The Effects of Serum on Cellular Uptake and Phototoxicity of Mono-L-Aspartyl Chlorin e6 (NPe6) In Vitro

Abstract— Previous reports showed that the photosensitizer mono- l -aspartyl chlorin e6 (NPe6) binds to serum proteins. However, the influence of this binding on the cellular uptake and photodynamic therapy (PDT) phototoxicity of NPe6 is still undefined. In this paper, we studied how serum in medium affected the P388 cellular uptake and PDT phototoxicity of NPe6 in vitro. This was assessed by (1) detection of the red shift (654 nm Q band peak of absorption) induced by protein binding NPe6; (2) detection of intracellular concentration of NPe6 by HPLC and (3) measurements of the cell survival ratio after PDT by MTT assay. The 654 nm Q band peak of NPe6 shifted to 665 nm after binding of NPe6 and serum proteins. The protein-bound NPe6 cannot be uptaken by cells, thus there was no PDT phototoxicity. Nevertheless, phototoxicity recovered when the concentration of NPe6 excessed the serum protein binding ability or there was free serum protein in the medium. These data suggested that the cellular uptake of NPe6 is inhibited by serum components in the medium, and that only free NPe6 is accumulated by P388 cells even during relatively long incubations. The cytotoxicity of PDT mainly depends on the free NPe6 level in the medium.     

High power, high speed surface emitting LEDs with an InGaAs quantum well

High power and high speed surface emitting graded index separate confinement heterostructure (GRINSCH) LEDs with an InGaAs quantum well grown by metalorganic vapour phase epitaxy have been realized. The speed and the output power are affected by the thickness of the spacer layers separating the quantum well structure from the graded index layers and the growth sequence of the interface. A performance of 7.4 mW output power and 118 MHz speed, at 945 nm emitting wavelength, has been achieved when the spacer layer thickness is 50 Å with 30 s growth halts. The quantum and power efficiencies are 11% and 7.5%, respectively.     

Adsorptive voltammetry of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridyl)azo-5-[N-n-propyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)amino]phenol on a carbon paste electrode in the presence of organic cations and polycation.

The adsorption of ion-association complexes on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) was investigated by cyclic voltammetry using an electroactive hydrophobic anion probe. The redox reactions of 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridyl)azo-5-[N-n-propyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl)amino]phenol (5-Br-PAPS), the analytical probe, were irreversible. The reduction of the azo group and the oxidation of the phenol were observed at -0.1 V and 0.9 V vs. SCE, respectively, in a 0.1 mol L(-1) H(2)SO(4) solution. The peak currents for the redox reaction increased with the concentration of the cationic surfactant and the accumulation time. The increase in the ratio of the peak current to the concentration of cationic surfactants was proportional to the hydrophobicity. The peak current for 5-Br-PAPS also increased when a polycation, polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride, was added and was strongly dependent on the ionic strength and pH, in contrast to cationic surfactants.     

Liquid crystalline phase transitions in hexakis(4-(4'-heptyloxy)biphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene

Hexakis(4-(4'-heptyloxy)biphenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (HHCP) was synthesized from hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and 4-heptyloxy-4'-hydroxybiphenyl. The mesogenicity of HHCP was studied by DSC, FTIR spectroscopy and polarizing microscopy. Enantiotropic smectic C and nematic phases were observed between 450 and 455 K and 455 and 456 K, respectively, on heating, and between 456 and 455 K (nematic) and 455 and 440 K (smectic C) on cooling from the isotropic liquid phase. The introduction of the heptyloxybiphenoxy groups as side chains into cyclotriphosphazene has generated the liquid crystalline phase. FTIR spectroscopy showed that the P=N and P-O-(C) stretching vibrations converted to lower frequencies from 1224 to 1210 cm^-1 and from 920 to 910cm^-1, respectively, at the crystalline (C)-S_c phase transition. This result suggests that the state of the cyclotriphosphazene ring dramatically changes near the C-S_c phase transition.     

The reaction γ +d → π+ + π− +p + n between 570 and 850 MeV andΔ ++ Δ − production

The reaction γ+d → π⁺+π^? +p + n has been measured in a kinematically complete way at incident photon energies from 570 to 850 MeV in steps of 40 MeV. From detailed comparison of measured data with results of event simulations, it is concluded that three different mechanisms, the quasi-free, double-delta and phase space productions, contribute to the reaction. Each of the cross sections corresponding to these mechanisms is determined separately.     

Characterization of the complex formation of 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐maltotriose with potassium using 1H and 39K NMR spectroscopy

The ¹H and ³⁹K longitudinal relaxation times (T₁) and ¹H diffusion coefficients were measured to investigate the complex formation of 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐maltotriose and potassium ions. Although the ¹H‐T₁ values of H3′, H5′, H1″ and H4″ decreased in the presence of potassium ions, ¹H chemical shifts and ¹H diffusion coefficients did not show significant changes. The long‐range coupling constants of ³J_C?H around the glycosyl bonds did not show significant changes either. In the measurements of ³⁹K spectra, the ³⁹K signal obviously broadened and the ³⁹K‐T₁ values decreased in the presence of 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐maltotriose, indicating the complex formation of 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐maltotriose and potassium ions. These results indicate that the conformation and molecular volume were unaffected in the complex formation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Two‐dimensionally extended aromatic polyamines for optimization of charge‐transporting properties by partial oxidation

This article describes the synthesis of the two‐dimensionally extended aromatic polyamines by polycondensation between the tri‐sec‐amine monomer and p‐phenylenediamine‐based dibromide, the polyradical generation by chemical and electrochemical oxidations, and the hole‐transporting properties. The molecular weights (M_n) of the polyamines, 3a and 3b , were 7700 and 5000, respectively, and both polymers were very soluble in the typical organic solvents, ensuring a good film formation capability by a spin‐coating technique. The thermal stability of the aromatic polyamines, elucidated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), was quite high. More important, the cross‐conjugated structure is essential for the controlled radical generation and the maintenance of the radical stability. Cyclic voltammograms of the neutral polyamines in the presence of 1 vol % of trifluoroacetic acid and the intervalence bands of the partially oxidized polyamines with NOPF₆ revealed that the generated radicals delocalize over the p‐phenylenediamine moieties. The half‐life of the polyradicals was about 12 h even under ambient conditions, which allowed us to fabricate and measure the hole‐only devices. The charge‐transporting properties of the polyamines were dramatically changed by the partial oxidation (20 mol %/aminium unit) with NOPF₆. The neutral polyamines showed the conventional injection‐limit behaviors, whereas the hole‐transporting behaviors of the polyradicals are bulk‐limit and highly dependent on the chemical structure. The efficient hole‐transport of the all‐conjugated poly(aminium cationic radical)s was for the first time realized for the polyradical of 3b . © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4577–4586, 2009