scholarly journals Directed assembly of magnetic and semiconducting nanoparticles with tunable and synergistic functionality

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Bartolo ◽  
Jussi J. Amaral ◽  
Linda S. Hirst ◽  
Sayantani Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystalline ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Directed Assembly ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Design And Synthesis ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
20 Nm ◽  
Microscopy Characterization

Abstract The ability to fabricate new materials using nanomaterials as building blocks, and with meta functionalities, is one of the most intriguing possibilities in the area of materials design and synthesis. Semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are co-dispersed in a liquid crystalline (LC) matrix and directed to form self-similar assemblies by leveraging the host’s thermotropic phase transition. These co-assemblies, comprising 6 nm CdSe/ZnS QDs and 5–20 nm Fe3O4 MNPs, bridge nano- to micron length scales, and can be modulated in situ by applied magnetic fields <250 mT, resulting in an enhancement of QD photoluminescence (PL). This effect is reversible in co-assemblies with 5 and 10 nm MNPs but demonstrates hysteresis in those with 20 nm MNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy reveal that at the nanoscale, while the QDs are densely packed into the center of the co-assemblies, the MNPs are relatively uniformly dispersed through the cluster volume. Using Lorentz TEM, it is observed that MNPs suspended in LC rotate to align with the applied field, which is attributed to be the cause of the observed PL increase at the micro-scale. This study highlights the critical role of correlating multiscale spectroscopy and microscopy characterization in order to clarify how interactions at the nanoscale manifest in microscale functionality.

Molecular modulation of calcium oxalate crystallization

2006 ◽  
Vol 291 (6) ◽  
pp. F1123-F1132 ◽  
Author(s):  
James J. De Yoreo ◽  
S. Roger Qiu ◽  
John R. Hoyer
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Modeling ◽  
Calcium Oxalate ◽  
Stone Formation ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Specific Interactions ◽  
Crystal Surfaces ◽  
Site Specific

Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) is the primary constituent of the majority of renal stones. Osteopontin (OPN), an aspartic acid-rich urinary protein, and citrate, a much smaller molecule, are potent inhibitors of COM crystallization at levels present in normal urine. Current concepts of the role of site-specific interactions in crystallization derived from studies of biomineralization are reviewed to provide a context for understanding modulation of COM growth at a molecular level. Results from in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) analyses of the effects of citrate and OPN on growth verified the critical role of site-specific interactions between these growth modulators and individual steps on COM crystal surfaces. Molecular modeling investigations of interactions of citrate with steps and faces on COM crystal surfaces provided links between the stereochemistry of interaction and the binding energy levels that underlie mechanisms of growth modification and changes in overall crystal morphology. The combination of in situ AFM and molecular modeling provides new knowledge that will aid rationale design of therapeutic agents for inhibition of stone formation.

In-Situ Electrochemical Transmission Electron Microscopy for Battery Research

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 484-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Layla Mehdi ◽  
Meng Gu ◽  
Lucas R. Parent ◽  
Wu Xu ◽  
Eduard N. Nasybulin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Beam ◽  
Silicon Nanowires ◽  
Electrochemical Processes ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Experimental Parameters ◽  
Scanning Transmission ◽  
Electrode Interface ◽  
Electron Microscopes

AbstractThe recent development of in-situ liquid stages for (scanning) transmission electron microscopes now makes it possible for us to study the details of electrochemical processes under operando conditions. As electrochemical processes are complex, care must be taken to calibrate the system before any in-situ/operando observations. In addition, as the electron beam can cause effects that look similar to electrochemical processes at the electrolyte/electrode interface, an understanding of the role of the electron beam in modifying the operando observations must also be understood. In this paper we describe the design, assembly, and operation of an in-situ electrochemical cell, paying particular attention to the method for controlling and quantifying the experimental parameters. The use of this system is then demonstrated for the lithiation/delithiation of silicon nanowires.

scholarly journals Treatment of Metastatic Disease through Natural Killer Cell Modulation by Infected Cell Vaccines

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Raheleh Niavarani ◽  
Christine Lawson ◽  
Lee-Hwa Tai
Keyword(s):  
Infected Cell ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Tumor Antigens ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Killer Cell ◽  
Oncolytic Viruses ◽  
Cell Vaccine ◽  
Tumor Killing

