Computational spectroscopy of helium-solvated molecules: effective inertia, from small He clusters toward the nanodroplet regime

Accurate computer simulations of the rotational dynamics of linear molecules solvated in He clusters indicate that the large-size (nanodroplet) regime is attained quickly for light rotors (HCN) and slowly for heavy ones (OCS, N2O, and CO2), thus challenging previously reported results. Those results spurred the view that the different behavior of light rotors with respect to heavy ones-including a smaller reduction of inertia upon solvation of the former-would result from the lack of adiabatic following of the He density upon molecular rotation. We have performed computer experiments in which the rotational dynamics of OCS and HCN molecules was simulated using a fictitious inertia appropriate to the other molecule. These experiments indicate that the approach to the nanodroplet regime, as well as the reduction of the molecular inertia upon solvation, is determined by the anistropy of the potential, more than by the molecular weight. Our findings are in agreement with recent infrared and/or microwave experimental data which, however, are not yet totally conclusive by themselves.     

Rotational dynamics of CO solvated in small He clusters: a quantum Monte Carlo study

The rotational dynamics of CO single molecules solvated in small He clusters (CO @ HeN) has been studied using reptation quantum Monte Carlo simulations for cluster sizes up to N = 30. Our results are in good agreement with the rotovibrational features of the infrared spectrum recently determined for this system and provide a deep insight into the relation between the structure of the cluster and its dynamics. Simulations for large N also provide a prediction of the effective moment of inertia of CO in the He nanodroplet regime, which has not been measured so far.     

Chemical Antibody Mimics Inhibit Cadherin-Mediated Cell–Cell Adhesion: A Promising Strategy for Cancer Therapy

One of the most promising strategies to treat cancer is the use of therapeutic antibodies that disrupt cell–cell adhesion mediated by dysregulated cadherins. The principal site where cell–cell adhesion occurs encompasses Trp2 found at the N-terminal region of the protein. Herein, we employed the naturally exposed highly conserved peptide Asp1-Trp2-Val3-Ile4-Pro5-Pro6-Ile7, as epitope to prepare molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (MIP-NPs) to recognize cadherins. Since MIP-NPs target the site responsible for adhesion, they were more potent than commercially available therapeutic antibodies for inhibiting cell–cell adhesion in cell aggregation assays, and for completely disrupting three-dimensional tumor spheroids as well as inhibiting invasion of HeLa cells. These biocompatible supramolecular anti-adhesives may potentially be used as immunotherapeutic or sensitizing agents to enhance antitumor effects of chemotherapy.     

Interplay between structure and size in a critical crystal nucleus

We study the kinetics of crystal nucleation of an undercooled Lennard-Jones liquid using various path-sampling methods. We obtain the rate constant and elucidate the pathways for crystal nucleation. Analysis of the path ensemble reveals that crystal nucleation occurs along many different pathways, in which critical solid nuclei can be small, compact, and face centered cubic, but also large, less ordered, and more body centered cubic. The reaction coordinate thus includes, besides the cluster size, also the quality of the crystal structure.     

Bridging the gap between small clusters and nanodroplets: spectroscopic study and computer simulation of carbon dioxide solvated with helium atoms

High resolution infrared spectra of He(N)-CO2 clusters with N up to 17 have been studied in the region of the CO2 nu(3) fundamental band. The B rotational constant initially drops as expected for a normal molecule, reaching a minimum for N=5. Its subsequent rise for N=6 to 11 can be interpreted as the transition from a normal (though floppy) molecule to a quantum solvation regime. For N>13, the B value becomes approximately constant with a value about 17% larger than that measured in much larger helium nanodroplets. Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of pure rotational spectra are in excellent agreement with the measured B in this size range and complement the experimental study with detailed structural information. For a larger cluster size (N=30-50) the simulations show a clear sign of convergence towards the nanodroplet B value.