The photosensitizing effect of the photoproduct of protoporphyrin IX

The photodynamic effect of a photoproduct of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) was investigated in WiDr cells, a human adenocarcinoma cell line. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra of PpIX and the photoproduct were measured. After 1, 3 or 5 min exposure of the ALA-incubated cells to 140 mW/cm² light at 635 nm, the photoproduct — the chlorin photoprotoporphyrin (Ppp), had an emission band around 670 nm. The Ppp excitation peak at 670 nm is well separated from the PpIX peak at 635 nm. The outcome of photodynamic therapy (PDT) was determined by measuring intracellular fluorescence intensity of propidium iodide (PI) 2 h following PDT and methylene blue (MB) staining 24 h following PDT. A significant increase in the fluorescence intensity of PI was noted when the ALA-loaded cells were exposed to 670 nm light after exposure to 635 nm, indicating enhanced cell membrane inactivation induced by the photodynamic action of the photoproduct. However, the fraction of the cells that survived following the same treatment as measured by MB staining was not significantly affected based on an analysis of variance. The fluorescence of PpIX decayed significantly during 635 nm light exposure. Exposure to light at 670 nm does not lead to any photodegradation of PpIX. The fluorescence of Ppp was bleached during 670 nm light exposure. Exposure of Ppp at 670 nm gives no PpIX back. Thus, the phototransformation of PpIX to Ppp is probably not a reversible process.     

反相悬浮聚合法合成超强吸水剂

以两性高分子作悬浮稳定剂，用反相悬浮聚合法合成了聚（丙烯酸盐－丙烯酰胺）类超强吸水剂．研究了交联剂、稳定剂、引发剂等用量、中和程度、单体组成及链转移剂等聚合条件对吸水剂吸水性能的影响．得到了吸蒸馏水１０５０ｍＬ／ｇ及吸０．９％ＮａＣｌ溶液８６ｍＬ／ｇ的超强吸水剂．此外，还比较了含不同反离子的聚丙烯酸类吸水剂的吸水性能     

Salt-induced aggregation in cationic liposome aqueous suspensions resulting in multi-step self-assembling complexes

The interaction of uni-univalent salt with cationic liposomes in aqueous suspension has been investigated by means of dynamic light scattering measurements and the hydrodynamic radius of the resulting aggregates has been evaluated for different ionic strengths. We observe the simultaneous presence of two different steady-state structures, in the 100–500 nm and 5 μm range, respectively, whose relative concentrations depend on the salt content. This behavior differs from that observed in usual charge stabilized colloidal suspensions and that giving rise to lipoplex formation in presence of polynucleotides. This peculiar behavior is briefly discussed in the light of Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) colloidal stability theory.     

New antiproliferative 14,15-secopregnane glycosides from Solenostemma argel

Eight new 14,15-secopregnane glycosides, namely argelosides C-J, possessing two ketal functions involved in three five-membered rings, have been isolated from the hairy seeds of Solenostemma argel. Their structures have been established by MS and NMR experiments, combined with quantum mechanical calculations of the ¹³C chemical shifts for the interpretation of the experimental data. On the basis of the obtained results, the structures of argelosides A and B have been revised. Additionally, the effect of these compounds on the VEGF-induced in Kaposi's sarcoma cell proliferation was evaluated. Results indicated that all the compounds reduced the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.     

Synthesis of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Particles by Suspension Polymerization in Silicon Oil

Molecular imprinting is a method to prepare polymers with recognition site of desired and predetermined selectivity1. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) are prepared by copolymerizing functional and cross-linking monomers in the presence of a molecular …     

Experimental study of the induced flow birefringence of a suspension of rigid particles at the transition from Couette flow to Taylor vortex flow

The flow birefringence induced in solutions of rigid particles is studied experimentally in the region of the axisymmetrical Taylor vortex flow which arises once the velocity gradient G in the annular gap of a conventional Couette cell reaches a critical value G _c .The measurements are performed for several values of G > G _c and for 10 radial observation points in the annular gap. Solutions of two types of rigid particles are investigated: the first is a suspension of flattened clay particles like bentonite, while the second contains rod-like particles of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). The variations of the birefringence intensity n and of the extinction angle measured in the domain of the axisymmetrical flow show a different behavior according to the shape of the particle in solution. This fact is confirmed theoretically with a good agreement for the measurements performed with solutions of flat particles.     

Degree of hydration in cement paste and C<Subscript>3</Subscript>A-sodium carbonate-water systems

This research provides a fundamental understanding of the early stage hydration of Portland cement paste, tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) paste at water to cement ratio of 0.5 and C₃A suspension at water to cement ratio of 5.0 modified by 2 or 4 mass% of sodium carbonate. A high conversion of unreacted clinker minerals to gel-like hydration products in the cement-Na₂CO₃ pastes takes place rapidly between 1^st to 24^th h. Contrary the Ca(OH)₂ formation within the same time interval is retarded in the excess of CO₃²⁻ ions due to intensive rise and growth of CaCO₃ crystals in hydrated cement. Later, the conversion of clinker minerals to the hydrate phase is reduced and higher contents of calcite and vaterite relative to that of Ca(OH)₂ in comparison with those found in the Portland cement paste are observed. As a consequence a decrease in strength and an increase in porosity between hardened Portland cement paste without sodium carbonate and those modified by Na₂CO₃ are observed. C₃A hydrates very quickly with sodium carbonate between 1^st and 24^th h forming hydration products rich in bound water and characterized also by complex salts of (x)C₃A·(y)CO₂·(zH₂O type, whereas C₃A-H₂O system offers C₃AH₆ as the main hydration product. Higher content of the formed calcium aluminate hydrates in C₃A-Na₂CO₃-H₂O system also contributes to early strength increase of Portland cement paste.     

Microfluidic three-dimensional biomimetic tumor model for studying breast cancer cell migration and invasion in the presence of interstitial flow

Cell migration and invasion are critical steps in cancer metastasis, which are the major cause of death in cancer patients. Tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs) and interstitial flow(IF) are two important biochemical and biomechanical cues in tumor microenvironment, play essential roles in tumor progression. However, their combined effects on tumor cell migration and invasion as well as molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this work, we developed a microfluidic-based 3 D breast cancer model by co-culturing tumor aggregates, macrophages, monocytes and endothelial cells within 3 D extracellular matrix in the presence of IF to study tumor cell migration and invasion. On the established platform, we can precisely control the parameters related to tumor microenvironment and observe cellular responses and interactions in real-time. When co-culture of U937 with human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) or MDA-MB-231 cells and tri-culture of U937 with HUVECs and MDA-MB-231 cells, we found that mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 aggregates activated the monocytes to TAM-like phenotype macrophages. MDA-MB-231 cells and IF simultaneously enhanced the macrophages activation by the stimulation of colony-stimulating factor 1(CSF-1). The activated macrophages and IF further promoted vascular sprouting via vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGFα) signal and tumor cell invasion. This is the first attempt to study the interaction between macrophages and breast cancer cells under IF condition. Taken together, our results provide a new insight to reveal the important physiological and pathological processes of macrophages-tumor communication. Moreover, our established platform with a more mimetic 3 D breast cancer model has the potential for drug screening with more accurate results.     

砂粒与复杂流体压裂液在裂缝中的流动特性研究

在矩形裂缝通道中,应用高速摄像技术,研究了复杂流体压裂液水平流动过程中砂粒的沉降速度,测试了复杂流体的流变学特性,分析了复杂流体的水平流动如何影响砂粒的沉降.研究结果表明,流性指数不等于1的复杂流体,其水平流速影响砂粒的沉降规律,砂粒在裂缝中水平流动过程的沉降速度不仅随复杂流体表观粘度的减小而增大,同时随复杂流体水平流速的增大而增大,是静止沉降速度的数倍至十数倍.     

磁性ICF靶丸的化学镀工艺制备与表征

 采用化学镀工艺在ICF聚苯乙烯靶丸表面包覆了一层磁性的Ni-P合金镀层,并分别用扫描电子显微镜、能谱仪、X射线衍射仪以及振动样品磁强计对其形貌、组成、结构和磁性能进行了表征。结果表明：通过化学镀工艺制备的Ni-P合金镀层厚度约为4 μm,且为非晶结构,并具有一定的磁性;该磁性ICF靶丸可望用来进行磁悬浮实验研究。最后,对聚苯乙烯靶丸表面磁性涂层的制备机理进行了讨论。