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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Viktor, et al.
(författare)
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Imaging of the 3D Nanostructure of a Polymer Solar Cell by Electron Tomography
- 2009
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Ingår i: Nano letters (Print). - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1530-6984 .- 1530-6992. ; 9:2, s. 853-855
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Electron tomography has been used for analyzing the active layer in a polymer solar cell, a bulk heterojunction of an alternating copolymer of fluorene and a derivative of fullerene. The method supplies a three-dimensional representation of the morphology of the film, where domains with different scattering properties may be distinguished. The reconstruction shows good contrast between the two phases included in the film and demonstrates that electron tomography is an adequate tool for investigations of the three-dimensional nanostructure of the amorphous materials used in polymer solar cells.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Björk, Per, et al.
(författare)
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Single molecular imaging and spectroscopy of conjugated polyelectrolytes decorated on stretched aligned DNA
- 2005
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Ingår i: Nano Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1530-6984 .- 1530-6992. ; 5:10, s. 1948-1953
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- DNA is the prototype template for building nanoelectronic devices by self-assembly. The electronic functions are made possible by coordinating electronic polymer chains to DNA. This paper demonstrates two methods for fabrication of aligned and ordered DNA nanowires complexed with conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs). The complex can be formed either in solution prior to stretching or after stretching of the bare DNA on a surface. Molecular combing was used to stretch the complexes on surface energy patterned surfaces, and PMMA for the bare DNA. Single molecular spectroscopy, in fluorescence, and microscopy, in atomic force microscopy, give evidence for coordination of the short CPE chains to the aligned DNA.
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| 6. |
- Hamedi, Mahiar, et al.
(författare)
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Electrochemical Devices Made from Conducting Nanowire Networks Self-Assembled from Amyloid Fibrils and Alkoxysulfonate PEDOT
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nano letters (Print). - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1530-6984 .- 1530-6992. ; 8:6, s. 1736-1740
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteins offer an almost infinite number of functions and geometries for building nanostructures. Here we have focused on amyloid fibrillar proteins as a nanowire template and shown that these fibrils can be coated with the highly conducting polymer alkoxysulfonate PEDOT through molecular self-assembly in water. Transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy show that the coated fibers have a diameter around 15 nm and a length/thickness aspect ratio >1:1000 . We have further shown that networks of the conducting nanowires are electrically and electrochemically active by constructing fully functional electrochemical transistors with nanowire networks, operating at low voltages between 0 and 0.5 V.
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| 7. |
- Herland, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Alignment of a conjugated polymer onto amyloid-like protein fibrils
- 2007
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Ingår i: Small. - : Wiley. - 1613-6810 .- 1613-6829. ; 3:2, s. 318-325
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The amyloid-like fibril is a biomolecular nanowire template of very high stability. Here we describe the coordination of a conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly(thiophene acetic acid) (PTAA), to bovine insulin fibrils with widths of <10 nm and lengths of up to more than 10 m. Fibrils complexed with PTAA are aligned on surfaces through molecular combing and transfer printing. Single-molecule spectroscopy techniques are applied to chart spectral variation in the emission of these wires. When these results are combined with analysis of the polarization of the emitted light, we can conclude that the polymer chains are preferentially aligned along the fibrillar axis.
