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Michael Mirkin教授正在开发新的方法，并将其用于研究纳米尺度上的电化学反应。 单个金纳米颗粒从玻璃或碳纳米移液管中分配，并精确地输送到样品表面上的所需位置。 该方法可用于从表面图案化到受控试剂递送到生物细胞的应用。本计画将提供研究机会给高中生与大学生，研究重点为连续脉冲技术与扫描电化学显微镜（SECM）结合，以控制奈米粒子的输送。 连续脉冲设置可监控通过移液器孔的单个颗粒，SECM用于移液器定位和表面图案化。 颗粒固定在用聚亚苯基层改性的碳表面上。 所开发的方法也被用来研究活化的巨噬细胞中氧化应激的动力学。 将干扰素涂覆的荧光纳米颗粒和镀铂碳纳米电极插入活化的巨噬细胞及其空泡中，以表征和量化活性氧和氮物质。 这项工作的更广泛影响包括开发有用的纳米技术和细胞生物学研究工具。 用巨噬细胞进行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.