Direct multi-element analysis of biological samples in dry matrix spots by PIXE.

The dried matrix spot (DMS) method, initially developed for neonatal blood screening, has gained prevalence in various research fields for its efficiency in handling small sample volumes and its adaptability to diverse analytical techniques. This study presents the results of the first systematic investigation of direct multi-element analysis in DMS of human blood and plasma samples with Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Internal standard addition was used to address the issue of DMS heterogeneity and to eliminate the need for determining the sample volume equivalent, allowing a single-spot (single-punch) measurement.

Selective excitation with recoupling pulse schemes uncover properties of disordered mineral phases in bone-like apatite grown with bone proteins.

Bone construction has been under intensive scrutiny for many years using numerous techniques. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy helped unravel key characteristics of the mineral structure in bone owing to its capability of analyzing crystalline and disordered phases at high-resolution. This has invoked new questions regarding the roles of persistent disordered phases in structural integrity and mechanical function of mature bone as well as regarding regulation of early events in formation of apatite by bone proteins which interact intimately with the different mineral phases to exert biological control.

Novel Nanocarrier Platform for Effective Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is among the five parasitic diseases that still require the development of new drugs. Ultrasmall cerium (Ce) cation-doped maghemite (γ-FeO) nanoparticles (NPs) were tested as a potential drug to treat visceral leishmaniasis, a disease affecting millions of people worldwide. The NPs were engineered for binding a polycationic branched polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer, thereby rupturing the single lysosome of these parasites and enabling entry of the anti- drug, pentamidine.

Unraveling the Role of Fluorinated Alkyl Carbonate Additives in Improving Cathode Performance in Sodium-Ion Batteries.

A key issue in the development of sustainable Na-ion batteries (NIBs) is the stability of the electrolyte solution and its ability to form effective passivation layers on both cathode and anode. In this regard, the use of fluorine-based additives is considered a promising direction for improving electrode performance. Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and -difluoroethylene carbonate (DFEC) were demonstrated as additives or cosolvents that form effective passivating surface films in Li-ion batteries.

Structure and Dynamics Perturbations in Ubiquitin Adsorbed or Entrapped in Silica Materials Are Related to Disparate Surface Chemistries Resolved by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy.

Protein immobilization on material surfaces is emerging as a powerful tool in the design of devices and active materials for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications as well as for catalysis. Preservation of the protein's biological functionality is crucial to the design process and is dependent on the ability to maintain its structural and dynamical integrity while removed from the natural surroundings. The scientific techniques to validate the structure of immobilized proteins are scarce and usually provide limited information as a result of poor resolution.

How does osteocalcin lacking γ-glutamic groups affect biomimetic apatite formation and what can we say about its structure in mineral-bound form?

Non-collagenous proteins such as osteocalcin function as regulators of the mineralization process in bone. Osteocalcin undergoes post-translational modification adding an extra carboxylate group on three of its glutamate residues to enhance interaction with bone mineral. In this work, we examine regulation of biomimetic apatite formation by osteocalcin that was not modified after translation.

Dynamics in hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecular chains tethered to MCM41-type mesoporous silica upon wetting and dehydration processes.

Surface modified mesoporous silica materials are important materials for heterogeneous catalysis and are attracting attention as potential drug carriers. The functionality of these materials relies on the physical and chemical properties of the tethers attached to MCM41 silica surface. These chemically linked tails act as molecular brushes, that can capture pollutant molecules, anchor points for catalysts and can host drug molecules.

Ubiquitin immobilized on mesoporous MCM41 silica surfaces - Analysis by solid-state NMR with biophysical and surface characterization.

Deriving the conformation of adsorbed proteins is important in the assessment of their functional activity when immobilized. This has particularly important bearings on the design of contemporary and new encapsulated enzyme-based drugs, biosensors, and other bioanalytical devices. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements can expand our molecular view of proteins in this state and of the molecular interactions governing protein immobilization on popular biocompatible surfaces such as silica.