High Purity Research Articles

Radioiodinated Nanobody immunoPET probe for in vivo detection of CD147 in pan-cancer.

To develop the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (CD147)-targeting therapeutic strategies, accurate detection of CD147 expression in tumors is crucial. Owing to their relatively low molecular weights and high affinities, nanobodies (Nbs) may be powerful candidates for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this study, we developed a novel CD147-targeted nanobody radiotracer, [124I]I-NB147, which provides guidance for the noninvasive detection of CD147-overexpressing cancers. CD147 expression in human cancers was detected via immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue microarrays (TMAs). Western blot (WB) and flow cytometry were used to screen CD147-positive malignant melanoma (MM), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and pancreatic cancer (PCA) cell lines. The CD147 nanobody (NB147) was labeled with [124I]INa using Iodogen as the oxidizing agent and was purified by the PD-10 column. The physicochemical properties, affinity, metabolic characteristics, biodistribution, and immunoPET imaging of [124I]I-NB147 were evaluated Moreover, [18F]F-FDG was used as a control. Finally, CD147 expression analysis was performed via multiplex immunofluorescence (MxIF) and autoradiography on human cancer specimens and tumor-bearing mice tissues. TMAs results revealed that CD147 is highly expressed in MM, TNBC, and PCA. A CD147-specific nanobody, NB147, was successfully generated with excellent in vitro binding characteristics. [124I]I-NB147 was obtained with high radiochemical yield and purity, and was stable for at least 4h in vitro. WB and FCM revealed that CD147 was positive in A375, MDA-MB-435 and ASPC1 cells, whereas SK-MEL-28, 4T1 and BXPC3 cells presented low expression levels. The radio-ELISA results indicated that [124I]I-NB147 had a high binding affinity to CD147. The uptake of [124I]I-NB147 was significantly different between CD147 high-expression cells and CD147 low-expression cells (P < 0.001). The biological half-life of the distribution and clearance phases were 0.05h and 1.58h, respectively. In CD147-positive tumor models, the [124I]I-NB147 accumulated in A375, MDA-MB-435, and ASPC1 tumors, and the uptake value was significantly higher than that of [18F]F-FDG. Uptake in SK-MEL-28, BXPC3, and 4T1 tumors was not clearly observed. Finally, through autoradiography and histological studies, the correlation analysis between tumor uptake and CD147 expression level was determined. The high expression of CD147 in MM, TNBC, and PCA tissuesand in tumor cells was verified. The CD147 nanobody, NB147 was produced and radiolabeled to obtain the immunoPET probe, [124I]I-NB147, which showed high affinity to CD147 and precise visualization for accurate diagnosis of CD147-expressing lesions in different cancers. These results provide insight into the imaging and binding properties of nanobody NB147 over extended periods of time, reinforcing its potential in developing radionuclide therapies for CD147-positive cancer patients.

Current evaluation of radiation hazards from sediments of Manzala Lake, Egypt

AbstractSurface sediment samples were collected from 12 different sites in Manzala Lake for measuring 238U, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K. Those elements were measured using High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector. The concentrations of radionuclides were within the UNSCEAR limits. Various indices were applied to detect the environmental and human risk assessment for example activity utilization index, external hazard index and others. Environmental Risk from Ionising Contaminants: Assessment and Management (ERICA) tool was applied and showed no considered biological hazards. The results showed that concentrations of radionuclides in sediments of Manzala Lake were within the safe limits for further uses.

Fine-Tuning Porous Structure of Zirconium-Based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Efficient Separation and Purification of Astaxanthin by Defect Engineering.

Efficient separation of bioactive compounds from nature source, particularly that of astaxanthin (AXT), remains challenging due to their low content in complicated matrix and readily degradable structure. Herein, a modulator-induced defect engineering is presented on the stable zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) to optimize pore size and pore chemistry for the efficient separation and purification of AXT for the first time. High adsorption capacity of 26.21mgg-1 is achieved on the best-performing defect Zr-MOF (d-UiO-67-4), superior over the other reported adsorbent for AXT. Meanwhile, d-UiO-67-4 exhibits the selective adsorption of AXT over other carotenoids analogues with similar structure and properties. This is attributed to the preferential non-covalent interactions between defect framework and AXT revealed by the spectroscopy analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. High purity of AXT with 89.0%±2.3% extraction efficiency can be realized after the purification of AXT by d-UiO-67-4. The practical separation performance of d-UiO-67-4 for AXT extracted from Haematococcus pluvialis is demonstrated by fixed-bed column-based dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments. This work broadens the preparation methods for thermosensitive active substances and provided new research ideas for the controlled adsorption of functional food factors.

