Polyaspartamide–Polylactide Graft Copolymers with Tunable Properties for the Realization of Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Imaging

Here, the synthesis and the characterization of novel amphiphilic graft copolymers with tunable properties, useful in obtaining polymeric fluorescent nanoparticles for application in imaging, are described. These copolymers are obtained by chemical conjugation of rhodamine B (RhB) moieties, polylactic acid (PLA), and O‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐O′‐methyl poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on α,β‐poly(N‐2‐hydroxyethyl)‐d,l ‐aspartamide (PHEA). In particular, PHEA is first functionalized with RhB to obtain PHEA–RhB with a derivatization degree in RhB (DD_RhB) equal to 0.55 mol%. By varying the reaction conditions, different amounts of PLA are grafted on PHEA–RhB to obtain PHEA‐RhB‐PLA with DD_PLA equal to 1.9, 4.0, and 6.2 mol%. Then, PEG chains are grafted on PHEA‐RhB‐PLA derivatives to obtain PHEA‐RhB‐PLA‐PEG graft copolymers. The preparation of polymeric fluorescent nanoparticles with tunable properties and spherical shape is described by using PHEA‐RhB‐PLA‐PEG with DD in PLA and PEG equal to 4.0 and 4.9 mol%, by following easily scaling up processes, such as emulsion‐solvent evaporation and high pressure homogenization (HPH)‐solvent evaporation techniques.

     

Electronic structure and thermochemistry for monocarbides MC,MC+ and MC− (M=Zn,Cd, Hg): CCSD(T) and DFT works

In this work, the ab-initio coupled cluster CCSD(T) method and the B3LYP, BP91W and CAM-B3LYP functional of DFT method in conjunction with the aug-cc-pVTZ-PP basis have been applied to study the group 12 monocarbides MC, MC⁺ and MC^?. The potential energy curves (PECs) for the three electronic states ³Σ^?, ⁵Σ^? and ¹Δ of the MC and the two states ²∑^- and ⁴∑^- for the MC⁺ cations and MC^? anions have been investigated. In addition, Bond distance Re, transition energy Te, vibrational frequency ω_e, ionization energy IE, electron affinity EA, dipole moment μ, dissociation energy D₀ and heat formation ΔH°f₀/ΔH°f₂₉₈, were determined for each species. The analysis of the dissociation energy for ZnC, CdC and HgC shows the decrease in the stability of the monocarbides from Zn to Hg. For ΔH°f₀/ΔH°f₂₉₈ values of MC, which are not known experimentally or theoretically, we recommend the following CCSD(T) predictions of ZnC, CdC and HgC: 181.3/178.54, 180.65/178.4 and 175.35/174.71 kcal/mol respectively. Comparing the three functionals with the CCSD(T) results, the CAM-B3LYP functional shows excellent predictive agreement for the various properties of the group 12 monocarbides.     

苯酚(醌)与烯烃的不对称[3+2]环化反应: 手性二氢苯并呋喃的合成进展

二氢苯并呋喃结构单元广泛存在于具有良好生物活性和药用价值的天然产物之中, 因而引起了有机合成化学家和药物化学家们的关注. 针对该结构单元所包含的C2和C3邻二立体中心的对映选择性构建, 也是目前有机合成方法学研究的挑战性问题之一. 在众多解决方案中, 以苯酚(醌)与烯烃为底物, 具体采用催化不对称和手性辅剂诱导的[3+2]环化两种方式, 可以构建具有光学活性的二氢苯并呋喃结构单元. 本综述将不同类型的手性催化剂和手性辅剂进行分类梳理, 介绍了近年来不对称[3+2]环化反应的发展, 并重点剖析其中涉及的立体选择性控制. 同时, 简要介绍了该关键方法在二氢苯并呋喃天然产物合成中的应用. 为了启发更加高效和普适性的新催化体系出现, 最后总结和展望了不对称[3+2]环化反应的发展趋势.     

