scholarly journals Recent Developments in Biomimetic Antifouling Materials: A Review

Biomimetics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Timothy Sullivan ◽  
Irene O’Callaghan

The term ‘biomimetic’ might be applied to any material or process that in some way reproduces, mimics, or is otherwise inspired by nature. Also variously termed bionic, bioinspired, biological design, or even green design, the idea of adapting or taking inspiration from a natural solution to solve a modern engineering problem has been of scientific interest since it was first proposed in the 1960s. Since then, the concept that natural materials and nature can provide inspiration for incredible breakthroughs and developments in terms of new technologies and entirely new approaches to solving technological problems has become widely accepted. This is very much evident in the fields of materials science, surface science, and coatings. In this review, we survey recent developments (primarily those within the last decade) in biomimetic approaches to antifouling, self-cleaning, or anti-biofilm technologies. We find that this field continues to mature, and emerging novel, biomimetic technologies are present at multiple stages in the development pipeline, with some becoming commercially available. However, we also note that the rate of commercialization of these technologies appears slow compared to the significant research output within the field.

Author(s):  
Velram Mohan

The book titled “Graphene-Based Nanotechnologies for Energy and Environmental Applications”, edited by Mohammad Jawaid, Akil Ahmad and David Lokhat, focuses on recent developments in graphene-based materials, composites and devices for a variety of applications in storage devices, supercapacitors, water treatment, ion-separation, photocatalysts and antimicrobial applications. It is part of the series Micro and Nano Technologies published by Elsevier. The first editor of the book, Mohammad Jawaid from the Universiti Putra Malaysia, has expertise in nanomaterials (particularly graphene materials) and their composites and has significant research output with a h-index of 53. The second editor, Akil Ahmad, currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has worked on nanomaterials synthesis and applications of nanomaterials in wastewater treatment. David Lokhat, the third editor of the book from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has been working on reactor and extraction technologies.


Author(s):  
C. Colliex ◽  
P. Trebbia

The physical foundations for the use of electron energy loss spectroscopy towards analytical purposes, seem now rather well established and have been extensively discussed through recent publications. In this brief review we intend only to mention most recent developments in this field, which became available to our knowledge. We derive also some lines of discussion to define more clearly the limits of this analytical technique in materials science problems.The spectral information carried in both low ( 0<ΔE<100eV ) and high ( >100eV ) energy regions of the loss spectrum, is capable to provide quantitative results. Spectrometers have therefore been designed to work with all kinds of electron microscopes and to cover large energy ranges for the detection of inelastically scattered electrons (for instance the L-edge of molybdenum at 2500eV has been measured by van Zuylen with primary electrons of 80 kV). It is rather easy to fix a post-specimen magnetic optics on a STEM, but Crewe has recently underlined that great care should be devoted to optimize the collecting power and the energy resolution of the whole system.


2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 279-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hey ◽  
Panagiota Anastasopoulou ◽  
André Bideaux ◽  
Wilhelm Stork

Ambulatory assessment of emotional states as well as psychophysiological, cognitive and behavioral reactions constitutes an approach, which is increasingly being used in psychological research. Due to new developments in the field of information and communication technologies and an improved application of mobile physiological sensors, various new systems have been introduced. Methods of experience sampling allow to assess dynamic changes of subjective evaluations in real time and new sensor technologies permit a measurement of physiological responses. In addition, new technologies facilitate the interactive assessment of subjective, physiological, and behavioral data in real-time. Here, we describe these recent developments from the perspective of engineering science and discuss potential applications in the field of neuropsychology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (42) ◽  
pp. 5081-5083 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd. A. Mirza ◽  
Zeenat Iqbal

Background: The last few decades have witnessed enormous advancements in the field of Pharmaceutical drug, design and delivery. One of the recent developments is the advent of 3DP technology. It has earlier been successfully employed in fields like aerospace, architecture, tissue engineering, biomedical research, medical device and others, has recently forayed into the pharmaceutical industry.Commonly understood as an additive manufacturing technology, 3DP aims at delivering customized drug products and is the most acceptable form of“personalized medicine”. Methods: Data bases and search engines of regulatory agencies like USFDA and EMA have been searched thoroughly for relevant guidelines and approved products. Other portals like PubMed and Google Scholar were also ferreted for any relevant repository of publications are referred to wherever required. Results: So far only one pharmaceutical product has been approved in this category by USFDA and stringent regulatory agencies are working over the drafting of guidelines and technical issues. Major research of this category belongs to the academic domain. Conclusion: It is also implicit to such new technologies that there would be numerous challenges and doubts before these are accepted as safe and efficacious. The situation demands concerted and cautious efforts to bring in foolproof regulatory guidelines which would ultimately lead to the success of this revolutionary technology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-276
Author(s):  
Qurat ul Ain Farooq ◽  
Noor ul Haq ◽  
Abdul Aziz ◽  
Sara Aimen ◽  
Muhammad Inam ul Haq

Background: Mass spectrometry is a tool used in analytical chemistry to identify components in a chemical compound and it is of tremendous importance in the field of biology for high throughput analysis of biomolecules, among which protein is of great interest. Objective: Advancement in proteomics based on mass spectrometry has led the way to quantify multiple protein complexes, and proteins interactions with DNA/RNA or other chemical compounds which is a breakthrough in the field of bioinformatics. Methods: Many new technologies have been introduced in electrospray ionization (ESI) and Matrixassisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) techniques which have enhanced sensitivity, resolution and many other key features for the characterization of proteins. Results: The advent of ambient mass spectrometry and its different versions like Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI), DART and ELDI has brought a huge revolution in proteomics research. Different imaging techniques are also introduced in MS to map proteins and other significant biomolecules. These drastic developments have paved the way to analyze large proteins of >200kDa easily. Conclusion: Here, we discuss the recent advancement in mass spectrometry, which is of great importance and it could lead us to further deep analysis of the molecules from different perspectives and further advancement in these techniques will enable us to find better ways for prediction of molecules and their behavioral properties.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 484
Author(s):  
Syed Arif Hussain Rizvi ◽  
Justin George ◽  
Gadi V. P. Reddy ◽  
Xinnian Zeng ◽  
Angel Guerrero

Since the first identification of the silkworm moth sex pheromone in 1959, significant research has been reported on identifying and unravelling the sex pheromone mechanisms of hundreds of insect species. In the past two decades, the number of research studies on new insect pheromones, pheromone biosynthesis, mode of action, peripheral olfactory and neural mechanisms, and their practical applications in Integrated Pest Management has increased dramatically. An interdisciplinary approach that uses the advances and new techniques in analytical chemistry, chemical ecology, neurophysiology, genetics, and evolutionary and molecular biology has helped us to better understand the pheromone perception mechanisms and its practical application in agricultural pest management. In this review, we present the most recent developments in pheromone research and its application in the past two decades.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Luciana Da Silveira Cavalcante ◽  
Shannon N. Tessier

Heart transplantation became a reality at the end of the 1960s as a life-saving option for patients with end-stage heart failure. Static cold storage (SCS) at 4–6 °C has remained the standard for heart preservation for decades. However, SCS only allows for short-term storage that precludes optimal matching programs, requires emergency surgeries, and results in the unnecessary discard of organs. Among the alternatives seeking to extend ex vivo lifespan and mitigate the shortage of organs are sub-zero or machine perfusion modalities. Sub-zero approaches aim to prolong cold ischemia tolerance by deepening metabolic stasis, while machine perfusion aims to support metabolism through the continuous delivery of oxygen and nutrients. Each of these approaches hold promise; however, complex barriers must be overcome before their potential can be fully realized. We suggest that one barrier facing all experimental efforts to extend ex vivo lifespan are limited research tools. Mammalian models are usually the first choice due to translational aspects, yet experimentation can be restricted by expertise, time, and resources. Instead, there are instances when smaller vertebrate models, like the zebrafish, could fill critical experimental gaps in the field. Taken together, this review provides a summary of the current gold standard for heart preservation as well as new technologies in ex vivo lifespan extension. Furthermore, we describe how existing tools in zebrafish research, including isolated organ, cell specific and functional assays, as well as molecular tools, could complement and elevate heart preservation research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-117
Author(s):  
Christian Henrich-Franke

