Rapid and reliable ratiometric fluorescence detection of isoquercitrin based on a high-nuclearity Zn(II)-Nd(III) nanomolecular sensor.

Rapid and quantitative detection of isoquercitrin (Isq) has been attracting much attention due to its outstanding pharmacological and physiological activities. Herein, an interesting 48-metal Zn(II)-Nd(III) nanocluster (1, molecular sizes 1.3 × 2.8 × 3.1 nm) with salen-type Schiff base ligand was constructed as molecular sensor for the luminescence detection of Isq. 1 exhibits visible ligand-centered emission and NIR luminescence of Nd(III), and shows ratiometric fluorescence response to Isq with high sensitivity even in the presence of other interferences. The fluorescence sensing behavior can be expressed by a second-order equation I1060nm/I480nm = A*[Isq]2 + B*[Isq] + C, which is used to quantitatively analyze the Isq concentrations in DMF and FCS. The LODs to Isq for the ligand-centered and lanthanide emissions of 1 in DMF are 0.21 µM and 0.11 nM, respectively. The quenching of the ligand-centered emission of 1 caused by Isq is attributed to the competitive absorption of light energy and "inner effect", while, the luminescence enhancement is due to the "antenna effect".

Ratiometric Fluorescence Detection of Levofloxacin Based on a Cube-like Zn(II)-Eu(III) Nanocluster: Functionalized Sodium Alginate Film for the Detection in Serum and Medicine.

A cube-like Zn(II)-Eu(III) nanocluster 1 (molecular sizes: 1.8 × 2.0 × 2.0 nm) was constructed by the use of a new long-chain Schiff base ligand. It shows a ratiometric fluorescence response to levofloxacin (LFX) with high sensitivity and selectivity, which can be expressed as I615 nm/I550 nm = A*[LFX]2 + B*[LFX] + C. It is used to quantitatively detect the LFX concentrations in fetal calf serum (FCS) and tablets sold in pharmacy. Filter paper strips bearing 1 can be used to qualitatively detect LFX by a color change to red under a UV lamp. 1 and its hybrid with sodium alginate (SA), 1@SA, display potential applications in the qualitative detection of LFX in FCS and the medicine. The limit of detection of 1 to LFX is as low as 2.1 × 10-2 nM.

Construction of a Zn(II)-Eu(III) Nanoring with Temperature-Dependent Luminescence for the Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Neopterin as an Inflammatory Marker.

A nine-metal Zn(II)-Eu(III) nanoring 1 with a diameter of about 2.3 nm was constructed by the use of a long-chain Schiff base ligand. It shows a luminescence response to neopterin (Neo) through the enhancement of lanthanide emission with high selectivity and sensitivity, which can be used to quantitatively analyze the concentrations of Neo in fetal calf serum and urine. The luminescence sensing of 1 to Neo is temperature-dependent, and it displays more obvious response behavior at lower temperatures. Filter paper strips bearing 1 can be used to qualitatively detect Neo by the color change from chartreuse to red under a UV lamp. The limit of detection is as low as 3.77 × 10-2 nM.

A Near-Infrared Luminescent 11-Metal Cd(II)-Nd(III) Nanocluster for the Rapid Excitation Wavelength-Dependent Detection of Rutin.

A near-infrared luminescent Cd(II)-Nd(III) nanocluster 1 (molecular dimensions of 1.0 nm × 2.2 nm × 2.2 nm) was obtained using a Schiff base ligand. It can be used as a sensor for the wavelength-dependent detection of rutin even in the presence of other interference, which can be expressed by the third-order equation IEx470 nm/IEx395 nm = A[Rut]3 + B[Rut]2 + C[Rut] + D. 1 is used to analyze the Rut concentrations quantitatively in CH3CN and fetal calf serum (FCS). For the determination of Rut concentrations in FCS, the ranges of recovery and relative standard deviations are 99.06-104.70% and 2.30-4.15%, respectively.

Construction of a Near-IR-Luminescent Rectangular Yb(III) Complex from a Dodecadentate Schiff Base Ligand for the Excitation-Wavelength-Dependent Detection of Aloe Emodin (a Natural Medicinal Ingredient).

A near-IR-luminescent octanuclear Yb(III) complex 1 was constructed from a new dodecadentate Schiff base ligand, which is used in the rapid and reliable wavelength-dependent detection of aloe emodin (AE) with high sensitivity even in the presence of other interferences.

Construction of a Near-Infrared Luminescent 48-Metal Rectangular Zn(II)-Yb(III) Nanocluster with Carbonate Templates for the Dual-Emissive Detection of Rutin as a Medicinal Ingredient.

An interesting 48-metal Zn(II)-Yb(III) nanocluster (1) with a size of about 1.3 × 2.8 × 3.1 nm was constructed by carbonate templates from a Schiff base ligand. It exhibits ligand-centered emission and near-infrared (NIR) luminescence of Yb(III), which are used in the dual-emissive detection of rutin (Rut) with high sensitivity even in the presence of other interferences. The response behavior can be expressed by the second-order equation I980 nm/I510 nm = A*[Rut]2 + B*[Rut] + C, and the limits of detection to Rut for the emissions of 1 are 2.23 µM and 0.20 nM.

Rapid and reliable triple-emissive detection of 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline as a pesticide based on a high-nuclear Cd(II)-Sm(III) nanocluster.

A luminescent 56-metal Cd(II)-Sm(III) nanocluster (1, molecular sizes: 4.5 × 2.7 × 2.7 nm) was constructed from a flexible Schiff base ligand, and its crystal structure was determined using the X-ray diffraction method. It shows a rapid triple-emissive response to 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCN, a common pesticide) with high sensitivity and selectivity, which can be used to quantitatively analyze the DCN concentrations in fruit extracts. The limits of detection (LODs) of 1 to DCN for the visible ligand-centered and Sm(III) emissions and NIR Sm(III) luminescence are from 0.95 µM to 2.81 µM.

Ratiometric fluorescent detection of dipicolinic acid as an anthrax biomarker based on a high-nuclearity Yb18 nanoring.

An 18-metal lanthanide nanoring [Yb18(L1)8(HL2)2(OAc)20(MeOH)8(EtOH)6(H2O)4] (1), which shows a ratiometric fluorescent response to DPA, was constructed through the strategy of using two types of polydentate organic ligands. The addition of DPA increases the visible ligand-centered emission, but decreases the NIR lanthanide luminescence of 1. The limit of luminescent detection of 1 for DPA is 1.5 µM. The high fluorescence sensitivity of 1 to DPA is not affected by the existence of interferents such as aromatic carboxylates and ions.

NIR luminescent detection of quercetin based on an octanuclear Zn(ii)-Nd(iii) salen nanocluster.

A NIR luminescent octanuclear Zn(ii)-Nd(iii) nanocluster 1 was constructed by the use of a salen-type Schiff base ligand. 1 exhibits a lanthanide luminescent response to Que with high sensitivity. The quenching constant of Que to the lanthanide emission is 2.6 × 104 M-1, and the detection limit of 1 to Que is 2.5 µM. The response behavior of 1 to Que is not affected by the existence of some potential interferents such as biomolecules.

Luminescent Polynuclear Zn- and Cd-Ln Square-Like Nanoclusters With a Flexible Long-Chain Schiff Base Ligand.

Two series of Zn-Ln and Cd-Ln nanoclusters [Ln4Zn8L2(OAc)20(OH)4] [Ln = Nd (1), Yb (2), and Sm (3)] and [Ln2Cd2L2(OAc)2(OH)2(OCH3)2] [Ln = Nd (4), Yb (5), and Sm (6)] were prepared using a long-chain Schiff base ligand with a flexible (CH2)2O(CH2)2O(CH2)2 chain. All these clusters show square-like structures. The Schiff base ligands show "linear" configurations in the structures of 1-6, and the metric dimensions of Zn-Ln and Cd-Ln clusters measure ~8 × 14 × 21 and 8 × 12 × 12 Å, respectively. The study of luminescence properties shows that the Zn/L and Cd/L chromophores can effectively transfer energy to the lanthanide ions, and 1-6 show visible and NIR emissions.

Construction of luminescent high-nuclearity Zn-Ln rectangular nanoclusters with flexible long-chain Schiff base ligands.

Three Zn-Ln clusters [Ln8Zn6(L1)2(OAc)20(O)2(NO3)4(OH)4] (Ln = Sm (1) and Nd (2)) and [Nd4Zn4(L2)2(OAc)10(NO3)2(OH)4] (3) were prepared using two long-chain Schiff base ligands. The Zn-Ln clusters exhibit interesting nano-square-like structures. Their visible and NIR luminescence properties were investigated.

Anion dependent self-assembly of sandwich 13-metal Ni-Ln nanoclusters with a long-chain Schiff base ligand.

