Biofrontiers Research Associates

     Kathrin Spendier PhD.

     Research Associate
     PhD (Physics) 2012 University of New Mexico

     719-255-3123

      kspendie@uccs.edu

 Research Highlights  

- Study dynamics of mast cell surface receptors in cell membrane curvature gradients.

- Study effects of induced cell membrane potentials in mast cells and microalgae and investigate  the  feasibility of electrically active nanoparticles to tune such potentials.

Recent publications

- K. Spendier, J. A. Timlin, J. L. Thomas, and V. M. Kenkre, "Theory of coalescence of diffusing receptor clusters in immune cells," in preparation.

- Spatial Patterns in Mast Cell Activation in Mast Cells: Phenotypic Features, Biological Functions, and Role in  Immunity (invited book chapter) K. Spendier and J. L. Thomas,  Nova Science Publishers, Inc, in print.

  - K. Spendier, D. S. Lidke, K. A. Lidke and J. L. Thomas,  "Single-particle tracking of immunoglobulin E receptors (FcεRI) in micron-sized clusters and receptor patches,"  FEBS Letters, 586, Issue 4, (2012).

     Ke (Jack) Jiang PhD.

     Research Associate
     PhD (Chemistry) 2009 Texas Christian University

     719-255-3123

      kjiang@uccs.edu

 Research Interests 

- Gold/silver nanoparticles-polymer composite gels for photothermally enhanced laser treatments.

- Fluorescent gold/silver nanoclusters as stable and biocompatible probes for bio-imaging and bio-sensing applications.

- Three-dimensional gold/silver nanoparticle arrays for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Recent publications

- K. Jiang, L. Ma, J. Wang, W. Chen, "Graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide: synthesis, photoluminescence and biotechnology applications," Rev. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. (2013) In press.

- K. Jiang, G. R. Akkaraju, J. L. Coffer, " Silicon nanowire/polycaprolactone composites and their impact on stromal cell function," J. Mater. Res. 28, 185 (2013).





Biofrontiers Graduate Students

     Vira Kravetz  (Ms. Sci)

     Graduate Research Assistant

     719-255-3123

      vkravets@uccs.edu

 
Research Interests 

Experimental and theoretical study of the optical properties of:

- colloidal solutions of photoluminescent silver nanoclusters for bio-sensing and fluorescent microscopy.

- ordered arrays of gold nanoparticles and thin films, related to the surface plasmon resonance excited in them, for bio-sensing and fluorescent microscopy.

Recent publications

- V. V. Kravets, O. A. Yeshchenko, V. V. Gozhenko, L. E. Ocola, D. A. Smith, J. V. Vedral and A. O. Pinchuk, "Tunable resonance absorption of light in a chain or gold nanoparticles," J. Phys. D: Applied Physics 45, 045102 (2012).

- V. V. Gozhenko, D. A. Smith, J. L. Vedral, V. V. Kravets and A. O. Pinchuk, "Electrodynamic coupling in regular arrays of gold nanocylinders," J. Phys. Chem. C 115, 8911 (2011).

- V. V. Kravets, K. Culhane, I. M. Dmitruk and A. O. Pinchuk, "Glycine-coated photoluminescent silver nanoclusters," Colloidal Nanocrystals for biomedical applications VII, Proc. of SPIE 8232, 1 (2012).

     Nick Anderson

     Graduate Research Assistant

     719-337-2474

      nanders3@uccs.edu

 
Research Interests 

Theoretical study of surface plasmon polaritons for bio-sensing applications.

Recent publications

- N. R. Anderson and R. E. Camley, "Attenuated total reflection study of bulk and surface polaritons in antiferromagnets and hexagonal ferrites: propagation at arbitrary angles," J. Appl. Phys. 113, 013904 (2013).