Conjugated polymer nanoparticles as fluorescence switch for selective cell imaging

Fluorescence switch plays a vital role in bioelectronics and bioimaging.Herein,we presented a new kind of facile electrostatic complex nanoparticles(ECNs)for fluorescence switching in cells and marking of individual cell.The ECNs were prepared by mixing positively charged poly(6-(2-(thiophen-3-yl)ethoxy)hexyl trimethylammonium bromide)(PT)and negatively charged diarylethene sodium salt(DAECOONa).DAE-COONa is a photoswitchable molecule which can be transformed between the ring-closed fo rm and ring-open form under the irradiation of UV or visible light.The closed-form of DAE-COONa can efficie ntly quench the fluorescence of PT through intermolecular energy transfer,while the open form of DAE-COONa does not influence the emission of PT.Thus,the fluorescence of ECNs can be modulated by light irradiation,and the ECNs with good fluorescence switching performance have been employed for fluorescence imaging and individual cell lighting up process successfully.We demonstrate that the electrostatic complex strategy provides a facile method to construct fluorescence switch fo r selective cell marking and imaging applications.     

The theoretical study of dehydrogenation mechanism from Sr(NH2BH3)2

Structural Chemistry - A first-principle study of dehydrogenation mechanism from Sr(NH2BH3)2 was performed. Three different pathways were explored for Sr(NH2BH3)2 monomer, and the most favorable...     

Preparation of polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene‐diene terpolymer/nitrile rubber ternary thermoplastics vulcanizates with good mechanical properties and oil resistance by core‐shell dynamic vulcanization

As the most successful commercialized thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs), polypropylene (PP)/ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) TPVs exhibit poor oil resistance. In this work, we prepared PP/EPDM/butadiene acrylonitrile rubber (NBR) ternary TPVs with good oil resistance using core‐shell dynamic vulcanization. According to the theoretical analysis of the spreading coefficient and the transmission electron microscopy results, the rubber phases exhibited a special core‐shell structure, in which the cross‐linkedNBR‐core was encapsulated by the EPDM‐shell. The core‐shell structure effectively improved the interfacial compatibility between PP and NBR phase as the EPDM‐shell could avoid the direct contact of them, thus improving the mechanical properties of the TPVs. For example, the PP/EPDM/NBR (40/30/30) ternary TPV showed enhanced tensile strength of 12.57 MPa, compared with 10.71 MPa of PP/EPDM (40/60) TPV and 11.11 MPa of PP/NBR (40/60) TPV, respectively. Moreover, the oil resistance of the TPVs was also improved. Compared with PP/EPDM TPV, the change rates in mass, volume, tensile strength and elongation at break of PP/EPDM/NBR TPV after oil immersion decreased by 42.18%, 48.69%, 52.68% and 28.77%, respectively.     

Chromatographic study of four sesquiterpenoids in volatile oil of Curcumae Rhizoma on reverse phase stationary phase with methyl-β-cyclodextrin as mobile additive

Abstract

The elution behavior of four sesquiterpenoids in volatile oil of Curcumae Rhizoma on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with methyl-β-cyclodextrin as mobile phase additive was studied, including germacrone, curzerene, furanodiene, and β-elemene. Stoichiometric ratio and apparent formation constants of inclusion complex formed by methyl-β-cyclodextrin and each analyte were calculated by varying the concentration of the additive in the mobile phase composed of methanol and water (90:10, v/v), in which the association constant for inclusion complex formed by the organic modifier methanol and methyl-β-cyclodextrin was also determined. Results showed that the stoichiometric ratio of all the inclusion complex was 1:1 when 0–9?mmol L^?1 of methyl-β-cyclodextrin was added in the mobile phase. Unusual retention behavior of the analyte germacrone was found, which was further investigated by the calculation of thermodynamic parameters. Meanwhile, enthalpy and entropy of the inclusion complexes and solute-stationary phase interactions were determined by linear van’t Hoff plots.     

A Coordinative Dendrimer Achieves Excellent Efficiency in Cytosolic Protein and Peptide Delivery

Cytosolic protein delivery is a prerequisite for the development of protein therapeutics that act on intracellular targets. Proteins are generally membrane‐impermeable and thus need a carrier such as a polymer to facilitate their internalization. However, the efficient binding of proteins with different isoelectric points to polymeric carriers is challenging. In this study, we designed a coordinative dendrimer to solve this problem. The dendrimers modified with dipicolylamine/zinc(II) complex were capable of binding proteins through a combination of ionic and coordination interactions. The best polymer efficiently delivered 30 cargo proteins and peptides into the cytosol, while maintaining their bioactivity after intracellular release. The removal or replacement of zinc ions in the polymer with other transition‐metal ions lead to significantly decreased efficiency in cytosolic protein delivery. This study provides a new strategy to develop robust and efficient polymers for cytosolic protein delivery.     

Switch in Selectivity for Formal Hydroalkylation of 1,3‐Dienes and Enynes with Simple Hydrazones

Controlling reaction selectivity is a permanent pursuit for chemists. Regioselective catalysis, which exploits and/or overcomes innate steric and electronic bias to deliver diverse regio‐enriched products from the same starting materials, represents a powerful tool for divergent synthesis. Recently, the 1,2‐Markovnikov hydroalkylation of 1,3‐dienes with simple hydrazones was reported to generate branched allylic compounds when a nickel catalyst was used. As part of the effort, shown here is that a complete switch of Markovnikov to anti‐Markovnikov addition is obtained by changing to a ruthenium catalyst, thus providing direct and efficient access to homoallylic products exclusively. Isotopic substitution experiments indicate that no reversible hydro‐metallation across the metal‐π‐allyl system occurred under ruthenium catalysis. Moreover, this protocol is applicable to the regiospecific hydroalkylation of the distal C=C bond of 1,3‐enynes.     

Visible-NIR Photodetectors Based on Low-Dimensional GeSe Micro-Crystals: Designed Morphology and Improved Photoresponsivity

GeSe micro-sheets and micro-belts have been synthesized by a facile one-pot wet chemical method in 1-octadecene solvent and oleic acid solvent, respectively. The adsorption of more oleic acid molecules on the (002) plane promoted growth along [010] direction of the GeSe micro-belts and limited carrier transport in this direction, resulting in higher carrier concentration and mobility of the GeSe micro-belts. The performance of the photodetectors based on the single GeSe micro-sheet and the single GeSe micro-belt was investigated under illumination at 532 nm, 980 nm and 1319 nm. Both, photodetectors based on a single GeSe micro-sheet and a single GeSe micro-belt, exhibit a high photoresponse, short response/recovery times, and long-term durability. Moreover, the photodetector based on a single GeSe micro-belt displays a broadband response with a high responsivity (5562 A/W at 532 nm, 1546 A/W at 980 nm) and detectivity (3.01×10¹² Jones at 532 nm, 8.38×10¹¹ Jones at 980 nm). These excellent characteristics render single GeSe micro-belts very interesting for use as highly efficient photodetectors, especially in the NIR region.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Formal Hydroalkylation of Aryl‐Substituted Alkynes with Hydrazones

We have developed an unprecedented Pd‐catalyzed formal hydroalkylation of alkynes with hydrazones, which are generated in situ from naturally abundant aldehydes, as both alkylation reagents and hydrogen donors. The hydroalkylation proceeds with high regio‐ and stereoselectivity to form (Z)‐alkenes, which are more difficult to generate compared to (E)‐alkenes. The reaction is compatible with a wide range of functional groups, including hydroxy, ester, ketone, nitrile, boronic ester, amine, and halide groups. Furthermore, late‐stage modifications of natural products and pharmaceutical derivatives exemplify its unique chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and synthetic applicability. Mechanistic studies indicate the possible involvement of Pd‐hydride intermediates.