Photosensitive Polymeric Janus Micromotor for Enzymatic Activity Protection and Enhanced Substrate Degradation

Immobilizing enzymes into microcarriers is a strategy to improve their long-term stability and reusability, hindered by (UV) light irradiation. However, in such approaches, enzyme-substrate interaction is mediated by diffusion, often at slow kinetics. In contrast, enzyme-linked self-propelled motors can accelerate this interaction, frequently mediated by the convection mechanism. This work reports on a new photosensitive polymeric Janus micromotor (JM) for UV-light protection of enzymatic activity and efficient degradation of substrates accelerated by the JMs. The JMs were assembled with UV-photosensitive modified chitosan, co-encapsulating fluorescent-labeled proteins and enzymes as models and magnetite and platinum nanoparticles for magnetic and catalytic motion. The JMs absorbed UV light, protecting the enzymatic activity and accelerating the enzyme-substrate degradation by magnetic/catalytic motion. Immobilizing proteins in photosensitive JMs is a promising strategy to improve the enzyme's stability and hasten the kinetics of substrate degradation, thereby enhancing the enzymatic process's efficiency.

Photonic Hydrogels for Synergistic Visual Bacterial Detection and On-Site Photothermal Disinfection

Rapid and sensitive diagnostics in the early stage of bacterial infection and immediate treatment play critical roles in the control of infectious diseases. However, it remains challenging to develop integrated systems with both rapid detection of bacterial infection and timely on-demand disinfection ability. Herein, we demonstrate a photonic hydrogel platform integrating visual diagnosis and on-site photothermal disinfection by incorporating Fe₃O₄@C nanoparticles into a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-polyacrylamide (PHEMA-co-PAAm) matrix. In vitro experiments demonstrate that such a hydrogel can respond to pH variation caused by bacterial metabolism and generate the corresponding color changes to realize naked-eye observation. Meanwhile, its excellent photothermal conversion ability enables it to effectively kill bacteria by destroying cell membranes under near-infrared irradiation. Moreover, the pigskin infection wound model also verifies the bacterial detection performance and disinfection ability of the hydrogel in vivo. Our strategy demonstrates a new approach for visual diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections.

Radio frequency plasma assisted surface modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles using polyaniline/polypyrrole for bioimaging and magnetic hyperthermia applications

Surface modification of superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles using polymers (polyaniline/polypyrrole) was done by radio frequency (r.f.) plasma polymerization technique and characterized by XRD, TEM, TG/DTA and VSM. Surface-passivated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles with polymers were having spherical/rod-shaped structures with superparamagnetic properties. Broad visible photoluminescence emission bands were observed at 445 and 580 nm for polyaniline-coated Fe₃O₄ and at 488 nm for polypyrrole-coated Fe₃O₄. These samples exhibit good fluorescence emissions with L929 cellular assay and were non-toxic. Magnetic hyperthermia response of Fe₃O₄ and polymer (polyaniline/polypyrrole)-coated Fe₃O₄ was evaluated and all the samples exhibit hyperthermia activity in the range of 42-45 °C. Specific loss power (SLP) values of polyaniline and polypyrrole-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (5 and 10 mg/ml) exhibit a controlled heat generation with an increase in the magnetic field.

Novel Core-Sheath Cu/Cu2O-ZnO-Fe3O4 Nanocomposites with High-Efficiency Chlorine-Resistant Bacteria Sterilization and Trichloroacetic Acid Degradation Performance

In order to solve two issues of chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB) and disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in tap water after the chlorine-containing treatment process, an innovative core-sheath nanostructured Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO-Fe₃O₄ was designed and synthesized. The fabrication mechanism of the materials was then systematically analyzed to determine the component and valence state. The properties of CRB inactivation together with trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) photodegradation by Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO-Fe₃O₄ were investigated in detail. It was found that Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO-Fe₃O₄ displayed excellent antibacterial activity with a relatively low cytotoxicity concentration due to its synergism of nanowire structure, ion release, and reactive oxygen species generation. Furthermore, the Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO-Fe₃O₄ nanocomposite also exhibited outstanding photocatalytic degradation activity on TCAA under simulated sunlight irradiation, which was verified to be dominated by the surface reaction through kinetic analysis. More interestingly, the cell growth rate of Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO-Fe₃O₄ was determined to be 50% and 10% higher than those of Cu/Cu₂O and Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO after 10 h incubation, respectively, manifesting a weaker cytotoxicity. Therefore, the designed Cu/Cu₂O-ZnO-Fe₃O₄ could be a promising agent for tap water treatment.

Micellar nanocomplexes for biomagnetic delivery of intracellular proteins to dictate axon formation during neuronal development

During mammalian embryonic development, neurons polarize to create distinct cellular compartments of axon and dendrite that inherently differ in form and function, providing the foundation for directional signaling in the nervous system. Polarization results from spatio-temporal segregation of specific proteins' activities to discrete regions of the neuron to dictate axonal vs. dendritic fate. We aim to manipulate axon formation by directed subcellular localization of crucial intracellular protein function. Here we report critical steps toward the development of a nanotechnology for localized subcellular introduction and retention of an intracellular kinase, LKB1, crucial regulator of axon formation. This nanotechnology will spatially manipulate LKB1-linked biomagnetic nanocomplexes (LKB1-NCs) in developing rodent neurons in culture and in vivo. We created a supramolecular assembly for LKB1 rapid neuronal uptake and prolonged cytoplasmic stability. LKB1-NCs retained kinase activity and phosphorylated downstream targets. NCs were successfully delivered to cultured embryonic hippocampal neurons, and were stable in the cytoplasm for 2 days, sufficient time for axon formation. Importantly, LKB1-NCs promoted axon formation in these neurons, representing unique proof of concept for the sufficiency of intracellular protein function in dictating a central developmental event. Lastly, we established NC delivery into cortical progenitors in live rat embryonic brain in utero. Our nanotechnology provides a viable platform for spatial manipulation of intracellular protein-activity, to dictate central events during neuronal development.

