Exploring the complex mechanical properties of xanthan scaffolds by AFM-based force spectroscopy

• Hao Liang,
• Guanghong Zeng,
• Yinli Li,
• Shuai Zhang,
• Huiling Zhao,
• Lijun Guo,
• Bo Liu and
• Mingdong Dong

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2014, 5, 365–373, doi:10.3762/bjnano.5.42

• ; Introduction In general, a scaffold is composed of small units including sheet-like, cylinder-like, tube-like, sphere-like and sponge-like structures. Scaffold structures formed by various biopolymers have attracted more and more attention due to their potential applications in tissue engineering [1], such as

Conducting composite materials from the biopolymer kappa-carrageenan and carbon nanotubes

• Ali Aldalbahi,
• Jin Chu,
• Peter Feng and
• Marc in het Panhuis

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2012, 3, 415–427, doi:10.3762/bjnano.3.48

• prepared by evaporative casting. All composite films displayed sensitivity to water vapour, but MWNT films were more sensitive than SWNT films. Keywords: biopolymers; carbon nanotubes; carrageenan; composite materials; conductivity; mechanical; rheology; Introduction Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have

• their high surface energy and van der Waals interactions [3][5][6][7]. To overcome this issue, a diverse range of molecules have been used to aid the dispersion of CNTs in aqueous media, such as surfactants, polymers and biopolymers [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. Well known examples of surfactants

• and polymers include, sodium dodecyl sulfonate, Triton X-100 and polystyrene sulfonate [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. In addition, it has been established that biopolymers such as gellan gum, xanthan gum, gum arabic and iota-carrageenan are effective for the dispersion of CNTs in aqueous solutions

Superhydrophobicity in perfection: the outstanding properties of the lotus leaf

• Hans J. Ensikat,
• Petra Ditsche-Kuru,
• Christoph Neinhuis and
• Wilhelm Barthlott

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2011, 2, 152–161, doi:10.3762/bjnano.2.19

• structure consisting of coarse hairs which can hold a relatively thick air layer, and extremely fine hairs which ensure a high capillary pressure. The biopolymers used in these structures have the advantage of a much higher strength than waxes. On the other hand, the plant surfaces have the capability to

Sensing surface PEGylation with microcantilevers

• Natalija Backmann,
• Natascha Kappeler,
• Thomas Braun,
• François Huber,
• Hans-Peter Lang,
• Christoph Gerber and
• Roderick Y. H. Lim

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2010, 1, 3–13, doi:10.3762/bjnano.1.2

• conjunction with protein adsorption studies, this may have specific applications as integrated (and miniaturizable) process sensors. More generally, this particular capability of microcantilever sensors may provide new insight into the biochemical and nanomechanical properties of biopolymers in vitro. For