The Antimicrobial Potency of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Melissa officinalis Extract

Melissa officinalis is an important medicinal plant that is used and studied intensively due to its numerous pharmacological effects. This plant has numerous active compounds with biomedical potential; some are volatile, while others are sensitive to heat or oxygen. Therefore, to increase stability and prolong biological activities, the natural extract can be loaded into various nanostructured systems. In this study, different loading systems were obtained from mesoporous silica, like Mobile Composition of Matter family (MCM) with a hexagonal (MCM-41) or cubic (MCM-48) pore structure, simple or functionalized with amino groups (using 3-aminopropyl) such as triethoxysilane (APTES). Thus, the four materials were characterized from morphological and structural points of view by scanning electron microscopy, a BET analysis with adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and a thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry. Natural extract from Melissa officinalis was concentrated and analyzed by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography to identify the polyphenolic compounds. The obtained materials were tested against Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts and against both reference strains and clinical strains belonging to Gram-positive bacteria that were previously isolated from intra-hospital infections. The highest antimicrobial efficiency was found against Gram-positive and fungal strains. Good activity was also recorded against methicillin-resistant S. aureus, the Melissa officinalis extract inhibiting the production of various virulence factors.

Augmentin loaded functionalized halloysite nanotubes: A sustainable emerging nanocarriers for biomedical applications

Clay minerals such as Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), abundantly available green nanomaterial, exhibit a significant advantage in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, antibacterial and antimicrobials, tissue engineering or regeneration, etc. Because of the mesoporous structure and high absorbability, HNTs exhibit great potential as a nanocarrier in drug delivery applications. The sulfuric acid treatment enhances the surface area of the HNTs and thereby improves their drug-loading capacity by enlarging their lumen space/inner diameter. In the present investigation, based on the literature that supports the efficacy of drug loading after acid treatment, a dual treatment was performed to functionalize the HNTs surface. First, the HNTs were etched and functionalized using sulfuric acid. The acid-functionalized HNTs underwent another treatment using (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) to better interact the drug molecules with the HNTs surfaces for efficient drug loading. Augmentin, a potential drug molecule of the penicillin group, was used for HNTs loading, and their antibacterial properties, cytotoxicity, and cumulative drug release (%) were evaluated. Different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FT-IR), confirm the loading of Augmentin to the APTES@Acid HNTs. TEM images confirm the effective loading of the drug molecule with the HNTs. The drug encapsulation efficiency shows 40.89%, as confirmed by the Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Also, the Augmentin-loaded APTES@Acid HNTs exhibited good antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus and low cytotoxicity, as confirmed by the MTT assay. The drug release studies confirmed the sustainable release of Augmentin from the APTES@Acid HNTs. Hence, the treated HNTs can be considered as a potential nanocarrier for effectively delivering Augmentin and promoting enhanced therapeutic benefits.

The Role of APTES as a Primer for Polystyrene Coated AA2024-T3

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) silane possesses one terminal amine group and three ethoxy groups extending from each silicon atom, acting as a crucial interface between organic and inorganic materials. In this study, after APTES was deposited on the aluminum alloy AA2024-T3 as a primer for an optional top coating with polystyrene (PS), its role with regard to stability as a protection layer and interaction with the topcoat were studied via combinatorial experimentation. The aluminum alloy samples primed with APTES under various durations of concentrated vapor deposition (20, 40, or 60 min) with an optional post heat treatment and/or PS topcoat were comparatively characterized via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and surface energy. The samples top-coated with PS on an APTES layer primed for 40 min with a post heat treatment revealed excellent performance regarding corrosion impedance. A primed APTES surface with higher surface energy accounted for this higher corrosion impedance. Based on the SEM images and the surface energy calculated from the measured contact angles on the APTES-primed surfaces, four mechanisms are suggested to explain that the good protection performance of the APTES/PS coating system can be attributed to the enhanced wettability of PS on the cured APTES primer with higher surface energy. The results also suggest that, in the early stages of exposure to the corrosion solution, a thinner APTES primer (deposited for 20 min) enhances protection against corrosion, which can be attributed to the hydrolytic stability and hydrolyzation/condensation of the soaked APTES and the dissolution of the naturally formed aluminum oxide pre-existing in the bare samples. An APTES primer subjected to additional heat treatment will increase the impedance of the coating system significantly. APTES, and silanes, in general, used as adherent agents or surface modifiers, have a wide range of potential applications in micro devices, as projected in the Discussion section.

Extraction of heavy metals from wastewater using amine-modified mesoporous silica

Presence of heavy metals in wastewater is a critical environmental issue, and efficient extraction of the metals remains a challenging task. In this study, the adsorption behavior of Ce(III), Hg(II), and Cu(II) metal ions using MCM-48 material modified with acid and base functional groups was examined. The modified materials were characterized using various techniques, including XRD, BET, FT-IR, NMR, and SEM, which revealed that the materials' properties remained unchanged after modification. The adsorption capacity of the modified materials for metal ions was then evaluated and was found that the amine-modified MCM-48 material exhibited the highest adsorption efficiency. Precisely, the amine-modified material achieved an adsorption capacity of 97% for Ce(III), 98% for Hg(II), and 90% for Cu(II) after 180 min of adsorption. These results highlight the effectiveness of amine functionalization in enhancing the adsorption capacity of silica material for heavy metals.

A Multifunctional Polyethylene Glycol/Triethoxysilane-Modified Polyurethane Foam Dressing with High Absorbency and Antiadhesion Properties Promotes Diabetic Wound Healing

The delayed healing of chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), is a clinical problem. Few dressings can promote wound healing by satisfying the demands of chronic wound exudate management and tissue granulation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to prepare a high-absorption polyurethane (PU) foam dressing modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and triethoxysilane (APTES) to promote wound healing. PEG-modified (PUE) and PEG/APTES-modified (PUESi) dressings were prepared by self-foaming reactions. Gauze and PolyMem were used as controls. Next, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, thermomechanical analyses, scanning electron microscopy and tensile strength, water absorption, anti-protein absorption, surface dryness and biocompatibility tests were performed for in vitro characterization. Wound healing effects were further investigated in nondiabetic (non-DM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) rat models. The PUE and PUESi groups exhibited better physicochemical properties than the gauze and PolyMem groups. Moreover, PUESi dressing showed better anti-adhesion properties and absorption capacity with deformation. Furthermore, the PUESi dressing shortened the inflammatory phase and enhanced collagen deposition in both the non-DM and DM animal models. To conclude, the PUESi dressing not only was fabricated with a simple and effective strategy but also enhanced wound healing via micronegative-pressure generation by its high absorption compacity with deformation.

Design of a 3D Amino-Functionalized Rice Husk Ash Nano-Silica/Chitosan/Alginate Composite as Support for Laccase Immobilization

Recycling of agro-industrial waste is one of the major issues addressed in recent years aimed at obtaining products with high added value as a future alternative to traditional ones in the per-spective of a bio-based and circular economy. One of the most produced wastes is rice husk and it is particularly interesting because it is very rich in silica, a material with a high intrinsic value. In the present study, a method to extract silica from rice husk ash (RHA) and to use it as a carrier for the immobilization of laccase from Trametes versicolor was developed. The obtained mesoporous nano-silica was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, Scanning Elec-tron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). A nano-silica purity of about 100% was found. Nano-silica was then introduced in a cross-linked chitosan/alginate scaffold to make it more easily recoverable after reuse. To favor laccase immobilization into the composite scaffold, functionalization of the nano-silica with (γ-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) was performed. The APTES/RHA nano-silica/chitosan/alginate (ARCA) composite al-lowed to obtain under mild conditions (pH 7, room temperature, 1.5 h reaction time) a robust and easily reusable solid biocatalyst with 3.8 U/g of immobilized enzyme which maintained 50% of its activity after six reuses. The biocatalytic system, tested for syringic acid bioremediation, was able to totally oxidize the contaminant in 24 h.

Evaluation of the impact of alkyl silane entity (APTES) on photocatalyst (TiO2) and their photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds for environmental remediation

Environmental pollution by diverse organic pollutants is a serious issue facing humanity, and the scientific community is working hard to find a solution to climatic change due to pollution. Along the same lines, we have tried to find a material/method which is economical and less laborious for achieving the same desired objectives. In this work, the surface modification of titanium dioxide to be used as a photocatalyst was carried out with different concentrations of alkyl silane agent APTES (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) and studied their impact on the degradation of representative compound, i.e., methylene blue. The surface-modified TiO₂-APTES nanoparticles were obtained via the solvothermal process. The APTES in different molar (0.21-0.41 M) concentrations was obtained by dissolving APTES in ethanol. The obtained samples were characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was inferred from the degradation ability of functionalized nanoparticles for methylene blue and evaluated by UV-visible spectroscopy. Our results demonstrated a significant 70% degradation rate of methylene blue.

Hemocompatible Functionalized Hydrogen Substituted Graphdiyne Based Highly Durable Biosensor for Liver Cancer Detection

Present work focuses on the development of a highly durable biosensor for liver cancer (LC) biomarker (Annexin A2; ANXA2) detection. In this work, we have modified hydrogen substituted graphdiyne (HsGDY) using an organofunctional silane [3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES)], leveraging the opposite surface polarities on HsGDY and APTES to fabricate a highly hemocompatible functionalized nanomaterial matrix. The high hemocompatibility of APTES functionalized HsGDY (APTES/HsGDY) allows long-term stabilized immobilization of antibodies in their native state, hence increasing the durability of the biosensor. The biosensor was fabricated using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of APTES/HsGDY onto an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate at 40% lower DC potential than nonfunctionalized HsGDY with successive immobilization of monoclonal antibodies of ANXA2 (anti-ANXA2) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The synthesized nanomaterials and fabricated electrodes were investigated using a zetasizer and spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry) techniques. The developed immunosensor (BSA/anti-ANXA2/APTES/HsGDY/ITO) could detect ANXA2 in a linear detection range from 100 fg mL^-1 to 100 ng mL^-1 with a lower detection limit of 100 fg mL^-1. The biosensor demonstrated excellent storage stability of 63 days along with high accuracy toward detection of ANXA2 in serum samples of LC patients as validated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Bright, small sizes and hydro-dispersive NIR persistent luminescence nanoparticles modified with Si and amino groups for enhanced bioimaging

Near-infrared (NIR) persistent luminescence nanoparticles (PLNPs) with high brightness, small sizes, good hydro-dispersivity, and intrinsic surface-functional groups are desirable in biological applications. In this work, Cr³⁺-doped zinc gallogermanates Zn_1+xGa_2-2xGe_xO₄:Cr (ZGGC) PLNPs were hydrothermally synthesized via 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as an additive, or APTES and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as two co-additives. Addition of APTES not only dramatically enhances the 696 nm NIR luminescence intensity, but also obviously decreases the particle size and introduces amino groups. In particular, thex= 0.1 series ZGGC (ZGGC_0.1) with the addition of n moles equivalent APTES (ZGGC_0.1-nA) had smaller particle sizes than thex= 0.2 counterpart (ZGGC_0.2-nA). The NIR afterglow intensities increased with the APTES introduction. The ZGGC_0.2-2.5A sample (also named as ZGGC, Si, -NH₂) exhibited maximum luminescence intensities both in solid and aqueous states. With APTES, Si atom is doped and -NH₂groups are modified, the trap depth and density become larger, and the afterglow intensities and decay time are significantly enhanced. More notably, co-addition of CTAB (ZGGC_0.2-2.5A-C) (also named as ZGGC, Si, -NH₂') further enhances hydro-dispersivity and luminescence intensity, decreases particle sizes, and results in more prominent amino groups. The trap density is drastically higher than that without CTAB (i.e. ZGGC_0.2-2.5A). Change of Cr³⁺microenvironment in the crystal and more defects introduction contribute to the enhanced brightness. As expected, the ZGGC,Si,-NH₂' PLNPs possess excellent biocompatibility, deep tissue penetration and distinguished bioimaging properties, and rechargeability with orange LED light. The ZGGC,Si,-NH₂' PLNPs should provide to be an excellent nanomaterial for various functionalization and bioimaging applications.

epidermidis Using APTES-Modified TiO2

The presented work shows the antibacterial activity of TiO₂ photocatalysts modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The APTES-functionalized TiO₂ samples were obtained by the solvothermal process followed by calcination. The antibacterial activity of APTES/TiO₂ samples was evaluated with two species of bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, under artificial solar light (ASL) irradiation. The used bacteria are model organisms characterized by negative zeta potential (approx. -44.2 mV for E. coli and -42.3 mV for S. epidermidis). For the first time, the antibacterial properties of APTES-functionalized TiO₂ were evaluated against mono- and co-cultured bacteria. The high antibacterial properties characterized the obtained APTES-modified nanomaterials. The best antibacterial properties were presented in the TiO₂-4 h-120 °C-300 mM-Ar-300 °C sample (modified with 300 mM of APTES and calcined at 300 °C). The improvement of the antibacterial properties was attributed to a positive value of zeta potential, high surface area, and porous volume.

Amine Functionalized Gadolinium Oxide Nanoparticles-Based Electrochemical Immunosensor for Cholera

Herein, we report the synthesis and functionalization of gadolinium oxide nanoparticles (Gd₂O₃ NPs) to fabricate a highly efficient immunosensor for the detection of Vibrio cholera toxin (CT). Gd₂O₃ NPs were produced in a straightforward manner utilizing the microwave irradiation technique using a domestic microwave oven. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the structural and physical aspects of Gd₂O₃ NPs. The Gd₂O₃ NPs were then functionalized with 3-(Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and electrophoretically deposited onto an ITO-coated glass substrate. The anti-CT monoclonal antibodies were covalently attached to the APTES-Gd₂O₃/ITO electrode via EDC-NHS chemistry, followed by bovine serum albumin (BSA). For CT detection, electrochemical response experiments using BSA/anti-CT/APTES-Gd₂O₃/ITO immunoelectrodes were carried out (5-700 ng mL^-1). The immunoelectrode demonstrated an outstanding electrochemical reaction against CT, with a sensitivity of 8.37 mA ng^-1 mL cm^-2 and a detection limit of 1.48 ng mL^-1.

