Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213189 | Multifunctional metal-graphite nanocrystals - Disclosed are nanocrystals comprising metals and metal alloys, which are formed by a process that results in a layer of graphite in direct contact with the metallic core. The nanocrystals may be used in vivo as MRI contrast agents, X-ray contrast agents, near IR (NIR) heating agents, drug delivery, protein separation, catalysis etc. The nanocrystals may be further functionalized with a hydrophilic coating, e.g., phospholipid-polyethylene glycol, which improves in vivo stability. The process comprises chemical vapor deposition of metals adsorbed onto silica as a fine powder, in conjunction with a carbon containing gas, which coats the metal particles. The silica is then etched away. Preferred metals include iron, gold, cobalt, platinum, ruthenium and mixtures thereof, e.g., FeCo and AuFe. The process permits control of the alloy compositions, size, and other characteristics. | 09-04-2008 |
20090087493 | Supramolecular Functionalization of Graphitic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery - Disclosed are nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes or other materials having extended aromatic surfaces (e.g., graphene sheet or nanotube), which are used to deliver active agents such as drugs, labels or dyes (termed for convenience a “drug”) to the interior of cells. The nanoparticles are functionalized by a hydrophilic polymer to render them stable in suspension. This molecule may be covalently attached to the nanoparticle, or may be adsorbed thereto as an amphiphilic molecule. The nanoparticles are coupled to the drug through supramolecular bonding i.e., binding to the exterior of the nanoparticle through π-stacking. The drug may also be covalently bonded to the hydrophilic polymer, which is coupled to the nanoparticle through supramolecular bonding. The drug is therefore capable of release in the cell exterior. The drug is more rapidly released at lower pH, as found e.g., in tumor cells. The drug-coupled, functionalized nanoparticles may also be targeted to specific cells through modification of the hydrophilic polymer, e.g., by adding an RGD peptide, or an antibody, which is targeted to cells expressing integrins, or an antibody directed to a cell surface marker. The drug may also be linked to a branched chain hydrophilic polymer, so that each polymer molecule carries more than one drug bound by a cleavable linker. | 04-02-2009 |
20090166560 | Sensing of biological molecules using carbon nanotubes as optical labels - Disclosed are methods and materials including carbon nanotubes which have a strong Raman and/or fluorescent signal and which have been modified with an amphiphilic molecule having available functional linking groups for linking to a biological compound. Exemplified are surface-functionalized SWNTs (single walled nanotubes) as highly sensitive bio-labels based on the detection of their spectroscopic Raman signature. By solubilizing the nanotubes with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-containing phospholipids, aqueous-stable as well as biocompatible SWNT labels are produced. Specificity in biological detection is then attained by immobilizing reporting molecules off this PEG layer. Highly selective detection of surface immobilized proteins is achieved with detection limit of ˜10 femtomolar, three orders of magnitude higher than the fluorescent technique. Signal stability upon Raman readout as well as compatibility of the SWNT-tagged proteins to the microarray protocols are also demonstrated, making these biocompatible SWNTs highly attractive as novel, alternative bio-labels for ultrasensitive detection of proteins. When excited with a near infrared laser, the nanoparticles give off a distinctive fluorescence signal. | 07-02-2009 |
20100028681 | Pristine and Functionalized Graphene Materials - Disclosed are dispersed graphene sheets, ribbons, graphene molecules and the like which are pristine in the plane, i.e., free of significant defects and chemical modifications such as oxidation. The materials could be functionalized at the edges. These materials are dispersed in solutions rather than in aggregated or insoluble forms as their parent starting materials. Also disclosed is a method comprising the steps of intercalating an insoluble graphitic material. The method may comprise exfoliating graphite and re-intercalating the resultant material with an acid composition, such as oleum, and a strong organic base such as tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in a solvent solution to form a homogenous suspension, which is then agitated to form dispersed graphene materials. The materials may be solubilized with a hydrophilic polymer and can be further manipulated by transfer into different solvents, formation of films, application to optical and electronic devices, and other applications. The materials are solubilized by functional groups mostly at the edges. | 02-04-2010 |
20100074845 | ENHANCED SENSITIVITY CARBON NANOTUBES AS TARGETED PHOTOACOUSTIC MOLECULAR IMAGING AGENTS - The present disclosure provides contrast photoacoustic probes, and compositions comprising such probes, designed to non-invasively detect and monitor various disease states, or targets within a subject human or animal. The probes are designed to be optically excited in tissue, ultimately generating thermal energy, which is transformed into acoustic energy by the response of the aqueous environment in the subject to the thermal emissions. The acoustic energy (sound) can then be detected by suitably applied transducers and digitally transformed into images indicating the location of the probe in the subject. One aspect of the disclosure encompasses photoacoustic probes that comprise: a carbon nanotube and a plurality of dye molecules bound to the carbon nanotube. The probes may further comprise a targeting moiety for localizing the probe at the site of a specific target. Another aspect of the present disclosure encompasses methods of detecting a target in animal or human subject, comprising: delivering a photoacoustic probe to a subject, allowing the photoacoustic probe to selectively bind to a target of the subject; and illuminating the system with an optical energy absorbable by the photoacoustic probe to generate an acoustic signal; and detecting the acoustic signal, thereby detecting the target in the subject. | 03-25-2010 |
20100098904 | Single-walled carbon nanotubes and methods of preparation thereof - The present invention provides single-walled carbon nanotubes and systems and methods for their preparation. | 04-22-2010 |
20110244661 | Large Scale High Quality Graphene Nanoribbons From Unzipped Carbon Nanotubes - A new method is disclosed for large-scale production of pristine few-layer graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) through unzipping of mildly gas-phase oxidized, and, optionally, metal-assisted oxidized, multiwalled and few-walled carbon nanotubes. The method further comprises sonication in an organic solvent. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed nearly atomically smooth edges for narrow GNRs (2-30 nm). The GNRs exhibit ultra-high quality with low ratios of disorder (D) to graphitic (G) Raman bands (I | 10-06-2011 |
20120164230 | Soluble Nanoparticles as Delivery Systems for Prodrugs - Compounds and methods are disclosed in which a prodrug can be delivered in an elevated oxidative state to cells by means of graphitic nanoparticles to which the prodrug is attached by a hydrophilic polymer and which have been made soluble by a hydrophilic polymer, such as PEG. The graphitic nanoparticle may be a single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT). The prodrug may be a DNA-binding metal-based drug. Exemplified is a platinum(IV) complex c,c,t-[Pt(NH | 06-28-2012 |
20120214068 | GRAPHENE HYBRID MATERIALS, APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Graphene based materials are provided in connection with various devices and methods of manufacturing. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a graphene sheet and a single-crystal structure grown on the graphene sheet, with the graphene sheet and single-crystalline structure functioning as an electrode terminal. In various embodiments, the single-crystalline structure is grown on a graphene sheet, such as by using precursor particles to form nanoparticles at the distributed locations, and diffusing and recrystallizing the nanoparticles to form the single-crystal structure. | 08-23-2012 |
20130034610 | HYDROPHOBIC NANOTUBES AND NANOPARTICLES AS TRANSPORTERS FOR THE DELIVERY OF DRUGS INTO CELLS - Methods and materials for delivering biologically active molecules to cells in vitro or in vivo are provided. The methods and materials use carbon nanotubes or other hydrophobic particles, tubes and wires, functionalized with a linking group that is covalently bound to the nanotubes, or, alternatively, to the biologically active molecule, such as a protein. The biologically active molecule is preferably released from the nanotube when the complex has been taken up in an endosome. | 02-07-2013 |
20130172207 | FLUORESCENCE ENHANCING PLASMONIC NANOSCOPIC GOLD FILMS AND ASSAYS BASED THEREON - Disclosed are nanostructured gold films which may be produced by solution-phase depositions of gold ions onto a variety of surfaces. The resulting plasmonic gold films are used for enhanced spectroscopic-based immunoassays in multiplexed microarray format with detection mechanisms based on either surface-enhanced Raman scattering or near-infrared fluorescence enhancement. The preparation of the films and subsequent modifications of the gold film surfaces afford increased sensitivity for various microarrays. The films are discontinuous, forming gold “islands.” Sensitivity, size, shape, and density of the nanoscopic gold islands comprising the discontinuous nanostructured gold film are controlled to enhance the intensity of Raman scattering and fluorescence in the near-infrared, allowing for improved measurements in clinical diagnostic or biomedical research applications. | 07-04-2013 |
20130189580 | STRONGLY COUPLED INORGANIC-GRAPHENE HYBRID MATERIALS, APPARATUSES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Nanocarbon-based materials are provided in connection with various devices and methods of manufacturing. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a nanocarbon structure having inorganic particles covalently bonded thereto. The resulting hybrid structure functions as a circuit node such as an electrode terminal. In various embodiments, the hybrid structure includes two or more electrodes, at least one of which including the nanocarbon structure with inorganic particles covalently bonded thereto. | 07-25-2013 |
20140017322 | SUPRAMOLECULAR FUNCTIONALIZATION OF GRAPHITIC NANOPARTICLES FOR DRUG DELIVERY - Disclosed are nanoparticles, such as carbon nanotubes or other graphitic sheet materials having extended aromatic surfaces, which are used to deliver active agents such as drugs, labels or dyes (termed for convenience a “drug”) to the interior of cells. The nanoparticles are functionalized by a hydrophilic polymer or adsorption of an amphiphilic molecule to render them stable in suspension. The drug is therefore capable of release in the cell exterior. The drug is more rapidly released at lower pH, as found e.g., in tumor cells. The drug may also be linked to a branched chain hydrophilic polymer, so that each polymer molecule carries more than one drug bound by a cleavable linker. | 01-16-2014 |
20140333264 | BATTERY WITH HYBRID ELECTROCATALYSTS - Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to electrodes and implementations such as batteries. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a nanocarbon substrate having at least one of graphene and carbon nanotubes, and a hybrid electrode including a cobalt oxide/carbon nanotube (CoO/CNT) catalyst and a Ni—Fe-layered double hydride (LDH) catalyst. The catalysts and substrate facilitate transfer of charge carriers. Various aspects are directed to a battery type device having an anode and a single or split cathode with the respective catalysts on the cathode to facilitate oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions for discharging and charging the battery type device. | 11-13-2014 |
20150056142 | NEAR-INFRARED-II FLUORESCENT AGENTS, METHODS OF MAKING NEAR-INFRARED-II FLUORESCENT AGENTS, AND METHODS OF USING WATER-SOLUBLE NIR-II FLUORESCENT AGENTS - Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for compositions including organic, water-soluble NIR-II fluorescent agent that emit radiation at about 1.0 to 1.7 μm, methods of making the composition, methods of imaging a disease and related biological events, methods of imaging, monitoring and/or assessing a disease and related biological events, and the like. | 02-26-2015 |