Nowadays, the interest in the design of particles that combine therapy and diagnosis simultaneously to obtain a theranostic material has increased. One of the most used materials for MRI diagnosis is iron oxide, where clusters of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIONs) are noteworthy candidates. These particles are of high interest due to their broad range of applications, such as contrast agents, use in magnetic separation processes, and in hyperthermia therapy, among others. One of the major problems with their use is maintaining superparamagnetism while having the highest magnetization-to-particle ratio. In this work, microwave-assisted synthesis of clusters formed by SPIONs has been investigated. This synthesis strategy allows for significant reduction in the time and energy required to obtain SPION clusters. Also, the magnetization-to-particle ratio has been increased in comparison with single SPIONs. Subsequently, the clusters are coated with amorphous silica using the St & ouml;ber method, followed by mesoporous (MS) silica using the atrane method, which offers high and conformal coating homogeneity over the clusters. Surfactant extraction was done using a simple mixture of water, ethanol, and sodium chloride - avoiding the use of other organic solvents. Finally, as a proof of concept, the loading and release of a model molecule were studied to confirm that the SPION-NCs@MS presented in this work have great potential as theranostic agents.

Bismuth telluride-Bi2Te3 is the most promising material for harvesting thermal energy near room temperature. There are numerous works on Bi2Te3 reporting significantly different transport properties, with no clear connection to the synthetic routes used and the resultant surface chemistry of the synthesized materials. It is of utmost importance to characterize the constituent particles’ surface and interfaces to get a better understanding of their influence on the transport properties, that will significantly improve the material design starting from the synthesis step. Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a promising technique, enabling the formation of thick films using colloidally stabilized suspensions of pre-made nanoparticles, which can enable the study of the effect of surface chemistry, in connection to the synthetic route, on the material's transport properties. In order to explore the differences in surface chemistry and the resultant transport properties in relation to the synthetic scheme used, here we report on Bi2Te3 synthesised through two wet-chemical routes in water (Hydro-) and oil (Thermo-) as the solvents. XRD analysis showed a high phase purity of the synthesized materials. SEM analysis revealed hexagonal platelet morphology of the synthesized materials, which were then used to fabricate EPD films. Characterization of the EPD films reveal significant differences between the Hydro- and Thermo-Bi2Te3 samples, leading to about 8 times better electrical conductivity values in the Thermo-Bi2Te3. XPS analysis revealed a higher metal oxides content in the Hydro-Bi2Te3 sample, contributing to the formation of a resistive layer, thus lowering the electrical conductivity. Arrhenius plots of electrical conductivity vs inverse temperature was used for the estimation of the activation energy for conduction, revealing a higher activation energy need for the Hydro-Bi2Te3 film, in agreement with the resistive barrier oxide content. Both the samples exhibited negative Seebeck coefficient (S) in the order of 160–170 mV/K. The small difference in S of Hydro- and Themo-Bi2Te3 films was explained by the effective medium theory, revealing that the magnitude of S is linearly correlated with the surface oxide content. Based on the findings, TE materials synthesized through thermolysis route is recommended for further studies using soft treatment/processing of pre-made TE materials. EPD platform presented here is shown to clearly expose the differences in the electronic transport in connection to nanoparticle surface chemistry, proving a promising methodology for the evaluation of morphology, size and surface chemistry dependence of electronic transport for a wide range of materials.

Due to organ donor shortages, long transplant waitlists, and the complications/limitations associated with auto and allotransplantation, biomaterials and tissue-engineered models are gaining attention as feasible alternatives for replacing and reconstructing damaged organs and tissues. Among various tissue engineering applications, bone tissue engineering has become a promising strategy to replace or repair damaged bone. We aimed to provide an overview of bioactive ceramic scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, focusing on angiogenesis and the effect of different biofunctionalization strategies. Different routes to angiogenesis, including chemical induction through signaling molecules immobilized covalently or non-covalently, in situ secretion of angiogenic growth factors, and the degradation of inorganic scaffolds, are described. Physical induction mechanisms are also discussed, followed by a review of methods for fabricating bioactive ceramic scaffolds via microfabrication methods, such as photolithography and 3D printing. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the commonly used methodologies and future directions are discussed.

