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Elevated nitric oxide (NO) within tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) suggests a reduction of TAM-mediated tumoral immune tolerance. This cellular event could be a reliable indicator for efficacy evaluation of antineoplastic drugs. However, a suitable method for TAM-specific NO measurement is still lacking. In this work, a simple and fast efficacy evaluation method for antineoplastic drugs is established based on a ratiometric TAM-specific NO near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence probe TAM-Cy-NO. Molecular fluorescence probe Cy-NO for NO response was encapsulated in the TAM-targeting peptide (M2pep)-functionalized liposome to construct TAM-Cy-NO. After TAM enters through M2pep, Cy-NO reacts with NO specifically, resulting in a dose-dependent ratiometric fluorescence signal (I610/I815) change manner. Utilizing this strategy, we observed that PLX-3397, metformin, and ibrutinib triggered NO generation within TAM greater than that with sorafenib. Notably, metformin and ibrutinib promoted TNF-α and reduced PD-L1 expressions, which suggest reductions of TAM-mediated immunosuppression. As expected, these drugs delayed tumor progression in mice. This method provides a promising efficacy evaluation strategy for rapid screening of antineoplastic drugs.

Two new one-dimensional azide-bridged manganese(III) coordination complexes as well as a mononuclear complex are obtained by changing ancillary tetradentate Schiff base ligands (L). Magnetic characterization has shown that the [[mu].sub.1,3]-bridging azide ion has transmitted antiferromagnetic interaction between [Mn.sup.III] ions, but these complexes have displayed various magnetic behaviors at low temperatures.

The synthesis and characterization of a series of iron(II) complexes by using 2-(2-alkyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)-1,10-phenanthrolineand its alkyl-substituted derivatives as ligands is presented. The results have proved that the alkyl side chains, in addition to the solvent molecules and anions, play an extremely essential role in the complicated spin crossover (SCO) behaviors of the system.

The recognition of the sequences 5'-NGCACA-3' (N = T, A, C, G) by pyrrole/imidazole polyamides with (R/S)-[alpha]-hydroxyl/[alpha]-amino-substituted [gamma]-aminobutyric acid as a [gamma]-turn is investigated. The results have indicated that [gamma]SO and [gamma]SN might function as T-recognition units at the turn position, as well as a [gamma]-turn in the discrimination of polyamides.

Pyrrole-imidazole (Py-Im) polyamides containing stereospecifically [alpha]-amino- or [alpha]-hydroxyl-substituted [gamma]-aminobutyric acid as a 5-TG-3 recognition element are synthesized by machine-assisted Fmoc solid-phase synthesis. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays and molecular modeling studies collectively suggest that the (S)-[alpha]-hydroxyl-[gamma]-aminobutyric acid [gammaSO] may act as a 5-TG-3 recognition unit.

A general synthesis of high-quality alpha- and beta-phase NaRE[F.sub.4] and NaY[F.sub.4]:Yb,Er/Tm nanocrystals are demonstrated through the co-thermolysis of Na(C[F.sub.3]COO) and Re[(C[F.sub.3]COO).sub.3]. By tuning the ratio of Na/RE, solvent composition, reaction temperature and time, the phase, shape and size of the NaRE[F.sub.4] nanocrystals can be manipulated.

An alcohothermal method was developed to prepare ceria colloids from the poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) stabilizer and the alkylamine base. The introduction of PVP not only effectively prevented the cerium nuclei from self-aggregation but also greatly eliminated surface defects of the as-obtained nanoparticles.

Single-crystalline and uniform CeO2 nanopolyhedra, nonorods, nanocubes were selectively synthesized through hydrothermal method and changing NaOH concentration and reaction temperature using Ce(III) salt as cerium source to obtain CeO2 nanocrystals with different exposed crystal planes for nanopolyhydra, nanorods, and nanocubes. Oxygen storage capacity (OSC) measurements at 400 degree C revealed that oxygen storage takes place both at the surface and in the bulk for as-obtained CeO2 nanorods and nanocubes but is restricted at the surface for nanopolyhedra just like bulk thus helping to design and obtain high OSC materials by shape-selective strategy.

The hydrogen abstraction reaction CH(sub 2)O + HO(sub 2) --> CHO + H(sub 2)O(sub 2) is investigated by a direct ab initio dynamics method. The results indicate that accurate geometry and frequency information can be provided at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of theory and the HL//B3LYP/cc-pVTZ method is necessary to improve the potential energy curve.

The alcohothermal method of preparing ceria nanocrystals with altered grain sizes through the addition of different bases is studied. The properties of size-dependent ultraviolet absorption and the facile alcohothermal synthesis are presented.

A direct ab initio dynamics method is used to investigate the hydrogen abstraction reaction N2H4 + H -> N2H3 + H2. The calculated results show that within the lower temperature range, the variational effect is small, and the small curvature tunneling effect is important.

The rate of thiol-disulfide exchange of dansyl groups mediate by dithiothreitol depends on the structure of the dendrimer. Dendrimers bearing multiple disulfide-linked hydrophobic groups are tractable and highly water-soluble.

A study concerning the preparation and spectroscopic and photoelectrochemical properties of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes is presented. The results of the photosensitization behavior are analyzed.

Monolayers presenting a high density of terminal alkynyl groups for bioconjugation via copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ((CuAAC, a eclickE reaction) are described. The studies have shown that the monolayer platform is functionalized with mannose for highly specific capturing of living targets onto the silicon substrates.

The first molecular metal coordination compound [[[H.sub.2]dbco].sub.2]*[[Cl.sub.3]]*[Cu[Cl.sub.3][([H.sub.2]O).sub.2]]*[H.sub.2]O (where dbco = 1,4-diaza-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane) which exhibit ferroelectrics with a large dielectric response involving a 2 orders of magnitude enhancement and distinct Curie phase transition point is reported. The study provides an effective pathway for exploration of new ferroelectrics

The synthesis of the novel 2-Se-thymidine ([super Se]) derivative, its phosphoramidite, and the Se-DNAs is described. The studies have provided a novel tool to examine the specific recognition of base pairs, which is the basis of high fidelity during replication, transcription and translation.

Monodisperse sub-2-nm EuOF nanowires are obtained by manipulating the fluorophilicity between crystalline seeds and capping surfactant molecules during the thermolysis of Eu[(C[F.sub.3]COO).sub.3] in oleic acid (OA) and oleylamine (OM). The uniform EuOF nanowires have self-organized on substrates to form parallel aligned superstructures and have exhibited strong [Eu.sup.3+] red emissions with high quantum yields of 65% under the ultraviolet light excitations.

Two alum-type complexes containing the Se[O.sub.sub.4.sup.2-] anion, 1,4-diazoniabicyclo [2.2.2]octane hexaaquacopper(II) bis(selenate) and its deuterated analogue ([D.sub.2]dbco)Cu[([D.sub.2][O.sub.6]).sub.6][(Se[O.sub.4]).sub.2] have shown that these complexes are new ferroelectrics that have undergone a paraelectric-ferroelectric phase transition as a result of order-disorder features of the cation and anion. These are shown to be the first examples of ferroelectrics based on divalent metal anion alum analogues since the discovery of ferroelectrics based on trivalent metal anion alum.

A DABCO-catalyzed highly regio- and stereoselective syn-1,4-bromolactonization of conjugated enynes is described and the 1,4-addition has occurred selectively over 1,2-addition for most enynes. Di-, tri- or even tetrasubstituted allenes together with lactones are selectively prepared from this enyne bromolactonization reaction.