Structure and permeability of ion-channels by integrated AFM and waveguide TIRF microscopy.

Membrane ion channels regulate key cellular functions and their activity is dependent on their 3D structure. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images 3D structure of membrane channels placed on a solid substrate. Solid substrate prevents molecular transport through ion channels thus hindering any direct structure-function relationship analysis.

High performance, LED powered, waveguide based total internal reflection microscopy.

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy is a rapidly expanding optical technique with excellent surface sensitivity and limited background fluorescence. Commercially available TIRF systems are either objective based that employ expensive special high numerical aperture (NA) objectives or prism based that restrict integrating other modalities of investigation for structure-function analysis. Both techniques result in uneven illumination of the field of view and require training and experience in optics.

Micropatterned surfaces: techniques and applications in cell biology.

Importance Of The Field: Engineering of cell culture substrates provides a unique opportunity for precise control of the cellular microenvironment with both spatial as well as temporal resolutions. This greatly enhances studies of cell-cell, cell-matrix and cell-factor interaction studies in vitro.

Areas Covered In This Review: The technologies used for micropatterning in the biological field over the last decade and new applications in the last few years for dynamic control of surfaces, tissue engineering, drug discovery, cell-cell interactions and stem cell studies are presented.

Amyloid beta ion channel: 3D structure and relevance to amyloid channel paradigm.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a protein misfolding disease. Early hypothesis of AD pathology posits that 39-43 AA long misfolded amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide forms a fibrillar structure and induces pathophysiological response by destabilizing cellular ionic homeostasis. Loss of cell ionic homeostasis is believed to be either indirectly due to amyloid beta-induced oxidative stress or directly by its interaction with the cell membrane and/or activating pathways for ion exchange.

Atomic force microscopy imaging and electrical recording of lipid bilayers supported over microfabricated silicon chip nanopores: lab-on-a-chip system for lipid membranes and ion channels.

We describe a silicon chip-based supported bilayer system to detect the presence of ion channels and their electrical conductance in lipid bilayers. Nanopores were produced in microfabricated silicon membranes by electron beam lithography as well as by using a finely focused ion beam. Thermal oxide was used to shrink pore sizes, if necessary, and to create an insulating surface.

Cisplatin nanoliposomes for cancer therapy: AFM and fluorescence imaging of cisplatin encapsulation, stability, cellular uptake, and toxicity.

Cisplatin is the most effective cytotoxic agent against many cancers. Its usage, however, is limited due to inefficient uptake by the target cells. A liposomal formulation of cisplatin is reported to partly overcome this limitation.

Recent advances in microcontact printing.

Microcontact printing is a remarkable surface patterning technique. Developed about 10 years ago, it has triggered enormous interest from the surface science community, as well as from engineers and biologists. The last five years have been rich in improvements to the microcontact printing process itself, as well as in new technical innovations, many designed to suit new applications.

Surface functionalization of silicon oxide at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.

A novel method to derivatize silicon surfaces with 3-mercaptopropylsilane molecules has been developed and optimized. This method is based on an argon flow that increases the evaporation rate of the silane molecules by lowering the partial pressure of the silane molecules in gas phase above the liquid silane, at room temperature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies of the surfaces showed a dense monolayer coverage as well as hydrolysis of the silane methoxy groups.