Bacterial adhesion on hybrid cationic nanoparticle-polymer brush surfaces: ionic strength tunes capture from monovalent to multivalent binding

This paper describes the creation of hybrid surfaces containing cationic nanoparticles and biocompatible PEG (polyethylene glycol) brushes that manipulate bacterial adhesion for potential diagnostic and implant applications. Here, ～10 nm cationically functionalized gold nanoparticles are immobilized randomly on negative silica surfaces at tightly controlled surface loadings, and the remaining areas are functionalized with a hydrated PEG brush, using a graft copolymer of poly-l-lysine and PEG (PLL-PEG), containing 2000 molecular weight PEG chains and roughly 30% functionalization of the PLL. The cationic nanoparticles attract the negative surfaces of suspended Staphylococcus aureus bacteria while the PEG brush exerts a steric repulsion. With the nanoparticle and PEG brush heights on the same lengthscale, variations in ionic strength are demonstrated to profoundly influence the capture of S. aureus on these surfaces. For bacteria captured from gentle flow, a crossover from multivalent to univalent binding is demonstrated as the Debye length is increased from 1 to 4 nm. In the univalent regime, 1 um diameter spherical bacteria are captured and held by single nanoparticles. In the multivalent regime, there is an adhesion threshold in the surface density of nanoparticles needed for bacterial capture. The paper also documents an interesting effect concerning the relaxations in the PLL-PEG brush itself. For brushy surfaces containing no nanoparticles, bacterial adhesion persists on newly formed brushes, but is nearly eliminated after these brushes relax, at constant mass in buffer for 12h. Thus brushy relaxations increase biocompatibility.     

Aggregation and dissolution of 4 nm ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous environments: influence of pH, ionic strength, size, and adsorption of humic acid

Metal oxide nanoparticles are used in a wide range of commercial products, leading to an increased interest in the behavior of these materials in the aquatic environment. The current study focuses on the stability of some of the smallest ZnO nanomaterials, 4 ± 1 nm in diameter nanoparticles, in aqueous solutions as a function of pH and ionic strength as well as upon the adsorption of humic acid. Measurements of nanoparticle aggregation due to attractive particle-particle interactions show that ionic strength, pH, and adsorption of humic acid affect the aggregation of ZnO nanoparticles in aqueous solutions, which are consistent with the trends expected from Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. Measurements of nanoparticle dissolution at both low and high pH show that zinc ions can be released into the aqueous phase and that humic acid under certain, but not all, conditions can increase Zn(2+)(aq) concentrations. Comparison of the dissolution of ZnO nanoparticles of different nanoparticle diameters, including those near 15 and 240 nm, shows that the smallest nanoparticles dissolve more readily. Although qualitatively this enhancement in dissolution can be predicted by classical thermodynamics, quantitatively it does not describe the dissolution behavior very well.     

Solution ionic strength effect on gold nanoparticle solution color transition

Unmodified and modified gold nanoparticles are proposed as sensors using the red to blue transition as an indicator. This work indicates that ionic content is an important variable to track in analytical samples and during the sensor fabrication processes. Mono and multivalent salts where the titrants for a standard gold nanoparticle solution. Multivalent cation salt titrants exhibited a greater sensitivity to color change than monovalent cation salts. The data suggest that specific surface adsorption is the predominant mechanism for the red to blue color change not aggregation. The 3-7 nm Debye length for divalent cations versus the 0.5-1.5 nm for monovalent cations indicates surface electrodynamic resonance effects are an important factor in the observed color changes.     

Using biofunctional magnetic nanoparticles to capture vancomycin-resistant enterococci and other gram-positive bacteria at ultralow concentration

Covalently linked to vancomycin (Van), chemically stable and highly magnetic anisotropic FePt magnetic nanoparticles (3-4 nm) become water-soluble and capture vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and other Gram-positive bacteria at concentrations approximately 10(1) cfu/mL via polyvalent ligand-receptor interactions. When a pyramidal end of a magnet "focuses" the nanoparticles into approximately 1 mm(2) area, the bacteria can be observed by an optical microscope and further identified by electron micrograph (EM). Compared to the conventional use of magnetic particles (with the sizes of 1-5 microm) in biological separation or drug delivery, magnetic nanoparticles, combined with specific receptor-ligand interactions, promise a sensitive and rapid protocol to detect pathogens.     

