Chapters authored
Self‐Assembled Monolayers of Carbohydrate Derivatives on Gold Surfaces By Jay K. Bhattarai, Dharmendra Neupane, Vasilii Mikhaylov, Alexei V. Demchenko and Keith J. Stine
Self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) presenting carbohydrates (glycans) have been widely prepared on gold surfaces to mimic the carbohydrate surfaces that are involved in molecular recognition phenomena in living cells. The binding affinity of carbohydrate immbolized on SAM surfaces to various carbohydrate‐binding proteins (such as lectins) can be studied by optical, electrochemical, piezoelectrical and thermal sensing techniques. The lectins present on the surface of pathogens (e.g., bacteria or viruses) can be used as targets for capturing onto carbohydrates immobilized on SAM surfaces. The immobilized carbohydrates can also be used for detecting different types of disease biomarkers present in bodily fluids. Synergistic properties of carbohydrate SAMs and gold nanoparticles can be used for vaccine preparation and drug delivery. By studying different types of glycans, their properties, and the behavior toward recognition of specific pathogens and biomarkers, we can develop not only new therapeutics but also enhance the diagnostic strategies of various diseases. In this chapter, we discuss carbohydrate‐terminated SAMs and their common preparation strategies. Next, we focus on roles of different components of SAMs, characterization techniques, and applications.
Part of the book: Carbohydrate
Structure and Applications of Gold in Nanoporous Form By Jay K. Bhattarai, Dharmendra Neupane, Bishal Nepal, Vasilii
Mikhaylov, Alexei V. Demchenko and Keith J. Stine
Nanoporous gold (np-Au) has many interesting and useful properties that make it a material of interest for use in many technological applications. Its biocompatible nature and ability to serve as a support for self-assembled monolayers of alkanethiols and their derivative make it a suitable support for the immobilization of carbohydrates, enzymes, proteins, and DNA. Its chemically inert, physically robust and conductive high-surface area makes it useful for the design of electrochemistry-based chemical/bio-sensors and reactors. Furthermore, it is also used as solid support for organic molecular synthesis and biomolecules separation. Its enhanced optical property has application in design of plasmonics-based sensitive biosensors. In fact, np-Au is one of the few materials that can be used as a transducer for both optical and electrochemical biosensing. Due to the presence of low-coordination surface sites, np-Au shows remarkable catalytic activity for oxidation of molecules like carbon monoxide and methanol. Owing to the importance of np-Au, in this chapter we will highlight different strategies of fabrication of np-Au and its emerging applications based on its unique properties.
Part of the book: Noble and Precious Metals
Monolayers of Carbohydrate-Containing Lipids at the Water- Air Interface By Bishal Nepal and Keith J. Stine
Glycolipids are important members of the glycoconjugate family that are distributed on cell surfaces and are important in aspects of cellular behavior including signal transduction, protein trafficking, cell surface recognition and cell adhesion. Errors in the synthesis or mutations of these glycoconjugates are often linked with various human pathological conditions. The complex nature of their molecular structures coupled with the complexity of cellular structure make their study a challenging process, which can be simplified by fabrication of model membrane systems. Liposomes and monolayers of lipids at the air-water interface are two of the most frequently used model membrane systems. Techniques for fabrication of monolayer models and methods used for their studies are discussed with a focus on glycolipids.
Part of the book: Cell Culture
Electrodeposition of Nanoporous Gold Thin Films By Palak Sondhi and Keith J. Stine
Nanoporous gold (NPG) films have attracted increasing interest over the last ten years due to their unique properties of high surface area, high selectivity, and electrochemical activity along with enhanced electrical conductivity, and chemical stability. A variety of fabrication techniques to synthesize NPG thin films have been explored so far including dealloying, templating, sputtering, self-assembling, and electrodeposition. In this review, the progress in the synthetic techniques over the last ten years to prepare porous gold films has been discussed with emphasis given on the technique of electrodeposition. Such films have wide-ranging applications in the fields of drug delivery, energy storage, heterogeneous catalysis, and optical sensing.
Part of the book: Nanofibers
