Lanthanide-transition-metal carbonyl complexes. 1. Syntheses and structures of ytterbium(II) solvent-separated ion pairs and isocarbonyl polymeric arrays of tetracarbonylcobaltate

Transmetalation reactions of metallic ytterbium with Hg[Co(CO)(4)](2) in the coordinating solvents pyridine and THF yield the solvent-separated ion pairs [Yb(L)(6)] [Co(CO)(4)](2) (1a, L = Pyr; 2a, L = THF). The IR spectrum of 1a in pyridine indicates that the tetracarbonylcobaltate anion is not directly bonded to the divalent Yb cation owing to the strong coordinating ability of pyridine. On the other hand, IR spectra of 2a in THF are concentration dependent. In dilute solutions there is an equilibrium between the solvent-separated ion pair and a weak contact ion pair. Higher concentrations of 2a facilitate the formation of a tight ion pair that has a low-frequency isocarbonyl absorption. Remarkably, complexes 1a and 2a are easily transformed in toluene into the two-dimensional sheetlike arrays [(Pyr)(4)Yb[(mu-CO)(2)Co(CO)(2)](2)](infinity) (1b) and [(THF)(2)Yb[(mu-CO)(3)Co(CO)](2).Tol](infinity) (2b). The two-dimensional frameworks are supported by isocarbonyl linkages. Infrared spectra of toluene solutions substantiate the existence of the isocarbonyl bridges with low-frequency absorptions at 1780 cm(-1). Compounds 1b and 2b belong to a rare class of lanthanide-transition-metal carbonyl extended arrays, only three others of which have been structurally established. Dissolving 1b in pyridine regenerates 1a, but the complete conversion of 2b into 2a cannot be achieved. Crystal data: 1a.Pyr is monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 11.171(1) A, b = 11.925(1) A, c = 33.978(1) A, beta = 95.10(1) degrees, Z = 4; 2a is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 17.724(1) A, b = 12.468(1) A, c = 18.413(1) A, beta = 100.34(1) degrees, Z = 4; 1b is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 11.047(1) A, b = 13.423(1) A, c = 21.933(1) A, beta = 103.49(1) degrees, Z = 4; 2b is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 28.589(1) A, b = 7.223(1) A, c = 14.983(1) A, beta = 118.90(1) degrees, Z = 4.     

Electrochemical study on the keto-enol tautomerization of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid in aqueous solution

The keto-enol tautomerization of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid (pHPP) in aqueous solutions and the complexation reaction between enolic pHPP and boric acid have been studied by electrochemical techniques including linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), pulse voltammetry, and cyclic voltammetry (CV), combining with UV spectrometry. Electrochemical techniques reveal that in aqueous solution, there are two tautomers of pHPP: enolic form and ketonic form; the former exists mainly in freshly prepared pHPP solution, and the latter exists mainly in equilibrium solution. Both enolic and ketonic pHPP are electroactive. The electrochemical oxidation of enolic pHPP gives rise to two anodic waves, I(a) and II(a), while the electrochemical oxidation of ketonic pHPP only results in the observation of the second wave II(a). The oxidation process I(a) is revealed to be associated with the quasi-reversible, two-electron two-proton oxidation of "C=C"group at the side chain of enolic pHPP, and the oxidation process II(a) is proposed to result from the irreversible oxidation of phenolic hydroxyl group. It is observed that in aqueous solution, enolic pHPP can quickly complex with boric acid to yield enol-borate complex that can also oxidize at a glassy carbon electrode to yield an anodic wave.     

Synthesis of functional microcapsules containing suspensions responsive to electric fields

A sort of functional microcapsules, which contain a suspension responsive to electric fields, is prepared by in situ polymerization of urea and formaldehyde. The suspension is made up of pigment phthalocyanine green (PPG) and tetrachloroethylene. In order to solve the particles' separation from the suspension during the microencapsulation and to obtain microcapsules applying to electronic ink display, the dispersibility of the particles, the contact angles between the particles and the tetrachloroethylene, and the influences of different emulsifiers on the microencapsulation are investigated. It is found that the dispersion extent and lipophilicity of the PPG particles are improved due to their surface modification with octadecylamine. The contact angles between the modified PPG particles and the tetrachloroethylene increase, and the PPG particles modified with 2 wt% octadecylamine have the best affinity for tetrachloroethylene. The interfacial tension between C(2)Cl(4) and H(2)O with urea-formaldehyde prepolymer descends from 43 to 35 mN/m, which indicates that the polymer has certain surface activity. However, water-soluble emulsifiers have an important influence during the microencapsulation because they can absorb on the surfaces of internal phase and prevent the resin of urea-formaldehyde from depositing there. From the SEM images of shell surface and cross section, the microcapsules have relatively smooth surfaces and the average thickness is about 4.5 mum. When the microcapsules are prepared with agitation rates of 1000 and 600 rpm, the mean diameters of the obtained microcapsules are 11 and 155 mum, respectively. The particles in the capsules move toward positive electrode with a responsive time of several hundred milliseconds while providing an electric field.     

