Fabrication of beta-Ni(OH)2 and NiO hollow spheres by a facile template-free process

Ni(OH)2 hollow microspheres with beta-Ni(OH)2 nanosheets as the in situ formed building units were fabricated via a novel template-free approach in a strong alkaline solution of glycine, and can be converted into NiO hollow microspheres by a thermal decomposition process.     

A chemical inhibitor reveals the role of Raf kinase inhibitor protein in cell migration

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is a modulator of cell signaling that functions as an endogenous inhibitor of multiple kinases. We demonstrate here a positive role for RKIP in the regulation of cell locomotion. We discovered that RKIP is the relevant cellular target of locostatin, a cell migration inhibitor. Locostatin abrogates RKIP's ability to bind and inhibit Raf-1 kinase, and it acts by disrupting a protein-protein interaction, an uncommon mode of action for a small molecule. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of RKIP expression also reduces cell migration rate. Overexpression of RKIP converts epithelial cells to a highly migratory fibroblast-like phenotype, with dramatic reduction in the sensitivity of cells to locostatin. RKIP is therefore the compound's valid target and a key regulator of cell motility.     

Experimental verification of a predicted, previously unseen separation selectivity pattern in the capillary electrophoretic separation of noncharged enantiomers by octakis(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-gamma-cyclodextrin

The capillary electrophoretic separation of noncharged enantiomers with single-isomer anionic resolving agents is reexamined here with the help of the charged resolving agent migration model. Two general model parameters have been identified that influence the effective mobility, separation selectivity and mobility difference curves of the enantiomers: parameter b, called binding selectivity (K(RCD)/K(SCD)), and parameter s, called size selectivity (mu(o)RCD/mu(o)SCD). Analysis of the model in terms of these parameters indicates that in addition to the known, previously observed separation selectivity vs. resolving agent concentration patterns, a new pattern, increasing separation selectivity with increasing resolving agent concentration, is also possible provided that (i) K(RCD)/K(SCD)<1 and mu(o)RCD/mu(o)SCD>1 and (K(RCD)mu(o)RCD)/(K(SCD)mu(o)SCD)>1, or (ii) K(RCD)/ K(SCD)>1 and mu(o)SCD/mu(o)SCD<1 and (K(RCD)mu(o)RCD)/(K(SCD)mu(o)SCD)<1. This hitherto unseen separation selectivity pattern was experimentally verified during the capillary electrophoretic separation of the enantiomers of O-isopropyl p-nitrophenyl methylphosphonate with the single-isomer octakis(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-gamma-cyclodextrin as resolving agent.     

Amino acid analysis by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection: application to nanolitre-volume biological samples from Arabidopsis thaliana and Myzus persicae

Amino acids were derivatised with 4-fluoro-7-nitrobenzo-2,1,3-oxadiazol (NBD-F), separated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), and detected by argon-ion (488 nm) laser-induced fluorescence. The optimised MEKC background electrolyte conditions were: 40 mM sodium cholate, 5 mM beta-cyclodextrin in 20 mM aqueous borate buffer, pH 9.1, with 7% v/v acetonitrile. Using these conditions, 19 amino acids were separated within 17 min. The limits of detection were in the range of 7.6-42.2 pmol/mL and limits of quantitation from 0.05-0.14 nmol/mL. The method was systematically validated for injection volume error, migration time variation, calibration linearity, accuracy, precision, and recovery. Nanolitre volume samples of phloem sap of individual sieve element cells from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana and honeydew from the aphid Myzus persicae were directly analysed with this method. Quantitative amino acid concentrations in these two biological matrices were profiled for the first time. This method is particularly important because it allows the complete profile of the amino acids obtained from individual phloem elements, allowing cell to cell and plant to plant variation to be quantified, which to date has not been possible with Arabidopsis thaliana.     

Polymer-enzyme conjugates can self-assemble at oil/water interfaces and effect interfacial biotransformations

Native water-soluble enzymes were transformed into interface-binding enzymes via conjugation with hydrophobic polymers, thus enabling interesting interfacial biocatalysis between immiscible chemicals at oil/water interfaces. Such interfacial biocatalysis demonstrated a significantly improved catalytic efficiency as compared to traditional biphasic reactions with enzymes contained in the bulk aqueous phase. Particularly, polystyrene-conjugated beta-galactosidase showed a catalytic efficiency that was more than 145 times higher than that of the native enzyme for a transgalactosylation reaction. It is believed that the improved accessibility of the biocatalysts to chemicals held in both phases across the interface is the key driver for the enhancement of enzyme activity.     

