Tunable Assembly of Organic-Inorganic Molecules into Hierarchical Superstructures as Ligase Mimics for Enhancing Tumor Photothermal Therapy.

The assembly of molecules into hierarchical superstructures is ubiquitous in the construction of novel geometrically complex hierarchical superstructures, attracting great attention. Herein, a metal-ligand cross-linking strategy is developed for the fabrication of ferric ion-dopamine coordination hierarchical superstructures. A range of superstructures with highly complex morphologies, such as flower-like, octopus-like, and hedgehog-like superstructures, are synthesized. The mechanism for formation of hierarchical superstructures involves the pre-cross-linking of ferric ion with dopamine molecules, the fabrication of iron-dopamine precursors aggregated into the spherical aggregates, the nanoscale aggregates sintering and ordering themselves upon equilibration, the nanodots polymerizing into nanorods, and finally the nanorods self-assembling into hierarchical superstructures. In-depth research illustrates that as the permittivity (ξ) of the reaction system increases, the resulting hierarchical superstructures tend to converge into spherical shape. As a proof of concept, the 0D nanospheres, 1D nanorods, and 3D hierarchical superstructures are fabricated through adjusting system permittivity. The hierarchical superstructure is utilized as peroxidase-like ligase mimics to enhance the effect of tumor photothermal treatment. Further in vitro and in vivo assays demonstrate that the hierarchical superstructure can effectively ablate tumor cells. This work opens new horizons in hierarchical superstructures with complex architectures, and has great potential in nanozymology, biomedical science, and catalysis.

Fabrication of Biomaterials and Biostructures Based On Microfluidic Manipulation.

Biofabrication technologies are of importance for the construction of organ models and functional tissue replacements. Microfluidic manipulation, a promising biofabrication technique with micro-scale resolution, can not only help to realize the fabrication of specific microsized structures but also build biomimetic microenvironments for biofabricated tissues. Therefore, microfluidic manipulation has attracted attention from researchers in the manipulation of particles and cells, biochemical analysis, tissue engineering, disease diagnostics, and drug discovery. Herein, biofabrication based on microfluidic manipulation technology is reviewed. The application of microfluidic manipulation technology in the manufacturing of biomaterials and biostructures with different dimensions and the control of the microenvironment is summarized. Finally, current challenges are discussed and a prospect of microfluidic manipulation technology is given. The authors hope this review can provide an overview of microfluidic manipulation technologies used in biofabrication and thus steer the current efforts in this field.

Composable microfluidic spinning platforms for facile production of biomimetic perfusable hydrogel microtubes.

Microtissues with specific structures and integrated vessels play a key role in maintaining organ functions. To recapitulate the in vivo environment for tissue engineering and organ-on-a-chip purposes, it is essential to develop perfusable biomimetic microscaffolds. We developed facile all-aqueous microfluidic approaches for producing perfusable hydrogel microtubes with diverse biomimetic sizes and shapes. Here, we provide a detailed protocol describing the construction of the microtube spinning platforms, the assembly of microfluidic devices, and the fabrication and characterization of various perfusable hydrogel microtubes. The hydrogel microtubes can be continuously generated from microfluidic devices due to the crosslinking of alginate by calcium in the coaxial flows and collecting bath. Owing to the mild all-aqueous spinning process, cells can be loaded into the alginate prepolymer for microtube spinning, which enables the direct production of cell-laden hydrogel microtubes. By manipulating the fluid dynamics at the microscale, the composable microfluidic devices and platforms can be used for the facile generation of six types of biomimetic perfusable microtubes. The microfluidic platforms and devices can be set up within 3 h from commonly available and inexpensive materials. After 10-20 min required to adjust the platform and fluids, perfusable hydrogel microtubes can be generated continuously. We describe how to characterize the microtubes using scanning electron or confocal microscopy. As an example application, we describe how the microtubes can be used for the preparation of a vascular lumen and how to perform barrier permeability tests of the vascular lumen.

Nitrite-Responsive Hydrogel: Smart Drug Release Depending on the Severity of the Nitric Oxide-Related Disease.

Nitric oxide (NO) is known as one of the most important biomarkers of many diseases. However, the development of NO-triggered drug releasing platforms is challenging due to the low concentration and short lifetime of NO in vivo. In this work, a novel nitrite (NO2-)-responsive hydrogel (DHPL-GEL), which can be used for smart drug release depending on the severity of the NO-related disease, is demonstrated. A dihydropyridine cross-linking agent is designed to construct DHPL-GEL to enable the responsive degradation of the hydrogel triggered by NO2-. On-demand release of the drug loaded in DHPL-GEL was observed under the stimulation of various concentrations of NO2- at the physiological level both in vitro and in vivo. In the inflammatory arthritis rat model, the DHPL-GEL drug delivery system showed a better therapeutic effect and less side effects than the traditional therapy and nonresponsive hydrogel drug delivery system, demonstrating the promising application of the NO2--responsive hydrogel for the treatment of NO-related diseases.

Engineering of Hydrogel Materials with Perfusable Microchannels for Building Vascularized Tissues.

Vascular systems are responsible for various physiological and pathological processes related to all organs in vivo, and the survival of engineered tissues for enough nutrient supply in vitro. Thus, biomimetic vascularization is highly needed for constructing both a biomimetic organ model and a reliable engineered tissue. However, many challenges remain in constructing vascularized tissues, requiring the combination of suitable biomaterials and engineering techniques. In this review, the advantages of hydrogels on building engineered vascularized tissues are discussed and recent engineering techniques for building perfusable microchannels in hydrogels are summarized, including micromolding, 3D printing, and microfluidic spinning. Furthermore, the applications of these perfusable hydrogels in manufacturing organ-on-a-chip devices and transplantable engineered tissues are highlighted. Finally, current challenges in recapitulating the complexity of native vascular systems are discussed and future development of vascularized tissues is prospected.

A 3D construct of the intestinal canal with wrinkle morphology on a centrifugation configuring microfluidic chip.

A new in vitro gut microfluidic chip that mimics in vivo intestinal canal morphology and stimulation is developed to contribute to research into tissue engineering, and intestinal development and function. This strategy utilizes centrifugation to configure spatial cells along the side wall of a vertical cylinder-like microfluidic chamber, by which a tubular intestinal epithelium cell sheet is formed. Diverse intestinal cell lines are inoculated to address this approach. Furthermore, to generate microenvironmental stimulation, low-level centrifugation introduces fluid flow to this microfluidic system perpendicularly acting on cell sheet cultivation for several days. Fluid flow engenders the sectional cell sheet to bend toward the cell chamber lumen, which manifests an intestinal epithelium vaulted and wrinkle morphology. This may mimic the fluid flow existing in in vivo material transportation and the absorption of the gut epithelium barrier. In addition, the same fluid flow stimulation was reproduced in another Transwell system, which also exhibited a wrinkle epithelium cell sheet. Under fluid flow stimulation, some of the villus specific genes' expression level increased in the microfluidics and Transwell insert. Thus, this new centrifugation configuring gut microfluidic chip may offer novel insights into the research of intestinal structure and function.

Theoretical investigation of optical and paramagnetic resonance spectra of [NiF6](4-) clusters with orthorhombic symmetry.

The ground state absorption spectra of [NiF6](4-) clusters with orthorhombic symmetry (Ni(2+) in NiF2 crystal and Ni(2+)-doped ZnF2 crystal, D2h point group) are theoretically calculated and assigned by diagonalization of 45×45 complete energy matrix for 3d(8) configuration and the spin-Hamiltonian (SH) parameters (zero-field splitting D and E, and g factors gx, gy, gz) are studied by use of high-order perturbation method, in the frame of semi-empirical molecular orbital (MO) scheme based on strong crystal field framework. In those energy matrix, all the configuration interactions though the cubic crystal field (CF), the orthorhombic crystal field, the Coulomb interaction are taken into account. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The local structure (bond length and bond angle) of [NiF6](4-) clusters are determined, and the results shows that the structure data given by Stout are more plausible than those given by Baur.

