Structure-activity relationship expansion and microsomal stability assessment of the 2-morpholinobenzoic acid scaffold as antiproliferative phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C inhibitors.

Dysregulation of choline phospholipid metabolism and overexpression of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) is implicated in various cancers. Current known enzyme inhibitors include compounds based on a 2-morpholino-5--benzylamino benzoic acid, or hydroxamic acid, scaffold. In this work, 81 compounds were made by modifying this core structure to explore the pharmacophore.

Testing mixed metal bimetallic, and monometallic, cryptates for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Appropriately designed catalysts help to minimise the energy required to convert the energy-poor feedstock HO into energy-rich molecular H. Herein, two families of pyridazine-based cryptates, mononuclear [MLi](BF) and mixed metal dinuclear [MCuLi](BF) (M = Fe, Co, Cu or Zn; Li is the Schiff base cryptand made by 2 : 3 condensation of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and 3,6-diformylpyridazine), are investigated as potential electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in MeCN with acetic acid as the proton source. The synthesis and structures of a new mixed metal cryptate, [ZnCuLi](BF), and the tetrafluoroborate analogue of the previously reported perchlorate salt of the mono-zinc cryptate, [ZnLi](BF)·0.

Self-Assembled Piezoelectric Films from Aligned Lysozyme Protein Fibrils.

Piezoelectric organic polymers are promising alternatives to their inorganic counterparts due to their mechanical flexibility, making them suitable for flexible and wearable piezoelectric devices. Biological polymers such as proteins have been reported to possess piezoelectricity, while offering additional benefits, such as biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, questions remain regarding protein piezoelectricity, such as the impact of the protein secondary structure.

Fabrication of Lab-on-a-Chip Devices to Study the Forces Imparted by Growing Phytophthora Hyphae.

In this chapter, we describe the design and manufacture of a Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) device suitable for measuring the μN forces exerted by tips of growing Phytophthora hyphae. LoC describes microfluidic devices, typically made of the polymer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), that are increasingly being used to answer fundamental questions in biological, chemical, physical, and medical research. These LoC devices enable the integration of several laboratory functions on small plastic devices that are quick to produce and easy to replicate.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: a half-century historical perspective.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has evolved significantly over fifty years into a powerful analytical technique. This review aims to achieve five main goals. (1) Providing a comprehensive history of SERS's discovery, its experimental and theoretical foundations, its connections to advances in nanoscience and plasmonics, and highlighting collective contributions of key pioneers.

Synthesis, Structural, and Raman Investigation of Lanthanide Nitride Powders ( = La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Lu).

Lanthanide nitride (N) materials have garnered significant interest in recent years due to their promising potential as heterogeneous catalysts for green ammonia synthesis under low temperature and pressure reaction conditions. Here, we report on the synthesis of an extended series of lanthanide () nitride powders ( = lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, erbium, lutetium) and their structural and vibrational properties. Polycrystalline powders were fabricated using a ball milling mechanochemical process, and their structural properties were assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Evidence of Directional Structural Superlubricity and Lévy Flights in a van der Waals Heterostructure.

Structural superlubricity is a special frictionless contact in which two crystals are in incommensurate arrangement such that relative in-plane translation is associated with vanishing energy barrier crossing. So far, it has been realized in multilayer graphene and other van der Waals (2D crystals with hexagonal or triangular crystalline symmetries, leading to isotropic frictionless contacts. Directional structural superlubricity, to date unrealized in 2D systems, is possible when the reciprocal lattices of the two crystals coincide in one direction only.

Shallow defects and optical properties of CsPbBrthin films through noble gas ion beam defect engineering.

Ion implantation is widely utilised for the modification of inorganic semiconductors; however, the technique has not been extensively applied to lead halide perovskites. In this report, we demonstrate the modification of the optical properties of caesium lead bromide (CsPbBr) thin films via noble gas ion implantation. We observed that the photoluminescence (PL) lifetimes of CsPbBrthin films can be doubled by low fluences (<1 × 10at·cm) of ion implantation with an acceleration voltage of 20 keV.

Electrochemical Oxidation of Low-Concentration Methane on Pt/Pt and Pt/CP under Ambient Conditions.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its rapid conversion at low concentrations under ambient conditions is a challenging process where combustion is not an option. Herein, we report an electrochemical method to address this problem. It was achieved by applying an oxidation potential to electrochemically activate methane followed by conducting an anodic cyclic voltammogram to fully oxidize activated methane to carbon dioxide on platinized Pt mesh (Pt/Pt) and carbon paper (Pt/CP).

Understanding and Tuning the Effects of HO on Catalytic CO and CO Hydrogenation.

Catalytic CO (CO and CO) hydrogenation to valued chemicals is one of the promising approaches to address challenges in energy, environment, and climate change. HO is an inevitable side product in these reactions, where its existence and effect are often ignored. In fact, HO significantly influences the catalytic active centers, reaction mechanism, and catalytic performance, preventing us from a definitive and deep understanding on the structure-performance relationship of the authentic catalysts.

Polydopamine-Mediated Antimicrobial Lipopeptide Surface Coating for Medical Devices.

Biofilm formation on medical implants such as catheters is a major issue which needs to be addressed as it leads to severe health care associated infections. This study explored the design and synthesis of a polydopamine-lipopeptide based antimicrobial coating. The coating was used to modify the surface of Ultrathane Catheters.

