Correlative volume microcopy of virus-containing amphisomes enabled by fluorescence-guided focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy.

Volume correlative light and electron microscopy (vCLEM) enables ultrastructural analysis of rare cellular events. Here, we present a protocol for targeting virus-containing amphisomes in eukaryotic cells with vCLEM. We describe steps for identifying target cells using confocal fluorescence microscopy, preparing and mounting samples for focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), relocating the target cells and FIB-SEM stack acquisition, and correlation of volume light and electron microscopy data for 3D modeling.

A biodegradable suction patch for sustainable transbuccal peptide delivery.

Despite considerable advances in the systemic delivery of peptides, their susceptibility to gastrointestinal degradation and high molecular weight, which restricts permeability across biological barriers, remain obstacles to oral administration. As a result, most peptide therapies rely on injections to achieve therapeutic effects. Recent studies on a bioinspired suction patch demonstrated positive effects in vivo with three peptides - desmopressin, semaglutide, and teriparatide - yet materials used for patch fabrication were non-degradable.

Silicon: A Surface Dopant for Stable Alumina-Supported PtGa Propane Dehydrogenation Catalysts by Favoring Redox and Carbon Dynamics.

The exploitation of shale gas has stimulated the use of on-purpose propane dehydrogenation (PDH) technologies. These technologies rely on continuous and rapid catalyst regeneration to maintain high propene production. For Pt-based catalysts, metal promotors and additives, such as Ga and Si, have been shown to enhance the catalyst productivity and stability.

Unraveling Multiphase Conversion Pathways in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries through Cryo Transmission Electron Microscopy and Machine Learning-Assisted Operando Neutron Scattering.

Understanding the complex physicochemical processes in conversion-type batteries requires investigations across multiple length scales. Here, we present a methodological approach to examine Li-S batteries on the nanoscale by combining cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryoTEM) with operando small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). CryoTEM revealed discharge products with a biphasic structure consisting of nanocrystalline LiS within an amorphous LiS matrix.

Operando TEM study of a working copper catalyst during ethylene oxidation.

Active catalysts are typically metastable, and their surface state depends on the gas-phase chemical potential and reaction kinetics. To gain relevant insights into structure-performance relationships, it is essential to investigate catalysts under their operational conditions. Here, we use operando TEM combining real-time observations with online mass spectrometry (MS) to study a Cu catalyst during ethylene oxidation.

How Do the Valency and Radii of Cations Affect the Rheological Properties of Aqueous Solutions of Zwitterionic and Anionic Surfactant Mixtures?

Despite extensive research on the use of salts to enhance micellar growth, numerous questions remain regarding the impact of ionic exchange and molecular structure on charge neutralization. This study looks into how certain cations (Na, Ca, and Mg) affect the structure of a cocamidopropyl betaine CAPB and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate SDBS surfactant mixture, aiming toward applications in targeted delivery systems. The mixture consists of a zwitterionic surfactant, cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS), combined in varying molar ratios at a total concentration of 200 mM.

Loading of Extracellular Vesicles with Nucleic Acids via Hybridization with Non-Lamellar Liquid Crystalline Lipid Nanoparticles.

The translation of cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) into biogenic gene delivery systems is limited by relatively inefficient loading strategies. In this work, the loading of various nucleic acids into small EVs via their spontaneous hybridization with preloaded non-lamellar liquid crystalline lipid nanoparticles (LCNPs), forming hybrid EVs (HEVs) is described. It is demonstrated that LCNPs undergo pH-dependent structural transitions from inverse hexagonal (H) phases at pH 5 to more disordered non-lamellar phases, possibly inverse micellar (L) or sponge (L) phases, at pH 7.

Selective autophagy impedes KSHV entry after recruiting the membrane damage sensor galectin-8 to virus-containing endosomes.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic γ-herpesvirus. Autophagy during KSHV entry has remained unexplored. We show that LC3 lipidation as a hallmark of autophagy is induced shortly after KSHV entry.

Surface Coordination Chemistry of Graphitic Carbon Nitride from Ag Molecular Probes.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has gained significant attention for its catalytic properties, especially in the development of Single Atom Catalysts (SACs). However, the surface chemistry underlying the formation of these isolated metal sites remains poorly understood. In this study we employ Surface OrganoMetallic Chemistry (SOMC) together with advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques for an in-depth analysis of functionalized g-CN materials, where tailored organosilver probe molecules are used to monitor surface processes and characterize resulting surface species.

Topological Heterogeneity of Protein Kinase C Modulators in Human T-Cells Resolved with In-Cell Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR Spectroscopy.

