Tuning of Ti-doped mesoporous silica for highly efficient enrichment of phosphopeptides in human placenta mitochondria

Extraction of phosphopeptides from rather complex biological samples has been a tough issue for deep and comprehensive investigation into phosphoproteomes. In this paper, we present a series of Ti-doped mesoporous silica (Ti-MPS) materials with tunable composition and controllable morphology for highly efficient enrichment of phosphopeptides. By altering the molar ratio of silicon to titanium (Si/Ti) in the precursor, the external morphology, Ti content, internal long-rang order, and surface area of Ti-MPS were all modulated accordingly with certain regularity. Tryptic digests of standard phosphoprotein α- and β-casein were employed to assess the phosphopeptide enrichment capability of Ti-MPS series. At the Si/Ti molar ratio of 8:1, the optimum enrichment performance with admirable sensitivity and capacity was achieved. The detection limit for β-casein could reach 10 fmol, and 15 phosphopeptides from the digest of α-casein were resolved in the spectrum after enrichment, both superior to the behavior of commercial TiO₂ materials. More significantly, for the digest of human placenta mitochondria, 396 phosphopeptides and 298 phosphoproteins were definitely detected and identified after enrichment with optimized Ti-MPS material, demonstrating its remarkable applicability for untouched phosphoproteomes. In addition, this research also opened up a universal pathway to construct a composition-tunable functional material in pursuit of the maximum performance in applications.

Binding and cytotoxicity of 131I-labeled gastrin-releasing peptide receptor antagonists modified by cell penetrating peptides

Gastrin releasing peptide receptors (GRPRs) are one of the most interesting targets over expressed in various tumors. Due to the superior potential of the GRPR antagonist analogs, they have been studied in the tumor radio imaging and therapy field. However, typical antagonists suffered the shortcomings of no internalization and poor binding affinity which hampered their applications in radiotherapy. Therefore, we attempted to introduce Oligoarginines (cell penetrating peptides) to RM26, aiming to increase the binding affinity or even trigger the internalization of the peptides on cells. The results showed Arg₆ as the most potent CPP, significantly enhanced the binding avidity of RM26 to the GRPR.

     

Enhanced Thermal Decomposition Properties and Catalytic Mechanism of Ammonium Perchlorate over CuO/MoS2 Composite

In this report, CuO/MoS₂ composites were successfully prepared by the hydrothermal method where nano‐sized CuO was uniformly distributed on the surface of hierarchical MoS₂ substrates (CuO/MoS₂ composites). Their physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in ammonium perchlorate (AP) decomposition were investigated and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS, TG/DSC and combustion measurement. The results showed that it could decrease AP decomposition temperature at high decomposition stage from 416.5 °C to 323.5 °C and increase the heat release from 378 J/g (pure AP) to 1340 J/g (AP with catalysts), which was better than pure CuO nanoparticles (345.5 °C and 1046 J/g). Meanwhile, it showed excellent performance in combustion reaction either in N₂ or air atmosphere. The results obtained by photocurrent spectra, photoluminescence spectra and time‐resolved fluorescence emission spectra indicated that loading CuO mediated the generation rate and combination rate of electrons and holes, thus tuning the catalytic performance on AP decomposition. This study proved that employing the supports that can synergistically interact with CuO is an efficient strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of CuO.     

Selective Decrosslinking in Liquid Crystal Polymer Actuators for Optical Reconfiguration of Origami and Light‐Fueled Locomotion

The ability to optically reconfigure an existing actuator of a liquid crystal polymer network (LCN) so that it can display a new actuation behavior or function is highly desired in developing materials for soft robotics applications. Demonstrated here is a powerful approach relying on selective polymer chain decrosslinking in a LCN actuator with uniaxial LC alignment. Using an anthracene‐containing LCN, spatially controlled optical decrosslinking can be realized through photocleavage of anthracene dimers under 254 nm UV light, which alters the distribution of actuation (crosslinked) and non‐actuation (decrosslinked) domains and thus determines the actuation behavior upon order‐disorder phase transitions. Based on this mechanism, a single actuator having a flat shape can be reconfigured in an on‐demand manner to exhibit reversible shape transformation such as self‐folding into origami three‐dimensional structures. Moreover, using a dye‐doped LCN actuator, a light‐fueled microwalker can be optically reconfigured to adopt different locomotion behaviors, changing from moving in the laser scanning direction to moving in the opposite direction.     

