Effect of C60 nanoparticles on elasticity of small unilamellar vesicles composed of DPPC bilayers

The interaction between C60 nanoparticles and biomembranes has been of great interest in researches over the past decades due to their novel applications as well as potential cytotoxicity.In this work,we study the deformation of the small unilamellar vesicles composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC)lipid bilayers infiltrated with C60 nanoparticles of different molecular concentrations through coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations.By employing the Helfrich spontaneous curvature model,the bending modulus and the spontaneous curvature of the vesicles with C60 nanoparticles of different concentrations are obtained according to the simulation data.The results show that the bending modulus and the spontaneous curvature of pure DPPC vesicle membranes are approximately 1.6×10^-19J and 1.4 nm^-1,respectively.Both of them increase linearly approximately as the C60 concentration increases from 0 to 16.3%.The density profiles of vesicles,the order of lipid packing and the diffusion characteristics of DPPC and C60 are also investigated.     

Mono‐ and Dinuclear Phosphorescent Rhenium(I) Complexes: Impact of Subcellular Localization on Anticancer Mechanisms

Elucidation of relationship among chemical structure, cellular uptake, localization, and biological activity of anticancer metal complexes is important for the understanding of their mechanisms of action. Organometallic rhenium(I) tricarbonyl compounds have emerged as potential multifunctional anticancer drug candidates that can integrate therapeutic and imaging capabilities in a single molecule. Herein, two mononuclear phosphorescent rhenium(I) complexes ( Re1 and Re2 ), along with their corresponding dinuclear complexes ( Re3 and Re4 ), were designed and synthesized as potent anticancer agents. The subcellular accumulation of Re1–Re4 was conveniently analyzed by confocal microscopy in situ in live cells by utilizing their intrinsic phosphorescence. We found that increased lipophilicity of the bidentate ligands could enhance their cellular uptake, leading to improved anticancer efficacy. The dinuclear complexes were more potent than the mononuclear counterparts. The molecular anticancer mechanisms of action evoked by Re3 and Re4 were explored in detail. Re3 with a lower lipophilicity localizes to lysosomes and induces caspase‐independent apoptosis, whereas Re4 with higher lipophilicity specially accumulates in mitochondria and induces caspase‐independent paraptosis in cancer cells. Our study demonstrates that subcellular localization is crucial for the anticancer mechanisms of these phosphorescent rhenium(I) complexes.     

Hydrodynamics of a flexible cylinder under modulated vortex-induced vibrations

Both amplitude modulation and frequency modulation of Vortex-induced Vibration (VIV) are observed in a recent model test of a flexible cylinder under oscillatory flow, but its hydrodynamics has not yet been broached in detail. This paper employs the Forgetting Factor Least Squares (FF-LS) method for identification of time-varying hydrodynamics of a flexible cylinder under modulated VIV. The FF-LS method’s applicability to accurately identify time-varying hydrodynamic coefficients is demonstrated through an elastically mounted rigid cylinder under flow with a given modulated motion. Furthermore, we propose a framework to predict instantaneous amplitude (envelope) and frequency using time-varying hydrodynamic coefficients to establish their analytical relationship. This prediction method is further extended to a highly tensioned flexible cylinder through Fourier series expansion in the spatial domain. By performing the identification procedure for all sampled data of a flexible cylinder undergoing oscillatory flow, we obtain the corresponding time-varying hydrodynamics in the cross-flow direction considering the amplitude and frequency modulation. The results show that, under modulated VIV, hydrodynamic coefficients of the flexible cylinder also show time-varying characteristics. We further investigate differences between identified hydrodynamic coefficients and those obtained from the database of a cylinder with modulated motion under flow. Prediction results using these identified time-varying coefficients reveal that the time-varying excitation coefficients mainly influence the amplitude modulation, and the time-varying added-mass coefficients contain the major information of frequency modulation. These results further suggest including the temporal derivative of the instantaneous amplitude as one determining parameter in building databases to improve the prediction of modulated VIV.     

