Role of hydrophobicity in tuning the intracellular uptake of dendron-based fluorophores for in vitro metal ion sensing

Modular amphiphilic poly(aryl ether)-based supramolecular nanomicelles: an efficient endocytic drug carrier

A rationally designed amphiphilic poly(aryl ether)-based dendrimer self-assembles into nanomicelles and exhibits tunable morphology upon varying the hydrophilic chain length. The 30 nm-sized dendrimer nanomicelles successfully entrapped Doxorubicin, demonstrated the sustained release of Doxorubicin and can successfully penetrate cancer cells through caveolae-dependent endocytosis, compared to the free drug.

Colorimetric response of lysine-caped gold/silver alloy nanocomposites for mercury(II) ion detection

A simple and rapid colorimetric assay for determination of mercury(II) ion (Hg²⁺) in aqueous solutions was developed based on aggregation of gold/silver alloy nanocomposites (Au/Ag NCs). Au/Ag NCs were aggregated after the addition of Hg²⁺ and the positively charged amino acid, lysine. The different aggregation degrees of Au/Ag NCs is indicated by variations in the absorption spectra and accompanied by a color change from orange yellow to yellowish green. Under the optimal conditions, the shift of absorbance ratio (A₆₅₀/A₄₄₇) was proportional to Hg²⁺ concentrations in the range of 0.01-10.0 μM. The limit of detection is 4.8 nM. The proposed colorimetric assay was extremely specific for Hg²⁺ and other environmentally relevant metal ions did not interfere with the determination.