Photocatalytic Activity of Nanocomposites of ZnO and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Dye Degradation

Nanocomposites of ZnO and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were prepared via electrostatic interaction and in situ hydrothermal synthesis approaches. The ZnO/MWNTs nanocomposites display relatively higher photocatalytic activity than ZnO nanoparticles for the degradation of Rhodamine B. Therein, MWNTs, acting as a photogenerated electron acceptor, retard the recombination of photoinduced electron and hole. The experimental results show that the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO/MWNTs nanocomposites strongly depends on the synthetic route, which is probably due to the difference of surface states resulted from the different preparation processes.     

在线质谱仪检测植物排放的挥发性有机物

利用在线检测质谱仪(SPIMS-1000)分别对高温烘烤、长时间密封保存、机械损伤等处理过的松科松属马尾松(Pinus Massoniana L.)样品排放的挥发性有机物(VOCs)与新鲜样品进行对比检测。SPIMS-1000在线检测质谱仪能够检测出植物排放的异戊二烯(m/z 68)和单萜(m/z 136),及其它一些特异性组分,如(Z)-3-己烯醛(m/z 98)等。利用在线检测质谱仪实现敞开环境中原位植物排放气体的检测。实验表明,在线检测质谱仪被广泛应用于环境中VOCs的实时、在线、定性快速检测。     

宽离子能量检测范围垂直引入反射式飞行时间质谱仪的研制

本实验室研制了国内首台宽离子能量检测范围飞行时间质谱仪。仪器采用紧凑式电子轰击源设计,配合离子透镜系统有效的调制离子流,飞行时间质量分析器采用了离子垂直引入式,双场加速和双场反射以及大尺寸MCP检测装置设计。仪器单离子信号半峰宽约2 ns,仪器分辨率优于1600FWHM,检测实际样品质量范围为1~127 amu(仪器理论质量检测上限优于800 amu),可检测离子能量范围优于2个数量级(3~140 eV)。若该TOF质量分析器与短瞬高压脉冲放电离子源耦合联用,可广泛应用于高能离子束的快速检测,如真空阴极放电对制备薄膜、离子注入材料的表征,导电材料的离子电荷态分布以及离子扩散速度的测定等。     

A Trinuclear Ni(Ⅱ) Mixed-ligand Complex Containing Pentadentate N-butylsalicylhydrazide and Monodentate Imidazole:Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structure

A novel trinuclear nickel(Ⅱ) complex [Ni3(bushz)2(Himdz)2(H2O)2]?2DMF (1, bushz=N-butylsalicylhydrazide, Himdz=imidazole, DMF=N,N-dimethyl-formamide) has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction characterization. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a=7.706(7), b=14.882(6), c=18.639(6) , β=108.08(2)o, V=2032(1) 3, Dc=1.525 g/cm3, Mr=932.95, Z=2, F(000)=972, μ=1.442 mm-1, the final R=0.0359 and wR=0.0771. The three nickel(Ⅱ) atoms in 1 are arranged in a strictly linear structure and exhibit alternating square-planar and octahedral geometries. The complex is connected to form a supramolecule with an infinite three-dimensional network through intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The electrochemical studies reveal that redox of Ni3+/Ni2+ in the complex is a quasi-reversible process. The thermal stability of the title complex was also studied.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antiproliferative Activity of 2,2-Dimethyl-4-oxochroman-3-ylmorpholine-4-carbodithioate

The crystal structure of the new title compound 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxochroman-3-ylmorpholine-4-carbodithioate(C16H19NO3S2,Mr = 337.44) has been prepared and determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.The crystal is of triclinic,space group P1 with a = 9.5518(7),b = 9.7172(7),c = 11.0220(8),α = 67.08(1),β = 74.66(1),= 61.31(1)°,V = 822.72(10)3,Z = 2,Dc = 1.362 g/cm3,F(000) = 356,μ = 0.092 mm-1,MoKa radiation(λ = 0.71073),R = 0.0515 and wR = 0.1389 for 2623 observed reflections with I > 2(I).X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the chroman ring adopts a half-chair conformation while the morpholine ring shows a chair conformation.Intramolecular and intermolecular C-H···S and C-H···O hydrogen bonds together with π-π interations are found in the structure.The result of MTT assay shows the title compound displays good antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines.     

MC8 Peptide-Mediated Her-2 Receptor Targeting Based on PEI-β-CyD as Gene Delivery Vector

A novel vector with high gene delivery efficiency and special cell targeting ability was developed using a good strategy that utilized low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI; molecular weight, 600 KDa [PEI600]) cross-linked to β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) via a facile synthetic route. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) are highly expressed in a variety of human cancer cells and are potential targets for cancer therapy. MC8 peptides, which have been proven to combine especially with Her-2 on cell membranes were coupled to PEI-β-CyD using N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate as a linker. The ratios of PEI600, β-CyD, and peptide were calculated based on proton integral values obtained from the ¹H-NMR spectra of the resulting products. Electron microscope observations showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD can efficiently condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles of about 200 nm, and MTT assays suggested the decreased toxicity of the polymer. Experiments on gene delivery efficiency in vitro showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD/pDNA polyplexes had significantly greater transgene activities than PEI-β-CyD/pDNA in the Skov3 and A549 cells, which positively expressed Her-2, whereas, no such effect was observed in the MCF-7 cells, which negatively expressed Her-2. Our current research indicated that the synthesized nonviral vector shows improved gene delivery efficiency and targeting specificity in Her-2 positive cells.     

In situ self-assembly synthesis of gold nanoparticle arrays on polystyrene microspheres and their surface plasmon resonance

Gold (Au) nanoparticle arrays with tunable morphology and optical characteristics were synthesized by in-situ self-assembly process that occurred on the surface of aniline-modified polystyrene (PS) microspheres. The method can be used to control the growth of both single and aggregated Au nanoparticle arrays on PS microsphere surface. This method could also be adapted for synthesis of other noble metals hybrid materials, which opens exciting opportunities for their practical applications.     

Overexpression of the Formaldehyde Dehydrogenase Gene from Brevibacillus brevis to Enhance Formaldehyde Tolerance and Detoxification of Tobacco

The faldh gene coding for a putative Brevibacillus brevis formaldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH) was isolated and then transformed into tobacco. A total of three lines of transgenic plants were generated, with each showing 2- to 3-fold higher specific formaldehyde dehydrogenase activities than wild-type tobacco, a result that demonstrates the functional activity of the enzyme in formaldehyde (HCHO) oxidation. Overexpression of faldh in tobacco confers a high tolerance to exogenous HCHO and an increased ability to take up HCHO. A ¹³C-nuclear magnetic resonance technique revealed that the transgenic plants were able to oxidize more aqueous HCHO to formate than the wild-type (WT) plants. When treated with gaseous HCHO, the transgenic tobacco exhibited an enhanced ability to transform more HCHO into formate, citrate acid, and malate but less glycine than the WT plants. These results indicate that the increased capacity of the transgenic tobacco to take up, tolerate, and metabolize higher concentrations of HCHO was due to the overexpression of B. brevis FALDH, revealing the essential function of this enzyme in HCHO detoxification. Our results provide a potential genetic engineering strategy for improving the phytoremediation of HCHO pollution.     

Curcumin Inhibits the Sortase A Activity of the Streptococcus mutans UA159

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) forms part of the commensal microflora and is deemed to be the major pathogen responsible for the generation of dental caries. The enzyme, sortase A enzyme, modulates the surface properties and cariogenicity of S. mutans. Curcumin has been reported to be an inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus sortase A. In this study, inhibition of a purified S. mutans UA159 sortase A by curcumin was evaluated. Curcumin exerted strong inhibitory activity with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 10.2?±?0.7 μM which was lower than the minimum inhibitory concentration of 175 μM and the minimum bactericidal concentration of 350 μM. These results indicated that curcumin is a S. mutans UA159 sortase A inhibitor and therefore represents as a promising anticaries agent.     

A Novel Polysaccharide from Lentinus edodes Mycelia Exhibits Potential Antitumor Activity on Laryngeal Squamous Cancer Cell Line Hep-2

A novel polysaccharide [Lentinus edodes mycelia polysaccharide 2 (LMP2)] with a molecular weight of 2.27?×?10⁴ Da was isolated from the Lentinus edodes mycelia and purified by Sephadex G-200 and diethylaminoethyl-32 column chromatography. HPLC results indicated that LMP2 contained mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, and rhamnose with a relative molar ratio of 1:0.74:3.23:1.18:10.98. Its antitumor activity was evaluated in vitro by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, colony formation assay, and transwell assay. LMP2 showed a remarkable inhibitory effect on the proliferation of Hep-2 cells, and at the concentration of 200 mg/ml, the inhibition ratio was 37.2 % after 72 h. Furthermore, colony formation of Hep-2 cells was reduced significantly after treatment with LMP2. Invasion of Hep-2 cells was inhibited significantly by LMP2. These results suggested that LMP2 could be explored as a potential antitumor material for laryngeal carcinoma.