Hua-Jie Wang

Syntheses of amorphous and crystalline cupric sulfide nanoparticles and study on the specific activities on different cells

Copper sulfide amorphous nanoparticles and nanocrystals were prepared successfully by a special process. These CuS nanoparticles could specifically and significantly induce the apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of human cancer cells rather than normal cells. Moreover, the biological activities of these nanoparticles are related to their polymorphs.

Antineoplastic activities of protein-conjugated silver sulfide nano-crystals with different shapes.

In this paper, antineoplastic activities of protein-conjugated silver sulfide nano-crystals with different shapes were described in detail. Transmission electron microscope analysis demonstrated that stable and well-disperse protein-conjugated silver sulfide nano-particles, nano-rods, and nano-wires could be prepared by aqueous chemistry method. The Fourier transform infrared spectrograph analysis indicated the strong coordination between silver sulfide surfaces and -OH and -NH groups in bovine serum albumin. The antineoplastic activities of protein-conjugated silver sulfide nano-crystals were examined by cell viability analysis, optical and electron microscopy methods. The results showed that nano-particles, nano-rods and nano-wires could inhibit the proliferations of human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel-7402 cells and C6 glioma cells, and the activities were size-dependent.

Shape-controlled synthesis of protein-conjugated silver sulfide nanocrystals and study on the inhibition of tumor cell viability

Stable protein-conjugated silver sulfide nanoparticles, nanorods and nanowires have been prepared by an aqueous chemistry method and the study results showed they had potential applications for tumor treatment.

Controllable synthesis and adjustable antineoplastic activity of bovine serum albumin‐conjugated PbS/Ag2S core/shell nano-composites

Series of mono-dispersed bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated PbS/Ag(2)S core/shell nano-composites with different Pb/Ag ratios had been successfully synthesized by an ion-exchange method under the gentle conditions using BSA-conjugated PbS nano-crystals as precursors, which were prepared by a biomimetic method. Fourier transform infrared spectra analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation demonstrated that BSA was a key factor to control the morphology and size of final products. Additionally, the real-time TEM observation, X-ray powder diffraction and atomic absorption spectroscopy analysis were applied to monitor the synthesis process. The results indicated that the shell thickness and ratio of Pb to Ag could be controlled by adjusting the ion-exchange time. Both metabolic and morphological methods revealed that the proliferation of rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells could be inhibited by BSA-conjugated PbS/Ag(2)S core/shell nano-composites, and the antineoplastic activity was Pb/Ag ratio-dependent. It might be explained by a Trojan horse-type mechanism. Summarily, the present study would be helpful to find a new core/shell nano-composite with higher and controllable antineoplastic activity due to the synergistic reaction of different metal ions.

Facile preparation of hydroxyapatite with a three dimensional architecture and potential application in water treatment

Hydroxyapatite with a flower-like three dimensional architecture was successfully prepared through a facile transformation process of hedgehog-like aragonite precursors. Based on the time-dependent experiments, a possible mechanism was proposed. In addition, the hydroxyapatite assemblies exhibit unique selective adsorption activity for heavy metals.

Parinaric acid methyl ester polymer films with hill-structured features: fabrication and different sensitivities to normal and tumor cells.

Parinaric acid methyl ester (PnA-Me) polymer films with hill-structured features were fabricated by a solvent volatilization in situ cross-linking method. Moreover, nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared, and oxidation kinetic analyses were successfully applied to monitor the formation process of PnA-Me polymer films. The role of PnA-Me monomer concentrations for growth control of the hill structures on a glass matrix had also been investigated. Also, the results demonstrated that size control of the resulting hill structure ranging from 0.56 ± 0.18 to 19.6 ± 3.5 μm could be realized by varying the concentration of the PnA-Me monomer from 0.0117 to 1.5 mg/mL. Additionally, the effects of polymer films with different surface topographical structures on the behaviors of rat mesenchymal stem cells and human pheochromocytoma cells were measured by morphological and metabolic methods. The results revealed that the cell activity of PnA-Me films was topographical structure- and cell-type-dependent. Furthermore, the selective sensitivity of the PnA-Me films to normal and tumor cells supported the potential value as the coatings for the tissue engineering substitutes.