Safe subdural administration and retention of a neurotrophin-3-delivering hydrogel in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

Neurotrophic growth factor (GF) loaded hydrogels have shown promise as a treatment approach for spinal cord injury (SCI). However, SCI presents complex challenges for the direct administration of treatment due to the spinal cord's intricate anatomy and highly sensitive environment. Many current hydrogel administration approaches overlook this complexity, limiting their translational potential.

Integer Factorization with Stochastic Spiking in Percolating Networks of Nanoparticles.

As growth in global demand for computing power continues to outpace ongoing improvements in transistor-based hardware, novel computing solutions are required. One promising approach employs stochastic nanoscale devices to accelerate probabilistic computing algorithms. Percolating Networks of Nanoparticles (PNNs) exhibit stochastic spiking, which is of particular interest as it meets criteria for criticality which is associated with a range of computational advantages.

Synthesis, mixed-spin-state structure and Langmuir-Blodgett deposition of amphiphilic Fe(iii) quinolylsalicylaldiminate complexes.

Designing and integrating Fe(iii)-based spin crossover (SCO) complexes onto substrates remains a challenging goal with only a handful of examples reported. In this work, we successfully synthesized and characterized three [Fe(qsal-OR)]NO (qsal-OR = 5-alkoxy-2-[(8-quinolylimino)methyl]phenolate) complexes, in which R = CH1, CH2, and CH3 to explore the impact of alkyl chain on the modulation of SCO activity and potential for self-assembly on a glass surface. The SCO is found to be gradual and incomplete in all cases, with the LS state more stabilised as the alkyl group shortens.

Modelling neurocardiac physiology and diseases using human pluripotent stem cells: current progress and future prospects.

Throughout our lifetime the heart executes cycles of contraction and relaxation to meet the body's ever-changing metabolic needs. This vital function is continuously regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Cardiovascular dysfunction and autonomic dysregulation are also closely associated; however, the degrees of cause and effect are not always readily discernible.

Rational design of self-assembling ultrashort peptides for the shape- and size-tunable synthesis of metal nanostructures.

Peptides have attracted great interest as platforms for the design of nanocomposite hydrogels due to their distinct bioactivity, biofunctionality and biocompatibility. Previously, we have reported on a family of peptides that self-assembled to form stabilised three-dimensional hydrogel networks, displaying potent antimicrobial activity. In this paper, we report on the use of these hydrogelator sequences and their analogues as stabilisers and growth controllers to synthesise anisotropic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of different sizes and shapes.

An Alternative Micro-Milling Fabrication Process for Rapid and Low-Cost Microfluidics.

Microfluidics is an important technology for the biomedical industry and is often utilised in our daily lives. Recent advances in micro-milling technology have allowed for rapid fabrication of smaller and more complex structures, at lower costs, making it a viable alternative to other fabrication methods. The microfluidic chip fabrication developed in this research is a step-by-step process with a self-contained wet milling chamber.

Dynamic composite hydrogels of gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) with supramolecular fibers for tissue engineering applications.

In the field of tissue engineering, there is a growing need for biomaterials with structural properties that replicate the native characteristics of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is important to include fibrous structures into ECM mimics, especially when constructing scar models. Additionally, including a dynamic aspect to cell-laden biomaterials is particularly interesting, since native ECM is constantly reshaped by cells.

Deciphering the Interplay: Thieno[2,3-]pyridine's Impact on Glycosphingolipid Expression, Cytotoxicity, Apoptosis, and Metabolomics in Ovarian Tumor Cell Lines.

Ovarian cancer is among the most prevalent causes of mortality among women. Despite improvements in diagnostic methods, non-specific symptoms and delayed gynecological exams can lead to late-stage ovarian tumor discovery. In this study, the effect of an anti-cancer compound, 3-amino--(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-]quinoline-2-carboxamide (Compound ), was examined.

The Impact of Partial Carrier Confinement on Stimulated Emission in Strongly Confined Perovskite Nanocrystals.

Semiconductor lead halide perovskites are excellent candidates for realizing low threshold light amplification due to their tunable and highly efficient luminescence, ease of processing, and strong light-matter interactions. However, most studies on optical gain have addressed bulk films, nanowires, or nanocrystals that exhibit little or no size quantization. Here, we show by means of a multitude of optical spectroscopy methods that small CsPbBr nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit a progressive red shift of the band-edge transition upon addition of electron-hole pairs, at least one carrier of which occupies a 2-fold degenerate, delocalized state in agreement with strong confinement.

Nanocrystal Assemblies: Current Advances and Open Problems.

We explore the potential of nanocrystals (a term used equivalently to nanoparticles) as building blocks for nanomaterials, and the current advances and open challenges for fundamental science developments and applications. Nanocrystal assemblies are inherently multiscale, and the generation of revolutionary material properties requires a precise understanding of the relationship between structure and function, the former being determined by classical effects and the latter often by quantum effects. With an emphasis on theory and computation, we discuss challenges that hamper current assembly strategies and to what extent nanocrystal assemblies represent thermodynamic equilibrium or kinetically trapped metastable states.

Functionalisation of MUF-15 enhances CO/CH selectivity in mixed-matrix membranes.

MUF-15 (MUF = Massey University Framework) is a metal-organic framework with pores that can be tuned by ligand functionalisation. Crystallites of MUF-15 and derivatives were blended with the organic polymer 6FDA-DAM to produce mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs). At a loading of 30 wt%, membranes with MUF-15-F, MUF-15 with an appended fluoro group, exhibited a CO permeability of 1300 Barrer and CO/CH selectivity of 37.