Добірка наукової літератури з теми "Nanoparticle injection"

Summary Nanoparticles (diameter of approximately 5 to 50 nm) easily pass through typical pore throats in reservoirs, but physicochemical attraction between nanoparticles and pore walls may still lead to significant retention. We conducted an extensive series of nanoparticle-transport experiments in core plugs and in columns packed with crushed sedimentary rock, systematically varying flow rate, type of nanoparticle, injection-dispersion concentration, and porous-medium properties. Effluent-nanoparticle-concentration histories were measured with fine resolution in time, enabling the evaluation of nanoparticle adsorption in the columns during slug injection and post-flushes. We also applied this analysis to nanoparticle-transport experiments reported in the literature. Our analysis suggests that nanoparticles undergo both reversible and irreversible adsorption. Effluent-nanoparticle concentration reaches the injection concentration during slug injection, indicating the existence of an adsorption capacity. Experiments with a variety of nanoparticles and porous media yield a wide range of adsorption capacities (from 10–5 to 101 mg/g for nanoparticles and rock, respectively) and also a wide range of proportions of reversible and irreversible adsorption. Reversible- and irreversible-adsorption sites are distinct and interact with nanoparticles independently. The adsorption capacities are typically much smaller than monolayer coverage. Their values depend not only on the type of nanoparticle and porous media, but also on the operating conditions, such as injection concentration and flow rate.

This paper reports a novel solid freeform fabrication process, Nanoparticle Additive Manufacturing (NAM), for dispersing nanoparticles into molten matrix for improved mechanical properties. In addition, it also presents the characterization of microstructure and hardness of the fabricated Ni-nanoparticles dispersed H13 steel gear-shaped molds.

In this paper, we report the effect of inert gas injection on Cu patterning generated by femtosecond laser reductive sintering of CuO nanoparticles (NPs). Femtosecond laser reductive sintering for metal patterning has been restricted to metal and metal-oxide composite materials. By irradiating CuO-nanoparticle paste with femtosecond laser pulses under inert gas injection, we intended to reduce the generation of metal oxides in the formed patterns. In an experimental evaluation, the X-ray diffraction peaks corresponding to copper oxides, such as CuO and Cu2O, were much smaller under N2 and Ar gas injections than under air injection. Increasing the injection rates of both gases increased the reduction degree of the X-ray diffraction peaks of the CuO NPs, but excessively high injection rates (≥100 mL/min) significantly decreased the surface density of the patterns. These results qualitatively agreed with the ratio of sintered/melted area. The femtosecond laser reductive sintering under inert gas injection achieved a vacuum-free direct writing of metal patterns.

Although the progress has been achieved in conductive Nanoparticle/Polymer Composites(NPC), but there are many problems to be solved before their commercial application in a large scale, especially on their processing technology. The barriers include the dispersion of nanoparticle, the effect of nanoparticle concentration and interface on the overall properties of materials. In order to improve the application of NPC, the microstructural effect of injection molded NPC on its resistivity was investigated to build the relationship between the processing conditions and the properties in this paper. Composites used in the experiment were carbon black(CB)/polypropylene(PP). The microstructures of the injection molded parts at different positions were investigated with Scanning Electrical Microscope, and corresponsive properties were tested. The results showed that the distribution of CB nanoparticles changed with the injection pressure and had significant effect on the conductivity of the part. With the increase of injection pressure CB particles strongly oriented towards the flow direction of the polymer and thickness of oriented layer increased, which improve conductivity of the composites. The results also showed that crystallization was enhanced because of existence of nanoparticles, which should have increased the mechanical properties of the composite and decreased its resistivity because of the interfacial action between CB particles and polymer matrix.

Nanoparticle-based radiosensitization of cancerous cells is evolving as a favorable modality for enhancing radiotherapeutic ratio, and as an effective tool for increasing the outcome of concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Nevertheless, delivery of sufficient concentrations of nanoparticles (NPs) or nanoparticle-based radiosensitizers (NBRs) to the targeted tumor without or with limited systemic side effects on healthy tissues/organs remains a challenge that many investigators continue to explore. With current systemic intravenous delivery of a drug, even targeted nanoparticles with great prospect of reaching targeted distant tumor sites, only a portion of the administered NPs/drug dosage can reach the tumor, despite the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The rest of the targeted NPs/drug remain in systemic circulation, resulting in systemic toxicity, which can decrease the general health of patients. However, the dose from ionizing radiation is generally delivered across normal tissues to the tumor cells (especially external beam radiotherapy), which limits dose escalation, making radiotherapy (RT) somewhat unsafe for some diseased sites despite the emerging development in RT equipment and technologies. Since radiation cannot discriminate healthy tissue from diseased tissue, the radiation doses delivered across healthy tissues (even with nanoparticles delivered via systemic administration) are likely to increase injury to normal tissues by accelerating DNA damage, thereby creating free radicals that can result in secondary tumors. As a result, other delivery routes, such as inhalation of nanoparticles (for lung cancers), localized delivery via intratumoral injection, and implants loaded with nanoparticles for local radiosensitization, have been studied. Herein, we review the current NP delivery techniques; precise systemic delivery (injection/infusion and inhalation), and localized delivery (intratumoral injection and local implants) of NBRs/NPs. The current challenges, opportunities, and future prospects for delivery of nanoparticle-based radiosensitizers are also discussed.

