We report a facile intracellular manipulation of fluorescent magnetic Fe3O4-CdSe nanoparticles using magnetic force. The growth of CdSe quantum dots on Fe3O4 nanoparticles produces Fe3O4-CdSe nanoparticles with two distinct properties, fluorescence and superparamagnetism. After nonspecific surface modification using glutathione (GSH), the hydrophilic Fe3O4-CdSe@GSH nanoparticles can be easily u...

In order to develop a systemically administered safe and effective nonviral gene delivery system, cellular interactions and plasmid DNA transfection with poly(ethylene glycol)-modified (PEGylated) gelatin nanoparticles were examined. The DNA-containing nanoparticles were prepared by a controlled water-ethanol solvent displacement method. The nanoparticles were characterized for particle size, s...

Amino-functionalized fluorescent carbon dots have been prepared by hydrothermal treatment of glucosamine with excess pyrophosphate. The produced carbon dots showed stabilized green emission fluorescence at various excitation wavelengths and pH environments. Herein, we demonstrate the surface energy transfer between the amino-functionalized carbon dots and negatively charged hyaluronate stabiliz...

Fluorescent nanoparticles dedicated to bioimaging applications should possess specific properties that have be maintained in the aqueous, reactive, and crowded biological environment. These include chemical photostability, small size (on scale of subcellular structures), biocompatibility, high brightness, good solubility. The latter is a major challenge for inorganic nanoparticles, which requir...

Trypsin is often used to detach adhered cell subculture from a substrate. However, the proteolytic activity of trypsin may harm cells by cleaving the cell membrane proteins. The present study shows that cellular uptake of fluorescent nanoparticles is remarkably increased within 24 h after trypsinization. These results highlight the trypsin-induced protein digestion, provoking leaky cell plasma ...

We introduce a means of efficiently photo-uncaging active compounds from amino-1,4-benzoquinone in aqueous environments. Aqueous photochemistry of this photocage with one-photon red light is typically not efficient unless the photocaged molecules are allowed to assemble into nanoparticles. A variety of biologically active molecules were functionalized with the photocage and subsequently formula...

The pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils. In AD, the fibrils are of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. The development of new approaches based on nanotechnology for early detection and potential treatment of AD is of high current interest. This review describes a pioneering approach involving th...

We developed a method to obtain water-dispersible boron nanoparticles (BNPs) as a potential boron delivery agent for cancer treatment. The 40 nm nanoparticles are prepared by mechanical milling in undecylenic acid followed by ligand exchange with dopamine. These particles can be rendered fluorescent by the attachment of a fluorophore to the primary amine of the dopamine, which could be used to ...

In this review, we describe the synthesis, physical properties, surface functionalization, and biological applications of silicon nanoparticles (also known as quantum dots). We compare them against current technologies, such as fluorescent organic dyes and heavy metal chalcogenide-based quantum dots. In particular, we examine the many different methods that can be used to both create and modify...