Dumbbells,Trikes and Quads: Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Nanoarchitectures Based on “Clicked” Gold Nanoparticles

The controlled assembly of gold nanoparticles in terms of the spatial arrangement and number of particles is essential for many future applications like electronic devices, sensors and labeling. Here an approach is presented to build up oligomers of mono functionalized gold nanoparticles by the use of 1,3‐bipolar azide alkyne cycloaddition click chemistry. The gold nanoparticles of 1.3 nm diameter are stabilized by one dendritic thioether ligand comprising an alkyne function. Together with di‐, tri‐ and tetra‐azide linker molecules the gold nanoparticle can be covalently coupled by a wet chemical protocol. The reaction is tracked with IR and UV–vis spectroscopy and the yielded organic‐inorganic hybrid structures are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. To evaluate the success of this click chemistry reaction statistical analysis of the formed oligomers is performed. The geometric and spatial arrangements of the found oligomers match perfectly the calculated values for the used linker molecules. Dimers, trimers and tetramers could be identified after the reaction with the corresponding linker molecule. The results of this model reaction suggest that the used click chemistry protocol is working well with mono functionalized gold nanoparticles.     

Plasma-etched organic layers for antireflection purposes

Organic layers can be used to realize special functions in optical interference coatings. Suitable compounds for such layers were thermally evaporated and characterized. A plasma etching procedure was applied to produce nanostructures on top of the organic layers to reduce their effective refractive indices. Broadband antireflective coatings were obtained by combining these artificial low-index layers with conventionally prepared interference stacks.     

Improved scratch resistance for antireflective coatings on sapphire

Antireflective coatings on sapphire were optimized by variation of the coating design, the total thickness, and the highly refractive material used. The coatings were characterized with a focus on their scratch resistance. An increased resistance against scratching wear is shown for hafnia-containing coatings with a total thickness of about 500?nm.     

The Oncolytic Adenovirus XVir-N-31, in Combination with the Blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis,Conveys Abscopal Effects in a Humanized Glioblastoma Mouse Model

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an obligatory lethal brain tumor with a median survival, even with the best standard of care therapy, of less than 20 months. In light of this fact, the evaluation of new GBM treatment approaches such as oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) is urgently needed. Based on our preliminary preclinical data, the YB-1 dependent oncolytic adenovirus (OAV) XVir-N-31 represents a promising therapeutic agent to treat, in particular, therapy resistant GBM. Preclinical studies have shown that XVir-N-31 prolonged the survival of GBM bearing mice. Now using an immunohumanized mouse model, we examined the immunostimulatory effects of XVir-N-31 in comparison to the wildtype adenovirus (Ad-WT). Additionally, we combined OVT with the inhibition of immune checkpoint proteins by using XVir-N-31 in combination with nivolumab, or by using a derivate of XVir-N-31 that expresses a PD-L1 neutralizing antibody. Although in vitro cell killing was higher for Ad-WT, XVir-N-31 induced a much stronger immunogenic cell death that was further elevated by blocking PD-1 or PD-L1. In vivo, an intratumoral injection of XVir-N-31 increased tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and NK cells significantly more than Ad-WT not only in the virus-injected tumors, but also in the untreated tumors growing in the contralateral hemisphere. This suggests that for an effective treatment of GBM, immune activating properties by OAVs seem to be of greater importance than their oncolytic capacity. Furthermore, the addition of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) to OVT further induced lymphocyte infiltration. Consequently, a significant reduction in contralateral non-virus-injected tumors was only visible if OVT was combined with ICI. This strongly indicates that for an effective eradication of GBM cells that cannot be directly targeted by an intratumoral OV injection, additional ICI therapy is required.     

Indications for psychotherapy

Measurements of urease activity of various cell fractions of U. urealyticum showed that this activity was confined to the soluble fraction of the cytoplasm. It was attempted to devise a method for electron microscopic detection of the sites of urease activity based on precipitation of electron dense MnO2 at the alkaline pH created by hydrolysis of urea. The results obtained by this method supported the previous results indicating a cytoplasmatic localization of the urease activity in the cells. Helical ribosome patterns were observed when glutaraldehyde fixed cells were treated with the cytochemical test solutions.     

