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PS, Tsui CP, Veljovic DJ, Petrovic R, Janackovic DJ: Influence of microstructure and phase composition on the nanoindentation characterization of bioceramic materials based on hydroxyapatite. Ceram Inter 2009, 35:2171–2178.CrossRef 24. this website Guicciardi S, Sciti D, Melandri C, Bellosi A: Nanoindentation characterization of submicro- and nano-sized liquid-phase-sintered SiC ceramics. J Am Ceram Soc 2004, 87:2101–2107.CrossRef 25. Technology Assessment & Transfer, Inc: Transparent spinel ceramics for armor and electro-optical applications. http://www.techassess.com/doc/spinel_technical_data.pdf 26. Shen TD, Koch CC, Tsui TY, Pharr GM: On the elastic moduli of nanocrystalline Fe, Cu, Ni, and Cu-Ni alloys prepared by mechanical milling/alloying. J Mater Res 1995, 10:2892–2896.CrossRef Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Authors’ contributions JZ carried out the sample preparation, analyzed SPM, and participated on the nanoindentation analysis and paper corrections. TL analyzed the microstructures, evaluated
BIBW2992 nmr the hardness and modulus, and designed the study. XC analyzed the TEM and HRTEM. NW and JQ participated in the study coordination and paper correction. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”
“Background The extensive research of nanoparticles in connection to their various biological and medical applications has been the preamble
for the development of quantum dots (QDs). These represent a heterogenous class of nanoparticles composed of a semiconductor core including group II-VI or group III-V elements encased within a shell comprised of a second semiconductor material [1]. Due to their unique optical and chemical properties, i.e., their broad absorption Thymidine kinase spectra, narrow fluorescence emission, intense fluorescence, and photo bleaching resistance [2, 3], QDs were proposed as nanoprobes which were able to replace the conventional organic dyes and fluorescent proteins [4]. The use of different core material combinations and appropriate nanocrystal sizes has rendered QDs useful in biosensing [5], energy transfer [6], in vivo imaging [7], drug delivery [8], and diagnostic and cancer therapy applications [9]. Despite their special properties, most types of QDs have limited use in biology and medicine due to their selleck toxicity [10]. Numerous concerns regarding the cytotoxicity of different types of QDs were presented in a recent review [11], which detailed that QD toxicity depends on a number of factors including the experimental model, concentration, exposure duration, and mode of administration.