磁共振/光学双模态分子探针的研究现状与展望

基于磁共振与荧光成像的双模态成像技术不仅克服了传统单一分子影像技术在灵敏度、特异度、分辨率等方面的固有缺陷，更是拓宽了分子影像技术在诊断及治疗监控等领域的研究范围及应用前景。本文将对磁共振/荧光双模态分子探针的应用情况和研究进展等进行综述。     

肿瘤病理可视化纳米探针的研究进展※

癌症的发生和发展伴随着一系列复杂的分子病理学变化, 具有极大的个体差异性. 因此, 实现肿瘤的精准诊断, 尤其是分子病理学的诊断尤为重要. 在临床检测中, 传统影像学检查可以反映肿瘤的位置和解剖学结构, 却难以对其分子病理做出判定; 而病理活检虽然可以获取肿瘤的分子学特征, 但需通过创伤性手段获取样本, 且具有时空局限性. 相比之下, 借助于特异性探针成像的肿瘤分子影像学, 直接以肿瘤病理分子标志物作为成像对比度的来源, 旨在从分子层面对肿瘤进展中的病理学特征进行在体定量化分析, 在肿瘤的精准诊断中具备独特的优势. 近年来, 纳米材料由于优越的理化性质, 已经成为构建高灵敏肿瘤分子影像探针的重要信号载体之一. 基于此, 本综述从基本的纳米靶向探针, 到光、磁学智能响应型纳米探针, 系统总结归纳了基于纳米材料的分子影像技术对肿瘤病理在体可视化的研究进展, 并对未来临床环境中实施该纳米探针技术进行了展望.     

分子影像探针

分子影像是近年出现并迅速发展的一个生物医学领域,在疾病的治疗与诊断中发挥着重要作用。同时它又是一门交叉学科,涉及化学、医学、生物、计算机科学、放射科学、材料科学等。分子影像的发展除了需要先进的成像设备外,最关键的是合成新型而高效的成像探针。目前,分子影像探针广泛应用于科学研究和临床,并且也取得了巨大进步。本文主要综述了5种常见的分子影像探针:超声成像探针、X-射线计算机断层成像探针、光学成像探针、核磁共振成像探针、正电子发射计算机断层扫描成像探针,并对分子影像探针的应用进行了概述,最后对分子影像探针的发展进行了展望。     

动脉粥样硬化分子影像研究进展

急性心脑血管疾病目前位居全球死亡原因首位，其关键病理基础是动脉粥样硬化并导致急性心肌梗死、中风等。由于动脉粥样硬化病情进展隐匿突发，目前的诊断方式不足以筛查出早期高风险病变。如何在急性心脑血管事件发生前准确地识别出斑块破裂风险高的患者并对患者进行有效干预，已成为目前迫切需要解决的问题，同时这也是降低急性心血管事件发生率的关键。近年来，迅速发展的分子影像及纳米医学技术为实现动脉粥样硬化斑块早期诊疗带来了新契机。     

半花菁染料用于分子影像的研究进展

分子影像广泛用于基本的生物学过程研究,众多疾病诊断、治疗策略设计以及疗效评估。半花菁染料具有良好的光物理性质、生物相容性和对生物系统的低毒性,是一种比较理想的生物成像试剂。近年来,出现了大量基于半花菁染料的探针用于分子成像的研究工作。该文系统地介绍了基于半花菁染料的探针用于荧光和多模态成像的研究进展,详细地介绍了这些可激活的半花菁探针的设计策略以及作为生物成像试剂的成功应用。最后,讨论了半花菁探针用于分子成像的发展前景。     

磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒——通向肿瘤磁共振分子影像的重要基石

本文根据近年来国内外发表的相关研究成果,总结了磁性氧化铁纳米晶体制备方面的研究进展,并以磁性氧化铁纳米颗粒在肿瘤磁共振分子影像领域中的应用为背景,阐述了肿瘤分子影像领域的未来发展趋势.     

