Peiyuan Li

Systematically investigations of conformation and thermodynamics of HSA adsorbed to different sizes of CdTe quantum dots.

Fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) have attracted great attention in biological and biomedical fields. In particular, for any potential application, the interaction of QDs with some biomolecules is much important. Herein, the interactions between QDs with different sizes and human serum albumin (HSA) were systematically investigated by UV-vis absorption spectra, fluorescence spectra and circular dichroism (CD) spectra under the physiological conditions. Four sizes of CdTe QDs with maximum emission of 520 nm (green QDs, GQDs), 568 nm (yellow QDs, YQDs), 620 nm (red QDs, RQDs) and 680 nm (crimson QDs, CQDs) were tested. The fluorescence spectra results indicated that QDs could quench the fluorescence intensity of HSA effectively with a size-dependent relationship. The binding of QDs and HSA is a result of the formation of QDs-HSA complex and the electrostatic interaction plays a major role in stabilizing the complex. The modified Stern-Volmer quenching constants K(a) at different temperatures and corresponding thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔG and ΔS were calculated. The conformational changes of HSA induced by QDs have been analyzed by CD spectra, and the results indicated that the biological activity of HSA was weakened in the present of QDs with bigger size.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Anticancer Activity of a Series of Ketone-N4-Substituted Thiosemicarbazones and Their Ruthenium(II) Arene Complexes

A series of ketone-N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazone (TSC) compounds (L1-L9) and their corresponding [(η(6)-p-cymene)Ru(II)(TSC)Cl](+/0) complexes (1-9) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR, elemental analysis, and HR-ESI-mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of L4, L9, 1-6, and 9 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compounds were further evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against the SGC-7901 human gastric cancer, BEL-7404 human liver cancer, and HEK-293T noncancerous cell lines. Furthermore, the interactions of the compounds with DNA were followed by electrophoretic mobility spectrometry studies.

Simple and sensitive determination of papain by resonance light-scattering with CdSe quantum dots

In this contribution, a simple and sensitive method for papain detection was established based on the increment of the resonance light-scattering (RLS) intensity of mercaptoacetic acid-capped CdSe quantum dots (MAA-QDs) in aqueous solution. Meanwhile, the RLS characteristics and the optimal conditions were investigated in detail. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range of MAA-QDs RLS intensity versus the concentration of papain was 1.0×10(-8) M to 6.0×10(-7) M, with a correlation coefficient (R(2)) of 0.9977 and a limit of detection (3σ black) of 5.1×10(-9) M. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 1.6×10(-7) M papain was 1.0% (n=5). There was almost no interference to coexisting foreign substances including common ions, proteins and 20 amino acids. The proposed method possessed the advantages of simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity. Three synthetic samples were analyzed by the methodology and the results were satisfying. The interaction between MAA-QDs and papain was also investigated systematically by using visual method, transmission electron microscopy and time-resolved fluorescence spectra, and the results indicated that the main force between MAA-QDs and papain was electrostatic interaction.

New dinuclear ruthenium arene complexes containing thiosemicarbazone ligands: synthesis, structure and cytotoxic studies

A series of mononuclear ruthenium arene complexes with thiosemicarbazone (TSC) ligands (A-type, 1-8) and their corresponding di-nuclear analogues (B-type, 9-16) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, elemental analysis and HR-ESI-mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of 1, 2, 6, 9-11 and 13-16 were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Gibbs free energy of the two examples of the two types of complexes (1 and 9) and the bonding order in their single-crystals were studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The compounds were further evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against CNE-2 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma, KB human oral epithelial carcinoma, SGC-7901 human gastric carcinoma, HepG2 human liver carcinoma, HeLa human cervical carcinoma and HEK-293T noncancerous cell lines. Furthermore, the interactions between the compounds and DNA were studied by electrophoretic mobility spectrometry studies.

Investigating axial diffusion in cylindrical pores using confocal single-particle fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

We explored the feasibility of using confocal fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to study small nanoparticle diffusion in hundred‐nanometer‐sized cylindrical pores. By modeling single particle diffusion in tube‐like confined three‐dimensional space aligned parallel to the confocal optical axis, we showed that two diffusion dynamics can be observed in both original intensity traces and the autocorrelation functions (ACFs): the confined two‐dimensional lateral diffusion and the unconfined one‐dimensional (1D) axial diffusion. The separation of the axial and confined lateral diffusion dynamics provides an opportunity to study diffusions in different dimensions separately. We further experimentally studied 45 nm carboxylated polystyrene particles diffusing in 300 nm alumina pores. The experimental data showed consistency with the simulation. To extract the accurate axial diffusion coefficient, we found that a 1D diffusion model with a Lorentzian axial collection profile needs to be used to analyze the experimental ACFs. The diffusion of the 45 nm nanoparticles in polyethyleneglycol‐passivated 300 nm pores slowed down by a factor of ∼2, which can be satisfactorily explained by hydrodynamic frictions.

Design of Ru-arene Complexes for Antitumor Drugs

Recently, a number of promising ruthenium complexes have been investigated as anticancer drugs. Ru-arene complexes with [(η6-arene)Ru(X)(Y)(Z)] type, which exhibit a great structural variety, offer much potential in drug design. In this review we provide an overview of the progress in the field of arene ruthenium chemistry. We focus our attention particularly on the molecular structures and the anticancer applications of the Ru-arene complexes. Recent developments in the chemistry of arene ruthenium complexes will provide information for the investigation of novel anticancer organometallic drugs.

CCDC 1479477: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Wei Su, Zhaofeng Tang, Peiyuan Li, Gufeng Wang, Qi Xiao, Yuchun Li, Shan Huang, Yunqiong Gu, Zefeng Lai, Yuexing Zhang||Dalton Trans.|||doi:10.1039/C6DT03306G

CCDC 1479472: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination

Related Article: Wei Su, Zhaofeng Tang, Peiyuan Li, Gufeng Wang, Qi Xiao, Yuchun Li, Shan Huang, Yunqiong Gu, Zefeng Lai, Yuexing Zhang||Dalton Trans.|||doi:10.1039/C6DT03306G