Diffusing-wave spectroscopy and interferometry

Diffusing-wave spectroscopy and interferometry, the extensions of dynamic light scattering to materials which exhibit a very high degree of multiple scattering, have been used to measure the early-time, short length scale motion of Brownian particles. The transition from “ballistic” to “diffusive” motion is observed. In very dilute samples, this transition is described very well by theories which explicitly account for the time-dependent hydrodynamic interaction between a Brownian particle and the surrounding fluid. For particle volume fractions exceeding a few per cent, the data deviate from the theory for dilute suspensions, but exhibit a remarkable scaling with the suspension viscosity.     

银－金红石复合纳米微晶的光谱性能

λ>330nm光照射含有金红石型TiO2微晶颗粒的AgNO3溶液,制备出了Ag-TiO2复合超微粒子,与纯的银溶胶相比,复合粒子上银的等离子体吸收峰宽化红移,位于400～600nm。这种复合超微粒子的溶胶,表现出表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)效应。吸附-共振增强可用来解释Ag-TiO2复合粒子的SERS效应。     

Coexisting aggregates in mixed aerosol OT and cholesterol microemulsions

Dynamic light scattering and NMR spectroscopic experimental evidence suggest the coexistence of two compositionally different self-assembled particles in solution. The self-assembled particles form in solutions containing water, Aerosol OT (AOT, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate) surfactant, and cholesterol in cyclohexane. In a similar series of studies carried out in 1-octanol only one aggregate type, that is, reverse micelles, is observed. Dynamic light scattering measurements reveal the presence of two different types of aggregates in the microemulsions formed in cyclohexane, demonstrating the coexistence of two compositionally distinct structures with very similar Gibbs energies. One particle type consists of standard AOT reverse micelles while the second type of particle consists of submicellar aggregates including cholesterol as well as small amounts of AOT and water. In microemulsions employing 1-octanol as the continuous medium, AOT reverse micelles form in a dispersed solution of cholesterol in 1-octanol. Although the size distribution of self-assembled particles is well-known for many different systems, evidence for simultaneous formation of two distinctly sized particles in solution that are chemically different is unprecedented. The ability to form microemulsion solutions that contain coexisting particles may have important applications in drug formulation and administration, particularly as applied to drug delivery using cholesterol as a targeting agent.     

Fluorescene Difference Decay Curves: Resolution Of Complex Decays

Abstract

The use of fluorescence difference decay curves was explored as a way to isolate the decays of components in a complex system. Time-correlated single photon methodology allows one to subtract a “reference” curve from a “sample” curve from a “sample” curve to yield a difference decay curve. To test the feasibility of this method, a model 3-component system (6-carboxyfluorescein, pyranine, and 1-dimethyl-aminoaphtalene-5-sulfonate) was examined. From its complex fluorescence decay curve, the individual decays were obtained by subtracting the appropriate binary solution decay curves. These difference curves coincided with those of the single component systems. Stringent requirements included: use of the same instrumental settings for all solutions, low counting efficiency, avoidance of inner filter effects, absence of energy transfer, and lack of chemical interaction between components. The difference decay method was applied to: 1. Sequential dansylation of serum albumin. Lifetimes of the first two dyes bound are longer than those of the third. 2. Dynamic quenching of quinine fluorescence by chloride ion. When the reference differs from the sample only by having a shorter lifetime, the difference decay curve has a characteristic shape. 3. Quenching of intrinsic protein fluorescence by acrylamide. Bovine serum albumin and liver alchol dehydrogenase were examined. Of the two tryptophans in each protein, one was preferentially quenched and its decay curve was obtained by difference.     

