Silica Nanoparticles Research Articles

Designing of amiloride loaded citrate functionalized amorphous silica nanoparticles to investigate its genotoxic and cytotoxic potential

In the present work, silica-based nanocarrier for the anticancer drug, amiloride have been synthesized and characterized using various physicochemical techniques. The aim of this work emphasis on investigating the physicochemical properties and cytotoxic effects of citrate-functionalized amiloride loaded silica nanoparticles. Silica nanoparticles synthesis was carried out via condensation reaction, then coated by tris sodium citrate, followed by their functionalization using amiloride through EDC-NHS reaction. SEM and HR-XRD analysis indicated the formation of amorphous spherical silica nanoparticles. The existence of citrate coating was evident from FT-IR and TGA results, which were supported by DLS and zeta potential studies. The formation of amiloride conjugated citrate coated silica nanoparticles (SiNPs-Cit@Ami) was confirmed by the DLS, Zeta potential and UV-Visible spectroscopy. Size of SiNPs-Cit@Ami nanoparticles was found to be around 80nm using TEM. Additionally, these nanoparticles showed high loading efficiency and time-dependent release of amiloride. DNA binding studies were examined using UV–Visible, Fluorescence spectroscopic and Competitive fluorescence studies. The results indicate that SiNPs-Cit@Ami bind to Ct-DNA via minor groove binding mode. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of SiNPs-Cit@Ami on HepG2 cell lines was found to be higher than amiloride alone. Our findings suggest that SiNPs-Cit@Ami can be employed as a promising candidate for cancer mitigation.

Morphology and Temporal Interactions of Silica Particles Influence the Chemotherapeutic Cancer Cell Death

Encapsulation of drugs into nanocarriers is proven to be highly promising approach in reducing drug toxicity and enhancing therapeutic efficacy. However, controlling the loading efficiency and capacity, and release of therapeutics at specific disease site has remained a key challenge, particularly for toxic chemotherapeutic drugs. This work explored the effect of treatment with empty silica nanoparticles (SNPs) and a chemotherapeutic drug either together (i.e. co-treatment) or in tandem (i.e. temporally spaced) with the SNPs on the cell ablation ability of the drug. The study also investigated whether the efficacy of the drug in response to these treatments was dependent on the morphology of particles. SNPs of four different morphologies (solid: SSNPs, dendritic: DSNPs, mesoporous: MSNPs, and rod: RSNP) were used, while cisplatin (CisPt) served as model chemotherapeutic. The efficacy of CisPt as a function of SNPs morphology and temporal treatment strategy was tested in HeLa cells. The results indicated that the morphology of particles as well as treatment strategy (i.e. co-incubation and post treatment) had an impact on not only the cell viability but also the cell death pathways, as evidenced by varying IC50 values and the flow cytometry analysis. Interestingly, co-treatment of SNPs with CisPt resulted in an across-the-board lower IC50 value compared to when the cells were first treated with SNPs for 24h followed by CisPt treatment and even when CisPt was loaded into the particles for most of the SNPs.

Microscopic study on the memory effect of methane hydrate in the presence of silica nanoparticles: Ⅱ. Residual structure hypothesis & impurity imprinting hypothesis

Based on the hydrate dissociation mechanism and guest supersaturation hypothesis studied in the first part of this series, methane hydrate reformation characteristics affected by memory effect regarding the residual structures hypothesis and impurity imprints hypothesis is further studied to clarify the microscopic mechanism of methane hydrate memory effect during combustible ice exploitation. The initial molecular dynamics simulation configurations containing hydrate residual structures and silica nanoparticles were captured from hydrate dissociation simulation. By analyzing the distribution and transportation of methane molecules, hydrate clusters, and silica nanoparticles, the macroscopically recognized three-stage process of induction-growth-equilibrium for methane hydrate reformation has been verified from microscopic insight. Besides, the orderly arrangement of methane molecules around hydrate residual structures has been found to be essential to promote the growth of hydrate clusters. Moreover, the mutual adsorption between silica nanoparticles-guest nanobubbles and the mutual aggregation between silica nanoparticles-hydrate clusters both affect hydrate reformation process. Combined with the main conclusions derived from the first part of this series, it is found that hydrate memory effect diminishes as hydrate dissociation equilibriums. Thence, the microscopic analysis indicated that the methane hydrate reformation memory effect is influenced by multiple factors, where residual structures are the basis, supersaturated guest is the driving force, and silica nanoparticles are potential threats to form aggregates plugging.