In2BP3O12:Cr3+宽带近红外荧光粉的发光性能及应用研究※

近红外光谱技术在安防监控、食品检测、生物成像、农业等领域具有重要应用价值, 而开发出紧凑高效的近红外光源是其大规模商业应用的前提. 荧光粉转换型近红外发光二极管(light emitting diodes, LED)光源具有结构紧凑、成本低、使用寿命长、发射光谱可调等优点, 因此近些年受到广泛关注, 其关键就在于开发出能被蓝光有效激发的高性能近红外荧光粉. 本工作利用高温固相法制备了一种新型宽带近红外荧光粉In₂BP₃O₁₂:Cr³⁺, 在480 nm激发下, 荧光粉发射峰值位于950 nm, 光谱覆盖了750~1350 nm范围, 半峰宽达到210 nm. 采用该荧光粉与商用蓝光InGaN LED芯片封装, 获得了具有宽带发射的近红外LED光源, 在60 mA的驱动电流下, 近红外光辐射功率为5 mW. 当采用该光源照射人的手掌, 用近红外电感耦合器(charge coupled device, CCD)相机能够对手掌中的血管进行清晰的成像. 上述结果表明该近红外荧光粉可用于制备基于蓝光芯片的宽带近红外LED光源, 并在生物医学等领域具有潜在应用前景.     

Expanded Mercaptocalixarenes: A New Kind of Macrocyclic Ligands for Stabilization of Polynuclear Thiolate Clusters

The syntheses and properties of expanded 4-tert-butyl-mercaptocalix[4]arenes, in which the methylene linkers are replaced by −CH₂NRCH₂− or −CH₂NRCH₂− and −CH₂NRCH₂CH₂CH₂NRCH₂− units, are described. The new macrocycles were obtained in a step-wise manner, utilizing fully protected, i. e. S-alkylated, derivatives of the oxidation-sensitive thiophenols in the cyclisation steps. Reductive cleavage of the macrobicyclic or macrotricyclic intermediates ( 6 , 7 , 11 ) afforded the free thiophenols (H₄ 8 , H₄ 9 , and H₄ 12 ) in preparative yields as their hydrochloride salts. The protected proligands can exist in two conformations, resembling the “cone” and “1,3-alternate” conformations found for the parent calix[4]arenes. The free macrocycles do not show conformational isomerism, but are readily oxidized forming intramolecular disulfide linkages. Preliminary complexation experiments show that these expanded mercaptocalixarenes can serve as supporting ligands for tetranuclear thiolato clusters.     

碱性电解液中K3[Fe(CN)6]在锌阳极上的自发还原和吸附延长锌镍电池的循环寿命

采用K₃[Fe(CN)₆]作为锌镍电池的电解液添加剂,克服了锌阳极的变形。此外,通过一系列实验设计和表征,探索了电解液中金属锌与K₃[Fe(CN)₆]的反应机理。通过XRD (X-ray diffraction)和XPS (X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy)测试,我们发现金属锌在KOH水溶液中能够与K₃[Fe(CN)₆]反应,将[Fe(CN)₆]^3–还原为[Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻。添加K₃[Fe(CN)₆]的锌镍电池实现了更长的循环寿命,比不添加K₃[Fe(CN)₆]的锌镍电池长3倍以上。在相同循环次数下,改性电解质中锌阳极循环不仅形状变化较小,而且没有出现“死”锌现象,电极添加剂和粘结剂也没有发生偏析。此外,不同于一般的有机添加剂,K₃[Fe(CN)₆]的加入不仅不会增大电极的极化,还能够提高锌镍电池的放电容量和倍率性能。因此,考虑到这一改性策略有着较高的可行性和较低的成本,K₃[Fe(CN)₆]添加剂在锌镍电池的实际应用中具有极大的推广潜力。     