Nanodispersions of monoglycerides of punicic acid: a potential nutrient precursor with higher oxidative stability and cytotoxicity

Punicic acid belongs to one of conjugated linolenic acids isomers (CLnAs) and contains many outstanding functions related to human health such as anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetes, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerotic properties; moreover, interest in the punicic acid is growing. Note that since punicic acid is extremely susceptible to oxidation, antioxidants were often added to increase its stability. However, sometimes such method resulted in the great decrease of its antitumor activity. In addition, punicic acid is quite insoluble in water and only a minor fraction of it can be absorbed. Therefore, the present study aims to identify a method, which can maintain the cytotoxicity when there is an increase in the oxidative stability and solubility of punicic acid. In brief, free punicic acid was modified with glycerol and the amphiphilic monoglycerides of punicic acid were obtained, which were further dispersed to nanodispersions. Oxidative stability, cytotoxicity to NIH3T3 cells and digestion in intestinal juice of such nanodispersions under different conditions were studied. It was found that such nanodispersions showed higher oxidative stability, higher solubility in water. Most importantly, its cytotoxicity to NIH3T3 cells was also as strong as that of free punicic acid. Furthermore, since it can be hydrolyzed by pancreatin in intestinal juice, the nanodispersions formed by monoglycerides of punicic acid can be used as nutrient precursor of free punicic acid.

Construction and functional assessment of zein thin film incorporating spindle-like ZnO crystals

The use of plastics has rapidly progressed during recent years in food packaging, which can be attributed to technological innovations in the synthesis of plastics and lower costs. However, the massive accumulation of plastic waste is often accompanied with their excessive consumption because of their poor degradability. Consequently, interest in the native materials is growing. It is noted that zein is a corn protein, has good compatibility and has been widely applied in the food industry. However, microbial contamination is a huge detriment to its long-term applications. This study aims to identify a method, which can provide antibacterial activity to a zein thin film. Monodispersed and spindle-like ZnO crystals made of nanocrystals were synthesized and added into zein thin films. EDX mapping confirmed the homogeneous distribution of ZnO in films. The antibacterial activities have been approved and showed great stability. In summary, the potential of zein thin films incorporating ZnO crystals as a functional packaging film has been demonstrated.

Effects of Inorganic Antiseptic on the Properties of Zein-Based Active Films

Zein, one of corn processing byproducts, has excellent film-forming ability. However, zein does not have intrinsic antibacterial or antioxidant activity which limits its direct applicability as active food packaging material. In the present study, the rod-shaped micro-sized ZnO crystals were incorporated into zein films to construct zein-based active films as active packaging material with antibacterial property. The morphologies, structural analysis and sizes of ZnO crystals were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Prepared zein films were evaluated for ZnO loading and distribution. Furthermore, antibacterial activities on Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria were tested by using the disc diffusion method. Lastly, the stability of zein-based active films under the different storage temperature and humidity was investigated. The results showed that zein based-active films had well mechanical properties, stability and antibacterial activities, which were related to the sizes of ZnO crystals in films.

BSA-conjugated CdS/Ag2S quantum dots: synthesis and preliminary antineoplastic assessment

Tumours are one of the most difficult diseases to cure, and traditional chemotherapy drugs are always intimidating for use in tumour treatments because of their highly toxic side effects. This drives the research and development of innovative drugs. As a product, nanomaterials, particularly nano-drugs, are exhibiting great potential for use in tumour treatments. Based on the understanding of the Trojan horse-antineoplastic mechanism of nano-drugs, we tried to introduce the drug-combination opinion into nano-drugs and successfully developed a facile and eco-friendly synthesis route to fabricate bovine serum albumin-conjugated CdS/Ag2S quantum dots. It is notable that the double metallic sulphides showed a synergistic inhibition between Cd2+ and Ag+ on rat pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells. Summarily, the present study substantiated the potential of synergistic anti-cancer opinion at the design of innovative nano-drugs with higher antineoplastic activity.