Browsing by Author "Albert, Karunya"

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Bio-templated silica composites for next-generation biomedical applications
(2017-11-01)
Albert, Karunya
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Huang, Xin-Chun
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Hsu, Hsin-Yun
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應用化學系
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應用化學系分子科學碩博班
Silica-based materials have extensive biomedical applications owing to their unique physical, chemical, and biological properties. Recently, increasing studies have examined the mechanisms involved in biosilicification to develop novel, fine-tunable, eco-friendly materials and/or technologies. In this review, we focus on recent developments in bio-templated silica synthesis and relevant applications in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and biosensing.
Carbon-Based Materials for Photo-Triggered Theranostic Applications
(2016-11)
Albert, Karunya
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Hsu, Hsin-Yun
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應用化學系
;
應用化學系分子科學碩博班
;
Department of Applied Chemistry
Carbon-based nanomaterials serve as a type of smart material for photo-triggered disease theranostics. The inherent physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials facilitate their use for less invasive treatments. This review summarizes the properties and applications of materials including fullerene, nanotubes, nanohorns, nanodots and nanographenes for photodynamic nanomedicine in cancer and antimicrobial therapies. Carbon nanomaterials themselves do not usually act as photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents owing to the high hydrophobicity, however, when the surface is passivated or functionalized, these materials become great vehicles for PDT. Moreover, conjugation of carbonaceous nanomaterials with the photosensitizer (PS) and relevant targeting ligands enhances properties such as selectivity, stability, and high quantum yield, making them readily available for versatile biomedical applications.
Diatom-assisted biomicroreactor targeting the complete removal of perfluorinated compounds
(2020-02-15)
Albert, Karunya
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Hsieh, Pei-Ying
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Chen, Tsai-Hsuan
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Hou, Chia-Hung
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Hsu, Hsin-Yun
Persistent perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been recognized as a global environmental issue. Developing methods without leading to additional burden in nature will be essential for PFCs removal. Herein, we functionalized iron nanoparticles on living diatom (Dt) to efficiently enable the Fenton reaction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Iron nanoparticles at the surface of living diatom act as promising catalytic agents to trigger (OH)-H-center dot radical generation from H2O2. Dt plays dual roles: i) as solid support for effective adsorption, and ii) it supplies oxygen and inherently produces ROS under stress conditions, which improves removal efficiency of PFCs. We also demonstrated its reusability by simple magnetic separation and 85% of decomposition efficiency could still be achieved. This newly developed diatom-assisted bioremediation strategy enables green and efficient PFC decomposition and shall be readily applicable to other persistent pollutants.
Multifunctional silver nanocluster-hybrid oligonucleotide vehicle for cell imaging and microRNA-targeted gene silencing
(2017-04-01)
Chen, Hau-Yun
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Albert, Karunya
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Wen, Cheng-Che
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Hsieh, Pei-Ying
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Chen, Sih-Yu
Novel therapeutics is urgently needed to prevent cancer-related deaths. MicroRNAs that act as tumor suppressors have been recognized as a next-generation tumor therapy, and the restoration of tumor suppressive microRNAs using microRNA replacements or mimics may be a less toxic, more effective strategy due to fewer off-target effects. Here, we designed the novel multifunctional oligonucleotide nanocarrier complex composed of a tumor-targeting aptamer sequence specific to mucin 1. (MUC1), poly-cytosine region for fluorescent silver nanocluster (AgNC) synthesis, and complimentary sequence for microRNA miR-34a loading. MiR-34a was employed because of its therapeutic effect of inhibiting oncogene expression and inducing apoptosis in carcinomas. By monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of AgNC, it was clearly shown that the constructed complex (MUC1-AgNCm-miR-34a) enters MCF-7 cells. To evaluate the efficacy of this nanocarrier for microRNA delivery, we investigated the gene and protein expression levels of downstream miR-34a targets (BCL-2, CDK6, and CCNDI) by quantitative PCR and western blotting, respectively, and the results indicated their effective inhibition by miR-34a. This novel multifunctional AgNC-based nanocarrier can aid in improving the efficacy of breast cancer theranostics. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Pseudo-multicolor carbon dots emission and the dilution-induced reversible fluorescence shift
(2016-01-01)
Chen, Yu-Cheng
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Nien, Cheng-Yung
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Albert, Karunya
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Wen, Cheng-Che
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Hsieh, You-Zung
Size- and color-tunable carbon dots (CDs) that emit blue to red using a single precursor in pure water were achieved by simple concentration and reaction time control. Distinct from conventional fluorophores, a reversible spectra shift of CD was observed upon dilution which could be a result of altered CD-CD inter-particle interaction, leading to minimized self- absorption.