Aptamer based fluorescent cocaine assay based on the use of graphene oxide and exonuclease III-assisted signal amplification

The article reports an aptamer based assay for cocaine by employing graphene oxide and exonuclease III-assisted signal amplification. It is based on the following scheme and experimental steps: (1) Exo III can digest dsDNA with blunt or recessed 3-terminus, but it has limited activity to ssDNA or dsDNA with protruding 3-terminus; (2) GO can absorb the FAM-labeled ssDNA probe and quench the fluorescence of probe, while the affinity between FAM-labeled mononucleotide and GO is negligible; (3) Cocaine aptamer can be split into two flexible ssDNA pieces (Probe 1 and Probe 2) without significant perturbation of cocaine-binding abilities; (4) The triple complex consisting of Probe 1, Probe 2 and cocaine can be digested by Exo III with the similar efficiency as normal dsDNA. Cocaine aptamer is split into two flexible ssDNA pieces (Probe 2 and 3′-FAM-labeled Probe 1). Cocaine can mediate the cocaine aptamer fragments forming a triplex. The triple complex has unique characteristic with 3′-FAM-labeled blunt end at the Probe 1 and 3′-overhang end at Probe 2. If exonuclease III is added, it will catalyze the stepwise removal of fluorescein (FAM) labeled mononucleotides from the 3-hydroxy termini of the special triplex complex, resulting in liberation of cocaine. The cocaine released in this step can produce a new cleavage cycle, thereby leading to target recycling. Through such a cyclic bound-hydrolysis process, small amounts of cocaine can induce the cleavage of a large number of FAM-labeled probe 1. The cleaved FAM-labeled mononucleotides are not adsorbed on the surface of graphene oxide (GO), so a strong fluorescence signal enhancement is observed as the cocaine triggers enzymatic digestion. Under optimized conditions, the assay allows cocaine to be detected in the 1 to 500 nM concentration range with a detection limit of 0.1 nM. The method was applied to the determination of cocaine in spiked human plasma, with recoveries ranging from 92.0 to 111.8 % and RSD of <12.8 %.

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Graphical abstract Aptamer based fluorescent cocaine assay based on graphene oxide and exonuclease III-assisted signal amplification

     

(Yb3+, Mn2+) Co-doped CdTe nanocrystals with enhanced quantum yields and red-shift emission

We prepared the nanocrystals (NCs) of CdTe, CdTe:Yb, and CdTe:Yb, Mn vis water phase synthesis and examined their structural, morphological, and optical properties. All NCs have a particle diameter of about 2–4 nm, and the monodispersed, uniform spherical, cubic structure of the CdTe NC remains largely unchanged after the doping with Yb and Mn. According to the X-ray diffraction results, the CdTe, CdTe:Yb, and CdTe:Yb, Mn NCs all have a cubic structure, and the diffraction peak of CdTe:Yb NC is at a lower 2θ angle compared with that of the CdTe NC. With the CdTe NC as the reference, the UV–Vis absorption of the CdTe:Yb and the CdTe:Yb, Mn NCs exhibits a blueshift and a redshift, and the emission of CdTe:Yb and CdTe:Yb, Mn has a blueshift of about 12 nm and a redshift of about 73 nm, respectively. The CdTe:Yb, Mn NCs have higher quantum yields than the CdTe:Yb NC, and the quantum yield is the highest when CdTe is doped with 1:1 Mn²⁺/Yb³⁺. In addition, both the CdTe:Yb and CdTe:Yb, Mn NCs have a shorter fluorescence lifetime than the CdTe NC.     

空战目标威胁排序与目标分配算法

现代空战需要先进的火控计算,目标威胁排序和分配算法是其重要的组成部分。计算了飞机的作战效能,在作战效能的基础上得到目标威胁矩阵。根据目标威胁矩阵,以最大程度地保存自己为目标,建立了目标分配的算法。以一个算例,利用建立的算法模型对某常见的飞机进行了计算,给出了结果,最后讨论了该算法的意义和不足,指出了下一步的工作。     

Optimization,Validation and Application of HPLC-PDA Methods for Quantification of Triterpenoids in Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.

Triterpenoids have regained much attention as promising multi-targeting bioactive agents of natural origin in the treatment of numerous disorders. Due to the high potential for phytopharmaceutical development, accurate qualitative and quantitative analysis of triterpenoids for screening and quality control is required. Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) raw materials have aroused interest as a rich source of triterpenoids. However, currently, no validated, rapid, and easy-to-perform quantification method is available for the routine control of these compounds in lingonberries. This research aimed at developing and validating HPLC-PDA methods for the determination and screening of triterpenoids in extracts of lingonberry leaves, fruits, and flowers. The developed methods were deemed satisfactory by validation, which revealed acceptable analytical specificity, linearity (r² > 0.9999), precision (RSD < 2%), trueness (94.70–105.81%), and sensitivity (LOD: 0.08–0.65 µg/mL). The real sample analysis demonstrated established methods applicability for quantification of 13 triterpenoids in lingonberries and emphasized differences between raw materials. Lingonberry fruits were distinguished by the richness of ursolic acid; lingonberry flowers by similar profile to fruits, but low content of neutral triterpenoids; whereas lingonberry leaves by the particularly high level of α-amyrin. Thus, the proposed methods proved to be reliable and applicable for quantification and routine analysis of triterpenoids in lingonberry samples.     

