Poly(l-glutamic acid)-based star-block copolymers as pH-responsive nanocarriers for cationic drugs

Star-block copolymers PEI-g-(PLG-b-PEG), which consist of a hyperbranched polyethylenimine (PEI) core, a poly(l-glutamic acid) (PLG) inner shell, and a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) outer shell, were synthesised and evaluated as nanocarriers for cationic drugs. The synthesised star-block copolymers were characterised by ¹H NMR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Crystal violet (CV), as a model cationic dye, and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), as a model anticancer drug, could be efficiently entrapped by the synthesised star-block copolymers at physiological pH as a result of electrostatic interactions between the cationic guest molecules and the negatively charged PLG segments in the PEI-g-(PLG-b-PEG) host. The drug–polymer complexes showed relatively high temporal stability at physiological pH and sustained release of the encapsulated drugs was observed. The entrapped model compounds demonstrated accelerated release as the pH was gradually decreased.     

Asymmetric cross aldol addition of isatins with α,β-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by a bifunctional Brønsted acid–Brønsted base organocatalyst

The asymmetric cross-aldol reaction of isatins with α,β-unsaturated ketones has been developed under catalysis by a Cinchona alkaloid-derivated bifunctional Brønsted acid–Brønsted base catalyst, affording the aldol adducts in moderate to good yields (18–98%) with moderate to good enantioselectivities (30–97%). The noncovalent organo-catalyzed asymmetric cross-aldol reaction displays a broad substrate scope and wide functional-group tolerability, albeit the electronic and steric properties of both reaction partners have considerable and regular effects on the reactivity and stereocontrol.     

Photobiological effects of UVA and UVB light in zebrafish embryos: evidence for a competent photorepair system

The consequences of UVB and UVA irradiation on hatch rate, mortality, and malformation were studied in embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio). The use of zebrafish embryos has expanded from traditional developmental models to diverse studies, including many techniques utilizing light exposure. To characterize useful indicators of photodamage, the responses and threshold limits of UV radiation as a function of embryonic stage and fish source were evaluated. Significant differences in UVB susceptibility were observed in embryos at 3, 6-7, 12, and 24h post-fertilization (hpf), with the 1000-cell stage (3 hpf) having greatest tolerance to UVB. Embryos derived from zebrafish raised in outdoor ponds were more tolerant to UVB than were embryos from laboratory-raised fish. Combinations of UVB and UVA exposure were used to confirm the presence of a competent photorepair system in zebrafish that could return otherwise malformed embryos to a normal phenotype. Overall, embryonic zebrafish had large tolerances (LD(50) of 850 J/cm(2)) to UVA, confirming their suitability for photoactivation and photorepair studies.     

Influence of a surfactant and electrolytes on adsorbed polymer layers

Solvent relaxation NMR and small-angle neutron scattering have been used to characterize adsorbed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) layers on silica at a range of surfactant and electrolyte concentrations. Below the critical aggregation concentration (cac), the results suggest that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) interacts relatively weakly, perhaps analogously to a simple salt reducing the solvency of PEO. This is evidenced by a decrease in the adsorbed layer thickness combined with an increase in the bound fraction, although the total adsorbed amount is not greatly affected. The layer thickness goes through a minimum at the cac, after which further SDS addition results in the formation of PEO/SDS aggregates that repel each other and, hence, tend to desorb. The adsorbed amount therefore decreases, from 0.7 mg m(-2) initially to 0.2 mg m(-2) with 32 mM SDS. The aggregates that remain adsorbed also repel, and hence, there is an increase in the layer thickness and the persistence length, while the bound fraction is reduced. In comparison, the effects of electrolyte at the ionic strength studied are relatively minimal. There is, however, evidence that the repulsions between adsorbed PEO/SDS aggregates are partially screened, allowing them to approach each other more readily. This leads to a contraction of the adsorbed layer when the SDS concentration is sufficiently high.     

Three new steroidal saponins from the rhizome of Paris polyphylla

A mixture of a pair of stereoisomeric new spirostanol saponins (1a and 1b) and a new cholestane saponin (2) were isolated from the rhizome of Paris pollyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis. Their structures were elucidated as (25R)-spirost-5-en-3beta, 7beta-diol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1a), (25R)-spirost-5-en-3beta, 7alpha-diol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1b) and 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-Delta(5(6), 17(20))-dien-16, 22-dione-cholestan-3beta, 26-diol-3-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) by a combination of HR-ESI-MS, FAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR techniques (including (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR, (1)H--(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY).     

