Photocontrolled Multidirectional Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on an Upconversion Substrate

The effective guidance of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation on a substrate by near‐infrared (NIR) light is particularly attractive for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, most of current substrates cannot control multidirectional differentiation of MSCs like natural tissues. Herein, a photocontrolled upconversion‐based substrate was designed and constructed for guiding multidirectional differentiation of MSCs. The substrate enables MSCs to maintain their stem‐cell characteristics due to the anti‐adhesive effect of 4‐(hydroxymethyl)‐3‐nitrobenzoic acid modified poly(ethylene glycol) (P1) attached on the upconversion substrate. Upon NIR irradiation, the P1 is released from the substrate by photocleavage. The detachment of P1 can change cell–matrix interactions dynamically. Moreover, MSCs cultured on the upconversion substrate can be specifically induced to differentiate to adipocytes or osteoblasts by adjusting the NIR laser. Our work provides a new way of using NIR‐based upconversion substrate to modulate the multidirectional differentiation of MSCs.     

化工实验教学和管理模式的探索与实践

介绍了中国科学技术大学化工实验课程的一些教学和管理方法,包括注重课前的各项准备工作,如仪器调试、助教培训、上好绪论课;实行组内小组合作和组间合作教学模式;完善实验管理制度,如严格考勤、实验情况登记、明确实验报告要求等。这些在提升教学质量和提高学生综合素质方面起了积极作用。     

Six Coordination Polymers based on 4‐(1H‐Imidazol‐1‐yl)phthalic Acid: Structural Diversities,Magnetism and Luminescence Properties

The coordination polymers (CPs), [Ni(L)(H₂O)₄]_n ( 1 ), [Co(HL)₂(H₂O)₂]_n ( 2 ), {[Cu(L)(H₂O)₃] · H₂O}_n ( 3 ), [Mn(L)(H₂O)₂]_n ( 4 ), [Cd(L)(H₂O)₂]_n ( 5 ), and {[Zn₂(L)₂] · H₂O}_n ( 6 ), were solvothermally synthesized by employing the imidazol‐carboxyl bifunctional ligand 4‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl) phthalic acid (H₂L). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction indicated that the L^2–/HL^– ligands display various coordination modes with different metal ions in 1 – 6 . Complexes 1 and 2 show one‐dimensional (1D) chain structures, whereas complexes 3 – 6 show 2D layered structures. The magnetic properties of these complexes were investigated. Complexes 1 and 3 indicate weak ferromagnetic interactions, whereas complexes 2 and 4 demonstrate antiferromagnetic interactions. In addition, luminescence properties of 5 and 6 were measured and studied in detail.     

Supramolecular architectures in metal(II) (Cd/Zn) halide/nitrate complexes of cytosine/5‐fluorocytosine

Three new metal(II)–cytosine (Cy)/5‐fluorocytosine (5FC) complexes, namely bis(4‐amino‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐one‐κN³)diiodidocadmium(II) or bis(cytosine)diiodidocadmium(II), [CdI₂(C₄H₅N₃O)₂], ( I ), bis(4‐amino‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐one‐κN³)bis(nitrato‐κ²O,O′)cadmium(II) or bis(cytosine)bis(nitrato)cadmium(II), [Cd(NO₃)₂(C₄H₅N₃O)₂], ( II ), and (6‐amino‐5‐fluoro‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐one‐κN³)aquadibromidozinc(II)–6‐amino‐5‐fluoro‐1,2‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐one (1/1) or (6‐amino‐5‐fluorocytosine)aquadibromidozinc(II)–4‐amino‐5‐fluorocytosine (1/1), [ZnBr₂(C₄H₅FN₃O)(H₂O)]·C₄H₅FN₃O, ( III ), have been synthesized and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. In complex ( I ), the Cd^II ion is coordinated to two iodide ions and the endocyclic N atoms of the two cytosine molecules, leading to a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The structure is isotypic with [CdBr₂(C₄H₅N₃O)₂] [Muthiah et al. (2001). Acta Cryst. E 57 , m558–m560]. In compound ( II ), each of the two cytosine molecules coordinates to the Cd^II ion in a bidentate chelating mode via the endocyclic N atom and the O atom. Each of the two nitrate ions also coordinates in a bidentate chelating mode, forming a bicapped distorted octahedral geometry around cadmium. The typical interligand N—H…O hydrogen bond involving two cytosine molecules is also present. In compound ( III ), one zinc‐coordinated 5FC ligand is cocrystallized with another uncoordinated 5FC molecule. The Zn^II atom coordinates to the N(1) atom (systematic numbering) of 5FC, displacing the proton to the N(3) position. This N(3)—H tautomer of 5FC mimics N(3)‐protonated cytosine in forming a base pair (via three hydrogen bonds) with 5FC in the lattice, generating two fused R₂²(8) motifs. The distorted tetrahedral geometry around zinc is completed by two bromide ions and a water molecule. The coordinated and nonccordinated 5FCs are stacked over one another along the a‐axis direction, forming the rungs of a ladder motif, whereas Zn—Br bonds and N—H…Br hydrogen bonds form the rails of the ladder. The coordinated water molecules bridge the two types of 5FC molecules via O—H…O hydrogen bonds. The cytosine molecules are coordinated directly to the metal ion in each of the complexes and are hydrogen bonded to the bromide, iodide or nitrate ions. In compound ( III ), the uncoordinated 5FC molecule pairs with the coordinated 5FC ligand through three hydrogen bonds. The crystal structures are further stabilized by N—H…O, N—H…N, O—H…O, N—H…I and N—H…Br hydrogen bonds, and stacking interactions.     

