Carboxymethyl poly(L‐histidine) as a new pH‐sensitive polypeptide at endosomal/lysosomal pH

A carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine) has been synthesized as a new pH‐sensitive polypeptide at endosomal/lysosomal pH. Because of its poor water solubility at physiological pH, an application of poly(L ‐histidine) with a pK_a around 6.0 has been limited in spite of the native possession of the pH‐dependent property change at endosomal pH. Although the unmodified poly(L ‐histidine) suddenly precipitates out of the aqueous medium above pH 6.0 as the result of the deprotonation of the imidazole groups, the water solubility of the resulting carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine) has been improved at physiological pH. A solution turbidity measurement proved that no significant effect on a rapid aggregate formation or phase separation of serum proteins is induced by carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine). Hemolysis assay showed that the carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine) enhances membrane disruptive ability at endosomal/lysosomal pH. The cellular uptake of luciferase in the presence of the carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine) increases intracellular luciferase activity, which suggests that the carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine) makes the luciferase escape from lysosomal degradation. The carboxymethyl poly(L ‐histidine) would be the fundamental compound for designing various drug carriers with the pH sensitivity at endosomal/lysosomal pH. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Poly(L‐histidine) with several aminoethyl groups for a new pH‐sensitive DNA carrier

In this study, poly(L ‐histidine) with several aminoethyl groups, i.e. aminated poly(L ‐histidine), is reported to be able to make complexes with DNA and to transfect cells in vitro in the presence of serum. The present study was performed to determine whether the pH of the medium had an influence on the complex formation with DNA, on the cell membrane fusion activity and on the transfection efficiency. Agarose gel retardation assays proved that the polyion complex formation of the aminated poly(L ‐histidine) with DNA was affected by pH of the medium, owing to the basicity (protonation–deprotonation) of the imidazole groups with a pK_a value around 6.0. Hemolysis assay showed that the resulting DNA complex enhanced membrane disruptive ability at endosomal pH. The aminated poly(L ‐histidine) gene carrier demonstrated significant transfection efficacy which was decreased by the inclusion of chloroquine as an endosomolytic agent. These results suggest that the aminated poly(L ‐histidine) promises to be a new pH‐sensitive DNA carrier for endosomal escape. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ROMP synthesis of novel thermo‐, pH‐, and salt‐responsive (co)polymers containing the morpholino functional group

We report the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) synthesis of novel (co)polymers containing the multiresponsive morpholino functional group [(3aR,7aS)?2‐(2‐morpholinoethyl)?3a,4,7,7a‐tetrahydro‐1H?4,7‐epoxyisoindole‐1,3(2H)‐dione ( M1 )]. All (co)polymers were prepared with the Grubbs' first generation initiator, RuCl₂(PCy₃)₂CHPh, in CH₂Cl₂ or CH₂Cl₂/2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol solvent mixtures. M1 homopolymers exhibit a pH dependent aqueous solubility being fully soluble below pH 5.0 and above pH 6.0. At these intermediate values, the polymers exhibit molecular weight (MW) independent inverse temperature dependent solubility with measured cloud points (T_CP) of 86 °C at pH 5.0 and 79 °C at pH 6.0. In the case of the lowest MW homopolymer (absolute MW of 9950 g/mol), there was a clear dependence of the T_CP on the homopolymer solution concentration and varied over the range 78–88 °C. The T_CP could be further tuned via the preparation of novel AB statistical copolymers. Incorporation of a permanently cationic comonomer as a more hydrophilic species resulted in an increase of the T_CP at low incorporations (up to 10 mol %) and the complete disappearance of any temperature dependent solubility at 20 mol %. In a complementary approach, the T_CP could also be lowered by the preparation of statistical copolymers of M1 with a more hydrophobic comonomer. Finally, we note that M1 homopolymers are also responsive to Na₂SO₄ and could be readily salted‐out of an aqueous solution salt at a [Na₂SO₄] of 2.0 M giving a third trigger for controlling aqueous solubility. These copolymers represent examples of new multiresponsive materials and demonstrate the effectiveness of ROMP as a synthetic tool for the preparation of new and interesting materials. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 50–58     

Synthesis of poly(cystine bisamide)‐PEG block copolymers grafted with 1‐(3‐aminopropyl)imidazole and their phase transition behaviors

