Fabrication of photothermally active poly(vinyl alcohol) films with gold nanostars for antibacterial applications

• Mykola Borzenkov,
• Maria Moros,
• Claudia Tortiglione,
• Serena Bertoldi,
• Nicola Contessi,
• Silvia Faré,
• Angelo Taglietti,
• Agnese D’Agostino,
• Piersandro Pallavicini,
• Maddalena Collini and
• Giuseppe Chirico

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2040–2048, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.193

• are known to be sensitive to water [20][27]. In order to test the potential application of the fabricated films in biological environments, a crucial prerequisite is the study of the swelling behavior and the water uptake capability [11]. With this aim, the fabricated films were immersed for 24 h in

SO₂ gas adsorption on carbon nanomaterials: a comparative study

• Deepu J. Babu,
• Divya Puthusseri,
• Frank G. Kühl,
• Sherif Okeil,
• Michael Bruns,
• Manfred Hampe and
• Jörg J. Schneider

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1782–1792, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.169

• adsorbent. At 1 bar, there is an almost linear relationship between the BET specific surface area and the SO2 adsorption. The notable exceptions are GO and SWNT. The high SO2 uptake by GO is presumed to be due to the high concentration of oxygen functionalities (16.1 atom %) that are easily accessible due

• presence of few MWNTs and other catalyst impurities. The presence of these foreign particles might be one of the reasons for the observed low SO2 uptake in SWNTs. In Figure 5c, the SO2 adsorption at 3 bar is plotted as a function of the specific surface area of the adsorbent. At this pressure, CNHs, MWNTs

• and SWNTs lie on the same line while VACNTs exhibits a higher SO2 adsorption capacity. The SO2 uptake of Norit R1 Extra is no longer in line with the specific surface at a pressure of 3 bar. This is because, unlike other adsorbents, all the microporous adsorption sites of Norit R1 Extra are already

Review on nanoparticles and nanostructured materials: history, sources, toxicity and regulations

• Jaison Jeevanandam,
• Ahmed Barhoum,
• Yen S. Chan,
• Alain Dufresne and
• Michael K. Danquah

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1050–1074, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.98

Green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from spices for in vitro imaging and tumour cell growth inhibition

• Nagamalai Vasimalai,
• Vânia Vilas-Boas,
• Juan Gallo,
• María de Fátima Cerqueira,
• Mario Menéndez-Miranda,
• José Manuel Costa-Fernández,
• Lorena Diéguez,
• Begoña Espiña and
• María Teresa Fernández-Argüelles

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 530–544, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.51

• mentioned spice-derived C-dots was evaluated in vitro in human glioblastoma cells (LN-229 cancer cell line) and in human kidney cells (HK-2 non-cancerous cell line). Bioimaging and viability studies were performed with different C-dot concentrations from 0.1 to 2 mg·mL−1, exhibiting a higher uptake of C

• observed between the absolute value of the zeta potential and the cellular uptake observed in both LN-229 and HK-2 cells. XRD patterns of the four synthesized C-dots have been also studied, and the obtained results are given in Figure 5. The cinnamon, red chilli, turmeric and black pepper C-dots

• C-dots in the cytoplasm of LN-229 cells (Figure 9), while distributed in bigger agglomerates around the nuclear area in HK-2 cells (Figure 10). The fluorescence intensity attributed to the C-dots was clearly higher in LN-229 cells than in HK-2 cells, suggesting a more efficient uptake by LN-229 than

Blister formation during graphite surface oxidation by Hummers’ method

• Olga V. Sinitsyna,
• Georgy B. Meshkov,
• Anastasija V. Grigorieva,
• Alexander A. Antonov,
• Inna G. Grigorieva and
• Igor V. Yaminsky

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 407–414, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.40

• , according to the Raman spectroscopy data, gaseous products should not be released under the surface as in the model of Murray [15][16]. We assume that the initially formed GIC with sulfuric acid was swollen with the blister formation due to water uptake. Taken this into account we can explain Figure 6. The

Nanoparticle delivery to metastatic breast cancer cells by nanoengineered mesenchymal stem cells

• Liga Saulite,
• Karlis Pleiko,
• Ineta Popena,
• Dominyka Dapkute,
• Ricardas Rotomskis and
• Una Riekstina

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 321–332, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.32

• metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MD-231 and primary breast cancer cell line MCF7 to explore the transfer of quantum dots (QDs) to cancer cells. First, the optimal conditions for high-content QD loading in MSCs were established. Then, QD uptake in breast cancer cells was assessed after 24 h in a 3D co

