Molecular system for an exponentially fast growing programmable synthetic polymer.

In this paper, we demonstrate a molecular system for the first active self-assembly linear DNA polymer that exhibits programmable molecular exponential growth in real time, also the first to implement "internal" parallel insertion that does not rely on adding successive layers to "external" edges for growth. Approaches like this can produce enhanced exponential growth behavior that is less limited by volume and external surface interference, for an early step toward efficiently building two and three dimensional shapes in logarithmic time. We experimentally demonstrate the division of these polymers via the addition of a single DNA complex that competes with the insertion mechanism and results in the exponential growth of a population of polymers per unit time.

Aminophenylboronic acid polymer nanoparticles for quantitation of glucose and for insulin release.

We have developed a simple route for the preparation of aminophenylboronic acid polymer nanoparticles (APB PNs) from 3-aminophenylboronic acid and formaldehyde under alkaline conditions according to an extended Stӧber method. Insulin and R6G have been selected to prepare functional insulin-APB PNs and R6G-APB PNs, respectively. During the formation of APB PNs, the representative molecules are embedded inside the APB PNs.

Aptamer-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles for the detection of cancer cells through "turn-on" retro-self-quenched fluorescence.

We have developed a simple, sensitive, and rapid fluorescence assay for the detection of cancer cells, based on "turn-on" retro-self-quenched fluorescence inside the cells. 1,3-Phenylenediamine resin (DAR) nanoparticles (NPs) containing rhodamine 6G (R6G) are conjugated with aptamer (apt) sgc8c to prepare sgc8c-R6GDAR NPs, while that containing rhodamine 101 (R101) are conjugated with TD05 for the preparation of TD05-R101DAR NPs. The sgc8c-R6GDAR and TD05-R101DAR NPs separately recognize CCRF-CEM and Ramos cells.

Unibody core-shell smart polymer as a theranostic nanoparticle for drug delivery and MR imaging.

Developing novel multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs) with robust preparation, low cost, high stability, and flexible functionalizability is highly desirable. This study provides an innovative platform, termed unibody core-shell (UCS), for this purpose. UCS is comprised of two covalent-bonded polymers differed only by the functional groups at the core and the shell.

Carbon nanodots prepared from o-phenylenediamine for sensing of Cu(2+) ions in cells.

A simple hydrothermal method was applied to prepare carbon nanodots (C dots) from o-phenylenediamine (OPD). The C dots exhibit photoluminescence at 567 nm when excited at 420 nm. In the presence of Cu(2+) ions, the colour of C dots changes from yellow to orange, with an increased PL intensity as a result of the formation of Cu(OPD)2 complexes on the surfaces of C dots.

Carbon dots prepared from ginger exhibiting efficient inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-dots; 4.3 ± 0.8 nm) from fresh tender ginger juice provide high suppression of the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), with low toxicity to normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and normal liver cells (FL83B).

One-pot synthesis of fluorescent BSA-Ce/Au nanoclusters as ratiometric pH probes.

A facile, one-pot synthetic approach has been developed for the preparation of BSA-Ce/Au NCs. The fluorescence intensities of BSA-Ce/Au NCs at 410 and 650 nm are pH dependent and independent, respectively. The fluorescence intensity ratio (I410/I650) is linear against pH values from 6.

Sensitive pH probes of retro-self-quenching fluorescent nanoparticles.

Polymeric fluorescent nanoparticles, R6GDARs, containing rhodamine 6G within 1,3-phenylenediamine resin are prepared using the extensive Stöber method. The R6GDAR is capable of sensing intracellular pH in living cells, with the fluorescence intensity increasing upon decreasing the pH values from 8.0 to 3.

Deterministic Function Computation with Chemical Reaction Networks.

Chemical reaction networks (CRNs) formally model chemistry in a well-mixed solution. CRNs are widely used to describe information processing occurring in natural cellular regulatory networks, and with upcoming advances in synthetic biology, CRNs are a promising language for the design of artificial molecular control circuitry. Nonetheless, despite the widespread use of CRNs in the natural sciences, the range of computational behaviors exhibited by CRNs is not well understood.

An O(n(5)) algorithm for MFE prediction of kissing hairpins and 4-chains in nucleic acids.

Efficient methods for prediction of minimum free energy (MFE) nucleic secondary structures are widely used, both to better understand structure and function of biological RNAs and to design novel nano-structures. Here, we present a new algorithm for MFE secondary structure prediction, which significantly expands the class of structures that can be handled in O(n(5)) time. Our algorithm can handle H-type pseudoknotted structures, kissing hairpins, and chains of four overlapping stems, as well as nested substructures of these types.

Reducing facet nucleation during algorithmic self-assembly.

Algorithmic self-assembly, a generalization of crystal growth, has been proposed as a mechanism for bottom-up fabrication of complex nanostructures and autonomous DNA computation. In principle, growth can be programmed by designing a set of molecular tiles with binding interactions that enforce assembly rules. In practice, however, errors during assembly cause undesired products, drastically reducing yields.