Review: 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) Deposition Methods on Oxide Surfaces in Solution and Vapor Phases for Biosensing Applications

Surface functionalization and bioreceptor immobilization are critical processes in developing a highly sensitive and selective biosensor. The silanization process with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) on oxide surfaces is frequently used for surface functionalization because of beneficial characteristics such as its bifunctional nature and low cost. Optimizing the deposition process of the APTES layer to obtain a monolayer is crucial to having a stable surface and effectively immobilizing the bioreceptors, which leads to the improved repeatability and sensitivity of the biosensor. This review provides an overview of APTES deposition methods, categorized into the solution-phase and vapor-phase, and a comprehensive summary and guide for creating stable APTES monolayers on oxide surfaces for biosensing applications. A brief explanation of APTES is introduced, and the APTES deposition methods with their pre/post-treatments and characterization results are discussed. Lastly, APTES deposition methods on nanoparticles used for biosensors are briefly described.

Silanization of 3D-Printed Silica Fibers and Monoliths

Surface functionalization of complex three-dimensional (3D) porous architectures has not been widely investigated despite their potential in different application domains. In this work, silanization was performed in silica 3D-printed porous structures, and the homogeneity of functional groups within the architecture was investigated by comparing the extent of the functionalization in the walls and core of the monolith. A silica ink was used for direct ink writing (DIW) to shape fibers and monoliths with different architectures and stacking designs. The surfaces of the fibers and monoliths were functionalized with 3-aminopropyl(triethoxysilane) (APTES) using different reaction conditions. The nature of the functional groups on the surface and the presence of RSiO_1.5 bonds were identified by solid-state ¹³C-NMR, ²⁹Si-NMR, and by ξ-potential measurements. Elemental analysis was used to quantify the concentration of bonded APTES in the core and walls of the monolith. The availability and hydrolytic stability of the introduced amine group on fibers were evaluated using the adsorption of PdCl₄^2- ions within the pH range of 2-5. The study found that geometries with interfiber distances above 250 μm are homogeneously functionalized with amine groups. As the interfiber distance of the monolith decreases, a significantly lower density of amine groups is detected in the core of the monolith. The determination of the homogeneity of 3D-printed monoliths makes this work relevant as it provides the limits of functionalization carried out in stirred batch reactors for geometrically defined structures produced from a 3D-printing process.

Cenospheres-Reinforced PA-12 Composite: Preparation, Physicochemical Properties, and Soaking Tests

The main aim of this research was the preparation of a polymer–ceramic composite with PA-12 as the polymer matrix and modified aluminosilicate cenospheres (CSs) as the ceramic filler. The CSs were subjected to an early purification and cleaning process, which was also taken as a second objective. The CSs were surface modified by a two-step process: (1) etching in Piranha solution and (2) silanization in 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The composite was made for 3D printing by FDM. Raw and modified CSs and a composite with PA-12 were subjected to the following tests: surface development including pores (BET), real density (HP), chemical composition and morphology (SEM/EDS, FTIR), grain analysis (PSD), phase composition (XRD), hardness (HV), and static tensile tests. The composites were subjected to soaking under simulated body fluid (SBF) conditions in artificial saliva for 14, 21, and 29 days. Compared to pure PA-12, PA-12_CS had generally better mechanical properties and was more resistant to SBF at elevated temperatures and soaking times. These results showed this material has potential for use in biomedical applications. These results also showed the necessity of developing a kinetic aging model for aging in different liquids to verify the true value of this material.

Room-Temperature Synthesis of Air-Stable Near-Infrared Emission in FAPbI3 Nanoparticles Embedded in Silica

Hybrid organic-inorganic and all-inorganic metal halide perovskite nanoparticles (PNPs) have shown their excellent characteristics for optoelectronic applications. We report an atmospheric process to embed formamidinium CH(NH2)2PbI3 (FAPbI3) PNPs in silica protective layer at room temperature (approximately 26 °C) employing (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES). The resulting perovskite nanocomposite (PNCs) achieved a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield of 58.0% and good stability under atmospheric moisture conditions. Moreover, the PNCs showed high PL intensity over 1 month of storage (approximately 26 °C) and more than 380 min of PNCs solutions in DI water. The studied near-infrared (NIR) light-emitting diode (LED) combined a NIR-emitting PNCs coating and a blue InGaN-based chip that exhibited a 788 nm electroluminescence spectrum of NIR-LEDs under 2.6 V. This may be a powerful tool to track of muscle and disabled patients in the detection of a blood vessel.

Styrenated Oil Synthesis with Cyclic Carbonate Functional Groups on Polystyrene Segment

In this study, an oil-modified copolymer of 4-[(prop-2-en-1-yloxy)methyl]-1,3-dioxolan- 2-one (AGC) with styrene was synthesized, and the resulting copolymer (OBMI-St-AGC) was silane functionalized by inserting (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) into the polymer backbone. OBMI-St-AGC was prepared by using an oil-based macroinitiator (OBMI) obtained by the esterification of linseed oil partial glycerides (PGs) with 4,4-azobis-4-cyanopentanoyl chloride (ACPC). In the characterization, FTIR, ¹H NMR, TGA, and DSC analyses were applied. The silane-functionalized copolymer (OBMI-St-AGC-APTES) was crosslinked through the sol-gel process, and its crosslinked structure was determined.

A Simple, Rapid and Low-cost 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)-based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for TNT Explosive Detection

In this study, a simple, one-step organic molecule 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) functionalized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor was developed. APTES as an organic ligand immobilized on the SPR sensor chip was used to form the Meisenheimer complex with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). The results of using the APTES-based SPR sensor chip show a highly selective and sensitive (ppb level: parts per billion) detection of TNT explosive. The sensor is expected to have potential for application in the fast screening of the TNT explosive.

Surface Minimal Bactericidal Concentration: A comparative study of active glasses functionalized with different-sized silver nanoparticles

In this work the quantification of antimicrobial properties of differently sized AgNPs immobilized on a surface was studied. Three different sizes of spheroidal AgNPs with a diameter of (6, 30 and 52) nm were synthetized and characterized with UV-vis, SEM, TEM and ICP-MS. The MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration) against Escherichia coli were investigated. Then, the antibacterial efficacy (R) of amino-silanized glasses coated with different amounts of the three sizes of AgNPs were quantified by international standard ISO 22196 adapted protocol against E. coli, clarifying the relationship between size and antibacterial properties of immobilized AgNPs on a surface. The total amount of silver present on glasses with an R ∼ 6 for each AgNPs size was quantified with ICP-MS and this was considered the Surface MBC (SMBC), which were found to be (0.023, 0.026 and 0.034) μg/cm² for (6, 30 and 52) nm AgNPs, respectively. Thus, this study demonstrates that active surfaces with a bactericidal effect at least ≥ 99.9999 % could be obtained using an amount of silver almost 100 times lower than the MBC found for colloidal AgNPs. The immobilization reduces the aggregation phenomena normally occuring in liquid media, maximizing the exposed specific superficial area of the AgNPs and their direct contact with bacterial cells. Starting from this glass model system, our work could broaden the way to the development of a wide range of antibacterial materials with very low amount of silver that can be safely applied in biomedical and food packaging fields.

Optimizing glass-ceramic bonding incorporating new silane technology in an experimental universal adhesive formulation

OBJECTIVE

Incorporating silane-coupling agent into universal adhesives (UAs) to simplify adhesive luting of glass-ceramic restorations appeared ineffective due to silane's instability in an acidic aqueous solution. This study aimed to evaluate new silane technology added to an experimental UA to be bonded to glass ceramics without separate prior silanization.

