Altered Membrane Mechanics Provides a Receptor-Independent Pathway for Serotonin Action

Serotonin, an important signaling molecule in humans, has an unexpectedly high lipid membrane affinity. The significance of this finding has evoked considerable speculation. Here we show that membrane binding by serotonin can directly modulate membrane properties and cellular function, providing an activity pathway completely independent of serotonin receptors. Atomic force microscopy shows that serotonin makes artificial lipid bilayers softer, and induces nucleation of liquid disordered domains inside the raft-like liquid-ordered domains. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy corroborates this data at the atomic level, revealing a homogeneous decrease in the order parameter of the lipid chains in the presence of serotonin. In the RN46A immortalized serotonergic neuronal cell line, extracellular serotonin enhances transferrin receptor endocytosis, even in the presence of broad-spectrum serotonin receptor and transporter inhibitors. Similarly, it increases the membrane binding and internalization of oligomeric peptides. Our results uncover a mode of serotonin–membrane interaction that can potentiate key cellular processes in a receptor-independent fashion.     

Synthesis and RNA binding selectivity of oligonucleotides modified with five-atom thioacetamido nucleic acid backbone structures

Convenient chemical synthesis and incorporation of dithymidine and thymidine-cytidine dimer blocks connected with a five-atom amide linker N3'-CO-CH2-S-CH2 into oligonucleotides (ONs) are reported. The UV-Tm experiments for binding affinities of these mixed backbone ONs with complementary DNA and RNA sequences revealed important results such as significantly higher RNA-binding selectivity as compared with complementary DNA. NMR studies of the dimer blocks suggested a marginal increase in the N-type sugar conformations over that of the native DNA.     

Contaminant detection in treated water using Optiqua’s MiniLab™ biosensing system: a case study for Bisphenol A

An inhibition assay for detection of Bisphenol A (BPA) in treated water has been developed and validated for the MiniLab? system from Optiqua Technologies. This biosensor-based analytical system can be used for detection of specific contaminants in solution. The system uses an integrated optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer chip that is functionalised with a biochemical interface layer. The sensor chip surface was first coated with aminodextran which formed a hydrophilic layer suitable for further modification. 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid (BVA), which is a structural analogue of BPA, was then successfully coupled to the aminodextran layer. This surface chemistry was used in a qualitative inhibition assay format for the selective detection of the presence of BPA. The assay was developed and optimised using a polyclonal anti-BPA antibody. Samples from 12 different water matrices of Singapore were spiked with known amounts of BPA and tested with the MiniLab? system. The working range of the BPA inhibition assay is from 0.5 to 5 µg/L. Intra- and inter-assay variations were measured, with calculated relative standard deviation averaging of about 15%. BPA concentrations of the spiked samples were also verified and confirmed with LC-MS. Such functionalised biosensor chip can be reused for more than 200 sample injections over a period longer than 6 months. Developed as a robust, user-friendly and cost-effective system that can be field deployed, the MiniLab? system enables target-specific assays currently only available in the lab to become available in the field.     

Bio‐based high‐performance waterborne hyperbranched polyurethane thermoset

Tannic‐acid‐based low volatile organic compound‐containing waterborne hyperbranched polyurethane was prepared. In order to improve the performance, it was modified in an aqueous medium using a glycerol‐based hyperbranched epoxy and vegetable‐oil‐based poly(amido amine) at different wt%. The combined system was cross‐linked by heating at 100°C for 45 min. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and swelling study were used to confirm the curing. A dose‐dependent improvement of properties was witnessed for the thermoset. Thermoset with 30 wt% epoxy showed excellent improvements in mechanical properties like tensile strength (~3.4 fold), scratch hardness (~2 fold), impact resistance (~1.3 fold), and toughness (~1.7 fold). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed enhancement of thermal properties (maximum 70°C increment of degradation temperature and 8°C increment of T_g). The modified system showed better chemical and water resistance compared with the neat polyurethane. Biodegradation study was carried out by broth culture method using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the test organism. An adequate biodegradation was witnessed, as evidenced by weight loss profile, bacterial growth curve, and scanning electron microscope images. The work showed the way to develop environmentally benign waterborne polyurethane as a high‐performance material by incorporating a reactive modifier into the polymer network. Use of benign solvent and bio‐based materials as well as profound biodegradability justified eco‐friendliness and sustainability of the modified system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large Ultrathin Shelled Drops Produced via Non‐Confined Microfluidics

