Monitoring induced gene expression of single cells in a multilayer microchip

We present a microfluidic system that facilitates long-term measurements of single cell response to external stimuli. The difficulty of addressing cells individually was overcome by using a two-layer microfluidic device. The top layer is designed for trapping and culturing of cells while the bottom layer is employed for supplying chemical compounds that can be transported towards the cells in defined concentrations and temporal sequences. A porous polyester membrane that supports transport and diffusion of compounds from below separates the microchannels of both layers. The performance and potential of the device are demonstrated using human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) transfected with an inducible gene expression system. Expression of a fluorescent protein (ZsGreen1-DR) is observed while varying the concentration and exposure time of the inducer tetracycline. The study reveals the heterogeneous response of the cells as well as average responses of tens of cells that are analyzed in parallel. The microfluidic platform enables systematic studies under defined conditions and is a valuable tool for general single cell studies to obtain insights into mechanisms and kinetics that are not accessible by conventional macroscopic methods.     

Communication: consistent picture of lateral subdiffusion in lipid bilayers: molecular dynamics simulation and exact results

This communication presents a molecular dynamics simulation study of a bilayer consisting of 128 dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine molecules, which focusses on the center-of-mass diffusion of the lipid molecules parallel to the membrane plane. The analysis of the simulation results is performed within the framework of the generalized Langevin equation and leads to a consistent picture of subdiffusion. The mean square displacement of the lipid molecules evolves as ∝ t(α), with α between 0.5 and 0.6, and the fractional diffusion coefficient is close to the experimental value for a similar system obtained by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. We show that the long-time tails of the lateral velocity autocorrelation function and the associated memory function agree well with exact results which have been recently derived by asymptotic analysis [G. Kneller, J. Chem. Phys. 134, 224106 (2011)]. In this context, we define characteristic time scales for these two quantities.     

Temporal correlation functions of concentration fluctuations: an anomalous case

We calculate, within the framework of the continuous time random walk (CTRW) model, multiparticle temporal correlation functions of concentration fluctuations (CCF) in systems that display anomalous subdiffusion. The subdiffusion stems from the nonstationary nature of the CTRW waiting times, which also lead to aging and ergodicity breaking. Due to aging, a system of diffusing particles tends to slow down as time progresses, and therefore, the temporal correlation functions strongly depend on the initial time of measurement. As a consequence, time averages of the CCF differ from ensemble averages, displaying therefore ergodicity breaking. We provide a simple example that demonstrates the difference between these two averages, a difference that might be amenable to experimental tests. We focus on the case of ensemble averaging and assume that the preparation time of the system coincides with the starting time of the measurement. Our analytical calculations are supported by computer simulations based on the CTRW model.     

Anomalous and Normal Diffusion of Tracers in Crowded Environments: E ect of Size Disparity between Tracer and Crowders

The dynamics of tracers in crowded matrix is of interest in various areas of physics, such as the diffusion of proteins in living cells. By using two-dimensional (2D) Langevin dynamics simulations, we investigate the diffusive properties of a tracer of a diameter in crowded environments caused by randomly distributed crowders of a diameter. Results show that the emergence of subdiffusion of a tracer at intermediate time scales depends on the size ratio of the tracer to crowders δ. If δ falls between a lower critical size ratio and a upper one, the anomalous diffusion occurs purely due to the molecular crowding. Further analysis indicates that the physical origin of subdiffusion is the "cage effect". Moreover, the subdiffusion exponent α decreases with the increasing medium viscosity and the degree of crowding, and gets a minimum αmin=0.75 at δ=1. At long time scales, normal diffusion of a tracer is recovered. For δ≤1, the relative mobility of tracers is independent of the degree of crowding. Meanwhile, it is sensitive to the degree of crowding for δ>1. Our results are helpful in deepening the understanding of the diffusive properties of biomacromolecules that lie within crowded intracellular environments, such as proteins, DNA and ribosomes.     

Coarse-grain model for lipid bilayer self-assembly and dynamics: Multiparticle collision description of the solvent

A mesoscopic coarse-grain model for computationally efficient simulations of biomembranes is presented. It combines molecular dynamics simulations for the lipids, modeled as elastic chains of beads, with multiparticle collision dynamics for the solvent. Self-assembly of a membrane from a uniform mixture of lipids is observed. Simulations at different temperatures demonstrate that it reproduces the gel and liquid phases of lipid bilayers. Investigations of lipid diffusion in different phases reveals a crossover from subdiffusion to normal diffusion at long times. Macroscopic membrane properties, such as stretching and bending elastic moduli, are determined directly from the mesoscopic simulations. Velocity correlation functions for membrane flows are determined and analyzed.     

