Study of Molecular Recognition of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin-β-cyclodextrin Conjugate Covalently Immobilized on a Silica Surface

Interactions of a new porphyrin–β-cyclodextrin conjugate (1) with a number of aromatic compounds have been studied after covalent immobilization of 1 onto a solid matrix of 3-aminopropylated silica particles. The effects of both porphyrin and β-cyclodextrin moieties on interactions with achiral aromatic compounds were studied and the influence of the achiral porphyrin spacer on chiral recognition of binaphthyl derivatives by the β-cyclodextrin moiety of 1 is discussed.     

Supramolecular Protein Immobilization on Lipid Bilayers

Protein immobilization on surfaces, and on lipid bilayers specifically, has great potential in biomolecular and biotechnological research. Of current special interest is the immobilization of proteins using supramolecular noncovalent interactions. This allows for a reversible immobilization and obviates the use of harsh ligation conditions that could denature fragile proteins. In the work presented here, reversible supramolecular immobilization of proteins on lipid bilayer surfaces was achieved by using the host–guest interaction of the macrocyclic molecule cucurbit[8]uril. A fluorescent protein was successfully immobilized on the lipid bilayer by making use of the property of cucurbit[8]uril to host together a methylviologen and the indole of a tryptophan positioned on the N‐terminal of the protein. The supramolecular complex was anchored to the bilayer through a cholesterol moiety that was attached to the methylviologen tethered with a small polyethylene glycol spacer. Protein immobilization studies using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) showed the assembly of the supramolecular complexes on the bilayer. Specific immobilization through the protein N‐terminus is more efficient than through protein side‐chain events. Reversible surface release of the proteins could be achieved by washing with cucurbit[8]uril or buffer alone. The described system shows the potential of supramolecular assembly of proteins and provides a method for site‐specific protein immobilization under mild conditions in a reversible manner.     

Determination of amine and aldehyde surface densities: application to the study of aged plasma treated polyethylene films

The aim of this work was to test and to compare different methods reported in the literature to quantify amine and aldehyde functions on the surface of polyethylene (PE) films treated by ammonia plasma and to specify their stability against time. A low pressure ammonia plasma reactor was used to functionalize PE films with amine groups, which could be subsequently used for further immobilization of biomolecules. In order to determine the density of amine groups on the surface of treated films, various molecule probes and spectrophotometric analytical methods have been investigated. Two methods using (i) sulfosuccinimidyl 6-[3'-(2-pyridyldithio)-propionamido] hexanoate (sulfo-LC-SPDP) and (ii) 2-iminothiolane (ITL) associated with bicinchoninic acid (BCA) have been proved to be reliable and sensitive enough to estimate the surface concentration of primary amine functions. The amount of primary amino groups on the functionalized polyethylene films was found to be between 1.2 and 1.4 molecules/nm2. In a second step, the surface concentration of glutaraldehyde (GA), which is currently used as a spacer arm before immobilization of biomolecules, has been assessed: two methods were used to determine the surface density of available aldehyde functions, after the reaction of GA with the aminated polyethylene film. The concentration of GA was found to be in the same range as primary amine concentration. The influence of aging time on the density of available amino and aldehyde groups on the surfaces were evaluated under different storage conditions. The results showed that 50% of the initial density of primary amine functions remained available after storage during 6 days of the PE samples in PBS (pH 7.6) at 4 degrees C. In the case of aldehyde groups, the same percentage of the initial density (50%) remained active after storage in air at RT over a longer period, i.e., 15 days.     

Aptamer sandwich assays: label-free and fluorescence investigations of heterogeneous binding events

We studied aptamer binding events in a heterogeneous format using label-free and fluorescence measurements for the purpose of developing an aptamer-based sandwich assay on a standard microtiter plate platform. The approach allowed visualization of the underlying aptamer immobilization and target binding events rather than relying on only an endpoint determination for method optimization. This allowed for a better understanding of these multi-step assays and optimal conditions specific to aptamers. α-thrombin was chosen as a prototypical analyte as two well-studied aptamers (15 and 29-mer) binding distinct epitopes are available. The Corning Epic? system, which utilizes a resonance waveguide diffraction grating in a 384-well microtiter plate format, was employed to measure relative immobilization and binding levels for various modified aptamers. Parameters investigated included the effects of aptamer orientation, label orientation, spacer length, spacer type, immobilization concentration, and binding buffer. Most notably, the 15-mer aptamer was preferable for capture over the 29-mer aptamer and aptamers with increasing poly(dT) spacer length between the biotin modification and the aptamer yielded decreased immobilization levels. This decreased immobilization resulted in increased α-thrombin binding ability for 15-mer aptamers with the poly(dT) spacer. Fluorescence measurements of fluorescein-labeled 29-mer aptamers with varying spacers were used to visualize sandwich complex formation. Using both label-free and traditional fluorescence measurements, an in-depth understanding of the overall assay was obtained, thus the inclusion of label-free measurements is recommended for future method development.     

