Medical University of South Carolina

Jamie R Lead

Alan Decho

Anindya Chanda

Ruth Merrifield

Methods for inhibiting fungal secondary metabolisms are described. Secondary metabolisms inhibited by the methods can include those responsible for expression of mycotoxins such as aflatoxin. Methods can include inhibition of aflatoxin production without inhibiting fungal growth by contacting a fungus with a suspension including silver nanoparticles that can include a surface coating. The methods can be utilized in preventing fungal-caused destruction of plant species (e.g., crop species). Disclosed methods encompass utilization of silver nanoparticles at low concentrations of from about 10 picograms per liter to about 1 microgram per liter.

Growth-independent inhibition of aflatoxin biosynthesis with selected nanoparticles

Methods are provided for using a combination of nanomaterials and oil-degrading bacteria to detoxify a multiphasic liquid (e.g., an oil-water mixture) and to ameliorate the toxicity of oil to local organisms, e.g., meiobenthos, in or near the area of the multiphasic liquid. The methods can be utilized for oil recovery and environmental clean-up and detoxification after spills and discharges. Through synergistic combination of the nanomaterials with oil degrading bacteria, methods can ameliorate environmental damage due to the presence of oil in an area through increased activation of the bacteria as well as through removal of the oil.

Methods for the amelioration of oil toxicity and stimulation of bacterial oil degradation

Nanoparticles for the amelioration of oil toxicity and stimulation of bacterial oil degradation

Methods for making a plurality of nanoparticles are provided. The method may include flowing a first component of the core into a reaction chamber; flowing a polymeric material into the reaction chamber; and flowing a second component of the core into the reaction chamber such that the first component reacts with the second component to form a core. The polymeric material forms a polymeric shell around the core.

Separation of oil-water mixtures using nanotechnology

Methods for extracting oil from a multiphasic liquid are provided. The method can comprise: introducing the multiphasic liquid to a plurality of nanoparticles, and allowing oil in the multiphasic liquid to be adsorbed by the polymeric shell. The nanoparticles comprise a core and a polymeric shell. The method can further comprise removing the nanoparticles from the multiphasic liquid, and/or recovering the oil adsorbed by the polymeric shell after removing the nanoparticles from the multiphasic liquid. The multiphasic liquid can comprise oil and water (e.g., oil and sea water, such as sea water in an area of an oil spill), stomach fluid and a food-grade oil (e.g., olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, or a mixture thereof), or other multiphasic liquids having an oil component.

A core-shell nanoparticle is provided that includes a core comprising a first isotope of an element; an isolation layer surrounding the core; and a shell layer surrounding the isolation layer, wherein the shell layer comprises a second isotope of the element, with the first isotope being different than the second isotope. Methods are also provided for forming such core-shell nanoparticles.

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Chapin, SC, United States of America

Jamie R Lead