A new approach to describe the skin surface physical properties in vivo

In the present paper, we describe a new mechanical method characterising the physico-chemical properties of human skin and their variations along with liquid exposure scenario to the skin surface. A specific bio-tribometer has been developed to study the physical properties of the skin in vivo by measuring the maximum adhesion force between the skin and the bio-tribometer. We showed that the lipidic film present on skin surface was responsible for skin adhesion due to capillary phenomena. The measure of pull-off force between skin and bio-tribometer has permitted to estimate the liquid/vapour surface tension of the lipidic film (γ_LV ≈ 6.3 mJ/m² in 30-year-old volunteer). The kinetic of sorption/desorption (sorption means indifferently adsorption and absorption process) of distilled water from the skin has been observed through the variation of the indenter/skin pull-off force versus time after distilled water application to the skin surface. This permits to follow in real time the variation of the skin physico-chemical properties after liquid application onto the skin surface. Finally, the increasing of skin friction coefficient after distilled water application onto skin surface was explained by the capillary adhesion force between the probe and the skin.     

伐地那非衍生物的合成和体内活性评价

首次完成了伐地那非衍生物—2-[2-乙氧基-5-(4-乙基-哌嗪-1-磺酰基)-吡啶]-5-甲基-7-丙基-3H-咪唑[5,1-f]-三 嗪-4-酮(1)的合成, 并且对其进行了家兔阴茎勃起的体内实验, 结果表明该化合物无壮阳作用.     

具有协同表面配体的水溶性稀土上转换发光纳米材料用于活体淋巴结显像

通过水热法,以油酸和两亲性聚乙烯吡咯烷酮(PVP)为协同表面配体,一步水热合成水溶性稀土上转换发光纳米材料(NaYF4:20％ Yb 1％ Tm).稀土纳米粒径尺寸平均为16 nm,在水溶液中稳定单分散,具有较强上转换发光.具有较低的细胞毒性,可用于上转换发光细胞成像.并进一步用于活体淋巴结显像,表现出高的信噪比.     

Topical application of solubilized Reseda luteola extract reduces ultraviolet B-induced inflammation in vivo

We investigated the skin tolerance and anti-inflammatory potential of a nanoparticular solubilisate of a luteolin-rich Reseda extract (s-RE) in two independent studies in vivo. Reseda luteola extract containing 40% flavonoids was solubilized with polysorbate, resulting in product micelles with a diameter of 10 (±1.5) nm. Standardized inflammation was induced by irradiating test areas on the back of healthy volunteers with defined doses of ultraviolet B (UVB). In the first study different concentrations of s-RE were tested in 10 volunteers to evaluate dose-dependency of anti-inflammatory effects of s-RE. In the second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study a defined concentration of s-RE (2.5% w/w) was tested in 40 volunteers in comparison to the vehicle (glycerol) and hydrocortisone (1% w/w). s-RE dose-dependently reduced UVB-induced erythema when applied 30 min before irradiation. To a lesser extent, topical application of s-RE after irradiation also reduced UVB-induced erythema. s-RE was as effective as hydrocortisone, whereas the vehicle had no effect. Occlusive application of s-RE on non-irradiated test sites did not cause any skin irritation. Due to excellent skin tolerance combined with potent anti-inflammatory properties s-RE bears potential especially for the prevention but also for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions such as UV-induced erythema.     

Selective functionalization of a genetically encoded alkene-containing protein via "photoclick chemistry" in bacterial cells

We report a tetrazole-based, photoclick chemistry that can be employed to selectively functionalize an alkene genetically encoded in a protein inside E. coli cells. The reaction involved the treatment of E. coli cells with cell-permeable tetrazoles followed by a brief photo irradiation at 302 nm (4 min) and an overnight incubation at 4 degrees C. This in vivo alkene functionalization procedure was simple, straightforward, and nontoxic to E. coli cells. Additionally, fluorescent adducts were formed, facilitating the monitoring of the reaction in vivo. This reaction should offer a new tool for the study of alkene-containing proteins in living systems.     