Reentrant phase behavior of nanoparticle solutions probed by small-angle scattering

The nanoparticles in solution represent a model system, where the well-established colloidal theories such as the Debye–Hückel theory and/or Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory can be implemented to predict the nanoparticle phase behavior. Recently, reentrant phase transitions in a wide range of colloids (e.g., inorganic and organic nanoparticles, polymers, and biomolecules) have been observed, which are not consistent with these theories. The colloids in the reentrant phase behavior undergo a phase change and return back to the original phase with respect to a specific physiochemical parameter (e.g., ionic strength, concentration of different additives, temperature, and so on). The nanoparticle–polymer/multivalent ion systems, demonstrating such phase transition and the corresponding phase behavior in terms of interparticle interactions, have been probed by small-angle scattering. It has been shown how the tuning in interparticle interactions using external parameters can lead to reentrant phase behavior and use the nanoparticle aggregation for building nanohybrids. The deviations of the present observations from those of the standard colloidal theories and the anticipated challenges are also discussed.     

Probing colloidal forces between a Si3N4 AFM tip and single nanoparticles of silica and alumina

The atomic force microscope (AFM) has been used to measure surface forces between silicon nitride AFM tips and individual nanoparticles deposited on substrates in 10(-4) and 10(-2) M KCl solutions. Silica nanoparticles (10 nm diameter) were deposited on an alumina substrate and alumina particles (5 to 80 nm diameter) were deposited on a mica substrate using aqueous suspensions. Ionic concentrations and pH were used to manage attractive substrate-particle electrostatic forces. The AFM tip was located on deposited nanoparticles using an operator controlled offset to achieve stepwise tip movements. Nanoparticles were found to have a negligible effect on long-range tip-substrate interactions, however, the forces between the tip and nanoparticle were detectable at small separations. Exponentially increasing short-range repulsive forces, attributed to the hydration forces, were observed for silica nanoparticles. The effective range of hydration forces was found to be 2-3 nm with the decay length of 0.8-1.3 nm. These parameters are in a good agreement with the results reported for macroscopic surfaces of silica obtained using the surface force apparatus suggesting that hydration forces for the silica nanoparticles are similar to those for flat silica surfaces. Hydration forces were not observed for either alumina substrates or alumina nanoparticles in both 10(-4) M KCl solution at pH 6.5 and 10(-2) M KCl at pH 10.2. Instead, strong attractive forces between the silicon nitride tip and the alumina (nanoparticles and substrate) were observed.     

Probing the limits of the Derjaguin approximation with scanning force microscopy

We have measured the interaction force between a silicon nitride scanning force microscopy (SFM) probe and the basal plane of highly oriented pyrolitic graphite as a function of pH and ionic concentration in aqueous solutions. Forces in the range +/- 50 pN were reconstructed from measured signals using dynamical analysis of the cantilever. We modeled the force-separation data using a flat plate electric double-layer interaction and assumed the Derjaguin approximation to adapt the flat plate geometry for the SFM probe shape. Measured forces were well modeled by the theory at high ionic concentrations (10 and 100 mM), where Debye lengths were 3.0 and 0.96 nm, respectively. The theory failed to model forces at a lower ionic concentration (1 mM), where the Debye length was 9.6 nm. To investigate this, we calibrated the SFM probe geometry using blind reconstruction and obtained an apex radius of 7 nm. This value suggested that failure of the theory was due to an invalidation of the Derjaguin approximation at long Debye lengths, where the characteristic length scale for the interaction was larger than the size of the SFM probe. The errors were reduced by replacing the Derjaguin approximation with a surface element integration. The result experimentally demonstrates the limitations of the Derjaguin approximation for predicting interactions of nanoscale colloids.     

Single molecule nanoparticles of the conjugated polymer MEH-PPV, preparation and characterization by near-field scanning optical microscopy

We have developed a straightforward method for producing a stable, aqueous suspension of hydrophobic, fluorescent pi-conjugated polymer nanoparticles consisting primarily of individual conjugated polymer molecules. Features of the method are the facile preparation, purity, unique optical properties, and small size (approximately 5-10 nm) of the resulting nanoparticles. The results of TEM, scanning force microscopy, and near-field scanning optical microscopy of particles cast from the suspension indicate that the particles are single conjugated polymer molecules. The NSOM results yield estimates of the optical cross-sections of individual conjugated polymer molecules. The UV-vis absorption spectra of the nanoparticle suspensions indicate a reduction in conjugation length attributed to deformations of the polymer backbone. Fluorescence spectra of the aqueous nanoparticle suspensions indicate interactions between segments of the polymer chain and intramolecular energy transfer.     

Sensitivity of protein adsorption to architectural variations in a protein-resistant polymer brush containing engineered nanoscale adhesive sites

Patchy polymer brushes contain nanoscale (5-15 nm) adhesive elements, such as polymer coils or nanoparticles, embedded at their base at random positions on the surface. The competition between the brush's steric (protein resistant) repulsions and the attractions from the discrete adhesive elements provides a precise means to control bioadhesion. This differs from the classical approach, where functionality is placed on the brush's periphery. The current study demonstrates the impact of poly(etheylene glycol) (PEG) brush architecture and ionic strength on fibrinogen adsorption on brushes containing embedded poly-l-lysine (PLL, 20K MW) coils or "patches". The consistent appearance of a fibrinogen adsorption threshold, a minimum loading of patches on the surface, below which protein adsorption does not occur, suggests multivalent protein capture: Adsorbing proteins simultaneously engage several patches. The surface composition (patch loading) at the threshold is extremely sensitive to the brush height and ionic strength, varying up to a factor of 5 in the surface loading of the PLL patches (~50% of the range of possible surfaces). Variations in ionic strength have a similar effect, with the smallest thresholds seen for the largest Debye lengths. While trends with brush height were the clearest and most dominant, consideration of the PEG loading within the brush or its persistence length did not reveal a critical brush parameter for the onset of adsorption. The lack of straightforward correlation on brush physics was likely a result of multivalent binding, (producing an additional dependence on patch loading), and might be resolved for univalent adsorption onto more strongly binding patches. While studies with similar brushes placed uniformly on a surface revealed that the PEG loading within the brush is the best indicator of protein resistance, the current results suggest that brush height is more important for patchy brushes. Likely the interactions producing brush extension normal to the interface act similarly to drive lateral tether extension to obstruct patches.     

DLVO and steric contributions to bacterial deposition in media of different ionic strengths

The deposition of eight bacterial strains on Teflon and glass in aqueous media with ionic strengths varying between 0.0001 and 1 M was measured and interpreted. Two types of interactions were considered: (1) those described by the DLVO theory, which comprise van der Waals attraction and electrostatic repulsion (bacteria and surfaces are both negatively charged); and (2) steric interactions between the outer cell surface macromolecules and the substrata. As a trend, at low ionic strength (<0.001 M), deposition is inhibited by DLVO-type electrostatic repulsion, but at high ionic strength (≥0.1 M) it is dominated by steric interactions. The ionic strength at which the transition from the DLVO-controlled to the sterically controlled deposition occurs, is determined by the extension of the macromolecules into the surrounding medium, which varied between 5 and 100 nm among the bacterial strains studied. The steric interactions either promote deposition by bridging or inhibit it by steric repulsion. Between Teflon and hydrophobic bacteria, bridging is generally observed. The surface of one bacterial strain contains amphiphilic macromolecules that form bridges with Teflon but induce steric repulsion on glass. The presence of highly polar anionic polysaccharide coatings on the cell impedes attachment on both glass and Teflon. For practice, the general conclusion is that the deposition of most bacteria is: (1) strongly inhibited by DLVO-type electrostatic repulsion in aqueous environments of low ionic strength such as rain water, streams and lakes; (2) controlled by DLVO and/or steric interactions in systems as domestic waste waters and saliva; and (3) determined by steric interactions only in more saline environments as milk, urine, blood and sea water.     

