Probing plasmonic nanostructures by photons and electrons

We discuss recent developments for studying plasmonic metal nanostructures. Exploiting photons and electrons opens up new capabilities to probe the complete plasmon spectrum including bright and dark modes and related local optical fields at subnanometer spatial resolution. This comprehensive characterization of plasmonic properties of metal nanostructures provides new basic insight into the fundamental physics of “surface enhanced” spectroscopy in hottest hot spots and enables us to optimize plasmon supported processes and devices.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering: a new optical probe in molecular biophysics and biomedicine

Sensitive and detailed molecular structural information plays an increasing role in molecular biophysics and molecular medicine. Therefore, vibrational spectroscopic techniques, such as Raman scattering, which provide high structural information content are of growing interest in biophysical and biomedical research. Raman spectroscopy can be revolutionized when the inelastic scattering process takes place in the very close vicinity of metal nanostructures. Under these conditions, strongly increased Raman signals can be obtained due to resonances between optical fields and the collective oscillations of the free electrons in the metal. This effect of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) allows us to push vibrational spectroscopy to new limits in detection sensitivity, lateral resolution, and molecular structural selectivity. This opens up exciting perspectives also in molecular biospectroscopy. This article highlights three directions where SERS can offer interesting new capabilities. This includes SERS as a technique for detecting and tracking a single molecule, a SERS-based nanosensor for probing the chemical composition and the pH value in a live cell, and the effect of so-called surface-enhanced Raman optical activity, which provides information on the chiral organization of molecules on surfaces.     

Fragmentation of deprotonated d-ribose and d-fructose in MALDI—Comparison with dissociative electron attachment

We present a detailed, collaborative study on the fragmentation of deprotonated native d-ribose and d-fructose and the isotopically labelled 1-¹³C-d-ribose, 5-¹³C-d-ribose and C-1-d-d-ribose. The fragmentation is studied in a matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometer (MALDI ToF MS), both in in-source decay (ISD) and post-source decay (PSD) mode and compared with fragmentation through dissociative electron attachment (DEA). Fragmentation of deprotonated monosaccharides formed in the MALDI process, as well as their transient molecular anions formed upon electron attachment are characterized by loss of different numbers of H₂O and CH₂O units. Two different fragmentation pathways leading to cross-ring cleavage are identified. Metastable decay of deprotonated d-ribose proceeds either via an X-type cleavage yielding fragment anions at m/z = 119, 100 and 89, or via an A-type cleavage resulting in m/z = 89, 77 and 71. A fast and early metastable cross-ring cleavage of deprotonated d-ribose observed in in-source decay is dominated by X-type cleavage leading mainly to m/z = 100 and 71. For dissociative electron attachment to d-ribose a sequential dissociation was identified that includes metastable decay of the dehydrogenated molecular anion leading to m/z = 89. All other fragmentation reactions in DEA to d-ribose are likely to proceed directly and on a faster timescale (below 400 ns).     

Photopolymerization reactions initiated by a visible light photoinitiating system: Cyanine dye/borate salt/1,3,5‐triazine

New three‐component photoinitiating systems consisting of a cyanine dye, borate salt, and a 1,3,5‐triazine derivative were investigated by measuring their photoinitiation activities and through fluorescence quenching experiments. Polymerization kinetic studies based on the microcalorimetric method revealed a significant increase in polymerization rate when the concentration of n‐butyltriphenylborate salt or the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative were increased. The photo‐induced electron transfer process between electron donor and electron acceptor was studied by means of fluorescence quenching and SrEt change of the fluorescence intensity. The experiments performed documented that an increase of the n‐butyltriphenylborate salt concentration dramatically increases the rate of dye fluorescence quenching, whereas the increasing of the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative concentration slows down the consumption of the dye. We conclude that the primary photochemical reaction involves an electron transfer from the n‐butyltriphenylborate anion to the excited singlet state of the dye, followed by the reaction of the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative with the resulting dye radical to regenerate the original dye. This reaction simultaneously produces a triazinyl radical anion derived from the 1,3,5‐triazine, which undergoes the carbon‐halogen bond cleavage yielding radicals active in initiation of a free radical polymerization chain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3626–3636, 2007     

Synthesis and X-ray structure of 11-N-benzylamido-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethenoanthracene

As a part of studies on MDR reversing agents, the structure of a benzylamido-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethenoanthracene is reported: C₂₄ H₁₉ N O; orthorhombic; space group: Pca2₁; a = 9.214(2), b = 18.624(4), c = 10.170(2) Å; 1745.2(6) ų; Z = 4. The three nonplanar rings from the 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethenoanthracene skeleton of the molecule adopt a boat conformation. The benzamide side-chain is extended (conformation, trans-trans-gauche). The molecules in the crystal are joined by infinite chains of H-bonds N14–H14···O13.     

