Gajendra Shekhawat

MOSFET-Embedded Microcantilevers for Measuring Deflection in Biomolecular Sensors

A promising approach for detecting biomolecules follows their binding to immobilized probe molecules on microfabricated cantilevers; binding causes surface stresses that bend the cantilever. We measured this deflection, which is on the order of tens of nanometers, by embedding a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) into the base of the cantilever and recording decreases in drain current with deflections as small as 5 nanometers. The gate region of the MOSFET responds to surface stresses and thus is embedded in silicon nitride so as to avoid direct contact with the sample solution. This approach, which offers low noise, high sensitivity, and direct readout, was used to detect specific binding events with biotin and antibodies.

Imaging nanoparticles in cells by nanomechanical holography

Nanomaterials have potential medical applications, for example in the area of drug delivery, and their possible adverse effects and cytotoxicity are curently receiving attention. Inhalation of nanoparticles is of great concern, because nanoparticles can be easily aerosolized. Imaging techniques that can visualize local populations of nanoparticles at nanometre resolution within the structures of cells are therefore important. Here we show that cells obtained from mice exposed to single-walled carbon nanohorns can be probed using a scanning probe microscopy technique called scanning near field ultrasonic holography. The nanohorns were observed inside the cells, and this was further confirmed using micro Raman spectroscopy. Scanning near field ultrasonic holography is a useful technique for probing the interactions of engineered nanomaterials in biological systems, which will greatly benefit areas in drug delivery and nanotoxicology.

Interaction of gold nanoparticles with protein: A spectroscopic study to monitor protein conformational changes

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugated with biomolecules are promising building blocks for assembly into nanostructured functional materials for developing biomarker platforms because of their size dependent optical and electrical properties. Biocompatible GNPs were synthesized using glutamic acid as a reducing agent and the interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and GNPs was investigated using fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. The binding constant (Kb) of protein (BSA) to GNPs was determined by measuring the quenching of the fluorescence intensity of tryptophan residues of the protein molecules after conjugation. The conformational change in BSA at its native form after conjugation with GNPs confirmed that protein undergoes a more flexible conformational state on the boundary surface of GNPs after bioconjugation. The CD studies further showed a decrease in the α-helical content after conjugation. The results confirmed that the change in conformation was larger at higher conce...

Energy landscapes and functions of supramolecular systems

By means of two supramolecular systems - peptide amphiphiles engaged in hydrogen-bonded β-sheets, and chromophore amphiphiles driven to assemble by π-orbital overlaps - we show that the minima in the energy landscapes of supramolecular systems are defined by electrostatic repulsion and the ability of the dominant attractive forces to trap molecules in thermodynamically unfavourable configurations. These competing interactions can be selectively switched on and off, with the order of doing so determining the position of the final product in the energy landscape. Within the same energy landscape, the peptide-amphiphile system forms a thermodynamically favoured product characterized by long bundled fibres that promote biological cell adhesion and survival, and a metastable product characterized by short monodisperse fibres that interfere with adhesion and can lead to cell death. Our findings suggest that, in supramolecular systems, function and energy landscape are linked, superseding the more traditional connection between molecular design and function.

Bio-functionalized graphene-graphene oxide nanocomposite based electrochemical immunosensing

We report a novel in-situ electrochemical synthesis approach for the formation of functionalized graphene-graphene oxide (fG-GO) nanocomposite on screen-printed electrodes (SPE). Electrochemically controlled nanocomposite film formation was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Further insight into the nanocomposite has been accomplished by the Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. Configured as a highly responsive screen-printed immunosensor, the fG-GO nanocomposite on SPE exhibits electrical and chemical synergies of the nano-hybrid functional construct by combining good electronic properties of functionalized graphene (fG) and the facile chemical functionality of graphene oxide (GO) for compatible bio-interface development using specific anti-diuron antibody. The enhanced electrical properties of nanocomposite biofilm demonstrated a significant increase in electrochemical signal response in a competitive inhibition immunoassay format for diuron detection, promising its potential applicability for ultra-sensitive detection of range of target analytes.

