Synthesis of NaYF4:20% Yb3+,2% Er3+,2% Ce3+@NaYF4 nanorods and their size dependent uptake efficiency under flow condition

Lanthanide doped fluorescent nanoparticles have gained considerable attention in biomedical applications. However, the low uptake efficiency of nanoparticles by cells has limited their applications. In this work, we demonstrate how the uptake efficiency is affected by the size of nanoparticles under flow conditions. Using the same size NaYF₄:20% Yb³⁺,2% Er³⁺,2% Ce³⁺ (the contents of rare earths elements are in molar fraction) nanoparticles as core, NaYF₄:20% Yb³⁺,2% Er³⁺,2% Ce³⁺@NaYF₄ core–shell structured nanorods (NRs) with different sizes of 60–224 nm were synthesized by thermal decomposition and hot injection method. Under excitation at 980 nm, a strong upconversion green emission (541 nm, ²H_11/2 → ⁴I_15/2 of Er³⁺) is observed for all samples. The emission intensity for each size nanorod was calibrated and is found to depend on the width of NRs. Under flow conditions, the nanorods with 96 nm show a maximum uptake efficiency by endothelial cells. This work demonstrates the importance of optimizing the size for improving the uptake efficiency of lanthanide-doped nanoparticles.     

氧糖剥夺条件下PC12细胞RAGE的表达及对其损伤的影响

目的探讨大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤(PC12)细胞在氧糖剥夺(OGD)的条件下,晚期糖基化终产物受体(RAGE)的表达及其对PC12细胞损伤的影响。方法PC12细胞随机分为3组:OGD培养组(PC12细胞在无血清无糖的DMEM培养液中厌氧培养);封闭RAGE的OGD培养组(PC12细胞在加5μg/mlRAGE抗体的无血清无糖DMEM培养液中厌氧培养);对照组(PC12细胞在无血清无糖DMEM培养液中培养)。免疫组化法检测RAGE表达。收集细胞上清液,检测乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性和一氧化氮(NO)含量,并对细胞死亡率进行检测。结果在OGD条件下PC12细胞培养8、11、20h均有RAGE表达,与对照组相比表达均明显增加,OGD培养组与封闭RAGEOGD培养组相比,LDH活性差异显著。随着厌氧时间的延长,PC12细胞死亡率明显增高,封闭RAGEOGD培养组与OGD培养组相比,PC12细胞死亡率明显降低。NO含量差异无显著意义,但与对照组相比差异显著。结论在OGD条件下,PC12细胞RAGE表达增高。RAGE的表达对细胞的损伤起促进作用。     

Synthesis of polymer materials for use as cell culture substrates

Up to today, several techniques have been used to maintain cells in culture for studying many aspects of cell biology and physiology. More often, cell culture is dependent on proper anchorage of cells to the growth surface. Thus, poly-l-lysine, fibronectin or laminin are the most commonly used substrates. In this study, electrosynthesized biocompatible polymer films are proposed as an alternative to these standard substrates. The electrosynthesized polymers tested were polyethylenimine, polypropylenimine and polypyrrole. Then, the adhesion, proliferation and morphology of rat neuronal cell lines were investigated on these polymer substrates in an attempt to develop new and efficient polymer materials for cell culture. During their growth on the polymers, the evolution of the cell morphology was monitored using both confocal microscopy and immunohistochemistry, leading to the conclusion of a normal development. An estimation of the adhesion and proliferation rates of rat neuronal cell cultures indicated that polyethylenimine and polypropylenimine were the best substrates for culturing olfactory neuronal cells. A method to favour the differentiation of the neuronal cells was also developed since the final aim of this work is to develop a biosensor for odour detection using differentiated neuronal cells as transducers. Consequently, a biosensor was microfabricated using silicon technology. This microsystem allowed us to culture the cells on a silicon wafer and to position the cells on certain parts of the silicon wafer.     

Cycling of lithium/metal oxide cells using composite electrolytes containing fumed silicas

The effect on cycle capacity is reported of cathode material (metal oxide, carbon, and current collector) in lithium/metal oxide cells cycled with fumed silica-based composite electrolytes. Three types of electrolytes are compared: filler-free electrolyte consisting of methyl-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) oligomer (PEGdm, M_w=250)+lithium bis(trifluromethylsufonyl)imide (LiTFSI) (Li:O=1:20), and two composite systems of the above baseline liquid electrolyte containing 10-wt% A200 (hydrophilic fumed silica) or R805 (hydrophobic fumed silica with octyl surface group). The composite electrolytes are solid-like gels. Three cathode active materials (LiCoO₂, V₆O₁₃, and Li_xMnO₂), four conducting carbons (graphite Timrex® SFG 15, SFG 44, carbon black Vulcan XC72R, and Ketjenblack EC-600JD), and three current collector materials (Al, Ni, and carbon fiber) were studied. Cells with composite electrolytes show higher capacity, reduced capacity fade, and less cell polarization than those with filler-free electrolyte. Among the three active materials studied, V₆O₁₃ cathodes deliver the highest capacity and Li_xMnO₂ cathodes render the best capacity retention. Discharge capacity of Li/LiCoO₂ cells is affected greatly by cathode carbon type, and the capacity decreases in the order of Ketjenblack>SFG 15>SFG 44>Vulcan. Current collector material also plays a significant role in cell cycling performance. Lithium/vanadium oxide (V₆O₁₃) cells deliver increased capacity using Ni foil and carbon fiber current collectors in comparison to an Al foil current collector.     

