Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lei Jiang, Hao Cai, Wanwan Zhou, Zijian Li, Liang Zhang, Hong Bi
Summary: Monitoring the dynamics of RNA granules and phase separation inside cells is important for understanding cellular responses under various stresses, such as oxidative stress. Current small-molecule RNA probes face limitations in stability and biocompatibility, highlighting the urgent need for RNA-targeting fluorescent nanoprobes that can be used in living cells. In this study, a novel RNA-targeting, red-emissive carbon dots (M-CDs) were designed and synthesized, which showed high water solubility, fluorescence quantum yield, and selectivity for RNA. The M-CDs were successfully internalized into cells within 5 seconds and were able to image the dynamic process of intracellular stress granules under oxidative stress in real-time. This research opens up new possibilities for visualizing bulk RNA dynamics and studying phase-separation behaviors in living cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qian Wang, Zhenzhen Feng, Hua He, Xiang Hu, Jian Mao, Xiaoliang Chen, Lihua Liu, Xiaoyun Wei, Di Liu, Simin Bi, Xiaojuan Wang, Baosheng Ge, Daoyong Yu, Fang Huang
Summary: The study introduces a method to develop non-blinking and photoresistant fluorescent carbon dots by introducing multiple aromatic domains onto a single carbon dot, demonstrating their great potential for imaging and tracking receptors on a live cell membrane.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kirill Laptinskiy, Maria Khmeleva, Alexey Vervald, Sergey Burikov, Tatiana Dolenko
Summary: The up-conversion luminescence of carbon dots with polyfunctional and carboxylated surfaces synthesized by a hydrothermal method was investigated. The luminescence intensity was found to depend quadratically on the power of the exciting radiation, indicating two-photon absorption as the cause. The carbon dots were shown to be effective nanosensors for pH measurement in liquid media, with the advantage of not exciting autoluminescence of the biological medium.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiangyu Ou, Xian Qin, Bolong Huang, Jie Zan, Qinxia Wu, Zhongzhu Hong, Lili Xie, Hongyu Bian, Zhigao Yi, Xiaofeng Chen, Yiming Wu, Xiaorong Song, Juan Li, Qiushui Chen, Huanghao Yang, Xiaogang Liu
Summary: The research demonstrates a flat-panel-free, high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging approach using lanthanide-doped nanomaterials and flexible substrates, termed X-ray luminescence extension imaging.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ruijia Wang, Jianyong Wan, Hongda Guo, Bing Tian, Shujun Li, Jian Li, Shouxin Liu, Tony D. James, Zhijun Chen
Summary: Converting CO2 with various epoxides to cyclic carbonates is important, but catalysts for this conversion often require complicated fabrication or unsustainable sources. To address this issue, biomass-based all-in-one carbon dots as nano-organocatalysts were prepared, achieving high catalytic performance and recyclability. The carbon dots successfully converted CO2 and various epoxides to cyclic carbonates with a yield of up to 99.5%, under mild conditions. Furthermore, the inherent luminescence of the carbon dots allowed for the direct conversion of the formed cyclic carbonates to afterglow polymer composites.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiaohui Fan, Yang Wang, Bo Li, Chang Shen, Zhengguang Sun, Yuan Zhan, Yuhong Zhang
Summary: In this study, highly luminescent pH-responsive carbon quantum dots (Si-CDs) were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method. The optical properties of the Si-CDs can be controlled by adjusting the pH, making them promising candidates for biomedical and pH-sensitive sensors. These Si-CDs also exhibit good biocompatibility and chemical inertness in vitro cell system simulation.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chandrasekar Palanisamy, Soumyaranjan Routray, S. K. Palaniswamy
Summary: This paper investigates multiple approaches using Quantum Wells (QW) to enhance the performance of solar cell. CZTS (x) Se (1-x) and Cu (2) ZnSnS (4) are used as QW and barrier material layers, respectively. The performance of the QW solar cell is evaluated in the presence of donor-like defect states using gaussian and tail distribution. The study examines the behavior of the device with a broad range of QWs and concludes that an increase in defect states negatively affects the efficiency of the solar cell.
