Smart Combination of Cyclodextrin Polymer Host–Guest Recognition and Mg²⁺-Assistant Cyclic Cleavage Reaction for Sensitive Electrochemical Assay of Nucleic Acids

A novel enzyme-free electrochemical sensing strategy was proposed for sensitive monitoring of DNA and miRNA by smart combination of the cyclic cleavage reaction of Mg²⁺-dependent DNAzyme and the host–guest inclusion between ferrocene-labeled hairpin probe (H-1) and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide/β-cyclodextrin polymer (NRGO/β-CDP) nanocomposites. The synthesized NRGO/β-CDP nanocomposites with high electrocatalytic activity and recognition capability were modified on the glassy carbon electrode to construct the sensing platform. Upon the hybridization reaction of subunit DNA in the loop region with target sequence, the active DNAzyme was liberated from the caged structure, which bound with H-1 to catalyze its cleavage in the presence of Mg²⁺ and triggered the target recycling amplification for the cleavage of a large number of H-1. Each cleaved H-1 was divided into two single-stranded oligonucleotides, leading to an obvious enhancement of peak current by the molecular recognition of β-CDP on the electrode. Thus, the constructed biosensor showed high sensitivity and selectivity for DNA and miRNA assays, with wide concentration ranges of 0.01–1000 and 0.05–500 pM and low detection limits of 3.2 and 18 fM, respectively. This developed sensing strategy may become a promising nucleic acid detection method in bioassays and clinical diagnosis

A (3,6)-Connected Metal–Organic Framework with <i>pyr</i> Topology and Highly Selective CO₂ Adsorption

Upon the basis of a bifunctional organic ligand with two carboxyl groups and one N donor, 5-(quinolin-4-yl)­isophthalic acid (H₂L), a new (3,6)-connected metal–organic framework with <i>pyr</i> topology, [Cu­(L)·DMF]<i>_n</i> (NJU-Bai32), has been synthesized and exhibits highly selective CO₂ adsorption

Facile and Sensitive Glucose Sandwich Assay Using <i>In Situ</i>-Generated Raman Reporters

A facile and sensitive glucose sandwich assay using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been developed through the use of the self-assembled <i>p</i>-mercaptophenylboronic acid (PMBA) monolayer on a smooth gold-coated slide and the SERS tags of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) modified with <i>p</i>-aminothiophenol (PATP) and PMBA. The photocoupling product 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB), generated <i>in situ</i> from PATP on the AgNP surface during the SERS measurement, possessed considerably intense characteristic SERS peaks and acted as the actual Raman reporter, which improved the sensitivity of glucose detection devoid of interference of other biomolecules. The facile sandwich assay showed a high selectivity of glucose over fructose and galactose. This facile, sensitive, and selective SERS-based glucose sandwich assay can be developed into a diagnostic tool for determination of glucose levels

A Distorted [Mn₂(COO)₄N₂] Cluster Based Metal–Organic Framework with (3,3,6) Topology and Selective Adsorption of CO₂

On the basis of the ligand of 5-(pyridin-3-yl)­isophthalic acid (H₂L), a new distorted [Mn₂(COO)₄N₂] cluster based metal–organic framework with (3,3,6) topology, [Mn₂(L)₂DMF]­·DMF·MeOH (NJU-Bai33; DMF = <i>N</i>,<i>N</i>- dimethylformamide), was synthesized, which exhibits a new point (Schläfli) symbol of (4·6²)₂(4²·6⁸·8⁵), contains open metal sites, and shows selective adsorption of CO₂ over N₂ and CH₄ with CO₂ uptake amounts high up to 7.9 and 4.2 wt % at 0.15 bar and at 273 and 298 K, respectively

Improved Electron Transfer between TiO₂ and FTO Interface by N‑Doped Anatase TiO₂ Nanowires and Its Applications in Quantum Dot-Sensitized Solar Cells

The growth of anatase TiO₂ nanowires (NWs) on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates through hydrothermal reaction has attracted wide attention and research, especially in the case of the solar cells. Actually, the built-in electric field at the anatase TiO₂ NWs/FTO interface leads to the photoexcited holes transfer to FTO conductive substrates because the Fermi energy of anatase TiO₂ NWs film is higher than that of FTO substrates. Yet efficient transport of photoexcited electron to the FTO conductive substrates is desirable. Hence, the built-in electric field at the pure TiO₂ NWs/FTO interface has prevented anatase TiO₂ NWs-based solar cells from achieving a higher photoelectric performance. In this work, we elaborately design and construct the N-doped anatase TiO₂ NWs/FTO interface with the desirable orientations from FTO toward N-doped anatase TiO₂ NWs, which favors the photoexcited electron transfer to the FTO conductive substrates. The surface photovoltage (SPV) and Kelvin probe measurements demostrate that the N-doped anatase TiO₂ NWs/FTO interface favors the photoexcited electron transfer to the FTO conductive substrates due to the fact that the orientation of the built-in electric field at the N-doped TiO₂ NWs/FTO interface is from FTO toward TiO₂. The photoexcited charge transfer dynamics of CdS QD-sensitized TiO₂ NWs and N-doped TiO₂ NWs electrodes was investigated using the transient photovoltage (TPV) and transient photocurrent (TPC) technique. Benefiting from the desirable interface electric field, CdS-based quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) with the optimal N doping amount exhibit a remarkable solar energy conversion efficiency of 2.75% under 1 sun illumination, which is 1.46 times enhancement as compared to the undoped reference solar cells. The results reveal that the N-doped anatase TiO₂ NWs electrodes have promising applications in solar cells

