Assignment of the vibrational spectrum of l-cysteine

Exploring the nanoscale: AFM-IR visualization of cysteine adsorption on gold nanoparticles

This study focuses on the adsorption process of L-cysteine (Cys), a sulfur-containing amino acid, onto monolayers of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) prepared through distinct protocols on mica substrates. Two types of AuNPs were prepared using two different methods: the first employed a physical approach, which combined the Inert Gas Condensation (IGC) technique with the magnetron sputtering method, while the second utilized a chemical method involving the reduction of tetrachloroauric acid with trisodium citrate (TC). The characterization of AuNPs was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), of up to 5 ± 1.3 nm for bare AuNPs obtained through vacuum techniques, and up to 12 ± 5 nm for negatively charged, citrate-stabilized TCAuNPs(-). The application of spectroscopic techniques based on the surface-enhanced effects allows for describing the adsorption process in both micro- and nanoscale systems: Cys/bare AuNPs and Cys/ TCAuNPs(-). The commonly used surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique provided insights into adsorption behaviours at the microscale level. In the case of TCAuNPs(-), an interaction involving the lone electron pair of sulfur (S) atom and metal surface, while on the bare AuNPs, S is adsorbed on the surface, but the cleavage of the SH group is not discernible. Nanoscale analysis was complemented using AFM combined with the surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (AFM-SEIRA) technique. AFM-SEIRA map indicated the formation of hot spot which were predominantly located between aggregated TCAuNPs(-) and on specific NPs surfaces (area between NPs and gold-coated tip). Results from the SERS and AFM-SEIRA techniques were in good agreement, underscoring the comprehensive understanding achieved through the chosen experimental approach regarding the Cys interactions with layers of AuNPs.

Synthesis of Thiomer/Nanoclay Nanocomposites as a Potential Drug Carrier: Evaluation of Mucoadhesive and Controlled Release Properties

Novel thiomer/nanoclay nanocomposites based on a thiomer and montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared in order to obtain a mucoadhesive material with controlled release properties for its potential use as drug carrier. The thiomer was synthesized by immobilization of L-cysteine in alginate mediated by carbodiimide reaction and further characterized by FT-IR and Ellman's reaction. Nanocomposites with growing concentrations of thiomer and MMT were prepared and analyzed by XRD, TGA and TEM. Rheological behavior of nanocomposite in contact with mucin and intestinal mucus were studied as in vitro and in situ mucoadhesion approach, showing until ∼10-fold increasing in the complex viscosity and ∼27-fold in elastic modulus when the amount of thiomer is increased. Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic models were evaluated in order to study the release of deltamethrin from nanocomposite films. Release profiles showed a retard in the migration of the drug influenced by the amount of MMT (P < 0.05). Diffusion coefficient (D) showed a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) when concentration of MMT is increased reaching D = 4.18 × 10-7 m2 h-1, which resulted ∼7-fold lower in comparison with formulation without MMT. This hybrid nanocomposite can be projected as a potential mucoadhesive drug carrier with controlled release properties.

Novel mixed self-assembled monolayers of L-cysteine and methanol on gold surfaces under ambient conditions

In this work, we carried out an experimental and theoretical study on the formation of self-assembled monolayers of L-cysteine molecules on gold surfaces in the presence of methanol as a solvent. We report for the first time L-cysteine and methanol ordered structures forming a mixed self-assembled mono-layer on Au(100) surfaces under ambient conditions. Finger-like ordered structures with a relative height of 0.10-0.20 nm, average width of 2.0 nm and variable lengths were observed using scanning tunneling microscopy under room temperature and ambient pressure conditions. Using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, it was determined that L-cysteine molecules bind to the gold surface through the sulfur atom of their thiol group in two molecular configurations: neutral and zwitterionic. We found that the finger-like structures are the result of complex interactions of L-cysteine molecules with gold surfaces and L-cysteine molecules with methanol molecules and among all three components of the system (L-cysteine + methanol + gold surfaces). These interactions were detected through attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, adsorbate/substrate interactions were studied by employing ab initio calculations using density functional theory, resulting in molecular arrangements formed by chains of L-cysteine pairs surrounded by physisorbed methanol molecules.

