Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) synthesized by the Stober method were used as drug delivery vehicles. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl) is a chemo-drug absorbed onto the SiO2 NPs surfaces. The DOX·HCl loading onto and release from the SiO2 NPs was monitored via UV-VIS and fluorescence spectra. Alternatively, the zeta potential was also used to monitor and evaluate the DOX·HCl loading process. The results showed that nearly 98% of DOX·HCl was effectively loaded onto the SiO2 NPs’ surfaces by electrostatic interaction. The pH-dependence of the process wherein DOX·HCl release out of DOX·HCl-SiO2 NPs was investigated as well. For comparison, both the free DOX·HCl molecules and DOX·HCl-SiO2 NPs were used as the labels for cultured cancer cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images showed that the DOX·HCl-SiO2 NPs were better delivered to cancer cells which are more acidic than healthy cells. We propose that engineered DOX·HCl-SiO2 systems are good candidates for drug delivery and clinical applications.

Target-oriented cellular automata with computation are the primary challenge in the field of DNA algorithmic self-assembly in connection with specific rules.

Soybean crop losses due to fungal diseases are considerable and directly depend on the severity of the disease. The objective of this study was to assess antifungal activity of silver/silica (Ag/SiO2) nanocomposite against crop pathogenic fungi (Fusarium oxysporium and Rhizoctonia solani) in soybean farming. Firstly, silica particles with a size ranging from 20 to 30 nm were modified with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) for 2 h. Then these amino acid - functionalized silica particles were exposed to silver ion solution followed by reduction of silver ions with sodium borohydride to form Ag/SiO2 nanocomposite. The formation of the linkage between APTES and silica particles was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The surface plasmon absorption maximum at 400 nm confirmed the nano essence of the silver particles on silica particles. For the seed coating, bentonite from Lam Dong deposit, Vietnam, was used as an encapsulation substance, while carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was used as a binding agent. The assessment of fungicidal activity of the Ag/SiO2 nanocomposite produced showed that this product is effective in inhibition of the pathogenic fungi in soybean plant.

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DNA molecules have been used to demonstrate logic gates through algorithmic rule implementation to DNA base sequences. A multirulecombined algorithmic assembly formed by a combination of individual rules is introduced in this study. Fifteen possible algorithmic lattices can be constructed using multirule-combined algorithmic rules with one-input one-output logic gates. The algorithmic lattices are categorized into three classes (such as full deterministic, half random, and full random in lattices) depending upon the output probabilities and four patterns (no pattern, infinite line pattern, finite line pattern, and random pattern) based on the observation of patterns on lattices. Single-rule (i.e., R0, R1, R2, and R3), two-rule-combined (e.g., R02, R12, and R13), three-rule-combined (e.g., R012 and R123), and four-rule-combined (i.e., R0123) algorithmic assemblies are demonstrated experimentally, along with a comprehensive discussion with simulation. The experimentally obtained algorithmic lattices (visualized using an atomic force microscope) were very similar to the simulation results. Although singlerule algorithmic lattices show that fully deterministic, multirule-combined lattices reveal partially or fully nondeterministic outputs in lattices owing to the outputs' probabilistic characteristics. In addition, the occurrence probabilities, P N (I,O), are discussed in detail. P N (I,O) is the probability of obtaining the output of O with an initial input of I after the N-step. Owing to the growth of DNA algorithmic lattices that follow the given rules, P N (I,O) obtained experimentally is very similar to P N (I,O) obtained analytically. Consequently, the multirule-combined algorithmic assembly will help generate more interesting patterns or circuits governed by a combination of individual logic gates.