Understanding interactions of plasticisers with a phospholipid monolayer.

The use of DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate) is now banned for most applications in Europe; the exception is for blood bags, where its toxicity is overshadowed by its ability to extend the storage life of red blood cells. Another plasticiser, BTHC (butanoyl trihexyl citrate), is used in paediatric blood bags but does not stabilise blood cells as effectively. Interactions between plasticisers and lipids are investigated with a phospholipid, DMPC, to understand the increased stability of blood cells in the presence of DEHP as well as bioaccumulation and identify differences with BTHC.

Charged Polystyrene Nanoparticles Near a SiO/Water Interface.

Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring is used to investigate the adsorption processes at liquid-solid interfaces and applied increasingly to characterize viscoelastic properties of complex liquids. Here, we contribute new insights into the latter field by using QCM-D to investigate the structure near the interface and the high-frequency viscoelastic properties of charge-stabilized polystyrene particles (radius 37 nm) dispersed in water. The study reveals changes with increasing ionic strength and particle concentration.

Sticking particles to solid surfaces using Moringa oleifera proteins as a glue.

Experimental studies have been made to test the idea that seed proteins from Moringa oleifera which are novel, natural flocculating agents for many particles could be used to promote adhesion at planar interfaces and hence provide routes to useful nanostructures. The proteins bind irreversibly to silica interfaces. Surfaces that had been exposed to protein solutions and rinsed were then exposed to dispersions of sulfonated polystyrene latex.

Interactions of perfluoroalkyl substances with a phospholipid bilayer studied by neutron reflectometry.

The interactions between perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and a phospholipid bilayer (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) were investigated at the molecular level using neutron reflectometry. Representative PFASs with different chain length and functional groups were selected in this study including: perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), perfluorohexanoate (PFHxA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), and perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA). All PFASs were found to interact with the bilayer by incorporation, indicating PFAS ability to accumulate once ingested or taken up by organisms.

Grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering from structures below an interface.

Changes of scattering are observed as the grazing angle of incidence of an incoming beam increases and probes different depths in samples. A model has been developed to describe the observed intensity in grazing-incidence small-angle neutron scattering (GISANS) experiments. This includes the significant effects of instrument resolution, the sample transmission, which depends on both absorption and scattering, and the sample structure.

Controlling adsorption of albumin with hyaluronan on silica surfaces and sulfonated latex particles.

Polysaccharides are known to modify binding of proteins at interfaces and this paper describes studies of these interactions and how they are modified by pH. Specifically, the adsorption of human serum albumin on to polystyrene latex and to silica is described, focusing on how this is affected by hyaluronan. Experiments were designed to test how such binding might be modified under relevant physiological conditions.

Sorption of perfluoroalkyl substances to two types of minerals.

The sorption of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was investigated for two model soil mineral surfaces, alumina (Al2O3) and silica (SiO2), on molecular level using neutron scattering. The PFASs were selected (i.e.

Interaction of Moringa oleifera seed protein with a mineral surface and the influence of surfactants.

The paper describes the adsorption of purified protein from seeds of Moringa oleifera to a sapphire interface and the effects of addition of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and the cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Neutron reflection was used to determine the structure and composition of interfacial layers adsorbed at the solid/solution interface. The maximum surface excess of protein was found to be about 5.

Note: Sample cells to investigate solid/liquid interfaces with neutrons.

The design of sample cells to study solid/liquid interfaces by neutron reflection is presented. Use of standardized components and a modular design has allowed a wide range of experiments that include grazing incidence scattering and conventional small-angle scattering. Features that reduce background scattering are emphasized.

Adsorption of aerosol-OT to sapphire: lamellar structures studied with neutrons.

The adsorption of sodium bis 2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate, NaAOT, to a sapphire surface from aqueous solution has been studied by neutron reflection at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (cmc). Complementary measurements of the bulk structure were made with small-angle neutron scattering and grazing incidence small-angle neutron scattering. At a concentration of about 1% wt (10 × cmc), lamellar phase NaAOT was observed both at the surface and in the bulk.

Effect of concentration and addition of ions on the adsorption of aerosol-OT to sapphire.

Aerosol-OT (sodium bis 2-ethylhexyl sulfosuccinate or NaAOT) adsorbs to hydrophilic sapphire solid surfaces. The structure of the formed bilayer has been determined over the concentration range 0.2-7.