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Iron oxide nanoparticles for biological research and biomedicine
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Fletcher, Charlotte (2021) Iron oxide nanoparticles for biological research and biomedicine. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3877328
Abstract
Nanoscience is becoming of great importance to biological research and for use in biomedicine. This is due to nanoparticles’ unique properties, which often differ to the bulk material due to their nanoscale size. Nanoparticles have extremely tuneable properties including size, shape, surface functionalisation and charge. A thorough understanding is needed of their structure, properties and behaviour if they are to be used in any biological environment. Here, Chapter 2 discusses the design for superparamagnetic multifunctional silica coated iron oxide nanoparticles and their synthesis. It then looks at characterisation to understand the chemical nature of the nanoparticles synthesised. Surface functionalisation of nanoparticles is established with addition of amine groups and fluorescent dye, to allow for the work in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Chapter 3 looks at the addition of polymers to the synthesised nanoparticles resulting from the work in Chapter 2 and evaluates their effect on nanoparticle size therefore aggregation by DLS measurements. This is monitored over time and in different buffers/solvents to evaluate longer term behaviour and storage conditions. Finally, Chapter 4 begins to study the effect on incorporating the nanoparticles into cells and their behaviour once there. This includes a comparison of two methods of introducing nanoparticles to cells – microinjection and endocytosis with the advantages and disadvantages discussed. It also looks at imaging and the fluorescence exhibited during light microscopy and the effect of photobleaching due to excitation due to lasers. Chapter 4 also discuses why highly designed and synthesised nanoparticles are needed for biological research when commercial beads are available. Lastly, some early protocol design for attachment of nanoparticles to DNA are discussed and the ability to manipulate the superparamagnetic nanoparticles tethered to DNA is tested. The work demonstrates that the nanoparticles through precise design, synthesis and characterisation have attractive properties for use biological research and also for potential use as an MRI contrast agent and for drug delivery.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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Subjects: | Q Science > QC Physics Q Science > QD Chemistry R Medicine > R Medicine (General) T Technology > T Technology (General) T Technology > TP Chemical technology |
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Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Nanoparticles, Magnetic nanoparticles, Nanoparticles -- Magnetic properties, Iron oxides -- Magnetic properties, Biomedical materials, Nanomedicine | ||||
Official Date: | August 2021 | ||||
Dates: |
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Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Molecular Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Gibson, Matthew I. | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | xxx, 190 pages : illustrations (colour) | ||||
Language: | eng |
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