Protease-responsive mass barcoded nanotranslators for simultaneously quantifying the intracellular activity of cascaded caspases in apoptosis pathways

Quantitatively delineating the activation network of multiple proteases that participate in cellular processes is highly essential for understanding the physiological and pathological states of cells. In this study, protease-responsive mass barcoded nanotranslators (PRMNTs) were engineered for revealing the activity of cascaded caspases in apoptosis in a multiplex and quantitative manner. In the PRMNTs, a series of mass tag-decorated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were tethered onto magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanospheres via a linker containing the substrate peptide of the target protease to form a “one-to-many” core–satellite structure. This nanostructure was internalized into the cells, underwent an enzymatic reaction within the cells, and allowed post-reaction mass spectrometry (MS) interrogation after magnetic separation from the cells. In the presence of intracellular caspases, enzymatic cleavage of the linker could be translated to the decreased ion signals of the mass tags on the remaining AuNPs in the PRMNTs by MS decoding. Benefiting from the multiplexing capability of MS, the intracellular activity of caspase-3, -8 and -9 that orchestrate the apoptotic process was simultaneously quantified at any given time. Kinetic analysis of caspase activity under stimulation of diverse anticancer drugs revealed that programmed cell death followed individual apoptosis pathways, differing in the activation degree and sequence of the caspase cascade. This work represents a modality that interfaces nanotechnology with MS for quantitatively probing the intracellular activity of multiple proteases, which opens up new avenues for revealing the apoptosis mechanism and developing innovative drugs.

Protease-responsive mass barcoded nanotranslators (PRMNTs) were engineered for revealing the apoptosis pathways by MS-based multiplex quantification of the intracellular activity of cascaded caspases.     

焦测序技术及其在遗传分析中的应用

焦测序技术是一种新的实时DNA测序技术。它在DNA聚合酶、三磷酸腺苷硫酸化酶、荧光素酶和三磷酸腺苷双磷酸酶4种酶的协同作用下,使引物延伸聚合脱氧核糖核酸(dNTP)释放焦磷酸盐(PP i)、PP i转换三磷酸腺苷(ATP)、ATP产生荧光信号与dNTP和ATP的降解等化学反应偶联起来,检测结果准确可靠。本文综述了焦测序技术的基本原理、操作步骤和它在单核苷酸多态性(SNP)研究、微生物的分型鉴定和基因甲基化检测等遗传分析中的应用,并对焦测序技术的发展作了展望。     

Preparation and a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay application of new europium fluorescent nanoparticles.

New silica-based europium fluorescent nanoparticles having surface amino groups were prepared by a covalent binding-copolymerization technique. In the nanoparticles, the fluorescent Eu3+ chelate molecules were covalently bound to silicon atoms to protect the nanoparticles from dye leaking in bio-applications. The amino groups on the surface of nanoparticles made the surface modification and bioconjugation of nanoparticles easier. The nanoparticles were characterized and developed as a new type of fluorescence probe for a highly sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) of human hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).     

Recyclable alkylated Ru(bpy)32+ complex as a visible-light photoredox catalyst for perfluoroalkylation

A recyclable Ruthenium tris [4,4′-bis (dinonylmethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine] (Ru[(DNM)₂bpy]₃²⁺) photocatalyst (PC) was synthesized. Hexane-phase-selective solubility allowed its simple and efficient separation from reaction products via solvent extraction. The excellent catalytic activity and recoverability were demonstrated in batch and flow perfluoroalkylation reactions of coumarin under visible-light irradiation. High reaction rates and easy reusability of the catalyst make this approach attractive for large-scale applications.     

