曲面相机阵列多分辨成像方法

针对现有成像系统因数据冗余而无法兼顾大视场、高分辨、高效性的问题,结合人眼视网膜变分辨成像和并列式复眼成像原理,设计一种多分辨率成像的复合仿生成像系统.该成像系统按照球面和平面兼顾的曲面布局方式,利用11个相机镜头构建相机阵列,组成了四个等级分辨率的子眼拍摄模块.通过物距100 m的远景实验和物距10 m的近景实验发现,该系统在实现高分辨成像的同时,获得总视场达150.8°×37.8°.多分辨率成像实验结果表明,该系统获取的图像的分辨率从中心视场到边缘视场逐渐降低,并且相较于中心清晰全视场成像,四级分辨率成像的拼接图像数据量减少了17.2倍的数据冗余.     

Low Bandgap 2D Perovskite Single Crystal with Anomalous-large Charges/ions Collection Ratio for Ultra-sensitive and Stable X-ray Detectors

The low-dimensional halide perovskites have attracted increasing attention due to their improved moisture stability, reduced defects, and suppressed ions migration in many optoelectronic devices such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes, X-ray detectors, and so on. However, they are still limited by their large band gap and short charge carriers’ diffusion length. Here, we demonstrate that the introduction of metal ions into organic interlayers of two-dimensional (2D) perovskite by cross-linking the copper paddle-wheel cluster-based lead bromide ([Cu(O₂C−(CH₂)₃−NH₃)₂]PbBr₄) perovskite single crystals with coordination bonds can not only significantly reduce the perovskite band gap to 0.96 eV to boost the X-ray induced charge carriers, but can also selectively improve the charge carriers’ transport along the out-of-plane direction and blocking the ions motion paths. The [Cu(O₂C−(CH₂)₃−NH₃)₂]PbBr₄ single-crystal device can reach a record charges/ions collection ratio of 1.69×10¹⁸±4.7 % μGy_air⁻¹ s, and exhibit a large sensitivity of 1.14×10⁵±7% μC Gy_air⁻¹ cm⁻² with the lowest detectable dose rate of 56 nGy_air s⁻¹ under 120 keV X-rays irradiation. In addition, [Cu(O₂C−(CH₂)₃−NH₃)₂]PbBr₄ single-crystal detector exposed to the air without any encapsulation shows excellent X-ray imaging capability with long-term operational stability without any attenuation of 120 days.     

Coronaviruses Use ACE2 Monomers as Entry-Receptors

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as entry receptor on cells enabling binding and infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via trimeric spike (S) proteins protruding from the viral surface. It has been suggested that trimeric S proteins preferably bind to plasma membrane areas with high concentrations of possibly multimeric ACE2 receptors to achieve a higher binding and infection efficiency. Here we used direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) in combination with different labeling approaches to visualize the distribution and quantify the expression of ACE2 on different cells. Our results reveal that endogenous ACE2 receptors are present as monomers in the plasma membrane with densities of only 1–2 receptors μm⁻². In addition, binding of trimeric S proteins does not induce the formation of ACE2 oligomers in the plasma membrane. Supported by infection studies using vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) particles bearing S proteins our data demonstrate that a single S protein interaction per virus particle with a monomeric ACE2 receptor is sufficient for infection, which provides SARS-CoV-2 a high infectivity.     

MALDI Imaging Assisted Discovery of a Di-O-glycosyltransferase from Platycodon grandiflorum Root

A matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI MSI) assisted genome mining strategy was developed for the discovery of glycosyltransferase (GT) from the root of Platycodon grandiflorum. A di-O-glycosyltransferase PgGT1 was discovered and characterized that is capable of catalyzing platycoside E (PE) synthesis through the attachment of two β-1,6-linked glucosyl residues sequentially to the glucosyl residue at the C3 position of platycodin D (PD). Although UDP-glucose is the preferred sugar donor for PgGT1, it could also utilize UDP-xylose and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine as weak donors. Residues S273, E274, and H350 played important roles in stabilizing the glucose donor and positioning the glucose in the optimal orientation for the glycosylation reaction. This study clarified two key steps involved in the biosynthetic pathway of PE and could greatly contribute to improving its industrial biotransformation.     

Type I Photosensitizer Targeting G-Quadruplex RNA Elicits Augmented Immunity for Cancer Ablation

Type I photodynamic therapy (PDT) represents a promising treatment modality for tumors with intrinsic hypoxia. However, type I photosensitizers (PSs), especially ones with near infrared (NIR) absorption, are limited and their efficacy needs improvement via new targeting tactics. We develop a NIR type I PS by engineering acridinium derived donor-π-acceptor systems. The PS exhibits an exclusive type I PDT mechanism due to effective intersystem crossing and disfavored energy transfer to O₂, and shows selective binding to G-quadruplexes (G4s) via hydrogen bonds identified by a molecular docking study. Moreover, it enables fluorogenic detection of G4s and efficient O₂⋅⁻ production in hypoxic conditions, leading to immunogenic cell death and substantial variations of gene expression in RNA sequencing. Our strategy demonstrates augmented antitumor immunity for effective ablation of immunogenic cold tumor, highlighting its potential of RNA-targeted type I PDT in precision cancer therapy.     

