Ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets are a class of new emerging smart drug delivery systems which provide image-guided nano-therapy of various diseases, especially cancers. Here, we developed multifunctional smart curcumin-loaded chitosan/perfluorohexane nanodroplets for contrast-ultrasound imaging and on-demand drug delivery. The nanodroplets were synthesized via nanoemulsion process. The optimal formulation with the size of 101.2nm and 77.8% curcumin entrapment was chosen for release study and cytotoxicity evaluation. Sonication at the frequency of 1MHz, 2W/cm for 4min triggered the release of 63.5% of curcumin from optimal formulation (Cur-NDs-2). Ultrasound aided release study indicated that the concentration of perfluorohexane and the degree of acoustic droplet vaporization play important role in ultrasound-active drug release. B-mode ultrasound imaging confirmed strong ultrasound contrast of chitosan nanodroplets even at low concentrations via droplet to bubble transition. Finally, cytotoxicity of the ultrasound-responsive nanodroplets in the presence of ultrasound was evaluated in-vitro on 4T1 human breast cancer cells. Cell growth inhibitory effects of curcumin-loaded nanodroplets significantly increased by ultrasound exposure. According to the obtained results, these ultrasound responsive curcumin-loaded chitosan/perfluorohexane nanodroplets have a great potential for imaged-guided cancer therapy.
In the present work, the V 2 O 5 /S-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite was constructed using the in-situ growth method. The properties of this interesting material were improved by S-doping as well as addition of V 2 O 5 . The nanocomposite was characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDX, BET, TEM, PL, XPS and UV-DRS techniques. In continuation, the constructed nanocomposite was applied for adsorption and degradation of methylene blue and phenol as organic pollutants. The effect of certain factors such as pH, doses of adsorbent and adsorbate (methylene blue and phenol), time, and temperature was evaluated through performing of adsorption under different conditions. Then, degradation of the pollutants was performed under various conditions such as sunlight, light-emitting diode, and ultraviolet irradiations and also in dark. The results showed a significant increase in the adsorption and photocatalytic activities of V 2 O 5 /S-doped graphitic carbon nitride in comparison with pristine graphitic carbon nitride. The performance of V 2 O 5 /S-doped graphitic carbon nitride remained after treatment for five times.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.