Effect of peripheral hydrophobic alkoxy substitution on the organic field effect transistor performance of amphiphilic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium triple-decker complexes

A series of four amphiphilic heteroleptic tris(phthalocyaninato) europium complexes with different lengths of hydrophobic alkoxy substituents on one outer phthalocyanine ligand [Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(OCnH(2n+1))8] (n = 4, 6, 10,12) (1, 2, 4, and 5) was designed and prepared. Their film forming and organic field effect transistor properties have been systematically studied in comparison with analogous [Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(15C5)4]Eu[Pc(OC8H17)8] (3). Experimental results showed that all these typical amphiphilic sandwich triple-decker molecules have been fabricated into highly ordered films by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, which displays carrier mobility in the direction parallel to the aromatic phthalocyanine rings in the range of 0.0032-0.60 cm2 V(-1) s(-1) depending on the length of the hydrophobic alkoxy substituents. This is rationalized on the basis of comparative morphology analysis results of the LB films by the atomic force microscopy technique.     

Molecular Arrangement of a Bolaamphiphilic Anthrancene Derivative in Langmuir-Blodgett Film

Langmuir monolayer at the air/water interface is the basis to understand the molecular arrangement and to fabricate the organized molecular films1. Bolaamphiphiles describes the molecules in which two head functional groups are linked by one or two hydrophobic chains2,3. In comparison with the one-headed amphiphile, abundant configurations of Langmuir monolayer are expected in bolaamphiphiles. Generally, three kinds of configurations of the Langmuir monolayers of bolaamphiphile at the air/w…     

Cu_xC_(60)薄膜紫外-可见吸收光谱研究

近来,有关 C60的研究主要集中在有关晶格动力学 [1]、电子结构 [2～ 4]和 MxC60（ M代表碱金属或碱土金属）的超导电性研究 [5].但由于 MxC60在大气中不能稳定存在,制约了 MxC60的深入研究和实际应用 .最近, Masterov等人报导了他们对 Cu/C60的超导特性研究 [6～ 7],认为其转变温度 Tc在 80～ 120 K之间,这个转变温度比现有的 MxC60的转变温度（ Tc～ 40 K）要高得多 .但有关更进一步的研究未见报导 .因此,我们拟对 CuxC60体系作较为详尽的研究,这对于进一步研究其超导机理是有必要的 .本工作是在成功地制备了 CuxC60薄膜的…     

Fe~(3 )/TiO_2/SiO_2复合纳米微粒的合成及光催化降解NO_2~-

采用溶胶 -凝胶法制备了 Ti O2 / Si O2 和不同浓度 Fe3 掺杂的 Fe3 / Ti O2 / Si O2 复合纳米粉末 ,并利用XRD、BET、UV-vis等手段研究了 Ti O2 / Si O2 及掺铁形成的 Fe3 / Ti O2 / Si O2 复合微粒的表面结构形态变化 ,以及对污染物 NO- 2 光催化降解的影响 .结果表明 ,Fe3 / Ti O2 / Si O2 (ω( Fe3 ) =1 .5 % ,m( Ti)∶ m( Si) =2∶ 1 )具有最佳活性 ,样品呈晶化度较低的锐钛矿结构 .Fe3 掺杂导致晶粒的增大 ,稳定性降低 ,大大提高了半导体的光催化活性 ,有利于对低浓度 NO- 2 的光催化降解     

溴化环氧/Novolacs体系在CEM-3板中的应用

分别以PN、BPFN和BPAN为溴化环氧A80的固化剂,以DMP-30、HMTA和2-MZ为促进剂制备CEM-3覆铜板,研究了这三种线型酚醛树脂作为固化剂对CEM-3覆铜板力学性能、电性能、吸水性和耐热性等的影响.结果表明,以三种线型酚醛树脂为固化剂制备的CEM-3覆铜板的力学性能相近,而吸水性由高至低的顺序为PN＞BPFN＞BPAN,介电性能由高至低的顺序为BPFN≈BPAN＞PN,Tg由高至低的顺序为PN＞BPFN＞BPAN.由BPAN和BPFN为固化剂制备的CEM-3覆铜板经150℃/2h后处理,耐变色性明显优于PN为固化剂制备的CEM-3覆铜板.