Acetone Gas Sensor with SnO2-Modified MoS2 Nanospheres

Abstract This study employed a hydrothermal method to prepare molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and a two-step hydrothermal process to synthesize tin oxide (SnO2)-modified MoS2 nanostructured materials. The manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective, and the produced materials were analyzed using various techniques to confirm their high purity and crystallinity. The SnO2-modified MoS2 nanostructured materials were then utilized to fabricate acetone gas sensors. The high surface area of MoS2, coupled with the heterojunction interfaces formed by SnO2 modification, enhances the performance of the gas sensor. At 150°C, the sensor exhibits a remarkable response of 37.1% to 100 ppm acetone gas. The dynamic response, including response and recovery times, is also impressive. Gas sensors developed with this material can effectively detect acetone concentrations in various environmental conditions.

Abstract A029: Novel high-purity CTC isolation technology for downstream analysis: A “Cell- Circuit” magnetophoretic-microfluidic hybrid device

Abstract Circulating Tumor Cells are the only blood analytes that contain comprehensive multi-omic information regarding living tumor cells. As such, CTCs are an essential tool for the precise diagnosis of cancer. This has led to increased interest in both enumeration, and more significantly, the downstream analysis of bulk and single CTCs. One primary technical limitation that limits adoption of CTCs into routine clinical practice is the ability to effectively isolate CTCs from non-target cells. While several technologies have been developed and commercialized including initial clinical adoption, most technologies have fundamental limitations in sample purity which limits the quality of downstream analysis. Another limitation is the number of steps needed to complete enrichment, especially in high purity isolation where 2 techniques are usually required to be performed in sequence. The authors propose a novel, single-cell isolation technology called L:Cell™. This technology utilizes precise micro-magnetic patterns to allow immuno-magnetically labeled cells to be isolated individually and directed to user-defined locations. Such “Cell-Circuits” enable parallel, computer-circuit-like manipulation of a large array of single cells – combining both precision and throughput. Passive and active single-cell control is made possible by circuit components such as gates, single-cell capacitors, and transistors. The technology also enables the classification of cells based on size in addition to the presence of magnetic beads. A "passive component" performs its function under an external rotating magnetic field, manipulating cells without the need for an electrical current. The majority of circuitry on-chip are such passive components, which enable the device's key advantage of parallelized control. In contrast, an "active component" is designed in conjunction with passive components to create a local magnetic field at specific locations. This allows cells to be rerouted or manipulated on-demand. Using active components, users can selectively isolate individual cells (e.g., based on size, morphology, or fluorescence). While micro-magnetophoretic technology has been explored by various research teams, the authors have advanced this technology further by micro-magnetic simulation and integrating microfluidic technology. This integration improves the inlet and outlet structures for cell samples and the alignment of particles’ flow, thereby maximizing the commercialization potential of this sophisticated technology. In lab-scale modeling, the authors demonstrated a high separation purity level of 92%. By allowing manipulation at single-cell level using magnetic fields only, the technology minimizes any stress on the cells during isolation processes. The authors developed a user- friendly interface utilizing microfluidic channels for the extraction of CTCs from whole blood using this hybrid device. Additionally, the authors are conducting further adaptation studies to apply this technology to various downstream techniques, such as genomic analysis and protein profiling. Citation Format: Chanhee Lee, Hun Heo, Youngwoo Park, Donghee Ko. Novel high-purity CTC isolation technology for downstream analysis: A “Cell- Circuit” magnetophoretic-microfluidic hybrid device [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr A029.