The possibility of using magnetic nanoparticles to increase the therapeutic efficiency of Herceptin antibody

INTRODUCTION

Herceptin is an expensive humanized antibody used for the treatment of early-stage breast cancers. This antibody can cause cardiotoxicity in some patients. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of increasing the therapeutic efficacy of Herceptin by combining magnetic nanoparticles and a permanent magnet for more accumulation in the tumor site.

METHODS

Herceptin magnetic nanoparticles (HMNs) were synthesized and some of their characteristics, such as stability, magnetization, particle size by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, were measured. The biodistribution study was checked in mice bearing breast tumor with and without a permanent magnet on the position of the tumor. The therapeutic effects of HMNs were considered in this condition.

RESULTS

The size distribution of HMNs determined by the DLS technique was 182±7 nm and the average size by TEM was 100±10 nm. The reductions of 81% and 98% in the mean tumor volume for the group that received HMNs with magnetic field were observed at 42 and 45 days after injection, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The good results in mice indicated that Herceptin-loaded iron oxide nanoparticles with external magnetic field have good potential for use in humans as a targeted drug delivery that needs more investigation.

Magnetic nanoparticles adapted for specific biomedical applications

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are used in different biomedical applications, whereby each application requires specific particle properties. To fulfill these requirements, particle properties have to be optimized by means of variation of crystal structure, particle size, and size distribution. To this aim, improved aqueous precipitation procedures for magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle synthesis were developed. One procedure focused on the cyclic growth of MNPs without nucleation of new particle cores during precipitation. The second novel particle type are magnetic multicore nanoparticles, which consist of single cores of approximately 10 nm forming dense clusters in the size range from 40 to 80 nm. Their highest potential features these multicore particles in hyperthermia application. In our in vivo experiments, therapeutically suitable temperatures were reached after 20 s of heating for a particle concentration in the tumor of 1% and field parameters of H=24 kA/m and f=410 kHz. This review on our recent investigations for particle optimization demonstrates that tuning magnetic properties of MNPs can be obtained by the alteration of their structure, size, and size distribution. This can be realized by means of control of particle size during synthesis or subsequent size-dependent fractionation. The here-developed particles show high potential for biomedical applications.

Biomedical applications of high gradient magnetic separation: progress towards therapeutic haeomofiltration

High gradient magnetic separation is a well-established technology in the mineral processing industry, and has been used for decades in the bioprocessing industry. Less well known is the increasing role that high gradient magnetic separation is playing in biomedical applications, for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We review here the state of the art in this emerging field, with a focus on therapeutic haemofiltration, the key enabling technologies relating to the functionalisation of magnetic nanoparticles with target-specific binding agents, and the development of extra-corporeal circuits to enable the in situ filtering of human blood.

Magnetorelaxometry procedures for quantitative imaging and characterization of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedical applications

BACKGROUND

Quantitative knowledge about the spatial distribution and local environment of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) inside an organism is essential for guidance and improvement of biomedical applications such as magnetic hyperthermia and magnetic drug targeting. Magnetorelaxometry (MRX) provides such quantitative information by detecting the magnetic response of MNPs following a fast change in the applied magnetic field.

METHODS

In this article, we review our MRX based procedures that enable both the characterization and the quantitative imaging of MNPs in a biomedical environment.

RESULTS

MRX characterization supported the selection of an MNP system with colloidal stability and suitable cellular MNP uptake. Spatially resolved MRX, a procedure employing multi-channel MRX measurements allowed for in-vivo monitoring of the MNP distribution in a pre-clinical carcinoma animal model. Extending spatially resolved MRX by consecutive magnetization of distinct parts of the sample led to a demonstration of MRX tomography. With this tomography, we reconstructed the three dimensional MNP distribution inside animal sized phantoms with a sensitivity of milligrams of MNPs per cm3. In addition, the targeting efficiency of MNPs in whole blood was assessed using a flow phantom and MRX quantification.

CONCLUSION

These MRX based measurement and analysis procedures have substantially supported the development of MNP based biomedical applications.

Breast Tumor Targetable Fe3O4 Embedded Thermo-Responsive Nanoparticles for Radiofrequency Assisted Drug Delivery

Non-invasive radiofrequency (RF) frequency may be utilized as an energy source to activate thermo-responsive nanoparticles for the controlled local delivery of drugs to cancer cells. Herein, we demonstrate that 180 ± 20 nm sized curcumin encapsulated chitosan-graft-poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) nanoparticles containing iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4-CRC-TRC-NPs) were selectively internalized in cancer cells in vivo. Using an RF treatment at 80 watts for 2 min, Fe3O4-CRC-TRC-NPs, dissipated heat energy of 42 degrees C, which is the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the chitosan-graft-poly(N-vinyl caprolactam), causing controlled curcumin release and apoptosis to cultured 4T1 breast cancer cells. Further, the tumor localization studies on orthotopic breast cancer model revealed that Fe3O4-CRC-TRC-NPs selectively accumulated at the primary tumor as confirmed by in vivo live imaging followed by ex vivo tissue imaging and HPLC studies. These initial results strongly support the development of RF assisted drug delivery from nanoparticles for improved tumor targeting for breast cancer treatment.

Magnetic Field-Induced Accentuation of Drug Release from Core/Shell Magnetic Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Anticancer Treatment

Drug (9-aminoacridine) loaded core/shell magnetic iron oxide-containing mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MMSN) were treated with HeLa cells and the drug carriers were agitated by expo- sure to magnetic field. Viability studies show the applicability of drug loaded magnetic material for anticancer treatment, which is enhanced upon stimulation with magnetic field. Confocal micrographs of fluorescein grafted MMSN-treated HeLa cells confirmed the ability of magnetic field to concentrate the synthesized material in the exposed area of the cells. The synthesized material and the applied drug delivery method may find application in magnetic field-responsive targeted treatment of cancer.

