Spontaneous deposition of polylysine on surfaces: Role of the secondary structure to optimize noncovalent coating strategies

Crosslinked polypeptide films via RAFT mediated continuous assembly of polymers

Polypeptide coatings are a cornerstone in the field of surface modification due to their widespread biological potential. As their properties are dictated by their structural features, subsequent control thereof using unique fabrication strategies is important. Herein, we report a facile method of precisely creating densely crosslinked polypeptide films with unusually high random coil conformations through continuous assembly polymerization via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (CAP-RAFT). CAP-RAFT was fundamentally investigated using methacrylated poly- L -lysine (PLLMA) and methacrylated poly- L -glutamic acid (PLGMA). Careful technique refinement resulted in films up to 36.1 ± 1.1 nm thick which could be increased to 94.9 ± 8.2 nm after using this strategy multiple times. PLLMA and PLGMA films were found to have 30-50% random coil conformations. Degradation by enzymes present during wound healing reveals potential for applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Wear-resistant and robust superamphiphobic coatings with hierarchical TiO2/SiO2 composite particles and inorganic adhesives

Superamphiphobic coatings, which could repel liquids with a surface tension as low as 21.6 mN m⁻¹ (n-octane), were prepared using a spray-coating method based on a flower-like hierarchical structure and highly fluorinated TiO₂/SiO₂ composite particles.

Impedance Study of Dopamine Effects after Application on 2D and 3D Neuroblastoma Cell Cultures Developed on a 3D-Printed Well

In this work, the assessment of the interactions of a bioactive substance applied to immobilized cells in either a two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) arrangement mimicking in vivo tissue conditions is presented. In particular, dopamine (DA) was selected as a stimulant for the implementation of an impedance analysis with a specific type of neural cells (murine neuroblastoma). The aim of this study was the extraction of calibration curves at various frequencies with different known dopamine concentrations for the description of the behavior of dopamine applied to 2D and 3D cell cultures. The results present the evaluation of the mean impedance value for each immobilization technique in each frequency. The differential responses showed the importance of the impedance when frequency is applied in both 2D and 3D immobilization cases. More specifically, in 2D immobilization matrix impedance shows higher values in comparison with the 3D cell culture. Additionally, in the 3D case, the impedance decreases with increasing concentration, while in the 2D case, an opposite behavior was observed.

A different wettable Janus material with universal floatability for anti-turnover and lossless transportation of crude oil

Flower-like TiO₂ particles were prepared to endow diverse materials with the ability of steady floatability and anti-turnover on different liquids. This strategy was applied in the design of a promising way for lossless transportation of crude oil via sea.

Atomic Force Microscopy and Angular-Dependent X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Studies of Anchored Quaternary Ammonium Salt Biocides on Quartz Surfaces

A siloxane surface-anchored quaternary ammonium salt (AQAS: BIOSAFE HM4100 in this study) has been chemisorbed onto a quartz substrate. The aim of this study is to elucidate, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the structure of the chemisorbed AQAS layers. The AQAS biocide includes a C₁₈ alkyl chain previously invoked in lysis potency. The AQAS coverage appears in zones on the surface, which include a first layer (2.6 ± 0.1 nm) and multilayering that were explored using AFM. The XPS data exhibited two N 1s signals at about 402 and 399 eV, with only the former exhibiting angular dependence. This signal at 402 eV was assigned to the first anchored layer with perpendicular orientation determined by the AQAS anchoring to the surface. In preliminary AFM studies of bacteria on these AQAS surfaces, perturbations on the Staphylococcus aureus cells and the degradation of Escherichia coli cells suggest lysis potency.

ZnTPPS demetalation: Role of polyelectrolytes on aggregation after protonation in acid

Acid-base properties of tetra-anionic zinc meso-5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (ZnTPPS) in presence of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes are studied by UV-visible spectroscopy. In fact, spectral modifications related to the out-of-plane deformation of porphyrins after protonation allow for an easy probing of the protonation event that, in presence of a metal derivative, requires a deprotonation step. Interactions with poly-D-glutamate and poly-L-lysine, modulated by system electrostatics and by the presence of an axially-coordinated central metal ion, trigger both protonation occurrences as well as porphyrin self-aggregation. The crucial role of electrostatic interactions experienced by the metalated inner core in strong acid solution, probed by UV-visible spectroscopy, are discussed.

Stretch-Induced Helical Conformations in Poly(l-lysine)/Hyaluronic Acid Multilayers

We investigate the effect of stretching on the secondary structure of cross-linked poly(l-lysine)/hyaluronic acid (PLL/HA) multilayers. We show that stretching these films induces changes in the secondary structure of PLL chains. Our results suggest that not only α- but also 310-helices might form in the film under stretching. Such 310-helices have never been observed for PLL so far. These changes of the secondary structure of PLL are reversible, i.e., when returning to the nonstretched state one recovers the initial film structure. Using molecular dynamics simulations of chains composed of 20 l-lysine residues (PLL20), we find that these chains never adopt a helical conformation in water. In contrast, when the end-to-end distance of the chains is restrained to values smaller than the mean end-to-end distance of free chains, a distance domain rarely explored by the free chains, helical conformations become accessible. Moreover, the formation of not only α- but also 310-helices is predicted by the simulations. These results suggest that the change of the end-to-end distance of PLL chains in the stretched film is at the origin of the helix formation.