Simultaneous tailoring of surface topography and chemical structure for controlled wettability

Wettability was controlled in a rational manner by individually and simultaneously manipulating surface topography and surface chemical structure. The first stage of this research involved the adsorption of charged submicrometer polystyrene latex particles to oppositely charged poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film samples to form surfaces with different topographies/roughness; adsorption time, solution pH, solution ionic strength, latex particle size, and substrate charge density are external variables that were controlled. The introduction of discrete functional groups to smooth and rough surfaces through organic transformations was carried out in the second stage. Amine groups (-NH(2)) and alcohol groups (-OH) were introduced onto smooth PET surfaces by amidation with poly(allylamine) and adsorption with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), respectively. On latex particle adsorbed surfaces, a thin layer of gold was evaporated first to prevent particle redistribution before chemical transformation. Reactions with functionalized thiols and adsorption with PVOH on patterned gold surfaces successfully enhanced surface hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. Particle size and biomodal particle size distribution affect both hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. A very hydrophobic surface exhibiting water contact angles of 150 degrees /126 degrees (theta(A)/theta(R)) prepared by adsorption of 1-octadecanethiol and a hydrophilic surface with water contact angles of 18 degrees /8 degrees (theta(A)/theta(R)) prepared by adsorption of PVOH were prepared on gold-coated surfaces containing both 0.35 and 0.1 microm latex particles. The combination of surface topography and surface-chemical functionality permits wettability control over a wide range.     

配合物[Cu2(phen)2](SiW12O40)(H2O)7的合成、晶体结构及电化学分析

The title complex has been synthesized by the reaction of silicotungstic acid, 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) monohydrate and cupric acetate. The crystal structure belongs to triclinic system, space group P1 with a=1.158 46(15) nm, b=1.658 8(2) nm, c=1.664 4(2) nm, α=82.090(2)°, β=76.001(2)°, γ=86.531(2)°, and V=3.072 6(7) nm³, D_c=3.887 g·cm^-3, Z=2, F(000)=3 196. R₁=0.086 7, wR₂=0.185 8. The structure shows that the copper(Ⅱ) atom is coordinated with two nitrogen atoms from the one phen and three oxgygen atoms from three water, forming a distorted square-pyramid configuration The cyclic voltametric behavior of the complex is also reported. CCDC: 298807.     

CH4, CO2和H2O在非金属原子修饰石墨烯表面的吸附

煤层气(矿井瓦斯)是一种有望替代传统化石燃料，如煤、石油和天然气的非常规气体. 作为可得的清洁能源，它的利用被认为是节能和经济的选择. 在本工作中，非金属原子X(X=H，O，N，S，P，Si，F，Cl)修饰的石墨烯(Gr)被用来代表具有结构异性的煤表面模型. 通过密度泛函理论系统地研究了煤层气组分Y(Y=CH₄，CO₂，H₂O)在非金属原子修饰石墨烯上的吸附作用. 结果表明Y在非金属原子修饰石墨烯上的吸附均为物理吸附. 态密度和差分电荷密度共同表明了这种弱的相互作用.其中，H和Cl对CH₄的作用较大； N、O、F、Cl对CO₂的作用较强； N，Cl对H₂O的影响不容忽视. 总的来说，吸附能大小依次为：H₂O>CO₂>CH₄. 因此，在CH₄富集的煤层里注入H₂O或CO₂可以与CH₄形成竞争吸附，进而提高煤层气采收率. 本工作提供了在分子水平下煤层气与非金属原子修饰石墨烯之间的相互作用的详情，并为煤层瓦斯的开采与分离提供了有用的信息.     

Regulation of redox balance using a biocompatible nanoplatform enhances phototherapy efficacy and suppresses tumor metastasis

Many cancer treatments including photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilize reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill tumor cells. However, elevated antioxidant defense systems in cancer cells result in resistance to the therapy involving ROS. Here we describe a highly effective phototherapy through regulation of redox homeostasis with a biocompatible and versatile nanotherapeutic to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. We systematically explore and exploit methylene blue adsorbed polydopamine nanoparticles as a targeted and precise nanocarrier, oxidative stress amplifier, photodynamic/photothermal agent, and multimodal probe for fluorescence, photothermal and photoacoustic imaging to enhance anti-tumor efficacy. Remarkably, following the glutathione-stimulated photosensitizer release to generate exogenous ROS, polydopamine eliminates the endogenous ROS scavenging system through depleting the primary antioxidant, thus amplifying the phototherapy and effectively suppressing tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this approach enables a robust inhibition against breast cancer metastasis, as oxidative stress is a vital impediment to distant metastasis in tumor cells. Innovative, safe and effective nanotherapeutics via regulation of redox balance may provide a clinically relevant approach for cancer treatment.

Amplified oxidative stress achieved by modulating redox homeostasis with PDA–MB for highly effective synergistic phototherapy to inhibit primary tumors and metastases.     

Rigid nanoscopic containers for highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control

We demonstrate a novel strategy for the preparation of mesoporous silica-supported, highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control. The supporting mesoporous silica, functionalized by polyaminoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, is prepared by repeated Michael addition with methyl acrylates (MA) and amidation reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA), by using aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica as the starting material. The encapsulation of metal nanoparticles within the dendrimer-propagated mesoporous silica is achieved by the chemical reduction of metal-salt-impregnated dendrimer-mesoporous silica by using aqueous hydrazine. The site control of the metal or bimetal nanoparticles is accomplished by the localization of inter- or intradendrimeric nanoparticles within the mesoporous silica tunnels. The size of the encapsulated nanoparticles is controlled by their confinement to the nanocavity of the dendrimer and the mesopore. For Cu and Pd, particles locate at the lining of mesoporous tunnels, and have diameters of less than 2.0 nm. For Pd/Pt, particles locate at the middle of mesoporous tunnels and have diameters in the range of 2.0-4.2 nm. The Pd and Pd/Pt nanoparticles are very stable in air, whereas the Cu nanoparticles are stable only in an inert atmosphere.     

