Engineering
of water-dispersible Gd
3+
ions-decorated reduced graphene
oxide (Gd-rGO) nanosheets (NSs) has been performed. The multifunctional
capability of the sample was studied as a novel contrast agent for
swept source optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging,
and also as an efficient drug-delivery nanovehicle. The synthesized
samples were fabricated in a chemically stable condition, and efforts
have been put toward improving its biocompatibility by functionalizing
with carbohydrates molecules. Gd incorporation in rGO matrix enhanced
the fluorouracil (5-FU) drug loading capacity by 34%. The release
of the drug was ∼92% within 72 h. Gd-rGO nanosheets showed
significant contrast in comparison to optically responsive bare GO
for swept source optical coherence tomography. The longitudinal relaxivity
rate (
r
1
) of 16.85 mM
–1
s
–1
for Gd-rGO was recorded, which was 4 times
larger than that of the commercially used clinical contrast agent
Magnevist (4 mM
–1
s
–1
) at a magnetic
field strength of 1.5 T.
Ex vivo interaction of NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanophosphors with isolated mitochondria has been investigated. The nanophosphors were synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The synthesized NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanophosphors were characterized for physicochemical properties. The NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanophosphors showed successful upconversion with excitation wavelength lying in the nearinfrared region. The effect of synthesized NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanophosphors on mitochondria isolated from the chicken heart tissue was examined through ROS generation capacity, membrane fluidity, and complex II activity. The exposer of NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanophosphors to isolated mitochondria inhibits ROS generation activity as compared to control. The mitochondria membrane fluidity of the lipid bilayer and complex-II activity of mitochondria was observed to be unaltered after the interaction with NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanoparticles. The results confirm that synthesized NaYF 4 :Yb,Er nanoparticles can be used as a safe contrast agent.
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