THz spectroscopy on the amino acids L-serine and L-cysteine

We present a detailed study on the temperature-dependent THz spectra of the polycrystalline amino acids, L-serine and L-cysteine, for wavenumbers from 20 to 120 cm-1 and temperatures from 4 to 300 K. Even though the structure of these two amino acids is very similar, with a sulfur atom in the side chain of cysteine instead of an oxygen atom in serine, the excitation spectra are drastically different. Obviously, the vibrational dynamics strongly depend on the ability of cysteine to form sulfur-hydrogen bonds. In addition, cysteine undergoes an order-disorder type phase transition close to 80 K, documented by additional specific heat experiments, with accompanying anomalies in the THz results. On increasing temperatures, well-defined vibrational excitations exhibit significant shifts in the eigenfrequencies with concomitant line-broadening yielding partly overlapping modes. Interestingly, several modes completely lose all their dipolar strength and are unobservable under ambient conditions. Comparing the recent results to the published work utilizing THz, Raman, and neutron-scattering techniques, as well as with ab initio simulations, we aim at a consistent analysis of the results ascribing certain eigenfrequencies to distinct collective lattice modes. We document that THz spectra can be used to fine-tune the parameters of model calculations and as fingerprint properties of certain amino acids. In addition, we analyzed the low-temperature heat capacity of both the compounds and detected strong excess contributions compared to the canonical Debye behavior of crystalline solids, indicating soft excitations and a strongly enhanced phonon-density of states at low frequencies.

Exploration of electronic and vibrational properties of sulfanilic acid through periodic and non-periodic DFT calculations

CONTEXT

The electronic, discrete water solvation, and vibrational properties of zwitterionic sulfanilic acid were thoroughly investigated using periodic and non-periodic DFT approaches. The periodic-DFT results, obtained by employing the PBE-TS functional (Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) functional with the Tkatchenko and Scheffler (TS) dispersion correction) were first presented in order to analyze the band structures of the studied crystal. An attentive reading of the predicted band structures has shown three lowest gap energies calculated at 4.23, 4.24, and 4.29 eV arising from the Γ→Γ, Γ→Z, and Γ→S transitions, respectively. Then, non-periodic calculations were carried out, at the B3LYP-D3 level of theory (B3LYP functional with the D3 Grimme dispersion correction) in order to optimize the sulfanilic acid-(H2O)10 complex. Starting from the optimized structure, non-covalent interaction calculations were performed and the H-bonding, van der Waals, and steric effect interactions were identified. Finally, the PBE-TS calculations were strengthened by conducting anharmonic B3LYP-D3 calculations in order to achieve a complete decryption of the experimental IR spectrum of sulfanilic acid. The spectral analysis is not limited only to the interpretation of both the NH/CH stretching and fingerprint regions but also extended to the 1800-2600 cm-1 region, which is characterized by a strong anharmonic effect. In the latter wavenumber region, the large experimental IR band centered at 1937 cm-1 is reproduced theoretically employing the anharmonic B3LYP-D3 calculations. The similarity of this band with those usually considered as a fingerprint of zwitterionic amino acids is observed, and its origin is elucidated theoretically. In the vibrational spectroscopy field, the calculations presented in this study are probably the most appropriate for achieving vast analysis and accurate assignments of vibrational spectra of hydrogen bonding compounds recorded in the solid state.

METHOD

The periodic and non-periodic calculations were conducted within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) using the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) at the PBE-TS level of theory and B3LYP-D3 functional with the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set, respectively. The PBE-TS and B3LYP-D3/6-311++G(d,p) calculations were performed using the CASTEP and Gaussian 09 programs, respectively. In addition, The non-covalent interactions were calculated by the Multiwfn 3.8 software. The obtained results for different calculations were visualized by employing the visualization tools in Materials Studio, GaussView, VMD, and Gnuplot programs.

Thermal properties of nanofluids using hydrophilic and hydrophobic LiYF4:Yb/Er upconverting nanoparticles

Luminescent nanoparticles have shown great potential for thermal sensing in bio-applications. Nonetheless, these materials lack water dispersibility that can be overcome by modifying their surface properties with water dispersible molecules such as cysteine. Herein, we employ LiYF4:Er3+/Yb3+ upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) capped with oleate or modified with cysteine dispersed in cyclohexane or in water, respectively, as thermal probes. Upconversion emission was used to sense temperature with a relative thermal sensitivity of ∼1.24% K-1 (at 300 K) and a temperature uncertainty of 0.8 K for the oleate capped and of 0.5 K for cysteine modified NPs. To study the effect of the cysteine modification in the heat transfer processes, the thermal conductivity of the nanofluids was determined, yielding 0.123(6) W m-1 K-1 for the oleate capped UCNPs dispersed in cyclohexane and 0.50(7) W m-1 K-1 for the cysteine modified UCNPs dispersed in water. Moreover, through the heating curves, the nanofluids' thermal resistances were estimated, showing that the cysteine modification partially prevents heat transfer.

Raman Fingerprints of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants: Molecular Roots of Virological Characteristics and Evolutionary Directions

The latest RNA genomic mutation of SARS-CoV-2 virus, termed the Omicron variant, has generated a stream of highly contagious and antibody-resistant strains, which in turn led to classifying Omicron as a variant of concern. We systematically collected Raman spectra from six Omicron subvariants available in Japan (i.e., BA.1.18, BA.2, BA.4, BA.5, XE, and BA.2.75) and applied machine-learning algorithms to decrypt their structural characteristics at the molecular scale. Unique Raman fingerprints of sulfur-containing amino acid rotamers, RNA purines and pyrimidines, tyrosine phenol ring configurations, and secondary protein structures clearly differentiated the six Omicron subvariants. These spectral characteristics, which were linked to infectiousness, transmissibility, and propensity for immune evasion, revealed evolutionary motifs to be compared with the outputs of genomic studies. The availability of a Raman "metabolomic snapshot", which was then translated into a barcode to enable a prompt subvariant identification, opened the way to rationalize in real-time SARS-CoV-2 activity and variability. As a proof of concept, we applied the Raman barcode procedure to a nasal swab sample retrieved from a SARS-CoV-2 patient and identified its Omicron subvariant by coupling a commercially available magnetic bead technology with our newly developed Raman analyses.

Exploring the Stability and Disorder in the Polymorphs of L-Cysteine through Density Functional Theory and Vibrational Spectroscopy

Static and dynamic density functional calculations are reported for the four known polymorphs of l-cysteine. Static calculations are used to explore the relative free energies (within the harmonic approximation) of the polymorphs as a function of pressure. An important feature of the structural differences between the polymorphs is shown to be the dihedral angle of the C-C-S-H bond. It is shown that, by varying this angle, it is possible to move between hydrogen bonding motifs S-H···S and S-H···O in all four polymorphs. The energetics for dihedral angle rotation are explored, and the barriers for rotation between the hydrogen bonding motifs have been calculated for each polymorph. Two possible models for the experimental disorder observed in Form I at room temperature are explored using both static and dynamic methods; a domain disorder model, where the disorder is localized, and a dispersed disorder model, where the disorder is randomly distributed throughout the crystal. Molecular dynamics calculations show transitions between the two hydrogen bonding motifs occurring in the dispersed disorder model at 300 and 350 K. In addition, molecular dynamics calculations of Form IV also showed the onset of hydrogen bond disorder at 300 K. Calculations of the predicted infrared and terahertz absorption are performed for both the static and dynamic simulations, and the results are compared with experimental results to understand the influence of disorder on the observed spectra.

Dimension-Dependent Magnetic Behavior of Manganese-Cysteine Inorganic Complex Nanoparticles

A cysteine-based complex of Mn²⁺ led to the formation of nanoparticles in aqueous medium under ambient conditions. The formation and evolution of the nanoparticles in the medium were followed by ultraviolet-visible light (UV-vis) spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and electron spin resonance spectroscopy that also revealed a first-order process. The magnetic properties of the nanoparticles isolated as solid powders exhibited strong crystallite and particle size dependence. At low crystallite size, as well as particle size, the complex nanoparticles showed superparamagnetic behavior similar to other magnetic inorganic nanoparticles. The magnetic nanoparticles were found to undergo a superparamagnetic to ferromagnetic transition, and then to paramagnetic transition with a gradual increase in either their crystallite size or particle size. The discovery of dimension-dependent magnetic property of inorganic complex nanoparticles may usher in a superior option for tuning the magnetic behavior of nanocrystals, depending on the component ligands and metal ions.

In Situ and Ex Situ Raman Studies of Cysteine’s Behavior on a Titanium Surface in Buffer Solution

In this paper, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to investigate the adsorption process of cysteine (Cys). Studies were carried out in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline solution (PBS), at pH 7.4, and acidified to pH 5, 3, and 1, on the surface of Ti for implant application. In situ SERS spectra obtained for the Cys/Ti solution system, after 24 h of immersion time, indicated that the buffer solution strongly influences the adsorption behavior of Cys on the Ti surface. This results in a decrease in Cys adsorption on the Ti surface, in the range of pH 7.4 to 3. The strong interaction between a sulfur atom of Cys and a Ti surface was observed only at pH = 1, under strongly acidic conditions. In contrast, ex situ SERS spectra recorded for the same samples but in a dried Cys/Ti system show a completely different behavior of Cys on the Ti surface. Formation of a disulfide (S-S) bond has occurred as a result of the dimerization or aggregation of Cys molecules on the Ti surface. Detailed analysis of the adsorption behavior of Cys on the Ti surface can be very important in the preparation of bioactive materials (i.e., coated by organic layers).

