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Biomedical Journal Feb 2023An ever expanding body of research over the past several decades suggest that directly touching the earth, a practice known as grounding, puts the body into a healing... (Review)
Review
An ever expanding body of research over the past several decades suggest that directly touching the earth, a practice known as grounding, puts the body into a healing state. The natural universe conducts an energy current known as a direct current (DC). This DC circuit of energy flows through everything on our planet, including plants, animals, human beings, and the surface of our entire globe, creating a global electrical circuit. DC energy is also what the living human body uses to function, as everything from the beating of our heart to the movement of our muscles to our brain's ability to think operates using DC energy. The earth's DC energy flows continuously across the earth's crust, and anything conductive that touches the earth becomes part of this natural circuit. Our human bodies, which are highly conductive, join this global electrical circuit whenever we make direct contact with the earth, a practice known as grounding. Medical studies are revealing that by becoming a part of the global electrical circuit, through grounding, the human body enters a profound healing state. As our understanding of the health benefits of grounding continue to deepen, we can begin to use grounding as an intentional healing tool in clinical medicine. Grounding may play a role in not only improving the body's natural ability to function, but may also play a role in the healing of disease and the prevention of disease development in the first place. Studies so far suggest that becoming a part of the earth's global DC circuit enhances our conductive health, which has far reaching implications to all our organ systems that utilize DC energy and conductivity to work, including but not limited to: our central and peripheral nervous system, our musculoskeletal system, and our cardiovascular system. Further research into the healing properties of grounding will help clinicians tailor suggestions for specific health issues, and will help us understand the role of our body's conductivity in the presence of our global electrical circuit.
Topics: Humans; Earth, Planet; Electric Conductivity; Movement
PubMed: 36481428
DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.12.001 -
Current Biology : CB Feb 2022In this Quick guide, Derek Lovley introduces microbial nanowires-conductive extracellular appendages made by some bacteria and archaea.
In this Quick guide, Derek Lovley introduces microbial nanowires-conductive extracellular appendages made by some bacteria and archaea.
Topics: Bacteria; Electric Conductivity; Electron Transport; Fimbriae, Bacterial; Nanowires
PubMed: 35134353
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.12.019 -
Nature Chemical Biology Apr 2017Electrical signals generated by minute currents of ions moving across cell membranes are central to all rapid processes in biology. Initiation and propagation of... (Review)
Review
Electrical signals generated by minute currents of ions moving across cell membranes are central to all rapid processes in biology. Initiation and propagation of electrical signals requires voltage-gated sodium (Na) and calcium (Ca) channels. These channels contain a tetramer of membrane-bound subunits or domains comprising a voltage sensor and a pore module. Voltage-dependent activation occurs as membrane depolarization drives outward movements of positive gating changes in the voltage sensor via a sliding-helix mechanism, which leads to a conformational change in the pore module that opens its intracellular activation gate. A unique negatively charged site in the selectivity filter conducts hydrated Na or Ca rapidly and selectively. Ion conductance is terminated by voltage-dependent inactivation, which causes asymmetric pore collapse. This Review focuses on recent advances in structure and function of Na and Ca channels that expand our current understanding of the chemical basis for electrical signaling mechanisms conserved from bacteria to humans.
Topics: Calcium; Electric Conductivity; Humans; Ion Channel Gating; Ion Channels; Models, Molecular; Potassium; Sodium
PubMed: 28406893
DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2353 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology May 2022As a typical class of crystalline porous materials, metal-organic framework possesses unique features including versatile functionality, structural and compositional... (Review)
Review
As a typical class of crystalline porous materials, metal-organic framework possesses unique features including versatile functionality, structural and compositional tunability. After being reduced to two-dimension, ultrathin metal-organic framework layers possess more external excellent properties favoring various technological applications. In this review article, the unique structural properties of the ultrathin metal-organic framework nanosheets benefiting from the planar topography were highlighted, involving light transmittance, and electrical conductivity. Moreover, the design strategy and versatile fabrication methodology were summarized covering discussions on their applicability and accessibility, especially for porphyritic metal-organic framework nanosheet. The current achievements in the bioapplications of two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks were presented comprising biocatalysis, biosensor, and theranostic, with an emphasis on reactive oxygen species-based nanomedicine for oncology treatment. Furthermore, current challenges confronting the utilization of two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks and future opportunities in emerging research frontiers were presented.
