Controllable self-assembly of parallel gold nanorod clusters by DNA origami

We demonstrate the self-assembly of three types of parallel gold nanorod clusters using a rod-like DNA origami as the template.     

A Hybrid Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization Catalyst Based on an Engineered Variant of the β‐Barrel Protein FhuA

A β‐barrel protein hybrid catalyst was prepared by covalently anchoring a Grubbs–Hoveyda type olefin metathesis catalyst at a single accessible cysteine amino acid in the barrel interior of a variant of β‐barrel transmembrane protein ferric hydroxamate uptake protein component A (FhuA). Activity of this hybrid catalyst type was demonstrated by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of a 7‐oxanorbornene derivative in aqueous solution.     

Electrospinning of Biomaterials for Vascular Regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases have been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world recently. With the growing aging population accompanied by chronic diseases, such as uremia and diabetes, there is an increasing clinical demand for vascular grafts with proper performance. Although some achievements have been made in the development of tissue-engineered vascular grafts composed of natural and synthetic polymeric materials or decellularized vessels, clinical applications with a diameter of less than 6 mm are still principally derived from autografts, such as autologous saphenous veins. Many challenges remain in anti-thrombosis, rapid endothelialization, modulating the inflammatory response and inhibition of intimal hyperplasia and calcification. In the review, recent progress in the electrospinning of biodegradable polymers for vascular regeneration are summarized, especially from the view of biomechanical factors. Hybrid vascular grafts consisting of natural and synthetic polymers with multicomponent, di-or tri-layers are focused in order to provide novel experiences in biomaterials for applications in this field.     

Biocompatibility selenium nanoparticles with an intrinsic oxidase-like activity

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are considered to be the new selenium supplement forms with high biological activity and low toxicity; however, the molecular mechanism by which SeNPs exert the biological function is unclear. Here, we reported that biocompatibility SeNPs possessed intrinsic oxidase-like activity. Using Na₂SeO₃ as a precursor and glutathione as a reductant, biocompatibility SeNPs were synthesized by the wet chemical reduction method in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results of structure characterization revealed that synthesized SeNPs were amorphous red elementary selenium with spherical morphology, and ranged in size from 25 to 70 nm size with a narrow distribution (41.4 ± 6.7 nm). The oxidase-like activity of the as-synthesized SeNPs was tested with 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) as a substrate. The results indicated that SeNPs could catalyze the oxidization of TMB by dissolved oxygen. These SeNPs showed an optimum catalytic activity at pH 4 and 30 °C, and the oxidase-like activity was higher as the concentration of SeNPs increased and the size of SeNPs decreased. The Michaelis constant (K _m) values and maximal reaction velocity (V _max) of the SeNPs for TMB oxidation were 0.0083 mol/L and 3.042 μmol/L min, respectively.     

Controlled synthesis of dendritic ruthenium nanostructures under microwave irradiation and their catalytic properties for p-chloronitrobenzene hydrogenation

Transition Metal Chemistry - In this study, the shape-controlled synthesis of ruthenium (Ru) nanostructures was examined using microwave irradiation. Dendritic Ru nanostructures, with an average...     

