Engineering topics

Li, Ming

Publications and source records attributed to Li, Ming.

At least 73 records · Page 4

DOE OSTI2016

Influences of defects evolvement on the properties of sputtering deposited ZnO:Al films upon hydrogen annealing

Understanding how the defects interact with each other and affect the properties of ZnO:Al films is very important for improving their performance as a transparent conductive oxide (TCO). In the present work, we studied the effects of hydrogen annealing on the structural, optical and electrical properties of ZnO:Al films prepared by magnetron sputtering. High resolution transmission electron microscopy observations reveal that annealing at ∼300 {sup o}C induces the formation of partial dislocations (PD) and stacking faults (SF), which disrupt the lattice periodicity leading to decreased grain size. Annealing at temperatures above ∼500 {sup o}C can remove the PD and SF, but large number of zinc vacancies will be generated. Our results show that when films are annealed at ∼500 {sup o}C, the oxygen-related defects (interstitials O{sub i}, etc.) in the as-grown films can be remarkably removed or converted, which lead to increments in the carrier concentration, mobility, and the transmittance in the visible range. At annealing temperatures above 550 {sup o}C, the hydrogen etching effect becomes predominant, and Al donors are deactivated by zinc vacancies. We also find an abnormal endothermic process by thermal analysis and an abnormal increase in the resistivity during heating the sample under hydrogen atmosphere, based on which the interaction of O{sub i} with the defects (mainly Al donors and PD) is discussed. It is also demonstrated that by annealing the as-grown AZO films at ∼500 {sup o}C under hydrogen atmosphere, high performance TCO films with a low resistivity of 4.48 × 10{sup −4} Ωcm and high transmittance of above 90% in the visible light are obtained.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2016

Proteomic Profiling of Radiation-Induced Skin Fibrosis in Rats: Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System

Purpose: To investigate the molecular changes underlying the pathogenesis of radiation-induced skin fibrosis. Methods and Materials: Rat skin was irradiated to 30 or 45 Gy with an electron beam. Protein expression in fibrotic rat skin and adjacent normal tissues was quantified by label-free protein quantitation. Human skin cells HaCaT and WS-1 were treated by x-ray irradiation, and the proteasome activity was determined with a fluorescent probe. The effect of proteasome inhibitors on Transforming growth factor Beta (TGF-B) signaling was measured by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The efficacy of bortezomib in wound healing of rat skin was assessed by the skin injury scale. Results: We found that irradiation induced epidermal and dermal hyperplasia in rat and human skin. One hundred ninety-six preferentially expressed and 80 unique proteins in the irradiated fibrotic skin were identified. Through bioinformatic analysis, the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway showed a significant fold change and was investigated in greater detail. In vitro experiments demonstrated that irradiation resulted in a decline in the activity of the proteasome in human skin cells. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib suppressed profibrotic TGF-β downstream signaling but not TGF-β secretion stimulated by irradiation in HaCaT and WS-1 cells. Moreover, bortezomib ameliorated radiation-induced skin injury and attenuated epidermal hyperplasia. Conclusion: Our findings illustrate the molecular changes during radiation-induced skin fibrosis and suggest that targeting the ubiquitin-proteasome system would be an effective countermeasure.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

DOE OSTI2016

1.92 Angstrom Zinc-Free APOBEC3F Catalytic Domain Crystal Structure

The APOBEC3 family of DNA cytosine deaminases is capable of restricting the replication of HIV-1 and other pathogens. Here, we report a 1.92 Å resolution crystal structure of the Vif-binding and catalytic domain of APOBEC3F (A3F). This structure is distinct from the previously published APOBEC and phylogenetically related deaminase structures, as it is the first without zinc in the active site. We determined an additional structure containing zinc in the same crystal form that allows direct comparison with the zinc-free structure. In the absence of zinc, the conserved active site residues that normally participate in zinc coordination show unique conformations, including a 90 degree rotation of His249 and disulfide bond formation between Cys280 and Cys283. We found that zinc coordination is influenced by pH, and treating the protein at low pH in crystallization buffer is sufficient to remove zinc. Zinc coordination and catalytic activity are reconstituted with the addition of zinc only in a reduced environment likely due to the two active site cysteines readily forming a disulfide bond when not coordinating zinc. We show that the enzyme is active in the presence of zinc and cobalt but not with other divalent metals. Furthermore, these results unexpectedly demonstrate that zinc is not required for the structural integrity of A3F and suggest that metal coordination may be a strategy for regulating the activity of A3F and related deaminases.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of mesoporous TiO{sub 2} coated SBA-15 nanocomposites fabricated through a novel approach: supercritical deposition aided by liquid-crystal template

