Dynamics of equilibrium linked colloidal gels

Colloids that attractively bond to only a few neighbors (e.g., patchy particles) can form equilibrium gels with distinctive dynamic properties that are stable in time. Here, we use a coarse-grained model to explore the dynamics of linked networks of patchy colloids whose average valence is macroscopically, rather than microscopically, constrained. Simulation results for the model show dynamic hallmarks of equilibrium gel formation and establish that the colloid-colloid bond persistence time controls the characteristic slow relaxation of the self-intermediate scattering function. The model features re-entrant network formation without phase separation as a function of linker concentration, centered at the stoichiometric ratio of linker ends to nanoparticle surface bonding sites. Departures from stoichiometry result in linker-starved or site-starved networks with reduced connectivity and shorter characteristic relaxation times with lower activation energies. Underlying the re-entrant trends, dynamic properties vary monotonically with the number of effective network bonds per colloid, a quantity that can be predicted using Wertheim's thermodynamic perturbation theory. These behaviors suggest macroscopic in situ strategies for tuning the dynamical response of colloidal networks.Comment: 25 pages, 9 figure

Field-control, phase-transitions, and life's emergence

Instances of critical-like characteristics in living systems at each organizational level as well as the spontaneous emergence of computation (Langton), indicate the relevance of self-organized criticality (SOC). But extrapolating complex bio-systems to life's origins, brings up a paradox: how could simple organics--lacking the 'soft matter' response properties of today's bio-molecules--have dissipated energy from primordial reactions in a controlled manner for their 'ordering'? Nevertheless, a causal link of life's macroscopic irreversible dynamics to the microscopic reversible laws of statistical mechanics is indicated via the 'functional-takeover' of a soft magnetic scaffold by organics (c.f. Cairns-Smith's 'crystal-scaffold'). A field-controlled structure offers a mechanism for bootstrapping--bottom-up assembly with top-down control: its super-paramagnetic components obey reversible dynamics, but its dissipation of H-field energy for aggregation breaks time-reversal symmetry. The responsive adjustments of the controlled (host) mineral system to environmental changes would bring about mutual coupling between random organic sets supported by it; here the generation of long-range correlations within organic (guest) networks could include SOC-like mechanisms. And, such cooperative adjustments enable the selection of the functional configuration by altering the inorganic network's capacity to assist a spontaneous process. A non-equilibrium dynamics could now drive the kinetically-oriented system towards a series of phase-transitions with appropriate organic replacements 'taking-over' its functions.Comment: 54 pages, pdf fil

Magnetism, FeS colloids, and Origins of Life

A number of features of living systems: reversible interactions and weak bonds underlying motor-dynamics; gel-sol transitions; cellular connected fractal organization; asymmetry in interactions and organization; quantum coherent phenomena; to name some, can have a natural accounting via $physical$ interactions, which we therefore seek to incorporate by expanding the horizons of `chemistry-only' approaches to the origins of life. It is suggested that the magnetic 'face' of the minerals from the inorganic world, recognized to have played a pivotal role in initiating Life, may throw light on some of these issues. A magnetic environment in the form of rocks in the Hadean Ocean could have enabled the accretion and therefore an ordered confinement of super-paramagnetic colloids within a structured phase. A moderate H-field can help magnetic nano-particles to not only overcome thermal fluctuations but also harness them. Such controlled dynamics brings in the possibility of accessing quantum effects, which together with frustrations in magnetic ordering and hysteresis (a natural mechanism for a primitive memory) could throw light on the birth of biological information which, as Abel argues, requires a combination of order and complexity. This scenario gains strength from observations of scale-free framboidal forms of the greigite mineral, with a magnetic basis of assembly. And greigite's metabolic potential plays a key role in the mound scenario of Russell and coworkers-an expansion of which is suggested for including magnetism.Comment: 42 pages, 5 figures, to be published in A.R. Memorial volume, Ed Krishnaswami Alladi, Springer 201

지질 이중층 상 플라즈모닉 나노입자 기반 나노바이오 검지 및 컴퓨팅

학위논문 (박사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 자연과학대학 화학부, 2019. 2. 남좌민.Supported lipid bilayer is a two-dimensional lipid bilayer self-assembled on a hydrophilic substrate with two-dimensional fluidity. By introducing plasmonic nanoparticles with strong scattering signals into the supported lipid bilayer, it is possible to observe and track thousands of nanoparticles and their interactions at a single-nanoparticle level in real time. In this thesis, I expand the nanoparticle-lipid bilayer platform by engineering plasmonic nanoparticles to construct a complex nanoparticle network system and develop multiplexed bio-detection and bio-computing strategies. Chapter 1 describes a supported lipid bilayer platform incorporating plasmonic nanoparticles. Section 1 introduces the optical properties and biosensing application of plasmonic nanoparticles, and Section 2 introduces tethering technique, characteristics, and advantages for introducing nanoparticles into supported lipid bilayer platforms. In Chapter 2, I introduce a system that can distinguish nine types of nanoparticle assembly reactions occurring simultaneously by introducing optically encoded plasmonic nanoparticles that scatter red, blue, and green light into supported lipid bilayers. I performed multiplexed detection of nine types of microRNAs, which are important gene regulators and cancer cell biomarker. In Chapter 3, I develop a bio-computing platform that recognizes molecular inputs, performs logic circuits, and generates nanoparticle assembly/disassembly output signals. Complex logic circuits are designed and implemented by combining two strategies: (i) interfacial design that constructs a logic circuit through DNA functionalization of the interface of nanoparticles, and (ii) a network design that connects assembly/disassembly reactions. In Chapter 4, I develop a bio-computing calculator capable of performing arithmetic logic operations. I use the nanoparticle-lipid bilayer platform as the hardware that stores, processes, and outputs information, and constructs software that contains logic circuit functions through DNA solution. An information storage nanoparticle stores solution-phase molecular input signals on the surface of nanoparticles. The bio-computing lipid nanotablet recognizes an arithmetic logic circuit programmed with DNA information and generates outputs a result of a kinetic difference between nanoparticle assembly reaction according to the storage state of the input signal.지지형 지질 이중층은 친수성 기판 위에 조립된 2차원의 지질 이중층으로 2차원 상의 유동성을 가진다. 지지형 지질 이중층에 강한 산란 신호를 지니는 플라즈모닉 나노입자를 도입하면 수천 개의 나노입자와 그 상호작용을 단일 나노입자 수준으로 실시간 관찰이 가능하다. 본 학위논문에서는 나노입자-지질 이중층 플랫폼에서의 나노입자 종류 및 개질 방법을 확장하여 복잡한 나노입자 네트워크 시스템을 구성하고, 바이오 검지, 바이오 컴퓨팅 응용을 개발한다. 1장에서는 플라즈모닉 나노입자가 도입된 지지형 지질 이중층 플랫폼을 설명한다. 1절에서 플라즈모닉 나노입자의 광학적 특성과 산란신호를 이용한 바이오센싱 응용 연구를 소개하고 2절에서는 지지형 지질 이중층 플랫폼에 나노입자의 도입 방법, 특징, 장점, 분석방법 등을 소개한다. 2장에서는 빨강, 초록, 파랑 빛을 산란하는 플라즈모닉 나노입자를 합성하고, 지지형 지질 이중층에 도입하여 동시에 일어나는 9종류의 나노입자 결합 반응을 각각 구분할 수 있는 플랫폼을 개발한다. 이를 이용하여 세포 내 중요한 단백질 번역 조절물질이자 암 바이오마커인 마이크로RNA를 동시 다중 검지한다. 3장에서는 지지형 지질 이중층 상에 도입된 나노입자를 다종의 DNA로 기능화하여 특정 DNA 분자 입력 신호 인식, 논리회로 수행, 나노입자 결합/분리 출력 신호 생성하는 바이오 컴퓨팅 플랫폼을 개발한다. 나노입자의 계면을 DNA로 디자인하여 논리 회로를 구성하는 인터페이스 프로그래밍과 나노입자의 결합/분리 반응을 연결하여 네트워크를 디자인하여 논리 회로를 집적하는 네트워크 프로그래밍을 조합하여 복잡한 논리 회로를 설계하고 수행한다. 4장에서는 지지형 지질 이중층에 도입된 나노입자 표면에 용액 상 분자 입력신호를 저장하는 정보 저장 장치를 개발하고 모든 종류의 산술논리연산을 수행할 수 있는 생분자 계산기을 개발한다. 나노입자-지질 이중층 플랫폼을 정보저장, 수행, 출력하는 매체인 하드웨어로 이용하고, DNA 분자 조합 용액을 산술논리회로 기능을 담고있는 소프트웨어로 구성한다. 바이오 컴퓨팅 칩은 DNA 정보로 프로그래밍된 산술논리회로를 인식하여 입력신호의 저장 상태에 따라 나노입자 결합 반응에 반응속도에 차이를 일으키고 결과를 출력한다.Chapter 1. Introduction: Plasmonic Nanoparticle-Tethered Supported Lipid Bilayer Platform 1 1.1. Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Their Bio-Applications 2 1.1.1. Introduction 4 1.1.2. Fundamentals of Plasmonic Nanoparticles 8 1.1.3. Plasmonic Nanoparticle Engineering for Biological Application 11 1.1.4. Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Rayleigh Scattering-Based Biosensing 16 1.1.5. References 21 1. 2. Supported Lipid Bilayer as a Dynamic Platform 24 1.2.1. Introduction 26 1.2.2. Basic Setups and Strategies 29 1.2.3. Nanoparticle-Tethering Techniques 33 1.2.4. Real-Time Imaging and Tracking of Single Nanoparticles on SLB 39 1.2.5. Observation of Interactions between Single Nanoparticles 44 1.2.6. References 50 Chapter 2. Multiplexed Biomolecular Detection Strategy 53 2.1. Introduction 55 2.2. Experimental Section 60 2.3. Results and Discussion 66 2.4. Conclusion 77 2.5. Supporting Information 79 2.6. References 83 Chapter 3. Nano-Bio Computing on Lipid Bilayer 84 3.1. Introduction 85 3.2. Experimental Section 88 3.3. Results and Discussion 98 3.4. Conclusion 120 3.5. Supporting Information 124 3.6. References 161 Chapter 4. Development of Nanoparticle Architecture for Biomolecular Arithmetic Logic Operation 163 4.1. Introduction 165 4.2. Experimental Section 167 4.3. Results and Discussion 171 4.4. Conclusion 177 4.5. References 179 Abstract in Korean 180Docto

Electromagnetic Energy Coupled to Nanomaterial Composites for Polymer Manufacturing

Polymer nano-composites may be engineered with specific electrical properties to achieve good coupling with electromagnetic energy sources. This enables a wide range of novel processing techniques where controlling the precise thermal profile is critical. Composite materials were characterized with a variety of electrical and thermographic analysis methods to capture their response to electromagnetic energy. COMSOL finite element analysis software was used to model the electric fields and resultant thermal profiles in selected samples. Applications of this technology are demonstrated, including the use of microwave and radio frequency energy to thermally weld the interfaces of 3D printed parts together for increased interlayer (Z) strength. We also demonstrate the ability to bond various substrates with carbon nanotube/epoxy composite adhesives using radio frequency electromagnetic heating to rapidly cure the adhesive interface. The results of this work include 3D printed parts with mechanical properties equal to injection molded samples, and RF bonded joints cured 40% faster than traditional oven curing

Algebarska topologija kompleksnih mreža i topološki aspekti nelinearnih dinamičkih sistema

Da bi razumeli i eventualno predvideli ponašanje kompleksnih sistema koji se javljaju u raznim oblastima nauke, od socio-ekonomskih do sistema iz, na primer, fizike ili biologije, i koji imaju važan uticaj na razne aspekte naših života, naučnici su razvili veliki broj metoda i modela.To understand and eventually predict the behavior of complex systems arising from diverse areas of science such as physics, economics or biology, which have a widespread impact on our lives, many powerful methods and models have been developed in the recent years

Present and future of surface-enhanced Raman scattering

The discovery of the enhancement of Raman scattering by molecules adsorbed on nanostructured metal surfaces is a landmark in the history of spectroscopic and analytical techniques. Significant experimental and theoretical effort has been directed toward understanding the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect and demonstrating its potential in various types of ultrasensitive sensing applications in a wide variety of fields. In the 45 years since its discovery, SERS has blossomed into a rich area of research and technology, but additional efforts are still needed before it can be routinely used analytically and in commercial products. In this Review, prominent authors from around the world joined together to summarize the state of the art in understanding and using SERS and to predict what can be expected in the near future in terms of research, applications, and technological development. This Review is dedicated to SERS pioneer and our coauthor, the late Prof. Richard Van Duyne, whom we lost during the preparation of this article

Resilient Pathways to Atomic Attachment of Quantum Dot Dimers and Artificial Solids from Faceted CdSe Quantum Dot Building Blocks.

The goal of this work is to identify favored pathways for preparation of defect-resilient attached wurtzite CdX (X = S, Se, Te) nanocrystals. We seek guidelines for oriented attachment of faceted nanocrystals that are most likely to yield pairs of nanocrystals with either few or no electronic defects or electronic defects that are in and of themselves desirable and stable. Using a combination of in situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electronic structure calculations, we evaluate the relative merits of atomic attachment of wurtzite CdSe nanocrystals on the {11̅00} or {112̅0} family of facets. Pairwise attachment on either facet can lead to perfect interfaces, provided the nanocrystal facets are perfectly flat and the angles between the nanocrystals can adjust during the assembly. Considering defective attachment, we observe for {11̅00} facet attachment that only one type of edge dislocation forms, creating deep hole traps. For {112̅0} facet attachment, we observe that four distinct types of extended defects form, some of which lead to deep hole traps whereas others only to shallow hole traps. HRTEM movies of the dislocation dynamics show that dislocations at {11̅00} interfaces can be removed, albeit slowly. Whereas only some extended defects at {112̅0} interfaces could be removed, others were trapped at the interface. Based on these insights, we identify the most resilient pathways to atomic attachment of pairs of wurtzite CdX nanocrystals and consider how these insights can translate to the creation of electronically useful materials from quantum dots with other crystal structures