Spin-Hamiltonian parameters for the tetragonal Gd(M)3+-F(i)- centers in CaF(2) and SrF(2) crystals.

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g(//), g(⊥) and zero-field splittings b(2)(0), b(4)(0), b(4)(4), b(6)(0), b(6)(4)) of the tetragonal Gd(M)(3+)-F(i)(-) centers in CaF(2) and SrF(2) crystals at T≈1.8K are calculated from the diagonalization (of energy matrix) method based on the one-electron crystal field mechanism. In the calculations, the crystal field parameters used are estimated from the superposition model with the reported defect structural data obtained from the analyses of superhyperfire interaction constants at the same temperature. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. It appears that the above defect structural data reported in the previous paper are suitable and the diagonalization (of energy matrix) method is effective to the studies of spin-Hamiltonian parameters for 4f(7) ions in crystals.

Theoretical investigations of optical spectra and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of LiCl:Ni²âº crystals.

The complete energy matrices (45 × 45) including low symmetry ligand field (C(4v)) and Coulomb interactions for 3d(8) ions have been constructed, and the high-order perturbation formulas of spin-Hamiltonian (SH) parameters g factors g(//), g(⊥) and zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameter D for ground state (3)A(2g) of the 3d(8) ions in the tetragonal symmetry environment have been derived. In those formulas both the crystal field (CF) mechanism and the charge transfer (CT) mechanism are taken into account. The complete energy matrices and the high-order perturbation formulas are applied to calculate the energy levels and SH parameters of the Ni(2+) ion in LiCl crystal respectively. The results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data and indicate that CT mechanism plays important role in the understanding of SH parameters, especially the g factors. All the multiplet energy are assigned theoretically and the local structures of LiCl:Ni(2+) are established.

Research on the optical spectra, g factors and defect structures for two tetragonal Y²+ centers in the irradiated CaF2: Y crystal.

Based on the defect models that the tetragonal Y(2+) (1) center in the irradiated CaF(2): Y crystal is due to Y(2+) at Ca(2+) site associated with a nearest interstitial F(-) ion along C(4) axis and the tetragonal Y(2+) (2) center is Y(2+) at Ca(2+) site where the tetragonal distortion is caused by the static Jahn-Teller effect, the two optical spectral bands and anisotropic g factors for both tetragonal Y(2+) centers are calculated. The calculations are made by using two methods based on the cluster approach, one is the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) and another is the perturbation theory method (PTM). The calculated results for each Y(2+) center from CDM and PTM coincide and show reasonable agreement with the experimental values. The calculated isotropic g factor for Y(2+) (2) center at higher temperature owing to the dynamical Jahn-Teller effect is also consistent with the observed value. The defect structures (i.e., tetragonal distortion) of the two Y(2+) centers are obtained from the calculation. It appears that both theoretical methods can be applied to explain the optical and EPR data, to study the defect model and to determine the defect structures for d(1) ions in crystals.

Studies of the optical band positions and EPR g factors for Cu(H2O)6(2+) centers in Tutton salt crystals.

The optical band positions and EPR g factors g(i) (i = x, y, z) of Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) clusters in pure Tutton salts M(2)Cu(SO(4))(2)·6H(2)O (M = NH(4), Rb) are calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method based on the cluster approach. In the calculation, the superposition model with the structural data is used to obtain the crystal-field parameters. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values, suggesting that the complete diagonalization method and superposition model are effective in the studies of optical and EPR data. The g factors g(i) of Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) clusters in Cu(2+)-doped isomorphous diamagnetic Tutton salts M(2)Zn(SO(4))(2)·6H(2)O are also studied from the same method. It is found that the approximately tetragonally compressed Zn(H(2)O)(6)(2+) octahedra in the host crystals change to the approximately tetragonally elongated Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) octahedra in the impurity centers. The causes concerning the Jahn-Teller effect are discussed. It appears that in some cases the octahedral environment of an impurity M(I) in crystals differs from that of the replaced host ion, but is close to the one in the isomorphous pure crystals where M(I) is the host ion rather than the impurity ion.