Manganese oxide micro-supercapacitors with ultra-high areal capacitance

A symmetric micro-supercapacitor is constructed by electrochemically depositing manganese oxide onto micro-patterned current collectors. High surface-to-volume ratio of manganese oxide and short diffusion distance between electrodes give an ultra-high areal capacitance of 56.3 mF cm(-2) at a current density of 27.2 μA cm(-2).

A novel bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as living factory for synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

BackgroundThe synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has received considerable attention with their potential applications in various life sciences related applications. Recently, there has been tremendous excitement in the study of nanoparticles synthesis by using some natural biological system, which has led to the development of various biomimetic approaches for the growth of advanced nanomaterials. In the present study, we have demonstrated the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by a novel bacterial strain isolated from a site near the famous gold mines in India. A promising mechanism for the biosynthesis of GNPs by this strain and their stabilization via charge capping was investigated.ResultsA bacterial isolate capable of gold nanoparticle synthesis was isolated and identified as a novel strain of Stenotrophomonas malophilia (AuRed02) based on its morphology and an analysis of its 16S rDNA gene sequence. After 8 hrs of incubation, monodisperse preparation of gold nanoparticles was obtained. Gold nanoparticles were characterized and found to be of ~40 nm size. Electrophoresis, Zeta potential and FTIR measurements confirmed that the particles are capped with negatively charged phosphate groups from NADP rendering them stable in aqueous medium.ConclusionThe process of synthesis of well-dispersed nanoparticles using a novel microorganism isolated from the gold enriched soil sample has been reported in this study, leading to the development of an easy bioprocess for synthesis of GNPs. This is the first study in which an extensive characterization of the indigenous bacterium isolated from the actual gold enriched soil was conducted. Promising mechanism for the biosynthesis of GNPs by the strain and their stabilization via charge capping is suggested, which involves an NADPH-dependent reductase enzyme that reduces Au3+ to Au0 through electron shuttle enzymatic metal reduction process.

Elastic phase response of silica nanoparticles buried in soft matter

Tracking the uptake of nanomaterials by living cells is an important component in assessing both potential toxicity and in designing future materials for use in vivo. We show that the difference in the local elasticity at the site of silica (SiO2) nanoparticles confined within a macrophage enables functional ultrasonic interactions. By elastically exciting the cell, a phase perturbation caused by the buried SiO2 nanoparticles was detected and used to map the subsurface populations of nanoparticles. Localization and mapping of stiff chemically synthesized silica nanoparticles within the cellular structures of a macrophage are important in basic as well as applied studies.

Facile biosynthesis of phosphate capped gold nanoparticles by a bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

We report intracellular biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by a strain Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (AuRed02) isolated from the soil samples of Singhbhum gold mines, India. An aqueous solution of gold chloride was reduced to metallic gold in a suspension of disrupted cell mass of AuRed02, which progressively turns into cherry red within 8 h of incubation at 25 °C. The optical spectrum showed the plasmon resonance at 530 nm and analysis by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering confirmed the formation of around 40 nm GNPs. Zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared measurements confirmed GNPs are capped by negatively charged phosphate groups of NADP.

Ultrasound holography for noninvasive imaging of buried defects and interfaces for advanced interconnect architectures

Imaging high resolution subsurface defects nondestructively in advanced interconnect structures and devices is a challenge and no known metrology tools are available to identify such defects in a nondestructive way at nanometer level. Monitoring these defects necessitate the understanding of their growth mechanism of these interconnects as well as defect formation. We report here the application of scanning near field ultrasound holography by imaging buried defects in copper interconnects and low-K dielectric materials. Defects in these copper lines such as voids and delaminations appear as regions of dark contrast in ultrasound holography imaging due to large acoustic impedance mismatch at the voids. Identification of these buried defects in these interconnect architectures in a nondestructive way will open up unique opportunities in using this technique to detect subsurface defects and material imperfections.