• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.114-120
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• 2022

Purpose: Particle beam therapy is advantageous over photon therapy. However, adequately delivering therapeutic doses to tumors near critical organs is difficult. Nanoparticle-aided radiation therapy can be used to alleviate this problem, wherein nanoparticles can passively accumulate at higher concentrations in the tumor tissue compared to the surrounding normal tissue. In this study, we investigate the dose enhancement effect due to gold nanoparticle (GNP) when Carbon-12, He-4, and proton beams are irradiated on GNP. Methods: First, monoenergetic Carbon-12 and He-4 ion beams of energy of 283.33 MeV/u and 150 MeV/u, respectively, and a proton beam of energy of 150 MeV were irradiated on a water phantom of dimensions 30 cm×30 cm×30 cm. Subsequently, the secondary-particle information generated near the Bragg peak was recorded in a phase-space (phsp) file. Second, the obtained phsp file was scaled down to a nanometer scale to irradiate GNP of diameter 50 nm located at the center of a 4 ㎛×4 ㎛×4 ㎛ water phantom. The dose enhancement ratio (DER) was calculated in intervals of 1 nm from the GNP surface. Results: The DER of GNP computed at 1 nm from the GNP surface was 4.70, 4.86, and 4.89 for Carbon-12, He-4, and proton beams, respectively; the DER decreased rapidly with increasing distance from the GNP surface. Conclusions: The results indicated that GNP can be used as radiosensitizers in particle beam therapy. Furthermore, the dose enhancement effect of the GNP absorbed by tumor cells can aid in delivering higher therapeutic doses.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.269-276
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• 2019

A colorimetric rapid detection method based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was developed for the analysis of organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate (CB) pesticides. The AChE catalyzes acetylthiocholine into thiocholine having (-) and (+) charges, and the (+) charge results in gold nanoparticle (GNP) aggregation. The in-activation of AChE by OP and CB has been well known. In order to optimize the colorimetric method, optimal dilution times of commercial serum containing AChE, diameter of GNP, and concentration of acetylthiocholine were tested as a key parameter. The colorimetric detection limits of the method were 7.5 ng/mL for both dimethyl amine and carbofuran pesticides in 60% ethanol. No cross-reaction to other chemicals, such as aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A, which can be contaminated with pesticides in agricultural products, was observed. Recoveries from lettuce, sesame leaf, and cabbage lettuce spiked with known concentrations of dimethyl amine and carbofuran were found to be ranged from 83.85 to 133.16%. These results indicated that the colorimetric rapid method based on AChE can be a useful tool for the sensitive, specific, rapid, and accurate detection of OP and CB pesticides in fresh vegetables.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.471-486
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• 2011

Various types of strain sensors have been developed and widely used in the field for monitoring the mechanical deformation of structures. However, conventional strain sensors are not suited for measuring large strains associated with impact damage and local crack propagation. In addition, strain sensors are resistive-type transducers, which mean that the sensors require an external electrical or power source. In this study, a gold nanoparticle (GNP)-based polymer composite is proposed for large strain sensing. Fabrication of the composites relies on a novel and simple in situ GNP reduction technique that is performed directly within the elastomeric poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) matrix. First, the reducing and stabilizing capacities of PDMS constituents and mixtures are evaluated via visual observation, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The large strain sensing capacity of the GNP-PDMS thin film is then validated by correlating changes in thin film optical properties (e.g., maximum UV-Vis light absorption) with applied tensile strains. Also, the composite's strain sensing performance (e.g., sensitivity and sensing range) is also characterized with respect to gold chloride concentrations within the PDMS mixture.