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are a form of immunotherapy that release tumor antigens in the context of highly immunogenic viral signals following tumor-targeted infection and destruction. Emerging preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that this in situ vaccine effect is critical for successful viro-immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the application of OV as an infected cell vaccine (ICV) as one method of enhancing the potency and breadth of anti-tumoral immunity. We focus on understanding and manipulating the critical role of natural killer (NK) cells and their interactions with other immune cells to promote a clinical outcome. With a synergistic tumor killing and immune activating mechanism, ICVs represent a valuable new addition to the cancer fighting toolbox with the potential to treat malignant disease.

scholarly journals The Essential Role of anxA2 in Langerhans Cell Birbeck Granules Formation

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shantae M. Thornton ◽  
Varsha D. Samararatne ◽  
Joseph G. Skeate ◽  
Christopher Buser ◽  
Kim P. Lühen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Viral Antigen ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
The Body ◽  
Birbeck Granules ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Antigen Presenting

Langerhans cells (LC) are the resident antigen presenting cells of the mucosal epithelium and play an essential role in initiating immune responses. LC are the only cells in the body to contain Birbeck granules (BG), which are unique cytoplasmic organelles comprised of c-type lectin langerin. Studies of BG have historically focused on morphological characterizations, but BG have also been implicated in viral antigen processing which suggests that they can serve a function in antiviral immunity. This study focused on investigating proteins that could be involved in BG formation to further characterize their structure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Here, we report a critical role for the protein annexin A2 (anxA2) in the proper formation of BG structures. When anxA2 expression is downregulated, langerin expression decreases, cytoplasmic BG are nearly ablated, and the presence of malformed BG-like structures increases. Furthermore, in the absence of anxA2, we found langerin was no longer localized to BG or BG-like structures. Taken together, these results indicate an essential role for anxA2 in facilitating the proper formation of BG.

scholarly journals Anti-twinning in nanoscale tungsten

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (23) ◽  
pp. eaay2792
Author(s):  
Jiangwei Wang ◽  
Zhi Zeng ◽  
Minru Wen ◽  
Qiannan Wang ◽  
Dengke Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleation And Growth ◽  
Shear Displacement ◽  
Atomic Scale ◽  
Deformation Mechanisms ◽  
Body Centered Cubic ◽  
Plastic Shear ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
20 Nm ◽  
Scale Shear

Nanomaterials often surprise us with unexpected phenomena. Here, we report a discovery of the anti-twinning deformation, previously thought impossible, in nanoscale body-centered cubic (BCC) tungsten crystals. By conducting in situ transmission electron microscopy nanomechanical testing, we observed the nucleation and growth of anti-twins in tungsten nanowires with diameters less than about 20 nm. During anti-twinning, a shear displacement of 1/3〈111〉 occurs on every successive {112} plane, in contrast to an opposite shear displacement of 1/6〈1¯1¯1¯〉 by ordinary twinning. This asymmetry in the atomic-scale shear pathway leads to a much higher resistance to anti-twinning than ordinary twinning. However, anti-twinning can become active in nanosized BCC crystals under ultrahigh stresses, due to the limited number of plastic shear carriers in small crystal volumes. Our finding of the anti-twinning phenomenon has implications for harnessing unconventional deformation mechanisms to achieve high mechanical preformation by nanomaterials.

Colloidal magnetic nanocrystal clusters: variable length-scale interaction mechanisms, synergetic functionalities and technological advantages

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Athanasia Kostopoulou ◽  
Alexandros Lappas
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Particles ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Exchange Interactions ◽  
Magnetic Behavior ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Magnetic Characteristics ◽  
Surface Functionality ◽  
Magnetic Nanocrystal

AbstractMagnetic particles of optimized nanoscale dimensions can be utilized as building blocks to generate colloidal nanocrystal assemblies with controlled size, well-defined morphology, and tailored properties. Recent advances in the state-of-the-art surfactant-assisted approaches for the directed aggregation of inorganic nanocrystals into cluster-like entities are discussed, and the synthesis parameters that determine their geometrical arrangement are highlighted. This review pays attention to the enhanced physical properties of iron oxide nanoclusters, while it also points to their emerging collective magnetic response. The current progress in experiment and theory for evaluating the strength and the role of intra- and inter-cluster interactions is analyzed in view of the spatial arrangement of the component nanocrystals. Numerous approaches have been proposed for the critical role of dipole-dipole and exchange interactions in establishing the nature of the nanoclusters’ cooperative magnetic behavior (be it ferromagnetic or spin-glass like). Finally, we point out why the purposeful engineering of the nanoclusters’ magnetic characteristics, including their surface functionality, may facilitate their use in diverse technological sectors ranging from nanomedicine and photonics to catalysis.