Nanomaterials adorned on graphene comprise an essential component of a wide range of devices wherein graphene-based copper oxide nanocomposites have garnered significant attention in recent years. Copper oxides (CuO and Cu2O) are semiconductors with distinctive optical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Their earth abundance, low cost, narrow bandgap, high absorption coefficient, and low toxicity of copper oxides are just a few key advantages. CuO is superior to Cu2O in optical switching applications because of its narrower bandgap. Therefore, integrating graphene with copper oxides renders the ensuing nanocomposites much more valuable for various applications. Not surprisingly, a wide range of promising synthesis and processing techniques have been considered, focusing on multiple appliances such as sensors, energy storage, harvesting, and electrocatalysis. Herein, the most recent synthesis techniques and applications of doped, undoped, and hierarchical structures of CuO/Cu2O-graphene-based nanocomposites are deliberated, including the potential future usages.

Diffraction-limited resolution and low penetration depth are fundamental constraints in optical microscopy and in vivo imaging. Recently, liquid-jet X-ray technology has enabled the generation of X-rays with high-power intensities in laboratory settings. By allowing the observation of cellular processes in their natural state, liquid-jet soft X-ray microscopy (SXM) can provide morphological information on living cells without staining. Furthermore, X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI) permits the tracking of contrast agents in vivo with high elemental specificity, going beyond attenuation contrast. In this study, we established a methodology to investigate nanoparticle (NP) interactions in vitro and in vivo, solely based on X-ray imaging. We employed soft (0.5 keV) and hard (24 keV) X-rays for cellular studies and preclinical evaluations, respectively. Our results demonstrated the possibility of localizing NPs in the intracellular environment via SXM and evaluating their biodistribution with in vivo multiplexed XFI. We envisage that laboratory liquid-jet X-ray technology will significantly contribute to advancing our understanding of biological systems in the field of nanomedical research.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have garnered significant attention in biomedical applications. Due to their large surface area and tunable properties, MNPs are used in microfluidic systems, which allow for the manipulation and control of fluids at micro- or nanoscale. Using microfluidic systems allows for a faster, less expensive, and more efficient approach to applications like bioanalysis. MNPs in microfluidics can precisely identify and detect bioanalytes on a single chip by controlling analytes in conjunction with magnetic particles (MPs) and separating various particles for analytical functions at the micro- and nanoscales. Numerous uses for these instruments, including cell-based research, proteomics, and diagnostics, have been reported. The successful reduction in the size of analytical assays and the creation of compact LOC platforms have been made possible with the assistance of microfluidics. Microfluidics is a highly effective method for manipulating fluids as a continuous flow or discrete droplets. Since the implementation of the LOC technology, various microfluidic methods have been developed to improve the efficiency and precision of sorting, separating, or isolating cells or microparticles from their original samples. These techniques aim to surpass traditional laboratory procedures. This review focuses on the recent progress in utilizing microfluidic systems that incorporate MNPs for biological applications.

With the recent advances in thermoelectric (TE) technology, there is an increasing demand to develop thick films that would enable large-scale TE devices. Assembly of TE-films from size and morphology-controlled nano particles has been a challenging issue that can be addressed by the use of electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique. In this work, morphology-controlled Sb2Te3 nanoparticles were synthesized through microwave assisted thermolysis, which were subsequently used for EPD of TE films on specially developed glass substrates. The electronic transport properties were measured in the temp-range of 22-45 degrees C. The as-made EPD films showed a high initial resistance, ascribed to high porosity and the presence of surface oxide/passivating layers. The impact of two types of small organic molecules-as hexanedithiol and dodecanethiol, on the electronic transport was investigated, resulting in a significant improvement in the electrical conductivity of the films. The XPS analysis suggests that the thiols bind to the surface of nanoparticles through formation of sulfides. Seebeck coefficient in the range of + 160 to + 190 & mu;V/K was measured, revealing the p-type transport through the deposited films. Finally, a power factor of about 2.5 & mu;W/K2.m was estimated the first time for p-type EPD films, revealing the potential of the developed nanoparticles and substrate, the small molecule additives and the EPD process presented in this work.