Gold nanoparticles continue to generate interest for use in several biomedical applications. Recently, researchers have been focusing on exploiting their dual diagnostic/therapeutic theranostic capabilities. Before clinical translation can occur, regulatory agencies will require a greater understanding of their biodistribution and safety profiles post administration. Previously, the real-time identification and tracking of gold nanoparticles in free-flowing vasculature had not been possible without extrinsic labels such as fluorophores. Here, we present a label-free imaging approach to examine gold nanoparticle (AuNP) activity within the vasculature by utilizing multiphoton intravital microscopy. This method employs a commercially available multiphoton microscopy system to visualize the intrinsic luminescent signal produced by a multiphoton absorption-induced luminescence effect observed in single gold nanoparticles at frame rates necessary for capturing real-time blood flow. This is the first demonstration of visualizing unlabeled gold nanoparticles in an unperturbed vascular environment with frame rates fast enough to achieve particle tracking. Nanoparticle blood concentration curves were also evaluated by the tracking of gold nanoparticle flow in vasculature and verified against known pre-injection concentrations. Half-lives of these gold nanoparticle injections ranged between 67 and 140 s. This label-free imaging approach could provide important structural and functional information in real time to aid in the development and effective analysis of new metallic nanoparticles for various clinical applications in an unperturbed environment, while providing further insight into their complex uptake and clearance pathways.

Due to increasing advances in their manufacture and functionalization, nanoparticle-based systems have become a popular tool for in vivo drug delivery and biodetection. Recently, scintillating nanoparticles such as yttrium orthosilicate doped with cerium (Y2(SiO4)O:Ce) have come under study for their potential utility in optogenetic applications, as they emit photons upon low levels of stimulation from remote x-ray sources. The utility of such nanoparticles in vivo is hampered by rapid clearance from circulation by the mononuclear phagocytic system, which heavily restricts nanoparticle accumulation at target tissues. Local transcranial injection of nanoparticles may deliver scintillating nanoparticles to highly specific brain regions by circumventing the blood-brain barrier and avoiding phagocytic clearance. Few studies to date have examined the distribution and response to nanoparticles following localized delivery to cerebral cortex, a crucial step in understanding the therapeutic potential of nanoparticle-based biodetection in the brain. Following the synthesis and surface modification of these nanoparticles, two doses (1 and 3 mg/ml) were introduced into mouse secondary motor cortex (M2). This region was chosen as the site for RLP delivery, as it represents a common target for optogenetic manipulations of mouse behavior, and RLPs could eventually serve as an injectable x-ray inducible light delivery system. The spread of particles through the target tissue was assessed 24 hours, 72 hours, and 9 days post-injection. Y2(SiO4)O:Ce nanoparticles were found to be detectable in the brain for up to 9 days, initially diffusing through the tissue until 72 hours before achieving partial clearance by the final endpoint. Small transient increases in the presence of IBA-1+ microglia and GFAP+ astrocytic cell populations were detected near nanoparticle injection sites of both doses tested 24 hours after surgery. Taken together, these data provide evidence that Y2(SiO4)O:Ce nanoparticles coated with BSA can be injected directly into mouse cortex in vivo, where they persist for days and are broadly tolerated, such that they may be potentially utilized for remote x-ray activated stimulation and photon emission for optogenetic experiments in the near future.

A Bödewadt boundary layer flow and heat transfer problem in nanofluid was investigated in this study for suction/injection as well as combined effects of suction/injection and radial stretching disk. Similarity variables were introduced to transform the three-dimensional flow into a system of ordinary differential equations. Moreover, similar to the Bödewadt heat transfer problem in a viscous fluid, adequate suction is also required so that similarity solutions exist for nanofluid problems with no other boundary effects such as a partial slip or stretching disk. Both the suction and stretching disk effects can suppress the natural oscillatory behavior of flow apart from reducing the momentum and thermal boundary layer thicknesses. As expected, injection acts oppositely. However, the skin friction coefficient and heat transfer rate for Bödewadt flow increase with the increasing suction and stretching parameters. As for stagnant disk, increasing the nanoparticle volume fraction can enhance the wall shear stress, whereas nanofluid can only enhance the heat transfer when both the suction and nanoparticle volume fraction are sufficiently small. For radially stretching disk, both the local skin friction coefficient and local Nusselt number increase as the nanoparticle volume fraction increases. However, for larger suction, a smaller volume fraction of nanoparticles yielded enhanced heat transfer than the larger volume fraction of nanoparticles.

The main goal of the current research is to investigate the numerical computation of Ag/Al2O3 nanofluid over a Riga plate with injection/suction. The energy equation is formulated using the Cattaneo–Christov heat flux, non-linear thermal radiation, and heat sink/source. The leading equations are non-dimensionalized by employing the suitable transformations, and the numerical results are achieved by using the MATLAB bvp4c technique. The fluctuations of fluid flow and heat transfer on porosity, Forchheimer number, radiation, suction/injection, velocity slip, and nanoparticle volume fraction are investigated. Furthermore, the local skin friction coefficient (SFC), and local Nusselt number (LNN) are also addressed. Compared to previously reported studies, our computational results exactly coincided with the outcomes of the previous reports. We noticed that the Forchheimer number, suction/injection, slip, and nanoparticle volume fraction factors slow the velocity profile. We also noted that with improving rates of thermal radiation and convective heating, the heat transfer gradient decreases. The 40% presence of the Hartmann number leads to improved drag force by 14% and heat transfer gradient by 0.5%. The 20% presence of nanoparticle volume fraction leads to a decrement in heat transfer gradient for 21% of Ag nanoparticles and 18% of Al2O3 nanoparticles.

