Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 14, Issue 5, 2014

Self-assembly has fascinated many scientists over the past few decades. Rapid advances and widespread interest in the study of this subject has led to the synthesis of an ever-increasing number of elegant and intricate functional structures with sizes that approach nano- and mesoscopic dimensions. Today, it has grown into a mature field of modern science whose interfaces with many disciplines have provided invaluable Read More

Recent advances in development of potential magnetic nanoparticles for magnetic fluid hyperthermia are summarized. This review covers relation between various size dependent physical properties and their applications subject to modification in synthesis methods. Brief discussion on different heating mechanism of magnetic nanoparticles is provided. This review covers recent progress of various magnetic nanoparticles includi Read More

The present review focuses on core-shell nanostructures of spherical gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and biocompatible polymers mainly from the view points of preparation approaches, nanocomposite properties and potential applications for biology. The preparation approaches are assorted into direct-reduction, covalent “graft-to”, “graft-from” approach, surface bonding and physical adsorption. Various biocompatible polymers a Read More

Lipid membranes are of great importance for many biological systems and biotechnological applications. One method to gain a profound understanding of the dynamics in lipid membranes and their interaction with other system components is by modeling these systems by computer simulations. Many different approaches have been undertaken in this endeavor that have led to molecular level insights into the underlyi Read More

Silicon substrates were irradiated at normal incidence with a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser (Quatronix, 90 fs pulse duration, 1 kHz repetition rate, M2 ~ 1.2, maximum energy peak 350 mJ ) operating at a wavelength of 400 nm and focused via a microscope objective (Newport; UV Objective Model, 37x 0.11 N.A.). The laser scanning was assisted by liquids precursors media such as methanol and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane. Read More

We report on the structure of whey protein aggregates formed by a short heating coupled to shear at high temperatures (80-120) and neutral pH in scale-up processing conditions, using gel filtration chromatography, light scattering, small angle neutron scattering, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The results are interpreted in terms of coexistence of residual non-aggregated proteins and aggregates. The chara Read More

Human fibrinogen adsorption on negatively charged latex particles was investigated using the electrophoretic and the concentration depletion methods. Measurements were conducted at pH 7.4 and in the range of ionic strength of 10-3 - 0.15 M NaCl. Firstly, the bulk physicochemical properties of fibrinogen were characterized. The zeta potential and the uncompensated (electrokinetic) charges of the protein were det Read More

The use of cationic lipids (CLs) as transfecting agents of DNA has received an increasing attention in the last two decades. In order to improve the transfection efficiency with lower cytotoxicity, many CLs have been synthesized to be used as non-viral vectors, not only of DNA but also for other nucleic acids. Cationic lipids together with a helper lipid form mixed liposomes that compact DNA forming lipoplexes, gene vectors able t Read More

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing the development of different branches of science. The investigation of nanomaterials in the battle against cancer is not an exception. The main goal of this contribution is to bring an overview about the types of organic and inorganic nanomaterials that are under investigation for its applications in different aspects of cancer therapy: detection, diagnosis, contrast agents, controlled drug deliv Read More

In this article we review the flow chemistry methodologies for the controlled synthesis of different kind of nano and microparticles for biomedical applications. Injection mechanism has emerged as new alternative for the synthesis of nanoparticles due to this strategy allows achieving superior levels of control of self-assemblies, leading to higher-ordered structures and rapid chemical reactions. Self-assembly events are strongly Read More