METHODS

Combined silane technology, consisting of 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and γ-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane (γMPTES), was incorporated into an experimental UA formulation, being referred to as ADH-XTE (3M Oral Care). Immediate and aged shear bond strength (SBS) of ADH-XTE onto as-milled ('AM'), tribochemical silica-coated ('TSC'), HF-etched ('HF'), and mirror-polished ('MP') glass-ceramic CAD/CAM blocks (IPS e.max CAD) with/without separate silanization was measured (n = 10/group). The control adhesives included Scotchbond Universal ('SBU') and Scotchbond 1 XT ('SB1-XT'). The glass-ceramic surface topography and the fractography of the SBS-debonded specimens were observed by SEM.

RESULTS

Without separate prior silanization, the experimental UA ADH-XTE, containing combined APTES/γMPTES silane technology, significantly outperformed the glass-ceramic bonding efficiency of its silane-containing SBU precursor, while it performed equally effective as SBU applied with prior silanization. Upon aging, significant reduction in SBS was recorded when ADH-XTE was bonded to TSC glass-ceramic surfaces (p < 0.05), while not to HF ones. Notably, the lowest SBS was obtained when the UAs were bonded to AM and MP glass-ceramic surfaces, in particular when applied without separate prior silanization (p < 0.05).

SIGNIFICANCE

The glass-ceramic bonding capacity of the new combined APTES/γMPTES silane-containing UA ADH-XTE surpassed that of its SBU precursor. HF etching remains needed to durably bond to glass-ceramics.

Comparison of Structure and Adsorption Properties of Mesoporous Silica Functionalized with Aminopropyl Groups by the Co-Condensation and the Post Grafting Methods

The adsorptive potential has been evaluated for the aminopropyl functionalized mesoporous silica materials obtained by co-condensation and post grafting methods. Nitrogen sorption, small angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS and SAXS) demonstrated high surface area and well-ordered hexagonal pore structure suitable for applications as adsorbents of metals from waste waters. A comparison of Cr(VI) adsorption properties of the materials prepared by different functionalization methods has been performed. The obtained results demonstrated the adsorption capacity due to the affinity of the chromium ions to the amino groups, and showed that co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) resulted in higher metal sorption capacity of the materials compared to post-synthesis grafting of aminopropyl groups onto the mesoporous silica particles.

Water management improvement in PEM fuel cells via addition of PDMS or APTES polymers to the catalyst layer

Water management is one of the obstacles in the development and commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Sufficient humidification of the membrane directly affects the PEM fuel cell performance. Therefore, 2 different hydrophobic polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), were tested at different percentages (5, 10, and 20 wt.%) in the catalyst layer. The solution was loaded onto the surface of a 25 BC gas diffusion layer (GDL) via the spraying method. The performance of the obtained fuel cells was compared with the performance of the commercial catalyst. Characterizations of each surface, including different amounts of PDMS and APTES, were performed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. Molecular bond characterization was examined via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and surface hydrophobicity was measured via contact angle measurements. The performance of the fuel cells was evaluated at the PEM fuel cell test station and the 2 hydrophobic polymers were compared. Surfaces containing APTES were found to be more hydrophobic. Fuel cells with PDMS performed better when compared to those with APTES. Fuel cells with 5wt.% APTES with a current density of 321.31 mA/cm ² and power density of 0.191 W/cm ² , and 10wt.% PDMS with a current density of 344.52 mA/cm ² and power density of 0.205 W/cm ² were the best performing fuel cells at 0.6V.

Green synthesis of reusable super-paramagnetic diatomite for aqueous nickel (II) removal

Adsorption is an effective method for treating wastewater containing nickel due to its minimal equipment requirements and flexible operation. Therefore, an environmental friendly, inexpensive, efficient and recyclable adsorbent is needed. In this work, a reusable dual-functional super-paramagnetic adsorbent was prepared by combining APTES (3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane) and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium) with magnetic diatomite for the removal of Ni²⁺. It is named diatomite/CoFe₂O₄@APTES-EDTA (DECFASEs). The synthetic material was characterized and studied by XRD (X-ray Powder Diffractometer), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope), EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectrometer), VSM (Vibrating-Sample Magnetometer), BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) method, Zeta potential analyzer and XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy), respectively. The performance of adsorption Ni²⁺ by DECFASEs was studied on effect of pH, reaction time and initial concentrations. The adsorption and desorption capacity and recyclability of the adsorbent material were estimated. A adsorption kinetic data had a significant correlation with the pseudo second-order kinetic and also adsorption isotherm data corresponded well with Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent material was 19.22 mg/g. The Ni²⁺ adsorption capacity of DECFASEs decreased slightly from 9.11 to 8.25 mg/g after 4 recycles. The XPS results of DECFASEs before and after Ni²⁺ uptake showed N and O participated in the complexation of Ni²⁺ in the adsorption process, which verified the chemical interaction between Ni²⁺ and DECFASEs. Modified-diatomite is a promising adsorbent for aqueous Ni²⁺ removal.

Endothelialization of PDMS-based microfluidic devices under high shear stress conditions

Microfluidic systems made out of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) offer a platform to mimic vascular flow conditions in model systems at well-defined shear stresses. However, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are physisorbed on the PDMS are not reliably attached under high shear stress conditions, which makes long-term experiments difficult. To overcome this limitation, we functionalized PDMS surfaces with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) by using different surface activation methods to develop a stable linkage between the PDMS surface and collagen, which served as a model ECM protein. The stability of the protein coating inside the microfluidic devices was evaluated in perfusion experiments with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 10-40 dynes/cm² wall shear stress. To assess the stability of cell adhesion, endothelial cells were grown in a multi-shear device over a shear stress range of 20-150 dynes/cm². Cells on the APTES-mediated collagen coating were stable over the entire shear stress range in PBS (pH 9) for 48 h. The results suggest that at high pH values, the electrostatic interaction between APTES-coated surfaces and collagen molecules offer a very promising tool to modify PDMS-based microfluidic devices for long-term endothelialization under high shear stress conditions.

Highly Stable Artificial Synapse Consisting of Low-Surface Defect van der Waals and Self-Assembled Materials

The long-term plasticity of biological synapses was successfully emulated in an artificial synapse fabricated by combining low-surface defect van der Waals (vdW) and self-assembled (SA) materials. The synaptic operation could be achieved by facilitating hole trapping and releasing only via the amine (NH₂) functional groups in 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, which consequently induced a gradual conductance change in the WSe₂ channel. The vdW-SA synaptic device exhibited extremely stable long-term potentiation/depression (LTP/LTD) characteristics; its dynamic range and nonlinearity reproduced near 100 and 3.13/-6.53 (for LTP/LTD) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 2%. Furthermore, after conducting training and recognition tasks for the Modified National Institute of Standard and Technology (MNIST) digit patterns, we verified that the maximum recognition rate was 78.3%, and especially, its RSD was as low as 0.32% over several training/recognition cycles. This study provides a background for future research on advanced artificial synapses based on vdW and organic materials.

