Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Ferencz S Denes

Sorin Odisei Manolache

Raymond A Young

Luis Emilio Cruz-Barba

Max G Lagally

Noah H Hershkowitz

Bradley James Larson

Robert J Sandberg

Majid Sarmadi

Jason M Helgren

Eileen B Somers

Alvaro De Jesus Martinez-Gomez

J Leon Shohet

Amy C Wong

Amy C Lee Wong

Hongquan Jiang

Ramaswami Ganapathy

Matyas Sandor

Agnes Reka Denes

Abdolmajid Sarmadi

Douglas J Reinemann

Zhihong Zheng

Dorel Feldman

Zhong-Qiang Hua

Zhong-Quiang Hua

Zsuzsanna Fabry

John C Volin

The present invention provides compositions and methods for targeting dendritic cells of the immune system. In particular, the compositions comprise carbon nanoparticles, optionally magnetic carbon nanoparticles comprising iron, which are preferentially endocytosed by dendritic cells compared to macrophages when contacted with a biological sample. The nanoparticles of the present invention may be functionalized to enhance delivery of biomolecules to dendritic cells.

Dendritic cell targeting compositions and uses thereof

Bactericidal substrates and methods of functionalizing the surface of substrates with quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups using non-equilibrium RF plasmas are provided. The methods include the step of treating the surface of a substrate with a plasma to create surface active sites. Some methods include the step of reacting the surface active sites with linker molecules, which are then reacted with quaternary ammonium precursor molecules to provide a substrate surface functionalized with quaternary ammonium precursor groups. Other methods react the surface active sites with polymer precursor molecules under plasma conditions to form a covalently-bound polymer layer having reactive sites. The polymer reactive sites are reacted with quaternary phosphonium precursor molecules to provide a substrate surface functionalized with quaternary phosphonium groups. Also provided are bactericidal substrates having immobilized, covalently-bound quaternary ammonium or quaternary phosphonium groups.

Plasma-enhanced functionalization of substrate surfaces with quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium groups

Low- or atmospheric pressure RF plasma-enhanced thin film deposition methods are provided for the deposition of hydrophobic fluorinated thin films onto various substrates. The methods include at least two steps. In the first step, RF plasma-mediated deposition is used to deposit a fluorinated film onto a substrate surface. In a second step, plasma-generated active sites on the fluorinated film are quenched by reacting them with stable fluorinated gas-phase molecules in situ, in the absence of plasma, to provide a hydrophobic fluorinated thin film having a very low oxygen content. In some instances the hydrophobic fluorinated thin films have an atomic oxygen concentration of no more than about 3%.

RF plasma-enhanced deposition of fluorinated films

An apparatus and method are disclosed for producing nanoparticles in a dense fluid medium. The method is based on the formation of nanoparticles from nanoparticle precursors in a dense fluid medium in which a plasma discharge is created between electrodes submerged in the dense fluid medium. The electrodes define a plasma discharge zone between opposing electrode discharge faces and further define an internal cavitation zone into which a cavitation gas is released, creating bubbles in the dense fluid medium. The result is the efficient production of nanoparticles using a high-frequency, high-voltage electric field to react dense-phase precursors in an atmospheric pressure, low temperature environment.

Apparatus and methods for producing nanoparticles in a dense fluid medium

An apparatus is utilized for producing colloidal dispersions of nanoparticles of electrically conducting materials. The colloidal dispersions are produced in a dense media plasma reactor comprising at least one static electrode and at least one rotating electrode. The plasma reaction sputters off minute particles of the electrically conducting material from which the electrodes are made. Methods of using the colloidal dispersions thus made are also described. Colloidal dispersions of silver produced in this manner are highly effective for bactericidal purposes.

Colloidal nanoparticles and apparatus for producing colloidal nanoparticles in a dense medium plasma

Methods for producing plasma-treated, functionalized inorganic oxide surfaces are provided. The methods include the steps of subjecting an oxide surface to a plasma to create hydroxyl functionalities on the surface and reacting the hydroxyl functionalities with epoxy group-containing molecules in situ in the absence of plasma. Biomolecules may be immobilized on the resulting functionalized surfaces. The methods may be used to treat a variety of oxide surfaces, including glass, quartz, silica and metal oxides.

Plasma-enhanced functionalization of inorganic oxide surfaces

In a milking machine teat cup wherein an animal to be milked has its teat inserted into a teat cup liner during milking, a first electrode extends about or within at least a portion of the teat cup liner. To clean and/or disinfect the liner, a second electrode is inserted into the liner and the two electrodes are charged so as to generate plasma in any free space between the inserted second electrode and the interior surface of the liner. The generated plasma species destroy organisms that cause mastitis, and can additionally kill other unwanted organisms and/or perform cleaning of the liner's interior.

