Shape-controlled synthesis of metal nanostructures: the case of silver

The concept of shape-controlled synthesis is discussed by investigating the growth mechanisms for silver nanocubes, nanowires, and nanospheres produced through a polymer-mediated polyol process. Experimental parameters, such as the concentration of AgNO(3) (the precursor to silver), the molar ratio between poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP, the capping agent) and AgNO(3), and the strength of chemical interaction between PVP and various crystallographic planes of silver, were found to determine the crystallinity of seeds (e.g., single crystal versus decahedral multiply twinned particles). In turn, the crystallinity of a seed and the extent of the PVP coverage on the seed were both instrumental in controlling the morphology of final product. The ability to generate silver nanostructures with well-defined morphologies provides a great opportunity to experimentally and systematically study the relationship between their properties and geometric shapes.     

Demulsification of Solids‐Stabilized Emulsions Under Microwave Radiation

Experimental data are presented to show the influence of solid particles on demulsification. It was found that the solid particles could effectively resist demulsification. Compared with conventional heating, microwave radiation can enhance the demulsification rate by an order of magnitude and increase the demulsification effectiveness. The demulsification effectiveness of the emulsions stabilized by graphite powder can reach 82%–89% in a very short time under microwave radiation, whilst that of the emulsions stabilized by barium sulfate can attain 100% under similar conditions.     

Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of MMA Initiated by 2‐(4‐chloromethyl‐phenyl)‐benzoxazole and Fluorescent Property of PMMA

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of MMA was conducted using 2‐(4‐chloromethyl‐phenyl)‐benzoxazole as initiator, CuCl as catalyst, and PMDETA as ligand. The results show that the polymerization is a first order reaction with respect to monomer concentration. The polymerization displayed living character as evidenced by a liner increase of monomer weight with conversation and a relatively narrow distribution (Mn/Mw range from 1.30 to 1.45). The structure of PMMA was analyzed by ¹H‐NMR and proved the polymerization could be controlled to some degree. The optical property of the initiator was well preserved in the resulting PMMA, and the end‐functionalized PMMA exhibited fluorescent emission at 360 nm whether in DMF solution or in film state.     

Glucose oxidase-functionalized fluorescent gold nanoclusters as probes for glucose

Creation and application of noble metal nanoclusters have received continuous attention. By integrating enzyme activity and fluorescence for potential applications, enzyme-capped metal clusters are more desirable. This work demonstrated a glucose oxidase (an enzyme for glucose)-functionalized gold cluster as probe for glucose. Under physiological conditions, such bioconjugate was successfully prepared by an etching reaction, where tetrakis (hydroxylmethyl) phosphonium-protected gold nanoparticle and thioctic acid-modified glucose oxidase were used as precursor and etchant, respectively. These bioconjugates showed unique fluorescence spectra (λ_{em max} = 650 nm, λ_{ex max} = 507 nm) with an acceptable quantum yield (ca. 7%). Moreover, the conjugated glucose oxidase remained active and catalyzed reaction of glucose and dissolved O₂ to produce H₂O₂, which quenched quantitatively the fluorescence of gold clusters and laid a foundation of glucose detection. A linear range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶–140 × 10⁻⁶ M and a detection limit of 0.7 × 10⁻⁶ M (S/N = 3) were obtained. Also, another horseradish peroxidase/gold cluster bioconjugate was produced by such general synthesis method. Such enzyme/metal cluster bioconjugates represented a promising class of biosensors for biologically important targets in organelles or cells.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of core–shell TiO~2@ZnIn_2S_4 photocatalyst

A novel core–shell TiO2@ZnIn2S4composite has been synthesized successfully by a simple and flexible hydrothermal route using TiO2as precursors.The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction,UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra and transmission electron microscopy.The photocatalytic properties of samples were tested by degradation of aqueous methylene blue（MB）under visible light irradiation.It was found that the as-synthesized TiO2@ZnIn2S4photocatalyst was more effcient than TiO2and ZnIn2S4in the photocatalytic degradation of MB.Moreover,TEM images confrmed the TiO2@ZnIn2S4nanoparticles possessed a well-proportioned core–shell morphology.     

高耐热PLLA/PDLA共混物的热性能和结晶结构研究

通过熔融共混法制备了一系列等比例聚左旋乳酸(PLLA)/聚右旋乳酸(PDLA)共混试样,采用差示扫描量热法(DSC)、核磁共振(13C-NMR)及广角X射线衍射(WAXD)等方法对共混产物进行了表征和研究分析.结果表明,等比例PLLA和PDLA熔融共混生成了立构复合物(stereocomplex,sc),同时部分均聚物发生酯交换反应,生成了立体嵌段物(stereoblock,sb),从而在DSC升温曲线上sc晶体处出现特殊的熔融双峰现象;随着熔融共混温度升高,sc晶体的生成率和结晶度逐渐下降;聚乳酸立构复合物的加工稳定性较好,二次加工后,sc晶体熔点基本不变,生成率和结晶度提高;由于sc晶体的存在,PLLA/PDLA共混物的耐热性能提高,退火热处理后耐热性能得到进一步提高.这对于开发高耐热聚乳酸及其加工应用具有重要的应用价值.     

刺激响应型聚合物前药

前药(prodrug)是一类经过生物体内转化后才具有药理作用的化合物。与传统纳米药物输送系统相比具有载药率确定、稳定性高、爆释现象小等优点。但是,前药本身也面临着可控性,特异性释药不足而引起效果不佳等问题。因此,能够靶向病灶部位并能够针对病灶部位进行特异性释药的刺激敏感型前药受到广泛研究。本文以国内外学者及本课题组的研究成果为基础,以肿瘤部位特殊的生理环境为背景,综述了近年来pH敏感、温敏、氧化还原敏感、酶敏感等生物刺激响应型抗肿瘤聚合物前药的研究进展。     

Copper-Catalyzed Amination of Aryl Halides with Aqueous Ammonia under Mild Conditions

A Cu(I) generated in situ from CuSO₄·5H₂O/sodium ascorbate catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction of aryl halides with aqueous ammonia for the synthesis of primary aromatic amines has been developed. Key to the success included the application of aqueous ammonia under a homogeneous condition.