Gary Braun

Research Abstract

My research involves understanding and controlling inorganic-organic-bio interfaces in nanomaterials for optical, nanoelectronics, bio-sensing and drug delivery applications. My efforts focus on the generating novel multifunctional nanoparticles with through self-assembly and chemical functionalization of their surfaces. Techniques including AFM, TEM, SEM, NMR, STM, DLS, and fluorescence and Raman microscopy are used to examine the properties of these materials. Nanoparticle colloid core, surface ligand chemistry design and synthesis are undertaken in our lab while the various characterizations utilize equipment speckled across the science and engineering departments. These projects benefit from collaborations with a number of groups in the physics, chemical, biochemical, and electrical engineering, and materials at UCSB, and with several spectroscopy labs in Lawrence Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Papers

Papers in preparation state or submitted to journals: SERS barcoding, SERS sensing in cells, DNA scaffolds and cell attachment, RNA interference by laser controlled nanoparticle release, and Scalable nanowire array self assembly with statistical analysis.

In Press:
1. “Rapid, solution-based characterization of optimized SERS nanoparticle substrates”; Laurence, T. A., Braun, G., Talley, C., Schwartzberg, A., Moskovits, M., Reich, N. O., Huser, T.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2008, ASAP, DOI: 10.1021/ja806236k.
2. “Enzyme-directed positioning of nanoparticles on large DNA templates”; Braun, G., Diechtierow, M., Wilkinson, S., Schmidt, F., Hüben, M., Weinhold, E., Reich, N. O.; Bioconjugate Chem., 2008, 19(2), 476-479.
3. “A feasible approach to all-electronic digital labeling and readout for cell identification”; Wood, D. K., Braun, G. B., Fraikin, J. –L., Swenson, L. J., Reich, N. O., Cleland, A. N.; Lab on a Chip., 2007, 7, 469-474.
4. “Chemically patterned microspheres for controlled nanoparticle assembly in the construction of SERS hot spots”; Braun, G., Pavel, I., Morrill, A. R., Seferos, D. S., Bazan, G. C., Reich, N. O., Moskovits, M.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(25), 7760-7761.
5. “Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for DNA detection by nanoparticle assembly onto smooth metal Films”; Braun, G., Lee, S. J., Dante, M., Nguyen, T. –Q., Moskovits, M., Reich, N. O.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(20), 6378-6379.
6. “A heterogeneous PNA-based SERS method for DNA detection”; Fabris, L., Dante, M., Braun, G., Lee, S. J., Reich, N. O., Moskovits, M., Nguyen, T. –Q., Bazan, G.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(19), 6086-6087.
7. “Detection of sequence-specific protein-DNA interaction via surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering”; Bonham, A. J., Braun, G., Pavel, I., Moskovits, M., Reich, N. O.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2007, 129(47) 14572-14573.
8. “Specific and sensitive detection of nucleic acids and RNases using gold nanoparticle-RNA-fluorescent dye conjugates”; Kim, J. H., Estabrook, R. A., Braun, G., Lee B. R., Reich, N. O.; Chem. Comm., 2007, 42, 4342-4344.
9. “Gold nanoparticle decoration of DNA on silicon”; Braun, G., Inagaki, K., Estabrook, R.A., Wood, D.K., Levy, E., Cleland, A.N., Strouse, G.F., Reich, N.O.; Langmuir, 2005, 21(23), 10699-10701.
10. “Controlled spacing of cationic gold nanoparticles by nanocrown RNA”; Koyfman, A. Y., Braun, G., Magonov, S., Chworos, A., Reich, N. O., Jaeger, L.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127(34), 11886-11887.
11. “NMR analysis of surfaces and interfaces in 2-nm CdSe”; Berrettini, M.G., Braun, G., Hu, J. G., Strouse, G. F.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126(22), 7063-7070.

Awards and Honors

Corning Inc. Foundation Science Fellowship (2008-9)
Mitsubishi Chemical Distinguished Graduate Fellowship award (2005-6)

Presentations

“Functionalized, polymer-encapsulated nanoparticle clusters for SERS multiplexing”, SPIE Optics and Photonics, San Diego, CA (2008)
“Site-Selective Positioning of Nanoparticles on DNA Templates for Nanoelectronics”, DNA-based Nanoscale Integration International Symposium, Jena, Germany (May 2006)
“Biomolecular Routes for Nanoelectronics”, Materials Research Society, Boston, MA (Dec. 2005)

Contact

GBraun@chem.ucsb.edu