We report a method for single-molecule detection and biomolecular structural mapping based on dual-color imaging and automated colocalization of bioconjugated nanoparticle probes at nanometer precision. In comparison with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, nanoparticle probes such as fluorescence energy-transfer nanobeads and quantum dots provide significant advantages in signal brightness,...

Cell fate decisions like apoptosis are heterogeneously implemented within a cell population and, consequently, the population response is recognized as sum of many individual dynamic events. Here, we report on the use of micro-patterned single-cell arrays for real-time tracking of nanoparticle-induced (NP) cell death in sets of thousands of cells in parallel. Annexin (pSIVA) and propidium iodid...

The ever-increasing demand for rechargeable batteries in some newly emerging portable electronic devices, advanced medical devices, and in particular, electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles has sparked research efforts in developing lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with high storage capacity and excellent rate performance. [ 1 ] Graphite, the mainstay of anode materials for commercialized L...

One-dimensional single crystal incorporating functional nanoparticles of other materials could be an interesting platform for various applications. We studied the encapsulation of nanoparticles into single-crystal ZnO nanorods by exploiting the crystal growth of ZnO in aqueous solution. Two types of nanodiamonds with mean diameters of 10 nm and 40 nm, respectively, and polymer nanobeads with si...

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent a surrogate biomarker of hematogenous metastases and thus could be considered as a 'liquid biopsy' which reveals metastasis in action. But it is absolutely a challenge to detect CTCs due to their extreme rarity. At present, the most common principle is to take advantage of the epithelial surface markers of CTCs which attach to a specific antibody. Antibo...

FoF1-ATP synthase catalyzes the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The F1 portion can be stripped from the membrane-embedded Fo portion of the enzyme. F1 acts as an ATP hydrolyzing enzyme, and ATP hydrolysis is associated with stepwise rotation of the γ and ε subunits of F1. This rotary motion was studied in great detail for the last 15 years using single F1 parts attached to surfaces. ...

Polypropylene glycol (PPG) is commonly added to bacterial cultures to avoid foaming. However, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from bacteria grown with PPG lacked cytokine-inducing potency in human blood. We tested the blocking efficacy of several glycols on the cytokine response to staphylococcal LTA in human blood. PPG 1200 was the most potent inhibitor tested, shown for TNF, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-...

With current developments in nanoscience and nanotechnology, experimental studies of reactions in confined nanospaces have been emerged. Thus, a variety of tailor-made “nanoreactors” have been fabricated: (i) molecular capsules, held together either by covalent bonding or by self-assembly via weaker interactions such as metal coordination and hydrogen bonds, for organic and metal catalyzed synt...

In order to make possible the selective sorting of hepatocellular carcinoma stem cells (CD133+ HCC SCs) in biofluids without to use an antigen-antibody reaction to attach antibody-immobilized nanobeads to the surfaces of HCC SCs. The unique dielectric properties of HCC SC has been tested and obtained by the applying AC electrical field with various frequency and strength between an planar micro...