Fullerol cluster formation in aqueous solutions: implications for environmental release

Here we report on the characteristics of fullerol in aqueous systems and examine those conditions that affect the physical state of fullerol in water. When dispersed in water fullerol forms polydisperse suspensions characterized by both small ( approximately 100 nm) and large associations (>500 nm). These clusters are charged with a point of zero net proton charge (PZNPC) of approximately pH 3. Though the size of fullerol clusters may be manipulated through changes in solution chemistry, principally pH, cluster formation cannot be entirely prevented through these means alone. The fullerol cluster structure is amorphous as revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis, which is in contrast to clusters of C(60) formed through dissolution in toluene and then introduced into water through sonication (SONnC(60)). The SONnC(60) clusters are crystalline with a structure similar to that of unreacted C(60) crystals.     

Characterizing the impact of preparation method on fullerene cluster structure and chemistry

We examined the physical and chemical characteristics of colloidal dispersions of fullerene materials (nC60) produced through several solvent exchange processes and through extended mixing in water only. The nC60 produced via the different methods were unique from each other with respect to size, morphology, charge, and hydrophobicity. The greatest dissimilarities were observed between the nC60 produced by extended mixing in water alone and the nC60 produced by solvent exchange processes. The role of the respective solvents in determining the characteristics of the various nC60 were attributed to differences in the solvent-C60 interactions and the presence of the solvent as a residual in the nC60 structure, indicating the significance of the solvent properties in determining the ultimate characteristics of the colloidal fullerene. Thus, fullerene C60 that may become mobilized through natural processes (agitation in water) may behave in dramatically different ways than those produced through more artificial means. These results highlight the difficulties in generalizing nC60 properties, particularly as they vary in potential toxicity considerations.     

Supported lipid bilayers on biocompatible polysaccharide multilayers

Formation of supported lipid bilayers on soft polymer cushions is a useful approach to decouple the membrane from the substrate for applications involving membrane proteins. We prepared biocompatible polymer cushions by the layer-by-layer assembly of two polysaccharide polyelectrolytes, chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid, on glass and silicon substrates. (CHI/HA)(5) films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, giving an average thickness of 57 nm and roughness of 25 nm in aqueous solution at pH 6.5. Formation of zwitterionic lipid bilayers by the vesicle fusion method was attempted using DOPC vesicles at pH 4 and 6.5 on (CHI/HA)(5) films. At higher pH adsorbed lipids had low mobility and large immobile lipid fractions; a combination of fluorescence and AFM indicated that this was attributable to formation of poor quality membranes with defects and pinned lipids rather than to a layer of surface-adsorbed vesicles. By contrast, more uniform bilayers with mobile lipids were produced at pH 4. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching gave diffusion coefficients that were similar to those for bilayers on PEG cushions and considerably higher than those measured on other polyelectrolyte films. The results suggest that the polymer surface charge is more important than the surface roughness in controlling formation of mobile supported bilayers. These results demonstrate that polysaccharides provide a useful alternative to other polymer cushions, particularly for applications where biocompatibility is important.     

Fabrication and photoelectric properties of self-assembled bilayer lipid membranes on conducting glass

Supported bilayer lipid membranes (s-BLMs with and without the doping of fullerene C60) self-assembled on indium-tin oxide (ITO) glass were fabricated and characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using a three-electrode system. The photoelectric properties of the ITO supported planar lipid bilayers were studied. Light intensity of irradiation, bias voltage, and concentration of donors have been found to be limiting factors of the transmembrane photocurrent. The facilitation effect of C60 doping in s-BLMs on the photoinduced electron transfer across s-BLM is discussed. This novel self-assembled ITO/s-BLM system may provide a simple and mechanically stable model for the study of the photoelectric and photodynamic properties of biomembranes.     

