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Martínez-Moro Á, González-Brusi L, Querejeta-Fernández A, Padilla-Ruiz E, García-Blanco J, Bermejo-Álvarez P. Metabolomics analysis of human cumulus cells obtained from cumulus-oocyte complexes with different developmental potential. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2187-2195. [PMID: 37697661 PMCID: PMC10628504 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is the abundance of certain biochemical compounds in human cumulus cells (CCs) related to oocyte quality? SUMMARY ANSWER Malonate, 5-oxyproline, and erythronate were positively associated with pregnancy potential. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY CCs are removed and discarded prior to ICSI, thereby constituting an interesting biological material on which to perform molecular analysis aimed to predict oocyte developmental competence. Mitochondrial DNA content and transcriptional analyses in CC have been shown to provide a poor predictive value of oocyte competence, but the untargeted analysis of biochemical compounds (metabolomics) has been unexplored. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION CCs were obtained from three groups of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) of known developmental potential: oocytes not developing to blastocyst following ICSI (Bl-); oocytes developing to blastocyst but failing to establish pregnancy following embryo transfer (P-); and oocytes developing to blastocyst able to establish a pregnancy (P+). Metabolomics analyses were performed on 12 samples per group, each sample comprising the CC recovered from a single COC. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human CC samples were obtained from IVF treatments. Only unfrozen oocytes and embryos not submitted to preimplantation genetic testing were included in the analysis. Metabolomics analysis was performed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The analysis identified 98 compounds, five of which were differentially abundant (P < 0.05) between groups: asparagine, proline, and malonate were less abundant in P- compared to Bl-, malonate and 5-oxoproline were less abundant in P- group compared to P+, and erythronate was less abundant in Bl- group compared to P+. No significant association between the abundance of the compounds identified and donor age or BMI was noted. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Data dispersion and the lack of coherence between developmental groups preclude the direct use of metabolic markers in clinical practice, where the uterine environment plays a major role in pregnancy outcome. The abundance of other compounds not detected by the analysis may be associated with oocyte competence. As donors were lean (only two with BMI > 30 kg/m2) and young (<34 years old), a possible effect of obesity or advanced age on the CC metabolome could not be determined. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The abundance of malonate, 5-oxyproline, and erythronate in CC was significantly higher in COCs ultimately establishing pregnancy, providing clues on the pathways required for oocyte competence. The untargeted analysis uncovered the presence of compounds that were not expected in CC, such as β-citrylglutamate and the neurotransmitter N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate, which may play roles in chromatin remodeling and signaling, respectively. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Research was supported by the Industrial Doctorate Project IND2017/BIO-7748 funded by Madrid Region Government. The authors declare no competing interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Martínez-Moro
- Animal Reproduction Department, INIA, CSIC, Madrid, Spain
- IVF Spain, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Ana Querejeta-Fernández
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
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Guerrero-Sánchez J, Lamas-Toranzo I, González-Brusi L, Pérez-Gómez A, Querejeta-Fernández A, Cabello Y, José H, Bermejo-Alvarez P. P-257 Nanosphere-based assessment of zona pellucida permeability in humans and mammalian models. Hum Reprod 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac107.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Study question
What is the maximum particle size that can traverse through human zona pellucida (ZP) and that of other mammals?
Summary answer
Human oocytes ZP is impermeable to 40-100 nm nanospheres. ZP of other mammals is impermeable to 100 nm particles, and permeability changes along preimplantation development.
What is known already
ZP is a porous structure that protects oocytes and early embryos, being permeable to nourishing and signaling substances while blocking the entrance of immune cells and viruses into the perivitelline space. Size-dependent ZP permeability is poorly known and may differ between species, as in humans and rabbits ZP it is composed by 4 proteins (ZP1-4), while bovine and murine ZPs contain only 3 proteins (ZP2-4 in bovine, ZP1-3 in mice). Understanding permeability is crucial to determine embryo susceptibility to viral infections or large biological particles such as exosomes, and to assess possible damages inferred by artificial reproductive techniques.
Study design, size, duration
The objective has been to determine ZP permeability in mice, bovine, rabbit (wild-type or lacking ZP4) or human oocytes and/or embryos based on particle size. The assay was performed in 3 replicates of 3 samples per stage: mouse samples (oocytes, zygotes, 2-cell embryos and blastocysts) collected in vivo, bovine samples (oocytes, zygotes, 4-8 cell embryos and blastocysts) produced in vitro, rabbit samples (zygotes) collected in vivo and immature human oocytes discarded for clinical use.