Abstract The second half of the 20th century is commonly considered to be a time in which German companies lost their innovative strength, while promising new technologies presented an enormous potential for innovation in the US. The fact that German companies were quite successful in the production of medium data technology and had considerable influence on the development of electronic data processing was neglected by business and media historians alike until now. The article analyses the Siemag Feinmechanische Werke (Eiserfeld) as one of the most important producers of the predecessors to said medium data technologies in the 1950s and 1960s. Two transformation processes regarding the media – from mechanic to semiconductor and from semiconductor to all-electronic technology – are highlighted in particular. It poses the question of how and why a middling family enterprise such as Siemag was able to rise to being the leading provider for medium data processing office computers despite lacking expertise in the field of electrical engineering while also facing difficult location conditions. The article shows that Siemag successfully turned from its roots in heavy industry towards the production of innovative high technology devices. This development stems from the company’s strategic decisions. As long as their products were not mass-produced, a medium-sized family business like Siemag could hold its own on the market through clever decision-making which relied on flexible specialization, targeted license and patent cooperation as well as innovative products, even in the face of adverse conditions. Only in the second half of the 1960s, as profit margins dropped due to increasing sales figures and office machines had finally transformed into office computers, Siemag was forced to enter cooperation with Philips in order to broaden its spectrum and merge the production site in Eiserfeld into a larger business complex.


1990 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 583
Author(s):  
GL Price

Recent developments in the growth of semiconductor thin films are reviewed. The emphasis is on growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Results obtained by reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) are employed to describe the different kinds of growth processes and the types of materials which can be constructed. MBE is routinely capable of heterostructure growth to atomic precision with a wide range of materials including III-V, IV, II-VI semiconductors, metals, ceramics such as high Tc materials and organics. As the growth proceeds in ultra high vacuum, MBE can take advantage of surface science techniques such as Auger, RHEED and SIMS. RHEED is the essential in-situ probe since the final crystal quality is strongly dependent on the surface reconstruction during growth. RHEED can also be used to calibrate the growth rate, monitor growth kinetics, and distinguish between various growth modes. A major new area is lattice mismatched growth where attempts are being made to construct heterostructures between materials of different lattice constants such as GaAs on Si. Also described are the new techniques of migration enhanced epitaxy and tilted superlattice growth. Finally some comments are given On the means of preparing large area, thin samples for analysis by other techniques from MBE grown films using capping, etching and liftoff.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (S2) ◽  
pp. 378-379
Author(s):  
Z. W. Chen ◽  
D. B. Wittry

A monochromatic x-ray microprobe based on a laboratory source has recently been developed in our laboratory and used for fluorescence excitation. This technique provides high sensitivity (ppm to ppb), nondestructive, quantitative microanalysis with minimum sample preparation and does not require a high vacuum specimen chamber. It is expected that this technique (MMXRF) will have important applications in materials science, geological sciences and biological science.Three-dimensional focusing of x-rays can be obtained by using diffraction from doubly curved crystals. In our MMXRF setup, a small x-ray source was produced by the bombardment of a selected target with a focused electron beam and a toroidal mica diffractor with Johann pointfocusing geometry was used to focus characteristic x-rays from the source. In the previous work ∼ 108 photons/s were obtained in a Cu Kα probe of 75 μm × 43 μm in the specimen plane using the fifth order reflection of the (002) planes of mica.


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