Corrigendum to “Deposition of chemically reactive and repellent sites on biosensor chips for reduced non-specific binding” [Colloids Surf. B 79 (2010) 270–275]

Treatment of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces with SF₆ plasma results in the creation of high-surface-area nanotextured surfaces that considerably favour protein adsorption with respect to untreated ones. In order to employ such nanotextured surfaces as substrates for microarrays to be created and analysed using standard instrumentation, we fabricated thin PDMS films on top of standard low-cost microscope glass slides. The properties of both untreated and plasma-treated PDMS-coated slides towards spotting of protein solutions were evaluated in terms of spot signal intensity and homogeneity as well as of spot shape and size. It was found that the plasma-treated PDMS-coated glass slides provided highly homogeneous spots (mean intra-spot variation 7.6%) with spot signal intensity 6-times higher than that obtained using the untreated ones. In addition, comparison with commercially available polystyrene and aminosilanized-glass microarray slides showed that the proposed slides provided 3-times higher spot signal intensity and 2-times lower intra-spot signal variation. In addition, the implementation of long-aged-after-plasma-treatment nanotextured PDMS-coated glass slides provided spots whose shape and size matched those of the spotting tip. As a consequence, denser arrays of variable spot shape can be created using SF₆ plasma-treated PDMS-coated slides instead of standard microarray slides opening new potentials for bioanalytical applications.     

Quantification of water compartmentation in cell suspensions by diffusion-weighted and T(2)-weighted MRI

When studying water diffusion in biological systems, any specific signal attenuation curve may be reproduced by a broad range of mathematical functions. Our goals were to quantify the diffusion and T₂ relaxation properties of water in a simple biological system and to study the changes that occur in osmotically stressed cells.     

Abrupt buckling transition observed during the plectoneme formation of individual DNA molecules

The response of single DNA molecules to externally applied forces and torques was directly measured using an angular optical trap. Upon overwinding, DNA buckled abruptly as revealed by a sharp extension drop followed by a torque plateau. When the DNA was held at the buckling transition, its extension hopped rapidly between two distinct states. Furthermore, the initial plectonemic loop absorbed approximately twice as much extension as was absorbed into the plectoneme upon each additional turn. The observed extension change after buckling and the postbuckling torque support a recent DNA elasticity model.     

Characterization of the isoforms of PIXY321, a granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor-interleukin-3 fusion protein, separated by preparative isoelectric focusing on immobilized pH gradients.

We present here the purification and the characterization of the isoforms of PIXY321, a genetically engineered fusion of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor and interleukin-3 expressed in yeast. The isoforms of PIXY321 were isolated using preparative isoelectric focusing (IEF) on immobilized pH gradients. Analysis of the collected fractions on analytical IEF gels showed that PIXY321 was resolved into four discrete isoforms of isoelectric point (pI) 5.0, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 with excellent yields. Subsequent analysis of purified isoforms of PIXY321 by peptide mapping and mass spectrometry linked the microheterogeneity of the original molecule to three parameters, the presence of deamidated residues, charged glycans and the pattern of O-linked glycosylation along the peptide sequence. This last parameter emphasizes the role of conformational aspects as key factors influencing the apparent isoelectric point of protein isoforms.     

Bildung und Kristallstruktur von Tribariumtetradecaphosphid‐Ammoniak(1/18) Ba3P14_.18NH3

Formation and Crystal Structure of Tribarium Tetradecaphosphide‐Ammonia(1/18) Ba₃P₁₄_.18NH₃ Tribarium tetradecaphosphide‐ammonia(1/18) Ba₃P₁₄_.18NH₃ was prepared by the reduction of red phosphorus with a solution of Ba in liquid NH₃. It contains heptaphosphanortricyclane anions P₇^3–, which are joined via P–Ba contacts resulting in <$>^1_\infty<$>[Ba₂(P₇)₂]^2–‐chains separated by barium octaammine complexes Ba(NH₃)₈²⁺.     

