Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kaitlyn Ramsay, Jae Levy, Pierangelo Gobbo, Katherine S. Elvira
Summary: Researchers have designed a microfluidic platform for building bespoke prototissues from predetermined compositions of two types of protein-polymer protocells. They demonstrate control over the collective behaviors and endogenous biochemical reactivity of the biomaterial, offering a new route for high-throughput fabrication of tissue-like materials with programmable collective properties.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Davood Khoeini, Timothy F. Scott, Adrian Neild
Summary: Research shows that environmental control offered by microfluidic systems can achieve non-equilibrium reaction conditions, leading to complex self-assembled structures. The study demonstrates that kinetically-controlled self-assembly can be achieved through alterations to the immediate microenvironment.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yang Hu, Bin Liu, Luyao Xu, Ziqiang Dong, Yating Wu, Jie Liu, Cheng Zhong, Wenbin Hu
Summary: Pt-based electrocatalysts have been extensively studied for their wide applications in fuel cells, hydrogen production, degradation of organic pollutants, electrochemical sensors, and oxidation of small molecules. The conventional method for developing advanced materials is time-consuming and inefficient, while microfluidic high-throughput techniques offer great potential for optimizing synthesis parameters. However, performance evaluation is necessary to maximize the advantages of microfluidic high-throughput synthesis. Therefore, a versatile microfluidic high-throughput platform combining synthesis and screening of materials was constructed, which showed high efficiency and flexibility in developing new materials and optimizing their properties.
ACTA PHYSICO-CHIMICA SINICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ran Tivony, Marcus Fletcher, Kareem Al Nahas, Ulrich F. Keyser
Summary: By utilizing a stream bifurcation purification method, giant vesicles can be efficiently separated from various residues, leading to the development of an integrated production-purification microfluidic unit that demonstrates applicability in synthetic biology.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shitao Shen, Xiaofeng Qin, Haoqiang Feng, Shuting Xie, Zichuan Yi, Mingliang Jin, Guofu Zhou, Eser Metin Akinoglu, Paul Mulvaney, Lingling Shui
Summary: In this paper, an electromicrofluidic assembly platform (eMAP) is proposed and validated for achieving 3D colloidal assembly within water droplets. By using dielectrophoresis and (di)electrowetting effects, reconfigurable colloidal configurations can be observed and dynamically programmed. This platform allows designable chemical and physical anisotropies for functional materials and devices, and enables high throughput mass production of microcapsules and optoelectronic units.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuo Wu, Florian Schiel, Paolo Melchiorre
Summary: Activating inert substrates is challenging due to their strong covalent bonds and low reduction potentials. Recent advances in photoredox catalysis have provided solutions to activate specific inert bonds. However, developing a general catalytic platform that can consistently target a broad range of inert substrates would be synthetically useful. This study reports the use of an indole thiolate organocatalyst that, when excited with 405 nm light, becomes strongly reducing and able to activate strong C-F, C-Cl, and C-O bonds in both aromatic and aliphatic substrates. Mechanistic studies revealed an excited-state thiolate anion responsible for the highly reducing reactivity.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rujie Sun, Xin Song, Kun Zhou, Yuyang Zuo, Richard Wang, Omar Rifaie-Graham, David J. Peeler, Ruoxiao Xie, Yixuan Leng, Hongya Geng, Giulia Brachi, Yun Ma, Yutong Liu, Lorna Barron, Molly M. Stevens
Summary: This study presents a versatile platform for fabricating fillable microrobots using microfluidic loading and dip sealing (MLDS), which allows for encapsulating different types of cargoes within hollow microrobots and protecting the cargo integrity. The technique is supported by high-resolution 3D printing and an integrated microfluidic loading system, enabling a highly precise loading process and improved cargo loading capacity. The MLDS platform offers new opportunities for targeted drug delivery, environmental sensing, and chemically powered micromotor applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Maheen Rana, Raheel Ahmad, Annette F. Taylor
Summary: Temporal control of pH in microreactors is crucial for applications such as biomineralization and microparticle synthesis. Researchers have successfully controlled the pH-time profile in emulsion droplets by combining an enzyme reaction with the properties of a water-oil-water double emulsion, allowing for the formation of pH sensitive materials and selective synthesis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yong Beom Kim, Seunghyun Kim, Jinwook Kim, Jun Kyu Kim, Seung Jin Jeong, DongHwan Oh, WooChul Jung
