Carbon supported CdSe nanocrystals

Insights to the mechanism of CdSe nanoparticle attachment to carbon nanotubes following the hot injection method are discussed. It was observed that the presence of water improves the nanotube coverage while Cl containing media are responsible for the shape transformation of the nanoparticles and further attachment to the carbon lattice. The experiments also show that the mechanism taking place involves the right balance of several factors, namely, low passivated nanoparticle surface, particles with well-defined crystallographic facets, and interaction with an organics-free sp2 carbon lattice. Furthermore, this procedure can be extended to cover graphene by quantum dots.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Fault inversion can accommodate ground deformation above inflating igneous sills

Magma emplacement is commonly accommodated by uplift of the overburden and free surface. By assuming this deformation is purely elastic, we can invert the shape and kinematics of ground deformation to model the geometry and dynamics of underlying intrusions. However, magma emplacement can be accommodated by viscoelastic and/or inelastic processes. We use 3D seismic reflection data to reconstruct how elastic bending and inelastic processes accommodated emplacement of a Late Jurassic sill offshore NW Australia. We restore syn-emplacement ground deformation and compare its relief to sill thickness, showing that: (i) where they are equal, elastic bending accommodated intrusion; but (ii) where sill thickness is greater, inversion of a pre-existing fault and overburden compaction contributed to magma accommodation. Our results support work showing inelastic processes can suppress ground deformation, and demonstrate magmatism can modify fault displacements. Reflection seismology is thus powerful tool for unravelling links between magma emplacement, ground deformation, and faulting

213Bi-anti-EGFR radioimmunoconjugates and X-ray irradiation trigger different cell death pathways in squamous cell carcinoma cells

Introduction: Treatment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck is hampered by resistance of tumor cells to irradiation. Additional therapies enhancing the effect of X-ray irradiation could be beneficial. Antibodies targeting EGFR have been shown to improve the efficacy of radiation therapy. Therefore, we analyzed cytotoxicity of 213Bi-anti-EGFR immunoconjugates in combination with X-ray irradiation. Methods: The monoclonal anti-EGFR antibody matuzumab was coupled to CHX-A”-DTPA forming stable complexes with 213Bi. Cytotoxicity of X-ray radiation, of treatment with 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb or of a combined treatment regimen was assayed using cell proliferation and colony formation assays in UD-SCC5 cells. Key proteins of cell-cycle arrest and cell death were examined by Western blot analysis. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. DNA double-strand breaks were detected via γH2AX and quantified using Definiens™ software. Results: Irradiation with X-rays or treatment with 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb resulted in LD50 values of 12 Gy or 130 kBq/ml, respectively. Treatment with 37 kBq/ml of 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb or 2 Gy of X-rays had only little effect on colony formation of UD-SCC5 cells. In contrast, a combined treatment regimen (37 kBq/ml plus 2 Gy) significantly decreased colony formation and enhanced the formation of DNA double-strand breaks. As revealed by flow cytometry, radiation treatments caused accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase. Both treatment with 213Bi-anti-EGFR immunoconugates and application of the combined treatment regimen increased expression of genes involved in cell-cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis like p21/Waf, GADD45, Puma and Bax. Activation of these genes could rarely be observed after X-ray irradiation of cells. Conclusions: 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb enhances cytotoxicity of X-ray irradiation in UD-SCC5 cells most probably due to effective induction of DNA double-strand breaks. Upregulation of key proteins of cell-cycle arrest and cell death almost exclusively is due to 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb, thus demonstrating the cytotoxicity of α-emitters.JRC.E.5-Nuclear chemistr

Effective cobalt-mediated radical coupling (CMRC) of poly(vinylacetate) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (co)polymer precursors

Cobalt-mediated radical coupling (CMRC) is successfully applied to poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PNVP) precursors for the first time. The coupling process is based on addition of isoprene onto polymer chains preformed by controlled radical polymerization with cobalt complexes (CMRP). The extents of coupling were high (>90%) to moderate (75-80%) for PVAc and PNVP precursors, respectively. Effects of the length of the polymer precursors and conditions used in the polymerization step on the coupling efficiency are discussed. Mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses conducted on the coupling products demonstrate the preferential insertion of two isoprene units in the final polymers. The CMRC mechanistic proposal, supported by DFT calculations, is based on this microstructure feature. Finally, illustration of the macromolecular engineering potential of this technique is given by the preparation of symmetrical PVAc-b-PNVP-b-PVAc triblock copolymers starting from the corresponding PVAc-b-PNVP-[Co] diblock copolymer