Directed self-assembly offers an excellent route for the fabrication of nano-structured materials over large length scales. The final structure is determined by the interaction between the different building blocks, which can be, for example, steric, Coulomb or hydrophobic. From magnetic nano-particles the magnetic induction provides an additional design opportunity, with the particular advantage that the […]
Magdalena Almén
Tail unsaturation affects the solubility of sugar-based surfactant forming worm-like micelles
Surfactants are amphiphilic molecules, meaning that one part is hydrophobic and the other hydrophilic. This leads to that they adsorb at interfaces and self-assembles in solution into various structures. These properties make surfactants important ingredients in several products as eg. detergents, emulsifiers and rheological modifiers. The extensive use of surfactants results in a significant environmental […]
Small Angle Neutron Scattering revels the distribution of lipidic components in Lipid based nanoparticles, and how this is affected by serum protein binding
Lipid based Nanoparticles (LNPs) constitute a potent nanotechnology used in drug and gene delivery. Indeed, the Covid19 vaccines by Pziffer and Moderna use this technology. LNP efficiency, however, is low (as determined by the protein expression capacity per loaded RNA) and efforts are continuously being made to increase their potency. For example, improving the uptake […]
H2 loading induced reversible formation of graphitic domains in carbide-derived carbons
Carbon materials are used in a wide range of applications from gas filtration to energy storage in batteries and supercapacitors. Optimization and control of carbon structures, e.g. level of graphitization, is vital for achieving peak performance of these materials for a specific application. Thus far, the structure of carbon materials was primarily determined by the […]
Neutrons in Life Science and Biomaterials, 3 hp
The aim of the course is to expose SwedNESS students to state-of-the-art neutron methodology in Life Science, and to provide a widened knowledge and experience basis for using biomaterials in their own research as a basis for building functional hypotheses. Examples of how neutron methods in Life Science can be used to increased functional understanding […]
Imaging/Tomography, 3 hp
This course targets masters, PhD students and possibly postdocs from all fields. The objectives of the course are to develop awareness and understanding of different neutron imaging methods and their possible applications in different areas of research. Students should thus be able to make more effective use of neutron imaging in research by identification of the […]
Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), 3 hp
This course will introduce Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) theory and practice, including how to analyse SANS data. It is aimed at students who have completed previous general neutron scattering courses, or who have some experience of Small Angle Scattering with x-rays or neutrons. Read more…
Post doctoral fellow in Polarised Small Angle Neutron Scattering
Lund University is seeking qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellow position in a joint project with the European Spallation Source (ESS). The project focuses on developing innovative science using polarised small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and carrying out polarised neutron instrumentation work for the ESS SANS instruments LoKI and SKADI. In addition, the project also […]
Interplay of NH4+ and BH4- reorientational dynamics in NH4BH4
The reorientational dynamics can be linked to the occurrence of many interesting properties, e.g. high ionic conductivities in M2BnHn and MCBn-1Hn (M = Li, Na; n = 10, 12). While most studies on reorientational dynamics have focused on compounds that contain one active species, new systems with interesting properties which exhibit dynamics on similar timescales […]
Effects of uniaxial pressure on the spin ice Ho2Ti2O7
Since the invention of the transistor and the photovoltaic cell, it has been clear that an understanding of emergent electronic and magnetic phenomena is of greatest importance for the development of modern society and sustainability. The low temperature properties of Ho2Ti2O7 has pusseled scientists for over two decades. The degenerate ground state of this material […]
Polymer composites: improving the environment, understanding scattering, and supporting enterprise
Plastic waste receives a lot of bad publicity but for some applications there are advantages for synthetic polymers over use of other materials. Recycling is often readily practicable if the component materials are known, and so the balance of benefits and end-use costs needs to be carefully evaluated. A recent study [1] came about from […]
Phase behaviour of ultrasoft spheres show stable bcc lattices
In order to rationally design new smart materials, it is pivotal to understand their phase behaviour. This means being able to predict under which conditions (e.g. temperature, pressure, concentration) such a material is a fluid, a disordered solid, or a crystal. Colloidal dispersions are suitable model systems to reproduce the behaviour of atomic systems and […]
Neutron reflection reveals how lipoproteins cannot exchange fats when both saturated fats and cholesterol are present in model membranes
We all have heard about the good and bad cholesterol and how these are affected by diet. Good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein (HDL) removes lipids from the vessels to get excreted in the liver. Bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL) deliver lipids to the body. The truth is that both good and bad […]
How to tailor surfactant self-assembly in deep eutectic solvents using hydrotropes
While society strives towards more sustainable lifestyles, technological applications and products that use green solvents are coming up slowly. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are the epitome of green neoteric solvents. They can be synthesised using simple and cheap organic precursors (e.g. polyols, carboxylic acids, amino acids…), where the mixture of two solid compounds at the […]
Bone nanostructure studied by small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering
Bone has remarkable mechanical properties resulting in a unique ability to withstand mechanical loading. It is a hierarchically structured composite material made up primarily of type-I collagen and hydroxyapatite (HAp) mineral. The combination of these constituents and their complex structural organisation, from the molecular level to the whole organ, result in a tissue with an […]
Resolving the microscopic origin of viscoelasticity in polymers
Polymers show very interesting viscoelastic properties. They can be elastic, bridle or rigid as solids or show flow properties very similar to those of liquids, which allows Taylor design of materials with unique mechanical properties. This fact is related to the wide range of relaxation times relevant for the local dynamics of the polymer chains. […]
Quantum entanglement in low-energy neutron-proton scattering and its possible consequences
Hydrogen and compounds containing hydrogen are among the most frequently studied objects in neutron scattering. It is therefore important that the n-p scattering process is understood in detail for a correct interpretation of experimental data. The very high value for the bound proton cross section (σ = 81.9 barns) is caused by a specific feature […]
Grant for accessibility to infrastructure
The Swedish Research Council has been mandated by the Government to work towards ensuring researchers based in Sweden participate to a greater degree in the construction and development of research infrastructure, and towards making research infrastructure more accessible and more used by the business and public sectors. The Grant for Accessibility to Infrastructure is available to the […]
Effect of Formulation Method, Lipid Composition, and PEGylation on Vesicle Lamellarity: A Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Study
Liposomes are vesicles comprising a lipid membrane and aqueous core, and have found myriad applications in the biomedical field as therapeutics and in diagnostic assays. Liposome design requires careful choice of lipid composition and formulation method in order to produce populations with a defined unilamellar membrane structure. This is crucial in the development of liposome […]
Tackling antibiotic resistance using cubosomes
As a result of decades of misuse of antibiotics, the number of bacteria resistant to commercially available antibiotics is increasing worldwide and is one of the major challenges facing global health. A unique drug-delivery system has been tested in vitro to understand its effect on bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are host defense peptides present as […]
SNSS General Assembly 2020
The SNSS General Assembly was held via Zoom on the 12th of May. Presentation and minutes can be dowloaded here.
Spontaneous Formation of Cushioned Model Membranes Promoted by an Intrinsically Disordered Protein
Histatin 5 is an intrinsically disordered, multifunctional, cationic, saliva protein known to act as the first line of defense against oral candidiasis caused by Candida albicans and belongs to the family of antimicrobial peptides. The mechanism at the base of its antifungal activity is still partially unknown. For this reason, understanding the interaction between Histatin […]
Apply for funding from Vinnova: Industrial pilot projects for utilisation of large-scale infrastructures for neutron and photon based techniques
In this offer, we support project initiatives that build competence around industrial utilisation of advanced analytical techniques as those u at MAX IV and ESS. The proposals should be based on a need for at least one Swedish company and address verification regarding the suitability of the techniques to meet the need of the […]
Structure and composition of highly viscoelastic (α-CD)/anionic surfactant films investigated by neutron reflectivity
Understanding the surface rheological behavior of adsorbed films at the aqueous/air interface composed of sugars, surfactants, or complexes between them, is of great interest due to their relevance in different application areas ranging from food, medical diagnostics and oil recovery. Recently, we have found that α-cyclodextrin (α-CD)/anionic surfactant mixtures form films at the solution/air interface […]
Virtual material science platform for organic magnets
Materials databases, high throughput computing, and data mining has emerged as powerful tools for screening and rapid prototyping of functional materials. Quantum magnetic systems, with often competing ground states and phases, are a challenge for ab initio modelling. In recent work at Nordita and KTH an important step forward was taken for predictive modeling of […]
Following protein dynamics in real time during crystallization
Diffraction from protein crystals remains the central pathway to high-quality protein structure determination, but a universal approach to crystallization has not been presented. This lack is linked to the underlying fundamental complexity of protein crystallization: proteins are nonspherical, flexible macromolecules with highly anisotropic interactions. Anisotropic sticky attraction can induce amorphous aggregation, and a better understanding […]
Local structure and vibrational dynamics of proton-conducting Ba2In2O5(H2O)x
Proton-conducting oxides are materials of huge interest for a variety of applications, such as electrolytes in membrane reactors or in proton-conducting fuel cells (PCFC) operating in the intermediate temperature range, T = 200 – 500°C. A limiting factor pertaining to the performance of present-day PCFC devices is a too low proton conductivity of the electrolyte […]
Producing matchout cholesterol for neutron scattering
The great advantage of using neutron scattering within the Life Sciences is not only the greater sensitivity towards hydrogen as compared to using X-rays as probe instead, but more importantly the ability to distinguish hydrogen from its heavier isotope deuterium. This property enables highlighting different parts within a molecule or a molecular complex, and has […]
Understanding the structure of lipid sponge phase nanoparticle (L3-NPs) using small angle neutron scattering
Nonlamellar lipid liquid crystalline phases have many potential applications, such as for drug delivery, protein encapsulation or crystallization. Lipid liquid crystalline sponge phase (L3) has so far not been very much considered in these applications, in spite of apparent advantages in terms of its flexibility and capacity of forming large aqueous pores able to encapsulate […]
Tuning the alignment of nanocellulose using a magnetic field
Cellulose nanomaterials extracted from plants are very attractive due to their intrinsic optical and mechanical properties (e.g., high transparency, large elastic modulus, etc) and the potential novel applications that exploit these features. However, despite the extraordinary intrinsic properties of nanocelluloses at the nanoscopic level, the translation of the properties to the macroscopic level is not […]
Apply for funding via the new SAKURA Mobility Programme
To strengthen scientific collaboration between Sweden and Japan, the Swedish Research Council (VR) decided to fund and launch SAKURA, a new mobility programme focusing on neutron research and activities of ESS and J-PARC in particular. Personnel working at the two neutron sources as well as researchers affiliated with Swedish and Japanese universities are welcome to […]