Spectroscopic studies of biomolecules confined in self-assembled nanostructures
Doctoral thesis, 2013

The present thesis examines the effects of incorporating biomolecules into self-assembled nanostructures. This approach is exemplified by short DNA molecules in environments close to lipid bilayers and the immobilization of enzymes into mesoporous silica particles. The biomolecules and attached chromophore probes are studied in the nanostructures using optical spectroscopy. An important part of the thesis work is the spectroscopical considerations enforced by the complex samples formed by the biomolecules and the nanostructures. The small confining spaces rich in surfaces have effects on the physical properties of the nanostructures. The movement of the large biomolecules are hindered by the narrow environments and this is utilized for electrophoretic separation and orientation of oligonucleotides in lyotropic liquid crystals. The cubic phase of the monoolein-water system was shown to act as an electrophoresis matrix for both water soluble oligonucleotides and bilayer anchored molecules. The lamellar phase of the sodium octanoate-decanol-water system was used to introduce macroscopic ordering of oligonucleotides and bilayer bound chromophores for studies by linear dichroism. In addition to the orientational effects of the chromophores interacting with the lipid bilayers, spectral effects of the bilayer environment were also studied. In the spectroscopic studies of enzyme immobilized into mesoporous silica particles the pore pH were found to be slightly different compared to the external volume. Furthermore, direct spectroscopic determination of the pore loading was examined in contrast to common indirect approaches. Finally, the concept of pore filling as an analysis tool and the particle size influence on immobilization are discussed.

KB, Kemigården 4, Chalmers
Opponent: Professor Tommy Nylander, Lund University

Author

Nils Carlsson

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Physical Chemistry

A method to measure pH inside mesoporous particles using protein-bound SNARF1 fluorescent probe

Microporous and Mesoporous Materials,; Vol. 165(2013)p. 240-246

Journal article

Diamond cubic phase of monoolein and water as an amphiphilic matrix for electrophoresis of oligonucleotides

JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B,; Vol. 109(2005)p. 18628-18636

Journal article

Spectral Properties and Orientation of Voltage-Sensitive Dyes in Lipid Membranes

Langmuir,; Vol. 28(2012)p. 10808-10817

Journal article

Direct probing of ion pair formation using a symmetric triangulenium dye

Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences,; Vol. 10(2011)p. 1963-1973

Journal article

Areas of Advance

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (SO 2010-2017, EI 2018-)

Life Science Engineering (2010-2018)

Materials Science

Subject Categories

Physical Chemistry

Materials Chemistry

Biophysics

Nano Technology

Biocatalysis and Enzyme Technology

Roots

Basic sciences

ISBN

978-91-7385-885-4

Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 3566

KB, Kemigården 4, Chalmers

Opponent: Professor Tommy Nylander, Lund University

More information

Created

10/7/2017