Development,validation and application of a UHPLC–MS/MS method for quantification of the adiponectin-derived active peptide ADP355 in rat plasma

A UHPLC–MS/MS method for the quantification of ADP355, an adiponectin-derived active peptide, was developed and validated. The extraction method employed simple protein precipitation using methanol and chromatographic separation was achieved on anAccucore™ RP-MS C₁₈ column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm, 80 Å), using 0.1% formic acid in both water and acetonitrile with gradient elution at the flow rate of 400 μl/min within 4.0 min. Detections were performed under positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring ion transitions m/z 1109.2 → 309.8 and 871.4 → 310.1 for ADP355 and Jt003 respectively at unit resolution. The linearity range of the calibration curve was 2–1,000 ng/ml with a lower limit detection of 0.5 ng/ml. The selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability were validated, and all items met the requirement of US Food and Drug Administration guidance. This method was successfully applied to an intravenous pharmacokinetic study of ADP355 in rats and the in-vitro stability in rat serum, plasma and whole blood was also assessed.     

Magnetic and topological properties in hydrogenated transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers have currently been of immense interest in materials research because of their versatility, and tunable electronic and magnetic properties. In this study, we systematically studied the electronic and magnetic properties in pristine and hydrogenated 1T, 1T’, and 2H TMD monolayers. We found Group IV (Ti, Zr, and Hf), VI (Cr, Mo, and W), and X (Ni, Pd, and Pt) pristine TMD monolayers, respectively, mostly adopted 1T, 2H, and 1T as their stable structures, except for WTe₂ which exhibits 1T’. The stable 1T’ structure only exists for pristine WTe₂ and it had been identified as a topological insulator with a band gap of 0.11 eV. Upon hydrogenation, a structural phase transition occurred from 1T to 2H in Group IV, while for Group X, the stable structure remained 1T. For Group VI, the stable phase transitioned from 1T to 2H or 1T’ phases. Moreover, we found nineteen 2D magnetic materials through hydrogenation. Finally, further exploration of band topologies under hybrid functional calculations revealed that four of these identified magnetic monolayer structures exhibit quantum anomalous Hall effect. Our findings show that hydrogenated TMDs provide a new ground in searching for materials which have the potential for spintronics applications.     

Redox-Guest-Induced Multimode Photoluminescence Switch for Sequential Logic Gates in a Photoactive Coordination Cage

Molecular or supramolecular level photoluminescence (PL) modulation combining chemical and photonic input/output signals together in an integrated system can provide potential high-density data memorizing and process functions intended for miniaturized devices and machines. Herein, a PL-responsive supramolecular coordination cage has been demonstrated for complex interactions with redox-active guests. PL signals of the cage can be switched and modulated by adding or retracting Fc derivatives or converting TTF into different oxidation states through chemical or photochemical pathways. As a result, reversible or stepwise PL responses are displayed by these host–guest systems because of the occurrence of photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) or fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FREnT) processes, providing unique nanodevice models bearing off/on logic gates or memristor-like sequential memory and Boolean operation functions.     

过氧化钙制备实验的改进 ——以鸡蛋壳为原料

Instead of calcium chloride, we used egg shells as material in the experiment for synthesis of calcium peroxide. This could help to improve students' environmental consciousness and stimulate students' interest in experiment. We designed procedures for egg shells pre-treatment and the synthesis of calcium peroxide, which were suitable for students. The amount of hydrogen peroxide and ammonia was optimized. The yield of anhydrous calcium peroxide was about 70% with a great than 75% purity.     

A Voltage-Responsive Synthetic Cl−-Channel Regulated by pH

Transmembrane protein channels are an important inspiration for the design of artificial ion channels. Their dipolar structure helps overcome the high energy barrier to selectively translocate water and ions sharing one pathway, across the cell membrane. Herein, we report that the amino-imidazole (Imu) amphiphiles self-assemble via multiple H-bonding to form stable artificial Cl⁻-channels within lipid bilayers. The alignment of water/Cl⁻ wires influences the conduction of ions, envisioned to diffuse along the hydrophilic pathways; at acidic pH, Cl⁻/H⁺ symport conducts along a partly protonated channel, while at basic pH, higher Cl⁻/OH⁻ antiport translocate through a neutral channel configuration, which can be greatly activated by applying strong electric field. This voltage/pH regulated channel system represents an unexplored alternative for ion-pumping along artificial ion-channels, parallel to that of biology.     

金色梦想，一触即发——化学专业校外实践教学基地建设与思考

高等教育要适应世界潮流和时代变化,本科教育须进一步提高实践教学的比重,加强理论教学与实践教学相结合,完善协同育人机制。结合学科发展和企业发展需求,中山大学化学学院与金发科技股份有限公司(简称金发科技)共同建设大学生实践教学基地。本文以中山大学-金发科技本科实践教学基地为例,探讨大学生校外实践基地建设过程中遇到的问题以及实践基地的建设内容与成果体会。