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- Cheng, Peifu, et al.
(author)
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High-Performance Hemofiltration via Molecular Sieving and Ultra-Low Friction in Carbon Nanotube Capillary Membranes
- 2023
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In: Advanced Functional Materials. - 1616-301X. ; 33:50
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Conventional dialyzer membranes typically comprise of unevenly distributed polydisperse, tortuous, rough pores, embedded in relatively thick ≈20–50 µm polymer layers wherein separation occurs via size exclusion as well as differences in diffusivity of the permeating species. However, transport in such polymeric pores is increasingly hindered as the molecule size approaches the pore dimension, resulting in significant retention of undesirable middle molecules (≥15–60 kDa) and uremic toxins. Enhanced removal of middle molecules is usually accompanied by high albumin loss (≈66 kDa) causing hypoalbuminemia. Here, the scalable bottom-up fabrication of wafer-scale carbon nanotube (CNT) membranes with highly aligned, low-friction, straight-channels/capillaries and narrow pore-diameter distributions (≈0.5–4.5 nm) is demonstrated, to overcome persistent challenges in hemofiltration/hemodialysis. Using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-Ficoll 70 and albumin in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as well as in bovine blood plasma, it is shown that CNT membranes can allow for significantly higher hydraulic permeability (more than an order of magnitude when normalized to pore area) than commercial high-flux hemofiltration/hemodialysis membranes (HF 400), as well as greatly enhance removal of middle molecules while maintaining comparable albumin retention. These findings are rationalized via an N-pore transport model that highlights the critical role of molecular flexing and deformation during size-selective transport within nanoscale confinements of the CNTs. The unique transport characteristics of CNTs coupled with size-exclusion and wafer-scale fabrication offer transformative advances for hemofiltration, and the obtained insight into molecular transport can aid advancements in several other bio-systems/applications beyond hemofiltration/hemodialysis.
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2. |
- Hirt, Ann M., et al.
(author)
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Effect of size, composition, and morphology on magnetic performance : First-order reversal curves evaluation of iron oxide nanoparticles
- 2014
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In: Journal of Applied Physics. - : AIP Publishing. - 0021-8979 .- 1089-7550. ; 115:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Superparamagnetic nanoparticles are employed in a broad range of applications that demand detailed magnetic characterization for superior performance, e. g., in drug delivery or cancer treatment. Magnetic hysteresis measurements provide information on saturation magnetization and coercive force for bulk material but can be equivocal for particles having a broad size distribution. Here, first-order reversal curves (FORCs) are used to evaluate the effective magnetic particle size and interaction between equally sized magnetic iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles with three different morphologies: (i) pure Fe2O3, (ii) Janus-like, and (iii) core/shell Fe2O3/SiO2 synthesized using flame technology. By characterizing the distribution in coercive force and interaction field from the FORC diagrams, we find that the presence of SiO2 in the core/shell structures significantly reduces the average coercive force in comparison to the Janus-like Fe2O3/SiO2 and pure Fe2O3 particles. This is attributed to the reduction in the dipolar interaction between particles, which in turn reduces the effective magnetic particle size. Hence, FORC analysis allows for a finer distinction between equally sized Fe2O3 particles with similar magnetic hysteresis curves that can significantly influence the final nanoparticle performance. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.
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3. |
- Teleki, Alexandra, et al.
(author)
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Hermetically Coated Superparamagnetic Fe2O3 Particles with SiO2 Nanofilms
- 2009
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In: Chemistry of Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0897-4756 .- 1520-5002. ; 21:10, s. 2094-2100
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magnetic nanoparticles are frequently coated with SiO2 to improve their functionality and biocompatibility in a range of biomedical and polymer nanocomposite applications. In this paper, a scalable flame aerosol technology is used to produce highly dispersible, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles hermetically coated with silica to retain full magnetization performance. Iron oxide particles were produced by flame spray pyrolysis of iron acetylacetonate in xylene/acetonitrile solutions and the resulting aerosol was in situ coated with silicon dioxide by oxidation of swirling hexamethlydisiloxane vapor. The process allows independent control of the core Fe2O3 (Maghemite) particle properties and the thickness of their silica coating film. This ensures that the nonmagnetic SiO2 layer can be closely controlled and minimized. The optimal SiO2 content for complete (hermetic) encapsulation of the magnetic core particles was determined by isopropanol chemisorption. The magnetization of Fe2O3 coated with about 2 nm thin SiO2 layers was nearly identical to that of uncoated, pure Fe2O3 nanoparticles.
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