Papers by Keyword: Colloidal Stability

Abstract: Coating of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is usually a requirement prior to their utilization in biomedical applications. However, coating can influence the magneto-structural properties of MNPs thereby imparting their applications. The present work highlights the combustion synthesis of Na-doped lanthanum manganites (LNMO) and the influence of silica coatings on the magneto-structural properties, colloidal stability and antimicrobial properties of LNMO MNPs with their biomedical applications in mind. The crystalline perovskite structure was the same both for the bare and silica coated LNMO samples while there was a slight increase in crystallite size after coating. The FTIR spectral analysis, reduction in agglomeration of the particles and the elemental composition of the coated nanoparticles confirmed the presence of silica. The magnetization values of 34 emu/g and 29 emu/g recorded for bare and coated LNMO samples, respectively show that LNMO MNPs retained its ferromagnetic behaviour after silica coating. The pH dependent zeta potentials of the coated sample is-22.20 mV at pH 7.4 (physiological pH) and-18 mV at pH 5.0 (cell endosomal pH). Generally, silica coating reduced the antibacterial activity of the sample except for Bacillus spp where the antibacterial activity was the same with the bare sample. These results showed that while silica coating had marginal effect on the crystalline structure, size and magnetization of LNMO MNPs, it reduced the antibacterial activity of LNMO MNPs and enhanced greatly the colloidal stability of LNMO nanoparticles. Keywords: Na-doped lanthanum manganites, Silica coating, magnetic nanoparticles, biomedical applications, antimicrobial properties, colloidal stability

Abstract: The surface of the magnetite nanoparticles has been engineered by the proteins available in the leaf extract of Datura inoxia. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) study and by thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms the bonding between metal ions and the amide carbonyl group preset in the plant protein confirming the formation of core-shell structure. The plant protein coated magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles under investigation have an average size of about 14 nm (˂20nm). The isothermal magnetization curve of the ferrofluid appears in S-like sigmoid shape showing soft nonhysteretic magnetic behaviour at room temperature. The saturation magnetization (M_S), remanent magnetization (M_R), squareness (M_R/M_S) and coercivity value (H_C) increased with decreasing temperature from 300 K to 10 K. The increment of magnetization (45 to 53 emu/gm) might be due to the decrease in thermal energy while the enhancement of coercivity (0-208 O_e) is attributed to the exchange interaction at the interface between the ferromagnetic (Fe₃O₄) and diamagnetic surface layer of protein on the nanocrystalline magnetite. The magnetization value is much smaller in comparison with the bulk magnetite (92emu/g) due to surface spin disorder also approves core-shell structure of diamagnetic protein layer on the surface. The results show the ease of the synthesis to reinforce the colloidal stability where the super paramagnetic behaviour has been found to be restored. The core-shell moiety could play an important role in biological systems as a means of storing Fe⁺³ for an organism.

Abstract: Magnetic nanocomposite material composed of silica coated MgFe₂O₄ for potential biomedical applications were synthesized by a two-step chemical method including solution combustion synthesis, followed by silica coatings of the ferrite nanoparticles. The effects of silica coatings on the structural, morphological and magnetic properties were comprehensively investigated using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive absorption x-ray (EDAX), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The colloidal behaviour of coated MNPs in physiological saline medium like water or phosphate buffer saline (PBS) was also studied by zeta potential measurements. The XRD patterns indicate that the crystalline structure is single cubic spinel phase and the spinel structure is retained after silica coating. Also, after silica coating, the crystallite size (from Scherrer formula) decreases from 53 to 47 nm. The magnetic results show that MgFe₂O₄ MNPs (bare and silica coated) is ferrimagnetic at room temperature. Zeta potential studies revealed that there is enhanced colloidal stability of MgFe₂O₄ MNPs after silica coating in aqueous media which is an applicable potential in biomedical applications.

Abstract: The interaction between bioactive glass particles and polymers with different functional groups has been established in this work to better understand and control the colloidal processing of the bioactive glass phase. Cationic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), anionic polyacrylic acid (PAA) and neutral polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were selected and the surface reactions in alcoholic media and between bioactive glass particles and polymers were considered. All three polymers were successfully employed to obtain soft composite coatings incorporating bioactive glass particles.

Abstract: The major challenge in assessing the performance of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in removing pollutants from wastewater is the agglomeration of those nanoparticles into a bulky cluster size. In this study, different concentration of poly (sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS) were coated around the surface of MNPs to increase the particles’ colloidal stability. Both dynamic light scattering (DLS) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses have proved the success coating of PSS onto MNPs, whereby the cluster size of the functionalized MNPs were shown notably depends on the applied dosage of PSS. PSS/MNPs functionalization at molar ratio of 6:1 was found to have the smallest cluster size at 148.4 ± 0.22 nm. These results have provided some insight about the particles’ colloidal stability that could be useful for environmental remediation.

Abstract: The research work presented here intends to contribute to the overall research effort towards nanofluids engineering and characterization. To accomplish the latter, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are added to an ethylene glycol (EG) based fluid. Different aspects concerning the nanofluids preparation and its thermal characterization will be addressed. The study considers and exploits the relative influence of CNTs concentration on EG based fluids, on the suspension effective thermal conductivity and viscosity. In order to guarantee a high-quality dispersion it was performed a chemical treatment on the MWCNTs followed by ultrasonication mixing. Furthermore, the ultrasonication mixing-time is optimized through the UV-vis spectrophotometer to ensure proper colloidal stability. The thermal conductivity is measured via transient hot-wire within a specified temperature range. Viscosity is assessed through a controlled stress rheometer. The results obtained clearly indicate an enhancement in thermal conductivity consistent with carbon nanotube loading. The same trend is observed for the viscosity, which decreases with temperature rise and its effect is nullified at higher shear rates.

Abstract: Composition, synthesis and structural properties of ferrofluids and magnetorheological fluids are reviewed and compared. The similarities and main differences between the two types of magnetically controllable fluids are outlined and exemplified in the paper. Chemical synthesis and structural characterization of magnetizable fluids for engineering and biomedical applications are thoroughly discussed.

Abstract: Currently there are several models discussed to describe the formation of monodispersed silica particles. Monodisperse colloidal silica was prepared from tetraethoxysilane in mixture of ammonia, water and ethanol. Chemical system reaction permits the controlled growth of silica nanoparticles and subsequent condition of silicic acid in alcoholic solution. The molar ratio of NH4OH, C2H5OH and H2O has a significant effect on particle size and specific surface area of silica particles. The nature of particles was evaluated using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and BET. The morphology of particles were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy(TEM).

Abstract: In this study, the colloidal stability and sedimentation behavior of crystalline TiO2 particles (∼300nm) in various organic solvents have been investigated by means of a backscattered light flux profile (Turbiscan) and a zeta potential measurement. The backscattered light flux profiles revealed that the TiO2 nanoparticles were readily sedimented in water, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol due to a flocculation-induced particle growth, while a particle coalescence and a sedimentation of the TiO2 nanoparticles were hardly observed in isopropyl alcohol. The measured ζ potentials verified the differences of the colloidal stabilities of the TiO2 particles in the organic solvents, showing a good correlation with the migration velocity.

Abstract: Recently, textured microstructure has received particular interest in the processing of advanced Si3N4 ceramics because of significant improvement in the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity. This work will report a highly textured β-Si3N4 ceramic by aqueous slip casting in a magnetic field and subsequent pressureless sintering, using commercial α-Si3N4 raw powder and a mixture of Y2O3 and Al2O3 as sintering aids. To obtain the well-dispersed Si3N4- Y2O3-Al2O3 slurries, polyethylenimine (PEI) was chosen as a dispersant. Effects of the sintering aids, PEI amount, pH and stirring time on the stability of the Si3N4 slurries were studied. It is shown that PEI is an effective dispersant for stabilizing the Si3N4-Y2O3-Al2O3 slurries that does not show a time-dependent behavior at an optimum pH ≈ 10, compared to the case in the absence of PEI. Using the 30 vol% Si3N4-Y2O3-Al2O3 slurries stabilized with 1.5 dwb% PEI at pH 10, the highly textured β-Si3N4 with 97 % relative density could be obtained by slip casting in a magnetic field of 12 T and subsequent sintering at 1800 oC for 1 h. The textured microstructure is featured by the alignment of c-axis of β-Si3N4 crystals perpendicular to the magnetic field, and the Lotgering orientation factor, f, is determined to be 0.8.