Crystal structures of transition and main group element 1,1-dithiolates are shown to be partially sustained by C-H···π(chelate) interactions. For the planar binary bisdithiocarbamates, C-H···π(MS(2)C) interactions lead to aggregation patterns ranging from a 0-D four molecule aggregate to a 3-D architecture but with the majority of structures featuring 1-D or 2-D supramolecular assemblies.
A facile one-pot impregnation-thermal reduction strategy was employed to fabricate sandwich-like graphene-g-C3N4 (GCN) nanocomposites using urea and graphene oxide as precursors. The GCN sample exhibited a slight red shift of the absorption band edge attributed to the formation of a C-O-C bond as a covalent cross linker between graphene and g-C3N4. The GCN sample demonstrated high visible-light photoactivity towards CO2 reduction under ambient conditions, exhibiting a 2.3-fold enhancement over pure g-C3N4. This was ascribed to the inhibition of electron-hole pair recombination by graphene, which increased the charge transfer.
We developed a multiplex enzyme-based electrochemical genosensor for sequence-specific detection of multiplex linear-after-the-exponential-PCR amplicons that targeted toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 using novel screen-printed gold electrode bisensors.
Selected Brønsted acidic ionic liquids were tested as homogeneous catalysts for the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether. Ionic liquids incorporating an alkanesulfonic acid as a part of the cation, a complex acidic anion, [A(2)H](-), or both, proved to be good catalysts for this process, providing high conversions and selectivities. Homogeneous catalysis in the liquid state represents a novel approach to dimethyl ether synthesis.
In this Viewpoint, the impact of the paper published by Gautam R. Desiraju and Angelo Gavezzotti (J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1989, 621) upon the development of Crystal Engineering, now recognised a key discipline in contemporary chemical/pharmaceutical/materials science, is discussed.
Evidence for C-H···π(CuCl···HNCS) interactions, i.e. C-H···π(quasi-chelate ring) where a six-membered quasi-chelate ring is closed by an N-H···Cl hydrogen bond, is presented based on crystal structure analyses of (Ph3P)2Cu[ROC(=S)N(H)Ph]Cl. Similar intramolecular interactions are identified in related literature structures. Calculations suggest that the energy of attraction provided by such interactions approximates 3.5 kcal mol(-1).
Photoelectrochemical oxidation of thiols was enhanced with a threshold potential of -0.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl by the use of a ZnPc/PCBM:P3HT/ZnO electode, which was prepared by removing the PEDOT:PSS/Au electrode of an inverted OPV device and coating it with ZnPc. A co-photocatalysis property of ZnPc was observed in the photoelectrochemistry and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy.
Porous Carbon Nanoparticles (PCNs) with well-developed microporosity were obtained from bio-waste oil palm leaves (OPL) using single step pyrolysis in nitrogen atmosphere at 500-600 °C in tube-furnace without any catalysis support. The key approach was using silica (SiO2) bodies of OPL as a template in the synthesis of microporous carbon nanoparticles with very small particle sizes of 35-85 nm and pore sizes between 1.9-2 nm.
We report on the assembly of three-fold axially compressed icosahedral arrays of the bowl shaped p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene molecules in the solid-state, intricately bound to dipicolinate and yttrium(iii) ions, with the compression reflected in Hirshfeld surface analyses. Solution studies show dissolution of the icosahedra intact, but with a geometrical rearrangement to regular icosahedra.
MCR (mobile colistin resistance) enzymes catalyse phosphoethanolamine (PEA) addition to bacterial lipid A, threatening the "last-resort" antibiotic colistin. Molecular dynamics and density functional theory simulations indicate that monozinc MCR supports PEA transfer to the Thr285 acceptor, positioning MCR as a mono- rather than multinuclear member of the alkaline phosphatase superfamily.
DNA is an attractive molecular building block to construct nanoscale structures for a variety of applications. In addition to their structure and function, modification the DNA nanostructures by other molecules opens almost unlimited possibilities for producing functional DNA-based architectures. Among the molecules to functionalize DNA nanostructures, proteins are one of the most attractive candidates due to their vast functional variations. DNA nanostructures loaded with various types of proteins hold promise for applications in the life and material sciences. When loading proteins of interest on DNA nanostructures, the nanostructures by themselves act as scaffolds to specifically control the location and number of protein molecules. The methods to arrange proteins of interest on DNA scaffolds at high yields while retaining their activity are still the most demanding task in constructing usable protein-modified DNA nanostructures. Here, we provide an overview of the existing methods applied for assembling proteins of interest on DNA scaffolds. The assembling methods were categorized into two main classes, noncovalent and covalent conjugation, with both showing pros and cons. The recent advance of DNA-binding adaptor mediated assembly of proteins on the DNA scaffolds is highlighted and discussed in connection with the future perspectives of protein assembled DNA nanoarchitectures.