Highlights: • Highly uniform mesoporous TiO{sub 2} nanopartices were coated SBA-15. • MT showed smaller crystallite size, higher hydroxyl content and surface area. • MT/SBA-15 show enhanced photocatalytic activity and high reused activity. • The optimum MT loading rate and calcination temperature were obtained to be 15% and 400 °C, respectively. • Photocatalytic behaviors are discussed in terms of the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. - Abstract: Mesoporous TiO2 coated SBA-15 (MT@S) nanocomposites were fabricated through supercritical CO{sub 2} deposition aided by liquid-crystal template. The as-prepared samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and so on. The results reveal that MT uniformly deposited onto silica with titania incorporated in SBA-15 channels, showed smaller crystallite size, higher hydroxyl content and surface area than nonporous TiO{sub 2} coated SBA-15 (NT@S) obtained by a similar route without template. With TiO{sub 2} loading ratio of 15 wt% and calcination temperature of 400 °C, 15%MT@S-400 showed the enhanced degradation efficiency for azo dyes (methylene blue, methyl orange, and rhodamine B) and phenol in comparsion with 15%NT@S-400, due to those improved textural and physicochemical properties. Meanwhile, the reused MT@S also showed high photoactivity. Additionally, the effects of MT content and calcination temperature have been examined as operational parameters. Photocatalytic reactions followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and are discussed in terms of the Langmuir–Hinshelwood model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2016

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods assemblies with an improved Li-ion batteries performance

Highlights: • V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods and their assemblies were synthesized by microwave way. • Electrochemical performance in Li-ion batteries was studied. • CV has revealed reversible redox behavior with charge–discharge cycling. • V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods assemblies show superior initial discharge capacity. • Low polarization of charge transfer reaction determines the enhanced capacity. - Abstract: Vanadium pentoxide nanorods assemblies were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, combined with subsequently annealing treatment. The structure and morphology of the nanorods were characterized by XRD, FESEM and HRTEM, and the electrochemical properties of the electrodes made from the V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods were investigated. The V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods with an average diameter of 100 nm and lengths up to several micrometers are almost parallel distributed in the assemblies. The V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods assemblies exhibit an initial discharge capacity of 330 mAh g{sup −1} at a current density of 50 mA g{sup −1}, which is very higher than that of the separated V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods. The V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods assemblies also show a lower capacity fading rate in comparison with the separated V{sub 2}O{sub 5} nanorods. A low polarization of the charge transfer reaction and a high diffusion rate of lithium ion inside the electrode composed of the paralleled nanorods are considered responsible for the enhanced capacity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Microstructure evolution of Ag–8Au–3Pd alloy wire during electromigration

As the continuous shrinkage of the interconnect line width in microelectronics devices, there is a growing concern about the electromigration (EM) failure of bonding wire. In addition, an innovative Ag–8Au–3Pd alloy wire has shown promise as an economical substitute for gold wire interconnects due to the cost pressure of gold in the last decade. In present study of the Ag–8Au–3Pd alloy wire, the surface diffusion occupied the dominant position during EM failure, and the activation energy was found to be 0.61 eV. In order to reveal the failure mechanism, the cross-sections of the Ag–8Au–3Pd alloy wire during EM were prepared by focused ion beam (FIB) micro-machining for electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis. The microstructure evolution of the Ag–8Au–3Pd alloy wire was characterized by the grain size and grain boundary. As a result, the EM failure originates in the atom transportation, which causes grain size increasing and atom diffusion on the wire surface. - Highlights: • The activation energy of Ag–8Au–3Pd alloy wire was obtained as 0.61 eV. • During EM, the silver atoms diffused from negative to the positive terminal on the wire surface. • The microstructure (grain size and grain boundary) was characterized by FIB-EBSD. • During EM, the atom transportation was found to cause grain size growth and atom diffusion on the wire surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2015

Effects of Nanoparticle Morphology and Acyl Chain Length on Spontaneous Lipid Transfer Rates

In this paper, we report on studies of lipid transfer rates between different morphology nanoparticles and lipids with different length acyl chains. The lipid transfer rate of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (di-C 14 , DMPC) in discoidal “bicelles” (0.156 h –1 ) is 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of DMPC vesicles (ULVs) (1.1 × 10 –3 h –1 ). For both bicellar and ULV morphologies, increasing the acyl chain length by two carbons [going from di-C 14 DMPC to di-C 16 , dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)] causes lipid transfer rates to decrease by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Results from small angle neutron scattering (SANS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) are in good agreement. Finally, the present studies highlight the importance of lipid dynamic processes taking place in different morphology biomimetic membranes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2015

Hydrogen adsorption and desorption with 3D silicon nanotube-network and film-network structures: Monte Carlo simulations

Hydrogen is clean, sustainable, and renewable, thus is viewed as promising energy carrier. However, its industrial utilization is greatly hampered by the lack of effective hydrogen storage and release method. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were viewed as one of the potential hydrogen containers, but it has been proved that pure CNTs cannot attain the desired target capacity of hydrogen storage. In this paper, we present a numerical study on the material-driven and structure-driven hydrogen adsorption of 3D silicon networks and propose a deformation-driven hydrogen desorption approach based on molecular simulations. Two types of 3D nanostructures, silicon nanotube-network (Si-NN) and silicon film-network (Si-FN), are first investigated in terms of hydrogen adsorption and desorption capacity with grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations. It is revealed that the hydrogen storage capacity is determined by the lithium doping ratio and geometrical parameters, and the maximum hydrogen uptake can be achieved by a 3D nanostructure with optimal configuration and doping ratio obtained through design optimization technique. For hydrogen desorption, a mechanical-deformation-driven-hydrogen-release approach is proposed. Compared with temperature/pressure change-induced hydrogen desorption method, the proposed approach is so effective that nearly complete hydrogen desorption can be achieved by Si-FN nanostructures under sufficient compression but without structural failure observed. The approach is also reversible since the mechanical deformation in Si-FN nanostructures can be elastically recovered, which suggests a good reusability. This study may shed light on the mechanism of hydrogen adsorption and desorption and thus provide useful guidance toward engineering design of microstructural hydrogen (or other gas) adsorption materials.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2015

MicroRNA-224 targets ERG2 and contributes to malignant progressions of meningioma

MicroRNA-224 is overexpressed in various malignant tumors with poor prognosis, which plays a critical role in biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis and several developmental and physiological progressions. However, the potential association between miR-224 and clinical outcome in patients with meningiomas remains unknown. Here, we investigate miR-224 expression and biological functions in meningiomas. MiR-224 expression was measured by Northern blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in meningioma and normal brain tissues. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to exam its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognostic value. The biological effects of miR-224 on the cell proliferation and apoptosis in meningioma cells were examined by MTT assay and apoptosis assay. We found the expression levels of miR-224 were significantly higher in meningioma tissues than that in normal brain, positively correlated with advanced pathological grade. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that meningioma patients with low miR-224 expression exhibited significantly prolonged overall and recurrence-free survival. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ERG2 was an identical candidate target gene of MiR-224 in vitro. Our results indicated that downregulation of miR-224 suppressed cell growth and resulted in the enhancement of cell apoptosis through activation of the ERG2-BAK-induced apoptosis pathway. Our findings imply the miR-224 expression could predict the overall survival and recurrence-free survival of patients with meningioma and it might be a promising therapeutic target for treating malignant meningiomas. - Highlights: • MiR-224 expression is correlates with prognosis in meningioma patients. • ERG2 is a novel downstream target of miR-224. • MiR-224 suppressed cell growth and enhanced apoptosis in IOMM-Lee and CH157 cells. • MiR-224 is an upstream regulator of the ERG2-BAK-induced apoptosis pathway.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2015

In-situ temperature-controllable shear flow device for neutron scattering measurement—An example of aligned bicellar mixtures

We have designed and constructed a temperature-controllable shear flow cell for in-situ study on flow alignable systems. The device has been tested in the neutron diffraction and has the potential to be applied in the small angle neutron scattering configuration to characterize the nanostructures of the materials under flow. The required sample amount is as small as 1 ml. The shear rate on the sample is controlled by the flow rate produced by an external pump and can potentially vary from 0.11 to 3.8 × 10{sup 5} s{sup −1}. Both unidirectional and oscillational flows are achievable by the setting of the pump. The instrument is validated by using a lipid bicellar mixture, which yields non-alignable nanodisc-like bicelles at low T and shear-alignable membranes at high T. Using the shear cell, the bicellar membranes can be aligned at 31 °C under the flow with a shear rate of 11.11 s{sup −1}. Multiple high-order Bragg peaks are observed and the full width at half maximum of the “rocking curve” around the Bragg’s condition is found to be 3.5°–4.1°. It is noteworthy that a portion of the membranes remains aligned even after the flow stops. Detailed and comprehensive intensity correction for the rocking curve has been derived based on the finite rectangular sample geometry and the absorption of the neutrons as a function of sample angle [See supplementary material at http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4908165 for the detailed derivation of the absorption correction]. The device offers a new capability to study the conformational or orientational anisotropy of the solvated macromolecules or aggregates induced by the hydrodynamic interaction in a flow field.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2015

