Current Nanoscience - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2008

Today, technologies based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are routinely applied to biological systems with diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The paradigmatic example is the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a technique that uses the magnetic moments of MNPs as a disturbance of the proton resonance to obtain images. Similarly, magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) uses MNPs as heat generators to induce localized cell Read More

Molecular imaging has emerged as a powerful tool to visualize molecular events of an underlying disease, sometimes prior to its downstream manifestation. This presents a whole new paradigm disease diagnosis and monitor treatment. Nanotechnology is another rapidly growing field that offers new materials with unique physical and chemical properties that may find broad application in biomedical research. The merging Read More

Colloid science has now been reframed in advance form as nanotechnology. Novel nanoparticulate carrier systems could make an important impact on clinical practice, not only in the field of targeted drug delivery but also for the delivery of diagnostic agents, gene therapy and vaccine delivery as well. Polymer based nanoparticles are full of numerous advantages in delivery science but at the same time they suffer from Read More

The solar energy conversion system based on photosynthesis is promising as alternative energy invention technology of the future. In this review, the photoenergy conversion system based on the photosensitization of major photosynthesis dye pigment molecule, chlorophyll immobilized onto titanium dioxide or assembled into surfactant micellar system are introduced. One is the photoinduced hydrogen production system wit Read More

Poorly water-soluble compounds like albendazole with dissolution limited bioavailability need novel approaches for enhancement of bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. The use of nanosuspension approach offers an opportunity to address the issues associated with BCS class II molecules. High pressure homogenization technique can be employed to produce drug nanocrystals with a number of advantages in comparison to Read More

Aim of this paper is to study the load-drug mechanism of polybutylcyanocrylate nanoparticles and the physical stability of albendazole- polybutylcyanocrylate nanoparticle (ABZ-PBCA-NP). The adsorption mechanism between albendazole with polybutylcyanocrylate nanoparticle in different phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were investigated with isothermadsorption method. The constants of stability constants of albe Read More

The field of molecular electronics measures the unique properties of individual molecular species in conductor-moleculeconductor junctions. We present here a brief review of molecular electronics as applied to biomolecules, with specific emphasis on the use of scanning probe technology in the assaying of biological molecular electronics. Three case studies from recent work within our group are described; two complimentar Read More

In recent years, nanoscale self-assembled structures have attracted ever increasing attention because of their potential to act as molecular templates for the synthesis of novel materials, delivery vehicles for therapeutic agents, and compartments defined at the molecular level that provide environmental conditions conducive to specific chemical reactions. In this review, we will focus mostly on this latter application. Read More

Silica encapsulated CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with a relatively strong photoluminescence were prepared using 3- mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane by Stober method at room temperature. The effect of pH of the physiological saline on the photoluminescence was investigated while the nanocomposites were dispersed in it. The results show a comparatively high stability of the luminescence. The thermal stability of the ph Read More

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid for the construction of optically active nanomaterials. In particular, monolayer- protected gold nanoclusters are attractive for such systems. To date, optically active gold nanoclusters have been prepared by using chiral adsorbates or surface modifiers. In general, two major explanations have been proposed to interpret the optical activity: The first assumes a chiral core as a r Read More

The structures and the nonbonded intermolecular interactions of the endohedral and exohedral 4Å-diameter carbon nanotubenoble gas clusters, NG@CNT (NG = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) are evaluated and calculated using the atom-atom potential method. The complexing energies are determined with a Lennard-Jones model. Complexing energies are significantly dependent on azimuthal angle. Endohedral complexes ar Read More

Formulation studies of nano- and microparticles are a rapidly developing area in pharmaceutical sciences. Bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs may be increased by administrating them as nanoparticle formulations. Drug targeting to specific body sites has also been studied intensively (e.g. cancer chemotherapy). In order to ensure the repeatability of the formulation processes and the efficacy/ stability of the formed p Read More

The hairpin structure of DNA molecules have been widely employed for a variety of biosensors and nanoscale molecular assembly applications. For example, the commonly known molecular beacons can report the presence of specific nucleic acids in homogeneous solutions with high accuracy. Recently, Smith et al. proposed to induce hairpin formation through the sequence-specific binding of a small-molecule ligand G-G misma Read More

Around 500,000 people have total joint (including hip and knee) replacement surgeries each year. However, current joint implants last only 10 to 15 years before failing. Undoubtly because of this, many patients have to go through a revision surgery due to the failure of bone implants. The main reason for implant failure is aseptic loosening of the implant from juxtaposed bone. In this light, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has be Read More