Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Derivatives as Novel Potent Peptide Deformylase Inhibitors for Combating Drug-Resistant Gram-Positive and -Negative Bacteria.

The prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria is a major challenge throughout the world, especially with respect to Gram-negative bacteria, such as drug-resistant , which are regarded as the greatest bacterial threat to human health by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this work, 1,3,4-thiadiazole was introduced into the main skeleton of the classical peptidomimetic peptide deformylase (PDF) inhibitor in pursuit of highly efficient and broad-spectrum bacteriostatic drugs. Upon detailed structure-activity relationship study, PDF inhibitors that possess satisfactory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as a lower potential for methemoglobin toxicity were screened out.

Rational Design of Hierarchical Structure Electrodes to Suppress Shuttle Diffusion in Redox-Enhanced Supercapacitors.

In carbon-based supercapacitors, redox couples can effectively improve the energy density of supercapacitors; however, most redox couples still suffer from serious shuttle diffusion. Currently, there is no universal strategy to effectively constrain their shuttle diffusion. Therefore, developing a simple, effective, and universal method to suppress shuttle diffusion remains a great challenge.

A new fusion strategy for rapid strain differentiation based on MALDI-TOF MS and Raman spectra.

Typing of bacterial subspecies is urgently needed for the diagnosis and efficient treatment during disease outbreaks. Physicochemical spectroscopy can provide a rapid analysis but its identification accuracy is still far from satisfactory. Herein, a novel feature-extractor-based fusion-assisted machine learning strategy has been developed for high accuracy and rapid strain differentiation using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and Raman spectroscopy.

Preadsorbed Chymotrypsin Modulated the Composition of Protein Corona and Immunological Response.

It is well-known that proteins after administration into biological environments adsorb on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs). The biological identity could be determined by protein corona, but whether and how the preadsorbed molecules impact the composition of the corona and immunological response have rarely been reported. Here, the effects of preadsorbed chymotrypsin (Chy) on forming protein corona and subsequent immunological response are reported.

Unexpected higher corrosion in the gas phase region of metals caused by calcium and magnesium ions compared to sodium ions.

In the marine environment, Na ions have been the focus of attention owing to their high content, which is one of the important factors causing marine corrosion. With reference to the content of macro ions in seawater, circular iron samples were semi-immersed in 0.04 M MgCl and 0.

Unexpected iron corrosion by excess sodium in two-dimensional Na-Cl crystals of abnormal stoichiometries at ambient conditions.

At ambient conditions, we found salt crystals formed from unsaturated solutions on an iron surface; these salt crystals had abnormal stoichiometries (i.e. NaCl and NaCl), and these abnormal crystals with Cl:Na of 1/2-1/3 could enhance iron corrosion.

Protocol for bacterial typing using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) signals obtained from bacterial samples are specific and reproducible, making FT-IR an efficient tool for bacterial typing at a subspecies level. However, the typing accuracy could be affected by many factors, including sample preparation and spectral acquisition. Here, we present a unified protocol for bacterial typing based on FT-IR spectroscopy.

Ultrathin Two-Dimensional BiOCl-Bi S -Cu S Ternary Heterostructures with Enhanced LSPR effect for NIR Photonic Bacterial Disinfection.

Photonic disinfection, particularly near-infrared (NIR) light triggered antibacterial, has emerged as a highly promising solution for combating pathogenic microbes due to its spatiotemporal operability, safety, and low cost of apparatus. However, it remains challenging to construct NIR-responsive antibacterial agents with high light-converting efficacy and elucidate synergistic mechanisms. In this work, ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) BiOCl-Bi S -Cu S ternary heterostructures that can efficiently kill drug-resistant bacteria were synthesized by doping 0D Bi S and Cu S nanoparticles in the 2D BiOCl nanosheets via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method.

Heterojunction structured BiOCl-BiS nanosheets as mitochondria-targeted near-infrared photothermal and photodynamic therapy agent.