Nitrogen-doped graphene films from simple photochemical doping for n-type field-effect transistors

Highly nitrogen-doped GO (NGO) and n-type graphene field effect transistor (FET) have been achieved by simple irradiation of graphene oxide (GO) thin films in NH{sub 3} atmosphere. The electrical properties of the NGO film were performed on electric field effect measurements, and it displays an n-type FET behavior with a charge neutral point (Dirac point) located at around −8 V. It is suggested that the amino-like nitrogen (N-A) mainly contributes to the n-type behavior. Furthermore, compared to the GO film irradiated in Ar atmosphere, the NGO film is much more capable to improve the electrical conductivity. It may attribute to nitrogen doping and oxygen reduction, both of which can effectively enhance the electrical conductivity.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2014

Supercritical-assistant liquid crystal template approach to synthesize mesoporous titania/multiwalled carbon nanotube composites with high visible-light driven photocatalytic performance

Graphical abstract: We investigate the influence of mesoporous titania content upon the visible-light driven photocatalytic performance of MPT/MWCNTs in phenol degradation. - Highlights: • MPT/MWCNTs were fabricated by liquid-crystal template in supercritical CO{sub 2}. • MPT/MWCNTs show high visible-light driven photoactivity for phenol degradation. • MPT/MWCNTs also show high reusable photoactivity under visible irradiation. • MPT content can control visible-light driven photoactivity of MPT/MWCNTs. • MPT is not easily broken away from from MPT/MWCNT composites. - Abstract: Mesoporous titania (MPT) was deposited onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by deposition of titanium sol containing liquid-crystal template with assistant of supercritical CO{sub 2}. The products were characterized with various analytical techniques to determine their structural, morphological, optical absorption and photocatalytic properties. The results indicate that in photocatalytic degradation of phenol under visible light, the mixtures or composites of MPT and MWCNT show the high efficiency because of synergies between absorbing visible light, releasing electrons and facilitating transfer of charge carriers of MWCNTs and providing activated centers of MPT. Because of the mutual constraint between MPT and MWCNTs on the photocatalytic efficiency, the optimal loading of MPT in MPT/MWCNT-3 for phenol degradation is 48%. Because the intimate contact between MWCNTs and MPT is more beneficial to electron transformation, photoactivity of mixture is lower than that of composites with high reusable performance. The optimum conditions of phenol degradation were obtained.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

DNAJC6 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition

Highlights: • DNAJC6 is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. • DNAJC6 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion. • DNAJC6 induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition by activating transforming growth factor β signaling. - Abstract: Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental program, which is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and progression. DNAJC6 (DNA/HSP40 homolog subfamily C member 6) encodes auxilin, which is responsible for juvenile Parkinsonism with phenotypic variability. However, the role of DNAJC6 in HCC development and progression is limited. Here, we report that DNAJC6 is up-regulated in HCC tissues and up-regulation of DNAJC6 expression predicts poor outcome in patients with HCC. Furthermore, overexpression of DNAJC6 enhances the ability for acquisition of mesenchymal traits, enhanced cell proliferation and invasion. DNAJC6 positively regulated expression of EMT-related transcription factor, also activating transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathway to contribute to EMT. Our findings demonstrated an important function of DNAJC6 in the progression of HCC by induction of EMT, and they implicate DNAJC6 as a marker of poor outcome in HCC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2014

A high-density, high-channel count, multiplexed μECoG array for auditory-cortex recordings

Our understanding of the large-scale population dynamics of neural activity is limited, in part, by our inability to record simultaneously from large regions of the cortex. Here, we validated the use of a large-scale active microelectrode array that simultaneously records 196 multiplexed micro-electrocortigraphical (μECoG) signals from the cortical surface at a very high density (1,600 electrodes/cm 2 ). We compared μECoG measurements in auditory cortex using a custom “active” electrode array to those recorded using a conventional “passive” μECoG array. Both of these array responses were also compared with data recorded via intrinsic optical imaging, which is a standard methodology for recording sound-evoked cortical activity. Custom active μECoG arrays generated more veridical representations of the tonotopic organization of the auditory cortex than current commercially available passive μECoG arrays. Furthermore, the cortical representation could be measured efficiently with the active arrays, requiring as little as 13.5 s of neural data acquisition. Next, we generated spectrotemporal receptive fields from the recorded neural activity on the active μECoG array and identified functional organizational principles comparable to those observed using intrinsic metabolic imaging and single-neuron recordings. Furthermore, this new electrode array technology has the potential for large-scale, temporally precise monitoring and mapping of the cortex, without the use of invasive penetrating electrodes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2014

