Browsing by Author "Young, Joseph Keith"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    High-density sub-100-nm peptide-gold nanoparticle complexes improve vaccine presentation by dendritic cells in vitro
    (Springer, 2013) Lin, Adam Yuh; Lunsford, Jessica; Bear, Adham Sean; Young, Joseph Keith; Eckels, Phillip; Luo, Laureen; Foster, Aaron Edward; Drezek, Rebekah Anna
    Nanocarriers have been explored to improve the delivery of tumor antigens to dendritic cells (DCs). Gold nanoparticles are attractive nanocarriers because they are inert, non-toxic, and can be readily endocytosed by DCs. Here, we designed novel gold-based nanovaccines (AuNVs) using a simple self-assembling bottom-up conjugation method to generate high-peptide density delivery and effective immune responses with limited toxicity. AuNVs were synthesized using a self-assembling conjugation method and optimized using DC-to-splenocyte interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assays. The AuNV design has shown successful peptide conjugation with approximately 90% yield while remaining smaller than 80 nm in diameter. DCs uptake AuNVs with minimal toxicity and are able to process the vaccine peptides on the particles to stimulate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). These high-peptide density AuNVs can stimulate CTLs better than free peptides and have great potential as carriers for various vaccine types.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Size-Controlled Synthesis of Monodispersed Gold Nanoparticles via Carbon Monoxide Reduction
    (2011) Young, Joseph Keith; Drezek, Rebekah A.
    In this thesis an in depth analysis of nanoparticle synthesis utilizing carbon monoxide as a reducing agent is presented. Synthesized nanoparticle mono and polydispersity was examined via particle distribution profiles, statistical, and spectral analysis and compared against other reduction methods. The size and monodispersity of the gold nanoparticles produced with carbon monoxide were tunable by altering the concentration of HAuCl 4 and gas injection flow rates. The carbon monoxide based reduction method offered excellent tunability over a broad range of sizes while maintaining a high level of monodispersity when compared to the other reduction methods. The mechanisms involved in the size dependent optical response of the synthesized nanoparticles were identified. It was also found that speciation of aqueous HAuCl 4 influences the size, structure, and properties of Au colloids. Ensemble extinction spectra and TEM images provide clear evidence that CO reduction offers a high level of tunability compared to other synthesis methods.