Progress toward Room-Temperature Synthesis and Functionalization of Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles

Novel magnetic nanohybrids composed of nanomaghemite covered by organic molecules were successfully synthesized at room temperature with different functionalization agents (sodium polystyrene sulfonate, oxalic acid, and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) in low and high concentrations. Structural, vibrational, morphological, electron energy-loss spectroscopy, magnetic, and Mössbauer characterizations unraveled the presence of mainly cubic inverse spinel maghemite (γ-Fe₂O₃), whilst X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy showed that most samples contain a minor amount of goethite phase (α-FeOOH). Raman analysis at different laser power revealed a threshold value of 0.83 mW for all samples, for which the γ-Fe₂O₃ to α-Fe₂O₃ phase transition was observed. Imaging microscopy revealed controlled-size morphologies of nanoparticles, with sizes in the range from 8 to 12 nm. Organic functionalization of the magnetic nanoparticles was demonstrated by vibrational and thermogravimetric measurements. For some samples, Raman, magnetic, and Mössbauer measurements suggested an even more complex core-shell-like configuration, with a thin shell containing magnetite (Fe₃O₄) covering the γ-Fe₂O₃ surface, thus causing an increase in the saturation magnetization of approximately 11% against nanomaghemite. Field cooling hysteresis curves at 5 K did not evidence an exchange bias effect, confirming that the goethite phase is not directly interacting magnetically with the functionalized maghemite nanoparticles. These magnetic nanohybrids may be suitable for applications in effluent remediation and biomedicine.     

Electrospun Nanofibers for Sensing and Biosensing Applications—A Review

Sensors and biosensors have found applications in many areas, e.g., in medicine and clinical diagnostics, or in environmental monitoring. To expand this field, nanotechnology has been employed in the construction of sensing platforms. Because of their properties, such as high surface area to volume ratio, nanofibers (NFs) have been studied and used to develop sensors with higher loading capacity, better sensitivity, and faster response time. They also allow to miniaturize designed platforms. One of the most commonly used techniques of the fabrication of NFs is electrospinning. Electrospun NFs can be used in different types of sensors and biosensors. This review presents recent studies concerning electrospun nanofiber-based electrochemical and optical sensing platforms for the detection of various medically and environmentally relevant compounds, including glucose, drugs, microorganisms, and toxic metal ions.     

Progress in Laser Ablation and Biological Synthesis Processes: “Top-Down” and “Bottom-Up” Approaches for the Green Synthesis of Au/Ag Nanoparticles

Because of their small size and large specific surface area, nanoparticles (NPs) have special properties that are different from bulk materials. In particular, Au/Ag NPs have been intensively studied for a long time, especially for biomedical applications. Thereafter, they played a significant role in the fields of biology, medical testing, optical imaging, energy and catalysis, MRI contrast agents, tumor diagnosis and treatment, environmental protection, and so on. When synthesizing Au/Ag NPs, the laser ablation and biosynthesis methods are very promising green processes. Therefore, this review focuses on the progress in the laser ablation and biological synthesis processes for Au/Ag NP generation, especially in their fabrication fundamentals and potential applications. First, the fundamentals of the laser ablation method are critically reviewed, including the laser ablation mechanism for Au/Ag NPs and the controlling of their size and shape during fabrication using laser ablation. Second, the fundamentals of the biological method are comprehensively discussed, involving the synthesis principle and the process of controlling the size and shape and preparing Au/Ag NPs using biological methods. Third, the applications in biology, tumor diagnosis and treatment, and other fields are reviewed to demonstrate the potential value of Au/Ag NPs. Finally, a discussion surrounding three aspects (similarity, individuality, and complementarity) of the two green synthesis processes is presented, and the necessary outlook, including the current limitations and challenges, is suggested, which provides a reference for the low-cost and sustainable production of Au/Ag NPs in the future.     

等离子体法制备碳纳米管负载银粒子及抑菌性研究

通过温和的等离子体法制备出碳纳米管负载纳米银粒子,并研究了其对大肠杆菌的抑制作用。首先用氧等离子体处理碳纳米管,再将银离子负载在碳纳米管表面上,接着用氢等离子体将负载的银离子还原成纳米银粒子。用TEM和XRD对制备出的银粒子进行表征,研究表明,平均粒径为5nm左右的银粒子负载在碳纳米管表面。对大肠杆菌的抑菌实验表明,Ag-CNTs浓度大于1μg/mL时,对大肠杆菌生长抑制效果明显。     

Novel Tumor-Targeting Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment—A Review

