Reduced graphene oxide nanosheets decorated with core-shell of Fe3O4-Au nanoparticles for rapid SERS detection and hyperthermia treatment of bacteria.

In this study, the core-shell of Fe3O4-Au nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by seeding AuNPs onto Fe3O4 NPs modified with poly-ethylenimine (PEI). Later, Fe3O4-Au NPs were attached to cationic poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-modified graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets through in situ self-assembly behaviors, termed as Fe3O4-Au@RGO nanocomposites, for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection and hyperthermia treatment of bacteria. The resulting Fe3O4-Au@RGO nanocomposites were evaluated systematically by transmission electron microscope, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. It revealed that the core-shell structured Fe3O4-Au NPs were dispersed homogeneously on the surface of the GO nanosheets. Furthermore, the rapid SERS detection for small biomolecules and bacteria was conducted by Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the greatest SERS intensity was fne tuned at the weight ratio of Fe3O4-Au/RGO nanosheets was 20/1, displaying the optimal interparticle gap of AuNPs to induce the huge hot-spots effect. The magnetic inductive heating capability of Fe3O4-Au@RGO nanocomposites was produced under high frequency magnetic field exposure and can kill high than 90% of the bacteria at 10 min. Hence, the newly developed Fe3O4-Au@RGO nanocomposites were demonstrated to be viable for SERS detection of biomolecules and microbes and potential applications for magnetically capturing and hyperthermia treatment of bacteria.

Crystallographic Anisotropy Dependence of Interfacial Sliding Phenomenon in a Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB (Accumulated Rolling Bonding) Nanolaminate.

Nanolaminates are extensively studied due to their unique properties, such as impact resistance, high fracture toughness, high strength, and resistance to radiation damage. Varieties of nanolaminates are being fabricated to achieve high strength and fracture toughness. In this study, one such nanolaminate fabricated through accumulative roll bonding (Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB nanolaminate, where 16 nm is the layer thickness) was used as a test material. Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB nanolaminate exhibits crystallographic anisotropy due to the existence of distinct interfaces along the rolling direction (RD) and the transverse direction (TD). Nanoindentation was executed using a Berkovich tip, with the main axis oriented either along TD or RD of the Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB nanolaminate. Subsequently, height profiles were obtained along the main axis of the Berkovich indent for both TD and RD using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), which was later used to estimate the pile-up along the RD and TD. The RD exhibited more pile-up than the TD due to the anisotropy of the Cu(16)/Nb(16) ARB interface and the material plasticity along the TD and RD. An axisymmetric 2D finite element analysis (FEA) was also performed to compare/validate nanoindentation data, such as load vs. displacement curves and pile-up. The FEA simulated load vs. displacement curves matched relatively well with the experimentally generated load-displacement curves, while qualitative agreement was found between the simulated pile-up data and the experimentally obtained pile-up data. The authors believe that pile-up characterization during indentation is of great importance to documenting anisotropy in nanolaminates.

Interferon α2-Thymosin α1 Fusion Protein (IFNα2-Tα1): A Genetically Engineered Fusion Protein with Enhanced Anticancer and Antiviral Effect.

Human interferon α2 (IFNα2) and thymosin α1 (Tα1) are therapeutic proteins used for the treatment of viral infections and different types of cancer. Both IFNα2 and Tα1 show a synergic effect in their activities when used in combination. Furthermore, the therapeutic fusion proteins produced through the genetic fusion of two genes can exhibit several therapeutic functions in one molecule. In this study, we determined the anticancer and antiviral effect of human interferon α2-thymosin α1 fusion protein (IFNα2-Tα1) produced in our laboratory for the first time. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of IFNα2-Tα1 was evaluated in HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The in vitro assays confirmed that IFNα2-Tα1 inhibited the growth of cells more effectively than IFNα2 alone and showed an elevated genotoxic effect. The expression of proapoptotic genes was also significantly enhanced in IFNα2-Tα1-treated cells compared to IFNα2-treated cells. Furthermore, the HCV RNA level was significantly reduced in IFNα2-Tα1-treated HCV-infected Huh7 cells compared to IFNα2-treated cells. The quantitative PCR analysis showed that the expression of various genes, the products of which inhibit HCV replication, was significantly enhanced in IFNα2-Tα1-treated cells compared to IFNα2-treated cells. Our findings demonstrate that IFNα2-Tα1 is more effective than single IFNα2 as an anticancer and antiviral agent.

