Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction Based on Amino-functionalized Magnetic Starch for Analysis of Organochlorine Pesticides

A magnetic starch modified with 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (Fe-starch@DABA-APTES) was synthesized and applied as adsorbent for the extraction of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Magnetic solid-phase extraction was developed using 75 mg of the sorbent and 15 mL of a sample solution. Extraction was conducted on a vortex mixer for 40 s. The adsorbent was collected using an external magnet before eluting the analytes using 0.5 mL of methanol. Quantification of the analytes was performed using gas chromatography with a micro-electron capture detector. The linearity was obtained for the studied OCPs in the range between 0.01 - 2.00 μg L^-1. The detection and quantification limits were obtained in ranges of 0.5 - 4.0 and 1.5 - 15.0 ng L^-1, respectively, with enrichment factors of up to 39. The precision in terms of the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) were below 4.75, and 9.25%, respectively. The developed method has been applied in natural water and agricultural product samples. The recoveries ranged between 59.83 - 132.67% (RSDs < 10.73%).

Promising plasmid DNA vector based on APTES-modified silica nanoparticles

Nanoparticles have an enormous potential for development in biomedical applications, such as gene or drug delivery. We developed and characterized aminopropyltriethoxysilane-functionalized silicon dioxide nanoparticles (APTES-SiNPs) for gene therapy. Lipofectamine^® 2000, a commonly used agent, served as a contrast. We showed that APTES-SiNPs had a gene transfection efficiency almost equal to that of Lipofectamine 2000, but with lower cytotoxicity. Thus, these novel APTES-SiNPs can achieve highly efficient transfection of plasmid DNA, and to some extent reduce cytotoxicity, which might overcome the critical drawbacks in vivo of conventional carriers, such as viral vectors, organic polymers, and liposomes, and seem to be a promising nonviral gene therapy vector.

Aminopropyltriethoxysilane-mediated surface functionalization of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and in vitro toxicity assay

BACKGROUND

We report on aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS)-mediated surface modification of nanohydroxyapatite with different surface functional groups for potential biomedical applications. In this study, nanohydroxyapatite covalently linked with APTS (n-HA-APTS) was reacted with acetic anhydride or succinic anhydride to produce neutralized (n-HA-APTS. Ac) or negatively charged (n-HA-APTS.SAH) nanohydroxyapatite, respectively. Nanohydroxyapatite formed with amine, acetyl, and carboxyl groups was extensively characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements.

RESULTS

In vitro 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric assay revealed that the slight toxicity of the amine-functionalized n-HA-APTS could be eliminated by post-functionalization of APTS amines to form acetyl and carboxyl groups. Blood compatibility assessment demonstrated that the negligible hemolytic activity of the pristine nanohydroxyapatite particles did not appreciably change after APTS-mediated surface functionalization.

CONCLUSION

APTS-mediated functionalization of nanohydroxyapatite with different surface groups may be useful for further functionalization of nanohydroxyapatite with biologically active materials, thereby providing possibilities for a broad range of biomedical applications.