Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Francesco Del Giudice
Summary: The rheological characterization of liquids is widely applied in various fields. Traditional rheometers have limitations such as high costs, large sample volumes required, and difficult integration. In contrast, microfluidic devices offer advantages of low cost, small sample volumes required, and easy integration. This review introduces several microfluidic platforms for measuring rheological properties and provides prospects for future works.
Article
Engineering, Manufacturing
Ana Luiza Lima, Felipe Q. Pires, Leandro Augusto Hilgert, Livia L. Sa-Barreto, Tais Gratieri, Guilherme M. Gelfuso, Marcilio Cunha-Filho
Summary: This study designed a short and sensitive protocol based on rheology and mechanical evaluation to assess the viscoelastic behavior of hot-melt extrusion filaments and predict their impact on 3D medicines. The results showed that an adequate plasticizer concentration could produce filaments suitable for printing.
JOURNAL OF MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuping Qian, Yujie Sun, Ludan Zhang, Yiwen Zhu, Ningyu Li, Fan Dong, Chen Xu, Na An, Hu Chen, Yuchun Sun, Bingran Yu, Yuguang Wang, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: An oxygen-free cationic polymer (HQRB-SS-Dex) containing rose bengal (RB) is synthesized for the treatment of periodontal infection. The polymer exhibits strong antibacterial efficiency and can adhere to the bacterial surface and penetrate the biofilm effectively.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Reza Hosseinpour-Ashenaabad, Thomas Keller, Mats Larsbo, Paul D. Hallett
Summary: The dynamics of soil structure is influenced by biotic and abiotic processes, and the deformation of soil is controlled by its rheological and mechanical properties. However, quantifying these properties is challenging due to the variability of soil behavior with moisture content. In this study, oscillation shear rheometry and spherical indentation mechanical measurements were combined to obtain a more comprehensive characterization of soil over a broader range of water contents. The results showed good agreement between the two approaches in measuring the elastic modulus, and additional properties such as plastic viscosity, complex modulus, and shear yield stress were obtained using shear rheometry, while hardness and yield stress were measured using spherical indentation. The findings suggest that spherical indentation can be a promising technique for testing soils and may provide insights into the slumping of aggregated seedbeds produced by tillage.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Maximilian Nuetzl, Manuel Schrottenbaum, Torsten Mueller, Rainer Mueller
Summary: Anisotropic capillary hydrogels were prepared using ionotropic gel formation and their mechanical properties were characterized. The results showed that the mechanical strength decreased with increasing capillary diameter, while it increased with higher concentration of the crosslinking agent. The resistance against degradation was positively correlated with the concentration of the crosslinking agent. Furthermore, the study revealed a microscopic anisotropy of the mechanical properties in the hydrogels.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Simon J. Haward, Stylianos Varchanis, Gareth H. McKinley, Manuel A. Alves, Amy Q. Shen
Summary: Part I presents a microfluidic device for generating near-homogeneous uniaxial and biaxial elongational flows. In Part II, this device is used to examine the extensional rheology of dilute polymer solutions compared to measurements made under planar extension. The extension rate and tensile stress difference generated in the fluid are measured using micro-particle image velocimetry and excess pressure drop measurements. The results show that at higher polymer concentrations, the experimental measurements deviate from the model predictions due to intermolecular interactions as the polymer chains unravel in the extensional flows.