The use of solvent resistant nanofiltration in the recycling of the Co-Jacobsen catalyst in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of epoxides

The use of solvent resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) provides an elegant alternative to the classical heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts. The SRNF-membrane separates the catalyst from the reaction mixture and allows products and solvent to permeate. This concept is now applied to the Co-Jacobsen catalyst in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of epoxides. A range of commercially available NF-membranes and three laboratory prepared membranes were subjected to filtration tests in diethylether, isopropanol and under solvent-free conditions. The membranes with the best performance were selected to recycle the Co-Jacobsen catalyst under catalytic conditions. Finally, the membrane reactor developed for the IPA-system, was optimized through the screening of different process parameters, including temperature, pressure and membrane thickness.     

Computer simulation of nucleation in a gas-saturated liquid

Molecular dynamics methods have been used to investigate the kinetics of the liquid-gas phase transition in a two-component Lennard-Jones system at negative pressures and elastic stretches of the liquid to values close to spinodal ones. The molecular dynamics system consists of 2048 interacting particles with parameters of the Lennard-Jones potential for argon and neon. Density dependences of pressure and internal energy have been calculated for stable and metastable states of the mixture at a temperature T* approximately 0.7+/-0.01 and three values of the concentration. The location of mechanical and the diffusion spinodals has been determined. It has been established that a gas-saturated mixture retains its stability against finite variations of state variables up to stretches close to the values near the diffusion spinodal. The statistic laws of the process of destruction of the metastable state have been investigated. The lifetimes of the metastable phase have been determined. It is shown that owing to the small height of the potential barrier that separates the microheterogeneous from the homogeneous state a system of finite size has a possibility to make the reverse transition from the microheterogeneous into the homogeneous state. The lifetimes of the system in the microheterogeneous state, as well as the expectation times of the occurrence of a critical nucleus, are described by Poissonian distributions.     

Flow injection analysis of high chloride levels in electroplating baths using on-line dialysis and potentiometric detection

A method for the flow injection analysis (FIA) of high concentrations of chloride in electroplating baths using potentiometric detection is proposed. The system includes a unit of dialysis to promote dilution of samples and a tubular electrode with an homogeneous crystalline membrane as detector. The system was optimized in order to analyse samples within a broad range of concentrations and at high levels of chloride, thereby making pretreatment of the samples unnecessary. It results in a simple manifold applicable over the 4.0×10^–2 and 3.0 mol L^–1 range with a throughput of about 30 samples/h. Seven different plating bath samples were analysed by the proposed method and the quality of the results compared with those obtained by the conventional procedure. Satisfactory agreement was observed.     

Ethanol removal from fermentation broth by gas membrane extraction

A new type of membrane extraction for in situ removal of ethanol from fermentation broth is presented. Aqueous solutions of propylene glycol are used as extractants. The extractatant and the broth are separated by a microporous hydrophobic membrane which is not penetrated by the broth or by the extractant. As a consequence a thin gas layer, essentially air, is immobilised within the membrane pores and separates the two liquid phases (i.e. a gas membrane). Vapour-liquid equilibria are established at both membrane sides; because glycols reduce the ethanol content of the equilibrium vapour phase with respect to the binary system, ethanol vapours preferentially diffuse through the stagnant gas layer.     

Flow of Multicomponent Electrolyte Solutions through Narrow Pores of Nanofiltration Membranes

The slow flow of a multicomponent electrolyte solution in a narrow pore of a nanofiltration membrane is considered. The well-known semiempirical method of subdivision of electrical potential into quasi-equilibrium and streaming parts and the definition of streaming concentrations and pressure are discussed. The usefulness of this tool for solving the electrohydrodynamic equations is shown and justified: the use of a small parameter enables a system of electrohydrodynamic partial differential equations to be reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations for streaming functions. Boundary conditions for streaming functions at both the capillary inlet and outlet are derived. The proposed model is developed for the flow of a multicomponent electrolyte solution with an arbitrary number of ions. This is coupled with (i) the introduction of specific interactions between all ions and the pore wall and (ii) the inclusion of the dissociation of water in both conservation and transport equations. Effective distribution coefficients of ions are introduced that are functions of both the specific interaction potentials and the surface potential of the nanofiltration membrane material. The axial dependency of surface potential is expressed by the use of a charge regulation model from which the discontinuity in electric potential and ion pore concentrations at the pore inlet and outlet can be described.A relation between the frequently used capillary and homogeneous models of nanofiltration membranes is developed. An example of application of the homogeneous model for interpretation of experimental data on nanofiltration separation of electrolyte solutions is presented, which shows a reasonable predictive ability for the homogeneous model.     