Raman Fingerprints of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant and Mechanisms of Its Instantaneous Inactivation by Silicon Nitride Bioceramics

Raman spectroscopy uncovered molecular scale markers of the viral structure of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and related viral inactivation mechanisms at the biological interface with silicon nitride (Si3N4) bioceramics. A comparison of Raman spectra collected on the TY11-927 variant (lineage B.1.617.2; simply referred to as the Delta variant henceforth) with those of the JPN/TY/WK-521 variant (lineage B.1.617.1; referred to as the Kappa variant or simply as the Japanese isolate henceforth) revealed the occurrence of key mutations of the spike receptor together with profound structural differences in the molecular structure/symmetry of sulfur-containing amino acid and altered hydrophobic interactions of the tyrosine residue. Additionally, different vibrational fractions of RNA purines and pyrimidines and dissimilar protein secondary structures were also recorded. Despite mutations, hydrolytic reactions at the surface of silicon nitride (Si3N4) bioceramics induced instantaneous inactivation of the Delta variant at the same rate as that of the Kappa variant. Contact between virions and micrometric Si3N4 particles yielded post-translational deimination of arginine spike residues, methionine sulfoxidation, tyrosine nitration, and oxidation of RNA purines to form formamidopyrimidines. Si3N4 bioceramics proved to be a safe and effective inorganic compound for instantaneous environmental sanitation.

In situ Raman spectroscopy for real time detection of cysteine

Cysteine serves a wide range of important biological and chemical functions and may have an association to neurodegenerative disease and cancer. Rapid, accurate analytical methods for cysteine detection are thus highly desirable. In this work, we report an investigation into the utility of in situ Raman spectroscopy as a Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for real time monitoring of cysteine. Cysteine concentrations are tracked in real time using Raman spectroscopy across a range of pharmaceutically-relevant concentrations, demonstrating the capability of Raman spectroscopy detection for in situ cysteine monitoring. The concentration range over which this analytical methodology can be applied is successfully established. As such, the results herein serve as a proof-of-principle investigation to demonstrate and evaluate the capabilities of a real time Raman spectroscopic approach for in situ cysteine detection, thus informing the range of important chemical and biological processes to which this approach can be applied. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of in situ Raman spectroscopy for real time monitoring of dynamically changing cysteine process concentrations.

Interaction Mechanisms and Interface Configuration of Cysteine Adsorbed on Gold, Silver, and Copper Nanoparticles

Cysteine-protected metal nanoparticles (NPs) have shown interesting physicochemical properties of potential utility in biomedical applications and in the understanding of protein folding. Herein, cysteine interaction with gold, silver, and copper NPs is characterized by Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations to elucidate the molecular conformation and adsorption sites for each metal. The experimental analysis of Raman spectra upon adsorption with respect to free cysteine indicates that while the C-S bond and carboxyl group are similarly affected by adsorption on the three metal NPs, the amino group is sterically influenced by the electronegativity of each metal, causing a greater modification in the case of gold NPs. A theoretical approach that takes into consideration intermolecular interactions using two cysteine molecules is proposed using a S-metal-S interface motif anchored to the metal surface. These interactions generate the stabilization of an organo-metallic complex that combines gauche (P_H) and anti (P_C) rotameric conformers of cysteine on the surface of all three metals. Similarities between the calculated Raman spectra and experimental data confirm the thiol and carboxyl as adsorption groups for gold, silver, and copper NPs and suggest the formation of monomeric "staple motifs" that have been found in the protecting monolayer of atomic-precise thiolate-capped metal nanoclusters.

Crystalline structures of L-cysteine and L-cystine: a combined theoretical and experimental characterization

It is assumed that genetic diseases affecting the metabolism of cysteine and the kidney function lead to two different kinds of pathologies, namely cystinuria and cystinosis whereby generate L-cystine crystals. Recently, the presence of L-cysteine crystal has been underlined in the case of cystinosis. Interestingly, it can be strikingly seen that cystine ([-S-CH₂-CH-(NH₂)-COOH]₂) consists of two cysteine (C₃H₇NO₂S) molecules connected by a disulfide (S-S) bond. Therefore, the study of cystine and cysteine is important for providing a better understanding of cystinuria and cystinosis. In this paper, we elucidate the discrepancy between L-cystine and L-cysteine by investigating the theoretical and experimental infrared spectra (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as Raman spectra aiming to obtain a better characterization of abnormal deposits related to these two genetic pathologies.

