Extinction Effects of Multiplicative Non-Gaussian L′evy Noise in a Tumor Growth System with Immunization

The extinction phenomenon induced by multiplicative non-Gaussian Levy noise in a tumor growth model with immune response is discussed. Under the influence of the stochastic immune rate, the model is analyzed in terms of a stochastic differential equation with multiplicative noise. By means of the theory of the infinitesimal generator of Hunt processes, the escape probability, which is used to measure the noise-induced extinction probability of tumor cells, is explicitly expressed as a function of initial tumor cell density, stability index and noise intensity. Based on the numerical calculations, it is found that for different initial densities of tumor cells, noise parameters play opposite roles on the escape probability. The optimally selected values of the multiplicative noise intensity and the stability index are found to maximize the escape probability.     

Syntheses,structures, and properties of Ni(II) complexes with 5,5′-bis(4-halogenphenyl)diazo-dipyrromethane

Ni(II) complexes with 5,5′-bis(4-halogenphenyl)diazo-dipyrromethane have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography. All the complexes have similar crystal structures in which Ni(II) is square-planar by coordinating to two pyrrole and two azo nitrogen atoms. The azo-pyrroles of the ligands can be converted to the hydrazone tautomer after complexing nickel. Moreover, the C–H?···?Ni interaction played an important role in directing self-assembly of the complexes. The UV-Vis spectra of the complexes showed great difference with the metal complexes of pyrrol-2-imine.     

Stereoelectronic structure of MCl4-benzoyl chloride (M=Si,Ge, Sn) systems resulting from ab initio calculations and NQR 35Cl

Results of quantum-chemical calculations of MCl₄–C₆H₅COCl (M=Si, Ge, Sn) systems of 1?:?1 composition using RHF/3-21?G* and MP2/3-21?G* levels as well as those of 1?:?2 composition using the RHF/3-21?G* level have been represented. MCl₄?←?C₆H₅COCl complexes of 1?:?1 composition are energetically more advantageous. They are formed in solid state provided that the M···O distance in individual systems is considerably less than the sum of van der Waals radii of M and O and their total energies are appreciably less than the sum of total energies of components. These conditions are realized only for M=Sn. In systems of 1?:?2 compositions, calculated M···O distances are practically equal to the sum of covalent radii of M and O. Nonetheless, complexes with such composition are not formed in solid state. Total energy of the system which is lower than the sum of its components’ energies is not an indispensable condition for complex formation. The ³⁵Cl nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) frequencies and asymmetry parameters of the electric field gradient at the ³⁵Cl nuclei have been evaluated using the results of ab initio calculations.     

A Proof of Krzyż's Conjecture for the Fifth Coefficient

In this article some problems related to the Krzy? conjecture are discussed. In particular, we prove the Krzy? conjecture for the fifth coefficient.     

Regioselective Synthesis and Photophysical and Electrochemical Studies of 20‐Substituted Cyanine Dye–Purpurinimide Conjugates: Incorporation of NiII into the Conjugate Enhances its Tumor‐Uptake and Fluorescence‐Imaging Ability

We report herein a simple and efficient approach to the synthesis of a variety of meso‐substituted purpurinimides. The reaction of meso ‐ substituted purpurinimide with N‐bromosuccinimide regioselectively introduced a bromo functionality at the 20‐position, which on further reaction with a variety of boronic acids under Suzuki reaction conditions yielded the corresponding meso‐substituted analogues. Interestingly, the free base and the metalated analogues showed remarkable differences in photosensitizing efficacy (PDT) and tumor‐imaging ability. For example, the free‐base conjugate showed significant in vitro PDT efficacy, but limited tumor avidity in mice bearing tumors, whereas the corresponding Ni^II derivative did not produce any cell kill, but showed excellent tumor‐imaging ability at a dose of 0.3 μmol kg^?1 at 24, 48, and 72 h post‐injection. The limited PDT efficacy of the Ni^II analogue could be due to its inability to produce singlet oxygen, a key cytotoxic agent required for cell kill in PDT. Based on electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical data in DMSO, the first one‐electron oxidation (0.52 V vs. SCE) and the first one‐electron reduction (?0.57–0.67 V vs. SCE) of both the free base and the corresponding Ni^II conjugates are centered on the cyanine dye, whereas the second one‐electron reduction (?0.81 V vs. SCE) of the two conjugates is assigned to the purpurinimide part of the molecule. Reduction of the cyanine dye unit is facile and occurs prior to reduction of the purpurinimide group, which suggests that the cyanine dye unit as an oxidant could be the driving force for quenching of the excited triplet state of the molecules. An interaction between the cyanine dye and the purpurinimide group is clearly observed in the free‐base conjugate, which compares with a negligible interaction between the two functional groups in the Ni^II conjugate. As a result, the larger HOMO–LUMO gap of the free‐base conjugate and the corresponding smaller quenching constant is a reason to decrease the intramolecular quenching process and increase the production of singlet oxygen to some degree.     

