P(HPMA-FMA)荧光探针制备、细胞毒性评估及细胞吞噬示踪检测

以甲基丙烯酰氯、三乙胺和荧光素反应得到荧光素甲基丙烯酸酯(FMA),将其与聚N-(2-羟丙基)甲基丙烯酰胺(HPMA)以物质的量之比1∶10混合并通过引发剂偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)引发聚合反应,生成带有荧光探针的聚合物P(HPMA-FMA)。采用台盼蓝排染法评估了该聚合物的细胞毒性,荧光显微镜和流式细胞仪观察和检测了全反式维甲酸(ATRA)诱导HL-60细胞分化过程中,P(HPMA-FMA)被细胞吞噬后的荧光示踪效应。结果表明:P(HPMA-FMA)的细胞毒性极低,当P(HPMA-FMA)的质量浓度为4~16mg/mL时对细胞增殖无影响;当其质量浓度为30μg/mL时即可满足荧光显微镜定性示踪观察和流式细胞术定量检测所需要的荧光强度。     

Towards scalable production of polyamide 12/halloysite nanocomposites via water‐assisted extrusion: mechanical modeling,thermal and fire properties

In this study, polyamide 12 (PA12)/untreated halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) nanocomposites are prepared in a semi‐industrial scale extruder using a non‐traditional “one step” water‐assisted extrusion process. A morphological study is carried out using a combination of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses to evaluate the influence of water injection and filler content on the quality of clay dispersion. The use of water injection slightly improves the nanoscale dispersion at low HNTs content (<8 wt.%), while this effect is more pronounced at higher filler loading (16 wt.%). A mechanism explaining the physico‐chemical action of water during extrusion is proposed. The materials are characterized with respect to their mechanical, thermo‐mechanical, thermal and fire properties. A strong correlation is found between nanostructure and physical properties; the more uniform dispersion of the clay nanotubes, the higher mechanical reinforcement, thermal stability and fire retardancy of PA12 nanocomposites. Tensile tests results are interpreted in terms of three mechanical models: the Halpin–Tsai's model for stiffness and the interfacial strength model and the Pukanszky's equation for yield strength. Linear fits of the experimental data confirm that the superior reinforcement of nanocomposites prepared using water injection results from improved clay dispersion and better interfacial adhesion between PA12 and HNTs. In view of these promising results, the proposed direct melt compounding method could be easily scaled‐up towards the production of PA12–HNTs nanocomposites at an industrial scale. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Colloidal hybrid heterostructures based on II–VI semiconductor nanocrystals for photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Hydrogen generated through the photochemical cleavage of water using renewable solar energy is considered to be an environmentally friendly chemical fuel of the future, which neither results in air pollution nor leads to the emission of greenhouse gases. The photocatalytic materials for water cleavage are required to perform at least two fundamental functions: light harvesting of the maximal possible part of the solar energy spectrum and a catalytic function for efficient water decomposition into oxygen and hydrogen. Photocatalytic systems based on colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals offer a number of advantages in comparison with photoelectrochemical cells based on bulk electrodes: (i) a broad range of material types are available; (ii) higher efficiencies are expected due to short distance charge transport; (iii) large surface areas are beneficial for the catalytic processes; (iv) flexibility in fabrication and design which also allows for tuning of the electronic and optical properties by employing quantum confinement effects. The presence of co-catalysts on colloidal semiconductors is an important part of the overall design of the photocatalytic colloidal systems necessary to maximize the water splitting efficiency. This review article discusses the rational choice of colloidal nanoheterostructured materials based on light-harvesting II–VI semiconductor nanocrystals combined with a variety of metal and/or non-metal co-catalysts, with optimized light harvesting, charge separation, and photocatalytic functions.     

An Efficient RuII–RhIII–RuII Polypyridyl Photocatalyst for Visible‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Production in Aqueous Solution

The development of multicomponent molecular systems for the photocatalytic reduction of water to hydrogen has experienced considerable growth since the end of the 1970s. Recently, with the aim of improving the efficiency of the catalysis, single‐component photocatalysts have been developed in which the photosensitizer is chemically coupled to the hydrogen‐evolving catalyst in the same molecule through a bridging ligand. Until now, none of these photocatalysts has operated efficiently in pure aqueous solution: a highly desirable medium for energy‐conversion applications. Herein, we introduce a new ruthenium–rhodium polypyridyl complex as the first efficient homogeneous photocatalyst for H₂ production in water with turnover numbers of several hundred. This study also demonstrates unambiguously that the catalytic performance of such systems linked through a nonconjugated bridge is significantly improved as compared to that of a mixture of the separate components.     

