The SuperCam Instrument Suite on the Mars 2020 Rover: Science Objectives and Mast-Unit Description

On the NASA 2020 rover mission to Jezero crater, the remote determination of the texture, mineralogy and chemistry of rocks is essential to quickly and thoroughly characterize an area and to optimize the selection of samples for return to Earth. As part of the Perseverance payload, SuperCam is a suite of five techniques that provide critical and complementary observations via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VISIR), high-resolution color imaging (RMI), and acoustic recording (MIC). SuperCam operates at remote distances, primarily 2-7 m, while providing data at sub-mm to mm scales. We report on SuperCam's science objectives in the context of the Mars 2020 mission goals and ways the different techniques can address these questions. The instrument is made up of three separate subsystems: the Mast Unit is designed and built in France; the Body Unit is provided by the United States; the calibration target holder is contributed by Spain, and the targets themselves by the entire science team. This publication focuses on the design, development, and tests of the Mast Unit; companion papers describe the other units. The goal of this work is to provide an understanding of the technical choices made, the constraints that were imposed, and ultimately the validated performance of the flight model as it leaves Earth, and it will serve as the foundation for Mars operations and future processing of the data.In France was provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Human resources were provided in part by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and universities. Funding was provided in the US by NASA's Mars Exploration Program. Some funding of data analyses at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was provided by laboratory-directed research and development funds

Cyclodextrins: A promising drug delivery vehicle for bisphosphonate

International audienceBisphosphonates are well established pharmaceutical drugs with wide applications in medicine. Nevertheless, the side chain and the nature of phosphorous groups could induce a poor aqueous solubility and act on their bioavailability. At the same time, cyclodextrins are cage molecules that facilitate transport of hydrophobic molecules to enhance the intestinal drug absorption of these molecules by forming inclusion complexes.Here we demonstrate that cyclodextrins could be used as a bisphosphonate carrier. The formation of cyclodextrins-bisphosphonate complexes was characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and UV–vis spectroscopy. The results revealed that only the side chain of bisphosphonate was involved in the inclusion phenomenon and its length was a crucial parameter in the control of affinity. Findings from this study suggest that cyclodextrin will be a useful carrier for bisphosphonates

Nootkatone encapsulation by cyclodextrins: Effect on water solubility and photostability

International audienceNootkatone (NO) is a sesquiterpenoid volatile flavor, used in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, possessing also insect repellent activity. Its application is limited because of its low aqueous solubility and stability; this could be resolved by encapsulation in cyclodextrins (CDs). This study evaluated the encapsulation of NO by CDs using phase solubility studies, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and molecular modeling. Solid CD/NO inclusion complex was prepared and characterized for encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity using UV–Visible. Thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis and release studies were performed using multiple headspace extraction. Formation constants (Kf) proved the formation of stable inclusion complexes. NO aqueous solubility, photo- and thermal stability were enhanced and the release could be insured from solid complex in aqueous solution. This suggests that CDs are promising carrier to improve NO properties and, consequently, to enlarge its use in foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals preparations

Determination of formation constants and structural characterization of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with two phenolic isomers: carvacrol and thymol

Carvacrol and thymol have been widely studied for their ability to control food spoilage and to extend shelf-life of food products due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. However, they suffer from poor aqueous solubility and pronounced flavoring ability that limit their application in food systems. These drawbacks could be surpassed by encapsulation in cyclodextrins (CDs). Applications of their inclusion complexes with CDs were reported without investigating the inclusion phenomenon in deep. In this study, inclusion complexes were characterized in terms of formation constants (Kf), complexation efficiency (CE), CD:guest molar ratio and increase in bulk formulation by using an UV–visible competitive method, phase solubility studies as well as 1H and DOSY 1H NMR titration experiments. For the first time, a new algorithmic treatment that combines the chemical shifts and diffusion coefficients variations for all guest protons was applied to calculate Kf. The position of the hydroxy group in carvacrol and thymol did not affect the stoichiometry of the inclusion complexes but led to a different binding stability with CDs. 2D ROESY NMR experiments were also performed to prove the encapsulation and illustrate the stable 3D conformation of the inclusion complexes. The structural investigation was accomplished with molecular modeling studies. Finally, the radical scavenging activity of carvacrol and thymol was evaluated by the ABTS radical scavenging assay. An improvement of this activity was observed upon encapsulation. Taken together, these results evidence that the encapsulation in CDs could be valuable for applications of carvacrol and thymol in food

Internal structure investigation of pyrogenic modified silica by fluorescent labeling

International audienceWe present our recent investigation on the internal structure of hybrid materials based on pyrogenic chlorobenzylated silica obtained by classical heating and sonochemistry. A fluorescent labelling by the alkoxypyridylindolizine derivative was carried out by linking the chlorobenzyl pattern, of the native hybrid materials, by quaternization of the free pyridyl group contained in the fluorescent unit. The two fluorescent materials were characterized by InfraRed spectroscopy, Solid-state 13C NMR, Thermal analysis, SEM and the structural parameters were determined from the nitrogen's isotherm sorption using BET method and BJH model. It is shown that the fluorescence properties depend of the internal structure of materials and, consequently, of the synthesis methodology. So, the thermic way has furnished an open porous system while the sonochemical method's has led to a more closed porous system

Cyclodextrins: from solute to solvent

International audienceA supramolecular solvent based on cyclodextrin (CD) is presented here for the first time. Indeed, a low melting mixture was obtained by mixing levulinic acid and a CD derivative, which retained its inclusion ability in the resulting solvent. This new system gives rise to a new family of solvents that could be called SUPRADES (supramolecular deep eutectic solvents)

The effect of cyclodextrin complexation on the solubility and photostability of nerolidol as pure compound and as main constituent of cabreuva essential oil

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New fluorescent and electropolymerizable N-azacrown carbazole as a selective probe for iron (III) in aqueous media

International audienceA new N-azacrown carbazole fluoroionophore 1 was synthesized by microwave path and its sensing behavior toward metal ions was investigated by spectroscopic methods. This new structure proved to be an excellent selective fluorescent probe toward Fe3+ in non-buffered aqueous solution without interference with the background metal ions (Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+ and Ga3+). Additionally, the immobilization of this new selective iron probe was successfully achieved on gold electrode by electro-polymerization and monitored by EQCM

New generation of supramolecular mixtures: Characterization and solubilization studies

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