Adsorption of naphthalene onto sonicated talc from aqueous solutions

The adsorption behavior of naphthalene onto naturally hydrophobic talc from aqueous solution was investigated in this study. The natural talc was first pretreated by sonication to improve the surface characteristics and enhance the uptake capacity by increasing the specific surface area (SSA) of talc. The naphthalene uptake of talc was found as 276 mg g^?1 and increased to 359 mg g^?1 after the sonication. Adsorption studies also showed that the adsorption of naphthalene onto the sonicated talc was not affected by changes in pH suggesting that the main driving forces for naphthalene adsorption onto talc was hydrophobic bonding rather than electrostatic force. The pseudo-first and pseudo-second orders and intraparticle diffusion equation were used to evaluate the kinetic data and the constants were determined. Adsorption process of naphthalene onto talc followed the pseudo-second-order rate expression for different initial naphthalene concentrations. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to model the isotherm data for their applicability. The Freundlich isotherm best fitted for the adsorption of naphthalene onto talc.     

Adsorption of firefly luciferase at interfaces studied by total internal reflection fluorescence spectroscopy

The adsorption of luciferase onto silica surfaces was studied by total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) spectroscopy. Two model surfaces were used: hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica. Luciferase adsorbed differently on these two surfaces. Initial kinetics of luciferase adsorption onto the hydrophilic surface showed that luciferase adsorbs over an adsorption energy barrier of 3 kT The quantum yield of luciferase fluorescence decreased at the hydrophilic silica surface, which indicated that the protein conformation was altered during adsorption. Luciferase adsorption onto the hydrophobic silica surface proceeded with a small adsorption energy barrier and the fluorescence efficiency of adsorbed protein remained unchanged after adsorption. The affinity of luciferase for luciferin was measured using quenching of luciferase fluorescence with luciferin. The binding constant of the adsorbed luciferase-luciferin complex at the hydrophilic silica surface was two orders of magnitude smaller than the respective binding constant in the solution. Adsorbed luciferase showed an absence of ATP-dependent visible luminescence, indicating that the adsorbed enzyme was not active at either of the two silica surfaces.     

Nanoparticle Probes for Quantifying Supramolecular Determinants of Biosurface Affinity

Interactions between macromolecular systems and biosurfaces are complicated by the complexity of these multivalent interactions and challenges in quantifying affinities. In this study, a library of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with different functional head groups as multivalent probes to quantify biosurface affinity, using hair as a model targeted substrate, is used. The adhesion of the AuNPs is quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Using this method it is demonstrated that multiple supramolecular forces affect affinity. As expected, electrostatic interaction is a strong driving force for adhesion of the nanoparticle tags onto hair in aqueous solution, evidenced by a much higher level of gold adsorption for cationic AuNPs compared to anionic or neutral AuNPs. Functionalized cationic AuNPs are synthesized with systematically varied terminal groups and are screened for deposition onto hair. AuNP adhesion onto hair in water generally decreases as a function of increasing hydrophobicity; however, electron‐rich aromatic rings provide significantly enhanced attachment. Although the intact, healthy hair cuticle is considered negatively charged and hydrophobic, the findings indicate that hydrophobic interactions are not as critical to deposition of AuNPs onto hair as the electrostatic component from the presence and accessibility of the cationic moieties, which are the greatest drivers for deposition onto hair.     

FTIR，XPS和SEM研究聚羧酸盐分散剂在吡唑醚菌酯颗粒表面的吸附性能

采用傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线光电子能谱和扫描电子显微镜相结合的方式，从微观角度研究梳状聚羧酸盐分散剂在吡唑醚菌酯颗粒表面的吸附性能，为聚羧酸盐分散剂在吡唑醚菌酯悬浮剂中的应用提供理论依据。研究结果表明：吡唑醚菌酯吸附聚羧酸盐分散剂后，红外谱图未出现新的吸收峰，聚羧酸盐分散剂与吡唑醚菌酯之间主要是物理吸附，范德华力是聚羧酸盐分散剂与吡唑醚菌酯颗粒表面结合的主要作用力。吡唑醚菌酯颗粒吸附聚羧酸盐分散剂后，吡唑醚菌酯颗粒界面的N和Cl电子峰强度减弱，C和O电子峰强度明显增强，还出现了Na的电子峰，这主要是聚羧酸盐分散剂中C，O和Na的贡献，说明聚羧酸盐分散剂在吡唑醚菌酯颗粒表面形成了良好的吸附。并以Cl元素为特征元素，计算出聚羧酸盐分散剂在吡唑醚菌酯颗粒表面的吸附层厚度约为1.22 nm。用扫描电子显微镜研究了样品的形貌，吸附聚羧酸盐分散剂后，原本光滑的吡唑醚菌酯颗粒表面吸附了很多细小的颗粒，且有序分布，这是由于分散剂疏水集团对吡唑醚菌酯颗粒形成了包覆，亲水基团充分外露，从而有效阻止吡唑醚菌酯颗粒间的团聚，提高了吡唑醚菌酯悬浮剂的物理稳定性。     

Film morphology and orientation of amino silicone adsorbed onto cellulose substrate

A series of amino silicones with different amino values were synthesized and adsorbed onto surfaces of cotton fibers and cellulose substrates. The film morphology, hydrophobic properties and surface composition of the silicones are investigated and characterized by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATR-IR). The results of the experiments indicate that the amino silicone can form a hydrophobic film on both cotton fibers and cellulose substrates and reduce the surface roughness significantly. Furthermore, the roughness becomes smaller with an increase in the amino value. All these results suggest that the orientation of amino silicone molecule is with the amino functional groups of amino silicone molecule adsorbed onto the cellulose interface while the main polymer chains and the hydrophobic Si-CH₃ groups extend toward the air.     

Relationship between adsorbed fibronectin and cell adhesion on a honeycomb-patterned film

Substratum surface morphology plays a vital roles in cellular behavior. Here, we characterized adsorption of fibronectin (Fn) as a typical cell adhesion protein onto honeycomb-patterned films made of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In order to determine how cells adhere to a honeycomb-patterned film, focal adhesion of cardiac myocytes (CMYs) and endothelial cells (ECs) on the films were studied by using fluorescence labeling of vinculin. Fn adsorbs around the pore edges to form ring-shaped structures. CMYs and ECs adhere onto the honeycomb-patterned films at focal contact points localized around pore edges distributed over the entire cellular surface. The focal contact points on the honeycomb-patterned films correspond well with the adsorption sites of Fn. We suggest that the cell response to honeycomb-patterned films is associated with the adsorption pattern of Fn on the film.     

Growth of unidirectional molecular rows of cysteine on Au(110)-(1 x 2) driven by adsorbate-induced surface rearrangements

Using scanning tunneling microscopy we have studied the nucleation and growth of unidirectional molecular rows upon adsorption of the amino acid cysteine onto the anisotropic Au(110)-(1 x 2) surface under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. By modeling a large variety of possible molecular adsorption geometries using density-functional theory calculations, we find that in the optimum, lowest energy configuration, no significant intermolecular interactions exist along the growth direction. Instead the driving force for formation of the unidirectional molecular rows is an adsorbate-induced surface rearrangement, providing favorable adsorption sites for the molecules.     

Micro-optical Characterization of Fluidic Self-assembly of Drosophila Embryos through Surface Tension: Principle, Simulation and Experiments

We describe high precision experimental and numerical characterization of the positioning forces acting on Drosophila embryos that have self-assembled onto two-dimensional arrays of hydrophobic sites on a silicon substrate in water. The forces measured using a surface micromachined optical-encoder force sensor operating in reflection, are in good agreement with numerical simulations based on an extended surface energy model for the oil-based fluidic system. The positioning forces of ellipsoidal embryos on flat pads show a linear-spring-like relationship between the force and displacement on rectangular as well as cross-shaped pads. In contrast, the positioning forces of flat silicon chips, similar in size to the embryos, are linear in the displacement only over a limited range, and are then constant up to the detachment force. The optical force characterization method and the associated surface energy model for the self-assembly process can potentially be used for design optimization of fluidic self-assembly for a wide range of applications in biology.     

Laboratory simulation of the interaction of water molecules with carbonaceous aerosols in the atmosphere

A number of samples that simulate the chemical composition of carbonaceous aerosols emitted by transport into the atmosphere have been synthesized using the method of deposition of organic compounds and sulfuric acid, which are identified in the particulate coverage of diesel and aircraft engine soot particles, onto the surface of elemental carbon. The analysis of water adsorption isotherms allows one to estimate the influence of the surface chemistry of particles on the degree of their hygroscopicity. Water adsorption measurements show that modification of a particle surface by nonpolar organics (aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons) leads to the hydrophobization of a soot surface. The impact of polar oxygen-containing organic compounds (ethers, ketones, aromatic, and aliphatic acids) on adsorption capacity with respect to the water of samples that they modify substantially depends on the nature and composition of the hydrophobic part of the molecules. Among the ionic compounds organic acid salts have the most hydrophilization effect, which is comparable with the adsorption capacity of soot with sulfuric acid deposited on its surface. This observation allows one to quantitatively define how the nature of chemical compounds on soot surface influences water adsorption and to estimate the interaction of water molecules with fossil fuel combustion particles in a humid atmosphere.     

