Magneto-plasmonic Au-Fe alloy nanoparticles designed for multimodal SERS-MRI-CT imaging

Diagnostic approaches based on multimodal imaging are needed for accurate selection of the therapeutic regimens in several diseases, although the dose of administered contrast drugs must be reduced to minimize side effects. Therefore, large efforts are deployed in the development of multimodal contrast agents (MCAs) that permit the complementary visualization of the same diseased area with different sensitivity and different spatial resolution by applying multiple diagnostic techniques. Ideally, MCAs should also allow imaging of diseased tissues with high spatial resolution during surgical interventions. Here a new system based on multifunctional Au-Fe alloy nanoparticles designed to satisfy the main requirements of an ideal MCA is reported and their biocompatibility and imaging capability are described. The MCAs show easy and versatile surface conjugation with thiolated molecules, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed X-ray tomography (CT) signals for anatomical and physiological information (i.e., diagnostic and prognostic imaging), large Raman signals amplified by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for high sensitivity and high resolution intrasurgical imaging, biocompatibility, exploitability for in vivo use and capability of selective accumulation in tumors by enhanced permeability and retention effect. Taken together, these results show that Au-Fe nanoalloys are excellent candidates as multimodal MRI-CT-SERS imaging agents.

RNA quantification using noble metal nanoprobes: simultaneous identification of several different mRNA targets using color multiplexing and application to cancer diagnostics

Nanotechnology provides new tools for gene expression analysis that allow for sensitive and specific characterization of prognostic signatures related to cancer. Cancer is a multigenic complex disease where multiple gene loci contribute to the phenotype. The ability to simultaneously monitor differential expression originating from each locus allows for a more accurate indication of degree of cancerous activity than either locus alone. Metal nanoparticles have been widely used as labels for in vitro identification and quantification of target sequences. Here we describe the synthesis of nanoparticles with different noble metal compositions in an alloy format that are then functionalized with thiol-modified ssDNA (nanoprobes). We also show how to use such nanoprobes in a non-cross-linking colorimetric method for the direct detection and quantification of specific mRNA targets, without the need for enzymatic amplification or reverse transcription steps. The different metals in the alloy provide for distinct absorption spectra due to their characteristic plasmon resonance peaks. The color multiplexing allows for simultaneous identification of several different mRNA targets involved in cancer development. Comparison of the absorption spectra of the nanoprobes mixtures taken before and after induced aggregation of metal nanoparticles allows to both identify and quantify each mRNA target. We describe the use of gold and gold:silver-alloy nanoprobes for the development of the non-cross-linking method to detect a specific BCR-ABL fusion gene (e.g., e1a2 and e14a2) mRNA target associated with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) using 10 ng μL(-1) of unamplified total human RNA. This simple methodology takes less than 50 min to complete after total RNA extraction with comparable specificity and sensitivity to the more commonly used methods.

Biologically activated noble metal alloys at the nanoscale: for lithium ion battery anodes

We report the synthesis and electrochemical activity of gold and silver noble metals and their alloy nanowires using multiple virus clones as anode materials for lithium ion batteries. Using two clones, one for specificity (p8#9 virus) and one versatility (E4 virus), noble metal nanowires of high-aspect ratio with diameters below 50 nm were successfully synthesized with control over particle sizes, morphologies, and compositions. The biologically derived noble metal alloy nanowires showed electrochemical activities toward lithium even when the electrodes were prepared from bulk powder forms. The improvement in capacity retention was accomplished by alloy formation and surface stabilization. Although the cost of noble metals renders them a less ideal choice for lithium ion batteries, these noble metal/alloy nanowires serve as great model systems to study electrochemically induced transformation at the nanoscale. Given the demonstration of the electrochemical activity of noble metal alloy nanowires with various compositions, the M13 biological toolkit extended its utility for the study on the basic electrochemical property of materials.

Cu@Au alloy nanoparticle as oligonucleotides labels for electrochemical stripping detection of DNA hybridization

Synthesis of the novel Cu@Au alloy nanoparticle and its application in an electrochemical DNA hybridization detection assay is described in this article. We report a low-temperature method for generating core-shell particles consisting of a core of Cu and a thin layer of Au shell that can be readily functionalized with oligonucleotides. Core-shell Cu@Au particles were successfully labeled to a 5'-alkanethiol capped oligonucleotides probe that is related to the colitoxin gene. The DNA genetic sensing assay relies on the electrostatic adsorption of target oligonucleotides onto conducting polypyrrole (PPy) surface at the glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and its hybridization to the alloy particle-oligonucleotides DNA probe. Hybridization events between probe and target were monitored by the release of the copper metal atoms anchored on the hybrids by oxidative metal dissolution and the indirectly determination of the solubilized Cu2+ ions by sensitive anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The detection limit is 5.0 pmol l(-1) of target oligonucleotides. The Cu@Au core-shell nanoparticles combining the surface modification properties of Au with the good electrochemical activity of Cu core shows their perspective application in the electrochemical DNA hybridization analysis assay.

[The forming phase and various properties of Au, Ag, Cu and Ga mixture in metal fired crowns]

A new time-saving method has been developed to produce artificial crowns without using the casting process. Plastic mixtures of gallium and other metal particles are kneaded into desired shape and then heated for hardening. By this method, the time required for hardening and producing restorative materials has been shortened greatly. In the present experiment, gallium was triturated with powdered gold, silver and copper to make binary alloy samples. The dimensional change was measured between heat treatment. After heat treatment, the test piece was examined for compressive strength, compressive shrinkage, hardness, tarnishing and difference in phase. Non-heated and heated alloy specimens (Au-Ga, Ag-Ga, Cu-Ga) expanded to form the new phase. The ability of Au-Ga samples to bear compressive strength, when heated at 300 degrees C or more (AuGa2----AuGa), became 2.6 times greater than that of non-heat-treated specimens. The compressive strength of Ag-Ga samples dropped briefly at 350 degrees C (Ag0.72Ga0.28----Ag3Ga) but increased at 450 degrees C (Ag3Ga----AgGa). The strength of Cu-Ga pieces fell by half at 475 degrees C and upward (CuGa2----unknown phase). A compression test showed that the contraction percentage of Au and Ag specimens became large as a result of heat treatment, while that of Cu alloys remained almost unchanged. The results of a hardness test (HV) were comparable to those of the compressive strength test. The Au-Ga alloys increased in hardness after high-temperature treatment. In the Ag-Ga alloys, hardness declined at 350 degrees C and increased at 450 degrees C. There was no difference in hardness between Cu specimens after heat treatment and those allowed to stand at room temperature. A tarnishing test revealed that Au-Ga samples turned slightly yellowish. In the case of Ag-Ga samples, the reflectivity Y (%) dipped slightly but discoloration was not recognizable. However, the Cu-Ga samples which were heated at temperatures of up to 280 degrees C showed a slight drop in reflectivity, but those heated at temperatures higher than 280 degrees C decreased to 50-66% in reflectivity and turned black.