Bioinspired mineralization of calcium carbonate in peptide hydrogel
A team of researchers have developed a biomimetic mineralization of calcium carbonate using a multifunctional peptide template that can self-supply mineral sources, which in this case is a supply of carbonate ions, the precursor of calcium carbonate......»»
Optimizing carbonate classification on Mars
The Perseverance rover, successfully deployed to Jezero crater on Mars in 2021, has many jobs as it bumps along the planet's surface. These jobs include sampling organic compounds in rock and sediment to look for the building blocks of life......»»
A peptide that can cross the blood-brain barrier
In a paper published in Science China Materials, a research team reports on a novel tetrapeptide, GFFY, which is capable of efficiently crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The tetrapeptide is highly versatile in covalent labeling with Cy5.5 and t.....»»
Hydrogel locomotion regulated by light and electric fields
Materials scientists aim to develop autonomous materials that function beyond stimulus responsive actuation. In a new report in Science Advances, Yang Yang and a research team in the Center for Bioinspired Energy Science at the Northwestern Universit.....»»
New calcium material functions as an ammonia synthesis catalyst
Researchers find calcium outshines chromium in the catalytic production of ammonia. Working together, a humble trio of calcium atoms have defied expectations to break apart one of the strongest chemical bonds known. The atoms form the key part of a c.....»»
Researchers design synthetic peptide to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have designed a short peptide capable of poisoning a key enzyme in disease-causing bacteria, including some of most deadly and antibiotic-resistant species......»»
Team fabricates chitin hydrogel via chemical transformation of chitosan
Chitin hydrogel is recognized as a promising material for a variety of biomedical applications. Its biocompatibility and biodegradability make it useful in tissue repair, artificial organs, and wound healing. Yet scientists continue to face challenge.....»»
Has the century-old mystery of Antarctica’s “Blood Falls” finally been solved?
The culprit: tiny non-crystalline nanospheres rich in iron, silica, calcium, aluminum, etc. Enlarge / Blood Falls seeps from the end of the Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney. Scientists believe a buried saltwater reservoir is partl.....»»
Light-activated molecular machines get cells "talking"
One of the main ways cells "talk" to each other to coordinate essential biological activities such as muscle contraction, hormone release, neuronal firing, digestion and immune activation is through calcium signaling......»»
Spherulitic lead calcium apatite could reduce effectiveness of phosphate dosing, study suggests
Small amounts of phosphate are added to tap waters in the UK to prevent lead leaching from lead water pipes via a process known as phosphate dosing. But scientists are not certain how this works and there may even be more than one mechanism......»»
The power of the Copper Age "Ivory Lady" revealed
The highest status individual in ancient Copper Age society in Iberia, was a woman and not a man as previously thought, according to peptide analysis reported in Scientific Reports......»»
Researchers develop universal MHC molecules that can be produced rapidly at scale
Class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) proteins play an essential role in the immune system of all jawed vertebrates. The MHC-I displays peptide fragments of proteins from within the cell on the cell surface, "presenting" them to the immune.....»»
Researchers achieve higher precision with biocompatible hydrogel photoresist
Hydrogel materials are widely used due to their excellent biocompatibility. However, the micro- and nanofabrication biomaterials, such as small-diameter artificial blood vessels, flexible biomaterial microdevices, minimally invasive tissue adhesives,.....»»
Tailoring fluorine-rich solid electrolyte interphase to boost long cycling stability of lithium metal batteries
In a study published in the journal Science China Chemistry, fluorinated cyclic carbonate (DFEC) was introduced into ether electrolyte as a SEI-forming additive. The modified electrolyte could improve the interface of Li metal anode and achieve high.....»»
Multifunctional self-healing liquid metal hydrogel developed for human-computer interaction
Recently, researchers from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led by Prof. Tian Xingyou and Prof. Zhang Xian, along with associate Prof. Yang Yanyu from the College of Materials Science and Engineerin.....»»
A conductive self-healing hydrogel to create flexible sensors
Recent advancements in the field of electronics have enabled the creation of smaller and increasingly sophisticated devices, including wearable technologies, biosensors, medical implants, and soft robots. Most of these technologies are based on stret.....»»
Li-Metal claims a more efficient way of making a next-generation EV battery material
Li-Metal says it can make lithium metal from lithium carbonate, without an intermediary step that creates toxic byproducts. Profitability and scale are still works in progress......»»
Antimicrobial nanonets display multifunctionality by mitigating inflammatory responses during sepsis
National University of Singapore (NUS) pharmaceutical scientists have developed multi-functional synthetic peptide nanonets for relieving inflammation caused by bacterial infection. This is achieved by concurrent trapping of bacterial endotoxins and.....»»
High efficiency, salt resistance and high strength desalination achieved with new hydrogel solar evaporator
In the face of increasing global scarcity of freshwater resources, desalination is considered one of the most effective ways to alleviate this problem. However, it does come with a catch—efficient and low-cost evaporation materials are key to achie.....»»
Engineers develop electroconductive hydrogel for biomedical applications
Synthetic hydrogels show great promise in tissue repair, drug delivery, medical implants and many other applications. Hydrogels functionalized with electrically conductive components can be used in bioelectronic devices for cardiac or neural interfac.....»»
Novel living yeast-based dual biosensor for detecting peptide variants
Biosensors—sensors that can detect biological samples—are powerful tools for understanding the function, composition, and structure of biochemical molecules. Biosensors are often applied for the detection of proteins and their subunits, called pe.....»»