Biomedical subjects

J O Tegenfeldt

Publications and source records attributed to J O Tegenfeldt.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Near-field scanner for moving molecules.

We have fabricated using electron beam nanolithography a fixed slit near-field optical scanning device which uses near-field fluorimetry to achieve 200 nm spatial resolution of objects moving over the slits. We explore the basic physics of operating narrow slits in the waveguide cutoff mode and present data from the passage of extended double-stranded DNA molecules passing over the slits as a first example of how this device can be used to do ultrahigh spatial resolution mapping of long polymers.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2000

Sorting biomolecules with microdevices.

Micro- and nanofabrication techniques have provided an unprecedented opportunity to create a designed world in which separation and fractionation technologies which normally occur on the macroscopic scale can be optimized by designing structures which utilize the basic physics of the process, or new processes can be realized by building structures which normally do not exist without external design. Since microfabrication is exceedingly sophisticated in its development, it is possible to design and construct highly creative microdevices which allow one to probe specific aspects of biological objects. We give examples of uses of micro- and nanofabrication which, as opposed to simply shrinking the size of the vessels or tubes used in macroscopic lab environments, utilize our understanding of the physics of the process to take advantage of fabrication technologies.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Presence of vitronectin and activated complement factor C9 on ventriculoperitoneal shunts and temporary ventricular drainage catheters.

OBJECT: The pathogenesis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection is characterized by staphylococcal adhesion to the polymeric surface of the shunt catheter. Proteins from the CSF--fibronectin, vitronectin, and fibrinogen--are adsorbed to the surface of the catheter immediately after insertion. These proteins can interfere with the biological systems of the host and mediate staphylococcal adhesion to the surface of the catheter. In the present study, the presence of fibronectin, vitronectin, and fibrinogen on CSF shunts and temporary ventricular drainage catheters is shown. The presence of fragments of fibrinogen is also examined. METHODS: The authors used the following methods: binding radiolabeled antibodies to the catheter surface, immunoblotting of catheter eluates, and scanning force microscopy of immunogold bound to the catheter surface. The immunoblot showed that vitronectin was adsorbed in its native form and that fibronectin was degraded into small fragments. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the level of vitronectin in CSF increased in patients with an impaired CSF-blood barrier. To study complement activation, an antibody that recognizes the neoepitope of activated complement factor C9 was used. The presence of activated complement factor C9 was shown on both temporary catheters and shunts. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of complement close to the surface of an inserted catheter could contribute to the pathogenesis of CSF shunt infection.

Adsorption↗

PubMed1998

Quantitation of bacterial adhesion to polymer surfaces by bioluminescence.

Quantitation of microbes adhering to a surface is commonly used in studies of microbial adhesion to different surfaces. We have quantified different staphylococcal strains adhering to polymer surfaces by measuring bacterial ATP (adenosine triphosphate) by bioluminescence. The method is sensitive, having a detection limit of 10(4) bacterial cells. Viable counting of bacterial cells may yield falsely low results due to the presence of "dormant" and adherent bacteria. By using bioluminescence, this can be avoided. Cells of different bacterial species and cells of strains of the same species were shown to differ significantly in their basal ATP content (8.7 x 10(-13) - 5.2 x 10(-22) MATP). The size of adherent and planktonic bacteria decreased with time (0.7 micron-->0.3 micron, 20 days). During incubation in nutrient-poor buffer ("starvation"), the ATP content of adherent bacteria decreased after 24-96 h whereas that of planktonic bacteria was stable over 20 days. The presence of human serum or plasma did not interfere significantly with the test results. Since the ATP concentration of bacterial strains of different species varies and is also influenced by the growth conditions of bacteria (solid or liquid culture medium), a species-specific standard curve has to be established for bacteria grown under the same culture conditions. We conclude that the method is a sensitive tool to quantify adherent bacteria during experiments lasting for less than 6 h and constitutes a valuable method to be used in conjunction with different microscopical techniques.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1997

Protein depositions on one hydrocephalus shunt and on fifteen temporary ventricular catheters.

Biomaterials are commonly used in modern medicine. Proteins are adsorbed to the surface of the biomaterial immediately after insertion. This report demonstrates the presence of adsorbed proteins in one infected cerebrospinal shunt from a child with hydrocephalus and on fifteen temporary ventricular catheters from adult patients with spontaneous or traumatic brain injuries. Depositions of vitronectin, fibrinogen and thrombospondin-fibronectin to some extent--on the shunt surface was imaged by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Vitronectin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and thrombospondin on the ventricular catheters were shown with radio-actively labelled antibodies. Furthermore, protein adsorption from human cerebrospinal fluid to heparinized and unheparinized polymers was studied under flowing conditions in vitro. On heparinized polymer, significantly reduced levels of vitronectin, fibronectin, and thrombospondin were exposed, as measured after 4 hours in vitro perfusion. After 24 hours perfusion, the differences in protein exposition between heparinized and unheparinized polymers were substantially reduced.

Adsorption↗