Topics: Biocatalysis; Electric Conductivity; Metal-Organic Frameworks; Nanomedicine; Porosity
PubMed: 35501794
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01395-9 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2020Bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene are materials that have attracted the attention of researchers due to their outstanding properties. BC is a nanostructured 3D... (Review)
Review
Bacterial cellulose (BC) and graphene are materials that have attracted the attention of researchers due to their outstanding properties. BC is a nanostructured 3D network of pure and highly crystalline cellulose nanofibres that can act as a host matrix for the incorporation of other nano-sized materials. Graphene features high mechanical properties, thermal and electric conductivity and specific surface area. In this paper we review the most recent studies regarding the development of novel BC-graphene nanocomposites that take advantage of the exceptional properties of BC and graphene. The most important applications of these novel BC-graphene nanocomposites include the development of novel electric conductive materials and energy storage devices, the preparation of aerogels and membranes with very high specific area as sorbent materials for the removal of oil and metal ions from water and a variety of biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. The main properties of these BC-graphene nanocomposites associated with these applications, such as electric conductivity, biocompatibility and specific surface area, are systematically presented together with the processing routes used to fabricate such nanocomposites.
Topics: Bacteria; Cellulose; Drug Delivery Systems; Electric Conductivity; Graphite; Nanocomposites
PubMed: 32906692
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186532 -
Nano Letters Oct 2021Organic molecules and specifically bio-organic systems are attractive for applications due to their low cost, variability, environmental friendliness, and facile...
Organic molecules and specifically bio-organic systems are attractive for applications due to their low cost, variability, environmental friendliness, and facile manufacturing in a bottom-up fashion. However, due to their relatively low conductivity, their actual application is very limited. Chiral metallo-bio-organic crystals, on the other hand, have improved conduction and in addition interesting magnetic properties. We developed a spin transistor using these crystals and based on the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect. This device features a memristor type behavior, which depend on trapping both charges and spins. The spin properties are monitored by Hall signal and by an external magnetic field. The spin transistor exhibits nonlinear drain-source currents, with multilevel controlled states generated by the magnetization of the source. Varying the source magnetization enables a six-level readout for the two-terminal device. The simplicity of the device paves the way for its technological application in organic electronics and bioelectronics.
Topics: Electric Conductivity; Electronics; Magnetic Fields; Magnetics; Metals
PubMed: 34662128
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01865 -
Biosensors Sep 2023Biological parameters extracted from electrical signals from various body parts have been used for many years to analyze the human body and its behavior. In addition,... (Review)
Review
Biological parameters extracted from electrical signals from various body parts have been used for many years to analyze the human body and its behavior. In addition, electrical signals from cancer cell lines, normal cells, and viruses, among others, have been widely used for the detection of various diseases. Single-cell parameters such as cell and cytoplasmic conductivity, relaxation frequency, and membrane capacitance are important. There are many techniques available to characterize biomaterials, such as nanotechnology, microstrip cavity resonance measurement, etc. This article reviews single-cell isolation and sorting techniques, such as the micropipette separation method, separation and sorting system (dual electrophoretic array system), DEPArray sorting system (dielectrophoretic array system), cell selector sorting system, and microfluidic and valve devices, and discusses their respective advantages and disadvantages. Furthermore, it summarizes common single-cell electrical manipulations, such as single-cell amperometry (SCA), electrical impedance sensing (EIS), impedance flow cytometry (IFC), cell-based electrical impedance (CEI), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and integrated microelectrode array (IMA). The article also enumerates the application and significance of single-cell electrochemical analysis from the perspectives of CTC liquid biopsy, recombinant adenovirus, tumor cells like lung cancer DTCs (LC-DTCs), and single-cell metabolomics analysis. The paper concludes with a discussion of the current limitations faced by single-cell analysis techniques along with future directions and potential application scenarios.
