Publications by authors named "Maria Morga"

The adsorption kinetics of human serum albumin (HSA) on bare and poly-L-arginine (PARG)-modified silica substrates were investigated using reflectometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Measurements were carried out at various pHs, flow rates and albumin concentrations in the 10 and 150 mM NaCl solutions. The mass transfer rate constants and the maximum protein coverages were determined for the bare silica at pH 4.

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Deposition kinetics of polymer particles characterized by a prolate spheroid shape on gold sensors modified by the adsorption of poly(allylamine) was investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance and atomic force microscopy. Reference measurements were also performed for polymer particles of a spherical shape and the same diameter as the spheroid shorter axis. Primarily, the frequency and dissipation shifts for various overtones were measured as a function of time.

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We show by extensive experimental characterization combined with molecular simulations that pH has a major impact on the assembly mechanism and properties of poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and poly(L-glutamic acid) (PGA) complexes. A combination of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) is used to assess the complexation, charge state, and other physical characteristics of the complexes, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is used to examine the complexation thermodynamics, and circular dichroism (CD) is used to extract the polypeptides' secondary structure. For enhanced analysis and interpretation of the data, analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) is used to define the precise molecular weights and solution association of the peptides.

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Deposition kinetics of positively charged polymer microparticles, characterized by prolate spheroid shape, at silica and gold sensors was investigated using the quartz microbalance (QCM) technique. Reference measurements were also performed for positively charged polymer particles of spherical shape and the same mass as the spheroids. Primarily, the frequency and bandwidth shifts for various overtones were measured as a function of time.

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Physicochemical properties of poly-L-arginine (P-Arg) molecules in NaCl solutions were determined by molecular dynamics (MD) modeling and various experimental techniques. Primarily, the molecule conformations, the monomer length and the chain diameter were theoretically calculated. These results were used to interpret experimental data, which comprised the molecule secondary structure, the diffusion coefficient, the hydrodynamic diameter and the electrophoretic mobility determined at various ionic strengths and pHs.

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Mechanisms and kinetic of particle deposition at solid surfaces leading to the formation of self-assembled layers of controlled structure and density were reviewed. In the first part theoretical aspects were briefly discussed, comprising limiting analytical solutions for the linear transport under flow and diffusion. Methods of the deposition kinetics analysis for non-linear regimes affected by surface blocking were also considered.

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Microsecond-long all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, circular dichroism, laser Doppler velocimetry, and dynamic light-scattering techniques have been used to investigate pH-induced changes in the secondary structure, charge, and conformation of poly l-lysine (PLL) and poly l-glutamic acid (PGA). The employed combination of the experimental methods reveals for both PLL and PGA a narrow pH range at which they are charged enough to form stable colloidal suspensions, maintaining their α-helix content above 60%; an elevated charge state of the peptides required for colloidal stability promotes the peptide solvation as a random coil. To obtain a more microscopic view on the conformations and to verify the modeling performance, peptide secondary structure and conformations rising in MD simulations are also examined using three different force fields, i.

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Deposition kinetics of fibrinogen/polystyrene particle complexes on mica and the silicon/silica substrates was studied using the direct optical and atomic force microscopy. Initially, basic physicochemical characteristics of fibrinogen and the microparticles were acquired using the dynamic light scattering and the electrophoretic mobility methods, whereas the zeta potential of the substrates was determined using the streaming potential measurements. Subsequently an efficient method for the preparation of fibrinogen/polymer microparticle complexes characterized by controlled coverage and molecule orientation was developed.

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Various physicochemical parameters of poly-l-lysine (PLL) solutions comprising the diffusion coefficient, the electrophoretic mobility, the density, and the intrinsic viscosity were determined for the pH range 3.0-9.2.

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The kinetics of positively charged gold nanoparticle self-assembly on oxidized silicon substrates (wafers) under diffusion-controlled transport was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The latter technique allowed the roughness parameters of the monolayer (root mean square) to be determined as a function of the particle coverage. These results were adequately interpreted in terms of a theoretical model developed for surfaces covered by features of spherical shape considering the tip convolution effect.

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Quantitative studies on self-assembled hematite/silica nanoparticle (NP) bilayers on mica were performed by applying scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and streaming potential measurements. The coverage of the supporting hematite layers was adjusted by changing the bulk concentration of the suspension and the deposition time. The coverage was determined by direct enumeration of deposited particles from AFM images and SEM micrographs.

