66 research outputs found
Hybrid protein membranes: Snatch contaminants from water and strike gold
Industrial development, energy production and mining have led to dramatically increased levels of environmental pollutants such as heavy metal ions, metal cyanides and nuclear waste. Current technologies for purifying contaminated waters are typically expensive and ion specific, and there is therefore a significant need for new approaches. Here, we report inexpensive hybrid membranes made from protein amyloid fibrils and activated porous carbon that can be used to remove heavy metal ions and radioactive waste from water. During filtration, the concentration of heavy metal ions drops by three to five orders of magnitude per passage and the process can be repeated numerous times. Notably, their efficiency remains unaltered when filtering several ions simultaneously. The performance of the membrane is enabled by the ability of the amyloids to selectively absorb heavy metal pollutants from solutions. We also show that our membranes can be used to recycle valuable heavy metal contaminants by thermally reducing ions trapped in saturated membranes, leading to the creation of elemental metal nanoparticles and films.
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Multifunctional nanoâbiointerfaces: cytocompatible antimicrobial nanocarriers from stabilizerâfree cubosomes
The rational design of alternative antimicrobial materials with reduced toxicity toward mammalian cells is highly desired due to the growing occurrence of bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics. A promising approach is the design of lipidâbased antimicrobial nanocarriers. However, most of the commonly used polymerâstabilized nanocarriers are cytotoxic. Herein, the design of a novel, stabilizerâfree nanocarrier for the human cathelicidin derived antimicrobial peptide LLâ37 that is cytocompatible and promotes cell proliferation for improved wound healing is reported. The nanocarrier is formed through the spontaneous integration of LLâ37 into novel, stabilizerâfree glycerol monoâoleate (GMO)âbased cubosomes. Transformations in the internal structure of the cubosomes from Pn3m to Im3mâtype and eventually their transition into small vesicles and spherical micelles are demonstrated upon the encapsulation of LLâ37 into their internal bicontinuous cubic structure using small angle Xâray scattering, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and light scattering techniques. Additional in vitro biological assays show the antimicrobial activity of the stabilizerâfree nanoâobjects on a variety of bacteria strains, their cytocompatibility, and cellâ proliferation enhancing effect. The results outline a promising strategy for the comprehensive design of antimicrobial, cytocompatible lipid nanocarriers for the protection and delivery of bioactive molecules with potential for application as advanced wound healing materials
Interaction of cylindrical polymer brushes in dilute and semi-dilute solution
We present a systematic study of flexible cylindrical brush-shaped macromolecules in a good solvent by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), static light scattering (SLS), and by dynamic light scattering (DLS) in dilute and semi-dilute solution. The SLS and SANS data extrapolated to infinite dilution lead to the shape of the polymer that can be modeled in terms of a worm-like chain with a contour length of 380 nm and a persistence length of 17.5 nm. SANS data taken at higher polymer concentration were evaluated by using the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM). We find that the persistence length reduce from 17.5 nm at infinite dilution to 5.3 nm at the highest concentration (volume fraction 0.038). This is comparable with the decrease of the persistence length in semi-dilute concentration predicted theoretically for polyelectrolytes. This finding reveals a softening of stiffness of the polymer brushes caused by their mutual interaction
Simultaneous and continuous measurement of shear elasticity and viscosity of liquids at multiple discrete frequencies
This paper presents the extension of the classical torsional resonance viscometer towards the characterization of linear viscoelastic fluids. By simultaneously tracking multiple resonance frequencies, shear viscosity and elasticity can be monitored at multiple discrete frequencies at the same time. The proposed method is applied to the well-established sensor design of a simple rod-like structure, hence enabling a robust and versatile measurement system that can be used in different applications, such as in-line measurement or hand-held devices. In order to simultaneously control different resonance frequencies, multiple independent phase-locked loops are used, of which each subsystem is responsible for one natural vibration. An analytical description of the relationship between measurement parameters and physical fluid parameters is presented that is valid both for Newtonian and linear viscoelastic fluids. Consequently, calibration of the sensor is possible using Newtonian fluids only. To demonstrate the sensor, viscoelastic polymer and surfactant solutions are investigated at five frequencies between 2 kHz and 20 kHz. Additionally, the test fluids are characterized by means of a classical rotational rheometer (low frequency range) and diffusing-wave spectroscopy (high frequency range). The comparison of all methods shows very good agreement and validates the application of the sensor as resonant rheometer for viscoelastic fluids.ISSN:0035-4511ISSN:1435-152
Arsenic removal from Peruvian drinking water using milk protein nanofibrilâcarbon filters: a field study
