Synthesis and antifungal activity of chalcone derivatives

In the present study, using chalcone as a lead compound, a series of its derivatives (compounds 1–30) were designed and synthesised. Their activity of anti-pathogenic fungi of plants has been evaluated. It is found that these compounds have good antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Helminthosprium maydis, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani and Gibberella zeae. Among them, the inhibition of growth for compound 30 against S. sclerotiorum showed 89.9%, with the median effective concentrations (EC₅₀) of 15.4 μg mL^? 1. The inhibition of growth for compounds 28, 29 and 30 at a concentration of 100 μg mL^? 1 against H. maydis is 90.3%, 90.7% and 91.1%, with EC₅₀ of 15.1, 18.3 and 18.1μg mL^? 1, respectively.     

Preparation of 17β‐estradiol‐imprinted material by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization and its application

A novel 17β‐estradiol molecularly imprinted polymer was grafted onto the surface of initiator‐immobilized silica by surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The resulting molecularly imprinted polymer was characterized by elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The binding property of molecularly imprinted polymer for 17β‐estradiol was also studied with both static and dynamic methods. The results showed that the molecularly imprinted polymer possessed excellent recognition capacity for 17β‐estradiol (180.65 mg/g at 298 K), and also exhibited outstanding selectivity for 17β‐estradiol over the other competitive compounds (such as testosterone and progesterone). Then, the determination of trace 17β‐estradiol in beef samples was successfully developed by using molecularly imprinted polymer solid‐phase extraction coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The limit of detection was 0.25 ng/mL, and the amount of 17β‐estradiol in beef samples was detected at 2.83 ng/g. This work proposed a sensitive, rapid, reliable, and convenient approach for the determination of trace 17β‐estradiol in complicated beef samples.     

Study of the matrix effects of tetrodotoxin and its content in cooked seafood by liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Tetrodotoxin is a marine biotoxin with high acute toxicity. The levels in cooked seafood will help us to assess its intake in humans and may help assess the risk of toxicity. However, heavy matrices hinder the direct quantitation of tetrodotoxin. A quantitative method of measuring tetrodotoxin in cooked seafood using liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was established in this study. Tetrodotoxin was extracted from the sample matrix using 2% formic acid in methanol and cleaned using a cation exchange cartridge. The cleanup conditions were optimized. The matrix effects were determined using the postextraction spiking method and by comparing the slope of the linear regression equation in sample matrix to that in solvent. The limit of detection in the sample matrix was 5 μg/kg and the limit of quantification was 10 μg/kg. The mean recoveries at three spiking levels were 66.9–89.2% with relative standard deviations of 5.0–10.8% (n = 6) in five different matrices. Tetrodotoxin was found at concentrations of 26.1–2462 μg/kg in nine of 83 cooked seafoods tested in this study. Eight analogs of Tetrodotoxin were detected in the samples studied.     

Highly stable and reusable imprinted artificial antibody used for in situ detection and disinfection of pathogens

Sandwich ELISA methods have been widely used for biomarker and pathogen detection because of their high specificity and sensitivity. However, the main drawbacks of this assay are the cost, the time-consuming procedure for the isolation of antibodies and their poor stability. To overcome these restrictions, we herein fabricated artificial antibodies based on imprinting technology and developed a sandwich ELISA for pathogen detection. Both the capture and detection antibodies were obtained via an in situ method, with simplicity, rapidity and low cost. The peroxidase mimics, the CeO₂ nanoparticles, as signal generators were integrated with the detection antibody. The fabricated artificial antibodies exhibited not only natural antibody-like binding affinities and selectivities, but also superior stability and reusability. The detection limit was about 500 CFU mL^–1, which is much lower than that of traditional ELISA methods (10⁴ to 10⁵ CFU mL^–1). Furthermore, the capture antibody can disinfect pathogens in situ.     

A New Fluorescence Turn-On Probe for Aluminum(III) with High Selectivity and Sensitivity,and its Application to Bioimaging

The development of novel selective probes with high sensitivity for the detection of Al³⁺ is widely considered an important research goal due to the importance of such probes in medicine, living systems and the environment. Here, we describe a new fluorescent probe, N′-(4-diethylamino-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxybenzohydrazide (1), for Al³⁺. Probe 1 was evaluated in a solution of acetonitrile/water (1:1 v/v). Compared with previously reported probes for Al³⁺, probe 1 can be synthesized easily and in high yield. A Job plot confirmed that probe 1 is able to complex Al³⁺ in a 1:1 ratio, and the binding constant was determined to be 4.25×10⁸ m⁻¹. Moreover, the detection limit was as low as 6.7×10⁻⁹ m, suggesting that probe 1 has a high sensitivity. Common coexistent metal ions, such as K⁺, Co²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ce²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Fe³⁺, showed little or no interference in the detection of Al³⁺ in solution, demonstrating the high selectivity of the probe. Finally, the ability of probe 1 to act as a fluorescent probe for Al³⁺ in living systems was evaluated in Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed its utility. The results of this study suggest that 1 has appropriate properties to be developed for application as a fluorescent probe of Al³⁺ for use in biological studies.     

Plasmonic refraction‐induced ultrahigh transparency of highly conducting metallic networks

We demonstrate a high optoelectronic performance and application potential of our random network, with subwavelength diameter, ultralong, and high‐quality silver nanowires, stabilized on a substrate with a UV binder. Our networks show very good optoelectronic properties, with the single best figure of merit of ∼1686, and excellent stability under harsh mechanical strain, as well as thermal, and chemical challenge. Our network transparency strongly exceeds the simple shading limit. We show that this transmission enhancement is due to plasmonic refraction, which in an effective medium picture involves localized plasmons, and identify the inhomogeneous broadening as the key factor in promoting this mechanism. Such networks could become a basis for a next generation of ultrahigh‐performance transparent conductors.

     

How Does Photoreceptor UVR8 Perceive a UV‐B Signal?

UVR8 is the only known plant photoreceptor that mediates light responses to UV‐B (280–315 nm) of the solar spectrum. UVR8 perceives a UV‐B signal via light‐induced dimer dissociation, which triggers a wide range of cellular responses involved in photomorphogenesis and photoprotection. Two recent crystal structures of Arabidopsis thaliana UVR8 (AtUVR8) have revealed unusual clustering of UV‐B‐absorbing Trp pigments at the dimer interface and provided a structural framework for further mechanistic investigation. This review summarizes recent advances in spectroscopic, computational and crystallographic studies on UVR8 that are directed toward full understanding of UV‐B perception at the molecular level.     

In Vitro Photodynamic Inactivation Effects of Ru(II) Complexes on Clinical Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus Planktonic and Biofilm Cultures

Photosensitizers (PSs) combined with light are able to generate antimicrobial effects. Ru(II) complexes have been recognized as a novel class of PSs. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of photodynamic inactivation (PDI) mediated by three Ru(II) polypyridine complexes, 1–3, against four isolates of clinical methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA‐1, MRSA‐2, MRSA‐3 and MRSA‐4). In PDI of a planktonic culture of MRSA‐1, compound 3 showed the highest efficacy, likely owing to its advantageous light absorption, ¹O₂ quantum yield and bacterial cellular binding. The PDI efficacy of 3 was further evaluated against all other strains and MRSA‐1 biofilms. At appropriate PS concentrations, viability reduction of 100% or 96.83% was observed in planktonic or biofilm forms of MRSA, respectively. The mechanisms of action were investigated using negative staining transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was demonstrated that PDI of planktonic bacteria was achieved primarily through damage to the cell envelope. Biofilms were eliminated through both the destruction of their structure and inactivation of the individual bacterial cells. In conclusion, Ru(II) complexes, especially 3, are potential candidates for the effective photodynamic control of MRSA infections.