Abstract PR010: High purity CTC RNA sequencing identifies poor prognosis lineage states in castrate resistant prostate cancer

Abstract Background: Metastatic prostate cancer is an androgen receptor (AR) driven disease for which multiple AR targeted therapies are FDA approved, leading to improvements in patient outcomes. However, development of treatment resistance remains universal, driven by AR alterations as well as lineage state transitions that bypass AR signaling and culminate in neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) with poor prognosis. Liquid biopsies could enable longitudinal molecular analysis to identify such lineage transitions, but bulk RNA sequencing of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been limited by the challenge of isolating sufficiently pure samples for global signaling pathway analysis. We developed a novel approach to CTC purification that results in purity comparable to tissue biopsies and performed the first large-scale CTC RNA-seq study in a multi-institutional cohort of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Using this approach, we identified multiple prostate cancer lineage states associated with prognosis. Methods: 273 blood samples were collected from 117 patients with histologically confirmed metastatic prostate cancer treated at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. CTCs were isolated with our automated microfluidic technology integrating negative and positive selection for CTC enrichment. CTCs were captured immunomagnetically followed by RNA isolation on chip and RNA sequencing. A modification of the ESTIMATE algorithm was used to infer sample tumor purity, and CIBERSORTx was used to infer immune content. Overall survival (OS) was defined as date of death or last contact relative to first CTC sample collection. Results: 146 samples from 70 patients met our &amp;gt;50% purity threshold for gene expression pathway analysis. Single sample pathway analysis identified four CTC transcriptional phenotypes: luminal A (high AR signaling, intermediate proliferation), luminal B (high AR signaling, high proliferation), low proliferation, and neuroendocrine. Compared to patients with low CTC burden/low tumor purity (median OS NR, n=63), patients with luminal A (n=21) and low proliferation (n=12) phenotypes had similar survival, while patients with luminal B (n=18) and NE (n=3) had markedly shorter survival (LumB: median OS 6 months, HR 9.1, log rank p&amp;lt;0.0001, NE: median OS 3.7 months, HR 11.8, log rank p=0.0019). Conclusion: We report the largest CTC RNA sequencing cohort of patients with metastatic prostate cancer and demonstrate that CTC RNA-seq identifies prostate cancer lineage states mirroring those described in tissue profiling. In addition to an NE phenotype concordant with tissue histology and associated with markedly inferior overall survival, we identified a more common luminal B CTC subtype defined by persistent AR signaling and high proliferation and associated with poor prognosis comparable to NEPC. Citation Format: Marina N Sharifi, Jamie M Sperger, Amy K Taylor, Katharine E Tippins, Shannon R Reese, Viridiana Carreno, Katherine R Kaufmann, Alex H Chang, Luke A Nunamaker, Charlotte Linebarger, Kyle T Helzer, Matthew Bootsma, Grace C Blitzer, John Floberg, David Kosoff, Rana R McKay, Xiao X Wei, Shuang G Zhao, Joshua M Lang. High purity CTC RNA sequencing identifies poor prognosis lineage states in castrate resistant prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr PR010.

Abstract B041: High purity CTC RNA sequencing identifies poor prognosis lineage states in castrate resistant prostate cancer

Abstract This abstract is being presented as a short talk in the scientific program. A full abstract is printed in the Proffered Abstracts section (PR010) of the Conference Program/Proceedings. Citation Format: Marina N Sharifi, Jamie M Sperger, Amy K Taylor, Katharine E Tippins, Shannon R Reese, Viridiana Carreno, Katherine R Kaufmann, Alex H Chang, Luke A Nunamaker, Charlotte Linebarger, Kyle T Helzer, Matthew Bootsma, Grace C Blitzer, John Floberg, David Kosoff, Rana R McKay, Xiao X Wei, Shuang G Zhao, Joshua M Lang. High purity CTC RNA sequencing identifies poor prognosis lineage states in castrate resistant prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr B041.

Abstract B059: Assessment of ctDNA analysis methods using high purity ctDNA from the aqueous humor of retinoblastoma eyes

