Phys.org June 26, 2021 The requirement of a strongly focused and high-intensity laser beam results in potential photon-induced thermal damages to target objects, including nanoparticles, cells, and biomolecules. Researchers at UT Austin have developed a new version of optical tweezers which exploit solid-state optical refrigeration and thermophoresis to trap particles and molecules at the laser-generated cold region. While laser refrigeration can avoid photothermal heating, the use of a weakly focused laser beam can further reduce the photodamages to the target object. The noninvasive optical tweezing technique will bring new possibilities in the optical control of nanomaterials and biomolecules for essential […]
Tag Archives: Biotechnology
Researchers discover unique ‘spider web’ mechanism that traps, kills viruses
Phys.org June 29, 2021 Injectable vaccines are designed to bolster antibodies in the blood, but those antibodies are not as prevalent at the sites where infection begins. Researchers in Canada found that neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cells in the human body, explode when they bind to pathogens coated in antibodies and release DNA outside of the cell, creating a sticky tangle which acts as a trap. Mechanisms that can stop the infection at the site where it enters our body can prevent the spread and serious complications. According to the researchers we should be thinking carefully about next […]
Researchers create intelligent electronic microsystems from ‘green’ material
Science Daily June 8, 2021 The signal mismatch between the environmental stimuli and driving amplitude in neuromorphic devices has limited the functional versatility and energy sustainability. Researchers at UMass Amherst have demonstrated multifunctional, self-sustained neuromorphic interfaces by achieving signal matching at the biological level. The advances rely on the unique properties of microbially produced protein nanowires, which enable both bio-amplitude (e.g., <100 mV) signal processing and energy harvesting from ambient humidity. Integrating protein nanowire-based sensors, energy devices and memristors of bio-amplitude functions yields flexible, self-powered neuromorphic interfaces that can intelligently interpret biologically relevant stimuli for smart responses. These features, coupled with […]
The biodegradable battery that’s 3D printed, disposable and made of paper
Phys.org June 3, 2021 A team of researchers in Switzerland developed and implemented the concept of a biodegradable electricity storage device. They developed gelatinous inks which consists of cellulose nanofibers and cellulose nanocrystallites, carbon in the form of carbon black, graphite and activated carbon. They used glycerin, water and two different types of alcohol to mix the ingredients and a pinch of table salt for ionic conductivity. They built a functioning supercapacitor from four layers of these ingredients flowing from a 3D printer one after the other: a flexible substrate, a conductive layer, the electrode and finally the electrolyte. The […]
DNA circuits
EurekAlert June 2, 2021 Researchers in China have developed a configurable, multi-mode logic switching network that reacts differently with its surroundings depending on pH and DNA input. They developed a series of four DNA switches, each with slightly different lengths and combinations of bases. At a slightly alkaline pH of 8, two of the switches formed triple-stranded DNA, while the others remained loosely stretched out. These reactions and folds led to secondary reactions, which were utilized by the researchers as logic functions in the switching circuit. In demonstration DNA acted as a crosslinker, joining the polymer molecules in the gel […]
Agents that target viral RNA could be the basis for next generation anti-viral drugs
EurekAlert May 10, 2021 The technique proposed by a team of researchers in the UK uses cylindrically shaped molecules which can block the function of a particular section at one end of the RNA strand called untranslated RNA that are essential for regulating the replication of the virus. They contain junction points and bulges which are normally recognised by proteins or other pieces of RNA. The cylindrical molecules are attracted to these holes. Once they slide into them, the RNA closes around them, forming a precise fit, which consequently will interfere with the virus’s ability to replicate. According to the […]
Duke University Develops Portable Diagnostic to Detect Early Biomarkers of Ebola Virus
Global Biodefense April 7, 2021 Ebola virus (EBOV) hemorrhagic fever outbreaks have been challenging to deter due to the lack of health care infrastructure in disease-endemic countries and a corresponding inability to diagnose and contain the disease at an early stage. EBOV vaccines and therapies have improved disease outcomes, but the advent of an affordable, easily accessed, mass-produced rapid diagnostic test (RDT) that matches the performance of more resource-intensive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays would be invaluable in containing future outbreaks. A team of researchers in the US (Duke University, UT Galveston) has developed and demonstrated the performance of a […]
New energy conversion layer for biosolar cells
Phys.org December 21, 2020 Well‐defined assemblies of photosynthetic protein complexes are required for an optimal performance of semi‐artificial energy conversion devices, capable of providing unidirectional electron flow when light‐harvesting proteins are interfaced with electrode surfaces. An international team of researchers (Germany, Portugal) has developed a mixed photosystem I (PSI) monolayers constituted of native cyanobacterial PSI trimers in combination with isolated PSI monomers from the same organism. The resulting compact arrangement ensures a high density of photoactive protein complexes per unit area, providing the basis to effectively minimize short‐circuiting processes that typically limit the performance of PSI‐based bioelectrodes. The PSI film […]
Bacterial nanopores open the future of data storage
Nanowerk December 14, 2020 The recent development of polymers that can store information at the molecular level has opened new opportunities for ultrahigh density data storage, long-term archival, anticounterfeiting systems, and molecular cryptography. However, synthetic informational polymers are so far only deciphered by tandem mass spectrometry. In comparison, nanopore technology can be faster, cheaper, nondestructive and provide detection at the single-molecule level; moreover, it can be massively parallelized and miniaturized in portable devices. An international team of researchers (Switzerland, France, Brazil) has demonstrated the ability of engineered aerolysin nanopores to accurately read, with single-bit resolution, the digital information encoded in […]
New cyberattack can trick scientists into making toxins or viruses — Ben-Gurion University researchers
EurekAlert November 30, 2020 According to the researchers in Israel a malware could easily replace a short sub-string of the DNA on a bioengineer’s computer so that they unintentionally create a toxin producing sequence. To regulate both intentional and unintentional generation of dangerous substances, most synthetic gene providers screen DNA orders which is currently the most effective line of defense against such attacks. Unfortunately, the screening guidelines have not been adapted to reflect recent developments in synthetic biology and cyberwarfare. Screening protocols can be circumvented using a generic obfuscation procedure which makes it difficult for the screening software to detect […]