A mussel‐inspired method to fabricate a novel reduced graphene oxide/Bi12O17Cl2 composites membrane for catalytic degradation and oil/water separation

In this study, a novel dopamine modified graphene‐based photocatalytic membrane with Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂ inserted was fabricated to modify the commercial cellulose acetate membrane via vacuum filtration method. Results showed the reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/poly(dopamine) (PDA)/Bi₁₂O₁₇Cl₂‐CA photocatalytic composite membrane exhibited 98% removal efficiency for methylene blue (MB) within 100 minutes and 96% removal efficiency for 4‐CP within 160 minutes. Importantly, the photocatalytic composite membrane can simultaneously achieve dye degradation and oil‐water separation in only one device within a short time. And the as‐prepared membrane displayed great antifouling performance and recyclability after 10 cycles. Meanwhile, the membrane showed excellent stability in the agitated water bath or different pH conditions. In summary, the photocatalytic membrane investigated in this study opens new avenue for treatment of wastewater.     

An efficient copper-catalyzed N-arylation of amides: synthesis of N-arylacrylamides and 4-amido-N-phenylbenzamides

Copper-catalyzed intermolecular C–N bond-forming reactions between aryl iodides and amides are described using sodium ascorbate, which is both cheap and nontoxic, as the additive. A variety of functionalized amides including some practical, unique secondary amides, such as N-arylacrylamides and 4-amido-N-phenylbenzamides, which are difficult to obtain by the classical methods, are prepared. Furthermore, some tertiary amides are prepared by using copper thiophenecarboxylate.     

Two Bisupporting Keggin-Type POM-Based Hybrids Decorated by [Zn(phen)2]2+ Fragments

Two bisupporting Keggin-type polyoxoanion-based hybrids decorated by [Zn(phen)₂]²⁺ complexes, [Zn(phen)₂]₂(PW ₁₁ ^VI W^VO₄₀) (1) and K[Zn(phen)₂(H₂O)]₂(OH) (SiW₁₂O₄₀)·H₂O (2) (phen = 1,10′-phenanthroline), have been hydrothermally synthesized, and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, UV–Vis spectrum, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structural analyses reveal that compound 1 consists of a 0D bisupporting Keggin-type heteropoly blue cluster obtained by using reductant glucose, which is grafted by two [Zn(phen)₂]²⁺ fragments; compound 2 presents a 1D infinite chain, which is constructed from bisupporting [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? polyoxoanions decorated by [Zn(phen)₂(H₂O)]²⁺ fragments and K⁺ ions. Additionally, the electrochemical behaviors of two compounds were studied.     

Microsensor Chip Integrated with Gold Nanoparticles‐Modified Ultramicroelectrode Array for Improved Electroanalytical Measurement of Copper Ions

This paper presents a microsensor chip integrated with a gold nanoparticles‐modified ultramicroelectrode array (UMEA) as the working electrode for the detection of copper ions in water. The microsensor chip was fabricated with Micro‐Electromechanical System technique. Gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited onto the surface of UMEA at a constant potential of ?0.3 V. The ratio d/R_b of interelectrode spacing (d) over the individual electrode’s radius (R_b) was investigated to improve the electrochemical performance. The UMEA with a d/R_b of 20 showed the best hemispherical diffusion mode, resulted in fast response time and high current response. The gold nanoparticles increased the active surface area of UMEA by not changing the geometries of UMEA, and the current response was increased further. Incorporating the optimized characteristic of UMEA and gold nanoparticles, the microsensor showed a good linear range from 0.5 to 200 µg L^?1 of copper ions in the acetate buffer solutions with the method of square wave stripping voltammetry. Compared with the gold nanoparticles‐modified disk electrode, the gold nanoparticles‐modified UMEA showed higher sensitivity (0.024 µA mm^?2 µg^?1 L) and lower limit of detection (0.2 µg L^?1). Water samples from river water and tap water were analyzed by the microsensor chip with recovery ranging from 100.7 % to 107.8 %.     

Two New Abietane Diterpenoids from the Roots of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.

Two new abietane‐type diterpenoids, named triptobenzene R ( 1 ) and triptobenzene S ( 2 ), together with three known abietane‐type diterpenoids, triptophenolide ( 3 ), triptonodiol ( 4 ), and triptonoterpene methyl ether ( 5 ), were isolated from the roots of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook . f. Their structures and relative configurations were established by detailed spectral studies, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR (HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY), and HR‐ESI‐TOF‐MS, and by comparison with published data. Their absolute configurations were assigned by the CD technique, applied for the first time to abietane diterpenes from Tripterygium wilfordii. Compound 2 is the first abietane‐type norditerpenoid isolated from the genus Tripterygium.     

Torreyanoxane,a New 3,4‐Secoglutinane Triterpenoid Isolated from the Pulp of Torreya nucifera

Torreyanoxane, a novel 3,4‐secoglutinane triterpenoid, was isolated from the pulp of Torreya nucifera. The structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods.