Biomedical subjects

Preston T Snee

Publications and source records attributed to Preston T Snee.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A ratiometric CdSe/ZnS nanocrystal pH sensor.

The development of a reversible chemical sensor based on a CdSe/ZnS nanocrystal (NC) is described. Signal transduction is accomplished by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the NC and a fluorescent pH-sensitive squaraine dye attached to the surface of the NC. The efficiency of FRET, and consequently the relative intensity of NC and dye emissions, is modulated with the pH-dependent absorption cross section of the squaraine dye. The design of a NC sensor based on FRET results in a ratiometric sensor since the emission intensities of dye and NC may be referenced to the isosbestic point between NC and dye emissions. The ratiometric approach allows sensing to be performed, regardless of issues surrounding collection efficiency (scattering environment, light fluctuations, etc.) and dye:NC loadings.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed2006

A solvent-stable nanocrystal-silica composite laser.

We have developed a photostable nanocrystal-silica (NC-silica) laser that is robust under different chemical environments, making it suitable for integration with a microfluidic network. We demonstrate that the optical properties of this microscale laser can be a dynamic function of its local environment, thus providing a platform for potential applications such as nonlinear optical chemosensing on a miniaturized scale.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

A low-threshold, high-efficiency microfluidic waveguide laser.

This communication describes a long (1 cm), laser-pumped, liquid core-liquid cladding (L2) waveguide laser. This device provides a simple, high intensity, tunable light source for microfludic applications. Using a core solution of 2 mM rhodamine 640 perchlorate, optically pumped by a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser, we found that the threshold for lasing was as low as 22 muJ (16-ns pulse length) and had a slope efficiency up to 20%. The output wavelength was tunable over a 20-nm range by changing the ratio of solvent components (dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol) in the liquid core.

Equipment Design↗

PubMed2005

Mechanism of ligand exchange studied using transition path sampling.

The mechanism of intermolecular ligand exchange has been studied using transition path sampling (TPS) based molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Specifically, the exchange of solvent molecules bound to unsaturated Cr(CO)5 in methanol solution has been investigated. The results of the TPS simulations have shown that there are multiple steps in the reaction mechanism. The first involves partial dissociation of the coordinated solvent from the Cr metal center followed by association with a new methanol molecule between the normally void first and second solvent layers. After diffusive motion of the exchanging ligands, the last step involves the originally bound methanol molecule moving into the bath continuum followed by solvation of the Cr metal fragment by the exchanging ligand. It has been found that the reaction center (defined as the organometallic fragment and two exchanging ligands only) and the solvent bath have favorable interactions. This is likely due to the adiabatic nature of the ligand exchange transition. The ability to understand the microscopic molecular dynamics of a chemical process based on a free energy analysis is also discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Ultrafast UV pump/IR probe studies of C-H activation in linear, cyclic, and aryl hydrocarbons.

The photochemical C-H activation reactions of eta(3)-TpRh(CO)(2) (Tp = HB-Pz(3), Pz = 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) and CpRh(CO)(2) (Cp = C(5)H(5)) have been studied in a series of linear, cyclic, and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents on a femtosecond to microsecond time scale. These results have revealed that the structure of the hydrocarbon substrate affects the final C-H bond activation step, which is in accordance with the known preference of bond activation toward primary C-H sites. In the case of aromatic C-H activation, the reaction is divided into parallel channels involving sigma- and pi-solvated intermediates. Results for the analogous CpRh(CO)(2) molecule have shown that the coordination of the cyclopentadienyl ligand does not play a direct role in the dynamics of the reaction, in contrast to the C-H activation mechanism observed in eta(3)-TpRh(CO)(2) studies.

Journal Article↗