scholarly journals Immobilization of Polyethyleneimine (PEI) on Flat Surfaces and Nanoparticles Affects Its Ability to Disrupt Bacterial Membranes

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 2176
Author(s):  
Nesha May Octavio Andoy ◽  
Meera Patel ◽  
Ching Lam Jane Lui ◽  
Ruby May Arana Sullan

Interactions between a widely used polycationic polymer, polyethyleneimine (PEI), and a Gram-negative bacteria, E. coli, are investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) quantitative imaging. The effect of PEI, a known membrane permeabilizer, is characterized by probing both the structure and elasticity of the bacterial cell envelope. At low concentrations, PEI induced nanoscale membrane perturbations all over the bacterial surface. Despite these structural changes, no change in cellular mechanics (Young’s modulus) was detected and the growth of E. coli is barely affected. However, at high PEI concentrations, dramatic changes in both structure and cell mechanics are observed. When immobilized on a flat surface, the ability of PEI to alter the membrane structure and reduce bacterial elasticity is diminished. We further probe this immobilization-induced effect by covalently attaching the polymer to the surface of polydopamine nanoparticles (PDNP). The nanoparticle-immobilized PEI (PDNP-PEI), though not able to induce major structural changes on the outer membrane of E. coli (in contrast to the flat surface), was able to bind to and reduce the Young’s modulus of the bacteria. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the state of polycationic polymers, whether bound or free—which greatly dictates their overall configuration—plays a major role on how they interact with and disrupt bacterial membranes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Irina A. Portnykh ◽  
Aleksandr V. Kozlov ◽  
Valery L. Panchenko ◽  
Vyacheslav S. Shikhalev

The microstructures and physical properties of the austenitic Cr18Ni9-grade steel after 22 and 33 years of operation as part of the reactor internals were tested for assessing the conditions of the BN-600 reactor non-replaceable components (internals) and the potential of their subsequent use in predicting the reactor ultimate life. The paper presents histograms of the porosity distribution depending on the void size, in samples taken from portions that were subjected to neutron irradiation with displacement rates ranging from 1.0×10–9 to 4.3×10–8 dpa/s at temperatures from 370 to 440 °C. The elasticity characteristics were measured by resonance-type ultrasonic technique for the samples taken from the same portions of material. It was demonstrated that swelling calculated using the histograms of the porosity distribution depending on the void size has the maximum value at ~415 °C and after 33 years of irradiation reaches values of ~3%. Long-term variations of Young’s modulus demonstrate non-monotonous dependence on the damage dose. The maximum relative variation of Young’s modulus after 22 and 33 years of operation does not exceed 2% and 6%, respectively, of the values corresponding to the initial state. It was shown that along with the irradiation-induced swelling the changes in the physical properties are also affected in the process of irradiation by other structural changes and, in particular, by the formation of secondary phases. As shown by the results of the studies, operation of the BN-600 reactor internals made of Cr18Ni9-grade steel can be extended beyond 33 years of service. The comparison of the results obtained for the material after 22 and 33 years of operation contains information required for describing subsequent changes of the structure and properties of the Cr18Ni9 internals. The obtained results can be used for forecasting the reactor ultimate life within the framework of existing and developed models.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehsan Zamani ◽  
Shyambo Chatterjee ◽  
Taity Changa ◽  
Cheryl Immethun ◽  
Anandakumar Sarella ◽  
...  

AbstractAn in-depth understanding of cell-drug binding modes and action mechanisms can potentially guide the future design of novel drugs and antimicrobial materials and help to combat antibiotic resistance. Light-harvesting π-conjugated molecules have been demonstrated for their antimicrobial effects, but their impact on bacterial outer cell envelope needs to be studied in detail. Here, we synthesized poly(phenylene) based model cationic conjugated oligo- (2QA-CCOE, 4QA-CCOE) and polyelectrolytes (CCPE), and systematically explored their interactions with the outer cell membrane of wild-type and ampicillin (amp)-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (E. coli). Incubation of the E. coli cells in CCOE/CCPE solution inhibited the subsequent bacterial growth in LB media. About 99% growth inhibition was achieved if amp-resistant E. coli was treated for ~3–5 min, 1 h and 6 h with 100 μM of CCPE, 4QA-CCOE, and 2QA-CCOE solutions, respectively. Interestingly, these CCPE and CCOEs inhibited the growth of both wild-type and amp-resistant E. coli to a similar extent. A large surface charge reversal of bacteria upon treatment with CCPE suggested the formation of a coating of CCPE on the outer surface of bacteria; while a low reversal of bacterial surface charge suggested intercalation of CCOEs within the lipid bilayer of bacteria.


Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 3911 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anasiewicz ◽  
Kuczmaszewski

The paper presents the results of nanoindentation testing, carried out along the thickness of the adhesive joint joining sheets of aluminum alloy. The purpose of the tests was to determine changes in the Young’s modulus in the joint resulting from the active impact of the joined aluminum alloy sheets on the adhesive during curing of the adhesive bond. Structural changes that take place during curing of the joint, especially in the boundary zone, can have a significant impact on the adhesive properties and consequently, on the adhesive joint strength. The Young’s modulus of the adhesive (Ek) in the joint assumes variable values as the distance from the connections changes. This phenomenon is called the apparent Young’s modulus. The problem is to define the size of the boundary zone in which the value of Ek significantly differs from the value in the so-called core. Based on the obtained results of experimental tests, a numerical model was built taking into account the observed differences in the properties of the joint material. The stress distribution in the adhesive joint, single-lap connection with the three-zone adhesive joint, was analyzed in comparison to the classical numerical model in which adhesive in the adhesive joint is treated as isotropic in terms of rigidity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 053701 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Ogi ◽  
T. Inoue ◽  
H. Nagai ◽  
M. Hirao

Cellulose ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (18) ◽  
pp. 9613-9629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Szymańska-Chargot ◽  
Monika Chylińska ◽  
Giorgia Pertile ◽  
Piotr M. Pieczywek ◽  
Krystian J. Cieślak ◽  
...  

Abstract Films of carrot cellulose nanofibrils (CCNFs) with the addition of low-viscosity chitosan (CHIT) were prepared by the vacuum filtration. The chitosan content in the films varied from 9 to 33% (dry wt. basis). The surface morphology of the films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, and it was found that chitosan was dispersed in the CCNF matrix. The interaction between CCNFs and CHIT was evaluated in terms of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The obtained results suggested physical interactions rather than hydrogen bonding between CCNFs and CHIT. This finding also supports the results of the water wettability experiment. The addition of chitosan to the nanocellulose matrix causes an increase in the water contact angle, i.e., the surface of the composites becomes more hydrophobic. This increase is probably connected to an interaction between nanocellulose and chitosan forming a denser structure. Analyses of thermal properties showed that the composites are stable under high temperature, and the degradation occurred above 300 °C. It was found that the addition of CHIT to CCNF matrices caused a decrease in the Young’s modulus—the higher that the concentration of chitosan in the composite was, the lower the Young’s modulus (decreased from 14.71 GPa for CCNFs to 8.76 GPa for CCNF/CHIT_5). Additionally, the tensile strength of composites, i.e., the maximum force that causes a fracture decreased after the addition of chitosan (decreased from 145.83 MPa for CCNFs to 129.43 MPa for CCNF/CHIT_5). The results indicated the highest inhibitory effect of the investigated composites against E. coli and S. epidermidis. Whereas M. luteus was inhibited only by the higher concentration of chitosan in the tested composites, inhibition was not found against C. krissii and all tested filamentous fungi. Graphic abstract


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Hua Lu ◽  
Rui Mao ◽  
Yin Lu ◽  
Zheng Liu ◽  
Tian-Fu Wang ◽  
...  

Indentation testing is a widely used approach to evaluate mechanical characteristics of soft tissues quantitatively. Young’s modulus of soft tissue can be calculated from the force-deformation data with known tissue thickness and Poisson’s ratio using Hayes’ equation. Our group previously developed a noncontact indentation system using a water jet as a soft indenter as well as the coupling medium for the propagation of high-frequency ultrasound. The novel system has shown its ability to detect the early degeneration of articular cartilage. However, there is still lack of a quantitative method to extract the intrinsic mechanical properties of soft tissue from water jet indentation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the loading-unloading curves and the mechanical properties of soft tissues to provide an imaging technique of tissue mechanical properties. A 3D finite element model of water jet indentation was developed with consideration of finite deformation effect. An improved Hayes’ equation has been derived by introducing a new scaling factor which is dependent on Poisson’s ratiosv, aspect ratioa/h(the radius of the indenter/the thickness of the test tissue), and deformation ratiod/h. With this model, the Young’s modulus of soft tissue can be quantitatively evaluated and imaged with the error no more than 2%.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (20) ◽  
pp. 6437-6442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander J. Meeske ◽  
Lok-To Sham ◽  
Harvey Kimsey ◽  
Byoung-Mo Koo ◽  
Carol A. Gross ◽  
...  

