Self-assembling and phase coexistence of SW trimers as complex amphiphile analogues. I. Simulations

We analyse by discrete molecular dynamics the self-assembly of SW trimer particles that contain a different number of attractive and repulsive spheres. They also have different geometries: linear, obtuse, rectangular and equilateral. We identify that some of these molecules exhibit liquid–vapour equilibria while others do not. For all of them, we show the morphological phase diagram built up from the different supra-molecular structures formed by each type of trimer. We simulated 14 different systems with a total of 321 states. The main features of the supra-molecular structures depend only on the composition and geometry of the trimer: triple SW trimers do not form supra-structures, double SW trimers and single SW trimers form monolayers, bilayers and worm-like micelles. The liquid–vapour coexistence properties are also exhibited. These trimers can be used to model complex amphiphiles beyond the standard ones, such as the Gemini and the Bola surfactants as well as colloidal particles.     

Thermodynamics and Phase Transition of Topological Dilatonic Lifshitz-Like Black Holes

It is known that scalar-tensor gravity models can be studied in Einstein and Jordan frames. In this paper, a model of scalar-tensor gravity in Einstein's frame is considered to calculate the Lifshitz-like black hole solutions with different horizon topologies. Thermodynamic properties and first order van der Waals-like phase transition are studied, and it is found that the Lifshitz parameter affects the phase structure. In addition, thermal stability is investigated by using the behavior of heat capacity and various methods of geometrical thermodynamics.     

Machine-Learned Free Energy Surfaces for Capillary Condensation and Evaporation in Mesopores

Using molecular simulations, we study the processes of capillary condensation and capillary evaporation in model mesopores. To determine the phase transition pathway, as well as the corresponding free energy profile, we carry out enhanced sampling molecular simulations using entropy as a reaction coordinate to map the onset of order during the condensation process and of disorder during the evaporation process. The structural analysis shows the role played by intermediate states, characterized by the onset of capillary liquid bridges and bubbles. We also analyze the dependence of the free energy barrier on the pore width. Furthermore, we propose a method to build a machine learning model for the prediction of the free energy surfaces underlying capillary phase transition processes in mesopores.     

Effect of Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents on trans-Resveratrol Photo-Chemical Induced Isomerization and 2,4,6-Trihydroxyphenanthrene Electro-Cyclic Formation

trans-Resveratrol is a natural bioactive compound with well-recognized health promoting effects. When exposed to UV light, this compound can undergo a photochemically induced trans/cis isomerization and a 6π electrochemical cyclization with the subsequent formation of 2,4,6-trihydroxyphenanthrene (THP). THP is a potentially harmful compound which can exert genotoxic effects. In this work we improved the chromatographic separation and determination of the two resveratrol isomers and of THP by using a non-commercial pentafluorophenyl stationary phase. We assessed the effect of natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) as possible photo-protective agents by evaluating cis-resveratrol isomer and THP formation under different UV-light exposure conditions with the aim of enhancing resveratrol photostability and inhibiting THP production. Our results demonstrate a marked photoprotective effect exerted by glycerol-containing NaDES, and in particular by proline/glycerol NaDES, which exerts a strong inhibitory effect on the photochemical isomerization of resveratrol and significantly limits the formation of the toxic derivative THP. Considering the presence of resveratrol in various commercial products, these results are of note in view of the potential genotoxic risk associated with its photochemical degradation products and in view of the need for the development of green, eco-sustainable and biocompatible resveratrol photo-stable formulations.     

Effects of Regioisomerism on the Antiproliferative Activity of Hydroxystearic Acids on Human Cancer Cell Lines

A series of regioisomers of the hydroxystearic acid (HSA) was prepared, and the effect of the position of the hydroxyl group along the chain on a panel of human cancer cell lines was investigated. Among the various regioisomers, those carrying the hydroxyl at positions 5, 7, and 9 had growth inhibitor activity against various human tumor cell lines, including CaCo-2, HT29, HeLa, MCF7, PC3, and NLF cells. 10-HSA and 11-HSA showed a very weak effect. 8-HSA did not show inhibitory activity in all cell lines. The biological role of 7-HSA and 9-HSA is widely recognized, while little is known about the effects of 5-HSA. Therefore, the biological effects of 5-HSA in HeLa, HT29, MCF7, and NLF cell lines were investigated using the Livecyte’s ptychography technology, which allows correlating changes in proliferation, motility, and morphology as a function of treatment at the same time. 5-HSA not only reduces cell proliferation but also induces changes in cell displacement, directionality, and speed. It is important to characterize the biological effects of 5-HSA, this molecule being an important component of fatty acyl esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFA), a class of endogenous mammalian lipids with noticeable anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects.     

酰基硫脲衍生物的合成、结构表征及生物活性研究

在超声波辐射下, 以PEG-400为固-液相转移催化剂, 用芳胺与双酰基异硫氰酸酯反应, 合成出了15种新的结构不对称的双酰基硫脲类化合物(6和6')和9种新的分子中含酰胺基团的单酰基硫脲类化合物(7和7'). 利用元素分析, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, APT, 1D NOE及2D NMR技术确定了所合成化合物6和6'及7和7'的结构, 并对它们NMR谱中低场C, H进行了归属. 杀菌、杀虫和除草活性筛选测定实验结果表明, 所测试化合物对瓜炭疽病菌均具有抑制作用, 其中6e抑制率最高, 达到62.4%; 目标化合物7a对黄瓜白粉病菌有一定的抑制作用. 单胺氧化酶活性测定实验表明：大部分目标化合物对单胺氧化酶具有一定的抑制活性, 其中浓度在1×10^－3 mol•L^－1时目标化合物6'c和6'd的抑制活性较强, 明显高于其它化合物. 目标化合物没有抗惊厥活性.     

EIGHT-POINT STRAIGHT-LINE-NET-DIAGRAMS OF BINARY SIX-PHASE (n+4) MULTISYSTEMS (Ⅱ)——DERIVATION FROM THEORY OF PHYSICALLY REAL NETS

Based on the theory of physically real nets, the 8- point straight-line nets of bi-nary 6- phase (n + 4) multisystems (31 in toto) have been derived directly from the l-point straight-line nets. This result is in complete agreement with that derived fromthe theory of closed nets, indicating the incorrectness of the previous conclusion thatthere is only one 8-point straight-line net which corresponds to only one 8- pointstraight-line-net-diagram for binary 6- phase multisystems.     

以萘酰亚胺衍生物基荧光高分子为载体和指示剂的 相分离免疫分析方法

以4-甲氧基-N-(2-N’,N’-二甲基氨基乙基-N’-烯丙基)萘二甲酰亚胺氯化铵(DMNAA)为荧光单体, 合成了一种pH敏感荧光高分子聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺-4-甲氧基-N-(2-N’,N’-二甲基氨基乙基-N’-烯丙基)萘二甲酰亚胺氯化铵-N,N-二甲基氨丙基甲基丙烯酰胺[P(NIP-DMAPM-DMNAA)]. 采用共聚法将日本血吸虫抗原(SjAg)固定在P(NIP-DMAPM-DMNAA)上, 制备P(NIP-DMAPM-DMNAA)-SjAg连接物, 与日本血吸虫抗体(待测, SjAb)发生免疫反应后, 调节pH值, 使荧光高分子相变分离高分子-免疫组分连接物, 最后, 利用蛋白A对抗体的亲和性捕获P(NIP-DMAPM-DMNAA)-SjAg-SjAb, 通过测定高分子自身的荧光信号来定量 SjAb. 该新型高分子具有良好的荧光特性, 对pH响应快速, 37 ℃下相转变pH值为7.2, 分离免疫复合物时造成的损害低. 与传统相分离免疫分析比较, 新方法通过高分子相变分离和蛋白A捕获双重分离作用, 消除了非特异性组分和未反应的特异性免疫成分等的干扰; 利用高分子自身的荧光信号检测, 无须另外的标记物, 大大提高了免疫分析的简便性. 以日本血吸虫抗体为分析对象, 测得线性范围为1～1500 ng/mL, 抗体检出限为1.3 ng/mL, 相对标准偏差为3.6% (n＝10), 结果令人满意.     

Trace determination of hexabromocyclododecane diastereomers in water samples with temperature controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid phase microextraction

A novel temperature controlled ionic liquid dispersive liquid phase microextraction(TCIL-DLPME) coupled with rapid resolution liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry(RRLC-ESI-MS-MS) has been developed for the enrichment and determination of three hexabromocyclododecane diastereomers(HBCDs) in water samples.Green solvent ionic liquid(IL) was used as extraction solvent instead of toxic organic solvents.This technique also avoided the usage of dispersive solvent.Some important parameters that might affect the extraction efficiency were optimized.Under the optimum conditions,good linear relationship,sensitivity and reproducibility were obtained.All the limits of detection for the three diastereomers were 0.1 ng/ mL.The linear range was obtained in the range of 1-100 ng/mL for the total amount of three HBCD diastereomers.It was satisfactory to analyze real environmental water samples with the recoveries ranging from 77.2%to 99.3%.The main advantage of the method is toxic organic solvent-free.