Design and optimization of self-nanoemulsifying formulations for lipophilic drugs

The purpose of the current study was to develop and optimize novel self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) with a high proportion of essential oil as carriers for lipophilic drugs. Solubility and droplet size as a function of the composition were investigated, and a ternary phase diagram was constructed in order to identify the self-emulsification regions. The optimized SNEDDS formulation consisted of lemon essential oil (oil), Cremophor RH40 (surfactant) and Transcutol HP (co-surfactant) in the ratio 50:30:20 (v/v). Ibuprofen was chosen as the model drug. The droplet size, ζ -potential and stability of the drug-loaded optimized formulations were determined. The stability of SNEDDS was proved after triple freezing/thawing cycles and storage at 4 °C and 25 °C for 3 months. In vitro drug release studies of optimized SNEDDS revealed a significant increase of the drug release and release rate in comparison to the Ibuprofen suspension (80% versus approximately...

Tianjing Zhao, Devid Maniglio, Jie Chen, Bin Chen, Antonella Motta and Claudio Migliaresi

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A flexible and implantable microelectrode arrays using high-temperature grown vertical carbon nanotubes and a biocompatible polymer substrate

This paper presents a novel microelectrode arrays using high-temperature grown vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) integrated on a flexible and biocompatible parylene substrate. A simple microfabrication process is proposed to unite the high quality vertical CNTs grown at high temperature with the heat sensitive parylene substrate in a highly controllable manner. Briefly, the CNTs electrode is encapsulated by two layers of parylene and the device is released using xenon difluoride (XeF 2 ). The process is compatible with wafer-scale post complementary metal oxide semiconductor integration. Lower impedance and larger interfacial capacitance have been demonstrated using CNTs compared to a Pt electrode. The flexible CNT electrodes have been utilized for extracellular neuronal recording and stimulation in rats. The signal-to-noise ratio of the device is about 12.5. The threshold voltage for initiating action potential is about 0.5 V.

Wenwen Yi, Chaoyang Chen, Zhaoying Feng, Yong Xu, Chengpeng Zhou, Nirul Masurkar, John Cavanaugh and Mark Ming-Cheng Cheng

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Monolayer graphene on nanostructured Ag for enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering stable platform

We have reported that the Ag nanostructure-based substrate is particularly suitable for surface-enhanced Raman scattering when it is coated with monolayer graphene, an optically transparent and chemistry-inertness material in the visible range. Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and Ag nanogrids were fabricated using plasma-assisted nanosphere lithography. Our measurements show that atmospheric sulfur containing compounds are powerless to break in the monolayer graphene to vulcanize the surfaces of the Ag bowtie nanoantenna arrays and Ag nanogrids by various means, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the Ag nanostructure substrate coated with the monolayer graphene film shows a larger enhancement of Raman activity and the electromagnetic field than the uncoated substrate. Compared with those of bare Ag nanostructures, the averaged EFs of graphene-film-coated Ag nanostructures were estimated to be about 21 and 5 for Ag bo...

Zhigao Dai, Fei Mei, Xiangheng Xiao, Lei Liao, Wei Wu, Yupeng Zhang, Jianjian Ying, Lingbo Wang, Feng Ren and Changzhong Jiang

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Effect of HSA coated iron oxide labeling on human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells

Human umbilical cord derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) are known for self-renewal and differentiation into cells of various lineages like bone, cartilage and fat. They have been used in biomedical applications to treat degenerative disorders. However, to exploit the therapeutic potential of stem cells, there is a requirement of sensitive non-invasive imaging techniques which will offer the ability to track transplanted cells, bio-distribution, proliferation and differentiation. In this study, we have analyzed the efficacy of human serum albumin coated iron oxide nanoparticles (HSA-IONPs) on the differentiation of hUC-MSCs. The colloidal stability of the HSA-IONPs was tested over a long period of time (≥20 months) and the optimized concentration of HSA-IONPs for labeling the stem cells was 60 μ g ml −1 . Detailed in vitro assays have been performed to ascertain the effect of the nanoparticles (NPs) on stem cells. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay show...

Purva Sanganeria, Sudeshna Chandra, Dhirendra Bahadur and Aparna Khanna

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Fe 3 O 4 @ZnO core-shell nanocomposites for efficient and repetitive removal of low density lipoprotein in plasma and on blood vessel

Low density lipoprotein (LDL)-apheresis therapy, which directly removes LDL from plasma by LDL-adsorbents in vitro is found to be clinically effective and safe to lower the LDL content in blood to prevent cardiovascular disease. Thus, developing excellent LDL adsorbents are becoming more and more attractive. Herein, functional Fe 3 O 4 @ZnO core–shell nanocomposites have been synthesized by a facile and eco-friendly two-step method. Not only do they possess high LDL adsorption (in PBS/plasma as well as on blood vessels) and favorable magnetic targeting ability but they can also be reused conveniently, which offer the Fe 3 O 4 @ZnO core–shell nanocomposites significant potential in the removal of LDL in vitro and in vivo .

Xiao Huang, Juan Lu, Danyang Yue, Yijuan Fan, Caixia Yi, Xiaoying Wang, Mengxue Zhang and Jun Pan

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Factors Affecting the Exfoliation of Graphite Intercalation Compounds for Graphene Synthesis

Chemistry of Materials

DOI: 10.1021/cm504511b

Gabin Yoon, Dong-Hwa Seo, Kyojin Ku, Jungmo Kim, Seokwoo Jeon and Kisuk Kang

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Solution Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers Containing a Branched Hydrophilic Block into Inverse Bicontinuous Cubic Mesophases

ACS Nano

DOI: 10.1021/nn507338s

Tae Hyun An, Yunju La, Arah Cho, Moon Gon Jeong, Tae Joo Shin, Chiyoung Park and Kyoung Taek Kim

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Electrochemical Signatures of Crystallographic Orientation and Counterion Binding at the Hematite/Water Interface

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp511371c

K. Shimizu and J.-F. Boily

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Boron-Doped, Nitrogen-Doped, and Codoped Graphene on Cu(111): A DFT + vdW Study

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp512522m

Lara Ferrighi, Mario Italo Trioni and Cristiana Di Valentin

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Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Structure, Optical Properties, and Growth of Metallic Silver Nanostructures in Ag3PO4

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp512111v

G. Botelho, J. C. Sczancoski, J. Andres, L. Gracia and E. Longo

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Shape-Dependent Field Enhancement and Plasmon Resonance of Oxide Nanocrystals

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b01648

Ankit Agrawal, Ilka Kriegel and Delia J. Milliron

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Equilibrium Morphology of Plasmonic Au/Polystyrene Dimeric Nanoparticle

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp509508s

Myung-Seok Yang, Sunil Jeong, Taewook Kang and Dongchoul Kim

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Transport Mechanisms of Squalenoyl-Adenosine Nanoparticles Across the Blood–Brain Barrier

Chemistry of Materials

DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00267

Alice Gaudin, Oya Tagit, Dunja Sobot, Sinda Lepetre-Mouelhi, Julie Mougin, Thomas F. Martens, Kevin Braeckmans, Valérie Nicolas, Didier Desmaële, Stefaan C. de Smedt, Niko Hildebrandt, Patrick Couvreur and Karine Andrieux

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Effects of Critical Fluctuations on Adsorption-Induced Deformation of Microporous Carbons

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.5b00226

Piotr Kowalczyk, Alina Ciach, Artur P. Terzyk, Piotr A. Gauden and Sylwester Furmaniak

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Voltage-Controlled Ferroelastic Switching in Pb(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3 Thin Films

Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/nl503806p

Asif Islam Khan, Xavier Marti, Claudy Serrao, Ramamoorthy Ramesh and Sayeef Salahuddin

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Systematics of Molecular Self-Assembled Networks at Topological Insulators Surfaces

Nano Letters

DOI: 10.1021/nl5048434

T. Bathon, P. Sessi, K. A. Kokh, O. E. Tereshchenko and M. Bode

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Defect States below the Conduction Band Edge of HfO2 Grown on InP by Atomic Layer Deposition

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp511666m

Yu-Seon Kang, Dae-Kyoung Kim, Hang-Kyu Kang, Sangwan Cho, Sungho Choi, Hyoungsub Kim, Jung-Hye Seo, Jouhahn Lee and Mann-Ho Cho

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Structural Correlations between Luminescent Properties and Excited State Internal Proton Transfer in Some Zinc(II) N,N′-Bis(salicylidenes)

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp510476h

Cristina Aparecida Barboza, José Carlos Germino, Anderson Martinez Santana, Fernando Junior Quites, Pedro Antônio Muniz Vazquez and Teresa Dib Zambon Atvars

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Engineering a Water-Dispersible, Conducting, Photoreduced Graphene Oxide

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp512759w

Bharathi Konkena and Sukumaran Vasudevan

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Growth and Surface Properties of Cuprous Oxide Films on Au(111)

The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

DOI: 10.1021/jp511327h

Hendrik Sträter, Hanna Fedderwitz, Boris Groß and Niklas Nilius

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