We present a facile approach for producing large and monodisperse core–shell drops with ultrathin shells using a single‐step process. A biphasic compound jet is introduced into a quiescent third (outer) phase that ruptures to form core–shell drops. Ultrathin shelled drops could only be produced within a certain range of surfactant concentrations and flow rates, highlighting the effect of interfacial tension in engulfing the core in a thin shell. An increase in surfactant concentrations initially resulted in drops with thinner shells. However, the drops with thinnest shells were obtained at an optimum surfactant concentration, and a further increase in the surfactant concentrations increased the shell thickness. Highly monodisperse (coefficient of variation smaller than 3 %) core–shell drops with diameter of ～200 μm–2 mm with shell thickness as small as ～2 μm were produced. The resulting drops were stable enough to undergo polymerisation and produce ultrathin shelled capsules.     

Size control and quantum confinement in Cu2ZnSnS4 nanocrystals

Starting with metal dithiocarbamate complexes, we synthesize colloidal Cu(2)ZnSnS(4) (CZTS) nanocrystals with diameters ranging from 2 to 7 nm. Structural and Raman scattering data confirm that CZTS is obtained rather than other possible material phases. The optical absorption spectra of nanocrystals with diameters less than 3 nm show a shift to higher energy due to quantum confinement.     

Heterocyclic carbenes of diverse flexibility: A theoretical insight

A systematic density functional investigation has been carried out on the structure, stability and reactivity of heterocyclic carbenes of diverse flexibility, i.e., carbenes with different modes of binding specially normal and remote mode of binding. Ligating properties of these carbenes have been assessed by virtue of their HOMO energies and verified further by inspection of the symmetric CO frequencies of their respective palladium carbonyl complexes. All the remote carbenes were found to have higher σ-donating abilities compared to their normal analogs. N-heterocyclic carbenes 1 and 5 are found to be electrophilic in nature while the remote carbene 3 and P-heterocyclic carbene 6 are found to be nucleophilic. Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) reveals significant covalent character in the C_carbene-Pd bonds.     

Condensation Product of 1-Naphthaldehyde and 3-Aminophenol: Fluorescent “on” Probe for Ce3+and “off” Probe for Dichromate (Cr2O72−)

A new probe (Z)-3-((naphthalen-1-ylmethylene)amino)phenol has been synthesized by condensation reaction between 1-naphthaldehyde and 3-aminophenol for the fluorescent sensing of Ce³⁺ by “on” mode and dichromate (Cr₂O₇^2?) by “off” mode. Metal ions—Ag⁺, Al³⁺, As³⁺, Ba²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cd²⁺, Ce⁴⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Hg²⁺, K⁺, La⁺, Li⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Na⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺and anions Br^?, C₂O₄^2?, CH₃COO^?, Cl^?, CO₃^2?, F^?, H₂PO₄^?, HCO₃^?, HF₂^?, HPO₄^2?, I^?, MnO₄^?, NO₃^?, OH^?, S^2?, S₂O₃^2?, SCN^?, SO₄^2? do not interfere. The limit of detection (LOD) for sensing Ce³⁺ and Cr₂O₇^2? ions are 1.286?×?10^–7 M and 6.425?×?10^–6 M, respectively.

     

Quantum confinement in silver selenide semiconductor nanocrystals

We prepare Ag(2)Se nanocrystals with average diameters between 2.7 and 10.4 nm that exhibit narrow optical absorption features in the near to mid infrared. We demonstrate that these features are broadly tunable due to quantum confinement. They provide the longest wavelength absorption peaks (6.5 μm) yet reported for colloidal nanocrystals.     

Microwave-assisted novel and efficient one-pot synthesis of fused steroidal and non-steroidal isothiazoles

An efficient microwave promoted one-pot synthesis of steroidal and non-steroidal isothiazole derivatives from corresponding β-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been described using a sodium thiocyanate-urea system. The β-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes derivatives are efficiently synthesized from corresponding cyclic ketones using Vilsmeir formylation reaction. The synthetic protocol is also applied for the synthesis of antifungal brassilexin.