Table_1_Long Non-coding Antisense RNA TNRC6C-AS1 Is Activated in Papillary Thyroid Cancer and Promotes Cancer Progression by Suppressing TNRC6C Expression.DOCX

<p>Context: Evidences have shown the important role of long non-coding antisense RNAs in regulating its cognate sense gene in cancer biology.</p><p>Objective: Investigate the regulatory role of a long non-coding antisense RNA TNRC6C-AS1 on its sense partner TNRC6C, and their effects on the aggressiveness and iodine-uptake ability of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).</p><p>Design: TNRC6C-AS1 was identified as the target long non-coding RNA in PTC by using microarray analysis and computational analysis. In vitro gain/loss-of-function experiments were performed to investigate the effects of TNRC6C-AS1 and TNRC6C on proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and iodine-uptake ability of TPC1 cells. Expression levels of TNRC6C-AS1 and TNRC6C of 30 cases of PTC tissues and its adjacent normal thyroid tissues were determined.</p><p>Results: Downregulation of TNRC6C-AS1 or overexpression of TNRC6C inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of TPC1 cells, while apoptosis and iodine uptake was promoted in TPC1 cells. Suppression of TNRC6C-AS1 significantly increased the expression of TNRC6C in TPC1 cells. The inhibitory effect of TNRC6C-AS1 knockdown on cell proliferation, migration and invasion was attenuated when the expression of TNRC6C was suppressed simultaneously, indicating TNRC6C is a functional target of TNRC6C-AS1. The expression of TNRC6C-AS1 was significantly higher, while the TNRC6C mRNA and protein were significantly lower in PTC tissues than normal adjacent tissues. There was a significant inverse correlation between TNRC6C-AS1 and TNRC6C mRNA in PTC tissue samples.</p><p>Conclusions: TNRC6C-AS1 promotes the progression of PTC and inhibits its ability of iodine accumulation by suppressing the expression of TNRC6C. Targeting TNRC6C-AS1 - TNRC6C axis may be a new promising treatment for PTC.</p

Effect of HTRA1 on the migration of RF/6A cells and HUVECs.

<p>The migratory activities of both cell lines were estimated based on the numbers of cells that had migrated through the filter of the chamber. The numbers of migrating cells in the HTRA1-transfected group were less than the number observed in the untransfected control group and the lentiviral vector control group (G, *p<0.01).</p

Achieving Efficient Room-Temperature Phosphorescence in the Host–Guest System through Covalent-Bond-Strengthened Hydrogen Bonding

Achieving high performance room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) with a clearly understood mechanism is highly desired. In this work, efficient RTP materials with a delayed emission quantum yield of 50% were synthesized through loading thiophenes into the matrix of inorganic boric acid (BA). The RTP mechanisms were clarified through structural, photophysical, and theoretical studies of RTP materials produced by loading a series of thiophenes into a BA matrix. Our study demonstrated the critical role of molecular interactions between BA and thiophenes. Covalent bonds have strengthened the hydrogen bonds to modulate the photophysical properties of thiophenes, which reduced the energy gap between the singlet and triplet states. The RTP color and emission lifetime could be well-tuned by substituting the chemical groups on the skeleton of thiophenes, which endowed their applications with information encryption. These results opened a door for designing efficient RTP materials for various applications as well as a clear mechanism for studying the host–guest systems

Assembly of 2‑Arylbenzothiazoles through Three-Component Oxidative Annulation under Transition-Metal-Free Conditions

Highly efficient methods for the synthesis of 2-arylbenzothiazoles and 2-arylnaphtho­[2,1-<i>d</i>]­thiazoles have been developed. Readily available aromatic amines, benzaldehydes, and elemental sulfur were directly assembled through oxidative annulation and C–H functionalization under transition-metal-free conditions, where DMSO or oxygen served as the oxidant. NH₄I or KI as the catalyst was found to be effective to promote the transformations to give the annulation products in good to excellent yields with wide functional group tolerance

Effect of HTRA1 on the cell cycles of RF/6A cells and HUVECs.

<p>Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the fraction of G1-phase cells increased and the proportion of S-phase cells decreased in the RF/6A cells (A and B) and HUVECs (C and D) after increased expression of HTRA1. The proportions of G0/G1, G2, and S phase cells decreased in HTRA1-transfected RF/6A cells compared to control RF/6A cells transduced with the lentiviral vector (E, *p<0.05, **p<0.01). The proportions of G0/G1-and S-phase cells were decreased in HTRA1-transfected HUVECs compared with the control HUVECs transduced with the lentiviral vector (F, **p<0.01).</p