New metallodendrimers containing an octakis(diphenylphosphino)-functionalized silsesquioxane core and ruthenium(II)-based chromophores

A new class of surface-modified dendrimers has been prepared by reactions of 8 equiv of the terpyridine-functionalized polyether monodendrons with a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) core. Subsequent reactions of these spherically shaped organic dendrimers with Ru(II)-based precursors afford photo- and redox-active metallodendrimers. These new dendrimers have been characterized using a combination of mass spectral analysis (MALDI-TOF/MS, ESI/MS, and FAB/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C, 29Si, and 31P(1H) NMR), photophysical analyses (electronic absorption, emission, excited-state lifetime, and quantum yield) and electrochemical measurement (cyclic voltammetry). Specifically, 31P(1H) NMR is used to monitor the completion of reactions and the purity of dendrimers and metallodendrimers. These new metallodendrimers exhibit large extinction coefficients that coincide with the number of peripheral Ru(II)-based chromophores. With the use of (-CH2-Ph-tpy)RuII(bpy)2 type of chromophores, all metallodendrimers are found emissive at room temperature, with lifetimes in the range of 605-890 ns. Photophysical data also indicate similar steady-state emission maxima and single-exponential decay kinetics for all metallodendrimers, and the observed overall quantum yields of the G1, G2, and G3 metallodendrimers are found to be 14, 20, and 7 times higher than that of the monomeric model complex (CH3-Ph-tpy)Ru(bpy)2(PF6)2. Electrochemical studies reveal the presence of surface-confined species, in addition to the ligand-centered and metal-centered redox processes.     

Higher order corrections in perturbative quantum chromodynamics

We present some techniques which have been developed recently or in the recent past to compute Feynman graphs beyond one-loop order. These techniques are useful to compute the three-loop splitting functions in QCD and to obtain the complete second order QED corrections to Bhabha scattering.     

Passive recruitment of circulating leukocytes into capillary sprouts from existing capillaries in a microfluidic system

Recent evidence implicating leukocytes in angiogenesis raises the question of whether leukocytes and other cells circulating with the blood in microvascular networks can home to capillary sprouts intraluminally. This study describes an investigation of leukocyte trafficking in sprouting capillaries fabricated using soft lithography. The leukocytes passing with whole blood through existing capillaries were able to enter microfabricated capillary sprouts of variable length and sprouting angle due to the mechanical interaction with red blood cells (RBCs) at the sprouting bifurcation, in spite of the complete absence of blood flow through the blind-ended sprouts or any chemoattractants. The RBCs formed "comet tails" (the densely packed cellular trains forming behind leukocytes as they move through narrow capillaries) and effectively pushed leukocytes into the microfabricated sprouts while bypassing them at the sprouting bifurcation. Individual sprouts filled with several leukocytes, as wells as RBCs and platelets, were observed. The results of this study suggest that (i) blood cells are likely present in capillary sprouts throughout their development, (ii) leukocytes and other circulating cells may use this mechanism to home to capillary sprouts intraluminally for direct engraftment, and (iii) tissues may use this phenomenon as another mechanism for local recruitment of leukocytes from the blood stream.