scholarly journals Chain length of bioinspired polyamines affects size and condensation of monodisperse silica particles

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sai Prakash Maddala ◽  
Wei-Chih Liao ◽  
Rick R. M. Joosten ◽  
Mohammad Soleimani ◽  
Remco Tuinier ◽  
...  

AbstractPolyamines play a major role in biosilicification reactions in diatoms and sponges. While the effects of polyamines on silicic acid oligomerization and precipitation are well known, the impact of polyamines chain length on silica particle growth is unclear. We studied the effects of polyamine chain length on silica particle growth and condensation in a known, simple, and salt-free biphasic reaction system; with tetraethyl orthosilicate as organic phase and polyamine dissolved in the aqueous phase. The particles at various growth stages were characterized by Cryo- Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Zeta Potential, and solid-state NMR analysis. Polyamines were found co-localized within silica particles and the particle diameter increased with an increase in polyamine chain length, whereas silica condensation showed the opposite trend. Particle growth is proposed to progress via a coacervate intermediate while the final particles have a core shell structure with an amine-rich core and silica-rich shell. The results presented in this paper would of interest for researchers working in the field of bioinspired materials.

Membranes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyohei Ueno ◽  
Hideyuki Negishi ◽  
Takuya Okuno ◽  
Hiromasa Tawarayama ◽  
Shinji Ishikawa ◽  
...  

Silicalite-1 membranes with high pervaporation performance were prepared successfully on a silica-particle-coated tubular silica support using a gel-free steam-assisted conversion (SAC) method. The effects of the silica-particle layer formed on the top surface of the silica support and the physical properties of the silica particles themselves on the membrane-formation process were investigated. The silica particles coated served as the additional silica source for growing the silicalite-1 seed crystal layer into the silicalite-1 membrane. As a result, it was possible to form a dense and continuous membrane even under gel-free conditions. Furthermore, it was found that the properties of the silica particles, such as their primary particle diameter, had a determining effect on their solubility during the steam treatment, that is, on the supply rate of the silica source. The silicalite-1 membrane obtained using the spherical-silica-particle-coated support had an approximately 9-μm-thick separation layer and showed very high pervaporation performance, exhibiting a separation factor of 105 and a flux of 3.72 kg m−2 h−1 for a 10 wt % ethanol/water mixture at 323 K. Thus, the gel-free SAC method can be used with a silica support coated with silica particles to readily prepare high-performance membranes without producing any chemical waste.


2006 ◽  
Vol 977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Drew ◽  
Suzanne Bosselman ◽  
David Ziegler

AbstractLenses and other transparent optical materials suffer rapid damage when subjected to blowing abrasive particulates. The time-scale of these impact event falls between typical scratch tests (less than 1m/s) and ballistic tests (100s of m/s) and has not been studied in depth to date. Polymeric lens materials like polycarbonate are usually treated with a scratch-resistant coating, which is commonly silica-based. The coating provides some protection, yet is not sufficient at resisting abrasion from blown sand in most commercial products. We demonstrate that silicone elastomeric coatings are superior to polycarbonate and silica glass at resisting damage by blown sand particles. Sand abrasion tests were conducted using a custom-built test apparatus that exposes the sample to 400 micron diameter quartz silica moving at 16.5 m/s (approx. 38 mph). Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of small cracks and pits in polycarbonate, coated polycarbonate, and silica glass after sand exposure. No such damage was observed in the silicone-coated samples after an identical exposure.We speculate that the elastic tensile strain at the surface is an important predictor of the material response at the time-scale of the impact. A simple mathematical model was developed using a momentum balance pre- and post-impact, and was used to approximate the maximum deformation and impact time-scale. A semispherical interaction volume was used in the model with a radius of 1.5x the particle diameter, determined through profilometry experiments. The material’s resistance to deformation was measured experimentally through a static mechanical test using a spherical indenter to represent the particle. Tensile tests were performed on both materials to identify the maximum elastic strain.Additionally, dynamic mechanical tests were performed to confirm that the mechanical behavior at long time-scales was valid at shorter time-scales of the impacts. DMA curves were shifted using the WLF equation. Profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging were used to confirm the presence or absence of blown-sand induced damage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 923-929
Author(s):  
Gaurav Pandey ◽  
Prem Prakash Das ◽  
Vibin Ramakrishnan

Background: RADA-4 (Ac-RADARADARADARADA-NH2) is the most extensively studied and marketed self-assembling peptide, forming hydrogel, used to create defined threedimensional microenvironments for cell culture applications. Objectives: In this work, we use various biophysical techniques to investigate the length dependency of RADA aggregation and assembly. Methods: We synthesized a series of RADA-N peptides, N ranging from 1 to 4, resulting in four peptides having 4, 8, 12, and 16 amino acids in their sequence. Through a combination of various biophysical methods including thioflavin T fluorescence assay, static right angle light scattering assay, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), electron microscopy, CD, and IR spectroscopy, we have examined the role of chain-length on the self-assembly of RADA peptide. Results: Our observations show that the aggregation of ionic, charge-complementary RADA motifcontaining peptides is length-dependent, with N less than 3 are not forming spontaneous selfassemblies. Conclusion: The six biophysical experiments discussed in this paper validate the significance of chain-length on the epitaxial growth of RADA peptide self-assembly.


Author(s):  
Xiao-Dong Li ◽  
Qing-Zhou Zhai

Introduction: In industrial production, a small amount of saffron T emissions will cause increase of water color and increase of chemical oxygen consumption, so study of the decolorization of saffron T wastewater has an important practical significance. Methods: MCM (Mobil Composition of Matter)-41 molecular sieve was synthesized by hydrothermal method. Power Xray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the sample. Safranine T dye was adsorbed from water by the MCM-41 prepared. Kinetics and thermodynamics of the adsorption were studied. Results: The MCM-41 sample presented spherical particles and regular. The BET (Brunner-Emmett-Teller) specific surface area of the sample determined by 77 K low temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm was 932 m2 /g. Its average particle diameter was 110 nm. TEM (transmission electron microscopy) results showed that the sample structure presented a honeycomb pore structure and the average pore diameter was 3.0 nm. The results showed that when room temperature was 20 ± 1 ℃, adsorbate safranine T: adsorbent MCM-41 = 20 : 1,the optimum pH value of adsorption was 4.0 and contact time was 20 min, the adsorption rate reached 98.29% and the adsorption capacity was 19.66 mg/g. The entropy change and enthalpy change of the adsorption system are respectively ΔS0 = 157.5 J/(mol·K); ΔH0 = 21.544 kJ/mol. When temperature was 277.15, 293.15, 303.15 K,the free energy change was respectively △G1 0 = -22.107 kJ/mol, △G2 0 = -24.627 kJ/mol, △G3 0 = -26.202 kJ/mol. Conclusion: The adsorption of safranine T by MCM-41 belongs to a pseudo-second-order adsorption. This adsorption accords with the Freundlich equation and belongs to a heterogeneous adsorption. The adsorption is an endothermic reaction of entropy increase, being spontaneous.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1466-1470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rituparna Chatterjee ◽  
Subhajit Saha ◽  
Karamjyoti Panigrahi ◽  
Uttam Kumar Ghorai ◽  
Gopes Chandra Das ◽  
...  

AbstractIn this work, strongly blue emitting Ce3+-activated BaAl2O4 nanophosphors were successfully synthesized by a sol–gel technique. The crystal structure, morphology, and microstructure of the nanophosphors have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The photoluminescence spectra show the impact of concentration variation of Ce3+ on the photoluminescence emission of the phosphor. These nanophosphors display intense blue emission peaking at 422 nm generated by the Ce3+ 5d → 4f transition under 350 nm excitation. Our results reveal that this nanophosphor has the capability to take part in the emergent domain of solid-state lighting and field-emission display devices.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1043
Author(s):  
Christabel Ebuzoeme ◽  
Imoh Etim ◽  
Autumn Ikimi ◽  
Jamie Song ◽  
Ting Du ◽  
...  

Glucuronides hydrolysis by intestinal microbial β-Glucuronidases (GUS) is an important procedure for many endogenous and exogenous compounds. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of experimental conditions on glucuronide hydrolysis by intestinal microbial GUS. Standard probe 4-Nitrophenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) and a natural glucuronide wogonoside were used as the model compounds. Feces collection time, buffer conditions, interindividual, and species variations were evaluated by incubating the substrates with enzymes. The relative reaction activity of pNPG, reaction rates, and reaction kinetics for wogonoside were calculated. Fresh feces showed the highest hydrolysis activities. Sonication increased total protein yield during enzyme preparation. The pH of the reaction system increased the activity in 0.69–1.32-fold, 2.9–12.9-fold, and 0.28–1.56-fold for mouse, rat, and human at three different concentrations of wogonoside, respectively. The Vmax for wogonoside hydrolysis was 2.37 ± 0.06, 4.48 ± 0.11, and 5.17 ± 0.16 μmol/min/mg and Km was 6.51 ± 0.71, 3.04 ± 0.34, and 0.34 ± 0.047 μM for mouse, rat, and human, respectively. The inter-individual difference was significant (4–6-fold) using inbred rats as the model animal. Fresh feces should be used to avoid activity loss and sonication should be utilized in enzyme preparation to increase hydrolysis activity. The buffer pH should be appropriate according to the species. Inter-individual and species variations were significant.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Xiao ◽  
Fenzhen Su ◽  
Dongjie Fu ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Chong Huang

Long time-series monitoring of mangroves to marine erosion in the Bay of Bangkok, using Landsat data from 1987 to 2017, shows responses including landward retreat and seaward extension. Quantitative assessment of these responses with respect to spatial distribution and vegetation growth shows differing relationships depending on mangrove growth stage. Using transects perpendicular to the shoreline, we calculated the cross-shore mangrove extent (width) to represent spatial distribution, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to represent vegetation growth. Correlations were then compared between mangrove seaside changes and the two parameters—mangrove width and NDVI—at yearly and 10-year scales. Both spatial distribution and vegetation growth display positive impacts on mangrove ecosystem stability: At early growth stages, mangrove stability is positively related to spatial distribution, whereas at mature growth the impact of vegetation growth is greater. Thus, we conclude that at early growth stages, planting width and area are more critical for stability, whereas for mature mangroves, management activities should focus on sustaining vegetation health and density. This study provides new rapid insights into monitoring and managing mangroves, based on analyses of parameters from historical satellite-derived information, which succinctly capture the net effect of complex environmental and human disturbances.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (18) ◽  
pp. 2431-2442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harun Sepet ◽  
Necmettin Tarakcioglu ◽  
RDK Misra

The main purpose of this work is to study how the morphology of nanofillers and dispersion and distribution level of inorganic nanofiller influence the impact behavior and fracture probability of inorganic filler filled industrial high-density polyethylene nanocomposites. For this study, nanoclay and nano-CaCO3 fillers–high-density polyethylene mixings (0, 1, 3, 5 wt.% high-density polyethylene) was prepared by melt-mixing method using a compounder system. The impact behavior was examined by charpy impact test, scanning electron microscopy, and probability theory and statistics. The level of the dispersion was characterized with scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The results showed rather good dispersion of both of inorganic nanofiller, with a mixture of exfoliated and confined morphology. The results indicated that the impact strength of the industrial nanocomposite decreased with the increase of inorganic particulate content. The impact reliability of the industrial nanocomposites depends on the type of nanofillers and their dispersion and distribution in the matrix.


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