Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for tumor diagnosis

10.1260/2040-2295.4.1.23Journal of Healthcare Engineering4123-4

Synthesis and properties of 1D Sm-doped CeO2 composite nanofibers fabricated using a coupled electrospinning and sol-gel methodology

Ce1-xSmxO2(x=0, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8) nanofibers (NFs) were synthesized by coupling sol-gel with electrospinning and using poly-vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as the polymer medium, in an ethanol/water mixture. Control over the fabrication conditions was achieved through analysis of the most key synthetic factors, which include: (i) the applied field strength; (ii) the solution feed rate and (iii) the PVP content in the electrospinning solution. The optimum microstructural fiber morphology (high quality beeds-free fibers) was achieved using the following electrospinning parameters: an applied voltage of 18.5 kV, a 7 ml/hr of solution feed rate and a 12% (w/w) of PVP composition. Morphological features of the resulting fibers were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average fiber diameter was typically found to be in the range of 200-1100 nm and 50-300 nm, before and after calcination at 500 oC, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the fluorite cubic structure was preserved for the entire Ce1-xSmxO2 compositional range studied, while elemental analysis using EELS and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the purity of the bulk and surface composition of the fibers. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) proved that the NFs are highly crystalline. The thermal stability of the composite (polymer/inorganic nitrate salts) NFs was further investigated in an inert atmosphere (N2) using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), which allowed the transformation process of the NFs from composite to oxide to be monitored. The reducibility of the metal oxide NFs (mobility of oxygen species in the fluorite cubic lattice) as well as their thermal stability in successive oxidation-reduction cycles was evaluated using temperature-programmed reduction in a H2 atmosphere (H2-TPR). Acidic-basic features of the NFs and powder surfaces were studied through temperature programmed desorption (TPD) using NH3 and CO2 as probe molecules, where weak, medium and strong acid sites were successfully traced with profound differences depending on the morphology. The NFs’ potential performance towards NH3 oxidation was also evaluated. Two types of basic sites, hydroxyl groups and surface lattice oxygen are present on the NFs, as probed by CO2 adsorption. Pyridine adsorption followed by infrared spectroscopy (Py-FT-IR) studies unveiled the more profound Lewis acid presence in Ce0.5Sm0.5O2 NFs compared to bulk powder Ce0.5Sm0.5O2

Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity of novel modified poly[(maleic anhydride)- co

Poly[(maleic anhydride)-co-(vinyl acetate)] (MAVA) copolymer was synthesized by free radical polymerization reaction, in methyl ethyl ketone at 80 degrees C, using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The copolymer was then modified with a biomolecule, noradrenaline (NA). The modification reaction was performed at 70 degrees C in dimethylformamide containing triethylamine as the catalyst. The modified polymer was named MAVA/NA. Structural characterization of the copolymer and the modified product was carried out by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra confirmed that NA was successfully covalently bound to the MAVA copolymer backbone. Surface morphology was visualized by atomic force microscopy. The cumulative release of NA from MAVA/NA was determined in phosphate buffered saline solution for 7 days at 37 degrees C and compared with MAVA. Cytotoxicity of the MAVA/NA was evaluated by using a mouse fibroblast cell line (L929). Results obtained indicated that MAVA/NA had almost no toxicity and no negative effect on cell viability at 250 mu g mL1 concentration. (c) 2012 Society of Chemical IndustryScience Research Projects Foundation of Cumhuriyet University [F258]This work was supported by the Science Research Projects Foundation of Cumhuriyet University (Project F258)