University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.

Qun Huo

Jianhua Zou

Qiu Dai

Xiong Liu

Hui Chen

Lei Zhai

Saiful Khondaker

Harish Muthuraman

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for detecting Chemical Species, Biomolecules and Biotargets (Analytes) using receptor functionalized metal nanoparticles and Dynamic Light Scattering.

Detection of analytes using metal nanoparticle probes and dynamic light scattering

The present application pertains to improved methods of detecting biomolecules in a biological sample (or system), In particular, embodiments discussed herein allow for the detection of biomolecule complexes. The embodiments enable for the first time the elucidation of the significance of biomolecule complexes for certain disease states, which in turn enables the diagnosis of disease states based on the identity and complexing level of a biomolecule complex in a particular biological sample.

Methods for biomolecule and biomolecule complex (BMC) detection and analysis and the use of such for research and medical diagnosis

Detection of analtyes using metal nanoparticle probes and dynamic light scattering

A carbon nanotube-polymer composite includes a polymer continuous phase having at least a first polymer, and a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in the polymer continuous phase. The carbon nanotubes are non-functionalized nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are between 0.05 and 40 weight % of the composite. At least 98% of the carbon nanotubes are not involved in nanotube bundles.

Polymer composites having highly dispersed carbon nanotubes

A method of forming articles having closed microchannels includes the steps of providing a substrate including a composite material, the composite having metal nanoparticles dispersed in a polymer matrix. The substrate is irradiated with a laser beam at an intensity and time sufficient to selectively remove the polymer below a surface of said substrate to form at least one microchannel, wherein the intensity and time is low enough to avoid removing the polymer above the microchannel, wherein an article having at least one closed microchannel is formed. A metal nanoparticle/polymer composite composition can have functionality that can undergo addition reactions to seal or join pieces of polymers or composites upon irradiation of the composition placed on one or more pieces.

Laser processing of metal nanoparticle/polymer composites

A dispersion includes non-chemically modified carbon nanotubes, a soluble block copolymer providing at least one block of a conjugated polymer and at least one block of a non-conjugated polymer, and at least one solvent. At 25&#xb0; C. exclusive of any mechanical force and after one hour, at least 90% of the carbon nanotubes exist in the dispersion as isolated carbon nanotubes. The components of the dispersion can be combined with a polymer miscible with the block copolymer to form a carbon nanotube polymer composite upon removal of the solvent. The dispersion can be cast on a substrate and then dried to form a coating, including forming a superhydrophobic coating on the substrate. The non-conjugated polymer of the block copolymer or another miscible conjugated polymer including a copolymer can include functionalities that non-covalently attach to the carbon nanotube surface, such as for enhanced solubility or enhanced biocompatibility.

Dispersions of carbon nanotubes in copolymer solutions and functional composite materials and coatings therefrom

An ultra sensitive method for detection of biomolecules includes the step of providing a plurality of bioreceptor functionalized nanoparticle probes. The nanoparticles can include metal, semiconductor, radioactive isotope or fluorescent dye molecules. A sample solution suspected of including the target is contacted with the probes, wherein if present, the target binds to the bioreceptor. After such binding a separating step follows. In the separating step, probes having the target bound thereto are separated from probes not having the target bound thereto. In one embodiment probes having the target bound thereto are then decomposed to generate ions, or broken into discrete radioactive isotopes or fluorescent dye molecules to form a solution including a large plurality of metal ions, radioactive isotopes or dye molecules. A concentration of ions, radioactive isotopes, or dye molecules in the solution is then determined and using this information the concentration of the target in the original sample solution is determined.

Detection of biotargets using bioreceptor functionalized nanoparticles

A metal nanoparticle supported on or dispersed in a polymer is irradiated with photons from a laser source to address the nanoparticles. The polymer is transmissive to the photons and addressed nanoparticles transform the energy of the photon to heat which is transferred to a material in the vicinity of the nanoparticle. The locally heated material undergoes a physical or chemical transformation upon heating. The transformed material can be a material in the proximity of the metal nanoparticle supported polymer or metal nanoparticle/polymer composite. In this manner thermally induced physical or chemical transformations can be carried out in very small volumes of material without significant heating to the bulk of the material.

Laser irradiation of metal nanoparticle/polymer composite materials for chemical and physical transformations

A method of forming carbon nanotube-polymer composites includes the steps of forming a mixture solution including a plurality of carbon nanotubes dispersed in a co-solvent. The co-solvent includes an organic solvent and a second solvent being a short chain fluorinated carboxylic acid having a boiling point below 150&#xb0; C. which is less oxidizing than nitric acid, and is soluble in both the organic solvent and water. The first polymer is mixed with the mixture solution to form a polymer including mixture. The co-solvent is removed from the polymer mixture to form a dispersed nanotube-polymer composite. The second solvent can be trifluoroacetic acid.

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Orlando, FL, United States of America

Qun Huo