Nanosilica induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity and cell type-dependent multinucleation in HepG2 and L-02 cells

The prevalent exposure to nanosilica gained concerns about health effects of these particles on human beings. Although nanosilica-induced multinucleation has been confirmed previously, the underlying mechanism was still not clear; this study was to investigate the origination of multinucleated cells caused by nanosilica (62 nm) in both HepG2 and L-02 cells. Cell viability and cellular uptake was determined by MTT assay and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. Giemsa staining was applied to detect multinucleation. To clarify the origination of multinucleated cells, fluorescent probes, PKH26 and PKH67, time-lapse observation were further conducted by confocal microscopy. Results indicated that nanosilica particles were internalized into cells and induced cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Quantification analysis showed that nanosilica significantly increased the rates of binucleated and multinucleated cells, which suggested mitotic catastrophe induction. Moreover, dynamic visualization verified that multinucleation resulted from cell fusion in HepG2 cells not in L-02 cells after nanosilica exposure, suggesting cell type-dependent multinucleation formation. Both multinucleation and cell fusion were involved in genetic instability, which emphasized the significance to explore the multinucleation induced by nanosilica via environmental, occupational and consumer product exposure.     

Silica nanoparticles induce multinucleation through activation of PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway and downregulation of chromosomal passenger proteins in L-02 cells

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) are applicable in various fields due to their unique physicochemical characteristics. However, concerns over their potential adverse effects have been raised. In our previous studies, we reported that SNPs could induce abnormal high incidence of multinucleation. The aim of this study is to further investigate the mechanisms of multinucleation induced by SNPs (68 nm) in human normal liver L-02 cells (L-02 cells). In order to determine the cytotoxicity of SNPs, MTT assay was performed, and the cell viability was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) detected by flow cytometry and multinucleation observed by Giemsa stain showed that ROS generation and rate of multinucleated cells increased after SNPs exposure. N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), a glutathione precursor against SNP-induced toxicity, was used as a ROS inhibitor to elucidate the relationship between ROS and multinucleation. The presence of NAC resulted in inhibition of both ROS generation and rate of multinucleation. Moreover, Western blot analysis showed that the protein levels of Cdc20, Aurora B, and Survivin were down-regulated, and the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway was activated by SNPs. In conclusion, our findings strongly suggested that multinucleation induced by SNPs was related to PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signal pathway activation and downregulation of G2/M phase-related protein and chromosomal passenger proteins.     

Progress of the key materials for organic solar cells

Organic solar cells have attracted academic and industrial interests due to the advantages like lightweight, flexibility and roll-to-roll fabrication. Nowadays, 18% power conversion efficiency has been achieved in the state-of-the-art organic solar cells. The recent rapid progress in organic solar cells relies on the continuously emerging new materials and device fabrication technologies, and the deep understanding on film morphology, molecular packing and device physics. Donor and acceptor materials are the key materials for organic solar cells since they determine the device performance. The past 25 years have witnessed an odyssey in developing high-performance donors and acceptors. In this review, we focus on those star materials and milestone work, and introduce the molecular structure evolution of key materials. These key materials include homopolymer donors, D-A copolymer donors, A-D-A small molecular donors, fullerene acceptors and nonfullerene acceptors. At last, we outlook the challenges and very important directions in key materials development.     

Development of HPLC and NACE methods for the simultaneous determination of benzoic and sorbic acids in sour snap beans containing oil

The practical methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of benzoic acid (BA) and sorbic acid (SA) in sour snap bean samples containing oil. BA and SA in the samples were extracted by ultrasonication with water, followed by cleanup procedures with precipitation for removing the potential proteins and with petroleum ether liquid-liquid extraction for removing the edible oil contained in the samples. The HPLC method was developed using Supelco C18 (250 mm x 4.6 mm id, 5 microm) as column, MeOH-20 mM NH(4)Ac (25:75 v/v) at 1.0 mL/min as the mobile phase and 230 nm as the detection wavelength. The optimal NACE method was established with a running buffer of 20.0 mM NH(4)Ac in 95% MeOH (pH* 10.6), and an applied voltage of -30 kV over a capillary of 50 microm id x 48.5 cm (40 cm to the detector window), which gave a baseline separation of BA and SA, and as well as of the blank matrix within ca. 10 min. Both HPLC and NACE methods gave the relatively lower limits of quantification at about 0.01-0.02 and 0.04-0.05 mg/kg, respectively, whereas the overall recoveries were larger than 85.0%. The proposed methods have been successfully applied to measure 15 real sour bean samples and the content profile of BA and SA in sour bean samples was obtained and evaluated.     

Preparation and characterization of six calixarene bonded stationary phases for high performance liquid chromatography

Six calixarene bonded silica gel stationary phases were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Their chromatographic performance was investigated by using PAHs, aromatic positional isomers and E- and Z-ethyl 3-(4-acetylphenyl) acrylate isomers as probes. Separation mechanism based on the different interactions between calixarenes and analytes were discussed. The chromatographic behaviors of those analytes on the calixarene columns were influenced by the supramolecular interaction including pi-pi interaction, space steric hindrance and hydrogen bonding interaction between calixarenes and analytes. Notably, the presence of polar groups (-OH, -NO(2) and -NH(2)) in the aromatic isomers could improve their separation selectivity on calixarene phase columns. The results from quantum chemistry calculation using DFT-B3LYP/STO-3G* base group were consistent with the retention behaviors of PHAs on calix[4]arene column.     

Efficient Negishi coupling reactions of aryl chlorides catalyzed by binuclear and mononuclear nickel-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

We describe the first nickel-N-heterocyclic carbene catalyzed Negishi cross-coupling reaction of a variety of unactivated aryl chlorides, heterocyclic chlorides, aryl dichlorides, and vinyl chloride. The mononuclear and binuclear nickel-NHC complexes supported by heteroarene-functionalized NHC ligands are found to be highly efficient for the coupling of unactivated aryl chlorides and organozinc reagents, leading to biaryls and terphenyls in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. For all aryl chlorides, the binuclear nickel catalysts show activities higher than those of mononuclear nickel complexes because of possible bimetallic cooperative effect.     

The Magic Au60 Nanocluster: A New Cluster‐Assembled Material with Five Au13 Building Blocks

Herein, we report the synthesis and atomic structure of the cluster‐assembled [Au₆₀Se₂(Ph₃P)₁₀(SeR)₁₅]⁺ material. Five icosahedral Au₁₃ building blocks from a closed gold ring with Au–Se–Au linkages. Interestingly, two Se atoms (without the phenyl tail) locate in the center of the cluster, stabilized by the Se‐(Au)₅ interactions. The ring‐like nanocluster is unprecedented in previous experimental and theoretical studies of gold nanocluster structures. In addition, our optical and electrochemical studies show that the electronic properties of the icosahedral Au₁₃ units still remain unchanged in the penta‐twinned Au₆₀ nanocluster, and this new material might be a promising in optical limiting material. This work offers a basis for deep understanding on controlling the cluster‐assembled materials for tailoring their functionalities.     

Asperchalasine A,a Cytochalasan Dimer with an Unprecedented Decacyclic Ring System,from Aspergillus flavipes

Asperchalasine A ( 1 ), the first cytochalasan dimer featuring a unique decacyclic 5/6/11/5/5/6/5/11/6/5 ring system consisting of 20 chiral centers, was isolated from the culture broth of Aspergillus flavipes. Three biogenetically related intermediates, asperchalasines B–D ( 2 – 4 ), were also isolated. Their structures, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated using a combination of HRESIMS, NMR, ECD, molecular modeling, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques. Compound 1 , which possesses an unprecedented 13‐oxatetracyclo[7.2.1.1^2,5.0^1,6]tridec‐8,12‐dione core structure, is the first example of a dimeric cytochalasan alkaloid. The biogenetic pathways of 1 – 4 were described starting from the co‐isolated compounds 5 and 6 . More importantly, 1 induced significant G1‐phase cell cycle arrest by selectively inhibiting cyclin A, CDK2 and CDK6 in cancerous, but not normal, cells, highlighting it as a potentially selective cell cycle regulator against cancer cells.     

PVC膜离子选择电极检测下限的优化

价格低廉、携带方便、适用浓度宽、操作简单快捷、能耗低的离子选择电极在医院、分析实验室、野外等领域得到了越来越广泛的应用。尽管如此,由于PVC膜中存在的离子流严重破坏了更低检测下限的获取,限制了离子选择电极的进一步发展。因此,本文从减小甚至消除PVC膜中存在的离子流角度出发,系统论述了优化PVC膜离子选择电极检测下限的原理和优良策略,根据收集归纳的大量数据定量阐述传感膜组成的优化、电极组装和调制、应用旋转电极以及电流极化处理等对检测下限的优化提升作用,进一步总结出各种方法的改善规律,分析它们的优势和面临的问题。提出在PVC铸膜液中要突破传统配方,减小增塑剂和离子交换剂用量,以抑制传感膜两侧的离子流,同时外加电流补偿处理等也是降低电极检测下限的有效方法,对检测下限的改善最好的可降低5个数量级。这一总结为PVC膜离子选择电极的高性能化明确了研究方向。     

KdV方程和Kupersmidt方程的递推求解公式

根据Ｐａｉｎｌｅｖｅ分析的已知结果,给出了ＫｄＶ方程和Ｋｕｐｅｒｓｃｈｍｉｄｔ方程的新的递推求解公式。