Quantum dots assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric detection of carbohydrates: qualitative and quantitative analysis

A quantum dots (QDs) assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric (QDA‐LDI‐MS) strategy was proposed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of a series of carbohydrates. The adsorption of carbohydrates on the modified surface of different QDs as the matrices depended mainly on the formation of hydrogen bonding, which led to higher MS intensity than those with conventional organic matrix. The effects of QDs concentration and sample preparation method were explored for improving the selective ionization process and the detection sensitivity. The proposed approach offered a new dimension to the application of QDs as matrices for MALDI‐MS research of carbohydrates. It could be used for quantitative measurement of glucose concentration in human serum with good performance. The QDs served as a matrix showed the advantages of low background, higher sensitivity, convenient sample preparation and excellent stability under vacuum. The QDs assisted LDI‐MS approach has promising application to the analysis of carbohydrates in complex biological samples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the role of the three-phase contact line in surface deformation

Viscoelastic braking theories developed by Shanahan and de Gennes and by others predict deformation of a solid surface at the solid-liquid-air contact line. This phenomenon has only been observed for soft smooth surfaces and results in a protrusion of the solid surface at the three-phase contact line, in agreement with the theoretical predictions. Despite the large (enough to break chemical bonds) forces associated with it, this deformation was not confirmed experimentally for hard surfaces, especially for hydrophobic ones. In this study we use superhydrophobic surfaces composed of an array of silicon nanostructures whose Young modulus is 4 orders of magnitude higher than that of surfaces in earlier recorded viscoelastic braking experiments. We distinguish between two cases: when a water drop forms an adhesive contact, albeit small, with the apparent contact angle θ < 180° and when the drop-surface adhesion is such that the conditions for placing a resting drop on the surface cannot be reached (i.e., θ = 180°). In the first case we show that there is a surface deformation at the three-phase contact line which is associated with a reduction in the hydrophobicity of the surface. For the second case, however, there cannot be a three-phase contact line associated with a drop in contact with the surface, and indeed, if we force-place a drop on the surface by holding it with a needle, no deformation is detected, nor is there a reduction in the hydrophobic properties of the surface. Yet, if we create a long horizontal three-phase contact line by partially immersing the superhydrophobic substrate in a water bath, we see a localized reduction in the hydrophobic properties of the surface in the region where the three-phase contact line used to be. The SEM scan of that region shows a narrow horizontal stripe where the nanorods are no longer there, and instead there is only a shallow structure that is lower than the nanorods height and resembles fused or removed nanorods. Away from that region, either on the part of the surface which was exposed to bulk water or the part which was exposed to air, no change in the hydrophobic properties of the surface is observed, and the SEM scan confirms that the nanorods seem intact in both regions.     

A site-differentiated [4Fe–4S] cluster controls electron transfer reactivity of Clostridium acetobutylicum [FeFe]-hydrogenase I

One of the many functions of reduction–oxidation (redox) cofactors is to mediate electron transfer in biological enzymes catalyzing redox-based chemical transformation reactions. There are numerous examples of enzymes that utilize redox cofactors to form electron transfer relays to connect catalytic sites to external electron donors and acceptors. The compositions of relays are diverse and tune transfer thermodynamics and kinetics towards the chemical reactivity of the enzyme. Diversity in relay design is exemplified among different members of hydrogenases, enzymes which catalyze reversible H₂ activation, which also couple to diverse types of donor and acceptor molecules. The [FeFe]-hydrogenase I from Clostridium acetobutylicum (CaI) is a member of a large family of structurally related enzymes where interfacial electron transfer is mediated by a terminal, non-canonical, His-coordinated, [4Fe–4S] cluster. The function of His coordination was examined by comparing the biophysical properties and reactivity to a Cys substituted variant of CaI. This demonstrated that His coordination strongly affected the distal [4Fe–4S] cluster spin state, spin pairing, and spatial orientations of molecular orbitals, with a minor effect on reduction potential. The deviations in these properties by substituting His for Cys in CaI, correlated with pronounced changes in electron transfer and reactivity with the native electron donor–acceptor ferredoxin. The results demonstrate that differential coordination of the surface localized [4Fe–4S]His cluster in CaI is utilized to control intermolecular and intramolecular electron transfer where His coordination creates a physical and electronic environment that enables facile electron exchange between electron carrier molecules and the iron–sulfur cluster relay for coupling to reversible H₂ activation at the catalytic site.

Histidine coordination of the distal [4Fe–4S] cluster in [FeFe]-hydrogenase was demonstrated to tune the cluster spin-states, spin-pairing and surrounding molecular orbitals to enable more facile electron transfer compared to cysteine coordination.     

不同晶粒ZSM-5沸石分子筛对合成气羰基化反应性能的影响

对沸石分子筛而言,分子筛的孔道、孔径、孔容和微孔等物理性质和酸性影响它的活性.通过调节和控制以上物理性质能够提高产物选择性和收率,降低副产物,从而促进反应性能提高活性.我们考察了ZSM-5分子筛的晶粒度和硅铝比对合成气羰基化反应性能的影响.结果表明,晶粒度小及具有一定比例的中强酸中心的ZSM-5沸石分子筛对反应有利,但晶粒度比较大即1和3μm的ZSM-5沸石分子筛目标产物选择性比较低.纳米级的ZSM-5沸石分子筛催化剂在反应中表现出较高的活性及较低的副产物选择性,是适宜的合成气羰基化反应催化剂载体.温度考察结果可知,反应温度为300℃时,效果为最佳.其中, 30～50 nm的ZSM-5沸石分子筛催化剂CO转化率为55%,乙酸甲酯和甲酸甲酯选择性之和为52%,而晶粒度3μm时, CO转化率仅为25%,乙酸甲酯和甲酸甲酯选择性之和为20%,是30～50 nm沸石分子筛的一半.当反应继续升温时,副产物的选择性也随之增加,是因为所生成的中间产物和甲醇等继续进行各种反应生成二甲醚、芳烃、烷烃以及裂解生成CO_2等干气.     

Activated Nitriles in Heterocyclic:Synthesis Novel Syntheses of Imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3-Thiazine Derivatives

Abstract

Several new imidazo[2,1-b]-1,3-thiazine derivatives 4a–c, 8a–c, and 11a–c were synthesised via the reaction of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin (1) with αβ -unsaturated nitriles 2a–c, 5a–c, and 9a–c. The structures of the products were established on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, and ¹H-NMR spectral data.     

Development of a Novel Electrochemical Sensor Based on Gold Nanoparticle-Modified Carbon-Paste Electrode for the Detection of Congo Red Dye

In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were electrodeposited on samples of a carbon-paste electrode (CPE) with different thicknesses. The prepared AuNPs were characterized using different analysis techniques, such as FTIR, UV–Vis, SEM, EDX, TEM images, and XRD analysis. The fabricated modified electrode AuNPs/CPE was used for the sensitive detection of Congo red (CR) dye. Electrochemical sensing was conducted using square-wave voltammetry (SWV) in a 0.1 M acetate buffer solution at pH 6.5. The proposed sensor exhibited high efficiency for the electrochemical determination of CR dye with high selectivity and sensitivity and a low detection limit of 0.07 μM in the concentration range of 1–30 μM and 0.7 μM in the concentration range of 50–200 μM. The practical application of the AuNPs/CPE was verified by detecting CR dye in various real samples involving jelly, candy, wastewater, and tap water. The calculated recoveries (88–106%) were within the acceptable range.     

In Silico Exploration of Potential Natural Inhibitors against SARS-Cov-2 nsp10

In continuation of our previous effort, different in silico selection methods were applied to 310 naturally isolated metabolites that exhibited antiviral potentialities before. The applied selection methods aimed to pick the most relevant inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 nsp10. At first, a structural similarity study against the co-crystallized ligand, S-Adenosyl Methionine (SAM), of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein (nsp10) (PDB ID: 6W4H) was carried out. The similarity analysis culled 30 candidates. Secondly, a fingerprint study against SAM preferred compounds 44, 48, 85, 102, 105, 182, 220, 221, 282, 284, 285, 301, and 302. The docking studies picked 48, 182, 220, 221, and 284. While the ADMET analysis expected the likeness of the five candidates to be drugs, the toxicity study preferred compounds 48 and 182. Finally, a density-functional theory (DFT) study suggested vidarabine (182) to be the most relevant SARS-Cov-2 nsp10 inhibitor.