Synthesis and properties of organic-inorganic hybrid P(NIPAM-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-AM-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-TMSPMA) microgels

Utilizing the hydrolysis and condensation of the methoxysilyl moieties, organic-inorganic hybrid poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide-co-3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate) P(NIPAM-co-AM-co-TMSPMA) microgels were prepared via two different methods. The first method was that the microgels were post-fabricated from the crosslinkable linear P(NIPAM-co-AM-co-TMSPMA) terpolymer aqueous solutions above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the terpolymer. For the second method, the microgels were directly synthesized by conventional surfactant free emulsion copolymerization of NIPAM, AM, and TMSPMA. The hydrodynamic diameter and stability of the resultant P(NIPAM-co-AM-co-TMSPMA) microgels strongly depend on the pH and temperature of the microgel aqueous solution. The hydrodynamic diameters of the microgels decreased with increasing the measuring temperature. The phase transition temperature of the microgels was found to be around 34°C, which was independent of the initial terpolymer concentration and shifted to lower temperature with increasing the preparation temperature. Increasing the initial amount of AM will enhance the instability of the microgels at high pH values. Moreover, the P(NIPAM-co-AM-co-TMSPMA) microgels obtained from the linear terpolymer had more homogeneous microstructures as compared with the corresponding NIPAM/AM/TMSPMA microgels prepared by one step emulsion copolymerization as revealed by light scattering measurements.     

Ionic liquid aqueous solvent-based microwave-assisted hydrolysis for the extraction and HPLC determination of myricetin and quercetin from Myrica rubra leaves

An ionic liquid aqueous solvent‐based microwave‐assisted hydrolysis (ILAS‐MAH) approach was proposed for the rapid extraction and accurate determination of myricetin and quercetin from Myrica rubra (M. rubra) leaves for the first time. The effects of the ionic liquid class and concentration, liquid–solid ratio, hydrolysis temperature and time were investigated to obtain the optimal ILAS‐MAH conditions. The optimized conditions were 2.0 mol/L [bmin][HSO4] or 2.5 mol/L acidified [bmin]Br solution, liquid–solid ratio 30:1 (mL : g), hydrolysis temperature 70°C and hydrolysis time 10 min. Under these conditions, the recoveries of myricetin and quercetin were in the range of 86.3–107.3% with relative standard deviation lower than 5.8%. Compared with conventional heating hydrolysis and regular MAH, the proposed approach reduced hydrolysis time and improved yields. The mechanism of ILAS‐MAH was also investigated. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rational design of zinc-organic coordination polymers directed by N-donor co-ligands

A family of Zn^II‐based metal–organic coordination polymers (MOCPs) [Zn(L)(imid)₂] ( 1 ), [Zn(L)(2,2′‐bpy)] ( 2 ), [Zn₂(L)₂(Py)₃] ( 3 ), [Zn(L)(DPP)]?DMF ( 4 ), [Zn(L)(DPEA)] ( 5 ), [Zn₂(L)₂(4,4′‐bpy)] ( 6 ), [Zn(L)(3,4′‐DPEE)]?DMF ( 7 ), and [Zn₃(L)₃(3,4′‐DPEE)₂]?DMF ( 8 ) (L=dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐e]benzene‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid, imid=imidazole, bpy=bipyridine, Py=pyridine, DPP=1,3‐di(pyridin‐4‐yl)propane, DPEA=1,2‐di(pyridin‐4‐yl)ethane, and DPEE=(E)‐3,4′‐(ethene‐1,2‐diyl)dipyridine) have been rationally designed and generated in the solvothermal reaction systems of the new conjugated thiophene derivative L, Zn(ClO₄)₂?6 H₂O, and seven different aromatic N‐donor co‐ligands separately. These N‐donor compounds were carefully selected and employed in the crystal preparation of the eight MOCPs as structure‐directing co‐ligands owing to their structural specialties and habitual coordination fashions. Among these MOCPs, compounds 1 – 3 are 1D polymers with different chain structures. Compounds 4 , 7 , and 8 are 2D structures, in which 4 has two sets of twofold interpenetrating layers, whereas 7 and 8 are both built from three independent sheets. Compounds 5 and 6 are 3D frameworks, in which 5 exhibits a fivefold interpenetrating diamondoid network, whereas 6 shows a typical twofold interpenetrating pillared layer structure with nanoscale channels. The photoluminescent properties of these MOCPs, including excitation, emission, and radiactive lifetime, have also been investigated to help us tentatively understand their structure–property relationships.     

Synthesis of heteroarylidene malonate derived bis(thiazolines) and their application in the catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reaction

A series of novel heteroarylidene malonate derived bis(thiazoline) ligands 1 and 2 were synthesized and applied to a Friedel-Crafts reaction between indole and alkylidene malonate. The Cu(OTf)₂ complex of ligand 2b bearing a benzyl group afforded moderate to excellent enantioselectivity for the adducts (up to >99% ee).     

Metabolite identification of artemether by data-dependent accurate mass spectrometric analysis using an LTQ-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer in combination with the online hydrogen/deuterium exchange technique

Artemether (ARM), the O-methyl ether prodrug of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), is a first-line antimalarial drug used in areas of multi-drug resistance. Artemisinin drugs can be metabolized extensively in vivo and this seems related to their autoinduction pharmacokinetics. In the present study, the metabolite identification of ARM was performed by the generic data-dependent accurate mass spectrometric analysis, using high-resolution (HR) liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) LTQ-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer in conjunction with online hydrogen (H)/deuterium (D) exchange for rapid structural characterization. The LC separation was improved allowing the separation of ARM parent drugs and their metabolites from their diastereomers. A total of 77 phase I metabolites of ARM were identified in rat liver microsomal incubates and rat urine, including dihydroartemisinin and artemisinin. In rat bile, 12 phase II metabolites were found. Accurate mass data were obtained in both full scan and HR-MS/MS mode to support assignments of metabolite structures. Online H/D exchange LC/HR-ESI-MS experiments provided additional evidence in differentiating dihydroxylated deoxy-ARM from mono-hydroxylated ARM. The results showed the main phase I metabolites of artemether are hydroxylated, dehydro, demethylated and deoxy products, and they will undergo subsequent phase II glucuronidation processes. Most metabolites were reported for the first time. This study also demonstrated the effectiveness of high-resolution mass spectrometry in combination with an online H/D exchange LC/HR-MS(n) technique in rapid identification of drug metabolites.     

