Inorganic nanocrystal self-assembly via the inclusion interaction of beta-cyclodextrins: toward 3D spherical magnetite

Synthesis and three-dimensional (3D) assembly of magnetite nanocrystals were realized by a one-pot procedure, in which Fe(acac)3 (acac = acetylacetonate) was partly reduced by hydrazine accompanied with ethylene glycol and spontaneously assembled into spherical nanostructures in the presence of surfactants including beta-cyclodextrin, oleic acid, and oleylamine. The size of the assembled spheres can coarsely be controlled in a limited range (100 nm to 2 microm) by changing the reaction temperature and the concentration of beta-cyclodextrin. X-ray diffraction and far Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to clarify the structures of magnetite in the assembled spheres. Electron diffraction pattern in a selected-area exhibits a high-crystallinity characteristic of cubic structure magnetite. We found that the formation of spherical magnetite aggregates highly depends on the presence of beta-cyclodextrin, while oleic acid and oleylamine improve the morphology of individual magnetite nanoparticles in the assembled spheres. In addition, the thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis were applied to determine the content of magnetite in the products. Magnetic properties were also studied by using a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer.     

Novel proton-conducting polymer inclusion membranes

The preparation and characterization of new polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) for proton transport is described. PIMs were prepared with different polymeric cellulose-based compounds and PVC as supports, tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBEP) and 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizers and dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (DNSA) and dinonylnaphthalenedisulfonic acid (DNDSA) as carriers. The effects of the nature and content of the supports, plasticizers and carriers on membrane proton conductivity was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This technique was also used to evaluate the chemical stability of a CTA–NPOE–DNDSA membrane while its selectivity was monitored with respect to sodium and calcium ions through counter-transport experiments. DSC and TGA techniques were used to determine the thermal stability of these membranes. A PIM based on CTA–DNDSA–NPOE showed the highest proton conductivity (3.5 mS/cm) with no variation of its behavior during 2 months of evaluation. FTIR characterization did not show structural changes of the membrane in this period of time. Thermal analysis indicates that it is stable up to 180 °C. An empirical functional relationship between PIM resistance and composition indicates that increasing plasticizer and carrier concentrations enhances the conductivity of the membranes, while increasing CTA content tends to decrease this property. Transport experiments showed a good selectivity of the CTA–DNDSA–NPOE membrane for protons over calcium or sodium ions.     

Capillary electrophoresis behavior of water-soluble anionic porphyrins in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin and its O-methylated derivatives

The electrophoretic behavior of water-soluble anionic porphyrins, such as meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP), meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin (TSPP) and its zinc(II) and copper(II) complexes (ZnTSPP and CuTSPP, respectively) has been studied by capillary zone electrophoresis using fused-silica capillaries. The selectivity of the separation is strongly dependent on the type and concentration of betacyclodextrin (betaCD) or the O-methylated derivatives added to the background electrolyte. CuTSPP and TSPP can be separated using a pH 2.5 aqueous sodium phosphate buffer in the presence of 1 mM betaCD. Resolution is poorer or absent employing alkylated betaCDs, such as the heptakis (2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin or the heptakis(2,3,6-triO-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin, as additives. On the other hand, separation of TSPP from its copper and zinc complexes has been achieved using a pH 7.0 aqueous sodium phosphate buffer, in the presence of 0.75 mM betaCD and 20% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as organic modifier. Under such conditions, the calibration curve for quantitative analysis of copper(II) was obtained. A rationale for the observed behavior will be presented and discussed on the basis of binding and protonation equilibria and a simple mathematical model.     

Fabrication and characterization of a novel inclusion complex of chiral monomer derived from (+)-camphor with beta-cyclodextrins

In order to develop a highly ordered polymer dopant to improve the physical properties of polymer materials for microsystems, a novel supramolecular inclusion complex (IC) of chiral bornyl 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy) phenyl-4'-benzoate ( BAPB) threaded with beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDs) was synthesized. The inclusion complex was identified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV, 13C cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The construction of the fibrous self-assembled inclusion complex was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The highly ordered polymerized inclusion complex beta-CD-BAPB revealed significant birefringence and was confirmed using polarized optical microscopy (POM). Polymerization of self-assembled nanofibrous monomers with methyl methacrylate was carried out, and the distribution of the nanofibers in the polymer matrix was confirmed using POM. This investigation demonstrates a novel method for the fabrication of polymeric nanofibers with highly ordered, self-assembled functional monomers. The polymeric nanofibers are expected to improve the physical properties of polymer films in the field of microelectric and micromachine systems (MEMS).     

