Correlative Microscopy: A Potent Tool for Biomedicine

The correlative microscopy method based on a combination of optical and electronic techniques that is increasingly widely used now, has a number of limitations. Here, an alternative approach is considered that uses scanning probe microscopy (SPM) technique to get high-resolution and ultra-high-resolution data. SPM greatly increases the possibilities of collecting new information (on topological, morphological, electrical, magnetic etc. properties). To obtain three-dimensional distributions of different parameters of the sample, ultramicrotomography is used, which allows to scan the sample in steps of up to 20 nm. The principal advantage of the approach is that spectral data are used which due to the combination in near field microscopy can be gained with high and ultrahigh resolution. All above mentioned features are implemented in a single instrument, which allows to have 3-D data and their distributions at the same instrumental platform. A special feature of the approach is the possibility to use all the power of micro(nano)spectral methods. Therefore, it would be more correct to name the proposed approach ”Correlative microspectroscopy”. Keywords: correlative microscopy, correlative microspectroscopy, scanning near-ielf optical microscopy, ultramicrotomography, Raman, TER

Design of the Model of Ratiometric Polymer Nanobiothermometer Based on Quantum Dots

To solve many modern biological and biotechnological tasks it is necessary to realize strictly control and regulation of temperature of the cells and their organelles. Thi stasks include control of various exo- and endothermic reactions, monitoring of tissues‘ and individual cell‘s temperature in in vitro researches and in vivo procedures such as the hyperthermia procedure that used for cancer treatment. The today known methods of measuring and controlling of temperature at the cellular level can not provide the necessary level of locality and accuracy due to too big size and heightened sensitivity to external factors. The real alternative of existing today methods is nanoscale temperature biosensor operating on a ratiometric principle and based on the composite structure from polymers and colloidal quantum dots. In this paper we present a working model and plan of investigation of ratiometric nanoscale polymer nanobiothermometer based on quantum dots. Keywords: thermosensors, quantum dots, local temperature, polymers, temperature measuremen

Technology for Creation and Detailed Analysis of Polymer Composites with Uniform Distribution of Quantum Dots and Liquid Crystals

One of the most actual tasks in biotechnology is the creation of a new generation of nanobiosensors with improved brightness, photo stability, and sensitivity. Compositions of polymers and colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are the most promising base to develop such sensors. This work presents the technology for creation and detailed analysis of nanostructured composite films based on polypropylene matrices with uniformly distributed CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and liquid crystals. Methods of optical microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and confocal fluorescen tmicrospectroscopy were used. The presence of liquid crystals in the composite allows additional control of QDs fluorescence. The methodology proposed is applicable not only to polypropylene, but also to other porous polymers. The results of this work indicate the possibility of creating high-quality polymer/QDs composite materials and open the way to the development of nanomaterials (nanosensors) with optical properties sensitive to various environmental parameters (electric field, photo irradiation, mechanical action, etc.). Keywords: quantum dot-polymer composites, nanoporous polypropylene, fluorescenc

Resonance energy transfer in self-organized organic/inorganic dendrite structures

Hybrid materials formed by semiconductor quantum dots and J-aggregates of cyanine dyes provide a unique combination of enhanced absorption in inorganic constituents with large oscillator strength and extremely narrow exciton bands of the organic component. The optical properties of dendrite structures with fractal dimension 1.7–1.8, formed from J-aggregates integrated with CdTe quantum dots (QDs), have been investigated by photoluminescence spectroscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Our results demonstrate that (i)J-aggregates are coupled to QDs by F¨orster-type resonant energy transfer and (ii) there are energy fluxes from the periphery to the centre of the structure, where the QD density is higher than in the periphery of the dendrite. Such an anisotropic energy transport can be only observed when dendrites are formed from QDs integrated with J-aggregates. These QD/ J-aggregate hybrid systems can have applications in light harvesting systems and optical sensors with extended absorption spectra.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Neoglycolipids Micelle-like Structures as a Basis for Drug Delivery Systems

Targeted drug delivery is one of the most promising tasks of nanomedicine, as this is a real way to increase the effectiveness of therapeutic effects against many diseases. In this regard, the development of new inexpensive highly effective stimulating and non-immunogenic drug delivery systems (DDS) is of great importance. In this work new molecular candidates were proposed and studied for the creation of such systems based on the use of new compounds, neoglycolipids. It is shown that these compounds are capable of self-association in aqueous solutions and can serve as potential carriers of drug compounds with targeted delivery determined by their terminal groups (in particular, glycans). The processes of their associates formation and features of their structure are investigated. The results show that these selforganizing nanoscale systems can be used as a basis for developing new drug delivery systems. Keywords: neoglycolipids, micelle-like structures, small-angle X-ray scattering, molecular dynamics simulatio

Single spin asymmetry measurements for π0\pi^0 inclusive productions in p+p↑→π0+Xp+p_{\uparrow} \to \pi^0 + X and \pi^-+\p_{\uparrow}\to \pi^0+X reactions at 70 and 40 GeV respectively

The inclusive $\pi^0$ asymmetries were measured in reactions $p+p\uparrow \to \pi^0+X$ and $\pi^-+p\uparrow \to \pi^0+X$ at 70 and 40 GeV/c respectively. The measurements were made at the central region (for the first reaction) and asymmetry is compatible with zero in the entire measured $p_T$ region. For the second reaction the asymmetry is zero for small $x_F$ region ($-0.4<x_F<-0.1, 0.5<p_T(GeV/c) <1.5$) and increases with growth of $\mid x_F\mid$. Averaged over the interval $-0.8<x_F<-0.4, 1<p_T(GeV/c)<2$ the asymmetry was $-(13.8\pm 3.8)$.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; Presented at SPIN-2004 at Trieste, October 10-16,200

A New Measurement of the π0\pi^0 Radiative Decay Width

High precision measurements of the differential cross sections for $\pi^0$ photoproduction at forward angles for two nuclei, $^{12}$C and $^{208}$Pb, have been performed for incident photon energies of 4.9 - 5.5 GeV to extract the ${\pi^0 \to \gamma\gamma}$ decay width. The experiment was done at Jefferson Lab using the Hall B photon tagger and a high-resolution multichannel calorimeter. The ${\pi^0 \to \gamma\gamma}$ decay width was extracted by fitting the measured cross sections using recently updated theoretical models for the process. The resulting value for the decay width is $\Gamma{(\pi^0 \to \gamma\gamma)} = 7.82 \pm 0.14 ~({\rm stat.}) \pm 0.17 ~({\rm syst.}) ~{\rm eV}$. With the 2.8% total uncertainty, this result is a factor of 2.5 more precise than the current PDG average of this fundamental quantity and it is consistent with current theoretical predictions.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure