Research by Santore lab highlighted in Nature Nanotechnology
Polymer scientist Maria Santore and her colleagues have developed a novel surface containing tiny nanoparticles that can capture and manipulate much larger particles in a flowing solution with great precision. Santore’s research, performed in collaboration with chemist Vincent Rotello and chemical engineer Jeffrey Davis, was recently featured in
Nature Nanotechnology.
Because of the unique way the nanoparticles interact with the larger particles when placed on a surface, Santore’s findings could form the basis of extremely sensitive detector elements, and will be useful in a wide range of technological applications, including suspension handling and materials self-assembly. Her findings will be especially important in the biological arena.
“In the human body, flowing cells and bacteria are captured on surfaces during cancer metastasis and the beginning of bacterial and viral infections,” says Santore. “Sophisticated biomaterials that achieve similar dynamic and selective control of cells are logical candidates for the next generation of diagnostic medical devices, and systems for refining cell suspensions used in tissue engineering.”
Santore’s team constructed a silica surface decorated with immobile nanoparticles that recreates the most important features of the surface of living cells, where attractions occur at distinct points and the background field repels most biological objects. Like specialized cell receptors made of proteins, the nanoparticles produce localized attractions that trap larger particles. Santore found that contact often occurred through a single nanoparticle.
Because of the small contact area between the two types of particles, using single nanoparticles may also have another advantage; manipulating cells without triggering a biological response. “Materials that capture cells using a limited number of contacts may be able to do so without the cell’s knowledge, creating highly-sensitive detecting surfaces that capture, adhere and release cells with minimal biological response,” says Santore.
July 17, 2008.
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