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Clustering of charged colloidal particles in the microgravity environment of space.

ABSTRACT: We conducted a charge-charge clustering experiment of positively and negatively charged colloidal particles in aqueous media under a microgravity environment at the International Space Station. A special setup was used to mix the colloid particles in microgravity and then these structures were immobilized in gel cured using ultraviolet (UV) light. The samples returned to the ground were observed by optical microscopy. The space sample of polystyrene particles with a specific gravity ρ (=1.05) close to the medium had an average association number of ~50% larger than the ground control and better structural symmetry. The effect of electrostatic interactions on the clustering was also confirmed for titania particles (ρ ~ 3), whose association structures were only possible in the microgravity environment without any sedimentation they generally suffer on the ground. This study suggests that even slight sedimentation and convection on the ground significantly affect the structure formation of colloids. Knowledge from this study will help us to develop a model which will be used to design photonic materials and better drugs.

SUBMITTER: Miki H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10148850 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Clustering of charged colloidal particles in the microgravity environment of space.

Miki Hiroyuki H Ishigami Teruyoshi T Yamanaka Junpei J Okuzono Tohru T Toyotama Akiko A Mata Jitendra J Komazawa Honoka H Takeda Yushi Y Minami Madoka M Fujita Minori M Doi Maho M Higuchi Tsunehiko T Takase Hiroshi H Adachi Satoshi S Sakashita Tetsuya T Shimaoka Taro T Nagai Masae M Watanabe Yuki Y Fukuyama Seijiro S

NPJ microgravity 20230429 1

We conducted a charge-charge clustering experiment of positively and negatively charged colloidal particles in aqueous media under a microgravity environment at the International Space Station. A special setup was used to mix the colloid particles in microgravity and then these structures were immobilized in gel cured using ultraviolet (UV) light. The samples returned to the ground were observed by optical microscopy. The space sample of polystyrene particles with a specific gravity ρ (=1.05) cl ...[more]

PMID: 37120425

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Project description:Study questionDo charged iron particles, components of space radiation, cause premature ovarian failure?Summary answerExposure to charged iron particles causes ovarian DNA damage, oxidative damage and apoptosis, resulting in premature ovarian failure.What is known alreadyThe ovary is very sensitive to follicle destruction by low linear energy transfer (LET) radiation, such as X-rays and γ-rays. However, it is completely unknown whether high-LET radiation, such as charged iron particles, also destroys ovarian follicles.Study design, size, durationTwelve week old C57BL/6J female mice were exposed to single doses of 0, 5, 30 or 50 cGy (n = 8/group) charged iron particles (LET = 179 keV/µm) at energy of 600 MeV/u. Two groups were irradiated at the highest dose, one fed AIN-93M chow and the other fed AIN-93M chow supplemented with 150 mg/kg diet alpha lipoic acid (ALA).Participants/materials, setting, methodsWe quantified the numbers of ovarian follicles, measured serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations, and analyzed histone H2AX phosphorylation, oxidative damage and apoptosis markers in the ovarian follicles.Main results and the role of chanceH2AX phosphorylation, lipid peroxidation, protein nitration and apoptosis were highly induced in ovarian follicles at 6 h and remained increased 1 week after irradiation. As a result, numbers of healthy ovarian follicles were significantly and dose-dependently depleted at 1 and 8 weeks post-irradiation, with 57, 84 and 99% decreases in primordial follicles at 8 weeks at the 5, 30 and 50 cGy doses, respectively (P < 0.05 versus 0 cGy). Consistent with near-total depletion of ovarian follicles in the 50 cGy group, serum concentrations of FSH and LH were significantly elevated at 8 weeks. Dietary supplementation with ALA partially prevented the adverse ovarian effects of 50 cGy iron particles.Limitations, reasons for cautionAbout 21% of the estimated radiation dose from exposure to galactic cosmic rays during a multi-year Mars mission will be due to high-LET particles, of which iron is only one. The effects of galactic cosmic rays, which contain a mixture of multiple charged particles, as well as protons, neutrons, and helium ions, may differ from the effects of iron alone.Wider implications of the findingsWe show for the first time that charged high-LET ions are highly damaging to the ovary even at low doses, causing premature ovarian failure. In addition to raising concerns for female astronauts, these findings raise concerns for ovarian damage due to clinical uses of high-LET particles for cancer treatment. In addition to causing infertility, premature ovarian failure has adverse implications for the functions of heart, brain, bone and muscle later in life.Study funding/competing interestsThis work was supported by a National Aeronautics and Space Administration grant NNX14AC50G to U.L. B.M. was partially supported by a National Space Biomedical Research Institute First Award, PF04302. Additional support was received from the University of California Irvine Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. The authors have no conflicts of interests.

Dataset Information

Clustering of charged colloidal particles in the microgravity environment of space.

Publications

Clustering of charged colloidal particles in the microgravity environment of space.

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