Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Akihisa Miyagawa, Kenta Hagiya, Shigenori Nagatomo, Kiyoharu Nakatani
Summary: This study investigates the adsorption behavior of proteins on polystyrene microparticles and reveals that the behavior varies according to the method of detection. The formation of a hard corona and a soft corona is also observed, with the extent depending on the pH of the solution.
BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zsofia Nemeth, Ildiko Csoka, Reza Semnani Jazani, Bence Sipos, Henrik Haspel, Gabor Kozma, Zoltan Konya, Dorina Gabriella Dobo
Summary: Liposomal formulations play a vital role in medical therapy, and stable formulations can be achieved through the optimization of preparation conditions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zixi Hu, Jeffrey J. Donatelli, James A. Sethian
Summary: The coefficients for translational and rotational diffusion characterize Brownian motion of particles. The paper proposes a new approach for predicting rotational diffusion coefficient using angular-temporal cross-correlation analysis of XPCS data, which has been verified across a range of simulated data. This method is applicable beyond the specific wavelengths used in the experiments.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Shiva Mohammadi-Jam, Kristian E. Waters, Richard W. Greenwood
Summary: This article reviews the use of the electroacoustic technique in determining the zeta potential of concentrated aqueous suspensions and emphasizes the importance of identifying the isoelectric points for colloidal stability and processing. The application of the technique in polymer lattices is also summarized.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N. A. Ramli, N. Ali, S. Hamzah, N. I. Yatim
Summary: This study prepared liposomes encapsulated with stingless bees' propolis using soy phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol by thin-film hydration technique. The encapsulation efficiency varied among different formulations, with F2 (8:1 w/w) showing the best result with small nanoparticles and high efficiency. The liposome encapsulation provides an effective nanocarrier system to protect and deliver flavonoids extracted from stingless bees' propolis.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
B. B. Sahoo, V. S. Pandey, A. S. Dogonchi, D. N. Thatoi, N. Nayak, M. K. Nayak
Summary: Nowadays, borophene and related materials have attracted significant interest due to their distinctive properties. Borophene is considered as the most promising material in various applications such as energy, sensor, and biomedical fields. It has been used in the preparation of high-performance supercapacitors due to its superior flexibility, capacitance, and conductivity compared to graphene. This study aims to explore the literature on the synthesis, stability, and characteristic properties of borophene and related materials using experimental methods, in order to utilize them in the production of high-performance supercapacitors. The findings reveal that synthesizing borophene from various crystallographic structures of boron can provide new insights for its large-scale implementation. Raman spectroscopy and zeta potential analysis are employed for the structural and stability analysis of borophene and its associated materials. In particular, the PANI: α-borophene nano network electrode exhibits high specific capacity and good stability for supercapacitors.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Philippe Leroy, Alexis Maineult, Shuai Li, Jan Vinogradov
Summary: This study found that slightly moving the shear plane closer to the mineral surface can significantly improve the predictions of the zeta potential and surface charge density at high salinity conditions, with important implications for modeling the electrochemical properties of minerals in contact with highly saline solutions.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
E. R. Jans, I. W. Jones, X. Yang, T. A. Miller, J. F. Stanton, I. Adamovich
Summary: The time-resolved, absolute HO2 number density in different mixtures excited by pulsed discharge was measured by CRDS, showing good agreement with the spectral model. The persistence of HO2 in the afterglow of the H-2-O-2 mixture at high temperatures suggests that plasma excitation may impact low-temperature fuel oxidation and reforming.
COMBUSTION AND FLAME
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adrian Najer, Omar Rifaie-Graham, Jonathan Yeow, Christopher Adrianus, Mohamed Chami, Molly M. Stevens
Summary: Comparative studies on the interaction between polymersomes and blood plasma proteins provide key insights into the clinical translation of vesicular nanocarriers, highlighting the importance of such studies.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marlene Schmid, Johann Plank
Summary: Polycarboxylate (PCE) comb polymers were investigated as dispersants for suspensions of individual calcined clay samples. Results showed that the methallyl ether (HPEG) based PCE outperformed the methacrylate ester (MPEG) based PCE, but meta illite could not be satisfactorily dispersed.
