Amyloid fibril formation in solution and at interfaces in shearing flows
Authors
Posada, David
ORCID
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Other Contributors
Hirsa, Amir H.
Tessier, Peter M.
Zhang, Lucy T.
Wei, T. (Timothy)
Tessier, Peter M.
Zhang, Lucy T.
Wei, T. (Timothy)
Issue Date
2013-05
Keywords
Mechanical engineering
Degree
PhD
Terms of Use
This electronic version is a licensed copy owned by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. Copyright of original work retained by author.
Full Citation
Abstract
The fibrillization process at quiescent and sheared air/water interfaces and its relation to amyloid formation in the bulk were studied using a deep-channel surface viscometer. Fibrillization was accelerated at the air/water interface under shearing and quiescent conditions. Surface shear viscosity was shown to be a useful rheological property to assess the progress of fibrillization at the interface. In quiescent experiments, amyloid formation in solution appeared to be independent from the earlier fibrillization that occurred at the air/water interface. Amyloid films formed at the air/water interfaces, with differences in morphology depending on whether the interface was sheared or not during the fibrillization process. In both cases, however, the films became rigid, with a consequent immobilization of the free surface. A novel portable flow apparatus was developed for in situ microscopy which provides uniform shear at the air/water interface and the bulk. The Taylor-Couette capillary apparatus uses surface tension to pin the contact line. This maintains the free surface at a fixed position in spite of changes in its gravitational orientation or fluid volume. The capabilities of the apparatus were demonstrated by studying bulk and interfacial amyloid formation in situ, via real-time fluorescence microscopy. By uniformly shearing both the air/water interface and the bulk, it was established that amyloid formation at the free surface occurs faster than in the sheared solution. A thin amyloid film forms at the interface which becomes immobile with time.
Description
May 2013
School of Engineering
School of Engineering
Department
Dept. of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering
Publisher
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Relationships
Rensselaer Theses and Dissertations Online Collection
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