A5075085575- Liquid Crystal Research Advancements
- Crystallization and Solubility Studies
- X-ray Diffraction in Crystallography
- Molecular spectroscopy and chirality
- Crystal structures of chemical compounds
- Crystallography and molecular interactions
- Synthesis and Properties of Aromatic Compounds
- Photonic Crystals and Applications
- Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Photochromic and Fluorescence Chemistry
- Advanced Materials and Mechanics
- Radical Photochemical Reactions
- Synthesis and biological activity
- Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Catalytic C–H Functionalization Methods
- Asymmetric Synthesis and Catalysis
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Oxidative Organic Chemistry Reactions
- Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Structural and Chemical Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds
- Coordination Chemistry and Organometallics
- Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding
University of Aberdeen
2016-2025
TauRx (United Kingdom)
2010-2024
King's College Hospital
2018-2022
TauRx Pharmaceuticals (Singapore)
2013-2019
The King's College
2016-2018
Loughborough University
1995-2008
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway
2007
Sunny BioDiscovery (United States)
2006
Kingston University
2000-2001
King's College London
1991-2000
Electrical tuning of selective reflection light is achieved in a very broad spectral range from ultraviolet to visible and infrared by an oblique helicoidal state cholesteric liquid crystal wide temperature (including room temperature). The phenomenon offers potential applications tunable smart windows, lasers, optical filters limiters, as well displays. Development materials capable dynamically control transmission near (IR) radiation one the most important directions research with such...
Background: As tau aggregation pathology correlates with clinical dementia in Alzheimer's disease (AD), a inhibitor (TAI) could have therapeutic utility. Methylthioninium (MT) acts as selective TAI vitro and reduces
The synthesis and characterisation of the nonsymmetric liquid crystal dimer, 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl)hexane (CB6OCB) is reported. An enantiotropic nematic (N)-twist-bend (NTB) phase transition observed at 109 °C a nematic-isotropic 153 °C. NTB assignment has been confirmed using polarised light microscopy, freeze fracture transmission electron microscopy (FFTEM), (2)H-NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction. effective molecular length in both N phases indicates...
LMTM is being developed as a treatment for AD based on inhibition of tau aggregation.To examine the efficacy monotherapy in non-randomized cohort analyses modified primary outcomes an 18-month Phase III trial mild AD.Mild patients (n = 800) were randomly assigned to 100 mg twice day or 4 day. Prior unblinding, Statistical Analysis Plan was revised compare subgroup 79) versus randomized 396), and 76) add-on therapy 297), with strong control family-wise type I error.The statistically...
The liquid crystal nonsymmetric dimer, 1-(4-butoxyazobenzene-4′-yloxy)-6-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) hexane (CB6OABOBu), shows enantiotropic twist–bend nematic, NTB, and N, phases. NTB phase has been confirmed using polarized light microscopy, freeze fracture transmission electron X-ray diffraction. helicoidal pitch in the is 18 nm. NTB–N (TNTBN) N–I (TNI) transition temperatures are reduced upon UV irradiation, with reduction TNTBN being much larger than that TNI. An isothermal, reversible may...
Liquid-crystal materials exhibiting up to three nematic phases are reported. Dielectric response measurements show that while the lower temperature phase has ferroelectric order and highest is apolar, intermediate local antiferroelectric order. The modification of molecular structure by increasing number lateral fluorine substituents leads one showing a direct isotropic-ferronematic transition.
The synthesis and characterisation of several members the 1,ω-bis(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) alkane (CBnCB) 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yloxy)-ω-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl) (CBnOCB) homologous series are reported. new odd described CB5CB, CB13CB, CB4OCB, CB8OCB CB10OCB all exhibit twist-bend nematic phases. these already reported in literature, CB7CB, CB9CB, CB11CB CB6OCB, were also prepared order to allow for a direct comparison their transitional properties. properties dimers compared those...
Significance Liquid-crystal lasers based on micrometer-scale self-organization of organic molecules into the so-called cholesteric liquid crystal are simple to manufacture; they small in size and low cost power consumption. Their potential applications range from sensing imaging informational displays miniature “lab-on-a-chip” devices. We report a structure used as laser’s resonator cavity that enables continuous real-time tuning emitted wavelength very broad by applying an electric field....
Abstract The liquid crystalline phase behavior of 4‐[6‐(4′‐cyanobiphenyl‐4‐yl)hexyloxy]benzoic acid (CB6OBA) and 4‐[5‐(4′‐cyanobiphenyl‐4‐yloxy)pentyloxy]benzoic (CBO5OBA) is described. Both acids show an enantiotropic nematic attributed to the formation supramolecular complexes by hydrogen bonding between benzoic units. In addition, CB6OBA provides first example driving twist‐bend phase. observation for CB6OBA, but not CBO5OBA, more bent molecular shape formed former, reinforcing view that...