• -culture with nanoengineered MSCs. We found that incubation of MSCs with QDs in a serum-free medium provided the best accumulation results. It was found that 24 h post-labelling QDs were eliminated from MSCs. Our results demonstrate that breast cancer cells efficiently uptake QDs that are released from

• nanoengineered MSCs in a 3D co-culture. Moreover, the uptake is considerably enhanced in metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells compared with MCF7 primary breast cancer cells. Our findings suggest that nanoengineered MSCs could serve as a vehicle for targeted drug delivery to metastatic cancer. Keywords: cancer

Humidity-dependent wound sealing in succulent leaves of Delosperma cooperi – An adaptation to seasonal drought stress

• Olga Speck,
• Mark Schlechtendahl,
• Florian Borm,
• Tim Kampowski and
• Thomas Speck

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 175–186, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.20

• uptake of liquid water by the intact chlorenchyma and parenchyma cells results in a turgor-dependent increase of cell size and consequently an opening of the fissure. The described turgor changes in chlorenchyma and parenchyma cells and the concomitant changes in tissue pressure and tissue stress are, in

Involvement of two uptake mechanisms of gold and iron oxide nanoparticles in a co-exposure scenario using mouse macrophages

• Dimitri Vanhecke,
• Dagmar A. Kuhn,
• Dorleta Jimenez de Aberasturi,
• Sandor Balog,
• Ana Milosevic,
• Dominic Urban,
• Diana Peckys,
• Niels de Jonge,
• Wolfgang J. Parak,
• Alke Petri-Fink and
• Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 2396–2409, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.239

• Marburg, Renthof 7, 35037 Marburg, Germany 10.3762/bjnano.8.239 Abstract Little is known about the simultaneous uptake of different engineered nanoparticle types, as it can be expected in our daily life. In order to test such co-exposure effects, murine macrophages (J774A.1 cell line) were incubated with

• gold (AuNPs) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeOxNPs) either alone or combined. Environmental scanning electron microscopy revealed that single NPs of both types bound within minutes on the cell surface but with a distinctive difference between FeOxNPs and AuNPs. Uptake analysis studies based on laser

• treated with endocytotic inhibitors recovered after co-exposure, which additionally hinted that two uptake mechanisms are involved. Cross-talk between uptake pathways is relevant for toxicological studies: Co-exposure acts as an uptake accelerant. If the goal is to maximize the cellular uptake, e.g., for

Surfactant-induced enhancement of droplet adhesion in superhydrophobic soybean (Glycine max L.) leaves

• Oliver Hagedorn,
• Ingo Fleute-Schlachter,
• Hans Georg Mainx,
• Viktoria Zeisler-Diehl and
• Kerstin Koch

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 2345–2356, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.234

• are usually water repellent. Many economically important crops like wheat (Triticum aestivum) or rice (Oryza sativa) are characterized by leaf surfaces with superhydrophobic properties, thus the uptake of water-based agrochemicals, e.g., herbicides, is low [29] because applied droplets are likely to

• group [30]. Surfactants are characterized by their hydrophilic/lipophilic balance (HLB). In general, if they have a high HLB (>10) they enhance the penetration of herbicides with high-water solubility, while lipophilic surfactants with a low HLB (<10) effectively enhance the uptake of poorly water

• requires further investigation. The results presented herein on the soybean surface microstructure, chemistry and wettability provide important information for the further development of more target specific formulations used for the improvement of foliar uptake of nutrients and for the increase in the

A comparative study of the nanoscale and macroscale tribological attributes of alumina and stainless steel surfaces immersed in aqueous suspensions of positively or negatively charged nanodiamonds

• Colin K. Curtis,
• Antonin Marek,
• Alex I. Smirnov and
• Jacqueline Krim

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 2045–2059, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.205

• (SEM) measurements were employed to assess nanoparticle uptake, surface polishing, and resistance to solid–liquid interfacial shear motion. The QCM studies revealed abrupt changes to the surfaces of both alumina and stainless steel upon injection of –ND into the surrounding water environment that are

• monitor for thin films [21], it has rapidly expanded in recent years to a broad range of applications through simultaneously monitoring of changes in frequency and quality factors [22][23][24][25][26]. It has become well known as a nanotribological technique for studying uptake and sliding friction levels

• opportunity for cross-comparisons with atomic scale tribological probes. At the atomic scale, the QCM and microscopy studies indicated uptake of particles, along with the potential presence of lubricious slurry for the −ND suspensions, somewhat analogous to boundary lubrication and steric repulsion effects by

