Effect of chloroform on complexation and chiral aggregation of bilirubin-bovine serum albumin at heptane/water interface

The effect of chloroform on the chiroselective reaction between bilirubin (BR) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) at the interface between a heptane phase (including CHCl(3)) and an aqueous phase was investigated by means of the absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies combined with a centrifugal liquid membrane (CLM) method, and a CLM microscopic fluorescence spectroscopy as well. The observed absorption, CD and fluorescence spectra disclosed the interfacial complexation process of BR with BSA for the first time, suggesting further aggregation of the BR-BSA complex at the interface. It was noticed more that, due to the formation of the chiral aggregates of BR-BSA complex, the interfacial CD signal of M(-) conformation of BR was appeared gradually. However, higher content of CHCl(3) in the organic phase, resulting in the increase in fluorescence intensity, evidently affected the formation of the aggregates of the complex at the interface. The addition of extra CHCl(3) to the interfacial aggregates induced temporal inversion of CD sign of BR, which should be caused by the local structural change of BSA brought about by the specific solvation of CHCl(3).     

Chiral complexation and aggregation of bilirubin with serum albumin at a liquid/liquid interface

The chiral complexation of bilirubin (BR) with bovine and human serum albumin (BSA and HSA), and the aggregation of the complexes at the heptane+chloroform(5:1)/water interface were studied via UV/Vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD) measurements in combination with the centrifugal liquid membrane (CLM) method. The interfacial adsorptivities of BR, BSA and their complexes were also studied by performing interfacial tension measurements at the interface. The changes in the absorbances and the induced CD amplitudes of the interfacial BR-BSA complex provided insights into the mechanism of the conformational enantioselective complexation at the interface, and indicated that the chiral conversion induced by the complexation with BSA was from the P(+) form to the M(-) form of BR. The broadening of the 450 nm band and the appearance of a new shoulder at 474 nm further supported the formation of aggregates of the complexes at the interface. The dependence of the CD amplitude on the molar ratio of BSA to BR revealed that the composition of the complex was 1:1 BSA:BR. The probable interfacial reaction scheme was proposed, and the affinity constant of BR-BSA at the interface was found to be 4.67 x 10(8) M(-2). The interfacial complexation and aggregation of BR and HSA were weaker than those of the BR-BSA complex due to the different BR binding positions adopted for BSA and HSA and the binding effect of chloroform.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from oleate-stabilized silver colloids at a liquid/liquid interface.

Oleate-stabilized silver colloids of 5-nm-diameter were adsorbed to a toluene/water interface, and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra from these colloids were measured under the total internal reflection (TIR) condition. From the observed spectra, we examined the states of oleate ions and toluene molecules on silver colloids at the liquid/liquid interfacial region. The TIR-SERS spectra of oleate ions showed stronger peaks of the carboxylate group and the ethylene group than those of alkyl chains. From these results, it was found that the oleate ions were adsorbed on the silver surface in two different ways at the liquid/liquid interface; the carboxylate group adsorbed in the organic phase side, while the ethylene group adsorbed in the aqueous phase side. The shifts of the toluene in the interfacial SERS spectra were identical to those of bulk toluene, though the relative intensities among the peaks were not same. This result suggested that the toluene was adsorbed with a weak interaction, but was significantly enhanced by the local electromagnetic field at the colloid surface.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopic studies of hydroperoxo-myoglobin at cryogenic temperatures

In agreement with previous reports (Gasyna, Z. FEBS Lett. 1979, 106, 213-218 and Leibl, W.; Nitschke, W.; Huettermann, J. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1986, 870, 20-30) radiolytically reduced samples of oxygenated myoglobin at cryogenic temperatures have been shown by optical absorption and EPR studies to produce directly the peroxo-bound myoglobin at 77 K. Annealing to temperatures near 185 K induces proton transfer, resulting in the formation of the hydroperoxo heme derivative. Resonance Raman studies of the annealed samples has permitted, for the first time, the direct observation of the key nu(Fe-O) stretching mode of the physiologically important Fe-OOH fragment of this ubiquitous intermediate. The assignment of this mode to a feature appearing at 617 cm(-1) is strongly supported by documentation of a 25 cm(-1) shift to lower energy upon substitution with (18)O(2) and by a 5 cm(-1) shift to lower energy for samples prepared in solutions of deuterated solvent.     

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of dodecanethiol-bound silver nanoparticles at the liquid/liquid interface

Adsorption and domain formation of dodecanethiol (DT)-bound silver nanoparticles (SNPs) at the cyclohexane/water interface were studied by means of total internal reflection (TIR) light scattering microscopy and TIR surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). By the TIR light scattering microscopy, the extent of the interfacial adsorption and domain formation of SNP was observed, which was produced by the reaction between citrate-reduced SNPs in the aqueous phase and DT in the cyclohexane phase. The Raman spectra of DT on SNP showed that the relative intensity ratios of gauche to trans conformers in the nu(C-S) band region decreased with the increase of the initial concentration of DT, suggesting the change from the liquidlike structure to the solidlike structure of the DT. The residue of the negative charges on the SNPs at the interface was detected by the resonance SERS (SERRS) peaks of the adsorbed cationic porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-21H,23H-porphine (TMPyP). The efficiency of the interfacial SNPs domains as a SERS substrate for TMPyP strongly depended on the adsorption state of the DT.     