• Korean Journal of Dental Materials
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2017

In this study, we prepared PLA-tetracycline complexes coated gold nanoparticle-titania nanotubes and estimated their infrared LASER mediated drug release in the abdominal region of ICR mouse. The results of UV-Vis spectrophotometer showed the highest absorbance at the wavelength of 530 nm and 809 nm indicating the existence of gold nanoparticles. EDX analysis showed that the amounts of gold nanoparticle coated on titania nanotubes were approximately 3.62-36.5 wt%. In vivo test resulted that the tetracycline release value of experimental groups (6.5 ng/mL) was higher than that of control group (5.8 ng/mL) on the condition of 30 minutes of LASER irradiation. Therefore, it is expected that PLA-tetracycline complexes coated gold nanoparticle-titania nanotubes have the feasibility in the field of infrared remote controlled drug device and overcome the limitation of location and time of drug release in dental implant.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.2421-2429
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• 2018

Thiol-based self-assembled anchor linked to glucose oxidase (GOx) and gold nanoparticle (GNP) cluster is suggested to enhance the performance of glucose biosensor. By the adoption of thiol-based anchors, the activity of biocatalyst consisting of GOx, GNP, polyethyleneimine (PEI) and carbon nanotube (CNT) is improved because they play a crucial role in preventing the leaching out of GOx. They also promote electron collection and transfer, and this is due to a strong hydrophobic interaction between the active site of GOx and the aromatic ring of anchor, while the effect is optimized with the use of thiophenol anchor due to its simple configuration. Based on that, it is quantified that by the adoption of thiophenol as anchor, the current density of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) redox reaction increases about 42%, electron transfer rate constant ($k_s$) is $9.1{\pm}0.1s^{-1}$ and the value is 26% higher than that of catalyst that does not use the anchor structure.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.145-147
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• 2016

Recently, conjugates of medicinal herb-derived bioflavonoids, such as quercetin, and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have gained attention as targeted drug delivery systems. In the present study, because quercetin is an important flavonoid with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties, GNP-quercetin complexes (GNPQs) were synthesized to investigate possible adverse effects such as cytotoxicity. We found that while quercetin was cytotoxic, GNPQs were not cytotoxic towards the RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cell lines. Therefore, GNPQs may serve as a potential drug delivery system for cancer treatment.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2015

Many applications of nanoparticles have been developed since 1970s. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect can be generated at the surface of nanoparticles by illumination. SPR is the resonant oscillation of conduction electrons at the surface material stimulated by incident light. The collisions between excited electrons and metal atoms can cause the production of thermal energy (photothermal effect). Here, we presented the development of thermo-cosmetics using photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were chosen for it's low toxicity. We also and investigated the cell biocompatibility and heating effectiveness for photothermal effect of GNPs. Synthesized GNPs were verified by UV-vis spectrophotometer, where GNP has a characteristic absorbance spectrum. Concentration of GNP was measured by atomic absorption analyzer. The cytotoxicity was confirmed by MTT assay and double staining assay. Photothermal effect of GNP was demonstrated by the thermal increasing properties depending on GNP concentration, which was taken by an IR-thermal camera with a xenon lamp as the light source. If the thermal effect of GNP is applied for thermo-cosmetics, it can supply heat to skin by converting solar energy into thermal energy. Thus, cosmetics containing GNPs can provide benefits to people in the cold region or winter season for maintaining skin temperature, which lead to a positive effect on skin health.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

The inverted Y-shaped strip detection method based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was developed for the rapid detection of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides. The inactivation of AChE by organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides has been well known. The AChE catalyzes acetylthiocholine into thiocholine having (-) and (+) charges, and the (+) charge results in aggregation of gold nanoparticle (GNP). Malaoxon and carbofuran were used as standard organophosphorus and carbamate for the development of the inverted Y-shaped strip, respectively. In order to optimize the method, various angles of the Y-shaped strip, different types of nitrocellulose membrane, and concentration of AChE were tested as key parameters. The detection limit of the method was 10 ng/mL for both malaoxon and carbofuran pesticides. No cross-reaction was observed to other pesticides such as atrazine, cyanazine, simazine, bifenthrin, boscalid, metalaxyl, and chlorobenzilate. Recoveries from lettuce spiked when known concentrations of malaoxon and carbofuran were found ranging from 96.4 to 100.7% and 81 to 112.7%, respectively. This study suggests that the inverted Y-shaped strip method based on AChE may be a useful tool for the sensitive, specific, rapid detection of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides in agricultural products.