Microscopic study on the memory effect of methane hydrate in the presence of silica nanoparticles: Ⅰ. Dissociation mechanism & guest supersaturated hypothesis

As a key issue emerged in the exploitation of combustible ice resources, the memory effect inducing hydrate reformation in sand-containing dissociated-water system is still ambiguous. Among them, methane hydrate dissociation kinetics and guest supersaturated hypothesis for methane hydrate reformation are the primary issues to be addressed. A molecular dynamics simulation system where methane hydrate interacts with surface-hydroxylated silica nanoparticles was established to simulate dissociation process, which is necessary to construct hydrate reformation systems for further microscopic study on hydrate memory effect. The transportation mechanism of methane during hydrate dissociation in sand-containing aqueous system was elucidated. Based on this, hydrate-dissociated systems with methane supersaturated were captured, and molecular dynamics simulations were carried out to further study hydrate reformation mechanism regarding the guest supersaturated hypothesis. By analyzing the distribution and transportation of methane, hydrate clusters, and silica nanoparticles, it can be concluded that the hydrate-like orderly arrangement of methane that are dissolved in the solution or on the surface of nanobubbles are necessary to trigger hydrate memory effect by inducing the reformation of hydrate clusters, while the silica nanoparticles can inhibit the reformation of hydrate clusters by disturbing the arrangement of methane molecules and water molecules. Thence, the microscopic analysis indicated that supersaturated guest molecules is vital to the occurrence of hydrate memory effect and its effect varies between the supersaturated states.

Mixed Systems of Quaternary Ammonium Foam Drainage Agent with Carbon Quantum Dots and Silica Nanoparticles for Improved Gas Field Performance.

Foam drainage agents enhance gas production by removing wellbore liquids. However, due to the ultra-high salinity environments of the Hechuan gas field (salinity up to 32.5 × 104 mg/L), no foam drainage agent is suitable for this gas field. To address this challenge, we developed a novel nanocomposite foam drainage system composed of quaternary ammonium and two types of nanoparticles. This work describes the design and synthesis of a quaternary ammonium foam drainage agent and nano-engineered stabilizers. Nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether sulfosuccinate quaternary ammonium foam drainage agent was synthesized using maleic anhydride, sodium chloroacetate, N,N-dimethylpropylenediamine, etc., as precursors. We employed the Stöber method to create hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. Carbon quantum dots were then prepared and functionalized with dodecylamine. Finally, carbon quantum dots were incorporated into the mesopores of silica nanoparticles to enhance stability. Through optimization, the best performance was achieved with a (quaternary ammonium foam drainage agents)-(carbon quantum dots/silica nanoparticles) ratio of 5:1 and a total dosage of 1.1%. Under harsh conditions (salinity 35 × 104 mg/L, condensate oil 250 cm3/m3, temperature 80 °C), the system exhibited excellent stability with an initial foam height of 160 mm, remaining at 110 mm after 5 min. Additionally, it displayed good liquid-carrying capacity (160 mL), low surface tension (27.91 mN/m), and a long half-life (659 s). These results suggest the effectiveness of nanoparticle-enhanced foam drainage systems in overcoming high-salinity challenges. Previous foam drainage agents typically exhibited a salinity resistance of no more than 25 × 104 mg/L. In contrast, this innovative system demonstrates a superior salinity tolerance of up to 35 × 104 mg/L, addressing a significant gap in available agents for high-salinity gas fields. This paves the way for future development of advanced foam systems for gas well applications with high salinity.

