Search results for "ARTICLES"
showing 10 items of 9626 documents
A molecular dynamics study of large-scale reversible aggregation of anisotropic particles
1992
We report findings of 1000 ps molecular dynamics simulations of a bidimensional system of 4050 Lennard–Jones particles with electric dipoles, undergoing spinodal separation. This simple system is used to model the reversible aggregation of building blocks bearing specific and fixed adhesion sites at their surface. Aggregation regions so obtained resemble images of self-assembled biological structures. Statistical analyses of these regions evidence the interplay of thermodynamic instability and of interaction range between the attachment sites. They also illustrate some basic aspects of the morphogenesis of extended biomolecular/cellular structures, self-organized from initially homogeneous …
Surface Characteristics Control the Attachment and Functionality of (Chimeric) Avidin
2018
The physical adsorption (physisorption) of proteins to surfaces is an important but incompletely understood factor in many biological processes and is of increasing significance in bionanotechnology as well. Avidin is an important protein because of strong avidin–biotin binding, which has been exploited in numerous applications. We have undertaken thorough experimentation on the physisorption of avidin, to chemically different flat surfaces of Si and graphite and also to the curved version of the latter, on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) of different diameters. The difference in the behavior of avidin on Si versus graphite is drastic; on Si, avidin deposits as single globular tetramer…
Polymeric drug delivery micelle-like nanocarriers for pulmonary administration of beclomethasone dipropionate
2017
In this paper, the potential of novel polymeric micelles as drug delivery systems for Beclomethasone Dipropionate (BDP) administration into the lung is investigated. These nanostructures are obtained starting from α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D,L-aspartamide (PHEA), which was subsequently functionalized with O-(2-aminoethyl)-Oâ-methylpolyethylenglycole (PEG2000), ethylenediamine (EDA) and lipoic acid (LA), obtaining PHEA-PEG2000-EDA-LA graft copolymer. Empty and drug-loaded micelles possess adequate chemical-physical characteristics for pulmonary administration such as spherical shape, slightly positive surface charge and mean size of about 200 nm. Besides, BDP-loaded micelles, obtained …
Superparamagnetic γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with tailored functionality for protein separation
2007
Polymer coated superparamagnetic gamma-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles were derivatized with a synthetic double-stranded RNA [poly(IC)], a known allosteric activator of the latent (2-5)A synthetase, to separate a single 35 kDa protein from a crude extract which cross reacted with antibodies raised against the sponge enzyme.
Experimental and theoretical evidence of overcharging of calcium silicate hydrate
2007
International audience; Electrokinetic measurements such as electrophoresis may show an inversion of the effective surface charge of colloidal particle called overcharging. This phenomenon has been studied by various theoretical approaches but up to now very few attempts of confrontation between theory and experiment have been conducted. In this work we report electrophoretic measurements as well as Monte Carlo simulations of the electrokinetic potential for the surface of calcium silicate hydrate (Csingle bondSsingle bondH), which is the major constituent of hydrated cement. In the simulations, the surface charge of Csingle bondSsingle bondH nanoparticles in equilibrium with the ionic solu…
2D dynamical arrest transition in a mixed nanoparticle-phospholipid layer studied in real and momentum spaces
2015
AbstractWe investigate the interfacial dynamics of a 2D self-organized mixed layer made of silica nanoparticles interacting with phospholipid (DPPC) monolayers at the air/water interface. This system has biological relevance, allowing investigation of toxicological effects of nanoparticles on model membranes and lung surfactants. It might also provide bio-inspired technological solutions, exploiting the self-organization of DPPC to produce a non-trivial 2D structuration of nanoparticles. The characterization of interfacial dynamics yields information on the effects of NPs on the mechanical properties, important to improve performances of systems such as colloidosomes, foams, creams. For thi…
A mesoscopic mechanical model of the surface tension and some simulation results
2019
Abstract Drops of mercury do not spread on a surface. A metal paper clip can float on water. These phenomena are macroscopic manifestations of molecular interactions and can be explained in terms of surface tension. In this study, we discuss a simple mesoscopic mechanical model of the surface tension and the results of numerical fluid dynamics simulations implemented on the basis of it. We study the droplet formation without and with gravity when it can drop from a narrow hole like a trickling tap and finally the behaviour of free surface liquid in a vessel. Teachers and students can be able to study the surface tension by using the computer simulation as a “tool” for analysing and discussi…
Queen loss increases worker survival in leaf-cutting ants under paraquat-induced oxidative stress
2021
Longevity is traded off with fecundity in most solitary species, but the two traits are positively linked in social insects. In ants, the most fecund individuals (queens and kings) live longer than the non-reproductive individuals, the workers. In many species, workers may become fertile following queen loss, and recent evidence suggests that worker fecundity extends worker lifespan. We postulated that this effect is in part owing to improved resilience to oxidative stress, and tested this hypothesis in three Myrmicine ants: Temnothorax rugatulus, and the leaf-cutting ants Atta colombica and Acromyrmex echinatior . We removed the queen from colonies to induce worker reproduction and subjec…
Assessment of particle suspension conditions in stirred vessels by means of pressure gauge technique
2002
In this work the quantitative assessment of the mass of suspended solid particles in stirred vessels is performed using the Pressure Gauge Technique. This is based on the measurements of the pressure increase on the tank bottom due to the presence of suspended solid particles at any agitation speed. The method has the advantages of not utilising visual observations and of easy and inexpensive application to both laboratory and industrial equipment. Very few data are available in literature and the experimental results collected using the present PGT technique and the correlations here proposed are of considerable academic and industrial interest.
Halloysite nanotubes filled with salicylic acid and sodium diclofenac: effects of vacuum pumping on loading and release properties
2021
AbstractIn this work, we investigated the effects of the vacuum pumping on both the loading efficiencies and the release kinetics of halloysite nanotubes filled with drug molecules dissolved in ethanol. As model drugs, salicylic acid and sodium diclofenac were selected. For comparison, the loading of the drug molecules was conducted on platy kaolinite to explore the key role of the hollow tubular morphology on the filling mechanism of halloysite. The effects of the pressure conditions used in the loading protocol were interpreted and discussed on the basis of the thermodynamic results provided by Knudsen thermogravimetry, which demonstrated the ethanol confinement inside the halloysite cavi…