Papers – Page 625 – TechConnect Briefs

Optimizing nanoparticle functionalization for quantum dot formation

Hooper J.B., Bedrov D., Smith G.D., Kim H., University of Utah, US

Utilizing state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulation techniques, we have developed a methodology for determining the gross functionalization parameters required to promote formation of small, compact, and stable nanoparticle clusters in aqueous solutions. The ultimate goal of [...]

Effect of Ligand Nature on the Kinetics and the Redistribution of Quantum Dots in Mice

Daou T.J., Li L., Reiss P., Texier-Nogues I., CEA-Grenoble, FR

The meeting of nano-materials with biology has produced a new generation of technologies that can profoundly impact biomedical research. The NIR emitting window (650-900 nm) is appealing for in vivo optical imaging because of the [...]

Mechanisms of Cellular Interaction, Binding and Internalization of Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Lacerda L., Prato M., Bianco A., Kostarelos K., The School of Pharmacy, University of London, UK

The development of nanomaterials for biomedical and biotechnological applications is an area of research that holds great promise and intense interest. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are thought to lead to novel types of nanomedicines. In our [...]

Synthesis of Dextran-Coated Nanoceria with pH-dependent Antioxidant Properties

Perez J.M., Asati A., Nath S., Kaittanis C., University of Central Florida, US

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) are potent free radical scavengers with neuroprotective, radioprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, most synthetic procedures for nanoceria results in nanoparticles with poor water solubility or synthesized by procedures involving toxic solvents, [...]

Effect of functionalization on the self-assembling propensity of beta sheet forming peptides

Taraballi F., Campione M., Vescovi A.L., Sassella A., Hwang W., Paleari A., Gelain F., University of Milan-Bicocca, IT

Synthetic polymers and bioinspired fibrous materials have a significant impact in medicine in the recent years. The design and fabrication of new bio-materials has a great influence in several scientific and medical communities. The potential [...]

Enhancement of in vitro Capillary Tube Formation by Substrate Nanotopography

Bettinger C.J., Zhang Z., Gerecht S., Borenstein J.T., Langer R., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US

Controlling the morphology and function of cells using substrate nanotopography is a phenomenon that can be utilized in a variety of fields including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this work, we explored the possibility [...]

Exploring the behavior of concentrated collagen, approaches to tailor biomimetic materials

Gobeaux F., Mosser G., Anglo A., Panine P., Davidson P., Giraud-Guille M.-M., Belamie E., Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, FR

Dense ordered collagen matrices can be obtained by fine tuning the electrostatic interactions in highly concentrated solutions of type I collagen. Such biomimetic fibrillar materials have a high application potential in the field of tissue [...]

Investigating Helical Rosette Nanotubes and Nanocrystalline Hydroxyapatite as Novel Bone-like Biomaterials for Orthopedic Applications

Zhang L.J., Rodriguez J., Fenniri H., Webster T.J., Brown University, US

The objective of this study was to create a novel biomimetic hydrogel composite based on helical rosette nanotubes (HRNs) and nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA). HRNs are newly-developed self-assembled nanomaterials with DNA base pair building blocks. HRNs [...]

Multifunctional nanoparticle platforms for pathogen diagnostic applications

Kell A.J., Paquet C., Simard B., National Research Council, CA

Infectious diseases and bioterrorism are of tremendous global concern, and our group is interested in developing superparamagnetic nanoparticle platforms that can aid in the magnetic extraction/concentration and detection of harmful pathogens. This has led to [...]

Biomolecular activity switch: an application of metallic nanoparticle plasmon resonance

Alper J., Wijaya A., Crespo M., DeFlores L., Tokmakoff A., Hamad-Schifferli K., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US

Specific external control of biomolecular activity is a critical step in harnessing the power of nature’s molecular machinery. We propose and demonstrate one control method, a biomolecular activity switch. Since proteins are the primary macromolecule [...]