Encapsulation of dicinnamalacetone in β-cyclodextrin: A physicochemical evaluation and molecular modeling approach on 1:2 inclusion complex

The aim of this research is to prepare and characterize the inclusion complex between Dicinnamalacetone (DCA) and β-CD. The inclusion complex of Dicinnamalacetone [DCA] and Beta-cyclodextrin [β-CD] was characterized both in solution and solid state by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Nano second time resolved fluorescence study, Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Powder X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and molecular modeling test. The 1:2 soichiometry of inclusion complex and binding constant values were determined by Benesi-Hildebrand plot and confirmed by Job's continuous variation method. FT-IR study indicated that the aromatic rings of the Dicinnamalacetone molecule were included in the β-CD cavities. The nano second time resolved fluorescence study revealed that DCA exhibits single exponential decay in aqueous medium and bi-exponential decay in β-CD medium indicating the formation of inclusion complex. From the DSC study it is observed that the thermal stability of the inclusion complex was significantly enhanced when compared with the pure compound due to strong interaction between DCA and β-CD. Furthermore, implementation of molecular modeling test confirmed that the complexation could reduce the energy of the system. The experimental studies revealed that the most predominant structure of 1:2 inclusion complex is the one in which the two aromatic ends of DCA were inserted into the cavities of two β-CD molecules.     

A Method for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Enhancement of Membrane Proteins

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) magic‐angle spinning (MAS) solid‐state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy has the potential to enhance NMR signals by orders of magnitude and to enable NMR characterization of proteins which are inherently dilute, such as membrane proteins. In this work spin‐labeled lipid molecules (SL‐lipids), when used as polarizing agents, lead to large and relatively homogeneous DNP enhancements throughout the lipid bilayer and to an embedded lung surfactant mimetic peptide, KL₄. Specifically, DNP MAS ssNMR experiments at 600 MHz/395 GHz on KL₄ reconstituted in liposomes containing SL‐lipids reveal DNP enhancement values over two times larger for KL₄ compared to liposome suspensions containing the biradical TOTAPOL. These findings suggest an alternative sample preparation strategy for DNP MAS ssNMR studies of lipid membranes and integral membrane proteins.     

STUDY ON A DYNAMICS MODEL OF TAPPING MODE AFM AND ENERGY DISSIPATION MECHANISM$^{\bf 1)}$

轻敲模式下探针从远离到间歇性接触样品表面,是一个连续的能量耗散过程.针对该连续过程的能量耗散机理研究仅零星存在于各个文献之中,对于连续过程中各个阶段的能量耗散机理也没有一个系统的解释和实验验证.本文提出了新的位移激励下原子力显微镜探针-样品系统简化模型并得到了一维振子系统等效阻尼的计算方法,并通过该方法计算了探针在远离样品表面时的空气黏性阻尼和靠近样品时的空气压膜阻尼,分析了探针从远离样品到间歇性接触样品表面这一过程中的环境耗散机理变化,得到了原子力显微镜系统理论品质因数与探针工作位置的关系曲线;在此基础上设计了轻敲模式下的微悬臂梁扫频实验,得到了系统实验品质因数与探针工作位置的关系曲线,进而验证了理论模型的准确性. 本文通过对轻敲模式下AFM环境耗散机理进行理论分析和实验验证,希望可以对轻敲模式下AFM动力学特性及其阻尼作用机理有更近一步的认识,同时对微纳米机电系统 (MEMS/NEMS) 能量耗散机理的研究提供理论参考和实验方法.     

对共振频率法检测裂纹扩展量的研究

通过分析电磁共振式疲劳试验机的工作频率与试样柔度之间的关系,推导出相应的计算公式,并设计出利用微型计算机内部时钟信号检测频率的有关电路,测量精度优于0.05Hz.给出的两点标定法,使共振频率法简便易行.用共振频率法和显微镜目测法同时对三种钢材采用紧凑拉伸试样(CT 试样)进行了裂纹扩展速率 da/dN 的测试。两种裂纹检测方法的测试结果吻合很好,从而验证了共振频率法的可靠性和实用性。此种方法在试验数据的采集、处理自动化方面有优势,并且为在特殊环境下(如高温、腐蚀介质等)对裂纹的检测提供了较为简便、有效的手段。     

Studying single molecule electrochemistry with scanning tunneling microscope break-junction technique

The fundamental principle of molecular electronics is to comprehend electrical properties of single molecules connected between two probe electrodes. In recent years, substantial advances in this field have been made to underpin experimental and theoretical understanding of single molecule electrochemistry. By using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) break-junction technique, the switching events of electrical current from single molecule bridge tuning by electrochemical gating are investigated to uncover the relationship between electrochemical electron transfer and charge transport processes in chemical and biological molecule junctions. In this short review, we outline the latest works of single molecule electrochemistry studied with STM break-junction technique from Nongjian Tao's group, and share the insights on the opportunities and challenges for future research.     

超高真空下纳米石墨烯磁性及调控

纳米石墨烯在磁学上的优异表现开始获得了更多的关注和研究。由于不饱和电子的存在,磁性纳米石墨烯的湿法化学法合成难度提高,借助超高真空下的表面催化,可以精确地实现将设计好的前驱体分子向磁性纳米石墨烯转变。相较于过渡金属的磁性,纳米石墨烯拥有更高的自旋波刚度、更弱的自旋-轨道耦合作用、更为精细的耦合作用、更长的自旋寿命,使其在自旋电子器件以及基础研究领域拥有很高的研究潜力。由于不饱和电子的存在,提高了湿法化学法合成出磁性纳米石墨烯的难度。近年来,借助超高真空下的表面催化,可以精确地实现将设计好的前驱体分子制备成磁性纳米石墨烯。进一步地,可以利用通过针尖操纵以及将磁性纳米石墨烯进行连接形成二聚体或者磁性链来进行磁性调控和研究。本综述结合近几年超高真空下纳米石墨烯的磁性研究,介绍了纳米石墨磁性的产生和利用超高真空扫描隧道显微技术对其结构和磁性的表征,以及在此基础上对纳米石墨烯磁性的磁序调控。     

纳米级变形的扫描隧道显微镜测量研究

提出了应用扫描隧道显微镜及利用物质原子结构测量纳米级变形的新方法，对高定向裂解石墨、单晶硅材料的纳米级变形进行了测量研究，得到了强激光辐照石墨的残余应变场，对拨原子后单晶硅形成的纳米裂纹附近区域的残余变形进行了分析     

Advances in light microscope stereo vision

The increasing research focus on small-scale mechanical systems has generated a need for deformation and strain measurement systems for microscale applications. Optical measurement systems, such as digital image correlation, present an obvious choice due to their non-contacting nature. However, the transfer of measurement technology developed for macroscale applications to the microscale presents unique challenges due to the differences in the required highmagnification optics. In this paper we illustrate the problems involved in calibrating a stereo microscope using traditional techniques and present a novel methodology for acquiring accurate, three-dimensional surface shape and deformation data on small-scale specimens. Experimental results demonstrate that stereo microscope systems can be accurately and reliably calibrated using a priori distortion estimation techniques in combination with traditional bundle-adjustment. The unique feature of the present methodology is that it does not require a precision calibration target but relies solely on point correspondences obtained by image correlation. A variety of experiments illustrate the measurement performance of a stereo microscope system. It is shown that the surface strains obtained from the full-field, three-dimensional measurements on tensile specimens undergoing large rigid-body motions are within ±50 microstrain of strain gage measurements for strains ranging from 0 to 2000 microstrain. H. W. Schreier was a PhD Student from Ecole Mines des Albi in France     

超声造影剂微气泡的包膜黏弹特性的定量表征研究

包膜黏弹特性显著影响微气泡超声造影剂的诊断及治疗应用效果. 本文结合原子力显微镜技术及声衰减特性测量提出了一种对微气泡造影剂包膜黏弹特性定量表征的新方法. 首先采用原子力显微镜技术进行机械特性分析得到包膜微气泡的有效硬度及体弹性模量; 然后测量声衰减特性, 基于微气泡动力学理论, 计算包膜微气泡的体黏度系数. 为验证方法的有效性, 实验制备了直径为1-5 μm的白蛋白包膜微气泡造影剂, 原子力显微镜测量的有效硬度和体弹性模量分别为0.149±0.012 N/m和8.31±0.667 MPa, 并与粒径无关. 声衰减特性测量和动力学理论拟合的包膜微气泡的体黏度系数为0.374±0.003 Pa·s. 该方法可推广至其他种类包膜微气泡的黏弹特性表征, 对超声造影剂的制备及其诊断和治疗应用有积极意义.