Electrochemistry on the nanoscale

在这个由化学结构、动力学和机制计划-A和化学系化学测量和成像计划共同资助的项目中，纽约城市大学皇后学院的迈克尔·米尔金教授正在开发新的方法，并将其用于在纳米尺度上研究电化学反应。单一的金纳米颗粒从玻璃或碳纳米管中分配，并精确地输送到样品表面上所需的位置。这种方法适用于从表面图案化到受控试剂输送到生物细胞的各种应用。该项目将为高中生和本科生提供研究机会。拟议的研究重点是将阻性脉冲技术与扫描电化学显微镜(SECM)相结合，以控制纳米颗粒的输送。阻性脉冲设置能够监控通过吸管孔口的单个颗粒，SECM用于吸管定位和表面图案制作。所述颗粒被固定在用聚亚苯层修饰的碳表面上。开发的方法学也被用于研究激活的巨噬细胞中氧化应激的动力学。干扰素包裹的荧光纳米颗粒和镀铂碳纳米电极被插入到活化的巨噬细胞及其空泡中，以表征和定量活性氧和氮物种。这项工作的更广泛影响包括为纳米技术和细胞生物学开发有用的研究工具。巨噬细胞的实验可能有助于阐明氧化应激的机制，这对免疫系统和包括癌症在内的相关疾病具有重要意义。

In this project co-funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms Program-A and the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Michael Mirkin of the City University of New York, Queens College is developing new methodologies and employing them for studying electrochemical reactions on the nanoscale. Single gold nanoparticles are dispensed from a glass or carbon nanopipette and delivered precisely to the desired location on the sample surface. This methodology is useful for applications ranging from surface patterning to controlled reagent delivery to biological cells. This project will provide research opportunities to high school students and undergraduates.The focus of the proposed research is on the combining resistive-pulse technique with the scanning electrochemical microscope (SECM) for controlled delivery of nanoparticles. The resistive-pulse setup enables monitoring of single particles passing through the pipette orifice, and the SECM is used for pipette positioning and surface patterning. The particles are immobilized on the carbon surface modified with a polyphenylene layer. The developed methodology is also employed to study the dynamics of oxidative stress in activated macrophages. Interferon-coated fluorescent nanoparticles and platinized carbon nanoelectrodes are inserted in activated macrophages and their vacuoles to characterize and quantify the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The broader impacts of this work include the development of useful research tools for nanotechnology and cell biology. The experiments with macrophages may help elucidate the mechanisms of oxidative stress, which are of great significance for the immune system and related diseases, including cancer.