Enzyme immobilization strategies for the design of robust and efficient biocatalysts

Different strategies for the preparation of efficient and robust immobilized biocatalysts are here reviewed. Different physico-chemical approaches are discussed.i.- The stabilization of enzyme by any kind of immobilization on pre-existing porous supports.ii.- The stabilization of enzymes by multipoint covalent attachment on support surfaces.iii.- Additional stabilization of immobilized-stabilized enzyme by physical or chemical modification with polymers.These three strategies can be easily developed when enzymes are immobilized in pre-existing porous supports. In addition to that, these immobilized-stabilized derivatives are optimal to develop enzyme reaction engineering and reactor engineering. Stabilizations ranging between 1000 and 100,000 folds regarding diluted soluble enzymes are here reported.     

SnSxSe2-x单晶纳米片的可控制备与表征

锡二硫族化合物可以通过改变硫和硒的含量来连续调控三元合金材料的带隙、载流子浓度等物理化学性质,在电子和光电子器件应用上具有巨大的潜力。本文采用化学气相沉积(CVD)技术可控地制备了不同元素组分的SnS_xSe_2-x(x=0,0.2,0.5,0.8,1.0,1.2,1.5,1.8,2.0)单晶纳米片。采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、原子力显微镜(AFM)、能量色散X射线光谱(EDS)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)以及拉曼光谱等手段对SnS_xSe_2-x纳米片进行了综合表征。结果表明本方法成功实现了元素百分比可调的SnS_xSe_2-x单晶纳米片的可控制备。重点研究了依赖于元素百分比的SnS_xSe_2-x的拉曼特征谱,实验结果与基于密度泛函理论(DFT)的第一性原理计算得到的SnS_xSe_2-x的拉曼仿真谱高度吻合,理论计算结果较好地诠释了实验拉曼光谱发生变化的原因。本研究提供了一种元素百分比可调的三元SnS_xSe_2-x单晶纳米片的可控制备方法,同时对锡二硫族化合物的明确、无损识别提供了方案。     

The use of untargeted and widely targeted metabolomics to distinguish between asphyxia and sudden cardiac death as the cause of death in rats: A preliminary study

It is important to determine the cause of death in the case of asphyxia. However, it is difficult to conclude death by asphyxia, especially when the deceased has underlying heart disease, because there are often no specific and representative corpse signs for both asphyxia and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The aim of the present work was to investigate the potential of metabolomics to discriminate asphyxia from SCD as the cause of death. A total of thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats were used to construct models of asphyxia, SCD (interfering cause of death), and cervical dislocation (control). Untargeted and widely targeted metabolomics approaches were used to obtain rat pulmonary metabolic profiles in this study. First, the metabolic alterations resulting from asphyxia were explored. There were significant changes found in carbohydrate metabolism, the endocrine system, and the sensory system. Second, we screened potential biomarkers and built classification models to determine the cause of death. Moreover, some biomarkers remained differentiated at 24 h and 48 h postmortem, so the cause of death could still be determined after death. This study showed the application potential of metabolomics to investigate the metabolic changes occurring in the process of death, as well as to determine the cause of death on the basis of metabolic differences even after death.     

Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Theoretical study on the mechanism for the excited-state double proton transfer process of an asymmetric Schiff base ligand

Excited-state double proton transfer (ESDPT) in the 1-[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-benzylidene)-hydrazonomethyl]-naphthalen-2-ol (HYDRAVH₂) ligand was studied by the density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory method. The analysis of frontier molecular orbitals, infrared spectra, and non-covalent interactions have cross-validated that the asymmetric structure has an influence on the proton transfer, which makes the proton transfer ability of the two hydrogen protons different. The potential energy surfaces in both S₀ and S₁ states were scanned with varying O-H bond lengths. The results of potential energy surface analysis adequately proved that the HYDRAVH₂ can undergo the ESDPT process in the S₁ state and the double proton transfer process is a stepwise proton transfer mechanism. Our work can pave the way towards the design and synthesis of new molecules.     

Current trends in the description of lanthanum strontium manganite oxygen electrode reaction mechanism in a high-temperature solid oxide cell

This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the oxygen reduction and evolution reactions at the lanthanum strontium manganite electrode of a high-temperature solid oxide cell. Information provided here is put into the perspective of the defect chemistry of lanthanum strontium manganite and its impact on the electrode reaction mechanisms itself. After summarizing recent views on the oxygen reduction reaction mechanism, the focus turns to the oxygen evolution reaction, which is significantly less treated in the literature. A combination of the information in the literature on both reactions was the basis for modified reaction mechanism of the oxygen evolution reaction to be proposed under consideration of recent experimental observations and theoretical findings.     

Conformational change-modulated spin transport at single-molecule level in carbon systems

Controlling the spin transport at the single-molecule level, especially without the use of ferromagnetic contacts, becomes a focus of research in spintronics. Inspired by the progress on atomic-level molecular synthesis, through first-principles calculations, we investigate the spin-dependent electronic transport of graphene nanoflakes with side-bonded functional groups, contacted by atomic carbon chain electrodes. It is found that, by rotating the functional group, the spin polarization of the transmission at the Fermi level could be switched between completely polarized and unpolarized states. Moreover, the transition between spin-up and spin-down polarized states can also be achieved, operating as a dual-spin filter. Further analysis shows that, it is the spin-dependent shift of density of states, caused by the rotation, that triggers the shift of transmission peaks, and then results in the variation of spin polarization. Such a feature is found to be robust to the length of the nanoflake and the electrode material, showing great application potential. Those findings may throw light on the development of spintronic devices.     

自掺杂SnO2微球的水热合成及其可见光催化性能

本研究采用水热法,以柠檬酸为螯合剂,通过控制n(Sn⁴⁺)/n(Sn²⁺)的数值,合成了由具有丰富氧空位的SnO₂纳米晶体组装成的微球。通过X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、傅里叶红外光谱(FT-IR)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)及UV-Vis漫反射光谱对SnO₂纳米微球进行表征分析,结果表明:在酸性水热条件和柠檬酸的螯合作用下,二氧化锡纳米晶体聚集形成微球;在Sn⁴⁺/Sn²⁺摩尔比例为3:7时,其微球尺寸最小,整体分散性较好;同时适量二价锡离子的掺杂使得该样品氧空位浓度达到最佳,氧空位的存在将使得样品光吸收范围拓展至可见光,因而该样品显示出较强的可见光催化效率,在8 min内完全降解甲基橙。     

气相输运沉积制备c轴择优取向的碘化铋薄膜

铋基卤化物材料因其无毒和优良的光电性能而显示出巨大的应用潜力。BiI₃作为一种层状重金属半导体,已被用于X射线检测、γ射线检测和压力传感器等领域,最近其作为一种薄膜太阳能电池吸收材料备受关注。本文采用简单的气相输运沉积(VTD)法,以BiI₃晶体粉末作为蒸发源,在玻璃基底上得到高质量c轴择优取向的BiI₃薄膜。并通过研究蒸发源温度和沉积距离对薄膜物相和形貌的影响,分析了BiI₃薄膜择优生长的机理。结果表明VTD法制备的BiI₃薄膜属于三斜晶系,其光学带隙为~1.8 eV。沉积温度对薄膜的择优取向有较大影响,在沉积温度低于270 ℃时,沉积的薄膜具有沿c轴择优取向生长的特点,超过此温度,c轴择优取向生长消失。在衬底温度为250 ℃、沉积距离为15 cm时制备的薄膜结晶性能最好,晶体形貌为片状八面体。