Computational evaluation of amplitude modulation for enhanced magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can interact with alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) to deposit localized energy for hyperthermia treatment of cancer. Hyperthermia is useful in the context of multimodality treatments with radiation or chemotherapy to enhance disease control without increased toxicity. The unique attributes of heat deposition and transfer with MNPs have generated considerable attention and have been the focus of extensive investigations to elucidate mechanisms and optimize performance. Three-dimensional (3D) simulations are often conducted with the finite element method (FEM) using the Pennes' bioheat equation. In the current study, the Pennes' equation was modified to include a thermal damage-dependent perfusion profile to improve model predictions with respect to known physiological responses to tissue heating. A normal distribution of MNPs in a model liver tumor was combined with empirical nanoparticle heating data to calculate tumor temperature distributions and resulting survival fraction of cancer cells. In addition, calculated spatiotemporal temperature changes were compared among magnetic field amplitude modulations of a base 150-kHz sinusoidal waveform, specifically, no modulation, sinusoidal, rectangular, and triangular modulation. Complex relationships were observed between nanoparticle heating and cancer tissue damage when amplitude modulation and damage-related perfusion profiles were varied. These results are tantalizing and motivate further exploration of amplitude modulation as a means to enhance efficiency of and overcome technical challenges associated with magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia (MNH).

Characterization and Insights Into the Nano Liposomal Magnetic Gene Vector Used for Cell Co-Transfection

The development of magnetofection technology has brought a promising method for gene delivery. Here, we develop a novel liposomal magnetofection system, consisted of magnetic nanoparticle and liposome through molecular assembly, was applied to introduce double genes into porcin somatic cells with high co-transfection efficiency. The performace of liposomal magnetic gene nanovectors has been evaluated by involving the micro morphology, diameters distribution, zeta potentials and the capacity of loading DNA molecules. The assembly way among magnetic gene nanovectors and DNA molecules was investigated by atomic force microscopy. Liposomal nano magnetic gene vectors complexes displayed nanoscale assembly and formed compact "fishing-net structure" after combining with plasmid DNA, which is favorable to enhance the loading capacity of DNA molecules.

Application and reactivation of magnetic nanoparticles in Microcystis aeruginosa harvesting

This study developed a magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) harvesting and reactivation technique for rapid cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa separation. The harvesting of raw MNPs achieved high efficiency of 99.6% with the MNPs dosage of 0.58g MNPs/g dry-biomass, but gradually decreased to 59.1% when directly reused 5 times. With extra ultrasonic chloroform:methanol solvent treatment, the MNPs can be effectively reactivated for M. aeruginosa harvesting with 60% efficiency after 5 times reactivation and the separation efficiency kept above 93% with 0.20g MNPs/g dry-biomass dosage. The cyanobacteria-MNPs complex can be effectively disrupted by ultrasonic chloroform:methanol solvent treatment and the zeta potential was recovered for MNPs electrostatic attraction. The MNPs adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacity and Langmuir constant was 3.74g dry-biomass/g and 311.64L/g respectively. This MNPs reactivation technique can achieve low energy separation and reduce MNPs consumption by 67%, providing potential engineering implementation for cyanobacterial biomass harvesting.

Magnetic field-enhanced sedimentation of nanopowder magnetite in water flow

Sedimentation dynamics of magnetite (γ-Fe3O4) nanopowder (10-20 nm) in water in a gradient magnetic field Bmax=0.3 T, (dB/dz)max=0.13 T/cm was studied for different water flow speeds and starting particle concentrations (0.1 and 1.0 g/l). The aggregates formation in water was monitored under the same conditions. In cyclical water flow, the velocity of particle sedimentation increases significantly in comparison to its rate in still water, which corresponds to the intensified aggregate formation. However, at a water flow speed more than 0.1 cm/s sedimentation velocity slows down, which might be connected to aggregate destruction in a faster water flow. Correlation between sedimentation time and the nanoparticle concentration in water does not follow the trend expected for spherical superparamagnetic particles. In our case sedimentation time is shorter for c=0.1 g/l in comparison with that for c=1 g/l. We submit that such a feature is caused by particle self-organization in water into complex structures of fractal type. This effect is unexplained in the framework of existing theoretical models of colloids systems, so far. Provisional recommendations are suggested for the design of a magnetic separator on the permanent magnets base. The main device parameters are magnetic field intensity B≥0.1 T, magnetic field gradient (dB/dz)max≈(0.1-0.2) T/cm, and water flow speed V<0.15 cm/s. For particle concentration c=1 g/l, purification of water from magnetite down to ecological and hygienic standards is reached in 80 min, for c=0.1 g/l the time is reduced down to 50 min.

Recovering Magnetic Fe3O4-ZnO Nanocomposites from Algal Biomass Based on Hydrophobicity Shift under UV Irradiation

Magnetic separation, one of the promising bioseparation technologies, faces the challenges in recovery and reuse of magnetic agents during algal harvesting for biofuel extraction. This study synthesized a steric acid (SA)-coated Fe3O4-ZnO nanocomposite that could shift hydrophobicity under UV365 irradiation. Our results showed that with the transition of surface hydrophobicity under UV365 irradiation, magnetic nanocomposites detached from the concentrated algal biomass. The detachment was partially induced by the oxidation of SA coating layers due to the generation of radicals (e.g., •OH) by ZnO under UV365 illumination. Consequently, the nanocomposite surface shifted from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, which significantly reduced the adhesion between magnetic particles and algae as predicted by the extended Derjaguin and Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (EDLVO) theory. Such unique hydrophobicity shift may also find many other potential applications that require recovery, recycle, and reuse of valuable nanomaterials to increase sustainability and economically viability.

High-efficiency resonant amplification of weak magnetic fields for single spin magnetometry at room temperature

Magnetic resonance techniques not only provide powerful imaging tools that have revolutionized medicine, but they have a wide spectrum of applications in other fields of science such as biology, chemistry, neuroscience and physics. However, current state-of-the-art magnetometers are unable to detect a single nuclear spin unless the tip-to-sample separation is made sufficiently small. Here, we demonstrate theoretically that by placing a ferromagnetic particle between a nitrogen-vacancy magnetometer and a target spin, the magnetometer sensitivity is improved dramatically. Using materials and techniques that are already experimentally available, our proposed set-up is sensitive enough to detect a single nuclear spin within ten milliseconds of data acquisition at room temperature. The sensitivity is practically unchanged when the ferromagnet surface to the target spin separation is smaller than the ferromagnet lateral dimensions; typically about a tenth of a micrometre. This scheme further benefits when used for nitrogen-vacancy ensemble measurements, enhancing sensitivity by an additional three orders of magnitude.