The tap water quality in Peru fails to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) drinking water standards; consequently, the local population in Peru has been exposed over the last few years to harmful arsenic levels through water consumption. A field study was conducted in Peru between 2019 and 2020 using granular adsorbers and hybrid membranes based on the technology using milk protein nanofibrilâcarbon hybrid materials previously introduced in the literature by us (S. Bolisetty and R. Mezzenga, Nat. Nanotechnol., 2016, 11, 365). The performance was analyzed across 28 households as well as 3 community-based water treatment plants in some of the Peruvian arsenic burdened regions, covering a range of groundwater arsenic concentrations between 11 ÎŒg Lâ1 and 1.1 mg Lâ1. Three different kinds of filtration units were installed including the combined granular media and hybrid membrane (type I), hybrid membrane alone (type II), and granular media (type III), to determine the effectiveness of different filtration setups for arsenic removal in different regions. The arsenic removal by household filtration units and community filtration units shows a removal efficiency exceeding 99% at various initial arsenic concentrations for a duration up to nine months. In addition, it is shown that an aqueous NaOH solution can be used to regenerate the adsorbent, extending its operational lifetime and the overall capacity for As removal. High purification efficiency, very low cost, safety, little to no energy requirement, possibility of regeneration and simplicity of operation make this technology suitable for arsenic removal from drinking water in a broad range of urban and rural areas.ISSN:2053-1400ISSN:2053-141
Amyloid hybrid membranes for removal of clinical and nuclear radioactive wastewater
Nuclear medicine uses various radioactive compounds for the administration into patients to diagnose and treat diseases, which generates large amounts of radioactively contaminated water. Currently, radioactively contaminated hospital wastewater has to be stored until the contained radionuclides have sufficiently decayed because cost-effective and efficient removal technologies are not available. Similar considerations apply in the nuclear power industry, with, however, decay times of the radionuclides several orders of magnitude higher. Previously, we reported hybrid membranes composed of amyloid fibrils produced from cheap and readily available proteins and activated carbon, which efficiently removed heavy metal ions and radioactive compounds from water. Here, we show that these membranes are highly efficient in the adsorption & removal of diverse, clinically relevant radioactive compounds from hospital wastewater by single-step filtration. The radionuclides technetium (Tc-99m), iodine (I-123) and gallium (Ga-68) can be removed from water with efficiencies above 99.8% in one single step. We also demonstrate the purification of a real clinical wastewater sample from a Swiss hospital containing iodine (I-131) and lutetium (Lu-177). With the use of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET), we were able to visualize the accumulation of the radioactive compounds within the membrane and demonstrate its outstanding performance. By converting large volumes of radioactive wastewater into low volumes of solid radioactive waste, the present technology emerges as a possible game-changer in the treatment of nuclear wastewater.ISSN:2053-1400ISSN:2053-141
Elasticity in Physically Cross-Linked Amyloid Fibril Networks
ISSN:0031-9007ISSN:1079-711
Gelation, phase behavior, and dynamics of ÎČ-Lactoglobulin amyloid fibrils at varying concentrations and ionic strengths
We have investigated the thermodynamic and dynamic behavior of multistranded ÎČ-lactoglobulin protein fibrils in water, by combining static, dynamic, and depolarized dynamic light scattering (SLS, DLS, DDLS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), rheology, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). We focus on the region of the phase diagram at which ionic strength and concentration changes induce transitions in gelation and lyotropic liquid crystalline behavior. An increase in ionic strength, induced by NaCl salt, progressively causes the phase transitions from nematic (N) to gel (G) phases; a further increase causes the transition to a translucent phase and to a macroscopic phase separation, respectively. An increase in fibril concentration induces first a phase transition from an isotropic (I) to a nematic phase (N); a further increase induces the formation of a gel phase. The protein gel strength is investigated by rheology measurements. SANS and osmotic compressibility calculated by SLS measurements clearly capture the main features of the IN transition of ÎČ-lactoglobulin protein fibrils. The form and structure factors measured by scattering experiments are analyzed by the polymer reference interaction site model (PRISM). Dynamics of the protein fibrils at different concentrations, measured by polarized and depolarized dynamic light scattering, show both individual and collective diffusion after the isotropicânematic transition. Above this transition, cryo-TEM images further demonstrate the alignment of the protein fibrils, which is quantified by a 2D order parameter. This work discusses comprehensively, both experimentally and theoretically, the thermodynamics and dynamic features of ÎČ-lactoglobulin amyloid fibrils in a vast region of the concentrationâionic strength phase diagram
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