The application of an in situ karyotyping technique for mesenchymal stromal cells: a validation and comparison study with classical G-banding

The cytogenetic analysis of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is essential for verifying the safety and stability of MSCs. An in situ technique, which uses cells grown on coverslips for karyotyping and minimizes cell manipulation, is the standard protocol for the chromosome analysis of amniotic fluids. Therefore, we applied the in situ karyotyping technique in MSCs and compared the quality of metaphases and karyotyping results with classical G-banding and chromosomal abnormalities with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Human adipose- and umbilical cord-derived MSC cell lines (American Type Culture Collection PCS-500-011, PCS-500-010) were used for evaluation. The quality of metaphases was assessed by analyzing the chromosome numbers in each metaphase, the overlaps of chromosomes and the mean length of chromosome 1. FISH was performed in the interphase nuclei of MSCs for 6q, 7q and 17q abnormalities and for the enumeration of chromosomes via oligo-FISH in adipose-derived MSCs. The number of chromosomes in each metaphase was more variable in classical G-banding. The overlap of chromosomes and the mean length of chromosome 1 as observed via in situ karyotyping were comparable to those of classical G-banding (P=0.218 and 0.674, respectively). Classical G-banding and in situ karyotyping by two personnel showed normal karyotypes for both cell lines in five passages. No numerical or structural chromosomal abnormalities were found by the interphase-FISH. In situ karyotyping showed equivalent karyotype results, and the quality of the metaphases was not inferior to classical G-banding. Thus, in situ karyotyping with minimized cell manipulation and the use of less cells would be useful for karyotyping MSCs.     

Is the Cassie-Baxter formula relevant?

The utility of the Cassie-Baxter formula to predict the apparent contact angle of a drop on rough hydrophobic surfaces has been questioned recently. To resolve this issue, experimental and numerical data for advancing and receding contact angles are reported. In all cases considered it is seen that contact angles follow the overall trend of the Cassie-Baxter formula, except for the advancing front on pillar type roughness. It is shown that deviations from the Cassie-Baxter angle have a one-to-one correlation with microscopic distortions of the contact line with respect to its configuration in the Cassie-Baxter state.     

Remarkably Efficient Photocurrent Generation Based on a [60]Fullerene–Triosmium Cluster/Zn–Porphyrin/Boron–Dipyrrin Triad SAM

A new artificial photosynthetic triad array, a [60]fullerene–triosmium cluster/zinc–porphyrin/boron–dipyrrin complex ( 1 , Os₃C₆₀/ZnP/Bodipy), has been prepared by decarbonylation of Os₃(CO)₈(CN(CH₂)₃Si(OEt)₃)(μ₃‐η²:η²:η²‐C₆₀) ( 6 ) with Me₃NO/MeCN and subsequent reaction with the isocyanide ligand CNZnP/Bodipy ( 5 ) containing zinc porphyrin (ZnP) and boron dipyrrin (Bodipy) moieties. Triad 1 has been characterized by various spectroscopic methods (MS, NMR, IR, UV/Vis, photoluminescence, and transient absorption spectroscopy). The electrochemical properties of 1 in chlorobenzene (CB) have been examined by cyclic voltammetry; the general feature of the cyclic voltammogram of 1 is nine reversible one‐electron redox couples, that is, the sum of those of 5 and 6 . DFT has been applied to study the molecular and electronic structures of 1 . On the basis of fluorescence‐lifetime measurements and transient absorption spectroscopic data, 1 undergoes an efficient energy transfer from Bodipy to ZnP and a fast electron transfer from ZnP to C₆₀; the detailed kinetics involved in both events have been elucidated. The SAM of triad 1 ( 1 /ITO; ITO=indium–tin oxide) has been prepared by immersion of an ITO electrode in a CB solution of 1 and diazabicyclo‐octane (2:1 equiv), and characterized by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, water contact angle, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The photoelectrochemical properties of 1 /ITO have been investigated by a standard three‐electrode system in the presence of an ascorbic acid sacrificial electron donor. The quantum yield of the photoelectrochemical cell has been estimated to be 29 % based on the number of photons absorbed by the chromophores. Our triad 1 is unique when compared to previously reported photoinduced electron‐transfer arrays, in that C₆₀ is linked by π bonding with little perturbation of the C₆₀ electron delocalization.     

