Harnessing a ratiometric fluorescence output from a sensor array

Ratiometric fluorescence-based sensors are widely sought after because they can effectively convert even relatively small changes in optical output into a strong and easy-to-read signal. However, ratiometric sensor molecules are usually difficult to make. We present a proof-of-principle experiment that shows that efficient ratiometric sensing may be achieved by an array of two chromophores, one providing an on-to-off response and the second yielding an off-to-on response in a complementary fashion. In the case that both chromophores emit light of different color, the result is a switching of colors that may be utilized in the same way as from a true ratiometric probe. The chromophore array comprises two sensor elements: i) a polyurethane membrane with embedded N-anthracen-9-yl-methyl-N-7-nitrobenzoxa-[1,2,5]diazo-4-yl-N',N'-dimethylethylenediamine hydrochloride and ii) a membrane with N,N-dimethyl-N'-(9-methylanthracenyl)ethylenediamine. A combination of photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) allows for green-to-blue emission switching in the presence of Zn(II) ions. The sensing experiments carried out with different Zn(II) salts at controlled pH revealed that the degree of color switching in the individual sensor elements depends on both the presence of Zn(II) ions and the counter anion. These results suggest that sensing of both cations and anions may perhaps be extended to different cation-anion pairs.     

Responsive DNA‐Based Hydrogels and Their Applications

The term hydrogel describes a type of soft and wet material formed by cross‐linked hydrophilic polymers. The distinct feature of hydrogels is their ability to absorb a large amount of water and swell. The properties of a hydrogel are usually determined by the chemical properties of their constituent polymer(s). However, a group of hydrogels, called “smart hydrogels,” changes properties in response to environmental changes or external stimuli. Recently, DNA or DNA‐inspired responsive hydrogels have attracted considerable attention in construction of smart hydrogels because of the intrinsic advantages of DNA. As a biological polymer, DNA is hydrophilic, biocompatible, and highly programmable by Watson‐Crick base pairing. DNA can form a hydrogel by itself under certain conditions, and it can also be incorporated into synthetic polymers to form DNA‐hybrid hydrogels. Functional DNAs, such as aptamers and DNAzymes, provide additional molecular recognition capabilities and versatility. In this Review, DNA‐based hydrogels are discussed in terms of their stimulus response, as well as their applications.

     

Activatable Type I Photosensitizer with Quenched Photosensitization Pre and Post Photodynamic Therapy

The phototoxicity of photosensitizers (PSs) pre and post photodynamic therapy (PDT), and the hypoxic tumor microenvironment are two major problems limiting the application of PDT. While activatable PSs can successfully address the PS phototoxicity pre PDT, and type I PS can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) effectively in hypoxic environment, very limited approaches are available for addressing the phototoxicity post PDT. There is virtually no solution available to address all these issues using a single design. Herein, we propose a proof-of-concept on-demand switchable photosensitizer with quenched photosensitization pre and post PDT, which could be activated only in tumor hypoxic environment. Particularly, a hypoxia-normoxia cycling responsive type I PS TPFN-AzoCF₃ was designed to demonstrate the concept, which was further formulated into TPFN-AzoCF₃ nanoparticles (NPs) using DSPE-PEG-2000 as the encapsulation matrix. The NPs could be activated only in hypoxic tumors to generate type I ROS during PDT treatment, but remain non-toxic in normal tissues, pre or after PDT, thus minimizing side effects and improving the therapeutic effect. With promising results in in vitro and in vivo tumor treatment, this presented strategy will pave the way for the design of more on-demand switchable photosensitizers with minimized side effects in the future.     

Numerical methods for portfolio selection with bounded constraints

This work develops an approximation procedure for portfolio selection with bounded constraints. Based on the Markov chain approximation techniques, numerical procedures are constructed for the utility optimization task. Under simple conditions, the convergence of the approximation sequences to the wealth process and the optimal utility function is established. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the performance of the algorithms.     

The isolation of basic proteins by solid-phase extraction with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been employed for the first time as sorbents for the isolation of basic proteins from other protein species in biological sample matrices by solid-phase extraction (SPE). A microcolumn packed with MWCNTs was incorporated after appropriate pretreatment into a sequential injection system, which facilitates online selective sorption of basic protein species (hemoglobin and cytochrome c in this particular case). The retained protein species were afterwards separated from each other by sequential elution from the microcolumn through the employment of appropriate eluents. A 0.025 mol L(-1) phosphate buffer solution of pH 8.0 facilitated the efficient collection of hemoglobin, while a 0.5 mol L(-1) NaCl solution ensured the quantitative recovery of the retained cytochrome c. With a sample loading volume of 2.0 mL, enrichment factors of 11 and 15 were derived for hemoglobin and cytochrome c, along with retention efficiencies of 100% for both species and recovery rates of 98 and 90%, respectively. A sampling frequency of 8 h(-1) was achieved, and the precisions were 3.0% and 0.8% (RSD) for hemoglobin and cytochrome c at a concentration of 5.0 microg mL(-1). The practical applicability of this system was demonstrated by processing of human whole blood for isolation of hemoglobin, and satisfactory results were obtained by assay with SDS-PAGE.     

二氧化碳膨胀乙醇体系中碳基金属复合物的合成及其催化和电化学性能(英文)

与块体材料相比,功能复合材料表现了更加优异的性能,而且比其中任何单一组分的性能都好,因此在催化、锂离子电池等领域得以广泛研究.通常情况下,在复合材料的制备中金属或金属氧化物粒子要求能够以足够小的粒径在基底上均匀分散,并实现活性组分负载量的可控.据报道,很多方法可以将金属(或氧化物)活性组分引入到载体之中,比如水热/溶剂热、水解、热分解、化学气相沉积等,但这些方法均存在如下缺点.第一,为了获得满意的负载量和可控包覆,碳基底需要预氧化处理使其表面含有丰富的含氧官能团.例如,由于碳纳米管自身的相容性和加工性较差,需要硝酸预氧化处理;石墨烯也需要预处理为石墨烯氧化物然后再进行第二组分的负载.但是,剧烈的氧化处理条件不可避免地造成对碳sp~2结构和电子特性的破坏,并且增加了繁杂的后续处理过程.第二,金属组分前驱体在基底上负载不完全,易形成自由粒子聚集在溶液中,从而降低活性组分的有效利用.第三,传统方法中由于使用水、乙醇等表面张力大的极性溶剂,导致粒子结晶再生长,形成的颗粒尺寸大,对催化剂会降低活性表面积及催化效率;对于电池材料会增加电极/电解液的接触面积,增加锂离子的扩散距离及电池充电过程的内部应力.而且,有机溶剂由于粘度大,不利于金属纳米粒子在基底上的均匀分散及合成过程的绿色化.因此,我们利用资源丰富,廉价的二氧化碳作为绿色溶剂,研究了二氧化碳膨胀的乙醇体系中金属(氧化物)纳米粒子在碳基底上均匀负载的方法.由于超临界二氧化碳具有独特的低粘度、"零"表面张力、高扩散能力、以及物性参数随温度和压力可调等特点,可以使金属(氧化物)前驱体不受液体毛细作用的限制在孔道中快速、均一地分散,保证孔结构稳定,对多孔复合材料的加工和制备表现了巨大的优势.同时,超临界二氧化碳的抗溶剂能力也能够有效降低乙醇和水引起的溶剂效应,从而降低纳米粒子之间的聚集.此外,通过改变前驱体的浓度可以精确调控表面组分的负载量.更重要的是,碳基底可以直接利用制备碳基复合材料,无需任何预处理及表面活性剂参与,避免了前处理对基底的形貌和电子特性的破坏.本综述首先介绍了超临界二氧化碳膨胀乙醇体系的属性,讨论了碳基复合材料在该体系中的形成机理.然后分别介绍了零维碳球、一维碳纳米管、二维石墨烯、三维多孔碳材料作为基底形成的一系列金属(氧化物)复合材料,及这些材料在催化和锂离子电池领域中的应用.最后,对超临界二氧化碳沉积方法的应用进行了总结和展望.     

Wide-band circular polarization-keeping reflection mediated by metasurface

In this paper,we show that circular polarization-keeping reflection can be achieved using reflective metasurfaces.The underlying physical mechanism of the polarization-keeping reflection is analyzed using a reflection matrix.A wideband circular polarization-keeping reflector is demonstrated using N-shaped resonators.Both the simulation and experiment results show that the polarization-keeping reflection can be achieved with a high efficiency larger than 98%over the frequency range from 9.2 GHz to 17.7 GHz for both incident left-and right-handed circularly polarized waves.Under oblique incidence,the bandwidth increases as the incident angle varies from 0°to 80°. Moreover,the co-polarization reflection is independent of the incident azimuth angles.     

识别过渡金属离子的1,8-萘二甲酰亚胺多胺衍生物荧光传感器的研究

设计合成了用以检测过渡金属离子的荧光化学敏感器体系,它们是由1,8-萘二酰亚胺为荧光团,多胺衍生物为金属离子受体组成．在室温下对其光物理性质的研究中发现,在没有加入过渡金属离子时,由于体系内存在有效的光诱导电子转移过程使得荧光团的荧光被淬灭．加入过渡金属离子后,金属离子受体中的氮原子和过渡金属离子之间的配位作用阻断了光诱导电子转移过程,体系的荧光增强．不同的金属离子受体表现出了和过渡金属离子不同的配位识别能力,并且通过荧光的变化传递出受体-金属离子作用的信息．     

三维问题的随机界面元法

在研究岩土工程的整体稳定可靠度分析及二维随机界面元法的基础上，建立了等参随机界面元法的数学模型，推导了基本公式，编制了计算程序，以均质边坡的抗滑可靠度分析作为数值算例，并就计算结果进行了分析和探讨．