Bacteria and bacteriophage inactivation by silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles

Microbial contaminants such as bacteria and viruses are of great concern in water. As nanotechnology continues to grow, understanding the interactions of nanoparticles with bacteria and viruses is important to protect public health and the environment. In this study, the effect of two commonly used nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs, average particle size=21 nm) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, average particle size=39 nm), on the growth of bacteria (Eschericia coli) and bacteriophages (MS2) were evaluated using a standard double agar layer (DAL) method and a turbidimetric microtiter assay. A 1-h prior exposure of MS2 to nanoparticles did not inactivate MS2 at the highest nanoparticle concentrations tested (5mg/L total Ag and 20 mg/L ZnO). No bacteriophage inactivation was observed in the presence of AgNPs, Ag(+)/AgNPs (50:50 in mass ratio) or Ag(+) ions, all at the total Ag concentration of 5mg/L. In a binary (bacteria-phages) system where the E. coli host was exposed to MS2 and nanoparticles simultaneously, the dynamic changes of active bacteria and MS2 phages during incubation demonstrated that exposure of AgNPs (5mg/L Ag) and ZnO NPs (20mg/L ZnO) increased the number of phages by 2-6 orders of magnitude. These results suggested that exposure of nanoparticles could greatly facilitate bacterial viruses like MS2 to infect the E. coli host.     

Synthesis and characterization of catalytic iridium nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids

The reduction of [Ir(cod)Cl](2) (cod=1,5-cyclooctadiene) dissolved in 1-n-butyl-3-methyl tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate and trifluoromethane sulphonate ionic liquids in the presence of 1-decene by molecular hydrogen produces Ir(0) nanoparticles. The formation of these nanoparticles follows the two-step [A-->B, A+B-->2B (k(1),k(2))] autocatalytic mechanism. The same mean diameter values of around 2-3 nm were estimated from in situ TEM and SAXS analyses of the Ir(0) nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquids and by XRD of the isolated material. XPS and EXAFS analyses clearly show the interactions of the ionic liquid with the metal surface demonstrating the formation of an ionic liquid protective layer surrounding the iridium nanoparticles. SAXS analysis indicated the formation of an ionic liquid layer surrounding the metal particles with an extended molecular length of around 2.8-4.0 nm depending on the type of the anion.     

Fe3O4-LiMo3Se3 nanoparticle clusters as superparamagnetic nanocompasses

A scaleable chemical approach to functional nanoscale analogues of the magnetic compasses in magnetotactic bacteria is described. LiMo(3)Se(3)-Fe(3)O(4) nanowire-nanoparticle composites were synthesized by a reaction of 3-iodopropionic acid treated LiMo(3)Se(3) nanowire bundles with oleic acid-stabilized Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles of 2.8, 5.3, and 12.5 nm size in tetrahydrofuran. Transmission electron micrographs show that the composite consists of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles attached to the surfaces of the 4-6 nm thick nanowire bundles. UV/vis spectra reveal absorptions from the nanowire (506 nm) and magnetite components (280-450 nm), and IR spectra show characteristic bands for the propionic acid linkers and for the residual oleic acid ligands on the magnetite particles. In the presence of excess oleic acid, the nanocomposites undergo rapid disassembly, suggesting that Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles are bonded to nanowires via carboxylate groups from the linkers. Ultrasonication of a dispersion of the composite in THF produces individual LiMo(3)Se(3)-Fe(3)O(4) clusters, which are 340 +/- 107 nm long and 20 +/- 5 nm thick, depending on the sonication time and Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticle size. Field cooled and zero-field cooled magnetization measurements reveal that the blocking temperature (T(B) = 100 K) of the clusters with 5.3 nm Fe(3)O(4) is increased as compared to the free nanoparticles (T(B) = 30 K). Directional dipolar interactions in the clusters lead to magnetic anisotropy, which makes it possible to align the clusters in a magnetic field (900 Oe).     

