Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Poly(Ester Amide) And Poly(Ethyl Glyoxylate) Nanoparticles For Controlled Drug Release, Amira Mohamed Moustafa

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The objective of this research was to develop polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) having improved drug release properties for drug delivery. Poly(ester amide)s (PEAs) are promising biodegradable polymers. PEA NPs were prepared via emulsification-evaporation and salting-out methods and optimized through by varying different processing parameters. Polymer-model drug conjugates based on PEAs containing L-aspartic acid and rhodamine B were synthesized and used for NP preparation. Release behavior was studied and compared to a control system with physically encapsulated rhodamine B. It was shown that the release of rhodamine B from the covalent system did not show the burst effect and exhibited a slower …

Ultra-Small Fluorescent Inorganic Nanoparticles For Bioimaging, Zhen Li, Qiao Sun, Yian Zhu, Bien Tan, Zhi Ping Xu, S X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

The novel optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of ultra-small inorganic nanoparticles make them very attractive in diverse applications in the fields of health, clean and renewable energy, and environmental sustainability. This article comprehensively summarizes state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging using ultra-small nanoparticles as probes, including quantum dots, metal nanoclusters, carbon nanomaterials, up-conversion, and silicon nanomaterials.

Platinum Dendritic Nanoparticles With Magnetic Behavior, Wenxian Li, Ziqi Sun, Dongliang Tian, Ivan P. Nevirkovets, S X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention for biomedical applications in magnetic resonance imaging, high frequency magnetic field hyperthermia therapies, and magnetic-field-gradient-targeted drug delivery. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) platinum nanostructures with large surface area that features magnetic behavior have been demonstrated. The well-developed 3D nanodendrites consist of plentiful interconnected nano-arms ∼4 nm in size. The magnetic behavior of the 3D dendritic Pt nanoparticles is contributed by the localization of surface electrons due to strongly bonded oxygen/Pluronic F127 and the local magnetic moment induced by oxygen vacancies on the neighboring Pt and O atoms. The magnetization of the nanoparticles exhibits a …

Nanoscale Manipulation Of Pristine And Functionalized Freestanding Graphene Using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Matthew Ackerman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past ten years the 2D material graphene has attracted an enourmous amount of attention from researchers from across diciplines and all over the world. Many of its outstanding electronic properties are present only when it is not interacting with a substrate but is instead freestanding. In this work I demonstrate that pristine and functionalized freestanding graphene can be imaged using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and that imaging a flexible 2D surface is fundamentally different from imaging a bulk material due to the attraction between the STM tip and the sample. This attraction can be used to manipulate …

Enhancing Superconducting Properties Of Mgb2 Pellets By Addition Of Amorphous Magnetic Ni-Co-B Nanoparticles, Mislav Mustapic, Josip Horvat, Md Shahriar Hossain, Zeljko Skoko, S X. Dou

Josip Horvat

Amorphous magnetic Ni-Co-B nanoparticles with an average size of 5 nm were added to precursor powders of MgB2 superconductor. The preparation procedure for MgB2 pellets was optimized for obtaining the best critical current density (Jc) at elevated magnetic fields. Addition of Ni-Co-B decreases the Jc for heat treatment of precursor powders at 650 ° C. Heat treatments at 770 ° C and higher improve Jc at 20 and 5 K. This improvement occurs at both temperatures through the increase of the effective connectivity between MgB2 crystals. Vortex pinning was enhanced at 5 K, but not at 20 K. Ni-Co-B nanoparticles …

Enhancing Superconducting Properties Of Mgb2 Pellets By Addition Of Amorphous Magnetic Ni-Co-B Nanoparticles, Mislav Mustapic, Josip Horvat, Md Shahriar Hossain, Zeljko Skoko, S X. Dou

Shi Xue Dou

Amorphous magnetic Ni-Co-B nanoparticles with an average size of 5 nm were added to precursor powders of MgB2 superconductor. The preparation procedure for MgB2 pellets was optimized for obtaining the best critical current density (Jc) at elevated magnetic fields. Addition of Ni-Co-B decreases the Jc for heat treatment of precursor powders at 650 ° C. Heat treatments at 770 ° C and higher improve Jc at 20 and 5 K. This improvement occurs at both temperatures through the increase of the effective connectivity between MgB2 crystals. Vortex pinning was enhanced at 5 K, but not at 20 K. Ni-Co-B nanoparticles …

Pulse Electrodeposition Of Pd-Ni Alloy Nanoparticles For Electrocatalytic Oxidation Of Formic Acid, Fang-Zu Yang, Jun-Pei Yue, Zhong-Qun Tian, Shao-Min Zhou

Journal of Electrochemistry

The Pd-Ni alloy nanoparticles with nickel atomic contents of 12.0%, 16.4% and 22.6% were successfully electrodeposited from a Pd-Ni alloy electrolyte by square wave pulse plating. The alloy nanoparticles were in the spherical shape with a diameter of 50 ~ 80 nm. As the growth potential of the alloy was negatively shifted, the nickel content of the alloy was increased, and the size of the nanoparticles was almost the same, whereas the number, the degree of crosslinking and the real active area of the nanoparticles were increased. As the nickel content of the alloy nanoparticles increased, the peak current for …

Surface Functionalization And Bioconjugation Of Nanoparticles For Biomedical Applications, Longyan Chen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Colloidal inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) have been attracting considerable interest in biomedicine, from drug and gene delivery to imaging, sensing and diagnostics. It is essential to modify the surface of nanoparticles to have enhanced biocompatibility and functionality for the in vitro and in vivo applications, especially in delivering locally and recognizing biomolecules. Herein, the goal of this research work is to develop advanced NPs with well-tailored surface functionalities and/or bio-functionality for the applications in cell tracking and analytes detection.

In the first project, quantum dots incorporating with gelatin nanoparticles (QDs-GNPs) have been developed for bioimaging applications. Two different approaches have been …

Electrocatalytic Processing Of Renewable Biomass-Derived Compounds For Production Of Chemicals, Fuels And Electricity, Le Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The dual problems of sustaining the fast growth of human society and preserving the environment for future generations urge us to shift our focus from exploiting fossil oils to researching and developing more affordable, reliable and clean energy sources. Human beings had a long history that depended on meeting our energy demands with plant biomass, and the modern biorefinery technologies realize the effective conversion of biomass to production of transportation fuels, bulk and fine chemicals so to alleviate our reliance on fossil fuel resources of declining supply. With the aim of replacing as much non-renewable carbon from fossil oils with …

Interaction Of The Mu-Cyclohexadienyl Radical With Metallic (Au, Pt) Nanoparticles In Mesoporous Silica, J Xiao, D J. Arseneau, M D. Bridges, David L. Cortie, S P. Cottrell, M H. Dehn, D G. Fleming, J A. Kelly, R F. Kiefl, W A. Macfarlane, M J. Maclachlan, I Mckenzie

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

SR and ALCR techniques have been used to investigate the structure and dynamics of the Mu-cyclohexadienyl radical interacting with Au and Pt metal nanoparticles (MNPs) supported in mesoporous silica (SBA-15). Surprisingly, coherent precession signals are observed and the isotropic hyperne coupling constants are almost the same in loaded and unloaded samples, implying that the electronic structure of MuC6H6 is only weakly perturbed by the presence of the MNPs. We propose the observed radicals are shielded from the metallic surfaces by a benzene coating on the MNPs. The 1 resonance is observable in MNP-loaded samples at higher temperatures than in the …

Ultra-Small Fluorescent Inorganic Nanoparticles For Bioimaging, Zhen Li, Qiao Sun, Yian Zhu, Bien Tan, Zhi Ping Xu, S X. Dou

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

The novel optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of ultra-small inorganic nanoparticles make them very attractive in diverse applications in the fields of health, clean and renewable energy, and environmental sustainability. This article comprehensively summarizes state-of-the-art fluorescence imaging using ultra-small nanoparticles as probes, including quantum dots, metal nanoclusters, carbon nanomaterials, up-conversion, and silicon nanomaterials.

Synthesis Of Potential Theranostic System Consisting Of Methotrexate-Immobilized (3-Aminopropyl)Trimethoxysilane Coated Α-Bi2o3 Nanoparticles For Cancer Treatment, Kathrin Bogusz, Moeava Tehei, Callum Stewart, Marjorie Mcdonald, Dean Cardillo, Michael Lerch, Stephanie Corde, Anatoly Rosenfeld, Hua-Kun Liu, Konstantin Konstantinov

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

In this study we present the synthesis of a new theranostic system consisting of a core-shell structured nanoceramic-drug conjugate that can potentially combine chemotherapeutic, targeting, diagnostic and radio dose enhancing features in cancer treatment. The conjugate is made of α-Bi2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) which were first coated with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) to form a core-shell structure and then attached with methotrexate (MTX) through amidation between the amine moieties on the shell and the carboxylic acid groups on MTX. While α-Bi2O3 NPs with high effective atomic number can serve as both contrast agent and radiosensitiser in dose enhancement radiation therapy, MTX as an …

Platinum Dendritic Nanoparticles With Magnetic Behavior, Wenxian Li, Ziqi Sun, Dongliang Tian, Ivan P. Nevirkovets, S X. Dou

