NMR and molecular fluorescence spectroscopic study of the structure and thermodynamic parameters of EGCG/β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes with potential antioxidant activity

The present study is focused on the characterization of the interaction between (?)-epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) and cyclodextrins like β-cyclodextrin (βCD), heptakis(2,6 di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DMβCD), and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) in aqueous solution. These inclusion complexes previously demonstrated improvements in the antioxidant activity respect to free EGCG. The structural evidence obtained by 2D-ROESY and selective 1D-ROESY experiments was rationalized by autodock studies and indicates that all the complexes have similar inclusion geometries, but the difference resides on the exposition degree of the antioxidant rings of EGCG, such as pyrogallol and galloyl groups. The thermodynamic study allowed estimating that the inclusion process is entalpically driven for the derivatized cyclodextrins complexes and entropically driven for βCD complexes due to the predominance of hydrophobic interactions with EGCG.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of an unexpected anionic trinuclear cobalt(III) complex with ferrocenyl-containing tridentate ONO donor Schiff base ligands

The tridentate ONO-donor Schiff base ligand derived from the condensation of 1-ferrocenyl-1,3-butanedione and 2-aminophenol, generated in situ and treated further with potassium tert-butoxide, reacted in THF with Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O in the presence of pyridine to afford the ionic complex [{(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄)-C(O)CH=C(CH₃)N-C₆H₄-2-O}₂Co(III)]^-[K(HOCH₂CH₃)₂]⁺ (1, 50% yield). Compound 1 was characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, and multidimensional ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that the two metalloligands are meridionally coordinated to a Co(III) ion that adopts a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. The doubly solvated potassium counter-ion is asymmetrically positioned with respect to the two metalloligands. Such an arrangement allows the observation by ¹H NMR of restricted rotation of the ferrocenyl units and the splitting of both carbonyl and imine carbons, thus suggesting that the structure observed in the solid state is retained in solution. Complex 1 exhibits in its cyclic voltammetry curve two anodic reversible waves attributed to the oxidation of Co(III)-phenolates into Co(III)-phenoxyl radical and that of the ferrocenyl fragment into its ferrocenium counterpart.     

The Regioselective Solid-State Photo-Mechanochemical Synthesis of Nanographenes with UV light

Photochemical reactors inherently suffer from the low penetration depth of light and therefore rely on high dilutions to enable chemical reactions. Here we present the first method of UV (ultraviolet) photochemistry in the complete absence of bulk solvents in a ball mill. Triphenylene was synthesized by two routes, the Mallory reaction and the cyclodehydrochlorination (CDHC), resulting in yields of 81 and 92 %, respectively. The reaction was successfully scaled up to the gram scale and the robustness of the method was demonstrated for several different substrates. Finally, the regioselective assembly of nanographenes by mechanochemistry was demonstrated for larger systems. Thus, the mechanochemical approach presented here provides a powerful new tool for the atomically precise construction of nanographenes.     

Scalable Production of Monodisperse Bioactive Spider Silk Nanowires

Elongated protein-based micro- and nanostructures are of great interest for a wide range of biomedical applications, where they can serve as a backbone for surface functionalization and as vehicles for drug delivery. Current production methods for protein constructs lack precise control of either shape and dimensions or render structures fixed to substrates. This work demonstrates production of recombinant spider silk nanowires suspended in solution, starting with liquid bridge induced assembly (LBIA) on a substrate, followed by release using ultrasonication, and concentration by centrifugation. The significance of this method lies in that it provides i) reproducability (standard deviation of length <13% and of diameter <38%), ii) scalability of fabrication, iii) compatibility with autoclavation with retained shape and function, iv) retention of bioactivity, and v) easy functionalization both pre- and post-formation. This work demonstrates how altering the function and nanotopography of a surface by nanowire coating supports the attachment and growth of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Cell compatibility is further studied through integration of nanowires during aggregate formation of hMSCs and the breast cancer cell line MCF7. The herein-presented industrial-compatible process enables silk nanowires for use as functionalizing agents in a variety of cell culture applications and medical research.     

Small Angle X-ray Scattering,Molecular Modeling,and Chemometric Studies from a Thrombin-Like (Lmr-47) Enzyme of Lachesis m. rhombeata Venom

Introduction: Snakebite envenomation is considered a neglected tropical disease, and SVTLEs critical elements are involved in serious coagulopathies that occur on envenoming. Although some enzymes of this group have been structurally investigated, it is essential to characterize other proteins to better understand their unique properties such as the Lachesis muta rhombeata 47 kDa (Lmr-47) venom serine protease. Methods: The structure of Lmr-47 was studied in solution, using SAXS, DLS, CD, and in silico by homology modeling. Molecular docking experiments simulated 21 competitive inhibitors. Results: At pH 8.0, Lmr-47 has an Rg of 34.5 ± 0.6 Å, Dmax of 130 Å, and SR of 50 Å, according to DLS data. Kratky plot analysis indicates a rigid shape at pH 8.0. Conversely, the pH variation does not change the center of mass’s intrinsic fluorescence, possibly indicating the absence of fluorescent amino acids in the regions affected by pH variation. CD experiments show a substantially random coiled secondary structure not affected by pH. The low-resolution model of Lmr-47 presented a prolate elongated shape at pH 8.0. Using the 3D structure obtained by molecular modeling, docking experiments identified five good and three suitable competitive inhibitors. Conclusion: Together, our work provided insights into the structure of the Lmr-47 and identified inhibitors that may enhance our understanding of thrombin-like family proteins.     

