Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Aharon Gedanken

Publications and source records attributed to Aharon Gedanken.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Doping nanoparticles into polymers and ceramics using ultrasound radiation.

In materials science, sonochemistry is mostly used for the fabrication of nanomaterials, but it has also been used for the polymerization of monomers. The current review is aimed at introducing a new application of sonochemistry to materials science, i.e., the doping of nanoparticles into polymers and ceramic bodies. The introduction will present a short overview of sonochemistry, and will outline the advantages of sonochemistry as a tool for fabricating nanomaterials.

Aniline Compounds↗

Characterization and activity of sonochemically-prepared BSA microspheres containing Taxol--an anticancer drug.

Proteinaceous microspheres of BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) containing an anticancer drug, Taxol (paclitaxel) were fabricated using a sonochemical procedure and then assayed for chemical and biological activity. The sonochemical reaction did not compromise the drug, which became encapsulated in the BSA microspheres. The amount of the anticancer drug in the microspheres was determined by HPLC. Anticancer activity of the proteinaceous microspheres encapsulating the Taxol was tested on Mouse Multiple Myeloma cell line MPC-11. The influence of the Taxol microspheres on the cancer cells was different from pristine Taxol. It was found that Taxol in combination with the organic solvent causes the death of cancer cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

MnO octahedral nanocrystals and MnO@C core-shell composites: synthesis, characterization, and electrocatalytic properties.

We present a simple and facile synthesis of MnO octahedral nanocrystals and MnO@C core-shell composite nanoparticles. The synthesis is accomplished by a single-step direct pyrolysis of cetyltrimethylammonium permanganate in specially made Let-lock union cells. The products are characterized by HRSEM, HRTEM, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The product consists mainly of octahedral MnO nanocrystals and MnO coated with carbon (MnO@C). The core-shell particles are observed only when the core size is smaller than 150 nm. The shape of the nanocrystals can be controlled by varying parameters such as reaction temperature and duration. As the temperature increases from 600 to 800 degrees C, the octahedral MnO crystals observed are without any carbon shell. The effect of time and temperature on the octahedral MnO nanocrystal formation is described. The electrocatalytic activities of the products are studied for oxygen reduction reaction in aqueous basic medium and are compared with bulk MnO. The MnO nanocrystals and core-shell composites exhibit higher activity than that of bulk MnO.

Journal Article↗

Loading magnetic nanoparticles into sperm cells does not affect their functionality.

The spontaneous loading of magnetite nanoparticles into sperm cell was carried out by mixing an aqueous colloidal solution of Fe3O4-PVA with sperm cells (10(8) cells/ml) for 2 h at 37 degrees C suspended in glucose-free modified Tyrode solution. The penetration of the magnetite nanoparticles into the sperm cells was monitored by conventional analytical chemistry. We have demonstrated that the motility and the ability to undergo the acrosome reaction (i.e., the ability to fertilize the egg) were not affected by the presence of the magnetite nanoparticles.

Journal Article↗

Pulsed sonoelectrochemical synthesis of size-controlled copper nanoparticles stabilized by poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone).

A novel sonoelectrochemical method for the size-controlled synthesis of spherical copper nanoparticles in an aqueous phase was developed. In this study, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was used as the stabilizer for the copper clusters. The copper nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, UV-vis, IR, DLS, TEM, and HRTEM. The PVP was found to greatly promote the formation rate of copper particles and to significantly reduce the copper deposition rate, thereby making monodispersed copper nanoparticles. We could control the particle size by adjusting various parameters such as current density, deposition, temperature, and sonic power, and improve the homogeneity of the copper particles. The results also showed that the transfer rate of PVP-stabilized copper clusters from the cathodic vicinity to the bulk solution played an important role in the preparation of the monodispersed nanoparticles.

Journal Article↗

Sonochemically prepared Pt/CeO2 and its application as a catalyst in ethyl acetate combustion.

Highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles were incorporated in CeO2 nanopowders by an ultrasound-assisted reduction procedure. The activity of the Pt/CeO2 catalysts was studied in the reaction of the ethyl acetate combustion, and complete conversion was achieved at low temperature. It was demonstrated that the higher dispersion of the CeO2 support, the better the performance of the Pt/CeO2 catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, EDX, BET, and XPS. The homogeneous incorporation of 2-4 nm Pt nanoparticles into the interparticle distance of the CeO2 nanopowders was demonstrated. The advantage of the sonochemical method for catalyst preparation, in comparison with the traditional incipient wetness impregnation, was explained as the result of the homogeneity and better dispersion of the active metal phase obtained by ultrasound irradiation.

Journal Article↗

High magnetization helical carbon nanofibers produced by nanoparticle catalysis.

