Cationic Lipid Bilayer Coated Gold Nanoparticles-mediated Transfection of Mammalian Cells

Here, we demonstrated dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide (DODAB), a cationic lipid, bilayer coated Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) could efficiently deliver two types of plasmid DNA into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293) in the presence of serum. The transfection efficiency of AuNPs was about five times higher than that of DODAB. The interaction of AuNPs with DNA was characterized with dye intercalation assay and agarose gel electrophoresis. The morphology of the complex of AuNPs with DNA was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The intracellular trafficking of the complex was monitored with transmission electron microscope (TEM).

A general method for the rapid synthesis of hollow metallic or bimetallic nanoelectrocatalysts with urchinlike morphology

We have reported a facile and general method for the rapid synthesis of hollow nanostructures with urchinlike morphology. In-situ produced Ag nanoparticles can be used as sacrificial templates to rapidly synthesize diverse hollow urchinlike metallic or bimetallic (such as Au/Pt) nanostructures. It has been found that heating the solution at 100 degrees C during the galvanic replacement is very necessary for obtaining urchinlike nanostructures. Through changing the molar ratios of Ag to Pt, the wall thickness of hollow nanospheres can be easily controlled; through changing the diameter of Ag nanoparticles, the size of cavity of hollow nanospheres can be facilely controlled; through changing the morphologies of Ag nanostructures from nanoparticle to nanowire, hollow Pt nanotubes can be easily designed. This one-pot approach can be extended to synthesize other hollow nanospheres such as Pd, Pd/Pt, Au/Pd, and Au/Pt. The features of this technique are that it is facile, quick, economical, and versatile.

Enzyme Colorimetric Assay Using Unmodified Silver Nanoparticles

Colorimetric assay based on the unique surface plasmon resonance properties of metallic nanoparticles has received considerable attention in bioassay due to its simplicity, high sensitivity, and low cost. Most of colorimetric methods previously reported employed gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as sensing elements. In this work, we develop a sensitive, selective, simple, and label-free colorimetric assay using unmodified silver nanoparticle (AgNP) probes to detect enzymatic reactions. Enzymatic reactions concerning adenosine triphosphate (ATP) dephosphorylation by calf intestine alkaline phosphatase (CLAP) and peptide phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA) were studied.

Electrospun palladium nanoparticle-loaded carbon nanofibers and their electrocatalytic activities towards hydrogen peroxide and NADH

Palladium nanoparticle-loaded carbon nanofibers (Pd/CNFs) were synthesized by the combination of electrospinning and thermal treatment processes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images show that spherical Pd nanoparticles (NPs) are well-dispersed on the surfaces of CNFs or embedded in CNFs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicates that cubic phase of Pd was formed during the reduction and carbonization processes, and the presence of Pd NPs promoted the graphitization of CNFs. This nanocomposite material exhibited high electric conductivity and accelerated the electron transfer, as verified by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV).

Unique electrochemiluminescence behavior of Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) in a gold/Nafion/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) composite

The unique electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of tris(bipyridine) ruthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) immobilized in a gold/Nafion/Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) composite material was investigated. In this composite, the Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL was found mainly occurred at 0-0.4 V during the cathodic scan process and the ECL peak was at about 0.1 V, which was quite different to the reported Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL. Similar to the generally observed Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) ECL, the present ECL also could be enhanced by tri-n-propylarnine (TPA). It is also unique that in the presence of TPA, another ECL peak at about 0.38 V occurred.

Monodisperse raspberry-like gold submicrometer spheres: Large-scale synthesis and interface assembling for colloid sphere array

We first suggested a one-pot method to synthesize monodisperse raspberry-like submicrometer gold spheres (MRSGS) with high yield. The resulting gold spheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersed X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical technology. It was found that the rough structure provided by raspberry-like gold spheres led to a tremendous electrochemical active area, which was very important because these novel hierarchical gold spheres will probably find important applications in biosensors, electrocatalysis, and others.

Effect of Freeze-Thawing on Lipid Bilayer-Protected Gold Nanoparticles

In this study, varieties of lipid bilayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized through a simple wet chemical method, and then the effect of freeze-thawing on the as-prepared AuNPs was investigated. The freeze-thawing process induced fusion or fission of lipid bilayers tethered on the AuNPs. The UV-vis spectra and transmission electron microscopy experiments revealed that the disruption of lipid bilayer structures on the nanoparticles led to the fusion or aggregation of AuNPs.

