Ion transport in tumors under electrochemical treatment: in vivo, in vitro and in silico modeling

The electrochemical treatment of cancer (EChT) consists in the passage of a direct electric current through two or more electrodes inserted locally in the tumor tissue. The extreme pH changes induced have been proposed as the main tumor destruction mechanism. Here, we study ion transport during EChT through a combined modeling methodology: in vivo modeling with BALB/c mice bearing a subcutaneous tumor, in vitro modeling with agar and collagen gels, and in silico modeling using the one-dimensional Nernst-Planck and Poisson equations for ion transport in a four-ion electrolyte. This combined modeling approach reveals that, under EChT modeling, an initial condition with almost neutral pH evolves between electrodes into extreme cathodic alkaline and anodic acidic fronts moving towards each other, leaving the possible existence of a biological pH region between them; towards the periphery, the pH decays to its neutral values. pH front tracking unveils a time scaling close to t(1/2), signature of a diffusion-controlled process. These results could have significant implications in EChT optimal operative conditions and dose planning, in particular, in the way in which the evolving EChT pH region covers the active cancer cells spherical casket.     

Use of NAA in marine environment and in archaeology in Greece

Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a very sensitive and accurate multielement analytical method that is widely applied to the investigation of environmental and archaeological problems. The first part of this paper is a review of pollution studies of toxic trace elements in sediments, seawater and marine organisms of Saronikos Gulf, Greece by NAA. The second part of this paper is a review of provenance studies based on minor and trace element research in ancient ceramics, obsidian, flint, limestone, marble and lead by Instrumental NAA, performed at the NCSR Demokritos.     

Ionic association in acetonitrile and in formamide

In a recent derivation of relaxation effects in the Debye-Hückel-Onsager theory of electrolyte conductance, with a length parameter a, terms are included which have been omitted in earlier treatments (see Appendix). The new expression was applied earlier in a reanalysis of conductance data for aqueous solutions and is applied here to solutions in acetonitrile and in formamide, representing respectively dielectric constants considerably lower and higher than water. As in aqueous solutions, a minimum standard deviation is found over a wide range of (K _A,a) pairs without much effect on A ₀ , so that only approximate determinations ofK _A are possible. On the whole, the most appropriate length parametera is the physical contact distance between counterions, not a fixed radius, independent of ionic size, such as the Bjerrum value, nor a much larger radiusR serving as a boudary between free and associated ions in the ionic atmosphere about a central ion. Relaxation effects calculated by the new analysis are smaller than those from previous expressions for equal values ofa, and this leads to considerably larger values ofK _A than in the original papers. As a consequence, specific short-range ion-ion and ion-solvent forces in most solutions predominate over electrostatic attraction between counterions in their contribution toK _A. A table of limiting equivalent conductance based on the A ₀ values obtained is presented; this differs little from previous tables since A ₀ values obtained by the new analysis are similar to those obtained originally.     

Context-dependent photodimerization in isolated thymine-thymine steps in DNA

The effect of 280 nm irradiation on a family of synthetic DNA hairpins possessing an alkane linker connecting a six-base pair stem having a single T-T step located at different positions within the hairpin has been investigated. A single adduct assigned to the product of 2+2 dimerization is obtained except in the case of a T-T step located adjacent to the linker, in which case both 2+2 and 6-4 adducts are obtained. The efficiency of dimerization is similar for three hairpins having a T-T step located within the duplex interior. Lower efficiency is observed for a T-T step located at the open end of the hairpin and in T overhangs, whereas higher efficiency is observed for the T-T step adjacent to the linker and in a single T bulge. The context-dependence of dimerization efficiency is discussed.     

Gemini表面活性剂合成进展

系统总结了近百种Gemini表面活性剂的合成路线和方法,并且按照其结构特点分门别类地进行比较和归纳,对今后Gemini表面活性剂的合成发展方向提出了一些看法,这对促进此类新颖表面活性剂的工业化进程将具有指导意义。     

Novel catalytic effects in ester aminolysis in chlorobenzene

The mechanism of glyme catalyzed ester aminolysis in chlorobenzene should be modified by including a new reaction pathway that shows a first-order dependence on the concentration of the phase transfer catalyst and a second-order dependence on butylamine.     

