Aqueous synthesis of alkanethiolate-protected Ag nanoparticles using Bunte salts

The one-pot synthesis of monolayer-protected metal nanoparticles derived from sodium S-dodecylthiosulfate (Bunte salt) in aqueous solution is described. Silver nanoparticles, which were produced by the borohydride reduction of silver nitrate in H2O, were stabilized by the adsorption of S-dodecylthiosulfate followed by the removal of the SO3- moiety. Temporary stabilization of silver sols by the adsorption of borohydride and borate prevented aggregation of silver nanoparticles in H2O. The syntheses of other metal nanoparticles, including gold, copper, and palladium particles in H2O, were less successful. Gold and copper particles were completely aggregated and precipitated out immediately after the addition of NaBH4, yielding only insoluble clusters. Stable and soluble palladium nanoparticle could be prepared, but the presence of Pd-thiolate complex was also observed. These nanoparticles were characterized using 1H NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.     

Azide-assisted cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s as stable and highly conductive membranes with low methanol diffusion coefficients

Novel cross-linked sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s, prepared by azide-assisted thermal irradiation, show not only low methanol permeability but also exceptionally high proton conductivity with oxidative and hydrolytic stability.     

Synthesis of nanoparticle-cored dendrimers by convergent dendritic functionalization of monolayer-protected nanoparticles

This article presents a synthesis method for nanoparticle-cored dendrimers (NCDs), which have dendritic architectures around a monolayer-protected gold nanoparticle. The synthesis method is based on a strategy in which the synthesis of monolayer-protected nanoparticles is followed by adding dendrons on functionalized nanoparticles by a single coupling reaction. NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) characterizations confirmed the successful coupling reaction between dendrons with different generations ([G1], [G2], and [G3]) and COOH-functionalized nanoparticles ( approximately Au201L71). The dendrimer wedge density also could be controlled by reacting nanoparticles having different loading of COOH groups ( approximately 60 and approximately 10% COOH of the 71 ligands per gold nanoparticle) with functionalized dendrons. Transmission electron microscope results showed that this synthesis strategy maintains the average size of the nanoparticle core during dendron coupling reactions. This control over the composition and core size makes the systematic study of NCDs with different generations possible. The chemical stability of NCDs was found to be affected by dendron generation around the nanoparticle core. The current-potential response of NCD films on microelectrode arrays exhibited better electrical conductivity for NCDs with lower dendron generation.     

TNF-alpha upregulates PTEN via NF-kappaB signaling pathways in human leukemic cells

TNF-alpha plays a variety of biological functions such as apoptosis, inflammation and immunity. PTEN also has various cellular function including cell growth, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Thus, possible relationships between the two molecules are suggested. TNF-alpha has been known to downregulate PTEN via NF-kappaB pathway in the human colon cell line, HT-29. However, here we show the opposite finding that TNF-alpha upregulates PTEN via activation of NF-kappaB in human leukemic cells. TNF-alpha increased PTEN expression at HL-60 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner, but the response was abolished by disruption of NF-kappaB with p65 antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. We found that TNF-alpha activated the NF-kappaB pathways, evidenced by the translocation of p65 to the nucleus in TNF-alpha-treated cells. We conclude that TNF-alpha induces upregulation of PTEN expression through NF-kappaB activation in human leukemic cells.     

Ultrasonic, chemical stability and preparation of self-assembled fullerene[C60]-gold nanoparticle films

C(60)-functionalized gold nanoparticle films were self-assembled on the reactive surface of glass slides functionalized with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane. The functionalized glass slides were alternately soaked in the solutions containing unmodified C(60) and 4-aminothiophenoxide/hexane thiolate-protected gold nanoparticles. Organic reaction (amination) facilitated the layer-by-layer multilayer film assembly. C(60)-functionalized gold nanoparticle films have grown up to several layers (upto 5 layers were examined) depending on the immersion time. The assembled nanoparticle films were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy. The chemical stability of C(60)-gold nanoparticle films was studied by monitoring the changes in absorbance after the immersion of the films in acidic solutions. The ultrasonic stability of these nanoparticle films was studied by exposing them to ultrasonic irradiated surrounding, which results in the aggregation of nanoparticles on solid surfaces.     

Nanoscale near-field infrared spectroscopic imaging of silica-shell/gold-core and pure silica nanoparticles

Spectroscopic near-field imaging of single silica-shell/Au-core and pure silica nanoparticles deposited on a silicon substrate is performed in the infrared wavelength range (λ = 9–11 μm) using scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM). By tuning the wavelength of the incident light, we have acquired information on the spectral phonon–polariton resonant near-field interactions of the silica-shell/Au-core and pure silica nanoparticles with the probing tip. We made use of the enhanced near-field coupling between the high index Au-core and the probing tip to achieve spectral near-field contrast of the thin silica coating (thickness < 10 nm). Our results show that spectroscopic imaging of thin coating layers and complex core–shell nanoparticles can be directly performed by s-SNOM.     