JOURNAL OF RHEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Carolyn Vitale, Tianhui Maria Ma, Janice Sim, Christopher Altheim, Erika Martinez-Nieves, Usha Kadiyala, Michael J. Solomon, J. Scott VanEpps
Summary: The study examined the interaction between the growth phase of bacteria and fibrinogen, and its impact on fibrin clot formation and structure. Results showed that stationary phase Staphylococcus epidermidis slows clot formation and generates a more heterogeneous fibrin network structure, while exponential phase cells had little effect.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Laia Fernandez-Barat, Nil Vazquez Burgos, Victoria Alcaraz, Leticia Bueno-Freire, Ruben Lopez-Aladid, Roberto Cabrera, Albert Gabarrus, Andrea Palomeque, Patricia Oscanoa, Adrian Ceccato, Ana Motos, Rosanel Amaro, Thierry Bernardi, Christian Provot, Alba Soler-Comas, Laura Munoz, Jordi Vila, Antoni Torres
Summary: The aim of this study was to validate and identify additional applications of the BioFilm Ring Test (BRT) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) isolates from patients with bronchiectasis (BE), and evaluate its relationship with antimicrobial stewardship. The results showed that a BPI value below 14.75 at 5 hours predicted the mucoid PA phenotype. In conclusion, the BRT has the potential to reveal biofilm features with clinical implications.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Salah A. Faroughi, Francesco Del Giudice
Summary: The effect of elasticity on the particle drag coefficient in polymeric fluids was experimentally investigated in this study. Two elastic fluid formulations were used to demonstrate the influence of elasticity on the drag coefficient. The results showed that microfluidic rheometry is necessary for obtaining reliable relaxation time in dilute polymeric solutions. The effect of elasticity on the drag coefficient was quantified using advanced particle velocity measurement techniques and a calibrated experimental setup.
Article
Microbiology
Erin S. Gloag, Yalda Khosravi, James G. Masters, Daniel J. Wozniak, Carlo Amorin Daep, Paul Stoodley
Summary: Mechanical removal of dental plaque is augmented with therapeutic compounds to promote oral health. A dentifrice containing the ingredients zinc and arginine has shown efficacy at reducing dental plaque both in vitro and in vivo. However, how these active compounds interact together to facilitate dental plaque removal is unclear. Here, we used a combination of biophysical analyses and microscopy to demonstrate that combined treatment with zinc and arginine targets the matrix of dental plaque biofilms, which destabilized the mechanical integrity of these microbial communities, making them more susceptible to removal by shear forces.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Leman Buzoglu Kurnaz, Swagatam Barman, Xiaoming Yang, Claire Fisher, F. Wayne Outten, Prakash Nagarkatti, Mitzi Nagarkatti, Chuanbing Tang
Summary: Inspired by the facial amphiphilic nature and antimicrobial efficacy of antimicrobial peptides, this study developed a new class of facial amphiphilic bicyclic naphthoic acid derivatives that were attached to poly(glycidyl methacrylate). These polymers exhibited potent antibacterial activity against multi-drug resistant gram-negative pathogens and showed low hemolysis and high antimicrobial selectivity. They were also effective in eradicating biofilms and killing dormant cells, suggesting a mechanism of action through membrane disruption. Overall, these facial amphiphiles have the potential to address antimicrobial resistance in both planktonic and biofilm-related infections.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yaser I. Shoqairan, Hassan K. Darwish, Mshari A. H. Hamami, Fahad Y. Al-Juhaimi, Isam A. Mohamed Ahmed, Elfadil E. Babiker
Summary: The current study found that cinnamon powder (CIN-P) has high phenolic and flavonoid content, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Adding an appropriate amount of CIN-P to beef burgers can enhance their antioxidant activity, reduce lipid oxidation, improve cooking properties, and increase sensory acceptability.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Marilyn Wells, Rebecca Schneider, Bikash Bhattarai, Hailey Currie, Bella Chavez, Gordon Christopher, Kendra Rumbaugh, Vernita Gordon
Summary: Biofilms, as viscoelastic materials, are a major public health problem and a cause of chronic bacterial infections due to their resistance to the immune system's clearance. However, the relationship between the mechanical properties of biofilms and their resistance to phagocytosis remains largely unexplored. This article provides an overview of biofilm infections and their interactions with the immune system, biofilm mechanics, and highlights the importance of studying this field to discover targets for therapeutics that can enhance the immune system's efficacy.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianye Zeng, Dandan Chen, Chunli Lv, Kening Qin, Qin Zhou, Na Pu, Shanshan Song, Xiaomin Wang
Summary: The aqueous extract of Polygonum chinense L. has a significant bacteriostatic effect on Staphylococcus aureus and can destroy its cell wall as well as inhibit biofilm formation. Flow cytometry results show that the extract can disrupt the cell membrane and promote apoptosis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images demonstrate the dose-dependent inhibition of biofilm formation by the extract.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Vincenzo Calabrese, Csilla Gyorgy, Simon J. Haward, Thomas J. Neal, Steven P. Armes, Amy Q. Shen
Summary: This study investigates the flow behavior of dispersions composed of different worm-like nanoparticles (WLNPs) under shear and extensional flows. The results show that extensional deformations are more effective than shear deformations at causing alignment of the WLNPs.
