Fragmentation mechanisms of oxidized peptides elucidated by SID, RRKM modeling, and molecular dynamics

The gas-phase fragmentation reactions of singly charged angiotensin II (AngII, DR⁺VYIHPF) and the ozonolysis products AngII+O (DR⁺VY*IHPF), AngII+3O (DR⁺VYIH*PF), and AngII+4O (DR⁺VY*IH*PF) were studied using SID FT-ICR mass spectrometry, RRKM modeling, and molecular dynamics. Oxidation of Tyr (AngII+O) leads to a low-energy charge-remote selective fragmentation channel resulting in the b ₄ +O fragment ion. Modification of His (AngII+3O and AngII+4O) leads to a series of new selective dissociation channels. For AngII+3O and AngII+4O, the formation of [MH+3O] ⁺ −45 and [MH+3O] ⁺ −71 are driven by charge-remote processes while it is suggested that b ₅ and [MH+3O] ⁺ −88 fragments are a result of charge-directed reactions. Energy-resolved SID experiments and RRKM modeling provide threshold energies and activation entropies for the lowest energy fragmentation channel for each of the parent ions. Fragmentation of the ozonolysis products was found to be controlled by entropic effects. Mechanisms are proposed for each of the new dissociation pathways based on the energies and entropies of activation and parent ion conformations sampled using molecular dynamics.     

Localization in one dimensional correlated random potentials

The localization length of one-dimensional disordered systems with statistically correlated random potentials is studied both numerically and analytically. The results indicate that the localization length generally increases when the correlation function is positive. In the presence of anticorrelation effects the localization length may be shorter than in the uncorrelated case.     

Steplike currents in confined two dimensional systems

In a confined two dimensional system of non-interacting electrons in a normal constant magnetic field, the current is calculated along the sample as a response to an electric field in the same direction which is switched on and then off. The resulting stationary current is shown to be a step-like function of the electron density.     

Targeting of cancer cells using click-functionalized polymer capsules

Targeted delivery of drugs to specific cells allows a high therapeutic dose to be delivered to the target site with minimal harmful side effects. Combining targeting molecules with nanoengineered drug carriers, such as polymer capsules, micelles and polymersomes, has significant potential to improve the therapeutic delivery and index of a range of drugs. We present a general approach for functionalization of low-fouling, nanoengineered polymer capsules with antibodies using click chemistry. We demonstrate that antibody (Ab)-functionalized capsules specifically bind to colorectal cancer cells even when the target cells constitute less than 0.1% of the total cell population. This precise targeting offers promise for drug delivery applications.     

多功能两亲梳状聚合物的合成及包覆荧光量子点

利用溶液聚合和成酰胺反应合成了多功能梳状两亲性共聚物,聚(甲基丙烯酸-co-甲基丙烯酸十八酯)-(乙醇胺-乙二胺叶酸)(PSM-EE-FA).用红外光谱(FTIR),核磁共振(1H-NMR)及凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)表征了该聚合物的结构及分子量分布.实验结果证明合成了该聚合物,其数均分子量(Mn)为28600,多分散性为1.375.用该两亲梳状聚合物包覆油溶性CdSe/ZnS量子点,通过相转移作用,得到水溶性靶向量子点(PSM-EE-FA-QDs).该水溶性量子点溶液具有较好的稳定性.通过紫外-可见(UV-Vis)及荧光发射光谱分析对该量子点的光学性质进行研究.结果表明,PSM-EE-FA-QDs的紫外-可见光谱及荧光发射光谱峰形与原量子点基本一致.由于量子点表面聚合物层的形成,峰位发生少量红移.该量子点水溶液的荧光强度是原量子点氯仿溶液的98%,荧光产率是原量子点氯仿溶液的95%.动态光散射(DLS)及透射电镜(TEM)测试结果表明水溶性量子点分布均匀.合成的水溶性量子点不但光学性能稳定,而且聚合物及水溶性量子点的合成方法较为简便.     

TEM characterization of chemically synthesized copper–gold nanoparticles

Dodecanethiol-capped Cu–Au nanoparticles, synthesized via a successive two-phase (water/toluene) and galvanic-exchange procedure, were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size range of the particles is around 1–7 nm. Electron-induced morphological evolution was observed under high resolution (HR) TEM. Cuboctahedral morphology was found to be thermodynamically stable. Electron-induced aggregation of two particles was also observed. Chemical ordering of cuboctahedral particles was studied by atomic-resolution high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging in scanning TEM (STEM) mode and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) element mapping using a silicon drift detector (SDD). The particles were found to be Cu–Au mixed, and to be stable in air. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which is dependent on local structure and morphology, was investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).