Phage M13KO7 detection with biosensor based on imaging ellipsometry and AFM microscopic confirmation.

A rapid detection and identification of pathogens is important for minimizing transfer and spread of disease. A label-free and multiplex biosensor based on imaging ellipsometry (BIE) had been developed for the detection of phage M13KO7. The surface of silicon wafer is modified with aldehyde, and proteins can be patterned homogeneously and simultaneously on the surface of silicon wafer in an array format by a microfluidic system. Avidin is immobilized on the surface for biotin-anti-M13 immobilization by means of interaction between avidin and biotin, which will serve as ligand against phage M13KO7. Phages M13KO7 are specifically captured by the ligand when phage M13KO7 solution passes over the surface, resulting in a significant increase of mass surface concentration of the anti-M13 binding phage M13KO7 layer, which could be detected by imaging ellipsometry with a sensitivity of 10(9)pfu/ml. Moreover, atomic force microscopy is also used to confirm the fact that phage M13KO7 has been directly captured by ligands on the surface. It indicates that BIE is competent for direct detection of phage M13KO7 and has potential in the field of virus detection.

Aggregation studies of the water-soluble gadofullerene magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent: [Gd@C82O6(OH)16(NHCH2CH2COOH)8]x.

The aggregation behavior of the newly synthesized gadofullerene magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, i.e., Gd@C(82)O(6)(OH)(16)(NHCH(2)CH(2)COOH)(8) (abbreviated as AAD-EMF), was studied in detail by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, T(1)-weighted magnetic resonance, and atomic force microscopy. It was revealed that the AAD-EMF aggregation in aqueous solution is pH-dependent. At pH 2, the AAD-EMF first self-assemble to form ca. 30 nm small clusters, and then dozens of the small clusters further aggregate to form large grapelike particles. At pH 7, the aggregates are also ca. 30 nm small clusters, but they are hard to further aggregate except for forming some cluster dimers or trimers, so AAD-EMF aggregates have a narrow size distribution by this time. At pH 9, the AAD-EMF aggregations cover a large range of continuous hydrodynamic diameters from 30 to 2000 nm. On the basis of the above observations, the aggregating mechanism of AAD-EMF under different pH values was proposed by concurrently considering the hydrogen-bonding effect and the dipolar interactions between AAD-EMF.

Ni-Pt multilayered nanowire arrays with enhanced coercivity and high remanence ratio.

Highly ordered Ni-Pt multilayered nanowire arrays have been fabricated using a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by pulse electrodeposition. The cylindrical Ni nanoparticles with different lengths and diameters in these arrays were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and alternating-gradient magnetometer (AGM) measurements. Magnetization measurements revealed that an array of such nanowires with 20-nm diameters has an enhanced coercivity (ca. 1169 Oe) and a high remanence ratio (ca. 0.96).