yield attributes of wheat varieties at both salinity levels. The best results were observed at 40 mg/L of TiO₂ NPs at both salinity levels. However, the highest concentrations (60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO₂ NPs showed negative effects on germination, physiochemical and yield characteristics and causes stress in both wheat varieties under control irrigation conditions and salinity stress. Therefore, in conclusion, the findings of this research are that the foliar application of TiO₂ NPs can help to improve tolerance against salinity stress in plants.     

基于Au NPs@NU-901电化学传感器检测饼干中丁基羟基茴香醚的研究

基于金属有机骨架的拓扑三维结构的高比表面积以及金纳米颗粒(Au NPS)的优异电催化活性,金纳米颗粒与金属有机框架的复合材料在电化学传感领域拥有应用潜力.该文成功合成了Au NPs@NU-901复合材料,并采用透射电镜、X射线衍射、红外光谱以及X射线光电子能谱对其进行表征.采用线性扫描伏安法和差分脉冲伏安法研究了复合材...     

改性二氧化硅纳米颗粒提高二氧化碳泡沫稳定性的研究

通过纳米二氧化硅的硅烷化改性,使其在高矿化度盐水中可以稳定存在的前提下,研究了改性纳米颗粒与阳离子表面活性剂十二烷基三甲基氯化铵混合体系的溶液稳定性及协同稳定CO₂泡沫的效果.研究结果表明,无机盐离子对改性纳米颗粒与阳离子表面活性剂间的静电吸引力具有屏蔽作用,且矿化度越高,屏蔽效果越明显,从而混合溶液更易于在高盐水中稳定;纳米颗粒表面的活性剂吸附层受二者浓度的影响,进而影响了颗粒的亲/疏水性;当混合体系中的表面活性剂浓度低于临界胶束浓度(CMC)时,混合溶液与CO₂的界面张力高于单独活性剂溶液,而当活性剂浓度高于CMC时,对CO₂-溶液界面张力几乎无影响,最低界面张力可降至6 mN/m左右;改性纳米颗粒的加入可以进一步提高CO₂体相泡沫半衰期一倍以上,但受二者浓度比例的影响;纳米颗粒的加入有效提高了多孔介质中泡沫的表观黏度,最大增幅由20 mPa·s增至55 mPa·s左右,泡沫黏度增加接近3倍,增强了CO₂泡沫驱的封堵作用.     

Far-Field Detection of Near-Field Circular Dichroism Enhancements Induced by a Nanoantenna

Nanophotonics can enhance the inherent weak signal exhibited by chiral molecules in circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy experiments. One mechanism to achieve this CD enhancement is based on increasing the optical chirality produced by nanophotonics antennas in their near-field, where chiral molecules are placed. However, ascertaining whether this CD enhancement is reached presents significant experimental challenges due to the complexity of measuring near-field optical chirality. Here, it is demonstrated that a local and single measurement of the degree of circular polarization in the far-field enables quantifying near-field CD enhancements. Thereby, based on this far-field measurement, the optimal response of the antenna is predicted for enhanced chiral sensing. Experimental validation of this near-to-far-field relation is provided for silicon spherical nanoantennas. The experimental results, supported by analytical theory and exact numerical simulations, can be interesting for the experimental characterization of devices capable of enhancing CD from a single far-field Stokes measurement.