A weak cation exchanger by encapsulating silica with maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol

A novel weak cation exchanger is described by encapsulating silica with a (or multiple) layer(s) of maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol coating(s). The preparation method is facile and fast, which is simply performed by dipping silica particles into maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol solution as‐synthesized, then filtering and curing thermally, and finally generating a thin coating onto silica particles. Multiple layers of maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol coatings can be generated by repeating above steps, offering an easy way to manipulate the capacity. The obtained weak cation exchanger demonstrated high separation efficiency and good selectivity toward common inorganic cations, for example, high plate count of 81 000 per meter was obtained for NH₄⁺. Simultaneous separation of alkali and alkaline earth metals could be achieved within 14 min under isocratic conditions.     

Biosurfactant trehalose lipid‐enhanced ultrasound‐assisted micellar extraction and determination of the main antioxidant compounds from functional plant tea

Hydrosoluble trehalose lipid (a biosurfactant) was employed for the first time as a green extraction solution to extract the main antioxidant compounds (geniposidic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and rutin) from functional plant tea (Eucommia ulmoides leaves). Single‐factor tests and response surface methodology were employed to optimize the extraction conditions for ultrasound‐assisted micellar extraction combined with ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography in succession. A Box‐Behnken design (three‐level, three‐factorial) was used to determine the effects of extraction solvent concentration (1–5 mg/mL), extraction solvent volume (5–15 mL), and extraction time (20–40 min) at a uniform ultrasonic power and temperature. In consequence, the best analyte extraction yields could be attained when the trehalose lipid solution concentration was prepared at 3 mg/mL, the trehalose lipid solution volume was 10 mL and the extraction time was set to 35 min. In addition, the recoveries of the antioxidants from Eucommia ulmoides leaves analyzed by this analytical method ranged from 98.2 to 102%. These results indicated that biosurfactant‐enhanced ultrasound‐assisted micellar extraction coupled with a simple ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography method could be effectively applied in the extraction and analysis of antioxidants from Eucommia ulmoides leaf samples.     

An overview on enrichment methods for cell surface proteome profiling

Cell surface proteins are essential for many important biological processes, including cell–cell interactions, signal transduction, and molecular transportation. With the characteristics of low abundance, high hydrophobicity, and high heterogeneity, it is difficult to get a comprehensive view of cell surface proteome by direct analysis. Thus, it is important to selectively enrich the cell surface proteins before liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry analysis. In recent years, a variety of enrichment methods have been developed. Based on the separation mechanism, these methods could be mainly classified into three types. The first type is based on their difference in the physicochemical property, such as size, density, charge, and hydrophobicity. The second one is based on the bimolecular affinity interaction with lectin or antibody. And the third type is based on the chemical covalent coupling to free side groups of surface‐exposed proteins or carbohydrate chains, such as primary amines, carboxyl groups, glycan side chains. In addition, metabolic labeling and enzymatic reaction‐based methods have also been employed to selectively isolate cell surface proteins. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the enrichment methods for cell surface proteome profiling.     

Supramolecular networks supported by the anion…π linkage of Keggin‐type heteropolyoxotungstates

Anion…π interactions are newly recognized weak supramolecular forces which are relevant to many types of electron‐deficient aromatic substrates. Being less competitive with respect to conventional hydrogen bonding, anion…π interactions are only rarely considered as a crystal‐structure‐defining factor. Their significance dramatically increases for polyoxometalate (POM) species, which offer extended oxide surfaces for maintaining dense aromatic/inorganic stacks. The structures of tetrakis(caffeinium) μ₁₂‐silicato‐tetracosa‐μ₂‐oxido‐dodecaoxidododecatungsten trihydrate, (C₈H₁₁N₄O₂)₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]·3H₂O, (1), and tris(theobrominium) μ₁₂‐phosphato‐tetracosa‐μ₂‐oxido‐dodecaoxidododecatungsten ethanol sesquisolvate, (C₇H₉N₄O₂)₃[PW₁₂O₄₀]·1.5C₂H₅OH, (2), support the utility of anion…π interactions as a special kind of supramolecular synthon controlling the structures of ionic lattices. Both caffeinium [(HCaf)⁺ in (1)] and theobrominium cations [(HTbr)⁺ in (2)] reveal double stacking patterns at both axial sides of the aromatic frameworks, leading to the generation of anion…π…anion bridges. The latter provide the rare face‐to‐face linkage of the anions. In (1), every square face of the metal–oxide cuboctahedra accepts the interaction and the above bridges yield flat square nets, i.e. {(HCaf⁺)₂[SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4?}_n. Two additional cations afford single stacks only and they terminate the connectivity. Salt (2) retains a two‐dimensional (2D) motif of square nets, with anion…π…anion bridges involving two of the three (HTbr)⁺ cations. The remaining cations complete a fivefold anion…π environment of [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3?, acting as terminal groups. This single anion…π interaction is influenced by the specific pairing of (HTbr)⁺ cations by double amide‐to‐amide hydrogen bonding. Nevertheless, invariable 2D patterns in (1) and (2) suggest the dominant role of anion…π interactions as the structure‐governing factor, which is applicable to the construction of noncovalent linkages involving Keggin‐type oxometalates.     