Immobilization of hydroquinone through a spacer to polymer grafted on carbon black for a high-surface-area biofuel cell electrode

We immobilized hydroquinone through a spacer to polymer grafted on carbon black and achieved a high-surface-area biofuel cell electrode. Quinone compounds are well-known to transfer electrons in the respiratory chain and have been considered prospective mediators in biofuel cells because of their relatively negative redox potentials. Evaluation of three different spacer arms tethering hydroquinone to linear polymers revealed that only the hydrophilic and flexible di(ethylene oxide) spacer made it possible for immobilized hydroquinone to transfer electrons from glucose oxidase (GOD) to an electrode; direct immobilization and an alkyl spacer did not. The electrode comprising hydroquinone immobilized through di(ethylene oxide) spacer to polymer grafted on carbon black transferred electrons from GOD to the electrode. The potential at which an anodic current began to increase was more negative by about 0.2 V than that for a vinylferrocene-mediated electrode, while the increase in the anodic current density was of the same order.     

7-Triazolylcoumarin-based fluorescent tag system for stepwise,comparative assessment of small molecule microarrays

The potential use of a fluorescent tag system based on 7-(1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)coumarin fluorophore having a fluorous moiety and a polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer at opposite ends as a tool for a stepwise and comparative evaluation of the fabrication process of small molecule microarrays was illustrated by the qualitative analysis of the results of the fluorescence detection obtained from the microarray experiments using the tagged biotins and streptavidin-Cy3 (and avidin-Cy5) as the binding partners.     

Plasma-assisted immobilization of heparin onto low-density polyethylene surface

In this study heparin was covalently immobilized onto LDPE-VEMAC sheet fabricated by the introduction of carboxyl groups to the surface of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) using a plasma technique. The plasma irradiation time influenced the density of carboxyl groups on the LDPE-VEMAC sheet. Heparin was immobilized on the LDPE-VEMAC sheet using a condensation reagent, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). We confirmed the immobilization of heparin from the ATR-FT-IR spectrum of the sheet obtained. Where heparin was directly immobilized on the LDPE-VEMAC sheet, the density of the immobilized heparin depended on that of the carboxyl groups. Heparin was also immobilized with a spacer, hexamethylene diamine, and the density of such heparin was about 1.6 times that of the directly immobilized heparin. This result suggests that the introduction of a spacer may be an effective way to increase the density of immobilized heparin.     

Stabilized Vanadium Catalyst for Olefin Polymerization by Site Isolation in a Metal–Organic Framework

Vanadium catalysts offer unique selectivity in olefin polymerization, yet are underutilized industrially owing to their poor stability and productivity. Reported here is the immobilization of vanadium by cation exchange in MFU‐4l, thus providing a metal–organic framework (MOF) with vanadium in a molecule‐like coordination environment. This material forms a single‐site heterogeneous catalyst with methylaluminoxane and provides polyethylene with low polydispersity (PDI≈3) and the highest activity (up to 148 000 h^?1) reported for a MOF‐based polymerization catalyst. Furthermore, polyethylene is obtained as a free‐flowing powder as desired industrially. Finally, the catalyst shows good structural integrity and retains polymerization activity for over 24 hours, both promising attributes for the commercialization of vanadium‐based polyolefins.     

The effect of the head-group spacer length of 12-s-12 gemini surfactants in the host-guest association with β-cyclodextrin

NMR spectroscopy has been used to study and characterize the interactions in solution between β-CD and alkyl-α,ω-bis(dodecyldimethyl ammonium bromide) gemini surfactants with the following head-group spacer lengths: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. The application of the method of continuous variation gives as a result that 1:1 and 2:1 (β-cyclodextrin-gemini) complexes are formed; the association stoichiometry is dependent on the spacer chain length, varying from 1.5 (for s=2) to 1.8 (for s=10). Assuming a two-step mechanism, the binding constants have been computed. In general, the overall binding constant slightly increases with an increase of the number of methylene groups in the spacer. The (1)H NMR spectra of the N-(CH(3))(2) groups in β-cyclodextrin/gemini mixed solutions are split into two peaks for 12-10-12, suggesting that the gemini spacer can thread the β-cyclodextrin so that the latter is positioned between the gemini head-groups. Inspection of the ROESY spectra allowed the establishment of several spatial proximities between the protons from the β-CD and the gemini and for a spacer length of 10, the data indeed indicate that complexes are formed with the CD molecule positioned between the two charged head groups with the spacer passing through the CD molecule.     

