Abstract: Electrospinning (ES) provides the technical community with a readily available method to produce polymer fibers ranging from nanoscale to microscale. Here, we present a novel “hybrid electrospirming apparatus,” whereby, modifications to a melt electrospinner have allowed fabrication of core-sheath fibers with polymer sheaths and solution-based cores. These modifications include a split polymer melt heating block, coaxial block spinneret equipped with heaters and multiple feed ports for core and sheath material, and a wiring system for heat which requires multiple switches for safety and on-demand heat activation. Successful demonstration of coaxial fiber fabrication is demonstrated using polycaprolactone-polyethylene oxide blend shell and fluorescent gelatin core materials.

Abstract: Applications of electrospinning (ES) range from fabrication of biomedical devices and tissue regeneration scaffolds to light manipulation and energy conversion, and even to deposition of materials that act as growth platforms for nanoscale catalysis. One major limitation to wide adoption of electrospun materials is the ES hardware itself, which typically requires high voltage, electric isolation, and charged and flat deposition surfaces. In the past, fabrication of structures or materials with precisely determined mesoscale morphology has been accomplished through modification of electrode shape, use of multi-dimensional electrodes or pins, deposition onto weaving looms, hand held electrospinners that allow the user to guide deposition, or electric field manipulation by lensing elements or apertures. In this work, we demonstrate an ES system that contains multiple high voltage power supplies that are independently controlled.

Abstract: Fresh water contamination by heavy metals results from a variety of sources and can be damaging to wildlife, alter landscapes, and impact human health. metals removal form water sources is desirable for improving water quality and preventing adverse effects, but also for metals collection and recycling. Adsorption is a desirable metals extraction technique due to economic feasibility. Nanoscale materials exhibit high surface-area-to-volume ratio that lends to high adsorption and reactivity, making them ideal candidates for adsorptive metals extraction processes. Despite these properties, nanomaterials have elicited safety concerns. The extraordinarily small dimensions of these materials allow them to maneuver biological systems, tissues, and even cells, and combined with high reactivity, this translocation can result in toxic effects. It is therefore imperative that safety of nanomaterials for metals extraction be evaluated in addition to adsorptive properties.

Abstract: Electrospinning (ES) produces fibers with small cross-sections and high surface area, making them ideal for a multitude of applications. Structures produced using ES methods exhibit a high surface-to-volume ratio, tunable porosity, and controllable composition. ES involves the delivery of a liquid or solid polymer to a spinneret, whereby, an initiated electric field pulls the polymer into micro to nano-scale fibers. Due to the multitude of applications for which polymer fibers can be used, it is desirable to provide an efficient and portable ES device that allows on-demand deposition of polymer materials. The invention that is subject of this patent application is a portable ES device that allows ideal deposition on a substrate regardless of whether that substrate is attached to high voltage or grounded, and regardless of whether or not there is a charged or grounded substrate behind the desired deposition surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a particle delivery system comprising electrospun nanofiber comprised of coaxial fiber with a microfluidic core. Iron-doped apatite nanoparticles (IDANPs) have demonstrated a unique influence over phage killing of bacteria, whereby, IDANP-exposed bacterial cultures experience 2× the bacterial death as controls. IDANPs consist of hydroxyapatite (HA) doped with iron. HA is a mineral known to be biocompatible and analogous to the inorganic constituent of mammalian bone and teeth and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for many applications in medicine and dentistry. Previous work has shown that for IDANPs to enhance antibacterial activity of phage to the greatest extent, bacterial cultures should be exposed to IDANPs for 1 hr prior to phage introduction. Biocompatible polymer materials which encase IDANPs and/or phage can be used to disseminate IDANPs and/or phage in a controlled manner into a physiological system for treatment of bacterial infection.

Abstract: Iron-doped apatite nanoparticles (IDANPs) are useful for the prevention, treatment, or alleviation of signs or symptoms associated with viral activation or infection. IDANPs have demonstrated a significant influence over herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection of two mammalian cell lines. Specifically, IDANPs decreased HSV-1 infection of African Green Monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells by 84% and HSV-1 infection of human lung bronchus (BEAS-2B) cells by 71%. In a mouse model, IDANPs delivered at various concentrations and by multiple delivery media, prevented redness, swelling, and/or sores caused by HSV-1 infection in 100% of mice tested during the treatment period. Further, once IDANP treatment had ceased, mice did not experience redness, swelling, and/or sores for at least one and up to nine days thereafter, demonstrating IDANPs not only prevent signs and symptoms during treatment, but that IDANPs prevent future signs and symptoms caused by mammalian viral infections.

