Regulation of redox balance using a biocompatible nanoplatform enhances phototherapy efficacy and suppresses tumor metastasis

Many cancer treatments including photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilize reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill tumor cells. However, elevated antioxidant defense systems in cancer cells result in resistance to the therapy involving ROS. Here we describe a highly effective phototherapy through regulation of redox homeostasis with a biocompatible and versatile nanotherapeutic to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. We systematically explore and exploit methylene blue adsorbed polydopamine nanoparticles as a targeted and precise nanocarrier, oxidative stress amplifier, photodynamic/photothermal agent, and multimodal probe for fluorescence, photothermal and photoacoustic imaging to enhance anti-tumor efficacy. Remarkably, following the glutathione-stimulated photosensitizer release to generate exogenous ROS, polydopamine eliminates the endogenous ROS scavenging system through depleting the primary antioxidant, thus amplifying the phototherapy and effectively suppressing tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, this approach enables a robust inhibition against breast cancer metastasis, as oxidative stress is a vital impediment to distant metastasis in tumor cells. Innovative, safe and effective nanotherapeutics via regulation of redox balance may provide a clinically relevant approach for cancer treatment.

Amplified oxidative stress achieved by modulating redox homeostasis with PDA–MB for highly effective synergistic phototherapy to inhibit primary tumors and metastases.     

Rigid nanoscopic containers for highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control

We demonstrate a novel strategy for the preparation of mesoporous silica-supported, highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control. The supporting mesoporous silica, functionalized by polyaminoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, is prepared by repeated Michael addition with methyl acrylates (MA) and amidation reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA), by using aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica as the starting material. The encapsulation of metal nanoparticles within the dendrimer-propagated mesoporous silica is achieved by the chemical reduction of metal-salt-impregnated dendrimer-mesoporous silica by using aqueous hydrazine. The site control of the metal or bimetal nanoparticles is accomplished by the localization of inter- or intradendrimeric nanoparticles within the mesoporous silica tunnels. The size of the encapsulated nanoparticles is controlled by their confinement to the nanocavity of the dendrimer and the mesopore. For Cu and Pd, particles locate at the lining of mesoporous tunnels, and have diameters of less than 2.0 nm. For Pd/Pt, particles locate at the middle of mesoporous tunnels and have diameters in the range of 2.0-4.2 nm. The Pd and Pd/Pt nanoparticles are very stable in air, whereas the Cu nanoparticles are stable only in an inert atmosphere.     

Semiempirical Molecular Orbital Studies of the Acylation Step in the Lipase‐Catalyzed Ester Hydrolysis

In this study, we present the results from the semiempirical molecular orbital calculations for the acylation step in the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis. The results reveal that the lowest energy path for the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is for the serine residue of the catalytic triad to attack the substrate, followed by coupling heavy atom movement and proton transfer. The calculations of four active site models show that the cooperation of the aspartate group and the oxyanion hole is capable of lowering the activation energy by about 16 kcalmol^?1. Our results further suggest that the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis adopts the single proton transfer mechanism.     

Liquid–paper interactions during liquid drop impact and recoil on paper surfaces

The spreading and recoiling of water drops on several flat and macroscopically smooth model surfaces and on sized paper surfaces were studied over a range of drop impaction velocities using a high-speed CCD camera. The water drop spreading and recoiling results on several model hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces were found to be in agreement with observations reported in the literature. The maximum drop spreading diameter for those model surfaces at impact was found to be dependent upon the initial drop kinetic energy and the degree of hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the surface. The extent of the maximum drop recoiling was found to be much weaker for hydrophilic substrates than for hydrophobic substrates. Sized papers, however, showed an interesting switch of behaviour in the process of water drop impaction. They behave like a hydrophobic substrate when a water drop impacts on it, but like a hydrophilic substrate when water drop recoils. Although the contact angle between water and hydrophilic or hydrophobic non-porous surfaces changes from advancing to receding as reported in literature, the change of contact angle during water impact on paper surface is unique in that the level of sizing was found to have a smaller than expected influence on the degree of recoil. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to probe fibres on a sized filter paper surface under water. The AFM data showed that water interacted strongly with the fibre even though the paper was heavily sized. Implications of this phenomenon were discussed in the context of inkjet print quality and of the surface conditions of sized papers. Results of this study are very useful in the understanding of inkjet ink droplet impaction on paper surfaces which sets the initial condition for ink penetration into paper after impaction.     

