Focusing of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using a rotating magnetic field in various environments

The paper shows the application of a new method – Magnetic Nanoparticles Focusing 3D, MNF-3D – for focusing of magnetic nanoparticles at any point in a three-dimensional space between the rotating magnet system. The results of focusing process of nanoparticles in water, human blood, human serum and polyurethane sponge are presented. Additionally, blood flow was also considered. The effectiveness of nanoparticle focusing was monitored optically and quantitatively by electron spin resonance method. The method enabled focusing of magnetic nanoparticles within a few minutes in different environments. A good efficiency of focusing process was observed for all the samples.     

Comparison of RAFT‐derived poly(vinylpyrrolidone) verses poly(oligoethyleneglycol methacrylate) for the stabilization of glycosylated gold nanoparticles

Carbohydrates dictate many biological processes including infection by pathogens. Glycosylated polymers and nanomaterials which have increased affinity due to the cluster glycoside effect, are therefore useful tools to probe function, but also as prophylactic therapies or diagnostic tools. Here, the effect of polymer structure on the coating of gold nanoparticles is studied in the context of grafting density, buffer stability, and in a lectin binding assay. RAFT polymerization is used to generate poly(oligoethyleneglycol methacrylates) and poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidones) with a thiol end‐group for subsequent immobilization onto the gold. It is observed that poly(oligoethylene glycol methacrylates), despite being widely used particle coatings, lead to low grafting densities which in turn resulted in lower stability in biological buffers. A depression of the cloud point upon nanoparticle immobilization is also seen, which might compromise performance. In comparison poly(vinylpyrrolidones) resulted in stable particles with higher grafting densities due to the compact size of each monomer unit. The higher grafting density also enabled an increase in the number of carbohydrates which can be installed per nanoparticle at the chain ends, and gave increased binding in a lectin recognition assay. These results will guide the development of new nanoparticle biosensors with enhanced specificity, affinity, and stability. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1200–1208     

Greener approach for synthesis of monodispersed palladium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of green tea and their catalytic activity for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction and the reduction of nitroarenes

A facile and green route for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (NPs) was developed utilizing non‐toxic and renewable natural green tea extract as the reducing, stabilizing and capping agent. The as‐prepared Pd‐NPs@G.Tea extract was characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The Pd‐NPs@G.Tea extract could be used as an efficient and heterogeneous catalyst for Suzuki coupling reactions between phenylboronic acid and a range of aryl halides containing iodo, bromo and chloro moieties, and also for the reduction of nitroarenes using sodium borohydride in an environmentally friendly medium. Excellent yields of products were obtained with a wide range of substrates and the catalyst was recycled multiple times without any significant loss of its catalytic activity.     

Gold nanoparticles supported on ionic liquid‐modified cellulose as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes/ketones and reduction of nitroarenes

A novel catalyst of gold nanoparticles supported on cellulose fibres with the ionic liquid framework (Au NPs@CL‐IL) has been shown to be a highly active and recyclable catalyst for the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols and reduction of nitroarenes in aqueous media. The reusability of this catalyst is high, and it can be reused ten times without a significant decrease in its catalytic activity. Furthermore, transmission electron micrographs of the recovered catalyst show the presence of well‐distributed Au NPs on the CL‐IL fibres without any aggregation.     

Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction in water in the presence of robust palladium immobilized on modified magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles as a recoverable catalyst

Aryl halides and especially inactive aryl chlorides were coupled to benzenoid aromatic rings in a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction in the absence of organic solvents and toxic phosphine ligands. The reaction was catalysed by a recoverable magnetic nanocatalyst, Pd@Fe₃O₄, in aqueous media. This method is green, and the catalyst is easily removed from the reaction media using an external magnetic field and can be re‐used at least 10 times without any considerable loss in its activity. The catalyst was characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopies, thermogravimetric analysis, inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, CHN analysis, X‐ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry.     

