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The multi-modal imaging contrast agent has been attracted an increased interest to the tumor detecting and diagnosis in these recent years since the multi-modal imaging technology combines the advantages of several medical imaging modalities. A water-soluble fullerenol probe containing glypican-3 monoclonal antibody (GPC3-mAb) group mAb-GPC3-C60(OH)10-(TMIO)3-(NI)3 was synthesized by the incorporation of 5-formyl-1,1,3,3-tetramethylisoindolin-2-yloxyl (FTMIO), naphthalimide (NI) and GPC3-mAb as a tumor-targeting group into fullerenol C60(OH)11. This nanomaterial was further characterized by FTIR, UV, MS, fluorescence, etc., and then its properties including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), particle size, electrophoresis, electrochemical assay, cell cytotoxicity, cell uptake and fluorescent imaging of HeLa tumor cells in vitro were also evaluated. Experiment results indicated that mAb-GPC3-C60(OH)10-(TMIO)3-(NI)3 had similar fluorescent properties as NI and similar electrochemical and redox properties as 5-carboxy-1,1,3,3-tetramethylisoindolin-2-yloxyl (CTMIO). Moreover, mAb-GPC3-C60(OH)10-(TMIO)3-(NI)3 possessed low cell cytotoxicity, good fluorescence and good tumor-targeting property. Meanwhile, mAb-GPC3-C60(OH)10-(TMIO)3-(NI)3 can be taken up highly by HeLa tumor cells, achieve good green fluorescent imaging in tumor cells and highly enhance the contrast of fluorescent images. Therefore, mAb-GPC3-C60(OH)10-(TMIO)3-(NI)3 can disperse homogeneously in aqueous solution and be used as a potential tumor-targeting dual-modal contrast agent for EPR imaging/fluorescence imaging (EPRI/FI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly (ethylene glycol)-grafted multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PEG-MWNTs) were prepared and added into poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/aluminum nitride (AlN) composites to obtain PLLA/AlN/PEG-MWNTs nanocomposites. Microstructure and thermal conductivity of the composites were investigated on the basis of the influence of PEG-MWNTs incorporated. The results showed that PEG-MWNTs were well-dispersed in the PLLA matrix and had strong interfacial adhesion with the matrix. The addition of PEG-MWNTs improved the thermal conductivity of PLLA/AlN composites. When 3 wt.% of PEG-MWNTs and 50 wt.% of AlN were both added into the PLLA matrix, the thermal conductivity reached 0.7734 W/mK with enhancement almost by 400% as compared to a neat PLLA. However, the thermal conductivity is 0.3401 W/mK for the PLLA composite with 3 wt.% of PEG-MWNTs and 0.4286 W/mK for the one with 50 wt.% of AlN. The synergistic effect of aggregated AlN particles and well-dispersed MWNTs could form efficient thermal conductive paths for improving the thermal conductivity of PLLA composites greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]