Multiple surface interaction mechanisms direct the anchoring, co-aggregation and formation of dual-species biofilm between Candida albicans and Helicobacter pylori

Introduction

Polymicrobial biofilms have a significant impact on pathogenesis of infectious microorganisms. Many human diseases are affected by colonization of multi-species communities affecting negatively the treatments and increase the risks for the health. In particular, in the epithelium of the stomach co-existence between C. albicans and H. pylori has been described, which has been associated to a synergistic effect on ulcer pathogenesis.

Objective

The objective of this work was to advance in the understanding of surface interaction between H. pylori and C. albicans for the formation of polymicrobial biofilms.

Methods

Studies of microbial surfaces both bacterium, yeast and co-cultures of them were carried out by infrared spectroscopy, deconvolution analysis, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, and optic microscopy. Additional methods were used to contrast the results as dynamic light scattering, contact angle, agarose gel electrophoresis and gene amplification.

Results

Several surface interaction mechanisms promote the anchoring of H. pylori on C. albicans, cell co-aggregation, and polymicrobial biofilm formation, main identified interactions were: (i) hydrophobic interactions between non-polar peptide chains and lipid structures, characterized by θ_w among 84.9 ± 1.6 (γ = 22.78 mJ/m² with 95.3 of dispersive contribution) and 76.6 ± 3.8 (γ = 17.34 mJ/m², 40.2 of dispersive contribution) for C. albicans and H. pylori, respectively, (ii) hydrogen bonds between surface components of yeast and bacterium (e.g., -S-H⋅⋅⋅NH₂- or -S-H⋅⋅⋅O[bond, double bond]CO-) and (iii) thiol-mediated surface interactions identified by displacements to lower wavenumbers (Δv = 5 cm^-1). Evidence of internalization and electrostatic interactions were not evidenced. All observations were congruent with the biofilm formation, including the identification of small-size biostructures (i.e., 122-459 nm) associated with extracellular proteins, extracellular DNA, or outer membrane vesicles were observed characteristic of biofilm formation.

Conclusion

It is concluded that biofilm is formed by co-aggregation after anchoring of H. pylori on C. albicans. Several surface interactions were associated with the prevalence of H. pylori, the possibility to find C. albicans in the stomach epithelium infected by H. pylori, but also, strength interactions could be interfering in experimental observations associated with bacterial-DNA detection in culture mixtures.

Raman Molecular Fingerprints of SARS-CoV-2 British Variant and the Concept of Raman Barcode

The multiple mutations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus have created variants with structural differences in both their spike and nucleocapsid proteins. While the functional relevance of these mutations is under continuous scrutiny, current findings have documented their detrimental impact in terms of affinity with host receptors, antibody resistance, and diagnostic sensitivity. Raman spectra collected on two British variant sub-types found in Japan (QK002 and QHN001) are compared with that of the original Japanese isolate (JPN/TY/WK-521), and found bold vibrational differences. These included: i) fractions of sulfur-containing amino acid rotamers, ii) hydrophobic interactions of tyrosine phenol ring, iii) apparent fractions of RNA purines and pyrimidines, and iv) protein secondary structures. Building upon molecular scale results and their statistical validations, the authors propose to represent virus variants with a barcode specially tailored on Raman spectrum. Raman spectroscopy enables fast identification of virus variants, while the Raman barcode facilitates electronic recordkeeping and translates molecular characteristics into information rapidly accessible by users.

Synergistic Inhibition Effect of Chitosan and L-Cysteine for the Protection of Copper-Based Alloys against Atmospheric Chloride-Induced Indoor Corrosion

The protection of metals from atmospheric corrosion is a task of primary importance for many applications and many different products have been used, sometimes being toxic and harmful for health and the environment. In order to overcome drawbacks due to toxicity of the corrosion inhibitors and harmful organic solvents and to ensure long-lasting protection, new organic compounds have been proposed and their corrosion inhibition properties have been investigated. In this work, we describe the use of a new environment-friendly anticorrosive coating that takes advantage of the synergism between an eco-friendly bio-polymer matrix and an amino acid. The corrosion inhibition of a largely used Copper-based (Cu-based) alloy against the chloride-induced indoor atmospheric attack was studied using chitosan (CH) as a biopolymer and l-Cysteine (Cy) as an amino acid. To evaluate the protective efficacy of the coatings, tailored accelerated corrosion tests were carried out on bare and coated Cu-based alloys, further, the nature of the protective film formed on the Cu-based alloy surface was analyzed by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) while the surface modifications due to the corrosion treatments were investigated by optical microscopy (OM). The evaluation tests reveal that the Chitosan/l-Cysteine (CH/Cy) coatings exhibit good anti-corrosion properties against chloride attack whose efficiency increases with a minimum amount of Cy of 0.25 mg/mL.

