Nanorods biocompatible

While Au nanorods and other NIR-active nanoparticles have untapped potential for clinical in vivo imaging applications, the focus at present is on preclinical in vitro studies to better ascertain the biological effects of these nanomaterials. Surface chemistry becomes a critical issue, as it determines the biocompatibility, dispersion stability, and site-directed targeting of nanoparticles. For example, Au nanorods coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a cationic surfactant used during nanorod synthesis, are internalized by KB cells via a nonspecific uptake pathway within hours of its addition to the culture medium, and transported toward the... 

There has been extensive work on core/shell nanoparticles where the core is magnetic Fe304, PbS and the shell is a polymer that provides biocompatibility and long-term stability [121]. PbS particles are formed in a Pb(AOT)2/polymer composite [122], according to whether this has an ordered layer structure or not, nanorods or spherical particles are obtained. 

PANI would be typically functionalized with selected dopants via either noncovalent or covalent approaches. In addition, nanostructured PANI materials, such as nanorods, nanowires and nanofibers, offer the possibilities to improve the performance of the PANI-based devices (Huang et al., 2003). PANI has demonstrated its biocompatibility in vivo and sparked great interests in tissue engineering. The biocompatibility of PANI can be further improved by the introduction of biocompatible elements without sacrificing its electric conductivity. 

Because of their outstanding bioactivity and biocompatibility calcium phosphate-based materials have been widely investigated for applications in the biomedical fields (17). Amorphous calcium phosphate nanospheres and hydroxyapatite nanorods have been prepared and hybridized with poly(d,/-lactic acid) in order to fabricate composite nanofibers using an electrospinning technique. 

The so-prepared composite nanofibers exhibit favorable mineralization behaviors in a simulated body fluid. In the mineralization process, the calcium phosphate nanospheres and the hydroxyapatite nanorods play an important role in the formation of hydroxyapatite nanosheets on the surface of composite nanofibers. The composite nanofibers exhibit a high biocompatibility (17). 

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