Abstract: Iron-doped apatite nanoparticles (IDANPs) are useful for the prevention, treatment, or alleviation of signs or symptoms associated with viral activation or infection. IDANPs have demonstrated a significant influence over herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection of two mammalian cell lines. Specifically, IDANPs decreased HSV-1 infection of African Green Monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells by 84% and HSV-1 infection of human lung bronchus (BEAS-2B) cells by 71%. IDANPs consist of hydroxyapatite (HA) doped with iron. HA is a mineral known to be biocompatible and analogous to the inorganic constituent of mammalian bone and teeth and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for many applications in medicine and dentistry. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and XTT (2,3-Bis 2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt) cytotoxicity assays revealed that IDANPs are largely non-toxic to Vero, BEAS-2B, and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells lines.

Abstract: Iron-doped apatite nanoparticles (IDANPs) are useful for the prevention, treatment, or alleviation of signs or symptoms associated with viral activation or infection. IDANPs have demonstrated a significant influence over herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection of two mammalian cell lines. Specifically, IDANPs decreased HSV-1 infection of African Green Monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells by 84% and HSV-1 infection of human lung bronchus (BEAS-2B) cells by 71%. IDANPs consist of hydroxyapatite (HA) doped with iron. HA is a mineral known to be biocompatible and analogous to the inorganic constituent of mammalian bone and teeth and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for many applications in medicine and dentistry. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and XTT (2,3-Bis 2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide inner salt) cytotoxicity assays revealed that IDANPs are largely non-toxic to Vero, BEAS-2B, and human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells lines.

Abstract: A linear stage moves a laser along the collection plate of an electrospinning device. The stage supports the laser that is moved through the electrospinning/electrospraying deposition field by a continuous rotation servo motor. Stage movement is controlled by a control unit. Signal voltages collected are sectioned into concentric layers so that the extinction coefficient for each layer can be calculated without including the extinction coefficient from the previous layer. The extinction coefficients were used in the Beer-Lambert law to determine the diameter of fibers being deposited on the collection plate as well as the concentration of fibers deposited indicating deposition speed.

Abstract: A method including forming a diamond material on the surface of a substrate; forming a first contact and a separate second contact; and patterning the diamond material to form a nanowire between the first contact and the second contact. An apparatus including a first contact and a separate second contact on a substrate; and a nanowire including a single crystalline or polycrystalline diamond material on the substrate and connected to each of the first contact and the second contact.

Abstract: A material consisting essentially of a vinyl thermoplastic polymer, un-functionalized carbon nanotubes and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes dissolved in a solvent. Un-functionalized carbon nanotube concentrations up to 30 wt % and hydroxylated carbon nanotube concentrations up to 40 wt % can be used with even small concentrations of each (less than 2 wt %) useful in producing enhanced conductivity properties of formed thin films.

Abstract: A method including forming a diamond material on the surface of a substrate; forming a first contact and a separate second contact; and patterning the diamond material to form a nanowire between the first contact and the second contact. An apparatus including a first contact and a separate second contact on a substrate; and a nanowire including a single crystalline or polycrystalline diamond material on the substrate and connected to each of the first contact and the second contact.

Abstract: A method including forming a diamond material on the surface of a substrate; forming a first contact and a separate second contact; and patterning the diamond material to form a nanowire between the first contact and the second contact. An apparatus including a first contact and a separate second contact on a substrate; and a nanowire including a single crystalline or polycrystalline diamond material on the substrate and connected to each of the first contact and the second contact.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a composite polymeric material by dissolving a vinyl thermoplastic polymer, un-functionalized carbon nanotubes and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes and optionally additives in a solvent to make a solution and removing at least a portion of the solvent after casting onto a substrate to make thin films. The material has enhanced conductivity properties due to the blending of the un-functionalized and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: The integration of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters, microfabricated transmission lines, and sensors onto polymer substrates in order to enable a passive wireless sensor platform is described herein. Incident microwave pulses on an integrated antenna are converted to an acoustic wave via a SAW filter and transmitted to an impedance based sensor, which for this work is a photodiode. Changes in the sensor state induce a corresponding change in the impedance of the sensor resulting in a reflectance profile. Data collected at a calibrated receiver is used to infer the state of the sensor. Based on this principal, light levels were passively and wirelessly demonstrated to be sensed at distances of up to about 12 feet.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of making a composite polymeric material by dissolving a vinyl thermoplastic polymer, un-functionalized carbon nanotubes and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes and optionally additives in a solvent to make a solution and removing at least a portion of the solvent after casting onto a substrate to make thin films. The material has enhanced conductivity properties due to the blending of the un-functionalized and hydroxylated carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: An electrical circuit for a photomultiplier tube (PMT) is disclosed that reduces power consumption to a point where the PMT may be powered for extended periods with a battery. More specifically, the invention concerns a PMT circuit comprising a low leakage switch and a high voltage capacitor positioned between a resistive divider and each of the PMT dynodes, and a low power control scheme for recharging the capacitors.