Minho Yoon

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using chlorogenic acid and their enhanced performance for inflammation.

UNLABELLED Here we developed a novel green synthesis method for gold nanoparticles (CGA-AuNPs) using chlorogenic acid (CGA) as reductants without the use of other chemicals and validated the anti-inflammatory efficacy of CGA-AuNPs in vitro and in vivo. The resulting CGA-AuNPs appeared predominantly spherical in shape with an average diameter of 22.25±4.78nm. The crystalline nature of the CGA-AuNPs was confirmed by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and by selected-area electron diffraction analyses. High-resolution liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry revealed that the caffeic acid moiety of CGA forms quinone structure through a two-electron oxidation causing the reduction of Au(3+) to Au(0). When compared to CGA, CGA-AuNPs exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory effects on NF-κB-mediated inflammatory network, as well as cell adhesion. Collectively, green synthesis of CGA-AuNPs using bioactive reductants and mechanistic studies based on mass spectrometry may open up new directions in nanomedicine and CGA-AuNPs can be an anti-inflammatory nanomedicine for future applications. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been shown to be very useful in many applications due to their easy functionalization capability. In this article, the authors demonstrated a novel method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles using chlorogenic acid (CGA) as reductants. In-vitro experiments also confirmed biological activity of the resultant gold nanoparticles. Further in-vivo studies are awaited.

Isogeometric topological shape optimization using dual evolution with boundary integral equation and level sets

Abstract An isogeometric topological shape optimization method is developed, using a dual evolution of NURBS curves and level sets; the NURBS curves feature the exact representation of geometry and the level sets help to detect and guide the topological variation of NURBS curves. The implicit geometry by the level sets is transformed into the parametric NURBS curves by minimizing the difference of velocity fields in both representations. A gradient-based optimization problem is formulated, based on the evolution of the NURBS curves. The control points of NURBS curves are taken as design variables. The necessary response and design sensitivity are computed by an isogeometric boundary integral equation method (BIEM) using the NURBS curves. The design sensitivity is obtained on fixed grids and utilized as the velocity to update the Hamilton–Jacobi equation for the level sets. To obtain the whole velocity field on the fixed grids, an interpolation and velocity extension scheme are employed. The developed method provides accurate response and enhanced sensitivity using isogeometric BIEM. Also, additional post-processing is not required to communicate with CAD systems since the optimal design is represented as NURBS curves. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy of design sensitivity on fixed grids and the feasibility of shape and topological optimization.

Isogeometric Shape Design Optimization of Power Flow Problems at High Frequencies

Abstract Using an isogeometric approach, a continuum-based shape design optimization method is developed for steady state power flow problems at high frequencies. In case the isogeometric method is employed to the shape design optimization, the NURBS basis functions used in CAD geometric modeling are directly utilized to embed the exact geometry into the computational framework so that the design parameterization for shape optimization is much easier than that in the finite element method and consequently provides the enhanced smoothness of design perturbations. Thus, exact geometric models can be used in both the response and the shape sensitivity analyses, where normal vector and curvature are continuous over the whole design space so that enhanced shape sensitivity can be expected. Through numerical examples, the developed isogeometric sensitivity is compared with finite difference one to provide excellent agreement. Also, it turns out that the proposed method works very well in the shape optimization problems.

Level Set Based Shape Optimization of Linear Structures using Topological Derivatives

Abstract Using a level set method and topological derivatives, a topological shape optimization method that is independent of an initial design is developed for linearly elastic structures. In the level set method, the initial domain is kept fixed and its boundary is represented by an implicit moving boundary embedded in the level set function, which facilitates to handle complicated topological shape changes. The “Hamilton-Jacobi(H-J)” equation and computationally robust numerical technique of “up-wind scheme” lead the initial implicit boundary to an optimal one according to the normal velocity field while minimizing the objective function of compliance and satisfying the constraint of allowable volume. Based on the asymptotic regularization concept, the topological derivative is considered as the limit of shape derivative as the radius of hole approaches to zero. The required velocity field to update the H-J equation is determined from the descent direction of Lagrangian derived from optimality conditions. It turns out that the initial holes are not required to get the optimal result since the developed method can create holes whenever and wherever necessary using indicators obtained from the topological derivatives. It is demonstrated that the proper choice of control parameters for nucleation is crucial for efficient optimization process.

Experimental Validation of Isogeometric Optimal Design

Abstract In this paper, the CAD data for the optimal shape design obtained by isogeometric shape optimization is directly used to fabricate the specimen by using 3D printer for the experimental validation. In a conventional finite element method, the geometric approximation inherent in the mesh leads to the accuracy issue in response analysis and design sensitivity analysis. Furthermore, in the finite element based shape optimization, subsequent communication with CAD description is required in the design optimization process, which results in the loss of optimal design information during the communication. Isogeometric analysis method employs the same NURBS basis functions and control points used in CAD systems, which enables to use exact geometrical properties like normal vector and curvature information in the response analysis and design sensitivity analysis procedure. Also, it vastly simplify the design modification of complex geometries without communicating with the CAD description of geometry during design optimization process. Therefore, the information of optimal design and material volume is exactly reflected to fabricate the specimen for experimental validation. Through the design optimization examples of elasticity problem, it is experimentally shown that the optimal design has higher stiffness than the initial design. Also, the experimental results match very well with the numerical results. Using a non-contact optical 3D deformation measuring system for strain distribution, it is shown that the stress concentration is significantly alleviated in the optimal design compared with the initial design.

Isogeometric Shape Sensitivity Analysis in Generalized Curvilinear Coordinate Systems

Finite element analysis is to approximate a geometry model developed in computer-aided design(CAD) to a finite element model, thus the conventional shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization using the finite element method have some difficulties in the parameterization of geometry. However, isogeometric analysis is to build a geometry model and directly use the functions describing the geometry in analysis. Therefore, the geometric properties can be embedded in the NURBS basis functions and control points so that it has potential capability to overcome the aforementioned difficulties. In this study, the isogeometric structural analysis and shape design sensitivity analysis in the generalized curvilinear coordinate(GCC) systems are discussed for the curved geometry. Representing the higher order geometric information, such as normal, tangent and curvature, yields the isogeometric approach to be the best way for generating exact GCC systems from a given CAD geometry. The developed GCC isogeometric structural analysis and shape design sensitivity analysis are verified to show better accuracy and faster convergency by comparing with the results obtained from the conventional isogeometric method.

Isogeometric Shape Design Sensitivity Analysis Using Mixed Transformation Method for Kronecker Delta Property

The isogeometric method is very effective in shape design optimization due to its effectiveness through the easy design parameterization and accurate sensitivities considering the higher order geometric terms. Due to non-interpolatory property of the NUBRS basis functions, however, the treatment of essential boundary condition is not as straightforward in the isogeometric analysis as in the finite element analysis. Taking advantages of the transformation method developed in meshfree methods, we investigate the isogeometric shape sensitivity analysis with the treatment of essential boundary conditions. Using the property that isogeometric basis functions do not depend on design changes, the transformed shape sensitivity equation is developed and verified for the problem having the essential boundary conditions. Numerical costs to construct the transformed basis function are not as much as the meshfree methods due to the NURBS property that only boundary nodes have their supports on the boundary. Through demonstrative numerical examples having the essential boundary conditions, the effectiveness of proposed design sensitivity analysis is verified.Copyright