Phospholipase D is involved in oxidative stress-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells via tyrosine phosphorylation and protein kinase C

Oxidative stress has been implicated in mediation of vascular disorders. In the presence of vanadate, H(2)O(2) induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLD1, protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha), and other unidentified proteins in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Interestingly, PLD1 was found to be constitutively associated with PKC-alpha in VSMCs. Stimulation of the cells by H(2)O(2) and vanadate showed a concentration-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of the proteins in PLD1 immunoprecipitates and activation of PLD. Pretreatment of the cells with the protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of H(2)O(2)-induced PLD activation. PKC inhibitor and down-regulation of PKC abolished H(2)O(2)-stimulated PLD activation. The cells stimulated by oxidative stress (H(2)O(2)) caused increased cell migration. This effect was prevented by the pretreatment of cells with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, PKC inhibitors, and 1-butanol, but not 3-butanol. Taken together, these results suggest that PLD might be involved in oxidative stress-induced migration of VSMCs, possibly via tyrosine phosphorylation and PKC activation.     

Effect of surface-perturbed intermolecular interaction on adsorption of simple gases on a graphitized carbon surface

In this paper, we investigate the effect of the solid surface on the fluid-fluid intermolecular potential energy. This modified fluid-fluid interaction energy due to the inducement of a solid surface is used in the grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation of various noble gases, nitrogen, and methane on graphitized thermal carbon black. This effect is such that the effective interaction potential energy between two particles close to surface is less than the potential energy if the solid substrate is not present. With this modification the GCMC simulation results agree extremely well with the experimental data over a wide range of pressures while the simulation results with the unmodified potential energy give rise to a shoulder near the neighborhood of monolayer coverage and the significant overprediction of the second and higher layer coverages. In particular the unmodified GCMC results exhibit very sharp change in those higher layers while the experimental data have a much gradual change in the uptake. We will illustrate this theory with adsorption data of argon, xenon, neon, nitrogen, and methane on graphitized thermal carbon black.     

Discrete electrostatic charge transfer by the electrophoresis of a charged droplet in a dielectric liquid

We have experimentally investigated the electrostatic charging of a water droplet on an electrified electrode surface to explain the detailed inductive charging processes and use them for the detection of droplet position in a lab-on-a-chip system. The periodic bouncing motion of a droplet between two planar electrodes has been examined by using a high-resolution electrometer and an image analysis method. We have found that this charging process consists of three steps. The first step is inductive charge accumulation on the opposite electrode by the charge of a droplet. This induction process occurs while the droplet approaches the electrode, and it produces an induction current signal at the electrometer. The second step is the discharging of the droplet by the accumulated induced charge at the moment of contact. For this second step, there is no charge-transfer detection at the electrometer. The third step is the charging of the neutralized droplet to a certain charged state while the droplet is in contact with the electrode. The charge transfer of the third step is detected as the pulse-type signal of an electrometer. The second and third steps occur simultaneously and rapidly. We have found that the induction current by the movement of a charged droplet can be accurately used to measure the charge of the droplet and can also be used to monitor the position of a droplet under actuation. The implications of the current findings for understanding and measuring the charging process are discussed.     

Conformational effect on small angle neutron scattering behavior of interacting polyelectrolyte solutions: a perspective of integral equation theory

We present small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements of deuterium oxide (D(2)O) solutions of linear and star sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (NaPSS) as a function of polyelectrolyte concentration. Emphasis is on understanding the dependence of their SANS coherent scattering cross section I(Q) on the molecular architecture of single polyelectrolyte. The key finding is that for a given concentration, star polyelectrolytes exhibit more pronounced characteristic peaks in I(Q), and the position of the first peak occurs at a smaller Q compared to their linear counterparts. Based on a model of integral equation theory, we first compare the SANS experimental I(Q) of salt-free polyelectrolyte solutions with that predicted theoretically. Having seen their satisfactory qualitative agreement, the dependence of counterion association behavior on polyelectrolyte geometry and concentration is further explored. Our predictions reveal that the ionic environment of polyelectrolyte exhibits a strong dependence on polyelectrolyte geometry at lower polyelectrolyte concentration. However, when both linear and star polyelectrolytes exceed their overlap concentrations, the spatial distribution of counterion is found to be essentially insensitive to polyelectrolyte geometry due to the steric effect.     

Improved Compatibility of Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer/Polyethylene Blends Through Reactive Mixing

Abstract

To improve the compatibility of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer/low density polyethylene (SMA/LDPE) blends, LDPE grafted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-isophorone diisocyanate (LDPE-g-HI) was prepared and blended with SMA of which anhydride was converted to carboxylic acid (SMAAc). The infrared spectra of LDPE-g-HI established the presence of isocyanate group. In the blend morphology, some adhesions between the two phases and much finer dispersions were observed in the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends, indicating that chemical reactions took place during the melt blending. The lower heat capacity change at the glass transition temperature demonstrated that chemical bonds were produced in the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends. From the results of the rheological test, it was found that strong positive deviation from the mixing rule occurred in viscosity for the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends, concerning with good adhesion and finer dispersions. In the measurement of tensile property, the improved mechanical properties for the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends were shown.     

Surface-plasmon-enhanced band emission of ZnO nanoflowers decorated with Au nanoparticles

A simple strategy was used to enhance band emission through the transfer of defect emission from ZnO to Au by using the energy match between the defect emission of ZnO and the surface plasmon absorbance of Au NPs through decorating the surface of ZnO nanoflowers with Au nanoparticles (Au NPs). The ZnO nanostructure, which was comprised of six nanorods that were attached on one side in a flower-like fashion, was synthesized by using a hydrothermal method. The temperature-dependent morphology and detailed growth mechanism were studied. The influence of the density of the Au NPs that were deposited onto the surface of ZnO on photoluminescence was investigated to optimize the configuration of the ZnO/Au system in terms of the maximum band emission. The sequential transfer of defect energy from ZnO to Au and electron transfer from excited Au to ZnO was proposed as a possible mechanism for the enhanced band emission.     

Evaluating the identity and diiron core transformations of a (μ-oxo)diiron(III) complex supported by electron-rich tris(pyridyl-2-methyl)amine ligands

The composition of a (μ-oxo)diiron(III) complex coordinated by tris[(3,5-dimethyl-4-methoxy)pyridyl-2-methyl]amine (R(3)TPA) ligands was investigated. Characterization using a variety of spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallography indicated that the reaction of iron(III) perchlorate, sodium hydroxide, and R(3)TPA affords [Fe(2)(μ-O)(μ-OH)(R(3)TPA)(2)](ClO(4))(3) (2) rather than the previously reported species [Fe(2)(μ-O)(OH)(H(2)O)(R(3)TPA)(2)](ClO(4))(3) (1). Facile conversion of the (μ-oxo)(μ-hydroxo)diiron(III) core of 2 to the (μ-oxo)(hydroxo)(aqua)diiron(III) core of 1 occurs in the presence of water and at low temperature. When 2 is exposed to wet acetonitrile at room temperature, the CH(3)CN adduct is hydrolyzed to CH(3)COO(-), which forms the compound [Fe(2)(μ-O)(μ-CH(3)COO)(R(3)TPA)(2)](ClO(4))(3) (10). The identity of 10 was confirmed by comparison of its spectroscopic properties with those of an independently prepared sample. To evaluate whether or not 1 and 2 are capable of generating the diiron(IV) species [Fe(2)(μ-O)(OH)(O)(R(3)TPA)(2)](3+) (4), which has previously been generated as a synthetic model for high-valent diiron protein oxygenated intermediates, studies were performed to investigate their reactivity with hydrogen peroxide. Because 2 reacts rapidly with hydrogen peroxide in CH(3)CN but not in CH(3)CN/H(2)O, conditions that favor conversion to 1, complex 1 is not a likely precursor to 4. Compound 4 also forms in the reaction of 2 with H(2)O(2) in solvents lacking a nitrile, suggesting that hydrolysis of CH(3)CN is not involved in the H(2)O(2) activation reaction. These findings shed light on the formation of several diiron complexes of electron-rich R(3)TPA ligands and elaborate on conditions required to generate synthetic models of diiron(IV) protein intermediates with this ligand framework.     

Design of polydiacetylene-phospholipid supramolecules for enhanced stability and sensitivity

We present polydiacetylene (PDA) liposome assemblies with various phospholipids that have different headgroup charges and phase transition temperatures (T(m)). 10,12-Pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA)-epoxy was used as a base PDA monomer and the insertion of highly charged phospholipids resulted in notable changes in the size of liposome and reduction of the aggregation of PDA liposome. Among the various phospholipids, the phospholipid with a moderate T(m) demonstrated enhanced stability and sensitivity, as measured by the size and zeta potential over storage time, thermochoromic response, and transmission electron microscopy images. By combining these results, we were able to detect immunologically an antibody of bovine viral diarrhea virus over a wide dynamic range of 0.001 to 100 μg/mL.     

Fabrication of microgel-in-liposome particles with improved water retention

Corneocytes represents the main water reservoir of stratum corneum, and that ability intimately arises from their architecture and total composition. Here we describe a novel method for fabricating a microgel-in-liposome (M-i-L) structure consisting of a sodium hyaluronate microgel and a lipid membrane envelop in order to mimic corneocyte cell structures. The essence of our approach is to use a lecithin-based microemulsion with a very low interfacial tension between the water droplet and oil continuous phase. Using this emulsion enables us to stabilize a dispersion of microgel particles without phase separation or aggregation. The addition of excess water produced single-core or multicore microgel particles enveloped in a lipid layer. To demonstrate the applicability of this unique vesicle system, we encapsulated a high concentration of natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in the microgel core and investigated how the M-i-L structure affected the water retention in comparison with other control systems. We have observed that our M-i-L particles with the NMF in the core, which mimicked the corneocyte cell structure, showed an excellent ability to retain water in the system. This experimental result inspired us to investigate how corneocyte cells, which feature a lipid-enveloped hydrogel structure, provide such long-lasting hydration to the skin.     

Oxidation with DMF/HIO4: A Convenient Preparation of Juglone

As part of an ongoing program directed toward the preparation of antraciclinones¹ and aryl substituted lapachones², which are important anticancer and antibiotic³ agents, we became interested in a efficient synthesis of substituted 1,4-naphthoquinones, such as juglone (3). This compound has received some attention due its activity as an allelophatic compound⁴. An extensive analysis of the literature procedures indicated that several methods are available starting from 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene (1). All the procedures explored the oxidation of carbon four of the naphthyl ring by several known reagents, such as, chromium trioxide-piridine⁵, thallium trinitrate⁵, chromic acid⁶, peracetic acid⁷, dichromate⁸, iron (III) chloride⁹ and mercuric oxide¹⁰. None of the several known methods for the preparation of (3) proceeded in satisfactory yield (except for the thallium trinitrate method which gave 642 yield) and most of them gave a mixture of 1,2 and 1,4-naphthoquinone.