A Multistep Enzyme Sensor for Sucrose Based on S-Layer Microparticles As Immobilization Matrix

Abstract

In this paper we report on the construction principle and performance of an amperometric 3-enzyme sensor for sucrose based on crystalline bacterial cell surface layers (S-layers) as immobilization matrix for the biological components.

Isoporous, crystalline surface layers (S-layers) have been identified as outermost cell envelope layer in many bacteria. Since they are composed of identical protein or glycoprotein subunits with functional groups in well defined positions and orientations, they represent ideal matrices for the controlled and reproducible immobilization of functional macromolecules, as required for the development of biosensors. Apart from single enzyme sensors, which were described earlier, a strikingly simple method for the assembly and optimization of multistep systems was developed. For the fabrication of an amperometric sucrose sensor invertase, mutarotase and glucose oxidase were individually immobilized on S-layer fragments isolated from Clostridium thermohydrosulfuricum L111-69 via aspartic acid as spacer molecules. Subsequently, appropriate mixtures of enzyme loaded S-layer fragments were deposited on a microfiltration membrane and finally, the composite multifunctional sensing layer was sputtered with gold in order to establish a good metal contact. Amperometric sucrose measurements based on H₂O₂ oxidation revealed a high signal level (1 μA^?1/cm^2?mmol sucrose), 5 min response time and a linear range up to 30 mM sucrose as the main characteristics of the S-layer sucrose sensor.     

Nucleosome Immobilization Strategies for Single‐Pair FRET Microscopy

All genomic transactions in eukaryotes take place in the context of the nucleosome, the basic unit of chromatin, which is responsible for DNA compaction. Overcoming the steric hindrance that nucleosomes present for DNA‐processing enzymes requires significant conformational changes. The dynamics of these have been hard to resolve. Single‐pair Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (spFRET) microscopy is a powerful technique for observing conformational dynamics of the nucleosome. Nucleosome immobilization allows the extension of observation times to a limit set only by photobleaching, and thus opens the possibility of studying processes occurring on timescales ranging from milliseconds to minutes. It is crucial however, that immobilization itself does not introduce artifacts in the dynamics. Here we report on various nucleosome immobilization strategies, such as single‐point attachment to polyethylene glycol (PEG) or surfaces coated with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and confinement in porous agarose or polyacrylamide gels. We compare the immobilization specificity and structural integrity of immobilized nucleosomes. A crosslinked star polyethylene glycol coating performs best with respect to tethering specificity and nucleosome integrity, and enables us to reproduce for the first time bulk nucleosome unwrapping kinetics in single nucleosomes without immobilization artifacts.     

表面单层组装多环芳烃荧光行为的Monte Carlo模拟

Recently,a series of sensing films based upon the supra-molecular behavior of aromatic compounds immobilized on substrate surfaces and its dependence to the composition of the medium have been successfully prepared. It is found that the properties and performances of the films depend upon various factors,including the nature of the sensing element,the way of immobilization,the nature of the substrate,and the density of the sensing element immobilized etc. To accelerate and deepen the studies,it was decided to carry out the theoretical simulation of the sensing films based upon the proposed principle. The fluorescence behavior of a functional plate,of which the surface is functionalized by single layer immobilization of aromatic compounds（sensing elements）,is simulated by Monte Carlo simulation method. The effects of the immobilization density of a sensing element,the excitation efficiency,and the association efficiency,P,which is a characteristic parameter of an aromatic compound,between the molecules of the sensing element on the ratio of the excimer emission to the monomer emission of the plate have been systematically examined. But the effects of the length and flexibility of a spacer are neglected,because in this simulation aromatic compounds are immobilized on a plate by the short stiff spacer. It is demonstrated that,for a functionalized plate of a short stiff spacer in a polar solvent（ in this case,the association tendency is strong,and P is close to 1）,aromatic compounds of middle excitation efficiency might be suitable as sensing elements. In addition,the immobilization density of the sensing element should be controlled. A recommended value is about 50%.     

