•Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs were prepared by the thermal decomposition method.•Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs exhibit distinct intrinsic PL.•Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs have a high r1 relaxivity of 4.0428 mM−1 s−1.•Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs lead to an MR contrast enhancement towards glioma.Herein, we present the first example of manganese carbonate (MnCO3) nanoparticles (NPs) featuring intrinsic photoluminescence (PL) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging capacity by Terbium (Tb) doping. The Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs were prepared by one-step thermal decomposition of Mn-oleate precursor in the presence of Tb-oleate. The oleate capped Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs are in rhombohedral shape with an average size of about 13 nm. When endowed with high water-dispersible via replacing oleate with carboxylic silane, the Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs exhibit distinct intrinsic PL originated from the doped Tb3+ ions. Meanwhile, the MR imaging capacity of Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs is well retained, as demonstrated by a high r1 relaxivity of 4.0428 mM−1 s−1 and a significant MR contrast enhancement effect towards tiny brain glioma in mice.Tb-doped MnCO3 NPs synthesized by a thermal decomposition of Mn-oleate in the presence of Tb-oleate exhibit intrinsic photoluminescence and significant magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement towards tiny brain glioma in mice.

Herein, we report a biomimetic method to synthesize needle-like calcium phosphate (CaP) with dimensions of ∼130 nm length and ∼30 nm width using carbon dots (CDs) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose as dual templates. In addition to acting as the template, the CDs enable the CaP/CDs hybrid composites to emit blue fluorescence under UV excitation. Moreover, the prepared CaP/CDs exhibited a negligible cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells. The potential of these CaP/CDs as a fluorescent probe for cell labeling was tested. In addition, it was demonstrated that the CaP/CDs were capable of selective detection of copper ions in drinking water.

•CaP nanoparticles were fabricated by biomimetic method using CMC as the template.•A phase transformation from amorphous CaP to HA was disclosed.•The needle-like HA showed ultrahigh lysozyme adsorption capacity.•The release of adsorbed lysozyme was in a sustained and pH-dependent fashion.Because of its superior biocompatibility, hydroxyapatite (HA) has been widely exploited as a promising vehicle to deliver a broad range of therapeutics in a variety of biological systems. Herein, we report a biomimetic process to prepare nano-sized, colloidal stable HA with needle-like morphology by using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the template. It was revealed that the needle-like HA was transformed from the spherical amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) nanoparticles after a 14-day period of aging under ambient conditions. The needle-like HA/CMC exhibited an ultra-high lysozyme adsorption capacity up to 930–940 mg/g. Moreover, a sustained and pH-sensitive release of adsorbed lysozyme from HA/CMC was evidenced. Therefore, our biomimetic needle-like HA/CMC nanoparticles hold great potential in serving as an efficient carrier for the delivery and controlled release of lysozyme.During the carboxymethyl cellulose templated mineralization of calcium phosphate, the spherical amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles were first formed and then underwent a phase transformation to produce needle-like hydroxyapatite nanocrystals, which exhibited an ultrahigh lysozyme adsorption capacity.

Herein, we report a novel method to synthesise fluorescent calcium carbonate/carbon dots (CaCO3/CDs) by simply mixing CaCl2 and Na2CO3 solutions in the presence of CDs. There are two roles of CDs in this easy and cost-effective biomimetic strategy, that is as the template to direct the formation and assembly of calcite nanocrystals into hierarchical spheres with diameters in the range of 200–300 nm and simultaneously as the phosphor to enable the CaCO3 to emit blue fluorescence under UV (365 nm) irradiation with a quantum yield of 56.2%. The CaCO3/CD hybrid composites possessing unique fluorescence properties are potentially useful in various applications.

•MnO NPs were prepared by a thermal decomposition method.•Water dispersible MnO NPs were obtained by carboxyl silane modification.•PEG-Cy5.5 conjugated MnO NPs were fabricated as a dual-modal nanoprobe.•MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 nanoprobe enables a better detection of brain gliomas.The fusion of molecular and anatomical modalities facilitates more reliable and accurate detection of tumors. Herein, we prepared the PEG-Cy5.5 conjugated MnO nanoparticles (MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 NPs) with magnetic resonance (MR) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging modalities. The applicability of MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 NPs as a dual-modal (MR/NIRF) imaging nanoprobe for the detection of brain gliomas was investigated. In vivo MR contrast enhancement of the MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 nanoprobe in the tumor region was demonstrated. Meanwhile, whole-body NIRF imaging of glioma bearing nude mouse exhibited distinct tumor localization upon injection of MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 NPs. Moreover, ex vivo CLSM imaging of the brain slice hosting glioma indicated the preferential accumulation of MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 NPs in the glioma region. Our results therefore demonstrated the potential of MnO-PEG-Cy5.5 NPs as a dual-modal (MR/NIRF) imaging nanoprobe in improving the diagnostic efficacy by simultaneously providing anatomical information from deep inside the body and more sensitive information at the cellular level.

Detection of brain gliomas at the earliest stage is of great importance to improve outcomes, but it remains a most challenging task. In this study, oleic acid capped manganese oxide (MnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by the thermal decomposition of manganese oleate precursors and then transformed to water-dispersible MnO NPs by replacing oleic acid with N-(trimethoxysilylpropyl) ethylene diamine triacetic acid (TETT) silane. The covalently bonded TETT silane offers MnO NPs colloidal stability and abundant carboxylic functional groups allowing the further conjugation of the glioma-specific moiety, folic acid (FA). Moreover, the thin layer of TETT silane ensures a short distance between external Mn ion and water proton, which endows the FA-conjugated, TETT modified MnO (MnO-TETT-FA) NPs a longitudinal relaxivity as high as 4.83 mM–1 s–1. Accordingly, the in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) images demonstrated that MnO-TETT-FA NPs could efficiently enhance the MRI contrast for tiny brain gliomas. More importantly, due to the specificity of FA, MnO-TETT-FA NPs led to a clearer margin of the tiny glioma. This together with the good biocompatibility discloses the great potential of MnO-TETT-FA NPs as effective MRI contrast agents for the early diagnosis of brain gliomas.Keywords: folic acid (FA); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO NPs); tiny brain glioma

A one-step microwave-assisted polyol method was developed to fabricate green luminescent carbon dots (CDs). By using sucrose as the carbon source and diethylene glycol (DEG) as the reaction medium, the CDs were obtained within one minute under microwave irradiation. The as-prepared DEG stabilized CDs (DEG-CDs) had an average diameter about 5 nm and could be readily dispersed in water with transparent appearance in day light while emitted unique green luminescence upon a 360 nm excitation. Moreover, these green luminescent DEG-CDs could be efficiently uptaken by C6 glioma cells and exhibited a low cytotoxicity, suggesting their potentials in bio-imaging applications.

The development of multimodal nanoprobes is highly desired in medical imaging because it integrates the advantages of multiple imaging modes. In this study, the gadolinium-doped green luminescent carbon dots (Gd-CDs) were prepared by the simple one-step microwave-assisted polyol method. The obtained Gd-CDs emitted a unique green photoluminescence with a quantum yield of 5.4%. The Gd-CDs exhibited a low cytotoxicity and could optically label the C6 glioma cells. Meanwhile, the r1 relaxivity of Gd-CDs was measured to be 11.356 mM–1 s–1. This high r1 value together with the r2/r1 ratio close to 1 nominates Gd-CDs as an excellent T1 contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging. These Gd-CDs combining two complementary imaging modalities are therefore a promising bimodal nanoprobe in medical imaging for a better diagnosis.

Fluorescein-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (FMNPs) have been increasingly utilized in nanomedicine due to their unique properties. In this study, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer was used to modify the FMNPs through bifunctional polyethylene glycol linker. The obtained PAMAM modified magnetic nanoparticles (PFMNPs) were characterized by transmission electron microscope, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential titration, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The effect of PAMAM conjugation on the biodistribution of FMNPs and PFMNPs were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, respectively. It was revealed that PAMAM conjugation resulted in a lower uptake of FMNPs in the lung and less aggregation in the liver, whereas a higher uptake in brain and testis. Furthermore, the serum biochemical and the hematological analysis indicated the PFMNPs caused no significant changes in enzymes reflective of inflammatory response or organ toxicity.

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) restricts the delivery of many potentially important therapeutic agents for the treatment of brain disorders. An efficient strategy for brain targeted delivery is the utilization of the targeting ligand conjugated nanoparticles to trigger the receptor-mediated transcytosis. In this study, transferrin (Tf) was employed as a brain targeting ligand to functionalize the fluorescein-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (FMNs). The Tf conjugated FMNs (Tf-FMNs) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Using fluorescein as an optical probe, the potential of Tf-FMNs as brain targeting drug carriers was explored in vivo. It was demonstrated that Tf-FMNs were able to cross the intact BBB, diffuse into brain neurons, and distribute in the cytoplasm, dendrites, axons, and synapses of neurons. In contrast, magnetic nanoparticles without Tf conjugation cannot cross the BBB efficiently under the same conditions. Therefore, Tf-FMNs hold great potential in serving as an efficient multifunctional platform for the brain-targeted theranostics.

Porous calcium carbonate/carboxymethylcellulose (CaCO3/CMC) microspheres were prepared by the biomimetic mineralization method for lysozyme immobilization via adsorption. The size and morphology of CaCO3/CMC microspheres were characterized by transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) and zeta potential measurement. The lysozyme immobilization was verified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The effects of pHs and temperatures on lysozyme adsorption were investigated as well. It was revealed that CaCO3/CMC microspheres could immobilize lysozyme efficiently via electrostatic interactions and a maximum adsorption capacity of 450 mg/g was achieved at pH 9.2 and 25 °C. Moreover, it was found that the adsorption process fitted well with the Langmuir isothermal model. In addition, UV, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies showed that lysozyme maintained its original secondary structure during the adsorption/desorption process. Our study therefore demonstrated that CaCO3/CMC microsphere can be used as a cost-effective and efficient support for lysozyme immobilization.CaCO3/CMC microsphere was prepared by a facile biomimetic mineralization method and can be used as an efficient and cost-effective support for lysozyme immobilization.Highlights► CaCO3/CMC microspheres were prepared by the biomimetic mineralization method. ► Lysozyme was efficiently immobilized to CaCO3/CMC microspheres via adsorption. ► A maximum adsorption capacity of 450 mg/g was obtained at pH 9.2 and 25 °C. ► The original secondary structure of lysozyme was maintained upon immobilization.

Herein, we report a biomimetic method to synthesize needle-like calcium phosphate (CaP) with dimensions of ∼130 nm length and ∼30 nm width using carbon dots (CDs) and sodium carboxymethylcellulose as dual templates. In addition to acting as the template, the CDs enable the CaP/CDs hybrid composites to emit blue fluorescence under UV excitation. Moreover, the prepared CaP/CDs exhibited a negligible cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells. The potential of these CaP/CDs as a fluorescent probe for cell labeling was tested. In addition, it was demonstrated that the CaP/CDs were capable of selective detection of copper ions in drinking water.

Herein, we report a novel method to synthesise fluorescent calcium carbonate/carbon dots (CaCO3/CDs) by simply mixing CaCl2 and Na2CO3 solutions in the presence of CDs. There are two roles of CDs in this easy and cost-effective biomimetic strategy, that is as the template to direct the formation and assembly of calcite nanocrystals into hierarchical spheres with diameters in the range of 200–300 nm and simultaneously as the phosphor to enable the CaCO3 to emit blue fluorescence under UV (365 nm) irradiation with a quantum yield of 56.2%. The CaCO3/CD hybrid composites possessing unique fluorescence properties are potentially useful in various applications.