Charge stabilized crystalline colloidal arrays as templates for fabrication of non-close-packed inverted photonic crystals.

We developed a straightforward method to form non-close-packed highly ordered fcc direct and inverse opal silica photonic crystals. We utilize an electrostatically self assembled crystalline colloidal array (CCA) template formed by monodisperse, highly charged polystyrene particles. We then polymerize a hydrogel around the CCA (PCCA) and condense silica to form a highly ordered silica impregnated (siPCCA) photonic crystal.

Fast responsive crystalline colloidal array photonic crystal glucose sensors.

We developed new photonic crystal polymerized crystalline colloidal array (PCCA) glucose sensing materials, which operate on the basis of formation of cross-links in the hydrogel. These materials are composed of hydrogels that embed an array of approximately 100-nm-diameter monodisperse polystyrene colloids that Bragg diffract light in the visible spectral region. The hydrogels change volume as the glucose concentration varies.

Structure of microemulsions with gemini surfactant studied by solvatochromic probe and diffusion NMR.

The structure of microemulsions prepared by the anionic gemini surfactant didodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate (C12-DADS) was investigated by a solvatochromic probe and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diffusion measurements. The NMR measurements indicate the presence of bicontinuous and oil-in-water microemulsions depending on microemulsion composition. The absorbance spectra of the solvatochromic probe, Nile red, indicate the solubilization of the probe in different sites, in agreement with the NMR findings.

Liposome transduction into cells enhanced by haptotactic peptides (Haptides) homologous to fibrinogen C-termini.

Haptides are 19-21mer cell-binding peptides equivalent to sequences on the C-termini of fibrinogen beta chain (Cbeta), gamma chain (preCgamma) and the extended alphaE chain of fibrinogen (CalphaE). In solution, Haptides accumulated in cells by non-saturable kinetics [Exp. Cell Res.

Fibrinogen C-terminal peptidic sequences (Haptides) modulate fibrin polymerization.

We previously described synthetic peptides of 19-21 amino acid residues, homologous to the C-termini of fibrinogen Fib(340) and Fib(420), from the beta-chain (Cbeta), the extended alphaE chain (CalphaE) and near the end of the gamma-chain (preCgamma) which elicited attachment (haptotactic) responses from mesenchymal cells. We named these haptotactic peptides -Haptides. The effects of Haptides on fibrin clot formation was evaluated and their possible effects on platelet aggregation was examined.