Plasma-assisted disinfection of milking machines

A dielectric liquid having entrained bubbles of gas or vapor is subjected to an electric field applied between spaced electrodes () which generates microdischarges (and thus plasma) within the bubbles, allowing modification of the properties of the dielectric liquid. The invention is particularly useful for treating hydrocarbon liquids such as gasolines and other liquid hydrocarbon fuels, which have extremely low dielectric constants. Generating microdischarges within bubbles in such fuels can create compounds useful for higher combustion efficiency and/or lower emissions in internal combustion engines. The invention may be directly implemented in an engine's fuel line upstream from the combustion chamber (e.g., immediately prior to a fuel injector), thereby allowing the invention to be usefully implemented for fuel treatment prior to combustion.

Plasma treatment within dielectric fluids

Methods for producing plasma-treated, functionalized carbon-containing surfaces are provided. The methods include the steps of subjecting a carbon-containing substrate to a plasma to create surface active sites on the surface of the substrate and reacting the surface active sites with stable spacer molecules in the absence of plasma. Biomolecules may be immobilized on the resulting functionalized surfaces. The methods may be used to treat a variety of carbon-containing substrates, including polymeric surfaces, diamond-like carbon films and carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles.

Plasma-enhanced functionalization of carbon-containing substrates

Hard-carbon films with unique structures, methods for producing the films, and articles coated by the films are provided. These hard-carbon films are synthesized by the plasma surface treatment of a polymer substrate or a polymer-coated substrate in a plasma containing SFspecies, where x is less than 6, and may be produced under room temperature, low pressure environments.

Hard carbon films formed from plasma treated polymer surfaces

A method and apparatus is utilized for producing colloidal dispersions of nanoparticles of electrically conducting materials. The colloidal dispersions are produced in a dense media plasma reactor comprising at least one static electrode and at least one rotating electrode. The plasma reaction sputters off minute particles of the electrically conducting material from which the electrodes are made. Methods of using the colloidal dispersions thus made are also described. Colloidal dispersions of silver produced in this manner are highly effective for bactericidal purposes.

Method and apparatus for producing colloidal nanoparticles in a dense medium plasma

A plasma generator includes several plasma sources distributed in an array for plasma treatment of surfaces. Each plasma source includes first and second conductive electrodes. Each second electrode has a gas passage defined therein, and one of the first electrodes is situated within the gas passage in spaced relation from the second electrode, with each gas passage thereby constituting the free space for plasma generation between each pair of first and second electrodes. An insulating layer is interposed between the first and second electrodes to facilitate plasma formation via dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in the gas passages between the first and second electrodes. The first electrodes may be provided in a monolithic structure wherein they all protrude from a common bed, and similarly the second electrodes may be monolithically formed by defining the gas passages within a common second electrode member. The first electrode bed may then be situated adjacent the second electrode member with its first electrodes extending into the gas passages. The space between the first electrode bed and the second electrode member defines a plenum space onto which the gas passages open. The plenum space, and thus the gas passages, may then be provided with process gas to generate plasma within the gas passages between the first and second electrodes. Plasma ejected from the gas passages will impinge upon and treat an adjacently-situated workpiece without the need to pass the workpiece through the gas passages, and thus the size of the workpiece to be treated is not limited by the size of the gas passages (i.e., the free space wherein plasma is generated). The ability to utilize monolithically-formed first electrodes and/or second electrodes allows for significantly denser placement of plasma sources in arrays, thereby leading to more complete plasma treatment of surfaces.

Plasma generator

A method for disinfecting water and other dense fluid media containing microorganisms is carried out in a dense media plasma reactor. The plasma reaction in the reactor produces reactive species, such as electrons, ions, and free radicals that promote the inactivation of the microorganisms. In various embodiments, the plasma reaction also sputters off minute antimicrobial particles of the electrically conducting material from which the electrodes are made.

Method for disinfecting a dense fluid medium in a dense medium plasma reactor

Seeds are treated in a cold plasma in a reaction chamber to etch the surface of the seeds to remove surface materials, such as fungicides and insecticides, or to disinfect the surfaces. The cold plasma process is carried out using etch gases which do not harm the seeds and for selected periods of time sufficient to remove surface materials without necessarily affecting the viability of live seeds after treatment. Tumbling the seeds while exposing the seeds to the plasma allows the surfaces of the seeds to be etched uniformly.

Cold-plasma treatment of seeds to remove surface materials

A wide variety of substrates can be functionalized to attach spacer molecules therein by exposing the substrates to a cold plasma ignited in dichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride or hexachlorodisilane gas to implant silicon-chlorine functionalities in the substrate surface. The plasma implanted surface functionalities can then be utilized to initiate second stage gas phase derivatization reactions to form linker molecules attached to the substrate. Active biomolecules such as enzymes can then be bound to the exposed linker molecules to bind the bioactive molecules to the substrate while allowing freedom of movement and conformation of the bound molecule comparable to that of the free molecule.

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Ferencz S Denes