数字离子阱质谱仪低质量截止值的改进方法

本研究在实验室自制的线形数字离子阱质量分析器上,通过改变数码电源的频率扫描方式,在CID过程中,通过扫描数字束缚方波电源的频率和数字激发方波的频率实现母体解离。例如对于利血平母体离子,当将离子数字束缚方波频率从500 kHz扫描到560 kHz,可以测量到低质荷比的碎片离子,成功实现了串级质谱分析的低质量碎片离子的分析。通过与利血平三重四极质谱串级质谱分析实验结果的比较,发现可以在数字离子阱质谱仪上获得与三重四极质谱相同的串级质谱测量结果。结果表明,本方法可以用于低质量离子的测量,克服了传统离子阱质谱进行串级质谱分析的一个主要难点,显著提高数字离子阱质谱的性能。     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Two-dimensional Cadmium(Ⅱ) Metal Organic Framework with Fes Topology

A new Cd(Ⅱ) coordination polymer, {[Cd(Hnbta)(L)]·H2O}n(L = 1,4-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-yl)butane), H3nbta= 5-nitrobenzene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid), has been hydro-thermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, XRPD, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P21/n with a = 17.3056(13), b = 11.0114(9), c = 17.7484(14) A, β = 117.3640(10)o, V = 3003.7(4) A3, Z = 4, C31H31CdN5O9, Mr = 730.01, Dc = 1.614 g/cm3, μ = 0.792 mm-1 and F(000) = 1488. The cadmium(Ⅱ) ions are bridged by Hnbta2- to generate a two-dimensional metal organic framework with fes topology. In addition, the thermal stability and fluorescence properties of the complex were also studied.     

A Dinuclear Cu(Ⅱ)-based Coordination Framework with Two-fold Interpenetrated 3D pcu Topology Displaying Catalytic Activity

A new Cu(Ⅱ) coordination polymer, [Cu2(mip)2(bmix)]n(bmix = 1,4-bis(2-methylimidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene, H2 mip = 5-methylisophthalic acid), has been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The title compound belongs to the triclinic system, space group P1 with a = 9.435(5), b = 12.241(6), c = 13.666(6), β = 94.396(8)o, V = 1565.5(13) 3, Z = 2, C34H30Cu2N4O8, Mr = 749.70, Dc = 1.590 g/cm3, μ = 1.419 mm-1 and F(000) = 768. The title metal-organic coordination polymer exhibits the first two-fold interpenetrated pcu topological structure assembled by two types of dinuclear copper(Ⅱ) clusters and a flexible bis(imidazole)-based ligand. In addition, the fluorescence and catalytic performances of the complex for the degradation of Congo red azo dye in Fenton-like process were presented.     

Block copolymers at interfaces: Interactions with physiological media

Triblock copolymers (also known as Pluronics or poloxamers) are biocompatible molecules composed of hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks with different lengths. They have received much attention recently owing to their applicability for targeted delivery of hydrophobic compounds. Their unique molecular structure facilitates the formation of dynamic aggregates which are able to transport lipid soluble compounds. However, these structures can be unstable and tend to solubilize within the blood stream. The use of nanoemulsions as carriers for the lipid soluble compounds appears as a new alternative with improved protection against physiological media. The interfacial behavior of block copolymers is directly related to their peculiar molecular structure and further knowledge could provide a rational use in the design of poloxamer-stabilized nanoemulsions. This review aims to combine the new insights gained recently into the interfacial properties of block copolymers and their performance in nanoemulsions. Direct studies dealing with the interactions with physiological media are also reviewed in order to address issues relating metabolism degradation profiles. A better understanding of the physico-chemical and interfacial properties of block copolymers will allow their manipulation to modulate lipolysis, hence allowing the rational design of nanocarriers with efficient controlled release.     

DNA gel particles: An overview

A general understanding of interactions between DNA and oppositely charged compounds forms the basis for developing novel DNA-based materials, including gel particles. The association strength, which is altered by varying the chemical structure of the cationic cosolute, determines the spatial homogeneity of the gelation process, creating DNA reservoir devices and DNA matrix devices that can be designed to release either single- (ssDNA) or double-stranded (dsDNA) DNA. This review covers recent developments on the topic of DNA gel particles formed in water–water emulsion-type interfaces. The degree of DNA entrapment, particle morphology, swelling/dissolution behavior and DNA release responses are discussed as functions of the nature of the cationic agent used. On the basis of designing DNA gel particles for therapeutic purposes, recent studies on the determination of the surface hydrophobicity and the hemolytic and the cytotoxic assessments of the obtained DNA gel particles have been also reported.     

Rubber-based substrates modified with carbon nanotubes inks to build flexible electrochemical sensors

The development of a solid-contact potentiometric sensor based on conducting rubbers using a carbon nanotubes ink is described here. Commercial rubbers are turned into conductive ones by a simple and versatile method, i.e. painting an aqueous dispersion of single-walled carbon nanotubes on the polymer surface. On this substrate, both the working ion-selective electrode and the reference electrode are built in order to form an integrated potentiometric cell. As a proof-of-principle, selective potassium electrodes are fully characterized giving comparable performances to conventional electrodes (sensitivity, selectivity, stability, linear range, limit of detection and reproducibility). As an application of the rubber-based electrodes, a bracelet was constructed to measure potassium levels in artificial sweat. Since rubbers are ubiquitous in our quotidian life, this approach offers great promise for the generation of chemical information through daily objects.     