Recent progress in reactive surfactants in emulsion polymerisation

In the synthesis of latexes for use in waterborne coatings, the benefits of using reactive surfactants are now well known. Improvements are obtained in the stability of the latexes, due to the fact that they are not desorbed from the particle surface. The film properties are also better, chiefly if the films are exposed to humidity, where the water rebound is decreased significantly. This lecture summarises some recent progress obtained in that field through a European programme, including the participation of 10 academic and industrial laboratories. Four topics are considered. The first one is dealt with a series of anionic surmers (polymerizable surfactants) prepared upon reacting a polymerisable alcohol with either maleic, or succinic, or sulfosuccinic anhydride. One of these products, resulting from the addition of Hydroxyethylmethacrylate on maleic anhydride is now available commercially, From maleic anhydride one get bifunctional surfmers with 2 polymerisable groups, while the two other anhydride lead to monofunctional surfmers. All these products are engaged in seeded core-shell polymerisations, resulting in film-forming latexes quite stable during and after the polymerisation. However, because they are simply anionic, they do not provide steric stabilization and the latexes flocculate upon addition of strong electrolytes or in freezing tests, except if they are engaged in miniemulsion polymerisations initiated with KPS. The second topic is concerned with a series of nonionic block copolymer surfmers. A hydrophilic sequence of ethylene oxide units, produced upon ring opening living anionic polymerisation, is followed by a hydrophobic sequence of propyleneoxide, and the living polymer is killed with a polymerisable group attached on a reactive halogen atom. A variety of polymerisable groups have been used: styrenic, methacrylic, vinylic, allylic and maleic. The HLB balance is controlled through the lentgh of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic sequences. The more reactive, associated with an adequate HLB balance allows to prepare core-shell latexes with an excellent steric stabilisation at solid contents up to 40%. It is not the case for the less reactive maleic or allylic, the behaviour of which is close to that of a non reactive surfactant with the same structure. Transurfs, with an addition-fragmentation mechanism, is the subject of the third topic. A first study was carried out by the group of Eindhoven, who produced a new surfactant on the basis of a MMA dimer condensed on a long chain bromoalcohol and then sulfonated. This transurf was engaged in a MMA emulsion polymerisation, and compared with SDS; the polymerisation rate was lower and the molecular weight was broader. Optimisation of the incorporation of the transurf was achieved upon using starved feed conditions. We have carried out styrene miniemulsion using controlled RAFT process with a surfactant belonging to the first family reported above together with a RAFT agent. Finally we have used a RAFT agent derived from the nonionic block copolymer surfactants.     

Bimodal proton transfer in acid-base reactions in water

We investigate one of the fundamental reactions in solutions, the neutralization of an acid by a base. We use a photoacid, 8-hydroxy-1,3,6-trisulfonate-pyrene (HPTS; pyranine), which upon photoexcitation reacts with acetate under transfer of a deuteron (solvent: deuterated water). We analyze in detail the resulting bimodal reaction dynamics between the photoacid and the base, the first report on which was recently published. We have ascribed the bimodal proton-transfer dynamics to contributions from preformed hydrogen bonding complexes and from initially uncomplexed acid and base. We report on the observation of an additional (6 ps)(-1) contribution to the reaction rate constant. As before, we analyze the slower part of the reaction within the framework of the diffusion model and the fastest part by a static, sub-150 fs reaction rate. Adding the second static term considerably improves the overall modeling of the experimental results. It also allows to connect experimentally the diffusion controlled bimolecular reaction models as defined by Eigen-Weller and by Collins-Kimball. Our findings are in agreement with a three-stage mechanism for liquid phase intermolecular proton transfer: mutual diffusion of acid and base to form a "loose" encounter complex, followed by reorganization of the solvent shells and by "tightening" of the acid-base encounter complex. These rearrangements last a few picoseconds and enable a prompt proton transfer along the reaction coordinate, which occurs faster than our time resolution of 150 fs. Alternative models for the explanation of the slower "on-contact" reaction time of the loose encounter complex in terms of proton transmission through a von Grotthuss mechanism are also discussed.     