不同结构的DNA激活序列对Cas12a反式切割活性的影响

CRISPR－Cas12a系统的反式切割活性在其识别特定的DNA激活序列后被激活,这不仅能实现特定DNA靶标的直接定量分析,同时也为构建针对多种生物标志物的体外传感体系带来了新的思路。然而,已有文献中所采用的双链DNA（dsDNA）和单链DNA（ssDNA）激活序列结构多种多样,缺乏全面、系统的设计指导原则。针对该问题,该文系统研究了不同结构的DNA激活序列对LbaCas12a反式切割活性的影响。通过对比研究,得出以下结论：（1）前间区序列邻近基序（PAM）位点有助于LbaCas12a更高效地靶向结合dsDNA激活序列和ssDNA激活序列;（2）PAM近端区域缺少序列片段会降低Cas12a-crRNA定位激活序列的效率;（3）删除PAM远端序列片段有利于增强LbaCas12a的反式切割活性;（4）由于省略了dsDNA解链过程,ssDNA激活序列在激活LbaCas12a的反式切割活性方面普遍比dsDNA激活序列产生的效果更好。根据这些发现,该文提出了一种LbaCas12a所青睐的高效激活序列结构,其激活的LbaCas2a反式酶切活性较采用含PAM位点的标准dsDNA激活序列高出3.7倍。研究结果为构建基于CRISPR-Cas12a的高效体外生物传感系统提供了重要支撑。     

Cytoprotective effect of selenium polysaccharide from Pleurotus ostreatus against H2O2-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells

One main fraction of Selenium-enriched Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) polysaccharide (Se-POP-1) was extracted and purified by DEAE-52 and sephadex G-100. Se-POP-1 was an approximate homogenous polysaccharide with an average molecular weight of 1.62 × 10⁴ Da, and mainly composed of glucose, mannose and galactose, with molar ratio of 5.30:1.55:2.14. The absorption peaks at 941 cm^?1 and 1048 cm^?1 in FT-IR analysis were ascribed as C-O-Se and Se=O bonds. Pr-treatment of Se-POP-1 (400 μg/mL) increased the cell survival of H₂O₂-stimulated PC12 cells and inhibited intrinsic apoptosis and oxidative stress in H₂O₂-stimulated PC12 cells via limiting DNA degradation and decreasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In addition, up-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, down- regulation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, cleaved caspase 3, and cytochrome c were also observed. Se-POP-1 presented an obvious effect to alleviate oxidative damage and apoptosis in PC12 cells induced by H₂O₂. Therefore, Se-POP-1 possessed potent antioxidant and biological activities with the ability to prevent oxidation via scavenging ROS and free radicals in cells. It could be developed as organic selenium dietary supplement and functional food.     

I2-Promoted Intramolecular Oxidative Cyclization of Butenyl Anilines: A Facile Route to Benzo[b]azepines

A metal-free approach for the synthesis of seven-membered N-heterocycles has been developed by the I₂-promoted intramolecular cross-coupling/annulation of butenyl anilines. This cyclization reaction involves C−H activation and C−C bond formation and exhibits good functional group tolerance. A series of benzo[b]azepine derivatives are obtained in moderate to good yields.     

Crowned Macrocycles Containing Two Pyrrolo[1,2-a] Indoles Created By Intramolecular Fusion

Heterocyclic fused-ring systems are of utmost importance because of their presence in many natural products with biological activity. Pyrroloindoles are tricyclic heterocycles that are present in various bioactive and medicinally valuable compounds. Herein, we report the synthesis of phenylene-bridged bis-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole crowned macrocycles 1 – 3 in which the pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole moieties were formed via intramolecular fusion. The macrocycles were thoroughly characterized by 1D and 2D NMR, HRMS and X-ray crystallographic studies. The X-ray structure revealed that the two pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole moieties were parallel to each other, and one pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole unit was deviated by an angle of 9.54° while the other pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole unit was deviated by an angle of 12.0° from the mean plane defined by 28 core atoms. The macrocycles 1 – 3 absorb in the visible region and readily undergo oxidations because of their electron rich nature. The macrocycles 1 – 3 upon treatment with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) generates the corresponding cation radicals 1 – 3 ^.+ which were stable in the open air for a week. The cation radicals 1 – 3 ^.+ absorb strongly in the NIR region and the experimental observations on crowned macrocycles 1 – 3 were corroborated by DFT and TD-DFT studies.