Mitochondria-targeted phototherapy, especially combined photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), has been regarded as an attractive strategy for the treatment of tumor. In this study, a facile approach to prepare two-dimensional (2D) BiOCl-BiS nanostructures was developed, where BiS quantum dots were doped in/on the ultrathin BiOCl nanosheets, forming a p-n heterojunction. The BiOCl-BiS shows favorable photothermal conversion efficiency (32%) and synergistically reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating capability under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation.

An alkynyl-protected AgCu nanocluster for catalytic hydrogenation.

A novel alkynyl-stabilized silver-copper alloy nanocluster with the composition of [AgCu(BuCHCC)(PPh)](SbF) was prepared by the (PPh)CuBH-mediated reduction approach. The nanocluster features a centred disordered-octahedral AgCu kernel, which is protected by hybrid alkynyl and triphenylphosphine ligands. Structural comparison of this two-electron nanocluster with other alkynyl-capped Ag/Cu ones suggested that the structure of alkynyl ligands played an important role in dictating the structures of the resulting nanoclusters.

Molecule-like and lattice vibrations in metal clusters.

We report distinct molecule-like and lattice (breathing) vibrational signatures of atomically precise, ligand-protected metal clusters using low-temperature Raman spectroscopy. Our measurements provide fingerprint Raman spectra of a series of noble metal clusters, namely, Au(SR), Ag(SR), AgAu(SR), Ag(SR) and Ag(SR) (-SR = alkyl/arylthiolate, -SR = dithiolate). Distinct, well-defined, low-frequency Raman bands of these clusters result from the vibrations of their metal cores whereas the higher-frequency bands reflect the structure of the metal-ligand interface.

Progress in infrared spectroscopy as an efficient tool for predicting protein secondary structure.

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy is a highly sensitive technique that provides complete information on chemical compositions. The IR spectra of proteins or peptides give rise to nine characteristic IR absorption bands. The amide I bands are the most prominent and sensitive vibrational bands and widely used to predict protein secondary structures.

CaCO-Encapsulated Au Nanoparticles Modulate Macrophages toward M1-like Phenotype.

Macrophage cells are plastic and can be polarized into opposing phenotypes, pro-inflammatory (M1-like cells) or anti-inflammatory (M2-like cells). Reprograming of M2-like cells into M1 phenotype will contribute significantly to combatting cancer. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are intensively studied in various fields for their distinctive photo-chemical properties.

Evolution of the protein corona affects macrophage polarization.

When nanoparticles (NPs) come into contact with bioenvironments, a protein corona forms on the NP surface. Previous reports showed that the constituents of the corona change with time. However, how different protein corona compositions influence cells, especially immune cells, has received less attention.

Labeled-protein corona-coated BiS nanorods targeted to lysosomes for bioimaging and efficient photothermal cancer therapy.

One of the main diseases contributing to human death are malignant tumors. Phototherapy is a promising approach for cancer therapy, and functional nanoparticles with targeting ligands are commonly used to improve the therapeutic efficiency. However, recent studies have shown that nanoparticles in contact with a biological fluid can rapidly form a "protein corona" on their surface, which will remarkably decrease the targeting ability.

FTIR-assisted MALDI-TOF MS for the identification and typing of bacteria.

MALDI-TOF MS is well-recognized for microbial identification and widely used in research and clinical fields due to its specificity, speed of analysis, and low cost of consumables. However, the classification or identification accuracy is poor for E. coli and Shigella.

Cross-Linked Polyamide Chains Enhanced the Fluorescence of Polymer Carbon Dots.

Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted tremendous attention for their outstanding advantages in luminescence. Here, α-amino-substituted lysine derivatives with the determined chemical structure were employed as precursors to obtain bright and highly stable fluorescent CDs through a facile hydrothermal route. The relationships among the chemical structure of precursors, CD fluorescence, and particle size were investigated.

Evolution of self-compatibility by a mutant S-RNase in citrus.