A ratiometric near-infrared naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe with high sensitivity for detecting Fe2+ in vivo

Iron is one of the essential trace elements in the human body. It plays an important role in human biology and pathology. Deregulation of iron levels in cells is associated with disease development. In this work, we synthesized a novel near-infrared intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) based ratiometric fluorescent probe to detect Fe²⁺, by using naphthalimide and indole moieties as building blocks. Our work showed that the radiometric probe has excellent selectivity, sensitivity and rapid response. Moreover, we could successfully perform real-time monitoring of Fe²⁺ in HeLa cells and C. elegans.     

A new method of high-speed cellular protein separation and insight into subcellular compartmentalization of proteins

Transglutaminase (TGM)-2 is a ubiquitous protein with important cellular functions such as regulation of cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, apoptosis, energy metabolism, and stress signaling. We identified several proteins that may interact with TGM-2 through a discovery-based proteomics method via pull down of flag-tagged TGM-2 peptide fragments. The distribution of these potential binding partners of TGM-2 was studied in subcellular fractions separated by density using novel high-speed centricollation technology. Centricollation is a compressed air-driven, low-temperature stepwise ultracentrifugation procedure where low extraction volumes can be processed in a relatively short time in non-denaturing separation conditions with high recovery yield. The fractions were characterized by immunoblots against known organelle markers. The changes in the concentrations of the binding partners were studied in cells expressing short hairpin RNA against TGM-2 (shTG). Desmin, mitochondrial intramembrane cleaving protease (PARL), protein tyrosine kinase (NTRK3), and serine protease (PRSS3) were found to be less concentrated in the 8.5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% sucrose fractions (SFs) from the lysate of shTG cells. The Golgi-associated protein (GOLGA2) was predominantly localized in 15% SF fraction, and in shTG, this shifted to predominantly in the 8.5% SF and showed larger aggregations in the cytosol of cells on immunofluorescent staining compared to control. Based on the relative concentrations of these proteins, we propose how trafficking of such proteins between cellular compartments can occur to regulate cell function. Centricollation is useful for elucidating biological function at the molecular level, especially when combined with traditional cell biology techniques.     

Residue choice defines efficiency and influence of bioorthogonal protein modification via genetically encoded strain promoted Click chemistry

GFP and a FRET compatible dye were used to assess the influence of genetically encoded aryl azide positioning on Click chemistry-based protein conjugation. While modification efficiency of the sampled mutants using a strain promoted reaction varied by as much as ～10 fold, there was no simple correlation with accessibility of the aryl azide on GFP's surface. One labeled GFP mutant (Gln204AzPhe) exhibited high efficiency FRET (～90%) and an unprecedented pseudo-Stokes shift of 126 nm.     

Recent advances in the development of activatable multifunctional probes for in vivo imaging of caspase-3

Caspases are a family of proteases that play critical roles in controlling inflammation and cell death.Apoptosis is a caspase-3 mainly controlled behavior to avoid inflammation and damage to surrounding cells,whereas anomalistic cell apoptosis may be associated with many diseases.The detection and imaging of caspase-3 will be of great significance in evaluating the early therapeutic effect of tumors.Developing smart fluorescent probes may be helpful for the visualization of the rapeutic effect compared with "always on" probes.Thus,more and more works toward activatable fluorescent probes for caspase-3 imaging have been reported.In addition,multifunctional probes have also been designed to further improve the imaging of caspase-3.Herein,this review systematically summarized the representative wo rk of caspase-3 from the perspective of molecular design that it will play a guiding role in the design of probes that respond to caspase-3.Also,challenges and perspectives toward the field for imaging of cell apoptosis(caspase-3) are also discussed.     

Developing a genetically encoded green fluorescent protein mutant for sensitive light-up fluorescent sensing and cellular imaging of Hg(II)

Hg(II) is well-known for quenching fluorescence in a distance dependent manner. Nevertheless, when we exposed the fluorophore of a green fluorescent protein (GFP) toward Hg(II), through H148C mutation, the GFP fluorescence could be “lighted up” by Hg(II) down to sub-nM level. The detection linear range is 0.5–3.0 nM for protein solutions at 8.0 nM. The GFPH148C protein displayed a promising selectivity toward Hg(II) and also the cellular imaging capacity. Spectra measurements suggested that the ground-state redistribution of protein contributed to the fluorescence enhancement, which was found not limited to Hg(II), and thus presented an opening for building a pool of GFP-based chemosensors toward other heavy metal ions.     

A new method for gaining insight into the chemistry of drying mineral surfaces using ATR-FTIR

Although it is understood that the chemical environment at a drying surface is likely to be quite different from that at a fully hydrated surface, the difficulty of quantitative measurement has meant that this potentially crucial aspect of surface chemistry has gone largely overlooked. As a result, most of our understanding comes from measurement before and after drying, with a gray region of speculation in between. An interesting natural example is the paradoxical reduction of Mn oxides in moist soils as they dry, because drying is usually considered an oxidative process. This phenomenon indicates that important chemical changes are occurring during drying and an approach is needed to probe the chemistry of drying surfaces. Here we show the suitability of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy for real-time, in situ investigation of the drying solid-water interface, using the change in surface pH as an example. This was achieved by adsorbing thymol blue pH indicator (pK(a)=1.65) onto a natural Mn-rich clay and observing the real-time pH change, which dropped from pH 5 to below pH 1.65 with the removal of free water from the surface.     

有机化学基本理论问题新的研究方法、新的观念和新 的思维模式

有机化学基本理论研究的总结和回顾。15年来,在国家自然科学基金委员会的支持下,为了认识电子离域的本质,在量子化学领域,我们建立和发展了新的作用能分解方法和大型计算程序,发展和完善了轨道定域化程序。我们的方法可以为任何一个共轭分子(无论是平面的还是非平面的,是含共轭双键的还是含累积双键的),提供一个π与σ体系彻底分离的片断分子轨道基组。这个轨道基组不仅满足分子特殊的对称性,而且还具有确切的电子占据数。与Hückel理论完全不同,我们强调：π电子的离域除了对它原先的定域π体系有强烈的失稳定作用外,它还可通过π-σ空间作用,对σ构架产生强烈的稳定作用。据此,我们提出了芳环化合物新的分类准则,揭示了芳香环流起因的必要条件,定义环的刚度为芳香性一个新判据。发现,分子内基团间的局部作用(CT和EX)同它们对分子整体性能的影响是完全相反的。就构象而言,稳定的CT作用是相斥的,失稳定的EX作用是相吸的;就电子转移而言,大的EX作用是电荷转移的助动力。其助动性在于,它能降低因CT作用而产生的给体自身对电荷转移的阻力。论证了,在二苯乙烯类分子中,π-π共轭,π-σ超共轭和σ-σ非键轨道作用都是失稳定的。与σ-σ和π-σ作用相比,π-π作用对于分子构像的影响是非常微弱的。与经典的思维模式相反,有机分子总是倾向于较小的失稳定,而不是较大的稳定。为了维持尽可能最稳定的电子总能量,在σ-σ作用的驱动下,共轭基团应该尽量地偏离共平面。阻止分子扭曲的(非电子作用力)是核排斥力。因此,一个空间拥挤的构象可以是能量有利的构象。在我们的研究中,经典有机结构理论的整体因果关系已经全面地被颠倒。     

The protein kinase DYRK1A phosphorylates the splicing factor SF3b1/SAP155 at Thr434, a novel in vivo phosphorylation site

Background  

The U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) component SF3b1/SAP155 is the only spliceosomal protein known to be phosphorylated concomitant with splicing catalysis. DYRK1A is a nuclear protein kinase that has been localized to the splicing factor compartment. Here we describe the identification of DYRK1A as a protein kinase that phosphorylates SF3b1in vitro and in cultivated cells.     