LEAFY protein crystals with a honeycomb structure as a platform for selective preparation of outstanding stable bio-hybrid materials

Well-organized protein assemblies offer many properties that justify their use for the design of innovative bionanomaterials. Herein, crystals of the oligomerization domain of the LEAFY protein from Ginkgo biloba, organized in a honeycomb architecture, were used as a modular platform for the selective grafting of a ruthenium-based complex. The resulting bio-hybrid crystalline material was fully characterized by UV-visible and Raman spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry and LC-MS analysis after selective enzymatic digestion. Interestingly, insertion of complexes within the tubular structure affords an impressive increase in stability of the crystals, eluding the use of stabilizing cross-linking strategies.

Is the Use of Surface-Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy Justified in the Selection of Peptide Fragments That Play a Role in Substrate-Receptor Interactions? Adsorption of Amino Acids and Neurotransmitters on Colloidal Ag and Au Nanoparticles

This paper describes an application of attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and surface-enhanced infrared spectroscopy (SEIRA) to characterize the selective adsorption of four peptides present in body fluids such as neuromedin B (NMB), bombesin (BN), neurotensin (NT), and bradykinin (BK), which are known as markers for various human carcinomas. To perform a reliable analysis of the SERIA spectra of these peptides, curve fitting of these spectra in the spectral region above 1500 cm^–1 and SEIRA measurements of sulfur-containing and aromatic amino acids were performed. On the basis of the analyses of the spectral profiles, specific conclusions were drawn regarding specific molecule–metal interactions and changes in the interaction during the substrate change from the surface of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites-Extracellular Synthesis, Physicochemical Characterization and Antibacterial Potential

This research presents, for the first time, the potential of the Lactobacillus paracasei LC20 isolated from sweet whey as a novel, effective and accessible source for post-cultured ZnO nanocomposites synthesis. The obtained nanocomposites were subjected to comprehensive characterization by a broad spectrum of instrumental techniques. Results of spectroscopic and microscopic analysis confirmed the hexagonal crystalline structure of ZnO in the nanometer size. The dispersion stability of the obtained nanocomposites was determined based on the zeta potential (ZP) measurements-the average ZP value was found to be -29.15 ± 1.05 mV in the 7-9 pH range. The ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) demonstrated thermal stability up to 130 °C based on the results of thermogravimetric TGA/DTG) analysis. The organic deposit on the nanoparticle surface was recorded by spectroscopic analysis in the infrared range (FT-IR). Results of the spectrometric study exhibited nanostructure-assisted laser desorption/ionization effects and also pointed out the presence of organic deposits and, what is more, allowed us to identify the specific amino acids and peptides present on the ZnO NCs surfaces. In this context, mass spectrometry (MS) data confirmed the nano-ZnO formation mechanism. Moreover, fluorescence data showed an increase in fluorescence signal in the presence of nanocomposites designed for potential use as, e.g., biosensors. Despite ZnO NCs' luminescent properties, they can also act as promising antiseptic agents against clinically relevant pathogens. Therefore, a pilot study on the antibacterial activity of biologically synthesized ZnO NCs was carried out against four strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) by using MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). Additionally, the colony forming units (CFU) assay was performed and quantified for all bacterial cells as the percentage of viable cells in comparison to a control sample (untreated culture) The nanocomposites were effective among three pathogens with MIC values in the range of 86.25-172.5 μg/mL and showed potential as a new type of, e.g., medical path or ointment formulation.

Simple and rapid detection of free 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol based on cysteine modified silver nanoparticles

A rapid colorimetric method using cysteine-modified silver nanoparticles (Cys-AgNPs) is applied for the detection of 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD). Indeed, in the presence of 3-MCPD, the color of Cys-AgNPs solution changes from yellow to pink within five minutes at 100 °C and pH 9.3. This change is mainly attributed to the ability of amino group of cysteine to react with 3-MCPD to form N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-amino acid grafted on AgNPs (3-MCPD-Cys-AgNPs) in alkaline medium. This color change makes 3-MCPD to be clearly detectable by unassisted visual means even at 0.1 μg⋅mL^-1. Besides, using UV-Vis spectroscopic technique, a linear range from 0.1 μg⋅mL^-1 to 1.25 μg⋅mL^-1 for 3-MCPD detection is obtained, with a calculated detection limit of 0.084 μg⋅mL^-1. These results suggest that this sensing technique is sensitive to 3-MCPD and may have a substantial application in the rapid detection of food contaminants particularly, where quality and safety of food products are paramount concern.