A Zwitterionic Phosphonio‐1, 2, 4‐Diazaphospholide and Neutral 1, 2, 4‐Diazaphosphole — A Comparative Study of Molecular Structures and Co‐ordination Properties

The bis‐phosphonio‐1, 2, 4‐diazaphospholide salt ( 1 [Cl]) reacts with complex boron hydrides under selective extrusion of one PPh₃ moiety to give borane adducts of a novel zwitterionic phosphonio‐1, 2, 4‐diazaphospholide. Both the Et₃B adduct 2b and the free zwitterionic heterocycle 3 , which was liberated by further reaction of 2b with NEt₃, were characterized by spectroscopic data and 2b , as well, by a single crystal X‐ray diffraction study. The comparison of the structural data with those of a neutral 1, 2, 4‐diazaphosphole and a lithium‐1, 2, 4‐diazaphospholide which was formed by deprotonation of the parent 1, 2, 4‐diazaphosphole 4a discloses trends in endocyclic bonding distances which can be rationalized in terms of a charge dependent shift in the π‐electron distribution. First studies of the co‐ordination properties reveal for both 2b and 4a a marked preference to bind two M(CO)₅‐fragments (M = Cr, W) via the lone‐pairs of the phosphorus and one nitrogen atom; mononuclear complexes with P‐co‐ordinated heterocycles are formed as intermediates. A single crystal X‐ray diffraction study of the dinuclear complex [Cr₂(CO)₁₀(μ₂‐C₂H₃N₂P‐κP, κN)] ( 10a ) together with spectroscopic studies (including ¹⁸³W NMR studies of tungsten complexes) suggests that M→L back donation is more efficient for P‐ than for N‐bound metal fragments. No evidence for π‐co‐ordination of the 1, 2, 4‐diazaphosphole ring to a Cr(CO)₃ fragment was obtained.     

[1,3‐Bis(4‐nitrophenyl)triazenido](triphenylphosphine)gold(I)

In the title complex, [Au(C₁₂H₈N₅O₄)(C₁₈H₁₅P)], the coordination geometry about the Au^I ion is linear, with one deprotonated 1,3‐bis(4‐nitro­phenyl)­triazenide ion, [O₂NC₆H₄N=N–NC₆H₄NO₂]⁻, acting as a monodentate ligand (two‐electron donor), and one neutral tri­phenyl­phosphine mol­ecule completing the metal coordination. The triazenide ligand is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0767 Å), with the largest interplanar angle being 11.6 (7)° between the phenyl ring of one of the terminal 4‐nitro­phenyl substituents and the plane defined by the N=N—N triad. The Au—N and Au—P distances are 2.108 (5) and 2.2524 (13) Å, respectively. Pairs of mol­ecules generated by centrosymmetry are associated into a supramolecular array via intermolecular C—H⋯O inter­actions, and N⋯C and N⋯O π–π interactions.     

Study of the drying behavior of model latex blends during film formation: influence of carboxyl groups

Latex blending is a strategy used to eliminate volatile organic compounds from latex coatings formulations. This paper focuses on the study of the drying kinetics of model hard/soft latex blends and the influence of the presence of carboxyl groups on these particles as well as the extent of neutralization of the carboxyl groups with different bases. The model latex blend was comprised of clean, well‐defined polystyrene hard and poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐co‐n‐butyl acrylate) soft latex particles with monodisperse particle sizes, homogeneous copolymer composition, and independent control of particle size and carboxyl group content. Drying models are discussed. It was found that the presence of carboxyl groups in the latex particles retarded the drying rate of the model latex blends. When the carboxyl groups present in the latex blends with low carboxyl group coverage on polystyrene particles were neutralized by using ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, the drying rate increased. When the carboxyl groups present in the latex blends with a high carboxyl group coverage on polystyrene particles were neutralized by sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or cesium hydroxide, the drying rate first decreased and then increased as the extent of the neutralization increased. However, the neutralization of these carboxyl groups with ammonium hydroxide increased the drying rate of the latex blends within a broad range of neutralization conditions (from 0 to 100%). A cluster model was proposed to explain these phenomena.     

Compatibilization of the PBA/PMMA core/shell latex interphase. I. Effect of PMMA macromonomer

In this work poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) macromonomer is used as a compatibilizing agent in a poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA)/PMMA core/shell latex system. The incorporation of the PMMA macromonomer was achieved by copolymerizing it with BA monomer using miniemulsion polymerization. PBA seed latex was also synthesized without the macromonomer present to compare the compatibilizing effects with the PMMA macromonomer. The second stage methyl methacrylate monomer was added semi-continuously to the PBA seed latexes under monomer-starved conditions. Solid-state ¹³C-NMR [H]T₁ρ relaxation studies were used to determine the effect of PMMA compatibilizer on these PBA/PMMA core/shell latex interphase regions. The thickness of the interphase of the core/shell particles prepared with and without the PMMA macromonomer compatibilizing agent are calculated to be in the range of 15–16 nm and 10–12 nm, respectively. Electron microscopy revealed that the seed latex prepared with the PMMA macromonomer achieved a more uniform coverage with the second stage PMMA polymer as compared to the latex synthesized without the compatibilizing agent present. It is concluded that the PMMA macromonomer is effective in increasing the thickness of the interphase region and also the amount of interfacial PMMA. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.