Studies of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structures for Gd3+ ions in zircon-structure silicates MSiO4 (M=Zr, Hf, Th).

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g∥, g⊥ and zero-field splittings b2(0), b4(0), b4(4), b6(0), b6(4)) for 4f7 ion Gd3+ at the tetragonal M4+ site of zircon-structure silicates MSiO4 (M=Zr, Hf, Th) are calculated from a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. The Hamiltonian concerning this energy matrix contains the free-ion, crystal-field interaction and Zeeman interaction terms and the 56×56 energy matrix is constructed by considering the ground multiplet 8S7/2 and the excited multiplets 6L7/2 (L=P, D, F, G, H, I). The defect structures of Gd3+ centers in the three MSiO4 crystals are yielded from the calculation. The results are discussed.

A theoretical study on the temperature dependence of zero-field splitting for the tetragonal Cr3+ center in MgO crystal.

This paper reports a detailed theoretical calculation of the temperature dependence of zero-field splitting D (characterized by ΔD(T)=D(T)-D(0)) for the tetragonal Cr3+ center in MgO crystal by considering both the static contribution due to the thermal expansion of Cr3+ center and the vibrational contribution caused by electron-phonon (including the acoustic and optical phonons) interaction. The vibrational contribution due to the acoustic phonon is calculated using the long-wave approximation similar to the study on the specific heat of crystals and that due to optical phonon is estimated using the single-phonon model. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. From the calculation, it is found that the static contribution ΔDstat(T) (which is often regarded as very small and is neglected in the previous papers) is larger than the vibrational contribution ΔDvib(T) and so the reasonable studies of temperature dependence of zero-field splitting should take both the static and the vibrational contributions into account.

A study of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters for the trigonal Sm3+ center in La2Mg3(NO3)(12)·24H2O crystal.

This paper reports a theoretical calculation of spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors g//, g⊥ and hyperfine structure constants 147A//, 147A⊥, 149A//, 149A⊥) for 147Sm3+ and 149Sm3+ isotopes in the trigonal La3+ site of La2Mg3(NO3)(12)·24H2O crystal from a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. In the method, the Hamiltonian concerning the energy matrix includes the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms and so there is no perturbation calculation in it. The crystal-field parameters in the energy matrix are calculated using the superposition model, in which the structural data of 12-fold coordinated site rather than those of the incorrect 6-fold coordinated site given in the previous paper are applied. The calculated results are in reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The results are discussed.

Spin-Hamiltonian parameters and defect structure for the rhombic Dy3+ center in AgCl crystal.

Based on the defect model that the rhombic Dy(3+) center in AgCl crystal is formed by substitutional Dy3+ ion associated with two nearest Ag+ vacancies (VAg) along the <110> and <110> axes owing to charge compensation, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors gi and hyperfine structure constants 161Ai and 163Ai, where i=x, y, z) of this rhombic Dy3+ center are calculated from a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. In the method, the Zeeman (or magnetic) and hyperfine interaction terms are attached to the classical Hamiltonian used in the calculation of crystal-field energy levels and a 66×66 energy matrix concerning this Hamiltonian is constructed by taking all the ground-term multiplets 6HJ (J=15/2, 13/2, 11/2, 9/2, 7/2, 5/2) into account. The calculated results (g factors gi and average |A(161Dy3+)| and |A(163Dy3+)|) are in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. From the calculations, the above defect model of rhombic Dy3+ center is confirmed, the defect structure of this Dy3+ center (characterized by the displacement of Cl- ligand caused by VAg) is obtained and the components of hyperfine structure constants Ai(161Dy3+) and Ai(163Dy3+) are predicted. The results are discussed.

Studies of the EPR parameters and defect models for three Er3+ impurity centers in ThO2 crystals.

