Unravelling the mechanism of glucose binding in a protein-based fluorescence probe: molecular dynamics simulation with a tailor-made charge model.

Fluorophores linked to the glucose/galactose-binding protein (GGBP) are a promising class of glucose sensors with potential application in medical devices for diabetes patients. Several different fluorophores at different positions in the protein were tested experimentally so far, but a deeper molecular understanding of their function is still missing. In this work, we use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the mechanism of glucose binding in the GGBP-Badan triple mutant and make a comparison to the GGBP wild-type protein.

Host-Guest Chemistry of Truncated Tetrahedral Imine Cages with Ammonium Ions.

Three shape-persistent [4+4] imine cages with truncated tetrahedral geometry with different window sizes were studied as hosts for the encapsulation of tetra--alkylammonium salts of various bulkiness. In various solvents the cages behave differently. For instance, in dichloromethane the cage with smallest window size takes up NEt but not NMe which is in contrast to the two cages with larger windows hosting both ions.

Miniaturized magnetic-driven scanning probe for endoscopic optical coherence tomography.

We designed and implemented a magnetic-driven scanning (MDS) probe for endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT). The probe uses an externally-driven tiny magnet in the distal end to achieve unobstructed 360-degree circumferential scanning at the side of the probe. The design simplifies the scanning part inside the probe and thus allows for easy miniaturization and cost reduction.