Synthesis of 18-membered open-cage fullerenes through controlled stepwise fullerene skeleton bond cleavage processes and substituent-mediated tuning of the redox potential of open-cage fullerenes

Oxidation of the fullerenediol C(60)(OH)(2)(O)(OAc)(OOtBu)(3) with PhI(OAc)(2) yields the open-cage fullerene derivative C(60)(O)(2)(O)(OAc)(OOtBu)(3)2 with an 11-membered orifice. Compound 2 reacts with aniline to form a new open-cage derivative with a 14-membered orifice, which yields an 18-membered open-cage fullerene derivative upon addition of another molecule of aniline. Two different types of aniline derivatives with either electron-donating or electron-withdrawing substituents can be added sequentially, affording an unsymmetrical moiety in the open-cage structure. Reduction potentials of the 18-membered open-cage fullerene derivatives can be fine-tuned by changing the substituents on the aniline. The results provide new insights about the mechanism of open-cage reactions of fullerene-mixed peroxide.     

Photo-induced reactive oxygen species generation by different water-soluble fullerenes (C) and their cytotoxicity in human keratinocytes

Abstract In this study we report the phototoxicity toward HaCaT keratinocytes that results from the photogeneration of superoxide and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) by four different "water-soluble" fullerene (C(60)) preparations-monomeric (gamma-CyD)(2)/C(60) (gamma-cyclodextrin bicapped C(60)) and three aggregated forms-THF/nC(60) (prepared by solvent exchange from THF solution); Son/nC(60) (prepared by sonication of a toluene/water mixture); and gamma-CyD/nC(60) (prepared by heating the [gamma-CyD](2)/C(60) aqueous solution). Our results demonstrate that all four C(60) preparations photogenerate (1)O(2) efficiently. However, the properties of C(60)-generated (1)O(2), including its availability for reactions in solution, are markedly different for the monomeric and aggregated forms. (1)O(2) produced by monomeric (gamma-CyD)(2)/C(60) is quenchable by NaN(3) and its quantum yield in D(2)O, which is only weakly dependent on oxygen concentration, is as high as C(60) in toluene. In contrast, (1)O(2) generated from aggregated C(60) is not quenchable by NaN(3), exhibits a solvent-independent short-lived lifetime (ca 2.9 mus), is highly sensitive to oxygen concentration while its phosphorescence is redshifted. All these features indicate that (1)O(2) is sequestered inside the C(60) aggregates, which may explain why these preparations were not phototoxic toward HaCaT cells. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies demonstrated the generation of the C(60) anion radical (C(60)(*-)) when (gamma-CyD)(2)/C(60) was irradiated (lambda > 300 nm) in the presence of a reducing agent (NADH); spin trapping experiments (lambda > 400 nm) with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide clearly showed the generation of superoxide resulting from the reaction of C(60)(*-) with oxygen. In vitro tests with HaCaT keratinocytes provided evidence that (gamma-CyD)(2)/C(60) phototoxicity is mainly mediated by (1)O(2) (Type II mechanism) with only a minor contribution from free radicals (Type I mechanism).     

Electrochemical studies of blocking properties of solid supported tethered lipid membranes on gold

The insulating properties of self-assembled thiolipid monolayers and tethered lipid bilayers on polycrystalline gold electrodes were studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV). These films were formed by two-step self-assembly processes. Electrochemical measurements of the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant of different redox couples such as potassium ferrocyanide (K(4)[Fe(CN)(6)]) and dopamine (DP) were used to examine the molecular integrity and structural defects and pinholes within the monolayers. We demonstrate by means of cyclic voltammetry that the bilayer lipid membranes tethered to the gold surface are blocking, stable, yet retaining their dynamic properties and can be used as a model of the cell membrane.     

