Biomedical subjects

Parvesh Sharma

Publications and source records attributed to Parvesh Sharma.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Nanoparticles for bioimaging.

The emergence of synthesis strategies for the fabrication of nanosized contrast agents is anticipated to lead to advancements in understanding biological processes at the molecular level in addition to progress in the development of diagnostic tools and innovative therapies. Imaging agents such as fluorescent dye-doped silica nanoparticles, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles have overcome many of the limitations of conventional contrast agents (organic dyes) such as poor photostability, low quantum yield, insufficient in vitro and in vivo stability, etc. Such particulates are now being developed for absorbance and emission in the near infrared region, which is expected to allow for real time and deep tissue imaging via optical routes. Other efforts to facilitate deep tissue imaging with pre-existing technologies have lead to the development of multimodal nanoparticles which are both optical and MRI active. The main focus of this article is to provide an overview of properties and design of contrast agents such as dye-doped silica nanoparticles, quantum dots and gold nanoparticles for non-invasive bioimaging.

Contrast Media↗

PubMed2005

Hollow gold nanoparticles encapsulating horseradish peroxidase.

Hollow nanoshells of gold entrapping an enzyme, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), in the cavity of the nanoshell have been prepared in the reverse micelles by leaching out silver chloride (AgCl) from Au(shell)AgCl(core) nanoparticles with dilute ammonia solution. The particles have been characterised by dynamic laser light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron diffraction. The particle size is below 100 nm diameter, depending upon the size of the aqueous core of reverse micelles in which these particles have been prepared. This soft-chemical method for the preparation of such particles allows the entrapped enzyme to remain active inside the hollow gold nanoparticles. Small substrate molecules such as o-dianisidine can easily enter through the pores of the nanoshell and can undergo enzymatic oxidation by H2O2. The enzyme kinetics follows Michaelis-Menten mechanism. When the substrate is chemically conjugated with dextran molecule (10 kDa), the enzymatic reaction is practically completely prevented perhaps by the inability of dextran-o-dianisidine conjugate to penetrate the pores of the nanoshells. However, HRP did not show any activity when trapped inside solid gold nanoparticles.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2003

Size-dependent catalytic behavior of platinum nanoparticles on the hexacyanoferrate(III)/thiosulfate redox reaction.

Platinum nanoparticles prepared in reverse micelles have been used as catalysts for the electron transfer reaction between hexacyanoferrate(III) and thiosulfate ions. Nanoparticles of average diameter ranging between 10 and 80 nm have been used as catalysts. The kinetic study of the catalytic reaction showed that for a fixed mass of catalyst the catalytic rate did not increase proportionately to the decrease in particle size over the whole range from 10 to 80 nm. The maximum reaction rate has been observed for average particle diameter of about 38 nm. Particles below diameter 38 nm exhibit a trend of decreasing reaction rate with the decrease in particle size, while those above diameter 38 nm show a steady decline of reaction rate with increasing size. It has been postulated that in the case of particles of average size less than 38 nm diameter, a downward shift of Fermi level with a consequent increase of band gap energy takes place. As a result, the particles require more energy to pump electrons to the adsorbed ions for the electron transfer reaction. This leads to a reduced reaction rate catalyzed by smaller particles. On the other hand, for nanoparticles above diameter 38 nm, the change of Fermi level is not appreciable. These particles exhibit less surface area for adsorption as the particle size is increased. As a result, the catalytic efficiency of the particles is also decreased with increased particle size. The activation energies for the reaction catalyzed by platinum nanoparticles of diameters 12 and 30 nm are about 18 and 4.8 kJ/mol, respectively, indicating that the catalytic efficiency of 12-nm-diameter platinum particles is less than that of particles of diameter 30 nm. Extremely slow reaction rate of uncatalyzed reaction has been manifested through a larger activation energy of about 40 kJ/mol for the reaction.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Anomalous nanostructured titanium dioxide.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles prepared in water-in-oil microemulsion droplets by controlled hydrolysis of TiCl(4)-generated crystalline nanoparticles of sizes from 115 nm down to 6 nm diameter depending on the size of the aqueous core of the micellar droplets. Powder X-ray diffraction of the vacuum-dried product (without sintering) indicated the presence of an unusual type of orthorhombic crystal structure nearly similar to titanium dioxide crystals prepared at high pressure. On gradual heating up to 900 degrees C these metastable crystals are converted into relatively more stable nanorods perhaps through making and breaking of the Ti-O-Ti bonds. It has been concluded that chemical pressure generated within the constrained volume of aqueous core of the reverse micellar droplets is responsible for the unusual crystal structure of TiO(2) nanoparticles.

Journal Article↗