This paper investigates the use of self-assembled monolayers
(SAMs) to optimize the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
biosensor for disease detection. Various experiments were done
with 1-(9-mercaptononyl)-3,6,9-trioxaundecan-11-ol (TDT) and
heptaoxatricosanoic acid (HSA), a new SAM; these included a solvent
study to determine refractive index sensitivity and nonspecific binding
and specific...
Cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots have low conductivity upon
synthesis with the original capping ligands. The conductivity can be
altered by the addition of other ligands. Thiols, amines, and carboxylic
acids, as well as other functional groups, have been shown to improve
conductivity in quantum dot films. This investigation describes...
This study examined the invasiveness of nanofountain probes (NFP)
when used as a transfection tool for single-cell research. For comparison,
the damage caused to cells by more commonly used commercial
atomic force microscope (AFM) probes was also studied. Forces were
applied to cells at increasing levels using both probes, and...
The swelling and deswelling behavior of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA)
thin films and the permeability of poly(styrene) (PS) membranes was
investigated using quartz crystal microbalance and ellipsometry.
The system consisted of either homopolymer PMAA film or diblock
poly(methyl methacrylate)-poly(methacrylic acid) (PMMA-PMAA)
brushes with a hydrophobic PS membrane capping layer. Results show...
This paper reports the syntheses of acetylene-terminated smallmolecule
cores. Also reported are successful attempts at “click”
coupling the core molecules with azide-terminated oligonucleotides to
construct stable small-molecule DNA hybrids (SMDH). Once these
click-based small-molecule DNA hybrids are formed, melting studies
will be done that study how the geometry of SMDH...
"This paper describes the development of an efficient transfection
vehicle for nucleic acids using surface-functionalized gold nanoparticles
(AuNPs) with a mixed-monolayer of biological molecules—a hybrid
approach that combines two previously investigated models. The
objective is to improve upon previously described nanoparticles used to
introduce nucleic acids to cells—oligonucleotide-functionalized AuNPs
and...
Small, soluble, self-assembling peptide Aβ-oligomers, known as ADDLs
(amyloid-derived diffusible ligands), accumulate in the Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) brain as Aβ 12-mers and are thought to contribute to AD
neuropathological conditions. Unlike plaques, which were once thought
to cause neuronal death due to insoluble amyloid plaque deposits,
ADDLs initiate abnormal changes...
Semiconductor nanowires show promise for application in nanoscale
electronics, but the difficulty of forming low-resistance ohmic contacts
provides a challenge to their implementation. To improve the electrical
performance of lithographically defined nickel contacts, nickel-silicide/
silicon axial nanowire heterostructures were formed by controlled
partial silicidation. Prior to annealing, two-terminal silicon nanowire...
Small, soluble, self-assembling peptide Aβ-oligomers, known as ADDLs
(amyloid-derived diffusible ligands), accumulate in the Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) brain as Aβ 12-mers and are thought to contribute to AD
neuropathological conditions. Unlike plaques, which were once thought
to cause neuronal death due to insoluble amyloid plaque deposits,
ADDLs initiate abnormal changes...