Showing papers on "Chemical binding published in 2018"
TL;DR: In this paper, the fundamental differences between pseudocapacitors and supercapacitors are discussed, and a detailed discussion and explanation about the confusions is provided. But the authors do not discuss the energy storage mechanism and the similar device configuration/characterization techniques.
193 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, porous Fe2O3 microcubes composed of fine Fe 2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) were facilely synthesized through the simultaneous oxidative decomposition of Prussian blue (PB), and the results indicated that the enrichment of Pb(II) was mainly attributed to the chemical binding between the electron donating oxygen ions of P-Fe2O 3 surface and Pb (II), while the large available positive charge density could facilitate the effective adsorption of Cr(VI) due to ion exchange and electrostatic attraction.
174 citations
TL;DR: A broad and relatively complete cross-section of knowledge is presented about omega-3 monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturates, and an outline of their modifications, because all these subgroups undoubtedly play an important role in the function of organisms.
Abstract: Omega-3 fatty acids, one of the key building blocks of cell membranes, have been of particular interest to scientists for many years. However, only a small group of the most important omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are considered. This full-length review presents a broad and relatively complete cross-section of knowledge about omega-3 monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturates, and an outline of their modifications. This is important because all these subgroups undoubtedly play an important role in the function of organisms. Some monounsaturated omega-3s are pheromone precursors in insects. Polyunsaturates with a very long chain are commonly found in the central nervous system and mammalian testes, in sponge organisms, and are also immunomodulating agents. Numerous modifications of omega-3 acids are plant hormones. Their chemical structure, chemical binding (in triacylglycerols, phospholipids, and ethyl esters) and bioavailability have been widely discussed indicating a correlation between the last two. Particular attention is paid to the effective methods of supplementation, and a detailed list of sources of omega-3 acids is presented, with meticulous reference to the generally available food. Both the oral and parenteral routes of administration are taken into account, and the omega-3 transport through the blood-brain barrier is mentioned. Having different eating habits in mind, the interactions between food fatty acids intake are discussed. Omega-3 acids are very susceptible to oxidation, and storage conditions often lead to a dramatic increase in this exposure. Therefore, the effect of oxidation on their bioavailability is briefly outlined.
172 citations
TL;DR: A stable quasi-solid-state Na-S battery enabled by a poly(S-pentaerythritol tetraacrylate)-based cathode and a (PETEA-tris[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] isocyanurate)ethyl-based gel polymer electrolyte is reported, which exhibits a high reversible capacity, and an extended cycling stability.
Abstract: Ambient-temperature sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries are considered a promising energy storage system due to their high theoretical energy density and low costs. However, great challenges remain in achieving a high rechargeable capacity and long cycle life. Herein we report a stable quasi-solid-state Na-S battery enabled by a poly(S-pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETEA))-based cathode and a (PETEA-tris[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl] isocyanurate (THEICTA))-based gel polymer electrolyte. The polymeric sulfur electrode strongly anchors sulfur through chemical binding and inhibits the shuttle effect. Meanwhile, the in situ formed polymer electrolyte with high ionic conductivity and enhanced safety successfully stabilizes the Na anode/electrolyte interface, and simultaneously immobilizes soluble Na polysulfides. The as-developed quasi-solid-state Na-S cells exhibit a high reversible capacity of 877 mA h g-1 at 0.1 C and an extended cycling stability.
157 citations
TL;DR: An omniphobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane with hierarchical structure was created by spray coating of the nano/microspheres onto a commercial PVDF porous substrate as mentioned in this paper.
146 citations
TL;DR: In this article, conformal coatings of layered LiTiO2 may offer better protection against polysulfide dissolution and the shuttle effects and showed that even the mere presence of the electronically conductive layered oxides (LiMO2, M = metal) such as Li2O2 in the cathodes (e.g., as a component of the mix with Li2S) enhanced the cell rate and cycling stability dramatically.
