pH-sensitive photocatalytic activities of TiO2/poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) composite hydrogels

The pH-sensitive photocatalytic system was prepared by embedding TiO₂ into poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(acrylic acid) hydrogel. Two different type TiO₂/hydrogel composites, such as matrix and nanofiber, were prepared to investigate the morphological effects on the photocatalytic activity. TiO₂ was distributed uniformly in the composite hydrogel and kept the original anatase structure without any structural change. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ was evaluated based on the efficiency of photobleaching of dye. The photobleaching of dye was improved greatly as the pH was changed into basic condition and the larger surface area of hydrogel was available for TiO₂ by using nanofiber supports.     

Fabrication of nanoconcave surface for cell immobilization in cell-based chip

Nanostructured surface such as nanoconcave shape can be utilized as a bioplatform to immobilize cells. In this study, we present fabrication of Au-coated nanoconcave surface and some possibility of cell immobilization. Long-range ordered periodic patterns with concave shape were formed on aluminum substrate by electrochemical anodization process. The morphology and topography of nanoconcave surface was investigated by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pore-pore distance and the pore depth of nanoconcave pattern were measured at 105 +/- 5 nm and 30 +/- 2 nm, respectively. After Au deposition, the pore depth within Au-coated concave surface was 15 +/- 2 nm. The topography of HeLa cells immobilized on the nanoconcave surface was observed by AFM combined with confocal microscopy. The result expected that the Au-coated nanoconcave surface may be used as new culture substrate for cells immobilization in cell-based chip.     

Advanced lithography simulation for various 3-dimensional nano/microstructuring fabrications in positive- and negative-tone photoresists

Photoresist lithography has been applied to the fabrication of micro/nano devices, such as microfluidic structures, quantum dots, and photonic devices, in MEMS (micro-electro mechanical systems) and NEMS (nano-electro-mechanical systems). In particular, nano devices can be expected to present different physical phenomena due to their three-dimensional (3D) structure. The flexible 3D micro/nano fabrication technique and its process simulation have become among the major topics needed to understand nano-mechanical phenomena. For this purpose, the moving-mask technology and the lithography processes for the positive- and negative-tone photoresists were modeled. The validity of the simulation of the proposed 3D nano/microstructuring was successfully confirmed by comparing the experiment results and the simulated results. Hence, the developed model and the simulation can present and optimize photoresist characteristics and lithography process conditions due to the various 3D nano/microstructures. They could be help in the understanding of nanomaterial and mechanical phenomena.     

Intracellular drug delivery of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles

Intracellular drug delivery of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocarriers have been examined in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell culture line by both electron and confocal microscopies. For transmission electron microsopic (TEM) study, LDHs and anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX) loaded LDHs were synthesized and the particle size was controlled. From the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies, morphologies of LDH nanoparticle and its MTX intercalated form were proven to be platelike hexagonal with an average size of approximately 150 nm. In order to understand the cellular penetration behavior, both nanoparticles were treated to human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell culture lines and the cellular uptake pattern with respect to incubation time was observed by TEM and SEM. We observed that the nanoparticles are attached at the cellular membrane at first and then internalized into the cells via endocytosis within 1 h. Then are located in the intracellular vacuole (endosome). In order to examine the intracellular drug delivery mechanism of LDH nanoparticles, fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled MTX was intercalated into LDH and treated on Saos-2 cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopic studies revealed that the FITC-MTX molecules were first internalized with LDH nanocarriers via endocytosis, and located in endosome to deliver loaded drug to target cellular organ. It was, therefore, concluded that LDH could play a role as drug delivery nanocarriers.     

Nitrogen and europium doped TiO2 anodized films with applications in photocatalysis

Micro-arc oxidation method is a useful process for mesoporous titanium dioxide films. In order to improve the photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂ film, N-Eu co-doped titania catalyst was synthesized by micro-arc oxidation in the H₂SO₄/Eu(NO₃)₃ mixture solution.The specific surface area and the roughness of the anodic titania film fabricated in the H₂SO₄/Eu(NO₃)₃ electrolyte, were increased compared to that of the anodic TiO₂ film prepared in H₂SO₄ solution. The absorbance response of N-Eu titania film shows a higher adsorption onset toward visible light region, and the incorporated N and Eu ions during anodization as a dopant in the anodic TiO₂ film significantly enhanced the photocatalytic activity for dye degradation. After dye decomposition test for 3 h, dye removal rates for the anodic TiO₂ film were 60.7% and 90.1% for the N-Eu doped titania film. The improvement of the photocatalytic activity was ascribed to the synergistic effects of the surface enlargement and the new electronic state of the TiO₂ band gap by N and Eu co-doping.     

Interaction of antiparallel transverse domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires

The interaction of antiparallel transverse domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires was investigated via micromagnetic simulation with systematic variations of the external field strength as well as the wire thickness. The interaction of antiparallel transverse walls after domain wall collision exhibited damped multiple collisions due to the rigid structure of the antiparallel transverse walls. The detailed process during the multiple collisions was analyzed via the Fast Fourier Transform technique, along with a careful examination of the inner spin structures of the colliding domain walls. It was found that a frequency peak of multiple collisions shifted to a higher peak position as the external field strength increases. With a stronger field strength of around a few hundred mT, it was found that two antiparallel transverse walls were finally annihilated with formation of complex antivortex structures.