L'utilisation des nanobiotechnologies dans le domaine de la santé est en plein essor. Les nanoparticules de poly(acide lactique) (PLA) représentent un nanosystème biocompatible capable d'accroître la spécificité et l'efficacité de traitements thérapeutiques et vaccinaux administrables par voie muqueuse et intraveineuse. Toutefois, l'optimisation de ces nanosystèmes se heurte à une caractérisation incomplète de leur biodistribution in vivo, en particulier à l'échelle cellulaire.L'objectif de ce travail de thèse est d'enrichir les connaissances sur la biodistribution des nanoparticules de PLA in vivo après administration muqueuse ou intraveineuse, dans le but d'élargir les perspectives d'optimisation et d'utilisation. Animal complexe et adapté pour les études sur organisme-entier, le modèle du poisson-zèbre (Danio rerio) a été utilisé. Pour mener à bien ce projet, une méthodologie rigoureuse d'analyse de la biodistribution des nanoparticules de PLA a été développée. Ce qui permit, après administration par balnéation, d'en révéler le fort tropisme inné envers les cellules dendritiques muqueuses. Ces données ont servi à élaborer une stratégie de ciblage, utilisant la lectine agglutinine de cacahuète, capable d'augmenter la prise en charge des nanoparticules de PLA par les branchies et la peau. Enfin, l'étude du devenir de ces nanoparticules après injection intraveineuse, a révélé de nombreuses interactions avec le système circulatoire. Ce travail a permis d'approfondir la connaissance des interactions des nanoparticules de PLA avec le vivant, soulignant le potentiel prometteur de ces nanoparticules pour la vaccination muqueuse
Medecine shows a growing interest regarding nanobiotechnologies. Among them are poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles, which represent a biocompatible and competent nanosystem to heighten the specificity and efficacy of diverse therapeutic and vaccine treatments, following mucosal and intravenous administration. However, the further optimization of such nanosystem is poised by the lack of informations regarding their in vivo biodistribution, especially at the cellular level.The main objective of this PhD is to increment the knowledge about PLA nanoparticles biodistribution in vivo, after muquous and intravenous administration, to further expand their optimisation and use perspectives. The zebrafish model has been utilized to perform this research because of his conserved complexity as well as his suitability for whole-organism studies.To fulfill this project, a precise methodology has been developed to analyze the PLA nanoparticles biodistribution. Which allowed, after bathing administriation, to unveil their robust innate tropism toward mucous dendritic cells. From these data has been established a targeting strategy, utilizing the peanut agglutinin lectin, which has been proved to enhance nanoparticle uptakes by both gills and skin mucosae. Finally, the study of PLA nanoparticles behavior and destiny after intravenous injection, revealed numerous elaborated interactions with the circulatory system.Overall, this work has been able to strengthen our understandings of PLA nanoparticles among living organisms, furthermore highlighting their promizing potential as nanovehicles for mucosal vaccines

L'apparition de métastases cérébrales multiples est une évolution critique de nombreux cancers avec un impact majeur sur la survie globale. Une nouvelle nanoparticule à base de gadolinium, l’AGuIX®, a récemment démontré son efficacité en tant que radiosensibilisant et agent de contraste IRM dans plusieurs études précliniques. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’établir une preuve de concept sur un modèle animal puis de réaliser la première administration chez l’homme de ce nouveau médicament dans le cadre d’un essai de phase 1.La première partie de ce travail a consisté à l’irradiation en 6 MeV après injection d’AGuIX® d’un modèle de rat Fisher porteur du gliome cérébral 9L suivi par IRM. Nous avons mis en évidence une distribution favorable des nanoparticules dans la tumeur par effet EPR (Enhanced Permeability and Retention) avec une concentration de gadolinium dans la tumeur 20 fois plus importante que dans le cerveau sain. L’effet radiosensibilisant a été démontré avec une diminution significative (p=0.02) de la taille des tumeurs dans le groupe irradié après injection d’AGuIX®. Ces résultats, associés au profil de tolérance favorable sur les modèles animaux ont motivés le transfert chez l’homme de ce nouveau médicament dans une étude de phase 1 nommée NANO-RAD (EudraCT 2015-004259-30 ; NCT02820454). Il s’agit d’une étude monocentrique, ouverte, évaluant la faisabilité et la tolérance d'AGuIX® associé à une irradiation panencéphalique (30 Gy, 10 Fr de 3 Gy) pour des patients atteints de métastases cérébrales multiples. L'objectif principal est de déterminer la dose maximale tolérée des nanoparticules avec un schéma d’escalade de dose par palier de 3 patients à 15, 30, 50, 75 et 100 mg/kg. Les objectifs secondaires sont l’étude pharmacocinétique de la distribution d'AGuIX® par IRM, de la survie sans progression intracrânienne et de la survie globale. La première administration chez l’homme a été réalisée au CHU de Grenoble le 18 juillet 2016 et le dernier patient (n=15) a été inclus le 06 février 2018. L’ensemble des lésions, quelques soit l’origine histologique (poumon, mélanome, sein) ont eu une prise de contraste d’AGuIX® dont la concentration retrouvée dans la tumeur était proportionnelle à la dose injectée. La demi-vie sanguine moyenne est de 1h09 (± 26min). La tolérance au traitement a été bonne avec une escalade de dose jusqu’à 100 mg/kg qui devient ainsi la dose retenue pour la suite des essais cliniques. Sur les 14 patients évaluables, 12 ont eu un bénéfice clinique du traitement avec une diminution du volume tumoral. Les résultats préliminaires sont prometteurs en termes de tolérance, de distribution et d’efficacité et devront être confirmés par l’étude de phase 2 multicentrique randomisée prévue pour la fin de l’année 2018
The occurrence of multiple brain metastases is a critical evolution of many cancers with a major impact on overall survival. A new gadolinium-based nanoparticle, AGuIX®, has recently demonstrated its efficacy as a radiosensitizer and MRI contrast agent in several preclinical studies. The objective of this thesis is to establish a proof of concept on an animal model and then to perform the first administration of this new drug in humans in a phase 1 trial. The first part of this work consisted of a 6 MeV irradiation after AGuIX® injection of a Fisher rat model carrying 9L cerebral gliomas assessed by MRI. A favorable distribution of nanoparticles was observed by EPR effect (Enhanced Permeability and Retention) with a concentration of gadolinium into the tumor 20 times higher than in healthy brain. The radiosensitizing effect was demonstrated with a significant decrease in tumor size (p=0.02) for the irradiated group with AGuIX® injection. These results, combined with the favorable safety profile in animal models, motivated the transfer of this new drug to humans in a Phase 1 study named NANO-RAD (EudraCT2015-004259-30; NCT02820454). This is a monocentric, open-label study evaluating the feasibility and safety of AGuIX® combined with whole brain radiation therapy (30 Gy, 10 Fr of 3 Gy) for patients with multiple brain metastases. The main objective is to determine the maximum tolerated dose of nanoparticles with a dose escalation scheme by steps of 3 patients at 15, 30, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg. Secondary objectives are the pharmacokinetics, distribution of AGuIX® by MRI, intracranial progression-free survival and overall survival. The first human administration was performed at Grenoble University Hospital on 18 July 2016 and the last patient (n=15) was included on 06 February 2018. All metastases, whatever the histological type (lung, melanoma, breast) had a uptake of AGuIX® whose concentration in the tumor was proportional to the injected dose. The average blood half-life is 1h09 (± 26 min). Tolerance to the treatment was good with a dose escalation up to 100 mg/kg, which became the dose selected for further clinical trials. Of the 14 evaluable patients, 12 had a clinical benefit of treatment with a decrease in tumor volume. These preliminary results are promising in terms of safety, distribution and efficacy and should be confirmed by the randomized multicenter Phase 2 study planned for the end of 2018

In the latter half of the 20th century the first active environmentalist movements such as Greenpeace and the International Energy Agency were born and initiated a gradual rethinking of environmental awareness. Against all expectations the sole agency under international law for climate protection policy, called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, was formed 20 years later. Today the awareness of sustained, regenerative and environmental policies permeates throughout all areas of life, science and industry. But energy provision is the most decisive topic, especially since the discussions concerning the phase out of nuclear power where the voices calling for alternative energy sources have become much more vociferous. In addition the depletion of fossil fuels is expected to occur in the not too distant future. All new energy generation methods are required to meet the present and future energy demands, need to be ecological and need to exhibit the same or significantly lower cost expenditure than current energy sources. Unfortunately mankind is confronted with the problem that current commercial alternative energies are more expensive and not yet remotely as efficient as the present energy sources. Although energy provision based on water, wind, sun and geothermal sources have a huge potential because of their continuous presence, unfortunately, they are plagued by inefficient energy conversion caused by the state of technology i.e. the conversion of sun light into electricity loses energy through heat emission, reflection of the sun light, the inability of the material to absorb the entire sun spectrum and the ohmic losses in the transmission of electric current. The sun power is the most exhaustless resource and moreover through photovoltaic action, one of the most direct and cleanest source for use in energy conversion. Presently incoming sun light is not transformed in its entirely, as much degradation occurs during photon absorption and electron transfer processes. A number of other innovative possibilities have also been researched. With respect to cost and efficiency one of the most promising devices is injection solar cells (ISC). By dint of the dye sensitised solar cell (DSSC) Grätzels findings provided the foundations for much research into this type of solar cell where the light absorbing molecule employed in is a dye.[1] The current is obtained through charge separation in the dye, which is initiated through the connection between the dye and a metal oxide on the one hand and a matched redox couple on the other. In a variant of the DSSC the charge separation processes can also occur between a nanoporous metal oxide and nanoparticles giving rise to a quantum dot sensitised solar cell (QDSSC).[2] The use of nanoparticle (NP) properties can be utilized for the harvesting of solar energy, as demonstrated by Kamat and coworkers[3] who were able to exploit these findings subsequently and prepare a number of nanoparticle based solar cells. Nanoparticle research has comprised a wide field of science and nanotechnology for a number of years. As the size of a material approaches dimensions on the nm scale the surface properties contribute proportionally more to the sum of the properties than the volume due to the increase in the surface to volume ratio. These dimensions also constitute a threshold in which quantum physical effects need to be taken into account. Hence the properties of devices or materials in this size regime are inevitably size dependent. The basic principles can be described by two different theories, one of which is based on molecular orbital theory in which the particle is treated as a molecule. For this reason n atomic orbitals with the same symmetry and energy can build up n molecular orbitals through their linear combination based on the LCAO method (Linear Combination of Atomic Orbitals).[4] In the case of solids the orbitals build up energy bands, where the unoccupied states form the quasi continous conduction band (CB) and the occuppied states form the quasi continous valence band (VB). The energy \"forbidden\" area in between these two bands is called the band gap. The band gap is a fixed material property for bulk solids but depends on size in the case of the nanoparticles. In contrast to the LCAO method, simplified solid state theory will be used throughout the present work, the theoretical background of which is provided by the effective mass approximation.[5] When an absorption of a photon occurs, an exciton (electron-hole pair) can be generated. By promoting an electron (e-) from the valence band into the conduction band a hole (h+) may be said to remain in the valence band. By comparison to bulk solids, in a small particle the free charges can sense the potential barrier i.e. the edges of the nanoparticle. Analogous to the particle in a box model this potential barrier interaction results in an increase in the band gap as the particle size decreases. In a solar cell NPs with a particle size which possess a band gap energy in the near infrared (NIR) may be utilised and therefore the NPs will be able to absorb in this spectral region. However NPs also have the ability to absorb higher energy photons due to the continuum present in their band structure, so that almost the entire sun spectral range from the NIR up to UV wavelengths may be absorbed just by using the appropriate NP material and size. Suitable NPs are metal chalcogenides e.g. MX (where M = cadmium, zinc or lead and X = sulfur, selenium or tellurium) because of their bandgap size[6–10] and their relative band positions compared to those of the semiconductor oxide states. Both the TiO2/CdSe[11–14] and TiO2/CdTe[15–18] systems have already been successfully fabricated and many of the anomalies reported.[3] Much interest in the lead chalcogenides has been generated by reports that they may feature the possibility to exhibit multiple exciton generation (MEG) where the absorption of one high energy photon can result in more than one electron-hole pairs.[19–25] Currently electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is being used more and more to clarify processes at polarisable surfaces and materials such as nanoparticles. Likewise this method has been rediscovered in photovoltaic research and its use in the characterisation of DSSCs has been discussed in the literature.[26–31] In a number of publications the evaluation of nanoporous and porous structures has been quite extensively explored.[28,29,32–34] Since the mid-20th century Jaffé’s[35] theoretical work concerning the steady- state ac response of solid and liquid systems lead to the formation of the basics of EIS. Further developments in the measurement technology have lead to a broader range of analysis becoming possible. Nevertheless the most challenging part still remains the interpretation of the results and especially to merge the measured data with the theoretical model. EIS quantifies the changes in a small ac current response at electrode electrolyte interfaces i.e. the rate at which the polarized domain will respond, when an ac potential is applied. In this way dielectric properties of materials or composites, such as charge transfers, polarization effects, charge recombination and limitations can be measured as a function of frequency and mechanistic information may be unveiled. Hence EIS allows one to draw a conclusion concerning chemical reactions, surface properties as well as interactions between the electrodes and the electrolyte. Other very useful tools that may be employed for quantifying electron transfer processes and their time domains are intensity modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS) and intensity modulated photovoltage spectroscopy (IMVS). IMPS permits the generation of time-resolved plots of particular photo-processes in the system, each of which may be specifically addressed through varying the excitation wavelength. For the IMPS technique a sinusoidal wave with a small amplitude is applied, analogous to that of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, but in this case the modulation is applied to a light source and not to the electrochemical cell as in EIS.[35] The current response is associated with the photogenerated charge carriers which flow through the system and finally discharge into the circuit. The amount of generated and discharged charge carriers is often different due to the presence of recombination and capture processes in surface or trap states. Ultimately the phase shift and magnitude of these currents reveal the kinetics of such processes. The only processes that will be addressed will be those that occur in the same frequency domain or on the same time scale as that of the modulated frequency of the illuminated light. In the literature some explanation of the kinetics of simple systems can be found and basic theories and introductive disquisitions may be found elsewhere.[36–38] Furthermore in solar cell research a multiplicity of studies are available which give an account of IMPS measurements on TiO2 nanoporous structures. Such studies permitted proof for the electron trapping and detrapping mechanism in TiO2 surface states.[39,40] An analysis of TiO2 electrodes combined with a dye sensitization step was established in the work of Peter and Ponomarev.[41–43] Hickey et.al.[44,45] have previously published kinetic studies on CdS nanoparticle (NP) modified electrodes. A theory was presented which allows for the IMPS data to be the interpreted in the case of CdS NP based electrodes. The back transfer, recombination and surface states have been demonstrated to be important as was determined from their inclusion in the theory. Similar attempts to explain the kinetics of CdS quantum dots are described by Bakkers et.al.[46]. In the present work the most important questions concern the behaviour of the photovoltaic assembly. Such assemblies can be equated with an electrode in contact with an electrolyte. Preliminary remarks about such electrodes as components of an electrochemical cell will be introduced in the first part of chapter 2. Thereafter the properties of electrodes in contact with the electrolyte and under illuminated conditions are illustrated. This is followed by a description of the important electrochemical and opto-electrochemical methods which have been employed in these studies. In particular, two separate subsections are dedicated to the methods of EIS and IMPS and the experimental section which are then linked to the theoretical section. The synthesis of all substances used and the preparation of the solar cell substrates are also dealt with in this section as will the equipment used and the instrument settings employed. The optical response of the working photoactive electrode is not only dependent on the substances used but also on their arrangement and linkage. The substrate which was employed in chapter 3 consists of a nanoporous ZnO gel layer upon which an organic linker has been placed in order to connect the oxide layer with the light absorbing component, the PbS NPs. Chapter 3 deals with the linker dependence on the ZnO layer and reports the typical optical characteristics and assembly arrangements of six different linkers on the ZnO layer which is an important intermediate stage in the fabrication of an ISC. The questions concerning how the type of linking affects the photo response and other electrochemical interactions of the complete solar cell substrate will be outlined in chapter 4. Further an examination of the electrochemical and opto-electrochemical behaviours of the samples will be presented similar to that presented in chapter 3. The most interesting substrate resulting from the investigations as described in chapter 3 and 4 will be used for a more in-depth characterisation by EIS in chapter 5. A suitable model and the results of the calculation of the ISC and the intermediate stages will be presented. The potential dependence, the dependence on the illuminated wavelength and also the size dependence of the PbS nanoparticles will be discussed. It will be revealed that ZnO is chemically unstable in contact with some of the linkers. For that reason the same linker study has been repeated with the more stable TiO2 employed as the wide band metal oxide. Comparisons between the different semiconductor metal oxides are made in chapter 6. In addition a number of open questions which previously had remained unanswered due to the instability of the ZnO can now be answered. In chapter 7 another highly porous structure different from that of the ZnO gel structure has been studied to determine its suitability as an ISC substrate. The structure arises from the electrodeposition of a ZnO reactant in the presence of eosin Y dye molecules. In the end the desorption of the dye provides a substrate with a high degree of porosity. Compared to the ZnO gel which was prepared and used for measurements in chapter 3 and 4, the electrodeposited ZnO is of a higher crystallinity and possesses a more preferential orientation. This results in a lower amount of grain boundaries which in turn results in fewer trap processes and subsequently yields a higher effective diffusion of the electron through the layer.[47,48] Optical and (opto-)electrochemical methods have been used for the basic characterisation of the untreated ZnO/Eosin Y and all other materials used in the fabrication of the ISC and a comparison with the ZnO gel used in chapter 3 and 4 will be made. Finally in chapter 8 an alternative metal oxide structure will be discussed. The background to this last chapter is to examine the influence of the ISC where the oxidic layer is present as a highly periodic arrangement, known as a photonic crystal. The TiO2 metal oxide which was also used in chapter 6 has been structured to form an inverse opal. First preparative findings and the first illustration of the (opto-)electrochemical results are presented. Consequently suggestions for improvements will be made. It is envisaged that the information gathered and presented here will help to achieve a deeper understanding of solar cells and help to improve the device efficiency and the interplay of the materials. Elementary understanding paves the way for further developments which can also contribute to providing devices for more efficient energy conversion.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit werden die Nanopartikel mittels verschiedener Beschichtungsverfahren auf eine Zwischenoberfläche (Substrat) appliziert. Diese wird anschließend in die Kavität einer Spritzgießmaschine eingelegt, wobei es während des Spritzgießprozesses zur Übertragung der Nanopartikel auf das PC-Formteil kommt. Als Modellsystem werden dafür Goldnanopartikel (AuNP) verwendet, da diese charakteristische optische, chemische und physikalische Eigenschaften aufweisen. Im weiteren Verlauf wurde die Übertragung von Kohlenstoffnanoröhren (CNT) und Siliziumdioxidnanopartikeln (SiO2-NP) untersucht. Die Oberflächen der SiO2-NP wurden außerdem mithilfe funktioneller Alkoxysilane modifiziert, um den Einfluss der Nanopartikeloberfläche auf die Übertragung zu untersuchen.

