Blockage of Wnt/β‐Catenin Signaling by Nanoparticles Reduces Survival and Proliferation of CLL Cells In Vitro—Preliminary Study

The Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway is shown to play a significant role in the control of the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Studies have confirmed that aberrant activation of canonical Wnt signaling occurs in various forms of leukemia, and is crucial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis. The aim of the study is to evaluate the influence of maltotriose (M3) modified fourth generation poly(propylene imine) dendrimers (PPI‐G4) on Wnt/β‐catenin pathway gene expression in CLL (MEC‐1) cells and to compare these findings with those obtained with fludarabine (FA). Microarray data analysis reveals seven of 19 Wnt/β‐catenin pathway genes whose expression changes significantly during dendrimer and FA treatment: WNT10A, WNT6 , and CDH1 among others. PPI‐G4‐M3 is already known to influence MEC‐1 cell apoptosis and proliferation. The obtained results suggest that the reduction in cell survival under the influence of glycodendrimers and FA may be due to loss of Wnt signaling.     

Copper-free click conjugation of methotrexate to a PAMAM dendrimer platform

The synthesis of a generation 5 (G5) poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer platform having cyclooctyne ligands that were subsequently be used for a copper-free Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (click reaction) with azido modified methotrexate is described. The G5 PAMAM dendrimer was first partially (70%) acetylated and then coupled with 20 cyclooctyne ligands through amide bonds. The remaining primary amine groups on the dendrimer surface were neutralized by acetylation. The platform was then ‘clicked’ with different numbers (5, 10, and 17) of γ-azido functionalized methotrexate. The copper-free click reactions were stoichiometric with excellent yields.     

The influence of lateral and terminal substitution on the structure of a liquid crystal dendrimer in nematic solution: A computer simulation study

The choice of lateral and terminal substitution can have a major influence on the structure of a liquid crystalline supermolecule, which in turn can induce radically different phase behaviour. In this study we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the shape of a liquid crystal dendrimer within a liquid crystalline solvent. A coarse-grained (CG) simulation model is employed to represent a third generation dendrimer in which 32 mesogenic groups are bonded to chains at the end of each branch of the dendrimer. In this CG-model the liquid crystal groups can be appended either terminally or laterally. This bonding option is used to generate the structure of four separate systems: (a) a dendrimer with 32 terminal mesogens, (b) a dendrimer with 32 laterally appended mesogens, (c) and (d) dendrimers with 16 lateral and 16 terminal groups represented with laterally bonded sites on one side of the molecule, model (c) or next to terminally bonded sites, model (d). The simulations show that the dendrimer is able to change shape in response to molecular environment and that the molecular shape adopted depends critically on the nature of the lateral/terminal susbstitution.     

Electrodeposition of Pt nanoclusters on the surface modified by monolayer poly(amidoamine) dendrimer film

Preparation of Pt nanoclusters on the poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) modified surface by electrodeposition was firstly reported. The presence of PAMAM could affect the growth of Pt nanostructures. Field-emitted scanning microscopy images showed that these nanoclusters were not common nanoparticles but were consisted of many small nanoparticles. The size of them could be controlled and the deposition mechanism was also discussed. This method would give a route of preparing novel nanostructures by electrodeposition.     

Synthesis and photoluminescence study of anthracene based dendrimer and dendron

A new type of polyaromatic dendrimer composed of six anthracene groups was synthesized, which showed a monomeric fluorescence feature with a diminished quantum yield due to intramolecular self-quenching processes in the dendritic framework.     

Poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) presenting pendent pentaphenylene dendron groups for light‐emitting diodes

We have synthesized, using the Gilch method, a novel poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivative (PPV‐PP) containing two pendent pentaphenylene dendritic wedges, and have characterized its structure and properties. The incorporated side chain pentaphenylene dendrons serve as solubilizing groups, prevent π‐stacking interactions from occurring between the polymer main chains, and suppress the formation of excimers in the solid state. Photoluminescence studies indicate that efficient intramolecular energy transfer occurred from the photoexcited pentaphenylene groups to the poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) backbone. The polymer film exhibits a maximum emission at 510 nm and had a photoluminescence efficiency of 46%, which is similar to that measured in dilute solution. The photoluminescence spectra remained almost unchanged after thermal annealing at 150 °C for 20 h, and displayed inhibited excimer formation. Polymer light‐emitting diodes that we fabricated in the configuration ITO/PEDOT/PPV‐PP/Mg:Ag/Ag exhibited a maximum emission peak at 513 nm, corresponding to the green region [x = 0.30 and y = 0.62 in the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates]. The maximum brightness and maximum luminance efficiency were 1562 cd/m² and 1.93 cd/A, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5147–5155, 2005     

A Novel Heat-resisting Surfactant for the Modification of Alumina Nanoparticles

An casy preparation of controlled alumina nanoparticles by the solution precipitate method has been carried out using dendrimer as surfactant.The effects of the amount and size of surfactant on morphological control of powder have also been discussed.     

Détermination des structures désordonnée et ordonnée métastable du nickelocéne Ni(C5H5)2. Interprétation de l'évolution structurale comparée à celle du ferrocéne

Les données de diffraction X de la phase désordonnée du nickelocéne ont été enregistrées à 295K sur un diffractométre 4 cercles. La structure cristalline est isomorph de celle du ferrocéne: maille monoclinique, gruoups spatial statistiqe P2₁/a. Z=2. Utilisnt une méthod d'affinement en blocs moléculaires rigides et des calculs d’ énegie rétudiés. La Structure par 1’ existence de 4 états moléculaires possibles (anant un anlge interne de 20 ± 2[ddot] au lieu de 11.5° ± 1° pour le ferrocéne) symétriques deux à deux, sur chaque site cristallographique et formée de 2 types de clusters. L'emplilement moléculir de la phase ordonnée métastable du nickelocéne à 5 K a été déterminépar minimisation de son énergie éticulair. Les résultats obtenus (monoclinique, Z=2, à 101 K, indiquent quel l'évolution des phases désordonnées du nickelocéne et P2₁/a, configuration molécularie D ₅ d), Une interpétation de cette évolution differente fondée sur des hypothéses relatives à la dynamique du déordre est proposée.     

Silver Nanostructures on Graphene Oxide as the Substrate for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

Nanosized surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates fabricated by the controlled growth of metal nanostructures on water-dispersed two-dimensional nanomaterials can open a new avenue for SERS analysis of liquid samples in biological fields. In this work, regular and uniform Ag nanostructures were grown on the surface of graphene oxide (GO) through a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers were assembled on the surface of GO to form GO/PAMAM templates for growing Ag nanostructures, which are primarily comprised of Ag dimers and trimers. The prepared Ag/GO nanocomposites are highly dispersed and stable in aqueous solution and may be used as substrates for enhanced Raman detection of rhodamine 6?G (R6G) in aqueous solution. This special substrate provides high-performance SERS and suppresses R6G fluorescence in aqueous solution and is promising as a nanosized material for the enhanced Raman detection of liquid samples in biological diagnostics.