Established Liposome-Coated IMB16-4 Polymeric Nanoparticles (LNPs) for Increasing Cellular Uptake and Anti-Fibrotic Effects In Vitro

As a global health problem, liver fibrosis still does not have approved treatment. It was proved that N-(3,4,5-trichlorophenyl)-2(3-nitrobenzenesulfonamide) benzamide (IMB16-4) has anti-hepatic fibrosis activity. However, IMB16-4 displays poor water solubility and poor bioavailability. We are devoted to developing biodegraded liposome-coated polymeric nanoparticles (LNPs) as IMB16-4 delivery systems for improving aqueous solubility, cellular uptake, and anti-fibrotic effects. The physical states of IMB16-4−LNPs were analyzed using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results show that IMB16-4−LNPs increased the drug loading compared to liposomes and enhanced cellular uptake behavior compared with IMB16-4−NPs. In addition, IMB16-4−LNPs could repress the expression of hepatic fibrogenesis-associated proteins, indicating that IMB16-4−LNPs exhibited evident anti-fibrotic effects.     

Covalent labeling of a chromatin reader domain using proximity-reactive cyclic peptides

Chemical probes for chromatin reader proteins are valuable tools for investigating epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and evaluating whether the target of interest holds therapeutic potential. Developing potent inhibitors for the plant homeodomain (PHD) family of methylation readers remains a difficult task due to the charged, shallow and extended nature of the histone binding site that precludes effective engagement of conventional small molecules. Herein, we describe the development of novel proximity-reactive cyclopeptide inhibitors for PHD3—a trimethyllysine reader domain of histone demethylase KDM5A. Guided by the PHD3–histone co-crystal structure, we designed a sidechain-to-sidechain linking strategy to improve peptide proteolytic stability whilst maintaining binding affinity. We have developed an operationally simple solid-phase macrocyclization pathway, capitalizing on the inherent reactivity of the dimethyllysine ε-amino group to generate scaffolds bearing charged tetraalkylammonium functionalities that effectively engage the shallow aromatic ‘groove’ of PHD3. Leveraging a surface-exposed lysine residue on PHD3 adjacent to the ligand binding site, cyclic peptides were rendered covalent through installation of an arylsulfonyl fluoride warhead. The resulting lysine-reactive cyclic peptides demonstrated rapid and efficient labeling of the PHD3 domain in HEK293T lysates, showcasing the feasibility of employing proximity-induced reactivity for covalent labeling of this challenging family of reader domains.

We describe the development of covalent cyclic peptide ligands which target a chromatin methylation reader domain using a proximity-reactive sulfonyl fluoride moiety.     

Dynamic Variation of Amino Acid Contents and Identification of Sterols in Xinyang Mao Jian Green Tea

As important biomolecules in Camellia sinensis L., amino acids (AAs) are considered to contribute to the overall green tea sensory quality and undergo dynamic changes during growth. However, limited by analytical capacity, detailed AAs composition in different growth stages remains unclear. To address this question, we analyzed the dynamic changes of 23 AAs during leaf growth in Xinyang Mao Jian (XYMJ) green tea. Using amino acid analyzer, we demonstrated that most AAs are abundant on Pure Brightness Day and Grain Rain Day. After Grain Rain, 23 AAs decreased significantly. Further analysis shows that theanine has a high level on the day before Spring Equinox and Grain Rain, accounting for 44–61% of the total free AAs content in tea leaves. Glu, Pro, and Asp are the second most abundant AAs. Additionally, spinasterol and 22,23-dihydrospinasterol are first purified and identified in ethanol extract of XYMJ by silica gel column chromatography method. This study reveals the relationship between plucking days and the dynamic changes of AAs during the growth stage and proves the rationality of the traditional plucking days of XYMJ green tea.     

气相生长氮化铝单晶的新方法

通过在钨坩埚盖开小孔的方法改变氮化铝结晶衬底上的温度场分布,在开孔处形成局部低温区;由于孔的几何尺寸的限制和氮化铝晶体生长的各向异性,开孔处的氮化铝晶体单晶化;随后,开孔处的单晶起籽晶的作用,逐渐长成较大尺寸、较高质量的氮化铝单晶.目前用该方法已经制备出直径大于2mm的氮化铝单晶体.     