Carbon nano-onions as fluorescent on/off modulated nanoprobes for diagnostics

• Stefania Lettieri,
• Marta d’Amora,
• Adalberto Camisasca,
• Alberto Diaspro and
• Silvia Giordani

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1878–1888, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.188

• development of a nanosensor which can be “turned on” in an acidic environment. Remarkably, the fluo-CNOs maintained the switching properties upon cell internalization, as they were “switched-on” in response to acidic pH. In vitro experiments on HeLa cells showed excellent cellular uptake and low toxicity of

• fluo-CNOs were successfully internalized by cells and were distributed throughout the cytoplasm. Remarkably the cellular uptake of the fluo-CNOs was clearly observed soon after the incubation, as shown by the presence of CNOs inside the cell after 2 h (Figure 8A). After 12 and 48 h of incubation

• (Figure 8B,C), a progressive accumulation of fluo-CNOs was observed during the cell proliferation. Additionally, the efficient uptake was supported by a three dimensional reconstruction of cells treated with CNOs (Figure 9). Finally, we demonstrated that the on/off fluorescent emission properties of the

Synthesis and functionalization of NaGdF₄:Yb,Er@NaGdF₄ core–shell nanoparticles for possible application as multimodal contrast agents

• Dovile Baziulyte-Paulaviciene,
• Vitalijus Karabanovas,
• Marius Stasys,
• Greta Jarockyte,
• Vilius Poderys,
• Simas Sakirzanovas and
• Ricardas Rotomskis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1815–1824, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.183

• still no information has been presented about uptake of these nanoparticles into different types of cancer cells [22]. Although different gadolinium chelates are widely used in clinics as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the literature for the last two years shows increased

• (UC) emission intensity of Tween 80-coated nanoparticles in comparison with oleic acid coated UCNPs. In addition, the nonspecific uptake and distribution of non-targeted Tween 80-coated UCNPs in human MCF-7 and MDB-MA-231 breast cancer cells was visualized by using confocal fluorescence microscopy

• uptake and cytotoxicity evaluation study showed that the UCNPs internalized into breast cancer cell lines and possessed low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. All these findings indicate that Tween 80-coated NaGdF4:Yb,Er@NaGdF4 UCNPs are a promising nanomaterial platform for imaging and detection in

Methionine-mediated synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles and functionalization with gold quantum dots for theranostic applications

• Arūnas Jagminas,
• Agnė Mikalauskaitė,
• Vitalijus Karabanovas and
• Jūrate Vaičiūnienė

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1734–1741, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.174

• have a dramatic effect on the formation of the surface protein corona in the bloodstream that affects CoFe2O4@Met–Au NPs passive targeting and uptake into tumor cells. The elaborated functionalization of magnetic NPs with gold QDs represents a promising multi-task platform for linking magnetic NPs with

Fluorination of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes: from CF₄ plasma chemistry to surface functionalization

• Claudia Struzzi,
• Mattia Scardamaglia,
• Jean-François Colomer,
• Alberto Verdini,
• Luca Floreano,
• Rony Snyders and
• Carla Bittencourt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1723–1733, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.173

• fluorinated one (sample 4). However, a tendency to saturation towards a value of about 15 atom % of fluorine atoms grafted at the surface is observed, suggesting a stable configuration for C6.7F when storage is performed in ambient condition. In parallel, the O uptake is limited to few percent for all samples

• short treatment, non-saturated defective sites are created and a subsequent increased oxygen uptake is observed due to air exposure; on the contrary, these are available for further fluorination when the sample is exposed to the plasma for longer time, in agreement with the corresponding increased F

Three-in-one approach towards efficient organic dye-sensitized solar cells: aggregation suppression, panchromatic absorption and resonance energy transfer

• Jayita Patwari,
• Samim Sardar,
• Bo Liu,
• Peter Lemmens and
• Samir Kumar Pal

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1705–1713, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.171

• the effective performance of the device [20][21]. The control of the uptake of different dyes, the prevention of unwanted reactions and unfavorable electron–hole recombination [22] affect the device performance. FRET has been proposed to be a more useful tool to achieve strong light harvesting over a

Uptake and intracellular accumulation of diamond nanoparticles – a metabolic and cytotoxic study

• Antonín Brož,
• Lucie Bačáková,
• Pavla Štenclová,
• Alexander Kromka and
• Štěpán Potocký

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1649–1657, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.165