Influence of the guests, the type and degree of substitution on inclusion complex formation of substituted beta-cyclodextrins

The stability of inclusion complexes (i.e. the measure of molecular recognition between a guest and (beta-cyclodextrin, CD) is highly influenced by the fit of the guest into the cavity of the host and by secondary bonds among the functional groups getting in close connection. The guests themselves influence these interactions by their sizes, shapes and functional groups. On the other hand, both the size of the cavity and the reactivity of beta-CDs are altered when the hydroxy groups are substituted. As best models, the interactions among hydroxypropylated CDs of different average degree (and pattern) of substitution (DS) and phenolphthalein (as a model for 'large' guests) or p-nitrophenol/p-nitrophenolate (p-NP/p-NPate) couple (as for 'small' ones) have been studied. The formation constants of phenolphthalein-hydroxypropyl-beta-CD (HP-CD) complexes are continuously decreasing, while those of p-NP and p-NPate ones show a maximum with increasing DS. Similarly, the pattern of substitution has a significant effect on the quality of the interaction, too. The change of the DS on O(6) position alters the type of the interactions most, and a series of different findings prove that this change is the basis in the chiral selectivity of different CD derivatives, too. The ratio of the average DS on primary and secondary hydroxy rims [R(DS)=DS(6)/DS(2,3)] is recommended as the simplest possibility for characterizing the substitution pattern.     

Synthesis of persialylated beta-cyclodextrins

The synthesis of homogeneous hepta-antennated C-6 branched sialosyl cyclomaltoheptose derivatives (persialylated beta-cyclodextrins) has been performed in good to excellent yields, and the compounds have been fully characterized. The thioacetate N-acetylneuraminic acid derivative 6 was selectively de-S-acetylated and coupled by nucleophilic displacement in a one-pot reaction to the heptakis(chloroacetamido) beta-CDs 2 and 5, yielding multivalent sialosides 8 and 9, respectively. The thiourea-linked sialyl-CD 10 was obtained by reaction of the 4-isothiocyanatophenyl N-acetylneuraminic acid derivative 7 with the per-tert-butoxycarbonylamino beta-CD derivative 2 after suitable deprotection of the amino function.     

Diastereomeric molecular recognition and binding behavior of bile acids by L/D-tryptophan-modified beta-cyclodextrins

[reaction: see text] Binding behavior of L- and D-tryptophan-modified beta-cyclodextrins (L/D-Trp-beta-CD) (1 and 2) with four bile acids, i.e., cholate (CA), deoxycholate (DCA), glycocholate (GCA), and taurocholate (TCA), has been investigated by fluorescence, circular dichroism, and 2D-NMR spectroscopies and fluorescence lifetime measurement, as well as isothermal titration microcalorimetry. From the induced circular dichroism (ICD) and 2D NMR spectra, it is deduced that the D-Trp moiety of 2 attached to beta-CD is more deeply self-included in the cavity than that of the antipodal L-Trp moiety of 1, indicating appreciably enantioselective binding of the chiral sidearm by beta-CD. Interestingly, the original difference in conformation between 1 and 2 led to quite a large difference in affinity toward DCA, giving 3.3 times higher binding ability for 2 than for 1. Thermodynamically, the inclusion complexation of 1 and 2 with bile acids was entirely driven by favorable enthalpy change (DeltaH degrees) with accompanying negative entropy change (DeltaS degrees). The stronger binding of bile acids by L/D-Trp-beta-CD is attributable to higher enthalpic gains. The combined use of the calorimetric and NMR ROESY spectral examinations revealed the correlation between the thermodynamic parameters and the role of sidearm conformation in modified beta-cyclodextrins.     

The inclusion of the drug diflunisal by alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins. A nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet spectroscopic study

¹⁹F nmr and ultraviolet spectroscopic studies show that the inclusion of the anion of the drug diflunisal (DF) by alpha- and beta- cyclodextrins (CD and CD) in water produces the complexes: DF.CD, DF.CD and DF.(CD)₂ characterized by stability constants of 17, 1.81×10⁵ and 3.07×10³ dm³mol^–1 respectively.     

