A new “naked-eye” colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent sensor for imaging Hg2+ in living cells

A new oligothiophene-based sensor 3 TH for monitoring Hg²⁺ has been designed and synthesized based on the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. The 3 TH shows the significant specificity toward Hg²⁺ through “naked-eye” colorimetric detection as well as via ratiometric fluorescence enhancement response with low detection limit of 62 nM. In addition, sensor 3 TH shows high selectivity and sensitivity for Hg²⁺ with fast response in a suitable pH range. Moreover, the 3 TH-based test strips was used to conveniently detect Hg²⁺ ions in water. Furthermore, considering its good ‘‘turn-on’’ fluorescent sensing behavior and low cell cytotoxicity, 3 TH was successfully applied to detect and image Hg²⁺ in real water samples and living cells, which shows great potentials for application in environmental and biological systems.     

Cytomorphology‐based microchip with contour extraction processing for bioparticle analysis

In this paper, we demonstrated an integrated digital image processing framework that is training‐free for high throughput beads or biological cells detection and enumeration by the bead aggregation splitting algorithm. By making contour extraction processing, the aggregated beads can be clearly split for precise counting. It can be potentially embedded on‐chip in a miniaturized medical equipment to automatically adjust illumination condition and de‐noise. This study demonstrates that the existing hematological analysis can be updated from manual classification and counting by high‐speed and precise machine‐based programs.     

Applications of magnetic materials separation in biological nanomedicine

As a result of their advantages for superparamagnetic properties, good biocompatibility, and high binding capacity, functionalized magnetic materials became widely popular over the past couple of decades, being applied on large scale in various processes of sample preparation for biomedicine. In this work, we perform an in‐depth review on the current progress in the field of magnetic bead separation, discussing in detail the physical basis of this process, various synthesis methods and surface modification strategies. We place special focus of attention as well on the latest applications of magnetic polymer microspheres in cell separation, protein purification, immobilized enzyme, nucleic acid separation, and extraction of bioactive compounds with low molecular weight. Existing problems are highlighted and possible trends of magnetic separation techniques for biomedicine in the future are proposed.     

Cr3+比色荧光探针的合成及细胞成像应用

以2,3,3-三甲基-3H-苯并[e]吲哚和对二甲氨基苯甲醛为原料, 乙醇作溶剂, 在酸性催化条件下, 通过一步反应合成了比色荧光探针B. 在EtOH/HEPES(pH=7.4)体积比为9∶1的混合体系中, 向探针B溶液中加入Cr ³⁺后, 溶液颜色由淡黄色变为紫红色, 说明探针B可以对Cr ³⁺进行裸眼识别. 紫外-可见吸收光谱和荧光发射光谱分析表明, 探针B对Cr ³⁺的选择性好、 灵敏度高且对EDTA有良好的接力识别. 探针B对Cr ³⁺的结合常数K_a=0.28×10 ² mol/L, 检出限为1.90×10 ^-8 mol/L, 该检出限低于世界卫生组织(WHO)规定的饮用水中Cr ³⁺的最大含量(9.60×10 ^-8 mol/L). 利用荧光发射光谱对实际水样中Cr ³⁺的浓度进行了定量检测. 探针B也可应用于对活细胞中Cr ³⁺的检测, 具有较好的应用前景和实用价值.     

1,3,4-(口恶)二唑硫醚酰胺为核心骨架的新型多杂环分子的合成及对Cdc25B与PTP1B的抑制活性

首先利用含有三嗪的芳香酰肼(3)构筑了1,3,4-噁二唑衍生物(5), 然后将化合物5与含有1,3,4-噻二唑的衍生物(6)拼合合成了18个目标分子. 利用红外光谱(IR)、 核磁共振波谱(NMR)和高分辨质谱(HRMS)等技术对其结构进行了表征. 考察了目标分子对细胞分裂周期25磷酸酯酶B(Cdc25B)和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酯酶1B(PTP1B)的抑制活性. 结果表明, 有8个目标分子的抑制活性优于其阳性对照物, 有望成为潜在的Cdc25B抑制剂; 有12个目标分子的抑制活性优于其对照物, 有望成为潜在的PTP1B抑制剂.     

Unsymmetrically substituted benzimidazolium based Silver(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: Synthesis,characterization and in vitro anticancer study against human breast cancer and colon cancer

The promising biomedical applications of silver complexes stimulated the researchers to test these compounds against cancer. The present research work was designed to achieve this goal. In this work, a series of 5-methyl benzimidazole based N-Heterocyclic carbene ligands and respective silver(I) complexes were synthesized and tested on cancer cell lines to assess their anticancer activity. Unsymmetrically substituted benzimidazole was found unique in its reactivity and generation of a single product during NHC ligand formation was only possible after two successive alkylations with same alkyl halide. The corresponding Ag(I)-NHC adducts were obtained by in situ deprotonation of the NHC ligands. Synthesized compounds were characterized by various physcio-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study of complex 7 revealed its mononuclear structure. Preliminary in vitro anticancer study of azolium salts and respective Ag(I)-NHC complexes against human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231), colon cancer (HCT-116) and normal endothelial cells (EA.hy926) cells revealed that all the compounds are more cytotoxic to cancer cells than normal cells and the complexes are relatively more potent compared to the corresponding NHC ligands. It was found that increased chain length and presence of methyl substituent on benzimidazole ring enhance the biopotency of Ag(I)-NHC complexes. The synthesized compounds were further studied for pro-apoptotic mechanism of action via Rhodamine 123 test. The tested compounds were found to induce apoptosis via extrinsic mitochondrial pathway.     

On Axially Symmetric Domain Walls and Cosmic Strings in Bimetric Theory

It is shown that the axially symmetric thick domain walls and cosmic strings do not survive in the frame work of bimetric theory of gravitation proposed by Rosen (Gen. Relativ. Gravit. 4:435, 1973). Hence vacuum models are presented and studied.     

Five Dimensional Domain Walls in a Scalar-Tensor Theory of Gravitation

Five dimensional Kaluza-Klein space-time is considered in the presence of thick domain walls in the framework of scalar-tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (Phys. Lett. A 113:467, [1986]). Exact cosmological model, which represents a stiff domain wall, is presented. Some physical and kinematical properties of the model are also discussed.     

TOF-SIMS investigation of Streptomyces coelicolor, a mycelial bacterium

Streptomyces coelicolor is a mycelial microorganism that produces several secondary metabolites, including antibiotics. The physiology of the organism has largely been investigated in liquid cultures due to ease of monitoring different physiological parameters and more homogeneous culture conditions. However, solid cultures reflect the natural physiology of the microorganism better, given that in its natural state it grows in the soil. Imaging mass spectrometry with TOF-SIMS and C₆₀⁺ primary ion beams offers a potential route to studying chemical changes at the molecular level, both intracellular and extracellular that can help in understanding the natural physiology of the microorganism. Here, we report the application of the technique for studying the lateral distribution of the chemical species detected in a population, grown in both liquid and solid cultures. The capability of the technique for studying biological systems with minimal system intervention is demonstrated.     

Sensitive and automated detection of iron-oxide-labeled cells using phase image cross-correlation analysis

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles are increasingly being used to noninvasively track cells, target specific molecules and monitor gene expression in vivo. Contrast changes that are subtle relative to intrinsic sources of contrast present a significant detection challenge. Here, we describe a postprocessing algorithm, called Phase map cross-correlation Detection and Quantification (PDQ), with the purpose of automating identification and quantification of localized accumulations of SPIO agents. The method is designed to sacrifice little flexibility - it works on previously acquired data and allows the use of conventional high-SNR pulse sequences with no extra scan time. We first investigated the theoretical detection limits of PDQ using a simulated dipole field. This method was then applied to three-dimensional (3D) MRI data sets of agarose gel containing isolated dipoles and ex vivo transplanted allogenic rat hearts infiltrated by numerous iron-oxide-labeled macrophages as a result of organ rejection. A simulated dipole field showed this method to be robust in very low signal-to-noise ratio images. Analysis of agarose gel and allogenic rat heart shows that this method can automatically identify and count dipoles while visualizing their biodistribution in 3D renderings. In the heart, this information was used to calculate a quantitative index that may indicate its degree of cellular infiltration.