A theoretical model for evaluation of configurational entropy of mixing with respect to shape and size of particles

A general method of evaluation of configurational entropy of a liquid mixture is presented. It is based on a generalized lattice model with no restrictions due to particle shape being introduced. A general formula for the entropy is derived. Achieved results open a way for a rigorous analysis of particle shape effect on mixing process. As an example, a new formula for the entropy of mixing of hard spheres in continuous space is derived which may respect a physical bound for packing ratio. A systematic approach to improve the model accuracy is proposed. The resultant alternative models are discussed in details. A comparison with literature data and the Mansoori-Carnahan-Starling formula is presented. Very good agreement is shown.     

A Synergistic Effect of Select Organotin Compounds and Ionic Surfactants on Liposome Membranes

Organometallic compounds and surfactants constitute a potential threat to the environment. For that reason we have embarked on a study of their joint action on membranes. Model lecithin liposome membranes were modified with the cationic surfactant trimethyldodecylammonium bromide or the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfonate, and the effect of tripropyltin chloride on the process of calcium (Ca²⁺) and praseodymium (Pr³⁺) desorption from the liposome membrane was studied. Kinetic constants for the process of Ca²⁺ ion desorption from lecithin liposome membranes were determined using the radiotracer method. The percentage of Pr³⁺ ion desorption from liposome membranes was measured by the ¹H NMR method. Trimethyltin, triethyltin and tripropyltin alone caused increased Ca²⁺ and Pr³⁺ desorption from liposome membranes with increasing concentration of the compounds and alkyl chain length. For both the processes studied, a cationic surfactant brought about a lower effectiveness of tripropyltin and an anionic surfactant resulted in a higher effectiveness. The effect observed can be explained by changes in the surface charge of the membrane, induced by the surfactant modifiers and by the concomitant change in the partition coefficient of the organotin. The results obtained indicate a protective or harmful joint action of the surfactants used with tripropyltin on membranes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of phenyltin compounds on lipid bilayer organization

Phenyltin compounds are known to be biologically active. Their chemical structure suggests that they are likely to interact with the lipid fraction of cell membranes. Using fluorescence and NMR techniques, the effect of phenyltin compounds on selected regions of model lipid bilayers formed from phosphatidylcholine was studied. The polarization of N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) dipalmitoyl-L -phosphatidylethanolamine and desorption of praseodymium ions was used to probe the polar region, whereas the polarization of 1 - (4 - trimethylammoniumphenyl) - 6 - phenyl - 1,3,5-hexatriene p-toluenesulfonate measured the hydrophobic core of the membrane. In addition, changes in the N-(5-fluoresceinthiocarbanoly)dipalmitoyl - L - α - phosphatidyl - ethanolamine fluorescence intensity indicated the amount of charge introduced by organotin compounds to the membrane surface. There were no relevant changes of measured parameters when tetraphenyltin was introduced to the vesicle suspension. Diphenyltin chloride causes changes of the hydrophobic region, whereas the triphenyltin chloride seems to adsorb in the headgroup region of the lipid bilayer. When the hemolytic activity of phenyltin compounds was measured, triphenyltin chloride was the most effective whereas diphenyltin chloride was much less effective. Tetraphenyltin causes little damage. Based on the presented data, a correlation between activity of those compounds to hemolysis (and toxicity) and the location of the compound within the lipid bilayer could be proposed. In order to inflict damage on the plasma membrane, the compound has to penetrate the lipid bilayer. Tetraphenyltin does not partition into the lipid fraction; therefore its destructive effect is negligible. The partition of the compound into the lipid phase is not sufficient enough, by itself, to change the structure of the lipid bilayer to a biologically relevant degree. The hemolytic potency seems to be dependent on the location of the compound within the lipid bilayer. Triphenyltin chloride which adsorbs on the surface of the membrane, causes a high level of hemolysis, whereas diphenyltin chloride, which penetrates much deeper, seems to have only limited potency. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.