We report visualization of spin polarized states in macroscopic ensembles of biologically-produced ferromagnetic palladium nanoparticles using the Faraday effect-based technique of magneto-optical imaging. The ferromagnetic palladium only exists in the form of nanoparticles. Large quantities of palladium nanoparticles may be synthesized via biomineralization from a Pd2+ solution. The ferromagnetic Pd nanoparticles are formed in the periplasmic space of bacteria during the hydrogen-assisted reduction of Pd2+ ions by hydrogenases. The ferromagnetism in Pd comes from itinerant electrons. A high Curie temperature of ferromagnetic palladium, about 200 degrees centigrade above room temperature, would allow for a range of room-temperature magnetic applications. The processes of the isolation of electron spins in separate nanoparticles, spin hopping, spin transport and spin correlations may even form a basis of quantum computing. So far, measurements of the magnetic properties of Pd nanoparticles (PdNP) have been limited by integral techniques such as SQUID magnetometry, magnetic circular dihroism and muon spin rotation spectroscopy ( SR). In the present study, ferromagnetic Pd nanoparticles are characterized using the technique of magneto-optical imaging. This allows visualization of the spin polarization by the variations in the intensity of polarized light. To perform measurements at relatively low magnetic fields, a spin injection from a colossal magnetoresistive material has been used. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35337