Enhancement of signal-to-noise level by synchronized dual wavelength modulation for light emitting diode fluorimetry in a liquid-core-waveguide microfluidic capillary electrophoresis system

The signal-to-noise level of light emitting diode (LED) fluorimetry using a liquid-core-waveguide (LCW)-based microfluidic capillary electrophoresis system was significantly enhanced using a synchronized dual wavelength modulation (SDWM) approach. A blue LED was used as excitation source and a red LED as reference source for background-noise compensation in a microfluidic capillary electrophoresis (CE) system. A Teflon AF-coated silica capillary served as both the separation channel and LCW for light transfer, and blue and red LEDs were used as excitation and reference sources, respectively, both radially illuminating the detection point of the separation channel. The two LEDs were synchronously modulated at the same frequency, but with 180°-phase shift, alternatingly driven by a same constant current source. The LCW transferred the fluorescence emission, as well as the excitation and reference lights that strayed through the optical system to a photomultiplier tube; a lock-in amplifier demodulated the combined signal, significantly reducing its noise level. To test the system, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled amino acids were separated by capillary electrophoresis and detected by SDWM and single wavelength modulation, respectively. Five-fold improvement in S/N ratio was achieved by dual wavelength modulation, compared with single wavelength modulation; and over 100-fold improvement in S/N ratio was achieved compared with a similar LCW-CE system reported previously using non-modulated LED excitation. A detection limit (S/N = 3) of 10 nM FITC-labeled arginine was obtained in this work. The effects of modulation frequency on S/N level and on the rejection of noise caused by LED-driver current and detector were also studied.     

Semiempirical Molecular Orbital Studies of the Acylation Step in the Lipase‐Catalyzed Ester Hydrolysis

In this study, we present the results from the semiempirical molecular orbital calculations for the acylation step in the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis. The results reveal that the lowest energy path for the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is for the serine residue of the catalytic triad to attack the substrate, followed by coupling heavy atom movement and proton transfer. The calculations of four active site models show that the cooperation of the aspartate group and the oxyanion hole is capable of lowering the activation energy by about 16 kcalmol^?1. Our results further suggest that the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis adopts the single proton transfer mechanism.     

Liquid–paper interactions during liquid drop impact and recoil on paper surfaces

The spreading and recoiling of water drops on several flat and macroscopically smooth model surfaces and on sized paper surfaces were studied over a range of drop impaction velocities using a high-speed CCD camera. The water drop spreading and recoiling results on several model hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces were found to be in agreement with observations reported in the literature. The maximum drop spreading diameter for those model surfaces at impact was found to be dependent upon the initial drop kinetic energy and the degree of hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the surface. The extent of the maximum drop recoiling was found to be much weaker for hydrophilic substrates than for hydrophobic substrates. Sized papers, however, showed an interesting switch of behaviour in the process of water drop impaction. They behave like a hydrophobic substrate when a water drop impacts on it, but like a hydrophilic substrate when water drop recoils. Although the contact angle between water and hydrophilic or hydrophobic non-porous surfaces changes from advancing to receding as reported in literature, the change of contact angle during water impact on paper surface is unique in that the level of sizing was found to have a smaller than expected influence on the degree of recoil. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to probe fibres on a sized filter paper surface under water. The AFM data showed that water interacted strongly with the fibre even though the paper was heavily sized. Implications of this phenomenon were discussed in the context of inkjet print quality and of the surface conditions of sized papers. Results of this study are very useful in the understanding of inkjet ink droplet impaction on paper surfaces which sets the initial condition for ink penetration into paper after impaction.     

Synthesis of N—（4—Salicylideneiminoaryl）monoaza Crown Ethers and Dioxygen Affinities of Their Cobalt（Ⅱ）Complexes

The Schiff base‐containing pendant monoaza crown ether HL¹, HL², HL³ and HL⁴ have been synthesized by condensation of salicylaldehyde with N‐(4‐aminoaryl) monoaza crown ethers, which were prepared conveniently from 4‐nitro‐N, N‐di(hydroxyethyl) aniline or 4‐nitrobenzyl chloride via cyclization or condensation and reduction. The structures of HL¹—HL⁴ were verified by ¹H NMR, IR spectra, MS and elemental analysis. Moreover, the oxygenation constants (KO2) and thermodynamic parameters (δH⁰ and δS⁰) of their cobalt(II) complexes were determined in the range of ?5 °C to 25 °C, and the effect of crown ring bonded to a Schiff base on the dioxygen affinities of cobalt(II) complexes was also observed as compared to the uncrowned analogue (CoL).     

Alternating DNA and pi-conjugated sequences. Thermophilic foldable polymers

Foldable polymers with alternating single-strand deoxyribonucleic acid and planar conjugated organic perylene tetracarboxylic diimide units were found to self-organize into loosely folded nanostructures. Upon heating, the loosely folded structures become more ordered as evidenced by pi-stacking in the perylene segments. The folding and unfolding processes driven by the molecular interactions of adjacent perylenes were monitored in both aqueous and organic solutions. Heat-promoted folding, or inverse temperature behavior, which originates from positive enthalpy changes, was only observed in water. Therefore, we attributed this inverse temperature dependence to hydrophobic effects rather than pi-pi molecular orbital overlap between the perylene planes. These findings shed light on the design of new thermophiles in protein engineering as well as the construction of macromolecular-based nanodevices with actuator and sensory properties.