Decisive Role of Polymer-Bovine Serum Albumin Interactions in Biofilm Substrates on "Philicity" and Extracellular Polymeric Substances Composition.

Formation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is a crucial step for bacterial biofilm growth. The dependence of EPS composition on growth substrate and conditioning of the latter is thus of primary importance. We present results of studies on the growth of biofilms of two different strains each, of the Gram-negative bacteria and , on four polymers used commonly in indwelling medical devices ─polyethene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, and polytetrafluoroethylene─immersed in bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 24 h.

Preparation of serum capped silver nanoparticles for selective killing of microbial cells sparing host cells.

Following access into the cell, colloidal silver nanoparticles exhibit generalized cytotoxic properties, thus appear as omnipotent microbicidal, but not suitable for systemic use unless are free of toxic effects on host cells. The AgNP-Serum-18 when prepared from silver nitrate, using dextrose as reducing and group-matched homologous serum as a stabilizing agent, selective endocytosis, and oxidative stress-dependent bio-functional damages to the host are mostly eliminated. For their bio-mimicking outer coat, there is the least possibility of internalization into host cells or liberation of excess oxidants in circulation following interaction with erythrocytes or vascular endothelial cells.

Periodicities in the roughness and biofilm growth on glass substrate with etching time: Hydrofluoric acid etchant.

Adherence of the microorganism to submerged solid surfaces leads to biofilm formation. Biofilm formation modifies the surfaces in favor of bacteria facilitating the survival of the bacteria under different stressed conditions. On the other hand, the formation of biofilm has a direct adverse economic impact in various industries and more importantly in medical practices.

Chain-length dependence of lipophilic force: comparison with the two-body van der Waals' force.

Hydrophobic dodecanethiol capped Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) form two-dimensional patterns in monolayers of amphiphilic fatty acids ([Formula: see text]) at the air water interface. An interplay between the various lipophilic interactions, in turn, decides the NP cluster size, where stronger NP-monolayer and monolayer-monolayer attraction in fatty acid monolayers with longer tail length oppose nanoparticle aggregation resulting in a decrease in cluster size in both in-plane and out-of-plane directions. The decrease in the in-plane cluster size is steepest for 14  <  n  <  18, n being the total number of C atoms in the fatty acid, and levels off for higher fatty acids and cannot be explained on the basis of the two body van der Waals pair potential atleast at initial phases of pattern formation.

Time-structuring in the evolution of 2D nanopatterns through interactions with substrate.

Hydrophobic dodecanethiol capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are found to self-assemble into two-dimensional patterns in monolayers of amphiphiles spread at the air-water interface of a Langmuir trough. In this communication we investigate the role of the nanoparticle-monolayer (FNMA) and monolayer-monolayer (FMMA) lipophilic attraction in influencing morphology and dynamics of AuNP cluster patterns in fatty acid monolayers. FNMA and FMMA are progressively varied by changing n, where n is the number of -CH2 groups in the alkyl tails of the amphiphilic fatty acid (CH3(CH2)nCOOH) molecules forming the monolayer.

Critical behavior of a two-dimensional complex fluid: Macroscopic and mesoscopic views.

Liquid disordered (L_{d}) to liquid ordered (L_{o}) phase transition in myristic acid [MyA, CH_{3}(CH_{2})_{12}COOH] Langmuir monolayers was studied macroscopically as well as mesoscopically to locate the critical point. Macroscopically, isotherms of the monolayer were obtained across the 20^{∘}C-38^{∘}C temperature (T) range and the critical point was estimated, primarily from the vanishing of the order parameter, at ≈38^{∘}C. Mesoscopically, domain morphology in the L_{d}-L_{o} coexistence regime was imaged using the technique of Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) as a function of T and the corresponding power spectral density function (PSDF) obtained.

Counterion effects on nano-confined metal-drug-DNA complexes.

We have explored morphology of DNA molecules bound with Cu complexes of piroxicam (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) molecules under one-dimensional confinement of thin films and have studied the effect of counterions present in a buffer. X-ray reflectivity at and away from the Cu K absorption edge and atomic force microscopy studies reveal that confinement segregates the drug molecules preferentially in a top layer of the DNA film, and counterions enhance this segregation.

Evolution of self-organized two-dimensional patterns of nanoclusters through demixing.

A mixture of dodecanethiol-capped Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the amphiphilic fatty acid, stearic acid, spread as a monomolecular layer on water surface, is observed with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) to form a two-dimensional network of AuNP clusters through demixing, at concentration of AuNPs by weight (ρ[over ¯])>10% and the surface pressure (π)≥10mNm^{-1}. For π=15mNm^{-1}, the number of nodes (n) remains unchanged till ∼2 hours and then changes over to a lower n state, where the pattern consists of almost perfect circles with greater in-plane thickness of the AuNP lamellae. For the higher n state the mean-square fluctuation of BAM intensity remains flat and then decays as f(ξ)=ξ^{2α} with α∼0.

Stability and softening of a lipid monolayer in the presence of a pain-killer drug.

