ABSTRACT
We report on the growth and formation of single-layer boron nitride dome-shaped nanostructures mediated by small iron clusters located on flakes of hexagonal boron nitride. The nanostructures were synthesized in situ at high temperature inside a transmission electron microscope while the e-beam was blanked. The formation process, typically originating at defective step-edges on the boron nitride support, was investigated using a combination of transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and computational modelling. Computational modelling showed that the domes exhibit a nanotube-like structure with flat circular caps and that their stability was comparable to that of a single boron nitride layer.
ABSTRACT
The functionalization of spherical superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) of 10 nm with a linear monophosphonate (L1) and also PEGylated mono-phosphonated dendrons of growing generation (D2-G1, -G2 and -G3) yielded dendritic nano-objects of 15 to 30 nm in size, stable in physiological media and showing both renal and hepatobiliary elimination. The grafting of the different molecules has been confirmed by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The colloidal stability of functionalized NS10 has been evaluated in water and in different physiological media. All functionalized NS10 were stable over a long period of time and displayed a mean hydrodynamic diameter smaller than 50 nm whatever the molecule architecture or dendron generation. Only the NS10@L1 showed less stability in biological media at high ionic concentration. NMRD profiles and relaxivity measurements highlighted the influence of the molecule architecture on the water diffusion close to the magnetic core thus influencing the relaxation properties at low magnetic field. Coupling of a fluorescent dye on the functionalized NS10 allowed investigating their biodistribution and highlighting urinary and hepato-biliary eliminations.
