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A novel route for the synthesis of boehmite nanospheres with a hollow core and the shell composed of highly crumpled AlOOH nanosheets by oxidizing Al nanopowder in pure water under mild processing conditions is described. The stepwise events of Al transformation into boehmite are followed by monitoring the pH in the reaction medium. A mechanism of formation of hollow AlOOH nanospheres with a well-defined shape and crystallinity is proposed which includes the hydration of the Al oxide passivation layer, local corrosion of metallic Al accompanied by hydrogen evolution, the rupture of the protective layer, the dissolution of Al from the particle interior and the deposition of AlOOH nanosheets on the outer surface. In contrast to previously reported methods of boehmite nanoparticle synthesis, the proposed method is simple, and environmentally friendly and allows the generation of hydrogen gas as a by-product. Due to their high surface area and high, slit-shaped nanoporosity, the synthesized AlOOH nanostructures hold promise for the development of more effective catalysts, adsorbents, vaccines and drug carriers.

Owing to their unique physicochemical properties, nanomaterials have become a focus of multidisciplinary research efforts including investigations of their interactions with tumor cells and stromal compartment of tumor microenvironment (TME) toward the development of next-generation anticancer therapies. Here, we report that agglomerates of radially assembled Al hydroxide crumpled nanosheets exhibit anticancer activity due to their selective adsorption properties and positive charge. This effect was demonstrated in vitro by decreased proliferation and viability of tumor cells, and further confirmed in two murine cancer models. Moreover, Al hydroxide nanosheets almost completely inhibited the growth of murine melanoma in vivo in combination with a minimally effective dose of doxorubicin. Our direct molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated that Al hydroxide nanosheets can cause significant ion imbalance in the living cell perimembranous space through the selective adsorption of extracellular anionic species. This approach to TME dysregulation could lay the foundation for development of novel anticancer therapy strategies.

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In the present paper, preparation of nanocomposite powders of mutually immiscible Fe and Cu metals with different Fe-to-Cu ratios by electric explosion of wires and their processing into bulk materials are reported. Near-fully dense nanocrystalline Fe-Cu specimens with high compressive and bending strengths are obtained by high pressure consolidation/cold sintering of the electrically exploded powders at 3 GPa. Reduction treatment in an H 2 -flow prior to consolidation results in an intimate contact between the oxide free powder surfaces and in an excellent inter-particle bonding integrity. The Cu-rich composition exhibits an attractive combination of high strength and relatively low electrical resistivity.

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Bimetallic Al/Cu nanoparticles with Al/Cu composition 10:90, 20:80, 40:60 were produced by method of simultaneous electrical explosion of metal pairs in the argon atmosphere. Nanopowders containing 20% and 40% (mass) of aluminum interacted with water at 40-70 1C and formed composite particles that were porous structures of nanopetal pseudoboehmite with nanosized copper-containing inclusions inside. Aluminum in nanopowder with Al/Cu composition 10:90 did not react with water, as far as it is in the phase of intermetallic compounds СuAl 2 and Сu 4 Al 9 . Nanocomposite produced can be used as an active component of antibacterial agents.