Functionalized gold nanoparticles: a detailed in vivo multimodal microscopic brain distribution study

In the present study, the in vivo distribution of polyelectrolyte multilayer coated gold nanoparticles is shown, starting from the living animal down to cellular level. The coating was designed with functional moieties to serve as a potential nano drug for prion disease. With near infrared time-domain imaging we followed the biodistribution in mice up to 7 days after intravenous injection of the nanoparticles. The peak concentration in the head of mice was detected between 19 and 24 h. The precise particle distribution in the brain was studied ex vivo by X-ray microtomography, confocal laser and fluorescence microscopy. We found that the particles mainly accumulate in the hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, and the cerebral cortex.     

Anaerobic biodegradability and treatment of grey water in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor

Feasibility of grey water treatment in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operated at different hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 16, 10 and 6h and controlled temperature of 30 degrees C was investigated. Moreover, the maximum anaerobic biodegradability without inoculum addition and maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions in grey water were determined in batch experiments. High values of maximum anaerobic biodegradability (76%) and maximum COD removal in the UASB reactor (84%) were achieved. The results showed that the colloidal COD had the highest maximum anaerobic biodegradability (86%) and the suspended and dissolved COD had similar maximum anaerobic biodegradability of 70%. Furthermore, the results of the UASB reactor demonstrated that a total COD removal of 52-64% was obtained at HRT between 6 and 16 h. The UASB reactor removed 22-30% and 15-21% of total nitrogen and total phosphorous in the grey water, respectively, mainly due to the removal of particulate nutrients. The characteristics of the sludge in the UASB reactor confirmed that the reactor had a stable performance. The minimum sludge residence time and the maximum specific methanogenic activity of the sludge ranged between 27 and 93 days and 0.18 and 0.28 kg COD/(kg VS d).     

The flavour of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

European Food Research and Technology - The volatile constituents of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) were characterized using liquid/liquid extraction and fractionation of the flavour...     

Milling,Sintering and Crystallization of 11BaO-25CaO-64SiO2 Glass Powder

The crystallization of 11BaO-25CaO-64SiO₂ mol% glass powders and related effects of glass powder milling have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Glass powders were made by ZrO₂ crushing with subsequent sieving or sedimentation or alternatively made by milling with agate, corundum and tungsten carbide. Although surface crystallization was detectable during late sintering, all powders fully sintered. Wollastonite was found as primary crystal phase followed by cristobalite and sanbornite precipitation. The latter crystallization steps caused a second DTA-peak for fine powders. DTA-peak temperatures shifted to lower temperature with decreasing particle size in any case. No significant effects of milling materials on DTA-peak temperatures were evident. As an exception, however, milling in agate caused strongly decreased temperatures of the second DTA-peak. This observation can be explained by the progressive mechanical damaging, which results from the required prolonged milling time with agate due to its small materials density, and the fact that diamond made scratches did promote surface crystallization of cristobalite. The present study thus shows that even for glass powders with excellent sinterability, milling can affect microstructure evolution.     

Multifunctional Gadolinium‐Doped Mesoporous TiO2 Nanobeads: Photoluminescence,Enhanced Spin Relaxation,and Reactive Oxygen Species Photogeneration,Beneficial for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

Materials with controllable multifunctional abilities for optical imaging (OI) and magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) that also can be used in photodynamic therapy are very interesting for future applications. Mesoporous TiO₂ sub‐micrometer particles are doped with gadolinium to improve photoluminescence functionality and spin relaxation for MRI, with the added benefit of enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Gd‐doped TiO₂ exhibits red emission at 637 nm that is beneficial for OI and significantly improves MRI relaxation times, with a beneficial decrease in spin–lattice and spin–spin relaxation times. Density functional theory calculations show that Gd³⁺ ions introduce impurity energy levels inside the bandgap of anatase TiO₂, and also create dipoles that are beneficial for charge separation and decreased electron–hole recombination in the doped lattice. The Gd‐doped TiO₂ nanobeads (NBs) show enhanced ability for ROS monitored via ^?OH radical photogeneration, in comparison with undoped TiO₂ nanobeads and TiO₂ P25, for Gd‐doping up to 10%. Cellular internalization and biocompatibility of TiO₂@x Gd NBs are tested in vitro on MG‐63 human osteosarcoma cells, showing full biocompatibility. After photoactivation of the particles, anticancer trace by means of ROS photogeneration is observed just after 3 min irradiation.     

Comprehensive gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry using soft and selective photoionization techniques

The hyphenation of gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) revolutionized organic analysis. In GC/MS coupling, usually electron impact ionization is applied, and molecules are identified by their fragment pattern. Although mass spectrometry in principle is a separation method, it is used predominantly as a spectrometric technique. However, if soft (i.e., fragmentation-free) ionization techniques are applied, the inherent separation character of MS is emphasized, which has similarities to a GC boiling point separation. By combining polar column GC separation and fast soft ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology, a comprehensive separation of complex petrochemical samples can be obtained (GC x MS approach). Compounds of comparable physical-chemical properties are characteristically grouped together in a two-dimensional retention time-m/z representation. This resembles the separation characteristics of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) and, thus, represents a novel multidimensional separation approach. In this work, a gas chromatograph equipped with a polar separation column was coupled to a home-built laser ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Laser-based, single-photon ionization was used for universal soft ionization and resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization for selective ionization of aromatic compounds. A novel capillary-jet inlet system was used for the coupling. Multidimensional comprehensive analysis of complex petrochemical hydrocarbon samples using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with soft and selective photo ionization sources is first demonstrated.     

Corrosion resistance studies on grain-boundary etched drug-eluting stents

In this paper we compare the influence of different microstructures on the corrosion resistance of new drug-eluting stainless steel stents, which have been produced by grain-boundary-selective electrochemical etching processes. The morphology of the stent surfaces was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the surface composition was investigated with Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) as well as with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The passivity of the different microstructured stents was studied by cyclovoltammetry in Ringer solution. Release of nickel and chromium was assessed after potentiostatic experiments in Ringer solution by analysing the collected electrolyte with AAS. For stents produced by different two-step etching procedures bringing about ideal morphologies regarding the mechanical and biological properties of the surface, no significant differences in the passivation behaviour could be observed. A two-step process using first nitric acid and oxalic acid in a second step produces stent surfaces with very good corrosion properties: electrochemical analysis shows that the range of stable passivity is the same as for conventional stent surfaces, and low rates of nickel and chromium release are observed. The etching procedures do not seem to change the surface oxide layer composition.     

Highly Robust Indium‐Free Transparent Conductive Electrodes Based on Composites of Silver Nanowires and Conductive Metal Oxides

A hybrid approach for the realization of In‐free transparent conductive layers based on a composite of a mesh of silver nanowires (NWs) and a conductive metal‐oxide is demonstrated. As metal‐oxide room‐temperature‐processed sol–gel SnO_x or Al:ZnO prepared by low‐temperature (100 °C) atomic layer deposition is used, respectively. In this concept, the metal‐oxide is intended to fuse the wires together and also to “glue” them to the substrate. As a result, a low sheet resistance down to 5.2 Ω sq^‐1 is achieved with a concomitant average transmission of 87%. The adhesion of the NWs to the substrate is significantly improved and the resulting composites withstand adhesion tests without loss in conductivity. Owing to the low processing temperatures, this concept allows highly robust, highly conductive, and transparent coatings even on top of temperature sensitive objects, for example, polymer foils, organic devices. These Indium‐ and PEDOT:PSS‐free hybrid layers are successfully implemented as transparent top‐electrodes in efficient all‐solution‐processed semitransparent organic solar cells. It is obvious that this approach is not limited to organic solar cells but will generally be applicable in devices which require transparent electrodes.