Vibronic coupling in molecules and in solids

We utilize the experience gained in our previous studies on the "chemistry of vibronic coupling" in simple homonuclear and heteronuclear molecules to begin assembling theoretical guidelines for the construction of potentially superconducting solids exhibiting large electron-phonon coupling. For this purpose we analyze similarities between vibronic coupling in isolated molecules and in extended solids. In particular, we study vibronic coupling along the antisymmetric stretch coordinate (Q(as)) in linear symmetric AAA molecules, and along the optical phonon "pairing" mode coordinate (Q(opt)) in corresponding one-dimensional [A]( infinity ) chains built of equidistant A atoms. This is done for a broad range of chemical elements (A). The following similarities between vibronic coupling in molecules and phonon coupling in solids emerge from our calculations: 1) The HOMO/LUMO electronic energy gap in an AAA molecule increases along Q(as), and the highest occupied crystal orbital/lowest unoccupied crystal orbital gap in [A]( infinity ) chain increases along Q(opt). 2) The maximum vibronic instability is invariably obtained for a half-filled, singly occupied molecular orbital in AAA molecules, and for a corresponding half-filled band in [A]( infinity ) chains. 3) The vibronic stability of an AAA molecule increases with a decrease of the AA bond length, as does the vibronic stability of [A]( infinity ) chains (external pressure may lead to a reversal of a Peierls distortion). 4) The high degree of s-p mixing and ionic/covalent forbidden curve crossing dramatically enhance the vibronic instability of both AAA molecules and [A]( infinity ) chains. We also introduce one quantitative relationship: The parameter log(R) (where R is molar refractivity, a parameter used by Herzfeld to prescribe the conditions for the metallization of the elements) correlates with a parameter f(AA) (defined as twice the electronegativity of A, divided by the equilibrium AA bond length), used by two of us previously to describe vibronic coupling in AAA molecules for a broad range of elements (A=halogen, H, or an alkali metal). We hope to illustrate that key chemical aspects of vibronic coupling in simple molecules may thus be profitably transferred to corresponding materials in the solid state.     

Detection of mitochondrial caspase activity in real time in situ in live cells.

Apoptosis plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes. The initiation and execution of the cell death program requires activation of multiple caspases in a stringently temporal order. Here we describe a method that allows real-time observation of caspase activation in situ in live cells based on fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurement using the prism and reflector imaging spectroscopy system (PARISS). When a fusion protein consisting of CFP connected to YFP via an intervening caspase substrate that has been targeted to a specific subcellular location is excited with a light source whose wavelength matches the cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) excitation peak, the energy absorbed by the CFP fluorophore is not emitted as fluorescence. Instead, the excitation energy is absorbed by the nearby yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) fluorophore that is covalently linked to CFP through a short peptide containing the caspase substrate. Cleavage of the linker peptide by caspases results in loss of FRET due to the separation of CFP and YFP fluorophores. Using a mitochondrially targeted CFP-caspase 3 substrate-YFP construct (mC3Y), we demonstrate for the first time that there is caspase-3-like activity in the mitochondrial matrix of some cells at very late stage of apoptosis.     

Liquid crystal orientation in elliptic droplets in nematic emulsions

Elliptic droplets of nematic liquid crystal dispersed in a fluid organic monomer were obtained by phase separation from an isotropic mixture consisting of an organic monomer and a nematic liquid crystal contained in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) cell with inner surfaces treated with rubbed polyimide. The elliptic shape is a consequence of the constraint upon droplet growth along the direction perpendicular to the cell surfaces owing to the small thickness. Then, the resulting droplets will have a contact area with the inner surfaces of the cell treated with polyimide, which will impart a planar orientation on the liquid crystal in the droplet. By means of an optical microscope, using a simple pin hole of 5 μ m, we have selected single droplets for a series of samples having different contact areas. By polarized infrared spectroscopy we have also studied the liquid crystal orientation in selected areas of the droplets. We then report the dependence of the order parameter of the liquid crystal on different contact areas with the alignment surface of the cell. The good degree of planar alignment of the liquid crystal in the elliptic droplets allows the use of such a technique for realizing electro-optical films operating in the reverse mode. We report the electro-optical transmission of reverse mode films with different sizes of elliptic droplet.     

Liquid crystal orientation in elliptic droplets in nematic emulsions

Elliptic droplets of nematic liquid crystal dispersed in a fluid organic monomer were obtained by phase separation from an isotropic mixture consisting of an organic monomer and a nematic liquid crystal contained in a poly(ethylene terephthalate) cell with inner surfaces treated with rubbed polyimide. The elliptic shape is a consequence of the constraint upon droplet growth along the direction perpendicular to the cell surfaces owing to the small thickness. Then, the resulting droplets will have a contact area with the inner surfaces of the cell treated with polyimide, which will impart a planar orientation on the liquid crystal in the droplet. By means of an optical microscope, using a simple pin hole of 5 μm, we have selected single droplets for a series of samples having different contact areas. By polarized infrared spectroscopy we have also studied the liquid crystal orientation in selected areas of the droplets. We then report the dependence of the order parameter of the liquid crystal on different contact areas with the alignment surface of the cell. The good degree of planar alignment of the liquid crystal in the elliptic droplets allows the use of such a technique for realizing electro-optical films operating in the reverse mode. We report the electro-optical transmission of reverse mode films with different sizes of elliptic droplet.     

p-Benzoquinone in aqueous solution: Stark shifts in spectra, asymmetry in solvent structure

Results from a simulation of p-benzoquinone (PBQ) in water is presented. An explicit solvent representation is used together with a multiconfigurational ab initio quantum chemical method. The electronic n --> pi* transitions are studied in aqueous solution and the two such transitions are both blue-shifted but to different degree. Both non-equilibrium and many-body effects are found to have decisive influence on the solvation: despite stronger hydrogen bonding between solute and solvent in an excited state than in the ground state, there is a blue-shift, and the solvent structure around the non-polar PBQ is asymmetric, which is argued to come from special many-body effects. The unusual result of strengthened hydrogen bonds in the excited state that follows from an excitation of a non-bonding electron on a proton acceptor, is explained by the near-linear Stark shift that is present in the transition.     

Hydrophobic collapse in (in silico) protein folding

A model of hydrophobic collapse, which is treated as the driving force for protein folding, is presented. This model is the superposition of three models commonly used in protein structure prediction: (1) 'oil-drop' model introduced by Kauzmann, (2) a lattice model introduced to decrease the number of degrees of freedom for structural changes and (3) a model of the formation of hydrophobic core as a key feature in driving the folding of proteins. These three models together helped to develop the idea of a fuzzy-oil-drop as a model for an external force field of hydrophobic character mimicking the hydrophobicity-differentiated environment for hydrophobic collapse. All amino acids in the polypeptide interact pair-wise during the folding process (energy minimization procedure) and interact with the external hydrophobic force field defined by a three-dimensional Gaussian function. The value of the Gaussian function usually interpreted as a probability distribution is treated as a normalized hydrophobicity distribution, with its maximum in the center of the ellipsoid and decreasing proportionally with the distance versus the center. The fuzzy-oil-drop is elastic and changes its shape and size during the simulated folding procedure.     

Selective solvation effects in phase separation in aqueous mixtures

Selective solvation can be crucial in phase separation in polar binary mixtures (water–oil) with a small amount of hydrophilic ions or hydrophobic particles. They are preferentially attracted to one of the solvent components, leading to a number of intriguing effects coupled to phase separation. For example, if cations and anions interact differently with the two components, an electric double layer emerges at a liquid–liquid interface. The main aim of this paper is to show that a strongly hydrophilic (hydrophobic) solute induces precipitation of water-rich (oil-rich) domains above a critical solute density n_p outside the solvent coexistence curve.     

Advances in the Elegance of Chemistry in Designing Dendrimers

Highly functional and monodisperse macromolecules with tailored architecture constitute the key to designing efficient and smart nanomaterials. Dendrimers offer real potential to achieve this goal, and one of the earlier challenges faced by this novel class of polymers has been addressed by the evolution of synthetic methodologies. This review provides an evaluation of the role played by chemistry in taking these macromolecules of academic relevance to practical industrial and biological applications, in a relatively short period. One can now construct dendrimers in a ‘made‐to‐order’ fashion, for numerous applications in a variety of disciplines.

     

我国环境化学研究新进展

因环境问题复杂性而产生的学科交叉特性既是环境化学的特色,又是学科生长点。2010年以来,新型污染物和纳米材料的污染问题以及化学污染导致的健康影响日益引起关注,环境化学的研究范围亦随着实际问题的出现而延展,新型污染物种类持续上升。继2010年首次在氟化工厂环境中发现并报道了新型持久性有机污染物全氟碘烷的存在,2011年又基于效应分析成功甄别了一种具有神经毒性的新型溴代污染物,标志着我国在污染物研究方面已从全面跟踪国外研究到部分引领方向转化。继青藏高原环境介质污染物归趋行为研究之后的极地环境科学考察进一步将视野着眼于全球尺度环境问题的解决。得益于上海光源等一批大科学装置的建成,污染物环境界面行为探索已达到分子水平。在纳米材料广泛应用所引发的纳米污染层面,其形成、转化和环境归趋行为的研究亦取得突破。污染生态化学研究方面,借助于先进的表面等离子体共振和理论模拟等先进手段,在污染物与生物大分子相互作用探索和联合毒性机制研究上取得了显著进步,环境与健康开始受到广泛关注。这些成果极大丰富了学科内涵,为学科今后的发展奠定了坚实基础。共引用参考文献45篇。     

Electrolysis in nanochannels for in situ reagent generation in confined geometries

In situ generation of reactive species within confined geometries, such as nanopores or nanochannels is of significant interest in overcoming mass transport limitations in chemical reactivity. Solvent electrolysis is a simple process that can readily be coupled to nanochannels for the electrochemical generation of reactive species, such as H(2). Here the production of hydrogen-rich liquid volumes within nanofluidic structures, without bubble nucleation or nanochannel occlusion, is explored both experimentally and by modeling. Devices comprised of multiple horizontal nanochannels intersecting planar working and quasi-reference electrodes were constructed and used to study the effects of confinement and reduced working volume on the electrochemical reduction of H(2)O to H(2) and OH(-). H(2) production in the nanochannel-embedded electrode reactor output was monitored by fluorescence emission of fluorescein, which exhibits a pH-dependent emission intensity. Initially, the fluorescein solution was buffered to pH 6.0 prior to stepping the potential cathodic of E(0)' for the generation of OH(-) and H(2). Because the electrochemical products are obtained in a 2:1 stoichiometry, local measurements of pH during and after the cathodic potential steps can be converted into H(2) production rates. Independent experimental estimates of the local H(2) concentration were then obtained from the spatiotemporal fluorescence behavior and current measurements, and these were compared with finite element simulations accounting for electrolysis and subsequent convection and diffusion within the confined geometry. Local dissolved H(2) concentrations were correlated to partial pressures through Henry's Law and values as large as 8.3 atm were obtained at the most negative potential steps. The downstream availability of electrolytically produced H(2) in nanochannels is evaluated in terms of its possible use as a downstream reducing reagent. The results obtained here indicate that H(2) can easily reach saturation concentrations at modest overpotentials.     

Substituent Effects in BODIPY in Live Cell Imaging

Small‐molecule organoselenium‐based fluorescent probes possess great capacity in understanding biological processes through the detection of various analytes such as reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), biothiols (cysteine, homocysteine and glutathione), lipid droplets, etc. Herein, we present how substituents on the BODIPY system play a significant part in the detection of biologically important analytes for in vitro conditions and live cell imaging studies. The fluorescence of the probe was quenched by 2‐chloro and 6‐phenyl selenium groups; the probe shows high selectivity with NaOCl among other ROS/RNS, and gives a turn‐on response. The maximum fluorescence intensity is attained within ≈1–2 min with a low detection limit (19.6 nm ), and shows a ≈110‐fold fluorescence enhancement compared to signals generated for other ROS/RNS. Surprisingly, in live cell experiments, the probe specifically located and accumulated in lipid droplets, and showed a fluorescence turn‐on response. We believe this turn‐on response occurred because of aggregation‐induced emission (AIE), which surprisingly occurred only by introducing one lipophilic mesityl group at the meso position of the BODIPY.