Shape-specific detection based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer using a flexible water-soluble conjugated polymer

We present the detection of the shape-specific conformation of DNA based on the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) by using a novel flexible water-soluble cationic conjugated polymer (CCP). The flexible backbone of CCP has more conformational freedom with the potential to be responsive to analyte shape by electrostatic interaction between flexible CCP and negatively charged DNA. The analyte shape dependent recognition is accomplished by structural changes that compressed or extended the flexible CCP. The morphology-dependent spectral properties of the novel flexible polymer related to the analyte shapes are investigated in detail, where two types of chromophores, referred to as "isolated" segment and "packed" segment aggregates, within the flexible polymer are identified by means of ensemble and single molecule measurements upon binding with different geometric DNA. The change in fluorescence intensity upon binding with shape-specific DNA without obvious color shifts makes this novel flexible polymer a suitable CCP donor for FRET measurements. The results provide insights for understanding the spectral properties of flexible water-soluble CCP and CCP/DNA interaction related to the geometry of target analyte.     

纳米材料与纳米技术在先进核能系统中的应用前瞻

随着人类对核能需求的快速增长,为应对核能发展的挑战,世界主要核能国家已经开始了先进核能系统的研发。新材料与新技术被认为将在未来先进核能系统中发挥重要作用,其中纳米材料与纳米技术显示了在未来核能中广泛的潜在应用前景。纳米材料是近年来受到广泛重视的一种新型功能材料,本文综述了纳米材料与纳米技术在先进核燃料制造、乏燃料后处理、核废物处置以及核环境修复等核燃料循环领域的应用基础研究现状,并对纳米材料技术在未来先进核能系统中的应用发展趋势进行了展望。     

改进的节块展开方法求解圆柱几何对流扩散方程

为高效求解球床高温气冷堆物理-热工耦合问题,发展改进节块展开法求解圆柱几何下的对流扩散方程.针对圆柱几何和对流扩散方程的特殊性,采用三阶多项式和指数函数作为r向横向积分方程的展开函数,在节块展开法的框架下高效求解对流扩散方程.数值验证表明,改进的节块展开方法具有固有的迎风特性,在使用粗网节块时依然能保持稳定性和较高的计算精度.     

Improving the rate performance and stability of LiNi<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>Mn<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> in high voltage lithium-ion battery by using fluoroethylene carbonate as electrolyte additive

Fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) is investigated as the electrolyte additive to improve the electrochemical performance of high voltage LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ cathode material. Compared to LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂/Li cells in blank electrolyte, the capacity retention of the cells with 5 wt% FEC in electrolytes after 80 times charge-discharge cycle between 3.0 and 4.5 V significantly improve from 82.0 to 89.7%. Besides, the capacity of LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂/Li only obtains 12.6 mAh g^?1 at 5 C in base electrolyte, while the 5 wt% FEC in electrolyte can reach a high capacity of 71.3 mAh g^?1 at the same rate. The oxidative stability of the electrolyte with 5 wt% FEC is evaluated by linear sweep voltammetry and potentiostatic data. The LSV results show that the oxidation potential of the electrolytes with FEC is higher than 4.5 V vs. Li/Li⁺, while the oxidation peaks begin to appear near 4.3 V in the electrolyte without FEC. In addition, the effect of FEC on surface of LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ is elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The analysis result indicates that FEC facilitates the formation of a more stable surface film on the LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂ cathode. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) result evidences that the stable surface film could improve cathode electrolyte interfacial resistance. These results demonstrate that the FEC can apply as an additive for 4.5 V high voltage electrolyte system in LiNi_0.6Co_0.2Mn_0.2O₂/Li cells.     

Transformable Peptide Nanocarriers for Expeditious Drug Release and Effective Cancer Therapy via Cancer‐Associated Fibroblast Activation

A novel cleavable amphiphilic peptide (CAP) was designed to be specifically responsive to fibroblast activation protein‐α (FAP‐α), a protease specifically expressed on the surface of cancer‐associated fibroblasts. The CAP self‐assembled into fiber‐like nanostructures in solution, while the presence of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs readily transformed the assemblies into drug‐loaded spherical nanoparticles. The disassembly of these nanoparticles (CAP‐NPs) upon FAP‐α cleavage resulted in rapid and efficient release of the encapsulated drugs specifically at tumor sites. This Transformers‐like drug delivery strategy could allow them to disrupt the stromal barrier and enhance local drug accumulation. Therapeutic results suggested that drug‐loaded CAP‐NPs hold promising tumor specificity and therapeutic efficacy for various solid tumor models, confirming its potential utility and versatility in antitumor therapy.     

Solid Supramolecular Architecture of a Perylene Diimide Derivative for Fluorescent Enhancement

A new p‐phenylenevinylene‐linked perylene diimide has been synthesized and self‐assembled for the formation of zero‐dimensional molecular aggregate structures of nanospheres and vesicles through solvent tuning. The solid‐state optical properties induced by a special wavelength laser were studied and the results indicated excellent fluorescent enhancement properties. The emission intensity of these aggregates increased with elongation of the laser irradiation time. Based on the analysis of variable‐temperature ¹H NMR spectra, DFT calculations, and the single‐crystal structure of the linkage group, a conformation‐dependent fluorescent enhancement mechanism could be demonstrated. The mechanism is different from the fluorescent bleaching of normal solid‐state fluorescent materials and offers potential applications in optical devices.     

Construction of graphdiyne nanowires with high-conductivity and mobility

GDNWs (graphdiyne nanowires) have successfully been constructed which exhibit a very high quality defect-free surface using the VLS growth process. Measurement of electrical properties showed that the GDNWs produced are excellent semiconductors with a conductivity of 1.9 × 10(3) S m(-1) and a mobility of 7.1 × 10(2) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) at room temperature. The results have confirmed that GDNW is indeed a promising and key novel material in electronic and photoelectric fields for both fundamental and potentially practical applications.     

Synthesis and Self‐Assembly of Dihydroxyperylene Bisimides for the Tuning of Photophysical Properties

The synthesis of 1,10‐dihydroxyperylene bisimides by nucleophilic substitution of brominated perylene bisimide is described. 1,10‐Dihydroxyperylene bisimides formed J aggregates in nonpolar solvents and showed a clearly redshifted absorption band. The solvent polarity also influenced the hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl group, and thus, the photophysical properties of perylene bisimide. The photophysical properties of these dihydroxyperylene perylene bisimides can also be tuned by changing charge transfer from the hydroxyl groups to the perylene core through the introduction of metal ions.     

Bifunctional peptides that precisely biomineralize Au clusters and specifically stain cell nuclei

A bifunctional peptide containing a domain that targets cell nuclei and a domain with the ability to biomineralize and capture Au clusters is presented. The peptide-Au clusters exhibit red emission (λ(em) = 677 nm) and specifically stain the nuclei of three cell lines.