Abstract Background: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) paired with methods like ichorCNA and DELFI has become a valuable approach for detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). However, the mixture of ctDNA with non-tumor cfDNA in plasma complicates accurate validation of ctDNA detection methods. In contrast, aqueous humor (AH) from treatment-free retinoblastoma (RB) eyes is uniquely enriched in ctDNA, providing an optimal source for generating reference samples. This study leverages AH-derived biological ctDNA to evaluate two established ctDNA analysis methods. Methods: Biologically derived cfDNA mixtures were created by combining WGS reads from two AH samples with pooled reads from non-tumor blood samples (N=20). One AH sample (RB_023_OS) showed &amp;gt;99% tumor fraction (TFx) with ichorCNA, while the other (RB_025_OD) had confirmed presence of ctDNA based on &amp;gt;99% variant allele frequency (VAF) for an RB1 variant, despite being somatic copy number alteration (SCNA)-negative. Mixtures were prepared across a range of TFx values (0.01-0.5) and unique sequencing coverages (0.1x, 0.5x, 1x, and 2x). TFx was calculated using ichorCNA with standard parameters and optimized parameters for low TFx levels. We also tested an enrichment strategy targeting shorter ctDNA fragments (≤150 base pairs) and generated genome-wide fragmentation profiles using the DELFI method to assess short-to-long (S:L) fragment ratios across 5-Mb bins. Results: We evaluated the impact of sequencing coverage, parameter selection, and fragment size selection on TFx estimation by ichorCNA. Standard ichorCNA parameters demonstrated limited sensitivity, detecting ctDNA only in samples with TFx of 5-6% or higher. Increasing sequencing coverage did not substantially improve the limit of detection (LoD) or the accuracy of TFx quantification. Optimized parameters reduced the LoD to 3% TFx, but only in samples with ≥0.5x coverage, indicating a dependence on sequencing depth for accurate ctDNA detection and quantification. In RB_025_OD, where no SCNAs were present, ichorCNA failed to estimate the TFx despite an RB1 VAF exceeding 99%, highlighting the platform's reliance on SCNAs for accurate TFx detection. Short fragment enrichment (≤150 base pairs) significantly increased TFx values across all samples but could be mapped back to the original TFx values accurately using polynomial curve fitting (R-squared=0.97). Genome- wide fragmentation profiles showed increasing deviation from non-tumor controls as TFx increased, with SCNA-positive samples exhibiting greater deviations than SCNA-negative samples. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the dependence on sequencing coverage and the presence of SCNAs by current ctDNA analysis methods, highlighting their limitations for accurately detecting ctDNA in challenging scenarios. Citation Format: Nikki Higa, Peter Kuhn, Jesse L Berry, Liya Xu. Assessment of ctDNA analysis methods using high purity ctDNA from the aqueous humor of retinoblastoma eyes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Liquid Biopsy: From Discovery to Clinical Implementation; 2024 Nov 13-16; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2024;30(21_Suppl):Abstract nr B059.

Multi‐Color Optical Quasiparticle Laser Source Formed of a Pr3+ Doped Fiber Laser with a Dual‐Output Coupling Geometry

AbstractThe generation of multicolor (523, 605, 637, and 719 nm) optical quasiparticles (bimerons and skyrmions with topologically protected polarization textures) from a diode‐pumped Pr3+‐doped fluoro‐aluminate glass (Pr3+: WPFG) fiber simply with intra‐cavity plano‐convex lens and wedge‐plate and without any wavefront control elements, such as a spatial light modulator is demonstrated. This robust and cost‐saving system efficiently produces Bloch‐, Néel‐, and anti‐quasiparticles with high mode purity. In particular, the green optical quasiparticles will have the potential to explore many applications in materials science and biotechnologies.

Simplified mathematical model of oxy-fuel combustion of municipal solid waste in the grate furnace: effect of different flue gas recirculation rates and comparison with conventional mode

Bioenergy carbon capture technology (BioCCS or BECCS) plays a key role in the European Green Deal, which aims to decarbonize industry and energy sectors, resulting in the production of energy with negative CO2 emissions. Due to the biogenic origin of carbon contained in municipal solid waste (MSW), the application of carbon capture in waste incinera-tion plants can be classified as BioCCS. Thus, this technology has attracted scientists' attention recently since it reduces excessive waste and emissions of carbon dioxide. Currently, there are four incineration plants in the Netherlands, Norway and Japan, in which CO2 capture is implemented; however, they are based on the post-combustion technique since it is the most mature method and not requires many changes in the system. Nevertheless, the separation of CO2 from the flue gas flow, which contains mostly nitrogen, is complex and causes a large drop in the total performance of the system. Oxy-fuel combustion technology involves the replacement of air as an oxidizer into high purity oxygen and recirculated exhaust gas. As a result, CO2-rich gas is produced that is practically ready for capture. The main goal of the study is to develop a math-ematical model of oxy-waste combustion to answer the research questions, such as how the composition of oxidant that is supplied to the process affects the combustion performance. The model includes all important processes taking place within the chamber, such as pyrolysis, char burnout and gas combustion over the grate. The results of the work will contribute to the development of oxy-waste incineration plants and will be useful for design purposes.