Participants/materials, setting, methods
Permeability test consisted of incubating oocytes and embryos in 0.005 % solutions of carboxylate-modified polystyrene nanospheres (20, 40 and 100 nm) loaded with a fluorophore emitting at a 505/515 nm for 30 min. Following incubation and washing, samples were observed under a structured illumination fluorescence microscope to determine if particles are present inside ZP (i.e., ZP is permeable to that size of particle) or fluorescence cannot be detected (i.e., particles unable to traverse ZP).
Main results and the role of chance
ZPs of all species and stages blocked efficiently the pass of 100 nm-sized nanospheres. 40 mm nanospheres were blocked by the ZP of oocytes and zygotes in all species with the exception of rabbit zygotes lacking ZP4. ZP permeability changed during early development, as ZP from murine and bovine cleaved embryos and blastocyst were permeable to 40 nm-sized particles. Finally, with the exception or WT rabbit zygotes, ZP from all oocytes and embryos analyzed were permeable to 20 nm nanospheres. As a fluorescence control, murine and bovine oocytes without ZP were exposed to nanospheres of all sizes, which were clearly visualized attached to the oolema or into the ooplasm.
Limitations, reasons for caution
Experiments on cleavage and blastocysts stages were performed on animal models, so whether human ZP permeability changes following fertilization remains unknown.
Wider implications of the findings
Mammalian ZP acts as a selective barrier during early embryo development. Understanding particle size-dependent permeability is crucial to determine embryo susceptibility to viral infection or to signaling mediated by large particles such as extracellular vesicles and exosomes and to assess the impact of oocyte manipulation techniques.
Trial registration number
Not applicable
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Y Cabello
- Overture Life, Embryology , Madrid, Spain
| | - H José
- Overture Life, Embryology , Madrid, Spain
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Lamas-Toranzo I, Fonseca Balvís N, Querejeta-Fernández A, Izquierdo-Rico MJ, González-Brusi L, Lorenzo PL, García-Rebollar P, Avilés M, Bermejo-Álvarez P. ZP4 confers structural properties to the zona pellucida essential for embryo development. eLife 2019; 8:48904. [PMID: 31635692 PMCID: PMC6805156 DOI: 10.7554/elife.48904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Zona pellucida (ZP), the extracellular matrix sheltering mammalian oocytes and embryos, is composed by 3 to 4 proteins. The roles of the three proteins present in mice have been elucidated by KO models, but the function of the fourth component (ZP4), present in all other eutherian mammals studied so far, has remained elusive. Herein, we report that ZP4 ablation impairs fertility in female rabbits. Ovulation, fertilization and in vitro development to blastocyst were not affected by ZP4 ablation. However, in vivo development is severely impaired in embryos covered by a ZP4-devoided zona, suggesting a defective ZP protective capacity in the absence of ZP4. ZP4-null ZP was significantly thinner, more permeable, and exhibited a more disorganized and fenestrated structure. The evolutionary conservation of ZP4 in other mammals, including humans, suggests that the structural properties conferred by this protein are required to ensure proper embryo sheltering during in vivo preimplantation development. The egg cells of mammals, called oocytes, are encased in a protective layer called the zona pellucida. This layer is made from proteins called ZP1 to 4. Most studies of the zona pellucida use mice, which do not have ZP4. This means that the research community have limited knowledge of what ZP4 does in humans and other mammals. Scientists can now use a technique called CRISPR to selectively modify the genetics of living things to help us to understand what specific genes and proteins do. The ZP4 protein can be eliminated from rabbit oocytes using CRISPR to help understand its role in egg cell fertilization and development. Lamas-Toranzo et al. examined the effect of losing ZP4 from rabbit oocytes. Without ZP4 the zona pellucida becomes thinner, irregular and more flexible. However, the loss of ZP4 did not affect ovulation (i.e. the release of egg cells from an ovary), fertilization, or the early stages of development of embryos when studied in the laboratory. However, rabbits without ZP4 were much less fertile. Indeed, only one out of 10 female rabbits without ZP4 was able to deliver pups because in most cases the development of embryos in the womb failed. These findings show that ZP4 has a structural role in the zona pellucida. Without ZP4 fertility is reduced. This work lays the ground for further investigation of the role of ZP4. It could also offer new insights into the causes of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Querejeta-Fernández
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Biomedical Research Center (CINBIO), Universidad de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - María José Izquierdo-Rico
- Cell Biology and Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Murcia and IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Leopoldo González-Brusi
- Cell Biology and Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Murcia and IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro L Lorenzo
- Animal Physiology Department, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar García-Rebollar
- Animal Production Department, ETSI Agrónomos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Avilés
