Biocompatibility and biofunctionalization of mesoporous silicon particles

Several of the newly developed drug molecules experience poor biopharmaceutical behavior, which hinders their effective delivery at the proper site of action. Among the several strategies employed in order to overcome this obstacle, mesoporous silicon-based materials have emerged as promising drug carriers due to their ability to improve the dissolution behavior of several poorly water-soluble drugs compounds confined within their pores. In addition to improve the dissolution behavior of the drugs, we report that porous silicon (PSi) nanoparticles have a higher degree of biocompatibility than PSi microparticles in several cell lines studied. In addition, the degradation of the nanoparticles showed its potential to fast clearance in the body. After oral delivery, the PSi particles were also found to transit the intestines without being absorbed. These results constituted the first quantitative analysis of the behavior of orally administered PSi nanoparticles compared with other delivery routes in rats. The self-assemble of a hydrophobin class II (HFBII) protein at the surface of hydrophobic PSi particles endowed the particles with greater biocompatibility in different cell lines, was found to reverse their hydrophobicity and also protected a drug loaded within its pores against premature release at low pH while enabling subsequent drug release as the pH increased. These results highlight the potential of HFBII-coating for PSi-based drug carriers in improving their hydrophilicity, biocompatibility and pH responsiveness in drug delivery applications. In conclusion, mesoporous silicon particles have been shown to be a versatile platform for improving the dissolution behavior of poorly water-soluble drugs with high biocompatibility and easy surface modification. The results of this study also provide information regarding the biofunctionalization of the THCPSi particles with a fungal protein, leading to an improvement in their biocompatibility and endowing them with pH responsive and mucoadhesive properties.

Heterogeneous nucleation of pb particles embedded in a Zn matrix

Zinc-10 and 20 wt pct Pb alloys have been rapidly solidified by melt spinning to obtain a very fine scale dispersion of nanometer-sized Pb particles embedded in Zn matrix. The microstructure and crystallography of the Pb particles have been studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Each embedded Pb particle is a single crystal, with a truncated hexagonal biprism shape with the 6/mmm Zn matrix point group symmetry surrounded by and { 0001 á },\text { \text10[`\text1] \text0 },\text and { \text10[`\text1] \text1 }0001 1010 and 1011 facets. The Pb particles solidify with a well-defined orientation relationship with the Zn matrix of ( 0001 )Zn ||(111)Pb\text and\text [ \text11[`\text2] \text0 ]Zn| ||[ 1[`1] 0 ]Pb 0001Zn(111)Pb and 1120Zn110Pb . The melting and solidification behavior of the Pb particle have been studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The Pb particles solidify with an undercooling of approximately 30 K, by heterogeneous nucleation on the {0001} facets of the surrounding Zn matrix, with an apparent contact angle of 23 deg.

Fe-Cr/Al2O3 metal-ceramic composites: Nature and size of the metal particles formed during hydrogen reduction

Fe-Cr/Al2O3 metal-ceramic composites prepared by hydrogen reduction at different temperatures and for different periods have been investigated by a combined use of Mossbauer spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy in order to obtain information on the nature of the metallic species formed. Total reduction of Fe3+ does not occur by increasing the reduction time at 1320 K from 1 to 30 h, and the amount of superparamagnetic metallic species is essentially constant (about 10%). Temperatures higher than 1470 K are needed to achieve nearly total reduction of substitutional Fe3+. Interestingly, iron favors the reduction of chromium. The composition of the Fe-Cr particles is strongly dependent on their size, the Cr content being higher in particles smaller than 10 nm.

Production of Dirac particles due to riccion coupling

It has been noted that at high energy the Ricci scalar is manifested in two different ways, as a matter field as well as a geometrical field (which is its usual nature even at low energy). Here, using the material aspect of the Ricci scalar, its interaction with Dirac spinors is considered in four-dimensional curved spacetime. We find that a large number of fermion-antifermion pairs can be produced by the exponential expansion of the early universe.

