Fast separation of low molecular weight analytes on structurally optimized polymeric capillary monoliths

The optimization of recently introduced tetrakis(4-vinylbenzyl)silane (TVBS)-derived capillary monoliths to suit the fast separation of small molecules was accomplished by simultaneous changes in both the stoichiometry of the polymerization mixture and in the polymerization temperature. Four types of monoliths were prepared by varying the polymerization temperature within 60 and 65 °C as well as by changing the monomer content between 15.0 and 20.0 wt.%. Changes in the porosity and morphology of the capillary columns were studied applying inverse size exclusion chromatography (ISEC), nitrogen sorption (BET), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All monoliths were used for the reversed-phase separation of various sets of low molecular weight analytes such as alkyl benzenes, aryl amines, carboxylic acids, and a mixture of phenols and carbonyl compounds. Comparable efficiency and performance towards the different sets of analytes were observed. With optimized monolith structures, the fast separation of six-alkyl benzenes was accomplished within less than 2 min. This was made possible by a high linear solvent flow (10 mm/s) at low column pressure drops (<15 MPa).     

Investigation of colloidal graphite as a matrix for matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry of low molecular weight analytes

The analysis of low molecular weight compounds by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry is problematic due to the interference and suppression of analyte ionisation by the matrices typically employed – which are themselves low molecular weight compounds. The application of colloidal graphite is demonstrated here as an easy to use matrix that can promote the ionisation of a wide range of analytes including low molecular weight organic compounds, complex natural products and inorganic complexes. Analyte ionisation with colloidal graphite is compared with traditional organic matrices along with various other sources of graphite (e.g. graphite rods and charcoal pencils). Factors such as ease of application, spectra reproducibility, spot longevity, spot‐to‐spot reproducibility and spot homogeneity (through single spot imaging) are explored. For some analytes, considerable matrix suppression effects are observed resulting in spectra completely devoid of matrix ions. We also report the observation of radical molecular ions [M^–●] in the negative ion mode, particularly with some aromatic analytes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A photocleavable low molecular weight hydrogel for light-triggered drug delivery

A photocleavable low-molecular-weight hydrogelator (LMWG) was synthesized based on coumarin derivative.~1H NMR and UV spectroscopy study suggested that the gelator had good gelling ability, and the driving force for the gelation were hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking. This molecular hydrogel exhibited satisfied photocleavage at C-N bond in 7-amino coumarin with the light irradiation (365 nm,77.5 mW/cm~2). The promising photo-triggered drug release of antineoplastics cytarabine hydrochloride has been obtained, due to the photocleavage motived gel-sol transition.     

Identification of low molecular weight carbohydrates employing new binary mixtures for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry

Various energy-absorbing substances, aminopyrazine (AP), 4,4'-azodianiline (ADA), and 1-chloro-4-hydroxyisoquinoline (CHIQ), together with their binary mixtures with existing acidic MALDI matrices were subjected to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and evaluated for the analysis of low molecular weight carbohydrates. The newly introduced systems, especially AP and the combination of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid and aminopyrazine (DHB-AP), have solved almost all the existing problems of the generally low sensitivity of carbohydrate analysis and of the strong background noise produced from single acidic matrices. In fact, especially at a mixing ratio of 3:1 (DHB/AP), outstanding results could be achieved, enabling the detection of analytes down to a concentration of 4 fmol/microL with mass accuracy of 37 ppm. The performance of the system was finally proven by analysing dextrins and biological samples each of which showed excellent signal intensity and signal-to-noise ratio.     

Application of computer-assisted molecular modeling for immunoassay of low molecular weight food contaminants: A review

Immunoassay for low molecular weight food contaminants, such as pesticides, veterinary drugs, and mycotoxins is now a well-established technique which meets the demand for a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective analytical method. However, due to limited understanding of the molecular structure of antibody binding sites and antigenic epitopes, as well as the intermolecular binding forces that come into play, the traditional ‘trial and error’ method used to develop antibodies still remains the method of choice. Therefore, development of enhanced immunochemical techniques for specific- and generic-assays, requires new approaches for antibody design that will improve affinity and specificity of the antibody in a more rapid and economic manner. Computer-assisted molecular modeling (CAMM) has been demonstrated to be a useful tool to help the immunochemist develop immunoassays. CAMM methods can be used to help direct improvements to important antibody features, and can provide insights into the effects of molecular structure on biological activity that are difficult or impossible to obtain in any other way. In this review, we briefly summarize applications of CAMM in immunoassay development, including assisting in hapten design, explaining cross-reactivity, modeling antibody-antigen interactions, and providing insights into the effects of the mouse body temperature on the three-dimensional conformation of a hapten during antibody production. The fundamentals and theory, programs and software, limitations, and prospects of CAMM in immunoassay development were also discussed.     

Low molecular weight analytes in water by spectral interferometry using a competitive immunoassay

The optical detection principle of reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIFS) is applied for the first time to the immunological detection of low molecular weight analytes. Dinitrophenol/Anti-Dinitrophenol is used as a model system for pesticide detection. The spectrometric principle allows the sensitive determination of small changes in the thickness of a thin film caused by the reaction of an antigen and its antibody. Changes in the optical thickness correlate with the concentration of the analyte. Time resolved measurements allow the dynamic monitoring of the antigen-antibody-interaction. Detection limits currently achieved are in the ppb-range.     

