Publications by authors named "Saulius Balevicius"

The profound understanding and detailed evaluation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike (SCoV2-S) protein and specific antibody interaction mechanism is of high importance in the development of immunosensors for COVID-19. In the present work, we studied a model system of immobilized SCoV2-S protein and specific monoclonal antibodies by molecular dynamics of immune complex formation in real time. We simultaneously applied spectroscopic ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation to reveal the features and steps of the immune complex formation.

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Detailed evaluations of the antigen and antibody interaction rate and strength of the immune complex formed are very important for medical and bioanalytical applications. These data are crucial for the development of sensitive and fast immunosensors suitable for continuous measurements. Therefore, combined spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique (SE/QCM-D) was used for the evaluation: (i)of covalent immobilization of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (SCoV2-N) on QCM-D sensor disc modified by self-assembled monolayer based on 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid and (ii)interaction of immobilized SCoV2-N with specific polyclonal anti-SCoV2-N antibodies followed by immune complex formation process.

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SARS-CoV-2 vaccines provide strong protection against COVID-19. However, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has raised concerns about the efficacy of vaccines. In this study, we investigated the interactions of specific polyclonal human antibodies (pAb-SCoV2-S) produced after vaccination with the Vaxzevria vaccine with the spike proteins of three SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: wild-type, B.

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The results of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) properties of LaSrMnO (LSMO) films grown by pulsed injection MOCVD technique onto various substrates are presented. The films with thicknesses of 360 nm and 60 nm grown on AT-cut single crystal quartz, polycrystalline AlO, and amorphous Si/SiO substrates were nanostructured with column-shaped crystallites spread perpendicular to the film plane. It was found that morphology, microstructure, and magnetoresistive properties of the films strongly depend on the substrate used.

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In this paper, we investigated the behavior of a type II superconducting armature when accelerated by a pulsed magnetic field generated by a single-stage pancake coil. While conducting this investigation, we performed a numerical finite element simulation and an experimental study of the magnetic field dynamics at the edge of the pancake coil when the payload was a superconducting disc made from YBaCuO, cooled down to 77 K. The magnetic field measurements were performed using a CMR-B-scalar sensor, which was able to measure the absolute magnitude of the magnetic field and was specifically manufactured in order to increase the sensor's sensitivity up to 500 mT.

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The possibility of applying CMR-B-scalar sensors made from thin manganite films exhibiting the colossal magnetoresistance effect as a fast-nondestructive method for the evaluation of the quality of the magnetic pulse welding (MPW) process is investigated in this paper. This method based on magnetic field magnitude measurements in the vicinity of the tools and joining parts was tested during the electromagnetic compression and MPW of an aluminum flyer tube with a steel parent. The testing setup used for the investigation allowed the simultaneous measurement of the flyer displacement, its velocity, and the magnitude of the magnetic field close to the flyer.

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The modelling of protein-protein binding kinetics is important for the development of affinity-sensors and the prediction of signaling protein based drug efficiency. Therefore, in this research we have evaluated the binding kinetics of several genetically designed protein models: (i) three different ligands based on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor GCSF homo-dimeric derivatives linked by differed by linkers of different length and flexibility; (ii) an antibody-like receptor (GCSF-R) based on two GCSF-receptor sites immobilized to Fc domains, which are common parts of protein structures forming antibodies. Genetically engineered GCSF-R is similar to an antibody because it, like the antibody, has two binding sites, which both selectively bind with GCSF ligands.

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An investigation of the yeast cell resealing process was performed by studying the absorption of the tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP) ion by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It was shown that the main barrier for the uptake of such TPP ions is the cell wall. An increased rate of TPP absorption after treatment of such cells with a pulsed electric field (PEF) was observed only in intact cells, but not in spheroplasts.

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The demand to increase the sensitivity to magnetic field in a broad magnetic field ranges has led to the research of novel materials for sensor applications. Therefore, the hybrid system consisting of two different magnetoresistive materials - nanostructured Co-doped manganite LaSr(MnCo)O and single- and few-layer graphene - were combined and investigated as potential system for magnetic field sensing. The negative colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) of manganite-cobaltite and positive one of graphene gives the possibility to increase the sensitivity to magnetic field of the hybrid sensor.

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An increasing demand of magnetic field sensors with high sensitivity at room temperatures and spatial resolution at micro-nanoscales has resulted in numerous investigations of physical phenomena in advanced materials, and fabrication of novel magnetoresistive devices. In this study the novel magnetic field sensor based on combination of a single layer graphene (SLG) and thin nanostructured manganite LaSrMnO (LSMO) film-hybrid graphene-manganite (GM) structure, is proposed and fabricated. The hybrid GM structure employs the properties of two materials-SLG and LSMO-on the nanoscale level and results in the enhanced sensitivity to magnetic field of the hybrid sensor on the macroscopic level.

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The permeability of the yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to lipophilic tetraphenylphosphonium cations (TPP(+) ) after their treatment with single square-shaped strong electric field pulses was analyzed. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) with durations from 5 to 150 µs and strengths from 0 to 10 kV/cm were applied to a standard electroporation cuvette filled with the appropriate buffer. The TPP(+) absorption process was analyzed using an ion selective microelectrode (ISE) and the plasma membrane permeability was determined by measurements obtained using a calcein blue dye release assay.

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