Quasi-elastic light scattering of platinum dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles

Platinum dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) containing an average 147 atoms were prepared within sixth-generation, hydroxyl-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (G6-OH). The hydrodynamic radii (R(h)) of the dendrimer/nanoparticle composites (DNCs) were determined by quasi-elastic light scattering (QLS) at high (pH ～10) and neutral pH for various salt concentrations and identities. At high pH, the size of the DNC (R(h) ～4 nm) is close to that of the empty dendrimer. At neutral pH, the size of the DNC approximately doubles (R(h) ～8 nm) whereas that of the empty dendrimer remains unchanged. Changes in ionic strength also alter the size of the DNCs. The increase in size of the DNC is likely due to electrostatic interactions involving the metal nanoparticle.     

Influence of ionic strength and pH on the first 60 min of Pseudomonas aeruginosa attachment to ZnSe and to TiO2 monitored by ATR-IR spectroscopy

Establishing the factors which influence the attachment of bacteria to surfaces is important in both preventing and enhancing biofilm formation. The initial hour of attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ZnSe and to TiO₂ from solutions of different ionic strength and pH was studied using in situ attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) spectroscopy. The TiO₂ surface was prepared by dip-coating a ZnSe internal reflection element, which produced a 50 nm thick, continuous flat film. At pH 6.3 attachment was found to increase with ionic strength up to 0.03 mol l⁻¹ but to decrease at 0.15 mol l⁻¹. At an ionic strength of 0.003 mol l⁻¹ attachment increased with pH from 4 to 6.3 to 10, but at ionic strength of 0.03 mol l⁻¹ attachment was greater at pH 6.3 than at pH 10. The influence of ionic strength appears to be due to charge factors and/or related changes in the degree of extension of bacterial surface polymers. The complex trends in the influence of pH on attachment can not be explained solely in terms of bacterial and substrate charge, bacterial surface polymer extension or bacterial metabolic activity.     

Double‐Stimuli‐Responsive Spherical Polymer Brushes with a Poly(ionic liquid) Core and a Thermoresponsive Shell

The synthesis of poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) nanoparticles grafted with a poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) brush shell is reported, which shows responsiveness to temperature and ionic strength in an aqueous solution. The PIL nanoparticles are first prepared via aqueous dispersion polymerization of a vinyl imidazolium‐based ionic liquid monomer, which is purposely designed to bear a distal atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating group attached to the long alkyl chain via esterification reaction. The size of the PIL nanoparticles can be readily tuned from 25 to 120 nm by polymerization at different monomer concentrations. PNIPAM brushes are successfully grafted from the surface of the poly(ionic liquid) nanoparticles via ATRP. The stimuli‐responsive behavior of the poly(ionic liquid) nanoparticles grafted with PNIPAM brushes (NP‐g‐PNIPAM) in aqueous phase is studied in detail. Enhanced colloidal stability of the NP‐g‐PNIPAM brush particles at high ionic strength compared to pure PIL nanoparticles at room temperature is achieved. Above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of PNIPAM, the brush particles remain stable, but a decrease in hydrodynamic radius due to the collapse of the PNIPAM brush onto the PIL nanoparticle surface is observed.

     

Synthesis and characterization of Pt0 nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids

The controlled decomposition of Pt2(dba)3 (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) dispersed in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMI.BF4) and hexafluorophosphate (BMI.PF6) ionic liquids in the presence of cyclohexene by molecular hydrogen produces Pt0 nanoparticles. The formation of these nanoparticles follows the two-step [A --> B, A + B --> 2B (k1, k2)] autocatalytic mechanism. The catalytic activity in the hydrogenation of cyclohexene is influenced by the nature of the anion rather than the mean-diameter of the nanoparticles. Thus, higher catalytic activity was obtained with Pt0 dispersed in BMI.BF4 containing the less coordinating anion although these nanoparticles possess a larger mean diameter (3.4 nm) than those obtained in BMI.PF6 (2.3 nm). Similar mean diameter values were estimated from in situ XRD and SAXS. XPS analyses clearly show the interactions of the ionic liquid with the metal surface demonstrating the formation of an ionic liquid protective layer surrounding the platinum nanoparticles. SAXS analysis indicated the formation of a semi-organized ionic liquid layer surrounding the metal particles with an extended molecular length of around 2.8 nm in BMI.BF4 and 3.3 nm in BMI.PF6.     