New biodegradable and pH‐sensitive block copolymers were prepared by grafting 1‐(3‐aminopropyl) imidazole onto a backbone polymer formed via condensation polymerization between l ‐cystine and EDTA‐dianhydride. The copolymer with a graft ratio of 79% exhibited a good buffering capacity and pH sensitivity. These are attributed to protonation–deprotonation of the imidazole ring at around pH 7. The copolymers with less imidazole content did not show any apparent responses to changes in pH. The particle size of the copolymer aggregate formed under basic conditions was around 200 nm and increased with decreasing pH. The critical aggregation values at pH 6.0 and 8.0, derived from the changes of intensity ratios (I₁/I₃) in the emission spectrums of pyrene, were approximately 0.17 and 0.05 mg/ml, respectively. The surface charge of the aggregates increased with the decreasing pH as a result of the increase in protonation of imidazole and the tertiary amine in the polymer chain. The microviscosity of hydrophobic domains was estimated using 1,6‐diphenyl‐1,3,5‐hexatriene. The decrease of the anisotropy value under acidic conditions reflects a disruption of hydrophobic interaction. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An experimental and computational approach to pH‐dependent self‐aggregation of poly(2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazoline)

Besides temperature, self‐aggregation of poly(2‐isopropyl‐2‐oxazoline) (PIPOX) can also be triggered via pH in aqueous solution (25 °C, pH > 5). Lowest energy structures and interaction energies of PIPOX with H₃O⁺, OH^?, and H₂O were calculated by DFT methods showed that, in addition to their ability to protonate PIPOX, H₃O⁺ ions had strong interaction with both water and PIPOX in acidic conditions. H₃O⁺ ions acted as compatibilizer between PIPOX and water and increased the solubility of PIPOX. OH^? ions were found to have stronger interaction with water compared to PIPOX resulting in desorption of water molecules from PIPOX phase and decreased solubility, leading to enhanced hydrophobic interactions among isopropyl groups of PIPOX and formation of aggregates at high pH. Results concerning the effect of end‐groups on aggregate size were in good agreement with statistical mechanics calculations. Moreover, the effect of polymer concentration on the aggregate size was examined. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 210–221     

2‐Methyl‐1,4,5‐triphenyl‐1H‐imidazole

In 2‐methyl‐1,4,5‐tri­phenyl‐1H‐imidazole, C₂₂H₁₈N₂, the three substituent phenyl groups are not delocalized with the imidazole moiety; the dihedral angles these phenyl groups form with the imidazole ring are in the range 25.90 (5)–63.49 (6)°.     

NMR Studies of Active‐Site Properties of Human Carbonic Anhydrase II by Using 15N‐Labeled 4‐Methylimidazole as a Local Probe and Histidine Hydrogen‐Bond Correlations

By using a combination of liquid and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, ¹⁵N‐labeled 4‐methylimidazole (4‐MI) as a local probe of the environment has been studied: 1) in the polar, wet Freon CDF₃/CDF₂Cl down to 130 K, 2) in water at pH 12, and 3) in solid samples of the mutant H64A of human carbonic anhydrase II (HCA II). In the latter, the active‐site His64 residue is replaced by alanine; the catalytic activity is, however, rescued by the presence of 4‐MI. For the Freon solution, it is demonstrated that addition of water molecules not only catalyzes proton tautomerism but also lifts its quasidegeneracy. The possible hydrogen‐bond clusters formed and the mechanism of the tautomerism are discussed. Information about the imidazole hydrogen‐bond geometries is obtained by establishing a correlation between published ¹H and ¹⁵N chemical shifts of the imidazole rings of histidines in proteins. This correlation is useful to distinguish histidines embedded in the interior of proteins and those at the surface, embedded in water. Moreover, evidence is obtained that the hydrogen‐bond geometries of His64 in the active site of HCA II and of 4‐MI in H64A HCA II are similar. Finally, the degeneracy of the rapid tautomerism of the neutral imidazole ring His64 reported by Shimahara et al. (J. Biol. Chem.­ 2007 , 282, 9646) can be explained with a wet, polar, nonaqueous active‐site conformation in the inward conformation, similar to the properties of 4‐MI in the Freon solution. The biological implications for the enzyme mechanism are discussed.     

