Highly stretchable,self-adhesive,and self-healable double network hydrogel based on alginate/polyacrylamide with tunable mechanical properties

A number of synthetic hydrogels suffer from low mechanical strength. Despite of the recent advances in the fabrication of tough hydrogels, it is still a great challenge to simultaneously construct high stretchability, and self-adhesive and self-healing capability in a hydrogel. Herein, a new type of double network hydrogel was prepared based on irreversible cross-linking of polyacrylamide chains and Schiff-base reversible cross-linking between glycidyl methacrylate-grafted ethylenediamine and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA). The combination of both cross-linkings and their synergistic effect provided a novel hydrogel with high strength, stretchable, rapid self-healing, and self-adhesiveness to different material. Besides, the hydrogels with diverse OSA content could maintain their original shapes after loading–unloading tensile test. The resulting hydrogel has a great potential in various fields for supporting and load-bearing substance.     

Structure and conductivity of AOT solutions in n-hexadecane-chloroform mixtures

The structure and conductivity of AOT (sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate) solutions (2.5 × 10⁻⁴–2.5 × 10⁻¹ M) in n-hexadecane-chloroform mixture at the chloroform concentration from 50 to 100 vol% were studied. The diffusion ordered spectroscopy NMR study revealed that in the indicated range, the observed hydrodynamic diameter of micelles depends only on the AOT concentration and does not depend on the chloroform content. Molar fractions of free AOT molecules and those aggregated into micelles were calculated using the Lindman's law: at concentrations above 2.5 × 10⁻¹ М, the solutions contain mostly the micelles, whereas at concentrations below 2.5 × 10⁻⁴ M, the solutions contain AOT molecules. The transition region contains both the AOT molecules and the micelles. Conductivity measurements were used to determine free charge carriers in the bulk of solutions and their contributions to conductivity.     

近紫外激发Gd2ZnTiO6∶Eu3+,Li+红色荧光粉的制备及荧光性能

采用溶胶-凝胶法成功制备出系列Eu³⁺掺杂和Li⁺、Eu³⁺共掺杂Gd₂ZnTiO₆红色荧光粉,并研究Li⁺、Eu³⁺掺杂对样品的晶体结构、微观形貌及发光性能的影响。结果显示,所制备的Gd₂ZnTiO₆∶Eu³⁺,Li⁺(GZT∶Eu³⁺,Li⁺) 荧光粉为双钙钛矿结构,属于单斜晶系(空间群:P2₁/n),大小为10 μm的无规则形状的颗粒。在395 nm近紫外光的激发下,GZT∶Eu³⁺的发射光谱展示出典型的Eu³⁺线状特征光谱,发射峰中心位于615 nm处,归属于Eu³⁺的⁵D₀→⁷F₂跃迁。Eu³⁺的最佳掺杂浓度为0.07(摩尔分数),样品显示明显的浓度猝灭效应,其机制为电偶极子-电偶极子(d-d)相互作用。此外,研究还发现,Li⁺掺杂对样品的晶体结构、微观形貌没有影响,但是一定量的Li⁺掺杂可以显著增强样品的荧光强度。当Li⁺浓度为0.05时,荧光粉发射主峰强度增强程度最大,提高至原来的4.3倍,说明通过Li⁺、Eu³⁺共掺杂可以获得高亮度的GZT红色荧光粉。GZT∶0.14Eu³⁺,0.05Li⁺荧光粉的CIE色坐标为(0.631 1,0.375 3)与标准红光色坐标(0.670,0.330)较为接近,是一种潜在的LED用红色荧光粉。     

Role of FTFSI Anion Asymmetry on Physical Properties of AFTFSI (A=Li,Na and K) Based Electrolytes and Consequences on Supercapacitor Application

