Proteomic analysis of endothelial lipid rafts reveals a novel role of statins in antioxidation.

As inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, statins have pleiotropic vascular-protective effects, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. We investigated the short-term beneficial effects of statins on modulating the translocation of lipid-raft-related proteins in endothelial cells (ECs). Human umbilical vein ECs were treated with atorvastatin for 30 min or 2 h; lipid-raft proteins were isolated and examined by quantitative proteome assay.

Design of a monopole-antenna-based resonant nanocavity for detection of optical power from hybrid plasmonic waveguides.

A novel plasmonic waveguide-coupled nanocavity with a monopole antenna is proposed to localize the optical power from a hybrid plasmonic waveguide and subsequently convert it into electrical current. The nanocavity is designed as a Fabry-Pérot waveguide resonator, while the monopole antenna is made of a metallic nanorod directly mounted onto the metallic part of the waveguide terminal which acts as the conducting ground. The nanocavity coincides with the antenna feed sandwiched in between the antenna and the ground.

Electrical detection of plasmonic waves using an ultra-compact structure via a nanocavity.

A novel structure is proposed to electrically detect the plasmonic waves from a subwavelength plasmonic waveguide. By locating two L-shaped metallic nanorods in close proximity of each other at the end of the plasmonic waveguide, a metal-semiconductor-metal plasmonic detector is constructed. The L-shaped nanorods also form a dipole nanoantenna and a nanocavity to focus the photonic power into the active volume of the detector.