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| 8. |
- Herland, Anna, 1979-
(författare)
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Conjugated Polymers, Amyloid Detection and Assembly of Biomolecular Nanowires
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The research field of conjugated polymers has grown due to the optical and electronic properties of the material, useful in applications such as solar cells and printed electronics, but also in biosensors and for interactions with biomolecules. In this thesis conjugated polymers have been used in two related topics; to detect conformational changes in proteins and to assemble the polymers with biomolecules into nanowires.Within biosensing, conjugated polymers have been used for detection of a wide range of biological events, such as DNA hybridization or enzymatic activity, utilizing both electronic and optical changes in the polymer. Here the focus has been to use the polymers as optical probes to discriminate between native and misfolded protein, as well as to follow the misfolding processes in vitro. The understanding and detection of protein misfolding, for example amyloid fibril formation, is a topic of growing importance. The misfolding process is strongly associated with several devastating diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). We have developed detection schemes for discrimination between proteins in the native or amyloid fibril state based on luminescent polythiophene derivatives. Through a synthesis strategy based on polymerization of trimer blocks rather than of monomers, polythiophene derivatives with higher optical signal specificity for amyloid-like fibrils were obtained.Self-assembly of nanowires containing conjugated polymers is a route to generate structures of unique opto-electrical characteristics without the need for tedious topdown processes. Biomolecules can have nanowire geometries of extraordinary aspect ratio and functionalities. The DNA molecule is the most well known and exploited of these. In this thesis work the more stable amyloid fibril has been used as a template to organize conjugated polymers. Luminescent, semi-conducting, conjugated polymers have been incorporated in and assembled onto amyloid fibrils. Using luminescence quenching we have demonstrated that the conjugated material can retain the electro-activity after the incorporation process. Furthermore, the amyloid fibril/conjugated polymer hybrid structures can be organized on surfaces by the means of molecular combing and soft lithography.In the process of generating self-assembled biomolecular nanowires functionalized with conjugated polymers, we have shown a new synthesis strategy for a water-soluble highly conducting polythiophene derivative. This material, PEDOT-S, has shown affinity for amyloid fibrils, but can also be very useful in conventional opto-electronic polymer-based devices.
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| 9. |
- Herland, Anna, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Conjugated polymers as optical probes for protein interactions and protein conformations
- 2007
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Ingår i: Macromolecular rapid communications. - : Wiley. - 1022-1336 .- 1521-3927. ; 28:17, s. 1703-1713
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is a need for highly sensitive, multi-parallel protein sensors within diagnostics and proteomic research. Conjugated polymers (CPs) have been demonstrated as highly sensitive optical probes for protein biosensing. Compared to small molecules, the polymeric probe has the possibility of multiple interactions and a collective response, which enhances the sensor signal. The optical output is colorimetric or, more sensitive, fluorescence based, including Förster energy transfer and changes in the emission wavelengths and/or intensity. Using CPs, many interesting protein detection events have been demonstrated, e.g., protein interactions, enzymatic activity, amyloid fibril formation, and detection by aptamers. CPs have also been successfully used to stain bacterial, cellular, and tissue samples. © 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.
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| 10. |
- Herland, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Decoration of amyloid fibrils with luminescent conjugated polymers
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Materials Chemistry. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 0959-9428 .- 1364-5501. ; 18:1, s. 126-132
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this work we report the coating of a biological template with a polar, but uncharged, luminescent conjugated polymer, soluble in organic solvents but not in water, to produce a nanowire. Amyloid fibrils from bovine insulin were decorated with an alternating polyfluorene derivative. Decorated fibrils were partially aligned on hydrophobic surfaces as separate and bundled fibrils, by means of molecular combing. The single molecule spectroscopy technique utilizing excitation by rotating linearly polarized light and fluorescence detection through a rotating polarizer showed a high degree of anisotropy of the polymer chains on the individual fibrils. The high degree of polarization indicated highly oriented polymer chains with the preferential orientation of the polymer backbone along the fibrils. The anisotropy ratios are comparable with those of well-oriented polymer chains in films. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Herland, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Synthesis of a regioregular zwitterionic conjugated oligoelectrolyte, usable as an optical probe for detection of amyloid fibril formation at acidic pH
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Chemical Society. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0002-7863 .- 1520-5126. ; 127:7, s. 2317-2323
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Changes of the optical properties of conjugated polyelectrolytes have been utilized to monitor noncovalent interactions between biomolecules and the conjugated polyelectrolytes in sensor applications. A regioregular, zwitterionic conjugated oligoelectrolyte was synthesized in order to create a probe with a defined set of optical properties and hereby facilitate interpretation of biomolecule−oligoelectrolyte interactions. The synthesized oligoelectrolyte was used at acidic pH as a novel optical probe to detect amyloid fibril formation of bovine insulin and chicken lysozyme. Interaction of the probe with formed amyloid fibrils results in changes of the geometry and the electronic structure of the oligoelectrolyte chains, which were monitored with absorption and emission spectroscopy.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Karlsson, Roger, et al.
