Effect of Gold Nanoparticles in Microbial Fuel Cells Based on Polypyrrole-Modified .

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a candidate for green energy sources due to microbes' ability to generate charge in their metabolic processes. The main problem in MFCs is slow charge transfer between microorganisms and electrodes. Several methods to improve charge transfer have been used until now: modification of microorganisms by conductive polymers, use of lipophilic mediators, and conductive nanomaterials.

Characterization of human Urotensin II peptide adsorbed on silver electrode by surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy.

The cyclic human neuropeptide Urotensin II (hU-II) is an important regulatory peptide found in the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, kidney, etc., however, its conformational structure and dynamics in aqueous solutions have not been studied in detail experimentally. In the present study, the structure of hU-II and the mechanism of its adsorption on the electrochemically roughened Ag electrode are investigated using electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy (EC-SERS) in the voltage range from -1.

Development of photoactive biomaterial using modified fullerene nanoparticles.

Medical device-associated biofilm infections continue to pose a significant challenge for public health. These infections arise from biofilm accumulation on the device, hampering the antimicrobial treatment. In response, significant efforts have been made to design functional polymeric devices that possess antimicrobial properties, limiting or preventing biofilm formation.

Effects of carbon black particles on human monocyte-derived macrophages: type-dependent pro-inflammatory activation in vitro.

Carbon black is a key component of air-borne particulate matter, linked to adverse health outcomes, such as increased susceptibility to respiratory infections and chronic pulmonary disease exacerbations. Fine and ultrafine particles can penetrate the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and induce pathogenetic events. Macrophages play a crucial role in responding to inhaled particles, including carbon black, by initiating an innate immune response and upregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-oxidative enzymes.

A Comprehensive Review of Advanced Diagnostic Techniques for Endometriosis: New Approaches to Improving Women's Well-Being.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive-age women and girls in the world (2023). The diagnostic challenge in endometriosis lies in the limited value of clinical tools, making it crucial to address diagnostic complexities in patients with suggestive symptoms and inconclusive clinical or imaging findings. Saliva micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) signature, nanotechnologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) have opened up new perspectives on endometriosis diagnosis.

Wet-dry cycles cause nucleic acid monomers to polymerize into long chains.

The key first step in the oligomerization of monomers is to find an initiator, which is usually done by thermolysis or photolysis. We present a markedly different approach that initiates acid-catalyzed polymerization at the surface of water films or water droplets, which is the reactive phase during a wet-dry cycle in freshwater hot springs associated with subaerial volcanic landmasses. We apply this method to the oligomerization of different nucleic acids, a topic relevant to how it might be possible to go from simple nucleic acid monomers to long-chain polymers, a key step in forming the building blocks of life.

RF power saving system for smart homes.

In this work the investigation results of harvesting the RF energy of a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal for supply of smart home leak sensors network are presented. The collected RF energy has been used as an additional source to power the sensors.

Electrochemical sensor for vascular endothelial growth factor based on self-assembling DNA aptamer structure.

Developing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein is essential for early cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment monitoring. This study presents the design and characterisation of an electrochemical sensor utilising a self-assembling DNA aptamer structure for the sensitive and selective detection of VEGF. The aptamer structure comprises three different parts of single-stranded DNA that are assembled prior to integration into the sensor.

Black Silicon Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Biosensors: Current Advances and Prospects.

Black silicon was discovered by accident and considered an undesirable by-product of the silicon industry. A highly modified surface, consisting of pyramids, needles, holes, pillars, etc., provides high light absorption from the UV to the NIR range and gives black silicon its color-matte black.

Molecular Imprinting Technology for Advanced Delivery of Essential Oils.

Essential oils (EOs) hold therapeutic potential, but their conventional delivery systems have some limitations. This review focuses on the critical review and discussion of research related to EO delivery systems. The review also explores how molecular imprinting technologies (MIT) can advance EO delivery.

Influence of growth medium on the species-specific interactions between algae and bacteria.

In this study, we investigated a species-specific algal-bacterial co-culture that has recently attracted worldwide scientific attention as a novel approach to enhancing algal growth rate. We report that the type of interaction between Chlorella vulgaris and bacteria of the genus Delftia is not solely determined by species specificity. Rather, it is a dynamic process of adaptation to the surrounding conditions, where one or the other microorganism dominates (temporally) depending on the growth conditions, in particular the medium.

Tribological Research of Resin Composites with the Fillers of Glass Powder and Micro-Bubbles.

This study investigates the tribological properties of resin composites reinforced with the fillers of glass powder and micro-bubbles. Resin composites were prepared with varying concentrations from 1% to 5% wt of fillers. Tribological tests were conducted using a block-on-ring scheme under dry friction conditions.

Dual-isotope ratios of carbonaceous aerosols for seasonal observation and their assessment as source indicators.

Carbonaceous aerosols exhibit seasonal variations due to a complex interplay of emission sources, meteorological conditions, and chemical processes. This study presents the first year-round dual‑carbon isotopic analysis of carbonaceous aerosols in Northeastern Europe (Lithuania). The emphasis was placed on the processes affecting carbonaceous submicron particle (PM) concentrations and their isotopic composition (δC, f) during different seasons.

Recent insights into trends of thyroid cancer incidence in Lithuanian population exposed to Chernobyl fallout early in life.