低分子量聚丙烯酰胺研究进展

综述了低分子量聚丙烯酰胺的合成方法及应用研究进展,同时对其未来的发展方向进行了展望.     

Viscoelastic behavior of low molecular weight polystyrene

The shear creep and creep recovery behavior of narrow molecular weight distribution polystyrene samples of low molecular weight, 1.1 × 10³, 3.4 × 10³, and 1.57 × 10⁴ are reported as a function of temperature, near and above the glass temperature. Time-temperature equivalence for the total creep compliance is found to be nonapplicable, and in fact the steady-state recoverable compliance, J_e, is a strong function of temperature. The time-scale shift factors for the recoverable compliance are analyzed in the light of free volume theory. Viscosity data are presented for samples with molecular weights between 1.1 × 10³ and 6.0 × 10⁵. The temperature dependence of the characteristic time constant ηJ_e can be explained in terms of free volume concepts whereas that of viscosity η cannot. Effects of residual molecular weight heterogeneity are demonstrated.     

Optimization of parameters for coverage of low molecular weight proteins

Proteins with molecular weights of <25 kDa are involved in major biological processes such as ribosome formation, stress adaption (e.g., temperature reduction) and cell cycle control. Despite their importance, the coverage of smaller proteins in standard proteome studies is rather sparse. Here we investigated biochemical and mass spectrometric parameters that influence coverage and validity of identification. The underrepresentation of low molecular weight (LMW) proteins may be attributed to the low numbers of proteolytic peptides formed by tryptic digestion as well as their tendency to be lost in protein separation and concentration/desalting procedures. In a systematic investigation of the LMW proteome of Escherichia coli, a total of 455 LMW proteins (27% of the 1672 listed in the SwissProt protein database) were identified, corresponding to a coverage of 62% of the known cytosolic LMW proteins. Of these proteins, 93 had not yet been functionally classified, and five had not previously been confirmed at the protein level. In this study, the influences of protein extraction (either urea or TFA), proteolytic digestion (solely, and the combined usage of trypsin and AspN as endoproteases) and protein separation (gel- or non-gel-based) were investigated. Compared to the standard procedure based solely on the use of urea lysis buffer, in-gel separation and tryptic digestion, the complementary use of TFA for extraction or endoprotease AspN for proteolysis permits the identification of an extra 72 (32%) and 51 proteins (23%), respectively. Regarding mass spectrometry analysis with an LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometer, collision-induced fragmentation (CID and HCD) and electron transfer dissociation using the linear ion trap (IT) or the Orbitrap as the analyzer were compared. IT-CID was found to yield the best identification rate, whereas IT-ETD provided almost comparable results in terms of LMW proteome coverage. The high overlap between the proteins identified with IT-CID and IT-ETD allowed the validation of 75% of the identified proteins using this orthogonal fragmentation technique. Furthermore, a new approach to evaluating and improving the completeness of protein databases that utilizes the program RNAcode was introduced and examined.     

Intrinsic viscosity of polymers of low molecular weight

Experimental evidence concerning the dependence of the intrinsic viscosity [η] on molecular weight M in the low molecular weight range (from oligomers to M = 5 × 10⁴) has been collected in a variety of solvents for about ten polymers, i.e., polyethylene, poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), polydimethylsiloxane, polyisobutylene, poly(vinylacetate), poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, poly-α-methylstyrene, and some cellulose derivatives. In theta solvents, the constancy of the ratio [η]Θ/M^0.5 extends down to values of M much lower than those predicted by current hydrodynamic theories. In good solvents, and on decreasing M, the polymers examined, with the exception of polyethylene and some cellulose derivatives, show a decrease in the exponent a of the Mark-Houwink equation [η] = KM^a. This upward curvature gives rise to the existence of a more or less extended linear region where the equation [η] = K₀M^0.5 is obeyed. Below the linear range, i.e., for even shorter chains, the exponent a can increase, i.e., polydimethylsiloxane, or decrease below 0.5, i.e., poly(ethylene oxide), depending on the particular chain properties. These different dependences have been discussed in terms of: (a) variations of thermodynamic interactions with molecular weight; (b) variations of conformational characteristics (as for instance the ratio) 〈r0²/nl²〉, where 〈r0²〉 is the unperturbed mean square end-to-end distance and n is the number of bonds each of length l; (c) hydrodynamic properties of short chains.     

Thermal rearrangement study of low molecular weight polybutadiene

Various polybutadienes (PBDs) of low molecular weight were heated below complete crosslinking at 250 °C under anaerobic nonpyrolytic conditions, and the structural changes were investigated. The predominant crosslinking reactions arise from the presence of 1,2-vinyl isomer and the most important one is intermolecular reaction accompanied with methyl group formation. The analysis showed that two crosslinking types as well as two types of methyl groups have been produced in which one was the result of 1,2-vinyl isomer of one chain crosslinked via methylene carbon of another chain of cis or trans isomer, and the second methyl group was the product of the reaction between 1,2-vinyl isomers of two PBD chains. Chain scission also occurred in two pathways due to the presence of 1,2-vinyl isomer, scission at two adjacent 1,2-vinyl isomer and scission at adjacent 1,2-vinyl with cis or trans isomer giving rise to methyl carbons.     