Efficient Olefin Epoxidation by Robust Re4 Cluster‐Supported MnIII Complexes with Peracids: Evidence of Simultaneous Operation of Multiple Active Oxidant Species,MnVO,MnIVO,and MnIII?OOC(O)R

Two new tetranuclear chalcocyanide cluster complexes, [{Mn(saloph)H₂O}₄Re₄Q₄(CN)₁₂]?4 CH₃OH? 8 H₂O (saloph=N,N′‐o‐phenylenebis(salicylidenaminato), Q=Se ( 1 ‐Se), Te ( 2 ‐Te)), have been synthesized by the diffusion of a methanolic solution of [PPh₄]₄[Re₄Q₄(CN)₁₂] into a methanolic solution of [Mn(saloph)]⁺. The structure of 2 ‐Te has been determined by X‐ray crystallography. These rhenium cluster‐supported [Mn^III(saloph)] complexes have been found to efficiently catalyze a wide range of olefin epoxidations under mild experimental conditions in the presence of meta‐chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA). Olefin epoxidation by these catalysts is proposed to involve the multiple active oxidants Mn^V?O, Mn^IV?O, and Mn^III? OOC(O)R. Evidence in support of this interpretation has been derived from reactivity and Hammett studies, H₂¹⁸O‐exchange experiments, and the use of peroxyphenylacetic acid as a mechanistic probe. Moreover, it has been observed that the participation of Mn^V?O, Mn^IV?O, and Mn^III? OOC(O)R can be controlled by changing the substrate concentration. This mechanism provides the greatest congruity with related oxidation reactions that employ certain Mn complexes as catalysts.     

Metal-directed supramolecular assembly of metal(II) benzoates (M = Co,Ni, Cu,Zn, Mn,and Cd) with 4,4′-bipyridine: Effects of metal coordination modes and novel catalytic activities

Six polymeric metal(II)-benzoate complexes of formula [Co₂(O₂CPh)₄(4,4′-bpy)₂]_n (1-Co), [Ni(O₂CPh)₄(H₂O)₂(4,4′-bpy)]_n (2-Ni), [Cu₂(O₂CPh)₄(4,4′-bpy)]_n (3-Cu), [Zn₂(O₂CPh)₂(OH)₂(4,4′-bpy)₂]_n (4-Zn), [Zn₃(O₂CPh)₄(μ-OH)₂(4,4′-bpy)₂]_n (5-Zn), and [Cd₂(O₂CPh)₄(4,4′-bpy)₂]_n (6-Cd) have been synthesized and characterized (4,4′-bpy = 4,4′-bipyridine). 1-Co and 6-Cd show ladder-type double chains, 2-Ni does a helical structure, 3-Cu does a one-dimensional chain containing paddle-wheel units, 4-Zn does a zigzag chain, and 5-Zn does two-dimensional sheets. Since different structures provide different coordination geometry of each metal ion, it is clear that selection of appropriate metal ions can control the coordination geometry of each metal ion to form different crystal structures. Reactivity study of the compounds 1–7 for the transesterification of a variety of esters has shown that 4-Zn and 5-Zn are very efficient and the best among them. The catalyst 6-Cd containing Cd ion, well known as an inert metal ion for the ligand substitution, also catalyzed efficiently the transesterification of a variety of esters, and its reactivity is comparable to 4-Zn and 5-Zn. Moreover, the redox-active metal-containing polymers, 1-Co, 3-Cu, and 7-Mn, have shown efficient catalytic reactivities for the transesterification reactions, while 2-Ni has displayed a very slow conversion. The reactivities of the compounds used in this study are in the order of 5-Zn > 4-Zn > 6-Cd > 7-Mn ∼ 3-Cu > 1-Co > 2-Ni, indicating that the non-redox metal-containing compounds (5-Zn, 4-Zn, and 6-Cd) show better activity than the redox-active metal-containing compounds (7-Mn, 3-Cu, 1-Co, and 2-Ni). These results suggest that it is possible to tune the catalytic activities by changing from Zn to those metals such as Cd, a kinetically inert metal, or Cu, Mn, and Co, the redox-active metals.     

Platinum Films with Controlled 3‐Dimensional Nanoscopic Morphologies and Their Effects on Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering

The synthesis of Pt thin films with a controlled nanoscopic architecture that can support surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is reported. The syntheses are achieved by replicating the pores of a type of mesoporous silica thin film whose pore structure could be described as a regular array of vertical channels of ～9 nm in diameter and their interconnections, forming a 3‐dimensional pore network. Electrochemical deposition into the pores followed by the removal of the templates produced Pt films composed of arrays of vertically standing Pt nanorods with narrow gaps between them. The 3‐dimensional nanostructure increases the surface area and enables the Pt film to absorb visible light. SERS studies of rhodamine 6G and benzenethiol on such Pt films as substrates reveals that the control of the nanostructure is critical for the SERS effect.