User:Daniel Catt/Notebook/Protein Biofilms Exploration/2011/06/08

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Observations of Copper films

 * As is, there is little hint of significant structural difference between the protein films made by incorporating the copper "nanoparticles" (they probably were not produced in this trial) and the films with only BSA and water. The difference might stem solely from the other, analytically advantageous characteristics of the film, if such characteristics, borne of the incorporated copper crystal structure, were to exist.

Different Protocol for Cu NP production

 * Using a protocol adapted from a paper by Slocik and Wright (2003), the creation of copper nanoparticles was reattempted.1


 * The zein solution was prepared as on the previous days, but the BSA/Cu solution was prepared differently.

BSA/Cu solution #1 (BSA unfolding first):

-To 3mL of 1M Tris buffer @ pH 8.5 in a glass test tube, 200μL of 0.1M BSA solution in distilled water was added.

-The solution was heated at 70°C in a water bath for 1 hour

-100μL of 0.17mM aqueous cupric acetate monohydrate was added and the solution was mixed by inversion.

-Heated for an additional 4 hours at 70°C in a water bath

BSA/Cu solution #2 (Full mix):

-To 3mL of 1M Tris buffer @ pH 8.5 in a glass test tube, 200μL of 0.1M BSA solution and 100μL of 0.17mM aqueous cupric acetate was added. The solution was mixed by inversion.

-The solution was heated at 70°C in a water bath for 5 hours.

BSA/Cu solution #3 (High Concentration):

-To 3mL of 1M Tris buffer @ pH 8.5 in a glass test tube, 2mL of 0.1M BSA solution and 1mL of 0.17mM aqueous cupric acetate was added. The solution was mixed by inversion.

-The solution was heated at 70°C in a water bath for 5 hours.


 * The BSA solutions were mixed dropwise into the zein solutions and poured by 6mL volumes into plastic 9cm petri dishes. They were then heated uncovered at either 37°C and 80°C (1 at each) overnight in an oven.

1Slocik, J. M.; Wright, D. W. Biomimetic Mineralization of Noble Metal Nanoclusters. Biomacromolecules 2003, 4, 1135-1141.


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