Being one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, cancer represents an ongoing interdisciplinary challenge for the scientific community. As currently used treatments may face limitations in terms of both efficiency and adverse effects, continuous research has been directed towards overcoming existing challenges and finding safer specific alternatives. In particular, increasing interest has been gathered around integrating nanotechnology in cancer management and subsequentially developing various tumor-targeting nanoparticles for cancer applications. In this respect, the present paper briefly describes the most used cancer treatments in clinical practice to set a reference framework for recent research findings, further focusing on the novel developments in the field. More specifically, this review elaborates on the top recent studies concerning various nanomaterials (i.e., carbon-based, metal-based, liposomes, cubosomes, lipid-based, polymer-based, micelles, virus-based, exosomes, and cell membrane-coated nanomaterials) that show promising potential in different cancer applications.     

聚多巴胺功能化纳米银粒子制备及抗菌性能研究

采用一步法,以聚多巴胺(PDA)为还原剂和保护剂,制备PDA功能化的纳米银粒子(PDA-nanoAg)。提出PDA-nanoAg合成机理,并考察其在水相中的分散稳定性。通过紫外-可见吸收分光光度计(UV-Vis)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)对产物形貌和结构进行表征。采用肉汤稀释法测试PDAnanoAg的抗菌性能。结果表明,所制备的PDA-nanoAg平均粒径为50 nm,具有良好的稳定分散性;对埃希氏大肠杆菌(E.coli)、金黄色葡萄球菌(S.aureus)的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)为7.56 mg/L,最小杀菌浓度(MBC)为30.24mg/L。     

银纳米微粒接枝木纤维的制备及抗菌性能研究

以聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)为稳定剂和分散剂,硼氢化钠为还原剂制备了聚乙烯吡咯烷酮-银纳米微粒(PVP-Ag NPs),并将其通过硅烷偶联剂接枝到木纤维上,得到了具有抗菌活性的木纤维。利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和傅里叶-红外光谱(FT-IR)对PVP-Ag NPs接枝的木纤维进行了结构形貌的表征,并且通过热重分析仪(TG)分析其热稳定性能。结果表明,PVP-Ag NPs接枝木纤维的最佳反应条件是硅烷偶联剂用量4%、偶合时间5 h及接枝时间10 h,此条件下得到PVP-Ag NPs接枝木纤维的接枝率为5.8%;PVP-Ag NPs接枝的木纤维对革兰氏阳性菌金黄色葡萄球菌、蜡状芽疱杆菌、革兰氏阴性菌大肠埃希氏菌以及耐药性细菌耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌这4种菌种的抑菌率均大于95%,此外,PVP-Ag NPs接枝到木纤维板上的抗菌效果也较好。     

Bionanofactories for Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: Toward Antimicrobial Applications

Among the various types of nanoparticles and their strategy for synthesis, the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles has gained much attention in the biomedical, cellular imaging, cosmetics, drug delivery, food, and agrochemical industries due to their unique physicochemical and biological properties. The green synthesis strategies incorporate the use of plant extracts, living organisms, or biomolecules as bioreducing and biocapping agents, also known as bionanofactories for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The use of green chemistry is ecofriendly, biocompatible, nontoxic, and cost-effective. We shed light on the recent advances in green synthesis and physicochemical properties of green silver nanoparticles by considering the outcomes from recent studies applying SEM, TEM, AFM, UV/Vis spectrophotometry, FTIR, and XRD techniques. Furthermore, we cover the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activities of silver nanoparticles.     

微乳液中纳米ZnS、CdS微粒的合成与表征

以乙酸锌、硝酸镉和硫化钠为原料,室温下,采用微乳液法合成ZnS、CdS纳米粒子。利用rIEM、XRD、Raman、UV-Vis和PL等检测手段对产物进行表征。结果表明,合成的zns纳米晶粒径在25m左右,为立方β-Zns晶相;ω值对合成纳米cds的形貌和粒径产生重要影响,纳米Cds粒径为5nm左右,在紫外吸收光谱和荧光发射光谱上均表现出明显的特征,可作为荧光量子点使用。     

银纳米粒子的绿色合成及其光谱特性

以糊精为还原剂和稳定剂,采用微波高压液相绿色合成法制备了黄色银纳米粒子。用吸收光谱和共振散射光谱研究银纳米粒子的光谱特性。结果表明,在优化的最佳条件下,用该法制备的纳米银最大吸收峰在418 nm处,最强共振散射峰在486 nm处,银纳米粒子颗粒呈球形,粒度均匀,平均粒径为20 nm,单分散性较好。该法操作简单反应快速。     

Antifungal Effect of Nanoparticles against COVID-19 Linked Black Fungus: A Perspective on Biomedical Applications

