Existence and Ergodicity for the Two-Dimensional Stochastic Magneto-Hydrodynamics Equations

The paper proves the existence of solutions to the magneto-hydrodynamics equations driven by random exterior forcing terms both in the velocity and in the magnetic field. The existence and uniqueness of an invariant measure is also obtained via coupling methods.     

Modulating charge-transfer interactions in topologically different porphyrin-C60 dyads

Control over the interchromophore separation, their angular relationship, and the spatial overlap of their electronic clouds in several ZnP-C(60) dyads (ZnP=zinc porphyrin) is used to modulate the rates of intramolecular electron transfer. For the first time, a detailed analysis of the charge transfer absorption and emission spectra, time-dependent spectroscopic measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations prove quantitatively that the same two moieties can produce widely different electron-transfer regimes. This investigation also shows that the combination of ZnP and C(60) consistently produces charge recombination in the inverted Marcus region, with reorganization energies that are remarkably low, regardless of the solvent polarity. The time constants of electron transfer range from the mus to the ps regime, the electronic couplings from a few tens to several hundreds of cm(-1), and the reorganization energies remain below 0.54 eV and can be as low as 0.16 eV.     

Organic functionalization of carbon nanotubes

A very general and versatile method for functionalizing different types of carbon nanotubes is described, using the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides. Approximately one organic group per 100 carbon atoms of the nanotube is introduced, to yield remakably soluble bundles of nanotubes, as seen in transmission electron micrographs. The solubilization of the nanotubes generates a novel, interesting class of materials, which combines the properties of the nanotubes and the organic moiety, thus offering new opportunities for applications in materials science, including the preparation of nanocomposites.     

Versatile organic (fullerene)-inorganic (CdTe nanoparticle) nanoensembles

Novel organic (positively charged fullerene)-inorganic (negatively charged CdTe nanoparticle) nanoensembles were devised through electrostatic interactions and probed as versatile donor-acceptor hybrids. Photoirradiation of their homogeneous solutions, containing the electrostatically packed components, let to very long-lived (1.3 ms) charge separated states.     

Biomedical applications of functionalised carbon nanotubes

The organic functionalisation of carbon nanotubes can improve substantially their solubility and biocompatibility profile; as a consequence, their manipulation and integration into biological systems has become possible so that functionalised carbon nanotubes hold currently strong promise as novel systems for the delivery of drugs, antigens and genes.     

Binding and condensation of plasmid DNA onto functionalized carbon nanotubes: toward the construction of nanotube-based gene delivery vectors

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) constitute a class of nanomaterials that possess characteristics suitable for a variety of possible applications. Their compatibility with aqueous environments has been made possible by the chemical functionalization of their surface, allowing for exploration of their interactions with biological components including mammalian cells. Functionalized CNTs (f-CNTs) are being intensively explored in advanced biotechnological applications ranging from molecular biosensors to cellular growth substrates. We have been exploring the potential of f-CNTs as delivery vehicles of biologically active molecules in view of possible biomedical applications, including vaccination and gene delivery. Recently we reported the capability of ammonium-functionalized single-walled CNTs to penetrate human and murine cells and facilitate the delivery of plasmid DNA leading to expression of marker genes. To optimize f-CNTs as gene delivery vehicles, it is essential to characterize their interactions with DNA. In the present report, we study the interactions of three types of f-CNTs, ammonium-functionalized single-walled and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-NH3+; MWNT-NH3+), and lysine-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT-Lys-NH3+), with plasmid DNA. Nanotube-DNA complexes were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, surface plasmon resonance, PicoGreen dye exclusion, and agarose gel shift assay. The results indicate that all three types of cationic carbon nanotubes are able to condense DNA to varying degrees, indicating that both nanotube surface area and charge density are critical parameters that determine the interaction and electrostatic complex formation between f-CNTs with DNA. All three different f-CNT types in this study exhibited upregulation of marker gene expression over naked DNA using a mammalian (human) cell line. Differences in the levels of gene expression were correlated with the structural and biophysical data obtained for the f-CNT:DNA complexes to suggest that large surface area leading to very efficient DNA condensation is not necessary for effective gene transfer. However, it will require further investigation to determine whether the degree of binding and tight association between DNA and nanotubes is a desirable trait to increase gene expression efficiency in vitro or in vivo. This study constitutes the first thorough investigation into the physicochemical interactions between cationic functionalized carbon nanotubes and DNA toward construction of carbon nanotube-based gene transfer vector systems.     

Nanoscale organization of a phthalocyanine-fullerene system: remarkable stabilization of charges in photoactive 1-D nanotubules

Induction of self-organization between zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and C60 moieties in a novel amphiphilic ZnPc-C60 salt results in uniformly nanostructured 1-D nanotubules. Their photoreactivity, in terms of ultrafast charge separation (i.e., approximately 1012 s-1) and ultraslow charge recombination (i.e., approximately 103 s-1), is remarkable. In addition, the observed ZnPc*+-C60*- lifetime of 1.4 ms implies, relative to that of the monomeric ZnPc-C60 ( approximately 3 ns), an impressive stabilization of 6 orders of magnitude.     

On the Hartree-Fock time-dependent problem

A previous result is generalized. An existence and uniqueness theorem is proved for the Hartree-Fock time-dependent problem in the case of a finite Fermi system interacting via a two body potential, which is supposed dominated by the kinetic energy part of the one-particle hamiltonian.