Inkjet printing of mixed layers comprising multinary semiconductor quantum dots and charge transport materials for light‐emitting diode displays

AbstractQuantum dots (QDs) are important luminescent structures with applications in wide‐color‐gamut displays requiring exceptional color reproducibility. Multinary semiconductor QDs are expected to serve as eco‐friendly materials to replace conventional QDs owing to the narrow spectral widths and tunable bandgaps of these QDs. However, the application of multinary QDs, which tend to exhibit defect‐related emissions, to QD light‐emitting diode (QLED) displays will require electroluminescence to be obtained from QLEDs incorporating inkjet‐printed emitting layers. The present work examines QLEDs exhibiting vibrant color emissions based on blue‐emitting Zn–Se–Te QDs, green‐emitting Ag–In–Ga–S QDs, and red‐emitting Ag–Cu–In–Ga–S QDs. Each such QLED contains QD emitting layers comprising a mixture of charge transport materials. The spectra obtained from these RGB QLEDs fabricated by spin‐coating show very high color purity. Passive matrix QLED displays incorporating these QDs are also fabricated by inkjet printing to demonstrate the high color purity that can be obtained from multinary QDs in displays. In conjunction with passive matrix driving, these displays produce clear moving images with vibrant electroluminescence originating from the multinary QDs. The present results indicate that these QDs have significant potential for utilization in wide‐color‐gamut displays.

Optimizing Genomic DNA Extraction from Avian Feathers: A Modified Phenol-Chloroform Approach for Enhanced Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness.

The procurement of blood and tissue samples for DNA extraction in avian species intended for molecular studies is associated with the induction of discomfort and pain in the subjects, compounded by practical challenges in application and ethical considerations. Consequently, feathers have emerged as a more prevalent source for molecular investigations, particularly in the fields of poultry and ornithology. However, the effective extraction of DNA from feathers necessitates the breakdown of the hard keratinized tissue within the feather structure. This study aimed to devise a highly efficient, cost-effective, and easily adaptable Modified Phenol-Chloroform (MPC) approach for genomic DNA extraction from feathers, addressing shortcomings identified in previous studies on feather-based DNA isolation. The MPC method was employed to extract genomic DNA from feather samples obtained from six distinct avian species (chicken, guinea fowl, canary, pigeon, emu, and goose). Comparative evaluation of DNA isolation efficiency was conducted by employing two different commercial DNA kits alongside the MPC method. The results showed significantly higher DNA concentrations (ng/ml) from chicken feathers using the MPC method compared to those obtained with commercial kits (p < 0.05), along with high DNA purity (1.83 ± 0.11). Subsequent PCR experiments, employing nuclear and mitochondrial DNA-specific primers, illustrated the effective amplification of short and long fragments from MPC-isolated DNA samples. In contrast to commercial kits, the findings underscore the successful application of the MPC method in isolating high-quality genomic DNA from feathers characterized by elevated keratin content.

Selection of optimal extraction and RT-PCR protocols for stool RNA detection of colorectal cancer associated immune genes

There is a growing interest in using fecal mRNA transcripts as biomarkers for non-invasive detection of colorectal cancer (CRC). The following study compares different RNA extraction and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) methods for mRNA detection in stool and identifies a robust and sensitive protocol. A combination of the Stool total RNA purification kit (Norgen) and the Superscript III one-step RT-PCR kit (Invitrogen) provided high RNA purity and sensitive and consistent mRNA detection, making them well-suited candidates for large-scale studies. We tested the protocol by detecting the mRNA of several immune genes (CXCL1, IL8, IL1B, IL6, PTGS2, and SPP1) in 22 CRCs, 24 adenomatous polyps, and 22 control stool samples. All these inflammatory markers, except for CXCL1, showed a strong association with CRC. Cancer stool samples showed increased levels of IL1B, IL8, and PTGS2 transcripts compared to polyp and control groups. Thus, this work supports the potential use of fecal mRNA as biomarkers for CRC detection.

Noninvasive Immunotyping and Immunotherapy Monitoring of Lung Cancers via Nuclear Imaging of LAG-3 and PD-L1.

