In this paper, we report the synthesis of surface-engineered multifunctional Eu:GdO triangular nanoplates with small size and uniform shape via a high-temperature solvothermal technique. Surface engineering has been performed by a one-step polyacrylate coating, followed by controlled conjugation chemistry. This creates the desired number of surface functional groups that can be used to attach folic acid as a targeting ligand on the nanoparticle surface. To specifically deliver the drug molecules in the nucleus, the folate density on the nanoparticle surface has been kept low. We have also modified the drug molecules with terminal double bond and ester linkage for the easy conjugation of nanoparticles. The nanoparticle surface was further modified with free thiols to specifically attach the modified drug molecules with a pH-responsive feature. High drug loading has been encountered for both hydrophilic drug daunorubicin (∼69% loading) and hydrophobic drug curcumin (∼75% loading) with excellent pH-responsive drug release. These nanoparticles have also been used as imaging probes in fluorescence imaging. Some preliminary experiments to evaluate their application in magnetic resonance imaging have also been explored. A detailed fluorescence imaging study has confirmed the efficient delivery of drugs to the nuclei of cancer cells with a high cytotoxic effect. Synthesized surface-engineered nanomaterials having small hydrodynamic size, excellent colloidal stability, and high drug-loading capacity, along with targeted and pH-responsive delivery of dual drugs to the cancer cells, will be potential nanobiomaterials for various biomedical applications.

MnFe2O4@MnO Janus nanoparticles efficiently enhances contrast of both T1 and T2 based MR Images.

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A water-soluble hexadentate ligand H4bedik was reproduced and employed to synthesize the corresponding mononegative [FeIIIbedik]− complex core. In the complex formation process, NaOH, KOH, and Ca­(OH)2 bases were used in order to have the corresponding cations as the counterpart of the mononegative complex core. Thus, formed complexes were designated as complex 1·H2O, Na+ ion as the countercation; complex 2, K+ ion as the countercation; and complex 3·H2O, 1/2 Ca2+ ion as the countercation. Complexes were characterized by IR and mass spectrometric techniques. Additionally, the complexes were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In complex 1·H2O, where the Na+ ion was present as a countercation, a two-dimensional (2D) zigzag layer structure was formed along the bc plane. The two adjacent layers were parallel to each other and propagated along the same direction, and the adjacent layers were connected to each other by H-bonding. Thus, a three-dimensional (3D) network was found. A K+ ion-containing complex 2 formed a one-dimensional (1D) linear network that propagated along the b axis. H-bonding driven 3D layers were also found in complex 2. Akin to complex 1·H2O, complex 3·H2O also formed a 2D layers structure; however, the structure was planar and not zigzag as observed in complex 1·H2O. In complex 3·H2O, two adjacent parallel layers were propagated along two opposite directions. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that the stability of the complexes and the [FeIIIbedik]− complex core depended on the nature of the countercation. Longitudinal (r 1) and transverse relaxivity (r 2) measurements of aqueous solutions of the complexes have been performed. The value was cation-dependent and thus emphasized different interactions between [FeIIIbedik]− units in the presence of different cations.

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