Search results for " Nanoparticle"

The zero field self-organization of cobalt/surfactant nanocomposite thin films

2009

Cobalt nanostructures have been prepared by a chemical route based on the Co(II) reduction in the confined space of cobalt bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (Co(DEHSS)(2)) reverse micelles dispersed in n-heptane. This procedure involves the rapid formation of surfactant softly coated Co nanostructures followed by a slow separation process of the magnetic-field responsive Co/surfactant nanocomposites from the liquid phase. The detailed structure of thin films of the Co/surfactant nanocomposites has been investigated by scanning force microscopy (SFM). The thin films were characterized by different anisotropic features. Micrometric long domains of self-aligned ellipsoidal NPs (tens of nanometer…

Radiation Engineering of Multifunctional Nanogels

2016

Nanogels combine the favourable properties of hydrogels with those of colloids. They can be soft and conformable, stimuli-responsive and highly permeable, and can expose a large surface with functional groups for conjugation to small and large molecules, and even macromolecules. They are among the very few systems that can be generated and used as aqueous dispersions. Nanogels are emerging materials for targeted drug delivery and bio-imaging, but they have also shown potential for water purification and in catalysis. The possibility of manufacturing nanogels with a simple process and at relatively low cost is a key criterion for their continued development and successful application. This p…

Nanoscale Deposition of Single-Molecule Magnets onto SiO2 Patterns

2007

bet on a silicon oxide template while the rest ofthe macroscopic surface remains free of molecules. Local oxi-dation was used to fabricate silicon oxide nanopatterns, eitherdots or stripes, over a Si (100) surface coated with a SAM.Their width ranged from 30 to 500 nm whereas the lengthcould be modified from a few nanometers up to several mi-crometers. Nanoscale direct assembly arose from a combina-tion of three factors: i) the strength of the attractive electro-static interactions between the molecules and the local oxides;ii) the weak repulsive interaction between the molecules andthe unpatternedsurface; and iii) the size of the nanopattern.Local oxidation nanolithography (LON) allows the…

Biogenic iron-silver nanoparticles inhibit bacterial biofilm formation due to Ag+ release as determined by a novel phycoerythrin-based assay

2020

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) can be considered as a cost-effective alternative to antibiotics. In the presence of Fe(III)-citrate and Ag+, Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614 produces biogenic Ag-NPs embedded in its peculiar exopolysaccharide (EPS). K. oxytoca DSM 29614 was cultivated in a defined growth medium–containing citrate (as sole carbon source) and supplemented with Ag+ and either low or high Fe(III) concentration. As inferred from elemental analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and dynamic light scattering, Ag-EPS NPs were produced in both conditions and contained also Fe. The production yield of high-Fe/Ag-EPS NPs was 12 times …

Synergistic Activity of Silver Nanoparticles and Polyaminocyclodextrins in Nanosponge Architectures

2019

Four new composite materials, formed by silver nanoparticles embedded in polyamino-cyclodextrin nanosponge architectures, were designed exploiting the affinity of polyamino-cyclodextrins towards Ag+ ions. These materials were characterized by means of different techniques (thermogravimetry, FT-IR, solid state NMR, SEM, HR-TEM), and tested as catalysts for the reduction of nitroarenes and the oxidative coupling of anilines. The results obtained showed synergistic activity between the supramolecular binding abilities of the nanosponge matrix and the catalytic properties of the metal nanoparticle, and open the way towards the design of new composite smart nanomaterials with improved catalytic …

Orthogonal functionalisation of upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals.

2013

A simple and straightforward method for the orthogonal functionalisation of upconverting NaYF4 nanocrystals (UCNCs)-doped withYb(3+) and Er(3+)-based on N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) selective reactions between two dyes and two different reactive groups present at the periphery of the upconverting nanocrystals is reported. Organic-soluble UCNCs of 10 and 50 nm in size are encapsulated efficiently in a 1:1 mixture of two commercial 3000 Da poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives with two different reactive groups (amino and carboxylic groups). The water-dispersible UCNCs are non-cytotoxic, stable in the physiological environment, and present free ami…

Solid lipid nanoparticles from amphiphilic calixpyrroles

2016

Abstract Hypothesis Macrocyclic amphiphiles form interesting self-assembling structures, including solid lipid nanoparticles, which have potential applications in drug encapsulation. Aryl-extended calixpyrroles, which act as anion binding hosts, are expected to form solid lipid nanoparticles, even though the alkyl chains have unusual perpendicular geometry with respect to the hydrophilic head group. The preparation conditions and the alkyl chain length should affect the size and stability of the particles. Experiments Solid lipid nanoparticles of two aryl-extended calixpyrroles with resorcinol walls and either meso-dodecyl or meso-methyl alkyl chains were compared. Ethanolic solutions of th…

Metallic core nano-devices as drug delivery systems

2014

Colorimetric gas detection by the varying thickness of a thin film of ultrasmall PTSA-coated TiO

2016

Colorimetric gas sensing is demonstrated by thin films based on ultrasmall TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) on Si substrates. The NPs are bound into the film by p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) and the film is made to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Since the color of the sensing element depends on the interference of reflected light from the surface of the film and from the film/silicon substrate interface, colorimetric detection is possible by the varying thickness of the NP-based film. Indeed, VOC absorption causes significant swelling of the film. Thus, the optical path length is increased, interference wavelengths are shifted and the refractive index of the film is decreased. This cause…

Reduced graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles/β-cyclodextrin nanosponges composites with improved photocatalytic activity

2023

Significant activity improvement was achieved by associating graphene oxide-silver composite photocatalysts with cyclodextrin-based nanosponge materials, due to the synergistic effect provided by the supramolecular host abilities of the nanosponge. Three photocatalysts were prepared, fully characterized (FT-IR, ss-NMR, Raman, XRD, SEM, EDX, AFM, ICP, TGA, potentiometric titration), and tested for the oxidative photodegradation of some dyes and phenols, chosen as model organic pollutants. Compared to the unsupported photocatalyst, the nanosponge-based materials showed enhanced performances (being able to carry out the degradation even of dyes which do not react in the presence of the unsuppo…