Dual-functionalized ORMOSIL nanoparticles to enhance superhydrophobicity of epoxy based coatings

Organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles bearing fluoro-octyl and glycidoxy-propyl groups were prepared by two simple methods: i) modification of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles with the corresponding organo-silanes and ii) sol-gel process involving tetraethoxy-silane in the presence of the organo-silanes. These hydrophobic ORMOSIL particles were mixed with epoxy resin/amino-based hardener in 2-propanol medium and sprayed on the surface of carbon-steel substrate. The epoxy coating containing ORMOSIL prepared by modification of SiO2 nanoparticle presented outstanding water repellence with water contact angle (WCA) of ≈ 162° and high roll-off ability of the water droplets. Furthermore, excellent adhesion to the substrate was evidenced by sandpaper abrasion and tape peeling test. The effect of the solid content in the 2-propanol dispersion on the superhydrophobicity character was investigated. It was observed that the spray dispersion with higher solid concentration resulted in better superhydrophobicity response, mechanical durability and effective self-cleaning behavior. The hierarchical structure and roughness were identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The coatings presented in this work are strong candidates for large scale production due to the low-cost and simplicity of the spraying technique and the economically feasibility of the involved compounds.

Experimental analysis of tensile strength of 6-layer carbon/kevlar/epoxy hybrid composite reinforced with nano-graphene/silica nanoparticles

The main aim of the present research is to improve the static tensile strength of Carbon/Kevlar/Epoxy hybrid composite by adding different nanoparticles. To this end, two well-known nanoparticles namely Nano-Silica and Nano-Graphene were considered. Also, the total percentage of adding nanoparticle reinforcing elements to the hybrid composite was considered equal to 1.5%. In this way, five categories of reinforced hybrid composites, including 0%Nano-Silica+0%Nano-Graphene, 1.5%Nano-Silica+0%Nano-Graphene, 1.2%Nano-Silica+0.3%Nano-Graphene, 1.0%Nano-Silica+0.5%Nano-Graphene, and 0.75%Nano-Silica+0.75%Nano-Graphene, were studied. Composite samples were prepared using manual layout technique and tensile tests were performed according to the ASTM standard. It was found that the tensile strength increases with the addition of nanoparticles to the Carbon/Kevlar/Epoxy hybrid composite, but these two do not always have a direct and linear relationship with each other. Moreover, it was shown that the addition of 1.2% silica nanoparticles and 0.3% nanographene leads to an increase of tensile strength up to 36%, and this is the best optimal percentage of additive nanoparticles in this research.

Reactivity of a plagioclase concentrate from the South African Bushveld Igneous Complex via extractive acid leaching vs. extractive roasting-leaching processes

This study compared the reactivity of a plagioclase concentrate subjected to two processes: (1) direct acid leaching and (2) thermochemical treatment with ammonium sulfate followed by leaching. The sample was prepared from coarse-grained pyroxenite rock retrieved from the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa. It contained 78% plagioclase (labradorite), 9% orthopyroxene (enstatite) and 13% quartz. The elements contained in the concentrate were categorized into three groups based on their susceptibility to direct acid extraction after 6 h of leaching. Group 1 consisted of the highly reactive main elements of plagioclase (Al, Ca and Na, with extraction efficiencies of 95%, 89% and 81%, respectively). Group 2 included elements predominantly present in enstatite (Mg and Fe with extraction efficiencies of 41% and 55%, respectively). Group 3 was composed of slowly extractable Si (25%) from mostly plagioclase. Increasing the duration of direct acid leaching to 24 h had no effect on the extraction of Group 1 elements, whereas the extraction of Mg and Fe (Group 2) increased to >60%, and that of Si (Group 3) increased from 25 to 80%. The latter correlated with the nearly complete disappearance of the plagioclase blueprint in the XRD pattern of the residues generated after 24 h of leaching. In contrast, plagioclase had limited reactivity with ammonium sulfate during thermochemical treatment. Direct acid leaching of plagioclase-rich tailings can therefore generate leachates to be used as precursors for the preparation of value-added products, such as silica nanoparticles via a sol–gel route and calcium aluminate nanoparticles via solution combustion.

Simple fabrication of breathable poly (vinylidene fluoride) fibrous membranes decorated by silica nanoparticles with enhanced waterproof property

In recent years, scientists have undertaken various preparation approaches to improve the waterproof and moisture permeability of fiber membranes, among which electrospinning has emerged as the simplest and most effective one. In this paper, poly (vinylidene fluoride) /silica (PVDF/SiO2) fibrous membranes were prepared by one-step electrospinning combined with heat treatment. The morphology, surface wettability, water resistance and moisture permeability of the fibrous membranes were also characterized. When the concentration of PVDF was 12 wt.%, the nanofiber membranes exhibited the most uniform and optimal morphology. In addition, the fiber membranes not only exhibited a high water contact angle (WCA) (135.56 °) and a small maximum pore size (dmax) (1.77 μm), but also demonstrated a large hydrostatic pressure (116.86 kPa) and a moderate water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) (3.53 kg m-2 d-1). The PVDF/SiO2 fibrous membranes with good waterproof and moisture permeability obtained in this work are expected to improve the comfort of protective textiles and expand the application range.

Direct determination of silicon overestimates the accumulation and translocation of SiO2 nanoparticles in rice seedlings

Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) have numerous applications in agriculture, but may also pose significant risks to plants. Nevertheless, their bioaccumulation, an important determinant of their risks, was often not accurately measured due to the lack of reliable methods. In this study, the accumulation in rice seedlings of SiO2 NPs of different sizes without and with a gold nanoparticle core (Au@SiO2 NPs) was examined. Potential interference from SiO2 NP dissolution was minimized by lowering the pH of the uptake medium, which did not result in any observable adverse bioeffects. Under this condition, the direct determination of Si showed the significant accumulation of SiO2 NPs in roots and shoots and a decrease in the accumulation of SiO2 NPs in shoots with increasing particle size. However, when accumulation was monitored using Au@SiO2 NPs, SiO2 NP accumulation was significantly higher when measured by direct Si determination than by Au determination, indicating that the former overestimates the accumulation of SiO2 NPs. Consequently, unlike direct Si determination, tracking the gold nanoparticle core revealed an increase in SiO2 NP accumulation in shoots with increasing particle size. Overall, accurate determination of SiO2 NP bioaccumulation is imperative for appropriate bioapplications and reliable biosafety assessments of these particles.

Sequestration of Ni2+ and Zn2+ utilising agricultural biowaste-based amorphous M−SiO2 and modified green M−SiO2/Fe3O4 nano-adsorbents: Modelling and electroplating wastewater performance

This work reports the synthesis of novel amorphous mesoporous silicon dioxide (M−SiO2) nanoparticles and modified hybrid green mesoporous silicon dioxide embedded magnetite (M−SiO2/Fe3O4) nanocomposite by one-pot co-precipitation green approach. The nano-adsorbents’ ability to sequester Ni2+ and Zn2+ ions was investigated in batch experiments using synthetic solutions. The M−SiO2/Fe3O4, having specific surface area of 171.71 m2/g and mesoporous diameters of 6.281 nm, exhibits soft ferromagnetism with a saturation magnetisation of 35.45 emu/g. Specific surface areas and mesoporous diameters of 909 m2/g and 2.288 nm were recorded for M−SiO2. The Langmuir isotherm, pseudo second order kinetic, and Elovich kinetic were found to be best fitted to explain the highest capability of adsorption. The Langmuir monolayer coverage (qmax) of 108.70 and 96.15 mg/g for Ni2+ and Zn2+ by M−SiO2/Fe3O4, respectively, was notably higher than M−SiO2 (80.65 and 72.46 mg/g). The best-fitted kinetics imply that chemisorption predominates on M−SiO2 and M−SiO2/Fe3O4 heterogeneous adsorption surfaces. Thermodynamic parameters confirm endothermic adsorption of cationic metals, and sequestration improved marginally at elevated temperatures. The lab scale cost estimation, magnetic separability and superior metal ions sequestration efficacy of M−SiO2/Fe3O4 nanocomposite up to five ad-desorption cycles with > 90 % regenerability render it an economically feasible and recyclable nano-adsorbent. The feasibility of cationic metals sequestration from electroplating effluent confirms an effective and cost-efficient environmentally friendly nano-adsorbent (M−SiO2/Fe3O4) for treatment of wastewater contaminated with potentially toxic metals.