Studies on BaO particles in nanosize regime

Barium oxide nanosize particles were prepared using the wet chemical route. Various capping agents were used to arrest the growth. X-ray diffraction studies reveal particle size as low as 9 Angstrom in diameter, which is close to the Bohr exciton radius of BaO. However, changes in the optical absorption features arising from the confinement effect in the nanosize regime were not observed. These results were confirmed by fluorescence measurements. The calculations based on effective mass approximations indicate that the quantum confinement effects are not significant for particle sizes as small as 15 Angstrom.

Thomas-Fermi Method For Particles Obeying Generalized Exclusion Statistics

We use the Thomas-Fermi method to examine the thermodynamics of particles obeying Haldane exclusion statistics. Specifically, we study Calogero-Sutherland particles placed in a given external potential in one dimension. For the case of a simple harmonic potential (constant density of states), we obtain the exact one-particle spatial density and a {\it closed} form for the equation of state at finite temperature, which are both new results. We then solve the problem of particles in a $x^{2/3} ~$ potential (linear density of states) and show that Bose-Einstein condensation does not occur for any statistics other than bosons.

Growth of Nanometric Gold Particles in Solution Phase

The time evolution of colloidal gold particles in the nanometric regime has been investigated by employing electron microscopy and electronic absorption spectroscopy. The particle size distributions are essentially Gaussian and show the same time dependence for both the mean and the standard deviation, enabling us to obtain a time-independent universal curve for the particle size. Temperature dependent studies show the growth to be an activated process with a barrier of about 18 kJ mol(-1). We present a phenomenological equation for the evolution of particle size and suggest that the growth process is stochastic.

Heterogeneous nucleation of nanometre-sized Bi particles embedded in a Zn matrix

It is argued that the nanometric dispersion of Bi in a Zn matrix is an ideal model system for heterogeneous nucleation experiments. The classical theory of heterogeneous nucleation with a hemispherical cap model is applied to analyse the nucleation data. It is shown that, unlike the results of earlier experiments, the derived site density for catalytic nucleation and contact angle are realistic and strongly suggest the validity of the classical theory. The surface energy between the 0001 plane of Zn and the <10(1)over bar 2> plane of Bi, which constitute the epitaxial nucleation interface, is estimated to be 39 mJ m(-2).

Influence of carbide particles on the dynamic recrystallization of as-cast 304 stainless steel: a study using secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analysis

The domain of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) in as-cast 304 stainless steel material occurs at higher temperatures (1250 degrees C) and lower strain rates (0.001 s(-1)) than in wrought 304 stainless steel (1100 degrees C and 0.01 s(-1)). The above result has been explained earlier on the basis of a simple theoretical DRX model involving the rate of nucleation versus rate of grain boundary migration. The present investigation is aimed at examining experimentally the influence of carbide particles on the DRX of ascast 304 using secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analysis. Isothermal compression tests at a constant true strain rate have been performed on wrought 304 and as-cast 304 materials in the temperature and strain rate ranges of 1000 to 1250 degrees C and 0.001 to 1 s(-1) respectively. The SIMS analysis carried out on the deformed samples revealed that the large carbides present in the as-cast 304 material strongly influence the DRX process. In as-cast 304 material, the presence of large carbide particles in the microstructure shifts the DRX domain to higher temperature and lower strain rate in comparison with wrought 304 material.

Airborne measurements of aerosol scattering properties above the MABL over Bay of Bengal during W_ICARB - characteristics and spatial gradients

