Fluorescent probes for detection of biothiols based on “aromatic nucleophilic substitution-rearrangement” mechanism

Biothiols, including cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH) play important roles in physiological processes, and the detection of thiol using fluorescent probes has attracted attention due to their high sensitivity and selectively and invasive on-time imaging. However, the similar structures and reactivity of these biothiols present great challenges for selective detection. This review focused on the the “aromatic nucleophilic substitution-rearrangement (S_NAr-rearrangement) mechanism”, which provided a powerful tool to design fluorescent probes for the discrimination between biothiols. We classify the fluorescent probes according to types of fluorophores, such as difluoroboron dipyrromethene (BODIPY), nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD), cyanine, pyronin, naphthalimide, coumarin, and so on. We hope this review will inspire exploration of new fluorescent probes for biothiols and other relevant analytes.     

An electrochemical biosensor based on DNA “nano-bridge” for amplified detection of exosomal microRNAs

Exosomal miRNAs, as potential biomarkers in liquid biopsy for cancer early diagnosis, have aroused widespread concern. Herein, an electrochemical biosensor based on DNA “nano-bridge” was designed and applied to detect exosomal microRNA-21 (miR-21) derived from breast cancer cells. In brief, the target miR-21 can specifically open the hairpin probe 1(HP1) labeled on the gold electrode (GE) surface through strand displacement reaction. Thus the exposed loop region of HP1 can act as an initiator sequence to activate the hybridization chain reaction (HCR) between two kinetically trapped hairpin probes: HP2 immobilized on the GE surface and biotin labeled HP3 in solution. Cascade HCR leads to the formation of DNA “nano-bridge” tethered to the GE surface with a great deal of “piers”. Upon addition of avidin-modified horseradish peroxidase (HRP), numerous HRP were bound to the formed “nano-bridge” through biotin-avidin interaction to arouse tremendous current signal. In theory, only a single miR-21 is able to trigger the continuous HCR between HP2 and HP3 until all of the HP2 are exhausted. Therefore the proposed biosensor achieved ultrahigh sensitivity toward miR-21 with the detection limit down to 168 amol/L, as well as little cross-hybridization even at the single-base-mismatched level. Successful attempts were also made in the detection of exosomal miR-21 obtained from the MCF-7 of breast cancer cell line. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to built horizontal DNA nano-structure on the electrode surface for exosomal miRNAs detection. In a word, the high sensitivity, selectivity, low cost make the proposed method hold great potential application for early point-of-care (POC) diagnostics of cancer.     

Fluorescence “turn-on” chemosensor for the selective detection of zinc ion based on Schiff-base derivative

N,N′-phenylenebis(salicylideaminato) (L) has been used to detect trace amounts of zinc ion in acetonitrile–water solution by fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescent probe undergoes fluorescent emission intensity enhancement upon binding to zinc ions in MeCN/H₂O (1:1, v/v) solution. The fluorescence enhancement of L is attributed to the 1:1 complex formation between L and Zn(II), which has been utilized as the basis for selective detection of Zn(II). The linear response range for Zn(II) covers a concentration range of 1.6 × 10^?7 to 1.0 × 10^?5 mol/L, and the detection limit is 1.5 × 10^?7 mol/L. The fluorescent probe exhibits high selectivity over other common metal ions, and the proposed fluorescent sensor was applied to determine zinc in water samples and waste water.     

P–V–T properties of polymer melts based on equation of state and neural network

An accurate and efficient analytical equation of state (EOS) and artificial neural network (ANN) methods are developed for the prediction of volumetric properties of polymer melts. To apply EOS, the second virial coefficients B₂(T), effective van der Waals co-volume, b(T) and correction factor, α(T) were determined. The second virial coefficient was calculated from a two-parameter corresponding states correlation, which is constructed with two constants as scaling parameters, i.e., temperature (T_f) and density at melting (ρ_f) point. The new correlations were used to predict the specific volumes of polypropylene glycol (PPG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC), poly(1-butene)(PB1), poly (?-caprolactone) (PCL), polyethylene (PE) and polyvinylmethylether (PVME) at compressed state in the temperature range of 298.15–634.6 K. The obtained results show that the two models have good agreement with the experimental data with absolute average deviation of 0.28% and 0.39% for ANN and EOS, respectively. The Comparison of the results with ISM model shows that the proposed models represent an efficient method and are more accurate.     