Importance of the Correlation between Width and Length in the Shape Analysis of Nanorods: Use of a 2D Size Plot To Probe Such a Correlation

Analysis of nanoparticle size through a simple 2D plot is proposed in order to extract the correlation between length and width in a collection or a mixture of anisotropic particles. Compared to the usual statistics on the length associated with a second and independent statistical analysis of the width, this simple plot easily points out the various types of nanoparticles and their (an)isotropy. For each class of nano‐objects, the relationship between width and length (i.e., the strong or weak correlations between these two parameters) may suggest information concerning the nucleation/growth processes. It allows one to follow the effect on the shape and size distribution of physical or chemical processes such as simple ripening. Various electron microscopy pictures from the literature or from the authors′ own syntheses are used as examples to demonstrate the efficiency and simplicity of the proposed 2D plot combined with a multivariate analysis.     

Sonochemical coating of magnetite nanoparticles with silica

Magnetite nanoparticles were coated with silica through the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) under ultrasonic irradiation. The ultrasonic irradiation was used to prevent the agglomeration of the magnetite particles and accelerate the hydrolysis and condensation of TEOS. TEM, DLS, XRF, VSM, TG and sedimentation test were used to characterize the silica-coated magnetite particles. The dispersibility of silica-coated magnetite particles in aqueous solution was improved significantly and the agglomerate particle size was decreased to 110 nm. It was found that the agglomerate particle size of silica-coated magnetite particles was mainly decided by the coating temperature and the pH value in the silica-coating process. The weight ratio of silica in silica-coated magnetite particles was mainly decided by the pH value in the silica-coating process. The dispersibility of silica-coated magnetite particles was mainly decided by the agglomerate particle size of the suspension. The oxidation of magnetite particles in air was limited through the coated silica. The magnetism of silica-coated magnetite particles decreased slightly after silica-coating.     

Synthesis of Poly (methyl methacrylate)/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite with Core-Shell Morphology by Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

A method to prepare zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles with a covalently bonded poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell by surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) was reported. First, the initiator for ATRP was covalently bonded onto the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles through our novel method. Firstly, the surface of ZnO nanoparticle was treated with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane, a silane coupling agent, and then this functionalization nanoparticle was reacted with α-chloro phenyl acetyl chloride to prepare atom transfer radical polymerization macroinitiator. The metal-catalyzed radical polymerization of MMA with ZnOmacroinitiator was performed using a copper catalyst system to give the ZnO-based nanoparticles hybrids linking PMMA segments (poly (methyl methacrylate)/zinc oxide nanocomposite). These hybrid nanoparticles had an exceptionally good dispersability in organic solvents and were subjected to detailed characterization using FTIR, TEM and TGA and DSC analyzed.     

Preparation,Characterization and Drug Release Behavior of 5-Fluorouracil Loaded Carboxylic Poly(ε-caprolactone) Nanoparticles

In this paper, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) loaded carboxylic poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles have been prepared by emulsification/solvent evaporation o/w method, and the drug release behaviors of 5-FU were investigated. The novel carboxylic poly (ε-caprolactone) (P(CL-OPD)-mal) was synthesized via conjugation of maleic anhydride to sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) reduced poly(ε-caprolactone-co -4- carbonyl -ε-caprolactone) (P(CL-OPD)), while P(CL-OPD) was synthesized in bulk by ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone and 4-carbonyl-ε-caprolactone (OPD) with stannous octoate as a catalyst. Their structures were confirmed by ¹HNMR, FT-IR and GPC. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential measurements were used for nanoparticle characterization. TEM and DLS showed the nanoparticles were with spherical shape and uniform size distribution (mean diameter 70～100 nm), respectively. Zeta potential analysis revealed that the nanoparticles had an increased negative surface with the increase of carboxyl group concentration. UV spectroscopy was adopted to study the entrapment and release behaviour. The maximum 5-FU loading efficiency was 14.39% with the entrapment efficiency be 42%. In vitro release studies were performed in PBS at 37°C. Results of the study showed that the release behavior can be well-controlled, and the balanced release was up to 96 h. P(CL-OPD)-mal nanoparticles would provide increased benefit in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.