Silicon dioxide and selenium nanoparticles enhance vase life and physiological quality in black magic roses

In contemporary floriculture, particularly within the cut flower industry, there is a burgeoning interest in innovative methodologies aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal and prolonging the postharvest longevity of floral specimens. Within this context, the application of nanotechnology, specifically the utilization of silicon and selenium nanoparticles, has emerged as a promising approach for augmenting the qualitative attributes and extending the vase life of cut roses. This study evaluated the impact of silicon dioxide (SiO2-NPs) and selenium nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in preservative solutions on the physio-chemical properties of ‘Black Magic’ roses. Preservative solutions were formulated with varying concentrations of SiO2-NPs (25 and 50 mg L−1) and Se-NPs (10 and 20 mg L−1), supplemented with a continuous treatment of 3% sucrose. Roses treated with 20 mg L−1 Se-NPs exhibited the lowest relative water loss, highest solution uptake, maximum photochemical performance of PSII (Fv/Fm), and elevated antioxidative enzyme activities. The upward trajectory of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in petals was mitigated by different levels of SiO2 and Se-NPs, with the lowest H2O2 and MDA observed in preservatives containing 50 mg L−1 SiO2- and 20 mg L−1 Se-NPs at the 15th day, surpassing controls and other treatments. Extended vase life and a substantial enhancement in antioxidative capacity were noted under Se and Si nanoparticles in preservatives. The levels of total phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanin increased during the vase period, particularly in the 50 and 20 mg L−1 Se-NPs and SiO2-NPs. Petal carbohydrate exhibited a declining trend throughout the longevity, with reductions of 8% and 66% observed in 20 mg L−1 Se-NPs and controls, respectively. The longest vase life was achieved with Se-NPs (20 mg L−1), followed by SiO2-NPs (50 mg L−1) up to 16.6 and 15th days, respectively. These findings highlight the significant potential of SiO2- and Se-NPs in enhancing the vase life and physiological qualities of ‘Black Magic’ roses, with SiO2-NPs showing broad-spectrum efficacy.

Synergistic effect of graphene oxide and silica nanocomposites towards multifunctional biomedical applications

The development of advanced nanomaterials (NMs) has recently gained significant attention because of their potential in addressing various biomedical and healthcare challenges. This study focuses on the synthesis of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and their nanocomposite with graphene oxide (GO-SiO2), using a multifunctional approach to enhance antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. The synthesis of the GO-SiO2 involves the controlled growth of SiO2 NPs on the surface of the graphene oxide (GO) sheets. The synthesized NPs were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy. The crystallite sizes of SiO2 and GO-SiO2 were found to be 23.07 nm and 32.07 nm, respectively, by XRD analysis and 27.03 nm and 43.11 nm, respectively, by SEM. The Band gap of SiO2 was decreased from 3.76eV to 3.45eV in GO-SiO2. Disc diffusion method was used to perform antibacterial activity whereas ampicillin and moxifloxacin were taken as reference drugs. Biofilm inhibitions and minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured by microtiter plate method. The composite has shown higher antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, S. aureus MDR, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, P. aeruginosa MDR, E. coli, and P. vulgaris as compared to SiO2 NPs and GO. When IC50 values were compared with those of control (acarbose), GO-SiO2 and SiO2 demonstrated the highest and lowest antidiabetic activities, respectively. A 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging process was used to evaluate the antioxidant potential of NMs using ascorbic acid as a reference. GO-SiO2 displayed the negligible IC50 value compared to both SiO2 and GO. The nanocomposite (GO-SiO2) has shown higher antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and antidiabetic potential as compared to those of GO and SiO2NPs.