Nanostructure-Driven Indocyanine Green Dimerization Generates Ultra-Stable Phototheranostics Nanoparticles

Indocyanine green (ICG) is the only near-infrared (NIR) dye approved for clinical use. Despite its versatility in photonic applications and potential for photothermal therapy, its photobleaching hinders its application. Here we discovered a nanostructure of dimeric ICG (Nano-dICG) generated by using ICG to stabilize nanoemulsions, after which ICG enabled complete dimerization on the nanoemulsion shell, followed by J-aggregation of ICG-dimer, resulting in a narrow, red-shifted (780 nm→894 nm) and intense (≈2-fold) absorbance. Compared to ICG, Nano-dICG demonstrated superior photothermal conversion (2-fold higher), significantly reduced photodegradation (−9.6 % vs. −46.3 %), and undiminished photothermal effect (7 vs. 2 cycles) under repeated irradiations, in addition to excellent colloidal and structural stabilities. Following intravenous injection, Nano-dICG enabled real-time tracking of its delivery to mouse tumors within 24 h by photoacoustic imaging at NIR wavelength (890 nm) distinct from the endogenous signal to guide effective photothermal therapy. The unprecedented finding of nanostructure-driven ICG dimerization leads to an ultra-stable phototheranostic platform.     

High Performance Dynamic X-ray Flexible Imaging Realized Using a Copper Iodide Cluster-Based MOF Microcrystal Scintillator

X-ray imaging technology has achieved important applications in many fields and has attracted extensive attentions. Dynamic X-ray flexible imaging for the real-time observation of the internal structure of complex materials is the most challenging type of X-ray imaging technology, which requires high-performance X-ray scintillators with high X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) efficiency as well as excellent processibility and stability. Here, a macrocyclic bridging ligand with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) feature was introduced for constructing a copper iodide cluster-based metal–organic framework (MOF) scintillator. This strategy endows the scintillator with high XEL efficiency and excellent chemical stability. Moreover, a regular rod-like microcrystal was prepared through the addition of polyvinyl pyrrolidone during the in situ synthesis process, which further enhanced the XEL and processibility of the scintillator. The microcrystal was used for the preparation of a scintillator screen with excellent flexibility and stability, which can be used for high-performance X-ray imaging in extremely humid environments. Furthermore, dynamic X-ray flexible imaging was realized for the first time. The internal structure of flexible objects was observed in real time with an ultrahigh resolution of 20 LP mm⁻¹.     

Annulation-Induced Hidden Reactivity of the 1,2,4-Triazole Backbone

Triazoles are an important class of compounds with widespread applications. Functionalization of the triazole backbone is thus of significant interest. In comparison to 1,2,3-triazoles, C−H activation-functionalization of the congeners 1,2,4-triazoles is surprisingly underdeveloped. Indeed, no such C−H activation-functionalization has been reported for 4-substituted 1,2,4-triazole cores. Furthermore, although denitrogenative ring-opening of 1,2,3-triazoles is well-explored, 1,2,4-triazole/triazolium substrates have not been known to exhibit N−N bond-cleaving ring-opening reactivity so far. In this work, we unveiled an unusual hidden reactivity of the 1,2,4-triazole backbone involving the elusive N−N bond-cleaving ring-opening reaction. This new reactivity was induced by a Satoh-Miura-type C−H activation-annulation at the 1,2,4-triazole motif appended with a pyridine directing group. This unique reaction allowed ready access to a novel class of unsymmetrically substituted 2,2′-dipyridylamines, with one pyridine ring fully-substituted with alkyl groups. The unsymmetrical 2,2′-dipyridylamines were utilized to access unsymmetrical boron-aza-dipyridylmethene fluorescent dyes. Empowered with desirable optical/physical properties such as large Stokes shifts and suitable hydrophobicity arising from optimal alkyl chain length at the fully-substituted pyridine-ring, these dyes were used for intracellular lipid droplet-selective imaging studies, which provided useful information toward designing suitable lipid droplet-selective imaging probes for biomedical applications.     

Xanthene-Based Nitric Oxide-Responsive Nanosensor for Photoacoustic Imaging in the SWIR Window

Shortwave infrared (SWIR) dyes are characterized by their ability to absorb light from 900 to 1400 nm, which is ideal for deep tissue imaging owing to minimized light scattering and interference from endogenous pigments. An approach to access such molecules is to tune the photophysical properties of known near-infrared dyes. Herein, we report the development of a series of easily accessible (three steps) SWIR xanthene dyes based on a dibenzazepine donor conjugated to thiophene ( SCR-1 ), thienothiophene ( SCR-2 ), or bithiophene ( SCR-3 ). We leverage the fact that SCR-1 undergoes a bathochromic shift when aggregated for in vivo studies by developing a ratiometric nanoparticle for NO ( rNP-NO ), which we employed to successfully visualize pathological levels of nitric oxide in a drug-induced liver injury model via deep tissue SWIR photoacoustic (PA) imaging. Our work demonstrates how easily this dye series can be utilized as a component in nanosensor designs for imaging studies.