Biomedical subjects

Paul L Houston

Publications and source records attributed to Paul L Houston.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Dissociation of sulfur dioxide by ultraviolet multiphoton absorption between 224 and 232 nm.

Multiphoton excitation and dissociation of SO(2) have been investigated in the wavelength range from 224 to 232 nm. Strong evidence is found for two-photon excitation to the H Rydberg state, followed by dissociation to SO + O and ionization of the SO product by absorption of a third photon. The two-photon excitation is resonantly enhanced via the C (1)B(2) intermediate state, and the two-photon yield spectrum thus bears a strong resemblance to the spectrum of this intermediate. Imaging of the O((3)P(2)), S((1)D(2)), and SO products suggests that, following dissociation of SO(2) from the H state, SO is produced in the A and B electronic states. S((1)D(2)) is produced both from two-photon dissociation of SO(2) to give S((1)D(2)) + O(2) and by single-photon dissociation of SO(+). In the former process, the O(2) is likely formed in all of its lowest three electronic states.

Models, Chemical↗

PubMed2005

Determination of spatial distributions of zinc and active biomass in microbial biofilms by two-photon laser scanning microscopy.

The spatial distributions of zinc, a representative transition metal, and active biomass in bacterial biofilms were determined using two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2P-LSM). Application of 2P-LSM permits analysis of thicker biofilms than are amenable to observation with confocal laser scanning microscopy and also provides selective excitation of a smaller focal volume with greater depth localization. Thin Escherichia coli PHL628 biofilms were grown in a minimal mineral salts medium using pyruvate as the carbon and energy source under batch conditions, and thick biofilms were grown in Luria-Bertani medium using a continuous-flow drip system. The biofilms were visualized by 2P-LSM and shown to have heterogeneous structures with dispersed dense cell clusters, rough surfaces, and void spaces. Contrary to homogeneous biofilm model predictions that active biomass would be located predominantly in the outer regions of the biofilm and inactive or dead biomass (biomass debris) in the inner regions, significant active biomass fractions were observed at all depths in biofilms (up to 350 microm) using live/dead fluorescent stains. The active fractions were dependent on biofilm thickness and are attributed to the heterogeneous characteristics of biofilm structures. A zinc-binding fluorochrome (8-hydroxy-5-dimethylsulfoamidoquinoline) was synthesized and used to visualize the spatial location of added Zn within biofilms. Zn was distributed evenly in a thin (12 microm) biofilm but was located only at the surface of thick biofilms, penetrating less than 20 microm after 1 h of exposure. The relatively slow movement of Zn into deeper biofilm layers provides direct evidence in support of the concept that thick biofilms may confer resistance to toxic metal species by binding metals at the biofilm-bulk liquid interface, thereby retarding metal diffusion into the biofilm (G. M. Teitzel and M. R. Park, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:2313-2320, 2003).

Biofilms↗

PubMed2003

Solid-state electroluminescent devices based on transition metal complexes.

Transition metal complexes have emerged as promising candidates for applications in solid-state electroluminescent devices. These materials serve as multifunctional chromophores, into which electrons and holes can be injected, migrate and recombine to produce light emission. Their device characteristics are dominated by the presence of mobile ions that redistribute under an applied field and assist charge injection. As a result, an efficiency of 10 lm/W--among the highest efficiencies reported in a single layer electroluminescent device--was recently demonstrated. In this article we review the history of electroluminescence in transition metal complexes and discuss the issues that need to be addressed for these materials to succeed in display and lighting applications.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Photophysics and redox behavior of chiral transition metal polymers.

The absorption and emission spectra, excited-state lifetimes, quantum yields, and electrochemical measurements have been obtained for a new series of chiral complexes based on three different chiral 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine ligands, (-)-ctpy, (-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy], and (-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy], with one, two, or multiple Ru metal centers. The room-temperature absorption and emission maxima of [[((-)-ctpy)Ru]-(-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy]-[Ru((-)-ctpy)]](PF(6))(4) and ((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n) were shifted to lower energies and also exhibited significantly longer luminescence lifetimes when compared to [Ru((-)-ctpy)(2)](PF(6))(2), [[((-)-ctpy)Ru]-(-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy]-[Ru((-)-ctpy)]](PF(6))(4), and ((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n). In terms of their electrochemical behavior, all of the complexes studied exhibited one Ru-centered and two ligand-centered redox waves and the [[((-)-ctpy)Ru]-(-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy]-[Ru((-)-ctpy)]](PF(6))(4), ((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-x-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n), and ((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])-[[Ru((-)-[ctpy-b-ctpy])](PF(6))(2)](n)() complexes were found to electrodeposit upon ligand-based reduction. The difference between the formal potentials of the Ru-centered and the first ligand-centered (least negative) waves corresponded linearly with the changes in the observed emission energies. The shifts in energy are discussed using a particle-in-a-box model, and the luminescence lifetimes are discussed in terms of the structure of the excited-state manifold.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Electroluminescence in ruthenium(II) complexes.

We have investigated the electrochemical, spectroscopic, and electroluminescent properties of a family of diimine complexes of Ru featuring various aliphatic side chains as well as a more extended pi-conjugated system. The performance of solid-state electroluminescent devices fabricated from these complexes using indium tin oxide (ITO) and gold contacts appears to be dominated by ionic space charge effects. Their electroluminescence efficiency was limited by the photoluminescence efficiency of the Ru films and not by charge injection from the contacts. The incorporation of di-tert-butyl side chains on the dipyridyl ligand was found to be the most beneficial substitution in terms of reducing self-quenching of luminescence.

Journal Article↗