Electro-assisted Molecular Assembly Giving Atomic-Scale Catalytic Active-Site Detection

The artificially accurate design of nonmetal electrocatalysts’ active site has been a huge challenge because no pure active species with the specific structure could be strictly controlled by traditional synthetic methods. Species with a multiconfiguration in the catalyst hinder identification of the active site and the subsequent comprehension of the reaction mechanism. We have developed a novel electro-assisted molecular assembly strategy to obtain a pure pentagon ring on perfect graphene avoiding other reconstructed structures. More importantly, the active atom was confirmed by the subtle passivation process as the topmost carbon atom. Recognition of the carbon-defect electrocatalysis reaction mechanism was first downsized to the single-atom scale from the experimental perspective. It is expected that this innovative electro-assisted molecular assembly strategy could be extensively applied in the active structure-controlled synthesis of nonmetal electrocatalysts and verification of the exact active atom.     

Highly Specific,Single-step Cancer Cell Isolation with Multi-Aptamer-Mediated Proximity Ligation on Live Cell Membranes

A single-step method for isolation of specific cells based on multiple surface markers will have unique advantages because of its scalability, efficacy, and mildness. Herein, we developed multi-aptamer-mediated proximity ligation method on live cell membranes that leverages a multi-receptor co-recognition design for enhanced specificity, as well as a robust in situ signal amplification design for improved sensitivity of cell isolation. We demonstrated the promising efficacy of our method on differentiating tumor cell subtypes in both cell mixtures and clinical samples. Owing to its simple and fast operation with excellent cell isolation sensitivity and accuracy, this approach will have broad applications in biological science, biomedical engineering, and personalized medicine.     

均匀磁场下碳离子笔形束的剂量变化分析及位置修正方法

分析外加均匀磁场对于碳离子笔形束剂量分布的影响,并考虑修正这种影响,为磁共振成像引导碳离子放射治疗的临床应用提供指导。本文利用蒙特卡罗方法模拟计算了不同能量碳离子笔形束在不同强度磁场下的剂量分布情况,发现垂直于碳离子束入射方向的均匀磁场对于碳离子笔形束射程缩短的影响很小,磁场对碳离子束的主要影响是引起束流横向偏转,特别是碳离子束布拉格峰位置的横向侧移。横向侧移程度与碳离子束的能量和磁场强度相关,根据模拟结果,得到了一个计算碳离子束布拉格峰在磁场中相对横向偏转的方程,并提出一种校正外加磁场引起的碳离子束布拉格峰横移的角度修正方法。这些结果可用于指导磁共振图像引导碳离子放射治疗计划系统的研发。     

In Vitro Light-Up Visualization of a Subunit-Specific Enzyme by an AIE Probe via Restriction of Single Molecular Motion

Enzymes contain several subunits to maintain different biological functions. However, it remains a great challenge for specific discrimination of one subunit over another. Toward this end, the fluorescent probe TPEMA is now presented for highly specific detection of the B subunit of cytosolic creatine (CK) kinase isoenzyme (CK-B). Owing to its aggregation-induced emission property, TPEMA shows highly boosted emission toward CK-B with a fast response time and very low interference from other analytes, including the M subunit of CK (CK-M). With the aid of a Job plot assay, ITC assay and molecular dynamics simulation, it was directly confirmed that the remarkably enhanced fluorescence of TPEMA in the presence of CK-B results from the restriction of single molecular motion in the cavity. Selective wash-free fluorescence imaging of CK-B in macrophages under different treatments was successfully demonstrated.     

Afterglow Implant for Arterial Embolization and Intraoperative Imaging

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is wildly used in clinical treatments. However, the online monitoring of the thrombosis formation is limited due to the challenges of the direct visualization of embolic agents and the real-time monitoring of dynamic blood flow. Thus, we developed a photochemical afterglow implant with strong afterglow intensity and a long lifetime for embolization and imaging. The liquid pre-implant injected into the abdominal aorta of mice was rapidly transformed into a hydrogel in situ to embolize the blood vessel. The vascular embolism position can be observed by the enhanced afterglow of the fixed implant, and the long lifetime of afterglow can also be used to monitor the effect of embolization. This provides an excellent candidate in bio-imaging to avoid the autofluorescence interference from continuous light excitation. The study suggests the potential usefulness of the implant as an embolic agent in TAE and artery imaging during a surgical procedure.     