Voltammetric characterisation of diferrocenylborinic acid in organic solution and in aqueous media when immobilised into a titanate nanosheet film.

Diferrocenylborinic acid (Fc2BOH, 1) has been synthesized in good yield via an improved synthetic path. Characterisation by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (HRMS), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray crystallography, and by electrochemical methods reveal two one-electron oxidation processes for the two electronically coupled ferrocenyl moieties. The oxidation of 1 dissolved in organic media is contrasted to the oxidation of 1 in aqueous environments (by incorporation of 1 into a lamellar film of 2D titanate nanosheets on a glassy carbon electrode). Data from cyclic voltammetry and from square wave voltammetry suggest that the bridging boron can bind to nucleophiles (hydroxide, fluoride) upon oxidation of the ferrocenyl groups. A multi-pathway ECE reaction scheme is proposed. Potential applications in sensing are discussed.

Polymer nanocomposites having a high filler content: synthesis, structures, properties, and applications.

The recent development of nanoscale fillers, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and nanocellulose, allows the functionality of polymer nanocomposites to be controlled and enhanced. However, conventional synthesis methods of polymer nanocomposites cannot maximise the reinforcement of these nanofillers at high filler content. Approaches for the synthesis of high content filler polymer nanocomposites are suggested to facilitate future applications. The fabrication methods address the design of the polymer nanocomposite architecture, which encompasses one, two, and three dimensional morphologies. Factors that hamper the reinforcement of nanostructures, such as alignment, dispersion of the filler and interfacial bonding between the filler and polymer, are outlined. Using suitable approaches, maximum potential reinforcement of nanoscale fillers can be anticipated without limitations in orientation, dispersion, and the integrity of the filler particle-matrix interface. High filler content polymer composites containing emerging materials such as 2D transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (MXenes) are expected in the future.

Extraction of hydrophobic analytes from organic solution into a titanate 2D-nanosheet host: Electroanalytical perspectives.

Titanate nanosheets (single layer, typically 200 nm lateral size) deposited from aqueous colloidal solution onto electrode surfaces form lamellar hosts that bind redox active molecular redox probes. Here, hydrophobic redox systems such as anthraquinone, 1-amino-anthraquinone, deca-methylferrocene, 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine manganese (III) chloride (TPPMnCl), and α-tocopherol are shown to bind directly from cyclopentanone solution (and from other types of organic solvents) into the titanate nanosheet film. For anthraquinone derivatives, stable voltammetric responses are observed in aqueous media consistent with 2-electron 2-proton reduction, however, independent of the pH of the outside solution phase environments. For decamethylferrocene a gradual decay of the voltammetric response is observed, but for TPPMnCl a more stable voltammetric signal is seen when immersed in chloride containing (NaCl) electrolyte. α-Tocopherol exhibits chemically irreversible oxidation and is detected with 1 mM-20 mM linear range and approximately 10-3 M concentration limit of detection. All redox processes exhibit an increase in current with increasing titanate film thickness and with increasing external electrolyte concentration. This and other observations suggest that important factors are analyte concentration and mobility within the titanate host, as well as ion exchange between titanate nanosheets and the outside electrolyte phase to maintain electroneutrality during voltammetric experiments. The lamellar titanate (with embedded tetrabutyl-ammonium cations) behaves like a hydrophobic host (for hydrophobic redox systems) similar to hydrophobic organic microphase systems. Potential for analytical applications is discussed.