In vivo monitoring of tissue regeneration using a ratiometric lysosomal AIE probe

Tissue regeneration is a crucial self-renewal capability involving many complex biological processes. Although transgenic techniques and fluorescence immunohistochemical staining have promoted our understanding of tissue regeneration, simultaneous quantification and visualization of tissue regeneration processes is not easy to achieve. Herein, we developed a simple and quantitative method for the real-time and non-invasive observation of the process of tissue regeneration. The synthesized ratiometric aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) probe exhibits high selectivity and reversibility for pH responses, good ability to map lysosomal pH both in vitro and in vivo, good biocompatibility and excellent photostability. The caudal fin regeneration of a fish model (medaka larvae) was monitored by tracking the lysosomal pH change. It was found that the mean lysosomal pH is reduced during 24–48 hpa to promote the autophagic activity for cell debris degradation. Our research can quantify the changes in mean lysosomal pH and also exhibit its distribution during the caudal fin regeneration. We believe that the AIE-active lysosomal pH probe can also be potentially used for long-term tracking of various lysosome-involved biological processes, such as tracking the stress responses of tissue, tracking the inflammatory responses, and so on.

An AIE-active ratiometric probe for the first time achieved the long-term quantification of lysosomal pH during the medaka larva''s caudal fin regeneration.     

Crystal structures of the flavonoid Oroxylin A and the regioisomers Negletein and Wogonin

The flavonoid Oroxylin A (6‐methoxychrysin or 5,7‐dihydroxy‐6‐methoxy‐2‐phenyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one, C₁₆H₁₂O₅) and its regioisomers are of increasing interest for a variety of bioactive functions and their pharmaceutical formulation is of importance. Previous difficulties in the separation and misidentification of Oroxylin A from its regioisomers Wogonin (8‐methoxychrysin or 5,7‐dihydroxy‐8‐methoxy‐2‐phenyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one) and Negletein (5,6‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxyflavone or 5,6‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐2‐phenyl‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one) render its full structural and powder X‐ray characterization highly desirable. The low‐temperature (100 K) crystal structures of Oroxylin A, Negletein and Wogonin sesquihydrate are reported for the first time. Wogonin crystallizes in two related but distinct hydrated forms. These have very similar powder diffractograms, indicating that such issues need to be addressed for its pharmaceutical formulation.     

Nematic compounds and mixtures with high negative dielectric anisotropy

Syntheses, mesogenic and dielectric properties of three-ring alkylcyclohexyl, alkoxy and alkylphenyl benzoates substituted with four fluorine atoms or with two fluorine atoms and simultaneously a cyano group or two cyano groups are described. Their properties are compared with analogous three-ring phenyl tolanes. Conformation analysis and the calculation of dipole moments with the quantum chemistry method are performed to explain the experimental results. Several four fluorine-substituted two-ring tolanes and biphenyls are also prepared, which are used as a solvent decreasing viscosity, melting point and clearing point of the formulated mixtures. Examples of mixtures prepared from the esters and tolanes with high dielectric anisotropy are given. Curiosity is observed that 4?-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-pentyloxy-2,2?,3,3?-tetrafluorotolane is not the mesogenic compound, while analogous ester 4?-ethoxy-2,3-difluorobiphenyl-4-yl 2,3-difluoro-4-pentyloxybenzoate exhibits a broad temperature range of the nematic phase.     

Paenilamicin: Structure and Biosynthesis of a Hybrid Nonribosomal Peptide/Polyketide Antibiotic from the Bee Pathogen Paenibacillus larvae

The spore‐forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), a fatal disease of honey bees that occurs worldwide. Previously, we identified a complex hybrid nonribosomal peptide/polyketide synthesis (NRPS/PKS) gene cluster in the genome of P. larvae. Herein, we present the isolation and structure elucidation of the antibacterial and antifungal products of this gene cluster, termed paenilamicins. The unique structures of the paenilamicins give deep insight into the underlying complex hybrid NRPS/PKS biosynthetic machinery. Bee larval co‐infection assays reveal that the paenilamicins are employed by P. larvae in fighting ecological niche competitors and are not directly involved in killing the bee larvae. Their antibacterial and antifungal activities qualify the paenilamicins as attractive candidates for drug development.     

Monitoring the morphology development of polymer‐monolithic stationary phases by thermal analysis

Thermal analysis and SEM were employed to gain insights in the different stages of morphology development and the thermal properties of polymer‐monolithic stationary phases. The studied system was a thermally initiated free‐radical copolymerization reaction at 70°C of styrene and divinylbenzene in the presence of tetrahydrofuran and 1‐decanol. The key events in the early stages of morphology development are initiation, chain growth, branching, and cyclization, leading to microgel particles. Interparticle reactions through pendant vinyl groups lead to the formation of microgel clusters. The rapid increase in molecular weight and cross‐link density of the microgel clusters causes a reaction‐induced phase separation, and the formation of a macroscopic network of interconnected globules was observed (macrogelation) at around 45 min. After 3 h or 65% conversion, a space‐filling macroporous monolithic network was observed. Afterwards, mainly growth of existing globules takes place, reducing the macropore size. The porogen ratio affects the timing of the reaction‐induced phase separation, strongly influencing the morphology of the polymer material. The use of a mixture of divinylbenzene isomers yielded a monolithic material that is less cross‐linked at the surface compared to the central part of the polymer backbone due to copolymerization‐composition drift. The less cross‐linked outer layer starts devitrifying at 100°C.     

Synthesis and characterization of MH···HOR dihydrogen bonded ruthenium and osmium complexes(η~5-C_5H_4CH_2OH)MH(PPh_3)_2(M = Ru,Os)

Treatment of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with 6-dimethylaminopentafulvene in THF in the presence of water produced(η5-C5H4CHO) RuCl(PPh3)2, which was reduced by NaBH4 to give the Ru–H···HO dihydrogen bonded complex(η5-C5H4CH2OH) RuH(PPh3)2. The dihydrogen bonded complex(η5-C5H4CH2OH)RuH(PPh3)2 could also be synthesized by the reduction of complex(η5-C5H4CHO)RuH(PPh3)2, which was obtained by the reaction of RuHCl(PPh3)3 with 6-dimethylaminopentafulvene in the presence of water. The analogous dihydrogen bonded osmium complex(η5-C5H4CH2OH)OsH(PPh3)2 was similarly prepared. Single crystal structures and DFT calculations support the presence of intra-molecular H···H interaction, with separations of around 1.9 to 2.0 .     

Synthesis,Structure, Photoluminescence,and Electroluminescence of Siloles that Contain Planar Fluorescent Chromophores

Herein, a new series of siloles that were 2,5‐substituted with planar fluorescent chromophores (PFCs), including fluorene, fluoranthene, naphthalene, pyrene, and anthracene, were synthesized and characterized. These compounds showed weak emission in the solution state, owing to active intramolecular rotation (IMR), but the synergistic effect from electronic coupling between the PFC and the silole ring compensated for the emission quenching by the IMR process to some extent, thereby affording higher emission efficiencies than those of 2,3,4,5‐tetraphenylsiloles in solution. These new siloles showed enhanced emission efficiencies in the aggregated state. The electroluminescence (EL) color and efficiency of new siloles were sensitive towards the PFC. Siloles containing naphthalene moieties showed green EL emission, whilst those containing anthracene moieties showed orange EL emission. The siloles containing pyrene moieties exhibited yellow EL emission at 546 nm, with a peak luminance of 49000 cd cm^?2 and a high current efficiency of 9.1 cd A^?1.