Biomedical subjects

Tighe A Spurlin

Publications and source records attributed to Tighe A Spurlin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Poly-L-lysine-induced morphology changes in mixed anionic/zwitterionic and neat zwitterionic-supported phospholipid bilayers.

Poly-L-lysine-induced morphological changes in liquid phase supported bilayers consisting of mixed anionic/zwitterionic and neat zwitterionic headgroup phospholipids were studied with atomic force microscopy and epifluorescence microscopy. Results obtained from these studies indicate that poly-L-lysine can induce domains, defects, and aggregate structures on both mixed bilayers and strictly zwitterionic bilayers. The structures formed on liquid phase supported bilayers were observed to be immobile from a timescale of 50 ms to several minutes. We propose that poly-L-lysine of sufficient length interacts with the mica substrate and phospholipids to create the stationary structures noted.

Gels↗

PubMed2006

Electrostatic stitching in gel-phase supported phospholipid bilayers.

We show that mixing zwitterionic lipids with up to 20% mole % cationic lipids produces gel-phase supported lipid bilayers that are morphologically free of defects detectable using noncontact mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). This contrasts with the observation of massive defects when anionic lipid was added, and also when no charged lipid was added. Infrared measurements of headgroup orientation in the presence of cationic lipid show that the mean headgroup orientation changes only minimally when temperature is lowered from the fluid phase to the gel phase. This is consistent with a tentative explanation, based on simple electrostatic arguments, in which cationic lipids "stitch" the bilayers together. On the functional side, this study demonstrates a simple method by which to minimize defects in gel-supported phospholipid bilayers.

Gels↗

PubMed2004

Direct visualization of asymmetric behavior in supported lipid bilayers at the gel-fluid phase transition.

We utilize in situ, temperature-dependent atomic force microscopy to examine the gel-fluid phase transition behavior in supported phospholipid bilayers constructed from 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1,2-dipentadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. The primary gel-fluid phase transition at T(m) occurs through development of anisotropic cracks in the gel phase, which develop into the fluid phase. At approximately 5 degrees C above T(m), atomic force microscopy studies reveal the presence of a secondary phase transition in all three bilayers studied. The secondary phase transition occurs as a consequence of decoupling between the two leaflets of the bilayer due to enhanced stabilization of the lower leaflet with either the support or the water entrained between the support and the bilayer. Addition of the transmembrane protein gramicidin A or construction of a highly defected gel phase results in elimination of this decoupling and removal of the secondary phase transition.

Gels↗

PubMed2004

Organic nanoparticles whose size and rigidity are finely tuned by cross-linking the end groups of dendrimers.

Dendrimers with molecular weights ranging from ca. 2700 to 11 000 and from 16 to 64 homoallyl ether end groups were cross-linked using the Grubbs ring-closing metathesis reaction. A combination of SEC, MALDI-TOF-MS, and AFM were used to characterize the cross-linked nanoparticles. The data suggest a significant decrease in volume with cross-linking and a concomitant increase in rigidity, both of which can be controlled independently with a fair degree of precision.

Cross-Linking Reagents↗

PubMed2002

In situ FT-IR measurements of competitive vapor adsorption into porous thin films containing silica nanoparticles.

Vapor adsorption into porous ultrathin films on a gold surface is investigated with in situ surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). The thin films are prepared by the electrostatic self-assembly of oppositely charged poly(L-lysine) (PL) and silica nanoparticles on a chemically modified gold surface. Characterization with ex situ SPR and PM-IRRAS demonstrates the buildup of multiple PL/SiO2 bilayers as well as an excellent correlation between the quantitative results from these two techniques. In situ vapor adsorption experiments with these thin films show evidence of porosity, reproducibility, and rapid reversibility. Exposure to acetone vapor (P/P0 = 0.032) causes the film to adsorb 9% acetone by volume, which corresponds to coverage of approximately one-half of the silica nanoparticle surface area. In situ PM-IRRAS provides much information about the molecular interactions occurring in the film upon adsorption or desorption of vapors. Dosing with a mixture of vapors leads to a competition for adsorption into the film, and PM-IRRAS results show that acetone slightly outcompetes nitromethane. These experiments with nanoparticle thin films demonstrate the advantages of using in situ PM-IRRAS for studying reversible adsorption in the presence of vapor mixtures.

Journal Article↗