Interactions of gold nanoparticles with a phospholipid monolayer membrane on mercury.

It is demonstrated that a compact monolayer of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine adsorbed to a hanging mercury drop electrode can serve as a simple electrochemical model system to study biomembrane penetration by gold nanoparticles. The hydrogen redox-chemistry characteristic of ligand-stabilized gold nanoparticles in molecularly close contact with a mercury electrode is used as an indicator of membrane penetration. Results for water-dispersible gold nanoparticles of two different sizes are reported, and comparisons are made with the cellular uptake of the same preparations of nanoparticles by a common human fibroblast cell line.

Water defects induced by expansion and electrical fields in DMPC and DMPE monolayers: contribution of hydration and confined water.

The values of capacitance of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DMPE) monolayers on Hg, derived from cyclic voltammetry studies indicate that when the lipids are near the phase transition temperature fractures are formed at a critical area beyond that corresponding to the hydration shell of the lipids in the liquid expanded state. Similar fractures are inferred to be formed when an electric field is applied at constant area, at a breaking potential which is a function of the lipid species. These voltage values denote that energy involved in the transition induced by the electrical field is much higher for DMPE than for DMPC at low areas.

Electrocatalytic hydrogen redox chemistry on gold nanoparticles.

Electrocatalytic proton reduction leading to the formation of adsorbed molecular hydrogen on gold nanoparticles of 1-3 and 14-16 nm diameter stabilized by 1-mercapto-undecane-11-tetra(ethyleneglycol) has been demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry using a hanging mercury drop electrode. The nanoparticles were adsorbed to the electrode from aqueous dispersion and formed robust surface layers transferrable to fresh base electrolyte solutions. Unique electrocatalytic proton redox chemistry was observed that has no comparable counterpart in the electrochemistry of bulk gold electrodes.

The influence of organic ligands on the adsorption of cadmium by suspended matter in natural waters studied by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and electrochemical methods.

Natural water carrying a great amount of suspended particulate matter (SPM) was used as a model system for the study of the competition among organic ligands (dietilentetraamine pentaacetic acid, DTPA, nitrilotriacetic acid, NTA, and citrate, Cit) and natural complexants (SPM) for cadmium adsorption. Speciation diagrams at the pH of the natural sample were obtained by electroanalytical techniques, processing the experimental data with the complexation constants and the mass balance of the system. Results show that the adsorption equilibrium SPM-Cd is completely displaced by DTPA but not completely by NTA or Cit.

Complexing capacity of natural waters carrying a great amount of suspended matter.

The cadmium binding properties of waters of the superior section of the Rio de la Plata estuarine were determined over a three-year period. Samples were collected at different hydrodynamic conditions. The complexing capacity was determined by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV).