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Modern research in biology increasingly relies on multiple techniques for describing structures and mechanisms. This book provides an overview of the contemporary integrated biology approaches for solving structures and understanding mechanisms of complex biological systems. It includes several methodology chapters discussing the current developments in the areas of cryo-electron microscopy (EM) and cryo-electron tomography (ET), computational biophysics, solution NMR spectroscopy, solid-state NMR spectroscopy and dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), (photo-)chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP), X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS). Several subsequent chapters demonstrate how these methods are used in synergy to address problems at the forefront of structural biology, with particular emphasis on examples where individual techniques are insufficient. Examples of biological systems include membrane proteins, viral protein assemblies, cytoskeleton protein assemblies, photosynthetic reaction centers, large enzyme complexes and whole cells. The book is targeted to both the current practitioners of structural biology and scientists who are interested in entering the fields of structural biology or biophysical chemistry.

This book offers a comprehensive perspective of herbal medicine phytochemistry and explores the application of plant extracts as bioactive compounds in disease prevention and treatment in modern or traditional medicine. The book starts with an introduction to the history and value of herbal medicine, followed by 3 parts covering the main phytochemical components and metabolites in herbal medicine, different uses and practices in herbal medicine, including a region-wise analysis of methods and practices and an overview of regulations and policies for herbal medicinal practitioners, and the advances and challenges in quality assessment of herbal medicine. Plants generally have the tendency to bioaccumulate trace metals from the environment and they are easily contaminated by microorganisms from water sources and poor hygiene practices of the herbalist. Quality assessment and assurance is, thus, a pertinent challenge in herbal medicine practice (i.e., in remedy formulation and application), and this book offers an authoritative perspective on this topic, covering aspects such as quality control strategies, preparation techniques, chemical quantification in phytomedicine, and the efficacy and safety of herbal remedies. Moreover, in this book, readers will find valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in the field, and a critical review of the application of medicinal plants to treat cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory neurological and reproductive diseases. Particular attention is given to the advances and trends in the field, and readers will learn about the latest biotechnological approaches, the use of nanotechnology in herbal medicine, metabolomic analysis of medicinal plants, big data application in herbal medicine, and the value of herbal medicine towards sustainability. Given its breadth, this book is aimed at researchers, academics, practitioners and professionals working in the fields of natural, life, health, clinical, and biomedical sciences, and interested in herbal remedies, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, human nutrition and dietetics, plant biology, and biotechnology/microbiology.

This book reviews the latest developments and applications in the field of biosensing, providing readers with an update of the earlier, successful edition, Biosensing for the 21st Century. In this book, readers will find comprehensive key information on the advances and challenges in biorecognition elements and transduction principles, including examples of new materials and new methods. Ranging from engineering chimeric enzymes to the progress in electrochemical sensing of drugs, the book discusses the latest innovations in the field and thus, provides the reader with a profound overview. In the field of biological recognition the focus will be on switchable sensors by engineering new proteins, the development of Molecular Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) for proteins or even larger biological entities, the construction of complex nucleic acid – protein structures for affinity sensing and the application of whole microbes. The book covers new trends in signal transduction which includes graphene-based field effect transistors, nanopores designed for high selectivity and sensitivity in analysis, plasmonic and nanophotonic sensing applying metal nanostructures up to new developments in microarray construction. An introduction in to the challenges in skin-interfaced systems for continuous biochemical sensing, offers a glimpse into the future of wearable technologies. Furthermore, actual areas of application of new sensing strategies such as the detection of various types of viruses and bacteria or the analysis of drugs will be highlighted. Each chapter provides a scholarly yet accessible perspective on the latest trends in biosensor technology. Given its breadth, the book has an interdisciplinary appeal and engages a wide readership, from students and researchers to practitioners in academia and industry, interested in the fields of biochemical/biomedical engineering and in biosensing methodologies and applications.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of piezoelectric sensor devices and instrumentation and their use for chemical and biochemical analysis. Sensors relying on established transducers, such as the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and the surface acoustic wave resonator (SAW) are covered, and novel devices like surface transverse wave (STW) resonators, film bulk acoustic resonators (FBAR) as well as non-piezoelectric devices with mass-sensitive properties are presented. As their name implies, such devices respond directly to mass changes on their surfaces and thus address the most fundamental quality of any analytes. First, the book presents the fundamentals of new measuring strategies with these devices. Then, it introduces a variety of chemo- and biosensing application scenarios of these devices. In addition, the book covers both the state-of-the-art of academic research and prospects concerning the commercialization of these sensors. Given its scope, the book is of interest to academics, specialists in industry, and advanced students in the areas of analytical chemistry, rapid analysis, and sensor technology, giving them the unique possibility to familiarize themselves with this chemical sensing strategy. Readers will benefit from the coverage of both cutting-edge research results and applications that help bridge the gap between academia and industry.

This book deals with analytical techniques and methods applied in several sectors of technology and industry and serves as a concise and up-to-date reference for the practical application of analytical chemistry. Divided into 10 chapters, the book starts with an introduction to the fundamentals of analytical chemistry, followed by a review of modern analytical technologies and their application in different industrial sectors and activities such as agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals, ores and mining, polymers, biotechnology, and oil & gas. Particular attention is given to industrial environmental issues, where the author discusses the advanced analytical techniques used to provide quantitative information about pollutants in aqueous and gaseous effluents and their carbon footprint. The book finishes with a chapter summarizing the main remarks and conclusions on advanced analytical techniques used in different industrial sectors, as well as on topics of sustainability, and instrumental analysis. In this book, readers will find valuable insights, including real-life examples, of how classical and instrumental techniques can be used by industry, to help professionals in the quality control of raw materials, products and processes, in the assessment of the formulation contamination, environmental pollution and in the evaluation of sustainability, among others. Given its breadth, the book appeals to professionals (mainly chemists, biochemists, and engineers), researchers, professors, and graduate students.

The series Topics in Current Chemistry Collections presents critical reviews from the journal Topics in Current Chemistry organized in topical volumes. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience.Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field.Chapters “Metal Peptide Conjugates in Cell and Tissue Imaging and Biosensing”, “Luminescent Metal Complexes as Emerging Tools for Lipid Imaging” and “Determination and Imaging of Small Biomolecules and Ions Using Ruthenium(II) Complex‑Based Chemosensors” are available open access under a CC BY 4.0 License via link.springer.com.

NMR spectroscopy has found a wide range of applications in life sciences over recent decades. Providing a comprehensive amalgamation of the scattered knowledge of how to apply high-resolution NMR techniques to biomolecular systems, this book will break down the conventional stereotypes in the use of NMR for structural studies. The major focus is on novel approaches in NMR which deal with the functional interface of either protein-protein interactions or protein-lipid interactions. Bridging the gaps between structural and functional studies, the Editors believe a thorough compilation of these studies will open an entirely new dimension of understanding of crucial functional motifs. This in turn will be helpful for future applications into drug design or better understanding of systems. The book will appeal to NMR practitioners in industry and academia who are looking for a comprehensive understanding of the possibilities of applying high-resolution NMR spectroscopic techniques in probing biomolecular interactions.