Two extended organic–inorganic hybrids based on sandwich tungstogermanates

Two inorganic–organic composite polyoxotungstates, [Cu(en)₂(H₂O)]₂[Cu(en)₂(H₂O)₂]-{[Cu(en)₂]₃[Cu₄(GeW₉O₃₄)₂]} · 10H₂O (1, en = ethylenediamine) and (H₂en){[Zn(en)₂]₄-[Zn₄(Hen)₂(GeW₉O₃₄)₂]} · 10H₂O (2), were hydrothermally synthesized and their structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 consist of sandwich polyanions [Cu₄(B-α-GeW₉O₃₄)₂]^12? or [Zn₄(Hen)₂(GeW₉O₃₄)₂]^10? linked by [M(en)₂]²⁺ bridges to form 2-D networks, which are further packed into a 3-D supramolecular porous framework via extensive hydrogen bonding interactions. Their IR and UV spectra, thermal stabilities, and cyclic voltammograms were also investigated.     

A photopatterned SERS substrate with a sandwich structure for multiplex detection

Substrate photopatterning has provided versatile applications in biomedical fields. Herein, an universal and efficient photoligation reaction has been used to prepare a patterned capture substrate for a sandwich SERS immunoassay. Photoirradiation induces mild and efficient immobilization of antibodies at the desired region of a gold surface, and the antibody-antigen interaction helps the substrate to capture the antigens in solution specifically. After exposing to SERS probes, i.e., the gold nan...     

A photopatterned SERS substrate with a sandwich structure for multiplex detection

Substrate photopatterning has provided versatile applications in biomedical fields. Herein, an universal and efficient photoligation reaction has been used to prepare a patterned capture substrate for a sandwich SERS immunoassay. Photoirradiation induces mild and efficient immobilization of antibodies at the desired region of a gold surface, and the antibody-antigen interaction helps the substrate to capture the antigens in solution specifically. After exposing to SERS probes, i.e., the gold nan...     

Aptamer sandwich assays: human α-thrombin detection using liposome enhancement

Fluorescent dye-encapsulating liposomes tagged with aptamers were developed and used as reporting signals in an aptamer-based sandwich assay. α-Thrombin was utilized as a prototypical analyte as two well-studied aptamers binding distinct epitopes are available to form a sandwich complex. Cholesteryl–TEG-modified aptamers were embedded into the liposomal lipid bilayer while the interior cavity of the liposomes encapsulated fluorescent sulforhodamine B dye. Such liposomes successfully formed a sandwich complex with α-thrombin and a microtiter plate immobilized aptamer, proving that aptamers retain their ability to fold when anchored to the liposome surface. Parameters studied included liposomal aptamer coverage, sandwich aptamer orientation, aptamer label orientation, aptamer spacer length and type, incubation buffer, and aptamer concentration. The optimized conditions found here in the fluorescence assay led to a limit of detection of 64 pM or 2.35 ng/mL, corresponding to 6.4 fmol or 235 pg, respectively, in a 100 μL volume. This is an order of magnitude lower than previous sandwich aptamer assays using the same sequences with lowest reported limits of detection of 0.45 nM. In addition, the assay was applied successfully to the detection of α-thrombin in human plasma. The success of this method in a standard microtiter plate format and the relatively facile functionalization of liposomes with aptamers suggest that this approach provides a versatile option for routine analytical applications.     

Protein microarrays and multiplexed sandwich immunoassays: what beats the beads?

Protein microarray technology allows the simultaneous determination of a large variety of parameters from a minute amount of sample within a single experiment. Assay systems based on this technology are currently applied for the identification, quantitation and functional analysis of proteins. Protein microarray technology is of major interest for proteomic research in basic and applied biology as well as for diagnostic applications. Miniaturized and parallelized assay systems have reached adequate sensitivity and hence have the potential to replace singleplex analysis systems. However, robustness and automation needs to be demonstrated before this technology will finally prove suitable for high-throughput applications. Miniaturized and parallelized sandwich immunoassays are the most advanced assays formats among the different protein microarray applications. Multiplexed sandwich immunoassays can be used for the identification of biomarkers and the validation of potential target molecules. In this review an overview will be given on the current stage of protein microarray technology with a special focus on miniaturized multiplexed sandwich immunoassays.     

Synthesis and structure of an indium(I) “crown sandwich”

The treatment of the soluble reagent indium(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate, InOTf, with the crown ether 15-crown-5 generates the salt [In(15-crown-5)₂][OTf] regardless of the stoichiometry employed. The toluene-soluble salt has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and features a cation that may be described as containing an In^I center that is “sandwiched” by the two crown ethers.     

Polymeric and sandwich Schiff’s bases complexes derived from 4,4′-methylenedianiline

Cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes of Schiff’s bases derived from 4,4′-methylenedianiline and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde(L¹), furan-2-carboxaldehyde(L²) or thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde(L³), were prepared and characterized by different analytical and spectral methods. The Schiff bases behave as neutral tetradentate ligands. The chloro-complexes of (L²) with (2:3) mole ratio have a polymeric nature. However, that of L¹ and L³ with (1:1) mole ratio showed a sandwich structure. All complexes display an octahedral geometry, except complex (2) which has a tetrahedral one. O _h/T _d equilibrium for chloro-complexes of cobalt with ligand L¹ was established in the solid state. ESR spectra of solid copper(II) complexes showed isotropic and axial type with dx ²-y ² ground state. The thermal study showed that the complexes with different solvents of crystallization exercise different types of interaction. The observed thermochromic phenomenon for cobalt complex was explained along with its thermal behaviour.     

Preparation and characterization of Cp-functionalized cycloheptatrienyl–cyclopentadienyl titanium sandwich complexes (troticenes)

Cp-functionalized monotroticenes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄E)] (2, E = Ph₂SiCl; 3, E = tBu₂SnCl; 12, E = I) and bitroticenes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄)]₂E′ (5, E′ = PPh; 6, E′ = BN(SiMe₃)₂; 7, E′ = Cp₂Ti) were prepared by salt elimination metathesis between the monolithiated troticene [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Li)]·pmdta (1b) (pmdta = N,N′,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylene-triamine) and the appropriate electrophile. The troticenyl-substituted zirconocene monochloride [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄ZrClCp*₂)] (Cp* = η⁵-C₅Me₅) (8) and hafnocene ethoxide [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti{η⁵-C₅H₄Hf(OEt)Cp₂}] (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) (11), and the heterobimetallic μ-oxo complexes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄MCp₂)]₂O (9, M = Zr; 10, M = Hf) were obtained instead of the expected zircona- and hafna[1]troticenophanes by reaction of the dilithiated troticene [(η⁷-C₇H₆Li)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Li)]·pmdta (1a) with [Cp₂MCl₂] (M = Zr, Hf) or [Cp*₂ZrCl₂] in stoichiometric amounts. These compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and, in the case of 2, 3, 5–7, 9, 10 and 12, also by elemental analyses and ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. Exposure of the troticenyl organotin chloride 3 to moisture resulted in its partial hydrolysis and formation of the organostannoxane-bridged bitroticene 4, while palladium-catalyzed Negishi C–C cross-coupling reaction between the troticenylzinc chloride [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄ZnCl)] (13) and the iodotroticene 12 or iodobenzene (PhI) led to the fulvalene complexes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄)]₂ (14) and [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Ph)] (15). Compound 4 displays an unsymmetrical structure with the troticenyl fragments cis with respect to the Sn–O–Sn core, whereas compound 14 is centrosymmetrically trans oriented.     

Preparation and characterization of Cp-functionalized cycloheptatrienyl–cyclopentadienyl titanium sandwich complexes (troticenes)

Cp-functionalized monotroticenes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄E)] (2, E = Ph₂SiCl; 3, E = tBu₂SnCl; 12, E = I) and bitroticenes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄)]₂E′ (5, E′ = PPh; 6, E′ = BN(SiMe₃)₂; 7, E′ = Cp₂Ti) were prepared by salt elimination metathesis between the monolithiated troticene [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Li)]·pmdta (1b) (pmdta = N,N′,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylene-triamine) and the appropriate electrophile. The troticenyl-substituted zirconocene monochloride [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄ZrClCp*₂)] (Cp* = η⁵-C₅Me₅) (8) and hafnocene ethoxide [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti{η⁵-C₅H₄Hf(OEt)Cp₂}] (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) (11), and the heterobimetallic μ-oxo complexes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄MCp₂)]₂O (9, M = Zr; 10, M = Hf) were obtained instead of the expected zircona- and hafna[1]troticenophanes by reaction of the dilithiated troticene [(η⁷-C₇H₆Li)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Li)]·pmdta (1a) with [Cp₂MCl₂] (M = Zr, Hf) or [Cp*₂ZrCl₂] in stoichiometric amounts. These compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and, in the case of 2, 3, 5–7, 9, 10 and 12, also by elemental analyses and ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy. Exposure of the troticenyl organotin chloride 3 to moisture resulted in its partial hydrolysis and formation of the organostannoxane-bridged bitroticene 4, while palladium-catalyzed Negishi C–C cross-coupling reaction between the troticenylzinc chloride [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄ZnCl)] (13) and the iodotroticene 12 or iodobenzene (PhI) led to the fulvalene complexes [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄)]₂ (14) and [(η⁷-C₇H₇)Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Ph)] (15). Compound 4 displays an unsymmetrical structure with the troticenyl fragments cis with respect to the Sn–O–Sn core, whereas compound 14 is centrosymmetrically trans oriented.     

Theoretical study of “sandwich” clusters of fused magnesium porphyrin oligomers with alkali metal atoms

The structural characteristics, energies, and spectroscopic properties of two-layer and multilayer “sandwich” clusters in which rings (layers) of fused porphyrin oligomers Mg₂P₂ and Mg₄P₄ (P = C₂₀H₁₂N₄) are separated by (Li) _n metal interlayers containing from 8 to 32 lithium atoms have been calculated by the density functional theory B3LYP method. The trends in the changes in these characteristics have been scrutinized as a function of the number of introduced Li atoms and the size and number of porphyrin layers. Calculations predict the high energetic stability and possibility of the existence of these sandwiches as paramagnetic clusters with mobile intercalated lithium ions. The latter, like intercalated graphite clusters, are expected to exhibit high electronic and ionic conductivity. The most favorable (with low or zero barriers) channels of migration of metal ions between the porphyrin layers are discussed.     

Sensitive detection of human breast cancer cells based on aptamer–cell–aptamer sandwich architecture

Breast cancer is one of the most critical threats to the health of women, and the development of new methods for early diagnosis is urgently required, so this paper reports a method to detect Michigan cancer foundation-7 (MCF-7) human breast cancer cells with considerable sensitivity and selectivity by using electrochemical technique. In this method, a mucin 1 (MUC1)-binding aptamer is adopted to recognize MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, while enzyme labeling is employed to produce amplified catalytic signals. The molecular recognition and the signal amplification are elaborately integrated by fabricating an aptamer–cell–aptamer sandwich architecture on an electrode surface, thus a biosensor for the detection of MCF-7 is fabricated based on the architecture. The detection range can be from 100 to 1 × 10⁷ cells, and the detection limit can be as low as 100 cells. The method is also cost-effective and conveniently operated, implying potential help for the development of early diagnosis of breast cancer.     

Quiescent hydrothermal synthesis of reduced graphene oxide–periodic mesoporous silica sandwich nanocomposites with perpendicular mesochannel alignments

Quiescent hydrothermal conditions were applied to synthesis of the sandwich nanocomposites of reduced graphite oxide (rGO) and periodic mesoporous silica (PMS) with vertically aligned mesochannels. It was found that the formation of the PMS–rGO–PMS sandwich structure is very sensitive to the surface and synthesis conditions. Although a higher temperature hydrothermal condition promotes reduction of GO and formation of bulky mesoporous nanoparticles, quiescent hydrothermal condition can serve as an alternative approach to obtain the unusual nanocomposites and slightly promote the structural stability of PMS on the surface of rGO.     

Cyclisation of α,ω-dienes promoted by bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich and ansa-titanocene dinitrogen complexes

Metallation of a variety of α,ω-dienes has been explored with an η(9),η(5)-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound and an ansa-titanocene dinitrogen complex. The η(9),η(5)-bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound, (η(9)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-Pr(2))(η(5)-C(9)H(5)-1,3-(i)Pr(2))Zr, served as an isolable source of Negishi's reagent and readily formed a kinetic mixture of cis and trans diastereomers of the corresponding zirconacyclopentanes upon diene metallation. For pure hydrocarbon substrates such as 1,6-heptadiene and 1,7-octadiene, an equimolar amount of cis and trans diastereomers were the kinetic products; isomerization to the thermodynamically favoured trans isomers was observed over time at ambient temperature or upon heating to 105 °C, respectively. By contrast, substitution of the methylene or ethylene spacer in the α, ω-diene with a fluorenyl group (e.g. 9,9-diallylfluorene) resulted in exclusive kinetic formation of the trans diastereomer. Amino-substituted dienes were also readily cyclised and one example was characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Similar studies were also conducted with the ansa-titanocene dinitrogen complex, [Me(2)Si(η(5)-C(5)Me(4))(η(5)-C(5)H(3)-3-(t)Bu)Ti](2)(μ(2),η(1),η(1)-N(2)), and both kinetic and thermodynamic selectivities evaluated. The use of a C(1) symmetric ansa-metallocene increases the number of isomeric possibilities. For diallyl tert-butyl amine, diene metallation was more selective than for the bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound and isomerization was also more rapid. Preliminary functionalisation reactivity for both the zircona- and titanocycles was also explored.     