Discovery of dipeptidyl peptidase Ⅳ(DPP4) inhibitors based on a novel indole scaffold

Dipeptidyl peptidase Ⅳ(DPP4) inhibitors are proven in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.We designed and synthesized a series of novel indole compounds that selectively inhibit the activity of DPP4 over dipeptidyl peptidase 9(DPP9)(200 fold).We further co-crystallized DPP4 with indole sulfonamide(compound 1) to confirm a proposed binding mode.Good metabolic stability of the indole compounds represents another positive attribute for further development.     

Bayesian Optimization-guided Discovery of High-performance Methane Combustion Catalysts based on Multi-component PtPd@CeZrOx Core–Shell Nanospheres

Formula regulation of multi-component catalysts by manual search is undoubtedly a time-consuming task, which has severely impeded the development efficiency of high-performance catalysts. In this work, PtPd@CeZrO_x core–shell nanospheres, as a successful case study, is explicitly demonstrated how Bayesian optimization (BO) accelerates the discovery of methane combustion catalysts with the optimal formula ratio (the Pt/Pd mole ratio ranges from 1/2.33–1/9.09, and Ce/Zr from 1/0.22–1/0.35), which directly results in a lower conversion temperature (T₅₀ approaching to 330 °C) than ones reported hitherto. Consequently, the best sample obtained could be efficiently developed after two rounds of iterations, containing only 18 experiments in all that is far less than the common human workload via the traditional trial-and-error search for optimal compositions. Further, this BO-based machine learning strategy can be straightforward extended to serve the autonomous discovery in multi-component material systems, for other desired properties, showing promising opportunities to practical applications in future.     

An “All-In-One” Pharmacophoric Architecture for the Discovery of Potential Broad-Spectrum Anti-Flavivirus Drugs

A precipitous increase in the number of flaviviral infections has been noted over the last 5 years. Despite these outbreaks, treatment protocols for infected individuals remain ambiguous. Numerous studies have identified NITD008 as a potent flavivirus inhibitor; however, clinical testing was dismissed due to undesirable toxic effects. The binding landscape of NITD008 in complex with five detrimental flaviviruses at the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase active sites was explored. An “all-in-one” pharmacophore model was created for the design of small molecules that may inhibit a broad spectrum of flaviviruses. This pharmacophore model approach serves as a robust cornerstone, thus assisting medicinal experts in the composition of multifunctional inhibitors that will eliminate cross-resistance and toxicity and enhance patient adherence.     

Crystal structure of a novel two-dimensional supramolecular network based on polyoxoanion and yttrium~Ⅲcoordination cation

A novel compound (NH4)2Y(H2O)8[PMo10V2O40]·10H2O has been prepared in an aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, and TG-DTG analysis. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out on (NH4)2Y(H2O)8 [PMo10V2O40]·10H2O single crystal, which crystallizes in the monoclinic system of a space group P21/C with a=0.9871(3) nm,b=1.5424(5) nm,c=2.7924(9) nm,β=94.183(5)°and Z=2. In the compound, a two-dimensional network is constructed by the PMo10V2O405- anion and the Y(H2O)83 cation building blocks via hydrogen bonding exhibiting the porous structure.     

Multiplex sensor for detection of different metal ions based on on–off of fluorescent gold nanoclusters

In this study, a multiplex fluorescence sensor for successive detection of Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions based on “on–off” of fluorescence of a single type of gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) is described. Any of the Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions can cause quenching fluorescence of Au NCs, which established a sensitive sensor for detection of these ions respectively. With the introduction of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) to the system of Au NCs and metal ions, a restoration of fluorescence may be found with the exception of Hg²⁺. A highly selective detection of Hg²⁺ ion is, thus, achieved by masking Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺. On the other hand, the masking of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ leads to the enhancement of fluorescence of Au NCs, which in turn provides an approach for successive determination of Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ based on “on–off” of fluorescence of Au NCs. Moreover, this assay was applied to the successful detection of Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Hg²⁺ in fish, a good linear relationship was found between these metal ions and the degree of quenched fluorescent intensity. The dynamic ranges of Hg²⁺, Fe³⁺ and Cu²⁺ were 1.96 × 10⁻¹⁰–1.01 × 10⁻⁹, 1.28 × 10⁻⁷–1.27 × 10⁻⁶ and 1.2 × 10⁻⁷–1.2 × 10⁻⁶ M with high sensitivity (the limit of detection of Fe³⁺ 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ M, Cu²⁺ 1.9 × 10⁻⁸ M and Hg²⁺ 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ M). These results indicate that the assay is suitable for sensitive detection of these metal ions even under the coexistence, which can not only determine all three kinds of metal ions successively but also of detecting any or several kinds of metal ions.     