A nonlinear group contribution method for predicting the free energies of inclusion complexation of organic molecules with alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins

A group-contribution method was developed for calculating the binding constants or the free energies of complexation between native alpha- or beta-cyclodextrin (CD) and organic guest molecules. The nonlinear models for binary (1:1 stoichiometry) complexes of alpha- and beta-CDs were derived with squared correlation coefficients (r(2)) of 0.868 and 0.917 based on a database consisting of 102 and 218 diverse guest molecules, respectively. The parameters used in the models are first-order molecular connectivity index as a measure of molecular bulk and atom/group counts in the guest molecules. The models allow accurate estimations for the wide range of guests containing C, H, N, O, S, and/or all halogens by summing the contribution values of each defined group present in the chemical structure of the guest along with guest's molecular size factors (linear and square terms) and then the summation to a constant coefficient value. The predictive performance of the models was tested by extra set of 27 compounds which were not included in the original data set. The predicted values by the models are in good agreement with the experimentally determined data.     

Solid-supported monolayers and bilayers of amphiphilic beta-cyclodextrins

This paper describes the adsorption and spreading of beta-cyclodextrin (CD) vesicles on hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates, which involves a transition from bilayer vesicles to planar molecular monolayers or bilayers. On substrates that are patterned with self-assembled monolayers by microcontact printing (muCP), the CD vesicles preferentially adsorb on hydrophobic areas instead of hydrophilic (nonionic) areas, and on cationic areas instead of hydrophilic (nonionic) areas. Supported monolayers of amphiphilic cyclodextrins CD1 and CD2 were obtained by adsorption of CD vesicles to hydrophobic substrates, and supported bilayers of amphiphilic cyclodextrins CD1 and CD2 were prepared by adsorption of CD vesicles on cationic substrates. Contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) were used to analyze the supported CD layers. The fluidity of the supported CD layers was verified using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. The supported layers function as a supramolecular platform that can bind suitable guest molecules through inclusion in the CD host cavities. Additionally, the CD host layers were patterned with fluorescent guest molecules by supramolecular muCP on the supported CD layers. The host-guest interactions were investigated with CFM and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments.     

Confinement of polar solvents within beta-cyclodextrins

Using molecular dynamics techniques, we examined equilibrium and dynamical characteristics pertaining to the solvation of a single beta-cyclodextrin (CD) in water and in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Compared to its global minimum structure, the overall shape of the solute in solution is reasonably well preserved. While in aqueous solutions, the average number of solvent molecules retained within the central cavity of the oligosaccharide is close to 5, for DMSO, that number reduces to approximately 1. No evidence of significant orientational correlations of the trapped molecules were found in either solvent. The main contributions to the hydrogen-bond (HB) connectivity between the solute and the bulk phases are due to the more distal HO6-O6 hydroxyl groups, acting as HB donors and acceptors. The average residence time for retained DMSO was found to be in the nanosecond range, and it is, at least, 1 order of magnitude longer that the one observed for water. We also analyzed the characteristics of the solvation of the beta-CD in an equimolar water-DMSO mixture. In this environment, we found a preferential localization of a single DMSO molecule in the interior of the CD and a very minor retention of water. In the mixture, the characteristic time of residence of the trapped DMSO molecule increases by a factor of approximately 2. The observed difference was rationalized in terms of the fluctuations of the local concentrations of the two species in the vicinity of the CD top and bottom rims.     

Spin trapping of superoxide in the presence of beta-cyclodextrins

The trapping of superoxide anion with DMPO and DEPMPO has been carried out in the presence of a methylated beta-cyclodextrin, Me-beta-CD; inclusion of the spin adducts in the cavity of Me-beta-CD resulted in a seven-fold increase of their half-life (t1/2 = 96 min for DEPMPO-superoxide spin adduct) and in their protection towards glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) and also ascrobate anion in the case of DEPMPO.     

Unprecedented dinuclear tin derivative of deprotonated beta-cyclodextrins

Two unprecedented dinuclear tin compounds containing deprotonated beta-cyclodextrins have been constructed by using different organotin and inorganotin precursors under solvothermal conditions, which display two dinuclear airscrew-like structures with different packing modes.     

Site selectivity in the synthesis of O-methylated hydroxamic acids with diazomethane

In this paper we report the results obtained by treating some selected hydroxamic acids with diazomethane in ethereal media. The multitask reagent diazomethane was used either as a base to induce deprotonation of the chosen hydroxamic acids or as conjugated acid which undergoes one-pot methylation processes of the generated anions. Product distributions clearly showed that a high site selectivity is expressed by the different deprotonated species in the alkylation processes. Under the adopted conditions, the prevalent site of methylation is in all the cases the oxygen of the hydroxamic acid. While in aliphatic hydroxamic acids only O-alkylation is observed, in the aromatic substrates, the NH group competes with the OH function as the nucleophilic site, although the OH reactivity still dominates.     

Constrained polymer chain behavior observed in their non-stoichiometric cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Much has been learned from inclusion compounds (IC’s) formed between guest polymers and host cyclodextrins (CDs) [polymer-CD-ICs] by examining the properties of the fully covered guest polymers, as well as those coalesced neat bulk samples of guest polymers obtained upon removal of the host CDs. However, what can be gained from studying the properties of the restrained unthreaded portions of polymer chains that “dangle” from non-stoichiometric (n-s)-polymer-CD-IC’s? We attempt to assist in answering this question by observing (n-s)-polymer-CD-IC’s formed between amorphous atactic-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and γ-CD, as well as the IC formed between a synthesized poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(propylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PPG-PCL) triblock copolymer and β-CD, which was presumed to have threaded and unthreaded PPG and PCL blocks. Though our (n-s)-PMMA-γ-CD-IC samples were found to exhibit extremely heterogeneous behaviors, glass transition temperature increases of up to 27?°C above that of neat PMMA were observed. X-ray diffraction data indicates modest γ-CD crystallinity at partial coverages of PMMA, with a crystal structure similar to that of the IC with full coverage. On the other hand, XRD, DSC and FTIR data revealed an almost total disruption of PCL block crystallinity upon complexation of PCL-PPG-PCL with β-CD, suggesting either partial threading and coverage of the PCL blocks by β-CD or their partial mixing with the PPG blocks covered with β-CD.     

Study on the inclusion behavior and solid inclusion complex of 5-amino-6-methyl-2-benzimidazolone with cyclodextrins

The inclusion behaviors of three native or modified CDs including p-CD,2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD(2-Hp-β-CD) and 2,6-dimethyl-β-CD(Me-β-CD) toward 5-amino-6-methyl-2-benzimidazolone(AMBI) were comparatively investigated by NMR and fluorescence titration in combination with IR spectra,X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microphotographs.The experimental results jointly demonstrated that the phenyl ring of AMBI entered into the cavity of the CDs and located close to the narrow rims accompanied by the formation of the 1:1 inclusion complex with large stability constant in aqueous solution.The introduction of the hydroxypropyl unit to the host improved the solubility,ultimately effecting an obvious promoting in the fluorescence intensity and the stability constant     

Properties and the inclusion behavior of 6-O-alpha-D-galactosyl- and 6-O-alpha-D-mannosyl-cyclodextrins

The novel heterogeneous branched cyclodextrins (CDs), 6-O-alpha-D- galactosyl-alpha, -beta, and -gamma CDs (Gal-alpha, -beta, and -gamma CDs) and 6-O-alpha-D-mannosyl-alpha, -beta, and -gamma CDs (Man-alpha, -beta, and -gamma CDs) dissolved sufficiently in water and in 10-50% (v/v) methanol aqueous solutions, as did the homogeneous branched CDs, 6-O-alpha-D-glucosyl-alpha, -beta, and -gamma CDs (Glc-alpha, -beta, and -gamma CDs). The solubilities of heterogeneous branched CDs were higher than those of each parent non-branched CDs. The hemolytic activities of heterogeneous and homogeneous branched CDs were lower than those of each parent non-branched CDs and the hemolytic activity became weaker in the order of non-branched CD > Man-CD > Glc-CD > Gal-CD in each series of alpha, beta, and gamma CD. AL type solubility-phase diagrams were displayed in the formation of inclusion complexes of the guest compounds of small size (methyl benzoate, estriol, and dexamethasone) with Gal-, Man-, and Glc-CDs, and marked differences among the three kinds of branched CDs could not be detected. However, solubility-phase diagrams between these branched CDs and the insoluble guest compounds of large cyclic structure (cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, and amphotericin B) showed AP type, and the improvement of water solubilities of these guest compounds with three kinds of branched CDs was enhanced in the order of Man-CDs > Glc-CDs > Gal-CDs.     

Thermodynamic investigation of the molecular interactions of 4-nitrophenol with free-bases meso-tetraarylporphyrins

The molecular interactions of 4-Nitrophenol (4NP) with free-base meso-tetraarylporphyrins (H₂T(4-X)PP; X = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl) have been studied. The formation constants and other thermodynamic parameters were calculated by using UV-Vis spectrophotometry titration results. The formation constants show the following trend relative to X substituent of porphyrins: H₂T(4-CH₃O)PP > H₂T(4-CH₃)PP > H₂TPP > H₂T(4-Cl)PP.