Labeling of a self-hardening bone substitute using ruthenium tris-bipyridine complexes, for the analysis of its in vivo metabolism

A self-setting cellulose scaffold, used as a component of an injectable bone substitute, was labeled with ruthenium tris-bipyridine complexes functionalized by triethoxysilane groups. The labeling yield was found to vary according to the number and location of Si(OR)₃ groups present on the ruthenium complex backbone. For label loadings, less than 0.1 wt%, no significant modification of the rheological properties of the gel was observed.     

用于正电子断层扫描成像的68Ga标记PM2.5模拟粒子的制备及其活体示踪

将黑色素纳米颗粒(melanin nanoparticle,MNP)经聚乙二醇(polyethylene glycol,PEG)修饰制备得到PEG-MNP,随后通过与放射性的⁶⁸Ga³⁺离子螯合,高标记产率地制备得到⁶⁸Ga-PEG-MNP,标记产物稳定性良好。进一步将⁶⁸Ga-PEG-MNP通过雾化方式制备得到⁶⁸Ga-PEG-MNP PM_2.5(particulate matter 2.5,size<2.5μm)模拟颗粒,其经雾化小鼠吸入体内后,通过正电子断层扫描(positron emission tomography,PET)成像对小鼠进行全身显影,结果可见雾化的⁶⁸Ga-PEG-MNP PM_2.5模拟颗粒可由气管向肺部双叶区域扩散,并滞留于肺。体内的PET成像结果与离体放射自显影结果高度一致。     

FTIR and NMR study of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and hydroxyapatite implant degradation under in vivo conditions

The influence of hydroxyapatite (HAP) addition on the rate and mechanism of lactide-co-glycolide copolymer (PGLA) degradation after implantation (in vivo study) was analyzed and compared with the process taking place during in vitro studies. Structural and phase changes of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) and its composite with hydroxyapatite were determined using IR and NMR spectroscopy.Degradation of PGLA and PGLA + HAP composite in biological environment proceeds faster than under in vitro condition. Concentration of glycolidyl units in the copolymer chain decreases and that of lactidyl units increases during in vivo degradation both, in PGLA and in PGLA + HAP composite. However, in the case of the composite the decrease of glycolidyl units concentration is slower and after 6 weeks of degradation the contents of lactidyl and glycolidyl units remain stable. On the other hand, PGLA + HAP composite degrades faster than pure PGLA. The addition of HAP nanoparticles distinctly accelerates degradation of PGLA copolymer which is probably connected with the increase of hydrophilicity of the composite and inhibition of semi-crystalline lactidyl domains formation during the degradation process. Observation of the bone tissue after implantation of PGLA + HAP allows to conclude that the degradation of the composite occurs simultaneously with the implant replacement by the bone cells.     

Dye-doped silica nanoparticle labels/protein microarray for detection of protein biomarkers

We report a dye-encapsulated silica nanoparticle as a label, with the advantages of high fluorescence intensity, photostability, and biocompatibility, in conjunction with microarray technology for sensitive immunoassay of a biomarker, interleukin-6 (IL-6), on a microarray format. The tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(ii) chloride hexahydrate (Rubpy) dye was incorporated into silica nanoparticles using a simple one-step microemulsion synthesis. In this synthesis process, Igepal CA520 was used as the surfactant, therefore, no requirement of cosolvent during the synthesis and the particle size was reduced comparing to the commonly used Triton surfactant system. The nanoparticles are uniform in size with a diameter of 50 nm. The microarray fluorescent immunoassay approach based on dye-doped silica nanoparticle labels has high sensitivity for practical applications with a limit of detection for IL-6 down to 0.1 ng mL(-1). The calibration curve is linear over the range from 0.1 ng mL(-1) to 10 ng mL(-1). Furthermore, results illustrated that the assay is highly specific for IL-6 in the presence of range of cytokines or proteins. The RuDS dye-labeled nanoparticles in connection with protein microarrays show the promise for clinical diagnosis of biomarkers.     

