Search results for "surfaces"
showing 10 items of 2837 documents
Dopant Clusterization and Oxygen Coordination in Ta-Doped Bismuth Oxide: A Structural and Computational Insight into the Mechanism of Anion Conduction
2015
Bi2O3 in its fluorite-like form can be obtained either at 730-824 °C, showing the highest oxide-ion conduction known so far, or by doping. We present a comprehensive appraisal of the local atomic structure of Ta-doped Bi2O3 investigating by X-ray absorption spectroscopy the aggregation motifs of Ta5+ and the interaction between dopants and oxygen vacancies. Using periodic density functional theory simulations, we show that the connection of Ta4O18 aggregates is energetically favorable. We find that the local coordination of Bi3+ and its electronic structure, as seen from the calculated density of states (DOS), are invariably determined by the Bi 6s2 lone pair in both doped and undoped Bi2O3…
Effects of Silver Doping on the Geometric and Electronic Structure and Optical Absorption Spectra of the Au_{25-n}Ag_{n}(SH)_{18}^{-} (n = 1, 2, 4, 6…
2012
The effect of silver doping of the Au25(SH)18– nanoparticle is studied by investigating Au25–nAgn(SH)18– (n = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12) systems using DFT. For n = 1, doping of the icosahedral shell of the metal core is energetically more favorable than doping of the metal–thiolate units or the center of the core. For n ≥ 2, only doping of the core surface is considered, and arrangements where the silver dopants are in close proximity tend to be slightly less favorable. However, energy differences are small, and all conformations are accessible under experimental conditions. Boltzmann-averaged excitation spectra for these systems show similar features to the undoped Au25(SH)18–. The main differ…
Theoretical Study of Palladium Cluster Structures on Carbonaceous Supports
2007
DFT calculations have been performed on a palladium cluster adsorbed on two different carbonaceous supports, namely, two stacked polycircumcoronene units mimicking a double layer of graphite and a portion of an armchair (6,6) carbon nanotube. All of the systems have been subjected to geometry optimization and electronic structure investigation. This work, which is part of an extensive computational study on heterogeneous catalytic systems, is devoted to identify electronic and geometrical changes in which metal clusters and supports are involved upon interaction. Such analysis is helpful in designing new heterogeneous metallic catalysts, namely, new metal-supported carbonaceous catalysts. C…
Electric Field Control of Spin-Dependent Dissipative Electron Transfer Dynamics in Mixed-Valence Molecules
2015
We demonstrate that the borderline class II/III magnetic MV dimers, which can be referred to as single molecule multiferroics, provide a unique possibility to achieve electric field control of the electron transfer (ET) dynamics. As an example, we consider a MV dimer d2-d1 in which an extra electron is delocalized over two spin-cores (s0 = 1/2), and the ET is spin-dependent due to the double exchange mechanism. It is assumed that the “extra” electron is coupled to the only intramolecular vibration, and a weak coupling to the dissipative subsystem (thermal bath) is taken into account. The vibronic energy levels and the wave functions of the isolated dimer (quantum part of the system) are num…
Exploring the cellular uptake of hectorite clay mineral and its drug carrier capabilities.
2022
In the last years, the use of clay minerals for pharmaceutical purposes has increased due to their interesting properties. Hectorite (Ht) is a clay belonging to the smectite group which has attracted attention for applications in biology, tissue engineering and as drug carrier and delivery system. However, the mechanisms involved in Ht cellular uptake and transport into cells, are still unclear. Herein, we used a labeled Ht (Ht/1Cl) to study both the cellular uptake, by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and internalization pathways involved in the cellular uptake, by various endocytosis-inhibiting studies and fluorescence microscopy. These studies highlighted that Ht can penetrate the cel…
X-ray crystallography-promoted drug design of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.
2015
1-N-Alkylated-6-sulfamoyl saccharin derivatives were prepared and assayed as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs). During X-ray crystallographic experiments an unexpected hydrolysis of the isothiazole ring was evidenced which allowed us to prepare highly potent enzyme inhibitors with selectivity for some isoforms with medical applications.
Influence of drug polarity upon the solid-state structure and release properties of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems in relation with water aff…
2009
To overcome low oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) have been noted as a promising strategy. However, incorporation of drugs into SEDDS composed of Gelucire44/14 could induce interactions not yet well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of drug polarity upon the solid-state structure of SEDDS formulation, particularly in terms of wettability, thermal behaviour and microscopic aspects and their effect upon the release properties of the SEDDS. Model drugs were naproxen and sodium naproxen (10% w/w), two drugs with similar chemical structure but different water solubilities. Both drugs had an effect o…
Inkjet printing methodologies for drug screening
2010
We show for the first time a contactless, low-cost, and rapid drug screening methodology by employing inkjet printing for molecular dispensing in a microarray format. Picoliter drops containing a model substrate (D-glucose)/ inhibitor (D-glucal) couple were accurately dispensed on a single layer consisting of the enzymatic target (glucose oxidase) covalently linked to a functionalized silicon oxide support. A simple colorimetric detection method allowed one to prove the screening capability of the microarray with the possibility to assay with high reproducibility at the single spot level. Measurements of the optical signal as a function of concentration and of time verified the occurrence a…
Comparative Study of the Mechanical Unfolding Pathways of α- and β-Peptides
2015
Using molecular simulations, we analyze the unfolding pathways of various peptides. We compare the mechanical unfolding of a β-alanine's octamer (β-HAla8) and an α-alanine's decamer (α-Ala10). Using force-probe molecular-dynamics simulations, to induce unfolding, we show that the 3(14)-helix formed by β-HAla8 is mechanically more stable than the α-helix formed by α-Ala10, although both structures are stabilized by six hydrogen bonds. Additionally, computations of the potential of mean force validate this result and show that also the thermal stability of the 3(14)-helix is higher. It is demonstrated that β-HAla8 unfolds in a two-step fashion with a stable intermediate. This is contrasted wi…
Meaningful learning and new technologies: e-learning and mathematical surfaces
2014
E-learning is undoubtedly a unique and exciting opportunity for interaction between the traditional teaching-methodological framework and the new technologies. It gives the opportunity for each student to build their own personal path of interpretation and ease the reticulated structure of knowledge. The learning process assumes, in this way, a fundamental creative-ideational dimension. Multimedia and interactivity have, in fact, reason to exist and meaning in the cortical structure and in the reticular human thought. The media ducation (and e-learning in particular) lies then in a scenario in which human relationships and communication at all levels are no arbitrary situations, assigned to…