Structure and Elasticity of Mitochondrial Membranes: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouse of the cell because they produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate. They also have other crucial functions such as regulating apoptosis, calcium homeostasis, and reactive oxygen species production. To perform these diverse functions, mitochondria adopt specific structures and frequently undergo dynamic shape changes, indicating that their mechanical properties play an essential role in their functions.

Structure and elasticity of healthy and Alzheimer's disease cell membranes revealed by molecular dynamics simulations.

Interactions of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides with neuronal membrane are associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ganglioside monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) lipids have been shown to form clusters that induce the structural conversion of Aβ and promote the incorporation of Aβ into the membrane via the membrane surface electrical potential. Prior to the onset of AD symptoms, GM1 clusters may not have formed but the concentration of GM1 may have already changed, and our question is whether this early concentration modification affects the structure and mechanical properties of the membrane.

Molecular dynamics simulation of cancer cell membrane perforated by shockwave induced bubble collapse.

It has been widely accepted that cancer cells are softer than their normal counterparts. This motivates us to propose, as a proof-of-concept, a method for the efficient delivery of therapeutic agents into cancer cells, while normal cells are less affected. The basic idea of this method is to use a water jet generated by the collapse of the bubble under shockwaves to perforate pores in the cell membrane.

Correction: Structural, magnetic and hyperthermia properties and their correlation in cobalt-doped magnetite nanoparticles.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1RA07407E.].

investigation of electronic structure and optical properties of IrSn.

We have examined the electronic structure and optical properties of intermetallic IrSn for three polymorphic modifications, α-IrSn, β-IrSn, and γ-IrSn, utilizing the first-principles PAW-PBEsol-GGA and FP-LAPW-LSDA methods. The obtained electronic structure data reveal clear-cut differences between α-IrSn and the remaining morphs. This observation may be used to explain the appearance of superconductivity in β-IrSn, and also provides reasonable grounds to suspect eventual superconductivity in γ-IrSn.

Structural, magnetic and hyperthermia properties and their correlation in cobalt-doped magnetite nanoparticles.

Cobalt doped magnetite nanoparticles (Co Fe O NPs) are investigated extensively because of their potential hyperthermia application. However, the complex interrelation among chemical compositions and particle size means their correlation with the magnetic and heating properties is not trivial to predict. Here, we prepared Co Fe O NPs (0 ≤ ≤ 1) to investigate the effects of cobalt content and particle size on their magnetic and heating properties.