We have developed a highly efficient and green catalytic deoxygenation of epoxides to alkenes using gold nanoparticles (NPs) supported on hydrotalcite [HT: Mg(6)Al(2)CO(3)(OH)(16)] (Au/HT) with alcohols, CO/H(2)O or H(2) as the reducing reagent. Various epoxides were selectively converted to the corresponding alkenes. Among the novel metal NPs on HT, Au/HT was found to exhibit outstanding catal...

Nanoparticle-based magnetic resonance imaging T2 negative agents are of great interest, and much effort is devoted to increasing cell-loading capability while maintaining low cytotoxicity. Herein, two classes of mixed-ligand protected magnetic-responsive, bimetallic gold/iron nanoparticles (Au/Fe NPs) synthesized by a two-step method are presented. Their structure, surface composition, and magn...

In this article, it is shown that the efficiency of an electrochemical aptasensing device is influenced by the use of different nanoparticles (NPs) such as gold nanoparticles (Au), silver nanoparticles (Ag), hollow gold nanospheres (HGN), hollow silver nanospheres (HSN), silver–gold core shell (Ag@Au), gold–silver core shell (Au@Ag), and silver–gold alloy nanoparticles (Ag/Au). Among these nano...

BACKGROUND Au/CuS core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) were designed as a new type of transducer agent for photothermal therapy (PTT), with attractive features of easy preparation, low cost and small size for targeting. This paper studied for the first time the intrinsic antimicrobial activity of Au/CuS NPs to B. anthracis spores and cells in addition to its PTT effect. RESULTS It was found that Au...

We detect by optical microscopy Au and fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) during their motion in water-based medium, using an array of dielectric microspheres that are patterned in a microwell array template. The microspheres act as lenses focusing the light originating from a microscope objective into so-called photonic nanojets that expose the medium within a microfluidic channel. When a NP is r...

The accumulation of durable nanoparticles (NPs) in macrophages following systemic administration is well described. The ultimate biological impact of this accumulation on macrophage function, however, is not fully understood. In this study, nontoxic doses of two durable NPs, SiO2 and Au, at particle sizes of ~10 nm and 300 nm were used to evaluate the effect of bioaccumulation on macrophage fun...

For nanoparticle-based technologies, efficient and rapid approaches that yield particles of high purity with a specific shape and size are critical to optimize the nanostructure-dependent optical, electrical, and magnetic properties, and not bias conclusions due to the existence of impurities. Notwithstanding the continual improvement of chemical methods for shaped nanoparticle synthesis, bypro...

Human norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide in a plethora of residential and commercial settings, including restaurants, schools, and hospitals. Methods for easily detecting the virus and for treating and preventing infection are critical to stopping norovirus outbreaks, and inactivation via nanoparticles (NPs) is a more universal and attractive alternative to other ph...

Enhancement in the efficiency of air processed bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices is demonstrated via the addition of highly stable uncapped gold (Au) and aluminum (Al) nanoparticles (NPs) into the photoactive layer. An enhancement in conversion efficiency by 15% is observed, which can be attributed to Localised Surface Plasmon Resonance effects at the small diameter Au NPs and to efficie...

Solution-processed nanocomposites containing molybdenum oxide (MoO3) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been used as anode buffer layers in organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs). The resulting devices exhibit a remarkable enhancement in power conversion efficiency after Au NPs were incorporated into the device. Such enhancements can be attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance induc...