How lignin sticks to cellulose-insights from atomic force microscopy enhanced by machine-learning analysis and molecular dynamics simulations

Elucidating cellulose-lignin interactions at the molecular and nanometric scales is an important research topic with impacts on several pathways of biomass valorization. Here, the interaction forces between a cellulosic substrate and lignin are investigated. Atomic force microscopy with lignin-coated tips is employed to probe the site-specific adhesion to a cellulose film in liquid water. Over seven thousand force-curves are analyzed by a machine-learning approach to cluster the experimental data into types of cellulose-tip interactions. The molecular mechanisms for distinct types of cellulose-lignin interactions are revealed by molecular dynamics simulations of lignin globules interacting with different cellulose Iβ crystal facets. This unique combination of experimental force-curves, data-driven analysis, and molecular simulations opens a new approach of investigation and updates the understanding of cellulose-lignin interactions at the nanoscale.

Polydopamine nanofilms for high-performance paper-based electrochemical devices

Since the discovery of polydopamine (PDA), there has been a lot of progress on using this substance to functionalize many different surfaces. However, little attention has been given to prepare functionalized surfaces for the preparation of flexible electrochemical paper-based devices. After fabricating the electrodes on paper substrates, we formed PDA on the surface of the working electrode using a chemical polymerization route. PDA nanofilms on carbon were characterized by contact angle (CA) experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (topography and electrical measurements) and electrochemical techniques. We observed that PDA introduces chemical functionalities (RNH₂ and RC═O) that decrease the CA of the electrode. Moreover, PDA nanofilms did not block the heterogeneous electron transfer. In fact, we observed one of the highest standard heterogeneous rate constants (k_s ) for electrochemical paper-based electrodes (2.5 ± 0.1) × 10^-3  cm s^-1 , which is an essential parameter to obtain larger currents. In addition, our results suggest that carbonyl functionalities are ascribed for the redox activity of the nanofilms. As a proof-of-concept, the electrooxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide showed remarkable features, such as, lower oxidation potential, electrocatalytic peak currents more than 30 times higher when compared to unmodified paper-based electrodes and electrocatalytic rate constant (k_obs ) of (8.2 ± 0.6) × 10²  L mol^-1  s^-1 .

Amyloid-like Self-Assembly of a Hydrophobic Cell-Penetrating Peptide and Its Use as a Carrier for Nucleic Acids

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a topical subject potentially exploitable for creating nanotherapeutics for the delivery of bioactive loads. These compounds are often classified into three major categories according to their physicochemical characteristics: cationic, amphiphilic, and hydrophobic. Among them, the group of hydrophobic CPPs has received increasing attention in recent years due to toxicity concerns posed by highly cationic CPPs. The hexapeptide PFVYLI (P, proline; F, phenylalanine; V, valine; Y, tyrosine; L, leucine; and I, isoleucine), a fragment derived from the C-terminal portion of α1-antitrypsin, is a prototypal example of hydrophobic CPP. This sequence shows reduced cytotoxicity and a capacity of nuclear localization, and its small size readily hints at its suitability as a building block to construct nanostructured materials. In this study, we examine the self-assembling properties of PFVYLI and investigate its ability to form noncovalent complexes with nucleic acids. By using a combination of biophysical tools including synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy, we discovered that this CPP self-assembles into discrete nanofibrils with remarkable amyloidogenic features. Over the course of days, these fibrils coalesce into rodlike crystals that easily reach the micrometer range. Despite lacking cationic residues in the composition, PFVYLI forms noncovalent complexes with nucleic acids that retain β-sheet pairing found in amyloid aggregates. In vitro vectorization experiments performed with double-stranded DNA fragments indicate that complexes promote the internalization of nucleic acids, revealing that tropism toward cell membranes is preserved upon complexation. On the other hand, transfection assays with splice-correction oligonucleotides (SCOs) for luciferase expression show limited bioactivity across a narrow concentration window, suggesting that the propensity to form amyloidogenic aggregates may trigger endosomal entrapment. We anticipate that the findings presented here open perspectives for using this archetypical hydrophobic CPP in the fabrication of nanostructured scaffolds, which potentially integrate properties of amyloids and translocation capabilities of CPPs.

