scholarly journals Self-Assembled Nanocarriers Based on Modified Chitosan for Biomedical Applications: Preparation and Characterization

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 2593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Gabriela Rusu ◽  
Aurica P. Chiriac ◽  
Loredana Elena Nita ◽  
Irina Rosca ◽  
Daniela Rusu ◽  
...  

Protein-polysaccharide systems are of increasing interest as their combined attributes allow for fulfilling a broad range of applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. In this study, the preparation of nanogels based on maleic anhydride chitosan derivatives (MAC) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was achieved through a self-assembly process performed in aqueous phase. A series of experiments performed by varying the concentrations of MAC and BSA were conducted to find an appropriate mixing ratio for the polymer solutions leading to thermodynamically stable nanogels with the ability to encapsulate active compounds. The influence of temperature on the formation of nanogels was also studied. The consequent conformational changes were monitored using ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometry. The spectrophotometric investigations combined with diffraction light scattering (DLS) technique and zeta potential measurement results were correlated to determine the interaction mechanism and assess the self-assembling processes during nanogel formation. It was found that the hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) of the nanoparticles increased slightly at acidic pH, and the protonation of ionizable amino groups with the pH was confirmed by the zeta potential measurements. MAC/BSA nanogels also exhibited antimicrobial properties after being loaded with amoxicillin (Amox), which is an antibiotic used for the treatment of various infections. The experimental data resulting from this study provide theoretical guidance for the design and development of attractive nanocarriers for a large variety of biomedical applications.

Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergey Vorobyev ◽  
Maxim Likhatski ◽  
Alexander Romanchenko ◽  
Nikolai Maksimov ◽  
Sergey Zharkov ◽  
...  

The reactions of aqueous gold complexes with H2Se and H2S are important for transportation and deposition of gold in nature and for synthesis of AuSe-based nanomaterials but are scantily understood. Here, we explored species formed at different proportions of HAuCl4, H2Se and H2S at room temperature using in situ UV-vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta-potential measurement and ex situ Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. Metal gold colloids arose at the molar ratios H2Se(H2S)/HAuCl4 less than 2. At higher ratios, pre-nucleation “dense liquid” species having the hydrodynamic diameter of 20–40 nm, zeta potential −40 mV to −50 mV, and the indirect band gap less than 1 eV derived from the UV-vis spectra grow into submicrometer droplets over several hours, followed by fractional nucleation in the interior and coagulation of disordered gold chalcogenide. XPS found only one Au+ site (Au 4f7/2 at 85.4 eV) in deposited AuSe, surface layers of which partially decomposed yielding Au0 nanoparticles capped with elemental selenium. The liquid species became less dense, the gap approached 2 eV, and gold chalcogenide destabilized towards the decomposition with increasing H2S content. Therefore, the reactions proceed via the non-classical mechanism involving “dense droplets” of supersaturated solution and produce AuSe1−xSx/Au nanocomposites.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2183
Author(s):  
Jia Gao ◽  
Kun An ◽  
Chao Lv ◽  
Jingjing Nie ◽  
Junting Xu ◽  
...  

A series of linear amphiphilic pentablock terpolymer PAAx-b-PS48-b-PEO46-b-PS48-b-PAAx (AxS48O46S48Ax) with various lengths x of the PAA block (x = 15, 40, 60, and 90) were synthesized via a two-step atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using Br-poly(ethylene oxide)-Br (Br-PEO46-Br) as the macroinitiator, styrene (St) as the first monomer, and tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) as the second monomer, followed with the hydrolysis of PtBA blocks. The AxS48O46S48Ax pentablock terpolymers formed micelles in dilute aqueous solution, of which the morphologies were dependent on the length x of the PAA block. Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurement were employed to investigate the morphologies, chain structures, size, and size distribution of the obtained micelles. The morphology of AxS48O46S48Ax micelles changed from spherical vesicles with ordered porous membranes to long double nanotubes, then to long nanotubes with inner modulated nanotubes or short nanotubes, and finally, to spherical micelles or large compound vesicles with spherical micelles inside when x increased from 15 to 90. The hydrophobic PS blocks formed the walls of vesicles and nanotubes as well as the core of spherical micelles. The hydrophilic PEO and PAA block chains were located on the surfaces of vesicle membranes, nanotubes, and spherical micelles. The PAA block chains were partially ionized, leading to the negative zeta potential of AxS48O46S48Ax micelles in dilute aqueous solutions.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 331-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
LEBO XU ◽  
JEREMY MYERS ◽  
PETER HART

