Enzyme‐Induced Matrix Softening Regulates Hepatocarcinoma Cancer Cell Phenotypes

The progression of cancer is often accompanied by changes in the mechanical properties of an extracellular matrix. However, limited efforts have been made to reproduce these biological events in vitro. To this end, this study demonstrates that matrix remodeling caused by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1 regulates phenotypic activities and modulates radiosensitivity of cancer cells exclusively in a 3D matrix. In this study, hepatocarcinoma cells are cultured in a collagen‐based gel tailored to present an elastic modulus of ≈4.0 kPa. The subsequent exposure of the gel to MMP‐1 decreases the elastic modulus from 4.0 to 0.5 kPa. In response to MMP‐1, liver cancer cells undergo active proliferation, downregulation of E‐cadherin, and the loss of detoxification capacity. The resulting spheroids are more sensitive to radiation than the spheroids cultured in the stiffer gel not exposed to MMP‐1. Overall, this study serves to better understand and control the effects of MMP‐induced matrix remodeling.     

离子交换法在净水剂制备中的应用研究

本文进行了Ａｌ２（ＳＯ４）３＋ＲＣｌ＋Ｈ２Ｏ体系的理论分析和跟踪测试，确认该体系的主要交换反应是：该交换反应促进了铝离子的水解，提高了硫酸铝的盐基度和混凝沉降速度，制得性能优于精制硫酸铝的聚硫氯化铝净化剂。     

Enhanced Ratiometric pH Sensing Using SNAFL-2 on Silver Island Films: Metal-enhanced Fluorescence Sensing

We have explored the opportunities for enhanced ratiometric pH sensing using the well-known carboxy seminaphthofluorescein (SNAFL-2) and silver island films (SiFs). Our results show that the metallic surfaces can provide up to a 40-fold increase in probe fluorescence intensity as compared to nonmetallic surfaces with the same probe coverage. However, while the S/N is significantly better for pH sensing, the emission wavelength ratiometric values are similar to that obtained in solution, due to the fact that the emission of both the acidic and basic forms of the probe are enhanced to similar extents. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of enhanced ratiometric fluorescence sensing on metallic surfaces.     

A functionalized dianthryl tetraaza macrocycle having the recognizing and switching ability

The synthesized macrocycle L is the novel fluorescent receptor having the switching ability by the external stimuli as well as having the recognizing ability of various metal ions. In particular, this macrocycle L shows the possibility of the selectivity of metal ions even in the same charge ions of a different metal, and the values of association constant (M⁻¹) of that for metal ions are consistent with the tendency of increasing charge number of metal ion. In addition, the values of quantum yield (Φ_F) of metal complexes of macrocycle L were ranged from 0.021 to 0.111 enough to recognize the metal ions in macrocycle L. We know from the fluorescent pH titration of macrocycle L by acid/base that the change of fluorescence intersects at about pH=5.     

A Polymer-Based All-Solid-State Internal Reference System for pH Glass Electrodes – Performance and Charge Transfer

An all-solid-state internal reference system for pH glass electrodes employing polypyrrole (PPy)-Nafion® composites is described. pH sensors based on this reference system are characterised at 23±3°C. The observed characteristics of the resulting all-solid-state sensors, i.e. slope and linearity of the calibration plot, response behaviour, and signal stability, are very promising, and the differences with respect to the parameters of conventional liquid filled sensors are negligible. The values of the zero potential point, which differ from those of conventional pH glass electrodes, could be controlled within limits via the composition of the PPy-Nafion composite.The excellent sensor performance observed seems to be the consequence of a reversible charge transfer between the ion-conducting membrane, the mixed conducting PPy-Nafion interlayer, and the metal wire. A first discussion of the mechanism of this charge transfer is given.     

