Cationic Lanthanide Luminescent Copolymer: Design,Synthesis and Interaction with DNA

Polymerizable rare earth complex Eu(AA)₃Phen was synthesized by complexion of europium ion, acrylic acid (AA), and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen). The structure and fluorescence properties of the complex were studied by elemental analysis, ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Eu-containing copolymer poly(PEGMA-co-MMA-co-METAC-co-Eu(AA)₃Phen) (PPMMEu) was then synthesized by free radical copolymerization of Eu(AA)₃Phen and other functional monomers including poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and [2-(Methacryloyloxy) ethyl] trimethylammonium chloride (METAC). ¹H-NMR spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to characterize the copolymer and the interactions between the copolymer and DNA was investigated by TEM, fluorescence spectroscopy, and agarose gel electrophoresis. The desired luminescent cationic copolymer was successfully obtained. The copolymer can form micelles in water solution and can efficiently bind to DNA molecules through electrostatic interaction. The results suggest the potential use of PPMMEu in bioprobes and gene vectors.     

Surface Modification of Bituminous Coal and Its Effects on Methane Adsorption

This paper studied the role of O‐containing groups over the coal surface in methane adsorption. The coal was modified with H₂SO₄, (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ or H₂SO₄/(NH₄)₂S₂O₈), respectively, to introduce O‐containing functional groups, and characterized by proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, Boehm titration, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nitrogen adsorption. The results of ultimate analysis, Boehm titration and XPS indicate that there were increases in terms of both the content of oxygen and the quantities of O‐containing groups over the modified coals surface, especially for the carboxyl. Nitrogen adsorption shows that the modified coals possessed higher surface area and pore volume than that of 0‐XQ. The methane adsorption data were measured at 298 K at pressures up to 4.0 MPa by the volumetric method and fitted well by Langmuir model. Experimental results implied that O‐containing groups and pore structure affected methane adsorption. The adsorption capacities decreased as increasing quantities of O‐containing groups.     

Design of Sensitive Biocompatible Quantum‐Dots Embedded in Mesoporous Silica Microspheres for the Quantitative Immunoassay of Human Immunodeficiency Virus‐1 Antibodies

A novel sandwich‐type electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor was developed to enable the sensitive detection of HIV‐1 antibodies. This system incorporated mesoporous silica (mSiO₂) complexed with quantum dots (QDs) and nano‐gold particles, which were assembled to enhance signal detection. Magnetic beads were used by immobilizing the secondary anti‐IgG antibody. This was first employed to capture HIV‐1 antibody (Ab) to form a Fe₃O₄/anti‐IgG/Ab complex. A high loading and signal‐enhanced nanocomposite (hereafter referred to as Au‐mSiO₂‐CdTe) was used as a HIV‐1 antigen label. The Au‐mSiO₂‐CdTe nanocomposite was conjugated with the Fe₃O₄/anti‐IgG/Ab complex to form an immunocomplex (hereafter referred to as Fe₃O₄/anti‐IgG/Ab/HIV‐1/CdTe‐mSiO₂‐Au). This complex could be further separated by an external magnetic field to produce ECL signals. Due to the large specific surface area and pore volume of mSiO₂, the loading of the CdTe QDs was markedly increased. Thus, the loaded QDs released a powerful chemiluminescent signal with a concordantly increased sensitivity of the immunosensor. The immunosensor was highly sensitive, and displayed a linear range of responses for HIV‐1 antibody across a dilution range of 1 : 1500 through 1 : 50 with the detection limit of 1 : 4500. The immunoassay can be a promising candidate in early diagnosis of HIV infection.     

Electrochemical Characteristics of Discrete,Uniform, and Monodispersed Hollow Mesoporous Carbon Spheres in Double‐Layered Supercapacitors

Core–shell‐structured mesoporous silica spheres were prepared by using n‐octadecyltrimethoxysilane (C18TMS) as the surfactant. Hollow mesoporous carbon spheres with controllable diameters were fabricated from core–shell‐structured mesoporous silica sphere templates by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). By controlling the thickness of the silica shell, hollow carbon spheres (HCSs) with different diameters can be obtained. The use of ethylene as the carbon precursor in the CVD process produces the materials in a single step without the need to remove the surfactant. The mechanism of formation and the role played by the surfactant, C18TMS, are investigated. The materials have large potential in double‐layer supercapacitors, and their electrochemical properties were determined. HCSs with thicker mesoporous shells possess a larger surface area, which in turn increases their electrochemical capacitance. The samples prepared at a lower temperature also exhibit increased capacitance as a result of the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) area and larger pore size.     

Organic Reactions in Ionic Liquids: Ionic Liquid Ethylammonium Nitrate–Promoted Knoevenagel Condensation of Meldrum's Acid With Aromatic Aldehydes

The Knoevenagel condensation of Meldrum's acid with aromatic aldehydes proceeded efficiently in a reusable ionic liquid, ethylammonium nitrate, at room temperature in the absence of any catalyst with high yields.     

Hypervalent Iodine in Synthesis XXX: Palladium-Catalyzed Reaction of Diaryliodonium Salts with β-substituted-α, β-enones

The reaction of diaryliodonium salts with β-substituted-α,β-enones in the presence of a palladium catalyst affords H_β-substituted products with excellent yields.     

Gold-nanoparticle on the surface of L-cysteine modified gold electrode and its application

A sensor based on gold nanoparticle on the surface of L-cysteine modified gold electrode is prepared. Electrochemical behavior of dopamine hydrochloride is investigated. The linear relation between peak current of dopamine hydrochloride and scan speed in the range of 10 to 1000 mV s^?1 indicates that a diffusion-adsorption controls the process. The linearity range is 1.05 × 10^?5–7.38 × 10^?4 M with detection limit of 1.05 × 10^?6 M. The recoveries were in the range from 99.8 to 101.5% with relative standard deviations of 1.3 ～ 2.3% (n = 6). The modified electrode under ambient conditions over a period of 2 weeks has an excellent repeatability and reproducibility.