Two classes of Ni-Ln clusters [Ln4Ni3L3(OAc)6(NO3)3(OH)3] (Ln = Gd (1) and Tb (2)) and [Ln6Ni7L6(OAc)12(OH)6](OH)2 (Ln = Gd (3) and Dy (4)) were prepared using a specifically designed Schiff base ligand built around a flexible (CH2)2O(CH2)2O(CH2)2 chain. 1 and 2 exhibit cone-like structures, while 3 and 4 have nanosized sandwich architectures. The structures were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and TEM, and magnetic properties were investigated.

[Effect of remote controlled injection manipulator system assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty for treatment of rupture of posterior vertebral osteoporotic vertebral fracture].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of remote controlled injection manipulator system (RCIM) assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for the treatment of rupture of posterior vertebral osteoporotic vertebral fracture by comparing with intermittent hand bolus injection of bone cement during operation. Methods: Between September 2010 and January 2016, a retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 48 senile patients with single segment rupture of the posterior vertebral osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture undergoing PKP who accorded with the inclusion criteria. Of 48 patients, 22 received intermittent hand bolus injection of bone cement in the control group, and 26 received RCIM assisted bone cement perfusion in the trial group. There was no significant difference in age, gender, duration of disease, causes of injury, implicated vertebral bodies, bone mineral density T value, pain duration, preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS), relative vertebral body height in the anterior part, and posterior convex Cobb angle between groups ( P>0.05). The bone cement perfusion time, the radiation dose of both doctors and patients, and the amount of bone cement injection were recorded; treatment effects were evaluated based on VAS score, posterior convex Cobb angle, relative ver-tebral body height in the anterior part, ratios of bone cement diffusion area and bone cement leakage rate. Results: The patients were followed up for 6 months; no complications of toxic effect of bone cement, spinal cord or nerve root injuries, infection and vascular embolization occurred during follow-up period. There was no significant difference in bone cement injection amount and radiation dose of doctors between groups ( P>0.05), but bone cement perfusion time, ratios of bone cement diffusion area, and radiation dose of patients were significantly lower in the trial group than the control group ( P<0.05). Bone cement leakage was observed in 6 cases of the control group (27.27%) and 2 cases of the trial group (7.69%), showing significant difference between groups ( χ2=4.850, P=0.029); no cement leakage into the spinal canal was found in both groups. VAS score, relative vertebral body height in the anterior part, and posterior convex Cobb angle were significantly improved at 3 days and 6 months after operation when compared with preoperative ones ( P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the above indexes between groups at 3 days and 6 months after operation ( P>0.05). Conclusion: Satisfactory effectiveness can be achieved by applying RCIM assisted PKP for the treatment of rupture of posterior vertebral osteoporotic vertebral fracture. RCIM can shorten perfusion time, reduce radiation dose, and decrease incidence of bone cement leakage.

[Anterior lumbar interbody fusion with self-locked cage for treatment of central type lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and recessive lumbar segmental instability].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) with self-locked Cage in the treatment of central type lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and recessive lumbar segmental instability. METHODS: Between March 2010 and February 2012, 31 patients with central type lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and recessive lumbar segmental instability were treated with decompression and ALIF assisted by self-locked Cage through the mini-incision and retroperitoneal approach. There were 20 males and 11 females with the mean age of 46 years (range, 34-58 years). And the disease duration ranged from 5 to 32 months (mean, 16 months). The lesion located at the L3,4 level in 2 cases, L4,5 in 20 cases, and L5, S1 in 9 cases. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, bedridden time, hospitalization time, and complications were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated by Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue scale (VAS). Lumbar X-ray films and three-dimensional CT scan were taken to evaluate the fusion and the variation of the height and Cobb angle of intervertebral space. RESULTS: The mean operation time was 102 minutes; the mean intraoperative blood loss was 121 mL; the mean bedridden time was 5 days; and the mean hospitalization time was 11 days. Intraoperative peritoneum tear and ascending lumbar vein tear, postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, pain at donor site, and asymmetric elevated skin temperature of the lower extremity occurred in 2 cases, 1 case, 1 case, 4 cases, and 2 cases respectively, which were relieved after symptomatic treatment. All cases were followed up 12-28 months (mean, 20 months). No infection, recurrence, deep venous thrombosis, or retrograde ejaculation was observed after operation. MRI showed complete decompression at 3 months after operation. At last follow-up, the scores of ODI, VAS of lumbars and lower limbs, the intervertebral height, and Cobb angle were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05); CT scan showed bone fusion in all cases. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcome of ALIF with self-locked Cage through mini-incision and retroperitoneal approach is satisfactory in treatment of central type lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion and recessive lumbar segmental instability. It can retain the posterior spinal construction and has the advantages of less trauma and bleeding, immediate stability, high bone fusion rate, and so on.