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Proteins at interfaces are a key for many applications in the biomedical field, in biotechnologies, in biocatalysis, in food industry, etc. The development of surface layers that allow to control and manipulate proteins is thus highly desired. In previous works, we have shown that mixed polymer brushes combining the protein-repellent properties of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and the stimuli-responsive adsorption behavior of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) could be synthesized and used to achieve switchable protein adsorption.

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An efficient method was developed enabling the synthesis of spheroidal polymer microparticles. Thorough physicochemical characteristics of the particles were acquired comprising the size, shape, electrophoretic mobility, and the diffusion coefficient. The particles were monodisperse, and their shape was well-fitted by prolate spheroids having the axis ratio equal to 4.

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Manganese-doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) stabilized by cysteamine hydrochloride were successfully synthesized. Their thorough physicochemical characteristics were acquired using UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The average particle size, derived from HR-TEM, was 3.

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Physicochemical properties of poly-l-lysine and its monolayers on mica were thoroughly investigated by dynamic light scattering, electrokinetic methods and atomic force microscopy. The hydrodynamic diameter of PLL was equal to 25.5 nm within a wide range of pH and ionic strength.

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Recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) in monomeric state is widely used in pharmaceutical industry as a drug excipient and for preparing coatings for medical devices. In this work the adsorption process of rHSA on model mica surface at pH 3.5 was studied using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) and in situ streaming potential measurements.

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Deposition mechanisms of citrate-stabilized silver nanoparticles 15 nm in diameter on cationic polyelectrolyte supporting layers were evaluated. Initially, the bulk and the electrokinetic properties of cationic polyelectrolytes and their monolayers on mica were determined using in situ streaming potential measurements. Analogously, the size distribution, stability and electrokinetic properties of silver particles were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and microelectrophoretic measurements.

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The formation of silver particle monolayers at solid substrates in self-assembly processes is thoroughly reviewed. Initially, various silver nanoparticle synthesis routes are discussed with the emphasis focused on the chemical reduction in aqueous media. Subsequently, the main experimental methods aimed at bulk suspension characterization are critically reviewed by pointing out their advantages and limitations.

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Bilayers of hematite/silver nanoparticles were obtained in the self-assembly process and thoroughly characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and in situ streaming potential measurements. The hematite nanoparticles, forming a supporting layer, were 22 nm in diameter, exhibiting an isoelectric point at pH 8.9.

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Abstract: A silver particle suspension obtained by a chemical reduction was used in this work. Monolayers of these particles (average size 28 nm) on mica modified by poly(allylamine hydrochloride) were produced under diffusion-controlled transport. Monolayer coverages, quantitatively determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and SEM, was regulated by adjusting the nanoparticle deposition time and the suspension concentration.

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Physicochemical properties of cationic polyelectrolytes: poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) (PDDA), having molar mass of 70,000, 75,000, and 120,000, respectively, were examined and compared. The bulk characteristics comprised the diffusion coefficient and electrophoretic mobility determined as a function of pH (3.5-9) and ionic strengths (10(-4) M to 0.

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A monodisperse silver particle suspension was produced by a chemical reduction method in an aqueous medium using sodium citrate. The average particle size determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was 28.5 nm.

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Electrokinetic properties of α-Fe(2)O(3) (hematite) nanoparticle monolayers on mica were thoroughly characterized using the streaming potential method. Hematite suspensions were obtained by acidic hydrolysis of ferric chloride. The average size of particles (hydrodynamic diameter), determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and AFM, was 22 nm (pH=5.

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A stable suspension of α-Fe(2)O(3) (hematite) was synthesized according to the method of Matijevic and Scheiner by an acidic hydrolysis of ferric chloride. The average size of the particles was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and was 22 nm. The electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of particles were determined as a function of ionic strength and pH.

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A stable silver nanoparticle suspension was synthesized via the reduction of silver nitrate using sodium borohydride and sodium citrate. The particle's shape and size distribution were measured by various methods. The electrophoretic mobility measurements revealed that the zeta potential of particles was highly negative, increasing slightly with the ionic strength, from -52 mV for I=10(-5) M to -35 mV for I=3×10(-2) M (for pH=5.

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