Tzu-Yi Chan

Synthesis and characterizations of Ni-NiO nanoparticles on PDDA-modified graphene for oxygen reduction reaction

We are presenting our recent research results about the Ni-NiO nanoparticles on poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-modified graphene sheet (Ni-NiO/PDDA-G) nanocomposites prepared by the hydrothermal method at 90°C for 24 h. The Ni-NiO nanoparticles on PDDA-modified graphene sheets are measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern for exploring the structural evidence to apply in the electrochemical catalysts. The size of Ni-NiO nanoparticles is around 5 nm based on TEM observations. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show the Ni in the (012), (110), (110), (200), and (220) crystalline orientations, respectively. Moreover, the crystalline peaks of NiO are found in (111) and (220). The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) result represents the loading content of the Ni metal which is about 34.82 wt%. The electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA/XPS) reveals the Ni0 to NiII ratio in metal phase. The electrochemical studies with Ni-NiO/PDDA-G in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 were studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

Novel pH-sensitive drug carriers of carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (Chitosonic® Acid) modified liposomes

In this study, novel hybrid nanocarriers composed of carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (Chitosonic® Acid, CA) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DSPE)-liposomes were developed. CA was immobilized onto the DSPE-liposomes by EDC/NHS reaction using the carboxyl group of CA and the amino group of DSPE. The characteristics of the resultant CA-modified liposomes were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle measurement. The results show that the particle size and surface charge of the CA-modified liposomes varied with the concentration of CA, and exhibited pH-sensitive behavior. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated the sustained release behavior of the doxorubicin in the CA-modified liposomes, related to the rapid release in the free doxorubicin. Interestingly, the doxorubicin release rate from CA-modified liposomes was lower at higher pH values (pH 7.4) than at lower pH values (pH 4), indicating that the drug carrier displayed pH-sensitive released behavior. Furthermore, CA-modified liposomes exhibited no cytotoxicity toward the fibroblast cells (L-929 cells), suggesting an excellent biocompatibility. Fluorescence and confocal microscopy images showed good cellular internalization of the CA-modified liposomes into the cellular compartment. These results confirm that the novel CA-modified liposomes could respond to pH environment, which is promising for drug controlled release applications, especially in the field of cancer cell therapy (lower pH environments).

Magnetically triggered nanovehicles for controlled drug release as a colorectal cancer therapy

Magnetic silica core/shell nanovehicles presenting atherosclerotic plaque-specific peptide-1 (AP-1) as a targeting ligand (MPVA-AP1 nanovehicles) have been prepared through a double-emulsion method and surface modification. Amphiphilic poly(vinyl alcohol) was introduced as a polymer binder to encapsulate various drug molecules (hydrophobic, hydrophilic, polymeric) and magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. Under a high-frequency magnetic field, magnetic carriers (diameter: ca. 50 nm) incorporating the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin collapsed, releasing approximately 80% of the drug payload, due to the heat generated by the rapidly rotating Fe3O4 nanoparticles, thereby realizing rapid and accurate controlled drug release. Simultaneously, the magnetic Fe3O4 themselves could also kill the tumor cells through a hyperthermia effect (inductive heating). Unlike their ungrafted congeners (MPVA nanovehicles), the AP1-grafted nanovehicles bound efficiently to colorectal cancer cells (CT26-IL4Rα), thereby displaying tumor-cell selectivity. The combination of remote control, targeted dosing, drug-loading flexibility, and thermotherapy and chemotherapy suggests that magnetic nanovehicles such as MPVA-AP1 have great potential for application in cancer therapy.

First Observation of Physically Capturing and Maneuvering Bacteria using Magnetic Clays

A new class of nanohybrids composed of structurally exfoliated silicate platelets and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was synthesized and shown to be capable of capturing microbes in liquid microbiological media. Nanoscale silicate platelets with an approximate thickness of 1.0 nm were prepared from the naturally occurring mineral clays montmorillonite and mica; these clays yielded platelets with lateral dimensions on the order of 80-100 nm and 300-1000 nm, respectively. The magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, approximately 8.3 nm in diameter, were coated in situ onto the silicates during the synthesis process, which involved the coprecipitation of aqueous Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) salts. Owing to the high surface area-to-volume ratios and the presence of ionically charged groups (i.e., ≡SiO(-)Na(+)), the silicate nanoplatelets exhibited intense noncovalent bonding forces between Fe3O4 nanoparticles and the surrounding microorganisms. The Fe3O4-on-nanoplatelet nanohybrids enabled the entrapment of bacterial cells in liquid microbiological media. These captured bacteria formed bacterial aggregates on the order of micrometers that became physically maneuverable under a magnetic field. This phenomenon was demonstrated with Staphylococcus aureus in liquid microbiological media by physically removing them using a magnetic bar; in two experimental examples, bacterial concentrations were reduced from 10(6) to 10(2) and from 10(4) to 10(0) CFU/mL (colony formation unit/mL con). Under a scanning electron microscope, these bacteria appeared to have rough and wrinkled surfaces due to the accumulated silicate platelets. Furthermore, the external application of a high-frequency magnetic field completely destroyed these aggregated microbes by the magnetically induced heat. Hence, the newly developed nanohybrids were shown to be viable for physically capturing microbes and also for potential hyperthermia treatment applications.

Influence of magnetic nanoparticle arrangement in ferrogels for tunable biomolecule diffusion

Magnetic sensitive hydrogels (ferrogels) with tunable nanochannels were prepared with poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles under a uniform magnetic field in a freezing–thawing process, evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the influence of magnetic nanoparticle arrangement on the diffusion behavior of biomolecules was investigated. Nanochannels self-assembled by the arranged magnetic nanoparticles could be tuned by manipulating the direction of the magnetic field, which results in the formation of “needle-like” structures from the magnetic nanoparticles aligned parallel or perpendicular to the permeation direction (anisotropic ferrogels). The effect of biomolecule diffusion between the anisotropic and isotropic ferrogels was observed in a diffusion diaphragm cell (using random nanoparticle dispersions without a magnetic field, as a control). It was established that the parallel-aligned ferrogels exhibit a higher drug diffusion rate compared to the isotropic ferrogels, whereas the perpendicular-aligned ferrogels display the lowest biomolecule diffusion rate. The novel ferrogels were expected to be suitable for application in bio-membranes, and the nanochannels for biomolecule (MW: ca. 0.1–10 kDa) diffusion could be constructed precisely by the magnetic nanoparticle arrangement.

Anomalously Enhanced Raman Scattering From Longitudinal Optical Phonons On Ag‐Nanoparticle‐Covered GaN And ZnO

Received 20 August 2009; accepted 25 November 2009; published online 20 January 2010The authors report experimental studies of surface-enhanced Raman scattering SERS ofwurtzite-type GaN and ZnO crystalline samples covered with Ag-nanoparticles. The longitudinaloptical phonons consistently exhibit unusually intense Raman enhancement in comparison withother phonons. The anomaly is interpreted by a proposed model based on a resonant Ramanscattering process assisted by metal-induced gap states at the Ag/GaN and Ag/ZnO interfaces. Thisstudy suggests that SERS of lattice vibrations in inorganic semiconductors is sensitive to theirpropagation nature, providing a progressive perspective view on electron-mediated enhancedRaman scattering. ©