Reversible cyanovinylcarbazole-based polymer gel via photo-cross-linking reaction

A polymeric gel was prepared from a bis(3-cyanovinylcarbazole)-based derivative and a thymine-bearing calix[4]arene derivative via photo-cross-linking between 3-cyanovinylcarbazole and thymine groups by irradiation with 365 nm UV light, a novel and facile method to obtain a soft material. Values for storage and loss moduli of the bis(3-cyanovinylcarbazole)-based derivative and the thymine-bearing calix[4]arene derivative gradually increased during photoirradiation. This gel was transformed back to the solution state by decomposition of the polymer network to the monomers via irradiation with 312 nm UV light.     

Transition-metal-free,atom-economical cascade synthesis of novel 2-sulfonated-benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines and their cytotoxic activities

An efficient, transition-metal-free cascade synthetic method has been developed for new 2-aryl/heteroaryl sulfonated benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines. It is tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) mediated highly regioselective sulfonylation?cyclization?aromatization process between N-(3-aryl/heteroarylprop-2-yn-1-yl)quinolin-3-amines and aryl/heteroaryl sulfonylhydrazides. This synthetic protocol offers one-step strategy for CS and CC bond formations with a broad range of functional group tolerance. It is a simple, mild, and atom-economical route for the synthesis of various valuable functionalized 1, 2-aryl/heteroaryl sulfonated benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines in moderate yields. Since the core motif of 2-sulfonated benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridines are biologically and pharmaceutically important (TLR activity 7, 8 modulators). Additionally, the synthesized derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against six human cancer cell lines including lung (NCIH23), colon (HCT15), gastric (NUCG-3), renal (ACHN), prostate (PC-3), and breast (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. These compounds displayed significant cytotoxic activities against all tested human cancer cell lines.     

A Crosslinked Nucleic Acid Nanogel for Effective siRNA Delivery and Antitumor Therapy

Functional siRNAs are employed as cross‐linkers to direct the self‐assembly of DNA‐grafted polycaprolactone (DNA‐g‐PCL) brushes to form spherical and nanosized hydrogels via nucleic acid hybridization in which small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are fully embedded and protected for systemic delivery. Owing to the existence of multivalent mutual crosslinking events inside, the crosslinked nanogels with tunable size exhibit not only good thermostability, but also remarkable physiological stability that can resist the enzymatic degradation. As a novel siRNA delivery system with spherical nucleic acid (SNA) architecture, the crosslinked nanogels can assist the delivery of siRNAs into different cells without any transfection agents and achieve the gene silencing effectively both in vitro and in vivo, through which a significant inhibition of tumor growth is realized in the anticancer treatment.     

High-performance fiber-optic temperature sensor using low-coherence interferometry

A temperature-sensor system based on low-coherence interferometry with a fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer as a phase modulator was implemented. A measurement range of 20 to 800 degrees C with a resolution of 0.025 degrees C (corresponding to 0.0004 fringe) was achieved with a 1-mm-long fiber Fabry-Perot interferometer as the sensing element.     

Resonant enhancement of low-contrast electro-optic effects

Ferroelectric liquid crystals can be optimized for speed, but such materials tend to have small switching angles and consequently low contrast in the smectic A(*) phase. We describe a method whereby such a low-contrast but fast-switching effect can be enhanced, in theory giving the same contrast as a material with a switching angle of 22.5 degrees . This method therefore promises liquid-crystal modulators of high contrast and with speeds of the order of hundreds of nanoseconds. The theoretical basis of this method and initial results that support this analysis are presented.     

Crystal structure of a macrocyclic tetraamine isocyanato zinc(II) complex

The complex, [Zn(L)(NCO)]Cl · 3H₂O (1) (L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a = 10.530(3), b = 9.315(2), c = 27.188(3) Å, = 92.58(1)°, V = 2664.1(9)ų, and Z = 4. The zinc atom is in a distorted squarepyramidal environment with the four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and one nitrogen atom of the isocyanate ligand.     

Low temperature GaAs grown by gas source molecular beam epitaxy

Low temperature growth of GaAs by gas source molecular beam epitaxy (GSMBE) is investigated. Reflection high energy electron diffraction is used to monitor the low temperature buffer (LTB) growth and anneal conditions. Growth at low temperatures with dimeric arsenic is more sensitive to the V/III flux ratios and substrate temperatures than with As₄ used in solid source MBE. Temperature dependent conductivity and deep level transient spectroscopy measurements are presented to observe trap outdiffusion from the LTB into subsequently grown FET channels. Low temperature photoluminescence spectra show degradation of quantum well properties when LTBs are grown with increasing V/III flux ratios.     

Structure and properties of cobalt(II) complex with a tetraaza macrocycle containing 2-pyridylmethyl pendant arms

The complex [Co(L)]Cl₂·10H²O (1) (L = 2,13,-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P-1 with a = 9.731(2) Å, b = 9.789(2) Å, c = 11.998(1) Å, = 66.66(1)°, = 76.95(1)°, = 87.99(2)°, V = 1020.4(3) ų, and Z = 1. The crystal structure of 1 shows that the complex is centrosymmetric and the cobalt(II) ion has a slightly distorted octahedral geometry with four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and two nitrogen atoms of the pendent arms at the axial positions. Cyclic voltammetry for 1 undergoes reversible one-electron oxidation to the Co(III) and irreversible one-electron reduction to the Co(I).     

Synthesis and crystal structure of macrocyclic nickel(II) complex bridged by chromate

A novel compound catena-(-CrO₄-O,O)[Ni(L¹)Ni(L²)] 3H₂O (1) (L¹ = 3,5,10,12-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane and L² = 2,5,9,12-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) has been synthesized for the first time and structurally characterized. 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P with a = 9.623(1), b = 10.084(1), c = 12.723 (3) Å, = 66.74(2), = 75.20(1), = 72.02(1)°, V = 1066.2(3) ų, and Z = 2. The coordination environment around the Ni(II) ions is an axially elongated octahedron with the secondary amines of the isomeric ligands and two oxygen atoms of [CrO₄]^2–.     

Nonclassical SNAPFL analogue as a Cy5 resonance energy transfer partner

We have synthesized a new SNAPFL analogue (1) that exhibits a large Stokes shift (78 nm) (abs. 542 nm, em. 620 nm) and a good quantum yield. Because of the large overlap between the emission spectrum of 1 and the absorption spectrum of Cy5, 1 functions well as a fluorescence donor to Cy5 and has been used in FRET-based experiments using estrogen receptor site-specifically labeled with Cy5 and a receptor ligand conjugated to SNAPFL.