• phase contrast live-cell imaging in real time. For both types of oxygen-terminated HPHT NDs, the cell viability and the cell number remained almost the same for concentrations up to 100 µg/mL within the whole range of ND diameters tested. The uptake of hydrogen-terminated detonation NDs caused the

• in cultures exposed and unexposed to photoluminescent nanodiamonds. This positive effect can be attributed to the fact that the mechanism of the ND uptake was clathrin-mediated endocytosis, that is, a physiological cellular mechanism for internalization of various bioactive substances from the

• µg/mL, 300 µg/cm2). Live-cell imaging of diamond nanoparticle uptake Live-cell imaging (see Supporting Information File 1 and Supporting Information File 2 for full experimental data) confirmed the formation of DND aggregates in the suspension (10 µg/mL, 3 µg/cm2). Particle aggregates are collected

Development of an advanced diagnostic concept for intestinal inflammation: molecular visualisation of nitric oxide in macrophages by functional poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres

• Kathleen Lange,
• Christian Lautenschläger,
• Maria Wallert,
• Stefan Lorkowski,
• Andreas Stallmach and
• Alexander Schiller

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1637–1641, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.163

• was observed. The microspheres showed a clear round shape with homogenous fluorescence. Some smaller microspheres were located within macrophages, likely because of endocytic uptake by the RAW264.7 macrophages (Figure 3). These results clearly show that NO550-loaded particles can be used to sense

Development of polycationic amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticles for anticancer drug delivery

• Gamze Varan,
• Juan M. Benito,
• Carmen Ortiz Mellet and
• Erem Bilensoy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1457–1468, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.145

• particle size of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems play a direct and important role on cellular uptake, systemic circulation, toxicity and stability of nanoparticles [37][38]. It was reported that nanoparticles smaller than 200 nm can escape recognition by the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) [39

• ]. The prolonged circulation time for nanoparticles, t, is needed to escape from MPS uptake in order to reach the tumor tissue. The MPS is one of the most important factors in preventing the prolonged circulation, affecting the biodistribution of nanoparticles. In this way, more effective and safe

• negatively charged molecules (e.g., sialic acid, cholesterol, phospholipid) on cell membrane easier than anionic nanoparticles [26][52]. In addition, the surface charge of nanoparticles play an important role on cellular uptake and subcellular localization [53][54]. Another reason for the cell viability

Cationic PEGylated polycaprolactone nanoparticles carrying post-operation docetaxel for glioma treatment

• Cem Varan and
• Erem Bilensoy

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1446–1456, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.144

• agents to the tumor site, while avoiding possible side effects. The development of novel drug delivery systems with reduced side effects is an important breakthrough and nanoparticles are promising in this field as they enable localized drug delivery to target sites and enhanced cellular uptake

• –shell PCL nanoparticles to tumor targeting with docetaxel on a glioma model is very rare. Recently, active-targeted docetaxel-loaded PEG/PCL nanoparticles were prepared successfully for glioblastoma therapy by Gao et al. Cellular uptake and tumor spheroid uptake studies on U87 human glioma cells show

• obtained by dual drug targeting. Besides that, the magnetic and ligand targeting resulted in elevated cellular uptake of nanocapsules in glioma treatment [26]. Yang et al. successfully obtained targeted and traceable core–shell nanoparticles for carmustine (BCNU) delivery. These systems prolonged the half

Low uptake of silica nanoparticles in Caco-2 intestinal epithelial barriers

• Dong Ye,
• Mattia Bramini,
• Delyan R. Hristov,
• Sha Wan,
• Anna Salvati,
• Christoffer Åberg and
• Kenneth A. Dawson

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1396–1406, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.141

• capacity of nanoparticles to enter and transport across such barriers. In this work, Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells were used as a well-established model for the intestinal barrier, and the uptake, trafficking and translocation of model silica nanoparticles of different sizes were investigated using a

• combination of imaging, flow cytometry and transport studies. Compared to typical observations in standard cell lines commonly used for in vitro studies, silica nanoparticle uptake into well-developed Caco-2 cellular barriers was found to be very low. Instead, nanoparticle association to the apical outer

• membrane was substantial and these particles could easily be misinterpreted as internalised in the absence of imaging. Passage of nanoparticles through the barrier was very limited, suggesting that the low amount of internalised nanoparticles was due to reduced uptake into cells, rather than a considerable

Carbon nanomaterials sensitize prostate cancer cells to docetaxel and mitomycin C via induction of apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation

• Kati Erdmann,
• Jessica Ringel,
• Silke Hampel,
• Manfred P. Wirth and
• Susanne Fuessel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1307–1317, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.132

