The Effect of Charge on Melittin-Induced Changes in Membrane Structure and Morphology

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzong-Hsien Lee ◽  
Kristopher Hall ◽  
Marie-Isabel Aguilar

The binding of melittin to a range of phospholipid bilayers was studied using dual polarisation interferometry and atomic force microscopy. The phospholipid model membranes included zwitterionic dimyristylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), together with mixtures of DMPC/dimyristylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) and DMPC/DMPG/cholesterol. Melittin caused significant disruption on all bilayers, but differences in morphological changes during binding were different on each membrane. Overall, the results demonstrate that the process of membrane disruption follows distinct structural changes for different lipid mixtures irrespective of the strength of binding to the membrane surface.

Author(s):  
Harihara Ramamoorthy ◽  
Kanokwan Buapan ◽  
Tinna Chiawchan ◽  
Krongtham Thamkrongart ◽  
Ratchanok Somphonsane

AbstractWe report on a corroborative study of the structural, morphological and electrical property alterations of free-standing graphene oxide (GO) papers subject to thermal reduction. Structural analysis performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman techniques prove that the onset of major structural changes, characterized by removal of oxygen functionalities, occur in the 200–300 °C temperature range. The results are corroborated with related morphological changes observed using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Elemental analysis shows the GO paper reduced at 600 °C to contain an 85 wt. % carbon content and a remnant oxygen level of 13.31 wt. %. At the highest reduction temperatures, we see evidence of vacancy-type defects impeding the overall effectiveness of the reduction process. Detailed electrical resistance measurements and current–voltage (I-V) profiling conducted using four-point probe method reveals a several orders of magnitude drop in the sample resistance once the reduction temperature exceeds 200 °C, in good agreement with the structural and morphological changes. The fundamental insights revealed through these studies will be important for future applications where the electrical and mechanical properties of free-standing GO and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are exploited in practical devices. Graphical abstract


2000 ◽  
Vol 39 (Part 1, No. 6B) ◽  
pp. 3711-3716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatsuki Shiga ◽  
Yukako Yamane ◽  
Etsuro Ito ◽  
Kazuhiro Abe ◽  
Kazushige Kawabata ◽  
...  

1992 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Fritzsche ◽  
A. R. Arevalo ◽  
M. D. Moore ◽  
C. J. Weber ◽  
V. B. Elings ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 1754 ◽  
pp. 69-74
Author(s):  
Ravi Gaikwad ◽  
Tinu Abraham ◽  
Aharnish Hande ◽  
Fatemeh Bakhtiari ◽  
Siddhartha Das ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTAtomic force microscopy is employed to study the structural changes in the morphology and physical characteristics of asphaltene aggregates as a function of temperature. The exotic fractal structure obtained by evaporation-driven asphaltene aggregates shows an interesting dynamics for a large range of temperatures from 25°C to 80°C. The changes in the topography, surface potential and adhesion are unnoticeable until 70°C. However, a significant change in the dynamics and material properties is displayed in the range of 70°C - 80°C, during which the aspahltene aggregates acquire ‘liquid-like’ mobility and fuse together. This behaviour is attributed to the transition from the pure amorphous phase to a crystalline liquid phase which occurs at approximately 70°C as shown by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Additionally, the charged nature of asphaltenes and bitumen is also explored using kelvin probe microscopy. Such observations can lead to the development of a rational approach to the fundamental understanding of asphaltene aggregation dynamics and may help in devising novel techniques for the handling and separation of asphaltene aggregates using dielectrophoretic methods.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 51-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.M. Devia ◽  
E. Restrepo-Parra ◽  
J.M. Velez-Restrepo

Tix Al1−xN coatings were grown using the triode magnetron sputtering technique varying the bias voltage between -40 V and -150V. The influence of bias voltage on structural and morphological properties was analyzed by means of energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy techniques. As the bias voltage increased, an increase inthe Al atomic percentage was observed competing with Ti and producing structural changes. At low Al concentrations, the film presented a FCC crystalline structure; nevertheless, as Al was increased, the structure pre-sented a mix of FCC and HCP phases. On the other hand, an increase inbias voltage produced a decrease films thickness due to an increase in colli-sions. Moreover, the grain size and roughness were also strongly influencedby bias voltage.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Fanny Rivera ◽  
Raúl Muñoz ◽  
Pedro Prádanos ◽  
Antonio Hernández ◽  
Laura Palacio

Ammonia recovery from synthetic and real anaerobic digestates was accomplished using hydrophobic flat sheet membranes operated with H2SO4 solutions to convert ammonia into ammonium sulphate. The influence of the membrane material, flow rate (0.007, 0.015, 0.030 and 0.045 m3 h−1) and pH (7.6, 8.9, 10 and 11) of the digestate on ammonia recovery was investigated. The process was carried out with a flat sheet configuration at a temperature of 35 °C and with a 1 M, or 0.005 M, H2SO4 solution on the other side of the membrane. Polytetrafluoroethylene membranes with a nominal pore radius of 0.22 µm provided ammonia recoveries from synthetic and real digestates of 84.6% ± 1.0% and 71.6% ± 0.3%, respectively, for a membrane area of 8.6 × 10−4 m2 and a reservoir volume of 0.5 L, in 3.5 h with a 1 M H2SO4 solution and a recirculation flow on the feed side of the membrane of 0.030 m3 h−1. NH3 recovery followed first order kinetics and was faster at higher pHs of the H2SO4 solution and recirculation flow rate on the membrane feed side. Fouling resulted in changes in membrane surface morphology and pore size, which were confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy and Air Displacement Porometry.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molla Islam ◽  
Maddie Tumbarello ◽  
Andrew Lyon

<div>We demonstrated the deswelling induced morphological change in dual pH and Temperature responsive ultra-low crosslinked Poly (N-isopropyl acrylamide)-co-acrylic acid microgels. The responsivity with pH and temperature were studied by light scattering and atomic force microscopy. Light scattering data suggest that at pH 4.5 the microgels undergo multiple transitions associated with collapse of pNIPAm-rich segments and repulsion between the AAc-rich segments. The evolution of punctate structures around the periphery or throughout the whole microgels at pH 4.5 and 6.5 respectively was revealed by AFM, further illustrating the heterogeneous deswelling present in the ionized copolymer microgels.</div><div>The impact of this study and understanding how ionization state of copolymer dictates the overall structural properties of microgels will widen our understanding for their applications in biotechnology</div><div><b><br></b></div>


RSC Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 11971-11981
Author(s):  
Alexel J. Burgara-Estrella ◽  
Mónica A. Acosta-Elías ◽  
Osiris Álvarez-Bajo ◽  
Erika Silva-Campa ◽  
Aracely Angulo-Molina ◽  
...  

Tobacco smoke contains several compounds with oxidant and pro-oxidant properties with the capability of producing structural changes in biomolecules, as well as cell damage.


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