(författare)
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Iron-Catalyzed Polymerization of Alkoxysulfonate-Functionalized 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene Gives Water-Soluble Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) of High Conductivity
- 2009
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Ingår i: Chemistry of Materials. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0897-4756 .- 1520-5002. ; 21:9, s. 1815-1821
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Chemical polymerization of a 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene derivative bearing a sulfonate group (EDOTS) is reported. The polymer, PEDOT-S, is fully water-soluble and has been produced by polymerizing EDOT-S in water, using Na2S2O8 and a catalytic amount of FeCl 3. Elemental analysis and XPS measurements indicate that PEDOT-S is a material with a substantial degree of self-doping, but also contains free sulfate ions as charge-balancing counterions of the oxidized polymer. Apart from selfdoping PEDOT-S, the side chains enable full water solubility of the material; DLS studies show an average cluster size of only 2 nm. Importantly, the solvation properties of the PEDOT-S are reflected in spin-coated films, which show a surface roughness of 1.2 nm and good conductivity (12 S/cm) in ambient conditions. The electro-optical properties of this material are shown with cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical experiment reveals an electrochromic contrast (̃48% at λmax ) 606 nm).
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| 15. |
- Nilsson, K. Peter R., et al.
(författare)
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Imaging distinct conformational states of amyloid-beta fibrils in Alzheimer's disease using novel luminescent probes
- 2007
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Ingår i: ACS Chemical Biology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1554-8929 .- 1554-8937. ; 2:8, s. 553-560
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using luminescent conjugated polyelectrolyte probes (LCPs), we demonstrate the possibility to distinguish amyloid-β 1–42 peptide (Aβ1–42) fibril conformations, by analyzing in vitro generated amyloid fibrils of Aβ1–42 formed under quiescent and agitated conditions. LCPs were then shown to resolve such conformational heterogeneity of amyloid deposits in vivo. A diversity of amyloid deposits depending upon morphology and anatomic location was illustrated with LCPs in frozen ex vivo brain sections from a transgenic mouse model (tg-APP swe) of Alzheimer’s disease. Comparative LCP fluorescence showed that compact-core plaques of amyloid β precursor protein transgenic mice were composed of rigid dense amyloid. A more abundant form of amyloid plaque displayed morphology of a compact center with a protruding diffuse exterior. Surprisingly, the compact center of these plaques showed disordered conformations of the fibrils, and the exterior was composed of rigid amyloid protruding from the disordered center. This type of plaque appears to grow from more loosely assembled regions toward solidified amyloid tentacles. This work demonstrates how application of LCPs can prove helpful to monitor aggregate structure of in vivo formed amyloid deposits such as architecture, maturity, and origin.
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| 16. |
- Nilsson, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Conjugated polyelectrolytes : conformation-sensitive optical probes for detection of amyloid fibril formation
- 2005
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 44:10, s. 3718-3724
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The in vivo deposition of amyloid fibrils is a hallmark of many devastating diseases known as the amyloidoses. Amyloid formation in vitro may also complicate production of proteins in the biotechnology industry. Simple, sensitive, and versatile tools that detect the fibrillar conformation of amyloidogenic proteins are thus of great importance. We have developed a negatively charged conjugated polyelectrolyte that displays different characteristic optical changes, detected visually or by absorption and emission, depending on whether the protein with which it forms a complex is in its native state or amyloid fibril conformation. This simple, rapid, and novel methodology was applied here to two amyloidogenic proteins, insulin and lysozyme, and its validity for detection of their fibrillar conformation was verified by currently used methods such as circular dichroism, transmission electron microscopy, and Congo red absorption.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Nilsson, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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Imaging distinct conformational states of amyloid-β fibrils in Alzheimer's disease using novel luminescent probes
- 2007
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Ingår i: ACS Chemical Biology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1554-8929 .- 1554-8937. ; 2:8, s. 553-560
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using luminescent conjugated polyelectrolyte probes (LCPs), we demonstrate the possibility to distinguish amyloid-β 1-42 peptide (Aβ1-42) fibril conformations, by analyzing in vitro generated amyloid fibrils of Aβ1-42 formed under quiescent and agitated conditions. LCPs were then shown to resolve such conformational heterogeneity of amyloid deposits in vivo. A diversity of amyloid deposits depending upon morphology and anatomic location was illustrated with LCPs in frozen ex vivo brain sections from a transgenic mouse model (tg-APPswe) of Alzheimer's disease. Comparative LCP fluorescence showed that compact-core plaques of amyloid β precursor protein transgenic mice were composed of rigid dense amyloid. A more abundant form of amyloid plaque displayed morphology of a compact center with a protruding diffuse exterior. Surprisingly, the compact center of these plaques showed disordered conformations of the fibrils, and the exterior was composed of rigid amyloid protruding from the disordered center. This type of plaque appears to grow from more loosely assembled regions toward solidified amyloid tentacles. This work demonstrates how application of LCPs can prove helpful to monitor aggregate structure of in vivo formed amyloid deposits such as architecture, maturity, and origin.
