In situ monitoring of metal nanoparticle self-assembly on protein-functionalized glass by broadband optical waveguide spectroscopy

Broadband, time-resolved optical waveguide (OWG) spectroscopy has been used for in situ, real-time investigation into the self-assembly of metal nanoparticle monolayers. The OWG spectroscopy makes it possible to use the transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes to measure surface plasmon absorption of immobilized metal nanoparticles in two directions, parallel and normal to the waveguide surface. Therefore, this technique can provide direction-dependent information on the metal nanoparticles at the interface. In this paper, a 50-microm-thick glass plate was used as a slab waveguide and the kinetics of Au nanoparticle adsorption on a hemoglobin-functionalized glass substrate was examined in the early stage of self-assembly. The findings show that with the TE mode the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) behavior for immobilized Au nanoparticles is different from that with the TM mode.     

New gem-dicyanocyclobutane-containing hydroxyesters

Six new gem-dicyanocyclobutanes containing carbomethoxy and hydroxyl/acetoxy functions were synthesized by cycloaddition of the appropriate vinyl ethers or alkoxystyrenes to methyl β,β-dicyanoacrylate. They proved to be too thermally labile to allow polycondensation to potentially piezoelectric linear polyesters.     

Synthesis of (±)-lineatin,the unique tricyclic pheromone of Trypodendron lineatum (olivier)

(+-)-3,3,7-Trimethyl-2,9-dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^{4, 7}]noname

and (+-)-3,3,7-trimethyl-2,9-dioxatricyclo[3.3.1.0^{4, 7}] nonane

were synthesized. The latter was shown to be (+-)-lineatin, an ambrosia beetle pheromone.     

Kinetic studies of CO2dissociation on supported Ni catalysts

Summary In order to investigate the kinetics of CO₂dissociation on supported nickel catalysts, a novel technique, which can give the surface reaction rate constants with no information on the number of active sites, was developed. It was revealed that CO₂dissociation was more enhanced on TiO₂support than on other metal oxide ones. The activity pattern and activation energies were in good agreement with those obtained by a conventional pulse technique using the number of active sites, suggesting the validity of the present technique for investigating the kinetics of the surface reaction.</o:p>     

Novel real-time sensors to quantitatively assess in vivo inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate production in intact cells

Real-time observation of messenger molecules in individual intact cells is essential for physiological studies of signaling mechanisms. We have developed a novel inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) sensor based on the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain from phospholipase C (PLC) delta. The environmentally sensitive fluorophore 6-bromoacetyl-2-dimethyl-aminonaphtalene was conjugated to the genetically introduced cysteine at the mouth of the IP(3) binding pocket for enhanced IP(3) selectivity and for rapid and direct visualization of intracellular IP(3) > or = 0.5 microM as fluorescence emission decreased. The probe, tagged with arginine-rich sequences for efficient translocation into various cell types, revealed a major contribution of Ca2+ influx to PLC-mediated IP(3) production that boosts Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum. Thus, our IP(3) probe was extremely effective to quantitatively assess real-time physiological IP(3) production via those pathways formed only in the intact cellular configuration.     

Plasma surface modification of organic materials: comparison between polyethylene films and octadecyltrichlorosilane self-assembled monolayers

Low-pressure low-frequency NH3 plasmas have been used for the surface modification of bulk polyethylene films and of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) self-assembled monolayers deposited on oxidized silicon wafers. The incorporation of nitrogen-containing groups by the plasma treatment has been followed by contact angle measurements and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface degradation of the OTS monolayers due to plasma etching has been measured separately by optical ellipsometry with subnanometric accuracy. Our data show clear evidence for the existence of an optimum treatment time, yielding a high density of NH2 functional groups without significant variation of the structural features of the organic material. Self-assembled monolayers appear as excellent model systems to characterize the effects of plasma discharges on polyolefins. In particular, they allow testing the influence of molecular orientation, packing density, and crystallinity on the final results.     

Solid-phase synthesis of liquid crystalline isoxazole library

Combinatorial library of isoxazoles was prepared by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition on solid support. p-Cyano derivatives showed nematic and/or smectic A phases. A bilayer smectic phase for 2h is proposed by the combination of molecular mechanics calculation and X-ray diffraction experiment.