ECS JOURNAL OF SOLID STATE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Fang Yang, Shunmei Li, Xia Li, Ruo Yuan, Yun Xiang
Summary: In this study, DNA-cross-linked polymeric lighting-up nanogels (DPLNs) were synthesized for high sensitivity monitoring and imaging of miRNA-21 in live cells through DNA hairpin-based hybridization chain reaction within nanoscale-confined space. The results showed that DPLNs exhibited low cytotoxicity and highly enhanced nuclease resistance, and could be successfully delivered into live cells for imaging low levels of miRNA-21.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Wang Wang, Zhe Feng, Bai Li, Yulei Chang, Xu Li, Xu Yan, Runze Chen, Xiaoming Yu, Huiying Zhao, Geyu Lu, Xianggui Kong, Jun Qian, Xiaomin Liu
Summary: The research team developed an efficient NIR-IIb nanoprobe Er3+ self-sensitized NaErF4:0.5%Tm3+@NaLuF4, which significantly enhanced the 1525 nm emission efficiency for high-resolution imaging and in vivo physiological dynamic imaging.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zhiqian Yin, Zheng Zhu, Pinshu Lv, Xuefeng Zhang, Xiwei Qi, Yanmin Yang
Summary: The up-conversion fluorescence process can convert low-energy radiation into high-energy radiation, allowing for the production of effective UVC lasers. Glass, as a laser medium, offers advantages over crystals due to its ability to be produced in large volume and drawn into optical fibers. The synthesized efficient UVC UC glassy phosphor can be used as an ideal gain medium for UVC fiber lasers, with UVC light detectable by UV detectors and solar blind cameras when excited by a 450 nm laser.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Linghui Shen, Tong Wei, Yongchao Shi, Hanyu Hao, Si Chen, Jiaguang Chen, Hao Guan, Qingjun Zhou, Zepeng Li
Summary: This study introduced a smart phosphor material that can reversibly regulate up-conversion luminescence under visible light irradiation, causing coloration and decoloration processes. The intensity of luminescence can be altered by alternating light irradiation and heating treatment, while polarization treatment can enhance the contrast of up-conversion luminescence.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yunchun Liu, Wanru Zhu, Xinru Wei, Lun Wang, Hongqi Chen
Summary: In this study, a single particle imaging method based on the total internal reflection (TIR) imaging platform was developed for the sensing and cell imaging of nitrite (NO2-) in the near-infrared region. The method utilized cyanine dye-assembled composite upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as the sensing probe, and demonstrated high sensitivity, low sample usage, and fast response time.
Article
Optics
Marilou Cadatal-Raduban, Masao Yoshino, Yuui Yokota, Akira Yoshikawa, Norihiko Hayazawa, Daizo Asano, Keito Shinohara, Toshihiko Shimizu, Nobuhiko Sarukura, Kohei Yamanoi
Summary: A scheme for imaging mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths using pre-excitation-assisted up-conversion luminescence in lanthanide ion-doped Self-organizing Optical Fiber Array (SOFIA) crystal is proposed. The proposed scheme enables MIR wavelength detection and imaging using low-cost optics and silicon-based detectors in the visible spectral region, utilizing trivalent erbium, thulium, holmium, and neodymium for imaging MIR wavelengths.
Article
Spectroscopy
Tingting Duan, Yanhong Lu, Ting Ma, Jing Wang, Tong Xie, Qi Fan, Zhengliang Wang, Qin Wang, Meizhu Rong, Peizhi Yang
Summary: Fluorescent probes, especially carbon dots, have attracted substantial attention due to their biocompatibility and variable fluorescence characteristics. A new dual-mode fluorescent carbon dots probe based on 1,10-phenanthroline (Ph-CDs) has been successfully developed, which detects the target through both down-conversion and up-conversion luminescence simultaneously. This differs from reported dual-mode fluorescent probes that rely on changes in wavelength and intensity of down-conversion luminescence. The prepared Ph-CDs exhibit good linear relationships with solvent polarity in both down-conversion luminescence (R2 = 0.9909) and up-conversion luminescence (R2 = 0.9374). Therefore, Ph-CDs provide a new insight into the design of fluorescent probes with dual-mode detection, offering more accurate, reliable, and convenient results.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Zahra Hallaji, Zeinab Bagheri, Mahdi Oroujlo, Mehrnoosh Nemati, Zeinab Tavassoli, Bijan Ranjbar
Summary: This article summarizes the important features of carbon dots (CDs) in cell imaging and discusses the latest modulated CDs for targeted live-cell imaging, including whole-cell, organelle, pH, ion, small molecule, and protein imaging, and explains the challenges in these fields.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Rafael Benjamin Werneburg Evaristo, Nadia Alves Viana, Munique Goncalves Guimaraes, Ailton Teixeira do Vale, Julio Lemos de Macedo, Grace Ferreira Ghesti
Summary: This study focuses on decentralized bioenergy production for local communities in the Northeastern region of Brazil, utilizing gasification to convert fruit peels and barks into energy sources. The results demonstrate that converting agricultural residues into bioenergy through thermochemical processes can be beneficial for local producers.
BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brenno A. D. Neto, Rafael O. Rocha, Alexandre A. M. Lapis
Summary: This tutorial review presents the application and importance of ionic liquids (ILs) as catalysts or reaction media in multicomponent reactions (MCRs). It discusses the effect of ion-pairing formation and its influence on the reaction outcomes. ILs not only improve yields and selectivities, but also aid in the formation, stabilization, and reactivity of reagents and intermediates during MCRs.
CURRENT OPINION IN GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Cassia J. Tavares, Julia C. M. Willig, Flavia Manarin, Guilherme F. Lenz, Jorlandio F. Felix, Giancarlo Botteselle, Ricardo Schneider
Summary: This work proposes the synthesis of metal-glass hybrid composites for catalytic applications. Copper nanoparticles can be self-supported on a borophosphate glass surface, which serves as an effective substrate for bottom-up growth of nanoparticles. The doped copper glasses were obtained by melt-quenching method. The growth temperature for nanoparticles is relatively low at 430 degrees C, and the process can be completed in a short time. The hybrid composites were used as a catalyst for solvent-free synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles in Click chemistry.
JOURNAL OF NON-CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Tamara Agner, Amadeo Zimermann, Fabricio Machado, Brenno A. D. Neto, Pedro H. H. de Araujo, Claudia Sayer
Summary: In this study, iron-containing imidazolium-based ionic liquids were used as catalysts for the homogeneous polymerization of n-butyl vinyl ether to investigate the conditions that lead to high molecular weights. The Lewis acidic IL proved to be highly efficient, even at low catalyst concentrations, suggesting its potential for industrial applications. In contrast, the neutral iron-containing IL showed no catalytic activity.
MACROMOLECULAR REACTION ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rafael Franca Neves, Marileusa Dosolina Chiarello, Larisse Araujo Lima, Grace Ferreira Ghesti
Summary: Patents are important for protecting food industry innovations and indicating institutional research and development. The University of Brasilia's Technological Innovation Center (CDT) is responsible for protecting technologies developed by the academic community. A study focused on food-related patents deposited by the university revealed a significant number of applications, primarily in the field of biotechnology. While some patents are still in progress, two are already in force and co-owned with other institutions. This study highlights potential partnerships between the university and the food industry for technology transfer, contributing to strategic decision-making in developing new technologies and their transfer to society.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Amra A. Alhassni, Jorlandio F. Felix, John Fredy R. Marroquin, Sultan Alhassan, Haifa Alghamdi, Amjad Almunyif, Walter M. de Azevedo, Juliana Lunz, Braulio S. Archanjo, Mohamed Henini
Summary: This work investigated the effect of gamma radiation on the structural and optical properties of diluted GaAs1_xBix epitaxial layers with different Bismuth contents. XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements were used to examine the influence of radiation. The results showed that gamma radiation affected the optical properties of GaAs1_xBix epitaxial layers, leading to an increase in hole concentration and improvement in optical performance.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Larissa A. Santa-Cruz, Primaggio S. Mantovi, Lara F. Loguercio, Rhauane A. Galvao, Marcelo Navarro, Saulo T. A. Passos, Brenno A. D. Neto, Fabiele C. Tavares, Roberto M. Torresi, Giovanna Machado
Summary: Climate change and demand for clean energy have prompted scientists to develop sustainable energy storage solutions. This research introduces a conductive gel biopolymer electrolyte made from saline water and seaweed, enabling the production of sustainable and flexible supercapacitors with satisfactory energy and power densities.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jaqueline Saracini, Iago C. M. de Assis, Gabrielle Caroline Peiter, Cleverson Busso, Rodrigo J. de Oliveira, Jorlandio F. Felix, Rafael A. Bini, Ricardo Schneider
Summary: Here, we report the synthesis of transition-metal-free potassium borophosphate glasses and their application as bactericidal and bacteriostatic material. The antimicrobial activity was achieved by making the glass soluble in water through a simple change in the boron and phosphorus molar ratio. Hydrogel formulations were developed using these glasses and tested for their antimicrobial activity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Brenno A. D. Neto, Jenny E. P. Sorto, Alexandre A. M. Lapis, Fabricio Machado
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements and applications of fluorescence imaging probes synthesized via multicomponent reactions (MCRs). It discusses the applications of these probes in biological imaging, particularly in cellular imaging, and explores the challenges and future perspectives in the field. The review also highlights the historical perspective and pioneering works in this area of research.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Edgar A. Silveira, Bruno Santanna Chaves, Lucelia Macedo, Grace F. Ghesti, Rafael B. W. Evaristo, Giulia Cruz Lamas, Sandra M. Luz, Thiago de Paula Prot, Patrick Rousset
Summary: This article proposes a hybrid approach based on multicriteria decision methods and response surface methodology to optimize the definition of urban forest waste (UFW) blends and their torrefaction. The approach involves assessing the properties of UFWs, defining an optimum blend based on feedstock properties, optimizing the torrefaction process, and validating the properties and combustion behavior of the torrefied optimum blend. The methodology provides a UFW blend with improved properties and higher combustion stability.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nicoli Catholico, Eduarda A. Tessari, Isis J. A. Granja, Martinho J. A. de Sousa, Jorlandio F. Felix, Flavia Manarin, Marcelo Godoi, Jamal Rafique, Ricardo Schneider, Sumbal Saba, Giancarlo V. Botteselle
Summary: Vinyl sulfides are important organic compounds with synthetic and biological applications. The hydrothiolation of alkynes for their synthesis typically involves toxic and carcinogenic solvents and catalysts. In this study, we developed an environmentally friendly and cost-effective iron-doped borophosphate glass catalyst, which successfully promoted the hydrothiolation of alkynes under solvent-free conditions, yielding vinyl sulfides with high stereoselectivity. This catalyst can be reused and the reaction can be scaled up.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rafael B. W. Evaristo, Romulo C. Dutra, Paulo A. Z. Suarez, Grace F. Ghesti
Summary: Cellulose, a natural polymer derived from plants, is an important component of agro-industrial residues. Understanding its structural composition is crucial for the conversion of cellulose into synthetic materials. This survey explores cellulose conversion, including structural aspects, transformations, and applications for derived materials, particularly residual biomass, which promotes sustainability and exemplifies circular economy applications.
REVISTA VIRTUAL DE QUIMICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Brenno Amaro D. Neto, Marcos N. Eberlin
Summary: This article summarizes the authors' experiences and tips for effective scientific writing, aiming to provide guidance for beginners and help them understand the basics of manuscript structures and major features in scientific writing.
JOURNAL OF THE BRAZILIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Camila O. Santos, Saulo T. A. Passos, Jenny E. P. Sorto, Daniel F. S. Machado, Jose R. Correa, Eufranio N. da Silva Junior, Marcelo O. Rodrigues, Brenno A. D. Neto
Summary: In this study, we developed two novel fluorescent benzothiadiazole (BTD) sensors for the detection and quantification of hydrazine at cellular and multicellular levels. The probes were fully characterized, and their photophysical properties were evaluated. The designed fluorogenic dye, BTD-CHO, showed selective detection of hydrazine and generated BTD-HZN as the only byproduct. The sensors successfully visualized lipids in microalgae and efficiently detected hydrazine in C. elegans and zebrafish.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Santiago Alcides da Costa, Rafael Benjamin Werneburg Evaristo, Marcio Lima da Silva, Patricia Regina Sobral Braga, Grace Ferreira Ghesti
Summary: This study aims to explore the technological and scientific prospects of using Brewer's spent grain (BSG) in order to align the brewing industry with global circular economy guidelines. By searching patent and scientific literature, it was found that major beer-producing countries excel in patent applications but not article production. The results indicate that BSG can be utilized for energy applications and as a raw material for bioprocesses.
REVISTA VIRTUAL DE QUIMICA
(2023)
