Metal-Free Peptide Semiconductor-Enhanced Raman Scattering.

There is a growing demand for sustainable and safe materials in developing technological systems and devices, including those that enhance Raman scattering. Organic (bio) materials based on simple peptides are one class of such materials. This study investigates self-assembled semiconducting peptides as metal-free substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.

Ultrasensitive detection of using bioinspired based platform.

Bacterial infections are a leading cause of mortality worldwide, underscoring the urgent need for effective detection methods. This study introduces a novel approach that combines surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with an electro-optic technique for bacterial detection. The method utilizes a metal-semiconductor substrate that, when activated by an external electric field, significantly amplifies the SERS signal intensity.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence: Enabling the clinical translation of atomic force microscopy-based biomarkers for cancer diagnosis.

The influence of biomechanics on cell function has become increasingly defined over recent years. Biomechanical changes are known to affect oncogenesis; however, these effects are not yet fully understood. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the gold standard method for measuring tissue mechanics on the micro- or nano-scale.

Thermoresponsiveness Across the Physiologically Accessible Range: Effect of Surfactant, Cross-Linker, and Initiator Content on Size, Structure, and Transition Temperature of Poly(-isopropylmethacrylamide) Microgels.

The influence of surfactant, cross-linker, and initiator on the final structure and thermoresponse of poly(-isopropylmethacrylamide) (pNIPMAM) microgels was evaluated. The goals were to control particle size (into the nanorange) and transition temperature (across the physiologically accessible range). The concentration of the reactants used in the synthesis was varied, except for the monomer, which was kept constant.

Bioresorbable Polyester Coatings with Antifouling and Antimicrobial Properties for Prevention of Biofilm Formation in Early Stage Infections on Ti6Al4V Hard-Tissue Implants.

Implants made from titanium are used as prostheses because of their biocompatibility and their mechanical properties close to those of human bone. However, the risk of bacterial infection is always a major concern during surgery, and the development of biofilm can make these infections difficult to treat. A promising strategy to mitigate against bacterial infections is the use of antifouling and antimicrobial coatings, where bioresorbable polymers can play an important role due to their controlled degradability and sustained drug release, as well as excellent biocompatibility.

Rapidly reversible persistent long-term potentiation inhibition by patient-derived brain tau and amyloid ß proteins.

How the two pathognomonic proteins of Alzheimer's disease (AD); amyloid ß (Aß) and tau, cause synaptic failure remains enigmatic. Certain synthetic and recombinant forms of these proteins are known to act concurrently to acutely inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP). Here, we examined the effect of early amyloidosis on the acute disruptive action of synaptotoxic tau prepared from recombinant protein and tau in patient-derived aqueous brain extracts.

Modification of Living Diatom, , with a Calcium Precursor through a Calcium Uptake Mechanism: A Next Generation Biomaterial for Advanced Delivery Systems.

The diatom's frustule, characterized by its rugged and porous exterior, exhibits a remarkable biomimetic morphology attributable to its highly ordered pores, extensive surface area, and unique architecture. Despite these advantages, the toxicity and nonbiodegradable nature of silica-based organisms pose a significant challenge when attempting to utilize these organisms as nanotopographically functionalized microparticles in the realm of biomedicine. In this study, we addressed this limitation by modulating the chemical composition of diatom microparticles by modulating the active silica metabolic uptake mechanism while maintaining their intricate three-dimensional architecture through calcium incorporation into living diatoms.

A nano-imprinted graphene oxide-cellulose composite as a SERS active substrate.

Cellulose is a sustainable material capable of forming optically active nanoarrays on its surface. We created a composite of cellulose acetate (CA) and graphene oxide (GO), by mixing GO (0.1 mg mL) into CA.

Piezoelectric Peptide Nanotube Substrate Sensors Activated through Sound Wave Energy.

The use of sustainable and safe materials is increasingly in demand for the creation of photonic-based technology. Piezoelectric peptide nanotubes make up a class of safe and sustainable materials. We show that these materials can generate piezoelectric charge through the deformation of oriented molecular dipoles when the tube length is flexed through the application of sound energy.

Evidence of the Monopolar-Dipolar Crossover Regime: A Multiscale Study of Ferroelastic Domains by In Situ Microscopy Techniques.

The elastic interaction between kinks (and antikinks) within domain walls plays a pivotal role in shaping the domain structure, and their dynamics. In bulk materials, kinks interact as elastic monopoles, dependent on the distance between walls (d) and typically characterized by a rigid and straight domain configuration. In this work the evolution of the domain structure is investigated, as the sample size decreases, by the means of in situ heating microscopy techniques on free-standing samples.

Reproducible Synthesis of Biocompatible Albumin Nanoparticles Designed for Intra-articular Administration of Celecoxib to Treat Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, with intra-articular (IA) delivery of therapeutics being the current best option to treat pain and inflammation. However, IA delivery is challenging due to the rapid clearance of therapeutics from the joint and the need for repeated injections. Thus, there is a need for long-acting delivery systems that increase the drug retention time in joints with the capacity to penetrate OA cartilage.

Female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes use communal cues to manage population density at breeding sites.

Where a female mosquito lays her eggs creates the conditions for reproductive success. Here we identify a communal behavior among ovipositing female mosquitoes. When choosing equal breeding sites, gravid Aedes aegypti aggregate more often than expected.

Magnetic Chitosan Bionanocomposite Films as a Versatile Platform for Biomedical Hyperthermia.

Responsive magnetic nanomaterials offer significant advantages for innovative therapies, for instance, in cancer treatments that exploit on-demand delivery on alternating magnetic field (AMF) stimulus. In this work, biocompatible magnetic bionanocomposite films are fabricated from chitosan by film casting with incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) produced by facile one pot synthesis. The influence of synthesis conditions and MNP concentration on the films' heating efficiency and heat dissipation are evaluated through spatio-temporal mapping of the surface temperature changes by video-thermography.

Electromechanical Coupling in Collagen Measured under Increasing Relative Humidity.

The functional role of collagen piezoelectricity has been under debate since the discovery of piezoelectricity in bone in 1957. The possibility that piezoelectricity plays a role in bone remodeling has generated interest in the investigation of this effect in relevant physiological conditions; however, there are conflicting reports as to whether collagen is piezoelectric in a humid environment. In macroscale measurements, the piezoelectricity in hydrated tendon has been shown to be insignificant compared to dehydrated tendon, whereas, at the nanoscale, the piezoelectric effect has been observed in both dry and wet bone using piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM).

Extending contingency management for smoking cessation to patients with or at risk for cardiovascular disease: A preliminary trial of a home-based intervention.

Cigarette smoking puts individuals with or at risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) in jeopardy of experiencing a major cardiovascular event. Contingency management (CM) for smoking cessation is an intervention wherein financial incentives are provided contingent on biochemically verified smoking abstinence. Conventional CM programs typically require frequent clinic visits for abstinence monitoring, a potential obstacle for patients with medical comorbidities who may face barriers to access.

Cycle-dependent morphology and surface potential of germanium nanowire anode electrodes.

Germanium nanowire (GeNW) electrodes have shown great promise as high-power, fast-charging alternatives to silicon-based electrodes, owing to their vastly improved Li ion diffusion, electron mobility and ionic conductivity. Formation of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the anode surface is critical to electrode performance and stability but is not completely understood for NW anodes. Here, a systematic study characterizing pristine and cycled GeNWs in charged and discharged states with SEI layer present and removed is performed using Kelvin probe force microscopy in air.

Controlled degradation of polycaprolactone-based micropillar arrays.

Herein we demonstrate the fabrication of arrays of micropillars, achieved through the combination of direct laser writing and nanoimprint lithography. By combining two diacrylate monomers, polycaprolactone dimethacrylate (PCLDMA) and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA), two copolymer formulations that, owing to the varying ratios of the hydrolysable ester functionalities present in the polycaprolactone moiety, can be degraded in the presence of base in a controllable manner. As such, the degradation of the micropillars can be tuned over several days as a function of PCLDMA concentration within the copolymer formulations, and the topography greatly varied over a short space of time, as visualised using scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Exploring the Magnetic and Electrocatalytic Properties of Amorphous MnB Nanoflakes.

Two-dimensional (2D) metal borides are a class of ceramic materials with diverse structural and topological properties. These diverse material properties of metal borides are what forms the basis of their interdisciplinarity and their applicability in various research fields. In this study, we highlight which fundamental and practical parameters need to be taken into consideration when designing nanomaterials for specific applications.

Comparing the performance of single and multifrequency Kelvin probe force microscopy techniques in air and water.

In this paper, we derive and present quantitative expressions governing the performance of single and multifrequency Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) techniques in both air and water. Metrics such as minimum detectable contact potential difference, minimum required AC bias, and signal-to-noise ratio are compared and contrasted both off resonance and utilizing the first two eigenmodes of the cantilever. These comparisons allow the reader to quickly and quantitatively identify the parameters for the best performance for a given KPFM-based experiment in a given environment.

Controlling Amyloid Fibril Properties Via Ionic Liquids: The Representative Case of Ethylammonium Nitrate and Tetramethylguanidinium Acetate on the Amyloidogenesis of Lysozyme.

Protein aggregation into amyloid fibrils has been observed in several pathological conditions and exploited in nanotechnology. It is also key in several biochemical processes. In this work, we show that ionic liquids (ILs), a vast class of organic electrolytes, can finely tune amyloid properties, opening a new landscape in basic science and applications.

Microfabrication of peptide self-assemblies: inspired by nature towards applications.

Peptide self-assemblies show intriguing and tunable physicochemical properties, and thus have been attracting increasing interest over the last two decades. However, the micro/nano-scale dimensions of the self-assemblies severely restrict their extensive applications. Inspired by nature, to genuinely realize the practical utilization of the bio-organic super-architectures, it is beneficial to further organize the peptide self-assemblies to integrate the properties of the individual supermolecules and fabricate higher-level organizations for smart functional devices.

A Biomimetic High Throughput Model of Cancer Cell Spheroid Dissemination onto Aligned Fibrillar Collagen.

Cell dissemination during tumor development is a characteristic of cancer metastasis. Dissemination from three-dimensional spheroid models on extracellular matrices designed to mimic tissue-specific physiological microenvironments may allow us to better elucidate the mechanism behind cancer metastasis and the response to therapeutic agents. The orientation of fibrillar collagen plays a key role in cellular processes and mediates metastasis through contact-guidance.