We report the preparation and characterization of spherical core-shell structured Fe3O4–Au magnetic nanoparticles, modified with two component self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) consisting of 3–mercaptophenylboronic acid (3–MBA) and 1–decanethiol (1–DT). The rapid and room temperature synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles was achieved using the hydroxylamine reduction of HAuCl4 on the surface of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-immobilized iron (magnetite Fe3O4) nanoparticles in the presence of an aqueous solution of hexadecyltrimetylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a dispersant. The reduction of gold on the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles exhibits a uniform, highly stable, and narrow particle size distribution of Fe3O4–Au nanoparticles with an average diameter of 9 ± 2 nm. The saturation magnetization value for the resulting nanoparticles was found to be 15 emu/g at 298 K. Subsequent surface modification with SAMs against glucoside moieties on the surface of bacteria provided effective magnetic separation. Comparison of the bacteria capturing efficiency, by means of different molecular recognition agents 3–MBA, 1–DT and the mixed monolayer of 3–MBA and 1–DT was presented. The best capturing efficiency of E. coli was achieved with the mixed monolayer of 3–MBA and 1–DT-modified nanoparticles. Molecular specificity and selectivity were also demonstrated by comparing the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum of E. coli-nanoparticle conjugates with bacterial growth media.

The aim of the study was to investigate antioxidant activities of Ganoderma lucidum and Funalia trogii. Ethanol and water crude extracts from G. lucidum and F. trogii were investigated for their antioxidant capacity in some different assays, namely, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, metal chelating activity against ferrous ions, and plasma lipid peroxidation inhibitory. In addition, the amounts of total phenol, ascorbic acid, b-carotene, and lycopene components in the extracts were determined. Among the four mushroom extracts, G. lucidum water extract and G. lucidum ethanol extract showed the highest scavenging activity against DPPH radicals (50% inhibitory concentration ¼ 0.055 AE 0.001 mg=mL). Total phenol was the major antioxidant component found in the mushroom extracts. These results showed that G. lucidum may be used in pharmaceutical applications because of its effective antioxidant properties.KEY WORDS: antioxidant capacity edible mushroom free radical scavenging lipid peroxidation phenolic compounds

Magnetic gold nanoparticles are used in various biomedical, biochemistry, and biotechnology applications due to their controllable size distribution, long-term stability, reduced toxicity, and biocompatibility. Different coating materials, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and polyphenols, are applied to enhance the biocompatibility of nanoparticles. In this study, the effects of surface coatings of core-shell structured Fe@Au nanosphere magnetic nanoparticles with regard to antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic, anticarcinogenic, and genotoxic properties were investigated. The obtained results demonstrated that avidin-coated Fe@Au nanospheres had higher antioxidant capacities than uncoated nanospheres. Neither avidin-coated nor uncoated nanoparticles had a cytotoxic effect on normal cells (human gingival fibroblast cell line, HGF-1). In addition, they had anticarcinogenic effects on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), and human colorectal adenocarcinoma (CCL-221). The genotoxic effects of nanoparticles were also evaluated with DNA tail damage ratio.