The role of ion-beam cleaning in the growth of strained-layer epitaxial thin transition metal films

1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 446-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung I. Park ◽  
A. Marshall ◽  
R. H. Hammond ◽  
T. H. Geballe ◽  
J. Talvacchio
Keyword(s):  
Tunnel Junctions ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Surface Damage ◽  
Metal Films ◽  
Strained Layer ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Lattice Matched

Low-energy ion-beam cleaning of the substrates prior to a deposition greatly enhances the quality of ultrathin (< 100 Å) refractory superconducting (Nb, V) films. Using this technique Nb films as thin as 7 Å have been grown, from which good tunnel junctions have been fabricated. Both the native films and the tunnel junctions are sturdy and can be thermally recycled without any degradation. In-situ surface study along with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results suggest the removal of the carbon atoms from the surface of the substrate without an apparent surface damage as the causes of the improvement. The TEM results indicate that the Nb films grow perfectly lattice matched to the sapphire substrate when the substrate is ion-beam cleaned. This strained-layer epitaxy is observed up to 40 Å, the maximum thickness investigated through TEM.

scholarly journals In Situ IR Characterization of CO Interacting with Rh Nanoparticles Obtained by Calcination and Reduction of Hydrotalcite-Type Precursors

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Basile ◽  
I. Bersani ◽  
P. Del Gallo ◽  
S. Fiorilli ◽  
G. Fornasari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crystal Size ◽  
Liquid Nitrogen Temperature ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
In Situ Ir ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Co Disproportionation ◽  
Ft Ir Spectroscopy

Supported Rh nanoparticles obtained by reduction in hydrogen of severely calcined Rh/Mg/Al hydrotalcite-type (HT) phases have been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO [both at room temperature (r.t.) and nominal liquid nitrogen temperature] and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The effect of reducing temperature has been investigated, showing that Rh crystal size increases from 1.4 nm to 1.8 nm when the reduction temperature increases from 750°C to 950°C. The crystal growth favours the formation of bridged CO species and linear monocarbonyl species with respect to gem-dicarbonyl species; when CO adsorbs at r.t., CO disproportionation occurs on Rh and it accompanies the formation of RhI(CO)2. The role of interlayer anions in the HT precursors to affect the properties of the final materials has been also investigated considering samples prepared from silicate-instead of carbonate-containing precursors. In this case, formation of RhI(CO)2 and CO disproportionation do not occur, and this evidence is discussed in terms of support effect.

“In-Situ Network” Composite Fibers of Pbzt/Nylon

1988 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Robin Hwang ◽  
Michael F. Malone ◽  
Richard J. Farris ◽  
David C. Martin ◽  
Edwin L. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Adsorption ◽  
Composite Fibers ◽  
Electron Microscopies ◽  
X Ray Scattering ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
20 Nm

ABSTRACTA novel method of preparing PBZT/nylon composite fibers by infiltrating nylon into pure PBZT fiber is described. The pure PBZT fiber formed a microfibrillar network structure during coagulation, which is effective in reinforcing the matrix in the “in-situ network” composite fibers (designated IC). These new composite fibers exhibit nearly indistinguishable mechanical properties as those of “molecular” composite fibers (MC) prepared from isotropic solutions before and after tension heat-treatment (E = 44 GPa, σ = 430 MPa, ε = 1.2 %, σc = 250 MPa, G = 1.75 GPa) for PBZT/nylon weight ratios equal to unity.The fine structure of pure PBZT and its composite fibers spun from isotropic solutions was characterized using techniques based on nitrogen adsorption, small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The structure of both type of composites was found to be a microfibrillar network of PBZT in a matrix of amorphous nylon. The average diameters of the PBZT microfibrils were in the range of 10 to 20 nm for the IC and 4 nm for the MC.

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