Optimization of silicon dioxide surface functionalization protocol for designing the receptor layer of a biosensor for detecting explosives

The development of the receptor layer of the biosensor for detecting explosive compounds is described. The covalent modification has been chosen for immobilizing E. coli nitroreductase on the gate oxide of the ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) that is comprised of silicon dioxide. The self-assembled monolayer technique has been used for immobilization. This method assumes the usage of different silanes and spacer molecules for activating the surface of SiO₂. Two different immobilization strategies have been compared, one using asymmetric spacers (3-maleimidobenzoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS) and 4-(4-maleimidophenyl)butyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (SMPB)) and another using a symmetric glutaric dialdehyde linker both accompanied by appropriate silanes. For the first method, the dependence of functionalization efficiency on silane concentration has been studied. The sufficient density of enzyme molecules on the surface of SiO₂ has been achieved at a concentration of silane of 0.0015%. The type of asymmetric linker has no influence on immobilization efficiency. The method implying glutaric dialdehyde results in higher activity of the immobilized enzyme. For this method, the immobilization procedure has been optimized. The method has been adapted for immobilization of E. coli nitroreductase inside the channel of a microfluidic system on the surface of ISFET. For this purpose, (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) has been changed to the corresponding silatrane, and the concentration of the enzyme has been increased to 30 μg/mL. The optimized procedure has been successfully used to develop a biosensor for detecting explosives.     

Model liquid crystalline dimers in a slit pore: Monte Carlo simulation study

ABSTRACT

In this work, we present results from (isobaric–isothermal) Monte Carlo Simulation studies of liquid crystalline dimer systems confined in a slit pore. Liquid crystalline dimer systems of various spacer numbers have been considered. Surface-induced conformational and alignment properties of these systems at different pressures under homeotropic anchoring condition have been investigated. We have used easily manageable coarse grained force fields to model both monomer–monomer and monomer–substrate interaction potentials. According to the simulated result, the anchoring of dimers to the surface and orientation of mesogenic units with respect to the surface normal seem to depend on the spacer number for messogen attractive confinement. Dimers with lower spacer number are able be adsorbed to the surface and most of their mesogens are oriented along the surface normal even at lower pressure. Those with larger spacer number are distributed throughout the volume at lower pressure. In the case of mesogen repulsive confinement, most of the dimers are adsorbed to the surface and most mesogens are randomly oriented at low pressure. As the pressure gets higher, the adsorption and orientability increase depending on the type of confinement and spacer number. As a result, clear submolecular partitioning and smectic A like structure have been identified.     

SILICA—BOUND 1，7—DITHIA—4—AZA—10，13，16—TRIOXACYCLOOCTADECANE AND ITS PLATINUM COMPLEX

Dithia-monoaza 18-Crown-6 and its immobilization product,silica-bound 1,7-dithia-4-aza-10,13,16-trioxa-cyclooctadecane via a spacer of three carbon atoms,and its platinum complex have been synthesized.It is found that the platinum complex is an efficient hydrosilylation catalyst for olefins.The XPS data of the platinum complex are reported.     

Guest-Binding and Catalytic Properties of Immobilized β-Cyclodextrins

Abstract

Cyclodextrins¹(CyDs), cyclic oligomers of 6–8 glucose units, form inclusion complexes with guest compounds and have been used as catalyst for the selective syntheses.² Previously, immobilization of CyD with epichlorohydrin as crosslinking agent have been described.^3-4 Here, we report the first successful immobilization of β-CyD using various crosslinking agents. The guest binding abilities and the catalytic abilities of these immobilized β-CyDs are shown.     

Structural Effects of Oligosaccharide-Branched Cyclodextrins on the Dual Recognition toward Lectin and Drug

Bi-galactose-branched cyclodextrins (Bi-Gal-CDs)(1–6) having different spacer arm lengths between two terminal galactoses were foundto have the optimum length for association with PNA lectin. Also, the inclusioninteraction of the drug depended on the length of the spacer arms. The dual association of thesecompounds was quantitatively evaluated by SPR and compared to the other oligosaccharide-branchedCDs (Scheme 1). The number and the length of the spacer arm are important for theassociation both with the lectin and drug for the purpose of targeting drug-delivery systems.The association constants K of bi-Gal-CD (2) with rat liver cells showed a 60 timeshigher association than with PNA. Direct evidence of the association between PNA andbi-Gal-CD (2) was characterized by AFM observations. The results obtained strongly suggested a method to find a new design for the targeting drug carrier. In order toincrease the association with the cell, a sufficient spacer arm length is necessary for the effectivedual recognition of the oligosaccharide-CDs. In order to increase the inclusion of thedrug, the CD structure of a multi-saccharide branch is necessary.     

