Combination of click chemistry and sulfonamides to develop three-armed triazole compounds

Fragment-based drug discovery is a valuable tool in hit identification, as well as the combination of different small fragments showing a minimal binding activity against biological receptors or enzymes to give merged hits. A high number of fragments on the same scaffold improve the probability to find a candidate showing single- or multi-target affinities. A rapid and versatile approach for synthesizing libraries of densely fragment-functionalized scaffolds is reported. Many fragments were assembled in few steps around a triazole ring starting from amino alcohols and other readily available building blocks. A binding assay against integrin α_vβ₃ was used as a test-bed in order to demonstrate the potential of such an approach in hit discovery strategies.     

Stimuli-Triggered Strand Displacement-Based Multifunctional Gene Detection Platform Controlled By A Multi-Input DNA Logic Gate

Highly sensitive detection of various cancer related genes is of great significance in a number of biomedical applications. Here we describe a logic-controlled multifunctional platform that is capable of detecting two kinds of gene sequences with a 2-aminopurine (2-AP) as a quencher-free fluorescent probe, the fluorescence of which dramatically increases when it loops out the DNA helices. This detection platform is assembled from the split ATP aptamer, G-quadruplex, and the antisense strands of the P53 and K-ras genes, together with their complementary components. It is selectively activated by ATP and K⁺ via the target-induced DNA strand displacement, enabling the exposure of two long toehold regions that allow the P53 and K-ras genes to trigger the next DNA strand displacements. A hairpin DNA containing a looped-out 2-AP in the stem is finally released, accompanying with a significant increase of fluorescence intensity. The whole process behaves as a four-input AND logic gate. Such a logic-controlled gene detection platform is able to convert the external stimulation of ions and biomolecules into a detectable fluorescence output and functions well in gene detection.     

A novel approach to Lab-In-Syringe Head-Space Single-Drop Microextraction and on-drop sensing of ammonia

A novel approach to the automation technique Lab-In-Syringe, also known as In-Syringe Analysis, is proposed which utilizes a secondary inlet into the syringe void, used as a size-adaptable reaction chamber, via a channel passing through the syringe piston. This innovative approach allows straightforward automation of head-space single-drop microextraction, involving accurately controlled drop formation and handling, and the possibility of on-drop analyte quantification.     

Using the synergism strategy for highly sensitive and specific electrochemical sensing of Streptococcus pneumoniae Lyt-1 gene sequence

With the help of the interaction mode of capture probe-target-signal probe (CP-T-SP), an electrochemical sensing method based on the synergism strategy of dual-hybridized signaling probes modified with 6 MB (methylene blue), background suppression and large surface area Au electrode is developed for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) Lyt-1 gene sequence. The proposed sensor features a very low detection limit (LOD) of ∼0.5 fM for the target. This method also exhibits highly versatility and can apply to the construction of other sensors for the analysis of similar designated pathogenic bacteria gene sequence (PBGS).     

Reversing current rectification to improve DNA‐sensing sensitivity in conical nanopores

Herein, we report the ultrasensitive DNA detection through designing an elegant nanopore biosensor as the first case to realize the reversal of current rectification direction for sensing. Attributed to the unique asymmetric structure, the glass conical nanopore exhibits the sensitive response to the surface charge, which can be facilely monitored by ion current rectification curves. In our design, an enzymatic cleavage reaction was employed to alter the surface charge of the nanopore for DNA sensing. The measured ion current rectification was strongly responsive to DNA concentrations, even reaching to the reversed status from the negative ratio (?6.5) to the positive ratio (+16.1). The detectable concentration for DNA was as low as 0.1 fM. This is an ultrasensitive and label‐free DNA sensing approach, based on the rectification direction‐reversed amplification in a single glass conical nanopore.     

Naked eye sensing of anions using thiourea based chemosensors with real time application

Novel chromogenic sensors with thiourea moiety as receptor unit were synthesized and characterized using IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The receptors 1 and 2 bearing hydrogen bonding site demonstrate visually striking color change, UV–vis, and fluorescence responses for F⁻, AcO⁻, and OH⁻ over other anions such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, H₂PO₄⁻ and HSO₄⁻. Both the receptors 1 and 2 demonstrate detection limit at micro molar level. Further insight to the nature of interaction between receptors and anions was studied using ¹H NMR titration experiment. In particular, the fluoride of tooth paste and mouthwash in water phase can be detected by receptor 2.     

Protein p53 Binding to Cisplatin‐modified DNA Targets Evaluated by Modification‐specific Electrochemical Immunoprecipitation Assay

Studies of protein interactions with chemically modified nucleic acids are of importance in various areas of biomolecular and biomedical research, including investigations of the binding of proteins important in medicine with DNA modified with drugs and diagnostic applications of modified DNAs in biosensing and bioanalysis. Chemical modification of DNA substrates with various species inside or outside specific protein binding sites can affect the protein‐DNA recognition. In this paper we present a simple electrochemical immunoprecipitation technique designed for evaluation of the effects of antitumor drug cisplatin on the p53‐DNA binding. The cisplatin‐DNA adducts are utilized as electroactive labels allowing a facile determination of the p53‐bound modified DNA. Effects observed using this technique accord with results of previous biochemical assays. This approach is potentially applicable in studies that deal with the influence of any electroactive DNA modifications on the protein‐DNA binding.