Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. A. Aliev, N. Yu Kuzminyh, E. A. Ugolkova
Summary: The nematic ordering of a racemic mixture and an enantiopure melt of trimer chains were inspected within the Landau theory of phase transitions. It was found that the phase diagrams for a racemic mixture may contain regions of stability of isotropic, prolate uniaxial, oblate uniaxial, and biaxial nematic phases depending on the values of angles and monomer unit fractions. Chiral nematic states are found for an enantiopure melt, depending on the architecture of the chains.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Juan Chen, Oluwafemi Isaac Akomolafe, Netra Prasad Dhakal, Mahesh Pujyam, Omar Skalli, Jinghua Jiang, Chenhui Peng
Summary: This study proposes a method to fabricate complex nanofiber structures using a spatially varying ordered liquid crystal host. By controlling the projection shape and polarizer rotation, various configurations of nanofiber organization can be created. The nanofiber arrays can guide neurite outgrowth and have potential applications in neural tissue organization.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lisa Thomson, Daniel McDowall, Libby Marshall, Olivia Marshall, Henry Ng, W. Joseph A. Homer, Dipankar Ghosh, Wanli Liu, Adam M. Squires, Eirini Theodosiou, Paul D. Topham, Louise C. Serpell, Robert J. Poole, Annela Seddon, Dave J. Adams
Summary: This study demonstrates the treatment of a simple dipeptide building block as a polyelectrolyte and the use of polymer physics approaches to explain self-assembly, leading to the preparation of interesting materials.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Vianney Gimenez-Pinto
Summary: This work numerically investigates the effect of particle size and solvent size in the process of solidification templating. It shows the existence of a threshold speed for crystallization templating and analyzes the combined effects of particle-crystal interaction strength and size effects. These findings provide a starting point for the development of hybrid soft materials via structural templating.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Prabesh Gyawali, Rony Saha, Gregory P. Smith, Miroslaw Salamonczyk, Prakash Kharel, Soumitra Basu, Ruipeng Li, Masafumi Fukuto, James T. Gleeson, Noel A. Clark, Antal Jakli, Hamza Balci, Samuel Sprunt
Summary: The study investigates the nature and temperature dependence of smectic ordering in concentrated solutions of various gapped DNA constructs, revealing distinct bilayer and monolayer structures for DNA concentrations in the range of 230 to 280 mg/mL. The bilayer structure appears for gap lengths over 10 bases and transitions into the cholesteric phase at temperatures between 30 to 35 degrees C, while the monolayer structure is predominant for gap lengths less than or equal to 10 bases and remains stable up to temperatures exceeding 40 degrees C. Models for the two layer structures and mechanisms for their stability are discussed in detail.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yong Geng, Jan P. F. Lagerwall
Summary: Cylindrically symmetric cholesteric liquid crystal elastomer (CLCE) fibers templated by tubular confinement display mechanochromic, thermochromic, and thermomechanical responses. The synthesis inside a sacrificial tube secures radial orientation of the cholesteric helix, and the ground state retroreflection wavelength is easily tuned throughout the visible spectrum or into the near-infrared by varying the concentration of a chiral dopant. The fibers show continuous, repeatable, and quantitatively predictable mechanochromic response, reaching a blue shift of more than -220 nm for 180% elongation.
Article
Polymer Science
Lu Zhang, Hongxiang Li, Kefeng Zhao, Tao Zhang, Duo Liu, Sichun Wang, Fan Wu, Qiang Zhang, Yanchun Han
Summary: This study found that different film morphologies can be obtained through different liquid crystalline (LC) phase transition processes. Films rapidly cooled from the melt exhibited higher crystallinity, while films slowly cooled exhibited higher lamellar packing. The LC phases and annealing programs are important for morphology design.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Du Yuan, Xin Li, Hong Yao, Yuhang Li, Xiaobo Zhu, Jin Zhao, Haitao Zhang, Yizhou Zhang, Ernest Tang Jun Jie, Yi Cai, Madhavi Srinivasan
Summary: A novel electrolyte for zinc ion batteries is developed, achieving regulated water activity and long-range ordering of conduction channels and solid electrolyte interface (SEI). By manipulating water activity, conductivities and electrochemical window can be tuned. The zinc symmetric cell with liquid crystal (LC) gel exhibits highly reversible zinc stripping/plating and ordering of water channels. The gel is also found to induce the in situ formation of long-range ordered layer SEI. The development of LC electrolyte provides a pathway toward advancing aqueous rechargeable batteries through regulation on ion transport, electrochemical stability, and interfacial reaction.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
R. Kumar, A. Chakraborty, S. Fukuoka, F. Damay, E. Kermarrec, P. L. Paulose, Y. Ihara
Summary: By studying the isostructural kagome magnet Li9Cr3(P2O7)3(PO4)2 (LCPO) with active t2g orbitals and S = 3/2, we found that the ground-state properties of LCPO are dominated by ferromagnetic interactions, with a mean-field temperature of around 3 K and an ordering temperature of around 2.7 K. The material exhibits additional in- and out-of-plane further-neighbor antiferromagnetic couplings, although weaker compared to the dominant first-nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic coupling. Experimental results demonstrate the stabilization of a ferromagnetic-like ground state and the persistence of magnetic correlations above the ordering temperature in LCPO.
Article
Polymer Science
Giuseppe Boniello, Victoria Vilchez, Emmanuel Garre, Frederic Mondiot
Summary: Shaping liquid crystals into arrays of defect patterns allows for the design of composite materials with new stimulus-responsive properties. By in situ polymerization of the texture of SmA FCDs, it is possible to transfer them into more electrically responsive LC phases, enabling a dynamic switch between different textural and optical states in a reversible manner with voltage. This approach may lead to new applications of SmA defect patterns and inspire the design of LC-based nanostructured composite materials with new functions that can be dynamically tuned with voltage.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Senlin Gu, Liangliang Zhang, Liliana de Campo, Luke A. O'Dell, Dong Wang, Guang Wang, Lingxue Kong
Summary: Mesoporous materials based on lyotropic liquid crystal templates offer a solution to water scarcity, while polyamide-based thin-film composite membranes have trade-offs between permeability and selectivity. This review explores the advancements in fabricating active layers using liquid crystal templates, analyzes membrane performance, and compares the effects of different substrates on TFC membranes. It also discusses strategies for surface modification and interlayer introduction, and techniques for detecting interfacial structures.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongju Zeng, Ting Liang, Huiyao Zhang, Yanlin Wang, Jingya Wen, Hairong Yu, Changjing Cheng
Summary: Selective 2D nanoporous polymer films were synthesized using a templating method based on hydrogen-bonding supramolecular liquid crystals. The polymer films demonstrated anisotropic and size- and charge-selective adsorption towards cationic dye methylene blue. The effects of pore size and pore charges on adsorption were investigated, and satisfactory regenerability of the functional polymer films was achieved.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
M. Torres Lazaro, R. Aliabadi, H. H. Wensink
Summary: Living polymers composed of weakly flexible, noncovalently bonded building blocks can self-assemble into thermoresponsive lyotropic liquid crystals. The addition of rigid colloidal disks can control the reversible polymer assembly and phase behavior, acting as entropic reorienting templates onto the supramolecular polymers. Small fractions of discotic additives promote the formation of a polymer nematic phase, while larger concentrations disrupt the phase in favor of a discotic nematic fluid where the polymers are dispersed antinematically.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Asmita Shah, Dharmendra Pratap Singh, Benoit Duponchel, Freddy Krasisnski, Abdelylah Daoudi, Sandeep Kumar, Redouane Douali
Summary: The charge transport in discotic mesogens based on triphenylene core was investigated using the time-of-flight method. The hole mobility was found to decrease with increasing the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain attached to the triphenylene core, following an exponential relationship. Dielectric measurements revealed a correlation between molecular ordering and alkyl chain length, impacting hole mobility and permittivity. The potential applications of these compounds in opto-electronics as organic semiconductors are noted, despite the challenge of poor conductivity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
Jiang You, Cheng Wang, Shun-Li Shang, Yipeng Gao, Hong Ju, Hong Ning, Yi Wang, Hui-Yuan Wang, Zi-Kui Liu
Summary: Tailoring phase formation in alloys to achieve desired mechanical properties, especially for complicated multi-phase alloys, is a long-sought goal. The nucleation of competitive crystalline phases during solidification depends on the nature of the liquid. In this study, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations were used to reveal the liquid configuration of Mg-Al-Ca alloys and its effect on the transformation of Ca-containing Laves phase from Al 2 Ca to Mg 2 Ca with increasing Ca/Al ratio ( r Ca / Al ).
JOURNAL OF MAGNESIUM AND ALLOYS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Morselli, Giorgio Dieci
Summary: Recent investigations have revealed hidden layers of gene regulation in human cells, with a focus on the non-protein-coding transcriptome. This review highlights the relatively little attention given to the epigenetic regulation of non-protein-coding RNA genes, and suggests that further investigation could lead to a better understanding of the entire human epigenomic network.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Francesco Mambretti, Nicolo Pedrani, Luca Casiraghi, Elvezia Maria Paraboschi, Tommaso Bellini, Samir Suweis
Summary: Molecular ecology utilizes molecular genetic data to address ecological questions and the interactions among species play a crucial role in determining species coexistence and abundance. This study proposes using a Molecular Dynamics coarse-grained model to investigate interactions among DNA strands representing different species, and explores the competitive advantages and coexistence mechanisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos A. Plata, Stefano Marni, Samir Suweis, Tommaso Bellini, Elvezia Maria Paraboschi
Summary: This article proposes a statistical framework that enables the evaluation of the selectivity of nucleic acid pairing through reparameterizing hybridization thermodynamics. By applying this framework to PCR and microRNA-based gene regulation, it sheds new light on their selectivity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Simone Di Leo, Stefano Marni, Carlos A. Plata, Tommaso P. Fraccia, Gregory P. Smith, Amos Maritan, Samir Suweis, Tommaso Bellini
Summary: In this article, the formation of duplexes in a solution of random-sequence DNA (rsDNA) oligomers is described experimentally and theoretically. The statistics of duplex formation are found to depend on temperature, with a prevalence of partially defected duplexes and a range of pairing errors.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Francesco Fontana, Tommaso Bellini, Marco Todisco
Summary: This study demonstrates that DNA double helices with structural defects can still self-assemble into liquid crystalline solutions, and the gaps within the DNA structure can be effectively filled by nucleotides. These findings enhance our understanding of the polymerization and liquid crystal ordering of DNA.
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Giovanni Nava, Giuliano Zanchetta, Fabio Giavazzi, Marco Buscaglia
Summary: Research in the field of optical biosensors is expanding due to the introduction of new technologies and innovative use of established methods. Label-free optical biosensors offer opportunities for rapid and compact diagnostic devices, as well as the detection of nanoscale objects with high sensitivity.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Giulia Cardamone, Elvezia Maria Paraboschi, Giulia Solda, Giuseppe Liberatore, Valeria Rimoldi, Javier Cibella, Federica Airi, Veronica Tisato, Claudia Cantoni, Francesca Gallia, Donato Gemmati, Laura Piccio, Stefano Duga, Eduardo Nobile-Orazio, Rosanna Asselta
Summary: This study investigated the circRNA expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and found a correlation with genetic and epigenetic background. Additionally, it discovered that MS-associated circRNA variants may impact disease pathogenesis by altering circRNA profiles.
