Recent advances of ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging in clinical research

The structural information and spatial distribution of molecules in biological tissues are closely related to the potential molecular mechanisms of disease origin, transfer, and classification. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging is an effective tool that provides molecular images while describing in situ information of biomolecules in complex samples, in which ionization occurs at atmospheric pressure with the samples being analyzed in the native state. Ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging can directly analyze tissue samples at a fairly high resolution to obtain molecules in situ information on the tissue surface to identify pathological features associated with a disease, resulting in the wide applications in pharmacy, food science, botanical research, and especially clinical research. Herein, novel ambient ionization techniques, such as techniques based on spray and solid‐liquid extraction, techniques based on plasma desorption, techniques based on laser desorption ablation, and techniques based on acoustic desorption were introduced, and the data processing of ambient ionization mass spectrometry imaging was briefly reviewed. Besides, we also highlight recent applications of this imaging technology in clinical researches and discuss the challenges in this imaging technology and the perspectives on the future of the clinical research.     

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Onosma sericeum Willd. and evaluation of their catalytic properties and antibacterial and cytotoxic activity

In this study, silver nanoparticle (AgNP) synthesis was carried out using Onosma sericeum Willd. aqueous extract for the first time, with a simple, economical, and green method without the need for any other organic solvent or external reducing or stabilizing agent. A variety of AgNPs, all of different particle sizes, were synthesized by controlling the silver ion concentration, extract volume, temperature, and pH. It was determined that the optimum conditions for AgNP synthesis were 1 mM AgNO3, pH 8, 25 °C, 20 g/200 mL extract, silver nitrate, and extract ratio 5:1 (v/v). The AgNPs were defined using UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The particle size distribution and zeta potential measurements of the AgNPs were measured using the dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. It was determined that the AgNPs with a particle size of less than 10 nm showed a higher catalytic effect in the reduction of 2-nitrobenzenamine. It was also found that these nanoparticles had a cytotoxic effect on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line depending on dosage and time. The resulting IC50 values were between 76.63 µg/mL and 169.77 µg/mL. Furthermore, the biosynthesized AgNPs showed effective antibacterial activity against the Acinetobacter baumannii bacteria. The results of the study showed that synthesized AgNPs can have a promising role in biomedical and nanobiotechnology applications.     

New polythiophenes bearing electron-acceptor phthalocyanine chromophores

Two new donor-acceptor copolymers comprising a polythiophene backbone, and bearing phthalocyanine chromophores on the side chains have been prepared. Preliminary photophysical characterization of these materials by FTIR photoinduced absorption indicates that electron transfer from the polythiophene to the phthalocyanine units takes place.     

Recent advances in photofunctional polymorphs of molecular materials

Crystalline polymorph is an intriguing phenomenon that the presence of multiple packing and aggregate architectures of the same molecular system.In this review,we focus on the recent progress in various feasible methods of molecule-based crystalline polymorphism growth,their adjustable photofunctional properties and multifunctional applications,which will help to illustrate the structure-property relationship.     

南药巴戟天中十二种无机元素与药效关系的进一步研究

在初步研究的基础上，进一步研究了不同产地巴戟天的无机元素含量差异，通过对比各元素含量、相关系数及TE图谱，说明地道药材与非地道药材的巴戟天，其特征元素的含量存在非常明显的差异，要使大面积扩种的药材提高药效，建议根据当地土壤含Mn、Fe、Cr、Co、Ni的含量，以旋微量元素肥料的方法来补充这些元素在土壤中的不足。但在微量元素肥料配方中，应注意巴戟天吸收土壤中的元素时的协同作用和拮抗作用。     

The role of various binding materials for trace elemental analysis of powder samples using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Study of various binding materials like potassium bromide, poly(vinyl alcohol), starch, silver and aluminum has been carried out using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). The role of matrix effects using these five binders on LIBS signal intensity was investigated for better performance of LIBS technique as a quantitative analytical tool. For comparative study of different binders, the signal intensity of different Mg lines at 518.3, 517.2, 383.8 and 279.5 nm wavelengths were recorded for pellets prepared with known concentrations of Mg in these binders. The influence of laser energy on ablated mass under different binding materials and its correlation with LIBS signal intensity has been explored. Optical scanning microscopy images of the ablated crater were studied to understand the laser ablation process. The study revealed that the binding material plays an important role in the generation of LIBS signal. The relative signal intensity measured for a standard Mg line (at 518.3 nm) were 735, 538, 387, 227 and 130 for potassium bromide, starch, poly(vinyl alcohol), silver and aluminum as binders, respectively. This indicates clearly that potassium bromide is better as a binder for LIBS studies of powder samples.     

Colloidal micelles of block copolymers as nanoreactors,templates for gold nanoparticles,and vehicles for biomedical applications

Target drug delivery methodology is becoming increasingly important to overcome the shortcomings of conventional drug delivery absorption method. It improves the action time with uniform distribution and poses minimum side effects, but is usually difficult to design to achieve the desire results. Economically favorable, environment friendly, multifunctional, and easy to design, hybrid nanomaterials have demonstrated their enormous potential as target drug delivery vehicles. A combination of both micelles and nanoparticles makes them fine target delivery vehicles in a variety of biological applications where precision is primarily required to achieve the desired results as in the case of cytotoxicity of cancer cells, chemotherapy, and computed tomography guided radiation therapy.     

非对称纳米材料的性质及其应用

具有非对称结构的纳米材料显示出独特的物理和化学性质,在生物传感、靶向药物运载以及分子检测等生物医学领域具有良好的应用前景.本文就非对称纳米材料的性质及其应用方面的最新研究进展进行了综述.首先,我们从三个不同方面讨论了非对称纳米材料的性质及相关应用,即表面双亲性、催化特性和生物相容性;然后着重强调了非对称纳米材料在生物医学上的应用,如生物传感、靶向运载、基因疫苗以及杀菌剂;最后,我们对非对称纳米材料在制备技术的改进及其在食品安全领域的应用作出了展望.     

Applications of chalcogenide glass optical fibers

Chalcogenide-glass fibers based on sulfide, selenide, telluride and their rare-earth-doped compositions are being actively pursued worldwide. Great strides have been made in reducing optical losses using improved chemical purification techniques, but further improvements are needed in both purification and fiberization technology to attain the theoretical optical losses. Despite this, chalcogenide-glass fibers are enabling numerous applications that include laser power delivery, chemical sensing, and imaging, scanning near field microscopy/spectroscopy, IR sources/lasers, amplifiers and optical switches.     

Spectroscopic techniques in medicine: The future of diagnostics

Spectroscopic techniques have been finding increasing applications in the field of biomedicine especially in the field of disease diagnosis and monitoring in spite of the rapid emergence of several molecular biology based techniques. The significance of spectroscopy techniques and the possibility of using some of the underutilized regions of the electromagnetic radiations are discussed in this review. While previous reviews have already dealt with the potential of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-based (FTIR) techniques for clinical applications, the present review addresses the lacunae of the techniques along with its future trends that may make it a technique routinely applied in clinical settings.