Effect of preparation conditions on the optical and physical properties of an epoxy-functional inorganic-organic hybrid material system

A hybrid material system consisting of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane and zirconium(IV) n-propoxide was prepared. The influence of processing parameters including Zr content, UV irradiation and sol ageing on the properties of the resultant thin films was discussed. Refractive index, at 633 nm, and reflectance measurements were performed and near-field waveguide images of the samples were taken. Optical propagation loss measurements, at 633 nm, were studied. Film thickness and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy images were obtained as a function of process conditions. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to monitor chemical reaction pathways in the system during processing. It was demonstrated that the crosslinking of epoxy groups in the structure, along with inorganic network formation as a result of sol-gel reactions, was the primary reason for the changes in the optical and physical properties of the system. As Zr containing species and/or UV irradiation may be employed to crosslink the epoxy groups in the structure, the optical and physical properties of the system can be tuned by optimal combination of these two crosslinking methods, as well as sol ageing process.     

Synthesis of N3- and 2-NH2-substituted 6,7-diphenylpterins and their use as intermediates for the preparation of oligonucleotide conjugates designed to target photooxidative damage on single-stranded DNA representing the bcr-abl chimeric gene

Two 17-mer oligodeoxynucleotide-5'-linked-(6,7-diphenylpterin) conjugates, 2 and 3, were prepared as photosensitisers for targeting photooxidative damage to a 34-mer DNA oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) fragment 1 representing the chimeric bcr-abl gene that is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). The base sequence in the 17-mer was 3'G G T A G T T A T T C C T T C T T5'. In the first of these ODN conjugates (2) the pterin was attached at its N3 atom, via a -(CH2)3OPO(OH)- linker, to the 5'-OH group of the ODN. Conjugate 2 was prepared from 2-amino-3-(3-hydroxypropyl)-6,7-diphenyl-4(3H)-pteridinone 10, using phosphoramidite methodology. Starting material 10 was prepared from 5-amino-7-methylthiofurazano[3,4-d]pyrimidine 4 via an unusual highly resonance stabilised cation 8, incorporating the rare 2H,6H-pyrimido[6,1-b][1,3]oxazine ring system. In the characterisation of 10 two pteridine phosphazenes, 15 and 29, were obtained, as well as new products containing two uncommon tricyclic ring systems, namely pyrimido[2,1-b]pteridine (20 and 24) and pyrimido[1,2-c]pteridine (27). In the second ODN conjugate the linker was -(CH2)5CONH(CH2)6OPO(OH)- and was attached to the 2-amino group of the pterin. In the preparation of 3, the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester 37 of 2-(5-carboxypentylamino)-6,7-diphenyl-4(3H)-pteridinone was condensed with the hexylamino-modified 17-mer. Excitation of 36 with near UV light in the presence of the single-stranded target 34-mer, 5'T G A C C A T C A A T A A G14 G A A G18 A A G21 C C C T T C A G C G G C C3' 1 caused oxidative damage at guanine bases, leading to alkali-labile sites which were monitored by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cleavage was observed at all guanine sites with a marked preference for cleavage at G14. In contrast, excitation of ODN-pteridine conjugate 2 in the presence of 1 caused oxidation of the latter predominantly at G18, with a smaller extent of cleavage at G15 and G14 (in the double-stranded portion) and G21. These results contrast with our previous observation of specific cleavage at G21 with ruthenium polypyridyl sensitisers, and suggest that a different mechanism, probably one involving Type 1 photochemical electron transfer, is operative. Much lower yields were found with the ODN-pteridine conjugate 3, perhaps as a consequence of the longer linker between the ODN and the pteridine in this case.     

Effect of preparation conditions on the thermal stability of an epoxy-functional inorganic-organic hybrid material system doped with Zr

An inorganic-organic hybrid material system consisting of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane and zirconium(IV) n-propoxide was prepared by the sol-gel method. The influence of processing parameters including Zr content, UV irradiation and sol ageing on the thermal stability of the resultant thin films was characterised by thermogravimetry. It was demonstrated that the crosslinking of epoxy groups in the structure was the primary reason for variation in the thermal stability of the system. As Zr and/or UV irradiation may be employed to crosslink the epoxy groups in the structure, the thermal stability of the system can be tuned by the optimal combination of these two crosslinking methods.     

Effects of refractive index modifiers and UV light on an epoxy-functional inorganic-organic hybrid sol-gel derived thin film system

Thin film systems consisting of (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GDPTMS), dimethyldimethoxysilane (DMDMOS) and, either zirconium(IV) n-propoxide (Zr(OPrⁿ)₄) or diphenyldimethoxysilane (DPDMS) were synthesised via the sol-gel method. GDPTMS and DMDMOS were employed as the main network formers, whereas Zr(OPrⁿ)₄ or DPDMS was both a network former and a refractive index modifier. The comparative effects of Zr and DPDMS content, and UV light on the optical and thermal properties of the system were evaluated. Refractive index measurements and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy of the resultant thin films were performed. The thermal stability of each system, in terms of temperature at 10% mass loss, was characterised by dynamic thermogravimetry. It was demonstrated that the selection of refractive index modifier along with UV irradiation plays an important role in tuning the optical and thermal properties of an epoxy-functional inorganic-organic hybrid sol-gel derived thin film system.     

Functionalization of C60 via organometallic reagents

The reaction of [60]fullerene with organolithium and Grignard reagents carrying orthoester, acetal or other end groups yielded adducts 3-5 at the 6-6 bond of C60 after quenching with trifluoroacetic acid. The adducts could be easily methylated or benzylated with methyl iodide or benzyl bromide in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide to yield exclusively the 1,4-disubstituted C60 6 and 7a,b. Cleavage of the orthoester, acetal and silylether groups gave the corresponding carboxylic acid 9, aldehydes 10a,b and 11 and alcohols 12 and 13a,b. The carboxylic acid 9 readily reacted with alanine ethyl ester under standard peptide coupling conditions to give 14 in 55% yield. Attempts to generate a silyl enol ether from the reaction of aldehyde 10b with TIPSOTf and triethylamine failed. Instead the reaction led to a cyclized ether 16a (or alcohol 16b in the absence of silylating agent) resulting from the addition of an initially formed fulleride anion to the aldehyde group. The corresponding acetal 4b reacted similarly. The reaction of aldehyde 10b with aniline also gave a cyclized product 19. Surprisingly, aldehyde 11, which no longer carried an acidic fullerene proton reacted with aniline to give a product 20 resulting from an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction followed by aromatization of a primarily formed N-phenylimine. Alcohol 13b could be readily converted to the corresponding bromide using tetramethyl-α-bromoenamine. The bromide was reacted with the carbanion derived from the protected glycine derivative to yield the diastereomeric fullerene amino acid derivatives 1-benzyl-4-[α-propyl-tert-butylglycinate benzophenone imine] 1,4-dihydro[60]fullerenes 24a and 24b.     

Histamine determination in human urine using sub-2 μm C18 column with fluorescence and mass spectrometric detection

A fast, sensitive, and selective method for the determination of histamine in human urine samples by ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence and mass spectrometry (MS) detection is investigated. A fluorescent reagent, 4-(1-pyrene) butyric acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester was conjugated to the primary and secondary amino moieties of histamine. The structure of dipyrene-labeled histamine in human urine was determined by quadrupole time-of-flight MS with electospray ionization interface. The determination of the dipyrene derivative of histamine in urine samples was achieved within 3.9 min on an ultrahigh pressure LC Eclipse Zorbax XDB-C(18) column with 1.8 μm particle diameter. In this work, histamine separation was achieved significantly faster (3.9 min) with improved detection limit (signal-to-noise = 3) of 0.04 nM than 19.5 min with a detection limit of 0.183 nM as reported in a previous method.     

Disturbed oscillatory brain dynamics in subcortical ischemic vascular dementia

Background

This study examined the effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as different n-6: n-3 ratios on spatial learning and gene expression of peroxisome- proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in the hippocampus of rats. Thirty male Sprague?CDawley rats were randomly allotted into 3 groups of ten animals each and received experimental diets with different n-6: n-3 PUFA ratios of either 65:1, 22:1 or 4.5:1. After 10?weeks, the spatial memory of the animals was assessed using the Morris Water Maze test. The expression of PPAR?? and PPAR?? genes were determined using real-time PCR.

Results

Decreasing dietary n-6: n-3 PUFA ratios improved the cognitive performance of animals in the Morris water maze test along with the upregulation of PPAR?? and PPAR?? gene expression. The animals with the lowest dietary n-6: n-3 PUFA ratio presented the highest spatial learning improvement and PPAR gene expression.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that modulation of n-6: n-3 PUFA ratios in the diet may lead to increased hippocampal PPAR gene expression and consequently improved spatial learning and memory in rats.     

The Role of One‐Electron Reduction of Lipid Hydroperoxides in Causing DNA Damage

The in vivo metabolism of plasma lipids generates lipid hydroperoxides that, upon one‐electron reduction, give rise to a wide spectrum of genotoxic unsaturated aldehydes and epoxides. These metabolites react with cellular DNA to form a variety of pre‐mutagenic DNA lesions. The mechanisms of action of the radical precursors of these genotoxic electrophiles are poorly understood. In this work we investigated the nature of DNA products formed by a one‐electron reduction of (13S)‐hydroperoxy‐(9Z,11E)‐octadecadienoic acid (13S‐HPODE), a typical lipid molecule, and the reactions of the free radicals thus generated with neutral guanine radicals, G(?H)^.. A novel approach was devised to generate these intermediates in solution. The two‐photon‐induced ionization of 2‐aminopurine (2AP) within the 2′‐deoxyoligonucleotide 5′‐d(CC[2AP]TCGCTACC) by intense nanosecond 308 nm excimer laser pulses was employed to simultaneously generate hydrated electrons and radical cations 2AP^.+. The latter radicals either in cationic or neutral forms, rapidly oxidize the nearby G base to form G(?H)^.. In deoxygenated buffer solutions (pH 7.5), the hydrated electrons rapidly reduce 13S‐HPODE and the highly unstable alkoxyl radicals formed undergo a prompt β‐scission to pentyl radicals that readily combine with G(?H)^.. Two novel guanine products in these oligonucleotides, 8‐pentyl‐ and N²‐pentylguanine, were identified. It is shown that the DNA secondary structure significantly affects the ratio of 8‐pentyl‐ and N²‐pentylguanine lesions that changes from 0.9:1 in single‐stranded, to 1:0.2 in double‐stranded oligonucleotides. The alkylation of guanine by alkyl radicals derived from lipid hydroperoxides might contribute to the genotoxic modification of cellular DNA under hypoxic conditions. Thus, further research is warranted on the detection of pentylguanine lesions and other alkylguanines in vivo.     

Combination of nitrogen dioxide radicals with 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and guanine radicals in DNA: oxidation and nitration end-products

The oxidation and nitration reactions in DNA associated with the combination of nitrogen dioxide radicals with 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and guanine radicals were explored by kinetic laser spectroscopy and mass spectrometry methods. The oxidation/nitration processes were triggered by photoexcitation of 2-aminopurine (2AP) residues site-specifically positioned in the 2'-deoxyribooligonucleotide 5'-d(CC[2AP]TC[X]CTACC) sequences (X = 8-oxoGua or G), by intense 308 nm excimer laser pulses. The photoionization products, 2AP radicals, rapidly oxidize either 8-oxoGua or G residues positioned within the same oligonucleotide but separated by a TC dinucleotide step on the 3'-side of 2AP. The two-photon ionization of the 2AP residue also generates hydrated electrons that are trapped by nitrate anions thus forming nitrogen dioxide radicals. The combination of nitrogen dioxide radicals with the 8-oxoGua and G radicals occurs with similar rate constants (approximately 4.3 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1)) in both single- and double-stranded DNA. In the case of 8-oxoGua, the major end-products of this bimolecular radical-radical addition are spiroiminodihydantoin lesions, the products of 8-oxoGua oxidation. Oxygen-18 isotope labeling experiments reveal that the O-atom in the spiroiminodihydantoin lesion originates from water molecules, not from nitrogen dioxide radicals. In contrast, combination of nitrogen dioxide and guanine neutral radicals generated under the same conditions results in the formation of the nitro products, 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole and 8-nitroguanine adducts. The mechanistic aspects of the oxidation/nitration processes and their biological implications are discussed.