Nickel nanoparticles (NPs) are promising candidates for various applications, including biomedical ones, as they have good magnetic properties as well as high thermal conductivity. We used well-characterized Ni NPs of average Scherrer sizes from 1.31 nm to 22.23 nm and investigated the effects of the primary particle size, size distribution and dielectric environments, and of separately adding non-ionic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in ethanol, on their stability and agglomeration behaviour using atomic force microscopy (AFM), particle size analysis and zeta potential study through dynamic light scattering (DLS) combined with UV-visible spectroscopy data. The dominant influence of surfactants, additives, particles size and shape on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) was found. SPR is considerably sensitive to the dielectric environment in addition to size and shape. Moreover, increasing the concentration of PVP led to an enhanced SPR intensity and a shift in its position towards higher wavelength. 1.31 nm NPs with EDTA as an additive yielded the best dispersibility and also showed superparamagnetic behaviour at 300 K, indicating their favourable application potentials.

SummaryThe role of Aprotinin (Antagosan) in moderate and severe thermal burns has been studied. Patients were randomized in two groups; both receiving same treatment with the exception that patients in trial group received Aprotinin in addition. 2000,000 K.I.U. (Kallikrein inhibition units) Aprotinin was given I.V. stat, followed six hourly, for three days. Mortality was 27.08 percent in trial group and 47.9 percent in control group (p < 0.05). Aprotinin is believed to be helpful in reducing mortality in burns.