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AbstractAtomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the single chains of cationic polyelectrolytes of atactic poly(vinyl amines) (PVAm) modified by hydrophobic side-groups, poly(N-ethyl-n-vinyl amine) (ethyl-PVAm) and poly(N-benzyl-n-vinyl amine) (benzyl-PVAm), in aqueous solution, were carried out over the entire range of degree-of-ionization, f. These polymers, to our knowledge, were studied here by molecular simulations for the first time. The interplay of electrostatic interactions, excluded volume, hydrophobic effect, hydrogen bonding and counter-ion interaction with hydrophobic-polyions, is analyzed. The conformational transition of the polyelectrolyte chain from a coiled to an extended state was gradual and was observed for 0.3 < f < 0.7. Ethyl-PVAm and benzyl-PVAm exhibited similar values of radius-of-gyration Rg and end-to-end distance R for f > 0.5, in agreement with available experimental data. The more hydrophobic benzyl-PVAm showed a more extended conformation with a preference for trans states in the backbone. The change in chain expansion with respect to f was more for benzyl-PVAm as compared to ethyl-PVAm. The relaxation time of polymer-water H-bonds increased with f and the hydrophobicity of the polymer chain, with faster decay for ethyl-PVAm. The water molecules solvating the hydrophobic PVAm’s showed dynamical restriction due to bulky hydrophobic side-groups resulting in long-lived H-bonds. The number of polymer-water H-bonds showed a transition at a certain charge, which influenced the complex interplay of steric effect, hydrophobic effect and solvation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold nanorod-based affinity sensors were developed utilizing concanavalin-A/dextran/glucose chemistry to detect glucose. The gold nanorods, synthesized using the seed-mediated method, were first coated with dextran sulfate. The dextran sulfate coating changed the local refractive index, which was observed as a red shift in the longitudinal plasmon band. After the addition of 8 μM concanavalin-A, gold nanorod aggregates were formed as shown by TEM analysis. The corresponding UV-Vis spectrum peak wavelength showed a red shift from 701 nm of dextran sulfate coated gold nanorods to 718 nm of concanavalin-A promoted gold nanorod aggregates. The gold nanorod aggregates were dissociated when 12 mM glucose was introduced, as illustrated by TEM images. The longitudinal plasmon resonance of the UV-Vis spectrum also showed a blue shift from 718 nm of dextran sulfate-coated gold nanorods associated by concanavalin-A to 714 nm of dissociated dextran sulfate-coated gold nanorods. The degree of the spectrum peak wavelength shift of the dextran sulfate-coated gold nanorods associated by concanavalin-A can be modulated using glucose ranging from 1 to 30 mM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]