The epidemic spread of many viral infections is mediated by the environmental conditions and influenced by the ambient humidity. Single virus particles have been mainly visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in liquid conditions, where the effect of the relative humidity on virus topography and surface cannot be systematically assessed. In this work, we employed multi-frequency AFM, simultaneously with standard topography imaging, to study the nanoscale wetting of individual Tobacco Mosaic virions (TMV) from ambient relative humidity to water condensation (RH > 100%). We recorded amplitude and phase vs. distance curves (APD curves) on top of single virions at various RH and converted them into force vs. distance curves. The high sensitivity of multifrequency AFM to visualize condensed water and sub-micrometer droplets, filling gaps between individual TMV particles at RH > 100%, is demonstrated. Dynamic force spectroscopy allows detecting a thin water layer of thickness ~1 nm, adsorbed on the outer surface of single TMV particles at RH < 60%.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175184 | DOI Listing |
Adv Mater
January 2025
Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100083, China.
The application of physical fields is crucial for droplet generation and manipulation, underpinning technologies like printing, microfluidic biochips, drug delivery, and flexible sensors. Despite advancements, precise micro/nanoscale droplet generation and accurate microfluidic reactions remain challenging. Inspired by the liquid ejection mechanisms in microscopic organisms, an electrostatic manipulator for the precise capture, emission, and transport of microdroplets is proposed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem B
January 2025
Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States.
Liquid phase-separating proteins can form condensates that play an important role in spatial and temporal organization of biological cells. The understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the formation of protein condensates and their interactions with other biomolecules may lead to processing routes for soft materials with tailored geometry and function. Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is an example of a nuclear protein that forms stable complexes, and recent studies have highlighted its ability to wet actin filaments and bundle them into networks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Nano
January 2025
School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, People's Republic of China.
Multifunctional materials are accelerating the development of soft electronics with integrated capabilities including wearable physical sensing, efficient thermal management, and high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding. With outstanding mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, nanocarbon materials offer ample opportunities for designing multifunctional devices with broad applications. Surface and interfacial engineering have emerged as an effective approach to modulate interconnected structures, which may have tunable and synergistic effects for the precise control over mechanical, transport, and electromagnetic properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiopolymers
January 2025
Department of Textile Engineering, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The antibacterial nanofibrous mat is crucial in biomedicine as it enhances infection control, expedites wound healing, and mitigates health hazards by decreasing antibiotic usage. A novel synergistic antibacterial and hydrophilic nanofibrous mat successfully fabricated by solution electrospinning from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) incorporated Croton bonplandianum Baill (CBB) leaves extract. Antioxidant-enriched leaf extract of the CBB plant was integrated with PVA in varying proportions of 30% (CBB-30), 40% (CBB-40), and 50% (CBB-50) to manufacture antibacterial nanofibrous mat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanoscale
January 2025
CAS Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interface Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
Common filter membranes for emulsion separation often require time-intensive preparation and extensive use of chemicals, necessitating a fast-processing and eco-friendly alternative. This study introduces a 2-layer stacked nylon mesh treated with surface diffuse atmospheric plasma (SDAP) for rapid and efficient emulsion separation. Commercial nylon mesh exhibited durable super-wetting properties after just 30 s of SDAP treatment, which was sufficient for effective emulsion separation.
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