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Magnetic nanoparticles have attracted increasing attention for biomedical applications in magnetic resonance imaging, high frequency magnetic field hyperthermia therapies, and magnetic-field-gradient-targeted drug delivery. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) platinum nanostructures with large surface area that features magnetic behavior have been demonstrated. The well-developed 3D nanodendrites consist of plentiful interconnected nano-arms ∼4 nm in size. The magnetic behavior of the 3D dendritic Pt nanoparticles is contributed by the localization of surface electrons due to strongly bonded oxygen/Pluronic F127 and the local magnetic moment induced by oxygen vacancies on the neighboring Pt and O atoms. The magnetization of the nanoparticles exhibits a …

Influence Of Capping On The Atomistic Arrangement In Palladium Nanoparticles At Room Temperature, Gaston Corthey, Jimena A. Olmos-Asar, Gilberto Casillas, Marcelo M. Mariscal, Sergio Mejia-Rosales, Julio C. Azcarate, Eduardo Larios, Miguel Jose-Yacaman, Roberto Salvarezza, M Fonticelli

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

The role that protecting molecules have on the way that palladium atoms arrange themselves in nanoparticles prepared at room temperature was studied by the analysis of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy images and atomistic Langevin dynamics simulations. It was found that the arrangement of Pd atoms is less ordered in thiolate-protected nanoparticles than in amine-protected ones. The experimental and theoretical data showed that the disorder in ∼3 nm thiolate-protected particles is promoted by the strong S-Pd bond in the sulfide layer that surrounds the nanoparticles.

Ambient Scalable Synthesis Of Surfactant-Free Thermoelectric Cuagse Nanoparticles With Reversible Metallic-N-P Conductivity Transition, Chao Han, Qiao Sun, Zhenxiang Cheng, Jianli Wang, Zhen Li, Gao Qing (Max) Lu, S X. Dou

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Surfactant-free CuAgSe nanoparticles were successfully synthesized on a large scale within a short reaction time via a simple environmentally friendly aqueous approach under room temperature. The nanopowders obtained were consolidated into pellets for investigation of their thermoelectric properties between 3 and 623 K. The pellets show strong metallic characteristics below 60 K and turn into an n-type semiconductor with increasing temperature, accompanied by changes in the crystal structure (i.e., from the pure tetragonal phase into a mixture of tetragonal and orthorhombic phases), the electrical conductivity, the Seebeck coefficient, and the thermal conductivity, which leads to a figure of merit (ZT) …

One-Pot Synthesis Of Α-Fe2o3 Nanoparticles-Decorated Reduced Graphene Oxide For Efficient Nonenzymatic H2o2 Biosensor, Ming-Yan Wang, Tao Shen, Meng Wang, Dong-En Zhang, Zhi-Wei Tong, Jun Chen

Australian Institute for Innovative Materials - Papers

Hematite nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3) are successfully decorated on the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets through a simple, one-step, hydrothermal method without addition of other reducing agents. The α-Fe2O3/rGO hybrid was characterized by scanning electron micrographs, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. This α-Fe2O3/rGO hybrid has been successfully applied in the catalytic performance toward the reduction of H2O2. The nonenzymatic sensor demonstrates a linear relationship over a wide concentration range of 5.0–4495.0 μM (R = 0.9998), a low detection limit of 1.0 μM, and a high sensitivity of 126.9 μA cm−2 mM−1 to the detection of H2O2.

Gold-Magnetite Nanoparticle-Biomolecule Conjugates: Synthesis, Properties And Toxicity Studies, Akshay Pariti

Masters Theses

"This thesis study focuses on synthesizing and characterizing gold-magnetite optically active magnetic nanoparticle and its conjugation with biomolecules for biomedical applications, especially magnetic fluid hyperthermia treatment for cancerous tissue. Gold nanoparticles have already displayed their potential in the biomedical field. They exhibit excellent optical properties and possess strong surface chemistry which renders them suitable for various biomolecule attachments. Studies have showed gold nanoparticles to be a perfect biocompatible vector. However, clinical trials for gold mediated drug delivery and treatment studied in rat models identified some problems. Of these problems, the low retention time in bloodstream and inability to maneuver externally …

Fabrication Of Yttrium Ferrite Nanoparticles By Solution Combustion Synthesis, A. A. Saukhimov, Mkhitar A. Hobosyan, Gamage C. Dannangoda, N. N. Zhumabekova, S. E. Kumekov

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications and Presentations

The ternary oxide system Y-Fe-O presents fascinating magnetic properties that are sensitive to the crystalline size of particles. There is a major challenge to fabricate these materials in nano-crystalline forms due to particle conglomeration during nucleation and synthesis. In this paper we report the fabrication of nano sized crystalline yttrium ferrite by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) where yttrium and iron nitrates were used as metal precursors with glycine as a fuel. The magnetic properties of the product can be selectively controlled by adjusting the ratio of glycine to metal nitrates. Yttrium ferrite nano-powder was obtained by using three concentration of …