Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable amphiphilic ABC Y‐shaped miktoarm terpolymer by click chemistry for drug delivery

Biodegradable amphiphilic ABC Y‐shaped triblock copolymer (MPBC) containing PEG, PBLA, and PCL segments was synthesized via the combination of enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of epsilon‐caprolactone, ROP of BLA‐N‐carboxyanhydride and click chemistry, where PEG, PBLA, and PCL are poly(ethylene glycol), poly(benzyl‐l ‐aspartate), and polycaprolactone, respectively. Propynylamine was employed as ROP initiator for the preparation of alkynyl‐terminated PBLA and methyloxy‐PEG with hydroxyl and azide groups at the chain‐end was used as enzymatic ROP initiator for synthesis of monoazido‐midfunctionalized block copolymer mPEG‐b‐PCL. The subsequent click reaction led to the formation of Y‐shaped asymmetric heteroarm terpolymer MPBC. The polymer structures were characterized by different analyses. The MPBC terpolymer self‐assembled into micelles and physically encapsulated drug doxorubicin (DOX) to form DOX‐loaded micelles, which showed good stability and slow drug release. In vitro cytotoxicity study indicated that the MPBC micelles were nontoxic and the DOX‐loaded micelles displayed obvious anticancer activity similar to free DOX against HeLa cells. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3346–3355     

A gold-based nanobeacon probe for fluorescence sensing of organophosphorus pesticides

A nanomaterials-based novel molecular beacon has attracted growing attentions in fluorescent assays as many nanomaterials possess excellent quenching efficiency. In this work, a gold-based nanobeacon probe was established to detect organophosphorus pesticides for the first time. The constructed gold-based nanobeacon acted as a signal indicator and could display the decreasing of the intensity in the presence of targets, which competitively bound to single strand DNA. To achieve a high sensitive probe, some parameters including solution pH, temperature and reaction time were investigated and optimized. The gold-based nanobeacon probe assay was proved to be rapid and sensitive to achieve a detection limit of 0.035 μM for isocarbophos, 0.134 μM for profenofos, 0.384 μM for phorate and 2.35 μM for omethoate, respectively. The prepared nanobeacon effectively reduced the background and improved the detection sensitivity and selectivity. The probe is stable, easy to operate and does not need sophisticated instruments. These features makes the probe feasible for screening trace organophosphorus pesticides in real samples.     

基于非线性梁理论的有限质点法

有限质点法是以向量式力学为基础,用有限数量的质点来模拟结构的变形行为,质点的运动由牛顿运动定律来计算。在有限质点法中,质点通过构件相连,构件约束着质点的运动,并且其内力由质点的运动变量来描述。基于向量式力学的基本思想和非线性梁理论,提出了一种新的有限质点法,该方法在共旋单元坐标系中描述梁的非线性变形。以空间梁系结构为例,推导了计算构件内力的非线性公式,并考虑了弯扭耦合变形。通过两个连续欧拉角的变换公式得到共旋坐标系的旋转矩阵。与传统的有限质点法相比,本文提出的方法避免了刚体虚转动分析。通过四个结构的数值求解,验证了本文方法在计算结构大变形响应时具有较高的精度。     

Negative slope of resistivity–temperature curve and positive magnetoresistance in antiperovskite ZnCNi3−x Mn x (1.15≤x≤1.5)

In antiperovskite intermetallics ZnCNi_3?x Mn _x , the negative slope coefficient (NSC) dρ/dT of resistivity–temperature curves is observed when x=1.15,1.25,1.4,1.5. The sample with x=1.25 shows a semiconductor-like behavior in the whole temperature range of 15–290 K. By study of the magnetization, magnetoresistance, and low-temperature X-ray diffraction, it is found that Mn dopant significantly affects the physical properties of ZnCNi_3?x Mn _x by changing both the carrier density and the magnetism. The origin of the NSC dρ/dT can be ascribed to the change of hole-like carrier density, which is adjusted by Mn content. The existence of hole-like carriers can be understood rationally by the two-band model. The change of sign of magnetoresistance from positive to negative has been observed in ZnCNi_3?x Mn _x with the change of Mn content, which could be ascribed to the competition between the contribution from field-induced suppression of the thermally excited ferromagnetic spin fluctuations and the Lorentz contribution. When Mn content is low, the Lorentz contribution dominates the sign of magnetoresistance. On the other hand, when Mn content is high, the contribution from field-induced suppression of the thermally excited ferromagnetic spin fluctuations dominates the sign of magnetoresistance.     

One-step preparation of branched PEG functionalized AIE-active luminescent polymeric nanoprobes

The synthesis of amphiphilic aggregation-induced emission(AIE) dyes based organic nanoparticles has recently attracted increasing attention in the biomedical fields. These AIE dyes based nanoparticles could effectively overcome the aggregation caused quenching effect of conventional organic dyes, making them promising candidates for fabrication of ultrabright organic luminescent nanomaterials. In this work, AIE-active luminescent polymeric nanoparticles(4-NH_2-PEG-TPE-E LPNs) were facilely fabricated through Michael addition reaction between tetraphenylethene acrylate(TPE-E) and 4-arm-poly(ethylene glycol)-amine(4-NH_2-PEG) in rather mild ambient. The 4-NH_2-PEG can not only endow these AIE-active LPNs good water dispersibility, but also provide functional groups for further conjugation reaction. The size, morphology and luminescent properties of 4-NH_2-PEG-TPE-E LPNs were characterized by a series of techniques in detail. Results suggested that these AIE-active LPNs showed spherical morphology with diameter about 100–200 nm. The obtained 4-NH_2-PEG-TPE-E LPNs display high water dispersibility and strong fluorescence intensity because of their self assembly and AIE properties of TPE-E.Biological evaluation results demonstrated that 4-NH_2-PEG-TPE-E LPNs showed negative toxicity toward cancer cells and good fluorescent imaging performance. All of these features make 4-NH_2-PEG-TPE-E LPNs promising candidates for biological imaging and therapeutic applications.     

A rapid UPLC‐MS/MS method for the determination of oleanolic acid in rat plasma and liver tissue: application to plasma and liver pharmacokinetics

A reliable high‐throughput ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for oleanolic acid (OA) determination in rat plasma and liver tissue using glycyrrhetic acid as the internal standard (IS). Plasma and liver homogenate samples were prepared using solid‐phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column using an isocratic mobile phase system. The detection was performed by multiple reaction monitoring mode via positive electrospray ionization interface. The calibration curves showed good linearity (R² > 0.9997) within the tested concentration ranges. The lower limit of quantification for plasma and liver tissue was ≤0.75 ng/mL. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy deviations were within ±15% in plasma and liver tissue. The mean extraction recoveries ranged from 80.8 to 87.0%. In addition, the carryover, matrix effect, stability and robustness involved in the method were also validated. The method was successfully applied to the plasma and hepatic pharmacokinetics of OA after oral administration to rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Low molecular weight organogelators derived from threefold symmetric tricarbamates

A group of new low molecular weight organogelators based on threefold symmetric tricarbamate were synthesized and characterized. The tricarbamates with long alkyl chains were able to gelate a wide range of polar and nonpolar organic solvents such as acetonitrile and cyclohexane, generally at concentrations lower than 20 g/L. The best organogel formation was obtained using a threefold symmetric tricarbamate in n-dodecane, in which a sufficiently transparent gel was formed at the critical gelation concentration 1 g/L. Intermolecular hydrogen bonding by the tricarbamate in a nonpolar solvent benzene-d₆ was indicated by ¹H NMR spectra. Its maximum UV absorption was 11 nm higher in chloroform than in n-dodecane, and this red shift indicated increased conjugation between the benzene core and the carbamate substituents, which confirmed a change in its conformation from nonpolar to polar solvent. The self-assembling behavior of the tricarbamate in dilute solutions was investigated by TEM. Fiber-like networks were observed in a large range of solution concentrations.     

A one‐pot method for synthesis of reduced graphene oxide‐supported Cu–Cu2O and catalytic application in tandem reaction of halides and sodium azide with terminal alkynes

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO)‐supported Cu–Cu₂O nanocomposite material (Cu‐Cu₂O@RGO) was prepared through a one‐pot reflux synthesis method. The morphology, crystal structure and composition of the prepared Cu‐Cu₂O@RGO were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron, infrared and Raman spectroscopies. Cu‐Cu₂O@RGO as a heterogeneous catalyst was applied to tandem reactions of halides and sodium azide with terminal alkynes to synthesize effectively 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles. Moreover, the catalyst showed excellent recyclability performance with very little leaching of the metal. Compared with homogeneous catalysts, Cu‐Cu₂O@RGO as a green and efficient catalyst was recoverable, easy to separate and highly stable in the tandem method for the synthesis of 1,2,3‐triazole compounds.