Nanocasting Synthesis of Ordered Mesoporous Silicon Nitrides with a High Nitrogen Content

Ordered mesoporous silicon nitrides with a high nitrogen content (32 wt %) were synthesized by using polycarbosilane (PCS) as a ceramic precursor and mesoporous carbon CMK-8 as a hard template via nanocasting synthesis. Small-angle X-ray scattering, TEM, and nitrogen sorption analyses showed that the mesoporous silicon nitride products have a 3-D bicontinuous cubic mesostructure (Ia3̄d) similar to KIT-6, a specific BET surface area of 384 m2 g-1, a large pore volume of 0.71 cm3 g-1, and a narrow pore size distribution at the mean value of 5.7 nm. The PCS precursor can be transformed into silicon nitride by reactive pyrolysis under ammonia atmosphere. The nitrogen protected 1400 °C crystallization process is a key step for the synthesis of ordered mesoporous silicon nitrides. The secondary impregnation−pyrolysis cycle can reduce the structural shrinkage and improve the mesostructural regularity

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

Highly Efficient Adsorption of Bulky Dye Molecules in Wastewater on Ordered Mesoporous Carbons

We demonstrate, for the first time, the application of ordered mesoporous carbons with large pore sizes prepared from the surfactant-templating approach in efficient disposal of wastewater containing bulky dye molecules. The adsorption amount for the bulky dye (methylthionine chloride, fuchsin basic, rhodamine B, brilliant yellow, methyl orange, or Sudan G) is almost twice that of the activated carbon in which mesopores contribute almost 100% to the total surface area and volume. The ordered mesoporous carbon adsorbent has a high adsorption rate (>99.9%) for low-concentration dyes, good performance in decoloration regardless of the dye nature, including basic, acidic, or azo dyes, and high stability after dye elution. To establish the relationship between the pore texture and adsorption properties, three kinds of ordered mesoporous carbons with different pore sizes, surface areas, and pore volumes have been synthesized by using phenolic resins as carbon sources and triblock copolymer as a structure-directing agent. The XRD, TEM, and N2 sorption measurements reveal that all mesoporous carbonaceous materials have the highly ordered 2D hexagonal mesostructure, high surface areas (398−2580 m2/g), large pore volumes (0.51−2.16 cm3/g), and uniform pore sizes ranging from 4.5 to 6.4 nm. The adsorption capacities are compared and the pore occupation is estimated to understand the adsorption behaviors in the ordered mesopores with different diameters and models. The spatial effect of dye molecules is the determinative factor for the adsorption in ordered mesoporous carbons with various pore textural properties. The mesoporous carbon with an extremely high surface area (2580 m2/g), a large pore volume (2.16 cm3/g), and bimodal pores (6.4 and 1.7 nm) prepared from the silica−carbon composite shows the highest adsorption capacities for bulky basic dyes among the three ordered mesoporous carbons

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

DNA Transformer for Visualizing Endogenous RNA Dynamics in Live Cells

The functions of RNA are tightly regulated via diverse intracellular mechanisms. However, probing the complex dynamics of endogenous RNA in live cells is a challenging task. In the present study, a DNA transformer is designed for visualizing the abundance, distribution, and mobility of endogenous mRNAs in live human cells. The transformable tetrahedral DNA (T-TED) probe has a flexible hinge structure and is programmed to conform into a 3D tetrahedron upon binding with the target mRNA. By incorporating Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) imaging, super-resolution localization, and single particle tracking, the T-TED biosensor is applied for investigating the dynamics of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) mRNA, which encodes a transmembrane protein, in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The data reveal unprecedented subpopulations of Dll4 mRNA with distinct mobility organized spatially in association with the endoplasmic reticulum and microtubule networks. The ability to monitor the dynamics of endogenous RNA in live human cells will provide a useful tool for studying the functions and regulation of RNA

Ordered Mesostructured Rare-Earth Fluoride Nanowire Arrays with Upconversion Fluorescence

Ordered mesostructured LaF3 nanoarrays have been, for the first time, synthesized via a one-step nanocasting process using La(CF3COO)3 as a precursor and mesoporous silica as a hard template. The characterization of SAXS and XRD patterns and TEM and SEM images shows that the LaF3 nanowire arrays have long-range regularity of hexagonal mesostructure (p6mm) and single-crystalline feature. N2-sorption isotherms reveal that ordered mesoporous LaF3 products have high BET specific surface area (∼75 m2/g), large pore volume (0.15 cm3/g), and narrow pore-size distribution (the mean value of 4.3 nm). The upconversion fluorescence has been realized in the Yb3+/Er3+ (red/green) and Yb3+/Tm3+ (blue) codoped LaF3 nanoarrays by upconversion (UC) excitation in the near-infrared region. The UC emission population for 4F9/2, 2H11/2, 4S3/2, and 2H9/2 levels in the Yb3+/Er3+ codoped LaF3 nanowire array matrixes depends on Er3+ concentration, the excitation density, and the specific surface areas