Determination of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate using a double-receptor sandwich type fluorescence sensing method based on uranyl–salophen complexes

In this paper, we report a double-receptor sandwich type fluorescence sensing method for the determination of fructose bisphosphates (FBPs) using fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F-1,6-BP) as a model analyte based on uranyl–salophen complexes. The solid phase receptor is an immobilized uranyl–salophen (IUS) complex which is bound on the surface of glass slides by covalent bonds. The labeled receptor is another uranyl–salophen complex containing a fluorescence group, or uranyl–salophen–fluorescein (USF). In the procedure of determining F-1,6-BP in sample solution, F-1,6-BP is first adsorbed on the surface of the glass slide through the coordination reaction of F-1,6-BP with IUS. It then binds USF through another coordination reaction to form a sandwich-type structure of IUS-F-1,6-BP-USF. The amount of F-1,6-BP is detected by the determination of the fluorescence intensity of IUS-F-1,6-BP-USF bound on the glass slide. Under optimal conditions, the linear range for the detection of F-1,6-BP is 0.05–5.0 nmol mL⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.027 nmol mL⁻¹. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the determination of F-1,6-BP in real samples with satisfactory results.     

Determination of ATP using a double-receptor sandwich method based on molecularly imprinted membrane and fluorescence-labeled uranyl–salophen complex

A double-receptor sandwich method for the fluorescence determination of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is proposed in this paper. The solid phase receptor on the surface of glass slides is a molecularly imprinted membrane (MIM) containing an artificial nanocavity. It is constructed by a molecular imprinting technique using adenosine monophosphate (AMP) as a template molecule. The labeled receptor is a uranyl–salophen complex containing a fluorescent group or uranyl–salophen–fluorescein (USF). It is synthesized with salophen, 5-aminofluorescein, and uranyl. In a procedure of determining ATP, ATP in sample solution is first adsorbed on the surface of the glass slide through the combination of the AMP group in ATP with the nanocavity in MIM. Then, the adsorbed ATP binds USF through the coordination reaction of the phosphate group in ATP with uranyl in USF to form a sandwich-type structure of MIM-ATP-USF. The amount of ATP is detected through the fluorescence determination of USF bound on the slide. Under optimal conditions, the linear range for the determination of ATP is 0.3 to 4.8 nmol/mL with a detection limit of 0.041 nmol/mL. The proposed method has been successfully employed for the determination of ATP in real samples with the recoveries of 98.5 to 102.5 %.     

Development of sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems for plasma β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase, a possible hepatic disease biomarker

Previous reports, including our work, have shown that plasma β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal I) activity is significantly increased in particular hepatopathological situations, suggesting that it may represent a sensitive biomarker for diagnosing hepatic diseases. So far, activity of ST6Gal I have been measured by using radioactive tracer method in place of measuring amount of ST6Gal I. However, this method is tangled and cannot exclude other sialyltransferase activities. Thus, simple and specific methods for measuring plasma ST6Gal I had been unavailable. Here, we developed two kinds of sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems that specifically detect the soluble cleaved form of ST6Gal I in plasma. In one sandwich ELISA, we detected rat specific sequence, EFQMPK, which is N-terminus of soluble ST6Gal I. In the other sandwich ELISA, we detected internal common sequence among rat, mouse and human ST6Gal I in plasma (M2 ELISA). Using the M2 ELISA, we observed that elevation of plasma ST6Gal I was much faster than elevation of plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mouse liver injury model. Our data suggest that these ELISA systems are very useful tools for measuring plasma ST6Gal I, which represents a potential biomarker for diagnosing hepatic diseases.     

Computational study on second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a novel class of two-dimensional Λ- and W-shaped sandwich metallocarborane-containing chromophores

We systematically investigate the linear optical properties and the static second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties on a series of two-dimensional (2D) D-π-A-π-D/A-π-D-π-A sandwich metallocarborane-containing molecules with density functional theory (DFT). It can be found that the substitution effect has an influence on the electronic absorption and NLO responses of the 2D molecules. For example, the ${\beta }_{vec}$ value is sensitive to the substitution from amino (–NH₂) to nitryl (–NO₂); the angle between the two A–D branches significantly affects the dipole moment and ${\beta }_{vec}$ value. In addition, time-dependent DFT calculations and the analysis of major molecular orbitals predict that the sandwich metallocarborane acts as an electron donor better than electron acceptor. Furthermore, the two strong synchronized charge transfer (CT) coming from the two branches and p–π (B_2p–C≡C) conjugation contributes to the second-order polarizabilities in our studied systems.     

DNA aptamers against the MUC1 tumour marker: design of aptamer–antibody sandwich ELISA for the early diagnosis of epithelial tumours

Aptamers are functional molecules able to bind tightly and selectively to disease markers, offering great potential for applications in disease diagnosis and therapy. MUC1 is a well-known tumour marker present in epithelial malignancies and is used in immunotherapeutic and diagnostic approaches. We report the selection of DNA aptamers that bind with high affinity and selectivity an MUC1 recombinant protein containing five repeats of the variable tandem repeat region. Aptamers were selected using the SELEX methodology from an initial library containing a 25-base-long variable region for their ability to bind to the unglycosylated form of the MUC1 protein. After ten rounds of in vitro selection and amplification, more than 90% of the pool of sequences consisted of target-binding molecules, which were cloned, sequenced and found to share no sequence consensus. The binding properties of these aptamers were quantified using ELISA and surface plasmon resonance. The lead aptamer sequence was subsequently used in the design of an aptamer–antibody hybrid sandwich ELISA for the identification and quantification of MUC1 in buffered solutions. Following optimisation of the operating conditions, the resulting enzyme immunoassay displayed an EC₅₀ value of 25 μg/ml, a detection limit of 1 μg/ml and a linear range between 8 and 100 μg/ml for the MUC1 five tandem repeat analyte. In addition, recovery studies performed in buffer conditions resulted in averaged recoveries between 98.2 and 101.7% for all spiked samples, demonstrating the usability of the aptamer as a receptor in microtitre-based assays. Our results aim towards the formation of new diagnostic assays against this tumour marker for the early diagnosis of primary or metastatic disease in breast, bladder and other epithelial tumours. Figure An aptamer-antibody two-dimentional immunoassay for MUC1     

Organometallic–inorganic charge transfer salts containing a cationic iron mixed sandwich and polyoxomolybdate anions: Syntheses,X-ray molecular structures and spectroscopic properties

Two new organometallic–inorganic charge transfer salts formulated as [(η⁵-Cp)Fe(η⁶-MeO-p-C₆H₄–NHNH₂)]₂[Mo₆O₁₉], 1, and [(η⁵-Cp)Fe(η⁶-MeO-p-C₆H₄–NHNH₂)]₄[β-Mo₈O₂₆], 2, were prepared through a metathesis reaction between the organometallic hydrazine precursor [(η⁵-Cp)Fe(η⁶-MeO-p-C₆H₄–NHNH₂)]⁺PF₆^? and either [n-Bu₄N]₂[Mo₆O₁₉] or [n-Bu₄N]₄[α-Mo₈O₂₆] in acetonitrile. In the second case, the [α-Mo₈O₂₆]^4? anion transforms into the [β-Mo₈O₂₆]^4? isomer. These organometallic–inorganic hybrids were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (IR, ¹H NMR and UV–vis). In addition, the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra of 1 and 2 in solid state exhibit a band at λ_max = 475 and 470 nm, respectively, not observed in DMSO solution, which have been attributed to a charge transfer transition. On the other hand, the solid state structure of 2, solved by X-ray diffraction analysis shows the formation of hydrogen bonds between the protons of the –NHNH₂ and C–H groups with the terminal oxo groups of the β-octamolybdate anions [β-Mo₈O₂₆]^4?. Finally, hybrid 3, formulated as [(η⁵-Cp)Fe(η⁶-C₆H₅OMe)]₄[β-Mo₈O₂₆] was prepared in EtOH under solvothermal conditions. The single crystal X-ray structure shows the elimination of the –NHNH₂ group from the organometallic mixed sandwich reducing its associative ability toward the oxo groups of the counterion only to the electrostatic interactions and to the very weak CH?O hydrogen bonds.