ISIS SANS2D science highlights

SANS2D science highlights

Our Science Highlight articles cover the diverse research that takes place at our facility. Read all our Science Highlight articles using SANS2D below:

The benefit of calcium ions to water treatment processes.
A recent paper published by a team from ISIS, Sydney Water (Australia) and Technische Universität Berlin has analysed the role of Ca2+ when using polyelectrolytes in the removal of humic substances from natural water.
You’ve got nano-mail. The role of SANS in lipid nanocarriers
Researchers from Prof Molly Stevens’ group at Imperial College London and Karolinska Institute with scientists from ISIS have exploited several techniques to gain structural understanding of lipid-based particles to support their clinical applications.
Nature Knows Best- how the use of geometry in biology could be applied to materials science
Geometry in biological molecules could be exploited to aid development of bio-inspired materials.
How hydrogels could turn the tide in the treatment of HIV
SANS facilities at ISIS and ILL are being used to develop HIV treatment gels.
Studying the influence of salts on α-synuclein aggregation, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease
Researchers from the universities of Cambridge, Antwerp and Leeds have found that the mobility of water, and the salts that impact its mobility, is a key factor in protein aggregation.
Sticky slime studied using SANS
Velvet worms create projectile slime to defend themselves and catch their prey. Using small angle neutron scattering, researchers have been able to look inside the slime and study its structure.
A Spaghetti Special on SANS-2D!
Researchers from the ESS and RWTH Aachen University experiment with gluten-free spaghetti to uncover its nanostructure.
AstraZeneca uses Sans2D to understand potential new mRNA production method
Biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca recently developed an automated technique to generate lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery and used neutrons to investigate how it compared to standard production methods.
Formulating engine lubricants for modern fuels and hardware
Lubrizol has used small angle neutron scattering at ISIS to learn more about how additives neutralise a type of acid formed in engine lubricant that is more common when biofuels are used.
Tea and liquorice: a recipe for sustainable detergents and toiletries?
A UK consortium including ISIS researchers have characterised the behaviour of naturally occurring surfactants, learning more about how their molecular structure influences their solution self-assembly properties.
Molecular IgG3 structure paves the way for new applications of antibodies
A combination of scattering and analytical techniques has provided the first atomic-level structural model for the IgG3 antibody
Unpicking nano-staples to control protein unfolding during network formation
A group of researchers has discovered that the process of a protein unfolding plays a defining role in the structure and mechanical properties of wider protein networks.
Sugar-free antibodies find it harder to function properly
Research from a co-funded ISIS PhD studentship has found that the sugars on antibodies are key to the way they interact with immune receptor cells in the body.
Self-assembling surfactants organise into fractal formations
A research collaboration with the University of Bristol and GlaxoSmithKline has investigated surfactant self-assembly in a ‘green’ solvent, finding that counter-ion condensation causes the formation of fractal dendrites.
Understanding the growth of disease-causing protein fibres
Using the unique contrast method offered by neutron scattering, researchers have been able to measure the rate of growth of amyloid fibrils in solution.
Neutron science helps tackle antibiotic resistance
Two different studies conducted using small angle neutron scattering reveal novel methods to kill bacteria.
Thinking of milk as sticky helps dairy data analysis
A new way of looking at the structure of milk has been applied to existing neutron data, showing that the particles within it are stickier than previously thought.
ISIS beamlines help Unilever develop biodegradable products
Using a range of scattering techniques at ISIS to investigate how naturally occurring surfactants interact with their synthetic analogues, Unilever scientists have gained an insight into developing more eco-friendly products.
Studying the clinical markers for blocked arteries
A tale of two tails
The mechanism behind the exchange of double-ended polymers that form flower-like structures has been determined for the first time using time-resolved small angle neutron scattering on SANS2D.
Temperature and chain length determine rate of exchange of chains between diblock copolymer nanoparticles
The speciality chemicals company Lubrizol has used neutron scattering at ISIS to investigate the rate of copolymer chain exchange in nanoparticles comprising diblock copolymers of differing chain lengths at various temperatures.
A simple ‘one pot’ synthesis produces silica nanoparticles with great potential
Secrets of Peptide Assembly unzipped at ISIS
Textbook skin cream structure is wrong
Neutrons at ISIS reveal that the microstructure of skin creams is more complex than previously thought.
Neutrons investigate novel nanoparticle used in cell therapy imaging
An international team of scientists have used neutrons to investigate a novel nanoparticle that can provide real-time imaging of cell therapies to be used in the treatment of melanoma.
Secrets of Peptide Assembly unzipped at ISIS
Researchers from China, Manchester and ISIS have used neutrons to gain new insights into peptide self-assembly and the ‘polar zipper’ mechanism, which could improve the development of future peptide-based materials.
What makes a good fire-fighting foam?
Researchers at the University of Bristol are using neutrons to investigate fluorocarbon surfactants (soap-like molecules) used in fire-fighting foams to uncover more efficient and environmentally friendly formulations.
Improving the efficiency of engine fuel delivery – one neutron at a time
Scientists from City, University of London and Lubrizol Limited have been using neutron technology at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source to test the role that modern additives have in increasing the efficiency of fuel injectors.
Tackling Cancer at the Nanoscale An investigation into cyclic peptide-polymer anti-cancer drug delivery systems
Neutron scattering at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source has provided unique insights into a novel anti-cancer therapy; using cyclic peptide-polymer nanotubes as functional drug carrier systems.
Probing peptide-polymer nanotubes with neutrons
Scientists are using small angle neutron scattering to investigate the dynamics of self-assembling cyclic peptide-polymer nanotubes.
Open University and EDF Energy collaborate to extend the life of Advanced Gas Cooler Reactors
As one of the UK’s largest energy providers, EDF Energy operate 14 Advanced Gas Cooler Reactors (AGRs) to generate low carbon electricity.
Using neutron scattering to address complex additive challenges
Understanding the mechanism by which detergent particles are formed is crucial for their improved development and design.
Scientists gather to discuss the future of tackling infectious diseases
World-leading neutron scientists gathered last week to discuss the latest findings in the development of drugs to tackle infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance.
ISIS and exploding bubbles in the fight against cancer
ISIS is playing an increasingly important role in cancer research.
An antibody with a twist
In recent years a swarm of new antibody-based drugs have hit the market, offering treatment for cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases.
Unravelling the boundaries in a solid-liquid relationship
In nature many different and fascinating solid-liquid relationships exist...
Can biological minerals made by bacteria clean-up contaminated Fukushima soils?
On 11th March, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude undersea earthquake occurred off the Pacific coast of Tōhoku, generating powerful tsunami waves and resulting in a human death toll of over 19,000.
Think twice before squishing that spider!
...because spiders are more than just ‘eight-legged freaks’ that haunt the dark corners of your garden shed.
Ecoli packs a punch
Neutron scattering experiments have given a new insight into how E. coli bacteria, often associated with food poisoning, kill each other in the evolutionary competition for food and space.
ISIS helps extend the life of oil reserves
A research team led by the University of Bristol has used STFC’s ISIS Neutron Source to come up with a new way to treat carbon dioxide (CO2), so that it can be used in efficient and environmentally friendly methods for extracting oil.
Solution structure of proteasome activators
In biological cells, the so-called ‘20S proteasome’ is responsible for breaking down damaged or unneeded proteins so they can be recycled into new ones.