Abstract: A method for producing mesoporous platinum nanoparticles without using templating agents is provided. The method involves preparing a solution comprising water, platinum nanoparticle seeds, a platinum salt and a reducing agent, and heating the solution to a temperature between 150° C. and 250° C. at a rate of between 1° C./min and 15° C./min under a pressure of between 5 and 20 atm. The method allows obtaining mesoporous platinum nanoparticles having controlled shape and controlled pore dimensions. The mesoporous platinum nanoparticles are useful as catalysts in chemical precision reactions and for the production of artificial enzymes for diagnostics and nanomedicine applications.

Abstract: Imaging method for a biological sample using microscopy, for example fluorescence optical microscopy, electron microscopy, or correlative microscopy, which provides to use imaging probes to obtain images in which it is possible to identify the imaging probes and/or possible molecules associated with them. The present invention also concerns the imaging probes, possibly functionalized, that can be used both in CLEM experiments and also in immunocytochemical experiments.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining antioxidant power of a sample of a biological fluid or a food. The method essentially consists in contacting the sample to be tested with an aqueous solution of platinum nanoparticles, an oxidizing agent, and a chromogenic peroxidase substrate, and detecting color of the final solution thus obtained. Color intensity of the solution is proportional to the antioxidant power of the sample. A kit suitable for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for determining the antioxidant power of a sample of a biological fluid or a food is provided. The method involves contacting the sample to be tested with an aqueous solution of palladium nanoparticles, an oxidizing agent, and a chromogenic peroxidase substrate, and detecting the colour of the final solution thus obtained. The colour intensity of the solution is proportional to the antioxidant power of the sample. A kit for carrying out the method is also provided.

Abstract: Imaging method for a biological sample using microscopy, for example fluorescence optical microscopy, electron microscopy, or correlative microscopy, which provides to use imaging probes to obtain images in which it is possible to identify the imaging probes and/or possible molecules associated with them. The present invention also concerns the imaging probes, possibly functionalized, that can be used both in CLEM experiments and also in immunocytochemical experiments.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a seed-growth based method for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles of controlled shape (cubes, cuboids, octahedrons) and size in an aqueous environment, without the use of shape directing agents. The method involves a first step of preparing a solution comprising water, metal seed growth nanoparticles, a metal salt comprising the same metal as the metal seed growth nanoparticles, and a reducing agent; and a second step of heating the solution to between 9 and 130° C. at a rate of between 1° C./min and 5° C./min and at a pressure of between 1 and 5 atm. The method may also be carried out in a reduced oxygen atmosphere and the concentration of oxygen disclosed in the solution may be less than the concentration of oxygen in an oxygen saturated solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a seed-growth based method for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles of controlled shape (cubes, cuboids, octahedrons) and size in an aqueous environment, without the use of shape directing agents. The method involves a first step of preparing a solution comprising water, metal seed growth nanoparticles, a metal salt comprising the same metal as the metal seed growth nanoparticles, and a reducing agent; and a second step of heating the solution to between 9 and 130° C. at a rate of between 1° C./min and 5° C./min and at a pressure of between 1 and 5 atm. The method may also be carried out in a reduced oxygen atmosphere and the concentration of oxygen disclosed in the solution may be less than the concentration of oxygen in an oxygen saturated solution.