Zero-valent Fe confined mesoporous silica nanocarriers (Fe(0) @ MCM-41) for targeting experimental orthotopic glioma in rats

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) impregnated with zero-valent Fe (Fe(0) @ MCM-41) represent an attractive nanocarrier system for drug delivery into tumor cells. The major goal of this work was to assess whether MSNs can penetrate the blood-brain barrier in a glioblastoma rat model. Synthesized MSNs nanomaterials were characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, measurements of X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. For the detection of the MSNs by MR and for biodistribution studies MSNs were labeled with zero-valent Fe. Subsequent magnetometry and nonlinear-longitudinal-response-M2 (NLR-M2) measurements confirmed the MR negative contrast enhancement properties of the nanoparticles. After incubation of different tumor (C6 glioma, U87 glioma, K562 erythroleukemia, HeLa cervix carcinoma) and normal cells such as fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) MSNs rapidly get internalized into the cytosol. Intracellular residing MSNs result in an enhanced cytotoxicity as Fe(0) @ MCM-41 promote the reactive oxygen species production. MRI and histological studies indicated an accumulation of intravenously injected Fe(0) @ MCM-41 MSNs in orthotopic C6 glioma model. Biodistribution studies with measurements of second harmonic of magnetization demonstrated an increased and dose-dependent retention of MSNs in tumor tissues. Taken together, this study demonstrates that MSNs can enter the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in tumorous tissues.

Magnetic phase transition and clustered state in Ca-doped lanthanum cobaltite and manganite with insulator ground states

The transport and magnetic properties (ac linear and nonlinear (second and third orders) susceptibilities) are presented for La0.8Ca0.2MnO3 and La0.8Ca0.2CoO3 single crystals with insulator ground states. The ferromagnetic (FM) clusters with similar magnetic characteristics originate in the paramagnetic phases of both compounds below some temperature T(∗). At high temperatures the FM clusters arise at the preferable sites that can be attributed to the chemical inhomogeneities, their density being weakly T-dependent. On cooling a homogeneous nucleation of the FM clusters develops below a definite temperature T(#) that is characterized by a fast growth of their density. These two stages are observed in both compounds. At the third stage a coalescence of the FM clusters starts in the doped cobaltite, whereas in the manganite the development of matrix FM ordering occurs which changes a cluster's behavior. The indicated features support the common nature of the cluster state in the doped cobaltite and manganite. The difference in their evolution is a consequence of the different magnetic properties of the matrices in the manganite and cobaltite.

Well-defined oxide core-polymer shell nanoparticles: interfacial interactions, peculiar dynamics, and transitions in polymer nanolayers

Interfacial interactions, chain dynamics, and glass and melting transitions were studied in well-defined core-shell nanoparticles with amorphous silica or crystalline alumina cores and noncrystallizable poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) or crystallizable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) shells. Varying particle composition caused regular changes in the shell thickness from 1 to 2 nm (monomolecular layer) up to 90 nm. Far- and mid-IR spectroscopy allowed us to register hydrogen bonding and, tentatively, Lewis/Brønsted (LB) interfacial interactions as well as changes in the dynamics and conformational state of the polymer chains as a function of the nanoshell thickness. Their most pronounced peculiarities were found for the monomolecular polymer layers. The LB interactions were stronger with the alumina substrate than silica. DSC analysis was performed, and the data obtained were in agreement with the spectroscopic data. Unlike the bulk polymer, the PVP monolayer was characterized with an extraordinarily large dynamic heterogeneity within the glass transition while broadening the transition range and varying the activation energy by an order of magnitude. The PEG monolayer adsorbed on silica was totally amorphous, whereas a highly crystalline one with the anomalously thin lamellae, down to 3 nm thick, was adsorbed on an alumina surface, presumably as a result of the quasi-heteroepitaxial crystallization process.

Slowing heavy, ground-state molecules using an alternating gradient decelerator

We have decelerated a supersonic beam of 174YbF molecules using a switched sequence of electrostatic field gradients. These molecules are 7 times heavier than any previously decelerated. An alternating gradient structure allows us to decelerate and focus the molecules in their ground state. We show that the decelerator exhibits the axial and transverse stability required to bring the molecules to rest. Our work significantly extends the range of molecules amenable to this powerful method of cooling and trapping.

[Cosmetic results of posttraumatic eyeball subatrophy surgical treatment using "alloplant" biomaterials with subsequent use of prostheses]

A complex of surgical operations making use of Alloplant biomaterials, performed in 47 patients with initial posttraumatic subatrophy and 79 patients with well-developed and far advanced stages of this condition, helped preserve the eye as anatomical organ in 97.5% patients, with enlargement of the eyeball in two-thirds of patients and stabilization in one-third. Optic reconstructive operations were later performed and visual acuity improved in patients with the initial stage of subatrophy. Use of allotransplant for eyeball bandage in order to create a carcass for the sclera helped conceal the cicatricial deformation of the sclera and repair the shape and volume of the eyeball in patients with initial subatrophy, due to which a good cosmetic result was attained. In well-developed and far advanced subatrophy use of biomaterial for bandage created optimal conditions for thin-wall cosmetic prostheses, ruled out the irritating effect of the prosthesis in cases when corneal sensitivity was retained and/or there were coarse corneaoscleral cicatrices, and thus extended the indications for cosmetic prostheses of subatrophic eyes.