Topics: Humans; Cell Separation; Flow Cytometry; Electricity; Electric Conductivity; Electric Impedance; Single-Cell Analysis; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
PubMed: 37887100
DOI: 10.3390/bios13100907 -
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine Feb 2019MR-based electrical properties tomography converts the MRI transmit/receive RF field measurements to tissue electrical property maps through dedicated reconstruction... (Review)
Review
MR-based electrical properties tomography converts the MRI transmit/receive RF field measurements to tissue electrical property maps through dedicated reconstruction algorithms. Recent reports showed that despite limitations, electrical properties tomography holds promise for generating additional contrast for tumor detection and patient-specific modeling of tissue-RF field interactions. This review summarizes the available tissue electrical property contrasts and compares them with the capabilities of the most commonly used electrical properties tomography reconstruction method. Future directions and prospects of clinical translation are discussed.
Topics: Algorithms; Brain; Breast; Contrast Media; Electric Conductivity; Electric Impedance; Female; Gray Matter; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Patient-Specific Modeling; Phantoms, Imaging; Reproducibility of Results; Tomography; White Matter
PubMed: 30325052
DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27453 -
International Journal of Molecular... Oct 2020In the last few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have been the focus of extensive studies concerning the relationship between structure and properties and how this impacts... (Review)
Review
In the last few years, ionic liquids (ILs) have been the focus of extensive studies concerning the relationship between structure and properties and how this impacts their application. Despite a large number of studies, several topics remain controversial or not fully answered, such as: the existence of ion pairs, the concept of free volume and the effect of water and its implications in the modulation of ILs physicochemical properties. In this paper, we present a critical review of state-of-the-art literature regarding structure-property relationship of ILs, we re-examine analytical theories on the structure-property correlations and present new perspectives based on the existing data. The interrelation between transport properties (viscosity, diffusion, conductivity) of IL structure and free volume are analysed and discussed at a molecular level. In addition, we demonstrate how the analysis of microscopic features (particularly using NMR-derived data) can be used to explain and predict macroscopic properties, reaching new perspectives on the properties and application of ILs.
Topics: Diffusion; Electric Conductivity; Ionic Liquids; Ions; Structure-Activity Relationship; Viscosity
PubMed: 33086771
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207745 -
Biosensors Jan 2022Since it was reported in 2014, laser-induced graphene (LIG) has received growing attention for its fast speed, non-mask, and low-cost customizable preparation, and has... (Review)
Review
Since it was reported in 2014, laser-induced graphene (LIG) has received growing attention for its fast speed, non-mask, and low-cost customizable preparation, and has shown its potential in the fields of wearable electronics and biological sensors that require high flexibility and versatility. Laser-induced graphene has been successfully prepared on various substrates with contents from various carbon sources, e.g., from organic films, plants, textiles, and papers. This paper reviews the recent progress on the state-of-the-art preparations and applications of LIG including mechanical sensors, temperature and humidity sensors, electrochemical sensors, electrophysiological sensors, heaters, and actuators. The achievements of LIG based devices for detecting diverse bio-signal, serving as monitoring human motions, energy storage, and heaters are highlighted here, referring to the advantages of LIG in flexible designability, excellent electrical conductivity, and diverse choice of substrates. Finally, we provide some perspectives on the remaining challenges and opportunities of LIG.
Topics: Electric Conductivity; Electronics; Graphite; Humans; Lasers; Wearable Electronic Devices
PubMed: 35200316
DOI: 10.3390/bios12020055