Characterization of a hybrid dielectrophoresis and immunocapture microfluidic system for cancer cell capture

The capture of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from cancer patient blood enables early clinical assessment as well as genetic and pharmacological evaluation of cancer and metastasis. Although there have been many microfluidic immunocapture and electrokinetic techniques developed for isolating rare cancer cells, these techniques are often limited by a capture performance tradeoff between high efficiency and high purity. We present the characterization of shear‐dependent cancer cell capture in a novel hybrid DEP–immunocapture system consisting of interdigitated electrodes fabricated in a Hele‐Shaw flow cell that was functionalized with a monoclonal antibody, J591, which is highly specific to prostate‐specific membrane antigen expressing prostate cancer cells. We measured the positive and negative DEP response of a prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP, as a function of applied electric field frequency, and showed that DEP can control capture performance by promoting or preventing cell interactions with immunocapture surfaces, depending on the sign and magnitude of the applied DEP force, as well as on the local shear stress experienced by cells flowing in the device. This work demonstrates that DEP and immunocapture techniques can work synergistically to improve cell capture performance, and it will aid in the design of future hybrid DEP–immunocapture systems for high‐efficiency CTC capture with enhanced purity.     

CMPO-离子液体萃取分离铀(VI)体系的电化学性质

研究了辛基(苯基)-N,N-二异丁基胺甲酰基甲基氧化膦(CMPO)-离子液体(IL)从硝酸铀酰水溶液中萃取铀(VI)的电化学行为, 离子液体(IL)为1-丁基-3-甲基咪唑双三氟甲基磺酰亚胺盐(C₄mimNTf₂). 用等摩尔系列法测得萃取过程中CMPO与U(VI)形成摩尔比为3:1的配合物. 用循环伏安法研究了萃取液中U(VI)-CMPO配合物的电化学性质, 结果表明, 在C₄mimNTf₂中U(VI)-CMPO 配合物经过准可逆还原生成U(V)-CMPO 配合物, U(VI)/U(V)电对的表观氧化还原电势(E^Θ, vs Fc/Fc⁺)为(?0.885±0.008) V. 对萃取液进行控制电位电解, 发现在铂片上有沉淀析出. X射线光电子能谱(XPS) 测试结果表明, 沉积物中只含有U(VI)、U(IV)和氧, 而CMPO和C₄mimNTf₂没有被夹带析出.     

pH响应性P(MMA-co-MAA-co-HEMA)微凝胶的制备及其性能

利用预乳化乳液法制备了不同单体配比的聚(甲基丙烯酸甲酯-co-甲基丙烯酸-co-甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯)(P(MMA-co-MAA-co-HEMA))微凝胶分散液;采用透射电子显微镜、动态光散射仪研究了微凝胶的微观形态、粒径大小及其溶胀率;利用试管倒转法对微凝胶分散液的凝胶化相转变行为进行了研究,借助椎板流变仪考察了所形成胶态凝胶的储能模量与单体配比、微凝胶分散液浓度和温度的关系.结果表明,所制备的微凝胶的数均粒径为90 nm左右,当MMA与MAA的投料质量不变时,随着HEMA含量的增加,分散液凝胶化所需的临界最小浓度增大,临界最大pH值减小,胶态凝胶的储能模量增加.当保持单体MMA与HEMA的投料质量不变时,随着单体MAA投料质量的增多,微凝胶的数均粒径和溶胀率增大,胶态凝胶的储能模量先升高后降低;当MAA占单体总摩尔数的25%时,浓度为15 wt%的微凝胶分散液在扫描频率为100 rad/s时,胶态凝胶的储能模量最高可达2×104Pa.这类微凝胶分散液在组织工程支架材料方面有潜在的应用价值.     

Engineering lattice defects in 2D nanomaterials for enhancing biomedical performances

2D nanomaterials are widely investigated for biomedical applications, attributed to their large specific surface area, high therapeutic loading capacity, and unique optical, thermal, and/or electronic characteristics. Lattice defects affect the theranostic performance of 2D nanomaterials significantly by altering their electronic properties and chemical binding. Recent investigations have shown that defect-rich 2D nanomaterials are capable of enhancing tumor treatment through efficient drug delivery, photothermal and photodynamic therapies (PTT and PDT), and improving diagnostics via computed tomography (CT), photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging. This review summarizes recent progresses, including synthesis, characterization approach, and applications of defect-engineered 2D nanomaterials that are potentially useful in cancer treatment. The expert opinions are also proposed as the conclusion.