Protonation of the Cysteine Axial Ligand Investigated in His/Cys c-Type Cytochrome by UV-Vis and Mid- and Far-IR Spectroscopy

His/Cys coordination was recently found in several c-type cytochromes, which could act as sensors, in electron transport or in regulation. Toward a better understanding of Cys function and reactivity in these cytochromes, we compare cytochrome c6 (c6wt) from the cyanobacterium Nostoc PCC 7120 with its Met58Cys mutant. We probe the axial ligands and heme properties by combining visible and mid- to far-FTIR difference spectroscopies. Cys58 determines the strong negative redox potential and pH dependence of M58C (E_mM58C = -375 mV, versus E_mc6wt = +339 mV). Mid-IR (notably Cys ν(SH), His ν(C₅N₁), heme δ(CmH)) and far-IR (ν(Fe(II)-His), ν(His-Fe(III)-Cys)) markers of the heme and ligands show that Cys58 remains a strong thiolate ligand of reduced Met58Cys at alkaline pH, while it is protonated at pH 7.5, is stabilized by a strong hydrogen bonding interaction, and weakly interacts with Fe(II). These data provide a benchmark for further analysis of c-type cytochromes with natural His/Cys coordination.

Periodic DFT Calculations-Review of Applications in the Pharmaceutical Sciences

In the introduction to this review the complex chemistry of solid-state pharmaceutical compounds is summarized. It is also explained why the density functional theory (DFT) periodic calculations became recently so popular in studying the solid APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients). Further, the most popular programs enabling DFT periodic calculations are presented and compared. Subsequently, on the large number of examples, the applications of such calculations in pharmaceutical sciences are discussed. The mentioned topics include, among others, validation of the experimentally obtained crystal structures and crystal structure prediction, insight into crystallization and solvation processes, development of new polymorph synthesis ways, and formulation techniques as well as application of the periodic DFT calculations in the drug analysis.

Mucoadhesive alginate synthesis: a multivariate calibration approach

Alginate–cysteine thiomer were synthesized by a 2-step DoE and PLSR. Processing variables were calibrated in a single PLS model optimizing –SH and –S–S–. The G′/G′′ was 7-fold higher than neat alginate and –SH was 55–120% higher than previous reports.

DL-3-Aminoisobutyric acid: vibrational, NBO and AIM analysis of N-H⋯O bonded-zwitterionic dimer model

A zwitterionic dimer model constructed of inter-molecular -N-H⋯O bonding has been proposed for the solid sample of DL-3-Aminoisobutyric acid consistent with IR absorption and Raman spectral features measured in the 3500-400/50 cm^-1. This zwitterionic dimer model in water as solvent has been computed at B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) and B3LYP-D3/6-311++G(d,p) levels including Grimme's dispersion correction associated with the -N-H⋯O interaction and SCRF-SMD method. Of the several possible monomer and dimer conformational structures, the most stable dimer constructed of two zwitterion monomer units has produced vibrational modes due to the -NH₃ ⁺ cation and -CO₂‾ anion involved in the -N-H⋯O bonding in fair agreement with the observed broad but composite IR modal features near the 3500-2000 cm^-1. Except for the frequency of asymmetric stretching mode of the -NH₃ ⁺ cation, its symmetric and bending modes agree with the observed values. As for the -CO₂‾ anion, the frequencies of all of its modes are in good agreement with the experiment. Natural bond orbital (NBO), molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), atoms-in-molecules (AIM) and non-covalent interaction (NCI) analyses have been used to understand electronic characterization of the -N-H⋯O bonding.

Photoemission spectroscopy study of structural defects in molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD)

The fingerprint of structural defects in CVD grown MoS2 was revealed by means of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). These defects can be partially healed by grafting thiol-functionalized molecules. The functionalization does not alter the semiconducting properties of MoS2 as confirmed by the photoluminescence spectra.

Engineering the Self-Assembly Induced Emission of Copper Nanoclusters as 3D Nanomaterials with Mesoporous Sphere Structures by the Crosslinking of Ce3

Aggregation-induced emission has provided fluorescence enhancement strategies for metal nanoclusters. However, the morphology of the aggregated nanoclusters tended to be irregular due to the random aggregated route, which would result in the formation of an unstable product. Herein, copper nanoclusters were directly synthesized by using l-cysteine as both the reducing and protection ligand. Initially, the structure of the product was irregular. Furthermore, Ce3+ was introduced to re-arrange the aggregates through a crosslinking avenue. It was interesting to find that well-ordered three-dimensional nanomaterials with mesoporous sphere structures were obtained after re-aggregation. On the basis of the stability test at a relatively high temperature and the light-emitting diode fabrication investigation, it revealed that the regulated product demonstrated more promising stability and color purity for practical applications than the random aggregated product with irregular structures.

