人工智能助力当代化学研究

以机器学习为代表的人工智能在当代的科学研究中正在发挥越来越重要的作用.不同于传统的计算机程序,机器学习人工智能可以通过对大量数据的反复分析和自身模型的优化,即“学习”过程,从而在大量的数据中寻找客观事物的相互联系,形成具有更好预测和决策能力的新模型,做出合理的判断.化学研究的特点恰恰是机器学习人工智能的强项.化学研究经常要面对十分复杂的物质体系和实验过程,从而很难通过化学物理原理进行精准的分析和判断.人工智能可以挖掘化学实验中产生的海量实验数据的相关性,帮助化学家做出合理分析预测,大大加速化学研发过程.本文介绍了当代人工智能方法及用其解决化学问题基本原理,并通过具体案例展示了人工智能辅助解决不同化学研发问题的方法以及对应的机器学习算法.将人工智能运用在化学科学的尝试正处于蓬勃上升期,人工智能已经初步展示出对化学研究的强大助力,希望本文能帮助更多的国内的化学工作者了解和运用这一有力的工具.     

应用极化水分子模型研究单分子层受限水的介电性质

受限条件下水的介电性质因测量极具挑战,其在诸多电化学过程与反应输运过程中如何扮演关键角色从未被定量地澄清.本工作利用平衡态分子动力学模拟和受限体系介电性质计算方法,系统性地探索了0.65 nm限域尺寸、5×10⁸ Pa限域压强、不同温度条件下单分子受限冰和受限水的介电性质.详细比较了恒定偶极矩SPC/E水分子模型和可极化的SWM4-NDP水分子模型在描述受限冰、水结构与介电性质上的优劣势,包括统计分析SWM4-NDP模型模拟的单分子层受限水和受限冰的瞬时分子偶极矩概率密度分布,计算每个模拟体系的静态结构因子、静态偶极空间关联函数、静态介电常数、体系偶极时间关联函数和德拜弛豫时间.首次发现了极化水分子模型描述的低维度受限水和受限冰的奇异分子极性变化,并观察到两种模型描述静态结构性质的效果相当,SWM4-NDP模型对于静态介电常数描述的优势会因受限条件的增强而被大幅削减.但在受限水介电极化弛豫动力学性质描述上SWM4-NDP模型明显优于SPC/E模型.我们推断SWM4-NDP模型在探索受限水结构相变动力学以及受限体系离子输运和溶剂化动力学等过程的模拟研究中是比SPC/E模型更好的选择.本工作将在进一步开展基于受限水系统储能、传感、输运的设计工作中提供一定的理论指导意义.     

Atomistic Insight Into the Host–Guest Interaction of a Photoresponsive Metal–Organic Framework

Photoresponsive functional materials have gained increasing attention due to their externally tunable properties. Molecular switches embedded in these materials enable the control of phenomena at the atomic level by light. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) provide a versatile platform to immobilize these photoresponsive units within defined molecular environments to optimize the intended functionality. For the application of these photoresponsive MOFs (pho-MOFs), it is crucial to understand the influence of the switching state on the host–guest interaction. Therefore, we present a detailed insight into the impact of molecular switching on the intermolecular interactions. By performing atomistic simulations, we revealed that due to different interactions of the guest molecules with the two isomeric states of an azobenzene-functionalized MOF, both the adsorption sites and the orientation of the molecules within the pores are modulated. By shedding light on the host–guest interaction, our study highlights the unique potential of pho-MOFs to tailor molecular interaction by light.     

Efficient Screening for Ternary Molecular Ionic Cocrystals Using a Complementary Mechanosynthesis and Computational Structure Prediction Approach

The discovery of molecular ionic cocrystals (ICCs) of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) widens the opportunities for optimizing the physicochemical properties of APIs whilst facilitating the delivery of multiple therapeutic agents. However, ICCs are often observed serendipitously in crystallization screens and the factors dictating their crystallization are poorly understood. We demonstrate here that mechanochemical ball milling is a versatile technique for the reproducible synthesis of ternary molecular ICCs in less than 30 min of grinding with or without solvent. Computational crystal structure prediction (CSP) calculations have been performed on ternary molecular ICCs for the first time and the observed crystal structures of all the ICCs were correctly predicted. Periodic dispersion-corrected DFT calculations revealed that all the ICCs are thermodynamically stable (mean stabilization energy=−2 kJ mol⁻¹) relative to the crystallization of a physical mixture of the binary salt and acid. The results suggest that a combined mechanosynthesis and CSP approach could be used to target the synthesis of higher-order molecular ICCs with functional properties.     

Discovery of Homobivalent Bitopic Ligands of the Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor**

Single chemical entities with potential to simultaneously interact with two binding sites are emerging strategies in medicinal chemistry. We have designed, synthesized and functionally characterized the first bitopic ligands for the CB₂ receptor. These compounds selectively target CB₂ versus CB₁ receptors. Their binding mode was studied by molecular dynamic simulations and site-directed mutagenesis.     

分子凝胶:从结构调控到功能应用

作为一类典型软物质材料,近年来分子凝胶在生物医学、柔性电子设备、晶体控制生长、水体净化,以及3D打印材料、微纳米材料和高能量密度材料制备等领域表现出巨大的应用潜力,受到人们越来越多的关注。如何提高分子凝胶结构调控效率,拓展分子凝胶功能,促进分子凝胶实际应用已经成为新阶段分子凝胶研究的主要内容。本文结合本课题组的研究工作,从动态共价键调控分子凝胶力学性能、分子凝胶促进高品质有机晶体制备和高性能多孔高分子材料的分子凝胶(凝胶乳液)软膜板制备三个方面阐述分子凝胶的结构调控和功能化应用研究。在此基础上,简要展望分子凝胶研究的发展趋势。     

A Novel Chronoimpedimetric Glucose Sensor in Real Blood Samples Modified by Glucose‐imprinted Pyrrole‐Aminophenylboronic Acid Modified Screen Printed Electrode

In this study, a molecularly imprinted sensor technology is engineered to detect glucose in real blood samples by chronoimpedimetrically. The imprinting process of glucose (Glc) was carried out by electrochemical polymerization of aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) and pyrrole (Py) by performing cyclic voltammetry (CV). Afterwards, glucose molecule was removed from imprinted surface by 5 % acetic acid to reveal glucose imprinted cavities. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was used to characterize sensor modification steps and glucose removal. Glucose monitoring process was carried out chronoimpedimetrically(CI) for the first time in real blood samples. Calibration curve was prepared between 20–800 mg/dL. The standard deviations of the 18 calibration curves R² were calculated as 0.9866±0.0066 to assess reproducibility. Recovery was calculated by using 105 mg/dL Glc Serum Sample, which was monitored by auto analyzer and into this sample 50 mg/dL Glc added and our sensor response was 147.92±2.43 mg/dL, 98.6±1.62 % (n=5). Non‐imprinted (NIP) sensor gave no signal for the glucose concentration.     

Structural and spectroscopic properties of small Pun （n= 2-5） molecules

The equilibrium structures and the electronic, spectroscopic and thermodynamic properties of small Pu_n (n=2-5) molecules are systematically investigated using the methods of general gradient approximation (GGA) of density functional theory (DFT). The results show that the bond length of the lowest-energy structure of Pu₂ is 2.578 AA. The ground state structure of Pu₃ is a triangle with D_3h symmetry, whereas for Pu₄, the ground state structure is a square (D_4h) and the spin polarization of 16 for molecule Pu₅ with square geometry (D_4h) is the most stable structure. For the ground state structures, the vibrational spectra as well as thermodynamic parameters are worked out. In addition, the values for the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) along with the energy gap of all the Pu_2-5 structures are presented. The relevant structural and chemical stabilities are predicted.     

Noise-induced synchronous stochastic oscillations small scale cultured heart-cell networks

This paper reports that the synchronous integer multiple oscillations of heart-cell networks or clusters are observed in the biology experiment. The behaviour of the integer multiple rhythm is a transition between super- and sub- threshold oscillations, the stochastic mechanism of the transition is identified. The similar synchronized oscillations are theoretically reproduced in the stochastic network composed of heterogeneous cells whose behaviours are chosen as excitable or oscillatory states near a Hopf bifurcation point. The parameter regions of coupling strength and noise density that the complex oscillatory rhythms can be simulated are identified. The results show that the rhythm results from a simple stochastic alternating process between super- and sub-threshold oscillations. Studies on single heart cells forming these clusters reveal excitable or oscillatory state nearby a Hopf bifurcation point underpinning the stochastic alternation. In discussion, the results are related to some abnormal heartbeat rhythms such as the sinus arrest.     

Study of the primordial lithium abundance

Lithium isotopes have attracted an intense interest because the abundance of both 6Li and 6Li from big bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) is one of the puzzles in nuclear astrophysics. Many investigations of both astrophysical observation and nucleosynthesis calculation have been carried out to solve the puzzle, but it is not solved yet. Several nuclear reactions involving lithium have been indirectly measured at China Institute of Atomic Energy, Beijing. The Standard BBN (SBBN) network calculations are then perfo...