A method for situ preparing a hybrid material consisting of silica nanoparticles (SiO2) attached onto the surface of functionalized graphene nanoplatelets (f-GNPs) is proposed. Firstly, polyacrylic acid (PAA) was grafted to the surface of f-GNPs to increase reacting sites, and then 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) KH550 reacted with abovementioned product PAA-GNPs to obtain siloxane-GNPs, t...

In this study, we show the effect of various nanoparticle additives on phase separation behavior of a lattice-patterned liquid crystal [LC]-polymer composite system and on interfacial properties between the LC and polymer. Lattice-patterned LC-polymer composites were fabricated by exposing to UV light a mixture of a prepolymer, an LC, and SiO2 nanoparticles positioned under a patterned photomas...

An ultrathin poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE)-reinforced multilayer self-humidifying composite membrane (20 microm, thick) is developed. The membrane is composed of Nafion-impregnated porous PTFE composite as the central layer, and SiO2 supported nanosized Pt particles (Pt-SiO2) imbedded into the Nafion as the two side layers. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell employing the self-humi...

Nano SiO2 and MgO particles were incorporated into β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) scaffolds to improve the mechanical and biological properties. The porous cylindrical β-TCP scaffolds doped with 0.5 wt % SiO2, 1.0 wt % MgO, 0.5 wt % SiO2 + 1.0 wt % MgO were fabricated via selective laser sintering respectively and undoped β-TCP scaffold was also prepared as control. The phase composition and me...

The tunability of surface plasmon resonance can enable the highest degree of localised surface plasmon enhancement to be achieved, based on the emitting or absorbing wavelength. In this article, tunable dipole surface plasmon resonances of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are realized by modification of the SiO2 dielectric layer thicknesses. SiO2 layers both beneath and over the Ag NPs affected the reson...

Following inhalation into the lungs, silica particles are engulfed by alveolar macrophages, which triggers endogenous or exogenous apoptosis signaling pathways. As an inducer of apoptosis, the role of BBC3/PUMA (BCL2-binding component 3) in macrophages during silicosis remains unknown. Here, we exposed U937 cell-derived macrophages (UDMs) to SiO2 in vitro to explore the function of BBC3 in SiO2...

In this paper, a multifunctional Fe3O4@SiO2@PEI-Au/Ag@PDA nanocomposite catalyst with highly stabilized reactivity and magnetic recyclability was synthesized by a self-assembled method. The magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with a thin layer of the SiO2 to obtain a negatively charged surface. Then positively charged poly(ethyleneimine) polymer (PEI) was self-assembled onto the Fe3O4@SiO2...

Thin films of SiO2–TiO2 composite oxides with various SiO2:TiO2 compositions were prepared by the sol-gel method, using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as precursors. The composition, crystal structure, and chemical bonding configuration of the as-deposited and annealed SiO2–TiO2 thin films were analyzed using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), gl...

Triple-layer omnidirectional reflectors (ODRs) consisting of a semiconductor, a quarter-wavelength transparent dielectric layer, and a metal have high reflectivities for all angles of incidence. Internal ODRs (ambient material's refractive index n >> 1.0) are demonstrated that incorporate nanoporous SiO2, a low-refractive-index material (n = 1.23), as well as dense SiO2 (n = 1.46). GaP and Ag s...

The targeting of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), a first-line therapeutic agent for mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis (UC), to the site of inflammation has remained a challenge and an unmet requirement in the treatment of UC. However, nanoscale carriers for targeted drug delivery are promising for pharmacotherapy, and nanoparticles improve the pharmacokinetics of the loaded therapeutics...