Summary: This study proposes a unique combination method for the fabrication of highly dispersed and stable alloy nanocatalysts. By manipulating the reducing conditions, the particle size and composition of the alloy nanoparticles are precisely controlled. The unique behavior of the alloy composition is elucidated through elemental analysis. The experimental results demonstrate that Pt-Ni alloy nanocatalysts exhibit breakthrough performance compared to single element catalysts in reverse water gas shift reaction.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Iene Rutten, Devin Daems, Karen Leirs, Jeroen Lammertyn
Summary: Evalution(TM) is a novel microfluidic platform that combines encoded microparticles and channel-based microfluidics to enable fast, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of multiple disease-related biomarkers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Colin P. Pilkington, Claudia Contini, Joseph D. Barritt, Paul A. Simpson, John M. Seddon, Yuval Elani
Summary: Soft-matter nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in biotechnology, therapeutic delivery, and in vivo imaging due to their biocompatibility, selective targeting, pharmacokinetic properties, and functionalization potential. However, the morphological diversity of these particles remains untapped in clinical and industrial settings, with only simple architectures being utilized. To address this, a scalable microfluidic hydrodynamic focusing (MHF) technology has been designed for the controllable and rapid production of lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) nanoparticles with intricate internal structures. These particles have the potential to be the next generation of soft-matter nano-carriers, with unique fusogenic and physical properties. The microfluidic platform allows for control over LLC size, enabling further studies and rapid prototyping of diverse functionality.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jimin Lee, Minseob Lim, Tae Sung Kim, Kee-Ryung Park, Jong-Sik Lee, Hong-Baek Cho, Joo Hyun Park, Yong-Ho Choa
Summary: The use of fossil fuels poses a threat to the environment and leads to global warming, prompting research into renewable hydrogen energy production. Thermochemical water splitting using metal oxides is a promising method, but preventing catalytic deactivation at high temperatures remains a significant challenge.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sunghak Choi, Bongsu Kang, Shogo Taguchi, Hiroshi Umakoshi, Keesung Kim, Moon Kyu Kwak, Ho-Sup Jung
Summary: A novel method for DMPC/DHPC bicelle synthesis based on a microfluidic device without heating and freezing processes is proposed, enabling the continuous manufacturing of bicelles. Experimental and analytical studies reveal critical lipid concentration and mixing time in the microfluidic system, as well as a linear relation between the actual composition of bicelle and initial lipid ratio. This method allows for controlled size of bicelles.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Nasrin Moeini-Eghbali, Hossein Eshghi
Summary: In this study, a new and selective nanocatalyst (Fe3O4@S-TiO2/Cu) was synthesized by incorporating sulfur heteroatoms onto Fe3O4@TiO2 substrate as a ligand to stabilize copper nanoparticles. The Fe3O4@S-TiO2/Cu nanorods were characterized using various techniques and showed high catalytic activity in preparing triazole derivatives. The nanocatalyst exhibited advantages such as high regioselectivity, short reaction times, easy separation, and recyclability.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Fuqi Yao, Pengpeng Zhu, Junjie Chen, Suyang Li, Biao Sun, Yunfeng Li, Mingqiang Zou, Xiaohua Qi, Pei Liang, Qiang Chen
Summary: In recent years, the research on nanomaterials has been focused on their unique optical, chemical, and biological properties, attracting experts in the fields of catalysis, energy, biomedical testing, and biomedicine. Microfluidics, a paradigm of microscale control, provides an ideal platform for stable synthesis of nanomaterials through efficient mass and heat transfer, flexible blending of reactants, and precise control of reaction conditions. This article summarizes the microfluidic preparation of nanoparticles in the last 5 years, including microfluidic techniques and manipulation of fluids. It also demonstrates the ability of microfluidics to prepare different types of nanomaterials and presents cases of nanomaterials prepared under extreme conditions.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dylan J. Walsh, Timo N. Schneider, Bradley D. Olsen, Klavs F. Jensen
Summary: This paper presents a design of a versatile, uniform light platform for photochemistry to improve the performance and reproducibility of high throughput experiments. The design is based on the development of an open-source ray tracing light simulation package and is experimentally validated using radiometry. The usefulness of the platform is demonstrated through its application in photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of methyl acrylate.
REACTION CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Maria Sancho-Albero, Nazeeha Ayaz, Victor Sebastian, Cristina Chirizzi, Miguel Encinas-Gimenez, Giulia Neri, Linda Chaabane, Lluis Lujan, Pilar Martin-Duque, Pierangelo Metrangolo, Jesu's Santamaria, Francesca Baldelli Bombelli
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important for cell-to-cell communication and show potential as efficient delivery vectors. However, current imaging tools have limitations in understanding EV behavior in vivo. This study presents the use of fluorinated EVs containing PERFECTA, a branched molecule with 36 magnetically equivalent 19F atoms, for imaging biodistribution and EV delivery. The PERFECTA-EVs maintained the characteristics and morphology of native EVs while exhibiting strong 19F-NMR signal and good 19F relaxation times.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ramiro Quiros-Ovies, Maria Laborda, Natalia Martin Sabanes, Lucia Martin-Perez, Sara Moreno-Da Silva, Enrique Burzuri, Victor Sebastian, Emilio M. Perez, Jesus Santamaria
Summary: This article introduces a method for efficient exfoliation of MoS2 layers by utilizing its excellent MW absorption properties. The method involves rapid heating to induce near-instantaneous evaporation of a low boiling point solvent, leading to the separation of MoS2 layers with high efficiency. The method shows high yields, good quality, and large area coverage.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Camille Bilodeau, Andrei Kazakov, Sukrit Mukhopadhyay, Jillian Emerson, Tom Kalantar, Chris Muzny, Klavs Jensen
Summary: Viscosity is a crucial parameter in process engineering and various industries, such as coatings, lubricants, personal care, and pharmaceuticals. The lack of reliable methods for predicting mixture viscosities hampers process engineering and product design. This study developed a graph-based neural network architecture to predict the viscosity of binary liquid mixtures based on composition and temperature. A curated dataset was created using an automated curation pipeline and collected literature from NIST. The resulting model achieved high accuracy in viscosity prediction and a classifier was developed to assess prediction reliability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mariia Savchenko, Victor Sebastian, Modesto Torcuato Lopez-Lopez, Alejandro Rodriguez-Navarro, Luis Alvarez De Cienfuegos, Concepcion Jimenez-Lopez, Jose Antonio Gavira
Summary: This article discusses the importance of crystallization in confined spaces for both natural processes and man-made materials. Studying nucleation in confined spaces can help us understand similar natural events, design new methods to control crystallization, and expand our knowledge in the field of crystallography.
CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Daniel Antoran, Dario Alvira, M. Eser Peker, Hugo Malon, Silvia Irusta, Victor Sebastian, Joan J. Manya
Summary: The study focuses on the potential application of waste hemp-hurd-derived carbons as anodes in sodium-ion batteries. The carbons were produced through a scalable process involving pyrolysis of biomass, chemical activation, and heating. The best performing carbon material exhibited excellent initial coulombic efficiency, reversible charge capacities, cyclic stability, and rate capability, which can be attributed to its unique textural and structural features.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amvrosios G. Georgiadis, Georgios I. Siakavelas, Anastasios I. Tsiotsias, Nikolaos D. Charisiou, Benedikt Ehrhardt, Wen Wang, Victor Sebastian, Steven J. Hinder, Mark A. Baker, Simone Mascotto, Maria A. Goula
Summary: Ni/LnO(x)-type catalysts were prepared and characterized for the dry reforming of biogas. LNO showed higher catalytic activity compared to other materials. However, it suffered from significant activity loss and reactor blockage. The deactivation was attributed to extensive coke deposition, including disordered carbon and multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maria Sancho-Albero, Ana Martin-Pardillos, Silvia Irusta, Victor Sebastian, Vicente Luis Cebolla, Roberto Pazo-Cid, Pilar Martin-Duque, Jesus Santamaria
Summary: In this study, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize the composition of nanosized extracellular vesicles (EVs) and evaluate its potential application in cancer screening and diagnosis. The use of XPS allows for the analysis of EV membrane composition with little interference from biomolecules, making it an ideal technique for this purpose. The results suggest that XPS analysis of EV membranes can provide valuable information about cancer cells and may be used as a non-invasive blood biomarker for cancer detection.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