Redox chemistry of o- and m -hydroxycinnamic acids: A pulse radiolysis study

Radiation chemical reactions of^•OH, O^•−, N₃ ^•and e _aq ^t- witho- and m-hydroxycinnamic acids were studied. The second-orderrateconstantsforthereaction of^•OH with ortho and meta isomers in buffer solution at pH7 are 3.9±0.2 × 10⁹ and 4.4 ± 0.3 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1 respectively. At pH 3 the rate with the ortho isomer was halved (1.6 ± 0.4 × 10⁹ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1) but it was unaffected in the case of meta isomer (k = 4.2±0.6 × 10⁹dm³mol^-1 s^-1). The rate constant in the reaction of N₃ ^• with the ortho isomer is lower by an order of magnitude (k = 4.9 ± 0.4 × 10⁸ dm³ mol^-1s^-1). The rates of the reaction of e _aq ^t- with ortho and meta isomers were found to be diffusion controlled. The transient absorption spectrum measured in the^•OH witho-hydroxycinnamic acid exhibited an absorption maximum at 360 nm and in meta isomer the spectrum was blue-shifted (330 nm) with a shoulder at 390 nm. A peak at 420 nm was observed in the reaction of O^bb−with theo-isomer whereas the meta isomer has a maximum at 390 and a broad shoulder at 450 nm. In the reaction of the absorption peaks were centred at 370–380 nm in both the isomers. The underlying reaction mechanism is discussed.     

In vitro macrophage uptake and in vivo biodistribution of long-circulation nanoparticles with poly(ethylene-glycol)-modified PLA (BAB type) triblock copolymer

The effect of the PEG-grafted degree in the range of 0–30% on the in vitro macrophage uptake and in vivo biodistribution of poly(ethylene glycol)–poly(lactic acid)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PELE) nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated in this paper. The prepared NPs were characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, hydrophilicity, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) residual on nanoparticles surfaces as well as drug loading. The macrophage uptake and biodistribution including plasma clearance kinetics following intravenous administration in mice of the NPs labeled by 6-coumarin were evaluated. The results showed that, except for the particles size, the hydrophilicity, superficial charges and in vitro phagocytosis amount of NPs are dependent on the PEG content in the copolymers greatly. The higher of the PEG content, the more hydrophilicity and the nearer to neutral surface charge was observed. And the prolonged circulation half-life (t_1/2) of the PELE NPs in plasma was also strongly depended on the PEG content with the similar trend. In particular for PELE30 (containing 30% of PEG content) NPs, with the lowest phagocytosis uptake accompanied the highest hydrophilicity and approximately neutral charge, it had the longest half-life in vivo with almost 12-fold longer and accumulation in the reticuloendothelial system organs close to 1/2-fold lower than those of reference PLA. These results demonstrated that the PELE30 NPs with neutral charge and suitable size has a promising potential as a long-circulating oxygen carrier system with desirable biocompatibility and biofunctionality.     

三维光学断层技术在活体成像中的应用

三维光学断层成像(Three Dimensional Optical Tomography Imaging)是以光学探针标记的分子或细胞为成像源,在外部光源的激发下产生发射光,通过测量组织边界处的光强,结合光子在组织中的传播模型,来重建出组织内部发射光分布图像以及组织光学参数。三维光学断层成像能够提供目标物在生物体内的分布信息,克服平面成像的局限性。因此,在肿瘤检测、基因表达、蛋白质分子检测、揭示机体功能变化等方面有着很大的应用潜力。本文总结了光学相干断层成像(Optical Coherence Tomography,OCT)、荧光分子断层成像(Fluorescent Molecular Tomography,FMT)、生物自发光断层成像(Bioluminescence Tomography,BLT)、切伦科夫荧光断层成像(Cerenkov Luminescence Tomography,CLT)等三维光学断层活体成像技术的新进展,分析了其在实际应用中所面临的技术挑战并探讨了相应的解决方案。