Static headspace‐multicapillary column with gas chromatography coupled to ion mobility spectrometry as a simple approach for the discrimination of crude and processed traditional Chinese medicines

The processing procedure can alter the nature and chemical transformation of traditional Chinese medicine to accommodate different clinical dispensing and preparation requirements. In this study, static headspace‐multicapillary column with gas chromatography coupled to ion mobility spectrometry was developed for the rapid and sensitive discrimination of crude and processed traditional Chinese medicine. Using Radix Paeoniae Alba as a traditional Chinese medicine model, the combined power of this approach was illustrated by classifying the crude and processed Radix Paeoniae Alba samples into two main categories. The contents of the main components in Radix Paeoniae Alba varied significantly. The established method could promote the use of ion mobility spectrometry in intrinsic quality control and differentiation of herbal medicines from other processed products or preparations.     

Morphology and mechanical behavior of isotactic polypropylene with different stereo‐defect distribution in injection molding

Large amount of work has been published on the isotacticity–properties relationship of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). However, the stereo‐defect distribution dependence of morphology and mechanical properties of iPP injection molding samples is still not clear. In this study, two different isotactic polypropylene (iPP) resins (PP‐A and PP‐B) with similar average isotacticity but different stereo‐defect distribution were selected to investigate the morphology evolution and mechanical properties (tensile and notching) of their injection molding samples using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), 2D wide angle X‐ray diffraction (2D‐WAXD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results of DMA showed that the molecular movement ability of PP‐A (with less uniform distribution of stereo‐defect) was stronger than that of PP‐B, meanwhile the analysis of DSC and SEM suggested that after injection molding, smaller spherullites, and crystals with higher perfection had formed in the specimens of PP‐A. The resulting of tensile properties of PP‐A were found to be better than that of PP‐B. The results of morphology evolution by SEM observation and 2D‐WAXD showed that PP‐A is more likely to occur interspherulite deformation and can disperse the tensile stress more efficiently, and therefore, its crystal structure can withstand a greater force when tensile stress is applied. On the other hand, PP‐B has larger spherulites and boundaries, and low perfection of lamellaes, and the intraspherulte deformation tend to take place. It is easier for the crystal of PP‐B to be broken up and reoriented along the tensile direction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An effective colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe for bisulfite in aqueous solution

We have developed the first two-photon colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe, BICO, for the detection of bisulfite (HSO₃⁻) in aqueous solution. The probe contains coumarin and benzimidazole moieties and can detect HSO₃⁻ based on the Michael addition reaction with a limit of detection 5.3 × 10⁻⁸ M in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The probe was used to detect bisulfite in tap water, sugar and dry white wine. Moreover, test strips were made and used easily. We successfully applied the probe to image living cells, using one-photon fluorescence imaging. BICO overcomes the limitations in sensitivity of previously reported probes and the solvation effect of bisulfite, which demonstrates its excellent value in practical application.     

A novel electrochemical immunosensor using β-cyclodextrins functionalized silver supported adamantine-modified glucose oxidase as labels for ultrasensitive detection of alpha-fetoprotein

In this work, a novel sandwich-type electrochemical immunosensor based on host-guest interaction was fabricated for the detection of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Due to the large specific surface area of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and the unique supramolecular recognition ability of β-cyclodextrins, ferrocenecarboxylic acid (Fc) was incorporated into this sensor platform by host-guest interaction to generate an electrochemical signal. And β-cyclodextrins functionalized silver supported adamantine-modified glucose oxidase (GOD-CD-Ag), was used as a label to improve the analytical performance of the immunosensor by the dual amplification strategy. The obtained GOD-CD-Ag conjugates could convert glucose into gluconic acid with the formation of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). And then silver nanoparticles could in situ catalyze the reduction of the generated H₂O₂, dramatically improving the oxidation reaction of Fc. The developed immunosensor shows a wide linear calibration range from 0.001 to 5.0 ng/mL with a low detection limit (0.2 pg/mL) for the detection of AFP. The method, with ideal reproducibility and selectivity, has a wide application prospect in clinical research.     

New 19-oxygenated steroid from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea

A new 19-oxygenated steroid, 25-acetate-nebrosteroid K (1), and five known steroids (2–6), along with one known 19-hydroxy steroidal glycoside (7) were obtained from the gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea collected from the South China Sea. The structure and relative configuration of 1 were elucidated by using comprehensive spectroscopic data including NOESY spectra. Compound 1 represents the first example of 19-oxygenated steroid with a 19-oic acid methyl ester group isolated from gorgonians. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for lethal activity to brine shrimp Artemia salina and cytotoxicity against A549 and HL-60 cell lines. Among them, 1 showed strong lethality towards A. salina.     

Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2电极电化学降解2-氯酚

采用电化学沉积法在Ti基底上制备了复合电极Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2,扫描电镜结果表明电极呈现由β-PbO2小晶体组成的菜花状微观形貌.所制电极在电化学降解环境污染物2-氯酚时表现出较高的电催化效率、较好的电极稳定性和较长的电极寿命.用正交实验优化了电化学降解2-氯酚的实验条件.在最优的实验条件(2-氯酚初始浓度50 mg/L,电解质0.1 mol/L Na2SO4,温度35oC,阳极电流密度20 mA/cm2)下电化学降解180 min后,2-氯酚的去除率达100%.动力学结果表明, Ti/α-PbO2/β-PbO2电极上2-氯酚的电化学氧化符合准一级动力学过程.     

V2O5/MO-Al2O3（M = Mg，Ca，Sr，Ba）催化剂用于正丁烷催化氧化脱氢反应

采用浸渍法制备了不同V2O5担载量的V2O5/MO-Al2O3(M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba)催化剂,钒物种的前驱体为偏钒酸铵.对制备的催化剂进行了一系列表征,并对催化剂上正丁烷选择性氧化脱氢制取丁烯进行了反应研究.表征结果(包括比表面积、X射线衍射、傅里叶红外光谱、氢气程序升温还原和拉曼光谱)显示,不同碱土金属元素掺杂的催化剂显示不同的钒价态信息和催化性能.其中掺杂Ca, Sr, Ba的催化剂,正钒酸盐相很难被还原,因此催化剂的氧化还原循环难以建立,导致以上三种催化剂在正丁烷氧化脱氢反应中活性较低.然而, Mg掺杂的催化剂却显示出较高的催化活性和选择性.实验结果表明：在Mg掺杂的载体上担载5% V2O5的催化剂上600°C时可获得高达30.3%的正丁烷转化率和64.3%的烯烃总选择性.这与V2O5担载量为5%时,在获得高度分散的钒氧化合物物种时可使MgO晶相稳定存在密切相关.     

含喹唑啉二酮片段的新型三酮类化合物的合成及生物活性

对羟苯基丙酮酸双氧化酶(EC 1.13.11.27, HPPD)是一个重要的除草剂作用靶标. 为了寻找具有高效除草活性的新型HPPD抑制剂, 在前期研究的基础上设计合成了24个含有喹唑啉二酮结构的三酮类化合物9a～9x. 所合成的化合物均经过¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR和 HRMS的表征. 以来源于拟南芥的HPPD (AtHPPD)为测试对象进行酶抑制活性筛选, 结果表明所合成的大部分化合物对AtHPPD均表现出了较好的抑制效果, 其中化合物9i的K_i 值为0.005 μmol/L, 显著优于商品化对照药剂硝磺草酮(K_i=0.013 μmol/L). 进一步温室盆栽筛选结果表明, 多数化合物在150 g ai/ha的剂量下对六种供试杂草中的至少一种表现出80%以上的防效, 特别是化合物9g在37.5 g ai/ha的低剂量下对所测试的六种杂草中的四种仍表现出了大于85%的抑制效果, 同时9g 在150 g ai/ha的剂量下对水稻和小麦均表现出了很好的作物安全性, 可以作为先导化合物供进一步深入研究.     

纳米SiO_2表面基团在MMA原位本体聚合中的阻缓聚作用

分别以3-(甲基丙烯酰氧)丙基三甲氧基硅烷(MPS)和辛基三甲氧基硅烷(OTMS)为活性和惰性硅烷的代表,对SiO2进行不同锚固密度的表面修饰,并以改性SiO2的甲基丙烯酸甲酯(MMA)单体分散液为原料,通过原位本体聚合制得一系列SiO2含量不同的高分散性SiO2/PMMA复合材料.考察SiO2表面基团活性程度和SiO2含量对聚合反应动力学、基体聚合物分子量以及复合材料硬度的影响,探究修饰状态不同SiO2在本体自由基聚合中的作用机制.发现SiO2表面硅羟基及其锚固MPS的活性双键会对聚合反应起阻缓聚作用,进而会显著降低基体聚合物的分子量及复合材料的硬度.而惰性硅烷OTMS对SiO2表面的锚固则会消耗SiO2表面硅羟基、并屏蔽其影响,因而随着OTMS锚固密度的提高,基体分子量和复合材料硬度均会随之提高,特别是当表面修饰达到饱和状态时,SiO2的阻缓聚作用已可忽略.