Serum Albumin Targeted,pH‐Dependent Magnetic Resonance Relaxation Agents

The objective of this work was the synthesis of serum albumin targeted, Gd^III‐based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents exhibiting a strong pH‐dependent relaxivity. Two new complexes ( Gd‐glu and Gd‐bbu ) were synthesized based on the DO3A macrocycle modified with three carboxyalkyl substituents α to the three ring nitrogen atoms, and a biphenylsulfonamide arm. The sulfonamide nitrogen coordinates the Gd in a pH‐dependent fashion, resulting in a decrease in the hydration state, q, as pH is increased and a resultant decrease in relaxivity (r₁). In the absence of human serum albumin (HSA), r₁ increases from 2.0 to 6.0 mM ^?1 s^?1 for Gd‐glu and from 2.4 to 9.0 mM ^?1 s^?1 for Gd‐bbu from pH 5 to 8.5 at 37 °C, 0.47 T, respectively. These complexes (0.2 mM ) are bound (>98.9 %) to HSA (0.69 mM ) over the pH range 5–8.5. Binding to albumin increases the rotational correlation time and results in higher relaxivity. The r₁ increased 120 % (pH 5) and 550 % (pH 8.5) for Gd‐glu and 42 % (pH 5) and 260 % (pH 8.5) for Gd‐bbu . The increases in r₁ at pH 5 were unexpectedly low for a putative slow tumbling q=2 complex. The Gd‐bbu system was investigated further. At pH 5, it binds in a stepwise fashion to HSA with dissociation constants K_d1=0.65, K_d2=18, K_d3=1360 μM . The relaxivity at each binding site was constant. Luminescence lifetime titration experiments with the Eu^III analogue revealed that the inner‐sphere water ligands are displaced when the complex binds to HSA resulting in lower than expected r₁ at pH 5. Variable pH and temperature nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) studies showed that the increased r₁ of the albumin‐bound q=0 complexes is due to the presence of a nearby water molecule with a long residency time (1–2 ns). The distance between this water molecule and the Gd ion changes with pH resulting in albumin‐bound pH‐dependent relaxivity.     

An efficient synthesis and cytotoxic activity of 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H–benzo[d]imidazole obtained using a magnetically recyclable Fe3O4 nanocatalyst‐mediated white tea extract

A simple and efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of biologically relevant 2‐substituted benzimidazoles through a one‐pot condensation of o‐phenylenediamines with aryl aldehydes catalysed by iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ MNPs) in short reaction times with excellent yields. In the present study, Fe₃O₄ MNPs synthesized in a green manner using aqueous extract of white tea (Camelia sinensis) (Wt‐Fe₃O₄ MNPs) were applied as a magnetically separable heterogeneous nanocatalyst to synthesize 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H–benzo[d]imidazole which has potential application in pharmacology and biological systems. Fourier transform infrared and NMR spectroscopies were used to characterize the 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H–benzo[d]imidazole. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on MOLT‐4 cells showed a dose‐dependent toxicity with non‐toxic effect of 2‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1H–benzo[d]imidazole, up to a concentration of 0.147 µM. The green synthesized Wt‐Fe₃O₄ MNPs as recyclable nanocatalyst could be used for further research on the synthesis of therapeutic materials, particularly in nanomedicine, to assist in the treatment of cancer.     

Advantage of the N‐Alkylation Strategy for Retaining the Molecular Planarity for Oligothiophene/Imidazole/1,10‐Phenanthroline‐Based Heterocyclic Semiconducting and Fluorescent Compounds

A family of planar oligothiophene/imidazole/1,10‐phenanthroline (OTIP)‐based heterocyclic, aromatic, semiconducting, and fluorescent compounds with N‐substituted alkyl chains (allyl, n‐butyl, n‐octyl, n‐dodecyl, and n‐cetyl) have been designed and synthesized. They all have specific N‐coordination sites, various donor–acceptor spacers, good molecular planarity, suitable solubility, and high thermal stability. In comparison with conventional double β‐alkylation of the thiophene ring, our results reveal that the single imidazole N‐alkylation strategy for OTIPs has the advantage of maintaining the planarity of the whole molecule, in addition to improving the solubility, which can be clearly verified by the small dihedral angles between adjacent thiophene/imidazole/1,10‐phenanthroline (TIP) rings in eight X‐ray single‐crystal structures. In particular, n‐dodecyl‐ and n‐cetyl‐substituted OTIPs ( 7 and 8 ) with the same molecular length of 2.37 nm (M_W=939 and 1052), show good molecular planarity with the aforementioned dihedral angles of 8.9(5) and 10.4(5)°. Furthermore, special attention has been paid to the physicochemical properties of seven symmetrical OTIPs ( 6 – 8 , 13 – 15 , and 19 ), including two to six thiophene rings in the middle of their molecular structures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first synthetic, structural, and spectral investigation into the N‐alkylation of OTIP‐based compounds.     

