Characterization and optimization of liquid electrodes for lateral dielectrophoresis

Using the concept of insulator-based "electrodeless" dielectrophoresis, we present a novel geometry for shaping electric fields to achieve lateral deviation of particles in liquid flows. The field is generated by lateral planar metal electrodes and is guided along access channels to the active area in the main channel. The equipotential surfaces at the apertures of the access channels behave as vertical "liquid" electrodes injecting the current into the main channel. The field between a pair of adjacent liquid electrodes generates the lateral dielectrophoretic force necessary for particle manipulation. We use this force for high-speed deviation of particles. By adding a second pair of liquid electrodes, we focus a particle stream. The position of the focused stream can be swept across the channel by adjusting the ratio of the voltages applied to the two pairs. Based on conformal mapping, we provide an analytical model for estimating the potential at the liquid electrodes and the field distribution in the main channel. We show that the simulated particle trajectories agree with observations. Finally, we show that the model can be used to optimize the device geometry in different applications.     

Electrophoretic assay for penicillinase: substrate specificity screening by parallel CE with an active pixel sensor

We report application of a new UV imaging detector incorporating an active pixel sensor in an electrophoretic enzyme assay for penicillinase (beta-lactamase) with multiple substrates. The method based on electrophoretically mediated microanalysis was developed on a standard CE system with a single-point diode array detector and 200 nm UV wavelength, then transferred to a parallel capillary setup with the UV imaging detector for screening of penicillinase substrate specificity. One capillary is used for the assay and the other for reference, with an enzyme solution plug introduced into the first at the same time as a water plug into the second capillary. A mixture of antibiotics and markers is subsequently introduced as a sample plug to both capillaries, and driven through the enzyme (or water) plug by application of voltage. Most individual reactant and product peaks were separated and compounds amenable to beta-lactam hydrolysis could readily be identified and the extent of the reaction quantified within a single electrophoretic run.     

A study of the effects of column porosity on gradient separations of proteins

The type of the stationary phase for reversed-phase liquid chromatography significantly affects the sample elution. Hydrodynamic properties, efficiency and gradient elution of proteins were investigated on five commercial C18 columns with wide-pore totally porous particles, with superficially porous layer particles, non-porous particles and a silica-based monolithic bed. The efficiency in the terms of reduced plate height is higher for low-molecular ethylbenzene than for proteins, but depends on the character of the pores in the individual columns tested. The superficially porous Poroshell and the non-porous Micra columns provide the best efficiency for proteins at high mobile phase flow rates, probably because of similar pore architecture in the stationary phase. The Zorbax column with similar pore architecture as the Poroshell active layer, i.e. narrow pore distribution of wider pores shows better efficiency than the packed column with narrow pores and broad pore distribution. The monolithic column shows lower efficiency for proteins at high flow rates, but it performs better than the broad-pore distribution totally porous particulate columns. Different pore architecture affects also the retention and selectivity for proteins on the individual columns. The retention times on all columns can be predicted using the model for reversed-phase gradient elution developed originally for low-molecular compounds. Consideration of the limited pore volume accessible to the biopolymers has negligible effect on the prediction of retention on the columns packed with non-porous or superficially porous particles, but improves the accuracy of the predicted data for the totally porous columns with broad pore distribution.     

Mesomorphic and dielectric properties of esters useful for formulation of nematic mixtures for dual frequency addressing system

Mesomorphic and dielectric properties of three homologous series of two and three ring fluorosubstituted esters are described. They are 4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl 4-alkyloxy-2-fluorobenzoates, 4-cyano-3-fluorophenyl 4-(4-alkylbenzoyloxy)-2-fluorobenzoates and 3-fluoro-4-cyanophenyl, or 3-fluoro-4-isothiocyanatophenyl or 3,4-difluorophenyl 4′-alkyl-2,3-difluoro-biphenyl-4-carboxylates. The compounds exhibit the nematic mesophase accompanied by the smectic A or smectic C mesophase in some cases. Most of them show strong dependence of the dielectric anisotropy Δε upon frequency, at low frequencies Δε reaches a value ∼200, while at high frequencies a small negative dielectric anisotropy appears.     

Interconnection networks for parallel molecular dynamics simulation based on hamiltonian cubic symmetric topology

A class of interconnection networks for efficient parallel MD simulations based on hamiltonian cubic symmetric graphs is presented. The cubic symmetric graphs have many desirable properties as interconnection networks since they have a low degree and are vertex- and edge-transitive. We present a method for scheduling collective communication routines that are used in parallel MD and are based on the property that the graphs in question have a Hamilton cycle, that is, a cycle going through all vertices of the graph. Analyzing these communication routines shows that hamiltonian cubic symmetric graphs of small diameter are good candidates for a topology that gives rise to an interconnection network with excellent properties, allowing faster communication and thus speeding up parallel MD simulation.     

Circulating IgSF Proteins Inhibit Adhesion of Antibody Targeted Microspheres to Endothelial Inflammatory Ligands

Proposed methods for detecting circulatory system disease include targeting ultrasound contrast agents to inflammatory markers on vascular endothelial cells. For antibody-based therapies, soluble forms of the targeted adhesion proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) reduce adhesion yet were left unaccounted in prior reports. Microspheres labeled simply with a maximum level of antibodies can reduce the diagnostic sensitivity by adhering to proteins expressed normally at a low level, while sparsely coated particles may be rendered ineffective by circulating soluble forms of the targeted proteins. A new microdevice technique is applied to simultaneously measure the adhesion profile to a series of IgSF-protein-coated surfaces. In this investigation, we quantify the in vitro binding characteristics of 5-μm microspheres to oriented intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) protein-coated surfaces in the presence of human serum at physiological concentrations. Defined regions of a slide were coated with recombinant chimeric Fc-human ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in variable ratios but constant total concentration. Monoclonal human anti-ICAM-1 or anti-VCAM-1 antibodies in competition with non-binding mouse anti-rabbit antibodies coat the microsphere surface at a constant surface density with variable yet controlled surface activities. Using multiple slide surface IgSF protein and microsphere antibody concentrations, an adhesion profile was developed for the microspheres with and without IgSF proteins from human serum, which demonstrated that exposure to serum reduced microsphere binding, on average, more than 50% compared to the no-serum condition.. The serum effects were limited to antibodies on the microsphere, since binding inhibition was reversed after rinsing serum from the system and fresh antibody-coated microspheres were introduced. This analysis quantifies the binding effects of soluble IgSF proteins from human serum on antibody-based targeted ultrasound detection and drug delivery methods.     

XPS calibration study of thin‐film nickel silicides

This paper presents a systematic X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)study of the Ni silicides Ni₃Si, Ni₃₁Si₁₂, Ni₂Si, NiSi and NiSi₂ produced by annealing of sputtered thin films. The in situ XPS study focuses on both the core level peaks and Auger peaks. The peak positions, shapes, satellites as well as Auger parameters are compared for different silicides. The factors that influence the Ni core level peak shifts are discussed. The Ni 2p_3/2 peak shape and satellites are correlated with the valence band structure. The effect of argon ion etching on surface composition and chemical states is also investigated. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrophoretic methods for separation of nanoparticles

This article reviews progress in the application of electrophoretic techniques for the separation of nanoparticles. Numerous types of nanoparticles have recently been synthesised and integrated into different products and procedures. Consequently, analytical methods for the efficient characterisation of nanoparticles are now required. Several studies have revealed that gel electrophoresis can readily be used for separating nanoparticles according to their size or shape. However, many other studies focused on separation of nanoparticles by CE. In some cases nanoparticles could be separated by CZE, simply using pure buffer as the BGE. In other studies, buffer additives (most often SDS) were used, enabling fast separations of metallic nanoparticles by size. Other CE methods also allowed for separation of nanoparticle conjugates with biomolecules. Dielectrophoresis is yet another electrophoretic technique useful in separation and characterisation of nanoparticles; particularly nanotubes. Detection methods often used after electrophoretic separation include UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Examples of recent and relevant older reports are presented here. The authors conclude that electrophoretic methods for nanoanalysis can provide inexpensive and efficient tools for quality assurance and safety control; and as a consequence, they can augment transfer of nanotechnologies from research to industry.