The binding of CNA35 contrast agents to collagen fibrils.

CryoTEM demonstrates that a CNA35-bearing liposomal MRI contrast agent selectively binds to poorly assembled collagen type I as opposed to well-assembled collagen fibrils, whereas monomeric CNA35 binds to all forms of collagen. It is shown that upon conjugation to liposomes and micelles CNA35 loses its ability to dissociate ordered collagen fibrils and thereby to create its own binding sites.

The development of morphology and structure in hexagonal vaterite.

Inspired by the remarkable shapes and properties of CaCO(3) biominerals, many studies have investigated biomimetic routes aiming at synthetic equivalents with similar morphological and structural complexity. Control over the morphology of CaCO(3) crystals has been demonstrated, among other methods, by the use of additives that selectively allow the development of specific crystal faces, while inhibiting others. Both for biogenic and biomimetic CaCO(3), the crystalline state is often preceded by an amorphous precursor phase, but still limited information is available on the details of the amorphous-to-crystalline transition.

The initial stages of template-controlled CaCO3 formation revealed by cryo-TEM.

Biogenic calcium carbonate forms the inorganic component of seashells, otoliths, and many marine skeletons, and its formation is directed by an ordered template of macromolecules. Classical nucleation theory considers crystal formation to occur from a critical nucleus formed by the assembly of ions from solution. Using cryotransmission electron microscopy, we found that template-directed calcium carbonate formation starts with the formation of prenucleation clusters.

Kinetics of avidin-induced clearance of biotinylated bimodal liposomes for improved MR molecular imaging.

Dual labeled liposomes, carrying both paramagnetic and fluorescent lipids, were recently proposed as potent contrast agents for MR molecular imaging. These nanoparticles are coated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) to increase their blood circulation half-life, which should allow extensive accumulation at the targeted site. To eliminate nonspecific blood pool signal from the MR images, the circulating liposomes should ideally be cleared from the circulation when sufficient target-specific contrast enhancement is obtained.

Noncovalent triblock copolymers based on a coiled-coil peptide motif.

The formation of a noncovalent triblock copolymer based on a coiled-coil peptide motif is demonstrated in solution. A specific peptide pair (E and K) able to assemble into heterocoiled coils was chosen as the middle block of the polymer and conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and polystyrene (PS) as the outer blocks. Mixing equimolar amounts of the polymer-peptide block copolymers PS-E and K-PEG resulted in the formation of coiled-coil complexes between the peptides and subsequently in the formation of the amphiphilic triblock copolymer PS-E/K-PEG.