Label-free detection of adenosine based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer between fluorescent silica nanoparticles and unmodified gold nanoparticles

A sensitive and convenient strategy was developed for label-free assay of adenosine. The strategy adapted the fluorescence resonance energy transfer property between Rhodamine B doped fluorescent silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to generate signal. The different affinities of AuNPs toward the unfolded and folded aptamers were employed for the signal transfer in the system. In the presence of adenosine, the split aptamer fragments react with adenosine to form a structured complex. The folded aptamer cannot be adsorbed on the surface of AuNPs, which induces the aggregation of AuNPs under high ionic concentration conditions, and the aggregation of AuNPs leads to the decrease of the quenching ability. Therefore, the fluorescence intensity of Rhodamine B doped fluorescent SiNPs increased along with the concentration of adenosine. Because of the highly specific recognition ability of the aptamer toward adenosine and the strong quenching ability of AuNPs, the proposed strategy demonstrated good selectivity and high sensitivity for the detection of adenosine. Under the optimum conditions in the experiments, a linear range from 98 nM to 100 μM was obtained with a detection limit of 45 nM. As this strategy is convenient, practical and sensitive, it will provide a promising potential for label-free aptamer-based protein detection.     

Volatile Organic Compounds Analysis in Breath Air in Healthy Volunteers and Patients Suffering Epidermoid Laryngeal Carcinomas

Exhaled breath contains thousands of gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may be used as non-invasive markers of head and neck epidermoid cancer. We hypothesized that solid phase micro-extraction coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry can discriminate patients with epidermoid head and neck cancer from healthy controls by analyzing the gaseous volatile organic compounds, VOC-profile, in exhaled breath, thus identifying some non-invasive biomarkers to be used in early detection. Twenty healthy subjects participated in a cross-sectional study plus 11 patients with epidermoid supraglottic laryngeal cancer. VOCs from T3 supraglottic cancer were clustered distinctly from those of T1 and healthy subjects. Up to seven VOCs were detected differently from healthy volunteers, mainly 2-butanone and ethanol. Thus VOC-patterns of exhaled breath may discriminate patients with epidermoid head and neck cancer from healthy controls.     

Sesquiterpenoids from the Fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla and Their Anti‐Acetylcholinesterase Activity

Fourteen sesquiterpenoids were isolated from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq . Their structures were elucidated based on NMR analyses (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and identified as 12‐nornootkaton‐6‐en‐11‐one ( 3 ), (+)‐(3S,4aS,5R)‐2,3,4,4a,5,6‐hexahydro‐3‐isopropenyl‐4a,5‐dimethyl‐1,7‐naphthoquinone ( 5 ), nootkatene ( 6 ), 9β‐hydroxynootkatone ( 7 ), 2β‐hydroxy‐δ‐cadinol ( 8 ), 4‐isopropyl‐6‐methyl‐1‐tetralone ( 11 ), oxyphyllone E ( 12 ), oxyphyllone D ( 13 ), oxyphyllanene B ( 15 ), oxyphyllone A ( 16 ), oxyphyllol E ( 17 ), (9E)‐humulene‐2,3;6,7‐diepoxide ( 18 ), mustakone ( 20 ), and pubescone ( 21 ). Among them, 3 was a new norsesquiterpenoid, 8 was a new natural product, and 5, 6, 11, 20, 21 were isolated from A. oxyphylla for the first time. Twenty sesquiterpenoids, 1 – 5 and 7 – 21 , were investigated for their in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities, including previously isolated seven sesquiterpenoids from A. oxyphylla, (11S)‐12‐chloronootkaton‐11‐ol ( 1 ), (11R)‐12‐chloronootkaton‐11‐ol ( 2 ), nootkatone ( 4 ), oxyphyllenodiol A ( 9 ), oxyphyllenodiol B ( 10 ), 7‐epiteucrenone B ( 14 ), and alpinenone ( 19 ). TLC‐Bioautographic assay indicated that 1 – 4, 7, 14, 16, 18, 19 , and 21 displayed anti‐AChE activities at 10 nmol. Microplate assay confirmed that 19, 18, 16 , and 21 displayed moderate‐to‐weak anti‐AChE activities at the concentration of 100 μM , and 19 was the most potent inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 81.6±3.5 μM . The presence of anti‐AChE sesquiterpenoids in A. oxyphylla may partially support the traditional use of this fruit for the treatment of dementia.     

Validation of a Reference Gene (BdFIM) for Quantifying Transgene Copy Numbers in Brachypodium distachyon by Real-Time PCR

Brachypodium distachyon has been proposed as a new model system for gramineous plants with a sequenced genome and an efficient transformation system. Many transgenic B. distachyon plants have been generated in recent years. To develop a reliable fast method for detecting transgenic B. distachyon and quantifying its transgene copy numbers, a species-specific reference gene is of great priority to be validated both in qualitative PCR and quantitative real-time PCR detection. In this study, we first proved that the BdFIM (B. distachyon fimbrin-like protein) gene is a suitable reference gene in qualitative PCR and quantitative real-time PCR for B. distachyon. Fourteen different B. distachyon varieties were tested by both qualitative and quantitative PCRs, and identical amplification products of BdFIM were obtained with all of them, while no amplification products were observed with samples from 14 other plant species, suggesting that BdFIM gene was specific to B. distachyon. The results of Southern blot analysis revealed that the BdFIM gene was low copy number in seven tested B. distachyon varieties. In conclusion, the BdFIM gene can be used as a reference gene, since it had species specificity, low heterogeneity, and low copy number among the tested B. distachyon varieties. Furthermore, the copy number of inserted sequences from transgenic B. distachyon obtained by real-time PCR methods and Southern blot confirmed that the BdFIM gene was an applicable reference gene in B. distachyon.