Composite Nanospheres (composite + nanosphere)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Preparation of Uniform, Water-Soluble, and Multifunctional Nanocomposites with Tunable Sizes

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010
Dechao Niu
Abstract Novel, thiol-functionalized, and superparamagnetic, silica composite nanospheres (SH-SSCNs) with diameters smaller than 100,nm are successfully fabricated through the self-assembly of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and polystyrene100 - block -poly(acrylic acid)16 and a subsequent sol-gel process. The size and magnetic properties of the SH-SSCNs can be easily tuned by simply varying the initial concentrations of the magnetite nanoparticles in the oil phase. By incorporating fluorescent dye molecules into the silica network, the composite nanospheres can be further fluorescent-functionalized. The toxicity of the SH-SSCNs is evaluated by choosing three typical cell lines (HUVEC, RAW264.7, and A549) as model cells, and no toxic effects are observed. It is also demonstrated that SH-SSCNs can be used as a new class of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, having a remarkably high spin,spin (T2) relaxivity (r2*,=,176.1,mM,1 S,1). The combination of the sub-100-nm particle size, monodispersity in aqueous solution, superparamagnetism, and fluorescent properties of the SH-SSCNs, as well as the non-cytotoxicity in vitro, provides a novel and potential candidate for an earlier MRI diagnostic method of cancer. [source]


Integrated Multifunctional Nanosystems for Medical Diagnosis and Treatment

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009
*Article first published online: 9 OCT 200, Donglu Shi
Abstract This article provides an overview on the development of integrated multifunctional nanosystems for medical diagnosis and treatment. In particular, a novel system is developed specifically for achieving simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Critical issues are addressed on the architecture and assembly of nanocomponents based on medical requirements: targeted in vivo imaging, controlled drug release, localized hyperthermia, and toxicity. Nanotube-based carriers are summarized with surface functionalized properties. Other types of nanocarriers are also included such as super paramagnetic composite nanospheres and biodegradable hydroxylapatite nanoparticles. In addition, polymeric-based nanosystems are introduced with several novel features: they can be bio-dissolved due to environmental pH and temperature fluctuations. The nanocarriers are surface tailored with key functionalities: surface antibodies for cell targeting, anti-cancer drug loading, and magnetic nanoparticles for both hyperthermia and MRI. Future requirements, aims, and trends in the development of multifunctional nanosystems, particularly with intelligent functionalities for fundamental studies, are also provided. [source]


CdS-Nanoparticle/Polymer Composite Shells Grown on Silica Nanospheres by Atom-Transfer Radical Polymerization,

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 3 2005
T. Cui
Abstract In this paper we describe the combined use of surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and a gas/solid reaction in the direct preparation of CdS-nanoparticle/block-copolymer composite shells on silica nanospheres. The block copolymer, consisting of poly(cadmium dimethacrylate) (PCDMA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), is obtained by repeatedly performing the surface-initiated ATRP procedures in N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF) solution at room temperature, using cadmium dimethacrylate (CDMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) as the monomers. CdS nanoparticles with an average size of about 3,nm are generated in situ by exposing the silica nanospheres coated with block-copolymer shells to H2S gas. These synthetic core,shell nanospheres were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). These composite nanospheres exhibit strong red photoluminescence in the solid state at room temperature. [source]


Fluorescent Polystyrene,Fe3O4 Composite Nanospheres for In Vivo Imaging and Hyperthermia

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009
Donglu Shi
Quantum dots (QDs) are immobilized on the surfaces of magnetic Fe3O4 -composite nanospheres (MNSs, see figure). The QDs exhibit intense visible-light emission in fluorescence spectroscopy and successfully facilitate, for the first time, in vivo soft-tissue imaging in live mice. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles respond to an external magnetic field by increasing the temperature of the surrounding environment (i.e., hyperthermia), which can be used therapeutically. [source]