Browsing by Subject "Carbohydrates"

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Open Access
Anatase TiO2 nanowires functionalized by organic sensitizers for solar cells: a screened Coulomb hybrid density functional study
(American Institute of Physics Inc., 2015) Ünal, H.; Gunceler, D.; Gülseren, O.; Ellialtıoğlu, S.; Mete, E.
The adsorption of two different organic molecules cyanidin glucoside (C21O11H20) and TA-St-CA on anatase (101) and (001) nanowires has been investigated using the standard and the range separated hybrid density functional theory calculations. The electronic structures and optical spectra of resulting dye-nanowire combined systems show distinct features for these types of photochromophores. The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the natural dye cyanidin glucoside is located below the conduction band of the semiconductor while, in the case of TA-St-CA, it resonates with the states inside the conduction band. The wide-bandgap anatase nanowires can be functionalized for solar cells through electron-hole generation and subsequent charge injection by these dye sensitizers. The intermolecular charge transfer character of Donor-π-Acceptor type dye TA-St-CA is substantially modified by its adsorption on TiO2 surfaces. Cyanidin glucoside exhibits relatively stronger anchoring on the nanowires through its hydroxyl groups. The atomic structures of dye-nanowire systems re-optimized with the inclusion of nonlinear solvation effects showed that the binding strengths of both dyes remain moderate even in ionic solutions.
Open Access
Antigenic GM3 lactone mimetic molecule integrated mannosylated glycopeptide nanofibers for the activation and maturation of dendritic cells
(American Chemical Society, 2017) Gunay, Gokhan; Ekiz, Melis Sardan; Ferhati, X.; Richichi, B.; Nativi, C.; Tekinay, Ayse B.; Güler, Mustafa O.
The ability of dendritic cells to coordinate innate and adaptive immune responses makes them essential targets for vaccination strategies. Presentation of specific antigens by dendritic cells is required for the activation of the immune system against many pathogens and tumors, and nanoscale materials can be functionalized for active targeting of dendritic cells. In this work, we integrated an immunogenic, carbohydrate melanoma-associated antigen-mimetic GM3-lactone molecule into mannosylated peptide amphiphile nanofibers to target dendritic cells through DC-SIGN receptor. Based on morphological and functional analyses, when dendritic cells were treated with peptide nanofiber carriers, they showed significant increase in antigen internalization and a corresponding increase in the surface expression of the activation and maturation markers CD86, CD83 and HLA-DR, in addition to exhibiting a general morphology consistent with dendritic cell maturation. These results indicate that mannosylated peptide amphiphile nanofiber carriers are promising candidates to target dendritic cells for antigen delivery. © 2017 American Chemical Society.
Open Access
Differential effects of nitrogen and sulfur deprivation on growth and biodiesel feedstock production of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
(2012) Cakmak, T.; Angun P.; Demiray, Y.E.; Ozkan, A.D.; Elibol, Z.; Tekinay, T.
Biodiesel production from microalgae is a promising approach for energy production; however, high cost of its process limits the use of microalgal biodiesel. Increasing the levels of triacylglycerol (TAG) levels, which is used as a biodiesel feedstock, in microalgae has been achieved mainly by nitrogen starvation. In this study, we compared effects of sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) starvation on TAG accumulation and related parameters in wild-type Chlamydomonas reinhardtii CC-124 mt(-) and CC-125 mt(+) strains. Cell division was interrupted, protein and chlorophyll levels rapidly declined while cell volume, total neutral lipid, carotenoid, and carbohydrate content increased in response to nutrient starvation. Cytosolic lipid droplets in microalgae under nutrient starvation were monitored by three-dimensional confocal laser imaging of live cells. Infrared spectroscopy results showed that relative TAG, oligosaccharide and polysaccharide levels increased rapidly in response to nutrient starvation, especially S starvation. Both strains exhibited similar levels of regulation responses under mineral deficiency, however, the degree of their responses were significantly different, which emphasizes the importance of mating type on the physiological response of algae. Neutral lipid, TAG, and carbohydrate levels reached their peak values following 4 days of N or S starvation. Therefore, 4 days of N or S starvation provides an excellent way of increasing TAG content. Although increase in these parameters was followed by a subsequent decline in N-starved strains after 4 days, this decline was not observed in S-starved ones, which shows that S starvation is a better way of increasing TAG production of C. reinhardtii than N starvation. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.