- Cell Biology and Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Murcia and IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
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Galati E, Tebbe M, Querejeta-Fernández A, Xin HL, Gang O, Zhulina EB, Kumacheva E. Shape-Specific Patterning of Polymer-Functionalized Nanoparticles. ACS Nano 2017; 11:4995-5002. [PMID: 28460162 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemically and topographically patterned nanoparticles (NPs) with dimensions on the order of tens of nanometers have a diverse range of applications and are a valuable system for fundamental research. Recently, thermodynamically controlled segregation of a smooth layer of polymer ligands into pinned micelles (patches) offered an approach to nanopatterning of polymer-functionalized NPs. Control of the patch number, size, and spatial distribution on the surface of spherical NPs has been achieved, however, the role of NP shape remained elusive. In the present work, we report the role of NP shape, namely, the effect of the local surface curvature, on polymer segregation into surface patches. For polymer-functionalized metal nanocubes, we show experimentally and theoretically that the patches form preferentially on the high-curvature regions such as vertices and edges. An in situ transformation of the nanocubes into nanospheres leads to the change in the number and distribution of patches; a process that is dominated by the balance between the surface energy and the stretching energy of the polymer ligands. The experimental and theoretical results presented in this work are applicable to surface patterning of polymer-capped NPs with different shapes, thus enabling the exploration of patch-directed self-assembly, as colloidal surfactants, and as templates for the synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Galati
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Moritz Tebbe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | | | - Huolin L Xin
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Oleg Gang
- Center for Functional Nanomaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory , Upton, New York 11973, United States
| | - Ekaterina B Zhulina
- Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of Sciences , Saint Petersburg, 199004, Russia
- Saint Petersburg National University of Informational Technologies , Mechanics and Optics, Saint Petersburg 197101, Russia
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
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Querejeta-Fernández A, Kopera B, Prado KS, Klinkova A, Methot M, Chauve G, Bouchard J, Helmy AS, Kumacheva E. Circular Dichroism of Chiral Nematic Films of Cellulose Nanocrystals Loaded with Plasmonic Nanoparticles. ACS Nano 2015; 9:10377-85. [PMID: 26336902 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b04552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
In the search for induced chiral plasmonic activity, cholesteric films formed by cellulose nanocrystals have attracted great interest as potential hosts for plasmonic nanoparticles. Circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the composite films exhibit two peaks, one of which is ascribed to the cholesteric host and the other one to plasmonic chiroptical activity of the plasmonic nanoparticles. Here we report the results of comprehensive studies of extinction and CD properties of composite films formed by different types of cellulose nanocrystals and different types of plasmonic nanoparticles. We show that the second peak in the CD spectra acquired using CD spectrometers appears as the result of the local reduction of the CD signal of the host material, due to excessive absorption by the nanoparticles, and thus it cannot be interpreted as induced plasmonic chiroptical activity. Instead, we propose an alternative way to measure CD spectra of plasmonic cholesteric films by using Mueller matrix transmission ellipsometry. The results of this study are important for ongoing research in the field of chiral plasmonics and for the optical characterization of a broad range of chiral nematic nanostructured materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Querejeta-Fernández
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Bernd Kopera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Karen S Prado
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Anna Klinkova
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Myriam Methot
- FPInnovations , 570 St. Jean Boulevard, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 3J9, Canada
| | - Grégory Chauve
- FPInnovations , 570 St. Jean Boulevard, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 3J9, Canada
| | - Jean Bouchard
- FPInnovations , 570 St. Jean Boulevard, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 3J9, Canada
| | - Amr S Helmy
- The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Institute of Optical Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto , 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E5, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto , 4 Taddle Creek Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