Synergistic enhancement of oil recovery: Integrating anionic-nonionic surfactant mixtures, SiO2 nanoparticles, and polymer solutions for optimized crude oil extraction

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are essential for optimizing oil extraction from modern reservoirs. This research delved into the synergistic impact of combining anionic and nonionic surfactant mixtures with silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) in sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions, alongside the added enhancement of polymers, to improve crude oil recovery. The study comprehensively evaluated stability, rheological characteristics, interfacial tension (IFT) behavior, wettability alterations, and EOR experiments using mixtures of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and triton X-100 (TX-100) surfactants. Scenarios both with and without SiO2 NPs in a base solution containing 3000 ppm NaCl and 2000 ppm xanthan gum (XG) polymer were examined. Core flooding tests were carried out on San-Saba sandstone core specimens with low permeability. The stability tests and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis were performed to assess the stability of NPs in low saline-surfactant-polymer solution. It was observed that NPs significantly reduced the IFT between the test solutions and crude oil, with nanofluids exhibiting satisfactory stability at a 0.4 wt% SiO2 NPs concentration. Core flooding studies demonstrated a synergistic interaction between NPs and the binary surfactant-polymer mixture, resulting in substantially greater incremental recovery of oil in comparison with the case of using binary surfactant-polymer combination alone. The mechanisms contributing to EOR with nanofluids, such as IFT reduction and wettability alteration, were explored. Incorporating NPs at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 wt% led to incremental oil recoveries of 4.01 %, 12.35 %, and 12.73 % of the original oil in place (OOIP), respectively, as opposed to the recovery achieved using only SDS + TX-100 + XG. Consequently, these findings advance the understanding of the potential application of SiO2 NPs in combination with the binary surfactant-polymer mixture as effective chemical EOR agents. Additionally, these insights aid in identifying suitable sandstone reservoirs for nanofluid application, contributing to the optimization of oil recovery strategies.

Hierarchy-constructed superhydrophobic and transparent coating modified intraocular lens by layer-by-layer self-assembly for glistening reduction and antiadhesion

Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation surgery is the most effective treatment for cataract. However, glistening formed by the incoming liquid microvacuoles can significantly damage postoperative visual quality after prolonged implantation, for which there is still lack of effective clinical treatment. In this study, inspired by the amazing water-repellency of natural superhydrophobic surface, a functionalized IOL material modified with the superhydrophobic and transparent coating was prepared using layer-by-layer electrostatic self-assembly technique combined with fluorination. After the alternate deposition of multiple cationic/anionic polyelectrolytes and silica nanoparticles of varying sizes on IOL materials, the constructed multilayered films with special surface roughness were further fluorinated to reduce surface energy. In addition to its excellent superhydrophobicity and transparency, this multilayered coating could efficiently eliminate the glistening formation of IOL under accelerated condition in vitro. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments with water droplets, cells, and bacteria suggested the superior antiadhesion property of such coating modified materials. The biocompatibility evaluation, both in vitro and in vivo, demonstrated the great biocompatibility of the materials modified with superhydrophobic and transparent coating. Therefore, this multilayered coating with excellent superhydrophobic and transparent characteristics can provide an available approach aiming at anti-glistening and antiadhesion of IOL materials. Advances in the fabrication process of surface coating with specific functions will enhance the practical application and clinical success of modified IOLs.