Gold nanorods: Synthesis and optical properties

The main results of studying the synthesis, growth mechanisms, and optical properties of gold nanorods published in the last 5–8 years are briefly reviewed. Hydrosols of gold nanorods with variable axial ratios are synthesized in the micellar solution of ionic surfactants by sead-mediated growth procedure using the stage of particle separation in the glycerol concentration gradient. Results of synthesis in systems containing one surfactant, albeit with different Ag/Au molar ratios and different amounts of gold seeding particles, agree with the published data. It is shown that, in the case of the mixture of two surfactants, the Ag/Au ratio is an efficient controlling parameter of the synthesis of nanorods with large axial ratios. The extinction and differential light scattering, spectra dynamic light scattering, and the depolarization of laser light scattering at 90° are used for the optical control of synthesis. Three fractions are observed in separated samples. One of these fractions is characterized by the only short wavelength plasmon resonance at 570 nm corresponding, in agreement with the published data, to cubic particles. Measurements of the extinction spectra of nanorods in water-glycerol mixtures reveal higher sensitivity of the longitudinal plasmon resonance to the dielectric environment relative to the transverse resonance. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that the relative shift of plasmon resonance is proportional to the relative increment of refractive index of the surrounding medium. To calculate optical properties of nanorods, we employed a model of cylinders with semispherical ends (s-cylinders) corresponding to the shape of real particles and admitting the exact solution by the T-matrix method with a computational burden that is an order of magnitude lower than that used in the discrete dipole method. The set of dependences of the longitudinal resonance wavelength on the axial ratio of different-thickness particles complies with our data and published measurements. Theoretical and experimental values of depolarization ratio I _VH/I _VV for nanorods and nanospheres with different sizes prepared with both citrate (15–46 nm) and original thiocyanate (90 nm) reduction of HAuCl₄ are compared. It is shown that the depolarization parameter of light scattered by a nanorod suspension can exceed the theoretical limit (1/3) for common dielectric particles. The measured 10%-depolarization ratio for 90-nm spheres was far beyond the set of “size-depolarization” measurements for 15–46-nm-dia particles prepared by the citrate method and is indicative of the improved spherical morphology of 90-nm particles. This assumption was confirmed by TEM data, which also revealed both the presence of a noticeable amount of nanorods with a large axial ratio and “nanowires” of about the same thickness. A new analytic calibration for determining the diameter of spherical particles (5–100 nm) by the spectral position of the sol extinction maximum is proposed.     

Remarques sur les définitions des acides et des bases

In the present state of knowledge it is not possible to account for the reactions used in analytical chemistry by setting up a single table of the “acids” and “bases” defined according to LEWIS.The most general definition which can be usefully adopted involves taking into account the exchange of “particles” (electrons, protons, ions, molecules) in the reactions. It follows from this that there arc as many types of reactions as there are “particles”.In accordance with the brönsted theory, in the case where the “particle” exchanged is the proton, an acid-base reaction is involved.     

Advantages of time-resolved difference X-ray solution scattering curves in analyzing solute molecular structure

Time-resolved X-ray solution scattering provides a powerful method for investigating reaction dynamics in the solution phase. Since X-rays scatter from all atoms in the solution sample, the scattering intensity is contributed from not only the solute but also the solvent and the solute–solvent cross terms. For a typical concentration the solvent molecules outnumber the solute molecules and thus the relative sensitivity of the scattering intensity to the solute structure is extremely low. To increase the structural sensitivity to the solute and to extract only the signal from structural changes, time-resolved difference scattering signal is obtained by subtracting the original raw scattering curve at a negative reference time delay from that at a positive time delay. Here we show and emphasize that time-resolved difference X-ray scattering curves generally exhibit higher structural sensitivity to the solute molecular structure and lower influence from experimental background and imperfection of theory than original raw scattering curves. These characteristics justify the validity of fitting models to difference curves to obtain transient structural information even when the magnitude of the time-resolved difference curves is smaller than the discrepancy between the theory and experiment for the original scattering curve. We considered small molecules and proteins in solution probed by time-resolved X-ray solution scattering.     

聚乙烯炭黑复合材料导电逾渗的蒙脱卡罗法研究

众所周知,在聚合物中加入导电粒子后可以制成导电复合材料,但是加入的导电组分的体积分数必须超过某个临界值.在这方面研究最多的体系就是聚乙烯-炭黑复合材料[1,2].当炭黑的体积分数低于该临界值时,复合材料的电导率极低.     

