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Zang S, Hauser AW, Paul S, Hocky GM, Sacanna S. Enabling three-dimensional real-space analysis of ionic colloidal crystallization. NATURE MATERIALS 2024; 23:1131-1137. [PMID: 38831129 PMCID: PMC11296917 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-024-01917-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Structures of molecular crystals are identified using scattering techniques because we cannot see inside them. Micrometre-sized colloidal particles enable the real-time observation of crystallization with optical microscopy, but in practice this is still hampered by a lack of 'X-ray vision'. Here we introduce a system of index-matched fluorescently labelled colloidal particles and demonstrate the robust formation of ionic crystals in aqueous solution, with structures that can be controlled by size ratio and salt concentration. Full three-dimensional coordinates of particles are distinguished through in situ confocal microscopy, and the crystal structures are identified via comparison of their simulated scattering pattern with known atomic arrangements. Finally, we leverage our ability to look inside colloidal crystals to observe the motion of defects and crystal melting in time and space and to reveal the origin of crystal twinning. Using this platform, the path to real-time analysis of ionic colloidal crystallization is now 'crystal clear'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Zang
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam W Hauser
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sanjib Paul
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Glen M Hocky
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
- Simons Center for Computational Physical Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Stefano Sacanna
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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Aké AHJ, Rochdi N, Jemo M, Hafidi M, Ouhdouch Y, El Fels L. Cr(VI) removal performance from wastewater by microflora isolated from tannery effluents in a semi-arid environment: a SEM, EDX, FTIR and zeta potential study. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1423741. [PMID: 39011144 PMCID: PMC11246972 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1423741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Hexavalent chromium removal from the environment remains a crucial worldwide challenge. To address this issue, microbiological approaches are amongst the straightforward strategies that rely mainly on the bacteria's and fungi's survival mechanisms upon exposure to toxic metals, such as reduction, efflux system, uptake, and biosorption. In this work, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements were used to investigate the ability of chromium adsorption by Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Byssochlamys sp., and Candida maltosa strains isolated from tannery wastewater. Scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed alterations in the cells treated with hexavalent chromium. When exposed to 50 mg/L Cr6+, Bacillus licheniformis and Candida maltosa cells become rough, extracellular secretions are reduced in Bacillus megaterium, and Byssochlamys sp. cells are tightly bound and exhibit the greatest Cr weight percentage. In-depth analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectra of control and Cr-treated cells unveiled Cr-microbial interactions involving proteins, lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. These findings were supported by zeta potential measurements highlighting significant variations in charge after treatment with Cr(VI) with an adsorption limit of 100 mg/L Cr6+ for all the strains. Byssochlamys sp. showed the best performance in Cr adsorption, making it the most promising candidate for treating Cr-laden wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aké Henri Joël Aké
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Universiry Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Nabil Rochdi
- Laboratory of Innovative Materials, Energy and Sustainable Development (IMED-Lab), Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco
| | - Martin Jemo
- AgroBiosciences Program, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Mohamed Hafidi
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Universiry Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Laâyoune, Morocco
| | - Yedir Ouhdouch
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Universiry Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
- AgroBiosciences Program, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco
| | - Loubna El Fels
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment, Labeled Research Unit-CNRST N°4, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Universiry Cadi Ayyad, Marrakesh, Morocco
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Besford QA, Schubotz S, Chae S, Özdabak Sert AB, Weiss ACG, Auernhammer GK, Uhlmann P, Farinha JPS, Fery A. Molecular Transport within Polymer Brushes: A FRET View at Aqueous Interfaces. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27093043. [PMID: 35566393 PMCID: PMC9102696 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27093043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular permeability through polymer brush chains is implicated in surface lubrication, wettability, and solute capture and release. Probing molecular transport through polymer brushes can reveal information on the polymer nanostructure, with a permeability that is dependent on chain conformation and grafting density. Herein, we introduce a brush system to study the molecular transport of fluorophores from an aqueous droplet into the external “dry” polymer brush with the vapour phase above. The brushes consist of a random copolymer of N-isopropylacrylamide and a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) donor-labelled monomer, forming ultrathin brush architectures of about 35 nm in solvated height. Aqueous droplets containing a separate FRET acceptor are placed onto the surfaces, with FRET monitored spatially around the 3-phase contact line. FRET is used to monitor the transport from the droplet to the outside brush, and the changing internal distributions with time as the droplets prepare to recede. This reveals information on the dynamics and distances involved in the molecular transport of the FRET acceptor towards and away from the droplet contact line, which are strongly dependent on the relative humidity of the system. We anticipate our system to be extremely useful for studying lubrication dynamics and surface droplet wettability processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quinn A. Besford
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
- Correspondence: (Q.A.B.); (A.F.)
