Multi-Functionalized Nanomaterials and Nanoparticles for Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is a rare type of cancer, and its treatment, as well as diagnosis, is challenging, owing to mutations in the tumor-suppressor genes and lack of targeted, efficient, cost-effective therapy, exhibiting a significant need for novel approaches to address these concerns. For this purpose, nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of medicine with versatile potential capabilities for both the diagnosis, as well as the treatment, of retinoblastoma via the targeted and controlled delivery of anticancer drugs via binding to the overexpressed retinoblastoma gene. Nanotechnology has also generated massive advancements in the treatment of retinoblastoma based on the use of surface-tailored multi-functionalized nanocarriers; overexpressed receptor-based nanocarriers ligands (folate, galactose, and hyaluronic acid); lipid-based nanocarriers; and metallic nanocarriers. These nanocarriers seem to benchmark in mitigating a plethora of malignant retinoblastoma via targeted delivery at a specified site, resulting in programmed apoptosis in cancer cells. The effectiveness of these nanoplatforms in diagnosing and treating intraocular cancers such as retinoblastoma has not been properly discussed, despite the increasing significance of nanomedicine in cancer management. This article reviewed the recent milestones and future development areas in the field of intraocular drug delivery and diagnostic platforms focused on nanotechnology

Ca(OH)2 nano-pods: investigation on the effect of solvent ratio on morphology and CO2 adsorption capacity

Ca(OH)2 nano-pods were synthesized through a precipitation method. Solvents such as ethanol/deionized water (DIW) and dimethylformamide (DMF)/deionized water (DIW) were used at different volume ratios to synthesize the samples. Various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), filed emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and BET surface area analysis were employed to investigate the role of solvent on the crystallinity, morphology and surface area of Ca(OH)2. The solvent mixtures with a high volume of organic solvent (ethanol or DMF) acted as good capping agents to suppress the growth of Ca(OH)2 in the (1010) direction and induce anisotropic growth along the (0001) direction. A uniform pod like morphology was observed for the Ca(OH)2 sorbent synthesized using ethanol/DIW with a volume ratio of 78 ml/02 ml. Besides, the sorbents synthesized using ethanol/DIW showed good CO2 adsorption capacity and high surface area when compared to that of DMF/DIW

Synthesis of Octahedral-Shaped NiO and Approaches to an Anode Material of Manufactured Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Using the Decalcomania Method

Micrometer-sized and octahedral-shaped NiO particles were synthesized by microwave thermal treatment at 300 watt power for 15 min in a microwave chamber to be used as an anode material in solid oxide fuel cells. SEM image and particle size distribution revealed near-perfect octahedral NiO microparticle with sizes ranging from 4.0~11.0 μm. The anode functional layer (AFL, 60 wt% NiO synthesized: commercial 40 wt% YSZ), electrolyte (commercial Yttria-stabilized zirconia, YSZ), and cathode (commercial La0.8Sr0.2MnO3, LSM) layers were manufactured using the decalcomania method on a porous anode support, sequentially. The sintered electrolyte at 1450°C for 2 h using the decalcomania method was dense and had a thickness of about 10 μm. The cathode was sintered at 1250°C for 2 h, and it was porous. Using humidified hydrogen as a fuel, a coin cell with a 15 μm thick anode functional layer exhibited maximum power densities of 0.28, 0.38, and 0.65 W/cm2 at 700, 750, and 800°C, respectively. Otherwise, when a commercial YSZ anode functional layer was used, the maximum power density was 0.55 W/cm2 at 800°C

Low Temperature Synthesis of Hexagonal Shaped α

This study demonstrates the low temperature synthesis of α-Al2O3 by solvothermal method using gibbsite alumina precursor in 1, 4-butanediol solvent according to various pH conditions. In acidic solution, an orthorhombic boehmite (AlOOH) structure was obtained after solvothermal reaction. A significant result in this study was that the solvothermally synthesized alumina in pH=9 at 300 °C for 36 h represented a rhombohedral α-Al2O3 structure hexagonal shaped with about 1.5~2.0 μm of particle size. Otherwise, the α-Al2O3 structure was rather changed to the mixture of a boehmite and α-Al2O3 structures above pH=11. In the case of α-Al2O3 synthesized at pH=9, the specific surface area was 26.18 m2/g, and the particles that were stable in acidic solution resulted in 61.80 mV of zeta potential

Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Solar energy conversion is one of the sustainable technologies that tackles the global warming and energy crisis [...