Lipase From Rhizomucor miehei Immobilized on Magnetic Nanoparticles: Performance in Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester (FAEE) Optimized Production by the Taguchi Method

In this communication, it was evaluated the production of fatty acid ethyl ester (FAAE) from the free fatty acids of babassu oil catalyzed by lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (RML) immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) coated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), Fe₃O₄@APTES-RML or RML-MNP for short. MNPs were prepared by co-precipitation coated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and used as a support to immobilize RML (immobilization yield: 94.7 ± 1.0%; biocatalyst activity: 341.3 ± 1.2 U_p–NPB/g), which were also activated with glutaraldehyde and then used to immobilize RML (immobilization yield: 91.9 ± 0.2%; biocatalyst activity: 199.6 ± 3.5 U_p–NPB/g). RML-MNP was characterized by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD), Fourier Transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), proving the incorporation and immobilization of RML on the APTES matrix. In addition, the immobilized biocatalyst presented at 60°C a half-life 16–19 times greater than that of the soluble lipase in the pH range 5–10. RML and RML-MNP showed higher activity at pH 7; the immobilized enzyme was more active than the free enzyme in the pH range (5–10) analyzed. For the production of fatty acid ethyl ester, under optimal conditions [40°C, 6 h, 1:1 (FFAs/alcohol)] determined by the Taguchi method, it was possible to obtain conversion of 81.7 ± 0.7% using 5% of RML-MNP.

Impact of Silanization Parameters and Antibody Immobilization Strategy on Binding Capacity of Photonic Ring Resonators

Ring resonator-based biosensors have found widespread application as the transducing principle in “lab-on-a-chip” platforms due to their sensitivity, small size and support for multiplexed sensing. Their sensitivity is, however, not inherently selective towards biomarkers, and surface functionalization of the sensors is key in transforming the sensitivity to be specific for a particular biomarker. There is currently no consensus on process parameters for optimized functionalization of these sensors. Moreover, the procedures are typically optimized on flat silicon oxide substrates as test systems prior to applying the procedure to the actual sensor. Here we present what is, to our knowledge, the first comparison of optimization of silanization on flat silicon oxide substrates to results of protein capture on sensors where all parameters of two conjugation protocols are tested on both platforms. The conjugation protocols differed in the chosen silanization solvents and protein immobilization strategy. The data show that selection of acetic acid as the solvent in the silanization step generally yields a higher protein binding capacity for C-reactive protein (CRP) onto anti-CRP functionalized ring resonator sensors than using ethanol as the solvent. Furthermore, using the BS3 linker resulted in more consistent protein binding capacity across the silanization parameters tested. Overall, the data indicate that selection of parameters in the silanization and immobilization protocols harbor potential for improved biosensor binding capacity and should therefore be included as an essential part of the biosensor development process.

Optimization of sonochemical method of functionalizing Amino-Silane on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using Central Composite Design

Optimization of sonochemical method of functionalizing a Silane coupling agent, Amino-Silane on Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPION) using Central Composite Design is reported. The Amino-Silane is grafted on the SPION in an iced bath environment using a Vibra-Cell 20 kHz ultrasonic irradiator with 13 mm diameter horn. Throughout the experiment amplitude of the ultrasonic device is maintained at 47%. The percentage atomic compositions of various APTES elements which bind to the SPION due to the ultrasonic irradiation were determined using X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). The influence of ultrasonic irradiation time and amount of APTES required for facile, rapid and effective functionalization of Organo-metallic compound on SPION are optimized. The optimized sonication time and amount of APTES are 8.49 min and 3.40 ml, respectively. The predicted results were validated with experimental data. Using the optimized values APTES were functionalized on the SPION experimentally and the results were compared. The experimental results validate the predicted data. Results show that very minimum sonication time is required for effective grafting of APTES on SPION.

The Effect of Silica Fume and Organosilane Addition on the Porosity of Cement Paste

The present work systematically investigates the influence of silica fume and organosilane addition on the hydration dynamics and the capillary pore formation of a cement paste. The cement samples were prepared with two water-to-cement ratios with increasing amounts of silica fume and of (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) organosilane. Low-field ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation measurements were performed during the hydration of the samples and after hydration, in order to reveal the dynamics of water molecules and the pore distribution. Increasing concentrations of silica fume impact the perceived hydration dynamics through the addition of magnetic impurities to the pore solution. However, there is a systematic change in the capillary pore size distribution with an increase in silica fume concentration. The results also show that the addition of APTES majorly affects the hydration dynamics, by prolonging the dormancy and hardening stages. While it does not influence the pore size distribution of capillary pores, it prevents cyclohexane from saturating the capillary pores.

Engineering Biocompatible Interfaces via Combinations of Oxide Films and Organic Self-Assembled Monolayers

In this paper, we demonstrate that cell adhesion and neuron maturation can be guided by patterned oxide surfaces functionalized with organic molecular layers. It is shown that the difference in the surface potential of various oxides (SiO₂, Ta₂O₅, TiO₂, and Al₂O₃) can be increased by functionalization with a silane, (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane (APTES), which is deposited from the gas phase on the oxide. Furthermore, it seems that only physisorbed layers (no chemical binding) can be achieved for some oxides (Ta₂O₅ and TiO₂), whereas self-assembled monolayers (SAM) form on other oxides (SiO₂ and Al₂O₃). This does not only alter the surface potential but also affects the neuronal cell growth. The already high cell density on SiO₂ is increased further by the chemically bound APTES SAM, whereas the already low cell density on Ta₂O₅ is even further reduced by the physisorbed APTES layer. As a result, the cell density is ∼8 times greater on SiO₂ compared to Ta₂O₅, both coated with APTES. Furthermore, neurons form the typical networks on SiO₂, whereas they tend to cluster to form neurospheres on Ta₂O₅. Using lithographically patterned Ta₂O₅ layers on SiO₂ substrates functionalized with APTES, the guided growth can be transferred to complex patterns. Cell cultures and molecular layers can easily be removed, and the cell experiment can be repeated after functionalization of the patterned oxide surface with APTES. Thus, the combination of APTES-functionalized patterned oxides might offer a promising way of achieving guided neuronal growth on robust and reusable substrates.

Gold Nanoparticle Self-Aggregation on Surface with 1,6-Hexanedithiol Functionalization

Here we study the morphology and the optical properties of assemblies made of small (17 nm) gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) directly on silicon wafers coated with (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTES). We employed aliphatic 1,6-hexanedithiol (HDT) molecules to cross-link AuNPs during a two-stage precipitation procedure. The first immersion of the wafer in AuNP colloidal solution led mainly to the attachment of single particles with few inclusions of dimers and small aggregates. After the functionalization of precipitated NPs with HDT and after the second immersion in the colloidal solution of AuNP, we detected a sharp rise in the number of aggregates compared to single AuNPs and their dimers. The lateral size of the aggregates was about 100 nm, while some of them were larger than 1μm. We propose that the uncompensated dipole moment of the small aggregates appeared after the first precipitation and acts further as the driving force accelerating their further growth on the surface during the second precipitation. By having such inhomogeneous surface coating, the X-ray reciprocal space maps and modulation polarimetry showed well-distinguished signals from the single AuNPs and their dimers. From these observations, we concluded that the contribution from aggregated AuNPs does not hamper the detection and investigation of plasmonic effects for AuNP dimers. Meantime, using unpolarized and polarized light spectroscopy, the difference in the optical signals between the dimers, being formed because of self-aggregation and the one being cross-linked by means of HDT, was not detected.

Interfacial separation of concentrated dye mixtures from solution with environmentally compatible nitrogenous-silane nanoparticles modified with Helianthus annuus husk extract

The capacity of an adsorbent to bind and remove dye from solution greatly depends on the type of functionalization present on the nanoparticles surface, and its interaction with the dye molecules. Within this study, nitrogenous silane nanoparticles were hydrothermally synthesized resulting in the formation of rapid and highly efficient adsorbents for concentrated mixed dyes. The amorphous silane nanoparticles exhibited a monolayer based mechanism of mixed dye adsorption with removal capacities between 416.67 and 714.29 mg/g of adsorbent. Dye removal was predominantly due to the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged silane nanoparticles (13.22-8.20 mV) and the negatively charged dye molecules (-54.23 mV). Addition of H. annuus extract during synthesis resulted in three times the surface area and 10 times increased pore volume compared to the positive control. XPS analysis showed that silane treatments had various nitrogen containing functionalities at their surface responsible for binding dye. The weak colloidal stability of silane particles (13.22-8.20 mV) was disrupted following dye binding, resulting in their rapid coagulation and flocculation which facilitated the separation of bound dye molecules from solution. The suitability for environmental applications using these treatments was supported by a bacterial viability assay showing >90% cell viability in treated dye supernatants.

Ultrasound-Assisted Preparation of Chitosan/Nano-Activated Carbon Composite Beads Aminated with (3-Aminopropyl)Triethoxysilane for Adsorption of Acetaminophen from Aqueous Solutions

A composite chitosan/nano-activated carbon (CS-NAC) aminated by (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was prepared in the form of beads and applied for the removal of acetaminophen from aqueous solutions. NAC and APTES concentrations were optimized to obtain a suitable adsorbent structure for enhanced removal of the pharmaceutical. The aminated adsorbent (CS-NAC-APTES beads) prepared with 40% w/w NAC and 2% v/v APTES showed higher adsorption capacity (407.83 mg/g) than CS-NAC beads (278.4 mg/g). Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis demonstrated that the surface area of the CS-NAC-APTES beads was larger than that of CS-NAC beads (1.16 times). The adsorption process was well fitted by the Freundlich model (R² > 0.95), suggesting a multilayer adsorption. The kinetic study also substantiated that the pseudo-second-order model (R² > 0.98) was in better agreement with the experimental data. Finally, it was proved that the prepared beads can be recycled (by washing with NaOH solution) at least 5 times before detectable performance loss.

Surface Functionalization toward Biosensing via Free-Standing Si-OH Bonds on Nonoxidized Silicon Surfaces

Usually hydroxyl groups present on top of oxidized silicon served as binding centers for a silanization reaction toward surface functionalization. In this study, we developed a novel surface functionalization strategy where hydroxyl functionalization on nonoxidized silicon surfaces are obtained. These surfaces were stable for several weeks even in ambient air at room temperature. This high stability indicates a strong spatial isolation of the hydroxyl groups because they keenly tend to undergo a condensation reaction, forming silicon oxide. To prove the applicability of the obtained hydroxylated silicon surface, we further modified the hydroxyl groups with a commonly used silane molecule, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The functional amino groups of the APTES layer bonded to the surface were subsequently altered by N-maleoyl-β-alanin to generate a surface highly specific for the immobilization of thiol-containing biomolecules (like thiolated single-stranded DNA or cysteine-tagged proteins). All modification steps have been investigated by IR spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements.

Asparaginase conjugated magnetic nanoparticles used for reducing acrylamide formation in food model system

Acrylamide is a potent carcinogen and neurotoxin formed by the Maillard reaction when l-asparagine reacts with starch at high temperature. It is formed in food materials mainly deep fried and bakery products. Enzymatic pretreatment of these food products with asparaginase enzyme leads to reduction in acrylamide. However, enzymatic process is quite expensive due to high cost, low catalytic efficiency as well as problem with enzyme reusability. Present work deals with these problems by exploring l-asparaginase from Bacillus aryabhattai. Asparaginase enzyme was immobilized on APTES modified magnetic nanoparticles. It was found to be more than three-fold increase their thermal stability from free enzyme and retained 90% activity after fifth cycle. The immobilized enzyme also showed better affinity towards its substrate. During pretreatment of asparagine in a starch-asparagine food model system and it was clearly demonstrated that asparaginase nanoconjugates had reduced the formation of acrylamide by more than 90% within 30 min.

Enantiomeric separation of β-blockers and tryptophan using heparin as stationary and pseudostationary phases in capillary electrophoresis

The separation methods of the enantiomers of two β-blockers and tryptophan were studied using capillary electrochromatography with heparin covalently as well as non-covalently, bonded onto the capillary inner wall as stationary phase and electrokinetic chromatography with heparin as pseudostationary phase. In the case of heparin, used as a stationary phase, the method was unable to resolve enantiomers in both cases β-blockers and tryptophan. On the other hand, when heparin was used as a pseudostationary phase, the resolution of the enantiomers was obtained only with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane which were immobilised onto the inner phase of the capillary. The results of this study let us infer that the electrostatic, hydrophobic, and steric interactions were involved in the separation mechanisms. The separation was achieved in less than 10 minutes under the optimized conditions: 30 mM phosphate buffer (pH 2.5) with the adding of 15 mg/mL of heparin at 15°C and 10 kV. The usefulness of heparin as a chiral selector both in electrokinetic chromatography using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane attached to the capillary was demonstrated for the first time. The developed method was powerful, sensitive, and fast, and it could be considered an important alternative to conventional methods used for chiral separation.

Monolayer grafting of aminosilane on magnetic nanoparticles: An efficient approach for targeted drug delivery system

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with higher magnetization are highly desirable for targeted drug delivery (TDD) systems, as it helps accumulation of drug at the target site. However, functionalization of MNPs for drug binding reduces the magnetization which affects the efficacy of TDD. Herein we report direct functionalization of MNPs with (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) which preserves the magnetization. Grafting density estimated by TGA and BET analysis showed monolayer grafting of APTES on MNP surface. MNPs were comprehensively characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, SQUID-VSM and FTIR. Anti-cancerous drug telmisartan (TEL) was loaded on monolayer APTES grafted MNPs. In-vitro controlled drug release and cytotoxicity study on PC-3 human prostate cancer cell line of TEL conjugated MNPs are also discussed. This functionalization strategy can be extended to other biomedical applications where higher magnetization is desired.

Engineering of Neuron Growth and Enhancing Cell-Chip Communication via Mixed SAMs

The interface between cells and inorganic surfaces represents one of the key elements for bioelectronics experiments and applications ranging from cell cultures and bioelectronics devices to medical implants. In the present paper, we describe a way to tailor the biocompatibility of substrates in terms of cell growth and to significantly improve cell-chip communication, and we also demonstrate the reusability of the substrates for cell experiments. All these improvements are achieved by coating the substrates or chips with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) consisting of a mixture of organic molecules, (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane. By varying the ratio of these molecules, we are able to tune the cell density and live/dead ratios of rat cortical neurons cultured directly on the mixed SAM as well as neurons cultured on protein-coated SAMs. Furthermore, the use of the SAM leads to a significant improvement in cell-chip communications. Action potential signals of up to 9.4 ± 0.6 mV (signal-to-noise ratio up to 47) are obtained for HL-1 cells on microelectrode arrays. Finally, we demonstrate that the SAMs facilitate a reusability of the samples for all cell experiments with little re-processing.

