Dielectric‐loaded plasmonic waveguide components: Going practical

Surface plasmon propagating modes supported by metal/dielectric interfaces in various configurations can be used for radiation guiding similarly to conventional dielectric waveguides. Plasmonic waveguides offer two attractive features: subdiffraction mode confinement and the presence of conducting elements at the mode‐field maximum. The first feature can be exploited to realize ultrahigh density of nanophotonics components, whereas the second feature enables the development of dynamic components controlling the plasmon propagation with ultralow signals, minimizing heat dissipation in switching elements. While the first feature is yet to be brought close to the domain of practical applications because of high propagation losses, the second one is already being investigated for bringing down power requirements in optical communication systems. In this review, the latest application‐oriented research on radiation modulation and routing using thermo‐optic dielectric‐loaded plasmonic waveguide components integrated with silicon‐based photonic waveguides is overviewed. Their employment under conditions of real telecommunications is addressed, highlighting challenges and perspectives.     

Raman spectroscopy of fibroblast cells from a Huntington's disease patient

ABSTRACT

We present a Raman spectroscopy case study of living fibroblast (skin) cells from a patient who developed Huntington’s disease, with fibroblasts from a healthy volunteer as a control. Spectra were processed to remove cosmic rays, had a spectrum of the quartz substrate subtracted, and were flattened to remove cellular autofluorescence. We achieved an accuracy of 95% in discriminating individual cells, and assign spectral differences to (i) the reduction of cholesterol, (ii) the reduction of lipids, and (iii) an increase in beta-sheet proteins for fibroblasts with Huntington’s disease. All these biochemical changes have been previously measured by other methods. Averages over all the cells in this study yield a difference which is extremely statistically significant [p?相似文献   

Incorporation of Metal-Based Nanoadditives into the PLA Matrix: Effect of Surface Properties on Antibacterial Activity and Mechanical Performance of PLA Nanoadditive Films

In this work, the modification process of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) with metal-based nanoparticle (NPs) additives (Ag, ZnO, TiO₂) at different loading (0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 wt%) and by melt-mix extrusion method followed by film formation as one of the advantageous techniques for industrial application have been investigated. PLA nanoparticle composite films (PLA-NPs) of PLA-Ag, PLA-ZnO, PLA-TiO₂ were fabricated, allowing convenient dispersion of NPs within the PLA matrix to further pursue the challenge of investigating the surface properties of PLA-NPs reinforced plastics (as films) for the final functional properties, such as antimicrobial activity and surface mechanical properties. The main objective was to clarify how the addition of NPs to the PLA during the melt extrusion process affects the chemistry, morphology, and wettability of the surface and its further influence on the antibacterial efficiency and mechanical properties of the PLA-NPs. Therefore, the effect of Ag, ZnO, and TiO₂ NPs incorporation on the morphology (SEM), elemental mapping analysis (SEM-EDX), roughness, surface free energy (SFE) of PLA-NPs measured by goniometry and calculated by OWRK (Owens, Wendt, Rabel, and Kaelble) model was evaluated and correlated with the final functional properties such as antimicrobial activity and surface mechanical properties. The developed PLA-metal-based nanocomposites, with improved mechanical and antimicrobial surface properties, could be used as sustainable and biodegradable materials, offering desirable multifunctionalities not only for food packaging but also for cosmetics and hygiene products, as well as for broader plastic products where antimicrobial activity is desirable.     

Interaction of (hydroxypropyl) cellulose with anionic surfactants in dilute regime

(Hydroxypropyl)cellulose (HPC) dilute aqueous solutions in the presence of sodium cholate (CS), sodium deoxycholate (DC), and sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS) were investigated. The hydrophobicity parameter (I ₁/I ₃) from fluorescence has shown a critical aggregation concentration (CAC) lower than the critical micellar concentration (CMC). One or two breakpoints were observed in the curve conductivity vs surfactant concentration. The thermodynamic parameters of aggregation (, and ) and the degree of counterion dissociation were calculated. Evidences for the secondary aggregation of CS/water system were found. The relative viscosity increases for HPC/bile salt solutions only at high surfactant concentrations, whereas for HPC/SDS, it passes through a maximum. The cloud points of both HPC/bile salt solutions at higher surfactant concentrations reach a temperature plateau value around 324 K, while for HPC/SDS, it exceeds 373 K at low SDS concentrations. Dynamic light scattering has demonstrated that the surfactants bind to HPC already at concentrations lower than CAC.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

On the determination of a measure by the orbits generated by its logarithmic potential

We say that a logarithmic potential generates a curve in the plane if a unit mass traces the curve under the action of the potential. We consider the following problem: A one-parameter family of plane curves is given. We assume that these curves lie in the complement of a compact set . Find all measures supported in whose potentials generate each of the given curves. We solve this problem when is the unit circle in three specific cases: (a) when the given curves are straight lines through the origin, (b) when the curves are straight lines through a point on the unit circle, and (c) when the curves are circles centered at the origin. The solution involves the Poisson integral and its boundary behavior.

     

Cisplatin-tethered gold nanoparticles that exhibit enhanced reproducibility, drug loading, and stability: a step closer to pharmaceutical approval?

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be used as delivery vehicles for platinum anticancer drugs, improving their targeting and uptake into cells. Here, we examine the appropriateness of different-sized AuNPs as components of platinum-based drug-delivery systems, investigating their controlled synthesis, reproducibility, consistency of drug loading, and stability. The active component of cisplatin was tethered to 25, 55, and 90 nm AuNPs, with the nanoparticles being almost spherical in nature and demonstrating good batch-to-batch reproducibility (24.37 ± 0.62, 55.2 ± 1.75, and 89.1 ± 2.32 nm). The size distribution of 25 nm AuNPs has been significantly improved, compared with a previous method that produces polydispersed nanoparticles. Attachment of platinum to the AuNP surface through a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) linker exhibits an increase in the drug loading with increasing particle size: 25 nm (815 ± 106 drug molecules per AuNP), 55 nm (14216 ± 880), and 90 nm (54487 ± 15996). The stability of the naked, PEGylated, and platinum-conjugated nanoparticles has been examined over time under various conditions. When stored at 4 °C, there is minimal variation in the diameter for all three AuNP sizes; variation after 28 days for the 25 nm AuNPs was 2.4%; 55 nm, 3.3%; and 90 nm, 3.6%. The 25 nm AuNPs also demonstrate minimal changes in UV-visible absorbance over the same time period.     

Investigating magnetostructural correlations in the pseudooctahedral trans-[Ni(II){(OPPh2)(EPPh2)N}2(sol)2] complexes (E = S, Se; sol = DMF, THF) by magnetometry, HFEPR, and ab initio quantum chemistry

In this work, magnetometry and high-frequency and -field electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (HFEPR) have been employed in order to determine the spin Hamiltonian (SH) parameters of the non-Kramers, S = 1, pseudooctahedral trans-[Ni(II){(OPPh(2))(EPPh(2))N}(2)(sol)(2)] (E = S, Se; sol = DMF, THF) complexes. X-ray crystallographic studies on these compounds revealed a highly anisotropic NiO(4)E(2) coordination environment, as well as subtle structural differences, owing to the nature of the Ni(II)-coordinated solvent molecule or ligand E atoms. The effects of these structural characteristics on the magnetic properties of the complexes were investigated. The accurately HFEPR-determined SH zero-field-splitting (zfs) D and E parameters, along with the structural data, provided the basis for a systematic density functional theory (DFT) and multiconfigurational ab initio computational analysis, aimed at further elucidating the electronic structure of the complexes. DFT methods yielded only qualitatively useful data. However, already entry level ab initio methods yielded good results for the investigated magnetic properties, provided that the property calculations are taken beyond a second-order treatment of the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) interaction. This was achieved by quasi-degenerate perturbation theory, in conjunction with state-averaged complete active space self-consistent-field calculations. The accuracy in the calculated D parameters improves upon recovering dynamic correlation with multiconfigurational ab initio methods, such as the second-order N-electron valence perturbation theory NEVPT2, the difference dedicated configuration interaction, and the spectroscopy-oriented configuration interaction. The calculations showed that the magnitude of D (～3-7 cm(-1)) in these complexes is mainly dominated by multiple SOC contributions, the origin of which was analyzed in detail. In addition, the observed largely rhombic regime (E/D = 0.16-0.33) is attributed to the highly distorted metal coordination sphere. Of special importance is the insight by this work on the zfs effects of Se coordination to Ni(II). Overall, a combined experimental and theoretical methodology is provided, as a means to probe the electronic structure of octahedral Ni(II) complexes.