Spontaneous formation of core/shell bimetallic nanoparticles: a calorimetric study

We showed recently that low entropy core/shell structured nanoparticles form spontaneously from the physical mixture of a dispersion of Ag nanoparticles and that of another noble metal (Rh, Pd, or Pt) at room temperature. Here we use isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and show that the initial step of such a spontaneous process is strongly exothermic. When the alcohol dispersion of poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (PVP)-protected Rh nanoparticles (average diameter 2.3 nm) was titrated into the alcoholic dispersion of PVP-protected Ag nanoparticles, a strong exothermic enthalpy change, DeltaH, was observed: DeltaH = -908 kJ/mol for Ag(S) nanoparticle (average diameter 10.8 nm) and -963 kJ/mol for Ag(L) nanoparticles (average diameter 22.5 nm). The strength of interaction increases in the order of Rh/Ag > Pd/Ag > Pt/Ag. This strong exothermic interaction is considered as a driving force to from low entropy bimetallic nanoparticles by simple mixing of two kinds of monometallic nanoparticles. We show also that exothermic interactions occur between a pair of noble metal nanoparticles themselves by using ITC.     

Adhesion characteristics of two Burkholderia cepacia strains examined using colloid probe microscopy and gradient force analysis

Colloid probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM) was used to investigate two strains of Burkholderia cepacia in order to determine what molecular scale characteristics of strain Env435 make it less adhesive to surfaces than the parent strain, G4. CP-AFM approach curves analyzed using a gradient force method showed that in a high ionic strength solution (IS=100 mM, Debye length=1 nm), the colloid probe was attracted to the surface of strain G4 at a distance of approximately 30 nm, but it was repelled over a distance of 25 nm when approaching strain Env435. Adhesion forces measured under the same solution conditions during colloid retraction showed that 1.38 nN of force was required to remove the colloid placed in contact with the surface of strain G4, whereas only 0.58 nN was required using strain Env435. At IS=1mM (Debye length=10nm), the attractive force observed with G4 was no longer present, and the repulsive force seen with Env435 was extended to approximately 250 nm. The adhesion of the bacteria to the probe was much less at low IS solution (1 mM) than at high IS (100 mM). The greater adhesion characteristics of strain G4 compared to Env435 were confirmed in column tests. Strain G4 had a collision efficiency of alpha=0.68, while strain Env435 had a much lower collision efficiency of alpha=0.01 (IS=100 mM). These results suggest that the reduced adhesion of strain Env435 measured in column tests is due to the presence of high molecular weight extracellular polymeric substances that extend out from the cell surface, creating long-range steric repulsion between the cell and a surface. Adhesion is reduced as these polymers do not appear to be "sticky" when placed in contact with a surface in AFM tests.     

Two independent measurements of Debye lengths in doped nonpolar liquids

Electric current measurements were performed between 2.5 cm x 7.5 cm parallel-plate electrodes separated by 1.2 mm of heptane doped with 0-15% w/w poly(isobutylene succinimide) (PIBS) having a molecular weight of about 1700. The rapid (microsecond) initial charging of the capacitor can be used to infer the dielectric constant of the solution. The much slower decay of current arising from the polarization of electrodes depends on the differential capacitance of the diffuse clouds of charge carriers accumulating next to each electrode and on the ohmic resistance of the fluid. Using the Gouy-Chapman model for the differential capacitance, Debye lengths of 80-600 nm were deduced that decrease with increasing concentration of PIBS. Values of the Debye lengths were confirmed by performing independent measurements of double-layer repulsion between a 6 microm polystyrene (PS) latex sphere and a PS-coated glass plate using total internal reflection microscopy in the same solutions. The charge carriers appear to be inverted PIBS micelles having apparent Stokes diameters of 20-40 nm. Dynamic light scattering reveals a broad distribution of sizes having an intensity-averaged diameter of 15 nm. This smaller size might arise (1) from overestimating the electrophoretic mobility of micelles by treating them as point charges or (2) because charged micelles are larger on average than uncharged micelles. When Faradaic reactions and zeta potentials on the electrodes can be neglected, such current versus time experiments yield values for the Debye length and ionic strength with less effort than force measurements. To obtain the concentration of charge carriers from measurements of conductivity, the mobility of the charge carriers must be known.