scholarly journals Hairy Polydopamine Particles as Platforms for Photonic and Magnetic Materials

Photonics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michinari Kohri ◽  
Kanako Uradokoro ◽  
Yuri Nannichi ◽  
Ayaka Kawamura ◽  
Tatsuo Taniguchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Materials ◽  
Polymer Brushes ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Amino Acid Derivative ◽  
Photonic Materials ◽  
Color Changes ◽  
Lanthanide Elements ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Wide Range

By selecting the core materials and grafted-hair polymers, hairy particles with polymer brushes can create various types of functional materials. In recent years, polydopamine (PDA) particles that are obtained by polymerizing dopamine, which is an amino acid derivative, have attracted attention for various applications. Herein, we present a novel approach for creating photonic and magnetic materials from hairy PDA particles. By grafting a hydrophilic hair polymer, we have succeeded in producing photonic materials capable of structural color changes. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the preparation of magnetic materials by immobilizing holmium, which is one of the lanthanide elements, by electrostatic interactions onto a cationic hair polymer. These results demonstrate the possibility of hairy PDA particles for a wide range of applications, such as for photonic and magnetic materials.

scholarly journals Responsive Adsorption of N-Isopropylacrylamide Based Copolymers on Polymer Brushes

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Sudre ◽  
Elodie Siband ◽  
Bruno Gallas ◽  
Fabrice Cousin ◽  
Dominique Hourdet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acrylic Acid ◽  
Polymer Brushes ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Neutron Reflectivity ◽  
Ph Responsive ◽  
Temperature Responsive ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Scaling Models ◽  
Solvophobic Interactions ◽  
Chain Lengths

We investigate the adsorption of pH- or temperature-responsive polymer systems by ellipsometry and neutron reflectivity. To this end, temperature-responsive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) brushes and pH-responsive poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes have been prepared using the “grafting onto” method to investigate the adsorption process of polymers and its reversibility under controlled environment. To that purpose, macromolecular brushes were designed with various chain lengths and a wide range of grafting density. Below the transition temperature (LCST), the characterization of PNIPAM brushes by neutron reflectivity shows that the swelling behavior of brushes is in good agreement with the scaling models before they collapse above the LCST. The reversible adsorption on PNIPAM brushes was carried out with linear copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide and acrylic acid, P(NIPAM-co-AA). While these copolymers remain fully soluble in water over the whole range of temperature investigated, a quantitative adsorption driven by solvophobic interactions was shown to proceed only above the LCST of the brush and to be totally reversible upon cooling. Similarly, the pH-responsive adsorption driven by electrostatic interactions on PAA brushes was studied with copolymers of NIPAM and N,N-dimethylaminopropylmethacrylamide, P(NIPAM-co-MADAP). In this case, the adsorption of weak polycations was shown to increase with the ionization of the PAA brush with interactions mainly located in the upper part of the brush at pH 7 and more deeply adsorbed within the brush at pH 9.

Intrinsic Stacking Interactions of Natural and Artificial Nucleobases

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drew P. Harding ◽  
Laura J. Kingsley ◽  
Glen Spraggon ◽  
Steven Wheeler
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Density Functional ◽  
Molecular Descriptors ◽  
Stacking Interactions ◽  
Interaction Energies ◽  
Functional Theory ◽  
Binding Partner ◽  
Heavy Atoms ◽  
Wide Range

The intrinsic (gas-phase) stacking energies of natural and artificial nucleobases were explored using density functional theory (DFT) and correlated ab initio methods. Ranking the stacking strength of natural nucleobase dimers revealed a preference in binding partner similar to that seen from experiments, namely G > C > A > T > U. Decomposition of these interaction energies using symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) showed that these dispersion dominated interactions are modulated by electrostatics. Artificial nucleobases showed a similar stacking preference for natural nucleobases and were also modulated by electrostatic interactions. A robust predictive multivariate model was developed that quantitively predicts the maximum stacking interaction between natural and a wide range of artificial nucleobases using molecular descriptors based on computed electrostatic potentials (ESPs) and the number of heavy atoms. This model should find utility in designing artificial nucleobase analogs that exhibit stacking interactions comparable to those of natural nucleobases. Further analysis of the descriptors in this model unveil the origin of superior stacking abilities of certain nucleobases, including cytosine and guanine.

