We report the Au-assisted chemical beam epitaxy growth of defect-free zincblende InSb nanowires. The grown InSb segments are the upper sections of InAs/InSb heterostructures on InAs(111)B substrates. We show, through HRTEM analysis, that zincblende InSb can be grown without any crystal defects such as stacking faults or twinning planes. Strain-map analysis demonstrates that the InSb segment is nearly relaxed within a few nanometers from the interface. By post-growth studies we have found that the catalyst particle composition is AuIn(2), and it can be varied to a AuIn alloy by cooling down the samples under TDMASb flux.

Escherichia coli, as most Gram‐negative bacteria, is insensitive to the photosensitizing action of both lipid‐soluble Zinc‐phthalocyanine (Zn‐Pc) and water‐soluble Zinc‐mono/disulfonated phthalocyanine (Zn‐PcS). Photosensitivity can be induced by alteration of the outer membrane, as obtained by either induction of competence or treatment with Tris‐EDTA. Both phthalocyanines largely bind at the level of the cytoplasmic membrane; however, Zn‐PcS shows a superior photosensitizing activity as compared with Zn‐Pc. Biochemical analyses performed on irradiated cells suggest that the cytoplasmic membrane is an important target of the photoprocess, while DNA is not involved.

Peptides are highly selective and efficacious for the treatment of cardiovascular and other diseases. However, it is currently not possible to administer peptides for cardiac-targeting therapy via a noninvasive procedure, thus representing scientific and technological challenges. We demonstrate that inhalation of small (<50 nm in diameter) biocompatible and biodegradable calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaPs) allows for rapid translocation of CaPs from the pulmonary tree to the bloodstream and to the myocardium, where their cargo is quickly released. Treatment of a rodent model of diabetic cardiomyopathy by inhalation of CaPs loaded with a therapeutic mimetic peptide that we previously demonstrated to improve myocardial contraction resulted in restoration of cardiac function. Translation to a porcine large animal model provides evidence that inhalation of a peptide-loaded CaP formulation is an effective method of targeted administration to the heart. Together, these results demonstrate that inhalation of biocompatible tailored peptide nanocarriers represents a pioneering approach for the pharmacological treatment of heart failure.

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