Multifunctional Non-Viral Delivery Systems Based on Conjugated Polymers

Yang, G., Lv, F., Wang, B., Liu, L., Yang, Q. and Wang, S. (2012), Multifunctional Non-Viral Delivery Systems Based on Conjugated Polymers. Macromol. Biosci.. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201200267

This review covers recent developments of a few potential biomedical applications conjugated polymers (CPs). CPs have a variety of properties that lend themselves to non-viral delivery systems of SiRNA, DNA plasmids and proteins. Cationic conjugated polymers are generally used to form nanoparticles with negatively charged biomolecules through electrostatic interactions. These nanoparticles have enhanced cell permeability and are easily monitored by fluorescence microscopy. 

 Some examples of CPs that are discussed in this review: poly(fluorene-co-phenylene) (PFP), poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), poly(p-phenyleneethynylene) (PPE), polydiacetylene (PDA), and polythiophene (PT)

Posted by Jessica McCombs at 11/28/2012 03:23:00 PM

Hydrophobic Interaction-Mediated Capture and Release of Cancer Cells on Thermoresponsive Nanostructured Surfaces

Advanced Materials

Hongliang Liu¹,Xueli Liu^1,2,Jingxin Meng¹,Pengchao Zhang^1,2,Gao Yang²,Bin Su¹,Kang Sun¹,Li Chen¹,Dong Han³,Shutao Wang^1,*,Lei Jiang

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201203826/abstract


Capture and release of cancer cells: A thermoresponsive nanostructured surface has been designed to reversibly capture and release cancer cells, wherein hydrophobic interaction helps the realization of target capture/release of cancer cells. The unique nature of our designed platform is based on the synergistic effect of hydrophobic interactions between the smart surface and the hydrophobic anchor (i.e., biotin-BSA), and topographic interactions between the nanostructured substrates and cancer cells. 


Posted by Huaxing Zhou at 11/29/2012 10:54:00 AM

Closing The Skills Gap

Linda Wang, C&EN 2012 Volume 90 Issue 24 | pp. 49-51

This C&EN article discusses the "skills gap" between academic and industrial jobs and what PhD programs could be doing to better prepare their students for jobs in industry. Despite the large amount of stellar PhDs being churned out by top programs throughout the country, many employers in industry are still having a hard time finding applicants with the skills they deem key to success in industrial jobs. The article cites a few programs that incorporate short-term internships into their programs, but acknowledges that internships are not an option for most PhD candidates. In the end, they comment on the responsibility of students to focus on their professional development and to "do their homework" as far as what is required to obtain a position in industry. 

Posted by Jessica McCombs at 11/19/2012 06:17:00 PM

Functionalized Cyclopropenes As Bioorthogonal Chemical Reporters

David M. Patterson, Lidia A. Nazarova, Bryan Xie, David N. Kamber, and Jennifer A. Prescher Journal of the American Chemical Society Article ASAP

Another example of tetrazine ligation using cyclopropenes. 

Posted by Jessica McCombs at 11/12/2012 01:25:00 PM

Uniform Polypyrrole Nanoparticles with High Photothermal Conversion Efficiency for Photothermal Ablation of Cancer Cells

Advanced Materials


Zhengbao Zha,Xiuli Yue,Qiushi Ren,Zhifei Dai

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201202211/abstract


Uniform polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were fabricated from a facile one-step aqueous dispersion polymerization. Owing to their high photothermal conversion efficiency and photostability compared with the well-known Au nanorods, as well as their good colloidal stability and biocompatibility, the resulting PPy nanoparticles could be used as a novel promising photothermal ablation coupling agent for targeted treatment of cancer.


Au nanorods have low photostability since their NIR absorbance peak would diminish after a long period of laser irradiation due to the “melting effect”; whereas other inorganic nanomaterials, such as carbon nanomaterials,and copper sulfide nanoparticles, which have also been shown to generate sufficient photothermal heating by NIR light illumination to destroy cancer cells, are non-biodegradable and usually  remain in the body for long periods of time.

The PEG-Fluorochrome Shielding Approach for Targeted Probe Design

Yanyan Guo, Hushan Yuan, William L. Rice, Anand T. N. Kumar, Craig J. Goergen, Kimmo Jokivarsi, and Lee Josephson Journal of the American Chemical Society Article ASAP

This somewhat clunky paper outlines the synthesis of a multifunctional pegylated small molecule for use in vivo imaging. The multifunctional fluorochromes feature a long peg chain, DOTA ligands and an integrin binding peptide. They discuss the values of pegylation- an increased quantum yield, decreased interactions and nonspecific binding. Their mouse imaging studies show a localized signal versus an un-pegylated control. These are interesting because they look similar to macromonomers in our arsenal.

Load-Controlled Roll Transfer of Oxide Transistors for Stretchable Electronics

Sharma, B. K., Jang, B., Lee, J. E., Bae, S.-H., Kim, T. W., Lee, H.-J., Kim, J.-H. and Ahn, J.-H. (2012), Load-Controlled Roll Transfer of Oxide Transistors for Stretchable Electronics. Adv. Funct. Mater.. doi: 10.1002/adfm.201202519

This MatSci paper reports on a method of fabricating stretchable transistors using a steam-rolling machine of their own design to mount molten PDMS onto a flexible substrate. They test the stretchability and conductivity before and after transfer showing that the properties do not change significantly.