One minute synthesis of amino-silane functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles by sonochemical method

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) are material of interest for biomedical research and related applications. Recently, several works have reported facile sonochemical method of functionalizing nanoparticles with organic coupling agents. Herein, we present the influence of ultrasonic irradiation on the rate of functionalization of 3-amino propyl triethoxyl silane (APTES) on SPION. The effect of sonication on the process is investigated by varying the sonication period between 1 and 20min. Grafting of the organo-metallic molecules on SPION is demonstrated through FTIR and XPS. The results show that in one minute, organo-silane compound can be functionalized onto SPION through unique conditions generated from ultrasonic irradiation. The XPS survey spectra of the as-synthesized APTES-SPION at different sonication periods revealed that absorbed energy due to silanization reactions in all the samples appeared at same peaks. The percentage atomic concentrations of all the elements present in the as-synthesized APTES-SPION are determined by the software CASAXPS. The result demonstrated that highest percentage atomic concentration is observed at the one minute sonication period.

Amine-modified magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle as a promising carrier for application in bio self-healing concrete

Self-healing mechanisms are a promising solution to address the concrete cracking issue. Among the investigated self-healing strategies, the biotechnological approach is distinguished itself by inducing the most compatible material with concrete composition. In this method, the potent bacteria and nutrients are incorporated into the concrete matrix. Once cracking occurs, the bacteria will be activated, and the induced CaCO₃ crystals will seal the concrete cracks. However, the effectiveness of a bio self-healing concrete strictly depends on the viability of bacteria. Therefore, it is required to protect the bacteria from the resulted shear forces caused by mixing and drying shrinkage of concrete. Due to the positive effects on mechanical properties and the high compatibility of metallic nanoparticles with concrete composition, for the first time, we propose 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (APTES-coated IONs) as a biocompatible carrier for Bacillus species. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of APTES-coated IONs on the bacterial viability and CaCO₃ yield for future application in the concrete structures. The APTES-coated IONs were successfully synthesized and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results show that the presence of 100 μg/mL APTES-coated IONs could increase the bacterial viability. It was also found that the CaCO₃-specific yield was significantly affected in the presence of APTES-coated IONs. The highest CaCO₃-specific yield was achieved when the cells were decorated with 50 μg/mL of APTES-coated IONs. This study provides new insights for the application of APTES-coated IONs in designing bio self-healing strategies.

Bio-functionalization of grade V titanium alloy with type I human collagen for enhancing and promoting human periodontal fibroblast cell adhesion - an in-vitro study

Surface modification of medical grade V titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) with biomolecules is an important and vital step for tailoring it for various biomedical applications. Present study investigates theinfluence of type I human collagen (T1HC) bio-conjugation through a three stage process. Polished grade V titanium alloy discs were functionalizedwith free OH group by means of controlled heat and alkali treatment followed by coating of 3-aminopropyltriethoxy (APTES) silane couplingagent. T1HC were bio-conjugated through 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDCNHS)coupling reaction. At each stage, grade V titanium alloy surfaces were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Xrayphotoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). FTIR and XPS studies confirms thecovalent attachment of APTES with titanium alloy surface while terminalamine groups of APTES remained free for further attachment of T1HCthrough covalent bond. Aqueous stability of bio-conjugated titanium discsat various pH and time intervals (i.e. at pH of 5.5, 6.8 and 8.0 at timeinterval of 27 and 48h) confirmed the stability of T1HC bioconjugated collagen on titanium surface. Further human periodontalfibroblast cell line (HPdlF) culture revealed enhanced adhesion on theT1HC bio-conjugated surface compared to the polystyrene and polishedgrade V titanium alloy surfaces.

Rational Design of Peptide-Functionalized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Specific Detection of TNT Explosive

In this study, a rationally-designed 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) binding peptide derived from an amino acid sequence of the complementarity-determining region (CDR) of an anti-TNT monoclonal antibody was used for TNT detection based on a maleimide-functionalized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. By antigen-docking simulation and screening, the TNT binding candidate peptides were obtained as TNTHCDR1 derived from the heavy chain of CDR1, TNTHCDR2 derived from CDR2, and TNTHCDR3 from CDR3 of an anti-TNT antibody. The binding events between candidate peptides and TNT were evaluated using the SPR sensor by direct determination based on the 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) surface. The TNT binding peptide was directly immobilized on the maleimide-functionalized sensor chip surface from N-γ-maleimidobutyryl-oxysuccinimide ester (GMBS). The results demonstrated that peptide TNTHCDR3 was identified and selected as a TNT binding peptide among the other two candidate peptides. Five kinds of TNT analogues were also investigated to testify the selectivity of TNT binding peptide TNTHCDR3. Furthermore, the results indicated that the APTES-GMBS-based SPR sensor chip procedure featured a great potential application for the direct detection of TNT.

Controlled Engineering of Oxide Surfaces for Bioelectronics Applications Using Organic Mixed Monolayers

Modifying the surfaces of oxides using self-assembled monolayers offers an exciting possibility to tailor their surface properties for various applications ranging from organic electronics to bioelectronics applications. The simultaneous use of different molecules in particular can extend this approach because the surface properties can be tuned via the ratio of the chosen molecules. This requires the composition and quality of the monolayers to be controlled on an organic level, that is, on the nanoscale. In this paper, we present a method of modifying the surface and surface properties of silicon oxide by growing self-assembled monolayers comprising various compositions of two different molecules, (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxysilane and (3-glycidyloxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane, by means of in situ controlled gas-phase deposition. The properties of the resulting mixed molecular monolayers (e.g., effective thickness, hydrophobicity, and surface potential) exhibit a perfect linear dependence on the composition of the molecular layer. Finally, coating the mixed layer with poly(l-lysine) proves that the density of proteins can be controlled by the composition as well. This indicates that the method might be an ideal way to optimize inorganic surfaces for bioelectronics applications.

Effects of amine modification of mesoporous magnesium carbonate on controlled drug release

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was used to modify the surface of mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC). The as-synthesized MMC had an average pore diameter of ∼5nm, but amine grafting occurred preferentially on the walls of the largest MMC pores. Analysis of ibuprofen (IBU) loading and release showed that IBU remained stable in the amorphous phase in all the MMC and modified MMC samples. The kinetics of IBU release from the modified MMC were assessed and used to evaluate the effects of the different functional groups. The release rate showed that the release of IBU could be controlled by adjusting the amine surface coverage of MMC and also by changing the surface groups. It was concluded that the interaction between the grafted functional groups in the modified MMC and the OH in the carboxyl groups of IBU was the most important factor for prolonging the release of the drug. These results are expected to lead to investigation of other as yet unexplored applications for MMC, including using it as a plastic additive and for gas separation.

Amidation of Polyesters Is Slow in Nonaqueous Solvents: Efficient Amidation of Poly(ethylene terephthalate) with 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane in Water for Generating Multifunctional Surfaces

This paper describes surface functionalization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films by transamidation of the ester groups with primary amines. The use of water as a solvent improves tremendously the reaction rate and yield compared to conventionally used alcohols. In this study, PET films were exposed to an aqueous solution of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), which resulted in ester-to-amide reactions on the surface of the film. Hydrolysis of the resulting ethoxy moieties in APTES creates hydroxyl groups that can be used as anchoring points for further modification of PET films. This scheme offers an alternative approach to modify polyesters using water as the solvent.

