Rapid Identification of Bacteria with a Disposable Colorimetric Sensing Array

James R. Carey*†, Kenneth S. Suslick*‡, Keren I. Hulkower‡, James A. Imlay§, Karin R. C. Imlay§, Crystal K. Ingison‡, Jennifer B. Ponder‡, Avijit Sen‡, and Aaron E. Wittrig‡

J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133 (19), pp 7571–7576

Rapid identification of both species and even specific strains of human pathogenic bacteria grown on standard agar has been achieved from the volatiles they produce using a disposable colorimetric sensor array in a Petri dish imaged with an inexpensive scanner. All 10 strains of bacteria tested, including Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus and their antibiotic-resistant forms, were identified with 98.8% accuracy within 10 h, a clinically important time frame. Furthermore, the colorimetric sensor arrays also proved useful as a simple research tool for the study of bacterial metabolism and as an easy method for the optimization of bacterial production of fine chemicals or other fermentation processes.

Can laser make the rain happen?

This video has an answer for you

Live 3D cell imaging

Live-cell 3D super-resolution imaging in thick biological samples

• Francesca Cella Zanacchi,
• Zeno Lavagnino,
• Michela Perrone Donnorso,
• Alessio Del Bue,
• Laura Furia,
• Mario Faretta
• & Alberto Diaspro

• Nature Methods
   
  (2011)
   
  doi:10.1038/nmeth.1744

• We demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) super-resolution live-cell imaging through thick specimens (50–150 μm), by coupling far-field individual molecule localization with selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM). The improved signal-to-noise ratio of selective plane illumination allows nanometric localization of single molecules in thick scattering specimens without activating or exciting molecules outside the focal plane. We report 3D super-resolution imaging of cellular spheroids.

Photoreduction visualized

Photoreduction of ⁹⁹Tc Pertechnetate by Nanometer-Sized Metal Oxides: New Strategies for Formation and Sequestration of Low-Valent Technetium

Benjamin P. Burton-Pye, Ivana Radivojevic, Donna McGregor, Israel M. Mbomekalle, Wayne W. Lukens, Jr., and Lynn C. Francesconi

Publication Date (Web): October 10, 2011 (Article)

DOI: 10.1021/ja2060929

DNA origami

DNA Origami Nanopatterning on Chemically Modified Graphene^†

1. Je Moon Yun¹, 
2. Kyoung Nan Kim², 
3. Ju Young Kim¹, 
4. Dong Ok Shin¹, 
5. Won Jun Lee¹, 
6. Sun Hwa Lee¹, 
7. Prof. Marya Lieberman^2,*, 
8. Prof. Sang Ouk Kim^1,*

Article first published online: 27 OCT 2011

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201106198

Nanoscale folding of DNA: Taking advantage of facile solution processing, pattern formation under light irradiation, and ready chemical modification of graphene oxide, various patterned films of chemically modified graphene were prepared and employed for spatial patterning of DNA origami structures (see picture). The patterning of DNA origami structures required highly selective adsorption on graphene oxide surfaces.

Organic solar cells

Photonic Color Filters Integrated with Organic Solar Cells for Energy Harvesting

Hui Joon Park†, Ting Xu‡, Jae Yong Lee‡, Abram Ledbetter, and L. Jay Guo†‡*

^†Macromolecular Science and Engineering, ^‡Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Applied Physics,The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States, and Institute of Optics and Electronics,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610209, China.

ACS Nano, 2011, 5 (9), pp 7055–7060

DOI: 10.1021/nn201767e

Publication Date (Web): July 31, 2011

Color filters are indispensable in most color display applications. In most cases, they are chemical pigment-based filters, which produce a particular color by absorbing its complementary color, and the absorbed energy is totally wasted. If the absorbed and wasted energy can be utilized, e.g., to generate electricity, innovative energy-efficient electronic media could be envisioned. Here we show photonic nanostructures incorporated with photovoltaics capable of producing desirable colors in the visible band and utilize the absorbed light to simultaneously generate electrical powers. In contrast to the traditional colorant-based filters, these devices offer great advantages for electro-optic applications.