Development of Nanosensors and Bioprobes

We describe the development and application of nanosensors having bioreceptor probes for bioanalysis. The nanoprobes were fabricated with optical fibers pulled down to tips having distal end sizes of approximately 30–60nm. The use of two different types of receptors was investigated. Fiberoptic nanoprobes were covalently bound either with bioreceptors, such as antibodies, or with other receptors, such as cyclodextrins that are selective for the size and chemical structure of the analyte molecules. Theoretical calculations were performed to model the binding of beta-cyclodextrin with pyrene and 5,6-benzoquinoline, and to illustrate the possibility of comparing experimental data with theoretical data. The antibody-based nanoprobe was used for in situ measurements of benzopyrene tetrol in single cells. The performance of the nanosensor is illustrated by intracellular measurements performed on a rat liver epithelial cell line (Clone 9) used as the model cell system. The usefulness and potential of these nanotechnology-based biosensors in biological research and applications are discussed.     

High-strain-rate tests on titanium 6-6-2 utilizing a unique rate-testing machine

This paper presents the design of a unique materials-testing system capable of medium strain rates of from 10^?4 to 10²/s. The design incorporates both closed-loop hydraulic operation with that of open-loop pneumatic operation. A novel design permits accurate specimen alignment and a stiff frame which exceeds 17×10⁶ lb/in. (11.7×10⁴ MPa). The mechanine is able to perform conventional tension/compression tests, fatigue tests and, with slight modification, biaxial-stress-tube tests and triaxial-stress tests. The accurate alignment capability coupled with high frame stiffness and the pneumatic operation enables the testing of brittle materials with rigid grips. Titanium 6-6-2 was tested in both tension and compression at strain rates from 10^?4 to about 10/s at four selected temperatures. The material showed a slight strain-rate sensitivity. Yield stress was shown to increase with strain rate while ductility decreased at each test temperature.     

Structure of a self-assembled hydrogen-bonded ‘living’ main chain liquid crystalline polymer

A main chain hydrogen-bonded liquid crystalline polymer was formed by melt mixing two complementary components, A and B, which in their individual states do not exhibit liquid crystallinity. The structure of the polymer and the thermal stability of its mesophase were studied using synchrotron radiation SAXS/WAXS/DSC at Daresbury (UK) and by variable temperature Fourier transform infrared. The chain extension, or “polymerization” process, was accelerated at the point when the polymer formed a liquid crystalline phase upon cooling from the isotropic melt. The polymer has an aabb chain structure and forms a smectic layer with a length of the A-B repeating unit. The hydrogen-bonded main chain polymer studied here is a monotropic liquid crystal. Above 150°C, it exhibits kinetic stabilization of its monotropic smectic phase. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1617–1624, 1998     

Bioprocessing of commodity chemicals research directions for government,industry, and academia

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The US chemical industry is facing maturing markets, variability in raw materials supply, and stiff competition from emerging chemical industries in other...     

High-resolution (19)F MAS NMR spectroscopy: structural disorder and unusual J couplings in a fluorinated hydroxy-silicate

High-resolution (19)F magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy is used to study disorder and bonding in a crystalline solid. (19)F MAS NMR reveals four distinct F sites in a 50% fluorine-substituted deuterated hydrous magnesium silicate (clinohumite, 4Mg(2)SiO(4)·Mg(OD(1-x)F(x))(2) with x = 0.5), indicating extensive structural disorder. The four (19)F peaks can be assigned using density functional theory (DFT) calculations of NMR parameters for a number of structural models with a range of possible local F environments generated by F(-)/OH(-) substitution. These assignments are supported by two-dimensional (19)F double-quantum MAS NMR experiments that correlate F sites based on either spatial proximity (via dipolar couplings) or through-bond connectivity (via scalar, or J, couplings). The observation of (19)F-(19)F J couplings is unexpected as the fluorines coordinate Mg atoms and the Mg-F interaction is normally considered to be ionic in character (i.e., there is no formal F-Mg-F covalent bonding arrangement). However, DFT calculations predict significant (19)F-(19)F J couplings, and these are in good agreement with the splittings observed in a (19)F J-resolved MAS NMR experiment. The existence of these J couplings is discussed in relation to both the nature of bonding in the solid state and the occurrence of so-called "through-space" (19)F-(19)F J couplings in solution. Finally, we note that we have found similar structural disorder and spin-spin interactions in both synthetic and naturally occurring clinohumite samples.