A novel in situ sample environment setup for combined small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) simultaneous measurement.

Developing the synchrotron radiation experiment method based on combined technology offers more information on the formation mechanism of new materials and their physical and chemical properties. In this study, a new small-angle x-ray scattering/ wide-angle x-ray scattering/ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (SAXS/WAXS/FTIR) combined setup was established. Using this combined SAXS/WAXS/FTIR setup, x-ray and FTIR signals can be obtained simultaneously from the same sample.

Synchrotron Radiation FTIR Microspectroscopy Study of Biomolecular Alterations in Vincristine-Treated WRL68 Cells at the Single-Cell Level.

The toxic effect of vincristine on hepatocytes has rarely been studied. Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy is a novel technique for investigating drug-cell interaction systems. In this research, the biomolecular alterations in WRL68 cells induced by vincristine treatment were investigated by SR-FTIR microspectroscopy and were further analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis and semiquantitative methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and the peak area ratios of several characteristic IR bands.

Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy investigation of WRL68 cells treated with doxorubicin.

Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent applied in a wide variety of cancers. Despite its potent anticancer activity towards cancer cells, doxorubicin is also toxic to noncancerous cells. Therefore, doxorubicin can cause serious side effects in various organs, especially when dose escalation is required for patients with advanced disease.

Biomolecular characterization of placental tissues in gestational diabetes mellitus using Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy. It could cause severe side-effect on the mother's and newborn's heath in the short- and long-term. Prevalence has been increasing over time, likely due to increases in mean maternal age and body weight.

Marangoni Flow Manipulated Concentric Assembly of Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Tunable assembly of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is important for a variety of emerging applications in optics, sensing, and security. Most exploited assembly and optical property of CNCs are cholesteric assembly and corresponding circular dichroism. However, it still remains challenge to obtain homogenous and high-resolution cholesteric assembly.

Using FTIR Imaging to Investigate Silk Fibroin-Based Materials.

The secondary structures of silk fibroin (SF) are critical in the determination of the mechanical properties of the animal silks. Different characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique, have been applied to study the secondary structure of animal silks. Among these techniques, FTIR is most widely used as it is sensitive to all secondary structures of proteins.

Synchrotron Radiation-Based FTIR Microspectroscopic Imaging of Traumatically Injured Mouse Brain Tissue Slices.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a health problem of global concern because of its serious adverse effects on public health and social economy. A technique that can be used to precisely detect TBI is highly demanded. Here, we report on a synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopic imaging technique that can be exploited to identify TBI-induced injury by examining model mouse brain tissue slices.

Effects of nitrogen on interspecific competition between two cell-size cyanobacteria: Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechococcus sp.

Micro-cyanobacteria and pico-cyanobacteria coexist in many lakes throughout the world. Their distinct cell sizes and nutrient utilization strategies may lead to dominance of one over the other at varying nutrient levels. In this study, Microcystis aeruginosa and Synechococcus sp.

Understanding Secondary Structures of Silk Materials via Micro- and Nano-Infrared Spectroscopies.

The secondary structures (also termed conformations) of silk fibroin (SF) in animal silk fibers and regenerated SF materials are critical in determining mechanical performance and function of the materials. In order to understand the structure-mechanics-function relationships of silk materials, a variety of advanced infrared spectroscopic techniques, such as micro-infrared spectroscopies (micro-IR spectroscopies for short), synchrotron micro-IR spectroscopy, and nano-infrared spectroscopies (nano-IR spectroscopies for short), have been used to determine the conformations of SF in silk materials. These IR spectroscopic methods provide a useful toolkit to understand conformations and conformational transitions of SF in various silk materials with spatial resolution from the nano-scale to the micro-scale.

Tensan Silk-Inspired Hierarchical Fibers for Smart Textile Applications.

Tensan silk, a natural fiber produced by the Japanese oak silk moth ( Antherea yamamai, abbreviated to A. yamamai), features superior characteristics, such as compressive elasticity and chemical resistance, when compared to the more common silk produced from the domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori ( B. mori).

Synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy reveals early adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells at single-cell level.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been used as an ideal in vitro model to study human adipogenesis. However, little knowledge of the early stage differentiation greatly hinders our understanding on the mechanism of the adipogenesis processes. In this study, synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy was applied to track the global structural and compositional changes of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids inside individual hMSCs along the time course.

Tough protein-carbon nanotube hybrid fibers comparable to natural spider silks.

Animal silks, especially spider dragline silks, have an excellent portfolio of mechanical properties, but it is still a challenge to obtain artificial silk fibers with similar properties to the natural ones. In this paper, we show how to extrude tough regenerated silk fibers by adding a small amount of commercially available functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (less than 1%) through an environmentally friendly wet-spinning process reported by this laboratory previously. Most of the resulting regenerated silk fibers exhibited a breaking energy beyond 130 MJ m, which is comparable to spider dragline silks (∼160 MJ m).