Articles tagged with Hydrophobicity
A unique shell design on guillemot eggs allows them to survive exposed cliffs with no nests. The nano-scale cone-like structures act as self-cleaning guardians, preventing eggs from falling and protecting them from salt and guano exposure.
A team at NIST has developed a simple and cost-effective way to separate metallic from semiconducting carbon nanotubes, paving the way for high-purity samples in electronics applications. The method uses liquid extraction with subtle differences in polymer hydrophobicity, yielding high-resolution results.
Researchers challenge a long-held hypothesis on water's surface charge, finding that intrinsic properties of water molecules are responsible. Using advanced techniques like nonlinear optics and light diffusion, scientists detect negative charges even in the absence of impurities.
Researchers propose a continuum-based model that illustrates contact line pinning at phase interfaces between materials, differing from traditional Wenzel and Cassie models. The study shows the macroscopic contact angle depends solely on the triple contact line's properties.
Researchers studied model cavity and tunnel structures resembling protein binding sites to understand their ability to stay dry. Geometric shields prevent water molecules from penetrating at the nanoscale.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf develop a system to recreate amyloid formation on artificial surfaces, providing insights into disease mechanisms. The customized mica surface exhibits hydrophobic properties, facilitating the formation of oligomers and fibrils that can destroy cell surfaces.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a technique to create microfluidic devices on paper strips, enabling more complex chemical assays and applications in medicine and research. The approach uses a laser to modify paper with patterns, allowing for the detection of specific chemicals and biological molecules.
University of Illinois researchers developed a simple method to create intricate lattice structures using triblock Janus spheres. The innovative material exhibits self-assembly capabilities, enabling the creation of porous sheets with tailored properties for specialized filtering applications.
A Purdue University research team developed a nanoparticle that can hold and release an antimicrobial agent, preserving its effectiveness against Listeria monocytogenes for up to three weeks. The nanoparticle attracts and stabilizes nisin, a food-based antimicrobial peptide, allowing for extended use in foods susceptible to Listeria.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered a way to fine-tune the reduction potential of copper-containing proteins, enabling the creation of efficient water-soluble redox agents. This breakthrough allows for greater control over electron-transfer properties and extends the range of redox potentials.
Researchers at the University of Oregon have successfully demonstrated that specially synthesized boron compounds can be accepted by biologically active enzymes. This breakthrough could lead to new drug design strategies and boost boron's expanding use in medicine.
A new computer model developed at MIT allows researchers to design more stable antibodies, reducing clumping and aggregation issues. The model identifies regions responsible for aggregation and enables mutation of amino acids to increase stability without affecting function.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and RIKEN institute developed a computer simulation to design nanostructured surfaces with superhydrophobic properties. This technology can help create self-cleaning materials and water-striding robots, which are inspired by nature's ability to repel water.
The study reveals that the hydrophobicity of NOCTUIDAE moth wings is induced by the multivariate coupling of shape, structure, and biomaterials. The hierarchical rough structure on the wing surface enhances surface hydrophobicity, allowing it to repel rainwater, dew, and dust.
Scientists have produced amphiphilic hybrid particles consisting of water-insoluble inorganic nanoparticles at the core surrounded by bristle-like layers of hydrophilic polymer chains. The nature of these aggregates depends on the density of polymer
Researchers from UNC Chapel Hill found that water behaves differently inside carbon nanotubes depending on temperature, with potential implications for ultra-tiny devices and biological structures. The study's findings may lead to new technologies such as nano-fluidic chips and permeable membranes.
The Dutch team used two types of self-aggregating compounds: surfactants and gelators. They formed aggregates that coexisted without interfering with each other, resulting in complex structures with separate compartments. This orthogonal self-aggregation enables the creation of versatile compartmentalized systems.
Researchers reveal driving force behind protein folding involving water interactions and hydrophobic areas of peptides. This insight builds on previous theories, allowing for the determination of a peptide's structure from its amino acid sequence.
Researchers successfully create a double inversion of an emulsion by adding surfactant to a nanoparticle-containing mixture. The process, which uses silica nanoparticles and a specific type of surfactant, allows for the conversion between oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois and Argonne National Laboratory has confirmed a long-standing theoretical prediction about water's behavior on hydrophobic surfaces. They found a thin layer of depleted water at the interface, contradicting previous findings of nanobubbles.
Researchers at Rice University have discovered a novel method for assembling gold and silver nanoparticle building blocks into larger structures, inspired by the self-assembly of lipid membranes that surround every living cell. The new technique allows for the creation of ultra-potent cancer drugs and efficient catalysts.
A team of scientists used high-energy X-rays to study the hydrophobic water gap, revealing its size and characteristics. The study provides new insights into protein folding and stability, which are crucial in biological systems.
A study by CU, Scripps researchers provides evidence of how proteins fold to create their characteristic shapes and biological functions. They propose that nonpolar groups in a polypeptide chain are responsible for initial folding, which then propagates to form the final folded structure.
Sandia researchers found that rough hydrophobic surfaces exhibit longer-range attractive forces, which may help explain protein folding and the self-cleaning 'Lotus effect'. By inserting rough surfaces into experiments, they slowed down the reaction to measure the attraction and observe its origin, a cavitation bridge between the subme...
Researchers at UCSD create tiny silicon chips, 'smart dust,' that can detect chemical or biological compounds and report information to the outside world. The dual-sided particles can collect at a target and self-assemble into a larger reflector for remote sensing applications.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed a non-toxic paint that effectively prevents marine fouling by creating a self-cleaning surface. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials, tested by the ONR and other collaborators, deny bacteria a compatible surface to grow on, reducing fouling.
The UCSB team has developed a reversible switch for surface design, allowing for dynamic regulation of macroscopic properties. The technology uses alkanethiolates to create nanometer-thin interfaces that can be controlled as a function of space and time.
Scientists at Sandia National Laboratories and UNM develop a rapid method to self-assemble diverse materials into coatings mimicking seashell structures. The coating process creates tough, strong, optically transparent coatings suitable for automotive finishes, optical lenses, and other applications.