AbstractwIRA-transparent small gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were shown to be shifted to wIRA absorbing when targeted to receptors on tumor cells and aggregated in the tumor cell by enzyme degradation and pH effects. In this way, AuNPs loaded into mouse-grown subcutaneous tumors after both direct intratumoral and intravenous injections cured tumors after either wIRA treatment ablation or wIRA treatment combined with X-ray irradiation. Some GNP constructs, e.g., nanoshells and nanorods, have already progressed to veterinary and human clinical trials. If AuNP/NIR therapy is proven to be useful to treat an appropriately superficial human tumor, the use of the wIRA radiator might make such therapy accessible to large numbers of patients in low- and middle-income countries that lack access to very high-tech expensive therapies.

The surfactant injection is considered as the EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery) with the highest potential to recover oil from reservoirs due to its ability to reduce interfacial forces into the porous medium. However, the adsorption of this type of chemical on the surface of rocks is the main problem when a surfactant injection project is applied since the surfactant molecules would rather be placed on rock minerals instead of being the oil–water interface. Based on this fact, this chapter would be discussed the significance of surfactant injection as an EOR method, the types of surfactants used, the main mechanism and parameters involved in the surfactant adsorption on the rock, and its consequences in oil recovery. Likewise, the addition of nanoparticles to inhibit the adsorption of surfactants is another topic that will be covered as a novel technology to improve the efficiency of the EOR process.

Human exposure to nanoparticles has been dramatically increased in the past 25 years as a result of the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Many have recognized the importance of identifying potential effects on human health associated with the manufacture and use of these important technology. Many questions remain unanswered regarding the short- and long-term effect, systemic toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Engineered nanoparticles can be taken up by the human body via inhalation, ingestion, dermal uptake, and injection. They can reach the bloodstream and ultimately affect multiple body organs such as liver and spleen or even transcend the blood-brain barrier. Because of the huge diversity of materials used and the wide range in size of nanoparticles, these effects will vary a lot. Local and systemic adverse effects consist of primarily inflammatory reactions. Other observed effects include generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent oxidative stress, disruption of proteins, DNA, mitochondria and membrane structures, as well as changes in cell signaling pathways.

Human exposure to nanoparticles has been dramatically increased in the past 25 years as a result of the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Many have recognized the importance of identifying potential effects on human health associated with the manufacture and use of these important technology. Many questions remain unanswered regarding the short- and long-term effect, systemic toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Engineered nanoparticles can be taken up by the human body via inhalation, ingestion, dermal uptake, and injection. They can reach the bloodstream and ultimately affect multiple body organs such as liver and spleen or even transcend the blood-brain barrier. Because of the huge diversity of materials used and the wide range in size of nanoparticles, these effects will vary a lot. Local and systemic adverse effects consist of primarily inflammatory reactions. Other observed effects include generation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent oxidative stress, disruption of proteins, DNA, mitochondria and membrane structures, as well as changes in cell signaling pathways.

The unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) make them widely used in cosmetics, medicines, food additives, and antibacterial and antiviral compounds. NPs are also used in therapy and diagnostic applications. Depending on their origin, the NPs are commonly classified as naturally occurring and synthetic or anthropogenic NPs. Naturally occurring nanoparticles can be formed by many physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring in all spheres of the earth. However, synthetic NPs are specifically designed or unintentionally produced by different human activities. Owing to their nano size and special properties, the engineered NPs can enter the human body through different routes such as dermal penetration, intravenous injection and inhalation. NPs may accumulate in various tissues and organs including the brain. Indiscriminate use of NP is a matter concern due to the dangers of NP exposure to living organisms. It is possible for NPs to cross the placental barrier, and adversely affect the developing fetus, posing a health hazard in them by causing neurodevelopmental toxicity. Thus, NP-induced neurotoxicity is a topic that demands attention at the maternal-fetal interface. This chapter summarizes the routes by which NPs circumvent the blood-brain barrier, including recent investigations about NPs’ neurotoxicity as well as possible mechanisms involved in neural fetotoxicity.