The nuclear actin-related protein Act3p/Arp4p is involved in the dynamics of chromatin-modulating complexes

Chromatin remodelling and histone-modifying complexes govern the modulation of chromatin structure. While components of these complexes are diverse, nuclear actin-related proteins (Arps) have been repeatedly found in these complexes from yeast to mammals. In most cases, Arps are required for functioning of the complexes, but the molecular mechanisms of nuclear Arps have as yet been largely unknown. The Arps and actin, sharing a common ancestor, are supposed to be highly similar in the three-dimensional structure of their core regions, including the ATP-binding pocket. The Arp Act3p/Arp4p of Saccharomyces cerevisiae exists within the nucleus, partly as a component of several high molecular mass complexes, including the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complex, and partly as uncomplexed molecules. We observed that mutations in the putative ATP-binding pocket of Act3p/Arp4p increased its concentration in the high molecular mass complexes and, conversely, that an excess of ATP or ATPgammaS led to the release of wild-type Act3p/Arp4p from the complexes. These results suggest a requirement of ATP binding by Act3p/Arp4p for its dissociation from the complexes. In accordance, a mutation in the putative ATP binding site of Act3p/Arp4p inhibited the conversion of the NuA4 complex into the smaller piccoloNuA4, which does not contain Act3p/Arp4p and exhibits HAT activity distinct from that of NuA4. Although the in vitro binding activity of ATP by recombinant Act3p/Arp4p was found to be rather weak, our observations, taken together, suggest that the ATP-binding pocket of Act3p/Arp4p is involved in the function of chromatin modulating complexes by regulating their dynamics.     

Polysaccharidzus?tze in eiwei?reichen Lebensmitteln

Zusammenfassung Aus der Literatur bekannte Verfahren zur Isolierung von Polysacchariden aus eiweißreichen Lebensmitteln, insbesondere Frischkäsen, erwiesen sich im praktisch interessanten Bereich (0,01–0,2% Bindemittelzusatz) als wenig brauchbar. Stattdessen wird folgende Probenaufbereitung vorgeschlagen: 1. Entfettung der Proben mit einem Gemisch von Äthanol, Diäthyläther und Petroläther; 2. vollständige Hydrolyse der Proteine mit Pepsin, Pronase E und einem Gemisch von Aminopeptidase M und Prolidase; 3. Abtrennung der Polysaccharide von den niedermolekularen Substanzen und von Enzymresten durch Gelfiltration an Biogel P-2; 4. Konzentrierung der polysaccharidhaltigen Fraktion durch Gefriertrocknung, Ultrafiltration oder Eindampfen.- Das Verfahren wurde am Beispiel von Speisequark und Doppelrahmfrischkäse erprobt, ist im Prinzip aber verallgemeinerungsfähig.

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Polysaccharide additives in foods rich in proteinsI. Sample preparation for estimation, especially in fresh cheese

Summary Published procedures for the isolation of polysaccharides from foods rich in proteins, especially fresh cheese, proved not very useful for the concentration in question (0,01–0.2%). We, instead, propose the following sample preparation: 1. Removal of lipids by an ethanol - ethyl ether - petrol ether mixture; 2. complete hydrolysis of proteins with pepsin, pronase E and a mixture of Amnopeptidase M and prolidase; 3. separation of the polysaccharides from the low molecular substances and from enzyme residues by gel filtration on Biogel P-2; 4. concentration of the polysaccharides containing fraction by freeze drying, ultrafiltration or evaporation. - The method was tested with quarg and double cream fresh cheese, it can, however, be adopted to use in other products.

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Deutsches Wollforschungsinstitut, Aachen.     

Chemical technology of natural gas – its present state and prospects

Against the background of long-term availability of natural gas, its present technology and future prospects are described. Particular emphasis is put on the oxidative coupling of methane to C₂₊ hydrocarbons: (1) Catalyst development, activity, selectivity and deactivation as well as reactor operation are discussed; (2) a tentative process scheme is put forward and its economics evaluated with respect to ethylene production.