Crowding effect induced phase transition of amphiphilic diblock copolymer in solution

The crowding agent induced phase transition of amphiphilic block copolymers in solution was explicitly considered. The influence of the size and the volume fraction of the crowding agent on the phase separation of amphiphilic diblock copolymers is investigated by using self-consistent field theory (SCFT) method. The concentration of the disorder to order transition of the block copolymer decreases when the size of the crowding agent is larger than that of the solvent. The higher volume fraction of the crowding agent will induce the transition of the block copolymer from disorder to order state at a lower concentration. The relation between the size and the volume fraction of the crowding agent is elucidated. When the size of the crowding agent is larger, its volume fraction of the disorder to order transition of the block copolymer will be lower. The conformation of the crowding agent considered as a polymer chain is also studied and compared.     

On the determinant evaluation of quasi penta-diagonal matrices and quasi penta-diagonal Toeplitz matrices

Recently, three computational algorithms for evaluating the determinant of quasi penta-diagonal matrices have been proposed by El-Mikkawy and Rahmo (Comput Math Appl 59:1386–1396, 2010), by Neossi Nguetchue and Abelman (Appl Math Comput 203:629–634, 2008), and by Jia et al. (Int J Comput Math 89:851–860, 2013), respectively. In the current paper, two novel algorithms with less computational costs are proposed for the determinant evaluation of general quasi penta-diagonal matrices and quasi penta-diagonal Toeplitz matrices. Furthermore, three numerical experiments are given to show the performance of our algorithms. All of the numerical computations were performed on a computer with aid of programs written in MATLAB.     

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for zinc ions based on the quinoline fluorophore

A ratiometric fluorescent zinc probe 1 of carboxamidoquinoline with a carboxylic acid group was designed and synthesised. Probe 1 exhibits high selectivity for sensing Zn²⁺; about a 13-fold increase in fluorescence emission intensity and an 82?nm red-shift of fluorescence emission are observed upon binding Zn²⁺ in EtOH/H₂O (1?:?1, V/V) solution. The ratiometric fluorescence response is attributed to the 1?:?1 complex formation between probe 1 and Zn²⁺ which has been utilised as the basis for the selective detection of Zn²⁺. The analytical performance characteristics of the proposed Zn²⁺-sensitive probe were investigated. The linear response range covers a concentration range of Zn²⁺ from 2.0?×?10^?6 to 5.0?×?10^?5?mol?L^?1 and the detection limit is 2.7?×?10^?7?mol?L^?1. The determination of Zn²⁺ in both tap and river water samples shows satisfactory results.     

Enantioselective extraction of hydrophilic 2-chloromandelic acid enantiomers by hydroxypropyl-��-cyclodextrin: experiments and modeling

Enantioselective extraction of hydrophilic 2-chloromandelic acid (CMA) enantiomers from organic to aqueous phase with hydroxypropyl-??-cyclodextrin (HP-??-CD) as the selector was investigated. Equilibrium of the extraction system was modeled using a reactive extraction model with a homogeneous aqueous phase reaction. The influence of important process variables on the extraction efficiency, such as the type of the organic solvent and ??-cyclodextrin derivatives (??-CDs), concentration of the selector, pH and temperature, was investigated by experiment and modeling. Important parameters of this model were determined experimentally. Results showed that the experimental data agree with the model prediction perfectly and the model was further applied to accurately predict the extraction efficiency influenced simultaneously by pH and the concentration of HP-??-CD. Combining the experiment and the model data, the best extraction conditions were: pH of 2.5, HP-??-CD concentration of 0.05 mol L^?1, and temperature of 5°C, providing the enantioselectivity of 1.285 and the performance factor (pf) of 0.011.     

Preparation of a new metallomicelle catalyst for the hydrolysis of bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate

A new metallomicellar system containing cerium(III), a macrocylic polyamine ligand, and the nonionic surfactant Brij35(polyoxyethylene(23) lauryl ether) was prepared and used as a catalyst in the hydrolysis of bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP). Catalytic rate of the BNPP hydrolysis was measured kinetically using the UV-VIS spectrophotometric method. The results indicate that the metallomicellar system has relatively high stability and excellent catalytic function in the BNPP hydrolysis; also, the reaction rate of the BNPP catalytic hydrolysis increased by a factor of ca. 1 × 10¹⁰ compared to the BNPP spontaneous hydrolysis due to the catalytic effect of the active species and the local concentration effect of the micelles in the metallomicellar system. Experimental results also showed that the mono-hydroxy complex containing the macrocyclic polyamine ligand and cerium(III) is the real active species in the BNPP catalytic hydrolysis, and that the micelles provide a useful catalytic environment for the reaction. On basis of the research results, the reaction mechanism of BNPP catalytic hydrolysis has been proposed.     

An ionic liquid-based sorbent for solid phase extraction of trace iron(Ш) from biological and natural water samples

A new ionic liquid modified silica gel sorbent was prepared from the reaction of active silica gel with N-3-(-3-triethoxysilylepropyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([(TESP)MIm]Cl). This sorbent was exploited as solid phase extractant for separation and preconcentration of metal ions prior to their determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). It was found that it can selectively adsorb Fe(Ш). Identification of the surface modification was performed on the basis of FT-IR. Experimental conditions for effective adsorption of trace Fe(Ш) were optimised using both batch and column procedures. At pH 3, Fe(Ш) could be quantitatively adsorbed and completely eluted by using 2?mL of 0.1?mol?L^?1 of HCl. 150?mL of sample solution was adopted as the maximum sample volume and a high enrichment factor of 75 was obtained. Most common coexisting ions did not interfere with the separation and preconcentration of Fe(Ш) at optimal conditions. The maximum static adsorption capacity of the sorbent was 37.0?mg?g^?1. The detection limit of the present method was 0.48?µg?L^?1, and the relative standard deviation (R. S. D.) was lower than 1.7%. The method was successfully applied to the preconcentration of trace Fe(Ш) in biological and natural water samples with satisfactory results.     

A quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics study on the hydrolysis mechanism of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) has emerged as a major global threat to human health for its rapid rate of dissemination and ability to make pathogenic microbes resistant to almost all known β-lactam antibiotics. In addition, effective NDM-1 inhibitors have not been identified to date. In spite of the plethora of structural and kinetic data available, the accurate molecular characteristics of and details on the enzymatic reaction of NDM-1 hydrolyzing β-lactam antibiotics remain incompletely understood. In this study, a combined computational approach including molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations was performed to characterize the catalytic mechanism of meropenem catalyzed by NDM-1. The quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics results indicate that the ionized D124 is beneficial to the cleavage of the C–N bond within the β-lactam ring. Meanwhile, it is energetically favorable to form an intermediate if no water molecule coordinates to Zn2. Moreover, according to the molecular dynamics results, the conserved residue K211 plays a pivotal role in substrate binding and catalysis, which is quite consistent with previous mutagenesis data. Our study provides detailed insights into the catalytic mechanism of NDM-1 hydrolyzing meropenem β-lactam antibiotics and offers clues for the discovery of new antibiotics against NDM-1 positive strains in clinical studies.     

Studies on the Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activities of 13‐cis‐Retinoyl Sugar Derivatives

New retinoyl sugar derivatives of 13‐cis‐retinoic acid were synthesized in three ways in this paper in order to enhance pharmacal effects, especially antiproliferative activities of 13‐cis‐retinoic acid. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and MS spectra and their antiproliferative activities were determined in vitro using human cancer lines. Results showed that some compounds possessed potential antitumor activities.     

Concurrent synthesis of vanillin and isovanillin

A method for concurrent synthesis of vanillin and isovanillin has been developed by a nonregioselective Vilsmeier–Haack reaction of O-alkyl guaiacols. O-Alkylation of guaiacol provided the corresponding O-alkyl guaiacol (1), which was then formylated with N-methylformanilide/phosphorus oxychloride to give a mixture of 4-alkoxy-3-methoxy-benzaldehyde (2) and 3-alkoxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (3). Finally, the obtained mixture underwent a selective dealkylation by anhydrous aluminium trichloride, while leaving methyl groups intact to simultaneously achieve the significant fine chemicals vanillin and isovanillin.