In this chapter, the recent advances in chemical flooding, including the application of nanoparticles, novel surfactants, and the combination thereof will be discussed and described. The main rock and reservoir fluids properties that influence the effectiveness of chemical flooding will be addressed. The emphasis will be given on wetting properties and recent advances in methods for measuring wettability. The technological and economic challenges associated with chemical injection will be posed, and reсent solutions will be given. Especially, the challenge of applying chemical EOR methods to carbonate reservoirs will be covered, and suggestions to overcome it will be given. Moreover, the current worldwide applications of chemical EOR will be discussed and future plans will be outlined.

Magnetic nanoparticles have been used in clinical and animal studies to generate localized heating for tumor treatments when the particles are subjected to an external alternating magnetic field. One approach to deliver the nanoparticles is via directly injecting the nanoparticles in the extracellular space of the tumor. Its advantage is that multiple-site injections can be exploited to cover the entire target region in the case of an irregularly shaped tumor. Currently since most tissue is opaque, the detailed information of the nanoparticle spreading after the injection can not be visualized directly and it is often quantified by indirect methods such as temperature measurements to inversely determine the distribution. In this study, we use a high-resolution microCT imaging system to investigate the nanoparticle concentration distribution in a tissue equivalent agarose gel. The preliminary results are promising to obtain a 3-D distribution of the ferrofluid in tissue. The local density variations induced by the nanoparticles in the vicinity of the injection site can be detected and analyzed by the microCT system. Experiments are performed to study how the injection amount, gel concentration, and nanoparticle concentration in the ferrofluid affect nanoparticle spreading in the gel. The obtained quantified information is important for future studies of temperature elevations in opaque tumor to design optimized treatment protocols.

In magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for cancer treatment, controlling heat deposition and temperature elevations is an immense challenge in clinical applications. In this study, we evaluate magnetic nanofluid transport using agarose gel that has porous structures similar to human tissue by injecting magnetic nanoparticle solution into the extracellular space of gel. The nanofluid distribution in the gel is examined via digital images of the nanofluid spreading in the gel. By adjusting the gel concentration and injection flow rate, the results have demonstrated that a relatively low injection rate leads to a spherically shaped nanofluid distribution in the gels which is desirable for controlling temperature elevations. In parallel to the experimental study, a particle tracking model is developed to study the migration and deposition of nanoparticles in the porous structure under multiple forces including Brownian motion, London-Van der Waals attraction, electrostatic forces, gravitational body force, viscous force, and inertial force. This model allows for the determination of the rate of nanoparticle deposition on the porous structure for various particle sizes, surface potentials, and local fluid velocity. In the future, the information obtained in this study can be used with continuous porous medium theory to predict the evolution of the concentration and deposition profiles of nanoparticles in porous structure during infusion process.

A coupled theoretical framework comprising a suspension of nanoparticles transport in porous media model and a heat transfer model is developed to address nanoparticle redistribution during heating. Nanoparticle redistribution in biological tissues during magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia is described by a multi-physics model that consists of five major components: (a) a fully saturated porous media model for fluid flow through tissue; (b) nanoparticle convection and diffusion; (c) heat transfer model based on heat generation by local nanoparticle concentration; (d) a model to predict tissue thermal damage and corresponding change to the porous structure; and (e) a nanoparticle redistribution model based on the dynamic porosity and diffusion diffusivity. The integrated model has been used to predict the structural damage in porous tumors and its effect on nanoparticle-induced heating in tumors. Thermal damage in the vicinity of the tumor center that is predicted by the Arrhenius equation increases from 14% with 10 minutes of heating to almost 99% after 20 minutes. It then induces an increased tumor porosity that increases nanoparticle diffusivity by seven-fold. The model predicts thermal damage induced by nanoparticle redistribution increases by 20% in the radius of the spherical tissue region containing nanoparticles. The developed model has demonstrated the feasibility of enhancing nanoparticle dispersion from injection sites using targeted thermal damage.

Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia attracts growing research interest aiming to develop a localized heating approach for malignant tumors treatment. In this method, magnetic nanoparticles delivered to the tissue or blood vessels induce localized heating when exposed to alternating magnetic field, leading to irreversible thermal damage to the tumor. Controlling the heat distribution and temperature elevation in such treatment is still an immense challenge in clinical applications. In this study, we inject nanofluid into agarose gel to study nanofluid transport in the extracellular space of biological tissue. Nanofluid distribution in the gel is examined via digital images of the nanofluid spreading in the gel. By adjusting gel concentrations and injection flow rates, we expect to identify an idealized particle delivery strategy for achieving spherical shaped nanoparticle dispersion. Thermocouples are then inserted into the gel to measure the initial temperature rises at various locations in the gel to obtain the specific absorption rate (SAR). The preliminary results have demonstrated that a spherical shaped particle deposition is possible with a relatively low injection rate of the nanofluid and a technique that minimizes the air gap surrounding the injection needle. The distribution of energy absorption (SAR) implies that the nanoparticle distribution in the gel is not uniform. High concentration of nanoparticles is observed close to the center of the injection site. Based on the particle deposition pattern, a theoretical model will be developed in the future to simulate the temperature distribution in tissue during nanoparticle hyperthermia treatment. The simulated results will help provide guidance for designing a better treatment protocol in future clinical application.

