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Small “Molecular Flashlight” Could Change Brain Disease Detection
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Posted by Okachinepa on 01/01/2025 @
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: Centro Nacional De Investigaciones Oncologicas
In biomedical research, it has long been difficult to examine molecular alterations in the brain brought on by neurological illnesses and cancer without intrusive treatments. Now, researchers have created a novel method that allows for in-depth molecular analysis by shining light into mice's brains using an incredibly thin probe. International researchers, including teams from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), collaborated to produce the findings, which were published today (December 31) in the journal Nature Methods.
Because it illuminates nerve tissue and reveals its chemical makeup, the researchers refer to this invention as a "molecular flashlight." With this method, researchers can identify genetic alterations linked to primary and metastatic brain cancers as well as traumas like traumatic brain injury.
Invisible to the human sight, the molecular flashlight is a probe that is less than 1 mm thick and has a tip that is only one micron wide, or around one thousandth of a millimeter. Since a human hair is between 30 and 50 microns in diameter, it can be put deeply into the brain without harming it.
The flashlight-probe is mainly a "promising" research tool in animal models that enables "monitoring molecular changes caused by traumatic brain injury, as well as detecting diagnostic markers of brain metastasis with high accuracy," according to the paper's authors. It is not yet ready for patient testing.
The experiment was conducted by the European NanoBright consortium, which comprises two Spanish groups: the Neuronal Circuits Laboratory of the Cajal Institute at the CSIC, led by Liset Menéndez de la Prida, and the group headed by Manuel Valiente, who leads the CNIO's Brain Metastasis Group. The instrumentation was built by teams from French and Italian institutions, while both teams have been in charge of the biomedical research at NanoBright.
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit:CNIO
Although it is a fantastic accomplishment, the use of light to record or stimulate brain function is not a novel technology. For instance, individual neurons' activity can be controlled by light using so-called optogenetic techniques. To make the neurons light-sensitive, these techniques include introducing a gene into the neurons. A paradigm change in biomedical research has been brought about by NanoBright's revolutionary technology, which allows the brain to be investigated without any prior alterations.
The new molecular lamp is based on a technique known as vibrational spectroscopy. It operates by taking use of a characteristic of light called the Raman effect, which states that the way light interacts with molecules depends on their structure and chemical makeup. This makes it possible to identify a distinct spectrum, or signal, for every molecule. After then, the spectrum serves as a molecular signature that reveals details about the makeup of the tissue that is illuminated.
"This technology enables us to study the brain in its natural state without the need for prior alteration," says Manuel Valiente. Furthermore, unlike other technologies, it allows us to examine any kind of brain structure, not simply those that have been genetically marked or altered. When a pathology is present, vibrational spectroscopy allows us to observe any chemical changes in the brain.
Neurosurgery already makes use of Raman spectroscopy, albeit in a less accurate and invasive way. According to Valiente, "studies have been conducted on its use during brain tumor surgery in patients." After the majority of the tumor has been surgically removed, a Raman spectroscopy probe can be placed in the operating room to determine whether any cancer cells are still present. the region. But only when the cavity is sufficiently big and the brain is already open is this done. These comparatively big "molecular flashlights" cannot be used in live animal models in a minimally invasive manner.
The NanoBright consortium's probe is referred regarded as "minimally invasive" since it is so thin that any harm it might do when inserted into brain tissue is deemed insignificant.
In Nature Methods, the authors offer particular applications. In experimental models of brain metastases, Valiente's team at CNI has employed the molecular flashlight: "As happens with patients, we have observed tumor fronts releasing cells that would escape surgery," says Valiente. "The difference with current technology is that, regardless of the depth of the tumor, we can now perform this analysis in a minimally invasive manner."
Determining if the data from the probe can "differentiate various oncological entities, such as types of metastases, based on their mutational profiles, by their primary origin, or from different types of brain tumors" is one of the CNIO team's current objectives.
The Cajal Institute team has applied the method to investigate the epileptogenic regions around traumatic brain injury. Depending on whether they were linked to a tumor or a trauma, we were able to distinguish distinct vibrational signatures in the same brain areas that are susceptible to epileptic convulsions. This suggests that the molecular signatures of these areas are affected differently and could be used to distinguish between different pathological entities using automatic classification algorithms, including artificial intelligence,” explains Liset Menéndez de la Prida.
The CSIC researcher says, "We will be able to find new high-precision diagnostic markers by combining vibrational spectroscopy with other modalities for recording brain activity and advanced computational analysis using artificial intelligence." "This will make it easier to create cutting-edge neurotechnology for novel biomedical uses."
