A fluorescence sensing platform of theophylline based on the interaction of RNA aptamer with graphene oxide.

RNA, with a structure similar to DNA, should exhibit similar behaviors when it interacts with graphene. In this work, we designed a sensing platform of theophylline based on the interaction of an RNA aptamer with graphene oxide (GO) using the fluorescence as a sensing signal. Firstly, quantum dots (QDs) were modified with the selected ssRNA that can be used as an aptamer to recognize the theophylline.

XIAP Limits Autophagic Degradation of Sox2 and Is A Therapeutic Target in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Stem Cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most frequent head and neck tumor in South China. The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in NPC contributes to tumor maintenance and therapeutic resistance, while the ability of CSCs to escape from the apoptosis pathway may render them the resistant property to the therapies. Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family proteins (IAPs), which are overexpressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells, may play an important role in maintaining nasopharyngeal cancer stem cell properties.

Smac mimetics in combination with TRAIL selectively target cancer stem cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common malignancy in Southern China. After radiotherapy and chemotherapy, a considerable proportion of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma suffered tumor relapse and metastasis. Cancer stem cells (CSC) have been shown with resistance against therapies and thus considered as the initiator of recurrence and metastasis in tumors, where the antiapoptotic property of CSCs play an important role.

Modification of conductive polymer for polymeric anodes of flexible organic light-emitting diodes.

A conductive polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), was modified with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in solution state, together with sub-sequential thermal treatment of its spin-coated film. The electrical conductivity increased by more than three orders of magnitude improvement was achieved. The mechanism for the conductivity improvement was studied at nanoscale by particle size analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Synergistic antitumoral activity and induction of apoptosis by novel pan Bcl-2 proteins inhibitor apogossypolone with adriamycin in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the in vitro and in vivo activities and related mechanism of apogossypolone (ApoG2) alone or in combination with adriamycin (ADM) against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The IC50 of ApoG2 in vitro was tested by WST assay, and the synergistic effect was analyzed using the CalcuSyn method. Cell apoptosis was determined using 4',6-diamidino-2- phenylindole staining and flow cytometric analysis.

Flexible organic light-emitting diodes with a polymeric nanocomposite anode.

Flexible organic light-emitting diodes (FOLEDs) are facing mechanical issues arising from failure of the indium-tin oxide (ITO) films fabricated on flexible substrates. Polymeric nanocomposite anodes were fabricated by including single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in aqueous poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The conductivity, transmittance and flexibility of the polymeric nanocomposite anode were characterized.

Identification of novel inhibitors of the streptogramin group A acetyltransferase via virtual screening.

Virginiamycin acetyltransferase D (VatD) plays a vital rule in streptogramins resistance by chemically inactivating streptogramin A. Therefore, it is desirable to discover novel small molecular weight inhibitors of VatD via state-of-the-art virtual screening techniques. This "cocktail" strategy by combining VatD inhibitor with streptogramins may provide new therapeutic opportunity for resistant bacteria infections.

Electrocatalysis of oxygen at hemoglobin-Au colloid-1,4-benzenedimethanethiol modified electrode.

A novel renewable O2 sensor based on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin (Hb) is proposed. Hb was immobilized on a gold nanoparticles (GNP) associated with a 1,4-benzenedimethanethiol (BDT) monolayer which were modified the electrode. The direct electrochemistry of Hb was investigated by electrochemical methods and cyclic voltammetric showing a pair of redox peaks of Hb.

Electrochemical determination of 6-mercaptopurine at silver microdisk electrodes.

The electrochemical behaviour of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) at a microdisk electrode is investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results indicate that 6-MP can be strongly adsorbed on the surface of the static mercury drop electrode (SMDE) and reacts with Ag+ ions which are produced at positive potentials. 6-MP yields a well-defined cathodic stripping signal during the negative scan at about -0.

Electrocatalytical oxidation of hydroquinone with ferrocene covalently bound to L-cysteine self-assembled monolayers on a gold electrode.

The preparation of a gold electrode modified by ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FcA) covalently bound to L-cysteine self-assembled monolayer (FcA-SAM) is described. The modified electrode shows an excellent electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of hydroquinone (QH2) and accelerates the electron transfer rate. The anodic overpotential is reduced by ca.

Preparation of novel mercury-doped silver nanoparticles film glassy carbon electrode and its application for electrochemical biosensor.

A novel mercury-doped silver nanoparticles film glassy carbon (Ag/MFGC) electrode was prepared in this study. Electrochemical behaviors of cysteine on the Ag/MFGC electrode were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The results indicated that cysteine could be strongly adsorbed on the surface of the Ag/MFGC electrode to form a thin layer.