In this paper, we report an original method to immobilize a model peptide on silicon nanowires (SiNWs) via a photolinker attached to the SiNWs' surface. The silicon nanowires were fabricated by a metal assisted chemical etching (MACE) method. Then, direct characterization of the peptide immobilization on SiNWs was performed either by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or by laser-desorption...

BACKGROUND In the literature, there are several experimental models that induce scoliosis in rats; however, they make use of drugs or invasive interventions to generate a scoliotic curve. OBJECTIVES To design and apply a non-invasive immobilization model to induce scoliosis in rats. METHODS Four-week old male Wistar rats (85±3.3g) were divided into two groups: control (CG) and scoliosis (SG...

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a serious concern for patients afflicted by limb restriction due to surgery (e.g., arthrodesis), several articular pathologies (e.g., arthralgia), or simply following cast immobilization. To study the molecular events involved in this immobilization-induced debilitating condition, a convenient mouse model for atrophy is lacking. Here we provide a new immobilization pr...

Rats with unilateral depletion of striatal dopamine (DA) show marked preferential use of the ipsilateral forelimb. Previous studies have shown that implementation of motor therapy after stroke improves functional outcome (Taub et al., 1999). Thus, we have examined the impact of forced use of the impaired forelimb during or soon after unilateral exposure to the DA neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6...

The effects of immobilization on both the circumferential dimensions of the lower limb, and the passive resistance of the knee to sinusoidal motion in the flexion-extension plane, were studied in patients immobilized after tibial fractures or ligamentous injuries of the knee. Immobilization resulted in a decrease of circumferential dimensions of the lower limb, indicating atrophy of thigh and c...

Immobilization of lipase enzyme produced from palm oil mill effluent (POME) by the activated carbon (AC) among the low cost support materials was optimized. The results indicated that immobilization of 94% was achieved by AC as the most suitable support material. A sequential optimization strategy based on a statistical experimental design, including one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) method was used ...

Immobilization is an exciting alternative to improve the stability of enzymatic processes. However, part of the applied covalent strategies for immobilization uses specific conditions, generally alkaline pH, where some enzymes are not stable. Here, a new generation of heterofunctional supports with application at neutral pH conditions was proposed. New supports were developed with different bif...