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Korea Introduces Groundbreaking Supercapacitors That Charge on Their Own
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Posted by Okachinepa on 12/31/2024 @
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: DGIST
Senior researcher Jeongmin Kim of DGIST and Damin Lee of Kyungpook National University's RLRC have created a novel self-charging energy storage device that effectively stores solar energy. Through the integration of transition metal-based electrode materials, this novel technology dramatically improves the performance of conventional supercapacitors. The group also unveiled a brand-new energy storage system that combines solar cells and supercapacitors.
The researchers used a carbonate and hydroxide composite material based on nickel to create electrodes in order to do this. They increased conductivity and stability by adding transition metal ions like manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn). These developments have pushed the limits of energy storage technology by producing notable gains in energy density, power density, and the general stability of charge and discharge cycles.
In particular, this study's energy density of 35.5 Wh/kg is a significant increase over earlier research's energy storage per unit weight of 5–20 Wh/kg. With a power density of 2555.6 W/kg, it greatly outperforms the numbers from earlier research (-1000 W/kg), indicating the capacity to release more power quickly and providing an instant energy source even for high-power equipment. Furthermore, the device's long-term usability was confirmed by the low loss in performance during repeated cycles of charging and discharging.
Additionally, the study team created an energy storage device that combines supercapacitors and silicon solar cells to create a system that can store solar energy and use it instantly. This system successfully validated the possibility for commercializing the self-charging energy storage device with an overall efficiency of 5.17% and an energy storage efficiency of 63%.
"This study is a significant achievement, as it marks the development of Korea's first self-charging energy storage device combining supercapacitors with solar cells," says Jeongmin Kim, Senior Researcher at DGIST's Nanotechnology Division. We have provided a sustainable energy solution by overcoming the drawbacks of energy storage devices through the use of transition metal-based composite materials. “We will continue to conduct follow-up research to further improve the efficiency of the self-charging device and enhance its potential for commercialization,” said Damin Lee, a researcher at Kyungpook National University’s RLRC.
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The Development of Materials That Are Superhydrophobic
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Posted by Okachinepa on 12/28/2024 @
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous structures composed of metal ions joined by organic linkers. They are useful for gas storage, carbon dioxide separation, and cutting-edge medical technology because of their extraordinary surface area—two grams can cover the area of a football field.
In addition to their internal pores, MOFs' external surfaces have special qualities. By grafting hydrocarbon chains onto thin MOF films, researchers improved these surfaces and produced a water-repellent substance with a contact angle greater than 160 degrees. Better hydrophobicity results from a higher contact angle because water droplets take on a roughly spherical shape rather than dispersing.
Professor Christof Wöll of KIT's Institute of Functional Interfaces explains, "We are able to achieve superhydrophobic surfaces with contact angles that are significantly higher than those of other smooth surfaces and coatings." "The use of monolithic MOF thin films for this purpose is a groundbreaking concept, even though the wetting properties of MOF powder particles have been investigated previously."
Courtesy of Synevol
Credit KIT
The group ascribes these findings to the hydrocarbon chains' brush-like configuration (polymer brushes) on the MOFs. Its hydrophobic qualities depend on their tendency to form "coils" after being grafted onto MOF materials, a disorderly state known to scientists as the "high-entropy state." The researchers claimed that other materials were unable to exhibit this condition of the grafted hydrocarbon chains.
It is noteworthy that even when they employed perfluorinated hydrocarbon chains for grafting—that is, replacing hydrogen atoms with fluorine—the water contact angle remained constant. Perfluorination gives compounds like Teflon their superhydrophobic qualities. However, the scientists discovered that the newly created material drastically reduced the water contact angle. Additional computer simulation analyses verified that unlike hydrocarbon chains, the perfluorinated molecules were unable to adopt the high-entropy state, which is energetically advantageous.
To further lessen the water adhesion strength, the researchers also adjusted the surface roughness of their SAM@SURMOF devices in the nanoscale range. Their hydrophobic and self-cleaning qualities were greatly enhanced, and water droplets began to roll off even at very low inclination angles.
Professor Uttam Manna of IITG's Chemistry department adds, "Our work also includes a detailed theoretical analysis that links the unexpected behavior shown in experiments to the high-entropy state of the molecules grafted to the MOF films." "The design and manufacturing of next-generation materials with optimal hydrophobic properties will be altered by this study."
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Cleaner and Greener Heat Pump Developed by Scientists
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Posted by Okachinepa on 12/25/2024 @
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: U.S Department of Energy Ames National Laboratory
A magnetocaloric heat pump created by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames National Laboratory is comparable to conventional vapor-compression heat pumps in terms of weight, price, and efficiency. Vapor-compression technology, which has been the foundation of heating and cooling systems for over a century, relies on refrigerants that pose significant environmental risks. These refrigerants contribute to global carbon emissions and, when leaked, release chemicals harmful to both humans and ecosystems.
Due to their increased energy efficiency and ability to eliminate refrigerant emissions, magnetocaloric heat pumps present a promising alternative for heating and cooling. However, in all three crucial areas—weight, cost, and performance—magnetocaloric devices have so far been unable to compete with vapor-compression systems. An important step toward more environmentally friendly heating and cooling technologies has been taken with this new development.
According to Julie Slaughter, the leader of the study team, they started their investigation by constructing a magnetocaloric heat pump. "We started by examining what is currently available and how closely the current magnetocaloric devices resemble compressors," she said. "After creating a baseline design, we asked ourselves, 'Now, how far can we push the technology?'"
In order to transfer heat, a magnetocaloric heat pump modifies the magnetic field that is applied to a magnetocaloric material while pumping fluid. Permanent magnets are usually used for this, Slaughter stated. The device's core uses magnetic steel to contain the magnetic field and rotating permanent magnets in relation to the magnetocaloric material. The team's predictions are heavily influenced by how these three parts are arranged as they looked at ways to increase the heat pump's power density.
Evaluating the two most popular magnetocaloric materials employed in these heat pumps was another aspect of their research. substance based on gadolinium and lanthanum-iron-silicon-hydride.
We used gadolinium as the only material in our baseline device to keep things simple. The power capability of lanthanum-iron-silicon materials is higher than that of gadolinium. Thus, the power density automatically rises. They simply aren't as accessible and need a variety of materials in a single device to function well," Slaughter stated. "We included estimates of LaFeSi performance for the most power-dense devices in our evaluations."
Slaughter's team concentrated on making better use of available space and materials, as well as lowering the quantity of magnetic steel and permanent magnet material required for the pump to function well. Because to these efforts, the fundamental components of the system now weigh the same as the compressors that are currently on the market.
"We demonstrated that we can compete with some of the current compressors in terms of power density," Slaughter added. The majority of the mass is made up of magnetic steel and permanent magnets rather than pricey magnetocaloric material, which greatly aids in affordability. We made the assumption that if a device weighs around the same, its mass production cost will also be roughly the same.
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A Groundbreaking Polymer Opens Up the Future of Data Storage
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Posted by Okachinepa on 12/25/2024 @
Courtesy of SynEvol
Credit: Flinders University
An innovative high-density data storage material provides a more effective and environmentally friendly substitute for flash memory, solid-state drives, and conventional hard drives.
More data can be stored on this inexpensive polymer than on traditional hard disk drives because it forms nanoscale patterns that resemble small "dents."
The polymer, created by the Chalker Lab at Flinders University, can be reused several times and has the ability to have its data wiped in a matter of seconds using short heat bursts.
First author and PhD candidate Abigail Mann of Flinders University's College of Science and Engineering says, "This research unlocks the potential for using simple, renewable polysulfides in probe-based mechanical data storage, offering a potential lower-energy, higher density, and more sustainable alternative to current technologies."
Utilizing an atomic force microscope and a scanning probe device, the researchers created and interpreted the indentations, which were made from inexpensive materials, sulfur, and dicyclopentadiene.
The breakthrough, according to senior author Professor Justin Chalker, is the most recent illustration of new-era polymers that have the potential to impact a variety of industries.
Professor Chalker claims that the need for data storage solutions is growing as a result of the big data and artificial intelligence era.
"The information era's ever expanding computing and data storage demands call for new solutions.
"As flash memory, solid-state drives, and hard disk drives are limited by data density limits—the amount of information they can store in a specific area or volume—alternatives are being sought after."
The Flinders University polymer chemistry team used the technique to show data storage densities higher than those of standard hard disk drives.
The ability to write, read, and erase data repeatedly was made possible by the polymer chemistry approach, which is crucial for computers and data storage.
Computer behemoths like IBM, LG Electronics, and Intel have already investigated the idea of storing data as indents on the surface of materials. The energy requirements, prices, and complexity of the data storage materials are some of the obstacles to commercializing the technology, even though this mechanical data storage technique produced some extremely promising storage demonstrations and breakthroughs.
The Flinders polymer, according to senior researchers Drs. Pankaj Sharma and Christopher Gibson, has a special physical structure that enables mechanical force to encode the data via an indentation, and a chemical structure that enables quick reorganization of the polymer upon heating to remove that indent.
Samuel Tonkin, a PhD candidate at Chalker Lab, adds, "The low cost of the building blocks (sulfur and dicyclopentadiene) is an attractive feature that can support future development of the polymer in data storage applications."
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