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly transmissible and pathogenic coronavirus that has caused a ‘coronavirus disease 2019’ (COVID-19) pandemic in multiple waves, which threatens human health and public safety. During this pandemic, some patients with COVID-19 acquired secondary infections, such as mucormycosis, also known as black fungus disease. Mucormycosis is a serious, acute, and deadly fungal infection caused by Mucorales-related fungal species, and it spreads rapidly. Hence, prompt diagnosis and treatment are necessary to avoid high mortality and morbidity rates. Major risk factors for this disease include uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and immunosuppression that can also facilitate increases in mucormycosis infections. The extensive use of steroids to prevent the worsening of COVID-19 can lead to black fungus infection. Generally, antifungal agents dedicated to medical applications must be biocompatible, non-toxic, easily soluble, efficient, and hypoallergenic. They should also provide long-term protection against fungal growth. COVID-19-related black fungus infection causes a severe increase in fatalities. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of novel and efficient antimicrobial agents. Recently, nanoparticle-containing products available in the market have been used as antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial growth, but little is known about their efficacy with respect to preventing fungal growth, especially black fungus. The present review focuses on the effect of various types of metal nanoparticles, specifically those containing silver, zinc oxide, gold, copper, titanium, magnetic, iron, and carbon, on the growth of various types of fungi. We particularly focused on how these nanoparticles can impact the growth of black fungus. We also discussed black fungus co-infection in the context of the global COVID-19 outbreak, and management and guidelines to help control COVID-19-associated black fungus infection. Finally, this review aimed to elucidate the relationship between COVID-19 and mucormycosis.     

All That Glitters Is Not Silver—A New Look at Microbiological and Medical Applications of Silver Nanoparticles

Silver and its nanoparticles (AgNPs) have different faces, providing different applications. In recent years, the number of positive nanosilver applications has increased substantially. It has been proven that AgNPs inhibit the growth and survival of bacteria, including human and animal pathogens, as well as fungi, protozoa and arthropods. Silver nanoparticles are known from their antiviral and anti-cancer properties; however, they are also very popular in medical and pharmaceutical nanoengineering as carriers for precise delivery of therapeutic compounds, in the diagnostics of different diseases and in optics and chemistry, where they act as sensors, conductors and substrates for various syntheses. The activity of AgNPs has not been fully discovered; therefore, we need interdisciplinary research to fulfil this knowledge. New forms of products with silver will certainly find application in the future treatment of many complicated and difficult to treat diseases. There is still a lack of appropriate and precise legal condition regarding the circulation of nanomaterials and the rules governing their safety use. The relatively low toxicity, relative biocompatibility and selectivity of nanoparticle interaction combined with the unusual biological properties allow their use in animal production as well as in bioengineering and medicine. Despite a quite big knowledge on this topic, there is still a need to organize the data on AgNPs in relation to specific microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi. We decided to put this knowledge together and try to show positive and negative effects on prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.     

单分散纳米银胶体的快速制备及其在H2O2检测中的应用

以葡萄糖(C6H12O6)为还原剂、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)为分散剂,采用液相还原法在室温水体系中快速制备不同浓度的纳米银粒子,对产物进行了表征,并将其用于H2O2检测. 结果表明,通过控制NaOH和PVP用量,可制得粒径30~55 nm、纯相的球形纳米银胶体,在H2O2检测中活性良好. 纳米银胶体表面等离子共振峰强度变化与H2O2浓度呈线性关系,H2O2的检测灵敏度高,检测限为5.0′10-7~5.0′10-2 mol/L.     

表面修饰银纳米颗粒的制备及摩擦学性能

以3-氨基-1,2,4-二噻唑-5-硫酮(ADTT)和均苯四甲酸酐为原料,在四氢呋喃溶液中,70℃下酰胺化反应合成了2,5-二(5-硫酮-1,2,4-二噻唑-3-甲酰胺基)-对苯二甲酸(BtdyTA),收率74%。以NaBH4为还原剂,在AgNO3水溶液中用液相化学还原法合成了表面修饰BtdyTA的银纳米颗粒,用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅里叶红外转换光谱仪(FTIR)和热分析仪(TG)对纳米颗粒的形貌、结构和热稳定性进行了表征,并在四球摩擦试验机上测试了表面修饰银纳米颗粒的抗摩减磨性能。结果表明,表面修饰的银纳米颗粒粒径分布均匀,平均粒径10nm左右,无团聚现象;在质量分数不大于5%时,可较好分散于液体石蜡等有机溶剂中,作为一种新的基础润滑油添加剂,可使摩擦系数减小32%,最小磨斑直径减小39%。     

