Adhesion forces between functionalized latex microspheres and protein-coated surfaces evaluated using colloid probe atomic force microscopy

Proteins are important in bacterial adhesion, but interactions at molecular-scales between proteins and specific functional groups are not well understood. The adhesion forces between four proteins [bovine serum albumin (BSA), protein A, lysozyme, and poly-d-lysine] and COOH, NH2 and OH-functionalized (latex) colloids were examined using colloid probe atomic force microscopy (AFM) as the function of colloid residence time (T) and solution ionic strength (IS). For three of the proteins, OH-functionalized colloids produced higher adhesion forces to proteins (2.6-30.5 nN; IS=1 mM, T=10s) than COOH- and NH2-functionalized colloids (1.6-6.8 nN). However, protein A produced the largest adhesion force (8.1+/-1.0 nN, T=10 s) with the COOH-functionalized colloid, demonstrating the importance of specific and unanticipated protein-functional group interactions. The NH2-functionalized colloid typically produced the lowest adhesion forces with all proteins, likely due to repulsive electrostatic forces and weak bonds for NH2-NH2 interactions. The adhesion force (F) between functionalized colloids and proteins consistently increased with residence time (T), and data was well fitted by F=ATn. The constant value of n=0.21+/-0.07 for all combinations of proteins and functionalized colloids indicated that water exclusion and protein rearrangement were the primary factors affecting adhesion over time. Adhesion forces decreased inversely with IS for all functional groups interacting with surface proteins, consistent with previous findings. These results demonstrate the importance of specific molecular-scale interactions between functional groups and proteins that will help us to better understand factors colloidal adhesion to surfaces.     

Polystyrene-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer: the effect of polystyrene and spreading concentration at the air/water interface

Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-PEO) is an amphiphilic diblock copolymer that undergoes microphase separation when spread at the air/water interface, forming nanosized domains. In this study, we investigate the impact of PS by examining a series of PS-PEO samples containing constant PEO (~17,000 g·mol(-1)) and variable PS (from 3600 to 200,000 g·mol(-1)) through isothermal characterization and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polymers separated into two categories: predominantly hydrophobic and predominantly hydrophilic with a weight percent of PEO of ~20% providing the boundary between the two. AFM results indicated that predominantly hydrophilic PS-PEO forms dots while more hydrophobic samples yield a mixture of dots and spaghetti with continent-like structures appearing at ~7% PEO or less. These structures reflect a blend of polymer spreading, entanglement, and vitrification as the solvent evaporates. Changing the spreading concentration provides insight into this process with higher concentrations representing earlier kinetic stages and lower concentrations demonstrating later ones. Comparison of isothermal results and AFM analysis shows how polymer behavior at the air/water interface correlates with the observed nanostructures. Understanding the impact of polymer composition and spreading concentration is significant in leading to greater control over the nanostructures obtained through PS-PEO self-assembly and their eventual application as polymer templates.     

Internal bremsstrahlung and double internal bremsstrahlung in initial p-state electron capture

Internal bremsstrahlung (IB) and double internal bremsstrahlung (DIB) have been studied for initial p-state electron capture. In the case of IB the relative contributions of discrete and continuum intermediate states have been calculated and, in contrast to IB in initial Is state capture, it has been found that the contributions from the discrete intermediate states are dominant. Calculations for DIB have been extended and some approximations used in earlier calculations are shown to be reasonable. Predictions are made for DIB in the EC decay of SU55 Fe and ¹³¹Cs, nuclei which may be suitable for experimental investigations.     

Fission reactions of 469-MeV56Fe+238U: Detection of4He/1H emission from pre- and post-fission sources

The emission of⁴He and¹H has been measured in coincidence with fission for reactions of 469-MeV⁵⁶Fe+²³⁸U. By using a gas-ionization telescope in kinematic coincidence with a position-sensitive avalanche detector, the folding angle between two fission fragments was determined in order to distinguish fusion reactions from fission following smaller-momentum-transfer collisions. In both fusion fission and sequential fission reactions, the⁴He/¹H energy spectra are relatively narrow with relatively flat angular distributions at backward angles and become broader in energy with enhanced cross-sections at forward angles. The extent of forward peaking is significantly greater for peripheral collisions than for central collisions. The light-charged-particle multiplicities are quite similar for⁴He and¹H, being much larger for fusion fission than for sequential fission. Detailed comparisons of the spectral shapes with Monte Carlo simulations of reaction kinematics impose strong constraints on the participation of different emission sources. We find important contributions to the observed⁴He/¹H emission both from accelerated fragments (FE) and from the composite system prior to fission (CE). For⁴He emission, the multiplicity of CE is much larger for fusion fission than for sequential fission, possibly as a consequence of the higher spins and shorter reaction times associated with deeply inelastic and quasi-elastic processes. For¹H emission, a corresponding but somewhat smaller difference is observed for the CE multiplicities. An excess of⁴He/¹H particles, found at forward angles in both fusion and sequential fission processes, cannot be attributed to evaporative emission from any fragments and therefore must originate in pre-thermalization emission.     

Apparent Molar Volumes and Adiabatic Compressibilities of Crown Ethers and Glymes in Aqueous Solutions at Various Temperatures

Apparent molar volumes and adiabatic compressibilities of 18-crown-6,15-crown-5, 12-crown-4, tetraglyme, and triglyme were measured at 15, 25, and40°C. Apparent molar expansibilities andK ^o Tvalues were also determined.The contribution of the -CH₂CH₂O- group to the limiting partial molar volumesand compressibilities of cyclic and open-chain ethers are compared. It isconcluded, on the basis of the compressibility results, that there is a subtle differencebetween the hydration of the ethene-oxide group in cyclic and open-chain ethers.     

Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) stars as surface films at the air/water interface

Star diblock copolymers containing polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) were investigated as surface films at the air/water interface. Both classic and dendritic-like stars were prepared containing either a PS core and PEO corona or the reverse. The investigated polymers, consisting of systematic variations in architectures and compositions, were spread at the air/water interface, generating reproducible surface pressure-area isotherms. All of the films could be compressed to higher pressures than would be possible for pure PEO. For stars containing 20% or more PEO, three distinct regions appeared. At higher areas, the PEO absorbs in pancakelike structures at the interface with PS globules sitting atop. Upon compression, a pseudoplateau transition region appeared. Both regions strongly depended on PEO composition. The pancake area and the pseudoplateau width and pressure increased in a linear fashion with an increasing amount of PEO. In addition, minimum limits of PEO chain length and mass percentage were determined for observing a pseudoplateau. At small areas, the film proved less compressible, producing a rigid film in which PS dominated. Here, the film area increased with both molecular weight and the amount of PS. Comparison with pure linear PS showed the stars spread more, occupying greater areas. Among the stars, the PEO-core stars were more compact while the PS-core stars spread more. The influence of architecture in terms of the core/corona polymers and branching were also examined. The effects of architecture were subtle, proving less important than PEO chain length or mass percentage.