Realizing the importance of aerosol characterization and addressing its spatio-temporal heterogeneities over Bay of Bengal (BoB), campaign mode observations of aerosol parameters were carried out using simultaneous cruise, aircraft and land-based measurements during the Winter Integrated Campaign for Aerosols gases and Radiation Budget (W_ICARB). Under this, airborne measurements of total and hemispheric backscatter coefficients were made over several regions of coastal India and eastern BoB using a three wavelength integrating nephelometer. The measurements include high resolution multi-level (ML) sorties for altitude profiles and bi-level (BL) sorties for spatial gradients within and above the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer (MABL) over BoB. The vertical profiles of the scattering coefficients are investigated in light of the information on the vertical structure of the atmospheric stability, which was derived from the collocated GPS (Global Positioning System) aided radiosonde ascents. In general, the altitude profiles revealed that the scattering coefficient remained steady in the convectively well-mixed regions and dropped off above the MABL. This decrease was quite rapid off the Indian mainland, while it was more gradual in the eastern BoB. Investigation on horizontal gradients revealed that the scattering coefficients over northern BoB are 3 to 4 times higher compared to that of central BoB within and above the MABL. A north-south gradient in scattering coefficients is observed over Port Blair in the eastern BoB, with values decreasing from south to north, which is attributed to the similar gradient in the surface wind speed, which can be replicated in the sea salt abundance. The gradients are parameterized using best-fit analytical functions.

Sub-micrometre spherical particles of TiO2, ZrO2, and PZT by nebulized spray pyrolysis of metal-organic precursors

Nebulized spray pyrolysis of metal-organic precursors in methanol solution has been employed to prepare powders of TiO2, ZrO2 and PbZr0.5Ti0.5O3 (PZT). This process ensures complete decomposition of the precursors at relatively low temperatures. The particles have been examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction. As prepared, the particles are hollow agglomerates of diameter 0.1-1.6 mu m, but after heating to higher temperatures the ultimate size of the particles comprising the agglomerates are considerably smaller (0.1 mu m or less in diameter) and crystalline.

Nanoscale embedded alloy particles through rapid solidification: the case of Al-Pb-In and Cu-Fe-Si

Rapid solidification techniques can be used to produce the embedded nanoparticles in a desired matrix. The origin and morphology of these small particles and their transformation behaviour are still not fully understood. In this paper, we discuss the issues involved and present some interesting results in Al-Pb-In and Cu-Fe-Si systems.

Size effect on the superconducting transition of embedded lead particles in an Al-Cu-V amorphous matrix

We have synthesized specimens of nanometric lead dispersion in a glassy Al-Cu-V matrix by rapid solidification of the corresponding melt. The microstructure has been designed to avoid superconducting percolation due to coupling of the neighboring particles by the proximity effect. Using these specimens, we have determined quantitatively the effect of size of the ultrafine lead particles on the superconducting transition. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)02037-9].

The effect of SiC particles on the size and morphology of eutectic silicon in cast A356/SiCp composites

Properties of cast aluminium matrix composites are greatly influenced by the nature of distribution of reinforcing phase in the matrix and matrix microstructural length scales, such as grain size, dendrite arm spacing, size and morphology of secondary matrix phases, etc. Earlier workers have shown that SIC reinforcements can act as heterogeneous nucleation sites for Si during solidification of Al-Si-SiC composites. The present study aims at a quantitative understanding of the effect of SiC reinforcements on secondary matrix phases, namely eutectic Si, during solidification of A356 Al-SiC composites. Effect of volume fraction of SiC particulate on size and shape of eutectic Si has been studied at different cooling rates. Results indicate that an increase in SiC volume fraction leads to a reduction in the size of eutectic Si and also changes its morphology from needle-like to equiaxed. This is attributed to the heterogeneous nucleation of eutectic Si on SiC particles. However, SiC particles are found to have negligible influence on DAS. Under all the solidification conditions studied in the present investigation, SiC particles are found to be rejected by the growing dendrites. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The melting and solidification of nanoscale Bi particles embedded in a glassy and crystalline matrix

We report the formation of an amorphous phase in nanosized Pi particles embedded in an Al-based glassy alloy matrix. High-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) has been used to show that the particles contain crystalline and amorphous portions. A depression of the melting point by more than 100 K of the crystalline portion of the Pi particles was found by differential scanning calorimetric studies and by in-situ electron microscopy using a heating stage. The same techniques established the absence of an amorphous phase in the particles when the matrix is crystallized. It is shown that the formation of the amorphous phase and the depression of the melting point cannot be explained by the pressure developed by the volume change during solidification in this constrained system.