Synthesis and Properties of PGS-Li Scaffold

Lithium ion-doped polyglycerol sebacate scaffold(PGS)-Li was synthesized by adding lithium ions to polyglycerol sebacate(PGS) during its crosslinking process due to the specific effects of lithium ions on periodontal ligament cells, cementoblasts and the eminent performance of PGS. The molecular mass, composition, structure, porosity, thermal properties, and hydrophilicity of the composite were characterized by gel permeation chromatography(GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer(ICP-OES), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), thermogravimetric analyzer(TGA) and contact angle measurments, and the degradation of the material was evaluated by in vitro degradation experiments. The biological activity of PGS-Li scaffold was detected by calcein-AM staining and cytotoxicity test. The results indicate that PGS-Li scaffold has been successfully synthesized, which has similar composition and structure to PGS, but slightly larger molecular weight. In addition, the porosity and pore size of PGS-Li scaffold ba-sically meet the requirements of engineering scaffold materials and the seaffold shows better performance in terms of hydrophilicity and thermal stability than PGS. In vitro degradation experimental results show that the degradation rate of PGS-Li scaffold is higher than that of PGS. What's more, the results of cytotoxicity test and cell staining show that there is no significant difference in the proliferation and cell morphology of cementoblasts.     

Poly(2‐oxazoline) Hydrogels: State‐of‐the‐Art and Emerging Applications

The synthesis of poly(2‐oxazoline)s has been known since the 1960s. In the last two decades, they have risen in popularity thanks to improvements in their synthesis and the realization of their potential in the biomedical field due to their “stealth” properties, stimuli responsiveness, and tailorable properties. Even though the bulk of the research to date has been on linear forms of the polymer, they are also of interest for creating network structures due to the relatively easy introduction of reactive functional groups during synthesis that can be cross‐linked under a variety of conditions. This opinion article briefly reviews the history of poly(2‐oxazoline)s and examines the in vivo data on soluble poly(2‐oxazoline)s to date in an effort to predict how hydrogels may perform as implantable materials. This is followed by an overview of the most recent hydrogel synthesis methods and emerging applications, and is concluded with a section on the future directions predicted for these fascinating yet underutilized polymers.     

Injectable Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

In light of the limited efficacy of current treatments for cardiac regeneration, tissue engineering approaches have been explored for their potential to provide mechanical support to injured cardiac tissues, deliver cardio‐protective molecules, and improve cell‐based therapeutic techniques. Injectable hydrogels are a particularly appealing system as they hold promise as a minimally invasive therapeutic approach. Moreover, injectable acellular alginate‐based hydrogels have been tested clinically in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) and show preservation of the left ventricular (LV) indices and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This review provides an overview of recent developments that have occurred in the design and engineering of various injectable hydrogel systems for cardiac tissue engineering efforts, including a comparison of natural versus synthetic systems with emphasis on the ideal characteristics for biomimetic cardiac materials.     

化工专业综合性实验“分离乙醇水溶液”的探究

化工专业综合性实验对于培养学生的创新精神和工程实践能力至关重要。以分离乙醇水溶液为例,将气液相平衡测定实验和萃取精馏过程模拟相结合形成综合性实验,涉及到了三元体系的气液相平衡测定方法、实验数据采用不同热力学模型的回归及评价、萃取精馏过程模拟、各因素对分离效果的影响评价等。加深了学生对理论知识的理解,使学生对萃取精馏工业应用有了一定的认识,提高了学生的实验操作水平和工程实践能力,为应用型人才的培养提供了有力保障。     

海藻酸壳聚糖可塑性支架材料的制备及表征

利用海藻酸钠和壳聚糖2种原料, 采用阴阳离子静电复合原理, 通过滴注法层层自组装成可搭载药物的缓释微球, 再按一定比例与海藻酸钠-壳聚糖溶液混合制成缓释微球型支架材料, 将缓释微球结构嵌入疏松多孔海绵状结构中. 研究了缓释微球的组分比对缓释微球型支架材料的孔隙率、 收缩率、 亲水性及降解性能的影响; 扫描电子显微镜照片显示, 微球结构相对完整, 多孔海绵状结构孔径为140~200 μm; 支架浸出液细胞毒性检测实验组对照组未见差异. 缓释微球体积所占比例即组分比为10%的缓释微球型支架材料孔隙率最高为68.2%~70.8%, 亲水性最好, 收缩率最低为4.4%~5.2%; 支架降解速率随缓释微球组分比升高而减慢, 组分比为20%的缓释微球型支架材料综合性能更优; 缓释微球型支架材料冻干成型前为液态, 具有良好可塑性. 缓释微球型支架材料为缓释系统与多孔支架材料有机结合提供了新思路.     

有机/金属有机力致发光材料的研究进展

有机/金属有机力致发光材料因具有外力作用诱导产生发光的独特性质,其在冲击力、应力、张力或压力等作用力的传感以及显示、照明及成像等领域具有巨大应用潜力,近年来引起了人们广泛关注.综述了自1980年以来的有机/金属有机力致发光材料（稀土金属有机配合物材料、过渡金属有机配合物材料、纯有机小分子材料和纯有机聚合物材料）和发光机理方面的研究进展,最后提出了有机/金属有机力致发光所面临的挑战与未来发展方向.