The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters (g factors and hyperfine structure constants of the ground state, and g factors of the first excited state) of three (one cubic and two trigonal) Er(3+) centers in fluoride-type ThO(2) crystal are studied from a diagonalization (of energy matrix) method. In the method, the Zeeman and hyperfine interaction terms are added to the classical Hamiltonian, and a 52 x 52 energy matrix concerning the ground multiplet (4)I(15/2) and the first to third excited multiplets (4)I(13/2), (4)I(11/2) and (4)I(9/2) is established for a 4f(11) ion in trigonal crystal field and under an external magnetic field. From the studies, the EPR parameters for three Er(3+) centers in ThO(2) are reasonably explained, the defect models for the two trigonal Er(3+) centers suggested in the previous paper are confirmed and the defect structures of the two trigonal centers are obtained. The results are discussed.

Investigation of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters for the trigonal U5+ center in CaF2 crystal.

The spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factor g(//), g(perpendicular) and hyperfine structure constants A(//), A(perpendicular)) of the trigonal U(5+) center in CaF(2) crystal have been calculated from the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) for 5f(1) ions in trigonal crystal field and under an external magnetic field. In the calculation, the crystal-field parameters are estimated from the superposition model. From the calculations, these spin-Hamiltonian parameters are reasonably explained, and the defect model (i.e., the trigonal U(5+) center is attributed to U(5+) substituting for Ca(2+) in CaF(2) with six F(-) ions replaced by O(2-) and the other two F(-) sites vacant because of charge compensation) given in the previous paper is confirmed. The results are discussed.

Studies of the spin-Hamiltonian parameters and the Jahn-Teller distortions for tetragonal Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) clusters in trigonal A(2)Mg(3)(NO(3))(12).24H(2)O (A=La, Bi) crystals.

The anisotropic and isotropic spin-Hamiltonian parameters (g factors and hyperfine structure constants) of tetragonal Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) clusters due, respectively, to the static and dynamic Jahn-Teller effects for Cu(2+) in trigonal A(2)Mg(3)(NO(3))(12).24H(2)O (A=La, Bi) crystals are calculated from the high-order perturbation formulas based on the cluster approach. In the approach, the admixture between the d orbitals of 3d(n) ion and the p orbitals of ligand ion via covalence effect is considered. All of the calculated results are in agreement with the experimental values. The tetragonal elongations (characterized by DeltaR=R(parallel)-R( perpendicular)) of Cu(H(2)O)(6)(2+) cluster due to the Jahn-Teller effect in A(2)Mg(3)(NO(3))(12).24H(2)O crystals are acquired from the calculations. The results are discussed.

Investigations of the optical spectra and EPR g factors for the tetragonal Cu2+ centers in trigonal ZnCO3 crystal.

Two distinctive theoretical methods, the complete diagonalization (of energy matrix) method (CDM) and the perturbation theory method (PTM), are employed to calculate the optical band positions and EPR g factors g(||), g(perpendicular) for the tetragonal Cu(2+) centers in trigonal ZnCO(3) crystal. The results from the two methods coincide and are also in good agreement with the experimental values. So both the CDM and PTM are adequate for the investigations of optical and EPR data for d(9) ions in crystals. The tetragonal distortion due to the static Jahn-Teller effect for the tetragonal Cu(2+) centers in trigonal Zn(2+) site of ZnCO(3) is also acquired from the calculations. The results are discussed.

[Studies of the g factor and optical spectra for CaZrO3:Mn4+ crystal].

The complete high-order perturbation formula of g factor for 3d(3) ions in cubic octahedral site was derived. In the formula, both the contribution delta g(CF) to g-shift delta g (= g-g(s), where g(s) = 2.0023) due to crystal-field (CF) mechanism (related to the interactions of CF excited states with the ground state) and that (delta g(CT)) due to charge-transfer (CT) mechanism (related to the interactions of CT excited states with the ground state, which is omitted in crystal-field theory) are included. By using the formula and the parameters obtained from the optical spectra of CaZrO3:Mn4+ crystal, the g factor of CaZrO3:Mn4+ was calculated. The result is consistent with the experimental value. The calculations show that the contribution is opposite in sign and about 62% in magnitude compared with the contribution delta g(CF). It appears that both CF and CT mechanisms should be considered in the calculation of g factor for the high valence 3d(3) (e. g. , Mn4+ and Fe3+) ions in crystals.