A small molecule discrimination map of the antibiotic resistance kinome

Kinase-mediated resistance to antibiotics is a significant clinical challenge. These enzymes share a common protein fold characteristic of Ser/Thr/Tyr protein kinases. We screened 14 antibiotic resistance kinases against 80 chemically diverse protein kinase inhibitors to map resistance kinase chemical space. The screens identified molecules with both broad and narrow inhibition profiles, proving that protein kinase inhibitors offer privileged chemical matter with the potential to block antibiotic resistance. One example is the flavonol quercetin, which inhibited a number of resistance kinases in vitro and in vivo. This activity was rationalized by determination of the crystal structure of the aminoglycoside kinase APH(2″)-IVa in complex with quercetin and its antibiotic substrate kanamycin. Our data demonstrate that protein kinase inhibitors offer chemical scaffolds that can block antibiotic resistance, providing leads for co-drug design.     

A 'microfluidic pinball' for on-chip generation of Layer-by-Layer polyelectrolyte microcapsules

Inspired by the game of "pinball" where rolling metal balls are guided by obstacles, here we describe a novel microfluidic technique which utilizes micropillars in a flow channel to continuously generate, encapsulate and guide Layer-by-Layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte microcapsules. Droplet-based microfluidic techniques were exploited to generate oil droplets which were smoothly guided along a row of micropillars to repeatedly travel through three parallel laminar streams consisting of two polymers and a washing solution. Devices were prototyped in PDMS and generated highly monodisperse and stable 45±2 μm sized polyelectrolyte microcapsules. A total of six layers of hydrogen bonded polyelectrolytes (3 bi-layers) were adsorbed on each droplet within <3 minutes and a fluorescent intensity measurement confirmed polymer film deposition. AFM analysis revealed the thickness of each polymer layer to be approx. 2.8 nm. Our design approach not only provides a faster and more efficient alternative to conventional LbL deposition techniques, but also achieves the highest number of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) reported thus far using microfluidics. Additionally, with our design, a larger number of PEMs can be deposited without adding any extra operational or interfacial complexities (e.g. syringe pumps) which are a necessity in most other designs. Based on the aforementioned advantages of our device, it may be developed into a great tool for drug encapsulation, or to create capsules for biosensing where deposition of thin nanofilms with controlled interfacial properties is highly required.     

Accelerated iterative strategy for the divergent synthesis of dendritic macromolecules using a combination of living radical polymerization and an irreversible terminator multifunctional initiator

Our laboratory has reported the elaboration of an iterative strategy for the synthesis of dendritic macromolecules from conventional monomers. This synthetic method involves a combination of self‐regulated metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerization initiated from arenesulfonyl chlorides and an irreversible terminator multifunctional initiator (TERMINI). The previous TERMINI, (1,1‐dimethylethyl)[[1‐[3,5‐bis(S‐phenyl‐4‐N,N′ diethylthiocarbamate)phenyl]ethenyl]oxy]dimethylsilane, was prepared in nine reaction steps. The replacement of the previous TERMINI with one that requires only three steps for its synthesis, diethylthiocarbamic acid S‐{3‐[1‐(tert‐butyl‐dimethyl‐silanyloxy)‐vinyl]‐5‐diethylcarbamoylsulfanyl‐phenyl} ester, and the use of the more reactive Cu₂S/2,2′‐bipyridine rather than the Cu₂O/2,2′‐bipyridine self‐regulated catalyst have generated an accelerated method for the synthesis of dendritic macromolecules. This method provides rational design strategies for the synthesis of dendritic macromolecules with different compaction by the use of a single monomer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4894–4906, 2005     

(Liquid + liquid) equilibria of (water + propionic acid + cyclohexanone) at several temperatures

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data for (water + propionic acid + cyclohexanone) were measured under atmospheric pressure and at T = (293.2, 298.2 and 303.2) K. Phase diagrams were obtained by determining solubility and tie-line data. The LLE data of the ternary systems were predicted by UNIFAC method. Distribution coefficients and separation factors were evaluated over the immiscibility regions.     

Effect of the three-body force on trinucleon bound systems consideringS andS′-state admixture

We report the calculation of binding energy, charge form factor and point-like proton density of both³H and³He by the hyperspherical harmonics method with the inclusion of two-pion exchange three-nucleon force (Fujita-Miyazawa type). For the two-body force theN-N Afnan-Tang S-3 potential is taken. Coulomb and three-body forces are treated nonperturbatively. In this calculation the mixed symmetryS′-state of the trinucleon ground state is considered along with the space totally symmetricS-state.     

Preferential solvation of dithizone in chloroform in cyclohexane

The molar absorptivity of diphenylthiocarbazone in cyclohexane is dramatically enhanced by the addition of small quantities of chloroform. This has been attributed to the formation of a 1:2 dithizone chloroform complex (formation constant 10^4.0) rather than simple nonspecific solvent effects.     

Determination of Cefdinir by a stability-indicating liquid chromatographic method

A simple, fast, specific, stability-indicating, and precise reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of Cefdinir in its different dosage forms, i.e., capsules and suspensions. The method was developed and optimized by analyzing the placebo preparation, formulations, and degraded samples of the drug substance according to the International Conference on Harmonization. The proposed method can successfully separate the drug from degradation products formed under stress conditions along with pharmaceutical ingredients such as preservatives. The developed method was used successfully to determine Cefdinir in capsules and Insta-use suspensions. The developed method was found to be linear for a concentration range of 6-14 microg/mL. Average recoveries obtained with the method were 99.3 +/- 0.4 and 99.6 +/- 0.4% for Insta-use suspensions and capsules, respectively. The method was shown to be specific, precise, and robust.