Size photometry and fluorescence imaging of immobilized immersed extracellular vesicles.

Immunofluorescence analysis of individual extracellular vesicles (EVs) in common fluorescence microscopes is gaining popularity due to its accessibility and high fluorescence sensitivity; however, EV number and size are only measurable using fluorescent stains requiring extensive sample manipulations. Here we introduce highly sensitive label-free EV size photometry (SP) based on interferometric scattering (iSCAT) imaging of immersed EVs immobilized on a glass coverslip. We implement SP on a common inverted epifluorescence microscope with LED illumination and a simple 50:50 beamsplitter, permitting seamless integration of SP with fluorescence imaging (SPFI). We present a high-throughput SPFI workflow recording >10,000 EVs in 7min over ten 88×88µm2 fields of view, pre- and post-incubation imaging to suppress background, along with automated image alignment, aberration correction, spot detection and EV sizing. We achieve an EV sizing range from 37 to ∼220nm in diameter with a dual 440 and 740nm SP illumination scheme, and suggest that this range can be extended by more advanced image analysis or additional hardware customization. We benchmark SP to flow cytometry using calibrated silica nanoparticles and demonstrate superior, label-free sensitivity. We showcase SPFI's potential for EV analysis by experimentally distinguishing surface and volumetric EV dyes, observing the deformation of EVs adsorbed to a surface, and by uncovering distinct subpopulations in <100nm-in-diameter EVs with fluorescently tagged membrane proteins.

Delivery of Avocado Seed Extract Using Novel Charge-Switchable Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Galactose Surface Modified to Target Sorafenib-Resistant Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Sorafenib-resistant (SR) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a current serious problem in liver cancer treatment. Numerous phytochemicals derived from plants exhibit anticancer activity but have never been tested against drug-resistant cells. Avocado seed extract (APE) isolated by maceration was analysed for its phytochemical composition and anticancer activity. Novel design charge-switchable pH-responsive nanocarriers of aminated mesoporous silica nanoparticles with conjugated galactose (GMSN) were synthesised for delivering APE and their physicochemical properties were characterized. The drug loading efficiency (%LE) and entrapment efficiency (%EE) were evaluated. Anticancer activity of APE loaded GMSN was measured against HCC (HepG2, Huh-7) and SR-HCC (SR-HepG2). Anticancer activity of APE against non-resistant HepG2 (IC50 50.9 ± 0.83 μg mL-1), Huh-7 (IC50 42.41 ± 1.88 μg mL-1), and SR-HepG2 (IC50 62.58 ± 2.29 μg mL-1) cells was confirmed. The APE loaded GMSN had a diameter of 131.41 ± 14.41 nm with 41.08 ± 2.09%LE and 44.96 ± 2.26%EE. Galactose functionalization (55%) did not perturb the original mesoporous structure. The GMSN imparted positive surface charges, 10.3 ± 0.61mV at acidic medium pH 5.5 along with rapid release of APE 45% in 2h. The GMSN boosted cellular uptake by HepG2 and SR-HepG2 cells, whereas the amine functionalized facilitated their endosomal escape. Their anticancer activity was demonstrated in non-resistant HCC and SR-HCC cells with IC50 values at 30.73 ± 3.14 (HepG2), 21.86 ± 0.83 (Huh-7), 35.64 ± 1.34 (SR-HepG2) μg mL-1, respectively, in comparison to the control and non-encapsulated APE. APE loaded GMSN is highly effective against both non-resistant HCC and SR-HCC and warrants further in vivo investigation.