Optimization of surface coating condition using vapor form of alkanethiol on Cu nano powders for the application of oxidation prevention

There has been a growing interest in metal nano powders recently, and researches on Copper (Cu) nano particles are actively pursued due to its good electrical conductivity and its low prices. However, its easiness to oxidation and corrosion has delayed its research progress in Cu nano particles to be applied in inkjet printed electronics and other related research area. To overcome these problems, new surface coating method on Cu nano particles has been developed using dry process instead of conventional wet coating method. Octanethiol was used as a dry coating material because it has sulfur at the end of monolayer to chemically bond to the surface of fresh non-oxidized Cu nano particles to prevent oxidation. Octanethiol does not bond to oxidized surface of Cu nano particles. Previously, bonding between octanethiol and Cu nano particles, more specifically bonding between Cu surface and Sulfur (S) was analyzed using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). As a result, S peak was detected on the coated Cu nano particles, indicating that octanethiol chain has been successfully coated on the surface of Cu nano particles.In this study, optimization of dry coating condition was studied by varying coating time and cycles. XPS was used to analyze the composition of coated material to monitor the change in amount of S and O peaks for each condition. It was found that as the amount of Sulfur increased, the amount of Oxygen decreased and vice versa. This finding indicates that dry coating has suppressed the formation of oxygen on the surface of Cu nano powders by surrounding Cu surface with Sulfur end of octanethiol chain. Based on these experiments, the optimum coating condition for suppressing Cu oxidation was found to be 5 min and 6 cycles. For future work, the lifetime of octanethiol layer on the surface of Cu surface needs to be studied.     

Optical amplification in a bismuth-doped silica glass at 1300 nm telecommunications window

We have demonstrated optical amplification in a bismuth-doped silica glass in second telecommunication windows (1300 nm). The amplification was obtained at five different wavelengths between 1260 and 1360 nm and the amplification bandwidth is greater than 75 nm. This new gain medium is expected to be useful for application in ultra-wide broadband optical communication.     

Uncertainty analysis of flow rate measurement for multiphase flow using CFD

The venturi meter has an advantage in its use,because it can measure flow without being much affected by the type of the measured fluid or flow conditions.Hence,it has excellent versatility and is being widely applied in many industries.The flow of a liquid containing air is a representative example of a multiphase flow and exhibits complex flow characteristics.In particular,the greater the gas volume fraction(GVF),the more inhomogeneous the flow becomes.As a result,using a venturi meter to measure the rate of a flow that has a high GVF generates an error.In this study,the cause of the error occurred in measuring the flow rate for the multiphase flow when using the venturi meter for analysis by CFD.To ensure the reliability of this study,the accuracy of the multiphase flow models for numerical analysis was verified through comparison between the calculated results of numerical analysis and the experimental data.As a result,the Grace model,which is a multiphase flow model established by an experiment with water and air,was confirmed to have the highest reliability.Finally,the characteristics of the internal flow Held about the multiphase flow analysis result generated by applying the Grace model were analyzed to find the cause of the uncertainty occurring when measuring the flow rate of the multiphase flow using the venturi meter.A phase separation phenomenon occurred due to a density difference of water and air inside the venturi,and flow inhomogeneity happened according to the flow velocity difference of each phase.It was confirmed that this flow inhomogeneity increased as the GVF increased due to the uncertainty of the flow measurement.     

Conversion Characteristics of Some Major Cannabinoids from Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Raw Materials by New Rapid Simultaneous Analysis Method

This study was carried out to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography method for short-time analysis of the main cannabinoids in the inflorescence of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). We also performed decarboxylation of the raw material using our advanced analysis technique. In this study, the UV spectrum was considered to analyze each of the four common cannabinoids, solvents, and samples, where the uniform elution of acidic cannabinoids without peak tailing and acids was tested. Optimal results were obtained when readings were taken at a wavelength of 220 nm using water and methanol containing trifluoroacetic acid as mobile phases in a solvent gradient system. The established conditions were further validated by system suitability, linearity, precision, detection limit, and quantitation limit tests. The decarboxylation index (DT₅₀) confirmed that Δ9-THCA decarboxylated faster than CBDA, and both maintained a linear relationship with time and temperature. In addition, the loss of cannabidiol was better prevented during the decarboxylation process in the natural state than in the extracted state.