Tofu as excellent scaffolds for potential bone regeneration

Biomimetic scaffolds present the promising potential for bone regeneration. As a natural gel-like traditional food, tofu with porous architecture and proved biological safety indicated a good potential to be a natural scaffold and easy to be improved by surface modification. Hereon, we fabricated the tofubased scaffolds and systematically explored the potential for bone tissue engineering. In addition, the collagen has been introduced by simple coating to further enhance the surface compatibility of the tofubased scaffold in bone regeneration. The results showed that the tofu-based scaffolds possessed good porous structure and cytocompatibility. Notably, the tofu-based scaffolds could improve the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins, leading to better bone regeneration after 2 months of implantation. All the results indicated that tofu would become an outstanding sustainable natural porous scaffold for bone regeneration with excellent bioactivities.     

Tofu as excellent scaffolds for potential bone regeneration

Biomimetic scaffolds present the promising potential for bone regeneration. As a natural gel-like traditional food, tofu with porous architecture and proved biological safety indicated a good potential to be a natural scaffold and easy to be improved by surface modification. Hereon, we fabricated the tofu-based scaffolds and systematically explored the potential for bone tissue engineering. In addition, the collagen has been introduced by simple coating to further enhance the surface compatibility of the tofu-based scaffold in bone regeneration. The results showed that the tofu-based scaffolds possessed good porous structure and cytocompatibility. Notably, the tofu-based scaffolds could improve the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins, leading to better bone regeneration after 2 months of implantation. All the results indicated that tofu would become an outstanding sustainable natural porous scaffold for bone regeneration with excellent bioactivities.     

Coenzyme B12 model compounds: A quantitative electrochemical comparison

A quantitative electrochemical comparative study is reported which demonstrates that Costa's B₁₂ model is a closer electrochemical mimic of B₁₂ than is the widely used cobaloxime model. Also reported are conditions allowing chemically reversible cyclic voltammetry of cobalt-alkyls of Costa’s B₁₂ model and the surprising effect of axial base concentration upon the apparent cobaltcarbon bond stability subsequent to electrochemical reduction.     

Copper recovery by polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF) and electrochemical regeneration

In this work, the removal of Cu²⁺ from a synthetic effluent has been tested by means of polymer enhanced ultrafiltration (PEUF), using partially ethoxylated polyethylenimine (PEPEI) as water-soluble polymer. Overall, the two necessary steps of a hypothetical continuous process, metal retention (in total recirculation and discontinuous mode) and polymer regeneration (in discontinuous mode), have been confronted individually. On the one hand, the values of temperature (T), transmembrane pressure (ΔP), metal–polymer ratio and pH that maximize both, permeate fluxes and rejection coefficients, have been obtained by ultrafiltration tests, reaching Cu²⁺ retention coefficients higher than 97%. On the other hand, the polymer regeneration step has been carried out by the electrochemical technique, which consists in the metal electrodeposition on the cathode of an electrochemical cell. In a first step, cyclic voltammetries have been carried out to assure the polymer does not suffer any oxidation or reduction process. From these tests, a cathodic working potential has been selected to minimize hydrogen evolution reaction (−0.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl). Working at this voltage in deposition tests, a pH of 3.3 has been selected from experiments at different pH values. This pH is less extreme than the pH necessary if this step was carried out chemically (pH 2).     

Pt(IV) analogs of oxaliplatin that do not follow the expected correlation between electrochemical reduction potential and rate of reduction by ascorbate

In contrast to the Pt(IV) derivatives of cisplatin, Pt(IV) derivatives of oxaliplatin do not show the expected correlation between the electrochemical reduction potentials and rates of reduction by ascorbate. This is probably due to the lower ability of the amine and carboxylato ligands to form a bridge with the reducing agents to facilitate electron transfer.     

PVDF-HFP composite polymer electrolyte with excellent electrochemical properties for Li-ion batteries

Poly (vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)-based composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) was prepared by phase inversion technique. In this work, we first applied a novel surface-modified sub-micro-sized alumina, PC-401, as ceramic filler. Various electrochemical methods were applied to investigate the electrochemical properties of the polymer electrolytes. We found that the CPE with 10 wt.% PC-401 has excellent electrochemical properties, including the ionic conductivity as high as 0.89 mS cm⁻¹ and the Li-ion transference number of 0.46. Polymer Li-ion batteries using LiFePO₄ as cathode active material exhibited excellent cycling and high-temperature performances. PC-401 shows a promising applicability in the preparation of polymer electrolyte with high electrochemical properties.     

Sucrose analogs: an attractive (bio)source for glycodiversification

Covering: up to April 2012Sucrose is a widespread carbohydrate in nature and is involved in many biological processes. Its natural abundance makes it a very appealing renewable raw material for the synthetic production of high-valued molecules. To further diversify the structure and the inherent properties of these molecules, the access to sucrose analogs is of utmost interest and has historically been widely explored through chemical means. Nature also offers a large panel of sucrose-scaffold derivatives, including phosphorylated or highly substituted phenylpropanoid esters amenable to transformation. Additionally, the use of microorganisms or enzymes could provide an alternative ecologically-compatible manner to diversify sucrose-scaffold derivatives to enable the synthesis of oligo- or polysaccharides, glycoconjugates or polymers that could exhibit original properties for biotechnological applications. This review covers the main biological routes to sucrose derivatives or analogs that are prevalent in nature, that can be obtained via enzymatic processes and the potential applications of such sucrose derivatives in sugar bioconversion, in particular through the engineering of substrates, enzymes or microorganisms.     

Trehalose-based cyclodextrin analogs: cyclotrehalans (CTs)

A new concept for the de novo synthesis of artificial glyconanocavities is presented. The use of alternating α,α′-trehalose building blocks and (thio)urea segments allows the efficient synthesis of a new family of cyclooligosaccharides, namely cyclotrehalans (CTs), featuring a convex-shaped cavity with an apolar environment. CTs are designed to exhibit molecular inclusion abilities similar to that of cyclodextrins (CDs). Contrary to CDs, CTs expose the monosaccharide β-face to the inner cavity, while the (thio)urea tethers provides some conformational adaptability. High-yielding syntheses of a series of CTs and a preliminary evaluation of their inclusion properties are reported.     

Resorcinol-formaldehyde carbon spheres/polyaniline composite with excellent electrochemical performance for supercapacitors

Well-dispersed resorcinol-formaldehyde-based carbon spheres (RFCs) have been prepared by the polycondensation of resorcinol and formaldehyde with ammonia as catalyst and subsequent carbonization of the obtained polymer. In situ polymerization of the aniline occurred in the suspension of the RFC, and RFC was surrounded by the polyaniline (PANI) wires. The PANI and RFC hybrid network (PRFC) formed gradually. In a three-electrode mode, the specific capacitance (C _sp) of PRFC reaches 315 F g^?1 at a current density of 1 A g^?1 in 2 M H₂SO₄, much higher than that of pure PANI (225 F g^?1) and RFC (121.7 F g^?1). Furthermore, the C _sp of PRFC retains 80.0 % after 1000 charge-discharge processes at a current density of 5 Ag^?1. The enhanced electrochemical performance of the PRFC came from its homogeneous three-dimensional hierarchical network structure, good electric conductivity of the PANI around the RFC, and the synergistic effect between the RFC and PANI.     

Factors affecting the electrochemical regeneration of NADH by (2,2'-bipyridyl) (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)-rhodium complexes: impact on their immobilization onto electrode surfaces

Complexes of the (2,2'-bipyridyl) (pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)-rhodium family ([Cp*Rh(bpy)Cl](+), which is actually hydrolyzed in the form of [Cp*Rh(bpy)H(2)O](2+) in aqueous medium) are suitable solution-phase mediators likely to regenerate nicotinamide cofactors associated to dehydrogenases involved in many biocatalytic applications. Their practical application as bioelectrocatalysts, e.g., in fine chemicals synthesis or biosensors, remains however restricted to their durable immobilization in an active form onto solid electrode surfaces. This paper reports some new observations on the electrocatalytic properties of this mediator towards NAD(+) reduction, notably the critical effect of pH and cofactor-to-mediator concentration ratio, and investigates the behavior of a series of ([Cp*Rh(bpy)Cl](+)) derivatives bearing various substituents on the bipyridine ligand in view of their subsequent integration in electrochemical bioreactors. It will be shown that such compounds containing S- or N- moieties (i.e., often used as precursors to functionalize electrode surfaces) lead to inactivation of the electrocatalyst because their interaction with the Rh center prevents the formation of the active rhodium hydride complex. It was thus necessary to find another strategy of immobilization, and we found that adsorption of [Cp*Rh(bpy)Cl](+) by π-stacking on single-walled carbon nanotubes is an effective mean to reach this goal, leading to efficient and stable catalytic responses for NAD(+) reduction. Preliminary electroenzymatic experiments in the presence of d-sorbitol dehydrogenase further point out the interest of this approach for bioelectrocatalysis purposes and provide the proof-of-concept for this immobilization strategy.     

Benzimidazole- and benzothiazole-quinones: excellent substrates for NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1

A series of benzimidazole- and benzothiazole-quinones has been synthesized. The ability of these heterocyclic quinones to act as substrates for recombinant human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), a two-electron reductase upregulated in tumour cells, was determined. Overall, the quinones were excellent substrates for NQO1.     

Direct electrochemical regeneration of monooxygenase subunits for biocatalytic asymmetric epoxidation

We report the first example of direct electrochemical regeneration of a flavin-dependent monooxygenase for asymmetric epoxidation catalysis. It is shown that electrochemical regeneration of the oxygenase subunit of the multicomponent styrene monooxygenase is sufficient to perform enantiospecific S-epoxidation of various styrene derivatives. Kinetic bottlenecks of the novel electroenzymatic reaction are identified. This work opens up new alternatives for asymmetric oxyfunctionalization catalysis.     