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| 19. |
- Tanaka, H., et al.
(författare)
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Enhanced current efficiency from Bio-Organic light-emitting diodes using decorated amyloid fibrils with conjugated polymer
- 2008
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Ingår i: Nano letters (Print). - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1530-6984 .- 1530-6992. ; 8:9, s. 2858-2861
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We demonstrate the use of self-assembled bionanostructures in polymer light-emitting diodes. Amyloid fibrils formed by protein misfolding were decorated with a soluble luminescent conjugated polymer. This conjugated polymer complex with amyloid fibrils was used as the active layer in a light emitting diode, resulting in a 10-fold increase in external quantum efficiency compared with pristine polymer, because of improved carrier injection. © 2008 American Chemical Society.
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| 20. |
- Wirehn, J., et al.
(författare)
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Activity, folding, misfolding, and aggregation in vitro of the naturally occurring human tissue factor mutant R200W
- 2005
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Ingår i: Biochemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0006-2960 .- 1520-4995. ; 44:18, s. 6755-6763
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Tissue factor (TF), a small transmembrane receptor, binds factor VIIa (FVIIa), and the formed complex initiates blood coagulation by proteolytic activation of substrate factors IX and X. A naturally occurring mutation in the human TF gene was recently reported, where a single-base substitution results in an R200W mutation in the TF extracellular domain [Zawadzki, C., Preudhomme, C., Gavériaux, V., Amouyel, P., and Jude, B. (2002) Thromb. Haemost. 87, 540-541]. This mutation appears to be associated with low monocyte TF expression and may protect against thrombosis but has not been associated with any pathological condition, and individuals who present the heterozygous trait appear healthy. Here, we report the activity, folding, and aggregation behavior of the R200W mutant of the 219-residue soluble extracellular domain of TF (sTFR200W) compared to that of the wild-type protein (sTF wt). No differences in stability or FVIIa cofactor activity but an impaired ability to promote FX activation at physiological conditions between the sTFR200W mutant and sTFwt were evident. Increased binding of 1-anilino-8-naphthalene-sulfonic acid (ANS) to sTFR200W indicated a population of partially folded intermediates during denaturation. sTFR200W showed a dramatically increased propensity for aggregate formation compared to sTFwt at mildly acidic pHs, with an increased rate of aggregation during conditions, promoting the intermediate state. The lowered pH resistance could explain the loss of sTFR200W in vivo because of aggregation of the mutant. The intrinsic structure of the sTF aggregates appears reminiscent of amyloid fibrils, as revealed by thioflavin T fluorescence, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. We conclude that the lowered activity for FX activation and the propensity of the mutant protein to misfold and aggregate will both contribute to decreased coagulation activity in TFR200W carriers, which could protect from thrombotic disease. © 2005 American Chemical Society.
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| 21. |
- Åslund, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Studies of luminescent conjugated polythiophene derivatives-Enhanced spectral discrimination of protein conformational states
- 2007
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Ingår i: Bioconjugate chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1043-1802 .- 1520-4812. ; 18:6, s. 1860-1868
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Improved probes for amyloid fibril formation are advantageous for the early detection and better understanding of this disease-associated process. Here, we report a comparative study of eight luminescent conjugated polythiophene derivates (LCPs) and their discrimination of a protein (insulin) in the native or amyloid-like fibrillar state. For two of the LCPs, the synthesis is reported. Compared to their monomer-based analogues, trimer-based LCPs showed significantly better optical signal specificity for amyloid-like fibrils, seen from increased quantum yield and spectral shift. The trimer-based LCPs alone were highly quenched and showed little interaction with native insulin, as seen from analytical ultracentrifugation and insignificant spectral differences from the trimer-based LCP in buffered and native protein solution. Hence, the trimer-based LCPs showed enhanced discrimination between the amyloid-like fibrillar state and the corresponding native protein.
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