Tuning photoluminescence of reduced graphene oxide quantum dots from blue to purple

Reduced graphene oxide quantum dots (rGOQDs) were synthesized by annealing GOQDs in H{sub 2} atmosphere. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of GOQDs and the rGOQDs samples were investigated. The results showed that compared to GOQDs, a blue to purple tunable PL of rGOQDs can be obtained by regulating the annealing temperature. The increase fraction of the newly formed isolated sp{sup 2} clusters may be responsible for the observed tunable PL.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

Computational study of ion beam extraction phenomena through multiple apertures

The process of ion extraction through multiple apertures is investigated using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell code. We consider apertures with a fixed diameter with a hydrogen plasma background, and the trajectories of electrons, H{sup +} and H{sub 2}{sup +} ions in the self-consistently calculated electric field are traced. The focus of this work is the fundamental physics of the ion extraction, and not particular to a specific device. The computed convergence and divergence of the extracted ion beam are analyzed. We find that the extracted ion flux reaching the extraction electrode is non-uniform, and the peak flux positions change according to operational parameters, and do not necessarily match the positions of the apertures in the y-direction. The profile of the ion flux reaching the electrode is mainly affected by the bias voltage and the distance between grid wall and extraction electrode.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

∼2 μm fluorescence radiative dynamics and energy transfer between Er{sup 3+} and Tm{sup 3+} ions in silicate glass

Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • A Er{sup 3+}/Tm{sup 3+} co-doped silicate glass with good thermal stability (k{sub gl} = 0.402 for STE glass) is prepared. • Efficient ∼2 μm emission is observed under 808 nm and 980 nm laser excitation. • The glass structure and spectroscopic properties are confirmed by optical absorption, IR transmission, Raman and fluorescence studies. • The content of OH groups deceases efficiently after fluorine ions are introduced. • The energy transfer coefficient from Er{sup 3+} to Tm{sup 3+} in STFE glass is 13.39 × 10{sup −40} cm{sup 6}/s. - Abstract: A Er{sup 3+}/Tm{sup 3+} co-doped silicate glass with good thermal stability is prepared by melt-quenching method. An efficient emission of ∼2 μm is observed under different selective laser excitations. The optical absorption and transmission spectra, Raman spectra, and emission spectra are tested to characterize ∼2 μm emission properties of Er{sup 3+}/Tm{sup 3+} co-doped silicate glasses and a reasonable energy transfer mechanism of ∼2 μm emission between Er{sup 3+} and Tm{sup 3+} ions is proposed. Based on the optical absorption spectra, the Judd–Ofelt parameters and radiative properties were calculated. Intense ∼2 μm emission is obtained from Er{sup 3+}/Tm{sup 3+} co-doped silicate glasses due to the efficient energy transfer from Er{sup 3+} to Tm{sup 3+} ions. The energy transfer coefficient from Er{sup 3+} to Tm{sup 3+} ions can reach as high as 13.39 × 10{sup −40} cm{sup 6}/s. In addition, the population of the OH groups is decreased and the ∼2 μm emission is effectively enhanced with fluoride introduction. The emission property, together with good thermal property, indicates that Er{sup 3+}/Tm{sup 3+} co-doped silicate glass is a potential kind of laser glass for efficient ∼2 μm laser.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2014

Lipid-Based Nanodiscs as Models for Studying Mesoscale Coalescence A Transport Limited Case

Lipid-based nanodiscs (bicelles) are able to form in mixtures of long- and short-chain lipids. Initially, they are of uniform size but grow upon dilution. Previously, nanodisc growth kinetics have been studied using time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (SANS), a technique which is not well suited for probing their change in size immediately after dilution. To address this, we have used dynamic light scattering (DLS), a technique which permits the collection of useful data in a short span of time after dilution of the system. The DLS data indicate that the negatively charged lipids in nanodiscs play a significant role in disc stability and growth. Specifically, the charged lipids are most likely drawn out from the nanodiscs into solution, thereby reducing interparticle repulsion and enabling the discs to grow. We describe a population balance model, which takes into account Coulombic interactions and adequately predicts the initial growth of nanodiscs with a single parameter i.e., surface potential. The results presented here strongly support the notion that the disc coalescence rate strongly depends on nanoparticle charge density. The present system containing low-polydispersity lipid nanodiscs serves as a good model for understanding how charged discoidal micelles coalesce.

Hu, Andrew↗