Immobilization of poly(?-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(?-caprolactone) triblock copolymer on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) surface and dual biofunctional effects

Poly(?-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL) triblock copolymer was covalently immobilized onto poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) surface with the precursor of photopolymerizable and biodegradable PCL-PEG-PCL diacrylates. Argon plasma technique was exploited to obtain hydrophilic PLGA surface (HPLGA). The surface properties were characterized by Water contact angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. PCL-PEG-PCL surface modified hydrophobic PLGA and hydrophilic PLGA results in different surface physicochemical properties. PCL-PEG-PCL modified hydrophobic PLGA surface (PLGA-PCL-PEG-PCL) demonstrates excellent inhibition of platelet adhesion and activation; while PCL-PEG-PCL modified hydrophilic PLGA surface (HPLGA-PCL-PEG-PCL) results in good cytocompatibility. The possible mechanism was discussed and the driven force was ascribed to the different assembly behavior of PCL-PEG-PCL on PLGA surface dependant on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic property of PLGA. This simple and effective surface engineering method is also suitable for the other biomaterials such as polyurethane (PU), silicon rubber and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) to obtain the enhanced biocompatibility.     

AFM study of BSA adlayers on Au stripes

Thin narrow Au stripes suitable for propagating long-range surface plasmon-polaritons were deposited by evaporation and lift-off on a thermal oxide layer on a silicon substrate, and modified by direct adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements reveal that BSA adsorbs onto the Au stripes from phosphate buffer solutions forming an adlayer having an average thickness of about 2 nm (surface mass density of about 2 ng/mm²). Comparisons with a simple adsorption model suggest the side-on adsorption of a single monolayer of BSA followed by denaturation and flattening. The BSA-coated stripes have an increased surface roughness compared to a virgin stripe.     

表面增强拉曼光谱对免疫球蛋白IgG分子与银基底作用的研究

采用高灵敏度的表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)技术,以具有强SERS信号的金纳米粒子标记抗体,以此SERS标记免疫金溶胶为探针,结合扫描电镜技术,研究免疫球蛋白羊抗小鼠IgG分子与银基底的相互作用。我们发现,羊抗小鼠IgG分子可直接与银基底通过疏水作用或形成Ag-S键而牢固结合。为消除这种非特性吸附,本文以小牛血清白蛋白(BSA)封闭银基底,取得了较好的效果。     

Hydrophobation of Clay Particles by Asphaltenes Adsorption

In order to throw light on the mechanism of organic compounds–clay interactions and to control the preparation of hydrophobic fillers, the effect of asphaltene adsorption from water-saturated toluene onto various clay minerals (kaolinite, illite) was studied. The modification of the clay surface charge and wettability were characterized, respectively, by microelectrophoresis and Washburn contact angle measurements. Further, the alteration of the surface area and chemical composition of the clay particles due to asphaltene adsorption were assessed using various methods such as N₂-adsorption/desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, FT-IR and scanning electronic microscopy. The data indicate that upon asphaltene adsorption, the clay particles become hydrophobic, their contact angle with water increases, while their surface charge and surface energy are reduced. Furthermore, according to XRD data, no swelling of the clay by asphaltenes occurs in the water-saturated toluene, indicating that asphaltenes cover the clay's external surface and lead to their aggregation, either in water or in the vacuum dried state. Finally, we elucidate the mechanisms by which asphaltenes adsorb and modify the clay surface characteristics. Such mechanisms involve mainly interactions that occur between the asphaltenes' surface groups and silanol/aluminol groups of the mineral.     

Simultaneous iso-electric focusing of proteins in a micro-fabricated capillary coated with hydrophobic and hydrophilic plasma polymerized films

The ability to modify and reduce the electroosmotic flow (EOF) is one of the most influential parameters which affects iso-electric focusing (IEF) of proteins. Therefore capillaries are usually coated with polymers or gels to prevent non-specific adsorption and suppress the EOF in capillary iso-electric focusing (cIEF) of proteins. In this research hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDS) and 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol) plasma polymerized films were deposited onto both surfaces of the capillary separation channel. Cathode solution pH 3, anode solution pH 10 and a carrier ampholyte, pharmalyte provided the necessary stable pH gradient. Simultaneous IEF of proteins in capillaries coated with hydrophobic and hydrophilic plasma polymerized films occurred within minutes. The electroosmotic force of uncoated glass capillaries was suppressed by 50% after deposition of 200 nm 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol compared with a 30% reduction of EOF when the capillary was coated with 200 nm HMDS. The hydrophilic 2,3-epoxy-1-propanol plasma polymerized film was more resistant with a stronger attachment to the glass surface than previously prepared acetonitrile plasma polymerized films.     