Managing pharmaceuticals delivery service using a hybrid particle swarm intelligence approach

Medicines or drugs have unique characteristics of short life cycle, small size, light weight, restrictive distribution time and the need of temperature and humidity control (selected items only). Thus, logistics companies often use different types of vehicles with different carrying capacities, and considering fixed and variable costs in service delivery, which make the vehicle assignment and route optimization more complicated. In this study, we formulate the problem to a multi-type vehicle assignment and mixed integer programming route optimization model with fixed fleet size under the constraints of distribution time and carrying capacity. Given non-deterministic polynomial hard and optimal algorithm can only be used to solve small-size problem, a hybrid particle swarm intelligence (PSI) heuristic approach, which adopts the crossover and mutation operators from genetic algorithm and 2-opt local search strategy, is proposed to solve the problem. We also adapt a principle based on cost network and Dijkstra’s algorithm for vehicle scheduling to balance the distribution time limit and the high loading rate. We verify the relative performance of the proposed method against several known optimal or heuristic solutions using a standard data set for heterogeneous fleet vehicle routing problem. Additionally, we compare the relative performance of our proposed Hybrid PSI algorithm with two intelligent-based algorithms, Hybrid Population Heuristic algorithm and Improved Genetic Algorithm, using a real-world data set to illustrate the practical and validity of the model and algorithm.

     

Synthesis, structure and luminescent properties of rare earth coordination polymers constructed from paddle-wheel building blocks

A series of three-dimensional (3D) novel coordination polymers M(bpdc)1.5(H2O) x 0.5DMF (M = Tb (1), Ho (2), Er (3), or Y (4)) have been synthesized by reaction of the rare earth ions (M3+) with 4,4'-biphenyldicarboxylic acid (H2bpdc) in a mixed solution of DMF and C2H5OH. They possess the same 3D architectures and crystallize in monoclinic space group C2/c. Two seven-coordinated metal centers and four dimonodentate bpdc groups construct a paddle-wheel building block. These building blocks connect with two carboxyl groups to lead to a one-dimensional inorganic chain, ---M-O-C-O-M---, along the [001] direction. The inorganic chains are linked with two biphenyl groups to form 25.15 A x 17.09 A rhombic channels along the c axis without interpenetration. These complexes exhibit strong fluorescence in the visible region, and complex 3 shows Er3+ characteristic emission in the range of 1450-1650 nm at room temperature. These complexes could be anticipated as potential fluorescent probes and an IR-emitter, respectively.     

Eu3+离子注入β-Ga2O3单晶的应力变化和发光性质研究

采用离子注入法制备了不同剂量的β-Ga₂O₃:Eu³⁺样品,并在空气中进行了退火处理,成功实现了Eu³⁺的光学激活。通过拉曼和X射线衍射表征了β-Ga₂O₃晶体随Eu³⁺注入剂量的应力变化趋势,发现随着Eu³⁺剂量的增加,晶格应力先增加后减少,并对其内在机理进行了分析。利用阴极荧光光谱对晶体的发光性质进行了表征,主要观察到峰值位于380 nm附近、宽的缺陷发光峰以及峰值位于591 nm、597 nm和613 nm的Eu³⁺发光峰。通过高斯拟合发现,该380 nm发光峰主要由360 nm、398 nm和442 nm三个子峰构成,分别与自陷激子和施主-受主对有关。此外,Eu³⁺发光峰位置与强度受到基质局域晶体场的影响。     

Fluorine-Containing Flow Modifier for BN/PPS Composites Enabled by Low Surface Energy

In this study, a fluorine-containing flow modifier (Si-DF) with low surface energy is successfully synthesized, which is applied to fabricate ideal electronic packaging materials (BN/PPS composites) with high thermal conductivity, excellent dielectric properties, processability, and toughness by conventional melt blending. Si-DPF is located at the interface between the BN fillers and the PPS matrix, which not only improves the dispersion of BN fillers but also strengthens the interaction. With the help of 5 wt% Si-DF, BN/PPS/Si-DF (70/25/5) still exhibits the high thermally conductive coefficient (3.985 W/m·K) and low dielectric constant (3.76 at 100 MHz) although BN fillers are loaded as high as 70 wt%. Moreover, the sample processes a lower stable torque value (2.5 N·m), and the area under the stress–strain curves is also increased. This work provides an efficient way to develop high-performance polymer-based composites with high thermally conductive coefficients and low dielectric constants for electronic packaging applications.     

高分子科学的发展与百年诺贝尔化学奖

在100多年来的诺贝尔化学奖中,有7次颁发给了10位直接或间接对高分子科学发展做出杰出贡献的科学家。通过这7次颁奖,可以看出高分子科学经历了3个发展阶段：确立阶段、完善发展阶段和多向发展阶段。这3个阶段也体现了高分子科学研究领域和研究方法及技术手段的变化发展历程。