scholarly journals Self-regenerating giant hyaluronan polymer brushes

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenbin Wei ◽  
Jessica L. Faubel ◽  
Hemaa Selvakumar ◽  
Daniel T. Kovari ◽  
Joanna Tsao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Polymer Brushes ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Polymer Physics ◽  
High Density ◽  
Hyaluronan Synthase ◽  
Dynamic Interface ◽  
Continuous Source

AbstractTailoring interfaces with polymer brushes is a commonly used strategy to create functional materials for numerous applications. Existing methods are limited in brush thickness, the ability to generate high-density brushes of biopolymers, and the potential for regeneration. Here we introduce a scheme to synthesize ultra-thick regenerating hyaluronan polymer brushes using hyaluronan synthase. The platform provides a dynamic interface with tunable brush heights that extend up to 20 microns – two orders of magnitude thicker than standard brushes. The brushes are easily sculpted into micropatterned landscapes by photo-deactivation of the enzyme. Further, they provide a continuous source of megadalton hyaluronan or they can be covalently-stabilized to the surface. Stabilized brushes exhibit superb resistance to biofilms, yet are locally digested by fibroblasts. This brush technology provides opportunities in a range of arenas including regenerating tailorable biointerfaces for implants, wound healing or lubrication as well as fundamental studies of the glycocalyx and polymer physics.

scholarly journals Self-assembling ferritin-dendrimer nanoparticles for targeted delivery of nucleic acids to myeloid leukemia cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Palombarini ◽  
Silvia Masciarelli ◽  
Alessio Incocciati ◽  
Francesca Liccardo ◽  
Elisa Di Fabio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Targeted Delivery ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Archaeoglobus Fulgidus ◽  
Leukemia Cells ◽  
Cellular Delivery ◽  
Self Assembling ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hybrid Nanoparticle

Abstract Background In recent years, the use of ferritins as nano-vehicles for drug delivery is taking center stage. Compared to other similar nanocarriers, Archaeoglobus fulgidus ferritin is particularly interesting due to its unique ability to assemble-disassemble under very mild conditions. Recently this ferritin was engineered to get a chimeric protein targeted to human CD71 receptor, typically overexpressed in cancer cells. Results Archaeoglobus fulgidus chimeric ferritin was used to generate a self-assembling hybrid nanoparticle hosting an aminic dendrimer together with a small nucleic acid. The positively charged dendrimer can indeed establish electrostatic interactions with the chimeric ferritin internal surface, allowing the formation of a protein-dendrimer binary system. The 4 large triangular openings on the ferritin shell represent a gate for negatively charged small RNAs, which access the internal cavity attracted by the dense positive charge of the dendrimer. This ternary protein-dendrimer-RNA system is efficiently uptaken by acute myeloid leukemia cells, typically difficult to transfect. As a proof of concept, we used a microRNA whose cellular delivery and induced phenotypic effects can be easily detected. In this article we have demonstrated that this hybrid nanoparticle successfully delivers a pre-miRNA to leukemia cells. Once delivered, the nucleic acid is released into the cytosol and processed to mature miRNA, thus eliciting phenotypic effects and morphological changes similar to the initial stages of granulocyte differentiation. Conclusion The results here presented pave the way for the design of a new family of protein-based transfecting agents that can specifically target a wide range of diseased cells. Graphic abstract

scholarly journals Responsive and Personalized Web Layouts with Integer Programming

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (EICS) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Markku Laine ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Simo Santala ◽  
Jussi P. P. Jokinen ◽  
Antti Oulasvirta
Keyword(s):  
Integer Programming ◽  
Web Design ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Web Page Design ◽  
Automated Generation ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Responsive Design ◽  
Responsive Web Design ◽  
Page Design

Over the past decade, responsive web design (RWD) has become the de facto standard for adapting web pages to a wide range of devices used for browsing. While RWD has improved the usability of web pages, it is not without drawbacks and limitations: designers and developers must manually design the web layouts for multiple screen sizes and implement associated adaptation rules, and its "one responsive design fits all" approach lacks support for personalization. This paper presents a novel approach for automated generation of responsive and personalized web layouts. Given an existing web page design and preferences related to design objectives, our integer programming -based optimizer generates a consistent set of web designs. Where relevant data is available, these can be further automatically personalized for the user and browsing device. The paper includes presentation of techniques for runtime adaptation of the designs generated into a fully responsive grid layout for web browsing. Results from our ratings-based online studies with end users (N = 86) and designers (N = 64) show that the proposed approach can automatically create high-quality responsive web layouts for a variety of real-world websites.

scholarly journals Strain Sensor via Wood Anomalies in 2D Dielectric Array

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1022
Author(s):  
Rashid G. Bikbaev ◽  
Ivan V. Timofeev ◽  
Vasiliy F. Shabanov
Keyword(s):  
Higher Plants ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Reciprocal Lattice ◽  
Strain Sensing ◽  
Photonic Materials ◽  
Sensing Applications ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sensor Structure ◽  
Optical Behavior ◽  
Chlorophyll Absorption

Optical sensing is one of many promising applications for all-dielectric photonic materials. Herein, we present an analytical and numerical study on the strain-responsive spectral properties of a bioinspired sensor. The sensor structure contains a two-dimensional periodic array of dielectric nanodisks to mimic the optical behavior of grana lamellae inside chloroplasts. To accumulate a noticeable response, we exploit the collective optical mode in grana ensemble. In higher plants, such a mode appears as Wood’s anomaly near the chlorophyll absorption line to control the photosynthesis rate. The resonance is shown persistent against moderate biological disorder and deformation. Under the stretching or compression of a symmetric structure, the mode splits into a couple of polarized modes. The frequency difference is accurately detected. It depends on the stretch coefficient almost linearly providing easy calibration of the strain-sensing device. The sensitivity of the considered structure remains at 5 nm/% in a wide range of strain. The influence of the stretching coefficient on the length of the reciprocal lattice vectors, as well as on the angle between them, is taken into account. This adaptive phenomenon is suggested for sensing applications in biomimetic optical nanomaterials.

scholarly journals Investigation of the selective color-changing mechanism of Dynastes tityus beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiyu Sun ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Limei Tian ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Fang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focused Ion Beam ◽  
Color Change ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Photonic Materials ◽  
Local Color ◽  
Water Contact ◽  
Color Changes

AbstractNot only does the Dynastes tityus beetle display a reversible color change controlled by differences in humidity, but also, the elytron scale can change color from yellow-green to deep-brown in specified shapes. The results obtained by focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), show that the epicuticle (EPI) is a permeable layer, and the exocuticle (EXO) is a three-dimensional photonic crystal. To investigate the mechanism of the reversible color change, experiments were conducted to determine the water contact angle, surface chemical composition, and optical reflectance, and the reflective spectrum was simulated. The water on the surface began to permeate into the elytron via the surface elemental composition and channels in the EPI. A structural unit (SU) in the EXO allows local color changes in varied shapes. The reflectance of both yellow-green and deep-brown elytra increases as the incidence angle increases from 0° to 60°. The microstructure and changes in the refractive index are the main factors that influence the process of reversible color change. According to the simulation, the lower reflectance causing the color change to deep-brown results from water infiltration, which increases light absorption. Meanwhile, the waxy layer has no effect on the reflection of light. This study lays the foundation to manufacture engineered photonic materials that undergo controllable changes in iridescent color.

scholarly journals Characterizing Bacterial Cellulose Produced byKomagataeibacter sucrofermentans H-110 on Molasses Medium and Obtaining a Biocomposite Based on It for the Adsorption of Fluoride

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1422
Author(s):  
Viktor V. Revin ◽  
Alexander V. Dolganov ◽  
Elena V. Liyaskina ◽  
Natalia B. Nazarova ◽  
Anastasia V. Balandina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Composite Material ◽  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Bacterial Cellulose ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Degree Of Crystallinity ◽  
Maximum Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Fluoride Ions ◽  
Sorption Ability ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Biocomposite Material