具有三核Cd(Ⅱ)簇单元和螺旋链的脯氨酸类单一手性金属-有机框架材料的合成、 结构和性质

在溶剂热反应条件下, 使用含氮辅助配体1,4-二(4-吡啶基)苯(1,4-DPB)和半刚性脯氨酸衍生物配体(R)-5-(2-羧基吡咯烷-1-羰基)间苯二甲酸[(R)-H₃PIA]或(S)-5-(2-羧基吡咯烷-1-羰基)间苯二甲酸[(S)-H₃PIA]与Cd²⁺构筑了单一手性金属-有机框架材料[Cd_1.5((R)-PIA)(1,4-DPB)_1.5]·0.75H₂O·xGuest(1-D)和[Cd_1.5((S)-PIA)(1,4-DPB)_1.5]·0.75 H₂O·xGuest(1-L). 配合物1-D和1-L呈具有开放孔道的三维柱层式框架结构, 含有三核镉簇单元 Cd₃(CO₂)₆与两种螺旋链构建的波浪形Cd-PIA层. 分别对上述化合物进行了粉末X射线衍射、 热重分析、 圆二色谱和荧光光谱等测试. 测试结果显示配合物1-D和1-L都是以纯晶体的形式存在, 2种配合物的热失重曲线接近, 圆二色谱有明显的正负吸收峰, 符合其对映体的结构特征.     

Evaluating the biochemical changes of LPS-stimulated endothelial cells by synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy at a single-cell level

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - Endothelial damage is a major manifestation in many forms of heart and lung injuries induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but the biochemical responses and...     

A first-principles investigation on interactions between various surface-terminated diamond films

To elucidate the influence of different terminations on diamond surface interaction, the geometry and electronic structures of the diamond films modified by different terminations (H, F, O, NH₂, and OH) are studied by using the first principles method. Strong bonding is formed between the clean diamond surfaces, which suggest an obvious interface interaction. Both H and F terminals have significant effects on the reduction of the interface interactions. Due to the larger difference in electronegativity between C and F, the F termination layer has a higher electron density coverage to give a larger repulsive force. Therefore, the interaction between the F-terminated diamond interfaces is stronger than that between the H-terminated diamond interfaces. The O-terminated diamond surfaces are unstable. The NH₂- and OH-terminals have weak interaction due to the presence of large functional group atoms that leads to an electronic offset.     

Conjugation of two complementary anti-cancer drugs confers molecular hydrogels as a co-delivery system

We reported in this communication on the first example of a molecular hydrogel system based on two complementary anti-cancer drugs for chemotherapy.     

钙钛矿型纳米晶薄膜的制备及其光催化性能的研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法结合旋转涂膜工艺在玻璃基底上制备出了多层纳米晶薄膜LaMO3(M=Fe,Mn,Co,Cr);采用DSC/TG技术分析了前驱体凝胶的热分解历程;利用场发射扫描电镜观察了薄膜的表面形貌及膜层厚度.通过XRD进行了物相分析,并计算了其晶粒尺寸;实验结果表明,制备出的LaM03多层薄膜具有钙钛矿晶型结构,薄膜形态比较均匀.将该类薄膜作为光催化剂,对多种水溶性染料进行了光催化降解实验.研究结果表明,纳米晶薄膜LaM03的光催化活性主要和M原子的电负性及M离子的d电子结构有关.当M为Co时,薄膜的光催化效果最好.     

Primary photodamage sites and mitochondrial events after Foscan photosensitization of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells

To determine the initial photodamage sites of Foscan-mediated photodynamic treatment, we evaluated the enzymatic activities in selected organelles immediately after light exposure of MCF-7 cells. The measurements indicated that the enzymes located in the Golgi apparatus (uridine 5'-diphosphate galactosyl transferase) and in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [reduced] [NADH] cytochrome c [cyt c] reductase) are inactivated by the treatment, whereas mitochondrial marker enzymes (cyt c oxidase and dehydrogenases) were unaffected. This indicates that the ER and the Golgi apparatus are the primary intracellular sites damaged by Foscan-mediated PDT in MCF-7 cells. We further investigated whether the specific mitochondria events could be associated with Foscan photoinduced cell death. The dose response profiles of mitochondrial depolarization and cytochrome c release immediately after Foscan-based PDT were very different from that of overall cell death. By 24 h post-PDT the fluence dependency was strikingly similar for both mitochondrial alterations and cell death. Therefore, although mitochondria are not directly affected by the treatment, they can be strongly implicated in Foscan-mediated MCF-7 cell death by late and indirect mechanism.