COLL 541 |
| Paul S. Cremer, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, MS 3255, College Station, TX 77843 |
| This talk will describe a novel microfluidic temperature gradient platform for investigating the aggregation and folding of alpha-elastin and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Both of these materials have lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs), while the former also forms an aqueous two phase system (ATPS). Such processes can be related, at least in part, to the cold denaturing of proteins. The macromolecules start out in an extended hydrated state at low temperature, but lose hydration waters upon heating. This process is discernable by the formation of a cloudy solution which indicates aggregation. Microfluidics can be employed in combination with dark field microscopy to study both the LCST and ATPS formation processes in a high throughput manner while using only a few microliters of material. The assay is signficantly faster than standard temperature ramping techniques because all information is collected simultaneously as a function of position rather than sequentially as a function of time. This allows novel insights to be uncovered about both the thermodynamics and kinetics of the folding process. |
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“Smart” Polymers on Surfaces and Colloids
2:00 PM-4:50 PM, Thursday, April 1, 2004 Marriott -- Grand Ballroom J, Oral
Division of Colloid and Surface Chemistry |