Synthesis of Co/MFe2O4 (M=Fe, Mn) core/shell nanocomposite particles

Monodispersed cobalt nanoparticles (NPs) with controllable size (8–14 nm) have been synthesized using thermal decomposition of dicobaltoctacarbonyl in organic solvent. The as-synthesized high magnetic moment (125 emu/g) Co NPs are dispersible in various organic solvents, and can be easily transferred into aqueous phase by surface modification using phospholipids. However, the modified hydrophilic Co NPs are not stable as they are quickly oxidized, agglomerated in buffer. Co NPs are stabilized by coating the MFe₂O₄ (M=Fe, Mn) ferrite shell. Core/shell structured bimagnetic Co/MFe₂O₄ nanocomposites are prepared with tunable shell thickness (1–5 nm). The Co/MFe₂O₄ nanocomposites retain the high magnetic moment density from the Co core, while gaining chemical and magnetic stability from the ferrite shell. Compared to Co NPs, the nanocomposites show much enhanced stability in buffer solution at elevated temperatures, making them promising for biomedical applications.     

调制损耗对硅基MZI结构光调制器非线性特性的影响

针对基于马赫-曾德干涉仪结构的硅基光调制器中非线性电光响应的问题,采用包含PN结非线性调制损耗和非线性折射率变化的模型,通过数值仿真方法,研究了上下两臂对称和不对称两种情况下,调制损耗对硅基光调制器非线性的影响.对比考虑调制损耗和忽略调制损耗的模型,发现在常规大信号情况下,当光调制器偏置相位为0时,调制损耗使得三次谐波增强,四次谐波减弱;当光调制器偏置相位为π/2时,调制损耗使得二次和四次谐波增强;而在小信号情况下,三次和四次等高次谐波不明显,在光调制器偏置相位为0时,调制损耗在光调制器上下两臂不对称情况下增加了基频分量串扰;在光调制器偏置相位为π/2时,调制损耗的影响主要表现为增加了二次谐波分量.     

Application of multivariate data-analysis techniques to biomedical diagnostics based on mid-infrared spectroscopy

The objective of this contribution is to review the application of advanced multivariate data-analysis techniques in the field of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopic biomedical diagnosis. MIR spectroscopy is a powerful chemical analysis tool for detecting biomedically relevant constituents such as DNA/RNA, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, etc., and even diseases or disease progression that may induce changes in the chemical composition or structure of biological systems including cells, tissues, and bio-fluids. However, MIR spectra of multiple constituents are usually characterized by strongly overlapping spectral features reflecting the complexity of biological samples. Consequently, MIR spectra of biological samples are frequently difficult to interpret by simple data-analysis techniques. Hence, with increasing complexity of the sample matrix more sophisticated mathematical and statistical data analysis routines are required for deconvoluting spectroscopic data and for providing useful results from information-rich spectroscopic signals. A large body of work relates to the combination of multivariate data-analysis techniques with MIR spectroscopy, and has been applied by a variety of research groups to biomedically relevant areas such as cancer detection and analysis, artery diseases, biomarkers, and other pathologies. The reported results indeed reveal a promising perspective for more widespread application of multivariate data analysis in assisting MIR spectroscopy as a screening or diagnostic tool in biomedical research and clinical studies. While the authors do not mean to ignore any relevant contributions to biomedical analysis across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, they confine the discussion in this contribution to the mid-infrared spectral range as a potentially very useful, yet underutilized frequency region. Selected representative examples without claiming completeness will demonstrate a range of biomedical diagnostic applications with particular emphasis on the advantageous interaction between multivariate data analysis and MIR spectroscopy.     

Review: Recent Developments in Enzyme-Based Biosensors for Biomedical Analysis

The need for simple, rapid, cost-effective, and portable screening methods has boosted the development of practical biosensors with applications in clinical monitoring, and diagnosis of disease. Compared with traditional analytical methods, enzyme-based bioanalytical devices have several distinct advantages such as high sensitivity and specificity, portability, cost-effectiveness, and the possibilities for miniaturization and mass production. Additionally, they can be developed for point-of-care diagnostic testing. This paper reviews recent advances in the development of enzyme biosensors, design characteristics, performances, and applications with a focus on electrochemical and optical sensors. Recent emerging technologies and innovative biosensing designs, such as nanosensors, paper based-sensors, lab-on-a-chip, biochips, and microfluidic devices are discussed. Specific applications in bioanalysis, clinical diagnosis, and pharmacology are discussed.     