Bacterial surface polysaccharides are synthesized from lipid-linked precursors at the inner surface of the cytoplasmic membrane before being translocated across the bilayer for envelope assembly. Transport of the cell wall precursor lipid II in Escherichia coli requires the broadly conserved and essential multidrug/oligosaccharidyl-lipid/polysaccharide (MOP) exporter superfamily member MurJ. Here, we show that Bacillus subtilis cells lacking all 10 MOP superfamily members are viable with only minor morphological defects, arguing for the existence of an alternate lipid II flippase. To identify this factor, we screened for synthetic lethal partners of MOP family members using transposon sequencing. We discovered that an uncharacterized gene amj (alternate to MurJ; ydaH) and B. subtilis MurJ (murJBs; formerly ytgP) are a synthetic lethal pair. Cells defective for both Amj and MurJBs exhibit cell shape defects and lyse. Furthermore, expression of Amj or MurJBs in E. coli supports lipid II flipping and viability in the absence of E. coli MurJ. Amj is present in a subset of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and is the founding member of a novel family of flippases. Finally, we show that Amj is expressed under the control of the cell envelope stress-response transcription factor σM and cells lacking MurJBs increase amj transcription. These findings raise the possibility that antagonists of the canonical MurJ flippase trigger expression of an alternate translocase that can resist inhibition.


2007 ◽  
Vol 539-543 ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Villuendas ◽  
Antoni Roca ◽  
Jordi Jorba

The knowledge of some mechanical properties of materials and their changes with thermal treatments and/or mechanical treatments are essential to obtain the best results during simulation of processes. In this paper, changes of Young's modulus at room temperature of colddeformed aluminum AA1050 carried out in a tension machine and changes of Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of AA2024 (T6 and T65) have been determined. The elastics constants have been measured by the ultrasound technique in AA2024 alloy and by tensile test in AA1050. In this alloy, the Young's modulus (E) diminishes during the first step of deformation and then increases with the successive cold working. Changes in Young's modulus measured are around 6-8%. In AA2024, the Young's modulus change is about 3% between the annealed and quenched alloy (minimum value); during aging the E parameter increases with respect to quenching. These changes are correlated with the structural changes during thermal treatments. In AA2024, the E parameter remains almost constant during cold-working after the aging treatment. Poisson’s ratio of this alloy remains almost constant in all the treatments. These results are also correlated with the dislocations arrangement in both materials. This behaviour is also compared with cold-deformed pure iron in a tensile test. These results confirm that aluminum AA1050 present similar behaviour than it was observed for pure iron.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (177) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart H. Sater ◽  
Austin M. Sass ◽  
Akari Seiner ◽  
Gabryel Conley Natividad ◽  
Dev Shrestha ◽  
...  

Spaceflight is known to cause ophthalmic changes in a condition known as spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS). It is hypothesized that SANS is caused by cephalad fluid shifts and potentially mild elevation of intracranial pressure (ICP) in microgravity. Head-down tilt (HDT) studies are a ground-based spaceflight analogue to create cephalad fluid shifts. Here, we developed non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based techniques to quantify ophthalmic structural changes under acute 15° HDT. We specifically quantified: (i) change in optic nerve sheath (ONS) and optic nerve (ON) cross-sectional area, (ii) change in ON deviation, an indicator of ON tortuosity, (iii) change in vitreous chamber depth, and (iv) an estimated ONS Young's modulus. Under acute HDT, ONS cross-sectional area increased by 4.04 mm 2 (95% CI 2.88–5.21 mm 2 , p < 0. 000), while ON cross-sectional area remained nearly unchanged (95% CI −0.12 to 0.43 mm 2 , p = 0.271). ON deviation increased under HDT by 0.20 mm (95% CI 0.08–0.33 mm, p = 0.002). Vitreous chamber depth decreased under HDT by −0.11 mm (95% CI −0.21 to −0.03 mm, p = 0.009). ONS Young's modulus was estimated to be 85.0 kPa. We observed a significant effect of sex and BMI on ONS parameters, of interest since they are known risk factors for idiopathic intracranial hypertension. The tools developed herein will be useful for future analyses of ON changes in various conditions.


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