Boron and Gadolinium Loaded Fe3O4 Nanocarriers for Potential Application in Neutron Capture Therapy

In this article, a novel method of simultaneous carborane- and gadolinium-containing compounds as efficient agents for neutron capture therapy (NCT) delivery via magnetic nanocarriers is presented. The presence of both Gd and B increases the efficiency of NCT and using nanocarriers enhances selectivity. These factors make NCT not only efficient, but also safe. Superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were treated with silane and then the polyelectrolytic layer was formed for further immobilization of NCT agents. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) and Mössbauer spectroscopies, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) were applied for the characterization of the chemical and element composition, structure, morphology and magnetic properties of nanocarriers. The cytotoxicity effect was evaluated on different cell lines: BxPC-3, PC-3 MCF-7, HepG2 and L929, human skin fibroblasts as normal cells. average size of nanoparticles is 110 nm; magnetization at 1T and coercivity is 43.1 emu/g and 8.1, respectively; the amount of B is 0.077 mg/g and the amount of Gd is 0.632 mg/g. Successful immobilization of NCT agents, their low cytotoxicity against normal cells and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells as well as the superparamagnetic properties of nanocarriers were confirmed by analyses above.     

Reactivity of mechanically activated apatite and its interaction with zeolites

The process for raising the agrochemically active citric-soluble phosphorus oxide content in apatite is reported on example of ores of the Seligdarskoe deposit by employing the mechanochemical activation with introduction of zeolites. The process for multistep extraction with citric-acid solutions is proposed to evaluate complete solubility of activated apatites utilized as fertilizers. The potentialities to prolong the agrochemical activity of apatite component in zeolite-phosphate mixtures are shown by introducing gradually additional amount of zeolite as it is saturated with calcium cations. __________ Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 2, pp. 100–106, March–April, 2006.     

Mineral hardness effect on the combined mineral grinding

The effect of rock-forming minerals on grindability and amorphization of sulfide minerals: pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, and pentlandite is considered on quartz as an example. It is established that quartz appreciably retards the grinding of sulfide minerals of −0.5 + 0.2 mm in ore size, and above all, the time of grinding down to −0.05 mm in the product size increases 1.5–2 times. The separate milling of minerals, essentially differing in hardness (1.5–2 times), is recommended to optimize the grinding process and to cut down the power consumption. __________ Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 4, pp. 121–126, July–August, 2007.     

Variation of polymer-template pore geometry as a means of controlling the magnetic properties of metallic nanostructures

The influence of pore geometry of polyethylene terephthalate track-etched membranes on the structural, conducting, and magnetic characteristics of cobalt nanotubes (NTs) synthesized by electrochemical deposition has been studied. It has been found that there are significant differences in average size of crystallites and texture coefficients between various forms of cobalt nanotubes. Thus, the α-Co hexagonal closepacked phase dominates in Co-NT samples with cylindrical and hourglass pore shapes and the β-Co facecentered cubic phase prevails in conical Co nanotubes. Measurements of the magnetic properties have shown that the coercivity of cylindrical Co nanotubes is almost two times that of the conical forms because of crystal anisotropy of nanotube-forming cobalt crystallites.     

Combined concentration of synnyrites and production of potash-feldspar concentrate

Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk. Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 6, pp. 89-92, November-December, 1991.     

New technological solutions for the beneficiation of synnyrites

New technologies for processing high-potassium alumopotassium raw material (synnyrites) on the basis of the previously established possibility of separating aluminosilicates with similar cations are substantiated. A combined scheme including chemical, flotation and magnetic beneficiation that provides the production of kalisilite and microcline concentrates is suggested. The kalisilite concentrate is a new chlorine-free potash fertilizer and the high quality feldspar concentrate is a scarce raw material for the porcelain-faience, electrical engineering, and refractory industries. United Institute of Geology, Geophysics, and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk. Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 3, pp. 122–126, May–June, 1999.     

Chemical demineralization of different metamorphic grade coals

The paper analyzes a process of deep mineralization of various metamorphic grade coals pre-ground in different destructive units, namely, in centrifugal-planetary mill and disintegrator. Coal dispergation in higher energy intensive mills greatly enhances inorganic component extraction to acidic solutions. This is explained by distortion of crystal structure and amorphization of minerals under various kinds and different intensity mechanical actions.