Structural analysis of the neuropeptide substance P by using vibrational spectroscopy.

Substance P (SP) is one of the most studied peptide hormones and knowing the relationship between its structure and function may have important therapeutic applications in the treatment of a variety of stress-related illnesses. In order to obtain a deeper insight into its folding, the effects of different factors, such as pH changes, the presence of Ca ions, and the substitution of the Met-NH moiety in the SP structure, was studied by Raman and infrared spectroscopies. SP has a pH-dependent structure.

Author Correction: Coherent scatter-controlled phase-change grating structures in silicon using femtosecond laser pulses.

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Coherent scatter-controlled phase-change grating structures in silicon using femtosecond laser pulses.

Periodic structures of alternating amorphous-crystalline fringes have been fabricated in silicon using repetitive femtosecond laser exposure (800 nm wavelength and 120 fs duration). The method is based on the interference of the incident laser light with far- and near-field scattered light, leading to local melting at the interference maxima, as demonstrated by femtosecond microscopy. Exploiting this strategy, lines of highly regular amorphous fringes can be written.

Femtosecond laser-controlled self-assembly of amorphous-crystalline nanogratings in silicon.

Self-assembly (SA) of molecular units to form regular, periodic extended structures is a powerful bottom-up technique for nanopatterning, inspired by nature. SA can be triggered in all classes of solid materials, for instance, by femtosecond laser pulses leading to the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) with a period slightly shorter than the laser wavelength. This approach, though, typically involves considerable material ablation, which leads to an unwanted increase of the surface roughness.

Hollow Au/Ag nanostars displaying broad plasmonic resonance and high surface-enhanced Raman sensitivity.

Bimetallic Au/Ag hollow nanostar (HNS) nanoparticles with different morphologies were prepared in this work. These nanoplatforms were obtained by changing the experimental conditions (concentration of silver and chemical reductors, hydroxylamine and citrate) and by using Ag nanostars as template nanoparticles (NPs) through galvanic replacement. The goal of this research was to create bimetallic Au/Ag star-shaped nanoparticles with advanced properties displaying a broader plasmonic resonance, a cleaner exposed surface, and a high concentration of electromagnetic hot spots on the surface provided by the special morphology of nanostars.

Sonochemical synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles loaded with folate and cisplatin: effect of ultrasonic frequency.

Simple preparative methods were used to sonosynthesize different magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNPs) via co-precipitation of aqueous solutions of ferrous salts in a basic aqueous solution of ethylene glycol (EG). Sonosynthesis was achieved using different frequencies of ultrasound: 581, 861, and 1141 kHz under the same acoustic power. The hydroxyl radicals generated by cavitational collapse, induced by the ultrasonic field, led to the oxidation of Fe(2+) to Fe(3+).

Hyperspectral enhanced dark field microscopy for imaging blood cells.

In this work, a novel methodology based on hyperspectral imagery with enhanced Darkfield microscopy for probing and characterizing changes in blood cell components was tested. Two main categories of blood cells were analyzed, red and white blood cells. Unique spectral signatures of ordinary and most common deformed morphologies of red blood cells were identified.