title: Formation of protein and protein-gold nanoparticle stabilized microbubbles by pressurized gyration.
abstract: A one-pot single-step novel process has been developed to form microbubbles up to 250 μm in diameter using a pressurized rotating device. The microbubble diameter is shown to be a function of rotational speed and working pressure of the processing system, and a modified Rayleigh-Plesset equation has been derived to explain the bubble-forming mechanism. A parametric plot is constructed to identify a rotating speed and working pressure regime, which allows for continuous bubbling. Bare protein (lysozyme) microbubbles generated in this way exhibit a morphological change, resulting in microcapsules over a period of time. Microbubbles prepared with gold nanoparticles at the bubble surface showed greater stability over a time period and retained the same morphology. The functionalization of microbubbles with gold nanoparticles also rendered optical tunability and has promising applications in imaging, biosensing, and diagnostics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London , Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Suntharavathanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.forename: Bahijja Tolulope
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Raimi-Abraham
authors.forename: Duncan Q M
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edirisinghe
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D045423:Microbubbles
chemical_list: D006046:Gold