Chemical analysis and cellular imaging with quantum dots

Quantum dots are tiny light-emitting particles on the nanometer scale. They are emerging as a new class of biological labels with properties and applications that are not available with traditional organic dyes and fluorescent proteins. Their novel properties such as improved brightness, resistance against photobleaching, and multicolor light emission, have opened new possibilities for ultrasensitive chemical analysis and cellular imaging. In this Research Highlight article , we discuss the unique optical properties of semiconductor quantum dots, surface chemistry and bioconjugation, current applications in bioanalytical chemistry and cell biology, and future research directions.     

A Multinomial Approximation Approach for the Finite Time Survival Probability Under the Markov-modulated Risk Model

In this paper, we consider the problem of computing different types of finite time survival probabilities for a Markov-Modulated risk model and a Markov-Modulated risk model with reinsurance, both with varying premium rates. We use the multinomial approximation scheme to derive an efficient recursive algorithm to compute finite time survival probabilities and finite time draw-down survival probabilities. Numerical results show that by comparing with MCMC approximation, discretize approximation and diffusion approximation methods, the proposed scheme performs accurate results in all the considered cases and with better computation efficiency.

     

Electropolymerized m-phenylenediamine as a means to immobilize active protein on thickness-shear-mode quartz crystal

Electropolymerized m-phenylenediamine was used as an active coating for immobilizing urease and lectin on a gold-plated thickness-shear-mode (TSM) crystal. To enhance effectiveness of immobilization. a bilayer polymer film composed of polyaniline and poly-m-phenylenediamine was proposed. Compared with single poly-m-phenylenediamine film, the bilayer polymer film gave better results in terms of immobilizing capacity, stability and reproductivity. On this bilayer-film-coated TSM quartz crystal, the amount of immobilized lectin was estimated about 1.8 mug/cm(2). Detection of purified human erythrocytes is demonstrated as an example of potential application of this lectin-modified TSM biosensor in clinic.     

具有全氟丁基磺酰亚胺基侧链的聚磷腈的合成

本文合成了一种新的具有全氟丁基磺酰亚胺基侧链的聚磷腈高分子。并用¹H NMR、 ¹⁹F NMR、 IR光谱、凝胶渗透色谱以及热重分析等方法, 对其结构和性质进行了表征。     

Crystal structure and luminescence property of ternary terbium p-aminobenzoic acid complexes with different second ligands

Ternary terbium complexes with p-aminobenzoic acid (HL), [TbL₃(DMSO)(H₂O)]₂ (1), [TbL₃(DMF)(H₂O)]₂ (2) and [TbL₃(Bpy)(H₂O)]₂·2H₂O (3) (DMSO=dimethyl sulfoxide, DMF=N, N- dimethylformamide, Bpy=2, 2′- bipyridyl) have been synthesized, and their crystal structures determined. The luminescence properties of these complexes, including both the emission quantum yield and the fluorescence lifetime, have been investigated. The effect of a second ligand on the crystal structure and luminescence property of the ternary terbium p-aminobenzoic acid complexes, and the relationship between luminescence properties and crystal structure, including coordination mode of the L⁻ ligand and the characteristics of a second ligand, are discussed.     

溶液的pH值对纳米CeO2晶粒形貌及形成机制的影响

以亚硝酸铈盐和氨水沉淀法合成了二氧化铈纳米粒子. 通过对溶液pH值的调节制备出了形貌各异的纳米CeO2晶粒. TEM和BET结果表明 酸性条件下, 得到的是球形的纳米CeO2晶粒且其比表面为148.1944 m2·g-1;中性时, CeO2晶粒的形貌为球形和棒状的混合形, 比表面为114.7975 m2·g-1;而碱性环境下, 易得到棒状的、比表面为106.2465 m2·g-1 的CeO2晶体. 另外还对各种形貌产物的形成机制进行了研究.     

A nonlinear regression model applied to kinetic studies of ester hydrolysis with a surface acoustic wave sensor

A non-linear regression model was derived for the simultaneous determination of the rate constant in alkaline hydrolysis of esters and the initial concentration of esters based on the linear relationship between the frequency response of the surface acoustic wave sensor system and the conductivity of the solution. The model was tested theoretically and experimentally with the methyl-, ethyl-, and n-propyl-acetate systems. The corresponding rate constants estimated at 25 degrees C are 0.147, 0.103 and 0.0671 respectively.     

Alloyed semiconductor quantum dots: tuning the optical properties without changing the particle size

Alloyed semiconductor quantum dots (cadmium selenium telluride) with both homogeneous and gradient internal structures have been prepared to achieve continuous tuning of the optical properties without changing the particle size. Our results demonstrate that composition and internal structure are two important parameters that can be used to tune the optical and electronic properties of multicomponent, alloyed quantum dots. A surprising finding is a nonlinear relationship between the composition and the absorption/emission energies, leading to new properties not obtainable from the parent binary systems. With red-shifted light emission up to 850 nm and quantum yields up to 60%, this new class of alloyed quantum dots opens new possibilities in band gap engineering and in developing near-infrared fluorescent probes for in vivo molecular imaging and biomarker detection.