A Gadolinium‐Binding Cyclodecapeptide with a Large High‐Field Relaxivity Involving Second‐Sphere Water

A new cyclodecapeptide incorporating two prolylglycine sequences as β‐turn inducers and bearing four side chains with acidic carboxyl groups for cation complexation has been prepared. Structural analysis in water by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and CD shows that this template adopts a conformation suitable for the complexation of lanthanide ions Ln³⁺, with its carboxyl groups oriented on the same face of the peptide scaffold. Luminescence titrations show that mononuclear Ln–PA complexes are formed with apparent stability constants of log β₁₁₀≈6.5 (pH 7). The high‐field water relaxivity values arising from the Gd–PA complex at 200–500 MHz have been interpreted with molecular parameters determined independently. The experimentally determined water relaxivities are undoubtedly 30 % higher than the expected values for this complex with two inner‐sphere (IS) water molecules and a medium‐range rotational correlation time (τ_R=386 ps (±10 %)). This led us to propose the existence of a large second‐sphere (2S) contribution to the relaxivity caused by the interaction of water molecules with the hydrophilic peptide ligand by hydrogen‐bonding.     

A Non‐Invasive NMR Method Based on Histidine Imidazoles to Analyze the pH‐Modulation of Protein–Nucleic Acid Interfaces

A useful ²J(N?H) coupling‐based NMR spectroscopic approach is proposed to unveil, at the molecular level, the contribution of the imidazole groups of histidines from RNA/DNA‐binding proteins on the modulation of binding to nucleic acids by pH. Such protonation/deprotonation events have been monitored on the single His96 located at the second RNA/DNA recognition motif (RRM2) of T‐cell intracellular antigen‐1 (TIA‐1) protein. The pK_a values of the His96 ionizable groups were substantially higher in the complexes with short U‐rich RNA and T‐rich DNA oligonucleotides than those of the isolated TIA‐1 RRM2. Herein, the methodology applied to determine changes in pK_a of histidine side chains upon DNA/RNA binding, gives valuable information to understand the pH effect on multidomain DNA/RNA‐binding proteins that shuttle among different cellular compartments.     

4‐Phenyl‐1H‐imidazole (a low‐temperature redetermination), 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole and 1‐mesityl‐1H‐imidazole

Low‐temperature studies of the simple variously substituted imidazole types 4‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazole, C₉H₈N₂, 1‐benzyl‐1H‐imidazole, C₁₀H₁₀N₂, and 1‐mesityl‐1H‐imidazole, C₁₂H₁₄N₂, extend comparisons between parent imidazole species and their derivatives, the pronounced double‐bond localization opposite the substituted N atom common to simple neutral species being redistributed aromatically on protonation.     

Water‐Soluble Red‐Emitting Distyryl‐Borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) Dyes for Biolabeling

A series of water‐soluble red‐emitting distyryl‐borondipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes were designed and synthesized by using three complementary approaches aimed at introducing water‐solubilizing groups on opposite faces of the fluorescent core to reduce or completely suppress self‐aggregation. An additional carboxylic acid functional group was introduced at the pseudo‐meso position of the BODIPY scaffold for conjugation to amine‐containing biomolecules/biopolymers. The optical properties of these dyes were evaluated under simulated physiological conditions (i.e., phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.5) or in pure water. The emission wavelength (λ_max) of these labels was found in the 640–660 nm range with quantum yields from modest to unprecedentedly high values (4 to 38 %). The bioconjugation of these distyryl‐BODIPY dyes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 12A5 was successfully performed under mild aqueous conditions.     

Water‐soluble polymers from acid‐functionalized norbornenes

Unprotected exo,exo‐5‐norbornene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid and exo,exo‐7‐oxa‐5‐norbornene‐2,3‐dicarboxylic acid were polymerized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization. This reaction yielded polymers with molecular weights (M_n from GPC) ranging from 31 to 242 kg/mol and polydispersity indices between 1.05 and 1.12, using Grubbs' third generation catalyst. The water solubility as a function of pH value of the polymers was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS and acid‐base titration revealed that the oxanorbornene polymer was water soluble over a wider pH range than its norbornene analog. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1266–1273, 2009     

(Acetato‐κO)aqua(1H‐imidazole‐κN3)(picolinato‐κ2N,O)copper(II) 0.87‐hydrate: a Z′> 1 structure

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Cu(C₆H₄NO₂)(C₂H₃O₂)(C₃H₄N₂)(H₂O)]·0.87H₂O, has a square‐pyramidal‐coordinated Cu^II centre (the imidazole is trans to the picolinate N atom, the acetate is trans to the picolinate –CO₂ group and the aqua ligand is in a Jahn–Teller‐elongated apical position) and has two symmetry‐independent molecules in the unit cell (Z′ = 2), which are connected through complementary imidazole–picolinate N—H...O hydrogen bonding. The two partially occupied solvent water molecules are each disordered over two positions. The disordered solvent water molecules, together with pseudosymmetry elements, support the notion that a crystal structure with multiple identical chemical formula units in the structural asymmetric unit (Z′ > 1) can represent a crystal `on the way', that is, a kinetic intermediate form which has not yet reached its thermodynamic minimum. Neighbouring molecules form π–π stacks between their imidazole and picolinate N‐heterocycles, with centroid–centroid distances in the range 3.582 (2)–3.764 (2) Å.     