In the last three decades, an increase in thyroid cancer incidence has been observed worldwide, as well as in Lithuania. Although the rise was linked to overdiagnosis, the role of lifestyle and environmental factors, including exposure to ionizing radiation, cannot be excluded. In our retrospective study, we aimed to assess the association between the average age-specific thyroid dose due to the radioactive iodine uptake during childhood and adolescence from the Chernobyl fallout in Lithuania, and the trends of incidence of thyroid cancer from 1991 to 2015 in different regions.

Structural properties of immune complexes formed by viral antigens and specific antibodies shape the inflammatory response of macrophages.

Data on the course of viral infections revealed severe inflammation as a consequence of antiviral immune response. Despite extensive research, there are insufficient data on the role of innate immune cells in promoting inflammation mediated by immune complexes (IC) of viral antigens and their specific antibodies. Recently, we demonstrated that antigens of human polyomaviruses (PyVs) induce an inflammatory response in macrophages.

Exploring the Living Cell: Applications and Advances of Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy.

A living cell is a complex network of molecular, biochemical and physiological processes. Cellular activities, such as ion transport, metabolic processes, and cell-cell interactions can be determined electrochemically by detecting the electrons or ions exchanged in these processes. Electrochemical methods often are noninvasive, and they can enable the real-time monitoring of cellular processes.

MXene-Based Chemo-Sensors and Other Sensing Devices.

MXenes have received worldwide attention across various scientific and technological fields since the first report of the synthesis of TiC nanostructures in 2011. The unique characteristics of MXenes, such as superior mechanical strength and flexibility, liquid-phase processability, tunable surface functionality, high electrical conductivity, and the ability to customize their properties, have led to the widespread development and exploration of their applications in energy storage, electronics, biomedicine, catalysis, and environmental technologies. The significant growth in publications related to MXenes over the past decade highlights the extensive research interest in this material.

Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Hydrogels as Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review.

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) are a category of nanomaterials with various systems based on combinations of sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon bonds, morphologies, and functional groups. CBNs can exhibit distinguished properties such as high mechanical strength, chemical stability, high electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility. These desirable physicochemical properties have triggered their uses in many fields, including biomedical applications.

What cooling pond sediments can reveal about 14C in nuclear power plant liquid effluents: Case study Lake Drūkšiai, Ignalina nuclear power plant cooling pond.

The vertical distribution of radiocarbon (14C) was examined in two bottom sediment cores, taken from Lake Drūkšiai which had been used as a cooling pond for the Ignalina nuclear power plant (INPP) with two RBMK type reactors. The aim of this work was to reconstruct 14C amounts in the lake ecosystem during an 8-year period after the INPP was closed, as any official monitoring of 14C in liquid releases from the INPP was not performed. The possibility of comparing the variation of the 14C specific activity in the corresponding layers of the same period of 3 different cores (one taken in 2013 and two in 2019) revealed the variability of the determined values of liquid radiocarbon discharges from the INPP into the lake.

Detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein by screen-printed carbon electrodes modified by colloidal gold nanoparticles.

In this work, electrochemical bioanalytical systems for the determination of antibodies against the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike protein (anti-rS) is reported. Environmentally friendly chemicals were applied in the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The AuNPs were integrated onto the screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPE), and the biological recognition part was based on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (rS), which during the immobilization was cross-linked by glutaraldehyde.

Development of Essential Oil Delivery Systems by 'Click Chemistry' Methods: Possible Ways to Manage Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Recently, rare diseases have received attention due to the need for improvement in diagnosed patients' and their families' lives. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, severe, progressive, muscle-wasting disease. Today, the therapeutic standard for treating DMD is corticosteroids, which cause serious adverse side effects.

New evidence of the presence of micro- and nanoplastic particles in bronchioalveolar lavage samples of clinical trial subjects.

This is the first study reporting the presence of airborne nano-sized plastic particles in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples of patients undergoing diagnostic bronchoscopy. The results represent the plastic pollution content in the lower airways of the residents of Northern Europe. Airborne micro- and nanoplastic particles (MP/NPs) are widely dispersed worldwide and intrude on human organisms to various extents, with the respiratory tract being the first line of exposure.

Enhancing Chromatographic Analysis: A Novel Cryo-Enrichment Module for GC Analysis of Terpenes in Cannabis sativa.

This study presents the development and validation of a gas chromatography (GC) method using cryo-enrichment for the analysis of α-pinene and β-caryophyllene in Cannabis sativa plant. Cryo-enrichment is a method that involves cooling part of the GC column to improve some aspect of chromatographic analysis. The aim of this study was to improve upon previous GC cryo-enrichment prototype and to create and validate a method for the analysis of these terpene compounds, which have received increasing attention for their medicinal properties.

Revealing the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Specific Antibody Immune Complex Formation Mechanism for Precise Evaluation of Antibody Affinity.

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.

Electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy based determination of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein.

In this study, we are reporting a novel electrochemical capacitance spectroscopy (ECS) platform designed for the sensitive and label-free detection of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus spike protein (anti-rS) in diluted blood serum. The determination of anti-rS is crucial for identification individuals who have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus and may have acquired immunity. The rS protein was immobilized on a screen-printed carbon electrode, which was incubated in diluted blood serum containing anti-rS antibodies.