Intravenous injection of nanoparticles as drug delivery vehicles is a common practice used in in-vivo and clinical trials of therapeutic agents to target specific cancerous or pathogenic sites. The vascular flow dynamics of nanocarriers in human capillaries play an important role in the ultimate efficacy of this drug delivery method. This article reports an experimental study of the effect of nanoparticle size on their margination and adhesion propensity in micro fabricated microfluidic channels of a half elliptical cross-section. Spherical polystyrene particles ranging in diameter from 60 to 970 nm were flown in the microchannels and individual particles adhered to either the channel’s top or bottom wall were imaged using fluorescence microscopy. The results show a significant increase in adhesion for particles with diameter below 200 nm as well as the emergence of a critical nanoparticle diameter of about 970 nm, where no nanoparticle adherence was observed on the top wall. For the same particle number concentration, the total volume of the nanoparticles adhered to the top and bottom walls was found to increase with decreasing diameter for diameters less than 200 nm. The results are explained by the competition between Brownian motion, gravity and hemodynamic forces on the nanoparticles. These findings on the flow behavior of spherical nanoparticles in artificial micro-capillaries provide further insight for the rational design of nanocarriers for targeted cancer therapeutics.

In magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia for cancer treatment, controlling nanoparticle is vital for managing heat deposition and temperature elevations in clinical applications. In this study, we first perform a numerical simulation of magnetic nanofluid transport in agarose gel during an injection process and explore the relationship between the spreading shapes of the nanofluid in gel and injection parameters. We also simulate the nanoparticle concentration distribution in tissues after being injected into the extracellular space under various injection parameters. The model consists of two components. One is a particle trajectory tracking model (PTTM) which can predict the deposition rate of nanoparticle on the porous matrix in a single pore structure by using a Lagrangian Brownian Dynamics simulation method. The other one is a macroscale transport model of nanofluid in saturated porous structures. This study provides advanced understanding of nanofluid transport behavior in a porous structure. Our results show that the gap formed surrounding the needle may cause a back flow and can significantly affect the shape of nanofluid spreading. For small-sized nanoparticle (10nm) with zero surface zeta potential, the filtration effect dominates the particle distribution. The effect of other conditions like nanoparticle size, particle surface coating, and physic-chemical properties of carrier fluid on nanoparticle concentration distribution is under study.

Abstract Nanoparticles have demonstrated their capacity to increase emulsion stability by forming what is known as a Pickering emulsion, which is predicted to improve EOR processes by improving conformity control. The goal of this work is to develop a novel way of beneficially utilizing the main waste product from coal power-generation plants - fly ash - by generating fly ash nanoparticle-stabilized emulsions for improved mobility control, especially under high-salinity conditions. First, the ball-milling method was used to decrease the grain size of fly ash, which was too big for injection into reservoirs. Second, fly ash nanoparticles were used to measure the synergy between nanoparticles and surfactants in the creation of oil-in-brine emulsions. Third, the emulsion stability was tested using a microscope and a rheometer with three different surfactants (cationic, nonionic, and anionic). Finally, oil replacement experiments were conducted using intra-formation heterogeneous cores to investigate the recovery enhancement effect of in situ injection of fly ash nanoparticles and cationic surfactant (CS). Thermally treated fly ash (TTFA) nanoparticles with an average size of 150 nm were produced using nano-milling and thermal treatment techniques. The use of either a cationic or nonionic surfactant in conjunction with nanoparticles resulted in strong and stable emulsions. The cationic surfactant had the greatest synergy, while the anionic surfactant had the least, indicating that electrostatic interactions with the surfactant and the liquid/liquid interface were key factors. The in-situ emulsion formed by the fly ash nanoparticles and the cationic surfactant (FA-CS) produced an additional 8.5 % of the original oil in place (OOIP) recovery after waterflooding. This indicates that the emulsion has better mobility control performance and higher crude oil recovery. This study not only has the potential to minimize the amount of surfactant used for emulsion-based EOR mobility control of fly ash nanoparticles but also to sequester fly ash in the subsurface strata.

Abstract A significant amount of hydrocarbon in reservoirs is inaccessible even after deploying enhanced oil recovery methods such as gas, water, and chemical injections. Foams have been used for mobility control and fluid diversion for gas-based enhanced oil recovery, but they often lack stability in reservoir conditions. This study introduces the application of highly stable nanoparticle-based foam (nanofoam) for gas and water diversion and improving sweep efficiency and CO2 storage. A series of flow experiments in uniquely designed dual porous media were performed to investigate the performance of nanofoam in fluid diversion, sweep improvement, and CO2 storage. A permeability contrast of 5 was created to mimic the heterogeneity and fluid diversion capability of different fluids including CO2 gas, water, surfactant-based CO2 foam, and nanofoam. High permeability and low permeability porous media were saturated with water and oil (viscosity of 20 cp) respectively, mimicking a swept thief zone and bypassed oil zone. Two different types of nanoparticles were used to stabilize the nanofoam (silica-based and cellulose-based nanoparticles). These nanofoams were compared with a conventional foam stabilized only by surfactant. Due to high mobility contrast, injecting CO2 and water resulted only in displacement of water from the high permeability core, with negligible flow into the oil-saturated core. Foam was then injected with the intention of preferentially filling the high permeability core, so that subsequent CO2/water injection would be diverted into the oil-saturated core. Although surfactant foam generated relatively strong foam, it failed to divert subsequent water/CO2 into the oil-saturated core. The amount of oil recovery and additional CO2 storage was minimal. On the other hand, nanofoam (made with either type of nanoparticles) diverted both water and CO2 to the low permeability media improving oil recovery and increasing CO2 storage. Compared to pure CO2/water injection, nanofoam enhanced the incremental oil recovery by 40% of original oil in place with additional CO2 storage. This study reveals that an engineered designed nanofoam could result in step-change improvement of conventional foams performance hence delivering the results desired in field applications. A highly stable foam can play an important role to access more pore space for CO2 storage and which is inaccessible otherwise without drilling new wells.