Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Photoacoustic emission from the construct correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: A construct for detecting cellular membrane potential includes a nanoparticle operable as an electron donor; a modular peptide attached to the nanoparticle, the peptide comprising a nanoparticle association domain, a motif configured to mediate peptide insertion into the plasma membrane, and at least one attachment point for an electron acceptor positioned at a controlled distance from the nanoparticle; and an electron acceptor. The nanoparticle can be a quantum dot and the electron acceptor can be C60 fullerene. Emission correlates with cellular membrane potential.

Abstract: An electrically conducting organic oligomer comprising 4-nitro-1H-pyrazole-3-yl-amine, 4-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-trichloromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-tribromomethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-ammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-trimethylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-triethylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, or 4-tripropylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine. An electrically conducting organic oligomer made from the steps of preparing an acidic aqueous solution with a monomer, preparing the acidic aqueous solution by mixing water with a monomer (3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile), forming a solution preparing a second aqueous solution, mixing the acidic aqueous solution with the second aqueous solution, and allowing a reaction to proceed at about 40° C.

Abstract: A genetically modified cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) protein capsid serves as a scaffold for metal nanoparticles, preferably gold nanospheres, of 15 nm to 35 nm, creating plasmonic nanoclusters. The self-assembled nanoclusters gave rise to a 10-fold surface-averaged enhancement of the local electromagnetic field. Other viral capsids or virus-like proteins may also serve as such scaffolds.

Abstract: An electrically conducting organic oligomer comprising 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile, 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, 3-amino-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole, or 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-sulfonic acid. An electrically conducting organic oligomer comprising 4-nitro-1H-pyrazole-3-yl-amine, 4-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-trichloromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-tribromomethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-ammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-trimethylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-triethylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, or 4-tripropylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, methods of making and products of the method thereof.

Abstract: An electrically conducting organic oligomer comprising 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile, 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid, 3-amino-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole, or 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-sulfonic acid. An electrically conducting organic oligomer comprising 4-nitro-1H-pyrazole-3-yl-amine, 4-trifluoromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-trichloromethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-tribromomethyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-ammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-trimethylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, 4-triethylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, or 4-tripropylammonium-1H-pyrazol-3-yl-amine, methods of making and products of the method thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns two novel electrically conducting organic oligomers: oligo(3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile) or “oligo(AP-CN)” and oligo(4-nitro-1H-pyrazole-3-yl-amine) or “oligo(AP-NO2)”, and methods of making thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns two novel electrically conducting organic oligomers: oligo(3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile) or “oligo(AP-CN)” and oligo(4-nitro-1H-pyrazole-3-yl-amine) or “oligo(AP-NO2)”, and methods of making thereof.

Abstract: A peptide attached to a nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) selectively directs the nanoparticles to neurons in a tissue or organism.

Abstract: A peptide directs nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. A method of delivery of a nanoparticle to a plasma membrane of a cell includes providing to the cell a nanoparticle attached to a peptide configured to direct the nanoparticle the plasma membrane, and allowing the cell to take up the nanoparticle. The nanoparticle can be a FRET donor to an organic dye.

Abstract: Described are nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain, (b) a spacer domain, (c) an uptake domain, and (d) a vesicle escape domain, wherein the domains (a) through (d) appear in the same order as listed above, and wherein the peptide, upon addition of a non-hydrolyzable lipophilic moiety to the vesicle escape domain and binding to a nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of a nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A genetically modified cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) protein capsid serves as a scaffold for metal nanoparticles, preferably gold nanospheres, of 15 nm to 35 nm, creating plasmonic nanoclusters. The self-assembled nanoclusters gave rise to a 10-fold surface-averaged enhancement of the local electromagnetic field. Other viral capsids or virus-like proteins may also serve as such scaffolds.

Abstract: Described are nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain, (b) a spacer domain, (c) an uptake domain, and (d) a vesicle escape domain, wherein the domains (a) through (d) appear in the same order as listed above, and wherein the peptide, upon addition of a non-hydrolyzable lipophilic moiety to the vesicle escape domain and binding to a nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of a nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A peptide attached to a nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) selectively directs the nanoparticles to neurons in a tissue or organism.

Abstract: A peptide directs nanoparticles (such as quantum dots) to the plasma membrane of mammalian cells. A method of delivery of a nanoparticle to a plasma membrane of a cell includes providing to the cell a nanoparticle attached to a peptide configured to direct the nanoparticle the plasma membrane, and allowing the cell to take up the nanoparticle. The nanoparticle can be a FRET donor to an organic dye.

Abstract: Described are peptides for delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol, the peptide comprising: (a) a nanoparticle association domain; (b) a proline-rich spacer domain; (c) an uptake domain; and (d) a vesicle escape domain comprising a non-hydrolyzable lipid moiety, wherein the spacer domain is between the nanoparticle association domain and the uptake and vesicle escape domains, and wherein the peptide, when attached to an extracellular nanoparticle, is effective to induce uptake of the nanoparticle by a cell and delivery of the nanoparticle to the cytosol of the cell. Also described are methods of delivery of a nanoparticle to the cytosol of a cell, the method comprising providing to a cell a nanoparticle attached to such a peptide. Exemplary nanoparticles include quantum dots.

Abstract: A free amino microcrystalline chitin preferably in solid form is obtained. The process may involve the following steps of (1) treating particulate chitin at elevated temperature with phosphoric acid diluted with a lower aliphatic alcohol, (2) treating the resulting chitin with an alkali, (3) washing the chitin to remove the alkali from the chitin emulsion, (4) subjecting the chitin during at least one of the preceding steps to high speed shearing action to convert the processed chitin to the microcrystalline form, and (5) subjecting the resulting microcrystalline chitin emulsion from step 3 to the cycle of freezing and thawing, thereby separating the chitin as a solid from the liquid of the emulsion.