Browsing by Subject "Nanopores"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Open Access
Electrostatic interactions in charged nanoslits within an explicit solvent theory
(Institute of Physics Publishing, 2015) Buyukdagli, S.
Within a dipolar Poisson-Boltzmann theory including electrostatic correlations, we consider the effect of explicit solvent structure on solvent and ion partition confined to charged nanopores. We develop a relaxation scheme for the solution of this highly non-linear integro-differential equation for the electrostatic potential. The scheme is an extension of the approach previously introduced for simple planes (Buyukdagli and Blossey 2014 J. Chem. Phys. 140 234903) to nanoslit geometry. We show that the reduced dielectric response of solvent molecules at the membrane walls gives rise to an electric field significantly stronger than the field of the classical Poisson-Boltzmann equation. This peculiarity associated with non-local electrostatic interactions results in turn in an interfacial counterion adsorption layer absent in continuum theories. The observation of this enhanced counterion affinity in the very close vicinity of the interface may have important impacts on nanofluidic transport through charged nanopores. Our results indicate the quantitative inaccuracy of solvent implicit nanofiltration theories in predicting the ionic selectivity of membrane nanopores.
Open Access
Ionic current inversion in pressure-driven polymer translocation through nanopores
(American Physical Society, 2015) Buyukdagli, S.; Blossey, R.; Ala-Nissila, T.
We predict streaming current inversion with multivalent counterions in hydrodynamically driven polymer translocation events from a correlation-corrected charge transport theory including charge fluctuations around mean-field electrostatics. In the presence of multivalent counterions, electrostatic many-body effects result in the reversal of the DNA charge. The attraction of anions to the charge-inverted DNA molecule reverses the sign of the ionic current through the pore. Our theory allows for a comprehensive understanding of the complex features of the resulting streaming currents. The underlying mechanism is an efficient way to detect DNA charge reversal in pressure-driven translocation experiments with multivalent cations. © 2015 American Physical Society.
Open Access
Protein-releasing conductive anodized alumina membranes for nerve-interface materials
(Elsevier Ltd, 2016) Altuntas, S.; Buyukserin, F.; Haider, A.; Altinok, B.; Bıyıklı, Necmi; Aslim, B.
Nanoporous anodized alumina membranes (AAMs) have numerous biomedical applications spanning from biosensors to controlled drug delivery and implant coatings. Although the use of AAM as an alternative bone implant surface has been successful, its potential as a neural implant coating remains unclear. Here, we introduce conductive and nerve growth factor-releasing AAM substrates that not only provide the native nanoporous morphology for cell adhesion, but also induce neural differentiation. We recently reported the fabrication of such conductive membranes by coating AAMs with a thin C layer. In this study, we investigated the influence of electrical stimulus, surface topography, and chemistry on cell adhesion, neurite extension, and density by using PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells in a custom-made glass microwell setup. The conductive AAMs showed enhanced neurite extension and generation with the electrical stimulus, but cell adhesion on these substrates was poorer compared to the naked AAMs. The latter nanoporous material presents chemical and topographical features for superior neuronal cell adhesion, but, more importantly, when loaded with nerve growth factor, it can provide neurite extension similar to an electrically stimulated CAAM counterpart.
Open Access
Sensing translocating polymers via induced magnetic fields
(TÜBİTAK, 2023) Büyükdağlı, Şahin
The requirement to boost the resolution of nanopore-based biosequencing devices necessitates the integration of novel biosensing techniques with reduced sensitivity to background noise. In this article, we probe the signatures of translocating polymers in magnetic fields induced by ionic currents through membrane nanopores. Within the framework of a previously introduced charge transport theory, we evaluate the magnetic field signals generated by voltage- and pressure-driven DNA translocation events in monovalent salt solutions. Our formalism reveals that in voltage-driven transport, the translocating polymer suppresses the induced magnetic field via the steric blockage of the ion current through the midpore. In the case of pressure-driven transport, the magnetic field reduction by translocation originates from the negative electrokinetic contribution of the anionic DNA surface charges to the streaming current predominantly composed of salt cations. The magnitude of the corresponding field signals is located in the nano-Tesla range covered by the resolution of the magnetoelectric sensors able to detect magnetic fields down to the pico-Tesla range. This suggests that the integration of magnetic field detection techniques into the current biosequencing approaches can complement efficiently the conventional biosensing strategies employing ionic current readouts with high susceptibility to background noise.