Single Pulse Heating of Nanoparticle Array for Biological Applications

With the ability to convert external excitation into heat, nanomaterials play an essential role in many biomedical applications. Two modes of nanoparticle (NP) array heating, nanoscale-confined heating (NCH) and macroscale-collective heating (MCH), have been found and extensively studied. Despite this, the resulting biological response at protein level remains elusive. In this study, we developed a computational model to systematically investigate the single-pulsed heating of NP array and corresponding protein denaturation/activation. We found that NCH may lead to targeted protein denaturation, however, nanoparticle heating does not lead to nanoscale selective TRPV1 channel activation. The excitation duration and NP concentration are primary factors that determine a window for targeted protein denaturation, and together with heating power, we defined quantified boundaries for targeted protein denaturation. Our results boost our understandings in the NCH and MCH under realistic physical constraints and provide a robust guidance to customize biomedical platforms with desired NP heating.

Heat transfer enhancement in superheated hydrocarbon fluids due to traces of water

For the specific mode of pulse heating of a wire probe immersed in a test liquid (saturated hydrocarbon), the effect of enhancement of the heat transfer through the probe surface has been revealed. The characteristic heating time is from 10 to 20 ms. The objects of research are n-hexane, n-decane, and n-hexadecane. It is shown that the addition of 0.003% water increases the heat transfer to 10% in the course of approaching the boiling-up temperature of liquid. Simulation of the experimental conditions shows the possibility of microconvection in the most heated boundary layer of a liquid about 10 μm thick.