A electrochemiluminescence aptasensor for detection of thrombin incorporating the capture aptamer labeled with gold nanoparticles immobilized onto the thio-silanized ITO electrode

A novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor was proposed for sensitive and cost-effective detection of the target thrombin adopted an aptamer-based sandwich format. To detect thrombin, capture aptamers; labeled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were first immobilized onto the thio-silanized ITO electrode surface through strong Au-S bonds. After catching the target thrombin, signal aptamers; tagged with ECL labels were attached to the assembled electrode surface. As a result, an AuNPs-capture-aptamer/thrombin/ECL-tagged signal-aptamer sandwich type was formed.

Facile fabrication of large area of aggregated gold nanorods film for efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering

An effective and facile method for fabrication of large area of aggregated gold nanorods (AuNRs) film was proposed by self-assembly of AuNRs at a toluene/water interface for the first time. It was found that large area of aggregated AuNRs film could be formed at the interface of toluene and water due to the interfacial tension between the two phases. The obtained large area of aggregated AuNRs film exhibits strong surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity with 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) and 2-aminothiophenol (2-ATP) as the probe molecules based on the strong electromagnetic coupling effect between the very adjacent AuNRs.

Environmentally friendly synthesis of highly monodisperse biocompatible gold nanoparticles with urchin-like shape

We report a facile and environmentally friendly strategy for high-yield synthesis of highly monodisperse gold nanoparticles with urchin-like shape. A simple protein, gelatin, was first used for the control over shape and orientation of the gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles, ready to use for biological systems, are promising in the optical imaging-based disease diagnostics and therapy because of their tunable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and excellent surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity.

Reversible Nanopatterning on Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold

The reversible fabrication of positive and negative nanopatterns on 1-hexadecanethiol (HDT) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au(111) was realized by bias-assisted atomic force microscopy (AFM) nanolithography using an ethanol-ink tip. The formation of positive and negative nanopatterns via the bias-assisted nanolithography depends solely on the polarity of the applied bias, and their writing speeds can reach 800,um/s and go beyond 1000 mu m/s, respectively. The composition of the positive nanopatterns is gold oxide and the nanometer-scale gold oxide can be reduced by ethanol to gold, as proved by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, forming the negative nanopatterns which can be refilled with HDT to recover the SAMs.

Dendrimer films as matrices for electrochemical fabrication of novel gold/palladium bimetallic nanostructures

Electrodeposition of novel Au/Pd bimetallic nanostructures with dendrimer films as matrices has been reported. The dendrimers exhibited highly open structures arising from protonation of amines and this made them have good penetrability for solvent molecules. The unique properties of dendrimers obviously affected the morphologies and compositions of deposited bimetallic nanostructures compared with those from unmodified surfaces. Field-emitted scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy were used to characterize these nanostructures.

Carbon nanotube/gold nanoparticles/polyethylenimine-functionalized ionic liquid thin film composites for glucose biosensing

A novel glucose biosensor based on immobilization of glucose oxidase (GOD) in thin films of polyethylenimine-functionalized ionic liquid (PFIL), containing a mixture of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and deposited on glassy carbon electrodes, was developed. Direct electrochemistry of glucose oxidase in the film was observed, with linear glucose response up to 12 mM. The PFIL-stabilized gold nanoparticles had a diameter of 2.4 +/- 0.8 nm and exhibited favorable stability (stored even over one month with invisible change in UV-vis spectroscopic measurements).

Green synthesis of 1-2 nm gold nanoparticles stabilized by amine-terminated ionic liquid and their electrocatalytic activity in oxygen reduction

Stable gold nanoparticles with average size 1.7 nm synthesized by an amine-terminated ionic liquid showed enhanced electrocatalytic activity and high stability.

Size-controlled synthesis of monodispersed gold nanoparticles stabilized by polyelectrolyte-functionalized ionic liquid

The size-controlled synthesis of monodispersed gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized by polyelectrolyte-functionalized ionic liquid (PFIL) is described. The resulting AuNPs' size, with a narrow distribution, can be tuned by the concentration of HAuCl4. Such PFIL-stabilized AuNPs (PFIL-AuNPs) showed a high stability in water at room temperature for at least one month; they were also quite stable in solutions of pH 7-13 and high concentration of NaCl.