Nanocomposite based on Gd2O3 nanoparticles and drug 5-fluorouracil as potential theranostic nano-cargo system

We have prepared silica matrix with hexagonal symmetry of pores (SBA-15) and loaded it with anticancer drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) to promote it as a drug delivery system. Gd2O3 nanoparticles were incorporated into the matrix to enhance nanosystems applicability as contrast agent for MRI, thus enabled this nanocomposite to be used as multifunctional nano-based therapeutic agent. Drug release profile was obtained by UV-VIS spectroscopy, and it indicates the prolongated release of 5-FU during the first hours and the total release after 5 h. The cytotoxicity tests using MTT-assay, fluorescent microscopy, bright-field microscopy, and flow cytometry were carried out using human glioma U87 MG cells and SK BR 3 cells. The nanocomposite with anticancer drug (Gd2O3/SBA-15/5FU) showed toxic behaviour towards studied cells, unlike nanocomposite without drug (Gd2O3/SBA-15) that was non-toxic. Our drug delivery system was designed to minimalize negative effect of Gd3+ ions at magnetic resonance imaging and drug 5-FU on healthy cells due to their encapsulation into biocompatible silica matrix, so the Gd3+ ions are more stable (in comparison to chelates), lower therapeutic dose of 5-FU is needed and its prolongated release from silica pores was confirmed. Very good T1 contrast in MR images was observed even at low concentrations, thus this nanosystem can be potentially used as contrast imaging agent.

Design of 3D printed stage for in situ magnetic field application in magnetic force microscopy

We propose a design of 3D printed magnetic stage that allows application of static magnetic fields during magnetic force microscopy measurements. The stage utilizes permanent magnets providing spatial homogeneous magnetic fields. The design, assembly, and installation are described. Numerical calculations of the field distribution are used to optimize the size of magnets and the spatial homogeneity of the field. The stage offers a compact and scalable design, which can be adapted as an accessory onto several commercially available magnetic force microscopy platforms. The stage's utility for in situ magnetic field application during magnetic force microscopy measurements is demonstrated on a sample of thin ferromagnetic strips.

The effect of magnetic coupling on magneto-caloric behaviour in two 3D Gd(iii)–glycolate coordination polymers

Two 3D Gd(iii)-based coordination polymers, [Gd(glc)(Hglc)(H₂O)]_n·nH₂O (1) and [Gd(Hglc)₃]_n (2) are reported. The MCE measurements indicate the weaker magnetic coupling in 2 produce a higher MCE than 1, especially at moderate fields (−ΔS_m,max = 41.1 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ and 24.8 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ for 1 and 2 respectively at ΔH = 3 T).

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of (acetato-κ²O,O')bis(5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-κ²N,N')nickel(II) perchlorate monohydrate

The title hydrated ionic complex, [Ni(CH3COO)(C12H12N2)2]ClO4·H2O or [Ni(ac)(5,5'-dmbpy)2]ClO4·H2O (where 5,5'-dmbpy is 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine and ac is acetate), (1), was isolated as violet crystals from the aqueous ethanolic nickel acetate-5,5'-dmbpy-KClO4 system. Within the complex cation, the Ni(II) atom is hexacoordinated by two chelating 5,5'-dmbpy ligands and one chelating ac ligand. The mean Ni-N and Ni-O bond lengths are 2.0628 (17) and 2.1341 (15) Å, respectively. The water solvent molecule is disordered over two partially occupied positions and links two complex cations and two perchlorate anions into hydrogen-bonded centrosymmetric dimers, which are further connected by π-π interactions. The magnetic properties of (1) at low temperatures are governed by the action of single-ion anisotropy, D, which arises from the reduced local symmetry of the cis-NiO2N4 chromophore. The fitting of the variable-temperature magnetic data (2-300 K) gives g(iso) = 2.134 and D/hc = 3.13 cm(-1).

Multiple-timescale relaxation dynamics in CsGd(MoO4)2--a dipolar magnet with a highly anisotropic layered crystal structure

The dynamic properties of the dipolar magnet CsGd(MoO4)2 have been studied. The frequency and temperature dependence of the AC susceptibility investigated in the paramagnetic region above 2 K revealed the co-existence of magnetic field induced slow and fast relaxation channels with a timescale differing by three orders of magnitude. The slow relaxation is determined by the properties of the first coordination sphere of the Gd(3+) ion and has the character of a two-phonon Orbach process. The fast relaxation is potentially attributed to a two-phonon Raman process realized via a localized phonon mode associated with the layered crystal structure. The temperature dependence of the phonon mean free path in zero magnetic field indicates significant phonon scattering below 1 K resulting from the combined effect of magnetic correlations and the scattering of dominant phonons with energies corresponding to the crystal-field levels.

Slow spin relaxation induced by magnetic field in [NdCo(bpdo)(H2O)4(CN)6]⋅3H2O

We report on a comprehensive investigation of the magnetic properties of [NdCo(bpdo)(H2O)4(CN)6]⋅3H2O (bpdo=4, 4'-bipyridine-N,N'-dioxide) by use of electron paramagnetic resonance, magnetization, specific heat and susceptibility measurements. The studied material was identified as a magnet with an effective spin S = 1/2 and a weak exchange interaction J/kB = 25 mK. The ac susceptibility studies conducted at audio frequencies and at temperatures from 1.8 to 9 K revealed that the application of a static magnetic field induces a slow spin relaxation. It is suggested that the relaxation in the magnetic field appears due to an Orbach-like process between the two lowest doublet energy states of the magnetic Nd(3+) ion. The appearance of the slow relaxation in a magnetic field cannot be associated with a resonant phonon trapping. The obtained results suggest that the relaxation is influenced by nuclear spin driven quantum tunnelling which is suppressed by external magnetic field.

Magnetic order in hybrid frustrated magnets Gd(2-x)Tb(x)Ti2O7 (x = 0.2 and 0.5)

We report on the specific heat, magnetization and ac susceptibility measurements of single crystals of hybrid frustrated magnets Gd(1.8)Tb(0.2)Ti(2)O(7) and Gd(1.5)Tb(0.5)Ti(2)O(7). The analysis of experimental data revealed that, although partial replacing of the Gd(3+) ions by the Tb(3+) ions in the Gd(2)Ti(2)O(7) host lattice slightly enhances antiferromagnetic coupling, as inferred from the evolution of the paramagnetic Curie-Weiss temperature, the ordering temperature gradually decreases. Paramagnetic correlations introduced by the Tb(3+) ions cause this perturbation, altering the effective further neighbor interactions and destabilizing the ground state in Gd(2)Ti(2)O(7). In addition, the low-energy states of Gd(2-x)Tb(x)Ti(2)O(7) are suggested to possess a nature different from those in parent members Tb(2)Ti(2)O(7) and Gd(2)Ti(2)O(7). Finally, the frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility behavior in Gd(1.5)Tb(0.5)Ti(2)O(7) is consistent with the formation of a spin-glass-like state indicating a pronounced slowing down of the dynamical response of the studied hybrid magnets.