Screening potential antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor from Marsdenia tenacissima via cell membrane chromatography model assisted by HPLC–ESI–IT–TOF–MS

Marsdenia tenacissima, or Tongguanteng in Chinese, is a traditional Chinese herb and has a broad application in clinical practice for its pharmacological effects of treating asthma, pneumonia, tonsillitis, pharyngitis tumors, etc. However, few studies have reported the screening of the active components of this medicine for tumor therapy. In this work, a two‐dimensional analytical system was developed to screen antagonists of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) from M. tenacissima. A fraction was retained on the EGFR cell membrane chromatography (CMC) column, separated and identified as tenacissoside G (TG), tenacissoside H (TH) and tenacissoside I (TI) by two‐dimensional HPLC–IT–TOF–MS. Molecular docking and 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2‐H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were carried out to assess the activity of TS (including TG, TH and TI). Molecular docking results showed that the binding mode of TS on EGFR is similar to that of gefitinib. The MTT assay demonstrated that gefitinib and TS (especially TI) could inhibit the growth of EGFR highly expressed cell lines in a dose‐dependent manner in the range of 5–50 μmol/L. In conclusion, the two‐dimensional EGFR/CMC–HPLC–IT–TOF–MS system could be a useful approach in drug discovery from traditional Chinese medicines for searching for potential antitumor candidates.     

碳离子在不同材料叶片的多叶光栅上产生的次级粒子研究

在碳离子放射治疗中，碳离子束与治疗头设备和患者身体相互作用产生的次级粒子可以到达患者体内的许多区域，在产生的次级粒子中以中子和$\gamma $射线的产额为最大。在不影响束流配送功能的情况下，减少碳离子放疗中产生的次级中子和$\gamma $射线对于降低放疗后出现的正常组织并发症及二次肿瘤风险有着非常重要的意义。本文利用蒙特卡罗(Monte Carlo)方法模拟计算了被动式束流配送系统下，400 MeV/u碳离子束照射到由不同材料叶片构成的多叶光栅(MLC)形成典型的10 cm×10 cm方形射野时，在水模体中产生的次级中子和$\gamma $射线所沉积的剂量及空间分布等。模拟结果显示:碳离子束通过MLC形成射野后在水模体中产生的次级中子主要分布在水模体的入射端，次级$\gamma $射线较为均匀的分布在整个水模体内，且较多分布在具有展宽Bragg峰(SOBP)射野在水模体中贯穿时的坪区。对于MLC叶片材料的选择，则需根据实际情况对叶片厚度以及次级粒子当量剂量的要求来确定。本文通过模拟研究不同MLC叶片材料产生次级粒子的情况，为被动式束流配送系统中MLC叶片及其他元件的材料选择提供了科学依据。     

Assembly of ϵ-Keggin Polyoxometalate from Molecular Crystal to Zeolitic Octahedral Metal Oxide

Zeolitic octahedral metal oxides are inorganic crystalline microporous materials with adsorption and redox properties. New ϵ-Keggin nickel molybdate–based zeolitic octahedral metal oxides have been synthesized. ³¹P NMR spectroscopy shows that reduction of Mo^VI-based molybdates forms an ϵ-Keggin polyoxometalate that immediately transfers to the solid phase. Investigation of the formation process indicates that a low Ni concentration, insoluble reducing agent, and long synthesis time are the critical factors for obtaining the zeolite octahedral metal oxides rather than the ϵ-Keggin polyoxometalate molecule. The synthesized zeolitic nickel molybdate with Na⁺ is used as the adsorbent, which effectively separates C₂ hydrocarbon mixtures.     

黄绿色葡萄石的矿物学特征及谱学研究

葡萄石可以以板状、片状、葡萄状、肾状、放射状或块状集合体的形式产出,因其美丽的外观和特殊的晶体结构,近年来受到了学者的广泛关注。本文通过电子探针、粉晶X射线衍射仪、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪、显微拉曼光谱仪、紫外可见分光光度计等仪器对黄绿色葡萄石的成分、结构及谱学特征进行了分析与探讨。葡萄石的主要致色元素为Fe,且Fe³⁺经常取代Al³⁺占据八面体配位,Fe²⁺经常取代Ca²⁺存在于空隙中。电子探针数据表明:Fe与Al的含量变化整体呈现负相关关系,Fe与Ca的含量变化也整体呈现负相关关系,Fe含量相对较高的样品其黄绿色调加深。XRD图谱和拉曼光谱的结果表明:在葡萄石中绿帘石以包裹体的形式存在。红外光谱和拉曼光谱表明葡萄石中存在硅氧四面体和铝氧八面体两种架构,紫外可见吸收光谱揭示了葡萄石的致色机理。本文对葡萄石的矿物学特征及谱学特征进行系统分析,为后续葡萄石的进一步研究提供思路与实验数据。     

Templated synthesis and assembly with sustainable cellulose nanomaterial for functional nanostructure

Cellulose - Templated synthesis and assembly for nanostructured materials with tailored properties have received considerable attention. The powerful templates with predefined structures can guide...