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The current research of mechanochromic molecules focused on different molecular skeletons and the types of functional groups, where the design ideas were limited. We have synthesized a group of cyano-modified TPE derivatives (TPECN) with different substitution sites, showing typical aggregation induced emission (AIE) effect. We found that meta-substituted mCN revealed the inertness of mechanochromism, whether being ball milled or rapidly evaporated. Isomers with ortho- or para-substitution showed an emission wavelength shift over 40 nm. Experimental data indicated unusual high-strength lattice stability for mCN. By single-crystal analysis and theoretical calculations, we clarified from the molecular skeleton distortion, noncovalent intermolecular interactions, and calculated interaction energy that the meta-substitution led to a stable lattice structure, making mCN insensitive to external stimuli. Thus, we successfully explained the substituted site was an important and independent factor that influenced the mechanochromic property. Meanwhile, we also explored the application of the TPECNs series for erasable printing and coding.

Objectives To investigate the effects of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) on angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and the regulatory role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activity in it. Methods The regulatory role of mTOR in NETs formation was explored. In vitro, human neutrophils were pretreated with rapamycin. NETs formation was measured using immunofluorescence staining of NETs markers, SYTOX Green and PicoGreen after NaOH stimulation. In vivo, mice were treated with rapamycin, and NETs formation in cornea was measured using immunofluorescence staining 7 days after alkali burn. Then, the effects of NETs on angiogenesis were investigated. In vitro, human neutrophils were treated with DNase I or rapamycin. NETs were isolated after NaOH stimulation and the isolated NETs were co-culture with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HUVECs migration, proliferation, and inflammatory activation were measured. In vivo, mice were injected subconjunctivally with supernatant containing NETs. Corneal neovascularization was visualized by immunofluorescence staining. Results NETs structures can be observed in NaOH-stimulated neutrophils and alkali-burned mouse cornea compared with normal group. Treated with rapamycin enhanced NETs formation in response to NaOH management compared with DMSO control in vitro and in vivo. NETs increased the migration, proliferation and inflammatory activation of HUVECs, and subconjunctival injection of NETs promoted inflammatory and angiogenic response in corneal alkali burn model. Conclusions NETs formation can be triggered by NaOH stimulation. mTOR activity has a negative regulatory effect on NETs formation. NETs promoted angiogenic responses and inflammatory activation of HUVECs and increased corneal neovascularization and inflammatory response.

Haemocytes play crucial roles in immune responses and survival in insects. Specific cell markers have proven effective in clarifying the function and haematopoiesis of haemocytes. The silkworm Bombyx mori is a good model for studying insect haemocytes; however, little is known about haemocyte-specific markers or their functions in silkworm. In this study, we identified the α subunit of integrin, BmintegrinαPS3, as being specifically and highly expressed in silkworm haemocytes. Immunofluorescence analysis validated the specificity of BmintegrinαPS3 in larval granulocytes. Further analyses indicated that haemocytes dispersed from haematopoietic organs (HPOs) into the circulating haemolymph could differentiate into granulocytes. In addition, the processes of encapsulation and phagocytosis were controlled by larval granulocytes. Our work demonstrated that BmintegrinαPS3 could be used as a specific marker for granulocytes and could be applied to future molecular cell biology studies.