Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Commons^™

Functionalized Plasmonic Nanostructures For Ultrasensitive Single Cell Analysis, Priya Rathi

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ultrasensitive detection and quantification of soluble, secreted and cell surface-bound proteins is critical for advancing our understanding of cellular systems, enabling effective drug development, novel therapies, and bio-diagnostics. However, exiting technologies are largely limited by their sensitivity, making the detection and quantification of low-abundant proteins extremely challenging. This forms a major barrier in various fields of biology and biomedical sciences. In this work, we introduce novel cellular analysis methodologies based on plasmon-enhanced fluorescence for analyzing cell structure and probing surface and secreted proteins from cells. In the first part, we introduce plasmon-enhanced expansion microscopy and demonstrate the effectiveness of employing …

Surface Modification Of Ii-Vi Semiconducting Nanocrystals, Calynn Morrison

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents the compositional analysis of semiconductor materials by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), a novel low-temperature shell growth precursor and installation pathway, and L-type for Z-type ligand exchange experiments conducted with four metal dithiocarbamate ligands. The techniques employed in the compositional analysis of semiconductor materials by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) have a profound influence on the accuracy and reproducibility of the results. In Chapter 3, we describe methods for sample preparation, calibration, standard selection, and data collection. Specific protocols are suggested for the analysis of II-VI compounds and nanocrystals containing the elements Zn, …

Spectroscopic Investigations Of Excited Charge Carriers In Ii-Vi Nanoparticles, William Matthew Sanderson

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The large absorption cross sections and the tunability of the energetic spacings between the states in the conduction (CB) and valence band (VB) within a semiconductor nanoparticle (NP) make them promising media for capturing electromagnetic radiation and converting it into charge carriers, or electricity. In photovoltaic devices that incorporate semiconductor NPs, it would be ideal if every photon could be absorbed by a NP and the carriers could be collected with perfect efficiency and without loss of energy. The relaxation pathways of the carriers within the NPs down to the band edge and their fate at the band edge contribute …

Wave Function Engineering In Cdse/Pbs Core/Shell Nanocrystal Heterostructures, Brian Matthew Wieliczka

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colloidal semiconducting nanocrystals hold significant potential for third generation photovoltaics as solution processable materials that can surpass the Shockley-Queisser limit through multiexciton generation. In pursuit of this goal, the synthesis and optical characterization of CdSe/PbS core/shell quantum dots is reported. The spectroscopic behavior of these particles demonstrates their potential for use in optoelectronic devices, taking advantage of wave function engineering of the electron and hole. The rock salt PbS shell grows on all sides of the underlying zinc blende CdSe quantum dot, creating a core/shell structure. With increasing shell thickness, the band edge absorption and photoluminescence transitions decrease in energy …

Defect Chemistry And Ion Intercalation During The Growth And Solid-State Transformation Of Metal Halide Nanocrystals, Bo Yin

McKelvey School of Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Abstract of the Dissertation

Defect Chemistry and Ion Intercalation During the Growth and Solid-State Transformation of Metal Halide Nanocrystals

Semiconductor metal halides as light-sensitive materials have applications in multiple areas, such as photographic film, antibacterial agents and photocatalysts. One focus of this dissertation is to achieve novel morphologies of ternary silver bromoiodide (AgBr1-xIx, 0

For the silver halide system, we demonstrate that the anion composition of AgBr1-xIx nanocrystals determines their shape through the introduction of twin defects as the nanocrystals are made more iodide-rich. AgBr1-xIx nanocrystals grow as single-phase, solid solutions with the rock salt crystal structure for anions compositions …

Radiolabeled Nanohydroxyapatite As A Platform For The Development Of New Pet Imaging Agents, Stacy Lee Queern

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging utilizes drugs labeled with positron emitters to target and evaluate different biological processes occurring in the body. Tailoring medicine to the individual allows for higher quality of care with better diagnosis and treatment and is a key purpose for advancing research into developing new platforms for PET imaging agents. A PET nuclide of high interest for the development of these agents is 89Zr. This can be attributed to the long half-life of 3.27 days and low positron energy of 89Zr.

In this work, we developed a production method for 89Zr using Y sputtered coins that …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Biological Activity Of Spherical Nucleic Acid (Sna) Constructs For Cancer Therapy And Imaging, Colin Calabrese

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the development of biocompatible oligonucleotide-based nanomaterials, known as spherical nucleic acids (SNAs), as therapeutic and diagnostic agents for intracellular gene regulation and in vivo cancer imaging by positron emission tomography (PET). SNAs consist of a nanoparticle core functionalized with a dense shell of oligonucleotides such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Detailed synthetic procedures and characterization of novel SNAs with purpose-built biocompatible core materials are described. The SNAs exhibit comparable chemical, physical and biological properties regardless of core composition. The functionalities of the SNAs were further tailored by deliberate design and chemical modification of their oligonucleotide sequences.

The …