RFOR-DQHFEM: Hybrid relaxed first-Order reliability and differential quadrature hierarchical finite element method for multi-physics reliability analysis of conical shells

In this current work, a hybrid reliability analysis and theoretical frequency technique are suggested for the reliability response of conical shells. Two levels of analyses are proposed as the main loop of the reliability method for finding the failure probability and the second level applied in the main loop for giving the performance function of frequency applied in conical shell structures with multi-physics vibration analysis. A dynamical adjusting procedure is proposed for computing the relaxed factor using the enough descent condition inside the reliability method. The superior convergence rate is considered for selecting the relaxed factor of the proposed first-order reliability method named RFORM. An elastic-electro-mechanical model based on the Higher-Order Shear Deformation Theory (HSDT) is extended for frequency analysis of conical shells. The innovative numerical procedure named Differential Quadrature Hierarchical Finite Element Method (DQHFEM) as a robust framework for giving the vibration behavior of studied mechanical structures is applied for solving motion equations. The developing DQHFEM and RFORM are applied for the laminated, nanocomposite, and piezoelectric conical shell structures with multi-source uncertainties. Increasing the volume percentage of nanoparticles from 0% to 10% significantly enhances the reliability index, with carbon nanoparticles showing a 132% increase, silica nanoparticles showing a 97% increase, and other nanoparticles showing an approximate 40% increase. Also, as moisture content increases from 0% to 30%, the reliability index for a thickness-to-large-radius ratio of 0.2 drops by about five times. Excessive moisture levels (above 20%) result in a negative reliability index, indicating a hazardous condition.

GSH-responsive magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for efficient controlled drug delivery in tumor cells

In this study, glutathione (GSH)-responsive magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles grafted by disulfide organosilicon (SMNPs) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as controlled drug carriers. The nanoparticles exhibited consistent dispersion, considerable drug-loading capacity, and high saturation magnetization. Importantly, they demonstrated the ability to release doxorubicin (DOX) by up to 43% in a reducing tumor microenvironment, highlighting their potential for targeted therapy. In addition, the SMNPs displayed favorable biocompatibility, making them suitable for biomedical applications. Most notably, the SMNPs loaded with DOX effectively killed both HepG2 and HeLa cancer cells, while also showing efficient cellular uptake in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that SMNPs are a promising platform for magnetic-targeted and GSH-responsive delivery of therapeutic agents.

Multifunctional nanoplatforms based on alumina-coated mesoporous silica with potential for cancer theranostics applications

Multifunctional nanoplatforms based on mesoporous silica coated with alumina were successfully and sustainably synthesized using sodium silicate extracted from rice husk ash (RHA), demonstrating the potential for cancer theranostics. The hybrid nanostructures produced (C2-600 and C4-600), from two different calcination times, exhibited distinct morphologies, textural parameters, and degrees of mesoscopic organization. As expected, the Al2O3 coating on the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) reduced the specific surface area from 720 m2/g to 122 m2/g (C2-600) and 57 m2/g (C4-600), while preserving their mesoporous structure. Additionally, both C2-600 and C4-600 showed relatively good stability across a wide pH interval, with a zeta potential of ζ = -15 mV and hydrodynamic diameter (Dh) ranging from 160 to 670 nm, depending on the pH of the medium. These peculiar characteristics resulted in high encapsulation efficiency (EE ≈ 90%) for the doxorubicin (DOX) anticancer drug, as well as sustained drug release in simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.4). Appreciably, C4-600-DOX released approximately 83% of the drug over 96 hours and demonstrated significant biodegradation in simulated biological media. Furthermore, the hybrid nanoplatforms exhibited strong optical absorption between 250 and 420 nm, along with broad and intense photoluminescence (PL) in the near-infrared (NIR) region (680-900 nm), which is highly desirable for NIR-fluorescence diagnostic imaging. Notably, the hybrid nanoplatforms without DOX were non-cytotoxic to fibroblast and Caco-2 cells, while the DOX-loaded nanoplatforms exhibited selectivity and potent anticancer activity, inhibiting approximately 80% of Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells after 72 hours. These findings demonstrate that C2-600 and C4-600 are innovative, multifunctional and biodegradable nanoplatforms with powerful potential as drug carriers and fluorescence imaging agents, making them promising candidates for cancer theranostics.