1H spin–lattice relaxation in water solution of 209Bi counterparts of Gd3+contrast agents

Development of a nanoscale electroless plating procedure for bismuth and its application in template-assisted nanotube fabrication

Electroless plating is a versatile technique for the facile and controlled synthesis of metallic thin films and nanostructures. While there are numerous known procedures involving transition metals, reports on the electroless plating of post-transition metals are particularly rare, even without considering specific nanofabrication requirements. In this work we outline the development of a remarkably stable electroless plating bath for nanoscale bismuth coatings, based on the reduction of Bi–EDTA by borane dimethylamine. Its suitability for nanostructure fabrication is showcased by coating ion-track etched polycarbonate membranes, creating Bi tubes with sub-micron diameters in the process. This procedure could be particularly useful for the development and improvement of high surface-area Bi based catalysts and heavy metal sensors.

We outline the development of a remarkably stable electroless bismuth plating bath. Its nanofabrication potential is showcased by coating ion-track etched polymer membranes, enabling the synthesis of sub-micron diameter bismuth tubes.

Mechanism of Water Dynamics in Hyaluronic Dermal Fillers Revealed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry

1 H spin-lattice nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation experiments were performed for five kinds of dermal fillers based on hyaluronic acid. The relaxation data were collected over a broad frequency range between 4 kHz and 40 MHz, at body temperature. Thanks to the frequency range encompassing four orders of magnitude, the dynamics of water confined in the polymeric matrix was revealed. It is demonstrated that translation diffusion of the confined water molecules exhibits a two-dimensional character and the diffusion process is slower than diffusion in bulk water by 3-4 orders of magnitude. As far as rotational dynamics of the confined water is concerned, it is shown that in all cases there is a water pool characterized by a rotational correlation time of about 4×10-9  s. In some of the dermal fillers a fraction of the confined water (about 10 %) forms a pool that exhibits considerably slower (by an order of magnitude) rotational dynamics. In addition, the water binding capacity of the dermal fillers was quantitatively compared.