Electrochemical Regeneration of NAD Covalently Bound to Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Abstract

An enzyme-coenzyme complex was immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode and investigated with cyclic voltammetry in ethanol-containing buffers. The complex consists of an Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase molecule to which an NAD-analogue is covalently attached via its straight six-carbon, spacer. One cycle was observed but repeated recycling could not be carried out. presumably due to catalytic decomposition of the coenzyme at the electrode surface.     

Calmodulin-mediated reversible immobilization of enzymes

This work demonstrates the use of the protein calmodulin, CaM, as an affinity tag for the reversible immobilization of enzymes on surfaces. Our strategy takes advantage of the of the reversible, calcium-mediated binding of CaM to its ligand phenothiazine and of the ability to produce fusion proteins between CaM and a variety of enzymes to reversibly immobilize enzymes in an oriented fashion to different surfaces. Specifically, we employed two different enzymes, organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH) and beta-lactamase and two different solid supports, a silica surface and cellulose membrane modified by covalently attaching a phenothiazine ligand, to demonstrate the versatility of our immobilization method. Fusion proteins between CaM-OPH and CaM-beta-lactamase were prepared by using genetic engineering strategies to introduce the calmodulin tail at the N-terminus of each of the two enzymes. In the presence of Ca(2+), CaM adopts a conformation that favors interaction between hydrophobic pockets in CaM and phenothiazine, while in the presence of a Ca(2+)-chelating agent such as EGTA, the interaction between CaM and phenothiazine is disrupted, thus allowing for removal of the CaM-fusion protein from the surface under mild conditions. CaM also acts as a spacer molecule, orienting the enzyme away from the surface and toward the solution, which minimizes enzyme interactions with the immobilization surface. Since the method is based on the highly selective binding of CaM to its phenothiazine ligand, and this is covalently immobilized on the surface, the method does not suffer from ligand leaching nor from interference from other proteins present in the cell extract. An additional advantage lies in that the support can be regenerated by passing through EGTA, and then reused for the immobilization of the same or, if desired, a different enzyme. Using a fusion protein approach for immobilization purposes avoids the use of harsh conditions in the immobilization and/or regeneration steps, which could cause inactivation of the immobilized enzyme. Moreover, we have demonstrated that the CaM affinity tag allows immobilization of enzymes on a variety of surfaces without compromising their enzymatic activity substantially; for example, the immobilized OPH retained more than 80% of the activity of the free enzyme. Our results with beta-lactamase showed the feasibility of using a phenothiazine surface in several consecutive loading and regeneration cycles. This can be advantageous when expensive and/or difficult to obtain immobilization surfaces have to be employed; the immobilization surface could be reused to immobilize the same or a different enzyme using the CaM affinity tail. We also determined that the phenothiazine-modified silica particles are stable for long periods of time, i.e., up to 2 years when stored at 4 degrees C. It is envisioned that this type of reversible immobilization may find applications in the development of reversible, reusable biosensors and bioreactors endowed with the additional advantage that the biological element at the surface of the sensor or bioreactor could be replaced under mild conditions when needed to sense or process a different target molecule.     

Adsorption of gemini surfactants with partially fluorinated chains at three different surfaces: neutron reflectometry results

The adsorption of six symmetrical cationic (dimethylammonium bromide) gemini surfactants with four different partially fluorinated chains at three different surfaces--the air/water, the hydrophilic silica/water, and the hydrophobic (octadecyltricholorosilane (OTS))/water--has been investigated by neutron reflectometry. The corresponding single chain trimethylammonium bromides have also been studied at the two solid surfaces. Four of the geminis with a C(6) spacer and chains with differing amounts of fluorocarbon have identical limiting areas per molecule at the air/water interface (106 ± 5 ?(2)). This is similar to the value for the corresponding hydrocarbon gemini with a C(6) spacer and C(12) side chains, but unlike the hydrocarbon gemini, it is significantly more than twice the area per molecule of the corresponding single chain cationic. In adsorbed aggregates on hydrophilic silica the area per molecule decreases from the air/water value by an average of about 25%, indicating a substantial improvement in the packing of these geminis in the aggregate, which can be attributed to the stronger interaction between the hydrophobic chains in the interior of the aggregates. On the hydrophobic OTS surface the area per molecule in the adsorbed monolayer for three partially fluorinated geminis decreased by about 15% from the air/water value, again indicating much more favorable packing next to the hydrophobic OTS, but for one of the geminis, fC(8)C(6)-C(6)-C(6)fC(8), the change in area was reversed. This reversal is accompanied by a marked thinning of the layer, which is attributed to a shift in the balance between the interactions of the hydrocarbon spacer and fluorocarbon chain fragments and the OTS surface.