We have investigated the effect of the folding of DNA aptamers on the colloidal stability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to which an aptamer is tethered. On the basis of the studies of two different aptamers (adenosine aptamer and K+ aptamer), we discovered a unique colloidal stabilization effect associated with aptamer folding: AuNPs to which folded aptamer structures are attached are more stable toward salt-induced aggregation than those tethered to unfolded aptamers. This colloidal stabilization effect is more significant when a DNA spacer was incorporated between AuNP and the aptamer or when lower aptamer surface graft densities were used. The conformation that aptamers adopt on the surface appears to be a key factor that determines the relative stability of different AuNPs. Dynamic light scattering experiments revealed that the sizes of AuNPs modified with folded aptamers were larger than those of AuNPs modified with unfolded (but largely collapsed) aptamers in salt solution. From both the electrostatic and steric stabilization points of view, the folded aptamers that are more extended from the surface have a higher stabilization effect on AuNP than the unfolded aptamers. On the basis of this unique phenomenon, colorimetric biosensors have been developed for the detection of adenosine, K+, adenosine deaminase, and its inhibitors. Moreover, distinct AuNP aggregation and redispersion stages can be readily operated by controlling aptamer folding and unfolding states with the addition of adenosine and adenosine deaminase.

Macroscopic and colloidal silica surfaces were readily modified with alkoxysilaneboronate, IV, yielding silica surfaces with covalently bonded phenylboronic acid groups. XPS and neutron activation confirmed the presence of boron. The ability of these surfaces to specifically interact with polyols was demonstrated with polyol-coated latex and ARS, a dye that specifically couples to boronic acid groups immobilized on colloidal or macroscopic silica. This is a new, direct approach for introduction of phenylboronic acid groups onto silica surfaces.

Hydroxypropyl guar (HPG), a nonionic water soluble polymer, becomes an anionic polyelectrolyte in the presence of borate or boronate ions which bind to HPG. However, the charge groups on the HPG-borate are labile which complicates the interpretation of polyelectrolyte titration behavior. Specifically, polyelectrolyte complex formation between HPG-borate and cationic poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride), PDADMAC, stimulates further borate binding to HPG. We propose that labile polyelectrolytes such as HPG-borate are new class of polylelectrolytes that fall outside conventional "strong" or "weak" polyelectrolyte behavior.

The ability of polystyrene nanoparticles to promote glass bead flotation was measured as a function of nanoparticle diameter. In all cases, smaller nanoparticles were more effective flotation collectors, even when compared at constant nanoparticle number concentration. The superior performance of smaller particles was explained by two mechanisms, acting in parallel. First, smaller particles deposit more quickly giving more effective flotation in those cases where nanoparticle deposition kinetics is rate determining; the sensitivity of nanoparticle deposition rates to particle size was illustrated by kinetic measurements on a quartz crystal microbalance silica surface. Second, for a given coverage of nanoparticles on the glass beads, the mean distance between neighboring nanoparticle surfaces decreases with particle diameter. We propose that the expansion of the three phase contact line, after initial bead/bubble attachment, is favored with decreasing the distance between neighboring hydrophobic particles.