Theranostic Agent Combining Fullerene Nanocrystals and Gold Nanoparticles for Photoacoustic Imaging and Photothermal Therapy

Developing photoactivatable theranostic platforms with integrated functionalities of biocompatibility, targeting, imaging contrast, and therapy is a promising approach for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here, we report a theranostic agent based on a hybrid nanoparticle comprising fullerene nanocrystals and gold nanoparticles (FGNPs) for photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy. Compared to gold nanoparticles and fullerene crystals, FGNPs exhibited stronger photoacoustic signals and photothermal heating characteristics by irradiating light with an optimal wavelength. Our studies demonstrated that FGNPs could kill cancer cells due to their photothermal heating characteristics in vitro. Moreover, FGNPs that are accumulated in tumor tissue via the enhanced permeation and retention effect can visualize tumor tissue due to their photoacoustic signal in tumor xenograft model mice. The theranostic agent with FGNPs shows promise for cancer therapy

Extraction of copper from complex carbonaceous sulfide ore by direct high-pressure leaching

The increase of impurities and complexity of copper ores are among the recent challenges in the mining industry. Complex carbonaceous sulfide ores are extremely difficult to treat due to their mineralogical complexity and impurities of organic carbon and carbonates. This study focuses on the development of a hydrometallurgical process for efficient copper extraction from complex carbonaceous sulfide ore which contains chalcopyrite, carbonates (dolomite and calcite), and carbonaceous gangue minerals. Characterization of the ore sample and leach residues was conducted using XRD and EPMA analysis, while ICP-OES was used for the determination of total dissolved metals in solution. High-pressure leaching of complex carbonaceous sulfide ore in oxygenated sulfuric acid solution was performed and the influence of leaching parameters such as sulfuric acid concentration, temperature, total pressure, and pulp density was studied. The extraction of copper increased with increasing temperature, sulfuric acid concentration, and total pressure. On the other hand, an increase in pulp density resulted in a decline in copper extraction due to an increased slurry viscosity and resistance in the diffusive mass transfer of reactants. Selective dissolution of copper from iron can be achieved by controlling free acidity in the pregnant leach solution (PLS). Under these leaching conditions: 100 g/L, 1 M H2SO4, 160 ◦C, 1.0 MPa total pressure, the highest copper and iron extractions achieved were 97.55% and 95.37%, respectively. Precipitation of copper from the PLS by NaSH sulfidization was investigated and more than 99.9% of copper was recovered at a Cu: NaSH molar ratio of 1:1.8

薬物ナノキャリアとしての有機－無機ハイブリッド多糖ナノゲルの開発

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(工学)甲第20407号工博第4344号新制||工||1673(附属図書館)京都大学大学院工学研究科高分子化学専攻(主査)教授 秋吉 一成, 教授 木村 俊作, 教授 大北 英生学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering)Kyoto UniversityDGA

Calcium-deficient Hydroxyapatite as a Potential Sorbent for Strontium

A calcium (Ca)-deficient hydroxyapatite was investigated for its potential to remove Sr2+ from environmentally relevant water. We conducted sorption tests on solutions containing magnesium ion (Mg2+) and calcium ion (Ca2+) as competing cations at a strontium ion (Sr2+) concentration of 0.05 mmol/L. The Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite maintained a high Sr2+ sorption ratio of above 80% in the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ at the concentrations between 0.1 and 1.0 mmol/L, whereas the stoichiometric hydroxyapatite showed a lower ratio even in the presence of small amounts of Mg2+ and Ca2+ (72% for Mg2+ and 51% for Ca2+ at 0.1 mmol/L). For solutions with various Sr2+ concentrations between 0.01 and 10 mmol/L, Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite exhibited a higher Sr2+ sorption ratio than stoichiometric hydroxyapatite. The bonding states of Sr2+ on the Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite were evaluated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure measurements. The results indicated that there are specific sorption sites in Ca-deficient hydroxyapatite where Sr2+ is stably and preferentially immobilized