Magnetically guided theranostics: montmorillonite-based iron/platinum nanoparticles for enhancing in situ MRI contrast and hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

In Asia, including Taiwan, malignant tumors such as Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) one of the liver cancer is the most diagnosed subtype. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a typical diagnostic method for accurately diagnosing HCC. When it is difficult to demonstrate non-enhanced MRI of tumors, radiologists can use contrast agents (such as Gd3+, Fe3O4, or FePt) for T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging remain in the liver for a long time to facilitate diagnosis via MRI. However, it is sometimes difficult for T2-weighted imaging to detect small tumor lesions because the liver tissue may absorb iron ions. This makes early cancer detection a challenging goal. This challenge has prompted current research to create novel nanocomposites for enhancing the noise-to-signal ratio of MRI. To develop a method that can more efficiently diagnose and simultaneously treat HCC during MRI examination, we designed a functionalized montmorillonite (MMT) material with a porous structure to benefit related drugs, such as mitoxantrone (MIT) delivery or as a carrier for the FePt nanoparticles (FePt NPs) to introduce cancer therapy. Multifunctional FePt@MMT can simultaneously visualize HCC by enhancing MRI signals, treating various diseases, and being used as an inducer of magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). After loading the drug MIT, FePt@MMT-MIT provides both MFH treatment and chemotherapy in one nanosystem. These results ultimately prove that functionalized FePt@MMT-MIT could be integrated as a versatile drugs delivery system by combining with MRI, chemotheraeutic drugs, and magnetic guide targeting.

Magnetically Guided Theranostics: Enhancing the Contrast of Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Multiple-Layer Montmorillonite-Based Iron/Platinum Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In Asia, including Taiwan, malignant tumors such as Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) one of the liver cancer is the most diagnosed subtype. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been a typical diagnostic method for accurately diagnosing HCC. When it is difficult to demonstrate non-enhanced MRI of tumors, radiologists can use contrast agents (such as Gd3+, Fe3O4, or FePt) for T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging, which can remain in the liver for a long time to facilitate diagnosis via MRI. However, sometimes it is difficult for T2-weighted imaging to detect small tumor lesions because the liver tissue may actively absorb iron ions. This makes early cancer detection a challenging goal. To develop a method that can more efficiently diagnose and simultaneously treat HCC during MRI examination, we designed a functionalized montmorillonite (MMT) material with a porous structure to benefit related drugs, such as mitoxantrone (MIT) delivery or as a carrier for the FePt nanoparticles (FePt NPs) to introduce cancer therapy. Multifunctional FePt@MMT can simultaneously visualize and treat various diseases and can be used as an inducer of magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). After loading the drug MIT, FePt@MMT-MIT provides both MFH treatment and chemotherapy in one nanosystem. These results ultimately prove that functionalized FePt@MMT-MIT could be integrated as a versatile drugs delivery system by combining with MRI, chemotherapeutic drugs, and magnetic guide targeting.

Investigation of Flexible Arrayed Lactate Biosensor Based on Copper Doped Zinc Oxide Films Modified by Iron–Platinum Nanoparticles

Potentiometric biosensors based on flexible arrayed silver paste electrode and copper-doped zinc oxide sensing film modified by iron-platinum nanoparticles (FePt NPs) are designed and manufactured to detect lactate in human. The sensing film is made of copper-doped zinc oxide (CZO) by a radio frequency (RF) sputtering system, and then modified by iron-platinum nanoparticles (FePt NPs). The surface morphology of copper-doped zinc oxide (CZO) is analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). FePt NPs are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The average sensitivity, response time, and interference effect of the lactate biosensors are analyzed by voltage-time (V-T) measurement system. The electrochemical impedance is analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The average sensitivity and linearity over the concentration range 0.2 mM–5 mM are 25.32 mV/mM and 0.977 mV/mM, respectively. The response time of the lactate biosensor is 16 s, with excellent selectivity.

