Off-campus UMass Amherst users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your UMass Amherst user name and password.
Non-UMass Amherst users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
Dissertations that have an embargo placed on them will not be available to anyone until the embargo expires.
Date of Award
2-2011
Access Type
Campus Access
Document type
dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Program
Chemistry
First Advisor
Vincent M. Rotello
Second Advisor
Sankaran Thayumanavan
Third Advisor
Robert M. Weis
Subject Categories
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | Organic Chemistry
Abstract
Engineering the interfaces between biomolecules and nanomaterials is central to the creation of materials for diverse areas of biomedical applications, including therapy, sensing and imaging. The goal of this research has been oriented toward the tailoring of the interfaces through the atomic level control provided by the organic synthesis. By employing a synergistic approach in the research, combining colloids, surface science, organic synthesis and biology, gold nanoparticles with tailored monolayers have been developed for bio-applications. This thesis illustrates the design and synthesis of these surface functionalized gold nanoparticles and their use in protein surface recognition and delivery systems for therapeutic applications. For protein surface recognition, we have fabricated gold nanoparticles bearing a diversity of amino acids termini and studied their interactions with proteins to elucidate the parameters affecting their interactions and catalytic behavior. In therapeutic applications, we have demonstrated the use of organically tailored nanoparticles for the creation of delivery systems featuring tunable stability and regulated drug release. Additionally, gold nanoparticles functionalized with molecular recognition motif have been used to demonstrate host-guest chemistry inside the living cells for the activation of therapeutic gold nanoparticles.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7275/5679409
Recommended Citation
Agasti, Sarit S, "Tailoring Nanoparticle Surface Monolayers For Biomolecular Recognition And Delivery Applications" (2011). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 234.
https://doi.org/10.7275/5679409
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/234