APPLIED CLAY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Katherine E. Shulenberger, Sophie C. Coppieters 't Wallant, Megan D. Klein, Alexandra R. McIsaac, Tamar Goldzak, David B. Berkinsky, Hendrik Utzat, Ulugbek Barotov, Troy Van Voorhis, Moungi G. Bawendi
Summary: A spectrally resolved correlation method was developed to study the triply excited state, enabling direct measurements of the recombination pathway for the triexciton. It was found that for core-shell CdSe-CdS nanocrystals, triexciton emission arises exclusively from the band-edge S-like state. Time-dependent density functional theory and extended particle-in-a-sphere calculations show that reduced carrier overlap induced by the core-shell heterostructure can account for the lack of emission observed from the P-like state. These results provide insights for potential control of nanocrystal luminescence using core-shell heterostructures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Przemyslaw Jurczak, Kosma Szutkowski, Slawomir Lach, Stefan Jurga, Paulina Czaplewska, Aneta Szymanska, Igor Zhukov
Summary: Studying the mechanisms behind amyloid-based diseases can help identify future treatment targets, but the complexity and interactions of proteins responsible for fibril formation make it a challenging and time-consuming task. Human cystatin C, a cysteine-protease inhibitor, tends to form fibrils under certain stimuli, potentially regulated by cellular components with the cell membrane playing a key role in the oligomerization pathway. The use of phospholipid liposomes as membrane mimetics provides a promising alternative for studying protein-mimetic interactions.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kai-Hung Yang, Pratik Joshi, Keith B. Rodenhausen, Anirudha V. Sumant, Shelby A. Skoog, Roger J. Narayan
Summary: The surface chemistry of nitrogen incorporated ultrananocrystalline diamond (N-UNCD) films was altered by plasma treatment utilizing oxygen and fluorine plasma chemistries. Contact angle and zeta potential measurements were used to characterize the modified N-UNCD surfaces, providing a more complete understanding of the interactions between solid surface and aqueous solution. The bonding character, surface composition, and morphology of the N-UNCD films were monitored before and after surface treatment using various techniques to ensure the grafting of functional groups, with results primarily influenced by surface termination.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
V. Mugundhan, Maheswar Swar, Subhajit Bhar, Saptarishi Chaudhuri
Summary: The article introduces a low-cost software-defined digital receiver system for temporal correlation measurements in atomic spin ensembles. By utilizing a fast Fourier transform spectrometer, the system can improve signal-to-noise ratio and conduct high-resolution magnetometry in a short period of time.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Fevzi Sahin, Omer Genc, Murat Gokcek, Andac Batur Colak
Summary: In this study, two different artificial neural networks were created to predict the thermal conductivity and zeta potential of Fe3O4/water nanofluid. The experimental data was used to propose a new mathematical correlation to calculate the thermal conductivity. The results showed that the artificial neural network models can accurately predict the thermal conductivity and zeta potential.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tarsila G. Castro, Tiago Ferreira, Teresa Matama, Florentina-Daniela Munteanu, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: This study investigated the effects of acetylation and phosphorylation on the function of Tau protein using molecular modelling techniques. The results showed that these post-translational modifications alter the charge state of Tau protein and interfere with its ability to bind microtubules, providing important insights for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xue Yang, Jing Zhao, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Jing Su, Hongbo Wang
Summary: Enzyme immobilization provides enhanced stability for laccase and improves the adsorption and degradation efficiency of pollutants. In this study, bimetallic Cu/Zn ZIFs were used as a protective carrier for laccase, showing high operational stability and efficient decolorization of dye wastewater. The encapsulated laccase could be recovered and reused multiple times, indicating great potential for water remediation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Vania Quesado, Diana Rocha, Jennifer Noro, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: In this study, the enzymatic synthesis was employed as a sustainable approach for producing polyesters, aiming to reduce toxicity and operational costs. The use of NADES as a source of monomers for polymerization reactions catalyzed by lipase was detailed. The high conversion rates (above 70%) and simplicity of production, along with the non-toxicity and low cost of NADES, make them a greener and cleaner option for synthesizing high value-added products.
Article
Biophysics
Sara Gimondi, Joana Vieira de Castro, Rui L. Reis, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: In this study, the interaction between nanoparticles (NPs) and different types of cells was investigated. The results showed that the internalization of NPs by cells was size-dependent, with the highest uptake efficiency observed for 30 nm NPs. Different endocytic pathways were initiated in the presence of particular NP sizes, suggesting the importance of size in mediating the interaction between NPs and specific cell types.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
D. Mendanha, J. Vieira de Castro, M. R. Casanova, S. Gimondi, H. Ferreira, N. M. Neves
Summary: Researchers developed macrophage membrane liposomes as nanocarriers for brain tumor treatment. M2 macrophage-derived nanocarriers showed higher uptake and delivery efficiency, while also possessing immune escaping properties. These findings suggest the potential of using M2 macrophage membranes for novel GBM targeting nanocarriers.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Euijin Shim, Carla Silva, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Hye Rim Kim
Summary: This study investigated the effects of modifying bacterial cellulose as a template on the in situ polymerization of catechol by laccase. The modification involved sulfonation and the entrapment of carboxymethyl cellulose. After the in situ polymerization, conductive and colored bacterial cellulose composites were obtained. The results suggest the potential of modified bacterial cellulose as a template for the formation of functional polymers and composite materials.
TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Yu Li, Jing Su, Tarsila G. Castro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: Commercial hair perming damages both hair fiber quality and human health due to the use of strong reducing agents. This study demonstrates the use of tyrosine as a cross-linking agent for reshaping hair by breaking disulfide bonds and rearranging new bonds between keratin molecules. The results show that tyrosine can successfully cross-link amines and thiols, providing a potential alternative to commercial perming products. This new methodology offers a gentle and user-friendly approach in the hair care industry.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tarsila G. Castro, Manuel Melle-Franco, Cristina E. A. Sousa, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Joao C. Marcos
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of non-canonical amino acids and their applications in designing peptidomimetics. These amino acids are widely found in nature and can enhance stability and biological function. Experimental and molecular modeling approaches are used to classify different classes of non-canonical amino acids based on their ability to induce specific secondary structures. This knowledge is crucial in the field of peptidomimetics, which has the potential to develop new bioactive molecules and materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara F. Vieira, Samuel M. Goncalves, Virginia M. F. Goncalves, Carmen P. Llaguno, Felipe Macias, Maria Elizabeth Tiritan, Cristina Cunha, Agostinho Carvalho, Rui L. Reis, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: Echinacea purpurea, especially the dichloromethanolic extract obtained from roots, exhibits strong anti-inflammatory activity and can be used as a basis for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The alkylamide fraction is identified as the main compound responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity, and it exerts its effect by downregulating several signaling pathways and cyclooxygenase-2 expression.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sara Gimondi, Helena Ferreira, Rui L. Reis, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: In this study, a microfluidic platform was used to produce FITC-labeled PLGA-PEG nanoparticles of defined sizes. The ability of nanoparticles with different sizes (30, 50, and 70 nm) to cross an endothelial barrier was compared using static and dynamic in vitro models. The results showed size-dependent nanoparticle crossing in both models, with a bias in the static model due to the absence of shear stresses. This study highlights the differences in nanoparticle distribution over time in static versus dynamic conditions and the importance of accurate in vitro screening models for predicting in vivo performance.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara F. Vieira, Joana Araujo, Virginia M. F. Goncalves, Carla Fernandes, Madalena Pinto, Helena Ferreira, Nuno M. Neves, Maria Elizabeth Tiritan
Summary: The relationship between drug chirality and biological activity has gained significant importance in medicinal chemistry in recent years. Chiral derivatives of xanthones (CDXs) exhibit interesting biological activities, such as enantioselective anti-inflammatory effects. This study describes the synthesis of a library of CDXs using a chiral pool strategy, resulting in sixty new derivatives. Several CDXs showed promising anti-inflammatory activity, with the amino ester of L-tyrosine (X1AELT) being the most effective in reducing interleukin 6 (IL-6) production in macrophages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Vania Quesado, Diana Rocha, Jennifer Noro, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: This study presents a detailed investigation on the feasibility of synthesizing polyesters through lipase-catalyzed esterification using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) as the source of monomers in an anhydrous medium. Three different NADES composed of glycerol and an organic base or acid were used for the synthesis of polyesters, and high conversion rates (above 70%) and at least 20 monomeric units (glycerol:organic acid/base 1:1) were achieved according to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Nannan Li, David S. Freitas, Joana Santos, Armando Venancio, Jennifer Noro, Jing Su, Hongbo Wang, Carla Silva, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: The development of products from natural plant sources is crucial for the circular economy and global sustainability. This study focused on using cork and grape wastes to obtain valuable compounds through mild extraction and laccase oxidation. The polymeric compounds obtained showed remarkable antioxidant and antiaging properties, indicating great potential for applications in various industries.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Diana Rocha, Jennifer Noro, Tarsila G. Castro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: This study investigated different natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) as solvents for laccase-assisted polymerization of catechol and phenolics from coffee. The results showed that NADES could be a green and cost-effective solvent for the bioproduction of novel polymers.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Diana Rocha, David S. Freitas, Tarsila G. Castro, Jennifer Noro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: This study investigates the effect of water on the physicochemical properties and structural features of glycerol:lactic acid deep eutectic mixture. The results demonstrate that when water enters the system, the hydrogen bonds between the eutectic components break but new ones are formed, creating stronger interactions. These unprecedented results unravel the potential of these novel mixtures for multiple applications.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
