Search results for "Bioengineering"
showing 10 items of 1963 documents
Functional analysis of the cysteine residues and the repetitive sequence ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaePir4/Cis3: the repetitive sequence is needed for b…
2003
Identification of PIR/CIS3 gene was carried out by amino-terminal sequencing of a protein band released by β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) from S. cerevisiae mnn9 cell walls. The protein was released also by digestion with β-1,3-glucanases (laminarinase or zymolyase) or by mild alkaline solutions. Deletion of the two carboxyterminal Cys residues (Cys214-12aa-Cys227-COOH), reduced but did not eliminate incorporation of Pir4 (protein with internal repeats) by disulphide bridges. Similarly, site-directed mutation of two other cysteine amino acids (Cys130Ser or Cys197Ser) failed to block incorporation of Pir4; the second mutation produced the appearance of Kex2-unprocessed Pir4. Therefore, it seems th…
Photoluminescence waveguiding in CdSe and CdTe QDs–PMMA nanocomposite films
2011
In this paper, active planar waveguides based on the incorporation of CdSe and CdTe nanocrystal quantum dots in a polymer matrix are demonstrated. In the case of doping the polymer with both types of quantum dots, the nanocomposite film guides both emitted colors, green (550 nm, CdTe) and orange (600 nm, CdSe). The optical pumping laser can be coupled not only with a standard end-fire coupling system, but also directing the beam to the surface of the sample, indicating a good absorption cross-section and waveguide properties. To achieve these results, a study of the nanocomposite optical properties as a function of the nanocrystal concentration is presented and the optimum conditions are fo…
Self-assembly of small gold colloids with functionalized gold nanorods.
2007
We present a general strategy to stabilize gold nanorod suspensions with mono- and bifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) and to attach a controlled number of nanoparticles or biomolecules. Characterization by gel electrophoresis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and optical dark-field microscopy show the specific binding of functionalized nanorods to their target while avoiding nonspecific binding to substrates, matrices, and other particles. Such nanorods are well suited for self-assembly of nanostructures and single-molecule labeling.
Orientation of Polymer Functionalized Nanorods in Thin Films
2010
A directed self assembly of anisotropic nanostructures offers a possibility to provide unique functional materials, which are e.g., important in optoelectronic devices. We use the liquid crystalline behavior of polymer functionalized TiO2 and ZnO nanorods to apply methods well known for low molecular liquid crystals to achieve oriented thin films. Convective forces in the meniscus on a structured substrate obtain thin layers of oriented nanoparticles with a ordering parameter of S = 0.7. As another method we present the orientation of polystyrene covered ZnO nanorods under an applied electric field. The method offers a perpendicular alignment of the rods to the surface.
Dielectrophoresis as a tool for nanoscale DNA manipulation
2005
The use of the dielectrophoresis as a tool for DNA manipulation is demonstrated experimentally, using both unmodified 48,500 base pairs long bacteriophage lambda dsDNA (λ-DNA), ∼16 μm in length and 414 base pairs long thiol modified natural dsDNA (avDNA), ∼140 nm in length. We show that both the dsDNA types used, are effectively directed between the planar gold electrodes by the positive dielectrophoresis while applying an AC voltage at frequencies between 500 kHz and 1 MHz. With high concentrations of dsDNA in buffer the attached dsDNA molecules are shown to form bundles or clumps (both λ-DNA and avDNA). Furthermore, we demonstrate the attaching of a single avDNA molecule to an electrode v…
Functionalization of aliphatic polyesters by nitroxide radical coupling
2014
Functionalized poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) samples were prepared by a post-polymerization method based on the coupling reaction between TEMPO derivatives bearing different functionalities and PBS macroradicals generated by H-abstraction using a peroxide. 4-Benzoyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1- oxyl (BzO-TEMPO) and 4-(1-naphthoate)-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (NfO-TEMPO), a pro-fluorescent nitroxide, were successfully grafted on PBS, as revealed by MALDI TOF MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The functionalization degrees were accurately determined by UV-Vis analysis and confirmed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The grafting site was identified by combining theoretical calculations with e…
Tetra-alkoxy substituted PPV derivatives: a new class of highly soluble liquid crystalline conjugated polymers
2011
Two first examples of highly soluble tetra-alkoxy substituted PPV derivatives, poly(2,3,5,6-tetrahexyloxy-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (TH-PPV) and poly[2,3,5,6-tetra(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] TEH-PPV, are presented. Both polymers have been fully characterized and the solubility and UV-Vis absorption characteristics have been studied in various organic solvents. Due to the symmetric nature of the repeating unit, TH-PPV and TEH-PPV have an inherently regioregular nature, which is unusual for PPV-type polymers. Observations from polarized light microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry indicate that TH-PPV exhibits thermally induced order resulting in a liquid crystalline m…
Water-soluble hyperbranched polyglycerol photosensitizer for enhanced photodynamic therapy
2020
Porphyrin and its derivatives as promising photosensitizers have been widely utilized in photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the water-solubility and biocompatibility of porphyrins are the typical bottlenecks in clinical PDT processes. Herein, we successfully fabricated a new type of water-soluble, hyperbranched polyglycerol photosensitizer through one-step esterification between water-soluble hyperbranched polyglycerol (hbPG) and fluorophenylporphyrin (FP). Compared with the linear control polymer, i.e., FP covalently connected with linear polyethylene glycol (LPEG), the hyperbranched structures bearing multiple porphyrin units generated more singlet oxygen and exhibited higher cytotoxici…
Poly-l-Lysine-Poly[HPMA] Block Copolymers Obtained by RAFT Polymerization as Polyplex-Transfection Reagents with Minimal Toxicity
2015
Herein we describe the synthesis of poly-L-lysine-b-poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-metha-crylamide)] (poly[HPMA]) block copolymers by combination of solid phase peptide synthesis or polymerization of α-amino acid-N-carboxy-anhydrides (NCA-polymerization) with the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT). In the presence of p-DNA, these polymers form polyplex micelles with a size of 100-200 nm in diameter (monitored by SDS-PAGE and FCS). Primary in vitro studies with HEK-293T cells reveal their cellular uptake (FACS studies and CLSM) and proof successful transfection with efficiencies depending on the length of polylysine. Moreover, these polyplexes display minimal to…
Orthogonally reactive amino acids and end groups in NCA polymerization
2017
Functional amino acids whose reactivity is compatible with the polymerization of α-amino acid-N-carboxyanhydrides (NCAs) have received a lot of attention in recent years. The appeal of these reactive monomers lies in the fact that the resulting polymers can be easily modified in one controlled post-polymerization step, leading to a variety of polypeptidic materials like helical non-natural polycations or glycopeptides. This review highlights recent developments in the field and focuses on the different reactive groups like alkynes, alkenes, azides, chlorides and S-alkylsulfonyls. Furthermore, the modifications after polymerization are discussed, pointing out advantages and challenges. Besid…