Self-assembly with orthogonal-imposed stimuli to impart structure and confer magnetic function to electrodeposited hydrogels

A magnetic nanocomposite film with the capability of reversibly collecting functionalized magnetic particles was fabricated by simultaneously imposing two orthogonal stimuli (electrical and magnetic). We demonstrate that cathodic codeposition of chitosan and Fe3O4 nanoparticles while simultaneously applying a magnetic field during codeposition can (i) organize structure, (ii) confer magnetic properties, and (iii) yield magnetic films that can perform reversible collection/assembly functions. The magnetic field triggered the self-assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles into hierarchical "chains" and "fibers" in the chitosan film. For controlled magnetic properties, the Fe3O4-chitosan film was electrodeposited in the presence of various strength magnetic fields and different deposition times. The magnetic properties of the resulting films should enable broad applications in complex devices. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the reversible capture and release of green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-conjugated magnetic microparticles by the magnetic chitosan film. Moreover, antibody-functionalized magnetic microparticles were applied to capture cells from a sample, and these cells were collected, analyzed, and released by the magnetic chitosan film, paving the way for applications such as reusable biosensor interfaces (e.g., for pathogen detection). To our knowledge, this is the first report to apply a magnetic field during the electrodeposition of a hydrogel to generate magnetic soft matter. Importantly, the simple, rapid, and reagentless fabrication methodologies demonstrated here are valuable features for creating a magnetic device interface.

Magneto-responsive alginate capsules

Upon incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) into gels, composite materials called ferrogels are obtained. These magneto-responsive systems have a wide range of potential applications including switches and sensors as well as drug delivery systems. In this article, we focus on the properties of calcium alginate capsules, which are widely used as carrier systems in medicine and technology. We studied the incorporation of different kinds of mNPs in matrix capsules and in the core and the shell of hollow particles. We found out that not all particle-alginate or particle-CaCl2 solution combinations were suitable for a successful capsule preparation on grounds of a destabilization of the nanoparticles or the polymer. For those systems allowing the preparation of switchable beads or capsules, we systematically studied the size and microscopic structure of the capsules, their magnetic behavior and mechanical resistance.

Heteroaggregation between PEI-coated magnetic nanoparticles and algae: effect of particle size on algal harvesting efficiency

Colloidal interactions between magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) and algal cells are of paramount significance to magnetophoretic separation of algal biomass from water. This study evaluated the size effect of magnetic NPs (MNPs) coated with polyethylenimine (PEI) on the separation efficiency of Scenedesmus dimorphus as well as on the recovery efficiency of MNPs from algal biomass. Results showed that algal harvesting efficiency (HE) increased from ca. 60% to 85% as the diameter of PEI-coated MNPs increased from 9 to 53 nm. Likewise, algal recovery capacity (algae/MNPs, w/w) also showed the same size dependence. But a large size (247 nm) led to a decline of algal HE, which was correctly interpreted by a settling model that predicts large sizes of MNPs could eventually reduce the settling velocity under magnetophoresis. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory revealed that the particle size and PEI coating both influenced the interaction energies (e.g., energy barrier) between MNPs and algae. Particularly, PEI coating significantly reduced the energy barrier between MNPs and algae and thereby increased their heteroaggregation and algal HE. Moreover, PEI-coated MNPs were recovered from the harvested algae biomass through a chemical-free ultrasonic method, and the recovery efficiency appeared to be higher for larger MNPs. Overall, the synthesized sizes of applied MNPs will not only affect algal HE but also have economic implications on magnetophoretic algal separation technologies.

Radiofrequency-triggered tumor-targeting delivery system for theranostics application

In this study, a new type of magnetic tumor-targeting PEGylated gold nanoshell drug delivery system (DOX-TSMLs-AuNSs-PEG) based on doxorubicin-loaded thermosensitive magnetoliposomes was successfully obtained. The reverse-phase evaporation method was used to construct the magnetoliposomes, and then gold nanoshells were coated on the surface of it. The DOX-TSMLs-AuNSs-PEG delivery system was synthesized after SH-PEG2000 modification. This multifunction system was combined with a variety of functions, such as radiofrequency-triggered release, chemo-hyperthermia therapy, and dual-mode magnetic resonance/X-ray imaging. Importantly, the DOX-TSMLs-AuNSs-PEG complex was found to escape from endosomes after cellular uptake by radiofrequency-induced endosome disruption before lysosomal degradation. All results in vitro and in vivo indicated that DOX-TSMLs-AuNSs-PEG is a promising effective drug delivery system for diagnosis and treatment of tumors.

Multi-functional liposomes showing radiofrequency-triggered release and magnetic resonance imaging for tumor multi-mechanism therapy

Recently, nanoplatforms with multiple functions, such as tumor-targeting drug carriers, MRI, optical imaging, thermal therapy etc., have become popular in the field of cancer research. The present study reports a novel multi-functional liposome for cancer theranostics. A dual targeted drug delivery with radiofrequency-triggered drug release and imaging based on the magnetic field influence was used advantageously for tumor multi-mechanism therapy. In this system, the surface of fullerene (C60) was decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles, and PEGylation formed a hybrid nanosystem (C60-Fe3O4-PEG2000). Thermosensitive liposomes (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, DPPC) with DSPE-PEG2000-folate wrapped up the hybrid nanosystem and docetaxel (DTX), which were designed to combine features of biological and physical (magnetic) drug targeting for fullerene radiofrequency-triggered drug release. The magnetic liposomes not only served as powerful tumor diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, but also as powerful agents for photothermal ablation of tumors. Furthermore, a remarkable thermal therapy combined chemotherapy multi-functional liposome nanoplatform converted radiofrequency energy into thermal energy to release drugs from thermosensitive liposomes, which was also observed during both in vitro and in vivo treatment. The multi-functional liposomes also could selectively kill cancer cells in highly localized regions via their excellent active tumor targeting and magnetic targeted abilities.

