Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material, including a graphene structure formed with a plurality of graphene layers; and gold/hydroxyapatite (Au/HA) nanoparticles distributed within the graphene structure; where the nanocomposite material is formed by heating an Au/HA catalyst thin film with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD).

Abstract: A method of increasing the probability and rate of seed germination, increasing vegetative biomass, and increasing water uptake in seeds, in which a seed is introduced to an effective concentration of carbon nanomaterial. The effective concentration of carbon nanomaterial is 10-200 ?g/mL.

Abstract: A method of increasing the probability and rate of seed germination, increasing vegetative biomass, and increasing water uptake in seeds, in which a seed is introduced to an effective concentration of carbon nanomaterial. The effective concentration of carbon nanomaterial is 10-200 ?g/mL.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of synthesizing a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material, which includes: synthesizing a gold/hydroxyapatite (Au/HA) catalyst; distributing the Au/HA catalyst into a thin film; and heating the thin film in a reactor with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD) to form the nanocomposite material, where the nanocomposite material includes a graphene structure and Au/HA nanoparticles formed by the Au/HA catalyst and distributed within the graphene structure. In another aspect, a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material includes: a graphene structure formed with a plurality of graphene layers and Au/HA nanoparticles distributed within the graphene structure. The nanocomposite material is formed by heating an Au/HA catalyst thin film with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD).

Abstract: A method for regulating properties of a plant, includes: providing a nanoagent having at least one nanocomposite; and delivering the nanoagent to the plant. The nanocomposite has at least one gold nanorod, a silver layer coated on an outer surface of the gold nanorod, a pegylated layer coated on the silver layer, and an active layer conjugated to the pegylated layer. The silver layer includes silver nanoparticles. The pegylated layer includes at least one of thiolated polyethylene glycol (HS-PEG), thiolated polyethylene glycol acid (HS-PEG-COOH) and HS-PEG-NHx. The active layer includes at least one bio-active agent configured to interact with the plant. The bio-active agent can be 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).

Abstract: A method of inducing mineralization in a bone cell is described. The method comprises contacting a bone cell with a composition comprising nanoparticles. The nanoparticles can be single-walled carbon nanotubes, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, TiO2 nanoparticles or silver nanoparticles. The bone cell can be an osteoblast cell. A method for increasing bone mass, bone healing or bone formation is also described which comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a composition comprising nanoparticles. The subject can suffer from a bone disease such as osteoporosis. The subject can suffer from a bone fracture and the method can comprise contacting bone cells near the bone fracture site with the composition. The composition can further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to a layered structure usable in a strain sensor. In one embodiment, the layered structure has a substrate with a first surface and an opposite, second surface defining a body portion therebetween; and a film of carbon nanotubes deposited on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the film of carbon nanotubes is conductive and characterized with an electrical resistance. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotubes are aligned in a preferential direction. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotubes are formed in a yarn such that any mechanical stress increases their electrical response. In one embodiment, the carbon nanotubes are incorporated into a polymeric scaffold that is attached to the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment, the surfaces of the carbon nanotubes are functionalized such that its electrical conductivity is increased.

Abstract: A method for producing a biocompatible structure includes: obtaining a load graph and a stress graph representing a relationship between a weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles and a maximum load or maximum stress of a polymer film, respectively; determining a first and second weight percentage corresponding to a peak of the load graph and the stress graph respectively; determining an optimal weight percentage based on the first and second weight percentages; preparing a polymer film having the optimal weight percentage of the first tissue forming nanoparticles to the polymer; dividing the polymer film to multiple strips; constructing a scaffold by stacking the strips to form polymer layers and adding bone or composite particles between the polymer layers; applying a solution to the scaffold to form a coated scaffold; and adding second tissue forming particles to the coated scaffold to form the biocompatible structure.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method for growth of carbon nanotubes includes providing a graphitic composite, decorating the graphitic composite with metal nanostructures to form graphene-contained powders, and heating the graphene-contained powders at a target temperature to form the carbon nanotubes in an argon/hydrogen environment that is devoid of a hydrocarbon source. In one embodiment, the target temperature can be as low as about 150° C. (±5° C.).

Abstract: A biocompatible structure includes one or more base structures for regeneration of different tissues. Each base structure includes alternately stacked polymer layers and spacer layers. The polymer layer includes a polymer and tissue forming nanoparticles. The polymer includes polyurethane. The tissue forming nanoparticles includes hydroxypatites (HAP) nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, or nanofibers. The spacer layer includes bone particles, polymeric nanoparticles, or nanofibers. The weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles to the polymer in the polymer layer in one base structure is different from that in the other base structures. A method of producing the biocompatible structure includes forming multiple base structures stacked together, coating the stacked multiple base structures, and plasma treating the coated structure.

