A bio-mechanical model for coupling cell contractility with focal adhesion formation

Focal adhesions (FAs) are large, multi-protein complexes that provide a mechanical link between the cytoskeletal contractile machinery and the extracellular matrix. They exhibit mechanosensitive properties; they self-assemble upon application of pulling forces and dissociate when these forces are decreased. We rationalize this mechano-sensitivity from thermodynamic considerations and develop a continuum framework in which the cytoskeletal contractile forces generated by stress fibers drive the assembly of the FA multi-protein complexes. The FA model has three essential features: (i) the low and high affinity integrins co-exist in thermodynamic equilibrium, (ii) the low affinity integrins within the plasma membrane are mobile, and (iii) the contractile forces generated by the stress fibers are in mechanical equilibrium and change the free energies of the integrins. A general two-dimensional framework is presented and the essential features of the model illustrated using one-dimensional examples. Consistent with observations, the coupled stress fiber and FA model predict that (a) the FAs concentrate around the periphery of the cell; (b) the fraction of the cell covered by FAs increases with decreasing cell size while the total FA intensity increases with increasing cell size; and (c) the FA intensity decreases substantially when cell contractility is curtailed.     

有机分子与聚电解质静电吸附成膜特性研究

选取多种有机分子及聚电解质，采用静电吸附自组装法制备了聚电解质，聚电解质、聚电解质，有机分子、有机分子，有机分子的复合薄膜，讨论了这些体系的静电吸附成膜特性及其成膜机理．     

Photoinduced electron transfer at liquid|liquid interfaces. Part VII. Correlation between self-organisation and structure of water-soluble photoactive species

The self-organisation of a variety of dyes at the water|1,2-dichloroethane interface was studied by admittance measurements, photocurrent–potential curves and light polarisation anisotropy of the photocurrent. The heterogeneous photo-oxidation of ferrocene was studied at interfaces sensitised by Sn(IV) meso-tetra-(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin dichloride (SnTPPC), chlorin e-6, protoporphyrin IX (protoIX) and Fe(III) protoporphyrin IX chloride (Fe-protoIX). Cyclic voltammograms and capacitance voltage curves exhibit different features associated with the self-assembly of the dye species at the liquid|liquid boundary. In the case of SnTPPC, the capacitance curves displayed the characteristic responses commonly associated with the specific adsorption of ionic species. On the other hand, chlorin e-6, protoIX and Fe-protoIX show rather complex behaviour suggesting not only changes in the excess charge but also in the dielectric permittivity of the interface. Differences in the photocurrent efficiency were also observed under the same experimental conditions. The relative magnitude of the photocurrent responses were rationalised in terms of the phenomenological electron transfer rate constant, the photon capture cross-sections and the lifetime of the triplet state as obtained from nanosecond flash photolysis. Finally, the average molecular orientation of the adsorbed photoactive species was estimated from the photocurrent dependence on the angle of light polarisation in total internal reflection. The results show a clear correlation between the orientation of the transition dipole and the distribution of the peripheral carboxyl groups responsible for the hydrophilic nature of the dyes.     

Novel multiply hydrogen-bonded heterodimers based on heterocyclic ureas. Folding and stability

A new series of multiply hydrogen-bonded heterodimers have been self-assembled in chloroform-d, with ureidopyrimidone derivatives 2 and 3 and 2,7-diamino-1,6-naphthyridine diamide 4 and ureas 5 and 6 as monomers. The self-associating behavior of the compounds and the binding modules of the new heterodimers have been investigated. New tri-center hydrogen bonds have been proposed to explain the stability of the new heterodimers. 2D-NOESY, COSY and temperature variable ¹H NMR studies revealed that all the new heterodimers are substantially more stable than the ureidopyrimidone-based quadruply hydrogen-bonded homodimers in chloroform-d. As a result, heterodimers 2·4 and 3·4 were assembled quantitatively, while heterodimers 2·5, 3·5, 2·6, and 3·6 were formed in 80-85% yields. It is also revealed that intramolecular hydrogen bonds formed in monomers 5 and 6 reduce the stability of the corresponding heterodimers.     

