Archive for March, 2011

Annual Biophysical Society Meeting

The 55th Annual Biophysical Society Meeting got off to a great start yesterday in Baltimore, USA

There was a very interesting session on Protein Dynamics – Experimental & Simulations covering a range of topics, but all the speakers agreed on the point that it is the use of computational methods alongside experimental evidence that is the key to solving the intricate details of protein folding. Each lecture also highlighted the importance of solid state NMR in this field…

…Take a look at the PCCP solid state structure prediction themed issue today!

Also watch out for our collection of high profile articles on protein folding coming soon, including  Perspective review articles covering the areas of theory, modelling and experimental studies in this fast moving area.

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Themed issue: Materials innovation through interfacial physics and chemistry

PCCP is delighted to present its high profile themed issue on Materials innovation through interfacial physics and chemistry

The issue is Guest Edited by Professor Katsuhiko Ariga, new PCCP Editorial Board member, and highlights some of the great work in this exciting area of chemistry.

The two eye-catching covers feature the work of Frank Caruso and colleagues (DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02287J) and Song, Shelnutt et al. (DOI: 10.1039/C0CP01930E).

The issue hosts an array of articles, including Communications, papers and these Perspective review articles:

Nanostructured polymer assemblies formed at interfaces: applications from immobilization and encapsulation to stimuli-responsive release
Yajun Wang, Leticia Hosta-Rigau, Hannah Lomas and Frank Caruso
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 4782

Operation of micro and molecular machines: a new concept with its origins in interface science
Katsuhiko Ariga, Shinsuke Ishihara, Hironori Izawa, Hong Xia and Jonathan P. Hill
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 4802

Nanoaggregate shapes at the air/water interface
D. Vollhardt, N. Nandi and S. Dutta Banik
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 4812

Take a look at the whole themed issue today!

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Investigating light-harvesting complexes

HOT’ PCCP paper – electronic spectra of light-harvesting complex II

light-harvestingSubsystem TDDFT calculations allow us to investigate structural, environmental, and excitonic effects in optical spectra of (mutated) light-harvesting complexes.

The authors report on a fully quantum chemical investigation of important structural and environmental effects on the site energies of chlorophyll pigments in green-plant light-harvesting complex II – which is very important for future energy research.

Read the ‘HOT’ paper today:

First-principles calculation of electronic spectra of light-harvesting complex II
Carolin König and Johannes Neugebauer
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02808H

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Going to the Biophysical Society Meeting?

Then come and see us at the RSC Publishing booth 742!

Let us know if you are going to be there and visit our booth, where you can find out the latest news from PCCP and RSC Publishing – plus pick up some journal freebies!

I will be at the Biophysical Society Meeting in Baltimore and it would be great to meet you there!

Jane

Deputy Editor, PCCP

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Skin: the ultimate interface

HOT’ PCCP Perspective – evaluating the current pharmaceutical strategies used to overcome the ultimate interface: the human skin barrier

The outer layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, is a unique barrier membrane. On average it is only 20 μm thick (about a quarter the thickness of a normal sheet of paper) but it prevents us from losing excessive water and it protects us from our environment. It forms a special interface between our body, the air, water and various solids.

In order to understand the barrier properties of the skin we need to determine its structure at various levels ranging from the macroscopic scale to the molecular level. This has been made easier by the advances that there have been over the recent decade. However, the amount of a material that is capable of penetrating this excellent barrier and reaching the underlying systemic circulation is still only of the order of 1 or 2 per cent of the total applied dose.

skin barrierThe authors explore the strategies currently employed to promote skin permeation and to consider the most exciting approaches currently under investigation. The limitations of current methodology to examine the problem are discussed. New opportunities to fill the gaps in our current knowledge are identified and the importance of interdisciplinary research in the field is emphasised.

Read this exciting Perspective article:

Skin: the ultimate interface
Jonathan Hadgraft and Majella E. Lane
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, DOI: 10.1039/C0CP02943B


PCCP special collection

This Perspective is part of a special collection of articles in PCCP on Interfacial processes and mechanisms in celebration of John Albery’s 75th birthday. Watch out for this exciting collection which will be published in a few weeks!

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