Stable cavitation induces increased cytoplasmic calcium in L929 fibroblasts exposed to 1-MHz pulsed ultrasound

An increase in cytoplasmic calcium (Ca²⁺ increase) is a second messenger that is often observed under ultrasound irradiation. We hypothesize that cavitation is a physical mechanism that underlies the increase in Ca²⁺ in these experiments. To control the presence of cavitation, the wave type was controlled in a sonication chamber. One wave type largely contained a traveling wave (wave type A) while the other wave type largely contained a standing wave (wave type B). Fast Fourier transform (FFT) analysis of a sound field produced by the wave types ascertained that stable cavitation was present only under wave type A ultrasound irradiation. Under the two controlled wave types, the increase in Ca²⁺ in L929 fibroblasts was observed with fluorescence imaging. Under wave type A ultrasound irradiation, an increase in Ca²⁺ was observed; however, no increase in Ca²⁺ was observed under wave type B ultrasound irradiation. We conclude that stable cavitation is involved in the increase of Ca²⁺ in cells subjected to pulsed ultrasound.     

Polycarbazole Copolymers from 3-(4-Fluorobenzoyl)carbazole and 4,4′-Biphenol via Combined C-N and C-O Coupling Reactions with Activated Difluorides

3-(4-Fluorobenzoyl)carbazole was synthesized by a Friedel-Crafts reaction of carbazole with 4-fluorobenzoylchloride. ¹H-NMR and MALDI-TOF MS confirmed the structure and the purity. Copolymers of these NH/OH-containing monomers were prepared with 4, 4′-biphenol and bis(4-fluorophenyl)sulfone as comonomers by combined C-O and C-N coupling reactions with activated difluorides. These copolymers were soluble in N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and dimethylformamide (DMF). The inherent viscosities of the copolymers in NMP solutions at 30°C were all around 0.8 dL/g. They could be easily cast into tough films from NMP solutions. The copolymers exhibited T_gs ranging from 238°C to 282°C. Thermal stabilities by TGA showed no weight loss below 400°C and the temperatures of 5% weight loss ranged from 535°C to 558°C. The homopolymer of 3-(4-fluorobenzoyl)carbazole was insoluble in common solvents and had a T_g of 332°C, and temperature of 5% weight loss of 560°C. UV-VIS absorption and fluorescence of the polymers are also presented.     

Limited damage of tissue mimic caused by a collapsing bubble under low-frequency ultrasound exposure

In this study, we investigated the bubble induced serious damage to tissue mimic exposed to 27-kHz ultrasound. The initial bubble radius ranged from 80 to 100 μm, which corresponded approximately to the experimentally-evaluated resonant radius of the given ultrasound frequency. The tissue mimic consisted of 10 wt% gelatine gel covered with cultured canine kidney epithelial cells. The collapsing bubble behaviour during the ultrasound exposure with negative peak pressures of several hundred kPa was captured by a high-speed camera system. After ultrasound exposure, a cell viability test was conducted based on microscopic bright-field images and fluorescence images for living and dead cells. In the viability test, cells played a role in indicating the damaged area. The bubble oscillations killed the cells, and on occasion detached layers of cultured cells from the gel. The damaged area was comparable or slightly larger than the initial bubble size, and smaller than the maximum bubble size. We concluded that only a small area in close proximity to the bubble could be damaged even above transient cavitation threshold.     

Palladium(0)-catalyzed direct cross-coupling reaction of allylic alcohols with aryl- and alkenylboronic acids

Allylic alcohols can be used directly for the palladium(0)-catalyzed allylation of aryl- and alkenylboronic acids with a wide variety of functional groups. A triphenylphosphine-ligated palladium catalyst turns out to be most effective for the cross-coupling reaction and its low loading (less than 1 mol%) leads to formation of the coupling product in high yield. The Lewis acidity of the organoboron reagents and poor leaving ability (high basicity) of the hydroxyl group are essential for the cross-coupling reaction. The reaction process is atom-economical and environmentally benign, because it needs neither preparation of allyl halides and esters nor addition of stoichiometric amounts of a base. Furthermore, allylic alcohols containing another unsaturated carbon-carbon bond undergo arylative cyclization reactions leading to cyclopentane formation.     

Inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae by ultrasonic irradiation

We have investigated the inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast cells) by ultrasonic irradiation. The amplitude on the vibration face contacting the sample solution was used as an indication of the ultrasonic power intensity. The effects of the amplitude on the vibration face and the initial cell numbers on the sonolytic inactivation of yeast cells have been investigated using a horn-type sonicator (27.5 kHz). The inactivation of the yeast cells by ultrasonic irradiation shows pseudo first-order behavior. The inactivation rate constant varied from 0.0007 to 0.145 s(-1) when the amplitude on the vibration face was in the range of 1-7 microm(p-p). The change in the inactivation rate constant as a function of the amplitude on the vibration face was similar to that of the OH radical formation rate under the same conditions. The threshold of this sonicator was 3 microm(p-p) with the amplitude on the vibration face. The initial cell numbers (from 10(2) to 10(5) mL(-1)) had an influence on the inactivation of the yeast cells by ultrasonic irradiation. The inactivation rate constants varied from 0.023 to 6.4 x 10(-3) s(-1), and the inactivation by ultrasonic irradiation was fastest at the lowest initial cell numbers. In a squeeze-film-type sonicator (26.6 kHz), 90% inactivation of the yeast cells was achieved by ultrasonic irradiation for 60 min.     

An Improved Method to Resolve Plant Saponins and Sugars by TLC

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plays an important role in the initial selection of mutants having a unique seed saponin composition from the germplasm collections of the subgenus Soja. In the conventional TLC procedure, the dehydrated free sugars are retained just below the major saponins and interrupt the identification of some minor saponin constituents. To resolve this problem, we developed an efficient and reliable method to move sugars from the saponin area on TLC. A developing chamber was saturated with the lower phase of chloroform:methanol:water (65:35:10, v/v) for 2 h and the TLC plates were developed in it for 50 min. Plates were then dried at 100 °C for 10 min to evaporate the excess mobile phase and developed again with 10 % H₂SO₄ for 15 min. While sulfuric acid migrates over the surface of SiO₂, sugar molecules are dehydrated and hydrophilic interactions between free sugars and SiO₂ are strongly reduced. Thus, the positions of dehydrated sugars were shifted to above the saponin area on the TLC plate. This resulted in easy recognition of the saponin composition without any discrimination. This amended protocol would be applicable to all TLC analyses in which the target components should be separate from the interrupting sugar molecules.

     

A further study on the combined use of internal standard and isotope-labeled derivatization reagent for expansion of linear dynamic ranges in liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry

The combined use of a so-called internal standard and the isotope-labeled derivatization reagent for the quantification of analytes for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was further studied. The sample solution (containing the analytes and an internal standard) was derivatized with the light form of the derivatization reagent, 7-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-4-(aminoethyl)piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-PZ-NH(2)) or 7-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-4-piperazino-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-PZ). A standard solution of the analytes (containing an internal standard) was derivatized with the isotope (d(6))-labeled derivatization reagent, DBD-PZ-NH(2) (D) or DBD-PZ (D), and served as the isotope-labeled internal standards. The peak heights of the targeted analytes derivatives in the sample solution were corrected using those of the internal standard and the heavy form derivatives of the standards, and the calibration curves were constructed. The curve bending of the calibration curves caused by the ion suppression at the ion source was suppressed and the linear dynamic ranges of the calibration curves were expanded. The derivatives of DBD-PZ-NH(2) were about 10 times more sensitively detected than those of DBD-PZ derivatives and, therefore, DBD-PZ-NH(2) might be suitable for sensitive detection.     

Taichunamides: Prenylated Indole Alkaloids from Aspergillus taichungensis (IBT 19404)

Seven new prenylated indole alkaloids, taichunamides A–G, were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus taichungensis (IBT 19404). Taichunamides A and B contained an azetidine and 4‐pyridone units, respectively, and are likely biosynthesized from notoamide S via (+)‐6‐epi‐stephacidin A. Taichunamides C and D contain endoperoxide and methylsulfonyl units, respectively. This fungus produced indole alkaloids containing an anti‐bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core, whereas A. protuberus and A. amoenus produced congeners with a syn‐bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core. Plausible biosynthetic pathways to access these cores within the three species likely arise from an intramolecular hetero Diels–Alder reaction.     

Active species transfer-type artificial light harvesting system in the nanosheet – Dye complexes: Utilization of longer wavelength region of sunlight

A novel light harvesting system that captures long-wavelength light of sunlight by the use of hole transfer was newly investigated. Ga phthalocyanine(Ga^IIITMAPc⁴⁺(D)) and Ru porphyrin(Ru^IIDMPyMP²⁺(A)) co-adsorbed reaction system on the synthetic nanosheet was examined as an artificial light harvesting system. By irradiating 660?nm light, where Ga^IIITMAPc⁴⁺(D) absorbs, to the system under a presence of PtCl₆^2? as an electron acceptor, cation radical of Ru^IIDMPyMP²⁺(A) was produced despite that Ru porphyrin adsorbs only 413 and 533?nm light. The efficient hole transfer reaction from Ga^IIITMAPc⁴⁺(D)⁺, that is generated from its excited state, to Ru^IIDMPyMP²⁺(A) takes place on the nanosheet.