Article
Microbiology
Breana Pabst, Betsey Pitts, Ellen Lauchnor, Philip S. Stewart
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2016)
Article
Biology
Federica Villa, Philip S. Stewart, Isaac Klapper, Judith M. Jacob, Francesca Cappitelli
Letter
Dermatology
G. A. Okoye, N. Vlassova, O. Olowoyeye, A. Agostinho, G. James, P. S. Stewart, S. Leung, G. Lazarus
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Cell Biology
Garth A. James, Alice Ge Zhao, Marcia Usui, Robert A. Underwood, Hung Nguyen, Haluk Beyenal, Elinor deLancey Pulcini, Alessandra Agostinho Hunt, Hans C. Bernstein, Philip Fleckman, John Olerud, Kerry S. Williamson, Michael J. Franklin, Philip S. Stewart
WOUND REPAIR AND REGENERATION
(2016)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Garth A. James, Laurent Chesnel, Laura Boegli, Elinor deLancey Pulcini, Steve Fisher, Philip S. Stewart
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manu N. Capoor, Filip Ruzicka, Jonathan E. Schmitz, Garth A. James, Tana Machackova, Radim Jancalek, Martin Smrcka, Radim Lipina, Fahad S. Ahmed, Todd F. Alamin, Neel Anand, John C. Baird, Nitin Bhatia, Sibel Demir-Deviren, Robert K. Eastlack, Steve Fisher, Steven R. Garfin, Jaspaul S. Gogia, Ziya L. Gokaslan, Calvin C. Kuo, Yu-Po Lee, Konstantinos Mavrommatis, Elleni Michu, Hana Noskova, Assaf Raz, Jiri Sana, A. Nick Shamie, Philip S. Stewart, Jerry L. Stonemetz, Jeffrey C. Wang, Timothy F. Witham, Michael F. Coscia, Christof Birkenmaier, Vincent A. Fischetti, Ondrej Slaby
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jeffrey W. Simkins, Philip S. Stewart, Joseph D. Seymour
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE
(2018)
Article
Statistics & Probability
Albert E. Parker, Betsey Pitts, Lindsey Lorenz, Philip S. Stewart
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN STATISTICAL ASSOCIATION
(2018)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
D. Ausbacher, L. Lorenz, B. Pitts, P. S. Stewart, D. M. Goeres
LETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Immunology
Yilin Wu, Isaac Klapper, Philip S. Stewart
PATHOGENS AND DISEASE
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Philip S. Stewart, Albert E. Parker
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Fernanda Godoy-Santos, Betsey Pitts, Philip S. Stewart, Hilario C. Mantovani
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Jeffrey W. Simkins, Philip S. Stewart, Sarah L. Codd, Joseph D. Seymour
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raquel Ferrer-Espada, Hawraa Shahrour, Betsey Pitts, Philip S. Stewart, Susana Sanchez-Gomez, Guillermo Martinez-de-Tejada
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2019)
Correction
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christine Rabinovitch, Philip S. Stewart
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)