Dual‐responsive copolymer poly(2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] synthesized via photoATRP for surface with tunable wettability

In this work, a series of block copolymers of poly(2,2,3,4,4,4‐hexafluorobutyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PHFBMA‐b‐PDMAEMA) were synthesized via photo‐induced atom transfer radical polymerization (photoATRP) at room temperature. By the introduction of PDMAEMA segment, the hydrophilicity of the silicon wafer surface spin‐coated with PHFBMA homopolymer was improved. Furthermore, the study of tunable surface wettability showed that the surface wettability was pH‐dependent and thermal‐independent at pH 2 and 10. The as‐fabricated surface coated with PHFBMA₁₁₀‐b‐PDMAEMA₁₈₇ showed switchable water contact angle from 85.4° at pH > 4 to 55.0° at pH 2 due to the protonation and deprotonation of tertiary amine groups of PDMAEMA. However, because of the ascendancy of protonated PDMAEMA at pH 2 and the decreased LCST at pH 10, the wettability of the as‐prepared surfaces was thermal‐insensitive. Finally, surface morphology and composition investigation showed that the property of wettability‐controllable surface was not only influenced by surface composition, but also affected by chain conformation. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3868–3877     

1‐Methyl‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐f]quinolin‐6‐ium chloride monohydrate

The title compound, C₁₁H₁₀N₃⁺·Cl^?·H₂O, belongs to the N1‐methyl‐substituted imidazo­[4,5‐f]­quinoline family, in which the heterocyclic ring is protonated at the pyridine rather than at the imidazole N atom. The mol­ecule as a whole is almost exactly planar. The molecular structure has been compared with that of the 2‐amino analogue described in the literature, and it was found that the extra amino group of the latter is involved in conjugation with the adjacent double bond, i.e. the conjugation does not extend over the entire heterocyclic system. The cation of the title compound forms a strong hydrogen bond with the Cl^? anion and the anions are interconnected by the water solvent mol­ecule.     

Synthesis and solvent‐dependent micellization of the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(styreneboronic acid)‐block‐polystyrene

The amphiphilic organoboron block copolymer poly (styreneboronic acid)‐block‐polystyrene ( PSBA‐b‐PS ) has been prepared through a postpolymerization modification route from the silicon‐functionalized block copolymer poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene)‐block‐polystyrene ( PSSi‐b‐PS ). PSBA‐b‐PS is obtained through highly selective reaction of PSSi‐b‐PS with BBr₃ at room temperature and subsequent hydrolysis of the BBr₂‐functionalized intermediate. Transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrate that PSBA‐b‐PS undergoes pH dependent micellization in aqueous solution. Different morphologies could be realized by using different mixtures of water and organic solvents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2438–2445, 2010     

Synthesis of Bis‐Heterocyclic 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides from 3‐Oxido‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides

The reaction of 1H‐imidazole‐4‐carbohydrazides 1 , which are conveniently accessible by treatment of the corresponding esters with NH₂NH₂?H₂O, with isothiocyanates in refluxing EtOH led to thiosemicarbazides (=hydrazinecarbothioamides) 4 in high yields (Scheme 2). Whereas 4 in boiling aqueous NaOH yielded 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones 5 , the reaction in concentrated H₂SO₄ at room temperature gave 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amines 6 . Similarly, the reaction of 1 with butyl isocyanate led to semicarbazides 7 , which, under basic conditions, undergo cyclization to give 2,4‐dihydro‐3H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐ones 8 (Scheme 3). Treatment of 1 with Ac₂O yielded the diacylhydrazine derivatives 9 exclusively, and the alternative isomerization of 1 to imidazol‐2‐ones was not observed (Scheme 4). It is important to note that, in all these transformations, the imidazole N‐oxide residue is retained. Furthermore, it was shown that imidazole N‐oxides bearing a 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thione or 1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐amine moiety undergo the S‐transfer reaction to give bis‐heterocyclic 1H‐imidazole‐2‐thiones 11 by treatment with 2,2,4,4‐tetramethylcyclobutane‐1,3‐dithione (Scheme 5).