Currently, there is an increased demand for biodegradable materials in society due to growing environmental problems. Special attention is paid to bacterial cellulose, which, due to its unique properties, has great prospects for obtaining functional materials for a wide range of applications, including adsorbents. In this regard, the aim of this study was to obtain a biocomposite material with adsorption properties in relation to fluoride ions based on bacterial cellulose using a highly productive strain of Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans H-110 on molasses medium. Films of bacterial cellulose were obtained. Their structure and properties were investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, NMR, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray structural analysis. The results show that the fiber thickness of the bacterial cellulose formed by the K. sucrofermentans H-110 strain on molasses medium was 60–90 nm. The degree of crystallinity of bacterial cellulose formed on the medium was higher than on standard Hestrin and Schramm medium and amounted to 83.02%. A new biocomposite material was obtained based on bacterial cellulose chemically immobilized on its surface using atomic-layer deposition of nanosized aluminum oxide films. The composite material has high sorption ability to remove fluoride ions from an aqueous medium. The maximum adsorption capacity of the composite is 80.1 mg/g (F/composite). The obtained composite material has the highest adsorption capacity of fluoride from water in comparison with other sorbents. The results prove the potential of bacterial cellulose-based biocomposites as highly effective sorbents for fluoride.

scholarly journals Density Guarantee on Finding Multiple Subgraphs and Subtensors

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-32
Author(s):  
Quang-huy Duong ◽  
Heri Ramampiaro ◽  
Kjetil Nørvåg ◽  
Thu-lan Dam
Keyword(s):  
Lower Bound ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
The Other ◽  
Exact Methods ◽  
Practical Solution ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Real World Datasets ◽  
Tensor Data

Dense subregion (subgraph & subtensor) detection is a well-studied area, with a wide range of applications, and numerous efficient approaches and algorithms have been proposed. Approximation approaches are commonly used for detecting dense subregions due to the complexity of the exact methods. Existing algorithms are generally efficient for dense subtensor and subgraph detection, and can perform well in many applications. However, most of the existing works utilize the state-or-the-art greedy 2-approximation algorithm to capably provide solutions with a loose theoretical density guarantee. The main drawback of most of these algorithms is that they can estimate only one subtensor, or subgraph, at a time, with a low guarantee on its density. While some methods can, on the other hand, estimate multiple subtensors, they can give a guarantee on the density with respect to the input tensor for the first estimated subsensor only. We address these drawbacks by providing both theoretical and practical solution for estimating multiple dense subtensors in tensor data and giving a higher lower bound of the density. In particular, we guarantee and prove a higher bound of the lower-bound density of the estimated subgraph and subtensors. We also propose a novel approach to show that there are multiple dense subtensors with a guarantee on its density that is greater than the lower bound used in the state-of-the-art algorithms. We evaluate our approach with extensive experiments on several real-world datasets, which demonstrates its efficiency and feasibility.

scholarly journals Hybrid Acrylated Chitosan and Thiolated Pectin Cross-Linked Hydrogels with Tunable Properties

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Shaked Eliyahu ◽  
Alexandra Galitsky ◽  
Esther Ritov ◽  
Havazelet Bianco-Peled
Keyword(s):  
Electrostatic Interactions ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
Hybrid Hydrogel ◽  
Texture Profile ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
X Ray Scattering ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Michael Type Addition ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Hydrogel System

We developed and characterized a new hydrogel system based on the physical and chemical interactions of pectin partially modified with thiol groups and chitosan modified with acrylate end groups. Gelation occurred at high pectin thiol ratios, indicating that a low acrylated chitosan concentration in the hydrogel had a profound effect on the cross-linking. Turbidity, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and free thiol determination analyses were performed to determine the relationships of the different bonds inside the gel. At low pH values below the pKa of chitosan, more electrostatic interactions were formed between opposite charges, but at high pH values, the Michael-type addition reaction between acrylate and thiol took place, creating harder hydrogels. Swelling experiments and Young’s modulus measurements were performed to study the structure and properties of the resultant hydrogels. The nanostructure was examined using small-angle X-ray scattering. The texture profile analysis showed a unique property of hydrogel adhesiveness. By implementing changes in the preparation procedure, we controlled the hydrogel properties. This hybrid hydrogel system can be a good candidate for a wide range of biomedical applications, such as a mucosal biomimetic surface for mucoadhesive testing.

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