Molecular Simulations using Spherical Harmonics

Computer-aided drug design is to develop a chemical that binds to a target macromolecule known to play a key role in a disease state. In recognition of ligands by their protein receptors, molecular surfaces are often used because they represent the in-teracting part of molecules and they should reflex the comple-mentarity between ligand and receptor. However, assessing the surface complementarity by searching all relative position of two surfaces is often computationally expensive. The comple-mentarity of lobe-hole is very important in protein-ligand inter-actions. Spherical harmonic models based on expansions of spherical harmonic functions were used as a f‘mgerprint to ap-proximate the binding cavity and the ligand, respectively. This defines a new way to identify the complementarity between lobes and holes. The advantage of this method is that two spherical harmonic surfaces to be compared can be defined sep-arately. This method can be used as a filter to eliminate candi-dates among a large number of conformations, and it will speed up the docking procedure. Therefore, it is possible to select complementary ligands or complementary conformations of a ligand and the macromolecules, by comparing their fingerprints previously stored in a database.     

The Synthesis of Isotactic Polypropylene with Spherical Morphology via Supported Metallocene Catalyst

Tile morphology control of polypropylene products is one of the technological obstaclesto the industrial polymerization of propylene via metallocene catalyst. One efficient wayto solve this problem had been proposed that the metallocene catalyst should besupported on suitable carrier. Although lots of work has been reported'-', up to date, nobreakthrough has been got yet. The stUdies on morphology control of supportedmetallocene catalysts will be of great value in either scientific or practice…     

Spherical Packing Superlattices in Self-Assembly of Homogenous Soft Matter:Progresses and Potentials

The construction of complex superlattices using homogenous soft matter has great potential for the bottom-up fabrication of complex, nanoscale structures. This topic is not only interested in scientific exploring for new concepts of supramolecular crystals with nanometer in sizes, which is about thousand times larger in volumes than those of normal crystals, but also practically important to provide construction principles of metamaterials which are artificially structured materials for controll...     

Study on the Radius of an Electrical Spherical Micelle： Functional Theoretical Approach

For the purpose of eliminating restriction, the Poisson-Bokzmann (PB) equation, which represents the potential of the electrical double layer of spherical miceUes, can be solved analytically only under the lower potential condition, a kind of iterative method in functional analysis theory has been used. The radius of the spherical particle can be obtained from the diagram of the second iterative solution of the potential versus the distance from the center of the particle. The influences of the concentration of the ions, the charge number of ions, the aggregation number of the particle, the dielectric constant of solvent and the temperature of system on the radius also have been studied.     

Study of the Electrical Double Layer of a Spherical Micelle: Functional Theoretical Approach

The electrical double layer theory is the base of the colloid stability theory (DLVO theory), and the PB eq. is a key to the study of the layer1,2. For a spherical particle, the PB eq. is (1) where and are the dielectric constant of the medium, the valence of ions, the elementary charge, the concentration of ions far away from the particle, the Boltzmann's constant and the temperature of the system, respectively. Since this eq. is a second order nonlinear differential one, only the anal…     

Simulation of Surface-Induced Morphology Transition and Phase Diagram of Linear Triblock Copolymers under Spherical Confinement

In this work, the nanostructures and phase diagrams of lamella-forming and cylinder-forming ABC linear triblock copolymers confined in spherical cavities are investigated on the basis of real-space self-consistent field theory. We designate specific monomer-monomer interactions and block composition and study morphology transformation under spherical confinement with a neutral surface. Various potentially valuable morphological structures, such as two-or three-colored spheres, rotational structu...     

Spherical α-Ni(OH)2 nanoarchitecture grown on graphene as advanced electrochemical pseudocapacitor materials

This work reports a new graphene-based composite for supercapacitor material, and the maximum specific capacitance of 1760.72 F g(-1) at a scan rate of 5 mV s(-1), with excellent cycling stability.     