Multi stimuli-responsive hydrogel microfibers containing magnetite nanoparticles prepared using microcapillary devices

Extensive research efforts have been devoted to the development of hydrogel microfibers for tissue engineering, because the vascular structure is related to the transport of nutrients and oxygen as well as the control of metabolic and mechanical functions in the human body. Even though stimuli-responsive properties would enhance the potential applicability of hydrogel microfibers for artificial tissue architectures, previous studies of their fabrication have not considered changes in the microfibers in response to external stimuli. In this work, we prepared temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) microfibers with controlled shapes and sizes by the in situ photo-polymerization of aqueous monomers loaded in calcium alginate templates generated from microcapillary devices. We found that the shape and size of the hydrogel microfibers could be controlled by adjusting the injection positions of the solutions and varying the diameters of the inner capillary, respectively. We further fabricated light-responsive materials by incorporating photothermal magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) within the temperature-responsive PNIPAm hydrogel microfibers. Because the MNPs incorporated into the PNIPAm microfibers generated heat upon the absorption of visible light, we could demonstrate volume changes in the microfibers triggered by both visible light irradiation and temperature.

Self-folding thermo-magnetically responsive soft microgrippers

Hydrogels such as poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (pNIPAM-AAc) can be photopatterned to create a wide range of actuatable and self-folding microstructures. Mechanical motion is derived from the large and reversible swelling response of this cross-linked hydrogel in varying thermal or pH environments. This action is facilitated by their network structure and capacity for large strain. However, due to the low modulus of such hydrogels, they have limited gripping ability of relevance to surgical excision or robotic tasks such as pick-and-place. Using experiments and modeling, we design, fabricate, and characterize photopatterned, self-folding functional microgrippers that combine a swellable, photo-cross-linked pNIPAM-AAc soft-hydrogel with a nonswellable and stiff segmented polymer (polypropylene fumarate, PPF). We also show that we can embed iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles into the porous hydrogel layer, allowing the microgrippers to be responsive and remotely guided using magnetic fields. Using finite element models, we investigate the influence of the thickness and the modulus of both the hydrogel and stiff polymer layers on the self-folding characteristics of the microgrippers. Finally, we illustrate operation and functionality of these polymeric microgrippers for soft robotic and surgical applications.

Strong Magnetoelectric Coupling of Pb1-xSrx(Fe0.012Ti0.988)O3 Nanoparticles

Pb1-xSrx(Fe012Ti0.988)O3 (PSFT) nanoparticles were prepared by a chemical synthesis using polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant. X-ray diffraction pattern has been used to analyze the phase structure and average particles size. Transmission electron microscopy is used to confirm the nano size of the PSFT particles. The magnetoelectric (ME) coupling is observed at room temperature by measuring the ME coefficient (αE) as the function of applied dc magnetizing field under the influence of ac magnetic field of 2 Oe and frequency 800 Hz. The maximal value of αE is observed in PSFT3. The ME coupling is also studied by observing the variation of polarization hysteresis measured in the presence of zero and 0.2 T of external magnetic field.

A novel scheme for nanoparticle steering in blood vessels using a functionalized magnetic field

Magnetic drug targeting is a drug delivery approach in which therapeutic magnetizable particles are injected, generally into blood vessels, and magnets are then used to guide and concentrate them in the diseased target organ. Although many analytical, simulation, and experimental studies on capturing schemes for drug targeting have been conducted, there are few studies on delivering the nanoparticles to the target region. Furthermore, the sticking phenomenon of particles to vessels walls near the injection point, and far from the target region, has not been addressed sufficiently. In this paper, the sticking issue and its relationship to nanoparticle steering are investigated in detail using numerical simulations. For wide ranges of blood vessel size, blood velocity, particle size, and applied magnetic field, three coefficient numbers are uniquely generalized: vessel elongation, normal exit time, and force rate. With respect these new parameters, we investigated particle distribution trends for a Y-shaped channel and computed ratios of correctly guided particles and particles remaining in the vessel. We found that the sticking of particles to vessels occurred because of low blood flow velocity near the vessel walls, which is the main reason for low targeting efficiency when using a constant magnetic gradient. To reduce the sticking ratio of nanoparticles, we propose a novel field function scheme that uses a simple time-varying function to separate the particles from the walls and guide them to the target point. The capabilities of the proposed scheme were examined by several simulations of both Y-shaped channels and realistic three-dimensional (3-D) model channels extracted from brain vessels. The results showed a significant decrease in particle adherence to walls during the delivery stage and confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed magnetic field function method for steering nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery.

A novel strategy to fabricate multifunctional Fe3O4@C@TiO2 yolk-shell structures as magnetically recyclable photocatalysts

Using poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a template, a novel Fe3O4@C@TiO2 yolk-shell structure derived from heat treatment on Fe2O3@PAA@TiO2 core-shell structures is constructed, where the interior void volume and shell thickness are readily tuned. In this method, the PAA shell between the original spherical α-Fe2O3 nanoparticle (NP) core and the outer TiO2 shell replaces the common SiO2 template leaving out the tedious treatment procedure of the template. After calcination, the α-Fe2O3 core was reduced to the Fe3O4 core providing the NPs with magnetic properties and the middle carbon coating around the magnetic core could avoid the occurrence of photodissolution. Moreover, the obtained Fe3O4@C@TiO2 yolk-shell nanocomposites (NCs) exhibit fine photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of organic contaminants in waste water.

The influence of hydrodynamic diameter and core composition on the magnetoviscous effect of biocompatible ferrofluids

Suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles have received increasing interest in the biomedical field. While these ferrofluids are already used for magnetic resonance imaging, emerging research on cancer treatment focuses, for example, on employing the particles as drug carriers, or using them in magnetic hyperthermia to destroy diseased cells by heating of the particles. To enable safe and effective applications, an understanding of the flow behaviour of the ferrofluids is essential. Regarding the applications mentioned above, in which flow phenomena play an important role, viscosity under the influence of an external magnetic field is of special interest. In this respect, the magnetoviscous effect (MVE) leading to an increasing viscosity if an external magnetic field of a certain strength is applied, is well-known for singlecore ferrofluids used in the engineering context. In the biomedical context, multicore ferrofluids are preferred in order to avoid remanence magnetization and to enable a deposition of the particles by the organism without complications. This study focuses on a comparison of the MVE for three ferrofluids whose composition is identical except in relation to their hydrodynamic diameter and core composition-one of the fluids contains singlecore particles, while the other two feature multicore particles. This enables confident conclusions about the influence of those parameters on flow behaviour under the influence of a magnetic field. The strong effects found for two of the fluids should be taken into account, both in future investigations and in the potential use of such ferrofluids, as well as in manufacturing, in relation to the optimization of flow behaviour.