Bromine Ion-Intercalated Layered Bi₂WO₆ as an Efficient Catalyst for Advanced Oxidation Processes in Tetracycline Pollutant Degradation Reaction

The visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants in aquatic environments is a promising strategy for addressing water pollution problems. This work highlights the use of bromine-ion-doped layered Aurivillius oxide, Bi2WO6, to synergistically optimize the morphology and increase the formation of active sites on the photocatalyst’s surface. The layered Bi2WO6 nanoplates were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal reaction in which bromine (Br−) ions were introduced by adding cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB)/potassium bromide (KBr). The as-synthesized Bi2WO6 nanoplates displayed higher photocatalytic tetracycline degradation activity (~83.5%) than the Bi2WO6 microspheres (~48.2%), which were obtained without the addition of Br precursors in the reaction medium. The presence of Br− was verified experimentally, and the newly formed Bi2WO6 developed as nanoplates where the adsorbed Br− ions restricted the multilayer stacking. Considering the significant morphology change, increased specific surface area, and enhanced photocatalytic performance, using a synthesis approach mediated by Br− ions to design layered photocatalysts is expected to be a promising system for advancing water remediation

Effect of Al-Cu Bimetallic Components in a TiO2 Framework for High Hydrogen Production on Methanol/Water Photo-Splitting

This study investigated the production of hydrogen over TiO2, Cu-TiO2, Ag-TiO2, and Cu-Ag-TiO2 photocatalysts incorporated with Cu and Ag ions by a solvothermal method. The Ag metal (200, 220, and 311 plane) peaks at 2=44.50, 64.00, and 77.60o were presented in the Ag-incorporated TiO2 catalysts. The CuO component (Cu2p3/2 and Cu2p1/2 at 930.4 and 949.5 eV) was exhibited in the X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) band of the Cu-incorporated TiO2 photocatalyst. All the absorption plots in the Cu-, Ag-, and Cu-Ag-incorporated catalysts showed excitation characteristics; an asymmetric tail was observed towards a higher wavelength due to scattering. The intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) curves of Cu-Ag-TiO2s was smaller, with the smallest case being observed for Cu(0.05)-Ag(0.05)Ti(0.9)O2 and Cu(0.03)-Ag(0.07)Ti(0.9)O2. Based on these optical characteristics, the production of H2 from methanol/water photodecomposition over the Cu(0.03)-Ag(0.07)Ti(0.9)O2 photocatalyst at 8,750 mmol after 8 h was greater than that over the other photocatalysts

Synthesis of Submicron Hexagonal Plate-Type SnS 2

SnS2 and Sn1−xTixS2 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mol) materials were designed using solvothermal method with the aim to enhance hydrogen production from water/methanol water photosplitting. Scanning electron microscopy revealed hexagonal plates with one side, 3.0 μm in length, in the SnS2 materials. Pure SnS2 showed absorption band edges of above 660 nm, and the absorption was shifted to low wavelengths with the insertion of Ti ions. The evolution of H2 from MeOH/H2O (1 : 1) photosplitting over SnS2 hexagonal plates in the photocatalytic liquid system was 0.016 mL h−1 g−1, and the evolutions were enhanced in Sn1−xTixS2. In particular, 0.049 mL h−1 g−1 of H2 gas was produced in Sn0.7Ti0.3S2 without electrolytes and it increased significantly to more than 90.6% (0.47 mL h−1 g−1 evolutions) at higher pH using 0.1 M of KOH. Based on the UV-visible absorption spectra, the high photocatalytic activity of Sn1−xTixS2 was attributed to the existence of an appropriate band-gap state that retarded recombination between the electrons and holes

Design of a Free-Ruthenium In2S3 Crystalline Photosensitized Solar Cell

A new type of sulfide-based, solid-state dye material that is sensitive to visible radiation was assessed as a potential replacement for commercial ruthenium complex dyes in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) assembly. The In2S3 crystals on the surface of the TiO2 bottom blocking layer were grown as a solid-state dye material. Scanning electron microscopy of In2S3 revealed a microsized, 3D-connected sheet-like shape, which was confirmed by X-ray diffraction to be a beta-structure. The efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cells assembled with a layer grown with In2S3 increased with increasing In2S3 mole concentrations to 0.05 M (1.02%) but decreased at concentrations greater than 0.6~0.8%. This suggests that crystalline In2S3 acts as a dye sensitized to visible radiation, but the short-circuit current density is too low compared to the commercially available ruthenium dye. This suggests that In2S3 crystals did not grow densely but were bulk-grown with large pores, resulting in a smaller amount of In2S3 per unit area. Two IPCE curves were observed, which were assigned to TiO2 and In2S3, meaning that the TiO2 surfaces were covered completely with In2S3 crystals. The exposure of TiO2 eventually leads to a reaction with the electrolytes, resulting in lower quantum efficiency