Determination of Proton Diffusion Coefficient in Spherical Nickel Hydroxide Using Potential Step Measurement on Single Beads

The Potential step measurements are carried out on single beads of nickel hydroxide and the results are interpreted with a dual structure model featuring fast and slow diffusing components The intrinsic diffusion coefficients for the two components are found to be in the order of magnitude 10^-7 and 10^-13-10^-14 cm^2s^-1, respectively, with an apparent value for the slow component in the order of 10^-10 cm^2s^-1.     

Studies on the Preparation of Polymer Spherical Symmetry GRIN Sphere and Controlling its Gradient Index Distribution

In this paper, a polymer spherical symmetry GRIN sphere lens were prepared by the suspension-diffusion-copolymerization(SDC) technique, selecting methyl methacrylate(MMA) as monomer M1 and acrylic 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester(3FEA) as M2. The radial distribution of refractive index of the lens was measured by the shearing interference method, which demonstrated that the quadratic refractive-index distribution was formed in the sphere lens, and its △ n=0.019.     

Corrected Debye-Hückel analysis of surface complexation; III. Spherical particle charging including ion condensation

Statistical mechanics has been used to derive a model for the charging of a spherical particle in a salt solution to complement our experimental studies and gain a deeper understanding of the processes involved in surface complexation. Our chosen model goes beyond the equilibrium constants and the Gouy-Chapmann theory currently used in surface complexation models. The proton adsorption is taken to occur at a harmonic potential well on the surface characterized by a frequency v and a well depth u(0). Outside the particle surface there is a capacitor layer of width w(c) which is impenetrable to the salt ions. The diffuse screening of the charged particle is described by a corrected Debye-Hückel analysis accounting for ion size in the ion-ion interactions. To account also for nonlinear electrostatic response a layer of condensed counterions has been introduced. The criterion for the onset of ion condensation is that the electrostatic field exceeds a linear response criterion. Ion size effects are accounted for in terms of hole-corrected electrostatic energies and excluded volume. The model has been applied to titrated surface charge data on goethite (alpha-FeOOH) at various background concentrations and good agreement between the experimental data and the model was obtained. Both the size of the screening ions and the central particle size were shown to be of importance for the surface charge.     

Organic Spherical Nucleic Acids for the Transport of a NIR-II-Emitting Dye Across the Blood–Brain Barrier

DNA nanotechnology plays an increasingly important role in the biomedical field; however, its application in the design of organic nanomaterials is underexplored. Herein, we report the use of DNA nanotechnology to transport a NIR-II-emitting nanofluorophore across the blood–brain barrier (BBB), facilitating non-invasive imaging of brain tumors. Specifically, the DNA block copolymer, PS-b-DNA, is synthesized through a solid-phase click reaction. We demonstrate that its self-assembled structure shows exceptional cluster effects, among which BBB-crossing is the most notable. Therefore, PS-b-DNA is utilized as an amphiphilic matrix to fabricate a NIR-II nanofluorephore, which is applied in in vivo bioimaging. Accordingly, the NIR-II fluorescence signal of the DNA-based nanofluorophore localized at a glioblastoma is 3.8-fold higher than the NIR-II fluorescence signal of the PEG-based counterpart. The notably increased imaging resolution will significantly benefit the further diagnosis and therapy of brain tumors.     

Flower-like Spherical α-Ni(OH)2 Derived NiP2 as Superior Anode Material of Sodium-Ion Batteries

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are promising anode candidates for sodium-ion batteries, due to their high theoretical specific capacity and working potential. However, the low conductivity and excessive volume variation of TMPs during insertion/extraction of sodium ions result in a poor rate performance and long-term cycling stability, largely limiting their practical application. In this paper, NiP₂ nanoparticles encapsulated in three-dimensional graphene (NiP₂@rGO) were obtained from the flower-like spherical α-Ni(OH)₂ by phosphating and carbon encapsulation processes. When used as a sodium-ion batteries anode material, the NiP₂@rGO composite shows an excellent cycling performance (117 mA h g⁻¹ at 10 A g⁻¹ after 8000 cycles). The outstanding electrochemical performance of NiP₂@rGO is ascribed to the synergistic effect of the rGO and NiP₂. The rGO wrapped on the NiP₂ nanoparticles build a conductive way, improving ionic and electronic conductivity. The effective combination of NiP₂ nanoparticles with graphene greatly reduces the aggregation and pulverization of NiP₂ nanoparticles during the discharge/charge process. This study may shed light on the construction of high-performance anode materials for sodium-ion batteries and to other electrode materials.     

Physical and Bioengineering Properties of Polyvinyl Alcohol Lens-Shaped Particles Versus Spherical Polyelectrolyte Complex Microcapsules as Immobilisation Matrices for a Whole-Cell Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase

Direct comparison of key physical and chemical-engineering properties of two representative matrices for multipurpose immobilisations was performed for the first time. Polyvinyl alcohol lens-shaped particles LentiKats® and polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules were characterised by advanced techniques with respect to the size distribution of the particles, their inner morphology as revealed by fluorescent probe staining, mechanical resistance, size-exclusion properties, determination of effective diffusion coefficient and environmental scanning electron microscope imaging. While spherical polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules composed of a rigid semipermeable membrane and a liquid core are almost uniform in shape and size (diameter of 0.82 mm; RSD?=?5.6 %), lens-shaped LentiKats® are characterised by wider size distribution (diameter of 3.65 mm; RSD?=?10.3 % and height of 0.341 mm; RSD?=?32.3 %) and showed the same porous structure throughout their whole volume at the mesoscopic (micrometre) level. Despite differences in their inner structure and surface properties, the pore diameter of?～?2.75 nm for regular polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules and?～?1.89 nm for LentiKats® were similar. These results were used for mathematical modelling, which provided the estimates of the effective diffusion coefficient of sucrose. This value was 1.67?×?10^?10 m² s^?1 for polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules and 0.36?×?10^?10 m² s^?1 for LentiKats®. Recombinant cells Escherichia coli-overexpressing enzyme cyclopentanone monooxygenase were immobilised in polyelectrolyte complex microcapsules and LentiKats® for comparison of their operational stability using model Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of (±)-cis-bicyclo [3.2.0] hept-2-en-6-one to regioisomeric lactones as important chiral synthons for potential pharmaceuticals. Both immobilisation matrices rendered high operational stability for whole-cell biocatalyst with no reduction in the biooxidation rate over 18 repeated reaction cycles.     

Mechanism of the Oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine Catalyzed by Peroxidase-Like Pt Nanoparticles Immobilized in Spherical Polyelectrolyte Brushes: A Kinetic Study

Experimental and kinetic modelling studies are presented to investigate the mechanism of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidation by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) catalyzed by peroxidase-like Pt nanoparticles immobilized in spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (SPB−Pt). Due to the high stability of SPB−Pt colloidal, this reaction can be monitored precisely in situ by UV/VIS spectroscopy. The time-dependent concentration of the blue-colored oxidation product of TMB expressed by different kinetic models was used to simulate the experimental data by a genetic fitting algorithm. After falsifying the models with abundant experimental data, it is found that both H₂O₂ and TMB adsorb on the surface of Pt nanoparticles to react, indicating that the reaction follows the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. A true rate constant k, characterizing the rate-determining step of the reaction and which is independent on the amount of catalysts used, is obtained for the first time. Furthermore, it is found that the product adsorbes strongly on the surface of nanoparticles, thus inhibiting the reaction. The entire analysis provides a new perspective to study the catalytic mechanism and evaluate the catalytic activity of the peroxidase-like nanoparticles.     

Application of the Spherical Harmonic Model to the ν(CO) Vibrational Spectra of Some Fe(CO)4 and M(CO)5 (M=Cr, W) Transition Metal Cluster Carbonyl Species

When the Fe(CO)₄ and M(CO)₅ (M=Cr, W) groups are co-ordinated in C_3v and C_4v fashion, respectively, in transition metal carbonyl cluster species they contain two sets of non-symmetry related carbonyl groups. In the application of the spherical harmonic model (SHM) to the interpretation of the infrared spectra of these compounds it proves necessary first to treat these as for a normal, isolated, M(CO)₄ or M(CO)₅ group and then apply the SHM. This recognition gives insights into the general application of the SHM.