Interfacial rheology of an ultrathin nanocrystalline film formed at the liquid/liquid interface

We report the interfacial properties of monolayers of Ag nanoparticles 10-50 nm in diameter formed at the toluene-water interface under steady as well as oscillatory shear. Strain amplitude sweep measurements carried out on the film reveal a shear thickening peak in the loss moduli (G") at large amplitudes followed by a power law decay of the storage (G') and loss moduli with exponents in the ratio 2:1. In the frequency sweep measurements at low frequencies, the storage modulus remains nearly independent of the angular frequency, whereas G" reveals a power law dependence with a negative slope, a behavior reminiscent of soft glassy systems. Under steady shear, a finite yield stress is observed in the limit of shear rate .gamma going to zero. However, for .gamma > 1 s-1, the shear stress increases gradually. In addition, a significant deviation from the Cox-Merz rule confirms that the monolayer of Ag nanoparticles at the toluene-water interface forms a soft two-dimensional colloidal glass.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopic study of cation radicals of aromatic molecules formed in the interlayer of transition-metal exchanged montmorillonites

Resonance Raman spectroscopy has been demonstrated to give important structural information on the reactions of aromatic molecules in the interlayer of transition-metal ion-exchanged montmorillonites. Para-substituted benzenes or 4,4-substituted biphenyls are oxidized to form their cation radicals, which are stabilized in the interlayer of the clay mineral. The oxidative dimerization or polymerization results in the formation of biphenyl type cations and poly-p-phenylene cations from mono-substituted benzenes and benzene, respectively.     

Interaction of acrylodan with human serum albumin. A fluorescence spectroscopic study

The binding of the fluorescent probe acrylodan (AC) to human serum albumin (HSA) was studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The binding isotherms could be fitted to two types of sites. Competition experiments using iodoacetamide suggested that AC binds tightly on HSA by the cysteine-34. Attempts were made to find the location of the second site using high concentrations of warfarin, phenylbutazone, diazepam, indomethacin, palmitic acid or bilirubin in order to displace the bound AC to the HSA. Bilirubin was the only ligand able to displace the bound AC. This result suggests that AC, which is a very hydrophobic molecule also capable of labeling lysine residues, should also bind the human albumin in the primary site of bilirubin, but with less affinity than to the cysteine-34.     

High magnification microscopic system focusing on transparent liquid/liquid interface formed in thin-layer two-phase microcell.

A thin-layer two-phase microcell was fabricated without an adhesive, which showed no fluorescence and resisted acids. The lower hollow of the microcell was thin (0.18 mm), which was in the range of the working distance of the used objective of high magnification (60x) and high numerical aperture (1.2). A reflection method using probe light was newly employed for focusing the objective on a transparent dodecane/water interface strictly with an inverted microscope. The system was applied to in situ fluorescence microscopic measurements of the dynamics of single DNA molecules (165600 base pairs) at the dodecane/water interface.     

X-ray Raman spectroscopic study of benzene at high pressure

We have used X-ray Raman spectroscopy (XRS) to study benzene up to approximately 20 GPa in a diamond anvil cell at ambient temperature. The experiments were performed at the High-Pressure Collaborative Access Team's 16 ID-D undulator beamline at the Advanced Photon Source. Scanned monochromatic X-rays near 10 keV were used to probe the carbon X-ray edge near 284 eV via inelastic scattering. The diamond cell axis was oriented perpendicular to the X-ray beam axis to prevent carbon signal contamination from the diamonds. Beryllium gaskets confined the sample because of their high transmission throughput in this geometry. Spectral alterations with pressure indicate bonding changes that occur with pressure because of phase changes (liquid: phase I, II, III, and III') and possibly due to changes in the hybridization of the bonds. Changes in the XRS spectra were especially evident in the data taken when the sample was in phase III', which may be related to a rate process observed in earlier shock wave studies.     

Fourier transform Raman spectroscopic study of main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters

The Fourier transform infrared and Raman spectra of the semi-flexible main-chain thermotropic liquid crystal polyester, poly(heptamethylene terephthaloyl-bis-4-oxybenzoate) are presented, and tentative band assignments given. The polymer is investigated as a function of its thermal history, and Fourier transform Raman spectra are recorded with temperature using a high-temperature cell. The results are discussed along with calorimetric and X-ray scattering data. Spectral evidence is presented which is related to both the sample crystallinity, and the crystal-to-liquid crystal phase transition.     

