Self‐emulsion polymerization of amphiphilic monomers—a green route to synthesis of polymeric nanoscaffolds

Self‐emulsion polymerization (SEP), a green route developed by us for the polymerization of amphiphilic monomers, does not require any emulsifier or an organic solvent except that the water‐soluble initiators such as 2,2′‐azobis[2‐(2‐imidazolin‐2‐yl)propane]dihydrochloride (VA‐044) and potassium persulfate (KPS) are only used. We report here the polymer nanoscaffolds from a number of amphiphilic monomers, which can be used for in situ encapsulation of a variety of nanoparticles. As a demonstration of the efficacy of these nanoscaffolds, the synthesis of a biocompatible hybrid nanoparticle (nanohybrid), prepared by encapsulating Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄ MNPs) in poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) in water, for MRI application is presented. The nanohybrid prepared following the SEP in the form of an emulsion does not involve the use of any stabilizing agent, crosslinker, polymeric emulsifier, or surfactant. This water‐soluble, spherical, and stable nanohybrid containing Fe₃O₄ MNPs of average size 10 ± 2 nm has a zeta potential value of ?41.89 mV under physiological conditions. Magnetic measurement confirmed that the nanohybrid shows typical magnetic behavior having a saturation magnetization (Ms) value of 32.3 emu/g and a transverse relaxivity (r2) value of 29.97 mM^?1 s^?1, which signifies that it can be used as a T2 contrast agent in MRI. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019     

基于级联卷积神经网络的前列腺磁共振图像分类

针对深度学习训练成本高，以及基于磁共振图像的前列腺癌临床诊断需要大量医学常识且极为耗时的问题，本文提出了一种基于级联卷积神经网络（Convolutional Neural Network，CNN）和磁共振图像的前列腺癌（Prostate Cancer，PCa）自动分类诊断方法，该网络以Faster-RCNN作为前网络，对前列腺区域进行提取分割，用于排除前列腺附近组织器官的干扰；以基于ResNet改进的网络结构CNN40_bottleneck作为后网络，用于对前列腺区域病变进行分类.后网络由瓶颈结构串联组成，其中使用批量标准化（Batch Normalization，BN）、全局平均池化（Global Average Pooling，GAP）进行优化.实验结果证明，本文方法对前列腺癌诊断结果较好，而且缩减了训练时间和参数量，有效降低了训练成本.     

一种超导重力仪磁悬浮力的等效计算

为实现超导重力仪磁悬浮力的精确计算,以GWR型超导重力仪为模型基础,采用有限元的思想,将超导球表面电流理想化为多个等高共轴电流环,计算出各个电流环与超导线圈的作用力,求和得到线圈与超导球间的磁悬浮力。利用MATLAB完成计算程序实现,通过改变下线圈电流和上、下线圈电流比,获得满足一定条件的磁悬浮力及其梯度。选取合适的模型参数,计算出线圈对质量为m=4.069 g超导球的磁悬浮力大小为:Ftotal=3.988×10^-2N,磁悬浮力梯度为:-9.699×10^-3N/m,此时悬浮力梯度合适,满足系统稳定性和灵敏度的要求。     

氧化铁纳米颗粒在磁共振成像中的应用

目前临床诊断中钆基造影剂的应用十分广泛,然而其对人体的毒性无法忽视,因此研究者致力于低毒性造影剂的研发。氧化铁纳米颗粒(Iron Oxide Nanoparticles,IONP)因其超顺磁性在磁共振成像(Magnetic Resonance Imaging,MRI)中具有良好的暗对比效果,并且具有良好的生物相容性。随着生物材料和分子影像技术的发展,IONP在MRI成像中的应用愈发广泛。近年来,IONP在多模态成像和诊断治疗一体化方面取得了进展。本文将以IONP的MRI成像机理、制备和表面修饰为基础,阐述近年来IONP在MRI成像应用的研究成果和问题,期望IONP取得更好的发展。     

pH-Dependent Hydration Change in a Gd-Based MRI Contrast Agent with a Phosphonated Ligand

The heptadentate ligand L was shown to form an extremely stable Gd complex at neutral pH with a pGd value of 18.4 at pH 7.4. The X-ray crystal structures of the complexes formed with Gd and Tb displayed two very different coordination behaviors being, respectively, octa- and nonacoordinated. The relaxometric properties of the Gd complex were studied by field-dependent relaxivity measurements at various temperatures and by ¹⁷O NMR spectroscopy. The pH-dependence of the longitudinal relaxivity profile indicated large changes around neutral pH leading to a very large value of 10.1 mm ⁻¹⋅s⁻¹ (60 MHz, 298 K) at pH 4.7. The changes were attributed to an increase of the hydration number from one water molecule in basic conditions to two at acidic pH. A similar trend was observed for the luminescence of the Eu complex, confirming the change in hydration state. DOSY experiments were performed on the Lu analogue, pointing to the absence of dimers in solution in the considered pH range. A breathing mode of the complex was postulated, which was further supported by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy of the Yb complex at varying pH and was finally modeled by DFT calculations.     

