A novel label-free colorimetric assay for DNA concentration in solution

Optical devices were fabricated by sandwiching a “monolithic” poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride) (pNIPAm-co-APMAH) microgel layer between two semitransparent Au layers. These devices, referred to as etalons, exhibit characteristic multipeak reflectance spectra, and the position of the peaks in the spectra primarily depends on the distance between the Au surfaces mediated by the microgel layer thickness. Here, we show that the positively charged microgel layer can collapse in the presence of negatively charged single stranded DNA (ssDNA) due to ssDNA induced microgel crosslinking. The collapse results in a change in the etalon's optical properties, which can be used to detect target DNA in a complex mixture.     

Triflic Acid Mediated Cascade Cyclization of Aryldiynes for the Synthesis of Indeno[1,2‐c]chromenes: Application to Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A new triflic acid (TfOH)‐mediated cascade cyclization of ortho‐anisole‐substituted aryldiynes is described for the construction of indeno[1,2‐c]chromenes. The cascade cyclization proceeds through an unusual TfOH‐induced alkyne‐alkyne cyclization followed by nucleophilic attack of the methoxy group on the benzylidene cation, which is completely different to the cyclization of ortho‐aniline‐ or ortho‐thioanisole‐substituted aryldiynes. A new class of organic dyes with the indeno[1,2‐c]chromene framework as both donor and π‐linker were synthesized. These compounds exhibit high photovoltaic performances in dye‐ sensitized solar cells (DSCs).     

Gold‐Aryl nanoparticles coated with polyelectrolytes for adsorption and protection of DNA against nuclease degradation

Binding DNA on nanoparticles was pursued to form nanoplatform for formation of non‐viral gene system. Carboxyl derivatized gold‐aryl nanoparticles can bind with biodegradable cationic polyelectrolytes such as polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC). In our study, we used gold‐aryl nanoparticles (AuNPs) treated with PDADMAC to form conjugates with non‐thiol or non‐disulfide modified oligonucleotide DNA. Both AuNPs‐DNA and PDADMAC‐AuNPs‐DNA biomaterials were characterized using UV–Vis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and agarose gel electrophoresis. UV–Vis showed a red shift in the plasmon peak as compared with unconjugated AuNPs. DLS measurements also showed difference in the size of AuNPs‐DNA and PDADMAC‐AuNPs‐DNA. AFM and TEM results showed proper conjugation of DNA with AuNPs. Gel electrophoresis proved the presence of interaction between PDADMAC‐AuNPs and negatively charged DNA. The binding of DNA in the described bioconjugate enhanced its protection against nuclease degradation and prolonged its presence in the digestive environment of DNase‐I. From the results we expect that these biomaterials can be used in nanomedicine with emphasis on non‐viral gene system.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Biological Activity of the Schiff Base and Its Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) Complexes Derived from 4-(Dimethylamino)benzaldehyde and S-Benzyldithiocarbazate

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - A Schiff base containing the nitrogen-sulfur donor chain [(CH3)2N-C6H4-CH=N-NH-C(S)-SCH2C6H5] was prepared by the condensation of...     

The presence of radioactive and metal contaminants in wild mushrooms grown in Chattogram hill tracts,Bangladesh

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Wild mushrooms are considered as bioindicators of environmental pollution. Different species of mushrooms (edible and medicinal), commonly...     

Effect of Diets,Familial History,and Alternative Therapies on Genomic Instability of Breast Cancer Patients

This study evaluates a correlation between family history, micronutrients intake, and alternative therapies with genetic instability, before and during breast cancer treatment. For this study, a total of 150 women were selected. Among those, 50 women were breast cancer patients on chemotherapy, while 50 breast cancer patients were on radiotherapy, and 50 were healthy females. All the participants signed the informed consent form and answered the public health questionnaire. Samples of buccal epithelial and peripheral blood cells were collected and analyzed through micronucleus and comet assays. The cells were evaluated for apoptosis and DNA damage. Results showed the association of patients’ family history with an increase in toxicogenetic damage before and during cancer therapy. On the other hand, patients with late-onset cancer also presented genetic instability before and during therapy, along with those who did not take sufficient vegetables and alternative therapies. A positive correlation was observed between the genetic instability and alternative therapies, while inverse correlation was recorded with the vegetable consumption. Results clearly explain that the nutritional aspects and alternative therapies influence the genetic instability before and during cancer therapies especially in radiotherapy treated patients. Our data could be used for the monitoring therapies and management of breast cancer patients.

     

Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of 4‐Hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐(2H)‐1,2‐benzothiazine‐3‐sulfonic Acid 1,1‐Dioxide

We report a convenient synthesis of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐(2H)‐1,2‐benzothiazine‐3‐sulfonic acid‐1,1‐dioxide (6a) prepared in a novel one‐pot reaction. The synthesis involves two transformations starting from 2‐methyl‐2H‐1,2‐benzothiazin‐4‐(3H)‐one 1,1‐dioxide (7) with an overall yield better than that from the stepwise process, as well as the alternate procedure starting from saccharin (1). One‐pot synthesis of an important intermediate, saccharin‐N‐methane sulfonic acid (4), is also described.     

Photophysical Insights of Halogenated Dipyrrolonaphthyridine-Diones as Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agents†

We report the synthesis and photophysical characterization of novel halogenated dipyrrolonaphthyridine-diones (X₂–DPNDs, X = Cl, Br, and I), as candidates for photodynamic therapy (PDT) application. Apart from the heavy atom-induced spin-orbit coupling (SOC) dynamics in the investigated X₂–DPNDs, it was found that the position of the halogen atom (relative to the nitrogen of the pyrrole ring) also influenced the triplet excited state behavior. Interestingly, the faster/efficiency sensitization of ³O₂ to ¹O₂ using X₂–DPND correlates with the rate of triplet population, k_ISC >1.6 × 10⁸ s⁻¹ for I₂–DPND vs k_ISC >2.9 × 10⁹ s⁻¹ for Cl₂–DPND and Br₂–DPND (where τ_ISC = 343 ± 3 ps for I₂–DPND and τ_ISC = 5–6 ns for Cl₂–DPND and Br₂–DPND are the lowest time constants/values for ISC). Furthermore, the heavy atom-induced SOC in Cl₂–DPND and Br₂–DPND did not lead to a reduction of the corresponding fluorescence (ca 75% vs 67% for the parent DPND). The attractive photophysical characteristics of Cl₂/Br₂–DPND put them on the landscape as not only promising PDT agents but also as fluorescence probes. The present study is a stepping stone in the development of novel organic photosystems for synergistic photomedicinal applications.     

Anomalously Large Antiphase Signals from Hyperpolarized Orthohydrogen Using a MOF-Based SABRE Catalyst

Hyperpolarized orthohydrogen (o-H₂) is a frequent product of parahydrogen-based hyperpolarization approaches like signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE), where the hyperpolarized o-H₂ signal is usually absorptive. We describe a novel manifestation of this effect wherein large antiphase o-H₂ signals are observed, with ¹H enhancements up to ≈500-fold (effective polarization P_H≈1.6 %). This anomalous effect is attained only when using an intact heterogeneous catalyst constructed using a metal–organic framework (MOF) and is qualitatively independent of substrate nature. This seemingly paradoxical observation is analogous to the “partial negative line” (PNL) effect recently explained in the context of Parahydrogen Induced Polarization (PHIP) by Ivanov and co-workers. The two-spin order of the o-H₂ resonance is manifested by a two-fold higher Rabi frequency, and the lifetime of the antiphase HP o-H₂ resonance is extended by several-fold.     

苯二酚异构体的电动毛细管色谱-玻碳微电极柱上安培检测分析方法研究

在玻碳纤维微电极上研究了电解液中β－环糊精（ＣＤ）的浓度对邻、间、对苯二酚的循环伏安特性的影响,从实验结果和分子结构水平方面考察了β－ＣＤ与邻、间、对苯二酚的包结作用。研究结果表明,β－ＣＤ与邻、间、对苯二酚的包结作用强弱顺序为间苯二酚、邻苯二酚、对苯二酚。讨论了电泳缓冲液中ΝΗ４Ｃｌ,ＳＤＳ,β－ＣＤ的浓度及ｐＨ值对邻、间、对苯二酚迁移时间的影响。建立了苯二酚异构体胶束电动毛细管色谱－玻碳微电极柱上安培检测分析方法,方法的回收率在９８％～１０３％之间。