Temperature of the magnetic nanoparticle microenvironment: estimation from relaxation times

Accurate temperature measurements are essential to safe and effective thermal therapies for cancer and other diseases. However, conventional thermometry is challenging so using the heating agents themselves as probes allows for ideal local measurements. Here, we present a new noninvasive method for measuring the temperature of the microenvironment surrounding magnetic nanoparticles from the Brownian relaxation time of nanoparticles. Experimentally, the relaxation time can be determined from the nanoparticle magnetization induced by an alternating magnetic field at various applied frequencies. A previously described method for nanoparticle temperature estimation used a low frequency Langevin function description of magnetic dipoles and varied the excitation field amplitude to estimate the energy state distribution and the corresponding temperature. We show that the new method is more accurate than the previous method at higher applied field frequencies that push the system farther from equilibrium.

Behavior of nanoparticle clouds around a magnetized microsphere under magnetic and flow fields

When a micron-sized magnetizable particle is introduced into a suspension of nanosized magnetic particles, the nanoparticles accumulate around the microparticle and form thick anisotropic clouds extended in the direction of the applied magnetic field. This phenomenon promotes colloidal stabilization of bimodal magnetic suspensions and allows efficient magnetic separation of nanoparticles used in bioanalysis and water purification. In the present work, the size and shape of nanoparticle clouds under the simultaneous action of an external uniform magnetic field and the flow have been studied in detail. In experiments, a dilute suspension of iron oxide nanoclusters (of a mean diameter of 60 nm) was pushed through a thin slit channel with the nickel microspheres (of a mean diameter of 50 μm) attached to the channel wall. The behavior of nanocluster clouds was observed in the steady state using an optical microscope. In the presence of strong enough flow, the size of the clouds monotonically decreases with increasing flow speed in both longitudinal and transverse magnetic fields. This is qualitatively explained by enhancement of hydrodynamic forces washing the nanoclusters away from the clouds. In the longitudinal field, the flow induces asymmetry of the front and the back clouds. To explain the flow and the field effects on the clouds, we have developed a simple model based on the balance of the stresses and particle fluxes on the cloud surface. This model, applied to the case of the magnetic field parallel to the flow, captures reasonably well the flow effect on the size and shape of the cloud and reveals that the only dimensionless parameter governing the cloud size is the ratio of hydrodynamic-to-magnetic forces-the Mason number. At strong magnetic interactions considered in the present work (dipolar coupling parameter α≥2), the Brownian motion seems not to affect the cloud behavior.

Creation and regulation of ion channels across reconstituted phospholipid bilayers generated by streptavidin-linked magnetite nanoparticles

In this work, we explore the nature of ion-channel-like conductance fluctuations across a reconstituted phospholipid bilayer due to insertion of ∼100 nm sized, streptavidin-linked magnetite nanoparticles under static magnetic fields (SMFs). For a fixed bias voltage, the frequency of current bursts increases with the application of SMFs. Apart from a closed conductance state G(0) (≤14 pS), we identify four major conductance states, with the lowest conductance level (G(1)) being ∼126 pS. The number of channel events at G(1) is found to be nearly doubled (as compared to G(0)) at a magnetic field of 70 G. The higher-order open states (e.g., 3G(1), 5G(1)) are generally observable at larger values of biasing voltage and magnetic field. When the SMF of 145 G is applied, the multiconductance states are resolved distinctly and are assigned to the simultaneous opening and closing of several independent states. The origin of the current bursts is due to the instantaneous mechanical actuation of streptavidin-linked MNP chains across the phospholipid bilayer. The voltage-controlled, magnetogated ion channels are promising for diagnoses and therapeutic applications of excitable membranes and other biological systems.

Robust magnetic/polymer hybrid nanoparticles designed for crude oil entrapment and recovery in aqueous environments

Well-defined, magnetic shell cross-linked knedel-like nanoparticles (MSCKs) with hydrodynamic diameters ca. 70 nm were constructed through the co-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers of PAA20-b-PS280 and oleic acid-stabilized magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, and water, ultimately transitioning to a fully aqueous system. These hybrid nanomaterials were designed for application as sequestering agents for hydrocarbons present in crude oil, based upon their combination of amphiphilic organic domains, for aqueous solution dispersibility and capture of hydrophobic guest molecules, with inorganic core particles for magnetic responsivity. The employment of these MSCKs in a contaminated aqueous environment resulted in the successful removal of the hydrophobic contaminants at a ratio of 10 mg of oil per 1 mg of MSCK. Once loaded, the crude oil-sorbed nanoparticles were easily isolated via the introduction of an external magnetic field. The recovery and reusability of these MSCKs were also investigated. These results suggest that deployment of hybrid nanocomposites, such as these, could aid in environmental remediation efforts, including at oil spill sites, in particular, following the bulk recovery phase.

Magnetic core-shell nano-TiO2/Al2O3/NiFe2O4 microparticles with enhanced photocatalytic activity

The core-shell nano-TiO2/Al2O3/NiFe2O4 microparticles of 5-8 microm were prepared by the heterogeneous precipitation followed by calcination treatment. The morphologies, structure, crystalline phase, and magnetic property were characterized by optical biomicroscopy (OBM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) respectively. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degrading methyl orange solution either under UV light and sunlight. The results indicate that the nano-TiO2 layer consists of needle-like nanoparticles and the intermediate layer of Al2O3 avoids the nano-TiO2 agglomeration, shedding and uneven loading. The nano-TiO2/Al2O3/NiFe2O4 composite particles show high magnetization of 31.5 emu/g and enhanced photocatalytic activity to completely degrade 50 mg/L methyl orange solution either under UV light and sun light. The enhanced activity of the composite is attributed to the unique structure, insulation effect of Al2O3 intermediate layer and the hybrid effect of anatase TiO2 and NiFe2O4. The obtained catalyst may be magnetically separable and useful for many practical applications due to the improved photocatalytic properties under sunlight.

