Temperature-sensitive polymeric nanogels encapsulating withβ-cyclodextrin and ICG complex for high-resolution deep-tissue ultrasound-switchable fluorescence imaging

One of the thorny problems currently impeding the applications of the fluorescence imaging technique is the poor spatial resolution in deep tissue.Ultrasound-switchable fluorescence(USF)imaging is a novel imaging tool that has recently been explored to possibly surmount the above-mentioned bottleneck.Herein,αβ-cyclodextrin/indocyanine green(ICG)complex-encapsulated poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM)nanogel was synthesized and studied for ex vivo/in vivo deep tissue/high-resolution near infrared USF(NIR-USF)imaging.To be specific,our results revealed that the average diameter of the as-prepared nanogels was significantly decreased to-32 nm from-335 nm compared to the reported ICG-PNIPAM nanoparticles.Additionally,the excitation/emission characteristics of the ICG itself in present nanogels were almost completely retained,and the resultant nanogel exhibited high physiological stability and positive biocompatibility.In particular,the signal-to-noise ratio of the USF image for the PNIPAM/P-cyclodextrin/ICG nanogel(33.01±2.42 dB)was prominently higher than that of the ICG-PNIPAM nanoparticles(18.73±0.33 dB)in 1.5-cm-thick chicken breast tissues.The NIR-USF imaging in 3.5-cm-thick chicken breast tissues was achieved using this new probe.The e x v iv o NIR-USF imaging of the mouse liver was also successfully obtained.Animal experiments showed that the present nanogels were able to be effectively accumulated into U87 tumor-bearing mice via enhanced permeability and retention effects,and the high-resolution NIR-USF imaging of in v ivo tumor was efficiently acquired.The metabolism and in vivo biodistribution of the nanogels were evaluated.Overall,the results suggest that the current nanogel is a highly promising NIR-USF probe for deep tissue and high-resolution USF imaging.     

Carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin conjugated magnetic nanoparticles as nano-adsorbents for removal of copper ions: synthesis and adsorption studies

A novel nano-adsorbent, carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin modified Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles (CMCD-MNPs) is fabricated for removal of copper ions from aqueous solution by grafting CM-β-CD onto the magnetite surface via carbodiimide method. The characteristics results of FTIR, TEM, TGA and XPS show that CM-β-CD is grafted onto Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles. The grafted CM-β-CD on the Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles contributes to an enhancement of the adsorption capacity because of the strong abilities of the multiple hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in CM-β-CD to adsorb metal ions. The adsorption of Cu(2+) onto CMCD-MNPs is found to be dependent on pH and temperature. Adsorption equilibrium is achieved in 30 min and the adsorption kinetics of Cu(2+) is found to follow a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Equilibrium data for Cu(2+) adsorption are fitted well by Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cu(2+) ions is estimated to be 47.2mg/g at 25 °C. Furthermore, thermodynamic parameters reveal the feasibility, spontaneity and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. FTIR and XPS reveal that Cu(2+) adsorption onto CMCD-MNPs mainly involves the oxygen atoms in CM-β-CD to form surface-complexes. In addition, the copper ions can be desorbed from CMCD-MNPs by citric acid solution with 96.2% desorption efficiency and the CMCD-MNPs exhibit good recyclability.     

Electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) matrices containing silver sulfadiazine complexed with β-cyclodextrin as a new pharmaceutical dosage form to wound healing: preliminary physicochemical and biological evaluation

Cooperation between researchers in the areas of medical, pharmaceutical and materials science has facilitated the development of pharmaceutical dosage forms that elicit therapeutic effects and protective action with a single product. In addition to optimizing pharmacologic action, such dosage forms provide greater patient comfort and increase success and treatment compliance. In the present work, we prepared semipermeable bioactive electrospun fibers for use as wound dressings containing silver sulfadiazine complexed with β-cyclodextrin in a poly(?-caprolactone) nanofiber matrix aiming to reduce the direct contact between silver and skin and to modulate the drug release. Wound dressings were prepared by electrospinning, and were subjected to ATR-FT-IR and TG/DTG assays to evaluate drug stability. The hydrophilicity of the fibrous nanostructure in water and PBS buffer was studied by goniometry. Electrospun fibers permeability and swelling capacity were assessed, and a dissolution test was performed. In vitro biological tests were realized to investigate the biological compatibility and antimicrobial activity. We obtained flexible matrices that were each approximately 1.0?g in weight. The electrospun fibers were shown to be semipermeable, with water vapor transmission and swelling indexes compatible with the proposed objective. The hydrophilicity was moderate. Matrices containing pure drug modulated drug release adequately during 24?h but presented a high hemolytic index. Complexation promoted a decrease in the hemolytic index and in the drug release but did not negatively impact antimicrobial activity. The drug was released predominantly by diffusion. These results indicate that electrospun PCL matrices containing β-cyclodextrin/silver sulfadiazine inclusion complexes are a promising pharmaceutical dosage form for wound healing.     

Grain shape as a factor governing the parameters of diamond electroplated coating of dressing tools. Part 2. Actual grain–graphite form contact area and related characteristics as input data for calculating the conditions of diamond electroplated coating application by electroforming method

The paper gives experimental data on the actual contact area between grains and the graphite form used in the process of deposition of a diamond coating onto a dressing tool by the electroforming method. Also, the authors provide the results of determination of the maximum section of diamond grains in the powders of different grain sizes, the specific number of grains on the surface and their orientation—the data needed for the calculation of the free surface area of nickel being deposited, and thus the deposition rate and time as well as the final thickness of the diamond electroplated coating.     

Sol–gel synthesis, structural and optical characteristics of Sr1?xZn2Si2yO7+δ: xEu2+ as a potential nanocrystalline phosphor for near-ultraviolet white light-emitting diodes

In this research, a new blue-emitting phosphor Eu²⁺-doped SrZn₂Si₂O₇ was developed for white light-emitting diodes via the sol–gel process. Thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra were used to characterize the resulting phosphors. The obtained phosphor is efficiently excited in the wavelength range of 340–400 nm which matches to a near-UV-emitting InGaN chip and emits strong band blue light peaking at 481 nm because of 4f ⁶5d ¹(² D) → 4f ⁷(⁸ S _7/2) transition of Eu²⁺ ions. The effects of the activator concentration and excess Si (y > 1) on the luminescence properties were evaluated. It was found that, when the Eu²⁺ content (x) and the Si concentration (2y) were 0.04 and 2.4, respectively, the optimum phosphor can be achieved. Also, the mechanism of concentration quenching was determined to be the dipole–dipole interaction using Dexter’s theory. Finally, the mean crystallite size of the products was estimated to be approximately 30 nm using Scherrer’s equation, which was confirmed by the TEM observations.