Preparation of biomolecule gel matrices for electron microscopy

Padalkar, Sonal; Zhao, Jianxiu; Stuart, Kate; Panitch, Alyssa; Rickus, Jenna L.; Stanciu, Lia

doi:10.1016/j.ultramic.2007.04.004

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The compartmental materials were previously characterized using cryo-SEM and TEM. 43 Cryo-SEM characterized the surface of the materials and confirmed the amorphous morphology and mesoporosity of the silica, but the embedded liposomes could not be visualized using this technique. Freeze-fracture TEM using negative staining, a sample preparation method optimized for biomolecule embedded matrices, confirmed the relative liposome size and the preservation of the liposome membrane within the material pores.…”

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Compartmentalized Nanocomposite for Dynamic Nitric Oxide Release

et al. 2008

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Nitric oxide (NO) is an important cell-signaling molecule whose role in a variety of cellular processes such as differentiation and apoptosis depends strongly on its concentration and flux levels. This work describes and characterizes a novel nitric oxide releasing nanocomposite, capable of photostimulated NO flux that can by dynamically modulated in within a range of biological levels. This material mimics the common compartmentalization strategies used by living cells to achieve its novel features. The material is constructed by encapsulating a photosensitive nitric oxide donor within lipid vesicles with an average diameter of 150 nm. The vesicles are then doped into the interstitial liquid phase of a solid porous silica matrix, which has previously demonstrated biological compatibility and capabilities as a growth surface for mammalian cells. Stimulation by a light source produces a step increase in NO concentration within seconds. The NO flux at the surface of the material is measured to be 14 pmol-cm(-2) sec(-1) using a NO selective self-referencing amperometric microsensor. The NO concentration profile decreases with distance perpendicular to the surface as expected for diffusion from a surface through an aqueous environment. A pattern of one minute light pulses produced uniform pulses of increased NO concentration of one minute duration. A linear relationship exists between NO surface concentration and photon flux, and this relationship can be used to tune the material response.

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Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The compartmental materials were previously characterized using cryo-SEM and TEM . Cryo-SEM characterized the surface of the materials and confirmed the amorphous morphology and mesoporosity of the silica, but the embedded liposomes could not be visualized using this technique.…”

Section: Experimental Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%