A facile and dopant-free strategy was employed to fabricate oxygen-rich TiO2 (O2-TiO2) with enhanced visible light photoactivity. Such properties were achieved by the in situ generation of oxygen through the thermal decomposition of the peroxo-titania complex. The O2-TiO2 photocatalyst exhibited high photoactivity towards CO2 reduction under visible light.
Photocatalytic CO2 reduction over the UV-Vis-NIR broad spectrum was realized for the first time. The presence of surface oxygen vacancy defects on Bi2WO6 resulted in significant photocatalytic enhancement over the pristine counterpart under UV and visible light irradiation. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic responsiveness of Bi2WO6-OV was successfully extended to the NIR region.
A vertically-stacked MXene/rGO composite membrane with ultrashort transport channels is reported here, which demonstrated outstanding molecular sieving, i.e., H2/CO2 selectivity of up to 83 together with high H2 permeance of 2.7 × 10-7 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 at 120 °C, highlighting its applicability for H2/CO2 separation in CO2 capture and sequestration.
A luminescent edge-interlocked heteroleptic metallocage based on Cu3(pyrazolate)3 was prepared through a ligand replacement reaction from a homoleptic metallocage and a new ligand. Its structure was confirmed by XRD and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Theoretical calculations revealed the new ligand was evidently responsible for the bathochromic shift of the optimal excitation. This work provides a heteroleptic strategy to regulate the interlocking fashion and photophysical mechanism of metallocages based on Cu3(pyrazolate)3.
A new adenine-containing metal-organic framework (MOF), [Zn4O(adenine)4(benzene-1,3-dicarboxylate)4Zn2] (named as ZnBDCA), was synthesized solvothermally. ZnBDCA possesses high quantum yield (>50%) and nano-channels that can encapsulate acriflavine molecules to build a host-guest chemopalette for approaching white-light emission.
We report a highly sensitive and selective multiplex assay by empowering an electrochemical DNA sensor with isothermal rolling circle amplification. The assay could simultaneously detect and discriminate three common entero-pathogens in a single reaction, with femtomolar sensitivity. It is useful for field- or resource-limited settings.
Prostate cancer is currently diagnosed using the conventional gold standard methods using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as the selective biomarker. However, lack of precision in PSA screening has resulted in needless biopsies and delays the treatment of potentially fatal prostate cancer. Thus, identification of glycans as novel biomarkers for the early detection of prostate cancer has attracted considerable attention due to their reliable diagnostic platform compared with the current PSA systems. Therefore, biosensing technologies that provide point-of-care diagnostics have demonstrated the ability to detect various analytes, including glycosylated micro- and macro-molecules, thereby enabling versatile detection methodologies. This highlight article discusses recent advances in the biosensor-based detection of prostate cancer glycan biomarkers and the innovative strategies for the conjugation of nanomaterials adapted to biosensing platforms. Finally, the article is concluded with prospects and challenges of prostate cancer biosensors and recommendations to overcome the issues associated with prostate cancer diagnosis.
We report a new series of lipid-based biocompatible ionic liquids (LBILs) consisting of the long-chain phosphonium compound 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-ethyl-phosphatidylcholine as the cation and the long-chain fatty acids stearic acid, oleic acid, or linoleic acid as anions. These materials were found to be completely miscible with many polar and nonpolar organic solvents as well as dispersible in water. These LBILs also exhibited excellent biocompatibility with an artificial three-dimensional human epidermis model.
We report a one-step emulsification and rapid freeze-drying process to develop a curcumin-ionic liquid (CCM-IL) complex that could be readily dispersed in water with a significantly enhanced solubility of ∼8 mg mL-1 and half-life (t1/2) of ∼260 min compared with free CCM (solubility ∼30 nM and t1/2 ∼ 20 min). This process using an IL consisting of a long chain carbon backbone as a surfactant, may provide an alternative way of enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs.