Mapping mechanical properties of living cells at nanoscale using intrinsic nanopipette-sample force interaction

Nanoscale ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasilii Kolmogorov ◽  
Alexandr Erofeev ◽  
Emily Woodcock ◽  
Yuri Efremov ◽  
Aleksei Iakovlev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Force Interaction ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Stress Mapping ◽  
Cytoskeletal Elements

Mechanical properties of living cells determined by cytoskeletal elements play a crucial role in a wide range of biological functions. However, low-stress mapping of mechanical properties with nanoscale resolution but...

A novel red emission fluorescent probe for monitoring carbon monoxide in living cells and zebrafish

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Yabing Gan ◽  
Sai Hong ◽  
Guoxing Yin ◽  
Li Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Fluorescent Probe ◽  
Biological System ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Signal Molecule ◽  
Red Emission

Carbon monoxide (CO), a gaseous signal molecule, plays a crucial role in biological system. At the aim of unraveling its biological functions, a novel fluorescent probe for sensing CO was...

scholarly journals MAP65/Ase1 promote microtubule flexibility

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 1964-1973 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Portran ◽  
M. Zoccoler ◽  
J. Gaillard ◽  
V. Stoppin-Mellet ◽  
E. Neumann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Flexural Rigidity ◽  
Persistence Length ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Softening Effect ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Associated Proteins ◽  
Cytoskeletal Elements ◽  
In Cells

Microtubules (MTs) are dynamic cytoskeletal elements involved in numerous cellular processes. Although they are highly rigid polymers with a persistence length of 1–8 mm, they may exhibit a curved shape at a scale of few micrometers within cells, depending on their biological functions. However, how MT flexural rigidity in cells is regulated remains poorly understood. Here we ask whether MT-associated proteins (MAPs) could locally control the mechanical properties of MTs. We show that two major cross-linkers of the conserved MAP65/PRC1/Ase1 family drastically decrease MT rigidity. Their MT-binding domain mediates this effect. Remarkably, the softening effect of MAP65 observed on single MTs is maintained when MTs are cross-linked. By reconstituting physical collisions between growing MTs/MT bundles, we further show that the decrease in MT stiffness induced by MAP65 proteins is responsible for the sharp bending deformations observed in cells when they coalign at a steep angle to create bundles. Taken together, these data provide new insights into how MAP65, by modifying MT mechanical properties, may regulate the formation of complex MT arrays.

Mechanical Properties and Dislocation Structure of Single Crystal Cdte Deformed in Compression at 300°C

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 592-593
Author(s):  
Ernest L. Hall ◽  
J. B. Vander Sande
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Single Crystal ◽  
Dislocation Structure ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Strain Curve ◽  
Optical Devices ◽  
Semiconductor Compound ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sample Orientation

The present paper describes research on the mechanical properties and related dislocation structure of CdTe, a II-VI semiconductor compound with a wide range of uses in electrical and optical devices. At room temperature CdTe exhibits little plasticity and at the same time relatively low strength and hardness. The mechanical behavior of CdTe was examined at elevated temperatures with the goal of understanding plastic flow in this material and eventually improving the room temperature properties. Several samples of single crystal CdTe of identical size and crystallographic orientation were deformed in compression at 300°C to various levels of total strain. A resolved shear stress vs. compressive glide strain curve (Figure la) was derived from the results of the tests and the knowledge of the sample orientation.

Structure and properties of compact articles from high-alloyed iron powder with adding of boron nitride

2020 ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
B. O. Bolshakov ◽  
◽  
R. F. Galiakbarov ◽  
A. M. Smyslov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Boron Nitride ◽  
Grain Boundary ◽  
Bending Strength ◽  
Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Structure And Properties ◽  
Steam Turbines ◽  
Friction Forces ◽  
Wide Range

The results of the research of structure and properties of a composite compact from 13 Cr – 2 Мо and BN powders depending on the concentration of boron nitride are provided. It is shown that adding boron nitride in an amount of more than 2% by weight of the charge mixture leads to the formation of extended grain boundary porosity and finely dispersed BN layers in the structure, which provides a high level of wearing properties of the material. The effect of boron nitride concentration on physical and mechanical properties is determined. It was found that the introduction of a small amount of BN (up to 2 % by weight) into the compacts leads to an increase in plasticity, bending strength, and toughness by reducing the friction forces between the metal powder particles during pressing and a more complete grain boundary diffusion process during sintering. The formation of a regulated structure-phase composition of powder compacts of 13 Cr – 2 Mо – BN when the content of boron nitride changes in them allows us to provide the specified physical and mechanical properties in a wide range. The obtained results of studies of the physical and mechanical characteristics of the developed material allow us to reasonably choose the necessary composition of the powder compact for sealing structures of the flow part of steam turbines, depending on their operating conditions.

