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.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a novel anti-EGFR antibody labeled with 89Zr and 177Lu

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - There is an urgent need to develop more specific targeted therapies for lung cancer treatment due to the its low survival rate. EGFR is a...     

Characterization of diterpene metabolism in rats with ingestion of seed products from Euphorbia lathyris L. (Semen Euphorbiae and Semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum) using UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS

Previous pharmacological studies have indicated that diterpenoids are the primary effective chemical cluster in the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris L. The seed products are used in traditional Chinese medicine in the forms of Semen Euphorbiae (SE) and Semen Euphorbiae Pulveratum (SEP). However, the metabolism of the plant's diterpenoids has not been well elucidated, which means that the in vivo metabolite products have not been identified. The current study screened the physiological metabolites of six diterpenes [Euphorbia factor L₁ (L1), L₂ (L2), L₃ (L3), L_7a (L7a), L_7b (L7b), and L₈ (L8)] in feces and urine of rats after oral administration of SE and SEP using UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS. A total of 22 metabolites were detected in feces and 8 in urine, indicating that the major elimination route of diterpenoids is via the colon. Hydrolysis, methylation, and glucuronidation served as the primary metabolic pathways of these diterpenoids. In sum, this study contributed to the elucidation of new metabolites and metabolic pathways of SE and SEP, and the new chemical identities can be used to guide further pharmacokinetic studies.     

Acidity Modification of ZSM-5 for Methane Conversion in Co-feeding Method with MTA Reaction

Acidity plays a vital role in methane conversion by co-feeding method, which is one of the best strategies to improve the utilization and gentle the reaction conditions of methane. In this work, Zn, Ni, Mo, La, Ga, Fe and Co-impregnated ZSM-5 zeolites have been prepared with the same substitutions to variate the acidities and tested in co-aromatization of methanol with methane. It is demonstrated that the new medium-strong acid sites formed by metal and strong acid sites are the key role to activate methane in co-reaction. Zn-modified ZSM-5 catalyst is preferred to exhibit the best methane conversion of 12%, whose aromatic selectivity increases from 27.2% to 52.2% compared with that of HZSM-5. Besides, the addition of methane further improves the production of high-valued aromatics compared with methanol to aromatics (MTA) reaction.     

电场下离子型聚合物复合囊泡结构变化的分子动力学模拟

利用粗粒化分子动力学模拟研究了电场作用下离子型聚合物复合囊泡形变与破裂的过程.定量分析了囊泡破裂过程中的结构变化,包括囊泡的形变程度、破裂速度、组分分布以及破裂后的结构.研究表明,电场强度较弱时,囊泡表面所吸附的聚电解质首先脱落,囊泡由球形结构转变为椭球结构.随着电场强度增大,离聚物的离子侧基发生重新排布,囊泡表面电荷的有序结构被破坏,导致囊泡的结构无法维持而破裂,囊泡塌缩,分裂形成离聚物团簇,并进一步破裂为小尺寸的离聚物聚集体,均匀分散于溶液中.本文利用分子动力学模拟明确了电场中离子型高分子复合囊泡破裂过程的分子机理,为药物释放技术的优化及发展提供了理论支持.     

凝胶渗透色谱-气相色谱-离子阱质谱法测定桔梗原药和当归提取物中101种农药残留

建立了凝胶渗透色谱（GPC）-气相色谱-离子阱质谱同时检测桔梗原药和当归提取物中101种农药残留的分析方法。方法采用乙腈超声辅助提取桔梗原药和当归提取物,浓缩提取液至近干后用乙酸乙酯-环己烷（1∶1, v/v）复溶,采用凝胶渗透色谱法（选取40 cm长、内径20 mm的凝胶渗透色谱柱）对样品进行净化,弃去前段含脂类、色素等杂质的流出液,收集17~30 min洗脱液并旋转蒸发浓缩至近干,甲苯1 mL定容上机。选用DB-5MS毛细管色谱柱分离待测物,通过离子阱质谱实现对101种农药残留的高效检测。方法通过优化前处理条件和离子阱二级质谱参数,有效降低了复杂中药基质对待测化合物的干扰,最大限度提高了样品中农药的定量准确性和回收率,101种农药3水平添加的平均回收率为58.3%~108.9%,每个添加水平10次独立重复测定的相对标准偏差为0.4%~16.5%,检出限（LOD）范围为0.2~40.0 μg/kg,可满足当前韩国、日本、欧洲规定的最大残留限量（maximum residue limits, MRLs）要求。方法具有操作简单快速、灵敏度高、重复性好等特点,凝胶渗透色谱技术的应用克服了固相萃取小柱净化容量不足的弊端,离子阱技术的应用可以进一步排除共流出基体杂质的干扰,提高定量和定性的准确性,检测效果优于常用的气相色谱-质谱法,是对中药中同时分析多种农药残留检测方法的有益补充。     

Darobactin B Stabilises a Lateral-Closed Conformation of the BAM Complex in E. coli Cells

The β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM complex) is essential for outer membrane protein (OMP) folding in Gram-negative bacteria, and represents a promising antimicrobial target. Several conformational states of BAM have been reported, but all have been obtained under conditions which lack the unique features and complexity of the outer membrane (OM). Here, we use Pulsed Electron-Electron Double Resonance (PELDOR, or DEER) spectroscopy distance measurements to interrogate the conformational ensemble of the BAM complex in E. coli cells. We show that BAM adopts a broad ensemble of conformations in the OM, while in the presence of the antibiotic darobactin B (DAR-B), BAM′s conformational equilibrium shifts to a restricted ensemble consistent with the lateral closed state. Our in-cell PELDOR findings are supported by new cryoEM structures of BAM in the presence and absence of DAR-B. This work demonstrates the utility of PELDOR to map conformational changes in BAM within its native cellular environment.     

An Electrochemical Nanosensor for Monitoring the Dynamics of Intracellular H2O2 Upon NADH Treatment

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-based therapeutic strategies play an important role in cancer treatment. However, in situ, real-time and quantitative analysis of intracellular ROS in cancer treatment for drug screening is still a challenge. Herein we report one selective hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) electrochemical nanosensor, which is prepared by electrodeposition of Prussian blue (PB) and polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) onto carbon fiber nanoelectrode. With the nanosensor, we find that the level of intracellular H₂O₂ increases with NADH treatment and that increase is dose-dependent to the concentration of NADH. High-dose of NADH (above 10 mM) can induce cell death and intratumoral injection of NADH is validated for inhibiting tumor growth in mice. This study highlights the potential of electrochemical nanosensor for tracking and understanding the role of H₂O₂ in screening new anticancer drug.