Abstract: Lithium sulfide (Li2S) cathodes have been viewed as very promising candidates for next-generation lightweight Li and Li-ion batteries. Prior work on the deposition of carbon shells around Li2S particles showed reduced dissolution of polysulfides and improved cathode stability. However, due to the substantial volume changes during cycling and the low chemical binding energy between carbon and sulfides, defects almost inevitably forming in the carbon shell during battery operation commonly lead to premature cell failure. In this study, we show that conformal coatings of layered LiTiO2 may offer better protection against polysulfide dissolution and the shuttle effects. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that LiTiO2 exhibits a strong affinity for sulfur species (Li2Sx) and, most importantly, induces a rapid conversion of longer (highly soluble) polysulfides to short polysulfides, which exhibit minimum solubility in electrolytes. Quite remarkably, even the mere presence of the electronically conductive layered oxides (LiMO2, M = metal) such as LiTiO2 in the cathodes (e.g., as a component of the mix with Li2S) enhanced the cell rate and cycling stability dramatically. Advanced material characterization in combination with quantum chemistry calculations provided unique insights into the mechanisms of the incredible performance boost, such as interactions between Li2Sx and the LiTiO2 surface, leading to breakage of S–S bonds.
93 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the magnetic Fe3O4/activated carbon nanocomposites with high surface area were synthetized as recoverable adsorbents by chemical binding of the particles on activated carbon (AC) powders.
Abstract: The magnetic Fe3O4/activated carbon nanocomposites with high surface area were synthetized as recoverable adsorbents by chemical binding of Fe3O4 nanoparticles on activated carbon (AC) powders. The component AC and Fe3O4 in this nanocomposite possesses amorphous non-graphitic structure and cubic crystal structure, respectively. All composite samples presented superparamagnetic properties. The saturation magnetization of Fe3O4/AC nanocomposites was significantly lower than that of bare Fe3O4 particles, indicating that Fe3O4 particles were truly attached on AC surface. The microstructure image indicated that the Fe3O4 particles were uniformly dispersed on AC surface and thus maintained high specific surface area. The adsorption capacity of methyl orange (MO) at 30 °C slightly decreased from 384 mg/g on AC powders to 324 mg/g on Fe3O4/AC nanocomposites, which was reduced by 15% after magnetic fabrication. It was found that MO adsorption on Fe3O4/AC nanocomposites followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the isotherms could be described by the Langmuir model. The easy recovery of magnetic adsorbents from aqueous solution demonstrated their application potential to remove toxic pollutants in water and wastewater treatment.
78 citations
TL;DR: Contrary to expectations, pesticide toxicity to Daphnia magna was not affected by the presence of microplastics, regardless of chemical binding affinity, which suggests that polystyrene microplastic are unlikely to act as a significant sink, nor as a vector for increased uptake of pesticides by aquatic organisms.
76 citations
TL;DR: The chemical nature of DOM, biochar properties and antibiotic species co-determined the impact of DOM on antibiotics adsorption.
75 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a new kind of molecularly designed physical and chemical trap for lithium polysulfides (Li2Sx (x = 4-8)) is reported.
Abstract: Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are considered as next generation efficient energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy densities and low cost. When carbonaceous materials being used as cathode for Li–S batteries, the dissolution of intermediate polysulfides coupled with large volume expansion and low electronic and ionic conductivity of solid S-related species has resulted in poor cycle performance and low capacity. In this work, novel sandwich-type carbon/titanium dioxide/carbon (C@TiO2@C) hollow microspheres as a new kind of molecularly designed physical and chemical trap for lithium polysulfides (Li2Sx (x = 4–8)) are reported. In such a unique architecture, an interlay TiO2 layer as the carrier for sulfur could effectively confine polysulfides by chemical binding between TiO2 and polysulfides, while the sandwich-type hollow carbon structure could buffer the volume change during the charge–discharge process by means of physical force. Moreover, the inner and outmost carbon layers provide an effective conductive network to improve the electronic conductivity of sulfur cathodes, and at the same time further suppress the dissolution of polysulfides, leading to structural and interfacial stabilization of the TiO2 interlay. Benefiting from the synergistic encapsulation, the developed C@TiO2@C–S hybrid hollow microspheres with 76.4 wt% sulfur content deliver a high specific capacity of 1247.3 mA h g−1 at 0.2C with higher coulombic efficiency (≈96%), and retain a discharge capacity of 741.3 mA h g−1 after 300 cycles at 0.5C and 511 mA h g−1 after 500 cycles at 2C, which are much better than those of the contrast TiO2–S and C@C–S electrodes.
72 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a network binder through the crosslinking effect of sodium alginate (SA) and Cu2+ ions (named the SA-Cu binder) was designed for Li-S batteries, which achieved a capacity of 925 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2C.