Influence of ionic liquids on the growth ofEscherichia coli

Ionic liquids are compounds that composed only of ions and are liquid at room temperature. Thus, it is normally named room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL). In this study, the application of RTILs to the extractive fermentation of biomaterials was investigated as a substitute of organic solvents. The relative toxicity of the RTILs on the growth ofE. coli was tested. The inhibition of cell growth in the presence of various ionic liquids was measured using solid and liquid culture, and EC₅₀ of each RTILs was calculated. The number of viable and total cells was measured by the number of colonies and optical density, respectively. Effective concentrations of toxicity (EC₅₀) in these tested systems were similar with conventional solvents, such as acetone, acetonitrile, and ethanol. The viability ofE. coli was affected by the polarity and ionic properties of ionic liquids. The resistance of the microorganisms against ionic liquids was different with the cations and anions composing ionic liquids. No general influence of the anionic compound of the ionic liquids was found on toxicity comparing with distinctive influence of cationic moiety.     

The effect of two-layer cathode on the performance of the direct methanol fuel cell

To reduce the effect of methanol permeated from the anode, the structure of the cathode was modified from a single layer with Pt black catalyst to two-layer with PtRh black and Pt black catalysts, respectively. The current density of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) using the two-layer cathode was improved to 228 mA/cm^-2 compared to that (180 mA/cm^-2) of the DMFC using the single layer cathode at 0.3 V and 303 K. From the cyclic voltammograms (CVs), it is indicated that the amount of adsorbates on the metal catalyst in the two-layer cathode is less than that of adsorbates in the single layer cathode after methanol test. In addition, the adsorbates were removed very rapidly by electrochemical oxidation from the two-layer cathode. It is suggested fromex situ X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis that the d-electron vacancy of Pt atom in the two-layer cathode is not changed by the methanol test. Thus, Pt is not covered with the adsorbates, which agrees well with the results of CV.     

Effect of Mode of Drying on Microstructure of Potato

Potato v. Irga was subjected to blanching, and thereafter was dried by convection, puff-drying, and freeze-drying. Microstructure of raw, blanched, and dried tissue was analyzed under the light microscope using computer image analysis. It was found that the tissue of the investigated variety is built up from cells much smaller than those described in literature for other cultivars. Blanching caused starch gelatinization and increase of cross-sectional area of cells. There was no evidence of broken cell walls. Convective drying resulted in cell shrinkage and some breaking of cell walls. It was estimated that some 12% of cells lost integrity during drying. Limited disintegration of the tissue caused by convective drying is attributed to small size of cells, large contact area, and high cohesive forces between cells. Puff-drying damaged the tissue much more than the convective drying. The most devastating to tissue microstructure was freeze-drying, probably freezing per se.     

壳聚糖固定化酶和细胞研究新进展

分析评价了壳聚糖作为固定化酶和细胞载体的特性,概述了壳聚糖凝胶固定化酶和细胞的形态及制备方法,着重介绍了近年来壳聚糖固定化酶和细胞的改进方法,并指出今后壳聚糖固定化酶和细胞的发展方向。     

Electrochemical cell current requirements for toxic organic waste destruction in Ce(IV)-mediated electrochemical oxidation process

The electrochemical cell for cerium oxidation and reactor for organic destruction are the most important operation units for the successful working mediated electrochemical oxidation (MEO) process. In this study, electrochemical cells with DSA electrodes of two types, single stack and double stack connected in series, were used. The performances towards the electrochemical generation of Ce(IV) in nitric acid media at 80 °C were studied. The current-voltage curves and cerium electrolysis kinetics showed the dependence on number of cell stacks needed to be connected in series for the destruction of a given quantity of organic pollutant. The presence of an optimum region for Ce(III) oxidation with a contribution of oxygen evolution, especially at low Ce(III) concentration (high conversion ratios), was found. The cells were applied for the Ce(IV) regeneration during the organic destruction. The cell and reactor processes were fitted in a simple model proposed and used to calculate the current needed in terms of Ce(III) oxidation rate and the number of cell stacks required for maintaining Ce(IV)/Ce(III) ratio at the same level during the organic destruction. This consideration was based on the kinetic model previously developed by us for the organic destruction in the MEO process.     

Nickel foam and carbon felt applications for sodium polysulfide/bromine redox flow battery electrodes

The first use of nickel foam (NF) as electrocatalytic negative electrode in a polysulfide/bromine battery (PSB) is described. The performance of a PSB employing NF and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon felt (CF) as negative and positive electrode materials, respectively, was evaluated by constant current charge-discharge tests in a single cell. Charge/discharge curves of the cell, positive and negative electrodes show that the rapid fall in cell voltage is due to the drop of positive potential caused by depletion of Br₂ dissolved in the catholyte at the end of discharge. Cell voltage efficiency was limited by the relatively high internal ohmic resistance drop (iR drop). Polarization curves indicated that both NF and CF have excellent catalytic activity for the positive and negative redox reactions of PSB. The average energy efficiency of the single cell designed in this work could be as high as 77.2% at 40 mA cm⁻² during 48 charge-discharge cycles.