Influence of an Unnatural Amino Acid Side Chain on the Conformational Dynamics of Peptides

In this work, a non‐natural amino acid, H‐propargylglycine‐OH (Pra), is chosen to examine the side‐chain effect on the backbone conformation of small peptides. The conformations of two synthesized Pra‐containing tripeptides, Ac‐Pra‐Pra‐NH₂ (PPTP) and Ac‐Pra‐Ala‐NH₂ (PATP), are examined by infrared (IR) spectroscopy in combination with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum chemical computations. By analyzing the joint distributions of backbone torsional angles, several significant conformations can be identified for the two tripeptides solvated in D₂O. At room temperature, 44 % of PPTP exists in the α‐α conformation and 33 % of PATP exists in the α‐polyproline‐II conformation. Larger structural inhomogeneity is seen in both cases by MD simulations at elevated temperatures. Thus even a small side chain, such as the propargyl group can significantly alter the peptide backbone conformations. The results suggest that there is no overwhelming conformational propensity of the Pra residue in short peptides. IR spectra simulated in the amide‐I region using two different methods, reasonably reproduce the experimental IR spectra and their temperature dependence.     

基于三聚氰胺膜电催化与酶催化放大的分子印迹电化学传感器测定绿麦隆

以三聚氰胺(MA)作为功能单体, 制备了一种检测环境中农药残留绿麦隆(CH)的分子印迹膜电化学传感器. 基于CH与辣根过氧化物酶(HRP)标记绿麦隆(HRP-CH)的竞争反应实现对CH的检测. 利用聚三聚氰胺膜(PMA)和HRP对过氧化氢的催化效应产生的双放大效应有效地提高传感器检测的灵敏度. 采用计时电流法测量, CH浓度与峰电流差值在0.01～0.8 μmol/L范围内呈现良好的线性关系, 检出限为2.64 nmol/L. 传感器对CH具有很好的选择识别性能.     

A silicone-based stretchable micropost array membrane for monitoring live-cell subcellular cytoskeletal response

External forces are increasingly recognized as major regulators of cellular structure and function, yet the underlying mechanism by which cells sense forces and transduce them into intracellular biochemical signals and behavioral responses ('mechanotransduction') is largely undetermined. To aid in the mechanistic study of mechanotransduction, herein we devised a cell stretching device that allowed for quantitative control and real-time measurement of mechanical stimuli and cellular biomechanical responses. Our strategy involved a microfabricated array of silicone elastomeric microposts integrated onto a stretchable elastomeric membrane. Using a computer-controlled vacuum, this micropost array membrane (mPAM) was activated to apply equibiaxial cell stretching forces to adherent cells attached to the microposts. Using the mPAM, we studied the live-cell subcellular dynamic responses of contractile forces in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) to a sustained static equibiaxial cell stretch. Our data showed that in response to a sustained cell stretch, VSMCs regulated their cytoskeletal (CSK) contractility in a biphasic manner: they first acutely enhanced their contraction to resist rapid cell deformation ('stiffening') before they allowed slow adaptive inelastic CSK reorganization to release their contractility ('softening'). The contractile response across entire single VSMCs was spatially inhomogeneous and force-dependent. Our mPAM device and live-cell subcellular contractile measurements will help elucidate the mechanotransductive system in VSMCs and thus contribute to our understanding of pressure-induced vascular disease processes.     

A versatile kinetics-controlled coating method to construct uniform porous TiO2 shells for multifunctional core-shell structures

The development of a simple and reproducible route to prepare uniform core@TiO(2) structures is urgent for realizing multifunctional responses and harnessing multiple interfaces for new or enhanced functionalities. Here, we report a versatile kinetics-controlled coating method to construct uniform porous TiO(2) shells for multifunctional core-shell structures. By simply controlling the kinetics of hydrolysis and condensation of tetrabutyl titanate (TBOT) in ethanol/ammonia mixtures, uniform porous TiO(2) shell core-shell structures can be prepared with variable diameter, geometry, and composition as a core (e.g., α-Fe(2)O(3) ellipsoids, Fe(3)O(4) spheres, SiO(2) spheres, graphene oxide nanosheets, and carbon nanospheres). This method is very simple and reproducible, yet important, which allows an easy control over the thickness of TiO(2) shells from 0 to ~25, ~45, and ~70 nm. Moreover, the TiO(2) shells possess large mesoporosities and a uniform pore size of ~2.5 nm, and can be easily crystallized into anatase phase without changing the uniform core-shell structures.     

The intragastrointestinal fate of paclitaxel-loaded micelles: Implications on oral drug delivery

The goal of the present study is to elucidate the intragastrointestinal fate of micellar delivery systems by monitoring fluorescently labeled different micelles and the model drug paclitaxel (PTX). Both in vitro and ex vivo leakage studies showed fast PTX release in fluids while micelles remained intact, except in fed-state simulated intestinal fluid and fasted-state pig intestinal fluid, thus referring to the intact absorption of micelles and PTX leakage in the gastrointestinal tract with d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) micelles showing higher stability than other micelles. All groups of micelles were absorbed intact in Caco-2 and Caco-2/HT29-MTX cell models and the absorption of TPGS micelles was found to be higher than other micelles. The transport of the micelles across Caco-2/Raji (1.6%–3.5%), Caco-2 (0.8%–1%), and Caco-2/HT29-MTX (0.58%–1%) cell monolayers further verified the absorption of micelles and their subsequent transport; however, more TPGS micelles transported across cell monolayers than other groups. Moreover, the histological examination also confirmed that micelles entered the enterocytes and were transported to basolateral tissues and TPGS showed the stronger ability of penetration than other groups. Thus, these results are succinctly presenting the absorption of intact micelles in GIT confirmed by imaging evidence with prior leakage of the drug, uptake by enterocytes and the transport of micelles that survive the digestion by enterocytes and mainly by microfold cells in material nature dependent way with TPGS showing better results than other groups. In conclusion, these results identify the mechanism by which the gastrointestinal tract processes micelles and point to the likely use of this approach in the design of micelles-based therapies.     

Balancing the Rate of Cluster Growth and Etching for Gram‐Scale Synthesis of Thiolate‐Protected Au25 Nanoclusters with Atomic Precision

We report a NaOH‐mediated NaBH₄ reduction method for the synthesis of mono‐, bi‐, and tri‐thiolate‐protected Au₂₅ nanoclusters (NCs) with precise control of both the Au core and thiolate ligand surface. The key strategy is to use NaOH to tune the formation kinetics of Au NCs, i.e., reduce the reduction ability of NaBH₄ and accelerate the etching ability of free thiolate ligands, leading to a well‐balanced reversible reaction for rapid formation of thermodynamically favorable Au₂₅ NCs. This protocol is facile, rapid (≤3 h), versatile (applicable for various thiolate ligands), and highly scalable (>1 g Au NCs). In addition, bi‐ and tri‐thiolate‐protected Au₂₅ NCs with adjustable ratios of hetero‐thiolate ligands were easily obtained. Such ligand precision in molecular ratios, spatial distribution and uniformity resulted in richly diverse surface landscapes on the Au NCs consisting of multiple functional groups such as carboxyl, amine, and hydroxy. Analysis based on NMR spectroscopy revealed that the hetero‐ligands on the NCs are well distributed with no ligand segregation. The unprecedented synthesis of multi‐thiolate‐protected Au₂₅ NCs may further promote the practical applications of functional metal NCs.     

Formation of Surface Traps on Quantum Dots by Bidentate Chelation and Their Application in Low‐Potential Electrochemiluminescent Biosensing

Bidentate chelation, meso‐2,3‐dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), was used as a stabilizer for the synthesis of CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The bidentate chelate QDs, characterized with FT‐IR, PL, and UV/Vis spectroscopy; element analysis; and high‐resolution transmission electron microscope, exhibited surface traps due to the large surface/volume ratio of QD particle and the steric hindrance of the DMSA molecule. The unpassivated surface of the QDs produced a narrower band gap than the core and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) emission at relatively low cathodic potential. In air‐saturated pH 7.0 buffer, the QDs immobilized on electrode surface showed an intense ECL emission peak at ?0.85 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). H₂O₂ produced from electrochemical reduction of dissolved oxygen was demonstrated to be the co‐reactant, which avoided the need of strong oxidant as the co‐reactant and produced a sensitive analytical method for peroxidase‐related analytes. Using hydroquinone/horseradish peroxidase/H₂O₂ as a model system, a new, reagentless, phenolic, ECL biosensor for hydroquinone was constructed, based on the quenching effect of ECL emission of QDs by consumption of co‐reactant H₂O₂. The biosensor showed a linear range of 0.2–10 μM with acceptable stability and reproducibility. This work opens new avenues in the search for new ECL emitters with excellent analytical performance and makes QDs a more attractive alternative in biosensing.