Helical carbon nanofibers were synthesized by means of acetylene pyrolysis at 450 degrees C using Fe nanoparticles as catalyst. There is no need to modify the Fe nanoparticles by a chiral reagent. The carbon nanofibers generated are crystalline and symmetric, with the (110) plane of Fe particle being the mirror plane. There would be a change in the shape of the nanofibers if the temperature at the beginning or during the synthesis were altered. Compared to the helical carbon nanofibers reported elsewhere in the literature, our samples show higher magnetization.

Journal Article↗

Impact of growth kinetics on morphology and pore structure of TiO2-one-pot synthesis of macroporous TiO2 microspheres.

Titanium dioxide was synthesized by the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) in the presence of acetic acid, 2-propanol, and organic amines (octylamine, aniline, and isobutylamine). H2O was supplied by an esterification reaction between acetic acid and 2-propanol (denoted as H2Oe), and/or by intentionally adding it (denoted as H2Oa). It was found that the quantity of H2Oa plays a crucial role in the morphology and porous structure of the final TiO2 product. Without the addition of H2Oa, 1D and porous TiO2 was synthesized. With the addition of H2Oa, and when the H2Oa:TiO2 molar ratio was in the range of 1:1 to 60:1, macroporous TiO2 microspheres possessing a large surface area and high thermal stability were obtained. When the H2Oa:TiO2 molar ratio exceeded 60:1, porous TiO2 with an irregular shape was formed. The variation in the morphology and porous structure is attributed to the manipulation of the growth kinetics by the addition of water.

Journal Article↗

Generation of hydrophilic, bamboo-shaped multiwalled carbon nanotubes by solid-state pyrolysis and its electrochemical studies.

A simple, efficient, and novel method was developed for the direct preparation of hydrophilic, bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes by the pyrolysis of ruthenium(III) acetylacetonate in a Swagelock cell is reported. The obtained product exhibits mostly bamboo-shaped, straight, periodic twisted, multiwalled carbon nanotubes possessing diameters of 50-80 nm and lengths of around 10 microm. The pyrolyzed product was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), micro-Raman, and cyclic voltammetric techniques. HRTEM studies showed that the walls of bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes consisted of oblique grapheme planes with respect to the tube axis. The interlayer spacing between two graphitic layers was found to be 0.342 nm. XPS measurements have suggested that as-prepared carbon nanotubes consist the surface functional groups on the surface of carbon nanotubes. The electrochemical properties of synthesized carbon nanotubes have been evaluated. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), IR, and cyclic voltammetric studies showed the presence of oxygen functionalities. Raman studies revealed the presence of disorder in the graphitic carbon and the presence of exposed edge plane defects in the generated carbon nanotubes for influencing the surface behavior and electrochemical properties. The electrochemical behavior of electrodes made of bamboo-shaped carbon nanotubes served for an oxygen reduction reaction.

Journal Article↗

A microwave route for the synthesis of nanoflakes and dendrites-type beta-ln2S3 and their characterization.

In this article, a simple microwave route was applied for the synthesis of nanoflakes and dendrite-type beta-indium sulfide (In2S3) in high yield (> 97%), using a homogeneous mixture of indium(lll)chloride and thiourea in an ethylene glycol (EG)/polyethylene glycol (PEG400) solvent. The reaction was conducted in a simple domestic microwave oven (DMO). Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), low resolution and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (LRTEM and HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were applied to investigate the crystallinity, structure, morphology, and composition of the In2S3 nano-materials. Both the as-synthesized and calcined In2S3 products were a body-centered tetragonal (bct) phase, observed by XRD and HRTEM. The length and width of the resulting nanoflakes were in the range of 70-600 nm and 4-10 nm, respectively. The optical band gap of the powder was determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and was found to be 2.44 eV. The electronic properties of the products were studied by measuring the optical absorption spectra using photoacoustic spectroscopy. The band gap calculated by this method was found to be 2.52 eV. A possible mechanism for the formation of nanoflakes/dendrites-type In2S3 was also discussed.

Crystallization↗

Solid state synthesis of tungsten carbide nanorods and nanoplatelets by a single-step pyrolysis.

We report a simple and efficient single-step synthesis of tungsten carbide nanorods and nanoplatelets by direct pyrolysis of a hybrid composite material of 12-tungstophosphoric acid and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide in a closed Swagelok cell at 1000 degrees C. The product was characterized by XRD, TGA, SEM, TEM, XPS, and CV. The diameter of the nanorods is 30-50 nm, and the length varies from 200 to 500 nm. The size of the platelets is around 55 nm. The WC exhibits an interesting structural surface with kinks, steps, and terraces which is evidenced by HRTEM studies.

Letter↗

Controlling the agglomeration of anisotropic Ru nanoparticles by the microwave-polyol process.

