TX100 (Triton X-100) is a typical nonionic surfactant that is widely used in biology. However, the detailed aggregated conformation of TX100, such as the boundary between the polar region and the nonpolar region, and the arrangement of hydrophobic chains in micelles, are still controversial. In the manuscript, the aggregation pattern of TX100 has been studied using sPREs (solvent Paramagnetic Relaxation Enhancements)-based NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy). It was found that the average positions of the protons in the TX100 micelle are consistent with those in the multilayer staggered spherical micelle model with the p-tertoctylphenyl groups dispersing in the different layers.

Weak interactions, though sometimes easily ignored, play an important role in macromolecule dissolution. In this work, the characterization of weak interactions between urea and cellulose in a LiOH/urea aqueous solution was accomplished and confirmed in situ, for the first time, using PFG-SE NMR, FT-IR and solvatochromic methods, etc. The NMR results indicated the binding of urea with cellulose in the solution, demonstrating the existence of the weak interactions between them. Subsequently, the solvatochromic methods revealed that urea hardly affected the hydrogen bond donor (HBD acidity) and hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA basicity) properties of the solvent, but was related to its dipolarity and polarizability, indicating that dispersion forces existed therein, but not likely hydrogen bonding, which was also supported by the FT-IR. Furthermore, the impact of weak interactions between urea and cellulose was demonstrated to facilitate the dissolving process. The fine dispersion and good stability of cellulose in the solution were maintained by mitigating the effect of the hydrophobic portions from all the dilute, semi-dilute and concentrated regimes, supported by the results of dynamic light scattering (DLS), rheology, NMR, etc. Therefore, the transmittance and mechanical properties of the regenerated cellulose materials prepared from the cellulose solution in the alkali/urea aqueous system were enhanced, compared with those in the alkali only system. This work provided significant and new experimental insights into the non-covalent weak interactions between urea and macromolecules from the viewpoints of polymer physics and physical chemistry, which could never be ignored and underestimated. The indispensable weak interactions in the system are also important for the green conversion of natural biomass into new materials via physical processes.

A terpyridine- and guanine-functionalized peptide was developed that could form different morphologies by self-assembly or coordination with Fe²⁺ in dimethyl sulfoxide.

Time-dependent diffusion MRI can be used to effectively evaluate liver fibrosis grading, potentially enabling noninvasive assessment of treatment efficacy and facilitating personalized clinical treatment.