压缩CO2中Co-N-C催化3-硝基苯乙烯选择性加氢反应动力学及相行为

对于苯环上含有各种可还原基团(如–C=C,–CN,–C≡C)的硝基芳烃,通过选择性加氢来制备芳香胺类化合物依然充满挑战.负载型纳米催化剂通常存在过度加氢的缺陷,虽然通过覆盖部分金属位点等方法可改善其选择性,但多是以牺牲催化活性为代价.得益于较高的原子利用率以及孤立的活性位结构,单原子催化剂在硝基芳烃选择性加氢反应中崭露头角.例如Pt1/FeOx单原子催化剂在3-硝基苯乙烯加氢反应中对目标产物的选择性高于99％,且转化频率(TOF)是Pt纳米催化剂的20倍以上.然而,已报道的单原子催化体系中,活性组分多为Pt族贵金属,且以有机溶剂为反应介质,不符合绿色化学理念.本文以环境友好型溶剂——压缩CO2为反应介质,以氮掺杂碳负载非贵金属Co单原子(Co-N-C)为催化剂,实现了3-硝基苯乙烯的选择性加氢,且反应体系中无任何有机溶剂和助剂.在温和(60 oC,3 MPa H2(RT),总压8.1 MPa)的反应条件下,3-硝基苯乙烯可完全转化,目标产物3-乙烯基苯胺的选择性达到>99％,且产物可通过简单卸压直接分离.Co-N-C单原子催化剂表现出较高的稳定性,循环使用4次以后活性并无明显降低.HAADF-STEM表征发现反应后的催化剂中,Co仍然呈单原子分散.研究发现,通过改变CO2压力(即CO2相行为)可调变H2在其中的溶解度以及在加氢反应中的反应级数,进而调变反应速率.通常认为,催化活性会随CO2压力增大呈线性增加,而本文中转化率却随CO2压力增加呈现"倒V型"曲线关系,即当体系总压为8.1 MPa(PCO2=5.0 MPa)时,转化率达到最大值(100％),而升高或降低CO2压力均会显著降低催化活性.为解释"倒V型"曲线的成因,通过含可视窗的高压釜研究了3-硝基苯乙烯/CO2/H2三元体系的相行为.发现当总压为13.4 MPa时,体系为均匀的一相(即3-硝基苯乙烯完全溶解在CO2中);而当总压为8.1 MPa时,却形成了气-液两相.用激光笔照射高压釜上部的气相时,出现了明显的丁达尔现象,说明其中溶解有少量的3-硝基苯乙烯,呈胶体分散;底部为CO2膨胀的3-硝基苯乙烯液相,且该膨胀行为通过硝基苯-CO2二元相行为研究得到证实(即在一定CO2压力下,6 mL硝基苯可被CO2膨胀至充满整个高压釜(容积为29.3 mL)).动力学研究发现,在不含CO2以及总压为11.2 MPa时,H2的反应级数为～0.5;而当总压为8.1 MPa(CO2压力为5.0 MPa)时,H2的级数降为0,说明该压力下H2的溶解度显著增加.通过Peng-Robinson方程计算了不同CO2压力下H2的溶解度,发现H2溶解度与CO2压力也呈"倒V型"曲线关系,且最高点对应的CO2压力与上述转化率-PCO2曲线一致.因此,当总压为8.1 MPa,CO2分压为5.0 MPa时形成了CO2膨胀的3-硝基苯乙烯液体,溶解入该膨胀液体的CO2促进了H2的溶解,进而使H2的反应级数降为0,从而促进了加氢反应的进行.综上,本文以压缩CO2为溶剂,以非贵金属基Co-N-C为催化剂,发展了一种3-硝基苯乙烯绿色选择性加氢途径.同时发现,改变CO2压力可调变反应体系的相行为及反应动力学行为,进而调变催化性能.该研究结果可为调变压缩CO2介质中进行的其它催化转化反应性能提供借鉴.     

Self-Assembly of Highly Stable Zirconium(IV) Coordination Cages with Aggregation Induced Emission Molecular Rotors for Live-Cell Imaging

The self-assembly of highly stable zirconium(IV)-based coordination cages with aggregation induced emission (AIE) molecular rotors for in vitro bio-imaging is reported. The two coordination cages, NUS-100 and NUS-101, are assembled from the highly stable trinuclear zirconium vertices and two flexible carboxyl-decorated tetraphenylethylene (TPE) spacers. Extensive experimental and theoretical results show that the emissive intensity of the coordination cages can be controlled by restricting the dynamics of AIE-active molecular rotors though multiple external stimuli. Because the two coordination cages have excellent chemical stability in aqueous solutions (pH stability: 2–10) and impressive AIE characteristics contributed by the molecular rotors, they can be employed as novel biological fluorescent probes for in vitro live-cell imaging.     

Organic Spherical Nucleic Acids for the Transport of a NIR‐II‐Emitting Dye Across the Blood–Brain Barrier

DNA nanotechnology plays an increasingly important role in the biomedical field; however, its application in the design of organic nanomaterials is underexplored. Herein, we report the use of DNA nanotechnology to transport a NIR‐II‐emitting nanofluorophore across the blood–brain barrier (BBB), facilitating non‐invasive imaging of brain tumors. Specifically, the DNA block copolymer, PS‐b‐DNA, is synthesized through a solid‐phase click reaction. We demonstrate that its self‐assembled structure shows exceptional cluster effects, among which BBB‐crossing is the most notable. Therefore, PS‐b‐DNA is utilized as an amphiphilic matrix to fabricate a NIR‐II nanofluorephore, which is applied in in vivo bioimaging. Accordingly, the NIR‐II fluorescence signal of the DNA‐based nanofluorophore localized at a glioblastoma is 3.8‐fold higher than the NIR‐II fluorescence signal of the PEG‐based counterpart. The notably increased imaging resolution will significantly benefit the further diagnosis and therapy of brain tumors.