Cobalt tris(4-vinylphenyl)corrole: out of the frying pan into the polymer

A novel cobalt corrole bearing 4-vinylphenyl groups at the 5,10,15-meso-positions of the macrocycle has been synthesized from tris(4-bromophenyl)corrole using a Suzuki coupling reaction. The spectral and electrochemical properties are reported in CH₂Cl₂ along with its ability to form a highly stable six-coordinate complex and cross-linked corrole-based polymer in a 59% yield.

A Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-Dependent Sprouting Angiogenesis Assay Based on an In Vitro Human Blood Vessel Model for the Study of Anti-Angiogenic Drugs

Angiogenesis is the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing blood vessels and participates in proper vasculature development. In pathological conditions such as cancer, abnormal angiogenesis takes place. Angiogenesis is primarily carried out by endothelial cells, the innermost layer of blood vessels. The vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) and its receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) trigger most of the mechanisms activating and regulating angiogenesis, and have been the targets for the development of drugs. However, most experimental assays assessing angiogenesis rely on animal models. We report an in vitro model using a microvessel-on-a-chip. It mimics an effective endothelial sprouting angiogenesis event triggered from an initial microvessel using a single angiogenic factor, VEGF-A. The angiogenic sprouting in this model is depends on the Notch signaling, as observed in vivo. This model enables the study of anti-angiogenic drugs which target a specific factor/receptor pathway, as demonstrated by the use of the clinically approved sorafenib and sunitinib for targeting the VEGF-A/VEGFR-2 pathway. Furthermore, this model allows testing simultaneously angiogenesis and permeability. It demonstrates that sorafenib impairs the endothelial barrier function, while sunitinib does not. Such in vitro human model provides a significant complimentary approach to animal models for the development of effective therapies.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the extinction in a dense distribution of particles: nonlocal effects

We report experimental measurements of the extinction in a suspension of dielectric spheres. We find that the model originally introduced by Keller is in good agreement with the data provided that nonlocal effects are properly taken into account. We also find that the simple criterion establishing the regime of independent scattering previously introduced is not consistent with our data.

Mie Light-Scattering Granulometer with an Adaptive Numerical Filtering Method. II. Experiments

A nephelometer is presented that theoretically requires no absolute calibration. This instrument is used for determining the particle-size distribution of various scattering media (aerosols, fogs, rocket exhausts, engine plumes, and the like) from angular static light-scattering measurements. An inverse procedure is used, which consists of a least-squares method and a regularization scheme based on numerical filtering. To retrieve the distribution function one matches the experimental data with theoretical patterns derived from Mie theory. The main principles of the inverse method are briefly presented, and the nephelometer is then described with the associated partial calibration procedure. Finally, the whole granulometer system (inverse method and nephelometer) is validated by comparison of measurements of scattering media with calibrated monodisperse or known size distribution functions.

Mie light-scattering granulometer with adaptive numerical filtering. I. Theory

A search procedure based on a least-squares method including a regularization scheme constructed from numerical filtering is presented. This method, with the addition of a nephelometer, can be used to determine the particle-size distributions of various scattering media (aerosols, fogs, rocket exhausts, motor plumes) from angular static light-scattering measurements. For retrieval of the distribution function, the experimental data are matched with theoretical patterns derived from Mie theory. The method is numerically investigated with simulated data, and the performance of the inverse procedure is evaluated. The results show that the retrieved distribution function is quite reliable, even for strong levels of noise.