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.     

Synthesis,characterization, density functional theory,X‐ray study,thermal stability,and biological and MOE relevance of metal complexes of griseofulvin

Metal(II) and metal(III) coordination compounds of griseofulvin (GFV) drug were synthesized. The structure of the ligand was determined on the basis of elemental analyses, infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and thermal studies. GFV behaved as a neutral tridentate chelating agent and coordinated to metal ions through three oxygen atoms: two methoxy groups and oxygen atom of furan ring. Metal complexes were characterized by means of elemental analyses and molar conductance, spectral (infrared, electron spin resonance) and thermal studies. All the complexes showed molar conductance behaviour corresponding to an electrolytic nature. All the complexes showed octahedral geometry, except [Zn(GFV)Cl]Cl that showed tetrahedral geometry. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to understand and estimate the contribution of each interaction in the formation of the assembly using several theoretical models. The computed parameters from DFT calculations for structure optimizations and vibrational frequencies were in good agreement with the experimental data. Newly synthesized metal complexes in addition to GFV were examined against opportunistic pathogens. The biological applications of complexes were studied with two Gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) as well as their antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Results suggested that metal complexes were more biologically sensitive than free ligand. The complexes showed a moderate inhibition of MCF7 breast cancer cell line growth. Molecular docking studies further helped in understanding the mode of action of the compounds through their various interactions with the crystal structures of: human serum albumin (PDB: 5FUO), Staphylococcus aureus nucleoside (PDB: 3Q8U), human acetylcholinesterase (PDB: 1B41) and the human DNA–Topo I complex (PDB: 1SC7).     

Multifunctional triphenylamine polymers synthesized via direct (hetero) arylation polymerization

The design rules for creating multifunctional organic electronic materials are currently limited. By copolymerizing twisted triphenylamine (TPA) and electron rich dioxythiophene (XDOT) monomers via Direct (Hetero) Arylation Polymerization (DHAP), a set of polymers are obtained that perform as yellow to transmissive electrochromic (EC) films with up to 45% contrast, as well as in electroluminescent (EL) applications, achieving a luminance of ∼450 cd/m² in yellow‐green polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs). In addition, polymerizing TPA with a donor‐acceptor‐donor monomer results in a low‐bandgap polymer that achieves power conversion efficiencies up to 2.5% when blended with PC₇₁BM in conventional organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Incorporation of TPA units into the polymer backbone largely breaks any aggregation and ordering in the solid‐state, leading to highly soluble materials that form smooth, reproducible thin films. The TPA unit also serves to break conjugation throughout the polymer backbone, providing precise control over optical and electronic properties through choice of comonomer. These results suggest that TPA copolymers can be useful for achieving multi‐functionality without sacrificing facile solution processability, making them promising candidates for multifunctional devices like dual EC/EL displays. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 147–153     

一款教育类移动应用程序“爱猜元素”的开发

北京大学化学国家级实验教学示范中心开发了一款名为"爱猜元素"的教育类移动应用程序。它是以元素周期表为框架,"猜谜游戏"为逻辑主线,围绕元素知识及相关原理而设计的科普资源平台。本文主要介绍了该化学教育类app的设计理念、产品特点及其应用场景。     

Reactivity of indolizines in organic synthesis

This review reports the reactivity of indolizines. The reactions section covers, in general, electrophilic, oxidation, reduction, addition, cycloaddition, condensation, and Mannich and multicomponent reactions. The synthesis of bis-indolizines and cyclazines are reported. The reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Spectral and defect analysis of Cu-doped combustion synthesized new SrAl4O7 phosphor

A simple solution combustion synthesis route for preparation of Cu-doped SrAl₄O₇ has been described. Average particle size of 33 nm and platelet-like morphology has been observed. ESR studies confirm the presence of Cu in polycrystalline SrAl₄O₇. Bright-green luminescence under near-UV irradiation arising due to transition between Cu⁺ levels with microsecond level decay time makes it suitable for application in phosphor converted light emitting diode (LED). TL measurements show broad glow peaks which when deconvoluted indicate activation energies in the range of 0.6-1.1 eV and elucidate the trapping dynamics.     

