Search

Optimizing the electrode structure to achieve efficient material utilization is crucial for high-capacity wearable energy storage devices. Here, a strategy of embedding and covalently grafting poly...

We previously reported the design of spirooxindoles with two identical substituents at the carbon-2 of the pyrrolidine core as potent MDM2 inhibitors. In this paper we describe an extensive structure–activity relationship study of this class of MDM2 inhibitors, which led to the discovery of 60 (AA-115/APG-115). Compound 60 has a very high affinity to MDM2 (Ki < 1 nM), potent cellular activity, and an excellent oral pharmacokinetic profile. Compound 60 is capable of achieving complete and long-lasting tumor regression in vivo and is currently in phase I clinical trials for cancer treatment.

A new configuration of hydrogen ion supercapacitors was reported. A positive electrode composed of pseudocapacitive MnO2, highly dispersed into active porous carbon through an impregnation method, was combined with a nitrogen-doped highly ordered mesoporous carbon with enhanced electrochemical hydrogen insertion capacity as a negative electrode. During the operation, hydrogen ion shuttled between MnO2 and carbon electrodes. The MnO2 was formed on the surface of nanostructured carbon through a spontaneous redox reaction. Operating in an aqueous neutral solution, the hybrid device demonstrated an extended working voltage to ∼2.1 V with good cycle life.

We have designed, synthesized and evaluated a series of new compounds based upon our previously reported bivalent Smac mimetics. This led to the identification of compound 12 (SM-1200), which binds to XIAP, cIAP1 and cIAP2 with Ki values of 0.5 nM, 3.7 nM and 5.4 nM, respectively, inhibits cell growth in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer and SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 11.0 nM and 28.2 nM, respectively. Compound 12 has a much improved pharmacokinetic profile over our previously reported bivalent Smac mimetics and is highly effective in induction of rapid and durable tumor regression in the MDA-MB-231 xenograft model. These data indicate that compound 12 is a promising Smac mimetic and warrants extensive evaluation as a potential candidate for clinical development.

The single nanodevice-based ultrathin N-doped helical carbon nanotube (N-doped HCNT) was fabricated for systematical examinations of photoconductivity. A 515 nm focused beam of about 300 μm in diameter was applied for irradiation. The study showed that the N-doped HCNT has high generation of photocarriers and high bimolecular recombination rate. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the N-doped HCNTs were examined systematically. The results indicated that the photoresponse can be improved further by selecting an appropriate wavelength excitation.

Over Ni nanoparticles generated by means of a combined sol–gel/reduction method, helical carbon nanotubes (HCNTs) were synthesized in acetylene pyrolysis at 425 °C. By annealing the pristine HCNTs in NH3 atmosphere, the N-doped HCNTs were obtained. The dependence of annealing temperature on the nitrogen content and doping type of the N-doped HCNTs was studied. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the pristine HCNTs and N-doped HCNTs were examined systematically at room temperature (RT). The results demonstrated that the pristine HCNTs exhibit strong ultraviolet (UV) PL at 368 nm. By doping the pyridinic and graphitic N into the pristine HCNTs, the UV PL could be enhanced. Moreover, the magnetic properties of the pristine and N-doped HCNTs have been measured.

The exact knowledge of helical carbon nanotube (HCNT) growth mechanism has not yet been completely clarified, and effective synthesis of high-purity helical carbon nanotubes in high yield still remains a tremendous challenge. In this study, HCNTs were synthesized via a catalytic chemical vapor deposition method using Fe nanoparticles as catalysts. We performed systematic experiments to investigate the specific effect of catalytic particle size (CPS) on the selective growth of HCNTs, such as on the morphology, yield, mobility of carbon atoms, and HCNT purity of carbon products. Our study showed that the CPS plays a key role in the selectivity to HCNTs, yield, and morphology of the carbon products, and a small catalytic particle is favorable to HCNT formation. We hope that this result may give a beneficial suggestion to obtain highly pure HCNTs. A CPS-dependent growth mechanism for HCNTs was finally proposed. Magnetic measurements demonstrated that the HCNTs are ferromagnetic properties and show high magnetization at room temperature.