Popcorn‐Shaped Magnetic Core–Plasmonic Shell Multifunctional Nanoparticles for the Targeted Magnetic Separation and Enrichment,Label‐Free SERS Imaging,and Photothermal Destruction of Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria

Over the last few years, one of the most important and complex problems facing our society is treating infectious diseases caused by multidrug‐resistant bacteria (MDRB), by using current market‐existing antibiotics. Driven by this need, we report for the first time the development of the multifunctional popcorn‐shaped iron magnetic core–gold plasmonic shell nanotechnology‐driven approach for targeted magnetic separation and enrichment, label‐free surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection, and the selective photothermal destruction of MDR Salmonella DT104. Due to the presence of the “lightning‐rod effect”, the core–shell popcorn‐shaped gold‐nanoparticle tips provided a huge field of SERS enhancement. The experimental data show that the M3038 antibody‐conjugated nanoparticles can be used for targeted separation and SERS imaging of MDR Salmonella DT104. A targeted photothermal‐lysis experiment, by using 670 nm light at 1.5 W cm^?2 for 10 min, results in selective and irreparable cellular‐damage to MDR Salmonella. We discuss the possible mechanism and operating principle for the targeted separation, label‐free SERS imaging, and photothermal destruction of MDRB by using the popcorn‐shaped magnetic/plasmonic nanotechnology.     

A Synthetic Bioinspired Carbohydrate Polymer with Mucoadhesive Properties

Mucoadhesive polymers are of significant interest to the pharmaceutical, medical device, and cosmetic industries. Polysaccharides possessing charged functional groups, such as chitosan, are known for mucoadhesive properties but suffer from poor chemical definition and solubility, while the chemical synthesis of polysaccharides is challenging with few reported examples of synthetic carbohydrate polymers with engineered‐in ionic functionality. We report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a synthetic, cationic, enantiopure carbohydrate polymer inspired by the structure of chitosan. These water‐soluble, cytocompatible polymers are prepared via an anionic ring‐opening polymerization of a bicyclic β‐lactam sugar monomer. The synthetic method provides control over the site of amine functionalization and the length of the polymer while providing narrow dispersities. These well‐defined polymers are mucoadhesive as documented in single‐molecule scale (AFM), bulk solution phase (FRAP), and ex vivo tissue experiments. Polymer length and functionality affects bioactivity as long, charged polymers display higher mucoadhesivity than long, neutral polymers or short, charged polymers.     

Hydroxo‐Bridged Dimers of Oxo‐Centered Ruthenium(III) Triangle: Synthesis and Spectroscopic and Theoretical Investigations

The homometallic hexameric ruthenium cluster of the formula [Ru^III₆(μ₃‐O)₂(μ‐OH)₂((CH₃)₃CCO₂)₁₂(py)₂] ( 1 ) (py=pyridine) is solved by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on 1 suggest that the antiferromagnetic interaction between the Ru^III centers is dominant, and this is supported by theoretical studies. Theoretical calculations based on density functional methods yield eight different exchange interaction values for 1 : J₁=?737.6, J₂=+63.4, J₃=?187.6, J₄=+124.4, J₅=?376.4, J₆=?601.2, J₇=?657.0, and J₈=?800.6 cm^?1. Among all the computed J values, six are found to be antiferromagnetic. Four exchange values (J₁, J₆, J₇ and J₈) are computed to be extremely strong, with J₈, mediated through one μ‐hydroxo and a carboxylate bridge, being by far the largest exchange obtained for any transition‐metal cluster. The origin of these strong interactions is the orientation of the magnetic orbitals in the Ru^III centers, and the computed J values are rationalized by using molecular orbital and natural bond order analysis. Detailed NMR studies (¹H, ¹³C, HSQC, NOESY, and TOCSY) of 1 (in CDCl₃) confirm the existence of the solid‐state structure in solution. The observation of sharp NMR peaks and spin‐lattice time relaxation (T1 relaxation) experiments support the existence of strong intramolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between the metal centers. A broad absorption peak around 600–1000 nm in the visible to near‐IR region is a characteristic signature of an intracluster charge‐transfer transition. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show that there are three reversible one‐electron redox couples at ?0.865, +0.186, and +1.159 V with respect to the Ag/AgCl reference electrode, which corresponds to two metal‐based one‐electron oxidations and one reduction process.     

A high-efficiency CMOS voltage doubler

A charge pump cell is used to make a voltage doubler using improved serial switches. A complete power efficiency theory is presented which fits the measurements. The importance of capacitors is shown with plots of power efficiency versus load and stray capacitors. Several problems arising at low voltage or high frequency are developed and some optimizations are presented. The substrate current is totally suppressed by the technique of bulk commutation. A power efficiency of 95% has been reached using external capacitors. A fully integrated charge pump is also presented and shows a maximum power efficiency of 75%     

Bounds onL 1:1 Β (t) in terms of a generalized measure of entropy

In the present paper we define the codes which assign D-alphabet one-one codeword to each outcome of a random variable and the functions which represent possible transformations from one-one codes of size D to suitable codes. By using these functions, we obtain lower bounds on the exponentiated mean codeword length for one-one codes in terms of the generalized entropy of order α and type Β and study the particular cases also.     