R. Manno, P. Ranjan, V. Sebastian, R. Mallada, S. Irusta, E. V. Van der Eycken, J. Santamaria
Summary: Given the potential of metallic clusters, developing novel preparation methods to control cluster size accurately has become a research priority. Specifically, for catalytic applications, synthesizing and deploying metallic nanoclusters on a proper substrate is the main challenge. This study used an alternative reactor that combined ice cooling and microwave heating to synthesize Ag nanoclusters directly over a support with ordered mesopores. The method showed promising results in terms of catalytic activity and stability.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Guillermo Landa, Laura G. Miranda-Calderon, Alex Gomez, Marta Perez, Victor Sebastian, Manuel Arruebo, Isabelle Lamarche, Frederic Tewes, Silvia Irusta, Gracia Mendoza
Summary: The increasing prevalence of non-healing infected wounds has become a serious concern in clinical practice. This study evaluated the effectiveness of combining natural antiseptics with standard care antiseptic in treating Staphylococcus aureus infections. The results showed that the combination treatment had superior bactericidal effects both in vitro and in vivo.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Dario Alvira, Daniel Antoran, Mariano Vidal, Victor J. Sebastian, Joan J. Manya
Summary: Hard carbons from vine shoots were synthesized as anodes for sodium-ion batteries, delivering high reversible capacity and cycling stability. The sodium storage mechanism was characterized and a systematic capacity underestimation was found when using a two-electrode setup. The use of a three-electrode or full-cell configuration is recommended for accurate evaluation.
BATTERIES & SUPERCAPS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lodovico Gatti, Cristina Chirizzi, Giulia Rotta, Pietro Milesi, Maria Sancho-Albero, Victor Sebastian, Anna Mondino, Jesus Santamaria, Pierangelo Metrangolo, Linda Chaabane, Francesca Baldelli Bombelli
Summary: Non-invasive imaging technologies are crucial for tracking cells in vivo and accelerating the clinical translation of cell-based therapies. F-19-MRI has gained attention for unbiased cell localization, but the development of high-performance F-19-probes is necessary. This study highlights the importance of surface functionalization of PLGA-based NPs containing PERFECTA, emphasizing the role of protein corona formation in enhancing cellular labeling efficacy. The formation of protein corona in culture medium can significantly increase the detection sensitivity by F-19-MRI.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Karthik Sankaranarayanan, Klavs F. Jensen
Summary: Chemoenzymatic synthesis methods combine organic and enzyme chemistry to efficiently synthesize small molecules. A multistep retrosynthesis search algorithm is presented in this study to facilitate the chemoenzymatic synthesis of various compounds. The algorithm uses a synthesis planner and a biocatalytic reaction database to identify enzyme-catalyzed reactions and plan synthetic routes for pharmaceutical, specialty, and commodity chemicals. The approach successfully plans chemoenzymatic routes for different compounds and proposes alternative pathways as well.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aniket P. Udepurkar, Kakasaheb Y. Nandiwale, Klavs F. Jensen, Simon Kuhn
Summary: A new ultrasonic microreactor has been developed to overcome the limitations of reactor clogging and yield reduction caused by the presence of solids in flow photochemical reactions. The performance of the ultrasonic photochemical microreactor is evaluated based on the residence time distribution of liquid and solid, as well as the absorbed photon flux in the reactor. The solid-handling capability of the microreactor is demonstrated by a silyl radical-mediated metallaphotoredox cross-electrophile coupling using a solid base as a reagent.
REACTION CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christian P. Haas, Maximilian Luebbesmeyer, Edward H. Jin, Matthew A. McDonald, Brent A. Koscher, Nicolas Guimond, Laura Di Rocco, Henning Kayser, Samuel Leweke, Sebastian Niedenfuehr, Rachel Nicholls, Emily Greeves, David M. Barber, Julius Hillenbrand, Giulio Volpin, Klavs F. Jensen
Summary: This paper presents an open-source Python project called MOCCA for the analysis of HPLC-DAD raw data. MOCCA provides a comprehensive set of data analysis features, including an automated peak deconvolution routine. The authors highlight the broad applicability of MOCCA in various studies and envision its further development as an open-source community project.
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
(2023)
