We provide insight into the interaction of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with cell membranes to better understand their improved biocompatibility compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Contrary to CNTs, no computational studies exist investigating the insertion mechanism and stability of BNNTs in membranes. Our molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that BNNTs are spontaneously attracted to...

Lipid membranes can incorporate amphiphilic or polyphilic molecules leading to specific functionalities and to adaptable properties of the lipid bilayer host. The insertion of guest molecules into membranes frequently induces changes in the shape of the lipid matrix that can be visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. Here, we review the use of stained and vitrified spec...

Lipid-based nanostructures have garnered considerable interests over the last two decades, and achieved tremendous clinical success including first approval of a liposome (Doxil) for cancer therapy in 1995 recent COVID-19 mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccines. Compared to liposomes which bilayer surrounding an aqueous core, nanoparticles with particle structure several attractive advantages encapsul...

This work describes the synthesis and use of the chelator lipid, nitrilotriacetic acid ditetradecylamine (NTA-DTDA). This lipid is readily dispersed in aqueous media, both alone and when mixed with carrier lipids like dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). Fluorescence microscopic examination of membranes deposited from NTA-DTDA-containing liposomes shows that NTA-DTDA mixes uniformly with the ...

PURPOSE To examine the factors which contribute to tear stability and the validity and reliability of methods used for assessing tear break up time which is a core part of an examination of tear stability in dry eye patients. METHODS A review of publications which are relevant to tear stability and its assessment. RESULTS Tear break up time may be more invasive than intended if difficulty a...

Lipid aggregation into fluid bilayers is an essential process for sustaining life. Simplified models of lipid structure, which allow for long time scales or large length scales not obtainable with all-atom simulations, have recently been developed and show promise for describing lipid dynamics in biological systems. Here, we describe two simplified models, a reduced-lipid model and a bola-lipid...

The major light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complex (LHCIIb) of photosystem (PS) II functions by harvesting light energy and by limiting and balancing the energy flow directed towards the PSI and PSII reaction centers. The complex is predominantly trimeric; however, the monomeric form may play a role in one or several of the regulatory functions of LHCIIb. In this work the dissociation temperatu...

objective: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of good glycemic control on serum lipids levels and lipid peroxidation, and to find out the relationship between the level of malondialdehyde and hba1c in type 2 diabetes. materials and methods: fifty type 2 diabetic patients aged 40-60 years with the history of diabetes for more than 10 years were studied. glycemic control was stable ...

The folding, stability, and oligomerization of helical membrane proteins depend in part on a precise set of packing interactions between transmembrane helices. To understand the energetic principles of these helix-helix interactions, we have used alanine-scanning mutagenesis and sedimentation equilibrium analytical ultracentrifugation to quantitatively examine the sequence dependence of the gly...

The basis for most acute coronary events is either rupture or fissuring of unstable atherosclerotic plaques with subsequent thrombosis leading to coronary artery occlusion. The development of atherosclerotic plaques takes several decades, but the mechanical features determining its stability and the risk of rupture can change very rapidly depending on a number of internal factors. Unstable plaq...