Journal of Nanoparticle Research最新文献

Water softening is a treatment process required to manage calcium and magnesium cations in water streams. Moreover, detection of such cations in water samples using simple portable techniques is required for monitoring and inspection of water quality. Nanocomposites can provide solutions for such multiple challenges while showing high performance and cost-effectiveness. In this work, the Cu-Fe layered double hydroxides (LDH)/cysteine-based electrodes were synthesized and are used as active materials for the electrochemical detection of calcium ions. The electrode materials were characterized using XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The synthesized electrode showed a limit of detection and a limit of quantification of 0.21 µM and 0.73 µM, respectively. The concentration range of detection was 5–30 µM. The intermolecular interactions of Ca ions with cysteine-free LDH and cysteine-LDH were investigated by Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that the (001) surface is favored for Ca(II) adsorption within the LDH structure with an energy of adsorption equals to 372.46 kcal/mol. This work paves the road towards developing cost-effective disposable electrode based on portable electrochemical detection of Ca ions for on-site water softening applications.

As a promising antitumor strategy, combination oncotherapy can achieve better therapeutic efficacy. However, given the different properties of drugs, carriers need to meet requirements for efficient encapsulation and controllable release of multi-drugs. Herein, we propose a graphene oxide (GO)-templated biomineralization nanosystem to optimize oncotherapy. For preparation, GO is conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to improve biostability, and glyeyrrhetinic acid (GA) is further grafted onto PEG chains for site-specific targeting. The generated nanosheet structure and large specific surface area support high doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulation and mineralized deposition of siRNA via π-π stacking and calcium phosphate co-precipitation, respectively. Followed by highly efficient penetration into tumor cells, GO-templated nanosystem performs swift drug release in response to tumor acidic microenvironment through dissolution of calcium phosphate and disruption of molecular interactions. After administration, the GO-templated nanosystem performs superior pharmacy properties and significant antitumor efficacy via the synergy of chemotherapy and RNA interference therapy. Collectively, a GO-templated biomineralization nanosystem provides an innovative delivery system for multi-drug administration in combinative tumor therapy.

Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) doped with lanthanides are introduced as a significant tool in bioimaging applications. Here in, a comparative study has been performed to understand the cell internalization capacity of folic acid (FA) and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-lysine (RGDK) ligands. To achieve this goal, polyacrylic acid (PAA) coated UCNPs (NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺) are conjugated with various surface ligands such as FA and RGDK through a straightforward ligand exchange procedure. Ligand conjugation to UCNPs was characterized with a transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, zeta potential measurements, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and NanoDrop measurements. The cellular uptake of the nanoparticles was investigated on the breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. The obtained results demonstrated that folic acid and RGDK functionalized UCNPs showed remarkably higher cellular uptake, which clearly indicates that the specific targeting of UCNPs provides a better quality of sub-cellular imaging at lower energy band region.

Overcoming the blood–brain barrier (BBB) remains a substantial challenge in CNS drug delivery. This review explores the potential of lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) such as liposomes and solid lipid NPs to overcome this obstacle. As demonstrated in preclinical studies, these lipid-based NPs exhibit the capacity to breach the BBB via receptor-mediated transcytosis and surface modifications. By capitalizing on enhanced permeability and retention, they ensure efficient transport and accumulation within the brain, which has profound implications in neuroscience and therapeutics. Lipid-based NPs facilitate targeted drug delivery to specific brain regions, enhance therapeutic outcomes, and minimize off-target effects. Combining NPs with techniques such as ultrasound or gene editing shows promise for addressing transport challenges. However, realizing their full potential demands further research, including scalable manufacturing, understanding the long-term CNS fate, and establishing reliable BBB models. These advancements promise secure and effective utilization of lipid-based NPs in CNS therapeutics, ultimately advancing patient care and neuroscience. In conclusion, this review highlights the significant potential to overcome the BBB and enable effective CNS drug delivery. The unprecedented opportunities presented by these NPs have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders, heralding a new era of therapeutic interventions.