Abstract: Binders play a crucial role in improving the electrochemical performance of batteries. The major challenges associated with the sulfur cathode in lithium-sulfur (Li–S) batteries are up to 76% volume change during cycling from sulfur (S) to lithium sulfide (Li2S) and the shuttle effect of polysulfide anions, resulting in poor cycling performance. Herein, we design a network binder through the crosslinking effect of sodium alginate (SA) and Cu2+ ions (named the SA–Cu binder), in which Cu2+ ions work not only as an ionic crosslinking agent for a robust network structure, but also as a chemical binding agent for polysulfide anions. The robust network binder buffers large volume variations during cycling, while electropositive Cu2+ ions immobilize polysulfide anions through strong chemical binding. The resulting sulfur electrode delivers a capacity of 925 mA h g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.2C, which is much higher than those of sulfur electrodes with only SA and PVDF binders. Due to the robust mechanical properties of the SA–Cu binder, a high-loading and crack-free sulfur electrode, i.e., a sulfur loading up to 8.05 mg cm−2, is also achieved and delivers a high areal capacity up to 9.5 mA h cm−2. This study paves a new way to immobilize polysulfide anions using the dual functions of Cu2+ ions as both the ionic crosslinking and chemical binding agents, which could open up a new direction for advanced binders for Li–S batteries in the near future.
TL;DR: In this article, the binding capacity of Portland cement-metakaolin blends with 10% to 30% metakaolin replacement level and sulfate supply was investigated, and it was shown that well formulated Portland cement and metakaoliner blends with well formulated pastes have good chloride binding capacity.
TL;DR: Li et al. as mentioned in this paper introduced a novel sulfur host material, α molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO3), into Li S battery cathode acting as lithium polysulfides absorbent and efficient matric of sulfur.
TL;DR: The results showed that the immobilization of Cr(VI) in hydrated Portland cement was attributed to the formation of CrO4-U phase, an analogue of SO4- U phase, and it could also be shown that the C-S-H had little chemical binding for Cr( VI).
TL;DR: High-resolution TEM analysis of Tibia trabeculae and vertebrae of rats as well as human femur revealed snapshots of the morphogenetic processes of local bone ultrastructure formation that showed bone bears the feature of an intergrowth composite structure extending from the atomic to the nanoscale.
Abstract: Tibia trabeculae and vertebrae of rats as well as human femur were investigated by high-resolution TEM at the atomic scale in order to reveal snapshots of the morphogenetic processes of local bone ultrastructure formation By taking into account reflections of hydroxyapatite for Fourier filtering the appearance of individual alpha–chains within the triple–helix clearly shows that bone bears the feature of an intergrowth composite structure extending from the atomic to the nanoscale, thus representing a molecular composite of collagen and apatite Careful Fourier analysis reveals that the non–collagenous protein osteocalcin is present directly combined with octacalcium phosphate Besides single spherical specimen of about 2 nm in diameter, osteocalcin is spread between and over collagen fibrils and is often observed as pearl necklace strings In high-resolution TEM, the three binding sites of the γ-carboxylated glutamic acid groups of the mineralized osteocalcin were successfully imaged, which provide the chemical binding to octacalcium phosphate Osteocalcin is attached to the collagen structure and interacts with the Ca–sites on the (100) dominated hydroxyapatite platelets with Ca-Ca distances of about 95 A Thus, osteocalcin takes on the functions of Ca–ion transport and suppression of hydroxyapatite expansion
TL;DR: The HA‐OVA‐AuNPs nanovaccine can effectively evoke a potent anticancer immune response in mice under laser irradiation and is promising as a potent vaccination method for improving cancer vaccine efficacy.
Abstract: Cancer vaccines aim to induce a strong major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-restricted CD8+ cytotoxic T-cell response, which is an important prerequisite for successful cancer immunotherapy. Herein, a hyaluronic acid (HA) and antigen (ovalbumin, OVA)-decorated gold nanoparticle (AuNPs)-based (HA-OVA-AuNPs) vaccine is developed for photothermally controlled cytosolic antigen delivery using near-infrared (NIR) irradiation and is found to induce antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. Chemical binding of thiolated HA and OVA to AuNPs facilitates antigen uptake of dendritic cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. HA-OVA-AuNPs exhibit enhanced NIR absorption and thermal energy translation. Cytosolic antigen delivery is then permitted through the photothermally controlled process of local heat-mediated endo/lysosome disruption by laser irradiation along with reactive oxygen species generation, which helps to augment proteasome activity and downstream MHC I antigen presentation. Consequently, the HA-OVA-AuNPs nanovaccine can effectively evoke a potent anticancer immune response in mice under laser irradiation. This NIR-responsive nanovaccine is promising as a potent vaccination method for improving cancer vaccine efficacy.
TL;DR: In this article, a 3D binder-free collector via in situ-grown polar TiO2 nanowires on carbon-nanofibers was proposed to suppress the "shuttle effect" of polysulfides and improve the electron conductivity of the sulfur cathode.
TL;DR: Results confirm the potential of Raman spectroscopic profiling to elucidate both drug kinetics and pharmacodynamics and differentiate cellular drug resistance associated with different subcellular accumulation rates and subsequent cellular response to DNA damage, pointing towards a better understanding of drug resistance for personalised targeted treatment.
Abstract: Raman micro-spectroscopy is a non-invasive analytical tool, whose potential in cellular analysis and monitoring drug mechanisms of action has already been demonstrated, and which can potentially be used in pre-clinical and clinical applications for the prediction of chemotherapeutic efficacy. To further investigate such potential clinical application, it is important to demonstrate its capability to differentiate drug mechanisms of action and cellular resistances. Using the example of Doxorubicin (DOX), in this study, it was used to probe the cellular uptake, signatures of chemical binding and subsequent cellular responses, of the chemotherapeutic drug in two lung cancer cell lines, A549 and Calu-1. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to elucidate the spectroscopic signatures associated with DOX uptake and subcellular interaction. Biomarkers related to DNA damage and repair, and mechanisms leading to apoptosis were also measured and correlated to Raman spectral profiles. Results confirm the potential of Raman spectroscopic profiling to elucidate both drug kinetics and pharmacodynamics and differentiate cellular drug resistance associated with different subcellular accumulation rates and subsequent cellular response to DNA damage, pointing towards a better understanding of drug resistance for personalised targeted treatment.
21 Jun 2018
TL;DR: A chemical vapor deposition technique was investigated in order to allow the nucleation and growth of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles onto porous membranes for application in advanced oxidation processes and the thickness of obtained surface coatings by sputtered nanoparticles was found to depend on process conditions.
Abstract: The chemical binding of photocatalytic materials, such as TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles, onto porous polymer membranes requires a series of chemical reactions and long purification processes, which often result in small amounts of trapped nanoparticles with reduced photocatalytic activity. In this work, a chemical vapor deposition technique was investigated in order to allow the nucleation and growth of ZnO and TiO2 nanoparticles onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) porous membranes for application in advanced oxidation processes. The thickness of obtained surface coatings by sputtered nanoparticles was found to depend on process conditions. The photocatalytic efficiency of sputtered membranes was tested against both a model drug and a model organic pollutant in a small continuous flow reactor.
TL;DR: In this article, a 3D network composite consisting of intertwined TiO2-B nanotubes and carbon Nanotubes as the sulfur hosts was designed and synthesized to improve the performance of rechargeable lithium sulfur batteries.
TL;DR: The theory explains the magnitude of chemicurrents on Ag Schottky diodes and resolves an apparent paradox––chemicurrents exhibit a much larger isotope effect than does H/D inelastic scattering.
Abstract: The Born–Oppenheimer approximation (BOA) provides the foundation for virtually all computational studies of chemical binding and reactivity, and it is the justification for the widely used “balls and springs” picture of molecules. The BOA assumes that nuclei effectively stand still on the timescale of electronic motion, due to their large masses relative to electrons. This implies electrons never change their energy quantum state. When molecules react, atoms must move, meaning that electrons may become excited in violation of the BOA. Such electronic excitation is clearly seen for: ( i ) Schottky diodes where H adsorption at Ag surfaces produces electrical “chemicurrent;” ( ii ) Au-based metal–insulator–metal (MIM) devices, where chemicurrents arise from H–H surface recombination; and ( iii ) Inelastic energy transfer, where H collisions with Au surfaces show H-atom translation excites the metal’s electrons. As part of this work, we report isotopically selective hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) translational inelasticity measurements in collisions with Ag and Au. Together, these experiments provide an opportunity to test new theories that simultaneously describe both nuclear and electronic motion, a standing challenge to the field. Here, we show results of a recently developed first-principles theory that quantitatively explains both inelastic scattering experiments that probe nuclear motion and chemicurrent experiments that probe electronic excitation. The theory explains the magnitude of chemicurrents on Ag Schottky diodes and resolves an apparent paradox––chemicurrents exhibit a much larger isotope effect than does H/D inelastic scattering. It also explains why, unlike Ag-based Schottky diodes, Au-based MIM devices are insensitive to H adsorption.
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that β-scission selectivities increase with decreasing proton density, and that an equilibrated pool of reactive C6 ketols and alkenones are present at pseudo-steady-state concentrations during catalysis and that they act as intermediates in βscission routes.
TL;DR: In this article, a type of FeCl3-intercalated graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) with abundant epoxy functional groups was designed and developed, which provided a strong chemical anchoring effect for effectively immobilizing chlorides in the interlayer space of graphite layers.
Abstract: FeCl3-intercalated graphite intercalation compounds (GICs) show fascinating potential as anodes for high-performance lithium ion batteries (LIBs) due to their excellent reaction reversibility, low volume change and high volumetric energy density. Despite the recent success in the application of FeCl3-GICs in LIBs, the issue of dissolution of chlorides and the relevant Li-ion storage mechanism have not been well handled. Herein, we have designed and developed a type of FeCl3-intercalated GIC with abundant epoxy functional groups, which provide a strong chemical anchoring effect for effectively immobilizing chlorides in the interlayer space of graphite layers. By combining the first-principles calculations and experimental studies, it is discovered that the electronic decoupling effect of the adjacent graphite layers due to the intercalation of FeCl3 at a molecular level will significantly promote the amount of Li-ions stored in graphite accompanied by the formation of a stable discharge product of CLi. Benefiting from the strong chemical binding strength and the change of electronic characteristics, reversible capacities up to 1371 mA h g−1 with a capacity retention of 98% after 50 cycles are attained. Our study provides a new route to restrict the dissolution of chlorides and may open the gate for metal chloride-based materials as high-capacity electrochemical energy storage systems.
TL;DR: Results show that the ACT uptake and mechanism of action are similar in the 2 cell lines, while A549 cells exhibits spectral signatures of resistance to apoptosis related to its higher chemoresistance to the anticancer drug ACT.
Abstract: The applications of Raman microspectroscopy have been extended in recent years into the field of clinical medicine, and specifically in cancer research, as a non-invasive diagnostic method in vivo and ex vivo, and the field of pharmaceutical development as a label-free predictive technique for new drug mechanisms of action in vitro. To further illustrate its potential for such applications, it is important to establish its capability to fingerprint drug mechanisms of action and different cellular reactions. In this study, cytotoxicity assays were employed to establish the toxicity profiles for 48 and 72 hours exposure of lung cancer cell lines, A549 and Calu-1, after exposure to Actinomycin D (ACT) and Raman micro-spectroscopy was used to track its mechanism of action at subcellular level and subsequent cellular responses. Multivariate data analysis was used to elucidate the spectroscopic signatures associated with ACT chemical binding and cellular resistances. Results show that the ACT uptake and mechanism of action are similar in the 2 cell lines, while A549 cells exhibits spectral signatures of resistance to apoptosis related to its higher chemoresistance to the anticancer drug ACT. The observations are discussed in comparison to previous studies of the similar anthracyclic chemotherapeutic agent Doxorubicin. A, Preprocessed Raman spectrum of ACT stock solution dissolved in sterile water and mean spectrum with SD of (B) nucleolus, (C) nucleus and (D) cytoplasm of A549 cell lines after 48 hours exposure to the corresponding IC50 .
TL;DR: Zinc ions have an inhibitory effect on oral malodor involving the two mechanisms of direct binding with gaseous H2S and suppressing the growth of VSC-producing oral bacteria.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms by which zinc ions inhibit oral malodor. The direct binding of zinc ions to gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was assessed in comparison with other metal ions. Nine metal chlorides and six metal acetates were examined. To understand the strength of H2S volatilization inhibition, the minimum concentration needed to inhibit H2S volatilization was determined using serial dilution methods. Subsequently, the inhibitory activities of zinc ions on the growth of six oral bacterial strains related to volatile sulfur compound (VSC) production and three strains not related to VSC production were evaluated. Aqueous solutions of ZnCl2, CdCl2, CuCl2, (CH3COO)2Zn, (CH3COO)2Cd, (CH3COO)2Cu, and CH3COOAg inhibited H2S volatilization almost entirely. The strengths of H2S volatilization inhibition were in the order Ag+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+. The effect of zinc ions on the growth of oral bacteria was strain-dependent. Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 25586 was the most sensitive, as it was suppressed by medium containing 0.001% zinc ions. Zinc ions have an inhibitory effect on oral malodor involving the two mechanisms of direct binding with gaseous H2S and suppressing the growth of VSC-producing oral bacteria.
TL;DR: In this article, the light scattering characteristics of multi-textured aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films with high optical transmittance, haze ratio and step coverage for amorphous silicon thin film solar cells (a-Si TFSCs) were reported.
TL;DR: Minimally toxic 9–13 nm diameter porous carbon nanospheres (PNs) were synthesized by oxidative cutting of porous carbon matrices obtained by carbonization of pasture grass, human hair and sucrose, and grass-derived PNs with superior surface area, porosity and graphitic content demonstrate a significant loading of the drug both by chemical binding and physisorption.
Abstract: Cost-effective anti-cancer drug delivery vehicles that can ensure controlled and targeted transportation of drug molecules are pertinent to modern day biomedical applications. Minimally toxic 9–13 nm diameter porous carbon nanospheres (PNs) were synthesized by oxidative cutting of porous carbon matrices (PCs) obtained by carbonization of pasture grass, human hair and sucrose. Among them, the grass-derived PNs (PN-G) with superior surface area, porosity and graphitic content demonstrate a significant loading of the drug both by chemical binding and physisorption. Polyethylenimine (PEI) and folic acid (FA) functionalization maintain therapeutic efficacy of the drug doxorubicin (DOX) to the targeted folate receptor (FR) overexpressed human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) and human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) through receptor mediated endocytosis whereas FR deficient normal cells (human embryonic kidney 293) exhibit substantially lower endocytosis under identical conditions. Moreover, upon loading cell-impe...
TL;DR: It was hypothesized and experimentally demonstrated that larger NPs would exhibit less diffusion below tissue surfaces, enabling higher targeted‐to‐untargeted NP ratios, and enabled the design of NP agents with improved sensitivity and contrast for rapid molecular imaging of fresh tissues.
Abstract: Previous studies have shown that functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) topically applied on fresh tissues are able to rapidly target cell-surface protein biomarkers of cancer. Furthermore, studies have shown that a paired-agent approach, in which an untargeted NP is co-administered with a panel of targeted NPs, controls for the nonspecific behavior of the NPs, enabling quantitative imaging of biomarker expression. However, given the complexities in nonspecific accumulation, diffusion, and chemical binding of targeted NPs in tissues, studies are needed to better understand these processes at the microscopic scale. Here, fresh tissues were stained with a paired-agent approach, frozen, and sectioned to image the depth-dependent accumulation of targeted and untargeted NPs. The ratio of targeted-to-untargeted NP concentrations-a parameter used to distinguish between tumor and benign tissues-was found to diminish with increasing NP diffusion depths due to nonspecific accumulation and poor washout. It was then hypothesized and experimentally demonstrated that larger NPs would exhibit less diffusion below tissue surfaces, enabling higher targeted-to-untargeted NP ratios. In summary, these methods and investigations have enabled the design of NP agents with improved sensitivity and contrast for rapid molecular imaging of fresh tissues.
TL;DR: In this article, a multifunctional composite structure consisting of resorbable tricalcium phosphate with non-resorbable hydroxyapatite and NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) has been manufactured to develop a biocompatible system for long-term implant applications.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors constructed salmon DNA (SDNA) thin films and incorporated gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) to demonstrate efficient and high-performance UV photodetectors.
Abstract: Although DNA (low-cost, highly transparent, low optical loss, biodegradable, non-toxic, and highly flexible) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs, exhibiting interband transition and localized surface plasmon resonance) have been intensively studied, DNA with Au NPs in photodetectors is rarely discussed. Here, we constructed salmon DNA (SDNA) thin films and incorporated Au NPs to demonstrate efficient and high-performance UV photodetectors. The Au NP-embedded SDNA thin films were characterized with UV–vis absorption, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and conductivity measurements in order to understand their physical and chemical properties. The FTIR and XPS measurements elucidated how Au NPs become embedded in SDNA, through analysis of chemical binding and chemical composition. A current increase was observed under UV illumination when performing conductivity measurements. In addition, photovoltage measurements were conducted to investigate the significance of photoresponse and retention characteristics. The density of d-band electrons in Au NPs and the charge carriers in SDNA were observed to increase under UV illumination, followed by a significantly enhanced UV photoresponse. From our observations, the photovoltage displayed a flat response over time, which indicated their stability, durability, and high Au NP retention.