Diffusive dynamics of charged nanoparticles in convex lens-induced confinement

Hydrodynamic effects influence the dynamics of nanoparticles in confined geometries.

Biofilm Growth Under Elastic Confinement

Bacteria often form surface-bound communities, embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, called biofilms. Quantitative studies of their growth have typically focused on unconfined expansion above solid or semi-solid surfaces, leading to exponential radial growth. This geometry does not accurately reflect the natural or biomedical contexts in which biofilms grow in confined spaces. Here we consider one of the simplest confined geometries: a biofilm growing laterally in the space between a solid surface and an overlying elastic sheet. A poroelastic framework is utilised to derive the radial growth rate of the biofilm; it reveals an additional self-similar expansion regime, governed by the stiffness of the matrix, leading to a finite maximum radius, consistent with our experimental observations of growing Bacillus subtilis biofilms confined by PDMS.

Dense Phases of γ-Gliadins in Confined Geometries

The binary phase diagram of γ-gliadin, a wheat storage protein, in water was explored thanks to the microevaporator, an original PDMS microfluidic device. This protein, usually qualified as insoluble in aqueous environments, displayed a partial solubility in water. Two liquid phases, a very dilute and a dense phase, were identified after a few hours of accumulation time in the microevaporator. This liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) was further characterized through in situ micro-Raman spectroscopy of the dilute and dense protein phases. Micro-Raman spectroscopy showed a specific orientation of phenylalanine residues perpendicular to the PDMS surfaces only for the diluted phase. This orientation was ascribed to the protein adsorption at interfaces, which would act as nuclei for the growth of dense phase in bulk. This study, thanks to the use of both aqueous solvent and a microevaporator, would provide some evidence for a possible physicochemical origin of the gliadin assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum of albumen cells, leading to the formation of dense phases called protein bodies. The microfluidic tool could be used also in food science to probe protein–protein interactions in order to build up phase diagrams.

Investigations of the size distribution and magnetic properties of nanoparticles of Cu2OSeO3

Skyrmions in confined geometries have been a subject of increasing interest due to the different properties that they exhibit compared to their bulk counterparts. In this study, nanoparticles of skyrmion-hosting Cu2OSeO3 have been synthesised using a precipitation method followed by thermal treatment. This enables us to produce nanoparticles whose mean size varies from tens of nanometers to a few micrometers by varying the temperature and duration of the thermal decomposition of the precursor. These sizes span the ∼ 63 nm diameter of skyrmions in Cu2OSeO3, allowing investigations into how the magnetic state changes when the size of the geometrical confinement is similar to and smaller than the size of an isolated magnetic skyrmion. AC susceptibility measurements performed on nanoparticles with a size distribution from 15 to 250 nm show a change in the magnetic phase diagram compared to bulk Cu2OSeO3.

A Computational Study of Hydrodynamic Interactions Between Pairs of Sperm With Planar and Quasi-Planar Beat Forms

Although hydrodynamic interactions and cooperative swimming of mammalian sperm are observed, the key factors that lead to attraction or repulsion in different confined geometries are not well understood. In this study, we simulate the 3-dimensional fluid-structure interaction of pairs of swimmers utilizing the Method of Regularized Stokeslets, accounting for a nearby wall via a regularized image system. To investigate emergent trajectories of swimmers, we look at different preferred beat forms, planar or quasi-planar (helical with unequal radii). We also explored different initializations of swimmers in either the same plane (co-planar) or with centerlines in parallel planes. In free space, swimmers with quasi-planar beat forms and those with planar beat forms that are co-planar exhibit stable attraction. The swimmers reach a maintained minimum distance apart that is smaller than their initial distance apart. In contrast, for swimmers initialized in parallel beat planes with a planar beat form, we observe alternating periods of attraction and repulsion. When the pairs of swimmers are perpendicular to a nearby wall, for all cases considered, they approach the wall and reach a constant distance between swimmers. Interestingly, we observe sperm rolling in the case of swimmers with preferred planar beat forms that are initialized in parallel beat planes and near a wall.

Study on Indium (III) Oxide/Aluminum Thermite Energetic Composites

Thermites or composite energetic materials are mixtures made of fuel and oxidizer particles at micron-scale. Thermite reactions are characterized by high adiabatic flame temperatures (>1000 °C) and high heats of reaction (>kJ/cm3), sometimes combined with gas generation. These properties strongly depend on the chemical nature of the couple of components implemented. The present work focuses on the use of indium (III) oxide nanoparticles as oxidizer in the elaboration of nanothermites. Mixed with an aluminum nanopowder, heat of reaction of the resulting Al/In2O3 energetic nanocomposite was calculated and its reactive performance (sensitivity thresholds regarding different stimuli (impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge) and combustion velocity examined. The Al/In2O3 nanothermite, whose heat of reaction was determined of about 11.75 kJ/cm3, was defined as insensitive and moderately sensitive to impact and friction stimuli and extreme sensitive to spark with values >100 N, 324 N, and 0.31 mJ, respectively. The spark sensitivity was decreased by increasing In2O3 oxidizer (27.71 mJ). The combustion speed in confined geometries experiments was established near 500 m/s. The nature of the oxidizer implemented herein within a thermite formulation is reported for the first time.