Synthesis and crystal structures of novel calix[4]azacrowns

A series of novel 1,3‐altemate calix[4]arene azacrowns having mono and bis crown ethers on the lower rim of the calix[4]arene framework were synthesized. Solid‐state structures confirmed the three dimensional conformation of compounds 1–3.     

An experimental-theoretical analysis of protein adsorption on peptidomimetic polymer brushes

Surface-grafted water-soluble polymer brushes are being intensely investigated for preventing protein adsorption to improve biomedical device function, prevent marine fouling, and enable applications in biosensing and tissue engineering. In this contribution, we present an experimental-theoretical analysis of a peptidomimetic polymer brush system with regard to the critical brush density required for preventing protein adsorption at varying chain lengths. A mussel adhesive-inspired DOPA-Lys (DOPA = 3,4-dihydroxy-phenylalanine; Lys = lysine) pentapeptide surface grafting motif enabled aqueous deposition of our peptidomimetic polypeptoid brushes over a wide range of chain densities. Critical densities of 0.88 nm(-2) for a relatively short polypeptoid 10-mer to 0.42 nm(-2) for a 50-mer were identified from measurements of protein adsorption. The experiments were also compared with the protein adsorption isotherms predicted by a molecular theory. Excellent agreements in terms of both the polymer brush structure and the critical chain density were obtained. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging is shown to be useful in verifying the critical brush density for preventing protein adsorption. The present coanalysis of experimental and theoretical results demonstrates the significance of characterizing the critical brush density in evaluating the performance of an antifouling polymer brush system. The high fidelity of the agreement between the experiments and molecular theory also indicate that the theoretical approach presented can aid in the practical design of antifouling polymer brush systems.     

The presence of high level soluble herpes virus entry mediator in sera of gastric cancer patients

The development of gastric cancer (GC) is closely related to chronic inflammation caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, and herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) is a receptor expressed on the surface of leukocytes that mediates potent inflammatory responses in animal models. However, the role of HVEM in human GC has not been studied. Previously, we showed that the interaction of HVEM on human leukocytes with its ligand LIGHT induces intracellular calcium mobilization, which results in inflammatory responses including induction of proinflammatory cytokine production and anti-bacterial activities. In this study, we report that leukocytes from GC patients express lower levels of membrane HVEM (mHVEM) and have lower LIGHT-induced bactericidal activities than those from healthy controls (HC). In contrast, levels of soluble HVEM (sHVEM) in the sera of GC patients were significantly higher than in those of HC. We found that monocyte membrane-bound HVEM is released into the medium when cells are activated by proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-8, which are elevated in the sera of GC patients. mHVEM level dropped in parallel with the release of sHVEM, and release was completely blocked by the metalloprotease inhibitor, GM6001. We also found that the low level of mHVEM on GC patient leukocytes was correlated with low LIGHT-induced bactericidal activities against H. pylori and S. aureus and production of reactive oxygen species. Our results indicate that mHVEM on leukocytes and sHVEM in sera may contribute to the development and/or progression of GC.     

Morphology and size control of barium carbonate in ethanol–water mixed solvents

Barium carbonate (BaCO₃) particles have been obtained by the precipitation reaction of CO₂ bubbles to barium hydroxide [Ba(OH)₂] in the ethanol–water mixed solvents. Various morphologies, from rounded peanut, leaf-like, rod, and needle particles, were controlled by the precipitation step, where CO₂ gas was fed to Ba(OH)₂ in ethanol–water mixed solvent. The CO₂ gas as a carbonate source and Ba(OH)₂ slurry as a barium ion source are dissolved in the mixed solvents, within the solubility limit, to precipitate. The reactants dissolve progressively while they precipitate to BaCO₃. Ba(OH) ₂ slurry becomes translucent and opaque while the reaction proceeds. It becomes more opaque, upon which the dissolution of Ba(OH)₂ proceeds and BaCO₃ precipitates. The opaqueness of the products depends on the particle size of BaCO₃ in the product. The characteristics of BaCO₃ were confirmed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and electrophoretic light scattering methods. The amount of water in the mixed solvents and of Ba(OH) ₂ in the reaction batch is related to the reaction rate in the nucleation and growing step, so that it was possible to control the shape of particles. Based on the understanding of the size and morphology of BaCO₃ in the solid/liquid–gas system, it was possible to obtain a well-dispersed average 40-nm BaCO₃ colloid.     

Antifungal effect of the essential oil of Thymus broussonetii Boiss endogenous species of Morocco

The aim of the study was to determine the antifungal effects of the essential oil of Thymus broussonetii Boiss (EOT), an endemic plant in Morocco against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and the dermatophytes. EOT was extracted by steam distillation. A suspension of up to 500?μL of C. albicans at a concentration of 10??CFU?mL?1 and A. fumigatus at a concentration of 101??spores?mL?1 were inhibited by 20?μL of EOT incorporated in tubes containing 4 mL of Sabouraud broth. In Sabouraud-chloramphenicol agar slants containing different concentrations of essential oil, 5?×?10? A. fumigatus spores were inhibited by 6?μL (0.0015?mL?mL?1) of the EOT. It has shown good anti-C. albicans and anti-A. fumigatus activity. All the dermatophytes tested were inhibited by 3?μL (0.00075?mL?mL?1) of EOT; the latter has the potential to be a good alternative to the conventional antifungal drugs which are usually expensive and with high toxicity.     

Proteomic analysis reveals platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin as prognostic markers in severe acute respiratory syndrome

Previously, we reported that proteomic fingerprints were present in sera of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and could separate patients into subgroups with different prognoses. In the present study, we examined the prognostic values of the SARS-associated proteomic features by biostatistical analysis, and deciphered the identities of those with prognostic values. Data of 20 SARS-associated serum proteomic features and ten serological variables from 38 SARS adult patients before treatment were subjected to multivariate logistic regression. Proteomic features of m/z 6634, m/z 7769, m/z 8635, and m/z 8865 were identified as independent prognostic markers. After purification by cation-exchange chromatography and gel electrophoresis, proteomic features of m/z 7769 and m/z 8865 were found to be platelet factor 4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) by tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The associations of decreased serum PF4 and increased serum beta-TG levels with poor prognosis were confirmed by Western blot. Previous studies suggest that PF4 and beta-TG are involved in the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in a negative and positive way, respectively. Our results suggest that PF4 and beta-TG may also play similar roles in the development of ARDS in SARS patients.     

Reactivity of ruthenium vinylidene complexes containing indenyl/dppe ligands and unsaturated bonds at Cδ with trimethylsilyl azide

This study presents a new reaction of cationic vinylidene complexes with Me?SiN? (TMSN?), which yields N-coordinated nitrile complexes 3. Treatment of a ruthenium acetylide precursor containing indenyl and dppe ligands with a series of organic halides produced the corresponding vinylidene complexes 2 in good yield. Further reaction of 2 with TMSN? at room temperature produced N-coordinated ruthenium nitrile complexes 3. Unlike the reaction of cyclopropenylruthenium complexes with TMSN?, which yielded different products depending on the substituent at Cγ, the vinylidene complexes containing unsaturated bonds at Cd yielded similar N-coordinated nitrile complexes. This transformation did not seemingly occur in the reaction of ruthenium vinylidene complexes containing Cp and PPh? ligands with TMSN?. Deprotonation of these vinylidene complexes yielded cyclopropenyl or thermodynamic furylruthenium complexes, depending on the substitute at Cγ. Subsequent reactions of the cyclopropenyl or furylruthenium complexes with TMSN? afforded different products.     

Carbonic Anhydrase Immobilized on Encapsulated Magnetic Nanoparticles for CO(2) Sequestration

Bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) was covalently immobilized onto OAPS (octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane)-functionalized Fe(3) O(4) /SiO(2) nanoparticles by using glutaraldehyde as a spacer. The Fe(3) O(4) nanoparticles were coated with SiO(2) , onto which was grafted OAPS, and the product was characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and magnetometer analysis. The enzymatic activities of the free and Fe(3) O(4) /SiO(2) /OAPS-conjugated BCA (Fe?CA) were investigated by hydrolyzing p-nitrophenylacetate (p-NPA), and hydration and sequestration of CO(2) to CaCO(3) . The CO(2) conversion efficiency and reusability of the Fe?CA were studied before and after washing the recovered Fe?CA by applying a magnetic field and quantifying the unreacted Ca(2+) ions by using ion chromatography. After 30?cycles, the Fe?CA displayed strong activity, and the CO(2) capture efficiency was 26-fold higher than that of the free enzyme. Storage stability studies suggested that Fe?CA retained nearly 82?% of its activity after 30?days. Nucleation of the precipitated CaCO(3) was monitored by using polarized light microscopy, which revealed the formation of two phases, calcite and valerite, at pH?10 upon addition of serine. The magnetic nanobiocatalyst was shown to be an excellent reusable catalyst for the sequestration of CO(2.).     

Glycomimetic ligands for the human asialoglycoprotein receptor

The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) is a high-capacity galactose-binding receptor expressed on hepatocytes that binds its native substrates with low affinity. More potent ligands are of interest for hepatic delivery of therapeutic agents. We report several classes of galactosyl analogues with varied substitution at the anomeric, C2-, C5-, and C6-positions. Significant increases in binding affinity were noted for several trifluoromethylacetamide derivatives without covalent attachment to the protein. A variety of new ligands were obtained with affinity for ASGPR as good as or better than that of the parent N-acetylgalactosamine, showing that modification on either side of the key C3,C4-diol moiety is well tolerated, consistent with previous models of a shallow binding pocket. The galactosyl pyranose motif therefore offers many opportunities for the attachment of other functional units or payloads while retaining low-micromolar or better affinity for the ASGPR.     

A calix[2]phenol[2]pyrrole and a fused pyrrolidine-containing derivative

The hybrid calix[2]phenol[2]pyrrole 4 and the fused pyrrolidine-containing macrocycle 9 were synthesized from two different isomeric starting materials, namely dimethyl 2-hydroxyisophthalate and 5-hydroxyisophthalate, respectively. The fused species 9 is devoid of obvious substrate binding properties. In contrast, the heterocalix system 4 displays the fluoride-induced conformational changes characteristic of the parent system.