Nanomaterials possess intriguing optical properties that depend sensitively on size, shape, and material content of the structures. Controlling such structural characteristics of the nanostructures allows the tailorin...Nanomaterials possess intriguing optical properties that depend sensitively on size, shape, and material content of the structures. Controlling such structural characteristics of the nanostructures allows the tailoring of their physical and chemical properties, e.g. optical, electronic, and catalytic, to achieve what is desired lot specific applications of interest. This review will cover the development of various shapes for silver and gold nanomaterials with emphasis on their relation to optical properties. Examples of various modern synthetic methods and characterization techniques are highlighted. The influence of the metal nanomaterial's shape and optical absorption on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and a final note on new emerging applications of metal nanostructures are also discussed.展开更多
Natural diatomite (DT) is the ancient deposit of diatom skeleton with many regular pores of 50-200 nm and also an abundant source of biogenic silica. Although silica is considered biologically safe and there is an i...Natural diatomite (DT) is the ancient deposit of diatom skeleton with many regular pores of 50-200 nm and also an abundant source of biogenic silica. Although silica is considered biologically safe and there is an increasing interest of using natural diatomite for biomedical applications, the toxicity information about natural diatomite is still missing. Here, cytotoxicity of natural diatomite on osteoblasts and fibroblasts were compared to hydroxyapatite and the relationships between cytotoxicity and diatomite sizes, dose, geometry or impurity were systematically investigated. Cell adhesion and interaction with diatomite particles were also fluorescently observed, The results clearly suggested a size-, dose- and shape-dependent cytotoxicity of natural diatomite. Disk-shaped diatomite particles with average size of 30μm in diameter revealed the least toxicity, while the diatomite particles with irregular shapes and sizes less than 10 μm were remarkably toxic. Diatomite particles with proper sizes were then selected to investigate the reinforcing effect on injectable calcium phosphate bone cement. Results showed that diatomite significantly improved the compressive strength of bone cement but did not alter the injectability of the cement, This work provided important biocompatibility information of natural diatomite and demonstrated the feasibility of using selected diatomite as bone implant material.展开更多
基金the National Science Foundation,NASA-UARC,US Armythe Lawrence Scholar Program(formerly known as Student Employee Graduate Research Fellowship).
文摘Nanomaterials possess intriguing optical properties that depend sensitively on size, shape, and material content of the structures. Controlling such structural characteristics of the nanostructures allows the tailoring of their physical and chemical properties, e.g. optical, electronic, and catalytic, to achieve what is desired lot specific applications of interest. This review will cover the development of various shapes for silver and gold nanomaterials with emphasis on their relation to optical properties. Examples of various modern synthetic methods and characterization techniques are highlighted. The influence of the metal nanomaterial's shape and optical absorption on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and a final note on new emerging applications of metal nanostructures are also discussed.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.81622032,51672184,51525101and 51472279)the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu High Education Institutions(PAPD)+2 种基金the Jiangsu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program,the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,No.2014CB748600)the Jiangsu Provincial Special Program of Medical Science(No.BL2012004)the Jiangsu Six Peak of Talents Program(No.2013-WSW-056)
文摘Natural diatomite (DT) is the ancient deposit of diatom skeleton with many regular pores of 50-200 nm and also an abundant source of biogenic silica. Although silica is considered biologically safe and there is an increasing interest of using natural diatomite for biomedical applications, the toxicity information about natural diatomite is still missing. Here, cytotoxicity of natural diatomite on osteoblasts and fibroblasts were compared to hydroxyapatite and the relationships between cytotoxicity and diatomite sizes, dose, geometry or impurity were systematically investigated. Cell adhesion and interaction with diatomite particles were also fluorescently observed, The results clearly suggested a size-, dose- and shape-dependent cytotoxicity of natural diatomite. Disk-shaped diatomite particles with average size of 30μm in diameter revealed the least toxicity, while the diatomite particles with irregular shapes and sizes less than 10 μm were remarkably toxic. Diatomite particles with proper sizes were then selected to investigate the reinforcing effect on injectable calcium phosphate bone cement. Results showed that diatomite significantly improved the compressive strength of bone cement but did not alter the injectability of the cement, This work provided important biocompatibility information of natural diatomite and demonstrated the feasibility of using selected diatomite as bone implant material.