Review Of Characterization Techniques Research Articles

Investigating Iron-Sulfur Proteins in Infectious Diseases: A Review of Characterization Techniques

Iron-sulfur [Fe-S] clusters, comprising coordinated iron and sulfur atoms arranged in diverse configurations, play a pivotal role in redox reactions and various biological processes. Diverse structural variants of [Fe-S] clusters exist, each possessing distinct attributes and functions. Recent discovery of [Fe-S] clusters in infectious pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and in viruses, such as rotavirus, polyomavirus, hepatitis virus, mimivirus, and coronavirus, have sparked interest in them being a potential therapeutics target. Recent findings have associated these [Fe-S] cluster proteins playing a critical role in structural and host protein activity. However, for a very long time, metalloenzymes containing iron-sulfur clusters have been prone to destabilization in the presence of oxygen, which led to a delayed understanding of [Fe-S] proteins compared to other non-heme iron-containing proteins. Consequently, working with [Fe-S] proteins require specialized equipment, such as anaerobic chambers to maintain cofactor integrity, and tools like ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Mössbauer spectroscopy and electrochemical characterization. Many of these [Fe-S] cluster proteins have been misannotated as Zinc-binding proteins when purified aerobically. Moreover, the assembly of these iron-sulfur cluster cofactors have not been fully understood since it is a multi-step assembly process. Additionally, disruptions in this assembly process have been linked to human diseases. With rapid advancements in anaerobic gloveboxes and spectroscopic techniques, characterization of these [Fe-S] cluster-containing proteins that are essential for the pathogens can open up new avenues for diagnostics and therapeutics.

A brief review of characterization techniques with different length scales for hydrogen storage materials

Increasing environmental pollution and energy consumption have increased the demand for renewable and clean energy. Hydrogen storage materials have attracted increasing attention owing to the large volumetric density of hydrogen storage and high safety, which are beneficial for large-capacity and long-term energy storage capability. Various characterization approaches with different length scales have been conducted to understand the mechanisms of hydrogen absorption and desorption in these materials. In particular, local characterization techniques have been recently applied to study the surface and nanostructural interface effects of these materials because these features can affect hydrogen storage properties. In this article, we review the application of these characterization techniques in exploring hydrogen storage materials.

Polymer/graphene oxide (GO) thermoset composites with GO as a crosslinker

Composites have historically been of intense interest due to their potential to replace glass, wood and metal at a fraction of the weight. Of the many choices of fillers, graphene oxide (GO) is generally attractive for its versatility and tunability in terms of surface functionality, size and shape. While the majority of GO has been incorporated into polymers and polymer precursors by physical mixing, this review focuses on research where GO has served as both a property enhancer and multifunctional crosslinker in thermosets. Methods for preparing GO (with and without additional functionalization) and incorporating it appropriately into thermosets are described. A review of characterization techniques, typically applied before and after GO is incorporated into thermosets and analytical methods for confirming important chemical reactions during crosslinking, is also provided. Finally, the resulting composite thermoset properties are surveyed throughout to connect preparation and characterization methods to their potential practical importance.

Mucoadhesion: a review of characterization techniques

Importance of the field: Mucoadhesive drug delivery vehicles attract much attention owing to benefits such as extended residence time of the drug at the site of application, a relatively rapid uptake of a drug into the systemic circulation, and enhanced bioavailability of therapeutic agents. Mucoadhesion, defined as the ability to adhere to the mucus gel layer covering organs that are exposed to the outer surface of the body yet are not covered with skin, such as the mouth and the respiratory tract, is a key element in the design of these drug delivery systems.Areas covered in this review: This review focuses on the numerous experimental methods that have been proposed over the years for mucoadhesion characterization. These techniques are categorized into directs methods, which measure the force or time required to detach the mocoadhesive from a mucus, and indirect methods, which asses the interactions between the mucoadhesive and mucin type glycoproteins.What the reader will gain: The comprehensive description of the available techniques could facilitate the selection of a characterization method that meets the requirements of a specific study. Moreover, a comparison between the results obtained in different laboratories is given whenever possible.Take home message: The challenge of adopting a universal test method that could be used to compare data from different research groups and rank new mucoadhesion candidates has not yet been met.