An Ultrahigh-Performance Photodetector based on a Perovskite-Transition-Metal-Dichalcogenide Hybrid Structure

An ultrahigh performance MoS2 photodetector with high photoresponsivity (1.94 × 10(6) A W(-1) ) and detectivity (1.29 × 10(12) Jones) under 520 nm and 4.63 pW laser exposure is demonstrated. This photodetector is based on a methyl-ammonium lead halide perovskite/MoS2 hybrid structure with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane doping. The performance degradation caused by moisture is also minimized down to 20% by adopting a new encapsulation bilayer of octadecyltrichlorosilane/polymethyl methacrylate.

Reusable magnetic nanobiocatalyst for synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles

In the present work, we describe a simple procedure for the biosynthesis of nanosilver and gold by the reduction of silver nitrate and auric chloride respectively using a nanobiocatalyst. The nanobiocatalyst was prepared by covalent coupling of alpha amylase on (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) modified iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. The nanobiocatalyst retains 77% of its activity as compared to free alpha amylase. The nanobiocatalyst can be used up to three consecutive cycles for the synthesis of nano silver and gold. The biosynthesized nanoparticles after each cycle were characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometer, Dynamic Light Spectroscopy (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Silver and gold nanoparticles of same morphology and dimensions were formed in each cycle. The procedure for synthesis of nanoparticles using an immobilized enzyme is eco-friendly and can be used repeatedly.

Amino acid-based anti-fouling functionalization of silica nanoparticles using divinyl sulfone

Natural amino acids are zwitterionic molecules and the good biocompatibility promises them potential candidates as anti-fouling materials. Here, we developed a new method to functionalize silica nanoparticles with a natural amino acid-based anti-fouling layer. Amino acids were covalently immobilized on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane modified silica nanoparticles using divinyl sulfone through a two-step reaction in aqueous solution at room temperature. The progress was monitored with NMR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and zeta potential measurements. A library of amino acids was screened and the nonspecific protein adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) were investigated using dynamic light scattering method. The results showed that cysteine, lysine and arginine functionalized silica nanoparticles can effectively resist protein adsorption due to the zwitterionic structure. Among them, lysine functionalized silica nanoparticles had the best anti-fouling performance, which showed hydrodynamic diameter increases of only 10% after incubated in BSA solution and 20% after incubated in FBS solution for 24h. The neat aqueous modification process can conveniently create a thin zwitterionic layer on silica particles, and it has a great potential in biomolecule immobilization and biofunctional surface preparation.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Zwitterionic polymer is an outstanding class of anti-fouling material; but the difficulty in synthesis is challenging its spread utilization. In this study, we developed a new method to create an amino acid-based zwitterionic layer on APTES functionalized silica nanoparticles through a two-step reaction in aqueous solution at room temperature. The surface chemistry was monitored with NMR, XPS, TEM and zeta potential measurements. With this method, a library of amino acid conjugated-silica nanoparticles was synthesized and their anti-fouling performance was evaluated using dynamic light scattering method. The results showed that the cysteine, lysine and arginine conjugated nanoparticles all can effectively resist nonspecific protein adsorption. Among them, lysine conjugated nanoparticles show the best anti-fouling performance, which showed hydrodynamic diameter increases of only 10% after incubated in BSA solution and 20% after incubated in FBS solution for 24 hours. These results indicates that the anti-fouling silica nanoparticles are of great potential in many biomedical applications, especially biosensing and diagnose imaging. The modification reactions in aqueous solution at room temperature are easily conducted in laboratory, indicating high potential in the functionalization of silica particles/surfaces with other biomolecules.

In Situ Analysis of the Growth and Dielectric Properties of Organic Self-Assembled Monolayers: A Way To Tailor Organic Layers for Electronic Applications

Organic nanoscale science and technology relies on the control of phenomena occurring at the molecular level. This is of particular importance for the self-assembly of molecular monolayers (SAM) that can be used in various applications ranging from organic electronics to bioelectronic applications. However, the understanding of the elementary nanoscopic processes in molecular film growth is still in its infancy. Here, we developed a novel in situ and extremely sensitive detection method for the analysis of the electronic properties of molecular layer during molecular layer deposition. This low-frequency sensor (1 kHz) is employed to analyze the standard vapor deposition process of SAMs of molecules and, subsequently, it is used to optimize the growth process itself. By combining this method with an ex situ determination of the effective thickness of the resulting layers via ellipsometry, we observe a large difference of the permittivity (1 kHz) of the examined aminosilanes in the liquid state (εliquid = 5.5-8.8) and in SAMs (εSAM = 22-52, electric field in the plane of the layer). We ascribe this difference to either the different orientation and order of the molecules, the different density of molecules, or a combination of both effects. Our novel in situ analyses not only allows monitoring and optimizing the deposition of organic layers but also demonstrates the high potential of organic SAMs as organic high-k layers in electronic devices.

Tunable Fluorescent Silica-Coated Carbon Dots: A Synergistic Effect for Enhancing the Fluorescence Sensing of Extracellular Cu²⁺ in Rat Brain

Carbon quantum dots (CDs) combined with self-assembly strategy have created an innovative way to fabricate novel hybrids for biological analysis. This study demonstrates a new fluorescence platform with enhanced selectivity for copper ion sensing in the striatum of the rat brain following the cerebral calm/sepsis process. Here, the fabrication of silica-coated CDs probes is based on the efficient hybridization of APTES which act as a precursor of organosilane self-assembly, with CDs to form silica-coated CDs probes. The fluorescent properties including intensity, fluorescence quantum yield, excitation-independent region, and red/blue shift of the emission wavelength of the probe are tunable through reliable regulation of the ratio of CDs and APTES, realizing selectivity and sensitivity-oriented Cu(2+) sensing. The as-prepared probes (i.e., 3.33% APTES-0.9 mg mL(-1) CDs probe) show a synergistic amplification effect of CDs and APTES on enhancing the fluorescence signal of Cu(2+) detection through fluorescent self-quenching. The underlying mechanism can be ascribed to the stronger interaction including chelation and electrostatic attraction between Cu(2+) and N and O atoms-containing as well as negatively charged silica-coated CDs than other interference. Interestingly, colorimetric assay and Tyndall effect can be observed and applied to directly distinguish the concentration of Cu(2+) by the naked eye. The proposed fluorescent platform here has been successfully applied to monitor the alteration of striatum Cu(2+) in rat brain during the cerebral calm/sepsis process. The versatile properties of the probe provide a new and effective fluorescent platform for the sensing method in vivo sampled from the rat brain.

Secondary anchor targeted cell release

Personalized medicine offers the promise of tailoring therapy to patients, based on their cellular biomarkers. To achieve this goal, cellular profiling systems are needed that can quickly and efficiently isolate specific cell types without disrupting cellular biomarkers. Here we describe the development of a unique platform that facilitates gentle cell capture via a secondary, surface-anchoring moiety, and cell release. The cellular capture system consists of a glass surface functionalized with APTES, d-desthiobiotin, and streptavidin. Biotinylated mCD11b and hIgG antibodies are used to capture mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) and human breast cancer (MCF7-GFP) cell lines, respectively. The surface functionalization is optimized by altering assay components, such as streptavidin, d-desthiobiotin, and APTES, to achieve cell capture on 80% of the functionalized surface and cell release upon biotin treatment. We also demonstrate an ability to capture 50% of target cells within a dual-cell mixture. This engineering advancement is a critical step towards achieving cell isolation platforms for personalized medicine.