Myoglobin and Liquid Crystal Interactions
The fundamental interactions between proteins and liquid crystals were studied using 4-Cyano-4’-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) and equine heart myoglobin in varying concentrations. Polarizing Light Microscopy was used to capture images of pure and mixed components, depicting a caging process of the 5CB by the myoglobin as it competes for interaction with water. Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry provided evidence of an inverse relationship between the hydrated myoglobin/5CB ratio and charge carrier diffusion barrier energy and nematic-isotropic transition temperature respectively. A trend in the heat capacitance peak shift alludes to an additional process related to a possible optimum concentration, which correlates with the microscopy caging process analysis.
📰 Publications
- S. Marshall. Experimental Studies of Protein and Liquid Crystal Interactions. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (Apr 2013). Available at http://www.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-042913-111322/
Amyloid Precursor Collective Dynamics
The fundamental interactions between proteins and liquid crystals were studied using 4-Cyano-4’-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) and equine heart myoglobin in varying concentrations. Polarizing Light Microscopy was used to capture images of pure and mixed components, depicting a caging process of the 5CB by the myoglobin as it competes for interaction with water. Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry provided evidence of an inverse relationship between the hydrated myoglobin/5CB ratio and charge carrier diffusion barrier energy and nematic-isotropic transition temperature respectively. A trend in the heat capacitance peak shift alludes to an additional process related to a possible optimum concentration, which correlates with the microscopy caging process analysis.
📰 Publications
- S Marshall, D. Barry, I. Stroe, F. Despa. Studies of the Collective Dynamics of A beta (1-42) Amyloid Precursors Using Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy. PROTEIN SCIENCE. (Aug 2012). Available at https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=2003722242289177870