β-Casein is a component of casein micelle with amphillic nature and is recognized as a "natively disordered" protein that lacks secondary structures. In this study, the temperature and hydration effects on the dynamics of β-casein are explored by quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS). An upturn in the mean square displacement (MSD) of hydrated β-casein indicates an increase of protein flexibility at a temperature of ~225 K. Another increase in MSD at ~100 K, observed in both dry and hydrated β-casein, is ascribed to the methyl group rotations, which are not sensitive to hydration. QENS analysis in the energy domain reveals that the fraction of hydrogen atoms participating in motion in a sphere of diffusion is highly hydration dependent and increases with temperature. In the time domain analysis, a logarithmic-like decay is observed in the range of picosecond to nanosecond (β-relaxation time) in the dynamics of hydrated β-casein. This dynamical behavior has been observed in hydrated globular and oligomeric proteins. Our temperature-dependent QENS experiments provide evidence that lack of a secondary structure in β-casein results in higher flexibility in its dynamics and easier reversible thermal unfolding compared to other rigid biomolecules.
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ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Graduate Institute of Electronics Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Graphene-based supercapacitors have gained significant attention due to their exceptional energy storage capabilities. Despite numerous research efforts trying to improve the performance, the challenge of experimentally elucidating the nanoscale-interface molecular characteristics still needs to be tackled for device optimizations in commercial applications. To address this, we have conducted a series of experiments using substrate-free graphene field-effect transistors (SF-GFETs) and oxide-supported graphene field-effect transistors (OS-GFETs) to elucidate the graphene-electrolyte interfacial arrangement and corresponding capacitance under different surface potential states and ionic concentration environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Nanomedicine
January 2025
Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Rion, 26504, Greece.
Introduction: FTY720 bioactive lipid has proliferative, osteoinductive, chemo attractive, and angiogenic properties, being thus a potential exogenous administered agent for promotion of bone regeneration. Herein we developed FTY720-loaded liposomes as a potential delivery system that could retain and prolong the bioactivity of the bioactive lipid and at the same time reduce its cytotoxicity (at high doses).
Methods: FTY720 liposomes were prepared by thin-lipid hydration and microfluidic flow focusing, and evaluated for their ability to induce proliferation, osteoinduction, and chemoattraction in three cell types: MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells, L929 fibroblast cells, and ATDC5 chondrogenic cells.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep
December 2024
Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health and Science University, 515 SW Campus Dr., Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
This video demonstrates the novel "macaroni necklace" technique for removing a Xen gel stent. The technique allows for complete removal of the stent without the hydrated and soft pieces from tearing apart. In this case, the stent was the nidus for endophthalmitis, and complete removal is necessary for prevention of future infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Nano
January 2025
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Siping Road 1239, Shanghai 200092, China.
The synthesis of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) with excellent luminescent properties and their effective application in the field of bionic sensing remain a formidable challenge. Herein, a series of COFs with different numbers of hydroxyl groups are successfully synthesized, and the number of hydroxyl groups on the benzene-1,3,5-tricarbaldehyde (BTA) linker influences the properties of the final COFs. The COF (HHBTA-OH) prepared with hydrazine hydrate (HH) and BTA containing one hydroxyl group as the ligands exhibits the best fluorescent performance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem B
January 2025
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, Massachusetts 02747, United States.
Solid-state polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are increasingly favored over liquid electrolytes for emerging energy storage devices due to their safety features, enhanced stability, and multifunctionality. Minor solvents (such as water) are often introduced unintentionally or intentionally into SPEs. Although it can significantly affect SPEs' electrochemical and mechanical properties, the fundamental role of such solvent content has rarely been studied.
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