Immobilized metal affinity composite membrane based on cellulose for separation of biopolymers

Ｕｐｔｏｄａｔｅ,ｒａｐｉｄｐｕｒｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎｏｆｍｉｘｅｄｐｒｏｔｅｉｎｉｎｌａｒｇｅｓｃａｌｅｈａｓｂｅｅｎａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｒｅｓｅａｒｃｈｐｒｏｊｅｃｔｉｎｂｉｏｅｎｇｉｎｅｅｒｉｎｇｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇ.Ｉｍｍｏｂｉｌｉｚｅｄｍｅｔａｌｉｏｎａｆｆｉｎｉｔｙｃｈｒｏｍａｔｏｇｒａｐｈｙ(ＩＭＡＣ)ｉｓａｎｅｆｆｉｃｉｅｎｔｍｅｔｈｏｄｅｘｔｅｎｓｉｖｅｌｙｕｓｅｄｆｏｒａｆｆｉｎｉｔｙｐｕｒｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎｏｆｂｉｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌｌｙａｃｔｉｖｅｓｕｂｓｔａｎｃｅ…     

“Electronic tongue” integrated sensor system based on an array of ion-selective field-effect transistors for multicomponent analysis of liquid media

Results obtained with an “electronic tongue” device based on an array of ion-selective field transistors integrated into a flow-injection system are presented. The component concentrations in mineral waters from Spanish manufacturers are analyzed. Processing of analytical signals by the partial least squares method improves the accuracy of component determination in mineral waters of close compositions. A single chip integrates sensors sensitive to pH, K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Cl⁻ ions. Mineral waters are classified and the concentrations of the main components are calculated with an error not exceeding 10%.     

A computational strategy for metabolic network construction based on the overlapping ratio: Study of patients’ metabolic responses to different dialysis patterns

BackgroundUremia is a worldwide epidemic disease and poses a serious threat to human health. Both maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and maintenance high flux hemodialysis (HFD) are common treatments for uremia and are generally used in clinical applications. In-depth exploration of patients’ metabolic responses to different dialysis patterns can facilitate the understanding of pathological alterations associated with uremia and the effects of different dialysis methods on uremia, which may be used for future personalized therapy. However, due to variations of multiple factors (i.e., genetic, epigenetic and environment) in the process of disease treatments, identification of the similarities and differences in plasma metabolite changes in uremic patients in response to HD and HFD remains challenging.MethodsIn this study, a computational strategy for metabolic network construction based on the overlapping ratio (MNC-OR) was proposed for disease treatment effect research. In MNC-OR, the overlapping ratio was introduced to measure metabolic reactions and to construct metabolic networks for analysis of different treatment options. Then, MNC-OR was employed to analyze HD-pattern-dependent changes in plasma metabolites to explore the pathological alterations associated with uremia and the effectiveness of different dialysis patterns (i.e., HD and HFD) on uremia. Based on the networks constructed by MNC-OR, two network analysis techniques, namely, similarity analysis and difference analysis of network topology, were used to find the similarity and differences in metabolic signals in patients under treatment with either HD or HFD, which can facilitate the understanding of pathological alterations associated with uremia and provide the guidance for personalized dialysis therapy.ResultsSimilarity analysis of network topology suggested that abnormal energy metabolism, gut metabolism and pyrimidine metabolism might occur in uremic patients, and maintenance of both HFD and HD therapies have beneficial effects on uremia. Then, difference analysis of network topology was employed to extract the crucial information related to HD-pattern-dependent changes in plasma metabolites. Experimental results indicated that the amino acid metabolism was closer to the normal status in HFD-treated patients; however, in HD-treated patients, the ability of antioxidation showed greater reduction, and the protein O-GlcNAcylation level was higher. Our findings demonstrate the potential of MNC-OR for explaining the metabolic similarities and differences of patients in response to different dialysis methods, thereby contributing to the guidance of personalized dialysis therapy.     

Sensitive and selective DNA probe based on “turn-on” photoluminescence of C-dots@RGO

In this study, highly hydrophilic and photoluminescent sheets of reduced graphene oxide decorated with carbon dots (C-dots@RGO), methylene blue (MB), and a probe DNA have been used for the detection of DNA. The photoluminescence of C-dots@RGO is quenched by MB, which is restored in the presence of a target DNA. The combination of the C-dots@RGO, MB, and a DNA probe is selective for perfectly matched DNA over mismatched DNA, mainly because relative to single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA intercalates more strongly with MB, but interacts more weakly with RGO. In the presence of a target DNA, MB intercalates with the as-formed double-stranded DNA and is released from the surface of C-dots@RGO, leading to “turn-on” photoluminescence. The practicality of this assay has been validated by the determination of tumor suppressor gene BRCA1, with linearity over the concentration range from 25 to 250 nM and a limit of detection (LOD, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) of 14.6 nM. The C-dots@RGO probe provides higher specificity towards target DNA than towards common salts, carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins found in real samples. Having the advantages of simplicity, cost-effectiveness, selectivity, and sensitivity, the DNA-P/C-dots@RGO–MB probe on microwells has been successfully employed for the detection of DNA, suggesting its potential for multiple analyses of DNA targets when various DNA probes are employed.     

Ultrasensitive detection of aliphatic nitro-organics based on “turn-on” fluorescent sensor array

The broad class of explosives includes nitro aromatics as well as challenging aliphatic nitro-organics whose detection is important from counter-terrorism and national security perspectives. Here we report a turn-on fluorescent sensor array based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophores as receptors. To achieve a good sensing system with fast response, good sensitivity and low detection limit, three receptors with abundant chemical diversities for target analytes were synthesized. The turn-on response of the individual receptor showed highly variable and cross-reactive analyte-dependent changes in fluorescence. The excellent ability to identify a variety of explosives, especially the challenging aliphatic nitro-organics (2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) and entaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN)), was demonstrated in qualitative and quantitative analyses with 100% accuracy. The fluorescence signal amplification in the presence of explosives allows for application of these receptors in a sensor microarray suitable for high-throughput screening. These results suggested that the cross-reactive sensor array based on AIE fluorophores could find a wide range of applications for sensing various analytes or complex mixtures.     

Heat-resistant network copolymers of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate with 4,4′-divinyldiphenyl oxide and monomer-oligomer formulations based on it

Thermal and physicomechanical properties and thermal oxidative aging at 250 and 300°C of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate homopolymer and copolymers with divinyl aromatic compounds and of glass-cloth laminates based on these polymers were studied.     

Synthesis of a model photosynthetic system of the “covered” type based on mesoporphyrin II

The synthesis of a porphyrinquinone compound of the covered type based on mesoporphyrin II was accomplished. Spectral investigations of the compound obtained were carried out.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1419–1423, October, 1991.     

Selective “naked-eye” sensing of acetate ion based on conformational flexible amide-pyridinium receptor

A simple pincer-shape anion receptor L1 containing amide-pyridinium as binding unit was synthesized and its anion binding properties were investigated by UV–Vis, NMR titration spectra and molecular simulation. L1 displayed better affinity toward AcO^? ion with visible color change compared with other investigated anions, including F^?, H₂PO₄ ^?, Cl^?, Br^?, I^?, NO₃ ^? and HSO₄ ^? ions. The selectivity was ascribed to the synergistic effects arising from hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction and induced-fit process.     

Comparison of two quantitative GC–MS methods for analysis of tomato aroma based on purge-and-trap and on solid-phase microextraction

Two analytical procedures, one based on purge-and-trap and the other on solid phase microextraction, both followed by GC–MS measurement using an ion-trap mass spectrometer in the electron impact mode, have been developed for determination and quantitation of up to 39 aroma compounds in fresh tomatoes. The method based on purge-and-trap for isolation of the volatile compounds uses Tenax as adsorbent and a hexane–diethyl ether mixture as solvent for elution. The method was validated for linearity, precision (better than 20% for most compounds), and limit of detection, which was approximately 1 ng g⁻¹. This method enabled identification of up to 30 compounds in real samples. Use of SPME was considered as an alternative, to simplify sample treatment while maintaining the information level for the samples (e.g. the number of compounds detected) and quality of quantitation. A procedure based on SPME using a Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fibre was developed and validated for determination of 29 aroma compounds; precision was better than 20% and limits of detection ranged from 4 to 30 ng g⁻¹.