Abstract: A structure of, and a method of producing, a biocompatible structure for bone and tissue regeneration are disclosed. The method includes dissolving a polyurethane polymer in methanol, adding hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles to form a uniformly distributed mixture, applying the mixture to a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface to form a polymer film, cutting the polymer film into strips, stacking the strips with layers of bone particles disposed therebetween, coating the stacked strips and layers by the mixture and allowing it to dry, adding bone particles to the coating, and plasma treating the structure to form the biocompatible structure. A weight percentage of the HAP nanoparticles to the polymer is about 5-50% such that a resorption rate of the biocompatible structure substantially matches a rate of tissue generation in the biocompatible structure.

Abstract: A structure of, and a method of producing, a biocompatible structure for bone and tissue regeneration are disclosed. The method includes dissolving a polyurethane polymer in methanol, adding hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles to form a uniformly distributed mixture, applying the mixture to a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface to form a polymer film, cutting the polymer film into strips, stacking the strips with layers of bone particles disposed therebetween, coating the stacked strips and layers by the mixture and allowing it to dry, adding bone particles to the coating, and plasma treating the structure to form the biocompatible structure. A weight percentage of the HAP nanoparticles to the polymer is about 5-50% such that a resorption rate of the biocompatible structure substantially matches a rate of tissue generation in the biocompatible structure.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a composition capable of delivering and expressing a nucleic acid encoding UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases, p53 or a combination thereof into a cell, and methods for treating tumors.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses a composition capable of delivering and expressing a nucleic acid encoding UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases, p53 or a combination thereof into a cell, and methods for treating tumors.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method for activation/enhancement of cell growth of a plant. The method includes providing a nano-sized material contained agent, and treating the plant with the nano-sized material contained agent to allow sufficient interaction of cells of the plant with the nano-sized material so as to activate/enhance the cell growth of the plant.

Abstract: A method for producing a polymer film includes: obtaining a load graph representing a functional relationship between a weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles in a polymer film and a maximum load of that polymer film; obtaining a stress graph representing a functional relationship between the weight percentage of tissue forming nanoparticles in a polymer film and maximum stress of that polymer film; determining a first weight percentage corresponding to a peak of the load graph and determining a second weight percentage corresponding to a peak of the stress graph; determining an optimal weight percentage based on the first and second weight percentage values; and producing a polymer film having tissue forming nanoparticles at the optimal weight percentage.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of synthesizing a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material, which includes: synthesizing a gold/hydroxyapatite (Au/HA) catalyst; distributing the Au/HA catalyst into a thin film; and heating the thin film in a reactor with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD) to form the nanocomposite material, where the nanocomposite material includes a graphene structure and Au/HA nanoparticles formed by the Au/HA catalyst and distributed within the graphene structure. In another aspect, a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material includes: a graphene structure formed with a plurality of graphene layers and Au/HA nanoparticles distributed within the graphene structure. The nanocomposite material is formed by heating an Au/HA catalyst thin film with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD).

Abstract: A magnetic oxide-quantum dot nanocomposite has at least one magnetic oxide nanoparticle coated with a silica (SiO2) shell and terminated with at least one thiol group (—SH) and at least one CdSe/ZnS quantum dot linked with the at least one SiO2-coated magnetic oxide nanoparticle via the at least one thiol group. The at least one magnetic oxide nanoparticle can be an iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticle. A method of cancer treatment using the magnetic oxide-quantum dot nanocomposites, includes the steps of delivering a plurality of nmagnetic oxide-quantum dot nanocomposites to a cancer cell, and subjecting the cancer cell with the plurality of magnetic oxide-quantum dot nanocomposites to a radio frequency induction for a period of time effective to cause the cancer cell to die.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of synthesizing a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material, which includes: synthesizing a gold/hydroxyapatite (Au/HA) catalyst; distributing the Au/HA catalyst into a thin film; and heating the thin film in a reactor with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD) to form the nanocomposite material, where the nanocomposite material includes a graphene structure and Au/HA nanoparticles formed by the Au/HA catalyst and distributed within the graphene structure. In another aspect, a multicomponent and biocompatible nanocomposite material includes: a graphene structure formed with a plurality of graphene layers and Au/HA nanoparticles distributed within the graphene structure. The nanocomposite material is formed by heating an Au/HA catalyst thin film with a carbon source gas to perform radio frequency chemical vapor deposition (RF-CVD).

Abstract: A magnetic oxide-quantum dot nanocomposite and methods of synthesizing it. In one embodiment, the magnetic oxide-quantum dot nanocomposite has at least one magnetic oxide nanoparticle coated with a silica (SiO2) shell and terminated with at least one thiol group (—SH), and at least one CdSe/ZnS quantum dot linked with the at least one SiO2-coated magnetic oxide nanoparticle via the at least one thiol group. In one embodiment, the at least one magnetic oxide nanoparticle comprises at least one iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticle.