scholarly journals Characterization of Nanoparticle Adsorption on Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Microchannels

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1978
Author(s):  
Hirotada Hirama ◽  
Ryutaro Otahara ◽  
Shinya Kano ◽  
Masanori Hayase ◽  
Harutaka Mekaru

Nanoparticles (NPs) are used in various medicinal applications. Exosomes, bio-derived NPs, are promising biomarkers obtained through separation and concentration from body fluids. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microchannels are well-suited for precise handling of NPs, offering benefits such as high gas permeability and low cytotoxicity. However, the large specific surface area of NPs may result in nonspecific adsorption on the device substrate and thus cause sample loss. Therefore, an understanding of NP adsorption on microchannels is important for the operation of microfluidic devices used for NP handling. Herein, we characterized NP adsorption on PDMS-based substrates and microchannels by atomic force microscopy to correlate NP adsorptivity with the electrostatic interactions associated with NP and dispersion medium properties. When polystyrene NP dispersions were introduced into PDMS-based microchannels at a constant flow rate, the number of adsorbed NPs decreased with decreasing NP and microchannel zeta potentials (i.e., with increasing pH), which suggested that the electrostatic interaction between the microchannel and NPs enhanced their repulsion. When exosome dispersions were introduced into PDMS-based microchannels with different wettabilities at constant flow rates, exosome adsorption was dominated by electrostatic interactions. The findings obtained should facilitate the preconcentration, separation, and sensing of NPs by PDMS-based microfluidic devices.

2003 ◽  
Vol 782 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Bullard ◽  
Ryan J. Kershner ◽  
Michael J. Cima

ABSTRACTSingle crystal sapphire substrates were lithographically patterned with a system of parallel platinum electrodes, which were used to manipulate 1.58μm silica particles inplane, in the presence of an aqueous solution. Observation of the motion of these particles revealed the adhesion of some of them to the sapphire surface near the platinum working electrode, even in the range of pH where the zeta potentials of silica and sapphire are of the same sign. This phenomenon suggests the existence of localized differences in pH, attributable to the presence of potential determining ions produced in the faradaic processes occurring at the electrodes during the electrophoretic manipulation of silica particles. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to corroborate this hypothesis, measuring the forces between a silica particle and a sapphire substrate in the presence of an applied field. The resultant force-distance curves demonstrate a change in the interaction forces between particle and substrate as a function of distance from the electrode. Variations in this interaction correspond to localized differences in the zeta potential of the substrate, which, in turn, are related to localized differences in pH. Quantification of these spatial variations in pH as a function of time yields further information about the diffusion of these faradaically produced potential determining ions across the substrate.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Prakash ◽  
Travis Lantz ◽  
Krupal P. Jethava ◽  
Gaurav Chopra

Amyloid plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients primarily consists of amyloid beta 1-42 (Ab42). Commercially, Ab42 is synthetized using peptide synthesizers. We describe a robust methodology for expression of recombinant human Ab(M1-42) in Rosetta(DE3)pLysS and BL21(DE3)pLysS competent E. coli with refined and rapid analytical purification techniques. The peptide is isolated and purified from the transformed cells using an optimized set-up for reverse-phase HPLC protocol, using commonly available C18 columns, yielding high amounts of peptide (~15-20 mg per 1 L culture) in a short time. The recombinant Ab(M1-42) forms characteristic aggregates similar to synthetic Ab42 aggregates as verified by western blots and atomic force microscopy to warrant future biological use. Our rapid, refined, and robust technique to purify human Ab(M1-42) can be used to synthesize chemical probes for several downstream in vitro and in vivo assays to facilitate AD research.


Author(s):  
Willian Silva Conceição ◽  
Ştefan Ţălu ◽  
Robert Saraiva Matos ◽  
Glenda Quaresma Ramos ◽  
Fidel Guereiro Zayas ◽  
...  

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Arnaud Millet

The mechanosensitivity of cells has recently been identified as a process that could greatly influence a cell’s fate. To understand the interaction between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix, the characterization of the mechanical properties of natural polymeric gels is needed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of the leading tools used to characterize mechanically biological tissues. It appears that the elasticity (elastic modulus) values obtained by AFM presents a log-normal distribution. Despite its ubiquity, the log-normal distribution concerning the elastic modulus of biological tissues does not have a clear explanation. In this paper, we propose a physical mechanism based on the weak universality of critical exponents in the percolation process leading to gelation. Following this, we discuss the relevance of this model for mechanical signatures of biological tissues.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
pp. 85-93
Author(s):  
Shuang Yi Liu ◽  
Min Min Tang ◽  
Ai Kah Soh ◽  
Liang Hong

In-situ characterization of the mechanical behavior of geckos spatula has been carried out in detail using multi-mode AFM system. Combining successful application of a novel AFM mode, i.e. Harmonix microscopy, the more detail elastic properties of spatula is brought to light. The results obtained show the variation of the mechanical properties on the hierarchical level of a seta, even for the different locations, pad and stalk of the spatula. A model, which has been validated using the existing experimental data and phenomena as well as theoretical predictions for geckos adhesion, crawling and self-cleaning of spatulae, is proposed in this paper. Through contrast of adhesive and craw ability of the gecko on the surfaces with different surface roughness, and measurement of the surface adhesive behaviors of Teflon, the most effective adhesion of the gecko is more dependent on the intrinsic properties of the surface which is adhered.


1993 ◽  
Vol 318 ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Kiely ◽  
Dawn A. Bonnell

ABSTRACTScanning Tunneling and Atomic Force Microscopy were used to characterize the topography of fractured Au /sapphire interfaces. Variance analysis which quantifies surface morphology was developed and applied to the characterization of the metal fracture surface of the metal/ceramic system. Fracture surface features related to plasticity were quantified and correlated to the fracture energy and energy release rate.


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