Retention of cationic dispersed rosin size was studied via turbidity measurements on stock filtrate with different alum and dispersed rosin size dosages. Stock charge characteristics were analyzed using both an analysis of charge demand determined via a streaming current detector and an evaluation of zeta potential of the fibers by streaming potential measurement. The results indicated that an optimum amount of alum existed such that good sizing retention was maintained throughout a wide range of dispersed rosin size dosages. However, when an excessive amount of alum was used and fines and colloidal particles were transitioned from anionic to cationic, the cationic size retention was reduced. Laboratory results were confirmed with a paper machine trial. All data suggested that a stock charge study was necessary to identify optimal alum dosage for a cationic dispersed rosin sizing program.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marissa Morales-Moctezuma ◽  
Sebastian G Spain

Nanogels have emerged as innovative platforms for numerous biomedical applications including gene and drug delivery, biosensors, imaging, and tissue engineering. Polymerisation-induced thermal self-assembly (PITSA) has been shown to be suitable...


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2736
Author(s):  
Zuiliang Deng ◽  
Guimin Lu ◽  
Lefeng Fu ◽  
Weishan Wang ◽  
Baicun Zheng

The aim of this paper is to study the adsorption behavior of polycarboxylate superplasticizers (PCE) on coarse aggregates with a property of high water consumption (above 2%). The coarse aggregates were ground into a powder to create large bibulous stone powder, and it was observed that significant amounts of the ether-based PCE were absorbed onto large bibulous stone powder. The adsorption rate immediately reached a maximum after 5 min and then gradually decreased until an equilibrium absorption was established after 30 min. Zeta potential, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements confirmed that the polycarboxylate superplasticizer adsorbed on the surface of the stone powder. Hydrodynamic diameter measurements showed that the polycarboxylate superplasticizer molecules were smaller than pore size, and the surface area and pore volume were reduced by the polymer incorporation in the pores.


Nanoscale ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Laust Durhuus ◽  
Lau Halkier Wandall ◽  
Mathias Hoeg Boisen ◽  
Mathias Kure ◽  
Marco Beleggia ◽  
...  

Magnetically guided self-assembly of nanoparticles is a promising bottom-up method to fabricate novel materials and superstructures, such as, for example, magnetic nanoparticle clusters for biomedical applications. The existence of assembled...


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 515
Author(s):  
Tongfang Liu ◽  
Song Rui ◽  
Sheng Li

Mg alloys are promising biomedical metal due to their natural degradability, good processability, and favorable mechanical properties. However, the poor corrosion resistance limits their further clinical applications. In this study, the combined strategies of surface chemical treatment and layer-by-layer self-assembly were used to prepare composite coatings on Mg alloys to improve the biocorrosion resistance. Specially, alkalized AZ91 Mg alloy generated chemical linkage with silane via Si–O–Mg covalent bond at the interface. Subsequently, Si–OH group from silane formed a crosslinked silane layer by Si–O–Si network. Further chemical assembly with graphene oxide (GO), lengthened the diffusion pathway of corrosive medium. The chemically assembled composite coatings could firmly bond to Mg alloy substrate, which persistently and effectively acted as compact barriers against corrosion propagation. Improved biocorrosion resistance of AZ91 Mg alloy with self-assembly composite coatings of silane/GO was subsequently confirmed by immersion tests. Besides, the Mg alloy exhibited good wear resistance due to outside layer of GO with a lubricant effect. Cell viability of higher than 75% had also been found for the alloy with self-assembly composite coatings, which showed good cytocompatibility.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Lombardi ◽  
Annarita Falanga ◽  
Valentina Del Genio ◽  
Stefania Galdiero

Peptide drugs hold great promise for the treatment of infectious diseases thanks to their novel mechanisms of action, low toxicity, high specificity, and ease of synthesis and modification. Naturally developing self-assembly in nature has inspired remarkable interest in self-assembly of peptides to functional nanomaterials. As a matter of fact, their structural, mechanical, and functional advantages, plus their high bio-compatibility and bio-degradability make them excellent candidates for facilitating biomedical applications. This review focuses on the self-assembly of peptides for the fabrication of antibacterial nanomaterials holding great interest for substituting antibiotics, with emphasis on strategies to achieve nano-architectures of self-assembly. The antibacterial activities achieved by these nanomaterials are also described.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document