scholarly journals Quantitative linear dichroism imaging of molecular processes in living cells made simple by open software tools

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexey Bondar ◽  
Olga Rybakova ◽  
Josef Melcr ◽  
Jan Dohnálek ◽  
Petro Khoroshyy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Systems ◽  
Linear Dichroism ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Software Tools ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Membrane Properties ◽  
Polarization Microscopy ◽  
Molecular Processes ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractFluorescence-detected linear dichroism microscopy allows observing various molecular processes in living cells, as well as obtaining quantitative information on orientation of fluorescent molecules associated with cellular features. Such information can provide insights into protein structure, aid in development of genetically encoded probes, and allow determinations of lipid membrane properties. However, quantitating and interpreting linear dichroism in biological systems has been laborious and unreliable. Here we present a set of open source ImageJ-based software tools that allow fast and easy linear dichroism visualization and quantitation, as well as extraction of quantitative information on molecular orientations, even in living systems. The tools were tested on model synthetic lipid vesicles and applied to a variety of biological systems, including observations of conformational changes during G-protein signaling in living cells, using fluorescent proteins. Our results show that our tools and model systems are applicable to a wide range of molecules and polarization-resolved microscopy techniques, and represent a significant step towards making polarization microscopy a mainstream tool of biological imaging.

scholarly journals A Slot-Die Technique for the Preparation of Continuous, High-Area, Chitosan-Based Thin Films

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1566
Author(s):  
Oliver J. Pemble ◽  
Maria Bardosova ◽  
Ian M. Povey ◽  
Martyn E. Pemble
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Mechanical Anisotropy ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Direction Parallel ◽  
High Area ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Slot Die ◽  
Potential Applications

Chitosan-based films have a diverse range of potential applications but are currently limited in terms of commercial use due to a lack of methods specifically designed to produce thin films in high volumes. To address this limitation directly, hydrogels prepared from chitosan, chitosan-tetraethoxy silane, also known as tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and chitosan-glutaraldehyde have been used to prepare continuous thin films using a slot-die technique which is described in detail. By way of preliminary analysis of the resulting films for comparison purposes with films made by other methods, the mechanical strength of the films produced was assessed. It was found that as expected, the hybrid films made with TEOS and glutaraldehyde both show a higher yield strength than the films made with chitosan alone. In all cases, the mechanical properties of the films were found to compare very favorably with similar measurements reported in the literature. In order to assess the possible influence of the direction in which the hydrogel passes through the slot-die on the mechanical properties of the films, testing was performed on plain chitosan samples cut in a direction parallel to the direction of travel and perpendicular to this direction. It was found that there was no evidence of any mechanical anisotropy induced by the slot die process. The examples presented here serve to illustrate how the slot-die approach may be used to create high-volume, high-area chitosan-based films cheaply and rapidly. It is suggested that an approach of the type described here may facilitate the use of chitosan-based films for a wide range of important applications.

scholarly journals Effects of a Twin-Screw Extruder Equipped with a Molten Resin Reservoir on the Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Recycled Waste Plastic Polyethylene Pellet Moldings

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1058
Author(s):  
Hikaru Okubo ◽  
Haruka Kaneyasu ◽  
Tetsuya Kimura ◽  
Patchiya Phanthong ◽  
Shigeru Yao
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Twin Screw Extruder ◽  
Screw Extruder ◽  
Polymer Properties ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Twin Screw ◽  
Recycled Plastics

Each year, increasing amounts of plastic waste are generated, causing environmental pollution and resource loss. Recycling is a solution, but recycled plastics often have inferior mechanical properties to virgin plastics. However, studies have shown that holding polymers in the melt state before extrusion can restore the mechanical properties; thus, we propose a twin-screw extruder with a molten resin reservoir (MSR), a cavity between the screw zone and twin-screw extruder discharge, which retains molten polymer after mixing in the twin-screw zone, thus influencing the polymer properties. Re-extruded recycled polyethylene (RPE) pellets were produced, and the tensile properties and microstructure of virgin polyethylene (PE), unextruded RPE, and re-extruded RPE moldings prepared with and without the MSR were evaluated. Crucially, the elongation at break of the MSR-extruded RPE molding was seven times higher than that of the original RPE molding, and the Young’s modulus of the MSR-extruded RPE molding was comparable to that of the virgin PE molding. Both the MSR-extruded RPE and virgin PE moldings contained similar striped lamellae. Thus, MSR re-extrusion improved the mechanical performance of recycled polymers by optimizing the microstructure. The use of MSRs will facilitate the reuse of waste plastics as value-added materials having a wide range of industrial applications.

scholarly journals Relationship between the Stereocomplex Crystallization Behavior and Mechanical Properties of PLLA/PDLA Blends

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1851
Author(s):  
Hye-Seon Park ◽  
Chang-Kook Hong
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Crystallization Behavior ◽  
Mechanical Analysis ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Nucleation Agent ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Nucleation Sites ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Degree Of Crystallization

Poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) is a promising biomedical polymer material with a wide range of applications. The diverse enantiomeric forms of PLLA provide great opportunities for thermal and mechanical enhancement through stereocomplex formation. The addition of poly (d-lactic acid) (PDLA) as a nucleation agent and the formation of stereocomplex crystallization (SC) have been proven to be an effective method to improve the crystallization and mechanical properties of the PLLA. In this study, PLLA was blended with different amounts of PDLA through a melt blending process and their properties were calculated. The effect of the PDLA on the crystallization behavior, thermal, and mechanical properties of PLLA were investigated systematically by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), polarized optical microscopy (POM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile test. Based on our findings, SC formed easily when PDLA content was increased, and acts as nucleation sites. Both SC and homo crystals (HC) were observed in the PLLA/PDLA blends. As the content of PDLA increased, the degree of crystallization increased, and the mechanical strength also increased.

scholarly journals Influence of Tool Geometry and Process Parameters on the Properties of Friction Stir Spot Welded Multiple (AA 5754 H111) Aluminium Sheets

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1157
Author(s):  
Danka Labus Zlatanovic ◽  
Sebastian Balos ◽  
Jean Pierre Bergmann ◽  
Stefan Rasche ◽  
Milan Pecanac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Process Parameters ◽  
Spot Welding ◽  
Minimum Energy ◽  
Tool Geometry ◽  
Friction Stir ◽  
Minimum Energy Consumption ◽  
Punch Test ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Lap Welding

Friction stir spot welding is an emerging spot-welding technology that offers opportunities for joining a wide range of materials with minimum energy consumption. To increase productivity, the present work addresses production challenges and aims to find solutions for the lap-welding of multiple ultrathin sheets with maximum productivity. Two convex tools with different edge radii were used to weld four ultrathin sheets of AA5754-H111 alloy each with 0.3 mm thickness. To understand the influence of tool geometries and process parameters, coefficient of friction (CoF), microstructure and mechanical properties obtained with the Vickers microhardness test and the small punch test were analysed. A scanning acoustic microscope was used to assess weld quality. It was found that the increase of tool radius from 15 to 22.5 mm reduced the dwell time by a factor of three. Samples welded with a specific tool were seen to have no delamination and improved mechanical properties due to longer stirring time. The rotational speed was found to be the most influential parameter in governing the weld shape, CoF, microstructure, microhardness and weld efficiency. Low rotational speeds caused a 14.4% and 12.8% improvement in joint efficiency compared to high rotational speeds for both tools used in this investigation.

scholarly journals Recent Attempts in the Design of Efficient PVC Plasticizers with Reduced Migration

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 844
Author(s):  
Joanna Czogała ◽  
Ewa Pankalla ◽  
Roman Turczyn
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Partial Replacement ◽  
Total Replacement ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Poly Vinyl Chloride ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Migration Resistance ◽  
Secondary Plasticizer ◽  
New Compounds ◽  
Ethylhexyl Phthalate

This paper reviews the current trends in replacing commonly used plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, formulations by new compounds with reduced migration, leading to the enhancement in mechanical properties and better plasticizing efficiency. Novel plasticizers have been divided into three groups depending on the replacement strategy, i.e., total replacement, partial replacement, and internal plasticizers. Chemical and physical properties of PVC formulations containing a wide range of plasticizers have been compared, allowing observance of the improvements in polymer performance in comparison to PVC plasticized with conventionally applied bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate and di-n-octyl terephthalate. Among a variety of newly developed plasticizers, we have indicated those presenting excellent migration resistance and advantageous mechanical properties, as well as those derived from natural sources. A separate chapter has been dedicated to the description of a synergistic effect of a mixture of two plasticizers, primary and secondary, that benefits in migration suppression when secondary plasticizer is added to PVC blend.

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