| | - Simon Schubotz
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
| | - Soosang Chae
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
| | - Ayşe B. Özdabak Sert
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Istanbul Technical University, 34469 Istanbul, Turkey;
| | - Alessia C. G. Weiss
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
| | - Günter K. Auernhammer
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
| | - Petra Uhlmann
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
| | - José Paulo S. Farinha
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Department of Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Andreas Fery
- Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung e.V., Hohe Str. 6, 01069 Dresden, Germany; (S.S.); (S.C.); (A.C.G.W.); (G.K.A.); (P.U.)
- Correspondence: (Q.A.B.); (A.F.)
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Cui F, Marbach S, Zheng JA, Holmes-Cerfon M, Pine DJ. Comprehensive view of microscopic interactions between DNA-coated colloids. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2304. [PMID: 35484104 PMCID: PMC9051097 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29853-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The self-assembly of DNA-coated colloids into highly-ordered structures offers great promise for advanced optical materials. However, control of disorder, defects, melting, and crystal growth is hindered by the lack of a microscopic understanding of DNA-mediated colloidal interactions. Here we use total internal reflection microscopy to measure in situ the interaction potential between DNA-coated colloids with nanometer resolution and the macroscopic melting behavior. The range and strength of the interaction are measured and linked to key material design parameters, including DNA sequence, polymer length, grafting density, and complementary fraction. We present a first-principles model that screens and combines existing theories into one coherent framework and quantitatively reproduces our experimental data without fitting parameters over a wide range of DNA ligand designs. Our theory identifies a subtle competition between DNA binding and steric repulsion and accurately predicts adhesion and melting at a molecular level. Combining experimental and theoretical results, our work provides a quantitative and predictive approach for guiding material design with DNA-nanotechnology and can be further extended to a diversity of colloidal and biological systems. A quantitative prediction of DNA-mediated interactions between colloids is crucial to the design of colloidal structures for optical applications. Cui et al. measure the interaction potential with nanometer resolution and propose a theory to accurately predict adhesion and melting at a molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Cui
- Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sophie Marbach
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY, USA.,CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Physicochimie des Electrolytes et Nanosystèmes, Interfaciaux, F-75005, Paris, France
| | | | | | - David J Pine
- Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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Opdam J, Tuinier R, Hueckel T, Snoeren TJ, Sacanna S. Selective colloidal bonds via polymer-mediated interactions. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:7438-7446. [PMID: 32633315 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm00942c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Regioselectivity in colloidal self-assembly typically requires specific chemical interactions to guide particle binding. In this paper, we describe a new method to form selective colloidal bonds that relies solely on polymer adsorption. Mixtures of polymer-coated and bare particles are initially stable due to long-ranged electrostatic repulsion. When their charge is screened, the two species can approach each other close enough for polymer bridges to form, binding the particles together. By utilizing colloidal dumbbells, where each lobe is coated with polymer brushes of differing lengths, we demonstrate that the Debye screening length serves as a selective switch for the assembly of bare tracer particles onto the two lobes. We model the interaction using numerical self-consistent field lattice computations and show how regioselectivity arises from just a few nanometers difference in polymer brush length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeri Opdam
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, & Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Remco Tuinier
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, & Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, P. O. Box 513, 5600 MB, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Theodore Hueckel
- Molecular Design Institute, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 29 Washington Place, New York 10003, USA.
| | - Thom J Snoeren
- Molecular Design Institute, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 29 Washington Place, New York 10003, USA.
| | - Stefano Sacanna
- Molecular Design Institute, Department of Chemistry, New York University, 29 Washington Place, New York 10003, USA.
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