Immunotherapy has significantly improved cancer patient survival, while its efficacy remains limited due to the reliance on a single marker like PD-L1 as well as its spatiotemporal heterogeneity. To address this issue, combining lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) with PD-L1 is proposed for identifying immunotypes and monitoring immunotherapy through nuclear imaging. In short, 99mTc-HYNIC-αLAG-3 and 99mTc-HYNIC-αPD-L1 probes are synthesized using anti-human LAG-3 and PD-L1 antibodies, respectively. With high radiochemical purity and in vitro stability, these probes are confirmed to specifically bind to LAG-3 or PD-L1 in LAG3+ A549, LAG3- A549, and H1975 cells. SPECT/CT imaging of both probes showed specific in vivo tumor uptake in multiple lung cancer models, with significant linear correlation with ex vivo tumor uptake and immunohistochemical expression levels of LAG-3/PD-L1. Based on this, dual-index imaging was performed to simultaneously quantify LAG-3 and PD-L1. SPECT/CT imaging of 99mTc-HYNIC-αLAG-3 and 125I-αPD-L1 successfully distinguished four immunotypes. In addition, SPECT/CT imaging revealed LAG-3 upregulation in LLC-bearing LAG-3 humanized mice resistant to immunotherapy. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the feasibility of nuclear imaging of LAG-3 and PD-L1 for both noninvasive immunotyping and immunotherapy monitoring, thus offering novel perspectives on forecasting immunotherapy response, uncovering resistance mechanism, and optimizing combination treatment regimens.

The Influence of Temperature and Stoichiometry on the Optical Properties of CdSe Nanoplatelets

Colloidal quasi-two-dimensional cadmium chalcogenide nanoplatelets have attracted considerable interest due to their narrow excitonic emission and absorption bands, making them promising candidates for advanced optical applications. In this study, the synthesis of quasi-two-dimensional CdSe NPLs with a thickness of 3.5 monolayers was investigated to understand the effects of synthesis temperature on their stoichiometry, morphology, and optical properties. The NPLs were synthesized using a colloidal method with temperatures ranging from 170 °C to 210 °C and optimized precursor ratios. Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis was employed to determine stoichiometry, while high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to analyze the structural and optical characteristics. The results showed a strong correlation between increasing synthesis temperature and the enlargement of nanoscroll diameters, indicating dynamic growth. The best results in terms of uniformity, stoichiometry, and optical properties were achieved at a growth temperature of 200 °C. At this temperature, no additional optical bands associated with secondary populations or hetero-confinement were observed, indicating the high purity of the sample. Samples synthesized at lower temperatures exhibited deviations in stoichiometry and optical performance, suggesting the presence of residual organic compounds.

Synthesis of SrTiO3 nanoparticles for photocatalytic applications

Due to the heightened emphasis on environmental protection and the escalating demand for renewable energy sources, the potential applications of strontium titanate (SrTiO3) nanoparticles in photocatalysis have shown remarkable promise. With rapid advancements in technological capabilities, the standards for SrTiO3 photocatalytic materials have soared. Researchers have relentlessly delved into and innovated techniques for preparing strontium titanate powders, striving to yield nanocrystalline SrTiO3 that exhibits specific morphologies, high purity, superior dispersibility, and exceptional photocatalytic efficiency, while continually refining the properties of these powders. The paper encapsulates the advancements in preparation methodologies and photocatalytic attributes of perovskite SrTiO3 nanoparticles, encompassing diverse synthetic routes such as hydrothermal synthesis, sol-gel process, chemical precipitation, solid-state reaction, sonochemical technique, and composite modification strategies. The characteristics, merits, demerits, and prevailing challenges associated with each synthesis technique are thoroughly and analyzed. Ultimately, this review serves as a valuable reference and foundation for the synthesis, modification, and application of SrTiO3 nanoparticle photocatalysts, fostering their development and practical implementation in environmental remediation and renewable energy technologies.

Silver Nanomaterials In Antimicrobial Applications

The article provides an overview of the different preparation methods, antimicrobial mechanisms and antimicrobial applications of silver nanomaterials. The synthesis methods of silver nanomaterials are mainly divided into physical synthesis, chemical synthesis and biosynthesis, among which biosynthesis is widely used due to its high purity and environmentally friendly products. The antibacterial mechanism of silver nanomaterials is relatively complex, which is the result of multiple ways such as disrupting the integrity of cell membranes, interfering with protein synthesis, affecting cell signaling and inhibiting DNA replication. The antibacterial performance, as the main property of silver nanomaterials, is widely used in fields such as biomedicine, antibacterial materials and wastewater treatment.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Bismuth Ferrites Nanoparticles in the Inhibition of E. Coli and S. Aureus Bacteria.