Mass spectrometry-based chemical mapping and profiling toward molecular understanding of diseases in precision medicine

Precision medicine has been strongly promoted in recent years. It is used in clinical management for classifying diseases at the molecular level and for selecting the most appropriate drugs or treatments to maximize efficacy and minimize adverse effects. In precision medicine, an in-depth molecular understanding of diseases is of great importance. Therefore, in the last few years, much attention has been given to translating data generated at the molecular level into clinically relevant information. However, current developments in this field lack orderly implementation. For example, high-quality chemical research is not well integrated into clinical practice, especially in the early phase, leading to a lack of understanding in the clinic of the chemistry underlying diseases. In recent years, mass spectrometry (MS) has enabled significant innovations and advances in chemical research. As reported, this technique has shown promise in chemical mapping and profiling for answering “what”, “where”, “how many” and “whose” chemicals underlie the clinical phenotypes, which are assessed by biochemical profiling, MS imaging, molecular targeting and probing, biomarker grading disease classification, etc. These features can potentially enhance the precision of disease diagnosis, monitoring and treatment and thus further transform medicine. For instance, comprehensive MS-based biochemical profiling of ovarian tumors was performed, and the results revealed a number of molecular insights into the pathways and processes that drive ovarian cancer biology and the ways that these pathways are altered in correspondence with clinical phenotypes. Another study demonstrated that quantitative biomarker mapping can be predictive of responses to immunotherapy and of survival in the supposedly homogeneous group of breast cancer patients, allowing for stratification of patients. In this context, our article attempts to provide an overview of MS-based chemical mapping and profiling, and a perspective on their clinical utility to improve the molecular understanding of diseases for advancing precision medicine.

An overview of MS-based chemical mapping and profiling, indicating its contributions to the molecular understanding of diseases in precision medicine by answering "what", "where", "how many" and "whose” chemicals underlying clinical phenotypes.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ag2S Nanocrystals in Hyperbranched Polyurethane at Room Temperature

Ag₂S nanoparticles in hyperbranched polyurethane matrix were prepared through the in situ reaction with thioacetamide as the sulfur source at room temperature. Transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a uniform spherical shape for Ag₂S nanoparticles, with an average size of about 4-10 nm and a narrow size distribution. X-ray powder diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy were also used to characterize the obtained nanoparticles     

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic property of the novel dinuclear nickel(II) complex with 4-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,5-bis(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole

A novel dinuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni₂(MOBPT)₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂]Cl₂ · 7H₂O (MOBPT = 4-(p-methoxyphenyl) −3,5-bis(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal structure determination shows that the dinuclear Ni₂N₈ unit is almost planer in which each Ni^II ion is coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from MOBPT equatorially and a water molecule and a chloride ion axially in a distorted octahedral geometry. Magnetic measurements reveal a relatively weak antiferromagnetic exchange in the complex.     

High-voltage capillary zone electrophoresis of red blood cells

The high-voltage wide-bore capillary zone electrophoresis of red blood cells was investigated. The reproducibility of the retention time (electrophoretic mobility) is excellent and the differentiation among various species is good. The peaks in the electropherogram describe the distribution of the size and/or surface charge of the cells and are therefore broad. The relationship between the peak height and the number of cells injected is good, with linear correlation coefficients better than 0.98. Details of the preparation of cell suspensions and support electrolytes are given, which is essential for obtaining reproducible results. The inner surface of FEP capillary tubing is degraded by the application of high voltage and a pause is necessary between successive experiments if good and reproducible peak shapes are to be obtained. The length of the pause increases with the number of experiments made, and finally the tubing becomes useless. Inspection of the inner surface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the breakdown of CHF bonds, but the actual mechanism is not known.     

Porous nanocomposites of zirconium dioxide and silicate

Highly porous nanocomposites of zirconium dioxide and silicate are synthesised in an aqueous system from an inorganic salt of zirconium; the nanacomposites, with tailorable pore structures, exhibit superior performance as catalyst supports.