Towards understanding the critical heat flux for industrial applications

Understanding CHF is of an upmost importance in many industries, especially in the design and operation of boilers, nuclear power plants, cryogenic systems, etc. Due to safety issues related to the nuclear power plants, and the adaptation of CHF as the limiting criterion of power generation, it is important to understand the mechanisms of CHF relevant to nuclear systems operation. Moreover, CHF is expected to occur during transients than steady-state conditions. Therefore, knowledge of transient CHF is of great importance for the safety evaluation of nuclear reactors under transient condition. In this paper, the existing CHF experimental and modeling studies are discussed in order to understand the phenomena leading to CHF. Also, the effect of transient conditions on CHF for nuclear fuels has been evaluated.     

CdSe/ZnSe量子点在油水两相体系下的聚合物包覆相转移及其光谱表征

采用油水两相溶液体系,借助于双亲聚合物包覆实现了CdSe/ZnSe核壳结构量子点自油相到水相的相转移。油水两相中的聚合物包覆与已经报道的均相溶液中聚合物包覆量子点的方法不同,包覆过程在油水两相界面处完成,有效地减少了聚合物缠绕引起的量子点团聚,实现了聚合物对量子点的无团聚单分散包覆。透射电镜和激光粒度分析仪对聚合物包覆量子点的表征结果表明获得的水溶性量子点具有良好的分散性,均一的水力尺寸。吸收和发射光谱表明聚合物包覆过程对量子点的发射峰位和峰型没有引起明显的改变,维持了较高的量子产率。通过荧光微区成像技术成功实现了对人IgG蛋白的特异性检测,证实这种方法获得的聚合物包覆量子点具有较好的与生物分子偶联的功能化基团,适合于生物学标记应用。     

Biocompatibility Study of Electrospun Nanocomposite Membranes Based on Chitosan/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Oxidized Carbon Nano-Onions

In recent decades, the number of patients requiring biocompatible and resistant implants that differ from conventional alternatives dramatically increased. Among the most promising are the nanocomposites of biopolymers and nanomaterials, which pretend to combine the biocompatibility of biopolymers with the resistance of nanomaterials. However, few studies have focused on the in vivo study of the biocompatibility of these materials. The electrospinning process is a technique that produces continuous fibers through the action of an electric field imposed on a polymer solution. However, to date, there are no reports of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electrospinning with carbon nano-onions (CNO) for in vivo implantations, which could generate a resistant and biocompatible material. In this work, we describe the synthesis by the electrospinning method of four different nanofibrous membranes of chitosan (CS)/(PVA)/oxidized carbon nano-onions (ox-CNO) and the subdermal implantations after 90 days in Wistar rats. The results of the morphology studies demonstrated that the electrospun nanofibers were continuous with narrow diameters (between 102.1 nm ± 12.9 nm and 147.8 nm ± 29.4 nm). The CS amount added was critical for the diameters used and the successful electrospinning procedure, while the ox-CNO amount did not affect the process. The crystallinity index was increased with the ox-CNO introduction (from 0.85% to 12.5%), demonstrating the reinforcing effect of the nanomaterial. Thermal degradation analysis also exhibited reinforcement effects according to the DSC and TGA analysis, with the higher ox-CNO content. The biocompatibility of the nanofibers was comparable with the porcine collagen, as evidenced by the subdermal implantations in biological models. In summary, all the nanofibers were reabsorbed without a severe immune response, indicating the usefulness of the electrospun nanocomposites in biomedical applications.     

Multibubble Sonoluminescence from a Theoretical Perspective

In the present review, complexity in multibubble sonoluminescence (MBSL) is discussed. At relatively low ultrasonic frequency, a cavitation bubble is filled mostly with water vapor at relatively high acoustic amplitude which results in OH-line emission by chemiluminescence as well as emissions from weakly ionized plasma formed inside a bubble at the end of the violent bubble collapse. At relatively high ultrasonic frequency or at relatively low acoustic amplitude at relatively low ultrasonic frequency, a cavitation bubble is mostly filled with noncondensable gases such as air or argon at the end of the bubble collapse, which results in relatively high bubble temperature and light emissions from plasma formed inside a bubble. Ionization potential lowering for atoms and molecules occurs due to the extremely high density inside a bubble at the end of the violent bubble collapse, which is one of the main reasons for the plasma formation inside a bubble in addition to the high bubble temperature due to quasi-adiabatic compression of a bubble, where “quasi” means that appreciable thermal conduction takes place between the heated interior of a bubble and the surrounding liquid. Due to bubble–bubble interaction, liquid droplets enter bubbles at the bubble collapse, which results in sodium-line emission.