New fluorescent amide-functionalized phenylethynylthiophene low molecular weight gelator

[reaction: see text]. An amide-functionalized phenylethynylthiophene gelator has been synthesized. Self-assembly of this molecule via cooperative hydrogen bonding and pi-stacking induced gelation of a variety of organic solvents. The presence of aggregates was confirmed by concentration-dependent absorption and fluorescence properties. SEM and TEM studies reveal the formation of fiberlike nanostructure.     

谷氨酸低分子量有机凝胶的药物控制释放行为

低分子量的有机胶凝剂组装形成的有机凝胶可应用于药物缓释体系.本研究中,使用亲水的钙黄绿素和疏水的布洛芬为模型分子,研究其在谷氨酸衍生物有机凝胶体系中的缓释行为.研究表明,与药物分子与有机胶凝剂简单混合的体系相比,亲水或疏水的药物分子在有机凝胶体系中的释放速度显著减缓.SEM的研究发现药物粒子嵌入在有机凝胶的三维网络中,因此,有机凝胶的三维网络结构可认为是实现药物缓慢释放的基质,药物分子从网络中的释放受限导致了其从有机凝胶中的缓释行为.     

A model for the binding of low molecular weight inhibitors to the active site of thrombin

This paper describes the construction, validation and application of an active site model of the serine protease thrombin. Initial use was made of medium resolution X-ray crystallographic structures of thrombin complexed with low molecular weight, non-specific inhibitors to create a computationally useable active site shell of the enzyme. Molecular mechanics methods were then applied to dock known ligands into the active site region in order to derive a model that would accurately predict binding conformations. Validation of the modelling process was achieved by comparison of the predicted enzyme-bound conformations with their known, crystallographic binding conformations. The resultant model was used extensively for predictive purposes prior to obtaining confirmatory crystal data relating to a ligand possessing a novel and unexpected binding component complexed to thrombin. The data served both to confirm the accuracy of the binding site model and to provide information for the further refinement of the model.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of low molecular weight polychlorotrifluoroethylene

The molecular motion of low molecular weight polychlorotrifluroethylene of different molecular weights between 500 and 1300 was investigated by means of broad-line nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. The line width and second moment of the resonant absorption lines were obtained at temperatures from 77 to 300°K. The line narrowing for low molecular weight samples takes place in one step. In samples higher than 900 in molecular weight, however, there appears to be a glass transition process, and the line narrowing tends to occur in three steps. The line narrowing due to local molecular motion becomes observable with increasing molecular weight.     

Orthogonal self-assembly of low molecular weight hydrogelators and surfactants

The concurrent self-assembly of new 1,3,5-trisamide-cyclohexane-based low molecular weight hydrogelators and various surfactants in water leads to the formation of self-assembled fibrillar networks with encapsulated micelles. This prototype system presents an example of orthogonal self-assembly, that is, the independent formation of two different supramolecular structures, each with their own characteristics that coexist within a single system.     

Synthesis of low molecular weight perfluoro oxymethylene vinyl ethers

Perfluoro oxymethylene vinyl ethers have been formed by a multi-step synthesis. The key intermediates are low molecular weight perfluoropolyether (PFPE) fluoroformates CF₃O(CF₂O)_nCOF (I) n=1-6 obtained from the photo-oxidation of perfluoro propene (HFP) in perfluorohexane. Under certain conditions the light-mediated fluorination of PFPE fluoroformates (I) gives PFPE hypofluorites CF₃O(CF₂O)_nCF₂OF (II), which can be added to sym dichlorodifluoroethene to form the dichloro adduct CF₃O(CF₂O)_nCF₂OCFClCF₂Cl (III) which, after dechlorination, gives the desired vinyl ethers CF₃O(CF₂O)_nCF₂OCFCF₂ (IV). Every reaction step has to be properly controlled as far as the reaction variables are concerned. A mechanistic scheme is presented that is consistent with the observed experimental data.     

Thermal properties and applications of low molecular weight polyhydroxybutyrate

The properties of the low molecular weight polyhydroxybutyrate (LMWPHB) and LMWPHB plasticized polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) are studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), polarized optical microscope (POM), mechanical, and biodegradation tests. The results of DSC, WAXD, and POM indicate that LMWPHB has a lower glass transition temperature (T _g), crystallinity, crystallization rate, melting temperature (T _m), and crystal size than PHB due to its much smaller molecular weight. The tensile strength, T _g, T _m, crystallinity, crystallization rate, and thermal stability of LMWPHB plasticized PHB decrease, while the flexibility and biodegradation rate increase with the increasing content of the added LMWPHB. It is confirmed that LMWPHB can be used to improve the brittleness and control the biodegradation rate of PHB.