钆掺杂碳量子点的制备及其双模态成像研究进展

荧光-磁共振成像(MRI)双模态分子探针突破了单一分子影像探针在灵敏度以及软组织分辨率等方面的局限性,在诊断和治疗等医学领域具有良好的应用潜力。钆掺杂碳量子点(Gd-CDs)是一种典型的荧光-MRI双模态分子探针,因其优异的荧光性能、良好的核磁共振成像能力和生物相容性等优点,在肿瘤的靶向性成像和监控诊疗方面具有广泛的应用前景。本文综述了目前Gd-CDs的制备、性能及其在双模态成像应用的研究现状,并提出目前存在的问题和前景展望。     

氧化铁纳米颗粒在磁共振成像中的应用

目前临床诊断中钆基造影剂的应用十分广泛,然而其对人体的毒性无法忽视,因此研究者致力于低毒性造影剂的研发。氧化铁纳米颗粒(Iron Oxide Nanoparticles,IONP)因其超顺磁性在磁共振成像(Magnetic Resonance Imaging,MRI)中具有良好的暗对比效果,并且具有良好的生物相容性。随着生物材料和分子影像技术的发展,IONP在MRI成像中的应用愈发广泛。近年来,IONP在多模态成像和诊断治疗一体化方面取得了进展。本文将以IONP的MRI成像机理、制备和表面修饰为基础,阐述近年来IONP在MRI成像应用的研究成果和问题,期望IONP取得更好的发展。     

液晶态分子在分析化学中的应用进展

评述了液晶态分子在分析化学中的应用进展，包括其超分子的分子识别作用，液晶在色谱，光谱探针，核磁共振谱等分析化学领域中的应用。     

有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的制备及其肿瘤诊疗应用

有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒由于具有独特的结构特征和物理化学性质,能够与磁性材料、荧光探针、抗肿瘤药物和特异性生物靶向分子等相结合,从而实现有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的多功能化,现已逐步应用于肿瘤的诊断和治疗等生物医学领域。本文就有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒在制备、表面修饰及应用等几个方面的最新研究进展进行了综述。首先,重点介绍了不同pH条件下制备有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒的方法和模板剂脱除方法,并简单归纳了各种方法的优缺点;其次,简要介绍了其表面稳定化和功能化修饰的研究现状,以及负载影像试剂和化疗药物的有序介孔二氧化硅纳米粒在肿瘤的多模成像诊断和靶向治疗中的应用进展;最后,总结了目前研究中还存在的问题并展望了其未来发展方向。     

基于分子印迹技术的Ru（bpy）2+3/MWCNTs-Nafion-SiO2纳米粒子电化学发光传感器高效检测17β-雌二醇

17β-雌二醇等环境内分泌干扰物在水体中分布广、浓度低,对生态系统及人体危害性大。本研究在金电极表面通过多壁碳纳米管( MWCNTs)的静电吸附作用与Nafuon膜的离子交换作用结合纳米二氧化硅( SuO2),固定化Ru( bpy)2＋3,制备Ru( bpy)2＋3/MWCNTs-Nafuon-SuO2修饰电极,提高了修饰电极的灵敏性。通过溶胶-凝胶法制备分子印迹膜提高修饰电极的选择特异性,制得分子印迹-电化学发光传感器( ECL-MIPs)。在优化条件下,即pH 7.4磷酸盐缓冲溶液中,以扫速100 mV/s富集20 mun,对17β-雌二醇进行检测,电化学发光强度与17β-雌二醇浓度在0.03~2.00μg/L范围内有良好线性关系,检出限为0.006μg/L。此传感器可用于实际水样中的17β-雌二醇雌二醇的检测,回收率为88.7%~105.0%。     