Counter-Ion Influence on Polypyrrole Potentiometric pH Sensitivity

The pH sensitivity of conducting polymer films is an important issue from the sensor design point of view. The doping and supporting electrolyte anions effect on the potentiometric sensitivity and response time of polypyrrole (PPy) electrodes towards changes of solution pH were studied. It was found that (i) the response of PPy doped by easily exchangeable common anions (Cl^–, NO₃ ^–, ClO₄ ^–) in their solutions (KCl, KNO₃, NaClO₄) is slow. In contrast, (ii) polypyrrole films deposited in the presence of weak acid anions (phthalates, oxalates, salicylates) were characterised by instantaneous responses in the above mentioned solutions. On the basis of electrochemical experiments (open circuit potential vs. time dependencies, cyclic voltammetry, EQCM), the observed differences were attributed to different mechanisms of pH sensitivity of tested films. The long response times are related to the incorporation of the solution ions into the film in order to compensate charges created due to protonation. On the other hand, if the ion-exchange is hindered as in the case of (ii), instantaneous open circuit responses are observed due to polarisation of the oxidised polymer layer, analogously to the metal electrode. Moreover, for these films the internal pH buffering within the polymer membrane will weaken the pH change effect.The mechanisms were confirmed in the course of studying the pH effect in solutions containing anions easily (KCl, NaClO₄, KNO₃) or hardly exchangeable with polypyrrole (K₂SO₄, sodium poly(4-styrenesulphonate) solutions) acidified with H₂SO₄.     

Acoustic Analysis Findings in Objective Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Patients

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of objective laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) on the acoustic parameters of patients by comparing their voice samples with that of control subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective study in two tertiary reference hospitals. METHODS: 48 consecutive patients with symptoms related to LPR and 64 control subjects were included in the study. Suspected LPR patients underwent a 24-hour ambulatory pH monitoring, and 25 (52%) of them were shown to have objective LPR. Acoustical evaluation results of objective LPR patients were compared with that of symptomatic LPR patients and control subjects. RESULTS: All frequency perturbation values obtained from objective and symptomatic LPR patients were higher than the control subjects (P<0.01). Mean fundamental frequency, amplitude perturbation measures, and noise-to-harmonics ratio were not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: LPR patients have significantly different frequency perturbation values than control subjects.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan-Albumin Conjugates as pH-Sensitive Biodegradable Hydrogels

A new kind of biodegradable pH-sensitive drug delivery system was developed via chitosan-albumin conjugate hydrogel. Through changing the feeding modes of reactants, two types of hydrogels(comb-type and reticular-type) were synthesized by amidation reactions between 6-O-succinoylated N-phthaloyl chitosan and albumin. The structures and morphologies of the hydrogels were characterized by SEM. And their water swelling capacity, drug loading and releasing properties at different pH values were also investigate...     

Thermo‐ and pH‐responsive gradient and block copolymers based on 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization and the formation of thermoresponsive surfaces

A series of gradient and block copolymers, based on 2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethyl methacrylate (MEO₂MA) and tert‐butyl acrylate (^tBA), were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) in a first step. The MEO₂MA monomer leads to the production of thermosensitive polymers, exhibiting lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at around room temperature, which could be adjusted by changing the proportion of ^tBA in the copolymer. In a second step, the tert‐butyl groups of ^tBA were hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid to form the corresponding block and gradient copolymers of MEO₂MA and acrylic acid (AA), which exhibited both temperature and pH‐responsive behavior. These copolymers showed LCST values strongly dependent on the pH. At acid pH, a slightly decrease of LCST with an increase of AA in the copolymer was observed. However, at neutral or basic conditions, ionization of acid groups increases the hydrophilic balance considerably raising the LCST values, which even become not observable over the temperature range under study. In the last step, these carboxylic functionalized copolymers were covalently bound to biocompatible and biodegradable films of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(HB‐co‐HHx)] obtained by casting and, previously treated with ethylenediamine (ED) to render their surfaces with amino groups. Thereby, thermosensitive surfaces of modified P(HB‐co‐HHx) could be obtained. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011