Oxygenase‐Catalyzed Desymmetrization of N,N‐Dialkyl‐piperidine‐4‐carboxylic Acids

γ‐Butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBOX) is a 2‐oxoglutarate dependent oxygenase that catalyzes the final hydroxylation step in the biosynthesis of carnitine. BBOX was shown to catalyze the oxidative desymmetrization of achiral N,N‐dialkyl piperidine‐4‐carboxylates to give products with two or three stereogenic centers.     

Dual Esterase‐ and Steroid‐Responsive Energy Transfer Modulation of Ruthenium(II) and Rhenium(I) Complex Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles

A number of adamantane‐containing ruthenium(II) and rhenium(I) complexes have been synthesized, characterized, and noncovalently functionalized with β‐cyclodextrin‐capped gold nanoparticles (β‐CD–GNPs) through the host–guest interaction between cyclodextrin and adamantane. The resultant nanoconjugates have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis (EDX), and 2D ROESY ¹H NMR experiments. The Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) properties of the nanoconjugates can be modulated by both esterase‐accelerated hydrolysis and competitive displacement of steroid, by monitoring the emission intensity and luminescence lifetime. The FRET efficiencies are found to vary with the nature of the chromophores and the length of the spacer between the transition metal complexes and the GNPs. This work constitutes a “proof‐of‐principle” assay method for the dual‐functional detection of important classes of biomolecules, such as enzymes and steroids.     

Syntheses, Structures, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Two Crown-like Heteroselenometallic Compounds [Et4N]4[(μ5-WSe4)(CuX)5(μ-X)2] (X = Cl, Br)

Two isostructural crown-like heteroselenometallic cluster compounds, [Et₄N]₄[(μ₅-WSe₄)(CuX)₅(μ-X)₂] (X = Cl 1, Br 2), were prepared from the reactions of [Et₄N]₂[WSe₄] with CuX and [Et₄N]X· xH₂O in the presence of 2-picoline and characterized by single-crystal diffraction analysis. The [(μ₅-WSe₄)(Cu-X)₅(μ-X)₂]⁴⁻ anions in the cluster compounds consists of five CuX fragments coordinated to the five edges of the tetrahedral [WSe₄]²⁻ moiety along with two bridging halides connected to each of the two pairs of the symmetric copper atoms, exhibiting a novel crown-like core structure. The nonlinear optical absorption and refraction of cluster compound 2 were determined to be α₂ = 6.15 × 10⁻¹⁰ m/W and n ₂ = 4.18 × 10⁻¹¹ esu, respectively.     

Durable Mesenchymal Stem Cell Labelling by Using Polyhedral Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Small polyhedral superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles (<10 nm) coated with a thin layer of silica were prepared (SPIO@SiO₂ and SPIO@SiO₂‐NH₂). Surface modification of the small polyhedral silica‐coated SPIO nanoparticles with amines led to substantially higher mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) labelling efficiency without the use of additional transfecting agents. Therefore, amine surface‐modified nanoparticles (SPIO@ SiO₂‐NH₂) appeared to be the preferred candidate for MSC labelling. In vitro studies demonstrated that controlled labelling of SPIO@SiO₂ and SPIO@SiO₂‐NH₂ did not cause MSC death or proliferation inhibition. MSCs labelled with SPIO@SiO₂‐NH₂ nanoparticles retained differentiation potential and showed osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiations. The noncytotoxic polyhedral SPIO@SiO₂‐NH₂ nanoparticle‐labelled MSCs were successfully implanted in rabbit brain and erector spinae muscle, and demonstrated long‐lasting, durable MRI labelling efficacy after 8–12 weeks.     

Carbazole-oxadiazole containing polyurethanes as phosphorescent host for organic light emitting diodes

New types of polyurethanes (PUs) were prepared from condensation polymerization of isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) with various combination of 9-butyl-3,6-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)carbazole (Cz) and 2,5-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (OXD), and end-capped with 4-tert-butyl phenol. The Cz-OXD PUs can also be used as host for phosphorescent dye. Red EL emission was obtained when Ir(btp)₂(acac) or Ir(2-phq)₂(acac) was used as the phosphorescent dyes in Cz-OXD (3:1) PU. Maximum brightness of 394 cd/m² and EL efficiency of 1 cd/A were achieved for the Ir(2-phq)₂(acac) base device. In addition, white light PLED was demonstrated when co-dopant of Ir(btp)₂(acac) and Firpic were used.     

Cavity Ring Down Laser Absorption Spectroscopy of Nil

The absorption spectrum of NiI between 445 and 510 nm has been investigated using the technique of laser vaporization/reaction with free jet expansion and cavity ring down laser absorption spectroscopy. Two new transitions namely,[21.3]^2△5/2-X^2△5/2 and [21.9]^2Ⅱ3/2-X^2△5/2 systems were identified and studied. Spectra of both ^58NiI and ^60NiI isotopic molecules were observed. Equilibrium molecular constants for both electronic states are reported and the equilibrium bond length for the [21.3]^2△5/2 state and the[21.9]^2Ⅱ3/2 state was respectively determined to be 2.431 and 2.481 A.     

Peptide‐Conjugated Long‐Lived Theranostic Imaging for Targeting GRPr in Cancer and Immune Cells

Gastrin‐releasing peptide receptor (GRPr) plays proliferative and inflammatory roles in living systems. Here, we report a highly selective GRPr antagonist (JMV594)‐tethered iridium(III) complex for probing GRPr in living cancer cells and immune cells. This probe exhibited desirable photophysical properties and also displayed negligible cytotoxicity, overcoming the inherent toxicity of the iridium(III) complex. Its long emission lifetime enabled its luminescence signal to be readily distinguished from the interfering fluorescence of organic dyes by using a time‐resolved technique. This probe selectively visualized living cancer cells via specific binding to GRPr, while it also modulated the function of GRPr on TNF‐α secretion in immune cells. To our knowledge, this is the first peptide‐conjugated iridium(III) complex developed as a GRPr bioimaging probe and modulator of GRPr activity. This theranostic agent shows great potential at unmasking the diverse roles of GRPr in living systems.     

Perdeuterated Conjugated Polymers for Ultralow‐Frequency Magnetic Resonance of OLEDs

The formation of excitons in OLEDs is spin dependent and can be controlled by electron‐paramagnetic resonance, affecting device resistance and electroluminescence yield. We explore electrically detected magnetic resonance in the regime of very low magnetic fields (<1 mT). A pronounced feature emerges at zero field in addition to the conventional spin‐ Zeeman resonance for which the Larmor frequency matches that of the incident radiation. By comparing a conventional π‐conjugated polymer as the active material to a perdeuterated analogue, we demonstrate the interplay between the zero‐field feature and local hyperfine fields. The zero‐field peak results from a quasistatic magnetic‐field effect of the RF radiation for periods comparable to the carrier‐pair lifetime. Zeeman resonances are resolved down to 3.2 MHz, approximately twice the Larmor frequency of an electron in Earth's field. However, since reducing hyperfine fields sharpens the Zeeman peak at the cost of an increased zero‐field peak, we suggest that this result may constitute a fundamental low‐field limit of magnetic resonance in carrier‐pair‐based systems. OLEDs offer an alternative solid‐state platform to investigate the radical‐pair mechanism of magnetic‐field effects in photochemical reactions, allowing models of biological magnetoreception to be tested by measuring spin decoherence directly in the time domain by pulsed experiments.     

A multipotential hydrolytic reactor using the yeast strainKluyveromyces marxianus

In previous publications, we described the continuous production of D-fructose from enzymatic hydrolysis of inulin with immobilized permeabiliized cells ofKluyveromyces marxianus and the increase of productivity obtained by using a mutant selected by NTG action on the wild-type strain. By improving reactor performance, it has been possible to reach 2000 g/L/d of liberated sugar from an inulin solution with the mutant strain.

In addition, it has been shown that the KF 28 mutant was an invertase and pectinase hyperproducer. These enzymatic activities are also secreted by the speciesKluyveromyces marxianus. Therefore, we investigated the possibility of using immobilized cells of this yeast as a multipotential hydrolysis reactor. A sucrose hydrolysis reactor and a pectin hydrolysis reactor were set up. It is shown here that the majority of the optimized parameters from the inulin hydrolysis reactor can be transported directly to the other reactors. However, some parameters have to be adapted, especially for pectin hydrolysis.