Supported F-doped alpha-Fe2O3 nanomaterials: synthesis, characterization and photo-assisted H2 production

Supported fluorine-doped alpha-Fe2O3 nanomaterials were synthesized by Plasma Enhanced-Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE-CVD) at temperatures between 300 and 500 degrees C, using a fluorinated iron(II) diketonate-diamine compound as a single-source precursor for both Fe and F. The system structure, morphology and composition were thoroughly investigated by various characterization techniques, highlighting the possibility of controlling the fluorine doping level by varying the sole growth temperature. Photocatalytic H2 production from water/ethanol solutions under simulated solar irradiation evidenced promising gas evolution rates, candidating the present PE-CVD approach as a valuable strategy to fabricate highly active supported materials.

Magnetic cooling at a single molecule level: a spectroscopic investigation of isolated molecules on a surface

A sub-monolayer distribution of isolated molecular Fe14 (bta)6 nanomagnets is deposited intact on a Au(111) surface and investigated by X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy. The entropy variation with respect to the applied magnetic field is extracted from the magnetization curves and evidences high magnetocaloric values at the single molecule level.

Magnetic TiO2-graphene composite as a high-performance and recyclable platform for efficient photocatalytic removal of herbicides from water

A new photocatalyst, magnetic TiO2-graphene, was designed and facilely produced by combining sol-gel and assembling processes. Taking advantages of graphene and TiO2, the catalyst exhibited strong light absorption in the visible region and high adsorption capacity to organic pollutants, resulting in almost 100% photocatalytic removal efficiency of typical herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from water under simulated solar light irradiation, far higher than 33% on commercial P25. Toxicity assessment indicates the total decomposition of the original substrate. Furthermore, the catalyst can be rapidly recovered with highly stable photocatalytic performance. After 8 successive cycles, the removal efficiency of 2,4-D maintained 97.7%, and particularly, 99.1% 2,4-D removal efficiency came back at the ninth recycle when the catalyst was re-treated by ultrasonication. Moreover, even after being laid aside for one year the catalyst still kept the 2,4-D removal efficiency as high as 95.6%. For practical application, the photocatalytic also demonstrated high removal efficiencies of herbicide 2,4-D. The photocatalyst is a promising platform for removing herbicide pollutants from water.

Multifunctional Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for highly sensitive detection and removal of Al(III) in aqueous solution

Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (NPs) decorated with rhodamine 6G Schiff base, which exhibit high selectivity and sensitivity toward Al(3+) over other common metal ions in aqueous media under a physiological pH window via a 1:1 binding mode, have been synthesized and characterized. The resulting conjugate renders the rhodamine 6G Schiff base unit more water soluble, and the detection limit reaches 0.3 ppb in water. Moreover, can detect Al(3+) in a wide pH span (5.0-11.0) and enrich/remove excess Al(3+) in water via an external magnetic field, which indicates that it has more potential and further practical applications for biology and toxicology. Furthermore, provides good fluorescent imaging of Al(3+) in living cells.

Terahertz sensing using ferroelectric nanowires

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the interaction of ferroelectric nanowires with terahertz (THz) Gaussian-shaped pulses of electric field. The computational data indicate the existence of two interaction scenarios that are associated with 'lossless' and dissipative, or 'lossy', interaction mechanisms. A thermodynamical approach is used to analyze the computational data for a wide range of THz pulses. The analysis establishes the foundation for understanding the nanowires' response to the THz pulses and reveals the potential of ferroelectric nanowires to function as nanoscale sensors of THz radiation. Various aspects of this THz nanosensing are analyzed and discussed.

Nanoscale patterning of complex magnetic nanostructures by reduction with low-energy protons

Techniques that can produce patterns with nanoscale details on surfaces have a central role in the development of new electronic, optical and magnetic devices and systems. High-energy ion irradiation can produce nanoscale patterns on ferromagnetic films by destroying the structure of layers or interfaces, but this approach can damage the film and introduce unwanted defects. Moreover, ferromagnetic nanostructures that have been patterned by ion irradiation often interfere with unpatterned regions through exchange interactions, which results in a loss of control over magnetization switching. Here, we demonstrate that low-energy proton irradiation can pattern an array of 100-nm-wide single ferromagnetic domains by reducing [Co(3)O(4)/Pd](10) (a paramagnetic oxide) to produce [Co/Pd](10) (a ferromagnetic metal). Moreover, there are no exchange interactions in the final superlattice, and the ions have a minimal impact on the overall structure, so the interfaces between alternate layers of cobalt (which are 0.6 nm thick) and palladium (1.0 nm) remain intact. This allows the reduced [Co/Pd](10) superlattice to produce a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that is stronger than that observed in the metallic [Co/Pd](10) superlattices we prepared for reference. We also demonstrate that our non-destructive approach can reduce CoFe(2)O(4) to metallic CoFe.

Multiplexed enrichment and detection of malarial biomarkers using a stimuli-responsive iron oxide and gold nanoparticle reagent system

There is a need for simple yet robust biomarker and antigen purification and enrichment strategies that are compatible with current rapid diagnostic modalities. Here, a stimuli-responsive nanoparticle system is presented for multiplexed magneto-enrichment and non-instrumented lateral flow strip detection of model antigens from spiked pooled plasma. The integrated reagent system allows purification and enrichment of the gold-labeled biomarker half-sandwich that can be applied directly to lateral flow test strips. A linear diblock copolymer with a thermally responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) segment and a gold-binding block composed of NIPAm-co-N,N-dimethylaminoethylacrylamide was prepared by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The diblock copolymer was used to functionalize gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), with subsequent bioconjugation to yield thermally responsive pNIPAm-AuNPs that were co-decorated with streptavidin. These AuNPs efficiently complexed biotinylated capture antibody reagents that were bound to picomolar quantities of pan-aldolase and Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP2) in spiked pooled plasma samples. The gold-labeled biomarker half-sandwich was then purified and enriched using 10 nm thermally responsive magnetic nanoparticles that were similarly decorated with pNIPAm. When a thermal stimulus was applied in conjunction with a magnetic field, coaggregation of the AuNP half-sandwiches with the pNIPAm-coated iron oxide nanoparticles created large aggregates that were efficiently magnetophoresed and separated from bulk serum. The purified biomarkers from a spiked pooled plasma sample could be concentrated 50-fold into a small volume and applied directly to a commercial multiplexed lateral flow strip to dramatically improve the signal-to-noise ratio and test sensitivity.