Gene therapy involves replacing a faulty gene or adding a new gene inside the body's cells to cure disease or improve the body's ability to fight disease. Its popularity is evident from emerging concepts such as CRISPR-based genome editing and epigenetic studies and has been moved to a clinical setting. The strategy for therapeutic gene design includes; suppressing the expression of pathogenic genes, enhancing necessary protein production, and stimulating the immune system, which can be incorporated into both viral and non-viral gene vectors. Although non-viral gene delivery provides a safer platform, it suffers from an inefficient rate of gene transfection, which means a few genes could be successfully transfected and expressed within the cells. Incorporating nucleic acids into the viruses and using these viral vectors to infect cells increases gene transfection efficiency. Consequently, more cells will respond, more genes will be expressed, and sustained and successful gene therapy can be achieved. Combining nanoparticles (NPs) and nucleic acids protects genetic materials from enzymatic degradation. Furthermore, the vectors can be transferred faster, facilitating cell attachment and cellular uptake. Magnetically assisted viral transduction (magnetofection) enhances gene therapy efficiency by mixing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with gene vectors and exerting a magnetic field to guide a significant number of vectors directly onto the cells. This research critically reviews the MNPs and the physiochemical properties needed to assemble an appropriate magnetic viral vector, discussing cellular hurdles and attitudes toward overcoming these barriers to reach clinical gene therapy perspectives. We focus on the studies conducted on the various applications of magnetic viral vectors in cancer therapies, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cell sorting, and virus isolation.

Nowadays, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have a dominant role in many subfields of biomedicine. Owing to their peculiar properties, they can be employed for magnetic separation, drug delivery, diagnostics, and hyperthermia treatments. However, these magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) suffer from low unit magnetization due to size constraints (up to 20-30 nm) to exhibit superparamagnetic character. In this work, we have designed and synthesized superparamagnetic nanoclusters (SP-NCs) with diameters of up to 400 nm with high unit magnetization for enhanced loading capacity. These were synthesized with conventional or microwave-assisted solvothermal methods, in the presence of either of the two biomolecules (citrate or l-lysine) as the capping agent. Primary particle size, SP-NC size, surface chemistry, and the resultant magnetic properties were observed to be significantly influenced by the choice of synthesis route and capping agent. Selected SP-NCs were then coated with a fluorophore-doped silica shell to provide fluorescence properties, in the near-infrared spectrum region, while silica provided high chemical and colloidal stability. Heating efficiency studies were performed under alternating magnetic field on the synthesized SP-NCs, highlighting their potential in hyperthermia treatment. We envision that their enhanced magnetically-active content, fluorescence, magnetic property, and heating efficiency will pave the way to more effective uses in biomedical applications.

Aims: To investigate the distribution and toxicity of ruthenium nanoparticles (Ru NPs) injected intravenously in mice.

Methods: We synthesized Ru NPs, followed their biodistribution by x-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging and evaluated organ toxicity by histopathology and gene expression.

Results: Ru NPs accumulated, mainly in liver and spleen, where they were phagocyted by tissue macrophages, giving a transient inflammation and oxidative stress response that declined after 2 weeks. Ru NPs gradually accumulated in the skin, which was confirmed by microscopic examination of skin biopsies.

Conclusion: Ru NP toxicity in recipient organs is transient. Particles are at least partially excreted by the skin, supporting a role for the skin as a nanoparticle clearing organ.