Jun Hua Wu

A multifunctional core–shell nanoparticle for dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy

Dendritic cell-based cancer immunotherapy requires tumour antigens to be delivered efficiently into dendritic cells and their migration to be monitored in vivo. Nanoparticles have been explored as carriers for antigen delivery, but applications have been limited by the toxicity of the solvents used to make nanoparticles, and by the need to use transfection agents to deliver nanoparticles into cells. Here we show that an iron oxide-zinc oxide core-shell nanoparticle can deliver carcinoembryonic antigen into dendritic cells while simultaneously acting as an imaging agent. The nanoparticle-antigen complex is efficiently taken up by dendritic cells within one hour and can be detected in vitro by confocal microscopy and in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging. Mice immunized with dendritic cells containing the nanoparticle-antigen complex showed enhanced tumour antigen specific T-cell responses, delayed tumour growth and better survival than controls.

Synthesis of streptavidin-FITC-conjugated core-shell Fe3O4-Au nanocrystals and their application for the purification of CD4+ lymphocytes

We explored the feasibility of magnetite (Fe(3)O(4))-gold (Au) core-shell nanocrystals as a useful vehicle for biomedical application such as cell separation. Streptavidin-fluorescein isothiocyanate (STA-FITC) was conjugated to the surface of the Fe(3)O(4)-Au core-shell nanocrystals using a carbodimide activation protocol. These nanocrystals were further tested for their ability to bind CD4+ T lymphocytes, bound to biotin-labeled anti-CD4 mAbs, isolated from the spleen of C57BL/6 mice. Our data show that the Fe(3)O(4)-Au nanocrystals successfully pulled down CD4+ T lymphocytes from the whole splenocytes with high specificity. Therefore, our nanocrystals provide an efficient tool for the cell separation process and further present the dramatic potential to be applied to other areas of biomedical application including diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of human diseases.

Effect of external magnetic field on anisotropy of Co∕Cu multilayer nanowires

We have investigated the effect of external magnetic field exercised during the fabrication of the Co and Co∕Cu multilayer nanowires in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates using pulse electrodeposition. It is found that the effect becomes significant when the pore size is small. Deterioration occurs in the magnetic properties for the Co nanowires studied, whereas a distinct enhancement in the magnetic properties for the Cu∕Co multilayer nanowires is achieved by applying an external magnetic field during nanowire growth using the AAO template comprising pores of 50nm diameter.

Synthesis of monosized magnetic-optical AuFe alloy nanoparticles

We report the preparation and characterization of multifunctional AuFe alloy nanoparticles of three compositions, Au0.25Fe0.75, Au0.5Fe0.5, and Au0.75Fe0.25, by a polyol process. It is found that the fusion of the two elements into one nanostructure entity retains the optical and magnetic properties of the individual components. The x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses confirm the formation of the alloy nanostructure with a narrow distribution of particle sizes and provides the detailed structural arrangements. The magnetic investigation shows the superparamagnetic or soft ferromagnetic behavior of the nanoparticles at room temperature, whereas the UV-visible measurements display the variation of the absorption bands at ∼560nm. The AuFe nanoparticles are rendered water soluble after thiolation.

Isolation of DNA using magnetic nanoparticles coated with dimercaptosuccinic acid.

Lately, the isolation of DNA using magnetic nanoparticles has received increased attention owing to their facile manipulation and low costs. Although methods involving their magnetic separation have been extensively studied, there is currently a need for an efficient technique to isolate DNA for highly sensitive diagnostic applications. We describe herein a method to isolate and purify DNA using biofunctionalized superparamagnetic nanoparticles synthesized by a modified polyol method to obtain the desired monodispersity, followed by surface modification with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) containing carboxyl groups for DNA absorption. The DMSA-coated magnetic nanoparticles (DMSA-MNPs) were used for the isolation of DNA, with a maximum yield of 86.16%. In particular, we found that the isolation of DNA using small quantities of DMSA-MNPs was much more efficient than that using commercial microbeads (NucliSENS-easyMAG, BioMérieux). Moreover, the DMSA-MNPs were successfully employed in the isolation of genomic DNA from human blood. In addition, the resulting DNA-nanoparticle complex was directly subjected to PCR amplification without prior elution, which could eventually lead to simple, rapid, sensitive and integrated diagnostic systems.

Magnetic and optical properties of monosized Eu-doped ZnO nanocrystals from nanoemulsion

We report the synthesis and characterization of monosized Eu-doped ZnO nanocrystals via a nanoemulsion process as a function of the doping ratio. The structure, optical, and magnetic properties of the nanocrystals are investigated by XRD, TEM, PL spectrometry, and physical property measurement system. The nanocrystals as prepared show high crystallinity and tight particle size distributions with the diameters of ∼ 10 nm. The doped samples clearly exhibit the 5D0→7FJ transition emission due to the presence of the Eu3+ ions. Meanwhile, the magnetic responses demonstrate the temperature dependence and change with dopant concentration.

Effect of interparticle interactions and size dispersion in magnetic nanoparticle assemblies: A static and dynamic study

Interparticle interactions in magnetic nanoparticles are studied by dc and ac magnetization measurements. For non-interacting nanoparticles, while the anisotropy constant of the nanoparticles Keff = 1.6 × 105 erg/cm3 is accurately determined by fitting zero-field-cooled and field-cooled measurements, we show that Keff values deduced only from time relaxation measurements must require simultaneous adjustments of the complex susceptibility by taking into account the size distribution of nanoparticles. This leads to Keff = 1.7 × 105 erg/cm3 in agreement with dc measurements. For interacting nanoparticles, comparisons with theoretical models show that energies due to magnetic dipolar interactions can only be predicted for weak and moderate interactions.

Non-aqueous synthesis of water-dispersible Fe3O4–Ca3(PO4)2 core–shell nanoparticles

The Fe(3)O(4)-Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) core-shell nanoparticles were prepared by one-pot non-aqueous nanoemulsion with the assistance of a biocompatible triblock copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO-PPO-PEO), integrating the magnetic properties of Fe(3)O(4) and the bioactive functions of Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) into single entities. The Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles were pre-formed first by thermal reduction of Fe(acac)(3) and then the Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) layer was coated by simultaneous deposition of Ca(2+) and PO(4)(3-). The characterization shows that the combination of the two materials into a core-shell nanostructure retains the magnetic properties and the Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) shell forms an hcp phase (a = 7.490 Å, c = 9.534 Å) on the Fe(3)O(4) surface. The magnetic hysteresis curves of the nanoparticles were further elucidated by the Langevin equation, giving an estimation of the effective magnetic dimension of the nanoparticles and reflecting the enhanced susceptibility response as a result of the surface covering. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis provides the characteristic vibrations of Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) and the presence of the polymer surfactant on the nanoparticle surface. Moreover, the nanoparticles could be directly transferred to water and the aqueous dispersion-collection process of the nanoparticles was demonstrated for application readiness of such core-shell nanostructures in an aqueous medium. Thus, the construction of Fe(3)O(4) and Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) in the core-shell nanostructure has conspicuously led to enhanced performance and multi-functionalities, offering various possible applications of the nanoparticles.

Effects of Cu doping on the microstructure and magnetic properties of CoPt nanowires

We studied the effects of copper doping on the microstructure and magnetic properties of CoPt nanowires fabricated in anodized aluminium oxide (AAO) nanotemplates by electrodeposition. The morphological observation indicates well-formed CoPt and CoPtCu nanowires, while the structural analysis shows that fcc-Co3Pt phase exists prior to annealing and is retained in the doped nanowires, with minor hcp-CoPt phase postannealing. The doping causes shrinkage of the lattice spacing prior to annealing due to the insertion of smaller copper atoms. Compared to the undoped CoPt nanowires, the magnetic measurements reveal significant enhancement in the magnetic properties of the CoPtCu nanowire postannealing, resulting in the more rapid increase in the coercivity with annealing temperature.

Substrate effects on microstructure and magnetic properties of electrodeposited Co nanowire arrays

The effect of substrates on the microstructure and magnetic properties of electrodeposited Co nanowire arrays in porous anodic aluminum oxide membrane was investigated. It is found that the nanowires possess dominant (002) and (110) textures on the Co-coated nanocrystalline Finemet™ and Au substrates, respectively. Magnetic measurements show that the easy axis of the nanowire arrays switches from perpendicular to the wire axis on Au to parallel to the wire axis on the Co-coated nanocrystalline Finemet™ substrate.