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Lukach A, Thérien-Aubin H, Querejeta-Fernández A, Pitch N, Chauve G, Méthot M, Bouchard J, Kumacheva E. Coassembly of gold nanoparticles and cellulose nanocrystals in composite films. Langmuir 2015; 31:5033-41. [PMID: 25879581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Coassembly of nanoparticles with different size-, shape-, and composition-dependent properties is a promising approach to the design and fabrication of functional materials and devices. This paper reports the results of a detailed investigation of the formation and properties of free-stranding composite films formed by the coassembly of cellulose nanocrystals and shape-isotropic plasmonic gold nanoparticles. The effect of gold nanoparticle size, surface charge, and concentration on the structural and optical properties of the composite films has been studied. The composite films retained photonic crystal and chiroptical activity properties. The size and surface charge of gold nanoparticles had a minor effect on the structure and properties of the composite films, while the concentration of gold nanoparticles in the composite material played a more significant role and can be used to fine-tune the optical properties of materials derived from cellulose nanocrystals. These findings significantly broaden the range of nanoparticles that can be used for producing nanocomposite materials based on cellulose nanocrystals. The simplicity of film preparation, the abundance of cellulose nanocrystals, and the robust, free-standing nature of the composite films offer highly advantageous features and pave the way for the generation of functional materials with coupled optical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariella Lukach
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3H6, Canada
| | - Héloïse Thérien-Aubin
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3H6, Canada
| | - Ana Querejeta-Fernández
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3H6, Canada
| | - Natalie Pitch
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3H6, Canada
| | - Grégory Chauve
- ‡FPInnovations, 570 Saint Jean Boulevard, Pointe-Claire, Québec H9R 3J9, Canada
| | - Myriam Méthot
- ‡FPInnovations, 570 Saint Jean Boulevard, Pointe-Claire, Québec H9R 3J9, Canada
| | - Jean Bouchard
- ‡FPInnovations, 570 Saint Jean Boulevard, Pointe-Claire, Québec H9R 3J9, Canada
| | - Eugenia Kumacheva
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S3H6, Canada
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Querejeta-Fernández A, Chauve G, Methot M, Bouchard J, Kumacheva E. Chiral plasmonic films formed by gold nanorods and cellulose nanocrystals. J Am Chem Soc 2014; 136:4788-93. [PMID: 24588564 DOI: 10.1021/ja501642p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chiral plasmonic films have been prepared by incorporating gold nanorods (NRs) in a macroscopic cholesteric film formed by self-assembled cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Composite NR-CNC films revealed strong plasmonic chiroptical activity, dependent on the photonic properties of the CNC host and plasmonic properties of the NRs. The plasmonic chiroptical properties of the composite films were tuned by changing the conditions of film preparation. The strategy presented herein paves the way for the scalable and cost-efficient preparation of plasmonic chiral materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Querejeta-Fernández
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto , 80 Saint George Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
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Querejeta-Fernández A, Hernández-Garrido JC, Yang H, Zhou Y, Varela A, Parras M, Calvino-Gámez JJ, González-Calbet JM, Green PF, Kotov NA. Unknown aspects of self-assembly of PbS microscale superstructures. ACS Nano 2012; 6:3800-12. [PMID: 22515512 PMCID: PMC3401906 DOI: 10.1021/nn300890s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
A lot of interesting and sophisticated examples of nanoparticle (NP) self-assembly (SA) are known. From both fundamental and technological standpoints, this field requires advancements in three principle directions: (a) understanding the mechanism and driving forces of three-dimensional (3D) SA with both nano- and microlevels of organization; (b) understanding disassembly/deconstruction processes; and (c) finding synthetic methods of assembly into continuous superstructures without insulating barriers. From this perspective, we investigated the formation of well-known star-like PbS superstructures and found a number of previously unknown or overlooked aspects that can advance the knowledge of NP self-assembly in these three directions. The primary one is that the formation of large seemingly monocrystalline PbS superstructures with multiple levels of octahedral symmetry can be explained only by SA of small octahedral NPs. We found five distinct periods in the formation PbS hyperbranched stars: (1) nucleation of early PbS NPs with an average diameter of 31 nm; (2) assembly into 100-500 nm octahedral mesocrystals; (3) assembly into 1000-2500 nm hyperbranched stars; (4) assembly and ionic recrystallization into six-arm rods accompanied by disappearance of fine nanoscale structure; (5) deconstruction into rods and cuboctahedral NPs. The switches in assembly patterns between the periods occur due to variable dominance of pattern-determining forces that include van der Waals and electrostatic (charge-charge, dipole-dipole, and polarization) interactions. The superstructure deconstruction is triggered by chemical changes in the deep eutectic solvent (DES) used as the media. PbS superstructures can be excellent models for fundamental studies of nanoscale organization and SA manufacturing of (opto)electronics and energy-harvesting devices which require organization of PbS components at multiple scales.
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