Nonvolatile memory devices based on self-assembled nanocrystals

Nonvolatile memory devices are one of the most important components in modern electronic devices. Many efforts have been made to fabricate high-density, low-cost, nonvolatile solid-state memory devices for use in portable/mobile electronic devices such as laptop computers, tablet devices, smart phones, etc. Among the many available nonvolatile memory devices, flash memory devices are of great interest to the electronics industry owing to their simple device structure, enabling high-density memory applications. Flash memory devices in which nanoparticles or nanocrystals are used as the charge-trapping elements have advantages over conventional flash memory devices because the charge-trapping layer and memory performance of the former can be readily optimized. Active research has recently been conducted to fabricate and characterize self-assembled-nanocrystal-based nonvolatile memory devices. We reviewed various strategies for fabricating nanocrystal-based nonvolatile memory devices and discussed the programmable memory properties and the device reliability characteristics of nanocrystal-based memory devices to possibly apply nanocrystal-based memory devices to those used in portable/mobile electronic devices. Finally, novel device applications such as printed/flexible/transparent electronic devices were explored based on nanocrystal-based memory devices.     

Densely-packed self-assembled monolayers on gold surfaces from a conformationally constrained helical hexapeptide

A novel hexapeptide was functionalized at the N-terminus by a lipoyl group for binding to gold substrates. Owing to the high content of α-aminoisobutyric acid residues, the peptide adopts a rigid helical conformation despite the shortness of its main chain. Binding of the peptide to gold was investigated by quartz crystal microbalance, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning tunneling microscopy under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Scanning tunneling microscopy experiments revealed that the peculiar self-assembly properties of this short helical peptide determine the complex morphology of the monolayer, showing ‘stripes’, i.e. peptide aggregates horizontally layered on the gold surface, and ‘holes’, i.e. Au vacancy islands coated by the peptide monolayer.     

Solid-state structure of polypeptide-based rod-coil block copolymers: Folding of helices

This work compares the solid-state structures of films made from a polystyrene-poly(Z-L-lysine) (1) and a polystyrene-poly(-benzyl-L-glutamate) (2) block copolymer, both having virtually the same numbers of repeating units and block length ratios. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) revealed a hexagonal-in-undulated lamellar morphology for both films. The long-period and the thickness of layers obtained for 2 were by a factor of three smaller as compared to 1, indicating that PBLGlu helices were folded twice, whereas PZLLys helices were fully stretched. Another difference shows up in the packing of helices, the level of ordering being considerably lower in 2. This might be due to spatial restrictions in the proper alignment of back-folded helical segments.     

Structural ordering of ω-ferrocenylalkanethiol monolayers on Au(1 1 1) studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

The self-assembly of ω-ferrocenylalkanethiols (FcCnSH) with different alkyl-spacer lengths on Au(1 1 1) substrates has been studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Upon deposition at room temperature FcCnSH molecules tend to form multilayers, while by thermal treatment monolayer formation, a rearrangement of the molecules and the formation of ordered domains is achieved. The surface structure of the resulting full coverage self-assembled monolayers is resolved with molecular resolution by STM. The ordered monolayer structure of ω-ferrocenylpropanethiol is discussed in comparison with its bulk crystal structure, derived from single crystal X-ray analysis. Based on these results a monolayer structure of ω-ferrocenylalkanethiols with longer alkyl chains closely related to the bulk crystal structure of the shorter alkyl-spacer derivates is suggested. Our results provide detailed insight into the self-assembly of FcCnSH on gold substrates.     

Polymer assisted assembling of the semiconductor particles: Structural and electrical studies

CdS and Si semiconductor nanopraticles were embedded in a polymer matrix and characterized using various techniques. The surface properties and size distribution of the nanoparticles were monitored by POM and SEM and found to be uniform but around the crystalline frameworks of the polymer. XRD and FTIR analysis have been used to ensure the composite nature and particle size of the semiconductor loaded films. The electrical conductivity of these films were evaluated and found to increase with semiconductor dispersion and attains a percolation threshold at optimum composition. This composition and the distribution of the clusters is shown to vary with the type of the semiconductor, i.e., CdS or Si.     

介质pH对银基上4-甲基-4H-3-巯基-1,2,4-三氮唑成膜结构和缓蚀性能影响的SERS和电化学研究

在不同pH介质中,缓蚀试剂4-甲基-4H-3-巯基-1,2,4-三氮唑(4-MTTL)都能在银基底上形成自组装膜。SERS光谱表明:当pH=3时,4-MTTL分子是以硫醇式,通过两个氮原子为吸附位点,以较平躺方式在银表面构筑自组装膜;当介质为pH=7和pH=11时,4-MTTL以硫醇式,通过氮和硫原子为吸附位点倾斜或垂直方式作用于银表面。由于后者的吸附方式比前者更为垂直于表面,所以形成的膜中分子排列更为致密。电化学极化实验也表明,在pH=3的条件下,形成的4-MTTL单层有更正的腐蚀电位;在pH=11时,构筑的膜缓蚀能力强于pH=7的。并由电化学交流阻抗数据解析了相应的缓蚀机理。