Combinatıon of a Box-Behnken design technique with response surface methodology for optimization of the photocatalytic mineralization of C.I. Basic Red 46 dye from aqueous solution

The photodegradation of an industrial azo dye C.I Basic Red 46 was examined in a fixed-bed photoreactor using UV-lamps simulated to the solar irradiation. In our photodecolorization study, the UV/TiO₂ process was optimized using the Box-Behnken approach to evaluate the synergistic effects of three independent parameters (initial concentration of the dye, flow rate, and UV intensity) on mineralization effectiveness. The response surface methodology was in good promise with the prediction model (coefficients of determination of decolorization and mineralization were R²_Dec = 0.997 and R²_TOC = 0.994, respectively). The effects of the factors could be estimated from a second–order polynomial equation and student’s t-test. The optimal parameters of decolorization and mineralization were as follows: initial concentration of colorant 25 mg L⁻¹, rate of fluid flow 0.3 L min⁻¹, and ultraviolet light intensity 38.1 W m⁻². The decolorization and mineralization removal efficiency under these optimal conditions were 100% and 57.63% respectively. These results indicate that optimization using response surface methodology, based on the Box-Behnken approach, is an excellent tool for determining the optimal conditions, and the process can be easily extrapolated for a specific treatment of real waste water containing the azo dye C.I Basic Red 46. Also, the intermediates that were produced during photodegradation process of Basic Red 46 were determined by GC/MS.     

Synthesis,experimental and in silico studies of N‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐O‐tert‐butyl‐N‐methyltyrosine,coupled with CSD data: a survey of interactions in the crystal structures of Fmoc–amino acids

Recently, fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) amino acids (e.g. Fmoc–tyrosine or Fmoc–phenylalanine) have attracted growing interest in biomedical research and industry, with special emphasis directed towards the design and development of novel effective hydrogelators, biomaterials or therapeutics. With this in mind, a systematic knowledge of the structural and supramolecular features in recognition of those properties is essential. This work is the first comprehensive summary of noncovalent interactions combined with a library of supramolecular synthon patterns in all crystal structures of amino acids with the Fmoc moiety reported so far. Moreover, a new Fmoc‐protected amino acid, namely, 2‐{[(9H‐fluoren‐9‐ylmethoxy)carbonyl](methyl)amino}‐3‐{4‐[(2‐hydroxypropan‐2‐yl)oxy]phenyl}propanoic acid or N‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl‐O‐tert‐butyl‐N‐methyltyrosine, Fmoc‐N‐Me‐Tyr(t‐Bu)‐OH, C₂₉H₃₁NO₅, was successfully synthesized and the structure of its unsolvated form was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structural, conformational and energy landscape was investigated in detail by combined experimental and in silico approaches, and further compared to N‐Fmoc‐phenylalanine [Draper et al. (2015). CrystEngComm, 42 , 8047–8057]. Geometries were optimized by the density functional theory (DFT) method either in vacuo or in solutio. The polarizable conductor calculation model was exploited for the evaluation of the hydration effect. Hirshfeld surface analysis revealed that H…H, C…H/H…C and O…H/H…O interactions constitute the major contributions to the total Hirshfeld surface area in all the investigated systems. The molecular electrostatic potentials mapped over the surfaces identified the electrostatic complementarities in the crystal packing. The prediction of weak hydrogen‐bonded patterns via Full Interaction Maps was computed. Supramolecular motifs formed via C—H…O, C—H…π, (fluorenyl)C—H…Cl(I), C—Br…π(fluorenyl) and C—I…π(fluorenyl) interactions are observed. Basic synthons, in combination with the Long‐Range Synthon Aufbau Modules, further supported by energy‐framework calculations, are discussed. Furthermore, the relevance of Fmoc‐based supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns in biocomplexes are emphasized, for the first time.     

Study on wave dispersion characteristics of piezoelectric sandwich nanoplates considering surface effects

In this study, the wave propagation properties of piezoelectric sandwich nanoplates deposited on an orthotropic viscoelastic foundation are analyzed by considering the surface effects (SEs). The nanoplates are composed of a composite layer reinforced by graphene and two piezoelectric surface layers. Utilizing the modified Halpin-Tsai model, the material parameters of composite layers are obtained. The displacement field is determined by the sinusoidal shear deformation theory (SSDT). The Euler-Lagrange equation is derived by employing Hamilton’s principle and the constitutive equations of piezoelectric layers considering the SEs. Subsequently, the nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) is used to obtain the equations of motion. Next, the effects of scale parameters, graphene distribution, orthotropic viscoelastic foundation, and SEs on the propagation behavior are numerically examined. The results reveal that the wave frequency is a periodic function of the orthotropic angle. Furthermore, the wave frequency increases with the increase in the SEs.

     

集中载荷作用下不同边界条件的弯曲厚矩形板的受迫振动

运用边界积分法研究了四边简支、两对边固定另两对边简支、四边固定三种复杂边界条件下厚矩形板的受迫振动问题,求解过程清晰,从而给出了受迫振动控制方程和挠曲面方程。通过在Matlab平台上进行数值计算,得出了图表形式的计算结果,并与有限元模拟值进行对照。研究表明,边界积分法用于求解厚矩形板的受迫振动问题的准确性,本文推导的控制方程和挠曲面方程的正确性,进而对工程实际中的各种相关问题具有一定的现实意义,也为求解此类问题提供了一种新途径,可以直接运用到工程实际中。     

Engineering lattice defects in 2D nanomaterials for enhancing biomedical performances

2D nanomaterials are widely investigated for biomedical applications, attributed to their large specific surface area, high therapeutic loading capacity, and unique optical, thermal, and/or electronic characteristics. Lattice defects affect the theranostic performance of 2D nanomaterials significantly by altering their electronic properties and chemical binding. Recent investigations have shown that defect-rich 2D nanomaterials are capable of enhancing tumor treatment through efficient drug delivery, photothermal and photodynamic therapies (PTT and PDT), and improving diagnostics via computed tomography (CT), photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging. This review summarizes recent progresses, including synthesis, characterization approach, and applications of defect-engineered 2D nanomaterials that are potentially useful in cancer treatment. The expert opinions are also proposed as the conclusion.     

Synthesis of polymers having a phospholipid polar group connected to a poly(oxyethylene) chain and their protein adsorption-resistance properties

New methacrylates having a phospholipid polar group which was connected to various lengths of poly(oxyethylene) chains to form a polymerizable group (MEOnPC) were synthesized. The MEOnPC could polymerize with n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) in ethanol using a conventional radical polymerization technique. The unit mole fraction of MEOnPC in the polymer corresponded to that in the feed monomer solution. The MEOnPC polymers were soluble in ethanol, insoluble in water, but swelled in water and became hydrated. On the surface of a poly(BMA) membrane coated with MEOnPC, the phosphorylcholine groups of the MEOnPC unit present were determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As a fundamental evaluation for biomedical materials, adsorption of one of the plasma proteins, fibrinogen, on acrylic beads coated with the MEOnPC polymers was evaluated. The amount of fibrinogen adsorbed on the MEOnPC polymer was smaller than that on the original acrylic beads, poly(BMA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The increase in the MEOnPC unit mole fraction in the polymer showed more effective protein adsorption-resistant properties. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.