Dataset Information

Characterising the chemical and physical properties of phase-change nanodroplets

ABSTRACT: Graphical abstract Schematic representative of nanodroplets vaporisation, images of nanodroplets cavitation under high-speed camera (ADV: Acoustic Droplets Vaporisation, PFP=ND sample with 1 v/v% PFP as core, MIX=ND sample with 1 v/v% mixture PFC as core, PFH=ND sample with 1% v/v PFH as core). Highlights • The formulated NDs showed a good size around 100–110 nm and size distribution, which makes them more likely to permeate the tumour blood vessels compared to microbubbles.• 19F NMR was used to quantify the perfluorocarbon core of nanodroplets with good accuracy.• The cavitation of nanodroplets was observed using a high-speed camera. Comparison of the imaging data with Sonazoid® microbubbles, under equivalent insonation conditions with that of the different ND compositions, suggests that there is no qualitative difference in the cavitation response from each of the nucleation particles, for all peak negative pressure amplitudes tested. Phase-change nanodroplets have attracted increasing interest in recent years as ultrasound theranostic nanoparticles. They are smaller compared to microbubbles and they may distribute better in tissues (e.g. in tumours). They are composed of a stabilising shell and a perfluorocarbon core. Nanodroplets can vaporise into echogenic microbubbles forming cavitation nuclei when exposed to ultrasound. Their perfluorocarbon core phase-change is responsible for the acoustic droplet vaporisation. However, methods to quantify the perfluorocarbon core in nanodroplets are lacking. This is an important feature that can help explain nanodroplet phase change characteristics. In this study, we fabricated nanodroplets using lipids shell and perfluorocarbons. To assess the amount of perfluorocarbon in the core we used two methods, 19F NMR and FTIR. To assess the cavitation after vaporisation we used an ultrasound transducer (1.1 MHz) and a high-speed camera. The 19F NMR based method showed that the fluorine signal correlated accurately with the perfluorocarbon concentration. Using this correlation, we were able to quantify the perfluorocarbon core of nanodroplets. This method was used to assess the content of the perfluorocarbon of the nanodroplets in solutions over time. It was found that perfluoropentane nanodroplets lost their content faster and at higher ratio compared to perfluorohexane nanodroplets. The high-speed imaging indicates that the nanodroplets generate cavitation comparable to that from commercial contrast agent microbubbles. Nanodroplet characterisation should include perfluorocarbon concentration assessment as critical information for their development.

SUBMITTER: Zhang W

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10241977 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Whilst titanium, stainless steel, and cobalt-chrome alloys are the most common materials for use in orthopaedic implant devices, there are significant advantages in moving to alternative non-metallic substrates. Substrates such as polymers may have advantageous mechanical biological properties whilst other substrates may bring unique capability. A key challenge in the use of non-metal products is producing substrates which can be modified to allow the formation of well-adhered hydroxyapatite films which promote osteointegration and have other beneficial properties. In this work, we aim to develop methodology for the growth of hydroxyapatite films on surfaces other than bulk metallic parts using a wet chemical coating process, and we provide a detailed characterisation of the coatings. In this study, hydroxyapatite is grown from saturated solutions onto thin titanium films and silicon substrates and compared to results from titanium alloy substrates. The coating process efficacy is shown to be dependent on substrate roughness, hydrophilicity, and activation. The mechanism of the hydroxyapatite growth is investigated in terms of initial attachment and morphological development using SEM and XPS analysis. XPS analysis reveals the exact chemical state of the hydroxyapatite compositional elements of Ca, P, and O. The characterisation of grown hydroxyapatite layers by XRD reveals that the hydroxyapatite forms from amorphous phases, displaying preferential crystal growth along the [002] direction, with TEM imagery confirming polycrystalline pockets amid an amorphous matrix. SEM-EDX and FTIR confirmed the presence of hydroxyapatite phases through elemental atomic weight percentages and bond assignment. All data are collated and reviewed for the different substrates. The results demonstrate that once hydroxyapatite seeds, it crystallises in the same manner as bulk titanium whether that be on a titanium or silicon substrate. These data suggest that a range of substrates may be coated using this facile hydroxyapatite deposition technique, just broadening the choice of substrate for a particular function.

Project description:We examined the use of toxicogenomics data to 1) elucidate the underlying mechanisms of pulmonary responses following exposures to titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) of different size and surface charge, and 2) determine if such responses are influenced by embedding particles in complex paint matrix. Adult C57BL/6 mice were exposed via single intratracheal instillation to three doses of free forms of NRCWE-030 (10.5 nm), NRCWE-025 (38 nm), NRCWE-001 (10 nm, neutral charge) NRCWE-002 (10 nm, positive charge) or to sanding dusts of paint consisting of NRCWE-030+NRCWE-025 or NRCWE-025 alone. Controls were exposed to dispersion medium without NPs. TiO2NPs were characterized for size, surface area, and agglomeration status in the exposure medium. Hyperspectral microscopy was performed to detect TiO2NPs in lungs and to determine the in vivo status of matrix-embedded TiO2NPs. Pulmonary gene expression profiles were generated using DNA microarrays on lung tissues collected at 24 h and 28 d post exposure time points. Bioinformatics tools were used to characterize size and surface property-pertinent effects. The data from 360 individual arrays were collapsed into 567 differentially expressed genes (False discovery rate adjusted P ≤ 0.05 and fold change ≥ 1.5 in any one condition). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the 567 genes revealed that TiO2NPs clustered mainly based on the post-exposure time points and then by the particle types. A meta analysis using pathway tools showed that the combination of smaller size and positive surface charge contributes to the potency of TiO2NPs. Although embedding in matrix dampens the overall toxicity of TiO2NPs, the smaller size positively influences the toxicity. Paint matrix itself did not induce any response. Finally, the observed differences in response reflected the differences in severity of the response and not the underlying mechanisms. Thus, transcriptional profiling is an effective tool to determine the important properties responsible for eliciting a response.

Dataset Information

Characterising the chemical and physical properties of phase-change nanodroplets

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets