EPR study of light illumination effects on radicals in gamma-irradiated L-alanine

Exposure of gamma-irradiated L-alanine samples to sunlight and to light from a regular, fluorescent lamp resulted in significant changes in their EPR resonance patterns, both to spectral shapes and intensities. The experimental EPR spectra were numerically decomposed into three components reflecting contributions of three different radicals (R1-R3) generated by ionizing radiation in alanine. The light exposure caused a decay of the measured EPR signal intensity. For similar light intensities and exposure times the decay was much more pronounced in samples illuminated by sunlight than in samples illuminated by the fluorescent lamp. In both cases light-induced decay of R1 radicals was observed. Sunlight illumination resulted in a moderate decay of R2 radicals and in a doubling of the R3 radical population. On the other hand, fluorescent light caused a significant increase of R2 radicals and did not change the amount of R3 radicals. A quantitative analysis of the variations of the three radical contributions to the total EPR spectra upon fluorescent light exposure suggests a net R1-->R2 free radical transformation. These effects of light on the alanine dosimetric signal should be taken into account in dosimetry protocols, assuring protection of alanine dosimeters from extended exposure to light.     

EPR PERSISTENCE MEASUREMENTS OF UV-INDUCED MELANIN FREE RADICALS IN WHOLE SKIN

Electron paramagnetic resonance is used to detect the formation of free radicals caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation in chemically untreated rabbit skin. A fast jump in EPR signal level, occurring over a few seconds, is observed immediately after a skin sample is exposed to UV. This is followed by a slower increase toward an elevated steady-state signal over a period of hours as the skin is continuously exposed to a UV light source. Upon cessation of UV light exposure, EPR signal levels undergo an abrupt drop followed by a slower decay toward natural levels. Elevated free radical concentrations following UV exposure are found to persist for several hours in whole skin. These results are consistent with time-resolved EPR measurements of photoinduced radicals in various natural melanins.     

用Z-N催化剂分段聚合制备PP/EPR共混物的结构和形态特征

用Ziegler-Natta(Z-N)催化剂MgCl2/TiCl4/BMF-AlEt3(BMF代表内给电子体9,9-二甲氧基甲基芴),采用分段聚合的方法制备了PP/EPR原位共混物,通过改变乙丙共聚的时间调节聚合物中乙烯的含量.使用核磁共振(13C-NMR)、凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)、示差扫描量热分析法(DSC)、动态力学分析(DMA)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和偏光显微镜(PLM)等研究了聚合物的结构和形态特征.研究发现,分段聚合制备的PP/EPR共混物是一种包括丙烯均聚物、乙丙无规和嵌段共聚物在内的多组分混合物.动态力学的结果显示混合物中聚丙烯与乙丙无规共聚物的玻璃化转变峰出现了内移现象,说明两者呈现部分相容性.扫描电镜的照片表明了聚丙烯基体与乙丙无规共聚物分散相之间的相界面模糊,两相之间的相容性较好.随着聚合物中乙烯含量的增加,分散相出现明显的塑性变形,同时,聚丙烯的结晶形态也发生明显的变化,球晶的尺寸逐渐变小,同时球晶变得不完善.     

Hydrogen Atoms Are Produced When Tryptophan within a Protein Is Irradiated with Ultraviolet Light

Abstract— The UV photolysis of the aromatic amino acid, tryptophan (Trp), in the Ca²⁺-binding protein, cod paralbumin, type III, was studied using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in the temperature range 4–80 K. For the Ca²⁺-bound protein, irradiation with UV light (250–400 nm) resulted in the generation of atomic hydrogen with a hyperfine splitting of 50.9 mT, whereas in the Ca²⁺-free form, where the Trp is exposed to solvent, the trapped atomic hydrogen was not in evidence. In the same spectra, the radical signal in the g = 2.00 region could be detected. The line shape of the Ca²⁺-bound form is similar to the EPR line shape obtained for Trp in micellar systems. In contrast, the EPR line shape for the Ca²⁺-free form is essentially featureless up to 80 K. The EPR spectra of the photoproducts of Trp and the nature of the photoreactions are therefore sensitive to the environment of Trp within the protein.     

Orientation of crystals in alanine dosimeter assessed by DRS,as seen in EPR spectra evaluation

The alanine dosimeter made for evaluation by diffuse light reflection spectrophotometry (ALA/DRS) does not show the effect of orientation of crystals. Supposed deviation from random orientation has been investigated by EPR spectroscopy. EPR investigation shows that in spite of the very fine size of L-alanine crystals, they are oriented in thin layers of the polyethylene matrix. Specially prepared films with deliberately well oriented crystals have confirmed this observation. Our ALA/DRS dosimeter can be evaluated by the EPR method for the concentration of free radicals, providing that the dominating crystal orientation in the dosimetric film is indicated on it as an arrow, and the sample is inserted into the magnetic cavity always in the same orientation as has been done during the calibration operation.     

制备方法对聚合物共混物相分离与黏弹弛豫的影响

采用小角激光光散射(SALLS)和动态流变方法研究了通过不同制备方法得到的等规聚丙烯/乙丙橡胶共混物(iPP/EPR)的相分离行为与黏弹行为.依据Cahn-Hilliard-Cook理论分析了熔融共混和溶液共混法制备的质量比为60/40和40/60的iPP/EPR共混物在恒温相分离早期的动力学,发现熔融共混iPP/EPR具有更大的表观扩散系数(Dapp).相分离中后期的实验结果表明,当相区尺寸增长程度相同时,熔融共混试样所用时间更短.表明熔融共混iPP/EPR试样具有更快的相分离速率.动态流变测试结果表明,与溶液共混相比,熔融共混试样具有更快的松弛速率.考虑到相分离过程实质是由高分子链的运动与扩散所控制,两种方法制备的iPP/EPR共混物相分离速率的差异应归于其分子链运动能力的不同.     

The effect of dose on light-sensitivity of radicals in alanine EPR dosimeters

In this work we present a study of light-induced effects on free radicals and their transformations in gamma-irradiated pure L-alanine and in commercially available alanine detectors: rods, pellets and films. Samples irradiated to doses from 2 Gy to 4000 kGy were exposed to light from a fluorescent lamp and to ordinary daylight. The observed changes in EPR spectra of the samples were analyzed with regard to their intensity and shape. The shape analysis was based on numerical decomposition of the measured spectra into model spectra reflecting contributions of R1, R2 and R3 radical populations in the samples. The illumination of alanine dosimeters resulted in significant decrease of the central EPR line and was accompanied by distinct variations in the shape of EPR spectra. The rate of light-induced decay in spectra amplitude was found to be dependent on dose of ionizing radiation--the sensitivity to light was decreasing with increase in dose in all detectors in the 2-5x10(5) Gy dose range. The exposure of gamma-irradiated (to 300 Gy) alanine to normal, diffused daylight resulted in decay of the signal amplitude at rate about 0.5% per week. It was shown that decay in the R1 component was responsible for the observed reduction of the spectra amplitude. The observed increase in R2 contributions in samples exposed to light confirmed a hypothesis of R-->R2 radical transformations promoted by visible light. The reported effects indicate a necessity of protection of irradiated dosimeters from their prolonged exposure to light.     

The orientation of the dispersed phase and crystals in an injection-molded impact polypropylene copolymer

The orientation of the dispersed phase and crystals in the injection-molded bar of an impact polypropylene copolymer (IPC) containing isotactic polypropylene (iPP), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR) and a β-nucleating agent (β-NA) were studied simultaneously. In the IPC, iPP and EPR act as the matrix and dispersed phase, respectively. The EPR is amorphous and the iPP is crystallizable in α- and β-crystalline forms in the presence of the β-NA. The orientation and orientation distribution for both of the EPR phase and the iPP crystals, as well as the crystallization behavior of iPP, were investigated by two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD), two-dimensional small-angle X-ray scattering (2D-SAXS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of the experiment show that orientation exists for both the EPR phase and the iPP crystals. But their orientation distribution manifests an opposite tendency. The EPR phase was observed to be highly oriented in the core layer but the orientation of the iPP crystals was weakened gradually from skin to core. The difference in the orientation behavior between the EPR phase and the iPP crystals reflects the distinct response of the micrometer-scale EPR particles and nanometer-scale iPP chains upon the flow field and temperature gradient in the mold. The diffraction geometry of the β-crystals has also been discussed in detail. The observations in this study may shed light on the study in the structure and property relationship for the IPC injection-molded products.     

EPR study of electron spin polarization in the photoexcited triplet state of chlorophyll a and b

The photoexcited triplet states of chlorophyll à and b are studied by the EPR method at ≈85 K using modulated light excitation. Both compounds show anomalous EPR line intensities and transient kinetics, indicating electron spin polarization (ESP) in the photoexcited triplet state. EPR studies, using Mg-tetraphenyl porphyrin (MgTPP) dissolved in n-octane show that ESP occurs also in that solvent. It is shown that the zero field splitting (ZFS) parameters of MgTPP depend strongly on the solvent. From the analysis of the data for chlorophyll a and b we evaluate: (1) the population rate constants (k_p); (2) the ratio between the population rate constants (A_p) (p = x, y, z) and, (3) the spin lattice relaxation rate W. In both chlorophylls the in-plane component, x, is predominantly populated and depopulated. The ZFS parameters have been also determined for the above compounds.     

羟基卟啉化合物的电化学、顺磁共振及时间分辨光电压性质

通过循环伏安法、电子顺磁共振谱和时间分辨电压光谱研究了羟基取代基数目和位置的不同对羟基苯基卟啉化合物的电化学、电子顺磁共振和时间分辨光电压性质的影响. 研究结果表明, 所有氧化还原反应都是在卟啉环上进行的. 卟啉周边取代基数目的增加使得卟啉共轭体系平均电子云密度增大, 导致体系易氧化而难以还原. 对称性增强可能使卟啉化合物的半波电位值向正方向移动, 羟基取代基的给电子效应对于卟啉化合物电化学性质的影响起主导作用. 常态下卟啉分子没有EPR信号, 在光的激发下, 卟啉分子由原来的逆磁性分子变成顺磁性的激发三重态分子, 这种激发三重态分子在分子轨道上具有两个未成对电子, 这两个电子相距很近, 彼此之间发生很强的相互作用而产生电子, 它的g值随卟啉共轭体系平均电子云密度增大而变大. 时间分辨光电压是由分子中的自由光声载流子的存在而产生的, 光电压的衰减与分子结构密切相关, 它们的电荷分离速度基本上随卟啉周边羟基取代基数目的增加而减慢.     

Spin-Labeled Riboswitch Synthesized from a Protected TPA Phosphoramidite Building Block

The nitroxide TPA (2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrrolin-1-oxyl-3-acetylene) is an excellent spin label for EPR studies of RNA. Previous synthetic methods, however, are complicated and require special equipment. Herein, we describe a uridine derived phosphoramidite with a photocaged TPA unit attached. The light sensitive 2-nitrobenzyloxymethyl group can be removed in high yield by short irradiation at 365 nm. Based on this approach, a doubly spin-labeled 27mer neomycin sensing riboswitch was synthesized and studied by PELDOR. The overall thermal stability of the fold is not much reduced by TPA. In-line probing nevertheless detected changes in local mobility.     

Dynamic nuclear polarization with a water-soluble rigid biradical

A new biradical polarizing agent, bTbtk-py, for dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiments in aqueous media is reported. The synthesis is discussed in light of the requirements of the optimum, theoretical, biradical system. To date, the DNP NMR signal enhancement resulting from bTbtk-py is the largest of any biradical in the ideal glycerol/water solvent matrix, ε = 230. EPR and X-ray crystallography are used to characterize the molecule and suggest approaches for further optimizing the biradical distance and relative orientation.     

PHOTOINDUCED LUMINESCENCE AND EPR SIGNALS OF POLYPHENOL AND QUINONE POLYMERS

Abstract— Aqueous basic solutions, pH 9.0 of humic acids and melanin-like, synthetic polymers, obtained with adrenochrome, hydroquinone and purpurogallin, were illuminated with visible light under N₂ or O₂ atmospheres. It has been found that light enhances a singlet electron-paramagnetic-resonance (EPR) signal of polymers both under N₂ and O₂, and induces ultra-weak luminescence in the presence of O₂. Degradative oxidation of polymers, accelerated by light, leads to a decrease of EPR signal intensity and generates weak chemiluminescence.     

EFFECT OF CHLORIDE ON CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN SOLUTION: ENHANCEMENT OF CATION RADICAL AND SEMIQUINONE YIELDS

Abstract—Illumination with red light at low temperatures of a degassed ethanol solution of chlorophyll and ferric chloride reversibly produces an EPR signal due to the chlorophyll cation radical (Chl+). The magnitude of this signal is about ten times larger than is obtained with chlorophyll alone. When benzoquinone is also present, an EPR signal due to Chl+ and the neutral semiquinone radical (QH.) is photoproduced. The semiquinone signal is about five times larger than in the absence of ferric chloride. Both of these systems show first order radical decay when the light is turned off, suggesting that radical complexes are being formed. These results indicate that iron is capable of serving as an electron transfer bridge between chlorophyll and quinone.     

等规聚丙烯/二元乙丙橡胶合金相分离对结晶动力学的影响

用小角激光光散射(SALLS)、相差显微镜(PCM)、示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和偏光显微镜(POM)研究了聚丙烯/二元乙丙橡胶(iPP/EPR)共混体系的相分离行为和等温结晶行为.发现iPP/EPR(50/50,W/W)发生的液-液相分离遵循spinodal机理.通过Cahn-Hilliard方程求得了不同实验温度下iPP/EPR的表观扩散系数(Dapp)以及spinodal温度(Ts).考察了不同相分离程度的iPP/EPR体系结晶动力学,发现延长相分离时间(tps)或提高相分离温度(Tps)均会导致半结晶时间(t1/2)增大,即结晶速率降低.这被归于EPR成核作用的降低.动力学分析结果表明Avrami模型适用于描述该体系的等温结晶过程,其结晶机理基本不受相分离程度的影响,结晶均以瞬时成核和三维生长为主.     

Studies on the mechanism of the Carr-Price blue colour reaction

The reaction of retinoids (retinol, retinyl acetate and anhydroretinol) with Br?nsted acids was studied as a model system for the Carr-Price reaction. The anhydroretinylic cation was characterised by VIS and 2D NMR spectroscopy, including an estimate of the charge distribution and region of bond inversion, observed in a mixture of identified E/Z isomers. Products obtained by quenching with NaOMe-MeOH were identified by HPLC and MS. The classical Carr-Price reaction between retinol (vitamin A) and the Lewis acid SbCl(3) in saturated chloroform solution was reinvestigated by VIS, NMR, EPR, dynamic light scattering and chemical quenching. Whereas product instability and failure to provide informative NMR spectra indicated a radical cation, EPR results excluded free-radical species. Dynamic light scattering experiments, in comparison with model systems, revealed strong aggregation for the Carr-Price complex, rationalizing the low stability, NMR problems and dimerisation observed by chemical quenching. The VIS data support structural similarity of the blue Carr-Price product with the delocalized anhydroretinylic cation, and a detailed structure of the antimony complex is evaluated.     

Chemical state and environment of boron dopant in B,N-codoped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles: an avenue for probing diamagnetic dopants in TiO2 by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy

Boron is diamagnetic in B-doped anatase TiO2 nanoparticles which exhibit photocatalytic activities in the visible light range. Using N as a paramagnetic probe for the formal oxidation state of boron in N/B-codoped TiO2, with more than 90% unpaired spin density in the N2p orbital, we infer that boron enters the oxygen vacancy substitutionally in the form of B1-. Combination of spin-Hamiltonian analysis and interpretation of light dependent EPR spectra in terms of a charge compensating mechanism supports a model of [N2-B1-]+1 for the new EPR active center which acts as a trap for electrons liberated from [N1-] centers under blue light irradiation. Definite assignment of the boron oxidation state will contribute to the preparation, characterization, and understanding of B-TiO2 photoactivity under visible light which has been the subject of extensive work in the past few years.     

Free radical sensor based on CdSe quantum dots with added 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine oxide functionality

The association and resulting fluorescence quenching of CdSe quantum dots by 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine oxide (4-amino-TEMPO), a persistent nitroxide, have been examined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and fluorescence spectroscopy. EPR data suggest binding constants around (8 +/- 4) x 10(6) M(-1) for green (2.4-2.5 nm) nanoparticles, and the application of Job's method indicates that the preferred mode of binding involves one or two quencher molecules per quantum dot, although more quenchers could bind at high concentrations of 4-amino-TEMPO. Fluorescence quenching by 4-amino-TEMPO is at least 3 orders of magnitude more efficient than by TEMPO itself, reflecting the strong binding confirmed by the EPR data. Stern-Volmer plots are nonlinear and in light of the EPR data probably reflect ready accessibility of the CdSe surface to one or two 4-amino-TEMPO molecules, while additional quenchers can only bind if they displace trioctylphosphine oxide ligands. Quantum dot-4-amino-TEMPO complexes can be used as free radical sensors, since the fluorescence (quenched by the nitroxide) is readily restored when radicals are trapped to form alkoxyamines.     

Effects of spin transitions degeneracy in pulsed EPR of the fullerene C70 triplet state produced by continuous light illumination

X-band echo-detected electron paramagnetic resonance (ED EPR) spectra of triplet state of fullerene C(70) generated by continuous light illumination were found to correspond below 30K to a non-equilibrium electron spin polarization. Above 30K spectra are characteristic of Boltzmann equilibrium. Spectra were simulated fairly well with zero-field splitting parameters D=153 MHz and E and distributed within the range of 6-42 MHz. The origin of E distribution is attributed to the Jahn-Teller effect, which in glassy matrix is expected to depend on the local surrounding of a fullerene molecule (a so-called E-strain). In the center of ED EPR spectra a narrow hole was observed. With increase of the microwave pulse turning angle this hole transforms into a single narrow absorptive line. Numerical simulations by density matrix formalism confirm that central hole originates from a simultaneous excitation of both allowed electron spin transitions of the triplet (T(0)?T(+) and T(0)?T(-)), because of their degeneracy at this spectral position. Also explanations are given why this hole has not been observed in the previously reported experiments on continuous wave EPR and on ED EPR under laser pulse excitation.     

NO-hemoglobin may be a light-sensitive source of nitric oxide both in solution and in red blood cells

Hemoglobin in solution and inside red blood cells forms a complex with nitric oxide exhibiting a specific EPR signal both at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures. In the present paper it was shown that the nitrosyl complex of hemoglobin (NO-Hb) is photochemically sensitive and hence may serve as a source of free NO under He-Cd laser irradiation (441 nm). It was found that at laser light radiant power of 3.9 mW, room temperature and in the presence of oxygen, 50% decrease of NO-Hb EPR signal occurred at doses of 54, 30, and 18 kJ/m2 for NO-hemoglobin solution, hemolysed and intact erythrocytes, respectively. The detection of free NO produced as a result of NO-Hb photolysis was performed by means of a spin trap, nitronyl nitroxyl radical NNR, which in the presence of NO is transformed into imino nitroxyl radical (INR) showing different EPR signal. In isolated hemoglobin solution, 20 mM INR was accumulated under irradiation with the maximal dose of 700 kJ/m2. In intact cells the HbFe(2+)-NO photolysis and NO release occur with essentially higher efficacy. To produce 100 mM INR, a dose of 290 kJ/m2 was needed in erythrocyte lysates and 100 kJ/m2 in intact red blood cell suspension. Measurements of absorption spectra showed that in all systems studied (NO-Hb in solution, intact erythrocytes and hemolysed erythrocytes) NO-Hb concentration decreased after irradiation by 14-22% with simultaneous formation of methemoglobin. These observations show that NO-Hb may serve as a store of nitric oxide from which free NO can be released by intensive illumination.