Mechanism of magnetic relaxation switching sensing

Magnetic relaxation switching (MRSw) assays that employ target-induced aggregation (or disaggregation) of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) can be used to detect a wide range of biomolecules. The precise working mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood, often leading to confounding interpretation. We herein present a systematic and comprehensive characterization of MRSw sensing. By using different types of MNPs with varying physical properties, we analyzed the nature and transverse relaxation modes for MRSw detection. The study found that clustered MNPs are universally in a diffusion-limited fractal state (dimension of ~2.4). Importantly, a new model for transverse relaxation was constructed that accurately recapitulates observed MRSw phenomena and predicts the MRSw detection sensitivities and dynamic ranges.

Stabilizing vortices in interacting nano-objects: a chemical approach

We report a chemical method to prepare metallic Fe porous nanocubes. The presence of pores embedded inside the cubes was attested by electron tomography. Thanks to electronic holography and micromagnetic simulations, we show that the presence of these defects stabilizes the vortices in assembly of interacting cubes. These results open new perspectives toward magnetic vortex stabilization at relatively low cost for various applications (microelectronics, magnetic recording, or biological applications).

A novel approach for the synthesis of superparamagnetic Mn3O4 nanocrystals by ultrasonic bath

In this study, the synthesis of Mn(3)O(4) (husmannite) nanoparticles was carried out in two different alkali media under sonication by ultrasonic bath and conventional method. Manganese acetate was used as precursor, sodium hydroxide and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as basic reagents in this synthesis. An ultrasonic bath with low intensity was used for the preparation of nanomaterials. The as prepared samples were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM, TEM), energy-dispersive spectrum (EDS), and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) analysis. The XRD patterns exhibit the nanocrystals are in pure tetragonal phase. The chemical composition was obtained by EDS analysis and confirmed the presence of Mn and O in the sample. According to the TEM and HRTEM results, both nanorods and nanoparticles of Mn(3)O(4) were obtained in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation. The average size of nanoparticles was 10nm, and the size of nanorods was 12 nm in diameter and 100-900 nm in length for the samples prepared in basic medium with sodium hydroxide. In the conventional method with the same basic medium, the nanorod was not observed and the nearly cubic nanoparticles was appeared with an average size of 2.5 nm. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns revealed that the nanocrystals are polycrystalline in nature. When HMT was used as a basic reagent in the presence of ultrasonic irradiation, it was led to a higher size of nanoparticles and nanorods than when sodium hydroxide was used as a basic reagent. The average size of nanoparticles was about 15 nm and its shape was nearly cubic. The diameter for nanorods was 50 nm and the length was about a few micrometers. The magnetic measurements were carried out on the sample prepared in sodium hydroxide under ultrasonic irradiation. These measurements as a function of temperature and field strength showed a reduction in ferrimagnetic temperature (T(c) = 40K) as compared to those reported for the bulk (T(c) = 43K). The superparamagnetic behavior was observed at room temperature with no saturation magnetization and hysteresis in the region of measured field strength.

Assembling of three-dimensional crystals by optical depletion force induced by a single focused laser beam

We proposed a method to assemble microspheres into a three-dimensional crystal by utilizing the giant nonequilibrium depletion force produced by nanoparticles. Such assembling was demonstrated in a colloid formed by suitably mixing silica microspheres and magnetic nanoparticles. The giant nonequilibrium depletion force was generated by quickly driving magnetic nanoparticles out of the focusing region of a laser light through both optical force and thermophoresis. The thermophoretic binding of silica beads is so tight that a colloidal photonic crystal can be achieved after complete evaporation of solvent. This technique could be employed for fabrication of colloidal photonic crystals and molecular sieves.

Effect of diode-laser and AC magnetic field of bovine serum albumin nanospheres loaded with phthalocyanine and magnetic particles

This study reports on the development and characterization of bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanospheres containing Silicon(IV) phthalocyanine (NzPc) and/or maghemite nanoparticles (MNP), the latter introduced via ionic magnetic fluid (MF). The nanosized BSA-loaded samples were designed for synergic application while combining Photodynamic Therapy and Hyperthermia. Incorporation of MNP in the albumin-based template, allowing full control of the magnetic content, was accomplished by adding a highly-stable ionic magnetic fluid sample to the albumin suspension, following heat denaturing. The material's evaluation was performed using Zeta potential measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The samples were characterized by steady-state techniques and time-resolved fluorescence. The in vitro assay, using human fibroblasts, revealed no cytotoxic effect in all samples investigated, demonstrating the potential of the tested system as a synergistic drug delivery system.

Synthesis of monodisperse Fe3O4 nanoparticles by optimized sonochemical method using mono(ethylene glycol) (MEG)

In this study, we successfully synthesized monodisperse magnetite nanoparticles (NPs) (Fe3O4) by sonochemical method using mono (ethylene glycol) (MEG) as a modifier of the reaction environment and found that MEG could be a good candidate to prevent oxidation and toxicity in sonochemical synthesis. The microstructure and size distribution of the Fe3O4 NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) respectively. It revealed that the NPs prepared by MEG assisted sonochemical method show a smaller average size and better monodispersity compared to conventional sonochemical method. Due the the reduced average size and uniform size distribution nature of the NPs, it also showed good superparamagnetic properties with very low coercivity less than 0.5 Oe.