By adapting a laser scanning microscope with a titanium sapphire femtosecond pulsed laser and transmission optics, we are able to produce live cell images based on the nonlinear optical phenomenon of second harmonic generation (SHG). Second harmonic imaging (SHIM) is an ideal method for probing membranes of living cells because it offers the high resolution of nonlinear optical microscopy with the potential for near-total avoidance of photobleaching and phototoxicity. The technique has been implemented on three cell lines labeled with membrane-staining dyes that have large nonlinear optical coefficients. The images can be obtained within physiologically relevant time scales. Both achiral and chiral dyes were used to compare image formation for the case of single- and double-leaflet staining, and it was found that chirality plays a significant role in the mechanism of contrast generation. It is also shown that SHIM is highly sensitive to membrane potential, with a depolarization of 25 mV resulting in an approximately twofold loss of signal intensity.

High-resolution nonlinear optical imaging of live cells by second harmonic generation

Lithium-ion batteries, simply known as lithium batteries, are distinct among high energy density charge-storage devices. The power delivery of batteries depends upon the electrochemical performances and the stability of the electrode, electrolytes and their interface. Interfacial phenomena of the electrode/electrolyte involve lithium dendrite formation, electrolyte degradation and gas evolution, and a semi-solid protective layer formation at the electrode–electrolyte interface, also known as the solid–electrolyte interface (SEI). The SEI protects electrodes from further exfoliation or corrosion and suppresses lithium dendrite formation, which are crucial needs for enhancing the cell performance. This review covers the compositional, structural and morphological aspects of SEI, both artificially and naturally formed, and metallic dendrites using in situ/in operando cells and various in situ analytical tools. Critical challenges and the historical legacy in the development of in situ/in operando electrochemical cells with some reports on state-of-the-art progress are particularly highlighted. The present compilation pinpoints the emerging research opportunities in advancing this field and concludes on the future directions and strategies for in situ/in operando analysis.

In situ analytical techniques for battery interface analysis

Biological Macromolecules at Interfaces Probed by Chiral Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

Zwitterionic polymers and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been reported as promising nonfouling materials, and strong surface hydration has been proposed as a significant contributor to the nonfouling mechanism. Better understanding of the similarity and difference between these two types of materials in terms of hydration and protein interaction will benefit the design of new and effective nonfouling materials. In this study, sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was applied for in situ and real-time assessment of the surface hydration of the sulfobetaine methacrylate (SBMA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) polymer brushes, denoted as pSBMA and pOEGMA, in contact with proteins. Whereas a majority of strongly hydrogen-bonded water was observed at both pSBMA and pOEGMA surfaces, upon contact with proteins, the surface hydration of pSBMA remained unaffected, but the water ordering at the pOEGMA surface was disturbed. The effects of free sulfobetaine, free PEG chains with two different molecular weights, and PEG coated gold nanoparticles on the surface hydration of proteins were investigated. The results indicated that free sulfobetaine could strengthen the protein hydration layer, but free PEG chains greatly disrupt the protein hydration layer and likely directly interact with the protein molecules. In contrast to free PEG, the PEG chains anchored on the nanoparticles behave similarly to the pOEGMA surface and could induce strong hydrogen bonding of the water molecules at the protein surfaces.

Probing the Surface Hydration of Nonfouling Zwitterionic and PEG Materials in Contact with Proteins.

Biofilms are surface‐associated bacterial aggregates, in which bacteria are enveloped by polymeric substances known as the biofilm matrix. Bacillus subtilis biofilms display persistent resistance to liquid wetting and gas penetration, which probably explains the broad‐spectrum resistance of the bacteria in these biofilms to antimicrobial agents. In this study, BslA (formerly YuaB) was identified as a major contributor to the surface repellency of B. subtilis biofilms. Disruption of bslA resulted in the loss of surface repellency and altered the biofilm surface microstructure. BslA localized to the biofilm matrix in an exopolysaccharide‐dependent manner. Purified BslA exhibited amphiphilic properties and formed polymers in response to increases in the area of the air–water interface in vitro. Genetic and biochemical analyses showed that the self‐polymerization activity of BslA was essential for its ability to localize to the biofilm matrix. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that BslA formed a layer on the biofilm surface. Taken together, we propose that BslA, standing for biofilm‐surface layer protein, is responsible for the hydrophobic layer on the surface of biofilms.

BslA (YuaB) forms a hydrophobic layer on the surface of

Studying hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange in proteins can provide valuable insight on protein structure and dynamics. Several techniques are available for probing H/D exchange in the bulk solution, including NMR, mass spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. However, probing H/D exchange at interfaces is challenging because it requires surface-selective methods. Here, we introduce the combination of in situ chiral sum frequency generation (cSFG) spectroscopy and ab initio simulations of cSFG spectra as a powerful methodology to probe the dynamics of H/D exchange at interfaces. This method is applied to characterize H/D exchange in the antiparallel β-sheet peptide LK7β. We report here for the first time that the rate of D-to-H exchange is about 1 order of magnitude faster than H-to-D exchange in the antiparallel structure at the air/water interface, which is consistent with the existing knowledge that O–H/D dissociation in water is the rate-limiting step, and breaking the O–D bond is slo...

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Chiral sum frequency generation for in situ probing proton exchange in antiparallel β-sheets at interfaces.

We review the recent development of chiral sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and its applications to study chiral vibrational structures at interfaces. This review summarizes observations of chiral SFG signals from various molecular systems and describes the molecular origins of chiral SFG response. It focuses on the chiral vibrational structures of proteins and presents the chiral SFG spectra of proteins at interfaces in the C-H stretch, amide I, and N-H stretch regions. In particular, a combination of chiral amide I and N-H stretches of the peptide backbone provides highly characteristic vibrational signatures, unique to various secondary structures, which demonstrate the capacity of chiral SFG spectroscopy to distinguish protein secondary structures at interfaces. On the basis of these recent developments, we further discuss the advantages of chiral SFG spectroscopy and its potential application in various fields of science and technology. We conclude that chiral SFG spectroscopy can be a new approach to probe chiral vibrational structures of protein at interfaces, providing structural and dynamic information to study in situ and in real time protein structures and dynamics at interfaces.

Chiral Vibrational Structures of Proteins at Interfaces Probed by Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

Characterizations of protein structures at interfaces are important in solving an array of fundamental and engineering problems, including understanding transmembrane signal transduction and molecular transport processes and development of biomaterials to meet the needs of biomedical and energy research. However, in situ and real-time characterization of protein secondary structures is challenging because it requires physical methods that are selective to both interface and secondary structures. Here, we summarize recent experimental developments in our laboratory of chiral vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) for analyzing protein structures at interfaces. We showed that chiral SFG provides vibrational optical signatures of the peptide N–H stretch and amide I modes that can distinguish various protein secondary structures. Using these signatures, we further applied chiral SFG to probe orientations and folding kinetics of proteins at interfaces. Our results show that chiral SFG is a bac...

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/jp508926e

Proteins at Interfaces Probed by Chiral Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

Characterizations of protein structures at interfaces are important in solving an array of fundamental and engineering problems, including understanding transmembrane signal transduction and molecular transport processes and development of biomaterials to meet the needs of biomedical and energy research. However, in situ and real-time characterization of protein secondary structures is challenging because it requires physical methods that are selective to both interface and secondary structures. Here, we summarize recent experimental developments in our laboratory of chiral vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG) for analyzing protein structures at interfaces. We showed that chiral SFG provides vibrational optical signatures of the peptide N–H stretch and amide I modes that can distinguish various protein secondary structures. Using these signatures, we further applied chiral SFG to probe orientations and folding kinetics of proteins at interfaces. Our results show that chiral SFG is a background-free, label-free, in situ, and real-time vibrational method for studying proteins at interfaces. This recent progress demonstrates the potential of chiral SFG in solving problems related to proteins and other chiral biopolymers at interfaces.

Zhuguang Wang

Papers

Biological Macromolecules at Interfaces Probed by Chiral Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

Chiral sum frequency generation for in situ probing proton exchange in antiparallel β-sheets at interfaces.

Chiral Vibrational Structures of Proteins at Interfaces Probed by Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

Proteins at Interfaces Probed by Chiral Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy

Proteins at Interfaces Probed by Chiral Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy B