scholarly journals Self-Organized Translational Wheeling Motion in Stochastic Self-Assembling Modules

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhei Miyashita ◽  
Kohei Nakajima ◽  
Zoltán Nagy ◽  
Rolf Pfeifer

Self-organization is a phenomenon found in biomolecular self-assembly by which proteins are spontaneously driven to assemble and attain various functionalities. This study reports on self-organized behavior in which distributed centimeter-sized modules stochastically aggregate and exhibit a translational wheeling motion. The system consists of two types of centimeter-sized water-floating modules: a triangular-shaped module that is equipped with a vibration motor and a permanent magnet (termed the active module), which can quasi-randomly rove around; and circular modules that are equipped with permanent magnets (termed passive modules). In its quasi-random movement in water, the active module picks up passive modules through magnetic attraction. The contacts between the modules induce a torque transfer from the active module to the passive modules. This results in rotational motion of the passive modules. As a consequence of the shape difference between the triangular module and the circular module, the passive modules rotate like wheels, being kept on the same edges as the active module. The motion of the active module is examined, as well as the characteristics and behavior of the self-organization process.

Author(s):  
Анна Нориковна Адамян ◽  
Александра Ивановна Иванова ◽  
Елена Михайловна Семенова ◽  
Максим Дмитриевич Малышев ◽  
Светлана Дмитриевна Хижняк ◽  
...  

Комплексно исследовано влияние дневного освещения на процесс самоорганизации в цистеин-серебряном растворе (ЦСР) и гидрогелях на его основе. Установлено, что ЦСР на основе L-цистеина и ацетата серебра под действием освещения окрашивается сначала в желтый, а затем в коричневый цвет, что является следствием плазмонного резонанса на образующихся наночастицах серебра (НЧС) в ЦСР и гидрогелях. Предложена модель формирования НЧ в гидрогеле. The effect of daylight on the self-assembly process in cysteine-silver solution (CSS) and hydrogels based on it has been comprehensively studied. It was found that CSS based on L-cysteine and silver acetate under the action of illumination first turns yellow and then brown, which is a consequence of plasmon resonance on the resulting silver nanoparticles in CSS and hydrogels. A model for the formation of silver nanoparticles in a hydrogel is proposed.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
Masatake Sugita ◽  
Itaru Onishi ◽  
Masayuki Irisa ◽  
Norio Yoshida ◽  
Fumio Hirata

There are two molecular processes that are essential for living bodies to maintain their life: the molecular recognition, and the self-organization or self-assembly. Binding of a substrate by an enzyme is an example of the molecular recognition, while the protein folding is a good example of the self-organization process. The two processes are further governed by the other two physicochemical processes: solvation and the structural fluctuation. In the present article, the studies concerning the two molecular processes carried out by Hirata and his coworkers, based on the statistical mechanics of molecular liquids or the RISM/3D-RISM theory, are reviewed.


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.


Soft Matter ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (28) ◽  
pp. 6599-6607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pijush Singh ◽  
Souvik Misra ◽  
Nayim Sepay ◽  
Sanjoy Mondal ◽  
Debes Ray ◽  
...  

The self-assembly and photophysical properties of 4-nitrophenylalanine (4NP) are changed with the alteration of solvent and final self-assembly state of 4NP in competitive solvent mixture and are dictated by the solvent ratio.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 173
Author(s):  
Marina Kurbasic ◽  
Ana M. Garcia ◽  
Simone Viada ◽  
Silvia Marchesan

Bioactive hydrogels based on the self-assembly of tripeptides have attracted great interest in recent years. In particular, the search is active for sequences that are able to mimic enzymes when they are self-organized in a nanostructured hydrogel, so as to provide a smart catalytic (bio)material whose activity can be switched on/off with assembly/disassembly. Within the diverse enzymes that have been targeted for mimicry, hydrolases find wide application in biomaterials, ranging from their use to convert prodrugs into active compounds to their ability to work in reverse and catalyze a plethora of reactions. We recently reported the minimalistic l-His–d-Phe–d-Phe for its ability to self-organize into thermoreversible and biocatalytic hydrogels for esterase mimicry. In this work, we analyze the effects of terminus modifications that mimic the inclusion of the tripeptide in a longer sequence. Therefore, three analogues, i.e., N-acetylated, C-amidated, or both, were synthesized, purified, characterized by several techniques, and probed for self-assembly, hydrogelation, and esterase-like biocatalysis. This work provides useful insights into how chemical modifications at the termini affect self-assembly into biocatalytic hydrogels, and these data may become useful for the future design of supramolecular catalysts for enhanced performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Valente

AbstractImitating the transition from inanimate to living matter is a longstanding challenge. Artificial life has achieved computer programs that self-replicate, mutate, compete and evolve, but lacks self-organized hardwares akin to the self-assembly of the first living cells. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics has achieved lifelike self-organization in diverse physical systems, but has not yet met the open-ended evolution of living organisms. Here, I look for the emergence of an artificial-life code in a nonequilibrium physical system undergoing self-organization. I devise a toy model where the onset of self-replication of a quantum artificial organism (a chain of lambda systems) is owing to single-photon pulses added to a zero-temperature environment. I find that spontaneous mutations during self-replication are unavoidable in this model, due to rare but finite absorption of off-resonant photons. I also show that the replication probability is proportional to the absorbed work from the photon, thereby fulfilling a dissipative adaptation (a thermodynamic mechanism underlying lifelike self-organization). These results hint at self-replication as the scenario where dissipative adaptation (pointing towards convergence) coexists with open-ended evolution (pointing towards divergence).


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 270-281
Author(s):  
Stefan Bitter ◽  
Moritz Schlötter ◽  
Markus Schilling ◽  
Marina Krumova ◽  
Sebastian Polarz ◽  
...  

The self-organization properties of a stimuli responsive amphiphile can be altered by subjecting the paramagnetic oxidized form to a magnetic field of 0.8 T and monitored in real time by coupling optical birefringence with dynamic light scattering.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 1203-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hind Kadiri ◽  
Serguei Kostcheev ◽  
Daniel Turover ◽  
Rafael Salas-Montiel ◽  
Komla Nomenyo ◽  
...  

Our aim was to elaborate a novel method for fully controllable large-scale nanopatterning. We investigated the influence of the surface topology, i.e., a pre-pattern of hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) posts, on the self-organization of polystyrene beads (PS) dispersed over a large surface. Depending on the post size and spacing, long-range ordering of self-organized polystyrene beads is observed wherein guide posts were used leading to single crystal structure. Topology assisted self-organization has proved to be one of the solutions to obtain large-scale ordering. Besides post size and spacing, the colloidal concentration and the nature of solvent were found to have a significant effect on the self-organization of the PS beads. Scanning electron microscope and associated Fourier transform analysis were used to characterize the morphology of the ordered surfaces. Finally, the production of silicon molds is demonstrated by using the beads as a template for dry etching.


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