Formation of lipid tubules induced by a sugar-like molecule myo-inositol

Crosstalk-Assisted Augmented Activity of Polyphenolic Molecules: A Study Using Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy

Self-assembly of small molecules has always been an attractive topic of research in the field of physical chemistry. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) expands our understanding by offering a molecular-level perspective to gain deeper knowledge about the microenvironments. In this work, we have unveiled the self-aggregation mechanism of two naturally occurring polyphenolic molecules named gallic acid (GA) and its derivative methyl gallate (MG), resulting in ineffectiveness as a drug molecule. GA prefers rod-like morphology, in contrast to MG, which shows a cotton-like structure. However, when both are present in an equimolar ratio, the cross-assembly manifests a fibrillar structure that loses its initial individualities. Using FLIM, we have unveiled the mechanism of structural transition and morphological information on the aggregated assemblies. Although the parental polyphenols construct significantly rigid morphologies, the cross-assembly manifests improper packing due to mismatch in their backbone, as evident from lifetime information using FLIM. Furthermore, under physiological conditions, the cross-assembly disintegrates; however, the parental molecules prevail their architectures. The co-polyphenols show prominent dose-dependent cytotoxicity and mitigate the progression of cancer cells compared to the individual polyphenols, opening up a convenient way to enhance a drug's efficacy.

Unveiling the Effect of Myo-inositol on Primitive Cell Models Derived from Fatty Acid

Early forms of life on Earth were most likely not complex. Simple non-living molecules may have formed aggregates, orunderwent spontaneous complex organic reactions resulting in build-up of molecular complexity leading to origin of life. Protocell (hypothetical first live cell) models based on fatty acid self-assemblies have been used in many experiments. Sugars, amino acids and nucleic acids are the backbone of any living creature. Myo-inositol (InOH), is structurally similar to pyranose form of d-glucose. InOH not only has higher stability than simple sugars, but also not easily degraded under extreme conditions. Therefore, InOH would have persisted in the hostile environment of early Earth. Here, our objective is to study the effect of varying concentrations of InOH, a prebiotic sugar-like biomolecule, on the self-assemblies derived from oleic acid using solvation dynamics as a major experimental tool. We have demonstrated that InOH does indeed perturb the membrane of oleic acid/oleate vesicles, which is characterized by more negative zeta potential of vesicles, and faster solvation dynamics of the solvation probe C153. Overall, our results provide significant insight towards understanding the role of carbohydrate osmolytes in relation to protocell models.

Exploring the World of Curcumin: Photophysics, Photochemistry, and Applications in Nanoscience and Biology

Curcumin is a bright yellow naturally occurring polyphenol which is the principal component of turmeric. It is used as herbal supplement, cosmetics ingredient, and food coloring agent. Over the years, the therapeutic properties of the natural product curcumin have gone unexploited but not unnoticed. Curcumin cannot be employed as a drug due to limitations such as low aqueous solubility and limited bioavailability. Many attempts have been made to overcome these limitations by confining the drug in various confined media to enhance its bioavailability. The biomolecule is emissive and undergoes fundamental excited state processes such as solvation dynamics and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT). Curcumin based biomaterials and nanomaterials are also a fast advancing field where curcumin is an intrinsic component necessary for formation of these materials and no longer added as an external free drug. In this review, we will summarize the recent research on the photophysical and photochemical properties of curcumin and its excited state dynamics in various bio-mimicking systems. At the same time we wish to also incorporate the various applications of curcumin, especially in biology. Lastly due to the growing importance of materials science, we will briefly discuss some recent advances on curcumin based biomaterials and nanomaterials. We believe such a compilation of recent research surrounding curcumin will provide an overall understanding of its potentialities in different areas.

Fabrication, modification and application of lipid nanotubes

The potential application of high aspect-ratio nanomaterials motivates the development of the fabrication and modification of lipid nanotubes(LNTs). To date, diverse fabricate processes and elaborate template procedures have produced suitable tubular architectures with definite dimensions and complex structures for expected functions and applications. Herein, we comprehensively summarize the fabrication of LNTs in vitro and discuss the progress made on the micro/nanomaterials fabrication using LNTs as a template, as well as the functions and possible application of a wide range of LNTs as fundamental or derivative material. In addition, the characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of different fabrication, modification methods, and development prospects of LNTs were briefly summarized.