利用原子力显微镜探针的扫帚机理制备胶原蛋白纳米纤维阵列

利用原子力显微镜能够在微观尺度上对样品材料进行操控和加工的特性,发现并考察了一种自上而下的生物大分子纳米纤维阵列的制备方法。将50μg/mL的天然I型鼠尾胶原蛋白溶液在云母晶面上形成胶原蛋白膜层,接着在原子力显微镜的接触模式下,利用探针对溶液中的胶原蛋白膜层施加100~1000 nN的力时,可以将膜层加工成具有特定取向的蛋白纳米纤维阵列。单根纤维的高度约2~5 nm,宽度在150~350 nm之间。根据纳米纤维阵列的结构与探针扫描方式的关系,对探针的制样原理进行了探讨,验证了原子力显微镜接触模式下的“分子扫帚”机理。此制备方法为生产细胞培养器皿、制备高特异性的生物探针,合成新型微纳材料提供了一种可行技术。     

基于分子信标对hOGG1活性的定量分析

设计了一种含有8-oxoG碱基的新型分子信标, 结合酶促反应发展了一种非同位素标记的人8-oxoG-鸟嘌呤糖苷酶1(hOGG1)的活性分析新方法, 检出限可达0.0125 U/mL. 此外, 该方法还可用于快速考察金属离子对酶促反应的影响和肿瘤细胞中hOGG1活性水平的定量检测. 实验结果表明, 该方法简单、 灵敏, 有望用于肿瘤样品中hOGG1活性的高通量分析和hOGG1抑制剂的筛选.     

Electrochemically fabricated molecule–electrode contacts for molecular electronics

Connecting molecules to electrodes is key for a range of applications. Conventional methods typically involve a spontaneous reaction of thiol/disulfide-terminated molecules with metal surfaces. Although modifying metal surfaces with thiol chemistry is simple, it is limited to forming a specific S–metal bonding, which is labile and hence there are concerns regarding its mechanical instability. In addition, spontaneous grafting requires long processing times to achieve high molecular coverages on the surface, which adds challenges for manufacturing devices comprising molecular films. Electrochemical methods for forming molecular films on surfaces offer powerful advantages over traditional methods, including reaction acceleration, molecular coverage control, and guiding the chemical bonding at the molecule?electrode interface. Electrochemical grafting enables connecting molecules to various types of electrodes including those that cannot be functionalized by other methods. More recently, electrochemical approaches were expanded to enable connecting 2D materials to electrodes, opening a realm of possibilities for hybrid technologies. In this opinion, we survey the recent progress in electrochemical methods for connecting (bio) molecules to electrodes for advancing molecular and bioelectronics.     

Tailoring approach for exploring electron densities and electrostatic potentials of molecular crystals

Experimental and theoretical studies of electron densities and the corresponding derived entities such as electrostatic potentials have been the primary means of understanding the chemical nature and electronic properties of crystalline substances. Conventional crystal calculation methods such as the embedded cluster models are capable of performing calculations on small and medium-sized molecules, while periodic ab initio methods can treat crystals with up to 200 atoms per unit cell. A linear scaling method, viz. the molecular tailoring approach, has recently been developed for obtaining ab initio quality one-electron properties. In the present study, the molecular tailoring approach is employed to generate electron density, electrostatic potential and interaction density maps with the ibuprofen crystal as a test case. The interaction density and electrostatic potential maps produced in the present work succinctly bring out the actual crystalline environment around a given reference molecule by including the interactions with atoms in its neighborhood. The results obtained from the molecular tailoring approach may thus be expected to enhance our understanding of the environment in the crystalline material with reasonably small computational effort.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

Exploring Molecular Complexity by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Organocatalysis: New Activation and Reaction Diversity

The development of catalytic synthetic approaches towards molecular complexity from simple materials continues to be an ultimate goal in synthetic chemistry. Over the past decades, N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis has been extensively investigated to provide opportunities for a vast number of novel chemical transformations. Various activation modes and reactive intermediates enabled by NHC small-molecule catalysts, such as Breslow intermediates, (homo)enolates, acyl azoliums and their derived unsaturated azoliums exhibit great potential in the construction of complicated skeletons. This personal account will summarize our group's recent work in the exploration of new activation modes of NHC catalysis towards molecular complexity with a focus on the development and applications of NHC to achieve diversity and enantioselectivity in the preparation of functional molecules.     