Phosphate recovery by high flux low pressure multilayer membranes

This work illustrates the potential use of PEI/PSS bilayers assembled via layer by layer (lbl) method on a nylon microfiltration membrane for the recovery of phosphate from water in the presence of chloride under ultrafiltration conditions. A total of nine bilayers were used for the selective recovery of phosphate. Bilayers were constructed from polyelectrolyte solutions of varying ionic strength (0-1 M of NaCl). The selected pH for deposition of PEI (5.9) and the presence of supporting salt in the polyelectrolyte solution is expected to provide membranes with high permeability and high charge density. This particular combination of bilayers yielded high flux membranes that allowed selective removal of H(2)PO(4)(-) in the presence of Cl(-) at low pressure (0.28 bar). The magnitude of negative solute rejection of chloride showed increasing trend with the number of bilayer for a particular salt concentration. Whereas the increase in magnitude with ionic strength is so high (-6.18 to -269.17 at 0.5 M NaCl for 9 bl) that gave the best observed Cl(-)/H(2)PO(4)(-) selectivity (310.23, flux 13.53 m(3)/m(2)-day). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a multilayer polyelectrolyte system with such a high selectivity and rejection for H(2)PO(4)(-) is reported. The solution flux decreased with the number of bilayers and ionic strength. The rejection of phosphate was dependent on feed pH, concentration of deposited polyelectrolyte solution, and composition of membrane support.     

NSAIDs interactions with membranes: a biophysical approach

This work focuses on the interaction of four representative NSAIDs (nimesulide, indomethacin, meloxicam, and piroxicam) with different membrane models (liposomes, monolayers, and supported lipid bilayers), at different pH values, that mimic the pH conditions of normal (pH 7.4) and inflamed cells (pH 5.0). All models are composed of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) which is a representative phospholipid of most cellular membranes. Several biophysical techniques were employed: Fluorescence steady-state anisotropy to study the effects of NSAIDs in membrane microviscosity and thus to assess the main phase transition of DPPC, surface pressure-area isotherms to evaluate the adsorption and penetration of NSAIDs into the membrane, IRRAS to acquire structural information of DPPC monolayers upon interaction with the drugs, and AFM to study the changes in surface topography of the lipid bilayers caused by the interaction with NSAIDs. The NSAIDs show pronounced interactions with the lipid membranes at both physiological and inflammatory conditions. Liposomes, monolayers, and supported lipid bilayers experiments allow the conclusion that the pH of the medium is an essential parameter when evaluating drug-membrane interactions, because it conditions the structure of the membrane and the ionization state of NSAIDs, thereby influencing the interactions between these drugs and the lipid membranes. The applied models and techniques provided detailed information about different aspects of the drug-membrane interaction offering valuable information to understand the effect of these drugs on their target membrane-associated enzymes and their side effects at the gastrointestinal level.     

Monomeric fullerenes in lipid membranes: effects of molecular shape and polarity

We report a combined theoretical and experimental study on the single-molecule interaction of fullerenes with phospholipid membranes. We studied pristine C(60) (1) and two N-substituted fulleropyrrolidines (2 and 3), one of which (3) bore a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Theoretical predictions of fullerene distribution and permeability across lipid bilayers were combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments in aligned DMPC/DHPC bicelles containing the paramagnetic fulleropyrrolidine 3 or either one of the diamagnetic fullerenes together with spin-labeled lipids. We found that, at low concentrations, fullerenes are present in the bilayer as single molecules. Their preferred location in the membrane is only slightly influenced by the derivatization: all derivatives were confined just below the hydrophilic/hydrophobic interface, because of the key role played by dispersion interactions between the highly polarizable fullerene cage and the hydrocarbon chains, which are especially tight within this region. However, the deviation from spherical shape is sufficient to induce a preferential orientation of 2 and 3 in the membrane. We predict that monomeric fullerenes spontaneously penetrate the bilayer, in agreement with the results of molecular dynamics simulations, but we point out the limits of the currently used permeability model when applied to hydrophobic solutes.     