A series of asymmetric dimers with an odd number atoms in the spacer were found to form different types twisted structures despite being achiral. The formation a variety helical is accompanied by gradual freezing molecular rotation. tight pitch heliconical nematic (NTB) phase and tilted smectic C (SmCTB) are formed. In lowest temperature phase, HexI, twist expressed through hierarchical structure: nano-scale helices mesoscopic filaments. short structure phases confirmed resonant x-ray measurements.
Methylthioninium (MT) is a tau aggregation inhibitor with therapeutic potential in Alzheimer's disease (AD). MT exists equilibrium between reduced [leucomethylthioninium (LMT)] and oxidized (MT<sup>+</sup>) forms; as chloride salt [methylthioninium (MTC), "methylene blue"], it stabilized its MT<sup>+</sup> form. Although the results of phase 2 study MTC 321 mild/moderate AD subjects identified 138-mg MT/day dose minimum effective on cognitive imaging end points, further clinical development...
Abstract Complex materials often exhibit a hierarchical structure with an intriguing mechanism responsible for the ‘propagation’ of order from molecular to nano- or micro-scale level. In particular, chirality biological molecules such as nucleic acids and amino is helical DNA proteins, which in turn leads lack mirror symmetry macro-bio-objects. To fully understand mechanisms cross-level transfer there intensive search simpler artificial structures exhibiting arrangement. Here we present...
The spontaneous formation of a chiral phase via molecular recognition in system consisting achiral components is reported. Specifically, the liquid crystalline behaviour two complexes assembled by hydrogen bonding between stilbazole-based template and alkoxybenzoic acids has been characterised. exhibit heliconical twist-bend nematic (NTB) over broad temperature range despite hydrogen-bond acceptor not being donor exhibiting conventional phase.
Ewan Cruickshanka, Mirosław Salamończykbc, Damian Pociechab , Grant J. Strachana John M. D. Storeya, Cheng Wangc, Jun Fengc, Chenhui Zhuc, Ewa Goreckab & Corrie T. Imrie*a a Department of Chemistry, School Natural and Computing Sciences, University Aberdeen, Scotland, UKb Faculty Warsaw, Polandc Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Advanced Light Source, Berkeley, CA, USA
The relationships between liquid crystallinity and hydrogen bonding are studied in mixtures containing 4-pentoxybenzoic acid, 5OBA, five bipyridines, XBiPy, with spacers having different flexibilities, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a degenerative tauopathy characterized by aggregation of Tau protein through the repeat domain to form intraneuronal paired helical filaments (PHFs). We report two cell models in which we control inherent toxicity core fragment. These demonstrate properties prion-like recruitment full-length into an pathway template-directed, endogenous truncation propagates binding domain. use these combination with dissolution native PHFs quantify activity inhibitors (TAIs)....
The syntheses and characterisation of the first 10 homologues 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4′-yl)-6-(4-alkyloxyanilinebenzylidene-4′-oxy)hexanes (CB6O.Om) are reported. All exhibit nematic, N, twist-bend NTB, phases. In addition, an intercalated, anticlinic smectic C, SmCA, phase is observed for m = 3–5. A second seen 4,5 but which no structural information was obtained. For short chain lengths, local packing in nematic phases intercalated arrangement. As length increases monolayer fluctuations both...
The syntheses and characterisation of the first ten homologues 1-(4-cyanobiphenyl-4'-yl)-6-(4-alkylanilinebenzylidene-4'-oxy)hexanes (CB6O.m) are reported. All members series exhibit an enantiotropic nematic, N, phase, a monotropic twist-bend NTB, phase. Only CB6O.10 shows smectic assignment both nematic phases was confirmed using X-ray diffraction. For short chain lengths (m = 1-6) local packing in is intercalated arrangement, for intermediate frustrated structure seen longest length,...
Significance The twist–bend (TB) liquid crystal phase is the newest nematic phase, having only been identified in 2011. Still, there are many outstanding mysteries about nature of its nanoscale organization and behavior. We elucidate how number monomer units a linear TB oligomer influences structure helix, an important structure–property relationship. While dimer exhibits temperature-dependent variation helix pitch, analogous trimer features temperature-independent pitch considerably shorter...
In this review we consider the relationships between molecular structure and tendency of liquid crystal dimers to exhibit smectic phases, show how our application these led recent discovery twist-bend, heliconical phases. Liquid consist molecules containing two mesogenic groups linked through a flexible spacer, even- odd-membered differ in terms their average shapes. The former tend be linear whereas latter are bent, difference shape drives very different behaviour. For symmetric dimers,...
Abstract The synthesis and characterisation of two series low molar mass mesogens, the (4‐nitrophenyl) 2‐alkoxy‐4‐(4‐methoxybenzoyl)oxybenzoates (NT3. m ) (3‐fluoro‐4‐nitrophenyl) (NT3F. ), are reported in order to investigate effect changing position a lateral alkoxy chain from methoxy‐substituted terminal ring central phenyl these materials based on RM734. All members NT3. exhibited conventional nematic phase, N, which preceded ferroelectric N F , whereas all NT3F. direct ‐I transitions...