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Investigating The Accumulation, Sub-Organ Distribution, And Biochemical Effects Of Nanomaterials Using Mass Spectrometry, Kristen Nicole Sikora Dec 2020

Investigating The Accumulation, Sub-Organ Distribution, And Biochemical Effects Of Nanomaterials Using Mass Spectrometry, Kristen Nicole Sikora

Doctoral Dissertations

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are attractive materials for use in various biomedical applications, such as therapeutic delivery, due to their unique chemical properties and modular tunability. Mass spectrometry methods, including laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) have been successfully used to evaluate the distribution of AuNPs in complex biological systems. As new AuNP-based materials are developed for applications in therapeutic delivery, it is essential to simultaneously develop analytical techniques that can comprehensively assess their behavior in vivo. In this dissertation, novel mass spectrometric methods have been developed and utilized to evaluate the uptake, distribution, …


Controlled Membrane Remodeling By Nanospheres And Nanorods: Experiments Targeting The Design Principles For Membrane-Based Materials, Sarah Zuraw-Weston Dec 2020

Controlled Membrane Remodeling By Nanospheres And Nanorods: Experiments Targeting The Design Principles For Membrane-Based Materials, Sarah Zuraw-Weston

Doctoral Dissertations

In this thesis we explore two experimental systems probing the interactions of nanoparticles with lipid bilayer membranes. Inspired by the ability of cell membranes to alter their shape in response to bound particles, we report two experimental studies: one of nanospheres the other of long, slender nano-rods binding to lipid bilayer vesicles and altering the membrane shape. Our work illuminates the role of particle geometry, particle concentration, adhesion strength and membrane tension in how membrane morphology is determined. We combine giant unilamellar vesicles with oppositely charged nanoparticles, carefully tuning adhesion strength, membrane tension and particle concentration. In the case of …


Analysis Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles In Foods Using Raman Spectroscopic Techniques, Janamkumar Pandya Dec 2020

Analysis Of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles In Foods Using Raman Spectroscopic Techniques, Janamkumar Pandya

Doctoral Dissertations

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and its nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in various applications. Recently, the presence of TiO2 NPs in food and consumer products raised safety concerns to human health and the environment. The goal of this project is to explore the capability of Raman Spectroscopy in the analysis of TiO2-NPs and apply this technique for the analysis of TiO2-NPs in food and environmental samples. Two approaches, i.e. the ligand-based and the mapping-based, were evaluated. The ligand-based approach utilized the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) property of the TiO2 NPs as a substrate to enhance the signal of a surface …


Chemical Manipulation Of Macrophages: Nanomaterial And Molecular Approaches, Joseph Hardie Jul 2020

Chemical Manipulation Of Macrophages: Nanomaterial And Molecular Approaches, Joseph Hardie

Doctoral Dissertations

Macrophages, phagocytic cells of the innate immune system, are the body’s first line of defense against pathogens and are responsible for tissue maintenance. Macrophages are capable of sensing and internalizing external stimuli, and in response change their morphology and phenotype accordingly. Because macrophages are integral to immune function and tissue maintenance, dysregulation of macrophage behavior is associated with a range of diseases including infections, cancer, autoimmune disorders, atherosclerosis, and more. Because of the implications of macrophage failure, there is interest in creating new materials to manipulate macrophage behavior for a therapeutic effect. In this thesis, I describe the application of …


Powering Advances In Next-Generation Photovoltaics Through Materials Synthesis And Characterization, Christie L.C. Ellis Mar 2020

Powering Advances In Next-Generation Photovoltaics Through Materials Synthesis And Characterization, Christie L.C. Ellis

Doctoral Dissertations

Solar energy is our most abundant natural resource: the energy from sunlight that strikes the Earth in one hour is more than the energy consumed globally in a year. This makes photovoltaics, which convert solar energy into electrical energy, a critical technology to pursue. 95% of the photovoltaic market is dominated by silicon; its high efficiency, stability, and plummeting manufacturing costs made it the clear choice for commercialization. However, silicon solar cells are thick, heavy, opaque, and rigid, limiting potential applications. They are energy- and resource-intensive to produce, and their manufacturing process uses and produces several toxic substances. “Next-generation” photovoltaic …


Engineered Nanoparticles For Site-Specific Bioorthogonal Catalysis: Imaging And Therapy, Riddha Das Mar 2020

Engineered Nanoparticles For Site-Specific Bioorthogonal Catalysis: Imaging And Therapy, Riddha Das

Doctoral Dissertations

Bioorthogonal catalysis offers a strategy for chemical transformations complementary to bioprocesses and has proven to be a powerful tool in biochemistry and medical sciences. Transition metal catalysts (TMCs) have emerged as a powerful tool to execute selective chemical transformations, however, lack of biocompatibility and stability limits their use in biological applications. Incorporation of TMCs into nanoparticle monolayers provides a versatile strategy for the generation of bioorthogonal nanocatalysts known as “nanozymes”. We have fabricated a family of nanozymes using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as scaffolds featuring diverse chemical functional groups for controlled localization of nanozymes in biological environments, providing unique strategies for …