富勒烯衍生物纳米颗粒水悬液对细菌生长的抑制作用

富勒烯纳米颗粒的生物学效应受到了广泛关注。本文首次测定了二加成亚甲基富勒烯[60]二膦酸四乙酯(bis-methanophosphonate fullerene, BMPF)的纳米水悬液（nano-BMPF）和富勒醇纳米水悬液（nano-fullerol）对细菌生长的影响。结果显示,nano-BMPF和nano-fullerol在黑暗条件下可抑制革兰氏阳性菌金黄色葡萄球菌的生长,且呈现浓度梯度依赖性,半抑制浓度IC50值分别为9.1 μM和4.2 μM;nano-fullerol对金黄色葡萄球菌生长的抑制可能与活性氧无关, nano-BMPF对金黄色葡萄球菌生长的抑制则可能与超氧阴离子自由基(O2.-)有关。在黑暗条件下二者对革兰氏阴性菌大肠杆菌的生长无影响。以上结果表明,这2种富勒烯衍生物纳米颗粒作为抗生素在生物医用领域具有潜在的应用前景。     

Lipid packing stress and polypeptide aggregation: alamethicin channel probed by proton titration of lipid charge

Lipid membranes are not passive, neutral scaffolds to hold membrane proteins. In order to examine the influence of lipid packing energetics on ion channel expression, we study the relative probabilities of alamethicin channel formation in dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) bilayers as a function of pH. The rationale for this strategy is our earlier finding that the higher-conductance states, corresponding to larger polypeptide aggregates, are more likely to occur in the presence of lipids prone to hexagonal HII-phase formation (specifically DOPE), than in the presence of lamellar L alpha-forming lipids (DOPC). In low ionic strength NaCl solutions at neutral pH, the open channel in DOPS membranes spends most of its time in states of lower conductance and resembles alamethicin channels in DOPC; at lower pH, where the lipid polar groups are neutralized, the channel probability distribution resembles that in DOPE. X-Ray diffraction studies on DOPS show a progressive decrease in the intrinsic curvature of the constituent monolayers as well as a decreased probability of HII-phase formation when the charged lipid fraction is increased. We explore how proton titration of DOPS affects lipid packing energetics, and how these energetics couple titration to channel formation.     

Extraction of some univalent salts into 1,2-dichloroethane and nitrobenzene: analysis of overall extraction equilibrium based on elucidating ion-pair formation and evaluation of standard potentials for ion transfers at the interfaces between their diluents and water

Sodium permanganate, sodium picrate (NaPic), Bu(4)NPic, Me(4)NPic, and Et(4)NPic were extracted at an ionic strength of 2 × 10(-5) to 0.08 mol dm(-3) and 25°C from water (w)-phases into the organic (o)-ones, 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) and nitrobenzene (NB). Thereby, apparent distribution constants (K(D,±)) of the anions (A(-)) or the cations (M(+)) and ion-pair formation ones (K(MA)(org)) of the univalent salts (MA) in the o-phases were determined at 25 °C, where K(D,±) = ([A(-)](o)[M(+)](o)/[A(-)][M(+)])(1/2) = (K(D,A)K(D,M))(1/2) and K(MA)(org) = [MA](o)/[M(+)](o)[A(-)](o). Also, the K(ex) and K(D,MA) values with A(-) = Pic(-), MnO(4)(-) were estimated from the relations K(ex) (= [MA](o)/[M(+)][A(-)]) = K(MA)(org)(K(D,±))(2) and = K(MA)K(D,MA), respectively. Standard potentials (Δψ(tr)(0)) for ion transfers at the w/DCE and w/NB interfaces were evaluated from the log K(D,A) or log K(D,M) values by assuming the relations K(D,Pic) = K(D,Et4N) and = K(D,Me4N), respectively. The thus-obtained Δψ(tr)(0) values, especially for the w/DCE system, were in good agreement with the values based on the extra-thermodynamic assumption for Ph(4)As(+) and BPh(4)(-) transfers at the interfaces. In the present extraction systems, the ion-pair formation of MA in the w- and o-phases was less effective in the determination of their distribution constants into the two o-phases.     