手性大孔磷酸镓Hit-5的水热合成与晶体结构

本文采用水热合成法制备了一个三维手性大孔开放骨架磷酸镓Ga16P16O75·4[1,6-C6H18N2]·[C2H10N2]·2H2O(简称Hit-5).反应起始原料摩尔配比为:1 GaOOH:15 H3PO4:7.5 H2N(CH2)6NH2:0.5 C2H8N2:555 H2O.Hit-5属正交晶系,P21212空间群,晶胞参数:a=0.8671(1)nm,b=1.7945(1)nm,c=0.9101(1)nm,β=108.33(1)°,V=1.3443(2)nm3,Z=4.Hit-5的骨架是由Ga3P3六聚体和Ga4P4八聚体两个不同的二级结构单元通过共顶点联接构成三维纳米孔结构,在[001]方向呈现16-元环孔道.     

燃烧剂对低温燃烧合成Pr-CeO2粉体结构与性能的影响

以乙酸铵和柠檬酸为燃烧剂,Ce(NO3)3·6H2O和Pr6O11为主要原料,采用低温燃烧法(LCS)制备了Ce0.95Pr0.5O2纳米晶粉体.用DSC、XRD、SEM及色度测试等手段研究了Ce0.95Pr0.5O2纳米晶微粒前驱体的着火温度、产物晶体结构、晶体形貌及色度.结果表明:乙酸铵和柠檬酸作为燃烧剂的反应前驱体着火温度分别在250℃和300℃左右.两种燃烧产物均为单一的萤石型固溶体.与柠檬酸相比,乙酸铵作为燃烧剂得到的燃烧产物结晶程度更完善、Pr离子进入CeO2晶格的含量更多、呈色更好,且颗粒的团聚程度变小.根据Scherrer公式计算,用两种燃烧剂制备产物的平均晶粒尺寸分别为20～30 nm和10～15 nm,为纳米晶颗粒.最后得到Ce0.95Pr0.5O2粉体的颗粒尺寸则在200～300 nm之间.乙酸铵与硝酸铈的最佳摩尔配比为2:1,柠檬酸与硝酸铈的最佳摩尔配比为3:1.     

工作气压对磁控溅射ITO薄膜性能的影响

工作气压在ITO薄膜的制备过程中是一个重要的工艺参数,直接决定着薄膜的性能.本文利用射频磁控溅射方法,采用氧化铟锡陶瓷靶材,在衬底温度为175℃,工作气压范围为0.45～1.0 Pa条件下,制备了氧化铟锡透明导电薄膜.研究了工作气压对其微观结构、表面形貌和光电特性的影响.在衬底温度为175℃、纯氩气中制备的氧化铟锡薄膜电阻率为3.04 ×10-4 Ω·cm、可见光波段(400～800 nm)透过率为91.9;,适合用作异质结太阳电池的前电极和减反射膜.     

6H-SiC衬底片的表面处理

相比于蓝宝石,6H-SiC是制作GaN高功率器件更有前途的衬底.本文研究了表面处理如研磨、化学机械抛光对6H-SiC衬底表面特性的影响.用显微镜、原子力显微镜、拉曼光谱、卢瑟福背散射谱表征了衬底表面.结果表明经过两步化学机械抛光后提高了表面质量.经第二步化学机械抛光后的衬底具有优异的表面形貌、高透射率和极小的损伤层,其表面粗糙度RMS是0.12nm.在该衬底上用MOCVD方法长出了高质量的GaN外延膜.     

香花石形态所反映的一种可能的孪晶结构

香花石是我国发现的第一个新矿物,它的形态非常复杂.本文基于香花石形态上出现了左形与右形相聚的现象,对香花石形态进行了重新思考,认为同一单形的左形与右形不能相聚形成单晶体,只能形成孪晶,因此,对原香花石晶体图进行了一些修正,认为原香花石晶体图可能是一个孪晶图.这对深入认识晶体形态及晶体对称理论、澄清长期以来人们并没有足够重视的一些基本概念有重要意义.     

缓冲层ZnPc对有机电致发光器件特性的影响

本文研究了酞菁锌(ZnPc)薄膜的表面形貌及ZnPc薄膜作为缓冲层对有机电致发光器件(OLEDs)光电特性的影响.对比两组样品的AFM图像,ZnPc薄膜相比于ITO薄膜,其表面的岛面积较大,薄膜表面更连续平整,基本上覆盖了ITO膜表面针孔,减少了表面的缺陷.另外,ZnPc薄膜的岛分布均匀有序.使用ZnPc作为缓冲层的器件性能明显好于未使用ZnPc修饰的器件,在7.42V的驱动电压下的最大发光亮度达到1.428kcd/m2,在4.3V电压驱动下时,最大光功率效率为1.411m/W;而未使用缓冲层的器件在8V的驱动电压下达到最大发光亮度达到1.212kcd/m2,在5.5V电压驱动下时,最大光功率效率为0.931m/W.