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Nanoparticles

Theses/Dissertations

Biological and Chemical Physics

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Full-Text Articles in Physics

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 …


Assembly Of Particles Onto Rigid Cylinders And Flexible Membranes: Probing Effects Of Surface Curvature And Deformation, Derek Wood Nov 2017

Assembly Of Particles Onto Rigid Cylinders And Flexible Membranes: Probing Effects Of Surface Curvature And Deformation, Derek Wood

Doctoral Dissertations

In this thesis we explore two specific topics within the broad field of particle adhesion. First, we examine the effect of substrate shape and geometry on the self assembly of adsorbed particles, by performing molecular dynamics simulations of interacting particles constrained to the surface of cylinders of varying diameters. We find the diameter of the cylinder imposes a constraint on the shape and crystallographic orientation of the self-assembled lattice, essentially determining the optimal arrangement of particles a priori. We propose a simple one-dimensional model to explain the optimal arrangement of particles as a function of the particle interaction potential …


Biophysical Interaction Between Nanoparticles And Biomolecules, Slaven Radic Apr 2015

Biophysical Interaction Between Nanoparticles And Biomolecules, Slaven Radic

All Dissertations

In the last two decades nanotechnology market has undergone remarkable growth. Breakthroughs in nanomaterial synthesis increased diverse nanomaterials production and subsequently their application. Owing to its large surface to volume ratio and remarkable physical properties not seen in the bulk materials, nanoparticles are finding emerging use in industry and medicine. Hence, it is expectable that at some point these nanomaterials will end up released into the environment and interact with bio systems. The purpose of this dissertation is to elicit implications of nanomaterial transformation once it gets inside biological milieu.