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Detection of Glucose via Chemical Reduction with Nanocellulose as Carrier and Stabilizer

The application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in antibacterial materials, glucose detection, etc., is of broad interest for researchers around the world. Nanocellulose with many excellent properties can be used as a carrier and stabilizer to assist in the synthesis of AgNPs. In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were used to assist in the synthesis of AgNPs under the reduction of glucose and detection of glucose concentration under different conditions. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the AgNPs in the nanocellulose-AgNPs (NC-AgNPs) system were roughly spherical and randomly distributed on the nanocellulose. In the whole reaction system, when the concentration of nanocellulose is 0.11 mg/mL, the concentration of silver ammonia solution is 0.6 mM, and the mixing time is 2.5 h, according to the UV-Vis analysis, the absorbance of CNF-AgNPs at 425 nm exhibited a good linear relationship (R² = 0.9945) with the glucose concentration range (5–50 μM), while the absorbance of CNC-AgNPs at 420 nm showed a good linear relationship (R² = 0.9956) with the glucose concentration range (5–35 μM). The synthesis of NC-AgNPs can be further developed into a sensor with higher sensitivity and higher stability for detecting glucose concentration and a material with antibacterial effects.     

化学沉淀法制备纳米SiO2颗粒

二氧化硅以其优越的耐热隔热性能引起各个行业的广泛关注。以硅酸钠为硅源、氯化铵为沉淀剂、十六烷基三甲基溴化铵（CTAB）为分散剂,采用化学沉淀法合成二氧化硅纳米颗粒。采用TG-DSC测试分散剂CTAB的分解温度,并用傅里叶红外光谱、X射线以及扫描电镜对制备的二氧化硅粉末进行表征。结果表明,此方法制备的二氧化硅颗粒为无定形态纳米颗粒,平均粒径为80 nm。     

A Review of “POLYMER GELS—Fundamentals and Biomedical Applications”

Edited by Danili DeRossi, Kanji Kajiwara, Yoshihito Osada and Aizo Yamauchi. Plenum Press, New York and London, 1991, 345pp. (US$85.00).     

Ionic Liquids as Size‐ and Shape‐Regulating Solvents for the Synthesis of Cobalt Nanoparticles

Over the last few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as an important class of reaction media for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The formation and stabilization of nanoparticles was investigated in different ILs to elucidate the effect of the chemical nature of the IL anion, cation and alkyl side chain of the imidazolium. In this context, Co₂(CO)₈ was employed as a precursor and thermally decomposed to the metallic cobalt nanoparticles in a series of selected ILs, where either the IL cation or anion was varied while keeping all of the other parameters constant. The results show that both the molecular volume of the anion and cation and the steric configuration are important aspects to control the formation and stability of nanoparticles in ILs.     

Synthesis and studies on core–shell type anion exchange resins based on a hybrid polymeric support

In pursuit for new materials for recovery of noble metals, novel anion exchangers, based on new type of core–shell polymeric supports have been synthesized. The designed matrices, with reactive chloromethyl groups concentrated on a surface of the polymeric base, the Amberlite XAD‐4 adsorbent, have been modified using ethylenediamine and polyethyleneimine. The obtained ion exchangers were employed in processes of sorption of gold, platinum, and palladium chlorocomplexes, then, they were compared to similar resins based on volumetric polymeric supports. The studies covered porosity measurements, determination of sorption behavior in the presence of counter ions as well as kinetic and column studies. Ultimately, an attempt to access a core–shell character of the resins has been made using digital‐optical microscopy. The proceeded analyses allowed to determine the localization of the resins’ functionalities and their advantages over traditional ion exchange resins. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43841.     

有序介孔碳-石墨烯复合材料的制备及其对银纳米粒子吸附性能的研究

以溶剂挥发诱导有机-有机自组装法制备了有序介孔碳-石墨烯（OMC-RGO）复合材料。结果表明：当焙烧温度为800℃时,所得的OMC-RGO复合材料与OMC相比,其电导率从0.76S/m增加到32.5S/m,提高到42.8倍;但BET比表面积和孔容分别从670m2/g和0.40cm3/g下降到361m2/g和0.23cm3/g,降低的比率分别为46.1%和42.5%。随后,我们以OMC-RGO为载体,通过物理吸附制备了有序介孔碳-石墨烯-银纳米粒子（OMC-RGO-Ag）复合材料。结果表明：OMC-RGO表面上Ag纳米粒子的粒径在20～40nm之间;且OMC与RGO复合后,RGO表面上的含氧官能团有利于吸附较多的Ag纳米粒子。