Transition in iron and carbon steels at ~ 450 ºC

Вокруг интервала температур 400-500 °С сложилась любопытная ситуация. М.В. Белоус с соавторами в своей монографии «Превращение при отпуске стали» его просто не замечают в классификации четырех превращений при отпуске, хотя еще в 1925 г. П. Обергоффер, основываясь на минимуме при 400-500 °С термоЭДС пары железо-платина, писал: «Имеем ли мы здесь дело с дальнейшим превращениями в чистом железе, должны показать новые подробные исследования». В настоящей работе на основании анализа многочисленных литературных данных, а также собственных экспериментальных (металлографического исследования, рентгеноструктурного анализа, сопротивления «горячей» осадке на образцах из практически чистого железа (0,008% С)) сделана попытка обосновать превращение в железе при ~ 450 ºС. Признание превращения при данной температуре дает возможность прогнозирования аномалий свойств сталей (производного железа) на том или ином этапе термической обработки. There is a curious situation around the temperature interval of 400-500 °C. M.V. Belous and co-authors in their monograph «Transformation during tempering of steel» simply do not notice it in the classification of the four transformations during tempering, although back in 1925. P. Oberhoffer, based on a minimum at 400-500 °C of the thermo-EDC of iron-platinum pair, wrote: «Whether we are dealing here with further transformations in pure iron, should show new detailed research». In the present work based on the analysis of numerous literature data and our own experimental data (metallographic research, X-ray analysis, resistance of «hot» precipitation on practically pure iron samples (0.008% C)) we have made an attempt to prove the iron transformation at ~ 450 ºC. The recognition of transformation at this temperature makes it possible to predict anomalies of steel properties (iron derivatives) at a certain stage of heat treatment.

DEPENDENCE OF VIVALDI ANTENNA CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SUBSTRATE METALLIZATION

Рассматривается антенна Вивальди, рабочий диапазон которой соответствует частотам, выделенным Государственной комиссией по радиочастотам для сетей пятого поколения. Применение различных проводниковых материалов при изготовлении излучателя позволяет достичь как экономических преимуществ, так и требуемых характеристик диаграмм направленности. В процессе моделирования были определены обратные потери антенны, а также влияние на них материала изготовления проводящей части антенны, диаграммы направленности, коэффициента полезного действия. Все характеристики определялись путем электродинамического моделирования. Исследование производилось для таких проводящих материалов, как медь, алюминий, золото, серебро, железо, платина, тантал, молибден. По полученным результатам было определено, что наилучшим проводником является серебро, при этом медь и алюминий не сильно уступают ему по характеристикам излучения и эффективности. Наихудшими материалами изготовления проводниковой части антенны являются тантал, железо и платина, так при их применении происходит снижение коэффициента полезного действия антенны, реального коэффициента усиления антенны. В статье представлены графики S-параметров для исследуемых случаев, произведено их сравнение, а также приведены основные характеристики диаграмм направленности и определено влияние на них проводниковых материалов The article considers a Vivaldi antenna, the operating range of which corresponds to the frequencies allocated by the State Commission on Radio Frequencies for fifth generation networks. The use of various conductive materials in the manufacture of the emitter allows one to achieve both economic advantages and the required characteristics of radiation patterns. In the process of modeling, we determined the return losses of the antenna, as well as the influence on them of the material of the conductive part of the antenna, the radiation pattern, and the efficiency. We determined all characteristics by electrodynamic modeling. The study was carried out for conductive materials such as copper, aluminum, gold, silver, iron, platinum, tantalum, molybdenum. Based on the results obtained, we determined that the best conductor is silver, while copper and aluminum are not much inferior to it in terms of radiation and efficiency. The worst materials for the manufacture of the conductive part of the antenna are tantalum, iron and platinum, so when they are used, the efficiency of the antenna, the real gain of the antenna, decreases. The article presents graphs of S-parameters for the cases under study, compares them, and also presents the main characteristics of the directional patterns and determines the effect of conductive material on them