Synthesis of perfluorochemicals for use as blood substitutes,part II: electrochemical fluorination of partly fluorinated compounds

Electrochemical fluorination of 2-methoxy-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(F-methyl) octane gave the corresponding perfluorinated ether in 27% yield, along with cyclic by-products in 9%. A mixture of partly fluorinated tertiary amines, consisting of 1-dipropylamino-F-1-propene and 1-dipropylamino-2-hydryl-F-propane, did not afford a superior yield of tri(F-propyl)amine compared to the unfluorinated tripropylamine. 1-Diethylamino-2-(F-methyl)-F-1-pentene was fluorinated to give the corresponding F-tertiary amine in fairly good yields, together with 1-di(F-ethyl)amino-2-hydryl-2-(F-methyl)-F-pentane and their fragmented products. The study indicates that blocking of the α-carbon atom of an ether with F-methyl groups seems to reduce fragmentation, resulting in good yields of an unrearranged product. However, partial fluorination of a tertiary amine prior to electrochemical fluorination rather allows high yields of undesired by-products, as far as our experiments were concerned.     

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for electrochemical sensing

The past, present, and future of the application of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in electroanalytical chemistry is reviewed. SAMs for electroanalytical applications have been introduced in the early 1990s and since then have been exploited for the detection of different species ranging from metal ions to biomolecules and microorganisms. This review describes the different types of monolayers, surfaces on which they have been assembled, the various analytes, which were determined, and the various electrochemical techniques employed. The prospective and perspectives of this topic are discussed.     

Laminar flow-based electrochemical microreactor for efficient regeneration of nicotinamide cofactors for biocatalysis

One of the long-standing challenges in biocatalysis is the search for methods to continuously regenerate essential cofactors such as NADH that would enable a wide range of enzymes to be used in the more environmentally friendly synthesis of chiral fine chemicals including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food additives. This communication reports a microreactor-based cofactor regeneration method that exploits the microfluidic phenomenon of laminar flow: a reactant stream and a buffer stream are introduced in a microchannel and continue to flow side by side without turbulent mixing between two electrodes that cover opposing channel walls. Adjustment of the flow rate ratio of the two streams in laminar flow enables focusing of the reactant stream close to the cathode, thereby reversing a normally unfavorable reaction equilibrium essential for cofactor regeneration. The absence of a bulk phase in these microreactors prevents the undesired reverse reaction to take place, which has prevented the use of electrochemical cofactor regeneration in macroscale processes. Here, we demonstrate the regeneration of NADH with conversion efficiencies as high as 31%. We also show the subsequent in situ conversion of an achiral substrate, pyruvate, into a chiral product, l-lactate, within this microreactor.     

Coenzyme Q biosynthesis: Coq6 is required for the C5-hydroxylation reaction and substrate analogs rescue Coq6 deficiency

Coenzyme Q (Q), an essential component of eukaryotic cells, is synthesized by several enzymes from the?precursor 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Mutations in six of the Q biosynthesis genes cause diseases that can sometimes be ameliorated by oral Q supplementation. We establish here that Coq6, a predicted flavin-dependent monooxygenase, is involved exclusively in the C5-hydroxylation reaction. In an unusual way, the ferredoxin Yah1 and the ferredoxin reductase Arh1 may be the in?vivo source of electrons for?Coq6. We also show that hydroxylated analogs of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, such as vanillic acid or 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, restore Q biosynthesis and respiration in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae coq6 mutant. Our results demonstrate that appropriate analogs of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid can bypass a deficient Q biosynthetic enzyme and might be considered for the treatment of some primary Q deficiencies.     

光声量热法测定辅酶B12的光解量子产率

时间可分辨的光声最热法（Time－resolvedphotoacousticcalorimetry；简称PAC）是研究脉冲激光诱发的快速光化学和光生物化学反应过程动力学和热力学信息的一种有效方法[1－5]。本文采用压电陶瓷圆管同时作为样品油和换能器组成的PAC探测系统[6]，以波长λ＝355nm的脉冲激光（脉冲宽度8ns，脉冲重复频率10Hz）为光源激发辅酶B12甲醇溶液；研究其解量子产率，获得了满意的结果．1实验被测溶液注入两端用石英玻璃封口的压电陶瓷圆管内腔，激光束透过石英窗照射溶液（如图］所示）为标定被测样品的非辐射放热量，利用能在极短的时间内（＜l…     

辅酶NAD(P)H模型分子的研究进展

辅酶NAD(P)H在生物体内起着重要的调节作用, 已引起了有机化学工作者极大的兴趣, 尤其是在还原反应的立体选择性上, 人们已经开展了大量的研究工作. 讨论了NAD(P)H模型分子进行立体专一性还原反应的影响因素, 并对NAD(P)H模型分子的研究工作做了总结.