Nanjing Tech University

About: Nanjing Tech University is a education organization based out in Nanjing, China. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Membrane. The organization has 21827 authors who have published 21794 publications receiving 364050 citations. The organization is also known as: Nangongda & Nánjīng Gōngyè Dàxúe.

Rhodamine-modified upconversion nanophosphors for ratiometric detection of hypochlorous acid in aqueous solution and living cells.

Abstract: Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme-mediated peroxidation of chloride ions, acts as a key microbicidal agent in immune systems. However, misregulated production of HOCl could damage host tissues and cause many inflammation-related diseases. Due to its biological importance, many efforts have been focused on developing fluorescent probes to image HOCl in living system. Compared with those conventional fluorescent probes, up-conversion luminescence (UCL) detection system has been proven to exhibit a lot of advantages including no photo-bleaching, higher light penetration depth, no autofluorescence and less damage to biosamples. Herein, we report a novel water-soluble organic-nano detection system based on rhodamine-modified UCNPs for UCL-sensing HOCl. Upon the interaction with HOCl, the green UCL emission intensity in the detection system were gradually decreased, but the emissions in the NIR region almost have no change, which is very important for the ratiometric UCL detection of HOCl in aqueous solution. More importantly, RBH1-UCNPs could be used for the ratiometric UCL visualization of HOCl released by MPO-mediated peroxidation of chloride ions in living cells. This organic-nano system could be further developed into a novel next-generation imaging technique for bio-imaging HOCl in living system without background noise.

Ti3C2Tx MXene-Activated Fast Gelation of Stretchable and Self-Healing Hydrogels: A Molecular Approach.

Abstract: MXene-based hydrogels, a flourishing family of soft materials, have recently emerged as promising candidates for stretchable electronics. Despite recent progress, most works use MXenes as conductive nanofillers. Herein, by tuning the molecular interactions between MXene nanosheets and other constituents within the hydrogels, we demonstrate Ti3C3Tx MXene can act as a versatile cross-linker to activate the fast gelation of a wide range of hydrogels, starting from various monomer- and polymer-based precursors. The gelation behavior varies significantly across hydrogels. In general, the fast gelation mechanism is attributed to the easier generation of free radicals with the help of Ti3C2Tx MXene and the presence of multiscale molecular interactions between MXene and polymers. The use of MXene as a dynamic cross-linker leads to superior mechanical properties, adhesion, and self-healing ability. Owing to the inherent photothermal behavior of Ti3C3Tx and the heterogeneous phase-transforming features of polymers, a polymer-MXene hydrogel is demonstrated to exhibit distinctive thermosensation-based actuation upon near-infrared illumination, accompanied by rapid shape transformation.

Experimental Study on the Stability of Railroad Silt Subgrade with Increasing Train Speed

Abstract: The comfort and safety of a moving train is largely determined by the dynamic response of the railway track and its foundation (i.e., subgrade). To study the dynamic stability of a silt subgrade subjected to train traffic loading with increasing speed, cyclic triaxial tests were conducted for compacted silt specimens with varying dry density, water content, dynamic stress, and load frequency. The laboratory test results and field measurements of the subgrade dynamic stress under train loading indicate that with increasing train speed, an increase in dynamic stress and load frequency does not impair the stability of the silt subgrade, provided the subgrade is in sound physical condition (i.e., its natural water content approximates the optimal water content) and the relative compaction is at least 90%. However, if the relative compaction is 85%, the subgrade is stable only at a dynamic stress level that is below 70 kPa, and the subgrade may suffer shear failure at a higher dynamic stress level. The elastic deformation of the subgrade linearly increases with an increase in train speed. However, if the degree of saturation of the silt subgrade increases, the thresholds of both the dynamic stress and resilient modulus decrease markedly, accompanied by sharp increases in elastic deformation and cumulative deformation and can even result in the shear failure of the subgrade. These conditions are unfavorable for the high speeds and stability needed for trains; therefore, train speeds should be limited in wet conditions to reduce subgrade dynamic stress and load frequency.