Gold-nanorod-based sensing of sequence specific HIV-1 virus DNA by using hyper-Rayleigh scattering spectroscopy

Infectious diseases caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remain the leading killers of human beings worldwide, and function to destabilize societies in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Driven by the need to detect the presence of HIV viral sequence, here we demonstrate that the second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of gold nanorods can be used for screening HIV-1 viral DNA sequence without any modification, with good sensitivity (100 pico-molar) and selectivity (single base-pair mismatch). The hyper-Rayleigh scattering (HRS) intensity increases 45 times when a label-free 145-mer, ss-gag gene DNA, was hybridized with 100 pM target DNA. The mechanism of HRS intensity change has been discussed with experimental evidence for higher multipolar contribution to the NLO response of gold nanorods.     

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics having the potential to interfere with fluorescence-based diagnosis

Fluorescence, both intrinsic and exogenously induced, is being used for diagnosis of abnormal tissue. Excitation wavelengths used by these methods range from 320 to 450 nm. The presence of absorbing or fluorescing drugs is rarely taken into account by practitioners of fluorescence diagnosis and has the potential to yield false-positive or false-negative results. Our aim is to quantify this potential by (1) comparing the quantum yield of fluoroquinolone antibiotics to those of known tissue fluorophores and (2) taking into account drug concentrations in the tissue during treatment. Quantum yields are determined relative to a working standard of Rhodamine 6G in ethanol. The working standard was calibrated against a fluorescein standard. We concentrated our initial efforts on (1) the fluoroquinolone antibiotics, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin and (2) the intrinsic tissue fluorophores, NADH, FAD and protoporphyrin IX. When ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin were excited at wavelengths 310-390 nm, emission occurred from 350 to 650 nm with quantum yields ranging from 0.03 to 0.3. Quantum yields for intrinsic fluorophores excited at their peak absorption wavelengths were 0.02 (NADH, 340 nm), 0.035 (FAD, 450 nm) and 0.087 (protoporphyrin IX, 408 nm). A review of the literature shows that these fluoroquinolones have a large volume of distribution and can be found in high concentrations in almost every organ during a treatment regimen. The product of the drug tissue concentration and quantum yield, which we term the fluorescence effective concentration, is such that it is likely these fluoroquinolones will interfere during fluorescence diagnosis techniques.     

Simple palladium(II) precatalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura couplings: efficient reactions of benzylic, aryl, heteroaryl, and vinyl coupling partners

trans-PdBr(N-Succ)(PPh3)2 (1) is a universally effective precatalyst for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings of benzylic halides with aryl- or heteroarylboronic acids. Substituted aryl halides and halogenated cyclic enones can be cross-coupled with aryl- or vinylboronic acids in excellent yields. Catalyst recycling is also demonstrated.     

Thermoluminescence and photoluminescence study on 150 MeV proton beam irradiated K2Ca2(SO4)3:Eu phosphor

This paper investigates the thermoluminescent response of K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃:Eu prepared by solid state diffusion method, to 150 MeV proton beams. The structural confirmation of the sample was done using the XRD technique revealing the polycrystalline nature and the formation of the compound. Samples in the form of pellets were irradiated by 150 MeV proton clinical beams with dose range of 0.1 Gy–300 Gy. Thermoluminescence glow curves of the irradiated samples were recorded and studied. It has been found that the phosphor shows a characteristic single peak at around 420 K. The TL response is linear in the range up to 200 Gy and then becomes supralinear for higher doses. Photoluminescence spectra of the sample have also been studied and reported. When the material was excited at 320 nm, single emission bands were observed at 436 nm, which can be assigned to the transitions between the lowest band of the 4f⁶5d configuration and the ground state ⁸S_7/2 of the 4f⁷ configuration of Eu²⁺ ion, confirming the incorporation of the impurity in the prepared sample. The excitation spectra of these samples at emission wavelength of 436 nm show a major band at 320 nm. The linear TL response of K₂Ca₂(SO₄)₃:Eu and low fading with good reusability, makes it a potential candidate to be used as a dosimeter for detecting the doses of proton beams for specific applications.     

Synthesis of highly fluorescent water-soluble silver nanoparticles for selective detection of Pb(ii) at the parts per quadrillion (PPQ) level

This communication reports for the first time the synthesis of water-soluble glutathione protected highly fluorescence (Φ = 0.18) silver nanoparticles for the selective and highly sensitive sensing of Pb(ii) at the parts per quadrillion (PPQ) level.