This study compares the physicochemical properties of six electrolytes comprising of three salts: LiFTFSI, NaFTFSI and KFTFSI in two solvent mixtures, the binary (3EC/7EMC) and the ternary (EC/PC/3DMC). The transport properties (conductivity, viscosity) as a function of temperature and concentration were modeled using the extended Jones-Dole-Kaminsky equation, the Arrhenius model, and the Eyring theory of transition state for activated complexes. Results are discussed in terms of ionicity, solvation shell, and cross-interactions between electrolyte components. The application of the six formulated electrolytes in symmetrical activated carbon (AC)//AC supercapacitors (SCs) was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic cycling with potential limitation (GCPL), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and accelerated aging. Results revealed that the geometrical flexibility of the FTFSI anion allows it to access and diffuse easily in AC whereas its counter ions (Li⁺, Na⁺ or K⁺) can remain trapped in porosity. However, this drawback was partially resolved by mixing LiFTFSI and KFTFSI salts in the electrolyte.     

Flow-induced shear stress and deformation of a core–shell-structured microcapsule in a microchannel

A numerical model was developed and validated to investigate the fluid–structure interactions between fully developed pipe flow and core–shell-structured microcapsule in a microchannel. Different flow rates and microcapsule shell thicknesses were considered. A sixth-order rotational symmetric distribution of von Mises stress over the microcapsule shell can be observed on the microcapsule with a thinner shell configuration, especially at higher flow rate conditions. It is also observed that when being carried along in a fully developed pipe flow, the microcapsule with a thinner shell tends to accumulate stress at a higher rate compared to that with a thicker shell. In general, for the same microcapsule configuration, higher flow velocity would induce a higher stress level over the microcapsule shell. The deformation gradient was used to capture the microcapsule's deformation in the present study. The effect of Young's modulus on the microcapsule shell on the microcapsule deformation was investigated as well. Our findings will shed light on the understanding of the stability of core–shell-structured microcapsule when subjected to flow-induced shear stress in a microfluidic system, enabling a more exquisite control over the breakup dynamics of drug-loaded microcapsule for biomedical applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of new homologue multinary selenides,M2Sb5Bi5Se17 (M = Sn,Pb)

New quaternary selenides M₂Sb₅Bi₅Se₁₇ (M = Sn, Pb) were synthesized using solid-state sintering reactions that crystallize in the monoclinic system with C2/m (No. 12) space group with lattice parameters a = 27.914(7) Å, b = 4.0804(11) Å, c = 15.512(4) Å, and β = 114.881(9)° for M = Sn, and a = 27.987(3) Å, b = 4.1062(5) Å, c = 15.6372(19) Å, and β = 115.318(3)° for M = Pb, respectively. The crystal structure is related to a homologous series [A⁺²_2x−4B⁺³₄ Se⁻²_2x−2][B⁺³_2y−2Se⁻²_3y−3] with (x, y) = (3, 4) that contains building units of two-dimensional slabs of NaCl¹¹¹-type [Sb₂Bi₄Se₁₁] separated by 1D ribbons NaCl¹⁰⁰-type [Pb₂Sb₃BiSe₆]. The NaCl¹¹¹ unit contains edge-shared octahedra filled with Sb³⁺ and Bi³⁺ cations, which are parallel and overlapped to form a step-layer 2D network stacking alone [001]. The NaCl¹⁰⁰ type ribbons containing Pb²⁺ and Sb³⁺ in square or trigonal pyramidal environments with the general formula [M₆Se₆] filled in the space between 2D layers of NaCl¹¹¹ units. The conductivity measurement revealed semiconducting property with band gaps of ~0.1 eV. Pb₂Sb₅Bi₅Se₁₇ exhibits low thermal conductivity 3,000 μW cm⁻¹ K⁻¹ in a temperature range of 300–480 K.     

