Aim: To simulate the stability and degradation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNP) in vitro as part of their life cycle using complex simulated biological fluids. Materials & methods: A set of 13 MNP with different polymeric or inorganic shell materials was synthesized and characterized regarding stability and degradation of core and shell in simulated biological fluids. Results: All MNP formulations showed excellent stability during storage and in simulated body fluid. In endosomal/lysosomal media the degradation behavior depended on shell characteristics (e.g., charge, acid-base character) and temperature enabling the development of an accelerated stress test protocol. Conclusion: Kinetics of transformations depending on the MNP type could be established to define structure-activity relationships as prediction model for rational particle design.

Abstract A novel SERS-based molecular sensor for detection and quantification of copper(II) ions with very good specificity and selectivity is reported in this work. The sensing is enabled by the employment of a synthesized dipicolylamine-based ligand anchored onto plasmonic gold nanoparticles through the sulfur atom of the methylthio group. The interaction of the ligand with copper(II) ions is followed by changes in the spectral features associated with pyridine ring breathing, as indicated by quantum chemical calculations performed at the density functional level of theory, which are proportional to the copper(II) concentration. The detection of copper(II) was possible down to 5 × 10−8 M in water. The proposed molecular sensor was applied for the detection of copper(II) ions in white wine, with the ability to detect amounts of copper(II) in wine lower than the maximum recommended amount of 7.87 × 10−6 M (0.5 μg/mL), indicating that the proposed molecular sensor is of potential interest as a routine test for the control of the copper(II) content in wine during wine production and in the final product.

Atherosclerosis is a process of thickening and stiffening of the arterial walls through the accumulation of lipids and fibrotic material, as a consequence of aging and unhealthy life style. However, not all arterial plaques lead to complications, which can lead to life‐threatening events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Diagnosis of the disease in early stages and identification of unstable atherosclerotic plaques are still challenging. It has been shown that the development of atherosclerotic plaques is an inflammatory process, where the accumulation of macrophages in the arterial walls is immanent in the early as well as late stages of the disease. We present a novel surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)‐based strategy for the detection of early stage atherosclerosis, based on the uptake of tagged gold nanoparticles by macrophages and subsequent detection by means of SERS. The results presented here provide a basis for future in vivo studies in animal models.The workflow of tracing the SERS‐active nanoparticle uptake by macrophages employing confocal Raman imaging.