Self-incompatibility (SI) is an important mechanism that prevents self-fertilization and inbreeding in flowering plants. The most widespread SI system utilizes S ribonucleases (S-RNases) and S-locus F-boxes (SLFs) as S determinants. In citrus, SI is ancestral, and Citrus maxima (pummelo) is self-incompatible, while Citrus reticulata (mandarin) and its hybrids are self-compatible (SC).

Detailed insight into the formation of protein corona: Conformational change, stability and aggregation.

In a physiological fluid (e.g., blood), nanomaterials will strongly interact with proteins to form "protein corona".

Conformational-transited protein corona regulated cell-membrane penetration and induced cytotoxicity of ultrasmall Au nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles (NP) in biological fluids almost invariably become coated with proteins to form protein coronas. It is the NP-protein corona rather than the bare nanoparticle that determines the nanoparticle's bio-behavior. Here, ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) coated by a human serum albumin (HSA) corona were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, denature experiments, fluorescence quenching.

In situ generation of biocompatible amorphous calcium carbonate onto cell membrane to block membrane transport protein - A new strategy for cancer therapy via mimicking abnormal mineralization.

Herein, our aim is to develop a drug-free method without obvious side effects to treat cancer through biomineralization of biocompatible inorganic nanomaterials targeting onto cells' membrane to block transport proteins. We selected chondroitin sulfate as optimal target agent and linker to induce the in situ biomineralization of exogenous Ca and CO at safe concentration to generate biocompatible calcium carbonate (CaCO) nanostructures targeting onto cancer cells' membrane. The in vitro and in vivo assays indicated that the generated CaCO nanostructures could significantly inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells.

From Racemic Metal Nanoparticles to Optically Pure Enantiomers in One Pot.

A general strategy, using mixed ligands, is utilized to synthesize atomically precise, intrinsically chiral nanocluster [Ag(DPPP)(SR)] (Ag) where DPPP is the achiral 1,3-bis(diphenyphosphino)propane and SR = SPhCF. Ag crystallizes as racemates in a centric space group. Using chiral diphosphines BDPP = 2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane, the enantiomeric pair [Ag(R/S-BDPP)(SR)] can be prepared with 100% optical purity.

Supercubes, Supersquares, and Superrods of Face-Centered Cubes (FCC): Atomic and Electronic Requirements of [M(SR)(PR')] Nanoclusters (M = Coinage Metals) and Their Implications with Respect to Nucleation and Growth of FCC Metals.

Understanding the nucleation and growth pathways of nanocrystallites allows precise control of the size and shape of functional crystalline nanomaterials of importance in nanoscience and nanotechnology. This paper provides a detailed analysis of the stereochemical and electronic requirements of three series of nanoclusters based on face-centered cubes (fcc) as the basic building blocks, namely, 1-, 2-, and 3-D assemblages of fcc to form superrods (n), supersquares (n), and supercubes (n). The generating functions for calculating the numbers (and arrangements) of surface and interior metal atoms, as well as the number and dispositions of the ligands, for these particular sequences of fcc metal clusters of the general formula [M(SR)(PR')] (where M = coinage metals; SR = thiolates (or group XI ligands), and PR' = phosphines) are presented.

Embryonic Growth of Face-Center-Cubic Silver Nanoclusters Shaped in Nearly Perfect Half-Cubes and Cubes.

Demonstrated herein are the preparation and crystallographic characterization of the family of fcc silver nanoclusters from Nichol's cube to Rubik's cube and beyond via ligand-control (thiolates and phosphines in this case). The basic building block is our previously reported fcc cluster [Ag(SPhF)(PPh)] (1). The metal frameworks of [Ag(SPhF)(PR')] (2) and [Ag(SPhF)(PR')] (2), where HSPhF = 3,4-difluorothiophenol and R' = alkyl/aryl, are composed of 2 × 2 = 4 and 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 metal cubes of 1, respectively.