Formation of Hollow Polymeric Microspheres with Functionalized Surface on the Basis of Latex Particles with Multilayered Structure

Summary: Latices with “core-shell” particle morphology containing polar “core” and a shell on the basis of copolymer of styrene and functional vinyl monomer (allyl alcohol, vinyl acetate, methacrylic acid) has been obtained as a result of graft-copolymerization initiated from the surface of (meth)acrylate latex particles previously modified with functional polyperoxides. The processes of functional shell grafting as well as the processes of latex particle swelling with obtaining hollow microspheres due to neutralization of core carboxylic groups have been studied.     

Counting and sizing of particles and particle agglomerates in a microfluidic device using laser light scattering: application to a particle-enhanced immunoassay

A microfluidic device for counting and sizing particles and particle agglomerates based on laser light scattering is demonstrated. The particles were confined hydrodynamically and passed through a focused laser beam. Scattering at two different angles, 15 degree and 45 degree, was detected. At an acquisition rate of 10 kHz, a throughput of 150 particles s(-1) was achieved. Scattering intensity was found to depend on particle volume for 2 to 9 microm diameter particles. Size discrimination of particles with a diameter ratio of 1: 2 was accomplished. In addition, the scattering signals of particle agglomerates formed in a particle-enhanced immunoassay for C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Scattering intensity was found to be dependent on the CRP concentration, 100 ng CRP per mL could be detected. The particle counting method presented is generic and can be employed in a wide variety of assays as well as for cell counting and particle counting.     

Influence of arm length and number on star-shaped poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) aggregation in aqueous solutions near cloud point

Four-arm star-shaped poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazolines) (PiPrOx₄) are synthesized by cationic polymerization on t-butylcalix[4]arene macroinitiator. The obtained samples differ by polymerization degree of arms N_PiPrOx = 9 and 25 and are characterized in chloroform. The behavior in aqueous solutions is studied by light scattering methods and compared with the results of investigation of eight-arm star with similar structure. Three types of particles are observed in solution of short-arm PiPrOx₄ at room temperature, whereas only two particle types are present in long-arm star solution. Arm shortening leads to widening of the phase transition interval. The arm number decreasing reduces the phase transition temperature by 1°C.     

A study on size effect of carboxymethyl starch nanogel crosslinked by electron beam radiation

The formation of carboxymethyl starch (CMS) nanogel with 50 nm less particle size was carried out through a radiation crosslinked process on the electron beam (EB) linear accelerator. Changes of intrinsic viscosities and weight averaged molecular weight in the CMS concentration, which ranged from 3 to 10 mg ml^?1 in absorbed doses were investigated. There were some new peaks in the ¹H NMR spectra of CMS nanogel compared with those of CMS polymer. These results were anticipated that the predominant intramolecular crosslinking of dilute CMS aqueous solution occurred while being exposed to a short intense pulse of ionizing radiation. Hydrodynamic radius (often called particle size, R_h) and distribution of particle size were measured by a dynamic light scattering technique. The radiation yield of intermolecular crosslinking of CMS solution was calculated from the expression of G_x (Charlesby, 1960, Jung-Chul, 2010). The influence of the “size effect” was demonstrated by testing culture of Lactobacillus bacteria on MRS agar culture medium containing CMS nanogel and polymer. Results showed that the number of Lactobacillus bacteria growing on nanogel containing culture medium is about 170 cfu/ml and on polymer containing culture medium is only 6 cfu/ml.     

Dynamic drag force based on iterative density mapping: A new numerical tool for three‐dimensional analysis of particle trajectories in a dielectrophoretic system

Dielectrophoresis is a widely used means of manipulating suspended particles within microfluidic systems. In order to efficiently design such systems for a desired application, various numerical methods exist that enable particle trajectory plotting in two or three dimensions based on the interplay of hydrodynamic and dielectrophoretic forces. While various models are described in the literature, few are capable of modeling interactions between particles as well as their surrounding environment as these interactions are complex, multifaceted, and computationally expensive to the point of being prohibitive when considering a large number of particles. In this paper, we present a numerical model designed to enable spatial analysis of the physical effects exerted upon particles within microfluidic systems employing dielectrophoresis. The model presents a means of approximating the effects of the presence of large numbers of particles through dynamically adjusting hydrodynamic drag force based on particle density, thereby introducing a measure of emulated particle–particle and particle–liquid interactions. This model is referred to as “dynamic drag force based on iterative density mapping.” The resultant numerical model is used to simulate and predict particle trajectory and velocity profiles within a microfluidic system incorporating curved dielectrophoretic microelectrodes. The simulated data are compared favorably with experimental data gathered using microparticle image velocimetry, and is contrasted against simulated data generated using traditional “effective moment Stokes‐drag method,” showing more accurate particle velocity profiles for areas of high particle density.     

Electrophoretic mobility of a soft particle in a salt-free medium

A theory is presented for the electrophoretic mobility mu of dilute spherical soft particles (i.e., polyelectrolyte-coated particles) in salt-free media containing only counterions. As in the case of other types of particles (rigid particles and liquid drops) in salt-free media, there is a certain critical value of the particle charge separating two cases, the low-surface-charge case and the high-surface-charge case. For the low-charge case, the mobility is proportional to the particle charge and coincides with that of a soft particle in an electrolyte solution in the limit of very low electrolyte concentrations kappa-->0 (Hückel's limit), where kappa is the Debye-Hückel parameter. For the high-charge case, however, mu becomes essentially constant, independent of the particle charge, due to the counterion condensation effect.     

Electrostatic interactions in dissipative particle dynamics using the Ewald sums

The electrostatic interactions in dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) simulations are calculated using the standard Ewald [Ann. Phys. 64, 253 (1921)] sum method. Charge distributions on DPD particles are included to prevent artificial ionic pair formation. This proposal is an alternative method to that introduced recently by Groot [J. Chem. Phys. 118, 11265 (2003)] where the electrostatic field was solved locally on a lattice. The Ewald method is applied to study a bulk electrolyte and polyelectrolyte-surfactant solutions. The structure of the fluid is analyzed through the radial distribution function between charged particles. The results are in good agreement with those reported by Groot for the same systems. We also calculated the radius of gyration of a polyelectrolyte in salt solution as a function of solution pH and degree of ionization of the chain. The radius of gyration increases with the net charge of the polymer in agreement with the trend found in static light scattering experiments of polystyrene sulfonate solutions.     

Concentration effects on distribution of macromolecules in small pores

The interactions between two particles and between one particle and a rigid boundary are examined to study the effect of particle concentration on partitioning, stress and flow in microporous media. Because the particle—particle and particle—wall interactions occur over comparable length scales, their effects are not additive and lead to non-uniform particle concentration stress (“surface pressure”) in the vicinity of the boundary. A particle concentration gradient parallel to the boundary creates a gradient in surface pressure which drives a viscous flow of the solvent toward regions of higher concentration. Such flows are termed “osmosis”, and the effect of particle interactions is to reduce the osmotic velocity.     

The High‐Throughput Synthesis and Phase Characterisation of Amphiphiles: A Sweet Case Study

A new method for the discovery of amphiphiles by using high‐throughput (HT) methods to synthesise and characterise a library of galactose‐ and glucose‐containing amphiphilic compounds is presented. The copper‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) “click” reaction between azide‐tethered simple sugars and alkyne‐substituted hydrophobic tails was employed to synthesise a library of compounds with systematic variations in chain length and unsaturation in a 24‐vial array format. The liquid–crystalline phase behaviour was characterised in a HT manner by using synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SSAXS). The observed structural variation with respect to chain parameters, including chain length and degree of unsaturation, is discussed, as well as hydration effects and degree of hydrogen bonding between head groups. The validity of our HT screening approach was verified by resynthesising a short‐chain glucose amphiphile. A separate phase analysis of this compound confirmed the presence of numerous lyotropic liquid–crystalline phases.     

Light-scattering form factors of asymmetric particle dimers from heteroaggregation experiments

Measurements of form factors of asymmetric particle dimers composed of oppositely charged polystyrene latex particles are presented. These measurements are based on time-resolved static and dynamic light scattering on dilute aggregating aqueous suspensions. The experimental form factors are compared with independent calculations based on the superposition T-matrix method and Rayleigh-Debye-Gans (RDG) approximation. While the RDG approximation is found to be reliable only up to particle diameters of about 250 nm, the superposition T-matrix method is very accurate for all types of dimers investigated. The present results show clearly the appropriateness of the superposition T-matrix method to estimate the optical properties of colloidal particles in the micrometer range reliably.