Review
Environmental Sciences
Chul-Woong Cho, Thi Phuong Thuy Pham, Yufeng Zhao, Stefan Stolte, Yeoung-Sang Yun
Summary: Interest in ionic liquids (ILs) has been growing due to their promising properties, but their actual environmental impact needs careful consideration. ILs may not directly cause atmospheric pollution, but can have adverse effects if leaked into the environment. The toxicity effects of ILs depend on their structure and toxicity testing levels.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michele Corneille Matchim Kamdem, Nanjun Lai
Summary: This study suggests a new type of ionic liquid as a potentially viable solvent for lipid extraction from microalgae biomass by permeabilizing the cell walls. The best extraction efficiency was achieved with the CO2-based alkyl carbamate ionic liquid DIMCARP. The effects of extraction variables on lipid extraction were examined, and the highest lipid yield was obtained under specific conditions. The biodiesel produced meets European and US standards.
Article
Cell Biology
Se Jik Han, Minjoo Noh, Jihui Jang, Jun Bae Lee, Kyung Sook Kim
Summary: Cellular elasticity is a key factor in physiological and pathological processes, serving as a potential biomarker for cellular state. Both internal and external stimuli can affect cellular elasticity, leading to changes in cellular characteristics or function. The application of electric fields is a promising method to alter cellular elasticity, with mechanisms underlying its effect remaining unknown.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ajay Kumar, Kamlesh Kumari, Sangeeta Singh, Indra Bahadur, Prashant Singh
Summary: Noscapine and its derivatives have shown potential as cough suppressant, anti-cancerous activity, and ability to inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 and chikungunya. This study focused on designing ionic liquids composed of noscapinium cation with different anions, and analyzing their thermo-chemical data, IR and UV-visible spectra, and ADME behavior. The most soluble and stable ionic liquid among the designed ILs was found to be (R)-5-((S)-4,5-dimethoxy-3-oxo-1,3-dihydroisobenzofuran-1-yl)-4-methoxy-6,6-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinolin-6-ium trifluoromethanesulfonate (IL4) based on DFT calculations.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Vijayalakshmi Rajadurai, Brinda Lakshmi Anguraj
Summary: Ionic liquids, considered as eco-friendly solvents, are used to remove toxic metals efficiently from aqueous solutions. They have unique properties such as no vapor emission, good solvation ability, and can be reused multiple times for metal separation.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elisa B. Randi, Karim Zuhra, Laszlo Pecze, Theodora Panagaki, Csaba Szabo
Summary: In mammalian cells, cyanide exhibits a biphasic effect on mitochondrial Complex IV activity, stimulating it at low concentrations and inhibiting it at higher concentrations. Low levels of cyanide lead to increased cell proliferation and ATP production, while higher levels result in inhibition of cellular bioenergetics. The presence of cyanide-producing enzymes in mammalian cells suggests a regulatory role for endogenous cyanide.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Paula Valadares da Silva, Aline Oliveira Silva, Francielle Roberta Dias de Lima, Lucas Benedet, Aline de Jesus Franco, Josimara Karina de Souza, Alexandre Carvalho Ribeiro Junior, Eder Rodrigues Batista, Alberto Vasconcellos Inda, Nilton Curi, Luiz Roberto Guimaraes Guilherme, Marco Aurelio Carbone Carneiro
Summary: This study evaluates the effect of pH reduction in iron mine tailings on the availability of potentially toxic elements (PTE). The results show that lowering the pH of the tailings increases the solubility of some PTE, but the concentrations do not exceed the limits set by Brazilian regulations.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eni Kume, Nicolas Martin, Peter Dunne, Patrick Baroni, Laurence Noirez
Summary: This study investigates the presence of mesoscopic shear elasticity in small molecules with strong electrostatic interactions, and finds that these charged fluids exhibit shear elasticity at submillimeter scale. Additionally, the study shows that the magnetic properties do not affect the structure of the solution.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Nava R. R. Subedi, Sergey Stolyar, Sabrina J. J. Tuson, Christopher J. J. Marx, Andreas E. E. Vasdekis
Summary: Scattering-based light-sheet microscopy has become an important technique in label-free tissue imaging and cellular morphometry, but achieving subcellular resolution remains a challenge. In this study, we addressed this by using time-averaged pseudo-thermalized light-sheet illumination, which allowed us to achieve subcellular resolving power after image deconvolution. We successfully validated this approach by imaging cytosolic carbon depots in yeast and bacteria with increased specificity, no staining, and ultralow irradiance levels. This scattering-based light-sheet microscopy approach has the potential to advance single, live cell imaging by reducing phototoxicity.
JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saheli Mitra, Veerendra K. Sharma, Sajal K. Ghosh
Summary: Ionic liquids (ILs) are versatile compounds that can be easily adjusted to achieve desired properties for various applications. The interaction between ILs and biomembranes has attracted significant interest due to their ability to modulate membrane properties and potentially impact various biological processes. This review provides an overview of recent studies on the effects of ILs on the physical and chemical properties of biomembranes, and discusses the underlying mechanisms and future prospects in this field.
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS
(2023)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Irina S. Sesorova, Ivan D. Dimov, Alexandre D. Kashin, Vitaly V. Sesorov, Natalia R. Karelina, Maria A. Zdorikova, Galina Beznoussenko, Alexander A. Mironov
Summary: The article provides an in-depth analysis of the process of lipid transcytosis through mammalian enterocytes and their absorption into lymph. It outlines the key steps involved in the process, including the role of cellular organelles and their interactions, leading to the functional outcomes of lipid transport.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saheli Mitra, Veerendra Kumar Sharma, Jyotsna Bhatt Mitra, Subhadip Chowdhury, Mrinmay Kumar Mukhopadhyay, Ramaprasad Mukhopadhyay, Sajal Kumar Ghosh
Summary: Ionic liquids (ILs) are currently attracting researchers due to their potential applications in various fields. In biomedical research, understanding the interactions between ILs and cellular membranes, mimicked with lipid bilayers and monolayers, is crucial. Among the three imidazolium-based ILs studied, [DMIM][BF4] showed the strongest interaction with liver lipid membranes. This interaction is mainly driven by entropy and results in ILs penetrating the core of lipid bilayers. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements suggest that [DMIM][BF4] does not affect the stability of lipid vesicles, while X-ray reflectivity (XRR) measurements reveal a concentration-dependent change in monolayer structure.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yuanyuan Cao, Shuyi Shan, Yitong Lu, Jialu Luo, Yilin Li, Rongzhang Hao
Summary: Low toxicity is a crucial property for the sustainable use of polyethylene glycol-based deep eutectic solvents (PEG-based DESs) in various fields. However, the specific toxicity of PEG-based DESs has not been reported, and guidelines for reducing toxicity need to be explored. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of several PEG-based DESs against lung cancer cells (A549) and proposed strategies for minimizing toxicity, such as adjusting mole ratio, hydrogen-bonding donor, hydrogen-bonding acceptor, components numbers, and solvent concentration. The results showed that DESs are more toxic than their individual components, generally following the toxicity order of the individual components, except for the hydrogen-bonding donor. This research offers potential approaches for reducing the toxicity of DESs in sustainable and green chemistry.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
I. Isaac Sam, S. Gayathri, G. Santhosh, Jobin Cyriac, S. Reshmi
Summary: Energetic ionic liquids (EILs) are being researched as high-energy fuels that can be used as bipropellant fuels along with green and non-toxic oxidizers like hydrogen peroxide. Caged ionic liquids, such as azoles and boranes, are used to enhance the performance of the propellant systems. Hydrogen peroxide is a promising candidate for replacing toxic oxidizers. The combination of EILs and hydrogen peroxide can be used in the multimode propulsion of small satellites.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lai Wei, Xin Xu, Kang Xi, Linghao Zhang, Xiang Cheng, Yuelang Lan, Sen Jiang, Yue Lei, Junying Yin, Haihua Wu, Yunfang Gao
Summary: Composite solid-state polymer electrolytes (CSPEs) with high ionic conductivity and wide electrochemical window are prepared by absorbing ionic liquids into metal-organic frameworks. This strategy improves the performance of solid-state lithium metal batteries.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Antonio Benedetto, Elizabeth G. Kelley
Summary: Lipid bilayers are essential for cell membranes and have potential applications in bio-nanotechnology. This study focuses on the absorption of ionic liquids (ILs) into lipid bilayers and found that IL cations are absorbed in all phases of the lipid bilayer, with the amount of IL insertion increasing with temperature. The observed temperature trend can be explained by the entropy gain from IL hydration water. The ability to control IL absorption with temperature can be utilized to modulate the effect of ILs on biomembranes in bio-nanotechnological applications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nancy C. Forero-Martinez, Robinson Cortes-Huerto, Antonio Benedetto, Pietro Ballone
Summary: This review focuses on the thermodynamics, structures, and applications of thermoresponsive systems, specifically organic salts of low melting temperatures. These systems undergo a temperature-driven transition between a homogeneous liquid state and a biphasic state, with potential applications in extraction, separation, and catalysis.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hossam Ibrahim, Stephen D. Thorpe, Michael Paukshto, Tatiana S. Zaitseva, Wolfgang Moritz, Brian J. Rodriguez
Summary: Cell dissemination is a key characteristic of cancer metastasis, and studying this process in vitro can provide insights into the mechanisms and therapeutic responses. The orientation of fibrillar collagen plays a crucial role in cell migration, and reproducible assays are needed to understand how cells migrate on aligned collagen fibrils. In this study, a spheroid-based migration assay integrated with a fibrillar type I collagen matrix was used to quantify the migration of osteosarcoma cells. The results showed polarized cell dissemination with increased invasion in the direction of fibril alignment.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
A. Benedetto, V. V. S. Pillai, P. Kumari, D. Gobbo, P. Ballone
Summary: Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the effects of phosphonium cations and geminal dications on the hydration layer of phospholipid bilayers. The results showed that at high concentration, the ions became absorbed into the lipid phase, leading to changes in the properties of the lipid bilayer. The absorption kinetics were found to be different for cations and dications, with cations being absorbed faster than dications.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Visakh V. S. Pillai, Pallavi Kumari, Srikanth Kolagatla, Victoria Garcia Sakai, Svemir Rudic, Brian J. Rodriguez, Marina Rubini, Katarzyna M. Tych, Antonio Benedetto
Summary: This study reveals that ionic liquids can finely adjust the properties of amyloid fibrils, expanding the realm of basic science and applications. By investigating the effects of ethylammonium nitrate and tetramethyl-guanidinium acetate ionic liquids on lysozyme, it is found that they can modify the thickness, electric potential, and diameter of amyloid fibrils, and the mechanism of their action is elucidated.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jason I. Kilpatrick, Emrullah Kargin, Brian J. Rodriguez
Summary: Quantitative expressions governing the performance of single and multifrequency Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) techniques in both air and water are derived and compared in this paper. The study concludes that open-loop multifrequency KPFM modes operated with the first harmonic of the electrostatic response on the first eigenmode offer the best performance in liquid environments.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Boxiao Fu, Vasileios Tzitzios, Qiancheng Zhang, Brian Rodriguez, Michael Pissas, Maria Veronica Sofianos
Summary: In this study, manganese mono-boride nanoflakes were synthesized using a simple one-pot chemical reduction method at room temperature. The influence of specific surface area and boron content on the magnetic and electrocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoflakes was investigated. The sample with the highest specific surface area and boron content showed the best magnetic and electrocatalytic properties in the HER, while the sample with the lowest specific surface area and boron content exhibited the best electric conductivity and electrocatalytic properties in the OER.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sawsan Almohammed, Mohammed Benali Kanoun, Souraya Goumri-Said, Mir Waqas Alam, Agata Fularz, Abdullah Alnaim, James H. H. Rice, Brian J. J. Rodriguez
Summary: Self-assembling nanostructured peptide gels, particularly Fmoc-FF gels, offer promising applications in sensing, drug delivery, and energy harvesting. By controlling the water content and temperature, the structure tunability of Fmoc-FF gels can be achieved. Incorporating metal nanoparticles in the gel formation allows for optical sensing applications. The observations also suggest the potential use of these peptide materials in bioimaging and sensing applications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Arwa Bazaid, Fengyuan Zhang, Qiancheng Zhang, Sabine Neumayer, Denise Denning, Stefan Habelitz, Ana Marina Ferreira, Brian J. Rodriguez
Summary: Since the discovery of piezoelectricity in bone in 1957, there has been a debate about the functional role of collagen piezoelectricity. The investigation of piezoelectricity in collagen has generated interest in bone remodeling, but there are conflicting reports about its presence in a humid environment. This study used lateral piezoresponse force microscopy to investigate the electromechanical properties of type I collagen from a rat tail tendon at the nanoscale, and found that collagen retains its piezoelectric behavior even in a biologically relevant humidity range.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Srikanth Kolagatla, Gearoid A. Collins, Jason I. Kilpatrick, Emrullah Kargin, Kevin M. Ryan, Brian J. Rodriguez
Summary: A systematic study was conducted on lithium-silicon nanowire electrodes in charged and discharged states, with and without the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Kelvin probe force microscopy in air was used to characterize the pristine and cycled nanowires. By correlating the changes in morphology with contact potential difference mapping, insights into SEI layer formation, growth, and its effect on battery performance were obtained.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Niamh Geoghegan, Mark O'Loughlin, Colm Delaney, Keith D. Rochfort, Meabh Kennedy, Srikanth Kolagatla, Lucia Podhorska, Brian J. Rodriguez, Larisa Florea, Susan M. Kelleher
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of micropillar arrays using a combination of direct laser writing and nanoimprint lithography. By using two diacrylate monomers, polycaprolactone dimethacrylate (PCLDMA) and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), we were able to create copolymer formulations that could be controllably degraded in the presence of base. The topography of the micropillars could be varied over a short period of time, and their degradation was attributed to the presence of PCL. These materials showed compatibility with mammalian cells, making them potentially useful for biomedical applications in microfabrication contexts.
BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiahao Zhang, Yancheng Wang, Brian J. Rodriguez, Rusen Yang, Bin Yu, Deqing Mei, Junbai Li, Kai Tao, Ehud Gazit
Summary: Peptide self-assemblies have attracted increasing interest due to their intriguing and tunable physicochemical properties, but their applications are limited by their micro/nano-scale dimensions. To overcome this limitation and realize the practical utilization of bio-organic super-architectures, researchers have focused on peptide microfabrication to integrate the properties of individual supermolecules and create higher-level organizations for functional devices. This review summarizes the recent advancements in peptide microfabrication, discussing various methodologies, properties, and applications of engineered peptide large-scale, highly-ordered organizations. The current limitations of microfabrication strategies are also critically evaluated, and alternative solutions are proposed.
CHEMICAL SOCIETY REVIEWS
(2022)