In this work, bismuth ferrites (BFO) nanoparticles were produced in the form of using sol-gel technique, followed by annealing in a tube furnace in temperatures from 400 °C to 650 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the formation of small sizes nanoparticles (NPs) with high purity. Structural analysis displayed that annealing at 600 °C could make BFO NPs be fitted to rhombohedral space group (R3c), with small quantity of spurious phases. The sizes of the BFO nanoparticles determined by transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) are between 50 to 100 nm. To evaluate the efficiency of BFO in antimicrobial susceptibility tests, the nanoparticles were dispersed through cand tested agar diffusion method and dilution in a 96 well plate using a Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative strain (Escherichia coli). The antibacterial activity of the BFO NPs was tested at concentrations of 2 mg/mL with MIC greater than 60 μg/mL for both bacteria.

Validation of Radiosynthesis and First in-Human Dosimetry of 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41: A Proof of Concept Study.

Background: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as UBI-29-41 offer a distinctive approach for precise detection due to their unique interactions with bacteria and makes them promising candidates for specific and selective imaging. The study was aimed to corroborate the in-house manual synthesis of 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41, evaluate its uptake in patients with suspected infection, and estimate of patient-specific dosimetry to ensure optimal clinical application. Materials and Methods: 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41 was synthesized by using a variable amount of UBI-29-41 (60-90 μg) to 555 MBq of Ga-68 in 0.05 M Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and heating the reaction sample for 12 min at 90°C at pH: 3.5-4 to obtain the radiopeptide with high yield and high radiochemical purity (RCP). 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41 positron emission tomography/Computed tomography (CT) scans at variable timepoints were done to evaluate its biodistribution and maximum uptake time. Furthermore, patient-specific dosimetric estimation was done using the HERMES software. Results: A total of 5 μg/37 MBq (5 μg/mCi) of NOTA-UBI-29-41 for 12 min at 90°C were the optimal parameters to obtain 88%-90% of yield and 98%-99 % of RCP. 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41 showed expeditious blood clearance and high renal excretion. The optimal time for imaging of infection with 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41 was found to be at 60 min postinjection (n = 8). The critical organ was the urinary bladder, receiving an average dose of 138.02 ± 45.92 µSv/MBq, followed by 53.81 ± 13.72 µSv/MBq for kidneys with a mean effective dose of 1.52 ± 0.64 mSv. Conclusion: The protocol for in-house manual labeling of 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41 was reproducible, providing high yield and RCP. 68Ga-NOTA-UBI-29-41 administration was found to be safe and nontoxic. The favorable biodistribution and the first-in-human patient-specific dosimetry ensure optimal clinical application.

Bamboo-derived aerogel with atomically dispersed Co as a high-performance bifunctional electrocatalyst for durable zinc-air batteries

The development of highly efficient and durable bifunctional electrocatalysts is crucial for rechargeable zinc-air batteries, which have garnered significant attention as a promising sustainable energy storage technology. Herein, a novel Co-N-C-1050 catalyst is synthesized using a high-temperature gas transport method, where high purity cobalt powder and bamboo biomass aerogel are treated with ammonia gas at 1050 °C. The resulting catalyst exhibits a 3D interconnected porous network composed of dense carbon fibers, which atomically dispersed Co, N, and C elements are uniformly distributed. The synergistic integration of highly active Co single atoms and N-doped 3D carbon fiber aerogel enables Co-N-C-1050 to demonstrate excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic performance for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), comparable to commercial Pt/C and RuO2 catalysts. This catalyst has a half-wave potential of 0.842 V for ORR and a potential of 1.472 V at 10 mA cm−2 for OER, outperforming N-C-1050 and benchmark catalysts. A zinc-air battery is driven by Co-N-C-1050 achieves a high power density of 135 mW/cm2 and exceptional stability over 138 h of charge/discharge cycling, surpassing the higher-cost Pt/C + RuO2 catalyst. This biomass aerogel based single-site Co-N-C catalyst offers a promising approach for developing high-efficiency and long-cycle-life zinc-air batteries.