University of Missouri

Keshab Gangopadhyay

Shubhra Gangopadhyay

Sheila Ann Grant

Venumadhav Korampally

Rajesh Shende

Sangho Bok

Aaron Wood

Shantanu Bhattacharya

Rajagopalan Thiruvengadathan

Sagnik Basuray

Yuanfang Gao

Steven B Kleiboeker

Cherian Joseph Mathai

Biyan Chen

Steven J Apperson

Steve Apperson

Maruf Hossain

Senthil Subramanian

Luis Polo-Parada

Andrey Bezmelnitsyn

Samiullah Pathan

Syed Barizuddin

Daniel Tappmeyer

Stephen W Chung

Drew Edwin Menke

Joseph Mathai

Bhusban Mehendale

Peter Cornish

Michael Kraus

Yuangang Gao

Andrey Bezmelnytsin

Clay Stephen Staley

Shameem Hasan

Kristofer Emile Raymond

Venu Korampally

Kunal Bhatnagar

Andrey Bezmelnystin

Avinash Pathak

Bhushan Mehendale

Arnab Ghosh

Sved Barizuddin

The invention broadly relates techniques for imaging and medical diagnosis and, more particularly, to the fabrication of flexible plasmonic gratings and the use thereof in detection of biomarkers. A first aspect of the invention provides for techniques for the fabrication of novel, flexible plasmonic gratings that can be inexpensively fabricated onto fiber optic cables, flexible films and substrates with non-uniform surfaces to enhance the imaging resolution. A second aspect of the invention provides for an ultra&#xac;high sensitivity (single molecule counting) biomarker detection platform useable for medical diagnosis based on a fluorescent sandwich ELISA assay performed on a plasmonic grating platform incorporated with a fluorescence detection unit.

Detection of biomarkers using plasmonic gratings

Provided are nanograting structures and methods of fabrication thereof that allow for stable, robust gratings and nanostructure embedded gratings that enhance electromagnetic field, fluorescence, and photothermal coupling through surface plasmon or, photonic resonance. The gratings produced exhibit long term stability of the grating structure and improved shelf life without degradation of the properties such as fluorescence enhancement. Embodiments of the invention build nanograting structures layer-by-layer to optimize structural and optical properties and to enhance durability.

Fabrication of multilayer nanograting structures

An energetic nanocomposite includes fuel nanoparticles and oxidizer nanoparticles covalently bonded to negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets. A preferred example includes Al fuel nanoparticles and BiOnanoparticles. A preferred method of formation mixes a solution of positively charged fuel nanoparticles, positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles, and negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets having functional groups to bond with the positively charged fuel nanoparticles and positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles. Self-assembly of the energetic nanocomposite is permitted over a predetermined time via the attraction and aggregation of the positively charged fuel nanoparticles positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles and negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets. Additional methods and nanocomposites include unfunctionalized graphene sheets, which can be commercial grade sheets.

Hierarchical self-assembled energetic materials and formation methods

A method of producing a grating structure comprises the steps of forming a stamp from flexible plastic material, the stamp including a negative of a periodic grating pattern on a first surface; forming an ink by applying a polymer film to the stamp, the ink including a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the first surface of the ink contacts the first surface of the stamp such that the ink retains a positive of the periodic grating pattern; placing the ink and the stamp on a substrate such that the second surface of the ink contacts an upper surface of the substrate; and removing the stamp from the ink by applying a tensional force to one edge of the stamp.

Nano-gap grating devices with enhanced optical properties and methods of fabrication

A DNA amplification device utilizing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and silicon substrate coated with spin-on glass (SOG) is provided. This PDMS layer is irreversibly bonded to the SOG layer of the silicon substrate using oxygen plasma. The amplification device is an inexpensive, microfluidic device, which can be utilized as a portable thermo-cycler to perform PCR amplification of DNA in the field.

Reusable PCR amplification system and method

Preparation of Free-Flowing Organosilica Nanoparticles by Forming a solution of an organosilica nanoparticle precursor in a mixed solvent system comprising a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is different from the second solvent, wherein the second solvent has a boiling point which is greater than a boiling point of the first solvent, and wherein the nanoparticle precursor has a greater solubility in the first solvent than in the second solvent; removing at least 50% of the first solvent to form nanoparticles having a mean particle size less than about 25 nanometers dispersed in the solution; adding a coupling agent to the solution to facilitate reacting of the coupling agent with the nanoparticles; and recovering the nanoparticles from the solution, wherein the recovered nanoparticles have the mean particle size of less than about 25 nanometers

Organosilica nanoparticles and method for making

A method for forming a nanoporous film pattern on a substrate comprising imparting differential surface energy to a surface of a substrate to define first areas having a first surface energy conducive to maintenance of a nanoporous film thereon and second areas having a second surface energy non-conducive to maintenance of a nanoporous film thereon, said first and second areas defining a differential surface energy pattern on the substrate; depositing a nanoporous film precursor onto the differential surface energy pattern; and curing the nanoporous film precursor to form the nanoporous film pattern.

Patterning of ultra-low refractive index high surface area nanoparticulate films

The invention provides methods for making homogeneous metal oxide nanoenergetic composites. A method of the invention forms a metal oxide nanostructure via a sol-gel process with surfactant templating. Metal nanoparticles are introduced into the metal oxide nanostructure via wet impregnation.

Homogeneous mesoporous nanoenergetic metal oxide composite fabrication methods

A miniature device for generating shock waves using the energy of combustion of a nanoenergetic material and directing the shock waves into biological tissues is described.

Device for transfecting cells using shock waves generated by the ignition of nanoenergetic materials

The invention provides homogeneous mesoporous metal oxide nanoenergetic composites. A composite of the invention has a regular and uniform nanostructure of metal oxide, which is structured by a surfactant. Metal fuel nanoparticles are homogenously distributed through the regular and uniform nanostructure. The invention further provides methods for making homogeneous metal oxide nanoenergetic composites. A method of the invention forms a metal oxide nanostructure via a sol-gel process with surfactant templating. Metal nanoparticles into the metal oxide nanostructure via wet impregnation.

Homogeneous mesoporous nanoenergetic metal oxide composites and fabrication thereof

A method of generating power uses a nanoenergetic material. The nanoenergetic material comprising thermite is obtained and deposited on a substrate. An igniter is placed on the nanoenergetic material. When power is desired, the nanoenergetic material is ignited. A transducer receives thermal, sonic, magnetic, optic and/or mechanical energy from combustion of the nanoenergetic material and converts it into electrical energy. Preferably, the transducer is a thermoelectric, piezoelectric or magneto device. Preferably, multiple transducers are integrated in one power generators to maximize the power from nanoenergetic thermites.

Shock wave and power generation using on-chip nanoenergetic material

A structured, self-assembled nanoenergetic material is disclosed that includes a nanostructure comprising at least one of the group consisting of a fuel and an oxidizer and a plurality of substantially spherical nanoparticles comprising at least the other of the group consisting of a fuel and an oxidizer. The spherical particles are arranged around the exterior surface area of said nanorod. This structured particle assures that the oxidizer and the fuel have a high interfacial surface area between them. Preferably, the nanostructure is at least one of a nanorod, nanowire and a nanowell, and the second shaped nanoparticle is a nanosphere.

Ordered nanoenergetic composites and synthesis method

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MO, United States of America

Keshab Gangopadhyay