Fullerol–Titania Charge‐Transfer‐Mediated Photocatalysis Working under Visible Light

The development of visible‐light‐active photocatalysts is being investigated through various approaches. In this study, C₆₀‐based sensitized photocatalysis that works through the charge transfer (CT) mechanism is proposed and tested as a new approach. By employing the water‐soluble fullerol (C₆₀(OH)_x) instead of C₆₀, we demonstrate that the adsorbed fullerol activates TiO₂ under visible‐light irradiation through the “surface–complex CT” mechanism, which is largely absent in the C₆₀/TiO₂ system. Although fullerene and its derivatives have often been utilized in TiO₂‐based photochemical conversion systems as an electron transfer relay, their successful photocatalytic application as a visible‐light sensitizer of TiO₂ is not well established. Fullerol/TiO₂ exhibits marked visible photocatalytic activity not only for the redox conversion of 4‐chlorophenol, I^?, and Cr^VI, but also for H₂ production. The photoelectrode of fullerol/TiO₂ also generates an enhanced anodic photocurrent under visible light as compared with the electrodes of bare TiO₂ and C₆₀/TiO₂, which confirms that the visible‐light‐induced electron transfer from fullerol to TiO₂ is particularly enhanced. The surface complexation of fullerol/TiO₂ induced a visible absorption band around 400–500 nm, which was extinguished when the adsorption of fullerol was inhibited by fluorination of the surface of TiO₂. The transient absorption spectroscopic measurement gave an absorption spectrum ascribed to fullerol radical cations (fullerol^.+) the generation of which should be accompanied by the proposed CT. The theoretical calculation regarding the absorption spectra for the (TiO₂ cluster+fullerol) model also confirmed the proposed CT, which involves excitation from HOMO (fullerol) to LUMO (TiO₂ cluster) as the origin of the visible‐light absorption.     

Examination of intermolecular electronic interactions in the crystal structure of C60(CF3)12 by experimental electron density determination

From a high resolution X-ray data set measured at 20 K the experimental electron density of the fullerene C(60)(CF(3))(12) was derived and topologically analyzed to yield, in addition to bond topological and atomic properties, information about the density distribution in the region where hexagons of adjacent molecules approach closely at only 3.3 A.     

The electrochemical reduction of fullerenes, C60 and C70

The hexaanion of fullerene, C(60)(6-), was obtained in 1:5 (v/v) acetonitrile-toluene mixture with a mercury hemispherical ultramicroelectrode as a working electrode at a temperature of up to 30 degrees C. The C(70)(6-) ion also can be observed under the same conditions. The differences between the redox potentials of C(60) relative to C(70) indicate that it is easier to add electrons to C(70) and its anions compared to the counterparts of C(60). The results show that the mercury electrode is very suitable for investigation of the properties of the electrochemical reduction for the fullerenes, particularly C(60), at room temperature.     

Effect of the cooling rate on dimerization of C60(•-) in fullerene salt (DMI+)2·(C60(•-))·{Cd(Et2NCS2)2I-}

The salt (DMI(+))(2)·(C(60)(?-))·{Cd(Et(2)NCS(2))(2)I(-)} (1) containing fullerene radical anions, the anions of cadmium diethyldithiocarbamate iodide, and N,N'-dimethylimidazolium cations was obtained. Fullerenes are monomeric in 1 at 250 K and form three-dimensional packing in which each fullerene has nearly tetrahedral surroundings from neighboring fullerenes. Fullerenes with a shorter interfullerene center-to-center distance of 10.031(2) ? form spiral chains arranged along the lattice c axis. The convolution consists of four fullerene molecules. Dimerization realized in 1 within the spiral chains below 135 K manifests a strong dependence on the cooling rate. The "frozen" monomeric phase was obtained upon instant quenching of 1. This phase is stable below 95 K for a long time but slowly converted to the dimeric phase at T > 95 K. It exhibits a weak antiferromagnetic interaction of spins below 95 K (the Weiss temperature is -4 K), which results in the splitting of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal into two components below 10 K. A disordered phase containing both C(60)(?-) monomers and singly bonded (C(60)(-))(2) dimers with approximately 0.5/0.5 occupancies is formed at an intermediate cooling rate (for 20 min). The position of each fullerene in this phase is split into three positions slightly shifted relative to each other. The central position corresponds to nonbonded fullerenes with interfullerene center-to-center distances of 9.94-10.00 ?. Two other positions are coincided to dimeric fullerenes formed with the right and left fullerene neighbors within the spiral chain. This intermediate phase is paramagnetic with nearly zero Weiss temperature due to isolation of C(60)(?-) by diamagnetic species and exhibits a strongly asymmetric EPR signal below 20 K. A diamagnetic phase containing ordered singly bonded (C(60)(-))(2) dimers can be obtained only upon slow cooling of the crystal for 6 h.     