Vectorial behavior of a homogeneous artificial bienzyme membrane

Two sequential enzymes (xanthine oxidase and uricase) were immobilized in a homogeneous artificial membrane. The first substrate (xanthine) is a competitive inhibitor for the second enzyme (uricase). The paper deals with experimental and numerical results obtained with such a membrane studied under asymmetrical boundary conditions for the inhibitor (xanthine). Asymmetry at the boundaries gives rise to an asymmetrical function. In this way, a vectorial behavior of the global system is observed; urate concentration is increasing in the second compartment and decreasing in the first one. It is demonstrated that a pseudoactive transport is able to arise from a membrane symmetrical in structure when working under functional asymmetry.     

Bond-graph description and simulation of membrane processes: Permeation in a compartmental membrane system

Network and numerical analysis of permeation through a membrane under non-stationary, stationary, and pseudo-stationary conditions is described. A compartmentalized membrane system (feed solution|membrane|stripping solution) was represented by a linear network of capacitances, diffusion, and sorption/desorption graphs. Reticulation degree of diffusion layers sufficient for quantitative modeling of the diffusion through a homogeneous membrane was estimated. It was found that for membranes of the thickness from 0.001 cm to 0.1 cm and the diffusion coefficients from 1 × 10^?7 cm² s^?1 to 1 × 10^?5 cm² s^?1, the membrane (or other diffusion layer) partition into ten slices leads to simulated time lags and stationary fluxes differing from the theoretical ones by less than 0.5 % and 1 %, respectively. Extended model with two unstirred interfacial layers and the feed and stripping solution of finite volumes was applied to characterize the effects caused by possible membrane heterogeneity.     

冷冻过程中胞内溶液均相成核温度的确定

为了研究冷冻过程中胞内溶液均相成核温度下降值与平衡凝固点下降值的关系, 提出了一种求解变组元系统成核温度的方法, 并联合细胞脱水方程, 进行了数值求解. 研究发现, 甘油-氯化钠-水三元系统的均相成核温度下降与平衡凝固点下降存在如下的线性关系: ⊿Th=1.17⊿Tm, 表明水溶液均相成核温度与溶质有关.     

Multistage electrophoresis II: treatment of a kinetic separation as a pseudoequilibrium process

An electrophoresis device is described which separates cells, particles, proteins and other separands by collecting samples having decreasing electrophoretic mobility in a train of inverted cavities while an electric field is applied between the inverted cavities and a sample cuvette containing a mixture of cells, particles, proteins or other separands. A circular plate is provided for the inverted cavities, and this circular plate is rotated to collect fractions. The system utilizes an innovative purification method that combines free electrophoresis and multistage extraction in an instrument capable of separating living cells, particles, and proteins in useful quantities at high concentrations. Most multistage processes are based on equilibrium separations, but electrophoresis is a kinetic separation; therefore, a pseudoequilibrium paradigm was developed for use in optimizing separation parameters including number of stages and electrophoresis time per stage. This paradigm allows the application of McCabe-Thiele type analysis, and it was calculated, for example, that two separands differing by 20% in electrophoretic mobility can be purified to 95% purity with acceptable yield in about seven stages. Laboratory experiments demonstrated a 95% purification in four stages of a separand originally present at 4% when electrophoretic mobilities differed by 80%.     

Total mass transport through a nonhomogeneous membrane

A recent analysis of total mass transport through a homogeneous membrane is generalized to the case of membrane nonuniformity as well as the presence of irreversible, firstorder degradation or hydrolysis. The results show that for initial conditions where none of the transported mass is present in the membrane, the total mass transported is just the ratio of the time integral of the mass concentration on the donor side of the membrane to the effective steady-state resistance of the membrane. Four specific cases are considered which can be applied to the transport analysis of biological membranes such as the skin and the cornea.     

Continuous homogeneous asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones: lessons from kinetics

Is polymer enlargement of homogeneous catalysts a tedious task? Is not batch operation with homogeneous catalysts the optimum performance point for homogeneous catalysis? Is kinetic modelling relevant to more than academic questions in homogeneous catalysis? Can all answers for a given system be answered satisfactory? In the authors’ view, answers to these questions are no, no, yes, and depends. Polymer enlargement allowed the continuous operation of transfer hydrogenation in a chemical membrane reactor with total turnover numbers of up to 2.6×10³ and a space–time yield of 0.58 kg L^?1 d^?1 with an enantiomeric ratio of 26.8 (enantiomeric excess 92.8 %) for a conversion level of 80 %. This was predicted from simulation conducted with a model from kinetic batch experiments adopted for continuous application. These simulations for the polymer‐enlarged and the unmodified catalyst show that achieving comparable performance cannot be obtained by batch operation.     

温控配体与液／液两相催化

 以作者近年的研究工作为主，对液／液两相催化研究领域取得的进展做一综述．着重介绍了以温控配体为基础的新型液／液两相催化过程温控相转移催化（thermoregulatedphasetransfercatalysis，TRPTC）和温控相分离催化（thermoregulatedphase－separablecatalysis，TPSC）的基本原理及其在高碳烯烃氢甲酰化、芳香硝基化合物的CO选择性还原及烯烃加氢等反应中的应用．基于温控配体在水中的“浊点”特性而提出的温控相转移催化概念，为从根本上解决水／有机两相催化 的适用范围受底物水溶性限制的问题提供了一条新途径．而利用温控配体在某些有机溶剂中存在临界溶解温度（CST）的特性而实现的温控相分离催化，则使在高于临界溶解温度的反应温度时为均相的反应体系，在低温（＜CST）时则分成两相，催化剂自成一相，形成一种具有“均相反应、两相分离”特色的液／液两相催化新体系．     

The effect of aprotic solvent on the selectivity of ion-exchange membranes

The effect of N,N-dimethylacetamide on the selectivity of heterogeneous (MK-40, MA-40, and MA-41) and homogeneous (MF-4SK) ion-exchange membranes is studied for the first time. Concentration dependences of electrical conductivity and diffusion permeability of the membranes were measured experimentally over wide lithium chloride concentrations; on their basis, electrodiffusion coefficients of the co- and counterions were calculated. The interrelation between the electrodiffusion coefficients and the specific moisture capacity of the heterogeneous and homogeneous membranes (which affect their selectivity) is revealed. The calculated electrodiffusion coefficients were used in the calculations of the electromigration transport numbers of counterions in the initial membranes and those processed in mixed solvent. It is shown that the heterogeneous membrane selectivity either increased under the action of the aprotic solvent to polymer material (MA-40, MA-41) or remained practically unchanged (MK-40); the selectivity of homogeneous perfluorinated membranes (e.g., MF-4SK) decreased, thus approaching that of the studied heterogeneous anion-exchange membranes.     

Drop in a metastable vapor: Laplace equation,surface tension,and minimum drop size

A van der Waals mean field theory is applied to a Lennard–Jones fluid for studying drop formation in a supersaturated vapor. A spherical surface separates the fluid particles in two homogeneous regions. The model provides densities, radii, minimum radii and excess pressure. By comparing the excess pressure with that given by the Laplace equation, surface tension is worked out. Its dependence on drop size, densities, and temperature, and its asymptotic values to planar interface are found. The model reveals the existence of an absolute minimum drop and drops with densities close to the supersaturated vapor.     

Permeation of carbon dioxide through homogeneous dense and asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes

Sorption isotherms for carbon dioxide in a homogeneous dense cellulose acetate membrane were measured by the pressure decay method at three temperatures between 20 and 40°C and gas pressures up to 1.7 MPa. Steady-state permeation rates for the same system at three temperatures between 24 and 40°C and gas pressures up to 2.2 MPa were measured by the variable volume method. The equilibrium sorption was described well in terms of the dual-mode sorption model. The pressure dependence of the mean permeability coefficient was interpreted by the total immobilization model, i.e., a limiting case of the dual-mode mobility model, where the diffusion coefficient for the Henry's law mode is not assumed to be constant but depends upon gas pressure via a modified free-volume theory. The observed pressure dependence of the mean permeability coefficient through an asymmetric cellulose acetate membrane was very similar to that through a homogeneous dense membrane. The thin skin layer in the asymmetric membrane can be simulated by a homogeneous dense membrane from the point of view of gas sorption and diffusion.