Determination of radon using solid state nuclear tracks wireless sensing method

A highly sensitive and selective electrochemiluminescent (ECL) biosensor for the determination of adenosine was developed. Single DNA (capture DNA) was immobilized on the gold electrode through Au-thiol interaction at first. Another DNA modified with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl) ruthenium(II)-doped silica nanoparticles (Ru-SNPs) that contained adenosine aptamer was then modified on the electrode surface through hybridizing with the capture DNA. In the presence of adenosine, adenosine-aptamer complex is produced rather than aptamer-DNA duplex, resulting with the dissociation of Ru-SNPs-labeled aptamer from the electrode surface and the decrease in the ECL intensity. The decrease of ECL intensity has a direct relationship with the logarithm of adenosine concentration in the range of 1.0×10(-10) to 5.0×10(-6)molL(-1). The detection limit of the proposed method is 3.0×10(-11)molL(-1). The existence of guanosine, cytidine and uridine has little interference with adenosine detection, demonstrating that the developed biosensor owns a high selectivity to adenosine. In addition, the developed biosensor also demonstrates very good reusability, as after being reused for 30 times, its ECL signal still keeps 91% of its original state.     

Additive-free clicking for polymer functionalization and coupling by tetrazine-norbornene chemistry

Herein we report the use of a tetrazine-norbornene inverse electron demand Diels-Alder conjugation applied to polymer end-functionalization and polymer-polymer coupling. The reaction was found to be applicable to polymer-polymer coupling, as judged by SEC, DOSY NMR, and LCxSEC analyses, giving diblock copolymers by merely mixing the constituent homopolymers together under ambient conditions, using no catalyst, additive, or external stimulus.     

Ionic liquid-functionalized graphene as modifier for electrochemical and electrocatalytic improvement: comparison of different carbon electrodes

Electrochemical activities of typically electrochemical targets at three kinds of modified carbon electrodes, i.e. carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE), graphene/carbon paste electrode (CPE), and ionic liquid-functionalized graphene (IL-graphene)/CPE, were compared in detail. The redox processes of the probes at IL-graphene/CPE were faster than those at CILE and graphene/CPE from cyclic voltammetry. An electrochemical method for the simultaneous determination of guanine and adenine was described with detection limits of 6.5 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (guanine) and 3.2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ (adenine). Single A → G mutation of sequence-specific DNA could be discriminated by the IL-graphene/CPE.     

Graphene-based immunosensor for electrochemical quantification of phosphorylated p53 (S15)

We reported a graphene-based immunosensor for electrochemical quantification of phosphorylated p53 on serine 15 (phospho-p53¹⁵), a potential biomarker of gamma-radiation exposure. The principle is based on sandwich immunoassay and the resulting immunocomplex is formed among phospho-p53 capture antibody, phospho-p53¹⁵ antigen, biotinylated phospho-p53¹⁵ detection antibody and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled streptavidin. The introduced HRP results in an electrocatalytic response to reduction of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of thionine. Graphene served as sensor platform not only promotes electron transfer, but also increases the surface area to introduce a large amount of capture antibody, thus increasing the detection sensitivity. The experimental conditions including blocking agent, immunoreaction time and substrate concentration have been optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the increase of response current is proportional to the phospho-p53¹⁵ concentration in the range of 0.2–10 ng mL⁻¹, with the detection limit of 0.1 ng mL⁻¹. The developed immunosensor exhibits acceptable stability and reproducibility and the assay results for phospho-p53¹⁵ are in good correlation with the known values. This easily fabricated immunosensor provides a new promising tool for analysis of phospho-p53¹⁵ and other phosphorylated proteins.     

Maintaining the predictive abilities of multivariate calibration models by spectral space transformation

In quantitative on-line/in-line monitoring of chemical and bio-chemical processes using spectroscopic instruments, multivariate calibration models are indispensable for the extraction of chemical information from complex spectroscopic measurements. The development of reliable multivariate calibration models is generally time-consuming and costly. Therefore, once a reliable multivariate calibration model is established, it is expected to be used for an extended period. However, any change in the instrumental response or variations in the measurement conditions can render a multivariate calibration model invalid. In this contribution, a new method, spectral space transformation (SST), has been developed to maintain the predictive abilities of multivariate calibration models when the spectrometer or measurement conditions are altered. SST tries to eliminate the spectral differences induced by the changes in instruments or measurement conditions through the transformation between two spectral spaces spanned by the corresponding spectra of a subset of standardization samples measured on two instruments or under two sets of experimental conditions. The performance of the method has been tested on two data sets comprising NIR and MIR spectra. The experimental results show that SST can achieve satisfactory analyte predictions from spectroscopic measurements subject to spectrometer/probe alteration, when only a few standardization samples are used. Compared with the existing popular methods designed for the same purpose, i.e. global PLS, univariate slope and bias correction (SBC) and piecewise direct standardization (PDS), SST has the advantages of implementation simplicity, wider applicability and better performance in terms of predictive accuracy.