Ion-association aggregation of an anionic porphyrin at the liquid/liquid interface studied by second harmonic generation spectroscopy

Interfacial ion-association adsorption and aggregation of a water-soluble porphyrin, tetrakis(4-sulfonatephenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) diacid, which was promoted by a cationic cetyltrimethylammonium ion (CTA(+)), was studied by second harmonic generation (SHG) spectroscopy. Comparing the interfacial SH spectrum with the transmission absorption spectrum of TPPS in the aqueous solution elucidated the aggregation behavior of TPPS at the heptane/water interface. The time-dependent SHG spectra for TPPS aggregation and the interfacial tension lowering in the presence of CTA(+) were discussed on the basis of an electrostatic adsorption model. Then, it was suggested that TPPS diacid was highly concentrated by the ion-association with CTA(+) at the interface, which was the intermediate state before the final aggregated state.     

Spectroscopic studies on bilirubin aggregate at liquid/liquid interface

Bilirubin (BR) aggregating at liquid/liquid interface was firstly detected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging/spectroscopy combining with ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) absorption spectra. In the UV/Vis absorption spectra of BR aggregate, a new shoulder appeared at 474 nm, and BR absorption maximum underwent red shift from 450 nm to a longer wavelength at 497 nm, which indicates that BR aggregate was formed at the interface. Meanwhile, the BR molecule structure changed or conformation torsion, that is, the increase in orbit overlap or dihedral angle and the enhancement of exciton coupling. In the study of FTIR imaging/spectroscopy, the hydrogen bond-sensitive infrared bands of BR aggregate showed remarkable changes in band shift and intensity compared with those of BR powder, suggesting that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds broke out and internal structure changed. These new findings will be helpful for understanding of the BR molecular interaction, transportation, complex with serum albumin and metal ions, and the effect of BR aggregating on biomembrane and human tissues.

High-pressure Raman spectroscopic study of the ammonia-borane complex. Evidence for the dihydrogen bond

The Raman spectra of the ammonia-borane complex, NH(3)BH(3), have been investigated as a function of pressure up to 40 kbar. Vibrational modes involving the NH(3) group show negative pressure dependences, supporting the existence of the dihydrogen bond, but the vibrations of the BH(3) group have a positive dependence. Two transitions were observed in the solid phase under pressure, in contrast to the temperature behavior, where a single transition occurs. Factor group splitting occurs for the degenerate vibrations, and this allows the correct assignment of the observed vibrations.     

Resonance Raman study of the polyiodide complex formed in the reaction of iodine with the polysulphur cyclic base 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexathiacyclooctadecane

Resonance Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the reaction of iodine with the interesting polysulphur cyclic base, 1,4,7,10,13,16,-haxathiacyclootadecane (HTCOD). The results indicate that the complex [(HTCOD)2]+ x I5- is formed. The I5- unit exists in the form of distorted I2 linked to I3- unit which has two unequivalent I-I bonds. The v(I-I) for I2 occurs at 194 cm(-1) while for I-I, inner and outer bonds in I3- at 143 and 160 cm(-1), respectively.     

UV-Vis spectroscopic study on effects of pressure for adsorption ofp-nitrotoluene at liquid-solid interface

The behavior ofp-nitrotoluene adsorbed at zeolite/n-heptane interface has been investigated by the electronic spectroscopy under pressure up to 300 MPa. The uv-vis absorption bands of adsorbedp-nitrotoluene were deconvoluted into ones for the species adsorbed on the cation sites, and one for that on the pore wall of zeolite. The peak of adsorbed species on the cation site red-shifted by 20–80 nm from the position of the same species in the liquid phase, and their magnitudes of shift depended on the strength of electric field generated by the cation in zeolites. The peak intensities of adsorbed species on the cation site were enhanced but these or the pore wall site were reduced with the increase in pressure, suggesting that a part ofp-nitroluene molecules on the pore wall site desorbed and the adsorption on the cation site was enhanced by compression. The pressure dependence of peak intensity indicated that the behavior of this adsorption system was strongly governed by the solvation structure of the adsorbate in the zeolite pore. In particular, it was found that the adsorption of solvent molecules on the cation site strongly affected the volume change of the adsorption system.     

Structure of water at ionic liquid/Ag interface probed by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The potential-dependent adsorption behavior of water and ionic liquid was probed by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) at the Ag electrode surface in the ionic liquids containing water with different concentrations.The configuration of water at the ionic liquid/electrode interface and the relationship between the potential of zero charge (pzc) and the molar fraction of water were deduced through the changes in the vibrational frequency of OH stretching mode.A small Stark effect value was determined ...     

含水离子液体/金属界面结构的SERS研究

利用表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)研究了不同含水量下离子液体及水分子在银电极上随电位变化吸附方式的改变,通过水的O-H伸缩振动谱峰频率变化特征,详细探究了水在离子液体/电极界面上的存在形式及作用方式以及体系零电荷电位与水含量的关系.水含量较低时O-H伸缩振动的Stark系数值较低,随水含量的增加O-H伸缩振动的谱峰位置逐渐向高波数方向移动,同时O-H伸缩振动的Stark系数也逐渐增大,1molL-1[BMIM]Br水溶液中达到76cm-1V-1,且体系的零电荷电位正移,这些差异与水在离子液体中所形成氢键的程度及水分子的存在形式密切相关,在水的含量较低时水与离子液体阳离子通过氢键作用而存在于界面层中,当水的含量增加时,水分子间氢键的作用增强,水与电极表面直接作用的可能性增大.