Structural- and chemical-phase-separation on single crystalline sapphire (0001) surfaces

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to characterize morphology and chemistry on step-controlled single crystalline sapphire (0001) surfaces. Hydrophilicity on the surface can be evaluated using frictional force imaging. A sapphire surface that is covered with bunched steps accompanied with crossing steps clearly exhibits the phase-separation into two domains with different hydrophilicity, where an almost hydrophobic domain forms inside a hydrophilic area. By analyzing the histogram of the step height, we concluded that the difference in the hydrophilicity is associated with the surface reconstruction. We found that the phase-separation characterized by the hydrophilicity and charge potential self-organizes on the sapphire surface with specific step arrangements. We demonstrated selective adsorption of biomolecules on step-controlled surfaces as an example of the application.     

纳米颗粒水基分散液在岩心微通道中的双重减阻机制及其实验验证

提出了纳米颗粒水基分散液的力学-化学双重减阻机制,并通过对比岩心切片吸附纳米颗粒前后以及冲刷前后的表面微结构、润湿性的变化,进行了实验验证. 研究结果表明,经纳米颗粒水基分散液处理之后的岩心切片表面表现为强亲水性, 并且存在一层致密的纳米颗粒吸附层;冲刷之后岩心切片表面的纳米颗粒吸附层依然存在, 但其表面已逐渐转变为强/超疏水性,反映了纳米颗粒吸附层表面的表面活性剂被逐渐清洗干净. 注水初期,主要表现为表面活性剂的化学减阻作用.随着注水过程的进行, 主要体现为以疏水表面的滑移效应为主的力学减阻机制.岩心驱替实验结果表明, 纳米颗粒水基分散液驱替后的岩心的水相渗透率平均提高幅度达84.3%, 减阻效果显著,证实了纳米颗粒水基分散液的力学-化学双重减阻机制.     

Two-dimensional micelle formation of polystyrene-poly(vinylpyridine) diblock copolymers on mice surfaces

We have used atomic force microscopy to study the adsorption of PolyStyrene-Poly(VinylPyridine) (PS-PVP) block copolymers from a selective solvent onto atomically smooth mica surfaces. At certain copolymer concentrations, we observe a highly regular array of spherical surface micelles covering macroscopic areas of the substrate surface. Evidence is given for a thin homogeneous layer underneath the micelles which is probably due to adsorption of free copolymer chains and brush formation prior to the formation of the micellar structures. We discuss the quality of the self-assembled structures regarding different types of defects and try to identify means for improving the long range periodicity of the structures.     

Multiplexed biosample delivery with surface patterned microstructure for microcantilever

We introduce the novel method of self-propelling slugs for the biosample delivery for the application of a microcantilever biosensor. By implementing a surface patterned microstructure with a hydrophobic SU8 barrier, we demonstrated a top plate-less channel for biosample delivery without external electrokinetic force or pressure-driven flows. With a simply-patterned hydrophobic layer both on SiO₂ and Au surfaces, which was favourably used for the biosensor surface, we were able to drive PBS solutions onto cantilever sensors by capillary actions. The measured flow velocity of the SU8 barrier with SiO₂ surface reveals a linear increase with barrier height. With the Au bottom surface, we observed that the flow velocity is inversely proportional to channel width, at approximately 100 μm, while proportional linearly below 100 μm. The present micro-patterned structure integrated with microcantilever could help us with the ease of integrating the fluidic channel as well as multiplexing for bio/chemical sensors.     

Fibrinogen and cellular adherability on differently treated titanium as implants

Adsorption of human plasma fibrinogen, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts on differently treated titanium samples as implants were examined in this study. Titanium samples were mechanically polished, chemically etched (with and without surface material loss), and grinded. The main goal of this study is to find the best surface treatment of titanium for its possible use as implants. Atomic force microscopy was used to evaluate the adsorption of human plasma fibrinogen onto the titanium samples. Cell counting was used to determine the adherability of osteoblasts and fibroblasts on the titanium samples. Our preliminary results show that the etched titanium surface with surface material loss is the best surface treatment used in our experiments.     

水分子在氢化锂表面的吸附行为

运用理论分析方法计算研究了水分子在氢化锂表面的吸附行为,分析了氢化锂表面改性对其疏水性能的影响。结果表明,在LiH-111面和LiH-100面上构建槽结构、柱状结构后,水分子在其上的吸附力比完整表面更强,说明表面微结构的引入的确改变了势能分布。壁相交处存在势能叠加,加强了吸附水分子的能力,但是没有引起表面的亲水性能变化。水分子可以稳定的吸附在完美的LiH(001)表面,其解离能垒仅为0.386 eV,这一解离反应在室温下完全可以进行。水分子极易在具有结构缺陷的LiH表面解离,这是LiH在一定湿度的空气和水环境中极易分解的根本原因。