Novel microchip for in situ TEM imaging of living organisms and bio-reactions in aqueous conditions

A novel and disposable microchip (K-kit) with SiO(2) nano-membranes was developed and used as a specimen kit for in situ imaging of living organisms in an aqueous condition using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) without equipment modification. This K-kit enabled the successful TEM observation of living Escherichia coli cells and the tellurite reduction process in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The K. pneumoniae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae can stay alive in K-kit after continuous TEM imaging for up to 14 s and 42 s, respectively. Besides, different tellurite reduction profiles in cells grown in aerobic and anaerobic environments can be clearly revealed. These results demonstrate that the K-kit developed in this paper can be useful for observing living organisms and monitoring biological processes in situ.     

A Far-Red Molecular Rotor Fluorogenic Trehalose Probe for Live Mycobacteria Detection and Drug-Susceptibility Testing

Increasing the speed, specificity, sensitivity, and accessibility of mycobacteria detection tools are important challenges for tuberculosis (TB) research and diagnosis. In this regard, previously reported fluorogenic trehalose analogues have shown potential, but their green-emitting dyes may limit sensitivity and applications in complex settings. Here, we describe a trehalose-based fluorogenic probe featuring a molecular rotor turn-on fluorophore with bright far-red emission (RMR-Tre). RMR-Tre, which exploits the unique biosynthetic enzymes and environment of the mycobacterial outer membrane to achieve fluorescence activation, enables fast, no-wash, low-background fluorescence detection of live mycobacteria. Aided by the red-shifted molecular rotor fluorophore, RMR-Tre exhibited up to a 100-fold enhancement in M. tuberculosis labeling compared to existing fluorogenic trehalose probes. We show that RMR-Tre reports on M. tuberculosis drug resistance in a facile assay, demonstrating its potential as a TB diagnostic tool.     

Synthesis and ABTS Radical,MMP‐1 Inhibitory Activity of CAPE Analogues

In the photoaging process of skin, the ultraviolet (UV)‐induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the key regulator of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) expression. In this study, a series of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) analogues were synthesized by conjugating the group VI elements (selenium, sulfur, oxygen)‐containing aliphatic alcohols to polyphenolic acids. Their biological activities were evaluated by in vitro testing of their radical scavenging activity the of ABTS [2,2′‐azinobis‐(3‐ethyl‐benzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)] radical and inhibitory effect against the matrix metalloproteinase‐1 (MMP‐1) activity of collagen degradation and cytotoxicity of a human dermal fibroblast skin cell. Our results suggest these compounds displayed moderate anti‐free radical, potent MMP‐1 inhibitory, and low cytotoxic activities.     

Rb2REGaSi4O12 (RE = Y, Eu, Gd, Tb): luminescent mixed-anion double layer silicates containing chains of edge-sharing REO7 pentagonal bipyramids

Four new rare earth gallosilicates, Rb 2REGaSi4O12 (RE = Y, Eu, Gd, and Tb, denoted as REGS-1), have been synthesized under high-temperature, high-pressure hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. They are the first examples of rare earth gallosilicates that contain individually occupied tetrahedral Ga(3+) and Si(4+) centers. The unique structure is formed of two 1D and one 2D substructural units: unbranched achter single chains which are seldom observed in silicates, the PaCl 5-type infinite chains formed of edge-sharing REO7 petagonal bipyramids and the unprecedented mixed-anion double layers with the composition [GaSi4O12]. The photoluminescence properties of EuGS-1 and TbGS-1 have been studied. The Y(3+) ion in YGS-1 can be partially replaced by Eu(3+) and Tb(3+) to yield luminescent materials.     

Energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited naphthalene. II. Vibrational energy dependence and isotope and mass effects

The vibrational energy dependence, H and D atom isotope effects, and the mass effects in the energy transfer between rare gas atoms and highly vibrationally excited naphthalene in the triplet state were investigated using crossed-beam/time-sliced velocity-map ion imaging at various translational collision energies. Increase of vibrational energy from 16 194 to 18 922 cm(-1) does not make a significant difference in energy transfer. The energy transfer properties also remain the same when H atoms in naphthalene are replaced by D atoms, indicating that the high vibrational frequency modes do not play important roles in energy transfer. They are not important in supercollisions either. However, as the Kr atoms are replaced by Xe atoms, the shapes of energy transfer probability density functions change. The probabilities for large translation to vibration/rotation energy transfer (T-->VR) and large vibration to translation energy transfer (V-->T) decrease. High energy tails in the backward scatterings disappear, and the probability for very large vibration to translation energy transfer such as supercollisions also decreases.     

Mass spectral studies of 1-(2-chloroethoxy)-2-[(2-chloroethyl)thio]ethane and related compounds using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography–triple quad mass spectrometry (GC-QQQ)

The electron impact and collision-ion-dissociation mass spectra of 1-(2-chloroethoxy)-2-[(2-chloroethyl) thio]ethane (1) and 10 related molecules were obtained using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–triple quad mass spectrometry. These mass spectral studies were performed to facilitate the development of a spectral database of mustard-related compounds for verification purposes of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The proposed fragmentation pathways of each individual molecule (1–11) are reported along with rationalizations for the most characteristic ions.     

Two-dimensional densely packed DNA nanostructure derived from DNA complexation with a low-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimer

One of the keys for using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as a nanomaterial relies on how the individual DNA chain can be aligned and how a multitude of DNA chains can be packed into ordered nanostructures. Here we present a simple method for constructing a 2-D densely packed DNA nanostructure using the electrostatic complex of DNA with a poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer of generation two. Ordered DNA arrays are formed by drop-casting an aqueous solution containing positively overcharged complexes onto mica followed by a prolonged incubation. During the incubation, the complexes tend to adsorb onto the negatively charged mica surface through electrostatic attraction. The rodlike complexes organize to form ordered arrays to increase the surface density of the adsorbed complexes and hence the attractive free energy of adsorption. The densely packed nanostructure obtained here is distinguished from the previously reported spheroid or toroid structure derived from DNA complexations with the higher-generation dendrimers.     

Application of microcontact printing to electroless plating for the fabrication of microscale silver patterns on glass

Microcontact printing (microCP) and electroless plating are combined to produce microscale patterns of silver on glass substrates. Silver patterns with feature sizes of 0.6-10 microm stripes are fabricated using two methods. (1) The printing seeding layer (PSL) method is to apply microCP to directly print the catalyst Sn pattern for further electroless plating. (2) The printing masking layer (PML) method is to use microCP to print the octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayer as a masking layer on glass substrates, which then become Sn-activated in the unstamped regions by immersing the substrates in stannous chloride solution. After the electroless silver plating, the PML method has a better selectivity of silver deposition than the PSL method. In addition, variation of the deposited silver thickness as a function of the plating time and temperature is discussed.     

Deliberate design of a 3D homochiral Cu(II)/l-met/Ag(I) coordination network based on the distinct soft-hard recognition principle

A homochiral amino acid coordination network [{Ag3Cu3(l-methioninato)6(NO3)3(H2O)3}.7H2O]n, self-assembled from CuII, AgI, and l-methionine via a distinct soft-hard recognition process, shows interesting characteristics, in that it is constructed from 1D helical building blocks and contains homochiral channels in which 1D water chains are hosted. This result provides an effective and controllable strategy for the preparation of enantiopure heterometallic supramolecular structures that are relevant to biopolymers.