• S1c,d) [28]. Consistently, the reduction of the chemotherapeutic dosage was more distinct in combinatory treatments with CNFs independent of the chemotherapeutic used. A combined application with carbon nanomaterials would also result in an improved cellular uptake of the active drug component as

• and single-walled CNTs, respectively [26][28]. This elevation in the intracellular drug concentration also contributes to the circumvention of chemoresistance, which is major obstacle of chemotherapy in addition to systemic side effects and can be caused by decreased drug uptake, increased drug efflux

Bright fluorescent silica-nanoparticle probes for high-resolution STED and confocal microscopy

• Isabella Tavernaro,
• Christian Cavelius,
• Henrike Peuschel and
• Annette Kraegeloh

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1283–1296, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.130

• , but indicate a much higher photostability and brightness. As revealed by dynamic light scattering and ζ-potential measurements, all particle suspensions were stable in water and cell culture medium. In addition, uptake studies on A549 cells were performed, using confocal and stimulated emission

• suitable for biological nanoparticle uptake experiments and have been used to determine the intracellular migration and nuclear penetration after uptake into Caco-2 cells [44]. They have also been used to analyse their intracellular agglomeration and their association with intracellular vesicles in living

• A549 cells, as well as to quantify the number of internalised nanoparticles in these cells [45][46][47]. In another study small silica nanoparticles with diameters of 25 and 40 nm and modified with Atto647N dye were used to investigate the uptake in macrophages [48]. Herein we present the improved

Nano-engineered skin mesenchymal stem cells: potential vehicles for tumour-targeted quantum-dot delivery

• Liga Saulite,
• Dominyka Dapkute,
• Karlis Pleiko,
• Ineta Popena,
• Simona Steponkiene,
• Ricardas Rotomskis and
• Una Riekstina

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1218–1230, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.123

• nanoparticles in imaging and targeted therapy of tumours. Due to their tumour-homing ability, nano-engineered mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be utilized as vectors to deliver diagnostic and therapeutic nanoparticles into a tumour. In the present study, uptake and functional effects of carboxyl-coated

• quantum dots QD655 were studied in human skin MSCs. The effect of QD on MSCs was examined using a cell viability assay, Ki67 expression analysis, and tri-lineage differentiation assay. The optimal conditions for QD uptake in MSCs were determined using flow cytometry. The QD uptake route in MSCs was

• examined via fluorescence imaging using endocytosis inhibitors for the micropinocytosis, phagocytosis, lipid-raft, clathrin- and caveolin-dependent endocytosis pathways. These data showed that QDs were efficiently accumulated in the cytoplasm of MSCs after incubation for 6 h. The main uptake route of QDs

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of cell lysates mixed with silver nanoparticles for tumor classification

• Mohamed Hassoun,
• Iwan W.Schie,
• Tatiana Tolstik,
• Sarmiza E. Stanca,
• Christoph Krafft and
• Juergen Popp

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 1183–1190, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.120

• multiplex capability due to narrow band widths. Enhancement of Raman signal of cells can be realized by (1) various techniques of nanoparticles delivery into cells, such as spontaneous uptake, microinjection, electroporation [15][16][17][18][19][20] or (2) binding of antibody-functionalized nanoparticles to

• specific antigens [21][22][23]. The disadvantages of approach (1) include the poor reproducibility due to nonspecific binding of nanoparticles, the long time needed for nanoparticles uptake by cells, and the heterogeneity of nanoparticles inside cells. Approach (2) is complicated because of complex

Needs and challenges for assessing the environmental impacts of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs)

• Michelle Romero-Franco,
• Hilary A. Godwin,
• Muhammad Bilal and
• Yoram Cohen

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2017, 8, 989–1014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.101

• complexity associated with having to address the impact of particle size distribution and agglomeration on the fate and transport and bio-uptake of ENMs by ecological receptors. Given the complexity of quantifying environmental exposures to ENMs and the scarcity of toxicity data at the organism level

• for multiple categories, assuming that the NOAEC for the ENM in STIS is ≥610 mg/m3. For ENMs of group 4, further sub-grouping is required according to the degree of mobility in air (dustiness) and in physiological fluids (dispersibility), as well as on the uptake, biopersistence, and biodistribution

• , tissue, organ or organism as a proxy of pulmonary retention); uptake and biodistribution (e.g., evidence of alveolar uptake and subsequent distribution through the pulmonary system); and cellular (e.g., membrane damage including cationic phagolysosome damage, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS