The hierarchical and porous wood structure provides a stable scaffold to design functionalized lignocellulosic materials with extended properties by chemical modification techniques. However, proper nanoscale characterization methods for these novel materials are needed to confirm the presence of the added functionality and to locate the introduced functional groups with high spatial resolution. Chemical force microscopy is a suitable characterization method to distinguish chemical surface characteristics by scanning the samples surface with a functionalized tip. We report the application of this nanotechnology method on both, unmodified and functionalized wood samples to confirm the thermo-responsive behavior of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) modified spruce wood. By performing force measurements on ultra-microtomed surfaces, adhesion force differences on the analysed structure are monitored and reveal the location and functionality of introduced functional groups. The modified samples are scanned below and above their lower critical solution temperature with a hydrophobic tip in aqueous media to observe adhesion changes. Additionally, confocal Raman microscopy support the chemical force microscopy measurements by revealing the success of the modification and the distribution of PNIPAM across the sample cross-sections. The results show that PNIPAM is mainly located in wood cell wall areas close to the lumen in early- and transitionwood.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6898718 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54664-3 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Calprotectin's Protein Structure Shields Ni-N(His) Bonds from Competing Agents.
J Phys Chem Lett
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Coordination Chemistry, Chemistry and Biomedicine Innovation Center (ChemBIC), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
The Ni-N(His) coordination bond, formed between the nickel ion and histidine residues, is essential for recombinant protein purification, especially in Ni-NTA-based systems for selectively binding polyhistidine-tagged (Histag) proteins. While previous studies have explored its bond strength in a synthetic Ni-NTA-Histag system, the influence of the surrounding protein structure remains less understood. In this study, we used atomic force microscopy-based single-molecule force spectroscopy (AFM-SMFS) to quantify the Ni-N(His) bond strength in calprotectin, a biologically relevant protein system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioenergetic trade-offs can reveal the path to superior microbial CO fixation pathways.
mSystems
January 2025
Department of Chemical and P. Engineering, Research and Innovation Centre on CO2 and H2 (RICH), Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
A comprehensive optimization of known prokaryotic autotrophic carbon dioxide (CO) fixation pathways is presented that evaluates all their possible variants under different environmental conditions. This was achieved through a computational methodology recently developed that considers the trade-offs between energy efficiency (yield) and growth rate, allowing us to evaluate candidate metabolic modifications for microbial conversions. The results revealed the superior configurations in terms of both yield (efficiency) and rate (driving force).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComputing chemical potentials with machine-learning-accelerated simulations to accurately predict thermodynamic properties of molten salts.
Chem Sci
January 2025
Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge TN 37830 USA
The successful design and deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies heavily rely on thermodynamic data for relevant molten salt systems. However, the lack of accurate force fields and efficient methods has limited the quality of thermodynamic predictions from atomistic simulations. Here we propose an efficient free energy framework for computing chemical potentials, which is the central free energy quantity behind many thermodynamic properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF3D printing of biological tooth with multiple ordered hierarchical structures.
Mater Today Bio
February 2025
State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China.
Natural teeth fulfill functional demands by their heterogeneity. The composition and hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanostructured orientation of enamel differ from those of dentin. However, mimicking analogous materials still exhibit a significant challenge.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFrom isolation to detection, advancing insights into endothelial matrix-bound vesicles.
Extracell Vesicle
December 2024
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Route 108, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, USA.
Matrix-bound vesicles (MBVs), an integral part of the extracellular matrix (ECM), are emerging as pivotal factors in ECM-driven molecular signaling. This study is the first to report the isolation of MBVs from porcine arterial endothelial cell basement membranes (A-MBVs) and thyroid cartilage (C-MBVs), the latter serving as a negative control due to its minimal vascular characteristics. Using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Nano-Tracking Analysis (NTA), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), we orthogonally characterized the isolated MBVs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!