The aim of this study is to investigate the interaction of a drug (Piroxicam, 4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-(2-pyridinyl)-2H-1,2-benzothiazine-3-carboxamide 1,1 dioxide) with a lipid (DMPC) monolayer used as a membrane-mime in terms of drug-induced changes in stability and compressibility with variation in temperature, surface-pressure, drug-dose and ionic states of the monolayers. Drug-induced fluidization is noticed in the π-A isotherms through increase in phase-transition pressure at constant temperature. The long-term dynamics of the lipid-monolayer is characterized by algebraic decays in surface-energy E with time t, E∼t(-p1,2,3), with an initial decay exponent p1 that changes to p2 after ∼1000 s, and, at high surface pressures and/or drug-dose, to a third exponent p3 after ∼3500 s, suggesting structural reorganizations in the monolayer.

Dynamics driven by lipophilic force in Langmuir monolayers: In-plane and out-of-plane growth.

While monolayer area fraction versus time (A(n)-t) curves obtained from surface pressure-area (π-A) isotherms for desorption-dominated (DD) processes in Langmuir monolayers of fatty acids represent continuous loss, those from Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) also show a two-dimensional (2D) coalescence. For nucleation-dominated (ND) processes both techniques suggest competing processes, with BAM showing 2D coalescence alongside multilayer formation. π enhances both DD and ND processes with a lower cutoff for ND processes, while temperature has a lower cutoff for DD but negligible effect on ND processes.

Atomic force microscopy in biofilm study.

Biofilms have been classically visualized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The complex operating procedure of SEM restricts its use in routine practice. There is a need of newer visualizing techniques for examining surfaces of biofilms, in particular under ambient conditions.

A two-dimensional network of Au nanoclusters on water surface: example of facile control of nanospace.

We report isotherm and Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM) studies on mixed monolayers of Stearic Acid (StA) and Dodecanethiol-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (10% by weight) at the air-water interface. The surface pressure-specific molecular area isotherm for the mixed monolayer shows small hysteresis as well as a lowering of the slope change in going from L2-L2' and L2'-S phases, indicating lesser number of monolayer phases for the mixed film relative to a pristine StA monolayer. The BAM study shows formation of a two-dimensional, stable, reproducible, and extensive network of nanoparticle clusters with near-circular pores, in the 5-20 mN/m surface pressure range.

Evolution of nanoparticle-induced distortion on viral polyhedra.

Morphological changes in the polyhedra of the Bombyx mori L. nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), a baculovirus causing the deadly grasserie disease in silkworms, brought about by mixing with lipophilically capped amorphous silica nanoparticles (LASN, average size 10 ± 2 nm) were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. SEM shows that the regular octagonal polyhedra facets are replaced by a larger number of newly formed irregular ones.

Nanoparticle-induced morphological transition of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus: a novel method to treat silkworm grasserie disease.

Grasserie, a polyorganotrophic disease caused by Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), accounts for lethal infection to fifth instar silkworm larvae. It was found that nanoparticle (NP)-induced morphological transformation of BmNPV polyhedra could reduce the infectivity of BmNPV both in cell line and in silkworm larvae. Initially, 11 NPs were screened for evaluation of their nature of interaction with polyhedra surface through scanning electron microscopy.

Comparative analysis of stability and toxicity profile of three differently capped gold nanoparticles for biomedical usage.

Nowadays gold nanoparticle (GNP) is increasingly being used in drug delivery and diagnostics. Here we have reported a comparative analysis of detailed stability and toxicity (in vitro and in vivo) profile of three water soluble spherical GNPs, having nearly similar size, but the surfaces of which were modified with three different capping materials aspartic acid (GNPA), trisodium citrate dihydrate (GNPC) or bovine serum albumin (GNPB). Spectral analyses on the stability of these GNPs revealed that depending on the nature of capping agents, GNPs behave differently at different environmental modalities like wide range of pH, high salt concentrations, or in solutions and buffers of biological usage.

Langmuir-Blodgett deposition selects carboxylate headgroup coordination.

Infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy results on stearic acid Langmuir monolayers containing Mn, Co, and Cd ions show that on the water surface, the ions induce unidentate and bidentate (both chelate and bridged) coordination in the carboxylate headgroup with some trace of undissociated acid. Moreover, with Cd and Mn ions in subphase, the preferred coordination is found to be unidentate, whereas for Co, bidentate chelate is most preferred. After transfer onto amorphous substrate, not all coordinations are found to exist in the same ratio for the deposited metal stearate monolayers.

Solidlike and liquidlike behavior in monolayers and multilayers of metal-bearing amphiphiles.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) of cadmium stearate (CdSt) and cobalt stearate (CoSt) Langmuir-Blodgett films show differences in their in-plane morphologies. CdSt films, with a huge number of in-plane "pinhole" defects, follow self-affine behavior, whereas CoSt films, which are almost void of such in-plane defects, show deviation from self-affinity especially at small length scales, suggesting liquidlike behavior, imparting flexibility to the system, in plane. Phase images of CoSt obtained from tapping mode AFM show gentle undulations or hemispherelike features in contrast to its smooth topography, unlike the CdSt system where both height and phase images show self-affine domains.

Crossover from layering to island formation in Langmuir-Blodgett growth: role of long-range intermolecular forces.

Combined studies by atomic force microscopy, x-ray reflectivity, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on transition-metal stearate (M-St, M = Mn, Co, Zn, and Cd) Langmuir-Blodgett films clearly indicate association of bidentate coordination of the metal-carboxylate head group to layer-by-layer growth as observed in MnSt and CoSt and partially in ZnSt. Crossover to islandlike growth, as observed in CdSt and ZnSt, is associated with the presence of unidentate coordination in the head group. Morphological evolutions as obtained from one, three, and nine monolayers (MLs) of M-St films are consistent with Frank van der Merwe, Stranski-Krastanov, and Volmer Weber growth modes for M=Mn/Co, Zn, and Cd, respectively, as previously assigned, and are found to vary with number (n) of metal atoms per head group, viz.

Nanoparticle surface as activation site.

The immense surface-to-volume (S/V) ratio in nanoparticles leads to large surface energy density. These high densities play the role of sites for activities that are not triggered in bulk materials. Here we present some examples of such distinctive activities taking place at nanoparticle surfaces.

Nanoparticle-virus complex shows enhanced immunological effect against baculovirus.

Insects protect themselves from majority of infections by a non-specific innate immune system (present in both vertebrates and invertebrates). Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV), a baculovirus, causing the deadly grasserie disease is a scourge to silkworm industry and we report here the first success in combating this disease with the help of a nanosilica-virus complex. Hydrophobic aluminium silicate nanoparticles were mixed with live BmNPV in vitro.

Morphology and structural evolution in cobalt stearate Langmuir-Blodgett films.

Structural evolution of cobalt stearate (CoSt) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films show 2D layer-by-layer or Frank van der Merwe type growth, with in-plane defect-free morphology and bidentate bridging metal ion headgroup coordination, as observed from both Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Reflectivity (XRR) studies. Difference in headgroup structure of first monolayer with that of subsequent bilayers is observed from XRR studies. However, AFM study of preformed cobalt stearate (CoStp) LB films did not show such defect-free growth in spite of having same metal ion coordination, as seen from its bulk Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) spectra.

Chemistry at air/water interface versus reaction in a flask: tuning molecular conformation in thin films.

Atomic force microscopy and X-ray reflectivity studies of cobalt stearate Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films (CoStp) deposited from a preformed bulk sample on quartz substrates showed formation of a Volmer-Weber type monolayer but no multilayers as compared to the excellent multilayers of cobalt stearate films (CoStn) deposited at the air/water interface by the usual LB technique, in spite of both showing bidentate bridging type coordination of cobalt ions with the carboxylate group. The difference is attributed to existence of different headgroup conformers, observed from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies. The CoStp films had a higher energy 'boat' conformation with linear O-Co-O linkage, whereas CoStn formed a low energy conformer with a bent O-Co-O configuration (bond angle of 105 degrees).

Self-assembly of a two-dimensional Au-nanocluster superlattice and its photoluminescence spectra.

A solution of dodecanethiol-capped Au nanoparticles (diameter approximately 2 nm), prepared through reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate, was coated on a patterned cross-linked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film (thickness > or =1 microm) comprising array of square pillars, by either spin- or dip coating. Drying in ambient conditions for about 5 days resulted in the self-assembly of a superlattice (300 nm x 300 nm x 90 nm) of monodisperse nanoparticle clusters for the dip-coated samples, the clusters occupying the interstitial locations between four adjacent pillars on the polymer surface. Initial patterning of the PDMS is found to give rise to new photoluminescence bands in the near ultraviolet and visible regions, which the nanoclusters quench.

Interaction of Oxicam NSAIDs with lipid monolayer: anomalous dependence on drug concentration.

Surface pressure (pi) versus specific molecular area (A) isotherms of Langmuir monolayers of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) lipid on pure water were studied in pristine form and in presence of three non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, meloxicam (MX), piroxicam (PX) and tenoxicam (TX) in the subphase. Data were taken at three drug/lipid (D/L) ratios of 0.026, 0.

Two-dimensional self-organization of gold nanoparticles on supramolecular aggregates.

Alkanethiol-capped gold (Au) nanoparticles, dispersed in toluene and spin-coated on atactic polystyrene films that are themselves spin-coated on fused quartz plates, self-assemble into a characteristic two-dimensional pattern-a network of the Au-thiol nano-composite separating polystyrene 'islands' of dimensions around 200 nm. This pattern changes on varying the concentration of the nanoparticles in the coating solution, evolving into the network from isolated nanoparticle clusters, and then going over to a distribution of 'pinholes' on a surface covered by the nano-composite, resembling a partially wetted surface with near-full coverage. Study of the pristine polystyrene surface reveals a pattern of low-cohesion regions separating 'islands' of polystyrene, where the latter are known to be supramolecular aggregates.