Dendritic Pattern Formation and Contact Line Forces during Dewetting of Dilute Polymer Solutions on a Hydrophobic Surface

The micro-scale morphology of the receding contact line of dilute polyethylene oxide solution drops (c ∼ 100 ppm) after impact and inertial spreading on a fluorinated hydrophobic surface is investigated. One can observe the formation of transient liquid filaments and dendritic structures that evolve into a bead-on-a-string structure similar to the well-known capillary breakup mechanism of dilute polymer solutions, which confirm the interaction between stetched polymer coils and the receding three-phase contact line. The estimation of the average polymer force per unit contact line lenght provides a quantitative explanation for the reduction of the contact line retraction velocity reduction observed experimentally.

A Rapid Self-Assembly Peptide Hydrogel for Recruitment and Activation of Immune Cells

Self-assembly peptide nanotechnology has attracted much attention due to its regular and orderly structure and diverse functions. Most of the existing self-assembly peptides can form aggregates with specific structures only under specific conditions and their assembly time is relatively long. They have good biocompatibility but no immunogenicity. To optimize it, a self-assembly peptide named DRF3 was designed. It contains a hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface, using two N-terminal arginines, leucine, and two c-terminal aspartate and glutamic acid. Meanwhile, the c-terminal of the peptide was amidated, so that peptide segments were interconnected to increase diversity. Its characterization, biocompatibility, controlled release effect on antigen, immune cell recruitment ability, and antitumor properties were examined here. Congo red/aniline blue staining revealed that peptide hydrogel DRF3 could be immediately gelled in PBS. The stable β-sheet secondary structure of DRF3 was confirmed by circular dichroism spectrum and IR spectra. The observation results of cryo-scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy demonstrated that DRF3 formed nanotubule-like and vesicular structures in PBS, and these structures interlaced with each other to form ordered three-dimensional nanofiber structures. Meanwhile, DRF3 showed excellent biocompatibility, could sustainably and slowly release antigens, recruit dendritic cells and promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. In addition, DRF3 has a strong inhibitory effect on clear renal cell carcinoma (786-0). These results provide a reliable basis for the application of peptide hydrogels in biomedical and preclinical trials.

Coordinated Translocation of Presequence-Containing Precursor Proteins Across Two Mitochondrial Membranes: Knowns and Unknowns of How TOM and TIM23 Complexes Cooperate With Each Other

The vast majority of mitochondrial proteins are encoded in the nuclear genome and synthesized on cytosolic ribosomes as precursor proteins with specific mitochondrial targeting signals. Mitochondrial targeting signals are very diverse, however, about 70% of mitochondrial proteins carry cleavable, N-terminal extensions called presequences. These amphipathic helices with one positively charged and one hydrophobic surface target proteins to the mitochondrial matrix with the help of the TOM and TIM23 complexes in the outer and inner membranes, respectively. Translocation of proteins across the two mitochondrial membranes does not take place independently of each other. Rather, in the intermembrane space, where the two complexes meet, components of the TOM and TIM23 complexes form an intricate network of protein–protein interactions that mediates initially transfer of presequences and then of the entire precursor proteins from the outer to the inner mitochondrial membrane. In this Mini Review, we summarize our current understanding of how the TOM and TIM23 complexes cooperate with each other and highlight some of the future challenges and unresolved questions in the field.

A highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate prepared on a hydrophobic surface using controlled evaporation

In the present work, we report the fabrication of a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate on a simple and easily fabricable hydrophobic surface.

Reuse of Textile Waste to Production of the Fibrous Antibacterial Membrane with Filtration Potential

Wasted synthetic fabrics are a type of textile waste source; the reuse of them brings environmental protection and turns waste into a valuable material. In this work, the used nylon (polyamide) stockings were transmuted into a fine fibrous membrane via an electrospinning process. In addition, the safety antibacterial agent, monoacylglycerol (MAG), was incorporated into a recycled fibrous membrane. The results revealed that the neat, recycled polyamide (rPA) fibers with a hydrophobic surface could be converted into hydrophilic fibers by blending various amounts of MAG with rPA solution prior to electrospinning. The filtration efficiency and air/water vapor permeability of the two types of produced membranes, neat rPA, and rPA/MAG, were tested. Their filtration efficiency (E100) was more than 92% and 96%, respectively. The membranes were classified according to Standard EN1822, and therefore, the membranes rPA and rPA/MAG were assigned to the classes E10 and E11, respectively. The air permeability was not affected by the addition of MAG, and water vapor permeability was slightly enhanced. Based on the obtained data, prepared rPA/MAG fibrous membranes can be evaluated as antifouling against both tested bacterial strains and antimicrobial against S. aureus.

Influence of laser power in nanosecond laser texturing for a hydrophobic state on SS316L

The use of lasers in surface engineering has recently made significant progress. The hydrophobic surface is commonly studied because of the application in various fields, including vehicles, aerospace, biomedicine, etc. Since these laser methods require many combination parameters, such as laser power (P), frequency (ƒ), scan speed (ʋ) and laser beam diameter (D), the effect of the parameters must therefore be investigated to produce the hydrophobic condition. This research tries to relate the laser power with the morphological properties and contact angle of the SS316L surfaces. Samples are subjected to laser texturing with different laser power settings. The surface is then characterised by surface roughness, and the contact angle is measured according to a specific time interval. The laser power output and energy density function on the surface and contact angle were investigated in these contexts experimentally. Surface roughness was defined and validated to show that the laser parameters' effect is effective and controllable. This study shows that the laser output intensity significantly contributes to regulating surface roughness and the substrate's wetting activity. The 18W and 24W laser outputs produce a spiked surface with various peaks that cause the surface to become hydrophobic over time because of the air-trap that happens in the valley.