In situ study of the precursor conversion reactions during solventless synthesis of Co9S8, Ni3S2, Co and Ni nanowires

Synthesis of Co9S8, Ni3S2, Co and Ni nanowires by solventless thermolysis of a mixture of metal(ii) acetate and cysteine in vacuum is reported. The simple precursor system enables the nanowire phase to be tuned from pure metal (Co or Ni) to metal sulfide (Co9S8, Ni3S2) by varying the relative concentration of the metal(ii) acetate. The growth environment facilitates new insights through in situ characterization using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and thermogravimetric analysis with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TGA-GC-MS). Direct observation by FESEM shows the temperature at which nanowire growth occurs and suggests adatoms are incorporated into the base of the growing nanowire. TGA-GC-MS reveals the rates of precursor decomposition and identity of the volatilized ligand fragments during heat-up and at the nanowire growth temperature. Our results constitute a new approach for the selective fabrication of high quality Co9S8 and Ni3S2 nanowires and more importantly provides new understanding of precursor decomposition reactions that support symmetry-breaking growth in nanocrystals by heat-up synthesis.

Synthesis of thiomers: screening and optimization using chemometrics

A chemometric study of the processing variables involved in the synthesis of thiomers based on poly(acrylic acid) functionalized with l-cysteine (PAA-cys) mediated by carbodiimide was successfully carried out.

Mechanochemical approach for the capping of mixed core CdS/ZnS nanocrystals: Elimination of cadmium toxicity

The wet mechanochemical procedure for the capping of the CdS and CdS/ZnS quantum dot nanocrystals is reported. l-cysteine and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were used as capping agents. When using l-cysteine, the dissolution of cadmium(II) was almost none for CdS/ZnS nanocrystals. Moreover, prepared CdS- and CdS/ZnS-cysteine nanosuspensions exhibited unimodal particle size distributions with very good stability, which was further supported by the zeta potential measurements. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed the successful embedment of cysteine into the structure of the nanocrystals. Additionally, the optical properties were examined, and the results showed that the cysteine nanosuspension has promising fluorescence properties. On the other hand, PVP was not determined to be a very suitable capping agent for the present system. In this case, the release of cadmium(II) was higher in comparison to the l-cysteine capped samples. The nanosuspensions were successfully used for in vitro studies on selected cancer cell lines. Using fluorescence microscopy, it was evidenced that the nanocrystals enter the cell and that they can serve as imaging agents in biomedical applications.

Surface and shape modification of mackinawite (FeS) nanocrystals by cysteine adsorption: a first-principles DFT-D2 study

The surface and shape modulation of mackinawite (FeS) nanoparticles by amino acid cysteine adsorption is investigated using a first-principles density functional theory calculations, corrected for dispersion-interactions (DFT-D2).

Unusual hydrogen bonding in L-cysteine hydrogen fluoride

L-Cysteine hydrogen fluoride, or bis(L-cysteinium) difluoride-L-cysteine-hydrogen fluoride (1/1/1), 2C3H8NO2S(+)·2F(-)·C3H7NO2S·HF or L-Cys(+)(L-Cys···L-Cys(+))F(-)(F(-)...H-F), provides the first example of a structure with cations of the 'triglycine sulfate' type, i.e. A(+)(A···A(+)) (where A and A(+) are the zwitterionic and cationic states of an amino acid, respectively), without a doubly charged counter-ion. The salt crystallizes in the monoclinic system with the space group P2(1). The dimeric (L-Cys···L-Cys(+)) cation and the dimeric (F(-)···H-F) anion are formed via strong O-H···O or F-H···F hydrogen bonds, respectively, with very short O···O [2.4438 (19) Å] and F···F distances [2.2676 (17) Å]. The F···F distance is significantly shorter than in solid hydrogen fluoride. Additionally, there is another very short hydrogen bond, of O-H···F type, formed by a L-cysteinium cation and a fluoride ion. The corresponding O···F distance of 2.3412 (19) Å seems to be the shortest among O-H···F and F-H···O hydrogen bonds known to date. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction study was complemented by IR spectroscopy. Of special interest was the spectral region of vibrations related to the above-mentioned hydrogen bonds.

Gold nanosponges (AuNS): a versatile nanostructure for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic detection of small molecules and biomolecules

Prepared by simple pour and mix chemistry, gold nanosponges (AuNS) are versatile structures for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).