Adsorptive properties and on-demand magnetic response of lignin@FeO nanoparticles at castor oil-water interfaces.

Lignin@FeO nanoparticles adsorb at oil-water interfaces, form Pickering emulsions, induce on-demand magnetic responses to break emulsions, and can sequester oil from water. Lignin@FeO nanoparticles were prepared using a pH-induced precipitation method and were fully characterized. These were used to prepare Pickering emulsions with castor oil/Sudan red G dye and water at various oil/water volume ratios and nanoparticle concentrations.

Fabrication and Characterization of Electrospun Poly(acrylonitrile--Methyl Acrylate)/Lignin Nanofibers: Effects of Lignin Type and Total Polymer Concentration.

Lignin macromolecules are potential precursor materials for producing electrospun nanofibers for composite applications. However, little is known about the effect of lignin type and blend ratios with synthetic polymers. This study analyzed blends of poly(acrylonitrile--methyl acrylate) (PAN-MA) with two types of commercially available lignin, low sulfonate (LSL) and alkali, kraft lignin (AL), in DMF solvent.

Facile fabrication and characterization of kraft lignin@FeO nanocomposites using pH driven precipitation: Effects on increasing lignin content.

This work offers a facile fabrication method for lignin nanocomposites through the assembly of kraft lignin onto magnetic nanoparticles (FeO) based on pH-driven precipitation, without needing organic solvents or lignin functionalization. Kraft lignin@FeO multicore nanocomposites fabrication proceeded using a simple, pH-driven precipitation technique. An alkaline solution for kraft lignin (pH 12) was rapidly injected into an aqueous-based FeO nanoparticle colloidal suspension (pH 7) under constant mixing conditions, allowing the fabrication of lignin magnetic nanocomposites.

Comparative Efficacy of Commonly Available Human Bone Graft Substitutes as Tested for Posterolateral Fusion in an Athymic Rat Model.

Background: Insufficient data exist on bone graft substitute materials efficacy; two thirds lack any clinical data.1,2 This prospective animal study identified efficacy differences among commercially available materials of several classes.

Methods: Historically validated muscle pouch osteoinduction study (OIS) and posterolateral fusion (PLF) were performed in an athymic rat model.

Optothermal microbubble assisted manufacturing of nanogap-rich structures for active chemical sensing.

Guiding analytes to the sensing area is an indispensable step in a sensing system. Most of the sensing systems apply a passive sensing method, which waits for the analytes to diffuse towards the sensor. However, passive sensing methods limit the detection of analytes to a picomolar range on micro/nanosensors for a practical time scale.

Optimization and Structural Stability of Gold Nanoparticle-Antibody Bioconjugates.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) bound with biomolecules have emerged as suitable biosensors exploiting unique surface chemistries and optical properties. Many efforts have focused on antibody bioconjugation to AuNPs resulting in a sensitive bioconjugate to detect specific types of bacteria. Unfortunately, bacteria thrive under various harsh environments, and an understanding of bioconjugate stability is needed.

Computational and experimental approach to understanding the structural interplay of self-assembled end-terminated alkanethiolates on gold surfaces.

Applications of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on surfaces are prevalent in modern technologies and drives the need for a better understanding of the surface domain architecture of SAMs. To explore structural interaction at the interface between gold surfaces and a hydroxyl-terminated alkanethiol, 11-hydroxy-1-undecanethiol, (C11TH) we have employed a combined computational and experimental approach. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out on the thiol-gold interface using both the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) and van der Waals (optB86b) density functionals.

Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Silicon Particle Distribution in Electrospun Nanofibers.

The properties of ceramic materials are dependent on crystal sizes and their distribution. These parameters can be controlled using electrospinning of the two-phase mixed system. The preceramic solution consists of silicon nanoparticles and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer mixture.

Fabricated nanogap-rich plasmonic nanostructures through an optothermal surface bubble in a droplet.

A rapid and cost-effective method for the fabrication of nanogap-rich structures is demonstrated in this Letter. The method utilizes the Marangoni convection around an optothermal surface bubble inside a liquid droplet with a nanoliter volume. The liquid droplet containing metallic nanoparticles reduces the sample consumption and confines the liquid flow.

Bioluminescent magnetic nanoparticles as potential imaging agents for mammalian spermatozoa.

Background: Nanoparticles have emerged as key materials for developing applications in nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology, bioimaging and theranostics. Existing bioimaging technologies include bioluminescent resonance energy transfer-conjugated quantum dots (BRET-QDs). Despite the current use of BRET-QDs for bioimaging, there are strong concerns about QD nanocomposites containing cadmium which exhibits potential cellular toxicity.

Fetuin-A adsorption and stabilization of calcium carbonate nanoparticles in a simulated body fluid.

Fetuin-A is a serum glycoprotein identified as a calcification inhibitor, and a key player in bone formation and human metabolic processes. A study on binding mechanisms of Fetuin-A with calcium carbonate nanoparticles in a simulated body fluid (DMEM) environment is presented. Observed interactions between Fetuin-A and the CaCO nanoparticles reveal an initial adsorption process, followed by a stabilization stage, and then a solubilization period for the Fetuin-A/CaCO complex.

Janus magnetic nanoparticles with a bicompartmental polymer brush prepared using electrostatic adsorption to facilitate toposelective surface-initiated ATRP.

Utilizing the inherent negative charge of mica surfaces, amine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4/NH2) were electrostatically adsorbed onto the mica such that surface-initiated ATRP could be used to grow poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) from the exposed hemisphere. By reducing the solution pH, a positive charge generated on the mica was used to release the nanoparticles from the substrate. A second ATRP reaction was carried out to grow poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) from the initiated surfaces.

Differential effects of targeted disruption of thiopurine methyltransferase on mercaptopurine and thioguanine pharmacodynamics.

The recessive deficiency in thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT), caused by germ-line polymorphisms in TPMT, can cause severe toxicity after mercaptopurine. However, the significance of heterozygosity and the effect of the polymorphism on thioguanine or in the absence of thiopurines is not known. To address these issues, we created a murine knockout of Tpmt.