Development of a highly sensitive imaged cIEF immunoassay for studying AAV capsid protein charge heterogeneity

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid proteins tune and regulate the AAV infective life cycle, which can impact the safety and efficacy of AAV gene therapy products. Many of these PTMs induce changes in protein charge heterogeneity, including deamidation, oxidation, glycation, and glycosylation. To characterize the charge heterogeneity of a protein, imaged capillary isoelectric focusing (icIEF) has become the gold standard method. We have previously reported an icIEF method with native fluorescence detection for denatured AAV capsid protein charge heterogeneity analysis. Although well suited for final products, the method does not have sufficient sensitivity for upstream, low-concentration AAV samples, and lacks the specificity for capsid protein detection in complex samples like cell culture supernatants and cell lysates. In contrast, the combination of icIEF, protein capture, and immunodetection affords significantly higher sensitivity and specificity, addressing the challenges of the icIEF method. By leveraging different primary antibodies, the icIEF immunoassay provides additional selectivity and affords a detailed characterization of individual AAV capsid proteins. In this study, we describe an icIEF immunoassay method for AAV analysis that is 90 times more sensitive than native fluorescence icIEF. This icIEF immunoassay provides AAV stability monitoring, where changes in individual capsid protein charge heterogeneity can be observed in response to heat stress. When applied to different AAV serotypes, this method also provides serotype identity with reproducible quantification of VP protein peak areas and apparent isoelectric point (pI). Overall, the described icIEF immunoassay is a sensitive, reproducible, quantitative, specific, and selective tool that can be used across the AAV biomanufacturing process, especially in upstream process development where complex sample types are often encountered.     

层状复合氢氧化物的有机改性方法及应用研究进展

层状复合氢氧化物(LDHs)因其化学组成可调、比表面积大、生物相容性好等特点,目前在环境、能源和生物医药等领域广受关注.然而, LDHs在合成过程中由于其分子内作用力易发生团聚而导致其在基体中的分散不均匀,极大地限制了LDHs在实际中的应用.有机改性是改善LDHs分散性的有效方法,从表面改性和插层改性两个方面综述了近年来LDHs的有机改性方法,并介绍了其在阻燃、吸附、催化、气体阻隔、发光、储能和生物医药材料等领域的应用.最后对改性后LDHs未来的研究方向和应用领域进行了展望.     

In silico study of novel niclosamide derivatives,SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural proteins catalytic residue-targeting small molecules drug candidates

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-mediated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection remains a global pandemic and health emergency with overwhelming social and economic impacts throughout the world. Therapeutics for COVID-19 are limited to only remdesivir; therefore, there is a need for combined, multidisciplinary efforts to develop new therapeutic molecules and explore the effectiveness of existing drugs against SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, we reported eight (SCOV-L-02, SCOV-L-09, SCOV-L-10, SCOV-L-11, SCOV-L-15, SCOV-L-18, SCOV-L-22, and SCOV-L-23) novel structurally related small-molecule derivatives of niclosamide (SCOV-L series) for their targeting potential against angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), type II transmembrane serine protease (TMPRSS2), and SARS-COV-2 nonstructural proteins (NSPs) including NSP5 (3CLpro), NSP3 (PLpro), and RdRp. Our correlation analysis suggested that ACE2 and TMPRSS2 modulate host immune response via regulation of immune-infiltrating cells at the site of tissue/organs entries. In addition, we identified some TMPRSS2 and ACE2 microRNAs target regulatory networks in SARS-CoV-2 infection and thus open up a new window for microRNAs-based therapy for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our in vitro study revealed that with the exception of SCOV-L-11 and SCOV-L-23 which were non-active, the SCOV-L series exhibited strict antiproliferative activities and non-cytotoxic effects against ACE2- and TMPRSS2-expressing cells. Our molecular docking for the analysis of receptor-ligand interactions revealed that SCOV-L series demonstrated high ligand binding efficacies (at higher levels than clinical drugs) against the ACE2, TMPRSS2, and SARS-COV-2 NSPs. SCOV-L-18, SCOV-L-15, and SCOV-L-09 were particularly found to exhibit strong binding affinities with three key SARS-CoV-2’s proteins: 3CLpro, PLpro, and RdRp. These compounds bind to the several catalytic residues of the proteins, and satisfied the criteria of drug-like candidates, having good adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) pharmacokinetic profile. Altogether, the present study suggests the therapeutic potential of SCOV-L series for preventing and managing SARs-COV-2 infection and are currently under detailed investigation in our lab.