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND RELATED DISORDERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Stefano Marni, Giovanni Nava, Raouf Barboza, Tommaso Giovanni Bellini, Liana Lucchetti
Summary: The motion of ferroelectric liquid sessile droplets deposited on a ferroelectric lithium niobate substrate can be controlled by a light beam of moderate intensity. The droplets are attracted or repelled depending on the side of the substrate exposed to light irradiation. Furthermore, moving the beam allows for long-distance movement of the droplets on the substrate, indicating the coupling between the droplet polarization and the polarization induced in the substrate.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Giovanni Nava, Luca Casiraghi, Thomas Carzaniga, Giuliano Zanchetta, Marcella Chiari, Francesco Damin, Valentina Bollati, Lucia Signorini, Serena Delbue, Tommaso Bellini, Marco Buscaglia
Summary: This article describes an optical device that enables the enumeration of single virus particles binding on a surface coated with antibody or aptamers. By utilizing the localized contributions of nanoparticles adhering to the sensor surface, a scan-free, label-free microarray-type digital assay is realized. The combination of different probes on the same surface increases the specificity of detection and dynamic range.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tommaso P. Fraccia, Nicolas Martin
Summary: By designing coacervate droplets, the authors promote non-enzymatic oligonucleotide polymerization and restructure the droplets as a result of reaction dynamics. Light-actuated oligonucleotide ligation is demonstrated through the dynamic assembly and dissolution of the coacervate droplets. Changes in the population of polynucleotides induce phase transitions, resulting in multiphase coacervates. This study provides a general route to the non-enzymatic synthesis of polynucleotides and paves the way to the emergence of a primitive compartment-content coupling in membrane-free protocells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Federico Caimi, Giuliano Zanchetta
Summary: Several biomolecules in water can form dynamic aggregates, and their nanometric structures can reflect the chirality of the monomers in unexpected ways. This twisted organization can be propagated to the mesoscale and macroscale, contributing to the properties of various tissues. The understanding and fine-tuning of the chiral and nonchiral interactions are fundamental for applications. Recent advances in chiral self-assembly and mesoscale ordering of biological and bioinspired molecules in water are presented, focusing on systems based on nucleic acids, aromatic molecules, oligopeptides, and their hybrid structures, along with novel characterization approaches.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mattia Carneri, Davide Ferraro, Afshin Azarpour, Alessio Meggiolaro, Sebastian Cremaschini, Daniele Filippi, Matteo Pierno, Giuliano Zanchetta, Giampaolo Mistura
Summary: The use of highly slippery lubricated surfaces can facilitate the movement of high-viscosity YSF droplets. The droplets slide on the lubricated surfaces and roll down when their descending speed increases, especially at high inclinations and low concentrations.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Federico Caimi, Giovanni Nava, Susanna Fuschetto, Liana Lucchetti, Petra Paie, Roberto Osellame, Xi Chen, Noel A. Clark, Matthew A. Glaser, Tommaso Bellini
Summary: The recently discovered ferroelectric nematic (N-F) liquid-crystal phase possesses both the fluid-like orientation and the large magnitude polarization field. This unique combination results in a distinct electrostatic phenomenon and response to applied fields. In this study, we observe that the polarization field of the N-F phase aligns with the microchannels despite their winding paths when a small electric field is applied. This alignment is due to the fluid superscreening effect, where the electric field components normal to the channel walls are promptly eliminated by polarization reorientation. This finding sheds light on the internal structure and electrical self-organization of channel-confined N-F liquid crystals.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Massimo Lazzeri, Stefano Duga, Elena Azzolini, Vittorio Fasulo, Nicolo Buffi, Alberto Saita, Giovanni Lughezzani, Elvezia M. Paraboschi, Rodolfo Hurle, Alessandro Nobili, Maurizio Cecconi, Giorgio Guazzoni, Paolo Casale, Rosanna Asselta
Summary: This study compared the hospitalization rates for COVID-19 between males exposed to 5ARIs and a control group, and found that males exposed to 5ARIs had a lower risk of hospitalization. This suggests the potential protective effect of 5ARIs against severe COVID-19.
MINERVA UROLOGY AND NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