Redox Properties and in Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cyclodextrin-Polynitroxides Contrast Agents

This paper reports the synthesis, characterization and in vivo application of water-soluble supramolecular contrast agents (Mw: 5–5.6 kDa) for MRI obtained from β-cyclodextrin functionalized with different kinds of nitroxide radicals, both with piperidine structure ( CD2 and CD3 ) and with pyrrolidine structure ( CD4 and CD5 ). As to the stability of the radicals in presence of ascorbic acid, CD4 and CD5 have low second order kinetic constants (≤0.05 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) compared to CD2 (3.5 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) and CD3 (0.73 M⁻¹ s⁻¹). Relaxivity (r₁) measurements on compounds CD3 - CD5 were carried out at different magnetic field strength (0.7, 3, 7 and 9.4 T). At 0.7 T, r₁ values comprised between 1.5 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 1.9 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ were found while a significant reduction was observed at higher fields (r₁≈0.6-0.9 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 9.4 T). Tests in vitro on HEK293 human embryonic kidney cells, L929 mouse fibroblasts and U87 glioblastoma cells indicated that all compounds were non-cytotoxic at concentrations below 1 μmol mL⁻¹. MRI in vivo was carried out at 9.4 T on glioma-bearing rats using the compounds CD3 - CD5 . The experiments showed a good lowering of T₁ relaxation in tumor with a retention of the contrast for at least 60 mins confirming improved stability also in vivo conditions.     

Cover Picture: Nanomaterials for Fluorescence and Multimodal Bioimaging (Chem. Rec. 3/2023)

Bioconjugated nanomaterials replace molecular probes in bioanalysis and bioimaging in vitro and in vivo. Nanoparticles of silica, metals, semiconductors, polymers, and supramolecular systems, conjugated with contrast agents and drugs for image-guided (MRI, fluorescence, PET, Raman, SPECT, photodynamic, photothermal, and photoacoustic) therapy infiltrate into preclinical and clinical settings. Small bioactive molecules like peptides, proteins, or DNA conjugated to the surfaces of drugs or probes help us to interface them with cells and tissues. Nevertheless, the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of nanodrugs, nanoprobes, and their components become the clinical barriers, underscoring the significance of developing biocompatible next-generation drugs and contrast agents. This account provides state-of-the-art advancements in the preparation and biological applications of bioconjugated nanomaterials and their molecular, cell, and in vivo applications. It focuses on the preparation, bioimaging, and bioanalytical applications of monomodal and multimodal nanoprobes composed of quantum dots, quantum clusters, iron oxide nanoparticles, and a few rare earth metal ion complexes.     

Strong Direct Magnetic Coupling in a Dinuclear CoII Tetrazine Radical Single‐Molecule Magnet

The ligand‐centered radical complex [(CoTPMA)₂‐μ‐bmtz^.?](O₃SCF₃)₃ ? CH₃CN (bmtz=3,6‐bis(2′‐pyrimidyl)‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine, TPMA=tris‐(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine) has been synthesized from the neutral bmtz precursor. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies have confirmed the presence of the ligand‐centered radical. The Co^II complex exhibits slow paramagnetic relaxation in an applied DC field with a barrier to spin reversal of 39 K. This behavior is a result of strong antiferromagnetic metal–radical coupling combined with positive axial and strong rhombic anisotropic contributions from the Co^II ions.     

LF-NMR和MRI对干制虾仁复水过程水分状态及品质变化的研究

采用低场核磁(LF-NMR)及其成像技术(MRI)研究干制虾仁在25℃复水过程中的水分含量、分布及状态变化,并通过线性回归分析不同复水时间干制虾仁的LF-NMR参数与质构特性及复水率的相关性。实验结果表明,干制虾仁复水过程中存在结合水、不可移动水和自由水3个组分峰,随着复水时间的增加,结合水无明显变化,而自由水、不易流动水含量增加,且自由度增加,流动性增大。LF-NMR参数(T_(22)、T_(23)、A_(22)、A_(23)和A_(Total))和硬度、咀嚼性、弹性、凝聚性以及复水率有极显著的相关性(R~2≥0.613),为干制虾仁复水过程中品质的快速无损预测提供了一种新方法。