Identification of potential inhibitors of human methionine aminopeptidase (type II) for cancer therapy: Structure-based virtual screening,ADMET prediction and molecular dynamics studies

Methionine Aminopeptidases MetAPs are divalent-cofactor dependent enzymes that are responsible for the cleavage of the initiator Methionine from the nascent polypeptides. MetAPs are classified into two isoforms: namely, MetAP1 and MetAP2. Several studies have revealed that MetAP2 is upregulated in various cancers, and its inhibition has shown to suppress abnormal or excessive blood vessel formation and tumor growth in model organisms. Clinical studies show that the natural product fumagillin, and its analogs are potential inhibitors of MetAP2. However, due to their poor pharmacokinetic properties and neurotoxicities in clinical studies, their further developments have received a great setback. Here, we apply structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics methods to identify a new class of potential inhibitors for MetAP2. We screened Otava’s Chemical Library, which consists of about 3 200 000 tangible-chemical compounds, and meticulously selected the top 10 of these compounds based on their inhibitory potentials against MetAP2. The top hit compounds subjected to ADMET predictor using 3 independent ADMET prediction programs, were found to be drug-like. To examine the stability of ligand binding mode, and efficacy, the unbound form of MetAP2, its complexes with fumagillin, spiroepoxytriazole, and the best promising compounds compound-3369841 and compound-3368818 were submitted to 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation. Like fumagillin, spiroepoxytriazole, and both compound-3369841 and compound-3368818 showed stable binding mode over time during the simulations. Taken together, these uninherited-fumagillin compounds may serve as new class of inhibitors or provide scaffolds for further optimization towards the design of more potent MetAP2 inhibitors -development of such inhibitors would be essential strategy against various cancer types.     

N,N′-Diaminoethane linked bis-TEMPO-mediated free radical polymerization of styrene

The N,N′-diaminoethane linked bis-TEMPO nitroxide (C2)-mediated free radical polymerization of styrene at 135 °C in bulk was studied. It was found that under comparable conditions a single nitroxide group of C2 biradical retards the polymerization more than TEMPO. The results were discussed in terms of through-space interactions between two TEMPO moieties of C2 biradical and diffusion effects. According to experimental results analyzed by means of statistical methods, the polymerization system displays a bimodal molecular-weight distribution (MWD) from the beginning of the polymerization process, most probably by undergoing decomposition side reactions leading to irreversible polymer arm (P) separation from PC2P to PC2 and PC2H alkoxyamines. The scale of the decomposition depends rather on the time the system is maintained at the polymerization temperature than on conversion of monomer. Generally, the contribution of low molecular weight chains to overall MWD increases with time of polymerization whereas the contribution of high molecular weight chains to MWD increases for less controlled polymerization systems. For polymers obtained at high [dinitroxide]/[initiator] ratio, the thermal treatment of polystyrene in mass at 135 °C unexpectedly revealed an increase of M_n, which can probably be ascribed to post-polymerization effects involving polystyrene with unsaturated chains end groups.     

Placement of medium-sized molecular fragments into active sites of proteins

Summary We present an algorithm for placing molecular fragments into the active site of a receptor. A molecular fragment is defined as a connected part of a molecule containing only complete ring systems. The algorithm is part of a docking tool, called FlexX, which is currently under development at GMD. The overall goal is to provide means of automatically computing low-energy conformations of the ligand within the active site, with an accuracy approaching the limitations of experimental methods for resolving molecular structures and within a run time that allows for docking large sets of ligands. The methods by which we plan to achieve this goal are the explicit exploitation of molecular flexibility of the ligand and the incorporation of physicochemical properties of the molecules. The algorithm for fragment placement, which is the topic of this paper, is based on pattern recognition techniques and is able to predict a small set of possible positions of a molecular fragment with low flexibility within seconds on a workstation. In most cases, a placement with rms deviation below 1.0 Å with respect to the X-ray structure is found among the 10 highest ranking solutions, assuming that the receptor is given in the bound conformation.