Phorbol ester analogs are a promising class of anticancer therapeutics and HIV latency reversing agents that interact with cellular membranes to recruit and activate protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms. However, it is unclear how these esters interact with membranes and how this might correlate with the biological activity of different phorbol ester analogs. Here, we have employed dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR to characterize phorbol esters in a native cellular context.

Impact of Nanoplastic Particles on Macrophage Inflammation and Intestinal Health in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: The increasing presence of plastics in the human diet is raising public concern about the potential risks posed by nanoplastic (NP) particles, which can emerge from the degradation of plastic debris. NP ingestion poses particular risks to individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as compromised epithelial barriers may facilitate NP translocation.

Methods: In vitro, bone-marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were exposed to 25 nm polymethacrylate (PMMA) or 50 nm polystyrene (PS) particles to assess morphological changes and alterations in pro- and anti-inflammatory gene expression.

Understanding the Growth of Electrodeposited PtNi Nanoparticle Films Using Correlated Liquid Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy and Synchrotron Radiation.

Electrodeposition is a versatile method for synthesizing nanostructured films, but controlling the morphology of films containing two or more elements requires a detailed understanding of the deposition process. We used liquid cell transmission electron microscopy to follow the electrodeposition of PtNi nanoparticle films on a carbon electrode during cyclic voltammetry. These observations show that the film thickness increases with each cycle, and by the fourth cycle, branched and porous structures could be deposited.

On the Resolution Limit of Electrohydrodynamic Redox 3D Printing.

Additive manufacturing (AM) will empower the next breakthroughs in nanotechnology by combining unmatched geometrical freedom with nanometric resolution. Despite recent advances, no micro-AM technique has been able to synthesize functional nanostructures with excellent metal quality and sub-100 nm resolution. Here, significant breakthroughs in electrohydrodynamic redox 3D printing (EHD-RP) are reported by directly fabricating high-purity Cu (>98 at.

Refinement of cryo-EM 3D maps with a self-supervised denoising model: crefDenoiser.

Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is a pivotal technique for imaging macromolecular structures. However, despite extensive processing of large image sets collected in cryo-EM experiments to amplify the signal-to-noise ratio, the reconstructed 3D protein-density maps are often limited in quality due to residual noise, which in turn affects the accuracy of the macromolecular representation. Here, crefDenoiser is introduced, a denoising neural network model designed to enhance the signal in 3D cryo-EM maps produced with standard processing pipelines.

Redox dynamics and surface structures of an active palladium catalyst during methane oxidation.

Catalysts based on palladium are among the most effective in the complete oxidation of methane. Despite extensive studies and notable advances, the nature of their catalytically active species and conceivable structural dynamics remains only partially understood. Here, we combine operando transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with near-ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the active state and catalytic function of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) under methane oxidation conditions.

Iron-carbohydrate complexes treating iron anaemia: Understanding the nano-structure and interactions with proteins through orthogonal characterisation.

Intravenous (IV) iron-carbohydrate complexes are widely used nanoparticles (NPs) to treat iron deficiency anaemia, often associated with medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure and various inflammatory conditions. Even though a plethora of physicochemical characterisation data and clinical studies are available for these products, evidence-based correlation between physicochemical properties of iron-carbohydrate complexes and clinical outcome has not fully been elucidated yet. Studies on other metal oxide NPs suggest that early interactions between NPs and blood upon IV injection are key to understanding how differences in physicochemical characteristics of iron-carbohydrate complexes cause variance in clinical outcomes.

Structural and mechanical anisotropy in plant-based meat analogues.

The rising demand for plant-based meat analogues as alternatives to animal products has sparked interest in understanding the complex interplay between their structural and mechanical properties. The ability to manipulate the processing parameters and protein blend composition offers fundamental insights into the texturization process and holds economic and sustainable implications for the food industry. Consequently, the correlation between mechanical and structural properties in meat analogues is crucial for achieving consumer satisfaction and successful market penetration, providing comprehensive insights into the textural properties of meat analogues and their potential to mimic traditional animal produce.

MFP1 defines the subchloroplast location of starch granule initiation.

Starch is one of the major carbohydrate storage compounds in plants. The biogenesis of starch granules starts with the formation of initials, which subsequently expand into granules. Several coiled-coil domain-containing proteins have been previously implicated with the initiation process, but the mechanisms by which they act remain largely elusive.

Channel Activities of the Full-Length Prion and Truncated Proteins.

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrP) into a misfolded prion form, which is believed to disrupt the cellular membranes. However, the exact mechanisms underlying prion toxicity, including the formation of membrane pores, are not fully understood. The prion protein consists of two domains: a globular domain (GD) and a flexible N-terminus (FT) domain.