Type I Photosensitized Oxidation of Methionine†

Methionine (Met) is an essential sulfur‐containing amino acid, sensitive to oxidation. The oxidation of Met can occur by numerous pathways, including enzymatic modifications and oxidative stress, being able to cause relevant alterations in protein functionality. Under UV radiation, Met may be oxidized by direct absorption (below 250 nm) or by photosensitized reactions. Herein, kinetics of the reaction and identification of products during photosensitized oxidation were analyzed to elucidate the mechanism for the degradation of Met under UV‐A irradiation using pterins, pterin (Ptr) and 6‐methylpterin (Mep), as sensitizers. The process begins with an electron transfer from Met to the triplet‐excited state of the photosensitizer (Ptr or Mep), to yield the corresponding pair of radicals, Met radical cation (Met^?+) and the radical anion of the sensitizer (Sens^??). In air‐equilibrated solutions, Met^?+ incorporates one or two atoms of oxygen to yield methionine sulfoxide (MetO) and methionine sulfone (MetO₂), whereas Sens^?? reacts with O₂ to recover the photosensitizer and generate superoxide anion (O₂^??). In anaerobic conditions, further free‐radical reactions lead to the formation of the corresponding dihydropterin derivatives (H₂Ptr or H₂Mep).     

Thermal analysis via horizontal solidification of Al3Cu2Si (mass%) alloy: thermal and microstructural parameters,intermetallic compounds and microhardness

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - A transient horizontal solidification experiment was performed to investigate the role of the thermal parameters, such as growth and cooling rates (GR...     

Rapid fluorescence determination of diquat herbicide in food grains using quantum dots as new reducing agent

CdSe/ZnS QDs have demonstrated capacity to act as reducing agent in organic media such as acetonitrile and ethanol. By using fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy, it has been demonstrated that QDs reduce diquat herbicide to its monocation radical. The reaction is characterized to present a high reaction rate making possible to perform the reaction by simple filtration of the solution containing the herbicide through a QDs modified filter. The monocation radical presents a high fluorescence emission spectrum which was selected as the analytical signal to quantify the diquat herbicide. The method described here for the analysis of diquat herbicide in oat grains is simple and fast allowing the analysis of trace level of herbicide in only 6 min. The excellent sensitivity and reproducibility of the methods indicate that the reaction is favoured from both thermodynamic and kinetic point of view. The results presented open up the possibility to use QDs as redox agent. The sensitivity of the method expressed as detection limit was only of 0.01 mg kg(-1).The lineal range was between 0.05 and 0.5 mg kg(-1). The time of analysis per sample, including extraction, reaction and fluorescent measurement was only of 6 min.     

Rational assembly of soluble copper(II) phosphonates: synthesis, structure and magnetism of molecular tetranuclear copper(II) phosphonates

The reactions of the dinuclear copper complexes [Cu(2)(L)(OAc)] [H(3)L = N,N'-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(salicylaldimine) or [Cu(2)(L')(OAc)] (H(3)L' = N,N'-(2-hydroxypropane-1,3-diyl)bis(4,5-dimethylsalicylaldimine)] with various phosphonic acids, RPO(3)H(2) (R = t-Bu, Ph, c-C(5)H(9), c-C(6)H(11) or 2,4,6-i-Pr(3)-C(6)H(2)), leads to the replacement of the acetate bridge affording tetranuclear copper(II) phosphonates, [Cu(4)(L)(2)(t-BuPO(3))](CH(3)OH)(2)(C(6)H(6)) (1), [Cu(4)(L)(2)(PhPO(3))(H(2)O)(2)(NMe(2)CHO)](H(2)O)(2) (2), [Cu(4)(L')(2)(C(5)H(9)PO(3))](CH(3)OH)(2) (3), [Cu(4)(L')(2)(C(6)H(11)PO(3)](MeOH)(4)(H(2)O)(2) (4) and [Cu(4)(L')(2)(C(30)H(46)P(2)O(5))](PhCH(3)) (5). The molecular structures of 1-4 reveal that a [RPO(3)](2-) ligand is involved in holding the four copper atoms together by a 4.211 coordination mode. In 5, an in situ formed [(RPO(2))(2)O](4-) ligand bridges two pairs of the dinuclear subunits. Magnetic studies on these complexes reveal that the phosphonate ligand is an effective conduit for magnetic interaction among the four copper centers present; a predominantly antiferromagnetic interaction is observed at low temperatures.