The acid stability constants of Alizarin Fluorine Blue

Two recent attempts to determine the dissociation constants of 3-aminomethylalizarin-N,N-diacetic acid are discussed and the results compared with values that can be predicted from earlier work on iminodiacetic acid derivatives and from the absorption spectra of the reagent at different pH values. Results of a potentiometric and spectrophotometric study to determine the stability constants of the various protonated species of the reagent in aqueous solution at ionic strengths 0.1 and 0.5 (potassium chloride) are: log K(H)(HL) = 12.1, log K(H)(H(2)L) = 9.81, log K(H)(H(3)L) = 5.47, log K(H)(H(4)L) = 2.54, and log K(H(2)L)(H(5)L(2)) = 2.2 at ionic strength 0.5.     

Validating affinities for ion-lipid association from simulation against experiment

Understanding biological membranes at physiological conditions requires comprehension of the interaction of lipid bilayers with sodium and potassium ions. These cations are adsorbed at palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) bilayers as indicated from previous studies. Here we compare the affinity of Na(+) and K(+) for POPC in molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with recent data from electrophoresis experiments and isothermal calorimetry (ITC) at neutral pH. NaCl and KCl were described using GROMOS or parameters matching solution activities on the basis of Kirkwood-Buff theory (KBFF), and K(+) was also described using parameters by Dang et al., all in conjunction with the Berger parameters for the lipids and the SPC water model. Apparent binding constants of GROMOS-Na(+) and KBFF-K(+) are the same within error and in good agreement with values from ITC. Although these force fields yield the same number of bound ions per number of lipids for Na(+) and K(+), they give a larger number of Na(+) ions per surface area compared to K(+), in agreement with the electrophoresis experiments, because Na(+) causes a stronger reduction in the area per lipid than K(+). The intrinsic binding constants, on the other hand, are reproduced by Dang-K(+) but overestimated by GROMOS-Na(+) and KBFF-K(+). That no ion force field reproduces the intrinsic and the apparent binding constant simultaneously arises from the fact that in MD simulations, implicitly meant to mimic neutral pH, pure PC is usually modeled with zero surface charge. In contrast, POPC at neutral conditions in experiment carries a low but significant negative surface charge and is uncharged only at acidic pH as indicated from electrophoretic mobilities. Implications for future simulation and experimental studies are discussed.     

Ion channel formation from a calix[4]arene amide that binds HCl

The ion transport activity of calix[4]arene tetrabutylamide 1,3-alt 2 was studied in liposomes, planar lipid bilayers, and HEK-293 cells. These experiments, when considered together with (1)H NMR and X-ray crystallography data, indicate that calix[4]arene tetrabutylamide 2 (1) forms ion channels in bilayer membranes, (2) mediates ion transport across cell membranes at positive holding potential, (3) alters the pH inside liposomes experiencing a Cl(-) gradient, and (4) shows a significant Cl(-)/SO(4)(2)(-) transport selectivity. An analogue, calix[4]arene tetramethylamide 1, self-assembles in the presence of HCl to generate solid-state structures with chloride-filled and water-filled channels. Structureminus signactivity studies indicate that the hydrophobicity, amide substitution, and macrocyclic framework of the calixarene are essential for HCl binding and transport. Calix[4]arene tetrabutylamide 2 is a rare example of an anion-dependent, synthetic ion channel.