Density functional theory study on the first hyperpolarizabilities of organoimido derivatives of hexamolybdates

The first hyperpolarizabilities and origin of nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of arylimido molybdate derivatives have been investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The molecular orbital character analysis reveals that organoimido-to-polyanion charge transfer may be responsible for the NLO properties of this kind of molybdate derivatives. The NLO study shows intra-ion charge transfer is helpful to increase the first hyperpolarizability of arylimido molybdate derivatives. The lengthening of organoimido pi-conjugation enhances the betavec value. System 4 has the largest betavec value at the static electronic field, 1.238 x 10(-27)esu. Orbital analysis shows that the degree of charge transfer between polyanion cluster and organic segment was increased when the second organoimido polyanion was introduced. The present investigation provides important insight into NLO origin and properties of polyanion arylimido molybdate derivatives.     

Synthesis of N—（4—Salicylideneiminoaryl）monoaza Crown Ethers and Dioxygen Affinities of Their Cobalt（Ⅱ）Complexes

The Schiff base‐containing pendant monoaza crown ether HL¹, HL², HL³ and HL⁴ have been synthesized by condensation of salicylaldehyde with N‐(4‐aminoaryl) monoaza crown ethers, which were prepared conveniently from 4‐nitro‐N, N‐di(hydroxyethyl) aniline or 4‐nitrobenzyl chloride via cyclization or condensation and reduction. The structures of HL¹—HL⁴ were verified by ¹H NMR, IR spectra, MS and elemental analysis. Moreover, the oxygenation constants (KO2) and thermodynamic parameters (δH⁰ and δS⁰) of their cobalt(II) complexes were determined in the range of ?5 °C to 25 °C, and the effect of crown ring bonded to a Schiff base on the dioxygen affinities of cobalt(II) complexes was also observed as compared to the uncrowned analogue (CoL).     

Alternating DNA and pi-conjugated sequences. Thermophilic foldable polymers

Foldable polymers with alternating single-strand deoxyribonucleic acid and planar conjugated organic perylene tetracarboxylic diimide units were found to self-organize into loosely folded nanostructures. Upon heating, the loosely folded structures become more ordered as evidenced by pi-stacking in the perylene segments. The folding and unfolding processes driven by the molecular interactions of adjacent perylenes were monitored in both aqueous and organic solutions. Heat-promoted folding, or inverse temperature behavior, which originates from positive enthalpy changes, was only observed in water. Therefore, we attributed this inverse temperature dependence to hydrophobic effects rather than pi-pi molecular orbital overlap between the perylene planes. These findings shed light on the design of new thermophiles in protein engineering as well as the construction of macromolecular-based nanodevices with actuator and sensory properties.     

Photochemical naphthylation at(α-carbon atom of carbonyl and its equivalences

The photostimulated reaction of halonaphthalene with a series of carbanions derived from,propionic acid derivatives in liquid ammonia led to the naphthylation at a-carbon of the carbanions inan isolated yield ranging from 25％ to 86％.In all cases,the dehalonaphthalenes were found to,be by-products and the reaction was inhibited by p-dinitrobenzere.An electron transfer from thecarbanion to the halonaphthalene followed by ejection of halogen led to naphtbyl radical,as predictedby comparing the LUMOs of the carbanions and the halonaphthalenes,was involved in the process.Absence of the alkylnaphthalene and 1,2-dinaphthylalkane in the products indicates the smoothelectron transfer between(Naph-Nu)~+ and Naph-X.C-vs.O-naphthylation is fully addressed interms of MNDO calculations and acid-base principle.     

环状芴基张力半导体拉曼光谱理论与实验研究

环状芴基张力半导体由于其特殊的分子结构，发射状排布的p轨道和纳米级空腔等诸多特点，引起了科学家广泛的关注.相对于直链型芴基半导体，环状芴基张力半导体展现出独特的光电性质.然而，迄今为止其振动性质没有被报道.对四元环芴的晶体与直链四聚芴粉末样品进行拉曼光谱表征和归一化处理，并结合理论计算.结果表明，与直链寡聚芴相比，环芴类似于碳纳米管的G峰发生了偏移，并且低频区域拉曼频移峰的峰强增加.其原因是由于张力的引入，改变了芴基主链的骨架和电子结构，加强芴骨架上π电子离域，同时使环芴中每个芴单元都参与到振动中.该研究结果为芴基张力半导体材料拉曼光谱的研究提供了一定的工作基础.