Topology optimization for nano‐photonics

Topology optimization is a computational tool that can be used for the systematic design of photonic crystals, waveguides, resonators, filters and plasmonics. The method was originally developed for mechanical design problems but has within the last six years been applied to a range of photonics applications. Topology optimization may be based on finite element and finite difference type modeling methods in both frequency and time domain. The basic idea is that the material density of each element or grid point is a design variable, hence the geometry is parameterized in a pixel‐like fashion. The optimization problem is efficiently solved using mathematical programming‐based optimization methods and analytical gradient calculations. The paper reviews the basic procedures behind topology optimization, a large number of applications ranging from photonic crystal design to surface plasmonic devices, and lists some of the future challenges in non‐linear applications.     

Chiral separations by capillary electrophoresis: Recent developments and applications

This paper provides an overview of the different classes of chiral selectors that are used in CE. The main properties of every class are described, together with the mechanism of enantioseparation. Newly introduced selectors are also discussed. Pharmaceutical and biomedical applications published from January 2004 till March 2005 are summarized.     

Magnetism and thermal induced characteristics of Fe2O3 content bioceramics

Magnetic properties of Li₂O–MnO₂–CaO–P₂O₅–SiO₂ (LMCPS) glasses doped with various amounts of Fe₂O₃ were investigated. There is a dramatic change in the magnetic property of pristine LMCPS after the addition of Fe₂O₃ and crystallized at 850 °C for 4 h. Both the electron paramagnetic resonance and magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that the glass ceramic with 4 at% Fe₂O₃ exhibited the coexistence of superparamagnetism and ferromagnetism at room temperature. When the Fe₂O₃ content was higher than 8 at%, the LMCPS glasses showed ferromagnetism behavior. The complex magnetic behavior is due to the distribution of (Li, Mn)ferrite particle sizes driven by the Fe₂O₃ content. The thermal induced hysteresis loss of the crystallized LMCPS glass ceramics was characterized under an alternating magnetic field. The energy dissipations of the crystallized LMCPS glass ceramics were determined by the concentration and Mn/Fe ratios of Li(Mn, Fe)ferrite phase formed in the glass ceramics.     

Measurement of modulation index and half-wave voltage of an electro-optical phase modulator with a dispersion-based phase filter

In this paper, a novel method based on the use of an optical phase filter is proposed to evaluate the modulation index, as well as the half-wave voltage of an optical phase modulator. When a phase modulated signal propagates along the length of a dispersive fiber, the fiber dispersion acts as an optical phase filter and spectrally alters the relative phasing of the phase modulated signal, causing the phase modulation to become intensity modulation, which allows the swept frequency measurement of phase modulators by using a vector network analyzer. The modulation index and half-wave voltage as a function of the modulation frequency are experimentally measured for a commercial phase modulator, which agree well with the results obtained using the widely accepted optical spectrum analysis method. The proposed method requires only a length of dispersive fiber and works without any small-signal approximation, which is applicable for different driving levels and operating wavelengths with the same setup.     

通过麦克加成反应形成的三臂聚乙二醇丙烯酸酯可注射水凝胶的制备与表征

通过麦克加成反应在磷酸盐缓冲溶液中制备出一种基于三臂聚乙二醇丙烯酸酯的能快速固化的可注射水凝胶.采用倒置法测定了体系的凝胶化时间.通过红外,DMA,溶胀,降解等一系列测试,研究了该水凝胶的结构和物理化学性能.观察到通过控制前体溶液的浓度,可以控制凝胶的成胶时间和所形成凝胶的溶涨率.同时表明该水凝胶具备可注射性和可降解性.细胞毒性评价显示,该水凝胶浸提液无毒性,符合生物材料的安全评价标准.由于麦克加成反应可在人体生理条件(pH7.4,37℃)下快速进行,并且不需要任何引发剂、催化剂和有机溶剂,因此该反应非常适合应用于生物医用材料领域.     

Rational Design of Biomolecules/Polymer Hybrids by Reversible Deactivation Radical Polymerization (RDRP) for Biomedical Applications

Hybrids, produced by hybridization of proteins, peptides, DNA, and other new biomolecules with polymers, often have unique functional properties. These properties, such as biocompatibility, stability and specificity, lead to various smart biomaterials. This review mainly introduces biomolecule-polymer hybrid materials by reversible deactivation radical polymerization(RDRP), emphasizing reverse addition-fragmentation chain transfer(RAFT) polymerization, and nitroxide mediated polymerization(NMP)....