A rapid polyol process for the synthesis of ruthenium nanoparticles was developed using microwave irradiation. A colloidal solution of monodispersed anisotropic Ru metal nanoparticles (mean particle size 2-6 nm) with different aspect ratios was obtained first. Particles with different degrees of agglomeration have also been synthesized using monodisperse particles as seeds and PVP (poly-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) as the stabilization reagent. The stabilization mechanisms of different protective reagents were studied by UV-vis spectra. The HRTEM images indicated that dendritic particles formed by controlling agglomeration consisted of single-crystal domains with a random crystalline orientation.

Journal Article↗

Applied magnetic field rejects the coating of ferromagnetic carbon from the surface of ferromagnetic cobalt: RAPET of CoZr2(acac)2(OiPr)8.

We present the results of the RAPET (reaction under autogenic pressure at elevated temperatures) dissociation of CoZr(2)(acac)(2)(O(i)Pr)(8) at 700 degrees C in a closed Swagelok cell under an applied magnetic field of 10 T. It produces a mixture of carbon-coated and noncoated metastable ZrO(2) nanoparticles, bare metallic Co nanoparticles, and bare carbon. The same reaction in the absence of a magnetic field produces spherical Co and ZrO(2) particles in sizes ranging from 11 to 16 nm and exhibiting, at room temperature, metastable phases: fcc for cobalt and a tetragonal phase for zirconia. The metastable phases of Co and ZrO(2) are manifested because of a carbon shell of approximately 4 nm thickness anchored to their surfaces. The effect of an applied magnetic field to synthesize morphologically different, but structurally the same, products is the key topic of the present paper.

Journal Article↗

From discrete particles to spherical aggregates: a simple approach to the self-assembly of Au colloids.

Here we demonstrate a simple, template-free approach to the formation of spherical gold aggregates through the reduction of HAuCl4 by NaBH4, in the presence of cysteine (Cys) as a capping agent. The resulting aggregates are quite stable in solution. The pH of the solution and the molar ratio of Au:Cys are two key empirical factors in the formation of such highly ordered aggregates. At slightly alkaline pH (7-10) and with Au:Cys ratios ranging from 1:0.5 to 1:2, spherical Au aggregates of 30-80 nm are formed. At lower Cys ratios (Au:Cys> or =1:0.5) very loosely linked aggregates are formed; however, at very high Cys ratios (Au:Cys< or =1:3), highly dispersed Au particles of 2-4 nm are obtained, which are virtually indistinguishable from the original colloidal form. Aggregate size is influenced markedly by component concentration; a 3-fold increase in standard levels resulted in Au spherical aggregates of a larger size, 200-500 nm. In addition, we used a combination of Cys and lysine (Lys) as a capping agent/cross-linker and found that the morphology of the Au colloid aggregates can be easily manipulated from a linear to a spherical form by adjusting the proportions of Cys and Lys in the capping agent/cross-linker mixture. The introduction of mercapto (SH)-containing organic acids reduced the cross-linking ability of Cys, especially in the case of long-chain acids. Complete disruption of the spherical aggregates highlights the importance of Cys per se. An explanation of this ordered self-assembly process is proposed, in the context of the known surface chemistry of Au colloids.

Journal Article↗

Acoustic cavitation in phacoemulsification and the role of antioxidants.

Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification generates acoustic cavitation, resulting in formation of reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study was to establish the mechanism of damage by phacoemulsification in an in vitro setting simulating cataract surgery and to assess the protective effects of water-soluble antioxidants. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to analyze generation of radicals in an intraocular irrigating solution by phacoemulsification instrumentation, operating at an ultrasonic frequency range of 40--60 kHz. Hydroxyl radicals were generated by phacoemulsification under conditions simulating cataract surgery. The effects of water-soluble antioxidants in the irrigating solution on the amounts of radicals were evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The water-soluble antioxidant glutathione, applied in either oxidized or reduced form, decreased hydroxyl radicals concentration measured in the sonicated medium. The effective concentrations of oxidized and reduced glutathione in irrigating solution that significantly eliminate the hydroxyl radical signal were determined in the range of 10(-3)-10(-2) M. Antioxidants should be applied clinically to reduce damage to the corneal endothelium induced by phacoemulsification, thereby improving biosafety.

Antioxidants↗

Synthesis of tin nanorods via a sonochemical method combined with a polyol process.

Metallic tin nanorods were synthesized by a sonochemical method employing the polyol process. In the reaction a solution of SnCl2 in ethylene glycol was exposed to high-intense ultrasound irradiation. The phase and elemental compositions, and thermal properties of the as-synthesized samples were characterized by XRD, EDX, SAED, XPS, DSC, TGA, and BET measurements. The morphologies of the products were further characterized with SEM, TEM, and HRTEM. The results show that crystallized metallic tin nanorods in diameters of 50-100 nm and in lengths of up to 3 microm were synthesized. The nanorods are encapsulated in a thin layer containing Ti and carbon compounds. On the basis of the obtained data, a possible mechanism of the formation of tin nanorods was proposed.

Journal Article↗