O. V. Sinitsyna

Biosynthesis of stable iron oxide nanoparticles in aqueous extracts of Hordeum vulgare and Rumex acetosa plants.

We report the synthesis and characterization of amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles from iron salts in aqueous extracts of monocotyledonous (Hordeum vulgare) and dicotyledonous (Rumex acetosa) plants. The nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, absorbance spectroscopy, SAED, EELS, XPS, and DLS methods and were shown to contain mainly iron oxide and iron oxohydroxide. H. vulgare extracts produced amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles with diameters of up to 30 nm. These iron nanoparticles are intrinsically unstable and prone to aggregation; however, we rendered them stable in the long term by addition of 40 mM citrate buffer pH 3.0. In contrast, amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles (diameters of 10-40 nm) produced using R. acetosa extracts are highly stable. The total protein content and antioxidant capacity are similar for both extracts, but pH values differ (H. vulgare pH 5.8 vs R. acetosa pH 3.7). We suggest that the presence of organic acids (such oxalic or citric acids) plays an important role in the stabilization of iron nanoparticles, and that plants containing such constituents may be more efficacious for the green synthesis of iron nanoparticles.

A fully automatable enzymatic method for DNA extraction from plant tissues

BackgroundDNA extraction from plant tissues, unlike DNA isolation from mammalian tissues, remains difficult due to the presence of a rigid cell wall around the plant cells. Currently used methods inevitably require a laborious mechanical grinding step, necessary to disrupt the cell wall for the release of DNA.ResultsUsing a cocktail of different carbohydrases, a method was developed that enables a complete digestion of the plant cell walls and subsequent DNA release. Optimized conditions for the digestion reaction minimize DNA shearing and digestion, and maximize DNA release from the plant cell. The method gave good results in 125 of the 156 tested species.ConclusionIn combination with conventional DNA isolation techniques, the new enzymatic method allows to obtain high-yield, high-molecular weight DNA, which can be used for many applications, including genome characterization by AFLP, RAPD and SSR. Automation of the protocol (from leaf disks to DNA) is possible with existing workstations.

A Genetically Modified Tobacco Mosaic Virus that can Produce Gold Nanoparticles from a Metal Salt Precursor

We genetically modified tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) to surface display a characterized peptide with potent metal ion binding and reducing capacity (MBP TMV), and demonstrate that unlike wild type TMV, this construct can lead to the formation of discrete 10–40 nm gold nanoparticles when mixed with 3 mM potassium tetrachloroaurate. Using a variety of analytical physicochemical approaches it was found that these nanoparticles were crystalline in nature and stable. Given that the MBP TMV can produce metal nanomaterials in the absence of chemical reductants, it may have utility in the green production of metal nanomaterials.

Synthesis and characteristics of the composites based on poly(caproamide) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Polycaproamide composites are synthesized by the anionic activated bulk polymerization of ɛ-caprolactam in the presence of 0.1–5.0 wt % of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and using low-molecularmass monofunctional (N-acetyl-ɛ-caprolactam) and macromolecular polyfunctional (aromatic polyimides) activating agents. The effect of nanotubes on the polymerization of ɛ-caprolactam is studied, and this effect is shown to become more pronounced as the concentration of nanotubes is increased. The effect of nanotubes on the microstructure, phase composition, water sorption, thermophysical, mechanical, and friction characteristics of poly(caproamide) is analyzed.

Low doses of gamma-radiation induce SOS response and increase mutation frequency in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium cells.

This study addresses use of two bacterial test systems (the Ames test and the SOS chromotest) to estimate the effects of low doses of γ-radiation. The most substantial increases in induction of SOS response and mutation frequencies were observed in the first 24h of exposure to γ-radiation as compared to the cells in the exposure-free control. Gamma-radiation also impaired growth and survival of S. typhimurium cells in the first 24h. The effects were attenuated at lower exposure doses and at longer exposure times. In the experiments conducted in this study, at 96h of exposure, the values of some of the γ-radiation effects were lower than the MID (minimum inducing dose) detection limits and, thus, were neglected. Long-term exposure to γ-radiation could also result in combined effects of γ-radiation and the death of cells in the culture.

Surface Relief Changes in Cholesteric Cyclosiloxane Oligomer Films at Different Temperatures.

The development of new approaches for the surface topography control is an important topic as the relief significantly affects physical and chemical properties of surfaces. We studied cholesteric cyclosiloxane oligomeric films on which surface focal conic domains with double-helix pattern were observed by means of AFM. In situ investigation of the dependence of the films topography on temperature showed that the surface relief formation can be effectively managed by varying conditions of thermal treatment. Obtained structures can be frozen by cooling the films below glass-transition temperature.

Properties and microstructure of composites derived from polycaproamide and multiwall carbon nanotubes

Composites were synthesized by anionic in situ polymerisation of ɛ-caprolactam in the presence of 0.1–5.0% of multiwall carbon nanotubes. It is found that nanotube filling increases rigidity and improves the friction characteristics of polycaproamide. The friction coefficient decrease is especially significant at a nanotube concentration of 0.1%. It is shown that nanotubes affect the composite film microstructure.

Multiwall Carbon Nanotube Tips for Scanning Probe Microscopy

In this work, multiwall carbon nanotube tips, which are assembled on the apexes of nichrome wires and AFM cantilevers, were tested. The fabricated probes exhibited high image resolution, namely, 2–6 nm in the sample plane and 2–3 Å in the vertical direction. It was shown that extreme force acting did not cause the degradation of the tips.

Direct Observation of Changes in Focal Conic Domains of Cholesteric Films Induced by Ultraviolet Irradiation

The helical supramolecular structure of cholesteric liquid crystalline (LC) films predetermines their outstanding optical properties and the unique nanostructure of their surface. The introduction of photochromic dopants in these films opens up an interesting possibility for creation of smart cholesteric materials with photocontrollable optical and photovariable surface properties. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), we performed in situ measurements of the surface topography of cyclosiloxane LC cholesteric oligomer films during the cholesteric helix twisting caused by their preliminary ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. A chiral-photochromic isosorbide-based dopant was introduced in the films to control the cholesteric helix pitch by UV-irradiation. The initial films are characterized by planar texture with the presence of focal conic domains having the double-spiral relief on their surface. UV-irradiation of these films leads to the cholesteric helix twisting resulting in a decrease in the surface relief period, and the enlargement of defect areas between the domains. The detailed mechanisms of the rearrangement of the film surface structure due to the cholesteric helix twisting are suggested. They include the rotation and displacement of cholesteric layers in the bulk, and the nucleation of new ones at the surface in defect regions.

Damage of Al2O3 Ceramics under the Action of Pulsed Ion and Plasma Fluxes and Laser Irradiation

The effects of powerful pulsed ion and high-temperature plasma fluxes generated in a plasma focus (PF) device and the effect of free running laser radiation on a corundum (α-Al2O3) ceramic produced by powder technology are studied. The power flux density q and acting pulse time τ for plasma stream, ion flux, and laser irradiation were qp ≈ 107 W/cm2 and τp ≈ 100 ns, qi ≈ 108 W/cm2 and τi ≈ 20 ns, and ql ≈ (3–5) × 105 W/cm2 and τl ≈ 0.7 ms, respectively. The resistance of the ceramic to pulsed energy fluxes was estimated by the weight loss of irradiated specimens and by the surface layer defects (damage). The combined use of PF and pulsed laser irradiation is shown to allow simulation of the extreme erosion and damage of materials in thermonuclear fusion facilities (such as ELM effects in ITER or at the first wall of inertial confinement chambers).