Engineering the surface of prostate tumor cells and hyaluronan/chitosan multilayer films to modulate cell-substrate adhesion properties

This paper explores different film assembly conditions of the polyelectrolyte solutions of hyaluronan (HA) and chitosan (CHI), as well as both substrate and cell surface modifications, to investigate PC3 cells adhesion properties. UV-Visible, AFM-IR and Zeta potential techniques indicate that the solution ionic strength is a relevant parameter to modulate the free carboxylic groups of HA on the film surface. In addition, capacitive coupling measurements suggest that assembly conditions that favor surface charge mobility inhibit cell adhesion due to polymer rearrangements that support non-specific electrostatic interactions of positively charged CHI residues and the negatively charged cell moieties, rather than specific CD44-hyaluronan interactions. Moreover, the PC3 cells treatment with hyaluronidase and anti-CD44 antibody also highlighted the importance of CD44 binding site availability on the tumor cell adhesion properties. Finally, the conjugation of wheat germ agglutinin on the film surface proved to be a suitable strategy to boost the PC3 cell adhesion properties. Our results reveal the remarkable capacity of HA/CHI films to modulate cell-substrate properties, which pave the road for the development of surfaces suitable for several applications based on biosensing.

Predicting Ligand-Free Cell Attachment on Next-Generation Cellulose-Chitosan Hydrogels

There is a growing appreciation that engineered biointerfaces can regulate cell behaviors, or functions. Most systems aim to mimic the cell-friendly extracellular matrix environment and incorporate protein ligands; however, the understanding of how a ligand-free system can achieve this is limited. Cell scaffold materials comprised of interfused chitosan-cellulose hydrogels promote cell attachment in ligand-free systems, and we demonstrate the role of cellulose molecular weight, MW, and chitosan content and MW in controlling material properties and thus regulating cell attachment. Semi-interpenetrating network (SIPN) gels, generated from cellulose/ionic liquid/cosolvent solutions, using chitosan solutions as phase inversion solvents, were stable and obviated the need for chemical coupling. Interface properties, including surface zeta-potential, dielectric constant, surface roughness, and shear modulus, were modified by varying the chitosan degree of polymerization and solution concentration, as well as the source of cellulose, creating a family of cellulose-chitosan SIPN materials. These features, in turn, affect cell attachment onto the hydrogels and the utility of this ligand-free approach is extended by forecasting cell attachment using regression modeling to isolate the effects of individual parameters in an initially complex system. We demonstrate that increasing the charge density, and/or shear modulus, of the hydrogel results in increased cell attachment.

Adhesive and Reinforcing Properties of Soluble Cellulose: A Repulpable Adhesive for Wet and Dry Cellulosic Substrates

This work reports, for the first time, the excellent performance of an aqueous alkaline solution of cellulose as an adhesive for wet and dry cellulosic substrates. Uniaxial tensile tests of filter paper and sulfite writing paper strips bonded with this adhesive (5% cellulose and 7% NaOH aqueous solution) show that failure never occurs in the joints but always in the pristine substrate areas, except in butt joint samples prepared with sulfite paper. Tensile test also shows that paper impregnated with cellulose solution is stronger than the original substrate. X-ray microtomography and scanning electron microscopy reveal that dissolved cellulose fills the gaps between paper fibers, providing a morphological evidence for the mechanical interlocking adhesion mechanism, while scanning probe techniques provide a sharp view of different domains in the joints. Additionally, bonded paper is easily reconverted to pulp, which facilitates paper reprocessability, solving a well-known industrial problem related to deposition of adhesive aggregates (stickies) on the production equipment.

Leptin serum levels in the first year post-renal transplantation

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of leptin in the first year post-renal transplantation. Thirty-two patients and 19 healthy individuals were included. Serum leptin and biochemical markers were evaluated prospectively starting at transplant time (t(0)), and then every 3 months up to 1 year posttransplantation. The mean serum levels of leptin were higher in the pretransplant (t(0)) evaluation as compared with a control group of healthy volunteers (11.9 [9.2-25.2] and 7.7 [5.2-9.9] ng/mL, respectively; P < .0001). Leptinemia decreased significantly in the first 3 months after the renal transplantation (t(3)) (11.9 [9.2-25.2] to 7.1 [4.14-12.5] ng/mL; P < .0001) increased at t(6) to 10.6 (5.6-14.6) ng/mL and remained stable at t(9) (9.0 [5.2-18.3] ng/mL) and t(12) (9.3 [4.9-16.4] ng/mL). No correlation was found between leptin and renal function at any time during the study. In conclusion, during the first posttransplant year the serum leptin levels decreased significantly in relation to pretransplant period.

ESI-TEM imaging of surfactants and ions sorbed in Stöber silica nanoparticles

The sorption of surfactants and NaCl in silica nanosized particles creates unexpected spatial distributions of solutes that were evidenced by electron spectroscopy imaging in the transmission electron microscope (ESI/TEM). The spectral images show that simple ions (Na(+), Cl(-), Br(-)) are actually absorbed within the particles irrespective of their charges, while surfactant chains are adsorbed at the particle surfaces. The expected effect of the surfactants on particle aggregation is also observed in the micrographs. In the case of salt, close-packed silica particle arrays are formed at low ionic strength, but only coarse aggregates form at higher salt concentrations. The particles absorb both Na(+) and Cl(-) ions in similar amounts, from 0.5 mol L(-)(1) NaCl, but Na(+) ions are depleted from the particles' immediate outer vicinity, where Cl(-) ions are in turn accumulated. These results confirm that Stöber silica nanoparticles are highly porous and reveal their potential usefulness as carriers of small molecules and ions, due to the small particle size, exceptional colloidal stability, and this newly found sorption behavior.

Electrostatic Patterning of a Silica Surface: A New Model for Charge Build-Up on a Dielectric Solid

The polarization of interdigitated gold electrodes mounted over a silica thin film formed by oxidation of a Si wafer produces reproducible electrostatic patterns with overall excess negative charge, as observed by scanning electric potential microscopy. Domain charge concentrations as high as 76 charge units per square micrometer are obtained when a 5 V difference is applied to the electrodes thus producing fields in the 10(6) V m(-1) range. These patterns vanish when the electrodes are short-circuited and grounded. Characteristic times for pattern formation and relaxation are in the order of 10 min. The results are consistent with a model based on the discharge of H(+) ions at the negative electrodes, leaving behind immobile surface-bound SiO(-) groups and thus showing that chemisorption phenomena are decisive for electrostatic charging of insulators.

Avaliação da degradação térmica e fotooxidativa do ABS para fins de reciclagem

Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a degradação térmica e fotooxidativa do terpolímero poli (acrilonitrila-butadieno-estireno), ABS, utilizado em componentes internos de automóveis. Corpos de prova de ABS moldados por injeção foram submetidos ao envelhecimento térmico, segundo a norma ASTM D794, e ao envelhecimento fotooxidativo segundo as normas ASTM G24 e G53. As amostras envelhecidas foram submetidas às análises dinâmico-mecânica, e microscópicas por microscopia de força atômica no modo não contato. Os resultados mostraram que as transições, tanto da fase vítrea quanto da fase elastomérica na superfície do ABS, são afetadas pela degradação. As áreas dos picos das curvas de módulo de perda em função da temperatura relativos às transições vítreas do ABS foram correlacionadas ao alongamento na ruptura, em função do tempo e tipo de envelhecimento. As propriedades mecânicas são influenciadas de forma mais acentuada pela extensão da degradação da matriz. O método de envelhecimento ASTM G24 mostrou-se mais agressivo que o G53, seja para a fase BR ou para a fase SAN. As imagens microscópicas mostraram que os diferentes envelhecimentos provocaram diferentes variações na rugosidade das superfícies. Amostras fotooxidadas, com perda de alongamento maior que 50%, foram reprocessadas e mostraram uma recuperação superior a 90% nessa propriedade.

Heterogeneidade da Capacidade Dissipativa e do Módulo de Young em Superfícies Poliméricas: Contraste de Fase em AFM com Contato Periódico

O contraste de fase em microscopia de força atômica no modo de contato periódico é determinado pela topografia, viscoelasticidade e pelas propriedades adesivas das amostras. A maximização da quantidade de informação extraída das imagens exige que o procedimento de aquisição seja previamente definido através da escolha adequada do ângulo de fase entre a onda aplicada ao cristal piezoelétrico, que provoca a oscilação da sonda, e a onda gerada pela resposta do fotodetector. O efeito da topografia no contraste de fase é minimizado somente se as duas senóides (oscilação da sonda e resposta do fotodetector) forem ortogonais. Escolhendo teta = -90°, os domínios brilhantes na imagem são mais dissipativos que os domínios escuros, porém o oposto é observado usando teta = +90°. Esta regra é obtida da análise de operação do instrumento, e é experimentalmente verificada com uma amostra preparada pelo recobrimento parcial de uma superfície de mica com um filme de borracha natural. Três diferentes filmes foram analisados e revelaram diferentes padrões de domínios: domínios duros em uma matriz mole são observados em um látex copolimérico sintético, enquanto que um filme de borracha natural apresenta domínios moles em uma matriz mais dura, e um filme compósito de borracha natural com polifosfato de sódio é formado por domínios duros e moles, interpenetrantes.