Interaction with the Surrounding Water Plays a Key Role in Determining the Aggregation Propensity of Proteins

Understanding the molecular determinants of the relative propensities of proteins to aggregate in a cellular environment is a central issue for treating protein‐aggregation diseases and developing peptide‐based therapeutics. Despite the expectation that protein aggregation can largely be attributed to direct protein–protein interactions, a crucial role the surrounding water in determining the aggregation propensity of proteins both in vitro and in vivo was identified. The overall protein hydrophobicity, defined solely by the hydration free energy of a protein in its monomeric state sampling its equilibrium structures, was shown to be the predominant determinant of protein aggregation propensity in aqueous solution. Striking discrimination of positively and negatively charged residues by the surrounding water was also found. This effect depends on the protein net charge and plays a crucial role in regulating the solubility of the protein. These results pave the way for the design of aggregation‐resistant proteins as biotherapeutics.     

Cobalt‐Embedded Nitrogen‐Rich Carbon Nanotubes Efficiently Catalyze Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Values

Despite being technically possible, splitting water to generate hydrogen is still practically unfeasible due mainly to the lack of sustainable and efficient catalysts for the half reactions involved. Herein we report the synthesis of cobalt‐embedded nitrogen‐rich carbon nanotubes (NRCNTs) that 1) can efficiently electrocatalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with activities close to that of Pt and 2) function well under acidic, neutral or basic media alike, allowing them to be coupled with the best available oxygen‐evolving catalysts—which also play crucial roles in the overall water‐splitting reaction. The materials are synthesized by a simple, easily scalable synthetic route involving thermal treatment of Co²⁺‐embedded graphitic carbon nitride derived from inexpensive starting materials (dicyandiamide and CoCl₂). The materials’ efficient catalytic activity is mainly attributed to their nitrogen dopants and concomitant structural defects.     

Enhancing the Water Splitting Efficiency of Sn‐Doped Hematite Nanoflakes by Flame Annealing

The effect of flame annealing on the water‐splitting properties of Sn decorated hematite (α‐Fe₂O₃) nanoflakes has been investigated. It is shown that flame annealing can yield a considerable enhancement in the maximum photocurrent under AM 1.5 (100 mW cm^?2) conditions compared to classic furnace annealing treatments. Optimizing the annealing time (10 s at 1000 °C) leads to a photocurrent of 1.1 mA cm^?2 at 1.23 V (vs. RHE) with a maximum value 1.6 mA cm^?2 at 1.6 V (vs. RHE) in 1 M KOH. The improvement in photocurrent can be attributed to the fast direct heating that maintains the nanoscale morphology, leads to optimized Sn decoration, and minimizes detrimental substrate effects.     

A Doping Technique that Suppresses Undesirable H2 Evolution Derived from Overall Water Splitting in the Highly Selective Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 in and by Water

Photocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to reduction products, such as CO, HCOOH, HCHO, CH₃OH, and CH₄, is one of the most attractive propositions for producing green energy by artificial photosynthesis. Herein, we found that Ga₂O₃ photocatalysts exhibit high conversion of CO₂. Doping of Zn species into Ga₂O₃ suppresses the H₂ evolution derived from overall water splitting and, consequently, Zn‐doped, Ag‐modified Ga₂O₃ exhibits higher selectivity toward CO evolution than bare, Ag‐modified Ga₂O₃. We observed stoichiometric amounts of evolved O₂ together with CO. Mass spectrometry clarified that the carbon source of the evolved CO is not the residual carbon species on the photocatalyst surface, but the CO₂ introduced in the gas phase. Doping of the photocatalyst with Zn is expected to ease the adsorption of CO₂ on the catalyst surface.     

Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones Catalyzed by Surface‐Active Ruthenium and Rhodium Complexes in Water

An improved, high‐yield, one‐pot synthetic procedure for water‐soluble ligands functionalized with trialkyl ammonium side groups H₂N(CH₂)₂NHSO₂‐p‐C₆H₄CH₂[NMe₂(C_nH_2n+1)]⁺ ( [HL ⁿ ]⁺ ; n=8, 16) was developed. The corresponding new surface‐active complexes [(p‐cymene)RuCl( L ⁿ )] and [Cp*RhCl( L ⁿ )] (Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) were prepared and characterized. For n=16 micelles are formed in water at concentrations as low as 0.6 mM , as demonstrated by surface‐tension measurements. The complexes were used for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ketones with formate in water. Highly active catalyst systems were obtained in the case of complexes bearing C₁₆ tails due to their ability to be adsorbed at the water/substrate interface. The scope of these catalyst systems in aqueous solutions was extended from partially water soluble aryl alkyl ketones (acetophenone, butyrophenone) to hydrophobic dialkyl ketones (2‐dodecanone).     

Construction of Shallow Surface States through Light Ni Doping for High‐Efficiency Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of CdS Nanocrystals

Ni‐doped CdS nanowires were synthesized by a simple one‐step method. X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy confirmed that light Ni doping can form shallow surface states due to the presence of substitutional Ni ions, and heavy Ni doping can form deep surface states due to the presence of interstitial Ni ions. Surface photovoltage spectroscopy and transient photovoltage measurements revealed that the shallow surface states can prolong the lifetime of the photogenerated charge carriers, whereas the deep surface states lead to recombination of the photogenerated charge carriers. The relationship between different surface states and the photocatalytic performance of CdS nanocrystals are discussed. The enhanced density of shallow surface states due to light Ni doping significantly promotes photocatalytic H₂ production.